Dubai welcomed 1.77 million international tourists in January 2024, an increase of 21% compared to 1.47 million visitors in the same period of 2023, a report said.

According to the Dubai Tourism Performance Report for January issued by the Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, Western Europe ranked first in terms of source markets for international tourists to Dubai with a share of over 18% and a number of 327,000 visitors, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

The GCC countries followed with 311,000 visitors, representing nearly 18%, and South Asia ranked third with 294,000 visitors, accounting for about 17% of the total international visitors to the emirate.

The number of international visitors from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe reached 262,000 or 15%, ranking fourth, while the number of visitors from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reached 211,000 or 12% of the total number of tourists coming to Dubai, ranking fifth.

North and Southeast Asia ranked sixth with 149,000 visitors and a share of 8%, followed by the Americas in seventh place with 115,000 visitors or about 6% of the total number of international visitors, Africa in eighth place with 71,000 visitors representing 4%, and Australia in last place with 33,000 visitors representing 2% of the total number of international visitors.
Pepsi ran a contest in the Philippines called 'Number Fever'. It ended up killing five people, including a five-year-old girl fatally wounded by a hurled grenade

In 1992, Pepsi ran a contest in the Philippines called 'Number Fever'. It ended up killing five people.

The idea behind it was simple - numbers would be printed on the soft drinks' bottle caps, and each evening, local news would announce winners.

But things quickly went wrong - so wrong that many Filipinos who experienced 'Number Fever' are still traumatized by it to this day. A mere mention of the weekslong contest these days may elicit a negative response.

That's because across the Philippines' 7,641 islands, ads had promised Pepsi-drinkers they could 'become a millionaire' by buying a bottle with a winning number - a vow they ultimately reneged on when a malfunction saw the winning number 349 printed on thousands of bottle caps, instead of just two.

This meant instead of two grand prize winners, there were now hundreds of thousands - each clamoring for the million pesos they were promised.

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A Pepsi-Cola delivery truck driver in Manila is seen trying to extinguish the fire under his truck after it was firebombed by protesters in September 1993. Such displays were commnon that year, after a mishap involving a then-new promotion

The contest, called 'Number Fever', numbers would be printed on the soft drinks' bottle caps, and each evening, local news would announce winners. However, after a computer malfunction saw numbers mixed up, thousands of grand prize winners were named

The sum was the equivalent of about $68,000 today, and was 611 times the average monthly salary. When Pepsi refused to pay, riots erupted - and a teacher and a 5-year-old died when a grenade hurled at a Pepsi truck exploded in a crowded street.

At least three others died, and Pepsi ended up getting away with a slap on the wrist. It started when Pepsi, satiated by some success, decided to extend Number Fever by five weeks - with things only going downhill from there.

The saga began almost 32 years ago to the day, when Pepsi launched the ill-fated promotion overseas in February of 1992.

The decision followed a successful US rollout that minted eight millionaires, each of whom somehow beat the 28.8million-to-1 odds to secure a winning bottle cap.

These winners were featured in ads, real as day.

Ensuing fervor - and increased sales - saw then-CEO Christopher Sinclair decide to bring the contest to the Pacific, where competitor Coca-Cola reigned supreme.

Pepsi Philippines (PCPPI) went on to announce it would be print numbers ranging from 001 to 999 inside the caps of Pepsi, 7-Up, Mountain Dew, and Mirinda bottles.

Most daily prizes were small - around 100 pesos - the equivalent of about $5 US.

But the prospect of a possible million kept people playing, and the contest initially slated to end on May 8 boosted sales so much, that it was extended into the next month.

However, things would go wrong well before then - all while Filipinos frantically bought bottles and searched for stray caps, often scavenging through trash to do so.

Then, on May 25, came a big moment - a grand-prize winning cap was revealed, with the victorious number being 349. This was also when things went horribly wrong.

The contest ended up killing five people, as people took to the streets to demand what they viewed as rightfully theirs

The sum was the equivalent of about $68,000 today, and was 611 times the average monthly salary

When Pepsi refused to pay, riots erupted - and a teacher and a 5-year-old died when a grenade hurled at a Pepsi truck exploded in a crowded street. Multiple courts later sided with Pepsi, which ultimately did not have to pay out any of the billions that Filipinos had sought to claim

Instead of the forecast two winners, thousands of Filipinos surfaced to claim the prize.

People thus took to the streets to celebrate - thinking they had all become millionaires overnight and were all poised for a cracking payday.

Some confusion - and even concern - prevailed, however, as the number of self-professed winners was far more outsized then imagined.

But most didn't care - in their eyes, they had won fair and square, and the multibillion soda conglomerate was on the hook for each payment.

As things turned out, Pepsi had made a mistake.

A computer glitch had printed the winning 349 number on way more bottle caps than intended - on an eye-watering 800,000.

This meant Pepsi would have to pay some $32billion in order to keep its promise - and hundreds of people rushed to the country's primary bottling plant to collect with their winning caps.

It soon had to be shut down and guarded by police, when it became clear the payouts would not come easily.

Throughout the contest, Pepsi was in complete control of how many winners there were, relying on a computer program to seed winning caps.

Two winning caps meant that there could only be two winners - and Pepsi would stay within their budget and still profit off the promotion, or so execs thought.

A computer glitch had printed the winning 349 number on way more bottle caps than intended - on an eye-watering 800,000

The violence would continue for the better part of a year - though eventually, the 349ers took a more ogranized approach. they elected a local preacher, Vid del Fierro (seen here) as their leader he rounded up over 800 349 winners in an attempt to sue Pepsi for over $400million

Pepsi, currently valued at $226billion, didn't budge - resulting in the violent protest and riots that ultimately left five dead

As for 349, it was one of many designated as a non-winning number - and because of that, bottling plants were free to print it as much as they wanted.

349 was so common, many people had more than one, and the streets in several cities that night were rife with celebration.

Execs at Pepsi quickly realized that they had messed up big time, and called an emergency meeting later that night to devise a solution.

Since it would have cost them tens of billions of dollars to honor each winning cap, they decided to place blame on the computer program, and offered 500 pesos for each winning cap.

The sum was an insult to many, as it was only around five dollars US.

Some took Pepsi up on it, but most refused and grew even more incensed.

Not swayed by some unseen computer error, they felt the multibillion-dollar corporation had to honor the full prize amount.

But Pepsi, currently valued at $226billion, didn't budge - resulting in the violent protest and riots that ultimately left five dead.

Dozens more were injured, as 349 winners stormed Pepsi factories while throwing Molotov cocktails, often into the windows of moving Pepsi trucks that drove by.

Multiple courts later sided with Pepsi, which ultimately did not have to pay out any of the billions that frustrated Filipinos had sought to claim.
A new study suggests the parrots have not ventured outside urban areas as they are drawn to the 'urban oasis effect' created by man-made sprinkler systems

Locals have been protecting the birds as the threat of poachers looms in LA

Flocks of endangered parrots native to Mexico have migrated to Los Angeles, California, and established local breeding grounds - but an onset of local poachers threatens their existence.

Brenda Ramirez, 27, leads a team of investigators at the Free Flying Los Angeles Parrot Project based in Occidental Colleges Moore Laboratory of Zoology to understand this unusual migration of red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots - both of which are almost completely extinct in Mexico due to loss of their habitats and trapping.

The reason for their relocation? According to a study published by Ramirez's team, Southern California cities have an abundance of fruits and flowers from exotic trees - a resource that has not been taken advantage of by native birds, the Los Angeles Times reported.

As Los Angeles and its neighboring cities has become more industrial, developers and parrots alike preferred non-native trees like sweet gums, camphor, carrotwood, fig and ficus over native oaks and sycamores for landscaping.

The study also suggests that the influx of parrots may be the offspring of the illegal pet trade that occurred during the 1970s and '80s from their home range in Mexico.

Red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots native to Mexico have migrated in droves to Southern California

Residents of Temple City have had to watch out for poachers

Pictured: Ken Haber, age 67, of Altadena, photographs parrots in Temple City as part of an Audubon Society gathering

At night, the parrots have been setting up shop on the branches of fig and London plane trees lining Rosemead Boulevard in Temple City, making the locale one of the most popular roosting sites for the parrots.

However, by making their hangout spot widely known, residents have had to look out for poachers.

The Los Angeles County sheriff's station, City Hall, and other government agencies became inundated with angry complaints on October 26 as a video showing a male poacher swatting nets in the trees and slamming captured parrots against a concrete wall between Rosemead Boulevard and East Las Tunas Drive.

The intentions of the man in the video remain unclear. It is believed he was killing some of the parrots while trapping other live ones to sell illegally.

The red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots are considered endangered in their native home range of Mexico - a direct result of habitat loss and being captured for the pet trade.

Their status as endangered species only motivates poachers, as local flocks have become prized possessions.

The two species are similar in size and color, so much so that even specialists struggle to tell them apart

Southern California cities have an abundance of fruits and flowers from exotic trees - a resource that has not been taken advantage of by native birds

Pictured: Luke Tiller, age 48, of Pasadena, looks through binoculars as he guides visitors on a visit to Temple City to see a roost of parrots that settled there

The two species are similar in size and color, so much so that even specialists struggle to tell them apart. They both form lifelong pair connections and typically give birth to one brood every breeding season.

The two types of parrots have been seen flying together in the same flocks. In the event they hybridize, this will jeopardize plans to restore these urban parrots back to Mexico.

The research done by the Free Flying Los Angeles Parrot Project only validates pre existing research that certain introduced species, like feral parrots, can quickly adapt to new ecological niches, even surpassing the adaptations observed in their original forested habitats in northern Mexico.

For instance, the study noted that in Southern California, the driest month experiences significantly less rainfall compared to any part of the parrots' native habitats along the western and eastern coastal regions of Mexico.

Additionally, the precipitation pattern differs, with winter rainfall instead of summer rains.

'Artificial irrigation may close the gap between native and introduced climates, allowing more year-round vegetation in Southern California cities than expected given its natural precipitation levels,' suggested the study.

Per the study, parrots have not ventured outside urban areas as they are drawn to the 'urban oasis effect' created by man-made sprinkler systems.
The rise of artificial intelligence has opened up a new frontier in identifying whether an artwork is priceless or a counterfeit, but the results have been met with skepticism among experts.

The Switzerland-based AI company Art Recognition has completed more than 500 authenticity evaluations including the high-profile verification of an 1889 self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh, the Financial Times reported.

Art Recognition, which was founded just five years ago, uses an AI system that offers a precise and objective authenticity evaluation of an artwork.

Last year the company was embroiled in a row over a painting known as the de Brecy Tondo, which has been at the center of a heated dispute for more than 30 years.

Art Recognition's AI concluded that the painting was 85 percent likely to not be an authentic work by the Renaissance master Raphael, as some experts had previously argued.

Is this painting by the Renaissance master Raphael? The de Brecy Tondo has been at the center of a heated dispute for more than 30 years  AI has given mixed results on its authenticity and its relationship to Raphael's Sistine Madonna

Raphael's The Sistine Madonna (c 1512). The faces in the painting bear a strong resemblance to those in the de Brecy Tondo, but neither AI nor researchers can agree whether that artwork is also by Raphael

The conclusion came despite two British universities, Bradford and Nottingham, using their own AI software to determine whether it was authentic.

The universities had deployed facial recognition AI software that concluded the faces in the work were identical to those in another Raphael painting, the Sistine Madonna, suggesting it must be a Raphael.

The divergent results of two AI programs has caused consternation in the art world where authentication of work by a Master can move a valuation by millions of dollars.

'The Adoration of the Kings', thought the be done by a painter associated with Rembrandt, was offered at auction in 2021 with an estimate of 10,500-16,000 ($13,500-$21,000 USD).

When it was later confirmed to be by Rembrandt himself it sold for 10.9million ($14million USD) at Sotheby's in December.

Art Recognition is using AI that is excellent at 'pattern recognition' according to Jo Lawson-Tancred, author of the soon-to-be-published AI and the Art Market.

Its models are able to recognize distinguishing features used by a particular artist if it is given enough previous verified examples to 'learn' from.

However, it is still not developed enough to always grasp context so human judgement is still essential to authentication, Lawson-Tancred added.

'The Adoration of the Kings' was confirmed as an authentic Rembrandt moving its valuation from 10,500-16,000 to a final sale of 10.9m in December

Prof Hassan Ugail, director of Bradford's Centre for Visual Computing (pictured) says AI is unlikely to replacing human jobs in the art world but may a tool used in authentication

Jo Lawson-Tancred (pictured),author of AI and the Art Market, says Art Recognition's AI is AI that is excellent at 'pattern recognition' of distinguishing features used by a particular artist

Art historian Bendor Grosvenor (right) believes AI is not yet sufficient to determine the authenticity of Master paintings

Carlo Milano (pictured) of Callisto Fine Arts in London concedes that AI might help reduce the margin of error in identifying authentic masterpieces

Other experts are more skeptical. 'I think that a lot depends on the data that is fed into the AI system,' Carlo Milano of Callisto Fine Arts told the FT.

'For example, if a questionable catalogue raisonne is used to input data about an artist, then the conclusions can be questionable.'

Milano concedes that AI might help reduce the margin of error in identifying authentic masterpieces but that it will never be able to entirely replace hands-on human experience.

Some conservators are skeptical as to whether AI can take into account factors such as a filthy layer of varnish, wear or damage.

Prof Hassan Ugail, director of Bradford's Centre for Visual Computing says AI is unlikely to replacing human jobs in the art world but may be a useful tool for authentication.

'Just like spectroscopy and dating techniques, AI can be one important tool in the main toolbox,' he says.

'The main drawback at the moment is the quality of the inputs given to the AI attribution programs currently being used' art historian Bendor Grosvenor told the FT.

'It is simply not possible to determine whether a painting is by Rubens by relying only on poor-quality images of not much more than half his oeuvre.

'No human connoisseur would be trusted to do so  neither can a computer' he concluded.
A former manager at Google has filed a lawsuit against the company which claims she was passed over for promotion because she is black and repeatedly faced 'thinly veiled racist comments' including a taunt about George Floyd's death.

Tiffany Minott, 40, sued the company in New York alleging multiple civil rights violations and claiming that Google 'consistently undervalues and under-compensates black employees'.

Minott, a former project manager who joined Google in September 2019, also claims in the suit that she complained to HR about the 'racist' treatment but was told after an investigation that there was 'no issue'.

She said the behavior she faced at Google caused her to suffer from depression and anxiety which resulted in a period of sick leave which lasted around four months. Minott was ultimately laid off in January 2023.

'Google consistently undervalues and under-compensates black employees performing jobs requiring the same skill, effort, and responsibility as their white counterparts,' according to the complaint.

Tiffany Minott has sued Google over claims she faced racist treatment from colleagues and alleging the company 'undervalues and under-compensates black employees'

Minott has alleged that her co-worker Casey Schmidt (pictured) once told her that an issue she faced at work was 'probably because of everything going on with George Floyd'

The suit claims Minott, who worked in Google's Cloud services division, 'performed exceptionally' throughout her employment and 'exceeded all expectations' set by the company.

But she said her work was repeatedly underappreciated while similar performances by white colleagues were rewarded.

A Google spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'We have strict policies against discrimination and we thoroughly investigate all reported concerns. We work hard to create an environment where everyone is valued and can succeed.'

After Minott joined the company, she initially reported to Alexandra Schwartzer, a process manager who is white, and received frequent praise for her work, according to the suit. In April 2020, Ben Martin, a white man, took over as Minott's boss.

Following the change, Google 'repeatedly failed to evaluate Minott fairly, and according to the same standards as her similarly situated non-Black counterparts,' the complaint claims.

'An intentional pattern of discrimination that negatively impacted Minott's career trajectory and compensation at Google ensued.'

Minott alleges that under Martin's leadership, she was once told by a white colleague, Casey Schmidt, that issues she faced accessing work-related tools were 'probably because of everything going on with George Floyd'.

Martin is alleged to have chimed into the conversation  which took place around on month after Floyd's murder  by responding 'that sucks', but failing to offer a solution to the problem.

Martin is accused throughout the complaint of treating Minott differently to her 'white counterparts' and holding 'racial biases'.

Tiffany Minott, 40, sued Google in New York on Tuesday alleging multiple civil rights violations and claiming that Google 'consistently undervalues and under-compensates black employees'

He allegedly passed over Minott for a promotion into a newly-created role, which would have brought a $50,000 pay rise, in favor of a less suitable white male with 'no prior experience working on Google products or services'.

Upon comparing her experience with the chosen candidate, 'it was clear that Google denied her the promotion based on her race and in retaliation for requesting short-term disability leave', it is claimed.

Minott claims that the pattern of alleged behavior caused her anxiety and depression which was 'directly attributable' to Google's 'unlawful conduct and were exacerbated by the discrimination that she faced at work'.

She requested a medical leave of absence in December 2020 but 'rather than allowing [her] to recover from her medical conditions appropriately, [Google] began subjecting [her] to increased discrimination based on race and retaliation for her request for short-term disability leave', the suit claims.

Minott took several months off work for mental health reasons and returned in April 2021. She claims she was then expected to complete 'four months' work within two weeks'.

In May 2021, Minott was transferred from Martin's team to the Google Systems department, reporting to Stacey Choi-Dunn, who is Asian, and Katie Richardson-Ball, who is white.

'Like Mr Martin, Minott's new managers continued to discriminate against her by subjecting her to heightened performance standards and a disproportionately high workload based on her race and in retaliation for taking a medically necessary leave of absence,' the suit claims.

The suit lists several instances where Minott was allegedly subjected to 'thinly veiled racist comments' during her work in the Google Services team.

They are said to include: 'you're articulate'; 'you look unimpressed you're probably multitasking'; 'I understand you do not want to work hard'; and 'DEI activities are reverse discrimination to white men'.

A white colleague, technical account specialist Dan Hare, also allegedly said: 'I was a diversity hire in my last job.'

'These comments focused on Minott's tone, appearance, and company diversity efforts, reflecting an environment intolerant to the presence of black employees,' the suit added.

The lawsuit follows several other filed against Google over its alleged mistreatment of black employees. In March 2022, a former diversity recruiter at the company, April Curley (pictured), claimed that the company engaged in 'intentional race discrimination'

Curley is a former diversity recruiter at the company

Minott said she complained to HR several times about her treatment but that her concerns were 'dismissed'.

'[Google] simply refused to recognize or ameliorate discrimination, including racially discriminatory performance evaluations that impact Black employees' compensation and career trajectories,' according to the complaint.

The suit follows several others filed against Google in recent years which have alleged the company discriminates against its black employees through smaller salaries and fewer promotions.

A black, deaf Google employee filed a suit in California in December which alleged she was discriminated against because of her race and disability. Jalon Hall, the complainant, claims she was discriminated against despite the company publicly using her to promote its diversity credentials.

In March 2022, a former diversity recruiter at the company, April Curley, claimed that the company was 'engaged in a nationwide pattern or practice of intentional race discrimination and retaliation'.

The company's 2022 diversity report showed 5.3 percent of its workforce was black, compared with 48.3 percent who were white and 43.2 percent who were Asian. The proportion of black people in leadership roles was 4.7 percent.

Minott's lawsuit adds: 'Google's actions indicate a disturbing pattern and practice of discriminating against black employees in performance evaluations, promotional opportunities, and compensation.

'Plaintiff continued to suffer under this pattern of discrimination until she was laid-off due to an alleged reduction-in-force in January 2023.'
A campaign to ban members of Congress from stock trading is building momentum after research revealed politicians made trades worth more than $1 billion last year - and many vastly outperformed the market.

Lawmakers are accused of 'gangster' tactics by critics who have demanded legislation to prohibit members of Congress and their closest relatives from owning or trading stocks.

The proposed law - known as the ETHICS act - already has the backing of several members but needs more support before it can be passed.

The campaign to end the trading by America's top politicians has gained momentum after disclosures revealed several enjoyed runaway success on the stock market last year.

Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, is one of the most prolific traders, having made trades totaling around $100 million since 2019. Her returns were around 65 percent last year, according to an analysis, vastly outperforming the broader market.

Nancy Pelosi, pictured at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, is one of the most prolific traders in Congress and enjoyed gains of more than 60 percent last year, according to an analysis

A report into trades by members of Congress reveals several have vastly outperform the stock market in recent in years

Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins of New York was singled out as one of Congress' best performers after he enjoyed returns of 238 percent on his investments, placing him number one in terms of percentage gains. Higgins' gains came from several trades in 2020.

Mark Green, the Republican chair of the Homeland Security Committee, was found to have made gains of 122.2 percent.

Other studies have found that stocks chosen by members of Congress have returned around 273 percent since April 2020.

None of the lawmakers are accused of illegal activity.

Unusual Whales, a trading community which compiled a report of Congress members' trading activity in 2023, has now partnered with RepresentUs, an anti-corruption organization, to mount a fresh campaign against the practice.

They say politicians should be banned from owning or trading stock entirely to prevent them working with inside information or taking decisions based on their own financial interests.

RepresentUs CEO Joshua Graham Lynn said: 'It's outrageous that members of Congress are gaming the stock market while millions of Americans struggle to make ends meet. I'd call it gangster behavior, but that would imply it's illegal and, sadly, it is not.

'The overwhelming majority of Americans want this to stop. So let's make it stop.'

Polls have shown 70 percent of Americans support a ban on lawmakers trading.

An overwhelming number of politicians from both parties have also signaled they support a ban - but are yet to pass strict legislation that would end the practice.

Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins of New York was singled out as one of Congress' best performers after he enjoyed returns of 238 percent on his investments

Mark Green, the Republican chair of the Homeland Security Committee, was found to have made gains of 122.2 percent, according to an analysis

Pelosi is among those who have said they would support a ban. In 2020 she backed the idea but said it 'has to be government-wide' - which was perceived by some critics as simply kicking the can down the road.

Currently, lawmakers are bound by the 2012 STOCK act, an acronym for Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge.

The law makes it illegal for politicians and their staff to use private information derived from their official work for personal gain. Lawmakers must also disclose their trades within 45 days.

But the standard punishment for violating the act is a fine of only $200  a figure which is dwarfed by the gains of some politicians. And dozens of lawmakers from both sides have repeatedly breached the rules of the act.

A review by Business Insider in January 2023 found 78 members of Congress had failed to report their trades on time. They included Senator Tommy Tuberville, the Republican from Alabama, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Democrat from Maryland.

The ETHICS act  Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks  would ban politicians and their closest relatives from owning and trading stocks altogether.

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, lead sponsor of the bill, has called stock trading by Congress 'deeply corrupt'.

'We are elected to serve the public, not our portfolios. And no member should vote on bills biased by the character of their holdings,' said Merkley.

In total members of Congress made about 11,000 transactions in 2023 - down from a high of 17,000 during Covid year 2020 and 14,000 in 2022. The trades amounted to nearly $1 billion in volume.

A tool which copies investments by members of Congress and their families has risen 20 percent in the 12 months to January. The green shows the Congress tracker has far outperformed the the S&P500, represented by the gray line, since April 2020

A separate tool focused solely on Nancy Pelosi's portfolio shows that her investments have risen by around 50 percent across in the year to January. Pelosi's investments are illustrated by the blue line, while the grey line shows the performance of the S&P500 across the same period

Democrats beat Republicans in terms of performance and volume of transactions last year.

In total 33 percent of traders in Congress beat the S&P500, which tracks the value of America's largest companies. About a fifth of members traded, down by around 33 percent from 2020 to 2022.

House Democrats filed about 7,000 transactions, House Republicans filed 3,000.

The members with the largest number of transactions did not necessarily perform the best.

Rep. Rho Khanna, D-Calif., reported 4,253 transactions but underperformed the S&P 500, which had 25 percent returns versus his 13 percent returns.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, had 1,826 transactions but only 11 percent returns.

Members of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee purchased healthcare stocks in 435 separate transactions and financial services stocks in 392.

Members of the Armed Services Committee made 392 transactions in healthcare stocks and 277 in financial services stocks.
The mom-of-two received a cash payout of just $10,000 in her divorce and is allowed to see her children only once a month for a one-hour supervised visit

The California 'super mom' who faked her own kidnapping in 2016 in a Gone Girl style plot has accused her ex-husband of having their children make secret recordings of their supervised custody sessions, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Sherri Papini, 42, spent just over 10 months in federal prison last year after her elaborate deception fell apart and she was convicted of fraud. She had in fact been staying with an ex-boyfriend.

It took cops almost six years to unravel Papinis elaborate hoax which saw her starve and brand herself while hiding inside a Costa Mesa apartment for three weeks before dramatically reemerging to claim she had been kidnapped by two Hispanic women.

The investigation cost the California authorities more than $150,000 while Papini cashed in on her fraud to the tune of $30,000 from a state fund set up for victims of crime.

DailyMail.com can reveal that Sherri Papini has only seen her children Tyler, 11, and Violet, 9, three times since her release and believes that her ex-husband Keith recorded supervised custody sessions

The mom-of-two received a cash payout of just $10,000 in her divorce and is allowed to see her children only once a month for a one-hour supervised visit

Husband Keith, 41, filed for divorce shortly after her arrest, writing in divorce papers he and children Tyler, 11, and Violet, nine, had been repeatedly victimized and lied to.

After doing her time at medium-security FCI Victorville, Papini was sent to a Bay Area halfway house where, in September, she was exclusively photographed by DailyMail.com skipping for joy as she left for a fresh start on the outside.

But while Papinis plans included an idyllic existence in the small town of Red Bluff funded by a substantial payout from Keith, DailyMail.com can reveal that it hasn't quite worked out that way for the mom-of-two.

Indeed, the 41-year-old now appears to be more wary than ever. Prior to her arrest, she lived a reclusive lifestyle at her and Keiths remote Redding home and had made a habit of wearing a wad of cloth soaked with alcohol around her neck so she could breathe in what she said were calming fumes.

Now court papers obtained by DailyMail.com reveal blonde Papini has even become nervous about being secretly recorded during her time with her children  repeatedly complaining about a watch worn by her daughter that she claimed had been set up to record her by Keith.

The records show Papini has seen her children just three times since being released from jail  and only saw Violet during her most recent visit, as Tyler refused to attend.

The first session was on November 15  two months after she was released from the Oakland halfway house  and saw her spend time with both children with no problems according to the report compiled by a court-appointed supervisor.

Papini (seen left leaving a federal courthouse in 2022) claimed that her three-week disappearance in November 2016 was due to her being kidnapped by 'two Hispanic women'

Sherri with her husband Keith on their wedding day. The mother of two told her ex-lover she had run away because Keith was abusing her

But the second on December 20 saw her raise concerns to supervisor Maira DeLaTorre Rojo over the watches the children were wearing after the session came to an end  accusing ex-husband Keith of having them secretly record their visit.

The report said: 'NCP [Papini] said when Violet was showing her the watch was recording but said multiple times it didn't bother her.

'VS [Maira] said we will rewatch the tapes and have the children take their watches off before the visits

'As she [Papini] was leaving, she said to the director, 'Keith programmed the watch to record the visit'.

'The director stated we had no idea if it had been recorded or not and who may have done that, it could have been the child.'

The new filings come against the backdrop of Papini's ongoing legal battle with Keith over access to her children - a case still pending with a settlement conference scheduled for later this month.

However, her divorce has now been finalized with Papini denied a 50 percent share of the insurance payout he received following the Fawn Fire which scorched large swathes of Shasta County  including Redding  in October 2021, and instead handed just $10,000.

Papini had also hoped to force Keith to pony up a bill of more than $3,000 racked up on a BestBuy credit card  but received half that.

Police went to lengths to find Sherri when she went missing in 2016 with an extensive flyer campaign. She was arrested on fraud charges and lying to law enforcement in March 2022

Court papers seen by DailyMail.com show Keith had complained about the August 2022 splurge  saying she had no means of paying it back and it had been done on a card that he had obtained for her to try to boost her credit score.

A statement included in court papers shows she racked up a $571.72 tab on an AirBNB in Montague, California, made a $254.79 splurge at a local branch of Walmart and paid two bills of $149.08 and $218.53 at a branch of Kohl's in Chico.

Her ex-boyfriend James Reyes told police that Papini caused self-inflicted injuries while staying with him, including hitting herself to create bruises and burning herself on her arms

She also made multiple payments to Amazon, including on Prime membership, spent $933 on legal fees and splashed out $161.15 at upscale Northern California grocery store Raley's.

The filing demanding repayment and penned by lawyers acting for Keith adds: 'By the time these bills come due, Sherri will be safely shielded from nasty debt collectors by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

'This is who Sherri Papini is  Sherri comes first, consideration of others second, if at all, and truth, integrity and morality of no consequence.'

According to court papers seen by DailyMail.com, the mom-of-two  who is using her parents' remote home in Shingletown as her official address  is now working as a writer, telling her daughter she is penning two books in a bid to make ends meet.

A report detailing a custody visit on January 17 with daughter Violet reveals that Papini said she is setting up a foundation for families in similar situations while also writing the books in response to a question from the child.

She said: 'Mommy's also an author now. She's writing two books. I work lots of hours to write chapter books.

'So when I tell you I'm working remotely, that means I'm home writing chapters on my laptop.'

Like his ex-wife, Keith is also unemployed, but he has access to assets such as the large Redding home that Papini vanished from which he leases from his father

Keith, who previously worked as a member of the BestBuy Geek Squad, filed for divorce shortly after Papini was arrested in front of their children in March 2022.

He had believed Papini's story  that her three-week disappearance in November 2016 was due to her being kidnapped by 'two Hispanic women' and repeatedly appeared on TV while she was gone to plead with her to come home.

In reality, as DailyMail.com revealed at the time, the mom-of-two had disappeared to be with ex-boyfriend James Reyes in Costa Mesa  later enlisting him to help create the bruises and branding she showed off as evidence that her tall tale was true.

On her return home, Papini continued to lie to Keith and her two children but was eventually forced to confess it was all a hoax following her arrest.

Keith filed for divorce immediately afterwards and told court that he wanted sole custody of his children  writing in an October 2022 filing that he had been 'victimized' by his wife.

He said: 'On April 11 2022, I learned that I and my children had been victimized, that my wife was a skilled liar, an accomplished thief, a manipulator of others without empathy for their pain and loss.'
Daniel Paul Heazlewood was living a cashed-up lifestyle, wearing a $10,000 designer watch, romancing women with dates in expensive restaurants, and learning to fly planes on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Apart from his job as roofing contractor, no-one really knew where the money came from, nor did they know Heazlewood's ghastly secret and the life he had left behind 200km away on the Gold Coast.

Heazlewood had changed his name to Daniel Blake and set out to charm women with the rules he laid out in a 'What Dating Dan Looks Like' list on a whiteboard.

The list included candlelit baths, beach trips in a 4WD, kissing and 'biting... often' and 'all the sex ranging from passionate to rough (high sex drive, last long)'.

His dating guide worked, and women thought that 'he seemed like the guy who had it all'.

'He was muscly, dressed nicely, always had cash on him. Would wine and dine,' one acquaintance told Daily Mail Australia.

The truth about who he really was only fully emerged on Australia Day when Heazlewood allegedly lost control and brandished a crowbar in front of one of his mates.

Police were called. It wasn't until almost a month later that a warrant for his arrest culminated in an appearance at Maroochydore Magistrates Court and he was taken back into custody.

Daniel Paul Heazlewood was living the high life under a new name on the Sunshine Coast but is now back in jail after being arrested for allegedly brandishing a crowbar and causing fear

Daniel Heazlewood's self-described dating 'guide' included lot of sex, biting, beach trips and affection

In reality, the 'romantic' tradie was a convicted killer who had ended his own mother's life because he was ashamed she was a 'bogan'. He then bought a shovel at Bunnings and put her corpse in the boot of his car, a court heard.

He wasn't caught for killing his mother, Linda Sidon, until nine years after her 2009 death, and has never been able to say exactly where he dumped her body in the Numinbah Valley scrubland southwest of the Gold Coast.

After serving just 29 months behind bars, Heazlewood walked from jail, changed his name and started a new life on the Sunshine Coast where, until his latest arrest, few who knew him realised he was an ex-prisoner on parole for manslaughter and interfering with his mother's corpse.

Now Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal that Heazlewood is back inside a Queensland prison, and friends have shared what could be the 37-year-old's sinister secret relating to how he killed his mother.

Heazlewood is currently locked up in Brisbane Correctional Centre on the crowbar charge and allegedly breaching his parole for the charges relating to his mother's death, which doesn't expire until April 2025.

He is due to front court on one charge 'going armed so as to cause fear' early next month.

Heazlewood killed his mother when he was 22 years old in the Ashmore, Gold Coast duplex they shared on or around June 20, 2009.

He then kept it a secret for years, pretending she had moved back to her native New Zealand.

After killing her in what detectives initially described as murder, he bought agricultural lime in an effort to dissolve her flesh and bones because he had seen it 'in a movie', a court heard.

Heazlewood was living the high life but in reality he had killed his mother and hidden her corpse in a bush grave

Heazlewood, now 37, was transferred from the Maroochydore watchhouse to Brisbane prison at Wacol after his parole was revoked in late February. Above is an old photo

He then drove 36km to Pine Creek Road in the Numinbah Forest and dug a shallow grave in a creek or water hole.

It wouldn't be until 2018 that he would admit he killed his mother to police, but claimed it was in self-defence, resulting in a minimum sentence of just four years and nine months.

In a police interview he said his mother had come at him during a fight with a butter knife and 'I had my forearm like around her neck and we were struggling and then she wasn't moving', a court was told.

Heazlewood became eligible for parole and walked from prison in February 2021, at first moving to the Brisbane suburb of Carina and then on to Maroochydore.

He told people who befriended him on Instagram that the reason he only had about 30 followers is that he'd just moved up from the Gold Coast and was 'starting over', laughing off a new mate's query if he'd just been to prison.

He began taking flying lessons, boasting about his intention to become a pilot.

One of his new friends revealed that the killer had a phobia about drowning, to the point that he could not watch movies with drowning scenes.

He blamed his mother for the phobia, saying she had made him watch a drowning video.

Heazlewood enjoyed dating women on the Sunshine Coast after his prison release but many claimed he was toxic

While wining and dining women and taking flying lessons during his life out of prison, Daniel's new friends had no idea he was on parole for killing his mother (above) and hiding her corpse

The body of Daniel's mother (left, police searching for it) was left near Pine Creek Road in the Numinbah Valley (right) but police believe that it may never be found

But one of the people he befriended said they suspected there was another reason - that instead of his armed mother dying in a struggle, he had 'drowned her' and left her in water in scrubland.

'I can't help but having a bad feeling about it. I believe it's something more sinister,' the friend said.

When authorities searched parts of the 116 square kilometre Numinbah Valley for Ms Sidon's body after Heazlewood's confession, they concluded it may never be found due to the fact that water levels had risen and may have washed away her bones.

Heazlewood dated several women after his release from prison, but proved ''incredibly toxic' and was 'emotionally abusive and manipulative', they said.

When new friends eventually worked out Daniel's real name and Googled him, he admitted he'd killed his mother but made excuses.

One woman 'went home and couldn't stop vomiting' but then fell sorry for him after he told a story about being 'abused as a child by both his mother and father, in and out of foster care'.

Heazlewood told friends he hated his mother, who he called 'a bogan' and a 'wh**e'

Party boy and steroid taker Daniel Heazlewood grew to despise his own mother before he killed her and buried her body in bushland and kept it quiet for years

However Heazlewood's stories about an abusive childhood do not fit with the narrative and Ms Sidon's family said he was never in foster care.

Ms Sidon, a 46-year-old cleaner, continued to house, feed and provide for her son even as he entered adulthood and grew to despise her.

As a man in his early 20s, he boasted to friends it would be 'so easy to snap her neck' and denigrated his mother as as 'a bogan, a whore and a c***'.

Ms Sidon had told her father back in NZ that Heazlewood 'beat her up a lot', and it was he who alerted NZ authorities to her disappearance in late 2010.

Police charged Heazlewood with murder in 2015 but downgraded the charge to manslaughter in 2018 and he was convicted in the Queensland Supreme Court.

He served just 29 months in prison.

He faces a potential two year maximum sentence if found guilty of the charge related to the alleged crowbar incident.
Microsoft's massive new AI data center is using up a small Arizona desert town's water supply and redacting its exact consumption from city documents.

The 279-acre campus in Goodyear will use an estimated 56 million gallons of water a year when it's completed - as much as 670 families need for a year, according to a report in The Atlantic.

The plant opened in 2021 with two buildings, and plans for a third, designed for use by Microsoft and the heavily Microsoft-funded OpenAI.

Powering AI requires vast amounts of electricity, which in turn generates heat and requires water to cool servers down.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told The Atlantic: 'We're going to have to make tough choices in the near future to make sure our state is protected for future generations.'

The data center sits on a 279-acre site in the outskirts of the desert town Goodyear, Arizona

According to The Atlantic, it's designed primarily for use by OpenAI, which Microsoft funds heavily

The state has been tackling extreme weather, droughts and high temperatures over the last few years.

Last summer was Phoenix's hottest on record, with 55 days of temperatures over 110 degrees, stretching the grid to the max.

It was compounded by the worse drought the region has faced in 1,000 years, with the Colorado River, which provides drinking water and hydropower, dwindling.

High-demand factories and plants strain the water supply even further.

Attorney General Kris Mayes told the Atlantic: 'Allowing one more data center to come to our state is an easy but stupid decision in a lot of cases.'

Microsoft has refused to provide the exact figures on their Goodyear center's water use, according to The Atlantic.

They reportedly redacted exact figures in city records, saying it is 'proprietary' information.

But they did provide an estimate, saying it will use 56 million gallons of water a year once the third building is completed.

It is not just a problem in Arizona, researchers at UC Riverside estimated last year that global AI demand could cause data centers to use up to 1.7 trillion gallons of fresh water by 2027.

Microsoft say they are continually striving to improve the sustainability of their data centers and to be 'good neighbors'.

Barbara Chappell, Goodyears water-services director, told the outlet that on the whole they aren't concerned and have a good relationship with Microsoft.

But one former Microsoft employee told The Atlantic that they were 'being lazy' and said there was much more they could do.

DailyMail.com has contacted Microsoft for comment.

AI and cloud computing data centers do not only pose a problem to water, they also demand huge volumes of electricity.

Recent figures suggest swaths of the US are at risk of power outages with artificial intelligence data centers and cryptocurrency mines doubling forecasted energy demand over the coming years.

Without intervention, the already ailing national grid will be pushed to its limits by skyrocketing demand, driven by rapid innovations in AI, cryptocurrencies and clean energy initiatives all of which require vast amounts of power.

Speaking at Davos last year, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, said: 'We still dont appreciate the energy needs of this technology, theres no way to get there without a breakthrough.'

The plant will consume as much water as 670 families each year

Projected demand for electricity over the next nine years has more than doubled from last year

Projections for electricity demand over the next nine years have more than doubled from 221,000 gigawatt hours last year to 564,000 gigawatt hours this year, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp.

The rise is being driven largely by developments in AI, cloud computing and cryptocurrency mining all of which require large data centers which in turn consume vast amounts of power.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that globally 'electricity consumption from data centers, artificial intelligence (AI) and the cryptocurrency sector could double by 2026.'

By 2026, they say global data centers' energy demand will equal that of the entirety of Japan.

There are currently an estimated 2,700 data centers within the US according to the IEA, which sapped over four percent of the nation's electricity in 2022.

They predict that by 2026, their consumption will rise to six percent.
But locals say this is erasing history and that the city would become a ghost town

A for-profit company has since proposed demolishing 185 of the buildings

Around 185 historic army homes in Fort Leavenworth face being demolished due to high maintenance costs - sparking outrage among locals.

The properties at the Kansas Army installation, many dating between the 1800-1900s, have fallen into disrepair in recent years, with wood rotting away, plaster and foundations crumbling, paint flaking and pipes corroded.

The Michaels Organization, a for-profit company with a 50-year lease to manage all of Fort Leavenworth's housing, has now proposed razing these homes to the ground.

But devastated Fort Leavenworth residents claim the city will become a ghost town if they are demolished.

'This is literally erasing history. Once these are gone, they're gone forever. If these are removed, Fort Leavenworth is a totally different place. It's almost a ghost town,' an anonymous military source told Kansas City Star.

185 historic sites, dating between the 1800-1900s, have been left scarred, disheveled and crumbling over the years in Fort Leavenworth, resulting in a for-profit to propose razing them

Out of the 185 houses, 89 of them are grand homes built before 1919 while the remainder are in a 12 multi-unit infantry barracks along Pope Avenue and Doniphan Drive, dating to early 1900s

Out of the 185 houses, 89 are grand homes built before 1919. The remainder are in a 12 multi-unit infantry barracks along Pope Avenue and Doniphan Drive, dating to the early 1900s.

Carol Ayres, president of the Leavenworth County Historical Society, explained: 'It's expensive to redo those old homes.

'They are expensive to replace, too. I think everyone understands the reality of the situation. Im afraid the people that make those decisions, excuse me, don't always think about the history and how important it is.

'We stand on the shoulders of the people who built that post, who built our town. We wouldnt be where we are today without them.'

But while the Michaels Organization has suggested knocking down these historic military buildings, the Army itself has not yet created any such plan or even agreed to demolish the sites.

'Any numbers being recommended by our housing partners are pre-decisional, meaning they have not been agreed to by Army leadership at any level,' said Scott Gibson, Fort Leavenworth's public affairs officer.

A Michaels Organization spokesperson also confirmed that the for-profit is not in conversation with the Army about razing the buildings.

'I can confirm that the Army has not yet told Michaels of any decision they have made regarding its plan (going) forward for these homes  so we really cant comment at this time,' they told the Star.

Furious Fort Leavenworth residents claim the city will become a ghost town if the houses are demolished

Despite assurances, locals remain worried about the future of these historic locations

Despite assurances, locals, especially military families, remain worried about the future of these historic locations.

'The concern is that Kansas is going to lose its history. Its easier for Michaels to tear them down and then just put up a cracker box than it will be to try to maintain a historic home,' said one Fort resident.

Another resident also commented: 'These houses are so strong. They're so sturdy. They're so solid. And they're gorgeous inside.

'This history is going to be gone  wiped out.'

Conversations about plans to knock down the old structures have been in circulation for nearly a year.

According to the City Star, the proposal to raze all of the historic units was shared in a meeting at Fort Leavenworth with Tami Bartunek, the Kansas City district director for the office of Kansas Republican US Senator Roger Marshall.

Bartunek later confirmed that the topic was discussed.

The Michaels Organization had reportedly signed a 50-year agreement to manage the fort's housing in 2006.

The Michaels Organization had reportedly signed a 50-year agreement to manage the fort's housing in 2006

Under this agreement, the for-profit is meant to restore old houses plagued by outdated plumbing, old heating and electrical systems, asbestos, lead paint and aging wood while following strict federal guidelines

In recent years, the fort's citizens have been complaining that instead of maintaining its older homes, Michaels has been engaging in a technique known as 'demolition by neglect'

Under this agreement, the for-profit is meant to restore old houses plagued by outdated plumbing, old heating and electrical systems, asbestos, lead paint and aging wood while following strict federal guidelines.

According to these guidelines, known as the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, the company is meant to hire special artisans to ensure that sites are restored to their original style with authentic material.

But in recent years, the fort's citizens have been complaining that instead of maintaining its older homes, Michaels has been engaging in a technique known as 'demolition by neglect'.

Locals allege that the organization has been leaving many historic homes unoccupied and led them to decay to such an extent that demolition inevitably becomes the only solution.

One such house that many believe has been purposely left to rot and could be potentially demolished in the future is the The Rookery (pictured)

Photographs show how the oldest occupied home in Kansas is afflicted with rotting wood, peeling paint, missing boards, cracked support columns along with rusted and leaking gutters

One such house that many believe has been purposely left to rot and could be potentially demolished in the future is the The Rookery.

Built around 1830, a report on the site noted that the 'level of care and maintenance that this home has received.  is the living definition of "Demolition by Neglect".

'It is an unacceptable state of maintenance not only for the National and State legacy that is the Rookery! but also for the level of quality of housing that the active military families of the United States ARMY deserve to live in.'

In a series of 50 photographs, viewers can see the oldest occupied home in Kansas afflicted with rotting wood, peeling paint, missing boards, cracked support columns along with rusted and leaking gutters.

But The Rookery is not the only withering property in Fort Leavenworth.

A July 2023 report on the Syracuse House, a two-story, yellow duplex built in 1855, also showed the extensive damage the property has suffered

The report featured multiple images of rotted planking, trim, soffits, fascia, railings and unpainted patchwork repairs in the house

A July 2023 report on the Syracuse House, a two-story, yellow duplex built in 1855, also showed the extensive damage the property has been through.

The report featured multiple images of rotted planking, trim, soffits, fascia, railings and unpainted patchwork repairs in the House.

Another report on a historic site stated that Michaels had replaced a wood floor in with an improper vinyl floor and said that it had to be removed and replaced.

The Michaels Organization has not yet commented on allegations of purposeful neglect.
A man has slammed a 'disgusting' meal from Toby Carvery and claimed it was so bad he would not feed it to his dog.

Stephen Thompson requested two Thursday Starter Surprise bags from his local branch in Darlington, County Durham via Too Good To Go, which sells on branches' surplus and unsold food.

However, Mr Thompson was less than impressed with his order once it arrived, claiming that even his dog would not touch it.

Posting to Facebook, he wrote: 'Toby Carvery's new starter meal absolutely disgusting not worth the trip,' accompanied by an image of four brown logs in a cardboard delivery container.

Stephen said that he initially thought the substance was meant to be pate, but was put off by its horrifying appearance.

A man was left shocked by the state of a Toby Carvery order after purchasing some items from delivery service Too Good To Go

Stephen Thompson placed the order on Thursday, requesting two Thursday Starter Surprise bags from his local branch in Darlington, County Durham via Too Good To Go

Speaking to Tyla, he said: 'That's got to have been the worst meal I've had in my life and I bought two. Feel like I've been robbed.'

However, he still attempted to eat the order - potentially out of sheer curiosity as much as anything else - adding: 'I had to spit it out. Even my dog wouldn't eat it.'

After being contacted by MailOnline, Toby Carvery refused to comment.

MailOnline has contacted Too Good To Go for comment.

After sharing his post on Facebook, where it has since received more than 1,200 likes, other users took to the platform to express their indignation at the appalingly presnted box.

One user wrote: 'I thought it was a Swiss Roll.'

A second added: 'What was it? Looks like something from my cat's litter tray,' one penned on Facebook.

A third joked: 'Why does it look like someone has just s***e in a box?!'

A fourth said: 'Looks like dog food, what's it meant to be?'

It comes after MailOnline compared the humble Toby Carvery Sunday roast to the only Michelin-starred pub in London, the Harwood Arms, located in Fulham.

Katrina Conaglen praised the chain's roast beef for being 'tender', while she lambasted the pork loin as 'leathery' meat.

Katrina Conaglen tried out the Sunday Roast at Worthing's Toby Carvery, which charges 13.99 for a three-meat carvery. Wondering how elevated a roast could possible get, she then spent five times as much to try the feted Sunday roast at Fulham's Harwood Arms, the only Michelin-starred pub in London

The Harwood Arms in Fulham is the only Michelin-starred pub in London. Its famed Sunday Roasts come in at 70 a head for three courses - and you have to share the roast between two

Delivering a verdict, Katrina said: 'Crucially, Toby's Carvery is not attempting a swizz - 13.99 for a mountain of well-prepared meat, endless veg, and as many roasties as you can pile on your plate.

'The ambience may be lacking - it's dining without flair - but if you're after a good feed, you're quids in.'

She gave her overall experience three stars out of five, praising the 'flavoursome meat, comforting food, mountainous puddings [and] value for money.'

However, she did note that it had 'all the atmosphere of an airport lounge', while lamenting the need to queue for food and bemoaning the 'dirty glassware'.

In comparison, Katrina found The Harwood Arms to be a satisfying experience, stating: 'When you pay over the odds for a meal, the hope is, as much as anything, you're paying for an experience.

'Toby Carvery is food as background noise - an old sitcom episode you put on for comfort but also to talk over.

'At The Harwood Arms, food is the main event. The pub satiates hunger, yes, but more than that, they create gorgeous memories. I couldn't afford to eat like this with any regularity, but if your pound stretches to it, it's worth the splurge.'
A prison psychiatrist who worked with the UK's most dangerous prisoners has claimed that serial killer Robert Maudsley should be freed.

Dr Bob Johnson, who believes the most violent inmates are a danger to society because of past trauma, says Maudsley should be given a job so he can pay the families of his victims compensation instead of being locked up.

Maudsley has been in solitary confinement in a specially-built glass cell since 1983 after killing three people in prison while serving a life sentence for murder.

The twisted killer, who was given the nickname 'Hannibal the Cannibal' following false reports that he ate one of his victims' brains, is kept in the underground box, measuring 18ft by 14ft, for 23 hours a day, in the basement of Wakefield Prison.

He is guarded by four prison officers whenever he leaves his cell and holds the world record for most consecutive days in solitary.

Dr Bob Johnson believes the most violent prisoners are a danger to society because of past trauma

Robert Maudsley (pictured), 70, is being held in a private underground cell beneath the general population of HMP Wakefield, after killing four men between 1974 and 1978

Maudsley (pictured) was last pictured more than 40 years ago for a documentary on his life in prison

Despite Maudsley previously telling his nephew he would kill again if released, Dr Johnson said it is 'ridiculous' that the 'very intelligent' Maudsley is locked up and added that he should be freed so he can pay the families of his victim's compensation.

He told true crime YouTuber Shaun Attwood: Robert Maudsley is a very cultured man, he likes Shubert like I do.

Hes a very intelligent man.

One of the things I say about Maudsley is, you have murdered somebody, you must pay.

But I would employ Maudsley with a very high salary, because hes got a good brain, and he should pay 10,000 a year to each family he has deprived a member of.

Not lock him up at the costing the state 500k a year, its ludicrous, he needs to pay compensation for what hes done.

Im sure if Id been able to continue, he would have done that.

Dr Johnson first met Maudsley in HMP Parkhurst in 1991 when the serial killer was in the hospital wing of the notorious prison.

He said of the meeting: 'I saw him on my first trip around, he was in a single cell and he was gaunt, a Moses type look. Long hair and miserable as sin.

'At that time, he was probably the most dangerous prisoner in the prison system. He was a serial killer and had been a serial killer and killed I think four times in prison.

'I noted him, when he was in Parkhurst in 1991, but he was on the hospital wing.

'Im passing through the hospital and hes got these wire mesh things [in front of him] and we start chatting and he said, if I had a friend who had this sort of problem, what would you do?"

'I said I would talk to your friend, would you be interested?

'He said, "my friend might be interested, this sort of thing".'

After the initial meeting, Dr Johnson got permission to interview and treat Maudsley with therapy.

The psychiatrist explained how Maudsley was making 'sterling progress'.

He said: 'The prison cell was 10ft by 6ft, I sat on the end of the bed by the door and hes at that end.

Dr Johnson treated Maudsley in the 1990s and believes he should be freed and given a job so he pay the families of his victims compensation

Dr Bob Johnson made the comments on true crime youtuber Shaun Attwood's (pictured) show during an appearance alongside his wife Sue Johnson

Dr Johnson appeared on the youtube show alongside his wife Sue Johnson (pictured)

'He said my hands are getting sweaty, then I said, "if you frighten me, I cant help you"... so he calmed down.

'He was making sterling progress, we were making incredible progress, we were unpacking his appalling childhood.

'He used to get very agitated and used to say, "Ive got a protector and hes coming in", so Id say back off, but did so gently, and I'd say "do you want me to come back again?".

'We did monthly [sessions] at first and then we did gradually more. He eventually said, I see these things quite differently from a month ago".'

Dr Johnson believes the most violent prisoners were born 'lovable' before they suffered horrific trauma at a young age and that they can be cured with the right treatment.

He said: 'These psychopaths, so-called, had all been born lovable, sociable and non-violent and something, which they couldn't tell you, had gone wrong, and eventually they could tell you.'

The psychiatrist explained his methods: 'What happens is, they put their trauma in a box and they are the only people who can open the box. If they open the box prematurely, that's the end of them - they're dead.

'So, they don't open the box. My message to them is, "the box is empty you know".

'If you can open the box and blow it away, it goes away completely but there are a whole lot of stuff that happens in between.'

Maudsley's brother Kevin previously told MailOnline that the killer is 'happy' behind bars and will never apologise for his crimes because 'they were all paedophiles'.

He added: 'The visits give him something to live for. He's just used to it.'

Maudsley, seen as a child, is serving four life sentences in his glass cell which measures 18ft by 14ft

Dr Johnson believes the trauma of the most violent offenders can be cured with the right type of therapy

Kevin, 71, visits his brother once a month and sits in an adjoining cell, talking through metal bars.

He said: 'He's settled in - he wouldn't want to move. He'd rather be on his own than in the normal prison. He just likes it.

'I have visits. He's in one and we're in another, with bars. He seems happy enough in there.

'He seems alright, we have a good laugh. We just talk about things like outside - what's it like, what's going on, things like that.'

The violent prisoner has only been pictured once since his incarceration after being filmed for a documentary on him more than 40 years ago.

His brother's comments are in stark contrast to the battle the inmate has waged against the prison authorities in an effort to move him into better conditions.

In letters more than 20 years ago, he wrote: 'The prison authorities see me as a problem, and their solution has been to put me into solitary confinement and throw away the key, to bury me alive in a concrete coffin.

'It does not matter to them whether I am mad or bad. They do not know the answer and they do not care just so long as I am kept out of sight and out of mind.

'I am left to stagnate, vegetate and to regress; left to confront my solitary head-on with people who have eyes but don't see and who have ears but don't hear, who have mouths but don't speak.

'My life in solitary is one long period of unbroken depression.'

In 2021, he lost an appeal to spend Christmas with other people and was told that he will be incarcerated in his cell until he dies.

A year later, a Channel 5 documentary revealed the serial killer had told his nephew he vowed to kill again if he was released.

Maudsley's (pictured) brother Paul said he was 'happy' living in his glass cell underneath HMP Wakefield

At HMP Wakefield two weeks ago, paedophile murderer Roy Whiting, 65, was stabbed by another prisoner

Maudsley's nephew Gavin (pictured) told a documentary that he often visits the killer at Wakefield prison

Maudsley's two-room cell is constructed from Perspex and has compressed cardboard furniture.

The sadistic killer spends every day in the Hannibal Lecter-style cell, sleeping on a concrete slab and using a toilet and sink which are bolted to the floor.

Like his namesake, in the 1991 Hollywood blockbuster Silence of the Lambs, guards who have met Maudsley describe him as exceptionally intelligent, with a love of classical music, poetry and art.

Kevin, who is the only person to visit Maudsley alongside said his brother Paul and nephew Gavin, said he whiles away the days reading books on chess, and then playing against himself.

He said: 'He's more into his chess. He has books on it - he just reads books about chess. That's how he is now.

'He has his hour outside and then he goes back in.

'He plays against himself. I don't really know how he does it.

'He can go to the gym but he can't do anything because his knees are going.'

Maudsley was born in Toxteth, Liverpool in 1953 and was the fourth child of a local lorry driver.

But he had an unhappy start to life and was taken into care at a young age with his two brothers and sister after they were found to be victims of 'parental neglect'.

After several years in care, Maudsley and his siblings went back to live with his parents but there they were beaten severely and suffered 'physical abuse', his brother said.

During his last murder trial in 1979, the court heard that during his violent rages Maudsley believed his victims were his parents.

He said: 'When I kill, I think I have my parents in mind. If I had killed my parents in 1970, none of these people need have died. If I had killed them, then I would be walking around as a free man without a care in the world.'

Maudsley committed his first murder in 1974, at 21, after running away to London to work as a male prostitute as as a 16-year-old.

He brutally murdered paedophile John Farrell in Wood Green, after he showed pictures of children he had sexually abused.

Following the slaying, he handed himself in to police and immediately confessed his crime.

Maudsley was sent to Broadmoor Hospital, home to some of Britain's most violent criminals after he was deemed unfit to stand trial.

Retired prison officer Neil Samworth has revealed why he thinks Maudsley (pictured) should no longer be kept in solitary confinement

Maudsley was sent to HMP Wakefield (pictured) - nicknamed 'Monster Mansion' - after being convicted of manslaughter

At Broadmoor he was a 'model' prisoner until 1977 when he and fellow prisoner David Cheeseman locked themselves in a cell with child molester David Francis.

After a gruesome nine-hour torture ordeal, the callous pair dangled Francis's lifeless body for prison guards to see.

According to one guard, the man was discovered with his head 'cracked open like a boiled egg' with a spoon hanging out of it and part of the brain missing.

Maudsley was then sent to HMP Wakefield - nicknamed 'Monster Mansion' - after being convicted of manslaughter.

At Wakefield in 1978 Maudsley strangled and stabbed Salney Darwood, 46, who had been jailed for killing his wife.

He hid Darwood's body under bed before sneaking into the cell of paedophile Bill Roberts, 56, who had sexually abused a girl aged seven.

He stabbed Roberts, hacked his skull with a makeshift dagger and smashed his head against a wall.

It was only then that the brutal 'Hannibal' killer was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 2000, Maudsley launched a legal bid to the courts requesting to be allowed to die.

He wrote a letter asking: 'What purpose is served by keeping me locked up 23 hours a day?

'Why even bother to feed me and to give me one hour's exercise a day? Who actually am I a risk to?'

In the letter he described that his current treatment and confinement had led him to look forward to a 'psychological breakdown,' mental illness and 'probable suicide'.

Maudsley is kept separated from other inmates inside Wakefield (pictured) after he killed three people while serving a sentence for murder

HMP Wakefield (pictured) holds some of Britain's most dangerous killers and notorious inmates

He went on to question why he couldn't have a pet budgie, promising to love it and 'not eat it'.

Also questioning why he couldn't have a television to 'see the world' and educate himself or music tapes.

He ended the letter saying: 'If the Prison Service says no then I ask for a simple cyanide capsule which I shall willingly take and the problem of Robert John Maudsley can easily and swiftly be resolved.'

Despite his depraved crimes, a veteran prison officer who has guarded some of Britain's most dangerous men told MailOnline that Maudsley should be moved out of solitary.

Neil Samworth, who served at HMP Strangeways in Manchester for more than a decade, said: 'I think it's wrong the way he has been treated. He is in total isolation and is not fair.

He added: 'I think his crimes are historic now and he represents no real danger to others. It's a bit like Charlie Bronson.

'Yes, he has had lots of fights in the past but he is an old man now.'
Have YOU been gaslit by NHS bosses?

Have YOU been gaslit by NHS bosses?

Health workers have claimed that while the NHS is awash with hundreds of sexual predators, a culture of silence sees most of them go unpunished.

Just 36 disgraced doctors have been struck off in the past year for sexual misconduct, despite serious accusations levelled at hundreds of staff.

Healthcare workers told MailOnline there was a silent abuse epidemic and accused NHS bosses of 'silencing, slut-shaming and gaslighting' victims.

Branding sexual misconduct in the NHS an 'open secret', orthopaedic surgeon Simon Fleming said: 'The number of doctors being struck off is not even the tip of the iceberg - they're the tip of the tip.

'Healthcare has a problem with sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape. It is an uncomfortable truth, but the truth nonetheless.'

Have YOU been gaslit by NHS bosses? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk

Fleur Curtis, 44, (pictured) was forced to quit her job as a physician associate at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust after being sexually assaulted by a house doctor

Salman Siddiqi (pictured) arranged to meet an underage boy for sex on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent

Dr Robert Varnam (pictured), a GP and former NHS England director, was convicted of downloading child porn

Romanian doctor Iuliu Stan (pictured) was struck off this month after subjecting patients to intimate procedures they did not need for sexual kicks

NHS psychiatrist Jamal Hilal (pictured), a Sudanese doctor based in Newcastle, massaged a junior member of staff's breasts in an 'unnecessary and inappropriate' medical examination

An investigation by the British Medical Journal revealed how 35,606 'sexual safety incidents' were recorded by NHS hospitals in England in five years, ranging from abusive remarks to rape allegedly perpetrated by staff, patients and visitors.

More than 4,000 hospital staff were accused of sexual misconduct in the five years to 2022, the statistics show, but just 576 faced internal disciplinary action. The NHS claimed this figure included repeat offenders and non-NHS staff but refused to provide any proof.

Fewer still were referred to the regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC), to face fitness to practise hearings, which could see them struck off by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).

In the five years to March 2023, GMC received 526 complaints of sexual assault involving patients and staff.

But of 233 completed investigations, just a handful of doctors were struck off.

Doctors hauled up for misconduct can face sanctions including warnings, conditions and being erased from the register.

Since 2020, only 87 doctors have been banned for sexual misconduct - 12 in 2020, 16 in 2021, 23 in 2022 and another 36 in the 12 months to February this year. The figures include doctors working in private capacities.

The recent surge came after the GMC vowed to crack down with 'zero tolerance'.

However, Dr Fleming said: 'The GMC is working to change how they handle these issues but current systems are still inadequate and not fit for purpose.

'Doctors openly talk about the fear of repercussions if they report predators - the NHS has a long way to go to create a culture of sexual safety for its staff and its patients.

'Sadly silencing, slut-shaming and gaslighting is the way things currently play out in the NHS.'

Fleur Curtis, 44, was forced to quit her job as a physician associate at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust after being sexually assaulted by a house doctor.

She was groped at work by specialist registrar Mahendar Katarapu, 44, and endured panic attacks and post-traumatic stress as a result of the Trust's inaction.

The doctor, branded 'creepy' by colleagues, was reported to bosses but Fleur was allegedly told: 'Suspensions are bad for doctors' careers'.

Fleur, now an award-winning hat designer behind Oscar and Willow Millinery, said: 'The reason these figures are just the tip of the iceberg is the management culture in the NHS - they just don't seem to get it.

Children's doctor Salman Siddiqi (pictured) was arrested in a sting led by a self-professed paedophile hunter and jailed for 28 months

It emerged during his disciplinary hearing that he had been able to continue working at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, despite having a police caution for flashing

Pictured: Salman Siddiqi after his arrest by Kent Police. He was later struck off the medical register

Dr Robert Varnam (pictured), a GP and former NHS England director, was struck off in January after more than 200 indecent images of children were found on the 53-year-old's devices

NHS psychiatrist Jamal Hilal, 62, (pictured) told a trainee she was the 'perfect woman', and quizzed her about her sex life, asking if she was 'experimental'

'In my case, the management didn't recognise that the offending doctor should have been suspended and investigated with immediate effect.

'They just moved him from one hospital to another within the same Trust.

'They didn't recognise that it was a criminal act that should have been reported to the police, or that it was sexual misconduct that should have been reported to the GMC.

'It took months of me fighting them to take it seriously, resulting eventually in [an] internal investigation and [his] dismissal.

'I'd worked for the NHS all my life, and had a career that I loved, but I just felt that I had no other option than to leave.

'The whole thing took months for me to get them to take it seriously but it took them years to admit they had dealt with it wrong.'

Katarapu was struck off in 2021 after 39 allegations concerning six women were found to be true.

Recent cases of doctors struck off for sexual misconduct are harrowing to read.

Romanian doctor Iuliu Stan was struck off this month after subjecting patients to intimate procedures they did not need for sexual kicks.

A misconduct panel ruled he 'preyed' on vulnerable patients including young boys at Royal Cornwall Hospital over a five-year period.

Patients were subjected to unnecessary anal examinations and medications being inserted into their rectums by Dr Iuliu Stan.

NHS psychiatrist Jamal Hilal, a Sudanese doctor based in Newcastle, massaged a junior member of staff's breasts in an 'unnecessary and inappropriate' medical examination.

The 62-year-old told the trainee she was the 'perfect woman', and quizzed her about her sex life, asking if she was 'experimental'.

Junior NHS doctor Aleksejs Cvetkovs, 51, was struck off over an illicit encounter with a drug addict patient at The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, Cumbria.

Latvian-born Cvetkovs gave the woman money, knowing she would use it to buy drugs, before they had sex in her flat.

Junior NHS doctor Aleksejs Cvetkovs, 51, (pictured) was struck off over an illicit encounter with a drug addict patient at The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, Cumbria

Latvian-born Cvetkovs gave the woman money, knowing she would use it to buy drugs, before they had sex in her flat

GP Dharmapragasam Inthiraraj behaved in a 'predatory manner' towards two women at a clinic in Ealing, west London.

He performed an intimate exam on a 63-year-old patient without consent, a disciplinary hearing was told in January. When she tried to get up, he pushed her chest and told her: 'Cool down, nothing has happened enjoy it.'

Alan Taman, from the campaigning group Doctors for the NHS, said: 'We can only hope these numbers are higher because this perverse minority are being found out more often.

'What we do know is this is always wrong. Doctors are allowed - expected - to do things to you that no one else would without your permission.

'Doing that for sexual arousal is a betrayal of you and medicine alike. There should be no tolerance for that, and no hiding place.

'The NHS is there for us all. Acts like this destroy trust in it.'

Solicitor Samantha Dickinson, of law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: 'The NHS must take immediate action to ensure it is providing a safe place of work for female staff.

'Sexual harassment is legally and morally reprehensible in any workplace. It doesn't matter how senior or high-performing these male surgeons are  sexual misconduct cannot be tolerated.

'There must be a zero-tolerance approach to all sexual harassment and sexual violence.

'Statistics seem to show that very few male doctors who are found to have committed sexual misconduct are then struck off, which is outrageous.

'We should remember that the stories we hear about are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg, as many women will keep quiet to avoid further harassment or losing their jobs  which means the scale of this awful behaviour is worse than we think.

'Those who are covering up sexual harassment and allowing it to go unpunished are perpetuating a culture of silence and compounding the harm caused to survivors.

'It is concerning for staff, patients, and the public that these predators are allowed to continue in their roles.

'The NHS is in the grip of a staffing crisis and if it continues to tolerate this misogynistic behaviour, that crisis will get worse.'

Other troubling recent cases include Dr Robert Varnam, a GP and former NHS England director, who was convicted of downloading child porn.

He was struck off in January after more than 200 indecent images of children were found on the 53-year-old's devices.

Another is disgraced children's doctor Salman Siddiqi, who arranged to meet an underage boy for sex on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent.

He was arrested in a sting led by a self-professed paedophile hunter and jailed for 28 months.

It emerged during his disciplinary hearing that he had been able to continue working at the hospital despite having a police caution for flashing.

The scourge of sexual misconduct is not confined just to the NHS.

A Cambridge-educated medic took advantage of his patients at Cadogan Clinic, a boutique hospital in west London which treats 20,000 patients a year.

Married plastic surgeon Olivier Branford, 50, slept with three vulnerable patients after sending them explicit messages - and told one he wanted to 'oil her up'.

The father-of-three sent one patient a photo of her naked on the operating table and then asked her to return in thigh-high boots and lingerie for role-play sex.

She told The Times last July: 'He wanted to role play, that doctor-patient fantasy thing.

Married plastic surgeon Olivier Branford, 50, (picture) slept with three vulnerable patients after sending them explicit messages - and told one he wanted to 'oil her up'

'Instead of calling him ''Ollie'' as he had previously insisted, I had to call him ''Dr Branford''.

'He would say things like ''How can I help? Let me have a closer look,'' as if talking from a prepared script. He had a bottle of lubricant next to the examination table, all set up.'

She told how she found the sex rough and painful, adding: 'My stitches hadn't even dissolved. And it's not like he was gentle. It was a massive abuse of power. I was on a lot of drugs after surgery.'

MailOnline's investigation comes after research last year revealed almost a third of female NHS surgeons said they had been sexually assaulted by a male colleague in the past five years.

Nearly one in 100 of them were raped, the study by the University of Exeter found. Junior staff said they were afraid to speak out as it could cost them their jobs.

Meanwhile, research in the British Journal of Surgery found that 63.3 per cent of female surgeons had been sexually harassed, while 89.5 per cent reported witnessing such behaviour.

The survey of more than 1,700 surgeons in the UK also found that 29.9 per cent of female surgeons had been sexually assaulted.

The GMC's fitness to practice chief and general counsel, Anthony Omo, said: 'We are very clear that there is no place for any form of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination in the medical profession.

'Our updated professional standards for doctors, Good Medical Practice, sets out a zero tolerance of sexual misconduct and that acting in a sexual way towards patients or colleagues is unacceptable.

'In many cases involving sexual allegations, the GMC's position will be that such serious misconduct is incompatible with continued registration. As a regulator, we also have a responsibility to support all those raising a concern.

'For doctors, we provide support which includes a confidential helpline, which helps them raise concerns or ask for advice if they do not feel able to do so in their workplace. Our Outreach teams also work closely with employers to make sure that serious concerns about doctors are referred to us for investigation.

'Patients and doctors must be supported by environments that are free from all forms of sexual misconduct.'

An NHS spokeswoman said: 'Sexual misconduct in any form is completely unacceptable and the NHS is committed to ensuring a safe workplace for staff and patients.

'The NHS has launched a sexual safety charter which all trusts in England need to sign up to, committing them to ensuring appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place for those experiencing any unwanted, inappropriate or harmful sexual behaviours at work, so that incidents can be recorded anonymously and safely.'

Have YOU been gaslit by NHS bosses? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

A spokeswoman for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: 'Although we are unable to comment on individual cases, we take our responsibilities to protect our staff very seriously. We have acted upon recommendations to improve support and training for staff.

'We are fully committed to creating a safe, supportive environment for all colleagues and have embedded Freedom to Speak Up, and many other routes, throughout our organisation to encourage any concerns to be raised and acted upon.'

Cadogan Clinic and Olivier Bradford did not respond to requests for comment.

At the time of his tribunal, Tracy Sell-Peters, partner at Keystone Law, said in a statement issued on Branford's behalf: 'The Medical Practitioners tribunal found that Mr Branford was unwell at the time of these events and Mr Branford's position is that he was not conscious of his illness. He has spent three years working on his recovery but remains very unwell from a mental health point of view. In due course, Mr Branford may explain his position further, but not when he is unwell. Mr Branford entirely refutes any suggestion that he offered the patients free treatment in exchange for their silence.'

A spokesman for the Cadogan Clinic said at the time: 'The Cadogan Clinic maintains the highest standard of patient care and safety as assessed by our regulator, the CQC. In this case, the consultant deceived the clinic over a period of time. As soon as we became aware of Mr Branford's misconduct, we took every available step to stop him practising, with us and with other providers. We agree with external review that the misconduct could not have been prevented, but we have nevertheless worked tirelessly with all the regulators to ensure that our systems are robust, and we continue to offer the highest standard of patient safety.'
Dealers are flooding Florida with bogus party drugs that could be '100 percent fentanyl' as they exploit the spring break madness, state officials warn.

They are using social media to advertise drugs including Xanax, cocaine and ecstasy to tens of thousands of students who have descended on the Sunshine State  but law enforcement chiefs fear the substances are mixed with deadly amounts of fentanyl.

Health officials are also braced for a spike in accidental overdoses amid the surge, with one charity expecting to hand out 5,000 doses of naloxone  which is used to reverse the fentanyl's effects  to partygoers.

Some dealers are using popular social media apps including Snapchat and Instagram to advertise party drugs. Others patrol the busiest party spots and peddle substances in broad daylight.

Officials in Fort Lauderdale are so concerned they are offering free roofie tests so people can ensure their drinks have not been spiked with date rape drugs.

As thousands of students flock to Florida for spring break, state officials have warned about party drugs which are cut with 'deadly amounts of fentanyl'

Florida's attorney general has warned dealers are using social media to sell drugs, which are advertised using emoji code. But many party drugs are mixed with deadly fentanyl

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said: 'It's spring break season. All month long, millions of students will descend on Florida's beaches for a long-awaited break from school.

'While we hope everyone enjoys a safe, fun-filled vacation, it's important that spring breakers understand and are mindful of the dangers of drug use. Deadly amounts of fentanyl are being found in almost every illicit substance now.'

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said: 'Deadly amounts of fentanyl are being found in almost every illicit substance now'

Tens of thousands of rowdy students have already descended on Fort Lauderdale, which is the epicenter of this year's celebrations after nearby Miami Beach imposed restrictions to try and curb the chaos.

Photographs published by DailyMail.com show beaches are bars are already buzzing ahead of the two week extravaganza. In one video, a young woman boasts her day starts with 'bronzer and cocaine'.

But officials are concerned many partygoers are unaware that drugs they buy on the street or through social media during spring break could contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid which is 100 times stronger than morphine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has found that around seven in ten illicit pills contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Many are sold as other substances and users have no idea of the deadly risk.

Mike Chitwood, Sheriff of Volusia County Sheriff, which includes the hugely popular Daytona Beach, said: 'We know that spring break, there's gonna be party drugs involved in this...

Day 1 of Spring Break.

Step 1) bronzer.

Step 2) cocaine. pic.twitter.com/E9JTFAAh2B  Lawrence Jones III (@LawrenceBJones3) March 12, 2024

'You're buying this stuff on the street, there's a good chance you're ingesting 100% fentanyl.'

Moody, the Attorney General, has warned that dealers use social media target young people.

'Online drug dealers use emoji codes to peddle dangerous substances to our kids through social media,' she said.

Common symbols include the snowflake, eight ball and key for cocaine. Adderall, xanax and percocet are typically represented by a pill capsule, while meth can be advertised with a crystal ball or diamond emoji.

Care Resource, a Florida healthcare nonprofit, said it will once again hand out free doses of naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, to students on spring break  after providing 4,900 doses during last year's celebrations.

The drug reverses an opioid overdose and partygoers are encouraged to carry it even if they have no intention of using such drugs, because of the risk they may ingest fentanyl unintentionally.

Beaches are bars in Fort Lauderdale are already buzzing ahead of the two week extravaganza

Police patrol a beach in Fort Lauderdale during spring break on Tuesday, March 12 2024

Naloxone is given out by Care Resource's Special Purpose Outreach Team, known as SPOT, which protects young people from 'the unsuspecting danger of recreational drugs laced with fentanyl'.

The organization has also warned about the rise in xylazine, a potentially lethal veterinary sedative which is also cut into party drugs.

'Many spring breakers don't realize that the substances they are purchasing on the street might be laced with fentanyl or xylazine,' SPOT manager Emelina Martinez warned.

In March 2022, several cadets from West Point military academy had to be revived when they suffered a fentanyl overdose after using cocaine which was laced with the substance.

Four people went into cardiac arrest after consuming the substance before two more also overdosed when they tried to administer CPR. The incident happened at a rental home in Wilton Manors.

Research published by UCLA health has found about 22 teenagers aged 14 to 18 die across the country each year after taking counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.
The nation's divisive politics are in part to blame for growing hostility within American workplaces, according to a top H.R. expert, and things are only going to get worse this year with a presidential election.

Johnny C. Taylor, chief executive of the Society for Human Resources Management, said a culture of name-calling had spread from politics to the office.

The group's survey of 1000 U.S. employees found that two thirds had witnessed incivility at work during the previous month and some 57 percent had seen it during just the previous week.

He said the problem was not just politics, but a growing trend among workers to bring their 'whole selves' or their 'authentic selves' to the workplaceundermining guardrails on acceptable behaviorand the disruption of the pandemic and working from home when no one had to be civil.

But this year, a presidential election year, puts politics in particular focus. A third of respondents said they believe the problem will get worse during the next 12 months as Donald Trump and Joe Biden battle for the White House.

The State of the Union address last week was marred by heckling, led by the likes of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican controversialist and conspiracy theorist

Taylor said that about 20 percent of employees said political affiliations were contributing to a toxic environment.

'Either they were made uncomfortable to the point of not speaking up or they were attacked, not physically, but verbally, or there were negative consequences in the workplace associated with their political values,' he said.

'And that was a real surprise to us.'

The question was first asked in 2019 ahead of a contentious election cycle, he said, and the result held steady in 2024, he said.

The past month has illustrated the coarsening of American political discourse.

Last week, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans heckled the president during his State of the Union address. Their unruly behavior would once have been unthinkable at the solemn annual occasion.

But they are simply following the lead of their party's presumptive presidential nominee.

Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden's childhood stutter and dry coughs during a rally in Rome, Georgia on Saturday  the first campaign stop after Super Tuesday and President Joe Biden's State of the Union address

At a rally in Georgia last week, former President Trump mocked his rival for the White House by slurring his words and pretending to stammer in an imitation of Biden who has had a stutter since childhood.

And he said, 'everything Joe Biden touches turns to s***.'

Biden has his own history of insults, calling Trump, 'a clown,' in one of their 2020 debates and telling the then president to 'shut up.'

And in front of a small audience of donors in California, he suggested that Trump's recent comments were the ramblings of an insane person, and referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 'crazy S.O.B.'

'You know you can't say something to someone based upon their race, their gender, their national origin, etc,' said Taylor.

'But it's pretty much a free for all to openly discriminate or create a hostile environment for people based upon their political affiliation.'

He added that the result of such a high level of incivility was a problem retaining staff, an impact on productivity and and an overall stain on workplace culture.
Dentist Dr Deepak Aulak shares what your tongue colour says about your health

A dentist has warned the colour of your tongue could speak volumes about the state of your general health  and by ignoring it you could be risking your life.

Dentist Dr Deepak Aulak says a healthy tongue should be pink, with small bumps  or papillae - across the surface.

However, a range of other colours could be tell-tale signs a person is unwell.

Dr Deepak, founder of AI-powered dental app Toothfairy, said: 'Have you ever noticed your tongue in the mirror and thought, hang on, that's not right?

'The tongue is an incredible organ  without it we'd be unable to taste, chew and of course speak.

A healthy tongue should be pink, with small bumps  or papillae - across the surface. However, a range of other colours could be tell-tale signs a person is unwell

'But it's far more than that, it's an indicator, and any change can be your body warning you something else is going on with your health, and it's time to see a doctor.

'It even be a matter of life and death, so it's vital people know the warning signs their tongue is telling them.

'Colours are always subjective, so speak to a dentist to get more information if you feel something isn't right. '

Beyond healthy shades of pink, here are 10 colours your tongue could be, indicating you may be deficient in certain nutrients or have come down with an illness.

White tongue

Sufferers will have a thick, white coating on their tongue  it can be across the entire surface, at the back or in patches.

The condition is the result of overgrown or swelling of the papillae, which can be caused by burning your tongue on especially hot food or drink.

The unsightly white mass is caused by bacteria and dead cells getting stuck between the inflamed papillae.

According to the NHS, white tongue can also be a sign of anaemia, scarlet fever, lichen planus, leukoplakia, mouth ulcers and oral thrush.

Yellow or brown tongue

Yellow or brown tongue is usually an indicator of bacteria as a result or poor oral hygiene, smoking, drinking alcohol, coffee or black tea, per Mayo Clinic.

When Dentist Dr Deepak Aulak asks his patients to 'open wide', he's on the lookout for far more than tooth decay and gum disease. He will also be inspecting the tongue.

Products containing thymol, menthol, witch hazel, peroxides and eucalyptus can also cause a yellow coating on the tongue, if the mouth is especially dry.

Dehydration can lead to a yellow tongue, as well as psoriasis and jaundice.

If your face, eyes and tongue all appear yellow, it is advisable to speak to a GP as it could be a sign of problems with the liver or gallbladder [2].

Orange tongue

Like yellow tongue, poor oral health is usually the cause of orange tongue, although taking certain antibiotics or eating foods containing beta-carotene can be behind it.

Red tongue

Often referred to as 'strawberry tongue', a bright red tongue can be a sign of a range of conditions, ranging vitamin deficiency to illness.

Geographic tongue is a condition that makes the tongue appear red, and creates map-like white patches on its surface.

WebMD says that a bright red tongue can also be a sign of a food or medicine allergy or a deficiency of Vitamin B.

Other conditions linked to red tongue are Scarlet Fever, Erythroplakia  a potential pre-cancerous condition  and Glossitis, which causes your tongue to become swollen.

Strawberry tongue can also be a sign of Kawasaki Disease in children under five, according to KidsHealth.

Grey tongue

Sufferers of geographic tongue may develop grey borders around the red patches on their tongue.

People with eczema have also been known to develop grey tongues.

Another cause could be taking antibiotics or antifungal medication as well as certain antidepressants and iron supplements, according to Royal Dental Care.

Black tongue

Black hairy tongue occurs when the papillae on the surface of the tongue grow too because they are not shedding dead skins cells  this causes food and bacteria to get trapped, leading to the unpleasant discolouration.

Often the result of poor oral hygiene, smoking, chewing tobacco, taking certain medicines and radiotherapy can also trigger it.

Diabetes and HIV can also cause black tongue, in rarer cases.

Dr Deepak, This Morning regular and founder of AI-powered dental app Toothfairy, said: 'Have you ever noticed your tongue in the mirror and thought, hang on, that's not right? 'The tongue is an incredible organ  without it we'd be unable to taste, chew and of course speak'

The conditions causes bad breath, a metallic taste in the mouth and a tickling feeling in the mouth.

Purple tongue

Purple tongue can be an indicator of poor circulation, a heart condition or Kawasaki disease, a rare condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in young children, per MSD Manual.

Green tongue

Similar to yellow tongue, the appearance of a green tongue is the result of poor oral health, smoking, dry mouth or taking certain medicines.

Blue tongue

A blue tongue could be a sign the person has cyanosis, which is not having enough oxygen in the blood.

The Cleveland Clinic says that causes of cyanosis include blood disorders, blood vessel disease, not enough oxygen from the lungs or kidney disease.

It could also be a sign of sepsis, requiring urgent medical help.

The NHS advises calling 999 if you or anyone else has pale, blotchy or blue skin, lips or tongue.
Thhe streets of London are set to be transformed into a sea of green as the city prepares to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

The highlight of celebrations across the capital is the highly anticipated festival and Trafalgar Square parade, which makes a return on Sunday.

Led by vibrant floats adorned with shamrocks and accompanied by traditional Irish music, the parade winds its way through iconic streets of central London, before moving to Trafalgar Square where the festivities continue.

The annual event, hosted by the Mayor of London, will be held on Sunday, March 17 and will mark its 21st year.

Spectators can look forward to dazzling performances from Irish dancers, such as Maguire O'Shea Academy of Irish Dance, displays of captivating music from the likes of The London Celtic Youth Orchestra, and a showcase of Irish culture and heritage.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the St. Patrick's Day festival and Trafalgar Square parade event, as well as tickets and timings.

The parade starts at Hyde Park Corner, then travels through Piccadilly, St James's Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall

What route will the Trafalgar Square parade take in London?

The parade starts at Hyde Park Corner, then travels through Piccadilly, St James's Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall.

Irish national treasure will be Grand Marshal of this year's parade, which will feature Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry.

The action then moves to Trafalgar Square, where family concerts, food demos, children's films, community choirs, dancing and and workshops can be enjoyed.

Irish national treasure will be Grand Marshal of this year's parade, which will feature Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry

What are the timings for the St Patrick's Day festival in London?

The St Patrick's festival will kick off at 12pm on Sunday 17 March, and will see official celebrations end at 6pm with a singalong finale.

Do you have to buy tickets for the St Patrick's Day festival in London?

The event is free for all, however there are are a number of strict conditions on entry requirements.

Attendees will be subject to bag searches, and anyone with a bag larger than an A4 size of piece paper will be refused entry.

To protect the safety and welfare of both staff and visitors, a nonexclusive list of items that are prohibited from being brought into Trafalgar Square can be found here.

The highlight of celebrations across the capital is the highly anticipated St. Patrick's Day festival and Trafalgar Square parade, which makes a return this weekend

The St Patrick's festival will kick off at 12pm on Sunday 17 March, and will see official celebrations end at 6pm with a singalong finale

What performances will be taking place at the St. Patrick's Day festival in London?

Programmed by London Irish Centre, and hosted by Xnthony, a sprawling line up of Irish talent will perform throughout the event, including:

Eamonn Galldubh

Irish Pensioners Choir

Maguire O'Shea Academy of Irish Dance

The Trad Gathering

The London Celtic Youth Orchestra

Kestine

The London Bodhran Band led by Ruairi Glasheen

Junk Kouture showcase compered by Sinead Burke

The BibleCode Sundays

Biird led by Lisa Canny

Jiggy

Belters Only

Irish Film London Screen Programme

Programmed by London Irish Centre, and hosted by Xnthony, a sprawling line up of Irish talent will perform throughout the event

What other festivities and activities will be taking place at the St. Patrick's Day festival in London?

You can expect family concerts, children's films and youth performances, as well community choirs, schools and dancing.

Alongside the main stage, International Chef of the Year 2019, Anna Haugh will be running food demos.

There will also be children's workshops available for the little ones to get creative while immersing themselves in Irish history and tradition.
Midsomer Murders actor Nick Hendrix and his wife, Benidorm actress Jessica Ellerby, have been caught up in a row with a former tenant who claimed couple 'kept his furniture'.

The couple rented out their one-bedroom flat in Acton, West London, to their tenant for seven years before selling the property for 350,000 in January.

Despite always paying the 1,350 per month rent on time and claiming he kept the flat in immaculate condition, the ex-tenant, 42, was shocked the couple tried to keep more than 800 of his deposit for redecorating and cleaning.

He filed a dispute through the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) which saw the amount reduced to 564 and he offered furniture left in the house to settle the debt if the deposit was returned in full.

But despite sending numerous text messages, emails and even trying to contact them via their management companies to arrange to collect the furniture he claims he was ignored and later blocked.

The couple rented out their one-bedroom flat (pictured) in Acton, West London, to their tenant for seven years

Jessica Ellerby and Nick Hendrix attend the Warner Music summer drinks on July 17, 2019

The Midsomer Murders actor and Benidorm actress sold the flat for 350,000 in January

The former tenant complained he always paid the 1,350 rent on time and that he kept the flat in 'immaculate' condition

Land Registry documents show the house was sold nine days after the couple blocked him.

The former tenant, who we are not naming, said: I am angry. They have got my items and my deposit - I told them its one or the other, but they have kept both.

It was made clear they could have the bed and light fitting which are worth 500 as payment or take from the deposit but she has blocked me after the decision was made.

'I guess they have sold the flat with my items inside knowing we were in dispute.

In messages seen by MailOnline, sent before the property was sold, the man told them: Youre not keeping my money and things. It was one or the other and that was clear. Let me know when I can collect my bed and my light fitting.

Mr Hendrix, 38, is best known for his role as Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter in the ITV police detective show Midsomer Murders.

Ms Ellerby has had TV roles in the Netflix sitcom Lovesick and Benidorm on ITV. The couple married in 2017.

Their former tenant told MailOnline he doesnt watch Midsomer Murders or Benidorm and had no idea his landlords were TV stars until they told him.

He said: I didnt know they were famous before I moved in. I dont even own a TV but I think she may have told me who she was.

'Whenever she took ages to reply to message she would say sorry, Im filming all the time that was always her excuse.

The ex-tenant says he was shocked not to receive the full deposit back after putting up with months of building work in a neighbouring property and even forgiving more than 1,000 of damage to his property caused by a leak in the flat.

The ex-tenant, 42, was shocked the couple tried to keep more than 800 of his deposit for re-decorating and cleaning

Pictured: The sitting room of the modern flat in West London

Pictured: The kitchen of the modern flat which sold for 350,000 in January

Under UK law, landlords must make reasonable efforts to reunite tenants with anything left behind. Consent from the tenants must be obtained before any goods can be disposed of.

A close pal of Ms Ellerby claims the tenant asked whether he could leave the items as he clearly didn't want them before trying to barter.

She rejected his offer and offered to return the items but he only asked for them back after the DPS ruling.

The pal described him as a 'disgruntled ex-tenant' who became 'hostile and unreasonable' to Ms Ellerby and Mr Hendrix, forcing them to block his number.

Representatives of Ms Ellerby declined to comment. Mr Hendrix did not respond to requests for comment.
At what age should women try to start a family? Politicians tend to tread with the lightest of footfalls through such moral minefields, but Miriam Cates tackles the subject head-on.

The stats show if you are not a mother by 35 you have got only a one-in-four chance of becoming a mother. If you are not a mother by 30 you have got only a 50 per cent chance, she says.

She immediately clarifies that the figures dont relate to the chances of becoming pregnant at that age when trying  it is the proportion of women who will go on to have children if they have not done so by then, for whatever reason.

There is a biological-possibility window, which for most people is 16 to 40, but we know after late 20s that the chances go down and down, so if you really want to be a parent then your best chance is sooner rather than later.

This is not to suggest that Mrs Cates, a 41-year-old mother-of-three, is oblivious to the pressures on women to be financially secure before they start trying for children, she just believes that the Government should use more policy levers to help them juggle their responsibilities.

Mrs Cates, the co-chair of the powerful New Conservatives caucus of Right-wing MPs, is setting out her vision for the sort of policies which the struggling Tories should be offering to win back support.

Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, warns women are being lulled into a false sense of security

If Rishi Sunaks polling figures do not improve, her 7,200 majority in Penistone and Stocksbridge will vanish at the next election.

Mrs Cates, a former biology teacher, had her first child aged 25, when her husband David was working as a tech consultant.

She worries that women are being lulled into a false sense of security by the offer of freezing their eggs, or using other IVF procedures, to delay the decision into their late 30s.

Egg freezing doesnt work, she says baldly. A tiny percentage of people who freeze their eggs will ever become pregnant.

By the time women think about doing this, for obvious reasons they are thinking, my biological clock is ticking, Ive not met the right guy, Im not ready to settle down.

But, unfortunately, if you freeze your eggs after the age of 35 or so they are not good quality enough to likely result in a later pregnancy, and I think it is quite unethical for commercial companies to be targeting women.

There are some big corporations that will pay for women to do this, and I believe it is really exploitative because its saying we want to retain you in the workplace and so we will give you false promises.

When you see all these celebrities in the paper who have had a baby aged 47, it never says if it is surrogacy or IVF  or if they have been unbelievably lucky.

The MP admits that given the plethora of factors involved in the decision there is not a right age to settle on, saying: The big factors for most women are do they have a partner that they want to be the father of their children and are they financially settled.

There are also some policy angles that the Government needs to work on, such as better housing, that could get the problems out of the way so that people can have the children they say they want.

Mrs Cates, a Christian who has been called the Mary Whitehouse of the Commons  after the 1970s morality campaigner because of the strong moral streak running through her political beliefs  says: I think there is absolutely a role for people of religious faith in public life [but] Tony Blair was told not to do God and he has not done so since then.

The Scottish Government is also in Mrs Cates line of fire for spending hundreds of thousands running an advertising campaign pushing egg donation.

Mrs Cates pictured with her husband Dave. The couple have three children

She says: They are using taxpayers money to convince young women to go through what is a very traumatic and potentially dangerous process of egg donation without really explaining what this means  someone else will have your genetic child, and may be identifiable to that child when they are 18. Egg donation means months of hormone injections, having your ovaries inflated and a quite traumatic internal process to remove those eggs. I think it is quite unethical for the Scottish Government to be doing that.

Mrs Cates is also uneasy about the use of surrogate mothers, saying it is not much thought about other than those stories in a soap opera where somebody becomes a surrogate for her sister whos infertile  that kind of thing.

She says: We think a lot about people who are infertile, people who desperately want to be parents and cant, and of course I have every sympathy for people in that situation. But I think it is also really important to think about the babys rights and the babys welfare, and I dont think that we think enough about what it means to actually take a baby off its mother at birth.

Mrs Cates adds: When the baby is born it knows its mothers voice  its connected to its mother even if its not the mothers genetic baby. The bits of the babys DNA stay in the mother for years and years and years  there is already a connection at birth. So taking the baby off that mother is not a neutral thing. I would always come down on the side of the most vulnerable party, which is the baby.

Older children also need protecting, Mrs Cates believes, from the risks posed by smartphones, which she says could be mitigated by limiting the functions available to the under-16s.

She says: No kid had a smartphone before 2010 and now pretty much every single secondary school-age child  and increasing numbers of primary school kids have them, so I think we need to raise the age of social media accounts from 13 to 16.

Companies are developing hardware that looks like a smartphone but it doesnt do all the things a smartphone does  you can see a map, you can buy a train ticket but you definitely cant view porn.
Penny Wong has officially tied the knot with her long term partner Sophie Allouache in a ceremony in her home state of South Australia.

Ms Wong, 55, has been in a relationship with Ms Allouache, a public servant, since 2006, and the happy couple married at the Bird in Hand Winery in Adelaide Hills on Saturday.

Australia's Foreign Minister has long been an advocate for same-sex marriage and famously broke down in tears when Australians voted for marriage equality in a 2017 plebiscite.

In a statement, the couple, who have two children, said 'We are delighted that so many of our family and friends could share this special day with us.'

A former University of Adelaide Students' Association president, Ms Allouache is seven years younger than her wife.

Penny Wong, veteran Labor senator and Australia's Foreign Minister, has married her long-time partner Sophie Allouache in her home state of South Australia

Ms Wong, 55, has been in a relationship with Ms Allouache, a public servant, since 2006, and the happy couple tied the knot at Bird in Hand Winery in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday

She works as a manager for South Australia's Health & Department of Human Services and has expertise in early childhood health and mental health issues, including eating disorders.

READ MORE: Anthony Albanese, 60, becomes the country's first PM to get engaged while in office after proposing on the balcony of his official residence Anthony Albanese is pictured with his fiance Jodie Haydon Advertisement

In December 2011, she gave birth to the couple's first child Alexandra who was conceived through IVF.

After Alexandra's birth, Ms Wong and Ms Allouache said they would tell her who the father is.

Ms Allouache gave birth to the couple's second daughter Hannah in 2015.

Their wedding celebrations featured a traditional lion dance, honouring Ms Wong's Malaysian-Chinese heritage.

The dance, which is performed during Chinese New Year and other important festivities such as weddings, is done to bring good luck and fortune.

Ms Allouache wore a white A-line gown with a lace bodice for the ceremony, while the senator wore a red tuxedo.

In Chinese weddings, the colour red is symbol of good luck, happiness and a good life free from evil spirits.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner, Jodie Haydon, who recently got engaged, were at the wedding, as were Health Minister Mark Butler and former SA premier Jay Weatherill.

Alexandra, 12, and Hannah, 8, were flower girls for the ceremony.

Ms Wong was born in Malaysia, where she spent the first eight years of her life.

Francis Wong, her Malaysian father, met her Australian mother, Jane Chapman, while studying architecture at Adelaide University.

Penny Wong (right) is pictured with partner Sophie Allouache and their baby daughter Alexandra in Adelaide in 2011

The senator and Ms Allouache famously like to keep their lives private.

Ms Wong condemned the toxic debate surrounding the 2017 plebiscite on whether Australia should allow same-sex unions - held under Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull - as an 'expensive stunt'.

But when Australians voted overwhelmingly to approve gay marriage she wept with joy.

'I hope that everyone in this parliament has heard the resounding voice of the Australian people today, a mandate for change, a mandate for equality,' she said.

'Because it is time. Thank you for standing up for fairness, thank you for standing up for equality. Thank you for standing up for our families.'

Ms Wong burst into tears of joy and relief on live television, then went to phone Ms Allouache.

When asked if she would be making wedding plans, Ms Wong replied: 'I think that's something she and I can discuss in private'.

Penny Wong (right) is pictured with her then partner, now wife Sophie Allouache in Canberra in 2011
The wife of embattled Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has revealed vandals set off a bomb on their property in the middle of the night after charges were laid against her husband following a deadly helicopter crash.

Wright will face trial later this year accused of perverting the course of justice over a helicopter crash in the Northern Territory's West Arnhem Land in February 2022.

The crash killed his best mate Chris 'Willow' Wilson and left the pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic.

Wright's model wife Kaia has now spoken out about the intense scrutiny she, her husband and their two young children have faced in the wake of the accident.

Matt Wright and his wife Kaia are seen at Melbourne Airport in February

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright, his Instagram influencer wife Kaia (pictured together) and their two young children have reportedly faced an outpouring of vitriol and malicious attacks in the wake of the crash

Wright will face trial later this year accused of perverting the course of justice over a helicopter crash at King River in the NT's West Arnhem Land in February 2022, which killed his best mate Chris 'Willow' Wilson and left the pilot Sebastian Robinson seriously injured (Wright is pictured arriving at court in March last year)

'One time we woke in the middle of the night to the sound of a bomb going off. Someone put a bomb in our power box and blew it up,' she told The Sunday Telegraph.

'If Matt's not home I put chairs in front of my doors, it's that constant anxiety and stress that can get hard to navigate every day and still run a business, be a mum and be a wife.'

Kaia said her four-year-old son Banjo witnessed hoons doing burnouts in front of his father and shouting 'jail man' at him earlier this week after they left a cafe in Darwin.

Banjo then asked his mum if his dad was going to jail.

Ms Wright recently opened up about the toll of the investigation into the chopper crash

Chris 'Willow' Wilson (pictured right) was killed in the helicopter crash, while pilot Sebastian Robinson (left), was left a paraplegic

READ MORE: Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and helicopter company hit with more charges over fatal chopper crash Chris 'Willow' Wilson died in February, 2022 when the helicopter he was slinging from crashed Advertisement

'What do you say to your sparkly son who just idolises their dad, what do you say to that?' Ms Wright said.

Mr Wilson had been dangling from a helicopter owned by Wright's company Helibrook on a crocodile egg collecting mission in February, 2022, when the aircraft crashed and killed him on impact.

Wright was charged in relation to the investigation into the crash, not the cause of the crash itself.

As part of his bail conditions, Wright is not allowed to speak to over 50 people.

He has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Wilson's widow, Danielle Wilson, is suing Wright personally over the crash.

Ms Wilson previously launched a civil suit against his helicopter company Helibrook and Australia's civil aviation authority, alleging both failed in their duty of care to her late husband.

Helibrook and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), who cleared him to be suspended from the chopper, were both named as respondents.

Ms Wright said the 'hardest part' about the investigation was not being able to honour Mr Wilson.

She said her husband and his mates couldn't even get together to celebrate and remember Mr Wilson for his birthday recently because he is legally banned from seeing some of them.

Wright is being sued by Mr Wilson's widow

Chris 'Willow' Wilson's widow Danielle (pictured together) has through her lawyers filed an interlocutory application to sue Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright over the fatal chopper crash

Ms Wright said police raided and bugged their house while she was pregnant with their second child Dusty.

Birthday cards and love letters shared between her and her husband were all taken as part of the investigation.

She said the investigation and her husband's charges took a devastating toll on his mental health and there were days when he couldn't get off the couch.

Ms Wright also said she suffered severe trolling on her social media accounts, with some calling her husband a 'murderer'.

Wright has been committed to stand trial on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the Northern Territory's Supreme Court later this year.

Two of Wright's co-accused, Michael Burbidge and ex-policeman Neil Mellon, have pleaded guilty to destroying evidence for their role in the incident.
Former President Donald Trump blamed his successor, President Joe Biden, for some awkward moments with his teleprompter as he spoke at a rally in Ohio on Saturday afternoon.

Trump, speaking on a wind-whipped airfield outside of Dayton Saturday, was drumming up support for his presidential rematch with Biden and his preferred Senate candidate Bernie Moreno.

The presumptive Republican nominee, 77, repeatedly noted his difficulty reading from his teleprompters, which could be seen visibly whipping in 35-mile-per-hour wind gusts.

As the prompters moved around and Trump became more and more visibly frustrated - at one point saying 'don't pay these suckers!' at those who'd set it up - at the inability to make out his speech, he joked: 'I think Joe Biden put them in!'

Though he bragged about how nice it was 'to have a president who doesn't need a teleprompter' he made some clear speaking errors during the rally without being able to use it.

Former President Donald Trump blamed his successor, President Joe Biden, for some awkward moments with his teleprompter as he spoke at a rally in Ohio on Saturday afternoon

Most notably, he claimed that President Biden had once beaten former President Barack Obama in an election after saying Trump would beat Biden by 'the largest margins ever.'

'You know what's interesting? Joe Biden beat Barack Hussein Obama, anybody ever heard of him? Every swing state, Biden beat Obama but in every other state, he got killed.'

He also was recorded struggling with saying the name of the band The Rolling Stones, whom Trump's team uses the music of during rallies, calling them 'The Rolling Storns.'

Trump, during his retelling of his infamous 'The Snake' story, also mispronounced the word 'bite.'

Progressive media also claimed Trump erred in pronouncing candidate Moreno's name, pronouncing it more like 'Marino.'

A one-time Trump critic, Moreno, a wealthy Cleveland businessman, supported Marco Rubio for president in the 2016 Republican primary, and once tweeted that listening to Trump was 'like watching a car accident that makes you sick, but you can stop looking.'

In 2021, NBC News reported on an email exchange around the time of Trumps first presidential run in which Moreno referred to Trump as a 'lunatic' and a 'maniac.'

Trump, speaking on a wind-whipped airfield outside of Dayton Saturday, was drumming up support for his presidential rematch with Biden and his preferred Senate candidate Bernie Moreno

Guests listen as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the Dayton International Airport

The presumptive Republican nominee, 77, repeatedly noted his difficulty reading from his teleprompters, which could be seen visibly whipping in 35-mile-per-hour wind gusts

Trump: Joe Biden won against Barack Obama pic.twitter.com/OccSSTKmWi  Acyn (@Acyn) March 16, 2024

On Saturday, however, Moreno praised Trump as a 'great American' and railed against those in his party who have been critical of the former president, who this week became his party's presumptive nominee for a third straight election.

'I am so sick and tired of Republicans that say, `I support President Trumps policies but I dont like the man,' he said as he joined Trump on stage.

Trump also dismissed recent allegations against Moreno, comparing them to attacks he has faced through the years, including his criminal indictments.

The former president has been charged in four separate cases that span his handling of classified documents to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

'Hes getting some very tough Democrat fake treatment right now,' Trump said. 'And were not going to stand for it.'

Trump, in his remarks, also accused Biden of posing a threat to Social Security as he continued to clean up comments from an interview earlier this week in which he appeared to voice openness to cuts.

'Your Social Security is going to be gone,' he warned of a Biden second term, even though Biden has pledged to protect and strengthen Social Security as it faces a projected budget shortfall.

'You will not be able to have Social Security with this guy in office because hes destroying the economics of our country. And that includes Medicare, by the way, and American seniors are gong to be in big trouble.'

The presumptive Republican nominee, 77, repeatedly noted his difficulty reading from his teleprompters, which could be seen visibly whipping in 35-mile-per-hour wind gusts

Supporters of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wait to hear him speak at a Buckeye Values PAC Rally

Guests take pictures as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump's plane lands

Trump, serving up an epic word salad as he struggles to see the teleprompter, has a hard time saying "the Rolling Stones" pic.twitter.com/ag3TcxwDNW  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 16, 2024

'I made a promise that I will always keep Social Security, Medicare. We always will keep it. We never will cut it,' he said.

Trump is scrambling to catch up to President Joe Biden's massive fundraising advantage with just eight months until the election.

The Republican National Committee has just $40 million in the bank compared to the $130 million Democratic operations had last month.

The huge gap in funding is steadily growing as Democrats open their wallets to support Biden's campaign to hold the White House.

Democrats raised more than $10 million in the 24 hours after the State of the Union last Thursday, far higher than Trump's biggest day where he raised $4.2 million after his mugshot in the Georgia election fraud case was released.
A close friend of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett said he predicted he might end up dead before he was found shot last week.

The 62-year-old was found in his truck in a hotel parking lot in South Carolina, - seven years after he retired following a 32-year career with Boeing.

Barnett's death came during a whistleblower suit, where he alleged under-pressure workers were deliberately fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the assembly line.

Close family friend Jennifer has now told WPDE that Barnett had warned her of such a thing happening to him.

She told the outlet: 'I said, 'Aren't you scared?' And he said, 'No, I ain't scared, but if anything happens to me, it's not suicide.'

The 62-year-old was found in his truck in a hotel parking lot in South Carolina, - seven years after he retired following a 32-year career with Boeing

Close family friend Jennifer, seen here, has now told WPDE that Barnett had warned her of such a thing happening to him

Jennifer continued: 'I know that he did not commit suicide. There's no way. He loved life too much.

'He loved his family too much. He loved his brothers too much to put them through what they're going through right now.'

Jennifer believes someone 'didn't like what he had to say' and wanted to 'shut him up'.

She added: 'That's why they made it look like a suicide. I don't care what they say, I know that Mitch didn't do that.'

Barnett had alleged that second-rate parts were literally removed from scrap bins, before being fitted to planes that were being built to prevent delays.

A 2017 review by the FAA upheld some of his concerns, requiring Boeing to take action.

He had just given a deposition to Boeing's lawyers for the case this past week, his attorney Brian Knowles said.

The Charleston County coroner, meanwhile, confirmed Monday the longtime Boeing staffer died Friday, while in town for interviews linked to the case.

Barnett had alleged that second-rate parts were literally removed from scrap bins, before being fitted to planes that were being built to prevent delays

Boeing's assembly plant in North Charleston - where the deceased worked for decades - is seen here

Boeing also responded to the former worker's death in their own statement as news spread, saying it was 'saddened by Mr. Barnett's passing.'

The statement did not address any aspects of the case, but ultimately added: 'Our thoughts are with his family and friends.'

Staff at the Holiday Inn where Barnett was found dead revealed said he seemed fine in the evening before his 'suicide'.

Barnett ate a quesadilla, drank a Coke, scrolled on his phone, and seemed fine on the evening of March 8, the unnamed hotel employee told the New York Post.

Timeline of whistleblower John Barnett's claims against Boeing April 2019: Barnett tells the New York Times that Boeing repeatedly ignored safety concerns from workers in favor of pushing out Dreamliner planes November 2019: Barnett tells the BBC that up to a quarter of the oxygen systems on 787 Dreamliners may be faulty and might not work when needed. He added that faulty parts were deliberately fitted to planes. January 2024: The whistleblower tells TMZ that corner cutting was rife in the plane-making world. January 2024: Footage from inside the cabin of a Boeing 737 Max showed the door blowing off shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon. February 2024: Barnett files an AIR21 lawsuit against Boeing, alleging it had undermined his career over his whistleblowing. March 2024: The Department of Justice launches a criminal investigation into the Boeing blowout in Portland, Oregon. March 2024: John Barnett is found dead in his truck. Advertisement

His lawyer previously questioned the coroner's office findings that the gunshot wound was 'self-inflicted,' saying Barnett was in good spirits in between his depositions.

A police report obtained by DailyMail.com reveals that Barnett extended his stay at the Holiday Inn two days prior to his suspected suicide and had been set to check out the day before the alarm was raised.

The report details that a friend of Barnett's contacted the hotel asking for a welfare check at 10am on March 9, with employees knocking on his hotel room door with no response.

A member of staff then searched for his orange Dodge Ram in the parking lot of the hotel, and discovered Barnett deceased in the driver's seat with a 'silver handgun' in his right hand.

Barnett had his 'right pointer finger remaining on the trigger', and suffered a 'gunshot wound near his right temple, according to the Charleston Police Department.

The report added that there was a 'white piece of paper that closely resembled a note', lying in plain view on the passenger seat. The contents of the note have not yet been revealed.

The plant where Barnett worked for decades is where Boeing builds the 787 Dreamliner, one of several crafts from the airliner that's made headlines as of late.

On Monday, roughly 50 people were treated by first responders after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Australia to New Zealand experienced a 'technical event' that caused 'a strong movement' jolting passengers in their seats.

The company told airlines on Friday to start inspecting switches on pilots' seats after a report said an accidental cockpit seat movement caused the plunge.

In a separate incident in early January, an unused emergency exit door blew off a brand-new Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off from Portland International, sparking a still-ongoing DOJ investigation.

On Friday, shortly before the incident over the Indian Ocean, Boeing said it believed the technical failure involving the door stemmed from something that occurred during production, where required documents detailed the removal of a key part that failed were never created.

On Monday, roughly 50 people were treated by first responders after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Australia to New Zealand experienced a 'technical event' that caused 'a strong movement' jolting passengers in their seats

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in early January, an unused emergency exit door blew off a brand-new Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off from Portland International, sparking a still-ongoing DOJ investigation

The LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that suddenly lost altitude mid-flight, dropping violently and injuring dozens of travelers, is seen on the tarmac of the Auckland International Airport on March 12, 2024

Also on Friday, the company said it is 'committed to continuing to cooperate fully and transparently with the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation,' which, more than three months later, remains ongoing.

Barnett's job for 32 years was overseeing production standards for the firm's planes - standards he said were not met during his four years at the then-new plant in Charleston from 2010 to 2014.

'The new leadership didn't understand processes,' Barnett told Corporate Crime Reporter in an interview in 2019 of how brass allegedly cut corners to get their then state-of-the-art 7878s out on time.

'They brought them in from other areas of the company,' he continued, two years after retiring in 20017.

'The new leadership team  from my director down  they all came from St. Louis, Missouri. They said they were all buddies there.'

'That entire team came down,' he went on. 'They were from the military side. My impression was their mindset was - we are going to do it the way we want to do it. Their motto at the time was - we are in Charleston and we can do anything we want.'

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun speaks with reports at the Capitol in January after MAX 9 planes were grounded follwing the door incident. The company is now under criminal investigation

'They started pressuring us to not document defects, to work outside the procedures, to allow defective material to be installed without being corrected.

'They started bypassing procedures and not maintaining configurement control of airplanes, not maintaining control of non conforming parts  they just wanted to get the planes pushed out the door and make the cash register ring.

Barnett claimed he alerted superiors at the plant about his misgivings, but no action was ever taken. Boeing denied this, as well as his claims.

A 2017 review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) went on to stand up some of Barnett's qualms, including finding that at least 53 'non-conforming' parts - as they put it - were misplaced, and considered lost.

The firm is now under criminal investigation for the door incident on the Max plane this past January
The Prince of Wales has taken on a full-time senior valet for the first time.

Aides have spent years encouraging William to ease the burdens of royal life by taking on a dresser/assistant but he has always been reluctant to let a member of staff get too close.

His reticence originates from seeing his mother's ex-butler Paul Burrell become a TV commentator, trading off his former royal connections.

And King Charles's senior valet Michael Fawcett was twice forced to resign, most recently in 2021 after a cash for honours probe.

William has instead taken styling advice from his wife Kate.

He sometimes allows a personal police officer to help him prepare for an event and has occasionally used a valet from another household.

The Prince of Wales has taken on a full-time senior valet for the first time

Now, with the Princess of Wales out of action as she recovers from abdominal surgery, William has reluctantly agreed to take on his own Jeeves, or 'gentleman's gentleman', to help him dress.

The valet  who is in his mid-20s  has worked for the Royal Family before, cutting his teeth in 'HMS Bubble'  the close circle of staff used by the late Queen during the Covid pandemic.

After that, he took on a lucrative role working as a butler for a sheik in the Gulf. Now he is back in the UK and is at William's side.

Last night, a source told The Mail on Sunday: 'After years of resisting, William has taken on his very own Jeeves.

'William used to dress himself and do everything else himself too.

'He got forced into hiring a valet to help dress him and lay out his clothes, which he's never had.

'Occasionally, if he went to an official event, he'd probably borrow a valet, but on the whole he's always thought it is pretentious and a bit much.'

Another source said that William had accepted his workload will increase rapidly due to the King's illness, and has installed the valet in a royal apartment.

The source added: 'While they're in Adelaide Cottage, William and Kate just don't like lots of staff  and there's no room to stay anyway. But William has realised there are a lot of uniforms, a lot of other things to do, so life is more complicated than before.

Prince Charles with his Butler Michael Fawcett on the Christmas Shoot at Sandringham

The late Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) with her butler Paul Burrell

'He was resisting having a valet to protect his privacy and he always said he is a man of his generation and can put on his own pants.

'Then he realised, particularly with becoming Prince of Wales, that it's a lot more work.'

The butler, whose job title is yeoman, is a member of William's domestic household and is tasked with maintaining uniforms and preparing for ceremonial events.

The source added: 'The valet is such a sweetheart. He's straight down the line, definitely not a hipster, and an absolute poppet.

'He's very keen to remain anonymous because he is fiercely discreet. He used to work for the Queen so it's rather sweet that he is now with her grandson.'
What a huge amount of change can happen in ten years.

Back in 2014, Kate and William issued their first Mothers Day photo.

Printed on the front page of The Mail on Sunday, our report described the image as a tender, natural and intimate portrait... never before has a Royal portrait beckoned to an audience with quite the same promise of effortless informality.

Taken by an award-winning photographer at a window of their home in Apartment 1A of Kensington Palace, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they were then, were practically still newlyweds.

Prince Harry had just launched his Invictus Games, while Meghan Markle was a relative unknown in Britain, working on the other side of the Atlantic filming the legal drama Suits and running her lifestyle blog, The Tig.

There are still many unanswered questions (Kensington Palace declined to comment)

Printed on the front page of The Mail on Sunday, our report described the image as a tender, natural and intimate portrait... never before has a Royal portrait beckoned to an audience with quite the same promise of effortless informality

If a picture is worth a thousand words  although in both cases it was far more  in 2014, they were mostly platitudes and pleasantries. But amid the reams of press coverage following last weeks Mothers Day image, it would be safe to assume a fair few were unprintable expletives.

There are still many unanswered questions (Kensington Palace declined to comment on this piece).

Kates admission that she had doctored the photograph and her apology for doing so have triggered a furious debate about transparency and trust  a key pillar of public support for the monarchy.

Some Palace insiders felt commenting further would merely give the story unwanted oxygen.

But the silence created a vacuum that led to unprecedented online mockery and conspiracy theories.

Such is the level of controversy that the Daily Mails respected royal expert Richard Kay wrote yesterday: If the Royal Family is not quite at the 11th hour, it is perilously close.

Sadly, what the public has officially been told is scant. It was reported that William took the picture of his family on Friday, March 8.

It was published to the Prince and Princess of Waless official Instagram at 9am last Sunday and then sent to news outlets.

Kensington Palace was soon fielding questions from journalists about why the Princess was not wearing a wedding ring, but aides declined to comment.

By 8pm on Sunday, the Associated Press news agency had issued a kill notice saying the image had been manipulated.

It was swiftly followed by Getty, AFP and Reuters. At 10.30am on Monday, an unprecedented mea culpa was shared on Kensington Palaces social media platforms, attributed to the Princess. It reverberated around the world.

The Italian newspaper La Repubblica dubbed the incident Photoshop-gate while Japan Today reported on the Katespiracy and El Universal, one of Mexicos biggest papers, said the photo showed a failure of the Royal Familys communication strategy.

Kensington Palace was soon fielding questions from journalists about why the Princess was not wearing a wedding ring, but aides declined to comment

It was reported that William took the picture of his family on Friday, March 8

Analysis of the metadata, information attached to images and left attached by the Palace when the photo was issued, revealed it had been saved on Photoshop, an editing tool, once on Friday evening and again the following morning.

It soon became clear that many Britons supported the Princess  who was said to be shell-shocked  and viewed the controversy as a tempest in a teapot.

Yet as Kate continues to recover from a serious abdominal procedure and William gets back to work as normal this week with an engagement in Sheffield, after the chaos caused by his familys Mothers Day photo, there are fears that nothing will be normal for the Royal Family any time soon.

QUESTIONS THAT THE PALACE MUST ANSWER

1 Who made the decision to release a surprise Mothers Day picture  and with such little advance notice?

2 Why wasnt William in the picture?

3 Why didnt the couple  or their advisers  realise that editing several aspects of the image would be immediately spotted?

4 Most obviously, people would have noticed the absence of Kates wedding ring. Surely, if editing software was to be used, the ring would have been the first thing to ensure was present?

5 Were any staff involved in the production of the photo?

6 Why was the image shared with its metadata attached, which revealed how it had been saved in photo-editing software Adobe Photoshop twice on an Apple Mac and the exact times that this was done on the night of Friday, March 8, and the following morning?

7 After the boss of the AFP news agency told the BBC that Kensington Palace did not respond to questions raised about the image, leading to a kill notice, why didnt royal aides intervene and try to prevent the AFP and other news agencies taking such drastic action?

8 When news agencies pulled the picture amid concerns over the image being manipulated, why didnt royal officials clear the air by releasing the unedited original?

9 Why did the Palace not explain what specifically had been edited in the picture?

10 When Kate personally apologised on Monday for any confusion caused, saying she had edited the image, why didnt William share the blame as the photo was his copyright?

11 While the statement said the Princess occasionally experimented with editing, why did Palace staff not confirm if previously family photos taken by Kate have been edited?

12 Why wasnt a professional photographer asked to take the picture?

13 What other damage-limitation moves were made by royal staff?

14 Will the Waleses continue to take official family photographs themselves?

15 Why have we still not been told why William suddenly, at very short notice last month, pulled out of attending a memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece, his godfather?

16 Are there disagreements between staff working for Charles and the Waleses about the amount of information publicly divulged about the Kings cancer treatment and Kates surgery  with regular and detailed bulletins issued about Charles, whereas very little has been announced about Kates condition?

17 Both the Prince and the Princess of Wales have relatively new private secretaries. Do they have more experienced aides giving them advice?

18 Why did the Army announce on its website that Kate would appear at Trooping the Colour in June only to remove the statement within hours amid confusion after Kensington Palace said it had not confirmed her appearance?

19 What will Kensington Palace do to restore trust in the information it shares?

20 Dont Palace aides realise that the public have huge sympathy for any royal with health issues and more openness about any condition will only add to that support?
Latvia's foreign minister has suggested that Britain consider a conscription model to deter Vladamir Putin.

Krisjanis Karins said the only way to defend against Russia's aggressive policy was to consider a 'total defence' model which would involve conscripting citizens to fight on the front lines at short notice.

The foreign minister also said Britain, along with other Nato allies, would have to increase its defence spending in the coming years to protect itself.

The comments follow British Army General Sir Patrick Sanders's calls for the UK to be prepared to answer the call to fight for King and country in the form of a 'citizen army'.

Mr Karins revealed that Latvia, which shares a 133-mile border with Russia, reintroduced conscription following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

Latvia's foreign minuster Krisjanis Karins has urged Britain and other Nato members to adopt a conscription model to fight back against Vladamir Putin

The foreign minister suggested that countries follow the Finnish model to conscription - the Nordic country has reserves of 250,000 trained troops ready to fight

Mr Karins added that Nato was willing to fight for every inch of its members territory and that Britain was important for this defence plan

Following Finland's model, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 27 are required to complete an 11-month term of national service.

The foreign minister, who was his country's prime minister until September, encouraged the UK and other countries to follow their lead.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, he said: 'We would strongly recommend this. We are developing and fleshing out a system of what we call a total defence involving all parts of civil society.'

Mr Karins added that Nato was willing to fight for every inch of its members' territory and that Britain was important for this defence plan.

Finland's conscription model has allowed it to build up a small standing army but a large reserve of up to 250,000 trained troops.

The Nordic country joined Nato in April 2023 and their neighbour Sweden followed suit earlier this month.

The Latvian minister's comments have been echoed by Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert at the University of Buckingham who says it's right that Britain prepare itself to go to war with the president of Russia in the next six years.

The Latvian foreign minister met with Boris Johnson at Downing Street in March 2022

Tom Tugendhat broke ranks last week and demanded a push to increase military spending to 3 per cent of GDP after visiting Poland (pictured)

Mr Karins met Liz Truss and Italy' Prime Minister Mario Draghi in 2022 as part of the European Political Community

There is mounting pressure on Rishi Sunak to increase defence spending and explore the possibility of national service as Nato considers how to tackle Russia's aggressive policy

In an interview, the emeritus professor suggested the military begin recruiting volunteers for a civilian force over the next three years  and be ready for a mandatory call up within six.

Prof Glees said: 'I would see a 'limited conscription', a call-up of incentivised volunteers, as being very much on the cards if Putin is now thrown out of Ukraine. Obviously, if there were a wider European or world war conscription would follow at once.

Tobias Ellwood, a former minister and ex-chairman of the Commons defence committee, said he would take Mr Karins's suggestions into account.

He said: 'Visiting Finland recently, it was clear to see they have the most impressive 'total defence' model in Nato,' said Mr Ellwood. 'Sitting on the West's front line during the Cold War necessitated retaining the ability to mobilise much of the population at short notice.

Full-time Army numbers are set for new lows of 73,000 by next year according to army top brass and senior figures have warned that the British army is not ready for warfare yet.

Despite dwindling recruits, the Latvian minister's suggestions were batted away by Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army who insisted that conscription was not necessary for the UK which is so far from Russia's borders.

He added that adopting national service was much more sensible for Latvia which needed to prove to Russia that they were flexible and ready for conflict at a moment's notice.

Rishi Sunak is facing mounting pressure to increase the defence budget after Poland's president urged greater military spending.

Andrzej Duda called for all Nato members to increase investment in their armed forces to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP)  a multi-billion-pound boost from the current 2 per cent  saying such a move would send a 'clear' message to Vladimir Putin.

His remarks came as a host of Conservative former defence ministers slammed the Government over its failure to raise defence spending in the Budget.

Tom Tugendhat broke ranks last week and demanded a push to increase military spending to 3 per cent of GDP.

As he travelled to Poland, a Nato partner which already spends 4 per cent of GDP on defence, Mr Shapps described his vision for a properly funded Armed Forces  including an overhaul of the 'ludicrous' recruitment process.

Asked if Mr Karins supported the UK increasing its defence budget, the foreign minister said it was necessary in dealing with Russia in he long term.

He also warned that Nato members should continue to support Ukraine because if the war-torn nation sued for peace now, Russia would simply use that time to re-arm itself before waging war again.

The Latvian minister also emphasised that Europe needed to urgently work with the US to ease the pressure as the country increasingly turns its attention towards China.

He added that even if Donald trump were to win the next presidential election he did not think the US would pull out of Nato as America's worldwide military presence was part of trump's strategy to 'make America great again'.
Grant Shapps was forced to abandon a trip to Ukraine's southern city of Odesa following a missile threat.

The Defence Secretary had to abort the visit after he was warned by British intelligence that the Russians had become aware of his travel plans, according to a Sunday Times report.

As he flew to Poland from RAF Northolt last week, he was notified that an armoured convoy carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis narrowly avoided a Russian missile strike while visiting the port city on March 6.

Five people were killed in the explosions, according to Ukrainian authorities.

This comes after French President Emmanuel Macron yet again made increasingly aggressive comments after asserting that Western ground operations in Ukraine were possible 'at some point'.

Grant Shapps was forced to abandon a trip to Ukraine 's southern city of Odesa following warnings from British intelligence

It was the senior Tory's second trip to Ukraine as Defence Secretary and his third since the outbreak of the war. Shapps is pictured far left on the plane from Poland.

It is said that the news of the missile raised the threat level to Mr Shapps' safety from substantial to critical.

Mr Shapps, travelling with chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and a small team of British officials, took an overnight train from Poland arriving in Kyiv on March 7 for talks with Mr Zelensky and senior members of his wartime administration.

But the planned onward journey to Odesa was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlin's knowledge of it.

'Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless and careless,' Mr Shapps, who instead travelled back to the UK via Poland, told the Sunday Times.

'The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two western leaders, it doesn't matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing?'

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'On a recent trip to Ukraine, the Defence Secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons.

'The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the Defence Secretary's visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putin's aggression.'

It was the senior Tory's second trip to Ukraine as Defence Secretary and his third since the outbreak of the war in February 2022.

It comes as Mr Zelensky faces waning enthusiasm in the West for supporting Kyiv.

European countries are struggling to find enough weapons and ammunition to send to Ukraine, and US help worth 60 billion dollars (47 billon) is stalled over political differences in Washington.

Republicans loyal to Donald Trump have held up the funding package in Congress for months, and there is little hope of further US funding for Ukraine if the former president is re-elected.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces withdrew from the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka last month, where they had battled a fierce Russian assault for four months despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned.

Mr Shapps said he hoped his visit would serve as a 'wake-up call' to 'push, persuade and even embarrass the rest of the world into action'.

A residential area hit by a Russian missile strike in Odesa, Ukraine, yesterday (March 15)

Senior British military figures say western allies including the UK would need to ramp up the scale of investment by hundreds of billions of pounds to outproduce Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has raised defence spending by nearly 70%, according to the Sunday Times.

Mr Shapps this week called for military spending to be increased to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy.

Rishi Sunak has said he wants to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP when economic circumstances allow.

When asked whether the Prime Minister should set a date for increasing defence spending before or at the election, the Defence Secretary told the paper: 'Yes.'
It left the capital city to much pomp and pageantry befitting a sacred ancient relic.

However, the Stone of Destiny has now been driven to its new home at the Perth Museum in the most unceremonious of fashions.

The fanfare and high security operation put in place to transport the stone from Edinburgh Castle to Westminster Abbey for the King's Coronation last May was certainly not adopted last week.

Instead, the relic was bundled into the back of a Transit van.

The historic sandstone slab has played a role in Royal coronations on both sides of the Border for hundreds of years, and will be the centrepiece of the new 27 million museum when it opens on March 30.

A small-scale farewell ceremony was held at Edinburgh Castle on Thursday to mark the departure of the stone as it made its way to its spiritual home in Perthshire for the first time in 700 years.

The relic was bundled into the back of a Transit van to be driven to its new home

First Minister Humza Yousaf attended the ceremony in his capacity as a Commissioner for the Safeguarding of the Regalia.

But its arrival was somewhat anticlimactic, as the artefact was delivered to the museum in the back of a white van.

One onlooker called it 'embarrassing', while another said they expected 'such an iconic piece of history' to have been delivered with some solemnity and with its return home being heralded by museum chiefs.

Perth businessman Iain Fenwick said: 'You would have thought having spent 26.73 million there would have been more pomp and ceremony.

;However, I have been assured this is a deliberate tactic, and those with experience at Culture Perth and Kinross and Perth and Kinross Council know what they are doing.

'Leaving everything to the last second, apparently, gathers the biggest crowds for free-to-attend events.

'I'm looking forward to finding out what all of these events are.

'All top secret right now, with two weeks to go.'

A council spokesperson said: 'Arrangements remain on track for display of the Stone of Destiny in the new Perth Museum which opens to the public on March 30.'

The building now housing the Stone of Destiny has so far attracted just 500 followers on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, even though its grand opening will take place in less than two weeks' time.

Despite the massive investment in the new home for the Stone of Destiny, it has so far failed to spark the imagination of the public.

There was huge fanfare and a very high security operation put in place to transport the stone from Edinburgh Castle to Westminster Abbey for the King's Coronation last May

The attraction, which is managed by quango Culture Perth and Kinross, will be hoping online follower numbers will spike once the venue officially opens. Free tickets for the opening weekend will be available to book from Friday at 10am.

The museum describes itself as a 'world-class cultural and heritage attraction' which will boast 'objects and stories to put Perth and Kinross at the centre of Scotland's story'.

The museum website says: 'At its heart will sit the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, one of Scotland and the UK's most significant historical objects.

'Returning to Perthshire for the first time in over 700 years, the Stone will be the centrepiece of the new museum.

'Alongside the Stone, the Museum will display Perth & Kinross's Recognised Collections of National Significance as well as iconic loans and exhibitions from the UK and abroad.'
Revellers got into the party spirit early ahead of St Patrick's Day on Sunday.

Excited partygoers donned green fancy dress as they danced the night away the weekend of the Irish holiday.

Elaborate costumes included green and black Guinness beer top hats and clover-themed outfits.

In Newcastle, revellers kickstarted the celebrations on a booze-heavy Saturday night out.

One man was pictured wearing a bright green dress with hat, while others sported clover headbands and Irish flags.

Revellers in the UK got into the party spirit on Saturday night on the weekend of St Patrick's Day

Pictured: A group of partygoers dressed in green outfits enjoy a night out on the town in Newcastle

Pictured: Two excited-looking girls party the night away in Leeds

Revellers took the opportunity to dress in elaborate outfits, complete with face paints and head bands

Pictured: One reveller wearing a black priest costume with Christian cross

Pictured: A male partygoer sporting a green dress and and tiny hat, as well as the message 'what a nob' written on his socks

People took advantage of the relatively mild weather on the Otley Run, the premier pub crawl route in Leeds, with one donning a fat green tie with the words 'luck of the Irish'

Elsewhere on the Otley Run, the premier pub crawl in Leeds, revellers were seen enjoying the relatively mild weather for March outside with a pint.

Most were dressed in the Irish colour green for the occasion, with some even painting their faces.

One partygoer was pictured getting into the Irish spirit for her birthday, while another wore a loud fat green tie bearing the words 'luck of the Irish'.

In another group, a man could be seen wearing a black outfit with a large Christian cross.

Pictured: Some used the Irish holiday as a way to celebrate their birthday

Pictured: Revellers with clover-style headgear and Irish flags on the Eve of the saint's day

Pictured: Revellers kickstarted the St Patrick's Day celebrations earlier with a booze-filled night out

Five people getting into the Irish mood with green outfits and top hats

Pictured: Three revellers in Newcastle wearing black and green Guinness beer top hats

St Patrick's Day, which takes place on March 17, is a huge celebration for people of Irish descent - and fans of all things Irish - around the world.

Pubs and clubs across the UK are hosting Irish-themed nights throughout the weekend with celebrations particularly notable in cities with a sizeable Irish population, including Manchester, Liverpool and London.

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and the day is an opportunity for religious, historical and cultural festivities.

It takes place on March 17 each year, the date on which St Patrick is thought to have died.
Residents of a small coastal city in California said they've been 'trapped in a portable toilet' after 700 consecutive days of beach closures.

For the past four years, residents of Imperial City, a small town located a 20-minute drive from San Diego, have endured daily exposure to sea spray and aerosol particles emanating from the polluted ocean.

More than 100 billion gallons of untreated wastewater have flowed through Mexico's Tijuana River and into the Pacific Ocean, eventually reaching the coastal town over the past five years.

Shannon Johnson, 45, who has lived a few blocks away from the beach since 2010, told CBS that neither she nor her two children, aged 9 and 10 respectively, have set foot on the sand in the past year.

'Every time we go by the beach they're asking, 'Is it going to be clean? When are they going to fix it?'' said Johnson.

Residents of Imperial Beach, a small town located a 20-minute drive from San Diego in California, said they've been 'trapped in a portable toilet' after 700 consecutive days of beach closures

For the past four years, residents of Imperial City have endured daily exposure to sea spray and aerosol particles emanating from the polluted ocean. 'I'm more frustrated than ever since we found out that it goes into the air,' a resident said

More than 100 billion gallons of untreated wastewater have flowed through Mexico 's Tijuana River and into the Pacific Ocean, eventually reaching the coastal town over the past five years

An estimated 13 billion gallons of polluted water entered the Pacific Ocean through the Tijuana River in Mexico last year.

According to a study by San Diego State University, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and bacteria detected in the water are being released into the air and lingering in the soils.

'I'm more frustrated than ever since we found out that it goes into the air. So it's not just the water,' a resident said.

In letters from community members calling for action, one resident said the smell is 'akin to being trapped in a portable toilet,' so strong that it wakes them up at night.

Despite Imperial Beach seeing over 700 consecutive days of beach closures, residents continue to endure the daily effects of pollution.

Johnson mentioned that her young children have also been exposed to the foul smell, as they attend school near the river valley.

'They're like, 'Why is it so smelly? Is it safe?' I'm like, yeah, I guess so. What am I supposed to tell them?' she said.

Herself, having suffered two unexplained pulmonary embolisms and other health issues, said, 'In the back of my mind, I wonder if it has something to do with the air that I'm breathing.'

According to a study by San Diego State University, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and bacteria detected in the water are being released into the air and lingering in the soils

Despite Imperial Beach seeing over 700 consecutive days of beach closures, residents continue to endure the daily effects of pollution

Johnson mentioned that her young children have also been exposed to the foul smell, as they attend school near the river valley

Marvel Harrison, a 67-year-old psychologist who relocated to the city with her husband in 2020, is considering moving again.

'I find myself looking at other places we might be able to live. And that's really disheartening given that this is where and how we wanted to be in retirement,' she said.

'As much as the stink permeates the air, the topic permeates the stress and anxiety of everybody's life here,' she said, adding that she always thinks twice before inviting guests to her house.

In the study published last month, researchers described the contamination as 'an escalating public health crisis'.

There is a potential for both short- and long-term health risks associated with exposure, which really underscores the need for more comprehensive monitoring and research,' said Paula Stigler, the paper's lead author.

'Urgent interventions are needed to help reduce and address both the immediate and long-term health repercussions of those living near this hazardous environment.'

The cities of Imperial Beach and Chula Vista filed a lawsuit against the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), saying it violated the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The lawsuit alleged IBWC of failing to take steps to control coastal sewage pollution.

The cities of Imperial Beach and Chula Vista filed a lawsuit against the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), saying it violated the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Local officials have been involved, with the city mayor calling for the involvement of CDC to monitor the issue and public health concerns

A settlement was reached last month and IBWC agreed to increased cooperation with Mexican water authorities to prevent future sewage spills.

Local officials have been involved, with the city mayor calling for the involvement of CDC to monitor the issue and public health concerns.

'The persistent health impacts greatly reduce the quality of life for the community,' said Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre.

'It's a challenging task, but now is the moment to ensure that our elderly, our children, and water enthusiasts are not exposed to heightened health hazards while simply trying to enjoy a sunny day,' she added.

Congressmember Scott Peters said: 'This environmental catastrophe has hurt the region for many years, resulting in decades of adverse health consequences.'
There are growing calls for Australia to address the 'very serious threat' Chinese social media giant TikTok poses to Australians.

The short-form video app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is one of the fastest growing platforms in the world with more than 170million users in the US and 8.5million in Australia.

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would give ByteDance six months to divest from the app and sell it to a company based outside China.

Speaking on Sunday, Australian Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson said TikTok will remain unsafe unless its relationship with Beijing is 'severed'.

His comments came after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the Australian government was not expected to follow the US.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) said on Thursday the Australian government was not expected to follow the US in moving towards a ban on TikTok

'With Congress and the US putting a ban on TikTok, are we going to do the same here in Australia, do you think,' WSFM radio host Brendan Jones asked.

'We'll take advice but we have no plans,' Mr Albanese replied.

READ MORE: Indy Clinton crowned Australia's most loved influencer at TikTok Awards The mummy influencer, 27, has over 1.5million followers on the platform Advertisement

'You've always got to have national security concerns front and centre but you also need to acknowledge that for a whole lot of people, this provides a way of them communicating.'

But Mr Patterson called on the government to 'take action', saying the app was a risk to Australia's democracy and national security.

Speaking on Sunday, he said that the Coalition wasn't yet supportive of an outright ban on the platform but the government should support growing efforts in the US to split TikTok's American operations off from its Beijing-based parent company.

'If the United States successfully removes TikTok from ByteDance, Australia should seek to do the same,' the Victorian senator told the ABC's Insiders program.

'The end that I hope for is that Australians can continue to use TikTok, but just without the risk that their data is abused and without the risk that the Chinese Communist Party can put its thumb on the algorithm to pump disinformation into our democracy.

'I know for a fact intelligence agencies are not saying to the Prime Minister: "There's nothing to worry about with TikTok  there's no concerns at all."

'We know that's not the case.'

The platform, whose users are predominantly teenagers and young adults, is among Australia's most downloaded apps.

But many politicians and security analysts in Australia and abroad have grown increasingly wary of it, citing concerns that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to hand over user data, or use it for propaganda and to sow division.

TikTok said it will not hand over data to China and that it seeks to remove misinformation from its platform.

US legislation to tackle TikTok has gathered considerable backing among US politicians and was overwhelmingly passed by the lower house of Congress.

TikTok has urged American users to contact their local politicians to show their disapproval through an in-app notification.

If the bill also passes the US Senate, President Joe Biden has indicated he will sign the legislation into law, opening the legislation up to a legal challenge on the grounds it impinges on the First Amendment right to free speech.

Chinese government officials have also expressed their opposition to the US push to force TikTok's sale, signalling to ByteDance they would rather see a ban enforced.

An outcome where ByteDance refuses to divest from the $160billion app, forcing its prohibition and consequently reducing its value, would be 'revealing', Senator Paterson said.

'That would be a very irrational choice, but it will be quite an illustrative choice because I suspect ByteDance would operate as an extension of the Chinese government, not as a commercial entity.'

The senator also called on the government to enact new transparency requirements on TikTok and other platforms such as the Chinese social media site WeChat as recommended by a Senate committee that probed the risk of foreign interference through social media.

TikTok is one of the fastest growing platforms in the world with more than 170million users in the US and 8.5million Australian users. Stock image

'They need to be transparent about the relationship they have with foreign governments and about the direction that they receive from foreign governments to interfere with content on a platform,' he said.

'Those recommendations are there for the government to implement at any time  I really hope they do so.'

But when asked if the matter should be raised when China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Canberra next week, Senator Paterson said it was 'not a high priority issue'.

'The Foreign Minister (Penny Wong) and the Prime Minister have a long list of issues to raise with (Mr Wang), particularly the death sentence facing the Australian citizen Yang Hengjun.'
Ninety-one-year-old Sam Vinci, a longtime musician and bandleader, recently became Middletown's newest music ambassador. Gary Kleeblatt / For Hearst Connecticut Media Sam Vinci, 91, a longtime musician and bandleader and Middletown's newest music ambassador, shows off his drum in his home studio. Gary Kleeblatt / For Hearst Connecticut Media Ninety-one-year-old Sam Vinci, a longtime Italian musician and bandleader, recently became Middletown's newest music ambassador. Gary Kleeblatt / For Hearst Connecticut Media

MIDDLETOWN  After eight decades at the center of his citys cultural life, culminating in his selection as the 2024 Middletown Music Ambassador, 91-year-old city resident Sam Vinci had a simple question: What took so long?

Each year's honoree has their tunes played when callers to City Hall are placed on hold.

Vinci, the leader of the marching band for the annual St. Sebastian Feast, has performed in the city since he was 10. Not only has he played the festival for seven decades, but he is one of only two surviving members of the original St. Sebastian marching band. And Vincis father, Salvatore, led the band before him.

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Vinci, who plays the saxophone and clarinet, holds a special place for many residents.

Phil Pessina, a former common councilman and current member of the Middletown Commission on the Arts, which bestowed a proclamation to Vinci in a City Hall ceremony Jan. 30, said the musician was a prominent part of his childhood.

"I remember sitting on my grandmothers porch on the feast day, waiting for Sam Vinci to lead the band, Pessina said. It was so exciting. The dedication Sam has for our church and community is immense. I remember him from my childhood when we always looked forward to his presence.

Vinci, who is spry, far beyond his 91 years and boasts at doing 40 squats a day, plays other Italian festivals as well. In addition to the mid-May feast, Vinci and the marching band will play for the Southington Italian American festival in July.

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The band plays authentic, traditional Italian music in a city with a large Italian-American population.

Vinci has led other bands, playing both jazz and pop. One of those is a trio that still guests at nursing homes and independent living facilities.

The other members of the trio said everyone in Middletown knows Vinci, who used to operate a successful custom drapes business. Some of his work adorns the windows in the council chambers.

Mike Proscino, 77, of Wallingford, who plays piano and sings in the trio, said the bond between Vinci and Middletown runs deep. It goes back to his father doing this before Sam, Proscino said. "Sams been around so long, and so many people know him.

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Proscino said the drapery business increased Vincis visibility with residents.

Vinci said his mother taught him how to sew when he was 33. He was in the drapery business for 50 years, he said.

Sam is terrific, Proscino said. Hes funny, talented and very intelligent. Plus, hes got a lot of stamina for a guy his age.

Vinci understands his status as the last of a breed. All my musician friends who were 80 or 90 all passed away, he said.

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Richie Shonty, 68, of South Windsor, who plays drums in the trio and also in the marching band, said the group is unique. Were booked for the next two summers all over the place because we do Italian festivals, Shonty said. Everybody in the band is reading music, and were playing authentic Italian marches. Nobody does that.

Most of the people from our generation in Middletown are familiar with the Vinci name and music because its been in their family and community, Shonty added. Plus, Sam has played weddings for countless Italian families.

Vinci is duly proud of his accomplishments. He has a studio in the home he shares with his son. Photos of the bands he played in, starting with his fathers, line the walls.

Vinci was in the U.S. Air Force band previously led by Glen Miller, and performed with Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. The Air Force band, called the Airliners, played for two U.S. presidents, Vinci said.

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Vinci was born and raised in Middletown, and his mother played violin and piano in his fathers bands. Vinci played in his fathers bands starting at 10. His sister, who is 95 and lives in Cromwell, is a talented pianist, Vinci said. The trio plays every few weeks at the Cromwell nursing home where she lives.

Vinci graduated from Middletown High School in 1951. In 1950, Vinci began playing in his fathers 18-piece Italian marching band, which performed at six or seven Italian festivals, including one in Hartford, he said. I do four now, Vinci said, including St. Sebastians, the Southington festival and festivals in Enfield and Danbury.

Mayor Ben Florsheim declared Jan. 30 Sam Vinci Day in Middletown: the day Vinci was named music ambassador.

We are fortunate to have so much musical talent in Middletown, which is what the music ambassador program is all about, Florsheim said. Sam Vinci, in carrying forward the musical tradition that his father Salvatore brought to Middletown from southeastern Sicily, has been an institution in this community for multiple generations.

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"His music could be adequately described as the soundtrack of Middletown, not just because of Sams talent, but his dedication to community and the way he brought people together with his art, the mayor added.

Asked about receiving the Music Ambassador honor, Vinci said, Its nice, but they should have given it to me when I was 70 years old. How can they appreciate me at 91 years old?

I play better than anyone in Connecticut, Vinci said matter-of-factly. A lady who saw me play at a nursing home said to me that no one plays like that any more. I told her they are all dead. All the other musicians like me, they are all dead. Now Im the best.

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Proscino said Vinci is a precious link to the past. Sam is still around to keep that tradition alive, he said. And Shonty said Vinci remains a force. Here he is, 91 years old, and Sam Vinci is booked for New Years Eve 2025, Shonty said.
Missing college student Riley Strain was spotted falling into bushes on the night he vanished, as Luke Bryan's bar denies overserving him.

Strain, 22, was last seen on Friday night stumbling through the streets on Broadway, Nashville, after being kicked out of Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink.

The Delta Chi fraternity member was in Tennessee on a trip for their annual spring formal when he was kicked out of the bar just after 9:30 p.m.

During a candlelight vigil in his home of Springfield, Missouri, on Wednesday, his uncle said he had been spotted by a homeless person falling into some bushes.

WSMV reported that Strain managed to get back up, before then disappearing into the night.

Strain, 22, was last seen on Friday night at Luke Bryan's establishment on Broadway wearing a two-toned black and brown shirt and blue jeans

On Friday, it emerged that Luke's 32, owned by Luke Bryan, was being investigated after allegedly serving him too much alcohol. Which they have since disputed

The outlet spoke to a bouncer at a different bar who was helping in the search who said he was approached by the person and told him they had seen him fall.

Family friend Chris Dingman also told the outlet that several family members had been told that a homeless person had seen Strain.

Dingman added: 'Basically, the areas where his phone quit pinging. We now do have visual confirmation from two homeless camps that Riley was in that area.'

On Friday, it emerged that Luke's 32, owned by Luke Bryan, was being investigated after allegedly serving him too much alcohol.

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) said: 'The TABC has opened an investigation into this matter to see if any violations have occurred.'

In a statement from Luke's 32 Bridge, they said: 'We proactively provided detailed information quickly after his visit to our business.

'This included all security camera footage, photos of Riley, transaction records and staff accounts.

'During Riley's visit, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters.'

The Delta Chi fraternity member was in Tennessee on a trip for their annual spring formal when he was kicked out of the bar around 10 p.m.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management are scouring riverbanks for clues using boats and sonar equipment amid fears he may have fallen into the Cumberland riverbank

At 9:35pm, the bar said their security team made the decision to escort him from the venue.

Cops made the initial suggestion that Strain may have been overserved on the Friday, when he and his friends hit the town and visited Luke's 32 Bridge.

He reportedly told his Delta Chi fraternity brothers he would meet them back at their hotel, but was nowhere to be seen when the group returned from their night out.

His friends tried contacting him, but received no response and at 1:40pm on Saturday, they reported Strain as missing as they failed to locate him via his Snapchat location.

Surveillance footage collected by police from Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street showed Strain near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Church Street.

The seemingly intoxicated student was wearing a two-toned black and brown shirt and blue jeans and took a tumble, then quickly got back up and continued down the street.

Another camera caught near the intersection of Gay Street and 1st Avenue North just before 10pm taking large strides with his head down as he stumbled through the streets.

The bar, owned by Luke Bryan, have claimed that Strain was served only one drink in the establishment and given water before being ejected

Surveillance footage released by the Nashville police show Riley Strain wobbling and appearing confused as he crossed a closed road

Surveillance footage shows missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain falling as he walked the streets of Nashville

Video from Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street showed Strain near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Church

Another camera caught near the intersection of Gay Street and 1st Avenue North just before 10 p.m. taking large strides with his head down

'We feel like when he came out, because they had been to a couple of other places, that he had got turned around on the direction,' Strain's stepfather Chris Whiteid said.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management have been frantically searching the streets, as well as the Cumberland riverbank nearby amid fears he may have fallen into the water.

Police also applied for a warrant to access his phone and Apple Watch data, hoping it would pinpoint his location or at least trace more of his movements.

Strain's family has said they're living through a nightmare ordeal as they continue to look for him.

The student had reportedly FaceTimed his mom earlier in the evening, and she said nothing seemed out of the ordinary, even though she knew he was bar hopping.

His mother Michelle Whiteid said he's 'a great kid' and normally 'very communicative'.

'We miss him and we want him back so bad,' she told WKRN. 'He's always texting me, calling me, FaceTiming me,' she added. 'He's always in touch with me. He's very communicative.'

In an appeal for information about Riley's whereabouts, Nashville Metro PD described him as '6'6', 165 lbs. with blonde hair and brown eyes.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 615-862-8600.
CCTV footage has been released of a car believed to be connected to the shooting of a senior member of the Bandidos bikie club - as police investigate whether shots were fired over an internal gang dispute.

The club's 29-year-old sergeant-at-arms, Matthew Rizzo, was dropped off at Ballarat Hospital, northwest of Melbourne, with non-life threatening injuries to his upper body after being shot in the early hours of October 1.

While Mr Rizzo survived, police believe he was shot at the Bandidos' clubhouse in Greenbank Court as club members descended on Ballarat before a national run.

Victoria Police on Sunday released CCTV footage of a light-coloured Holden Commodore driving around the area at the time.

Investigations have continued into the suspicious shooting of a Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang enforce in Ballarat on October 1 (pictured, OMCG members showing off their patches)

READ MORE: Man found dead in suspected hit and run in Sydney's east Advertisement

The Commodore can be seen speeding through a laneway and turning off its headlights as it turned onto a main road before driving away at 12:18am.

Other footage from outside of a service station shows the car stop at an intersection just before 1am.

Investigators hope the footage may help identify the vehicle or it's current whereabouts.

Officers had raided the Bandidos clubhouse the morning after the shooting.

Victoria Police Detective Inspector Michael Daly described the shooting as a 'deliberately violent incident which could have resulted in the death of a man'.

'We believe it was targeted at the victim, however we are still working through whether this was as a result of an internal dispute within the Bandidos or some kind of disagreement with another club,' he said.

'This shooting was a reckless incident with seemingly no regard for the safety of anyone else, and we're lucky more people weren't impacted.

Investigators released CCTV footage of a Holden Commodore (pictured) believed to be involved in the shooting of the Bandidos member after it was spotted in the area at the time

The Commodore can be seen speeding down an alleyway before turning off its headlights as it reaches a main road (pictured)

'There will be people out there who know the reason for the shooting and if they don't know who was directly involved, then they will have their suspicions.

'We are keen to speak to these people and as always, this information can be provided anonymously.'

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The grandmother of a schoolgirl left comatose by a schoolmate who smashed her head into concrete says she 'cries herself to sleep begging God to heal everything'.

Terry Nordstrom Thompson, whose granddaughter Kaylee Gain was filmed having her head smashed into a road, shared the post on Facebook on Saturday.

Thompson shared a post that said: '[You] ever just cry yourself to sleep begging God to heal everything you're going [through]', captioning it 'everyday right now'.

Video of the incident shows a girl bashing the 15-year-olds head into the concrete after throwing multiple punches and sending her careening to the ground.

She suffered from a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage and was left in a critical condition with major brain bleeding and swelling, according to a GoFundMe.

The incident happened in Spanish Lake, Missouri, on March 8, with Thompson telling DailyMail.com the family would be providing a statement shortly.

Kaylee Gain (pictured) suffered a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage when her head was repeatedly smashed into the ground during a brawl near her St. Louis high school last Friday

Terry Nordstrom Thompson, whose granddaughter Kaylee Gain was filmed having her head smashed into a concrete road, said she is 'devastated' and that a statement will be released by the family shortly

Thompson shared a post that said: '[You] ever just cry yourself to sleep begging God to heal everything you're going [through]', captioning it 'everyday right now'

Thompson said: 'The family will give a statement very soon. That's all I can say right now.'

In an earlier post, Thompson said she was left 'devastated' over the news of her granddaughter.

She shared the worrying updates after blasting the 'unforgiveable' attack on her granddaughter by a schoolmate that left the teenager in 'critical condition.

Kaylee's grandma posted on Facebook on Friday night that she was 'devastated.' The distraught grandma shared, 'Have you ever just said "I'm fine" when you weren't because some people wouldn't understand.'

Few updates have been shared on how Kaylee is doing with the latest news sparking fears she may not recover from the horrific attack, which has sparked global revulsion.

The emotional updates come after Thompson spoke out against her 15-year-old granddaughter's attackers several days ago. 'It unforgiveable what she endured and went through,' the grandma said.

In a post sharing the GoFundMe page set up for Kaylee's recovery, Thompson slammed the 'assault,' calling it 'vicious.'

'We love her so much and hoping and praying for a full recovery but the road is long,' the post said.

Kaylee was brutally beaten by another teen (pictured) last week. She is 'fighting hard to stay alive' after suffering brain damage in the horrific attack

The charity page has raised $320,000 so far to go toward medical bills as the teen fights for her life to stay alive.

She suffered from a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage and was left in a critical condition with major brain bleeding and swelling, according to the GoFundMe.

The attack happened just after 2:30 pm last Friday near the school.

Gain appeared to begin to have a seizure as groups of other teens brawled just feet away.

Police found the girl suffering from a serious head injury near the intersection of Norgate Drive and Claudine Drive, roughly a five-minute walk from the high school campus. She was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

'In minutes, this family's life shattered when their only daughter was assaulted outside of a North County high school,' the crowdfunding page states.

'She was left alone on the ground to convulse before EMTs arrived on the scene. She was admitted to one of the local hospitals in Saint Louis with a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage.'

A GoFundMe has been set up to cover Gain's medical expenses

Viral video shows another teen smashing Gain's head into the pavement repeatedly before the victim appears to suffer a seizure

Gain's 'shocked and devastated' parents have been staying by their daughter's side 'day and night' since he was hospitalized and are 'hoping to bring her back to the Kaylee they know and love.'

A 15-year-old girl was arrested Saturday and charged with assault. She was taken to the St. Louis County Family Court and remained in custody as of Sunday afternoon.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey has called on the 'evil' 15-year-old girl who beat Gain's head into the concrete to be 'tried as an adult.'

Bailey announced on X: 'This evil and complete disregard for human life has no place in Missouri, or anywhere. I am praying for the victim.

'The criminal should be charged and tried as an adult. If the victim dies, that offense should rise to a homicide.'

John O'Sullivan, Director of Communications with St. Louis County Courts, told KSDK it is too soon to determine if the suspect will be tried as an adult.

He says a court hearing is expected to be held in the next few weeks.

After news of the altercation broke, the Hazelwood School District released a statement condemning violence within the community.

'It is a tragedy anytime children are hurt,' the statement read. 'Bullying and fighting in the community is an issue for which we all need to take ownership and work towards a resolution for the sake of our children.

'The Hazelwood School District offers our sincerest condolences to everyone involved and will offer additional emotional support from our support and crisis team to those in need.'

Missouri AG Andrew Bailey warned the sickening attack against high schooler Kaylee Gain was a result of 'radical' DEI policies and a soft-touch approach to justice

The statement urged community members to respect the families of those involved and 'pledge to help work toward the betterment of our entire community.'

Missouri's Attorney General said 'radical' diversity, equity and inclusion programs are to blame for the vicious school fight that left student Kaylee Gain with severe brain damage as he called for her attacker to be tried as an adult.

Andrew Bailey claimed the brutality was a result of an obsession with woke DEI policies and the soft-touch approach to justice under former St. Louis DA Kim Gardner and current Rep Cori Bush, a hardline progressive Democrat.

He appeared on Fox News to discuss the horrifying attack on Gain at her St. Louis high school last Friday.

It is not yet clear what started the fight, but Bailey accused Gain's school of 'promoting racial divisiveness' and 'pushing a radical social agenda' at the expense of proper discipline.

'These children grew up in St Louis. They have watched a Soros-backed prosecutor Kim Gardner who refused to prosecute criminal defendants,' Bailey said.
President Joe Biden was in full campaign mode as he took shots at former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as a whole at the annual 'Gridiron Dinner' in Washington Saturday.

The dinner is a venerable Washington tradition, a comedic white-tie affair at the Gridiron Club featuring skits, songs and speeches while the capital's elites let down their hair, with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris sitting at a table with richest man on earth Jeff Bezos.

The president does not always attend, though every president dating back to its founding in 1885 save for Grover Cleveland has addressed it at least once. No photos are allowed during the dinner and participants are asked not to post on social media until after it has concluded.

Saturday was Biden's first time at the dinner as commander-in-chief and the first time a president had attended since Trump in 2018 and he began his 10-minute speech by poking fun at both his and Trump's age, as the pair are the two oldest people to ever run for president.

'One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president,' he said. 'The other is me.'

President Joe Biden was in full campaign mode as he took shots at former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as a whole at the annual 'Gridiron Dinner' in Washington Saturday

Tonight was the Gridiron Dinner in DC, one of Washingtons oldest traditions. Joe Biden was here, and after some comedy schtick and a few serious words, he stayed afterward and chatted with a few of the attendees. Here he is leaving a message for one womans mother. pic.twitter.com/Om4LBDi1Gy  Ted Johnson (@tedstew) March 17, 2024

It was the first of multiple shots fired at Trump, who is four years younger than Biden, the oldest president in American history during a speech Biden said was taking place 'six hours past my bedtime.'

'You know he ain't the same guy that I beat in 2020. But don't tell him. He thinks he's running against Barack Obama. That's what he said,' Biden cracked.

He then used a line bragging about his student debt relief efforts to mock Trump's own problems with debt, saying his programs don't 'apply to everyone.'

'Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up and said, 'I'm being crushed by debt. I'm completely wiped out.' I said, 'Sorry, Donald I can't help out.'

Trump praised Republican Governor of Utah Spencer Cox, who spoke at the dinner, though he noticed the absence of GOP presence.

'The Republicans were gonna do a skit tonight, but they couldn't get a speaker,' he said, poking fun at the Republicans' battle to elect a replacement for Kevin McCarthy.

He also poked fun at the lowered expectations leading to the mainstream media's praise of his State of the Union address.

'Even the press has to admit, I crushed it,' he said. 'The expectations were so low I just had to show up and remember who the president is.'

US President Joe Biden addressed the Gridiron Club in Washington

Saturday was Biden's first time at the dinner as commander-in-chief and the first time a president had attended since Trump in 2018 and he began his 10-minute speech by poking fun at both his and Trump's age, as the pair are the two oldest people to ever run for president

He even came after one of Trump's former rivals for president, with a dig at the height of Florida's Republican governor. 'We're committed to helping the little guy... Ron DeSantis, but he won't take our calls,' Biden quipped

Lauren Sanchez - the fiance of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos posts the menu, which includes red wine, braised short ribs and Cajun shrimp

Kristjan Prikk, Estonia's Ambassador to the United States, attended the dinner. The Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas sat at Biden's table

Former Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States Neal Katyal prepares for the event

He even came after one of Trump's former rivals for president, with a dig at the height of Florida's Republican governor.

'We're committed to helping the little guy... Ron DeSantis, but he won't take our calls.'

He then returned to one of his recent favorite recurring jokes: the conspiracy that he rigged the nation's largest sporting event for its most famous pop star.

'We're proud of our accomplishments,' he said. 'Better jobs, wages rising, winning the Super Bowl for Taylor Swift.

Biden eventually turned serious, discussing the Republican Party's impeachment attempts and the 2024 election.

He said the Democrats' election campaign would show how they rebuilt the US economy after the Covid-19 pandemic 'without encouraging the American people to inject bleach.'

'Look, I wish these were jokes, but they're not,' added Biden.

'Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin's on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says, 'Do whatever the hell you want.''

Biden eventually turned serious, discussing the Republican Party's impeachment attempts and the 2024 election

ABC News White House correspondent MaryAlice Parks prepares for the event

CBS' Ed O'Keefe was one of many who participated in the skits Saturday night

Former United States Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman brought his daughter to the dinner

Vivian Salama posts Instagram stories of herself and the performers, which include journalists Ed O'Keefe of CBS News, Robert Costa, Fin Gomez and Jeff Mason

Noting that Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a strong critic of Russia, was also at his table, he added 'We will not bow down, they will not bow down and I will not bow down.'

Biden stayed after the dinner and mingled with guests. One social media user recorded Biden FaceTiming with the mother of the guest, thanking her for 'saying nice things about me.'

The dinner has a reputation as a night of bipartisan mirth, and was jam-packed with politicians and who's-who of Washington, including Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, at least eight other Cabinet members, at least five members of Congress, five governors and at least five ambassadors.

Irish head of state Leo Varadkar, who's in town for St. Patrick's Day, also attended.

Also speaking at the dinner were Harris, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican.

Cox, 48, joked that he was announcing his candidacy for the presidency 'in 2052, when I still will be younger than both President Biden and President Trump.'

Biden and Harris were seated at the head table along with other administration officials and the foreign leaders, plus Gridiron president Dan Balz of the Washington Post.

Seated also at the table were Balz's bosses, the Post's Executive Editor Sally Buzbee and the newspaper's owner, Jeff Bezos.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez both sat at President Biden's table

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whose U.S. business could be banned by Biden, was also in attendance

Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, 48, joked that he was announcing his candidacy for the presidency 'in 2052, when I still will be younger than both President Biden and President Trump.'

Journaliss Ed O'Keefe, Robert Costa and Fin Gomez prepare for a skit at the dinner

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whose U.S. business could be banned by Biden, was also in attendance.

The club's 65 members, all representatives from news organizations, performed satirical songs and skits. One song poked fun at Biden's and Trump's ages to the tune of 'When I'm Sixty-Four' by The Beatles.

At last year's dinner, Mike Pence, who served as Vice President under Trump, offered a forceful rebuke of his one-time boss, saying history would hold Trump accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In his own appearance at the Gridiron Club six years ago, Trump did trade unusually playful digs with the Washington press corps and also joked about North Korea and his own leadership style.

Unlike its sister event, the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April, the Gridiron dinner is not televised and tries to retain its yesteryear vibe with men in white tie and tails and women in long dresses.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles said his government needs to do better after voters turned on Labor, which will lose one of its safest seats after suffering a huge swing against it at two byelections on Saturday.

The shattered premier faced the media on Sunday after the devastating result just seven months from the October 26 general state election.

'We will be listening to voters and we will now redouble our efforts to deliver on those issues,' he said.

'It's an admission we need to do better and it's an acknowledgment that that's what we've started to do, much more focused on those immediate concerns - cost of living, community safety, health and housing.

'We've made big steps on some of there but there is clearly more for us to do, especially on cost of living and community safety.'

Queensland Premier Steven Miles (pictured) said his government needs to do better after voters turned on Labor, which will lose one of its safest seats after suffering a huge swing against it at two byelections on Saturday

The Premier seemed a far cry from the 'Lord Giggles' persona Labor insiders know him as, instead looking deflated on Sunday.

LNP candidate Darren Zanow is expected to claim the seat of Ipswich West after his Labor opponent Wendy Bourne suffered a 15.2 per cent swing against her.

Former Labor MP Jim Madden, who resigned to stand at the council elections also held on Saturday, held the seat with a margin of 14.2 per cent. Labor has held the seat for 19 out of 22 elections since 1960.

Labor will hold onto the seat of Inala, vacated by former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, despite voters turning against the party with a massive 30.9 per cent swing against the government.

Candidate Margie Nightingale, who was supported on Saturday by Ms Palaszczuk, Premier Steven Miles and Deputy Premier Cameron Dick, will take her seat in parliament, after defeating the LNP's Trang Yen.

Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud said voters had sent a message to Labor, but the LNP and leader David Crisafulli shouldn't get complacent.

'This is a big "up yours" to the Queensland Labor government. This is a big message,' Mr Littleproud told the Today show.

'But I wouldn't be measuring up the curtains just yet if I was David Crisafulli. There's a lot of work to do between now and October in convincing Queenslanders.

'Understand there's a big message for federal Labor in this. This was a cost of living election.

'And so I think from Anthony Albanese to Steven Miles, all the way down, they should be very concerned that they need to make sure that they're attacking the real issue, which is cost of living pressures here in Queensland.'

Mr Crisafulli said voters had made their concerns known.

'It was clear they couldn't change the government, but they could change their vote and send a message. And they did that in large numbers,' he said on Saturday night.

Mr Miles told supporters on Saturday night that Labor was 'talking about issues in the campaign that we know people care about'.

'Only Labor knows and understands and cares about communities like Inala and Ipswich West,' he said.

'We'll keep listening to Queenslanders and keep delivering on those things.'

It was the first electoral test for Mr Miles, who succeeded Ms Palaszczuk late last year after her sudden resignation, before the October 26 state election.

He has previously spoken about how hard it would be for Labor to win a fourth term in October.

LNP candidate Darren Zanow (pictured) is expected to claim the seat of Ipswich West after his Labor opponent Wendy Bourne suffered a 15.2 per cent swing against her

'No matter what the results are tonight, particularly Ipswich West was always going to be a very hard seat for us,' he said.

On Saturday night, deputy Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie said a strong message had been sent to the Labor government.

'Trang has taken what was one of the most safest seats in Labor, to what is likely going to be a marginal seat within a swing of election winning status in October,' he said.

'Trang and the team should be immensely proud of what they've done and it shows that people of Inala are unhappy with the cost of living crisis, the health crisis, the youth crime crisis, housing crisis, all the things that Trang the LNP have been talking about.'

It comes after Mr Miles was called out for laughing when asked by a reporter what his government was doing about youth crime in his state, just days after the fatal attack of a woman in front of her granddaughter.

The premier had been addressing the undersupply of affordable housing at the Queensland Media Club last month when he took questions from reporters who grilled him about the youth crime crisis.

It was just a week after Vyleen White, 70, became the latest victim after she was allegedly stabbed at a Redbank Plains shopping centre.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles is under fire after nervously laughing when asked at a press conference what his government was doing about youth crime

Brisbane bureau chief for Sky News, Adam Walters, asked Mr Miles why he had not addressed the subject in his speech to which he replied 'it was a speech about housing'.

But Mr Walters pushed: 'The absence of any reference to youth crime in your speech would have been noted by the people of those communities.'

'C'mon,' Mr Miles said and laughed at the reporter for persisting with the question about why the topic wasn't in his speech on the housing crisis.

His reaction angered many, who labelled his response 'shameless' and 'pathetic'.
The state of Kansas will pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit over the death of Adrian Jones, who was murdered and fed to pigs by his father.

The suit, filed by the child's mother and relatives in 2017, said that the state child welfare agency should have removed him from an abusive home before he was starved and tortured.

Police found the remains of the 7-year-old in a pigsty on the property of his father and stepmother Michael and Heather Jones in November 2015.

Both are serving 25-years-to-life sentences for his murder, after they beat and locked Adrian in a shower stall and watched him deteriorate on surveillance camera.

Gov. Laura Kelly and top leaders of the Kansas Legislature approved the settlement during a brief public meeting on Tuesday.

Police found the remains of the 7-year-old, seen here, in a pigsty on the property of his father and stepmother in November 2015

Michael and Heather Jones are serving 25-years-to-life sentences for his murder, after they beat and locked Adrian in a shower stall and watched him deteriorate on surveillance camera

The Kansas Department for Children and Families received reports that Adrian was being abused several years before his death.

Their last physical contact with him was almost four years before his death, according to more than 2,000 pages of records released in 2017 by the agency.

The records showed that the three of them moved frequently between communities in Kansas and Missouri.

The lawsuit argued that the state and social workers could have 'stepped in and rescued' Adrian 'at any point' but 'chose to act like disinterested bystanders.'

The Kansas agency argued that frequent moves made it difficult to keep tabs on the boy.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, one of the lawmakers who approved the settlement, said she believes the state faced 'a lot of liability' for what happened.

Kelly said the issue wasn't the potential damages in a lawsuit but the litigation distracting it from 'the mission at hand' of improving the child welfare system.

'It really had to do with wanting to get that settled and not spend time litigating in courts for what could be definitely months, maybe even years,' she said.

Dainna Pearce, Adrian Jones biological mother, is seen here in Lawrence, Kansas, in 2017. She has now been awarded $1 million from the state

Adrian is seen here kissing his oldest sibling, half-sister Keiona 'Kiki' Doctor, in 2012

Matt Birch, an attorney representing the family, said: 'This has been a long journey for Adrian's family.

'The most important thing for the family was to hopefully make a change and make this less likely to happen in the future.'

Police had responded to the home in 2015 due to a domestic violence call with Heather Jones accusing Michael Jones of beating and choking her.

Once there, she blurted out that the boy's father had fed him to their six feeder pigs two months earlier at the end of September.

The investigation into her claims yielded harrowing evidence of years of abuse with Heather, sickeningly proud of how she tortured her stepson, documenting it in photographs.

He was locked behind a plywood door in a shower, made to stand for hours in stagnant water up to his neck, shackled, bound, starved and beaten.

His stepmother called him 'the boy,' rather than use his given name. While she and Adrian's father cared for their six girls, he was singled out for abuse of the worst kind.

Injuries that were photographed included deep cuts to his face and lips which he'd suffered trying to chew his way out of the cardboard cell his parents had created for him in a shower stall.

The investigation into her claims yielded harrowing evidence of years of abuse with Heather, sickeningly proud of how she tortured her stepson, documenting it in photographs

He was locked behind a plywood door in a shower, made to stand for hours in stagnant water up to his neck, shackled, bound, starved and beaten

Heather pleaded guilty to murder in November 2016 and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years

He was also photographed wearing a cutting board duct taped to his chest and strapped to an inversion table.

The pair were arrested in 2015. Heather pleaded guilty to murder in November 2016 and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years.

In May of 2017, Michael Jones was given the same sentence after also pleading guilty in March of that year.

In 2013, Adrian told a Children's Division worker in Missouri, where the family was living at the time, that his father kept beating him in the head.

'My daddy keeps hitting me in the head and punches me in the stomach and my mom keeps pulling on my ears and it really hurts.

'Mommy and Daddy lock me in my room by myself. Mommy and Daddy cant feed me,' he said during the interview which was promoted by an anonymous call reporting concerns about Adrian's welfare.

Shockingly, he was allowed to carry on living with the pair and they relocated to Kansas City, Kansas, shortly afterwards.

When he died, Adrian was a tiny bag of bones with his last months being a living hell.

Instead of a proper burial, the child was fed to pigs his father had bought, seen here, specifically for the purpose of getting rid of his emaciated body

Instead of a proper burial, the child was fed to pigs his father had bought specifically for the purpose of getting rid of his emaciated body.

A multiyear legislative review of the child welfare system followed the boy's death.

In 2021, 'Adrian's Law' required officers and caseworkers to visually observe children who are alleged victims of abuse or neglect.

The state also has moved to improve doctors' training in recognizing abuse and to provide 'wrap-around' services for troubled families.

Birch said that he and the family hope that through the lawsuit and 2021 law 'there will be more eyes on these kids.'

Adrian's family members also filed a lawsuit in 2017 in Jackson County, Missouri, also in the Kansas City-area, against officials in that state.

The case was settled in 2020, but the details were not immediately available, and Birch said he couldn't comment.
An Aussie dad has had his entire life savings of almost $150,000 stolen by a cruel scammer after he opened an email claiming one of his relatives had died.

Melbourne man Renato Calalang had worked in different types of jobs for the last 40 years and had saved almost $150,000 for his retirement.

Mr Calalang received an email in mid 2023, claiming his cousin had died and left him with an inheritance.

The 60-year-old moved to Australia in 1986 and still has extended family in Manila, Phillipines - some of whom he has never met.

The email, which was sent by the scammer posing as a credit manager named Steve Golds, seemed plausible to Mr Calalang as it even included a death certificate of a person with the same name as his cousin.

Renato Calalang, 60, (pictured) lost almost $150,000 of his life savings when he fell victim to a cruel email scam claiming his relative died and had left him an inheritance

The scammer claimed to own a bank in Manila and that Mr Calalang was entitled to a 3.8 million euro inheritance.

To receive his inheritance, Mr Calalang was told he had to provide his details and open up a bank account in Manila but before doing so he had to transfer money.

Mr Calalang was told he could not transfer directly to the bank in Manila but would have to transfer to the scammer's agent in Australia.

'So I deposited some funds into a Commonwealth Bank account, which is the same bank that I am with,' Mr Calalang told News.com.au.

'This made me feel like nothing bad could happen, and if something were to go wrong, I thought I would be able to chase up Commonwealth Bank for help.'

Mr Calalang continued to deposit money to the scammers - one of which he spoke to on the phone and who 'sounded legitimate '- over the next three months believing he would soon receive his inheritance.

One transfer totalling $11,180 was sent to an account with the name Shane T Waycott on September 8, last year.

However, he soon realised it was a scam and in September last year contacted the police, Scamwatch and Commonwealth bank, which was the same bank used by the scammers.

Mr Calalang said the bank investigated his case for two months but told him his funds could not be recovered as the bank in the Phillipines would not cooperate.

While Mr Calalang understands he fall victim to the scam, he claims Commonwealth bank should have had better security measures in place to prevent

'I wish they had alerted me that this was a scam. If they see someone's account diminishing, something is obviously wrong,' Mr Calalang said.

'But instead they just said it was my fault. Yet the scammers have bank accounts with Commonwealth.'

He said after 40 years of being a Commonwealth bank customer, he was treated like a number.

Mr Calalang said he was looking forward to a 'relaxing retirement' but his financial freedom has been taken away and has been forced to live 'day to day'.

He wants to warn other Aussies about the scam and hopes Commonwealth Bank might still recuperate some of his money.

A spokesperson for Commonwealth Bank told Daily Mail Australia they were aware of these type of scams and urged customers to be vigilant when transferring money.

'CBA acknowledges the financial and emotional burden scams have on customers and the community,' they said.

'We are aware of instances where a scammer will offer the false promise of an inheritance or share in a large sum of money. This may be through a phone call, text or email.

'In communicating with the customer, the scammer will request payment of a smaller up-front fee.

The scammer, who posed as a credit manager named Steve Gold, told Mr Calalang he had to transfer money to a Commonwealth Bank account before receiving his inheritance

Mr Calalang said he wished Commonwealth Bank had more security measures in place to help prevent scams. He hopes the bank could retrieve at least some of his money

'CBA encourages people to be vigilant when being asked to send money, and to 'Stop. Check. Reject' when assessing requests for payment.

'This includes taking the extra time to consult a trusted family member or friend as a sounding board before making a payment to an unfamiliar recipient if there is a promise of a large sum of money in return.

'If you think you have been scammed or if you notice an unusual transaction or one you didn't make, contact your bank immediately.'

The spokesperson confirmed the bank was unsuccessful in retrieving Mr Calalang's money.

'In this instance, Mr Calalang made a number of transfers to multiple banks over a two month period in response to the scammer telling him this would in turn release a substantial inheritance,' they said.

'When Mr Calalang contacted CBA about the transfers he had made we promptly attempted to recover the funds but were unsuccessful.

'For more information on protecting yourself from fraud and scams, including information on common types of scams, visit www.commbank.com.au/safe.'

Last year, Aussies reported more than 3,983 cases of inheritance and unexpected money scams, which cost victims more than $4.18 million, according to the ACCC's Scamwatch.

More than $1.24 million was lost via email scams, with victims aged over 55 years old representing about 1,986 of the victims.
A man has died and another two are fighting for life after being pulled unconscious from the water at a beach off Victoria's Great Ocean Road.

The trio, who are yet to be formally identified, were swimming in the ocean at Marengo near Apollo Bay when they got into trouble on Sunday afternoon, police said.

A woman who was passing by was able to bring the men to shore one by one as others on the beach attempted resuscitation.

'Despite their best efforts, one man was declared deceased at the scene,' police said in a statement.

A man aged in his 20s was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital. As of Sunday night, he was in a serious condition.

A second man aged in his 20s was taken to Geelong Hospital in an ambulance in a critical condition.

A man has died and another two are fighting for life after a drowning event at Marengo, near Apollo Bay (pictured, an ambulance at the scene)

One man was declared dead at the scene (pictured) while two others, both aged in their 20s, were rushed to hospital

The three men have not been formally identified.

A report will prepared for the coroner by police.

Four people died at an unpatrolled beach on Victoria's Phillip Island in January, in what was the state's most deadly drowning event in about two decades.

There were 55 coastal drownings across the country this summer, with 19 of those taking place in Victoria.
A man has been caught on camera taking a death-defying leap off a five-storey balcony into a pool to avoid police capture.

Police attended the Canopy Apartment complex on Simpsons Road on the Gold Coast to conduct a welfare check on a man following calls from concerned neighbours on Sunday.

The man, aged in his 30s, climbed over the balcony railing of his apartment in an attempt to evade police.

Residents and neighbours captured the heartstopping moment the man jumped from the balcony into the apartment complex's pool.

The footage shows police trying to convince the man to climb back over the rail to safety.

The man, aged in his 30s, tried to evade police and climbed over the railing of his fifth-floor apartment (left). He then jumped from the balcony and plunged into the complex's pool (right)

'He can't climb back up,' one woman is heard saying before the man lets go of the rail.

'Holy 's**t he jumped'.

It is understood police called specialist negotiators to help convince the man not to jump.

Incredibly, the man made a lucky escape and plunged into the pool below suffering only minor injuries.

Witnesses claim the man climbed out of the pool, burst out of the complex and ran through a neighbour's backyard before fleeing on foot down the street.

Officers found the man at his parent's house late on Sunday afternoon.

Police are still investigating the incident and the man has yet to be charged.
The Prince and Princess of Wales 'want to be clear and more open' about Kate's health, but will only share with the public 'when they feel ready', a friend has claimed.

Kate has not made an official public appearance since she underwent major abdominal surgery on January 16, leading to a growing tsunami of speculation over her unknown health condition. She is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter.

Rumours only intensified when the Princess publicly took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother's Day, which was 'killed' by six of the world's top picture agencies over concern that it had been 'manipulated'.

A source close to Kate and Prince William say the couple will disclose more information about her recovery in due course, according to The Sunday Times, which reports her return is expected after April 17.

The friend argued Kate 'is not a show pony' and it is 'entirely right' for the couple to not want to be 'drawn into a game about what is going on with her health'.

The Prince and Princess of Wales 'want to be clear and more open' about Kate's health, but will only share with the public 'when they feel ready', a friend has claimed. Kate is pictured at the Christmas Day morning church service in Sandringham last year, which was the last time she was seen publicly before her surgery

The Princess of Wales is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter. She is pictured with her husband Prince William and her children during her last public appearance, which was on Christmas Day

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service last Monday

'In Kate's case, there is almost nobody else in the world whose face, body, clothes are more judged than hers,' the insider told The Sunday Times.

'What is happening is exactly what they said would happen  she would spend two weeks in hospital and be back after Easter. So what if they haven't pushed her out there to wave from the back of a car? She is not a show pony.'

A friend said the Waleses are fully aware about the circulating rumours but claimed: 'Theyre not like [Prince] Harry, obsessing and scrolling through Twitter, but they know it has broken through. They follow the news and see the BBC breaking news alerts.'

READ MORE How Palace handling of Kate Middleton photo crisis fuelled yet more conspiracy theories - from claims she face swapped her Vogue shoot, sent Pippa out as a body double and used shot from 2023 Advertisement

The insider added that the speculation around the couple's marriage is 'just cruel', especially while William, Kate and their children are 'going through the hardest time theyve had to go through as a family'.

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic - the private hospital where the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate - for planned abdominal surgery.

She left the hospital on January 29 - almost two weeks later - and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Details of her condition have not been revealed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the Princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Kate is not expected to return to frontline duties until after April 17, when her three children go back to Lambrook School, near Ascot after the Easter holidays.

William will also take time away from public duties during their children's Easter holiday, the newspaper reported.

Sources close to the couple speculate they could address Kate's health condition at public engagements next month, the newspaper reported.

The Sunday Times quoted a friend as saying: 'They are at their most open when out interacting with members of the public and I can see a world in which the princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements.

'If she was going to do it, that's how she would do it.'

The friend said the couple will only speak out when 'they feel ready', adding: 'I would expect that to be [Kate's] instinct and it will be her call. They're not going to be rushed.'

Kensington Palace released the picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery

Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales' Instagram account

Despite this tumultuous few weeks for the Royal Family, it is expected that William and Kate will still uphold the tradition of releasing a new photograph to mark their children's birthdays, the next being Prince Louis on April 23.

'They appreciate the public's love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays,' an aide told the newspaper.

READ MORE: William and Kate have made no 'firm decision' on who will be behind the camera when they release photo to mark Prince Louis' birthday next month The couple last April released this adorable photo of Kate pushing Prince Louis around in a wheelbarrow in Windsor to celebrate his fifth birthday Advertisement

It comes after Kate apologised for the manipulated family picture issued by Kensington Palace last week on Mother's Day. The image was withdrawn with a 'kill' notice by several international picture agencies.

Concerns that the picture had been manipulated were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlotte's sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate's zip.

In addition to the numerous imperfections in the image, viewers also spotted that Kate appeared to not be wearing her wedding ring, which sparked multiple unfounded theories online about the state of her marriage.

Sources close to the couple said that while the Waleses plan to mark Louis' birthday, no 'firm decision' has been taken yet on whether Kate will be behind the camera or if they will hire a professional photographer.

Earlier this week, Kate made the unexpected decision to publicly take responsibility of the mishap and issue a personal apology on Instagram: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,' she wrote.

A friend and adviser to the couple said that Kate's only mistake was not telling her team that she had edited the photos.

'But she came out and said sorry. The photo was a misstep, even with something as innocent as that you should disclose altering it.'

Another friend insisted that it was just someone trying to project the polished image that the public has come to expect: 'It's a photo that she knew everyone would pore over so she pored over it herself - she likes trying to make the family look the best they can.'

It is understood that Kate had only intended to 'bring a bit of joy' and release a reassuring image to thank the public for their ongoing support, and that she and William are both 'shaken and devastated' at the speculation about their marriage.

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in 2022

It is understood that Kate will not attend the St Patrick's Day parade today for the first time in seven years as she continues to recover from her abdominal surgery. She and William are pictured at the St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, England last year

Kate was seen in the backseat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements. The Mail understands she was on route for a 'private appointment' and she did not accompany William publicly.

Sources within the royal circles are warning of the negative affect rumours may be having on Kate as she recovers from her major surgery. One insider said: 'I worry about all this attention on Catherine. She did not look happy at all in the car on Monday.'

Despite calls for the original image to be published, Kensington Palace insisted it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

It comes after further details emerged about the photo shoot, with William having taken the picture in just a 40-minute window on Friday before the Princess edited it twice in Photoshop to 'make it the best it can be'.

The Prince of Wales took the picture of his smiling family on a 2,900 Canon camera before Kate made edits to improve the photo ahead of its public release on Instagram on Sunday.
Members of the newly formed Parkside Village I Tenant Union gather at the courtyard at the apartment complex in early February. Susan Braden

BRANFORD  Many safety improvements still need to be made at the aging Parkside Village II, which has been plagued with maintenance issues for years, but leaders of a new tenants union say things are getting better.

While some tenants will soon move into the new, nearby $30 million Parkside Village I, complaints of neglect at the 1980s-era Parkside II, a state housing facility for senior citizens and adults with disabilities, spurred residents to form the tenant union in early February.

Parkside Village II Tenant Union representatives say maintenance staff has been far more responsive since the union was formed.

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According to Luke Melonakos-Harrison of the Connecticut Tenants Union, the Parkside Village II Tenants Union has had two successful meetings with Beacon Properties LLC, a private property management company.

"Basically, maintenance has been coming out," said Melonakos-Harrison. "There's been a lot more attentiveness to conditions and issues around the complex."

Heat has been among the problems at the complex, and the new management company has been prompt in fixing those issues, union leaders say.

"I know that somebody lost heat, and it was restored within 24 hours, which was a huge improvement  people (were) left without heat for eight to 10 days previously," Melonakos-Harrison said.

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Holly Hackett, co-vice president of the Parkside Village union, is heartened that Beacon deals directly with union representatives. The previous property management company, Merit Properties of Branford, would only deal with residents, who were often reluctant to call maintenance themselves, Hackett said.

Hackett pointed to one older resident without heat who didn't want to bother maintenance "because it was the weekend, and instead put up a note in the community room."

Her co-vice president Lori-Lynn Ross found the note, took it down, called Beacon, and got the problem resolved, she said.



Though the action seemed simple, it was not business as usual, according to Hackett, as the previous property management company would not take a service call from a union representative on behalf of a tenant.

In a written statement, Beacon officials said they are "finding the new tenants' union at the community to be a great resource."

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"Beacon welcomes feedback from the new group, which has improved communication and assisted our management team in prioritizing property improvements," the statement said. "We remain committed to working with the Branford Housing Authority property owners, as well as the tenants' union and residents, to ensure concerns are properly addressed."

Tenants also said they have yet to have a voice with the Branford Housing Authority, which is responsible for fiscal oversight of Parkside Village II.

According to Branford Housing Authority officials, the authority is working to replace three broken lifts that have trapped residents with mobility issues on the second floor. The BHA is seeking bids from contractors; the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority has approved funding for the project.

"The lifts have been a lot more involved because those three lifts have to be completely replaced," said Anthony Wight, BHA chair. "We have contractors signed up to do the bids. This has taken a long time."



"We're making progress on those," Wight said, adding that the BHA targets late spring to early summer for the lifts' replacement when it receives the funds from CHFA.

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"CHFA's committed to paying for it, so it's not an issue of not being funded," Wight said. He said getting all the required paperwork, which he called "significant," in order will slow any work.

"I don't think anyone's delaying anything," Wight said, "it just takes a lot of putting parts together. But we have been working on it since the fall. We're getting closer."

Despite the progress, union leaders are eager to meet with the BHA. They had planned to attend two BHA meetings in January and February, but both were canceled due to weather and illness. The group plans to attend the next BHA meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, at the Joseph Trapasso Community House.

However, Wight noted that unless union representatives ask to put an item on the BHA meeting agenda, there is no place for residents or union representatives to comment during the meetings.

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The union has also sought to meet directly with the BHA and First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, but that has yet to happen due to scheduling conflicts, according to Wight.

Melonakos-Harrison said, "What the union still is really hoping for is to sit down and get some stuff in writing."

He said the union is "still trying to get on a regular schedule of meetings to negotiate some of the more ongoing norms and relationship with people's leases."
Millions of boozy revellers are preparing to brave their hangovers and carry on drinking as they celebrate St Patrick's Day after huge crowds painted the town green last night.

The crowds, who got the party started early last night, will attend the hundreds of events - including parades up and down the country - due to start this afternoon.

London's parade of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry is expected to be the biggest with 50,000 people set to take part.

The parade starts at Hyde Park Corner at midday, then travels through Piccadilly, St Jamess Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall.

The parade's final stop is the main stage at Trafalgar Square where traditional Irish music and other celtic shows will take place.

Pictured: Revellers took to Broad Street in Birmingham on Saturday night to enjoy St Patrick's day celebrations

Thousands of revellers will have to brave their hangovers today as the celebrations start all over again

Pictured: The police speak to two people in Newscastle amid the St Patrick's Day celebrations

Crowds of revellers were decked out in green hats, t-shirts and skirts as they celebrated last night

Two girls use plastic shopping bags to keep their hair dry in Newcastle last night

'Irish national treasure' and drag queen Panti Bliss will lead London's parade as this year's Grand Marshall.

There will also be countless party-goers attending gigs, shows and events up and down the country.

The crowds are expected to be awash with green as the Irish holiday gets into full swing today.

And many may reach for a chicken fillet roll - a sandwich used in Ireland as a cure for a hangover which recently shot to TikTok fame.

Last night, excited party-goers donned green fancy dress as they danced the night away the weekend of the Irish holiday.

Elaborate costumes included green and black Guinness beer top hats and clover-themed outfits were seen across the UK's cities and towns and the same is expected today.

In Newcastle, revellers kickstarted the celebrations on a booze-heavy Saturday night out.

One man was pictured wearing a bright green dress with hat, while others sported clover headbands and Irish flags.

Revellers took the opportunity to dress in elaborate outfits, complete with face paints and head bands last night

Pictured: One reveller wearing a black priest costume with Christian cross in Leeds last night

Pictured: A male partygoer sporting a green dress and and tiny hat, as well as the message 'what a nob' written on his socks

Elsewhere on the Otley Run, the premier pub crawl in Leeds, revellers were seen enjoying the relatively mild weather for March outside with a pint.

Most were dressed in the Irish colour green for the occasion, with some even painting their faces.

One partygoer was pictured getting into the Irish spirit for her birthday, while another wore a loud fat green tie bearing the words 'luck of the Irish'.

In another group, a man could be seen wearing a black outfit with a large Christian cross.

Revellers in the UK got into the party spirit on Saturday night on the weekend of St Patrick's Day

Pictured: A group of partygoers dressed in green outfits enjoy a night out on the town in Newcastle

Pictured: Two excited-looking girls party the night away in Leeds last night

St Patrick's Day, which takes place on March 17, is a huge celebration for people of Irish descent - and fans of all things Irish - around the world.

Pubs and clubs across the UK are hosting Irish-themed nights throughout the weekend with celebrations particularly notable in cities with a sizeable Irish population, including Manchester, Liverpool and London.

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and the day is an opportunity for religious, historical and cultural festivities.

It takes place on March 17 each year, the date on which St Patrick is thought to have died.
Critics of the Kremlin have called for Russian citizens en masse to protest the third day of national elections in the nation that look set to keep Vladimir Putin in power for another six years.

Voting ends tonight, after polling stations opened on Friday morning. The election is expected to be a landslide victory for Putin, who has managed to get rid of all of his credible opponents.

Already, voters have protested the rigged election, with many seen pouring dye and paint into ballot boxes, and setting fire to polling stations.

And now, Kremlin critics have called for Russians to keep protesting across the country as polls come to a close.

Yulia Navalny, the widow of dead opposition leader Alexei Navalny, called for protests in the run up to the election, and said Russian citizens should show up in droves at the same time to overwhelm polling stations.

She called for protesters to spoil ballots by writing 'Navalny' on them, or vote for candidates other than Putin, adding that the strategy was push by Navalny himself before his untimely death in mid-February.

Yulia Navalny (pictured), the widow of dead opposition leader Alexei Navalny , called for protests in the run up to the election, and said Russian citizens should show up in droves at the same time to overwhelm polling stations

Already, voters have protested the rigged election, with many seen pouring dye and paint into ballot boxes

Many Russians have spoiled their ballots already

READ MORE: Britain should consider conscription and adopt Finnish model of national service to deter Vladimir Putin, NATO ally says

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Alla Gutnikova, a former journalist who lived in Russia and was sentenced to two years of 'corrective labour' for running a dissident magazine, urged anti-Putin Russians to go to polling stations to spoil their ballots in an animated video posted to her Instagram Story.

Maria Pevchikh, another Russian journalist and the head of investigations at Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption group, also took to Instagram to ask voters to turn up to polling stations to elect dissenting politicians.

She said: 'Come to your polling stations on Sunday at sharp noon. Look around, you will see like-minded people and friends. You will make sure that there is hope anyway.

'Alexei Navalny asked us to do exactly like this. Let's do this in memory of Alexei. How else?'

But others weren't happy with pushing for voters to spoil their ballots.

A woman was quickly surrounded by officials. One person was reportedly detained

An apparent act of arson at a Russian polling station on March 15, as polls opened

Putin in set to win another six years in power

The box is seen to go up in flames after a woman apparently set fire to it earlier today

Former State Duma member Ilya Ponomarev took to X to say that turning out to vote would only benefit the Russian state, as it would boost engagement numbers and would give Putin an air of legitimacy.

READ MORE: Vladimir Putin could be ready to launch war on Nato as early as 2026 says startling new German intelligence analysis

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He said: The Kremlin is only interested in three things: turnout, turnout and turnout again.

'Therefore, all oppositionists who come to the polling stations tomorrow will directly help Putin, regardless of what voting strategy they choose.'

The Kremlin has sought a high turnout and as polls opened for a third day in western Russia, officials said the turnout in the first two days had already reached 60% nationwide. An exit poll will be published shortly after voting ends at 1800 GMT.

Kremlin critic and chess legend Garry Kasparov meanwhile said that the Kremlin was a 'terrorist regime that only understands force', and called for the West to intervene with a stronger hand.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast country's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots as of early Sunday.

Despite tight controls, multiple cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported.

A woman was arrested in St. Petersburg after she threw a firebomb at a polling station entrance, and several others were detained across the country for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Despite tight controls, multiple cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast country's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online

More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots as of early Sunday.

Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of the Russian Security Council chaired by Putin, called for toughening the punishment for those who vandalize polling stations, arguing they should face treason charges for attempting to derail the vote amid the fighting in Ukraine.

Ahead of the election, Putin cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as a life-or-death battle against the West seeking to break up Russia.

The 71-year-old Russian leader faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

Putin has boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the run-up to the vote, but a massive Ukrainian drone attack across Russia early Sunday sent a reminder of challenges faced by Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four near the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage.

Russia's wartime economy has proven resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Russian defense industry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition.
The IT meltdowns suffered by Sainsbury's and Tesco highlight the dangers of relying on cashless payments which puts our society 'at risk', experts have warned.

On Saturday morning, Sainsbury's experienced a 'technical issue' which created chaos for thousands of people on one of the busiest shopping days of the week.

The supermarket chain cancelled online orders and couldn't accept contactless payments - so shoppers either had to pay in cash, or scramble to try and remember their PIN.

While people desperately queued to use nearby ATMs - the dramatic uptick in cash withdrawal meant many of the machines ran out.

Many loyal shoppers turned to rival chain Tesco - it also experienced issues with online orders, with a small proportion being cancelled.

An expert has told MailOnline how depending on a cashless society could be 'catastrophic' - as frustrated shoppers take to social media to vent their anger.

Shoppers queue outside a Tesco store in London to withdraw cash yesterday

An worker stands guard at the door of the Sainsbury's store in Worthington yesterday

Shoppers apparently abandoned their groceries at the Sainsbury's on the 316 out near Richmond upon Thames after the cashpoint was not working yesterday

There were long queues yesterday at the Sainsbury's on the 316 near Richmond upon Thames as shoppers struggled to complete their purchases amid IT failures

The Argos inside the Cromwell Road, west London Sainsbury's temporarily shut its doors yesterday, with a sign on the door attributing the closure to a 'technical issue'

Frustrated shoppers took to X to express their fears of a cashless society

Inside the stores yesterday, queues snaked into the aisles as customers tried to negotiate the self-checkout tills.

Some shoppers raced over to the two tills which had cashiers but these soon became packed.

READ MORE - Furious Sainsbury's shoppers battle painful queues as contactless payments fail, cash machines run dry and tempers flare with online deliveries failing too at Tesco

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Tensions flared as customers' cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay were being declined with some tills seemingly shutting down completely.

Swathes of counters were empty with the till either closing or only offering to take cash.

Some infuriated customers went over to the customer services section to voice their complaints.

Outside Sainsbury's, hordes of angry shoppers shook their heads and complained to their fellow customers after their ordeal.

Others marched out of the supermarket looking for the nearest alternative after they realised Sainsbury's was no longer accepting contactless and that the queues were huge.

James Bore, who runs a family tech and security consultancy, often deals with situations relating to supply chains, logistics and overall societal security.

He told MailOnline: 'There's a rule in technology- never deploy on a Friday. The technology involved in these systems has only grown more fragile and complex over the years, and there is rarely an incentive to reduce the complexity or rebuild them properly from the ground up.

James Bore, who runs a family tech and security consultancy, often deals with situations relating to supply chains, logistics and overall societal security

There are long queues at the Sainsbury's in Wandsworth yesterday as customers only can pay by cash as overnight software update is affecting contactless payments

A Sainsbury's in London was instructing customers that tills are 'cash only' after having suffered from IT technical issues overnight

Sainsbury's has said it is experiencing 'technical issues' at some stores meaning it will not be able to fulfil the 'vast majority' of online grocery deliveries. The supermarket chain said on Saturday morning it was 'working hard to fix the issue' and apologised to customers affected

A hand written notice informing customers technical issues at Sainsbury's at Salendine Nook in Huddersfield yesterday

A Sainsbury's Bank cash machine in London ran out of cash as the supermarket suffered from IT technical issues yesterday

'At this scale and complexity thorough testing is essential, as even the slightest mistake can have unpredictable consequences - as we've seen.

'This is a fundamental risk of centralised control of systems by large companies - when these systems are not centralised any failures are local and so impacts are limited.

'Despite the impact of these, it could have easily been much worse.'

He also warned of the dangers of relying too much on cashless payment methods.

Mr Bore, who is also an author of a book which talks about the societal issues around tech and security, explained: 'Moving to a cashless society means moving to a single system to manage all payments.

'Ignoring issues around privacy and control, any failures in the system would have far more potential to be catastrophic, not to mention without a solid design dependencies on energy and connectivity could easily be introduced.

'On top of that, a vulnerability in the design of the system would put anyone from individuals to society as a whole at risk.

A handwritten sign outside a Sainsbury's store in Cobham informing customers of technical issues currently affecting the supermarket chain yesterday

Self-service tills were closed yesterday at a Sainsbury's in Richmond upon Thames

A shopper during check out at the Sainsbury's near Richmond upon Thames yesterday

The Sainsbury's ATM at a store near Richmond upon Thames was unavailable yesterday

'These dangers can be partly designed around, for example the ECBs proposal includes an offline component that retains the anonymity of cash along with many of its benefits - but does still require electricity and any such offline digital currency is at risk of theft along with the device carrying it.'

The ECB (European Central Bank) proposed legislation suggests a form of currency called a 'digital euro' - an electronic means of payment available free of charge to everyone.

Stock trader Michael Taylor told MailOnline: 'This outage highlights how vulnerable payment systems and society as a whole are.

'Fewer people are carrying cash now and the result is a more fragile society, where payments are prone to outages and even hacks.

'The reliance on technology makes things more productive.. until something bad happens.

'What will happen is we see bigger and bigger problems as outages become more serious and we are more reliant on tech. I believe there are many more issues to come.'

Frustrated shoppers took to X to express their fears of a cashless society.

One user posted: 'This is what will happen if we ever move to a cashless society people. Total disaster'.

Another said: 'Just a taster of what a cashless society will look like.'

Tesco also had to cancel some online orders that were due for delivery.

Both chains apologised to customers and said they were working to solve the issues, which are not connected.

Sainsbury's told MailOnline in a statement: 'Due to an error with an overnight software update, we are experiencing issues with contactless payments.

'All of our stores are open as usual today, accepting chip and pin and cash payments.

'Unfortunately, this also means we will not be able to deliver the vast majority of today's Groceries Online orders and we are currently unable to contact customers directly, but will contact them as soon as we can to rebook orders.

'We apologise to customers for the inconvenience and are working hard to fix the issue.'

There were long queues at Sainsbury's in Wandsworth, south London yesterday as shoppers struggle to pay for their groceries due to technical difficulties

Customers are seen outside the Sainsbury's store in Lyons Farm, Worthington on Saturday, where the shop is only accepting cash. Some appear to be withdrawing cash from the ATM

It later said the online ordering system was back up and running and that customers can place orders for delivery from Sunday.

Just before 5pm yesterday a spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We can confirm that contactless payments are now back up and running in all our stores, alongside all other forms of payment.

'Our Groceries Online ordering system is working as normal and customers can place an order for delivery anytime from tomorrow. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by technical issues today - thank you for bearing with us.'

Tesco told MailOnline that some online orders had been cancelled due to a 'technical issue'.

A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We are working to fix a technical issue which has meant we have had to cancel some online orders that were due for delivery today. We're sorry for the inconvenience.'
A Cabinet minister refused to deny reports today that the Tories are sitting on a third 5million donation from a millionaire businessman who said Black MP Diane Abbott should 'be shot'.

Rishi Sunak is already facing calls to return 10million in declared gifts from Frank Hester in the wake of the furore over his remarks about the veteran leftwinger.

But reports last week suggested that the Leeds-based software firm boss has made a third as-yet undeclared donation that takes his total giving to the party to 15million.

Mark Harper refused to say whether the money has been received as he defended Mr Sunak's handling of the major race row last week.

He initially sent ministers out to say that Mr Hester's remarks - that Ms Abbott made him 'hate all black women' and should be shot - were wrong but not racist. It took No10 more than 24 hours to U-turn and say they were racist, after a public intervention by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch.

Pressed repeatedly, Transport Secretary Mr Harper told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'We took a donation that predated his comments and we've declared that in the usual way, which is how people know that he's made that donation....

'If in the future there's a future donation, that will be declared in the usual way. But that's a hypothetical question that will be looked at.'

Rishi Sunak is already facing calls to return 10million in declared gifts from Frank Hester in the wake of the furore over his remarks about the veteran leftwinger.

He initially sent ministers out to say that Mr Hester's remarks - that Ms Abbott made him 'hate all black women' and should be shot - were wrong but not racist. It took No10 more than 24 hours to U-turn and say they were racist, after a public intervention by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch.

Pressed repeatedly, Transport Secretary Mr Harper told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'If in the future there's a future donation, that will be declared in the usual way. But that's a hypothetical question that will be looked at

Constituents attend a rally in support of Diane Abbott at the weekend in her Hackney North seat

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on Mr Sunak to pay back the sum.

Earlier this week Ms Abbott, who currently sits as an independent MP, spoke out about racism in politics, a day after being denied a chance to take part in a Commons debate about a Tory donor's criticism of her.

She said she had been 'upset' by the comments, but was 'hardened to racist abuse'.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that Mr Hester had apologised and his 'remorse should be accepted'.

Mr Harper defended Mr Sunak over his 24-hour prevarication, telling the BBC: 'Although you said it took an age in political terms, it didn't really take very long at all.

'The Prime Minister was very clear on Wednesday and his spokesman had been clear the evening before that they were racist comments.'

When it was put to him that No 10 changed its tune only after Ms Badenoch's intervention, Mr Harper said: 'I'm sure people wanted to make sure and check the facts.

'Having an argument about how many hours it took to say something, I don't really think is the issue here.'
Harriet Harman has become the latest senior Labour MP to suggest Diane Abbott should be re-admitted to the Labour Party after she was the subject of racist remarks by a Tory donor.

Ms Harman, the former deputy leader of the party, branded Ms Abbott a 'trailblazer' and said it would be 'sad' if the 70-year-old ended her career as an independent.

The Hackney North MP was suspended in April and an anti-Semitism probe launched after she was forced to apologise for a letter she wrote to The Observer suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism 'all their lives'.

If she is not given back the Labour whip she would have to run as an independent if she stood at the election later this year - against an official Labour candidate.

Ms Harman today told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I very strongly support Keir Starmers drive against anti-Semitism, it had to be rooted out of the party.

'But it would be sad if Diane Abbott ended her political career - and she has been an amazing trailblazer - not a member of the Labour Party, which is how she came into politics in the first place.'

Ms Harman, the former deputy leader of the party, branded Ms Abbott a 'trailblazer' and said it would be 'sad' if the 70-year-old ended her career as an independent.

The Hackney North MP was suspended in April and an anti-Semitism probe launched after she was forced to apologise for a letter she wrote to The Observer suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism 'all their lives'.

Ms Abbott expressed confidence that she would contest the general election later this year as the Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

Speaking a rally of supporters on Friday night, she told Channel 4 News: 'I have temporarily lost the whip. But I'm completely confident that Keir Starmer will restore it.'

She said the supporters that had gathered in Hackney, including Jeremy Corbyn, had given her 'a lot of strength after what has been a very difficult week'.

'I'm sure that Keir Starmer will look at the strength of feeling and he will do the right thing.'

She said 'no Conservative has apologised' after the emergence of Mr Hester's 2019 comments about her, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described as 'racist' while refusing to return the 10 million he donated to the Tory Party.

Ms Abbott said: 'They keep saying that the Hester guy, he's apologised. He's not apologised. He's apologised for being rude, whereas in fact he was racist, and he's not apologised for that.

'In fact, he was inciting violence. He's not apologised for that.'

Shadow frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth today tried to dodge the issue of whether Ms Abbott should be re-admitted.

it's an independent process. I'm trying to be careful not to put political pressure on an independent process because that's inappropriate. It's also inappropriate for all the other independent processes for other colleagues who are undergoing, you know, have issues,' he told Sky News.

'And its looking into it has to be allowed to pursue its investigations, to talk to the people involved in the appropriate way. I am I am not trying to be too clever by half. I'm trying to respect an independent process here. It's as simple as that. And because people involved, if there's been a complaint made against you, you want to ensure that you get a proper, fair hearing. And the people who may have made the complaint need to ensure there's a proper, fair hearing which applies to all colleagues who go through this type of independent process.

It came as a Cabinet minister refused to deny reports that the Tories are sitting on a third 5million donation from a millionaire businessman who said Black MP Diane Abbott should 'be shot'.

Mark Harper refused to say whether the money has been received as he defended Mr Sunak's handling of the major race row last week.

He initially sent ministers out to say that Mr Hester's remarks - that Ms Abbott made him 'hate all black women' and should be shot - were wrong but not racist. It took No10 more than 24 hours to U-turn and say they were racist, after a public intervention by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch .

Reports last week suggested that the Leeds-based software firm boss has made a third as-yet undeclared donation that takes his total giving to the party to 15million.

Rishi Sunak is already facing calls to return 10million in declared gifts from Frank Hester in the wake of the furore over his remarks about the veteran leftwinger.

But reports last week suggested that the Leeds-based software firm boss has made a third as-yet undeclared donation that takes his total giving to the party to 15million.

Mark Harper refused to say whether the money has been received as he defended Mr Sunak's handling of the major race row last week.

He initially sent ministers out to say that Mr Hester's remarks - that Ms Abbott made him 'hate all black women' and should be shot - were wrong but not racist. It took No10 more than 24 hours to U-turn and say they were racist, after a public intervention by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch.

Pressed repeatedly, Transport Secretary Mr Harper told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'We took a donation that predated his comments and we've declared that in the usual way, which is how people know that he's made that donation....

'If in the future there's a future donation, that will be declared in the usual way. But that's a hypothetical question that will be looked at.'
Police hunting for the perpetrators of a sickening dump of dead animals outside a village shop have identified a burnt out car which they believe is linked to the incident.

It comes after around 50 bloodied hares were left at the entrance to the Broughton Community Shop in Hampshire on Thursday night in a gruesome display.

The suspects impaled a barn owl and kestrel on the shop's door handles and rubbed animal blood and guts over the windows in what locals believe is a deeply sinister 'message' from the poachers to discourage them from interfering in their activities.

Now, a Suzuki Grand Vitara, which police believe is linked to the incident, has been located.

Other wild creatures including rabbits, pheasants, deer and birds of prey have been dumped in surrounding roads and fields in recent weeks, including a grim collection of 27 rabbits outside a primary school.

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: 'Officers investigating a number of dead animals left outside a shop in Broughton have located a burnt out Suzuki Grand Vitara which is believed to be linked to the incident.

Dozens of bloodied hares were dumped by illegal poachers at the entrance to the community shop in Broughton, Hampshire

'We are still asking the public to send us CCTV or dash cam images of any cars matching this description seen in the Test Valley area around the time of the incident.

'Officers are following all possible lines of enquiry and will be in the area today to provide reassurance to local residents.

'Anyone with information about this incident should call 101, quoting reference 44240111410. To update us online, visit https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/.'

Other wild creatures including rabbits, pheasants, deer and birds of prey have been dumped in surrounding roads

The poachers are thought to be linked to gangs who run international gambling syndicates, raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds a night.

It is believed they hunt illegally using guns and aggressive, specially-bred bull lurchers, and broadcast their activities live on Facebook, taking bets on how many animals the dogs can kill.

Poachers near Broughton are believed to be hunting illegally using guns and specially-bred bull lurchers

Pictured: A solitary dead deer left lying in the middle of a field

Mike Jelen, a conservation manager who works on estates in the area, said: 'This is now happening twice a week.

'It's total anarchy and the police are doing little about it. By dumping the bodies like this, the poachers are sticking two fingers up to farmers and rural communities.'

He said farmers and landowners are 'constantly' trying to prevent the attacks, putting themselves at risk. Pheasant poachers recently opened fire on a farmer who confronted them.

One local farmer, whose land has been targeted repeatedly, said: 'They are basically laughing in our faces. The horrific display they left outside our community shop is obviously meant to let us know they're invincible.'

The perpetrators even impaled a barn owl and kestrel on the shop's door handles and rubbed animal blood and guts over the windows

Broughton Community Shop said that they had reported the incident to the police, in a statement on social media.

They asked locals to share any CCTV of the area from 3am to 3.45am as they thanked them for helping them to clear the distressing scene.

They said: 'Safe to say non(e) of us were expecting our day to start as it did here this morning at Broughton Community Shop.

'Thank you all for popping in, messaging and phoning to make sure we are ok. We are ok. Shocked but ok.

Birds of prey have been also been used for the sinister displays

'Thank you again for all of your help, we are so lucky and grateful for your support and extremely quick response to help us clear up.'

They added: 'Your fabulous shop team rallied round and got it all cleaned up. Please do continue to support your shop we are here to serve you.'

Horrified followers took to the comments to show their horror at the cruel displays.

A New Forest groceries shop said: 'We're so very sorry you've had to deal with this.

'My heart broke when I heard what had happened. Pure needless destruction of our beautiful world.

'I sincerely hope whoever is responsible is caught and dealt with appropriately. It's an abhorrent act. Thinking of you all.'

Pictured: A chilling sight as animal corpses are scattered across a road in Broughton

And another, Louise Banfield, added: 'Just seen what happened. I can't imagine why anyone would do such a vile thing. Hope you are all OK, what a dreadful shock.'

Animals were also dumped outside Awbridge Primary School around ten miles from Broughton in February.

Local resident Mandy Robinson, 47, told the Hampshire Chronicle the scene was 'like something out of a horror movie'.

She said: 'This was only about an hour or some before the school breakfast club began, so there were going to be primary school children walking by this horrible sight. I don't know why someone would do this.'

Jayne Fahey, headteacher of the school, added: 'As Headteacher, I am truly saddened by this event and struggle to comprehend why anyone would think it an appropriate action.'

The paper also reported 40 animal corpses were dumped north of Stockbridge, the next village over from Broughton, in November.

If you have any information about the incident, you can call the police on 101, quoting the crime reference number 44240111410, or you can report it via their website - https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/.
An award-winning fish and chip shop has been ordered to remove a Union flag mural by council officials over claims it is 'inappropriate for the area'.

Chris Kanizi, 65, who owns Golden Chippy, in Greenwich, south-east London, has been told to paint over the mural of the humanoid fish on the wall of his restaurant, which has been adored by tourists.

Greenwich council said they received a 'number of complaints' about the mural, which features the phrase 'A Great British Meal', they said was an 'unauthorised advert'.

Mr Kansizi, who has been running Golden Chippy for 20 years and lives two doors down, said he doesn't believe people were complaining about the mural, which was deemed 'inappropriate' according to the Telegraph.

Back in 2016, the 65-year-old had a battle with the council over a 17ft sign above the door of his restaurant, which was previously named London's top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor. The restaurateur eventually took down the 17ft sign in 2018.

The new mural, which was painted by local artists Graffiti Interiors, is a recreation of the 2016 sign.

Pictured: Golden Chippy owner Chris Kanizi standing beside the Union Flag mural painted on the side of his restaurant

Chris Kanizi, 65, holds up fish in his award-winning restaurant in south-east London

Mr Kanizi paid a local artists 250 to paint the mural, which is loved by tourists

The Golden Chippy was deemed London's best restaurant by TripAdvisor in 2016

The Golden Chippy was deemed London's best restaurant in 2016 by TripAdvisor

He said: 'It's just something to put a smile on people's faces. But the council said "this is a preservation area - you can't have that and you've got to paint over it".

'They also said people had been complaining, but I don't believe that. Everyone who has talked to me say they love it'.

The Cyprus-born chip shop owner, who came to the UK in 1977, previously had a two-year battle with the council over a similar 17ft sign he hung above the door in 2016.

Mr Kansizi eventually took the sign down despite starting a petition to keep the sign which gathered 3,000 signatures.

And the fish and chips expert has vowed to keep the 250 mural up for as long as possible.

Greenwich council said they received a 'number of complaints' about the mural (pictured), which features the phrase 'A Great British Meal', they said was an 'unauthorised advert'

Mr Kanizi in front of the 2016 sign which he took down after the local council ordered it be removed

Chris Kanizi has been serving locals and tourists for 20 years at his fish shop

He said: 'I'm going to stick it out for as long as I can. They haven't given me a date to paint over it yet, but they will.'

'I've got so many international customers. They all like taking a photo with the mural in the background.'

A Greenwich council spokesman said: 'Following a number of complaints made to local ward councillors, an enforcement case was raised about the mural in question.

'Our Planning Enforcement team is investigating this as it is effectively an unauthorised advert for the chip shop. The owner has agreed to paint over it.

'We will always try to negotiate with the owner before proceeding to a formal planning enforcement notice.'
Man and woman, both 26, arrested and charged

A female police officer is in hospital with a broken arm after she was knocked to the ground and allegedly spat on during a wild late-night brawl in a kebab shop.

Police on Sunday were called to Falafel House on Hindley Street, a popular party strip in Adelaide, following reports of a fight.

CCTV footage shows a couple entering the restaurant before the woman throws items at a customer and the man starts lashing out at another bystander.

Manager George Alkoury tried to intervene but was also struck by the man and thrown to the ground.

Police on Sunday were called to Falafel House on Hindley Street, a popular party strip in Adelaide , following reports of a fight

Mr Alkoury locked the doors to his restaurant as the brawl continued outside his shop.

The restaurant manager is seen rushing outside waving a stick in an attempt to defend his customers.

'I'm protecting my customers, that's my responsibility man,' Mr Alkoury told 7News.

The 63-year-old said claimed the pair damaged his property and 'hit everybody' including himself.

'Too much sore, too much pain, my neck, he pushed me this way and I have severe pain,' Mr Alkoury said.

Police officers allege they were spat on when they arrived at the scene and tried to break up the brawl just before 1am.

A female officer broke her arm after she was flung to the ground while trying to intervene.

Two men are seen brawling outside the venue

Police officers allege they were spat on when they arrived at the scene and tried to break up the brawl just before 1am

She was taken to hospital for treatment.

A man and a woman from O'Halloran Hill and both aged 26, were arrested and charged with a string of offences including hindering police and aggravated assault.

The woman was refused bail and is set to face Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

The man was granted bail and is scheduled to appear before Adelaide Magistrates Court on a date in May.
A council will appeal a 'vastly excessive' and 'unprecedented' 4.6million payout granted to a worker who developed PTSD after working with Grenfell fire victims.

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was ordered to pay compensation and damages to Rachael Wright-Turner for disability discrimination and harassment after she was sacked from her 125,000-a-year role.

The employment tribunal's ruling  which found senior officers in the Labour-run authority had lied in evidence  is believed to be the highest-ever such award against a public body.

But while Hammersmith and Fulham said it was 'very sorry' for the ordeal Ms Wright-Turner suffered, it will appeal the decision as it has 'always considered' her claim to be 'vastly excessive, disputed and highly unprecedented'.

The 4.6 million award equates to 25 per Hammersmith and Fulham resident. If the payment is not made by the end of this month, it will accrue 8 per cent interest per year, which equates to 302,500.

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham will appeal a record payout granted to Rachael Wright-Turner as it is 'vastly excessive, disputed and highly unprecedented'

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was ordered to pay compensation and damages to Rachael Wright-Turner (pictured) for disability discrimination and harassment after she was sacked from her 125,000-a-year role

The employment tribunal's ruling  which found senior officers in the Labour-run authority had lied in evidence  is believed to be the highest-ever such award against a public body. Pictured: Grenfell Tower

Last night, Ms Wright-Turner, 52, said while she recognised the sum was 'substantial', she had never wanted to go to a tribunal. Pictured: A fireman at Grenfell Tower fire

Last night, Ms Wright-Turner, 52, said while she recognised the sum was 'substantial', she had never wanted to go to a tribunal.

The six-year legal battle had destroyed her life, her family and her health, she added.

Ms Wright-Turner told The Mail on Sunday: 'This case has cost us everything, Before this started, I was married with two children in private school.

'Now my marriage has collapsed, I'm fighting to stop my house from being repossessed and my children have been left devastated after being forced to leave their schools. My income has been taken away  we have been living literally on the breadline, taking donations from food banks and charities.'

Doctor's 4.5m award eclipsed A payout of 4.5 million to a hospital consultant who suffered trauma was until now the highest amount awarded at an employment tribunal. Dr Eva Michalak, who worked as a consultant physician at Pontefract General Infirmary, won claims for sex and race discrimination and unfair dismissal against the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and three senior staff members after colleagues ran a four-year 'get Eva campaign' following her maternity leave. She said in 2010 she had suffered 'years of psychological abuse' before receiving the record award. Army veterans have long struggled to receive payouts from government compensation schemes despite suffering with severe trauma from their time in warzones. Dean Upson, who fought during in Iraq and did two tours of Afghanistan, said when he left the Army in June 2011, he was initially awarded just 3,000 for complex PTSD that was so severe it has left him suicidal and unable to work full-time. He eventually received more than 160,000, but it took him four years of working with lawyers. And Royal Marine Mark Ormrod, who lost both legs and an arm in a Taliban landmine blast, was offered 214,000 despite having to raise significantly more himself to afford prosthetics which are not available on the NHS. Advertisement

Ms Wright-Turner was dismissed from her role as director of public service reform at Hammersmith and Fulham in 2018 after taking sickness leave for post-traumatic stress disorder.

She had developed PTSD while working at Kensington and Chelsea council as a 'humanitarian assistance lead' with those affected by the Grenfell blaze that killed 72 people.

She said it left 'a movie' of the tragedy playing in her head.

Ms Wright-Turner then moved to Hammersmith and Fulham.

She was signed off work after a meeting with superiors at a pub triggered her PTSD. She had a panic attack and was taken to hospital.

Following this incident on May 2, 2018, senior council officers made the untrue claim to colleagues that she had been drunk before being taken to A&E, the tribunal heard.

Separately, Ms Wright-Turner had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the tribunal heard.

After learning of the diagnosis, the council's former chief executive Kim Smith said Ms Wright-Turner's brain 'doesn't work like other people's'.

Ms Smith also asked whether Ms Wright-Turner had disclosed her ADHD when she was recruited.

She was dismissed while on sick leave without a chance to discuss or challenge the decision.

The tribunal ruled Ms Smith and the council's then HR director lied to the tribunal that Ms Wright-Turner was informed earlier on the day she was admitted to hospital that her probation was to be extended.

It was concluded Ms Smith took the decision a day later when it was understood she would take leave for her mental health.

Ms Smith and HR director Mark Grimley also conspired to doctor her dismissal letter so it would appear to have been signed before she launched a grievance against the council, it was concluded.

No mention was made of her PTSD or ADHD in her termination letter 'to avoid any inference that this decision was in any way connected with the claimant's mental health or related sickness absence', the tribunal panel said.

Ms Wright-Turner said: 'I don't think they understood how closely I'd been working with the families in the aftermath of Grenfell. They treated my PTSD as if I was acting like some sort of drama queen.'

She was aware of the cost of her award to council taxpayers but said she had no choice but to try to clear her name.

Ms Wright-Turner was dismissed from her role as director of public service reform at Hammersmith and Fulham in 2018 after taking sickness leave for post-traumatic stress disorder. Pictured: The remains of Grenfell Tower

She said: 'From the public's point of view this award will seem a huge amount, but I would give every penny of this award back for it not to have happened  I thought I would just leave with a redundancy payment, but they wanted me to leave without a penny.

Peter Daly, from law firm Doyle Clayton who represented Ms Wright-Turner, said the award reflected the 'severe injury' she suffered due to Hammersmith and Fulham's 'unlawful conduct'.

According to figures from ITV News, 150million was approved as a global settlement of compensation claims made by people affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

Lawyers representing bereaved relatives said a settlement was reached following around 900 cases.

Cladding giant Arconic said it was among the firms which was involved in the High Court case and had agreed to the settlement.

Further research from the Guardian also revealed how two-thirds of the adults who survived or were affected by the Grenfell fire have shown signs that they require treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The report also revealed how there was 'significant risk' of secondary trauma.
A Guatemalan migrant who spent ten months in custody accused of killing a longtime Florida cop has been freed.

Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, 19, was arrested in May 2023 after he was approached by officers and one deputy suffered a fatal heart attack amid a struggle to detain him.

Sgt. Michael Kunovich, an officer of 25 years with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office in St. Augustine, Florida, keeled over during the chaos.

The 7th District State Attorney's Office deemed farmworker Aguilar Mendez 'incompetent' to stand trial partly due to the language barrier and dismissed the charges against him.

It comes as a 'migrant crime wave' sweeps the country thanks to hundreds of thousands of people illegally crossing the border each month.

A Guatemalan migrant who spent eight months in custody accused of killing a veteran Florida cop has been freed

Virgilio Aguilar Mendez (pictured), 19, was arrested in May 2023 after he was approached by officers and one desputy suffered a fatal heart attack amid a struggle to detain him

Sgt. Michael Kunovich (pictured) an officer of 25 years with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office in St. Augustine, Florida, keeled over during the chaos

Aguilar Mendez's attorney Phillip Arroyo has released a video of him walking free, and the teen nods and smiles as they stroll out of the police facility together.

'Recent expert testimony regarding the defendant's inability to comprehend the English language, his cultural background and concerns about his intellectual capacity have raised significant issues to consider in the case,' the state attorney's office said of his release.

'Furthermore, based on the court's recent ruling that the defendant is incompetent to proceed based on that expert testimony, dismissal of the charges is appropriate. Arrest and time served is sufficient.'

Aguilar Mendez was arrested May last year after Kunovich approached him over 'suspicious behavior,' according to an arrest warrant.

The Guatemalan national, who does not speak English, attempted to walk away from the officer, and a struggle ensued.

Body cam footage of the arrest shows him interacting with the officer, appearing to tell him that he didn't understand, before slowly edging away.

Officers throw him to the ground, place him in a chokehold and repeatedly use a taser against him.

Arroyo told ABC News that minutes after the incident, Kunovich suffered a heart attack and died.

The 7th District State Attorney's Office deemed farmworker Aguilar Mendez 'incompetent' to stand trial partly due to the language barrier and dismissed the charges against him

Aguilar Mendez's attorney Phillip Arroyo has released a video of him walking free, and the teen nods and smiles as they stroll out of the police facility together

Aguilar Mendez was arrested May last year after Kunovich approached him over 'suspicious behavior', according to an arrest warrant

The Guatemalan national, who does not speak English, attempted to walk away from the officer, and a struggle ensued

His autopsy report concluded he died of natural causes as he suffered with severe heart disease that triggered the heart attack.

The disease may have been caused by heart and lung deterioration he had due to smoking.

DailyMail.com has contacted Arroyo for more detail on why he was approached by cops and what will happen to him going forward.

Some 2,045,838 people illegally crossed the southern border into the US last year, according to CBP figures.

These figures are expected to swell this year - while the northern border with Canada is also experiencing an unprecedented crisis.

Illegal crossings from Canada into the US surged 500 percent to 10,021 last year compared with 2022.
A US-based deep sea exploration company has given fresh hope to solving the decade-long MH370 mystery, saying they have capability to carry out the most exhaustive search yet for the missing aircraft.

March 8 marked the 10-year anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 which vanished from radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur.

There were 239 people on board, including six Australians.

US-based company Ocean Infinity led a search in 2018 but could not find a trace of the aircraft on the floor of the Indian Ocean.

Deep Sea Vision CEO Tony Romeo is pictured on 60 Minutes

One of Deep Sea Vision's drones it plans to use to search for MH370 is pictured

But Tony Romeo, the CEO of Deep Sea Vision, told 60 Minutes on Sunday he believed his company was capable of making the breakthrough.

The company is planning to send one of its underwater drones, called the Hugin 6000, down to the ocean floor to search for the missing aircraft.

'It flies at 50 metres above the seafloor and it just goes back and forth, back and forth, back and forth,' Mr Romeo told 60 Minutes on Sunday.

'Big eyes, looking at everything it can see, sucks and stores data, comes back up to the surface, we pluck a thumb drive into it, pull the data out, and we watch it on a computer exactly what it looked at.'

The company made worldwide headlines earlier this year when Mr Romeo claimed the company had found Amelia Earhart's plane on the Pacific Ocean floor.

Mr Romeo described the company's technology as being 'unbelievable' and just short of being able to read a credit card number on the seafloor.

The most persistent theory has centred on the pilot - Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) - and suggestions that MH370's disappearance was a deliberate act by him

He said the company's modified drones could scour four times the area covered in previous attempts to find MH370.

Asked if he thought he could find MH370, Mr Romeo said: 'I think we can.

'I feel like we've proved our credibility, we've proved our competence,' he told 60 Minutes.

'We've proved our ability to take equipment and use novel techniques.'

Deep Sea Visions is preparing to submit a search proposal to the Malaysian government.

'And I believe that the Malaysian government wants answers,' Mr Romeo said.

'I refuse to believe that they do not want a huge accident, a huge crash like this to go unresolved. It just isn't fair, it wouldn't be fair to the families.'
A pickup truck plowed into a crowd during an unruly 'street takeover' event in South Los Angeles, triggering a swarm of spectators to run towards the crash and film it.

The wreck happened at the intersection of Normandie Avenue and West Gage Avenue Friday night and was filmed live on the streaming platform Kick.

Footage shows a silver pickup truck doing donuts around a steel barrel with a fire burning in it. The driver appears to lose control of the vehicle and drives into a crowd that has gathered nearby.

Other onlookers exclaim and hurry towards the crash site with their cellphones raised. A group of young men climb on top of the truck before members of the crowd shout that the driver appears to be backing up.

Street takeovers, also known as sideshows, are informal demonstrations of car stunts that are often held in public intersections. The meetups are subject to bouts of gun violence and fatal crashes, with most injuries going unreported to law enforcement.

A pickup truck plowed into a crowd during a street takeover in South Los Angeles

The driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle and ran into a group of spectators gathered at the intersection of West Gage Avenue and Normandie Avenue

Other onlookers exclaimed and hurried to the crash site, raising their cellphones to capture the chaos

It's unclear if anyone was hurt in the Friday incident.

The latest takeover comes on the heels of a similar event last weekend, which involved an estimated 50 cars. The crowd was beginning to scatter by the time officers arrived at around 3:30 am Saturday.

That morning, a Jeep was doused in gasoline and set ablaze at the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and West 63rd Street as another vehicle did donuts around it. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made, officials said.

Street takeover events have a deadly track record. In August 2023, two people were killed after gunshots erupted during a meetup in the Florence-Graham neighborhood. One victim died at the scene while the other died at the hospital.

In perhaps one of the most infamous cases, a nursing student died after she was pinned between a light pole and an out-of-control Chevy Camaro in December 2022.

Three cars were speeding and doing donuts at the intersection of Florence Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard when one of the drivers lost control and ran into a crowd on the sidewalk. Elyzza Guajaca, 24, was taken to the hospital and later succumbed to her injuries.

Surveillance video showed the driver climbing out of the car and fleeing on foot after getting into a scuffle with witnesses. That man, 28-year-old Dante Chapple Young, was apprehended in New Mexico and charged in connection to Guajaca's death.

Early last month, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-to-1 to launch a pilot program at 20 intersections to combat street takeovers. Raised center lines will be installed to deter motorists from doing stunts, officials said.

The intersection at Normandie and Gage is among those targeted in the initiative.

The Los Angeles Police Department is also requesting that cameras be installed at street corners. The program is still in development, with officials aiming to identify 30 more intersections in the coming months.

Last Saturday morning, a Jeep was doused in gasoline and set on fire at a different intersection. The vehicle burned in the middle of the street as another car did donuts around it

Nursing student Elyzza Guajaca, 24, was killed in 2022 after an out-of-control driver crashed into a crowd, pinning her between a lamppost and his vehicle

Speaking to KTLA last year, LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno denounced the illegal meetups in the wake of Guajaca's death.

'People are getting ran over, hit, people are getting attacked, assaulted. Were waiting, like, "Wheres the police report?" and they never come forward,' Moreno said.

'Its kind of sick in a way. This culture is, thats kind of what they do.

'Its kind of like a code I guess they go by, where somebody would get beaten nearly to death and they dont come forward to be a victim.'

In a news release last month, the LAPD's Street Racing Tasking Force announced the arrest of a man believed to be one of the largest street takeover organizers in the southern part of the state.

The agency executed a residential search warrant in the city of Paramount and arrested Erick Romero Quintana, 20, the morning of February 7.

'With over 70,000 followers on social media, this organizer has coordinated events throughout Southern California that have not only resulted in large-scale takeovers but also smash-and-grab robberies, vehicle thefts, and other violent crimes including murder,' the release read.
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Party-goers donning green and wearing oversized hats partied the night away in Australia, with St Patrick's Day celebrations continuing long into the early hours of the morning.

Irish expats, those with Irish blood and Aussies who just love a good ol' Gaelic party, were out in force on Sunday celebrating the Emerald Isle's rich heritage and culture.

Sydneysiders were spotted flocking to pubs across The Rocks and Circular Quay, creating a sea of green across the Harbour City.

For the most part, the Irish holiday was all about fun and good will.

But the festivities took their toll on some with police photographed arresting a man outside a venue and dragging him away in handcuffs.

Observation of St. Patrick's Day on March 17 date back more than 1,000 years in Ireland

Revellers were spotted patiently waiting in long queues outside a Sydney pub

Revellers dressed in green attire and accessorised their look with oversized novelty glasses

Many have been snapped embracing both the celebrations and each other

Earlier in the day families packed the streets as they watched the St Patrick's Day parades in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Rocks was transformed into a St Patrick's Day-palooza with Irish language classes, Irish dancing, stilt-walking, face-painting, festival bars, live music and food stalls.

As the sun went down, oversized green novelty hats, sunglasses, headbands and masks were a popular choice among revellers accessorising their St Patrick's Day outfits.

Party-goers were seen draping their arms around one another while they clutched pints of Guinness.

Sydneysiders were spotted flocking to pubs across The Rocks and Circular Quay, creating a sea of green across the Harbour City

The Rocks transformed into a St Patrick's Day-palooza with Irish language classes, Irish dancing, stilt-walking, face-painting, festival bars, live music and food stalls

Some donned oversized novelty green hats while they enjoyed a beer at the Glenmore Hotel in the Rocks in Sydney

Families were out in force to celebrate Ireland's national holiday

A group of young men proudly raise a glass to Ireland

Revellers enjoyed Ireland's national holiday by sharing a drink with their friends

About 7,00,000 Australians have some Irish ancestry, according to Census data, with the celebration always big in cities Down Under.

Observation of St Patrick's Day on March 17 dates back more than 1,000 years in Ireland.

But, unlike today's association of the holiday with raucous parades, it was traditionally a feast day marked by a religious service in the morning, and a celebration later in the day.

The festival is marked all over the world by huge parties in cities that have a particularly large Irish diasporas.

A couple are pictured sharing a quiet moment during the riotous St Patrick's Day festivities

Revellers in St Kilda got into the spirit of things by donning their best green costumes

Man is seen playing the bagpipes while marking in the St Patrick's Day parade in Sydney's CBD

New York has long been credited as having the first recorded St Patrick's Day parade, when Irish soldiers in the British Army organised in 1762.

The celebration has since evolved dramatically from its original religious origins and largely centre around Irish culture, free-flowing pints and unapologetic roistering.

In Ireland, St Patrick's Day celebrations have taken off in more recent years, with a parade and four-day festival for the holiday in Dublin.

In Australia, many were snapped embracing both the celebrations and each other, as the party continued until venues shut their doors.

In Australia, many were snapped embracing both the celebrations and each other, as the party continued until venues shut their doors

The celebration has evolved dramatically from its original religious origins and largely centre around Irish culture, free-flowing pints and unapologetic roistering

St Patrick's Day revellers enjoying the quiet company of friends
The millionaires have argued other local residents, the Coastal Commission and the county for decades over the issue

Millionaires in California have taken matters into their own hands and decided to build a green fence along a public beach walkway to keep visitors away - even as they are slapped with $5million in fines for the move.

The most recent fight over the 800ft walkway started in December when the Coastal Commission slapped the homeowners with fines for trying to block off the walkway with makeshift materials such as netting, cones and traffic medians.

In response, the homeowners decided to sue the commission as a judge ruled the county had to pay the homeowners $3.7million in legal fees and damages for the years-long fight, but the county appealed the decision.

Barry Scott, a resident from Aptos who has been advocating against the fence told the San Francisco Chronicle: 'We want to be the nice place people want to come and visit, not a place with fences.'

Many locals have deemed the condition of the narrow, blocked walkway as unsafe. However, homeowners who reside in the homes worth $2million to $5million have argued the path acts as their backyard patios.

Millionaires in Santa Cruz, California, decided to build a new green fence along the walkway to restrict public access. The homeowners have been feuding with other local residents, the county and the Coastal Commission about the issue for decades

In December, the Coastal Commission slapped homeowners with more than $5million in fines for trying to block off the walkway with makeshift materials such as netting, cones and traffic medians

'It sends a broader message that the coast is available to a select few, either those that are well resourced or those that dont have mobility challenges,' Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend said.

With uneven pavement, trash cans blocking the path, and cars parked against the curb, Friend, who represents the town of Aptos, said the beach walkway 'was constantly obstructed by homeowners.'

The county has vigorously fought back against the homeowners and said they consider the path behind the homes a 'public easement' that 'the public shall have the right to use as a walkway.'

In response, angry homeowners have said they are the ones who built the seawall and pathway to protect their beach houses.

The general fight between homeowners and beachgoers dates to the 1980s when severe storms damaged a retaining wall between the coastal homes and Seacliff State Beach, and led to the creation of the Rio Del Mar Beach Island Homeowners Association.

In 2018, a group of homeowners decided to file a lawsuit to try and resolve the decade-long debate, but the county fought back and instead tore down the barrier installed at the time.

In response to the newly built fence, the association told KSBW: 'The alleged County boardwalk, as the Coastal Commission staff wrongly described the private patio areas in front of each home, was determined by the County of Santa Cruz Superior Court in late 2022 to be privately owned and the Court also authorized the homeowner association to erect the temporary fencing pending any appeals.'

'The Court considered 90 years of documents, extensive historical evidence and the Countys decades of disinterest in making public improvements given uncertainty over title to the area, while the Commission clearly failed to review or ignored most of these critical facts.'

Barry Scott (left), a resident from Aptos who has been advocating against the fence, along with Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend (right)

As the feud continues, the beachfront homeowners have faced off with other residents, the Coastal Commission and Santa Cruz County in court and on social media. (Pictured: A collage of photos showing the building progress of the fence)

As the feud continues, the beachfront homeowners have faced off with other residents, the Coastal Commission and Santa Cruz County in court and on social media.

Vivan Neasham, who lives along Beach Drive year-round in a home that her husband built told Lookout Santa Cruz that she would be fine with the public having access the the walkway as long as skateboards, e-biking and extensive hanging out would be restricted.

Another resident, Vaudagna, told the San Francisco Chronicle that prior to the fence, she was often interrupted by 'a thousand people a day' along the path.

Vaudagna recalled an instance in 2018 when an elderly homeowner was left beaten by a group of teens after he asked them to get off of his patio.

Since the green fence has gone up, Vaudagna said she feels 'safer' with fewer people accessing the walkway.

Greg Poncetta, the president of the homeowners association. told the San Francisco Chronicle his home was previously broken into before the fence went up.

He has expressed that he does not have an issue with the public having a walkway to use, but that he would prefer is it didn't have to be shared with his backyard area.

'It's crazy. The reason we are all here is because we all love the beach and love to be able to spend time here,' Poncetta said.

Mike Maffei, who has lived in Aptos for 50 years, said that he is angry with the commission.

The walkway 'was constantly obstructed by homeowners' with uneven pavement, trash cans blocking the path, and cars parked against the curb, officials said. (Pictured: Cars parked against the curb and an array of trash cans on the path)

It is unclear what the next steps are in the ongoing fight for access to the walkway but is slated to be discussed at the next Costal Commission meeting in Sacramento in March

'Where is the costal commission saying, "Hey, let's defend this piece of property?" They has enough money to build it; they've been taking in money, so why don't they have enough money to maintain it,' Maffei said.

John Hopkins, another long-time Aptos resident told KSBW: 'I feel for the people that own the homes, but you can't fence off an area that's public.'

Annalena Norman, another local resident, said that she is worried about the fence has had on handicapped individuals who already have a hard time enjoying the beach.

'They needed to open it up to handicapped people and people with stroller access. I don't like it,' she said.

It is unclear what the next steps are in the ongoing fight for access to the walkway, but Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings said he hopes it will be resolved soon.

'It was agreed upon in terms of the homeowners association providing costal access,' Cummings, who also serves on the Costal Commission told KSBW.

'It's just one of those things where we're trying to ensure everyone's in compliance. The Coastal Commission has been made aware of what's happened and we're hoping we can resolve the situation,' he added.

The next Costal Commission meeting is set to take place in Sacramento in March where Cummings said the issue will be discussed.
More than 60 dissidents have been arrested across Russia in demonstrations against Vladimir Putin on the final day of the nation's three-day election, which the despot is set to win in a landslide.

At least 65 people have been detained across 16 cities across Russia today alone, according to independent election monitoring group OVD-Info.

The group said that as of 3pm local time, 26 people have been taken in the western city of Kazan, while a further 14 have been arrested in Moscow. Six were taken in St. Petersburg, and the rest were detained in smaller cities across the country.

The watchdog said that 17 people across 11 cities were arrested on Saturday.

Voting in the national election ends tonight, after polling stations opened on Friday morning. The election is expected to be a landslide victory for Putin, who has managed to get rid of all of his credible opponents.

More than 60 dissidents have been arrested across Russia in demonstrations against Vladimir Putin on the final day of the nation's three-day election

At least 65 people have been detained across 16 cities across Russia today alone

Vladimir Putin is expected to win the election by a landslide

READ MORE: Britain should consider conscription and adopt Finnish model of national service to deter Vladimir Putin, NATO ally says

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Already, voters have protested the rigged election, with many seen pouring dye and paint into ballot boxes, and setting fire to polling stations.

Kremlin critics have called for Russians to keep protesting across the country as polls come to a close.

Yulia Navalny, the widow of dead opposition leader Alexei Navalny, called for protests in the run up to the election, and said Russian citizens should show up in droves at the same time to overwhelm polling stations.

She called for protesters to spoil ballots by writing 'Navalny' on them, or vote for candidates other than Putin, adding that the strategy was push by Navalny himself before his untimely death in mid-February.

But others weren't happy with pushing for voters to spoil their ballots.

Former State Duma member Ilya Ponomarev took to X to say that turning out to vote would only benefit the Russian state, as it would boost engagement numbers and would give Putin an air of legitimacy.

A police officer checks a man as he and other people queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Saint Petersburg

People queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Moscow

READ MORE: Vladimir Putin could be ready to launch war on Nato as early as 2026 says startling new German intelligence analysis

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He said: The Kremlin is only interested in three things: turnout, turnout and turnout again.

'Therefore, all oppositionists who come to the polling stations tomorrow will directly help Putin, regardless of what voting strategy they choose.'

The Kremlin has sought a high turnout and as polls opened for a third day in western Russia, officials said the turnout in the first two days had already reached 60% nationwide. An exit poll will be published shortly after voting ends at 1800 GMT.

Kremlin critic and chess legend Garry Kasparov meanwhile said that the Kremlin was a 'terrorist regime that only understands force', and called for the West to intervene with a stronger hand.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast country's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots as of early Sunday.
The husband of a mother who was shot in the head by a crossbow in Londons trendy Shoreditch area says he was forced to put up signs in the street to help find the attackers after police failed to investigate.

Nazarine Cazley, 44, is lucky to be alive after being harpooned in the back of the head near her home.

She was rushed to hospital with the projectile still attached to her skull, where it was removed by a doctor.

The mother-of-two was the first victim of the attacker, as police believe they struck again - 200ft away - 10 days later.

Her husband, Clifton, has hit out at those investigating, saying his wife's ordeal wasn't treated seriously until the second attack.

Two days after her ordeal, he put up signs around Arnold Circus asking for help and offering a cash reward to get 'justice'.

But instead of calls offering assistance, he only received a call from the police asking him to take them down, he claimed.

Two days after Nazarine Cazley was attacked, her husband put up signs (pictured) around Arnold Circus asking for help and offering a cash reward to get 'justice'

Emergency services raced to Arnold Circus, in Shoreditch at around 7.30 on March 4

Speaking to The Times, he said he was with his son, 18, at their home when he heard his wife screaming his name from the street below.

The carer had been shot in the back of the head by a crossbow bolt while walking home from work on March 4, at 7.44pm.

He described the bolt as having a red and black shaft with a hook on the end.

While Mrs Cazley's injuries are not life-changing, according to the police, her husband said she is in severe pain and is too terrified to venture outside.

The family - who live in a council lat - have asked to be moved to a different area.

Mr Cazley claimed that the police didn't treat the attack seriously enough at first.

He told The Times how he put up hand-written signs reading: 'It could have been you or your kids. Please help to get this person to face justice.'

But he says the police told him to remove them: 'I have no faith in the police,' he said.

The second incident happened on March 14 when a man in his 20s was hit with a crossbow bolt in the neck.

Subera Rabby, who called an ambulance, said: 'I've never seen anything like that. It's so scary'

He required hospital treatment but also escaped serious injury. Scotland Yard said it is linking the two attacks.

Mr Cazley said that is when the police 'decided to send all these officers out,' he told The Times.

Subera Rabby, speaking to Sky News, called an ambulance for the 44-year-old carer on March 4.

She said: 'The first thing was hearing the screaming, I came out, blood stain on the floor, there was a crossbow [bolt] sticking out of her head.

'It was really really horrific, I've never seen anything like that. It's so scary, I'm frightened for my kids, for myself.'The fact the second incident has now happened, I'm now thinking it could have been any of us.'

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who is responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: 'There are significant efforts to find whoever carried out these assaults, and we are committed to keeping the community updated over the coming days, as we know how worrying this is.

This investigation is being led by my detectives in the CID and supported by my neighbourhood teams and specialist officers.

'My team are progressing a number of lines of enquiry, including identifying witnesses and exploring both CCTV and forensic opportunities.

'We are keen to hear from the local community. You may have seen something on the days when these offences occurred, or you might have seen or heard something in the local area that you think is suspicious and may be linked to these incidents.

'If you do have any information please come forward and speak to us. You can either speak with a police officer, or call us on 101.

'If you do not feel comfortable speaking with officers directly, please do not let that stop you sharing information, as you can call Crimestoppers anonymously.

'I understand that local people will be distressed by these incidents, but we would urge them to go about their business.

'Please do be vigilant and alert while our investigation is ongoing and contact us about anything which seems concerning.

'Over the weekend you will see an enhanced local policing presence as we dedicate more officers to locate whoever is responsible for these assaults, and help people feel as safe as possible.'

It is currently illegal for anyone under 18 to buy or own a crossbow. Last month, ministers said they are considering introducing police checks on those trying to buy the weapon in a bid to crackdown on those circumventing age verification.

Mrs Cazley is lucky to be alive after being harpooned in the back of the head near her home

Crossbow killings are rare, with fewer than 10 recorded between 2011 and 2021.

On Christmas Day in 2021, a self-styled 'assassin' declared 'I'm here to kill the Queen' after he was caught by police with a crossbow while intruding Windsor Castle.

'Delusional' Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, was sentenced to nine years with an extended license period of five years.

He climbed into the castle grounds with the weapon after sending a homemade video to friends and family on WhatsApp where he apologised for what he was about to do.

Calling himself 'Darth Chailus' and wearing dark clothes and a metal mask, the Star Wars fanatic had earlier described himself as a 'sad pathetic murderous Sith Sikh assassin who wants to die' during a chat with an AI girlfriend which had encouraged him to kill Elizabeth II.

In a clip posted before his arrest, the defendant, who has Sikh Indian heritage, said he was seeking revenge for the Amritsar massacre in 1919, when British troops opened fire on thousands of Indians and left up to 1,500 dead.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, took part in a noon protest against President Vladimir Putin on Sunday in Berlin.

Navalnaya's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh posted pictures on X of the dissident standing in line in the German capital where Russians queued up to vote. Activists said that some people chanted 'Yulia, Yulia', and clapped.

Votes from Russian citizens living in other countries were being cast across the world.

In the UK, scores of people queued up outside the Russian Embassy in London to vote in the election. The line was at least half a mile long when MailOnline visited.

Alexander, a 24-year-old former artilleryman in the Russian Army told MailOnline today that he wasn't confident anyone but Vladimir Putin would win the election.

Navalnaya's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh posted pictures on X of the dissident standing in line in the German capital where Russians queued up to vote

One protestor in Paris held a sign that accused the despot of being an assassin

Alexander, a 24-year-old former artilleryman in the Russian Army, (pictured) told MailOnline today that he wasn't confident anyone but Vladimir Putin would win the election

One man was seen carrying a speaker and blasting music up and down the enormous queue for the polling station at the embassy

He said: '[I think] Putin will win. Im not very happy about that. Hes killed the nation, and its next generation. A lot of fathers are [in Ukraine] and too many children will grow up without their fathers. Too many childrens mental health will be hurt.'

Despite this, Alexander said he didn't want to simply give up, given how much opposition leader Alexei Navalny gave in service of his country.

'Navalny taught us never to give up. He was a brave person who wasnt scared. He believed Russia will be better than it is now. I believe in this. Its a beautiful country.'

He added that hoped the next leader of Russia after Putin would be someone who looked out for the roughly 143 million people who live in the nation.

'Every time a dictator or a king leaves, everyone wants their power for themselves. I hope we have a president who makes the lives in the nation better.'

Ekaterina, a 42-year-old office worker, said she and her friend had been waiting at the embassy for nearly three-and-a-half hours by the time MailOnline spoke to her.

Ekaterina, a 42-year-old office worker, (pictured) said she and her friend had been waiting at the embassy for nearly three-and-a-half hours

The queue outside the embassy was at least half a mile long

Many were seen dressed up in satirical costumes

'We havent had lunch, and my back hurts, but otherwise its cool because you can see so many people who are on the same page as you, and that youre not the only one. It supports you from inside.

You feel confident and that youre doing the right thing. Im proud of myself and I hope my kids, when they grow up, theyll be proud of me as well.'

Despite her cheery attitude, she also said she wasn't hopeful about how the election would play out. But this would not stop her from going to the embassy to cast her ballot.

'We just cant keep silent. We know we wont change anything, but its just not right to keep silent.

'I know it will not change anything, we all know that. But to not do anything, to not show that you dont agree with something bad, its like youre saying Im not strong enough, I cant help here".'

Vasily and Natasha, two young Russian citizens who had chosen to hand out water bottles to fellow voters, told MailOnline that despite how little they knew their vote mattered, they felt far better today than they did when Navalny died.

Protests grew outside the Russian embassy in London

The queue went far down Bayswater Road, just north of Hyde Park

Many said they would stay for as long as possible in order to cast their ballots

Natasha, who did not want to be photographed, said: 'This weekend is much better than it was a few weeks ago when Navalny died. That was really dark, and today its more cheerful.

'When Navalny died, it was a tragic event for the whole nation. Todays a normal day, nothing happened; you vote and your vote doesnt matter,' she dryly added.

Vasily, who also did not want to be pictured, said that Navalny and his team were still having a huge effect on him and other Russians in other countries, and how they participated in the election.

'Navalnys team told us all to come out on Sunday at noon, the Noon against Putin protests. I believe many of those people came out because of that.'

Egor, a games developer, and his wife Maria, both 25, said that they were in the long queue to do their bit to move the needle in any way they could.

Egor said: 'I dont remember seeing this many Russian people in London, but were all waiting here [to vote]. Weve had the same president for nearly twenty years. You can do nothing else but hope.'

Egor, a games developer, and his wife Maria, both 25, (pictured) said that they were in the long queue to do their bit to move the needle in any way they could

The embassy is expected to close at 8pm tonight

'I have a younger brother back in Russia whos 22. I really worry about him getting drafted into the war. He cannot leave because hes a cook by trade, and so its not feasible for a cook to move to another country. I just hope that everything will be okay for him,' he added.

Egor said that he and his wife would would stay in the queue until they were made to leave, saying that it was the least they could do for the election: 'Its not much, but its at least minimal effort to do something.

'Even if theres no hope, you want to do at least something, not just sit and let everything happen to you.'

When asked whether he believed there was a way for Russia to escape Putin's clutches, he dryly said: 'Death by natural causes? Everyones mortal, at least we hope.

'I dont see a way that it will be the same [when Putin dies]. It might become worse, but I hope it will be better.'

Over in Paris, a large queue of people was seen outside the Russian embassy, while protestors were seen in nearby green spaces holding signs up with messages critical of Putin written on them.

One protestor held a sign that accused the despot of being an assassin, while another compared Putin to Stalin, and called Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'genocide' and 'terrorism.'

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, talks to a woman during a rally near the Russian embassy in Berlin

People attend a rally in Berlin, near the Russian embassy where voters lined up to cast their ballots in the Russia's presidential election

In Russia itself, the main vehicle of protest across the nation has been the 'Noon against Putin' movement.

Thousands across the nation who oppose the veteran Kremlin leader went to their local polling station at midday to either spoil their ballot paper in protest or to vote for one of the three candidates standing against Putin.

Others had vowed to scrawl the name of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison, on their ballot paper.

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.

Navalny had endorsed the 'Noon against Putin' plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action 'Navalny's political testament'.

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West

Despite the protesters - who represent a small fraction of Russia's 114 million voters - Putin to tighten his grip on power in the election that is certain to deliver him a big victory.

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West.

It says Putin enjoys overwhelming support among ordinary Russians, pointing to opinion polls which put his approval rating above 80%.

With Russia's vast landmass stretching across 11 time zones, protest voters were scattered rather than concentrated into a single mass, making it hard to estimate how many people turned up for the protest event.

The size of the queues at each polling station shown on Navalny's channel ranged from a few dozen people to what looked like several hundred people.
Princess Diana told her father 'if you loved me, you wouldn't leave me here' when she was sent away to boarding school, her brother Charles Spencer has revealed.

Earl Spencer, 59, shared the heart breaking remark during his appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One this morning.

He said 'it was so incredibly impactful' seeing Diana tell their father how she felt about leaving for boarding school and that 'I was so proud of her for saying that'.

Charles also reiterated his own stance on boarding schools, telling Ms Kuenssberg: 'Personally, any child under 13, I don't think they should be sent away. They can't understand what is going on.'

Earl Spencer released his memoir, A Very Private School, last week, revealing horrific details about the physical and sexual abuse he suffered during his childhood, while he was educated at Maidwell Hall boarding school in Northamptonshire the 1970s.

Earl Charles Spencer, during his appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One this morning, revealed that Princess Diana told their father Edward John Spencer, 'If you loved me, you wouldn't leave me here' when she was sent to boarding school

Diana told her father that she did not want to go to the boarding school, but he instead took this photo of his daughter sat on a trunk in her pleated skirt and red cardigan school uniform

Charles, pictured with Diana in 1967, said 'it was so incredibly impactful' seeing his older sister tell their father how she felt about leaving for boarding school and that 'I was so proud of her for saying that'

Diana was sent to Riddlesworth Hall, in Norfolk, at the age of nine after her mother, Frances Roche, left her father John for wallpaper millionaire Peter Shand-Kydd.

The boarding school first opened as an independent girl's school in 1946, before it was forced to close due to facing 'unprecedented financial challenges' in April last year.

Diana was sent to the prep school in 1970, three years after her parents separated, and stayed at Riddlesworth Hall, which lies between Thetford and Diss in Norfolk, between the ages of nine and 12.

Young Diana initially told her father that she did not want to go to the boarding school, but he instead took a photo of his daughter sat on a trunk in her pleated skirt and red cardigan school uniform.

Although at first unhappy, she later settled in to life at at the school and became a popular pupil, while dealing with the aftermath of her family breakup.

She left Riddlesworth Hall in 1973 and went to West Heath Girl's School in Sevenoaks the following year.

Diana was sent to Riddlesworth Hall, (pictured) in Norfolk, at the age of nine after her mother, Frances Roche, left her father John for wallpaper millionaire Peter Shand-Kydd

Although at first unhappy, she later settled in to life at at the school and became a popular pupil, while dealing with the aftermath of her family breakup. Diana is pictured during a visit to the school in 1989

Excerpts from Charles Spencer's new memoir revealed he had been sexual assaulted at boarding school

In addition to sharing how Diana pleaded not to go to boarding school, Earl Spencer told Ms Kuenssberg that their childhood nanny would 'crack our heads together' whenever the two had been naughty.

Charles said the violence would not just be 'a tap on the wrist' but a 'cracking crunch' that 'really hurt'.

The Earl also revealed that his older sisters had been piled with laxatives as a punishment from a different nanny.

'A different nanny was punishing them by ladling laxatives down them, and my parents couldn't work out why they were constantly ill,' he said.

Charles made it clear that he did not blame his parents: 'They did their best, like 98 per cent of parents do', and lamented that they 'did not know.'

Although he remained firm in his defence of his parents, he did highlight that this showed the 'disconnect' between parents and children in these privileged families.

'It was just normal. You leave it to the nanny to deal with this,' he said.

In addition to sharing how Diana pleaded not to go to boarding school, Earl Spencer told Ms Kuenssberg that their childhood nanny would 'crack our heads together' whenever the two had been naughty

Earl Spencer with Princess Diana. He added that the violence would not just be 'a tap on the wrist' but a 'cracking crunch' that 'really hurt'

Earl Spencer with Diana and their mother. Charles has also revealed that his older sisters had been piled with laxatives as a punishment from a different nanny

The interview comes just days after Charles released his memoir and warned that young children should not be sent to boarding school.

In the book Charles shared how he was molested by a female assistant matron at the age of 11 at the Northamptonshire prep school.

Describing his abuser as a 'voracious paedophile', he claims she preyed on him and other young boys, grooming and then abusing them in their dormitory beds at night.

The prep school has now reported itself to the council following Earl Spencer's claims.

Charles said the school 'sewed demons into the linings of the souls' of the abuse victims, which made them feel like 'they were responsible' for what had happened.

The Earl explained how he was only able to process the trauma when he tried a new form of therapy called the Hoffman process - which aims to resolve negative behavioural patterns.

The book also detailed how John Porch, the 'terrifying and sadistic' headteacher of the exclusive prep school, inflicted brutal beatings, seemingly gaining sexual pleasure from the violence.

Diana Spencer and her brother Charles Spencer at their home in Berkshire in 1968

Earl Spencer (left), Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales waiting as the hearse carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales prepares to leave Westminster Abbey in 1997

Charles, in an interview on Lorraine Kelly's show last week, warned against sending young children to boarding school.

'I think being sent away at a very delicate age such as seven or eight is really  I don't support that at all,' he said.

'I have seven children and two of them have chosen to go to boarding school in their mid-teens. And that is fine - their decision. And if they decided it wasn't for them, they knew there was an exit plan.'

Earl Spencer also believes due to his young age, he was less likely to report the abuse he suffered to an adult once it started.

He said: 'I think kids at that age, no matter their background, have no context for their life, they just think this is what their parents expect and this is the framework they have been given.

'I found with all my friends none of them told their parents.'
Speaker Mike Johnson is telling his Republican caucus to 'knock it off' as a series of primary challenges within the party threaten the GOP's already razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is helping spearhead efforts by challengers to some of his Republican colleagues who he claims are 'in drag' or just Democrats parading as Republicans.

At least four incumbent Republicans in the House are facing fierce primary challenges with colleagues backing up and actively campaigning those trying to oust them.

Meanwhile, those on a revenge tour of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ouster are looking to target the eight Republicans who voted him out last year.

'I've asked them all to cool it,' Johnson told CNN during the House GOP retreat in West Virginia last week of any infighting. 'I am vehemently opposed to member-on-member action in primaries because it's not productive. And it causes division for obvious reasons, and we should not be engaging in that.'

He added: 'So I'm telling everyone who's doing that to knock it off.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson wants his party members to 'knock it off' as in-fighting continues and current members back challenges to other incumbents

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is helping lead efforts to oust at least two of his current GOP colleagues as he claims there are 'Democrats in drag' acting like they are Republicans

There are currently 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives  and three vacancies  meaning the GOP needs to hold onto all of their seats if they want to maintain a majority come next year.

Gaetz is actively involved in the effort to remove incumbent Reps. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), claiming that these races are more important than attacking Democrats because the GOP can't get anything done with RINOS in the caucus.

'I would love nothing more than to just go after Democrats,' Gaetz told CNN.

'But if Republicans are going to dress up like Democrats in drag, I'm going to go after them too,' he added. 'Because at the end of the day, we're not judged by how many Republicans we have in Congress. We're judged on whether or not we save the country.'

The firebrand Republican led the successful charge last year to oust McCarthy, leading to a ramped-up war between establishment GOP leadership and the more MAGA faction of the Republican Party in Congress.

Half a dozen House Republicans, including House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers, are attending a fundraiser for Navy SEAL John Mcguire, the Republican candidate challenging House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, multiple sources confirmed to CNN.

It's likely part of a payback tour from the establishment arm of the party for Good joining seven other Republicans to vote to oust McCarthy in October.

Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) also voted to oust McCarthy and says he is being targeted in his primary election because of that vote last year.

'You know how this town works,' Crane told CNN. 'You can't come up here and just start making waves and not pay for it, right?'

'So the way I see it is good. It just reaffirms that I'm doing what I came here to do,' he added.

Meanwhile, a handful of House Republicans are attending a fundraiser for Navy SEAL John Mcguire (pictured) in his primary challenge to House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, who voted to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year

Gaetz is backing up hard-right YouTuber Brandon Herrera (pictured) in his bid to oust Rep. Tony Gonzales from his House seat for Texas' 23rd congressional district

The member-on-member primary fights are causing a massive headache for Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise as they attempt to hold onto their majority in 2024's election.

During a closed-door presentation at the annual GOP retreat in West Virginia last week, Johnson and Scalise discouraged members from supporting primary challenges to incumbents, sources in the room revealed.

But the same day as that presentations, Gaetz was rallying in Texas from Brandon Herrera, who is challenging Gonzales in the May 28 runoff election.

'While the rest of my colleagues on Thursday will be on retreat, I'm going to be on the advance,' he said as several anti-leadership party members skipped the retreat this year.
'We've done our best to verify that your identity is what you say it is,' Carlson said during the interview

Manners presented himself as a scorned former employee of Kensington Palace who was fired for the editing mistake

Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson was tricked into an interview with a British YouTuber posing as the person who bungled the editing of Kate Middletons Mothers Day photo.

Archie Manners, one half of the duo Josh & Archie, falsely claimed he had been a digital content creator at Kensington Palace. Still, he landed an interview with the Former Fox News host.

'We've done our best to verify that your identity is what you say it is, youre not a fake Navalny or doing a prank or anything,' Carlson said during the interview, referring to the Russian whistleblower.

However, after the interview - which hasn't aired on Carlson's X channel - Manners and fellow pranker Josh Pieters revealed the stunt and said it was so the anchor's followers wouldn't be duped.

The prank comes as the debate over the infamous Mother's Day photo of Kate and her kids continues. The photo was released in the aftermath of her health scare, but was quickly identified as manipulated, sparking new theories on her condition.

Prank YouTubers Archie Manners and Josh Pieters created an edited version of the infamous Kate Middleton Mother's Day photo for an interview with Tucker Carlson

The prank comes as the debate over the infamous Mother's Day photo of Kate and her kids continues. The photo was released in the aftermath of her health scare, but was quickly identified as manipulated when people pointed out several irregularities

Manners presented himself as a former 'digital content creator' for Kensington Palace who was fired after the blunder

In an email to the conservative pundit's team, he claimed the Royals were 'willing to fire staff in order to conceal the truth'

In an email to the former Fox News host's team, Manners introduced himself as 'George' and explained he was behind the controversial photograph.

'I assisted in creating the image, at the Wales' request. As the image was found to be edited, I am now about to be scapegoated, and am in the process of being let go,' he wrote.

'Ordinarily I would be discreet in these matters, but I am all too aware of the Royal Family's ability to throw people like me under the bus in order to protect their reputation.

'They are not telling the truth about the Princess' health, and are now willing to fire staff in order to conceal the truth.'

In a subsequent phone call with one of Carlson's staffers, Manners reiterated the lie that he used to work for Kensington Palace and was asked to edit the photo that was later recalled by numerous press agencies, leading to him losing his job.

The staffer asked if Manners would be able to provide proof of employment as well as the un-doctored photograph.

After the call, Manners phoned co-star Josh Pieters and instructed him to craft a phony letter of engagement and 'make it silly,' in addition to editing the already edited Mother's Day photo.

Pieters drew up a realistic-looking employment contract, complete with a fake Kensington Palace insignia.

The letter included a clause stating the palace had a right to amputate one limb of their choosing should the employee fail the probation period.

To create the 'original' photograph, Pieters added a Christmas tree in the window and a rugby ball on the ground in addition to removing Middleton's left hand in a doctored version of the 'original photo.'

Manners forwarded the materials to Carlson's team before sitting down for an interview in a Westminster TV studio.

Pieters edited a Christmas tree into the photograph, which Manners claimed was taken by Middleton's uncle, Gary Goldsmith, around the holiday season

Manners alleged he had to edit out the Christmas tree for the final Mother's Day release

During the interview, Carlson asked what Manners did for Kate Middleton.

'Just before the coronation, I was asked to help out with some of their videography. I was then taken on in mid-May as their producer of digital content,' Manners said, adding that he was in the role until the previous morning.

'I was asked to edit a photograph, a now quite-famous photograph, of the three Cambridge children and the duchess, which was released to celebrate Mother's Day.

'I was fired for negligence because the editing that I did was found. The reason the editing was shoddy is the editing job was almost too big to do.'

He then claimed the photo wasn't taken a week prior, but was actually taken by 'Kate's uncle' Gary Goldsmith around Christmas, meaning he had to edit out the Christmas tree.

'It is an amazing story,' Carlson responded. 'You did this with their knowledge, you're saying. You edited out the Christmas tree and removed a hand with their knowledge?'

Manners nodded in affirmation.

Pieters drew up a phony contract including a clause about the Palace's right to amputate limbs if an employee failed the probationary period

'We've done our best to verify that your identity is what you say it is,' Carlson said during the exchange

As the interview wound to a close, Carlson lauded the exchange as 'great' and 'really interesting.'

His staff later informed Manners that they would premiere the episode 'early next week' on Carlson's eponymous streaming service.

However, it is unclear if it will still air in light of recent revelations.

Speaking to Deadline on Friday, Manners said he and Pieters decided to speak up because they did not want disinformation to be broadcast to Carlsons 12.6 million social media followers.

'We didnt want to cause any more rumors, that are not true, to go out to lots and lots of people,' Manners explained. 'We just didnt want to be too worthy about that in our video.'

Manners and Pieters have just under 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube. Previous capers include tricking Spiderman star Tom Holland during an interview and giving columnist Katie Hopkins a fake award.

The Prince and Princess of Wales 'want to be clear and more open' about Kate's health, but will only share with the public 'when they feel ready', a friend has claimed. Kate is pictured at the Christmas Day morning church service in Sandringham last year, which was the last time she was seen publicly before her surgery

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service last Monday after the controversy over her Mother's Day photo

Kate has not made an official public appearance since she underwent major abdominal surgery on January 16, leading to a growing tsunami of speculation over her unknown health condition. She is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter.

Rumors only intensified when the Princess publicly took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother's Day, which was 'killed' by six of the world's top picture agencies over concern that it had been 'manipulated'.

A source close to Kate and Prince William say the couple will disclose more information about her recovery in due course, according to The Sunday Times, which reports her return is expected after April 17.

The friend argued Kate 'is not a show pony' and it is 'entirely right' for the couple to not want to be 'drawn into a game about what is going on with her health.'

'In Kate's case, there is almost nobody else in the world whose face, body, clothes are more judged than hers,' the insider told The Sunday Times.

'What is happening is exactly what they said would happen  she would spend two weeks in hospital and be back after Easter. So what if they haven't pushed her out there to wave from the back of a car? She is not a show pony.'

A friend said the Waleses are fully aware about the circulating rumors but claimed: 'Theyre not like [Prince] Harry, obsessing and scrolling through Twitter, but they know it has broken through. They follow the news and see the BBC breaking news alerts.'
MJ Shannon, who announced his candidacy for Connecticut's 117th District this month. Contributed photo

MILFORD  An advocate for the sustainability of the Long Island Sound is seeking to bring about a tide change in the General Assembly.

MJ Shannon, a Milford Democrat and the clerk of the General Assembly's General Law Committee, announced this month that he has filed paperwork to run for office in the 117th District, which covers parts of Milford, West Haven and Orange. Republican Charles Ferraro, who has held the seat for five terms, is not seeking reelection this year.

Shannon, a Foran High School graduate, said two issues that resonate with him are environmental protection and promoting small business. In 2022, Shannon graduated with a degree in political science with a minor in sustainability from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

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"The 117th District is a beautiful area, so coastal resiliency and making sure everything stays looking beautiful and working with the leaders of the communities to continue what weve been doing will be important, he said.

Shannon said his family's business, CappuGino's in Milford, has also instilled in him an appreciation of entrepreneurship and small business.

"I've seen the vital role small businesses play in the community," he said. "I want to revitalize the area and make sure people want to come here and that its a great hub for businesses and people."

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Shannon said he believes West Haven's former conference center, which is intended as the future home of New England Brewing Co., is a project that can benefit from a sustained statewide investment and that will likely have a measurable impact on the area once finished.

Beyond an advocacy for environmental protection and small businesses, Shannon said he doesn't currently have a more formal platform, as he intends on listening to voters in the 117th by knocking on doors over the next seven and a half months.

"I want to be somebody who the residents see as their representation," he said. "I'm a fiscally smart Dem that will make sure the working class is represented.

Shannon said his job as a clerk has familiarized him with the legislative process and he has already met many of the state's lawmakers. He said he believes being young, having graduated from college less than two years ago, is an asset to the community.

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"I think in this area, and really just in the state and in general, it is a good idea to have all generations represented. Being a younger person and a more fresh face I think works really well for this area, he said.

Milford Democratic Town Committee Secretary Kathie Lutz said she believes Democrats in the three towns included in the 117th District should be able to get behind Shannon easily.

"He plans on spending time in each town and doing a lot of face-to-face knocking on doors in all of the towns. Were going forward with confidence there will be good support for him," she said.

Lutz said that because the district has been under Republican control for over a decade that it's "not a cakewalk," but Shannon's enthusiasm and early start mean that it could be an opportunity for Democrats. She said that his prior experience working on Gov. Ned Lamont's most recent reelection campaign means he has enough campaign experience to knock on doors in the district.

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West Haven Democratic Town Committee Chairman Michael Last confirmed Shannon is the only Democratic candidate in the race currently. He said the DTC's residents in the 117th District will select its delegates for the May 15 nominating convention closer to the end of this month.
Hundreds of 'right to roam' protesters have gathered for a mass trespass demonstration at Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire today, after the Bathurst Estate introduced entry fees for the first time in 326 years.

The historical park has been owned by the Bathurst family since 1695 and has always been free for the public to enter.

But Lord Bathurst - a close friend of King Charles who lives nearby in Tetbury - claims he now needs to introduce charges to pay for the upkeep of the 3,000-acre estate.

Electric gates have been installed on the four main entry points requiring a pass to enter or a fee of 4 a day. Regular visitors can pay 30 for an annual pass.

Access will be free to anyone living in the local GL7 postcode but a 10 deposit will be charged for the entry card.

The plans have angered many local residents, who have enjoyed unrestricted access to the open space around the town for generations.

Hundreds of Right to Roam protesters have gathered for a mass trespass demonstration at Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire today. Pictured is a protester holding a sign which reads 'I want my countryside back, right to roam'

The historical park has been owned by the Bathurst family since 1695 and has always been free for the public to enter. Pictured are the protesters holding banners today

The plans have angered many local residents, who have enjoyed unrestricted access to the open space around the town for generations. Hundreds have gathered in protest

Pictured are the Bathurst Estate community annual passes and a gatepad

Electric gates have been installed on the four main entry points requiring a pass to enter or a fee of 4 a day. Regular visitors can pay 30 for an annual pass

Spike Collett, 69, an animal rights activist, (pictured) has lived in Cirencester his whole life, accused the aristocrat owners of 'money grabbing'

Today hundreds of protesters gathered on the estate grounds for a 'right to roam' march to force the family to reverse this decision.

They chanted 'Whose park? Our park', with some holding placards reading 'The peasants are revolting' and 'Nature should be for everyone, not just for those that can afford it'.

Catherine Forrester, 37, and Tom Jones, 41, moved to Stroud, Gloucestershire, seven years ago and have been coming to the park ever since.

They have visited the park with their four-year-old son, Rowan, since he was a baby and the protest was the first time their daughter Rosa, 10 weeks old, visited the park.

Ms Forrester, who runs an organisation offering peer support for mothers, said: 'We're down here because we feel the park should be free for everyone.

'I love being in the open space, it is very close to the open-air swimming pool - it is a lovely place to come after a swim.'

Mr Jones, who is unemployed, added: 'They have owned the park for hundreds of years and promised people access to it.

'They spend a lot of money on the park and I think they don't see investment in a park for people to enjoy being worth spending money on.

'As taxpayers, we offer many generous grants to land owners to support their land.

'It is not that we're not paying for the upkeep of the park already, we're just doing it differently.'

Access will be free to anyone living in the local GL7 postcode but a 10 deposit will be charged for the entry card. Pictured are the demonstrators today holding a banner

Police officers are seen today as a huge crowd of protesters did a 'mass trespass'

Hundreds of protesters gathered on the estate grounds for a 'right to roam' march

A protester holds a sign which reads 'this earth was made a common treasury for everyone'

Spike Collett, 69, an animal rights activist, has lived in Cirencester his whole life, accused the aristocrat owners of 'money grabbing'.

He said: 'It is all money grabbing, why should anyone have to pay to get in here?

'I have lived here all my life, I have been coming here all my life.

'There are a lot of people upset about it.

READ MORE - Hundreds of protesters sign up for mass trespass demo after Earl starts charging to enter historic Cotswolds park for first time in 326 years Advertisement

'People will come to the town to spend their money but they might no longer come if they have to pay to enter the park.

'My message to the owners is - get a life.'

A resident who would only give his name as Terrence, 73, said charging for access is an 'insult' to locals.

The former government worker said: 'I have lived here my whole life.

'We have been able to walk through this park all those years.

'It is costly for pensioner people who need to get out for mental health reasons.

'The family have always granted access since the park was established back in 1685 to have that withdrawn is an insult to the town folk.

'We have supported the family over the years but this is a slap in the face to the town.

'It isn't just the town, it is the visitors too - now if they want to come out it is at least 50 minimum.'

Lord Bathurst, who stood by a gate to watch protesters gather in the park on Sunday morning, said the charges are important to maintain the land.

'People don't like change, I don't like change, but unfortunately to keep the park running we have to have some change in here,' he said.

'It has changed enormously over the last 20-30 years and it will continue to evolve.

'People might find it unpopular to charge people for coming in, but for local people it is still free for people to come in - they can pay a 10 deposit.

'There are so many other places, National Trust properties, Westonbirt Arboretum, that we have to pay to go into.'

Allen Bathurst (right) is pictured at the Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire

Lord Bathhurst is a close friend of King Charles who lives nearby in Tetbury

Last Wednesday, a public meeting was hosted in Cirencester Ashcroft Church regarding the proposed changes. The scheme was due to go live on Friday, March 15 but was postponed

The Bathurst Estate has introduced entry fees for the first time in 326 years

Richard Edmunds at Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire

Jon Moses, organiser of campaign group Right To Roam, said the park land was bought by Lord Bathurst with profits from the transatlantic slave trade.

Mr Moses said a price had been already paid for the park over the years, including by the slave trade, lost local transport links, and government agricultural subsidies.

'All that has been asked in return for these multiple extractions is that the park remain what it has always been - a community space, an open space, a free space available to everyone,' he said. 'And now, even that must pay. None of us are responsible for our ancestors, the Bathursts are not responsible for theirs.

'But you cannot profit from a legacy while refusing responsibility for its origin. Nor is it the responsibility of a democratic society to continue bearing its cost.

'Yet here we are, expected to pay once again. Pay in cash just to enter, pay in dignity, expected to carry a photo ID just to go for a stroll, to pay in joy as our way to the wider countryside is shut away, and pay in safety as commuter routes are forced on to roads, your kids unable to wander to school without remembering the household pass.

'Our simple message to the Bathurst Estate is this: If the Bathurst Estate cannot continue to meet its obligations to the park, and there is no room in their annual accounts for its maintenance, then fine, we accept, we'll take it.

'Please, by all means, give it back.'

Ali North joins people taking part in a mass trespass in protest against new charges to access Cirencester Park, one of the country's largest open green spaces

Electric gates have been installed on the four main entry points requiring a pass to enter or a fee of 4 a day. Regular visitors can pay 30 for an annual pass

The historical park has been owned by the Bathurst family since 1695 and has always been free for the public to enter. Protesters are pictured at the park today

Leigh Chapman (centre) joins people taking part in a mass trespass in protest against new charges to access Cirencester Park

Right To Roam said the Bathurst Estate listed total equity of 29million last year, and holds an offshore trust in Bermuda.

Resident David Watts, who regularly uses the park for exercise, said local people 'just want to walk in the countryside free of charge'.

Mr Watts said there were historical rights of way through the park, with the main turnpike going up the main path towards the Gloucestershire town of Stroud - until it was bought by the Bathurst family.

'People say, isn't it reasonable to ask people to make a small contribution, the bins have to be empty and the grass has to be cut, all of that costs money,' he added.

'Some people say it's reasonable and it's not a lot of money. Well for me, it's not really about money. It's about the freedom to walk in the countryside.

'But if we want to talk about money, let's talk about the wider Bathurst enterprise, which is built out of the slave trade. It is enormously wealthy. It is many different companies, all of which have tens of millions of pounds to them.

'There's 15,000 acres of land, properties, farms, property development, holiday cottages, cafes, car parks, there's even a heated dog wash.

'There's plenty of opportunities to make money without charging people to walk in this park.'

Right To Roam said just 1.2 per cent of the Cotswolds is designated as access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, with the loss of access to Cirencester Park reducing the freely accessible land by more than one third.

Ali North, 33, travelled from Swindon, Wiltshire, and joined those protesting at the park with a homemade sign reading 'Right to roam'.

She said: 'We are living through a time when access to nature is more critical than it has ever been.

'Having the introduction of barriers, in addition to other barriers people might feel, is a step backwards.'

Leigh Chapman, 76, who has lived in Cirencester for 50 years, brought a sign reading 'The peasants are revolting' to the protest.

'The park has fond memories for people who live here - walks with the family, the kids and the dog,' Mr Chapman said. 'It is so close to the town centre and then it is Bathurst land for about five miles.'

People taking part in a mass trespass today in protest against new charges to access Cirencester Park

Cirencester Park, in the Cotswolds town, spans more than 3,000 acres and has been free to access for members of the public for 326 years

Demonstrators chanted 'Whose park? Our park', with some holding placards reading@right to Roam', 'The peasants are revolting' and 'Nature should be for everyone, not just for those that can afford it'

Protesters wearing animal heads take part in the mass trespass in protest against new charges to access Cirencester Park, one of the country's largest open green spaces, today

The scheme was due to go live on Friday, March 15, but was postponed because of delivery issues with the passes.

Last Wednesday, a public meeting was hosted in Cirencester Ashcroft Church regarding the proposed changes.

Bathurst Estate representatives were invited to join the panel at this meeting but decided to send the organiser a written statement instead.

The statement said: 'We do not receive any public funding for Cirencester Park.

'The fee for visitors from further afield will contribute in part to the protection of the natural capital and wildlife within this unique parkland now and for future generations to enjoy, along with the maintenance and upkeep of the visitor facilities.

'We understand the importance of, and many benefits of, being able to enjoy the natural environment and the countryside.

'The access passes relate to the section of parkland around Cecily Hill, Windsor Walk, Queen Anne's Monument and Pope's Seat.

'Over recent years we have introduced additional permissive walks through Hailey Wood.

'These walks, in addition to the woodlands in the Sapperton Valley to the west of the estate continue to be accessible without a pass, therefore still include many miles to roam.

'We are unable to answer questions this evening but would be more than happy to take questions back to the estate team and respond accordingly.'
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey vowed to continue the fight to return the UK to 'the heart of Europe' today' as he launched an attack on the disorganised Tories.

Sir Ed used his speech at the party's spring conference in York to pledge to continue to campaign for closer links with the EU that include rejoining the Single Market - which would bring back freedom of movement.

Speaking in York he said that the move was vital for the UK's economic future, and blasted Rishi Sunak's leadership.

The Lib Dem leader said the Prime Minister 'sounds like he's already given up' and that setting the general election date is 'pretty much the only thing left that Rishi Sunak controls any more'.

In a wide-ranging speech he got a huge round of applause when he told members and activists he wanted to fix 'our broken relationship with Europe'.

'Only Liberal Democrats have a clear plan to rebuild this relationship with a better deal for Britain,' he said.

'To renew the ties of trust and friendship, To set us on the path back to the Single Market.

'Our plan to repair the damage the Conservatives have done, and, in time, to restore Britains place at the heart of Europe. Where we belong.

Sir Ed used his speech at the party's spring conference in York to pledge to continue to campaign for closer links with the EU that include rejoining the Single Market - which would bring back freedom of movement.

Speaking in York he said that the move was vital for the UK's economic future, and blasted Rishi Sunak's leadership.

'We know it wont be easy. We know it wont be quick. The ties that have been so badly severed can only be stitched back together gradually, over time.

'This will take great care and determined effort over years. But if we are to transform Britains economic future, we must start today.

The Lib Dem leader said the Tories 'no longer represent British values of decency, tolerance and the rule of law', as he challenged members to 'smash the blue wall' at the national vote.

The Lib Dems are using the gathering in York to prepare for a further push into traditional Conservative strongholds, particularly seeking to win over voters in the south and south-west of England.

Sir Ed rallied members to 'make this a once-in-a-generation election' as he argued that his party was the only one to offer 'transformational change', while the Tories and Labour were just 'tinkering around the edges'.

Mr Sunak this week ruled out holding an election on May 2, indicating that he would send the country to the polls in the latter half of 2024.

In his speech on Sunday, Sir Ed said the election date was 'pretty much the only thing left that Rishi Sunak controls any more'.

'He certainly doesn't control his party. Certainly not his Cabinet. Certainly not the healthcare crisis or the economy,' he said.

'In fact, the Prime Minister sounds like he's given up.'

Sir Ed accused the Prime Minister of 'outrageously running down the clock' and 'squatting' in Downing Street 'while the crises facing our country just get worse and worse'.

Sir Ed accused the Prime Minister of 'outrageously running down the clock' and 'squatting' in Downing Street 'while the crises facing our country just get worse and worse'.

The Tories were overseeing 'political, economic and financial instability' because they had 'been consumed by the most damaging, never-ending soap opera in British political history', the Kingston and Surbiton MP said.

'And Tory MPs have given us another episode this weekend, with plots for yet another prime minister - a fourth in less than two years,' he added.

It comes as Mr Sunak faces reports that some Conservative MPs are plotting to replace him before the election, and criticism over his handling of the emergence of alleged racist remarks about an MP by major Tory donor Frank Hester.

Addressing the racism row, Sir Ed said: 'If this week's news has shown anything, it's that we must also cap donations to political parties.

'So that even the wealthiest racists cannot buy power and influence over the Conservative Party.

'The party that brought us Boris Johnson, Suella Braverman and Lee Anderson, proudly funded by a man who made the most appalling racist and sexist comments - the Conservatives no longer represent British values of decency, tolerance and the rule of law.'

Sir Ed urged Mr Sunak to call a national vote immediately, saying the Lib Dems were 'up for the fight' and 'the country can't wait a moment longer to see the back of this terrible Conservative Government'.

'We can make this a once-in-a-generation election,' he said.

'In so many parts of the country, only we can beat the Conservatives. And we must.'

He argued the case for having more Lib Dem MPs in Parliament, saying: 'The mess our country is in demands not a plan to tweak things, but a plan to transform everything.

'Tinkering around the edges won't come close to solving anything, and yet that's what both the Conservatives and Labour are offering. They're both trying to cloak themselves in the costume of change, but they're both really saying 'keep things the same'.

'The Liberal Democrat approach is so different, because we don't just want to change things on the surface - paper over the cracks but leave the foundations to crumble underneath - we want real change'.

He said that would only happen 'if we change our political system', as he called for proportional representation to replace the first-past-the-post set-up.

Repealing the Fixed Term Parliaments Act was 'a shameless act of Conservatives rigging the system in their favour', he added.

Sir Ed also made the crisis in the NHS and social care central to his conference address, setting out 'big, bold reforms' to ensure people could see a GP, NHS dentist or pharmacist when they needed to.

'Investing wisely in community services, to save lives and save money in the long-run, instead of just throwing cash at crisis after crisis with nothing to show for it,' he said.

He called on all parties 'to include in their manifestos a cast-iron commitment to finally hold cross-party talks on social care to finally forge the agreement that has been kicked down the road for far too long'.

The Lib Dems won 11 seats at the 2019 general election, but have since gained formerly Conservative constituencies across southern England in a series of by-elections.

These have included Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, Frome in Somerset and Tiverton and Honiton in Devon.

But some polls suggest Reform UK has overtaken the Lib Dems in popularity across the UK.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul went on the The View to bewail the current border crisis and to blame its deteriorating condition on Republicans, and especially on former President Trump.

According to Hochul, the proposed Senate border deal would have helped mitigate the crisis, but Trump interfered and pressured Republican congressmen and senators to kill the bill.

'I blame the Republicans now,' Hochul said.

'The republicans in congress and in the senate said no [to the border bill] because Donald Trump called them up one night- the night before they should have voted on this- to send 2,000 more border patrol people to the border.'

She made her comments despite recent statements that the asylum system was being abused and that migrants who commit crimes against police should be deported.

Kathy Hochul went on The View and told the audience that the current migrant crisis was congressional Republicans' fault

The New York governor accused former President Donald Trump of scotching the passage of the border deal, which she believes would have alleviated the current crisis

The governor previously said the asylum-seeking process was 'probably' being 'abused,' a remark that echoed what she said in October on Face the Nation: 'People coming from all over the world are finding their way through, simply saying they need asylum, and the majority of them seem to be ending up in the streets of New York, and that is a real problem for New York City.'

On The View, Hochul conceded the 'mess was bipartisan before that. Democrats and Republicans have not successfully found a way to have a path to legal citizenship.'

Hochul's comments are part of a larger pattern in which Democrats and Republicans seek to blame the border's chaos on each other.

Partisan wrangling over the border came to a head with the dissolution of the senate border deal.

Former President Trump railed against the deal, dismissing it as a 'Democrat trap,' and 'one of the dumbest bills' he'd ever seen. Trump affirmed that he'd 'rather have no bill than a bad bill.'

President Biden countered that Republicans were 'playing politics' with the border, and that he was prepared 'to secure the border.'

When Republicans withdrew their support for the border deal, Democrats suggested that they did so to please Trump.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said: 'When President Trump came along and said he didn't want to solve the border problem, that he wanted it as a campaign issue, [House] Speaker Johnson obediently changed his tune.'

There have also been occasions when the finger-pointing happened between members of the same party.

Earlier this year, the governor distanced herself from the chaos in New York City and indicated in a report that Mayor Eric Adams was to blame for the migrant situation.

A sanctuary city, New York City has struggled to withstand the massive influx of migrants.

Accommodations are spartan and scarce- some housing arrangements have included a former police academy building, residences in tents, and cots in schools.

Some migrants have resorted to sleeping on sidewalks

By Mayor Adams' estimates, New York City spent $1.45 billion on migrants in 2023.

New York City has struggled to handle the influx of migrants, and many migrants have been forced to seek shelter on the streets

According to her budget proposal, Hochul wants to spend $2.4 billion on the migrant crisis, even though the state is facing a $4.3 billion deficit

The gravity of the migrant crisis can be felt most acutely in New York's 14th Congressional District, the district that congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represents.

In the Queens' neighborhoods of Corona, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst, migrants have set up provisional flea markets, at which they hawk all manner of clothing items.

Queens resident Ramses Frias, who is eyeing a congressional run for his district, is frustrated with the presence of the vendors, calling it a 'third-world market.'

Frias has said: 'They take away trade from these businesses and don't pay taxes. There are no repercussions. They get a free pass.'

He recorded a video of the area in which trash is strewn across the streets.

The resident also alleged that the neighborhoods are rife with prostitution.

'Individuals can't even make it to any entrance of the 90th street station without going through a maze of vendors and prostitutes milling around.'

Due to the conditions, Frias is now running for the Assembly District 39 as a Republican in a bid to clean up the streets

Vendors can be seen lining the streets with mounds of clothes stacked beside them, while others sell sneakers, toys and other miscellaneous items

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, right, and AOC, left, walk together during a campaign event in Queens Borough of New York on November 8, 2022

In a budget proposal released earlier this year, Hochul announced that she was prepared to spend up to $2.4 billion to deal with the migrant influx.

On The View, the governor referenced New York's steep deficit, saying that the state 'is in for about $4.3 billion.'

She made no bones about her desire for federal money- 'I would like federal money,' she stated.

Hochul claimed that after the border deal failed to get through, she confronted the Republican congressmen from New York at the State of the Union.

'I saw them at the state of the union. I said: "why don't you all march into Speaker Johnson's office tomorrow because there's ten of you. You know that crazy freedom caucus? There's only eleven of them."'

The governor claimed that she exhorted the congressmen to 'use your voice. Say my state needs this. Pass the bill that was a bipartisan compromise between conservative Republicans and Democrats.'

Hochul told The Views' hosts that she still believed a border deal could happen.

'I want pressure on everyone's Republican members of congress to get out there. Do this for our country. If you represent great state of New York, by God do it for your home state. The people who sent you that job.'
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted he thinks about quitting his 'crazy job' every day after his ex-wife took a veiled swing at him saying women 'shouldn't expect the minimum.'

In an interview with French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada on Friday, Trudeau said he plans on staying in office until the next election, but he does think about leaving his job.

Trudeau, whose Liberals are trailing in the polls, first took office in November 2015 and the next House of Commons election must be held by October 2025.

'I could not be the man I am and abandon the fight at this point,' he said in the interview.

'I think about quitting every day. It's a crazy job I'm doing, making the personal sacrifices, of course, it's super tough, it's super not great at times.'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in an interview with French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada on Friday he often thinks about quitting his job

Trudeau, who first took office in November 2015, announced last year he and his wife were separating after 18 years of marriage

Trudeau 's ex-wife Sophie Gregoire said on a podcast that women 'shouldn't expect the minimum' in what may have been a veiled swipe at the Canadian prime minister

Trudeau said he entered politics 'not to be popular, not for personal reasons - because I want to serve and I know I have something to offer'.

'The choice that Canadians will make, in a year in the elections, will be so fundamental.'

Last year, Trudeau, 52, and his wife Sophie Gregoire, 48, announced they were separating after 18 years of marriage.

Their reasons for splitting were not made clear, however, the couple said at the time that it came after 'many difficult conversations.'

Gregoire appeared to dig at her ex-husband while speaking about love, trauma and her battle with bulimia on the Know Your Value podcast last week.

'Your needs, you shouldn't expect the minimum,' the former TV host told the podcast.

'You should expect a maximum of nourishment, presence and help in your life with the people around you. And we shouldn't have to hold it all together as women.'

Trudeau said, 'I think about quitting every day. It's a crazy job I'm doing, making the personal sacrifices, of course, it's super tough, it's super not great at times'

Gregoire appears to have found love with an Ottawa pediatric surgeon Dr. Marcos Bettolli (pictured) towards the end of her marriage

Gregoire is allegedly coupled up with Argentina-born Dr. Marcos Bettolli several months before her shock separation from the Canadian PM, according to the surgeon's own divorce papers.

In a divorce petition filed on April 26, 2023, Bettolli's ex-wife Ana Remonda claimed that he had 're-partnered with a high-profile individual who attracts significant media attention, and presents significant security considerations'.

The person was not named in the court documents, but The National Post claimed it had been confirmed that Remonda's allegation refers to 48-year-old Gregoire.

Bettolli, 48, works at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and also teaches at the University of Ottawa's medical school.

He separated from stay-at-home-mom Remonda in January 2020 after 22 years of marriage and two kids together.
They submitted a video to Guinness World Records with hopes of snagging the title for for the longest-living six siblings

Six sisters with a combined age of 570 believe they are the oldest sibling group in the world.

The Overall sisters from Farmington, Missouri, have submitted a video to Guinness World Records with hopes of snagging the title for the longest-living six siblings.

Five of the six sisters live in Missouri while the eldest of the bunch, Norma Jacob, 101, lives in Ohio.

The second oldest is Lorene Kollmeyer, 98, the third is Maxine Cole, 97, then Doris Hawkins, 93, followed by Margaret Norton, 90, and the youngest, Elma Jennings, 88.

'God's been good to us to give us the lives that we've had,' Margaret told KMOV.

Norma Jacobs, 101,the eldest of the six sister's (left). Lorene Kollmeyer, 98, the second oldest (right)

Maxine Cole, 97, the third oldest sister (left). Doris Hawkins, 93, the fourth oldest (right)

Margaret Norton, 90, the fifth oldest sister (left). Elma Jennings, 88, the youngest of the six sisters (right)

The group of sisters also have a brother, Stanley Overall, who died while he was riding a bike when he was 81 year old. He would have been 102 today.

'We only wish our only brother, Stanley Jr., was still with us,' Alma said.

According to his granddaughter, Shanna Kelley, after Stanley's tragic death, a bike trail in town was named after him.

Stanley's daughter, Gail Overall Agers, told KMOV that her dad would've have been 'very proud' of his sisters 'because they meant the world to him.'

Norma's son Dean said it was his idea to see if the sister's set a new record with a combined age of 570 years and 43 days.

The sister's are seen pictured in their numbered shirts in July 2021 during a birthday celebration for them

'Now that we have somebody that is over 100, and the rest are in their 90s, except for our baby aunt, it's like you know, we may be on to something,' Dean said.

Though the sisters hope they have made history, they said they are blessed to have lived their long lives.

'We've had a lot of experiences,' Lorene said.

'I feel very blessed,' Cole said.

During the interview, and in previous birthday celebrations, the sister's sported numbered t-shirts to distinguish the oldest sibling to the youngest.

In a past picture of the family, Stanley was seen smiling front in center with a t-shirt of his own that read 'Only Brother.'

An outpour of family support flooded social media as Jay Jennings, one of Elma's son's posted pictures of his mother, aunts and cousins to Facebook from the interview.

The sister's have one brother, Stanley, who died when he was 81 during a bicycle crash. He is seen in a family picture with his sisters sporting an 'Only Brother' t-shirt

Though the sisters hope they have made history, they said they are blessed to have lived their long lives

'My mom is Doris No. 4. What an amazing group of gals,' Brooke Hawkins, one of Doris's daughters commented under his post.

'Love Ms. Elma,' another said.

Another commented: 'Loved watching this, thank you for sharing it. God bless all of these lucky ladies.'

In 2023, 13 Dutch siblings broke the Guinness World Record with a combined age of 1,116.

The Beers siblings from the Netherlands, with six girls and nine boys, surpassed the previous family who had a combined age of 1,075.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on Chuck Schumer calling for an election of new leadership in Israel amid its war with Hamas terrorists

Pime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for 'totally inappropriate' remarks calling for an election of new leadership in Israel.

It comes amid ongoing war between Israel and Hamas operating out of Palestinian enclave of Gaza, which sparked after the terrorists attacked the Jewish State on October 7, 2023.

Schumer said in an extraordinary 45-minute speech from the Senate floor on Thursday that Netanyahu has 'lost his way' and has become an 'obstacle to peace' five months after the attacks started the war in Gaza.

The highest-ranking elected Jewish official and longtime defender of Israel said Netanyahu has put himself in a coalition of 'far-right extremists' and is more interested in his own political survival than a solution.

Netanyahu is pushing back.

'I think what he said is totally inappropriate,' the Israeli PM told CNN's Meet the Press in a Sunday morning interview.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing back after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an election of new leadership in Israel amid its war with Hamas terrorists

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the highest-ranking elected Jewish official, called Netanyahu an 'obstacle to peace' in some of the most scathing U.S. criticism if Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack on the Jewish State

'It's inappropriate for a  to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there,' he added. 'That's something that Israel, the Israeli public does on its own, and we're not a banana republic.'

'I think the only government that we should be working on to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza, the Hamas tyranny that murdered over 1,000 Israelis, including some dozens of Americans, and is holding Americans and Israelis hostage. That's what we should be focused on.'

The October 7 attack led to the largest single-day massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust and sparked a war between Hamas terrorists and Israel that has no end in sight.

The White House said Schumer informed them of his comments in advance and it 'respected his right' to make them. But President Joe Biden's administration expressed 'no approval or disapproval' for his stance.

Meanwhile, Republicans slammed Schumer's stance as 'grotesque' and Israel said it was 'unhelpful' while it was 'at war against a genocidal terror organization.'

'As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders, and we should let the chips fall where they may,' Schumer said in his Thursday speech.

'But the important thing is that Israelis are given a choice. There needs to be a fresh debate about the future of Israel after Oct. 7,' he added.

'In my opinion, that is best accomplished by holding an election.'

Netanyahu responded to them on Sunday with: 'As far as what Senator Schumer said, the majority of Israelis support our governments; 82 percent of Americans support Israel, instead of Hamas.'

'The majority of Israelis support the policies that we're leading  go into Rafah, destroy the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions, make sure that we don't put into Gaza, instead of Hamas, the Palestinian Authority that educates their children towards terrorism and the annihilation of Israel.'

'This is a wake-up call to Senator Schumer,' the PM said, 'the majority of Israelis support the policies of my government. It's not a fringe government. It represents the policies supported by the majority of the people.'

'If Senator Schumer opposes these policies, he's not opposing me. He's opposing the people of Israel,' he said of the stunning rebuke from the New York Democrat and leader in the Senate.

Schumer is pictured with Netanyahu in 2017. He said in his speech: 'As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7'

A displaced Palestinian man carries containers amid the rubble of houses destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Hamad area, west of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 14, 2024

The Senate's Republican Minority leader, Mitch McConnell, quickly came to Netanyahu's defense in remarks just after Schumer.

'It is grotesque. and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of the democratically elected leader of Israel. This is unprecedented.' McConnell said.

Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, said: 'Israel is a sovereign democracy. It is unhelpful, all the more so as Israel is at war against the genocidal terror organization Hamas, to comment on the domestic political scene of a democratic ally. It is counterproductive to our common goals.'

The war erupted after Hamas killed 1,200 people in an October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and took 253 hostages back to Gaza.

Schumer also criticized Palestinians who support Hamas, and said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas should also step aside.

'For there to be any hope of peace in the future, Abbas must step down and be replaced by a new generation of Palestinian leaders who will work towards attaining peace with a Jewish State,' Schumer said.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: 'We did have advance notice he was going to deliver those remarks.

'We fully respect his right to make those remarks. This was not about approval of disapproval in any away but he did give us a heads up. Leader Schumer feels strongly. We're going to let him to speak to his thought process.'

Displaced Palestinians walk through a street filled with rubble in Hamad area, west of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip

Schumer's harsh criticism follows moves from President Joe Biden and Democrats to ramp up the pressure on Netanyahu to protect Palestinian civilians as he carries on his offensive.

The Biden administration has also called for a temporary ceasefire to get aid to Palestinians and to allow the release of hostages captured by Hamas.

Netanyahu has vowed to carry on fighting until Hamas has been destroyed.

But Democrats have started to question his motives, sparking Schumer to deliver some of the most scathing criticism to date.

Schumer added: 'He (Netanyahu) has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza. Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.

'As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7.

'The world has changed  radically  since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.'

Schumer said the only solution is 'a demilitarized Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in equal measures of peace, security, prosperity and dignity.'

Netanyahu has rejected the idea of two-state solution because he believes it will allow a Hamas to maintain its presence and threaten the future of Israel.

Schumer's comments sparked an immediate reaction from Republicans who called his speech 'inappropriate and offensive'.

'The last thing Israel needs is the 'foreign election interference' that Democrats so often decry here,' Republican Senator Tom Cotton said.

U.S. President Joe Biden is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023

'Besides, the main elections that worry Chuck Schumer aren't Israel's but our elections, because the rampant anti-Semitism that the Democratic Party has allowed to fester in its ranks is massively unpopular with the pro-Israel American public'.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said he would let Schumer 'speak to his comments' when asked about the speech.

'We're gonna stay focused on making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself while doing everything that they can to avoid civilian casualties, Kirby added.

'We're still focused, laser focused, on trying to get a temporary ceasefire in place so that we can get the hostages out and get more aid and that's where our head is right now.'

Schumer and other leading Democrats, including Biden, face intense criticism from within their party, over Washington's unconditional support for Israel, given the impact on Palestinian civilians of Israel's assault on Gaza.
North Yorkshire Police have found four young children who went missing from their homes in York

A major police hunt was launched after twins Harrison and Harper, both 11, Lacie, 12 and 13-year-old Chelsea failed to return home last night.

North Yorkshire Police have since confirmed that all four children were found 'safe and well' this afternoon.

Twins Harrison (left) and harper (right), both 11, went missing last night after they failed to return to their home in York. North Yorkshire Police have since confirmed all four children have been found

Lacie, 12, also went missing last night but has now been found 'safe and well'

Chelsea, 13, was found along with three other children in York this afternoon

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police told MailOnline: 'All four children have been found safe and well in the York area this afternoon.'
Sainsbury's top boss has apologised to shoppers for the IT meltdown that left thousands without groceries yesterday.

The 'technical issue' created chaos on one of the busiest shopping days of the week. The grocery chain cancelled online orders and couldn't accept contactless payments - so shoppers either had to use a physical card or pay in cash.

Customers, who already faced long queues at the tills, were forced to desperately queue at nearby ATMs, but many machines ran out of cash due to the dramatic uptick in withdrawals.

Today CEO Simon Roberts sent an email to all shoppers confirming the 'affected systems are now back online' and stores continue to be open and 'fully operational'.

He apologised to 'every customer' that was impacted by yesterday's IT failure and revealed that any shopper whose online order was not delivered will receive a voucher in the coming days in help make up for the 'inconvenience'.

Many loyal Sainsbury's shoppers turned to rival Tesco after being unable to complete their Saturday shop, however the chain also experienced tech issues yesterday and was forced to cancel a small proportion of online orders.

Sainsbury's top boss has apologised to shoppers for the IT meltdown that left thousands without groceries yesterday. Customers are pictured waiting in long queues yesterday at the chain's shop in Wandsworth, south London amid tech difficulties

The grocery chain cancelled online orders and couldn't accept contactless payments - so shoppers either had to use a physical card or pay in cash. Pictured is a self-service till at a Sainsbury's in London that could only accept cash payments

Shoppers abandoned their carts and baskets at a Sainsbury's near Richmond upon Thames yesterday as the supermarket chain battled an IT glitch impacting customers' ability to pay

Sainsbury's CEO Simon Roberts (pictured) today sent an email to all shoppers confirming the 'affected systems are now back online' and stores continue to be open and 'fully operational'

'I want to apologise to you and every customer that has been affected by the issue and to thank you for your patience and for bearing with us,' Mr Roberts penned in the email reviewed by Mail Online. He also thanked customers for their 'patience and understanding'.

'I really understand how important it is for everyone to be able to shop with us conveniently and easily, whenever and however you want to, and I am sorry if you have not received your usual service from Sainsbury's this weekend.'

The CEO said he is 'pleased to confirm' that all impacted systems are functioning normally and that stores are accepting all forms of in-store payment, including contactless.

The online ordering system is also 'working as normal' and customers who did not receive their delivery yesterday can now place new orders with delivery windows starting from tomorrow, he said.

Mr Roberts also revealed that Sainsbury's will 'automatically' add a voucher to the online wallet of impacted shoppers to 'apologise for the inconvenience'.

Sainsbury's contact centre teams are reportedly working 'working very hard to do everything they can to help customers who have been affected by the issue and need further assistance'.

The boss added: 'Thank you for bearing with us while we work to answer any specific questions you may have as soon as possible.'

He further went on to praise all the 'colleagues who have worked so hard to resolve this issue and support our customers'. Mr Roberts said he is 'proud' of how the team 'stepped up' yesterday to managed the 'unexpected challenges' customers faced.

A handwritten sign was placed outside a Sainsbury's store in Cobham yesterday to inform customers of the technical issues affecting the supermarket chain

There were long queues yesterday at the Sainsbury's on the 316 near Richmond upon Thames as shoppers struggled to complete their purchases amid IT failures

Shoppers were forced to desperately queue at nearby ATMs, but many machines ran out of cash due to the dramatic uptick in withdrawals. Pictured is a Sainsbury's Bank cash machine in London ran out of money amid the IT technical issues yesterday

Two of the UK's biggest supermarket chains - Tesco and Sainsbury's - were hit with technical issues yesterday, leaving the busy grocers in absolute chaos.

Furious shoppers were battled painful queues as contactless payments failed, cash machines running dry and tempers flaring over cancelled online orders.

Customers were seen marching out of the supermarket yesterday, looking for the nearest alternative, after they realised Sainsbury's was no longer accepting contactless and that the queues were huge.

Queues snaked into the aisles as customers tried to negotiate the self-checkout tills and tensions flared as customers' cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay were being declined with some tills seemingly shutting down completely.

Swathes of counters were empty with the till either closing or only offering to take cash. Some infuriated customers went over to the customer services section to voice their complaints.

Outside the grocer, hordes of angry shoppers tried to take out cash from nearby ATMs but were left emptyhanded due to the surge withdrawals.

Shoppers at a large Sainsbury's branch on Cromwell Road, west London told MailOnline yesterday that the store, which offers around 20 self-checkout tills, only had three operating counters - causing a 'meltdown' around the payment area and snaking queues.

The west London store had opened a separate queue for people with only a few items, one shopper claimed, but the queue quickly became packed as customers rushed in to grab essential weekend supplies.

Customers are seen outside the Sainsbury's store in Lyons Farm, Worthington on Saturday, where the shop is only accepting cash. Some appear to be withdrawing cash from the ATM

Sue Mautner, pictured yesterday, told MailOnline that a west London Sainsbury's had opened a separate queue for people with only a few items but this had become packed as customers rushed in to grab essential weekend supplies

Argos, which is owned by Sainsbury's, was also affected by the software update, meaning some customers may have had issues ordering new items or collecting orders in-store. Pictured is the Argos inside the Cromwell Road, west London Sainsbury's yesterday with a sign on the door notifying customers that it was closed

Shoppers queued outside a Tesco store in London yesterday to withdraw cash, as the supermarket was hit with major technical glitch

Argos, which is owned by Sainsbury's, was also affected by the software update, meaning some customers may have had issues ordering new items or collecting orders in-store. It said there may have been delays in fulfilling orders placed.

Only a small proportion of Tesco orders due for delivery on Saturday were impacted, it is understood. Tesco customers received an email if their order was disrupted, and if it was cancelled they were not charged.

In-store shopping and orders placed on the app and website were not affected by the tech failure.

Tesco told MailOnline in a statement yesterday: 'The vast majority of our online orders are being delivered as normal, but due to a technical issue earlier today we have had to cancel a small number of orders. We are contacting affected customers directly, and we're really sorry for the inconvenience.'

Sainsbury's and Tesco were hit by technology failures just one day after McDonald's experienced an IT outage that left customers unable to order food.
Top Intelligence Republican Mike Turner insists that the House bill that would force the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owners is not a ban on the beloved social media app.

Rep. Turner (R-Ohio) insisted that Americans who use TikTok for income will not 'lose their livelihood' under the new legislation, which passed the House last week and sent advocates for the app into a frenzy.

Many claim the bill would ban TikTok in the U.S., but Republican advocates for the legislation say it just requires that to continue operation in the U.S. it no longer be tied to China.

The bill's author, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) insists its important to pass the bill forcing TikTok to 'break up with the Chinese Communist Party.'

He said in an interview on CBS News Face The Nation on Sunday that the forced sale of TikTok 'absolutely could' happen before November's election.

ABC News This Week host Martha Raddatz told Turner that there are claims that TikTok supports at least 224,000 American jobs and some are worried about losing income.

'I don't think they'll lose their livelihood,' Turner said in a Sunday interview. 'They have obviously undertaken a livelihood that is communicating to people through social apps and social media.'

House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said the TikTok bill is 'not a ban' and insisted Americans will 'not lose their livelihood'

The 15 Republicans who voted against the TikTok bill Barry Moore, Alabama Andy Biggs, Arizona David Schweikert, Arizona John Duarte, California Tom McClintock, California Dan Bishop, North Carolina Matt Gaetz, Florida Greg Steube, Florida Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Clay Higgins, Louisiana Warren Davidson, Ohio Scott Perry, Pennsylvania Thomas Massie, Kentucky Nancy Mace, South Carolina Alex Mooney, West Virginia Advertisement

'And this is not a ban on TikTok as you know,' the House Intelligence Chairman added. 'This is actually a piece of legislation that requires that the Chinese ownership of TikTok be divested so that we would sever that relationship between Chinese ownership, the Chinese government, the Chinese communist party that is of such troubling concerns.'

The House passed on Wednesday morning in a bipartisan 352 - 65 vote the bill that would force the app's Chinese parent company to divest if it wants to continue operating in the U.S.

Republicans sided with the bill despite calls from former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to go against the bill against the wildly popular video app platform.

Now, the bill goes to the upper chamber where senators will decide whether the national security threat posed by TikTok is worth the headache from constituents who love the app, and have been calling lawmakers nonstop asking them to vote against the measure.

The social media company boasts over 150 million American users.

Previously, Chairman Turner noted on Sunday, India banned TikTok over similar security and data harvesting concerns as those now posed by the U.S. government.

He also pointed to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) banning users in their country against using U.S. social media apps Twitter, Facebook and YouTube because 'of their concerns of the voices of democracy being heard.'

The House China Select Committee says CCP officials through ByteDance are using TikTok to spy on its U.S. users' locations and dictate its algorithm to conduct influence campaigns, in turn posing a national security threat.

If passed, ByteDance would have 165 days after its signed into law by President Joe Biden to divest from TikTok.

Should ByteDance refuse to divest, app stores and web hosting platforms would not be allowed to distribute it in the U.S.

It's likely the bill could become law considering the widespread bipartisan support of lawmakers to decouple TikTok from the CCP.

As the bill has gained more steam, so too has its opposition.

Trump threw cold water on it last week, insisting if TikTok is banned its rival Facebook would 'double their business.'

'I don't want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better,' Trump wrote in a social media post. 'They are a true Enemy of the People!'

Elon Musk joined Trump in opposing the effort to reign in TikTok's influence, calling it government 'censorship,' in a post on X Tuesday.

'This law is not just about TikTok, it is about censorship and government control! If it were just about TikTok, it would only cite 'foreign control' as the issue, but it does not,' Musk stated.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also voted against the bill, mentioning Musk by name, praising him for restoring her account on X after it was formerly banned and decrying the 'Pandora's Box' this bill could open.

'What's to stop the U.S. government in the future from forcing the sale of another social media company claiming it is protecting American's data from foreign adversaries?'

'I believe this bill can cause future problems. It's opening Pandora's Box and I am opposed to this bill,' Greene said Wednesday on the House floor.

'This is really about controlling Americans' data, and if we cared about Americans' data then we would stop the sale of Americans' data universally, not just with China.'

TikTok advocates gathered outside of the Capitol ahead of Wednesday's vote to push back against the bill. Many claim they would lose their income if TikTok is banned in the U.S.

Greene was among a number of significant GOP members who voted against the bill, including Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).

On the other side of the aisle, 'Squad' members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) also voted against the measure.

One lawmaker, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) voted present.

TikTok and the CCP both pushed back against the 'ban.'

'This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it's a ban,' ' TikTok said in a statement shared with DailyMail.com after the House passed the bill.

'We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service.'

CCP foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a statement: 'Although the United States has never found evidence that TikTok threatens US national security, it has not stopped suppressing TikTok.'

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement the vote 'demonstrates Congress' opposition to Communist China's attempts to spy on and manipulate Americans, and signals our resolve to deter our enemies.'

'I urge the Senate to pass this bill and send it to the President so he can sign it into law,' he continued.

In response to the growing support behind the bill, TikTok sent out a push notification to its 100 million users yesterday telling them 'Your voice matters in stopping the shutdown.'

The notification prompted users to reach out to their congressional members to urge them to vote against the proposed bill. As a result, congressional offices received hundreds of calls about the bill Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, congressional aides told DailyMail.com.

Many callers appeared to be children or concerned parents begging the app not be banned.

Users are being told the bill threatens TikTok's very existence, though what it actually does is force its parent company to divest - something callers are largely in support of once staffers explain the nuance of the bill.

'TikTok's campaign to have users call their representatives shows just how much control they have. This campaign is reminiscent of typical Communist Party tactics,' Rep. Greg Murphy, R- N.C., told DailyMail.com in a statement Tuesday.

'Unfortunately, these callers don't understand what they are really advocating for - they are following orders from Beijing. The CCP is hoping to replicate their modus operandi of telling their citizens what to do.'

His office's phones were 'blowing up' according to staff. Murphy voted in favor of the bill Wednesday.

Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., told DailyMail.com he is in favor of the bill and despite the deluge of calls, ' We'll talk to any constituent that wants to call in and talk to us through this.'

'We're explaining our position, and it's a normal part of the process,' he said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle accused TikTok of harvesting and providing its U.S. user data to its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance, which they say has connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) told DailyMail.com that though he does not know yet how he will vote on the bill, 'It won't be because 16-year-olds call me from all over the country.'

The bill passed through committee last week with a bipartisan unanimous 50-0 vote.

In a statement, TikTok said of the bill's passing committee: 'This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States. The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.'

Some lawmakers expressed reservations about how the TikTok bill could impact First Amendment protections.

'I think it's a terrible idea and it's hysteria that's running through both parties now.' Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told DailyMail.com Friday.

'In America, we don't just tell people you can't own a company because we don't like you. And 150 million people use their First Amendment freedom to express themselves on TikTok, and you can't just have that taken away from them.'
Police have captured the fugitive wanted for killing an officer who stopped to help him fix the tire of stolen car - a vehicle whose owner was murdered.

Jaremy Smith, 33, allegedly shot and killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on Friday when the officer pulled over to help him fix a flat tire on a white BMW.

Smith pulled out his gun 'without warning' and shot at Hare, then pushed him into the passenger seat of his own cruiser and drove off in the patrol car, according to state police.

Investigators determined the white BMW Smith was driving belonged to murdered paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore in South Carolina.

New Mexico State Police said Sunday morning, 'Jaremy Smith has been captured after a foot pursuit and officer-involved shooting involving the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.'

Police have captured Jaremy Smith, 33, who is wanted for killing an officer who stop to help him fix the tire of stolen car whose owner was found dead

Police said Smith allegedly shot and killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare (pictured) on Friday

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said the arrest took place in the area of Unser and Anderson Hill and no deputies were injured.

Deputies found Smith walking on Unser Blvd. after a store clerk from Murphy's Gas Station called police when they spotted someone who matched Smith's description.

'A foot pursuit ensued, and shots were fired, striking Smith who was taken into custody without further incident,' said the sheriff's department.

'Smith was transported to an area hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.'

Smith is considered a person of interest in Machado-Fore's death. She was reported missing to the Marion County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina on Thursday and her body was found on Friday near the South Carolina and North Carolina border, reported KOAT.

'Mrs. Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder. Her death is senseless. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss,' said Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace.

'My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice.'

Around 5 a.m. on Friday, Hare was dispatched to Interstate 40, near milepost 318, to assist Smith, who was attempting to wave down other motorists, with his flat tire.

Hare, a father of two young children, parked behind Smith's car and the suspect walked up to Hare's passenger side window.

State police said, 'A short conversation ensued about repairing his tire when, without warning, Smith pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare.'

Smith walked to the driver's side of the patrol car, shot Hare again and then pushed him to the passenger's seat and drove off.

Hare's duress signal began to go off and an assisting officer saw Hare's patrol car speeding down the frontage road of Interstate 40.

Investigators determine the white BMW Smith was driving belonged to murdered paramedic Phonesia Machado Fore (pictured) in South Carolina

The assisting officer chased after Hare's car and found it crashed on the frontage road near milepost 304 on Interstate 40.

Hare was found on the frontage road to Interstate 40 around milepost 312 and was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said on Saturday that Smith has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina and had faced charges ranging from armed robbery, taking hostages and rioting in jail, as well as auto theft before Friday's incident.

'On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need,' Weisler said,

'That person killed him in cold blood. The last words Officer Hare uttered on this earth was to offer help to a man who was about to kill him.'
Developer Robert Scinto speaks with John Iannuzzi of Park City Productions during an interview for the Let Me Be Your Landlord podcast, in Shelton, Conn. March 29, 2023. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media A sign for the Subway World Headquarters in Milford photographed on February 6, 2020. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Demolition continues on the former Subway headquarters on Schoolouse Road in Milford, Conn. on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media

MILFORD  A European knife manufacturer with an outlet in Norwalk will move onto the former Subway headquarters property in September, a tight construction deadline for the site's $25 million warehouse despite demolition work underway there, developer Robert Scinto said Friday.

Headquartered in Solingen, Germany, a city renowned for its manufacture of blades since the swords of the Middle Ages, Wusthof has signed a lease for 120,000 square feet of warehouse and corporate office operations at 325 Sub Way. Wusthof has an option to expand within the unbuilt 160,000-square-foot building. It will be the company's North American campus, employing 80-100 people and distributing wares to the US, Canada and South America, Scinto said.

"These guys are the strongest tenant that I have ever had in my life," Scinto said Friday. "They are a fantastic company. No debt. Everyone buys those knives. Milford should be so happy that they have a tenant like this in their town."

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Wusthof describes itself as "one of the most innovative knife manufacturers in the world" of high-quality, forged knives for home and professional use. It is a seventh-generation family business operated by cousins Viola Wusthof and Harald Wusthof, exporting to more than 80 countries worldwide, according to its website.

FCP collects used oil from its customers as part of its service and planned to store it on site, but the Milford Planning Board objected because such storage isn't allowed in the property's zone. The property's owner, Scinto, and the company agreed to forego storage and the board granted their permit, but months later FCP reconsidered, calling the lack of tanks there a deal breaker.

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FCP hasn't said what its plans are. CEO Scott Drodz has not responded to requests for comment.

Owning a parts warehouse on Bic Drive and a store at 155 Hill St., FCP imports and sells online genuine OE, and OEM parts for European-made cars including Audi, BMW, Porsche and Volvo. FCP has been listed on Inc. Magazine's 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list in 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. FCP Euro also opened another 160,000-square-foot warehouse in Arizona and forecasts revenues of close to $1 billion by 2028, company officials have said.

All of Wusthof's operations from its three Norwalk buildings will be relocated to the Milford site, and they will draw some truck traffic, Scinto said. That was a sore point with some Milford neighbors who opposed FCP's proposed move because of concerns that it would have adverse environmental impacts on adjacent Mondo Ponds Nature Preserve. Wusthof officials told Scinto that they would get "only get major loads, two or three (18-wheeler) trucks, a month."

"Most of their trucking is small vans," he said, with United Parcel Service service vans likely appearing regularly late in the day.

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Construction of the foundation of the new warehouse should begin by the end of May, said Scinto, founder of R.D. Scinto of Shelton, which has its own construction and property management arms owning 52 buildings in Fairfield, Naugatuck, Shelton, Trumbull and Wilton.

"Its very tight. Not impossible, but very tight," Scinto said of the construction schedule.

Scinto said he doesn't see more than one building going up on the site at this point. He is also looking to lease two former Subway buildings, 45,000- and 25,000 square feet, across the street from 325 that housed offices and research and development operations. He said he hopes to close deals on those within two months.
Commando units of the Turkish Armed Forces have taken part in a military training exercise to prepare them for operations in Sarikamis where winter weather conditions are severe.

Described as the 'soldiers of the snowy mountains' for their white stormtrooper-like appearance, the servicemen have been preparing for challenging missions in deep snow and freezing-cold conditions.

The training and drill exercises took place on February 28 at the Deep Snow and Severe Cold Combat Training Centre in Sarikamis, Kars, which is covered in snow for six months of the year.

Soldiers trained for search and rescue missions and conducted exercises in snow-covered forests.

Pictures show the troops sitting around campfires, constructing igloos, driving snowmobiles and accompanying tanks on exercises.

Pictured: A soldier carving out an igloo at the Deep Snow and Severe Cold Combat Training Centre

Pictured: A close-up of the soldier carving out an igloo

Pictured: Turkish soldiers sleeping next to their uniforms inside the igloo

Pictured: Soldiers sitting around a fire in a pit that has been dug out of snow

Pictured: An aerial view of the Deep Snow and Severe Cold Combat Training Center Command affiliated with the Land Forces Training and Doctrine Command

Pictured: Soldiers following a tank on a training exercise

Pictured: A soldier pulling a sled with a snowmobile

Pictured: Turkish soldiers on a mission through the snow covered forest at Sarikamis

Pictured: A commando is seen with his gun in snow covered terrain

Pictured: The commandos have been described as 'soldiers of the snowy mountains' for their white stormtrooper-like appearance

Pictured: Commandos open a Turkish flag and a flag with a picture of the Turkish Republic's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during the training

Pictured: Commandos take part in a drill during their training in the in Sarikamis district of Kars

Pictured: Commandos walk on specially-designed snow boots to combat the deep snow

Pictured: Commandos hike through the snow as part of their training at the Deep Snow and Severe Cold Combat Training Centre in Sarikamis

Pictured: An aerial view of commandos sitting around a fire during training

Pictured: The training and drill exercises took place on February 28 at the Deep Snow and Severe Cold Combat Training Centre in Sarikamis, Kars, which is covered in snow for six months of the year

Pictured: One soldier aiming his gun while camouflaged to blend in with the snowy environment
The brother of Ana Knezevich has denied local reports that 'biological remains' were found in her Madrid apartment, but conceded that 'chances are low' she's still alive.

A March 12 report from Spanish publication El Cierre Digital cited 'sources close to the case' who claimed the Scientific Police found biological remains in the missing woman's living accommodations.

Knezevich, 40, had been living in Spain on-and-off since last summer when her marriage to Serbian-American businessman David, 35, fell apart.

The Florida woman was declared a missing person on February 5 after she failed to meet a friend to travel from Madrid to Barcelona for a conference.

Her brother, Felipe Henao, recently appeared on NewsNation's 'Cuomo' with a desperate plea to the public. He said the FBI denied the report about the remains, but the family is still desperate for answers.

'We want to know the truth. We want to know where my sister is,' Henao said. 'If anybody has any information, any tips please reach out to the FBI or the Spanish authorities.'

A report from Madrid-based publication El Cierre Digital claimed biological remains had been found in the apartment of missing Florida woman Ana Knezevich, 40

Her brother, Felipe Henao, appeared on 'Cuomo' to deny the reports, adding that investigators said the chances of finding her alive were 'low'

When asked about the supposed discovery of biological remains in her apartment, Henao said he asked the FBI if the report was true and 'they told me it isn't.'

There was no further details on the specifics of the remains found.

Investigators 'dont want to share any information, because it could jeopardize the case. I understand. Justice moves slow,' Henao added.

He said her case was being treated as matter of domestic violence as it moved through the court system, and a case of forced disappearance rather than voluntary.

'Do you believe that the authorities are treating this as a case where she may still be alive and they have to find her?' host Chris Cuomo, 53, asked.

Henao hesitated. 'I don't know,' he said. 'You gotta face reality, and it's been 40 days. I asked them and chances are low.'

But he added: 'You never lose hope and I'm never going to stop fighting for your sister. I will fight until we find her.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com last month, Henao said his mother was 'devastated' over her daughter's disappearance.

'I wish I had something new, I wish Ana was back already,' Hernao said. 'I just hope someone with information comes forward to tell us what they know.'

Henao urged members of the public to step forward and contact law enforcement with any information they may have about his sister

Knezevich disappeared amid an ongoing separation from husband David, 35, a Serbian-American businessman. The pair had yet to officially file for divorce

Investigators recovered footage of a man in a helmet hanging around Knezevich's apartment complex on February 2. He is believed to have spray-painted several security cameras in the building

Investigators recovered surveillance footage of a man in a motorcycle helmet hanging around the Florida woman's building on February 2, the day before friends lost contact with her.

He was spotted waiting for people to exit the building before slipping inside at around 9:30pm.

The same man is believed to have spray-painted the lens of two security cameras of the apartment building in Madrids upscale Salamanca neighborhood.

Knezevich's friend, Sanna Rameau, told DailyMail.com she last exchanged messages with her on February 2.

The last message from Knezevich's WhatsApp account, sent the following day, said she had 'met someone wonderful.'

'He has a summer house about 2h from Madrid. We are going there now and I will spend a few days there. Signal is Spotty. I'll call you when I get back,' it read.

Another message detailed the circumstances of their first encounter, claiming they met on the street. 'Amazing connection. Like I never had before,' it read.

Knezevich and her husband, also known as Dusan, had yet to formally file for divorce at the time of her disappearance.

Sanna Rameau told DailyMail.com she last messaged her friend on February 2. The following day, she received several WhatsApp messages she does not believe were written by Knezevich

The messages claimed she met someone who had a house two hours from Madrid and she was going there with him for a few days. 'That wasn't Ana,' Rameau said. 'I immediately knew that something terrible had happened'

The Florida realtor was officially declared missing on February 5 when she failed to meet a friend to travel to Barcelona for a conference

The couple had been together for 13 years and ran a real estate business together. They attempted to salvage their marriage several times before deciding to split in January.

Rameau told DailyMail.com that David indicated he would travel to Spain to help look for his wife but never arrived.

'The fact is that I went to Madrid to search for Ana. I asked for him to come and join me and search for her,' she said. 'But instead, he said that he had left Florida to go to Serbia.'

Neighbors in Fort Lauderdale recalled the couple's public displays of affection and lamented over the circumstances of her disappearance.

'They were a very frisky, cuddly couple, they seemed happy,' Guy Hackman said.

Another neighbor described the missing woman as a 'sweet girl,' adding: 'I've never even heard a raised voice come from that house.'

Behind closed doors, the couple had been battling a number of lawsuits, including a case for allegedly defaulting on a $399,000 mortgage.

David was sued last October for falling behind on a second, $435,000 mortgage, but both cases were dismissed.

The businessman also sought restraining orders against two men in 2018, claiming they had stalked and threatened to murder him. The orders were dropped when David failed to show up at a hearing.

Friends and family have expressed doubt that the final WhatsApp messages were sent by Knezevich.

'That wasn't Ana. She isn't impulsive or irresponsible. She doesn't take drugs or drink hard liquor,' Rameau told DailyMail.com. 'I immediately knew that something terrible had happened.'
Furious residents have slammed a council's order to remove an 'inappropriate' Union flag mural from the side of an award-winning fish and chip shop.

Chris Kanizi, 65, who owns Golden Chippy, in Greenwich, south-east London, has been told to paint over the mural of the humanoid fish, which is adored by tourists.

The Cyprus-born chef, who has been running Golden Chippy for 20 years and lives two doors down, said tourists have been attracted to the area because of the mural, which was deemed 'inappropriate' according to the Telegraph.

Greenwich council said they received a number of complaints about the mural which they deemed to be an 'unauthorised advert'.

However, locals have hit back at the council's order and questioned why they don't take down some of the graffiti in the area instead of the 'fantastic' mural, which features the phrase 'A Great British Meal'.

One local woman said the council 'wouldn't complain' if it was a Banksy and questioned why other artists can't 'lighten up the streets'.

Chris Kanizi, 65, who owns Golden Chippy, in Greenwich, south-east London , has been told to paint over the mural of the humanoid fish, which is adored by tourists

On local thinks 'they are only getting the hump because of the flag. What's wrong with. It looks all right'

Pictured: Golden Chippy owner Chris Kanizi standing beside the Union Flag mural painted on the side of his restaurant

Chris Kanizi, 65, holds up fish in his award-winning restaurant in south-east London

Mr Kanizi paid a local artists 250 to paint the mural, which is loved by tourists

She told GB News: '[It's a] fantastic artwork. I really like it. It reminds me of Banksy. If it was a Banksy there, they wouldn't complain.

'Why can't other artists that also do fantastic work like that also have an opportunity to lighten up the streets, joyfully.'

Another resident questioned why the council don't clean some of the graffiti around Greenwich village instead of trying to take down the 'popular' mural.

He said: 'They are only getting the hump because of the flag. What's wrong with. It looks alright.

'Look at some of the graffiti they have got around Greenwich village. They don't want to take that down, do they.

'But when you have a mural like this that is half decent, they want to remove it.'

A third resident said: 'It doesn't offend me at all. It's a fish and chip shop isn't it? I've got nothing against it. It's just a part of the advertising.'

A fourth added: 'I think it's quite good and quite beautiful. It shows the flag of Great Britain and I think that's good. I don't think they should take it down.'

It isn't the first time Mr Kanizi, who came to the UK from Cyprus in 1977, has fallen foul with the council.

Back in 2016, he had a battle with the council over a 17ft sign above the door of his restaurant, which was previously named London's top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor. The restaurateur eventually took down the 17ft sign in 2018.

The new mural, which was painted by local artists Graffiti Interiors, is a recreation of the 2016 sign.

The Golden Chippy was deemed London's best restaurant by TripAdvisor in 2016

The Golden Chippy was deemed London's best restaurant in 2016 by TripAdvisor

Greenwich council said they received a 'number of complaints' about the mural (pictured), which features the phrase 'A Great British Meal', they said was an 'unauthorised advert'

Mr Kanizi in front of the 2016 sign which he took down after the local council ordered it be removed

Chris Kanizi has been serving locals and tourists for 20 years at his fish shop

The 65-year-old doesn't believe any local residents have complained about the mural as all he has gotten are compliments.

He said: 'It's just something to put a smile on people's faces. But the council said 'this is a preservation area - you can't have that and you've got to paint over it'.

'They also said people had been complaining, but I don't believe that. Everyone who has talked to me say they love it'.

The fish and chips expert has vowed to keep the new 250 mural up for as long as possible.

He said: 'I'm going to stick it out for as long as I can. They haven't given me a date to paint over it yet, but they will.'

'I've got so many international customers. They all like taking a photo with the mural in the background.'

A Greenwich council spokesman said: 'Following a number of complaints made to local ward councillors, an enforcement case was raised about the mural in question.

'Our Planning Enforcement team is investigating this as it is effectively an unauthorised advert for the chip shop. The owner has agreed to paint over it.

'We will always try to negotiate with the owner before proceeding to a formal planning enforcement notice.'
Three more teenagers have been arrested over an alleged hate crime after a shocking video showed a black schoolboy being hit and forced to kiss the shoe of a white male.

The video circulated online appears to show the pupil dressed in school uniform being pushed around by another boy who orders him to 'get on your knees and kiss my shoe' or 'you are getting whacked'.

The phrase 'kiss my shoe' is repeated multiple times with others behind the camera heard laughing as the schoolboy tries to resist. The schoolboy eventually bends down and is forced to kiss the muddy wellington boot.

Another clip, that appears to have been filmed only moments later, showed the same boy following the student up the street and punching him twice before an onlooker intervenes.

Four boys have now been arrested over the alleged hate crime attack which is said to have happened in the Upperby area of Carlisle on Friday. It comes after one boy was arrested early yesterday on suspicion racially aggravated actual bodily harm.

In the two clips shared on to X, a white boy can be seen harrassing the black pupil dressed in his uniform

The schoolboy is ordered to 'get on your knees and kiss my shoe' or 'you are getting whacked'

The three other boys, all said to be in their early teens, were later arrested on suspicion of abetting racially aggravated actual bodily harm.

Cumbria Constabulary urged the public not to share the 'abhorrent' images that had already been widely circulated on social media. As of Saturday night the video had been viewed almost 200,000 times.

Social media user Olumo of Derby, captioned the video: 'Racism in the UK is getting worse everyday. A black child was racially abused and beaten up today at St John Henry Newman Catholic School in Carlisle. Are black people not safe in Carlisle?'

Superintendent Sarah Jones said: 'These are abhorrent images circulating online that have caused shock and concern in both the community and among officers here at Cumbria Police.

'We understand an incident such as this can be concerning for many but we can reassure the community this is an incident we are taking very seriously  and we have made four arrests.

In another clip, that appears to have been filmed only moments later, it shows the same boy following the student up the street, and punching him twice before an onlooker intervenes

Cumbria Constabulary confirmed on Saturday that a teenage boy had been arrested in relation to a report of a 'hate incident'

'Our officers have worked through the night and continue to carry out investigations today.'

As a result of the incident, police patrols have been increased in Carlisle as a response to concerns for the community.

Supt Jones added: 'As arrests have been made, we would continue to urge people not to share the video further so as not to impede any potential legal proceedings or to identify any of the children involved.'
A hospital in Texas transformed into a wedding venue so a dying father could watch his daughter get married and fulfill his final hope.

'It gives our hearts peace in knowing his last wish was fulfilled,' his daughter said days after the wedding.

Michelle Avila was set to marry Antonio Moreno, but her father fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. He had just one last request, to see her get married.

The nurses at the UMC hospital in Lubbock and a wedding planning company helped Avila pull off the surprise to hold the ceremony at the facility while her dad was in the ICU.

'He sat in the hallway waiting for her,' wedding decorator Julie Hodges told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 'When she turned the corner, it was just a neat thing. A lot of tears, it was bittersweet, but it's just a really cool experience and we were honored to do it and donate our time and all the things.'

Michelle Avilla married Antonio Moreno at the UMC hospital in Lubbock, Texas, so her dad could see them get married

Avilla's father was in the ICU and his condition was rapidly declining

The father's last wish was to see his daughter get married, which thanks to nurses, was accomplished

A video captured the tender ceremony, and showed how a hospital corridor had been converted into a bona fide wedding venue, complete with flower-bedecked chairs, guests of honor, and photographers.

The couple walked down the hallway to the accompaniment of two acoustic guitars. Doctors and nurses gathered in the wings to cheer on Avila and Moreno.

Two young boys strewed flower petals from a wicker basket on the hospital floor.

The father patiently awaited his daughter in his wheelchair at the end of the hallway.

When she reached him, Michelle Avila and her father held hands and exchanged heartfelt words. The oxygen mask couldn't muffle the father's joyful voice.

Hodges said she, her company Eventfully Yours and the nursing staff were happy to play a part in the special ceremony.

'It was just nice that we were chosen and I feel like God led us there for that reason,' Hodges said.

After the ceremony was over, Avilla returned to the hospital that night to visit her father.

Eventfully Yours, an event-planning company, worked tirelessly to transform the hospital into a proper wedding venue

The doctors and nurses at UMC spared no efforts in making the father's wish come true, and they cheered the nuptials on as they walked down the hallway

Avilla's father sadly passed away on March 13, only a few short days after the wedding ceremony

In a Facebook post, she said she was 'thankful' she did so because 'it was so nice to hear him talk about how overjoyed he was.'

The next day, the father's condition 'took a turn for the worse,' and Avilla 'was no longer able to hear his voice.'

On March 13, her father died just days after watching his daughter get married.

In her Facebook post, Avilla expressed her gratitude to the hospital and its staff. She thanked Eventfully Yours, the resourceful wedding-company that turned the hospital into a suitable venue with just a few hours notice.

And Avilla thanked 'the kind hearted nurses that filled our lives with much love, along with the hundreds of strangers that prayed for him.'

Although she lost her beloved father, Avilla said that they 'feel a peace that surpasses understanding even within the midst of grief.'
Moldova has dismissed a claim by pro-Russian separatist authorities - who said that an explosion in the breakaway region of Transnistria was likely caused by a drone launched from Ukraine - as an 'attempt to provoke fear and panic'.

Kyiv, in turn, blamed Russia for carrying out 'a provocation in Transnistria with a kamikaze drone attack on a military base', during which a helicopter was reportedly destroyed.

Separatist region Transnistria, which shares a border with Ukraine, is a primarily Russian-speaking region that has long depended on Moscow for support, and broke away from Moldova after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

'Today a fire occurred on the territory of a military base in Tiraspol as a result of an explosion,' authorities in Transnistria said on social media.

'It was preliminarily established that the explosion was caused by a kamikaze drone attack,' they added, claiming that the drone was launched from the Odesa region of Ukraine. But Moldova said it could not confirm any attack.

Kyiv blamed Russia for carrying out 'a provocation in Transnistria with a kamikaze drone attack on a military base', during which a helicopter (pictured above) was reportedly destroyed

Transnistria is landlocked strip along the Dniester River, which is wedged between Moldova and Ukraine

Moldova dismissed a claim by pro-Russian separatist authorities that an explosion (smoke of which is pictured above) in the breakaway region of Transnistria was likely caused by a drone launched from Ukraine as an 'attempt to provoke fear and panic'

Separatist officials said that no one was hurt and opened a criminal investigation.

'Authorities in Chisinau, in contact with the Ukrainian side, do not confirm any attack on the Transnistrian region,' Moldova's reintegration bureau said in a statement.

A theory on social media is that the incident may have been a false flag operation engineered as a pretext for further intervention by Putin in Moldova.

READ MORE: Blow for West as breakaway Moldovan region that borders Ukraine calls on Putin for 'protection' Advertisement

'Following the examination of the video images and the exchange of information, we communicate that the incident in question is an attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region,' Moldovan authorities added.

A Ukrainian government office responsible for disinformation said: 'Russians are trying to carry out provocations and manipulate the information space by spreading fakes.'

There was no immediate comment on the incident from Moscow.

Grainy footage distributed by separatist authorities showed a projectile slamming into a military helicopter standing at an airbase surrounded by fields.

Late last month, Transnistria appealed to Russia for 'protection', fuelling fears the territory could become a new flashpoint in Moscow's conflict with neighbouring Ukraine.

There has even been speculation that Transnistria is poised to make an appeal to Putin to join Russia.

Putin already has a 'peacekeeping' force of up to 2,000 troops in the territory which Russia says overwhelmingly wishes to be incorporated by Moscow. There are also likely thousands of Russian paramilitaries on the ground.

Russsia could potentially use the territory to move against the rest of Moldova, seen as another goal, and as a point for attacks on Ukrainian port Odesa, seen as a far more significant price.

Debris from the helicopter can be seen above. The helicopter on a Transnistrian base was allegedly destroyed by a kamikaze drone

Pictures from the base, which were circulated on social media, show burnt out equipment

Debris of the helicopter which was allegedly targeted by a kamikaze drone

Ukrainian intelligence said a the time that the potential move by Moscow is 'unconfirmed' but is being monitored closely.

Sources stress it could be hard for Putin to bring in troops to strengthen the forces that Russia has had in Transnistria since the end of the Soviet era.

In 2006, the separatist territory's deputies announced a referendum on integrating with Russia that resulted in an overwhelming majority in favour.

Russians are the largest group among the population of Transnistria with almost 30 per cent.

Another 29 per cant are Moldovan or Romanian, while 23 per cent are Ukrainian.
A Lebanese migrant who was caught illegally crossing the border near El Paso said he was 'going to try to make a bomb,' according to official records.

Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, also admitted he was a member of Hezbollah when he was intercepted by agents at the southwest Texas border with Mexico on March 9.

He was asked what he was doing in the US while in custody, to which he responded: 'I'm going to try to make a bomb' and he was on the way to New York.

Ebbadi said he trained with Hezbollah for seven years before taking on a role guarding weapons locations for another four years, according to ICE records seen by the New York Post.

It comes as a 'migrant crime wave' sweeps the country thanks to hundreds of thousands of people illegally crossing the border each month, as tensions rise between Texan officials and the Biden administration over how to police it.

Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, admitted he was a member of Hezbollah when he was intercepted by agents at the southwest Texas border with Mexico on March 9

His arrest comes as a 'migrant crime wave' sweeps the country thanks to hundreds of thousands of people illegally crossing the border each month

In an aerial view, immigrants pass through coils of razor wire while crossing the US-Mexico border on March 13

Ebbadi said his training focused on 'jihad' and killing people 'that was not Muslim' - but he fled the country because he 'didn't want to kill people.'

'Once you're in, you can never get out,' he added, according to the ICE papers.

The Lebanese national came to the US without any documentation. He said he lost his papers while he was being robbed at knifepoint in Costa Rica.

Ebbadi said his training focused on 'jihad' and killing people 'that was not Muslim'

He also admitted to relaying a fake date of birth and name to officials.

Ebbadi was detained in isolation at the El Paso Hardened Facility before he was interviewed by the Tactical Terrorism Response Team.

He was marked for deportation from the US, but it's unclear which country he would be taken to.

Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist militant political party recognized by the West as a terror group.

Members of the group killed three American troops in Jordan late January in a drone attack. At least 34 people were also injured in the strike.

The wave of migrants arriving at the southern border has continued throughout most of President Joe Biden's tenure. It has led to millions of migrants pouring into the country and straining cities.

America is expected to be grappling with more than 8 million asylum seekers and migrants who will have crossed over the southern border by September.

The staggering figure represents a 167 percent surge in five years and underscores the challenges faced by what is both an underfunded and antiquated immigration system.

The US' immigrations system appears to be struggling to cope with the rapid numbers of migrants flowing across the border, which reached an all-time high of 302,000 monthly crossings in December

In an aerial view, immigrants wade through the Rio Grande as they cross the US-Mexico border to request asylum on March 13

America is expected to be grappling with more than 8 million asylum seekers and migrants who will have crossed over the southern border by September

Most of the 8 million are now free to roam US streets, including 2 million 'high-priority' cases of career criminals seeking asylum.

The system appears to be struggling to cope with the rapid numbers of migrants flowing across the border, which reached an all-time high of 302,000 monthly crossings in December.

The backlog has left millions of migrants who are currently residing in the U.S., unsure of whether they will be permitted to stay or simply be deported.

Migrants who cross the border may often be forced to wait several years for a decision to be made in their applications. In the meantime, they have been released to American streets.

Recent data suggests the backlog has only swelled during President Joe Biden's term in part reflecting the difficulties his administration has faced in addressing the unprecedented influx of migrants, mainly from Central and South America.

At the end of fiscal year 2023 on September 30, more than 6 million people were recorded on what officials term the 'non-detained docket.'

Government projections, as communicated in Homeland Security documents sent to Congress, suggest the number will have risen to 8 million by October 1.

The number includes people who have been ordered to be deported or who are still awaiting their final decisions in their asylum or immigration cases.

The majority are not being held in limited available detention space and instead are free to roam.

Overall last year, some 2,045,838 people illegally crossed the southern border into the US, according to CBP figures.

These figures are expected to swell this year - while the northern border with Canada is also experiencing an unprecedented crisis.

Illegal crossings from Canada into the US surged 500 percent to 10,021 last year compared with 2022.

Overall last year, some 2,045,838 people illegally crossed the southern border into the US, according to CBP figures

Tensions have been rising for months between state and federal authorities amid a surge in recorded illegal crossings which reached an all-time high of 301,983 in December.

Immigration has become a flashpoint of the upcoming election, with both Biden and Trump conducting competing visits to the border on the same day.

Last month Texas troopers began arresting migrants crossing the border for criminal trespass before they could surrender to US Border Patrol agents and seek asylum.

The White House has asked the Supreme Court to overturn an injunction preventing it removing razor wire on the banks of the Rio Grande that is a 'risk to human life'.

The DOJ has said the blockade of Shelby Park has left its view of the border there 'limited to a narrow sliver from a single surveillance camera located outside of the newly fenced area'.

It also claims that State authorities have denied Border Patrol access to a boat ramp and a staging area previously used to inspect apprehended migrants.

'Border Patrol agents in a vehicle towing a boat to launch on the boat ramp requested access to Shelby Park, but the Texas National Guard refused to permit them to access the area,' they wrote in the latest filing.

'Border Patrol agents likewise requested access to the staging area and Texas National Guard refused.'

A spokesperson for the Texas Military Department told ABC News the move was intended 'to restrict access to organizations that perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings in the park and greater Eagle Pass area.'
Yulia Navalnaya claimed she wrote the name of her 'murdered' husband on her ballot while voting in the Russian presidential in election in Berlin this afternoon.

The widow of Vladimir Putin's opposition leader Alexei Navalny voted in the German capital as thousands heeded her call to stage 'noon against Putin' and protest at embassies around the world.

Speaking to reporters after her vote she said: 'Obviously I wrote Navalny's name. It can't be that a month before a presidential campaign, a month before an election, Putin's main opponent, who was already in jail, was killed'.

Sending a message to the Russian people, the activist told her supporters: 'Just be brave, one day soon we will win.'

Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: 'Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he's a killer, he's a gangster.'

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, addresses the media after casting her ballot in the Russian presidential elections at the Russian embassy in Berlin

Navalnaya walks down the stairs after casting her ballot in the Russian presidential elections inside the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany

Navalnaya seen with her supporters in Berlin on the final day of the presidential election in Russia

Russia's Central Electoral Commission this evening as its poll showed that Putin had secured 87.97 per cent of the vote

Her husband died last month while in an Arctic penal colony after he was barred from standing in this election, as well as the vote that took place six years ago.

Supporters chanted 'Yulia, we're with you' as she entered the embassy to cast her ballot this afternoon and she thanked her fellow Russians for queuing so long.

Protesters displayed a figure of Putin bathing in a bath of blood with the Ukraine flag on the side, alongside shredded ballots in ballot boxes.

The widow's remarks came just hours before Putin secured the election with 87.8 per cent of the vote, according to exit polls.

The despot is said to be heading for a landslide victory, according to a poll by the Russian Public Opinion Research centre.

The UK, US and Ukraine are among a score of countries to question the projected result.

Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron wrote on X tonight: 'The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring.

'This is not what free and fair elections look like.'

Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky has accused the Russian tyrant, 71, of 'doing everything to rule forever'.

A White House national security spokesperson said 'the elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him'.

A close-up of a stylised 'death head' poster of Russian president Vladimir Putin on the facade of the Museum of Medical History in front of the Russian embassy in Riga, Latvia

A Russian pro-democracy activist holds a flag reading 'Putin is not Russia' outside a polling station in the Russian school in Belgrade, Serbia

The vote, which holds little suspense, took place against the backdrop of the harshest crackdown on political opposition and freedom of speech in Russia since Soviet times.

Only three token candidates - and no one who opposes his war in Ukraine - were allowed to run against him as he sought a fifth term.

Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.

Thousands across the nation who opposed the veteran Kremlin leader went to their local polling station at midday to either spoil their ballot paper in protest or to vote for one of the three candidates standing against Putin.

Others vowed to scrawl the name of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison, on their ballot paper.

Navalny had endorsed the 'Noon against Putin' plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action 'Navalny's political testament'.

His allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.

Crowds of supporters wait outside the Russian embassy in Berlin as Navalnaya casts her vote

Alexei Navalny (pictured with his wife in 2013) died last month while in an Arctic penal colony after he was barred from standing in this election

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West

'There is very little hope but if you can do something (like this) you should do it. There is nothing left of democracy,' one young woman, who did not give her name and whose face was blurred out by Navalny's team, said at one polling station.

Another young woman at a different polling station, whose identity had been disguised in the same way, said she had voted for the 'least dubious' of the three candidates running against Putin.

A male student voting in Moscow told Navalny's channel that people like him who disagreed with the current system needed to go on living their lives regardless.

'History has shown that changes occur at the most unexpected of times,' he said.

Navalny had endorsed the 'Noon against Putin' plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action 'Navalny's political testament'.

The protesters, however, only represent a small fraction of Russia's 114 million voters leading to Putin to tighten his grip on power in the election that is certain to deliver him a big victory.

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West.

Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported across the voting period.

A pool of red coloured liquid to symbolise blood seen next to Russians in Latvia waiting to vote at the embassy in Riga

Navalnaya (pictured), the widow of dead opposition leader Alexei Navalny , called for protests in the run up to the election, and said Russian citizens should show up in droves at the same time to overwhelm polling stations

Earlier demonstrations saw 60 people arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Others gathered at Navalny's grave in a Moscow cemetery with spoiled ballots papers scrawled with his name were placed on top of a pile of flowers.

'We live in a country where we will go to jail if we speak our mind. So when I come to moments like this and see a lot of people, I realise that we are not alone,' said 33-year-old Regina.

While polls closed Sunday night in Russia, voting continued at some embassies around the world. In the UK, long queues of people lined up outside the Russian Embassy in London to cast their votes.

In Paris, thousands of people queued outside the embassy, some holding anti-Kremlin placards. Many, including opposition figure Gennady Gudkov - a close friend of Navalny - said they had not expected such a turnout.

'I have lived in Paris for a long time,' said Sergei Guriev, provost at Sciences Po, one of France's most prestigious universities. 'I have never seen such lines.'

He pointed to the long lines in the French capital and said that the vote would be rigged. 'Today he's committing his latest crime,' Guriev said.

Already, voters have protested the rigged election, with many seen pouring dye and paint into ballot boxes

Many Russians have spoiled their ballots already

'I will use my ballot as a leaflet,' said Tatyana Leontyeva, 43, as she waited for her turn to vote outside Russia's Paris embassy. 'I think I will write Navalny on it, I will say that Putin is illegitimate.'

In the US hundreds of people took part in the 'Noon Against Putin' protest at the Russian embassy in Washington.

Yulia Traub, 38, came to vote against Putin even though she said she knew the outcome. 'If you cannot do or say anything you must at least lie down and lay in the direction in which you want to move.'

Protests were also seen taking place in Milan and Belgrade. Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that the opposition's call to protest had been successful.

The Russian tyrant, 71, has cemented his position at the top of the Kremlin until at least 2030

People attend a rally in Berlin, near the Russian embassy where voters lined up to cast their ballots in the Russia's presidential election

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, talks to a woman during a rally near the Russian embassy in Berlin

'The action has shown that there's another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin.'

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned if all those voting at foreign embassies were opponents of Putin and accused Western media of disseminating propaganda about the events.

'Russian citizens did not come to the rallies and performances that unfriendly regimes and their paid information services are trying to present,' Zakharova said.

'They came to cast their vote. Who they voted for and how they voted is their free choice. But the fact that they rejected the appeals of the marginalised is obvious to everyone.'

Putin, a former KGB agent, has been in power since December 31 1999 with his extended grip over the country expected to last until at least 2013.

If he completes another Kremlin term, he will have stayed in power longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.

Speaking ahead of the election, the despot said his country was going through a 'difficult period' and called on the country to be 'united and self-confident'.
The autocratic leader is on course to stay in power for another six years in Russia

A gloating Vladimir Putin has railed against the West in a speech following his apparent victory in Russia's sham presidential election tonight.

The Russian despot is on course to stay in power for another six years after exit polls suggested he had received 88 per cent of the vote in an election overshadowed by the death and imprisonment of opposition figures.

The 71-year-old strongman ranted that 'there is no democracy in the West' after he was questioned about the validity of the election by journalists, before claiming Russia's elections were more transparent than those in the United States.

Putin, who will have ruled for 30 years by the time his next term finishes - longer than the murderous 29-year reign of Josef Stalin - added that law enforcement would take action against those who spoiled their ballot papers in protest.

The news sparked condemnation from the West, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky saying Putin was 'sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever'.

Vladimir Putin speaks at a press conference at his campaign headquarters after being named the winner of the Russian election

Members of the press gather around Vladimir Putin as he celebrates his inevitable victory in the Russian election

A woman takes a photograph with her phone in front of a screen showing preliminary vote results from the Russian presidential election at the Central Election Commission in Moscow

People attend a rally in Berlin, near the Russian embassy where voters lined up to cast their ballots in the Russia's presidential election

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron joined a chorus of politicians across the globe declaring the bogus vote as not what a 'free and fair' election 'looks like'.

A White House national security spokesman echoed Lord Cameron's sentiments 'given how Mr Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him'.

With all his serious opponents either murdered, exiled or in jail, the despot is heading for a landslide victory in the presidential election to secure another six year term, the poll by the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre showed this evening.

Only three token candidates - and no one who opposes his war in Ukraine - were allowed to run against him as he sought a fifth term.

Earlier demonstrations against Putin in Russia led to more than 60 people being arrested.

The vote, which held little suspense, took place against the backdrop of the harshest crackdown on political opposition and freedom of speech in Russia since Soviet times.

Leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny died in prison weeks before the election, while anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin was barred from running by election officials due to 'irregularities' with signatures supporting his candidacy.

When asked by a US reporter about the lack of opposition to him including the death of Alexei Navalny and the barring of anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin, who was banned from running due to 'irregularities', Putin said: 'This is life'.

'If Mr Nadezhdin took part in these elections, that means it was the result of his unsatisfactory preparation,' he said.

'Maybe he should have avoided any mistakes of providing the applications, as far as I understand this was the problem, he did not get sufficient votes to take part in the campaign.

'As for Navalny, yes he passed and this is always a sad event, but unfortunately we had some other cases where people died in prison.

'Unfortunately what happened happened. But this happens, so you can't do anything about this. So this is life.

'If you want my opinion about whether our elections are democratic, yes I do believe they are democratic.'

He then went on to rant about the United States, accusing it of 'using the justice machine in order to attack one of the candidates'.

He said: 'We do not have a preference for any candidates in the US, we will work with anyone who is elected, but using the justice system this has become a joke, an international shame for the US for your so-called democratic system and I believe that there's no democracy in the election process in the western countries and especially in the US.'

Vladimir Putin attends a meeting of trusted advisers and campaign workers after claiming victory in the Russian presidential election

A general view of the Russia's Central Electoral Commission Headquarters in Moscow showing Putin's projected landslide win

Members of a local electoral commission count ballots at a polling station after the last day of the three-day Russia's presidential election in Moscow

Members of an electoral commission empty a ballot box, after polling stations closed on the final day of the presidential election in Saint Petersburg

Putin also revealed he had agreed to a prisoner swap involving opposition leader Alexei Navalny before his death in prison last month and said it was sad when someone died.

He said: 'A few days before Mr Navalny passed away, some colleagues told me... there was an idea to exchange Mr Navalny for some people who are in prison in Western countries... I said 'I agree'.'

He claimed this would have been done on the condition that Navalny did not return to Russia.

He added that law enforcement would take action against people who spoiled their ballots in the presidential election.

'People who spoiled their ballot papers... These kinds of people have to be dealt with,' Putin said in a late night address after claiming victory in the election.

READ MORE HERE: Vladimir Putin eyes new world order and plans to challenge Western dominance having further tightened his grip on power in Russia with record election win... after banning and killing any real opposition Advertisement

The opposition had called or Russians to turn up at polling stations at midday Sunday in protest, an action Putin said had had 'no effect'.

Zelensky said tonight that Putin wanted to rule forever and that Russia's presidential election was an illegitimate imitation.

He said in his nightly video address that 'the Russian dictator is simulating another election', and that Putin was 'sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever'.

'There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be. This person should be on trial in The Hague. That's what we have to ensure,' he added

A White House national security spokesperson said 'the elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him'.

Germany's Foreign Ministry said the result will surprise nobody and 'Putin's rule is authoritarian'.

'He relies on censorship, repression & violence,' they wrote on X.

'The 'election' in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law.'

Poland is another not to acknowledge the legitimacy of the election declaring it as 'not legal'.

'Russia's presidential election is not legal, free and fair,' said a foreign ministry statement, adding that voting had taken place 'amid harsh repressions'.

The British Foreign Office wrote on X before the exit polls result was announced: 'By illegally holding elections on Ukrainian territory, Russia demonstrates that it is not interested in finding a path to peace.

'The UK will continue to provide humanitarian, economic and military aid to Ukrainians defending their democracy.'

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps accused Vladimir Putin of behaving like 'a modern-day Stalin'.

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Shapps said: 'He (Mr Putin) of course is going nowhere after stealing Sunday's so-called election, where political opponents are either imprisoned or murdered.

'Shockingly, at the end of his next five-year term he will have been in power almost exactly as long as the dictator Joseph Stalin.

'Putin is behaving like a modern-day Stalin.

'This is a tyrant the West must stand up to - we have the means, but ... we need to show we have the collective will to win.'

The Russian president's Kremlin approved election rival Vladislav Davankov had attracted some liberal and anti-war support but was never seen as a real challenger.

He said: 'Putin's victory in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation is undoubted.'

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky led the world condemnation of Putin's crushing victory saying the Russian despot is 'sick for power'

Foreign Secretary David Cameron joined Zelensky in dismissing the vote saying it was not what free and fair elections look like

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, talks to a woman during a rally near the Russian embassy in Berlin

Belarus - run by fellow-dictator Alexander Lukashenko - was the first foreign country to congratulate Putin on his victory.

'International observers have not recorded any facts calling into question the legitimacy of the presidential elections in the Russian Federation,' said the foreign ministry in Minsk.

Speaking this evening after his win was announced, Putin said 'we are all comrades in arms' and thanked 'the citizens of Russia'.

He said: 'This is an extremely important thing... the source of power in the country is the Russian people. And the vote of every citizen of Russia, the votes of all citizens of Russia express the united will of the Russian Federation. This is one of the bases for the country's development in the field of development, science and education.

READ MORE HERE: Brave Russians living home and abroad stage 'noon against Putin' protests and spoil their Presidential election ballots at embassies around the world Advertisement

'Today in the current conditions I would like to express my gratitude to the military, to the people on the frontline who are ensuring the conditions for our country to exist in the future, who are risking their lives and health by fulfilling this mission of defending our country and defending historical territories of Russia and our country in general.

'No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us, no matter who or how much they want to suppress us, our will, our consciousness - no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history. It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never,' he added.

'Before us there are a lot of very specific task the results of the election n is an expression of trust of people and their hope that we will do everything according to our plans. I would like to thank all of you and all citizens of Russia for this trust and this support.'

In a press conference after his speech, Putin said he dreamed 'about a strong, independent, sovereign Russia and I hope that the results of the vote will allow us to achieve these goals'.

When asked about the potential for a ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the Olympics in Paris this summer, he said he would consider this.

He added he would always 'act in the basis of the interests of the Russian Federation and this would reflect the situation on the frontline'.

'I would like to reiterate that we are for peaceful negotiations but not because our enemy is running out of bullets. We are only for peaceful negotiations if they are to create long term benefits for our nations. It's not about taking a pause for the enemy to rearm.'

He added: 'The initiative belongs entirely to the Russian armed forces, and in some areas our guys are just tearing them - the enemy - apart right now.'

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday

The Russian tyrant, 71, has cemented his position at the top of the Kremlin until at least 2030

The queue for Russians wanting to vote at the Russian embassy in London went far down Bayswater Road, just north of Hyde Park

Protests took place outside the Russian embassy in London earlier on Sunday before the polls closed

Earlier, votes from Russian citizens living in other countries were being cast across the world.

In the UK, scores of people queued up outside the Russian Embassy in London to vote in the election. The line was at least half a mile long when MailOnline visited.

Thousands across the nation who oppose the veteran Kremlin leader had gone to their local polling station at midday to either spoil their ballot paper in protest or to vote for one of the three candidates standing against Putin.

Others had vowed to scrawl the name of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison, on their ballot paper.

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.

Navalny had endorsed the 'Noon against Putin' plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action 'Navalny's political testament'.

His widow Yulia Navalnaya took part in a noon protest against Putin on Sunday in Berlin.

Russia's Central Electoral Commission head Ella Pamfilova (third from the right) attends a briefing at the Central Election Commission in Moscow

A member of an electoral commission shows a ballot, as they count votes, after polling stations closed on the final day of the presidential election in Saint Petersburg

People queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Moscow

A police officer checks a man as he and other people queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Saint Petersburg

(Pictured: A police officer checks a voter queuing at a polling station in Moscow) At least 65 people have been detained across 16 cities across Russia alone

Pictured: Voters queue to be checked by police at a polling station at noon local time in Moscow

Navalnaya's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh posted pictures on X of the dissident standing in line in the German capital where Russians queued up to vote. Activists said that some people chanted 'Yulia, Yulia', and clapped.

Over in Paris, a large queue of people was seen outside the Russian embassy, while protestors were seen in nearby green spaces holding signs up with messages critical of Putin written on them.

READ MORE HERE: More than 60 are arrested across Russia on final day of vote that is set to confirm Vladimir Putin's fifth term as president

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One protestor held a sign that accused the despot of being an assassin, while another compared Putin to Stalin, and called Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'genocide' and 'terrorism.'

In Russia itself, the main vehicle of protest across the nation has been the 'Noon against Putin' movement.

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.

Navalny had endorsed the 'Noon against Putin' plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action 'Navalny's political testament'.

Demonstrations in Russia against Putin saw at least 65 people detained across 16 cities across the country alone, according to independent election monitoring group OVD-Info.

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West.

It says Putin enjoys overwhelming support among ordinary Russians, pointing to opinion polls which put his approval rating above 80%.

With Russia's vast landmass stretching across 11 time zones, protest voters were scattered rather than concentrated into a single mass, making it hard to estimate how many people turned up for the protest event.
President Joe Biden celebrated his Irish heritage and hosted a Saint Patrick's Day brunch at the White House with Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar - as the two joined millions across the US celebrating the holiday.

Biden and Varadkar were joined by leaders of the Catholic Church and some 200 guests to dine on a menu of traditional Irish dishes including colcannon, Irish soda bread, eggs Florentine and bacon, reported KYMA.

The president wielded a cheat sheet when he welcomed Varadkar on Friday. He was pictured holding a notecard with a pronunciation guide on how to say the name of the Irish leader's title, 'Taoiseach.'

During his brunch speech Biden said, 'You know this has always been a special day for the Biden family and the Biden household. It's not just about heritage, but it really is about faith.

'So much of it being Irish means to be connected to the Catholic teachings that I grew up with. As long as you're alive, you have an obligation to strive. And you're not done until you've seen the face of God. So, keep moving.'

President Joe Biden celebrated his Irish heritage and hosted a Saint Patrick's Day brunch at the White House

The North Lawn fountain is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day

Biden invited Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (right), leaders of the Catholic Church and some 200 guests to celebrate the holiday

'That was her expression for real. And that belief inspired generations of the Irish to keep going even in the face of enormous setbacks and to convince millions of Irish immigrants including my ancestors, many of you here, here today to leave their beloved homeland and begin a new life in America,' Biden said.

Biden took a trip to his ancestral homeland for the first time as president last spring, and said he hoped to return the hospitality that was shown to him there to Varadkar.

People across the United States started celebrating the Irish holiday early on Saturday at several major St. Patrick's Day parades and parties.

The annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland is traditionally held on March 17, but with it being on a Sunday this year the party started early.

New York City held its St. Patrick's Day parade for the 263rd year with 150,000 people marching 35 blocks of Fifth Avenue and 2 million watching from the street or on TV on Saturday.

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams joined crowds and the parade was led by grand marshal Margaret Timoney, chief executive of Heineken USA and Irish native.

Jim Fanucane, mayor of Kerry County, Ireland, attended the parade and told CBS New York: 'It's a particular honor to be asked to be here. That bond between the Irish and the Americans is, it's very important to us in Ireland.'

The parade has been held since 1762 - 14 years before the US gained its independence - and the first reference to the holiday being celebrated in the city was in 1756.

'This parade means, I think, so much to the city. Not just Irish Americans, but the entire city, the entire melting pot,' Bridget O'Brien, part of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee told WABC.

'It's a welcoming, open community for everyone to come and celebrate with us.'

Photos show a group of young women smiling with New York City Police Officers while looking inside of their patrol car

Crowds of people wearing green, beaded necklaces and shamrock shaped sunglasses were spotted having fun at bars and drinking beer

After the parade New Yorkers took to their favorite Irish pubs to keep the celebrations going

After the parade New Yorkers took to their favorite Irish pubs to keep the celebrations going.

Crowds of people wearing green, beaded necklaces and shamrock-shaped sunglasses were spotted having fun at bars and drinking beer. Others sported traditional Irish kilts, wore Irish flag sashes and scarves and some dressed up as leprechauns.

Photos show a group of young women smiling with New York City Police officers while looking inside of their patrol car.

In Chicago, thousands of people gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green on Saturday.

The Windy City held two additional parades on Saturday, one on the city's South Side and one on the Northwest Side.

'It's a tradition. It's a huge economic driver in the neighborhood, as well. Not just for bars and restaurants, but for local businesses, sprucing up your house, getting paint, things like that,' Marianne Rowan Leslie, chair of the South Side Irish Parade told WGN.

Down south, in Savannah, Georgia, another very old parade took place, claiming to be in its 200th year, with 300 entries marching through the city's old town.

The party started at 7 a.m. for some, with locals sharing their first beer being cracked open earlier than almost any other day of the year.

In Chicago, thousands of people gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green

Children watch as the annual Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday

In Oklahoma City, hundreds lined the streets of Stockyard City - the country's largest stockyard operation - for a parade including longhorn cattle, clowns and a man dressed as St. Patrick.

'We're all really excited. It's our 15th Saint Patrick's Day celebration,' Katie McCormick, McNellie's Pub bar manager in Oklahoma City told KOCO.

'We're expecting upwards of 100,000 people to come through the pub and the block party. It's easily the biggest day of the year for us.'

In San Francisco, revelers wearing dark green T-shirts and lime green feather boas watched bands, floats and buses in the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

'This is San Francisco. Chinese, Irish and Latinos have walked arm in arm for 150 years in this fine city of ours,' parade organizer James Quinn of the United Irish Societies told the San Francisco Chronicle.

'Everyone here came from somewhere. We need to help people out, to unite. This is a great place to live, grow up, to raise kids.'
New Haven police identified Deshawn Maysonet as the victim of a fatal shooting on Fairmont Avenue in the early hours of Saturday. Austin Mirmina / Hearst Connecticut Media

Correction: A previous version of this story and headline incorrectly stated a person had been arrested in the killing.

NEW HAVEN  Police on Sunday identified the 25-year-old Hamden man who was killed Saturday morning in the city's Annex neighborhood.

New Haven Police Officer Christian Bruckhart, a spokesperson for the department, said Deshawn Maysonet was fatally shot on Fairmont Avenue, between East Ferry and Lancraft streets around 4:20 a.m. Saturday. He said the 911 caller who reported hearing several gunshots said it had stemmed from a fight.

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Maysonet was transported to the hospital where he died shortly afterward, Bruckhart said.

The homicide is under investigation by the Investigative Services Division.

The New Haven Police Department ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators to call detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the department's anonymous tip line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).
A woman who had to close her cafe after neighbours complained about the smell of bacon and the clinking of teacups plans to reopen it - on the other side of the carpark.

Emma Ayles, 47, hopes that repositioning her cafe will take it out of the earshot and nostrils of complainants.

Officials ordered Emma to shut the Caddy Shack cafe in Weymouth, Dorset in December due to the 'unacceptable harm' it caused to the neighbours.

Objectors claimed the 'smell of bacon' and 'hearing teaspoons and teacups' was ruining their standard of living when she applied to make the cafe a permanent fixture.

Dorset Council rejected Emma's bid for retrospective planning permission in February last year and her appeal was also thrown out.

Emma Ayles, 47, (pictured) who had to close her cafe after neighbours complained about the smell of bacon and the clinking of teacups plans to reopen it - on the other side of the carpark

She hopes that repositioning her cafe will take it out of the earshot and nostrils of complainants

Officials ordered Emma to shut the Caddy Shack cafe in Weymouth, Dorset in December due to the 'unacceptable harm' it caused to the neighbours

The Caddy Shack cafe, which is in a converted shipping container, had been a popular addition to Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club's carpark since it opened in April 2022.

The married mum-of-two has now submitted a new planning application for the cafe which will see it moved 100m away from the houses.

Emma said: 'Before it was 24 metres away from the neighbours but now it will be nearly to 100 metres, so they shouldn't be able to smell bacon or hear teacups clinking.'

She already has the backing of Weymouth Town Council who voted to support her plans but they must now be approved by Dorset Council.

Emma said she hoped 'common sense would prevail' and officials will approve the new location and support a local business.

She has also started a Change.Org petition to save The Caddy Shack which has received over 4,000 signatures in a month.

She said: 'It's been really heart-warming and lovely to see the support (from the petition).

'The plan is to put the shack completely on the other side of the car park.

'I am hopeful that this time the council will be on my side as two of the three complaints said they wanted the shack moved to the other side of the car park.

Dorset Council rejected Emma's bid for retrospective planning permission in February last year and her appeal was also thrown out

The married mum-of-two has now submitted a new planning application for the cafe which will see it moved 100m away from the houses

She has also started a Change.Org petition to save The Caddy Shack which has received over 4,000 signatures in a month

'That's what we are proposing and it was only the ringleader who was against the whole thing.

'I am hopeful that they will approve it but I've learnt from my experience so far that anything can happen.'

After closing the cafe in December, resulting in eight people being made redundant, Emma described the stress she had endured over the petty row.

She said: 'It's been a constant battle, and so stressful.

'The whole thing is so ridiculous that I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

'To complain about the smell of bacon is ridiculous. And 90 per cent of the time the wind blows the other way from that house.

'What do they want us to do, use chocolate teacups so there is no sound?

'The council should be supporting small businesses yet they have given in to the ridiculous complaints of three residents.

In backing Emma's plans, councillor Tim Young said: 'I would like to support it. It was a very popular resource, it wold be a shame if it didn't come back. They have moved it back a bit, that would seem to solve the problem.'

The decision to force the cafe to shut in December was slammed by people on social media.

Emma had to make eight people redundant when she closed the cafe in December

Kati Eastwood posted: 'The sound of tea spoons and smell of bacon... that must have been absolutely horrendous for the residents. They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.'

Jon Fells added: 'This is just behind my house. They cause absolutely no problem whatsoever.

'I've visited on a number of occasions for food and drink.

'What an absolute shame that someone feels the need to empower themselves by getting this great little establishment shut down. So sad!'

Anthony Goss, chairman of Weymouth and Portland RFC also said: 'We're disappointed with the judgement, and the impact it will bring to the local area, not just from players and their families, but to the community.

'It's very sad for a small business making its way in a tough climate and sad for the staff.

'The support from people has been unbelievable. A huge thanks to all the customers for making the place what it is.'

MailOnline has contacted Dorset Council for comment.
Samantha Murphy's remains have still not been found

Almost 100 locals have joined a memorial jog for Samantha Murphy to finish the 14km run she started seven weeks ago before she suddenly vanished, as police continue to hunt for her body.

The 51-year-old disappeared after she left her home at Eureka Street in Ballarat East at about 7am on February 4 for a run in nearby Woowookrung Regional Park.

No trace of the mother-of-three has ever been found, despite local man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, being charged with her murder on March 7.

Police allege Stephenson 'deliberately attacked' Ms Murphy in Mount Clear, about 5km from her home on the day she went on the jog.

He was remanded in custody and police allege he has repeatedly refused to co-operate with police in their search for Ms Murphy's remains.

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia on Friday afternoon that 'no search activity is immediately planned' to try to track down her body.

The group of 100 Victorians, mostly women, set off on the run at 7am on Sunday to retrace Ms Murphy's last steps in a heartfelt tribute to her life.

Samantha Murphy vanished after she left her home at Eureka Street in Ballarat East at about 7am on February 4 for a run in nearby Woowookrung Regional Park

A group of almost 100 Victorians finished the final 7km Ms Murphy had planned to run

Organiser Melanie Tudball said the event was to support the grieving Ballarat community and to combat fears of running alone in the national park.

'We just wanted to come out and show the Ballarat community that we feel you,' she told 9News.

'We understand what you're going through and we want to stand beside you through this time .

'It was great to have an event to show strength in numbers. We're not afraid, we're going to continue to walk and jog and do all the things that we've done normally.'

Runner Belinda Horne said Ms Murphy's death had rekindled fears of exercising alone in the vast national park.

'It certainly does impact you and causes you to think a little more when you're going out,' she said.

Earlier this month, locals participated in a fun run in Ms Murphy's honour after local Felicity Ryan put a call out on social media.

No trace of the mother-of-three has ever been found, despite local man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, being charged with her murder on March 7

Stephenson was arrested at a friend's home in Scotsburn, 16km away from Ballarat, on March 6 and charged with her alleged murder the following day

On March 11, up to 100 locals observed a one minute silence before finishing the last 7km Ms Murphy had planned to run before she disappeared.

Ms Ryan said she was overwhelmed by the response after expecting only a 'handful' of people to show up to the commemorative run.

'I've got goosebumps just talking about it now actually, it was just the most heartfelt morning you could imagine,' she told 7News.

'There was lots of hugging. People mentioned that as we were running, they had tears.'

Ms Ryan now hopes the run will become an annual event on February 4, the day police will allege Ms Murphy was allegedly murdered.

Stephenson was arrested at a friend's home in Scotsburn, 16km away from Ballarat, on March 6 and charged with her alleged murder the following day.

Earlier this month, up to 100 locals observed a one minute silence before also finishing the last 7km Ms Murphy had planned to run before she disappeared

The Ballarat community is reeling following recent bushfires, the alleged murder Ms Murphy and a deadly mine collapse this week (pictured, a candlelit vigil for Ms Murphy is held)

Stephenson was reportedly partying in Ballarat with his long-time girlfriend and their friends the night before Ms Murphy's disappearance.

Detectives have seized CCTV from a number of venues as part of the investigation as well as Stephenson's white ute on the day of his arrest.

Stephenson first faced Ballarat Magistrates Court on March 7, where a magistrate approved an application to suppress his name from media reporting.

But the order was lifted the next morning, after his lawyer withdrew the application on advice from his client.

Stephenson remains behind bars and is scheduled to appear in court in August.

The 22-year-old is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.
Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel won't accept a Gaza peace deal that leaves his country 'weak' and 'unable to defend itself' against hostile neighbours.

The Israeli Prime Minister said a potential agreement like that would 'set peace backwards and not forward' during a joint press appearance with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Jerusalem.

He also reiterated that 'Israel has to have the necessary security responsibility' in Gaza.

This comes as Netanyahu vowed that civilians crammed into Rafah will be allowed to leave before Israel launches a new offensive on Hamas in another blow to ceasefire hopes.

His comments, alongside visiting Scholz, follow international fears over the fate of the roughly 1.5 million people who have sought refuge in Rafah, most of them displaced from Gaza's war.

Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) said Israel won't accept a Gaza peace deal that leaves his country 'weak' and 'unable to defend itself' against hostile neighbours

Smoke and explosions rise inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, Sunday, March 17

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left), and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) shake hands after a joint press conference following their meeting in Jerusalem on March 17

The office of the right-wing premier, whose security and war cabinets were to discuss the latest international efforts towards a truce deal, had on Friday said he approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah as well as 'the evacuation of the population'.

'Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah. It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place,' Netanyahu said at a press appearance with Scholz.

As others have done, Scholz raised the question: 'How should more than 1.5 million people be protected? Where should they go?'

The United States - which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance - has said it wants a 'clear and implementable plan' to ensure civilians are 'out of harm's way'.

Before meeting Scholz, Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that 'no amount of international pressure will stop us from realising all the goals of the war', and that to do this, 'we will also operate in Rafah'.

Israel has repeatedly threatened a ground offensive against Hamas in Rafah, where people shelter in tents crammed up against the Egyptian border.

UN World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged against a military operation there, 'in the name of humanity'.

Tedros said 'this humanitarian catastrophe must not be allowed to worsen'.

Netanyahu leads a coalition of religious and ultra-nationalist parties. His failure to bring home the hostages taken by Hamas militants during their attack which started the war has led to mounting protests within his country as well as domestic calls for early elections.

Hamas's unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive which has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

Palestinians, including children, collect remaining belongings from the rubble of destroyed houses after Israeli attacks on the house belonging to the Sabit family as Israeli attacks continue on Gaza Strip on March 17

Smoke rise over the Gaza Strip after an Israel bombardment as seen from a position on the Israeli side of the border on March 17

An Israeli soldier on top a tank on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Sunday, Sunday, March 17

International envoys were planning to meet in Qatar soon to revive stalled talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Palestinian militants seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages during the October 7 attack. Dozens were released during a week-long truce in November, and Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza including 32 presumed dead.

A Hamas proposal calls for an Israeli withdrawal from 'all cities and populated areas' in Gaza during a six-week truce and for more humanitarian aid, according to an official from the Palestinian group.

Israel plans to attend the talks, with cabinet members due to 'decide on the mandate' of their delegation before its departure, Netanyahu's office said, without giving a date for when they would leave.

In Jerusalem, Scholz called for 'a hostage deal with a longer-lasting ceasefire', and appealed for a 'negotiated two-state solution' to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

'Terror cannot be defeated with military means alone,' Scholz said.

Netanyahu has drawn condemnation from the United Nations and defied the United States by rejecting calls for a Palestinian state.

The Israeli prime minister said on Sunday that he would not accept a peace deal that weakens Israel and leaves it unable to defend itself against hostile neighbours.

Netanyahu also reiterated his position that 'Israel has to have the necessary security responsibility' in Gaza.

There was no letup in the fighting, and at least 92 people were killed over the previous 24 hours, the health ministry said on Sunday.

The dead included 12 members of the same family whose house was hit in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

Palestinian girl Leen Thabit, retrieving a white dress from under the rubble of their flattened house, cried as she said her cousin was killed in the strike.

'She's dead. Only her dress is left,' Thabit said. 'What do they want from us?'

People walk past destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on March 15

Smoke billows from the area of an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese village of Marwahin near the border with Israel on March 16

A view of the area after Israeli attack over an apartment building in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on March 16

Shelling and clashes were reported in south Gaza's main city of Khan Yunis as well as elsewhere, and the Israeli army said its forces had killed 'approximately 18 terrorists' in central Gaza since Saturday.

More than five months of war and an Israeli siege have led to dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where the United Nations has repeatedly warned of looming famine for the coastal territory's 2.4 million people.

Humanitarians have cited Israeli restrictions as among the obstacles they face in reaching the needy. Israel has blamed shortages on the Palestinian side, specifically a lack of capacity to distribute aid once it gets in.

Facing difficulty on the ground, donors have turned to the air and sea.

A second ship was due to depart from Cyprus along a new maritime corridor to bring food and relief goods, officials of the Mediterranean nation said.

Jordan on Sunday announced the latest aid airdrop over northern Gaza together with aircraft from the United States, Egypt and Germany - which announced Saturday it had parachuted aid into Gaza for the first time.

In Rafah, the situation has only grown worse, said medical staff at a clinic run by Palestinian volunteers.

Samar Gregea, a physician herself uprooted from Gaza City in the north, said medicine is in short supply, and 'all children' are suffering from malnutrition, with a spike in hepatitis A cases.

'Children require foods high in sugars, like dates, which are currently unavailable,' Gregea said.
A notorious thug and drill rapper who played a leading role in an 'orgy' of violence during the 2011 London riots has been given more time behind bars for attacking a female prison officer.

Alexander Elliott-Joahill was described as being the 'worst' London rioter after he smashed a brick through a police car during the rampage in the capital 13 years ago.

The 30-year-old, who was being chauffeured around by a millionaire's daughter, went on a 10 hour campaign of looting and violence while wearing a skull mask and was later jailed for eight years.

The criminal, who hit headlines after featuring in gangster music videos on YouTube that glamorise knife and gun attacks, is currently in prison for stabbing a man 13 times with a Rambo knife in High Wycombe.

But the yob has now had two more years added to his sentence after he 'lost control' when being refused permission to make a phone call behind bars.

Alexander Elliott-Joahill first came to public attention after going on a 10-hour rampage during the London riots in 2011

The thug was seen taking part in an 'orgy' of violence in London while wearing a skull mask and threw a brick through a police car

A court heard that Elliott-Joahill attacked a female prison officer and two other staff at HMP Long Lartin, leaving them injured as he lashed out on September 27, 2022.

The thug kicked guard Claire Bailey in the chest, before punching another prison officer so hard he left them with a severe concussion. He also punched a NHS worker in the forehead at the category A Worcestershire jail.

He admitted a charge of wounding and two of assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for a further two years at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.

Recorder Adrian Jack said the offences were aggravated by the fact that the victims were 'prison officers serving in a prison' and that it had been a 'prolonged incident'.

The court heard Ms Bailey was taken to hospital and suffered injuries including torn muscles in her chest as well as torn ligaments in her left arm.

Simon Phillips, prosecuting, said: 'Prison officer Claire Bailey was on duty in the segregation unit when she heard screaming from upstairs and the emergency bell.

'She ran out of her office and up the stair case.

'As she was on her way up she noticed the defendant breaking free from being restrained and starting to run towards her.

'He shouted 'move' but she did not have the opportunity to do so.

'She was three steps away from the top op the stair case when the defendant kicked her hard in the chest.

'He hit her with such force that she fell backwards, not touching steps on the way down.

'She cleared the stairs, landed on her arm and bottom and smacked her head on the metal railings in the middle of the stairs.

'The defendant jumped over her and carried on running. Prison officer Bailey could not sit up and had severe chest pain and pain to her neck and arm.'

Mr Phillips said staff and the prison governor had been speaking with Elliott-Joahill in his cell about him wanting to make a phone call to his family over a bereavement.

He added: 'The defendant was visibly emotional but not threatening them or making demands.

'He desperately wanted to make the phone call and he was told he could not.

'He threw himself out of the cell knocking staff out of the way.'

After his release Elliott-Joahill was seen glorifying violence against people in a drill rap video and was later jailed again for stabbing a man 13 times with a Rambo knife in an unprovoked attack

The 30-year-old has now had two years added to his sentence after attacking three prison staff at HMP Long Lartin in Warwickshire

Benjamin Squirrell, defending, said Elliott-Joahill had shown remorse for what he had done.

He added: 'He was distressed because his partner had suffered a bereavement.

'This was a lapse of judgment which came at a difficult time of his sentence.

'He snapped on one occasion.'

Elliott-Joahill first came to public attention in 2011, when he played a leading role in the London riots.

The then-19-year-old, who already had previous convictions for a gunpoint robbery and having a knife, went on a night long rampage, looting and hurling rocks at police officers while disguised behind a full face hoodie painted with a skull.

He also attacked a WPC, smashing a brick through the window of her police car and making her fear for her life.

He was eventually arrested alongside Exeter University student Laura Johnson and another youth on a ransacked retail park in south London during last August's riots.

He was caught loading TVs into a car driven by the 20-year-old millionaire's daughter.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard at the time that his crime spree had lasted ten hours and he was seen brandishing a five-inch serrated fishing knife.

Police officers manning a line to stop rioters spreading through Lewisham saw Elliott-Joahill making jerking stabbing motions towards police before egging other rioters on by hurling bricks at them.

An hour later still brandishing the knife Elliott-Joahill was part of a mob that descended on two officers in a police car with Elliott-Joahill leading the attack by throwing a brick that pierced a door next to a WPC.

He then picked up the brick again and hurled it threw the window showering glass on the terrified policewoman and cutting her hands and arms.

He jailed for a total of eight years after being found guilty of attempting to cause GBH with intent, and admitting violent disorder, robbery, criminal damage, having a knife, three burglaries and three offences of handling stolen goods.

Elliott-Joahill was later released from prison, but soon came to the attention of police again after he was charged over a brutal stabbing.

The thug, who also went by the name A6, stabbed a man 13 times with a Rambo knife in an unprovoked attack in High Wycombe, leaving his victim needing emergency surgery.

The circumstances of this attack mirrored those portrayed by Elliott-Joahill in a drill music video featuring several members of his gang, Block 6  named after a tower block in Catford, South-East London  brandishing large serrated blades and includes violent lyrics about stabbings.

In the footage, which was released on YouTube, he could be seen wearing a skull mask similar to the one seen in the riots and using slang to describe stabbing his enemies.

The lyrics included: 'I'll chef [stab] man with that rambo [knife]. I'll chef man in the stomach, I'll chef man for my queen and for my bruddas [brothers].'

The song continued: 'What you know about block? Man come get shot. Got stabbed up in my leg in a fist fight. He got caught on the bus then he got stabbed in his windpipe. I remember the time when man got got at the shops, I shanked [stabbed] man then I bopped [walked off].'

Elliott-Joahill was jailed for 13 years for the attack on the man, and was serving his time at HMP Long Lartin when he unleashed his latest attack on prison staff.

He had been eligible for release in 2026, but received an additional two years to his sentence following the incident in September 2022.
French eco-activists stormed a show jumping event in Paris to display a banner which referenced British suffragette Emily Davison who was killed by King George V's horse.

A pair of protesters, with environmental group Riposte Alimentaire, jumped over barriers at the Saut Hermes 2024 and ran into the centre of the ring.

They then hurriedly pulled out a banner from their backpack and unravelled it, which read, '1913 EPSOM - 2024 HERMES: RESIST IS VITAL', before it was snatched away.

It was in tribute of Emily Davison, an English suffragette who tragically died after running out in front of King George V's horse in 1913.

A pair of protesters (pictured), engaged with environmental group Riposte Alimentaire, jumped over barriers at the Saut Hermes 2024

They ran into the centre of the ring during the event in Paris

They then hurriedly pulled out a banner from their backpack and unravelled it, which read, '1913 EPSOM - 2024 HERMES: RESIST IS VITAL', before it was snatched away

Other people quickly approached the two activists and pulled one of them away - tumbling over a jumping obstacle in the process.

Then, the second protester was approached but then sat down before being picked up and carried away.

The group believes 'similar actions' to those of the suffragettes are needed to tackle the climate crisis.

Saut Hermes 2024 is a horse showjumping competition hosted at the Grand Palais Ephemere in Paris.

It attracts hoards of horse enthusiasts and some of the best riders.

Other people quickly approached the two activists and pulled one of them away - tumbling over a jumping obstacle in the process

The second protester was approached but then sat down before being picked up and carried away

On an Instagram post, Riposte Alimentaire said: 'Fortunately, the legacy of the suffragettes is well preserved. Monday, March 4, thanks to the fight and tenacity of many female politicians and activists, a historic vote took place in France: the inscription in the IVG Constitution.

'Proud and proud of this heritage, we believe similar actions are needed to address the climate emergency. The transition to a sustainable farming model and access to healthy food for all are the reasons that push us to act.'

Riposte Alimentaire's name translates to 'Food counterattack' and according to its website, the group is demanding the French government ensure food security in the country, including the distribution of 'food cards' holding 150 'per month per person to buy approved food products.'

The group is an off-shoot of the Last Renovation campaign and its website explains how, 'in 2022 and 2023 led actions throughout France to demand an energy renovation plan for buildings'.

It added: 'Strengthened by a community of civil resistance which obtained a first victory, the Last Renovation campaign was transformed to tackle an even more ambitious and systemic subject: Social Security for Sustainable Food.'

The activists are also part of a wider environmental group - the A22 network - which is made of several other organisations including Just Stop Oil.

This is not the first stunt that Riposte Alimentaire has been involved in. Pictured: Two other protesters after throwing soup at the Mona Lisa in January

This is the moment activists hurl soup at the Mona Lisa in Paris in January

This is not the first stunt that Riposte Alimentaire has been involved in.

In January, Sasha, 24, and Marie-Juliette, 63, threw pumpkin soup at the bullet-proof glass protecting the Mona Lisa in the French capital's Louvre museum.

A statement from the Louvre said that the Salle des Etats, where the Mona Lisa is displayed, was evacuated after the demonstration and closed for an hour while cleaning was carried out, before being reopened to visitors around midday.

The Paris museum confirmed no damage was done to the world-famous painting, which is on display behind protective armoured glass, but said that it would lodge a complaint.
A Scots solicitor has ended his own life in a Swiss clinic following a long illness.

Bruce De Wert, who was suffering from a severe form of multiple sclerosis, travelled to Basel last month.

The 69-year-old undertook the journey on his own having informed his family, including his wife and two adult daughters, of his intentions for an assisted death.

Daughter Nicole Wightman said he planned all the details himself including his memorial service.

The 44-year-old mother of two said: I think he had been contemplating Switzerland for some time.

Bruce de Wert decided to take matters into his own hands after suffering from a severe form of multiple sclerosis

He was becoming more and more disabled, and he was deteriorating quite significantly. It was horrible to watch.

He did look quite frail where he had been strong and fit and did every sport under the sun.

Dad had been looking forward to his retirement and travelling round Europe and I think it came as a shock to realise he would not be able to do that. He had lost his independence and did not want to be a burden.

Mr De Wart carefully planned all the details of his assisted death, including his memorial service, before heading to the Swiss clinic last week

Last week around 60 family, friends and former colleagues attended a moving humanist memorial service at the Parkville Hotel in Blantyre, Lanarkshire. Tributes were led in a 30-minute ceremony.

His death comes at a time when there are new moves in the Scottish parliament to make assisted dying legal after two previous bills failed.

Ms Wightman, who has two teenage daughters, said it came as a shock when her father had told the family of his plans.

He had not wanted to end up in care or his wife to be forced to look after him.

She added: Dad decided that if he left it much longer he wouldnt be able to go to Switzerland.

Like everything in Dads life, he went out and did his research and then told us the decision he had made and what his plan was.

He took a taxi from his home in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, on February 21, then took a flight to Frankfurt and a connection to Basel.

Representatives of Pegasos, a voluntary assisted dying association, picked him up at the airport and he stayed at a hotel overnight before being taken to the clinic the next day.

Mr De Wert insisted that no family members should accompany him. However, he called his wife on the morning of his death to say his final goodbye.

The former solicitor was diagnosed three years ago with primary progressive multiple sclerosis after a series of dizzy turns and problems with his balance and eyes.

He retired as senior partner of the legal firm Georgesons in Wick, Caithness, almost three years ago.

Mr De Wert and his wife Collette, 68, then moved to Melrose in Roxburghshire. But as his condition deteriorated the couple relocated to Bothwell to be near their family.

Ms Wightman said her father was insistent that he went on his own to Switzerland, despite his ill health, in case a relative was prosecuted or implicated in his death.

Family members spent time with him on February 20, the day before his departure to Switzerland, giving him a last hug.

Mr De Wert passed away on the morning of February 22 having phoned his wife beforehand. His wife was informed of his passing later that day.

He had left details of his life for the celebrant to read out at his memorial service and chose the music he wanted played. Everyone at the memorial remembered what a wonderful person he was and that he was larger than life, said Ms Wightman.

The family will be sent his ashes and death certificate from Switzerland. Originally from Oxford, Mr De Wert practised law for more than 40 years.

He studied at Strathclyde University and worked in Glasgow and Edinburgh before moving to Wick in 1984.
A 13,000lbs gray whale washed up on a Malibu beach over the weekend to the heartbreak of locals.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department lifeguards said they were informed of the whale along Little Dume Beach on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased whale was said to be 25ft long and its carcass is currently under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries Service, according to CBS News.

Video showed the whale tumbling through the waves at the beach that is located within the Point Dume State Marine Reserve, a protected area along the coastline.

'It's just devastating to see a baby not making it,' local resident Suzy Forman told Fox 11.

A 13,000lbs gray whale washed up on a Malibu beach over the weekend at Little Dume Beach

Lifeguards have urged the public to keep a safe distance from the whale until officials from the California Wildlife Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration can determine what to do with the remains

Gray whales are known to migrate between December and January and again in February and March as they move off the coast of Baja, California, near Mexico.

Forman, who said she's witnessed the migration before said that 'it's always a thrill' to see mothers and their calves make their way from Mexico to Alaska.

In recent decades, Forman said she has also seen an alarming amount of dead whales make their way to shore.

'You know there's a mom out there somewhere looking for her baby, probably-- I would imagine. So it's very sad,' she said.

Since the tragic discovery, lifeguards have urged the public to keep a safe distance from the whale until officials from the California Wildlife Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration can determine what to do with the remains.

It remains unsafe for officials to determine the whale's cause of death since it washed up on the surf line, CBS News reported.

Dylan Strickland, another resident who grew up near the beach, said that the whale's death is 'part of the cycle of nature' but that it's still 'really sad.'

Strickland added he hopes that 'the rest of the gray whales' successfully migrated.'

On May 10, a sperm whale was found dead after beaching itself on a sandbar along a Florida beach as strong waves stopped rescue attempts.

In recent decades, resident Suzy Forman said she has also seen an alarming amount of dead whales make their way to shore

On May 10, a sperm whale was found dead after beaching itself on a sandbar along a Florida beach as strong waves stopped rescue attempts. The red tint in the water is not blood, but ink, according to officials

The 70,000lbs male whale beached itself early that morning as it thrashed about on the shallow sandbar in an attempt to get free.

Rough conditions made the animal hard to reach and hindered rescue efforts, leaving members of the public to watch as the whale became increasingly distressed.

Marine biologists said it was a deep-diving whale and given it beached itself, it was likely not healthy. It died the following morning as officials dragged it onto the beach and sliced it open in an attempt to discover a cause of death.

Officials then issued a no-swim advisory saying the blood in the water could increase shark activity.

The 44-foot-long whale first appeared on Monday morning when a crowd gathered on the beach.

The City of Venice announced officials were aware of its presence and were forming a rescue plan.

But, on Sunday afternoon, they said that 'water conditions are too dangerous to approach the sperm whale in distress at Service Club Park by boat to attempt to give the animal a sedative.'

Rough conditions made the animal hard to reach and hindered rescue efforts, leaving members of the public to watch as the whale became increasingly distressed

They added: 'The whale is estimated to be approximately 50 feet and 50,000-70,000 pounds.'

Over the next few hours, rescue services in boats tried and failed to reach the whale.

Drone photos showed the whale surrounded by a dark liquid in the water that onlookers worried was blood. But the city said: 'According to Mote Marine, the reddish liquid in the one photo is ink, not blood.

'Like squids, sperm whales can produce a dark, inky liquid that helps them escape from predators. They can also produce it when they are in distress. It is fairly typical to see before a whale passes.'

By Sunday evening, the whale suffered from labored breathing and died around 3am the next day.

In the afternoon, officials dragged its body onto the beach and cut it open to perform a necropsy and said that the mammal was underweight for a healthy adult whale.
A fly-in, fly-out assassin is suspected to have jetted in from overseas on a Mafia-sanctioned mission to kill a successful greengrocer in a brutal gangland execution.

John Latorre, 64, was gunned down outside his Greenvale home in Melbourne's north as he headed to work early last Tuesday morning.

His family were woken by the gunshots and found his body lying in the driveway. Almost one week later, Mr Latorre's killer still remains at large.

Underworld sources believe the execution was so well planned they believe it had to be '100 per cent' endorsed by the highest levels of mafia leadership.

Mr Latorre is understood to have been a discreet but influential member of the 'Ndrangheta - a powerful Mafia organisation from Calabria, southern Italy.

Sources believe that John Latorre (pictured) was gunned down by fly-in fly-out assassin on orders from high up in the Mafia

Sources claim the execution of the successful greengrocer outside his home (pictured) as he left for work was well planned

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'This was smooth  cool, calm and calculating,' a source told the Herald Sun.

'This is a professional job. There's not that many people able to pull that off.

'They wouldn't have done it without assurances. It's a big job.'

The source added that many didn't see Mr Latorre's killing coming which he described as a 'huge shock'.

He added that the possibility of retaliatory attacks was unlikely.

Another theory circulating in the underworld is that a bungled 2020 'black flight' cocaine importation bound for Queensland could be a factor behind the murder.

An overloaded Cessna packed with $80million of the drug crashed after takeoff from Papua New Guinea.

Mr Latorre was suspected of playing a key role in the botched importation which left investors with heavy losses.

He was known to visit friend and international drug trafficker Frank Madafferi but did not have a major criminal record.

Mr Latorre was shot multiple times in the driveway of his Buchanan Place home around 4.30am last Tuesday.

He had been heading to work at Melbourne Market in Epping, where he ran a successful fruit and vegetable business.

Shocked friends and family rushed to the scene where John Latorre was gunned down in his Greenvale driveway last Tuesday morning

A source close to Mr Latorre said he had felt no threat on his life prior to his death.

'There was no indication of any threats to his life,' they said last week.

Homicide detectives are still investigating whether the shooting was linked to organised crime.

'There's nothing to suggest retaliation at this point in time,' Detective Senior Sergeant Danny Travaglini told reporters last Tuesday.

'However, you've also got to understand, that if there are links to organised crime, there is the potential for retaliation.'

Homicide detectives have collected CCTV and have narrowed down their investigations to a four-hour window between 2am and 6am in their hunt to track down Mr Latorre's killer.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

John Latorre (pictured) was reportedly a discreet but influential member of the 'Ndrangheta - a powerful mafia organisation from Calabria, southern Italy
In a few short weeks, a chilling new law will come into force which aims to police what ordinary Scots say in their own homes.

In the long history of badly drafted SNP policies, the highly controversial and illiberal Hate Crime Act might just be the most egregious yet.

I have railed against it from the beginning.

The draft Bill was published by Humza Yousaf in April 2020 and I read it and spoke to lawyers and legal academics before treating readers of this newspaper to a denunciation of what I warned would be the most sweeping and authoritarian law of the devolution era.

Humza Yousafs Hate Crime laws, which come into force on April 1, have been described as dangerous and an attack on free speech in Scotland

Yousaf moderated some of his Bills more hardline provisions. It would no longer be enough that speech or behaviour was insulting for the accused to be huckled; their actions would have to be threatening or abusive.

The Scottish Government also dropped the section which would have seen stand-up comedians jailed for jokes and stage actors hauled before a sheriff over lines of dialogue spoken in plays.

These changes were enough to placate some of the Bills critics, but I remained of the view that the only acceptable part is the sentencing aggravators. The rest is a hot, authoritarian mess.

And now the mess is seeping everywhere. Police Scotland has rolled out a PR campaign to prepare the public for the Act.

The most visible of these has been Dont Let the Hate Monster In, which sounds like the title of an old video nasty horror movie but is much, much more sinister.

As Police Scotland explains: The Hate Monster represents that feeling some people get when they are frustrated and angry and take it out on others, because they feel like they need to show they are better than them. In other words, they commit a hate crime.

The Hate Monster, according to this campaign, just hings aboot like a bad smell.

It is not the only stench in the air. Elsewhere, Police Scotland describes the kinds of people who commit hate crimes as those with deep-rooted feelings of being socially and economically disadvantaged, combined with ideas about white-male entitlement.

Nothing to see here, just Police Scotland openly engaging in racial profiling against white people.

Police have also confirmed the third-party locations where hate incidents can be reported, including a Glasgow sex shop  a one-stop shop for the busy customer who needs to pick up a marital aid and report a misgendering but just cant find the time to do both.

The law should take a dim view of defamation, deception, perjury, threats, incitement to violence or public disorder and obscenity. Beyond that, people should be free to express themselves without the fear of a knock on the door.

But even if you believe the criminal law ought to be used to deter hate, this Act is shaping up to be a legal and logistical nightmare.

It is bound to be subjected to judicial review but that will be the least of anyones worries.

Police Scotland says it will investigate every complaint made under the law. They dont have the resources to investigate every crime reported to them today.

Twitter spats and political disagreements already take up too much police time and that is only going to balloon after April 1, the highly appropriate date on which the Hate Crime Act comes into effect.

Every tweet stating the biological fact that men cannot become women could potentially find itself in front of a constable.

Every Facebook post or letter to the editor linking crime or extremism to uncontrolled immigration would be fodder for those with a grievance.

Even those who profess to abhor this law wont be long in taking advantage of it.

Humza Yousafs infamous May 2020 speech, listing the senior positions in Scottish public life held by white people, would almost certainly attract a barrage of complaints.

But the Acts flaws go beyond matters of principle and practicality to the political and cultural ailments that bedevil the liberal West today.

The legislation represents yet another encroachment of the criminal law into conscience and issues of legitimate political debate.

One of the protected characteristics in the Act is transgender identity, even though this is a highly disputed concept and one central to ongoing debates about gender identity, womens rights and equalities law.

By adopting this concept, and having the police investigate those who offend against it, the Hate Crime Act takes a side.

If the state decrees that offending against a debated concept is criminally hateful, it effectively decrees that the debate is over.

The Act is another example of what I call elite extremism, whereby politicians, civil servants, journalists, academics and public institutions adopt the most radical ideas, whether about gender, race, identity, freedom of speech or the rule of law.

They do so out of a profound anxiety about the hoi polloi, whom they regard as racist, homophobic, transphobic, and a whole host of other forms of phobia.

In the eyes of the insular establishment that dominates our public life, the average voter is dangerously ignorant and must be conditioned to think along more progressive lines.

Not only this, but the law is seen as a means of protecting the elite and its worldview from intrusion by the popular will.

Consider the provision of the Hate Crime Act which will allow people to be convicted for hateful conduct committed inside their own homes, with prison sentences by way of punishment.

It underscores how much MSPs fear and resent ordinary Scots. They cannot allow us to speak freely even in our own living rooms.

And because this law is driven by elites, it is no wonder that it reflects all the curious fixations of those elites.

This is a law that protects men who cross-dress as women (something I have nothing against) but does not protect actual women.

A law that will see police investigate every hate complaint, even as they refuse to follow up other forms of low level crime.

A law that has emboldened the police to single out white men as likely culprits in a way they wouldnt dare with other demographics and other crimes.

Scotlands governing class is full of out-of-touch, ultra-progressive ideologues who resent the population they rule over.

They consider us thick, racist and bigoted and are as one in their mission to remould our minds to be more like theirs.

Their Hate Crime Act is outrageous, illiberal and unworkable but they cant see it because they are so blinded by their own hate monster.
SpaceX is building hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company and national security agencies.

This latest venture illustrates that despite the highly critical language with which Musk assails Biden and his administration, he is more than content to do business with them.

The satellites are being built by SpaceX's Starshield division under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that directs spy satellites.

The contract underscores the extent of SpaceX's reach in U.S. intelligence and military projects.

Musk and Biden have clashed frequently in the past, and both men have criticized each other's leadership and views.

SpaceX is building hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk 's space company and national security agencies

The satellites are being built by SpaceX's Starshield division under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021

These satellites can operate as a swarm in low orbits, track targets on the ground, and share data they gather with U.S. intelligence and military officials.

They would endow the government with the ability to capture continuous imagery of activities on the ground nearly anywhere on the globe.

The network of spy satellites represents one of the government's most sought-after capabilities in space because it is designed to offer the most persistent, pervasive and rapid coverage of activities on Earth.

"No one can hide," someone familiar with the program said.

If the joint venture is successful, the program would dramatically improve the government's ability to spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.

The Pentagon is already a big SpaceX customer, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space. Starshield's first prototype satellite, launched in 2020, was part of a separate, roughly $200 million contract that helped position SpaceX for the subsequent $1.8 billion award, one of the sources said.

The planned Starshield network is separate from Starlink, SpaceX's growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space to provide near-global internet to consumers, companies and government agencies.

The Starshield network is part of intensifying competition between the U.S. and its rivals to become the dominant military power in space, in part by expanding spy satellite systems away from bulky, expensive spacecraft at higher orbits. Instead a vast, low-orbiting network can provide quicker and near-constant imaging of the Earth.

China also plans to start building its own satellite constellations, and the Pentagon has warned of space weapon threats from Russia, which could be capable of disabling entire satellite networks.

Starshield aims to be more resilient to attacks from sophisticated space powers.

The newest spy network is also intended to greatly expand the U.S. government's remote-sensing capabilities and will consist of large satellites with imaging sensors, as well as a greater number of relay satellites that pass the imaging data and other communications across the network using inter-satellite lasers, two of the sources said.

The NRO includes personnel from the U.S. Space Force and CIA and provides classified satellite imagery for the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies.

The contract signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and sparked controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war.

The Pentagon is already a big SpaceX customer, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space

The planned Starshield network is separate from Starlink, SpaceX's growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space to provide near-global internet to consumers, companies and government agencies

Joe Biden is briefed on the deadly drone attack at a U.S. outpost in Jordan, by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other members of the national security team in the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, January 29, 2024

On March 5, Musk alleged that the breakdown at the border was part of Biden-led scheme to import voters.

And he recently announced that he wouldn't be contributing any of his $188.5 billion fortune to Biden's or Trump's candidacies.

The entrepreneur has also styled himself as a champion of anti-wokeness, and he frequently voices his displeasure over Biden's 'woke' policies.

Biden has been less explicit in his criticism of Musk, but his jabs, although oblique, are nevertheless keen.

The president has consistently snubbed Tesla when lauding the efforts undertaken by electric car manufacturers.

At his State of the Union address two years ago, Biden praised Ford and GM's work in EVs but failed to mention Tesla.

And in August 2021, Biden didn't invite Musk to an EV summit at the White House, despite Musk being the CEO of the largest electric vehicle company in the US.

Biden's neglect culminated in the creation of a petition calling for the president to recognize Tesla and its status as the leading EV manufacturer. The petition was made by fans and it garnered almost 40,000 signatures.

But the relationship between Musk and Biden remains fruitful and this latest contract is for a sophisticated new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities.
Cannabis plants at Affinity Grow, a Connecticut-owned and operated micro-cultivator at 47 Lower Main St. in Portland, Conn., Friday, March 1, 2024. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

SHELTON  The fate of cannabis sales in the city could be determined later this month.

The Planning and Zoning Commission established a moratorium on recreational cannabis businesses in April 2022. That moratorium, which was extended nearly a year ago, will end March 31, and the commission must act.

The commission, at its meeting Wednesday, set a public hearing for March 27 at which residents can comment on whether the city should allow retail sales of cannabis. Action is expected to be taken that night, according to commission Chair Virginia Harger.

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The agenda item on this past Wednesdays meeting called for the commission to amend its regulations to prohibit retail sales of cannabis in Shelton. That is what will be debated on March 27.

When the moratorium was originally instituted, the commission created a subcommittee but, when discussions were held about pot sales in the city, the members chose to gauge the full commissions stance on cannabis sales in the city before moving forward on creating regulations.

Last year, most commissioners were either noncommittal or in favor of regulations last March, so a vote was taken to start the process to extend the moratorium. The only commissioner who opposed future sales was Harger, but she did support extending the moratorium at that time.

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While Sheltons P&Z continues its debate on cannabis sales, the Stratford Zoning Commission last week approved plans from Budr Cannabis, which operates stores in West Hartford and Danbury, to open a hybrid retail facility to sell recreational and medical marijuana in Oronoque Plaza, right near the Shelton border.

Carl Tirella Jr., the companys co-founder, said in an interview that he expects it will take about three months to set up the now vacant storefront and that he hopes to open the location by the end of the summer.

The vote marked the third time the commission has approved plans to open a dispensary in town limits since state lawmakers moved to legalize the recreational cannabis market in 2021.

The company behind the first authorized store, however, decided not to move forward with the project after facing an issue with the buildings lease. The other store, which was proposed by a Michigan-based company, will be located at the site of the old Johnny's Restaurant on Honeyspot Road.

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Stratford zoning officials have capped the number of local dispensaries at two, meaning the newly approved store will be the last proposed dispensary the commission will consider unless the panel decides to loosen the rules.

Harger has stated that the new law defines a cannabis establishment as a producer, dispensary facility, cultivator, micro-cultivator, retailer, hybrid retailer, food and beverage manufacturer, product manufacturer, product packager and delivery service or transporter.

In 2021, the state legislature legalized recreational marijuana in Connecticut. Beginning July 1, 2021, it became legal for adults 21 and older to have an ounce-and-a-half, plus another five ounces in a locked container.

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Section 148 of the new law permits a municipality, through its zoning regulations, to prohibit or establish reasonable restrictions on such establishments.
Ambulance bosses have apologised over the deaths of 23 people in their care last year amid hospital waits and long response times.

Families of three others were also contacted after unintended or unexpected developments left them needing additional treatment.

People were said to have died following issues with control centres, delayed responses and the time spent waiting at hospitals.

The deaths of patients in the care of the ambulance service amid hospital waits and delays is the highest in Scotland for five years

It is the highest number of such cases that the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has had to address in the past five years.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: This rise in unexpected deaths or serious incidents for patients while in the care of ambulance staff is deeply alarming.

He added: The findings highlight once again the overwhelming pressure our ambulance staff are under and despite their best efforts, how needless  and tragic deaths  can occur, which will be extremely upsetting for dedicated ambulance staff.

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane described the rise in unexpected deaths as deeply alarming but said it reflected the overwhelming pressure ambulance crews are under

Health providers, such as the SAS, have a legal duty to tell the patients or relatives affected when an unintended or unexpected incident appears to have caused harm or death as well as apologising and involving them in a review of what happened.

The 26 cases reported last year involved 12 in which control centre issues played a part, five involving delayed responses and four impacted by hospital waits.

Three more were said to have involved issues with clinical assessments while the remaining two were simply listed as arising from other factors.

A review of adverse events dealt with during the same year shows a catalogue of problems that had to be addressed.

These include lengthy handover times, queueing ambulances and response times.

Doctors warned last month that some patients had suffered cardiac arrests while waiting in A&E departments or in ambulances that were forced to queue outside overwhelmed hospitals.

At least three of the latter type of case have been reported to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) in Scotland.

Commenting on the situation, RCEM vice president for Scotland Dr JP Loughrey said: Emergency department staff are just about managing to cope amid exceptionally difficult circumstances to provide vital emergency care.

The current system is not fit for purpose  urgent intervention is needed with robust support from government and adequate funding, including sufficient acute capacity.

Dr Gulhane added: Successive SNP health secretaries have failed to provide them with the resources needed in terms of frontline staff as well as their ability to respond to incidents as quickly as possible.

The SAS said it provided the highest standards of care in the majority of the 800,000 incidents it responded to last year. It also said it is committed to the Duty of Candour process as despite best efforts, there are occasional events where things do go wrong.

A spokesman added: Each case is carefully considered to ensure we identify what happened, how it went wrong, and how we can learn from it in the future. We recognise that each of these is a person with loved ones, and we would like to say how sorry we are for their loss.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We welcome the changes that the SAS has made and is continuing to make since this review.
A man has been charged with the murder of his cellmate inside a notorious jail.

Lucas Batey, 20, was charged with murder after Kien Vinh Vuong, 48, was found unresponsive in his cell at Parklea Correctional Centre on Sunday morning.

Vuong received first aid after he was discovered by prison officers but was declared dead at the correctional facility in Sydney's northwest.

Batey had only been behind bars for five days and was not known to the NSW justice system prior to March this year, the Daily Telegraph reports.

He was thrown behind bars on Wednesday after breaching his bail conditions for three offences, including assaulting a police officer.

NSW Police have laid murder charges against a prison inmate after a man died in a Sydney jail

Batey was moved into the same cell as Vuong on Saturday afternoon, according to a police fact sheet tendered to Parramatta Local Court.

Corrective services officers attended the cell just before 9am on Sunday, where they observed Vuong lying on his back with his head towards the door.

Batey allegedly told them his cellmate was 'sleeping' but upon closer inspection the officers noticed the man's face was swollen and bruised.

Medical staff performed CPR but Voung was declared dead at the scene.

Police said Batey was larger in stature than his cellmate who 'would not have been able to physically defend himself against the accused'.

'The savage beating inflicted upon Kien Vinh Vuong by the accused (allegedly) directly resulted in his death,' they allege in police fact sheets.

'The accused showed no remorse for his actions.'

Batey was taken to Riverstone police station where he was charged with murder.

The 20-year-old is understood to be originally from Victoria and had only moved to Sydney three weeks ago.

He is scheduled to next appear in court on May 17.
The King is determined to attend this year's Trooping the Colour, his official birthday celebrations, if his health allows it.

Aides are already exploring ways that Charles might be able to take part within the constraints of his ongoing cancer treatment.

This could include watching the military spectacular from a podium instead of on horseback as usual, having been driven from Buckingham Palace in a carriage as his late mother used to.

No firm decision will be taken until nearer the time, given the nature of His Majesty's condition, and it will be dependant on medical advice.

The event is due to be held in London on Saturday, June 15. But the Mail understands that planning for the occasion is moving ahead as scheduled, giving cause for optimism.

King Charles III (wearing his Welsh Guards uniform) watches an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London

The Coronation of HM King Charles III and HM Queen Camilla. Charles and Camilla leave Buckingham Palace by carriage to Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023

King Charles III saluted as he departed Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, as he celebrated his first official birthday since becoming sovereign on June 17, 2023

Queen Elizabeth II leaves Buckingham Palace in a carriage during the Trooping the Colour parade on June 9, 2018 in London

Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London

'There are a number of key events His Majesty would love to attend coming up in the diary and this is at the top of the list,' a source said.

Dating from the 17th century, Trooping the Colour is one the biggest military ceremonial events of the year, involving more than 1,200 soldiers and musicians plus more than 200 horses.

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Usually the monarch rides down from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade via The Mall to inspect the troops.

The sovereign then rides back to the palace for the traditional balcony appearance with the wider Royal Family and flypast by the RAF.

As it stands, His Majesty has been advised by doctors not to attend events with large public gatherings after being diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in January.

He is currently undergoing outpatient treatment in London although he is continuing to work hard behind the scenes on state matters and makes a point of being seen in public or on camera whenever possible.

Two weeks ago there was widespread confusion after tickets for Trooping the Colour were put on sale by the Ministry of Defence advertising the presence of the King.

Buckingham Palace said planning was under way but nothing could be confirmed.

However the Mail understands that things have moved on somewhat and staff are now exploring various options to ensure that Charles can attend as long as he 'gets the nod' from his team.

He would be keen to ride his horse, a black mare called Noble which was a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

King Charles III (centre), wearing his Welsh Guards uniform, Prince William, Prince of Wales (Colonel of the Welsh Guards) (left) and Princess Anne, Princess Royal (Colonel of the Blues and Royals) (right) depart Buckingham Palace on horseback to attend Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023

King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the King's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour', in London on June 17, 2023

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew, Duke of York watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, on June 8, 2019 in London

King Charles (left), then Prince of Wales, William (second from the left), then Duke of Cambridge, Prince Andrew (second from the right) and Princess Anne (right) ride on horses during the Trooping of the Colour parade, in central London, 8 June 2019

Members of the royal family including Queen Elizabeth II (left) and Prince Charles (centre), Prince of Wales, were on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2018 at The Mall on June 9, 2018 in London

Members of the royal family (King Charles and Queen Camilla centre) stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2018 on June 9, 2018 in London

Queen Elizabeth II (right) stands with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales to watch a special flypast from Buckingham Palace balcony following the Queen's Birthday Parade, the Trooping the Colour, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations, in London on June 2, 2022

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales salutes during Trooping The Colour on June 2, 2022 in London

The Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony at Buckingham Palace following Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade, London, on June 13, 2015

Members of the royal family including Charles, Prince of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth II (centre) stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15, 2013 in London

Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during Trooping The Colour 2018 on June 9, 2018 in London

But the King could watch the event from a static position, which would be considered good news by well-wishers. His mother the late Queen attended the event in a carriage after 1987.

There has been no official confirmation of whether or not the Princess of Wales will be well enough to attend.

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She had been due not only to attend the ceremony but also to conduct her own review of troops on June 8 in her role as Honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards whose 'colour'  or regimental flag  is being presented to the King.

However the Ministry of Defence was forced to take down a web page advertising her presence after Kensington Palace insisted that it was premature.

A spokesman said only that they would announce when Kate would return to work following her lengthy recuperation from abdominal surgery in January.

At the moment the princess is still expected to return to public duties after the Easter holidays, mostly likely following her children's return to school in mid-April, dependent on medical advice at the time.

Royal aides have always said that it will be up to the princess if she wishes to make public more details about her health, which she may do in the context of a public engagement.

Sources say that there is no pressure or hurry on her to do so and her focus remains on 'what is important'  her recovery and her three children.
Britons with cancer symptoms are deterred from seeking help because of their difficulties securing GP appointments, a damning study has revealed.

Cancer Research UK warned that the 'worrying' delays could damage the chances of survival.

The charity acknowledged it was 'not always easy' to see a family doctor but stressed that anyone who fears they may have the disease 'should persist'.

Its poll, which surveyed 4,000 people, found almost half (48 per cent) of those who have experienced a potential cancer symptom did not contact their GP within six months.

Cancer Research UK warned that the 'worrying' delays could damage the chances of survival (Stock Image)

Even 47 per cent of patients with 'red flag' symptoms such as an unexplained lump or coughing up blood waited at least this long.

One in five (20 per cent) respondents said a main reason they delayed contacting their GP was because they 'find it difficult to get an appointment', 13 per cent said they struggled to get one at a convenient time and 11 per cent did not want to be seen as someone who makes a fuss.

Similar numbers were worried about wasting their GP's time (12 per cent), feared they would not be taken seriously (10 per cent) or had concerns about putting extra strain on the NHS (10 per cent).

Dr Richard Roope, a GP and primary care adviser for Cancer Research UK, said: 'I would urge people to contact their surgery if they spot anything they're concerned about. This is not always easy, but they should persist.'

Even 47 per cent of patients with 'red flag' symptoms such as an unexplained lump or coughing up blood waited at least six months to contact their GP (Stock Image)

The survey shows people are generally good at knowing the signs of cancer  with respondents able to recognise an average of 12 out of 15 of the most common symptoms  but has raised concerns that some decline invitations to screenings because they wrongly believe they are only for those with symptoms.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'If people have signs that could be serious illness such as cancer, they should make an appointment without delay.'

An NHS England spokesman said: 'While cancer survival is at an all-time high, it remains crucial for people to come forward and get checked if they have symptoms  with GPs now able to directly refer people for tests.'
The failure to boost defence spending in the Budget is 'giving the wrong signal' to Vladimir Putin, a former Nato chief warned last night.

Lord Robertson said it was disturbing that ministers were unwilling to make the 'serious investment' needed.

The Labour peer, who served as Nato secretary-general, said the West had to make clear to Putin 'at every stage' that it would commit the resources necessary to defeat him in Ukraine.

'The stakes are enormously high because if he wins in Ukraine he won't stop there. And what is disturbing to me is we had a Budget in the UK last week with no mention of defence expenditure and increasing it,' he told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour.

He added: 'And although (Defence Secretary Grant) Shapps is now talking about spending 3 per cent (of GDP) on defence, there was no indication in the Budget from the Chancellor or the Prime Minister that they're willing to make the serious investment that would actually turn the tide in this conflict.'

Labour peer Lord Robertson (pictured), who served as Nato secretary-general, said the West had to commit to defeating Vladimir Putin in Ukraine

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (pictured) broke ranks last week and demanded Rishi Sunak increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP

The failure to boost defence spending in the Budget is 'giving the wrong signal' to Vladimir Putin Lord Robertson has warned (stock image)

'We're at war, we're involved in a war with a nuclear power on the other side of Europe.

'And for a Budget to be produced that simply talks about aspirations but offers nothing more in terms of replenishing the stocks that we've already given or adding to the defence expenditure of the country seems to me to be missing the point and giving the wrong signal to the people in the Kremlin.'

Lord Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary, acknowledged that his own party would also have to commit to spending much more on defence if it wins power. 'It's going to be a hard time for an incoming Labour government to deal with the mess that they are going to inherit, but they'll have to look at their responsibilities for protecting the people of the country. That is, after all, the main obligation.' He also stressed the world should not feel intimidated by 'nuclear blackmail' from Putin.

'He knows that we have got means of retaliating and we would retaliate if there was any prospect that he was going to use nuclear weapons,' he said.

This newspaper has highlighted the shocking black holes in the UK's defence budget and reliance on allies at a time of escalating global dangers.
Sadiq Khan was accused of betraying London taxpayers after figures revealed City Hall employs 1,100 people on a salary of 100,000 or above.

City Hall and its subsidiaries, including Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police, are funded through the mayoral precept, which has risen from an average of 276 in 2016-17 to 471 next year.

Meanwhile the number of six-figure earners is up from 655 in 2018-19 to 1,146 last year, with 772 of them working for TfL alone. The transport body also had 18 employees on over 250,000.

Susan Hall, Conservative mayoral candidate, said: 'Under Sadiq Khan, City Hall has turned into one big gravy train, with hundreds of staff receiving salaries greater than the top four per cent earners in the country. Many of the staff directly responsible for bringing in the Ulez expansion are earning over 100,000, paid for by the poorest Londoners through his 12.50 daily tax.'

Despite the capital's knife crime problems, the number of employees receiving over 100,000 across the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime and the Met Police has risen from 80 to 301 over the past five years. The mayor himself received 171,587 in 2022-23, up 21,000 compared with four years earlier.

Sadiq Khan has been accused of betraying London taxpayers after figures revealed 1,100 City Hall employees earn 100,000 or more

Elliot Keck, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'City Hall is bursting at the seams with the growing number of officials bringing home the big bucks'

Next month Londoners are braced for a 4.99 per cent council tax increase, with more in boroughs such as Croydon.

Elliot Keck, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'City Hall is bursting at the seams with the growing number of officials bringing home the big bucks. Sadiq Khan should give taxpayers a break and keep a lid on these senior salaries.'

A spokesman said the mayor offered 'competitive salaries to attract the staff needed to help deliver on the issues that matter most to Londoners'.
Labour last night promised a new drive to deport failed asylum seekers as it tried to flesh out an alternative to the Government's Rwanda scheme.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper set out proposals to create a new 'returns and enforcement unit' to swiftly remove failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders.

The new unit, which will have funding to employ 1,000 staff, will focus on speeding up removals to countries deemed safe.

But a Tory source said the plan was an attempt by Labour to 'deflect attention' from the party's opposition to the Rwanda scheme, designed to deport Channel migrants to the east African country within days of their arrival in the UK, which returns to the Commons tonight.

The source pointed out that the Government is already sending home thousands of arrivals from safe countries such as Albania  and that Labour has no plan to deter arrivals from countries like Afghanistan and Iraq which are deemed too dangerous to return people to.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) set out proposals to create a new 'returns and enforcement unit' to swiftly remove failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders

Labour last night promised a new drive to deport failed asylum seekers as it tried to flesh out an alternative to the Government's Rwanda scheme (file image)

Ministers will tonight seek to overturn a string of amendments passed in the Lords with the support of Labour peers.

Labour is expected to oppose the Government again, with Sir Keir Starmer pledging to scrap the Rwanda scheme, even if it is shown to be working.

Downing Street has said it hopes to conduct the first deportation flights 'in the spring'.

Last night it emerged Rwanda has insisted on receiving groups of migrants in 'stages'  but stopped short of requesting a cap on numbers.

A British Government source told The Times: 'The Rwandans want to ensure everything is working smoothly before they take more.'
Albanian gangs have launched an 18,000 'women and children' only smuggling service to reunite them with male relatives who have already sneaked into the UK.

Traffickers arrange genuine EU passports issued by corrupt Italian officials that use the name of a real person but with the illegal migrant's photo, an undercover Mail investigation found.

They then hire drivers to take customers to the UK using these apparently legitimate travel documents, either via the Channel Tunnel or ferry from France.

The illicit operation caters for the surging market of Albanian men who have already come to the UK illegally.

They have usually arrived via more dangerous routes, such as small boats or on lorries, and now want to bring their families to join them but with less risk.

Albanian gangs have launched an 18,000 'women and children' only smuggling service to reunite them with male relatives who have already sneaked into the UK (File Image)

'Taxi France to the UK only for family and girls. Who is interested? 100 per cent secure'- an advert posted on TikTok on February 25

An advert offering the 'family service' was posted on one of the gang's two TikTok accounts on February 25, saying: 'Taxi France to the UK only for family and girls. Who is interested? 100 per cent secure.'

A Mail reporter posing as an Albanian woman messaged the group and was told the price was '18,000'. The reporter was then given a UK phone number for a man who is believed to be the gang leader.

Women using the service have to provide the name of a family member already in the UK who the London-based gang boss visits ahead of the journey to check they have the money to pay.

They must hand over all belongings, including their Albanian passports.

To show he was genuine, the suspected gang boss sent a video showing the driver of a white Fiat 500 saying farewell to a woman and a child he had just dropped off. He explained that she was the wife of his friend who he had smuggled in.

He also sent screenshots of conversations with previous customers on route to the UK.

Our expose comes after the European border agency reported a surge in passport fraud at external borders.

And it follows damming comments by ex-borders watchdog David Neal who accused the Home Office of being 'dysfunctional' and warned the department was in need of widespread reform.

A Mail reporter posing as an Albanian woman messaged the group and was told the price was '18,000' (File Image)

Tony Smith, the former director-general of Border Force, warned the 'genuine fake' passports posed a 'new headache' for the Home Office.

He said: 'People smuggling gangs know UK border checks are aimed at discovering fake or stolen documents.

'But if someone has a genuine passport issued by the Italian authorities, immigration officers wouldn't know the holder is actually an imposter.

'Unless we knew there was a scam going on or had specific intelligence, they're going to be able to walk through the e-gate.'

Dan Barcroft, of the National Crime Agency, said: 'Albanian people smuggling groups are resourceful and adaptive.

'We are working with partners in the UK and overseas to target, disrupt and dismantle these networks wherever they operate.'
More than 2,000 sex offenders including rapists have avoided serious punishment in the past four years after being made to 'apologise' to their victims.

Offenders escaped getting a criminal record after the police and Crown Prosecution Service agreed to a 'community resolution' instead of taking them to court.

The orders, which involve criminals admitting responsibility for their offence and either apologising or paying compensation to a victim, were meant to be used for low-level crimes.

But data from the Home Office shows they were used to clear up 2,152 sex crimes in the past four years, including sexual assaults, grooming and flashing offences.

It means that every week more than ten sex offenders are escaping any real punishment and side-stepping the court system after being allowed to just say 'sorry' to their victims.

More than 2,000 sex offenders including rapists have avoided serious punishment in the past four years after being made to 'apologise' to their victims (stock image)

The Mail first highlighted troubling use of community resolutions for sex offenders last year  and latest data shows their use is continuing at higher levels than previously.

There were 639 in the year to last March, after the previous 12 months saw 643  sharply up on 421 to 449 in the previous two years.

Police chiefs say community resolutions are normally only ever used in relation to sexual offences if the victim is content for the crime to be dealt with in that way.

The tally of cases dealt with in this way in the past four years includes 11 rape attacks on children.

READ MORE: Sex criminals on probation who go on to attack again like Anthony Roberts and Jordan McSweeney at record high Advertisement

Last year police forces in Hampshire and Humberside used this method to deal with separate rape attacks in their area on girls aged under 13, while the West Midlands police used the same method to conclude an investigation into the rape of a boy under 13.

In the previous three years officers in Durham, Lincolnshire, Cheshire and Nottinghamshire used the method to deal with rape attacks on girls under 13, while police in Norfolk used a community resolution in relation to the rape of a young boy.

Merseyside police used the method to dispose of an offence of rape of a girl under 16, while both Derbyshire and Devon and Cornwall police closed off two rape cases of women in this way.

This method was also used to conclude 56 cases of sexual grooming and 378 offences of exposure or voyeurism in the past four years.

In total, there were 1,169 sexual assault cases in the past four years that were ended with a community resolution, the majority committed on women and girls.

Officers say some of the offences are between two consenting underage children, and the incident has to be recorded as a crime although prosecution would be too severe a punishment.

When a victim reports a crime, police forces can opt for a community resolution if the offender accepts they were responsible and offers some form of apology or compensation.

When a victim reports a crime, police forces can opt for a community resolution if the offender accepts they were responsible and offers some form of apology or compensation (stock image)

Typically they are only used for low-level offences committed by people who are not considered prolific or dangerous offenders.

The victim's view in how the crime should be dealt with will be considered by the police but officers are not bound by it.

David Spencer, of the Centre for Crime Prevention, said: 'Apologising might be an appropriate punishment for a child who is rude or drew on the wall. But it is a totally inappropriate way to deal with violent and sexual offenders.

'The use of community resolutions for crimes of this nature are a huge slap in the face for victims and their families.'

He added: 'These offenders should be behind bars and the Home Office should step in now to ensure that police forces are prohibited from using community resolutions for anything but the most trivial of misdemeanours.'

Kevin Moore, a retired detective chief superintendent and former head of Sussex Police CID, said: 'On the face of it the figures appear to be appalling and most members of the public will be concerned why such serious recorded crimes are being finalised through community resolution.

'As a former senior police officer and having led such investigations or supervised others doing so, in my opinion the majority of these cases should culminate in a criminal prosecution.'

The National Police Chiefs' Council said there was a 'complexity' and 'nuance' behind the cases that the bald statistics did not show.
The reusable goods market is soaring in the US as Americans hope such purchases will improve the environment - but that all depends on how many times each item is used.

Some reusable water bottles, lunch boxes and straws need to be utilized hundreds of times to offset the amount of carbon emissions and toxic materials used to produce them.

Cloth bags, on the other hand, only make an environmental difference if used 7,100 times, and data has shown that 90 percent are only used a few times.

When consumers purchase too many of these products, they sometimes aren't using them enough to offset the amount of CO2 emitted during the production process, thus harming the environment

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reusable products are still the better option to offset plastic waste - which amounts to 40 million tons in the US.

However, the replacements do produce a certain amount of carbon emissions when theyre made, ranging from seven ounces to four pounds.

Carbon emissions are the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuels like oil and gas that, when released, traps the suns heat and leads to rising global temperatures.

The impact of reusable goods on the environment is calculated by measuring the pollution caused by the manufacturing process, transport and residual life of product packaging.

A person's carbon footprint is measured by the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air when you use or make a product.

Every item has a carbon footprint, which varies by material, manufacturing, and how many times it gets used before getting thrown out.

If you have a reusable coffee cup, for example, it will not be carbon-neutral unless the amount of CO2 avoided by using it it is the same as sticking with the disposable option.

By one estimate, a reusable coffee cup would need to be used about 100 times to equal the amount of CO2 from 100 disposable cups.

Anything more than that means that you have achieved your goal of reducing carbon emissions, but anything less than that means greater CO2 emissions than if you had just kept using disposables.

Cloth bags - must be used 7,100 times

A cloth bag needs to be used 7,100 times to offset the CO2 emitted during production

A cloth bag or tote needs to be used 7,100 times to offset the CO2 emitted during production, according to a 2018 Danish Environmental Protection Agency report.

And although plastic bags declined by 60 percent since they were banned, greenhouse gas emissions from reusable bags rose by 500 percent.

The production of plastic bags use 47 pounds of CO2 while reusable bags emit 15.2 pounds of CO2, according to a report by CO2 Everything.

Although the carbon emissions from reusables are far less, the drastic increase in production offsets the smaller carbon footprint.

Reusable bags are typically made from synthetic fibers or polyester, a polymer made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is also found in plastic bottles.

States like California and New Jersey are taking steps to decrease reusable bag production and usage rates.

California became the first state to ban plastic bags nearly a decade ago, and in 2020, New Jersey followed suit, demanding stores require shoppers to bring reusable bags with them, but a new report revealed it has been a failed attempt to help the environment.

In California, stores turned to heavy-duty reusable plastic bags that shoppers could purchase for 10 cents, but because people didn't actually reuse them, it created a larger plastic waste problem.

The same issue occurred in New Jersey, with reports stating that since the state banned plastic shopping bags, there has been a rise in plastic consumption.

Reports stated that 90 percent of reusable bags were only used two or three times before they were thrown out.

Water bottles - 500 times

Each reusable water bottle 500 times to offset the amount of carbon emissions used to make it

Although reusable water bottles replace the overwhelming amount of plastic, they are energy-intensive to make, compared to disposables.

By one estimate, consumers would need to use each reusable water bottle 500 times to offset the amount of carbon emissions used to produce the same number of disposable plastic bottles.

Reusable water bottles are made of stainless steel, aluminum, glass or BPA-free plastic - meaning it is free from the industrial chemical Bisphenol-A.

Although the plastic water bottle can be reused, it poses the same environmental problems as single-use plastic bottles.

The answer is to simply buy fewer reusable water bottles, noting that you may need only one or two in several years.

As of 2024, around most US adults own a reusable water bottle, but Americans still purchase about 50 billion plastic water bottles every year.

Cloth Napkin - must be used 43 times

Cloth napkins need to be used 43 times to offset its CO2

One cloth napkin would need to be used 43 times to offset the amount of carbon emissions used to make it, according to Sustainable Living.

While this may make sense in restaurants, buying more than one or two sets at home may not make up for how often you would need to use it.

Producing one cloth napkin causes more than one 2.2 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and uses 39 gallons of water, but washing it after each use adds to its emissions footprint.

Nonetheless, using a single cloth napkin over one year will have replaced roughly 350 paper napkins, according to the sustainability site, Treehugger.

Coffee Cup - must be used 100 times

One reusable coffee cup needs to be used 100 times to offset its CO2

Reusable coffee cups have become the go-to choice for a lot of consumers, with even Starbucks offering a reusable option.

However, as people purchase more reusable coffee cups, the effect it has on the environment and climate change as a whole begins to diminish.

It would take using one reusable coffee cup 100 times to offset the 4.4 pounds of carbon emissions emitted when it is produced, according to a 2020 Life Cycle Assessment.

Reusable coffee cups can be used five days per week for about eight years before they deteriorate, meaning you can use each one 8,000 times.

Using a reusable cup that many times would offset its carbon footprint by 80 times, making it worth the emissions - but only if it is used until it falls apart.

Lunch Box - must be used 208 times

Lunchboxes need to be used 208 times each to offset its carbon footprint

A lunchbox used for a year costs the Earth about 30 grams of carbon, and while this is significantly better than disposable packaging's approximately 105 grams of CO2, it would still take about 208 uses before that reusable lunchbox offset the carbon emissions it took to make it, according to Vapur.

Reusable lunchboxes are made out of materials including metal, plastic, glass and wood.

Reusable lunchboxes are more environmentally friendly in the long-term, with more than 16 billion pieces of disposable packaging used for takeaway food every year, according to a study in Science Direct.

Straw - must be used 105 times

Although reusable straws emit a small amount of CO2, they still need to be used 105 times to offset its carbon footprint

The idea of a reusable straw can be deceiving  they were originally invented to combat the rise in plastic that ends up in the oceans, but their production also releases increasingly high levels of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

A metal straw will need to be used more than 150 times to offset the half pound of carbon emitted during production, while silicone straws need to be used 105 times, according to a Sandia Area Federal Credit Union report.

READ MORE: Woman shares terrifying PSA about reusable water bottles A content creator has warned people about the dangers of reusable water bottles after she was forced to go to urgent care four times when she fell ill because of the mold in the bottle. Advertisement

How to reduce your carbon footprint

Each person has a carbon footprint  the number of products they buy and use that produced carbon emissions when they were made, like reusable water bottles, cloth napkins, or lunch boxes.

The average Americans carbon footprint is 16 tons per year, Perch Energy, Inc. reported.

But this also depends on a persons location which varies from state to state and is likely due to things like travel and transportation, electricity consumption, access to clean energy, and the areas population.

There are several steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint, like sticking to only one or two reusable items per person, instead of purchasing a surplus while youre waiting at the checkout line.

Taking shorter showers and turning down your heat by just one or two degrees can also make a big difference.

Reducing your plastic use, using renewable energy, group transportation (whether a carpool or public transit), and switching to reusable products are also a quick and efficient way to cut back on your carbon footprint.
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The skyline of Hartford is reflected in the Connecticut River. Brian T. Evans/Getty Images

Last weekend, I was obsessed reading a couple of in-depth front-page articles about our states economy and jobs outlook. No surprise, Connecticut remains in an economic holding pattern. According to Paul Schotts series, its very complex explaining Connecticuts economy and our states future because of what we experienced in recent years.

The Great Recession in 2008 clearly left a lasting mark on our region. The New York tristate area as well as New England were affected with lower property values and higher unemployment figures. Even worse, manufacturing industries were slammed with fewer hires and little growth years ago. As usual, Connecticut was stuck in the middle geographically and economically. Many of us tend to forget that New York and New England states economies have a tremendous impact on our state.

As a result, we never fully recovered from the Great Recession and remained hammered by the 1990s recession as Schott chronicles. For sparsely populated states, it is more challenging to keep residents and recruit newcomers, he reports. The lack of people then becomes an impediment to creating jobs and overall economic growth.

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In other words, we need to consider that our state population is scattered and not growing at the rate of nearby states. In the last decade, Connecticut barely grew 1 percent of our population compared with 7-percent nationally. Though the pandemic led to many New Yorkers relocating to Connecticut, that growth is recent and hardly enough to make up for the last couple of decades.

In addition, during economic downturns Connecticut has maintained heterogeneous cities but reinforced homogenous suburbs and rural towns. These divided but lessened populations affect our economy, especially for recruiting and retaining residents.

Several sectors are trying to draw and keep employees, particularly in manufacturing. According to the Connecticut Business and Industry Associations 2023 Connecticut Manufacturing Report, there are an estimated 9,000 manufacturing job openings statewide. Theres also an increase in retirements and a skills mismatch for these positions thats leading to further employment vacancies.

Among the labor shortages and lagging economic periods, our state government has lured incentives to specific industries. In particular, former Gov. Dannel Malloy and his administration tried, but it could take decades for those incentives to have a large impact on economic growth. Plus, the states finances have been shaky and Connecticut has a reputation for having a hostile business climate.

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Our states Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has offered additional programs, tax rebates and loans especially during current Gov. Ned Lamonts term. JobsCT, First Five Plus and Small Business Express were some of the incentives Schott investigated within DECD. Given manufacturings importance to Connecticuts economy, some industry advocates argue that the state still has not provided sufficient support, he discovers.

So, what is our states future?

Economically, Connecticuts approaches have yielded mixed results. We need to consider growing in specific policy areas to gain and keep residents as well as grow our economy. Its no surprise that transportation, housing and education concerns remain pressing problems. As a state, were hardly holistic about strategizing best practices in these policy areas across divided municipal lines.

But specific Connecticut regions have grown. For example, I found it especially revealing that Stamford and Norwalk have flourished and they have devised unique economic development approaches. At the same time some of our larger cities, including Bridgeport and Hartford, could do more in these policy areas. All of these cities have diverse populations, but their local economies and development incentives vary widely.

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What does it actually say about you if you love comedies, or like nothing better than watching a masked killer hunting down his victims?

The answer is probably rather different from what you expect.

Multiple scientific studies have investigated the personality traits associated with different film genres, and have come up with some surprising associations (as well as some not-so-surprising ones, like the fact that rom-com fans tend to believe in true love.

Heres what your favorite film genre says about you, according to science:

HORROR: YOU'RE OUTGOING

If youre a horror fan, the good news is that your predilection for watching people in clown masks slash and mutilate innocent victims doesnt mean that you are a psychopath yourself.

In fact, watching horror films means youre more likely to be an outgoing or extroverted person.

What does watching horror films such as M3GAN say about you? (Getty)

A study by the University of Lleida in Spain found that extroverts tend to be drawn to action and horror films, but left bored by game shows and news programs.

Scientists prove music taste changes as you get older Advertisement

Another study found that sensation-seekers actually salivated more during a 20-minute segment of the horror film Friday 13th, showing that they were more alert.

Some studies have suggested in the past that people who enjoy horror films are less likely to show empathy - care for others - but a 2022 study called this into question.

The pre-print study found that enjoyment of horror movies was unrelated to affective empathy, negatively associated with cold heartedness, and positively associated with cognitive empathy.

In fact, enjoying horror films is not very different to children playing games like chasing and hide and seek, says psychologist Mathias Clasen, writing in Psychology Today.

Clasen said that a recent study showed that horror films seem to make fans more resilient, with fans able to cope better during COVID lockdowns.

Clasen said: Presumably, we evolved to find pleasure in threat simulation because of the learning potential of such simulation. When we play with fear, we may learn important lessons about the dangers of the world as well as our own responses to danger. We learn what it feels like to be afraid, and we get to practice and hone fear-regulation strategies. We may even become more resilient in the process.

ROM-COMS: YOU BELIEVE IN TRUE LOVE

Theres some fairly weird science around why we watch rom-coms, including research by University of Colorado at Boulder which found that people tend to want to watch rom coms when its cold.

But - perhaps unsurprisingly - many studies have found that people who believe in true love tend to enjoy romantic films.

What does a taste for rom coms say about you as a person?

A 2019 study by Valerie Kretz found that not only do people who like romantic movies believe in the idea that love conquers all, they are also more likely to be happy in their relationships.

Kretz wrote: Television drama and romantic movie viewing were the strongest predictors of belief in love conquers all and relationship satisfaction, whereas soap opera viewing was the strongest predictor of belief in soul mates.

In fact, a 2014 study found that watching romantic movies together was as effective as some counselling methods when it comes to staying together.

Using a movie and talk approach reduced the divorce and separation rate from 24 percent to 11 percent.

Lead author Ronald Rogge of the University of Rochester said: 'Its incredibly portable.

'There are really great marriage intervention programs available now but most require trained therapists to administer them.

'If couples can do this on their own, it makes it so much easier to help them.'

SCI-FI: YOU MAY HAVE NARCISSISTIC TRAITS

What does engaging with geek culture such as Dune or Star Wars say about you as a person?

One controversial 2015 study suggests that people who do so are narcissists who seek to escape the real world.

Enjoyed Dune 2? Here's what that says about you

The researchers wrote: These studies present evidence that individuals may engage in geek culture in order to maintain narcissistic self-views (the great fantasy migration hypothesis), to fulfill belongingness needs (the belongingness hypothesis), and to satisfy needs for creative expression (the need for engagement hypothesis).

'Geek engagement is found to be associated with elevated grandiose narcissism, extraversion, openness to experience, depression, and subjective well-being across multiple samples.

But thats not the full picture. Writing in The Conversation, Dr Gavin Miller Senior Lecturer in Medical Humanities at the University of Glasgow, said that psychologists tend to dismiss the fact that science fiction often confronts real issues in the world.

Others suggest a link between an affinity for fantasy and sci fi and creativity.

Cognitive psychologist Dr Kevin Brown said in an interview: 'Those drawn to fantasy tend to be people with a more creative mind. Its an often underestimated form of intelligence, but it is an important form.

Creativity tends to be undervalued in our society. Interestingly, many who do not necessarily have a creative mind still have a visceral need for the creativity of others through literature or music.

Research by Oklahoma University backs this up, suggesting that sci fi fans are open to experience and happy to explore new ideas.

The researchers write, Their openness to adventure and a variety of experiences makes sense with the correlation to science fiction, which is characterized by these traits.

COMEDY: YOU'VE GOT BAGS OF ENERGY

People who watch comedies tend to have hyperthymic traits, one study found.

Hyperthymic temperament refers to people with abnormally large amounts of energy and enthusiasm.

Watching comedies such as The Hangover could mean you're an energetic and open person

Other studies have suggested that people who enjoy comedies tend to be more open to new experiences and more creative than others.

Theres also good news if you ARE a comedy fan: a 2016 study found that watching comedies is actually good for reducing levels of stress hormones such as cortisol.
From The Terminator to The Day After Tomorrow, movies have envisioned just about every possibility for how the world might end.

If you're a science fiction movie buff, you might think that some of these apocalyptic scenarios seem a little far-fetched.

But hold onto your popcorn, as experts say that some of these disastrous plotlines could actually become a reality.

While we don't need to worry about an asteroid wiping us out like in Armageddon, experts warn that a bioweapon leak like 12 Monkeys could really end the world.

And if your favourite blockbuster does give us a glimpse at how the world will end, not even Bruce Willis will be able to save us.

Apocalypse movies find their inspiration in a number of different disasters, but which are the most realistic. MailOnline asked the experts for their opinion

The most realistic apocalypse movies, according to experts

1. 12 Monkeys An escaped bioweapon could pose a genuine threat of destroying humanity. 2. The Terminator A rogue AI like Skynet would be unpredictable and may wipe out, or enslave humanity to reach its own ends. 3. Threads The threat of nuclear war is real and could totally destroy humanity. Advertisement

Asteroid impact

1998 was a year distinguished for having not one, but two movies about asteroids colliding with Earth.

Both Armageddon and Deep Impact play out a terrifying prospect: what if Earth was set on a collision course with an asteroid big enough to wipe out humanity?

Although this might seem far-fetched, the basic plot does at least have some basis in reality.

Famously, the dinosaurs met their end after a space rock between six and 10 miles across collided with the planet, creating the 120 mile-wide Chicxulub crater.

However, Richard Moissl, head of the planetary defence office for the European Space Agency, told MailOnline that scenes like those from Deep Impact are still extremely unlikely.

Mr Moissl says: 'How risky an asteroid impact is depends a lot on size.'

The Earth is constantly being hit with small pieces of space rock, but most are so small that they simply burn up in the atmosphere.

When it comes to bigger asteroids that could damage Earth the risk is actually pretty low, simply because they are so rare.

While Armageddon imagined we might only have 18 days warning, in reality we might have up to 100 years to prepare.

Alongside NASA, ESA tracks a vast number of 'Near Earth Objects' with a particular focus on objects that are more than 10m across.

ESA publishes a 'risk list' of any object that has a more than one per cent chance of crossing Earth's orbit.

Only 1,600 of the 34,500 Near Earth Objects have a non-zero chance of hitting Earth and most are so small they would hardly be noticed.

Mr Moissl explained: 'Because of several physical processes you have relatively few very large objects.

'The collision risk of the ones one kilometre or larger is none, because we know where they are and we are fairly sure none of them will hit us in the next 100 years.

In Deep Impact (pictured) the asteroid that threatens to destroy Earth is 7-mile (11 km), this is about the same size as the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs and would certainly destroy humanity

Big asteroids have hit Earth within the planet's recent history.

During the 'Tunguska Event' in 1908, a 50m-wide object exploded over a remote area of Siberian forest, flattening 830 square miles of trees.

'If you imagine that over a major population centre, even if everyone got out ahead of time and there's not one dog or cat left in the city, the damage easily goes into the thousands of millions of dollars', Mr Moissl said.

Ultimately, what these films really get wrong is that the biggest risk isn't actually posed by the biggest asteroids.

Mr Moissl explains: 'Between a small one and a big one there is a sliding scale.

'The smaller they are the more numerous they become and the less light they reflect, so the harder they become to observe.'

The real danger is that Earth gets hit by an asteroid big enough to reach Earth but too small to detect in time, rather than a Hollywood-worthy 'planet killer'.

Unlike in Armageddon (pictured) the bigger risk is actually posed by rocks around 50m across. These could wipe out a city but are small enough that we might not see them coming in time

The least realistic apocalypse movies, according to experts

1. Deep Impact Thankfully, there are no asteroids big enough to destroy Earth on a collision course for at least the next 100 years. 2. The Day After Tomorrow Climate change is more likely to increase other existential risks than destroy humanity directly. 3. Outbreak A naturally occurring pandemic could be devastating, but is unlikely to totally devastate humanity. Advertisement

Global pandemic

When they were first released, films like Contagion, Outbreak, or 12 Monkeys seemed like nothing more than science fiction.

But, after the last few years, these disaster films may seem a little too close to home to feel like fiction.

However, as Covid taught us, a global pandemic might not necessarily be the end of the world.

In fact, the world has already survived pandemics a number of times from the Black Death to the Spanish Flu.

For this reason, most experts don't believe that any single natural virus would lead to the end of the world.

Jochem Rietveld, an expert on Covid from the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, told MailOnline: 'I would say that pandemics are more likely to pose a catastrophic risk than an existential risk to humanity.'

He explains that while a viral outbreak could kill even more than Covid it is unlikely that this would endanger the whole of humanity.

This means that films like Contagion or Outbreak where the virus emerges naturally aren't all that realistic as an apocalypse scenario.

In the 2011 film Contagion, the world scrambles to stop a disease which jumped to humans from bats. But the experts say that a natural virus wouldn't be likely to totally wipe out humanity

The more realistic film, ignoring the time travel elements, is 12 Monkeys which proposes that the world could be destroyed by an escaped bio-weapon.

Otto Barten, founder of the Existential Risk Observatory, told MailOnline: 'Natural pandemics are extremely unlikely to lead to complete human extinction. But man-made pandemics might be able to.'

Unfortunately, these theories have worrying real-life precedents.

During the latter days of the Cold War, the Soviet Union operated the largest and most sophisticated biological weapons program the world had ever seen.

Their research was able to mass produce modified versions of diseases including anthrax, weaponised smallpox, and even the plague.

The experts say that 12 Monkeys, starring Bruce Willis (pictured) has a more realistic version of the apocalypse since it suggests that an escaped bioweapon could destroy humanity

And the risk is even higher today due to the increasing availability of AI which can supercharge the development of new bioweapons.

Recent research found that one AI designed for medicine discovery could easily be repurposed to discover new bioweapons.

In just six hours the AI found more than 40,000 new toxic molecules - many more dangerous than existing chemical weapon.

As AI lowers the 'barrier to entry' for bioweapons, this creates a serious risk that a man-made plague may escape and wipe out humanity.

Mr Barten said: 'Increasingly, the danger may also be man-made pandemics, originating from lab leaks or, in the future, perhaps even from bio-hackers.

'The continuing development of biotechnology creates new risks. It is therefore crucial that governments start to structurally reduce the risks from man-made pandemics.'

This makes films featuring bioweapons like 12 Monkeys or zombie-horror Train to Busan some of the more realistic visions of the apocalypse.

AI uprising

While bioweapons and asteroids might be scary, the risk of AI has never felt quite so imminent.

As large language models like ChatGPT continue to develop in leaps and bounds, films like The Terminator and The Matrix may spring to mind.

While these portrayals of the AI apocalypse might seem outlandish, the experts say they do get a few terrifying details right.

'I don't think we really need to be worried about a pink-eyed terminator with an Austrian accent coming back in time,' said Haydn Belfield, who studies the danger of AI at the Centre for Study of Existential Risk.

He adds: 'But the real villain of the Terminator franchise is Skynet; this autonomous AI that decides to launch [nuclear] weapons because it's worried that it's going to be turned off.

'Some aspects of that are actually worrying to people nowadays.'

An AI uprising like in The Terminator (pictured) isn't likely to result in killer robots, but the experts are genuinely worried about an AI like Skynet escaping human control

The five ways AI could destroy humanity 1. Rogue AI Humanity may create an AI so powerful we can't control it. In this scenario, open-ended goals could lead to AI overthrowing humanity. 2. Bioweapons AI can accelerate the discovery of bioweapons and toxic compounds. In the hands of terrorists, this could lead to a devastating plague being unleashed. 3. AI let loose deliberately AI could be used to create a powerful cyberweapon that could destroy the world's systems. Experts warn some groups could let this loose deliberately. 4. Nuclear war Military decision-making on nuclear weapons could be turned over to AI. If this is the case then conflict could rapidly escalate into a 'flash war' destroying the world. 5. Gradual replacement We might slowly turn over control to the AI without even noticing it. Humanity could quietly be eclipsed by its creation. Advertisement

Mr Belfield explains that AI experts don't believe that an AI might become sentient or come to hate humans as films like The Matrix imagine, but that it might simply escape our control.

He said: 'If you get an AI that's really good at writing its own code and hacking things then if it doesn't want to get turned off we might just lose control of some of these systems.'

He compares this to the Stuxnet computer virus which escaped into the internet and caused huge amounts of damage before it could be stopped.

'The concern isn't that the AI system is malevolent it's just that we haven't put the proper guardrails in place,' Mr Belfield says.

If, as may one day be the case, we put AI in control of nuclear weapons systems it is easy to see how a rogue AI could lead to the annihilation of society.

However, AI might not need to be in control of weapons to trigger the annihilation of humans.

Mr Barten explains that even giving an AI a simple task could lead to dangerous power-seeking behaviour.

He says: 'An AI may simply intend to carry out its human-programmed goal with enormous capability.

'If humans are threats or obstacles that could prevent an AI from reaching such a goal, the AI may well try to remove these threats or obstacles, with possibly fatal consequences.'

If the Terminator films go wrong anywhere, apart from the killer robots and time travel, it is actually that they give humanity too much of a fighting chance.

Mr Barten says: 'A superintelligence could likely hack its way into most of the internet, and thereby control online hardware, create bioweapons, convince humans to do things against their interest by controlling social media, or hire humans using resources from our online banking system.

'In general, films need a narrative: a fight of good against evil, where humans are relevant for at least one side.

'In reality, however, it seems not unlikely that superintelligence, if it takes over, does so rapidly without us being able to put up much resistance.'

Mr Barten compares this to how we might wage war against a medieval army.

With such an imbalance of power, there would be no lengthy battle, but rather a brief and decisive victory.

The Matrix (pictured) imagined that AI became sentient and enslaved humanity. In reality AI wouldn't even need to be sentient to overthrow humanity but could simply be pursuing goals we set it with too much power

Films like Terminator: Salvation (pictured) imagine a human resistance fighting back against the robots. But, in reality, humanity wouldn't stand a chance against a superintelligence

Nuclear war

If AI annihilation still feels a little too much like sci-fi, there is a much more imminent threat that could wipe us all out.

Countless films from 'The Day After' to the ultra-gritty 'Threads' have explored the idea of what could happen if the nukes start to fly.

During the 80s, in the so-called 'second Cold War', the nuclear war film even enjoyed a bit of a renaissance with Hollywood hits like WarGames taking to the screen.

In this classic sci-fi thriller, a bored hacker accidentally breaks into the American nuclear control system and brings the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation.

When it was released, the film was so troublingly realistic that then-president Ronald Reagan is believed to have overhauled his administration's approach cybersecurity after watching.

But what really makes WarGames so realistic is it captures one of the most terrifying things about nuclear war: just how fast it can happen.

WarGames (pictured) shows just how quickly computing issues could lead to nuclear war. The film is so persuasive that Ronald Reagan is believed to have overhauled his cybersecurity policy after watching

Mr Belfield explains that during the Cold War, the US and USSR both believed they would have about 12 minutes from spotting a threat until they would need to launch their own missiles.

Since most of their missiles were stored in silos on land, rather than in hidden submarines, a preemptive strike could wipe out the nation's capacity to respond.

For this reason, the USSR developed a system called 'The Dead Hand' designed as a fully autonomous system that could launch missiles if a credible threat was detected.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this led to around 18 known close calls which almost destroyed the world and, just like in WarGames, most of these were computer errors.

What are the experts' favourite films about nuclear war? 1. Dr Strangelove America teeters on the brink of nuclear war after a general orders an attack on the Soviet Union. 2. Threads Survivors of a nuclear attack attempt to survive in a post-apocalyptic Sheffield. 3. The Day After The residents of a small town in rural Kansas grapple with the aftermath of nuclear war. 4. WarGames A teen hacker accidentally triggers World War III after gaining access to the US military supercomputer. Advertisement

Mr Belfield describes one incident when a floppy disk meant for training was mistakenly loaded into the system, tricking the computer into believing it was under attack.

If a human had not intervened, there is a chance that the world could have been totally annihilated due to a simple IT error.

As nations increasingly look to automate weapons systems with AI, the risk of a rapidly escalating computer error becomes even more frightening.

The real risk is not that any country would openly seek nuclear war, but that a small issue might tumble out of control before anyone even knows what is happening.

The other thing that many nuclear apocalypse films get right is the fact that nuclear war really could lead to the end of the world.

Mr Belfield says that just how devastating nuclear war could be is still 'an open scientific question' but the current thinking leans towards the apocalyptic.

He says: 'Up until the 80s people thought "well, there are going to be all these cities exploded, there's gonna be this radiation, but that's kind of it".

'But then a group of scientists led by Carl Sagan and others from the Soviet Union proposed this idea of nuclear winter.'

The theory is that, when entire cities burn, they essentially turn into giant bellows; sucking in air and blasting it out into the upper atmosphere.

The Day After (pictured) paints a harrowing picture of the aftermath of nuclear war and, worryingly, the experts agree that the real thing may be even more destructive

The 1984 British film 'Threads' (pictured) paints a harrowing picture of nuclear war. In reality the real threat would be a nuclear winter that would lead to 95 per cent of Britain starving to death

This air takes up ash and dust way out into the stratosphere, so high up that it can't even be washed away by rain.

Just like the dust from a supervolcano, this nuclear cloud could then block out the sun for several years.

Unfortunately, Mr Belfield explains, scientists have recently begun modelling nuclear blasts with modern technology - and the outlook does not look good.

Mr Belfield said: 'They think that this does seem very likely to happen and it would reduce the crop yield in the northern hemisphere by something like 90 to 95 per cent.

'There would be around two to five billion people and around 95 per cent of people in the UK and US dead from starvation. So, yeah, it's bad news.'

We don't necessarily know whether this would lead to the total breakdown of society, a la The Mailman, but in either case, it would truly be the end of the world as we know it.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb may be one of the best portrayals of the absurdity and dangers of nuclear war

Climate disaster

Finally, we get to the last way in which humanity might destroy itself: climate change.

From the 1995 cult-classic Waterworld to CGI-fueled devastation The Day After Tomorrow, climate change has captivated filmmakers for decades.

Luckily for us, the experts don't think any of these films are particularly realistic.

In 2004's Day After Tomorrow, for example, the end of the world is brought about as climate change disrupts the North Atlantic Ocean circulation.

Although scientists are genuinely concerned that ice melting at the Earth's poles could disrupt global ocean currents, the effects of this change wouldn't be quite as dramatic.

Luckily for us, scientists say that climate change is not likely to cause scenes like those depicted in The Day After Tomorrow (pictured)

Mr Barten says: 'The scenario depicted in The Day After Tomorrow, superstorms leading to a global ice age, is not supported by climate science.'

He adds: 'The probability that the climate crisis is happening is 100%, we can see this all around us.

'However, if we look strictly at the existential risk, which means either human extinction, or a dystopia, or societal collapse, where both must be stable over billions of years, we think it is quite unlikely (perhaps around 0.1%) that climate change will lead to this.'

So although climate change may lead to devastating consequences from mega-hurricanes to mass famines, it probably won't wipe out humanity altogether.

This means that films like Snowpiercer, which imagine that climate change could nearly wipe out humanity, go too far with their predictions.

But, that doesn't mean that humanity is entirely safe.

While sci-fi films like Snowpiercer (pictured) imagine that climate change might itself destroy the world, the experts say that it is more likely to exacerbate other existential risks then destroy humanity directly

Mr Belfield explains that experts prefer to view climate change as a 'major contributor to existential risk' rather than an existential threat in itself.

He says: 'It's going to be exacerbating tensions, and maybe increasing some of these other risks rather but not in itself being a devastating factor,

'There are going to be places in the world where it's very hard to grow crops and maybe even hard to just live outside.'

These pressures, he explains, are bound to have an effect on migration, disease outbreaks, and even wars.

Mr Belfield compares climate change to 'turning up the temperature of the room'.

It is unlikely that it will become so hot that everyone dies, but it does make it a lot more likely that a fight will break out.
'Up-and-coming' Zanzibar has seen 83% rise in bookings among tourists in 2024

Zanzibar, in Tanzania, has been dubbed by Brits as the new 'Magaluf' party town

A picturesque East African city is emerging as the new party hotspot for British tourists seeking sun, sand and 1 beers.

Zanzibar, the stunning island paradise in Tanzania, has even been compared to the new 'Magaluf' party town by holidaymakers who can enjoy turquoise water and nightclubs from just 6.50pppn.

With its pristine beaches, affordable drinks, and year-round tropical climate, the stunning island paradise has swiftly gained popularity for those in search of a vibrant nightlife scene and breathtaking natural beauty.

According to recent statistics by Luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, 'up-and-coming' Zanzibar has experienced an astonishing 83% surge in bookings among its wealthy clientele.

Its sharp rise in tourism comes as popular European holiday destinations, such as Lanzarote and Amsterdam, crack down on rowdy behaviour and are asking boozy Brits to 'stay away.'

A picturesque East African city is emerging as the new party hotspot for British tourists seeking sun, sand and 1 beers

Zanzibar, the stunning island paradise in Tanzania, has been dubbed the new 'Magaluf' party town by holidaymakers who can enjoy turquoise water and nightclubs from just 6.50pppn

However, there is a particular part of the island that isn't the reserve of the well off and where British tourists are flocking in record numbers: the main town of Zanzibar City.

One of the key attractions drawing British tourists to Zanzibar City is its unbeatable drink deals.

Not only can you get pints from as little as 1.06, according to PintPrice, but Hikers Bay says you can get a meal in an affordable restaurant in the city from as little as 3.84.

There are also affordable prices on accommodation options, with one budget double room for two adults, found by Daily Star on booking.com, amounting to just 13 per night - that's a cool 6.50 per person.

There are many bars, clubs and restaurants where Brits have been partying the night away, as well as exploring historical sites such as Stone Town - the birthplace of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

From snorkeling in crystal-clear waters of the Indian Sea to exploring historical towns, visitors to Zanzibar are spoiled for choice when it comes to leisure activities and cultural immersion.

The nation also boasts the famous Serengeti National Park - home to safari's big five' lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos - as well as Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.

Moreover, Zanzibar's idyllic beaches and consistently warm temperatures, averaging around 30C year-round, provide the perfect backdrop for unforgettable holiday experiences.

One of the key attractions drawing British tourists to Zanzibar City is its unbeatable drink deals, with local bars offering refreshing beers for as little as 1

There are also unbeatable prices on accommodation options, with one budget double room for two adults amounting to just 13 per night - that's a cool 6.50 per person

There are many bars, clubs and restaurants where Brits have been partying the night away, as well as exploring historical sites such as Stone Town (pictured)

From snorkeling in crystal-clear waters of the Indian Sea to exploring historical towns, visitors to Zanzibar are spoiled for choice when it comes to leisure activities and cultural immersion

The nation also boasts the famous Serengeti National Park - home to safari's big five' lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos - as well as Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro

Scott Dunn advised: 'November to March is when youll enjoy a less crowded safari as this tends to be the green season.

'Rainfall turns the landscape into a lush green and this is when you are most likely to see newborn animals.'

With flights on Skyscanner available for as little as 378 for a round trip, Zanzibar is poised to remain a top choice for travelers seeking an affordable yet unforgettable holiday for years to come.

Meanwhile, Brits are being warned about a little-known rule that could turn a dream Spanish holiday into a nightmare.

In Benidorm, a new rule affects the place holidaymakers will spend the most time while abroad - the beach.

Time restrictions mean that if you're caught swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am, you'll be at risk of being fined between 750 and 1,200 (641.71 to 1,026.73).
Munya Chawawa will be putting his baking skills to the test in the Celebrity Bake Off tent for the Stand Up To Cancer special on March 17.

Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will welcome 20 stars into the tent for the Stand Up To Cancer special where their efforts will be judged by Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith.

Munya, who will be battling it out with Mel B, Oti Mabuse, Rhod Gilbert and Danny Dyer for the coveted baking title, has had quite the journey to stardom.

From his upbringing in the unrest of Zimbabwe, to being cruelly taunted in school, his path to internet stardom has been quite unique.

Read on to find out more about the hilarious comic who found fame as a posh drill rapper during lockdown.

Comic Munya Chawawa will be putting his baking skills to the test in the Celebrity Bake Off tent for the Stand Up to Cancer special on March 17

MailOnline take a look at the posh drill rapper who found internet popularity during lockdown

Where is Munya Chawawa from?

From his upbringing in the unrest of Zimbabwe, to being cruelly taunted in school, his path to internet stardom has been anything but easy (Munya aged four)

Born in the chilly East Midlands town of Derby, Munya Chawawa was welcomed into the world on December 29, 1992.

He is best-known for his viral comedy sketches poking fun at both celebrities and politicians alike.

As a child, Munya would imagine whole worlds and fight scenes every morning inspired by the toys hanging from his ceiling.

His performing streak started early, as the comic would regularly hold three hour performances filled with ventriloquism, breakdancing and singing for his grandparents and parents.

Jokingly describing himself as a 'triple threat', Munya told the Guardian: 'I attribute my path as an entertainer 100% to my uncle and grandad.

'Wed go to my grandparents house on a Friday and my Uncle Doug would come loaded with an artillery of jokes.'

However at the tender age of four, Munya was uprooted as his family moved back to Zimbabwe.

But thanks to his sporty and academic nature - and what he describes as the 'glistening novelty' of being a British child - Munya was very popular in his new school.

With super strict parents at home, the comedy rapper noted how it felt like he led a double life as a squeaky clean head boy and the class joker.

Chatting with Patta in 2020, Munya said: 'I tell people Im Zimbabwean because, you know when you just connect with a place so deeply?

'Growing up in Zimbabwe, people are so positive and so happy you really do believe you can do anything.'

When did Munya Chawawa return to England?

But the actor's happy school life soon came crumbling down when he was forced to return to England due to political upheaval ignited by authoritarian leader Robert Mugabe.

Recalling the 'culture shock' of relocating to the Norfolk village of Framingham Pigot, Munya explained that whilst being clever was a signal of popularity in Zimbabwe, it rubbed his British classmates up the wrong way.

Unfortunately, the comedian explained he would often be reprimanded by other students for being eager to answer questions and labelled a 'boffin'.

He added: 'I didnt even know what boffin meant. It sounded like something you could catch in a game of Quidditch.'

Although the bullies did not physically hurt the young actor, they did slowly chip away at his confidence and self-esteem.

Citing an example of how they would get into his psyche, Munya remembered: 'I had to have surgery to get my appendix removed, and while I was in hospital we had a substitute teacher who asked why I wasnt at school, and the boys in my class said, Munya is smoking weed; hes a dealer.'

Detailing how he was punished by his peers for being a go-getter who was proud of his heritage, the comedian retold of an incident where the bullies went as far as to drench a wooden hippo - which he had made to remind him of his country - in glue.

Through his pain, he found creativity writing poetry and rap verses about his struggles - and eventually public speaking.

Finding his groove once again as head boy of the school, Munya went on to present breakdancing competitions during lunch breaks and would fist bump year seven students on his way to class.

What has Munya Chawawa done?

The former Sheffield University Psychology student rose to fame after poking fun at a video of Jamie Oliver making jerk-rice

Now worth an estimated 1 million, according to The Sun, the comic's stardom is a far cry from his difficult school life.

The former Sheffield University Psychology student rose to fame after poking fun at a video of Jamie Oliver making jerk-rice.

After uploading the parody video titled Jonny Oliver, Munya bagged over a hundred new followers.

Wanting to catch the attention of TV agents, the comedian was determined to reach 30,000 on Instagram, constantly posting two sketches a week.

Quickly raking up well over 30,000 - and then more followers than all the presenters at 4Music - Munya bagged a job.

The new role was short-lived as the channel changed, making him redundant after only a week.

Despite the setbacks, Munya created the parody drill rapper Unknown P and saw astronomical success during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

He described the posh drill rapper character as a 'nod towards the appropriation and false ownership of black culture that often happens in western societies.'

Following his 2019 Fire in The Booth freestyle and a flurry of parody news sketches, Munya signed to Atlantic Records and later released his debut single Piers Morgan.

His second single Pain Au Chocolat, as well as his Daily Duppy freestyle garnered him a great number of views.

Having previously collaborated with fellow comics such as Mo Gilligan and Michael Dapaah, Munya has scored brand deals with likes of Netflix and GiffGaff.

Since he has garnered an Instagram following of 1.3 million, bagging deals with Atlantic Records, Netflix and GiffGaff

Outside of comedy, Munya has featured on The Sandman as Choronzon and was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef (pictured 2021)

Beyond comedy, Munya has featured on Celebrity MasterChef 2021 and as Choronzon on Netflix's The Sandman.

However the comic felt like he really made it when he came face to face with none other than Dwayne The Rock Johnson.

'When I was sat opposite The Rock, that was definitely a sweaty moment for me because this is a guy who I watched my whole childhood,' he told the BBC.

'The amount of times I watched this man's elbow land, so to be sat opposite him making a sketch on it [is incredible].'

More recently he decided to explore his Zimbabwean origins, in the BBC documentary Munya Chawawa: How To Survive A Dictator.

Explaining why he took on the challenge, the actor said he wanted to bring himself 'closure' as to why he had to leave 'somewhere that felt like paradise'.

Bringing his own twist to the hard-hitting documentary, Munya has said it will be the first show in history 'to explain dictatorships with R&B'.

Munya is set to feature alongside a whole host of stars on The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer Special on March 17.
Veteran Australian actor Stephen Curry has revealed what it was like to work with Hollywood star Ben Feldman on the set of new Stan Original series Population 11.

The Australian comedy-thriller show, which premiered on Thursday, follows American Andy Pruden (Feldman), who travels to a rural town to visit his dad who he hardly knows.

Andy comes across the town's 11 quirky residents, including Noel Pincus (Curry) a local who dreams of starting his own micro-nation.

The series was filmed in the tiny, isolated town of Derby in Western Australia, and the cast bunked together in the same hotel - meaning they spent plenty of time together when they weren't filming.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, Stephen admitted that he subjected Ben, the cast's only American star, to a hazing ritual during their time in the outback.

Veteran Australian actor Stephen Curry, 47, (left, with Perry Mooney) has revealed that he subjected Hollywood star Ben Feldman to a hazing ritual on the set of new Stan Original series Population 11

'Yanks are fun to wind up. At one stage we made him believe that his entire scalp would be removed,' he mused.

'There's nothing like an American actor coming with a whole bunch of Aussie bogans like us who basically spent the entire time making him feel like he's going to die,' he laughed.

'He's a very good sport and he always gave it back as good as he got, so we never felt guilty.'

The Australian comedy-thriller series, which premiered on Thursday, follows American Andy Pruden (Feldman), who travels to the Australian outback to visit his dad who he hardly knows

'Yanks are fun to wind up. At one stage we made him believe that his entire scalp would be removed,' he mused

Stephen only had positive words to say about working with Ben, who shot to fame in popular Hollywood shows Mad Men and Superstore.

'There's sort of a sense that very successful people in the States that are in our industry are a bit precious.. And a little bit entitled - or a lot entitled,' he explained.

'Ben broke that mould instantly. He is a pro. He's such a nice dude, he's such a hard worker,' he added.

Perry Mooney, an up-and-coming actress who also stars in the series, also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about what she learned working with a seasoned actor like Ben

'[Ben] asked the right questions. He knows exactly what he's doing, and even when he doesn't know what he's doing, he finds a way to figure it out. And it's not always in the way that you think it would happen,' she said

Perry Mooney, an up-and-coming actress who also stars in the series, also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about what she learned working with a seasoned actor like Ben.

'[Ben] asked the right questions. He knows exactly what he's doing, and even when he doesn't know what he's doing, he finds a way to figure it out. And it's not always in the way that you think it would happen,' she said.

'It's very interesting to see someone who's come through the Hollywood factory - in the best way possible - but come out the other end and be normal and be able to figure things out and not make you feel stupid for asking questions,' she added.

The Stan Originals brand new series premiered March 14 only on Stan.
But the Crocodile Dundee star told DailyMail.com that Chance is 'doing a lot better'

Chance had an emergency trip to the hospital in October and posted a video of himself covered in cuts and bruises

DailyMail.com spotted Australian actor Paul Hogan, 84, out in Los Angeles with his son Chance, 24

Paul Hogan has been spotted out and about with his wayward son for the first time since he was hospitalized in the fall.

DailyMail.com spotted the Crocodile Dundee actor, 84, with his 24-year-old son Chance this month in a rare outing in Los Angeles.

Hogan told DailyMail.com that Chance is 'doing a lot better' following an emergency trip to the hospital last year after a concerning video emerged of Chance covered in cuts and bruises.

But on a sunny LA afternoon, Chance looked much better as the father and son enjoyed quality time together.

DailyMail.com spotted Australian actor Paul Hogan, 84, out in Los Angeles with his son Chance, 24, this month

Chance had an emergency trip to the hospital in October and posted a video of himself covered in cuts and bruises

Chance appeared to be looking a lot better than he was in October when he was rushed to the hospital

This month, the Crocodile Dundee star told DailyMail.com that Chance is 'doing a lot better'

The Australian actor, seen wearing blue jeans and a leather jacket, returned to California in January after spending the holidays Down Under.

Chance, an aspiring musician, has a history of erratic behavior and was reportedly fixated with the devil years ago, before his parents teamed up to get him back on track.

This month the rocker wore ripped jeans, a polo shirt and green sunglasses.

During his latest outing, Hogan lamented that he had been having car troubles and explained how he needs to drive his car for 100 miles before it can be electronically registered with the California DMV.

He perked up though when asked if Chance was doing better, emphatically replying 'Oh yeah' before heading back to his rental home in Venice Beach where the pair live together.

In his disturbing Instagram posts from October, Chance revealed a large cut on his collarbone before he panned the camera to reveal his friends in the car smoking.

He then moved it closer and smiled to reveal several other cuts on his forehead and bruises around his eye, as well as two bandages which are usually attached to a pulse oximeter on his chest.

A pulse oximeter measures your blood oxygen levels and pulse and is usually used in hospitals.

Chance's long hair blew in the wind as he slowly bobbed his head to the music. He later revealed on Instagram that he had 'broke' his face and had been treated in the hospital.

Paul famously met Chance's mother Linda Kozlowski (right) while filming Crocodile Dundee in 1986, but effectively raised him as a single father after his marriage breakdown in 2013

The disturbing video showed a huge gash on Chance's his head and his arm was wrapped up

Hogan famously met Chance's mother Linda Kozlowski while filming Crocodile Dundee in 1986, but raised him as a single father after his marriage broke down in 2013.

But his son has proved a headache for the veteran comedian.

In 2015, Chance was reportedly caught drinking beer and smoking what appeared to be a bong on the balcony of his father's home.

In 2018, photos emerged of Chance vomiting outside a venue in Santa Monica where his band had just performed.

Chance was seen crouching down and holding his head in his hands in photos that reportedly left his famous father 'shattered'.

At the time, he was also forced to deny he was a devil worshipper after posting the satanic 'devil's number' 666 on Instagram as well as another image of a drawing of an inverted Christian crucifix.

Chance, an aspiring musician, has a history of erratic behavior and was reportedly fixated with the devil. This month the rocker wore ripped jeans, a polo shirt and green sunglasses

The Australian actor, seen wearing blue jeans and a leather jacket, returned to California in January after spending the holidays Down Under

Speaking to Woman's Day, Chance said: 'It's like I'm a satanic devil worshipper and my parents hate each other, none of that's true.'

He added: 'It's like, 'Hey, you're that Satanist drug-taking evil guy, right?''

Hogan describes Chance as American, telling The Daily Telegraph, 'The only family [Chance has got] is me.'

All of Chance's close relatives, including his grandparents, have died, the Aussie superstar said.

And even though Chance loves to visit Australia, Hogan says his home is in the US.

'All his friends, his band, musician mates, girlfriends, everything  they're all American,' he explained.

'He only has me, whereas my tribe at home, they've all got each other.'
Kanye West and Sean 'Diddy' Combs have been beefing since October 2022.

Before their beef started, Combs was one of Ye's only famous friends to defend his increasingly bizarre behavior and social media posts, calling him a 'free thinker' and insisting that the Golddigger rapper's message had been 'misconstrued.'

But then Kanye brought out his infamous White Lives Matter T-shirts and that's where Diddy drew the line.

Diddy got in touch with Kanye directly and shared his misgivings about the shirts, prompting an argument over text.

But on Thursday, the Its All About the Benjamins rapper and his twin daughters Jessie and D'Lila took in Ye and Ty Dolla $ign's controversial set at Rolling Loud in Los Angeles.

Kanye West and Sean ' Diddy ' Combs have been beefing since October 2022

Before their beef started, Combs was one of Ye's only famous friends to defend his increasingly bizarre behavior and social media posts, calling him a 'free thinker' and insisting that the Golddigger rapper's message had been 'misconstrued,' pictured here at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards

And the reason Ye's Vulture's 1 set was controversial is because neither Kanye nor Ty Dolla $ign sang during the performance.

They simply played the tracks from the album.

Diddy also brought his son Justin to the event and he also took in the show.

But it is unclear if the two men actually exchanged words at the festival or if Diddy's appearance is a figurative white flag on their feud.

Diddy sat down for an interview on The Breakfast Club in 2022 and called Kanye's very controversial White Lives Matter T-shirts 'tone deaf.'

Kanye wasn't a fan of Diddy's opinion in that matter and the two got into a much-publicized fight over text message.

'I'm selling these tees. Nobody gets in between me and my money. This is my grandfather texting you now. Never call me with no bulls*** like that again unless you ready to green light me. Cause anybody who got on that tee is me,' he reportedly texted.

And then things got a little more strange with Ye texting: 'Out of respect for everything you've meant to me I'll be quiet as Virgil. But now I know how I've hurt people I love with threats.'

In a follow-up text Kanye taunted his friend: 'Come do something illegal to me noooow pleeeeeeeeease.'

He then posted a screen-grab of these texts to his Instagram page and wrote in the caption: 'God is Love My brother misspoke to me but I still love him.'

But then Kanye brought out his infamous White Lives Matter t-shirts and that's where Diddy drew the line, pictured at the 2022 BET Awards where Ye presented Diddy with the Lifetime Achievement Award

Diddy got in touch with Kanye directly and shared his misgivings about the shirts, prompting an argument over text, prompting Ye to fight with him over text

At Thursday's Rolling Loud festival performance Kanye did not sing or rap or even hold a microphone

Fans who paid to see the rapper perform were disappointed by the performance art that Ye did instead

The imagery from Ye's camp continues to get more bizarre and concerning such as when he donned a mask and made the Heil Hitler arm motion

This isn't the first time Ye disappointed a festival crowd, when he played Bonnaroo in 2008, his set started almost two hours late to cries of 'Kanye sucks' that still resonate through fans of the Tennessee-based festival

Eventually Diddy responded: 'As soon as I land we'll meet face to face!!! Send me a address.'

Diddy attempted reasoning with Kanye who also insisted his friend was 'sent by Jews' and a 'FED.'

'I'm just trying to talk to you as a black man,' Diddy pleaded. 'And I'm talking to you because this is hurting our people. Stop.'

Kanye, undeterred, replied: 'Anything you text I will post. I love you. And you guys are breaking my heart. I accept your apology in advance.'
She's known for her quirky attire, but Helena Bonham Carter always manages to look good despite how outrageous her outfit is.

And Saturday was no different as the actress, 57, turned heads as she led the stars at the Merchant Ivory screening during the BFI Flare Festival 2024.

The mother-of-two wore a pair of unusual baggy black trousers that featured a lace panel across the calf area, and a sheer black top that featured large beige buttons and a collar.

Helena, who once cited her main style influences as Vivienne Westwood and Marie Antoinette, wore her curly hair up in a messy up-do that also featured a bow and opted for a red lip and smokey brown eye.

The esteemed actress teamed the ensemble with a black cropped puffer jacket and carried a brown leather satchel style bag that featured a handle and strap.

Helena Bonham Carter showed off her kooky sense of style as she led the stars at the Merchant Ivory screening during the BFI Flare Festival 2024

The mother-of-two wore a pair of unusual baggy black trousers that featured a lace panel across the calf area, and a sheer black top that featured large beige buttons and a collar

The star of One Life finished off her standout outfit with a pair of quirky sunglasses with green frames.

Within the event, she posed alongside Natasha Elhone, who starred in political Netflix drama, Designated Survivor.

The London-based star took a casual approach, opting for a blue shirt with denim jeans, which she paired with a dark green blazer and silver boots.

The mother of three kept her accessories to a minimum with a simple gold necklace.

She kept her blonde locks down and smiled brightly for the camera as she cosied up with Helena.

The pair were also joined by Greta Scacchi the Italian-Australian actress who is best known for her roles in the films White Mischief, Presumed Innocent, The Player, Emma, and Looking for Alibrandi.

The three women beamed for the camera as they took pictures from inside the BFI Southbank.

Also in attendance was actor Simon Callow who was spotted laughing and joking alongside Helena.

She wore her curly hair up in a messy up-do that also featured a bow and opted for a red lip and smokey brown eye

Helena posed alongside Natasha Elhone, who starred in political drama Designated Survivor and opted for a more casual approach, in a blue shirt with denim jeans

The mother of three paired the look with a dark green blazer and silver boots and left her blonde locks down to fall over her shoulder

The pair were also joined by Greta Scacchi the Italian-Australian actress who is best known for her roles in the films White Mischief, Presumed Innocent, The Player, Emma, and Looking for Alibrandi

The pair fondly embraced and in one image looked deep in thought at a wrapped up present that the Four Weddings and a Funeral actor carried in his hand.

Other stars who showed up included James Wilby, Stephen Soucy, John Bright, Rupert Graves and Jenny Beavan.

According to IMDB Merchant Ivory stars Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Helena and follows the history of the Merchant Ivory partnership, featuring interviews with James Ivory and close collaborators detailing and celebrating their experiences of being a part of the company.

The BFI Flare festival is a celebration of queer cinema, screening the best in contemporary LGBTQIA+ cinema from across the globe.

It is held at BFI Southbank and on BFI Player from 13 to 24 March.

Helena's outing comes after she was seen enjoying a dog walk and al fresco lunch with a friend at Melrose and Morgan in Primrose Hill on Friday.

Choosing to dine outside, Helena carried her plate of food to the table and washed down the feast with a bottle of kombucha.

She is currently in a relationship with academic Rye Dag Holmboe, 36, who is 21 years her junior.

Also in attendance was actor Simon Callow who was spotted laughing and joking alongside Helena as the pair caught up at the event

The pair fondly embraced and in one image looked deep in thought at a wrapped up present that the Four Weddings and a Funeral actor carried in his hand

Simon wrapped up for the occasion in a black coat, stripey scarf, tweed jacket and brown trousers which he teamed with a pair of smart black shoes

Other stars who showed up included James Wilby, Stephen Soucy, John Bright, Rupert Graves and Jenny Beavan (pictured)

She has been dating the art historian for five years following her split from film director Tim Burton, after meeting at a wedding in 2018.

Last year, speaking to the Daily Mail, Helena admitted she feels 'very lucky' to have met Rye.

However, she added that she's in no hurry to exchange vows, pointing out: 'I wasn't married the first time.'

Helena and her former long-term partner, director Tim, 65, famously lived in inter-connecting houses during their 13-year relationship, with each property decorated to their own his 'n' hers tastes and personal styles.
Lizzie Cundy turned heads as she stepped out in a pale blue three-piece suit for an appearance on Talk TV on Saturday.

The former WAG, 55, looked incredible as she flaunted her toned midriff in a cropped pastel waist coat.

Keeping her look simple, she paired her fabulous look with a pair of matching blue trousers.

Adding a hint of formality, she finished off her ensemble with a matching blue blazer which she slung over her shoulders.

To accesorise, Lizzie opted for a pair of nude toe-pointed stilettoes and a simple pendant necklace.

Lizzie Cundy turned heads as she stepped out in a pale blue three-piece suit for an outing in London on Saturday

The former WAG, 55, looked incredible as she flaunted her toned midriff in a cropped pastel waist coat while heading to TalkTV

It comes after Lizzie looked pretty pleased with herself when she was pictured out with a handsome man on Monday night.

She looked lovely in a pink suit as she took her suitor to Gaia restaurant in London's upmarkte Mayfair.

While she is yet to name him, the pair have actually been seen out together before when they attended an exhibition called Revelations: A Portrait Of Magic at S&P Gallery in London back in 2022.

All that's known about him is that he's an American restaurant director who flew in from Miami.

A source told MailOnline: 'He couldn't keep his eyes off her. They are very much a couple and they go together perfectly.'

Lizzie looked lovely in her pink suit which she wore over a gold knitted top. She completed her look with a pair of gold high heels.

And she carried a mini Louis Vuitton handbag on her shoulder.

Her date wore a cream bomber jacket over a matching jumper with jeans and beige Chelsea boots.

Keeping her look simple, she paired her fabulous look with a pair of matching blue trousers

Adding a hint of formality, she finished off her ensemble with a matching blue blazer which she slung over her shoulders

Lizzie is now on good terms with her ex husband James Cundy.

The radio presenter was married to the Chelsea and Spurs defender for 16 years and they have two sons together.

She recently revealed that her house was recently targeted by suspected burglars while she was inside the property, leaving her completely 'terrified'.

The socialite took to Instagram in January to reveal the 'frightening' ordeal as she claimed the scary incident happened while she was in the bath.

She shared more details with MailOnline as she told how she had heard a 'huge bang' from downstairs while her whole house was in complete darkness other than her bathroom light.

Lizzie said she 'couldn't move with fear' as she didn't know what was happening, claiming it was a local farmer who called the police after allegedly seeing two men outside her home.

She said the farmer 'spooked' the men and they drove straight through her fence while trying to flee, but overturned the car while driving at high speed and ran away.

Lizzie shared her relief that the suspected burglars were not successful in entering her home and claimed she was targeted because the men believed the property was empty and that she was still on holiday in Barbados.
Channel Nine news director Darren Wick announced his resignation in a statement on Friday afternoon, after 29 years with the network.

And speculation is now swirling that the timing of Wick's announcement may have been 'strategic'.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, an anonymous industry source has speculated that Wick released his statement at the beginning of the weekend to ensure it would be 'buried' by the news cycle.

'He announced it on Friday afternoon, which is what you do when you don't want it talked about in the press,' an industry source said.

'It means many media organisations won't bother running it or it would be buried.'

Channel Nine news director Darren Wick, 60, (pictured) announced his resignation in a statement on Friday afternoon, after 29 years with the network. And speculation is now swirling that the timing of Wick's announcement may have been 'strategic'

Industry sources also claim that Wick's departure is unlikely due to performance issues, as Nine's news and current affairs shows are currently rating well.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.

It comes after Wick, 60, wrote an email to Nine staff on Friday revealing he was leaving his job.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph , an anonymous industry source has speculated that Wick released his statement at the beginning of the weekend to ensure it would be 'buried' by the news cycle

'I am stepping down as the National Director of News and Current Affairs and leaving Nine,' he wrote.

'This is my 13th year in that position and my 29th year at the Network.

'Some of you are aware that I have taken a few weeks off to think about my future. And after many long beach walks and even longer conversations, I know in my heart that this is the right time for me to step down and leave Nine.

Industry sources claim that Wick's departure is unlikely due to performance issues as Nine's news and current affairs shows are currently rating well

'I don't want to use the word 'retiring' because I don't know how to sit idle. But I am going to take a very long break from what has been four decades of working as a journalist. I'm tired and need a rest.'

Nine's programming boss Michael Healey paid tribute to Wick for his work at the network.

'I personally want to thank Wickie for his commitment to the Nine News brand and wish him well,' he said.

The announcement came less than a week after Nine said Wick would return to his role after a short break.
Cotonou, Benin ( PANA) - Benin's economic capital Cotonou will host the first International Summit of the Global Network of Women Who Make a Difference (RMFI) on 24 and 25 May, the event organisers said on Sunday
Strictly Come Dancing's Giovanni Pernice has been hit by a fresh crisis, after three of his former celebrity partners reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him.

Sources claim Amanda Abbington, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with the Italian dancer on the BBC show.

Amanda quit Strictly back in October due to 'personal reasons' amid claims of a feud between her and Giovanni before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD.

Meanwhile Ranvir complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, while Laura said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while dancing with him in 2016.

Sources claimed that while 'tears were shed,' the trio also discussed the prospect of 'formally' complaining to the BBC about Giovanni's behaviour.

Strictly's Giovanni Pernice has been hit by a fresh crisis, after three of his former celebrity partners, including Laura Whitmore (pictured) reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him

Sources claim Amanda Abbington, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with the Italian dancer (pictured)

An insider told The Sun: 'There is every possibility all three could take it further and formally complain to the BBC, but for now they're comforting each other.'

'Only a handful of people will understand what it's like to be trained by Giovanni and in the industry he is regarded as a ''perfectionist''.

They added: 'There is some shock that the BBC appears to be doing nothing. Like Amanda, Ranvir also flagged an issue during training with Giovanni and said she was unhappy.'

However, a source close to Giovanni told the publication: 'Gio finds some of these allegations deeply unfair and offensive. He believes he's done nothing wrong, and simply wants to get the best out of his partners.'

A representative for the BBC declined to comment to The Sun. MailOnline has contacted representatives for the BBC, Giovanni Pernice, Laura Whitmore, Ranvir Singh and Amanda Abbington for comment.

The BBC said earlier this year that they would not be investigating Giovanni's behaviour with Amanda, with a spokesperson saying: 'There is a constant dialogue between the senior production team and contestants to ensure any concerns are addressed swiftly.'

In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while training with him.

She later wrote for HuffPost UK in 2018: 'I'm still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show.

Ranvir reportedly complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, and now sources claim all three stars could make a formal complaint to the BBC

This comes just hours after Giovanni broke his silence on Amanda 's explosive exit from the BBC show, saying: 'It's a shame because, in my opinion, [Amanda] could have gone all the way'

'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.'

It's also thought that Giovanni clashed with his 2018 celebrity partner Faye Tozer, while his 2022 partner Richie Anderson has unfollowed him on Instagram.

Giovanni, who is currently on tour with his stage show and is set to star with Anton Du Beke in a travel series on Monday, hinted last month he'd return to Strictly later this year for the last time.

However a Strictly spokesman said they would make an announcement in 'due course.'

This comes just hours after Giovanni broke his silence on Amanda's explosive exit from the BBC show.

Speaking on The Mirror's Invite Only podcast alongside fellow dancer Anton Du Beke he said: 'It's a shame because, in my opinion, [Amanda] could have gone all the way.'

While judge Anton added: 'I thought you and Amanda were marvellous. I thought you were terrific' and compared the Sherlock actress' talents to 2019 winner Kelvin Fletcher.

Following accusations of his 'militant' teaching style Giovanni admitted that was a 'perfectionist' but said it came from a 'perspective of caring' and that he believed all other professional dancers were the same.

Saying: 'In every single part of the world, if you're a professional dancer on one of these [Strictly] shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night'.

'And if we have good scores at the end, I do look back and say, 'I've done a great job'. But we all care about our partners and we want that for them every single week; to look great on a Saturday'.

He continued: 'There's no specific way that you are, or have to be with your celebrity. You make the most of their strengths so the only thing that's constant is the fact that you have to do a show on Saturday night.'

It comes after MailOnline exclusively revealed that Amanda had dropped her complaint to the BBC and had not contacted the Corporation on the matter further.

Sources at the BBC said that the 'matter is now closed' and they have 'moved on' after she asked to review the recordings of their off-screen dancing after she left the series, citing 'personal reasons.'

Amanda was also seeking legal advice over Giovanni's alleged behaviour towards her, believing video footage could 'back up' her claims.

It is understood that the first BBC chiefs knew about her PTSD late last year when they received a request for the tapes.

One show insider told the Mail: 'The whole thing was baffling but when Amanda contacted the BBC, she wanted some answers.

The actress noticeably snubbed the pro dancer from her exit statement when she quit the show in October, and has since said the show gave her PTSD

'But she hasn't followed it through and the matter is now closed. Amanda said she left for a medical reason at the time, but that was not PTSD.

'Her complaint was of course looked at but they were adamant that Giovanni had done nothing wrong. The BBC were ready to fight her, Amanda's reason for quitting Strictly was an entirely different one to her PTSD.

'She told production of a totally different medical condition and they [were] hugely supportive of her and did all they could to help.'

Amanda left the show during week five in October. It has reportedly taken months for her to recover from her time on the programme and she has apparently needed therapy following the 'behaviour she was exposed to.'

Speaking about her condition, Amanda told The Sun: 'I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons and I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life at the time both professionally and personally.'

A BBC spokesman declined to comment at the time.

Amanda was praised by the judges for her performances during her time on the show but it was claimed she was struggling behind the scenes.

An inside source told The Telegraph: 'It could be that she didn't know what she let herself in for.

'He [Giovanni] was quite tough and she found that difficult. If she wasn't very well, that wouldn't have helped.

'She was with a partner that had a certain training style that she couldn't cope with. Whether that came to a head or whether there's something else going on I don't know.'

Giovanni's parents said the dancer 'was just doing his job' following Amanda's shock departure from Strictly.

Addressing the news at the time, Giovanni's father Piero and mother Rosalda admitted that their son 'trained for long hours but was just doing his job'.

Twinkle-toed star Giovanni was reportedly only given the news of Amanda's exit a few hours before the official statement was released.

A source told the Daily Star: 'Amanda didn't tell Giovanni she had decided to quit the show. The first he heard was a call from a producer.

'This has really annoyed him. He's barely heard from her for 10 days. She hasn't been replying to messages or telling him what's happening.

'He's been complaining about it to friends. He's frustrated. He is worried the drama will be damaging for his career and make him look bad.'

Amanda snubbed the show's December final which saw the stars of the year's series that had previously been eliminated came together to do a group dance and celebrate with the winner.

A source told The Mirror of why she wouldn't be there: 'They wanted to position her as still very much part of the Strictly family, but Amanda's response to the invitation was she'd not be back.

'It's a shame, because her exit has been a sour note to the series this year.'

The Strictly insider added her snub has been 'difficult' and upsetting for Giovanni as he doesn't want people to see it 'as a reflection on him.'

They added whilst the pair sometimes 'clashed' Giovanni wishes her all the best.
Heidi Klum and her fellow America's Got Talent judges got back to work taping the upcoming new season of the popular show in Pasadena on Saturday.

The Project Runway alum, 50, rocked a monochromatic look in a pair of caramel-colored croc leather pants with a matching blouse she left halfway unbuttoned.

Her handbag, shoes and the lenses of her sunglasses continued in the color theme.

The German native  who looked radiant in a gold gown at the Vanity Fair Oscar party  wore her long, blonde hair parted slightly off-center and straight and her manicure was a bright, robin's egg blue.

She smiled brightly and greeted the assembled fans as she usually does when she arrives for a taping.

Heidi Klum and her fellow America's Got Talent judges got back to work taping the upcoming new season of the popular show in Pasadena on Saturday

Heidi and her husband Tokio Hotel guitarist Tom Kalutz, 34, made the rounds of the red carpets during the recently finished awards season in Hollywood.

The supermodel is on the cover of the latest issue of Glamour Germany in in the pages of the glossy magazine, she dishes on her marriage to a man 16-years her junior.

'I think it's often just spitefulness,' she told the outlet, referring to the origin of people's disapproval.

'Perhaps many people also think I've had too much luck in life. I have a great job, I get to travel the world, I can buy expensive things. And now I've also got myself such a great man,' she told the outlet.

Heidi and Tom tied the knot in Italy in 2019 after a little more than a year together.

Klum added: 'Maybe people don't begrudge me that. Nowadays, people are rightly extremely careful about everything they say  except age shaming. People continue to criticize [in that respect].'

Heidi told the magazine that when people ask about the big age difference in her marriage she responds, 'How should I answer that?

'I'm 50 and no longer 20. I'm not a young girl who hasn't experienced anything yet or has no idea about life,' she continued.

The Project Runway alum, 50, rocked a monochromatic look in a pair of caramel-colored leather pants with a matching blouse she left halfway unbuttoned. Her handbag, shoes and the lenses of her sunglasses continued in the color theme

The German native wore her long, blonde hair parted slightly off-center and straight and her manicure was a bright, robin's egg blue

She smiled brightly and greeted the assembled fans as she usually does when she arrives for a taping

'Time won't stand still for me and Tom will never catch up with me. I'll always be 16 years older, and I'm aware of that.'

And while Heidi and Tom don't yet look like they have such a big age difference, she acknowledges that that will happen sooner rather than later.

'Maybe it will be a problem for me in 10 years' time, maybe he won't like it then,' she said.

'In 20 years, I'll be 70. I usually plan for the future  but with my husband, I live in the here and now.'
Holly Candy, known professionally as Holly Valance, has taken a stunning swipe at climate activist Greta Thunberg in an explosive interview with GB News' Chopper's Political Podcast.

Valance, 40, a former pop star and Neighbours actress who has recently rebranded herself as a conservative commentator, didn't mince words as she revealed her thoughts on Swedish-born Thunberg, 21.

The Aussie star told podcast host Christopher Hope: 'I don't understand why you have this, like, demonic little gremlin high priestess of climatism as the goddess in classrooms, Greta [Thunberg].'

'All the kids are all coming home with depression and anxiety,' she said.

'Why would you go to your music lesson or bother doing your homework or get out of your bed if you think we're all going to be dead in five years anyway?'

The mother-of-two also declared she has no intention of moving back to her Australian homeland, lamenting that the country is going 'woke'.

Holly Candy, known professionally as Holly Valance, 40, (right) has taken a stunning swipe at climate activist Greta Thunberg, 21, (left) in an explosive interview with GB News ' Chopper's Political Podcast

'The Australia I grew up in was unreal. It was so fun and we didn't seem to have all these problems ... the woke stuff's really gone big in Australia,' she said.

Holly elaborated on the 'woke culture', pointing towards 'the stuff they're teaching in school': 'I don't think sexuality and children should be in the same sentence. I don't think anyone's sexuality is anyone's business. You don't know about mine. I don't know about yours. Why would we?'

Valance, who is married to billionaire property developer Nick Candy, was born in Australia but has UK citizenship through her British mother. She lives in London and the Cotswolds.

The Aussie star told podcast host Christopher Hope (left): 'I don't understand why you have this, like, demonic little gremlin high priestess of climatism as the goddess in classrooms, Greta [Thunberg]'

Holly also took the opportunity to target 'nanny state' Victoria, explaining that she still gets fines every few months for not voting. The government will 'fine you for breathing,' she joked.

She also firmly ruled out a return to Australia if Labour were to win the upcoming UK election.

'The plan would be to stay and live where we love, which is here, I'm very patriotic to this place. My mother is from Southampton. My whole family is English,' she told the podcast.

'I don't want to go anywhere. And Nick doesn't want to go anywhere. We prefer to be in our country.'

Elsewhere in the interview, the mother-of-two said she has no intention of moving back to her Australian homeland, lamenting that the country is going 'woke'. (Pictured on Neighbours)

Holly also took the opportunity to target 'nanny state' Victoria, explaining that she still gets fines every few months for not voting. The government will 'fine you for breathing,' she joked

In 2012, Holly married Nick in Beverly Hills and they welcomed two daughters together in 2013 and 2017 named Luka Violet Toni and Nova Skye Coco respectively.

The couple enjoy a lavish lifestyle and previously lived in a two-storey Hyde Park penthouse worth $340million (175million), making it Britain's most expensive flat.

Nick and Holly have since downsized to a $19.5million (10million) countryside mansion in the Cotswolds, which they are currently renovating.

In 2020, Nick gifted Holly with a $50.5million (26million) superyacht, despite the mother-of-two famously suffering from sea sickness.
Cat Deeley is reportedly being lined up to stand-in for pal Ant McPartlin on the latest series of Britain's Got Talent, should his wife Anne-Marie Corbett go into labour.

The host, 48, is set to become a father for the first time in June, which coincides with the competition's live shows after last year's final aired June 4.

Now according to The Sun ITV are putting together a consistency plan just in case the Geordie be forced to rush off and leave sidekick Declan Donnelly's side.

According to the publication new This Morning host Cat, 47, could be drafted in as a guest host, with Stephen Mulhern's name also in the mix.

A source said: 'The timing is causing something of a headache for bosses.

Cat Deeley, 48, is reportedly being lined up to stand-in for pal Ant McPartlin on the latest series of Britain's Got Talent , should his wife Anne-Marie Corbett go into labour

The host is set to become a father for the first time in June, which coincides with the competition's live shows (Ant and Anne-Marie pictured in February)

'They are considering whether Dec would present alone if Anne-Marie went into labour or, if time allows, a guest presenter could step in. Cat and Stephen, who the lads have worked with in the past, are front-runners.'

Cat hosted SMTV with Ant and Dec from 1998-2001 while Stephen appears with the duo regularly on Saturday Night Live.

MailOnline have contacted ITV for comment.

Last month, Ant broke his silence on becoming a father for the first time in a candid interview as he spoke about taking a break from hosting Saturday Night Takeaway.

Ant opened up about the real reasons for the show's pause in an interview with Fault Magazine as he publicly addressed his wife's pregnancy for the first time.

He said: 'We [he and Declan Donnelly] have both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit.

'We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now.'

Ant is set to become a father for the first time in June. It will be Ant's first while Anne-Marie has two children from her previous marriage.

Now according to reports ITV are putting together a consistency plan should Ant (L) be forced to rush off and leave sidekick Declan Donnelly's (R) side (pictured together on the show in 2023)

Cat hosted SMTV with Ant and Dec from 1998-2001 (pictured on the show in 1999)

Meanwhile Dec shares two children - Isla, age five, and Jack, one, with his wife Ali Astall.

It was previously rumoured in December that Anne-Marie could be expecting their first child, after she appeared to be several months pregnant while returning from a trip to Dubai.

According to The Sun Ant had already confided the wonderful news to Dec following weeks of speculation, with a source telling the publication: 'This is the news everyone wanted. Ant and Anne- Marie are beyond delighted.'

'It's no secret that Ant has always wanted children, but that it may never happen for him was something he had, sadly, come to terms with.'

They went on to describe Ant as a 'wonderful doting father' to Anne-Marie's children and said the couple did everything they could to keep the news a secret for as long as possible.

Adding: 'To be having a child two years short of his 50th birthday, with the love of his life, is the stuff of dreams for Ant.'

It was previously rumoured in December that Anne-Mari was expecting their first child (seen at their wedding)

Ant has always been open about his desire to be a father.

In 2013 he revealed his and ex-wife Lisa Armstrong's struggles, saying: 'There's a rumour that I'm holding off having kids till Dec finds himself Mrs Right.

'I love that idea, but I'm afraid it's not true. Lisa and I would love to have kids. We're trying. It's tougher than you think when you get a bit older.'

The TV star credits his wife, who he married in a lavish 500k wedding in 2021, for getting him through his alcohol and prescription drug addictions.
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Halle Bailey, Andra Day and Taraji P. Henson led a cavalcade of bombshells who sauntered down the red carpet at this year's star-studded edition of the NAACP Image Awards.

Thrown at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday, the glittering awards show welcomed an impressive array of top-flight luminaries from all walks of showbiz.

For her latest public appearance, Taraji cut a showstopping figure in a pale green frock that featured sparkly flower petal adornments over her bust and her enviably taut midriff.

The acclaimed film star, who is nominated for best supporting actress in a motion picture for her turn in The Color Purple, shot the cameras an enigmatic look.

Slicking her hair down in a fashion forward flourish, she accentuated the ensemble with a choker that complemented the silver clutch she held in her right hand.

(from left) Halle Bailey, Andra Day and Taraji P. Henson led a cavalcade of bombshells who sauntered down the red carpet at this year's star-studded edition of the NAACP Image Awards

Halle, who is nominated both for lead actress in a film via The Little Mermaid and supporting actress in a film via The Color Purple, was luminous with showbiz glamour on the red carpet

She cut a loved-up figure in front of the cameras in front of her longtime boyfriend DDG, with whom she welcomed her firstborn child in January - a bouncing baby boy called Halo

Halle, who is nominated both for lead actress in a film via The Little Mermaid and supporting actress in a film via The Color Purple, was luminous with showbiz glamour on the red carpet.

She draped her lithe frame in a slinky green dress that gleamed blindingly under the lights as she swanned acros the red carpet ahead of the celebrity-strewn ceremony.

Her eye-catching ensemble featured pleating over the bust that simultaneously resembled rose petals and a pair of eyes, and the waistline was cinched in to emphasize her petite frame.

She cut a loved-up figure in front of the cameras in front of her longtime boyfriend DDG, with whom she welcomed her firstborn child in January - a bouncing baby boy called Halo.

Andra, who achieved new levels of prominence for her Oscar-nominated turn as Billie Holiday a few years ago, was retro chic in an electric blue split gown with opera gloves and a feathered cape.

Flashing one of her statuesque legs through the thigh-slit of her dress, she lent herself a bit of added stature by balancing expertly on a purple pair of towering stilettos.

Jonathan Majors, who last year was convicted of misdemeanor third-degree assault of one of his ex-girlfriends, attended the awards show with his current girlfriend Meagan Good, who stood by him through the trial.

Usher, the recipient of Saturday evening's coveted President's Award, held hands with his third and latest wife Jennifer Goicoechea just weeks after news broke of their Las Vegas marriage.

Andra, who achieved new levels of prominence for her Oscar-nominated turn as Billie Holiday a few years ago, was retro chic in an electric blue split gown with opera gloves and a feathered cape

Jonathan Majors, who last year was convicted of misdemeanor third-degree assault of one of his ex-girlfriends, attended the awards show with his current girlfriend Meagan Good, who stood by him through the trial

For her latest public appearance, Taraji cut a showstopping figure in a pale green frock that featured sparkly flower petal adornments over her bust and her enviably taut midriff

Usher, the recipient of Saturday evening's coveted President's Award, held hands with his third and latest wife Jennifer Goicoechea just weeks after news broke of their Las Vegas marriage

Idris Elba was the image of suavity as he sizzled up a storm on the arm of his wife Sabrina, proving once again why he has been trailed by James Bond casting rumors for years.

Naturi Noughton draped her hourglass frame in a deep gold frock, while John Boyega channeled a retro detective in oversized pinstripes and Octavia Spencer put a jazzy spin on corporate style in a sparkly trouser suit.

Danielle Brooks, who is also nominated for her turn in The Color Purple in a role she previously played on Broadway, modeled a simple floor-length black gown but added a splash of glitz with bangles.

Sheryl Lee Ralph of Abbott Elementary opted for mermaid chic in a fluttering green mesh number, Deon Cole plumped for a quirkily short-sleeved suit and Tichina Arnold wore a look that plunged to hint at her svelte midriff.

June Ambrose swathed her willowy figure in a sumptuously voluminous monochrome floral gown as she attended the fete on the arm of her besuited husband Marc Chamblin.

Eva Marcille rocked a cutoff top that emphasized her lithe frame, MC Lyte cut a leggy figure in an asymmetric wine-colored look and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor lent herself an aristocratic air in an extravagant cape.

Vivica A. Fox was agelessly exuberant at the age of 59, swanking about in a tantalizingly sheer floral trouser suit that clung to her curves and flaunted her ample endowments.

Caroline Wanga was festooned with beads for her latest red carpet appearance, while Misty Copeland amplified the impact of her dancer's legs in high-waisted slacks and Amanda Gorman wore a sequined smock-like frock.

Idris Elba was the image of suavity as he sizzled up a storm on the arm of his wife Sabrina, proving once again why he has been trailed by James Bond casting rumors for years

Naturi Noughton draped her hourglass frame in a deep gold frock, while John Boyega channeled a retro detective in oversized pinstripes and Octavia Spencer put a jazzy spin on corporate style in a sparkly trouser suit

Danielle Brooks, who is also nominated for her turn in The Color Purple in a role she previously played on Broadway, modeled a simple floor-length black gown but added a splash of glitz with bangles

(from left) Sheryl Lee Ralph of Abbott Elementary opted for mermaid chic in a fluttering green mesh number, Deon Cole plumped for a quirkily short-sleeved suit and Tichina Arnold wore a look that plunged to hint at her svelte midriff

June Ambrose swathed her willowy figure in a sumptuously voluminous monochrome floral gown as she attended the fete on the arm of her besuited husband Marc Chamblin

(from left) Eva Marcille rocked a cutoff top that emphasized her lithe frame, MC Lyte cut a leggy figure in an asymmetric wine-colored look and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor lent herself an aristocratic air in an extravagant cape

Vivica A. Fox was agelessly exuberant at the age of 59, swanking about in a tantalizingly sheer floral trouser suit that clung to her curves and flaunted her ample endowments

(from left) Caroline Wanga was festooned with beads for her latest red carpet appearance, while Misty Copeland amplified the impact of her dancer's legs in high-waisted slacks and Amanda Gorman wore a sequined smock-like frock

Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown and Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition enjoyed a red carpet moment as they gathered together for a group shot at the awards show.

Damson Idris exuded a classic glamour in a midnight blue tuxedo with black lapels, while Robin Thede went for Vegas glitz in a sparkly gown with a feathery waistline and Nathalie Emmanuel slid into a mesmerizing nude gown.

A number of couples turned the awards show into an opportunity for a date night, including This Is Us heartthrob Sterling K. Brown, who walked the red carpet hand in hand with his wife Ryan Michelle Bathe.

Annie Ilonzeh radiated an ethereal grace in an aquamarine frock, Claudia Jordan struck a dominant pose in a tie-dye sequined gown and Chante Moore swanked about in a dazzling multicolored look.

Mark Wahlberg's sizzling, hunk-tastic brother Donnie modeled a tuxedo with a jacket that appeared to be either velvet or velour as he swung by the awards show stag, absent his wife Jenny McCarthy.

Erika Alexander made her presence felt in a hot pink skirt splashed with a flamingo motif, Leslie Jones put her cleavage on display and Lisa Ann Walter complemented her flaming red locks with a moss green outfit.

Keke Palmer channeled Marlene Dietrich in a mismatch tuxedo - white coat, black trousers - complete with a large red rose in her lapel and a cummerbund.

Among the couples aglow with romantic bliss on the red carpet were Jazmyn Simon and her steamy husband Dule Hill, as well as Lil Rel Howery and his fiancee Dannella Lane.

Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown and Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition enjoyed a red carpet moment as they gathered together for a group shot at the awards show

(from left) Damson Idris exuded a classic glamour in a midnight blue tuxedo with black lapels, while Robin Thede went for Vegas glitz in a sparkly gown with a feathery waistline and Nathalie Emmanuel slid into a mesmerizing nude gown

A number of couples turned the awards show into an opportunity for a date night, including This Is Us heartthrob Sterling K. Brown, who walked the red carpet hand in hand with his wife Ryan Michelle Bathe

(from left) Annie Ilonzeh radiated an ethereal grace in an aquamarine frock, Claudia Jordan struck a dominant pose in a tie-dye sequined gown and Chante Moore swanked about in a dazzling multicolored look

Mark Wahlberg's sizzling, hunk-tastic brother Donnie modeled a tuxedo with a jacket that appeared to be either velvet or velour as he swung by the awards show stag, absent his wife Jenny McCarthy

(from left) Erika Alexander made her presence felt in a hot pink skirt splashed with a flamingo motif, Leslie Jones put her cleavage on display and Lisa Ann Walter complemented her flaming red locks with a moss green outfit

Keke Palmer channeled Marlene Dietrich in a mismatch tuxedo - white coat, black trousers - complete with a large red rose in her lapel and a cummerbund

Among the couples aglow with romantic bliss on the red carpet were Jazmyn Simon and her steamy husband Dule Hill (left), as well as Lil Rel Howery and his fiancee Dannella Lane (right)

Kerry Washington was the image of Old Hollywood elegance in a floor-length olive green gown that featured a stylishly small train as well as a sash that flowed back into an extravagantly long cape

(from left) Yara Shadidi slid a kinky PVC black top over her pleated gown, while Quinta Brunson posed for the cameras in angelic white and Teyonah Parris opted for a sparkling frock with corsetry

Courtney B. Vance was the image of the dapper dandy, hitting the red carpet in a black suit with a rust-toned pocket square that matched his sunglasses and went well with his fedora

American Idol alumna Fantasia Barrino (left) was every inch the busty bombshell in a look redolent of the 1980s, while Ava DuVernay (right) cut a regal figure in purple

Kenya Barris, creator of such TV programs as Black-ish, turned the evening into an occasion for a family outing, hitting the red carpet alongside his teenage daughter Lola

Kerry Washington was the image of Old Hollywood elegance in a floor-length olive green gown that featured a stylishly small train as well as a sash that flowed back into an extravagantly long cape.

Yara Shadidi slid a kinky PVC black top over her pleated gown, while Quinta Brunson posed for the cameras in angelic white and Teyonah Parris opted for a sparkling frock with corsetry.

Courtney B. Vance was the image of the dapper dandy, hitting the red carpet in a black suit with a rust-toned pocket square that matched his sunglasses and went well with his fedora.

American Idol alumna Fantasia Barrino was every inch the busty bombshell in a look redolent of the 1980s, while Ava DuVernay cut a regal figure in purple.

Kenya Barris, creator of such TV programs as Black-ish, turned the evening into an occasion for a family outing, hitting the red carpet alongside his teenage daughter Lola.
Maddy King and her partner Leonard Ambrogi have welcomed their first child.

The model, 35, shared the joyous news on Sunday in a heartfelt Instagram post.

One precious photo showed Leonard lovingly cradling his son from his home office and another captured the bub wrapped up in blankets resting peacefully.

She revealed her son's sweet name in the caption, Nero, and added a love heart emoji.

Another photo showed Leonard, 38, lovingly cradling his newborn son.

Maddy King and her partner Leonard Ambrogi have welcomed their first child. Both pictured

Many of Maddy's 18,000 followers quickly took to the comment section to congratulate her on the amazing news.

'Massive congrats to you both,' one fan gushed and a second person added: 'He's divine, wishing you love and happiness.'

In November 2019, the model revealed she is off the market and in a loving relationship with boyfriend Leonard.

The model, 35, shared the joyous news on Sunday in a heartfelt Instagram post. One precious photo showed the newborn wrapped up in blankets resting peacefully

Maddy told Daily Mail Australia that she's been dating the Italian model since January that year but had largely kept the relationship quiet on social media.

She said the two met through work and have never looked back.

'We have modelled together for Autore Pearls and the Fink Group,' she said.

Maddy revealed her son's sweet name in the caption, Nero, and added a love heart emoji

Maddy said Leonard now largely sticks to the 'big modelling jobs' while he works in construction.

'He is the structural engineer for the big develop at the AMP building at Circular Quay,' she said beaming with pride.

The bombshell previously dated model Kris Smith on-and-off for almost four years before calling it quits in October 2016.
There was no shortage of star power at the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Among the many celebrities to walk the red carpet before heading inside the venue for the ceremony was longtime leading man Idris Elba, who had his lovely wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, by his side the entire evening.

The British actor was nominated for Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series for his role in the Apple TV+ thriller series Hijack.

He had some stiff competition in this category that also featured Forest Whitaker (Godfather Of Harlem), Jabari Banks (Bel-Air), Jesse L. Martin (The Irrational) and Damson Idris (Snowfall)  with Damson scoring the win.

The NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honor outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2023 calendar year.

Sabrina Dhowre Elba, 34, and husband Idris Elba, 51, were the picture of elegance when they attended the 55th NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles

Elba, 51, made his grand arrival looking handsome in a gorgeous black suit that he paired with a black dress shirt and matching tie.

He also donned a pair of black dress shoes, and had his dark hair closely cropped to his head.

While he would strike a few poses solo, the London, England native also enjoyed his time snuggling up next to his model wife, who knows a thing or two about photoshoots and fashion.

For the event the Montreal, Canada native was decked out in a brown plunging gown that hugged her fab figure in all the right ways before slightly widening from the knees on down.

The media personality and goodwill ambassador of the United Nations kept the accessories to a minimum, all while styling her shoulder length tresses back off her face, over her ears, with a part on the slight left.

Elba previously won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor In A Television Movie, Mini-Series Or Dramatic Special for Luther in 2011 and again in 2014 for the psychological crime thriller that ran for five seasons.

A few years later he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for The Jungle Book in 2017.

This go-around Queen Latifah played the role of host of the ceremony portion of the event that aired on BET while also being simulcast on CBS.

The longtime leading man looked handsome and stylish in a black suit and tie, while his wife oozed elegance in a plunging brown gown that hugged her figure in all the right ways

The London, England native came into the Image Awards as a nominee for Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series for his role in the Apple TV+ thriller series Hijack

The couple first met at a jazz bar one evening in Vancouver, Canada, in 2017 when the actor was in town shooting The Mountain Between Us with Kate Winslet.

The actor was immediately attracted to the former Miss Vancouver.

'It was love at first sight,' he said during an appearance on The View. 'I went out on my only day off, true story, it was a Sunday night, I went to this party and there she was. The rest is history.'

The couple made their first official appearance together at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Molly's Game in September 2017.

A few days later, they turned heads at the premiere of The Mountain Between Us, the film that ultimately brought them together.

Despite famously claiming that he would never marry again, Elba made a public proposal to Sabrina at a film screening before tying-the-knot in a lavish three-day Moroccan ceremony in 2019, People reported.
Ron Howard knows a thing or two about the workings of Hollywood as he evolved from a child star to an acclaimed director.

And it turns out Ron's experiences  which date back to the 1960s when he starred as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show at age six  helped him and his wife decide not to encourage their own kids to enter the acting world as juveniles.

Because of this hard stance, the couple's eldest child, Bryce Dallas Howard, now 43, didn't get her start on screen until the age of 22 when she played Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It (2003).

That role caught the attention of director M. Night Shyamalan, who later cast her as the blind girl in the period thriller film The Village (2004).

'My parents were very firm on that boundary, that they were not going to support anyone who wanted to be a child actor,' the Jurassic World star revealed to People.

Her famous father, who also became a huge star in his twenties playing Richie Cunningham in the hit ABC sitcom Happy Days (1974-1980), maintains that he wanted to protect his children from the dangers or early stardom.

Ron Howard, 70, recently revealed why he and his wife Cheryl forbid their four kids, including Bryce Dallas Howard, 43, from acting as a child star; Bryce and Ron pictured

'It's possible for child performers to really find a lot that is positive within it, but it's fraught with landmines,' Ron, 70, said when explaining how to navigate the long and winding road of Hollywood at a young age.

The filmmaker, who's best known for helming Night Shift (1982), Splash (1984), Cocoon (1985), Willow (1988) and Parenthood (1989) during the early part of his career as a director and producer, was also motivated to keep his kids out of the spotlight to avoid the inevitable comparisons.

'On top of everything else, because the characters that I played as a child were so well-known as to almost be iconic... I also thought, 'Hey, if one of our kids tries to act as a child, boy or girl, they're going to be unfairly compared,'' he said, in a reference to his two hugely successful roles on The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days.

The Duncan, Oklahoma native went on to share about the time and attention that's needed for parents to be able to properly look after an aspiring child star.

He noted that his late father, Rance Howard, and his late mother, Jean Howard, were both actors who knew how much supervision they had to provide their actor sons, Ron and his brother Clint Howard, on sets.

In fact, his mother ended up taking time off from her own acting career in order to support her son's own Hollywood aspirations.

In hindsight, Bryce is now grateful that her parents encouraged her to explore other interests as a child, which she thinks helped her gain confidence to be able to earn a paycheck in other avenues of life.

'I'm really glad that they did that because when I did start acting, it took a while to make a living,' she explained, before adding, 'To be able to be like, 'Oh, okay. I can actually support myself with this.''

Ron learned many lessons from his time as a young star on The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days that he and his wife refused to support their kids as child actors; the proud father of four is seen with Bryce as a toddler

'My parents were very firm on that boundary, that they were not going to support anyone who wanted to be a child actor,' Bryce revealed to People this week; seen with her dad Ron

Ron Howard was six-years-old when he started his run on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960

Ron also had fame as a 20-year-old when he played Richie Cunningham on the hit ABC sitcom Happy Days (1974-1980); he's pictured with co-star Henry Winkler, who played The Fonz

Bryce has seen her star rise after appearing in The Village, appearing in such other films as Lady In The Water (2006), Spider-Man 3 (2007), Terminator Salvation (2009), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), Hereafter (2010), The Help (2011) and 50/50 (2011).

But it was her role as Claire Dearing in Jurassic World (2015) alongside Chris Pratt that helped seal her status as an A-list leading lady.

She and Pratt would reprise their respective roles in the sequels Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

In her latest film, Howard stars in the spy action comedy Argylle that features the stellar ensemble cast such as Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Henry Cavill, Sofia Boutella, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.

Bryce has since started a family of her own after marrying Seth Gabel in June 2006 after five years of dating. They are now the proud parents of two children of their own.

After waiting until she reached her twenties to begin acting as a profession, Bryce had her breakthrough to the A-list in Jurassic World (2015) alongside Chris Pratt

After meeting at New York University the actress dated Seth Gabel for five years before marrying on June 2006; they have since welcomed a son and a daughter who are 16 and 11, respectively

Along with Bryce, Ron and Cheyrl Howard are also parents to son Reed, 36, and twin daughters Paige and Jocelyn, 39

Their dad has been hard at work in recent months directing the upcoming survival thriller film Eden, which stars Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney, Jude Law, Daniel Bruhl, Felix Kammerer, Toby Wallace, Richard Roxburgh, Paul Gleeson and Ignacio Gasparini.

The latter part of his career includes directing such hit as Apollo 13 (1995),How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), which earned him Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, Cinderella Man (2005), The Da Vinci Code (2006), Angels & Demons (2009), abd Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), among others.
Jack Black is in Sydney promoting his latest animated feature, Kung Fu Panda 4.

And the American actor, 54, was spotted arriving at the Sunrise studio on Sunday.

Jack opted for a black and white star print long-sleeved shirt paired with black trousers, Crocs sandals and blue socks.

Black, who voices Master Ping Xiao Po in the popular film franchise, was also spotted hamming it up on the red carpet at the Australian premiere of the film in Bondi on Saturday.

He appeared to be having an absolute ball as he posed at the photo wall, showing off his Kung Fu moves.

Jack Black, 54, (pictured) was spotted arriving at they Sunrise studios in Sydney on Sunday as he continued to promote his new animated film King Fu Panda 4

In one moment, the comedian posed alongside a performer dressed as his character.

It's been almost a decade since the last instalment of the popular animated franchise, Kung Fu Panda 3, opened in 2016.

It marks Jack's return to the iconic role of Po, building on his Emmy-winning performance in the Netflix series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.

Jack opted for a black and white star print long-sleeved shirt paired with black trousers, Crocs sandals and blue socks

Jack was spotted climbing out of a black car and being ushered into the building by producers

In Kung Fu Panda 4, Po embarks on a journey away from the tranquil Valley of Peace into the bustling big city, encountering his most formidable threat to date.

The highly anticipated film also stars Golden Globe winner Awkwafina and Oscar winners Gary Oldman, Viola Davis and Dustin Hoffman.

The animated comedy is directed by Mike Mitchell (Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power).

Kung Fu Panda 4 hits cinemas in Australia March 28, with advance screenings March 22-24.

Black, who voices Master Ping Xiao Po in the popular film franchise, was spotted hamming it up on the red carpet at the Australian premiere of the film in Bondi on Saturday
Shanina Shaik was spotted arriving at Sydney Airport makeup free with son Zai on Wednesday.

The Australian model, 33, kept is casual for her flight in an all black ensemble.

Shanina sported a pair of tracksuit pants and a sleeveless top along with a pair of New Balance sneakers.

She flaunted her natural beauty in a makeup free look.

The model carried her one-year-old son, Zai, on her hip as she made her way through the Airport.

Shanina Shaik, 33, (pictured) was spotted arriving at Sydney Airport makeup free with son Zai, one, on Wednesday

The former Victoria's Secret welcomed her only child with boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan back in September of 2022.

The pair first publicised their romance on Valentine's Day in 2021. They have been dating since 2020.

The Australian beauty was previously linked to DJ Ruckus back in 2015, and less than a year later, the two were engaged.

In April 2018, the pair got married in the Bahamas in a destination wedding before separating a year later.

The Australian model kept is casual for her flight in all black ensemble

Shanina sported a pair of black tracksuit pants and a sleeveless top along with a pair of New Balance sneakers

Shanina is most recognised for her work as a supermodel for Victoria's Secret, but has also appeared on the covers of Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan.

She has appeared on Project Runway, walked the runway for Chanel, and famously opened for Jason Wu.

The mother-of-one has been booked and busy as she bounced around pre-Grammy parties in February in Los Angeles and prepped for fashion week in New York.

The former Victoria's Secret welcomed her only child with boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan (right) back in September of 2022

Shanina then attended the Michael Kors Fall/Winter 2024 New York Fashion Week show alongside numerous other stars, including Blake Lively, Katie Holmes, Oscar winner Brie Larson and Vogue chief editor Anna Wintour.

She also posed for cameras at the Max Mara Womenswear Fall/Winter show at Milan Fashion Week the following week.

Shanina stepped out for the show in Italy wearing a huge brown teddy coat by the fashion house, which retails at $5,200, as well as a pair of $3,000 YSL knee-high, patent pointed boots.
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors recently approved allocation of $520 million in two loans to Tunisia as part of strategic partnership for the 2023-2027 period
Chevy Chase took to his Instagram page to announce he's going to be a grandfather.

On Saturday, the former Saturday Night Live legend revealed that the youngest of his three daughters, Emily Chase, is expecting a baby with her partner Alex Baglieri.

'I can't wait to be a Grandad!' captioned the comedian, 80, who included a photo of himself with the soon-to-be parents.

He added, 'Congrats to my daughter @em_chases and @alex.baglieri.'

In the photo, Chevy and Alex are seen posing with their hands on Emily's growing baby bump.

Emily is one of three daughters that the Hollywood icon shares with his third wife Jayni Luke, who he married back in 1982.

Chevy Chase, 80, revealed he's going to be a grandfather with the announcement that his daughter Emily, 36, and her partner Alex Baglieri are expecting their first child together

Chase is absolutely glowing with pride as he touches his daughter's stomach dressed in blue jeans and a red sweater over a white T-shirt.

The expectant first-time mom appears to be over-the-moon happy in the photo wearing black sweatpants with a gray T-shirt.

Baglieri also flashed a big beaming smile while wearing off-white sweatpants with a gray sweatshirt.

While the Chase family has a history of keeping their personal lives private, the comedian has been candid about his support for his three daughters, which also includes Cydney, 41, and Caley, 39.

The acclaimed actor and comedian also has a 44-year-old son Bryan Perkins from a prior relationship with an unidentified woman.

Although the Chase family is private about many other details of their personal life, the actor and comedian has always been candid about his support for his three daughters, whom he shares with his third and current wife, Jayni.

The star of the wildly popular National Lampoon's Vacation film franchise and his third wife Jayni Luke were married in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles in June 1982.

The famed comedian and actor has been with his wife Jayni Chase for more than 44 years, 41 of those years as a married couple; they are pictured in New York in April 2018

The couple posed with their three daughters Cydney, 41, Caley, 39, and Emily, 36, at the Dog Years screening in New York in 2017, along with the star's son Bryan, 44, from a previous relationship

But the longtime couple, who have been married for more than 41 years, are now residing in the the town of Bedford, New York, which is in Westchester County.

Emily has yet to share the big pregnancy news herself, but just last week, she posted a photo on Instagram featuring herself, her sisters and her parents smiling ear-to-ear.

'Chevy and I have had an amazing 44 years,' Jayni said of her husband to Bedford & New Canaan Magazine, before adding, 'Chevy was absolutely smitten with each of our daughters, and he's been a super loving and devoted father.'

She went on to share how they've had a life full of extraordinary friends and high-profile people, but none of that comes close to what he feels about his daughters.

'Its our three fabulous daughters that matter most to us,' she shared. 'And, hopefully, weve had a positive impact on the community and the world around us.'

Chase first gained recognition as a writer and star in the first season of SNL in 1975-1076, where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a staple of the show

After suddenly leaving SNL, he went on to become a Hollywood leading man in comedies such as National Lampoon's Vacation, which was just one of five films in the franchise; he starred alongside Anthony Michael Hall, Beverly D'Angelo and Dana Barron

The expectant mom was equally glowing in her description of her father.

'My dad is the funniest and most generous and loving person I know,' Emily told the magazine. 'He has a huge heart and everything he does is for us, his daughters, and our mom  who he has been completely infatuated with since 1980. We truly couldnt ask for a better dad.'

Chase first gained recognition as a writer and star in the first season of SNL in 1975-1076, where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a staple of the show.

After leaving SNL early in its second season, he established himself as a Hollywood leading man with roles in Foul Play (1979), Caddyshack (1980), Seems Like Old Times (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) Fletch (1985), National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), Spies Like Us (1986), Three Amigos! (1986), and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), among others.
He's currently starring on the latest season of Married At First Sight Australia.

And Richard Sauerman looks unrecognisable in throwback photos he posted to Instagram from his teenage years.

The reality TV star, now 62, had a full head of luscious hair as he smiled and posed for the camera alongside his look-alike father.

'Father and Son,' he captioned the black and white snap.

Richard made his reality TV debut when he tied the knot with Andrea Thompson

He's currently starring on the latest season of Married At First Sight - and Richard Sauerman looked unrecognisable in throwback photos he posted to Instagram from his teenage years

The reality TV star, now 62, had a full head of luscious hair as he smiled and posed for the camera alongside his look-alike father

It comes after Richard opened up about his unique position in the reality show that's known for pushing boundaries.

'It's quite a big deal,' Richard told Daily Mail Australia last month.

'I didn't think I'd be chosen to be on the experiment because I am, you know, over 60,' he said.

It comes after Richard opened up about his unique position in the reality show that's known for pushing boundaries

'It's quite a big deal,' Richard told Daily Mail Australia last month. 'I didn't think I'd be chosen to be on the experiment because I am, you know, over 60,' he said

Richard's presence on MAFS has brought a fresh perspective to the show, shedding light on the experiences and challenges of older people in the dating scene.

'I think there's some pretty interesting points that I have to make about older people and all that and dating,' he mused.

Despite his age, Richard has mixed in with the rest of the cast, though he acknowledges a 'generation gap' that naturally sets him apart.

Married At First Sight continues on Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine.
Sarah Ellen has shared an update on her love life.

In a post to Instagram last week, the Neighbours star hard launched her new boyfriend.

The 27-year-old cuddled up to The Inspired Unemployed comedian Matt Ford in a series of black and white photo booth images.

She captioned the sweet set of photos with a simple rock emoji, while Matt wrote in the comments, 'Houston we have a problem' alongside a heart emoji.

It appears the actress' famous friends are delighted with the new romance, with celebrity sexologist Chantelle Otten commenting: 'There they are' along with a string of heart eyed emojis.

Sarah Ellen has hard launched her new boyfriend. The 27-year-old cuddled up to The Inspired Unemployed comedian Matt Ford in a series of black and white photo booth images. Pictured

'Cuuuuuuteee!!!!!' wrote Jade Yarbrough while Pip Edwards added heart eyed emojis to show her support.

The Inspired Unemployed is an Australian comedy duo consisting of Ford and Jack Steele.

They are best known for their satirical Instagram account which boasts two million followers.

Ellen previously ended her five-year engagement with musician Caleb Jackson, quietly announcing the news last year.

It appears the actress' famous friends are delighted with the new romance, with celebrity sexologist Chantelle Otten commenting: 'There they are'

She captioned the sweet set of photos with a simple rock emoji, while Matt wrote in the comments, 'Houston we have a problem', alongside a heart emoji

'A lot of people don't know this, but I was engaged for five years, and I kept it incredibly quiet,' she told Elle Magazine.

'Obviously, we're not together anymore. But I kept it private, the highs, the lows, I was just conscious of protecting it.

'I don't feel the need to publicize [it], but coming out of such a long-term relationship that I'd been in from such a young age that was a really transformative part of my life' she added.

Ellen said at the time that the split 'sparked [her] initial journey of growth'.

The Inspired Unemployed is an Australian comedy duo consisting of Ford and Jack Steele. They are best known for their satirical Instagram account which boasts two million followers. Both pictured

Ellen previously ended her five-year engagement with musician Caleb Jackson, quietly announcing the news last year

The star, who debuted her pixie cut hair last year after doing away with her long blonde mane, has previously spoken candidly of the scrutiny her fame has brought her.

The actress, best known for her role on Neighbours as Madison Robinson, told Body+Soul magazine that criticism had an effect on her self esteem.

'No matter how many people follow you on Instagram, body insecurities and body dysmorphia are issues that everyone goes through,' she said.

'It was interesting being a young girl and having people comment, 'Look at her knees; look at her feet,"' she added.
The BBC has thrown their support behind Giovanni Pernice by plugging his new prime time show - as the Strictly dancer is hit by a fresh crisis.

The broadcaster promoted his latest Bromance series with Anton Du Beke just a day after three of his ex dance partners reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him.

It also comes as his former Strictly partner Amanda Abbington has reportedly lined up top lawyer Persephone Bridgman Baker to demand rehearsal footage as her fight against Strictly and Giovanni, 33, continues.

The Sherlock actress, 52, quit Strictly back in October due to 'personal reasons' amid claims of a feud between her and Giovanni.

Reports then emerged she demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD.

The BBC has thrown their support behind Giovanni Pernice by plugging his new prime time show as the Strictly dancer is hit by a fresh crisis

It comes as Amanda Abbington has reportedly lined up top lawyer Persephone Bridgman Baker to demand rehearsal footage as her fight against Strictly and Giovanni continues

The Sherlock actress, 52, quit Strictly back in October due to 'personal reasons' amid claims of a feud between her and Giovanni

But showing support for Giovanni on Sunday the BBC advertised Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain on Instagram just hours after the fresh claims were revealed.

Sharing a video of the dancing duo talking about their upcoming programme, the caption read: 'Dancing, singing, Anton and Giovanni know how to perform! But what happened in Benidorm stays in Benidorm.

'Head to @bbcpressoffice link in bio and hit Interviews to get all the behind the scenes stories - and find out which star joined them on their Adventures in Spain!

'Watch Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain on and BBC One from Monday 18 March at 9pm.'

It comes as The Sun now claims that Amanda is working with experienced lawyer Persephone as she helps her prepare a legal letter to the BBC to aid her obtaining the rehearsal footage.

A source told the publication: 'Amanda is lining up a well-known lawyer to help her gain access to the rehearsal tapes of her and Giovanni with the aim of reviewing them.'

On the website of her lawyer firm Carter-Ruck it says: 'Persephone specialises in media and reputation management work, encompassing defamation, privacy and harassment, together with data protection and intellectual property litigation.'

The broadcaster promoted his latest Bromance series with Anton Du Beke, 57, - just a day after three of his ex partners reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him

Sharing a video of the dancing duo talking about their upcoming programme, the caption read: 'Dancing, singing, Anton and Giovanni know how to perform! But what happened in Benidorm stays in Benidorm'

It continued: 'Watch Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain on and BBC One from Monday 18 March at 9pm'

The BBC and Amanda have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

On Saturday Giovanni was hit by a fresh crisis, after it was claimed that three of his former celebrity partners met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him.

Sources claim Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with the Italian dancer on the BBC show.

Ranvir complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, while Laura said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while dancing with him in 2016.

Sources claimed that while 'tears were shed,' the trio also discussed the prospect of 'formally' complaining to the BBC about Giovanni's behaviour.

An insider told The Sun: 'There is every possibility all three could take it further and formally complain to the BBC, but for now they're comforting each other.'

'Only a handful of people will understand what it's like to be trained by Giovanni and in the industry he is regarded as a ''perfectionist''.

They added: 'There is some shock that the BBC appears to be doing nothing. Like Amanda, Ranvir also flagged an issue during training with Giovanni and said she was unhappy.'

However, a source close to Giovanni told the publication: 'Gio finds some of these allegations deeply unfair and offensive. He believes he's done nothing wrong, and simply wants to get the best out of his partners.'

A representative for the BBC declined to comment to The Sun. MailOnline has contacted representatives for the BBC, Giovanni Pernice, Laura Whitmore, Ranvir Singh and Amanda Abbington for comment.

The BBC said earlier this year that they would not be investigating Giovanni's behaviour with Amanda, with a spokesperson saying: 'There is a constant dialogue between the senior production team and contestants to ensure any concerns are addressed swiftly.'

In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while training with him.

She later wrote for HuffPost UK in 2018: 'I'm still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show.

'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.'

It's also thought that Giovanni clashed with his 2018 celebrity partner Faye Tozer, while his 2022 partner Richie Anderson has unfollowed him on Instagram.

Giovanni, who is currently on tour with his stage show and is set to star with Anton Du Beke in a travel series on Monday, hinted last month he'd return to Strictly later this year for the last time.

However a Strictly spokesman said they would make an announcement in 'due course.'

This comes just hours after Giovanni broke his silence on Amanda's explosive exit from the BBC show.

Speaking on The Mirror's Invite Only podcast alongside fellow dancer Anton Du Beke he said: 'It's a shame because, in my opinion, [Amanda] could have gone all the way.'

While judge Anton added: 'I thought you and Amanda were marvellous. I thought you were terrific' and compared the Sherlock actress' talents to 2019 winner Kelvin Fletcher.

Following accusations of his 'militant' teaching style Giovanni admitted that was a 'perfectionist' but said it came from a 'perspective of caring' and that he believed all other professional dancers were the same.

Saying: 'In every single part of the world, if you're a professional dancer on one of these [Strictly] shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night'.

'And if we have good scores at the end, I do look back and say, 'I've done a great job'. But we all care about our partners and we want that for them every single week; to look great on a Saturday'.

He continued: 'There's no specific way that you are, or have to be with your celebrity. You make the most of their strengths so the only thing that's constant is the fact that you have to do a show on Saturday night.'

It comes after MailOnline exclusively revealed that Amanda had dropped her complaint to the BBC and had not contacted the Corporation on the matter further.

Sources at the BBC said that the 'matter is now closed' and they have 'moved on' after she asked to review the recordings of their off-screen dancing after she left the series, citing 'personal reasons.'

Amanda was also seeking legal advice over Giovanni's alleged behaviour towards her, believing video footage could 'back up' her claims.

It is understood that the first BBC chiefs knew about her PTSD late last year when they received a request for the tapes.

One show insider told the Mail: 'The whole thing was baffling but when Amanda contacted the BBC, she wanted some answers.

'But she hasn't followed it through and the matter is now closed. Amanda said she left for a medical reason at the time, but that was not PTSD.

'Her complaint was of course looked at but they were adamant that Giovanni had done nothing wrong. The BBC were ready to fight her, Amanda's reason for quitting Strictly was an entirely different one to her PTSD.

'She told production of a totally different medical condition and they [were] hugely supportive of her and did all they could to help.'

Amanda left the show during week five in October. It has reportedly taken months for her to recover from her time on the programme and she has apparently needed therapy following the 'behaviour she was exposed to.'

Speaking about her condition, Amanda told The Sun: 'I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons and I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life at the time both professionally and personally.'

A BBC spokesman declined to comment at the time.

Amanda was praised by the judges for her performances during her time on the show but it was claimed she was struggling behind the scenes.

An inside source told The Telegraph: 'It could be that she didn't know what she let herself in for.

'He [Giovanni] was quite tough and she found that difficult. If she wasn't very well, that wouldn't have helped.

'She was with a partner that had a certain training style that she couldn't cope with. Whether that came to a head or whether there's something else going on I don't know.'

Giovanni's parents said the dancer 'was just doing his job' following Amanda's shock departure from Strictly.

Addressing the news at the time, Giovanni's father Piero and mother Rosalda admitted that their son 'trained for long hours but was just doing his job'.

Twinkle-toed star Giovanni was reportedly only given the news of Amanda's exit a few hours before the official statement was released.

A source told the Daily Star: 'Amanda didn't tell Giovanni she had decided to quit the show. The first he heard was a call from a producer.

'This has really annoyed him. He's barely heard from her for 10 days. She hasn't been replying to messages or telling him what's happening.

'He's been complaining about it to friends. He's frustrated. He is worried the drama will be damaging for his career and make him look bad.'

It comes as The Sun now claims that Amanda is working with experienced lawyer Persephone as she helps her prepare a legal letter to the BBC to aid her obtaining the rehearsal footage

A source told the publication: 'Amanda is lining up a well-known lawyer to help her gain access to the rehearsal tapes of her and Giovanni with the aim of reviewing them'

Three of his former celebrity partners, including Laura Whitmore (pictured) reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him

Ranvir reportedly complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, and now sources claim all three stars could make a formal complaint to the BBC

Amanda snubbed the show's December final which saw the stars of the year's series that had previously been eliminated came together to do a group dance and celebrate with the winner.

A source told The Mirror of why she wouldn't be there: 'They wanted to position her as still very much part of the Strictly family, but Amanda's response to the invitation was she'd not be back.

'It's a shame, because her exit has been a sour note to the series this year.'

The Strictly insider added her snub has been 'difficult' and upsetting for Giovanni as he doesn't want people to see it 'as a reflection on him.'

They added whilst the pair sometimes 'clashed' Giovanni wishes her all the best.
The brother of EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer has revealed that he is checking himself into rehab, two years after he was released from prison.

Patsy's brother Albert Harris, 56, has struggled with heroin addiction since he was 12 years old and although he has been clean for a year, he wants to be rid of his need for methadone.

Albert was released from prison in 2022 after serving a five-year sentence for armed robbery in London. He was served the same length of sentence in 2010 for the same offence in Bristol.

The siblings have not spoke in a year due to Patsy, 51, having lived State side since 2014, but Albert hopes to get better so that he can see her and 'make our mum proud,' he told The Mirror on Saturday.

Patsy and Albert have 'always been close,' he said, but the distance and his convictions have made seeing each other a challenge.

The brother of EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer has revealed that he is checking himself into rehab, two years after he was released from prison

'Im stuck on this medication but soon I will be going in somewhere and Ill have that freedom back and can start a new life,' Albert said.

He has decided that he would like to spend the next section of his life as a volunteer or counsellor to help people battle addiction.

Albert, who lives on his own in a one-bedroom apartment, believes that change is possible at any age, and that with his experience of addiction he can help others overcome it.

He started taking methadone in prison after he was given it to help with the pain after surgery to remove a tumour on his spine.

But it makes him feel tired and leaves him sitting on the sofa all day watching TV. He said: 'Im a slave to the chemist and I cant get a job while Im on it.'

Albert, who attends Narcotics Anonymous multiple times a week, admitted that it can be challenging when people find out he is on methadone and learn of his prison stints.

'But it stops my cravings and prevents me from going into that dark world, being around those people and committing crimes,' he said.

He has taken heroin twice since leaving prison but has been clean for a year and has vowed to continue going to meetings as if he believes he is better he may relapse.

Albert Harris was released from prison in 2022 after serving a five-year sentence for armed robbery in London

The siblings have not spoke in a year due to Patsy, 51, having lived State side since 2014, but Albert hopes to get better so that he can see her and 'make our mum proud,'

Patsy was seen back on screens earlier this month as Bianca, after first hitting screens in 1993 before Patsy quit the soap in 1999

Taking the credit for his famous sister's first acting gig, Albert says it was he who got her into theatre after seeing an advert for Anna Scher Theatre in Islington in a newspaper.

And he was along for the ride for a while, as both bagged roles together in Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Raised by their dressmaker mother after she split up with their taxi-driver father, Albert and Patsy were close. Their older brother Harry moved up and the pair lived at home with their mother for another four years.

Albert wants to make his sister, who has spent 12,000 trying to help him kick the habit, proud and see her again once he is clean.

The actress herself has struggled with drug abuse throughout her life, much like her brother.

In her autobiography, Patsy revealed she had her first drink at eight years old and was regularly smoking cannabis by age 11.

Patsy was seen back on screens earlier this month as Bianca, when she was visited by her step-daughter Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) in Milton Keynes.

Bianca first hit screens in 1993 before Patsy quit the soap in 1999 to spend more time with her family.

She returned to screens in 2002 for a special and made further returns in 2009 and 2019, before her upcoming comeback.
Jed McIntosh has shared his emotional journey to sobriety.

In a video shared to Instagram, the 26-year-old musician from Victoria, who starred on The Bachelors last year, said he had been 'struggling' and was in recovery.

'A big part of my life over the past year and a bit has been my sobriety,' the former reality star began the clip.

'Has it been perfect? No, there's been a few days where I have given it a royal crack and reminded myself as to why I don't drink,' he continued.

'I could not have achieved this without the help of my family and friends and all the people that have been in my life since then. It has been quite a hard thing and I hate it when people cry on Instagram.

Jed McIntosh (pictured) has shared his emotional journey to sobriety. In a video shared to Instagram, the 26-year-old musician from Victoria, who starred on The Bachelors last year, said he had been 'struggling' and was in recovery

'If you see somebody numbing themselves, there is a reason behind it. I encourage everyone to try and see the reason, not the problem.

'So thankful that everyone has helped me and believed in me to help me achieve whether it's a day, six months, three months, not a year yet, but we will get there one day of sobriety,' he said.

Jed continued in his lengthy caption: 'I want to thank everyone in my life past present and future that has helped me in my journey of sobriety. Its been a hard road but a lot easier than what my life was while partying.

'The best is yet to come. If you are struggling with drinking or anything please reach out to myself or someone, you are not alone.

'A big part of my life over the past year and a bit has been my sobriety,' the former reality star began the clip. 'Has it been perfect? No, there's been a few days where I have given it a royal crack and reminded myself as to why I don't drink,' he continued

'We have all had trauma in our lives but numbing it solves nothing, some times you have to let the fire refine and sharpen you'.

He continued: 'This isnt the sake for everyone I still love being out and seeing mates smash a pint and have a laugh, but this is my journey and what works for me.

'Sometimes I fall short of this discipline but Im getting better as time goes on and learning each day'.

Jed and his ex-girlfriend Alesia Delaney, who he met on The Bachelors, announced they had split last year.

Just days after her announcement, Jed was photographed packing on the PDA with a busty beauty at Ms Collins, an event space in Melbourne.
Idris Elba playfully kissed wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba at the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The British actor, 51, and the model, 34, who tied the knot in 2019, looked more loved up than ever as they presented an award together.

Idris seemed in good spirits as he couldn't keep his hands off his glamorous wife as he snuggled up to her on stage.

The Luther star looked handsome in a gorgeous black suit that he paired with a black dress shirt and matching tie. Meanwhile Sabrina turned heads in a brown cowl neck gown that hugged her amazing figure.

Idris Elba sweetly kissed wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba at the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles on Saturday

The British actor, 51, and the model, 34, who tied the knot in 2019, looked more loved up than ever as they presented an award together

The couple presented Fantasia Barrino with the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture award for The Color Purple award.

Idris and Sabrina posed up a storm together on the red carpet ahead of the star studded awards ceremony.

The actor was nominated for Outstanding Aidctor In A Drama Series for his role in the Apple TV+ thriller series Hijack but missed out on the gong to Damson Idris for his role in Snowfall.

He had some stiff competition in this category that also featured Forest Whitaker (Godfather Of Harlem), Jabari Banks (Bel-Air), Jesse L. Martin (The Irrational).

The NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honor outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2023 calendar year.

Elba previously won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor In A Television Movie, Mini-Series Or Dramatic Special for Luther in 2011 and again in 2014 for the psychological crime thriller that ran for five seasons.

Idris seemed in good spirits as he couldn't keep his hands off his glamorous wife as he snuggled up to her on stage

The Luther star looked handsome in a gorgeous black suit that he paired with a black dress shirt and matching tie

Meanwhile Sabrina turned heads in a brown cowl neck gown that hugged her amazing figure

The couple presented Fantasia Barrino with the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture award for The Color Purple award

Idris and Sabrina posed up a storm together on the red carpet ahead of the star studded awards ceremony

The actor was nominated for Outstanding Aidctor In A Drama Series for his role in the Apple TV+ thriller series Hijack but missed out on the gong to Damson Idris for his role in Snowfall

A few years later he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for The Jungle Book in 2017.

This go-around Queen Latifah played the role of host of the ceremony portion of the event that aired on BET while also being simulcast on CBS.

The couple first met at a jazz bar one evening in Vancouver, Canada, in 2017 when the actor was in town shooting The Mountain Between Us with Kate Winslet.

The actor was immediately attracted to the former Miss Vancouver.

'It was love at first sight,' he said during an appearance on The View. 'I went out on my only day off, true story, it was a Sunday night, I went to this party and there she was. The rest is history.'

The couple made their first official appearance together at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Molly's Game in September 2017.

A few days later, they turned heads at the premiere of The Mountain Between Us, the film that ultimately brought them together.

Despite famously claiming that he would never marry again, Idris made a public proposal to Sabrina at a film screening before tying-the-knot in a lavish three-day Moroccan ceremony in 2019, People reported.

Sabrina looked nothing short of sensational in the backless cut out gown

Sabrina cosied up to Idira as he rocked a pair of black sunglasses
They started their new job on Monday, taking their seats on the This Morning sofa as the show's new permanent presenters.

And Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard have been winding down after their four days on air, sharing a look at their very different weekends with their Instagram followers.

Ben shared a sweet tribute to Cat and his first week as part of the This Morning family with a post on Saturday, admitting he was trying to stay healthy after a week of eating on the popular morning show.

'Just been looking through the many great pics form @kenmckayphoto from this weeks @thismorning @catdeeley and I have done a lot of laughing and of course had some delicious food!' he wrote.

'Im now fasting over the weekend to make room for more next week!! Thank you for all your lovely messages. See you Monday I hope!'

Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard have been winding down after their four days on air, sharing a look at their very different weekends with their Instagram followers

Cat was quick to comment on her co-presenter's post, quipping: 'Im now cooking steak @donalskehan' tagging chef Donal who made an appearance on the show this week.

She later took to her own Instagram page to share a Story snap of her steak which she made for her two sons, joking: 'Ben is fasting, I'm cooking. Making Saturday night steak. Slice and serve to two hungry boys.'

Cat is enjoying the weekend with her boys as her husband Patrick Kielty remains in Dublin, where he tapes his popular Late Late Show Tuesday to Friday, for St Patricks Day celebrations.

Cat has returned to the UK for work after over a decade in the US hosting So You Think You Can Dance.

Alongside her role on This Morning ITV's new golden girl is also reportedly being lined up to stand-in for pal Ant McPartlin on the latest series of Britain's Got Talent, should his wife Anne-Marie Corbett go into labour.

The host, 48, is set to become a father for the first time in June, which coincides with the competition's live shows after last year's final aired June 4.

Now according to The Sun ITV are putting together a consistency plan just in case the Geordie be forced to rush off and leave sidekick Declan Donnelly's side.

According to the publication new This Morning host Cat, 47, could be drafted in as a guest host, with Stephen Mulhern's name also in the mix.

Ben shared a sweet tribute to Cat and his first week as part of the This Morning family with a post on Saturday, admitting he was trying to stay healthy after a week of eating on the popular morning show

Cat was quick to comment on her co-presenter's post, quipping: 'Im now cooking steak @donalskehan' tagging chef Donal who made an appearance on the show this week

She later took to her own Instagram page to share a Story snap of her steak which she made for her two sons, joking: 'Ben is fasting, I'm cooking. Making Saturday night steak. Slice and serve to two hungry boys.'

Cat is enjoying the weekend with her boys as her husband Patrick Kielty remains in Dublin, where he tapes his popular Late Late Show Tuesday to Friday, for St Patricks Day celebrations

A source said: 'The timing is causing something of a headache for bosses.

'They are considering whether Dec would present alone if Anne-Marie went into labour or, if time allows, a guest presenter could step in. Cat and Stephen, who the lads have worked with in the past, are front-runners.'

Cat hosted SMTV with Ant and Dec from 1998-2001 while Stephen appears with the duo regularly on Saturday Night Live.

MailOnline have contacted ITV for comment.
Giovanni Pernice shrugged off his latest Strictly crisis as he arrived for his live show on Sunday afternoon, as his rift with actress Amanda Abbington shows no signs of going away.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional was in great spirits as he arrived at Milton Keynes Theatre for his matinee performance of his live dance show Let Me Entertain You.

Beaming and waving, the dancer greeted fans and happily posed for photos, showing little sign of the latest development in his feud with his ex Strictly partner.

The sighting comes as the BBC throws their support behind Giovanni by plugging his new prime time show.

The broadcaster promoted his latest travel series with Anton Du Beke just a day after three of his ex dance partners reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him.

Giovanni Pernice shrugged off his latest Strictly crisis as he arrived for his live show on Sunday afternoon, as his rift with actress Amanda Abbington shows no signs of going away

The Strictly Come Dancing professional was in great spirits as he arrived at Milton Keynes Theatre for his matinee performance of his live dance show Let Me Entertain You

It also comes as his former Strictly partner Amanda has reportedly lined up top lawyer Persephone Bridgman Baker to demand rehearsal footage as her fight against Strictly and Giovanni, 33, continues.

The Sherlock actress, 52, quit Strictly back in October due to 'personal reasons' amid claims of a feud between her and Giovanni.

Reports then emerged she demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD.

But showing support for Giovanni on Sunday the BBC advertised Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain on Instagram just hours after the fresh claims were revealed.

Sharing a video of the dancing duo talking about their upcoming programme, the caption read: 'Dancing, singing, Anton and Giovanni know how to perform! But what happened in Benidorm stays in Benidorm.

'Head to @bbcpressoffice link in bio and hit Interviews to get all the behind the scenes stories - and find out which star joined them on their Adventures in Spain!

'Watch Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain on and BBC One from Monday 18 March at 9pm.'

It comes as The Sun now claims that Amanda is working with experienced lawyer Persephone as she helps her prepare a legal letter to the BBC to aid her obtaining the rehearsal footage.

Beaming and waving, the dancer greeted fans and happily posed for photos, showing little sign of the latest development in his feud with his ex Strictly partner.

The sighting comes as the BBC throws their support behind Giovanni by plugging his new prime time show.

Fans showed their support for the star, stopping to shake his hand as he headed inside

It also comes as his former Strictly partner Amanda has reportedly lined up top lawyer Persephone Bridgman Baker to demand rehearsal footage as her fight against Strictly and Giovanni , 33, continues

A source told the publication: 'Amanda is lining up a well-known lawyer to help her gain access to the rehearsal tapes of her and Giovanni with the aim of reviewing them.'

On the website of her lawyer firm Carter-Ruck it says: 'Persephone specialises in media and reputation management work, encompassing defamation, privacy and harassment, together with data protection and intellectual property litigation.'

The BBC and Amanda have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

On Saturday Giovanni was hit by a fresh crisis, after it was claimed that three of his former celebrity partners met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him.

Sources claim Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with the Italian dancer on the BBC show.

Ranvir complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, while Laura said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while dancing with him in 2016.

Sources claimed that while 'tears were shed,' the trio also discussed the prospect of 'formally' complaining to the BBC about Giovanni's behaviour.

An insider told The Sun: 'There is every possibility all three could take it further and formally complain to the BBC, but for now they're comforting each other.'

'Only a handful of people will understand what it's like to be trained by Giovanni and in the industry he is regarded as a ''perfectionist''.

They added: 'There is some shock that the BBC appears to be doing nothing. Like Amanda, Ranvir also flagged an issue during training with Giovanni and said she was unhappy.'

However, a source close to Giovanni told the publication: 'Gio finds some of these allegations deeply unfair and offensive. He believes he's done nothing wrong, and simply wants to get the best out of his partners.'

The BBC has thrown their support behind Giovanni Pernice by plugging his new prime time show as the Strictly dancer is hit by a fresh crisis

It comes as Amanda Abbington has reportedly lined up top lawyer Persephone Bridgman Baker to demand rehearsal footage as her fight against Strictly and Giovanni continues

The Sherlock actress, 52, quit Strictly back in October due to 'personal reasons' amid claims of a feud between her and Giovanni

A representative for the BBC declined to comment to The Sun. MailOnline has contacted representatives for the BBC, Giovanni Pernice, Laura Whitmore, Ranvir Singh and Amanda Abbington for comment.

The BBC said earlier this year that they would not be investigating Giovanni's behaviour with Amanda, with a spokesperson saying: 'There is a constant dialogue between the senior production team and contestants to ensure any concerns are addressed swiftly.'

In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while training with him.

She later wrote for HuffPost UK in 2018: 'I'm still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show.

'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.'

It's also thought that Giovanni clashed with his 2018 celebrity partner Faye Tozer, while his 2022 partner Richie Anderson has unfollowed him on Instagram.

Giovanni, who is currently on tour with his stage show and is set to star with Anton Du Beke in a travel series on Monday, hinted last month he'd return to Strictly later this year for the last time.

However a Strictly spokesman said they would make an announcement in 'due course.'

The broadcaster promoted his latest Bromance series with Anton Du Beke, 57, - just a day after three of his ex partners reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him

Sharing a video of the dancing duo talking about their upcoming programme, the caption read: 'Dancing, singing, Anton and Giovanni know how to perform! But what happened in Benidorm stays in Benidorm'

It continued: 'Watch Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain on and BBC One from Monday 18 March at 9pm'

This comes just hours after Giovanni broke his silence on Amanda's explosive exit from the BBC show.

Speaking on The Mirror's Invite Only podcast alongside fellow dancer Anton Du Beke he said: 'It's a shame because, in my opinion, [Amanda] could have gone all the way.'

While judge Anton added: 'I thought you and Amanda were marvellous. I thought you were terrific' and compared the Sherlock actress' talents to 2019 winner Kelvin Fletcher.

Following accusations of his 'militant' teaching style Giovanni admitted that was a 'perfectionist' but said it came from a 'perspective of caring' and that he believed all other professional dancers were the same.

Saying: 'In every single part of the world, if you're a professional dancer on one of these [Strictly] shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night'.

'And if we have good scores at the end, I do look back and say, 'I've done a great job'. But we all care about our partners and we want that for them every single week; to look great on a Saturday'.

He continued: 'There's no specific way that you are, or have to be with your celebrity. You make the most of their strengths so the only thing that's constant is the fact that you have to do a show on Saturday night.'

It comes after MailOnline exclusively revealed that Amanda had dropped her complaint to the BBC and had not contacted the Corporation on the matter further.

Sources at the BBC said that the 'matter is now closed' and they have 'moved on' after she asked to review the recordings of their off-screen dancing after she left the series, citing 'personal reasons.'

Amanda was also seeking legal advice over Giovanni's alleged behaviour towards her, believing video footage could 'back up' her claims.

It is understood that the first BBC chiefs knew about her PTSD late last year when they received a request for the tapes.

One show insider told the Mail: 'The whole thing was baffling but when Amanda contacted the BBC, she wanted some answers.

'But she hasn't followed it through and the matter is now closed. Amanda said she left for a medical reason at the time, but that was not PTSD.

'Her complaint was of course looked at but they were adamant that Giovanni had done nothing wrong. The BBC were ready to fight her, Amanda's reason for quitting Strictly was an entirely different one to her PTSD.

'She told production of a totally different medical condition and they [were] hugely supportive of her and did all they could to help.'

Amanda left the show during week five in October. It has reportedly taken months for her to recover from her time on the programme and she has apparently needed therapy following the 'behaviour she was exposed to.'

Speaking about her condition, Amanda told The Sun: 'I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons and I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life at the time both professionally and personally.'

A BBC spokesman declined to comment at the time.

Amanda was praised by the judges for her performances during her time on the show but it was claimed she was struggling behind the scenes.

An inside source told The Telegraph: 'It could be that she didn't know what she let herself in for.

'He [Giovanni] was quite tough and she found that difficult. If she wasn't very well, that wouldn't have helped.

'She was with a partner that had a certain training style that she couldn't cope with. Whether that came to a head or whether there's something else going on I don't know.'

Giovanni's parents said the dancer 'was just doing his job' following Amanda's shock departure from Strictly.

Addressing the news at the time, Giovanni's father Piero and mother Rosalda admitted that their son 'trained for long hours but was just doing his job'.

Twinkle-toed star Giovanni was reportedly only given the news of Amanda's exit a few hours before the official statement was released.

A source told the Daily Star: 'Amanda didn't tell Giovanni she had decided to quit the show. The first he heard was a call from a producer.

'This has really annoyed him. He's barely heard from her for 10 days. She hasn't been replying to messages or telling him what's happening.

'He's been complaining about it to friends. He's frustrated. He is worried the drama will be damaging for his career and make him look bad.'

It comes as The Sun now claims that Amanda is working with experienced lawyer Persephone as she helps her prepare a legal letter to the BBC to aid her obtaining the rehearsal footage

A source told the publication: 'Amanda is lining up a well-known lawyer to help her gain access to the rehearsal tapes of her and Giovanni with the aim of reviewing them'

Three of his former celebrity partners, including Laura Whitmore (pictured) reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him

Ranvir reportedly complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, and now sources claim all three stars could make a formal complaint to the BBC

Amanda snubbed the show's December final which saw the stars of the year's series that had previously been eliminated came together to do a group dance and celebrate with the winner.

A source told The Mirror of why she wouldn't be there: 'They wanted to position her as still very much part of the Strictly family, but Amanda's response to the invitation was she'd not be back.

'It's a shame, because her exit has been a sour note to the series this year.'

The Strictly insider added her snub has been 'difficult' and upsetting for Giovanni as he doesn't want people to see it 'as a reflection on him.'

They added whilst the pair sometimes 'clashed' Giovanni wishes her all the best.
Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones looked in good spirits as they stepped out for lunch at Tre Lune in Montecito, Santa Barbara on Sunday.

The Wednesday actress, 54, cut a stylish figure in a black long shirt which she teamed with blue denim flared jeans.

She kept comfortable in a pair of black trainers and carried her belongings in a coordinated Chanel handbag.

Styling her brunette tresses loose under a black hat, Catherine accessorised with a pair of sunglasses and a gold necklace.

Meanwhile the Oscar-winning actor, 79, dressed smart for the outing in a blue linen open collar shirt which he teamed with beige trousers.

Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones looked in good spirits as they stepped out for lunch at Tre Lune in Montecito, Santa Barbara on Sunday

The Wednesday actress, 54, cut a stylish figure in a black long shirt which she teamed with blue denim flared jeans, black trainers and a coordinated Chanel handbag

It comes after Michael was seen heading back to school to catch up with old friends at his alma mater earier this month.

The award-winning actor spent the afternoon with his pals on the Goleta campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

He graduated with a BA in dramatic arts in 1968 and now serves as a member of its advisory board.

Michael has made no secret of his love for UCSB.

While he was accepted at Yale, he chose the seaside college to complete his education.

In 2004 he donated $1million towards the construction of a Center for Film, Television and New Media on the campus.

Styling her brunette tresses loose under a black hat, Catherine accessorised with a pair of sunglasses and a gold necklace

It comes after Michael was seen heading back to school to catch up with old friends on the Goleta campus of the University of California , Santa Barbara

To recognize his gift, the lobby of the center's theater was named after Michael.

Michael and Catherine are parents to Dylan, 23, and Carys, 20.

The couple, who share September 25 as both their birthdays, celebrated their 23rd anniversary in November.

Michael also has a son Cameron, 45, with ex-wife Diandra Luker, 68. They were married for 23 years before finalizing their divorce in 2000.
FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2018 file photo, provided by NASA, Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii as seen from the International Space Station. NASA/AP NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral O'Hara removes space physics research hardware from inside the Destiny laboratory module's Microgravity Science Glovebox aboard the International Space Station. NASA (11/6/2023) --- A preflight image of the Janus base nano-matrix (JBNm) enabled cartilage tissue chip. The Compartment Cartilage Tissue Construct investigation uses biological materials that mimic DNA to develop a scaffold for regenerating cartilage tissues and tests the effect of a specific RNA on cartilage growth in space. Image courtesy of the University of Connecticut. UConn jsc2021e007776 (2/5/2021) --- Researchers move the CubeLab containing a new LambdaVision study, which evaluates a manufacturing system that uses a light-activated protein that replaces the function of damaged cells in the eye in an artificial retina...Credits: LambdaVision UConn

Three University of Connecticut science teams are reaching for the stars, sending medical experiments up to the International Space Station with the hope theyll someday help patients back here on terra firma.

Were not conducting research to improve astronaut health, said Kristin Kopperud, program director for biological science on the space station, noting that all of the experiments advance medical treatments. Our main goal is to benefit people here on Earth.

All three experiments  which include nanoparticles that could cure osteoarthritis, the manufacture of an artificial retina, and diagnosing the best treatment for a tumor on a microchip  need the element of microgravity to succeed, the researchers said. One is already onboard. The other two will launch at the end of March.

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Extremely complex procedures are tricky in the limited confines of the space station, Kopperud said.. All must be in small packages as bulky experiments are hard to fit on rockets. But more importantly, there needs to be a reason why an experiment needs to go to space. Its an expensive journey, and in such tight quarters, its important that whatever is being done in outer-space cant be replicated on Earth, she said.

Gravity affects a myriad of processes on Earth so a lot of studies cant be done here on land, Kopperud said. On Earth gravity puts pressure on joints, for example, and that stimulates those joints to renew their cells, turnover cells and maintain continued growth. One of the experiments from UConn will look at delivering drugs to cartilage cells to help treat and possibly reverse osteoarthritis. On Earth those cells are constantly growing. In space you can better isolate the drugs that enhance that growth.

The weightlessness of the heavens is also essential for some of the delicate procedures to be done on the space station.

The way we manufacture our artificial retina is through a process called electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition, said Nicole Wagner, CEO of Farmington-based LambdaVision. The process requires settling 200 microscopic layers of protein into a filmy matrix. Its not an impossible process to do terrestrially, its just very inefficient. Theres a lot of waste.

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Wagner got her doctorate at UConn, and her research for that degree spun out into the LambdaVision startup. The artificial retinas use light-sensitive proteins to replace the rod and cone cells that the eye loses from retinitis pigmentosa, a rare inherited degenerative eye disease where symptoms typically surface in childhood. The light-sensing proteins are embedded in a fine film of the protein scaffold. Minor imperfections in the film can make it unusable, and Earths strong gravitational pull can cause these imperfections to form during the manufacturing process, Wagner said.

In space, Wagner said, limited gravity allows the material to form evenly, reducing imperfections, and making more usable material.

We can make a lot of our thin films in a very small box, said Wagner. Our technology could be one of the first to be manufactured on a space station that could benefit people on Earth.

This is Wagners ninth time sending her retina manufacturing process to the space station. Her most recent launch occurred in January and will return in April.

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Mari Anne Snow, co-founder of Boston-based Eascra Biotech, has a similar problem with Earths gravity. Her company makes protein particles that can deliver drugs to specific tissues.

Right now, theyre working on delivering drugs into cartilage to treat osteoarthritis. Many companies had explored using lipid nanoparticles, the delivery mechanism used in the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. But their reliance on extremely cold temperature made their usefulness limited, Snow said.

Lipid nanoparticles have some significant difficulties, said Snow of its temperature sensitivity. Because of that we thought it was time to come up with a better option.

The technology was developed by Escara co-founder and UConn biomedical engineering professor Yupeng Chen.

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The particles can be targeted at different tissue types using slightly different formulas. The particles stack together to make a tube that brings the medicine into the cell, or tissue, that needs to be healed. Dubbed the Janus nanoparticle for the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, doors and gateways, the particles form better and more evenly in the absence of strong gravity, allowing for a tight binding of material that can be kept stable in ambient temperatures for up to two months, Snow said.

We can bring those nanostructures back down (from space) and we can use that for advanced testing, said Snow. And we can start to become more interesting to pharmaceutical companies or biotech companies or gene editing companies that need a delivery system.

The final UConn spin-off company headed to space is Encapsulate, a biotech startup in Farmington that makes a tiny, microchip-sized laboratory that can be used to experiment on cancer cells. COO Leila Daneshmandi said using this technology allows someone to test different drugs on a patients specific cancer cells.

We develop automated systems that can take a cancer patients cells, grow them outside the body and test all the possible chemotherapy drugs to determine which one is most effective for the patient, said Daneshmandi.

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To get optimal results, the test needed to replicate the 3D structure of a growing tumor. In a culture dish on Earth, cancer cells lie flat. In space, cancer cells grow in their normal 3D tumor shape.

You dont want to have cells behaving a completely different way than they would in the body, said Daneshmandi. You cant really draw a comparison.

Encapsulate CEO Armin Rad said the goal is twofold: First make this technology work on Earth. Second, develop automated systems to mass-test cancer drugs in space for patients and cancer drug developers.

Youd have a large biobank, ship it all up there at once and then over time (automatically) perform the studies, said Rad, adding that this kind of space-based diagnostic and experiment work would be done on slow-growing cancers.

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Rad went on to say that he felt that the situation at UConn was special. All three of these companies are based in the same building or spun off of UConn research. There are currently only 10 biotech startups regularly going to the space station to work with NASA.
The writer of The King's Speech David Seidler has died aged 87, his longtime manager has announced.

The Academy Award winner was fly-fishing in New Zealand when he passed away on Saturday, though no cause was given.

David wrote the stage and screen versions of the acclaimed play - which went on to bag Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor gongs at the Oscars for the 2010 film.

Speaking to Deadline on Sunday, David's longtime manager Jeff Aghassi broke the news of his death.

'David was in the place he loved most in the world  New Zealand  doing what gave him the greatest peace which was fly-fishing,' he said.

The writer of The King's Speech David Seidler has died aged 87, his longtime manager announced on Sunday

'If given the chance, it is exactly as he would have scripted it.'

The King's Speech centred on the story of King George VI (Colin Firth) overcoming his severe stutter.

His unexpected friendship with speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) in the lead up to World War II was another key theme of the film.

Growing up with a stutter himself, David previously revealed he had always wanted to write about George VI and tell his story.

The film, which David also received two BAFTAs and the Humanitas Prize for, was also always intended to be both a flick and stage play.

David dedicated his Oscar win to 'all the stutterers around the world,' and thanked 'Her Majesty The Queen for not putting me in the Tower for using the F word.'

Halfway through the ceremony when The Social Network won for best editing, one of the King's Speech team exclaimed, 'well that's it, we've lost it'.

The Academy Award winner was fly-fishing in New Zealand when he passed away on Saturday, though no cause was given

David wrote the stage and screen versions of the acclaimed play - when went on to bag Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor gongs at the Oscars

The film, which David also received two BAFTAs and the Humanitas Prize for, was also always intended to be both a flick and stage play

Colin Firth portrayed George VI in the film and joked that his career had peaked' as he picked up his Oscar for the role.

He thanked, 'all the people who have been routing for me back home,' and his wife, 'Livia, for putting up with my fleeting delusions of royalty'.

Tom Hooper, The Kings Speechs 38-year-old director, also won an award for best director.

David started researching the story back in 1981. He discovered how the Queen Mother tracked down Logue, who was working in London in the 1920s, and beseeched him to help Bertie, who froze every time he was called upon to make a speech.

Colin Firth portrayed Geogre VI in the film and joked that his career had peaked' as he picked up his Oscar for the role

David started researching the story back in 1981 and he discovered how the Queen Mother tracked down Logue

'I wrote and asked her permission to tell the story in a film,' David told the Mail in 2010.

'But it was still so raw for her - the whole business of having to relive what her husband and her family went through, with the Abdication and him becoming King.

'It was too much, and still painful, so she wrote and asked that the film not be made until after her death.'
Coronation Street have cast Absolutely Fabulous actress Helen Lederer in a guest role as a love interest for the show's oldest character Ken Barlow.

Known for once being the cobbles biggest lothario (Bill Roache) and desperate to prove he still can still woo the ladies at the age of 91, Ken embarks on speed dating.

After being single for near a decade following the death of his beloved wife Deirdre in 2015, he catches the eye of fellow dater Elspeth (played by comedian Helen, 69).

Ken attends the speed dating event with ex-son in law Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and leaves the Taxi firm owner gutted when, despite his advancing age, manages to outdo him in the romance stakes.

Speaking about the role Helen, who will appear in one Wednesday March 27, described her character as 'forward and bold'.

Coronation Street have cast Absolutely Fabulous actress Helen Lederer in a guest role as a love interest for the show's oldest character Ken Barlow (Bill Roach)

Known for once being the cobbles biggest lothario and desperate to prove he still can still woo the ladies at the age of 91, Ken embarks on speed dating

After being single for near a decade following the death of his beloved wife Deirdre in 2015, he catches the eye of fellow dater Elspeth (played by comedian Helen, 69)

Helen (C) found fame in Ab Fab as Catorina, pictured with co-stars Joanna Lumley (L) and Harriet Thorpe (R)

She also admitted that one of the biggest draws to taking the part was the opportunity to act opposite Bill, who has appeared on the soap since it's first episode in 1960.

Saying: 'I had met him once before when I sat next to him at an event and I thought what a lovely man he was and so personable. So for me to be offered this brief role was a joy'.

And despite only appearing briefly Helen teased that Ken took Elspeth's number during their scenes and she very well return to the soap should he call.

As well as playing Catriona in Ab Fab, the actress has also appeared in Hollyoaks, Celebrity Big Brother and Agatha Christie's Marple.

It comes after the actor was given a three month deadline to clear his huge tax debt in order to 'allow for the sale of property' on Monday.

William earns a reported 250,000 a year playing Ken Barlow on the long-running soap but has racked up a half-a-million debt to the taxman.

He entered an agreement in 2018 to clear the 588,015.18 bill, but according to reports last month he has only paid 41,666.65 so far.

Bill is looking to sell off some property to clear the debt with The Sun reporting in February a prospective buyer had pulled out of a deal.

Ken attends the speed dating event with ex-son in law Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson, right) and leaves the Taxi firm owner gutted when, despite his advancing age, manages to outdo him in the romance stakes

Speaking about the role Helen, who will appear in one Wednesday March 27, described her character as 'forward and bold'

The High Court has now given him a 12-week adjournment in order to 'allow for the sale of property'.

Bill did not appear at a specialist hearing, where lawyers for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said the sum the actor owes - which was not disclosed in court - has been reduced due to payments made.

Jacquille Jarrett, for HMRC, said Bill had asked for a 12-week adjournment, which was unopposed, to 'allow for the sale of property'.

Retired Insolvency and Companies Court judge Stephen Baister granted the adjournment and said Bill's case will return in June.

'Splendid,' Dr Baister said at the end of the hearing, which lasted less than a minute, at the High Court in London.

Bill is best known for his portrayal of Ken Barlow in the ITV soap for more than 60 years after making his debut in its first episode in 1960.

He has wed three times during his sex decades on the show with Deirdre (Anne Kirbride) being the most memorable (pictured together 1989)

Dynasty star Stephanie Beacham also appeared as a love interest for Ken in the role of actress Martha Fraser

He has wed three times during his sex decades on the show with Deirdre (Anne Kirbride) being the most memorable.

They were first married in 1981 and their relationship was rocky to be say the least.

Shortly after tying the knot for the first time, Deirdre had an affair with Mike Baldwin (played by Johnny Briggs) after she found Ken boring.

And while the relationship miraculously survived, it soon came to a devastating end when after Ken had an affair with his secretary Wendy Cozier (Roberta Kerr) in 1989.

They divorced in the 80s only to remarry in 2005 which tragically ended after her off-screen death in 2015, in the wake of the passing of actress Anne Kirkbride.

Before Deirdre, Ken was briefly married to Janet (Judith Barker) in 1973.

After the death of his first wife, Ken married Janet soon after so that his twins would have a lovely mother.

But, the pair would often not see eye-to-eye, with Janet not keen on having the kids at home and also disappointed by Kens lack of ambition.

In 1977, Janet turned up on Kens doorstep asking him to take her back but he refused, which led her to taking taking her own life.

Valerie (Anne Reid) was Kens first wife and mother to Peter (Chris Gascoyne) and Susan (Joanna Foster).

They got married in 1962 and were smitten until her devastating accidental death in 1971.

Ken then agreed to take a teaching position in Jamaica and the family were preparing to emigrate.

While getting ready for her own going away party, Valerie was electrified by a faulty hairdryer.

Bill, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest serving TV soap star in the world, was made an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list in December 2021 for his services to drama and charity.
Nineties sitcom star Sarah Alexander has showcased her age-defying beauty after returning to the West End in comedy The Unfriend.

The actress, 53, found fame in a string of top shows including Coupling, Smack The Pony, Green Wing and Armstrong and Miller.

But Sarah has seemingly not aged a day and looked nothing short of sensational at the show's press night in January as she cut a chic figure in a black sweater and sequinned maxi skirt.

She also appeared in the latest season of BBC's Father Brown earlier this year and wore a vintage dress cinched at her tiny waist while swapping her blonde locks for brunette curls.

Sarah previously told The Independent that she only gets recognised if she 'wears a lot of make-up'.

Nineties sitcom star Sarah Alexander has showcased her age-defying beauty after returning to the West End in comedy The Unfriend (pictured on stage with co-star Lee Mack)

The actress found fame in a string of top shows including Coupling, Smack The Pony, Green Wing and Armstrong and Miller (pictured in January)

But Sarah has seemingly not aged a day and looked nothing short of sensational at the show's press night in January (L) pictured in Coupling 2000 (R)

Sarah (R) pictured in Green Wing with Tamsin Greig (L) and Michelle Gomez (C) in 2004

Joking: 'The appeal of comedy is that you're not going to look your best'.

'I feel at my least comfortable when I have to look at my best. I suppose I'm lucky, but having to look good is a pressure I don't particularly enjoy.

Off screen Sarah is in a long-term relationship with comedian Peter Serafinowicz, 51, and the couple share two children.

The pair have also worked together numerous times with the actress appearing in his spoof shows Look Around You and O! News.

Prior to Peter, Sarah, then 30, was in a year long relationship with with actor Gerald Harper, who was aged 70.

The synopsis of The Unfriend, written by Sherlock's Steven Moffatt, reads: 'After twenty years of marriage, Peter (played by Lee Mack) and Debbie (Sarah) are enjoying a cruise as a break from their annoying teenagers'.

'Peter cant resist exchanging views on Donald Trump with an American fellow passenger. Theres something slightly unsettling about the eagerly friendly Elsa Jean Krakowski (Frances Barber)  but theres no point in rocking the boat when youre about to get off it.'

'Back home, an email arrives from Elsa, followed by Elsa herself. And when Debbie googles their house guest and turns up some hair-raising evidence, their good nature is challenged as never before'.

She also appeared in the latest season of BBC's Father Brown (pictured) and wore a vintage dress cinched at her tiny waist while swapping her blonde locks for brunette curls

Sarah (L) picturing in Coupling with Jack Davenport (C) and Gina Bellman (R)

Off screen Sarah is in a long-term relationship with comedian Peter Serafinowicz, 51, and the couple share two children (pictured together 2016)

Prior to Peter, Sarah, then 30, was in a year long relationship with with actor Gerald Harper, who aged 70 at the time (pictured together in 1997)

'What kind of danger have they allowed to take up residence in their spare room?

'And can they bring themselves to say anything about it? Sometimes, the truth is just too impolite'.

'The Unfriend takes a hugely entertaining and satirical look at middle-class Englands disastrous instinct always to appear nice. Manners can be murder'.
Jon Hamm and his wife Anna Osceola, 35, looked blissfully happy as they strolled through New York City together.

The Mad Men actor, 53, looked preppy in pink pants with a white t-shirt and navy blue cardigan.

His hands were shoved into his pockets as he smiled while talking to his wife.

The Bridesmaids actor  who put on a dapper display next to his wife's glamour during awards season  also wore glasses and a tan ball cap and slipped his feet into a pair of white and black Adidas sneakers.

Anna wore white pants with a cozy-looking red and black sweater and brown coat. She wore sunglasses and the same Adidas shoes that her husband wore.

Jon Hamm and his wife Anna Osceola , 35, looked blissfully happy as they strolled through New York City together

The Mad Men actor, 53, looked preppy in pink pants with a white t-shirt and navy blue cardigan

The Confess, Fletch actress carried a black crossbody handbag and a bottle of water.

Hamm and Osceola first met while working on the series finale of Mad Men, in which she portrayed Clementine, a flower child receptionist at the spiritual retreat center Esalen in Northern California.

Anderson Canyon in the Big Sur region stood in for the Esalen Institute setting in the episode.

Romance rumors swirled around them in 2020 when they were repeatedly seen running errands together during coronavirus lockdowns.

They confirmed their relationship in March 2022 when she attended a pair of Oscar parties on his arm, including the famous annual Vanity Fair party.

The couple were married during a ceremony at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California in June 2023 after dating for two years and being engaged for four months.

Hamm joked about getting married for the first time at the age of 52 on an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

'It only took me half a century but I figured I might as well get it right, so there you go,' he quipped.

Hamm and Osceola first met while working on the series finale of Mad Men, in which she portrayed Clementine, a flower child receptionist at the spiritual retreat center Esalen in Northern California, pictured in 2024

Anderson Canyon in the Big Sur region stood in for the Esalen Institute setting in the episode, pictured in 2024

Romance rumors swirled around them in 2020 when they were repeatedly seen running errands together during coronavirus lockdowns, pictured in 2024

They confirmed their relationship in March 2022 when she attended a pair of Oscar parties on his arm, including the famous annual Vanity Fair party; pictured in 2024

The couple were married during a ceremony at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California in June 2023 after dating for two years and being engaged for four months; pictured in 2024

He also said their wedding was 'a perfect day.'

'It was very exciting,' he told host Kimmel. 'We did it this summer in beautiful Big Sur. It was a perfect day.'

Hamm shared that they opted for a small guest list. 'It was very sparsely attended, by our decision; it was small. And man, it was great,' he recalled.

Hamm previously dated writer and actress Jennifer Westfeldt for 18 years from 1997 to 2015.
Jodie Whittaker has revealed she's nervous about viewers seeing her 'unedited personality' ahead of her appearance on Sunday's The Great Celebrity Bake Off in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.

The former Doctor Who star, 41, will be battling Paloma Faith, Munya Chawawa and Spencer Matthews in the famous tent before their creations are judged by Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith.

But ahead of the episode airing Jodie has admitted her nerves after becoming used to being handed a script and being told what to say.

Telling Radio Times: 'Apart from interviews, I've never done anything where I'm myself on something,'.

'This is what makes me nervous, that you are yourself with a microphone and cameras on you. I have no control over that edit'.

Jodie Whittaker, 41, has revealed she's nervous about viewers seeing her 'unedited personality' ahead of her appearance on Sunday's The Great Celebrity Bake Off in aid of Stand Up To Cancer

The former Doctor Who star will be battling Paloma Faith, Munya Chawawa and Spencer Matthews in the famous tent before their creations are judged by Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith

But ahead of the episode airing Jodie has admitted her nerves after becoming used to being handed a script and being told what to say (pictured in Doctor Who)

Then asked if she enjoyed being pushed out of her comfort zone Jodie admitted: 'Yes, generally. I do really like it, but I would never put myself in a situation that was the celebrity version of something unless it was for charity'.

It comes after judge Prue broke her silence on rumours she's quitting The Great British Bake Off.

On Wednesday it was revealed the cookery writer and TV star, 84, is 'taking a break' from the Channel 4 show after seven years as a judge, with bosses said to have been eyeing up Nigella Lawson to replace her.

Yet during an appearance on Thursday's This Morning, Prue was quick to clear up any confusion, insisting her absence on the show is just temporary.

She told hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: 'It's absolutely not true at all! [that she's quit the show]. What I'm not doing this year is the celebrity one.

'These things are filmed back-to-back all the way through summer from April to August so you don't get any time off. I'm getting quite old and there's places I want to see. So I'm not doing this year's.'

Prue previously told MailOnline about the decision: 'I absolutely love working on Bake Off and am looking forward to filming the next series and meeting our new bakers.

'I am only stepping back from the Celebrity series, which is just a question of the filming commitment involved as we make these shows back to back.'

She said: 'This is what makes me nervous, that you are yourself with a microphone and cameras on you. I have no control over that edit' (pictured with the rest of 2024's celebs)

It comes after judge Prue broke her silence on rumours she's quitting The Great British Bake Off

On Wednesday it was revealed she is taking a break from The Great British Bake Off after being a judge on the hit show for seven years (pictured with Paul Hollywood)

Channel 4 bosses are now looking for Prue's replacement to judge alongside Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson is a favourite

A spokesman for Bake Off creator Love Productions said: 'Prue will be stepping back from The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.'

'Prue absolutely loves working on Bake Off but filming two series a year can be punishing on top of her other commitments,' a source told The Sun.

'She has already filmed the normal series, which will air this year but she will not appear on the celebrity version.

'Prue has made it clear she adores the show and would like to come back in 2025. She will turn 85 next year, so it's not surprising that she wants to take time off.
Scott Disick shocked fans as he emerged in Los Angeles on Saturday night looking gaunt.

The 40-year-old media personality displayed his extreme weight loss in a baggy tracksuit as he stepped out for a meal with his pals at Catch Steak restaurant in West Hollywood.

He donned a black jacket over a brown T-shirt and paired it with oversize cargo pants.

The reality TV star  who was spotted exiting his ex Chloe Bartoli's residence with a suitcase in tow earlier this week  donned a pair of cream-colored sneakers to complete his look.

He was later seen leaving the Offsunset nightclub with bombshell Sarah Bauer, 28, as identified by Page Six.

Scott Disick was spotted out in Los Angeles on Saturday night with a visibly slimmed down appearance

The 40-year-old media personality wore a baggy tracksuit over his slender frame as he stepped out for a meal with his pals at Catch Steak restaurant in West Hollywood. He is pictured right in 2022

He was pictured in a sprinter alongside the Universal Music Group employee  who put on a leggy display in a maroon miniskirt and a matching vest zipped low with a plunging neckline.

She wore black strappy heels and sat directly next to Disick after their night of partying.

The pair were also seen out with Disick's friend, model Jordan Barrett, 27, who has also undergone an extreme weight loss transformation.

Disick's outing comes after he was spotted leaving his ex's place earlier this week with a suitcase and a toiletry bag in hand.

He and Bartoli were first romantically linked 18 years ago and briefly dated in 2006 after he and his ex Kourtney Kardashian called it quits.

In 2015, Kourtney and Scott's on-off relationship ended for the final time.

They reportedly split because she saw viral photos of him getting handsy with stylist, 33, on holiday in the South of France.

They were photographed again two years later in Cannes and again late last year, frolicking in the ocean in St. Barts.

He was pictured in a sprinter alongside the Universal Music Group employee  who put on a leggy display in a maroon miniskirt and a matching vest zipped low with a plunging neckline. She wore black strappy heels and sat directly next to Disick after their night of partying

He donned a black jacket over a brown T-shirt and paired it with oversize cargo pants. The reality TV star donned a pair of cream-colored sneakers to complete his look. He was seen leaving the restaurant beside his friend, model Jordan Barrett, 27

His visible weight loss was apparent during his fun night out with friends in West Hollywood

His outing comes after he was spotted leaving his ex's place earlier this week with a suitcase and a toiletry bag in hand. He and Chloe Bartoli were first romantically linked 18 years ago and briefly dated in 2006 after he and his ex Kourtney Kardashian called it quits

Disick was famously in a long-term relationship with Kardashian from 2006 to 2015 and share three children together; seen in October 2013

Disick was famously in a long-term relationship with Kardashian from 2006 to 2015.

The former couple also share three children together  Mason, 14, Penelope, 11, and Reign, nine.

After nearly a decade of dating, the pair parted ways for good as she cited Disick's sobriety battles as the reason for their parting.

Disick, who lost his parents in 2013 and 2014, struggled with substance abuse and alcoholism during their nine year relationship.

Kardashian has since moved on and married Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker in May 2022.

They welcomed their first child together, son Rocky, last year.
Kyle Sandilands has leapt to the defense of Holly Valance after the former Neighbours star accused Australia of being too 'woke'.

Speaking on Monday morning's Kyle and Jackie O Show, the shock jock, 52, agreed with the actress.

'The people that are in charge are all woke, so every one of their dumb rules is for the benefit of everyone,' he said.

'Everyone's got to be looked after.'

Later in the show, Kyle also agreed with Valance's stance on climate activist Greta Thunberg, saying, 'I hate that chick too.'

Kyle Sandilands (pictured) has leapt to the defense of Holly Valance after the former Neighbours star accused Australia of being too 'woke'

The comments come after Holly Candy, known professionally as Holly Valance, took a stunning swipe at Thunberg in an interview with GB News' Chopper's Political Podcast.

Valance, 40, a former pop star and Neighbours actress who has recently rebranded herself as a conservative commentator, didn't mince words as she revealed her thoughts on the Swedish-born climate activist, 21.

The Aussie star told podcast host Christopher Hope: 'I don't understand why you have this, like, demonic little gremlin high priestess of climatism as the goddess in classrooms, Greta [Thunberg].

'All the kids are all coming home with depression and anxiety.

'Why would you go to your music lesson or bother doing your homework or get out of your bed if you think we're all going to be dead in five years anyway?'

The mother-of-two also declared she has no intention of moving back to her Australian homeland, lamenting that the country is becoming too 'woke'.

Holly Candy, known professionally as Holly Valance, 40, (right) has taken a stunning swipe at climate activist Greta Thunberg, 21, (left) in an explosive interview with GB News ' Chopper's Political Podcast

'The Australia I grew up in was unreal. It was so fun and we didn't seem to have all these problems... the woke stuff's really gone big in Australia,' she said.

Holly elaborated on the 'woke culture', pointing towards 'the stuff they're teaching in school': 'I don't think sexuality and children should be in the same sentence. I don't think anyone's sexuality is anyone's business. You don't know about mine. I don't know about yours. Why would we?'

Valance, who is married to billionaire property developer Nick Candy, was born in Australia but has UK citizenship through her British mother. She lives in London and the Cotswolds.

The Aussie star told podcast host Christopher Hope (left): 'I don't understand why you have this, like, demonic little gremlin high priestess of climatism as the goddess in classrooms, Greta [Thunberg]'

Holly also took the opportunity to target 'nanny state' Victoria, explaining that she still gets fines every few months for not voting.

'The government will fine you for breathing,' she joked.

She also firmly ruled out a return to Australia if Labour won the upcoming UK election.

'The plan would be to stay and live where we love, which is here, I'm very patriotic to this place. My mother is from Southampton. My whole family is English,' she said.

'I don't want to go anywhere. And Nick doesn't want to go anywhere. We prefer to be in our country.'

Elsewhere in the interview, the mother-of-two said she has no intention of moving back to her Australian homeland, lamenting that the country is becoming too 'woke'. (Pictured on Neighbours)

Holly also took the opportunity to target 'nanny state' Victoria, explaining that she still gets fines every few months for not voting. 'The government will fine you for breathing,' she joked

In 2012, Holly married Nick in Beverly Hills and they welcomed two daughters together in 2013 and 2017 named Luka Violet Toni and Nova Skye Coco respectively.

The couple enjoy a lavish lifestyle and previously lived in a two-storey Hyde Park penthouse worth $340million, making it Britain's most expensive flat.

Nick and Holly have since downsized to a $18million countryside mansion in the Cotswolds, which they are currently renovating.

In 2020, Nick gifted Holly with a $50million superyacht, despite the mother-of-two famously suffering from sea sickness.
Those who enjoy sipping a margarita in the sun would no doubt have been concerned by recent reports linking their favorite drink to an unsightly rash.

Dr Brandon Adler, an assistant professor of dermatology at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, recently warned of the increased risk of a skin condition called photocontact dermatitis, or 'margarita burn', as the temperature increases across the country.

The condition occurs when reside from citrus, such as limes, gets on to your skin and reacts with the sun, causing an itchy, red rash, similar in appearance to severe sunburn or eczema.

It means those who are preparing citrus drinks in the sunshine are at particular risk.

In severe cases, it develops into blisters, said Dr Adler.

But despite the focus on the lime-based drink, experts say there are many foods that can trigger this curious reaction.

Photocontact dermatitis can be triggered by a number of foods including figs, celery and even carrots

Aside from limes, parsley, celery, fig trees, parsnip, carrots, beans and yarrow can all react with your skin to cause photocontact dermatitis.

They all contain an organic molecule called furanocoumarin.

It's thought that certain plants produce these molecules as a sort of evolutionary defense against animals that might eat them, according to research from the University of Illinois.

There are other, non food items that can cause photocontact dermatitis too, including some medical creams and even sunscreen.

People who react to these substances usually do so because they've developed an allergy to these substances that only flares up when exposed to the sun, Dr Adler told DailyMail.com.

When people do react to sunscreens, it usually has to do with an allergy to fragrances added to the product. Adler emphasized that it's unlikely you'll flare up from your sunscreen.

'This in no way implies that sunscreens are dangerous or that sunscreens should be avoided. On the contrary, as a dermatologist, I recommend daily sunscreen use actually to prevent skin cancer,' he said.

These reactions have affected approximately five to six percent of the general population, according to Dermatology Net.

But, Adler said, it could be a lot more common than doctors realize, because many patients don't seek professional help for the condition, assuming its a run of a mill sunburn.

Dr Brandon Adler, an assistant professor of dermatology at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, warned of an increased risk of 'margarita burn' amid the increasing temperatures across the US.

A key way to know if you've been affected is by paying attention to the pattern of the burn. Adler said these burns usually look, 'streaky, like juices running down the skin. Or just like a very unusual dark patch on the areas of the body that have had contact.'

If you suspect you've come in contact with something that's making this flare up, Adler said, the first crucial step is to wash yourself of whatever you might've come into contact with.

Once you clean your skin, you should be safe from the sun.

Then, in most cases, these rashes die down within a few days or weeks. Most of the time, these reactions don't even require any medication, but Adler recommends staying out of the sun.

Heading into the sunny season in the US, Adler expects that there will be an uptick, as there is each year. Make sure you're prepared.
An elderly Delaware couple have told the agonizing story of how they lost $1.46 million to an elaborate six-month con.

Lana Browne, 82, and her husband Ed were coerced by scammers posing as Homeland Security who claimed to be tracking their movements and forbade them from speaking to family.

The couple were under the illusion their bank accounts had been targeted by international cyber criminals in China, Russia and Bolivia.

They were convinced to drain their lifesavings and investments which were earmarked to fund possible future hospice care for Ed, 91, who is suffering from tongue cancer. Now they are relying on Social Security payments and a small pension belonging to Ed, a war veteran, to live.

The astonishing story lays bare the devastating losses incurred by elderly victims to fraud. The FBI estimates senior citizens lose $3 billion to financial scams annually - though the figures can be hard to pin down as many are too embarrassed to admit they have been conned.

Lana and Ed Browne (pictured together) lost $1.4 million to an elaborate six-month con where fraudsters impersonated Homeland Security, claimed to be tracking their movements and forbade them from speaking to family

And it comes after three victims came forward to say they have lost life-changing amounts of money to criminals claiming to be from Wells Fargo's fraud department.

Lana and Ed's case began in the same way. In May last year, the grandmother was called by criminals purporting to be investigators for Wells Fargo, a bank she had used since 2005.

She was informed their account had been attacked and the case involved money laundering, pornography and illegal and disputed transactions.

The incident was being investigated, Lana was told, and she was transferred to a man who claimed to be a US Marshal.

Lana was given an official-looking ID belonging to the supposed Marshal and seen by this publication.

One Google of the name brings up a LinkedIn account belonging to a real US Marshal along with a book on Amazon apparently written by him.

However, DailyMail.com understands nobody with that name has worked for the Marshal service in more than ten years.

Lana, having done her research online, was convinced he was a genuine Marshal. She dutifully followed his instructions.

The couple were told they were being put in a witness protection program and their money would be kept safe in a special Federal Reserve Bank account set up for them.

Victim Alice Fries, 59, was contacted by criminals posing as the bank's fraud department who tricked her into handing over her personal information that they then used to gain access to her account

Judith, pictured, and her family are spreading awareness of her story on social media

The fraudsters said they would be taken to court and imprisoned if they chose to speak to anybody about their ordeal. The couple - who were both been married once before meeting each other - have six children and 14 grandchildren between them.

At the end of May, the 'Marshal' had Lana withdraw the majority of her cash savings from her Wells Fargo bank account. She was then instructed to transfer this into Bitcoin.

He then demanded Lana drain all of her investment accounts and have the money exchanged into gold to be stored in a vault guarded by the Federal Reserve. She sent the cash via wire transfer to somebody who promised to secure the gold and sent bogus receipts.

Every time she left the house, Lana was told to keep in touch with the 'Marshal' at all times. He even appeared to be tracking her movements telling her things like 'You aren't home yet' when she was in the car.

The transactions raised alarm from Wells Fargo who repeatedly contacted Lana to make sure she wasn't being scammed. However, Lana believes the criminals were listening in to her conversations with the bank.

She was also so deeply under their spell that she was too scared to tell the truth, instead feeding the bank employees lies she had been told to repeat by the scammers.

DailyMail.com has seen multiple wire transfer receipts showing that the Brownes lost $1,466,422.

'I had to lie to everybody, including the bank and my family,' Lana told DailyMail.com.

'My daughter was so concerned. She rang my best friend to find out what was going on but of course I couldn't say anything.'

It was not until one night in October that Lana woke up with a start as she realized with absolute clarity she had been scammed.

Communication with the 'Marshal' had all but dried up, after she was told he had been hospitalized following his involvement in a shoot-out.

Your browser does not support iframes.

She and Ed contacted the National Elder Fraud Hotline and now they are working with the real Homeland Security who have made one arrest in connection to the Brownes' losses. The Department refused to answer multiple queries from DailyMail.com about the case.

Lana said: 'Our main concern is because of our age. If something happens and I can't take care of Ed anymore, I needed the money to towards his assistance or whatever needs he would have.'

A recent report by the Federal Trade Commission estimates that Americans lost $10 billion to fraudsters in 2023. It marked a $1 billion increase on the year prior.

Some 22 percent of fraud cases filed were by victims over the age of 80 while 25 percent were aged 70-79.

In recent months, several cases have come to light whereby Wells Fargo customers were targeted by scammers pretending to be from the bank.

Last week, Alice Fries told DailyMail.com she lost $100,000 to the rouse. Similarly victim Thomas Murrer had his savings drained and credit cards maxed out - to the tune of $30,000.

California grandmother Judith Anderson went viral on TikTok after sharing her story of losing $150,000 to scammers just a few days before Christmas. She has since received a reimbursement from the bank.

The Brownes have not directly complained to Wells Fargo or asked for a refund. Lana acknowledges that bank employees tried hard to stop her making the transactions - but she insisted, believing she was protecting her safety.

Wells Fargo declined to comment on the Brownes' case.
President Biden announced another round of student loan forgiveness Thursday, bringing the total amount of cancelled debt to $144 billion for 4 million Americans.

Some 78,000 public service workers will have nearly $6 billion in education debt wiped clean under the latest plan.

Last summer, the President's ambitious plan to cancel $400 billion of student debt in one go was blocked by the Supreme Court.

Instead, he has announced a series of smaller forgiveness options - but who exactly is eligible for the different forms of relief can be confusing.

So, DailyMail.com and GOBankingRates here explain the schemes so far, and who qualifies. Today's round is under the public service loan forgiveness section.

So far, President Biden has cancelled $144 billion in student debt for almost 4 million Americans

Income-driven repayment plans - $45.6 billion

Weeks after the Supreme Court ruled the government had overstepped its mark with its forgiveness plan, Biden announced in July 2023 that over 800,000 Americans would have $40 billion in debts wiped out.

This is part of a one-time adjustment to help address any inaccuracies in payment counts for borrowers in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans.

It was announced that those who had been making payments for between 20 and 25 years would have their debts wiped due to 'fixes' in the system that calculates the repayment plans.

IDR plans are supposed to allow forgiveness after the borrower makes a certain number of monthly payments. They are typically lower than standard repayment plans, and monthly payments can be zero in some cases.

But the plans have been criticized over the years for poor communication between the Education Department, loan servicers and borrowers.

Many Americans had been left confused by the system, which meant they struggled to get the debt erasure they were promised.

'For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,' US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said at the time.

'By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve.'

'For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,' US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said

Whitney Barkley-Denney, deputy director of state policy at the Center for Responsible Lending, told DailyMail.com: 'This situation was due, in part, to unsuccessful marketing efforts, but also because servicers were not required to inform consumers about the program and their ability to qualify for it.

'This led to borrowers being placed in deferment after deferment, even if their repayment under an IDR would have been affordable.'

The first round of qualifying borrowers who met the necessary criteria were notified last summer.

The next round was announced in October 2023, where 51,000 borrowers on IDR plans had their debts canceled under adjustments to the 'broken' system.

Then a third wave of 29,700 people who had been paying back their loans for at least two decades were notified in January this year - amounting to approximately $1.7 billion in aid.

Also in January this year, Biden fast-tracked relief for those who have been in repayment for a decade or more and originally took out $12,000 or less.

To be eligible under this particular round of forgiveness, people had to be enrolled in The Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE plan.

The SAVE plan offers far more generous terms than several other income-driven repayment plans that it was designed to replace.

While 30 million people are eligible for the plan, only 6.9 million are currently enrolled.

Overall, these improvements to IDR plans have resulted in $45.6 billion in debt relief for 930,500 borrowers, according to the White House.

Whitney Barkley-Denney, deputy director of state policy at the Center for Responsible Lending, said many borrowers were unaware they were eligible for IDR plans

Public Service Loan Forgiveness - $62.5 billion

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which was signed into law in 2007, allows government employees to have their loans discharged after 10 years of repayment.

But it has also long been criticized for poor communication between the Education Department, loan servicers and borrowers - and errors keeping track of payment counts.

Workers frequently found that all or some of their payments did not count because they were enrolled in a plan not covered by the initiative.

'Since day one we have been passionate about fixing the public service loan forgiveness program so that our teachers don't have to work a second or third job bartending or Ubering to make ends meet and pay off their student loans,' Miguel Cardona wrote on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this year.

The Biden administration has also forgiven the debts of thousands of teachers, nurses, firefighters and other people who have worked in public service for a decade or more (Pictured: Firefighters in New York City)

The White House has broadened the eligibility of the program and allowed Americans to reapply for the relief as long as they are still working in the public service and making on-time repayments.

Around 790,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers had their debt erased, amounting to almost $57 billion in aid, in the first rounds of cancellation.

The latest round, announced Thursday, saw a further 78,000 public service workers have $5.8 billion in education debt wiped clean.

Borrowers can find out more information about the plan's requirements on the Federal Student Aid website.

Borrowers with disabilities - $11.7 billion

Under the Biden administration, $11.7 billion in loan forgiveness has been approved for 513,000 borrowers with a total and permanent disability under the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge.

The Department of Education has improved its process for identifying borrowers who are disabled and in need of this relief by accessing information from the Social Security Administration.

Biden forgave the loans of borrowers who attended the now defunct ITT Technical Institute

Legal settlements - $22.5 billion

The remaining loan forgiveness - $22.5 billion - has gone to borrowers who had their schools suddenly close, or who claimed to be defrauded by institutions.

For example, in June 2022 the Biden administration said it would cancel the federal student loan debts of about 200,000 borrowers who claimed to be defrauded by their schools.

The announcement followed a class-action lawsuit settlement filed in federal court.

A couple of months later, the Education Department said it would discharge all remaining federal student loans borrowers received to attend ITT Technical Institute from January 1, 2005 through the school's closure in September 2016.

The Biden administration has processed these applications more quickly, and has begun considering cases in a group rather than making each student of a particular school prove they were misled.

The Biden administration is working on a 'Plan B' after its ambitious plan to cancel up to $400 billion in loans for millions of Americans was struck down by the Supreme Court last summer

Will there be further relief this year?

Republicans and critics claim the relief plans so far are putting a huge burden on taxpayers, and are unfair to the millions of Americans who did not get a college education.

But according to a CNBC interview with Congressman James Clyburn last month, the Department of Education will continue cancelling debt for a further 75,000 borrowers every two months for the next four years.

He said the relief would come under the changes to the income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Experts also say that the Biden administration's student loan bankruptcy policy is making it easier for borrowers to walk away from their debt in court.

The Biden administration is now working to adapt its broad forgiveness plan to make it legally viable.

The Supreme Court struck down President Biden's original $400 billion student loans forgiveness plan in June 2023, with the justices ruling 6-3 against

While it is not yet clear exactly what this so-called 'Plan B' would involve, it may seek to narrow relief to more targeted groups.

This includes those who have balances greater than what they originally borrowed and students from poor quality schools.

The Education Department is also considering extending the relief to another borrower group, which it describes as those experiencing 'financial hardship', but the definition of this has not been set in stone.

'Plan B' still comes with a long list of unknowns, as a draft of the proposal is still in the works, but concrete details are expected later this year.

According to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz, it is possible somewhere between 4 million and 10 million borrowers will be eligible for the revised forgiveness program.
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The government on Friday approved an electric-vehicle policy, under which duty concessions will be given to companies setting up manufacturing units in the country with a minimum investment of USD 500 million, a move aimed at attracting major global players like US-based Tesla.

According to an official statement, the companies setting up manufacturing facilities for e-vehicles will be allowed to import a limited number of cars at lower customs duty.

The policy seeks to promote India as a manufacturing destination for EVs and attract investment from reputed global EV manufacturers, it added.

Under the policy, a company will be required to make a minimum investment of USD 500 million or Rs 4,150 crore. There will be no upper investment limit.

The duty foregone on the total number of EVs allowed for import would be limited to the investment made or Rs 6,484 crore (equal to incentive under PLI scheme) whichever is lower.

A maximum of 40,000 EVs at the rate of not more than 8,000 per year would be permissible if the investment is USD 800 million or more. The carryover of unutilised annual import limits would be permitted, it said.

The investment commitment made by the company will have to be backed up by a bank guarantee in lieu of the custom duty forgone.

The statement further said the bank guarantee will be invoked in case of non-achievement of DVA (domestic value addition) and minimum investment criteria defined under the scheme guidelines.

It said that the initiative will provide Indian consumers access to the latest technology, boost the Make in India initiative, strengthen the EV ecosystem by promoting healthy competition among EV players, leading to high volume of production, economies of scale, lower cost of production, reduce imports of crude oil, lower trade deficit, reduce air pollution, particularly in cities, and will have a positive impact on health and environment.

The policy is designed to attract investments in the e-vehicle space by reputed global EV manufacturers, it said.

As per the policy, a company will get three years for setting up manufacturing facilities in India and to start commercial production of e-vehicles, and reach 50 per cent domestic value addition (DVA) within five years at the maximum.

With regard to domestic value addition during manufacturing, it said, a localisation level of 25 per cent (will have to be achieved) by the third year and 50 per cent by the fifth year.

The customs duty of 15 per cent (as applicable to CKD units) would be applicable on vehicles of minimum CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value of USD 35,000 and above for a total period of 5 years, subject to the manufacturer setting up facilities in India within a three-year period, the ministry said.

Recently in an interview with the PTI, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that India will not tailor its policies to suit US EV maker Tesla, and its laws and tariff rules will be formulated to attract all-electric vehicle manufacturers from across the world to set up a base in the worlds fastest-growing economy.

Besides Tesla, the other major global manufacturer of e-vehicles is China-based BYD.

Tesla, it may be mentioned, has been seeking an initial tariff concession that would allow it to offset 70 per cent customs duty for cars priced less than USD 40,000, and 100 per cent for cars of higher value.

Tesla has pitched the concession demand as a precondition to build a plant in India.

The Indian factory, as and when it happens, would be Teslas sixth vehicle plant.

At present, cars imported as completely built units (CBUs) attract customs duty ranging from 60 per cent to 100 per cent, depending on engine size and cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value less or above USD 40,000.

The fast-growing EV market in India is catching the eyes of global players.

Indias electric vehicles market is expected to grow to one crore units in annual sales by 2030 and create five crore direct and indirect jobs, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

As per industry estimates, the total EV sales in India stood at around 10 lakh units in 2022.

In India, Tata Motors is the leading player in passenger electric vehicles. The companys current EV portfolio comprises Nexon EV range, Tiago EV and Tigor EV.
The ceaseless march of urbanisation and industrialisation is swiftly altering the landscape, leaving behind a trail of unintended consequences

Land, the foundation of our existence, is often overlooked in the discourse on sustainable development. Yet, it is this very land that cradles life, harbours resources, and sustains us all. As we stride forward in our quest for progress, it is crucial to remember that every step we take leaves an imprint on the land beneath us.

As a developing nation, Indias relationship with land is complex and multifaceted. It is deeply intertwined with cultural, social, and environmental aspects, embodying the countrys rich heritage and biodiversity. However, it is also a highly coveted resource, often the subject of conflicts as various stakeholders, each with their unique vision of development, compete for its possession.

Indias terrain, once a vibrant mosaic of lush fields and flourishing ecosystems, is confronting a transformed paradigm. The ceaseless progression of urbanisation and industrialisation is swiftly altering the landscape, leaving a trail of unintended consequences in its wake. This shift is diverting fertile land away from its traditional agricultural use, posing serious challenges for food security and causing harm to eco-sensitive areas, thereby disrupting wildlife habitats and biodiversity on both micro and macro levels. Rivers, once brimming with life and vitality, are now enduring relentless assaults. Encroachments and diversions are strangling their ability to sustain us, while the toxic deluge of industrial waste is poisoning their essence. This contamination is turning these once vibrant waterways into barren stretches making it unfit for aquatic life, diminishing their aesthetic value and cultural significance and impeding their natural self-purification capabilities.

Mining, particularly in forested regions, is inflicting deep wounds on the earth, causing extensive land degradation and disturbing the fragile ecological balance. Meanwhile, rapid urbanisation, although promising improved living standards often lacks environmental sustainability in its construction processes. Development, despite its promise of progress, tends to exploit natures bounty and displace indigenous communities, severing the sacred ties that have bound them to the land for generations. These competing and conflicting land uses along with evolving land rights issues are igniting conflicts between local communities and administrative entities.

With Indias rise as the worlds most populous country, accounting for nearly 18% of the global population, the per capita land availability is dwindling. This decline, especially in areas vital for human life, agriculture, ecosystems, and natural resources, carries significant implications. The task ahead is to unlock the potential of the land in a way that harmoniously accommodates the diverse needs and impacts associated with different land uses.

The agricultural landscape of India has also experienced significant transformations over the centuries, evolving from traditional farming to modern techniques. Initially, Indian farming was subsistence-based, relying on indigenous knowledge and techniques like mixed cropping, crop rotation, and organic manure use, which fostered a healthy relationship with the environment. Agroforestry, the harmonious integration of trees and shrubs within farmlands had further enriched this tapestry which contributed to the overall health and productivity of the land.

However, the British era marked a shift towards commercial agriculture, focusing on cash crops and monoculture farming. This period also witnessed the introduction of land revenue systems, often marginalising small farmers and disrupting rural communities.

Post-independence, the Green Revolution emerged as a beacon of hope, aiming to alleviate hunger and poverty by increasing food grain production. While this revolution successfully doubled the output of staple crops like wheat and rice, it came at a cost. Overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides led to widespread soil degradation and water pollution. The dependence on water-intensive crops, aggravated water scarcity challenges, particularly in regions like Punja. Moreover, the focus on specific high-yield varieties overshadowed the importance of other vital food sources like varieties of rice and millet, threatening the diversity and resilience of Indias food security. While the Green Revolution brought prosperity to many, unfortunately, it also overlooked small and marginal farmers.

Traditional practices like shifting cultivation in some regions are contributing to deforestation and the conversion of agricultural land into less productive ones. This alteration of land use, particularly the conversion of forests for agriculture or industry, is further amplifying the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events are disrupting agricultural production, posing immense challenges for farmers and making it difficult for them to predict yields and plan effectively. Climate change is also worsening the existing water scarcity, creating a vicious cycle that threatens the very foundation of agriculture in many regions.

Beyond these environmental challenges, socioeconomic changes like rapid urbanisation, labour migration, and evolving societal attitudes are also reshaping the agricultural landscape. Increasing fuel costs and a looming energy crisis further squeeze the profitability of farming, making it a less attractive livelihood for many. Farmers often face unfair market practices, including receiving low prices for their crops and delayed payments.

These multifaceted challenges culminate in a tragic reality - the distressing issue of farmer suicides. Driven by crippling debt, crop failures, and difficulties in securing a sustainable livelihood, many small and marginal farmers are pushed to the brink of despair. This sombre consequence casts a long shadow on the future of Indian agriculture, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive and empathetic solutions that address not just the economic aspects but also the social and emotional well-being of the farmers who are the backbone of the nations food security.

While initiatives like the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana and PM-KISAN Yojana offer crucial financial support to the farmers, they fail to address the fundamental issue of farming being non-remunerative. A market-driven approach, guided by demand and supply, is often proposed and was reflected in the Centres response to the pandemic-induced economic crisis. However, the pandemic has also challenged previous notions about the agricultural economy and exposed vulnerabilities in supply chain-dependent food security.

Given the complexity and diversity of these challenges, its clear that a holistic and integrated approach is essential for sustainable land management. However, the current strategies are plagued by sector-specific focus, decentralised decision-making, outdated data, and unclear land records, often leading to conflicting land uses and unsustainable practices. We need to prioritise both economic growth and environmental sustainability while ensuring social equity.

The key to sustainable land management lies in open discussions and collective decision-making among a diverse group of stakeholders. To realise this vision, its essential to empower all stakeholders, with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions. In this context, building a comprehensive Land Information System becomes vital, especially for small landholders. Farmers often face challenges in decision-making due to the lack of comprehensive land records, particularly during land transactions. Establishing systems that provide crucial data, such as soil conditions, water availability, past crop yields and pricing trends can enhance their decision-making capabilities. Addressing land rights issues and empowering marginalised communities are also crucial for societal robustness and equity. Its equally important that land acquisition strategies balance the need for public projects with the provision of adequate compensation and rehabilitation support for displaced individuals.

Efficiency and effectiveness in land management can also be significantly improved by streamlining regulations, eliminating redundancies, and enhancing data accessibility and transparency. Its also important to cultivate environmental consciousness, promote climate-smart strategies, and encourage forward-thinking in land use planning.

Protecting resource-rich areas, particularly Eco-Sensitive Zones must be prioritised. Establishing clear boundaries and integrating these areas into land use planning will ensure their continued bounty and ecological significance. Enforcing sensible restrictions on the acquisition and conversion of arable lands is fundamental, given their significant role in food security and sustaining agricultural communities.

With these comprehensive strategies and mindful practices in place, we can begin to address the multifaceted challenges of land management. This sets the stage for India to navigate its complex land use challenges and secure a future where development and environmental preservation flourish in harmony.

(The author is Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, UP, views are personal)
A Rajas remarks, rooted in a divisive political ideology, reflect a dangerous trend of separatism that undermines the unity of India

DMK MP A Raja can perhaps be forgiven, for believing that India is only a subcontinent and not a country, only on grounds of stark ignorance. One doesnt know whether Raja has ever gone to a university, but even if he had, he has learnt nothing useful. More ironic would be the fact that even his political knowledgeassuming he has any worthwhile of it in the first placeappears to have let him down.

A background into Rajas anti-centre and anti-Indian fulminations would be necessary. His party the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) came into existence based on sectarian hatred against the Brahmin community, Sanskrit and the Hindu religion itself. Later, this morphed into anti-Indian sentiment; the DMK committed to seceding from the Indian Union as part of its party manifesto, which it claimed as an inalienable political right, giving it up only in 1962. It, however, continues to remain virulently anti-Hindu and anti-Hindu. Its political ideology is based on pitting Tamil Nadu as a separate civilization from the rest of India, particularly Hindu civilization. Raja, in an election year, is trying to fan the embers of that fossilised ideology.

But facts and reality make rubbish of Rajas utterances. Let us take the most visible facet of Hindu dharmathe temple. Some of the first Hindu temples, and certainly the most in number, are situated in Tamil Nadu. Be it Shaivism or Vaishnavism, the modes of worship are exactly what they are in all other parts of India, except maybe the use of Tamil in place of Sanskrit in many temples in the state. The cardinal point being made here is that Hinduism in all its fascinating shades is the same across the country and that is the spine that makes India a single civilization, and constitutionally, a single country.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah from 1940 to the end of his life in 1948, believed and propagated that Hindus and Muslims are so different that they cannot co-exist in one country. So far, in post-independence India, they have managed to do so. On the other hand, the two wings of Pakistan, East and West, fell apart in 1971 because of what Jinnahs beloved Pakistan did. In the western wing, the AhmediyasMuslim but the followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmedhave been expelled from Islam. Thereafter, there have been vociferous demands often accompanied by vigilante violence, for the expulsion or extermination of the Shias, whose first leader Hazrat Ali and his sons Hasan and Hussein were direct relatives of Prophet Mohammad.

The point to be iterated here is that even the closely-knit Islamic community is not able to hold a country together. In the early years of President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, his country and Syria merged to become the United Arab Republic (UAR); the unity lasted just three years (from 1958 to 1971), as both returned to their separate entities.

Those citizens of Tamil Nadu like A. Raja who talk of India as a subcontinent are not Hindus but are, in all likelihood crypto-Christians, who conceal their faith under the cloak of Hindu names. Their separatism is dangerous more to Tamil Nadu and less so to India. The reason is that there are more Hindus in Tamil Nadu than any other community and therefore, are not going to separate from India on any temptation. As a consequence, if any fissiparous activity were to break the state, it would leave no chance of any secession from India. We wonder whether A. Raja has realised the folly of his subcontinental thesis.

The Raja writ may run in Chennai and the districts around it. The Nagercoil area of the extreme southern part of the state is nearer its neighbour Kerala than being a devotee of the Raja thesis. The northern districts of Tamil Nadu are indifferent to the Raja theory. Raja should realise that it is one thing to talk about seceding, but quite another to survive in separation. For example, dealing with neighbouring countries is a different kettle of fish, whether it is regard to river water or imports and exports.

The prestige and clout a large and powerful country like India can command is something a small country cannot even dream of. What then becomes necessary is seeking the refuge of a larger bloc, the way Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have joined NATO. Being so small, these three countries would have no say in the conduct of NATO, but on the other hand, would have to make quite some sacrifice in exchange for only military protection.

Thought should be given to whether Tamil Nadu could have built up such a large automobile industry had it been a small, separate country. TNs automobile industrys success has happened because A. Rajas state is part of a large country. This also throws open a large, open home market. Competing with large automobile makers in the home market will make survival difficult; without the support of a home market, it is impossible. To sum up, secession and surviving as a separate entity is a far more complex proposition than life after talaq (divorce), which is of course, different and difficult enough.

(The writer is a well-known columnist, an author and a former member of the Rajya Sabha. The views expressed are personal)
Next time while attending a wedding ceremony be cautious as the horses and the tongas driven by them as part of the celebration paraphernalia may be harmful due to the detection of glanders  a fatal disease for both humans and animals.

This illegal activity of plying tongas continues to be in practice in the city even though the civic bodies of Delhi prohibits the use of horse-drawn tongas.

Glanders pose a threat to human life as it can be transmitted to humans through animals.

Keeping in mind the livelihoods of owners of equines and bulls, animal activists have been encouraged to replace the animals plying their carts with battery-operated e-rickshaws.

The National Research Centre on Equines of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-NRCE) has identified three horses, used illegally to ply tongas in the national Capital, to be positive for glanders, a fatal disease for both humans and animals.

The samples of the horses were collected and subsequently submitted to ICAR-NRCE by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

The use of horses to pull tongas and for rides and weddings is harmful not only to the horses  who are often worked to death  but also to humans because they are a major traffic and health hazard.

To protect horses and people, horses must be removed from Delhis roads, said PETA India Veterinary Officer Dr Kundan Joshi.

The ICAR-NRCE has asked the Delhi Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying to bring equine movement in and around the area of concern under strict regulation and surveillance. The department has also been asked to address the situation of glanders disease in the region in accordance with The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.

PETA highlighted that despite them pointing out as many as 40 positive cases of glanders in 2018, eight in 2019 and one in 2020, no action by the authorities were taken to prohibit this illegal plying of tonga by horses.

The use of horses to pull tongas and for rides and weddings is harmful not only to the horses - who are often worked to death - but also to humans because they are a major traffic and health hazard. To protect horses and people, horses must be removed from Delhis roads, said PETA India Veterinary Officer Dr Kundan Joshi.

Director of Veterinary Services Dr Mini Aravindam said, Since 2010 tongas are illegal to be used in Delhi, but still the practice is continuing. Glanders is a bacterial disease caused by Burkholderia mallei mainly affecting horses, and can be also seen in mules and donkeys. This disease is contagious and it can be an acute or chronic, usually fatal disease for horses.

Elaborating on the transmission of the disease from animals to humans, posing a threat to human life, she said, This is a contagious disease and people handling infected animals like tonga riders and groomers will be infected as well as it is a zoonotic disease. Hence, it is fatal for humans too. It spreads through nasal discharge, or any other purulent discharge from the nodules formed on the skin of the horses.

PETA pointed out the flouting of rules and urged the Government to be vigilant of such illegal activities. Dr Mina underscored that the only solution to this problem is the Government taking the appropriate actions to prevent such things from happening.

Usually the Government has to take action, detection, isolation and culling of infected animals and eradicate this disease. This is the only measure, as there is no treatment. There is no vaccine against glanders. Time to time blood tests can help in identification and prevention of disease, once identified then Government protocol to eradicate the disease has to be followed, she added.
At least seven Pakistan Army soldiers, including two officers, were killed when six terrorists launched multiple suicide attacks on a security check post in the restive tribal district of North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan on Saturday, the military said.

A Lieutenant Colonel and a Captain were killed along with five soldiers. All the six terrorists who attacked the check post in Mir Ali area were shot dead.

According to the ISPR statement, after the troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks. During the subsequent clearance operation, troops effectively engaged and killed all six terrorists.

However, during the intense exchange of fire, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar were killed, the statement said.

The militarys media wing said a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and expressed grief over the death of the soldiers.

According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023  marking a record six-year high.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84 per cent of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations.
Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to restart in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials.

The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders joined the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldnt lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected.

In recent days, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track.

Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions.

The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire that would include the release of 35 hostages  women, those who are ill and older people  being held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel.

Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to north Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said.

Nearly one in three children under 2 years old in the isolated north are suffering acute malnutrition, the UN childrens agency UNICEF reported Friday.

In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent cease-fire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said.

In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies its holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic. However, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar for more talks.

Those talks were expected to resume Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said.

Netanyahus government has rejected calls for a permanent cease-fire, insisting it must first fulfil its stated goal of annihilating Hamas. Netanyahus office also said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

The United States and other countries have warned such an operation could be disastrous, but Israel says it plans to push ahead to destroy Hamas battalions stationed there.

Many Palestinians fled to Rafah when Israel began attacking Gaza following the Oct 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage in Gaza.

Netanyahus office said the Rafah operation would involve the evacuation of the civilian population, but did not give details or a timetable. The military said Wednesday it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday: We have to see a clear and implementable plan to safeguard innocent people in Rafah from an Israeli incursion.

We have not seen such a plan, he said.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that at least 31,553 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the United Nations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un used a Russian luxury limousine gifted by President Vladimir Putin recently, Kims sister said Saturday, praising the cars special function and the two countries deepening bilateral ties.

In February, Putin sent Kim a high-end Aurus Senat limousine, which he had shown to the North Korean leader when they met for a summit in Russia in September. Observers said the shipment violated a United Nations resolution aimed at pressuring the North to give up its nuclear weapons program by banning the supply of luxury items to North Korea.

In a statement carried by state media, Kims sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, said that her brother used that limousine for the first time during an open event Friday.

The special function of the private car is perfect and can be thoroughly trusted, Kim Yo Jong said. Kim Jong Uns using of the private car sent by the president of the Russian Federation as a gift is a clear proof of (North Korea)-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage.

According to Russian state media, Aurus was the first Russian luxury car brand, and its been used in motorcades of top officials since Putin first used an Aurus limousine during his inauguration ceremony in 2018.

Kim Jong Un, 40, possess a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into his country. During his Russia visit, he traveled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine that was brought with him on one of his special train carriages. Other limousines hes reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62.

Over the past year, North Korea and Russia have sharply boosted their military and other cooperation as they face separate confrontations with the West  North Korea for its advancing nuclear program and Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Drawing the biggest outside concerns was North Koreas purported shipments of conventional weapons to support Russias war with Ukraine to receive high-tech Russian weapons technologies and other support. Russia, together with China, have repeatedly blocked the United States and its partners attempts to impose fresh UN sanctions on North Korea over its barrage of banned ballistic missile tests.

North Koreas state media separately reported Saturday that Kim Jong Un guided his troops conducting parachuting training the previous day. Its unclear if Fridays training was the same event in which Kim rode in the Russian limousine.

The parachuting training was the latest in a series of military drills that Kim has supervised in recent days, likely in response to the annual 11-day South Korean-US military exercises that ended Thursday. Kim views his rivals exercises as an invasion rehearsal.

After watching Fridays training, Kim ordered his military to conduct future training more intensively and make full preparation for a war, according to the Norths official Korean Central News Agency. Kim made similar demands after he guided other recent drills involving tanks, long-range artillery guns and combat soldiers.
Republicans and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus handling of the war in Gaza and called for Israel to hold new elections. They accused the Democratic leader of breaking the unwritten rule against interfering in a close allys electoral politics.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reacted to Schumer by saying it was hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Schumers call for new elections was inappropriate. Even Benny Gantz, a political rival of Netanyahu and member of Israels war cabinet, said Schumers remarks were counterproductive.

Schumers stinging rebuke of Netanyahu  the senator said the Israeli leader had lost his way and was an obstacle to peace  was certainly provocative but it was hardly norm-breaking.

US leaders, as well as American allies, are more frequently butting into electoral politics beyond the waters edge.

Look no further than the close and historically complicated relationship that American presidents and congressional leaders have negotiated with Israel leaders over the last 75 years.

It is an urban legend that we dont intervene in Israeli politics and they dont try to intervene in ours, said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who worked as a Middle East negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations. We do intercede and they do intercede in ours.

In 2019, with just weeks to go before Netanyahu faced a difficult election, President Donald Trump abruptly declared the US was recognizing Israels sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, giving Netanyahu a political boost just when he badly needed it.

In 2015 Republican House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to deliver an address to Congress during sensitive negotiations about Irans nuclear program and shortly before a national election in Israel.

Boehner did not coordinate the invitation with President Barack Obamas administration. Obama declined to invite Netanyahu to the White House during the visit, with White House officials saying that holding such a visit so close to Israels election would be inappropriate.

The standard Obama set for a White House visit wasnt one Bill Clinton subscribed to years earlier. In April 1996, Clinton invited Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to the White House to sign a USD 100 million counter-terrorism accord shortly an Israeli election. Years later, Clinton acknowledged in an interview that he was trying to give Peres a boost with voters.

It didnt work; Peres lost to Netanyahu.

In practice, keeping out of allies elections has been more of a professed American value than enshrined protocol. US leaders have frequently demonstrated a varsity, versus junior varsity approach to how overtly they noodle in the internal politics of friends, says Edward Frantz, a University of Indianapolis historian. The bigger the allys economy, the less likely American leaders are to meddle openly in its elections.

American politicians want to have it both ways, Frantz said.

There are moments when American leaders want to and need to speak out and have their say. But there is reason to stay close to the lines on elections. You dont want foreign governments to interfere in our own internal politics, either.

The lines have only become blurrier in recent years, and are being tested by how world leaders are approaching Novembers Biden-Trump rematch.

This past week, during a White House visit on the 25th anniversary of Polands accession into NATO, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk didnt obscure his desire to see Biden win another term.

I want you to know that your campaign four years ago was really inspirational for me and for so many Poles, said Tusk, with conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda by his side. And we were encouraged ... after your victory. Thank you for your determination. It was something really important for  not only for the United States.

Tusk later singled out Johnson, the Republican House speaker, to blame for Washingtons deadlock on a spending bill with $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, which is running low on ammunition and arms in its war with Russia.

This is not some political skirmish that has significance only here, on the American political stage, said Tusk. He told reporters that inaction by Johnson could cost thousands of human lives in Ukraine.

Last week, Biden slammed Trump for hosting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has described a possible comeback by Trump as the only serious chance for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Hungary, like the US, is a member of NATO. Orban has become an icon to some conservative populists for championing illiberal democracy, replete with restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.

Biden during a recent campaign event noted that Trump was meeting Orban, and said the Hungarian leader is looking for dictatorship. Hungary summoned the US ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, to register displeasure with the presidents comments.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the president stood by his comments.

Our position is that Hungary has engaged in an assault on democratic institutions, and that remains a source of grave concern to us, Sullivan said.

The Schumer comments in the midst of Israels difficult five-month war offer new strain to the US-Israel relationship. That relationship already has seen tensions between Biden and Netanyahu mount as the Palestinian death toll rises and innocent civilians suffer while the US and others struggle to get aid past Israels blockade and into Gaza.

Biden, in a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, said he thought Schumer had delivered a good speech. The president and White House officials, however, stopped short of endorsing Schumers call for elections.

There have been other moments of deep tension in the US-Israeli relationship.

President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories.

But the press by Schumer for new elections ventures into uncharted territory.

All of those other crises were sort of one-offs, Miller said. They were efforts to move Israel in a focused, discrete way on a specific issue. What you have now after years of Netanyahus premierships is a fundamental crisis of confidence, which cuts to the core of the US-Israel relationship.
Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman on Saturday assured newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of full support for Pakistan which has been going through a tough economic phase.

Riyadh has supported cash-strapped Pakistan in recent years by depositing and rolling over large sums of greenbacks to shore up the countrys low foreign reserves.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia rolled over its USD 3 billion in deposits at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for another year by the end of December 2024.

Prime Minister Shehbaz received a congratulatory telephone call from the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, according to a statement by the PM Office.

The Crown Prince thanked the Prime Minister for his kind sentiments. He said both countries enjoyed close brotherly relations and reaffirmed Saudi Arabias support for Pakistan, it said.

The prime minister said Pakistan was proud of its historic, deep-rooted and fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia and the two countries had always stood together through thick and thin. He lauded Saudi Arabia for its unwavering commitment and support to Pakistan.

The prime minister also conveyed his sincerest wishes and prayers for the health and well-being of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz. He said the people of Pakistan had great love and respect for His Majesty as well as the Crown Prince, the statement said.

Look forward to working closely with HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to transform the deep-rooted, historic fraternal Pakistan-Saudi ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership, Shehbaz Sharif posted on X.

The call was made just days after Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 11 and while extending an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia, he assured the Prime Minister of the Saudi leaderships full support.

He said that Saudi Arabia would always remain a reliable partner for building a stronger and prosperous Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the PM Office after the meeting.
Arlington Financial Advisors LLC cut its holdings in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 8.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 20,961 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 1,926 shares during the period. Arlington Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $3,127,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Windsor Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in Chevron by 24.0% during the 3rd quarter. Windsor Advisory Group LLC now owns 3,720 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $627,000 after acquiring an additional 720 shares during the period. Dechtman Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Chevron in the 2nd quarter worth $648,000. Altrius Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of Chevron by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc now owns 21,333 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,597,000 after buying an additional 434 shares during the last quarter. Tsfg LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chevron by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 3,473 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $586,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bridgewealth Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bridgewealth Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,703 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $898,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. 68.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Chevron Stock Performance

CVX opened at $155.55 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The company has a market cap of $288.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.70, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.12. The companys 50 day moving average is $150.04 and its 200 day moving average is $153.23. Chevron Co. has a 12-month low of $139.62 and a 12-month high of $172.88.

Chevron Increases Dividend

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $3.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.19 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $47.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $50.93 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 10.63% and a return on equity of 15.24%. The firms revenue was down 16.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.09 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 13 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.19%. This is an increase from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.51. Chevrons payout ratio is currently 57.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on CVX shares. DZ Bank lowered shares of Chevron from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $160.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. TD Cowen lowered shares of Chevron from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their target price for the company from $170.00 to $150.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Scotiabank lowered shares of Chevron from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a $170.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Chevron from $194.00 to $185.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Chevron from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chevron presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $180.56.

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About Chevron

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Houston American Energy (NYSE:HUSA  Free Report) to a sell rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning.

Houston American Energy Price Performance

Shares of HUSA stock opened at $1.33 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $1.47 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.77. Houston American Energy has a twelve month low of $1.27 and a twelve month high of $3.12.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Houston American Energy stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE:HUSA  Free Report) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 395,598 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 8,846 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 3.63% of Houston American Energy worth $708,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.48% of the companys stock.

Houston American Energy Company Profile

Houston American Energy Corp., an independent oil and gas company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and condensate in the United States. Its principal properties are located primarily in the Texas Permian Basin, the South American country of Colombia, and the onshore Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast region.

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Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of IDACORP (NYSE:IDA  Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage issued an equal weight rating and a $92.00 price target on the energy companys stock.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on IDA. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on IDACORP from $100.00 to $94.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 16th. TheStreet lowered IDACORP from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Mizuho reduced their target price on IDACORP from $99.00 to $88.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. StockNews.com raised IDACORP to a sell rating in a report on Monday, November 20th. Finally, Guggenheim downgraded IDACORP from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $93.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $93.20.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on IDACORP

IDACORP Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE IDA opened at $90.80 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. The businesss 50 day moving average is $91.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.80. The company has a market cap of $4.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.67, a P/E/G ratio of 3.93 and a beta of 0.55. IDACORP has a 12 month low of $86.43 and a 12 month high of $112.96.

IDACORP (NYSE:IDA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The energy company reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $411.95 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $429.84 million. IDACORP had a return on equity of 9.06% and a net margin of 14.79%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.83 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that IDACORP will post 5.26 EPS for the current year.

IDACORP Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 28th. Investors of record on Monday, February 5th were issued a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 2nd. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.66%. IDACORPs payout ratio is currently 64.59%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On IDACORP

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Chilton Capital Management LLC bought a new position in IDACORP in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of IDACORP during the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. State of Wyoming raised its position in shares of IDACORP by 34.4% during the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 426 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. raised its position in shares of IDACORP by 33.8% during the 1st quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 400 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in IDACORP in the 4th quarter worth about $50,000. 83.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About IDACORP

(Get Free Report)

IDACORP, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada.

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Jamieson Wellness (TSE:JWEL  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from C$45.00 to C$42.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

JWEL has been the topic of a number of other reports. TD Securities cut shares of Jamieson Wellness from an action list buy rating to a buy rating and lowered their price target for the company from C$42.00 to C$39.00 in a report on Thursday. National Bankshares lowered their target price on shares of Jamieson Wellness from C$43.50 to C$38.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Finally, CIBC lifted their target price on shares of Jamieson Wellness from C$27.00 to C$32.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$35.47.

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Jamieson Wellness Stock Up 0.6 %

Jamieson Wellness Dividend Announcement

TSE:JWEL opened at C$26.20 on Thursday. Jamieson Wellness has a fifty-two week low of C$22.10 and a fifty-two week high of C$34.14. The stock has a market capitalization of C$1.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.49 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 86.12, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 2.70. The companys 50-day simple moving average is C$30.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$28.23.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th were issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.90%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. Jamieson Wellnesss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 71.03%.

About Jamieson Wellness

(Get Free Report)

Jamieson Wellness Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, distributes, markets, and sells natural health products including vitamins, herbal and mineral nutritional supplements for humans in Canada, the United States of America, and internationally. It operates through Jamieson Brands and Strategic Partners segments.

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Allied Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY  Free Report) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 111,752 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,171 shares during the period. Sysco accounts for 2.2% of Allied Investment Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Allied Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Sysco were worth $8,172,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SYY. Brinker Capital Investments LLC raised its stake in Sysco by 3.2% in the first quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 3,851 shares of the companys stock valued at $314,000 after buying an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Geller Advisors LLC raised its stake in Sysco by 4.2% in the first quarter. Geller Advisors LLC now owns 3,362 shares of the companys stock valued at $276,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Brasada Capital Management LP raised its stake in Sysco by 0.7% in the second quarter. Brasada Capital Management LP now owns 22,837 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,695,000 after buying an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. raised its stake in Sysco by 1.7% in the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 8,972 shares of the companys stock valued at $666,000 after buying an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Sysco by 3.7% during the first quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 4,433 shares of the companys stock worth $342,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. 80.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays lifted their target price on Sysco from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Sysco from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Stephens lifted their target price on Sysco from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, StockNews.com cut Sysco from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sysco presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $84.88.

Sysco Stock Performance

SYY traded up $0.89 during trading on Friday, reaching $80.92. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,421,163 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,139,690. Sysco Co. has a 52-week low of $62.24 and a 52-week high of $82.89. The companys fifty day moving average price is $78.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $72.65. The company has a market capitalization of $40.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.00, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.37.

Sysco (NYSE:SYY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. Sysco had a return on equity of 105.22% and a net margin of 2.69%. The company had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.32 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.80 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Sysco Co. will post 4.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sysco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. Syscos dividend payout ratio is presently 48.90%.

Insider Transactions at Sysco

In other news, CAO Neil Russell sold 1,722 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $137,760.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 24,082 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,926,560. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.

Sysco Profile

(Free Report)

Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and distribution of various food and related products to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. It operates through U.S. Foodservice Operations, International Foodservice Operations, SYGMA, and Other segments.

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Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PINE  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Buy from the five analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $19.80.

Several analysts have commented on the stock. B. Riley reissued a buy rating on shares of Alpine Income Property Trust in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Jonestrading decreased their target price on shares of Alpine Income Property Trust from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 12th.

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Alpine Income Property Trust Stock Performance

Alpine Income Property Trust Announces Dividend

PINE stock opened at $15.31 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.64, a current ratio of 2.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The company has a market capitalization of $208.52 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 80.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.80. Alpine Income Property Trust has a 12 month low of $14.25 and a 12 month high of $17.72. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $15.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $16.21.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 14th will be paid a $0.275 dividend. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 13th. Alpine Income Property Trusts payout ratio is 578.98%.

Institutional Trading of Alpine Income Property Trust

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new position in Alpine Income Property Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Alpine Income Property Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in Alpine Income Property Trust by 312.8% during the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,910 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 2,205 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new position in Alpine Income Property Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at $70,000. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System acquired a new position in Alpine Income Property Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at $70,000. 79.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Alpine Income Property Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc (NYSE: PINE) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that seeks to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns and dependable cash dividends by investing in, owning and operating a portfolio of single tenant net leased properties that are predominately leased to high-quality publicly traded and credit-rated tenants.

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Barratt Developments (OTCMKTS:BTDPY  Get Free Report) and Orbia Advance (OTCMKTS:MXCHY  Get Free Report) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares Barratt Developments and Orbia Advances net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Barratt Developments N/A N/A N/A Orbia Advance 1.18% 5.73% 1.59%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Barratt Developments and Orbia Advances top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Barratt Developments $6.66 billion 0.88 $638.80 million N/A N/A Orbia Advance $9.65 billion 0.46 $567.00 million N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

Barratt Developments has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Orbia Advance.

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Barratt Developments and Orbia Advance, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Barratt Developments 0 2 0 0 2.00 Orbia Advance 0 0 0 0 N/A

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.1% of Barratt Developments shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Barratt Developments has a beta of 1.68, meaning that its share price is 68% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Orbia Advance has a beta of 0.22, meaning that its share price is 78% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Barratt Developments pays an annual dividend of $1.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.7%. Orbia Advance pays an annual dividend of $0.19 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.5%.

Summary

Barratt Developments beats Orbia Advance on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Barratt Developments

(Get Free Report)

Barratt Developments plc engages in the housebuilding business in the United Kingdom. The company acquires and develops land; plans, designs, and constructs homes, apartments, penthouses, and communities, as well as undertakes mixed-use regeneration schemes; and develops retail, leisure, office, industrial, and mixed-use properties. It is also involved in the commercial development business under the Wilson Bowden Developments brand name. The company offers its homes under the Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, and Barratt London brands. The company was incorporated in 1958 and is headquartered in Coalville, the United Kingdom.

About Orbia Advance

(Get Free Report)

Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. provides products and solutions for precision agriculture, building and infrastructure, fluorinated, polymer, and connectivity sectors worldwide. The company offers irrigation systems, agricultural and greenhouse projects, digital farming technologies, and related services; and connectivity solutions, including conduits, cable-in conduit, and other HDPE products and solutions. It also provides water delivering solutions for drinking water supply, sanitation, and urban water resilience; fluorine and downstream products, comprising fluorspar mine and produces intermediates, refrigerants, and propellants for used in automotive, infrastructure, semiconductor, health, medicine, climate control, food cold chain, energy storage, computing, and telecommunications applications; and general and specialty resins, PVC, and compounds and additives for stabilizers and plasticizers, as well as compounds formulated from polyolefin, thermoplastic polyurethane, and thermoplastic elastomer polymers for various applications. The company was formerly known as Mexichem, S.A.B. de C.V. and changed its name to Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. in August 2019. Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Get Free Report) and Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, dividends and risk.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Rio Tinto Group and Almaden Minerals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Rio Tinto Group $54.04 billion 1.44 $10.06 billion N/A N/A Almaden Minerals N/A N/A -$9.11 million ($0.06) -2.34

Rio Tinto Group has higher revenue and earnings than Almaden Minerals.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Rio Tinto Group N/A N/A N/A Almaden Minerals N/A -8.37% -7.49%

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Rio Tinto Group and Almaden Minerals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Rio Tinto Group and Almaden Minerals, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Rio Tinto Group 0 2 8 0 2.80 Almaden Minerals 0 0 0 0 N/A

Rio Tinto Group presently has a consensus price target of $72.00, suggesting a potential upside of 15.79%. Given Rio Tinto Groups higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Rio Tinto Group is more favorable than Almaden Minerals.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

10.0% of Rio Tinto Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 11.0% of Almaden Minerals shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

Rio Tinto Group has a beta of 0.71, suggesting that its share price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Almaden Minerals has a beta of 1.03, suggesting that its share price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Rio Tinto Group beats Almaden Minerals on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Rio Tinto Group

(Get Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. The Iron Ore segment engages in the iron ore mining, and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. The Aluminum segment is involved in bauxite mining; alumina refining; and aluminium smelting. The Copper segment engages in mining and refining of copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, and other by-products and exploration activities. The Minerals segment is involved in mining and processing of borates, titanium dioxide feedstock, and iron concentrate and pellets; diamond mining, sorting, and marketing; and development projects for battery materials, such as lithium. It also owns and operates open pit and underground mines; and refineries, smelters, processing plants and power, and shipping facilities. Rio Tinto Group was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

About Almaden Minerals

(Get Free Report)

Almaden Minerals Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Mexico. The company's principal asset includes a 100% interest in the Ixtaca gold-silver project located in Puebla State, Mexico. Almaden Minerals Ltd. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Avolta AG (OTCMKTS:DUFRY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 6,400 shares, an increase of 30.6% from the February 14th total of 4,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 117,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Avolta Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of OTCMKTS DUFRY opened at $3.98 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $3.83 and its 200-day moving average is $3.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Avolta has a 1 year low of $3.17 and a 1 year high of $5.16.

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Avolta Company Profile

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Avolta AG operates as a travel retailer. The company's retail brands include general travel retail shops under the Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance, Hellenic Duty Free, Colombian Emeralds, Duty Free Uruguay, Hudson, Duty Free Shop Argentina, RegStaer, Autogrill, Hellenic Duty Free, HMSHost, and World Duty Free brands; Dufry shopping stores; brand boutiques; convenience stores primarily under the Hudson brand; and specialized shops and theme stores.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) insider Douglas Richard Deschutter sold 12,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.71, for a total value of $2,497,462.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 32,480 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,648,980.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Douglas Richard Deschutter also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, February 6th, Douglas Richard Deschutter sold 22,722 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $199.00, for a total value of $4,521,678.00.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE BR opened at $200.20 on Friday. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 12-month low of $134.81 and a 12-month high of $210.24. The company has a market cap of $23.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.88 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $201.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $191.30.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Dividend Announcement

Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.03. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 10.82%. The business had revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.91 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Broadridge Financial Solutionss payout ratio is 55.75%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BR has been the topic of several research reports. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $226.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. StockNews.com raised Broadridge Financial Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $212.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Raymond James increased their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $205.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $203.17.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Broadridge Financial Solutions

Institutional Trading of Broadridge Financial Solutions

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Gotham Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 176.1% in the third quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 21,357 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $3,824,000 after buying an additional 13,621 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 13.5% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 59,407 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $10,637,000 after buying an additional 7,088 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the third quarter valued at about $414,000. Clearstead Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 303.5% in the third quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 230 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Graham Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the third quarter valued at about $1,715,000. 89.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile

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Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF  Get Free Report) and The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC  Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, profitability, risk and dividends.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Capital One Financial and The PNC Financial Services Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Capital One Financial 2 12 4 0 2.11 The PNC Financial Services Group 3 5 6 0 2.21

Capital One Financial currently has a consensus target price of $129.42, indicating a potential downside of 4.52%. The PNC Financial Services Group has a consensus target price of $146.59, indicating a potential downside of 1.47%. Given The PNC Financial Services Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe The PNC Financial Services Group is more favorable than Capital One Financial.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Capital One Financial $36.79 billion 1.40 $4.89 billion $11.95 11.34 The PNC Financial Services Group $21.51 billion 2.75 $5.58 billion $12.79 11.63

This table compares Capital One Financial and The PNC Financial Services Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

The PNC Financial Services Group has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Capital One Financial. Capital One Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than The PNC Financial Services Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Capital One Financial and The PNC Financial Services Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Capital One Financial 9.88% 9.24% 1.08% The PNC Financial Services Group 17.50% 12.27% 1.09%

Risk and Volatility

Capital One Financial has a beta of 1.47, meaning that its share price is 47% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, The PNC Financial Services Group has a beta of 1.17, meaning that its share price is 17% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Capital One Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. The PNC Financial Services Group pays an annual dividend of $6.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.2%. Capital One Financial pays out 20.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. The PNC Financial Services Group pays out 48.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. The PNC Financial Services Group has increased its dividend for 13 consecutive years. The PNC Financial Services Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

90.1% of Capital One Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.1% of The PNC Financial Services Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Capital One Financial shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of The PNC Financial Services Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

The PNC Financial Services Group beats Capital One Financial on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Capital One Financial

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Capital One Financial Corporation operates as the financial services holding company for the Capital One, National Association, which engages in the provision of various financial products and services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Credit Card, Consumer Banking, and Commercial Banking. The company accepts checking accounts, money market deposits, negotiable order of withdrawals, savings deposits, and time deposits. Its loan products include credit card loans; auto and retail banking loans; and commercial and multifamily real estate, and commercial and industrial loans. The company also offers credit and debit card products; online direct banking services; and provides advisory, capital markets, treasury management, and depository services. It serves consumers, small businesses, and commercial clients through digital channels, branches, cafes, and other distribution channels located in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and California. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

About The PNC Financial Services Group

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The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, and Asset Management Group segments. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services. This segment serves consumer and small business customers through a network of branches, ATMs, call centers, and online and mobile banking channels. Its Corporate & Institutional Banking segment provides secured and unsecured loans, letters of credit, and equipment leases; cash and investment management services, receivables and disbursement management services, funds transfer services, international payment services, and access to online/mobile information management and reporting; securities underwriting, loan syndications, customer-related trading, and mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets advisory related services; and commercial loan servicing and technology solutions. It serves mid-sized and large corporations, and government and not-for-profit entities. The company's Asset Management Group segment offers investment and retirement planning, customized investment management, credit and cash management solutions, and trust management and administration services for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, and their families; and multi-generational family planning services for ultra high net worth individuals and their families. It also provides outsourced chief investment officer, custody, private real estate, cash and fixed income client solutions, and fiduciary retirement advisory services for institutional clients. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Defined Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 6,492 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the period. Defined Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $672,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Roundview Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.6% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 18,803 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,088,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 45.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,035,879 shares of the companys stock valued at $559,235,000 after acquiring an additional 1,571,747 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.9% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 739,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $82,131,000 after acquiring an additional 6,903 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.7% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 19,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,136,000 after acquiring an additional 2,194 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 17.5% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 107,175 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,913,000 after acquiring an additional 15,996 shares in the last quarter. 6.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Performance

NYSE:NVO traded down $2.21 on Friday, hitting $132.37. The stock had a trading volume of 3,780,112 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,415,542. The stock has a market cap of $594.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $118.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $99.78. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 52-week low of $67.66 and a 52-week high of $138.28.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.05. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 90.36% and a net margin of 36.03%. The firm had revenue of $9.51 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.14 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.36 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a $0.664 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. This represents a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is an increase from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.92%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on NVO shares. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They set an overweight rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.25.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Profile

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Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.

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Dfpg Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,088 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 55 shares during the quarter. Dfpg Investments LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $3,760,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cassia Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cassia Capital Partners LLC now owns 951 shares of the companys stock valued at $511,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares during the last quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC now owns 621 shares of the companys stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 17 shares during the period. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% during the third quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC now owns 623 shares of the companys stock valued at $335,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 1,280 shares of the companys stock worth $688,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Finally, Lathrop Investment Management Corp grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.2% during the third quarter. Lathrop Investment Management Corp now owns 1,476 shares of the companys stock worth $793,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

LLY has been the subject of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $710.00 to $865.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Bank of America lifted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $800.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Barclays increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Friday, March 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $677.62.

Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company

In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 14,388 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $630.28, for a total transaction of $9,068,468.64. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,754,422 shares in the company, valued at approximately $62,873,217,098.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of LLY stock traded down $6.56 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $754.17. 3,730,053 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,382,536. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $716.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.34. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $323.26 and a one year high of $800.78. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $708.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $625.25.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $9.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 51.22% and a net margin of 15.36%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.09 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

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Enterprise Bank & Trust Co acquired a new position in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 360 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $292,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BLK. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its stake in shares of BlackRock by 671.4% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 54 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other BlackRock news, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total value of $5,085,660.60. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 11,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other BlackRock news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 30,978 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $809.92, for a total value of $25,089,701.76. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 414,146 shares in the company, valued at approximately $335,425,128.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total transaction of $5,085,660.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 11,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 100,511 shares of company stock worth $71,864,028. 0.96% of the stock is owned by insiders.

BlackRock Price Performance

BlackRock stock traded down $6.28 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $802.52. The company had a trading volume of 1,576,934 shares, compared to its average volume of 613,486. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 3.48 and a quick ratio of 3.48. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $801.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $735.84. BlackRock, Inc. has a 1 year low of $596.18 and a 1 year high of $845.00. The company has a market capitalization of $119.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.37.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.84 by $0.82. BlackRock had a net margin of 30.81% and a return on equity of 14.74%. The business had revenue of $4.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.65 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $8.93 EPS. The companys revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.73 EPS for the current year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $5.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $20.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.54%. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.88%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on BLK. UBS Group lifted their price objective on BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. TD Cowen raised BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $819.00 to $938.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $785.73.

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BlackRock Company Profile

(Free Report)

BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.

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Howard Financial Services LTD. increased its holdings in shares of Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. (NYSE:GRNT  Free Report) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 52,621 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,917 shares during the period. Howard Financial Services LTD.s holdings in Granite Ridge Resources were worth $317,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of GRNT. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Granite Ridge Resources by 507.6% in the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,225 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 4,365 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Granite Ridge Resources during the second quarter valued at approximately $51,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in shares of Granite Ridge Resources by 26.1% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 8,494 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 1,760 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new position in shares of Granite Ridge Resources during the second quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in shares of Granite Ridge Resources by 9,620.8% during the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 9,818 shares of the companys stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 9,717 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 7.56% of the companys stock.

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Granite Ridge Resources Stock Performance

Shares of GRNT traded up $0.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $6.25. 552,391 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 416,775. Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. has a 1 year low of $4.82 and a 1 year high of $8.14. The stock has a market cap of $815.31 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.25 and a beta of 0.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 2.44. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $5.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.05.

Granite Ridge Resources Dividend Announcement

Granite Ridge Resources ( NYSE:GRNT Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 7th. The company reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.01. Granite Ridge Resources had a net margin of 20.58% and a return on equity of 16.35%. The business had revenue of $106.80 million during the quarter. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.38 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. will post 0.61 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.04%. Granite Ridge Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 72.13%.

Granite Ridge Resources Profile

(Free Report)

Granite Ridge Resources, Inc operates as a non-operated oil and gas exploration and production company. It owns a portfolio of wells and acreage across the Permian and other unconventional basins in the United States. The company is based in Dallas, Texas.

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Kansas City Life Insurance (OTCMKTS:KCLI  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a growth of 28.6% from the February 14th total of 700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.1 days.

Kansas City Life Insurance Stock Performance

Shares of KCLI opened at $37.05 on Friday. Kansas City Life Insurance has a 52-week low of $20.00 and a 52-week high of $39.01. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $36.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.13. The firm has a market cap of $358.76 million, a PE ratio of 6.53 and a beta of 0.54.

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Kansas City Life Insurance (OTCMKTS:KCLI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 6th. The financial services provider reported $5.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Kansas City Life Insurance had a return on equity of 11.11% and a net margin of 9.83%. The firm had revenue of $186.37 million for the quarter.

Kansas City Life Insurance Announces Dividend

Kansas City Life Insurance Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were paid a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. Kansas City Life Insurances dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.88%.

(Get Free Report)

Kansas City Life Insurance Company provides insurance products and services in states and the District of Columbia. It operates through three reportable segments: Individual Insurance, Group Insurance, and Old American. The Individual Insurance segment consists of individual insurance products for Kansas City life, Grange life, and the assumed reinsurance transactions.

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Matthew Goff Investment Advisor LLC acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 23,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,741,000.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. King Luther Capital Management Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corp now owns 643,435 shares of the companys stock worth $106,501,000 after acquiring an additional 2,027 shares in the last quarter. DORCHESTER WEALTH MANAGEMENT Co boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. DORCHESTER WEALTH MANAGEMENT Co now owns 75,495 shares of the companys stock worth $11,758,000 after acquiring an additional 414 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 5.1% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 8,843,038 shares of the companys stock worth $1,463,594,000 after acquiring an additional 430,445 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 4.4% in the 2nd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 702,435 shares of the companys stock worth $116,267,000 after acquiring an additional 29,891 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RAM Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. RAM Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,688 shares of the companys stock worth $265,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. 68.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on JNJ. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $215.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Johnson & Johnson from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $170.00 to $163.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. StockNews.com raised Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $181.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $172.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $177.31.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance

JNJ stock opened at $158.18 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $159.58 and its 200-day moving average is $156.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market cap of $381.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53. Johnson & Johnson has a twelve month low of $144.95 and a twelve month high of $175.97.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $2.29 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.01. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 37.79% and a return on equity of 37.27%. The business had revenue of $21.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.35 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.65 EPS for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a $1.19 dividend. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio is currently 34.47%.

Insider Activity at Johnson & Johnson

In related news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total value of $9,281,969.19. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 141,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total transaction of $9,281,969.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 141,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder & Johnson Johnson sold 3,725 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total value of $96,142.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 4,099,575 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $105,810,030.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile

(Free Report)

Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use.

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Nordea Investment Management AB lessened its position in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V  Free Report) by 4.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,048,593 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 228,907 shares during the period. Visa makes up 1.7% of Nordea Investment Management ABs investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Nordea Investment Management ABs holdings in Visa were worth $1,317,026,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of V. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Visa by 2.5% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 126,912,205 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $30,139,110,000 after purchasing an additional 3,070,682 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Visa by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,133,003 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $17,605,106,000 after buying an additional 1,235,891 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Visa by 13.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 51,122,866 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $10,621,287,000 after purchasing an additional 5,864,340 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its holdings in shares of Visa by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 50,357,747 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $11,582,785,000 after purchasing an additional 2,257,605 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Visa by 3.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 33,239,315 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $7,874,345,000 after buying an additional 1,016,960 shares during the last quarter. 81.35% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Visa Trading Down 1.2 %

NYSE V traded down $3.37 on Friday, hitting $283.04. 9,845,181 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,496,000. The companys 50-day moving average price is $275.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $256.54. Visa Inc. has a 52-week low of $208.76 and a 52-week high of $289.04. The company has a market capitalization of $519.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.45.

Visa Dividend Announcement

Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $8.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.55 billion. Visa had a return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 53.92%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.18 EPS. Research analysts predict that Visa Inc. will post 9.9 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. Visas dividend payout ratio is currently 23.94%.

Insider Activity at Visa

In related news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total transaction of $729,271.20. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,365,954.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Visa news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total transaction of $729,271.20. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,365,954.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.39, for a total transaction of $2,228,128.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 47,311 shares of company stock valued at $12,832,129. 0.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Visa from $296.00 to $306.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Visa from $304.00 to $319.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Visa from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Visa in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Visa from $290.00 to $309.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $293.30.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Visa

Visa Company Profile

(Free Report)

Visa Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services.

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Northside Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 547 shares of the investment management companys stock, valued at approximately $211,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cambridge Trust Co. boosted its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 82.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 91 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 88.0% in the 3rd quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 94 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 69.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE GS opened at $387.21 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $289.36 and a 52 week high of $397.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $126.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.97, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.42. The stocks fifty day moving average is $385.20 and its 200 day moving average is $353.25.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 8.03% and a net margin of 7.85%. The firm had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.80 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.32 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a $2.75 dividend. This represents a $11.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 48.20%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently commented on GS. UBS Group increased their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $382.00 to $440.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on The Goldman Sachs Group from $398.00 to $421.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and set a $440.00 price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Edward Jones started coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on The Goldman Sachs Group from $437.00 to $493.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $410.22.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on GS

Insider Buying and Selling at The Goldman Sachs Group

In other news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total transaction of $5,001,372.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,602,947.31. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 11,650 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.64, for a total value of $4,550,956.00. Following the transaction, the treasurer now directly owns 18,408 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,190,901.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total value of $5,001,372.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,417 shares in the company, valued at $11,602,947.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 38,907 shares of company stock worth $15,080,021 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

About The Goldman Sachs Group

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

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Polianta Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 54,300 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $922,000.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE bought a new position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. First Manhattan Co. lifted its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 89.4% during the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 2,413 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 1,139 shares during the period. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 1st quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 3rd quarter valued at $52,000. 81.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:HPE traded down $0.80 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $16.73. The stock had a trading volume of 41,144,429 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,992,537. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $15.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $16.36. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 1 year low of $13.65 and a 1 year high of $20.07. The company has a market cap of $21.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Announces Dividend

Hewlett Packard Enterprise ( NYSE:HPE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The technology company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.03. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a return on equity of 9.12% and a net margin of 6.81%. The company had revenue of $6.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.38 earnings per share. Hewlett Packard Enterprises revenue was down 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.11%. Hewlett Packard Enterprises payout ratio is currently 35.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on HPE shares. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $17.00 price objective (down previously from $21.00) on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a report on Friday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein cut Hewlett Packard Enterprise from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $20.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $19.00 to $18.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Hewlett Packard Enterprise currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.25.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on HPE

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hewlett Packard Enterprise news, EVP Phil Mottram sold 50,428 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.77, for a total transaction of $845,677.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,466 shares in the company, valued at $443,834.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CFO Jeremy Cox sold 1,773 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.93, for a total value of $30,016.89. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 14,374 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $243,351.82. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Phil Mottram sold 50,428 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.77, for a total value of $845,677.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,466 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $443,834.82. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

(Free Report)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

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Shares of Revolution Bars Group plc (LON:RBG  Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 3.81 ($0.05) and traded as low as GBX 2.82 ($0.04). Revolution Bars Group shares last traded at GBX 2.95 ($0.04), with a volume of 61,129 shares trading hands.

Revolution Bars Group Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of 6.79 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -29.50 and a beta of 2.76. The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 3.20 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 3.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 81.70.

About Revolution Bars Group

(Get Free Report)

Revolution Bars Group plc operates premium bars located in towns or city center high streets in the United Kingdom. Its bars provides food and drink products. The company operates bars and pubs under the Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba, Peach, Playhouse, and Founders & Co brand names. Revolution Bars Group plc was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Ashton-Under-Lyne, the United Kingdom.

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RK Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN  Free Report) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 156,724 shares of the closed-end funds stock after purchasing an additional 2,088 shares during the period. Franklin Resources accounts for about 3.9% of RK Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. RK Asset Management LLCs holdings in Franklin Resources were worth $4,669,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Franklin Resources by 4.3% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 34,072,606 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $951,307,000 after purchasing an additional 1,390,583 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Franklin Resources by 1.5% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,757,992 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $857,583,000 after acquiring an additional 472,954 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Franklin Resources by 1.2% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 22,599,210 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $603,625,000 after acquiring an additional 258,698 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Franklin Resources by 6.8% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,563,774 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $161,338,000 after acquiring an additional 415,512 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Franklin Resources by 12.0% in the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 6,489,568 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $173,336,000 after acquiring an additional 696,750 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 46.53% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on BEN shares. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Franklin Resources from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $24.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Franklin Resources from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Franklin Resources from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. TD Cowen started coverage on Franklin Resources in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. They issued a market perform rating and a $32.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Franklin Resources from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.05.

Franklin Resources Trading Down 0.5 %

NYSE BEN traded down $0.14 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $26.90. 10,803,436 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,527,412. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $27.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $26.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.92, a current ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. Franklin Resources, Inc. has a 52 week low of $21.88 and a 52 week high of $30.32. The stock has a market cap of $14.16 billion, a PE ratio of 14.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.40.

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 29th. The closed-end fund reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.07. Franklin Resources had a return on equity of 11.15% and a net margin of 12.30%. The company had revenue of $1.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.51 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Franklin Resources, Inc. will post 2.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Franklin Resources Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.61%. Franklin Resourcess payout ratio is currently 65.26%.

Franklin Resources Company Profile

(Free Report)

Franklin Resources, Inc is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, institutions, pension plans, trusts, and partnerships. It launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and multi-asset mutual funds through its subsidiaries.

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Sage Capital Advisors llc reduced its stake in shares of Kellanova (NYSE:K  Free Report) by 53.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 15,143 shares of the companys stock after selling 17,143 shares during the period. Sage Capital Advisors llc owned 1.82% of Kellanova worth $847,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in K. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Kellanova by 25.7% in the 3rd quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 46,127 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,745,000 after buying an additional 9,434 shares during the last quarter. Savoir Faire Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Kellanova during the 3rd quarter worth about $3,248,000. Bleakley Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in Kellanova by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 13,795 shares of the companys stock valued at $930,000 after purchasing an additional 474 shares during the period. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Kellanova in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $5,896,000. Finally, Troluce Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Kellanova in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,498,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.87% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on K. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Kellanova from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Kellanova from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Kellanova in a report on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $57.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Kellanova from $53.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Kellanova from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $62.27.

Kellanova Stock Performance

NYSE:K opened at $53.56 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.40. Kellanova has a 1 year low of $47.63 and a 1 year high of $72.30. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $54.80 and a 200-day moving average of $54.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51.

Kellanova (NYSE:K  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $3.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.07 billion. Kellanova had a return on equity of 35.17% and a net margin of 6.25%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.94 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Kellanova will post 3.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kellanova Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a $0.56 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.18%. Kellanovas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 81.45%.

Insider Transactions at Kellanova

In other news, major shareholder Kellogg W. K. Foundation Trust sold 77,800 shares of Kellanova stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.90, for a total transaction of $4,115,620.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 52,309,038 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,767,148,110.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders sold a total of 933,600 shares of company stock worth $50,850,858 over the last 90 days. 1.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Kellanova

(Free Report)

Kellanova, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets snacks and convenience foods in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. Its principal products include crackers, crisps, savory snacks, toaster pastries, cereal bars, granola bars and bites, ready-to-eat cereals, frozen waffles, veggie foods, and noodles.

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Suzano S.A. (NYSE:SUZ  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,020,000 shares, an increase of 18.0% from the February 14th total of 2,560,000 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 1,280,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.4 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Suzano

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in Suzano by 152.4% in the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,778 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 2,281 shares in the last quarter. Eqis Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Suzano in the 2nd quarter valued at $92,000. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Suzano in the 1st quarter valued at $95,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA acquired a new position in Suzano in the 2nd quarter valued at $96,000. Finally, Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Suzano in the 2nd quarter valued at $96,000. Institutional investors own 2.55% of the companys stock.

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Suzano Stock Up 2.3 %

Shares of Suzano stock traded up $0.28 on Friday, reaching $12.20. 3,008,970 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,329,042. Suzano has a one year low of $7.46 and a one year high of $12.23. The company has a market capitalization of $16.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.73 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a current ratio of 2.61, a quick ratio of 2.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The company has a 50-day moving average of $11.02 and a 200 day moving average of $10.85.

Suzano Company Profile

Suzano SA produces and sells eucalyptus pulp and paper products in Brazil and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paper segments. The company offers coated and uncoated printing and writing papers, paperboards, tissue papers, and market and fluff pulps; and lignin. It also engages in the research, development, and production of biofuel; operation of port terminals; power generation and distribution business; commercialization of equipment and parts; industrialization, commercialization, and exporting of pulp and standing wood; road freight transport; biotechnology research and development; and commercialization of paper and computer materials.

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Southland Equity Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 17,487 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $123,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of NexGen Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in NexGen Energy in the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its position in NexGen Energy by 56.3% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 7,498 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the period. Canton Hathaway LLC purchased a new position in NexGen Energy in the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Toroso Investments LLC purchased a new position in NexGen Energy in the 4th quarter worth $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 29.46% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of NexGen Energy from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th.

NexGen Energy Stock Up 3.5 %

NXE stock opened at $7.43 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 11.00 and a quick ratio of 11.00. NexGen Energy Ltd. has a 1-year low of $3.49 and a 1-year high of $8.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 371.69 and a beta of 1.89. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $7.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $6.42.

About NexGen Energy

(Free Report)

NexGen Energy Ltd., an exploration and development stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation and development of uranium properties in Canada. It holds 100% interest in the Rook I project comprising 32 contiguous mineral claims totaling an area of 35,065 hectares located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan.

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Navys 40 hrs operation led to surrender of 35 pirates, rescue of 17 crew members Indian Navy on Sunday said that its rescue operation in the Arabian Sea, which last lasted approximately 40 hours, led to the surrender of 35 pirates and the rescue of 17 crew members of merchant vessel ex-MV Ruen. The Navy said that it had deployed INS Kolkata in the Arabian Sea to thwart the designs of the Somali pirates to hijack ships transiting through the region.



Merchant vessel MV Ruen was intercepted on March 15 by INS Kolkata which had been hijacked in December 2023 and was under the control of the Somalian pirates, the Navy said.



It said that INS Kolkata confirmed the presence of armed pirates on MV Ruen through a ship-launched drone.



In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the drone and fired at the Indian Naval warship. INS Kolkata disabled the ship's steering system and navigational aids, forcing the pirate ship to stop, the Navy said.



The efforts of the Indian Navy in the ongoing anti-piracy operation 1400 nm (2600 km) from mainland India were augmented by the deployment of INS Subhadra in the area and also by air-dropping of the Marine Commandos (PRAHARS) by C-17 aircraft, the official said.



The pirate vessel was kept under surveillance by HALE RPA and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered on March 16 while all 17 original crew members of MV Ruen were safely evacuated from the pirate vessel without any injury, he said.



He said that the vessel has also been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband.



The Navy has also mentioned that the seaworthiness of MV Ruen will be assessed on March 17 and the vessel carrying approximately 37800 Tonne cargo, estimated at around one million dollars will be brought safely to India.




Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO  Free Report) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 41,371 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 229 shares during the quarter. Czech National Banks holdings in Brown & Brown were worth $2,942,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

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Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BRO. Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its stake in shares of Brown & Brown by 93.7% during the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 461 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the period. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new position in Brown & Brown during the second quarter worth about $26,000. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new position in Brown & Brown during the second quarter worth about $27,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC raised its holdings in Brown & Brown by 150.6% during the third quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 589 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 354 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank raised its holdings in Brown & Brown by 50.6% during the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 652 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.33% of the companys stock.

Insider Transactions at Brown & Brown

In other news, Chairman Hyatt J. Brown sold 144,323 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.96, for a total transaction of $12,406,005.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 37,460,605 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,220,113,605.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 17.02% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on BRO shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Brown & Brown from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Brown & Brown from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their price target for the stock from $84.00 to $83.00 in a report on Monday, January 8th. StockNews.com raised shares of Brown & Brown from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $75.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $83.60.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on BRO

Brown & Brown Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of BRO opened at $84.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.95 and a quick ratio of 1.95. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $80.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $74.68. Brown & Brown, Inc. has a 1-year low of $53.14 and a 1-year high of $86.53. The stock has a market cap of $24.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.78.

Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.05. Brown & Brown had a net margin of 20.44% and a return on equity of 15.46%. The business had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.50 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Brown & Brown, Inc. will post 3.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Brown & Brown Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 1st. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.61%. Brown & Browns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 16.99%.

Brown & Brown Profile

(Free Report)

Brown & Brown, Inc markets and sells insurance products and services in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services. The Retail segment provides property and casualty, employee benefits insurance products, personal insurance products, specialties insurance products, risk management strategies, loss control survey and analysis, consultancy, and claims processing services.

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Rithm Capital Corp. (NYSE:RITM  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 6,930,000 shares, a decline of 16.6% from the February 14th total of 8,310,000 shares. Approximately 1.4% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 3,880,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.8 days.

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Institutional Trading of Rithm Capital

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its position in Rithm Capital by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 30,732 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $336,000 after purchasing an additional 3,337 shares during the last quarter. Slagle Financial LLC raised its position in Rithm Capital by 99.1% in the 4th quarter. Slagle Financial LLC now owns 474,538 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,068,000 after purchasing an additional 236,199 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in Rithm Capital by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,106,184 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $22,494,000 after purchasing an additional 78,838 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Rithm Capital by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 968,199 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $10,340,000 after purchasing an additional 83,834 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in Rithm Capital in the 4th quarter valued at $524,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 44.58% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on RITM shares. JMP Securities boosted their price objective on Rithm Capital from $10.50 to $11.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. B. Riley boosted their price objective on Rithm Capital from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group assumed coverage on Rithm Capital in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a buy rating and a $12.50 price target for the company. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $13.00 price objective on shares of Rithm Capital in a report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Jonestrading boosted their price target on shares of Rithm Capital from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rithm Capital has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $12.00.

Rithm Capital Price Performance

Shares of RITM stock opened at $10.92 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $10.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.30 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The firm has a market cap of $5.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.93 and a beta of 1.82. Rithm Capital has a one year low of $7.40 and a one year high of $11.17.

Rithm Capital (NYSE:RITM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $709.47 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $887.04 million. Rithm Capital had a return on equity of 18.49% and a net margin of 17.15%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.33 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Rithm Capital will post 1.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Rithm Capital

(Get Free Report)

Rithm Capital Corp. operates as an asset manager focused on real estate, credit, and financial services. It operates through Origination and Servicing, Investment Portfolio, Mortgage Loans Receivable, and Asset Management segments. Its investment portfolio primarily comprises of mortgage servicing rights (MSR), and MSR financing receivables, title, appraisal and property preservation, excess MSRs, and services advance investments; real estate securities, call rights, SFR properties, and residential mortgage loans; consumer and business purpose loans; and asset management related investments.

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Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:STRW  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 5,900 shares, a drop of 16.9% from the February 14th total of 7,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.2 days. Approximately 0.2% of the companys stock are sold short.

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Strawberry Fields REIT Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN STRW opened at $7.90 on Friday. Strawberry Fields REIT has a 12 month low of $5.79 and a 12 month high of $7.99.

Strawberry Fields REIT Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.08%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Colliers Securities began coverage on Strawberry Fields REIT in a research note on Friday, January 26th. They issued a buy rating and a $10.00 price target for the company.

Get Our Latest Research Report on STRW

About Strawberry Fields REIT

(Get Free Report)

Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc, is a self-administered real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, acquisition, development, and leasing of skilled nursing and certain other healthcare-related properties. The Company's portfolio includes 79 healthcare properties, of which 78 are owned, located throughout the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

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Vanguard Group Inc. lowered its stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG  Free Report) by 0.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 18,173,538 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 31,090 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 0.06% of Republic Services worth $2,589,911,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 20,421,314 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $3,127,933,000 after buying an additional 56,686 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,964,102 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,377,389,000 after buying an additional 27,920 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,658,978 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $948,971,000 after buying an additional 44,512 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,054,359 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $720,297,000 after buying an additional 197,654 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,580,221 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $699,809,000 after buying an additional 107,998 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.23% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on RSG shares. UBS Group downgraded shares of Republic Services from a buy rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the company from $175.00 to $195.00 in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Republic Services from $175.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Republic Services from $190.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Republic Services from $182.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Republic Services from $173.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $190.92.

Republic Services Trading Down 0.0 %

NYSE RSG opened at $186.31 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $176.15 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $161.54. The stock has a market cap of $58.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.67. Republic Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $127.69 and a 12-month high of $192.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The business services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.13. Republic Services had a net margin of 11.57% and a return on equity of 17.32%. The firm had revenue of $3.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.73 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.13 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6 earnings per share for the current year.

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.535 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 1st. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.15%. Republic Servicess dividend payout ratio is presently 39.12%.

Insider Activity at Republic Services

In related news, CEO Ark Jon Vander sold 5,446 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.10, for a total transaction of $1,002,608.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 85,113 shares in the company, valued at $15,669,303.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Republic Services

(Free Report)

Republic Services, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers environmental services in the United States and Canada. It is involved in the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste, and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RSG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG  Free Report).

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Related: Try this currency converter to get near real-time exchange rates for major global currencies

List Number Country Cryptocurrency Bans By Year Of Implementation 1. Afghanistan Taliban banned crypto trading, August 2022. 2. Algeria Financial Law prohibits all crypto activities since 2018. 3. Bangladesh Bank doesn't recognize virtual currencies; crypto is illegal. 4. Bolivia Central Bank banned crypto involvement, 2014 & 2022. 5. China Extended restrictions in 2021: mining, transactions, foreign exchanges prohibited. 6. Egypt Central bank warns against crypto due to high risks and financial crimes. 7. Ghana Government upholds 2018 ban on crypto in financial transactions. 8. Iraq Central Bank prohibited crypto, 2017; Supreme Fatwa Board ruled against OneCoin, 2018. 9. Kuwait Capital Markets Authority banned virtual assets, including crypto, July 2023. 10. Lesotho Central bank prohibits crypto investments as unregulated and unlicensed. 11. Libya Central Bank deemed virtual currencies illegal, pending regulation, 2018. 12. Morocco Ministry banned all crypto transactions, 2017; draft regulation bill announced, Jan 2023. 13. Myanmar Central Bank banned crypto trading, 2020; shadow gov't set up crypto bank, July 2023. 14. Nepal Central Bank banned crypto use, exchange, mining, 2017; ISPs instructed to block crypto sites, Jan 2023. 15. North Macedonia Government completely banned crypto use since 2016. 16. Republic of Congo Government outright banned crypto according to IMF. 17. Saudi Arabia Financial institutions banned from crypto transactions, 2017; hired virtual assets lead, 2022. 18. Sierra Leone Bank banned two crypto companies, 2019; no licenses for crypto deposits, trading. 19. Tunisia Strict ban on crypto; calls for decriminalization since 2021 arrest.

The recent bull run that Bitcoin experienced has resulted in many people wanting to invest in cryptocurrencies once again, with some trying to get in on the action for the very first time. In spite of the fact that this is the case, it bears mentioning that cryptocurrencies arent legal in every single country around the world. Quite on the contrary, some countries have placed restrictions on them, with 19 banning them outright.With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that China is the most notable country that has enacted restrictions on cryptocurrencies. Whats surprising is that China was the single biggest cryptocurrency hub in the world during the 2010s, with an estimated 75% of all crypto mining occurring within the East Asian nation as of 2018.A year after this peak was hit, China banned all forms of cryptocurrency trading. The government had previously banned Initial Coin Offerings, or ICOs for short, in 2017, and these moves ended up leading to the price of Bitcoin and other crypto tokens declining somewhat. In 2021, the Chinese government took things one step further by cracking down on all crypto mining operations. When all of these restrictions were done in 2021, Chinas share of crypto mining plummeted to 21% with all things having been considered and taken into account.Another country that banned cryptocurrency is Nepal, where the national central bank declared crypto transactions to be illegal in 2017. That same year, Bangladesh issued a ban of its own and stated that the use of cryptocurrencies could result in imprisonment. The reasoning was that cryptocurrency could be used to finance terrorism and launder illegal money, and while the government implemented a National Blockchain Strategy in 2020, crypto trading or even the use of virtual currency in general is prohibited.Over in Africa, the Egyptian government has been a vocal critic of cryptocurrencies for quite some time now, with much of the pushback coming from religious circles. This began in 2018 when religious groups claimed that virtual currencies werent permissible under Islam, and despite some signs in 2020 that the Central Bank is looking into regulating crypto trading, the institution reiterated previous statements against crypto in 2023. Algeria, Libya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and many other countries close to Egypt as well as across the African continent have enacted their own bans.In South America, Bolivia enacted one of the first bans on crypto in 2014. This position was reconfirmed in 2022, indicating that crypto simply wont be able to become legal tender anytime soon. Whats clear is that crypto has more than its fair share of detractors across three continents, and there are a multitude of reasons why its facing so much pushback. It remains to be seen whether or not this new form of currency will be legalized or at the very least decriminalized in these countries.In some countries, such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe, the overall legal status of cryptocurrencies is unclear.Read next: The Massive Cost of Government Internet Shutdowns Revealed
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The Fresno region, which is slated to have one the first stations for California's high speed rail, was one of the fastest-growing areas in the state from 2022 to 2023. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Fresno area is one of the fastest-growing large regions in California, new census data shows. And its not necessarily because people are moving there in droves.

About 4,300 more people lived in the Fresno metropolitan area in July 2023 than in July 2022, according to recently released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released this week. That reflects a population growth of nearly 0.4% for the region of 1.18 million residents  lower than the national rate of 0.5%.

But the Fresno area, which includes Fresno and Madera counties, was still a standout in California, whose overall population fell by about 0.2% year-over-year.

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Metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, are closely-tied regions defined by the Census Bureau. Out of the seven California MSAs with at least 1 million people, only three  the Riverside, Fresno and Sacramento metro areas  grew between 2022 and 2023. Fresnos population increased the second-fastest, behind the Riverside MSAs 0.4%.

The population of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont MSA fell by 0.2%, though some sub-regions and San Francisco itself saw slight increases.

The Fresno region, and especially Madera County, is one of Californias agricultural hubs, producing nuts, milk and grapes. Its also home to several medical facilities such as the Community Regional Medical Center, one of the busiest hospitals in the state. And state transportation officials plan to build one of Californias first high-speed rail stations in Fresno, improving the areas connectivity with other major cities.

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The Fresno MSAs growth was partially due to its relatively high number of newborns. Nearly 16,000 people were born there between 2022 and 2023, a figure that exceeded the number of deaths by about 6,200.

Each of Californias largest MSAs had more births than deaths, but Fresno had a slightly higher birth rate than the others at 13.5 births per every 1,000 residents. The second-highest birth rate was Riversides, at 11.5.

Fresno did lose more people to migration than it gained, but to a lesser extent than the states most-populous regions. About 1,900 more people moved out of the Fresno region than moved in between 2022 and 2023, less than 0.2% of its 2023 population. The much larger San Francisco and Los Angeles MSAs had comparably higher rates of out-migration, at 0.5% and 0.8%, respectively.

Bryan and Colleen Souza, who lead a real estate team in Clovis, said theyre not surprised that the Fresno area is growing. The regions relatively affordable housing prices and local school districts especially attract Millennials looking to raise children, they explained. And remote work policies have allowed some workers to move hours away from their Bay Area offices.

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Were one of the last places in California where you can buy a home (for) between $400,000 and $500,000 thats about 2,000 square feet, Bryan Souza said.

The California Department of Finance, which uses a different method of estimating population than the Census Bureau, projects the Fresno areas population will rise by roughly 7.8% between 2020 and 2060, while the overall number of people in California will remain flat.

Some smaller MSAs grew at even faster rates than Fresno between 2022 and 2023. The Stockton-Lodi and Merced metro areas, both in the Central Valley, had the highest growth rates in the state, with their populations increasing by 0.8% and 0.6%, respectively.

For much of the past decade, less-populous areas like Sacramento and the Inland Empire have grown, fueled by people seeking more affordable housing, said Eric McGhee, policy director with the Public Policy Institute of California. But he believes migration to Fresno is limited by its distance from job centers like the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

And as competition for homes in inland areas grows, McGhee said, they become less affordable, leaving some people with nowhere else in California to go.

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The problem were facing is not that theres no desire to live in California, McGhee said. But its just too expensive.
Purple Day is the biggest fundraising day of the year for Epilepsy Ireland and this year, they are appealing to the people of Louth to support their work on Tuesday 26 March by taking the Purple Pledge.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by a tendency to have recurring seizures and is a very common condition, with around 1 in 115 people affected. There are over 1,200 people living with epilepsy in Louth, and over 45,000 people living with epilepsy in Ireland, including 10,00015,000 people who are living with uncontrolled seizures.

For this group in particular, the consequences of epilepsy can be long-lasting and significant. It can affect the persons education, employment, social functioning, self-esteem and independent living. People with epilepsy must also cope with the physical impact of seizures, the side-effects of medications and for many, the social stigma and economic impact that can be associated with it.

Its individualised impact on those who live with it means that it is often considered as a hidden disability. There is also an increased risk of mortality associated with epilepsy with an estimated 130 epilepsy-related deaths in Ireland each year.

Epilepsy Ireland is the national organisation supporting and representing people with epilepsy and their families. We rely on the support of many wonderful volunteers and fundraisers who step up on days like Purple Day to help us raise the money needed to deliver our services", says Epilepsy Irelands Fundraising and Development Manager, Cian Dikker.

"Epilepsy Ireland responds to 20,000 contacts each year from individuals and families, some newly diagnosed and others far along their journey with epilepsy.

"Our services include supporting people who are newly diagnosed with epilepsy; organising targeted events for children and teens with epilepsy on managing their condition; training teachers and SNAs on how best to support a child with epilepsy in the classroom, and much, much more.

Epilepsy Irelands services are vital to people in Louth living with epilepsy. However, the cost of providing these services is well in excess of the state funding we receive. This is why we are asking you to take the Purple Pledge to support our work in communities across the country.

Explaining the Purple Pledge, Cian explains that: Your Purple Day Pledge represents a commitment to our shared mission to achieve a society where no persons life is limited by epilepsy. Take the Pledge and take on a challenge of your choice to raise funds. Ask your family, friends, and colleagues to join you and to donate in support of Epilepsy Ireland.

Pledge to walk, run, hike or cycle while wearing purple and raise funds for Epilepsy Ireland. The challenge is easy: join our community on Facebook, set up a fundraiser, and make some noise about getting active in purple on Tuesday 26 March 2024! Whatever your personal pledge may be and whatever amount you raise, wed love to have the people of Louth on board for Purple Day.

Already we have a fast-growing community of people from across Ireland in our dedicated Facebook group - where pledgers are sharing their ideas for their fundraisers, having fun, and getting excited for their own pledge on March 26! For more information about getting involved, contact us by emailing fundraising@epilepsy.ie.

If you are unable to take the pledge, any donation, no matter the size, would be greatly appreciated. To donate, visit www.epilepsy.ie/donate. To learn more about epilepsy, Epilepsy Ireland, or Purple Day, visit www.epilepsy.ie.
The best Louth has to offer when it comes to food and drink was recognised yesterday at the Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final 2024, the first regional final of this years awards season, which took place at the Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny.

Over 1,000 attended the celebration of food and hospitality in Leinster on the night.

In total, this years Irish Restaurant Awards  the 15th year of the Awards  received over 160,000 public nominations for restaurants, cafes and other food services establishments across the country  the highest number yet. Nominations were made by the public through The Irish Times website, the Irish Restaurant Awards media partner.

Once all regional events have been completed and county winners announced, Regional and All Ireland Winners  including in categories such as Best Restaurant and Best Chef  will be revealed at the All Ireland Awards Gala Dinner at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road, Dublin 4 in May.

Ticket and event information will be released in April following Regional Events.

Speaking at the event, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said:

During these undoubtedly tough times for our industry, celebrating Irelands food and hospitality offering is as crucial as ever.

"Above all, the Awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work of Irelands talented restaurant, cafe and food-led hospitality staff.

These Awards highlight the resilience and innovation in our food industry. Behind every great dish is a team of individuals committed to creating memorable dining experiences.

As ever, this years Leinster Regional Final showcased the very best of the regions culinary talent. I would personally like to extend my congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their dedication and passion.

The Louth winners were:

Local Food Hero  Sponsored by Flo Gas: Peter Thomas, Bellingham Blue Cheese

Innovator of the Year  Sponsored by Diageo: Coast & Co

Best Sustainable Practices  Sponsored by Familia Torres: The Bare Food Company

Best World Cuisine  Sponsored by San Pellegrino: Atami Japanese Cuisine

Best Cafe  Sponsored by Illy: Ruby Ellens Tea Rooms

Best Customer Service  Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen: Windsor Bar and Restaurant

Best Wine Experience  Sponsored by Bibendum- Louth: DVine Bistro & Tapas Bar

Best Newcomer  Sponsored by Square: Number One Jocelyn Bistro

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine  Sponsored by FBD Insurance: Strandfield

Best Gastropub  Sponsored by Molson Coors: The Glyde Inn

Best Casual Dining  Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace: Myrtle Bistro

Pub of the Year: The Neptune

Employee Excellence Award  Sponsored by Peninsula: David Tallon, Sally Cinnamons Bar

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant  Sponsored by Frylite: Ghan House

Best Restaurant Manager  Sponsored by Elavon: Eugene Molloy, Scholars Townhouse Hotel

Best Chef  Sponsored by BWG Food Service: Conor Woods, The Bay Tree Restaurant

Best Restaurant  Sponsored by San Miguel: The Trinity Quarter
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) science students who are currently taking a module called Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern, went on a field trip to Dublin Zoo recently for education and fun, but also as part of an assessment.

At Dublin Zoo, the group were fortunate to meet Victoria Eigler, the on-site conservation and biodiversity educator who spoke to the students about the threats that animals are facing in the wild which include habitat loss, deforestation, wetland removal, noise, light, air and chemical pollution, climate change, overexploitation, and invasive species.

Victoria proceeded to tell the group all about the species that are endangered and vulnerable to extinction both in the wild and in the zoo, and she went into detail on the different conservation measures put in place in the zoo to protect these species.

Dublin Zoo support over 25 conservation projects in Ireland and worldwide and they participate in over 35 breeding programmes as part of their membership with EAZE (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria). For example, there are five female Asian elephants in the Zoo which are classified by the IUCN (International Conservation of Nature) Red List as an Endangered Species.

In the last 70 years, this species has declined by 50% in the wild, and in 2022, Dublin Zoo began a partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to help conserve and protect Asian elephants in their natural habitat. This was just some of the information covered on the Education and Learning module that the students participated in.

The students who attended this visit to Dublin Zoo are currently on the General Science Course in DkIT and the module that facilitated this visit is essentially an introductory module to Environmental Science.

After year 2 of General Science students have the option of specialising in Environmental Bioscience or Biopharmaceutical Science. Environmental Bioscience investigates the natural world and how things work, and this course addresses the ongoing problems relating to environmental and climatic degradation.

The Environmental Bioscience Programme at DkIT contains a high level of hands-on experience at every level and includes modules such as Environmental Biotechnology (Wildlife and Habitat), Conservation Genetics, Microbial Ecology, Environmental Monitoring and Geographic Information Science.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said he will make reference to Gaza during the shamrock ceremony at the White House.

Ahead of what will be his final comments of the US trip for St Patricks Day, the Taoiseach defended the traditional March visit to Washington DC.

He said it was not just a single event that lasts an hour but a programme with depth.

The Taoiseachs annual diplomatic meetings in the US capital have been dominated by the war in the Middle East and Irelands opposing position to the US.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast to coincide with the trip and to push for a more aggressive policy on Gaza from the government as meetings were held with senior US figures.

Mr Varadkar has said throughout the trip that instead of a boycott, Ireland should engage in discussions to highlight issues such as the spiralling number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

On Sunday, the trip will culminate in Mr Varadkar gifting a bowl of shamrocks to US President Joe Biden.

The Irish premier held a bilateral with the US President in the Oval Office on Friday where the two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Mr Biden agreed with Mr Varadkar when he said there needed to be a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Asked whether he could have partaken in the Oval Office meeting with US President Joe Biden on Friday and then withdrawn from the shamrock ceremony on Sunday, Mr Varadkar said: I suppose all these things go together.

I dont think it would have been a wise decision or appropriate for me to take the time in the Oval Office and do that meeting and then turn around a day or two later and say that I wouldnt participate in a ceremony that goes back 40 years.

He said it would be a misimpression if people thought the trip to Washington DC was just a single event that lasts for an hour where there are speeches and a bowl of shamrocks handed over.

Although he said previously that the US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach added he wasnt shocked that the US would continue to, as it was long established policy.

I would struggle to understand why other people would be shocked at that, perhaps they need to spend a bit more time reading foreign policy, because that is the established position of the US.

I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when youre not angry, youre asked why arent you angry?

Thats not the way I operate.

He added: What you do then is you do all you can to work for a ceasefire, to encourage our American and European partners to work towards that, to increase our humanitarian aid for Palestine, which weve done.

So were doing everything we can, thats practical, given our influence in the world, to push for a ceasefire and for lasting peace.

I understand why other people may become consumed by anger.

Its just never a way that Ive done my job.
Sunday 17th March - St Patrick's Day Trance Party - Audio Chaserz' NorthEast Takeover.

AC Events brings you the St.Patrick's Day North East Takeover with one of Ireland's biggest DJs Paul Denton returning from a recent tour of Europe & Asia, which saw him feature in the world renowned "A State of Trance" Festival, Netherlands, Subculture's Special Thailand Show and the UK's "Trance Sanctuary Presents Future Sounds of Egypt" before the return home for St. Patrick's Day.

Joining Denton will be Irish legend Paul Webster, who is no stranger to the club scene here & around the world, including an Ibiza residency with Judge Jules in Eden in the late 00's. Paul is also due to return to The Luminosity Beach Festival 2024 after snatching the Number 2 spot on ASOT's Tune of the Year Competition 2023 for his phenomenal remix of Ben Gold's "Rest of Our Lives".

Support Duties will be taken care of by Audio Chaserz, Mickey Marr, David Murphy & Joey McGrath b2b Alan Kennedy.

Due to an unexpected change, the talented John Quake has had to pull out, but to make up for John being unable to make the event, the ACEvents team have a massive surprise to be announced on the night exclusively in front of Dundalk's St Patrick's Day crowd.

Join us for the biggest trance event to hit Louth since the late 00s!

Tickets 11 + Booking Fee online only via Glistr or 15 on the door - Doors 7.30pm.
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San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has criticized a judges decision to grant probation for a man who stabbed a 94-year-old woman in 2021. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2023

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said a 94-year-old stabbing victim was denied justice after her attacker was given probation.

Jenkins had sought prison for Daniel Cauich in the June 2021 attack on Anh Peng Taylor on Lower Nob Hill, but San Francisco Superior Court Judge Kay Tsenin instead ordered him Friday to enter a behavioral and mental health treatment program, the San Francisco Standard reported.

Cauich will be supervised in a facility with limited freedom until he finishes the program, the report said.

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Intensive Supervision Court, a program intended for high-risk probationers as an alternative to state prison, will decide what programs Cauich will undergo, the Standard reported. If he violates probation rules, he will be sent to prison.

Every day our prosecutors go into court + fight for justice & public safety. Yet, almost daily they are met w/ staunch resistance within the courthouse, Jenkins posted Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Not only was this victim denied justice, but all San Franciscans were left less safe today due to this reckless decision.

Cauich, who had for years cycled in and out of the criminal justice system, had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, elder abuse, committing a felony while on bail or release, and other charges in the attack on Taylor on the 1300 block of Clay Street. Police arrested him within two hours of the attack, which they said was unprovoked.

Cauich was 35 and awaiting trial on burglary at the time of the attack and had previously been charged with murder in a 2016 stabbing in the Mission District. A judge dismissed that case against him after finding no sufficient cause to believe he was guilty.

News of the 2021 attack on Taylor prompted a swift response from City Hall, with leaders denouncing attacks on Asian Americans.

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Taylor is now 97 and doing well, her family told the Standard.
CORK Airport aims to welcome a record 3m passengers this year, following the launch of the busiest summer schedule in the airports history.

The airports summer schedule, which includes new Ryanair routes to Rhodes in Greece; Zadar in Croatia, and Brussels Charleroi in Belgium, was launched by Irish Travel Agents Association president Angela Walsh at an event in the city centre.

Communications manager at Cork Airport, Barry Holland, predicted a really good year and a really good summer for the airport.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr Holland said: There is going to be 2.4m seats on sale across 48 routes served by eight airlines.

We have some really great destinations this year. The highlights are the new destinations including Rhodes in Greece, which has been requested for many years and were delighted to deliver that this year. Ryanair will operate new services to Rhodes.

Theres a new service to Brussels Charleroi as well thats commencing at the end of March, and theres another new service to Zadar in Croatia thats commencing in June.

Last year, Cork Airport welcomed 2.8m passengers which was a 25% increase on the previous year. This year, Mr Holland said the airport aims to welcome 3m passengers through its terminal.

Popularity

I think its a testament to the popularity of Cork Airport, the convenience, the swift security process, parking thats very close, a very short walk to your gate after security, and the all-round friendliness of Cork Airport which has attracted people from not just Cork, but all across the Munster region and all across Ireland, stretching into south Leinster, into Kilkenny, Carlow, and even as far as Laois as well, said Mr Holland.

Speaking about the importance of the airport in driving tourism to the southwest region, Mr Holland said: Of the airlines that will be operating at Cork Airport this summer, we have some of Europes most recognisable flag carriers. We have KLM operating from Amsterdam, Air France operating from Paris Charles de Gaulle, Lufthansa operating from Frankfurt, and Swiss International Airlines operating from Zurich.

Theyre just four of the main players when it comes to the airlines operating in and out of Cork Airport this summer. Well also have new routes like Brussels Charleroi which will add increased connectivity with the Benelux region. People from the Benelux region, from The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, love coming to the south of Ireland.

It gives them another access point to Ireland. Cork, and Cork Airport, is a gateway to both the Wild Atlantic Way and Irelands Ancient East, two great tourism products that we have here on our island, and we are always working with the likes of Tourism Ireland, Visit Cork, and Failte Ireland to promote inbound access and to ensure that when people consider their holiday in Ireland, that they choose Cork Airport as the destination to fly into.

Unrivalled choice

Speaking at the launch, the airports head of aviation business development, Tara Finn, said: With an unrivalled choice of 48 routes from Cork Airport between April and October, the summer season is shaping up to be an incredibly busy one.

Were particularly pleased to introduce three new services to Brussels Charleroi, Zadar, and Rhodes, operated by Ryanair. This summer, book early and book Cork.

Speaking about the friendly atmosphere of Cork Airport, which independent market research undertaken by RedC determined was among the best airports in Europe for friendliness and customer service, Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said: Airports can be stressful and impersonal places. That differs in Cork.

Our team at Cork Airport always aim to make your journey fun and hassle-free, in a clean, efficient, and friendly environment. Come and fly Cork this summer and experience our passenger journey for yourself.
THE developers behind proposals for a major student accommodation development on the site of a former convent on Model Farm Rd have appealed Cork City Councils decision to refuse planning permission.

Last December, Lyonshall Limited lodged a planning application with the council seeking permission for the development of a 450-bed purpose-built student accommodation complex at the site of the former St Josephs Convent and on an adjacent section of land to the rear of the Lee Garage.

Demolition

The applicants said the proposed development would include the demolition of the former St Josephs Convent and the construction of three apartment blocks ranging in height from two to five storeys.

St Josephs was used as a nursing home in recent years, before being put on the market in February 2022, and sold on May 3, 2022, for 2.52m.

Cork City Council last month decided to refuse planning permission, saying it deemed the development as proposed would be visually overbearing and out of scale and character with the pattern of development in the area.

The local authority also said that  having regard to the height, massing, and scale of the development and its proximity to adjoining dwelling houses  it considered that the proposed development would seriously injure the residential amenities of property in the vicinity by reason of visual overbearance and loss of light and overlooking impact, contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Appeal

Lyonshall Limited has now lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala in a bid to see the decision reversed.

The first-party appeal submitted on behalf of Lyonshall said the applicants are disappointed with the councils decision to refuse permission for the proposed development given the context of the site, and demand for additional student accommodation in Cork city.

The appeal contended that Lyonshall and the project design team had engaged positively with the planning authority throughout the LRD application process and made genuine efforts to address all matters raised in the LRD pre-consultation meeting and subsequent LRD opinion issued in June.

It states a number of grounds for the appeal, including that there is a demand for student accommodation, including studio units, and submits that the proposed development would not result in a disproportionate proportion of residents being students in this area.

An Bord Pleanala is due to decide on the case by the end of June.
Retired Irish dancer Michael Flatley has been presented with an Ireland-US Council award for Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Arts at their St Patricks Day lunch in Manhattan in New York.

The award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to enhancing the economic relationship between the United States and Ireland.

Keynote speaker at the event, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said his performances and shows are filled with unrivalled and unmatched excellence.

Proud

The Chicago born dancer, who has strong links to Cork through his Castlehyde mansion in Fermoy, said it was an honour to receive the prestigious award from the Irish American community.

"This very impressive gathering of people makes me so proud to be Irish-American and to have spent my life promoting Ireland globally. Its important that we continue to share our culture and to nurture the business relationships between Ireland and America.

Michael Flatley was also commended for his philanthropy work by Orla Dolan, CEO of Cork based Breakthrough Cancer Research.

Phenomenon

Ms Dolan said that Mr Flatley embodies creativity and innovation.

Thirty years ago, he changed the way we all felt about one of our oldest cultural traditions and he sparked a worldwide Irish dance phenomenon that has lasted to this day. He also changed the way we felt about the place we could have in the world and a new confidence rose up in Ireland," said Ms Dolan.

However, Michael's contributions extend beyond the realm of entertainment. His steadfast support for various causes, including Breakthrough Cancer Research for more than 12 years, is not often known.

Meanwhile, earlier this week Mr Flatley and his wife Niamh Flatley hosted a dinner at the Rockefeller Centre for Breakthrough Cancer Research, Irelands leading cancer research charity, with New York business leaders.

Flatleys entry onto the world stage began when he toured with The Chieftains. However, he shot to fame in 1994 when 300 million people worldwide first saw his performance of Riverdance at the Eurovision. He went on to create Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames and Celtic Tiger.

Founded in 1962, the Ireland-US Council is regarded as one of the foremost organisations building communications between business, political and opinion leaders on both sides of the Atlantic.
A family of four were dramatically rescued from a riptide by local surfers off a Cork beach this afternoon.

A father, mother and their two teenage daughters were described by a spokesperson for the Valencia Coast Guard as being shaken following the brief encounter with strong currents at Garrettstown Beach.

The spokesperson told The Echo that numerous of 999 calls were placed from 4.30pm reporting swimmers in difficulty at the beach.

Following the distress calls, the coast guard 115 air rescue unit deployed from Shannon, along with RNLI units from Kinsale and Courtmacsherry, as well as the local coast guard team from The Old Head of Kinsale and Seven Heads unit.

It had potential to be a big incident, the spokesperson said.

A surfer, and another member of the local Garrettstown Surf School assisted the family, bringing them ashore at 4.37pm.

They [the surfers] were very brave.

The family were caught in a riptide, they were shaken, but no further medical assistance was needed," said the Coast guard spokesperson.

He said there had been a small craft warning in place.

"While this is for boats, our advice to people is that they also heed these warnings."
NEXT time youre having a stroll down The Lough, keep an eye out for a piece of history: A fountain that used to provide a vital supply of drinking water for local citizens.

In the days before every house had its own source, these provided water on tap and were a vital layer of civilisation for Cork.

In the late 1700s, the Cork Pipe-Water Co. was formed to supply piped water for homes.

There was a household charge for this - yes, water charges! - but for those who could not afford it, public fountains were installed at strategic locations, generally at street intersections of well-populated areas within the city.

While the low number installed by the Pipe Water Co. was an ongoing bone of contention, their irregular and intermittent supply was of most concern.

At a council meeting in October, 1857, the issue came to a head. Some councillors related the concerns of citizens in the north side of the city, who had had no water from public fountains for several days. It was queried if the absence of the supply was due to the constant needs of adjacent breweries and distilleries.

James Adams, Water Engineer with the Pipe Water Co., stated that public fountains were supplied with water for two hours in the morning and a similar time in the evening.

Adams, who began with the Pipe Water Co. in the 1840s, continued his role after the purchase of the utility by Cork Corporation in 1856, handing over to John Ring, the first Resident Engineer in the water-works, in 1860.

A fountain / pump erected in Clondrohid Co. Cork.

As part of the transfer of power, the Corporation committed to purchase more than 120 fountains to satisfy rising demand.

Between 1858 and 1880, the Corporation spent 54,360 on the installation of water distribution pipes in the city, and in that same period a further 768 was spent purchasing roadside fountains.

These, so vital to the citizens, were manufactured by different companies, notably Glenfield & Kennedy, Kilmarnock, Scotland and McCarthy Bros. Foundry in Mountrath, Co. Laois.

There were three types of installations involved in the provision of public water supplies.

1. The traditional fountain, located on pavements in urban/suburban locations

2. The drinking fountain, in public/recreational areas.

3. The rural fountain/pump, which was generally located on the outskirts of rural villages or rural settlements.

A well-sinking contractor would drill and source a water supply at about 30ft. A manual pump would then be installed within a compound of three walls. The dominant feature was the installation of the standing fountain with the exposed tap, which were located across the city.

Within the Borough, these fountains provided a free water supply and had a huge impact on poorer areas. They were fed by a piped supply of water and three of the original ones are still in situ, including the one at The Lough.

Significant progress was made by the Corporation in 1858, when a new engine house was built, pumps and turbines installed, two new reservoirs constructed, and a vast quantity of new fountains were erected, providing free water for those not in a position to subscribe. The fountains were so vital that large crowds continuously assembled to collect this essential utility.

In one instance, Rev Dr Nelligan, of St Marys, Shandon, complained to the Pipe Water Committee that such noise and confusion that took place on Sunday mornings was impacting on the congregation and he wished to have the fountain relocated.

The volume of work carried out to the water network was so vast that James Adams, in his weekly submission to the Pipe Water Committee, reported on November 29, 1858, that five fountains were installed that week, in Blarney Lane, Boyces Street, Abbey Street, Maypole Road, and Evergreen Street.

From the 1860s, the fountains were installed outside the city boundary, at the request of the Rural District Council (RDC), generally at crossroads. The RDC paid for the installation charge and annual rent, and these were available for four hours per day.

As the fire service was within the control of the water work committee, the effective operation of these fountains involved a fireman riding on horseback to the outer areas to operate the valves.

A drinking fountain on the front wall of the Cork Courthouse on Washington Street

By 1880, it was decided that the fountains at Looneys Cross, Bishopstown, and Upper and Lower Glasheen, be operated by a Corporation employee from the nearby cemetery, due to increasing demands on the fire service.

A year earlier, a request to install a fountain at the caretakers house at The Lough, then outside the city boundary, carried a fee of 96 for the laying of the water supply and the installation of a fountain, and an annual cost of 5.

In 1905, an area in Lower Mayfield with 76 houses within the city boundary, and an adjacent area containing 68 houses outside it, were supplied with a fountain where the RDC contributed half the cost of the installation.

As the city water network expanded, there was a re-positioning of many of the fountains. One at Croaghtamore, Denroches Cross, was installed on the Model Farm Road in 1918, and the fountain in Spangle Hill was relocated at Garveys Bridge.

For decades, these provided a vital necessity for many citizens. They began with the Pipe Water Co. in the early 1800s and for nearly 100 years were installed inside and outside the city.

One of the last fountains installed was in Countys Lane, Ballinlough, in January, 1929. A request from the Cork Co. Board of Health to City Commissioner Philip Monahan was granted and the fountain was installed for 5 and an annual charge of  7.12.6d.

The fountains erected outside the city boundary provided a significant source of revenue for Cork Corporation, recorded in 1904 as rental of 575, and the cost of water supplied to them was 1,025.

Another type of fountain installed in that period was the drinking fountain. These were generally erected on the external walls of public buildings or places of recreational activity, and usually installed at the request of local councillors.

Two of these are still visible on the front wall of the Cork Court-house on Washington Street.

In more outlying rural areas, the fountain/pump was installed. A well sinking contractor was the primary contractor for this work. These were generally installed in small rural villages or traditionally where there was a cluster of cottage acres.

For such an installation in Kerry Pike in 1899, the tender of John Cashman, well-sinking contractor, was as follows.

Pump: 18. 0s. 0d.

Drilling Well: 0.7s. 0d. per foot

Drilling Rock - 1. 5s. 0d. per foot

Lining Well - 0. 3s. 0d. per foot

Walls/Compound 7. 0s. 0d.

These pumps were installed for many years well into the 20th century and are very visible to this day in rural areas.

Fountain of knowledge

THE other, more prominent type of fountain that sprang up around Cork city in the 19th century were ornamental and display ones.

In his 40 years with Cork Corporation, one of John OSullivans functions was to maintain these. Among them were:

The Berwick fountain, installed on Grand Parade around 1860. This was designed by Sir John Benson, who also designed the fountain in the English Market.

The Fitzgerald Park fountain, which was installed around 1900.

The Dunscombe Fountain at the bottom of Shandon Street, which had been a drinking fountain from 1883 to 1935, and was replaced by a display fountain from 1985 before that was removed around 20 years later.
Photo: REUTERS / Chris Keane

Eighty percent of U.S. adults say religion's role in American life is shrinking, but many people are not happy about that finding in the data, a new Pew Research Center survey has found.

Related Only 6 percent of Americans have dominantly biblical worldview, study shows

US follows Europe as church membership falls below 50 percent

In the U.S. belief in Christianity is falling rapidly: Pew study

Highly educated Americans less likely to believe in God of the Bible: Pew survey

Americans show trends of similar decline in religious belief to Europeans

US Bible reading, usage sinks to historic low, survey finds

White evangelicals only U.S. group to say marriage, children should be priority, poll shows

In England and Wales number of Christians falls to half the population, while in US similar pattern shows

Pew said the percentage in its survey published on March 15 is the highest it has been.

The survey also finds that most Americans express support for the principle of separation of church and state.

And, few say they think the federal government should declare Christianity to be the official religion of the United States.

But many Americans do think that even though the U.S. shouldn't officially be declared a Christian country, the federal government should promote Christian moral values.

And half of U.S. adults say they think the Bible should have at least some influence in U.S. laws, including 28 percent who say that if the Bible conflicts with the will of the people, the Bible should have more sway.

And fewer than half of U.S. adults say they have ever heard or read anything about Christian nationalism, including 5 percent who say they have a favorable view of it and 25 percent who say they have an unfavorable view.

And, while, most Americans who say religion's influence is shrinking are not happy about it.

RELIIGION LOSING INFLUENCE

Overall, 49 percent of U.S. adults say both that religion is losing influence and that this is a bad thing.

An additional 8 percent of U.S. adults think religion's influence is growing and that this is a good thing.

A clear majority of U.S. adults57 percentexpress a positive view of religion's influence on American life.

The survey also finds that about half of U.S. adults say it's "very" or "somewhat" important to them to have a president who has strong religious beliefs, even if those beliefs are different from their own.

But relatively few Americans view either of the leading presidential candidates as very religious: 13 percent of Americans say they think President Joe Biden is very religious, while just 4 percent say this about former President Donald Trump.

Generally, there are widespread signs of unease with religion's path in American life.

Such dissatisfaction is not just among religious Americans.

Rather, many religious and nonreligious Americans say they feel that their religious beliefs put them at odds with mainstream culture, with the people around them, and with the other side of the political spectrum.

For example, Pew has a chart that shows a growing share of Americans feel their religious views are at odds with the mainstream.

48 percent of U.S. adults say there's "a great deal" of or "some" conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream American culture, up from 42 percent in 2020
Supervisor Connie Chan, joined by volunteers, kicks off her reelection campaign at Argonne Playground in the Richmond District on Saturday. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle Supporter Katrina Dilworth of San Francisco dons a Connie Chan button as the supervisor delivers remarks Saturday. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

About 200 supporters gathered at Argonne Playground in San Franciscos Richmond District on Saturday to kick off neighborhood Supervisor Connie Chans reelection campaign.

Chan, a progressive in her first term representing the neighborhood, is facing what is likely to be a difficult, close campaign and election. In 2020, Chan defeated Marjan Philhour by just 125 votes.

Philhour, a moderate, is running again this year, and since 2020, the neighborhood has been redistricted to include city enclaves such as Sea Cliff that lean more conservative. San Franciscos election this month showed that moderates and their causes are growing in popularity among voters.

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Under the bright Saturday morning sun, several labor leaders, community activists and other elected officials spoke about Chans support for worker rights, tenant protections and the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Current Supervisors Aaron Peskin, Myrna Melgar, Dean Preston and Ahsha Safai were in the crowd of Chan supporters.

Mike Casey, president of the San Francisco Labor Council, took aim at a comment made by a Sea Cliff resident in a Chronicle article about how the wealthy neighborhood could impact the district race. The resident said that, with the neighborhoods more moderate bent, Connie doesnt seem like a part of this community.

Supporters listen as Supervisor Connie Chan kicks off her reelection campaign on Saturday. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Casey called the quote unbelievable.

We could spend a long time talking about the many ways that that is wrong. But it begs the important question: What part of the community is Connie Chan from? he said. Its the community of workers, of working families, of people who need a voice in City Hall.

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State Assembly Member Phil Ting noted in his speech that Chan is the only Chinese American member of the Board of Supervisors in a city where people of Chinese and Taiwanese descent make up more than 20% of the population. He said that having Chinese American representation in City Hall is important not just for the Richmond but also for Chinese residents across the city, and its important to have a supervisor connected to the communitys unique needs, especially in response to such concerns as the spike in anti-Asian hate crimes in the pandemics aftermath.

In his speech, Peskin praised Chans experience in various parts of city government, from working in the Recreation and Park Department to serving as an aide in the Legislature and in the district attorneys office, saying there is virtually no aspect of how the city works that Chan doesnt understand.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin expresses his support for Supervisor Connie Chan as she kicks off her reelection campaign Saturday. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Why would you want to get rid of that investment of that experience? he said, decrying the wealthy donors behind moderate candidates.

Chan shared with supporters her experience coming to San Francisco as a child, immigrating with her mom, brother, aunt and uncle to Chinatown, where they all squeezed into a one-bedroom apartment.

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While it wasnt easy, she said, San Francisco gave my family opportunity. She added that she hopes to fight to give other working families a fair chance at making a life for themselves by holding City Hall accountable.

While speakers at the campaign rally largely focused on Chans support for labor, immigrants and the citys most vulnerable, a flash point in the campaign has been public safety, which Philhour has seized on. While crime is up in the Richmond, according to police data, the neighborhood remains one of the citys safest.

Supporter Paul Morrow pumps his fist as Supervisor Connie Chan kicks off her reelection campaign Saturday. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

In an email to supporters Saturday morning, Philhour wrote that public safety is priority one because if we are not safe, nothing else matters.

In an interview, Chan said she understands residents concerns about rising crime, noting that she has been pushing the mayors office to increase public safety resources in the district. She added that meaningful and sustainable public safety is about more than just increased police patrols, and that investing in public schools and public health are also part of the equation.

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Law enforcement certainly is key, but theres so much to it, she said. It really has to be a comprehensive approach.

In a statement, Philhour said that Chan, a sitting supervisor with deep institutional support, is responsible for the problems the Richmond District is facing.

Supervisor Connie Chan receives a hug from a supporter as she kicks off her reelection campaign at Argonne Playground in the Richmond District. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

I talk to neighbors every day, she said. Theyve had enough of the status quo and want to move in a new direction.

Still, Chan emphasized in her speech that she intends to keep fighting for District 1.

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(Photo: REUTERS / Paul Faith / Pool / Files (NORTHERN IRELAND)File photograph shows Northern Ireland's new first minister Ian Paisley (L) and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness smiling after being sworn in at a ceremony at Stormont, Belfast May 8, 2007. Hardline Protestant cleric and Northern Ireland's former leader Ian Paisley has died, his Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said on September 12, 2014.

A week of disorder across Norther Ireland has left growing numbers of police officers injured, and Catholic and a Church of Ireland bishops were among those who joined for an ecumenical service before walking together to a peace wall gate at the center of clashes.

A further 14 police officers have been injured as violence continues to plague Northern Ireland's streets, the Belfast Telegraph reported April 10.

The unrest comes almost 23 years ago -- April 10 -- when a peace accord known as the Good Friday Agreement was signed, bringing an end to 30 years of sectarian killing by paramilitaries.

The deal bound all parties to use exclusively peaceful means and provided a pathway for a referendum on whether Northern Ireland should remain part of Britain.

In the 23 years since agreement halted three decades of brutal, bitter conflict in Northern Ireland, fears that widespread violence could return increased sharply after the 2016 Brexit referendum, when Britons voted to leave the European Union, DW reported.

As the UK prepared to leave the EU, the former British prime ministers Tony Blair and John Major were among the politicians most adamant that Brexit could undermine the peace agreement.

In Northern Ireland, the majority Protestants were viewed as mainly "loyalists" favoring remaining part of the United Kingdom, while many in the Cahtolic community were viewed as "republicans" looking to unification with the Irish Republic.

Police appealed on April 9 to parents, guardians and community leaders "to use their influence to ensure we do not see a repeat of such ugly scenes" after trouble flared in Belfast and Coleraine.

Police were attacked with missiles and a car was set on fire during another night of violence in Belfast. Riot vans and police dogs were at the scene in Tiger's Bay, a traditionally Protestant area of the city.

Prior to the April 9, continued unrest, Rev Colin Duncan, of Shankill and Woodvale Methodist Church, welcomed those gathered as coming from different denominations but with a "common heart" and "common concern" at recent events, Premier Christian News reported.

'SHOW OF UNITY'

"Here we are together and we're here to give a show of unity that together we are making a stand and a voice against the violence that we're seeing on the streets, a violence that serves no practical function or purpose at all," he said.

"We are coming together to show that we along with others are taking a united stand against the violence we are seeing on the streets."

Readings and prayers were heard from a range of clergy including the Rev Tracey McRoberts, rector of St Matthew's Church in Woodvale, Father Tony Devlin from St Paul's Church on the Falls Road, Pastor Gordon McDade of Soul Space, Father Martin Graham of St Peter's Cathedral on the Falls Road and Rev Jack Lambe of Townsend Street Presbyterian Church.

The clergy walked together from Forthspring Inter Community Group on the Springfield Road just hours after chaotic scenes in a traditonally Catholic and Republican area with youths throwing petrol bombs, fireworks and missiles at police, the short distance to the peace wall gates.

Catholic Bishop Noel Treanor described the act as "a contribution on the part of us as church leaders to the local clergy who have been on the streets during these events".

"It is an expression of our common Christian faith and our citizenship as Christians who at all times wish to promote understanding, peace, co-operation and solidarity, and to promote dialogue as well as the only way to address issues which are of concern to either the entire community or parts of the community," he said.

"We as Christians wish to serve each part of the community because when one part suffers, we all suffer and it is our hope that this event and manifestation of Christian prayerful togetherness will inspire young people to realise that destruction is pointless.

"Coming together for dialogue and for prayer is ultimately the only way to bring mutual understanding, peace and justice."

Treanor said, "Sadly, over the past week, we have experienced a return to civic unrest and violence on our streets.

"These scenes are deeply concerning for all of us who believe in and have worked together for a shared, brighter future for our society."

Church of Ireland (Anglican) Bishop George Davidson noted, "Churches on the ground in this part of the world and right throughout the province where there have been various situations, they are our communities... and we simply want to encourage the local Christian communities to play their part and to seek to be what influence they can be."
(Photo: SDLP)

John Hume was a Catholic nationalist who stood for Ireland as a unitary state, but he was also a peacemaker and straddled the divide into the mainly Protestant unionist camp at a time when Northern Ireland was in a state of deep conflict in the last century.

His funeral was at St, Eugene's Cathedral, Londonderry on Aug. 5 after he died two days earlier at the age of 83.

Ireland's President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin and Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill were among the mourners at the requiem mass.

Due to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, Hume's family had asked mourners to stay at home and light a "candle for peace" at their door in tribute ahead of the funeral which was tailored to the pandemic.

Hume was born in Londonderry in January 1937 at the height of the Depression, the son of an unemployed riveter, Reuters news agency wrote.

'CAN'T EAT A FLAG'

His father, his hero, urged him to avoid narrow nationalist chauvinism "because you can't eat a flag".

"What he was saying is what I am saying today, that real politics are not about flag-waving. They are about providing bread on your table and a roof over your head," Hume said.

He received plaudits from Catholic, Anglican and Protestant leaders as well as political leaders internationally for his role in the peace process.

"The death of John Hume, one of the greatest peacemakers and champions of social justice of our time, will be felt by many people locally and around the world," said the Catholic bishop of Derry, Bishop of Derry after his death.

"He dedicated his life to the welfare of this community, at no small cost to himself.

"While he strode the world stage, he remained firmly rooted in his local city. It was the specific circumstances that prevailed here in his native city that helped develop his vision for the future."

The tributes to Hume, one of the key architects of the Northern Ireland peace process, reflected his international reputation, the BBC reported.

Former US President Bill Clinton remembered his persistence and unshakeable commitment to non-violence, while former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was in office when the Good Friday Agreement for peace in Northern Ireland was signed, described him as a political titan.

His role in brokering the 1998 power-sharing arrangement, which brought an end to the region's sectarian violence involving groups like the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), saw him win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Hume was a co-recipient of the prize with, David Trimble when he was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party a party that stands Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom and not in a united Ireland.

The two had brought into the peace process warring sides seen as representing groups backed by minority Catholics and majority Protestants.

"In his campaign for peace, inspired by the example of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he employed a winning combination of public exhortation against the violence of the Irish Republican Army and secret diplomacy with its political leadership, sitting down for talks in his modest rowhouse over coffee. Deftly and persistently he enlisted the White House to help him reach his goal," Alan Cowell wrote in The New York Times on Aug 3.

PRESBYTERIAN MODERATOR

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev. David Bruce, said, "In pursuing a peaceful and just society, John Hume's belief that past grievances and injustices could give way to what he called 'a new generosity of spirit and action' should not be forgotten.

(Photo: Wikipedia) A mural of John Hume in Derry's Bogside, alongside fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureates Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa.

"He demonstrated a genuine desire to bring people together for the common good and to build a just and peaceful society. We give thanks for peacemakers, and on this sad day, John Hume in particular."

The Anglican Archbishop of Armagh, John McDowell, said Hume "will be remembered not only as a significant politician in Ireland but also for his unambiguous dedication to making political change happen by purely peaceful means."

Painted murals of Hume have long been a feature of the walls of Londonderry - also known as Derry - a city bordering Ireland which witnessed some of the darkest chapters of what is often referred to as "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland.

On one, his silhouette ranks besides fellow Nobel laureates Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr.

As a boy, Hume attended Saint Columb's College in Derry before entering the seminary in Maynooth, in County Kildare in the Republic of Ireland, where he decided that the priesthood was not for him, RTE, the Irish national broadcaster reported.

He became a teacher and married Patricia in 1960.

A tribute from Pope Francis to Hume was read out at the funeral mass by Bishop McKeown.

"Mindful of the Christian faith that inspired John Hume's untiring efforts to promote dialogue, reconciliation and peace among the people of Northern Ireland, his Holiness commends his noble soul to the loving mercy of Almighty God," said Francis

The Irish pop star and celebrity Bono wrote, "We were looking for a giant and found a man whose life made all our lives bigger.".
(Photographed by Andreas F. Borchert)Bottom feature of the center stained glass window in the north transept of Carlow Cathedral of the Assumption, in Ireland showing St. Patrick Preaching to the Kings. Created by Franz Mayer & Co. in the 19th century.

On March 17, there are celebrations around the world for Saint Patrick's Day for the patron saint of Ireland, adopted by many, notably in the United States, and other countries settled by Irish people.

Like many holy feasts, St. Patrick's Day has morphed from a holy feast day to a secular festival, but his role for migrants is seen as special.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan said in a speech at the Irish Embassy in Washington in 1987, "It's an honor and a pleasure for me to be here with you sharing the spirit and the festivities for St. Patrick's Day.

"The blessing of St. Patrick we were told died on this day in the year of Our Lord, 461, and leave it to the Irish to be carrying on a wake for 1,500 years."

The Irish have observed St. Patrick's Day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years, according to History.com.

On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon.

"Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived, and people would dance, drink, and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage," notes History.com.

St. Patrick lived during the fifth century AD and is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle.

He was born in Roman Britain, kidnapped, and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16.

BRINGING CHRISTIANITY TO IRELAND

He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people.

Following Patrick's death, believed on March 17, 461, the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture.

One of the best-known stories about St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.

In a 2024 message, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin, said, "On Saint Patrick's Day, our thoughts and prayers naturally turn to our Irish emigrants abroad.

"Some left Ireland many years ago and have set down roots in other countries; others, including many thousands of our young people, have only recently gone in search of new places and opportunities."

Martin noted, "Saint Patrick might well be considered a patron saint of migrants. He certainly understands the predicament of the trafficked unaccompanied minor; the exploited labourer; the escaping refugee; the immigrant, the emigrant; the expat; the student or missionary abroad!"

The Irish archbishop noted that in his book Confessio, Patrick wrote about enduring many hardships, hatred, and insults in Ireland for being a foreigner.

"But having escaped his persecution and finding himself back amongst family and friends, Patrick heard the voice of the Irish, calling him, 'Come back gentle youth and walk once more among us.' Returning to our shores, Patrick made Ireland his home and liked to call himself 'one of us'.

"Today, as we think of Irish emigrants who sometimes struggled to gain acceptance in foreign lands, we also turn our hearts to the many newcomers who have arrived among us.".

"Going and coming is a major feature of the modern world. Millions of people are on the move," said Martin.

"Some are voluntary migrants, seeking exciting new challenges and opportunities; others, sadly, are forced to leave their homes and families, displaced by war or economic hardship."
SpaceX has been contracted by the Department of Defenses National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to build a network of hundreds of low-orbiting spy satellites capable of operating as a swarm and tracking targets on the ground, according to Reuters . The Reuters report, which cites five sources with knowledge of the program, builds on earlier reporting by The Wall Street Journal that revealed SpaceX had signed a $1.8 billion contract in 2021 with an unnamed agency.

This network, called Starshield, would reportedly be able to gather continuous imagery all over Earth for US intelligence, using a mix of large imaging satellites to collect data and relay satellites to transmit information. According to one source who spoke to Reuters, it has the potential to make it so no one can hide. Neither SpaceX nor the NRO directly confirmed the companys involvement in the project, but an NRO spokesperson told Reuters, "The National Reconnaissance Office is developing the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen.
Brian Sheehy, who owns several San Francisco bars, including Dawn Club, said his bars used to employ many Irish immigrants. Now, thats a rarity, reflecting the reduction of that nations people moving to the city. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

Back in 2008, when bar owner Brian Sheehy had just three San Francisco drinking establishments, nearly half of his 30 workers were immigrants from Ireland  transplants from counties ranging from Derry to Limerick, Cork to Carlow.

Now, the company, Future Bars Group, owns 13 bars with 220 employees. None but Sheehy, who grew up on a farm in County Kerry, speaks with a brogue.

When we started we had no shortage of Irish people here legally and over time that has entirely changed, Sheehy said. I am now the sole Irish person in the company.

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And its not just the bar business. From building sites to hospitals to fire houses, San Francisco  like Boston and New York and Chicago  is losing its Irish accent. For more than 150 years there was always another wave of Irish newcomers to build high-rises, police streets, fight fires, mind children, nurse the sick and fill pubs and community centers with song and dance.

Now, there is not. Its the end of the road for a city that long welcomed generation after generation of Irish carpenters, electricians, nurses, nannies, police officers and bartenders.

Geraldine Byrne Nason, the Irish Ambassador to the United States, wants more Irish citizens awarded visas to work in this country. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

The Irish immigration pipeline has largely dried up because the U.S. immigration policy is so restrictive, said Irish Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason, who visited San Francisco last week. Its a real challenge and something that I deal with every day, particularly politically on Capitol Hill.

While this weekends St. Patricks Day is a cause for celebration for the 31.5 million people in the United States of Irish descent  2.3 million of those in California, more than any other state  the number of Irish-born residents is dwindling. Since the 1980s, the number of Irish-born residents living legally in the United States has plummeted from about 250,000 to 118,000 today, according to census figures.

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The drop in Irish immigration is driven by both the United States anti-immigrant policies  escalated during the Trump administration  as well as Irelands remarkable transformation from one of Europes poorest countries to one of its most economically vibrant and inclusive. A country once famous for its young people leaving now boasts the youngest population in Europe. A country once ruled by a church that banned abortion and divorce, and criminalized homosexuality, elected its first female president in 1990 and now has a gay prime minister,  known as a Taoiseach in Ireland  of half Indian descent.

And a nation that has always been an exporter of workers is now an importer. Irelands population has grown from 5 million in 1980 to 7 million today  with nearly 15% of the population born in another country. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, Ireland has welcomed 110,000 Ukrainians, who now make up 2% of the population.

With the exception of students, who can stay in the United States for 90 days in the summer under the J1 visa program, the only avenue for Irish to work in the United States is with a much harder to obtain H1B work visa. That requires an advanced degree  a masters or higher. It also requires having a job lined up paying at least $60,000, although many H-1B visa recipients are paid at least three times that amount.

In the 1990s and into the first decades of the 2000s, some 75,000 Irish people obtained green cards through special programs  known as the Donnelly and Morrison visas  meant to grant legal status to thousands here illegally and make up for the fact that the Irish were largely excluded from the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act.

Those visas transformed San Franciscos skyline, as Irish people flooded the citys building trades. In the 1990s and the early 2000s, Irish-born residential builders likely produced more housing than any other group, with high-profile developers including Joe Cassidy and Joe ODonoghue putting up live/work lofts across SoMa and the Mission. The organization they formed, the Residential Builders Association, known as the RBA, not only advocated for development-friendly policies, but also served as a network for hundreds of Irish construction workers coming by the planeload.

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In those days, the anxieties of being a working-class immigrant trying to make it in foreign city like San Francisco forced Irish newcomers to forge close bonds and a tight-knit community, according to RBA President Sean Keighran.

Now the Irish coming to San Francisco on H-1B visas are more likely to bond with their fellow engineers or researchers, who are as likely to come from Delhi as Dublin. Ireland has some of the greatest engineering programs in Europe and produces workers who seek the best paying jobs in the world, Keighran said.

The best-paying jobs in the world are not in construction, he said. The Irish still make great workhorses; in todays world they are just drawn to greener pastures.

And even those tech workers are likely here in smaller numbers than they were before the pandemic. Workers on H-1B visas were told not to leave the U.S. during the pandemic because their employers could not not guarantee that they would be let back in, according to Regina OConnor, board member of the Irish Network Bay Area. Some quit their jobs and went home.

People had weddings, funerals and baptisms that went on in Ireland and people couldnt go back, she said. It was desperate.

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Ambassador Nason blames the U.S. governments immigration squeeze on the political standoff over the southern border problem. She believes there is bipartisan support for opening up more to Irish immigrants, but those who oppose current proposals for immigration reform, particularly the Republican Party, are of the view that until the southern border is fixed, there wont be movement.

OConnor, who is raising her family in the East Bay, said the anti-immigrant rhetoric prevalent in American politics is unsettling.

Its a little hostile at the moment to immigrants  the narrative in the news is all about the problems with the borders, she said. Even for me. I married an American and I have a visa and I have a good job and two kids and am established. But I am also an immigrant and if you are to believe what they are talking about, were not really welcome.

While Ireland, today, produces some of the most sought after engineers and scientists in the world, there are still plenty of builders and bartenders who would come to San Francisco given the chance, according to Sheehy, who also has a contracting firm that builds bars. Sheehy said there would be no shortage of workers who would come here if they could get visas  especially in management roles that he has had trouble filling. The pipe fitters and electricians and carpenters who built out his early bars were largely from Ireland.

The chance of getting an H-1B visa for a job in hospitality or construction is close to zero, said Sheehy. There is no pathway for us to be able to hire those people.

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Instead, workers who would otherwise flock to San Francisco or Boston are going to Canada and Australia.
Behind the four-leaf clovers, leprechauns, charms and all things green, St. Patrick's Day has a deeper spiritual meaning.

For Christians, the annual holiday is a commemoration of when St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. Irish Christians observe St. Patrick's Day every March 17 to thank the saint for helping the gospel reach them.

St. Patrick was born in the late fourth century. During his teenage years, he was robbed and transported from Britain to Ireland. For six years, he was isolated as a shepherd.

However, a revelation from God prompted him to muster his courage, break free from captivity and return to his homeland. But before that, he found himself staying at a Gaul monastery to study the Christian teachings.

After enriching his Christian convictions, God gave him a vision to return to the land that had kept him in captivity. Acting on it, he went back and imparted the teachings of Christ to the Irish population.

It is believed that the saint died on March 17, 460 A.D. Thus, the holiday is celebrated on this day each year.

In Ireland, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day progressed and evolved over time. Traditionally, Irish Christians started their day by attending church before feasting and dancing in the afternoon. The holiday was also kept modest and grounded in religion.

Today, the Irish population still attends mass, but the celebration in Dublin is now more focused on festivities and activities, including parades, covering landmarks with green lighting, wearing green clothing and shamrocks, drinking and eating traditional Irish dishes.

The celebration is almost the same in the United States but with more festivities and parades hosted across the country. In America, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated to give Irish and Irish Americans the opportunity to "celebrate their heritage."

Aside from wearing the colors of the Irish flag (green, white and orange), Americans decorate their outfits and homes with shamrocks, pots of gold, rainbows and leprechauns.

This year, several cities and towns in the U.S. are going big for St. Patrick's Day, per AFAR Magazine. In addition to the massive parade in the streets of Manhattan, Americans can visit many Irish pubs and businesses for their themed events.









In Montauk, New York, a Friends of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place a week after the Manhattan event, which is expected to draw in a crowd of 40,000 people.

Meanwhile, in Nebraska, home to the world's largest shamrock, different events will run until Sunday, including a magician show, fun run and parade.

Wilmington and Dublin in California, New London in Wisconsin, Savannah in Georgia and Jackson in Mississippi, among many others, also have prepared their lineup of festivities.
Award season continued on Saturday night with the 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards hosted by Queen Latifah at the Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium.

From awkward silhouettes to combo mishaps, Enstarz is highlighting the worst dressed celebs on the red carpet.

RELATED: 2024 NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet Looks: 7 Best Dressed Celebs

1. Michelle Buteau

We can't seem to figure out which way the gown is supposed to flow.

A soft brown gown accentuated her curvy figure flawlessly, but the structure of the dress may not be the 'Surival of the Thickest' actress best look ever.

2. Eva Marcielle

Let's dive in  the shirt and the jacket are both cropped to accentuate the model's toned bodice, but they're the same length, while the bejeweled skirt hangs off her waist full-length. In this case, opposites do not attract.

3. Claudia Logan

This all-black look may have had some viewers shaking in their boots. This look  although sexy and demure  turned out a bit witchy, and a bit fatal for such an empowering evening and ceremony.

RELATED: Oscars 2024 Red Carpet Looks: 10 Worst Dressed Celebrities

4. DomiNque Perry

The gorgeous, vivid purple paired perfectly with the 'Insecure' actress' skin, but the comination of an overly puffed sleeve and a fitted mini skirt is enough to ask,"What are we doing here?"

The train, which is awkwardly dangling off her hip, also seems way out of place, resulting in an overall confusion ensemble.

5. Caroline Wanga

This puffed sleeve, figure-hugging, stretchy, full-length dress doesn't know what it wants to be.

Draping pearls over the look added confusion instead of clarity, and the fiery red chunky hair did not compliment her stunning face.

6. Major

Who knew this many things could happen at once? This look includes an iridescent silver suit, a black turtleneck, a cowboy hat, and leather shoes.

7. Ryan Michelle Bathe

This jewel-toned skirt is reminiscent of a 1980s prom. Although the fuschia color is gorgeous, the train commands attention and compliments the black bodice, this look can be considered a miss.
Police secure the area Saturday after a vehicle crashed into a bus stop around Munis West Portal Station in San Francisco, killing two people and injuring three. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Two people were killed and three were injured when this sport utility vehicle crashed into a bus stop near Munis West Portal Station in San Francisco. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Police inspect the scene of a fatal crash at a bus stop near Munis West Portal Station in San Francisco. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

UPDATE: Three family members killed by West Portal driver identified

A vehicle ran into a bus stop near Munis West Portal Station on Saturday, killing a child and an adult and injuring three others, according to authorities.

The sport utility vehicle struck four people at 12:13 p.m. at a bus stop next to the transit station on Ulloa Street, a Fire Department spokesperson said. A toddler and a man were pronounced dead at the scene and a baby, a woman and the driver were taken to a hospital with injuries, according to Jodie Medeiros, executive director of the nonprofit Walk San Francisco, who said she received the information from the San Francisco Police Department.

The police did not respond to the Chronicles request for further information on the people involved in the crash but said in a statement that its traffic unit is investigating.

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Information on the driver was not immediately available.

The driver had been traveling east on Ulloa Street when the SUV went onto the sidewalk and into the bus shelter, according to authorities.

Ive just visited the scene and it is heartbreaking, Mayor London Breed posted on social media. We will share more information when we can, but now our focus is on the victims and their families.

Investigators inspect the scene of a fatal crash near Munis West Portal Station. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is investigating the crash along with the Police Department. The cause of the collision was not immediately known, according to a statement from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

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Our hearts break for those killed and injured, and our thoughts are with them and their families, SFMTA shared.

Several San Francisco Muni routes were diverted as police investigated the crash. Police asked people to avoid the area from Claremont to Wawona streets and the West Portal area from Vicente to Ulloa streets.

The West Portal Station closed but reopened shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday. The 48-Quintara, 57-Merced and L-Taraval bus were temporarily rerouted, but resumed regular service shortly before 7 p.m., though residual delays were expected.

Walk San Francisco, which works to promote a pedestrian-friendly city, will hold a vigil at 5 p.m. Monday where the crash occurred at Ulloa Street and West Portal Avenue.
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 Supreme Court on Friday afternoon denied the State of Montanas request to pause a lower court decision ordering the governor and secretary of state to send out an override poll for a marijuana fund redistribution bill Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed at the end of the 2023 legislative session.

Gianforte and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen officially filed their notice of appeal on Wednesday of Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahans district court rulings, which said the two officials have interrupted the political process in an impermissible way by blocking a chance for lawmakers to override the Senate Bill 442 veto.

On Thursday, the two defendants asked the Supreme Court to pause Menahans order pending the full appeal, arguing that if the override poll was sent out and lawmakers override the veto, their legal claims will be rendered moot.

But the justices disagreed, saying attorneys for Gianforte and Jacobsen have not proven that is the case, and saying the court is certainly able to address the appeal of Menahans ruling on veto procedure while a poll is conducted.

At issue is whether to change how revenue from recreational marijuana taxes is distributed. A supermajority of lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, supported the idea of allocating more of the revenue toward outdoor and wildland habitat acquisition and distributing it to counties for road improvement, ideas which Gianforte rejected.

Because the fate of SB 442 could ultimately go either way, a stay denial does not moot Appellants appeal. Appellants have not demonstrated irreparable harm, six justices wrote in Fridays unanimous opinion. The only justice who did not sign the opinion was Dirk Sandefur.

The justices did allow the appeal to proceed, but the high courts order means that the governor will have to send his veto message to Jacobsen, who will have to send out an override poll to lawmakers by March 19, next Tuesday, per Menahans order.

We are thankful to the Montana Supreme Court for upholding the constitution and requiring the governor and secretary of state to issue the override poll with haste, said Noah Marion, the political and state policy director for Wild Montana, one of three plaintiff groups in the case that helped craft the bill last year. We look forward to helping Sen. (Mike) Lang and the Legislature finally make SB 442 law; sending millions of dollars across Montana benefitting infrastructure, veterans, mental health, agriculture and timber industries, wildlife, public access, hunter and anglers.

Once the override poll is sent out next week, it will have been more than 10 months since Gianforte vetoed the bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, which passed with 130 votes out of 150 possible, in what would be the final hours of the legislative session.

Senators did not learn the bill had been vetoed until they adjourned sine die last May 2, causing a storm of confusion among lawmakers and lobbyists who worked for months to get the bill into its final form and brought in a wide range of supporters on the industry side and among lawmakers because it both put more money toward a Habitat Legacy conservation program and funded county road maintenance.

Competing bills supported by the governor and some Republicans sought to put more money toward the Department of Justice and the General Fund but were pushed aside by lawmakers in favor of the final version of SB 442.

The question at the heart of Gianfortes veto was whether he properly vetoed the bill while the full Legislature was still in session or not, as his office had said he vetoed the bill before the Senate adjourned, but the veto message was never read across the Senate rostrum where the bill originated. The governor and a legal opinion from the code commissioner each maintained that since the House was still in session, the full body was in session.

But the plaintiffs  Wild Montana, the Montana Association of Counties, and the Montana Wildlife Federation  sued to challenge their stance, saying lawmakers must have an opportunity to override a veto, and had not gotten one.

After hearing arguments in the case in December, Menahan in January ordered Gianforte to transmit the veto to the Secretary of State and for her to send the override poll out to lawmakers. Two-thirds of the Legislature will have to vote to override the veto for it to be successful.

The governor balked at the order, asking Menahan to pause his own order in February. But Menahan also denied the stay request, saying time was running out before the 2025 session starts and the lawmakers must have the chance to vote on an override or the crucial balance of powers will be upset between the branches of government.

Staying the courts judgment would allow Gianforte to continue to exercise an unconstitutional level of control over the lawmaking process, Menahan wrote in the order earlier this month. Regardless of Gianfortes motives in relation to SB442 specifically, he advocates for a troubling precedent.

The Governors Office had told the Daily Montanan in February it planned to appeal Menahans Janaury decision to the Supreme Court, but it did not file that notice until this week, along with the request for the stay.

The Supreme Courts four-page opinion returned one day after the request for the stay says the court can get to the bottom of the constitutional veto issues without one.

Although the Legislature must vote on whether to override SB 442, the outcome of the underlying appeal will determine whether the District Courts ruling was correct, and therefore whether the governors veto ultimately stands over the Legislatures vote, the justices wrote. This Court can address the underlying issue in due course regardless of whether we issue a stay.

The courts ruling clears the way for the groups and Lang to try to keep hold of the strong bipartisan support they received for the bill at the end of last years session. The governors request for a stay postulated that perhaps support has waned in the months since the session. But the plaintiffs in the case say they are pleased that they will have the opportunity to prove that theory wrong.

Despite ongoing attempts to stall, the courts have upheld the necessity for legislative involvement in the veto override process, said MACo Executive Director Eric Bryson. We appreciate and commend the Supreme Court for promptly addressing the matter.

The post Supreme Court clears way for override poll of vetoed marijuana funds bill appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Cara Delevingne is set to be comforted by her parents and friends in the UK for the next two months after her house burned down.

Cara Delevingne is set to be comforted by her parents and friends in the UK for the next two months after her house burned down

The supermodel, 31, was photographed with mum Pandora Delevingne, 64, and dad Charles Delevingne, 74, in London shortly after Cara performed as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club inside the Playhouse Theatre, London, on Friday (15.03.24), hours after the blaze at her home in the US.

The Mail Online has now reported she is expected to stay in the UK for the next few months as she is scheduled to continue to perform in Cabaret until 1 June.

Pandora revealed to reporters on Friday  before she, Cara and Charles were snapped inside a vehicle outside the London theatre  her daughter was probably devastated over her mansion being destroyed.

She said: She had everything in her home. Her whole life.

Charles said the fire at Caras $7 million LA pad appeared to have been electrical because something fell on a power line.

Police and fire department representatives also previously told Page Six earlier on Friday (15.03.24) when Caras house caught fire it did not appear to be the result of arson or any criminal activity.

But an official probe into the blaze is pending.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) received a call around 3.57am local time that the mansion was up in flames.

On arrival, emergency workers found a heavy fire had consumed one of the rooms entirely, and its been reported 94 firefighters spent two hours and 16 minutes extinguishing it.

Its also been reported the roof of the house collapsed  but no one was seriously injured.

An LAFD spokesperson said: One firefighter was transported to the hospital due to an injury and one occupant suffered minor smoke inhalation.

Cara sparked concern among fans when she posted a picture of her two cats on her Instagram Story after the incident and told her followers: My heart is broken today I cannot believe it.

Life can change in the blink of an eye. So cherish what you have.

The LAFD said that they had no reports of any animals being injured  with Cara confirming her pets were safe, adding on her Instagram Story: They are alive!!
Jeremy Renner quipped that he felt like he was "dating" co-star Robert Downey Jr. as the pair FaceTimed all the time during his stint in the ICU.

Jeremy Renner and Robert Downey Jr. had 'really great chats' on FaceTime

The 53-year-old actor suffered serious injuries after being run over by his own snowplough at his Nevada home in January 2023.

The Marvel star spent more than two weeks in hospital after breaking more than 30 bones in the horrific accident, and during that time, he formed a bromance with the 58-year-old Oscar winner.

Jeremy told PEOPLE magazine: We ended up having really great chats on FaceTime, like we were dating or something."

The 'Oppenheimer' star joked with the 'Hawkeye' star that if he still has his looks "that's all that matters".

Jeremy recalled: He's like, Dude, the most important thing is you look good. I don't care how you feel, as long as you look good that's all that matters."

Robert and his wife, Susan, are huge fans of his show 'Mayor Of Kingstown' and he said they needed him to get better to return to complete the story.

He said: "He's like, 'You've got to get back to do Mayor, because we need to see what happens.' His ways are very heartwarming."

Jeremy previously shared how he needs to prioritise "health and wellness" for the rest of his life.

The Hollywood star said: "(I'm doing) probably 90 per cent of all the things I needed to be doing... I think another six months will be hopefully running (more)... I got to set goals for myself. I'll do whatever I can... whatever it takes to get better, to get stronger.

"It's a one-way street, this recovery. The rest of my life is about health and wellness. Recovery will be part of the rest of my life, so I look forward to it, man. There's always something to do to get better, be stronger, be happier, be healthier, and that's what I look forward to."

Jeremy recently explained that the incident altered his view on the cycle of life and has left him "kind of excited" about dying.

Speaking on SiriusXM's 'This Life of Mine with James Corden', he said: "I was never afraid, mind you, of death prior. Now, I'm really not afraid of it. Now, I'm double downing. Yes, certainly not afraid of it.

"Now, I'm kind of excited for it. To be honest, it's what life really is.

"This rock that we're spinning on and this body and this language that we're speaking and all these feelings and emotions and conflict is all... meaningless in the scheme of things."
Ray Winstone has revealed that Marvel bosses made him re-shoot his scenes in 'Black Widow' because he originally played his villainous character as a groomer which upset execs.

Ray Winstone reveals reason why he had to re-shoot Black Widow scenes

The 67-year-old actor - famous for his hard man roles - portrayed Russian general Dreykov, a military expert who recruits girls to be trained at the Red Room in order to become super spies.

The Red Room was where Scarlett Johansson's character as Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, and her adoptive sister Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)

Ray had agreed with the director Cate Shortland that he would play Dreykov as a groomer but when bosses saw the final edit he claims that they freaked out that it was too much for the Marvel audience and ordered him to film his scenes again with a different portrayal of the villain.

Speaking on the Off Menu podcast, he said: It was a bit iffy. I shot that [film] twice. The first time I done it youre playing this guy who actually grooms young women, so I played him as a nonce, as a paedophile, and they didnt like it, they thought it was a bit heavy for the character, so I had to go and shoot it all again.

Its done, youre there with the director, you work it all out and then all of a sudden someone in a suit decides youve got to do it another way.

Ray thinks that his character is one that is definitely dead in the MCU, although he admits you can never rule out a comeback in a comic book film.

When asked if Dreykov was really dead, he answered: I wouldve thought so yeah. You never know. It could be like 'Dallas', you wake up in the shower or something."
Squid Game actor O Yeong-su has been convicted of sexual misconduct.

O Yeong-su has been sentenced over sexual misconduct charges

The 79-year-old actor was convicted on Friday (15.03.24) of two counts of sexual harassment, and as well as an eight-month prison term, which has been suspended for two years, he was also ordered to complete 40 hours of attendance at a sexual violence treatment programme.

The veteran actor was charged in November 2022 over allegations he hugged a woman and kissed her on the cheek without consent in 2017, but he denied the allegations and as he left the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court following the verdict, he vowed to appeal the ruling.

O previously claimed he held the woman's hand to guide her around a lake.

He added: I apologised because [the person] said she wouldnt make a fuss about it but it doesnt mean that I admit the charges, he said.

But judge Jeong Yeon-ju found the victims records of the assault and her claims were consistent  and appear to be statements that cannot be made without actually experiencing them.

The judge added: "Whats written in the victims diary, and the counselling report of the victim after the incident pretty much match the details of this case.

South Korean women's rights group Womenlink praised the ruling.

They shared on X, formerly Twitter: The defendant resembles other offenders of sexual violence in theatre in the past who tried to cover up their sexual violence as favour and friendship."

Best known for his role as Oh Il-name in Netflixs Squid Game, Yeong-su won South Koreas first Golden Globe award in 2022 for his role in the show, which saw poverty-hit contestants play childhood games with fatal consequences in a bid to win 45.6 billion won.

He is seen as one of the greatest stage actors in South Korea, appearing in more than 200 stage productions since 1963 and winning a string of major awards.
Manjummel Boys OTT Rights: The highly anticipated Malayalam film "Manjummel Boys," starring Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, and Balu Varghese, hit theatres on February 22, 2024.

Produced by Soubin Shahir under his own banner, Parava Films, "Manjummel Boys" has garnered significant attention as one of the most eagerly awaited releases of the year in Malayalam cinema.

Manjummel Boys Premise

In 2006, a group of friends from Kerala ventured to Guna Caves in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. During their excursion, a youngster inadvertently falls into a deep cave. The tale of "Manjummel Boys" chronicles the valiant efforts of the remaining friends to rescue him.

"Manjummel Boys" Secures Lucrative OTT And Satellite Deal

Film industry tracker Sreedhar Pillai has reported that the long-awaited OTT and satellite deal for "Manjummel Boys" has finally been sealed. Disney Plus Hotstar and Asianet, the market leaders in Malayalam content, have secured the rights for the film at a price close to the producer's demand. This agreement marks a significant milestone for "Manjummel Boys," ensuring its reach to a wider audience through digital and satellite platforms. Fans can now anticipate enjoying the much-talked-about film from the comfort of their homes, thanks to this successful deal.

Manjummel Boys Cast And Crew

Chidambaram, known for directing 'Jan.E.Man', helmed the project 'Manjummel Boys'. "Manjummel Boys" stars Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Deepak Parambol, Ganapathi, Lal Jr., Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Arun Kurian, Khalid Rahman, Chandu Salimkumar, and Vishnu Reghu in key roles.

On the technical side, Shyju Khalid served as the cinematographer, and Vivek Harshan was the editor. Sushin Shyam handled the music, while Ajayan Chalissery served as the art director. Mashar Hamsa was responsible for costume design, and Ronex Xavier worked as the makeup artist.
Der kostenlose Dividenden-Report zeigt ganz genau, wo Sie in diesem Jahr zuschlagen konnen. Das sind die Favoriten von Borsenprofi Dr. Dennis Riedl

Austrian Post: Austrian Post faced challenging economic conditions in 2023. "Against the backdrop of the challenging macroeconomic environment, we are very satisfied with the performance of our company," explains CEO Georg Polzl. Group revenue improved by 8.7 % to EUR 2,740.8m in 2023. In this context, the Parcel & Logistics Division showed a revenue increase of 16.6 % to EUR 1,416.5m based on volume growth in all regions of Austrian Post for the full-year 2023, EBITDA increased by 5.0 % to EUR 391.6m and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by 1.0 % to EUR 190.2m. The profit for the period of the Austrian Post Group rose from EUR 128.1m to EUR 138.7m in the 2023 financial year. Due to this solid performance and balance sheet position, a dividend at EUR 1.78 ...

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.
Lourd is the co-chairman of Creative Artists Agency, the one Maher has fired after being snubbed

Bill Maher, the American comedian and writer has decided to part ways with the talent agency Creative Artists Agency and fired the same after not being invited for co-chairmans Bryan Lourds Oscar party. The news was reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

About Oscars 2024

Barbenheimer brought a bump not a boom to Oscars ratings.

An estimated 19.5 million people watched Sunday nights 96th Academy Awards ceremony on ABC. Thats the biggest number drawn by the telecast in four years.

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But that upward trend comes from an all-time low during the pandemic, and is up just 4% from last years estimated audience of 18.7 million, according to numbers released Monday by ABC.

The Academy experimented with scheduling this years show an hour earlier, and for the first time in years had many nominations for huge hit movies that viewers had actually seen  Barbie and Oppenheimer.

The viewership peaked in the final half hour, when the audience saw Ryan Gosling perform Im Just Ken from Barbie, saw Cillian Murphy win best actor, Christopher Nolan win best director for Oppenheimer and Al Pacino give the film the best picture Oscar in an odd presentation.

A major star, Emma Stone, also won best actress in the final stretch in the the nights most competitive race over Lily Gladstone, and nearly 22 million people saw her do it.

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The show actually started a little less than an hour early. With Gaza protests happening outside slowing down entrances at the Dolby Theatre, host Jimmy Kimmel kicked things off about six minutes late, but its not clear if that affected viewership.
A source, while talking about Hiranis OTT debut, said, The show is not like a typical Bollywood project with a male and female lead. It has strong characters. One of the primary characters is played by Mona Singh.

Mona Singh is on a roll with back-to-back projects like Laal Singh Chaddha, Kaala Paani on Netflix, and a stunning appearance in Made In Heaven. She was all set to be seen with Sunny Deol in Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Santoshis Lahore 1947 but was later replaced by Preity Zinta due to unknown reasons.

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Times Of India now reports the actress has now come on board for Rajkumar Hirani and Vikrant Masseys series. A source, while talking about Hiranis OTT debut, said, The show is not like a typical Bollywood project with a male and female lead. It has strong characters. One of the primary characters is played by Mona Singh.

In an interview with Hindustan Times recently, she spoke about the two selfies with Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan Khan and how they went viral.

A selfie with SRK

On his birthday, all his people were around, but no one was taking selfies. Because there were official photographers and we were told wed get those pictures. By the time I got the chance to meet and wish him personally, none of the photographers were around. So I looked at him and said I needed a picture. He said, Im so sorry Mona, no selfies tonight. I was like I respect that.

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The actress added that she couldnt get a picture till 4 in the morning and before she was leaving, the actor called her and said, Come here, do you know how talented you are?

A selfie with Aryan Khan

It was the grandest premiere any of us had been to. When the screening (The Archies) got over, I met and congratulated Zoya and the cast. I bumped into Aryan when I was leaving and told him his sister is so amazing in the movie. Then I told him lets take a selfie. He graciously obliged, but I couldnt get the angle right. He said, Maam, its my job. And thats how it happened, organically.
The actress shared a note on X and wrote- I sure wish every single human being at the Oscars would have worn a yellow ribbon to show support for Hamas immediately returning the hostages

The Oscars were a star-studded affair as always but theres one actress who seems to be unhappy with the celebrities for a reason. The actress in question is Mayim Bialik who has shared a note on X and it has to with the hostages trapped in Hamas.

She wrote- Of course I have opinions about a lot of things that went down at the Oscars both on the red carpet and on the stage but heres what Im going to say: I sure wish every single human being at the Oscars would have worn a yellow ribbon to show support for Hamas immediately returning the hostages who have been held since they were seized from their homes on October 7- including American citizens.

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Of course I have opinions about a lot of things that went down at the Oscars both on the red carpet and on the stage but heres what Im going to say: I sure wish every single human being at the Oscars would have worn a yellow ribbon to show support for Hamas immediately pic.twitter.com/klra6o6fMV  Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) March 15, 2024

The actress added, The cease fire offer on the table demands the return of captive women, elderly, and the injured. It has been rejected by Hamas. #BringThemHome

The 96th Academy Awards celebrated the best films and artists of the year 2023 and even witnessed many firsts with some viral moments also grabbing eyeballs of the Internet users. As the celebrities arrived to grace the star-studded event, a notable display of solidarity among them was also witnessed. The celebrities, through red pins adorning their clothes, advocated for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in a bid to send out a loud and clear message for peace in the Gaza conflict.

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Among the prominent celebrities who showed up on the red carpet wearing small red pins were Billie Eilish, Finneas, Mark Ruffalo, Ava DuVernay, and Ramy Youssef. A closer look at these pink shows the silhouette of a hand with a black heart at the palm.
NZ Windfarms Limited (NZX Code: NWF) Chair Craig Stobo announces that he has received CEO Warren Koias resignation. Warren joined the company as CEO on 20 May 2019 and his last day of employment will be 15 June 2024.

Craig Stobo said Warrens achievements over the last five years have positively impacted NZ Windfarms. Some key highlights were the implementation and development of the Companys corporate strategy which led to the successful fast track consent of Te Rere Hau wind farm, the partnership arrangement with Meridian Energy to repower the wind farm, and the completion of a placement and underwritten pro-rata renounceable rights issue to bolster the Companys financial stability and fund the investigation of future growth opportunities.

Warren built robust relationships with clients, investors, stakeholders and employees, thereby enhancing the Company's reputation and establishing a foundation of trust, respect, and transparency with stakeholders.

His financial management and commitment to budgetary discipline have been essential in driving profitability and upgrading the Companys FY2024 EBITDAF guidance range to $4.5m to $5.5m, thereby enhancing value for shareholders.

His leadership has not only navigated us through operational challenges but has also laid a strong foundation for future growth and success. On behalf of the Board and the entire NZ Windfarms team we thank Warren for his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Warren Koia said Id like to thank everyone in NZ Windfarms including shareholders, clients, Iwi representatives, community leaders, advisers, and partners. Serving as Chief Executive of NZ Windfarms has been an incredible privilege, and I take immense pride in our collective achievements during this time. I wish the team the best in delivering New Zealands first wind farm repowering project and delivering on its other strategic growth initiatives.

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Russia is holding its presidential elections and its almost certain that Vladimir Putin will extend his reign by another six years. How has Russias macho man won each poll he has contested? We explore this and more in our weekly roundup of big global news

A week has gone by and its been another seven days of news, news and more news.

It is the final day of the presidential election in Russia and theres little surprise as to whos the winner (psst, if you were still wondering, its going to be Vladimir Putin). Theres also the news of Russia building a rail line to bring it closer to India.

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This week also saw a new controversy in the United Kingdom over an image taken by the Princess of Wales, Kate, to mark Mothers Day. Her absence from the public eye has triggered rumours about trouble in the royal marriage and Prince Williams alleged affair with Rose Hanbury .

Besides this, Australia was also in the news this week after farmers ripped out millions of grapevines. In the US, time is ticking on TikTok as the US House of Representatives passed a bill that allows for the popular app to be banned if Bytedance, its parent company, doesnt divest from it.

If you feel overwhelmed by all the news, we are here to make things easier. So, sit back and enjoy our weekly roundup that goes way beyond the headline.

1) Russia is currently holding its presidential elections . Starting on 15 March (Friday) and continuing until 17 March (Sunday), people across the country will be casting their vote, either physically or electronically, in the polls. However, theres no doubt that Vladimir Putin will be the next Russian president, extending his grip on power in the nation until 2030. With these polls, Putin will also become the longest-serving leader in the country, beating even Joseph Stalins record. But how is it that the Russian strongman wins election after election? Read our essay to find out how Putin is guaranteed a victory at the polls.

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2) Heres another significant news piece coming out of Russia. Moscow is helping Iran to finance and build a 164-km rail line . This rail line is part of the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC) and will help bridge the gap between Russia, Iran and eventually India. How, you ask? Heres everything you need to know about this new infrastructure project and why it matters to New Delhi.

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Devotees of TikTok gather at the Capitol in Washington, as the House passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app if its China-based owner doesnt sell. AP

3) This week, the United States came a step closer to joining other countries in banning the popular video platform, TikTok. On Thursday, the US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to ban TikTok if its China-based owner ByteDance doesnt sell its stake in the social media platform. Why is the US gunning for TikTok? Does this new legislation mean the app is now banned in America? More importantly, what does it mean for its over 170 million users? Read up on all this and more, here .

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4) If you are intrigued by crime, heres something you will enjoy. This week came the news of a mother-of-three, Michelle Mack, being arrested in the US from her mansion in San Diego. Her crime? She was the mastermind of an all-women gang, named California Girls , who ran amok across hundreds of stores, including Ulta Beauty, TJ Max, stealing makeup products. Mack would then resell these stolen items on Amazon, building an empire worth over $8 million (Rs 66.22 crore).

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This image of Kate, Princess of Wales with her three children issued by Kensington Palace for Mothers Day was retracted by four news agencies, citing manipulation. Image courtesy: @KensingtonRoyal/X

5) A picture is worth a thousand words, goes the popular adage. However, for Kate Middleton and the British royals, a photo turned into a royal headache. For Mothers Day, the Princess of Wales, who has been missing in action since her abdominal surgery in January, resurfaced in an image with her three children. However, news agencies, including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP), and Getty Images, withdrew the photo, citing manipulation. Our essay explains exactly what went wrong and the subsequent row over it.

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6) Its often said that theres no such thing as too much wine. But farmers in Australia and France think otherwise. This week came the news that the farmers in these two countries are destroying millions of vines.

In fact, one report stated that 1.1 million vines that once comprised one of Australias largest vineyards are piled in heaps of gnarled and twisted wood. What has led to this situation? Read on to find out.

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And thats a wrap from us. If you like what you read and are looking for more such stories, heres where you can find them.

Also, before we forget, heres something for AI fans. A South Korean company has come up with an AI doll that helps old adults beat loneliness. Find out more about Hyodol here .
Gazette notifications of 2016 and 2018 empower the district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch in Gujarat to grant Indian citizenship to people of minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, said an official release

Indian citizenship was given to eighteen Hindu refugees from Pakistan living in Ahmedabad during a camp that Gujarats minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi attended.

During the Saturday camp held at the district collectors office, Sanghavi granted Indian citizenship to the eighteen individuals and encouraged them to collaborate to bring the vision of a new India to reality.

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He declared, It is expected that all of you will be determined to participate in the development journey of the country, and added that the federal and state governments were dedicated to integrating all citizens of India into mainstream society.

Gazette notifications of 2016 and 2018 empower the district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch in Gujarat to grant Indian citizenship to people of minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, said an official release.

With this, a total of 1,167 Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad district have so far been granted Indian citizenship, it said.

Sanghavi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have made special efforts for the suffering minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to get Indian citizenship easily and quickly.

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On March 11, the Union government announced implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, paving the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

With this, the government aims to start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants  Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians  from the three countries.

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With inputs from PTI
The United States expressed worry on Thursday over the CAA announcement in India and said it will closely monitor its implementation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated that it is crucial to consider the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the context of the Partition and emphasised that there are number of examples in which many countries have expedited citizenship in response to criticism of the Act from the US and other countries.

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He also addressed inquiries about an Indian national accused of being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate a Khalistani separatist on US soil for hire, as well as US Ambassador Eric Garcettis comments the previous day regarding the effect of this on US-India relations, during a Saturday conversation at the India Today Conclave 2024.

You keep using India and Canada seamlessly, I would draw a line there, for a variety of reasons. Most notably that all said and done, American politics has not given that kind of space to violent extremist views and activities which Canada has done. So, I dont think its fair to the US, to lump them together. I would distinguish between the two, Jaishankar said.

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Last year, ties between India and Canada deteriorated due to claims surrounding the June shooting of Khalistani separatist and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, Canada. India disputed the allegations, calling them absurd and motivated.

Jaishankar also addressed critiques of the CAA from Washington and other areas of the world.

The United States expressed worry on Thursday over the CAA announcement in India and said it will closely monitor its implementation.

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Look, I am not questioning the imperfections or otherwise of their democracy or their principles or lack of it. I am questioning their understanding of our history. If you hear comments from many parts of the world, it is as if the Partition of India never happened, there were no consequential problems which the CAA is supposed to address, Jaishankar said.

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So, if you take a problem and remove all the historical context from it, sanitise it and make it into a political correctness argument, and say, I have principles and dont you have principles, I have principles too, and one of them is obligation to people who were let down at the time of Partition. And, I think, the Home Minister spoke very eloquently on it yesterday, he added.

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Garcetti in response to a question on CAA during a panel discussion at the conclave on Friday, had said the principles of religious freedom and of equality under the law is a cornerstone of democracy.

And, that is why we look at these things, it will be easier not to look at our friends. We invite you to do the same with our imperfect democracy, it is not a one-way street. But, you cannot give up on principles, no matter how close you are with friends, he had said.

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Jaishankar while responding to the criticism on CAA, also cited a number of examples to make his point.

He said he has a problem when people dont hold up a mirror to their own policies, as he cited Jackson-Vanik amendment, which was about Jews from Soviet Union, the Lautenberg Amendment, Specter Amendment and fast-tracking of Hungarians after the Hungarian revolution, fast-tracking of Cubans in 1960s.

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So, if you were to ask me, have other countries, other democracies, fast-tracked on the basis of ethnicity, faith, social attributes, I can give you any number of examples, the minister said.

He sought to put the context of the 1947 Partition which cleaved the Indian subcontinent into two independent nations India and Pakistan, and led to a massive bloodshed resulting in large-scale migrations across the border.

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Now, if I were to also say, after all why is the situation important, because very often when you have something very cataclysmic, something really very major, it is not possible to deal with all the consequences right then and there.

The leadership of this country had promised to these minorities, that if you have a problem, you are welcome to come to India. The leadership thereafter didnt deliver on the promise, he added.

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Jaishankar said it is not just our predicament. If you look at Europe, many European countries fast-tracked citizenship of people who were left behind on the World War or in some cases much before the World War Some historical issues which were not addressedI have a moral obligation to that community.

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So, the world is full of examples, and to me the context therefore is very important, the minister said.

On the upcoming US elections, the Union Minister said, we are prepared for whatever happens.

We have actually built a very extensive culture of engaging and sort of maintaining relationshipsWell before the 2016 November results, we had already reached out to the Trump campaign at a high level. Because, that is the way it would be. It wouldnt be hypothetically tomorrow, he said.

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Because the US-India relationship is very important and that is the only way one can get a grip on that relationship, the minister said.

On the issue of the Indian national, facing charge for a murder-for-hire plot to kill a Khalistani separatist on American soil, he also shared how India is dealing with it.

Yes, the US has shared with us some information, some of this in the public domain, some of it is not. And, our interest is to also look into it, because, to us there seems to be a very strong organised crime aspect to it which also impinges on our own security.

So, when we were apprised of this information, we decided to set up a very high-power committee of competent people to look into it and that is an ongoing issue right now, Jaishankar said.

He also came up with some light-hearted response when asked about the use of social media and diplomacy.

Look, I am paid to fix foreign policy, I am not paid to fix social media, he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

To be honest no one can fix social media. The nature of the platform is such that everything that you somewhat disapprovingly state is actually something that gets more eyeballs on social media, Jaishankar said.

He said he assumed this is a medium which is very angular, but one can counter it fairly rapidly.

We (MEA) have adjusted to the times tooShort, sharp impactful expressions (on social media) are required then we move out of our, shall we say old comfort zones, and adjust ourselves to respond in that way, said the minister who has a massive following on X.
The next time you travel in Haryana, through any part ranging from Panipat to Hisar to Narnaul, just recall that the place you are passing through may be linked to Delhi in more ways than you can imagine

In recent times, unless you happened to be hiding under a rock, you would have seen the stellar role played by Haryana Police in preventing an extremely aggressive crowd from penetrating Delhis borders from Punjab. This layer of protection underlined the deep relationship between a city that has been the national capital for centuries, albeit with a few gaps, and the surrounding region we now call Haryana. It is an interrelationship that has been manifest in myriad ways, and not always amicable.

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One such manifestation is seen in the form of Rao Tula Ram Marg, a major road in South Delhi that one would have to pass if going to or from either Gurgaon or the airport into south, east or central Delhi. In a megapolis with roads named after everyone from emperors to prime ministers to foreign statesmen, have you ever paused to wonder who Tula Ram was?

Rao Tula Ram stamp (Source - Wikipedia)

Rao Tula Ram was a freedom fighter, one of the 1857 vintage who fought against all odds. In May of that fateful year, Tula Ram and his brother deposed the local Tehsildar and occupied Rewari. Building a facility to make arms there, they sent in a supply of weapons, commodities and financial support to the Mughal emperor in Delhi. In November that year, Tulas Ram valiant resistance was crushed in a battle at Nasibpur, close to Narnaul in Haryana. He fled into exile and eventually died in Kabul a few years later. What he left behind was a memory of support that is commemorated by the road today.

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North of Delhi was where many an invader fought a decisive battle while seeking control of the capital. In 1191, at Tarain  now in Karnal district  Prithviraj Chauhan held his own against the attacking forces of Muhammad Ghori. The next year, however, it was the Ghurid forces that carried the day at Tarain, thus paving the way for Delhi to become the capital of a sultanate.

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Over three centuries later, the battlefields of Haryana saw another turning point in history. In April 1526, a central Asian called Babur defeated the Lodi ruler at Panipat. While the winner built a mosque in thanksgiving for a much needed triumph, the losing Sultan got a tomb under the open sky, a far cry from the octagonal mausoleums his ancestors lay in, in Delhi. Three decades later, Baburs grandson Akbar was back at Panipat. The result once more favoured the Gurkani dynasty with Akbar vanquishing Hemu, thus ensuring that the empire was not reduced to a footnote in history.

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The Kabuli Bagh masjid built by Babur after victory in 1526

Ibrahim Lodis grave under the open sky at Panipat

At the end of the 1730s, an army of Baburs descendant Muhammad Shah Rangila collapsed at Karnal while facing the superior forces of the Persian ruler Nadir Shah. The result was an eclipse of the empire with the imperial treasure being looted, the peacock throne and the Kohinoor both being carried off by the invaders, not to mention a massacre of Shahjahanabads citizens. It was an invasion that left the Mughal empire as a bare shell, dependent on the protection of other powers while it tottered to its demise post 1857.

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Among those powers that Delhi grew dependant on were the Marathas. And in the spirit of defending the capital, they too sent an army to take on Ahmed Shah Abdali at Panipat in January 1761. A memorial stands at the spot where the Maratha commander, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, fell in battle. The setback proved temporary and another Maratha commander, Mahadji Scindia, put learning from the Panipat debacle into practice and was in control of Delhi by 1770.

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From the time when Rao Tula Ram and others raised the banner of revolt, there is an interesting grave in a cemetery outside Karnal. To crush the revolt, the British Gen Anson was marching south to Delhi when he fell ill and died, being buried here originally. Today, the forgotten grave is just another marker in the intertwined relationship between Delhi and the land called Haryana.

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But perhaps the biggest connection that is spoken of comes to us from mythology. When the Pandavas and their allies lined up for a final decisive battle against the Kauravas, the battlefield was the fabled Kurukshetra. And on offer in that ultimate winner-take-all-battle was the kingdom of Indraprastha, part of which is now an excavated site inside in Purana Qila, in where else, Delhi.

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So the next time you travel in Haryana, through any part ranging from Panipat to Hisar to Narnaul, just recall that the place you are passing through may be linked to Delhi in more ways than you can imagine.

The author is a heritage explorer by inclination with a penchant for seeking obscure sites. A brand consultant by profession, he tweets @HiddenHeritage. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Indo-Pacific region comprises 65 per cent of the worlds oceans, and countries throughout the region depend on the free movement of goods and people for their livelihoods

As the global strategic landscape goes through an unprecedented churn, there is no doubt that the Indo-Pacific has emerged into a new theatre of big-power geopolitical and geo-economic contestation, which is specifically underwritten by the Sino-American rivalry.

It is also an ideological contest, as China refuses to subscribe to the very definition of the rule of law as envisaged by the West-led liberal order. It is crafting its own initiatives and prescriptions for the new world order, which is currently in an uncertain and painful transition.

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For example, its troika of the Global Security Initiative (GSI), along with the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the Global Culture or Civilizational Initiative (GCI), aim at redefining the underlying contours of global governance, along with its modified BRI (Belt and Road Initiative), which completed its 10th anniversary recently.

The Indo-Pacific region comprises 65 per cent of the worlds oceans, and countries throughout the region depend on the free movement of goods and people for their livelihoods. At the recently organised 7th Indian Ocean Summit in Perth by the India Foundation and Australian Foreign Ministry, the threats and assessments dictated a much greater and closer collaboration to ensure rule-based cooperation devoid of the hegemonistic acts and ambitions of some.

The health of the oceans and the judicious harnessing of the blue economy, especially by the littoral states and for the benefit of landlocked countries too, are important dimensions for a collaborative matrix. Indias Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and its expanded and comprehensive outreach will have much to offer.

It is very likely that the global order or disorder is heading towards a Cold War 2.0 matrix dotted by multipolarity, mini- and multilateralism, and strategic autonomy by many nations, especially in the Global South led by India.

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As was witnessed during Indias recent presidencies at the G20, SCO, and BRICS, it has the capability and moral longing to find a way that is driven by dialogue, diplomacy, peace, and respect for the UN Charter while underscoring the template: This is not an era of war.

While it believes in multi-alignments, it has been averse to the ideas of an alliance mindset simply because the most populous country and soon to be the third largest economy with an exemplary civilisational heritage as well as a history behind it in the form of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) and the Voice of Global South cannot be subjugated and shackled in the gilded alliance architecture. But since India follows the 3M mantra of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interests within the ambit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, it has excellent credentials to be a bridge builder amidst the divergence of opinions and interests in the international discourse, including in the Indo-Pacific.

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Of course, India cannot compromise on the hegemonistic designs of some neighbours and territorial and sovereignty breaches by others, and it will give a fitting response to the misadventure on the ground or in the maritime domain.

India has always been a big maritime power. It is also a given that India is a resident power in the Indian Ocean and therefore has its strategic security and economic interests within the ambit of maritime focus.

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Besides, since historic times, it has been a maritime and trading nation. The power of the oceans is supreme, but India considers them not as a personal fiefdom of a power but as a global common, and the availability of these to all nations and people is in accordance with international treaties and regulations adopted and accepted by the world community.

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A large number of countries have come out with their own Indo-Pacific strategies as the competition becomes intense for power and resources. Most of these strategies are a mix of competing and converging interests.

In 1903, US Secretary of State John Hay expounded that the Mediterranean is the ocean of the past, the Atlantic is the ocean of the present, and the Pacific is the ocean of the future.

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It appeared prophetic and well-proposed for strategists. Lets add the Indian Ocean to it, and the picture is complete in a modern context. Late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while speaking at the Indian Parliament in April 2017, propounded the term Indo-Pacific with his Confluence of the Seas, stating, The Pacific and the Indian Oceans are now bringing about a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and prosperity, underling the concept of Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

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Freedom of navigation has come under stress due to Chinese intransigence and aggression in its periphery of interest and influence with several hotspots, including Taiwan and ASEAN.

Hence the US focus on the region as a major challenge and opportunity to exert its ideology of influence and counter and contain the Chinese intransigence in support of Taiwan despite them still proclaiming one China policy.

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The roots of this competition are inherent in China breaking the US and western techno-economic barriers and the glass ceiling combined with its wolf-warrior diplomacy. Asia is the compulsive pivot for the new economic order, and India is a major player and a swing power.

Even though the Indo-Pacific is a natural area of strategic interest for India, it believes in the inclusivity of these global commons without excluding China, despite her own bilateral and border issues, even as Beijing refuses to abide by various agreements signed between the two countries.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018 in Singapore, re-emphasised and redefined the geographical scope of the concept, which extends from the Americas in the east to Africa in the west, with nearly eight sub-regions.

It encompasses all coastal countries, island nations, and the hinterland. He also spoke of the globally recognised principles and regulations of openness, inclusiveness, and non-exclusionthe centrality of ASEAN, which is an integral part of Indias Act East Policy. He underscored the need for non-targeting of specific parties, implying China, of course. But as the water flows down in the ocean, both Beijing and Moscow began to look at this concept and the ensuing QUAD (the US, Australia, Japan, and India), supposedly a security grouping, with suspicion and focused more on the USs strategic Sino-centric containment policy. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his book Why Bharat Matters, calls the Quad as Bharat Milap of the Ramayana fame. But we would have to be mindful of the Kaikeyis of this world.

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The Indian prime minister has often claimed that QUAD is a force for the global good. Since New Delhi did not subscribe to the containment idea per se or strategy of encirclement and wanted it to be participatory in accordance with the extant rules of Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FoIP) and freedom of navigation as against the practice of enforced suzerainty by big powers, it focused more on economic and other global challenges in which India can play a more constructive role.

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These areas included combating the health impacts of Covid and other pandemics with warning and curative collaboration, i.e., health security for all; shared challenges in cyberspace, critical technologies, counter-terrorism, quality infrastructure development and investment; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; as well as maritime domains.

Since the economic impacts of the pandemic and disruption of supply chains were highly destabilising, India, along with its partners, looked at the possibility of providing a partner in the alternate reliable global and value supply chains, as it had done during the height of the pandemic through the Vaccine Maitri as against the vaccine apartheid. There is no doubt there will be competition, but a healthy one is always welcome. In this domain too, India sought to build bridges with an emphasis on dialogue, diplomacy, cooperation, and inclusion rather than conflict and negative and mutually destructive competition.

Russia is Indias singular special and privileged strategic partner, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin personally invested in defining the contours and depths of this beyond the hype relationship, which is amply clear from its expanse across strategic sectors including defence, security, space, and civil nuclear cooperation.

However, like Moscow, India also has to maintain and ensure its overall security through other consequential partnerships based on convergences and congruences; these could in fact help further intensify India-Russia relations across the bilateral, regional, and multilateral spectrums.

An understanding of Indias security needs is a major part of this. Russia need not look at Indias Indo-Pacific strategy from the US or Chinese lens and their strategic perspectives alone. It will do well to understand Indias unique stance and approach to global welfare while ensuring her own security.

Most analysts believe that India seems to have benefited from the Indo-Pacific enterprise and concept in several ways.

First, India has become the fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific as a result of its strategic location, economic strength, and capacity to become a player in global value and supply chains, which has helped it integrate into the Pacific unlike previous strategic, security, and economic groupings like the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit.

Second, it has provided India with viable options in so far as Chinese expansionist ambitions are concerned.

Third, it enables it to recapture its primacy in the maritime domain through collaborations with the navies of friendly countries for her safety, security, economy and defence beyond the Malabar exercises.

Fourth, it helps India project and serve global welfare through various regional and global initiatives. Finally, it also provides India with certain deterrence capabilities against disruptions while emerging as a major HADR power and provider that has been proven time and again. Moreover, trade and investment, health and food security, ICT and space, critical technologies and minerals and rare earths, technology and resilient infrastructure, climate change, and countering terrorism have become the cornerstones of its expanding footprints with each summit interaction and working level, as well as ministerial meetings.

Jaishankar maintains that the concept of the Indo-Pacific is a rejection of the spheres of influence and a reiteration that the world cannot be frozen for the benefit of a few. He further added that the Indo-Pacific was an indication of the future, not a throwback to the past, and only those harbouring a Cold War mindset will see such intentions.

No doubt, for many Western countries, the Dragon may always be in the room, but eventually cooperation and understanding will only navigate global welfare and avoid the mutually destructive syndrome as the two competing worldviews interact in an uncertain global landscape.

As New Delhi will be hosting the next QUAD Summit this year, India, with its policy of One World, One Family, and One Future and strategic autonomy in action so well executed during her G20 presidency, is well placed to create and carry that trust and onerous responsibility, which could bridge the divide and mend geopolitical rifts in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Sanity in the international discourse is the last straw in the current disruptive international discourse.

The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Swedens pivot to NATO underscores a shift in Europes security dynamics. The eastward NATO expansion towards the Russian border will enrage and unsettle the Kremlin

On March 7, 2024, Sweden became the 32nd country to join NATO, giving up on its 200-year-long policy of neutrality in wartime. Swedens policy of neutrality was deeply rooted in the minds of all Swedish citizens. The Cold War politics were animated by ideological differences between the US and Soviet Union.

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The ensuing bipolarity in the structure of international politics wasnt enough to bring Sweden on board with its European counterparts in NATO.

While various political crises and military conflicts have struck so many parts of the worldfrom Korea, the Soviet-Chinese border, Afghanistan, and Iran to Central Europe and BerlinNorthern Europe has existed in a state of relative calm (Astrom, 1989). Sweden had successfully sailed through two World Wars and the Cold War on the policy of neutrality.

Swedens foreign policy has a moral orientation. Swedens active foreign policy of international peace, developmental aid, activism for disarmament, and criticism of human rights abuses provides its foreign policy with a normative international outlook.

Swedens aggressive great power past stands in marked contrast to its peaceful small power status today. It was only after the defeat at the hands of the Russians in 1809 and the subsequent installation of Baptiste Bernadotte that Sweden began to transform its role from an aggressive military power to a more modest actor in international relations (Kruzel, 1989).

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The principle of neutrality strived to create the best possible conditions for Sweden to stay out of the military conflict in Northern Europe. The other purpose of the neutrality policy was to stabilise Northern Europe.

The geography has doomed tough foreign policy choices for Sweden. The country has to avoid coming under the influence of a nearby superpower while also not becoming an outpost of the other superpower (Astrom, 1989).

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Neutrality, scholar John Logue states, has become so much a part of the national tradition as to be virtually beyond political dispute. Among significant Swedish policies, neutrality particularly enjoys the broad-based support of all of the political parties and major interest groups (Logue, 1989).

Even the day before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde declared to parliament that membership in NATO was unthinkable, even in the light of increasing Russian hostility. The policy of non-alignment was described as contributing to stability and serving Swedish interests.

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Fall of Neutrality

The post-Soviet era is witnessing Swedens accession to NATO, a state that remained neutral throughout the Cold War! Angela Stent, an expert on Europe and Russia, believes NATO is back to its original mission of containmentthe Soviet Union then and Russia now!

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, there were more Swedes in favour of NATO membership in the same year. By May 2022, nearly 60 per cent of the Swedes were in favour of the country joining NATO, a trend that continued into 2023 and 2024 (Statista, 2024). Almost 63 per cent of the population voted in favour of joining NATO as of March 2024 (Novus; January 18-24, 2024).

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On March 16, the government initiated security policy discussions with the parties of Riksdagen on the changed security situation following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and decided to set up a parliamentary committee to deliberate Swedens defence and security policy cooperation, including the issue of a possible Swedish NATO membership (DS 2022:8:3).

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The report concluded that the accession of Sweden to NATO would have a deterrence effect in the region as the EU lacked collective defence capabilities in the event of an attack.

Swedish NATO membership would raise the threshold for military conflicts and thus have a deterrent effect in northern Europe. If both Sweden and Finland were NATO members, all Nordic and Baltic countries would be covered by collective defence guarantees. (DS 2022:8:40).

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The Social Democratic Party, long opposed to joining NATO, finally applied for accession in May 2022, a step that overhauled Swedens identity as an independent and non-aligned country in Europe. The bid to join NATO was supported by as many as five Swedish parties in Riksdag.

The Russian Aggression

President Putin, in his famous Munich Security Conference speech in 2007, criticised the US hegemonic dominance in international affairs. The end of the Cold War couldnt ensure Russia and the US could work out an acceptable security arrangement for themselves. The US was convinced that it had won the Cold War and expected the Kremlin to play a role subordinate to Washington, a view contested by Russia (Trenin, 2019).

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Russias weakness in the 1990s and early 2000s had allowed the US to expand its NATO alliance to the borders of Russia over the objections of Russia, which was too weak to oppose (Mearsheimer, 2015). The US exploited the unipolar moment in the aftermath of the fall of the USSR by further expanding the Cold War security alliance NATO eastward, close to Russian borders.

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One of the long-term strategic consequences of Russias war against Ukraine is that NATO is growing larger and stronger in northeastern Europe (Raik, 2023). The biggest mistake of all came in 2008 at the annual NATO summit in Bucharest, when Georgia and Ukraine were invited to join NATO, (Mearsheimer, 2015).

The outbreak of the war in Georgia coalesced the two Nordic nations, Finland and Sweden, into building a shared security culture. Finland and Sweden, since 2008, have ramped up bilateral defence agreements and have been cooperating in defence.

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Russia: A Threat?

The most pressing problem (although to most Swedes, perhaps not the most serious one) is how to respond to the peacetime threat posed by continued incursions of foreign submarines into Swedish territorial waters (Kruze, 1989).

Soviet submarines were frequent in the Swedish defence zones during the Cold War. As recently as 2014, the Swedish Navy reported that a Soviet vessel(s) had escaped the Swedish defence zone without being intercepted. Russia had illegally annexed Crimea and commenced a proxy war in eastern Ukraine. These events drastically altered the perception of Russia among the Nordics, from a difficult partner to a main security challenge (Lunde Saxi).

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The Swedish government asserted Sweden as an Arctic Country in its latest Arctic Policy document for 2020. The government asserts cooperation in the region, led by eight Arctic States, while also onboarding outside states to contribute to the effort. Sweden also stressed the greater role of the EU in the region of the Arctic.

Russias Arctic ambitions are not hidden. The Kremlins quest for resources and secure trade routes has compelled it to cast a wary eye on what it sees as a challenge from the US and NATO to its position and ambitions in the Arctic.

Russias actions in the Arcticits aggressive rhetoric and its far-reaching territorial claimshave done little to improve its diplomatic position there vis-a-vis other Arctic states and only antagonised them (Rumer, Sokolsky, Stronski 2021).

Swedens pivot to NATO underscores a shift in Europes security dynamics. The eastward NATO expansion towards the Russian border has only antagonised the Kremlin. The annexation of Georgias territory was the first step in a long time by President Putin to redraw Russias political border close to Soviet times. Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 and invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have put to rest the idea that Europe is immune to conventional wars. The small states like Sweden and Finland face security threats from the ensuing struggle between the great powers.

The author is a postgraduate from JNU. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Sankrityayans four visits to Tibet are fascinating as they are a vibrant proof of the century-old linkages between India and Tibeta fact denied by Communist China todayand a proof that Tibet is truly a child of Indian civilisation

During the annual Two Meetings in Beijing, it was announced that Chinas defence budget for 2024 would be $231.36 billion, an increase of 7.2 per cent from the previous year (about thrice the size of the Indian defence budget); it is a large increase, especially when one knows that official figures are only a fraction of the actual spending by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

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Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece The Global Times: By 2027, the Chinese military will have the ability to effectively deal with threats brought by hegemonism and power politics in the western Pacific region, including issues relating to the Taiwan question and the South China Sea, as well as border tensions between China and India.

It is clear that the increase in the Chinese budget is targeting not only Taiwan, the rebel island, but also India.

In these circumstances, it is necessary for Delhi to think out of the box.

One of the many alternatives is to supplement military preparedness with Historical Warfare; this would not cost much to the exchequer and would help refocus and motivate the defence forces on the border.

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It would also put the boundary question in its proper historical perspective; for millennia, Northern India has been contiguous to Tibet, an independent nation till the end of the 1950s, not to China; the same is true for Eastern Turkestan (now called Xinjiang).

In this context, I recently became acquainted with the fascinating life of Mahapandita Rahul Sankrityayan, one of the greatest Indian scholars who wrote some 130 books.

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He was a great wandering scholar, spending 45 years of his life away from home on Asian and Western roads.

Rahul Ji, as he was known by his followers, was born Kedarnath Pandey to an Orthodox Hindu Brahmin family in Pandha village of Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh on April 9, 1893. He was the eldest child of six siblings. Though he only received a formal education up to grade eight (in Urdu language in his village), Sankrityayan later mastered some 34 languages.

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His maternal grandfather, Ram Sharan Pathak, an ex-soldier, with his innumerable tales of valour and adventure, planted the seed of love for travelling in him; already at the age of 9, he ran away from home to see the world and only after having visited Calcutta and Varanasi did he return to complete his middle school.

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One of his biographers wrote: Sankrityayans life, work, and ideas were steeped in and spread through many cultures, disciplines, and geographies. Born in a Sanatani Brahmin family, he lived variously the life of a Vaishnava sadhu, an Arya Samaji polemicist, a Buddhist monk, an antiquarian and scholar of Buddhism, a political activist jailed for anti-colonial speeches (1920 and 19231925) and beaten up by the henchmen of landlords in a peasant movement in Bihar (1939), a self-professed communist, a progressive writer, a novelist, a historian, a biographer, a language activist, a linguist, lexicographer, and so forth.

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Sankrityayan indeed lived multiple lives in one, always ready to change his worldview while remaining profoundly human.

From 1914 till 1930, he lived as a Vaishnava sannyasi; in 1939, Rahul Ji converted to Buddhism; this did not stop him from participating in the freedom movement, and between the years 1936 and 1944, he was actively involved in the peasant movement. During this period, he spent 29 months in jail (194042) for being a member of the Communist Party of India.

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When free, he extensively travelled to Sri Lanka, the Soviet Union, the Far East, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Western Europe.

Sankrityayans four visits to Tibet are fascinating as they are a vibrant proof of the century-old linkages between India and Tibet (a fact denied by Communist China today) and a proof that Tibet is truly a child of Indian civilisation (as the Dalai Lama likes to put it).

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It is important in the present tense context of Sino-Indian relations to not forget this.

During his trips to Tibet, this polymath managed to bring back to their land of origin some 1,619 valuable manuscripts and thankha paintings; he employed 16 mules to bring the precious loads to Bihar, where they are today kept in a special section of the Patna Museum.

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In Tibet, Rahul Ji met his Tibetan counterpart, probably the greatest Tibetan scholar of the first part of the 20th century, Gendun Choepel. Rahul Ji called him Geshe (Kalyanamitra in Sanskrit) or Brother in the Dharma. In Tibet, Geshe denoted a high degree of knowledge and was equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist studies.

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The Mahapandita recounted: My first meeting with Geshe took place in Lhasa. He was a disciple of Geshe Sherab, the most learned pandit of Drepung, the largest monastery in Tibet. Geshe Sherab was an authority on philosophy; thus, his disciple would also be a student of the same subject.

However, Gedun was not only a student of philosophy; he was also a poet and had mastered traditional and modern Tibetan painting: As a talented artist, he could live a comfortable life in Lhasa. However, Geshe never aspired to a comfortable life.

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Like Rahul Ji, Gedun was a wanderer, an adventurer, with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, always wanting to acquire more knowledge.

Sankrityayan recalled: [In 1934> I realised that his depth of classical learning combined with his artistic background would be invaluable to me in the search for ancient MSS [manuscripts> On his part, he wanted to accompany me to India and see and learn more. We became friends from that time onwards.

Thus started the search for the lost manuscripts of Nalanda and the other great viharas of Northern India; the two pandits wanted to rediscover the centuries-old linkage between India and Tibet.

They first visited the ancient monasteries north of Lhasa, then they went to Reting monastery, established in the 11th century: Tibet has a scanty rainfall, and at the time of our arrival, richly painted thangkas had been hung out for an airing. Geshes heart leapt at the sight. They were of Indian workmanship, and it is also possible that they had been brought from India. They copied them.

In his memoirs, Rahul Ji noted: My Tibetan journeys were a combination of bitter-sweet experiencesthe bitterness as extreme as the sweet. Sometimes, animals to carry us and our goods were as readily provided as a householders hospitality. Sometimes, though we ourselves were willing to walk, we could not hire porters, and it was difficult to get a yard of space to rest ourselves.

His following visit to Tibet was a great success: I saw many dozens of ancient Sanskrit MMS. I was able to photograph many of them and copy down many by hand.

The day of May 25, 1936, was memorable: We were informed by Dolma Phodrang [one of the temples in Sakya monastery> that they had received the key to Chakpe Lhakhang I had very little expectation that I would find a Sanskrit manuscript there. After arriving, I turned to the left and found the first stockroom. The door and doorframe seemed centuries old. Who knows how many years of dust must have been collected? On one occasion, dust spread so profusely that the whole stockroom was blanketed as if in smoke.

The Mahapandita continued his exploration: We waited a little and then moved in. There was also enough dust on the floor to make footprints. We found hundreds of scriptures there, some wrapped in cloth, while others had been left uncovered. Among them, we found scriptures as old as seven and eight hundred years. These were the texts that had been written and read by great ancient Tibetan masters and scholars. They were precious jewels of Tibetan literature and history. They had found the lost manuscripts.

Rahul Ji continued to explore the room: I was searching for palm leaf manuscripts in Sanskrit. After browsing here and there, I found one which was not wrapped in cloth. One, two, three, four I found twenty manuscripts in all. I opened one and began to look at it. I was overjoyed.

This discovery symbolises the age-old relationship between Tibet and India.

Today, it is important to remember these ancient linkages (there are many others), which bear testimony to the deep connections between the people of India and Tibet.

If these connections could be revived in any way, it could completely change the perspective of the conflict with China and Beijings erroneous narrative for the border dispute. In the meantime, Beijing should be reminded that Tibet has been (and is still geographically) Indias northern neighbour.

And real heroes like Mahapandita or Geshe should not be forgotten; on the contrary, they should be honoured, and a young generation of historians should be encouraged to boldly follow in the footsteps of the wandering scholars.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
This collaboration highlights the growing strategic partnership between the two nations, aimed at enhancing defense cooperation and interoperability

Arriving in Seychelles on March 18, 2024, the Indian Army contingent will take part in the tenth Joint Military Exercise, dubbed "LAMITIYE-2024," which will take place from March 1827. Credit: X

India and Seychelles are set to embark on a significant joint endeavor with the commencement of a ten-day mega war game.

This collaboration highlights the growing strategic partnership between the two nations, aimed at enhancing defense cooperation and interoperability. As both countries gear up for this extensive exercise, it marks a milestone in their bilateral relations, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation in the realm of defense.

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Below mentioned are the five things to know about this collaboration:-

1. Joint War Game: As both countries gear up for this extensive exercise, it marks a milestone in their bilateral relations, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation in the realm of defense.

2. Tactical drills collaboration: A series of well-planned tactical drills will be jointly planned, trained for, and carried out by both sides, the Indian Army announced on Sunday.

3. Strategic importance of Seycelles: The Seychelles is an archipelago of about 115 strategically placed islands in the Indian Ocean, and India has been emphasising a major increase in defense cooperation with the nation.

4. Equal participation: Forty-five members of the Indian Army, who are taking part in the Lamitiye exercise, left for the Seychelles Sunday. There will be an equal number of Seychelles Defence Force personnel participating in the drill.

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5. Exercise Objectives: The exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, and interoperability between the two armies. It focuses on sub-conventional operations in semi-urban environments, aligning with UN peacekeeping operations. Additionally, the exercise seeks to foster bilateral military relations and exchange skills, experiences, and best practices.

This ten-day war game between India and Seychelles represents a pivotal moment in their defense cooperation efforts. Through joint planning, training, and execution of tactical drills, both nations have demonstrated their commitment to bolstering mutual understanding and interoperability.

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As the exercise concludes, it lays the groundwork for further collaboration and exchange of best practices, strengthening the bonds between India and Seychelles in the realm of defense and security.

With inputs from PTI
Providing details after April 12, 2019, the ECs report revealed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest beneficiary of the electoral bonds scheme, receiving Rs 6,061 crore in political donations over the last five years

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has disclosed additional details regarding electoral bonds, including the amount redeemed per political party on March 17.

The ECI uploaded the data on its website, sourced in digitised form from the Supreme Court registry. Political parties submitted data on Electoral Bonds in sealed covers as per the Supreme Courts interim order dated April 12, 2019, stated the poll panel.

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According to the EC data, BJP cashed electoral bonds worth Rs 6,986.5 crore, with the highest amount of Rs 2,555 crore received in 2019-20. Congress redeemed a total of Rs 1,334.35 crore through electoral bonds, while Trinamool Congress received Rs 1,397 crore, ranking as the second-largest recipient after BJP. BRS stood as the fourth largest recipient, encashing bonds worth Rs 1,322 crore.

Other parties, such as BJD, YSR Congress, TDP, SP, Akali Dal, AIADMK, and National Conference, also received varying amounts through electoral bonds, as per the report.

The EC stated, Data submitted by political parties was presented to the Supreme Court without opening sealed covers. In compliance with the Supreme Courts order dated March 15, 2024, the Supreme Court registry returned physical copies along with digitised records on a pen drive, sealed. The Election Commission of India has now uploaded the digitized data from the Supreme Court registry on electoral bonds onto its website.

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Providing details after April 12, 2019, the report revealed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest beneficiary of the electoral bonds scheme, receiving Rs 6,061 crore in political donations over the last five years, as per data submitted by the State Bank of India (SBI) to the ECI on March 14.

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This constitutes 48 percent of all electoral bonds encashed by political parties since the beginning of 2019-20 until it was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court earlier in 2024. In all, 24 political parties received donations through electoral bonds over the last five years amounting to Rs 12,769 crore.

The SBI data showed that over the past five years, the largest political contributors have donated nearly Rs 6,000 crore through electoral bonds to various parties.

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Future Gaming and Hotel Services, a lottery firm, topped the list, donating Rs 1,368 crore, followed by Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd with Rs 966 crore.

The information, disclosed by the poll panel, categorizes the recipients and donors separately without indicating any direct links between them.
Following a five-day conflict in which Russian forces repulsed a Georgian effort to reclaim South Ossetia, Russia acknowledged both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent entities in 2008. They were acknowledged as autonomous by Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru as well

A local resident Marab Mekarishvili, 57, walks past a banner "Republic Of South Ossetia" at the borderline on the de facto border of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia in Dvani, Georgia. Reuters File

Russia has discussed joining South Ossetia, a province that split away from Georgia and proclaims itself an independent state, with Moscow authorities, the leader of the areas parliament said on Sunday, according to Russian news agency RIA.

Following a five-day conflict in which Russian forces repulsed a Georgian effort to reclaim South Ossetia, Russia acknowledged both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent entities in 2008. They were acknowledged as autonomous by Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru as well.

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However, Tbilisi wants the two areas returned since the West claims that Russia has practically annexed Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which make up one fifth of Georgias territory.

We are discussing all these issues in close coordination with Russia, taking into account our bilateral relations and treaties, RIA quoted Alan Alborov, the chairman of South Ossetias parliament, as saying in answer to a question about the possibility of holding a referendum on becoming part of Russia.

When we come to this idea together with the Russian Federation (about joining the Russian Federation), we will do it, RIA quoted Alborov as saying

According to RIA, South Ossetias leader, Alan Gagloev, who has support from Russia, stated last year that he hoped for the area to be legally merged into Russia.

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Following a bloody conflict in 19911992, which claimed thousands of lives, South Ossetia seceded from Georgia and remains closely connected to North Ossetia, a bordering province of Russia.

The majority of South Ossetians speak a language similar to Farsi and are ethnically different from Georgians.

Russian passports are accepted by almost all of the populace. Their currency is the Russian rouble, and their economy is reliant on Russia.
The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning on a key highway that sees traffic between the western city of Herat through southern provinces to the capital Kabul, provincial officials said

The collision happened early in the morning on a major route that connects the capital Kabul with the western city of Herat via southern provinces. AFP

In southern Afghanistan Sunday, a bus crashed into a fuel tanker truck and caught fire, resulting in at least 21 fatalities and 38 injuries.

Afghanistan has a high rate of traffic accidents, partly because of dangerous driving on highways, a lack of regulations, and bad roads left over from decades of conflict.

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According to Mohammad Qasim Riyaz, a provincial governors spokesman, twenty-one people were killed in a traffic accident between a passenger bus, a tanker, and a motorbike on a main highway through Grishk district in southern Helmand province.

Eleven of the 38 casualties, according to the provincial information department, were critically hurt.

The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning on a key highway that sees traffic between the western city of Herat through southern provinces to the capital Kabul, provincial officials said.

The passenger bus was travelling from Herat to Kabul when it first collided with a motorbike carrying two people, killing both riders, Helmand traffic management officials said, according to the information department.

The bus driver lost control and crashed with a tanker truck travelling in the opposite direction, sparking a fire.

The accident killed three people on the tanker and 16 bus passengers.

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When the bus hit the tanker, it pierced the tank, which burst into flames, said one of the survivors, Ghulam Sarwar, speaking to AFP at a hospital in provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

The flames got bigger and bigger and all the passengers in the front were burned. But at the back a window was broken and people were able to escape by jumping out, he added.

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If the window hadnt been broken, every passenger would have been killed.

- A horrible moment -

Images shared by the information department showed charred, twisted metal scattered across the highway and the crushed cabin of the tanker.

Clean-up crews arrived on site quickly to remove the debris, according to officials.

Sarwar said the bus was full of people recently deported from Iran, with many Afghans sent back across the border through the Islam Qala crossing near Herat.

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Among them were children and women, said Sarwar, who hurt his foot leaping from the bus.

They were screaming when they were burning. It was a horrible moment, my heart is broken.

Another survivor, Mohammad Reza, said many of the passengers had been asleep when the accident happened around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Saturday).

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There were screams and cries when the bus caught fire, he said, adding that some passengers in the last seven or eight rows were able to jump out the window, some injuring themselves.

Everyone was trying to escape and save themselves, he added.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid expressed regret over the accident and wished the injured a quick recovery, in a post on X.

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We seriously ask drivers to be careful while driving and to follow traffic rules, he said.

Another serious accident involving an fuel tanker took place in December 2022, when the vehicle overturned and caught fire in Afghanistans high-altitude Salang pass, killing 31 people and leaving dozens more with burn injuries.

With inputs from AFP
The Gaza Strip is under terrible humanitarian conditions as a result of more than five months of fighting and an Israeli siege; the UN has warned the 2.4 million people living in this coastal area several times that hunger is imminent

As Israel was getting ready to send negotiators to fresh cease-fire negotiations in Qatar, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza announced on Sunday that at least 61 Palestinians had died in an Israeli bombing throughout the course of the night.

According to the prime ministers office, the purpose of the meeting was to decide on the mandate of the delegation in charge of the negotiations before its departure for Doha, between the smaller war cabinet and the larger security cabinet.

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The statement did not provide the exact time of the delegations departure for the most recent round of negotiations, which follows the submission of a fresh proposal by Hamas calling for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

The Gaza Strip is under terrible humanitarian conditions as a result of more than five months of fighting and an Israeli siege; the UN has warned the 2.4 million people living in this coastal area several times that hunger is imminent.

A second ship was scheduled to sail from Cyprus via a new maritime route to deliver food and emergency supplies, but the flow of aid vehicles into Gaza has halted, according to Cypriot officials.

The Spanish assistance vessel Open Arms, which had pioneered the sea approach, carried a barge containing supplies, which the US organisation World Central Kitchen reported its staff had completed unloading on Saturday.

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The United Nations has reported particular difficulty in accessing north Gaza, where residents say they have resorted to eating animal fodder, and where some have stormed the few aid trucks that have made it through.

Shelling and clashes were reported in south Gazas main city of Khan Yunis and elsewhere.

The territorys health ministry said 12 members of the same family, whose house in Deir al-Balah was hit, were among those killed overnight.

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Most Gazans displaced by the fighting have sought refuge in Rafah on the Egyptian border, where Israel has threatened to launch a ground offensive, without giving a timeline.

The head of the UNs World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, appealed to Israel in the name of humanity not to launch an assault on Rafah.

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Humanitarian catastrophe

An evacuation planned by the Israeli army ahead of launching its assault was not a practical solution, Tedros argued, noting that Palestinians there do not have anywhere safe to move to.

This humanitarian catastrophe must not be allowed to worsen, he said on social media platform X.

The war was triggered by Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in about 1,160 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

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Israels retaliatory campaign against Hamas has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry.

Palestinian militants also seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages in the attack. Dozens were released during a week-long truce in November, and Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza including 32 presumed dead.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced domestic pressure to secure the release of the captives, with protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday carrying banners urging a hostage deal now.

The civilians need to demand from their leaders to do the right thing, said demonstrator Omer Keidar, 27.

The Hamas proposal calls for an Israeli withdrawal from all cities and populated areas in Gaza during a six-week truce and more humanitarian aid, according to an official from the Palestinian group.

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With the situation on the ground increasingly dire, aid donors have turned to deliveries by air or sea.

Multiple governments have begun daily airdrops of food over Gaza, while the new maritime corridor is to be complemented by a US-military-built temporary pier.

Malnutrition and disease

But air and sea missions are no alternative to land deliveries, UN agencies say. Humanitarian groups have cited Israeli restrictions as among the obstacles they face.

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The United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance, has also grown increasingly critical of Netanyahu over his handling of the war.

Washington has said it cannot support Israels long-threatened operation against Hamas in Rafah without a credible, achievable, executable plan to protect Palestinian civilians.

The crisis has only grown worse in Rafah, said medical staff at a clinic run by Palestinian volunteers that offers treatment for displaced Gazans.

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Were facing shortages of medications, especially paediatric medicines, said Dr Samar Gregea, herself displaced from Gaza City in the north.

There are a lot of patients in the camp, with all children suffering from malnutrition, she told AFP, also reporting the widespread presence of hepatitis A.

Children require foods high in sugars, like dates, which are currently unavailable.
Asked if he was prepared to exert pressure on Netanyahu to stop such an assault, Scholz said it was very clear we must do everything so the situation does not get worse than it already is

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated Sunday after meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah that a regional peace would be very difficult due to the large number of civilian casualties expected from Israeli attack on the Gaza city of Rafah.

He stated that this is among the primary points he will make in his brief meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later on Sunday in the region.

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The hastily scheduled negotiations follow Israels approval of an attack plan Friday against the city on the southern border of the destroyed Palestinian enclave, where over half of its 2.3 million inhabitants are seeking refuge following five months of fighting.

Right now, it is about ensuring we come to a long-lasting ceasefire, Scholz said after talks with Abdullah at his private residence in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.

That would enable us to prevent such a ground offensive from taking place.

Asked if he was prepared to exert pressure on Netanyahu to stop such an assault, Scholz said it was very clear we must do everything so the situation does not get worse than it already is.

Israel has every right to protect itself .. At the same time, it cannot be that those in Gaza who fled to Rafah are directly threatened by whatever military actions and operations are undertaken there.

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Israel says Rafah is one of the last strongholds of Hamas, which it has pledged to eliminate, and that residents will be evacuated.

Scholz did not directly answer a question about whether Germany would react to a large-scale Rafah offensive, for example by restricting German weapons exports to Israel.

Germany has been one of Israels staunchest allies alongside the United States, consistently supporting its right to defend itself, underscoring its duty to stand by the countrys side in atonement for its perpetration of the Nazi Holocaust in which 6 million Jews died.

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But the government has faced accusations - including from prominent Jewish residents in Germany - of allowing guilt to blinker its response to Israels retaliation.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim accused Europe during a visit to Berlin last week of being hypocritical and selective in its concern for different peoples, overlooking decades of widespread Palestinian suffering.

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Still, German government officials have stressed in recent months the need for Israel to adhere to international law in its response to the Hamas attacks and called upon Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. They have also denounced the violence of Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

Scholz said the talks with King Abdullah had made clear once again how important it was for all negotiations to touch on the long-term prospects for a possible peaceful co-existence between Israel and a Palestinian state.

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With inputs from Reuters
During the nine-month period of this fiscal, the share of China and Vietnam declined. The US smartphone imports from the top five suppliers also declined during April-December to USD 45.1 billion from USD 49.1 billion in FY'23

Based on data from the Commerce Ministry, Indias smartphone exports to the US increased to USD 3.53 billion from April to December of this fiscal year, from USD 998 million in the same period the previous year.

According to the data, the market share of smartphones increased from 2% during the same period last year to 7.76% during April-December of this fiscal year due to an increase in outbound shipments.

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India is now the third-largest exporter of smartphones to the US due to growth in exports.

According to an official, exports have increased as a result of a rise in smartphone production overall.

During the nine-month period of this fiscal, the share of China and Vietnam declined.

The US smartphone imports from the top five suppliers also declined during April-December to USD 45.1 billion from USD 49.1 billion in FY'23.

China exported USD 35.1 billion worth of smartphones to the US market in April-December, down from USD 38.26 billion last year.

Vietnams shipments of phones declined to USD 5.47 billion in April-December 2023 from USD 9.36 billion in the same period of the previous year. Other two major smartphone exporters to the US are South Korea and Hong Kong.

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South Koreas exports to America during the period under review increased to USD 858 million from USD 432 million, while Hong Kongs sales are down to USD 112 million from USD 132 million in April-December 2022-23.

Smartphones started registering their presence in the Indian export basket in 2022-23 when shipments touched USD 10.95 billion. With the continued momentum, exports have touched USD 10.5 billion in April-December 2023-24.

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After the announcement of the Product Linked Incentives (PLI) scheme and the entry of US-based iPhone maker Apple into domestic manufacturing, India is emerging as a major production hub for smartphones.

With inputs from PTI
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), one in every three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is critically malnourished, placing more pressure on Israel to address the coming famine

The primary UN relief organisation working in Gaza said on Saturday that severe malnutrition was worsening in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new cease-fire negotiations on a hostage deal with Hamas.

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), one in every three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is critically malnourished, placing more pressure on Israel to address the coming famine.

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Israel said on Friday that it will send a delegation to Qatar for more discussions with mediators after Hamas offered a fresh plan for a cease-fire that included the return of hostages and detainees.

The delegation will be led by the head of Israels Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene his security cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahus office has said the latest Hamas offer was still based on unrealistic demands.

Prior to the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan one week ago, efforts to establish a temporary truce were unsuccessful. On Friday, Israel announced its intention to launch a fresh operation against a Hamas bastion in Rafah, the last reasonably safe city in Gaza following five months of fighting.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is on a tour to the region, expressed alarm about an assault on Rafah, saying there was a risk of many terrible civilian casualties.

Netanyahus administration announced on Friday that he had authorised an attack plan on Rafah, which houses more than half of Gazas 2.3 million citizens, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. There was no indication of an impending ground preparation, and no time period was provided.

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The Hamas offer, reviewed by Reuters, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let more aid into Gaza. Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce.

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Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera the groups proposal is so realistic that no one can object to it and claimed mediators had reacted positively.

He said it consists of two stages, with a complete cessation of aggression at the start of the second one - something Israel has rejected, vowing to resume its goal of destroying Hamas once any truce expires.

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Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters again gathered in Tel Aviv, urging a deal for their release.

At the same time, anti-government protesters, estimated by Israeli media at a few thousand, called for new elections and blocked streets in Tel Aviv.

Humanitarian crisis

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

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Israels ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas members.

The assault has forcing many inhabitants from their homes, leaving much of the territory in rubble and triggering a hunger crisis.

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Childrens malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza, UNRWA said in a social media post. Hospitals in Gaza have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration.

Later, Palestinian media outlets said aid trucks had reached the northern Gaza areas of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya for the first time in four months. The 13 trucks carrying flour arrived at an UNWRA facility, according to the reports.

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Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the UN saying it faced overwhelming obstacles including crossing closures, onerous vetting and unrest inside Gaza.

Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on a lack of capacity or inefficiency among UN agencies.

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A first sea shipment of aid into Gaza by the World Central Kitchen, using a new route via Cyprus, arrived on Friday.

A second cargo of food aid was ready to depart, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, while the US and Jordan carried out an air drop of humanitarian aid.

Queen Rania of Jordan told CNN the airdrops were literally just drops in the ocean of unmet needs and accused Israel of cutting off everything that is required to sustain a human life: food, fuel, medicine, water.
The suspect was apprehended close to a residence where police thought he was barricaded, according to Trenton, New Jersey, police director Steve Wilson. Wilson added that it seemed he fled the house before the police barricade was put up

Three family members were shot dead in their homes in the Philadelphia area on Saturday. The suspect, who spent hours eluding police as they mobilised across two states, shut down a parade and an amusement park, and ordered some residents to remain in their homes, was apprehended in New Jersey.

The suspect was apprehended close to a residence where police thought he was barricaded, according to Trenton, New Jersey, police director Steve Wilson. Wilson added that it seemed he fled the house before the police barricade was put up.

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Wilson stated that he didnt think the guy was carrying a weapon at the moment.

The suspect was identified earlier as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. Authorities said they believe he killed his stepmother, his teenage sister and the mother of his children in shootings at two homes in eastern Pennsylvanias Falls Township in the morning, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. His childrens grandmother was injured when she was bludgeoned with a rifle.

Officials said they couldnt yet speak to a motive for the attacks. While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference.

Police said Gordon was believed to be homeless. It was unclear whether he had an attorney or anyone else who could comment on his behalf.

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The mayhem forced the cancellation of a St. Patricks Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park. Authorities in Pennsylvanias Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours.

After fleeing in a stolen car, then taking another in a carjacking in a store parking lot, Gordon went to the home in nearby Trenton, authorities said. By midafternoon, officers surrounded the house on a taped-off block, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker and trying to persuade him to come out.

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Andre, get away from the windows. If you would like to surrender, dial 911 now, one message went.

Neighbors gathered by the barricade to watch what was happening. The homes residents had been taken to safety with no injuries, the Trenton Police Department said.

Schorn said police believe Gordon first broke into a home in the Falls Township community of Levittown and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Three other occupants, including a 14-year-old, hid as the suspect went through the house, searching for them, the district attorney said.

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She said police believe Gordon then drove to another home in Levittown and fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were also there. Daniels mother, who was bludgeoned, was expected to recover.

Shaun Murphy, who lives in Levittown, said he was headed to the local St. Patricks Day parade when he saw that the road had been blocked.

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All the neighbors were outside wondering what was going on, and then we got the notice about shelter in place, Murphy said, recalling that he and his neighbors had just been talking the night before about how great of a town and how great of a neighborhood it is.

Schorn said officers believe that after the shootings, Gordon carjacked a vehicle in a parking lot in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, from a 44-year-old man who wasnt harmed. From there, officials said, he drove to the home in Trenton.

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Police in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, said the suspect has ties to addresses in Bucks County and Trenton and stays in Trenton primarily.
Any public dissent in Russia has been harshly punished since the start of Moscows offensive in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and there have been repeated warnings from the authorities against election protests

On Sunday, the last day of a presidential election that would undoubtedly solidify Vladimir Putins strict authority, opponents of the Kremlin called for large-scale demonstrations at Russian voting places.

Numerous deadly Ukrainian bombardments and numerous intrusions into Russian territory by pro-Ukrainian saboteur organisations have already clouded the three-day voting.

In the early days of voting, there have also been protests, as seen by the several Russians who have been arrested on charges of setting fire attacks or putting dye into vote boxes.

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Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who inspired large-scale anti-Putin protests, asked Russians to demonstrate on Sunday before his death in an Arctic jail last month.

His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has reiterated his call in the run-up to the election and said protesters should show up in large numbers at the same time to overwhelm polling stations.

She called for protestors to spoil ballots by writing Navalny on them, or vote for candidates other than Putin.

Any public dissent in Russia has been harshly punished since the start of Moscows offensive in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and there have been repeated warnings from the authorities against election protests.

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A Moscow resident in his twenties told AFP he would take part in the protest at 12:00 pm (0900 GMT) in the capital, just to see young supportive faces around feel some support around me, and see the light in this dark tunnel.

The man, who declined to give his name for security reasons, said he hoped the demonstration would show the authorities that there are people in this country against the conflict against the regime.

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Difficult period

The 71-year-old Putin, a former KGB agent, has been in power since the last day of 1999 and is set to extend his grip over the country until at least 2030.

If he completes another Kremlin term, he would have stayed in power longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.

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He is running without any real opponents, having barred two candidates who opposed the conflict in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has cast the election as an opportunity for Russians to show they are behind the assault on Ukraine, where voting is also being staged in Russian-held areas.

In a pre-election address on Thursday, Putin said Russia was going through a difficult period.

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We need to continue to be united and self-confident, he said, describing the election as a way for Russians to demonstrate their patriotic feelings.

The voting will wrap up in Kaliningrad, Russias westernmost time zone, at 1800 GMT and an exit poll is expected to be announced shortly after that.

A concert on Red Square is being staged on Monday to mark 10 years since Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimea peninsula  an event that is also expected to serve as a victory celebration for Putin.

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No validity

Ukraine has repeatedly denounced the elections as illegitimate and a farce, and its foreign ministry has urged Western allies not to recognise the result.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as more than 50 member states, have slammed Moscow for holding the vote in parts of Ukraine, with Guterres saying that the attempted illegal annexation of those regions has no validity under international law.

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Ahead of the election, Russian state media have played up recent gains on the front and portrayed the conflict as a fight for survival against attacks from the West.

Moscow has sought to press its advantage on the front line as divisions over Western military support for Ukraine have led to ammunition shortages, although Kyiv says it has managed to stop the Russian advance for now.

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In Ukraine, a Russian missile strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa on Friday killed 21 people including rescue workers responding to an initial hit  an attack President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as vile.

On the Russian side, the army has reported repeated attempts by Ukrainian sabotage groups to cross into Russia and the local governor in Belgorod region on Saturday decreed that shopping malls and schools would be shut for two days in the main city Belgorod and the surrounding district following recent strikes.
The 71-year-old Russian leader is up against three token opponents from Kremlin-aligned groups that have not voiced opposition of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago or of his 24-year rule. In the lead-up to the election, Putin has taken pride in Russian military victories; yet, an early Sunday large drone assault over Russia served as a reminder of Moscows difficulties

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely prolong his almost 25 years in office for a further six years. This comes after an election that left people with little choice but to support a dictator who has brutally suppressed opposition.

There has been strict supervision over the three days of voting, which started on Friday, and criticism of Putin or his conflict in Ukraine is not permitted in public. A month ago, Putins most formidable political opponent, Alexei Navalny, passed away in an Arctic prison; other opponents are either imprisoned or living abroad.

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The 71-year-old Russian leader is up against three token opponents from Kremlin-aligned groups that have not voiced opposition of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago or of his 24-year rule. In the lead-up to the election, Putin has taken pride in Russian military victories; yet, an early Sunday large drone assault over Russia served as a reminder of Moscows difficulties.

35 Ukrainian drones were shot down last night, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, with four of them falling close to the Russian capital. According to Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, there were no injuries or damages.

Despite harsh Western sanctions, Russias economy has grown during the war. As a major growth engine, the Russian defence sector has been producing missiles, tanks, and ammunition nonstop.

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Those who are against Putin or the war have been exhorted by the dispersed opposition in Russia to voice their disapproval by voting on Sunday at noon. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast countrys 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. Despite tight controls, at least a half-dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported Friday and Saturday.

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A 50-year-old university professor was imprisoned Saturday for 15 days after she tried to throw green liquid into a ballot box in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg, local news site Ura.ru reported. In Podolsk, a town close to Moscow, a woman was fined 30,000 rubles ($342) and charged with discrediting the Russian army after spoiling her ballot with an unspecified message, according to OVD-Info, a police monitoring group.

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Ahead of the election, Putin cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as a life-or-death battle against the West seeking to break up Russia.

Putin has boasted about recent gains in Ukraine, where Russian troops have made slow advances relying on their edge in firepower. Ukraine has fought back by intensifying cross-border shelling and raids, and by launching drone strikes deep inside Russia.

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Air raid sirens sounded multiple times Saturday in the Russian border city of Belgorod, where two people were killed by Ukrainian shelling, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Russias Defense Ministry said it had thwarted attempts to enter the country by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups, following claims by Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin last week that they had made an armed incursion into the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

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Western leaders have derided the election as a travesty of democracy.

Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates, or state-backed advisory bodies, can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs.
Sonko and his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye were hailed by hundreds of fans when they arrived in the beach town of Cap Skiring in the Casamance area

Ousmane Sonko, Senegals charismatic opposition leader, and his coalitions presidential candidate went to the countrys south on Saturday, continuing their election campaign less than two weeks before the vote.

Meanwhile, the presidential camps candidate, former prime minister Amadou Ba, condemned Sonkos slanderous attack on him the night before.

Sonko and his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye were hailed by hundreds of fans when they arrived in the beach town of Cap Skiring in the Casamance area.

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After being forbidden from running himself, he backed Faye as the candidate for his alliance in the March 24 election.

As the audience yelled, Diomaye, president! the two political partners drove away from the airport in a black 4x4 with tinted windows.

Faye, wearing a traditional white boubou, or flowing wide-sleeved robe, was the first to appear, followed by Sonko in a pale green shirt and cap.

Both raised their hands to salute the crowd of mainly young people.

This time next Sunday well be celebrating Bassirou Diomaye Fayes victory as Senegals fifth president, Sonko said.

Voting Bassirou Diomaye Faye means voting twice for Ousmane Sonko.

Sonko will bring change

We are going to win in the first round, Im sure of it, one supporter, 26-year-old Malang Sane told AFP, echoing the prediction made by Sonko.

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Ibou Diatta, a 29-year-old teacher, said: We have come to welcome our leader (Sonko) who has just got out of prison and is going to bring change.

Senegal is like a new car that hasnt been used  and Ousmane Sonko is going to get it running, he told AFP.

Faye sat in front and Sonko behind him as their convoy headed to the Casamance regional capital of Ziguinchor, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) away.

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Sonko once served as mayor there and the region is his political stronghold.

The two men were only released late on Thursday evening, to the acclaim of hundreds of their supporters in Dakar.

Sonko was jailed at the end of last July on a string of charges, including provoking insurrection, conspiracy with terrorist groups and endangering state security.

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Faye was imprisoned in April 2023, charged with contempt of court, defamation and acts likely to compromise public peace after posting a message critical of the justice system.

Sonko had been vocal in denouncing what he says is government corruption and maintains there was a conspiracy to keep him out of the 2024 election.

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But he says he is fully behind the less charismatic and less popular Diomaye Faye.

Ba denounces opposition

Former prime minister Amadou Ba, who stepped down from his post to campaign for the presidency under the banner of President Macky Salls party, denounced comments by Sonko at a Dakar news conference on Friday.

If he is elected, he will be the president of foreign countries, Sonko had said of Ba, accusing him of having covered up corruption.

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A statement from Sonkos team said Ba had devoted an entire press conference to tasteless defamation and slander.

Ba is currently campaigning in the north of the country.

Sall has already served two terms and is not running again. His mandate as president runs out on April 2.

It was he who proposed the amnesty law that allowed for the release of Sonko and Faye, in a bid to ease political tensions.

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But it was his last-minute decision in February to defer the presidential vote due later that month and try and push it back to December that sparked the latest crisis.

His decision sparked clashes that left four dead.

The Constitutional Council stepped in, forcing him to reset the date to March 24.

For some analysts, opposition figures such as Sonko and Faye have emerged stronger from their long political struggle with Salls administration.
Indian Navys INS Kolkata compelled 35 Somali pirates, who had hijacked a vessel in the Arabian Sea, to surrender, ensuring the safe evacuation of 17 crew members

Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriels gratitude for the Indian Navys rescue operation of the hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen in the Arabian Sea.

The operation rescued 17 crew members, including seven Bulgarians.

Expressing thanks, Gabriel said, I express my gratitude to the Indian navy for the successful operation to rescue the hijacked vessel Ruen &its crew members, including 7 BG nationals. Thank you for support & great effort. We continue to work together to protect lives of the crew.

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Jaishankar responded, Thats what friends are for.

Indian Navys INS Kolkata compelled 35 Somali pirates, who had hijacked a vessel in the Arabian Sea, to surrender, ensuring the safe evacuation of 17 crew members.

Earlier, the Indian Navy intercepted the hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen, urging Somali pirates to surrender. The Indian Navys special forces, the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS), boarded the vessel.

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According to an Indian Navy statement, INS Kolkata had carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 1,400 nm (2,600km) from the Indian Coast and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft and MARCOS PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) shared photos and a video displaying a joint operation with the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea following the successful rescue.

The Somalian pirates, who hijacked the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel on December 14, fired on the Indian Navy in international waters on Friday. The navy urged the pirates to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding.
The incident that occurred in the A-block hostel on Saturday night resulted in the hospitalization of two students, one from Tajikistan and the other from Sri Lanka, authorities said

Following reports that a group of people attacked students from various foreign countries in the Gujarat University hostel in Ahmedabad for performing namaz there, police said Sunday that they had arrested two men and were still looking for more suspects.

The incident that occurred in the A-block hostel on Saturday night resulted in the hospitalization of two students, one from Tajikistan and the other from Sri Lanka, they said.

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An FIR was registered against 20-25 unidentified accused persons under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, damage to property, and criminal trespass, among others, and two persons identified as Hitesh Mevada and Bharat Patel have been arrested so far, DCP (Zone 7) Tarun Duggal said.

Nine teams have been formed to conduct a probe into the incident, Police Commissioner GS Malik said.

Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi held a meeting with police officers and directed them to take strict and judicial action in the matter, Malik said.

The incident was reported at around 10.50 pm on Saturday when nearly two dozen people barged into the (government-run) Gujarat Universitys hostel and raised an objection to students from foreign countries offering namaz in the facility where they stayed, the police officer said.

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Some 20-25 people entered the hostel premises and objected to the international students offering namaz there, asking them to do so in a mosque. They argued over the issue, assaulting them and hurling stones. They also vandalised their rooms, Malik said.

Two students, one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan, have been hospitalised, he said.

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Police will take strict action against all those involved in the incident. The overall monitoring of the case will be done by the Joint Commissioner of Police of the Crime Branch. The law and order situation is under control and nobody needs to worry, he told mediapersons.

He said that police have in the past taken strict action against elements, and will continue to do so in the future as well.

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Several purported videos of the alleged incident have also surfaced showing people pelting stones, and in one incident a man is seen slapping a university staffer, Malik said.

He said that the police are verifying the authenticity of these videos.

There are around 300 international students enrolled at Gujarat University, including from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and countries in Africa, Malik said.

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Nearly 75 of the international students stay in the A-block hostel of the university where the incident occurred, the officer said.

The police responded within minutes after a call was made to the control room at 10.51 pm. A police van reached the spot and action was taken, he said.

While an FIR was registered against 20-25 people, two have been arrested so far. The rest will be arrested soon, Malik said, adding that the situation was under control.

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Nine teams have been formed, including four from the crime branch and five from local police under DCP, to conduct a probe into the case, he said.

Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Neerja Gupta said that two groups clashed on the premises of the A-block hostel where 75 international students stayed.

The matter escalated and some international students were hurt. An FIR has been registered. The government and police have taken the matter seriously and an investigation is underway, she told media persons.

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With inputs from PTI
UNICEF said one of its 17 containers had been looted at the Port-au-Prince port, where it said 260 humanitarian-owned containers were controlled by armed groups

A satellite image shows shipping containers used to block access to heavy cranes, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 14, 2024, in this handout image. Maxar Technologies/ Reuters File

As gangs take over the city, the UN childrens agency said on Saturday that one of its relief containers at Haitis main port, which was filled with essential items for maternal, neonatal and child survival, had been plundered.

A protracted political and humanitarian crisis that has caused record hunger and potentially fatal malnutrition in some areas of the countrys capital, Port-au-Prince, is being handled poorly in Haiti, according to UNICEF.

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This Monday, Ariel Henry, the unelected prime minister, said that he would resign as soon as a transitional council was established. A large portion of the city has been overtaken by heavily armed gangs, and rights organisations have documented several murders, kidnappings, and acts of sexual assault.

UNICEF said one of its 17 containers had been looted at the Port-au-Prince port, where it said 260 humanitarian-owned containers were controlled by armed groups.

Looting of supplies that are essential for life saving support for children must end immediately, said Bruno Maes, UNICEFs Haiti representative, in a statement.

This incident occurs at a critical moment when children need them the most.

The supplies in the looted container included resuscitators and related equipment, UNICEF said. The agency warned that three out of four women in the Port-au-Prince area do not have access to basic healthcare and nutrition.

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Also in Port-au-Prince, some hospitals have been forced to close over safety concerns, and only two surgical operating facilities are operational, according to UNICEF.

Shortages of electricity, fuel and medical supplies have affected hospitals nationwide, with six out of ten facilities not able to function, UNICEF added.
Haiti has been convulsed for the last two weeks by a gang uprising, with the well-armed groups aiming to topple Prime Minister Ariel Henry, an unpopular and unelected leader

Following weeks of gang violence that have paralysed the Caribbean nation, the US embassy said on Saturday that it is planning a charter flight to remove its nationals from Haiti.

The major airport in the countrys capital, Port-au-Prince, is still closed due to instability, thus the emergency aircraft will take off from Cap-Haitien, which is Haitis second-largest city.

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We are arranging a charter flight for U.S. citizens from Cap-Haitien to the United States, assuming the security situation in Cap-Haitien remains stable, the US embassy in Haiti said in a security alert posted on its website.

The embassy said the airport in Cap-Haitien is open periodically for departing flights.

No date for the evacuation has been announced and it is unclear how many Americans will be able to take the flight.

The embassy warned that the 120-mile (200-kilometer) overland journey from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haitien is dangerous, telling its citizens to consider the flight only if you believe you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely.

The United States said last Sunday it had airlifted non-essential American staff from its embassy in Port-au-Prince and brought in additional personnel to boost security at the compound.

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Several other countries and the European Union have evacuated diplomatic personnel due to the crisis.

The United Nations also said it was evacuating non-essential staff.

The UN mission in Haiti announced Wednesday it would launch an airbridge from neighboring Dominican Republic to facilitate the movement of aid into the country.

Haiti has been convulsed for the last two weeks by a gang uprising, with the well-armed groups aiming to topple Prime Minister Ariel Henry, an unpopular and unelected leader.

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Henry agreed to step aside after an emergency meeting Monday that brought together parties including the US, UN and Caribbean representatives, yielding a blueprint for Haitians to form a governing Transitional Presidential Council until elections can be held.

Earlier on Saturday, authorities said police seized firearms and cleared roadblocks in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood controlled by notorious gang leader Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, in an operation that left several criminals dead.
According to the statement, CENTCOM forces successfully engaged and destroyed one drone, while the other is thought to have crashed into the Red Sea. No ship damage or injuries were reported in the vicinity

According to the military, on Saturday, the United States shot down a drone that the Huthi rebels in Yemen had launched towards the Red Sea and destroyed more of its weapons.

The Red Sea is a crucial trade route that the Iranian-backed rebels have attacked several times in the last four months. On Saturday morning, the Huthis fired two drones towards it, according to a tweet made by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, a platform that was once Twitter.

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According to the statement, CENTCOM forces successfully engaged and destroyed one drone, while the other is thought to have crashed into the Red Sea. No ship damage or injuries were reported in the vicinity.

The statement came after the Huthis had earlier claimed a drone attack on a US destroyer in the Red Sea, adding that the strike achieved its goals.

Later Saturday night, CENTCOM destroyed five unmanned surface vessels and one drone in Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense, the statement continued.

The flurry of Huthi attacks, including a deadly assault on a bulk carrier last week and the sinking of a ship carrying thousands of tonnes of fertilizer, have triggered reprisal strikes by US and British forces.

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Such exchanges have become a frequent occurrence in the area, sending shipping insurance costs soaring and prompting many firms to detour around the southern tip of Africa.

The Huthis say they are targeting Israel-linked shipping as part of an axis of resistance of Iran allies and proxies, in protest at Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Prior to travelling to Seoul, Blinken stopped briefly in Bahrain and discussed attempts to bring about a truce in Gaza with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa

As Washington attempts to strengthen relations with two significant regional allies, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in South Korea on Sunday, the first leg in a quick Asia visit that also included the Philippines.

Blinken touched here on Sunday afternoon, just in time for Mondays third Summit for Democracy, which US President Joe Biden organised and is being hosted by Seoul this week.

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Prior to travelling to Seoul, Blinken stopped briefly in Bahrain and discussed attempts to bring about a truce in Gaza with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

Attendees at the summit, which is scheduled for March 1820, will include representatives from civil society, NGOs, and the government.

In order to assist defend Seoul against the nuclear-armed North, the US has stationed some 27,000 soldiers in the South, making Seoul one of Washingtons most important regional allies.

To better fend off Pyongyangs threats, Yoon Suk Yeol, the conservative president of Seoul, has strengthened his connections with Washington and worked to put the past behind him with the former colonial power, Japan.

According to the ministry, Blinken will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho tae-yul to discuss ways to strengthen the alliance while Washington and Seoul look into enhancing their so-called extended deterrence against North Korea.

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The invitation list for the democracy summit has drawn criticism since it leaves out nations that identify as democratic, such Turkey and Thailand.

After Seoul, Blinken heads to Manila, a trip that will reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the Philippine ally, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

He will talk with local officials including President Ferdinand Marcos, with issues with China including over the South China Sea likely to top the agenda.

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The US is redoubling efforts to improve longstanding ties with regional allies such as Manila, in an effort to counterbalance China.

Beijing recently accused Washington of using the Philippines as a pawn in the dispute over the South China Sea, after a series of clashes around bitterly-contested islets in the waters.

China claims almost the entire waterway, brushing aside competing claims from a host of Southeast Asian nations and an international ruling that has declared its stance baseless.

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The South China Sea is strategically vital for several countries  including China  providing a key route for the import and export of essential fuel, food and other goods.

China has rapidly grown its naval forces in recent years, and snatched vast tracts of maritime territory, hoping to project its military and political power well beyond the countrys shores.
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Navajo spiritual leader Barboncito was one of the last Navajo leaders relocated to the reservation at Bosque Redondo and was the lead negotiator for the Navajos in the Treaty of 1868, which allowed them to return home.

Navajo spiritual leader Barboncito was one of the last Navajo leaders relocated to the reservation at Bosque Redondo and was the lead negotiator for the Navajos in the Treaty of 1868, which allowed them to return home.
Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with 2 sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have 3 dogs: Duke, Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel
A car drives through flooding on Water Street in Norwalk. The city has unveiled a plan to look at issues of sustainability across Norwalk. Erik Trautmann, Staff Photographer / Hearst Connecticut Media A family crosses North Water Street as rain falls in South Norwalk, Conn., on Sunday, July 16, 2023. The city has unveiled a plan to look at issues of sustainability across Norwalk. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

NORWALK  Moments after he was elected to his sixth term as mayor, Harry Rilling said he wanted to make Norwalk the greenest city in Connecticut.

I am determined to make Norwalk the greenest city in Connecticut, Rilling said in a statement. Addressing the threats of climate change cannot wait. Its our responsibility to take a proactive approach by implementing the steps in this Sustainability and Resilience Plan on behalf of our children, grandchildren and future generations, and thats exactly what were doing.

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Norwalks SRP evaluated where the city stands today in sustainability and resiliency and provides a comprehensive plan on how to improve and meet goals.

The Sustainability and Resilience Plan is a critical step for the city of Norwalk in achieving our goal of becoming the greenest city in Connecticut, said Brian Bidolli, executive director of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency. By building on past plans and studies, we were able to identify gaps in previous planning efforts and address them with best practices and a portfolio of actionable projects.

Noah Slovin, a senior resilience planner with SRL, the citys consultant, outlined the SRP during a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for Sustainability and Resilience on Wednesday night.

It includes our understanding of 10 top sustainability and resilience priorities in Norwalk, including some of the key hazards of concern  urban heat, flooding, coastal flooding and stormwater flooding  and some key goals and priorities, including improving access to open space and waterfront access, Slovin said.

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Building off work the city has already done to foster sustainability and resiliency in Norwalk, the SRP identified gaps in the citys response to climate impacts. One of those gaps is reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

Slovin outlined where the city currently stands on carbon emissions. Of stationary emissions, 54 percent are from residential property, 44 percent are from commercial and industrial property, and 4 percent are from manufacturing and construction.

In transportation emissions, 97 percent of emissions are generated by on-road activity, with only 2 percent coming from waterborne transit and 1 percent from the railway system.

These findings reinforce the citys efforts for more transit-oriented development to encourage Norwalkers to use their cars less frequently. The plan also recommends switching the city fleet to electric vehicles.

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In addition to the gap analysis, the SRP provides steps the city can take to meet the actionable goals that the plan sets, Slovin said.

This map, this overall framework provides us with a pretty good, very good assessment of as to where we are and its going to help inform essential how to optimize financing to really be able to achieve a lot of these objectives, said John Lopez, a Common Council member.

A key element in the plan is the addition of a sustainability and resiliency officer, who would oversee a permanent sustainability committee and a workgroup of city employees to tackle the goals in the plan.

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The interdepartmental working group is going to make sure or is going to work to help that conversation be continued across the board across every department because sustainability shouldnt just be a silo in and of itself, Bidolli said.
Deputy Secretary Kurt M. Campbell at the 11th U.S.-EU Energy Council Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Kurt M. Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State

Loy Henderson Auditorium

Washington, DC

March 15, 2024

DEPUTY SECRETARY CAMPBELL: So good afternoon, everyone. I want to open by recognizing and thanking everyone who has worked over the preceding weeks and months to organize the council ministerial. I especially want to acknowledge Energy Commissioner Simson as the senior participant in the session of this energy council. Commissioner Simson has led the charge in deepening the transatlantic energy alliance and helping us in particular to mobilize our countries and our companies in response to Russia's brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and in response to Putin's weaponization of Kremlin's energy resources. It's appropriate to just say thank you just quickly. (Applause.) We really would not be where we are today, celebrating our successful defeat of Russia's energy weapon and looking ahead confidently to an energy transition future, without her leadership, her determination, and her courage over the past several years.

I know Secretary Blinken would have very much wished to be with here - with us here today, but I will tell you it's a good excuse. He is in Europe, reaffirming our alliance with the continent, working on other issues.

I also want to thank my friend and my partner, Deputy Secretary Turk, sitting to my left; acting Deputy Secretary General Martinez Carbonell; and the Deputy Chief of Mission Karlshausen, and I've had a chance to work with her on many issues in the Indo-Pacific. So your leadership, your partnership, are crucial to our success in strengthening transatlantic energy cooperation and working on other issues as well.

Now, to start off this discussion, it's worth taking a step back and place our meeting in the proper context. We gather in the face of continued war on the continent as Russia continues to launch targeted attacks on Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure and exploit energy supply as a tool of coercion. We confront the existential threat of climate change, presenting an urgent need to decarbonize to avoid the worst outcomes. At the same time, our ability to deliver energy through critical transport routes is under increased threat and vulnerability.

The United States in particular is committed to partnering with the EU to meet each of these challenges, both collectively and individually, and to strengthen energy security in Europe and around the globe. We must continue to provide steadfast support to Ukraine, and I know you are all here at a delicate moment. I want to assure you of our strongest possible commitment to continuing to support Ukraine even as we face challenges to get the supplemental through. We are determined to keep the lights on in - on its fight for survival, recognizing the central role energy plays in the war and Ukraine's economic recovery.

Europe's remarkable strides redrawing its energy map have helped you diverse away - diversify from Russian energy. The U.S. will remain your partner, from our work together in the Western Balkans to accelerate the energy transition, to support new energy corridors, to the role U.S. producers have played and will continue to play, including the doubling of U.S. LNG exports to Europe last year. We must continue to tighten the screws on Russia's ability to resupply its war chest and destabilize the energy markets, by strengthening enforcement of the oil price gap, stopping price cap violators, and coordinating where we can on energy sanctions.

As we respond to Russia's threats to global energy security, we must avoid trading dependence on Russian energy for PRC-dominated clean energy supply chains. And, as importantly, we'll continue our close collaboration with the EU to create energy investments that support the transition to net-zero emissions on both sides of the Atlantic as we work towards achieving our shared energy and climate objectives.

Our discussions today, our close bilateral coordination every day, are key to making progress on some of the most pressing geopolitical issues around the globe, and I will just say a moment that everything the United States has ever done of consequence on the global stage we have done with Europe. Through this dialogue, as partners, we can align our policies, avoid zero-sum competition, and marshal our shared resources. Thank you, and welcome again to European friends for visiting. I look forward to discussing these challenges and opportunities in our time today. And again, welcome to the State Department.

Dave.

DEPUTY SECRETARY TURK: Thanks very much, Kurt, and it's just great to be here with you and Jeff and all of our State Department colleagues, just to work hand in hand. That's our goal, and it's just phenomenal to have Kurt in this new position, helping to lead our incredible talent over here at the State Department. I've had a chance to work a couple times over here, and it's just a terrific group of folks, group of colleagues, group of partners.

Let me also rightfully so, Commissioner Simson, if I could, try to embarrass you a little bit for all the phenomenal partnership we had with you and (inaudible) and the full team. The thing I've always appreciated about your leadership is it's steadfast, it's always consistent, and I think we need that in this particularly challenging time as we're trying to navigate. What I also admire about you personally - and (inaudible) I think really symbolizes this as well, exemplifies this - is we're after using energy, clean energy, for the betterment of people, people in our country, people in the European Union, and people around the world. And that humanity really comes through in everything you do, so thank you for being such a terrific partner.

And certainly, want to also welcome, as Kurt did, the acting Deputy Secretary General Martinez Carbonell. Thank you for your team, and our colleague, our DCM from Belgium. It's been terrific to work bilaterally with Belgium, but multilaterally as well.

We feel incredibly proud of this partnership that's been built up literally for decades and generations and only strengthened over the last few years. We are all promoting stability and transparency in global energy markets; advancing diverse and resilient energy systems - and I really want to underline "diverse," diversity of supplies, especially as we think about critical minerals going forward - and demonstrating to the world that clean energy is not only the most abundant and the most affordable, but also the most secure form of energy that we have; and ensuring our energy transitions are just so that no community, no people in our countries, in our societies, but around the world are left behind.

And this bond, as Kurt said - and I think we all not only have spoken about it, but I think we all feel it - has only strengthened since President Putin's invasion of Ukraine - brutal invasion of Ukraine - and everything that we've worked hand in hand going forward. And I personally feel incredibly proud - I know our Secretary does and I know our full team does - to work hand in hand going forward. And I think what this conflict has shown is it's not only brought us together on energy security, but it's accelerated our clean energy transition and accelerated our commitment to really accelerating this collaboration even more so between our two countries.

I'm going to digress a little bit from my prepared remarks just to share some analysis that came out quite recently about the progress that Europe has made on your own emissions reductions from energy, and we in the U.S. have made. Our own emissions last year from energy decreased 4.1 percent just in one year. That's a pretty good number. I'm proud to say I'm a little bit jealous that European emissions actually went down 9 percent just in a single year.

DEPUTY SECRETARY CAMPBELL: Wow, that's incredible.

DEPUTY SECRETARY TURK: From energy - that is incredible. That doesn't happen without an awful lot of leadership in Brussels, but throughout the continent, really stepping up.

The most impressive number of all I found in this most recent analysis was if you look at advanced economies - and obviously there's a lot in Europe, in the U.S., but some of our other partners around the world - our emissions are at the same level that they were 50 years ago. So just think about that, right? Fifty years ago, economy and GDP increased significantly, our emissions went up, but we've been able to decrease them to the point we're at the same level as we were 50 years ago.

If you look at advanced economies, coal use is down to the same level in advanced economies as it was in 1905. So again, when sometimes those of us who focus on climate change and clean energy, you get daunted by what's ahead of us, it's good to reflect that we can make progress when we step up, when we walk the talk, and when we partner in the way that we're partnering here going forward.

Also is a real priority, I know, for President Biden, all of us in this administration, and certainly in Europe as well, as I said, from praising Commissioner Simson - it's not good enough to save the planet. We have to do right by our own populations, especially those who have been left behind in previous transitions and other times of challenge. So, we're doubling down, tripling down on that, and very proud that we have a workshop this year on energy poverty policies, where we'll hear from a group of diverse stakeholders - incredibly important for us to keep focused on that.

Also, incredibly proud that when, as Kurt was saying, there's nothing that we do that we don't do hand in hand with our European partners that's meaningful on the world scene. That's certainly the case when it comes to energy and clean energy in particular. When our two governments, our two sets of governments can work hand in hand, we can lead the rest of the world, and case and example after example of that in the multilateral setting. We've got our work to do, whether it's clean hydrogen, whether it's offshore wind, whether it's energy efficiency in buildings.

One issue in particular I'd like to point out here is our collaboration and my hope, our hope, enhancing that collaboration on fusion energy, which is a really interesting technology. The perception is it's always been 30 years off. We're actually making real progress in our laboratories, in your laboratories - $6.2 billion of private investment in fusion. I've had a chance to visit some of these facilities. It's not going to happen tomorrow, but if we do the bilateral and multilateral collaboration, we can make that - we can make that happen.

So, I'd say our partnership is not just vital, it's indispensable. Certainly, that's the way we look at it from the United States side of things, and very eager to continue the discussion here today, and more importantly to go follow through with the actions.

DEPUTY SECRETARY CAMPBELL: Thank you, Dave.

Commissioner Simson.

COMMISSIONER SIMSON: Thank you and good afternoon, colleagues. And I want to start by thanking all our colleagues for hosting this year's energy dialogue here in Washington, D.C. So, this council and - and its regular meetings are the best platform to ensure a shared vision and continued cooperation in energy. And once again, throughout the last year, our cooperation has delivered in many ways: sharing expertise on market dynamics, intensifying technological collaboration, facilitating energy trade.

Now, U.S. LNG has been helping us to diversify EU gas supplies away from Russia. And last year, the United States was the largest LNG supplier to the EU, and at the same time, European Union became the biggest market for U.S. LNG. And we have delivered on and even exceeded what was agreed just two years ago in the President Biden and President von der Leyen statement. And thanks to this diversification stratagem, along energy efficiency measures and deployment of renewables, today EU energy markets are stable and returning to the pre-crisis gas price levels.

And beyond energy security, we have worked well on our shared climate change agenda. Thanks to a close alignment on climate goals and priorities, this cooperation is really making the difference. And our close cooperation on the first global stocktake adopted at COP28 last year, and within the COP process is a very clear example for that success.

And in this spirit, I am convinced that today we can advance our joint cooperation on several topics, from methane emission reduction to hydrogen and critical raw materials. And going forward, I see our interests also converging in a set of technologies relevant for our path to 2040 and beyond, such as SMRs, CCUS, also fusion energy. And there is a large space to deepen our cooperation.

But staying on today's challenges, let me stress how important it is that we jointly continue to support Ukraine in standing up to the Russian invasion. We have both been supplying to Ukraine material and equipment to repair and rebuild critical energy infrastructure, and to rebuild this damaged civilian infrastructure caused by Russian targeted attacks. And the situation on the ground remains critical. And I'm very concerned over the safety of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russian military, and our joint pressure and work also through International Energy - Atomic Energy Agency is critical. And Ukraine needs also hope, and it is very important that we jointly include in our cooperation programs to support Ukraine in designing a cleaner and competitive energy system after the war.

We also need to maintain focus on Western Balkans, Moldova, and Georgia, intensifying our joint efforts for energy transition in the region. And we have come a long way, but there is much more we can do together. And I am looking forward to our discussions today. Thank you.

DEPUTY SECRETARY CAMPBELL: Wonderful. Please, DSG. DSG Carbonell, please. Thank you.

DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL CARBONELL: Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Thank you, Mr. Turk. And I join myself to those who are very happy that you're hosting us here today, and I want to thank all of those who have worked really hard on preparations on this statement. I know they spent many hours on every comma, and I'm very happy to see that they brought it to a fruitful end.

We are facing a lot of challenges today, and I'm here to represent the High Representative Borrell, who met with Secretary of State Blinken earlier this week and where some of the issues that we'll be discussing this afternoon were also discussed among them in full synergy of thought and in the same cooperative spirit as the one we are witnessing this afternoon.

The crisis that we are all facing has also - has confirmed that the only way to strengthen Europe's energy security is to accelerate our energy transition on the way to climate neutrality by 2050. And in these difficult and sometimes gloomy moments of history that we're living, I'm very happy to hear that at least Mr. Turk has brought us some optimistic figures of what the world could look like and how we can still make it a better place.

But now the time has come to implement our ambitious commitments, and we'll only be successful if we ensure that the global energy transition is also just, orderly, and equitable for all. The green transition is urgently needed - some of you said not just for us but also for the rest of the world - and we must continue to work together to bring the rest of our global partners on board.

Turning to those most affected by Russia's war, last December the European Union leaders, as you know, decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and with the Republic of Moldova, as well as to grant a status of candidate country to Georgia and renew the momentum in the Western Balkans in the path to enlargement as well. Also in this domain, implementation will be key, and we see eye to eye with our U.S. partners on this.

Our partners in the east need to advance their reform programs to strengthen the integration of the European continent, also in the energy sector, and build better and greener energy systems.

In this context, and as some of you have mentioned the importance of U.S. support to Ukraine, I would like to mention that the EU has recently agreed for a 50 billion Ukraine facility package that will provide stable and sustainable financing to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernization, including key reforms necessary on its EU accession track.

We're determined to continue to bolster Europeans' energy security and that of our direct neighbors, as the commissioner has said - Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans. Our European home will be more stable and more resilient once we have weaned off the European continent of excessive dependence on Russian fossil fuels, as we're doing, implemented a successful green transition, and strengthened the integration of our energy market and interconnection of our infrastructures.

On Monday, European foreign ministers are gathering together. Secretary of State Blinken will be addressing them. And part of the documents that the EU foreign ministers will agree on Monday will be council conclusions, which is how we make policy in Europe, on climate diplomacy. And you will see that some of the elements that are in our joint statement this afternoon we'll be reflecting in these council conclusions, EU policy outlook for our climate diplomacy in the coming months.

Thank you very much.

DEPUTY SECRETARY CAMPBELL: Thank you. DCM Karlshausen.

MS. KARLSHAUSEN: Thank you very much. Dear Deputy Secretary of State, dear Deputy Secretary of Energy, dear Commissioner, and dear Deputy Secretary General, thank you for inviting the Belgian presidency of the council to this 11th edition of the EU-U.S. Energy Council. The urgency and importance of the items which will be discussed today cannot be understated.

A few weeks ago, we commemorated the dramatic two-year anniversary of the war of aggression against Ukraine. It is no secret that Russia's aggression sent shockwaves through the global energy markets, laid bare the risk of dependencies, stressed the importance of energy diversification away from Russia and the phasing out of fossil fuel imports well before 2030.

Yet these past two years have also demonstrated our resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of our transatlantic partnership - not only to bolster energy security, but also to promote stability and transparency in global energy markets, as well as to accelerate a sustainable energy transition - a just energy transition, which should deliver a level playing field for affordable energy to citizens and companies, ensure strong and reliable security of supply, and contribute to the objectives of climate neutrality by 2050.

Indeed, let us not shirk our responsibility concerning the climate crisis. As Winston Churchill put it, never waste a good crisis. Not addressing climate change now will only increase the risk of other crises, whether energy crisis or violent conflicts.

Let us therefore work together in a spirit of openness and solidarity to accelerate the deployment of renewable, including offshore, energy solutions to ensure the resilient, secure, sustainable, and affordable energy grids worldwide that such a surge of renewable require, and to create a rule-based global market for hydrogen.

We're very much looking forward to the discussions, and we thank you again for inviting us.



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March 16 USCENTCOM, Royal Jordanian Air Force Conduct Humanitarian Airdrops

U.S. Central Command

Press Release | March 16, 2024

USCENTCOM

March 16, 2024

Release Number 202403016-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on March 16, 2024, at 11:58 a.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict.

The combined joint operation included Jordanian provided food and a U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft. A U.S. C-130 dropped 16 375-pound bundles of rice, flour, milk, pasta, and canned food, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza.

The DoD humanitarian airdrops contribute to ongoing U.S. and partner-nation government efforts to alleviate human suffering. These airdrops are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries.







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Statements by the President of the Republic on the humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza

Press and Information Office, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Cyprus

16-03-2024

"The first ship has started to return and we are ready to send the second ship with humanitarian aid to Gaza," the President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, said today.

In his statements to journalists, at Vasilikos, and in response to a journalist's remark that Cyprus is in the global spotlight because of the "Amalthea" initiative, the President of the Republic replied, "I am glad. It is an initiative of Cyprus. It is not my initiative. It is an initiative of our country and I am glad that it is receiving its international recognition.

The first ship has started to return and we are ready to send the second ship. I am pleased about the international interest. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and I are receiving calls from many countries to further strengthen the aid.

As I mentioned last night, our aim is to provide as much humanitarian aid as possible. In this context, we are working with several countries, apart from those that supported the Declaration and apart from the fact that some of them will visit Cyprus to see for themselves this humanitarian aid mission. A decision has been made to set up a special fund from countries that want to contribute financially to the purchase of humanitarian aid and I am glad that there is this international recognition and support."

(GS/NG)

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Detailed measures stipulate place name translation from foreign language must not compromise China's territorial claims, sovereign rights

Global Times

By Zhang Han Published: Mar 16, 2024 02:43 PM

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday published implementation measures addressing the management of geographical names, which detailed the requirements for translation of place names in ethnic minority or foreign languages into Chinese characters.

Set to take effect from May 1, 2024, the implementation measures stipulated in Article 13 that "place name in foreign language that may harm China's territorial claims and sovereignty rights shall not be directly quoted or translated without authorization."

Translation of place names in foreign languages or minority languages should comply with standards formulated by related organs of the State Council. The standard translations are made public through notices, the national database for geographical names and official publications on geographical names, according to the implementation measures.

The measures released on Friday also clarified that names of a person, company or trademark should not be used as geographical names and specified the general rules and procedures of naming or renaming localities.

The State Council issued a revised regulation on place names in April 2022, which is applicable to naming, renaming, usage, cultural protection and other management on geographical names within Chinese territories.

Analysts noted the newly released implementation measures are made in accordance with the revision.

Zhi Zhenfeng, a research fellow with the Institute of Law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday that geographical names are not only directly related to administration and everyday life, but also carry legal and sovereign implications.

Standardization of name translation helps confirm the scope of a geographical name refers to and all administrative rights and public geographical services (mapping and navigating, weather forecast, etc) are based on that, Zhi explained.

As China still has disputes over some territories with certain neighboring countries, the use of geographical names of places in disputes directly relates to sovereign rights. Using the incorrect translation or non-standard translation could cause confusion and encroach China's territorial integrity, Zhi stressed.

Analysts mentioned the example of maritime disputes in the South China Sea with countries like the Philippines. When referring to islands and reefs concerned, the use of standard translation is a firm declaration of sovereignty and transliteration of foreign names means concession of legal rights.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs standardized the names of 11 places in Zangnan (the southern part of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region) in Chinese characters, Tibetan and pinyin in April 2023.

Experts told the Global Times that the move is meaningful in safeguarding national sovereignty, maintaining peace in border regions and managing border-related matters at a legal level. Using standard place names helps raise awareness of Chinese territory.

The April 2023 issuance was the third list of standardized geographical names in Zangnan published by the ministry. The first list of the standardized names of six places in Zangnan was released in 2017, while the second list of 15 places was issued in 2021.

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Israeli air raids kill at least 39 Palestinians across Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The latest round of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has killed at least 39 Palestinians across the besieged territory, Palestinian media reported on Saturday.

According to Shehab news agency, Israeli artillery attacks killed 36 Palestinians in Nuseirat in central Gaza, most of whom were children and women.

The Israeli attacks also killed a muezzin - a person who proclaims others to attend daily prayer - and two of his children north of Rafah located south of Gaza.

More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, when the Zionist regime launched a genocidal war on Gaza after a surprise operation by the Palestinian resistance groups against the occupying entity.

Efforts made by the United Nations to stop the Israeli aggression against the Gazans have remained futile, as the United States misuses its veto right and extends all-out support to the regime.

1483**4354

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Yemen fired 3 anti-ship ballistic missiles toward Red Sea: CENTCOM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the Yemeni Ansarullah resistance movement fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the Red Sea.

CENTCOM wrote on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday that between approximately 8:30 and 10:50 p.m. (Sana'a time) on March 15, the Ansarullah fighters fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the strategic waterway.

According to CENTCOM, there were no injuries or damage reported by the US-UK coalition or commercial ships.

However, the British maritime security company Ambrey and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced a security incident in the vicinity of Al-Hudaydah port on Friday night.

Ambrey declared that a ship was hit around 80 nautical miles northwest of Al-Hudaydah port, while UKMTO reported that the incident occurred 65 nautical miles west of Al-Hudaydah.

According to Reuters, it is not yet clear whether the reports of the two British institutes refer to one security incident or two separate events.

In recent months, the Yemeni Armed Forces have carried out numerous missile and drone attacks on ships linked to the Israeli regime, the US, and the UK in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Indian Ocean in a bid to push the occupying regime and its allies to stop the war and siege imposed on Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

4208**4354

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Palestinian resistance factions decry Abbas naming of new PM

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 16 March 2024 / 11:53

Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups warned on Friday that President Mahmoud Abbas' selection of a new Palestinian prime minister this week might exacerbate differences as the war in Gaza continues.

Tehran -ISNA- In a statement, the factions which include Islamic Jihad Movement, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Palestinian National Initiative, noted that "Making individual decisions, and engaging in formal steps that are devoid of substance, like forming a new government without national consensus, are reinforcement of a policy of exclusion and the deepening of division."

These steps in turn indicate a massive gap between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and "the people, their concerns and their aspirations."

The statement came the day after the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, named Mohammad Mustafa as the Prime Minister of the PA, the state-run Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Thursday.

In an 11-point plan, Abbas listed a set of reforms and goals that the Musatafa's government should seek to achieve during its term.

The new Prime Minister was assigned to lead the relief efforts and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and reform the institutions of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Mustafa replaces former Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh who, along with his government, resigned in late February.

Earlier on February 27, Abbas accepted the resignation of Shtayyeh's government and assigned the Prime Minister and his ministers to a caretaker government until a new one was formed.

Shtayyeh had submitted his resignation a day earlier, and Abbas issued a decree of acceptance, assigning the government to work temporarily until the formation of a new government,

An official source pointed out that the resignation decision was a preemptive step taken by Abbas in the face of pressures faced by the Palestinian Authority from regional countries, the international community, and the United States.

End Item



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An aerial view of homes in a residential neighborhood in Darien, Conn. Sunday, April 23, 2023. Darien is drafting accessory apartment (ADU) rules, taking into consideration property size and parking. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

DARIEN  After opting out of the state law that regulated so-called inlaw apartments, Darien officials have proposed their own set of rules that would allow them in town  good news for anyone hoping to move family back home and not-so-good for those hoping to keep the town's single-family neighborhoods as they are.

The Darien Planning and Zoning Commission is reviewing its first proposed regulations to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in residential neighborhoods, opening up discussion for feedback during a March 12 public hearing.

A 2021 state law made accessory apartments legal anywhere that single-family homes are also permitted, with certain environmental exceptions. Though Darien opted out of the law in 2022 and doesnt have to allow ADUs in town, officials are hoping to create locally specific rules to increase housing diversity in Darien, land use director Jeremy Ginsberg said.

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Many other local communities (opted out) as well, Ginsberg said. But that really was, if you will, the impetus for the town to think about accessory apartments, and what does the town want to do and how do we wish to address it?

Under the draft regulations, a homeowner can build one ADU in almost any single-family residential zone, spanning the majority of Darien. The only areas off limits would be those zoned for commercial use and the Noroton Bay district, which Ginsberg said was ruled out because of its smaller developed lots and location in the flood zone.

Darien would allow both detached and attached ADUs, meaning ADUs could be separate structures, converted garages, upper floors or interior basements.

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For homes that sit on a property larger than an acre, a homeowner would submit an ADU application directly to town staff for review and approval. Those under an acre would have to present their plans in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

To limit the size of the unit, an ADU would have to be less than 30 percent of the combined total finished floor area of the principal dwelling plus the ADU, meaning a home thats 1,400 sqare feet could build an ADU up to 600 square feet. Attached ADUs would be limited to a 700-square-foot maximum while detached ADUs could only be a maximum of 1,000 square feet.

The regulations would also cap building coverage  the area of a property covered by buildings  at a 20 percent maximum. That means a home where most of the property has been built out to include a pool or shed might not have enough space for an ADU.

At the hearing, some residents, including Christopher Lambo, requested reconsideration on the 30 percent rule for properties that might have the extra space.

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Maybe they have a large piece of property and they just have a small house and having another house thats 1,000 square feet in the back of the property wouldnt really look that strange, Lambo said.

Several commission members said homeowners whose homes do not meet a regulation including required setbacks or the 30 percent rule could take their proposal to the towns Zoning Board of Appeals and request a variance.

It's not an easy process, but there is a process for those types of decisions to be made, commission member Michael Nedder said. With the scenarios you're describing  with a smaller house and a larger ADU  those are going to be the outliers. And so those would really more naturally fit into the variance process.

Some residents also criticized the draft regulation for its proposed requirement that the owner live at either the main house or ADU.

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Michael Ervin, who also serves on the towns Environmental Protection Commission, said other states including California ruled against owner occupancy as it could be discriminatory to certain demographic groups and violate property owners rights.

It would be difficult for the town and staff to police and enforce this policy, Ervin said. Even more importantly, based on a windfall of updated regulation to not make owner occupancy a requirement, I think it makes our town susceptible to litigation.

To avoid any parking problems, a house would have to offer the two parking spaces currently required plus an additional parking space for an ADU. An ADU with multiple bedrooms would have to have an additional parking space per additional bedroom.

Ginsberg said he expected parking to be the main stumbling block that people have when trying to get an ADU approved.

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There is also a chance the rules could be changed in the future. The commission agreed to include a five-year sunset clause that would require future board members to readopt the regulations or they would go away.

Until we adopt something, there's no way to know exactly what the ramifications will be, what the effects will be, Ginsberg said. When the commission put in the sunset provision, I think one reason for that is to get people who wish to construct such units to move on them and implement them, but it also gives the commission a hard deadline for a reexamination of the provisions if they are adopted.

One thing Ginsberg emphasized was that not everyone who wants an ADU will be able to get one, whether it's due to parking, building coverage or potential negative affects for the homeowner.

It's not really an entitlement, it's not something that everyone just says, Oh, where's mine? Ginsberg said. It's something that you'd have to prove to either staff or the commission, that you can make the provisions of the regulations work.

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Overall, the majority of the residents who spoke during the hearing were generally supportive of allowing ADUs, whether to diversify housing, allow family members to move back in or create more affordable living.

Evonne Klein, a former Darien first selectman and former CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, said while she was initially disappointed Darien opted out of the state mandate, she was happy to see the town open to expanding its housing options.

(Its) no secret that Darien is a very high price to purchase and high price to rent municipality, Klein said. These proposed amendments, if approved, will provide much needed housing options at a variety of price points.

Others expressed concerns about allowing units; resident Charles Bowditch said he previously moved from one home in Darien to another because a neighboring lot was subdivided into separate homes.

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The last thing that we now expect is to be looking at another residential structure where I had always thought and understood there couldnt be one, Bowditch said. The prospect of unchecked ADU development poses a threat to the character and sanctity of our residential areas, potentially leading to a gradual erosion of the single-family housing landscape that defines our community.
Yemeni Forces expand Operations to Indian Ocean in support of Gaza

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 16 March 2024 / 11:53

The leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul Al-Malik Al-Houthi, made a groundbreaking announcement on Thursday, declaring that the Yemeni Armed Forces are expanding their operations to target vessels in the Indian Ocean.

Tehran -ISNA- This move comes as a response to the Israeli occupation forces' war on the Gaza Strip and attacks on ships affiliated with the US, UK, and Israel in the region.

With ships redirecting their routes towards the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Yemeni missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea, the Yemeni Navy aims to prevent Israeli-affiliated vessels from reaching South Africa. Sayyed al-Houthi emphasized the ongoing operations and called for the support of the Yemeni people in solidarity with Gaza.

The head of Ansar Allah negotiating delegation, Mohammad Abdul-Salam, warned international shipping companies associated with Israel to take the escalating operations seriously, as any ship linked to 'Israel' is vulnerable to Yemeni missiles.

Sayyed al-Houthi highlighted the commitment of the Yemeni Armed Forces to support Palestine, despite the lack of practical support from other Islamic countries. He condemned the US and Western countries for providing weapons to 'Israel' and participating in the genocide in Gaza.

With the Gaza Strip enduring unprecedented challenges, the people continue to stand strong and support the Resistance fighters. The Yemeni leader praised their resilience and criticized the attempts to sow division between the people of Gaza and the Resistance forces.

In the face of international deception and maneuvering, Sayyed al-Houthi reaffirmed Yemen's commitment to the cause of Palestine and vowed to continue their operations to support Gaza. The news of expanding operations in the Indian Ocean serves as a rallying cry for the Yemeni people and a warning to ships redirected towards the Cape Route.

End Item







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Hezbollah continues striking Israeli occupation sites near Lebanon border

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 16 March 2024 / 11:53

In support of the Palestinian people and resistance in Gaza and in light of the Israeli aggression on the various South Lebanon villages, the Islamic Resistance continued striking the Zionist occupation sites near Lebanon border.

Tehran -ISNA- Hezbollah military media issued consecutive statements to illustrate the attacks and their outcomes.

The first statement mentioned that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Al-Marj site at 1:15 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, with artillery weapons, inflicting a direct hit.

The second statement emphasized that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Al-Malkiya site at 2:05 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, with missile weapons, inflicting a direct hit.

The third statement asserted that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers near Al-Raheb site at 2:50 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, with artillery weapons, inflicting a direct hit.

Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers near Birket Risha site at 4:00 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, with a Burkan missile, hitting the target directly, according to the fourth statement.

Hezbollah fighters struck Al-Radar site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms at 4:20 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, with missiles, inflicting direct hits, the fifth statement affirmed.

The sixth statement maintained that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 4:42 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese Kfarshuba Hills with missiles, achieving direct hits.

Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 05:45 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, a Zionist force as it entered Zar'it barracks with appropriate weapons, causing a direct hit, the seventh statement mentioned.

The eighth statement indicated that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 06:35 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024, a gathering of Zionist enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Hadab Yarin with rocket weapons, causing a direct hit.

End Item

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Egypt's president reaffirms endeavors to reach ceasefire in Gaza

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:11, March 16, 2024

CAIRO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has been making sincere efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to protect and rescue innocent civilians, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Friday.

In televised remarks broadcast on the state-run Nile TV, Sisi said at the country's Police Academy that "we are striving to halt the bloodshed in Gaza to boost aid deliveries to the enclave and allow displaced people in its south to move back north."

"We wish within a few days at most to reach a ceasefire and not to have a negative development that could affect the situation," he said, adding Egypt has been endeavoring to facilitate the delivery of the maximum amount of aid possible to Gaza.

The Egyptian president also warned against the danger of an Israeli incursion into the southern Gazan city of Rafah, while underscoring "We aim to create a real opportunity for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with international recognition."

Adjacent to the besieged Palestinian enclave, Egypt has been a major aid supplier to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing during the ongoing Israeli attacks. The aid is donated by Egypt and other countries as well as local and international organizations.

Egypt, along with Qatar and the United States, tried to mediate between Israel and Hamas to secure a ceasefire before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began this week, but their efforts fell short.

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Regional bloc IGAD condemns terrorist attack in Somali capital

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:56, March 16, 2024

ADDIS ABABA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, on Friday condemned the latest terrorist attack in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

At least three soldiers were killed and 27 others wounded in a terrorist attack at a popular hotel in Mogadishu Thursday evening, the Somali police confirmed Friday. The attack occurred at the SYL Hotel, which is near the country's presidential palace.

The IGAD executive secretary "strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attack," the IGAD said in a statement.

Gebeyehu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people and government of Somalia, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those injured.

"This criminal act, perpetrated by militants of the terrorist group Al-Shabab during the holy month of Ramadan, is an affront to peace, stability, and the fundamental values of humanity," he said. "Such reprehensible acts of terrorism only strengthen our resolve to combat extremism in all its forms."

Gebeyehu further emphasized the regional bloc's confidence that such attacks will not deter Somalia and the IGAD from their determination to combat terrorism and achieve lasting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

The hotel, which has been attacked by the militants in the past, is frequented by government officials and high-profile businessmen.

The latest attack began at around 9:45 p.m., local time, Thursday, after gunmen forced their vehicle laden with explosives inside the SYL Hotel and opened fire on the patrons, including some lawmakers and government officials. Sources said five suicide bombers were inside the vehicle, but one blew himself up, prompting sporadic gunfire inside the hotel between the attackers and security forces.

The terror group Al-Shabab, which is trying to overthrow the government, claimed responsibility for the latest attack. The group has repeatedly staged similar attacks on government buildings, hotels, and other public places.

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Palestine condemns Israel's use of starvation as weapon in Gaza

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:50, March 16, 2024

RAMALLAH, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Ministry of National Economy on Friday condemned Israel for using starvation as a weapon in its war in the Gaza Strip for more than five months.

"The right to access food and medicine as guaranteed by international laws has no value to the Israeli government, in light of the international community's failure to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities in delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," the ministry said in a statement on the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day, observed annually on March 15.

It highlighted the sharp and unprecedented rise in the cost of living index in the Gaza Strip as a result of the prolonged conflict, recording a staggering increase of 111 percent since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.

On Feb. 27, United Nations officials alerted the Security Council to the imminent famine in the Gaza Strip, stressing the urgent need for action to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian territory.

At least 576,000 people in Gaza, or about one-quarter of the population, are "one step away from famine", said Ramesh Rajasingham, director of coordination at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

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EU allocates 500 mln euros for ammunition production

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:43, March 16, 2024

BRUSSELS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Friday announced the allocation of 500 million euros (about 544 million U.S. dollars) to boost ammunition production as part of its support for the European defense industry.

In a statement, the commission said this would allow the European defense industry to increase its ammunition production to two million shells a year by the end of 2025. Its annual production capacity for 155 mm shells reached 1 million per year in January.

To assist the European industry in increasing its ammunition production and readiness, the commission said it selected 31 projects in five areas: explosives, powder, shells, missiles and testing and reconditioning certification.

Also on Friday, the commission launched the work program for the instrument to reinforce the European defense industry through common procurement and the fourth annual work program of the European Defence Fund. These programs, aimed at reinforcing the European defense technological and industrial base, have a total budget of almost 2 billion euros. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar)

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Palestinian presidency warns against Israeli military operation in Rafah

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:28, March 16, 2024

RAMALLAH, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency warned on Friday against the Israeli government's decision to carry out a military operation in the city of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.

In a statement published by the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the presidency called for the urgent intervention of the international community to prevent such "dangerous aggression," which exacerbates the suffering of the people in Gaza.

The presidency reaffirmed its rejection of any "displacement" and emphasized the necessity of stopping the ongoing war and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, obliging Israel to implement international resolutions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, according to a statement from his office.

Netanyahu had previously asked the army to prepare a dual plan for a military operation in Rafah, including evacuating civilians and pursuing Hamas elements.

About 1.4 million Palestinians, mostly displaced people, are sheltering in Rafah.

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Security Council renews mandate of UN mission in Afghanistan

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:54, March 16, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for a year.

Resolution 2727, which won the unanimous support of the 15-member council, decides to extend UNAMA's mandate till March 17, 2025.

The resolution stresses the critical importance of a continued presence of UNAMA and other UN agencies, funds and programs across Afghanistan. It calls on all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders as well as international actors to coordinate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of UN and associated personnel throughout the country.

Resolution 2727 is a straightforward renewal of UNAMA's mandate without amendments to its tasks and priorities.

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Yemen's Houthis claim attacks on Israel-linked vessel, U.S. warship in Red Sea

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:50, March 16, 2024

SANAA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's armed Houthi forces said on Friday that they have launched fresh attacks targeting an Israeli ship and a U.S. warship in the Red Sea.

"We launched attacks against the Israel-linked ship, Pacific 01, with a number of missiles in the Red Sea, and launched drone attacks against a U.S. warship also in the waters," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a written statement broadcast by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"The strikes accurately hit the targets," Sarea added.

He also claimed that his group has carried out three other attacks targeting three Israeli and U.S. vessels in the Indian Ocean, without specifying when the attacks occurred.

"We began to expand the scope of our operations against Israeli ships or those linked to Israel to include the Indian Ocean near the Cape of Good Hope," the spokesman said.

Last night, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi vowed to expand attacks to vessels transiting the Indian Ocean toward the Cape of Good Hope on the Atlantic coast of South Africa.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Central Command said on social media platform X that since Thursday morning, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists have fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden and two additional ASBMs toward the Red Sea, adding, "There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or (U.S.-British) coalition ships."

The command noted that it "successfully destroyed nine anti-ship missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," stressing that "these actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels."

However, the Houthis have said the U.S.-British coalition's strikes hit empty locations and did not degrade the group's military capabilities.

The Houthis have controlled much of northern Yemen, including the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, since the civil war broke out in late 2014.

The Houthi forces have been attacking commercial ships since last November in what they said in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and have vowed to escalate and expand their strikes until Israel stops its offensive against the Palestinian enclave.

In response, the United States and Britain have conducted airstrikes and naval bombardments against Houthi targets in Yemen since mid-January to deter the group from interrupting international shipping lanes.

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China calls for deescalation in Red Sea

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:33, March 16, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for de-escalation of tensions in the Red Sea.

The attacks and military operations in the Red Sea have resulted in casualties, which China regrets seeing. China calls on the Houthis to respect the right of commercial vessels of all countries to navigate in the waters of the Red Sea in accordance with international law, and to immediately cease their attacks. Meanwhile, China calls on the parties concerned to exercise restraint and immediately cease actions that might exacerbate tensions, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

"I would like to reiterate that the Security Council has never authorized any country to use force against Yemen. International law and resolutions of the council should not be subjected to misrepresentation and abuse by any country," he told the Security Council.

The escalation in the Red Sea is seriously disrupting the political process in Yemen. Progress in the political process is hard-won and deserves to be cherished, said Geng.

"We hope that the parties concerned will adhere to the general direction of political settlement, place above all else the interests and the well-being of the Yemeni people, and continue to push forward the Yemeni-led and the Yemeni-owned political process."

China supports the work of UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and expects all parties, especially those with major influence, to play a constructive role in easing the situation, he said.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen persists, with more than 18 million civilians in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and about 2.4 million children suffering from malnutrition. China calls on the international community to increase its investment in Yemen's humanitarian and development efforts, and looks forward to the resumption of humanitarian operations from the World Food Programme in northern Yemen as soon as possible, he said.

The tension in the Red Sea is a prominent manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict. China once again calls on Israel to immediately cease its military operations in Gaza and to stop its collective punishment of the Palestinian people, stressed Geng.

China calls on the country concerned to heed the overwhelming calls of the international community and act in a truly responsible and constructive manner by enabling Security Council action as soon as possible on the demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, he said.

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Two parents said their students' experiences with multilingual educators at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy haven't been satisfactory. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Daniela Mosquera Tapia, right, with her son, Mateo, left, and daughter, Amanda, middle. Tapia said there are disparities in the quality of MLL/ESL education her children receive at their schools in the Norwalk Public Schools district. Contributed Photo/Daniela Mosquera Tapia Supt. Alexandra Estrella speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new health and wellness center at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, in Norwalk, Conn. Jan. 22, 2024. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

NORWALK  When Daniela Mosquera Tapia and her family moved from Chile to Norwalk last spring, her two children joined thousands of city students learning English as a second language.

This population of students  referred to as multilingual learners or MLL students  is more than a fifth of Norwalk Public Schools' enrollment, and the district ranks fifth in Connecticut for whole student MLL increase over the last 10 years, according to the nonprofit School and State Finance Project.

Norwalks multilingual learner population has increased seven of the last eight academic years, including this one. While the districts whole student population from last school year increased by six students this year, the MLL population increased by 299 students  a 13.3 percent increase. Meanwhile, the number of MLL/ESL teachers in Norwalk declined this calendar year, compared to all of 2023, the district said.

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Superintendent Alexandra Estrella says the district embraces the growth in this student population, even as the city schools compete with other districts in the region to recruit multilingual learner educators.

These programs facilitate biliteracy in English and Spanish, build strong social connections, and cultural awareness, she said in a written statement.

Still, some parents, including Tapia, say the existing programs aren't enough for their children. Tapia said her 10-year-old son has become more confident in speaking English than her 12-year-old daughter because her son is enrolled in a dual-language program that isn't available at her daughter's school.

Only some of Norwalks schools  Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School, Brookside Elementary School, Jefferson Marine Science Elementary School and West Rocks Middle School  have distinct dual-language programs where students are taught both in English and Spanish.

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All other schools have MLL services, helping our students whose first language is not English, said Emily Morgan, Norwalk Public Schools media relations specialist.

Morgan said that multilingual learners are students whose first language is not English.

This is essentially the same definition for an English as a second language learner, she said.

Disparities in MLL education

Tapia was an English teacher in her home country but neither of her children spoke English before moving to the United States, she said. Both her children are very intelligent and do well in school, she said. The mother said she practices English as much as she can at home with her children.

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Still, her daughter Amanda, a sixth grader, has struggled to acquire English language skills with the MLL programming at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, where there isnt a dual-language program, the mother said.

While Amanda can passably speak and understand enough of what is said to her in English, Amandas confidence speaking the language is low given that shes mostly learned from immersion rather than from a teacher, Tapia said.

The MLL and ESL services at Ponus arent up to snuff, the mother said. The MLL educators who provide assistance in Amandas classes taught in English arent present consistently, Tapia said her daughter has told her.

Bringing in MLL and ESL educators has been difficult, Estrella said.

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One of our main challenges is hiring bilingual teachers to staff our Dual Language programs to support our Multilingual Learners (MLL) and our Native English-speaking scholars looking forward to learning and acquiring a second language, Estrella said in a statement.

Estrella said that classrooms can incorporate co-teaching and team-teaching between ESL and multilingual teachers to support MLL students. Morgan said that classrooms can bring in these co-teachers, and bilingual aides, to "provide additional support."

The people who speak Spanish, they don't speak very well, Tapia said. My daughter says sometimes they cant understand her.

The district did not comment on nor respond to claims that MLL/ESL staff did not speak Spanish well.

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On the other hand, Tapia said her 10-year-old son Mateo, a fourth grader, is nearly fluent in Jeffersons dual-language program.

I think that's why he's more confident than her, Tapia said.

Another mother, Jennifer Celin, said her son at Ponus has experienced difficulty with MLL staff not speaking Spanish well  enough that Ponus does not have an ESL program," the mother said in Spanish in an interview over Facebook Messenger.

Celin also has a daughter at Kendall College and Career Academy, which does not have a dual-language program.With both schools having only ESL and MLL services, the mother said there are big differences that amount to her daughter having better instruction than her son.

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Competing for teachers

Estrella said that bringing on enough qualified MLL teachers is an issue statewide.

From calendar year 2023 to calendar year 2024, MLL/ESL teachers in Norwalk decreased from 58 to 49, the district said.

The demand for such specialized educators has significantly increased, and we are striving to meet this demand, Estrella said. However, finding qualified professionals in this field is proving to be a challenge for all districts.

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Estrella said that the district faces competition for these qualified teachers from other Connecticut districts as well as New York City school districts.

Stamford teachers range between $5,000 to $10,000 more in teacher salaries depending on the steps, the superintendent said. In New York City, a teachers starting salary is $72,000 and in Norwalk, its approximately $50,000. This has made staff retention a significant issue for us and many districts.

She said that, as a result, the district is reviewing salary scales and seeking additional funding sources.
Somali leader vows to ramp up security operations to regain territories from al-Shabab

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:32, March 16, 2024

MOGADISHU, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has vowed to intensify security operations across the country to reclaim territories from al-Shabab terrorists.

The president, who held a strategic meeting with top security and government officials in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Thursday evening, underlined the government's efforts to eradicate terrorism and called for public support in securing the country.

The Somali leader said this was an important time to defeat the enemy, and noted that recent military offensives across the country have gained significant ground. "Every time the enemy is defeated. At this point, we want to make sure that the enemies will not come back to the liberated areas. We want to make sure they don't return," he said in a statement issued after the meeting.

The Somali army, backed by local militias and international partners, has been engaged in a sustained offensive against al-Shabab since 2022 when the president declared an "all-out war" on the terrorist group.

The extremist group frequently targets hotels, restaurants and other military installations manned by the Somali army and African Union forces in Mogadishu and elsewhere across the country.

Mohamud, whose remarks came hours before al-Shabab attacked SYL Hotel, a popular hotel in Mogadishu, Thursday, lauded the security forces for their courageous efforts in defeating al-Shabab and securing Somalia, saying security gains which have been witnessed since 2022 have enabled stabilization efforts.

Mohamud stressed that the government is determined to eliminate terrorists, and called for cooperation between the security forces and members of the public, which he said will play a big role in the war to liberate the country and in overall security.

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Israeli strikes on central Gaza Nuseirat camp kill at least 36 Palestinians

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 2:25 PM

At least 36 people have been killed and many others wounded after the Israeli regime targeted a house in the Nuseirat camp in the central part of the Gaza Strip, as the occupying regime continues its deadly bombing campaign in the besieged territory.

The Government Media Office in Gaza said in a statement that the house belonged to the Tabatibi family, adding that the majority of those killed were children, and a pregnant woman was among the fatalities.

Palestine's official Wafa news agency also reported that another air strike on the camp killed a further seven Palestinians, mostly women and children on Saturday.

Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in multiple Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.

According to Wafa, Israeli warplanes targeted a seven-storey residential building housing displaced people near al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing and wounding several people.

Israeli warplanes also bombed a residential house on Al-Jalaa Street in Gaza City, resulting in dozens of casualties.

An Israeli strike also hit a house in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in the city, killing five civilians and injuring dozens of others.

The occupying regime also shelled a house in the Al-Nasr neighborhood Gaza City, killing and wounding several civilians.

Israeli warplanes also targeted several areas in the city of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip.

In the southern city of Rafah, the occupation regime also targeted a populated house, wounding a number of civilians.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 31,490 Palestinians and injured more than 73,439 others.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Humanitarian situation in Gaza 'beyond catastrophic'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 2:18 PM

People in Gaza are facing an "unprecedented level of indignity, misery and suffering," Secretary General at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has said.

As Israel continues to pound Gaza to devastating effect, Jagan Chapagain took to X on Saturday, describing the current situation in the Palestinian territory as "beyond catastrophic."

"The healthcare situation is on the brink of collapse with hospitals facing desperate conditions," Chapagain said.

He said that "an escalating food crisis exacerbates an already dire situation," with countless people having nothing to break their fast with in the holy month of Ramadan.

'Words can't describe catastrophe in Gaza'

The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, also says "words can't describe" the current catastrophic humanitarian situation in the besieged densely populated strip.

A member of MSF, Loay Harb - one of four staff members still working in the northern part of Gaza  said in a message on X that people have no water, flour, electricity in the besieged area

At most times, people have no internet or mobile connection to communicate with the world, he said.

Nurse Harb said the clinic where he worked could only treat patients with severe burns and wounds with basic healthcare.

Northern Gaza has largely been cut off from the rest of the territory since the regime started hostilities in early October. The blockade has driven hundreds of thousands of people to the brink.

Hospitals in the area have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration.

'Gaza is dust'

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said on Friday, "What we see in Gaza is that it's a nightmare, which is much more than a humanitarian crisis."

"Gaza is dust," Dominic Allen, UNFPA representative for Palestine said on Friday after he visited Gaza this week.

He said that "everyone we passed, everyone we spoke to was gaunt, frail, emaciated, and hungry."

"The doctors are reporting that they're no longer see normal-sized babies born ... What they do see though, tragically, are more stillborn babies and more neonatal deaths caused in part ... by malnutrition, dehydration and complications."

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that northern Gaza in particular faces the threat of imminent famine.

According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) one in three children under age 2 in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished.

"Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," UNRWA said on Saturday.

More than five months into the regime's war on Gaza, much of the territory is now in ruins with most of its 2.3 million population displaced inside the coastal enclave.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the regime's prime minister, has now approved the military's plan for a ground invasion in Rafah, Gaza's last refuge, which has become home to over 1 million displaced people.

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Leaders of Palestinian, Yemeni resistance met to coordinate anti-Israel attacks: Report

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 11:16 AM

The leaders of Palestinian resistance groups and Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement have reportedly held a meeting to coordinate retaliatory attacks against the Israeli regime as the occupying entity presses ahead with its months-long aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip.

AFP quoted unnamed Palestinian sources as saying on Friday that the "important" meeting was held last week to discuss "mechanisms for coordinating resistance actions" against Israel.

"An important meeting was held last week in which senior leaders from the Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine participated with the Yemeni Ansarullah movement to discuss coordination mechanisms between these factions regarding resistance actions in the next stage," the news agency said.

The Yemeni resistance movement, the report said, vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks on the Israeli-owned and -bound vessels in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

"The Ansarullah movement confirmed during the meeting that it will continue its operations in the Red Sea against ships heading to the enemy (Israel) to support the Palestinian resistance," one of the unknown sources was quoted as saying.

"The meeting also discussed the complementary role of Ansarullah with the Palestinian factions, given the possibility of Israel invading Rafah."

The news agency did not specify the location of the meeting in addition to the names of the leaders of the Palestinian resistance groups and the Houthi Ansarullah participating in it.

Ansarullah leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech on Thursday that the Yemeni armed forces would continue their retaliatory operations against Israeli-affiliated commercial vessels, preventing the passage of the ships even through the Indian Ocean and through the Cape of Good Hope.

Houthi said 73 ships have been targeted in Yemeni operations in support of Gaza since mid-November.

Stressing that the Yemeni forces have carried out 12 operations this week as well as a total of 58 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, Houthi said the operations will continue as long as the aggression and siege on Gaza persist.

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

Last week, fighters with Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced an attack on an Israeli command center in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and the killing of as many as seven Israeli forces elsewhere across the Palestinian territory.

Other resistance groups in the region, including in Iraq and Lebanon, have also conducted pro-Gaza operations against the occupied territories over the past five months.

Around 600 Israeli troops have been killed during resistance operations staged to defend Gaza in the face of the war that has since October 7 claimed thousands of Palestinian lives.

At least 31,490 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, and 73,439 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

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Palestinian factions slam Abbas's decree on new govt., urge stronger resistance

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 8:50 AM

Four Palestinian resistance factions have criticized President Mahmoud Abbas for appointing his longtime economic adviser Mohammed Mustafa as the next prime minister, urging the Fatah movement to take serious and effective measures that best serve the Palestinian cause at the current critical juncture.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Palestinian National Initiative, in a joint statement released on Friday, underscored that "it is of utmost importance to highlight that the primary focus of our nation should be on countering the Israeli aggression, and the unrelenting genocide and starvation which besieged Palestinians in Gaza are exposed to."

The statement added, "We must, at the same time, address the crimes being committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and occupied al-Quds, and deter any Israeli scenario that seeks to forcibly displace Palestinians."

The factions stated that taking solitary decisions, like the formation of a new government without national consensus, only strengthens the culture of exclusivity and worsens internal divisions.

"This is while Palestinians urgently require unity and consensus, besides a unified national leadership that can pave the way for holding democratic elections, which are inclusive of all factions that represent the entire Palestinian nation," they noted.

The four factions questioned the feasibility of replacing a prime minister and his administration with alternatives with identical political and partisan backgrounds.

They also voiced their disapproval of the Palestinian Authority's persistent pursuit of exclusivity and its flagrant disregard for collective national efforts aimed at uniting Palestinians against the Israeli aggression.

Mustafa replaces former Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, who stepped down in February in the light of the vicious Israeli onslaught on Gaza and soaring violence in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Authority, which is dominated by the Fatah party, exercises limited powers in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

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Mar. 15: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 8:36 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed at least 31,272 Palestinians so far, including at least 14,000 children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Friday, March 15, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Mar. 15:

Targeted five Merkava tanks with Yassin-105 rockets in the city of Al-Zahra, northwest of the central Gaza Strip.

Targeted an Israeli infantry force, which was planting explosive devices in buildings, with an anti-fortification rocket (TBG) in the city of Al-Zahra, northwest of the central Gaza Strip.

Targeted an Israeli infantry troop carrier (APC) and a Merkava tank with Yassin-105 and Tandom rockets in the residential town of Hamad, north of Khan Younis city.

Targeted an Israeli infantry troop carrier (APC) in the residential town of Hamad, north of Khan Younis city, with a Shoath explosive device and anti-fortification "TBG" rocket.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Mar. 15:

Shelled Sderot and other illegal settlements around Gaza with a barrage of rockets.

Shelled gatherings of Israeli soldiers east of the central Gaza Strip with a barrage of mortar shells.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on Mar. 15:

Shelled gatherings of Israeli soldiers with heavy-caliber mortar shells east of the central Gaza Strip.

Targeted two Israeli military vehicles with RPGs in the city of Al-Zahra, northwest of the central Gaza Strip.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on Mar. 15:

Shelled a cavalcade of Israeli army vehicles with short-range rockets, northeast of Juhr Al-Dik village, south of Gaza City.

Hezbollah's operations on Mar. 15:

Eastern sector:

At around 13:15 local time, the Al-Marj site was targeted with artillery shells.

At around 16:20 local time, the Radar site in Shebaa was targeted with missiles.

At around 16:42 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Ruwaisat al-Alam site in Kfar Shuba with missiles.

Western sector:

At around 14:05 local time, the Al-Malikiyah site was targeted with missiles.

At around 14:50 local time, Israeli soldiers near the Al-Raheb site were targeted with artillery shells.

At around 16:00 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Birkat Risha site were targeted with a Burkan missile.

At around 17:45 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted at the Zarait barracks with appropriate weapons.

At around 18:35 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Hadab Yarin were targeted with missiles.

At around 20:55 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Jal al-Alam site with appropriate weapons.

Yemeni military's operations on Mar. 15:

Targeted the Israeli-linked "Pacific 01" ship in the Red Sea with several anti-ship missiles.

Targeted an American destroyer in the Red Sea with several kamikaze drone hits.

Carried out three operations against three Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean with several anti-ship missiles and kamikaze drones.

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Netanyahu approves plans for military aggression on Rafah despite global warnings

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 8:24 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved plans for a military attack on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, the last major population center to be subjected to a ground invasion in the regime's genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Netanyahu's office announced in a statement on Friday that he "approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, and the army is operationally preparing for it and for the evacuation of residents."

The statement provided no details on the exact time and date of the assault, and rejected the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement Hamas as "unrealistic."

The provision of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in the besieged territory and the release of Israeli captives were among the terms of the truce deal, which has several times been discussed in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

The potential aggression on Rafah comes despite the international community's warnings against the attack in the southern city, which houses more than 1.4 million Palestinians.

Dominic Allen, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative for Palestine, said in a news briefing on Friday that the situation in Gaza is "beyond catastrophic."

"It's a nightmare, which is much more than a humanitarian crisis. It is a crisis of humanity," said Allen. "And having left Gaza this week, I can assure you that it's worse than I can describe, or the pictures can show, or that you can imagine."

The German foreign ministry said in a post on its X social media account that "a large-scale offensive in Rafah cannot be justified."

"Over a million people have sought refuge there and have nowhere to go," the ministry said. "We need a humanitarian ceasefire now, so that the dying ends and the hostages are finally released."

The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "expressed deep concern over an imminent Israeli military offensive in Rafah, which could result in a new massacre and further displacement of the Palestinian people in Gaza."

"The presidency underscored the urgency for swift intervention by... the international community to avert this military attack, which could add to the already immense suffering of the Palestinian people," the office said.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel waged its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 after the Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

At least 31,490 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, and 73,439 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

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Resistance official to Press TV: US, Israel pursue identical goals in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 3:33 AM

A senior resistance official says, despite the United States' pretenses, the country and the Israeli regime pursue identical goals in the Gaza Strip, which is enduring a Washington-backed genocidal war by the regime.

Mohammad al-Hindi, deputy secretary-general of the Gaza-based resistance movement of the Islamic Jihad, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Friday.

"In this aggression, there is American agreement with Israel. And the American administration is a complete accomplice with Israel, despite the crocodile tears, which they (the Americans) are shedding," he said.

The Israeli regime began the war on October 7 in response to a retaliatory operation staged by Gaza's resistance movements. The military onslaught has so far killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women, children, and adolescents.

The US has been alleging concerns about the extent of the fatalities. Some US officials have also claimed that the Israeli regime would not be able to realize its war goal of eliminating Hamas, the Islamic Jihad's fellow Gaza-based resistance group. In action, however, Washington has been lending all-out political, military, and intelligence support to the war.

As part of its consistent political patronage for the regime, the US has so far vetoed three United Nations Security Council resolutions that have called for implementation of an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli aggression.

Throughout the onslaught, the US has also supplied the Tel Aviv regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment. Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported that the United States had quietly authorized over 100 separate weapons sales to Israel since the start of the Gaza war.

"So, the goals are to eliminate the resistance, and these are the American-Israeli joint strategic goals. So, the goals are the same, but there is disagreement regarding the priorities," Hindi said.

"The Americans talk, for example, about sparing civilians, but the civilians are being killed with American weapons and bombs. And some of these weapons reach Israel even behind the back of Congress." he added.

The resistance official, meanwhile, dismissed as gravely ineffective and even hypocritical, the United States' meager airdrops of aid onto Gaza and an American plan for construction of a "floating pier" that would supposedly get humanitarian supplies into the war-hit territory.

"At the time, when the American administration talks about sparing civilians, and talks about a temporary pier, and drops small amounts of aid by airplanes, and it realizes that this will not achieve anything notable, so there is only an attempt to mislead the international conscience...and it is a kind of hypocrisy. Because it is buying time for the government of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu," Hindi said.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Bahraini Crown Prince-Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

March 16, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in Manama. The Secretary and the Crown Prince discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire of at least six weeks in Gaza as part of an agreement to secure the release of hostages. Secretary Blinken pledged to continue close coordination with regional and international partners to promote calm during the holy month of Ramadan and prepare for the post-conflict phase. The Secretary and the Crown Prince also discussed the reckless and dangerous Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and reaffirmed their shared commitment to international law and freedom of navigation. Secretary Blinken expressed appreciation for Bahrain's important contributions to maritime security and recognized how the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) has and will continue to strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and Bahrain.

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Indian Navy Frees Cargo Ship From Somali Pirates After Shootout

By Mohamed Olad Hassan March 16, 2024

The Indian navy has freed the hijacked MV Ruen cargo ship in Somalia's Puntland region Saturday after a 24-hour standoff and shootout, and it has detained 35 pirates, according to Puntland Ports Minister Ahmed Yasin Salah. The crew is reported to be unharmed.

The pirates  who allegedly hijacked the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel on December 14  exchanged heavy gunfire with the Indian navy Friday.

"The Indian navy successfully conducted the operation, which has been going on since last night. The navy captured 35 pirates and released the MV Ruen ship, and its crew are safe," Salah said.

"We received the information regarding the gunfight Friday afternoon. Once we followed up with our reliable sources, we were told that the Indian navy engaged in a gunfight with the Somali pirates."

In an interview with VOA Somali, Salah said the pirates on the Ruen had been sailing back and forth across the Somali coast for months, and that the Indians intercepted them Friday, as they approached another pirate-held ship the MV Abdullah.

It was not immediately clear if the Somali pirates were using the hijacked ship MV Ruen to take over the Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship, MV Abdullah.

The MV Abdullah was sailing from Mozambique's capital Maputo to the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of 55,000 tons of coal when Somali pirates attacked and seized it on the evening of March 12, taking 23 of its crew members hostage.

Quoting an Indian navy spokesperson, Reuters reported Saturday that the Somali pirates opened fire on the Indian navy ship in international waters Friday.

According to the Reuters report, the navy had called on the pirates to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding.

Until the Ruen was seized, there had been no successful hijacking of a merchant ship by Somali pirates since 2017.

At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking or suspicious approaches have been recorded by the Indian navy since December, Indian officials have said.

India deployed at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea in January to provide security against pirates and has investigated more than 250 vessels.

Somalia had for years been blighted by piracy, with the peak being 2011, when the U.N. says more than 160 attacks were recorded off the Somali coast.

The incidents have declined drastically since then, largely because of the presence of American and allied navies in international waters.

A small number of Somalia's maritime forces have been recently seen conducting patrols in the waters of the Indian Ocean close to Mogadishu, the country's capital, as part of an ongoing measure by Mogadishu to rebuild its maritime security presence.

In tandem with that effort, Somalia's executive and legislative branches approved last month a crucial 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey.

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said under the agreement, Turkey will build, train and equip the Somali navy and help to remove "any fears of terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, toxic dumping and any external violations or threats" to Somalia's sea coast. Somalia has Africa's longest coastline.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 162 - 16 March 2024

War Termination

Hamas, the terrorist group governing the Gaza Strip, declared on Saturday that it would not release any hostages without securing an agreement on the second phase of a deal with Israel. This announcement was made by a senior Hamas official, as reported by KAN. The second phase of the proposed agreement, according to Hamas, must involve the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops from Gaza. Without these conditions being met, Hamas remains steadfast in its stance regarding the release of hostages.

The Hamas representative in Lebanon, Ahmad Abdel Hadi, announced that "two days ago, Hamas presented its vision to initiate negotiations to stop the aggression, which included three-stage conditions."

In an interview with Al Mayadeen, Abdel Hadi highlighted that Hamas has shown flexibility in prisoner-captive talks, "but this can't be achieved except with international guarantees to stop the aggression," stressing the occupation's procrastination and deception, pointing out that "the ball is in the occupation and Washington's court." He also stressed that the ongoing genocide and threat to invade Rafah fall within the framework of pressuring the resistance to lower its bargaining limits in negotiations.

Abdul Hadi added that expanding the war is in Netanyahu's interest because stopping it would put him on trial and later in prison. As for the United States, Abdel Hadi stressed that the US administration is practicing double standards because while it talks about sending aid to Gaza, "it is not putting any pressure on the occupation to stop its aggression."

Hamas's response to the latest framework includes demands for the release of over 1,000 Palestinian security prisoners, including approximately 100 serving lifetime sentences for murdering Israelis, in exchange for the release of 40 female, elderly, and wounded hostages.

Efforts to resume negotiations have been spearheaded by Egyptian officials, who have indicated that talks are expected to recommence in Qatar as early as Sunday. Mossad chief David Barnea is reportedly slated to participate in these discussions with Qatar's Prime Minister and Egyptian officials.

While the ratio of security prisoners to hostages is lower than in Hamas's previous response, it remains significantly higher than the framework agreed upon during a previous summit in Paris. Hamas is also pushing for additional concessions from Israel, including a withdrawal of IDF forces from a corridor south of Gaza City and a permanent ceasefire during the second stage of the deal.

The failure of Hamas, the Palestinian terror group holding Israelis captive in Gaza, to provide reliable information on the number of living hostages continues to hobble the ceasefire talks, a report in the Arab media claimed on Saturday. Citing an unnamed Egyptian officials who spoke of "obstacles" that stand in the way of a hostage deal, the Saudi television network Al-Arabiya reported that Hamas didn't say how many hostages are still alive."

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed cautious optimism regarding the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the release of hostages. Kirby stated that Hamas's response to the latest hostage agreement framework is "within the bounds of the deal that weve been working on for several months." Kirby remarked during the briefing "The fact that theres another delegation heading to Doha the fact that this proposal is out there, that there are conversations about it, thats all good".

The dissident leader of the Fatah movement, Muhammad Dahlan, returned to the limelight after a long period of decline, as a result of the recent escalation in Gaza. Although there were non-Palestinian reasons behind the decision to block Dahlan for a period of time, the parties concerned with the Palestinian issue began again to consult with him. Dahlan received support from the United Arab Emirates to play a central role in communicating with The Next Day in Palestine, according to Al-Akhbar newspaper.

Although he initially condemned the Israeli aggression, Dahlan sought to reopen channels of communication with Hamas, sending his assistant Samir Masharawi to meet with its leaders in Doha. He also visited the Qatari capital to discuss the future of the sector. During his meetings, Dahlan focuses on his rejection of any special role or position, stressing that he has received great support from the Abu Dhabi government to help the population in Gaza.

In this context, others believe that Dahlan is playing an essential role at the present time, which was discussed by the Coordinator of Occupation Activities in the Territories, Israeli officer Ghassan Alian in Abu Dhabi, in addition to producing a local administration outside the authority of Hamas and the rest of the factions, consisting of local elements and notables, Among them are some veterans of the Fatah movement, according to Al-Akhbar newspaper.

Many are betting on the possibility of Dahlan providing assistance in forming a local authority to take over civil administration in Gaza, away from the current government of the Strip. Dahlan, like the rest of the parties, is interested in obtaining a truce and exchanging prisoners, including the imprisoned leader of the Fatah movement, Marwan Barghouti , according to the newspaper.

There are reports in Palestinian circles that the occupation facilitated the completion of a meeting between Dahlan and the imprisoned Palestinian leader, Marwan Barghouti, in prison, as reported in the newspaper. It was reported that Dahlan reiterated his vision of how to rebuild the Fatah movement and take over power from the current leadership, headed by Mahmoud Abbas. In addition to the agreement between Dahlan and Barghouti to nominate a Palestinian figure to assume the presidency of any transitional government in the next stage.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli forces are bulldozing agricultural land and demolishing Palestinian homes and schools in the Gaza Strip to create a buffer zone along the Strips border with Israel. Israeli officials say Palestinians will be denied entry to the buffer zone, which will serve as a critical security measure in Israels plan to demilitarize Gaza and reassure Israelis that they can safely return to towns and communities near the border that were evacuated after the October 7 attack.

The plans, drawn up by Israeli officials from the early days of the war, call for leaving a "buffer zone" more than half a mile wide where Israeli forces will be able to see and block anyone approaching the border. In the months leading up to the October 7 attack, Israeli border units reported seeing people approaching the barrier with maps, apparently studying it for weak points.

The plan, which Israel has not publicly confirmed, appears to entail seizing a large portion of territory in the already small Gaza Strip, something experts and Israel's foreign allies have warned against, according to Agence France-Presse. The Israeli army refused to comment on the establishment of the buffer zone, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In previous statements to the Al-Hurra website , the Israeli Army Spokesmen's Unit revealed that Israeli forces are working in the region to "prevent Hamas activity that threatens the citizens of Israel." As part of this, the IDF identifies and destroys terrorist infrastructure located inside buildings, among other things, according to the spokes unit. It said that the establishment of the buffer zone is part of the inevitable measures necessary to implement a defense plan that will provide better security in southern Israel, without revealing more details about whether it is temporary or permanent.

The killing of 21 Israeli soldiers in Gaza as they were attacked during the bombing of two buildings included an "unexpected revelation" that the army was moving forward with a controversial plan to create a "buffer zone" along its border with Gaza by demolishing buildings in the area, according to Report by the Washington Post. If the buffer zone is fully achieved, it will reduce the area of the 25-mile-long Gaza Strip by 16 percent, according to Adi Ben-Nun, a geography professor at Hebrew University who analyzes Israel's security moves.

The administration of US President Joe Biden opposes the plan and warned against any proposal that would threaten the territorial integrity of the Gaza Strip. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, withdrew its forces and settlers, and ended its presence there, which began in 1967, but maintained almost complete control over the borders of the coastal strip. It maintained a narrow prohibited zone of varying width along the border between it and Gaza. On the Palestinian side, the area directly behind it is limited to agricultural land.

Israeli media outlets reported that Brigadier General Nitzan Alon, a reserve officer in the Israeli occupation military and a delegate in the team negotiating a prisoner exchange deal, has resigned from his position due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to expand the authority of the negotiating team. The Israeli Channel 13 noted that Alon's resignation comes in the wake of a "paralysis" in efforts to retrieve Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza, suggesting that the resignation reflects his frustration with the handling of the captives file and that the Israeli government does not intend to take serious steps to reach a prisoner exchange deal.

Operational Update

During a tour at a military outpost in the settlement of "Sha'arei Binyamin" in the occupied West Bank, "Israel's" Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on Saturday said that the Israeli army is currently facing a what he described as a multi-front war and that some of these fronts are located outside of Palestine's borders.

"Everyone, every soldier has responsibility for all the arenas, because every incident that happens in one of the arenas really affects and can cause [developments] in other areas as well," Halevi said in a video released Saturday by the Israeli army. "We are in a multi-front war, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria [occupied West Bank], and Gaza, and more distant things."

Speaking to Israeli border officers, Halevi affirmed "Israel's" fear of escalation during the month of Ramadan, saying that "vigilance is required during all days in Ramadan, not just Fridays", as "several attempts to launch attacks in multiple locations this week" were detected.

This comes at a time of heightened concerns within the Israeli leadership over escalating tensions and potential security threats across various fronts, including the fronts with Gaza and the occupied West Bank, northern occupied Palestine (Lebanon and Syria), as well as operations waged by resistance groups in Iraq and Yemen.

Operational Update - Gaza

The Hamas representative in Lebanon, Ahmad Abdel Hadi, affirmed to Al Mayadeen that the resistance today "is managing battles proficiently in all areas of the Gaza Strip, and will continue to inflict losses on the enemy. It is ready for any scenario, in addition to the balance of power in the region, especially regarding the supporting fronts."

He further commented that "the current situation has proven that the battlefield shapes the course of the next phase," highlighting "the establishment of committees by the factions to oversee the situation in Gaza." Abdel Hadi concluded his statement to Al Mayadeen by saying "Hamas, along with all the Palestinian people, express their gratitude to the resistance fighters from Yemen to Iraq to Lebanon."

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

The Israeli authorities have announced measures on the entry of Palestinians holding West Bank IDs, with valid permits and magnetic cards, to Al Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of the month of Ramadan (15 March), limiting entry to children under 10 years of age, women over 50, and men over 55. In 2023, men over 55, women of all ages and children under 12 were allowed entry without a permit on Fridays during Ramadan.

Operational Update - Lebanon

From the 18th week of the war (beginning of February), more alarms were activated in the north than in the south. Tension is escalating on the border between Lebanon and the occupation, as the Zionist forces expanded their military operations in Lebanon to a depth of 100 kilometers from the southern border of Lebanon. Hezbollah has been conducting daily attacks against the Israeli occupation entity since last October, with the total number surpassing 1,100 operations.

Hezbollah announced carrying out a series of military operations against Israeli bases and soldiers across the Lebanese-Palestinian border as the war on Gaza nears its 6-month mark. The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon reaffirmed that the operations come "in support of the resilient Palestinian people in Gaza and solidarity with their brave and honorable Resistance."

At 11:15 am, Hezbollah said its fighters struck the al-Baghdadi Israeli base with rockets, confirming that the base was directly hit. Shortly after, at 1:00 pm, the Resistance revealed it struck the Ramim Israeli barracks using two Burkan heavy rockets, adding that the direct impact was achieved.

Hezbollah conducted 3 operations in under 15 minutes between 3:30 and 3:45 pm, the Resistance group revealed. A rocket attack was launched on the al-Malkiya base, followed by two seperate strikes on the al-Summaqa and "al-Ramtha" Israeli bases in occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms. Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon reported launches from Lebanon toward Israeli targets in the vicinity of the "Hounin" barracks and "Margaliot" settlement in the "Upper Galilee" region.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib also instructed to submit a complaint before the UN Security Council, following the Zionist bombing that targeted civilians in residential areas around the city of Baalbek in the east of the country.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth highlighted on Thursday the situation facing settlers in northern settlements, emphasizing that they are "drained and paying a heavy price due to the fighting with Hezbollah." According to the newspaper, the settlers in the north are "depressed" and are posing questions such as, "What do we do to end the nightmare of Hezbollah rockets?"

The newspaper cited an Israeli settler living in one of the al-Jalil settlements near the border with Lebanon as saying that "settlers there live among Hezbollah rockets," describing the situation as "terrible". One settler told the newspaper that someone from the Israeli leadership must address the settlers' problems, adding that Israeli the government has forgotten the settlers in the north "and has become accustomed to their living under war." They said that "a sense of helplessness" accompanies all al-Jalil settlers, who never imagined that this situation would continue for more than five months.

Yedioth Ahronoth mentioned that more than 60,000 Israelis in al-Jalil settlements have been displaced and evacuated to other settlements since the start of the fighting in October. It added that since October, the "northern community" has collapsed, many businesses have been shut down, and displaced settlers have scattered to other settlements.

Israeli media is mocking previous statements made by Israeli officials against Hezbollah, threatening the Lebanese Resistance of bombing Lebanon back to the Stone Age. In this context, Israeli newspaper Hadashot Bazaman reposted a video published by Hezbollah's military media, adding a voiceover of several Israeli officials, prominently Security Minister Yoav Gallant, threatening Hezbollah of returning Lebanon to the Stone Age. The video featured a bold title asking "Who is taking who to the Stone Age?"

Gallant, who once threatened to set back Lebanon to the Stone Age, found himself in a reversed situation, the head of the "Margaliot" council explained back in January. The Israeli official, who heads the council responsible for a settlement located to the west of the settlement of "Kiryat Shmona", shed light on the blackout experienced in the colonial outpost, following a rocket attack launched by Hezbollah on the al-Jalil Panhandle. "Our settlements have ultimately been left without electricity, and we ended up being reverted to the Stone Age," the Israeli official complained.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that explosions sounded in the Damascus countryside as a result of Israeli bombing. The Observatory stated that the sounds of explosions coincided with Syrian ground anti-aircraft missiles attempting to confront targets overhead. The Observatory had reported earlier today that Israeli missiles targeted a military site in the vicinity of the Tal al-Jumou area in the western countryside of Daraa Governorate, after a missile was launched from Syrian territory towards the Golan. The Observatory stated that the targeting was preceded by the launch of a missile from Syrian territory towards the Golan Heights, with no information received about human casualties.

Operational Update - Yemen

Meanwhile, the US-UK naval coalition is targeting Yemeni positions along the Yemeni coastline, the latest aggression involving four raids on the Taif area in the Ad-Durayhimi District, south of Hodeidah Governorate, as per Al Mayadeen's correspondent.

Maps

All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.

Bystanders

The head of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), David Miliband, condemned the air delivery of aid to Gaza, branding it as unsafe and dehumanizing, and called for safer land routes for aid transportation. "Such an approach is unsafe, ineffective, and dehumanizing," Miliband stated in a post on X, stressing the necessity of establishing secure land routes for the delivery of aid to ensure its safe and efficient transportation.

His remarks come amid escalating Israeli attacks on aid seekers in Gaza, where they have resulted in numerous casualties among Palestinian civilians waiting for essential supplies. The criticism follows a tragic incident on Thursday, where Israeli forces fired upon crowds awaiting aid in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 Palestinians and over 150 wounded, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Witnesses recounted the use of helicopters, tanks, and drones by Israeli forces in targeting civilians gathered at food distribution points.

This attack marks a series of assaults on vulnerable populations in Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis already gripping the enclave, due to a genocidal Israeli war. Earlier in the day, six Palestinians were killed at the same food distribution site, bringing the death toll from such incidents to over 400 people.

The Israeli military carried out five separate attacks on aid distribution centres in the past 48 hours in the Gaza Strip, killing 56 people and injuring more than 300, the media office of the enclaves government said on Friday. We hold the US administration and the international community, in addition to the Israeli occupation, fully responsible for the crime of genocide, it said in a statement on Telegram.

The Israeli military denied that its forces had opened fire on the crowds and claimed instead that armed Palestinians were responsible for the attack. Griffiths, the UN's emergency relief coordinator, condemned the Israeli violence, emphasizing the need for a safer and more dignified approach to aid distribution in Gaza. "People should not have to die while trying to keep their families alive," he said in a post on X, adding that the Israeli forces shooting at Palestinians searching for food cannot be allowed to continue.

Distributing aid in Gaza should be done in a safe, dignified and predictable manner. Anything less is unconscionable. The war must end, Griffiths said. The United Nations has warned that at least 576,000 people in the enclave  a quarter of the population  are on the brink of famine, and global pressure has been growing on Israel to allow more access to aid.

However, Israel's control over Gaza's crossings has severely restricted the flow of humanitarian assistance. UN agencies report that only one entry point has been operational since the beginning of the war, and trucks are subjected to "endless checking procedures" to pass through, which further complicates the delivery of crucial aid to the besieged enclave.

Faced with obstruction of aid trucks, the international community has devised complicated workarounds, including a sea corridor from Cyprus to the besieged Strip and plans by the United States to set up a temporary jetty off Gazas coast to bring in supplies  a move criticized as an attempt to divert attention from Washingtons continued military and political support for Israel as famine looms and the onslaught persists.

Axis of Resistance

Sources to Al Mayadeen revealed that a meeting took place between the Palestinian Resistance factions, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, which aimed at coordination for the upcoming stage. During the meeting, Ansar Allah underlined that it would continue carrying out Resistance operations in support of Gaza in the Red Sea and that the US-British airstrikes on Yemen would make no difference when it comes to their stance, according to the sources.

That said, the Movement stressed it was prepared to coordinate on all levels with the Palestinian Resistance factions. On the other hand, the Palestinian Resistance expressed its appreciation and gratitude for the pivotal role played by Ansar Allah, underlining the depth of Yemeni-Palestinian relations.

The current leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abul-Malik al-Houthi, stressed during the meeting the pivotal role of the struggle of the Palestinian people, underlining the commitment of the Yemeni people and Ansar Allah to the Palestinian cause, according to the sources.

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry mocked recent comments by a former Israeli military official about partitioning Iran through ethnic discord, saying the Zionist criminals wont live to see their wishes fulfilled. In a post on his X account, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani ridiculed the comments by Mordechai Kedar, a former Israeli military intelligence officer who has proposed a regime change in Iran instigated by ethnic minorities.

Kedar, in an op-ed article issued by the Jerusalem Post on March 13, argued that Iran should be disintegrated into five to six ethnic states. In response, Kanaani said this is not the first time the Zionist enemies make such rude comments about Iran. He reminded the Israeli regimes officials that the Islamic Republic has maintained its integrity for over four decades because the Iranian ethnic groups have always closed ranks in a unified and strong manner.

"The Zionist criminals, who have buckled under the force of a popular movement in the Gaza Strip and are cowardly massacring women and children to make up for their irreparable failures, wont live to see their impossible dream of disintegration of Iran come true", Kanaani added.

Palestinian sources reported to Agence France-Presse on Friday evening that a rare meeting was held last week between leaders of the Hamas movement and the Yemeni Houthi rebels to discuss mechanisms for coordinating resistance actions against Israel. One of these sources, requesting that his name not be published, said, An important meeting was held last week in which senior leaders from the Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine movements participated with the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement. He added that during this meeting, coordination mechanisms between these factions were discussed regarding the actions that would target Israel in the next stage. According to a second source, who in turn asked Agence France-Presse not to publish his name, The Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) confirmed during the meeting that it will continue its operations in the Red Sea against ships heading to Israel.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement on Saturday, urging people worldwide to actively oppose the Israeli occupation and its allies, intensify popular protests, and besiege Israeli occupation embassies. The PFLP called for continued international pressure to end the genocidal campaign in Gaza and to demand that Western nations halt arms exports to the occupying forces, which are used to perpetrate atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, the Front condemned the ongoing Israeli occupation and its brutal massacres in Gaza, citing the recent attack on the Tabatibi family's residence in Nusairat as a glaring example of international injustice. The Front emphasized that "these brutal massacres come within the framework of the Zionist doctrine based on genocide, destruction, and killing, and they once again expose the lies and hypocrisy of the international community, which calls for freedoms and human rights."

The Front added that "the Zionist enemy would not have reached this level of criminality without the green light, absolute support, and blind endorsement from the United States and its war criminal president Biden, who has appointed himself as a military leader in the army of killers and an advocate for these horrific massacres."

The Front concluded its statement by affirming that "these Zionist massacres, however brutal they may be, or however much they reveal the extent of international conspiracy, complicity, and Arab betrayal, will not deter our people from continuing to defeat the aggression and thwart its malicious sectarian objectives."

Between condemnation and accusation, the intensity of statements and statements escalated between the Fatah and Hamas movements, against the backdrop of the announcement of the name of the new Palestinian Prime Minister, while specialists revealed to Al-Hurra website what was behind the mutual attack, and its repercussions on the war in Gaza and the Palestinian issue.

On Friday evening, the Hamas movement, classified as a terrorist organization in the United States and other countries, along with other Palestinian factions, denounced the appointment of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, an economic expert close to him, Muhammad Mustafa, as prime minister. The Fatah movement responded to Hamas's condemnation, accusing its rival of "causing Israel to reoccupy the Gaza Strip" through its "adventurous" attack on Israel on October 7.

Speaking to the "Al-Hurra" website, the former Minister of Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs, Ashraf Al-Ajrami, indicated that the exchange of accusations between Fatah and Hamas was due to "the factions' lack of agreement on the new Palestinian government." After the appointment of the President of the Palestinian Authority, Muhammad Mustafa, as the new Prime Minister, Hamas considered this a complete disregard for it, which created a crisis between it and Fatah. This was followed by the issuance of statements bearing mutual accusations between the two sides, according to what he told the Al-Hurra website.

For his part, Palestinian political analyst, Ashraf Al-Akka, links the escalation to the Fatah movements attempt to form a technocratic government without serious agreement with all the Palestinian factions, not just Hamas. There are a group of "factors pressuring the Palestinian leadership to form the government without "coordination with the rest of the factions," according to his interview with the Al-Hurra website.

Hamas said in a statement, Appointing a government without national consensus is a step that is certainly empty of substance and deepens division among the Palestinians. The statement was also signed by the Islamic Jihad movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, two organizations classified by Israel and other countries as terrorists.

But on the other hand, Palestinian political analyst, Jihad Al-Harazin, points out that Hamas and its allies have issued a black statement to send a message to the world that Palestinian blood does not concern them, but what only concerns them is rule. There is devastation and devastation in Gaza and areas in the West Bank, and the cost of rebuilding this amounts to 90 billion dollars, and the new government will primarily be concerned with dealing with the international community, according to what he told the Al-Hurra website. He asks in condemnation: If Hamas and some factions are formed that Western countries classify as terrorist movements, who will pay the cost of reconstruction?!

Speaking to Al-Hurra website, the Palestinian political analyst, Adel Al-Ghoul, points out that the exclusivity in appointing the prime minister and not consulting the Palestinian factions created the crisis. But the crisis between Fatah and Hamas will end if there is a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which is currently witnessing a state of chaos and starvation, according to Al-Ghoul.

The Palestinian leadership has been divided since the armed confrontations that took place between the Fatah and Hamas movements in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, as a result of which Hamas overthrew Abbas's authority from the Strip. The division deepened between the Palestinian Authority, headed by Abbas, with limited powers in the West Bank, and Hamas, which holds power in the Gaza Strip.

Ambiguity prevails about the role that the Palestinian Authority can play after the end of the war, given its limited influence and the refusal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to envision a future Palestinian state. Al-Akka believes that there are other dimensions to the escalation and mutual accusations between Fatah and Hamas, and this relates to the Palestinian sides dealings with the next day and the future of governance in the Gaza Strip.

There are reports that Palestinian security forces were informed of the next days arrangements and coordination with the tribes in the Gaza Strip, which angered Hamas, according to Al-Akka. The Palestinian political analyst points out that the Fatah movement does not care about the outcomes of the Moscow agreement, and is trying to anticipate the results of the war in Gaza and act as if Hamas has already been weakened.

Fatah is trying to exploit the weakening of Hamas politically, strategically and nationally, and this is what complicates the internal Palestinian scene and increases the state of division, according to Al-Akka. But on the other hand, Al-Harazin asserts that the Palestinian leadership wants to save what can be saved from the conditions of the Palestinian people.

There are those who seek to achieve their interests only, after they took the Palestinian people on an adventure and gamble that they did not consult anyone before undertaking, which brought destruction and disasters to the Palestinians, according to Al-Harazin. According to the Palestinian political analyst, they now want to have the largest role in forming the government, in search of their personal and private interests.

Some of them, if their name was put forward as prime minister or minister, would agree to the government because private personal interests are what control their dealing with matters, according to Al-Harazin. The Palestinian political analyst believes that Hamas and its allies have special interests and personal goals and are dependent on foreign agendas, thus destroying the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian cause.

As for Al-Ghoul, he confirms that Netanyahu rejects the presence of Hamas and Fatah in the Gaza Strip, but there are other Israeli convictions about the possibility of the existence of another Palestinian authority close to the reformist movement led by Muhammad Dahlan. But Hamas "always runs forward and does not retreat," and despite the state of hunger, the humanitarian crisis, and the overwhelming popular anger in the Gaza Strip, the movement "is not concerned with these matters and considers them secondary, and a necessary tax," as the Palestinian political analyst explains.

Therefore, Hamas calls on people to endure until the war ends, because the movement believes that things will change in its favor, and it will have a role in shaping the future of post-war Palestine, and managing Palestinian affairs in general, according to Al-Ghoul. Since the bloody fighting between members of the Fatah and Hamas movements in the summer of 2007, Hamas has been alone in controlling the Gaza Strip, which is inhabited by two million and three hundred thousand Palestinians. While the presence of the Palestinian Authority is limited to the West Bank occupied by Israel.

Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Arab and international efforts have so far failed to reconcile it with the Fatah movement, which forms the backbone of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians want the two areas to be the basis for the establishment of their independent state in the future, and Hamas said that any attempt to exclude it from the political scene after the war is an illusion.

Al-Ajrami believes that what is happening is harmful to the Palestinian cause, and there is a need for national consensuses on all issues. The issue is not only related to the government. The issue relates to the future of the entire Palestinian issue, and there is an urgent need for comprehensive national unity, and if things remain as they are and differences persist, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will not be unified, according to Al-Ajrami.

The former Minister of Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs confirms that this division means " losing the opportunity to establish an independent Palestinian state," although this option became more realistic after the Gaza War. If the Palestinians do not unite within a specific framework and overcome divisions, the Palestinian people will face a real impasse, according to Al-Ajrami.

For his part, Al-Akka points out that the increasing state of Palestinian division is putting pressure on the overall perceptions of the political horizon, the two-state solution, the future of the Gaza Strip, the unification of institutions and the process of managing reconstruction and peoples relief. There is no Palestinian party capable alone of carrying out these tasks, even the government itself, and Hamas will not allow any party to operate in the Gaza Strip without its approval, according to Al-Akka.

The security services or the Palestinian Authority will not be able to return to the Gaza Strip without agreement with Hamas and if the movement is not part of some agreement on the future of governance in the Strip, according to the Palestinian political analyst, He points out that Hamas still exists and exists in Gaza, and the movement has not been destroyed, annihilated or eliminated, and the war is not over yet.

In a recent warning, a security official told a Hamas-linked news site that attempts by tribal or community leaders to cooperate with Israel's plans to administer Gaza would be considered "treason" and would be met with an "iron fist." But the movement denied media reports that it had killed some local tribal leaders in the past few days for interfering in the distribution of aid, according to Reuters.

Al-Akka confirms that the lack of agreement with Hamas may open the way for an internal Palestinian conflict, asking: Who will be the party that wants to come to the Gaza Strip and enter into a conflict with Hamas? But Al-Ghoul rules out that proposal, and says: There will be no escalation or internal Palestinian armed conflict, similar to what happened in 2007.

The Palestinian political analyst attributes this to the fact that the current priority is "alleviating hunger and a ceasefire" in Gaza. Al-Ghoul believes that Hamas is trying to reach a ceasefire, and if that happens, many negative phenomena will disappear, most notably the armed gangs that rob aid in northern Gaza. If a "ceasefire" is agreed upon, Hamas will be able to rearrange its situation again in the Gaza Strip and the "chaos" will end, according to the Palestinian political analyst. Hamas presented to the mediators and the United States a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza that includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, including 100 who are sentenced to life imprisonment, according to Reuters.

The British website Middle East Eye published an article by its editor-in-chief, David Hirst, in which he pointed out that all signs confirm that the Israeli occupation entity has suffered a strategic defeat in its ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip. Hirst demonstrated his proposal by pointing out the existence of countless obstacles facing the occupying entity, from the loss of Western public opinion to the extreme anxiety that has become among its supporters. Below is the translation of excerpts from the article:

"Rabbi Eliyahu Mali, head of the Jewish school in Jaffa, who said, The basic principle that we have is that when we live the holy war of the commandment, in this case Gaza, according to the judges voice, you will not leave a single soul alive. The meaning is very clear. If you don't kill them first, they will kill you. The terrorists of today and the children of the past, who survive. The reality is that women are the ones who create these terrorists. What this means is that the definition of "not a soul left alive" is very clear in "The Bible. It's either you or them." So the Torah is clear about the need to kill women and children, he claims.

"But what about the elderly? This was a question asked by an audience member to the rabbi, who claimed: There are no innocent people. The same applies to the elderly who have the ability to carry weapons. The Torah is also very clear in the book. In Gaza, according to the estimates of the security forces, 95-98 "Percent want to destroy us, and that's the majority. The same goes [for children]. If you leave them alive, don't try to learn the Torah."

"Perhaps this is why other soldiers recently congratulated a comrade who killed an unarmed elderly man with hearing and speech difficulties, who had his hands raised in his bedroom. The soldier said, describing what happened: We opened the door, and he trembled. He walked towards me and did this (waving his hands). I killed him with four bullets. A colleague of his asked him in a video clip posted on the X website: And was he the only one? "I don't know. We don't have time. Maybe there were others. There was another room. We didn't have time."

"Video clips show Israeli soldiers talking among themselves. They largely seem to have contempt for what the rest of the world might think, and are oblivious to the impact these clips are having around the world. But the world is watching.

"For 75 years, the Western world remained indifferent. But this war forces the Western supporters of the Israeli occupation entity to see the horrific crimes committed in a campaign that they described five months ago as just. Even the progressive critic of the occupation entity, US Senator Bernie Sanders, said five months ago that the war against Hamas is just.

"The level of brutality and glee that Israeli soldiers display when they go on a daily killing spree, starving Gaza, then dropping leaflets in Arabic telling Palestinians they must feed the needy, killing 400 people waiting for aid, and then vowing to flood Gaza with aid, all of this is too much to sweep under the rug. When this war stops.

"The limit has been crossed. With this war, the Israeli occupation entity entered the elite class of rogue states. She has become the ugliest of ugliness, and it is impossible to forgive her. It cannot be justified, and the matter cannot be put into any context. The whole operation carried out in Gaza is atrocious. Liberal Zionism has become a contradictory phrase. It's unbelievable.

"By acting in this way, the Israeli occupation entity has turned not into a homeland for the suffering people who have suffered persecution around the world for thousands of years, but into the Fort Knox of Jewish racial supremacy, the natural heir of white supremacists. This has a hugely transformative impact on the Jewish people around the world, in whose name and in the name of their shared past these crimes are being committed.

"The short, heartfelt cries of Jonathan Glazer, director of the film Space of Interest, did not come out of nowhere when he said in his Oscar acceptance speech: We stand here as men who refute their Judaism and the Holocaust, which is hijacked by an occupation that has led to conflict, devouring many innocents. The same cry, Not in our name, is echoed by thousands of young Jews who go out to demonstrate every weekend in London in order to stop the war in Gaza.

"Recently, a Jewish activist working with the Naamud Britain group named Emily said: I think our society is witnessing a quiet awakening, and I see this as evidence that the bloc is constantly growing, the movement is continuing to grow, and grassroots organizations are growing day by day. I have never been as sure as I am today that I will see a free Palestine.

"When asked about her opinion on her governments attempts to classify these marches as the work of extremists, she said: I am tired of being told by non-Jewish people how I, as a Jewish person, should feel. I am tired of being told that I should feel afraid while these marches take place. "It's largely peaceful, and the people who participate in it are very kind and grateful to us. This actually proves how ignorant there is of Jewish opinion outside their very small Zionist bubble."

"This is where true leadership is found. It's on the streets, not inside Parliament. These are the lions. As for our political leaders, they are donkeys. The Israeli occupation entity and its defenders have every right to be horrified by what a new generation of American and British Jews is telling them. Over the past eight decades, the Israeli occupation entity has managed a consensus around its existence, its identity, and its purpose that was stronger than all the weapons, money, and Jewish immigrants it received.

"The weaker this consensus, the more the occupation loses its influence in Western power centers. And here we see the compulsive addiction to supporting the Israeli occupation entity turning the tables on the attempts of the West itself to convince itself that it is a moral force, a force for good in the world.

"According to the latest definition of extremism by the British government, it has become right to support a government that flouts the genocide treaty, starves the population suffering under the yoke of occupation, and kills unarmed mothers and children as it pleases, while extremism is protesting against all of this through marches organized in the streets of London.

"It is left to countries such as South Africa to guide Britain in the right direction. Here is South Africa announcing its intention to prosecute its citizens who return to the country after fighting in the ranks of the Israeli army. It will take a period of time to erode it, but after what is happening in Gaza, the continued ability of the Israeli occupation entity to dominate every one of the major political parties in the West will not be guaranteed in the future. It will not be able to dictate the definition of anti-Semitism, nor will it guarantee the money that ambitious Western politicians need.

"Today, every Conservative or Labor politician who aspires to reach the highest position must - almost by necessity - belong to the Friends of the Israeli Occupation entity, that club that imposes its influence on every one of the political parties. However, this may not be the case for future generations of politicians.

"Jewish academic opposition to the occupation has become strong and vocal. It is no longer correct to describe it as marginal. The occupation is now beginning to lose the global Jewish voice. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to keep this war going for as long as possible are not receiving help from within.

"Two senior members of the War Cabinet openly defied the Prime Minister's wishes. The first act of public defiance came from Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who announced that he would agree to introduce a new military service law only if the National Unity Party, headed by Knesset member Benny Gantz, agreed on how to regulate the exemption that religious school students enjoy from compulsory service.

"What Gallant actually did was give Gantz veto power over the law on which funding for religious schools, whose students refuse to join military service, depends. Without this law, religious parties will withdraw from the coalition, which will lead to the collapse of the government.

"The second action came from Gantz, who has made government-sanctioned visits to both the United States and Britain, to the point that Netanyahu ordered his embassies in both countries not to cooperate. But Netanyahu's political weakness has reached such an extent that he can no longer expel Gantz or Gallant from the government.

"Netanyahu received a third blow during the same period, which did not exceed a few weeks, from the recent statement issued by the chief rabbi of the Sephardic Jews, Yitzhak Yosef, who said that if the government imposed compulsory military service on religious groups, they would leave the Israeli occupation entity en masse. An article published by The Jerusalem Post denounced Rabbi Yosef. The author of the article considered that the rabbi's words represented an insult to the soldiers who risk their lives in Gaza.

"The powers possessed by the Israeli warlord are diminishing, and he can no longer manage the war as he wishes. Also, the balance of power between the occupation and Hamas is not as settled as it seemed at first glance.

"There is no doubt that the military campaign has weakened Hamas' capabilities as a fighting force in Gaza, although members of the leadership in Gaza are still constantly passing a message to the political wing in Doha and Beirut that they are confident that they have the ability to continue, according to what he claims. Another indication of their confidence that they have the ability to shape the future of Palestine and its leadership is the list of prisoners who must be liberated in exchange for the remaining Israeli prisoners.

"The list includes Marwan Barghouti, a leader in the Fatah movement who was sentenced to five life terms and forty years in prison for his role in the second intifada, Ahmed Saadat, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Abdullah Barghouti, a military leader in Hamas, and Ibrahim Hamed, one of the leaders of the second intifada.

"If any of these men were released, the effect that would result would be to reshape the Palestinian leadership at the level of all factions, national, secular, and Islamic. For the Palestinians, this would be a huge political resurgence. It will also mean the inevitable end of the Palestinian Authority cooperating with the power that occupies them.

"For the occupation, the release of these men could provide a real opportunity to negotiate an end to the conflict. But only men like Ami Ayalon, the former head of Shin Bet, realize this point. Instead, the war government's idea was to install another PA agent, Majid Faraj, in charge of Gaza. However, Faraj's mission is doomed to failure before it begins, and therefore, if he were wise, he should have rejected such a poisonous offer.

"Netanyahu's weakness strongly affects the Western political elites that support and arm the Israeli occupation entity. US President Joe Biden's disagreement with Netanyahu has become well known and in full view of the public. The American president, who said eloquently five months ago that Israel has every right to defend itself, now says that it cannot kill another 30,000 Palestinians in the name of self-defense.

"Biden is now facing the consequences of giving the occupation the green light to invade Gaza after the Hamas attack on October 7. These consequences are essentially electoral. The Biden team was shocked by the volume of noncommittal sound. Hundreds of thousands of voters across the United States voted for no candidate in the Democratic nominations on Super Tuesday, at a time when the movement urging voters to vote non-compliant, in protest of Biden's handling of the war in Gaza, is growing. This could cost him dearly in the general election in November.

"This year, Biden's Ramadan greetings were particularly warm. But Arab Americans don't want hugs, they want to see a change in policy. Biden still supports only a temporary ceasefire, not a permanent one. He did not threaten to stop arms supplies. However, we witnessed a deliberate change in tone. Take Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States, who was vocal in his support of the occupation after the Hamas attack five months ago. On Thursday, Schumer warned that the occupation entity could not survive if it became a rogue state on a global level, as he put it.

"Schumer accused Netanyahu of putting his political survival before the national interest, and said that he had exaggerated his tolerance for the killing of civilians in Gaza, which pushed the support enjoyed by the Israeli occupation entity globally to the lowest levels. The loss of public opinion in the West, the continuation of the genocide case at the International Court of Justice, the erosion of the Jewish consensus, and the restlessness and anxiety of the supporters of the Israeli occupation entity - all these elements indicate a strategic defeat that the occupation will suffer.

"Even if the war stopped now, the price that the Zionist entity paid to reoccupy Gaza would be much higher than what it would have paid five months ago. But he still doesn't realize it. And he will."

Robert Inlakesh, Political Analyst, Journalist, and Documentary Filmmaker, aregued: "With the Zionist regime as its proxy, the US government is pursuing a policy of attempting to crush the entire population of Gaza with the belief that this will inflict a strategic defeat on the regional Axis of Resistance. This strategy represents what could be Washingtons final bid to reassert American dominance over West Asia and dismantle governing forces indigenous to the region.

"When we talk of the collective West, we are really discussing a tyrannical empire with its headquarters in Washington DC. It should be clear by now that the European nations are not independent in any meaningful sense, and the interests of their governing officials are those of the corporate elites. The Israelis are also in this fold and, evidently, hold considerable power through their extensive multi-national lobbying campaigns, yet in this case have become the convenient proxy force and attack dog to prove a point to the Global South.

"If one is to look into mega-corporations in the West, the likes of Vanguard and Blackrock to name a few, it quickly becomes obvious that their interests are inherently intertwined as they quite literally own each other and are therefore working for their own collective success as mega-corporations.

"Why talk about mega-corporations when assessing US foreign policy in West Asia? Because The West as we know it is no more than a collection of mega-corporations to begin with. Its democratic elections have been revealed to be shams, as all viable candidates work for the donor class and not the people who vote for them. Even the experts that Western politicians trust to shape policy for them are directly financed by the same corporate elites, with every major think tank that helps frame the opinions of advisors being on the same payroll. If we are to look at the World Economic Forum (WEF)s new modus operandi, we will see that "Stakeholder Capitalism" is now the flavor of the day. Stakeholder Capitalism is in essence allowing corporations to openly influence social norms and shape both domestic and foreign policy.

"The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), which serves as the US response to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, depends on allowing corporations to take the driving seat as proposed by the WEF for instance. This is the natural evolution of the Western Empire, which has managed to pacify the populations living under the tyrannical control of the Capitalist elites. They entertain their rising desire for political engagement through divisive surface-level political issues; usually weaponizing identity politics that result in chicken or egg arguments, effecting no tangible change in the political systems of Western nations.

"The Zionist project came as a result of European antisemitism and served as a perfect political movement to turn an inter-European conflict into an imperialist alliance. It was promoted in literature, then in the form of a settler-colonial movement, a specific kind of typical European colonial supremacy, in this case, the notion of White Jewish supremacy woven into a synthetic nationalism. Although this project ended up having issues with elements of the Western imperial system, namely the British during their Mandate of occupied Palestine, this began to change in 1956 with the tripartite invasion of Egypt; which saw the Israelis, British, and French launch a joint war. By 1967, the Zionist project had fully integrated itself as a loyal member of the Western imperial system and now serves as a vanguard to the US Blackrock.

"Instead of viewing the policies of Western nations as representing any kind of desire to serve the interests of the working people that reside there, we must remove the notion that any of these governments work on behalf of the populations that reside in these countries. Instead, they must be viewed in the same manner that Arab regimes like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are, in that they may occasionally take their populations into consideration but ultimately serve an agenda that works to the benefit of the despotic ruling elites. In the case of the Western empire, they pursue global dominance and seek to undermine indigenous self-determination, because this represents the single greatest threat to their tyranny.

"When Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, it dealt a mighty blow to the heart of the US Empire, as it shattered the illusion of Western invincibility and smashed the regional agenda that was being promoted from Washington. The Zionist entity uses the most sophisticated and newest Western military equipment, works to divide the entire region, and forces it to bow to the demands of the Western empire. This equipment was proven useless in the face of an indigenous military force that had been under a comprehensive siege for 17 years. They dismantled the regional ambitions of the Western empire and their New Middle East vision that was outlined by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the United Nations General Assembly in September of last year.

"What Hamas has also done since is destroy the propaganda surrounding the Western empire's global agenda, also awakening an anti-war movement throughout the collective West - with the exception of the Zionist entity - that has channeled the genuine rising anger at the betrayal of the working people. The racist assumptions about the Palestinian people have come back to bite the Western empire, and so too has the dehumanizing rhetoric that they believed would work on a younger generation who do not carry the same biases as the past generations when it comes to race/ethnicity/religion.

"Realizing the catastrophic defeat it suffered due to its miscalculations and arrogance, the US is now determined to crush the people of Gaza from which this act of defiance rose. The mere fact that a population of 2.3 million, most of whom are refugees, contained in a concentration camp only 141 square miles in size, refused to bow down and instead opted for freedom or martyrdom, has triggered what Washington has decided will be a genocidal attack on all of them. This barbaric act of savagery is not just about Gaza, it is a message to the entire Axis of Resistance and the wider Global South. The US is saying, if you dare to challenge us, this is what we will do to you.

"The Zionist entity is only the proxy for this war, and the people of the Gaza Strip are to be made an example out of, under the US empire's vision. When the right-wing fascist Zionist militants were set on the people of Gaza, it was clear what they were sent there to do, and if the US didnt approve, none of this would have occurred.

"Unfortunately, there are no level-headed leaders in the West, because the government officials are simply willing actors in a game of chess and they simply represent its pieces on the board. This is why they are of the view that Gaza must be defeated, it must be starved, its children and women must be slaughtered, its intellects have to be purged, and it must be reduced to a wasteland. It is no coincidence that we hear World War II invoked frequently by Western leaders and Zionists because they are sending the message to the world that they are taking us back to an era where there was no international law or united nations, a world in which the geneva conventions were not there to prevent or punish actions like the dropping of atomic bombs.

"Although they may not seek an immediate path to a direct war with Iran and its allies, constituting the Axis of Resistance, it appears as if they are willing to risk it in order to inflict a defeat on the Palestinian people in Gaza. The only wildcard now is what the Axis of Resistance will do in order to ensure the Western empire is defeated on the battleground of Gaza. The US may attempt to score a victory by proxy and impose its will in a post-war Gaza, by restricting the desperately needed reconstruction, political solution for the territory, and aid introduction, instead of imposing a normalization plan, but this will ultimately fail. We are on a path toward a decisive victory for one side or the other at this current moment, and the only thing that will stop this is if the US realizes that even if it was to reach victory, it would be a pyrrhic victory and decide instead to back down. Yet, the arrogance of the West which led it to this position does not seem to have faded and reality may never set in."

Allied for Democracy

Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionism party, Bezalel Smotrich, has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent Israel's negotiating team from departing for Qatar for talks on a hostage deal with Hamas. Smotrich's demand comes in response to Hamas's recent rejection of a proposed hostage deal outline, where they demanded the release of up to 1,000 security prisoners. Smotrich asserted that previous attempts to find a resolution through talks in Paris and Qatar had failed, reinforcing his opposition to further negotiations. He criticized what he described as a "delusional Hamas stance" and argued that those advocating for a deal within the war cabinet and security establishments had lost their way.

"Netanyahu must order the delegation to remain in Israel," Smotrich emphasized. "The IDF should enter Rafah immediately and escalate military pressure until Hamas is dismantled. Only then can we ensure the safe return of the hostages." Smotrich's call highlights the growing frustration within some quarters of the Israeli government over the stalled negotiations with Hamas.

Israeli affairs researcher Saad Nimr confirmed that the Israeli military and security side is demanding that Netanyahu have a truce in order to rearrange the Israeli internal situation, while Netanyahu wants to recover the prisoners and continue the war. In an interview with Al-Alam News Channel for the With the Event program, Saad Nimr indicated that the Prime Minister of the occupying entity is now in a state of trouble, whether from internal or external pressures. The expanded cabinet meeting, which includes parties allied with Netanyahu, is pressing for the continuation of the war and not to go towards a deal.

He added: Now all reports in the war council indicate that the Israeli military and security side is demanding - even under the table - Netanyahu that there be at least a truce, in order to rearrange the affairs of the army and to rearrange the Israeli internal situation, specifically the situation of the Israeli forces in Gaza, which are suffering a lot of losses. Losses... Therefore, the war council may be closer to going towards a deal. He pointed out that Netanyahu wants to take the Israeli prisoners held by the resistance and continue the war however he wants, and to have an open hand in this area, and this is the biggest disagreement, not the number of prisoners. Saad Nimr added: The important issue is not agreeing to a ceasefire and going towards a long-term truce in which the Israeli prisoners are taken.

He said: The American side also has a very clear position. The deep state in the United States of America will not abandon Israel. If America wants, it can put pressure on Israel, but so far it does not want to put pressure on Israel. Biden can, in half an hour, stop the war. Now...but the issue is whether he wants that and does the deep state in America want that.

Israeli TV N12 reported Minister Gideon Sa'ar shook the political arena this week when he announced his split from Benny Gantz's State Camp party, and its actual dissolution. This evening (Saturday) in the first interview with "Meet the Press" since the surprising announcement, Sa'ar harshly criticized the conduct of the war, emphasized that he has no intention of returning to Likud and talked about the ultimatum he gave Netanyahu: "If I don't join the war cabinet within a few days - I will retire."

With the announcement of his retirement, Sa'ar demanded to join the War Cabinet alongside his former partners Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, in order to participate in decision-making. At this stage his demand has not yet been met, but the former chairman of his party and member of the cabinet Benny Gantz had time to express his opposition to his inclusion and explained that "there is no reason to change what is working well".

In the interview, Sa'ar explained the ideological differences between him and his former partners in the state camp, and demonstrated this in Benny Gantz's decision to be absent from the vote on the removal of MK Ofer Kasif from the Knesset. Regarding Minister Benny Gantz's decision to prevent his inclusion in the cabinet, Sa'ar said that "there is a clear line between October to march Then he wanted me in the cabinet, now he doesn't." According to him, in an attempt to prevent him from splitting from the state camp, Benny Gantz even offered him 8 seats in the joint party.

Sa'ar accused the cabinet of mismanaging the war and the IDF's "shuffling" in the Gaza Strip. "Day by day we are moving further away from victory," he said. There is no organized plan according to what I understand to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, there is no control over the income of humanitarian aid. Is it reasonable that we did not complete the occupation phase for five months? The management of the army's personnel is in the hands of the Chief of Staff, but the prolongation of the war is because the north must be held at the same time. In the international arena, it does not get any easier."

According to Sa'ar, in a conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he presented him with a clear ultimatum: "If I do not join the war cabinet within a few days, I will resign." He further explained: "I said that I will stay in the government as long as I can influence and the direction will be right. I want the possibility to try to influence. Outside of the war cabinet, I cannot influence."

Sa'ar reiterated that he will not return to support Binyamin Netanyahu, even after the war. "I will not support him for the position of prime minister in the next election either," he said. "Ganz just like me sits in the government with him, both Lieberman and Lapid agreed to sit in the government with him under such and such conditions. The country needs reform and I am consistent in my views. I will say it slowly to be clear - I am not returning to Likud." According to him, he will continue to support the early elections to end the war.

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

73,546 Gazans injured, 28% adult male

40,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble

33,000 Gaza targets attacked

31,553 Gazans martyred

15,000 rocket launched from Gaza

14,750 Israelis were injured [i24 TV]

13,430 Gazan children martyred

13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]

12,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]

11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023

9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons

9,000 IDF psychological assistance

9,000 Gazan women martyred

8,000 Gazans missing

7,500 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th

6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]

5,500 IDF wounded [reports]

4,700 West Bank Palestinians wounded

3,484 administrative detainees

3,400 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria

2,976 IDF wounded [IDF]

1,609 terrorists killed on the first day

1,500 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas

1,200 Israelis killed on the first day

575 Israeli officers and soldiers killed

433 West Bank Palestinians martyred

247 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza

222 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon

126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers

116 living hostages in Palestinian custody

50 civilians killed in Lebanon

29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire"

15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel

Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case.

The Palestinian resistance says that the losses of the Israeli forces are much greater than what is announced. Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel cannot represent the truth, due to a discrepancy between the Israeli armys data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself.

In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the Best Saying program on RT channel, The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive.

He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation."

He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear."

Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza.

Abraham Wyner, Professor of Statistics and Data Science at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, reported 06 March 2024 that : "While the evidence is not dispositive, it is highly suggestive that a process unconnected or loosely connected to reality was used to report the numbers.... Another red flag, raised by Salo Aizenberg and written about extensively, is that if 70% of the casualties are women and children and 25% of the population is adult male, then either Israel is not successfully eliminating Hamas fighters or adult male casualty counts are extremely low. This by itself strongly suggests that the numbers are at a minimum grossly inaccurate and quite probably outright faked.... Taken together, Hamas is reporting not only that 70% of casualties are women and children but also that 20% are fighters. This is not possible unless Israel is somehow not killing noncombatant men, or else Hamas is claiming that almost all the men in Gaza are Hamas fighters....

"Israel estimates that at least 12,000 fighters have been killed. If that number proves to be even reasonably accurate, then the ratio of noncombatant casualties to combatants is remarkably low: at most 1.4 to 1 and perhaps as low as 1 to 1. By historical standards of urban warfare, where combatants are embedded above and below into civilian population centers, this is a remarkable and successful effort to prevent unnecessary loss of life while fighting an implacable enemy that protects itself with civilians."

This makes perfect sense under a third possibility, namely that the IDF doing a really good job of targeting male combatants, most of whom are in proximity to their families. There are no HAMAS barracks, so everyone lives at home, en famille. Co-habiting extended families are common [hence reports of dozens of family members killed in a single strike]. The HAMAS battalions are organized by neighborhoods, so it would not be surprising that multiple HAMAS combatants live in a single building. So casualties structured as one male combatant, one female cohabitant, and two children are approximately consistent with both expectations and reports.

Lord Roberts of Belgravia (Con) stated 08 February 2024 "My Lords, even if we were to take as accurate Hamass statistics and the 27,500 figure  there is no reason why we should; we do not do that with Putin or ISIS  if one subtracts the number of Gazans who have been killed by the quarter or so of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas rockets that fall short, one is left with a less than 2:1 ratio of civilians to Hamas terrorists killed, of whom there have been more than 9,000 so far. War is hell, and every individual civilian death is a tragedy, but  I speak as a military historian  less than 2:1 is an astonishingly low ratio for modern urban warfare where the terrorists routinely use civilians as human shields. It is a testament to the professionalism, ethics and values of the Israel Defense Forces."

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China, Angola upgrade ties as presidents hold talks

Global Times

Cooperation plans for jointly building BRI, documents in agriculture, green devt signed to boost cooperation

By GT staff reporters Published: Mar 15, 2024 10:18 PM Updated: Mar 15, 2024 11:56 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Beijing on Friday, when the two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Analysts hailed the upgrade of bilateral relations, saying it would further boost China-Angola cooperation, especially in trade and business, and also inject new impetus into China-Africa cooperation this year.

While meeting with President Lourenco on Friday, President Xi noted that China and Angola jointly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year and relations between the two countries have stood the test of international vicissitudes and benefitted the two peoples.

China supports Angola in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, and realizing national development and revitalization, he said.

China is also willing to strengthen exchanges of governance experience with Angola, upgrade bilateral strategic relations, and jointly promote the modernization process of each country, Xi noted.

President Lourenco said that the friendly relations between the two countries have maintained a high level of development, and China's support and cooperation have greatly promoted Angola's infrastructure construction and economic and social development, setting an example of mutually beneficial cooperation.

After the meeting, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of cooperation plans for jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as economy, trade, agriculture and green development.

The Friday meeting holds great significance for bilateral relations between China and Angola, with a focus on enhancing the quality of business and trade cooperation, Song Wei, a professor from the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times.

During his visit to China, President Lourenco not only visited Beijing but also included Shandong Province in his itinerary, as highlighted by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a press conference on March 12.

Shandong Province, known for its rapid development in agriculture and pharmaceuticals, presents promising opportunities for cooperation with Angola. Such cooperation could also help the country, a major importer of food and agricultural goods, to develop its own agricultural industries and improve food security, said Song.

The enhanced relations have also been hailed by people in Angola. Luis Cupenala, president of the Angola-China Chamber of Commerce (CAC), said in an interview with the Xinhua News Agency that President Lourenco's China trip will "renew the vigor in bilateral relations," adding "our expectation is to mobilize more investment and cooperation, especially from private sectors to our country in agriculture, industrialization, and sustainable development."

Song noted that President Lourenco has been actively promoting reforms in Angola since taking office, drawing inspiration from China's development experience to drive domestic economic growth and modernization.

The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Angola also dispels the notion propagated by some Western media of China engaging in "debt trap diplomacy" in Africa, analysts said.

China has played a crucial role in supporting Angola's development in recent years, particularly through infrastructure projects undertaken by Chinese companies. These projects have significantly improved the business environment in Angola, laying the groundwork for attracting foreign investment and diversifying the country's industrial base beyond its reliance on oil, said Song.

President Lourenco's visit to China, following the successful conclusion of China's "two sessions," also underscores the strong friendship and exchanges between China and Africa, said analysts, who anticipated increased interactions between China and African countries in 2024.

During the meeting with President Lourenco, President Xi also pointed out that China is a reliable friend and sincere partner for African countries in safeguarding independence, promoting development and revitalization.

China is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with Angola and other African countries to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, advocate for equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.

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So-called 'forced labor' in Xinjiang is one of the most notorious laws of the 21st century, aiming to destabilize Xinjiang: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 15, 2024 07:00 PM

The US' so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) is one of the most notorious laws of the 21st century. It is essentially a tool used by US politicians to destabilize Xinjiang and curb China's development, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday, responding to US suspension of garment imports from the Philippines on suspicion that cotton used is involved in "forced labor" in Xinjiang.

So-called "forced labor" in Xinjiang is the lie of the century concocted by anti-China forces to create forced unemployment and poverty in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday during a routine press conference.

"Such a lie is a tool used by US politicians to destabilize Xinjiang and curb China's development," said Wang.



Wang shared several examples during the press conference, which clearly showed that what the US has done on Xinjiang violated human rights under the banner of "human rights protection."

One example was a private clothing company in Xinjiang, which employed more than 2,200 people as of the end of 2018, with ethnic minority employees accounting for more than 95 percent. However, due to the impact of the US and Western sanctions, the main partners of the company have cancelled all orders in 2019, resulting in direct losses of over 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) and a reduction in employees to less than 500 people. At present, most of the factory and equipment owned by the enterprise remains idle, and it is barely able to maintain its operation through domestic orders.

Another example is a Xinjiang hair ornament production enterprise which saw its order volume decrease by 40 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, after being sanctioned by the US. The company's production and operations have continued to deteriorate.

While it used to produce 50 million hair ornament products annually, with an annual export volume reaching $30 million in 2022, it also made a great contribution to solving local employment.

Wang also cited a villager living in Xinjiang's Kashi, who found a job in a wholly foreign-funded enterprise doing trade in Central China's Hunan in September 2019, with a monthly salary of 5,000 yuan. In 2020, due to the impact of the US sanctions, the enterprise canceled the labor contract with the villager, which forced the villager to return to his/her hometown to make a living, and the monthly income was greatly reduced.

In addition, for the sake of so-called compliance, some US companies have unilaterally terminated the supply of medical products purchased from Xinjiang, seriously affecting the right to life and health of the Xinjiang people, Wang noted.

"Facts have proved that the so-called UFLPA is in essence a tool used by US politicians to destabilize Xinjiang and curb China's development. It not only seriously infringes on the human rights of the people in Xinjiang, but also seriously disrupts the stability of the global industrial and supply chain, and seriously undermines international economic and trade rules. It is one of the most notorious evil laws of the 21st century," the spokesperson said.

Wang also called on the international community to firmly resist the wrongful actions of the US, which smears other countries, interferes in their internal affairs, oppresses their enterprises and stifles their development under the pretext of "human rights." China will continue to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

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China will remain staunch force for peace, stability, progress of world

People's Daily Online

By He Yin (People's Daily) 10:14, March 15, 2024

During the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also known as the "two sessions," the international community showed great interest in and gave positive evaluations on China's foreign policy and future international relations.

The world landscape today is undergoing profound transformation, and human society is confronted with multiple challenges. In this changing and turbulent international environment, China will remain a staunch force for peace, stability and progress of the world.

The Chinese foreign service has taken actions to promote international solidarity and cooperation, and offered solutions to various crises and challenges. This showcases China's enhanced international influence, stronger capacity to steer new endeavors, and greater moral appeal in the new era.

China has always been an important force in safeguarding peace and promoting development. It joins hands with relevant parties to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The Central Asian region and the Indochina Peninsula all embraced the vision, and new progress was made in the joint efforts by China and African, ASEAN, Arab, and Latin American and Caribbean countries to realize the same vision.

The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have taken root and borne fruits, injecting important impetus into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

China facilitated the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, setting a new example of political settlement of hotspot issues. It released China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, and engaged extensively with relevant parties through the special envoy of the Chinese government, making active efforts for resuming peace talks and restoring peace.

China has actively promoted peace talks on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and increased humanitarian assistance. China has played a constructive role during its presidency of the United Nations Security Council in advancing a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issueathe first of its kind since the current round of conflict broke out, and released the Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.

China, as a major country committed to maintaining peace and promoting development, has contributed stability, certainty, and positive energy to the complex world.

China has always been an important force in pursuing solidarity and cooperation. The country is committed to building a new type of international relations and to consolidating and expanding the global network of partnerships.

China actively promotes coordination and cooperation among major countries. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has been moving forward on a high level. At the meeting between the Chinese and U.S. heads of state in San Francisco, the two sides reached common understandings and charted the course for stabilizing the China-U.S. relationship and bringing it back on the track of sound development. China and the EU relaunched exchanges and dialogue across the board at all levels.

Acting on the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendships and partnerships with its neighbors, China strives to enhance its ties with its neighboring countries. Last year, it successfully hosted the China-Central Asia Summit.

Guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith and with a commitment to the greater good and shared interests, China endeavors to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries. Last year, the BRICS mechanism achieved a historic expansion.

The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will celebrate its 20th anniversary. The China-CELAC Forum will count 10 years of productive cooperation. Another Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit will take place in China this coming autumn. China looks forward to continuing to promote unity and cooperation among developing countries to augment the strength of the South.

China has always been an important force in promoting openness and inclusiveness. China is committed to building a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, which meets the common needs of all countries, especially the developing countries, and properly addresses the development imbalances between and within countries resulting from the global allocation of resources.

China believes it is important to resolutely oppose the attempt to roll back globalization and abuse the concept of security, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, firmly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, overcome the structural problems hindering the healthy development of the world economy, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.

China is increasing its investment in global development cooperation to help other developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development. It is ushering in a second golden decade of Belt and Road cooperation with relevant parties, hoping that high-quality Belt and Road cooperation will serve as an engine for the common development of all countries and an accelerator for the modernization of the whole world.

China has always been an important force in upholding justice. China, as a responsible major country, has always upheld justice and stood up for fairness. It practices true multilateralism and advances democracy in international relations. All countries, regardless of their size, should be treated as equals. Each and every country should have its place in the global multipolar system and can play its due role.

China advocates for an equal and orderly multipolar world. An equal multipolar world means equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal rules for every nation. An orderly multipolar world means all should observe the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and uphold the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations.

China has resolutely opposed hegemonism and power politics, resolutely pushed back against a handful of countries' attempt to dominate international affairs, demanded increased representation and say of developing countries in the global governance system, firmly upheld the common and legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and made the international order more just and equitable.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the 70th anniversary of the initiation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Acting with vision and greater enterprise, China will work together with all countries to shoulder the responsibilities of the times, jointly rise to the challenges, and usher in an even better and brighter future for our world.

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Senior Chinese official says Beijing intends to boost ties with Tehran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries has sent a congratulatory message to the Iran-China Friendship Association on the occasion of the Persian New Year, emphasizing the importance of promoting cooperation between the two countries.

Yang Wanming sent his message on Saturday three days before the start of the Persian New Year known as Nowruz, felicitating the Iranian people on the occasion as well.

He said that the association will hold its 15th session in Beijing in the coming months, expressing hope that the meeting would serve as an opportunity to deepen the long-running friendship between Iran and China and make fruitful the strategic cooperation between the two sides.

4194

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China rejects ill-founded U.S. petition against its shipbuilders

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:27, March 16, 2024

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The latest petition from five U.S. labor unions requesting the Biden Administration to review China's so-called subsidies for its shipbuilders has prompted a backlash from China, calling the move ill-founded and hazardous.

Under a so-called section 301 case, the unions urged the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to take measures, including the imposition of port fees on Chinese-built ships that dock at U.S. ports, despite there being no such precedent, and the creation of a fund with contributions from the aforementioned fees to help the domestic industry and its workers compete.

ILL-FOUNDED ACCUSATIONS

Chinese legal and industrial experts view the petition as a choreographed move aimed at seeking "remedies" for an industry on the decline, in total disregard of the real causes of the decline, including the evolving global comparative advantages and the lack of skilled U.S. workers.

Employment of marine engineers and naval architects is projected to show "little or no change" from 2022 to 2032 in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, such jobs are expanding in countries including the Republic of Korea and China.

Sun Lei, senior partner with Dentons, said that the current global share of the U.S. shipbuilding industry has declined drastically, but no causal link can be established between the decline and China's industrial policies or subsidies.

After looking into this petition, Sun said that the goal of the U.S. domestic industry may not be to impose tariffs or other taxation measures on China's shipping services or ships, but to urge the U.S. government to increase policy and subsidy support for its domestic shipping and shipbuilding industries.

"I understand there is a need on the U.S. side to adjust its supply chain, but I think the Americans know clearly that it's unrealistic to bring the whole supply chain back," he said. "The problems concerning supply chains need to be solved with all relevant countries, such as the Republic of Korea (another shipbuilding giant)."

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday voiced resolute opposition to the move, saying this unilateral trade protectionism in the shipbuilding sector ignores World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Noting that the U.S. side blames China for its own industrial development problems in the absence of any factual basis, the MOC said that the accusations against China are "totally untenable."

MOC Spokesperson He Yadong told reporters that China pays close attention to this matter and will take all necessary measures to firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests.

Loud objections were also voiced on social media platforms, with some comments on China's Weibo describing the unions' demand of a port fee on Chinese-built ships that dock at U.S. ports as like robbery.

One comment on X stated, "The United States don't get to be No. 1 forever &always &it's not necessarily bad for you to not be." Some have indicated politics at play in an election year in the United States, while others expressed deep worries over the move's potentially hazardous impact on global trade.

Liu Cungen, professor with Shanghai Jiaotong University, attributed the rapid growth of China's shipbuilding industry to the country's technological progress and complete industrial chain.

Cui Fan, professor with the School of International Trade and Economics at the Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics, said that the growth of China's shipbuilding sector was the natural result of China's comparative advantages formed along with the development of global industries over the past decades.

"The production cycle of the shipbuilding industry is long, and it takes a long time for ship businesses to recover costs. In this case, all shipbuilding countries have used export credit measures to a certain extent, which are also allowed by the WTO," Cui was quoted as saying by Yicai, a Shanghai-based business and financial media outlet.

CONCERNS OF HAZARDOUS IMPACT

In an era of increasing uncertainties, experts say, the world's major shipbuilding countries should strengthen solidarity and maintain healthy competition among shipbuilding enterprises, instead of trying to hold back others' development. If the measures are introduced, future orders for new ships will be hit, while freight forwarders will also be greatly affected, experts warn.

In October 2023, a shipbuilding leaders' summit in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, brought together representatives from Japan, Europe, China, the Republic of Korea and the United States. The meeting issued a statement asserting that, faced with multiple challenges and opportunities, all parties believed that the world's major shipbuilding countries should strengthen unity and deepen the sustainable development of the world's shipbuilding industry. It also called for maintaining fair and healthy competition among shipbuilding enterprises.

Sun Lei said that from the supply side, companies in the upstream of the supply chain are closely related to the shipping industry. "From the demand side, for those export companies that rely on Chinese-made ships for international trade, trade remedy measures may lead to an increase in transportation costs and affect the competitiveness of products in the international market, especially the U.S. market."

In the view of experts, the shipbuilding industry needs more cooperation from major shipbuilding countries to cope with challenges such as economic uncertainties, environmental regulations, technical rules and maritime safety.

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North Korean leader inspects drills with call for war preparation

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 6:13 AM

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen paratroop drills, urging the nation's military to make preparations for war.

During his inspection, he urged troops to participate in "realistic and scientific" military training as the best means of preparation for combat, North Korean state media KCNA reported Saturday.

North Korean military drills took place after joint annual drills involving South Korea and the United States wrapped up earlier this week.

The North Korean leader expressed "great satisfaction" with the nation's airborne troops as they "occupied the simulated main enemy military targets at once."

The troops demonstrated "their perfect combat capability to occupy the enemy region at a stroke once an order is issued," he said.

"Only realistic training directly related to warfare can prepare soldiers as real combat fighters," Kim insisted.

Saturday's report on North Korean troops' exercises comes just days after Pyongyang announced that Kim had test-driven a "new-type main battle tank" used in war, which it described as the "most powerful in the world."

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik visited the headquarters of the army's Special Warfare Command during the Seoul-Washington drills earlier this week.

"If Kim Jong-un wages war, you should become the world's strongest special warfare unit that quickly removes the enemy's leadership," Shin said during the visit.

Earlier this week, Washington and Seoul wrapped up their annual large-scale Freedom Shield exercises -- involving missile interception and air assault drills, among others -- with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023.

North Korea sees the annual joint Seoul-Washington drills as a military rehearsal for an invasion of the country.

Pyongyang has declared South Korea as its "principal enemy", threatening to go to war with Seoul over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

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Several Troops Killed In Suicide Attack On Pakistan Military Post

By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal and Ahmad Shah Azami March 16, 2024

Pakistan says seven soldiers were killed and 17 wounded in a militant attack that targeted a sprawling army post in the volatile North Waziristan district near the Afghan border on March 16.

"The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide-bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of a portion of a building," the Pakistani military said in a statement.

Residents in North Waziristan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province said a powerful explosion shook doors and damaged windows at around 6.15 a.m. local time.

The army said five soldiers died in the truck bombing and two officers in the shoot-out that ensued. All six assailants were killed and a clearance operation was still under way in the area, it added.

The army did not name the militant group behind the attack. But a newly formed militant group, Jaish-e Fursan-e Muhammad, claimed responsibility for the assault.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives.

North Waziristan has long been a hotbed of militants operating on both sides of the border. Pakistani officials say attacks have risen in recent months, many of them claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP).

After the Afghan Taliban returned to power following the withdrawal of the U.S.-led forces from the country, many TTP members have reportedly found sanctuary in Afghanistan, using it to launch more frequent attacks on Pakistani troops and civilians.

It has damaged the relationship between Islamabad and the Taliban-led government in Kabul, which denies allowing Afghanistan to be used by militants.

Pakistani military officials have previously claimed that their mop-up operations in North Waziristan cleared the area of Taliban fighters and other militant groups.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-waziristan- militants-attack-base/32864213.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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Suicide Bombers Raid Pakistan Army Base Near Afghan Border, Kill 7

By Ayaz Gul March 16, 2024

Pakistani authorities said Saturday a suicide truck bomb and gun attack on a regional army base near the Afghan border killed at least seven soldiers, including two officers, and wounded many more.

The early morning raid occurred in the volatile North Waziristan border district, where militants linked to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, routinely target security forces.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the raid as a "cowardly action of terrorists," his office said.

A military statement said that a group of six militants, including suicide bombers, assaulted the base in the town of Mir Ali.

"The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of a portion of a building," the statement added. It said that Pakistani troops had quickly engaged and killed all the assailants in the ensuing "intense exchange of fire."

According to area security and hospital sources, the violence injured more than 17 soldiers. The army said its forces had launched a "sanitization operation to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area."

A militant group allied with TTP reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan's military and government officials say TTP and its allies use Afghan sanctuaries to stage cross-border attacks on security forces and civilians.

Pakistan has experienced a dramatic increase in TTP-led militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021. The violence has killed about 2,000 Pakistanis, including police and military personnel.

Taliban authorities deny they allow Afghan soil to be used by militant groups, including TTP, a globally designated terrorist organization. Pakistani officials and recent United Nations reports dispute the Taliban claims.

"In the region and beyond, there are well-founded concerns over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan," Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, told a March 6 U.N. Security Council meeting.

"These concerns have been reflected in the reports of the sanctions monitoring teams. It is not only Daesh that constitutes a threat but also TTP, a major concern for Pakistan, which has seen an increase in terrorist activity," Otunbayeva said.

Daesh is an acronym for the Islamic State, and this militant group is an Afghanistan-based regional IS affiliate that conducts terrorist attacks on both sides of the long border between the two countries.

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Deploying NATO troops in Ukraine could spark World War III, Italian FM warns

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 8:05 AM

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says he does not support deploying NATO troops in Ukraine, warning that the move could spark World War III.

In an interview on Friday, Tajani emphasized the necessity of aiding Ukraine against Russia in their current war, but stressed that sending NATO troops to the ex-Soviet republic to wage war with Russia could ignite yet another world war.

"I don't think NATO should go into Ukraine. Going in and making war on Russia means risking a Third World war," said Tajani, whose country has been a NATO member since 1949.

"We are not at war with Russia, we are providing Kiev with all kinds of military, economic, technical tools, but going to war seems to me to be a mistake, and all Italians - and all people with common sense - do not want this," Italy's top diplomat added.

Tajani's comments came hours after French President Emmanuel Macron stressed in an interview that all options were on the table in support of Ukraine and against Russia, including sending troops to Ukraine.

"We have an objective: Russia cannot and must not win," the French leader said, and when asked whether France - also a NATO member - would deploy troops in Ukraine, he said, "We are not sure we will do it. We are not currently in this situation, but for the moment we are not ruling out the option. I claim to have evoked this possibility."

The French president has said that France could deploy its troops in Ukraine if Russia again begins to advance on Kiev or Odesa.

Currently, there is a rift among NATO members on sending troops to Ukraine. Members such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, and Italy oppose the idea, while some others, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia support it.

Russia has repeatedly warned the West that flooding Ukraine with weapons and munitions will only prolong the conflict, not stopping the Russian troops from reaching their military objective in the region.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin also threatened to use nuclear weapons in case of an existential threat against the Russian Federation.

US running secret influence campaign against Russia: Kremlin

Separately on Thursday, the Kremlin accused Washington of conducting a clandestine influence campaign against Russia, which is holding a presidential election from Friday through Sunday, stressing that Russia's security services had taken action to diminish its impact.

A recent report alleged that former US president Donald Trump had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to launch a clandestine campaign on Chinese social media aimed at turning public opinion in China against its government.

Reacting to the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that the United States was also conducting a similar campaign against Moscow.

"One thing I can say is that we have experienced such activities for many years. The United States and the relevant agencies and intelligence services have been doing the same in our country and are still trying to do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Putin's likely win in the race will allow him to remain in power at least until 2030, longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the eighteenth century.

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Jumeirah Group has appointed Nader Neishabouri as General Manager of the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuwait.

Following a three-month tenure as hotel manager, Neishabouris continues to build on the success of the property while continuing to deliver exceptional experiences to guests in Kuwait, a statement said.

With over 13 years of experience in luxury hospitality and hotel operations across key global markets, Neishabouri is well-equipped to drive operational excellence and innovative service at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa.

His career spans flagship properties in London, where he excelled in both rooms and F&B operations before assuming the position of Director of Operations in 2017.

Since joining Jumeirah Group in August 2022 as Hotel Manager at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, Neishabouri has made a significant impact on the F&B services, revenue, and operations.

Thomas Meier, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group, said: Naders promotion to General Manager at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is testament to our commitment to promoting talent from within the organisation.

His extensive experience in luxury hospitality, combined with a proven track record of enhancing guest satisfaction and operational success, aligns with our Mission 2030 goals of elevating the luxury experience in key markets across the region.

Naders role will be instrumental in driving the growth and reputation of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa and we are confident in his ability to lead the team towards achieving these ambitions as we welcome him in this new chapter.

Neishabouri said: I am honoured to step into the role of General Manager at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa. This appointment represents an incredible opportunity to contribute to the legacy of one of Kuwaits remarkable luxury resorts.

As the Jumeirah brand continues to evolve, I am committed to leveraging my experience to further our mission of delivering exceptional experiences to our guests.

Neishabouri's leadership has already led to significant achievements at Jumeirahs Kuwait property, including the introduction of innovative concepts such as 'Dineamation' at Pepper restaurant, enhancing the dining experience with culinary art and technology, the hotel said.

Under Nader's leadership, Talise Spa at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa was also honoured with the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Rating for 2024, placing the spa among the world's best.  TradeArabia News Service
Russian Police Investigate At Least 28 Cases Of 'Vandalism In Polling Stations'

By RFE/RL's Russian Service March 16, 2024

Russians completed the second day of voting late on March 16 in a three-day presidential election that has seen sporadic protests as some people, defying threats of stiff prison sentences, showed their anger over a process set up to hand Vladimir Putin another six years of rule.

Russian officials and independent media on March 16 reported some three dozen incidents of individual protests at polling stations, with some people attempting to destroy voting sheets by a variety of methods.

Russian authorities also stepped up threats of long prison terms for those who attempt to disrupt the voting process, including during a planned noon action on March 17.

More than one-third of Russia's 110 million eligible voters cast ballots in person and online on the first day of the country's three-day presidential election, the Central Election Commission (TsIK) said after polls closed on March 15 in the country's westernmost region of Kaliningrad.

Balloting started up again on March 16 in the Far East of Russia and continued in all 11 time zones of the country, as well as the occupied Crimean Peninsula and four other Ukrainian regions that Moscow partially controls and baselessly claims are part of Russia.

Putin is poised to win and extend his rule by six more years after any serious opponents were barred from running against him amid a brutal crackdown on dissent and the independent media.

The ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and human rights groups began before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched, but has been ratcheted up since.

Almost exactly one month before the polls opened, Putin's most vocal critic, opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, died in an isolated Arctic prison amid suspicious circumstances as he served sentences seen as politically motivated.

Independent media on March 16 reported that Russian police had opened at least 15 criminal probes into incidents of vandalism in polling stations by midday, a number expected to grow.

Some Russians expressed their anger over Putin's authoritarian rule by vandalizing ballot boxes with a green antiseptic dye known as "zelyonka" and other liquids.

Among them was a 43-year-old member of the local election commission in the Lenin district of Izhevsk city, the Interior Ministry said on March 16.

The official was detained by police after she attempted to spill zelyonka into a touchscreen voting machine, the ministry said. Police didn't release the woman's name, but said she was a member of the Communist Party.

Similar incidents were reported in at least nine cities, including St. Petersburg, Sochi, and Volgograd.

In Moscow, police arrested a woman who burned her ballot inside a voting booth in the city's polling station N1527 on March 15, Russian news agencies reported, citing election officials in the Russian capital.

The news outlet Sota reported that that woman burned a ballot with "Bring back my husband" handwritten on it, and posted video purportedly showing the incident.

There also was one report of a firebombing at a polling station in Moscow, while In Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, a 21-year-old woman was detained after she threw a Molotov cocktail at an entrance of a local school that houses two polling stations.

"It's the first time I've see something like this -- or at least [such attacks] have not been so spectacular before," Roman Udot, an election analyst and a board member of the independent election monitor Golos, told RFE/RL.

"The state launched a war against [the election process] and this is the very striking harvest it gets in return. People resent these elections as a result and have started using them for completely different purposes [than voting]."

Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission, said that over the first two days of voting there had been 20 incidents of people pouring liquids into ballot boxes and eight cases of attempted arson or the use of smoke bombs.

Russia's ruling United Russia party claimed on March 16 that it was facing a widespread denial-of-service attack -- a form of cyberattack that snarls internet use -- against its online presence. The party said it had suspended nonessential services to repel the attack.

Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers proposed amendments to the Criminal Code to toughen punishments for those who try to disrupt elections "by arson and other dangerous means." Under the current law, such actions are punishable by five years in prison, and the lawmakers proposed to extend it to up to eight years in prison.

No Serious Challengers

Before his death, Navalny had hoped to use the vote to demonstrate the public's discontent with both the war and Putin's iron-fisted rule.

He called on voters to cast their ballot at 12 p.m. on March 17, naming the action "Noon Against Putin." HIs wife and others have since continued to call for the protest to be carried out.

Viral images of long lines forming at this time would indicate the size of the opposition and undermine the landslide result the Kremlin is expected to concoct.

The Moscow prosecutor's office threatened criminal liability for those who come to the polling stations at noon on the last day of voting. The office said it could regard long lines at noon as interfering with the work of election commissions.

Putin, 71, who has been president or prime minister for nearly 25 years, is running against three low-profile politicians -- Liberal Democratic Party leader Leonid Slutsky, State Duma deputy speaker Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, and State Duma lawmaker Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party -- whose policy positions are hardly distinguishable from Putin's.

Boris Nadezhdin, a 60-year-old anti-war politician, was rejected last month by the TsIK because of what it called invalid support signatures on his application to be registered as a candidate. He appealed, but the TsIk's decision was upheld by Russia's Supreme Court.

"Would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory in the elections starting today," European Council President Charles Michel wrote in a sarcastic post on X, formerly Twitter, on March 15.

"No opposition. No freedom. No choice."

Ukraine and many Western governments have condemned Russia for holding the vote in regions it occupies parts of, calling the move illegal.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his voice to the criticism on March 15, saying he "condemns the efforts of the Russian Federation to hold its presidential elections in areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation."

His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, added that the "attempted illegal annexation" of those regions has "no validity" under international law.

Many observers say Putin warded off even the faintest of challengers to ensure a large margin of victory that he can point to as evidence that Russians back the war in Ukraine and his handling of it.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-election- continues-second-day/32864136.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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Iran ready to help Syria boost its defense, deterrent power: Defense minister

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 5:49 PM

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani has stated that Iran is prepared to utilize its full capabilities to assist Syria in enhancing its defense and deterrent power against the US and Israel.

In a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ali Mahmoud Abbas in Tehran on Saturday, Ashtiani warned against plots by the United States and Israel to intensify crisis across West Asia.

"Any strategic mistake and adventure of the US and the Zionist regime will lead to the worsening of the situation in the region," he said.

He condemned Israel's airstrikes against Syria and violation of its territorial integrity, saying the regime seeks to destroy the country's infrastructure such as airports and ports and hit convoys carrying fuel and food under the pretext of fight against the resistance front.

The Iranian defense chief expressed confidence that Israel's attacks are rooted in the regime's fear and failures.

He stressed the importance of reinforcing deterrence in countering Israel's attacks and noted that "necessary and urgent" measures and plans are on the agenda to counter the regime's aggression.

Ashtiani emphasized that the US's "illegitimate, occupying, illegal and unjustifiable" military presence in Syria is a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

The destructive performance of the US in West Asia, particularly in Syria, has only led to instability, insecurity and displacement of millions of Syrians, he said.

The Iranian defense minister stressed the need to boost Syria's defense capability and implement bilateral agreements in this regard, saying the two countries should hold constant consultations given the ongoing developments in the region.

Pointing to the sensitive and complicated situation in the region, he said more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 70,000 injured during Israel's genocidal war on Gaza over the past five months.

He criticized the United Nations and Security Council for failing to fulfill their international responsibility vis-a-vis Israel's war crimes and genocide in Gaza, emphasizing that the regime will definitely fail to achieve any of its goals in the Strip.

Tel Aviv has significantly ramped up the strikes against Syria since last October, when it began the genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

Damascus has repeatedly complained to the United Nations over the Israeli assaults, urging the Security Council to take action against Tel Aviv's crimes. Its demands have, however, fallen on deaf ears.

The Syrian defense minister, for his part, said the developments in Gaza and massacre of the innocent Palestinian people exposed Israel's flimsy power and disclosed the hypocritical nature of the US and West.

Abbas added that the child-killing Israeli regime mounted tensions in the region, particularly in Syria and Lebanon, after it failed to achieve its goals in Gaza and used support of the resistance front and Iran for the oppressed Palestinian people as a pretext.

He noted that the illegal presence of the US in Syria has turned the country into a base to support separatist and terrorist groups.

Resistance and enhanced defense cooperation between Tehran and Damascus are the best ways to counter enemies, he pointed out.

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Russian Forces Destroy Base of Al-Tanf Militants in Syria

Sputnik News

20240316

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian aerospace forces wreaked havoc on a base of Al-Tanf militants sheltering in Syria's Deir Ez-Zor governorate, Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said on Saturday, adding that the terrorists suffered significant losses.

"On March 15, Russian aerospace forces carried out a strike on the base of militants who left the Al-Tanf zone and sheltered in hard-to-reach areas of the Jebel Bishri mountain range in the Deir Ez-Zor governorate. As a result, the terrorists suffered significant losses in material assets and manpower," Kulit said.

A Sputnik

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Syria's Plight Seems Forgotten as Nation Enters 14th Year of Civil War

By Lisa Schlein March 16, 2024

As Syria enters its 14th year of civil war with no political resolution in sight, United Nations aid agencies are appealing to the international community to remember the plight of millions of people who continue to suffer from violence, devastation, destitution and abuse.

Thirteen years of crisis have taken an unimaginable toll on the Syrian people, and U.N. agencies warn the crisis continues to wreak havoc on the population, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.

In marking the grim anniversary, Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis Muhannad Hadi issued a joint statement Friday warning that "the level of needs has never been higher."

They estimate that 16.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, many of them victims of last year's destructive earthquakes, which have created a "crisis within a crisis."

"Today, a record number of people go to bed hungry every night, the health care system is unable to adequately meet people's needs, basic services are unavailable, and millions of children remain out of school," they said.

Additionally, they note that after 13 years of warfare, Syria is facing some of the worst conflict-related violence in years, "leading to civilian casualties, displacement and destruction across the country."

The United Nations reports more than 350,000 civilians have been killed and more than 12 million people have been forced to flee for safety inside and outside the country.

"The displaced have suffered hugely and continue to," Matthew Saltmarsh, U.N. refugee agency spokesperson, told journalists Friday in Geneva, noting that now more than ever, Syrian refugees and internally displaced people need the world's support.

He said that more than 5 million Syrians have taken refuge in five neighboring countries, while more than 7.2 million are displaced inside Syria.

"These numbers are huge," he said. "Back in 2015, Syrian refugees dominated the headlines as they moved in search of safety. Sadly, they no longer command that attention, and their plight seems to have been relegated."

Although Syria perhaps has been forgotten, he said, "Syria remains the world's largest forced displacement crisis" and cannot be ignored.

He said UNHCR's humanitarian operations are suffering from a severe cash crunch. He noted that 6% of the agency's $466.6 million appeal to aid displaced Syrians inside the country has been received, and 10% of its $1,49 billion appeal to assist refugees and host communities has been funded.

"The decline in funding has forced UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies to make difficult choices about what and who to prioritize," he said, warning that the lack of funding "risks pushing children into labor, gender-based violence, early marriages, school dropouts."

UNICEF reports that nearly 7.5 million children in Syria need humanitarian assistance, "more than at any other time during the conflict."

The U.N. children's agency warned that repeated cycles of violence and displacment, a devastating economic crisis, disease outbreaks and last year's earthquakes "have left hundreds of thousands of children exposed to long-term physical and psychosocial consequences."

It said more than 650,000 children under the age of 5 are chronically malnourished, and a recent survey in northern Syria found that 34% of girls and 31% of boys suffered from psychosocial distress.

"The sad reality is that today, and in the days ahead, many children in Syria will mark their 13th birthdays, becoming teenagers, knowing that their entire childhood to date has been marked by conflict, displacement and deprivation," said Adele Khodr, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

"A generation of children in Syria has already paid an unbearable price for this conflict," she underscored. "Ultimately, children need a chance. They need a long-term peaceful solution to the crisis."

That assessment is shared by Geir Pedersen, U.N. special envoy for Syria, who, in marking "this solemn anniversary of the conflict," said that "only the unwavering pursuit of a political solution to end this conflict can restore hope to the Syrian people."

Since he was appointed to his post in 2019, Pedersen has worked doggedly to draft a new constitution as part of a U.N.-mediated negotiated peace process for Syria. Previous meetings of the so-called Syrian Constitutional Committee have failed to make any inroads in the process.

Prospects appear bleak. The committee last met in June 2022. Pedersen says he hopes to convene another meeting in Geneva next month. However, the proposition already has encountered a stumbling block.

While the opposition Syrian Negotiations Committee has accepted the invitation to attend the upcoming meeting, his spokesperson Jennifer Fenton, told journalists in Geneva that "Pedersen has also received communication from the co-chair nominated by the Syrian government declining the invitation."

She said that Pedersen soon will travel to Damascus.

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Taiwan confirms presence of US Special Forces on outer islands

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 March 2024 11:04 AM

Taiwan has confirmed the presence of US Army Special Forces (SF), known as the "Green Berets", on outer islands to provide training for the troops of the self-ruled island.

Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng confirmed on Friday American media reports that US Army Green Berets are permanently stationed in amphibious command centers in Kinmen and Penghu islands.

Taiwan's military "may have some blind spots and shortcomings and therefore it is important to communicate with others who are friendly to us, whether they are teams, groups, or countries," he said, after presenting a report on Chinese military activities at the Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee.

Chiu added that these military exchanges involve mutual observation, learning strengths, and improving weaknesses, SET News, a 24-hour news channel of the Sanlih E-Television in Taiwan, reported.

He also described the exchanges as taking place on a "regular basis."

China has sovereignty over Taiwan, and under the "One China" policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty. The US, too, recognizes the Chinese sovereignty over the island but has long courted Taipei in an attempt to unnerve Beijing.

Washington, which backs Taiwan's secessionist president, also infuriates Beijing by selling weapons to the self-governed island in violation of its official policy. This is while Beijing has time and again warned against any official exchanges between Washington and Taipei, including the provision of military assistance to the island.

As Taiwan's largest arms supplier, the US sells arms to Taipei under the terms of the so-called Taiwan Relations Act of 2022, and there is bipartisan support for providing the island with weapons.

On Saturday, Taiwan's coast guard said in a statement that it had warned off four Chinese coast guard ships that had sailed in the island's restricted waters in the vicinity of Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands near China for two consecutive days.

The statement added that Chinese boats stayed just over an hour after Taiwanese authorities requested them to leave.

"The move has seriously impacted traffic and safety. To avoid triggering naval incidents we urge them to stop such behaviors," it further said.

The developments come as China has increased military activities near Taiwan in recent years in what Taipei considers as almost daily incursions into its air defense identification zones, as tensions simmer across the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Beijing has time and again said it will use force, if necessary, to add Taiwan to China's mainland. President Xi Jinping has been articulate about that matter.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Mar. 16, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/03/16

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1. Dateis



6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Friday to Saturday, Mar. 15-16

2.PLA activitiesis

10 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.



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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Mar. 17, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/03/17

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1. Dateis



6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Saturday to Sunday, Mar. 16-17

2.PLA activitiesis

4 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.







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Ten years since the illegitimate referendum held by Russia in Crimea

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

16.03.2024

16 March 2024 marks a decade since the so-called referendums on joining the Russian Federation were held illegally in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The illegitimate referendums set in motion the unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine and its territorial unity, which Russia criminally continued in 2022. Having launched a full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, Russia has illegally annexed the temporarily occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine.

Right now, the Russian presidential "election" is being held illegally in the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied and annexed by Russia in an attempt to legitimize both this "election" and the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian territories.

Latvia recognises neither these illegitimate actions nor their outcome, and condemns in the strongest terms the lawless behaviour by Russia, which is a blatant violation of international law and Ukraine's independence and sovereignty. Latvia does not recognize and will not recognize the illegal occupation and annexation of the Ukrainian territories by the aggressor.

Latvia continues its unwavering support for Ukraine and its independence, sovereignty and territorial unity within its internationally recognised borders. Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk are integral parts of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory. Russia is fully responsible for its aggression against Ukraine. All those responsible for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine and Russia's crimes against Ukrainian civilians will have to bear full accountability.

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China calls for peace talks over Ukraine crisis

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:43, March 16, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called on the parties to the Ukraine crisis to start peace talks at an early date.

With the fighting still ongoing, the risk of spillover continues to emerge. One more day of conflict brings one more element of risk to the world. One day earlier for peace talks means one day sooner for peace. Peace is a matter of utmost urgency as well as a matter of public expectation, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

On the Ukraine issue, China has always maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter be upheld, the legitimate security concerns of all countries be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to the political settlement of the crisis be supported, he told the Security Council.

"We reiterate our call on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate political will, meet each other halfway, build consensus, cease fighting, and start peace talks at an early date," said Geng. "We call on the international community to step up diplomatic efforts to create conditions for de-escalating the situation and achieving a political settlement."

China has always maintained an objective and impartial position and has participated in promoting peace talks. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and one that ensures the equal participation of all parties in full discussion of all peace plans, he said.

"China is ready to provide the necessary conditions for Russia and Ukraine to engage in negotiations, and will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the crisis," Geng said.

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Zelenskiy Praises Range Of Ukraine's Drones Following Attacks Deep Inside Russia

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 16, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has hailed the new long-range capabilities of his military's combat drones following reports of attacks deep inside Russian territory.

"In these weeks, many have already seen that the Russian system of warfare has weak points and that we can reach these points with our weapons," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on March 16.

He did not name a specific attack but the remarks came after reports that three oil facilities in Russia's Samara region -- more than 1,000 kilometers inside Russia -- had been set ablaze in drone attacks on March 15.

Earlier on March 16, Ukrainian forces launched multiple attacks on Russia, killing at least three people in the border city of Belgorod and hitting an oil refinery in the Samara region, Russian officials said.

A man and two women died in the Ukrainian shelling that also wounded three others in Belgorod, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

The official added that five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, some 2 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

A Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at an oil refinery that belongs to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, some 850 kilometers southeast of Moscow, regional Governor Dmitry Azarov said. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Social-media videos showed images of buildings on fire. Azarov said that an attack on another refinery was thwarted.

The attacks come a day after a Russian ballistic missile strike killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 70 others in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa.

Two Iskander-M missiles fired from Russian-occupied Crimea struck a residential area in Odesa on March 15, Governor Oleh Kiper said.

Several of the victims were medics and rescuers who were killed by a second missile after they rushed to the scene to treat people hurt in the initial strike, Kiper added.

In his evening video address on March 15, Zelenskiy vowed that Russia would receive a "fair response" from Kyiv's forces.

On March 16, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had detained a 61-year-old Russian man for planning what it called a terrorist attack on Ukraine's behalf on a trans-Siberian railway junction in the Ural Mountains' Sverdlovsk region.

State news agency TASS quoted the FSB as saying the man had been recruited by Kyiv's intelligence services in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv and sent to Russia. The agency said the man had confessed to the charges and was cooperating with the investigation.

Ukraine has previously said it was targeting the trans-Siberian railway, a key route for Russian freight traversing the country.

The March 16 Ukrainian attacks come as Russia entered the second day of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin's rule by another six years after he crushed dissent. Putin has accused Kyiv of trying to disrupt the election.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-strikes-oil- refineries/32864154.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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Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Eng Badr Mohammed Al-Meer has revealed several major new developments in line with his vision for the future of Qatar Airways.

Designed to invigorate the global airline and its group of businesses, his roadmap for success includes innovation as the key pillar, which is reflected in Qatar Airways upcoming products and services  including the introduction of new First Class cabins on some of its fleet.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC  his first since being appointed Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer in November 2023, Eng Al-Meer stated: This is a new era.

The interview touched on the overall positive outlook for the group as Eng Al-Meer detailed his approach to developing a high yielding concept for Qatar Airways new First Class cabin.

He stated: Based on the demand from certain sectors, we see a high demand for First Class, and as such, have decided to introduce a newly-designed First Class cabin unique to Qatar Airways. No one can develop a First Class cabin better than us  we are combining the experience of flying commercial and executive jets to develop something new. We are 70 to 80 per cent ready and are only finalising colours. We are hoping to announce it soon.

Eng Al-Meer further revealed that Qatar Airways redesign of its premium Qsuite is set to debut at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024. The award-winning Qsuite Business Class challenged industry norms when it was launched in 2017, and continues to be a benchmark for the aviation industry.

Qatar Airways GCEO also stated that the competitive aviation landscape in the GCC region is helping raise the bar when it comes to customer experience. He stated that the pressure is on for potential rivals, and he welcomes any challenge for Qatar Airways. He remains confident in Qatar Airways continuing to hold onto its market leading position in the future to outshine any competition.

He also underlined the ways in which digital innovation is helping drive organisational efficiencies, as the airline continues to announce exciting new routes in growth markets including China and India, further enhancing Qatars position as a gateway to the world.

Qatar Airways currently serves over 170 global destinations, and will soon launch inaugural flights to Hamburg and Tashkent, and resume flights to Lisbon and Venice. The airline will also resume several summer seasonal routes, including Adana, Antalya, Bodrum, Marrakesh, Mykonos, Sarajevo, and Trabzon.

Eng Al-Meer was appointed Group CEO in November 2023, and he immediately focused on introducing innovative programmes to benefit both passengers and the airlines global 60,000 strong workforce. In his first message to employees, he stressed the importance of cultivating trust and empowerment in the work culture. Under his leadership, various workplace initiatives have been successfully introduced that continue to improve employee satisfaction, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's video address on the 10th anniversary of the Crimean Spring, Moscow, March 16, 2024

16 March 2024 13:15

496-16-03-2024

Friends!

Ten years ago - on March 16, 2014 - the people of Crimea participated in a referendum, making an independent and informed choice to determine their own future by reuniting with Russia, thus exercising their right to self-determination in full compliance with the UN Charter and the Declaration on Principles of International Law.

The ensuing developments showed this was the only way to go, which made it possible to defend the lives, honour and dignity of the Crimean people from the encroachments of the Russophobic Kiev regime. We well remember that troubling and terrible spring, when the bloody coup brought neo-Nazis to power in Kiev. We also remember the notorious "friendship trains" that were packed off by the ideological followers of the Banderites to quell the protests of Crimean residents, who chose not to betray the values, culture, history and centuries-old traditions of their ancestors. The ensuing anti-Crimea sanctions, bombings of power lines, and the transport, energy and water blockades reinforced Crimean residents' belief in the fact that they had made the right choice.

The question of who Crimea and Sevastopol belong to is closed. The peninsula is an integral part of the Russian Federation. Over the past ten years, we have managed to overcome numerous problems that were the legacy of Ukraine. Large projects which contribute to reviving and renewing Crimea, helping it integrate into the political, legal and socioeconomic space of Russia and improve the quality of life, have been implemented and some are underway. Such projects include the Crimean Bridge - perhaps the most outstanding symbol of reunification with Russia, as well as the new Aivazovsky Airport in Simferopol, the state-of-the-art Tavrida Motorway, and the newly built residential districts.

Dozens of social facilities, including schools, outpatient clinics, maternity hospitals and general hospitals, have been renovated or built anew. Extensive renovation of historical and cultural landmarks, including historical and cultural sites such as the Vorontsov Palace, Livadia Palace and Miskhor historical and cultural reserve in Yalta, East Crimean Museum Reserve in Kerch, and the Bakhchisaray Museum Reserve, is underway. The construction of the main mosque in Simferopol - the largest in Eastern Europe - is nearing completion.

Notably, the rights of all citizens without exception, regardless of their ethnic background or language preferences, are strictly respected in Crimea. Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar are state languages in the republic, and their status is protected by law.

With a clear outlook for what lies ahead, the people of Crimea can look to the future with confidence and optimism.

I would also like to highlight the sustainable development of Crimea and Sevastopol's foreign relations, which the Simferopol-based Foreign Ministry office supports in every way.

I wish all residents of the peninsula a happy 10th anniversary of its historic reunification with Russia. I wish you good health, well-being, prosperity and all the best.

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Foreign Ministry statement regarding the Kiev regime's terrorist actions during the presidential election in the Russian Federation

16 March 2024 19:07

499-16-03-2024

The neo-Nazi Kiev regime continues to display its criminal and terrorist identity for the whole world to see.

Over the past two days, the intense shelling of the Belgorod Region has resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to 19 others.

On March 16, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used a UAV to drop a bomb on a polling station in Blagoveshchenka, Zaporozhye Region.

Over the past week, the neo-Nazis in Kiev have systematically subjected residential neighbourhoods in Donetsk to artillery shelling and drone attacks, targeting kindergartens, schools, and healthcare facilities and leaving 11 victims, including three children. Attacks were also carried out on border districts of the Kursk Region, killing two people and severely wounding two more. In Rozhdestvenka, Belgorod Region, two residents died, and one sustained shrapnel wounds.

Sabotage and reconnaissance units staffed by Ukrainian fighters have stepped up their attempts to penetrate the Russian territory, but the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have effectively repelled these attacks.

It is obvious that it was the presidential election currently underway in Russia which prompted the corrupt Kiev regime to step up its terrorist activity in order to show its Western patrons its proactive position and ask for more financial aid and lethal weapons.

Through the unrelenting shelling of civilian infrastructure in our country, the Ukrainian Armed Forces seek to disrupt the election and prevent civilians from expressing their will, intimidate people and deny them the opportunity to cast their ballots.

The Foreign Ministry firmly condemns the brutal crimes committed by the Kiev regime, which deliberately targets civilians and civilian infrastructure. We will make sure that all attempts to use terrorist tactics to influence the election are documented, thoroughly investigated, and that their perpetrators face severe and inevitable punishment.

We are certain that residents of the Russian regions bordering Ukraine will not give in to the provocations by the Kiev regime and will not hesitate to come to the polling stations to cast their ballots for their chosen presidential candidate.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

March 16, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed the latest battlefield developments and the $300 million package of additional security assistance announced by the United Sates on March 12. The Secretary highlighted the need for the House of Representatives to swiftly pass the national security supplemental. He thanked Foreign Minister Kuleba for the Ukrainian government's commitment to undertake anti-corruption reforms needed to advance its Euro-Atlantic integration. The Secretary once again underscored the United States' enduring support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity as its people fight to secure their democratic future in the face of Russia's brutal war of aggression.

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Andriy Yermak had a phone call with Jake Sullivan

President of Ukraine

16 March 2024 - 16:26

As part of the ongoing dialogue with allies, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan.

During the conversation, Andriy Yermak noted that the day before Russia attacked Odesa with missiles, causing casualties and fatalities among civilians. He emphasized Russia's systematic violation of international law through deliberate acts of military aggression against civilians in our country.

The parties discussed the situation on the battlefield and the urgent needs of Ukrainian defenders.

The Head of the President's Office emphasized the importance of prompt approval of the aid package for Ukraine by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Andriy Yermak thanked the President of the United States, his administration, both houses of Congress, both political parties and the entire American nation for their continued support of Ukraine in its fight for independence and territorial integrity.

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Andriy Yermak had a phone conversation with Celso Amorim

President of Ukraine

16 March 2024 - 09:58

Continuing the dialogue with the countries of the Global South, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with Chief Advisor to the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Celso Amorim.

The participants discussed the preparation for the inaugural Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Andriy Yermak informed that Ukraine is actively working on engaging as wide a range of countries as possible to participate in the founding summit, countries that respect international law, the UN Charter, as well as the principles of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He emphasized the importance of the participation of as many states as possible to forge a common decision among their leaders regarding the fair end of the war and the restoration of sustainable peace in Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak also informed his interlocutor about the recent shelling of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine by Russia, including a residential area in Odesa, resulting in the loss of over one and a half dozen lives. Among the victims are rescuers who arrived to assist those affected by the Russian attack.

Furthermore, the head of the Office of the President emphasized the importance of securing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and the functioning of the grain corridor for global food stability.

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Pune, March 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The recent FDA approval of Resmetirom, developed by Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, has sent ripples of excitement throughout the medical community, marking a significant achievement in the treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis. The FDA approved the tablet drug for the treatment of NASH, with moderate or severe liver scarring, or fibrosis, consistent with stage F2 and F3 disease, according to a product label ( PDF ) posted on the FDAs website. Its a major win for Madrigal, the FDA isnt requiring a liver biopsy to determine a patients eligibility for Rezdiffra.

With being the first drug therapy treatment for NASH it provides hope to millions of Americans. In the United States, NAFLD affects approximately 80-100 million people, among whom nearly 25% progress to NASH . Many do not know they have the disease. According to the American Liver Foundation, around 25% of adults in the United States are affected by NAFLD, with approximately 5% of adults diagnosed with NASH. NASH is expected to become the leading cause of liver transplantation in the United States by 2025.

Madrigal is pricing Rezdiffra at the wholesale acquisition cost of $47,400. Previously, the influential cost analysts at the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review estimated that the drug would be deemed cost-effective based on standard thresholds if its net price ranged from $39,600 to $50,100 per year.

Rezdiffra achieved a remarkable milestone as the first drug to fulfill both objectives of MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement in a phase 3 trial. Before Rezdiffra's groundbreaking achievement, Intercept's Ocaliva seemed poised to claim this title for NASH treatment. However, the FDA's second rejection in June 2023 dashed those hopes. Previously, NASH treatment landscape has been marked by numerous setbacks, with several companies, including AstraZeneca terminating the development of their NASH therapies.

Its approval sets the bar for many other companies that are also eying the field, particularly from the highly effective FGF21 analog drug class targeting more severe fibrotic NASH patient groups.

We commend Madrigal Pharmaceuticals for their innovative efforts in crafting the inaugural FDA-approved remedy for NASH among patients with fibrosis. Though the initial accessibility may be constrained to a specific patient group, we aspire for widespread availability and affordability for all individuals grappling with NASH.

Anervea suggests, looking out for the next-generation THR- agonists , such as Vikings VK2809 that aim to build on Rezdiffras success, as significant competitors. We also express a note of caution regarding the sustainability of Madrigal's success beyond the initial two-year exclusivity period. Patients with less severe NASH are likely to receive treatment initially with incretin-modulating therapies, such as Novo Nordisk's semaglutide or Lilly's tirzepatide even before this drug class gains approval for NASH. This is due to the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity among NASH patients. For treating NASH, Novo is also exploring combination therapy wherein semaglutide is being studied in combination with Akero Therapeutics efruxifermin. Furthermore, in June 2023, Akero and Novo released encouraging findings from the Phase IIb study. The data revealed that participants who were administered the combination therapy of efruxifermin and Ozempic experienced a significant 65% relative decrease in liver fat among individuals with type 2 diabetes and liver fibrosis resulting from NASH. In contrast, those who received only Ozempic saw a mere 10% reduction in liver fat. During a Phase IIb trial, Altimmune's incretin mimetic, pemvidutide, demonstrated a substantial 68.5% decrease in liver fat content after 12 weeks when tested as monotherapy.

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Chennai, Mar 17 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has urged Minister of External Affairs

Dr S.Jaishankar to take proactive steps to convene the Joint Working Group (JWG) for securing

the early release of the Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and their fishing boats.

In a Demi-Official letter to Dr Jaishankar, he expressed concern over the repeated arrests and

urged him to take steps to secure the release of 37 Indian fishermen arrested by the Lankan Navy.

Stating that he had been writing to him about the repeated instances of apprehension of Indian

fishermen by the Sri Lankan authorities, Mr Stalin said last week he had sought the EAM's

intervention seeking immediate release of 22 fishermen and their boats.

"Yet again, it is reported that 15 fishermen including three from Tamil Nadu have been arrested

on March 15 and their boat has been seized by the Sri Lankan Navy", he pointed out.

The alarming frequency of such incidents and the consequent disruption of livelihoods have caused

considerable angst and despair among the coastal communities in the State, the Chief Minister said.

"It is extremely important to resolve this pestering issue through diplomatic channels", he reiterated

and urged him to take proactive steps to revive the JWG and also to prevail upon the Sri Lankan

authorities to release the boats of the fishermen.

"They may also be prevailed upon to secure the early release of the fishermen in Sri Lankan custody", Mr Stalin added.

UNI GV 1005
who died in 2011, was arguably the most admired political reporter of his generation, especially among his journalistic peers. He combined excellent judgment, unflagging energy and a fundamental decency that nobody who knew him could miss. I was a member of the fan club myself.But one element of Broders persona always puzzled me: He had an unshakable belief in the ultimate wisdom of the American electorate. The voters, he often said, are way ahead of the politicians. In the heat of an election season, while other reporters were trading gossip with consultants and campaign managers, Broder would trudge down the residential streets of obscure American towns, knocking on doors and asking ordinary citizens for their opinions. He always emerged from these forays with his populist sympathies intact.I was impressed by this effort, but I never really understood it. The wisdom that Broder saw in the average voter didnt seem so obvious to me. From what I saw, most Americans scarcely knew anything about the candidates for major office, and even less about what these candidates proposed to do if elected. Every year, reputable surveys reinforced this sobering judgment. Voters were for the most part ill-informed. Not stupid, but factually challenged when it came to the basics of public policy and the political process.Broder and his fellow optimists came up with arguments to counter this gloomy appraisal. There was, for example, the idea of retrospective voting. Citizens might not know much about candidates plans, but they knew how things were going in their lives and in their communities, and they chose on that basis which party to reward and which one to punish. And frequently they made decisions that reflected a subtle understanding of politics. They didnt want either party to have too much power, so they deliberately split their tickets, creating divided government year after year in most of the country. So the argument went.But this notion still seemed to fall far short of describing reality, at least for election contests below the level of the presidency. Every two years, in a majority of the states, Americans choose candidates to represent them in their state legislatures. Polls suggest that most voters dont know whos running until they get to the ballot box, let alone what the incumbent has been doing at the state capitol.Im not exactly a role model myself on this. Ive met my Virginia state House member, Rip Sullivan, and I know that he is a nice fellow and pretty much a down-the-line Democrat. But what exactly has he been up to in Richmond the last couple of years? I havent made much of an effort to find out. And I write about government for a living.All the surveys taken in the last few years point pretty convincingly to the cluelessness of the American electorate. The Gallup organization reported in 2013 that only 35 percent of poll respondents were able to say who represented them in Congress. A survey by the Newseum Institute found that one-third of those questioned couldnt cite even one of the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment. In 2011, the National Assessment of Educational Progress documented that three-quarters of high school seniors tested could not name a power that the Constitution granted to Congress.The results of surveys like these are often a bit shocking, but they havent changed much over time. Reading through them, one might begin to question why it would be a good idea to increase turnout at the polls. Presumably, the most knowledgeable American citizens are already voting. Boosting the turnout in a midterm election to 60 percent or 80 percent would seem to be taking the choices of a largely uninformed electorate and adding to them the preferences of a new cohort thats even less informed.instead of beating the drums for a bigger turnout, we made an honest effort to give Americans the factual knowledge they currently dont possess? What if we actually started teaching them how to be better-informed citizens?This idea has been around since at least the 1950s, in the form of periodic campaigns to restore education in civics to the role it once played in the nations public school curriculum. These efforts have tended to draw brief flurries of positive attention from editorial pages and good government groups, and then disappear without having any significant effect. Over the past generation, the teaching of civics has actually eroded in public schools. There are just too many other subjects clamoring for attention.But the most recent crusade for civics is more ambitious than the previous ones have been. Three years ago the Joe Foss Institute, an Arizona-based foundation named after a South Dakota governor and war hero, decided that civics would henceforth be its single-minded focus. It set out a simple but seemingly difficult goal: Persuade state legislatures to enact laws requiring high school students to pass a test of governmental knowledge to graduate. Civics is being boxed out of the classroom today, one of the foundations documents complained, by an all-consuming focus on science, technology, English and math.I wouldnt have given the Civics Education Initiative much of a chance at a time when many legislatures are having trouble getting anything passed without partisan rancor and ill feeling. But the initiative is actually doing quite well. As of the end of June, 14 states had written it into law, and several others were considering it. Its the simplicity that attracts people, says Lucian Spataro, the institutes chairman of education initiatives.The test students must take is a battery of 100 questions derived from the exam that is administered to aspiring American citizens. Immigrants do quite well on it; more than 90 percent pass on their first try. But when it is administered to current U.S. citizens, about a third flunk. When we show people that our kids cant do what immigrants can do, Spataro says, theyre first stunned and then ashamed.Most of the multiple choice questions are straightforward and not very difficult. Its reasonable to expect a high school student to know that general elections are held in November; that Thomas Jefferson, not Bill Clinton, wrote the Declaration of Independence; and that Dwight Eisenhower was not a general in the Civil War. A few of the questions are open to a bit of interpretation: A high school student in Utah wrote to his local newspaper to complain that he should have been given credit for answering that the U.S. has a mixed economy. The official correct answer was market economy, which the student claimed was misleading.There has been pushback from some educators and state legislators who argue that high school students are already being asked to take too many tests and that the exam reduces the teaching of American government to a routine of rote memorization. These dont seem like crippling objections to me. It might also be argued that filling people full of governmental facts at age 16 wont necessarily make them smart voters at age 30. Thats undoubtedly true, but its no reason not to make the effort.I do have a couple of quibbles, though. Let me try to explain them by invoking the 2016 presidential campaign.In one significant respect, this years presidential primaries conformed to David Broders vision of the political system. The voters were ahead of most of the presidential candidates. They saw that the nations economy had not really recovered from the dislocation of 2008 and 2009. Millions of hard-working people who lost good jobs in 2008 and 2009 had never regained them. For those fortunate enough to be employed, wages had remained stagnant, and the American middle class had been steadily shrinking. The candidates, with the exceptions of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, were painfully slow to grasp this.Where the voters got in trouble was in drawing public policy conclusions from what they had observed. Many millions of them believed that trade agreements were responsible for most of the economic dislocation; that illegal immigrants were snatching away government assistance rightfully belonging to citizens; and that blocking the immigration of Muslims would protect the country against terrorism. All of those are, at the very least, questionable assumptions.Would an electorate grounded firmly in civics be better prepared to make policy choices in the heat of a presidential campaign? Perhaps. But their civics instruction might have to tilt less toward history and more toward current events.Its desirable for citizens to know who wrote the Federalist Papers and where the Statue of Liberty can be found. But it would be more useful for them to know what proportion of the 2016 federal budget is devoted to welfare and foreign aid, whether illegal immigration has been rising or falling, and which countries are our most important trading partners.Theres a reason why issues such as those dont come up on civics tests: They would risk generating controversy, and adding to the amount of controversy permeating the public school system is not something that anyone should recommend lightly. On the other hand, they are matters of verifiable fact. Knowing the answers to them would be a step toward producing well-informed voters -- the sort of voters who were at the heart of Broders idealistic vision. If we are going to be serious about teaching civics, which it seems to me we should, it might be a good idea to zero in a bit more on the century in which we live and vote.
The search for a missing 28-year-old man who was last seen swimming over the reef at Ritidian Beach on Sunday morning was suspended at 6 p.m. and will resume at 6 a.m. Monday, according to Guam Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Nick Garrido.

The two other swimmers with him made it back to shore Sunday.

GFD received a call at 11 a.m. of a reported distressed swimmer at Ritidian Beach, and immediately launched a search and rescue.

GFD Rescue, Coast Guard and the Navys HSC-25 helicopter squadron were on scene to conduct the search, Garrido said.

Upon arrival, GFD units were informed of a 28-year-old man who was last seen going over the reef, accompanied by two other men who were able to make it back to shore, Garrido said.

One of the two was transported to Guam Regional Medical City for evaluation, while the other refused any service, he said.

Rip currents

On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a statement saying that a high risk of rip currents remains in effect for Guam through Sunday afternoon.

Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from the shore into deeper water. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous conditions, NWS said. If caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current. Swim in a direction following the shoreline, face the shore and call or wave for help.

This also comes just three days after authorities found the body of a fisherman off of Asan Beach on March 14, at about 45 feet below the surface.

The fisherman was reported missing on March 13. At the time and earlier in the week, authorities issued a high surf advisory, as well as high risk of rip currents and a small craft advisory.
The Republican Party of Guam on Saturday not only elected new leaders now led by Chairman Shawn Gumataotao but also pledged all their nine delegates support for former President Donald Trump, whos seeking a presidential comeback.

Trump and Democrat President Joe Biden clinched their parties presidential nominations last week, setting up a general election rematch.

A straw poll among local Republicans also resulted in all 178 votes for Trump, and zero for Nikki Haley, Gumataotao told the Pacific Daily News.

Though Haley withdrew from the presidential race, the local Republicans still included her name in the straw poll.

The straw poll, according to the local Republicans, reflects their enduring endorsement of Trumps leadership and Republican values.

The local Republicans held a convention on Saturday night at Dusit Beach Resort and elected the following:

Chairman: Shawn Gumataotao

First vice chair: Thelma Hechanova

Second vice chair: Marvin Crisostomo

Secretary: Tammy Bamba

Treasurer: Evelyn Casil

Guam National Committeeman: Juan Carlos Benitez

Guam National Committeewoman: Former Sen. Shirley Sam Mabini Young

These seven individuals will be joined by Del. James Moylan and Minority Leader Frank Blas Jr. at the Republican National Convention in July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Moylan and Blas are also seeking reelection.

As we embark on this new chapter, we are immensely proud of the talent and dedication within our party ranks, Gumataotao said in a statement. Together, we will build on our successes, champion conservative ideals, and tirelessly serve the people of Guam.

The party said Gumataotao was elected and recognized for his unwavering dedication to conservative values and community service, and that the election of party leaders marks a pivotal moment in the partys future.

Gumataotao, managing partner at consulting firm GET, LLC, served as Gov. Felix Camachos deputy chief of staff and director of policy during Camachos administration, and also was director of policy planning and community relations for the Judicial Council of Guam.

Benitez, the former party chairman, and Mabini Young bring a wealth of experience to their roles and a passion for advancing the Republican goals, the party said.

During the Saturday night event, former first vice chair LaKiesha Pereda and secretary Sharon Cassidy declined nominations for their reelection.

Their dedicated service embodied the essence of commitment and integrity to their roles. Additionally, we also extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mary Michelle Shelly Gibson, for her term as National Committeewoman. Her contributions have been instrumental to our organizations national reach, the party said.

The local Republican Party thanked its members who participated in Saturdays convention.

Every eligible voter, whether on Guam or across our nation, must exercise their right to vote, Gumataotao said. It is fundamental to our democracy, ensuring the election of leaders who uphold common-sense values to lead our island and our country.

As for the Guam gubernatorial election, businessman and educator Charlie Hermosa is so far the only Republican who has come forward to make his intention known of running for governor in the 2026 elections. Hermosa is the co-founder of Bella Wings Aviation LLC and a former general manager for the Guam-Micronesia operations of American President Lines, or APL.

On the Democratic side, only Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio has so far announced intention to run for governor in the 2026 races.
A former police officer who was on leave of absence starting in 2017 is appealing the Guam Police Departments decision to separate him from GPD effective Feb. 17, 2024, some two months after the agency confirmed an internal affairs investigation on him because of a federal criminal probe in a drug trafficking case.

Former Police Officer II Brian D. Awa filed an adverse action appeal with the Civil Service Commission, which will hear his case at 2 p.m. on March 20.

Awa seeks a reversal of GPDs decision to remove him from the police force.

The action against me was, totally unfair, prejudicial in nature, and predetermined as to my guilt, Awa said in a March 6 letter to the Civil Service Commission.

A May 2020 search warrant that was unsealed on Nov. 29, 2023, said a drug-detector dog, or K9, alerted authorities to the presence of narcotics in a U.S. Postal Service priority mail package addressed to Awas Dededo residence.

Awa said hes never been found in possession of a controlled substance or distributed to individuals who are noted to be convicted local and federal felons.

Never was I charged or arrested for the allegations which were since 2020, Awa said in his letter to the Civil Service Commission.

He said findings were based on mischaracterization of facts and information provided by known convicted felons that are not reliable and whom he said he arrested previously.

'Sick leave

The former police officer said he was on sick leave since 2017 due to feeling stressed.

He had seen several doctors and was diagnosed with cumulative post traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, he said.

Awa, based on his own letter, said he was also first investigated by internal affairs in 2016, and was even subjected to random drug testing, which he passed with negative test results, he said. He said he went through several polygraph tests and passed.

He said he was given a letter of clearance by then Chief of Police Joseph I. Cruz, and he continued his duties as a police officer II until he went on sick leave in 2017.

Ignacio, now the chief of police, signed a document stating that Awa is separated from GPD effective Feb. 17, 2024, or seven years since Awa started going on sick leave.

The same personnel order shows 26 other GPD police officers retirement, resignation, promotion or re-employment.

GPD on Dec. 6 acknowledged that Awa had been on leave of absence since 2017 and noted that he has not been on duty, in uniform, or stationed at any of the precincts or sections of our department.

Unfortunate

In the same statement, GPD said it does not condone any form of criminal activity, particularly when it involves law enforcement officers.

It is unfortunate that an officer within our ranks is being investigated for drug-related activities, GPD said in that statement. We fully support and encourage the continuation of the investigation to uncover the truth.

Awas March 6 letter said its inappropriate for the chief of police, or GPD, to make premature and inflammatory statements to the media.

GPD as of last week had not released a copy of its internal affairs investigation on Awa.

At this time, GPD will not be providing a public response regarding the above inquiry; personnel matters, GPD told the Pacific Daily News last week.

In his letter to the Civil Service Commission, Awa said he feels being treated differently and discriminated against compared to others, causing him undue hardships and adding more mental strain on him and his family.

I was not given due process, he added.

Awa said Ignacio refuses to acknowledge his diagnosis even after receiving a letter from the Director of Administration Edward Birn, who recommends in his letter that it is determined by doctors and well documented that the cause of my leave is work related and it is appropriate that I be put on admin leave pending process with work mans comp.

He said hes never been put on admin leave and his diagnosis continued to be ignored, and never been given a chance to enjoy my employee benefits of even other employees donating leave to me was ignored and not allowed.

I humbly ask this letter of appeal be favorably considered and action against me be reversed based on unfairness, discrimination and due process not given, Awa told the Civil Service Commission.
Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen Air Force Base Environmental Flight and the National Park Service.




Haiti - USAID : USA will provide an additional $25M in humanitarian aid





Over the past weeks, violence by organized criminal groups has escalated dramatically and worsened what is already a dire humanitarian situation in Haiti. At least 362,000 people are displaced, and 5.5 million people are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance as the most basic necessities including food, health care, water, and hygiene, are increasingly difficult to access.



To help address these urgent needs, the United States, through United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti), intends to provide an additional $25 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti. This builds on the $33 million for humanitarian assistance Secretary of State Blinken announced earlier this week https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41867-haiti-politic-antony-blinken-announces-an-additional-$100m-for-the-pnh-support-mission.html . Our funding will support efforts by our United Nations and NGO partners to provide immediate food assistance, essential relief supplies, relocation support, psycho-social support, emergency health care, safe drinking water, and protection services for the most vulnerable, including women and girls, among other vital assistance.



USAID undrline that "[...] Humanitarian workers must be able to safely provide assistance for the most vulnerable. While the violence has forced some pauses of humanitarian operations, aid organizations are working tirelessly to reach the most vulnerable in Haiti. Our humanitarian partners have extensive experience working in challenging environments and have demonstrated their commitment to stay and deliver life-saving assistance with impartiality, neutrality, and independence, while protecting their staff and facilities. We require our partners to have robust safeguards and risk-mitigation systems in place, so that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Damascus, Mar 17 (UNI) Israeli missiles hit multiple sites in the countryside of Syria's capital Damascus after midnight Sunday, a war monitor reported.



At least two locations were struck -- one harboring a weapons shipment within a military installation used by Syrian military forces and the other near an engineering battalion in the Qalamoun rugged region in the northern countryside of Damascus.



The attacks triggered massive explosions, and Syrian ground defenses scrambled to intercept incoming threats, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.



The strikes mark the latest escalation in Israeli military actions against Syria. According to the Observatory, 16 Israeli aerial assaults and eight ground operations have been documented so far this year.

UNI/XINHUA AKS




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Bellevue : Around fifty houses looted

In Bellevue 15, 16, 17, more than fifty houses were looted during the night of Friday March 15 to Saturday March 16, 2024, including the house of the mother of Minister Nesmy Manigat and the actor Jessifra as well as those of several other personalities. According to local residents, this neighborhood had been abandoned since Wednesday evening, because the bandits had announced their intention to take action in the area.



Malnutrition : Haiti comparable to any war zone

Jean-Martin Bauer, director of the United Nations World Food Program for Haiti. He noted that Croix-des-Bouquets, a district of the Haitian capital, "has malnutrition rates comparable to those of any war zone in the world."



Insecurity : Comments by Maarten Boute

"Tensions rise as Port-au-Prince's National Port and Airport remain shut, cutting off essential goods. Hospitals stand shuttered or looted. Streets are overrun by bandits, forcing more neighborhoods to fortify. Food is scarce, garbage piles up. CNN has come. Help hasnt," Maarten Boute.



Our Grenadieres move back 2 places

The elimination of our Grenadieres in the 2024 Gold Cup play-off match against Puerto Rico [0-1] https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41693-haiti-play-off-w-gold-cup-huge-disappointment-haiti-eliminated-[0-1]-by-puerto-rico-video.html cost Haiti 2 places in the latest FIFA world rankings which now ranks 53rd



No to amnesty for bandits

Haitian political scientist James Boyard refutes any idea of granting amnesty to bandits because of their murderous criminal acts orchestrated against the civilian population, particularly since 2021.



The Swiss office still operational

Swiss Cooperation in Haiti continues to provide support to the Haitian population. Even if 3 Swiss experts left Haiti on March 13, the office in Port-au-Prince remains operational with Swiss and Haitian staff. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-41861-icihaiti-insecurity-alert-for-switzerland-travelers.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















'Where are you, Tam,' Vietnam veteran asks

Ron Kuebler was based out of Landing Zone Gator near Chu Lai in northern South Vietnam from September 1969 until August 1970. He served in the 5/46th Infantry Regiment, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, American Division.

Ron Kuebler, a Vietnam War veteran who is active in Scout leadership and the Hendersonville Kiwanis Club, often wonders about what became of Sgt. Tam, his coleader with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

Pvt. Kuebler started his tour in Vietnam as a rifleman and left the country as a sergeant and squad leader. His areas of expertise included infantry and intelligence including aerial reconnaissance missions and intelligence communications.

Ron KueblerSgt. Tam (pronounced Tom) led the South Vietnamese Army unit that assisted the U.S. Army in intelligence and interpreting. Flying in a Huey helicopter fitted with speakers on the skids, they encouraged Viet Cong and North Vietnam soldiers to surrender their weapons in exchange for money and a chance to return to farming or other pursuits.

Tam and Ron analyzed captured weapons, maps, and battle plans to pinpoint enemy positions. In the process they became friends and shared stories about their families.

I have not had any contact with Tam since I left Vietnam and have no idea what happened to him, says Kuebler, who lives in Flat Rock.

Kueblers poem Where Are You, Tam? is featured on the website of the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas in Brevard:

Are you bleeding in your mind as you rue your family lost

Tried to reunite but could not afford the cost

Of paying someone to find your family scattered

Or telling you they were found but tattered

Did you make it past the Viet Cong and NVA gauntlet barrier

Trying to figure a way to survive the reprisal harrier

Wonder if you died in the attempt without reuniting

Or did you figure a way to get to them and then get safe hiding

Where are you now as I often wonder

And think about you when we worked the thunder

Trying to get VC and NVA to give up their weapons to us

Disarm them with money and send them without a fuss

To farm their fields and shoot at no others

Be back in the village as if you were brothers

I hope you survived and your family too

What a reunion it would be if I were to see you.
On March 14, Assam chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma, told reporters in Guwahati that in four days since the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules providing automatic citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 31, 2014, were notified, not even a single person had applied for citizenship under the rules in Assam. In West Bengal, where a large number of Hindu migrants from Bangladesh reside, the response to the notification has been tepid, even though, notionally, the rules would have benefitted a large number of non-Muslims.

The CAA rules have a limited benefit even in the long run. As per the home ministrys estimate in 2019, when the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was being discussed by the Parliamentary standing committee, around 32,000 persons in the country of 1.4 billion had alleged religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh when they entered India. The CAA says that only those who alleged religious persecution in Muslim dominated neighbouring countries can seek citizenship through the 2019 amendment.

Although it may appear that a large number of non-Muslims migrants have come to India before December 31, 2014 and had not got citizenship, in actuality, the beneficiaries could be negligible. The reason is that most of them would have got citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955 even before amendment to the law by BJP in 2019. Section 5 (1) (a) of the Act provides for citizenship to people of Indian origin, who are not illegal immigrants, and are staying in India for at least seven years. The explanation of the sub-section defined a person of Indian origin as one, who or whose either parents were born in undivided India. The amended Citizenship Act allows even grandchildren or great grandchildren of such persons born in undivided India to seek citizenship.

So, this means that most of the people, who would have come into India legally before December 31, 2014, could have got citizenship in the pre-CAA rules. Only those, who came illegally or those who failed to register themselves, under the earlier mechanism, would benefit from new rules. As per government and intelligence estimates, the number of such people would not be very high or else the registration under the new CAA rules would have been very high. The Home Ministry which is monitoring the registration portal has not released any figures of persons who have applied under the new rules.

The new rule takes away the role of state governments in granting citizenship to people coming from these countries. The home ministry has done so by nominating its nominees to a committee entrusted with the job to scrutinise the applications. Verification of the applicants would be done by security agencies to be decided by the Central government, the CAA rule says, taking away the verification process from the local police.

The state-level empowered committee, which was earlier headed by state home secretary, would be chaired by Director (Census Operations), having an officer of Intelligence Bureau, jurisdictional foreign regional registration officer (FRRO), state information officer of National Informatics Centre and Post Master General of the state as other members. All these officers report directly to the Central government.

The state home secretary will be an invitee, having no power to decide on the citizenship applications.

The district level committee, whose primary job is verification of applications, will be headed by Senior Superintendent (Police not mentioned) or Superintendent of Post having district information officer and nominee of the Central government as other members. The special invitees would be a revenue official (Naib Tehsildar) and Station Master of Railways. The rules allow the Central government to decide whether it would nominate Senior Superintendent of Police or Superintendent of Post to head the committee. In opposition ruled states, the government may nominate the Superintendent of Post, whose work is in no way related to verification.

While the above-mentioned mechanism would be there for non-Muslims from the three neighbouring countries, the Muslims from these countries and people from remaining countries would have to apply before a district magistrate for citizenship. With the new rules, the Central government has introduced two systems for seeking citizenship in the country. In one, the state government will have a role to play and in other, it would be a mute spectator. The Kerala government has, however, challenged the new rules in the Supreme Court claiming it is biased and against equality before law. The petition is likely to be heard next week.

At last, the question arises, why were the rules notified just 10 days before the national election announcement? More so, more than four years after the act was notified and the government repeatedly took extension from Parliament saying it was working on the rules, which is just a two-page document. The obvious answer is that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to tell its core voters that it has fulfilled its 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto promise even though its implementation will be patchy as the model code has come into force with the election announcement. Sarmas statement is testimony to the same. Another substantial reason is the aim of the BJP to push its narrative that all Hindus are welcome to India, especially those persecuted in Muslim countries, in a bid to polarise the electorate.

Chetan Chauhan, national affairs editor, analyses the most important environment and political story in the country this week.
Tel Aviv, Mar 17 (UNI) Thousands of protesters have gathered in the center of Tel Aviv demanding early elections in Israel and the immediate conclusion of a deal to free hostages held by Palestinian movement Hamas from the Gaza Strip, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

The protests are taking place near the complex of government buildings, where the Israeli Defense Ministry's headquarters are located. Police forces have been stationed at the site to block traffic in the city center and erect barriers.

The rallies are now proceeding peacefully without clashes or detentions, but more and more protesters are joining the demonstration, holding national flags and chanting slogans calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday.

A mass action to support the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip is taking place near the defense ministry's headquarters to demand that the Israeli government reach an agreement and liberate the hostages.

The rally comes amid a conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel launched a military operation in the Palestinian enclave in response to a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, in which some 1,100 Israelis  military personnel and civilians  were killed and 240 others abducted.

More than 31,500 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's military actions and more than 76,000 have been wounded, according to local authorities.

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. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
Petrol and diesel prices are the costliest in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala, PTI quoted an oil industry data on Sunday. The fuel is cheapest in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi and in the northeastern states, the data showed.



The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), the three prominent fuel retailers, had last week slashed petrol and diesel prices by 2 per litre each. The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), the three prominent fuel retailers, had last week slashed petrol and diesel prices by  2 per litre each

The cut in prices did bring some relief to the common citizens but rates continue to remain above 100 per litre mark due to higher value added tax (VAT).

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Petrol, diesel costliest in Andhra



Andhra Pradesh, ruled by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government, has the costliest petrol at 109.87 per litre. Left-ruled Kerala comes second with petrol selling at 107.54 per litre. Telangana, now under Congress rule, is selling petrol at 107.39 per litre. Diesel prices have almost a similar story with Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh selling the fuel at 97.6 a litre. Diesel is being sold at 96.41 a litre in Thiruvananthapuram, 95.63 per litre in Hyderabad.

What are petrol prices in BJP-ruled states?

Among BJP states, the price of petrol in Rajasthan capital Jaipur is 104.86 per litre. In Bhopal, petrol is sold at 106.45 per litre while 105.16 per litre is the cost of petrol in Patna, the capital of Bihar which is currently ruled by BJP-Janata Dal (U) alliance. In Chhattisgarh, the price of petrol stands at 100.37 per litre.



In Goa capital Panaji, the price of petrol is at 95.19 while Guwahati in Assam is selling petrol at 96.12 a litre. Mamata Banerjee's TMC-ruled West Bengal has petrol priced at 103.93 a litre. Odisha ( 101.04 a litre in Bhubaneswar), and Tamil Nadu ( 100.73 in Chennai) are the other states selling petrol at a rate of above 100 a litre.

Petrol is the cheapest in Andaman & Nicobar Island where it comes for 82 a litre, followed by Silvassa and Daman where it comes for 92.38-92.49 a litre. In Delhi, petrol is being sold at 94.76 per litre. Most North Eastern states are among the lower-end of the petrol price band.

Diesel is in the 92-93 a litre range in BJP-ruled sales of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. It is also in that range in Odisha and Jharkhand.

Diesel is the cheapest in Andaman & Nicobar Island where it comes for about 78 a litre. Delhi - which has the lowest VAT among metro cities - has diesel priced at 87.66 a litre, while in Goa it costs 87.76 per litre.



(With PTI inputs)
Ripudaman Singh, grandson of Victoria Cross recipient Subadar Ram Sarup Singh, shared tales of the latters heroism at the Triennial National Convention and Reunion of decorated war heroes held at Chandimandir Military Station on Saturday. Members of War Decorated India during the associations convention-cum-reunion in Panchkula on Saturday. (Sant Arora/HT)

The event was organised to honour recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, and Victoria Cross and Military Cross from World War II.

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Ripudaman recounted, My grandfather served as Subadar in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment. Leading his platoon through Kennedy Peak in Tiddim, Burma, in October 1944, he faced Japanese forces. Despite sustaining gunshot wounds to his thighs, he engaged enemy bunkers, eliminating multiple enemy troops. Though he succumbed to injuries, his courage and valour inspired his platoon. At 32, he single-handedly halted a counter-attack with nothing but his light machine gun and unwavering bravery.

Ripudaman added that his grandfather was born at Khedi-Talwana village in Haryanas Mahendragarh in 1919. Joining the 1st Punjab Regiment on April 12, 1937, he eventually laid his life in 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest accolade for bravery in combat bestowed upon British and Commonwealth forces.

This award was bestowed upon him for his unparalleled courage and extraordinary service. His mortal remains continue to narrate tales of valour even today, added Ripudaman.

In this battle, 1,291 Japanese troops were killed. Sarup Singhs son Tejpal Singh also joined the Indian Army and was in Rajputana Rifles during the 1962 war against China.

At the event, kin of two Victoria Cross (WW II) and five Maha Vir Chakra recipients were honoured along with 17 Vir Chakra awardees. War heroes, war widows and next of kin of awardees participated in the convention.

Amarjit Kaur, daughter of Naib Subedar Nand Singh, Maha Vir Chakra (posthumously), 1948 J&K operations, Victoria Cross World War II, were among the awardees of the region.

Lieutenant General Manoj Katiyar, General Officer Commanding, Western Command, was present at the inaugural session of the convention. The commander expressed gratitude for the awardees and veer naris and assured all help possible to the association.
The contemporary discourse surrounding participatory democracy in India has gained momentum amid concerns about the perceived shift towards majoritarian authoritarianism. While some argue that good governance, with speedier decision-making, transparency, and the reduction of bureaucratic red tape, is essential for efficiency and quicker growth, others caution against sacrificing democratic values such as discussions, consultations, participation, and collaboration. This debate echoes historical instances, such as the conciliatory period of Nehru, the authoritarian rule of Indira Gandhi post-1966, and the uncertain times of Rajiv Gandhi, for a critical re-evaluation of the contemporary democratic landscape to avoid the recurrence of despised trends in the country. While some argue that good governance, with speedier decision-making, transparency, and the reduction of bureaucratic red tape, is essential for efficiency and quicker growth, others caution against sacrificing democratic values such as discussions, consultations, participation, and collaboration. (Shutterstock)

Unlike the past, when Nehru was believed to be a tolerant, liberal, and open-minded leader focused more on consolidating nationalism, the era of Indira Gandhi marked a consolidation of power, leading to accusations of autocracy and intolerance towards political and bureaucratic dissent. Economic challenges, social unrest, and the JP movement forced her government to promulgate an internal emergency in 1975 that angered most of us. This happened despite strong leadership, substantial growth of primary and secondary sectors, better geopolitical standing, and victory in the Bangladesh war. The consequences of centralised power and a committed bureaucracy revealed the pitfalls of sacrificing democratic values for swift governance. The lessons from this period served as a cautionary tale for contemporary democratic governance. Rajiv Gandhi gave greater thrust to empowering PRIs and ULBs, which remains an unfulfilled dream.

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The subsequent coalition governments from 1991 to 2014 faced criticism for perceived weaknesses in leadership. However, this period witnessed substantial economic reforms that positively impacted India. While economic growth was commendable, the quality of governance declined, with issues such as corruption, wealth concentration, job disparities, poverty, and social stratification persisting and deepening. Unemployment increased with the focus shifting towards creating a knowledge economy that addresses the skill deficit in the labour market. Better food, shelter, education, and healthcare emerged as priority claims on public resources.

The political landscape underwent significant changes post-2014, marked by a more focused, cohesive, decisive, and futuristic approach to governance. Economic reforms gained momentum, crisis management improved, and social issues received more attention under a unified command. While stability increased with firm leadership, citizen empowerment and participation remain challenged. The nuanced and multifaceted solutions are yet to emerge to achieve participatory governance.

Citizen engagement is often interpreted and taken for granted with regular elections in the country. A critical evaluation since 1952 reveals that the average voter turnout in parliamentary elections hovers around 60%, resulting in governments representing only a fraction (one-fourth) of the population. The dominance of a few select communities further exacerbates the exclusion of the vast majority of middle and lower-middle-class and disadvantaged citizens. Even today, our discourse primarily revolves around financial inclusion. True empowerment requires a shift from financial inclusion to holistic integration in all aspects of the socio-economic life of our citizens.

Beyond electoral participation, mechanisms for citizen engagement are rare or stagnant. NGOs face biases, PRIs lack empowerment, ULBs lack authority, and state assemblies struggle to legislate effectively. Civil society organisations are also seen as non-participatory and need more social accountability. Existing laws on citizenship, and socio-cultural practices are either non-existent or weak. Most of these remain unimplemented. The need for more data and policy literacy among policymakers further exacerbates these challenges. Public policies need more effective public- citizens participation in their making.

For effective citizen engagement, reforms must encompass legal, social, and economic dimensions. These initiatives should start at the grassroots level, empowering institutions like PRIs and ULBs. The involvement of think tanks, NGOs, educational and socio-cultural institutions is crucial. Regulations in this endeavor should be contextually relevant, implementable, and easy to comprehend, respecting local community codes. The management of the COVID-19 pandemic proved this beyond a point, though the societal response was appreciable.

The societal structure in India is complex, with deep-rooted divisions based on caste, religion, and ethnicity. Regional disparities also vary substantially. Efforts towards social reforms should focus on promoting mutual respect among all communities. While unity is crucial, it is equally essential to avoid compulsive communal unification. Initiatives like a uniform citizen code that transcends caste and ethnic divisions can contribute to building a more cohesive society. The citizens - Indians, should be one, even if the communities differ.

There is a need for a paradigm shift toward holistic inclusion and assimilation of all citizens in every aspect of their socio-economic lives to address prevailing disparities. Beyond the rhetoric of financial inclusion, the focus should be on integrating citizens into the decision-making processes that shape their future. Technology can help hasten such efforts, though deeper social issues require better-nuanced solutions.

Legal frameworks should be revised and reinforced to ensure contextual relevance and ease of understanding. The laws on citizenship and social practices should be robust, pragmatic, and aligned with the diverse cultural landscape of the country. For informed decision-making and evidence-based policies, there is a need to bridge the gap in data and policy literacy among policymakers.

Economic reforms should prioritise growth and address underlying disparities. The focus should shift towards creating a knowledge economy that caters to the skill deficit in the labour market. Enhanced equitability in economic growth, reaching the subalterns in underprivileged communities and castes, may reduce social tensions. The marginalised groups deserve increased legal cover for their financial entitlements.

Mechanisms of citizen engagement, beyond elections, need a comprehensive overhaul. NGOs should be strengthened and freed from biases. PRIs and ULBs should be empowered with genuine authority and adequate finances. State assemblies should function as robust legislative bodies that represent the diverse interests of the population. The potential of think tanks, educational institutions, socio-cultural organisations, and other CSOs should be harnessed for a more inclusive decision-making process.

The ultimate goal is to transition from representative governance to citizen-centric governance, where citizens actively participate in decision-making processes. It requires a cultural shift where citizens own the governments actions and policies. The government should strive for complete transparency, ensuring citizens are fully aware of and understand all decisions. This participatory approach will foster a sense of shared responsibility and accountability, making citizens partners in the nations governance.

We need to learn from historical mistakes, address current shortcomings, and implement comprehensive reforms that fully reflect on domestic and geopolitical situations to build a stronger and more resilient democracy. The call for citizen-centric governance, giving power to the people, should not just be a slogan; it should be a commitment to empower every citizen and make them an integral part of the nations progress.

The writer is a retired Punjab cadre IAS officer
Police on Sunday registered a case in connection with the boiler blast incident at a spare parts manufacturing facility in Haryanas Rewari that injured 40 workers. Around 40 workers suffered burn injuries in the blast at the manufacturing facility in the Dharuhera industrial area on Saturday, the police said. (PTI)

The contractor and others have been booked in the case. An FIR was registered at Dharuhera police station on Sunday, the police said.

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Around 40 workers suffered burn injuries in the blast at the manufacturing facility in the Dharuhera industrial area on Saturday, the police said.

As many as 19 seriously injured workers have been admitted to PGIMS-Rohtak while 10 are being treated at a trauma centre in Rewari. Some others are being treated in private hospitals in Rewari and Dharuhera.

One of the injured workers was discharged late on Saturday.

Officials on Sunday said chief minister Nayab Singh Saini has ordered a probe under a sub-divisional magistrate.

The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Raj Kumar, a labourer from Uttar Pradeshs Gonda district.

Read Here: At least 40 injured as boiler explodes in spare parts factory in Haryana's Rewari

The complainant stated that he had been hired through Shivam, a contractor. Nearly 60-70 workers were present in the factory when there was a blast in the boiler dust collector.

There had been a blast in the dust collector on two previous occasions though no one had suffered any injury then. The incident at that time had been brought to the notice of the factorys contractor and other officials concerned and it was said that attention should be paid to its proper repair as it could lead to an untoward incident in the future, Raj Kumar said in his complaint.

But they remained negligent in the matter and no attention was paid. Had the boiler unit been properly maintained and cleaned, the incident could have been averted, he added.

Following the complaint, an FIR was registered against the contractor and others under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code on Sunday, the police said.

A senior officer said they are investigating the matter and action will be taken according to the law.

Manoj Kumar, an injured factory worker, told reporters that the blast occurred when several employees were on duty.

A doctor at a district hospital said preliminary treatment was given to the injured. Later, those with more than 50% burn injures were shifted to PGIMS-Rohtak.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained a Patiala health department employee over allegedly issuing a fake birth certificate to a member wanted in terrorist-gangster nexus. On March 12, NIA had raided 30 locations in four states in connection with the terrorist-gangster nexus case relating to individual designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla and other suspects of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

Confirming the development, Patiala civil surgeon Dr Raminder Kaur on Friday said that the in-charge of the birth and death certificate branch was detained by NIA on March 14.

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The civil surgeon said that the department has already informed the senior officials in the Punjab police and the state health department.

On March 12, NIA had raided 30 locations in four states in connection with the terrorist-gangster nexus case relating to individual designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla and other suspects of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

Raids were conducted across Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh by NIA teams as part of the agencys crackdown against the terror activities of chiefs/members of the proscribed terrorist organisations and other such outfits.

The premises raided were linked to various suspected associates of Dalla, as well as Baljeet Maur and Australia-based Gurjant Singh, in an NIA case dated February 13, 2024.

As per sources, the alleged certificate was issued between 2016 and 2017 by the said in-charge of the birth and death certificate department of Patiala health department to an individual who was associated with a terrorist organisation.

The person later used this fake birth certificate to procure more documents, including the passport, which was used to flee the country.

Before 2019, the birth certificates in Punjab were issued through offline mode, therefore, there is a high chance of issuing fake certificates. As of now, the health department doesnt issue birth certificates. It only issues it when the certificate is lost, said a senior health official.

As per the sources, the official was detained from the office itself. The accused was detained in an already registered case by NIA. The family members of the accused have already been informed, a Punjab police official said on the condition of anonymity.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to appear before it on March 21 for questioning in the money laundering probe linked to Delhi excise policy 2021-22 irregularities, people familiar with the development said on Sunday. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (File)

The fresh summons, ninth since November last year, have been issued as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has failed to appear before the agency.

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A Delhi court on Saturday granted him bail in connection with two complaints filed by ED against him for skipping the summons.

ED officials, however, said that the court has not given Kejriwal immunity from not appearing before the agency. We have issued fresh summons to him for March 21, said an officer.

They said they want to question Kejriwal to know more about the conspiracy in the Delhi excise policy, in which 100 crore was allegedly paid by a lobby of businessmen and politicians - referred to as the South Group - to the AAP leaders in lieu of liquor licences.

The federal agency on Friday evening arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the case and produced her before the court in Delhi on Saturday.

She is currently in ED custody till March 23 and there is a possibility that if Kejriwal appears before the ED, he might be confronted with her, said an official who didnt want to be named.

The agency has claimed that AAP leaders were paid bribes of 100 crore in connection with the 2021-22 excise policy, which was implemented in November 2021 but scrapped months later after LG Saxena recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the new regime.

The now-scrapped policy was aimed to revitalise the citys flagging liquor business and replace a sales volume-based regime with a license fee for traders. It promised swankier stores and a better buying experience. The policy introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor for the first time in Delhi.

In one of its six charge sheets, ED claimed that the excise policy was Kejriwals brainchild, though he has not been named as an accused in any of them.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with its probe in two separate cases  the Delhi excise policy 2021-22, and alleged irregularities in the awarding of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) contracts  people aware of the matter said on Sunday. Kejriwal at the Rouse Avenue court on Saturday. (PTI)

The federal anti-money laundering agency has summoned Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, to appear before it in connection with the DJB case on Monday, and in connection with the excise case on March 21.

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The two summons to Kejriwal came a day after a Delhi court granted him bail in connection with two complaints filed by ED for not appearing before the federal agency in connection with the excise case despite serving him with eight summons.

The people cited above, however, said that the bail does not mean that the court has given Kejriwal immunity from appearing before ED.

Read here: Arvind Kejriwal summoned by ED in 2nd money laundering case linked to Delhi Jal Board, AAP reacts

Hence, we have issued fresh or ninth summons to him asking him to join the probe on March 21, said an officer with the federal agency, on condition of anonymity.

The AAP hit out at the development, terming the two summons an attempt to stop Kejriwal from campaigning, and referring to the alleged irregularities in DJB as a back-up case. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, accused the Delhi chief minister of repeatedly flouting the law.

Another chapter in excise case

The Delhi governments 2021-22 excise policy aimed to revitalise the citys flagging liquor business, but was scrapped after lieutenant governor VK Saxena recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged irregularities in the regime. ED is carrying out a separate probe into the policy in connection with alleged money laundering.

Kejriwal has skipped eight summons issued by ED  on November 2, December 22, January 3, January 18, February 2, February 19, February 27, and on March 4  calling them illegal and politically motivated. He has also repeatedly and consistently objected to the summons, stating that it was not clear whether he was asked to appear before ED as a witness or suspect; as chief minister or as AAP chief; and without any details on the line of questioning.

Read Here | Delhi excise policy: ED issues 9th summons to CM Arvind Kejriwal

However, the ED officer quoted above said Kejriwals questioning is important to know more about the conspiracy in the excise policy, in which 100 crore was allegedly paid by a lobby of businessmen and politicians  referred to as the South Group  to AAP leaders in lieu of liquor licences.

The federal agency on Friday arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, and a court subsequently sent her to ED custody till March 23. A second ED official, also requesting anonymity, said that there is a possibility that if Kejriwal appears before agency on March 21, he may be confronted with Kavitha.

Summons in a second case

Separately, ED also issued summons to Kejriwal, asking him to appear before it on Monday in connection with alleged irregularities in the awarding of DJB contracts.

The EDs probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is based on a case filed by CBI in July 2022, related to alleged corruption in the water utility. It has been alleged that former DJB chief engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora awarded a contract to M/s NKG Infrastructure Ltd for 38 crore, even though the company did not meet the technical eligibility criteria.

Read Here | ED summons to Kejriwal a plan to prevent him from LS poll campaign, alleges AAP

ED arrested Arora on January 31, and on February 6 conducted raids at 12 locations, including those connected to Kejriwals personal secretary Bibhav Kumar and AAP parliamentarian ND Gupta. The federal agency subsequently alleged that bribes generated in the awarding of the contract were passed on as election funds to the AAP.

Investigations and digital evidence show that Arora passed on the bribe funds to various persons connected with managing the affairs of DJB including persons connected with AAP. Bribe amounts were also passed on as election funds to AAP, the ED said in its statement on February 7.

The ED said its probe has revealed the contract (to NKG) was awarded at highly inflated rates so that the bribes could be collected from the contractors from the inflated cost of the contract.

As against the contract value of 38 crore, only about 17 crore was spent towards the contract and the remaining amounts were syphoned off in guise of various fake expenses. Such fake expenses were booked for bribes and election funds, it said.

AAP says Kejriwal targeted, BJP hits back

Hours after ED issued the two separate summons, the AAP alleged that the BJP-led Centre was attempting to prevent Kejriwal campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Read Here: Delhi Court refuses to stay summons issued to Arvind Kejriwal by ED

Nobody knows what the DJB case is or what irregularities have occurred. Maybe they doubt whether they will be able to arrest Kejriwal in the excise case, so this has been opened as a backup case. A third case may be opened if they cant arrest him in this case as well, Delhi cabinet minister Atishi said at a press conference.

Separately, AAP legislator Dilip Pandey said the partys legal team of AAP is examining the two summons, and an appropriate response will soon be issued. The latest notice shows the desperation of BJP and the Centre ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, he said.

Hitting back, the BJP accused Kejriwal of repeatedly flouting the law.

Arvind Kejriwals bail on Saturday has nothing to do with the excise policy case. After disrespecting the summons which Kejriwal previously claimed were illegal, he has now taken bail, confirming the validity of the summonses. The conduct and language of AAP leaders resemble that of thugs, which is a testament to their character, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, adding that the summons in the DJB case is another proof of looting.
Mercury may rise by 2-3C at most places across the Capital over the next five days as summer has begun making inroads across north India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. The minimum temperature was recorded at 11.9 C on Sunday, which was five degrees below normal for this time of the year. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

According to IMD, Delhis maximum temperature could spike to 33 degrees Celsius (C) by Friday. The minimum temperature was recorded at 11.9 C on Sunday, which was five degrees below normal for this time of the year. It was 10.1C on Saturday and 13.9C on Friday.

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Both maximum and minimum temperatures had dipped marginally in the last 48 hours, owing to the strong surface winds sweeping the region. IMD said despite clear skies in Delhi, there was a dip in temperature after fresh snowfall in the upper parts of the Himalayas on March 15. The snowfall impacted the plains too with northwesterly winds blowing towards Delhi-NCR. IMD has forecast the minimum to rise again in the next few days, touching 13C by Monday, 14C by Thursday and 15C by Friday.

The slight dip in temperature over the last two days was down to strong surface winds of 30-35 km/hour. With fresh snowfall recorded during the last western disturbance on March 14 and 15, we saw cool northwesterly winds again bringing a slight cooling effect to the plains. This temporary impact is reducing and we expect clear skies to continue for the next seven days and plains to heat up again, said an IMD official.

Read Here: IMD predicts rise in maximum temperature by 2-4 C from next week

Delhis maximum temperature was recorded at 30.8C on Sunday, a degree below normal. The maximum was 30.3C on Saturday and 28.4C on Friday. With clear skies persisting, the maximum is forecast to touch 32C by Tuesday and could touch 33C by Friday, IMD said.

The highest maximum recorded so far this March has been 31.4C, which was recorded on both March 11 and March 13.

In March last year, the highest maximum recorded was 34.3C on March 16. In 2022, it went up to 39.6C on March 31 and in 2021, touched 40.1C on March 30. In 2020, the highest maximum in March was 33.3C (March 26) and it was 39.2C in 2019 (March 31).

The Met department said that day temperatures will likely increase by 2-4 degrees over northwest India as well, including Haryana and Punjab in the next 4-5 days. Maximum or day temperatures are below normal by 2-3 degrees over many parts of the country except some areas of J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab, among other areas, where these are near normal. But, now there will be a gradual shift towards hot weather, IMD has said.

No major weather activity is expected over northwest India now. This will lead to both rise in day and night time temperatures. Max will reach around 33C over say Delhi next week and rise further thereafter, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, climate and met at Skymet Weather.

Meanwhile, Delhis air remained moderate, but deteriorated marginally in the last 24 hours. The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) recorded a reading of 193 (moderate) at 4pm on Sunday. It was 167 (moderate) at the same time on Saturday at 4pm. Forecasts by the Centres Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi showed the AQI is likely to stay moderate till Wednesday.
Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested Sheikh Alamgir, the younger brother of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, and two others in connection with the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials who raided Shahjahans home, officials of the federal agency said. Sheikh Shahjahan, who is alleged to have masterminded the attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5, was arrested by the West Bengal police on February 29. (File)

The state police handed over Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI earlier this month following orders from the Calcutta high court which asked the central agency to probe the attack on ED officers.

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The TMC strongman, along with his associates, is accused of land grab, extortion and sexual crimes against local women at Sandeshkhali in Bengals North 24 Parganas district.

Alamgir and two of his associates were summoned to the CBI office for questioning in connection with the January 5 violence. They were arrested on Saturday evening, a CBI official said on condition of anonymity.

Sandeshkhali has been made a political issue by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the run-up to the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls announced on Saturday afternoon.

On March 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a BJP election rally at Arambagh in Bengal's Hooghly district. The torment of women at Sandeshkhali has shaken the nation and Bengals people should use their votes to take revenge against TMC, Modi said without naming Shahjahan or his associates.

Shahjahan was arrested by the state police on February 28, after he stayed in hiding for 55 days. This, too, made chief minister Mamata Banerjee a target of the BJP since she is in charge of the home department as well.

The ED raided Shahjahans home because he was a suspect in the multi-crore public distribution system (PDS) case. Former food minister Jyotipriya Mallick was arrested by ED on October 27 last year in this case. The ED has alleged that subsidised good grains meant for ration shops were syphoned to the open market to be sold at a premium.

Shahjahan was suspended from the TMC for six years after his arrest following a violent rebellion by Sandeshkhali residents.

Local women levelled most of the allegations at panchayat zilla parishad members Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar who are associates of Shahjahan.

The police arrested Sardar on February 10 shortly after TMC suspended him for six years. Hazra, who is also president of the TMC unit at Sandeshkhali-2 community block, was arrested on February 17.
Launching the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliances (INDIA) campaign for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from central Mumbais iconic Shivaji Park on Sunday, Congress leader and member of parliament from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi said prime minister Narendra Modi was the face of a system developed by the BJP which allowed 20-25 corporate companies to run the country as per their wish. Mumbai, India - March 17, 2024: People gather at Shivaji Park ground for the Congress-led Opposition's I.N.D.I.A bloc is convening a rally in Mumbai, India, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

Modi is a mask. He is playing a role everyday like a Bollywood actor, the Congress leader told approximately 70,000-80,000 people at the rally in Shivaji Park, which marked the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra across 14 states. Flanked by top leaders of the INDIA bloc including Prakash Ambedkar, chief of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) whose position in the alliance remained uncertain, he attacked prime minister Narendra Modi over corruption, electoral bonds, crony capitalism and electronic voting machines (EVM).

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People believe that we are fighting against a political party or against Narendra Modi. But this is not true. The 20-25 companies that want to rule the country have created a face in Modis name, which has what we call shakti (power) in the Hindu religion. We are fighting against that shakti, he said, stressing that the Opposition was fighting against the system developed by the Modi regime.

Lok Sabha elections: Rahul Gandhi makes 'constitution' dare; BJP calls him 'liability'

Gandhi referred to the Adani group as a key beneficiary of this system and said the Mumbai airport was handed over to the group only after the Modi government initiated a probe against GVK, which was managing the airport, through the CBI.

The Wayanad MP accused the election commission of functioning under the influence of the same system while rejecting the oppositions demand for matching votes cast through electronic voting machines (EVM) with the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT).

Narendra Modi cannot win elections without EVMs. We wanted the election commission to count the VVPAT but they refused to do it because the system doesnt want it to be done, he said.

Reiterating allegations of corruption through electoral bonds, he further said, Electoral bonds are nothing but a national level extortion racket which is run in four ways  by taking a percentage share from companies in lieu of allotting contracts; by issuing threats through the ED, the CBI, and other central agencies; by taking cuts through shell companies; and by taking money after awarding contracts.

Read Here | Kings soul is in EVM': Rahul Gandhi's sharp attack on PM Modi at INDIA bloc's Mumbai rally

The Congress leader said he was not afraid of anyone and urged the people to stand up against the Modi government. You all have to stand up  you all are Bharat Mata. I am ready to do whatever you want me to do and come wherever you want me to, he said, flanked by DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj, CPI (ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattarchaya, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the entire top brass of the party.

Addressing the rally before Gandhi, RJD leader and former deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejaswi Yadav slammed Narendra Modi as a promoter of lies and fake agenda. We are not people who fear but are here to fight for the people. PM Modi is the manufacturer as well as wholesale and retail distributor of fake propaganda and lies, said Yadav.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray alleged that Modis only family was he himself and the chair of the prime minister. PM Modi criticises all of us of being family-run parties. But I want to ask who is there in Modis family? For PM Modi, only he and the chair of the prime minister is family, he said. The BJP wants to win over 400 seats so it can impose dictatorship in country, he said, adding, When people unite dictatorship ends. Ab ki baar BJP tadipar.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar recalled the Quit India movement starting from Mumbai as he gave a call to oust BJP from power.

Read Here | Rahul Gandhi slams electoral bonds scheme: Biggest extortion racket'

There is a need for change. Those who cheated the country by giving false promises need to be taught a lesson. So many promises were made, but none of them were implemented. Such people need to be removed  we will ensure that happens in the coming months, so be prepared, the veteran leader said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who spoke after Gandhi, also attacked the Modi government for not fulling any promises made over the past 10 years. He referred to the prime minster as Jhoothon Ka Sardar (commander of liars); and spoke in Marathi for more than five minutes.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin referred to Gandhi as the future hope of the country. India needs unity. I congratulate Rahul Gandhi for visiting every corner of country to unite people, he said.

National conference leader Farooq Abdullah urged voters to carefully look at the VVPAT after voting as EVMs could be tampered with.

VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar too expressed concerns over the use of EVMs and said the VVPAT count should be considered as final. But suspense over VBAs inclusion in the alliance continued as Ambedkar said in the presence of Gandhi and other top INDIA leaders, Either solo or unitedly  we will have to fight against the BJP.

(With inputs from Saurabh Kulshrestha)
Beijing, Mar 17 (UNI) As of 2 a.m. Sunday, 930 individuals had already been dispatched to combat the forest fire raging in southwest China's Sichuan Province, with an additional 775 rushing to the site, local authorities said.



The fire erupted in Baizi Village, in Yajiang County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.



Eight helicopters had been deployed to put out the blaze.



On Sunday morning, several local residents told Xinhua that the fire was not visible from the county seat and that water, electricity, and communication services had remained unaffected.



Following the outbreak of the fire, Xinhua correspondents contacted Lianghekou hydropower station in Yajiang. A staff member said the station had not been affected by the fire.



So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. UNI/XINHUA AKS
Mumbai: The state government has once again requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to exempt transfers of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner I S Chahal and other officers, citing their crucial role in the upcoming monsoon. Mumbai, India - February 04, 2023: BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal addresses a press conference after presenting the BMC Budget 2023-24 at BMC Headquarters, in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, February 04, 2023. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

The poll panel in February asked the state to transfer all the commissioners and chief officers in the district councils if they had completed three years in one post or one district. In its response, the state urged the ECI to exclude the municipal commissioners from the rule, as the monsoon preparatory works by the respective civic body may be affected. However, the ECI rejected the request.

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The state then transferred Akola municipal commissioner Kavita Dwivedi and Pune municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar. According to officials, chief minister Eknath Shinde is not in favour of Chahals transfer.

Taking a serious note of the delay in transferring Mumbai commissioner and administrator Chahal, additional commissioners P Velrasu, Ashwini Bhide, and a few additional commissioners from across the state, the poll panel earlier this week again wrote to the government seeking compliance with the norms. A few days later, the state wrote back to the ECI with a similar request to exempt these officers.

The decision will now be taken by the ECI, said S Chockalingam, chief electoral officer, Maharashtra.

In a related development, the state government on Saturday transferred Anoop Kumar, additional chief secretary (agriculture), as additional chief secretary, in-charge of the co-operation department. The IAS officer is due to retire in August this year and headed the co-operation department earlier. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar municipal commissioner Astik Kumar Pandey has been posted as commissioner, Employment State Insurance Scheme, Mumbai.

Among IPS officers, Vinayak Deshmukh, additional commissioner of eastern region, was transferred to Thane police while Mahesh Patil, Thane additional commissioner of police (west), was transferred to the eastern region.
A 31-year-old man was attacked and then hacked to death while he was inside an eatery in Pune on Saturday night. The brutal killing has been caught on the CCTV camera inside Hotel Jagadamba near Indapur on the Pune-Solapur Highway. The deceased was identified as Avinash Dhanve with multiple criminal cases against him and hence his murder was likely to be a fallout of gangwar, police said. "We have identified eight assailants through the CCTV footage and teams have been mobilised to apprehend them," a senior official from Pune rural police said, as quoted by PTI. Dhanve was a property dealer. Two men fired at Dhanve and then four people with sickles hacked him to death.

In the CCTV footage, two attackers could be seen coming where the deceased was sitting with three others. Dhanve seemed to be on his phone when the attackers approached him from behind. As the two took out their guns and started firing, the other three on the table got startled and left their seats. The attackers did not chase the others while more joined in attacking Dhanve. Six people entered the eatery with sickles and machetes in their hands with which they hacked Dhanve to death. Other guests of the eatery could be seen rushing out and the attackers too fled the scene while Dhanve's body remained on the ground.

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Police said the incident took place around 8pm and Dhanve was a known criminal and his murder was a gang rivalry. "The victim dies on the spot. The police have cracked the case and the accused will be behind bars soon," Pune Rural SP Pankaj Deshmukh said.
In a recent development in the Pune ISIS module case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) attached four properties in Mithanagar in the Kondhwa area of the city. During the raid, officials put a display board of notice of attachment In which it was mentioned, This is to inform all members of the public, that the said flat being Proceed of Terrorism stand attached under the provision of UAPA act 1967 in NIA case. (ht photO)

The action was taken by NIA under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on Saturday, said officials. During the raid, officials put a display board of notice of attachment In which it was mentioned, This is to inform all members of the public, that the said flat being Proceed of Terrorism stand attached under the provision of UAPA act 1967 in NIA case.

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These locations in Mithanagar were used by the accused for their stay in the city and to conduct terrorism-related activities.

In July 2023, during night patrolling, a team of Kothrud police arrested three NIA wanted criminals in a vehicle theft case. During further investigation, it was revealed that these accused were on NIAs radar and were wanted in case of heavy explosives found in Rajasthan in 2022.
Just as the Election Commission of India was announcing the polling dates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing rallies in Karnataka and Telangana, castigating the Opposition for corruption and dynastic politics. For Modi, southern India is the last frontier in his bid to expand the BJPs electoral footprint. The five states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, which elect 130 Lok Sabha members, have been resisting the BJPs political and ideological advancementKarnataka, the only state in southern India to elect the BJP to office, is an exception. The party needs more seats from this region to ensure that it touches the 370 mark Modi has set, and for the 400 paar (beyond 400 seats) slogan he has given to the NDA to be met. Having nearly saturated the gains from the rest of India, winning in the South is central to the BJPs Mandate 2024 plan.

Read Here: Modi kicks off campaign for Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka

Three factors are creating hurdles for the Modi juggernaut in the South: One, organisation; two, ideology; three, language. All three are connected. The southern states were born in the crucible of linguistic subnationalism, which allowed regional parties to flourish while limiting the appeal of the BJP and its unitarian agendas. Modi seems to recognise that Hindutva may not be enough to defeat linguistic subnationalism in the short run even if the governments muscular nationalism and Ram temple have found traction among a section of the electorate. Hence, he has been focussing on governance issues during his many recent, and frequent, trips to the southern states. He has spoken about welfare guarantees and the benefits of double-engine sarkars. Though regional parties have been pioneers of welfare politics, they have also been tainted by corruption allegationsthe Karnataka BJP is no different. The governance pitch with emphasis on corruption, the BJP seems to think, is better suited to win the South, especially since hardline Hindutva failed to deliver in the Karnataka assembly polls last year.

The BJP has also done some smart alliance-building in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In Telangana, where the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is in a shambles after the assembly poll defeat and now the arrest of K Kavitha, the daughter of party founder K Chandrashekhar Rao, the BJP sees the scope for a bipolar contest, with the party pitted against the Congress. In a national election, this may turn out to be advantageous to the BJP.

In 2019, the BJP won just 29 of 130 LS seats in the South. It held a majority in Parliament even without these, but increasing the tally is essential to further diminish the Opposition.
SSC GD Answer Key 2024 Live Updates: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is expected to release tentative answer keys of the Constable GD computer-based examination (CBE) soon. The first stage of the recruitment test for Constable vacancies in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in the Assam Rifles recruitment examination was held from February 14 to March 7. The commission will upload answer keys next. When released, candidates can check SSC GD answer keys inside the Answer Key tab on ssc.gov.in....Read More

Direct link to download SSC GD Constable answer key (Not released yet)

SSC GD 2024 is being held for 26,146 vacancies:

BSF: 6,174

CISF: 11,025

CRPF: 3,337

SSB: 635

ITBP: 3,189

AR: 1,490

SSF: 296.

Next, shortlisted candidates will appear for the Physical Standard Test (PST), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Medical Examination and Document Verification rounds

Follow this live blog for all the latest updates on SSC GD 2024 answer key.
Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda tied the knot on Friday. The stunning couple is starting a new chapter of their lives, and they are on cloud nine. As they returned to their Delhi home, their excitement was visible from their griha pravesh visuals, in which they can be seen dancing their hearts out to the tunes of the dhol while entering the house. (Also Read  Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat tie knot, share first pics from wedding: Through the low and high, its only you) Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda tied the knot this week

Griha pravesh with a bang

Their griha pravesh wasn't a usual, quiet sight as both Pulkit and Kriti danced their hearts out to the dhol beats. As they were welcomed by family, friends, and the dhol wallahs playing King's popular romantic track Maan Meri Jaan, Pulkit and Kriti let their hair down and danced like there's no tomorrow. Pulkit even whistled while shaking a leg with his wife.

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Donning a traditional attire, they both looked stunning. While Pulkit opted for a kurta and dhoti, Kriti chose to wear a red sari.

Pulkit and Kriti's wedding

A day after exchanging the vows, the couple took to Instagram and shared adorable pictures from their D-Day. "From the deep blue sky, To the morning dew. Through the low and the high, It's only you. From the start to the end, In every now and every then, when my heart beats different, it's got to be you. Constantly, Consistently, Continually You!," the couple captioned the post.

For their wedding, Kriti opted for a stunning pink lehenga while Pulkit donned a mint green sherwani. In one of the snaps, Kriti can be seen planting a kiss on Pulkit's forehead while he holds her close. A picture also showed Pulkit tying the Mangalsutra around Kriti's neck.

Kriti and Pulkit have appeared together in several films like Veerey Ki Wedding, Taish, and Pagalpanti. Pulkit was previously married to Shweta Rohira.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Pulkit recently appeared in the third instalment of Fukrey and had a brief role in Zoya Akhtar's web show Made in Heaven Season 2. Kriti Kharbanda is gearing up for the release of her upcoming movie, Risky Romeo, scheduled for this May.

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On his way to birthing his debut feature film Sapiens, West India-based indie filmmaker Junayed Alavi has grounded his longtime-coming magnum opus in experimental layers of sci-fi and realism. Having crossed paths with Marvel Studios' Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night producer Peter Cameron for an equally genre-defying horror short, Hunger (screened at Festival del Cinema di Cefalu in Italy in 2023), Alavi is once again teaming up with Hollywood connections to make his dreams come true. His arduous journey from a lower middle-class Bengali Muslim family was "far from easy." Nevertheless, the ensuing outcome has been "incredibly rewarding," as he points out ahead of his feature film's premiere. Indie filmmaker Junayed Alavi's debut feature film, Sapiens, will wrap up production soon. It's expected to release in theatres around Christmas 2024 or Summer 2025.

In HT's talks with him, we also received a quote from the Moon Knight producer, extolling Alavi's resourceful ambitions that translated into a style of filmmaking resonating the echoes of South African-Canadian director Neill Blomkamp's works (known for his sci-fi projects like District 9, Elysium and Chappie).

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About Sapiens

Alavi's upcoming debut feature premiere is in production and will wrap up soon. Marvel Moon Knight Peter Cameron serves as the project's co-producer. The movie also has another Marvel connection, with Ms Marvel actor Asfandyar Khan coming in as the pivotal narrator who witnessed the storyline's apocalypse. Newcomers Kalyan Goswami, Bulbul Ahamed and Anirbaan Guha take the lead as significant cast members of Sapiens, which was shot in various parts of Birbhum, West Bengal.

Also read | Viral Teen Titans live-action movie fan castings: Dallas Liu-Nightwing, Inaki Godoy-Beast Boy and more

The movie will be available in three languages - Bengali, Hindi and English. Set in a dystopian future, it's centred around two rival Dalit and Brahmin families who stand their ground in a cyborg-colonised Indian village in West Bengal.

Sapiens has been produced under Junayed's very own production banner, Alavi Motion Pictures. The Indian filmmaker penned its script during the lockdown. His project saw major progress with his partner, Firdoushi Begum, who is yet another crucial member of the production team. The Sapiens team is rooting for a Christmas 2024 or Summer 2025 premiere in theatres. Digital release details are yet to be discussed.

Marvel Studios Moon Knight producer Peter Cameron's artistic journey with Sapiens filmmaker Junayed Alavi:

Here's what Cameron had to say about the fortunate collaboration that warmly embraced him with the touch of nostalgia: Junayed carries his country in his soul. It informs every aspect of his work, and it's been wonderful to watch him hone his craft over the past couple of years. When he reached out to me about Sapiens, the themes resonated with me in a big way, but I also just admire his commitment to the process of actually going out and creating something. He's incredibly resourceful in a way that reminds me of making movies with my friends in high school and college.

As for Alavi's quality work, Cameron underlined the 25-year-old filmmaker's "Blockbuster-level ambition while letting his environment and community inform the story, and the making of it, on every level. He's very Neill Blomkamp in that way."

Junayed Alavi's Hollywood dreams:

Hailing from a lower middle-class Muslim family, the Hunger filmmaker found his ambition fueled through "Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic Park, ET, Back to the Future, and Star Wars." But before any fallacious ideas soar in the readers' minds, imagining a romanticised picture of his life's journey, Alavi lays it all to rest. His forlorn childhood memories recalled "the laughter and mockery from (his) schoolmates and school teachers," despite which he "held onto (his) grand aspirations". And ultimately, despite being a reserved child, he found his "voice through the art of cinema".

The materialisation of Junayed Alavi's big small-town dreams is coming to fruition in his mid-20s, but his actual stepping-off point arrived at an even younger age. "At the tender age of 13, (he) began making short films, drawing inspiration from the legendary Steven Spielberg". He continued, During my childhood, I often felt isolated. Filmmaking became my escape and a means to connect with others.

Also read | Is Henry Cavill the new Wolverine? Wild rumour rounds up mixed reactions

Adulthood brought a baggage of responsibilities and expectations of staying faithful to the societal design. His family reiterated the same dialogue by insisting that he pursue engineering, "dismissing his Hollywood dream as invalid". Intent on translating his dreams into a lived reality, Alavi "remained steadfast in following (his) passion" and found his own film school in pre-existing works of art instead of a formal institution.

During his college years, he claims to have skipped classes to "create movies and forge connections in Hollywood". Monumental success eventually caught on with his relentless persistence and grabbed the attention of industry experts. With time, old fractured memories healed and "what was once a dream to go to Hollywood ... transformed into (his) live show called 'Late Night Show with Alavi,' where esteemed Hollywood A-listers" shared their inspiring escapades and experiences.

For his podcast adventures, the Sapiens director has previously hosted a myriad of celebrated guests on Late Night Show with Alavi, including Lexi Rabe, who played Tony Stark's daughter, Morgan Stark, in Avengers: Endgame, Jeffrey Weissman, AKA George McFly from Back to the Future Parts II - III, Disney's Black Beauty director Ashley Avis and horror flick Wrong Turn's director Rob Schmidt. Additionally, he's even welcomed noteworthy crew members on his show, like Dune's Oscar-nominated makeup artist Donald Mowat, Star Wars Set Decorator Roger Christian, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Martian music composer Harry Gregson-Williams, Cobra Kai editor Zack Arnold and many others.

The same podcast platform became a launching pad for his soaring aspirations once he met Peter Cameron for an episode and pitched him the script of my horror short film Hunger. The Marvel producer "loved it so much that he immediately jumped to executive produce the short," marking the beginning of a beautiful professional partnership. Alavi asserts that Cameron pushed him to make a feature film. With the Sapiens script locked in since 2020, Peter onboarded the new ship owing to his love for the concept, which was "very rooted" in Indian culture and addressed several social stigmas.

As the up-and-coming director continues to climb the success ladder, his parents have warmed up to his artistic professionalism and are very happy and proud. People around him, too, appreciate his dedicated efforts and have realised over time that his dreams weren't mere unsteady fantasies. However, scepticism has rarely ever been extinguished from the roots. Even in the face of an avalanche of scoffing remarks from the Bengali film industry, Alavi has focussed on his goals and harnessed the strength and magic that reside in believing in oneself. You can see his filmmaking legacy taking shape on the big screen soon.
Puneeth Rajkumar, born Lohith on March 17, carved his own path in the Kannada film industry before his death on October 29, 2021. The late actor, who is actor-politician Dr Rajkumars son and actors Shiva Rajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumars brother, told Silvers Screen India in a 2016 interview that special treatment on sets initially irked him. (Also Read: Karnataka launches Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana for cardiac emergencies) Puneeth Rajkumar passed away on October 29, 2021(Badarinath Venkatesh)

I remember feeling guilty

Being Rajkumars third and youngest son, Puneeth was offered special treatment when he chose acting as his career. However, instead of making him happy, he told the publication that the special treatment irked him because he knew it was due to who his father was. He said, There was this palpable feeling of being apart from the rest. It wasnt even because of me. It was because of who I was related to. I was too young to make sense of it all, but I remember feeling guilty.

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I always feel left behind

Puneeth also told the publication that he has always felt like he was playing catch-up with (his) fathers achievements for most of his life. When he was my age, hed done a hundred films. Hes left behind a legacy that is hard to emulate. My brothers and sisters are all, in their own way, exceptional people. Theyve all been part of things, done things and accomplished things by the time I was a teenager. Even now, theyre all leagues ahead of me. I always feel like Im behind somehow, he said.

Puneeths legacy

Puneeth was Dr Rajkumar and Parvathammas fifth and youngest child. His father was a matinee idol in the Kannada film industry, becoming a politician later on. Puneeth married Ashwini Revnath in 1999 and has two daughters with her. He was cast in Premada Kanike in 1976 when he was only six months old. He debuted in 2002 with the film Appu, directed by Puri Jagannadh. His last film was the 2022 film Gandhada Gudi, it released posthumously.

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It has been two years since SS Rajamoulis Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris-starrer RRR released and yet, fans are still all about the film. Two fans from Japan recently visited India and decided to visit shooting locations to recreate scenes from the film while here. (Also Read: Ed Sheeran opens up about his love for India: RRR is mental, it's incredible) Japanese fans recreated scenes from RRR in real shooting locations

The recreations

Sharing pictures of Ram and NTRs characters Ramaraju and Bheem near the mountains, and another of them riding on a bike and a horse, the fans wrote in Japanese on X, The days with my brother are my treasure. This is the view that Rama and Bheem saw!!!?!!!!! (sic) Another post revealed that they drove seven hours to scout out the shooting location from the song Dosti. They wrote, After a 7 hour drive each way, I went to the road where Rama and Akhtar ran side by side at Dosti! I was overwhelmed with emotion seeing the scenery that the two of us saw. (sic)

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The fans also recreated the scenes, dressing up as Ramaraju and Bheem, hilariously pretending to ride a bike on one of their videos. The official page for RRR on X reshared the videos shot in Mahabaleshwar, pumped that the fans showed their love for the film in such a unique way. They wrote, sharing one of the posts, you both were there? #RRR Movie. Sharing another, they wrote, OMG!! Unmatchable love. Traveled all the way from Japan to India, finding the location, and celebrating #RRRMovie like no one else!! (sic)

Special screening in Japan

The makers of RRR are holding a special screening of the film in Japan on March 18. Rajamouli is expected to attend the event. The team of RRR claimed that tickets for the special show were sold out in less than a minute after they went online, writing on X, It's been close to 1.5 years since the theatrical release in Japan. Since then, it's still running in theaters, and the show on March 18th sold out in less than a minute. Absolute RRRAMPAGE(sic) RRR, which released in India on March 25, 2022, released in Japan on October 21 the same year.

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Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has recalled her first shot of the Oo Antava song and how she was "shaking during it from fear". Speaking with India Today, Samantha shared that "sexy is not my thing". Oo Antava is a dance number from the 2021 film Pushpa: The Rise. The song also starred Allu Arjun, apart from Samantha. (Also Read | Samantha Ruth Prabhu said she was forced to go public about myositis) Allu Arjun and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Pushpa song Oo Antava.

Samantha on Oo Antava, Family Man's Raji

Samantha said, I think the decision to do Oo Antava was similar to doing Raji (her character in The Family Man 2. I think the good side of not having too many people around you, no people in your ear putting their opinions that you need to cater to. This is the good side. The flip side is, that I need to make mistakes, learn from them and own my gut instincts. The decision to do Oo Antava came from the place where I had to explore that facet of being an actor. I have always been very uncomfortable with my sexuality. I am not very comfortable or confident. I have always operated from a place like I am not good enough, I dont feel pretty, I dont look like the other girls.

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Samantha says sexy is not my thing

Talking about the challenges, she said, For me, it was a huge challenge. The first shot of Oo Antava, and I was shaking from fear because sexy is not my thing. But, how I have grown both as an actor and as a person is that I put myself in the most difficult circumstances and fight to overcome them. That is like how I am slaying these demons.

Samantha spoke about song last year

In an interview with Miss Malini last year, Samantha had said, "When I was offered Oo Antava, it was in the middle of the separation [from Naga]. After the announcement came, every well-wisher and every family member was like You will sit at home, you will not do an item song just when you have announced the separation. Even my friends, who always encouraged me to challenge myself, told me, Do not do an item song. But I was like, Ok, I am doing it.'" Apart from Samantha, the song also starred Allu Arjun. Pushpa: The Rise also starred Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil.

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Michael Schulson in Undark:

ITS A FAMILIAR pandemic story: In September 2020, Angela McLean and John Edmunds found themselves sitting in the same Zoom meeting, listening to a discussion they didnt like. At some point during the meeting, McLean  professor of mathematical biology at the Oxford University, dame commander of the Order of the British Empire, fellow of the Royal Society of London, and then-chief scientific adviser to the United Kingdoms Ministry of Defense  sent Edmunds a message on WhatsApp.

Who is this fuckwitt? she asked.

The message was evidently referring to Carl Heneghan, director of the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford. He was on Zoom that day, along with McLean and Edmunds and two other experts, to advise the British prime minister on the Covid-19 pandemic. Their disagreement  recently made public as part of a British government inquiry into the Covid-19 response  is one small chapter in a long-running clash between two schools of thought within the world of health care. McLean and Edmunds are experts in infectious disease modeling; they build elaborate simulations of pandemics, which they use to predict how infections will spread and how best to slow them down. Often, during the Covid-19 pandemic, such models were used alongside other forms of evidence to urge more restrictions to slow the spread of the disease. Heneghan, meanwhile, is a prominent figure in the world of evidence-based medicine, or EBM. The movement aims to help doctors draw on the best available evidence when making decisions and advising patients. Over the past 30 years, EBM has transformed the practice of medicine worldwide.

More here.
In a momentous occasion, travel creator Kamiya Jani was awarded the National Digital Creators Award in the Best Travel Creator category for Curly Tales by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. The event marked a significant milestone not only for Jani but for content creators across the nation. Reflecting on the unforgettable experience, Jani expresses, "It was one of the most memorable moments of my life. Given the way content creation has gained popularity and everybody is a content creator in its own way. To get this kind of recognition from the Prime Minister of the country gives a seal and stamp on our profession." Kamiya Jani wins National Digital Creator award

She highlights the importance of such recognition in the evolving landscape of content creation, stating, "This is something to be taken seriously, with the kind of impact content creators are having on the overall community, be it in their own niche or whatever expertise they hold. We just got a lot of value and respect for our profession, which was lacking all this while."

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The ceremony, where PM Modi honoured 23 outstanding creators from various fields, left a lasting impression on Jani. Recalling the moment she stood before the Prime Minister, the 35-year-old remarks, "It was a very special moment and it will be remembered by me all my life. The moment I was right there in front of him, I wasn't sure if this moment was happening for real or not. I pretty much forgot what I had thought I would say and I ended up saying something else."

Jani's interaction with PM Modi also shed light on the power of social media influence. " I did have a question for him, 'Which place shall I visit first, Lakshadweep or Dwarka?' Whatever he posts on social media, clearly becomes a trend. He is literally the influencer of the influencers and he is the trend," she observes. As a travel and tourism enthusiast, Jani appreciated the Prime Minister's encouragement to explore various states in India. "He is literally the influencer of the influencers and he is the trend. I am from the travel and tourism space and I am happy to see that kind of encouragement coming from him to visit various states in India. He also mentioned about visiting the religious spots and not just for temples, but to boost local economies, by supporting them. By buying handicrafts, staying there for a few days, enjoying their culture and much more," she further adds.

The first edition of National Awards for content creators signifies a paradigm shift in recognising the impact of digital content on society. Jani says, "Holding National Awards for content creators in itself says a lot. This kind of recognition till now was only given to the film industry. We have heard of National Film Awards, and always looked up to actors and actresses. Here, content creators are doing work which is leading to social change, it's not just about dancing and making reels."

"Somebody is talking about sustainability, culture and heritage, technology and so much more, all of these elements are so important. Audiences can relate more to content creators because we are from the same community, we are not stars who are only on the big screen. And, I am glad that the government of India is identifying and appreciating our work," ends Jani.
Ahmedabad: Police on Sunday arrested two persons in connection with the incident at Gujarat University in which at least five foreign national students suffered severe injuries following a late-night brawl at the campus. Five foreign national students suffered severe injuries following a late-night brawl at the Gujarat University campus (Video screengrab)

As many as five international students who are from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka were offering namaz when an outside mob allegedly protested and shouted religious slogans, police said. This led to an altercation between the two groups.

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The incident took place at Block A hostel where the foreign students reside, said police. Several visuals shared on social media showed a group of people pelting stones in the hostel and vandalising bikes.

Also Read: Five foreign students injured in mob attack at Gujarat University: Police

Two Ahmedabad residents  Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel  were arrested on charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 447 (punishment for trespass), among others, said Tarun Duggal, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Zone 7.

Police said they have also booked 20-25 people in connection with the incident.

The DCP said that two foreign students  one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan  were injured in the attack and are being treated at the SVP Hospital, adding that there may be a few others who sustained minor injuries.

Two foreign students who HT spoke to said that initially five students were sent to the hospital for treatment, but three were discharged after receiving medical care.

Duggal said the police are interrogating the two alleged attackers.

The attacked students were offering namaz when a group of people allegedly protested and shouted religious slogans, police said. This led to an altercation between the two groups.

The foreign students at the campus were offering Taraveeh  a special namaaz offered by Muslims during the month of Ramzaan (Ramadan) when the incident took place.

The students were offering the namaaz outside their rooms which were not large enough. Also, there is no mosque on the campus, said a Gujarat University student aware of the matter.

Also Read: MEA in touch with Gujarat govt after foreign students attacked over namaz

The ministry of external affairs has said it is in touch with the Gujarat government and strict action will be taken against those who attacked the international students.

An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. MEA is in touch with Gujarat government, the ministry statement read.

Moreover, Gujarat home minister Harsh Sanghavi convened an urgent meeting on Sunday afternoon with senior officials, including the director general of police (DGP) of Gujarat Police and the joint commissioner of police (JCP) of the crime branch to address the matter. Gujarat University vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta did not respond to calls.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the incident and demanded an intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah.
The Ahmedabad Police's Crime Branch on Sunday arrested two persons accused of thrashing and attacking several foreign students at Gujarat University hostel while offering the nighttime namaz. Ahmedabad Police's crime branch nabbed 2 people in the case. (X/ @@AhmedabadPolice)

Read here: MEA in touch with Gujarat govt after foreign students attacked over namaz

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While sharing the details on X (formerly Twitter), the metropolitan police said the crime branch detained two persons who were accused of attacking the students and vandalising the hostel rooms.

Ahmedabad City Crime Branch detaining the accused of the incident which took place in the Gujarat University Police Station area last night on 16/03/2024 in the Gujarat University campus, it said while sharing the photo of the accused.

Late on Saturday, five international students studying at Gujarat University were attacked at the campus while they were offering namaz in the facility where they stayed. A group of nearly two dozen people allegedly barged into the premises and shouted religious slogans leading to an altercation between the two groups.

The five students are from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Two students  one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan  were hospitalised after the incident which took place at the A-block hostel.

Taking cognisance of the matter, the police registered an FIR against 20-25 individuals, and formed nine teams to probe into the incident.

"Some 20-25 people entered the hostel premises and objected to the international students offering namaz there, asking them to do so in a mosque. They argued over the issue, assaulting them and hurling stones. They also vandalised their rooms, Police Commissioner GS Malik said.

Read here: Five foreign students injured in mob attack at Gujarat University: Police

Meanwhile, the ministry of external affairs also took up the matter and said that the Gujarat government is taking strict action against the perpetrators of violence with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal putting out a statement over the incident.

"An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. MEA is in touch with Gujarat government," the statement read.

He said that one of the two foreign students injured in the violence has been discharged from hospital.

(With inputs from agencies)
Agartala: Three Rohingya migrants were arrested from Agartala railway station in Tripura on Sunday while trying to board a train to Hyderabad, police said. (Representative Photo)

Police have identified the arrested accused as Abdul Rashid ( 24), Mohammad Yusuf (23) and Mohammad Hamid (23), all residents of neighbouring Myanmar.

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A case was lodged with the government railway police (GRP) station. GRP officer-in-charge Tapas Das said that a team noticed them due to their suspicious movements. They were detained and interrogated during which they informed that they were Rohingyas.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the trio entered the Indian territory eight years ago through West Bengal and went to Hyderabad. Later, they came to Tripura to enter Bangladesh but could not do so due to tightened security ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, said police.

Last year, a total of 744 people, including 112 Rohingya migrants, 337 Bangladeshi nationals and 295 Indians were arrested for illegally crossing the India-Bangladesh border in separate incidents, according to a Border Security Force (BSF) report.

In 2022, the BSF detained 369 persons, including 59 Rohingya, 160 Indian and 150 Bangladeshi nationals.

Earlier last year, Tripura chief minister Dr Manik Saha identified Rohingya infiltration inside India through Tripura, drug menace, crime syndicates, and road mishaps as major challenges to law and order situation.
Polling in Tamil Nadus 39 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on a single day on April 19, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. Counting of votes will be on June 4. HT Image

The by-election to the Vilavancode assembly constituency will also be held along with the parliamentary polls after the seat fell vacant when sitting MLA S Vijayadharani resigned from the Congress to switch to the BJP in February. The Tirukkoyilur assembly was also initially listed in the by-election list, which is represented by DMKs K Ponmudi who was disqualified in December 2023 after the Madras high court convicted him in a corruption case but was reinstated on March 13 after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction and sentence. The ECI corrected this and removed Tirukkoyilur from this list.

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The parliamentary elections in Tamil Nadu will be between - the ruling DMK, opposition AIADMK and BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the DMK led by M K Stalin, current chief minister, swept winning 38 out of the 39 seats. The AIADMK won one seat with O Ravindranath who along with his father O Panneerselvam have now been booted out of the party and are likely to join the BJP. At that time AIADMK was in alliance with the BJP before parting ways last September.

The DMK which is part of the INDIA bloc has inked a seat sharing formula similar to that in 2019. The DMK will contest in 21 constituenciestwo seats less than what they contested in 2019. DMKs main ally Congress will battle in nine seats. The remaining nine seats are being contested by allies Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK-2), CPI (M)-2, CPI-2, IUML-1, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK-1), Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK-1). Actor-politician Kamal Haasans Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) will be campaigning for the DMK led alliance and has been promised a Rajya Sabha seat.

But, the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) has not yet announced any allies yet. Its EPS first election since he took over the party reigns after expelling Panneerselvam and his supporters. EPS has also stuck to his decision not to have any truck with the BJP after they came together for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Expelled AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakarans Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) have joined the BJPs alliance. After the AIADMK walked out, the allies who were remaining in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) have been in talks with the Dravidian major as well as the BJP.

The BJP has been trying hard to gain a foothold in the southern state that has led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state five times since January. Since 1967, the DMK and AIADMK have governed the state where no national party has been able to make a mark.

The DMKs campaign has focussed on deteriorating centre-state relations, retrieving state autonomy and rights. Chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin has targeted the AIADMK of being subservient to the BJP and supporting their legislations such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He has repeatedly called the BJP-led Union government and Modi as fascist and communal seeking votes for INDIA bloc to win to protect the countrys secularism.

The BJPs primary poll plank is corruption and dynastic politics fuelled by DMKs Senthil Balaji (a minister until February) being in jail for money laundering charges pressed by the Enforcement Directorate and several other ministers facing corruption cases in the Madras high court. The DMK is also facing the heat from AIADMK and BJP after one of its former members Jaffar Sadiq was arrested by Narcotics Crime Bureau (NCB) earlier this month in an international drug smuggling ring.
India is unlikely to allow unfettered access of electric vehicles (EVs) from the UK, one of the two key contentious issues resulting into a deadlock in the free trade negotiations even after 14 rounds of talks since January 2022, two people aware of the development said. Although recent talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak have brightened prospects of resolving differences, the deal will take more time. (PTI)

The other issue is related to Indias demand for easy business visas, they said, requesting anonymity. The UK is averse to facilitate Indias services trade by relaxing business mobility norms under the proposed pact, but it wants New Delhi to open up the vast Indian automobile market, particularly for EVs, they added.

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India has proposed some duty concessions in the automobile sector, provided London reciprocates on the Indian asks. But, it cannot open its EV market without giving due protection to domestic manufacturing as the sector is still at a nascent stage, and needs support, one of them said.

India may extend limited concessions on EVs in line with the new e-vehicle policy unveiled on Friday, provided British auto makers commit investments in India, the second person said.

Read Here: India-UK FTA dialogue to enter final stage on Jan 10

On Friday, the government notified a policy to promote India as an EV manufacturing destination by slashing duty on limited number of imports of such cars to 15% (from up to 100%), provided foreign automakers commit a minimum $500 million (around 4,150 crore) in three years and take up local value addition from 25% to 50% in five years.

India is the worlds third largest automobile market worth $151 billion ( 12.5 lakh crore) in 2023, according to official data. The sector is expected to cross $300 billion ( 24.9 lakh crore) by 2030.

EVs are the future, the second person said. It is unlikely that the FTA route would be provided to any country to completely bypass the policy obligations such as minimum investment requirement in setting up a manufacturing plant in India and local value addition, he added.

Although recent talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak have brightened prospects of resolving differences, it will take more time, the first person said. On March 12, Modi had a telephonic conversation with Sunak and assessed positively the progress made towards early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, a statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office that day said.

Read Here: PM Modi, UK's Rishi Sunak discuss early conclusion of Free Trade Agreement

While releasing trade data on Friday, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said India and the UK are actively engaged in the FTA negotiations. Both sides are quite committed to the fact that there should be a commercially meaningful, fair, equitable, good deal between the two countries and sensitivities of both the countries should be respected, as well as strengths of both the countries should reflect in the trade deal, he said.

While an FTA with Oman is possible soon, a deal with the UK is expected only after the general elections, another government official said. India on Saturday announced dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls that will be concluded on June 1 and ballots counted on June 4. A trade deal is unlikely before the new government is formed in June as mutually agreeable solutions on key matters are still elusive, he said.

FTAs are meant to be mutually beneficial. India is willing to open its market for scotch and British automobiles while adequately protecting its industries. But these concessions will not be possible without easier mobility of Indian businesses in the UK, the first person said. India sees potential for its services exports to Europe, which needs easier mobility of its professionals and businessmen, he added.

Indian industries were unwilling to offer tariff concessions on items like automobiles and liquor to British manufacturers without London allowing easier mobility for Indian professionals, HT reported on October 3, 2023. If business mobility, or easier temporary movement of Indian professionals to the UK for business purposes, is taken out of the FTA negotiations, there wont be any significant gain for India as most Indian goods (more than 60% of the total merchandise) already have duty-free access to the British market, and most of the other items attract a low tariff of 5%, it said.

The negotiating teams were not in a position to conclude an agreement even as the round 14 closed on Friday, PTI news agency reported from London, citing British officials. We anticipate that while some talks might happen between rounds, the next round of negotiations will take place after the Indian elections, it quoted an official as saying.
A WhatsApp message from Viksit Bharat Sampark seeking feedback and suggestions from the citizens along with a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked a controversy, with opposition leaders alleging misuse of government database and the messaging app for political propaganda. In a series of posts on X, the state unit of Congress in Kerala tagged WhatsApp's parent company Meta and pointed to the automated message from a verified business account named Viksit Bharat Sampark. Dig Deeper Prime Minister Narendra Modi (ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a second money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The agency has asked Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it at its Delhi office on Monday, March 18, and record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, news agency PTI reported. This is the second case registered under the anti-money laundering law in which the ED has summoned Arvind Kejriwal. Dig Deeper

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Team India batting maestro Virat Kohli has returned to India after the birth of his child in London. The star batter missed the recently-concluded five-match Test series against England owing to personal reasons. Kohli was spotted at the Mumbai airport as he made his first appearance since the birth of his son Akaay. Kohli is expected to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore training camp soon for the upcoming season of Indian Premier League where his team will clash against Chennai Super Kings in the opener on March 22. Dig Deeper

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The dog's teeth are one area of maintenance that is frequently disregarded. While most dog owners know to cut their nails to prevent them from clicking on the floor and buff their coats till they sparkle, not everyone gives their dogs' teeth much thought. Brushing is crucial because it removes the plaque that causes foul breath and more significant issues like gum disease and tooth damage. The American Veterinary Medical Association states that as early as age three, 80% of dogs exhibit symptoms of canine periodontal disease. More than just sweeter-smelling kissesyour dog may live a longer, happier life if you practice basic dental hygiene at home. Dig Deeper
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday issued a statement explaining why he could not attend the concluding ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai. In a letter written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Yadav said that he could not attend the event owing to the Lok Sabha nomination preparations in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi

Today your Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is concluding in Mumbai. Rare are those people, who can take out such yatraThe Election Commission yesterday announced the elections. Nominations will begin in UP from March 20, and owing to its preparations, I will not be able to attend the closing programme of the yatra, the letter read.

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Yadav also congratulated the Congress leader for his strong determination to carry out such a Yatra. Calling Gandhi a rare person, the SP chief wrote: You started this yatra from Manipur, which is burning due to the failure of the BJP government. You have given a strong message against the dictator government from the north-east. During the course of the entire yatra, you met (people from) all the sections of the society, including farmers, youngsters, women, elderly and you got acquainted with their problems very closely.

He added, Not only hopeful, but fully confident that the public will uproot and throw out the BJP, which is against the farmers, youngsters, backwards, Dalits and women. The real success of the yatra will be that the BJP gets defeated in these elections.

Akhilesh Yadav joined Gandhi during the Uttar Pradesh leg of the Yatra in Agra on February 25. This came shortly after the two parties ended their deadlock over seat sharing in Uttar Pradesh and confirmed an alliance. Notably, the SP will contest on 63 seats, while the Congress agreed to fight from 17 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. According to the seat-sharing formula, the Congress will contest Mathura and Fatehpur Sikri parliamentary seats, while the SP will contest Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri in Agra Division and Aligarh, Hathras and Etah in the Aligarh division - all the constituencies the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra passed through.

The Nyay Yatra, which began in strife-torn Manipur on January 14, concluded on Saturday after 63 days in Mumbai. The event was attended by senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a second money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The agency has asked Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it at its Delhi office on Monday, March 18, and record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, news agency PTI reported. Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.(ANI)

This is the second case registered under the anti-money laundering law in which the ED has summoned Arvind Kejriwal.

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Delhi minister Atishi termed the summons in the new case as ED's backup plan to arrest Kejriwal. Nobody knows what this DJB case is about. This seems to be a backup plan to arrest Kejriwal anyhow and stop him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, Atishi said.

The Delhi chief minister is already facing summons for questioning a money laundering case linked with the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. Kejriwal has so far skipped eight summons in this case till now, terming them illegal.

Earlier on Sunday, the ED issued the ninth summons in the case to him, asking him to appear before it on March 21. This summons comes a day after Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail by the additional chief metropolitan magistrate of Rouse Avenue Court against arrest for skipping summons issued to him by the probe agency.

What is the Delhi Jal Board case?

The Enforcement Directorate is probing violation of norms and irregularities in at least two contracts of the Delhi Jal Board.

In the first matter, in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a corruption case in July 2022, it is alleged that officials of DJB favoured NKG Infrastructure Limited while awarding a tender to the company for supply, installation, testing and commissioning of electromagnetic flow meters in connivance with officials of NBCC (lndia) Limited.

The second matter based on which ED launched a money laundering probe relates to a first information report (FIR) filed by the Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi government in November 2022, in which DJB awarded a tender for setting up automotive bill payment collection machines (kiosks) at different locations in different DJB offices.

Also Read | ED raids 16 locations over irregularities in DJB contracts

The kiosks were set up to facilitate consumers in bill payment through various modes of payments including cash and cheques and the tender was awarded to Corporation Bank in 2012, which was further sub-contracted to Chennai-based private companies Freshpay IT Solutions Pvt Ltd and Aurrum E-payments Pvt Ltd.

The ED alleges that these companies violated norms as prescribed in the agreement by not depositing the cash payment collections in the bank account of the DJB, as stipulated in the agreement, and not transferring the same to DJB within the prescribed time period.

ED maintains that previous search operations on July 24, 2023, and November 17, 2023, resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents and evidence related to the case.
Kolkata, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has constituted a team of experts to conduct a study of the lands in Sandeshkhali that were illegally grabbed from villagers and turned into fish farms, and suggest ways to utilise them, an official in the Raj Bhavan said. HT Image

Experts in the field have told PTI that the topsoil of the farmlands allegedly snatched by suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and now returned to the original owners have become unfit for agriculture due to the draining of saline water for fish farming, and the topsoil needs to be replaced to make those lands suitable for cultivation again.

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They also opined that instead of agriculture, pisciculture would be "an economically viable alternative" on these farmlands.

Bose, during his recent visit to New Delhi, went to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and held discussions with experts on the matter.

He then constituted the committee which includes former secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare, SK Pattanayak, and an FAO expert to study the issue and suggest ways of land utilisation in Sandeshkhali, the official said.

"So far, over 250 plots of the snatched lands have been returned to their original owners. But vast swathes of farmlands had remained submerged under the saline water of the fish farms for more than two to three years, causing much damage to the topsoil. A layer of salt has settled down on those lands that may not be able to produce crops for at least the next five to ten years," the official said.

"We have to keep a watch on how people and the lands of Sandeshkhali fare in the short, medium and long terms. Both the people and their lands may need time to get out of the terrible spell cast on them by their oppressors. The civil society and the government must handhold them in regaining their confidence and find their rightful places," the official at the Raj Bhavan said.

On the condition of the lands, Chittaranjan Kole, former vice chancellor of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, said, "The topsoil is the most fertile part of farmland and has the highest concentration of organic matter and micro-organisms that help plants to grow. In the lands of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, that layer has been damaged by the saline water and needs to be replaced."

"The longer a land stays under saline water, the longer it would take it to revive. The thumb rule is that if a land is under water for one year, it will take two years to recuperate," he said.

Kole said that the salt deposits on the lands need to be removed first, following which the farmlands have to be dug up at least two-three feet and then fresh earth needs to be layered on top.

"Later, salt-tolerant varieties of paddy may be cultivated but it would take a few years," he said.

Former deputy director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Swapan Kumar Dutta, said that instead of farming, fishery could be a viable alternative on these lands.

"Making these lands fit for agriculture again will take time, effort and money. Instead, fish farming will be an economically viable alternative. But the government needs to intervene. The farmer who has little or no knowledge of fish farming would have to be hand-held for a few years," Dutta said.

Incidentally, teams comprising agriculture experts from the district and the block administration have already started visiting the farmlands and collecting samples for soil testing.

"Once we get the reports, we will be able to decide as to how much damage has been done and what could be done," a senior official of North 24 Parganas district said.

He said that they were also planning to dig up canals and ponds so that rainwater may be stored once monsoon sets in around June.

"Then, this freshwater may be used to irrigate the lands. Also, freshwater in the canals and ponds would gradually seep into the farmlands and mitigate the effect of the salt," the official added.

He maintained that some salt-tolerant paddy varieties may be cultivated depending on the salinity of the soil.

"Soil samples are being tested," he said.

According to an official in the district fishery department, "Most of the lands, which were turned into fish farms, have been under saline water for a maximum of two to three years. However, they were not continuously under saline water for the entire period. In fish farming, the water needs to be pumped out and the lands are dried for a few months to prepare them for the next season."

The district irrigation department has also started to constitute water association groups comprising villagers on how to use the rainwater stored in the ponds. It may be used to produce freshwater fish and also to irrigate the farmlands.

Sandeshkhali, a riverine island around 80 kilometres from Kolkata, has been in the news after local women alleged land-grabbing and sexual abuse by now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and his men, who are involved in fish farming and trading.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Zaid Jilani in Persuasion:

Imagine youre a middle-class, middle-aged mom in any number of American suburbs outside Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, or Phoenixthe kind of civic-minded, active voter that both parties chase every election.

Since October, youve been paying more and more attention to the conflict in the Middle East. At first, you found yourself deeply sympathetic to the Israeli response to the October 7th Hamas-led terror attacks.

Youve heard that Israel has treated the Palestinians unfairly for years, but how could that justify such a gruesome slaughter of civilians? You decide that Israel has a right to defend itself and tell your friends and coworkers that the country should do what it has to do in order to destroy Hamas and other militant groups.

More here.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RRS) Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha on Sunday re-elected Dattatreya Hosabale as its general secretary after its annual meeting held in Nagpur from 15 to 17 March. Dattatreya Hosabale has been re-elected as RSS general secretary (Twitter/@RSSorg)

The RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) re-elected (2024-2027) Shri Dattatreya Hosabale ji for the post of Sarkaryavah. He has been discharging the responsibility of Sarkaryavah since 2021, the organisation posted on X.

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Hosabale (69), who took over as the RSS general secretary from Bhaiyaji Joshi in 2021, will continue to serve as Sarkaryavah until 2027, it stated. Hosabale joined the RSS in 1968 and worked in its student wing - the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). In 2003, he became in charge of intellectual training of the RSS and Sarkaryavah of the organisation in 2009, a role he continued till 2021.

The move is seen to strengthen ties with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, said Dilip Deodhar, a close RSS observer and former swayamsevak. The RSS aims to advance its Hindutva agenda, including the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), leveraging the strong rapport between Hosabale and the Modi administration, he said.

Hosabales background as a dedicated member of the RSS, his leadership in organisations like the ABVP, and his role in grooming prominent BJP leaders indicate his deep-rooted influence within the political landscape, he added.

Deodhar said that Hosabales appointment in 2021 was a strategic decision by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to enhance coordination with the BJP-led government, leading to the successful realisation of key RSS initiatives such as the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the revocation of Article 370.

Known for his pragmatic and action-oriented approach, Hosabale is respected for his commitment to Sanghs goals.

Under Hosabales leadership, the RSS has prioritised fostering unity and equality within society, advocating for initiatives like one temple, one well, and one cremation ground in every village to promote social cohesion, said Viraj Pachpore, a swyamsevak and co-convenor of Muslim Rashtriya Manch. His emphasis on soft Hindutva and engagement with diverse stakeholders, including industrialists and public figures, underscores his vision for a harmonious and inclusive society, said Viraj Pachpore, he added.

As Hosabale embarks on his second term, his dedication to promoting social harmony and dismantling caste-based discrimination remains a cornerstone of the RSSs agenda, signalling a continued focus on building a cohesive and egalitarian society under his leadership, says Gajanan Nimdeo, chief editor of daily Tarun Bharat, the mouthpiece of RSS.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday issued the ninth summons to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, asking him to appear before it on Thursday, March 21. The ED's ninth summons comes a day after Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail by the additional chief metropolitan magistrate of Rouse Avenue Court against arrest for skipping summons issued to him by the probe agency in the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

During the hearing, Arvind Kejriwal appeared physically before the court on Saturday. ACMM Divya Malhotra granted bail to the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and noted that Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code is bailable and directed to furnish 15,000 thousand each in both complaint cases.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The court further directed the ED to hand over documents related to the complaints to Kejriwal.

On Thursday, it was submitted that Kejriwal gave a reply to each notice issued by the ED but despite coming to know the reasons for their non-appearance in person provided by him, the central probe agency continued issuing cyclostyle notices under Sections 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

On Thursday, the Delhi CM had moved the sessions court challenging the summons issued to him by the additional chief metropolitan magistrate on ED complaints for not complying with the summons issued by the central probe agency.

The ED has filed two complaints before the magisterial court, seeking Kejriwal's prosecution for skipping multiple summonses issued to him in the case. The latest complaint pertains to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor not honouring summonses no. 4 to 8 sent by the federal probe agency under Section 50 of the PMLA.

The ED had earlier moved the magisterial court seeking Kejriwal's prosecution for not attending the first three summonses issued to him in the money laundering case.

Excise 'scam': BRS leader Kavitha sent to ED custody

BRS leader K Kavitha, 46, allegedly a key member of the 'South Group', which has been accused of paying the ruling AAP kickbacks of 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital, was on Saturday remanded in ED custody till March 23 in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy "scam".

K Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and daughter of former state chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was produced before special judge for ED cases MK Nagpal, who sent her to the custody of the federal anti-money laundering agency for a week. The ED had sought her custody for 10 days.

K Kavitha was arrested from her Banjara Hills residence on Friday amid protests by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) supporters.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Sunday reacted to the concerns raised on the electoral bonds data, saying that it is just an experiment, adding that questions are raised when a new thing comes up. According to Hosabale, the electoral bonds were done with checks and balances. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale (Saumya Khandelwal/HT File)

It is not that electoral bonds have suddenly been introduced today, it (such scheme) was brought earlier also. Whenever a change is introduced, questions are raised. Questions were also raised when the EVMs (electronic voting machines) were introducedIt is natural, Hosabale, who was re-elected for the post of 'Sarkaryavah' (general secretary) of RSS earlier in the day, said during a press conference.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Also read: Data on electoral bonds gives Opposition some ammunition ahead of Lok Sabha elections

He added, But time will tell how beneficial and effective the new system is. Hence, the Sangh thinks it should be left for experiment.

The Election Commission released the State Bank of India (SBI)-provided data on the electoral bonds on its website, in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions on Thursday. According to the data, the donors included Anil Agarwal's Vedanta, ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, Grasim Industries, Megha Engineering, Piramal Enterprises, Torrent Power, Bharti Airtel, DLF Commercial Developers, Apollo Tyres, Lakshmi Mittal, Edelweiss, PVR, Keventer, Sula Wine, Welspun, and Sun Pharma, among others.

While, the parties that redeemed electoral bonds were - the BJP, Congress, AIADMK, BRS, Shiv Sena, TDP, YSR Congress, DMK, JDS, NCP, Trinamool Congress, JDU, RJD, AAP, and the Samajwadi Party.

Meanwhile, the poll panel made public fresh data on electoral bonds on Sunday after the Supreme Court's order. Data so received from political parties was deposited in the Supreme Court without opening sealed covers. In pursuance of the Supreme Court's order dated March 15, 2024, the Registry of the Supreme Court has returned physical copies along with a digitized record of the same in a pen drive in sealed cover. The Election Commission of India has today uploaded the data received in the digitized form from the registry of the Supreme Court on electoral bonds on its website, the election commission said in a release.

Notably, electoral bonds are money instruments that act as promissory notes or bearer bonds that individuals or companies in India can purchase. The bonds were issued specifically for the contribution of funds to political parties.

(With inputs from agencies)
Noida: Popular YouTuber and television personality Elvish Yadav was on Sunday arrested by the Noida Police in a case linked to the use of snake venom as a recreational drug at a party last year. He was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court. Later, the police revealed why the controversial celebrity was arrested. YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav, who was arrested by the Noida Police, has been sent to judicial custody by the District and Sessions Court Surajpur. (ANI)

Noida DCP Vidya Sagar Mishra said that Elvish Yadav was called for questioning on Sunday afternoon but he wasn't cooperating. The police officer claimed the Gurugram resident had been hiding information.

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"Elvish Yadav was called for questioning today in a case pertaining to the Wildlife Protection Act. It was found that he was hiding information during the interrogation," the officer said.

He said he was produced before the court by enhancing the sections of the NDPS Act in the case.

"A case under Wild Life Protection Act-1972, was filed (against Elvish Yadav and others). Today he was called for interrogation and was produced before the court by enhancing the sections of the NDPS Act in the said case," he added.

Also read: Elvish Yadav arrested in Noida snake venom case, sent to 14-day judicial custody

Elvish Yadav was among six people named in the FIR, filed at Sector 49 police station on November 3. Except Yadav, all the other accused were arrested and are out on bail.

The case was lodged under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and for criminal conspiracy under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code.

The snake venom case was later shifted from Sector 49 to Sector 20 police station for investigation.

Also read: Elvish Yadav case: What is snake venom and its lethal side as recreational drug?

"The accused has been arrested by a team of Sector 20 police station which was investigating the case," Additional DCP (Noida) Manish Mishra told PTI.

Elvish Yadav had refuted the charges.

All you need to know the snake venom case

People For Animals (PFA) was the original complainant in the case.

On November 3, five people were arrested at a banquet hall in Sector 51. Nine snakes, including five cobras, were rescued from their possession. Snake venom's vials were also recovered.

Elvish Yadav had claimed he was not present at the party.

PFA chairperson and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi, however, had accused Elvish Yadav of being involved in illegally selling snake venom.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
Ahmedabad: Five foreign national students studying at Gujarat University suffered severe injuries following a late-night brawl at the campus, police said. Videos of the attack on the foreign students have gone viral on social media. At least five vehicles were damaged according to the videos.

The students, who are from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, were offering namaz in their rooms when a group of people allegedly protested and shouted religious slogans, police said. This led to an altercation between the two groups.

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The incident took place at Block A hostel where the foreign students reside, said police.

Several visuals shared on social media showed a group of people pelting stones in the hostel and vandalising bikes. At least five vehicles were damaged in the incident.

Ahmedabad city additional commissioner of police (ACP) (crime) Neerajkumar Badgujar said that a first information report (FIR) has been filed and assured that the attackers will be arrested soon.

Speaking to the reporters, Ahmedabad commissioner of police GS Malik said, Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University, and 75 foreign students stay in A Block (Hostel). Yesterday, around 10:30pm, a group of students were offering namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering namaz here and should read it in the masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted, and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside

Malik said that the police took swift action, and an FIR has been registered against 20-25 people. Police have identified at least one accused and strict action will be taken against all those involved, he said. Two students from Sri Lanka & Tajikistan have been admitted to the SVP Hospital, said the commissioner.

"Last night around 11pm, 10-15 people from outside came into our hostel campus. Three of them entered our hostel building while we were offering namaz. They told us we were not allowed to do so here and shouted slogans of Jai Shri Ram, a student from Afghanistan who was present during the incident said.

The student claimed that the police reached there after the intruders fled the spot.

Gujarat home minister Harsh Sanghavi has convened an urgent meeting with senior officials, including the director general of police (DGP) of Gujarat Police and the joint commissioner of police (JCP) of the crime branch to address the matter, said an official.

Gujarat University vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta did not respond to calls. Gujarat University police station PI SR Bava said they were investigating the matter and refused to divulge more details at this stage.
A group of people stormed the Gujarat University hostel in Ahmedabad late on Saturday and attacked international students who were offering namaz inside the premises, injuring five people during the melee, prompting the state police to begin a high-level probe on Sunday and arrest two men, even as the ministry of external affairs said it had taken note of the incident. Police investigate the Gujarat University hostel campus where students were allegedly assaulted, in Ahmedabad (PTI)

Two students  one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan  were hospitalised after the attack, videos of which did the rounds on social media and drew widespread condemnation.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Police said they had arrested two people, Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel, both residents of Ahmedabad, for their alleged role in the attack, adding that they were on the hunt for more suspects.

Senior officers said the incident took place around 10.30pm on Saturday, when around 25 people broke into A Block of the hostel, which houses around 75 of Gujarat Universitys 300 international students.

Read Here | Gujarat govt taking strict action over attack on foreign students: MEA

Some students were sitting on a platform (within the hostel premises), offering namaz when the group entered, asked why they were praying there and told them to go to a mosque instead, said GS Malik, Ahmedabad commissioner of police, citing a preliminary investigation.

According to Malik, this led to a verbal altercation that then escalated into stone-pelting and physical violence. Some people in the group then barged into the rooms and began vandalising property, said Malik.The students were offering Taraveeh  a special prayer offered during the month of Ramzan.

Gujarat University vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta said, This is the first time such an incident has happened. We have been running the Study Abroad Programme (SAP) since 2005. The government and police have taken strict action and two people have also been arrested.

At the university we have made some administrative changes today (like decision to appoint ex-army men as security personnel and appointment of new hostel warden and new co-ordinator for SAP) and we have also decided to form a Foreign Student Advisory committee, Gupta said.

Read Here | CAA India's internal matter, US' comment misplaced, misinformed, unwarranted: MEA

An Afghan student said the men were shouting Jai Shri Ram as they pushed the security guard out of the building.

Other international students who came to help were also attacked. Their rooms were ransacked and their personal devices, including laptops and cellphones damaged. Five students, including two from South Africa and one each from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka, have been injured, the student said.

The students were offering namaaz outside their rooms, which are not large enough. there is no mosque on campus, said a student, who asked not to be named.

Several purported bits of footage from the incident went viral on social media and showed a group of people pelting stones and vandalising stationary motorcycles within the hostels premises . There are eight buildings, out of which two are for foreign students, located in posh Navrangpura area.

Read Here: As criminal gangs overrun Haiti, MEA says India ready to evacuate its citizens

One clip shows a person asking students if they should be praying in the hostel, prompting an aggressive response.Other videos showed the group leaving the college even as residents of the hostel demanded they be apprehended.

There are many videos of stone pelting and other incidents of vandalism. A video has surfaced where a university student is seen slapping the outsiders who had entered the hostel premises. We are conducting a fair and neutral investigation, and the government is also of the view that strong action should be taken against those responsible for the violence, said Malik.

Another foreign student, also from Afghanistan, said that students from various countries were offering namaz prayers when people chanting Jai Shri Ram came from outside and asked them to stop their prayers.

A security guy came and took them out of the hostel. Then they started pelting stones at those praying. The students stopped praying and went to their rooms. Soon those people entered the rooms and smashed the laptops and even the air conditioners. Five people got injured in the attack, he said.

Read Here | S Jaishankar reacts to US envoy's CAA remark: 'I have principles too'

Gujarat Police filed a case on Sunday nightand booked the two arrested men under a slew of sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Tarun Duggal, Ahmedabad deputy commissioner of police (zone 7), said, The police have arrested two Ahmedabad residents, Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel, and booked them under multiple IPC sections, including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 447 (punishment for trespass), among others.

Gujarat home minister Harsh Sanghavi convened an urgent meeting with senior officials on Sunday afternoon, including the states director general of police (DGP) and the joint commissioner of police (JCP).Sanghavi did not respond to phone calls seeking his comments on the matter.

Meanwhile, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X said the Gujarat government is taking strict action against the perpetrators.An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators, he said.

Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention, he added and said the external affairs ministry is in touch with the Gujarat government over the matter.

Read Here | Focused on safety of all our citizens in Israel: MEA on death of 2nd Indian

The attack also triggered a political storm.

Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the incident, questioning whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah will intervene.

What a shame.Your devotion & religious slogans only come out when Muslims peacefully practice their religion. When you become unexplainably angry at the mere sight of Muslims. What is this, if not mass radicalisation? This is the home state of @AmitShah & @narendramodi, will they intervene to send a strong message? I am not holding my breath. @DrSJaishankar domestic anti-Muslim hatred is destroying Indias goodwill, Owaisi said on X.

Reacting to the incident, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said it was the failure of law and order by the ruling BJP government in Gujarat. Its election time and the ruling BJP wants to divert the real issues of the people and hence they are allowing communal forces to take over, said Doshi.

Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas said the government has taken swift action and already put two people behind bars who were responsible for the incident. The government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that peace and order is maintained. All culprits behind the Saturday night incident at Gujarat University hostel campus will not be spared. They will all be punished, said Vyas.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. The national elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, and the ballots will be counted on June 4. Here are four charts that describe the four questions the results of this election will answer. HT Image

Will the Bharatiya Janata Party add to its 2019 seat tally?This is the goal the BJP has set for itself, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the partys target to 370 seats in the Lok Sabha. Is it an achievable target? There is more than one way to look at this question. An earlier HT analysis looked at the BJPs past victories in the 2009, 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and found that if it was to win all the parliamentary constituencies it won in the past three polls, it would have 343 MPs in the Lok Sabha. The previous elections are not comparable because of change in constituency boundaries in the 2008 delimitation. What will it take for the BJP to take this number closer to 370?

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One way to look at this is to see the political geography of the BJPs challenge of increasing its Lok Sabha strength. A state-wise analysis of constituencies won by the BJP in 2009, 2014 or 2019 shows that for it to significantly cross 343 and head towards the 370 number, it will have to increase its seat tally in the eastern and southern states. In some of these states, the BJP has never been able to perform well, while in others it is unlikely to make large gains because of seat-sharing arrangements. (See Chart 1)

Can the Congress improve its performance? The 2014 and 2019 election results have been the worst ever for the Congress. Will it be able to revive its fortunes? There are two aspects to this question. The Congresss performance against the BJP and against non-BJP parties in states where the BJP is not strong. Only 23 and 15 out of the Congresss 44 and 53 constituencies in 2014 and 2019 respectively came in contests where the BJP finished second. Two big states that contributed to the Congresss tally in 2014 and 2019 were Kerala and Punjab, where it was not in a direct contest with the BJP. In both these states, the Congress has lost assembly elections after 2019. If the Congress has to add to its 2019 tally, it will have to either repeat or improve its performance in these two states, or make significant gains against the BJP in head-to-head contest states. (See Chart 2)

What will happen to the non-aligned third pole in Indian politics?In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, parties that were not a part of either a BJP- or Congress-led alliance, even if there were friendly fights in some states, won in 97 constituencies with a collective vote share of 27.8%. Will this third pole continue to hold after the 2024 polls? The answer to this question will depend on the performance of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal (technically it has not quit the INDIA bloc, but is contesting all seats in West Bengal alone), Biju Janata Dal in Odisha (though an alliance with the BJP may be on the cards), Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh, YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh, Bharat Rashtra Samithi and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in Telangana, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, All India United Democratic Front in Assam and National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir. (See Chart 3)

Will electoral contests continue to become more difficult at the constituency level?This is one of the most under appreciated aspects of the change in Indian politics from 2014 onwards. Not only has the BJP become the dominant party at that level, elections are also becoming more difficult at the constituency level. An HT analysis of two sets of statistics, median ENOP (Effective Number of Parties ) and median victory margins at the constituency level show this clearly.

ENOP is the reciprocal sum of squares of vote share of every candidate in a constituency. If four candidates get 25% votes each, the ENOP is 4, and if just one candidate gets 60% vote share while the other three get 20%, 15% and 5%, it drops to 2.35.

The median ENOP in the 2019 elections was 2.38, which was the lowest this number has been since 1989. Similarly, the median victory margin at the constituency level in the 2019 elections was 15.1% of votes polled, which was the highest it has been since 1984-85. These numbers clearly show that whether or not parties are willing to pick sides in broader alliances, contests are becoming more polarised and perhaps one-sided at the constituency level. (See Chart 4)
New Delhi: The Gujarat government is taking strict action against those responsible for the violence at a university in Ahmedabad that left two foreign students injured, the external affairs ministry said on Sunday. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (File Photo)

Local police have arrested two men and are searching for others responsible for the incident that occurred on Saturday night after a group of people entered a hostel at Gujarat University and allegedly assaulted a group of foreign students from different countries who were offering namaz.

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An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention, he said.

Also Read: 2 arrested, 20 booked for attacking foreign students at Gujarat University

Jaiswal added that the external affairs ministry is in touch with the Gujarat government over the matter.

Two students  one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan  were hospitalised after the incident at the universitys A-block hostel, according to the police.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against some 25 unidentified people for rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, damage to property and criminal trespass, police officials in Ahmedabad said.

At around 10.50pm on Saturday, a group of people entered the hostel and objected to five students from Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan offering namaz within the facility. The group also demanded that they should go to a mosque to pray, police said.

About 300 foreign students are enrolled at the University, and 75 of them stay in the hostel where the incident occurred.
Shillong: The Indian Forest Service Association (IFSA) has written to the Meghalaya chief secretary requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the death of the states chief conservator of forests (L) N. Luikham. (Representative Photo)

Luikham, 50, a 2003 batch IFS officer, allegedly died by suicide at his residence near Lady Keane College, Shillong, around 7:30am on March 13.

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In a letter to Meghalaya chief secretary Donald P Wahlang, IFSA secretary general Suneesh Buxy claimed the reason behind the officers decision to take his own life was the sexual harassment allegation by a state government official.

It is learned that Luikham underwent a lot of mental trauma and agony because of these fabricated allegations backed by some powerful mining lobbies in the state, said Buxy, adding that nothing substantive has been found against the officer in the said case.

Buxy highlighted that the circumstances surrounding the officers death raise serious questions and urged the state chief secretary to allocate the matter to the CBI for a detailed and impartial inquiry.

He also demanded stringent action for acts of abetment or negligence to prevent such incidents from recurring.

The IFSA emphasized that Luikham was an outstanding officer with high integrity and moral character, stating, His untimely demise is a blow to the battle for the conservation of natural resources.

East Khasi Hills district superintendent of police Rithuraj Ravi had earlier stated that the police found no evidence of foul play. Till now we have found no foul play, no suspicion, and no complaints. As per the post-mortem report, it is a case of suicide, he said, adding a case of unnatural death has been registered by police.

If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 0222754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290
An audacious attempt to breach security at Fort William, the Eastern Command headquarters of the Indian Army in Kolkata, was thwarted when a suspected juvenile tried to enter the premises impersonating an Army officer. The imposter, masquerading as Major M.S. Chauhan of the 5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), was apprehended by military police personnel after he couldn't fill in his details in a register, reported NDTV. On February 13, the imposter stayed at the Pride Hotel in Cuttack.(Arun Changrani/ Representational Image)

The imposter, hailing from Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, had a history of fraudulent activities, including a stint in a juvenile home in Odisha from September 2023 to February 2024, according to the report. After his release, he embarked on a deceptive spree, leaving a trail of deceit and unpaid bills.

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Also Read: Fraudster posing as army officer dupes man of 5L, chargesheet filed

On February 13, he stayed at the Pride Hotel in Cuttack, duping the establishment of 6,393 before absconding. He then travelled ticketless to Howrah Railway Station on March 14 and then summoned a cab to Kolkata Airport. Upon arrival, he phoned JW Marriott Hotel, requesting a pickup service, where he spent the night before orchestrating his elaborate scheme.

Using a BMW cab hired from the hotel, the imposter spun a tale of being a distinguished member of the President's Bodyguard regiment to the unsuspecting driver.

The chauffeur-driven BMW tried to enter Fort William through the East Gate around 1.10pm on Friday.

Also Read: Remote job scam: Fraudsters target Chandimandir-based army officer

The imposter's facade began to unravel when he was unable to accurately fill in his details in the officer's entry register. The military police personnel at the gate became suspicious after he kept on checking the photograph on his mobile phone while filling in the details, and informed the control room.

A flying squad reached the gate and escorted the youth to the control room where he was questioned. The investigation revealed a pattern of deceit, including false digital payments made through a popular payment app, BHIM. He would do an online payment and edit the initial confirmation message for further payments, reported NDTV.

The probe also uncovered his use of another false identity card, that of Constable Sunil Kumar from Hyderabad State Police, to check into hotels in both Cuttack and Kolkata.
Hong Kong: Deputy SJ to attend UN meeting

Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will depart this afternoon for Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the 55th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Government announced today.

He will be joined by representatives of the Department of Justice, the Security Bureau and the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials will attend the meetings as members of Chinas delegation.

Mr Cheung will leave Switzerland for Hong Kong on March 21.

This story has been published on: 2024-03-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills, the Indian Army said on Sunday. HT Image

The Seychelles is a strategically located archipelago of around 115 islands in the Indian Ocean region and India has been focusing on significantly ramping up defence cooperation with the country.

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An Indian Army contingent comprising 45 personnel, which will participate in the exercise 'Lamitiye', departed for Seychelles on Sunday. An equal number of troops from the Seychelles Defence Forces will join the exercise.

"The exercise will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and magnify jointness between the troops of both the armies. It will also foster collaborative partnership and help in sharing best practices between the two sides," the Army said in a readout.

It said the aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in sub-conventional operations in semi-urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter on peacekeeping operations.

"The exercise will enhance cooperation and interoperability between both sides during peacekeeping operations," the Army said.

"The exercise will also build and promote bilateral military relations in addition to exchanging skills, experiences and good practices between both armies," it said.

The Army said both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in a semi-urban environment, while exploiting and showcasing new-generation equipment and technology.

"The 10-day exercise will include field training exercise, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, which culminates with two days of validation exercise," it added.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll dates for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), on Sunday said it will move the poll panel seeking to change the polling dates in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as they fall on Friday. A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll dates for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), on Sunday said it will move the poll panel seeking to change the polling dates in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as they fall on Friday.(File photo)

For Tamil Nadu, the polls will be held on April 19 and in Kerala on April 26. Both dates fall on a Friday.

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The IUML, a major ally of the Opposition Congress party in the UDF, said it will approach the ECI to change the dates of elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as it causes inconvenience to voters, officials, and candidates as Friday is important day for Muslims.

ALSO READ| 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu to go to polls in a single phase on April 19

Talking to PTI, P M A Salam, state general secretary of IUML, said Fridays are an important day for the Muslims who gather in mosques for prayer.

"The announcement of polling on Friday will cause inconvenience to voters, candidates, polling agents, and officials assigned to election duty. We will move the ECI," he said.

ALSO READ| Voting in Kerala set to take place on April 26

Other Muslim organisations are also reportedly planning to move the commission, seeking a change in the date.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday hit out at the central government over the electoral bonds and alleged that they have conspired to route black money into BJP's accounts through the scheme. According to the Congress leader, the electoral bonds scheme was the biggest extortion racket run by the ruling government. Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh (Ayush Sharma)

Ramesh's comments came as the electoral bonds data revealed that the BJP garnered the highest amount of electoral bonds around 6,900 crore. The Congress received over 1,300 crore worth of bonds.

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We had previously identified four primary channels of corruption in the #ElectoralBondScam scam, and with each passing day, more examples emerge to confirm the shocking reality of the corruption which has engulfed this country through Narendra Modis encouragement, the Congress leader wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Stating that as many as 18 of the 19 companies that had bought electoral bonds did not appear in the subsequent annual lists of 'high risk' companies, Ramesh questioned, if they were removed from the list because of their contribution to the ruling party's coffers.

He went on to allege that big companies were made to pay hefty donations to the BJP to get big contracts later, while several companies were "forced" to pay up after probe agencies like the ED, the Income Tax, and the CBI were let loose on them. The Congress leader cited an example of one of the donors - Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals - claiming it faced an ED probe after which it purchased the electoral bonds.

Since 2018, at least 43 companies that were newly incorporated, in 2018 or later, bought electoral bonds within months of their incorporationThe prime minister promised to deposit 15 lakhs in each Indian's account by recovering black money from overseas. It appears the Prime Minister has conspired to route all the black money into the BJP's accounts instead, he said.

The Election Commission uploaded the State Bank of India (SBI)-provided data on the electoral bonds on its website on Thursday, in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions. According to the data published in two parts, the parties that redeemed electoral bonds include the BJP, Congress, AIADMK, BRS, Shiv Sena, TDP, YSR Congress, DMK, JDS, NCP, Trinamool Congress, JDU, RJD, AAP, and the Samajwadi Party.

There are 1,260 companies and individuals that purchased electoral bonds worth 12,769 crore, as per the data. The top donors include - SN Mohanty, the biggest individual donor in the list with total donations of 45 crore, followed by Lakshmi Niwas Mittal who donated 35 crore. Other high-profile donors are - Grasim Industries, Megha Engineering, Piramal Enterprises, Torrent Power, Bharti Airtel, DLF Commercial Developers, Vedanta Ltd., Apollo Tyres, Lakshmi Mittal, Edelweiss, PVR, Keventer, Sula Wine, Welspun, and Sun Pharma, among others.
Bulgaria's deputy prime minister on Sunday thanked India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar for rescuing the hijacked vessel MV Ruen from pirates which had Bulgarian nationals on board. "I express my gratitude to the navy for the successful operation to rescue the hijacked vessel Ruen &its crew members, including 7 BG nationals. Thank you for support &great effort. We continue to work together to protect lives of the crew," Bulgarian minister Mariya Gabriel posted on X. 'That's what friends are for," Jaishankar replied. Jaishankar replied to Bulgarian minister who thanked India for rescuing Bulgarian ship from Somali pirates.

The Indian Navy on Saturday made 35 pirates to surrender and rescued MV Ruen which was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 14 last year.

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All crew members were rescued unhurt on Saturday.

The Navy deployed its P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, frontline ships INS Kolkata and INS Subhadra, and high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. The elite MARCOS commandos were air-dropped for the operation by C-17 aircraft. During the 40-hour operation, the pirates fired on the Indian Navy and the Navy responded in self-defence. "INS Kolkata, in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender and ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members in the evening today from the pirate vessel without any injury," Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

The hijacking of Bulgaria-owned MV Ruen in December 2023 was the first time since 2017 that any cargo was boarded by Somali pirates.

Bulgaria's foreign ministry said it was seeking the "speedy return" of seven rescued Bulgarian crew members. The other crew were nine Myanmar and one Angolan national.

The Indian navy has kept tabs on the MV Ruen since it was seized by Somali pirates 380 nautical miles east of the Yemeni island of Socotra in December. The pirates, who at the time released one injured Bulgarian sailor into the care of the Indian navy, had taken the MV Ruen and its remaining 17 crew members to Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland, where the Indian navy said it was moored off the city of Bosaso.
In a scathing criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Kapil Sibal on Sunday accused the poll panel of partisanship towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal.(PTI)

Speaking to news agency ANI, Sibal said, They are showing their loyalty towards the BJP and saying that we are scheduling elections in seven phases so that the army of campaigners and resources that you (the BJP) have can use it accordingly.

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ECI's loyalty is visible in every phase, Sibal alluded.

Expressing concerns over the yet-to-be-announced assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Sibal said that turning a state into a Union territory and then not holding polls would be unconstitutional. He further claimed that there won't be any election in J&K.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday said that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held soon after Lok Sabha elections due to security concerns, with both events deemed unfeasible to be held simultaneously.

"But we stand committed that as soon as these elections are over ... we will have availability of (security) forces then, we will hold elections there (in Jammu and Kashmir) as soon as possible," Kumar told a press conference, adding that there was unanimous resistance from the administration against holding simultaneous polls in the Union territory.

When asked about Kumar's assurance, Sibal said, How are they committed? First, they (ECI) said that they would conduct the (assembly) elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the Lok Sabha elections. But that will be a UT election and not the state election.

People are asking, how can you make the state a Union Territory and then not conduct the elections for the same? It's unconstitutional, and I believe that there won't be any election (in J&K).

Sibal stressed that the Supreme Court shouldn't have accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's statement on conducting assembly elections in the UT any time now.

It will be the prerogative of the new government to hold or not hold elections.

Several political parties expressed disappointment at the Election Commission's (EC) decision not to conduct simultaneous polls in the Union Territory.

National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he was a bit "disappointed but not surprised" at the Election Commission's (EC) decision not to hold the much-awaited Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir with the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

"I am a bit disappointed, but not surprised because all the air that has been created for one nation, one election has failed the test. The EC, the Jammu and Kashmir administration and to that extent, the government of India is unable to put its money where its mouth is," Abdullah said when asked about the poll panel deciding not to hold the Assembly election with the Lok Sabha polls in the Union Territory.

The NC leader said this was the ideal time to roll out the process of "one nation, one election".

"If you cannot have the Jammu and Kashmir polls at the same time with the rest of the country, how are you promising it for 2029? This was a test case and in this test case, they have clearly failed. We were very hopeful because we have not had Assembly polls since 2014," he said.
Forget Ayodhya, the contrast with even Assam and North Bengal was starkly visible as the car moved from the Coimbatore airport towards the city. In central Uttar Pradesh and even Assam and North Bengal, the saffron flag was unmissable. It was visible in shops, homes, cars, autos and even two-wheelers. No such thing in southern Tamil Nadu. Quite surprisingly, one week or so after the author spent a few days in and around Coimbatore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address a rally and launch the BJP campaign in Tamil Nadu. Apart from a few die-hard supporters here and there, the author found no resonance and no enthusiasm among ordinary folks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President K Annamalai during a public rally in Kanniyakumari. (ANI Photo)

Many sitting in New Delhi and gushing about the BJP state president K Annamalai will make a big difference in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections would be dismayed by talking to people in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Madurai, Nagercoil and even Kanyakumari. Its the Dravidian parties that rule the roost here.

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One senior journalist based in Coimbatore who did not want to be named quipped: Well, the chances of the BJP winning three to four seats in Tamil Nadu are as high as the Congress tally touching 150 Lok Sabha seats this time. Sure, miracles can happen. But really doubt.

More than 450 kilometres away from Coimbatore is Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, the place where Swami Vivekananda contemplated the revival and resurgence of Hinduism. Early in the morning, the author saw hundreds and hundreds of tourists flocking to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on the sea. But once again, the difference between Ayodhya and Kanyakumari was stark.

In Ayodhya, when the author had visited the new Ram Temple and the Saryu Ghat, the thousands of the faithful were steeped in spiritual fervour. In Kanyakumari, they were just having fun as tourists.

Subhash is a long-time BJP worker who has also worked with the youth wing of the party. He candidly admits that the BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan who had won the Kanyakumari seat last in 2014 has very little chance of winning this time. According to him, the core voters of the VCK, an alliance partner of the DMK is a decisive 6% or so and will swing the seat towards that alliance. Besides, we (Hindus) are already less than 50% of the population here. At this rate, I dont see a very bright future for BJP candidates. But for us, ideology and Sanatan Dharma are more importants and we will keep on fighting., he adds.

Subhash is happy that the Modi regime is finally cracking the whip on missionary organisations dedicated to converting Indians to Christianity who get foreign funds as charitable NGOs.

But quite clearly, the continuing weakness of the BJP in Tamil Nadu is not because of Christian missionaries. The real reason is that it has failed to break through the walls of Tamil sub-nationalism built by Dravidian parties for decades. Hindi imposition and anti-Brahmanism along with Tamil self-respect and pride remain the dominant themes in politics. There can be little doubt that Prime Minister Modi has invested heavily is repeatedly displaying respect for the Tamil language, culture and traditions.

Many people the author met in southern Tamil Nadu think Modi genuinely appreciates the Tamil culture and they admire him for it. But the same set of people also say that most other BJP leaders dont deserve their admiration. Even people who found the statements of Udaynidhi Stalin on Sanatan Dharma needlessly offensive do not have much empathy with the BJP. A former AIDMK MLA met the author at the Cosmopolitan Club in Coimbatore. According to him, the feeling that the BJP is an upper-caste North Indian party is so deeply embedded in the psyche of a majority of Tamil voters that they often refuse to see and understand that the BJP has changed fundamentally in the last two decades in India and is now a backward caste and class driven party. He says even the BJP Tamil Nadu leader Annamalai belongs to a backward caste. But the core voters of the DMK, the AIADMK and other regional caste-based parties like the VCK remain unimpressed.

Another reason why the phenomenal growth of the BJP in east, central, west & north India has failed to materialise in a state like Tamil Nadu is that for ordinary Tamil voters, welfare schemes and freebies have been part of the political culture for decades.

The C-Voter opinion poll conducted in early February suggests a clean sweep for the DMK-led alliance. On the ground, the author found even AIDMK supporters expecting that kind of a result because the opposition is fragmented.

(This is the sixth in a series of 40 field reports from all corners of India in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections that aim to understand how the country is changing in fundamental ways.)
New Delhi: India and the Maldives on Sunday reviewed the process for replacing Indian military personnel who operate three aviation platforms in the Indian Ocean archipelago, with authorities in Male saying the second batch of personnel will be withdrawn by April 10. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu (File Photo)

The Indian side has begun replacing its military personnel with civilian technical staff following a demand by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to withdraw all Indian military personnel from the country. Military personnel responsible for operating and maintaining one helicopter were withdrawn earlier this month.

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The process for replacing the military personnel with civilian technical staff was reviewed during the third meeting of a bilateral high-level core group at the foreign ministry in Male on Sunday. The Indian technical staff are being deputed to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms - two helicopters and an aircraft - that provide humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of Maldives, the external affairs ministry said in a readout.

A statement from the Maldivian foreign ministry said military personnel responsible for one aviation platform had been replaced with civilians, and personnel for the remaining two platforms will be replaced on April 10 and May 10.

Muizzu, who has taken several steps to bring the Maldives closer to China, had earlier demanded that all Indian military personnel should be withdrawn by March 15. More than 80 Indian military personnel, including pilots and maintenance crews, were deployed in the Maldives.

The two sides reached a compromise during an earlier meeting of the core group and agreed to withdraw the military personnel in batches by May 10.

During Sundays meeting of the core group, the two sides also discussed wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation, including expediting work on India-backed development projects in the Maldives through regular convening of joint monitoring mechanisms.

They also discussed efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment and enhance people-to-people links through capacity building and travel, the external affairs ministrys readout said.

Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the core group in New Delhi on a mutually convenient date.

The Muizzu government has finalised arrangements with Sri Lanka for medical evacuation services as part of its efforts to reduce its dependence on India. It has also inked an agreement with China to get free non-lethal military equipment and training.

This is the first time the Maldives, which has usually depended on India for military hardware, has signed such a pact with China. Muizzu said the defence agreement with China will ensure the autonomy and independence of the Maldives.

On Friday, Muizzu launched the Maldives National Defence Forces new Air Corps, which will use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) acquired from Turkiye to conduct surveillance of its territorial waters. Speaking on the occasion, Muizzu said the Maldives received three UAVs, largely through grant aid from Turkiye, and hoped to increase the number.
An Indian warship patrolling the western Arabian Sea was attacked by Somali pirates aboard a hijacked merchant vessel, MV Ruen, prompting the Indian Navy's self-defensive response. The pirates, who had held the vessel for three months, targeted the warship, leading to a 40-hour standoff. Elite marine commandos were deployed via air-drop to counter the threat. Through coordinated efforts, INS Kolkata compelled the pirates to surrender, securing the release of 17 crew members without harm. The operation, conducted over 1400 nautical miles from the Indian coast, involved multiple naval assets and surveillance measures. This incident underscores the Indian Navy's vigilance amidst escalating threats in the Arabian Sea, including piracy and attacks on merchant vessels by rebel groups. Dig deeper Pirates detained by the Indian navy during a rescue operation for the hijacked ship MV Ruen sit on the deck in this handout image released on March 16, 2024. Spokespersonnavy via X/Handout via REUTERS.

More news on Somali pirates: Somali pirates open fire on Indian warship, navy responds in self-defence

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar highlighted four major challenges ahead of the upcoming general elections: muscle power, money, misinformation, and violations of the model code of conduct (MCC). Kumar emphasized that each state faces these challenges to varying degrees and outlined specific plans to address them. The MCC's significance was underscored, stressing campaigns should focus on issues and avoid hate speech or appeals based on caste or religion. The Election Commission will take a calibrated approach to MCC violations, ensuring accountability regardless of political affiliation. Additionally, measures to prevent poll violence, monitor financial irregularities, and crackdown on illegal goods distribution were outlined. The commission aims for cleaner elections by collaborating with enforcement agencies and implementing stringent monitoring mechanisms. Dig deeper

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CBI arrests Sheikh Shahjahans brother, two others for attack on ED team Dig deeper

NCERTs rationalised syllabi may continue in most classes Dig deeper

India News

Regional parties face battle for relevance in election arena Dig deeper

Naveen Patnaik sets sights on becoming longest serving chief minister in country Dig deeper

Global Matters

Pakistani court dismisses defamation case against ex-PM Imran Khan Dig deeper

Pennsylvania shooting: Suspect who killed 3 relatives in custody after standoff in New Jersey Dig deeper

Entertainment Focus

During his Mumbai concert, Ed Sheeran surprised fans by singing in Punjabi for the first time, joined by Diljit Dosanjh for a rendition of "Lover." The duo received enthusiastic applause from the crowd at Mahalaxmi Race Course Grounds and later shared the moment on Instagram. Diljit wore traditional attire while Ed opted for casual wear and played guitar. Both artists posted clips of their performance, generating positive reactions from celebrities and fans alike. Ed expressed his joy at the experience and hinted at more to come in India. The concert, part of his Asia and Europe Tour, attracted Bollywood stars like Madhuri Dixit and Farah Khan. Preceding the concert, Farah Khan hosted a lavish party attended by Bollywood elites in honor of Ed Sheeran. Dig deeper

Thats all we have at this hour in our Morning briefing. Catch you in the afternoon
New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is likely to continue with the rationalised textbooks for several classes, including classes 10 and 12, in the upcoming academic year beginning next month, people familiar with the matter said, adding it was highly unlikely that new textbooks will be released for all classes in 2024-25 session. HT Image

The council is preparing new school textbooks in line with the new national curriculum framework (NCF). However, it is highly unlikely that new textbooks for many classes, including 10 and 12, will be released ahead of the new academic session, officials familiar with the matter said.

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Textbook drafting is a very meticulous process and it cannot be done in a haste. It needs to be done without any mistakes. This year, the NCERT is expected to come up with textbooks for some primary classes and probably class 9 as well. For other classes, the current textbooks having rationalised curriculum will continue in the session 2024-25, a senior NCERT official said, requesting anonymity.

The council had conveyed to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) during its last curriculum committee meeting that it is highly unlikely that the new textbooks of classes 9 to 12 would be released this year.

The board will have to release the sample papers of classes 10 and 12 ahead of the beginning of a new session. In its last curriculum committee meeting, the board had decided to continue with the existing NCERT syllabus with a caveat that it may be reconsidered in case the NCERT releases books of classes 9 to 12 before April 2024, a senior CBSE official said, also declining to be named. It is highly unlikely that the books will be released before that.

In June 2022, NCERT had rationalised the syllabi of classes 6 to 12 to reduce the content load on students in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the changes, reflected in new textbooks published last year, the council had removed chapters on Mughal courts, 2002 Gujarat riots, cold war, references of Mughal emperors, and Emergency and periodic table. The new books also removed content pertaining to Mahatma Gandhi, his assassin Nathuram Godse, and the banning of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) after Gandhis assassination.

While the council maintained there was no selective omission of topics, the rationalisation exercise had created a political controversy with leaders from opposition parties alleging the ruling dispensation was erasing history.

Meanwhile, several school principals expressed concerns over the continuation of rationalised syllabus in 2024-25.

The rationalisation of syllabus has created a huge learning gap among students. They are missing on topics that are important for their competitive examinations as well. When everything else has become normal post pandemic, why cant schools resume teaching the non-rationalised syllabus? Sudha Acharya, principal of ITL Public School, Dwarka in Delhi, said.

NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani did not respond to multiple phone calls and text messages from HT for a comment.
Naveen Patnaik, who has been the chief minister of Odisha for 24 straight years, will seek a sixth consecutive term in the eastern state during the assembly elections in May-June and set his sights on becoming the longest serving chief minister of any province in the country. Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. (PTI)

On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the four-phase assembly elections, which will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls and is likely to be fought on issues like unemployment, corruption, law and order, alleged irregularities in paddy procurement and chit fund and mining scam.

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There are 147 assembly constituencies and 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The poll body said voting will be held on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

As he addressed his last cabinet meeting during the day, Patnaik, who is also the president of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), said the people of the state are going to create a new record in the political history of the country in the upcoming assembly elections.

In a few months, the people of Odisha are going to create a new record in the political history of this country. I always feel profoundly blessed and humbled by the intense faith of the people which also inspires me to work harder, the chief minister said.

The 77-year-old is the second longest serving chief minister in the countrys history and if re-elected, would surpass former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamlings record. The latter was in power for 24 years and 167 days  from December 12, 1994, to May 27, 2019.

Patnaik, on the other hand, has been at the helm of Odisha since March 5, 2000 and his term is scheduled to end on June 2, by which time he would have completed 24 years and 89 days in power. He will have to complete another 78 days to break the record.

I always feel profoundly blessed and humbled by the intense faith of the people which also inspires me to work harder. The next 10 years will be decisive for Odishas future. We will herald an empowered Odisha  modern, dynamic and responsive, primarily for our youngsters, he told the cabinet, according to a government statement.

In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJD bagged 112 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 23 seats, the Congress secured nine seats and the CPI(M) won one. An independent candidate also won the polls. In the Lok Sabha, the BJD won 12 seats, while the BJP secured eight and Congress managed one seat. (CHECK)

The key assembly seats are Hinjili, Sambalpur, Chandbali, Jajpur, and Jeypore while the important Lok Sabha constituencies Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Koraput.

Patnaik won the Hinjili assembly seat five times since 2000. Though Patnaik was elected from the seat in five Vidhan Sabha polls, there has been a decline in his vote share. In the last three polls held in 2009, 2014 and 2019, the BJDs vote share was 76%, 73% and 66%, respectively.

The chief minister did not speak on the BJDs possible alliance with the BJP for both the assembly and general elections. On Thursday, Patnaik held a meeting of BJD leaders at his Bhubaneswar residence but the party did not comment on a tie-up with the BJP.

People aware of the matter said the BJDs insistence on getting the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat, which is currently represented by the BJP, has thrown a spanner in the talks. The two parties have also locked their horns over Puri the religious capital of Odisha and home to the famous Jagannath temple. In 2019, the BJPs Sambit Patra lost to Pinaki Misra of the BJD by less than 12,000 votes. Despite the loss, Patra has frequently visited the constituency over the last five years.

The Lok Sabha elections would determine the fate of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has been fielded from Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency. He was last elected to the Lok Sabha from Deogarh in Odisha in 2004.

India is the biggest democracy in the world. We welcome the ECs announcement. This is an opportunity for the people to exercise their rights. The SCs, STs, women and all should participate in this biggest festival of democracy, Pradhan said.

State Congress vice-president Shivananda Ray claimed his party is well-prepared for the elections. This time, the battle will be intense. Congress will fight the polls with full vigor, he said.

More than 33.2 million voters are eligible to exercise their franchise this year. Of those, 16.8 million are male and 16.4 million female.

On May 13, polling will be held for 28 assembly seats and four Lok Sabha constituencies. In the next phase on May 20, voting will be held for 35 assembly seats and five Lok Sabha constituencies. On May 25, voting for 42 assembly segments and six Lok Sabha seats will be held. The polling for the remaining 42 assembly seats and six Lok Sabha constituencies will be held on June 1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share the dais with Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief and actor Pawan Kalyan at a massive public rally proposed to be held at Boppudi village, near Chilakaluripet town in Andhra Pradeshs Palnadu district on March 17. N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File)

A TDP leader privy to the development said the party received a communication from the Prime Ministers Office on Tuesday confirming Modis visit to Andhra Pradesh to take part in the Chilakaluripet rally.

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Named Prajagalam, the meeting will mark the first NDA election meeting in Andhra Pradesh in the run-up to the simultaneous legislative assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled on May 13.

Top updates on PM Modi's rally in Andhra Pradesh

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan will also take part in the PM Modi's rally, marking the first NDA election meeting in Andhra Pradesh in the run-up to the 2024 polls.

The three alliance partners, TDP, Janasena and BJP will be meeting after 10 years, and Modi, Naidu and Kalyan will be seen on the same election stage after a long time.

The Janasena said Prajagalam is aimed at "chasing away atrocious politics" for the golden future of Andhra Pradesh. The TDP, Janasena and BJP are mobilising their cadres in large numbers for the meeting.

In preparation for the meeting, the TDP released a special logo featuring the images of Modi, Naidu and Kalyan.

The NDA partners finalised their seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha and state polls following a marathon discussion held at Naidu's Andhra Pradesh residence in Undavalli on March 11, under which the BJP will contest six Lok Sabha and 10 assembly seats while the TDP will fight in 17 parliamentary and 144 state seats.

Pawan Kalyan's Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 assembly seats.

Naidu has announced the names of 128 candidates for the assembly polls while 16 more are due, which may be announced any time now.

Naidu said days ago that under the dynamic and visionary leadership of PM Modi, the BJP, Janasena and TDP have decided to contest the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh together. Naidu said the NDA partners agreed to make the interests of the state and its future the utmost priority and a key driving factor during seat-sharing discussions.

PM Modi in Andhra Pradesh: Check schedule
Raipur: Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday reacting over the first information report (FIR) registered against him in the Mahadev App betting scam by the Economic Offence Wing (EOW), said that the case is purely political and his name was added forcefully by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel (File Photo)

Addressing a press conference in Raipur on Sunday Baghel said, The FIR against me was lodged on March 4 by the EOW then why was it not published on the EOW website till now? My name was later added after being pressured. This means the BJP fear losing Rajnandgaon seat and Chhattisgarh because they know my candidature will have an impact across the state, said Baghel.

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He said that it was his government which took action against such betting apps in the past. The Congress government lodged 72 FIRs in connection with the Mahadev betting App, and arrested over 450 people in Chhattisgarh and across the country, he said.

Also Read: Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel named as accused in FIR on Mahadev bets scam

The former chief minister claimed that not only in Rajnandgaon, but the BJP will suffer losses in the entire state due to his contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

We also wrote to Google to close Mahadev App but there are a lot of betting apps that are still active. BJP has been in power for four months in Chhattisgarh and for the last 10 years in the Centre, what are they doing? said Baghel.

He alleged that the BJP does not want to arrest the real culprits. Shubham Soni gave a response in the presence of the consulate general, why wasnt he arrested then?... Why arent those accused being brought back to India? he questioned.

He further said that more than 200 ATM cards were seized, but these were operated from somewhere else.

We also issued a lookout notice against Ravi Uppal. It was the responsibility of the Government of India to catch them but they did not catch them, Baghel alleged.

Baghel claimed that his government was the one who wrote to Google to shut down the app.

Chhattisgarh Police has filed a case naming former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as an accused in the Mahadev Online Book app scam, estimated to be worth 6,000 crore, a development that could lead to legal problems for the Congress leader ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Baghel has been charged with various sections pertaining to cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act in a first information report (FIR) filed by the EOW in Raipur on March 4.

Those named along with Baghel in the FIR include Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, 16 other named accused persons, and unnamed bureaucrats, police officers and officers on special duty (OSDs) during his tenure as the CM. HT has reviewed a copy of the FIR.

The financial crimes probe agency had alleged in November 2023 that Chandrakar and Uppal paid bribes worth 508 crore to Baghel. The two are currently in detention in a UAE facility and extradition requests have already been sent through the ministry of external affairs.
October 2022 was a different time for Indias traditionally powerful regional satraps, one of cautious, relative optimism. In Bihar, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ran a government together, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) were part of an opposition alliance that could have proved troublesome for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and so emboldened was Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (popularly known as KCR) that he changed the name of his party from Telangana Rashtra Samithi to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and held a series of meetings with other powerful regional leaders, from Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra to Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, hoping to forge an alliance of his own. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Aurangabad on March 2. In January, the latter returned to the BJP-led NDA fold. (HT file)

Cut to March 2024, Nitish Kumar has returned to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold, severing ties with the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc after failing to build an opposition consensus, Sharad Pawar has found his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) dismembered, and a diminished KCR has lost both his government in Telangana, and any hope of a country-wide upsurge. If anything, as India approaches pivotal national elections, dates for which were announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday, regional parties across the country face a battle for relevance, either subsumed by the broader NDA umbrella under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that continues to be powerful or as part of an INDIA grouping struggling to find common ground. And there are those ploughing a lonely furrow, the last vanguard against a resurgent BJP.

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In many ways, it is clear that the 2024 elections are framed by a challenge repeatedly thrown out by Prime Minister Modi over the past few weeks. Not only has he said that the BJP is well on its way to singular majority on its own for the third consecutive time, but has exhorted voters to reward the BJP with above 370 seats, and the NDA with above 400 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Abki baar, 400 paar, he has said in public meeting recently.

To that end, the NDA umbrella has grown significantly in the last six months, leveraging regional insecurity and ambition with surgical precision, even as the Congress has decried the use of central agencies as instruments of coercion. If the RJD-Congress-JD(U) Mahagathbandhan in Bihar had formed a considerable social coalition, it would threaten 39 of 40 seats that the NDA won in 2019, but Nitish Kumar has now returned to the fold. In Karnataka, HD Deve Gowdas Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) is now fighting alongside the BJP, and in Andhra Pradesh, the NDA has new powerful allies in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena. In Odisha, 15 years after Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik walked out of the NDA labelling the BJP communal, both parties continue to be in talks for a once unthinkable alliance.

One JD(U) leader said the realignment was a matter of existential strategy. It is clear that the BJP and Prime Minister Modi are still the dominant force in Indian politics. In state elections, there is still a battle. But in the Lok Sabha, he remains extremely popular, in the absence of a credible challenge. So the choice is clear. Either ally with the BJP, and win a few seats in conjunction with them, or get reduced to nothing. This way, the ties between the state and the Union government continue to be robust, particularly when state governments depend on the Centre for so much. The BJP is clear. You can either be with them, or run the risk of being against them, the leader said.

No state demonstrates this balkanisation more than Maharashtra, the province that has Indias second largest number of seats in the Lok Sabha at 48. In the run-up to 2024, both the Shiv Sena and the NCP have found themselves fighting internal battles. The Uddhav Thackeray-led government fell in 2022 after a coup by loyalist Eknath Shinde, who cleaved the party in two and became chief minister in alliance with the BJP. A year later, the states other powerful regional satrap, Sharad Pawars NCP, fell apart too, when the patriarchs ambitious nephew, Ajit Pawar, broke ranks, joined the NDA and became deputy chief minister. There has been a battle for election symbols, even names, but the battle for cadre loyalty may well define 2024.

Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc has floundered after a promising start. It is a question of political clarity. The INDIA bloc held a series of meetings in 2023, but they have amounted to very little results. There is a complete lack of consensus on leadership, on message, even on seats. In states where they are part of an alliance, except in Uttar Pradesh, they have still not been able to come to a seat-sharing agreement with resources focused on an ill-timed Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader said.

With an ostensibly weak Congress in the Hindi heartland where it has direct battles with the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, it is regional parties that form the bulwark of resistance against the NDAs 400 paar. In states such as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, MK Stalin and Mamata Banerjee are both battling a BJP attempting to break new ground, and have framed their campaigns around regional pride being the vanguard against a hegemonic Centre. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has accused the BJP of pushing a Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan narrative and hurting the interests of south India, while in Bengal, where the BJP won 18 of the 42 seats in 2019, the TMC has refurbished its outsider jab at the opposition party, by calling them modern day zamindars.

Political experts, however, said that while the BJPs rising footprint was a cause of immediate concern for regional parties, Indian political history shows that there is little place for permanent epitaphs. The BJPs strength is certainly a broad cause for worry for regional parties, but there is still place for them. Every region and state has local and community aspirations. Even when the Congress was the biggest party till the seventies, factions broke away to form regional powers. As the BJP continues to grow, there is a chance fissures will emerge, said Rabi Das, an Odisha-based political commentator.

But as recent experience of some regional parties shows, in the new India, the fissures are within them.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday reacted to US Ambassador Eric Garcetti's remark on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), saying he questions the country's understanding of India's history. Justifying the law, which fast-tracks Indian citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the minister said India has the obligation to those "who were let down at the time of Partition". External affairs minister S Jaishankar said other countries have also fast-tracked citizenship of religious groups. (File)

Days after the Centre notified the rules for the law, the US on Thursday said that it is concerned about the notification of CAA in India and is closely monitoring its implementation. A day later, Garcetti, in response to a question on CAA during a panel discussion, said one cannot give up on principles, "no matter how close you are as friends".

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S Jaishankar, reacting to the comments from "many parts of the world", said these remarks discount the Partition of India.

"Look, I am not questioning the imperfections or otherwise of their democracy or their principles or lack of it. I am questioning their understanding of our history. If you hear comments from many parts of the world, it is as if the Partition of India never happened, there were no consequential problems which the CAA is supposed to address," Jaishankar said at the India Today Conclave.

In a curt reply, S Jaishankar said his government has principles too.

Cant give up on principles': US envoy to India on CAA row

So, if you take a problem and remove all the historical context from it, sanitise it and make it into a political correctness argument, and say, 'I have principles and don't you have principles', I have principles too, and one of them is obligation to people who were let down at the time of Partition, he added.

To buttress his point, S Jaishankar listed many examples when the citizenship of some religious groups were fast-tracked by other countries.

S Jaishankar said he has a problem when people don't hold up a mirror to their own policies.

He cited the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which was about Jews from the Soviet Union, the Lautenberg Amendment, Specter Amendment and "fast-tracking of Hungarians after the Hungarian revolution, fast-tracking of Cubans in the 1960s".

"So, if you were to ask me, have other countries, other democracies, fast-tracked on the basis of ethnicity, faith, social attributes, I can give you any number of examples," the minister added.

Also read: CAA India's internal matter, US' comment misplaced, misinformed, unwarranted: MEA

S Jaishankar said that during the Partition, the leadership of India had promised to the minorities in Pakistan that they were welcome to the country.

"The leadership of this country has promised to these minorities that if you have a problem, you are welcome to come to India. The leadership thereafter didn't deliver on the promise," he added.

S Jaishankar said several European countries had fast-tracked citizenship after the World War.

"It is not just our predicament. If you look at Europe, many European countries fast-tracked the citizenship of people who were left behind in the World War or in some cases much before the World War Some historical issues which were not addressed...I have a moral obligation to that community," he added.

The CAA makes it easier for persecuted minorities in the three countries -- who arrived in India before December 31, 2014 -- to get Indian citizenship. The law was enacted in 2019.

The Opposition claims the law discriminates against the Muslims and is implemented to polarise the masses ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The Centre, in a statement recently allayed the fear. It said Indian Muslims don't need to worry about the law as it doesn't authorise snatching away their citizenship.

With inputs from PTI
Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls on all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections, beginning on April 19 and ending on June 1. The BJP-led ruling coalition won 64 seats BJP 62, Apna Da 2 out of the total 80 constituencies in 2019. HT Image

"There is a strong anti-incumbency in Uttar Pradesh against both the state and the central governments. The situation of the alliance will be very good in UP and we will win in at least 40 seats the BJP won ," Yadav said to reporters here.

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In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party were in alliance. While the SP secured victory on five seats, the BSP won 10.

This time, the SP has joined the opposition INDIA grouping to fight the BJP-led NDA.

On the electoral bonds issue, the Rajya Sabha member said, "People say that they have ended corruption. But corruption bigger than this has never happened in any part of the world. They make ED conduct raids and stop the action once a donation is made."

"Had it been any other country, the government that has given contracts in lieu for donations had been removed," he said.

Speaking on the arrest of BRS leader K Kavitha in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, Yadav alleged that the ED and CBI only take action against opposition leaders and not against those in the BJP.

Hitting out at the state government, he said, "Yogi Adityanath says there is no unemployment in the state but 68 lakh people applied for 50,000 police jobs. They leak the question papers because they don't want to give a job."

Yadav further claimed that the BJP was misleading the public in the name of Ram. "Taking people to have darshan of Ram Temple has become a qualification to get a ticket in the BJP. Bring as many people as possible to visit Ram temple and get a ticket," he claimed.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A day after the Lok Sabha poll schedule was announced, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Prasun Bandyopadhyay on Sunday triggered a controversy while warning the central forces and the Election Commission not to "intimidate" during the elections. TMC leader Prasun Bandyopadhyay(X/ @amitmalviya)

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared a video of Bandyopadhyay on X (formerly Twitter), where the TMC leader can be seen making remarks on paramilitary forces and the Election Commission.

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While addressing a rally in Malda, Bandyopadhyay said, I am telling all the BSF and paramilitary forces to stay within the law. We will also stay within the law. Let the elections be free and fair. If paramilitary forces try to intimidate, 'main hoon na' (I am here).

The TMC leader, an ex-IPS officer and party's candidate from Uttar Malda parliamentary constituency, further said that the commission officials should be kept seated in schools and he will manage everything.

Election commission should be kept seated in schools. Give them water. Don't neglect them. Just say Prasun Bandyopadhyay has come to play. There is no use of boots, AK 47, SLR. Just say I am calling Prasun Bandyopadhyay. He is entering in half an hour. He will understand all the laws. The observer will understand everything, he said n a threatening tone.

Malviya, who posted the video, took a jibe at the leader and the ruling TMC, saying that one can imagine all the wrongdoings of Bandyopadhyay as a police officer under the Mamata Banerjee government.

"Prasun, who quit IPS and joined the Trinamool Congress the next day, to contest Lok Sabha polls, is now intimidating the Election Commission of India. One can only imagine what he did as a police officer! He exemplifies all that is wrong with the West Bengal Police," he said.

The election commission on Saturday schedule for the much-awaited Lok Sabha polls. The elections for the 543 parliamentary constituencies will be held in seven phases, starting April 19 and would culminate on June 1. The phase 1 polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, third phase on May 7, fourth phase on May 13, 5th phase on May 20, 6th phase on May 25 and the last and the 7th phase on June 1. The counting of votes would take place on June 4.

The Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, comprising 42 seats, will take place in all the seven phases. Out of the 42 seats, 10 are reserved for SC candidates and two for ST. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the TMC won 22 seats, the Congress (2) and the BJP (18).
Panaji: At least two people were killed and 13 others, including five children, were injured after a light-duty truck swerved off a bridge and crashed into a valley 25 metres below along the national highway at Padi in south Goa on Saturday night, police said. (Representative Photo)

The victims, eight of whom are said to be seriously injured, were travelling in a truck laden with sacks of cashew nuts and were trapped under the cargo following the accident, said police.

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The injured, all labourers, were shifted to the Hospicio District Hospital at Margao in south Goa, said police, adding while one person succumbed on the spot, another succumbed to his injuries the next morning at the hospital.

Goas minister for social welfare Subhash Phaldesai, who, along with chief minister Pramod Sawant, was returning from a party function at Canacona in south Goa, halted their convoy to aid the rescue operations.

We were able to rescue 13 individuals, including five childrenMy personal security staff along with the chief ministers security staff, who were the first to reach the site, helped lift the victims from under the rubble, Phaldesai told media persons.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said that he has never been in the race for the prime ministers post and that he is content with whatever he has. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during a felicitation program in Nagpur.(ANI)

Gadkari made the remarks during an interview with The Times of India. He was responding to a question about the speculation that he could be a "consensus PM face" in case the Narendra Modi-led NDA government fails to secure a majority mark in the coming Lok Sabha.

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I was never in the race for the prime ministers job. I am content with whatever I am today. I am a committed BJP worker with conviction, not a politician by calculation, Gadkari told the newspaper.

He added: I believe in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. Under PM Narendra Modi, the NDA govt is doing a commendable job. I am confident we will again form the govt at the Centre for the third time under Modis leadership.

Gadkari also spoke on the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and allegations of an aggressive Hindutva projected by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

I frankly think the Ram temple issue should not be politicised. Its a question of faith and people are happy their dream has come true, Gadkari said.

The minister for road transport & highways also said that he does not believe in the divisive politics of caste, creed or religion.

I do not believe in divisive politics of caste, creed or religion. The temple was mandated by the Supreme Court after a protracted legal battle and peoples struggle. It was also in our manifesto. We are happy to fulfil the wishes of the people, he told The Times of India.

Gadkari also refuted speculation of any differences between him and Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

I initiated Fadnavis political entry after meeting his father. When there are two big leaders from the same region, people tend to gossip. I dont interfere or complain, he said. There are no differences between us. Even state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule seeks my advice. I tell them to make decisions after weighing the pros and cons.

Gadkari, BJP's candidate from Nagpur, also took a dig at the Congress, saying that what the BJP government at the Centre could do in the last 10, the grand old party failed to do in the last 60-65 years.

In 2019, we showcased development to ensure another victory. Ten years down the line, we can say what BJP achieved in a decade, Congress failed to do in the last 60-65 years, he said.

He added: People have reposed faith in the Modi govt and will once again elect us with a record margin. Theres positivity due to the development over the last decade and we will definitely cross the 400+ mark this time.
The BJP-led central government has sought feedback and suggestions from the citizens of India on its schemes and governance initiatives. A WhatsApp message from Viksit Bharat Sampark seeking feedback and suggestions from the citizens, along with a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived on the smartphones. Viksit Bharat Modi Ki Guarantee Raths during their flagging off by BJP National President J P Nadda in New Delhi, India, on Monday, February 26, 2024. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times)

In the letter, issued on the eve of the announcement of the general elections, the PM said: I need and indeed, look forward to your ideas, suggestions and support as we work to fulfil the resolve of building a Viksit Bharat.

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The PM is seeking a third term in office and has set a target of winning over 400 seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. The governments development agenda and the promise of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is a key poll plank of the BJP.

The Viksit Bharat agenda is a vision that the PM has drafted for ensuring social changes, technical innovations, and economic reforms, to raise Indias position at the global level.

In his letter, which has been addressed to my dear family members, in line with the BJPs Modi Ka Parivaar (Modis family) narrative, the PM said: Our partnership is at the threshold of completing a decade. The trust and support of 140 crore Indians inspires and motivates me.

He has credited the government schemes and programmes for transformation that has taken place in the lives of the people and called it the biggest achievement of our government over the last 10 years.

Meanwhile, Kerala Congress attacked the BJP over the drive.

"The message talks about taking feedback from Citizens, but the attached PDF is nothing but political propaganda, Kerala Congress posted.

In the guise of feedback, the letter is nothing but claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making about his Govt as part of his campaign for the upcoming General Elections, misusing govt database, it alleged, calling it blatant misuse of WhatsApp for political propaganda.

The governments development agenda and the promise of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is a key poll plank of the BJP.

In February, BJP president J P Nadda flagged off Viksit Bharat Modi ki guarantee video vans, seeking peoples suggestions from across the country for preparing the manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi, Amid criticism of the Citizenship Act from the US and other parts of the globe, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said it is important to put it in the context of the Partition, and underlined that there are a "number of examples" in which many countries have fast-tracked citizenship. HT Image

During an interaction at the India Today Conclave 2024 on Saturday, he also responded to questions on an Indian national, facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot to kill a Khalistani separatist on American soil and US Ambassador Eric Garcetti's remarks a day earlier on its impact on US-India ties.

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"You keep using India and Canada seamlessly, I would draw a line there, for a variety of reasons. Most notably that all said and done, American politics has not given that kind of space to violent extremist views and activities which Canada has done. So, I don't think it's fair to the US, to lump them together. I would distinguish between the two," Jaishankar said.

The relations between India and Canada saw bitterness last year over allegations linked with the killing of Khalistani separatist and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in the Canadian city of Surrey. India denied the allegation as "absurd and motivated".

Jaishankar also responded to criticisms surrounding the CAA from Washington and other parts of the world.

The US on Thursday said it is concerned about the notification of CAA in India and is closely monitoring its implementation.

"Look, I am not questioning the imperfections or otherwise of their democracy or their principles or lack of it. I am questioning their understanding of our history. If you hear comments from many parts of the world, it is as if the Partition of India never happened, there were no consequential problems which the CAA is supposed to address," Jaishankar said.

So, if you take a problem and "remove all the historical context from it, sanitise it and make it into a political correctness" argument, and say, 'I have principles and don't you have principles', "I have principles too, and one of them is obligation to people who were let down at the time of Partition. And, I think, the Home Minister spoke very eloquently on it yesterday", he added.

Garcetti in response to a question on CAA during a panel discussion at the conclave on Friday, had said the principles of religious freedom and of equality under the law is a cornerstone of democracy.

"And, that is why we look at these things, it will be easier not to look at our friends. We invite you to do the same with our imperfect democracy, it is not a one-way street. But, you cannot give up on principles, no matter how close you are with friends...," he had said.

Jaishankar while responding to the criticism on CAA, also cited a "number of examples" to make his point.

He said he has a problem when people don't hold up a mirror to their own policies, as he cited Jackson-Vanik amendment, which was about Jews from Soviet Union, the Lautenberg Amendment, Specter Amendment and "fast-tracking of Hungarians after the Hungarian revolution, fast-tracking of Cubans in 1960s".

"So, if you were to ask me, have other countries, other democracies, fast-tracked on the basis of ethnicity, faith, social attributes, I can give you any number of examples," the minister said.

He sought to put the context of the 1947 Partition which cleaved the Indian subcontinent into two independent nations India and Pakistan, and led to a massive bloodshed resulting in large-scale migrations across the border.

"Now, if I were to also say, after all why is the situation important, because very often when you have something very cataclysmic, something really very major, it is not possible to deal with all the consequences right then and there.

"The leadership of this country had promised to these minorties, that if you have a problem, you are welcome to come to India. The leadership thereafter didn't deliver on the promise," he added.

Jaishankar said it is "not just our predicament. If you look at Europe, many European countries fast-tracked citizenship of people who were left behind on the World War or in some cases much before the World War Some historical issues which were not addressed...I have a moral obligation to that community".

"So, the world is full of examples, and to me the context therefore is very important," the minister said.

On the upcoming US elections, the Union minister said, "we are prepared for whatever happens".

"We have actually built a very extensive culture of engaging and sort of maintaining relationships...Well before the 2016 November results, we had already reached out to the Trump campaign at a high level. Because, that is the way it would be. It wouldn't be hypothetically tomorrow," he said.

Because the US-India relationship is "very important" and that is the only way one can get a grip on that relationship, the minister said.

On the issue of the Indian national, facing charge for a murder-for-hire plot to kill a Khalistani separatist on American soil, he also shared how India is dealing with it.

"Yes, the US has shared with us some information, some of this in the public domain, some of it is not. And, our interest is to also look into it, because, to us there seems to be a very strong organised crime aspect to it which also impinges on our own security.

"So, when we were apprised of this information, we decided to set up a very high-power committee of competent people to look into it and that is an ongoing issue right now," Jaishankar said.

He also came up with some light-hearted response when asked about the use of social media and diplomacy.

"Look, I am paid to fix foreign policy, I am not paid to fix social media," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

"To be honest no one can fix social media. The nature of the platform is such that every thing that you somewhat disapprovingly state is actually something that gets more eyeballs on social media," Jaishankar said.

He said he assumed this is a medium which is very angular, but one can counter it fairly rapidly.

"We have adjusted to the times too...Short, sharp impactful expressions are required then we move out of our, shall we say old comfort zones, and adjust ourselves to respond in that way," said the minister who has a massive following on X.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hours before the announcement of the schedule for the assembly and general elections in Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday announced the list of candidates for all 175 assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. HT Image

Jagan released the list after paying floral tributes to his father and former chief minister late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy at his samadhi at Idupulupaya in Kadapa district in the afternoon.

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Dalit MP from Bapatla Nandigam Suresh read out the names of the candidates for the Lok Sabha elections while Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao disclosed the names of candidates for the assembly polls.

The prominent names contesting the Lok Sabha elections include party general secretary V Vijay Sai Reddy from Nellore, former MP Botsa Jhansi Laxmi from Visakhapatnam, Y S Avinash Reddy from Kadapa, P V Mithun Reddy from Rajampet, Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) from Vijayawada and P Anil Kumar Yadav from Narsaraopet.

Among the candidates for 175 assembly constituencies, the YSRCP president dropped as many as 32 sitting MLAs, while reshuffling many of them, shifting some of them to Lok Sabha constituencies and others to adjacent assembly seats.

In 2019 elections, the YSRCP won 151 out of 175 assembly seats and 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats, with a vote share of 49.6%.

Giving an analysis of the candidates and their profiles, a statement from YSRCP said that out of total 200 candidates for state assembly and Lok Sabha seats, as many as 50 candidates are first time contestants.

Among the total number of seats, 84 assembly seats and 16 MP seats have been given to OBC, SC, ST and minority categories. Among the MLA candidates, there are 29 SCs, seven STs, 48 OBCs, seven minorities and 91 OCs. In all, 19 women were given tickets in all these categories.

Among the contestants for 25 Lok Sabha seats, there are four SCs, one ST, 11 OBCs and nine OCs. In all, five women were given the tickets.

The selected candidates include 17 doctors, 15 lawyers, 34 engineers, five teachers, two retired civil servants, one retired defence employee and a journalist.
Six heritage sites in Madhya Pradesh have been included in the tentative UNESCO list. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav congratulated the people of the state for this, he announced on social media. Many important sites of Madhya Pradesh have been included in the tentative list of UNESCO. The sites included in the new list included Gwalior Fort, the Historical Group of Dhamnar, Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Rock Art Sites of Chambal Valley, Khooni Bhandara, Burhanpur, and God Memorial of Ramnagar, Mandla, the chief minister said on X. Madhya Pradesh celebrates a milestone as six of its heritage sites make it to the tentative UNESCO list.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Srivastava said, "In 2010 efforts were started to include the underground water structure Khooni Bhandara in the list of UNESCO's World Heritage. In 2013, a UNESCO team came to see this structure. All the shortcomings pointed out by them were rectified. Now the district administration, municipal corporation administration and Madhya Pradesh government have prepared an action plan to provide facilities here given the possibility of domestic and foreign tourists and researchers visiting the place shortly." (Also read: Metal engraving, a centuries-old tradition, added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list)

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Burhanpur's BJP MLA Archana Chitnis described the inclusion of Burhanpur's historical Khuni Bhandar in the UNESCO World Heritage list as a big achievement. She said that it was conceived in 2006, efforts for it were started in 2010, and a UNESCO team inspected it in 2013.

"When I came to do the same, they told me that there is no approach road here to include Khooni Bhandara in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. To overcome this deficiency, we sanctioned special funds from the government and got the approach road constructed along with the construction of a railway over a bridge which is nearing completion. Now the name of Khooni Bhandara should be included in the permanent list and an action plan is being prepared to provide facilities for potential incoming domestic and foreign tourists and researchers," she added further.
Kareena Kapoor, Tabu and Kriti Sanon stepped out in Mumbai last night to attend the trailer launch of their upcoming film The Crew. While Kareena Kapoor and Kriti Sanon chose black outfits, Tabu complemented them in a bronze-gold two-piece ensemble. Tabu and Kareena exuded elegance with their stylish ensembles, and Kriti set the temperatures soaring in a sexy outfit - dubbed as one of her best sartorial moments by the internet. While Rhea Kapoor styled Kareena and Kriti, Sanam Ratansi styled Tabu. Scroll through to see what Kareena, Tabu and Kriti wore for the affair. Kareena Kapoor, Tabu and Kriti Sanon chose sizzling looks for The Crew trailer launch. (Instagram)

What Kareena Kapoor, Tabu and Kriti Sanon wore to The Crew trailer launch

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Kareena Kapoor opted for a floor-length black gown to attend the trailer launch of Rhea Kapoor's The Crew. The ensemble mixed simple sartorial brilliance and ladylike elegance to serve a perfect evening dress fit for dinner dates with your partner or a night out with your girlfriends. The dress features a turtle neckline, a cowl design on the bodice, a cut-out on the shoulder, full-length sleeves, a figure-hugging silhouette highlighting her curves, and a floor-grazing hem length. Lastly, she chose diamond rings, peep-toe bronze pumps, statement earrings, subtle smoky eye shadow, winged eyeliner, mascara on the lashes, feathered brows, centre-parted loose locks, rouge on the cheeks, and nude pink lip shade to beautify the outfit.

Kriti Sanon complemented Kareena in a sizzling black attire featuring a bralette, a stylish skirt, and a cropped jacket. While the bikini top features halter spaghetti straps, a plunging neckline, criss-cross ties across her toned abs, a backless design, and a fitted bust, the bodycon skirt has a high-rise waistline, gathered design with a ribbon tie, a slit on the hem, and a floor-sweeping length. She completed the look with a cropped notch-lapel blazer, a simple gold ring, black pumps, a centre-parted messy bun, smoky eye shadow, smudged kohl on the undereye waterline, darkened brows, rose pink lips and blushed cheeks.

Meanwhile, Tabu slipped into a two-piece ensemble for The Crew trailer launch. She wore a bronze gold cropped jacket featuring folded full-length sleeves, notch lapel wide collars, front button closures, and an asymmetric silhouette. Matching bronze gold dhoti pants with cropped hem completed the ensemble. Lastly, Tabu chose centre-parted long silky tresses, gold earrings, chunky bracelets, statement rings, high-heeled pumps, winged eyeliner, nude lip shade, and subtle eye shadow that rounded it all off.
Holi 2024: The vibrant festival of Holi is just around the corner and we can't wait to celebrate the festival of colours. It is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which usually falls in February or March. This year it will be celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm across India on Monday, March 25. This colourful festival is essentially an opportunity to spread joy, delight and happiness and to welcome the arrival of spring. Holi is a celebration of joy, love and human unity, as well as the triumph of good over evil, symbolised by the vibrant hues of coloured powders and water. Explore how the festival of colours is joyously celebrated across different regions of India.(REUTERS)

India is a multicultural country and the many states have their own traditions for celebrating Holi. The following is a list of some of the ways in which different regions of the country celebrate the festival of colours. (Also read: Holi 2024: Is the Hindu festival on March 24 or March 25? Know correct date, significance, timing, history and more )

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How Holi is celebrated in different parts of India

1. Lathmar Holi in Uttar Pradesh

In northern India, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, Holi is a highly observed festival. People dance, sing and throw coloured powder at each other as they gather around bonfires. The festival symbolises the victory of good over evil and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

2. Meduru Holi in Andhra Pradesh

In the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, Holi is celebrated as 'Meduru Holi'. People take part in processions in which coloured powder is thrown at each other, along with traditional music and dance. Another notable custom is the singing of devotional hymns to Lord Krishna.

3. Kumaoni Holi in Uttarakhand

Kumaoni Holi is celebrated in a number of places in the Uttarakhand region around Kumaon. This festival, which is more of a musical affair than a colour-themed celebration as in other states, heralds the start of the sowing season for the farming community. They light the Holika pyre, often called 'cheer', a blaze with a green paiya branch in the centre.

4. Rang Panchami in Maharashtra

In the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Holi is celebrated as 'Rang Panchami'. On this day, people play with coloured powders, sing and dance to the rhythm of dhols, while indulging in traditional sweets and savoury foods. Several parts of the state also witness the special custom of people singing and playing musical instruments on the streets.

5. Manjal Kuli in Kerala

People visit temples and celebrate with folk songs and watercolours during this peaceful festival celebrated by the Konkani and Kudumbi communities. These colours are made with turmeric.

6. Royal Holi in Udaipur

As the name suggests, Udaipur throws a fantastic Holi celebration. In the city that used to be under their control, the Mewar royal family continues to observe the traditional celebrations of the dynasty. On the eve of Holi, the current administrator lights a bonfire and destroys the effigy of Holika. This is followed by a magnificent horse procession with the royal band. It's truly a spectacle!

7. Basant Utsav and Dol Jatra in Bengal

In Bengal, Basant Utsav is, as the name suggests, a celebration of the arrival of spring. A spectacular event is planned in Shantiniketan. A part of the main Holi celebrations is the Dol Jatra. Idols of Radha and Krishna are paraded through the streets of Purnima. Men sprinkle water and colours during the parade to add to the joy.
Tunics were at the back. Once you had worked through the immense Butterick pattern catalogue, past pages of pastel A-line dresses or tight-skirted suits, suddenly the look changed. It became rectangular, plain, sleek and very short, and if you were a teenager in the early 1960s that was what you wanted. Your parents would never buy such clothes for you, but if you were determined you would make them yourself. Out on the lounge floor, youd spread the fabric, a shock of scarlet, orange or electric blue, and in a few days you, too, would be wearing Mary Quant.

Wearing it, over a polo-neck and contrasting tights (oh, the joy of losing that fiddly suspender belt!), made you feel different. You were not a version of your mother any more. You were modern. Even more so when you plastered down your hair with spray, framed your eyes with kohl and piled on the mascara. High boots, if you had them, perfected the look. Now you could stride.

At the start of her career Mary Quant, too, spent hours on her bedsit floor pinning and cutting. She worked at night to restock her first shop, Bazaar, in the Kings Road in Chelsea, with a bouillabaisse of racy clothes. By evening the rails would be almost stripped, and she would rush to Harrods to get fabrics for the next day. Out of mens suitings, in tweed or grey flannel, she would make pinafores; striped shirting was cut into dresses. She ran up culottes, knickerbockers and lounge pyjamas, and had fun with foot-wide waistbands, broad stripes and huge polka dots. Her best-seller was a white plastic Peter Pan collar, to add demure little-girlishness to each eye-smacking ensemble.

She also sold mini-skirts. They went like wildfire, getting ever shorter because her leggy Chelsea customers demanded it. She designed them long before Andre Courreges, in his Paris show in 1964, made them respectable. They were not respectable with her. Wickedly, they teased men, as did her long cardigans worn as very short dresses, and in 1966 her crutch-hugging mini pants. Appalled City types in bowler hats would pass Bazaar, with its open door blaring out jazz and its window of cavorting mannequins, and cry Disgusting!, beating their umbrellas on the glass.

Inside, though, dowagers competed with middle-class girls to buy Quant by the armful, and the haut monde of the dayTony Armstrong-Jones, David Bailey, Jean Shrimpton, Brigitte Bardot, the odd Beatle or Rolling Stonewould drop into the running cocktail party. She was her own best advertisement, gamine and frisky, especially when Vidal Sassoon, the hairdresser of the moment, snipped her hair into a bob, and when Terence Donovan, the hot photographer, snapped her (as here). She and her equally mould-breaking business partner-husband, Alexander Plunket Greene, loved to hear people sneer God! Modern Youth!. Swinging London was their new world, and they were dressing it.

This was also serious stuff, for her. She was shy and always had been, but through clothes, she could express herself. Already, at six, she was making her own dresses out of bedspreads. At school, she recast her uniform. The Quant look came from a tap dancer at her childhood ballet class who wore a long black jumper, black tights, white socks and no skirt to speak of; she liked skinny, lively monochrome ever after. At Goldsmiths College she decided to ignore what was happening in Paris, creating clothes solely for herself and her friends. In pursuit of fashion, she was constantly looking for the next, best, thing: a colour or fabric that had been forgotten, a shirt that could be tied like a scarf, a natural pattern she could blow up large. As she walked she might pick up a conker, leaves, a brass hook, bits of ribbon and mesh from factory floors. Even a rubber doorstop would set her mind to working.

Fashion also gave her a living, surprisingly enough. Her parents, Welsh schoolteachers who had moved to London, thought the business dicey and dodgy. Neither she nor Alexander had much idea about money, and it was only his aristocratic income that enabled them to set up Bazaar in 1955 with the help of another useful friend, ex-lawyer Archie McNair. But in ten days the original stock had sold out, and in the first week, the shop made 500. Two more London outlets came quickly and, in 1962, a deal with J.C. Penney to link up with 1,765 stores in America. By 1963 the Quant brand was global, with revenues of 14m; in 2000 her make-up arm was bought out by a Japanese company, in a country where her look was also adored. Sensibly, she went early into mass production and discounting. Money talk embarrassed her, but she and Alexanderwith no furniture except a bed and deckchairs when they married in 1957certainly rose fast in the world.

That love affair too had been made by fashion, when Alexander wandered into classes at Goldsmiths in his mothers gold silk pyjamas. For both of them, eccentric dressing was a powerful tool for getting through life. It could be a disguise, and her range of cosmetics, with colours as vivid as her clothes, were really pots of theatrical paint made tiny for a handbag. Or it could be a bold announcement of things to come. When she set up Bazaar in a grey Britain not long out of rationing, a place of bomb sites and pea-souper fogs, her shop immediately looked alive, with music and colours that sang of the world to be. Fashion changed first.

It also changed women, once the new look took hold. Not just because they could playfully imitate men, by borrowing mens tailoring and their cardigans, but mostly because mini-dresses freed them to move. She designed them, she said, to be alive. More important still, high hemlines, paired with opaque tights, let girls run for the bus in order to get to work. You could never run for the bus in a Dior dress. In Quant, women felt they could leave the house and dare a different life.

When people credited her with that revolution, though, she objected. Times were coming to a boil and she just happened to be there, giving women more of what they already wanted. Her customers were the real revolutionaries; they, and the teenage girls who cut and stitched her designs on sitting-room floors across the land, kohl-rimmed eyes gleaming, eager to stride outside.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Elon Musk-led SpaceX is building hundreds of spy satellites under a classified with the US's National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, Reuters reported. Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has been accused of influencing the results of 2022 US midterm election.(REUTERS)

The spy satellites are being built by SpaceX's Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract that was signed between the space tech giant and the NRO in 2021.



ALSO READ: Another failure? SpaceX loses contact with Starship on reentry over Indian Ocean

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As per the report, the project highlights the extent of SpaceX's involvement in US intelligence and military projects. It also shows a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low Earth orbiting satellite systems that are aimed at supporting ground forces.

The programme if successful, will significantly advance the ability of the US military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe. It also signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner clashed with the Biden administration and triggered controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Russia-Ukraine war.



ALSO READ: SpaceX launches Super Heavy-Starship rocket after last two blew up; Watch



Earlier in February, The Wall Street Journal had reported about a classified $1.8 billion Starshield contract with an unknown intelligence agency. No details about this programme were reported.



As per the Reuters report, the SpaceX contract is for a new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits, and that the spy agency that Musk's company is working with is the NRO.

It is not known when the new network of satellites would come online and could not establish what other companies are part of the programme with their own contracts.



ALSO READ: SpaceX launch taking crew to International Space Station delayed by weather

SpaceX, the world's largest satellite operator, did not respond to several Reuters requests for comment about the contract, its role in it and details on satellite launches. The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the NRO and SpaceX.

"The National Reconnaissance Office is developing the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen," an NRO spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying.
The Delhi High Court has cancelled the Dolma trademark adopted by an Uttar Pradesh resident after Dolma Tsering, the owner of South Delhis popular Dolma Aunty Momos, filed a plea against it. For the unversed, Dolma Aunty Momos is a food stall started in 1994 and gained popularity over time. Justice Anish Dayal ordered that the Dolma trademark, be cancelled and removed from the Trade Marks Register.

The petition was filed before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) in 2021. However, after the abolition of the board, it was transferred to Delhi High Court. Justice Anish Dayal ordered that the Dolma trademark, which was the subject of the dispute, be cancelled and removed from the Trade Marks Register.

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She alleged that Uttar Pradesh resident Mohd Akram Khan adopted her previously used trademark. She also added that the trademark is identical and uses her name Dolma. (Also Read: Delhi HC imposes 1 lakh costs on man who claimed to inherit western UP, Delhi)

Tsering sought the cancellation of trademark registration under several sections of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. She also provided the court with newspaper articles and pictures of her momo stall.

The court noted that Khan did not reply to the petition, so Tsering's claims of non-use remained unrebutted. Thus, it accepted Tsering's claims and issued an order for Khan's Dolma trademark to be withdrawn from the Trade Marks Register. (Also Read: Goa's Mapusa bans the sale of gobi manchurian from street stalls. Here's why)

Justice Anish Dayal, in his order earlier this month, said, "In view of the above facts and circumstances and having perused the documents placed on record as well as hearing submissions of counsel for the petitioner, this court is of the view that the trademark of respondent No.1 be cancelled and removed from the Trade Marks Register same should accordingly be rectified. Respondent No. 1's registered trademark be removed and cancelled in the above terms. The Register be rectified accordingly, and the website of the Registrar of Trade Marks be updated within a period of four weeks."
A group of psychology students from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies conducted a study on the body language of Orhan Awatramani, famously known as Orry. Their research presentation was shared on Instagram by the handle @orryunseen, a fan page dedicated to the social media personality. The study has become a hit among netizens and has impressed many. Snapshot of the presentation created by the students. (Instagram/@orryunseen,)

"@nmims.navimumbai psychology students made a presentation on Orry to teach celebrity body language!" wrote the Instagram handle @orryunseen in the caption of the post. (Also Read: Orry reveals getting paid 15-30 lakh to attend weddings: 'These appearances are currently my primary source of income')

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The first slide of the presentation gives a basic background of Orry. The presentation then delves deeper into an analysis of Orry's body movement, hand gestures, eye contact, facial emotions, touch, distance, and tone. At the end of the post, you can even see one of the students explaining the study to her class.

Watch the video of the student's class presentation here:

This post was shared two days ago. Since being posted, it has gained more than 1,000 likes and the numbers are still increasing. The post also has also received numerous comments. (Also Read: Ranveer Singh mocks Orry in funny new video: 'I still don't know what he does but if he touches you...')

How did Instagram users react to it?

An individual wrote, "Living the dream? More like living the meme."

A second shared, "Okay, no, but why is this so cool."

"We finally know what Orry does," commented a third.

A few others reacted to the post by using heart emoticons.

Earlier, a video of Orry dancing with Radhika Merchant went viral on social media. He posted the video on Instagram with the caption, "Rhythm and Radhika Merchant."

In the video, Radhika Merchant is seen wearing a golden gown and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. On the other hand, Orry has his hair tied in a stylish bun and is wearing a colourful coat suit. As they perform Garba, several other people can be seen dancing with dandiya sticks on a stage behind them.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revealed that he thought about quitting his crazy job every day but insisted he would stay in office until the next election, reported news agency Reuters. Federal election is due to be held by October 2025 in Canada and recent surveys claim diminishing support for Justin Trudeau. Surveys of public opinion show the Liberals would be defeated by the right-of-centre Conservatives. Justin Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister(Bloomberg)

"I could not be the man I am and abandon the fight at this point," Justin Trudeau told French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada in an interview on Friday.

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When asked whether he thought about quitting, Trudeau laughed and replied: "I think about quitting every day. It's a crazy job I'm doing, making personal sacrifices. During the interview, the Prime Minister also claimed that democracies around the world were under attack.

"Of course, it's super tough, it's super not great at times. But my God, the path we're on is so precarious, democracies are under such attack around the world," said Trudeau.

ALSO READ| Cop senses foul play in Indian-origin family's death in Canada: This fire was not accidental

Canada is facing issues like the housing crisis and a surge in criminal incidents. Conservatives have promised to deal with the government's budget deficit.

Trudeau is also under criticism over the government's carbon tax policy. The carbon tax is due to go up again on April 1 and Trudeau has reiterated the government would not heed calls from some provincial premiers to freeze the increase.

"I entered politics not to be popular, not for personal reasons, (but) because I want to serve and I know I have something to offer," said Trudeau.

In personal life as well, Trudeau has suffered setback.In 2023, Trudeau and his wife Sophie announced separation after 18 years of marriage. The couple got married in May 2005. They have three children, 14-year-old, Ella-Grace, Xavier, 15, and nine-year-old Hadrien.
Toronto: Devotees in Canadas smallest province are celebrating the opening of the first Hindu temple there. The Hindu Temple of Prince Edward Island (PEI) opened this month and has been thronged by members of the community since, evidencing the demand for such a house of worship in a province with the population of just 180,000. Devotees at the opening of the first Hindu temple in Prince Edward Island, Canada. (Credit: Hindu Society of PEI)

It was really incredible. There was a gap, obviously, said Krishna Thakur, an academic from the United of Prince Edward Island, who is also president of the Hindu Society of PEI.

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The temple opened in a rented space in the town of Cornwall, which is part of the capital region. Thakur said devotees come to the temple from the capital Charlottetown as well as neighbouring Stratford, other than residents of Cornwall.

Thakur, who is originally from Janakpur in Nepal, estimated the Hindu population of PEI at approximately at about 1,800. He said nearly 600 people visited the temple on opening day. He said the Hindu population had grown significantly in recent years with an influx of students to the University of PEI, with other newcomers including fresh permanent residents and professionals.

The Societys secretary Neethin Rao, who is from Kerala, said the temple has been well received within the province with the opening being attended by the mayors of Charlottetown and Cornwall, the local MP as well as members of the legislative assembly.

The temple has no full-time priest, and the rites for its inauguration, on Mahashivratri, were performed by members of the Society, with some of the rituals learnt from online tutorials. That it resulted from a community effort was underlined by Rao, who said not only were there donations that enabled renting the space but food for prasad and bhog were donated by Indo-Canadian restaurants of the region.

The temple is open for two hours in the evening, Thakur said, and thats because it is entirely dependent on volunteers.

Rao said the objective is to acquire land and build a permanent mandir in the future. Everybody is interested in that and they will definitely help us, he said.

For now, Thakur said, the community is elated to have its own space to worship, after never having had that facility in the province before. To give it broad appeal, there are various deities at the temple. We tried to make it as inclusive and representative as possible, Thakur said.
NEW DELHI  The Indian navy said late Saturday that it had taken control of a bulk carrier hijacked by Somali pirates and evacuated the 17 crew members on the vessel. HT Image

In a statement on X, the navy said all 35 pirates on board the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen had surrendered and the vessel was checked for illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. The whole operation took about 40 hours and involved drones, navy vessels and marine commandos.

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The development came after men on the bulk carrier fired at an Indian warship in international waters Friday, triggering the navy to intercept the vessel some 2,600 kilometers off the Indian coast.

The vessel was first boarded by pirates Dec. 14 near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometers off Somalia.

Activity from Somali pirates has dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the political uncertainty and wider chaos in the region that has included attacks on ships by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Earlier this week, a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship with 23 crew members was hijacked by pirates off Somalia. A European Union vessel was tracking the ship, the EU's maritime security force said Wednesday.

India recently began to flex its its naval power in international waters, including anti-piracy patrols and a widely publicized deployment close to the Red Sea to help protect ships from attacks during Israels war with Hamas.

The navy has helped at least four merchant vessels that were attacked in high seas by Houthi forces. Indian forces include three guided missile destroyers and reconnaissance aircraft.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
An Islamabad district and sessions court on Saturday dismissed a Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20 billion defamation case filed against former Prime Minister Imran Khan by former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry after nearly 10 years, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan (REUTERS)

In July 2014, Iftikhar Chaudhry sent a defamation notice worth PKR 20 billion to Imran Khan for accusing him of rigging in the general election held in 2013. After the notice, Chaudhry's legal team warned of initiating legal proceedings if Imran Khan did not issue an apology for his statements.

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Chaudhry formally registered a case in January 2015. In the lawsuit, the former Chief Justice of Pakistan accused Imran Khan of using derogatory remarks against him in a statement published on June 27, 2014, and had levelled baseless allegations against the judiciary.

ALSO READ| Authorities ban visitors for jailed Pak ex-PM Imran Khan for 2 weeks citing possible attack

After the lengthy proceedings, the court announced the decision in Imran Khan's favour and dismissed the lawsuit filed by Chaudhry and called the defamation notice time-barred, according to The Express Tribune report.

In her ruling, Additional District Session Judge Haseena Saqlain stated, "As per the plaint, the last alleged defamatory statement was made on 27.06.2014, and the suit has been filed on 20.01.2015, that is after lapse of almost six months and 24 days."

"The argument of the plaintiff is that the suit has been filed within six months of the purported notice issued on 24.07.2014, hence, is filed within time," the ruling read, according to The Express Tribune.

The judgement highlighted the importance of including the date of knowledge of publication of defamatory material in the plaint. It stated, "Including the date of knowledge of publication of defamatory material in the plaint is crucial because it plays a significant role in determining whether the suit is within the statutory limitation period."

ALSO READ| Pakistan Presidential polls: Imran Khan's party dubs election as null and void

The court also mentioned that the plantiff under the Defamation Ordinance 2022 needs to file the lawsuit within six months from the date of knowledge of the publication of defamatory material and failure to do so would render the suit time-barred, as per Section 12 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002, according to The Express Tribune.

"The presumption is now that the plaintiff was aware of the alleged defamatory remarks on the date of publication. Consequently, the filing the instant suit beyond the limitation period stipulated under Section 12 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002 is not permissible as the same has been filed after more than six months and 24 days of alleged defamatory statements published," the court ruled.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder is presently incarcerated at Adiala Jail. He has been facing a number of legal challenges since his ouster in April 2022 through a no-confidence motion.

Meanwhile, PTI-affiliated candidates dominated elections held in Pakistan on February 8.
Toronto: A pro-India group faced off against pro-Khalistan elements in the city of Calgary in Alberta on Saturday as the latter gathered to protest in front of a venue for a community event welcoming Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma. Danielle Smith (centre), Premier of the province of Alberta with Indias High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma (left) and Indias Consul-General in Vancouver Manish, during their meeting in Edmonton last week. (Supplied photo)

Approximately two dozen Indo-Canadians gathered across the street from the pro-Khalistan protesters, some of whom held weapons, including at least one seen to be holding a sword up. Local police kept vigil and prevented the two opposing groups from clashing.

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The protest was the latest as pro-Khalistani groups have staged similar demonstrations at venue hosting Verma in Surrey on March 1 and Edmonton on March 11.

Given the threat perception, the hosts had already cancelled a scheduled community event in Calgary on Friday but a lunch for the High Commissioner was organised at another location on Saturday afternoon.

The protests have dogged Verma who has travelled to Western Canada for the first time Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in the House of Commons on September 18 there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, three months earlier. A call to target Verma at these events was given by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for which Nijjar was the principal organiser in BC.

However, Vermas safety has been assured by Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry, and he has been escorted by officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), responsible for diplomatic security, with local law enforcement detachments keeping the pro-Khalistan protesters from approaching him and entering the venues hosting him.

Verma described the engagements in the two provinces as successful, as he was hosted at the legislature building in Victoria, capital of BC, and held a meeting with the Surrey Board of Trade in that town. He also met with the Premier of the territory of Yukon while in Vancouver. In Alberta, he met with the provinces Premier Danielle Smith in the capital Edmonton and also attended an event hosted by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce in that city and also held several meetings in Calgary.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was queueing to cast her ballot at the Russian embassy in Berlin on Sunday, an AFP journalist witnessed. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexey Navalny, stands in a queue with people protesting in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin,(AP)

Wearing a black jacket, Navalnaya received flowers from supporters and chatted with fellow voters in the long queue outside the embassy in the German capital.

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Navalnaya had called on Russians to stage an election day protest against President Vladimir Putin by forming long queues outside voting stations.

Among voters who joined the snaking line in Berlin was Maria Katkova, 33, who told AFP that she was there "because I don't want my vote to be stolen".

"I want to be together with all these people here and feel like I'm not alone," said Katkova, who had been in the queue for two hours.

Stanislav Vliasov, 33, a risk manager, said that he had come to vote because "it's a good possibility to show a picture to all people around the world, to people in Russia... that people are against this situation... against the politics in Russia.

"People know there is a lot to do after today, the world has a lot to do to fight Putin's regime," he added.
Russia started its final day of presidential voting on Sunday with Moscow accusing Ukraine of using air attacks to try to sabotage the election that is expected to keep President Vladimir Putin in power for another six years. A man votes in Russia's presidential election at a polling station in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict on March 16, 2024.(AFP)

More than half of Russian voters have already gone to the polls in the first two days of the three-day-election, according to officials. The final day will test the strength of the country's opposition, which called for all its supporters to vote at the same time at noon, in an action dubbed "Noon Against Putin."

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Sporadic protests have already marked the election but the latest developments in the war with Ukraine have cast a greater shadow on the vote so far. On Friday, Putin accused Kyiv of trying to disrupt the election with its intensified drone and missile attacks inside Russia and on Moscow-held territory in Ukraine. He also vowed to punish Ukraine.

Also Read | Russia elections: Ballot boxes vandalised as presidential vote commences

Local Russian officials said early Sunday that Kyiv's forces continued their strikes on Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did not address the reported attacks in his nightly video address on Saturday, but he thanked his military forces and intelligence for the new Ukrainian long-range capabilities.

Members of a local electoral commission sit next to an information billboard showing the candidates in Russia's presidential election at a polling station in Sergiyev Posad, some 75 kilometres (47 miles) north-east from Moscow, on March 16, 2024.(AFP)

Kyiv regards the election taking place in parts of its territory controlled by Russia as illegal and void. Military analysts see the daily pounding by Kyiv that chiefly targets energy and other key infrastructure as an attempt to shake Russians' feeling of stability and undermine Moscow's war effort.

'NOON AGAINST PUTIN'

The Ukraine war has been the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. None of the other three candidates on the ballot presents any credible challenge to Putin, 71, who dominates Russia's political landscape.

But the supporters of Putin's most prominent foe, the late Alexei Navalny, who died suddenly in an Arctic penal colony in February, called on people across Russia turn out to vote all at the same time at noon on Sunday in each of the country's 11 time zones.

The "Noon Against Putin" action, endorsed by Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya, is presented as a way for people to express opposition without the risk of arrest because they will be queuing up to vote legally. The Kremlin has warned people against taking part in unauthorised gatherings.

"Today we want to say to all of us - noon is the very beginning," the "Noon Against Putin" initiative wrote on their Telegram early Sunday.

"Yes, some of us are scared. Yes, the choice is not easy. But we are the people. And we will cope with both the choice and the responsibility."

More than 114 million Russians are eligible to vote, including in what Moscow calls its "new territories" - four regions of Ukraine that its forces only partly control, but which it has claimed as part of Russia.

The Russian Central Election Committee said that more than 63 million voters had already gone to the polls by Saturday evening.
Ukraine launched a new wave of attacks inside Russian territory Sunday, killing at least two people, including a teenager, according to local officials, as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule for another six years. A house burns in the aftermath of shelling, of what local authorities called a Ukrainian missile attack, in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Belgorod, Russia. (Reuters)

Authorities also said that a drone fell on a refinery in the Krasnodar region, sparking a blaze that was extinguished a few hours later. A worker at the refinery died of a heart attack, officials said.

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Refineries and oil terminals have been targets of Ukrainian drone attacks in recent days, according to Russian officials, part of stepped up assaults on Russian territory, including long-range drone attacks and alleged incursions by Ukraine-based Russian proxies, as Putin heads for near-certain reelection in Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that a fifth drone, close to the capitals Domodedovo airport, was downed on Sunday morning. No casualties or damage were reported.

According to the Defense Ministry, two drones were shot down over the Kaluga region, just south of the Russian capital, and four in the Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow.

The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is located about 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were some of the farthest launched by Ukraine so far.

More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions that border Ukraine, and the southern Krasnodar region, the Defense Ministry said.

Shelling of Belgorod on Sunday morning killed a 16-year-old girl and wounded her father, while a second assault later in the day killed another man and wounded 11 others, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Elsewhere, a drone strike at a military installation in Moldovas breakaway republic of Transnistria on Sunday destroyed a helicopter and ignited a fire, officials said. The areas pro-Russia authorities blamed the strike on Ukraine. The Bureau for Reintegration Policies said in a statement that they didn't confirm any attack on Transnistria, and described the reports as an "attempt to cause fear and panic in the region.

There have been a series of Ukrainian drone raids over the past few days that Putin described as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten residents and derail Russia's presidential election.

Those enemy strikes havent been and wont be left unpunished, he vowed during Friday's meeting of Russia's Security Council. Im sure that our people, the people of Russia, will respond to that with even greater cohesion."

Two Russian ballistic missiles hit the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Sunday, wounding at least five people, the regions Gov. Vitaliy Kim wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The Ukrainian military also said that 14 Russian drones had been shot down over the Odesa region Sunday, following a Russian ballistic missile assault on the southern port city Friday that killed at least 21 people.

Britains defense ministry said Sunday that the countrys defense secretary, Grant Shapps, abandoned a trip to Odesa earlier this month because of a Russian missile threat. The Sunday Times reported that Shapps, who visited Kyiv on March 7, had been warned by British intelligence that Russia had become aware of his travel plans.

As the war drags into a third year, Russian forces have made some slow and incremental gains along the front line, relying on their edge in firepower, while Ukraine has fought back with more drone attacks deep inside Russia.

There has also been an increasing number of cross-border raids.

The Freedom of Russia Legion  one of a number of armed groups that includes Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces  said Sunday that it had taken control of the Russian border village of Gorkovskiy in the Belgorod region. A video released on social media appeared to show troops removing the Russian flag from the villages main administration building. The images weren't independently verified by The Associated Press.

A similar group, the Russian Volunteer Corps, released a video on social media Saturday alleging to have captured 25 Russian soldiers. The claim also couldnt be independently verified.

Meanwhile, the Russian military said on Saturday that it had thwarted another attempted cross-border incursion by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

Cross-border attacks in the area have taken place sporadically since the war began and have been the subject of claims and counterclaims, as well as disinformation and propaganda.
California lawmakers recently introduced a bill to ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Doritos, and Mountain Dew in public schools, alleging adverse health effects on students. The measure seeks to get rid of child-focused foods that contain artificial ingredients such as red 40, blue 1, and titanium dioxide. California lawmakers recently introduced a bill to ban snacks in schools.(Unsplash)

Cheetos and Doritos contain colorings red 40, yellow 5, and yellow 6, which are likely to be banned if the bill is approved. Cereals such as Fruity Pebbles and Froot Loops are made up using these yellow and red dyes, as well as blue 1.

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According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, some soups and cheese brands contain titanium dioxide.

The science is complicated but the purpose of the bill is not. This is about protecting our students from chemicals that have been proven to harm children and interfere with their ability to learn, stated Jesse Gabriel, the author of the bill and state Assembly member, at a press conference.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Gabriel announced the bill and said these chemicals are linked to serious health concerns including DNA damage, cancer, hyperactivity, and neurobehavioral issues from food served to students.

Also Read: World's most expensive Michelin meal to be served in space balloon, here's how much it would cost

All you need to know about the bill

Under current California legislation, the state's education department must follow nutritional criteria while providing meals on campus. All kids in the state, from kindergarten to 12th grade, are eligible for free lunch and breakfast.

According to the current standards, items served to students must contain fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, or whole grains. The guidelines also establish requirements for calories, carbohydrates, and fats in certain items.

Gabriel stated that the matter was "personal to him" because he and his children are battling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHS).

However, the schools would be allowed to sell foods containing synthetic dyes at off-campus events or half-an-hour after the conclusion of the school day .

Also Read: Would you pay $25 for just a cheeseburger meal? X users say a visit to Five Guys may cost you a month's rent

In 2012, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study and found that red 3 causes cancer in animals, and that red 40, yellow 5, and yellow 6 are tainted with carcinogens such as benzidine, which may increase the risk of developing cancer.

The NIH suggested removing these dyes as they do not improve the nutritional value of foods. The FDA also does not permit the use of a color additive that has been known to cause cancer in humans or animals.

California bill slammed for lacking facts and science

The National Confectioners Association, which represents confectionery firms such as Mars, Haribo, and Hershey, criticised the bill as part of a "sensationalistic agenda that is not based on facts and science."

"These activists are dismantling our national food safety system state by state in an emotionally-driven campaign that lacks scientific backing, the NCA said in a statement.

The bill is anticipated to be debated by the Assembly Education Committee in the coming weeks.
Donald Trump has warned that there will be a bloodbath if he loses in November. While campaigning for Senate candidate Bernie Moreno in Ohio, the former president said that he, and not Joe Biden, will protect Social Security. Donald Trump warned of a bloodbath if he is not elected, Joe Biden slammed his thirst for revenge (Photo by TANNEN MAURY and Brendan Smialowski / AFP)(AFP)

Speaking outside of Dayton on Saturday, March 16, Trump praised his chosen candidate in the race as an America first champion and political outsider who has spent his entire life building up Ohio communities. Hes going to be a warrior in Washington, Trump said.

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If I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath

In Tuesdays primary, Moreno faces Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan in Tuesdays GOP primary. Saturdays rally was held by Buckeye Values PAC, a group that backs Morenos candidacy.

Using the stage, Trump said, If I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath ... Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. He later added that If this election isnt won, Im not sure that youll ever have another election in this country.

At the rally, Moreno also praised Trump as a great American and slammed people in his party who were critical of him. I am so sick and tired of Republicans that say, I support President Trumps policies but I dont like the man, Moreno said, joining the former president on stage.

Joe Bidens response

After videos of Trumps bloodbath statement went viral on social media, Biden's campaign released a statement, calling him a loser at the ballot box in 2020 who then "doubles down on his threats of political violence."

"He wants another January 6 but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge," the campaign said in part, referring to the 2021 capitol attack.
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Meta, is reportedly under federal scrutiny in the United States. Authorities are investigating potential drug dealing on Facebook, with Virginia prosecutors actively examining allegations that Meta facilitated illegal drug sales online, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Facebook said people used its services because it delivered value for them and "they have meaningful control of what information they share on Meta's platforms and who with."(Reuters)

Meta's potential involvement in Illegal drug sales

According to a report published Sunday, citing sources familiar with the investigation and obtained documents, prosecutors issued subpoenas last year. These court orders require individuals involved in the investigation to appear before a grand jury. The prosecutors have since been asking questions as part of a criminal probe. Further, the report cites prosecutors who have also requested records related to "violative drug content on Metas platforms and/or the illicit sale of drugs via Metas platforms," according to the subpoenas.

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Also read: Bruno Mars' shocking $50 million gambling debt report sparks wild fan jokes: 'He is high on'

Why is the US investigating Facebook?

The WSJ report alleges that telehealth companies took advantage of COVID-19 restrictions and limited access to healthcare. These companies allegedly ran advertisements for various drugs and medications, including those for anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and even offered to sell them directly. Unfortunately, these ads have contributed to the abuse of controlled substances like Adderall and other illegal drugs. The outlet interviewed various patients and employees associated with the matter and later cited their interviews in the report.

How have things worsened for Facebook?

Unapproved medications? That's the root of the chaos Meta is facing right now. Vendors have been advertising fake versions of popular weight-loss drugs and selling them without FDA approval. Even though Meta has scrubbed some flagged ads, they keep popping back up like stubborn weeds, as reported by the outlet.

Also read: 'It's not suicide': Boeing whistleblower's last words were grim warning before being found dead

FDA takes part in the investigation involving Meta

According to the report, prosecutors are also asking for information about drug content or illegal drug sales through Meta's platforms, and the FDA is aiding in the investigation.

The sale of illicit drugs is against our policies and we work to find and remove this content from our services a Meta spokesperson told WSJ.

Meta proactively cooperates with law enforcement authorities to help combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs, he added.
Gypsy Rose Blanchards parole officer reportedly recently said that he is concerned the influencer might land back in jail due to her social media activities. Blanchard, a convicted felon, served eight years behind bars for the murder of her abusive mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Gypsy Rose Blanchard has deleted her social media accounts to avoid going "back to jail" (Photo by Jamie McCarthy / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

A source has now told PEOPLE that Blanchard deleted her social media accounts at the advisement of her parole officer, so she wont get in trouble and go back to jail.

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Why did Gypsy Rose Blanchard delete her social media accounts with millions of followers?

Blanchard deleted her public Instagram account which boasted 7.8 million followers, and instead set up a private account with very few followers. She later explained the reason in a series of videos on TikTok, which were later deleted.

I do my best to live my authentic life and whats real to me, and whats not real is social media, she explained. Social media is literally a doorway to hell. Its so crazy. I cant even wrap my head around what social media is.

She said after a chat with her father, Rod Blanchard, she realised real life is something you can touch, something you can feel. People you can actually hug. And with the public scrutiny as bad as it is, I just dont want to live my life under a microscope, Blanchard added.

So, I created my private Instagram. And I got it verified. And I had no trouble or doubts of deleting that public one, she said. She later deleted her TikTok account too.

Blanchard started garnering followers ever since her release from prison. Her court case even turned into a hit Hulu series, Mommy Dead and Dearest, which was widely watched. She also gained popularity after the release of a Lifetime documentary, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
As the presidential election draws near, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump trading barbs at each other, the incumbent President delivered some sharp quips about his Republican adversary during an annual media dinner hosted on Saturday at the Gridiron Club in Washington. Joe Biden delivered his first speech as president at the annual white tie gala.(AP/Representative)

The 81-year-old president not just mocked himself but also targeted Trump's age and mental fitness, saying, "One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other guys me."

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The dinner tradition, which goes back to the 19th century, is a white-tie affair that witnesses a mega gathering of government officials, media, and business to enjoy musical skits performed by journalists and some standups by politicians like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Utah Governor Spencer Cox.

The dinner hosted nearly 650 guests, including Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach of Ireland, Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of Estonia, Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and Washington Post owner, Vice President Kamala Harris and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.

Also Read: Donald Trump warns of bloodbath if he is not elected, Joe Biden blasts his thirst for revenge

Key highlights from Biden's speech: Democracy and freedom are literally under attack

Delivering his first speech as president at the annual white tie gala, Biden lashed out at the Republicans in Congress who initiated an impeachment investigation, saying they would "rather fail at impeachment than succeed at anything else".

He blasted Trump for asking a prominent medical expert if those infected withCOVID-19could be injected with disinfectant to treat them. Biden stated that his government restored the US economy after the coronavirus outbreak "without encouraging the American people to inject bleach".

The POTUS further talked about the Ukraine war and slammed Trump for bowing down to him. Look, I wish these were jokes, but theyre not Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putins on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says, Do whatever the hell you want," he said.

The US President claimed that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who sat at the head table with Biden on the eve of St. Patrick's Day, "took one look at Congress and asked for another Guinness."

Also Read: St. Patricks Day Parade 2024: What to expect across the US on March 17

Recognising the presence of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a prominent critic of Russia, at his table, Biden asserted, "We will not bow down, they will not bow down, and I will not bow down."

Recalling the mayhem during the Capitol riot and Trump's bogus claims about 2020 "rigged" election, Biden said that those incidents demonstrated that "poison was coursing through the veins of our democracy."

The POTUS further underscored the significance of the press, saying it is not "the enemy of the people," in sharp contrast to Trump's earlier remarks against the news media.

A general election rematch between Trump and Biden is expected to be extremely close. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week placed the two candidates in a statistical tie among registered voters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday slammed the United States calls for new elections in Israel amid its ongoing war against terrorist organisation Hamas, which killed at least 1,200 Israelis in an unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023. Appearing in an interview with CNN on Sunday, Netanyahu called Schumer's request for fresh elections in Israel ridiculous.(REUTERS)

This comes after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, while speaking on the Senate floor on Thursday, called Netanyahu an obstacle to peace.

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"At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel," Schumer, a staunch Israel supporter and the highest-ranking Jewish US elected official, stated.

Appearing in an interview with CNN on Sunday, Netanyahu called Schumer's request ridiculous and said that it is inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and attempt to replace the elected leadership there.

On being asked if Israel would hold elections when the war winds down, Netanyahu said: That's something for the Israeli people to decide. I think it's ridiculous to talk about it.

It's like after 9/11 you're in the midst of fighting the war against Al-Qaeda and an Israeli would say, you know what we need now is either new elections in the U.S. or if your system doesn't allow then President Bush should resign, and we should have an alternative leader. You don't do that. You don't do that to a sister democracy, to an ally, he stated.

Also Read: 'Come to Jesus': Biden concerned over Gaza deaths, avers Netanyahu doing more harm than good to Israel

Joe Biden, other US leaders react to Schumer's speech

Speaking to reporters on Friday, US President Joe Biden hailed Schumer for a good speech, stating that his remarks aligned with the concerns of many Americans.

I'm not going to elaborate on the speech. He made a good speech, and I think he expressed a serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans, the POTUS stated.

Chastising Schumer, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said that it is grotesque and hypocritical for the Americans to call for the removal of Netanyahu.

It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel, he said.

Also Read: Joe Biden 'wrong' in critique of war policy: Israel's Netanyahu

Former House Speaker and Representative Nancy Pelosi backed Schumer, asking that what is wrong with advocating for elections in a democracy?

What does that say if [Netanyahu] won't even say that as the war winds down, the people of Israel should speakThat's all Chuck was saying, she said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday.

Earlier this month, Biden informed that White House and other foreign leaders have been working on a second temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to free the remaining hostages in Gaza and send additional humanitarian aid.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has not made any public appearances since undergoing planned abdominal surgery in January. However, she is expected to make one soon. Sources close to the royals suggest that the mother of three might address her recent surgery at her next public engagement. The palace may also release a new photo at the upcoming big event. FILE - Britain's Prince William, left, and Kate, Princess of Wales arrive for the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, Friday, June 23, 2023. Attention on Princess Kate has reached levels not seen since she married Prince William in a fairy-tale wedding in 2011. An admission from Kate that she altered an official family photo triggered a backlash. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)(AP)

Kate Middleton could address mysterious health illness soon

Also read: Meghan Markle contacts Kate Middleton secretly, but Princess likely to reject because.

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The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, underwent abdominal surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic before temporarily stepping down from royal duties. Details of the surgery remain private. Kensington Palace stated that she would make a comeback after Easter. However, before anything could happen, 'missing' conspiracy theories started making waves on the internet. It only worsened when the family portrait released on Mother's Day was brutally scrutinised worldwide by the media and public for being heavily manipulated. Now, sources close to Kate and Prince William, via Sunday Times, have said that the couple plans to have a public engagement soon to address these issues.

As per the source who spoke to the Sunday Times, They are at their most open when out interacting with members of the public and I can see a world in which the princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it.

In regards to the timeline of public engagement, Kates friend reportedly told the newspaper that they will want to be clear and more open, but theyll do it when they feel ready. I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. Theyre not going to be rushed.

Also read: 'It's not suicide': Boeing whistleblower's last words were grim warning before being found dead

Kate Middleton intends to release new family portrait

The photoshop scandal didnt just lead to missing conspiracy theories, it also sparked marriage speculation and strained relations between Princess Catherine and Prince William. Some even speculated the cheating angle while others noted that Kate didnt appear to have her wedding ring on. Even though this has been a stormy time for the royal family, its expected that theyll continue to release a new photo to celebrate their childrens birthdays. Prince Louis will be celebrating his birthday on April 23.

It's said that the Princess won't go back to her main duties until after April 17. This is when her three children will go back to Lambrook School near Ascot after their Easter break. Kate issued a public apology earlier this week after a 'kill' notice was issued for her family portrait with her three children. A source close to the couple claimed that Kate's only blunder was failing to tell her team that she edited the photos herself.
After Queen Elizabeth II's death, Kate Middleton became the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards last year. As the chatter around the Princess of Wales' whereabouts has gone rampant amid the Mother's Day Photoshop fail, many hoped that she would make an appearance at the St. Patrick's Day parade. But it seems that the Irish fans are not in luck as sources recently told People that Kate will not be in attendance as she continues to recover from her surgery. Kate Middleton, the Honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, will miss St. Patrick's Day parade(AP)

Why Kate Middleton's absence at St. Patrick's Day parade is a big deal?

The Prince and Princess of Wales have more often than not attended the St. Patrick's Day parade. Kate has made an appearance at every single parade since 2012, except that one time in 2016. According to the outlet, both Prince William and Kate will not be in attendance at the Mons Barracks parade in Aldershot, England on Sunday.

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Kate, who has not been in the public eye since Christmas Day, said in a speech at last year's parade, I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do  this is a responsibility I do not take lightly, per NY Post. Considering her duties toward the Irish people, her absence raises eyebrows. When her abdominal surgery was announced in January, everyone was left taken aback, even the Princess' close aides.

As the palace continues to remain tight-lipped about Kate's health and her whereabouts, social media has erupted into conspiracy theories. Many claim that the mother-of-three is either in a coma or is distressed over Prince William's alleged mistress. The recent heavily edited photograph of Kate and her three children has only fanned the flames.

Irish Guards to pay Kate Middleton a tribute on St. Patrick's Day

Irrespective of her and her husband's absence at the parade, the Irish Guards will pay tribute to Kate. Some sources revealed to People that the guardsmen have the Princess of Wales in their thoughts. They are planning to send her best wishes and give three cheers to her at the end of their celebratory parade at Mons Barracks in Hampshire this weekend, the outlet adds.

Even before she assumed the title of honorary colonel, Kate traditionally attended every parade and handed out shamrocks in honour of St. Patrick's Day alongside her Prince William. In 2011, the late Queen Elizabeth named the Prince of Wales as the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards just months before his royal wedding to Kate.
Krispy Kreme is giving out free doughnuts in honour of St. Patrick's Day. The limited-time offer lasts up until Sunday, March 17. To commemorate the Irish holiday, the bakery chain has brought back a special green version of the fan-favourite O'riginal Glazed Doughnuts. The St. Patrick's Day special green glazed doughnuts will be available for purchase as well. But here's how you can get it for free: Krispy Kreme is offering free donuts in honour of St. Patrick's Day(Krispy Kreme/ X, formerly Twitter)

How to get free doughnuts at Krispy Kreme on St. Patrick's Day?

The multinational bakery company is offering one free green Original Glazed Doughnut to anyone wearing green. Yes, it's that simple! As green is the colour that is associated with St. Patrick's Day, you can score the iconic treat for free without making any purchase. The offer can be claimed either at a Krispy Kreme store or a drive-through.

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Krispy Kreme's St. Patrick's Day special menu

Alongside the green freebie, Krispy Kreme has introduced four brand-new delicious and vibrant doughnuts- Luck of the Rainbow Doughnut, Shamrock Cookies N Kreme, Plaid Party Doughnut, and Shooting Shamrock Doughnut.

To mark the festivities, the American bakery said in a statement, Krispy Kreme is helping fans share the luck this St. Patricks Day by introducing four all-new, colorful doughnuts alongside the fan-favorite green Original Glazed Doughnut.

Luck is meant to be shared, and our colorful, fun, all-new St. Patricks Day doughnuts will make everyone feel like theyve found a pot of gold, said Dave Skena, Global Chief Brand Officer for Krispy Kreme.

The company describes the new sweet dishes as:
Meghan Markle has 'reached out' to Kate Middleton several times amid health concerns and after the Photoshop scandal. Sources close to the royals cite that the Duchess of Sussex is 'desperate' to help her sister-in-law in times of crisis, but Kate might not consider taking her advice. This year has been a tough one for the Princess of Wales as she temporarily stepped down from her royal duties because of abdominal surgery and now the edit mishap, which has ignited conspiracy theories. However, according to author Tom Quinn, someone is there for her, trying to reach out several times to extend support. Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral: Prince Harry, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Kate, Princess of Wales follow the bearer party carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.(AP)

Meghan Markle contacts Kate Middleton privately

According to The Mirror, royal experts mention that Meghan has considered 'reaching out' to Kate via 'back channels' several times, but the princess "does not see her sister-in-law as a 'qualified person' to give support or advice." Royal author Tom Quinn spoke about how the Suits alumna could use the photoshop slip-up as an opportunity to mend things with the UK royals because she is also genuinely worried about Kate and her health.

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Also read: Meghan Markle concerned over Kate Middleton's photo scandal because she knows

Kate Middleton likely to reject Meghans advice and help

According to Jennie Bond, a former BBC Royal correspondent, Kate is likely to reject all of Meghans attempts to help her out, simply because she doesnt think Meghan is a suitable person to advise her. For those who dont know, Meghan and Harry havent spoken to Prince William and his wife since they moved to Montecito, California, in 2020

Speaking to Ok magazine, Bond said,  dont think Kate would ever consider Meghan - who spent such a very short time in the royal fold - as an appropriate or qualified person to give her advice or support.

This is a time for Kate to concentrate on regaining her strength, physically and mentally, and I dont imagine she would welcome tackling the family rift right now." She added. The expert further stated that the Princess of Wales might accept a sweet gesture such as a bouquet or something similar, but addressing the family rift at this point in time is not even close to being on her to-do list.

Also read: 'Kate Middleton unreachable', Royal Staff unaware of Surgery, cant contact her: Report

If Meghan felt like sending a hamper of pampering goodies, or flowers, to cheer Kate up, then I expect the gesture would be politely accepted. But I dont see this latest furor bringing the two women any closer together."
A man is in custody after shooting three relatives dead in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, on Saturday morning, March 16. 26-year-old Andre Gordon also carjacked a bystander. He was arrested after barricading himself inside a home in a nearby New Jersey town, according to officials. Pennsylvania shooting: Suspect Andre Gprdon who killed 3 relatives is in custody after a standoff in New Jersey (Falls Township Police)

Andre Gordons crime spree

Jen Schorn with the Bucks County District Attorneys Office said that Gordon drove a stolen car from Trenton to Falls Township in Bucks County, and broke into a home after 8 am. He then gunned down his stepmother, Karen Gordon, 52, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle, he stormed through the house looking for others to kill, but three relatives, including a minor, stayed hidden.

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Gordon, who is homeless, later broke into another home and killed Taylor Daniel, 25, with whom she shared two kids. Officials said that four more people were in the second house when he attacked Daniel. Her mother had to be hospitalised after Gordon injured by bludgeoning her with his weapon, it has been reported.

The suspect then went on to carjack another person, who was unrelated to him, in a Dollar General parking lot, according to authorities. The individual was not injured in the attack, New York Post reported.

Gordon fled the scene, driving a stolen 2016 dark grey Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania licence plate KFR 1534. There was a Namaste sticker on the right rear bumper. Schorn confirmed that the car was discovered in Trenton at 11:38 am.

Gordon later barricaded himself inside a residence in Trenton, where he possibly has family ties. Officials evacuated the hostages, including a child, from the second floor of the house. No one was injured, the Trenton Police Department said.

Gordon was finally taken into custody at around 5 pm. The motive for his crime spree is unclear, officials said, according to Fox29. Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said that authorities had minor contacts with Gordon before his deadly spree, but nothing that would indicate this.
Residents across the US are ready to celebrate and take part in a grand St. Patricks Day Parade, one of the worlds largest Irish heritage festivities. The parade is set to be held on Sunday, March 17. The parade, believed to be the most popular of all the parades in New York City, honours Saint Patrick - the patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York and Ireland. St. Patricks Day Parade 2024: What to expect across the US on March 17 (@IrishStarUS screenshots/X)

In the early 17th century, Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church.

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The parade hosts various marching bands, and high-school and college bands from across the globe. It also hosts bagpipers in marching formations.

List of places where you can expect the 10 most popular St. Patricks Day Parades across the US:

Chicago, Illinois

New York, New York

Boston, Massachusetts

Denver, Colorado

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Savannah, Georgia

Detroit, Michigan

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

San Francisco, California

New Orleans, Louisiana

Whats happening across the US?

Notably, New York City has several parades around its five boroughs on various dates. The first St. Patricks Day parade allows LGBTQ+ groups to march on Staten Island.

Chicagos parade is also one of the biggest. Thousands of people decked in green gathered along the Chicago River, like every year, to witness a sight never to forget  local plumbers union boats painting the water green. An environmentally friendly powder, something that was used to check pipes for leaks, is used in the tradition.

In Oklahoma, hundreds of people gathered on the streets of Stockyard City for a parade including longhorn cattle, clowns and a man dressed as St. Patrick. Anita Swift was the grand marshal. She is notably the granddaughter of American film legend John Wayne.

Several revellers flocked together in San Francisco to watch bands, floats and buses in the citys parades. Different cultural groups came together with food, dance and music.
Two people have been killed and five others injured in a shooting in Washington DC early Sunday. The shooting tool place around 3 am on Sunday morning near the intersection of 7th and P Street Northwest.(AP )

Police were looking for a single gunman after the seven people were shot around 3 a.m. in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington. The five people who were injured were all taken to local hospitals, said Jeffrey Carroll, the executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. All of the victims are adults, he said.

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Police did not immediately provide details of the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the conditions of those injured.

The District of Columbia is struggling with a sharp increase in violent crime, which went up 39% in 2023. The increase was largely fueled by a 35% rise in homicides and growth in carjackings, which nearly doubled. Police Chief Pamela Smith has pushed lawmakers to pass legislation that would strengthen penalties for gun offenses in the nation's capital.

Also Read: Who is Robert Card, identified as person of interest in Maine shooting that killed 22

Suspect held in Indianapolis bar shooting that killed 1 person and injured 5

Police in Indianapolis arrested a suspect in connection with an early morning shooting at a bar that killed one person and injured five others Saturday, police said.

Nicholas Fulk, 25, was arrested on a preliminary charge of murder hours after the shooting at Landsharks on Broad Ripple Avenue around 1:30 a.m., police said.

Detectives used technology, including public and private safety cameras, B-link cameras, automatic license plate readers and some good old-fashioned police work to track down the suspect, Indianapolis Metro Police Department Chief Christopher Bailey said in a statement posted on social media Saturday.

Police previously said five victims were transported by emergency responders to area hospitals and the sixth went to a hospital on their own after the shooting.

Also Read: 'Move forward...', Donald Trump makes insensitive remark on deadly Iowa school shooting

Bailey used the statement announcing the arrest to stress the importance of businesses working with police to implement an existing safe plan for the area.

However, the responsibility to provide a safe experience inside these businesses relies on the individual managers and operators," Bailey said. He noted the majority of establishments in the Broad Ripple area adhere to community standards, but some do not and should be held accountable.

It is also important to stress personal responsibility and who is truly to blame for this cowardly shooting  the suspect," Bailey said. "He made a choice to pull the trigger, killing one of our neighbors, injuring five others, and traumatizing many more.
In a first, Southern California discovered a dog-killing flatworm parasite in the Colorado River as scientists warn of its spread in other states. The disease is caused by the liver fluke Heterobilharzia americana.(Unsplash)

According to a study conducted by the University of California, Riverside, the parasite, known as Heterobilharzia americana was once found primarily in Texas and other Gulf states, is a flatworm also called a liver fluke. It has now migrated to the west.

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The worm can cause canine schistosomiasis, which affects dogs' livers and intestines. While there are therapeutic options for dogs who become infected, experts say such treatments are not always effective, and infections may lead to euthanasia.

"Dogs can die from this infection, so we are hoping to raise public awareness that its there," UC Riverside nematology professor Adler Dillman told the UC Riverside News. "If youre swimming in the Colorado River with them, your pets are in peril."

Also Read: Toxic Dog vs Lemon TikTok challenge may not be as funny as you think: Veterinarian dishes obvious truth

A look at the research findings

As the virus typically spread by snails, the researchers gathered over 2,000 snails from the Colorado River's banks and tested DNA to determine the presence of snails and flatworms.

The researchers were shocked to discover that two types of snails can transmit the parasite. Not only was it a surprise to find H. americana, we also did not know that the snails were present here," Dillman stated in a statement.

Other than dogs, the parasite can infect other species, including raccoons, marsh bunnies, horses, mountain lions, and opossums.

The parasite first enters epidermis and then moves to the lungs, where it can cause hemorrhage.

The presence of the adults in the veins isnt the problem. Its the eggs that get into the lungs, spleen, liver, and heart. The immune system tries to deal with it, and hard clusters of immune cells called granulomas form. Eventually, the organ tissues stop functioning," Dillman told UC Riverside News.

According to UC Riverside News, 11 dogs contracted the infection in California counties and one of them has died since 2019.

Also Read: Mystery dog respiratory illness sparks investigation in several US states, authorities urge precautions for pet owners

Symptoms and treatment: Can parasite cause infection in humans?

Emily Beeler, a veterinarian with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, stated symptoms that typically appear gradually include lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, significant weight loss, and signs of liver damage.

Beeler advised that if any dog shows these symptoms then one should ask veterinarian for a simple fecal test. A veterinarian would use multiple medications to treat the dog by keeping the pet under close monitoring.

The parasite is ineffective of triggering such an infection in humans. Experts have warned dog owners to be cautious and aware while taking their dogs for swimming in rivers and wetlands.
In a shocking revelation, an illegal migrant from Lebanon admitted that he is a member of Hezbollah and wanted to enter the United States to manufacture a bomb. A US border patrol team apprehended Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, on March 9 in El Paso, Texas.(AFP)

A US border patrol team apprehended Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, on March 9 in El Paso, Texas, according to an exclusive NY POST report. During the interrogation, Ebbadi stated that his training centered on "jihad" and killing "people who were not Muslim."

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He claimed to have received seven years of training from Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah and to have worked as an active member guarding weapons facilities for another four years, reported The Post, citing internal ICE data.

On being asked what he was doing in the US, Ebbadi said: Im going to try to make a bomb," as per the Border Patrol document.

Hezbollah, a terror group backed by Iran, fired missiles into northern Israel in response to Hamas' October 7 attack, claiming lives of over 12 IDF soldiers and seven civilians.

Also Read: 'It's like after 9/11': Netanyahu slams US Senate leader Schumer's call for fresh Israel elections as ridiculous

According to ICE filings, Ebbadi, who reached the US without documents, said his original plan was to visit New York and then travel across the nation.

Claiming to have been robbed with a knife in Costa Rica, he acknowledged using a fictitious birthday and name in Panama, Sweden and Ecuador, where he said his father resides.

Following the interrogation, the authorities put him into isolation and scheduled his interview with the Tactical Terrorism Response Team (TTRT) for posing "terroristic threats to personnel."

According to internal documents, he was slated for deportation, but it was unclear which nation he would be repatriated to.

Illegal immigration becomes top issue in 2024 US elections

Addressing a rally in Dayton, Ohio on Saturday, former US President Donald Trump slammed the Biden administration over the surge of illegal migrants and migrant crimes, vowing to end every 'open border policy' if elected.

"My administration will end every open border policy of the Biden administration," Trump stated during the event. He further declared that the migrants who are guilty of crimes are "not people."

"I don't know if you call them people," he said.

Also Read: I wish these were jokes: Joe Biden mocks Trump's age, mental fitness at Washington press dinner

Amid the surge in illegal migrants, the US has made at least 59 arrests so far in 2024, revealed federal data.

Stressing on the situation at the US-Mexico border, Trump asserted, "We're going to fix it again."

Meanwhile, Trump and Biden have secured the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations, respectively, setting up a rematch in November.
Are you a space lover and a foodie too? SpaceVIP offers an opportunity to enjoy gourmet cuisine in the stratosphere. But this desire can only be fulfilled if you are willing to spend a large sum of money. SpaceVIP will be hosting the first stratospheric dining experience with Michelin-Starred Chef Rasmus.(Insat/joinspacevip)

The luxury space tourism company has joined hands with Michelin-starred Danish chef Rasmus Munk.

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Under this mission, only six explorers will make history by enjoying a meal above 99 percent of Earth's atmosphere throughout a six-hour high-tech space balloon trip.

The ticket price of the trip, which is set to debut next year, will cost $495,000.

All the earnings from the voyage will be donated to the Space Prize Foundation, which promotes gender equity in science and technology.

As soon as the trip was announced, several people have already shown their interest to be a part of it and inquired about where they can sign up.

This is the first in a series of expeditions in partnership with leading artists designed to harness the power of space travel to elevate human consciousness and to promote universal space literacy, SpaceVIP founder Roman Chiporukha told The New York Post.

Know about the meal to be served on Spaceship Neptune

Rasmus Munk will prepare the cuisine for the six visitors who will be lifted 100,000 feet (30 kilometers) above sea level. While watching the sunrise over the earth's curvature, they will also be provided with Wi-Fi facility aboard Spaceship Neptune so that they will be able to livestream their space experience and even connect with their family and pals on Earth.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Munk said the menu hasn't been finalised yet but he hopes that the delicacies would be as inventive as the space experience itself, with ideas such as aerogel-inspired food and encapsulated fragrance.

Also Read: Top 100 US restaurants to visit in 2024 list out, THIS cuisine dominates

The 32-year-old chef will prepare dishes that will be influenced by the significance of space exploration in the past 60 years of human history and its effect on society.

Munk is the chef of Alchemist, a Danish restaurant that was placed at the fifth spot in the World's Best 50 Restaurants guide for 2023.

Despite the sky-rocketing price, Munk, who will be joining the trip himself, stated that a large number of people are more interested in the initial journey than the spaceship can accommodate.

"We're aware that it's an expensive first journey. But this is after all the first launch with these food experiences on board," said Munk, adding that the aim is to conduct more such trips but at lower prices.

SpaceVIP founder Roman Chiporukha stated that they have already had dozens of qualified people exhibit enormous interest in this experience, with only six seats available. We foresee us securing all passengers in the next few weeks.

What is Spaceship Neptune?

Space Perspectives Spaceship Neptune is the world's first carbon-neutral spaceship. It will take off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center in late 2025.

According to Space Perspective's co-founder and CEO Jane Poynter, Space Perspective is providing a space experience that is more accessible than ever before.

Also Read: 10 astounding images of space captured by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope

"With our unique spaceflights, we are enabling what can be this completely life-changing moment for people - a profound shift in the way we humans view the world and our place within it," Poynter said.

SpaceVIP is not the first company to provide the opportunity to dine in space. Last year, the France-based business Zephalto revealed that they planned to offer people the opportunity to eat on a balloon at the edge of the stratosphere for at least $132,000, beginning in 2025.
Rep. Nancy Mace recently revealed to Bill Maher why she has been leaning closer towards former president Donald Trump. Weve had three years of Biden, the South Carolina Republican told the late night show host. Would Rep. Nancy Mace serve as Donald Trumps VP? Here's what she said (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)(REUTERS)

That bad huh? Maher asked. Its been that bad, Mace answered.

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On the set, where Mace appeared with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, they also discussed the British royal family and TikTok.

Youre a heartbeat away

Maher went on to tease Mace about possibly becoming Trumps running mate. You wouldnt turn it down, Maher said.

Mace replied that nobody would turn that down. Youre a heartbeat away. And its for your country. Its service for your country, she said.

Maher also spoke with Mace about her vote to certify the 2020 presidential election, which Trump has been insisting was stolen. If you were the vice president on January 6th, would you have done what Mike Pence did that made Trump so angry? Maher said.

I certified the Electoral College in every single state, Mace replied. I mean, that was the right thing to do, the constitutional thing to do. And I would do it again, 100 percent. 100 percent.

Maher insisted that if Trump was watching the show, he may not be pleased to hear that. I hope hes watching tonight! I hope hes watching tonight, Mace said.

Mace was one of eight House Republicans to have voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from power in 2023. This prompted threats and protests from her colleagues. Mace also came under spotlight after reports said she often discussed her sex life in front of other staffers at work. As per her website, she is a single mom of two children ages 16 and 14. She also has two cats, Tyler and Tiger, and a puppy named Liberty.
On January 5, the door plug blew out on a flight above Oregon causing an emergency landing and a massive federal probe into airline safety.

Additional passengers who suffered through the traumatic in-flight blowout of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737B airliner are suing, with one passenger saying that the seat belt is the only reason he's alive as his shoes and socks were sucked out of a gaping hole caused by structural failure.

In total seven passengers filed suit in King County of Washington State against Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Spirit AeroSystems, and 10 other unnamed individuals. The flight was en route from Seattle to Ontario, California.

Cuong Tran, a plaintiff who made headlines when his phone was found in Oregon and returned to him intact, was seated in the row behind where the hole appeared.

Tran told reporters that he could feel the pull from the suction as the aircraft depressurized.

His shoes and socks were sucked out and he injured his foot when it hit off the seat in front of him.

'I was just dozing off, my phone in hand, and then the captain messaged we were above 10,000 feet. Next thing I know, I hear this whoosh sound - really strong-sounding wind,' Tran told The Los Angeles Times in January.

He went on to add, 'My shoe and sock got sucked out of the airplane, along with my phone'.

The subsequent investigation found that crucial bolts were missing from the door plug that blew off the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max plane, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The Department of Justice announced it is reopening its criminal investigation into the incident last week.'Our clients - and likely every passenger on that flight - suffered unnecessary trauma due to the failure of Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Alaska Airlines to ensure that the aircraft was in a safe and airworthy condition,' attorney Timothy A. Loranger said.

The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages and compensation due to negligence and failing to protect passengers.

'In an event like this, it's normal for the DOJ to be conducting an investigation,' Alaska Airlines said in a prepared statement. 'We are fully cooperating and do not believe we are a target of the investigation.'

The nearly catastrophic incident preceded a series of safety failures on Boeing aircraft in the past year.

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(Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

A For Sale sign is posted in front of a home for sale in San Marino, California on September 6, 2023.

It now costs more than $106,000 for the average U.S. homebuyer to comfortably afford a home, according to a recently released study - up 80% from less than five years ago.

But while the typical monthly mortgage payment has nearly doubled since Jan. 2020 to $2,188, wages have not kept pace, according to Zillow.

In 2020, it cost a household about $59,000 to comfortably afford - that is, without spending more than 30% of its income on a 10% mortgage - monthly payments, the study found. The median U.S. household income at the time was about $66,000, meaning that a majority of American households could afford to own a home.

But as home costs have surged, it now costs about $106,500 to comfortably afford a home, well above the estimated household income of $81,000, according to Zillow.

The real estate site looked at metro areas across the U.S. to determine which required the highest and lowest incomes to comfortably afford a home.

On the high end, seven markets broke the $200,000 mark.

They include four in California: San Jose ($454,296), San Francisco ($339,864), Los Angeles ($279,250) and San Diego ($273,613).

The other three were Seattle ($213,984), the New York City metro area ($213,615) and Boston ($205,253).

And in Florida, four metro markets cleared the $100,000 mark, local outlet NBC6 reported, citing Florida-centric Zillow data.

They are: Miami ($151,163), Orlando ($121,418), Tampa ($116,329) and Jacksonville ($109,271).

On the low end, five metro areas came in under the $75,000 line: Pittsburgh ($58,232), Memphis ($69,976), Cleveland ($70,810), New Orleans ($74,048) and Birmingham ($74,338).

As prices outpace pay, homebuyers have increasingly turned to co-buying with friends or relatives, considering long-distance moves to less expensive markets, and prioritizing the ability to rent out part of their home for extra cash, according to Zillow.

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Niger's military junta announced earlier this week that it had ended an accord with the United States that allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defense to operate in the country after days of holding high-level talks with US diplomatic and military officials.

"The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense in the territory of the Republic of Niger," junta spokesperson Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane said in a statement on national television.

Abdramane also said that the revoked 2012 agreement between the two countries was imposed on Niger and had been in violation of the "constitutional and democratic rules" of Nigerien sovereignty.

He added, "This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its substance but also does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people."

Read Also: Wagner Thriving in Africa After Kremlin Takes Over PMC's Assets, Analysts Say

Abdramane: Niger 'Denounces' Washington's 'Condescending Attitude'

Niger was once a key regional partner for the US, but relations have deteriorated since the junta claimed power in July 2023 in what the US formally designated as a coup.

Since then, Washington has ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff at its embassy in Niamey and many of its 1,100 troops stationed in the West African nation.

However, senior Pentagon officials believed that keeping a presence in Niger was vital to efforts to tackle terrorism in West Africa. In October, CNN reported that the Pentagon was still assessing how the change would impact its military presence in the country.

The Nigerien junta's announcement came after a senior US delegation's three-day visit to the country this week.

Abdramane said that the US delegation was received out of "courtesy" and "did not respect diplomatic practices" by not providing information regarding the date of its arrival, the composition of the delegation, and the purpose of the visit. He also explained that Nigerien and American officials discussed the military transition in Niger and military cooperation between the two countries.

"The government of Niger regrets the desire of the American delegation to deny the Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships capable of helping them truly fight against terrorists," he said, adding that his country "forcefully denounces" the US delegation's "condescending attitude."

He also rejected what he said were allegations of a secret deal made between Niger, Russia, and Iran.

The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to reporters' requests for comment.

Related Article: What Biden Admin Niger Coup Declaration Means to African Country

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(Photo : AEL KERMAREC/AFP via Getty Images)

People gather to watch as molten lava flows out from a fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula north of the evacuated town of Grindavik, western Iceland on March 16, 2024.

A volcano in Iceland has started erupting for the fourth time in three months, leading to evacuations as the lava travels more than a half-mile an hour.

The eruption started Saturday night between Mt. Hagafell and Mt. Stora Skogfell. Authorities say the fissure is about 1.8 miles long and formed quickly.

The Icelandic Met Office says if the eruption continues at the same rate the lava could reach the ocean. Crews constructed barriers in an effort to stop it from crossing the main road along the peninsula's southern coast, the Associated Press reported.

Web camera images and aerial photographs from a helicopter lead authorities to believe the eruption could be larger than the three previous fissure eruptions from the Sundhnukur crater row.

A state of emergency was put into effect in the area of the Reykjanes Peninsula where the lava is flowing and a few houses were evacuated, the BBC reported.

The last time the peninsula had volcanic activity was 800 years ago. In that period, the eruptions reportedly went on for decades.





Grindavik's 3,800 residents were first evacuated in November after earthquakes and thermal fissures were detected.

On December 18, the volcano erupted, sending lava flowing away from the town, which allowed residents to briefly return to their homes by December 22 after volcanic activity weakened.

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(Photo : Steuben County Sheriff's Department)

Brienne Lee Bicknell faces a slew of charges from the high speed chase.

A Michigan mom allegedly led sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase across state lines with her child in the minivan, before authorities in Indiana used a spike strip to disable the vehicle, officials said.

The Steuben County Sheriff's Office in Indiana says it happened around 6 p.m. Friday.

The Branch County Sheriff's Office in Michigan had asked for assistance as deputies were pursuing a fleeing vehicle believed to be occupied by 2 wanted people and a child southbound on I-69 approaching Indiana.

The deputies deployed the stop sticks, causing the passenger side tires on the brown Chevy Astro minivan to deflate.

The minivan slowed from around 100 mph down to 40 mph. Several additional attempts were made to deploy stop sticks as the suspects continued on I-69 but they were unsuccessful in deflating the driver-side tires.

Police say the driver of the minivan then attempted a U-turn in the median crossover but began to lose control and stopped in the median.

Sheriff's deputies along with Angola Police and Indiana State Police took both adults into custody.

The driver was identified as 37-year-old Brienne Lee Bicknell of Quincy, Mich.

Authorities say they found some suspected drug-related items on Bicknell. They say she was wanted in Michigan on drug-related charges.

A man in the minivan was also arrested due to arrest warrants out of Michigan. His name was not released.

Bicknell's daughter was found inside the minivan and appeared to be unharmed, officials said. EMS took her to a hospital as a precaution and she was later turned over to the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Bicknell was booked into the Steuben County Jail on several charges.

They included:

-Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle - Level 6 Felony

-Neglect of a Dependent - Level 6 Felony

-Possession of a Schedule I, II, III, or IV Controlled Substance - Class A Misdemeanor

-Possession of Hypodermic Syringe or Needle - Level 6 Felony

-Possession of Marijuana - Class B Misdemeanor Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated - Class A Misdemeanor

-Reckless Driving - Class C Misdemeanor

-Fugitive Warrant out of Michigan

It was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

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(Photo : GENESEE COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE)

Christopher Motry was accused of murdering his girlfriend, after her body was found in the Flint River.

A Michigan man was arrested after a fisherman discovered the body of a missing woman he was having an affair with in the Flint River, according to authorities.

Christina Elizabeth Barber, 48, was last seen entering a Flint motel room with her boyfriend, Christopher Astin Motry, on Feb. 28, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said at a recent news conference.

Motry, 34, was caught on surveillance footage the following day exiting the same motel room with "what appears to be a body in a plastic bag in a fireman's carry and puts it into the bed of his truck," Leyton said.

Barber and Motry's relationship was "tumultuous," Leyton said. Motry was married to another woman and Barber had repeatedly tried to leave the relationship, according to People.

One of Barber's colleagues called the Flint City police on March 2, after Barber failed to answer her phone or show up to work for several days. The next day, police arrived at the motel and discovered the room Barber had rented in disarray.

"The police found a large amount of blood in her room," Barber's adult children wrote in a GoFundMe post. "With kitty litter spread around."

The motel room's comforter, mattress and bedsheets were all covered in blood, according to People.

On March 4, a fisherman contacted police after discovering a garbage bag with "what appeared to be toes from a person sticking out of the bag," Leyton said during the press conference.

The police were only able to identify the badly beaten body as Barber's after looking at the fingerprints and tattoos, her children wrote in their GoFundMe post.

Motry was charged with with first-degree premeditated murder, domestic violence, evidence tampering and concealing a death. His wife is cooperating with police and is not considered a suspect, according to People.

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(Photo : Oklahoma City Police Department)

Police say the suspect in the beating of a store clerk was wearing a 'Jesus Saved My Life' hoodie.

A man in a "Jesus Saved My Life" hoodie knocked an Oklahoma store clerk unconscious when the victim carded him for a cigar sale, according to police.

"Guys, this one will make you mad," the Oklahoma City Police wrote in a Facebook post showing a surveillance video of the incident.

Police say two people walked into the store and became upset when the clerk asked for ID before he would sell them a cigar.

Take a look at this video & let us know if you recognize these subjects. The individual in the "Jesus saved my life" hoodie became upset when asked for ID, suspect then punched the clerk, knocking him unconscious. #24-15902



Crime Stoppers:

405.235.7300https://t.co/YVxGWebkLk pic.twitter.com/1pTmk9KnhJ March 13, 2024

The man in the hoodie was seen on the video walking behind the counter and attacking the clerk until he crumpled to the ground.

The video then showed the two suspects running out of the store.

Police say video of the incident was "extremely clear" and asked anyone with information on the suspects to call Crime Stoppers with anonymous tips. They say there is also a cash reward possible in the case.

The surveillance video, dated March 5, was posted by police on Wednesday.

Information about the clerk's condition was not released.

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(Photo : (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images))

The Russian Federation has dropped from the worlds second-largest arms exporter to the third-largest.

Russian arms exports have plummeted in recent years after international sanctions were imposed in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, according to a recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Institute and British intelligence.

The Russian Federation has dropped from the world's second-largest arms exporter to the third-largest, while the United States remains the world's preeminent purveyor of arms. Russia's decline was both sharp and rapid - with a 53% decrease between 2014-18 and 2019-23.

"While Russia exported major arms to 31 states in 2019, it exported to only 12 in 2023," the SIPRI report said. "States in Asia and Oceania received 68 percent of total Russian arms exports in 2019-23, with India accounting for 34 percent and China for 21 percent."

The British Ministry of Defense released a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, discussing the reasons behind Russia's falling status.

"The decline is likely due to several factors including Russia prioritizing equipment for operations in Ukraine due to continuous battlefield losses, and reduced customer demand due to the risk of associated sanctions and global condemnation of Russia's responsibility for the war," the ministry wrote.

Several countries with long-established relationships with Russia decreased the number of imported arms in recent years. While Russia remains the top arms supplier for India, this was the first five-year period since 1960-64 that Russia (or its antecedent the USSR) supplied less than half of India's arms.

Russia's exports to China also decreased - with the latter country prioritizing internal manufacturing of arms, rather than importation.

While Russia's exportation numbers decreased, the U.S. has strengthened its status as the world's largest exporter.

"The USA has increased its global role as an arms supplier - an important aspect of its foreign policy - exporting more arms to more countries than it has ever done in the past," said Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, in a press release.

"This comes at a time when the USA's economic and geopolitical dominance is being challenged by emerging powers."

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(Photo : SAMANTHA LAUREY/AFP via Getty Images)

A Brooklyn man died after he was allegedly punched in a parking spot dispute.

A 61-year-old Brooklyn father died Saturday after he was allegedly punched by a tow truck driver who was hooking up his vehicle to cart away, according to authorities.

The victim was identified by family and friends as Carlyle Thomas of Brownsville, Brooklyn, the New York Post reported.

Thomas said that he lived near the Shell gas station on Clarkson Ave. and sometimes temporarily parked in gas station parking spots, a friend told the paper.

Thomas reportedly rushed to the gas station Saturday night after getting a heads-up that a tow truck was about to haul off his car.

Thomas got into an argument with the 30-year-old tow truck driver, who allegedly punched him in the face, causing Thomas to "fall and hit the pavement," police told the paper. Thomas was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

The victim's nephew, Dominic Graham, 37, said his family was in shock.

"He was a good guy. Around here he was the neighborhood boss. He knows everyone," Graham told the paper.

Thomas reportedly worked as a trainer at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.

The NYPD took the tow truck driver into custody at the scene and a spokesperson told HNGN via email that the investigation was continuing. Charges were not immediately filed.

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(Photo : HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

In a video shared Friday, the princess, 42, revealed she has been undergoing preventative chemotherapy after the shocking diagnosis.



Catherine, Princess of Wales may break her silence after she was reportedly "devastated" when the digitally altered photo she released for Mother's Day generated international controversy, royal insiders claim.

Barring a few paparazzi photos, the princess has not been seen in public since Christmas. On Jan. 17, Kensington Palace shared that she was admitted to the hospital for a "planned abdominal surgery" and was expected to recover in the hospital for two weeks.

But in the ensuing weeks, public speculation has grown increasingly intense, with many questioning official statements released by Kensington Palace. Rumors about the princess' whereabouts were exacerbated when several newswire services, including Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press, issued kill orders on the Mother's Day photos.

Kensington Palace failed to disclose that the photo, which was credited to Prince William, had been digitally altered. In the aftermath of the controversy, AFP announced that Kensington Palace was no longer considered a trusted source.

A friend of Catherine's told the Sunday Times, a British newspaper, that the princess was "devastated" by the public's reaction, prompting her to "own it" by apologizing on social media.

"If you want to call out the mistake, it was Kate not telling her team that she'd [edited the photo]. But she came out and said sorry. The photo was a misstep, even with something as innocent as that you should disclose altering it," the friend said.

"But in the history of image-cropping and photo-altering to tell a story, a lot of the reaction from picture agencies was hypocritical."

While news photographers will use photo editing software to adjust the lighting and balance of images, publishing digitally altered photos is less common. Photojournalist and former chief White House photographer Pete Souza has described the photo as "fake" and not "acceptable" on social media.

Kensington Palace originally stated that the princess would be seen again after Easter - though her friends told the Sunday Times that they meant after her children's Easter break from school, not the holiday itself on March 31.

The princess' confidants believe that she might share more information about the nature of her health issues when she returns to work, at some point in April.

"They are at their most open when out interacting with members of the public and I can see a world in which the princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements. If she was going to do it, that's how she would do it," one source told the Sunday Times.

A friend of the prince and princess added that they would "want to be clear and more open."

"They'll do it when they feel ready. I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They're not going to be rushed."

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(Photo : VLADIMIR NIKOLAYEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Members of a local electoral commission count ballots during Russia's presidential election at a polling station in Novosibirsk on March 17, 2024.

Thousands of Russians descended on polling stations across Russia on Sunday, the last day of a three-day presidential election, in what anti-Kremlin activists said was a protest against the reelection of President Vladimir Putin.

Putin is poised to extend his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years. He would become Russia's longest-serving leader for more than 200 years by the end of his term, according to Reuters.

The election has been deemed not 'free or fair,' by the EU and NATO, due to the Kremlin's efforts in tamping down opposition.

Putin is facing off against three Kremlin-approved candidates representing political parties loyal to him and his policies.

The vote comes just over two years after Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. It is illegal in Russia to call it a war or show dissent to the operation.

The election is taking place amid attacks within Russia by Ukrainian missiles and drones, according to the Associated Press. Those strikes have killed several people.

One Moscow voter, who identified himself only by his first name, Vadim, told the AP that he hoped to see change, but said that "unfortunately, it's unlikely."

Another, Yulia, said that she was voting for the first time.

"Even if my vote doesn't change anything, my conscience will be clear...for the future that I want to see for our country," she said.

The vote also comes in the shadow of the recent death of Putin foe Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison.

Navalny's associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to protest by coming to the polls at noon Sunday. Navalny reportedly showed support for the protest shortly before his death.

Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that the opposition's call to protest had been successful.

"The action has shown that there's another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin," he told the Associated Press.

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(Photo : New Mexico State Police/Facebook)

Jaremy Smith was arrested following a pursuit and officer-involved shooting, days after State Police Officer Justin Hare was shot and killed on Interstate 40.

A man suspected in the fatal shooting of a police officer and named as a person of interest in a paramedic's death was apprehended Sunday in New Mexico, as a sweeping manhunt ended with another alleged altercation with law enforcement, the New Mexico State Police said.

Jaremy Smith was arrested following "a pursuit and officer-involved shooting," days after State Police officer Justin Hare was shot and killed on Interstate 40. Police believe that Smith, 33, gunned down Hare when the officer stopped to help Smith with car troubles.

Smith then allegedly fled in the car, a white BMW belonging to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a paramedic who was found dead Friday in South Carolina. Smith is considered a person of interest in Machado-Fore's death, according to the New Mexico State Police.

Following Hare's death, Smith became the subject of a large-scale manhunt with New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler directly addressing the suspect during a press conference.

"Jaremy Smith, we are coming for you," he said Saturday.

Smith was spotted driving in Albuquerque around 8 a.m. Sunday. He allegedly tried to flee Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies, sparking a pursuit that included "a deputy-involved shooting," the agency said. Further details on the shooting were not immediately released, but no deputies were injured, officials said.

The deputies eventually caught up to Smith and took him into custody.

Smith was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property.

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(Photo : NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

A man is suing a Burger King location in New York City for allegedly allowing illegal drug sales.

A fed-up neighbor is suing a New York City Burger King for $15 million, alleging that its owner is turning a blind eye to an "open air drug bazaar," according to reports.

The fast food joint is located just blocks from City Hall in Manhattan's Financial District.

Kevin Kaufman recently filed the eight-figure suit in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to the New York Post.

His suit claims up to 10 "professional" drug dealers are using the restaurant as a base of operations to sell drugs, and the owner won't take responsibility for the problem.

Kaufman has lived on the block for 20 years.

"We've reached out to every direction we can and the only ones that seem to be responsive and listening are the cops," he told the paper.

The lawsuit names the restaurant and Burger King's corporate office. It accuses them of violating New York's nuisance law and seeks $15 million, according to UPI.

"Fulton Street is now a neighborhood in crisis," Kaufman claimed in court papers, citing as evidence the "professional drug dealers who have long criminal records and are well known among local law enforcement."

Kaufman wants a court to order Burger King to "stop terrorizing his neighborhood and turning Fulton Street into an open-air drug bazaar."

The location's owner, Lalmir Sultanzada, told the Post that he's also suffering because of the drug dealers and their clientele, but that remedying the situation is ultimately "not my problem."

"It's not me. Go talk with the government, talk with the police department, talk with the mayor, talk with the governor," he said. "They have to find a solution for those bums, not me."

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(Photo : Israel's Prime Minister)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Gaza needs more aid.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Sunday for a massive increase in aid to Gaza and a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas - in a joint briefing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During the Sunday briefing in Jerusalem, Scholz also questioned Israel's planned assault on Rafah.

"How should more than 1.5 million people be protected? Where should they go?" Scholz asked, while Netanyahu stood feet away.

"We cannot stand by and watch Palestinians risk starvation," he continued. "That's not us. That is not what we stand for together."

Their public statements came after a private meeting where Scholz said he shared his concerns about the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza as Israel presses ahead with its war against Hamas.

The chancellor also said that Israel needs to work harder to prevent an even greater humanitarian crisis.

"Much more humanitarian aid is needed continuously," he said

The meeting comes as international criticism of Israel's offensive grows and Netanyahu faces calls for new elections in Israel.

On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Netanyahu "has lost his way" and Israel should hold a vote for a new government.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said that calls for an election would force Israel to stop fighting and paralyze the country, the Associated Press reported.

Israel's war against Hamas began on Oct. 7 when the terror group launched a surprise attack on Israel, indiscriminately killing some 1,200 people and abducting about 240 hostages back to Gaza.

Israel responded with a large-scale air and land campaign aimed at rooting Hamas out of Gaza. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 31,000 people have been killed in Gaza.

Civilians represent the majority of those killed in both cases.

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(Photo : Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

A parrot on a tree limb is seen prior to The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 14, 2023 in Pacific Palisades, California. In recent decades, red and lilac-crowned parrots have found an urban oasis in southern California.

When Southern Californians look up, they might see some unusually colorful neighbors: endangered Mexican parrots making a new home near the bustle of Los Angeles.

Though red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots are not indigenous to California, they've adapted to the environment over the past several decades - a hopeful development for the scientists who study the tropical birds.

In the 1950s and 60s, developers in the California suburbs spurned native trees like oaks and sycamores, in favor of sweet gums, camphor, carrotwood, fig, and ficus trees. These non-native trees eventually became home for escaped parrots that were popularly kept as pets in the 1970s and 80s, the Los Angeles Times recently reported.

"It's just cultural memory: They spend all day feeding on the seeds, berries, and flowers of the surrounding tropical treescape," John McCormack, director and curator of Occidental College's Moore Lab of Zoology, told the Times when visiting the fig trees of southern California's Temple City, near downtown Los Angeles.

"At sundown, they come together here to rest and sleep."

The red-crowned parrots, which initially hail from northeast Mexico, now number 3,000 in southern California. Their lilac-crowned counterparts have a California population of about 800, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In some respects, these developments are positive because both species are endangered. But experts do have some concerns about the birds' lives outside their natural habitat.

If the two groups of birds interbreed, for example, it could become impossible to reintroduce them to their native Mexican habitat. There have also been some instances of the birds being captured or killed by humans in the area.

Despite this, scientists at the Moore Lab see the birds' ability to thrive outside their traditional environment as a promising example of resilience.

"Despite significant niche shifts, introduced parrots are thriving, suggesting a broad fundamental niche and an ability to exploit urban resources," the lab's researchers wrote in an article for the conservation journal Diversity and Distributions. "Cities can potentially serve as refugia for threatened parrot species."

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On March 17-18, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu will pay a working visit to Armenia.

The meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will take place on March 18 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. Ministers will deliver statements for the press.
Daniel Mazzotta with his wife Felicia and their two children. Mr Mazzotta was diagnosed with MND in October last year. Picture: Supplied

For Sydney dad-of-two Daniel Mazzotta, the first telltale signs something wasnt quite right were his sudden difficulty with everyday movements like using his knife and fork and doing up his shirt buttons.

After seven months of tests, MRI scans, consults with neurologists, Mr Mazzotta, 51, and his wife Felicia, 45, were given a devastating diagnosis: motor neurone disease (MND), also sometimes referred to as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrigs disease.

The life-changing diagnosis means Mr Mazzotta, a now retired concreter, knows he will gradually lose more of his motor functions, from his ability to walk, to his power and speech.

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There is no cure; however, doctors said Mr Mazzotta could attempt to procure edaravone  a drug that can help to slow down MNDs progression.

The caveat? In order to get the crucial medication, the Mazzottas had to travel to Japan and pay $14,000 for a six-month supply.

Its just one of those things you have to do with this condition because it progresses so quickly, you just have to do what you can straight away, Mr Mazzotta said of the difficult decision to go to Japan.

Daniel Mazzotta with his wife Felicia and their two children. Picture: Supplied

They completed the trip in December after scraping together $20,000 through their life savings, Mr Mazzottas income protection, family, and some funds through a GoFundMe.

Anything that gives you a bit of hope is good. We know its not an answer, but if it gives you a little bit of hope and can make you feel a little bit better and for a little bit longer, than you have to, Mr Mazzotta said.

While edaravone has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), its manufacturer Teva Pharma has said it wont be available in Australia until it is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Things, however, could soon change, with Teva Pharma Australia looking to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to have edaravone, or Radicava (its commercial name) listed on the PBS, with an announcement pending for April. Doing so would greatly subsidise the medication and it would be available to purchase domestically.

Story continues

However, Mr Mazzotta has no time to waste. The average life expectancy for MND patients is about 2 years; however, some people can live for up to 10 years.

In the five months since his diagnosis, Mr Mazzottas condition has noticeably deteriorated.

My arms are getting weaker. I can pick up things but I cant hold things. Its more difficult to get dressed as well, he said.

I could wash the dishes four or five months ago, now I cant really hold the plates up. Eating is also getting harder and harder  its just progressing.

Mr Mazzotta travelled to Japan in December 2023 to obtain a six-month supply of edaravone.

Ms Mazzotta said she was frustrated by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Theyve yet to receive a response on a funding application despite filing one in November.

During this period, the family are paying for exercise physiology and neuro rehabilitation. As Mr Mazzottas symptoms progress, they are also aware they will need to renovate their bathroom and purchase additional items like a wheelchair, which can cost up to $30,000.

Its ridiculous. MND patients should have help immediately because of the nature of the progression, Ms Mazzotta said.

We dont have the ability to wait but theres no fast-tracking our application.

MND Australia chief executive Clare Sullivan said the financial strain on MND sufferers and their families could be devastating.

Anecdotally, the national peak organisation has heard of patients travelling to Japan and America to procure medication; however, there is no way to track to figures around the unregulated practice.

A struggling family trying to find $14,000 for new medicine is a huge ask, and most people have deteriorated to the point when theyre diagnosed that work becomes very difficult for them, so we know the caring role falls to friends and family, family particularly, she said.

So even if you have a two-income family, as you progress, your carer often has to reduce their hours or stop working as well  so the financial impact is devastating.

The Mazzottas have called for more support for people diagnosed with MND.

While shes hopeful of a positive resolution later this year, Ms Mazzotta said there was a balance for government agencies to ensure subsidies, like those given by the PBS, are done in a fair and equitable way while ensuring the efficacy of the medicine is there.

However, for patients desperately chasing more time before their condition deteriorates, the delay was heartbreaking, Ms Sullivan acknowledged.

If the average decline is 2 years, and for some people the decline can be very, very short, and for hope to be just out of reach, my heart breaks for them, she said.

Mr Mazzottas supply of medication will last the family until late May or early June, with the hope edaravone will become subsidised on the PBS before then.

While the Mazzottas are awaiting the PBACs determination with bated breath, if theyre able to come up with $20,000 to go to Japan, they will, but theyre urged an expedited response from the government agency and federal Health Minister Mark Butler.

When youre in our situation, you will take even a 1 per cent improvement if it means Dan is going to be OK for a little bit longer, Ms Mazzotta said.

It feels like a luxury for people who arent in our situation to be delaying the process.

Mr Mazzotta hopes the government will just get it done.

Were waiting around and every day counts, he said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care said that when considering a medicine proposed for PBS listing, the PBAC is legally required to take into account the comparative effectiveness and costeffectiveness of the medicine compared to other available therapies.

They said the PBAC will consider a resubmission from Teva Pharmaceuticals to list edaravone on the PBS at its March 2024 meeting, and the outcome will be published on April 26.

The Government is committed to ensuring Australians have access to affordable medicines by listing medicines on the PBS that have been recommended by the PBAC, they said.

Should the PBAC recommend edaravone be listed on the PBS for ALS, the Department of Health and Aged Care will work to finalise arrangements with the Teva Pharmaceuticals and proceed to a PBS listing as quickly as possible, once the necessary documentation has been submitted by the pharmaceutical company.
Eleven LMMHS students traveled to Gubbio, Italy to experience Italian school life at IIS Cassata Gattapone as part of the latest round of the international exchange program that brought Italian students to Lenox in September. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) Students stand in front of the Santa Maria Novella in Florence. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) PreviousNext

Lenox Students Explore Italy

Lenox students attended a chemistry workshop at IIS Cassata Gattapone, during which they made a batch of lemon-scented hand cream that they got to bring home. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools)

LENOX, Mass.  Principal Jeremiah Ames shared that 11 Lenox Memorial Middle High School students recently spent 10 days in Italy, as part of the latest round of an international exchange program that brought 11 Italian students to Lenox in September.

During February break, the 11 LMMHS students traveled to Gubbio, Italy to experience Italian school life at IIS Cassata Gattapone, a technical school that aims to prepare their students for a variety of careers.

The Lenox students who participated in the trip were seniors Ben Ames, Jackson Frederick, Alex Fuster, Teagan Maxymillian, Chris Sohl, Kate Thompson, and Holland Tuck, juniors Sam Geller and Cat Kowalski, and sophomores Owen Kamienski and Aiden Tran.

While in Gubbio, the students stayed with host families, immersing themselves in Italian family life. At school, students shadowed their Italian peers and had the chance to see an educational model that was very different from LMMHS.

Students experienced hands-on learning and facilities that included lathes for metalworking, brewing equipment, and a full-service coffee bar. Lenox students also attended a chemistry workshop during which they made a batch of lemon-scented hand cream that they got to bring home.

The students were able to explore towns surrounding Gubbio, during which they saw various cultural treasures. In Florence, students visited the Uffizi Galleries, one of the world's greatest art museums. In Assisi, they saw the stunning frescoes in the Basilica of St. Francis and also went into the buried remains of two ancient Roman houses; they also explored Perugia, a thriving university town with architectural marvels ranging from the ancient Etruscan period to the modern day.

After saying goodbye to their hosts in Gubbio, students spent two and a half days in Rome, where they engaged in walking tours of various ancient Roman sites, the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, as well as St. Peter's Basilica.

Lenox students were accompanied on the trip by LMMHS Teacher Brooke Kamienski and Latin Teacher, Dr. Christopher Lovell.

"We couldn't imagine a more hospitable welcome, and we know that when we return to Gubbio we will have plenty of people who will be happy to welcome us back! This trip gave our students the chance to see archaeological sites, art, and architecture that they had studied in Latin classes. The awe and joy on their faces as they saw the art in Florence, Assisi, and the Sistine Chapel was amazing to witness. It's one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had as a teacher," said Dr. Lovell. "I'm very happy that we're continuing this almost three-decade-old tradition, and I hope that there are many more Italy trips to come."

LMMHS has been participating in this exchange program with IIS Cassata Gattapone since the late '90s, which was started by a former LMMHS Latin teacher, Jamie Keller. This program  along with several other exchange programs at LMMHS  aims to provide students with once-in-a-lifetime experiences that broaden their horizons and allow them to explore different cultures around the world.
The Milne Public Library on Main Street in Williamstown across from Field Park.

Williamstown Library Officials Aim for Construction Project Within 10 Years

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Library officials plan to spend the next few years to develop a long-term solution for a building that has been a topic of discussion in town for more than a decade.

The chair of the Milne Library Board of Trustees told the town's Finance Committee last week that $300,000 allocated last year for repairs to the Main Street facility are meant to keep the building operational while a board and town decide how to get a building that will last for decades to come.

Micah Manary did not say whether that will mean a major renovation or a new building, but he indicated that the idea is on the table.

Manary talked to the Fin Comm about the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program , which, he said, funds anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of construction costs.

The state program had a round of grants in 2016-17 and another round that closes to applications on May 31 of this year. Manary said he expects the next round to open in about eight years, which the trustees are targeting for an application.

"That's our timeline," Manary said. "Let's hold the building together and then, over the next two to three years, really figure out what we want to do with that building and what the town wants to do with that building. As you know, it's a town building, and the town could want to do a lot of things.

"And figure out how we can make that building into what we need it to be for the next 20 to 30 years. Or, if that's not possible  I know everyone wants to talk about new construction  what that would entail and what grants are available."

Manary said the library needs time to prepare the best possible grant application.

"They're competitive grants, it's not like you just get it," he said. "That's why one of our biggest goals for the new director is to be ready and prepared for the second those grants are open to apply with a strong application and have the town behind it.

"We're anticipating this many years from now, but that's why we're going to be prepping for it for the next two or three years."

At last May's annual town meeting, the town approved $300,000 for repairs to the existing structure, formerly the Pine Cobble School before its acquisition by the town as a home for its public library, which moved in 1996.

Manary said the repairs will be sufficient to keep the building operational for 10 years.

Trustee Alexander Carlisle, a member of the library's Building Committee, agreed and said that is why the trustees are not pursuing some of the recommendations from a building assessment it commissioned from Bennington, Vt.'s, Centerline Architect.

"A lot of the expenses that have been called for, such as replacing major windows and lots of doors and exterior, we are passing on that, because a 10-year lifespan for major replacements like that is not worth our while," Carlisle said. "So we are going to use repairs and maintenance to keep those things going as long as we can, which we think we can do without any trouble."

Carlisle said he thinks the state grant process could open up in as few as five years, which still would give the town time to think through its plans for the library and other needs, such as how to address its aging and inefficient town hall, properly known as the Municipal Building.

One long-term initiative of the Milne Trustees is resolved in the budget Manary presented to the Fin Comm at its Feb. 28 session.

The chair reported that the fiscal year 2025 spending plan reflects adjustment to library staff salaries that come out of a wage classification study for all town employees that was completed last year.

"The trustees and library staff were incredibly happy to get that study done," Manary said. "We'd been asking for it for years and years, certainly all five years I've served on the board. The results of that study were that the library staff were severely undercompensated compared to other staff in Williamstown and compared to other libraries in the area.

"[Trustee Bridget Spann] and I feel that's our biggest success as trustees, getting those salaries up to a reasonable level. Comparing them to some numbers from the town, I think the library staff is still on the bottom part of the compensation for town employees, but I think at this point it's totally reasonable.  It's where we're able to attract new employees and retain employees, which has been a major problem since I've been a trustee."

Manary said the impact of the salary adjustments was about $46,000, which is a little less than the $50,000 Town Manager Robert Menicocci included in the FY24 budget to address equity for library employees while the full compensation study still was in the works.




iciHaiti - Insecurity : Looting of the Guatemalan consulate in Port-au-Prince





Saturday March 16, 2024, in the midst of a political crisis against a backdrop of violence and insecurity, the Honorary Consulate of Guatemala in Port-au-Prince was attacked, vandalized and looted, reported the Guatemalan Government.



According to the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no injuries were reported among the employees of the consulate (mostly Haitian) and the equipment and documents stored at the diplomatic headquarters during the last five years had already been evacuated and made safe.



Guatemala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide any details on damage or theft at the Consulate.



The Embassy of Guatemala in the Dominican Republic will respond to all emergencies and requests from Haiti that may arise while awaiting the reopening of the Consulate of Port-au-Prince.



None of the Guatemalans living in Haiti have requested to be evacuated from the country.



S/ iciHaiti


















Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

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Jeff VanderMeer, the best-selling author of Annihilation, has hit out at the movie adaptations director, Alex Garland, for controversial comments made in a recent interview.

In a new social media post, the author criticised Garland for his remarks about the current state of politics ahead of the release of his new movie, Civil War.

The movie arrives at the same time as a highly contentious presidential election in the US. It stars Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, and Wagner Moura, and is set in a dystopian future in which Texas and California are at war.

The Ex Machina director said he believes political differences have been made into moral issues, describing it as f***ing idiotic.

He told The Hollywood Reporter:Left and right are ideological arguments about how to run a state. Thats all they are. They are not a right or wrong, or good and bad. Its which do you think has greater efficacy? Thats it.

But weve made it into good and bad. We made it into a moral issue, and its f***ing idiotic, and incredibly dangerous  I personally [blame] some of this on social media.

VanderMeer re-shared Garlands post alongside the phrase self-annihilation  an intentional play on the title of the project they have in common.

Author Jeff VanderMeer called Garlands comments self-annihilation (Getty Images)

Social media users shared their thoughts on the original post, which has since been viewed over two million times.

What a hideously boring take for a filmmaker making a movie on the subject, wrote one user.

Another added: Should we give food to people or exploit them so they live in poverty while we live in opulence? Hard to say, theres not really any right or wrong answers here.

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Its not the first time the author has criticised Garland. In 2022, he called his last movie Men a mess.

In the past, he has called Annihilation, a very liberal adaptation of his novel and has appeared to dodge questions about whether he is happy with it. However, he appeared to defend Garland over claims of whitewashing.

At the time, he wrote, Yes, there are a lot of acts of translation, so to speak, and I never expected or wanted a faithful adaptation from Garland just a good one.

Civil War is set to be released next month after premiering at SXSW festival this week (14 March).
An Australian man has lost the nest egg he was planning on using in retirement with just the click of a button.

Renato Calalang has become another victim of a notorious scam that has taken millions of dollars from unsuspecting people.

The 60-year-old Melbourne resident - who had managed to save close to $150,000 - was taken by surprise when he received an email from someone claiming to be the owner of a bank in his native Philippines.

Renato Calalang sent tens of thousands of dollars to an unknown account after getting a scam email. (Source: Getty)

Have you been scammed? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com

The bank representative, who said his name was Steve Golds, revealed a cousin of Calalangs had died and left him a hefty inheritance of 3.8 million. People around the world have been warned to be wary of emails like this, especially when the amount is incredibly high.

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But Calalang said he actually had a cousin with the same name as the one mentioned in the email and, therefore, thought this was legitimate.

Golds said that in order to receive the millions of Euros owed to him, the 60-year-old had to provide some key details like his name, address, occupation and age. He also had to set up a bank account in the Philippines, but he had to deposit money into a Commonwealth Bank (CBA) account, which would then be funnelled to the overseas one.

This was another reason he thought the email was legitimate because he had been banking with CBA for years.

This made me feel like nothing bad could happen and, if something were to go wrong, I thought I would be able to chase up Commonwealth Bank for help, he explained to news.com.au.

Calalang was asked multiple times over several months to deposit money and was told each time it would get him closer to his inheritance. He even spoke to a very convincing representative from the Filipino bank, who assured him what he was doing was perfectly fine.

He complied each time with the deposits until his nest egg was completely gone.

Once he realised something wasnt right he contacted CBA and Scamwatch but, sadly, there was not much anyone could do.

Story continues

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I was devastated. I went to the Commonwealth Bank for help in September 2023 and told them what happened, the 60-year-old said. They investigated the case. After two months, they told me I had been scammed.

They said they could not recover the funds because the overseas bank would not cooperate.

While he knows he was at fault for sending the money, he was surprised CBA didnt flag the deposits as suspicious.

Get the latest Yahoo Finance news - follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

He said he'd been crushed by the scam. His bright and relaxed retirement plans have been thrown into disarray and his self-esteem has hit rock bottom.

I am still trying to process what happened, I still feel sick just thinking about the fact that Id been scammed, he said.

Commonwealth Bank said it tried to get the money back for Calalang.

"In this instance, Mr Calalang made a number of transfers to multiple banks over a two month period in response to the scammer telling him this would in turn release a substantial inheritance," the bank said in a statement to Yahoo Finance.

"When Mr Calalang contacted CBA about the transfers he had made we promptly attempted to recover the funds but were unsuccessful."

CBA added: "CBA encourages people to be vigilant when being asked to send money, and to 'Stop. Check. Reject'. when assessing requests for payment.

"This includes taking the extra time to consult a trusted family member or friend as a sounding board before making a payment to an unfamiliar recipient if there is a promise of a large sum of money in return.

"If you think you have been scammed or if you notice an unusual transaction or one you didnt make, contact your bank immediately."

Scamwatch data found Australians lost more than $455 million to scams in 2023.

How do I protect myself from scammers?

Aussies lost a record $3.1 billion to scammers last year, an 80 per cent increase on the previous year.

Scamwatch warns to beware of the following scenarios:

Its an amazing opportunity to make or save money

Someone you havent met needs your help - and money

The message contains links or attachments

You feel pressured to act quickly

They ask you to pay in an unusual or specific way

They ask you to set up new accounts or Pay ID

What should I do if I think Ive been scammed?

Contact your bank and report the scam. Ask them to stop transactions and stop sending any money.

Report the scam to Scamwatch here and make an official complaint to police here.

Watch out for follow-up scams, particularly those promising they can get your money back. Scamwatch warned one in three victims of a scam were scammed more than once.

Lastly, get support for yourself. You can talk to a financial counsellor or reach out to BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636 or here for an online chat or Lifeline for crisis support online here on 13 11 14.

You can also contact IDCARE to reduce the harm they experience from the compromise and misuse of their identity information by providing effective response and mitigation.
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India is set to begin its phased voting process on 19 April to select a new parliament, Election Commission of India, the nations electoral body announced on Saturday.

Nearly one billion people will participate in the general elections to choose a prime minister, marking it as the largest electoral event globally.

Prime minister Narendra Modi is seeking a straight third term in office and faces little challenge from an alliance of scrambling opposition parties.

The election for 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, or lower house of parliament, will be held over almost seven weeks, beginning 19 April.

The polls will be conducted through seven phases across the 28 states and six union territories until 1 June. The counting of votes will begin on 4 June and is expected to be completed in two days.

More than 2,400 political parties are expected to put up candidates for the general elections, which early opinion polls predict would be dominated by Mr Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A worker carries a cutout of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office (AFP via Getty Images)

Voters in the Indian states of Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh would simultaneously cast their ballots to elect members of state legislatures.

Almost 970 million registered Indian voters above the age of 18 would cast their ballot to elect MPs at over a million polling stations across the country.

India's election commission on Saturday announced it would rope in nearly 15 million government employees, many of them teachers and junior workers, to help conduct the mammoth election.

Every phase of the election will span a single day, during which numerous constituencies - encompassing a variety of states, bustling urban centres, and remote villages - will cast their votes.

India's opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi interacts with his supporters during his month-long cross-country march (AP)

The staggered polling allows the government to deploy tens of thousands of troops to prevent violence and transport electoral officials and voting machines.

Chief election commissioner Rajeev Kumar issued a warning against hate speeches and "speeches along caste or religious lines, no criticism of anyone's personal lives".

The commission said it has employed 2,100 advisors to monitor the election campaigns and take "strong actions" against violation of guidelines.

Mr Modi, 73, began his election blitzkrieg on Saturday immediately with the announcement of the dates. "The biggest festival of democracy has started," the prime minister said on X.

"I have full confidence that we will get full affection and blessings of 1.4 billion family members and more than 960 million voters for the third consecutive time [sic]," he added.

Mr Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] had been in campaign mode for months before the polling dates were announced. The prime minister has been flying around the country almost every day, inaugurating new projects, making announcements, taking part in religious events and addressing public and private meetings.

Mr Modi in his speeches has been highlighting economic growth during his two terms which has resulted in India becoming the fastest-growing major economy in the world at present. A main talking point has also been his party's agenda for a Hindu majoritarian society, including the inauguration of a grand temple to Lord Ram on the site of a destroyed mosque.

Mr Modi has set a target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400-plus for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) - aiming for a four-decade high number.

His main opposition, the Indian National Congress party, which has ruled India for much of its time since independence in 1947, formed a 28-party alliance called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) to jointly fight the BJP.
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The Indian navy said it has recaptured a bulk carrier from Somali pirates off the Indian coast and rescued 17 crew members, three months after it was hijacked.

The pirates took over the carrier, MV Ruen, in December 2023 near the Yemeni island of Socotra.

On Saturday, the Indian navy announced that all 35 pirates on board the Maltese-flagged cargo ship surrendered following a 40-hour-long operation involving drones, navy vessels and marine commandos.

The vessel was checked for illegal arms, ammunition and contraband, the navy said.

The development occurred after men on the bulk carrier fired at the Indian warship Kolkata in international waters on Friday, prompting the navy to intercept the vessel approximately 2,600 km off the Indian coast.

"The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions under international law, in self-defence and to counter piracy, with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates threat to shipping and seafarers," the navy said in a statement.

The warship carried out the interception of the vessel and forced the pirates to surrender through calibrated actions, with the assistance of other marine vessels and aircraft.

None of the rescued crew members sustained injuries during the operation, it added.

Activity from Somali pirates has dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the rising attacks on ships by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Bulgarian owner Navibulgar hailed the vessel's release as a "major success" for the entire global maritime community. "The resolution of this case proves that the security of commercial shipping will not be compromised."

"The Indian navy continues to ensure safety and security of the Mariners in the Indian Ocean Region," India's defence minister Rajnath Singh said on X.

"I congratulate the Indian Navy and the brave crew onboard the ships and aircraft, including MARCOs [marine commandos], for their determined and decisive actions."

India has recently begun to flex its naval power in international waters, including conducting anti-piracy patrols and a widely publicised deployment close to the Red Sea to help protect ships from attacks during the war between Israel and Hamas.

The navy has helped at least four merchant vessels that were attacked in high seas by Houthi forces. Indian forces include three guided missile destroyers and reconnaissance aircraft.

Earlier this week, a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship with 23 crew members was hijacked by pirates off Somalia. A European Union vessel was tracking the ship, the EU's maritime security force said on Wednesday.
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Nicky Hilton Rothschild has revealed her sons name almost two years after his birth.

The heiress and the younger sister to social media star Paris Hilton, told Us Weekly that her third child with husband James Rothschilds name is Chasen. We always liked the name, and it was unusual, she told the outlet.

Hilton also shared that Chasen is trying to talk, adding, Hes saying lots of words but no full sentences yet.

The mother of three also has two daughters with Rothschild: Lily-Grace Victoria, six, and Theodora Teddy Marilyn, five. She explained that the three siblings seem to have a good relationship so far as the socialite said, Hes so sweet and his big sisters adore him.

They love him. Zero jealousy. They just dote over him, she shared of her elder daughters, explaining, Im very lucky that all of my children get along extremely well. The girls have their occasional bickering, but everyone gets along.

Despite their young ages, Hilton said that shes already begun to see various aspects of all of her kids personalities. I think my youngest, Teddy, [is] definitely more girly and feminine, she said about her middle child, noting that at Teddys school skating party she was the only student in a pink sequin dress.

As for her oldest daughter, Hilton said Lily-Grace is the most like her and is a little more quiet and reserved. And her youngest child is the spitting image of his father as his mother described him as very, very serious, adding its so cute.

Although Hilton didnt explain why she kept her sons name a secret, she did touch on the subject in a previous interview with E! News. My husband is very private, she told the outlet back in August 2022. This world is very foreign to him.

When it comes to being a new mother of three, Hilton revealed that she still struggles to get some shut-eye. I used to be able to sneak a nap in, she told the outlet. But now thats impossible.

Although they currently have their hands tied as a family of five, Hilton revealed that they arent closing the door on expanding their family in the future. You know, never say never, she said. But were very happy right now.

She first announced the birth of her third child with a touching Instagram post featuring her husband. The fashion designer and entrepreneur captioned the black-and-white image, We are officially a party of 5! Welcome to the world sweet boy. Mom, dad and big sisters could not be more smitten. However, the couple did not share any details on their sons birth date or name.

Weeks after his arrival, Hilton shared a first glimpse of their baby boy to Instagram on 21 July 2022. The new mother snapped the selfie while lounging on a shady hammock, with her sons face away from the camera. Baby bliss, she captioned the picture.

The Hilton family has only been expanding since Nickys sister Paris and her husband, Carter Reum, welcomed a baby boy, Phoenix, via surrogate in January 2023.

The heiress and entrepreneur, both 43, then had a daughter, London, also via surrogate on Thanksgiving 2023 (23 November).
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Four teenage boys have been arrested after a video of a racially-aggravated hate incident against a Black school student in Carlisle triggered public uproar on social media.

A distressing video circulating online appears to show the Black student in uniform being pushed and punched in the chest on Friday by a white male near St John Henry Newman Catholic School.

The survivor is repeatedly harassed and issued several blows before being forced to kiss the white teenager's shoes, the distressing video shows.

In another clip purportedly filmed after the incident, the white teenager can be seen following the survivor up the street and punching him twice before onlookers intervene.

The videos shared on Friday garnered over six million views on X, triggering an uproar over the blatantly racist incident.

Racism in the UK is getting worse everyday. Are Black people not safe in Carlisle? social media user Olumo of Derby captioned the video.

After the video went viral, the Cumbria police on Saturday morning initially arrested a teenage boy and said it was aware of concerns in the community.

The force urged people not to share the video in order not to impede any legal proceedings or to identify any of the children involved.

Representational: Cumbria police have arrested four boys in relation to a hate crime (PA)

The police later in the day announced the arrest of three more white teenagers, all from Carlisle.

One of the teenagers was arrested on suspicion of racially-aggravated actual bodily harm and the other three were arrested on suspicion of abetting racially-aggravated actual bodily harm.

These are abhorrent images circulating online that have caused shock and concern in both the community and among officers here at Cumbria Police, said Superintendent Sarah Jones in a statement.

She added: We ... can reassure the community this is an incident we are taking very seriously  and we have made four arrests.

Our officers have worked through the night and continue to carry out investigations today.

Police will be increasing patrols in Carlisle in response to concerns from the community.
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Residents of a small village are trying to solve a chilling mystery after dozens of dead animals were dumped outside their community shop.

Police are investigating after distraught staff found the bodies of around 50 dead hares, as well as a barn owl and a kestrel, outside the Broughton Community Shop in Hampshire on Friday morning.

It comes after several similar incidents involving dumped dead animals were reported in the area, including almost 30 rabbits being found outside a primary school.

The shop appealed for CCTV footage and locals to come forward with information as they thanked the community for coming together.

Safe to say none of us were expecting our day to start as it did here this morning at Broughton Community Shop, a Facebook post read.

Thank you all for popping in, messaging and phoning to make sure we are ok. We are ok. shocked but ok.

Mike Hensman, the treasurer for the Broughton shop, told the Salisbury Journal: We are a local community shop and we are there to serve people we are not there to clear up dead animals that somebody else has put there.

He added: People were traumatised about this but yet they came back, sorted it out and got the shop open in time to serve customers which is what we do.

Disturbing images taken by shop staff seen by The Independent show the bodies scattered in front of the building.

The attack is the latest in a string of seemingly related incidents in the area, where locals reportedly believe are carried out by poachers sending a message to locals to keep them from interfering.

Other wild creatures have been dumped nearby, including 27 rabbits outside a primary school around ten miles away in February.

Local resident Mandy Robinson, 47, told the Hampshire Chronicle: This was only about an hour or some before the school breakfast club began, so there were going to be primary school children walking by this horrible sight. I dont know why someone would do this.

The paper also reported 40 animal corpses were dumped north of the next village over in November.

Following the latest find outside the village shop, a local said: Horrible for you all, and very similar to what happened outside Awbridge Primary School a few months back.

Lets hope these thugs can be caught and stopped from terrorising more communities.

According to the Mail Online, the culprits are thought to be linked to gangs who broadcast their activities live on Facebook.

One local farmer, whose land has been targeted repeatedly, told the paper: They are basically laughing in our faces. The horrific display they left outside our community shop is obviously meant to let us know theyre invincible.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: We can confirm we are investigating following a report that a number of dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton.

Anyone with information about the latest incident is asked to contact police on 101 using the crime reference number 44240111410, or visit hampshire.police.uk.
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Gripping a bag of morphine handed to him by hospital staff, Antonio sheltered at a bus stop, cold and shivering, as he tried to work out what to do.

It was three days after undergoing gruelling surgery to remove his testicular cancer and the 36-year-old had been discharged from NHS care with nowhere to go.

He was clutching a referral letter for the councils housing team, given to him by hospital staff. When he arrived at the council office, he explained he had been homeless for the past few months  but was told they could not house him.

They asked me: If you are in so much pain and trouble, why did they send you here? and I didnt know what to say, Antonio, whose name has been changed, tells The Independent. He was given a piece of paper with a phone number on it and told to call the next day.

It was now late in the afternoon and the Salvation Armys homeless day centre, where he would usually go for help, was closed. He had no option but to turn around and ready himself for a night on the streets.

Antonios story is, tragically, not unique. He is one of thousands of people across England who have been discharged from NHS hospitals into homelessness in recent years, many while still battling serious health conditions.

Data obtained by The Independent, in collaboration with the Salvation Army, shows at least 4,200 people were discharged from wards to no fixed abode in 2022/23.

According to the figures, which came from FOI responses from around half of NHS trusts, there were another 1,461 occasions that people were discharged in this way, but the data does not reflect whether these were individual cases or repeat patients.

The shocking statistics show patients were discharged from a range of wards, including maternity departments, stroke wards and general surgery. Some had recently undergone treatment for complications caused by HIV.

These patients may end up in B&Bs, sofa-surfing or in temporary hotel accommodation. But many will end up on the streets. Government data released this month shows 82 people who left hospital in England in the last 85 days were recorded as sleeping rough in December 2023. That number stood at 100 in October last year.

In December 2023, 82 people who had recently left hospital were sleeping on the streets (iStock)

MPs have now called on the government to break the link between rough sleeping and discharge from public institutions  such as hospitals, prisons and asylum seeker hotels  as the figures give a harrowing snapshot into the homelessness crisis facing Britain.

Shadow homelessness minister Mike Amesbury warned those most in need are falling through the cracks as care and housing agencies were not working together.

It was the worst night of my life  Antonio

Antonio became homeless in the summer of 2023 after splitting up with his girlfriend and struggling to find a new place to live. With nowhere to stay, he gave up his job as a machine operator in a factory.

He soon became a regular at a homeless shelter run by the Salvation Army. It was the staff there who sent him to hospital when he told them he was experiencing swelling and pain in his testicle.

Before going in for his operation, Antonio had thrown his sleeping bag over a fence near the local Asda, where he had been sleeping rough for several months, to keep it safe.

He liked the spot because it was just far away enough from the city centre for him to be left in peace. He preferred to sleep alone, away from others who could steal his belongings or attack him  something he had experienced in the past.

However, after being discharged, Antonio was too ill to climb over the fence and retrieve his belongings. It was the worst night of my life, he tells The Independent.

Antonio decided to sit at the bus stop until he could find help in the morning. He was in considerable pain but didnt want to take the drugs he had been given in case he fell into a deep sleep and could not keep himself safe.

It was very, very hard, the pain. They gave me maybe 10 days worth of morphine but I knew I needed to be awake so I could get myself back to yhe Salvation Army the next morning, he says. God bless there was no rain, but it was not warm at all.

13.7 per cent of health service workers said that patients were discharged to the street all the time, a survey by Crisis and Pathway found (Getty Images)

He goes on: If you fall asleep somewhere that people walk past you never know what will happen to you. I couldnt get to the place where I used to sleep, where no one would see me, so I was just sitting there waiting. I survived till morning.

Jillian Franks, project manager at the shelter, was able to step in when Antonio turned up the next day. She says she contacted the councils social services team, who were able to help where the housing team wasnt, and they found Antonio a B&B for two nights.

Antonio is now living in a care home and has gone through five rounds of chemotherapy. Caseworkers have helped him claim benefits and he is certain he wont be going back to the streets.

Patients released after treatment for strokes, HIV and swelling on the brain

According to data uncovered by The Independent, of the 4,196 people discharged from hospital to no fixed abode in 2022/23, more than a quarter  27 per cent  were readmitted as a patient within six months of their discharge.

Shockingly, the figure is likely to be much higher as only 98 of around 200 NHS trusts responded to requests for information. The figures are also likely to be an underestimate as, where trusts said the number of people was less than five, we counted that as just one patient.

Recording a patient as having no fixed abode acts as a good indicator of the number of homeless people being treated but it is not a perfect record. Some homeless people may give an old address, often out of shame, which means they wont be recorded in the data. Likewise, some people might be recorded as no fixed abode if they came into hospital unconscious or in chaotic circumstances.

The data shows that:

One person diagnosed with unspecified swelling in the brain or spinal cord was discharged from Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to no fixed abode. The person, who also had substance abuse issues, was then readmitted less than six months later.

At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, two individuals were discharged to no fixed abode from the maternity department.

At Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, two people were discharged in the past year from the transient ischaemic attack service, which treats people who have had temporary or mild strokes.

Four people with no recorded homes were also discharged from general surgery, which usually covers surgery on the abdominal organs among other things.

At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, 473 people were recorded as discharged to no fixed abode in 2022/23  up from 341 in 2017/18  mostly from general medicine, geriatric medicine and A&E. The trust said not everyone included as having no fixed abode would be homeless, and that all patients were discharged with appropriate care and support where possible.

Twenty-three people were also discharged from these hospitals after treatment for problems with their stomach and intestines, which had been caused by HIV complications. Recent data shows Westminster has the largest rough sleeping population of any area in England.

The Independent approached every NHS trust named in the statistics. Further figures from local authorities for the same year show 2,910 homeless people were referred to councils from a hospital A&E, urgent treatment centre or in-patient care. A further 1,160 people were referred from mental health in-patient care.

According to recent research from the charity Homeless Link, 24 per cent of homeless people surveyed said they ended up on the streets after a recent hospital stay, with a further 21 per cent discharged into unsuitable accommodation.

Although the number of those discharged onto the street is down from its peak in 2017/18, MPs are calling on the government to pledge that no one will ever be discharged from hospitals onto the streets.

In a January letter sent to ministers across the government, coordinated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for ending homelessness, 48 MPs said the government should break the link between rough sleeping and discharge from a public institution. They mentioned prisons and asylum accommodation, as well as hospitals, as releasing people onto the streets without help.

A government spokesperson said that no one should be discharged from hospital to the streets (Getty Images)

Responding to this investigation, a government spokesperson said no one should be discharged from hospital to the streets, adding that ministers were working to make sure that people at risk of or experiencing homelessness have a place to stay.

Mr Amesbury said the Tories were forcing more and more vulnerable people onto the streets of Britain and promised that a future Labour government would deliver the biggest boost to affordable, social and council housing for a generation.

An NHS England spokesperson says: All patients experiencing or at risk of homelessness should be referred to a care transfer hub, with clinical teams identifying at-risk patients as early as possible.

I was in hospital for seven months  when I came out I was homeless  Rosie

Rosie, whose name has been changed, ended up homeless after a serious injury from a fall landed her in hospital for seven months.

The 40-year-old had worked as a finance professional for a private medical clinic before her admission. She ended up staying in hospital far longer than expected after doctors discovered some pre-existing conditions.

Unable to keep up with the rent on her flat, Rosie had nowhere to live when she was discharged and ended up in a hotel for two months.

Discussions around her housing options started months before she finally had to leave, with a dedicated hospital discharge team working with the local council to try and find a suitable home for her as she was now reliant on a wheelchair.

Even with that support, the council struggled to find her a home and called in tech company Beam to help. Beam works to crowdfund money for people referred to them by councils and charities. They helped Rosie find a suitable rented property to live in, which was wheelchair accessible and near enough to the NHS trust that she goes to for care. Crucially, they convinced Rosies landlord to take her on as a tenant, despite her receiving benefits.

But, even then, Rosie had to spend two months in a hotel after being discharged before she could move into her more permanent home.

Salvation Army staff member Louis Juster (left) with residents at St Anns shelter in central London (The Salvation Army)

Alex Stephany, the founder of Beam, says: There simply is not enough temporary accommodation or social housing around and so councils need to find ways of supporting people to enter the private rented sector where the vast majority of housing stock is.

Priority given to pregnant women, the disabled and mentally unwell

With councils struggling to finance the ballooning costs of temporary accommodation, homeless people referred from hospital can often be turned away if they are not deemed to be in priority need for housing.

Housing laws state that councils have a duty to find accommodation for people who are homeless but only if they are classed as in priority need, such as pregnant women, a person with dependent children, someone with a disability, victims of abuse or those with severe mental illness.

To qualify as vulnerable, a person must be significantly more vulnerable than an ordinary person would be if they became homeless.

Sophie Boobis, at Homeless Link, says a lack of joined-up working between health teams and homelessness services was failing patients.

She says: Essentially you have to be more vulnerable as a result of your illness, or more at risk of harm, compared to the average person experiencing homelessness.

So the threshold for need can be quite high, especially as most people on the streets will be experiencing some sort of mental health difficulties and in many cases high levels of trauma.

She adds that guidelines on homelessness health are not being consistently implemented across NHS trusts: I think enforcement would really help, as would a greater understanding of homelessness within the health services.

Nick Redmore, director of homeless services at the Salvation Army, says that, even if hospitals refer homeless patients to their local council, they will often be turned away, leaving hospitals with little choice but to discharge them back onto the streets.

Louis Juster supports homeless people to recover after discharge from hospital (The Salvation Army)

He says: Forcing clinically vulnerable people to sleep rough can cause them undue pain and distress, reverse their recovery and be life-threatening. It also risks undoing the hard work of medical professionals and wasting NHS resources, as the high level of hospital readmittance shows.

Despite the good intentions of hospital staff, these findings clearly show that the system is failing patients who are homeless. Living on the streets is no place for anyone let alone someone recovering from illness or surgery.

Councillor Darren Rodwell, at the Local Government Association, says demand is outstripping supply for homes, adding: Councils are under mounting pressure to find suitable homes for an ever-increasing number of people and are doing the best they can under the current circumstances.

He adds that more support was needed to enable councils to build enough social homes for residents.

Some people come for help still wearing their hospital bands  Louis Juster

Some NHS trusts are trying to find a permanent solution. At St Anns shelter in Westminster, five rooms are available to house homeless people who are discharged from Guys and St Thomas hospital. The accommodation is funded by the NHS trust with support work provided by the Salvation Army.

Louis Juster, who works at the shelter, says the centre demonstrated what can happen if there is somewhere to catch those people who have been failed by other services.

One patient at St Anns had been living in a shed before he was admitted to hospital with various health complications, including heart failure, Mr Juster recounts. He was not very well at all when he came here, to the point where he literally collapsed out in the courtyard out front. He was depressed for days on end sometimes, keeping to his room, and he had a couple of episodes of medication that were not quite right.

Being here meant that he had people to talk to. It meant that when he did collapse, there were people around to call an ambulance and do first aid. I believe that on one of those occasions if he had still been in that shed, he would have just never woken up again. He would have died.

According to research by the Museum of Homelessness, 1,313 people died while homeless in the UK in 2022.

Mr Juster also works at a homeless day centre near Oxford Circus, just two stops on the tube away from St Anns, yet the contrast is stark. People come in relatively frequently  perhaps two or three times a year  with their hospital bands still on. Theyve been discharged perhaps a few days ago and theyve already gone downhill to such a state that they need to go back in, he explains.

Dennesse, the visiting nurse at St Anns, says patients come in with range of illnesses including fractures, leg ulcers, pneumonia, frost bite and diabetes. There will be [illnesses] that are a direct result of rough sleeping and also things that are exacerbated by the rough sleeping, she says. One example of that is diabetes. There are also wounds from violence on on the streets.

There was someone who was rough sleeping and someone stepped on them as a sort of power trip. One of his joints was hyperextended the wrong way.

Charles, 68, says the Salvation Armys St Anns shelter had been my salvation (The Salvation Army)

I was about to go back to the street  but then I was brought here  Charles, 68

Charles, 68, arrived at the centre in April 2023 after a four-week stay in hospital for untreated diabetes. Dressed smartly in a blazer and trousers given to him by the centre, he spoke to The Independent in St Anns lounge space  a small room with some sofas where residents relax and see the visiting nurse. The sitting room was near his bedroom, which he kept tidy  a wireless radio perched by his bed so he could sit and listen to the news.

Charles had been rough sleeping in London when he began to get sick  his legs and lower body swelling up, with wounds and sores developing on his legs. I was able to see a nurse at a homelessness day centre and they did my blood pressure and it was over 200, very high. They said I needed to go to the hospital immediately. When they saw me [the A&E doctors] they said no you are not leaving, he explains.

Charless diabetes had caused other complications including severe blurred vision caused by swelling behind his eye. He has since recovered his sight and when the time came for him to be discharged from hospital, Charles explained to the staff that he had nowhere to go and he had no belongings to take with him.

They said, There is a place, dont worry. They brought a cab and it brought me here. When I first came here I was so sick, I couldnt do anything. I couldnt even go to the kitchen to cook and one of the other men here, he cooked for me while I was not able to help myself.

St Ann's residents Charles (left) and Stephen (right) make tea (The Salvation Army)

He adds sincerely: These people, I will never turn my back against them, they helped me a lot. Showing The Independent around the centres kitchen, he proudly opened a packed fridge full of vegetables, which he eats to keep healthy. He keeps his prized packet of pounded yam in his cupboard and sometimes cooks his native Ghanaian food for his fellow flatmates, he says.

He also has a care plan, printed out on a A4 piece of paper. A grid documented all the things his caseworkers are helping him with; obtaining a bus pass, registering for benefits, registering with a dentist, working to find future accommodation, among other things.

They are able to do all these things for me, he says, gesturing to the sheet. I was going to die  my situation was so bad. I had wounds all over my body  because I was sleeping rough. But they were able to help me. I will never forget them, never.
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Cancer and stroke patients are among thousands of people being discharged from NHS hospitals every year with nowhere to live, The Independent can reveal.

People recovering from major surgery are also among those who have been released from care to no fixed abode, the designation for people with no home address.

In one instance, a man who had received surgery for testicular cancer three days earlier was left gripping a bag of morphine supplies and sheltering in a bus stop overnight as he worked out where he was going to live.

Hundreds of rough sleepers last year were found to have recently left hospitals, prompting MPs to call on the government to break the link between rough sleeping and discharge from an institution.

Those discharged to no fixed abode may end up in B&Bs, sofa-surfing or in temporary hotel accommodation after a recent hospital stay, while others may end up on the streets.

Charities called for an end to the discharge of hospital patients to the streets, warning: We can and must do better.

Nick Redmore, from the Salvation Army, responded to The Independents investigation, saying: Despite the good intentions of hospital staff, these findings clearly show that, tragically, the system is failing patients who are homeless.

Living on the streets, without shelter or washing and sanitation facilities, not knowing where your next meal is coming from and worrying about your safety, is no place for anyone, let alone someone recovering from illness or surgery.

Shadow homelessness minister Mike Amesbury accused the Tories of forcing more and more vulnerable people onto the streets of Britain.

He said that a Labour government would ensure agencies worked together to stop those at the sharp end falling through the cracks.

Data obtained from around half of NHS trusts by The Independent shows at least 4,200 people were discharged to no fixed abode in 2022/23.

1,461 separate additional instances where people were discharged with nowhere to live were also recorded by trusts that year.

A government spokesperson said that no one should be discharged from hospital to the streets (iStock)

New data released by the government this month shows that 82 people, who had left hospital in England in the previous 85 days, were recorded as sleeping rough in December 2023. That number stood at 100 in October last year, figures showed.

Among the cases revealed in The Independents special report were:

 A man supported by the Salvation Army who told how he had been forced to spend a night on the streets after being discharged following a testicular cancer operation

 A woman who spent seven months in hospital with health complications after a fall, who had to live in a hotel for two months before she was helped to find a home by social enterprise tech company, Beam, which helps people crowd fund for financial support

 A charity worker who described seeing homeless people coming into a central London shelter with their hospital bands still on, needing urgent medical care because their health had deteriorated since they were discharged

 A man who had been sleeping on the streets of London, who said he felt he had been saved from death by an NHS trust who gave him a flat to recover in after his hospital stay

Recording a patient as having no fixed abode acts as a good indicator of the number of homeless people being treated but it is not a perfect record. Experts explained that some homeless people may give an incorrect address when asked, as they feel shame. They then wont be recorded in the statistics. Similarly, some might be recorded as of no fixed abode if they came into hospital unconscious or in chaotic circumstances.

New research from charities Crisis and Pathway found that, according to more than 150 health service professionals surveyed, a shortage of council housing, NHS bed pressures and lack of care home placements are all contributing to the problem.

When asked, 13.7 per cent of health service workers said that patients were discharged to the street all the time, and 36.3 per cent said it was happening often.

Alex Bax, chief executive of Pathway, called for an end to dangerous practices such as discharge from hospital to the streets.

Matt Downie, Crisis chief executive, said their research had shown that the availability of affordable, good-quality housing is fundamental to our health. He added: Westminster must work with NHS England to increase the availability of specialist care for people most excluded in our communities, to ensure no one is shut out from our healthcare system.

Responding to this investigation, a government spokesperson said: No one should be discharged from hospital to the streets, adding that ministers were working to make sure that people at risk of or experiencing homelessness have a place to stay.

An NHS England spokesperson said: All patients experiencing or at risk of homelessness should be referred to a care transfer hub, with clinical teams identifying at-risk patients as early as possible.
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The Princess of Wales posted a message to mark St Patricks Day as she missed Irelands national day of celebration for the first time in years amid her ongoing health concerns.

Kate was forced to skip this years parade while she continues to recover from abdominal surgery that she underwent in January.

She became the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards last year but was not in attendance at the Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Sunday. Apart from missing 2016s celebrations, Kate has attended every parade since 2012.

In a message posted on X from the Prince and Princess of Wales account, the couple said: Happy St Patricks Day! Heres a sneak peak of the @irish_guards rehearsing for their annual parade. Slainte to all those celebrating today!

Kate was pictured smiling at last years celebrations (Reuters)

The message was posted along a video featuring the Irish Guards.

The princess has been subject to conspiracy theories about her health in recent weeks but as she recovers away from the public eye at her home in Windsor.

The Princess of Wales spoke out on St Patricks Day as she misses celebrations for the first time in seven years amid her ongoing health concerns (PA Wire)

Despite her absence, the Irish Guards paid tribute to their absent colonel, as they gave three cheers for the princess.

The British army in London posted on X: In keeping with tradition wherever they are in the world the @irish_guards give a rousing three cheers for the Colonel of the Regiment HRH the Princess of Wales at their St Patricks Day Parade in Aldershot.

They removed their bearskin headdresses before giving three cheers of hip hip hooray.

Last year, Kate was pictured in the rain presenting the armys canine mascot Seamus with the traditional sprig of shamrock. She later enjoyed a glass of Guinness with the troops.

It was the first time in nearly a year that a full contingent of Irish Guardsmen had come together for a parade, with the last being the coronation of the King in May 2023, according to the Army.

The message comes as friends close to Kate told The Sunday Times that she may speak out about her health issues at a later date.

The mother-of-three has faced a massive amount of speculation about her condition in recent weeks and faced fresh furore over an edited family photo issued on Mothers Day.

The mother-of-three has faced a massive amount of speculation about her condition in recent weeks and faced fresh furore over an edited family photo issued on Mothers Day (Getty)

Those close to Kate and the Prince of Wales say the couple will disclose more information about her recovery in due course, according to The Sunday Times, which reports her return is expected after 17 April.

A source told the newspaper: They are at their most open when out interacting with members of the public and I can see a world in which the princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it.

It comes as another friend told the same paper Kate edited the infamous Mothers Day photo because she was trying to make her family look the best they can.

The picture issued by Kensington Palace was withdrawn with a Kill notice by international picture agencies and the UKs PA news agency after concerns were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlottes sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt.

A source told The Sunday Times: Its a photo that she knew everyone would pore over so she pored over it herself  she likes trying to make the family look the best they can.

It was also reported that the ordeal would not stop the mother-of-three from taking and sharing photos to mark her childrens birthdays.

Prince Louis turns six on 23 April and sources close to the couple told The Sunday Times no firm decision has been taken yet on whether Kate will be behind the camera.

They appreciate the publics love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays, an aide told the paper.
There are some who love nothing more than a conspiracy theory, or better still one laced with a whiff of royal scandal; the disappearance of Kate Middleton and that Mothers Day photograph have gripped audiences around the world. Especially in America.

TMZ, the USAs behemoth showbiz site, insisted the palace has got caught in a lie  confidence is shot. Time magazine ran a similar editorial: The royal family has a trust problem. Both have a point, but Kensington Palace doesn't see it like that. And nor do Britains supposedly attack-dog tabloids.

The same day America demanded accountability, The Sun newspaper urged its readers to Lay off Kate and an unusually rueful Daily Mail mused How did Kates photo become a PR disaster?
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The M25 in Surrey has reopened eight hours ahead of schedule after the first planned daytime closure of the motorway.

A five-mile stretch between junctions 10 and 11 closed in both directions at 9pm on Friday and was due to open at around 6am on Monday.

However, following works to demolish a bridge and install a huge gantry, it reopened at just after 10pm on Sunday.

The National Highways South-East (NHSE) said on X, formerly Twitter: Wed like to say a massive thank you to everyone for your patience and following our travel advice.

The closure had prompted concerns that thousands of drivers would be stuck in gridlocked traffic over the weekend during the unprecedented closure on the south-west of the orbital route.

There had been some build-up, with congestion stretching two miles at one point, but traffic along the new route through the towns of Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw was not as bad as feared.

Drivers were told to avoid travelling over the weekend, and the advice meant traffic levels were reduced by more than 50% compared with normal and around half an hour was added to journey times.

Amanda Boote, of Woking Borough Council, told the PA news agency: Its actually been as lot better than we expected, its not gridlocked in the way that we thought it would be.

It was built up a bit, but no different to how it might normally be. Actually residents are quite happy, theyve been sleeping well because its so quiet overnight.

It was the first planned daytime closure of the M25  which encircles London  since it opened in 1986.

Some locals visited the empty motorway to take selfies.

An 11.5-mile diversion route was created to direct traffic along A roads.

The M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends between junctions nine and 11.

This includes many airline passengers travelling to, from and between the UKs two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

Four more daytime closures of the M25 will take place up to September.

The project, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes at junction 10, which is one of the UKs busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.
Chaldean, Assyrian, and Armenian Representatives Condemn Iraqi Supreme Court Ruling

Representatives of Chaldean, Assyrian, and Armenian civil society organizations issued a joint statement during a press conference on Saturday. The statement was directed at the international community, UN human rights organizations, the European Union in Iraq, the US Representative in Iraq, all Iraqi embassies and consulates in the Kurdistan Region, as well as the three Iraqi presidencies and Iraq's High Commission for Human Rights.

The statement said that the ruling of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court deprived the religious and ethnic communities of the Kurdistan Parliament of their rights, even though they have been granted this right by the Kurdistan Parliament since 1992.

The statement also added that the ruling of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court came as an unexpected and unjust blow to their communities, particularly concerning their participation in the Kurdistan parliamentary elections.

They condemned the decision as oppressive towards ethnic and religious communities, who have fought alongside the Kurdistan Liberation Movement in Iraq and actively participated in the political process of the new Iraq.

As per Article 36 of the Kurdistan Parliamentary Election Law, five seats were reserved for Chaldeans, and Assyrians, one for Armenians and five for Turkmens, but the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq annulled the 11 seats on Feb. 21.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on March 3, set June 10 for parliamentary elections.

Every four years, Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections are held to elect the 111 members. The election was first held in 1992 and the most recent election was held in 2018.

Dawid Salman, the Director of the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission, previously told Kurdistan24 that there are 3.6 million eligible voters in the Kurdistan Region.
More than 30 people, mostly from the same family, were killed after an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian sources. It is claimed that the bombing came at the moment when the family gathered to prepare a "suhoor" meal (a special for during the Ramadan, supposed to be consumed right before the sunrise). The IDF reported that it will be looking into what happened.

While fighting and bombing continue, truce talks are to resume in Doha on Sunday, between Qatar, Israel and Egypt, expected to discuss the latest Hamas proposition concerning hostages swap. Israeli delegation is led by Mossad Director David Barnea.

Anti-government protesters in Israel, having traditionally gathered tens of thousands on Saturday in Tel Aviv, demanding the government to accept the plan to release the hostages. The government, on this background, is expected, during the Sunday session, to appoint October 7 as the National Memorial day, to remember the victims of the Hamas' attack.

Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group block a road during a rally calling for their release in Tel Aviv - Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

With another peace initiative, German chancellor Olaf Scholz has departed on his Middle Eastern voyage, first to Jordan, and is supposed to arrive in Israel after. His key objective is to let more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Spanish-flagged "Open Arms" ship is reported to have unloaded its cargo and departed back to Larnaka. Cyprus authorities said to media that a second vessel is ready to leave the port towards Gaza following the same route, but no further details are available so far.
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Revellers in Ireland and beyond celebrated St Patrick's Day on Sunday with colourful parades attended by the masses.

Vibrant pictures from the likes of Dublin, London, Belfast and Chicago showed thousands of people come together on the streets and in traditional Irish pubs to celebrate the holiday.

The holiday commemorates Irelands patron saint and was made popular around the world by Irish immigrants, evolving into a day of festive cheer for all.

Heres how people around the world celebrated St Patricks Day:

St. Patrick's Day parade, in Dublin (REUTERS)

Dublin

In Irelands capital, tens of thousands of people lined the streets to watch the iconic parade.

Attendees wearing shamrock-shaped sunglasses, Irish jerseys and leprechaun hats thronged the streets of Dublin ahead of the parades midday start.

The city was expecting as many as 500,000 people to attend as visitors travelled from as far away as Bolivia, California and China to catch a glimpse of the vibrant spectacle.

St Patrick's Day Parade - Dublin (Michael Chester/PA Wire)

County Down comedian and Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty was this years grand master of the parade and described Irelands national day as the biggest party in the world.

Many attendees said they had travelled to take part in what they said was a worldwide party.

Its a big party, were here to have fun. People are very kind and friendly and we love the country, Flavie Rougier from France said, who was visiting Dublin for three days with her mother Joelle and their friend Mathilde.

St Patrick's Day Parade - Belfast (David Young/PA Wire)

Belfast

In Belfast, thousands of people gathered to watch as a colourful and noisy parade made its way through the city centre.

Lord Mayor Ryan Casey led the carnival procession as it departed from outside City Hall with dancers, drummers, giant characters in costume and brightly coloured props in two.

The crowds of both young and old spectators were visibly delighted by the show which got underway at 1:30pm.

A light rain shower amid the spring sunshine failed to dampen the spirits as the Northern Ireland capital partied for the patron saint.

St Patrick's Day Parade - London (Lucy North/PA Wire)

London

In London, more than 50,000 people were expected to join the annual procession of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry through the capital.

The parade started in Hyde Park Corner at noon, with a route through Piccadilly, St Jamess Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall, ending with live performances at Trafalgar Square.

St Patrick's Day Parade - London (Lucy North/PA Wire)

Spectators were wowed by Irish marching bands and dance troupes such as Maguire OShea Academy of Irish Dance and The London Celtic Youth Orchestra, all to celebrate Irish culture and heritage.

Sundays celebrations, hosted by the Mayor of London, marked the 21st year od the annual event.

(AP)

Chicago

While St Patricks Day falls on 17 March, some parades were moved to Saturday in the US.

Ahead of Chicagos parade, thousands of people decked out in green with beers in hand gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green.

The tradition dates back to 1962 when Richard J. Daley was the mayor of Chicago, but the idea stems back from the Plumbers Local Union.

The green dye was initially used to identify how sewage was getting into the water and showed where there were leaky pipes.

Bar patrons celebrate during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City (AFP via Getty Images)

In festive spirit, the Plumbers Local Union decided to dump 100 pounds of dye in the river for St. Patricks Day, and it lasted a week.

One attendee, Ryan Fox, 37, said seeing the river dyed by boat was one of his bucket list items.

If theres a city that does it better than Chicago, Id like to see it, he told ITV.
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People have been urged to brace for possible flooding in more than 140 areas in England and Wales, as the Met Office forecasts yet more rain will lash the UK in the coming days.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales have issued 20 flood warnings, ranging from near Warminster, Dorchester and Salisbury in the south, to Warwick, Birmingham, Keswick and Carmarthen further north.

A further 122 flood alerts  meaning flooding is possible  are in force across England and Wales, mostly in southern and central regions.

Englands Environment Agency has issued scores of flood warnings and alerts, mainly concentrated in southern and central parts of the UK (Environment Agency)

The Met Office had issued a weather warning across Swansea and the surrounding area until 6am on Sunday, as forecasters cautioned that 50mm of rain  close to the citys monthly average of 68mm for March  could fall in places, with 20 to 30mm expected more widely.

The national forecaster warns that more rain will fall over the course of Sunday, albeit with some sunny spells and relatively mild temperatures of up to 17C in the southeast.

Outbreaks of rain across much of England and Wales, and Shetland will gradually clear eastwards, the Met Office predicts. Otherwise there will be sunny spells, but with showers, especially across central parts of England, Northern Ireland and other northwestern areas later.

While much of the rain is expected to clear overnight, further downpours are forecast in Northern Ireland on Sunday evening.

Sunday will see a brief dry and brighter interlude for most of us, but it wont last, said Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell.

Much of England and Wales awoke to rain on Sunday (Met Office )

Another weather system is arriving later on Monday and this will maintain this rather changeable pattern that we have been experiencing.

Frequent rain and brisk winds dominate the forecasts for the week ahead, with all parts of the UK set to be caught in the downpours.

Murlough in Northern Ireland saw the worst of the rainfall on Saturday, with 27.6mm recorded as falling in 24 hours  equating to more than a third of its monthly average. Lerwick, in Shetland, saw the most sunshine, with 9.1 hours of rays.
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Boris Johnsons secret trip to meet Venezuelas autocratic president Nicolas Maduro last month was paid for by a hedge fund that stands to gain from improved relations between the West and the Latin American republic, it has been claimed.

The former prime minister was accompanied on the visit by Maarten Petermann, the founder of Merlyn Advisors, for which he works as a paid consultant.

Mr Johnson took time out from a holiday in the Caribbean to travel by private jet for the talks, and Mr Peterman sat in on discussions with the president, The Sunday Times reported.

Boris Johnsons spokesman said the visit was to emphasise the need for Venezuela to embrace a proper democratic process (Getty)

He has said the talks were to emphasise the need for Venezuela to embrace a proper democratic process.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson also said he set out the case for the cause of Ukrainian victory to the government of Venezuela.

And they said the ex-PM repeatedly made clear there can be no hope of normalisation in relations until Venezuela fully embraces democracy and respects the territorial integrity of its neighbours.

The UK does not accept the legitimacy of Mr Maduros administration, with the president having been in power for 11 years.

But Mr Johnson did not mention that the trip was funded by Merlyn and that he has been paid for consultancy work and speeches by the firm, or that Mr Petermann had accompanies him.

But The Sunday Times reported that Mr Petermann, a former senior banker at the investment bank JP Morgan, sat in on his talks with the Venezuelan president.

Mr Petermann has privately expressed frustration at the state of relations with Venezuela, warning that it would drive Mr Maduro into the hands of hostile countries such as Russia.

Sources told The Sunday Times Mr Petermann has repeatedly raised his inability to trade the countrys sovereign debt, the buying and selling of which was banned under Trump-era US sanctions designed to force Mr Maduro from office.

And, describing the exchange between Mr Johnson and Mr Maduro, one told the paper: It was a robust exchange which focused entirely on democracy and human rights and Ukraine. The Chavistas have banned their principal opponent Maria Corina Machado from appearing on the ballot paper. Boris Johnson told Maduro that in a democracy the people, not politicians, decide who should be elected.

He said there was no hope of normalisation with the West as long as she was off the ballot paper. Maduro said she was a traitor who sided with the United States. Boris said it should be up to the people to judge.

Mr Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but only after judges banned his main opponents from taking part, a move which plunged the country into a severe political and economic crisis.

Nicolas Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but only after judges banned his main opponents from taking part (AP)

Since then, Venezuela has come under intense international pressure to hold a free and fair election.

Tensions were also inflamed last year when the country claimed sovereignty over a disputed oil-and-mineral-rich area of neighbouring Guyana.

The UK minister for the Americas and Caribbean, David Rutley, met with Guyanese president Irfaan Ali in December to stress the governments backing for the former British colony.

Foreign secretary Lord Cameron was told of the summit via text message when Mr Johnson was already en route.

Boris Johnson and Merlyn Advisors have been contacted for comment.
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Rishi Sunak has been warned his stick to the plan slogan is useless because voters feel worse off than when the Conservatives came to power in 2010.

The prime minister has been told that repeatedly contrasting his own plan with Labour, who he says will take the country back to square one, will likely backfire.

Most people would really quite like to go back to square one instead, pollster Luke Tryl, of More in Common, told The Independent.

Rishi Sunak has been warned his stick to the plan mantra will not win over voters who feel worse off (PA Wire)

His warning came after polling the country on the infamous so-called Reagan question, to find out whether the public feel better off than when David Cameron entered Downing Street 14 years ago.

Ronald Reagan asked voters during a debate in the final week of the 1980 US presidential election if they were better off today than you were four years ago. Mr Reagans rival, then-incumbent Jimmy Carter, saw his polling numbers plummet and Mr Reagan won by a huge margin.

And More in Commons latest poll, seen by The Independent, showed voters in the UK also feel worse off with the general election looming. More than half of the public say they are worse off than they were 14 years ago, with just a quarter saying they feel better off.

Meanwhile, 48 per cent of those who backed the Tories under Boris Johnson in 2019 say they feel poorer, with just a third of Conservatives saying they feel better off than 14 years ago.

As well as the public themselves feeling poorer, eight in 10 voters said they think the country as a whole is worse off than 14 years ago, with only one in 10 saying it is better off.

Mr Tryl told The Independent: Asked Ronald Reagans famous maxim of whether they are better, voters across the board answer that both they and the country are worse off than they were 14 years ago when the Tories took over.

Mr Sunak has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer will take the country back to square one (PA Wire)

That is the fundamental problem the Tories face with trying to convince the public to stick with the plan  most people would really quite like to go back to square one instead.

Mr Sunak has repeatedly urged voters to stick with the Tories in the next general election  saying that while his party was now starting to deliver, putting Labour into power would take the UK back to square one.

The poll comes after Mr Sunak ruled out a snap election on 2 May amid mounting speculation in Westminster that he wanted to coincide with the local elections.

Mr Sunak did not indicate when the election would be called, but Downing Street sources told The Independent that the date has been pencilled in for 10 October.

Polls have repeatedly put the Conservatives on course for a landslide defeat, with Sir Keir comfortably on course to win the keys to No 10 Downing Street.

And a poll on Friday will add to the headache facing Mr Sunak. British Polling Council member PeoplePolling found the Tories were backed by just 18 per cent of voters, 28 points behind Labour on 46 per cent of the vote.

With Nigel Farages Reform UK on 13 per cent, it would spell electoral oblivion for the party, likely setting them on course to lose hundreds of seats.

The Conservatives declined to comment.
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Rishi Sunak is bracing for a rebellion over plans to exempt Afghan heroes who have supported UK troops from being deported to Rwanda.

The House of Lords backed an amendment to the prime ministers flagship small boats bill which would prevent deportation of anyone who supported British armed forces in an exposed or meaningful manner to the east African country.

It comes after extensive reporting by The Independent on the plight of Afghan heroes who helped the British but were left behind after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats one of his key pledges to voters (PA Wire)

And, as the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill this week returns to the House of Commons, MPs are set to vote on whether to strip out amendments made by peers. Labour is poised to back the 10 amendments sent back by peers, including on Afghans, meaning a Tory rebellion could force the PMs hand.

The amendment was backed by two former chiefs of the defence staff, a former defence secretary and a former British ambassador to the US.

It was one of several defeats for Mr Sunak over the Rwanda bill in the House of Lords this month.

The Independent has documented several cases of asylum seekers who supported the UK armed forces efforts in Afghanistan and who have since been threatened with removal to Rwanda after arriving in the UK via small boat.

The bill will now go through an extended tussle between the Commons and Lords during ping-pong, where legislation is batted between the two Houses until agreement is reached.

The prime minister had previously warned the Lords against frustrating the will of the people by hampering the passage of the bill, which has already been approved by MPs.

Mr Sunaks government is using the bill to try and prevent any legal challenges by asylum seekers to their deportation.

It also currently gives ministers the power to ignore emergency injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights, aiming at clearing the way to send asylum seekers on flights to Rwanda by spring.

The Home Office is considering widening an existing voluntary scheme for migrants to Rwanda (PA Wire)

Other amendments which the PM will seek to strip out of the bill include one that would overturn the governments plan to oust the domestic courts from the process of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Peers also voted to enable UK courts to consider appeals against age assessment decisions before a person claiming to be an unaccompanied child is removed to Rwanda.

The Afghan amendment was brought forward by former Labour defence secretary Lord Browne of Ladyton, who highlighted his concerns with the proposed law by citing four examples of cases uncovered by The Independent.

They include former members of the Afghan special forces units, known as The Triples, who fought alongside and were paid and trained by the UK special forces. One former senior British diplomat said it beggared belief that these soldiers, who were forced to flee the Taliban, could face being deported to the east African country after all they had been through.

Under the terms of the Illegal Migration Act, the government is required to remove illegal migrants who entered the country after 20 July 2023, when the act received royal assent. The act also bans ministers from granting asylum to anyone who entered the UK illegally on or after 7 March 2023, when it had its first reading.

The new clause, which is also being proposed by crossbench peers Lord Houghton of Richmond, Lord Stirrup, and Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, would mean that people of any nationality who supported the armed forces overseas in an exposed or meaningful manner or who were employed by or indirectly contracted to provide services to the UK government in an exposed or meaningful manner would be ineligible for Rwanda deportation. It would also exempt their family members from deportation.

Tory MP Julian Lewis indicated he was sympathetic with Afghans at risk due to their work helping British and Nato forces fight the Taliban.

But Mr Lewis said it should not be necessary for them to come to Britain in small boats, which would mean they should not have to risk deportation to Rwanda.

Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Immigration Minister, said: We owe many Afghans a debt of gratitude for supporting British aims in Afghanistan, yet the governments Operation Warm Welcome has fast become Operation Cold Shoulder.

It beggars belief that, instead of processing their claims, the Tories are leaving them in indefinite limbo, unable to get on with their lives, and threatening to send them to Rwanda. Its time for the government to rethink.

A Downing Street source said there were no particular concerns about a potential rebellion this week.
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A manhunt for the person accused of killing two people on opposite sides of the country  a New Mexico police officer and a South Carolina paramedic  has come to an end, authorities said.

Jaremy Alexander Smith, the suspect responsible for the murder of paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore and New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare, was found on 17 March, two days after Officer Hare was killed, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office wrote.

The New Mexico State Police had issued warrants for his arrest, charging him with first-degree murder, armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, among others. He had been described as armed and dangerous by police.

Officers captured Mr Smith after a store clerk in Albuquerque, New Mexico spotted him.

Police arrived at the scene, and chased the suspect on foot, when gunfire erupted, leading to Mr Smith being struck and apprehended. He was then taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for his injuries, the sheriffs office wrote.

The man suspected of killing Justin Hare was captured (Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office)

The capture comes days after Machado-Fore was first reported missing on the evening of 14 March in South Carolina.

The following morning around 5am, New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare was dispatched to Interstate 40 to assist a motorist in a white BMW who had a flat tire. Hare approached the driver  who was identified later as Mr Smith.

A short conversation ensued about repairing his tire when, without warning, Smith pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare, police wrote. The officer was later found at the side of the road and then was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police then linked the two murders, as Mr Smith was driving the South Carolina paramedics BMW.

In the evening of 15 March, her body was found in Dillon County, South Carolina, authorities said. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

The suspected killer of Phonesia Machado-Fore was captured (Marion County Sheriffs Office - South Carolina)

Mr Smith has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina and has ties to the Albuquerque area, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said at a press conference.

Mrs Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder. Her death is senseless. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss. My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice, Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace wrote in a statement after her body was recovered.

After Mr Smiths capture, Marion County Sheriffs Office called Mr Smith a person of interest in the murder of Machado-Fore, but said the office did not press charges against him.

The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office said it extended its deepest condolences to the family of Officer Justin Hare and to the New Mexico State Police for their loss. We also stand with the family of Phenesia Machado-Fore in their time of grief.

Jaremy Smith was captured after a days-long manhunt (New Mexico State Police)

An investigation into the incident is still underway.

We will be tirelessly searching for any leads and any individuals that we discover were involved with assisting Mr Smith in getting from one side of the country to the other, Mr Weisler said.
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Two people were fatally shot and five others were injured after a shooting broke out early on Sunday morning in Washington, DC, authorities said.

The shooting occurred around 3am on Sunday morning at 7th and P Street NW  a stones throw from the Kennedy Recreation Center and a 10-minute drive from the White House.

The five injured individuals are adults, Metropolitan Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll said in a press briefing.

They have each been transported to local hospitals, he added.

Were asking anyone who may have any information related to this incident or may have witnessed it to contact the Metropolitan Police Department, Mr Carroll said.

Earlier on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police posted on X: Lookout for B/M [Black male], average build, wearing light pants, blue shirt. The post added that the alleged shooter was last seen on foot going southbound on 7th Street NW.
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Riley Strain, a University of Missouri who went missing after reportedly getting kicked out of a Nashville bar, was just served one drink before being escorted out, the bar owners say.

The 22-year-old student was partying with friends at Luke Bryans 32 Bridge Food + Drink bar just before 10pm on 8 March. The bars owner, TC Restaurant Group, told KOLR 10 Mr Strain was served one alcoholic drink and two waters before he was asked to leave.

No members of Rileys party were required to stay inside the venue to close any open tabs, and no one from Lukes 32 Bridge team prevented anyone from Rileys party from leaving the venue with him, the owners added.

Mr Strain and his fraternity brothers were reportedly on a trip to Nashville for a spring formal.

The news comes days after the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced on 13 March that it was looking into whether or not Mr Strain had been served alcohol while visibly intoxicated at the bar.

Mizzou student Riley Strain, 22, was last seen on Friday 8 March 2024 in Nashville, TN (AP)

A search has been underway for more than a week. Police in Nashville said there are currently no signs of foul play amid the ongoing hunt for Mr Strain.

Metro Nashville Police Sergeant Bob Neilsen said on 14 March: In a missing persons case, people go missing for various reasons. Some are voluntary, some are not. Some could be due to a medical incident.

Right now, we have no idea what happened with this gentleman. We dont believe there was any crime involved, however. All of our resources right now are dedicated to locating him.

Police also revealed that homeless residents at two encampments near the Cumberland River confirmed that they saw Mr Strain on the night he disappeared. They were not sure where he went after they spotted him.

Mr Strains stepfather said in an interview on Monday that the days since Rileys disappearance had been pure hell.

A vigil was held for the college senior earlier this week in Springfield, Missouri.
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The Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest blaze in Texas history and one of the largest in the country has been contained nearly three weeks after it broke out due to a falling electrical poll.

Officials with the Texas A&M Forest Service, the organisation that normally manages wildfires, reported the news in a final update social media post on Saturday. The blaze burnt more than 1 million acres of grassland in the states panhandle region.

Separately, the Windy Deuce Fire, which incinerated more than 100,000 acres, is also under control, meaning that it has been stopped from spreading. The blazes have transitioned back to local units who will continue to monitor for developments.

Several wildfires broke out across the Panhandle region at the end of February. Thousands of cattle were lost, at least two civilians and one volunteer fire chief died, and multiple families were displaced from their homes as the blaze burned hundreds of structures.

Xcel Energy admitted one of its power lines may have been involved in the Smokehouse Creek fire earlier this month.

This handout picture courtesy of the Flower Mound Fire Department taken on February 28, 2024, shows a firefighter battling the Smokehouse Creek Fire, near Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle. (Flower Mound Fire Department/AFP)

Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire, a statement from the company read.

The organisation had previously been sued by Melanie Lee McQuiddy, who lost her home in the fire. She claims the company was negligent in maintaining a faulty power pole.

Xcel Energy disputes claims that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure; however, we encourage people who had property destroyed by or livestock lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process, the company replied to the lawsuit.

Two other defendants, Southwestern Public Service Company and Osmose Utilities Services, were named in the lawsuit. Osmose said it took the allegations extremely seriously and immediately launched an investigation into the incident.

A representative for Southwestern Public Service Company could not be immediately reached for comment.

At a news conference earlier this month, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott applauded the resilience of state residents and those who immediately rushed to help those affected.

The tragedy of what's been lost is nothing short of catastrophic, he said.

Organisations have launched relief efforts to help ranchers impacted by the blaze. The Texas Farm Bureau started a wildfire relief fund. Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture has financial assistance to help farmers recover.
While airline meals served at 30,000 feet are often lacking  many travellers expect much more back on the ground. But one Qantas frequent flyer has criticised the airline this week for an airport lounge meal likened to dog bones.

An image of the dish in question was shared online and was said to have been served in the Qantas Business Lounge at Sydney Domestic Airport on Friday 15th March.

The passenger explained that they were waiting in the queue for food when the dish was brought out five minutes before the photo was taken. This was served up for paying customers. I watched it and even tried it. Was horrific, the passenger shared online. This airline has truly gone to the dogs.

The pile of bones were allegedly served to Qantas business class passengers in Sydney. Source: Reddit

The passenger told Yahoo News Australia that "everyone avoided it."

"The dish consisted of sinew and gristle with a watery sauce and dry rice. Was horrid," the passenger told Yahoo, adding that they felt the airline had been "cost-cutting and focusing on making profit" while airfares are at their most expensive.

"The economy meals are served out of cardboard boxes and the overall customer satisfaction and experience for what you pay for is at an all-time low.

"Some lounges only open 1 hour before the flight and then close straight after! I have flown with them for a long time and Ill be finishing my time with them when my status expires and giving Virgin a go," they said.

Qantas admits disappointment with meal

In a statement to Yahoo, the airline said the presentation of the meal did not meet it's expectations and it was looking into the matter.

"We are incredibly disappointed with how this meal was presented. We pride ourselves on delivering enjoyable dining experiences and this falls well short of our high standards," a spokesperson said.

Aussies react to disgusting meal

Many other Qantas frequent flyers were quick to comment on the dish  saying it looked "disgusting" and like bone broth without the broth and adding they would not even feed that to a dog.

Story continues

What I don't understand is why they let [the airline] just get to such a state of disrepair, one questioned.

Others were less concerned. I'm gold and not that precious - it's not the best standards in the world but it's still comfortable and does the job, said one traveller.

At the end of the day, I'm in transit and not in a space I'm spending egregious amounts of time in.

Qantas was contacted for comment on the dish.

Last month, another passenger said they were served an inedible breakfast and left sitting near a leaking air conditioning vent while travelling from Sydney to Brisbane and Darwin to Adelaide for work.

Qantas refunds passengers 'sitting in urine'

Earlier this year, the airline told Yahoo it was offering a $3,827 refund to a couple who claimed they sat in urine during a nine-hour Qantas flight from Bangkok to Sydney.

All our international aircraft are cleaned between each flight, including vacuuming seats and disinfecting surfaces. We are looking into what has occurred and have raised the issue with our cleaning supplier in Bangkok, which cleaned the aircraft prior to departure, a spokesperson said at the time.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
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Joe Bidens campaign has accused his rival Donald Trump of wanting another January 6 after the former president warned there would be an economic bloodbath if he loses the election.

Speaking in Ohio on Saturday to endorse GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, Mr Trump told the crowd: Now, if I dont get elected ... its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

In response, the Biden-Harris campaign issued a statement, stating that Mr Trump wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge.

This is who Donald Trump is: a loser who gets beat by over 7 million votes and then, instead of appealing to a wider mainstream audience, doubles down on his threats of political violence, the Biden team added.

The former presidents comment came in the context of promising a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made cars. Youre not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected, Mr Trump said at the rally.

Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. Thatll be the least of it.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed that the bloodbath comment was related to violence, clarifying to the Washington Post that the 2024 GOP frontrunner was referring to cars made outside of the US. If you actually watch and listen to the section, he was talking about the auto industry and tariffs, Mr Cheung told the outlet. Bidens policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and auto workers, he said.

Senior Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller said on X, emphasising that Mr Trump was talking about the auto industry. He added, Crooked Joe Bidens Insane EV Mandate will slaughter the American auto industry. So many jobs killed! Thats why we have to elect President Trump.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, questioned what Mr Trump meant by his bloodbath remark. She told CNN on Sunday, We just have to win this election because hes even predicting a bloodbath. What does that mean? Hes going to exact a bloodbath? Theres something wrong here.

The California Democrat said: How respectful I am of the American people and their goodness. But how much more do they have to see from him to understand that this isnt what our country is about.

Meanwhile, members of Mr Trumps party flocked to his defence. South Dakota Republican senator Mike Rounds told CNN on Sunday: With regard to the autoworkers that he was talking to, he is showing them or hes telling them what has been an economic downturn for them.

Louisiana Republican senator Bill Cassidy told NBC News: You could also look at the definition of bloodbath and it could be an economic disaster. And so if hes speaking about the auto industry, in particular in Ohio, [that gives it] a little bit more context.

But Mr Trumps speech as a whole, Mr Cassidy said, begged another question: The general tone of the speech is why many Americans continue to wonder, Should President Trump be president? That kind of rhetoric, its always on the edge. Maybe doesnt cross, maybe does, depending upon your perspective.

At the rally, Mr Trump also escalated his attack against undocumented immigrants. I dont know if you call them people, he said. In some cases, theyre not people, in my opinion. But Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say.

The former president has not been shy about his anti-immigrant agenda. During his 2016 presidential run, he described Mexican migrants who entered the US as rapists and murderers.

More recently, at a December rally, he told the crowd: Theyre poisoning the blood of the country. Thats what theyve done. After that attack, the Biden campaign condemned his dehumanising language and accused him of channeling his role models and parroted Adolf Hitler.

Mr Trump also mentioned Laken Riley  the Georgia nursing student who was murdered last month. Her murder suspect is an undocumented migrant. In the immediate aftermath of her death, Mr Trump took to Truth Social to label the suspect as a monster and to blame Crooked Joe Bidens Border INVASION for destroying our country and killing our citizens!

He repeated the same language on Saturday, when he told the crowd, The Republican party, we believe that Lakens killer is an illegal alien criminal. Mr Trump added, Never ever would he have been in our country if the election werent rigged, adding another familiar phrase.

At his State of the Union address, Mr Biden said: Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, a description for which he later apologised, saying he should instead have said undocumented.

Mr Biden added: But how many thousands of people, being killed by legals? Mr Biden then turned the tables on Mr Trump, blaming him for the collapse of a border bill compromise. Politics [has] derailed this bill so far. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill, Mr Biden said of Mr Trump, whose name he would not say.

I would respectfully suggest to my Republican friends ... to the American people  get this bill done. We need to act now, he added.

Republicans shied away from the border deal last month at the urging of Mr Trump who did not want Mr Biden to have a victory on the issue ahead of the election.

Meanwhile the former vice president Mike Pence announced on Saturday that he refused to endorse Mr Trump and added that he wouldnt be voting for Mr Biden either.

Mr Pence, a former 2024 presidential hopeful, said on Saturday: It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year.

But that being said, during my presidential campaign, I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues and not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised on January 6, he said on Fox News.

He added, Im going to keep my vote to myself. I would never vote for Joe Biden. How I vote when that curtain closes, thatll be for me.

In its fiery statement after the Ohio rally, the Biden-Harris team mentioned the minor defeat for Mr Trump, attributing the former presidents decision to praise dictators, promise to pardon political violence, and launch racist attacks against Black and brown Americans to why Mr Pence came out against Mr Trump.
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Senator Rand Paul  a staunch opponent of the recent House bill that could result in TikTok vanishing from US app stores  battled with Fox News Host Brian Kilmeade over the details of the legislation.

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applicants Act was passed with overwhelming support in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. If signed into law it will give ByteDance 180 days to divest from TikTok by selling 80 per cent of their shares to an American company, or otherwise face removal from US app stores.

When Kilmeade stated that TikTok is owned by ByteDance, which he claimed is owned by China, the Republican pushed back.

No, its not. See, thats a lie, the Senator from Kentucky said. Youre defaming the company.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Paul expressed his disdain for the bill. He called it an unrealistic and narrow path for divestment, that threatens the very core of American digital innovation and free expression.

When Kilmeade continued to argue with the Senator, he emphasized that TikTok is owned privately.

Youve just told a lie, Brian, Mr Paul continued. You cant say on TV something that is a lie about a company.

It is unclear if the bill will now make it through the Democratically controlled Senate, as it has faced backlash from both sides of the aisle.

Democrats like Representative Ilhan Omar and Representative Jim Himes, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, both voted no, while Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene joined. Meanwhile, proponents of the bill argue it is essential for protecting national security.

However, if the bill does pass the Senate, Joe Biden has said he will sign it into law.

As Dr Aynne Kokas, a professor at the University of Virginia, told The Independent last week, the Chinese government may retaliate through trade if the bill becomes law.

We could see more bellicose rhetoric or greater kind of trade pressures that are placed on the US by China, Dr Kokas said on Wednesday.
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Vladimir Putin has said the late opposition figure Alexei Navalnys name for the first time in public just minutes after declaring victory in the rigged Russian presidential elections.

Speaking at his campaign headquarters hours after exit polls predicted he would win more than 87 per cent of the vote in the sham election, Putin described the death of Mr Navalny as a sad event - before claiming that he had given the all-clear for the opposition figure to be in a prisoner swap.

Mr Navalny died last month in the Arctic Circle penal colony where was being held on lengthy, trumped up charges of extremism.

The Russian authorities maintain he died of natural causes; Mr Navalnys allies say he was murdered.

His death came weeks after he urged Russians to vote for anyone but Putin in the presidential elections.

As for Mr. Navalny, Putin said, Yes, he passed away. This is always a sad event.

In a routine case of Putin whataboutism, he added: But we have had other cases where people died in prison. Doesnt that ever happen in the USA?

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a prison camp, stands in a queue outside the Russian Embassy on the final day of the presidential election in Russia, in Berlin (REUTERS)

He then said that his officials had passed on an offer to release Mr Navalny in a prisoner swap a few days before he died.

Mr Navalnys team, in the wake of his death, claimed that Putin had been handed their proposal to swap the opposition figure for Vadim Krasikov, a hitman from the Russian secret service (FSB) who is serving a life sentence in a German jail for murdering an opponent of the Putin regime.

The Kremlin denied this happened when asked about it last month.

But in his speech on Sunday evening, Putin said he immediately agreed to the prisoner swap when it was presented to him.

I immediately said, I agree, he claimed. Unfortunately what happened happened. The condition was that he never comes back. It happens. What can you do? Thats life.

Putins comments caused fury among Mr Navalnys team.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny addresses supporters during an unauthorized anti-Putin rally on May 5, 2018 in Moscow (AFP/Getty)

Kira Yarmysh, Mr Navalnys spokesperson, posted a segment of Putins speech alongside the caption: Putin killed Alexei Navalny.

Maria Pevchikh, head of investigations at Mr Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X: I dont have words yet. What a cynical, lying scum. Unimaginable.

Critics of the Putin regime have suggested it is telling that the autocrat chose his victory speech to finally utter Mr Navalnys name.

After the opposition figure died, but before the presidential elections, Kremlin-controlled state media barely reported on his death.

While the result of the elections was never in doubt, the Kremlin had gone to great lengths to quash any possibility of the three days of voting being disturbed. Mr Navalny, more than any other opposition figure, was best placed to incite such disturbance, even from the confines of solitary confinement.

Putin was afraid and insecure, says Oleg Kozlovsky, a Russia researcher at Amnesty International and the co-founder of Oborona, a democratic youth movement in Russia. It is telling that the spell which had prevented him from saying Alexei Navalnys name was only broken now.

He called for an international inquiry into Mr Navalnys death. We dont see Russia showing any intent of doing it, he said.
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UK defence minister Grant Shapps was forced to abandon a trip to the Ukrainian port city of Odesa after Russia became aware of his whereabouts, it has been reported.

It comes just days after it was revealed that an RAF jet transporting Mr Shapps back to England from Poland earlier this week had its GPS signal jammed while flying over the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Mr Shapps, accompanied by UK army chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, was preparing to visit Odesa earlier this month during a three-day visit to Ukraine.

Footage published by Mr Shapps showed him in the capital of Kyiv on 8 March.

Im in Kyiv to raise the alarm to the democratic world  we must make sure Ukraine wins this war, he wrote on Twitter/X at the time.

The UK has stepped up to do more than ever, with our largest military support package to date. Every nation must now do the same and ensure freedom triumphs over tyranny.

The pair held meetings with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and army chief Oleksandr Syrsky, before preparing for a 290-mile trip south to the port city of Odesa on the Black Sea.

But just moments before the delegation was due to leave, the trip was cancelled. A report from The Sunday Times said it was because the Russians had become aware of the plans.

They reported that British intelligence said there was a credible threat that Mr Shapps could be targeted in a Russian missile strike.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: On a recent trip to Ukraine, the defence secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons.

The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the defence secretarys visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putins aggression.

The security risk had already been raised to critical after a Russian missile landed just 500 metres from Mr Zelensky during his trip to Odesa earlier that week, where he was visiting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Though neither leader was injured, the Ukrainian military said five people were killed in the strike.

Emergency service workers tend to an injured man in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Friday (Telegram )

We saw this strike today, Mr Zelensky said at the time, from Odesa. You can see who we are dealing with, they dont care where they strike.

I know that there were victims today, I dont know all the details yet, but I know that there are dead and wounded.

Russia has in recent weeks stepped up its strikes on the southern city, which is a vital hub for Ukrainian grain exports.

At least 20 people were killed and more than 70 wounded in an attack on Friday after Russia fired back-to-back Iskander-M missiles at Odesa. The authorities said it was the deadliest attack in the citys recent history.

Among the dead and wounded were emergency service personnel who had rushed to the scene of the first explosion, only to be hit by a second missile strike. This form of attack is known as a double tap strike.

On 2 March, a Russian drone struck a multistorey building in the area, killing 12 people, including five children.
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For years Vladimir Putins health has been the subject of speculation and rumours - with claims he is suffering from an array of different ailments.

The most recent reports say he is suffering from Parkinsons disease, had a cardiac arrest and that he has been battling various forms of cancer.

However the Kremlin has always swiftly dismissed any claims that Putin has a severe illness and has also laughed off rumours he is using body doubles so that he can get some rest.

The 71-year-old has always been at pains to show the Russian people how tough and durable he is by being pictured doing judo, or in rural parts of Russia hunting and riding horses - usually topless.

He is extremely likely to begin his fifth stint as president imminently and may once again face questions about his health.

The Independent has rounded up some of the claims...

Parkinsons disease

Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of M16, said that Putin has something fundamentally wrong with him and that his health is deteriorating.

Asked on LBC about the state of Putins health, Sir Richard replied: I do not have a clear answer to that but I have contacts and friends still in Eastern Europe who think there is something fundamentally wrong with him medically. But Im not a clinician.

Expanding on what illness Putin may have, he said: Probably Parkinsons which of course has different representations, different variations, different seriousness.

Putin topless on a horse (Sputnik)

But if the man is paranoid, and I think the murder of Navalny might suggest a certain paranoia, that is one of the symptoms.

The rumours that he is suffering from motor neurone disease have been further compounded by a number of public appearances where he has looked frail and tense.

In a recorded meeting with Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin could be seen tightly clutching his table throughout the sit-down meeting, and not letting go for the entirety of the 12-minute clip.

And in a separate meeting with Belarusian leader and ally Alexander Lukashenko he could be seen suffering from hand and leg tremors, while also at times clutching his fist to his body.

Cancer

A former FSB officer has claimed Putin has no more than two to three years to stay alive, and that the Russian president has a severe form of rapidly progressing cancer.

We are told he is suffering from headaches and when he appears on TV he needs pieces of paper with everything written in huge letters to read what hes going to say, the Russian officer told the Sunday Mirror.

They are so big each page can only hold a couple of sentences. His eyesight is seriously worsening.

Putin has faced intense speculation over his health (Sputnik)

A similar claim was made by a former oligarch who was recorded discussing Putins health with a venture capitalist.

In the recording, obtained by New Lines, a US magazine, the unnamed person said that Putin had surgery just before Russias invasion of Ukraine and added that the president has gone crazy.

According to a report by Russian investigative news outlet Proekt, Putin has taken dozens of trips in the company of a cancer specialist and it has also been seen by two otolaryngologists  ear, nose and throat specialists.

According to the newspaper he regularly goes to the resort city of Sochi in the company of doctors from Moscows Central Clinical Hospital.

It has increased speculation that Putin has at some point undergone a complicated procedure related to some kind of thyroid disease or cancer.

Brain tumour

Angus Dalgleish, professor of Oncology at St Georges, University of London, has said that the way Putin has acted and changed in the last few years means he could have a brain tumour.

He told the Mirror: Looking at him two or three years ago and now, there is a symmetry to his face.

Which raises the question in my mind and the way hes acted and changed his behaviour, his disconnect and cognitive problem is whether he has a brain tumour.

Cardiac arrest

Another lurid claim is that Putin has suffered from multiple cardiac arrests.

A mysterious Telegram channel General SVR, which has previously made claims about Putins health, said the Russian leader was found by guards on the floor of the bedroom lying on the floor, rolling his eyes.

It claimed doctors rapidly administered CPR and he was then moved to a private medical facility in his Moscow apartment.

A spokesperson for the Kremlin has consistently dismissed the claims about Putins health as absolute nonsense.
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A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland after a volcano erupted for the fourth time spewing bright orange lava metres into the air.

The dramatic event marks the fourth alarming volcanic eruption in three months along the Reykjavik peninsula, nearby the abandoned town of Grindavik.

The Icelandic Met Office said on Saturday night that the fissure had opened as livestreams of the event saw fountains of lava spewing into the sky.

Warning: An eruption began in Reykjanes, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on its website, while Reykjaviks nearby Keflavik Airports website showed it remained open both for departures and arrivals.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Authorities had warned for weeks of an imminent eruption. Icelands Civil Protection Agency said prior to the latest explosion: Since October 24, scientists at the Icelandic Met Office have been monitoring a rise in seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which may signal an impending volcanic eruption.

The heightened intensity of these seismic events, particularly near the town of Grindavik, indicates the potential for volcanic activity in the area.

As a precautionary measure, the town was evacuated on November 10 to prioritize the safety of its residents. Evacuations will remain in effect until seismic activity subsides.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Local media reports that residents of the nearby fishing town of Grindavik had been evacuated from the area, having received text messages telling them to leave just minutes earlier.

Grindavik, a town of 3,800 people about 50km south-west of Icelands capital Reykjavik, was evacuated in November when the Svartsengi volcanic system awakened after almost 800 years with a series of earthquakes that opened large cracks in the earth between the town and Sylingarfell, a small mountain to the north.

The volcano eventually erupted on 18 December, sending lava flowing away from Grindavik.

A second eruption that began on 14 January sent lava towards the town.

The volcano last erupted in early February, cutting off district heating to more than 20,000 people as lava flows destroyed roads and pipelines, while an outbreak in January burned to the ground several houses in a fishing town.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Volcanic outbreaks in the Reykjanes peninsula are so-called fissure eruptions, which do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere.

However, scientists fear they could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building dykes to divert burning lava flows away from homes and critical infrastructure.

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years.

The country boasts more than 30 active volcanoes, making the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism  a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers.

The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe.
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The wife of the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny joined thousands of protesters at voting stations on Sunday as they vowed to stand up against Vladimir Putin, who declared victory in the rigged presidential elections.

Yulia Navalnaya, who had endorsed her late husbands call to flock to the polling stations for the Noon Against Putin campaign, waited in line for six hours outside the Russian embassy in Berlin before casting her vote.

She told crowds after she left the building that she had written her husbands name on the ballot, having waited in a line more than a kilometre long and which snaked through multiple streets.

Asked whether she had a message for Mr Putin, Ms Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

But Mr Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest. There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then ... I praise this, he said at a news conference after polls closed.

Unusually, Mr Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time in years at the news conference. And he said he was informed of an idea to release the opposition leader from prison, days before his death. Mr Putin said that he agreed to the idea, on condition that Navalny didnt return to Russia.

However, thousands appeared to heed the call both inside and out of Russia, as opposition figures claimed they had made their voices heard in the face of elections without independent observers or any legitimate opponents to Mr Putin.

The real winner of Russias election today  Yulia Navalnaya, said Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Russia under Barack Obama. Tens of thousands answered her call and came to the polls today at noon to express their opposition to Putin.

Vladimir Putin was up against three candidates from parties who have not criticised his rule nor his invasion of Ukraine (AP)

Russian authorities, meanwhile, arrested more than 80 people across 17 cities for taking part in the campaign, independent human rights organisation OVD-Info reported, despite it involving no obvious illegal behaviour.

In Ufa, southern Russia, one man said he was detained for attempting to throw a photo of Navalny into a ballot box. He told OVD-Info that the authorities then threatened to charge him with obstructing the work of election commissions.

It came as Mr Putin declared his victory after the first exit polls suggested, predictably, that he had won a landslide victory in the presidential elections.

Speaking at his campaign headquarters, Mr Putin thanked those who voted for him and expressed special gratitude to our warriors on the line of contact, referring to the soldiers fighting in the war in Ukraine.

He also claimed that the result showed that Russia was building a common will of the people.

Before the results were finalised, Russian politicians also began to congratulate Mr Putin on his victory.

Congratulations to all Russias enemies on Vladimir Putins brilliant victory in the election of the President of the Russian Federation! wrote former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on social media. And a thank you to friends for the support.

With more than 70 per cent of regions counted, the Russian Central Election Commision claimed Mr Putin had received more than 87 per cent of the vote. The government also claimed the turnout was the highest in history at 74 per cent. In 2018, the turnout was 67.5 per cent.

In occupied Ukraine, where armed Russian soldiers were seen looming over Ukrainian civilians in the polling stations, the commission claimed more than 90 per cent of voters had signed for Mr Putin.

It was widely expected that Mr Putin would not only win these rigged elections but that he would improve on his previous victory in 2018, in which he received more than 76 per cent of the vote. In 2012, he received 63.6 per cent of the vote.

David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, wrote on X: "The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like."

Russian opposition politician Lyubov Sobol said: The difference between these elections and previous ones: this time they decided not to even count. Previously, they somehow still calculated and adjusted.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has not spoken to his Russian counterpart since Mr Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, said the autocrat had become sick with power.

These days, the Russian dictator imitates another elections, he said. Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever.

Everything Russia does in Ukraines occupied territories is a crime. This imitation of elections has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up on the dock in The Hague.
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Russian citizens will spend this weekend casting their vote for their next president, even though the result has already been decided.

Vladimir Putin, already the longest-serving ruler of Russia since Joseph Stalin, will win a fifth and unconstitutional term after polls close on Sunday.

No amount of votes against him can prevent his victory, say the Russian dissident community, since the system is rigged and those that could challenge him have either been killed, imprisoned or exiled.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, center, left a plan to disturb the elections that will be enacted after his death (AP)

Its impossible to win against Putins regime through legitimate means, says Evgenia Chirikova, who once unsuccessfully ran to be a local mayor in a Moscow suburb, with the help of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. She is now in exile in Estonia, having had her life threatened by the authorities.

But the Russian dissident community has nevertheless convened a plan to disturb this rubber-stamping exercise.

Known as Noon Against Putin, Russian citizens frustrated with the leaders rule are being called to head to the voting booths all at the same time: Midday, 17 March, the final day of the election.

We want this dark time to end. We want a clear, normal future, the campaigns website says. But we, citizens of our country, with our pain and our hope, are not noticeable either to the authorities or to each other.

AT NOON on Sunday, March 17, the last day of voting, when we come to the polling stations, we will show others and see for ourselves that there are many of us . We can become a force that cannot be hidden behind drawn percentages.

The plan, created by Russian opposition politician and former St. Petersburg lawmaker Maxim Reznik, has gathered traction since Navalnys death.

Vladimir Putin is expected to extend his reign this weekend (AP)

This can be a powerful demonstration of the mood of the country, a post on Navalnys Telegram channel said in early February. This will be a nationwide protest against Putin that takes place near your home. Its available to everyone, everywhere. Millions will be able to take part. And tens of millions will witness it.

A fortnight after his death, his wife Yulia Navalnaya then endorsed the campaign as well. It has become what Russian independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta called Navalnys political testament.

I want to do what [Alexei] thought was right, and I urge everyone to come to his memory," Ms Navalnaya said in a video at the start of this month. This will be your personal contribution to the common cause. There are probably many people close to you who are against Putin and against the war.

It has since been backed by a host of prominent anti-Putin figures, including Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly Russias richest oligarch, and Gary Kasparov, the chess grandmaster turned opposition figure. Their Anti-War Committee, made up of dozens of exiled figureheads of the dissident community, have also backed the plan.

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has pledged to continue his work (AFP via Getty Images)

Nearly 20,000 Russians have been arrested for opposing Putins war in Ukraine since he ordered the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Hundreds were detained for merely laying flowers in memory of Mr Navalny last month.

But the plan for Noon Against Putin is to stay well within the law - participants are being asked to vote, or not vote, however they please, so long as it is not for Putin - in the hope of circumventing the very real threat of arrest.

Ultimately, the plan is one intended to show at least a shade of the true nature of Russian dissidence, in a country where the stakes for opposing the Kremlin are the highest theyve been since Stalins Gulags.

The main thing we can do at noon is to show that there are many of us! the campaign website says. The queues that will line up all over the country will show how much discontent has accumulated in the country, how many people want a normal, stable future, they want a better life.
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At midday on Sunday, on the last day of the Russian presidential vote, those opposing Vladimir Putins repression will answer the final call of Alexei Navalny, the late face of anti-Kremlin opposition.

Russians cannot affect the result of what is a predetermined election, Mr Navalny said two weeks before he was announced dead  but if they turn up at polling stations all at the same time, the Kremlin may glimpse just how many people wish for an end to Putins more than two-decade-long grip on the country. This election, for which voting began on Friday, will add another six years to that. It is entirely managed by the Kremlin to do one thing: hand Putin victory. The Russian leader has hardly even bothered to campaign.

More than two years into Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine, intensifying what had already been a widespread crackdown on critics inside Russia, the opposition now faces a new chapter. Western nations have lined up to lay the blame for Navalnys death at Putins door, with his widow Yulia clear that the Russian leader killed her husband  the Kremlins fiercest critic.

As well as the killing of Navalny, nearly a thousand other critics and anti-war dissidents have been imprisoned across Russia. Tens of thousands have been arrested simply for protesting. Hundreds of thousands have been forced into exile.

Yulia has taken on her husbands call to flood voting locations en masse as a symbolic gesture, with protests in the street risking arrest and lengthy prison sentences. On Friday, a number of people were arrested for incidents including pouring green dye into ballot boxes, the boxes or polling booths being set alight and fireworks being set off inside polling stations. Such acts carry stiff jail terms.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, now an exiled high-profile dissident, was once Russias richest man. He co-founded the opposition Anti-War Committee and has been an outspoken advocate of the midday protest set for Sunday. He has called for all those who attend to wear the colours of anti-war Russia, which are white and blue.

Its a political act, a political flash mob to show that we are many, he says.

Police officers detain a woman during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny last month (Reuters)

Russian prosecutors threatened voters who take part in the Noon Against Putin action with five years in prison on Thursday. But given there would be no legal reason to disperse those attending polling stations to vote, it is unclear what form a crackdown would take on the ground.

You cannot change the regime democratically, Khodorkovsky adds. It has to change through revolution. But he realises that will not come quickly and that the chances of success are slim until both Putin dies and the militarisation of Russia is put to a stop.

The military machine has been set in motion, it is not going to stop very quickly. If it continues manufacturing weapons, mutual trust will not be restored very easily, he says. I think that will last at least the next decade.

But that does not mean giving up. Khodorkovsky says the next chapter of resistance should be three-fold.

Our objectives must be as follows: helping Russian activists and professionals who want to leave Russia to get out. Their departure from Russia would weaken the Putin regime, he says, noting how brain drain was a major problem for Joseph Stalins repressive Soviet regime in the 1930s.

The second objective should be countering Putins propaganda. That will significantly damage his ability to mobilise and conscript soldiers [for the war in Ukraine].

Vladimir Putin has hardly even bothered to campaign for an election entirely managed by the Kremlin to do one thing: hand him victory (AP)

The third objective is building for Russians a new vision of Russia and its future. Today, they have lost their idea of what they would like to see and what normal life would be. Putin is telling them there is no normality, only confrontation.

Boris Nadezhdin, a veteran politician who tried to run in this years election against Putin, rose from relative obscurity late last year to become the face of the anti-war vote. Independent polls then suggested more than 15 per cent of the Russian population would have voted for him. Perhaps spooked by queues of thousands signing up to support his bid to run, he was banned by Russian election authorities  kept on a tight lead by the Kremlin  with claims that 15 per cent of the signatures were flawed.

The fact that Nadezhdin was allowed to get that far in such a stage-managed election has drawn suspicion from critics that he is being allowed to gain such publicity to give Russias democracy a sheen of legitimacy and is merely a part of Putins election machine.

But Nadezhdin says he believes the only way to keep fighting against Putins repression is to play within the rules. My strategy is to be in Russia and not to be very sharp in my criticism, he tells The Independent from his office in Moscow. I will never criticise Putin as a person. I only criticise what he does with the country.

Veteran politician Boris Nadezhdin rose from relative obscurity late last year to become the face of the anti-war vote (AP)

Those candidates that have been allowed to run have made little attempt to try to disrupt the status quo and have praised Putin.

My rating was rising 5 per cent a week, Nadezhdin says. I think maybe the Kremlin administration just decided that I would receive too much if I was allowed to run.

Nadezhdin says his plan now is to endorse another candidate, 40-year-old Vladislav Davankov, running nominally for a liberal, pro-business party, but making little noise  all while Nadezhdin prepares for local parliamentary elections in two years.

Regarding the Navalny-endorsed Noon Against Putin campaign, Nadezhdin will not explicitly support it.

I will say only that my supporters should go to the election stations on Sunday, 17 March, not on Friday or Saturday, but at any time that is convenient to them, he says.

I think I have a quite different strategy to [Navalny]. I have criticised Putins politics for 20 years but because I have been in Russian politics for 35 years, I know the red lines. I know what I should not do to avoid being put in prison.

For those in the anti-Putin camp that have done enough to be forced into exile, however, this softball approach is nowhere near enough  and is bound to fail. The strength of the noon protest will give a sense of how to push on.

We are confident normal peace for Russians is possible for them," Khodorkovsky says. Our job is to show them that picture.
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As millions of Russians and residents of occupied Ukraine head to the ballots this weekend to vote in rigged presidential elections, Vladimir Putin is ready to further shift the country onto a war footing.

He has already been in power for 24 years, having ruled as prime minister but de facto leader from 2008 to 2012. After changing the constitution in 2020 to allow him to run again, he will surely rule for another six years, eventually eclipsing Joseph Stalin in 2029 as the longest-reigning ruler in Russian history.

Consolidating power and quashing dissent has characterised his nearly quarter of a century in power; a new form of much of the same is likely to define his fifth term in charge, this time centred on prolonging his war in Ukraine.

The election means more war, no peace, says John Foreman, a former UK defence attache to Moscow.

The perennial president speaks to a soldier while visiting a military training centre in 2022 (AP)

Russia is now devoting an estimated 7.5 per cent of its GDP to military spending, the highest since the Cold War.

Some weapons factories are operating on a rotating 12-hour shift pattern to keep production running 24 hours a day, according to videos shared by the Russian defence ministry. Swathes of the non-fighting population, meanwhile, have been employed to manufacture equipment for the war effort, while engineers have been asked to revamp old Soviet-era tanks for use in Ukraine.

In the short term, this has had positive effects on Russias economy; the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the country will have greater growth than all the G7 nations this year.

But it has inextricably tied Russian society to the war effort, say economists. The success of the so-called special military operation, the Kremlins propagandistic phrase for the invasion of Ukraine, is now the basis of Russian prosperity.

And what was originally sold as something happening far away, in Ukraine but not actually in Russia, is no longer true.

In the Russian Belgorod region, where cross-border raids from Ukraine have become part of daily life, the governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported the deaths of a man and a woman on Saturday. Schools in the area have been closed until Wednesday to reflect the dangerous current situation, Mr Gladkov said. It was the third attack this week.

A heavily damaged shopping centre hit by a missile strike, in Belgorod, Russia, last month (Reuters)

In the Samara region, 530 miles southeast of Moscow and hundreds of miles from Ukraine, the Syzran oil refinery was on fire after what was allegedly a Kyiv drone attack. It is the latest in many long-range attacks over the past two years.

The Russian foreign ministry has accused Ukraine of stepping up terrorist activities during the elections to attract more aid and weapons from the West.

Whatever they think, these attacks, say Ukraine, will only grow in intensity. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines military intelligence chief, says a major operation is also being prepared for the occupied Crimean peninsula.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, will continue to crack down on those that dare to speak out against Mr Putins war, even as it begins to slip across the border.

Roughly 20,000 Russians have been arrested since February 2022 for opposing the war, according to human rights group OVD-Info. Nearly a thousand have been jailed, some for more than a decade. Hundreds of thousands have been exiled. That trend shows no signs of abating.

There is not much left to restrict. The system of repression has been built brick by brick for more than two decades, says Oleg Kozlovsky, a Russia researcher for Amnesty International. But I am certain they will come up with some new laws, some new restrictions. There will be some new fines. They will increase prison terms.

They are looking to completely freeze Russian civil societys ability to protest.

Footage last month showed Russian authorities dragging away those that dared to lay flowers in memory of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, for example, who died in an Arctic Circle penal colony where he was serving a lengthy sentence on trumped-up charges of extremism. His allies say he was killed by the Kremlin.

The truth of what happened to Mr Navalny may be lost but what is evident is that even memorialising him has become unacceptable. Any semblance of speaking out against the war in Ukraine has become a cardinal sin.

With all obstacles to his war in Ukraine being removed, Mr Putin will now look to test the Wests resolve to continue supporting Ukraine until the end.

Vital weapons packages from the US and the European Union are currently being blocked by Donald Trump-supporting Republicans and a Hungarian leader sympathetic to Russia.

US presidential elections in November, meanwhile, could spell further disaster for Ukraine if Mr Trump, feared also to be sympathetic to Russia and known to be sceptical of Nato, returns to office.

Putin thinks he is winning, says Mr Foreman, the former defence attache. He thinks the West is weak, and that he is safe at home.

How the war in Ukraine may end is impossible to predict, but what is clear is that Putins Russia is now intimately tied to the outcome.
My church is in an interim period right now. Our last pastor left in June of 2023 for personal family reasons. Since he left, Westminster has been without consistent pastoral leadership while we conduct a search for a new pastor. Heres how its going, in true Presbyterian manner.

In some denominations (Roman Catholic and Methodist, among others), clergy are assigned to churches by a bishop or some other ecclesiastical authority. Presbyterians, however, are not hierarchical, so they search for and hire their own pastors. But Presbyterians are connectional, meaning they are not standalone churches whose congregations make decisions independently. Presbyterians are sort of a middle ground. They follow a denominational process that guides how they do their work but not what decisions are made. Conducting a pastoral search is one those processes.

Here's how it works. Last summer, Westminster elected a Pastor Nominating Committee, which we refer to as the PNC. Our PNC is comprised of nine members who reflect the congregation at large. A few of us are long-term members who were raised Presbyterian. Most are newer members who were raised in other denominations or perhaps none at all. We represent a wide age range, from 16 years old to 70-something. A few are young parents. Three of us are retired, but most work full-time. We are a pretty accurate reflection of our membership. What we share is a love of Westminster, a willingness to listen for Gods voice, and a sincere desire to seek a pastoral leader who will walk with our congregation in the next few years of our lives together.

We meet weekly, which is a huge commitment, but everyone takes the responsibility seriously. We spent the first couple months studying our churchs Mission Study, which lays out the priorities and vision of the church. We base our search on this study, not on our individual preferences. We used the Mission Study to prepare our Ministry Discernment Profile. The MDP is the equivalent of the churchs resume.

The Presbyterian denomination has a matching site called the Church Leadership Connection, which matches churches looking for pastors with pastors looking for churches. Its like a big dating site, only for Presbyterian clergy and congregations. Our PNC reviews the matches made on the site, and invites applications from pastors who might be good matches with our congregation. As of the writing of this column, weve already looked at over 70 matches.

If the pastoral candidate accepts our invitation to apply, then we schedule an interview on Zoom. We listen to sample sermons and do other research on the candidates, which they do on us as well. Some candidates are invited for second interviews, and then eventually on-site visits.

All this work is done confidentially. The PNC can report to the congregation on what stage of the process we are in, but cannot reveal any details about whom we are talking to or considering. The congregation must trust the PNC to do this important work for them.

When the PNC and a pastoral candidate feel called to a future together, conversations begin to work out the details of the pastoral relationship. When all is in order, the PNC recommends the candidate to the congregation. The candidate comes to Auburn to meet the congregation and lead worship, and a congregational meeting is held to vote on the candidate. The ultimate responsibility for calling a new pastor lies with the congregation.

If it sounds like this process takes a lot of time, it does! While we are without a called pastor, we have had excellent leadership from two gifted temporary pastors, the Rev. Dr. Stacy Smith and the Rev. Dr. Pam Masten. Weve also called on several local clergypersons and our own members for worship and pastoral leadership.

This is a challenging time to be looking for a new pastor  fewer pastors coming out of seminary, pastors leaving the ministry, churches closing, economic unrest, and high cost of housing. We are hopeful that the right person is out there for our church, and that we are the right church for that person.

We learn a lot about ourselves as a church during an interim period. Its a good reminder that the church is more than its pastor, and that its members are responsible for Gods work. Our church has moved forward through many changes over the years, and it will continue to do so.
 Close Zelensky rejects Putins claims that Ukraine involved in Moscow attack

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Russia is using barges in a bid to enhance the defences of one of its ports in the Black Sea, Britains Ministry of Defence has said.

It comes following a number of successful Ukrainian strikes on navy ships in the region. Recent imagery analysis has identified four barges positioned at the entrance to the Black Sea fleet facility of Novorossiysk Sea Port, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update.

This is an effort to enhance the defence of the port against attacks from Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs).

Elsewhere, a Russian cruise missile strike on infrastructure in Ukraines western Lviv region killed one man, while another died in an attack in the northeast, officials said Sunday.

The attack in Lviv destroyed a building and sparked a fire, governor Maksym Kozytskyi wrote on social media app Telegram. He said that rescue operations were being conducted.

In the Kharkiv region, governor Oleh Syniehubov said that an air attack killed an 19-year-old man after a missile hit a gas station.
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Millions of Russian citizens have started to head to the polls in a sham election that will confirm Vladimir Putins presidency for at least another six years.

The stage-managed vote will also take place in parts of Ukraine now controlled by Russian forces.

But with the election and candidates tightly controlled by the Kremlin, is the Russian election rigged, how does it work and what does it mean for Mr Putin? The Independent has put together all you need to know below.

The election is expected to confirm Russian president Vladimir Putin as president for at least another six years (AP)

When is the election?

The Russian presidential election will be held between 15 March and 17 March. Results will follow shortly afterwards and the winner will be inaugurated in May.

Voting will also take place in what Russia calls its new territories - parts of Ukraine now controlled by Russian forces that have been placed under Russian law.

A remote online voting system will be available for the first time in a Russian presidential election. There are 112.3 million people with the right to vote in the election.

The Russian population is around 143.4 million. Around 70-80 million people usually cast ballots. Turnout in 2018 was 67.5 per cent.

The Russian presidential election will be held between 15 March and 17 March. Pictured: Ballots to be used in 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

How does the election work?

Russian politics professor Samuel Greene, of Kings College London, explained getting onto the ballot was a complicated process controlled by the Kremlin which sees genuine Putin critics barred.

He told The Independent: Getting on to the ballot is a complicated process. Parties that have representation in parliament have guaranteed access to the ballot.

Everybody else has to go through a system of petitions and collecting tens of thousands of signatures that have to be verified.

The government authorities invariably find problems with the signatures that have been collected by genuine opposition candidates.

Russian president Vladimir Putin meets with residents following a visit to a greenhouse complex near Moscow ahead of elections this weekend (AP)

Is the election rigged?

Prof Greene added that all parties are vetted by the Kremlin in an illegal process separate to the Central Election Commission, which checks regular conditions like nationality and criminal records.

All parties that are able to function in Russia are coordinated by the presidential administration. Candidate lists are vetted by the Kremlin; fundraising is both limited and enabled by the Kremlin, he said.

He explained Russian candidates are only allowed to campaign within red lines set by Putin and dont really expect to win the election - which means they wont say anything too controversial like criticising the war in Ukraine.

The opposition candidates are being careful not to be any more aggressive than Putin is in his campaigning. They dont really expect to win, he said.

All parties in Russia are vetted and approved by the Kremlin, experts say (AP)

Who are the candidates?

There are four candidates that have been vetted by the Kremlin and who are on the ballot for this years Russian presidential election.

Vladimir Putin

In charge of all the levers of state, incumbent Vladimir Putin, 71, is expected to easily win a landslide victory and another six-year term.

Already the longest-serving ruler of Russia since Joseph Stalin, will win a fifth and unconstitutional term after polls close on Sunday.

His standing in the election comes as a result of a referendum in 2020 amending Russias constitution to reset presidential term limits  having previously opted in 2008 merely to swap places with prime minister Dmitry Medvedev to sidestep the two-term limit.

While that move triggered the largest protests of his rule, the changes ushered in by the referendum in 2020 were largely unopposed, and Putin could theoretically still be in the Kremlin in 2036, notes Independent columnist Mary Dejevsky.

Nikolai Kharitonov

Nikolai Kharitonov (AP)

A 75-year-old member of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, Nikolai Kharitonov is the official candidate of the Communist Party, whose candidates have finished a distant second to Putin at every election since 2000.

Mr Kharitonov, a Siberian, stood previously in 2004 and won 13.8 per cent of the vote to Putin's 71.91 per cent. A state pollster said in February that its research showed that around 4 per cent of Russians were ready to vote for him.

The state Tass news agency has quoted Kharitonov as saying he would not find fault with Mr Putin, because he is responsible for his own cycle of work, why would I criticise him?

Mr Kharitonov supports the war in Ukraine, but has previously opposed some of the ruling pro-Putin United Russia partys domestic policies. He enjoys the backing of Gennady Zyuganov, the 79-year-old veteran Communist Party leader.

Leonid Slutsky

Russia Cold War Treaty (The State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament)

A senior member of the State Duma, Leonid Slutsky, 56, is the leader of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and has long chaired the parliaments international affairs committee  voicing support for the Ukraine war and the need to keep food prices down.

A regular anti-Western mouthpiece on Russian state TV, Mr Slutsky took over as the partys permanent leader after veteran firebrand Vladimir Zhirinovsky died in 2022. He is seeking to tap into his late predecessors popularity by campaigning on the slogan Zhirinovsky lives on.

A state pollster said in February that its research also showed that around 4 per cent of Russians were ready to vote for him. In 2018, a group of female journalists accused Mr Slutsky of sexual harassment. A parliamentary commission exonerated him, which his accusers labelled a whitewash.

Vladislav Davankov

New People politician Vladislav Davankov is deputy chair of the State Duma, and has received a state award from Mr Putin in the past.

Aged 40, heis the youngest registered candidate and has said he wont criticise his political opponents. His main campaign slogans are Yes to changes! and Time for new people! A state pollster said in February that its research showed that over 5 per cent of Russians were ready to vote for him.

Mr Davankov has tried to position himself as someone opposed to excessive curbs on peoples personal freedom and  in the context of Russian politics  as someone who is more liberal. Without mentioning Ukraine by name, he has said he favours Peace and talks. But on our terms and with no roll-back.

What does the election mean for Putin?

Prof Greene explained the elections are designed to give an air of legitimacy to Vladimir Putin and Russias political system without alienating the majority of Russians.

The Kremlin knows there are people in Russia who wont vote for Putin, Prof Greene said. But it would rather people vote for a candidate and party that is controlled by the Kremlin and can be relied on not to cause problems, instead of people becoming disaffected and protesting for broader change.

They want people to feel like they have a voice in the system and have somebody they can vote for so they lost the election fair and square.

What have critics said about the Russian ballots?

Critics of the Kremlin have warned that the ballots are unlikely to bear any resemblance to true democracy.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said: We know already that opposition politicians are in jail, some are killed, and many are in exile, and actually also some who tried to register as candidates have been denied that right, he said.

And an EU spokesperson said: We know, given the track record of how votes are being prepared and organised in Russia under the current Kremlin administration and regime, how this will look. Its very difficult to foresee that this would be a free, fair and democratic election where the Russian people would really have a choice.

And as Nato warned Russias attempts to organise elections in four Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed would be competely illegal, as the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol  Vadym Boychenko  alleged that at least two Chechen military men with machine guns had been seeking to enforce voting there.

A fortnight after the death of Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident community has convened a plan to disturb this rubber-stamping exercise, dubbed Noon Against Putin, in which Russian citizens frustrated with the leaders rule are being called to head to the voting booths all at the same time on the final day in a display of discontent.

The campaign has been dubbed Navalnys political testament by independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta, and has been backed by the opposition leaders widowed wife Yulia Navalnaya, along with a host of prominent anti-Putin figures, including Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly Russias richest oligarch, and Gary Kasparov, the chess grandmaster turned opposition figure.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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The British Army should consider conscription to deter Vladimir Putins aggression in Europe, Latvias foreign minister has suggested.

Krisjanis Karins claimed the only way to defend against Russia was to consider a total defence model which would involve conscripting citizens to fight on the front lines at short notice.

It comes after General Sir Patrick Sanders, head of the British Army, claimed the UK needed a citizen army to fight a future war against Russia.

We would strongly recommend conscription, Mr Karins told The Sunday Telegraph. We are developing and fleshing out a system of what we call a total defence involving all parts of civil society.

The minister also said Britain, along with other Nato allies, would have to increase its defence spending in the coming years to protect itself.

General Sir Patrick Sanders, left, previously claimed the UK needed a citizen army to fight Vladimir Putin (PA Wire)

Mr Karins added it was inevitable for Britain to increase its defence spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps has called for that increase, but Mr Sunak has said he wants to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP when economic circumstances allow.

Mr Shapps has also warned Britain was moving from post-war to pre-war world. Despite that, the government has no plans to increase the size of the army from its current level of about 74,000 full-time troops, down from 102,000 in 2006.

In January, armed forces minister James Heappey said any talk of the UK introducing conscription to the Army if Nato goes to war with Russia was nonsense.

No 10 also ruled out any suggestion that conscription was under consideration, saying there were no plans to change the British militarys proud tradition of being a voluntary force.

The British Army conscripted soldiers during the First World War, and again during and after the Second World War, but it has been an all-volunteer force for most of its 364-year history.
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Odessa comes under attack again as Russia launches multiple drones, Ukraine says. Kyivs southern military command issued three warnings in the very early hours of Sunday morning of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) strikes from Russian-held territory. A new group of strike UAVs from the Black Sea in the direction of Odessa, the warning on Telegram read. Regional governor Oleh Kiper urged Odessa residents to please stay in shelters until the end of the strike. Residents heard explosions in the southern city shortly after midnight, according to a Suspilne news correspondent. A day of mourning was in place on Saturday in Odessa following Russias deadliest attack in recent history on the city on Friday, during which at least 20 people were killed.

Anti-Vladimir Putin Russians prepare for a midday protest, known as the final will of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Russians opposing the regime and its war in Ukraine are being called to rush to polling stations today at midday for Noon Against Putin. The campaigns website says the plan is simply to show others and see for ourselves that there are many of us on the final day of presidential elections in Russia. You can read more about the plan here . The Moscow Prosecutors Office, meanwhile, has warned that participation against such a rally risks a maximum sentence of up to eight years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks the countrys special forces for new long-range capabilities after strikes on Russian oil refineries. In his nightly address on Saturday, Mr Zelensky said the past weeks have demonstrated to many that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons. Earlier on Saturday, Russian officials struggled to bring under control a fire at the Syzran refinery southeast of Moscow caused by Ukrainian drone strikes. A Ukrainian intelligence source said multiple other refineries in the region were attacked.

UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps had to cancel a trip to the Ukrainian port city of Odessa after British intelligence warned there was a credible threat of Russia targeting him with missiles, it has been reported. The minister was due to travel to the southern city on the Black Sea in early March, just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suffered a near-miss in Odessa when a Russia missile landed roughly 500 metres away.

Russia will be asked to observe a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Paris Olympics, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview from Paris shown on Ukrainian television and posted by a Ukrainian journalist on her YouTube channel on Saturday. The demand for a ceasefire during the Olympics. They (the Russians) must do this. That is what has always happened, the interviewer said, speaking through an interpreter. It will be requested, Mr Macron says in French before a voiceover interpretation gives his response in Ukrainian as Yes, we will ask for it.
Vladimir Putin is guaranteed victory in the March 2024 presidential election. The Kremlin will point to the official result as proof that Putin is popular  that Russians overwhelmingly support him, the political system he has led for nearly a quarter of a century, and the countrys ongoing war against Ukraine.

The presidents press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has even said that the presidential election is not really democracy, it is costly bureaucracy, as Putin is certain to win, given the consolidation of society around him.

But the reality of support for Putin in Russian society is far more complicated.
This is the moment a young gorilla copies his mother as he tests out his new teeth by chewing on a bamboo stick.

Willie B.III is currently homed at Zoo Atlanta, where he is the youngest gorilla.

Sharing a video of him on Facebook this week, a zoo spokesman said: Just like toddlers at home, he cant seem to keep things out of his mouth, as seen here in the gorillas behind-the-scenes indoor night area.

For the most part, this is great; it means hes trying new food items and testing out all those new teeth. He often sees everyone else in his group enjoying browse, especially his Mom, so he likes to test things out every chance he gets.
Alexei Navalnys widow Yulia Navalnaya joined election protesters outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on Sunday (17 March).

The crowd could be heard chanting her name as Ms Navalnaya shook hands with protesters.

Protesters could also be seen holding up a fake street sign reading Alexei Navalny Street.

The sham Russian election, taking place this weekend, is widely expected to confirm Vladimir Putins fifth term of presidency, set to last for at least another six years.

Putin, 71, faces little competition; his opponents are either in jail or in exile abroad. His most prominent competition- Mr Navalny - died in a remote Arctic penal colony last month.
Donald Trump warned its going to be a bloodbath for America if he is not elected in the upcoming presidential election.

The former US president issued his warning while addressing supporters at a Buckeye Values PAC Rally in Dayton, Ohio on Saturday (16 March).

Wearing a red cap with the slogan Make America Great Again, Trump said: Now, if I dont get elected its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

The 77-year-old is in the state to help boost the campaign of car dealership owner Bernie Moreno in Ohio's US Senate primary which is happening on Tuesday (19 March).
The royal family is perilously close to its 11th hour, a close friend of Princess Diana has claimed.

Richard Kay, a very good friend of the late Princess of Wales, is said to have issued a warning in an article published in the Daily Mail, claiming the family needs to get their act together or lose public confidence.

Royal commentator Michael Cole said that although Mr Kays concerns are valid, the royals have gone through much worse.

In a GB News interview on Sunday (17 March), Mr Cole said: We do have to look at it with hindsight and history, because all of us here, lived through the first week of Septemeber, 1997 - after the terrible death of Diana.

The atmosphere in London that week was very strange indeed, the queen feared she would be booed when she came down from Balmoral.
U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams on Saturday picked up the endorsement of the Republican Party in his home county, which is part of his new House district.

Williams, R-Sennett, received the unanimous endorsement of the Cayuga County Republican Committee. He is running for reelection in the newly drawn 22nd Congressional District that includes the city of Auburn and the southern portion of Cayuga County.

Onondaga and Madison counties, along with parts of Cortland and Oneida counties, are also in the district.

"Support from my neighbors and friends in our home county  where we've raised our kids and started our small farm  means the world to Stephanie and me," Williams said in a statement.

The endorsement comes after the state Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul approved a new congressional district map for New York. Lawmakers redrew the lines after rejecting a proposal from the state Independent Redistricting Commission, which was ordered to submit a new plan following a state Court of Appeals ruling in December.

Before the change, the 22nd district excluded Cayuga County. Williams was criticized for not living in the district he represents  members of Congress are not required to live in their districts  and not following through on a pledge to move into the district after winning the 2022 election. Williams decided not to relocate because of the redistricting lawsuit that led to the Court of Appeals' decision.

With the new map in place, Williams' residency is no longer an issue. The 22nd district includes the town of Sennett, where he and his wife, Stephanie, live and operate a truffle farm. He is the first member of Congress from Cayuga County in more than 60 years.

Williams is seeking a second term in Congress. Three Democrats are vying to challenge him in the general election: Clemmie Harris, a Utica University professor and former aide to Gov. David Paterson; Sarah Klee Hood, a DeWitt town councilor and Air Force veteran; and John Mannion, a state senator and former teacher.
Coming together for their conference in Bucharest this month, the leaders of Europes conservative parties appeared at first glance triumphant.

Since their last gathering two years ago, the centre right has gained ground, finding itself in government across large parts of the European Union with a bigger say inside the blocs key institutions.

EU conservatives  campaigning together as their collective European Peoples Party  are on track to score the most seats in upcoming elections for the European parliament, over which Maltas centre-right Roberta Metsola currently presides.
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A coronation for the bearer of the sword of state. The latest scheme to save at least some Conservative MPs from the executioners of the electorate is a plot to replace Rishi Sunak with Penny Mordaunt in a leadership election with only one candidate.

You could not have another contest and the only possible candidate I can see people uniting behind is Penny, a source told the Daily Mail. Apparently, Tory MPs on the right of the party, who would rather have Kemi Badenoch or Suella Braverman as leader, would settle for Mordaunt if she would allow social policy to be set by others  Mordaunts woke views on gender issues being the main obstacle to their backing her.

The priority of the plotters is to get rid of Rishi, in the belief that almost anybody else as prime minister would lose fewer Tory seats. They are excited by opinion polls from Savanta and Michael Ashcroft showing that Mordaunt is the most popular leading Conservative  more popular than Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Badenoch or Braverman.

They dismiss suggestions that the voters would take a dim view of the Tory party offering them yet another prime minister, the fourth since the last election, or that it would be too late to make the switch now. No 10s handling of some recent events has been so astonishingly bad, the Daily Mails source said, that what had seemed ridiculous until recently was now much more likely.

Some Tories have even cited the Bob Hawke scenario to me, referring to the Australian Labor Party changing its leader after the election was called in 1983 and going on to win four weeks later.

Other precedents are cited. The coronation of Michael Howard as Tory leader after MPs dumped Iain Duncan Smith in 2003. Howard was elected unopposed, partly because MPs couldnt trust the party members to make the right choice, as they sought to avoid a meltdown at the 2005 election.

It should be possible to persuade other candidates not to stand this time too, it is argued. Badenoch, who is the favourite to take over as leader after the election, does not want to be leader before it, whereas Mordaunt might see it as her best chance.

Well, I kept it up for seven paragraphs. It was fun while it lasted. But the time has come to admit that Has Penny Mordaunts time come? is a QTWTAIN: a Question To Which The Answer Is No. The idea was ridiculous before the prime minister dealt ineptly with Lee Anderson, a former Tory deputy chair, saying the mayor of London was controlled by Islamists, and before he dithered in response to the unpleasant comments about Diane Abbott made by Frank Hester, the Tories biggest donor. And it is still ridiculous now.

Mordaunts relatively favourable opinion-poll rating is a mirage. She looked great at the actual coronation in Westminster Abbey, and she has made good use of the one perk of being leader of the House of Commons, which is that she gets a guaranteed slot in the chamber every week. She can use this to range across any subject, including her favourite, bashing the Scottish National Party, and it clips up well on social media.

But she struggled in the leadership election in 2022. In the two TV debates featuring five candidates, she was eclipsed by Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat, let alone by the front runners, and when she was eliminated in the final MPs ballot, she endorsed Liz Truss rather than Sunak. Of course, she could see which way the members were going and wanted to back the winner, but it was a questionable judgement.

If Tory MPs think that Sunak has made mistakes and fumbled opportunities to recover lost ground with the voters, they should remember Mordaunts stand up and fight speech at last years Tory conference, delivered to a sleepy, half-empty hall as if she were urging hostile villagers to take up arms against an oppressive feudal lord.

Even if the plotters are right that another change of leader could save a few seats from the deluge that is about to hit them, they know it cannot be done. The idea that even losing the West Midlands and Tees Valley mayoralties in the local elections in May will persuade half of Tory MPs to vote no confidence in Sunak remains ridiculous.

A small number of Boris-loving or Rishi-hating Tory MPs are motivated to talk to journalists about plots. But most Tory MPs are One Nation moderates, divided between those who have given up and those who think that ditching Sunak would only make matters worse. They mostly think highly of the prime minister and are disappointed that he hasnt been able to turn things round. Some think that is his fault  usually couched as a criticism of the team around him  but others say that, in hindsight, the problems he inherited were insoluble.

They are all preparing for defeat at the general election in different ways. The one thing they are not going to do is to unite behind a plan to crown Mordaunt as prime minister. She is not the answer to the Tory partys question: who will save us? Has Penny Mordaunts time come? remains a QTWTAIN.
AI and the future of Irish advertising  a war for survival

The gap between the haves and the have nots in the industry will soon be about AI adoption, not size, says Napkin founder, Laurence OByrne

Image created by Laurence O'Byrne with the latest AI tech, Midjourney version 6 and DALL-E from Open AI

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 17 Mar 2024 at 03:30

The widespread adoption of increasingly powerful AI tools by creative agencies is set to turn Irelands advertising industry on its head, according to one industry player who has seen the power of the new technology to transform work processes.
Henry Street has been attracting big names to set out their shop

Lottie Tomlinson and Kiko Milano's Paul Devin at the shop launch in Covent Garden, London

Italian cosmetics firm Kiko Milano is planning to open its first Dublin shop on Henry Street, becoming the latest international brand to take space in the shopping district.

According to a planning application made to Dublin City Council, Kiko Milano is seeking to install brand signage at a unit opposite the Ilac Centre on Henry Street, between lingerie retailer Ann Summers and the H Samuel jewellers.

A spokeswoman for Kiko Milano said the beauty company had no comment on the plans for the Dublin shop, but added that she would definitely be in touch if anything changes.

Kiko Milano already operates one store in Ireland, on Belfasts William Street South

In one of the documents submitted with the planning application, Dublin-based Studio 3 Architecture said Kiko Milano was proposing to open its first Dublin store at the location in the coming months.

In December, the company that submitted the planning application, Kiko Cosmetics Ireland Limited, was formed.

Directors of the Irish entity include Tobias Karlsson, the global real estate director of Kiko, Giuseppe Cassavago, a finance director at Kiko, and Paul Devin, Kikos managing director for the UK and Ireland.

According to its website, Kiko Milano already operates one store in Ireland, on Belfasts William Street South.

Last year, Henry Street in Dublin attracted several big names to set out their stall, bringing the north inner city shopping street back from a period of relative inactivity.

Makeup entrepreneur Lottie Tomlinson at a Kiko Milano shop opening in Covent Garden, London

High-profile deals on the street included Foot Locker taking the former H&M store in the Ilac Centre, Dubray Books fitting out the former Dealz store on Mary Street, and Levis opening a flagship Irish store in the ex-Evans unit at the corner of Henry Street and Moore Street.

A report from last April in trade publication Fashion Network said Kiko Milano recorded revenue of 671m in 2022, up 42pc on the previous year. The report said the company had set an ambitious target of growing net revenue to 1.25bn by 2027.

Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda) tripled to 75m, up 30pc on pre-Covid levels.

Kiko Milano also shared extensive growth plans to bolster its store network to 2,000 locations. Fashion Network said the company planned to open 120 outlets by the end of last year, bringing its total shopcount to 1,100 across 75 countries.

Italian retail group Percassi owns Kiko Milano. The company also owns Womo and Bullfrog in cosmetics, Vergelio in footwear and Da30Polenta in the food service industry.
Would you move to Northern Ireland for a cheaper life? Thousands already have

If you can handle the commute, you could save a fortune by moving over the Border

Belfast from above. Photo: Getty

Gabrielle Monaghan Sun 17 Mar 2024 at 03:30

Alan Duncan, who runs PR firm Agile Communications, has Belfast  and his mother-in-law  to thank for finally being able to get on the property ladder.
Beleaguered Australian payment group EML Payments is set to close another chapter in its unhappy foray into Irish fintech, agreeing a sale of Kildare-based open-banking business Sentenial at a knock-down price.

EML Payment said it has agreed to sell Sentenial, including its Nuapay services business, to GoCardless Ltd. The headline price of the deal is 32.75m, a fraction of the up to 110m EML paid for the firm almost four years ago to the day.

The final price GoCardless pays may be lower again. EML said the sale includes a potential downward price adjustment linked to ongoing key contract performance, capped at 7.5m, in the period up to completion of the sale.

The exit from Sentenial was well flagged. EML announced back in November that it had received non-binding expressions of interest for Sentential, which had been classified within the wider group as non core when the business announced that after a strategic review it would refocus on core business lines that demonstrate profitability and positive cash flow.

Sentenial has a strong client base among European banks and its key Nuapay product was recognised at The Card & Payments Awards 2024, an industry event held in London last month.

But it has not been profitable since it was bought by EML, which is projecting an A$2m (600,000) Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) loss for the Kildare based unit this year.

The Sentenial business does not have any material product or customer overlap with other EML lines, and is separable from the EML Group wider business, the Australian stock market listed seller said. The sale also allows the EML Group to simplify its organisational structure and provides additional funds to strengthen the EML Groups balance sheet.

The sale at a significant loss comes little more than a month after EML put another of its Irish assets, PFS Card Services (Ireland) Limited (PCSIL), into liquidation. That orderly and solvent process will not mean any loss to customers but is aimed at drawing a line under an unhappy investment.

PFS Card Services was part of the wider PFS business EML bought in 2021 for an upfront enterprise value of 155m from founders Noel and Valerie Moran, who have now become among the countrys best-known race horse owners.

The PFS investment rapidly turned sour for EML after the Central Bank of Ireland raised concerns around anti-money laundering controls and procedures within the business, leading to limits being placed on the firms growth plans and a costly and very lengthy process of engagement with regulators.

The unravelling of the PFS deal has had major knock-on effects on EML itself, tanking its share prices a number of times as news of the regulatory issues in Ireland was announced to the market.
The Bear actress Ayo Edebiri has wished Kildare actor Paul Mescal a happy St Patricks Day, posing with the Normal People star to celebrate.

Edebiri has been embraced as one of Irelands own since proving her dedication to a running joke about her role in acclaimed film The Banshees of Inisherin.

Smiling for a photo with Maynooth man Paul Mescal, Edebiri has wished her followers a happy St Paddys as celebrations got underway around the world.

Since then, fans have labelled Edebiri as Irelands princess as well as a national treasure as she continues to play along with the joke.

Paul Mescal and Ayo Edebiri.

The actress forged her bond with Ireland during a red carpet interview which saw her share her experience working on the set of the movie as Jenny the donkey.

The role of Jenny was played by an actual donkey, but it did not stop the internet from taking the joke and running with it.

"Preparing for that? I lived in Ireland  Ireland  for about four months, she told an interviewer on the red carpet last year, imitating an Irish accent.

"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.

"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 added, swapping back to her American 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.

Edebiri thanked the critics, her family, fellow castmates and crew and relatives abroad in an acceptance speech for her role as Sydney in The Bear earlier this year.

Her acceptance speech saw her thank both Barbados and Nigeria  where her parents are from  as well as Ireland.

"To everybody in Boston, Barbados, Nigeria  Ireland, in many ways  thank you so much, I love you, she said.

The actress gave another nod to Ireland while hosting Saturday Night Live last month, donning a four-leafed clover as she announced musical guest Jennifer Lopez.

Last year, Edebiri tweeted about the release of her film Bottoms, writing, Bottoms is out rn in the UK & my home nation of Ireland.

During the Emmy Awards, which saw her win Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, she jokingly said to a reporter: Shout out to my people, shout out to Derry, shout out to Cork, shout out to Killarney, shout out to Dublin.
Gareth Bromells Limerick accent clinched him job with Oppenheimer Oscar-winner and now theyre the best of pals

Cillian Murphy and his friend and stylist Gareth Bromell at the Oscars

Hollywood is notoriously difficult to break into, but for Gareth Bromell it was his Limerick accent that clinched the deal.

The man from the riverside village of Castleconnell is driving down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles as he explains how he became part of Cillian Murphys whirlwind Oppenheimer journey, which ended with an Oscar win last Sunday night.

Bromell, who specialises in hair and make-up, has worked with everyone from Taylor Swift to Heidi Klum and was in London when a producer called with an offer of work  he just couldnt reveal who the talent was.

The minute he heard my accent... we hit it off straight away

They said the person would like to chat and get to know you first, which I thought was an unusual request, and I liked it, Bromell recalls. I got to the set and it was Cillian. The minute he heard my accent  because the whole team was English  we hit it off straight away and weve worked together since.

Now Murphys stylist for almost three years, Bromell says their relationship has developed to become quite kind of we love each other. We are brothers. We are sensitive to each other and we have a great relationship, so its wonderful.

Cillian Murphy says he is 'proud to be Irish' after best actor award win

Asked if stylists become more like a friend, Bromell says the role of the confidant is key.

Absolutely, its like that, he adds. If it wasnt, I wouldnt be working with him. Its an intimate job, and there has to be trust, so he confides in me. Trust usually happens in time, but for me and Cillian, I was lucky enough that it happened quickly.

Bromell says stylists need to be a calming influence because an actors life is intense.

Were in a room a lot of the time with strangers. Theres a lot of interviewing, theres a lot of talking about yourself, he says. Its quite emotionally draining at times, so Im there to kind of support him and to make him laugh and to share a bit of banter.

Im always up for a laugh and cracking jokes and hes very funny himself, so it makes it much more relaxed. I take care of him, we hang out outside of work, we go running together in the gym, that type of thing.

Cillian Murphy and friend and stylist Gareth Bromell preparing for the Oscars

Before awards ceremonies, Bromell says, the pair want everything to be calm and relaxed while getting ready for the red carpet.

Im quite into skin preparation, and with him I tend not to use a lot of make-up once the skin is primed and looking really good, he says. Im big into LED therapy, which is really good for calming redness in the skin and making the skin plump and reducing lines. I use Sisley Paris on his skin and a Dyson diffuser for his hair.

Bromell was at a viewing party in Soho House, west Hollywood, when his friend won the Oscar for Best Actor.

There were tears. We were all crying and you could see that Cillian was in shock. When he arrived at the party afterwards, I gave him a big hug and he gave me a big hug and he said, We did it! We did it.

There has always been a group of us  myself, Cillian and Cillians PA Lindsey. We call each other The Julies.

After Soho House, everybody went on to Madonnas house, but Bromell is tight-lipped, except to say it was great craic.

The next morning, when the pair met again, Bromell says Murphy was still on a high.

He was saying, I won a bloody Oscar, he says.

On Tuesday, they said goodbye as Murphy is off on a big vacation with his family.

He just gave me a hug and we both said, Love you man, and it was just a really, really beautiful moment. Hes such a great guy. A gentleman and humble. He is a beautiful person inside and out. I couldnt be happier for him. He deserves it.
Trinity College Dublin received complaints about a staff member being catcalled by builders on campus, drinks being spiked at the annual university ball and allegations of racist aggression.

The universitys estates and facilities office has received almost 330 formal complaints over the past two years about issues ranging from heating problems and pest infestations to noisy construction work interfering with classes or study.

However, some were more serious with one claim made of spiking of drinks and one allegation of racial abuse at the Trinity Ball in 2022.

A case of racial aggression was reported last July while one employee said they had been the subject of catcalling from construction workers on the university grounds.

Other incidents detailed in the log included alleged garda abuse of a student, uninvited security staff entering a room and housekeeping staff going into an apartment without a mask during the pandemic.

Many of us are having to resort to wearing coats and blankets

Most complaints related to the temperature of rooms, with staff and students frequently reporting that lecture theatres, offices and residences were too cold.

Is it possible to have the heat turned on in the Museum Building? It has gotten much colder a lot earlier this year and many of us are having to resort to wearing coats and blankets, one plea asked.

One staff member wrote of teaching becoming unsustainable if the temperatures dropped below a certain threshold. They said: Four-hour lecture in the room and there was no heating.

In other parts of the campus, staff brought in their own electrical heaters.

Can the heating be turned on in Foster Place, the staff are complaining and the students that have classes in the Banking Hall are freezing, another complainant said.

It wasnt always the cold, however. One entry in the log said: Two lecturers complained that the Joly [lecture] Theatre was too warm.

Other gripes included college residents unhappy with questioning by security staff when returning to the campus after midnight, and the theft of a motorcycle from the college.

Noise was also a source of nuisance with multiple issues concerning the use of power tools too early in the morning. Smoking on campus was flagged while bicycles getting locked to railings also upset at least one person. Other one-off issues included signs in breach of Irish language legislation, the presence of gardai at a student services event and a broken disability access lift.

Asked about the records, a spokeswoman said there were procedures for dealing with complaints.

In the first instance, students should seek the advice of their college tutor/postgraduate student support officer and use existing informal mechanisms to resolve difficulties, she said.

The formal student complaints procedure is available when informal approaches have not produced a satisfactory resolution within a reasonable timeframe or when the seriousness of the complaint merits it.
A garda jailed earlier this month for the sexual assault and harassment of two women was previously the subject of a high-level immigration fraud probe, the Sunday Independent can reveal.

On March 8, Judge Kenneth Connolly at Roscommon Circuit Court convicted John Egan (61) of sexually assaulting a woman at Castlerea garda station on St Valentines Day, February 14, 2015, while he was working there as an immigration officer.

The former garda was also convicted of harassing the same victim at various locations across the county on dates between February 15 and December 31, 2015.

Egan, with an address at Drum, Knock, Co Mayo, was convicted of harassing a second woman on dates between June 1, 2014, and March 4, 2017.

Judge Connolly sentenced him to two years and six months for sexually assaulting one of the women and a further two years in prison for harassing her. These sentences are to run concurrently. Egan was given a one-year-and-nine-months consecutive sentence for harassing the other woman.

Investigators suspect a garda was involved in the high-level immigration fraud

It is understood the former garda was investigated as part of a separate garda probe into bribes being paid to give more than 100 foreign nationals permission to stay in Ireland illegally.

The Sunday Independent understands gardai suspect a large number of men and women from Pakistan and India paid 10,000 each to have a garda stamp a form, stating they had shown the necessary documents which granted them the right to work here and claim benefits.

Officers suspect a member of the force was in league with a Pakistani fixer in the high-level immigration fraud.

The man organised busloads of his fellow countrymen to travel to a garda station, where, it was alleged, an officer would stamp the documents.

The men and women involved had entered Ireland legally on student visas, and when those expired they should not have been permitted to remain, sources said.

There are also concerns within An Garda Siochana that the scam allowed criminal elements to arrive here and disappear.

This high-level immigration scam allegedly went on for more than six years and detectives have established that well over 100 people were granted work permits to remain in Ireland when they should not have been permitted to do so.

It is understood gardai tried to track down all the people who were granted status to remain here, but many had disappeared.

The investigation was led by local detectives, but the Garda National Immigration Bureau was also involved in the extensive probe.

It is understood Egan was taken in for questioning in 2017. A garda file in relation to this alleged crime was later sent to the DPP but no prosecution was directed in the complex case.

Egans recent sentencing heard that part of his duties included meeting non-EU nationals in assisting with their visa applications.

The garda had interacted with the two victims on several occasions at the garda station, when they had sought assistance with their passports and visa applications.

On one occasion, one of the women went to see him about her visa application, and she made him aware that she no longer had a partner after he asked.

He told her to come to his office in the garda station. When she got there, he closed and locked the door and sexually assaulted her.

He would always lock the door every time I had to go there. He made me feel dirty

The court also heard he would sometimes park outside her home and remain there for some time.

The garda also told her not to tell anyone about what was going on. He told the other victim on numerous occasions that he wanted to have some fun  which she took to mean that he wanted to have sex.

Egan was eventually arrested and charged with the offences in December 2021.

In victim impact statements read out to the court, both women spoke of how Egans behaviour had affected them emotionally, physically and mentally.

One of the victims said she felt sad, ashamed and violated, and he had preyed on my vulnerability and abused his power.

In her statement the other woman said she felt very uncomfortable when he sent her sexual messages and felt horrible when she went to his office.

He would always lock the door every time I had to go there, she said, adding: He made me feel dirty.

She did not think people would believe her, and said: To me, he was a person of power who everyone seemed to like.

Egan took the witness stand and sincerely apologised for the pain and trauma he had caused the two women.

He said his actions were unforgivable, and apologised to An Garda Siochana and his own family.
Aiden Kenny was so tired he had to go to bed in the afternoon, but that was gone after the treatment. Picture by Mark Condren

Last week marked four years since Aiden Kenny was diagnosed with prostate cancer on the same day Ireland went into its first Covid lockdown. The Dubliner experienced a very different sense of foreboding to the rest of us as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar delivered a televised missive to take the coronavirus seriously.

Mr Kennys mind was on his own prognosis. It was not good.

He did not know it then, but social distancing and learning to be aware of those around him would later stand to his benefit, and his familys, when he was put on a ground-breaking radiation therapy to enhance his quality of life.

I was 50. I had a few symptoms and they turned out to be secondary symptoms linked to the cancer, but we didnt realise it at the time. When I was referred to an oncologist, you could see what way this is going, he said.

It was March 12 when I was diagnosed with stage-four prostate cancer. If you have stage-one, they can do surgery to take the prostate out, but stage-four is incurable because it has spread out into your body  metastasised. That was the day Leo shut the country down.

Getting diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing traumatic event, but the fact all this other stuff was going on, the two are wound up together in my mind.

First, Mr Kenny alternated between chemotherapy and hormone therapy treatments. He responded well until a downturn in October 2022.

His tumours had grown. He experienced tremendous pain. It put him out of work for about six months and life became more challenging.

Mater Hospital consultant medical oncologist Professor John McCaffrey spoke to Mr Kenny about the possibility of travelling to London for an innovative treatment unavailable in Ireland.

Lutetium 177 PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) is a radioligand therapy that targets cancer cells with radiation while having a minimal impact on healthy cells. It involves injecting radioactive medication into the bloodstream.

Professor John McCaffrey, consultant medical oncologist at the Mater

There is definitely a need for it in Ireland, Prof McCaffrey said. Ideally, this would be available earlier when patients are fitter and spare them going on chemotherapy for a further period of time.

Dr Martin OConnell, a Mater Hospital consultant radiologist with a special interest in nuclear medicine, has been advocating the roll-out of similar treatments here since 2008.

He said Ireland has been slow to adopt such treatments because of a culture of inertia and risk-aversion within the health service.

Dr OConnell said the underdevelopment of relevant expertise in radiochemistry or radiopharmacy is also a factor, but believes we need to be more proactive, given the significant benefits of such treatments.

Access abroad is costly and covered by only some health insurers. There are other complications too, but the side-effects are generally fewer compared with chemotherapy, and patients have reported considerable benefits. Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor underwent the treatment last year and has credited it with having a positive impact on him.

Mr Kennys case was discussed by Dr OConnell and Prof McCaffrey during multi-disciplinary team meetings at the Mater last year.

Dr Martin O'Connell, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital consultant radiologist with special interest in nuclear medicine and UCD clinical professor

Dr OConnell was able to arrange a programme of compassionate access to Lutetium in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company so Mr Kenny could be treated without travelling abroad. Two other patients were treated as part of the programme, but it has since ended.

Mr Kennys experience proved Irish hospitals can deliver the treatment, Dr OConnell said.

The change in Aiden has been unequivocal. He had pain and it went. The scans show a substantial response, but we dont treat scans, we treat people, he said. I want to scale this up in Ireland from three patients to between 70 and 100 patients annually and get colleagues in other hospitals on board.

The treatment is currently going through a formal cost-effectiveness process, on foot of an application from Novartis last year, to see if it can become available through the HSE.

The HSE said it was committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible, in as timely a fashion as possible, from the resources available.

Mr Kenny underwent six rounds of Lutetium at the Mater. The treatment is administered through a patients arm in a specially prepared room. The fluid is radioactive and stored in lead shielding. Chairs and equipment are wrapped in plastic for the treatment so they are not contaminated.

The process takes about 20 minutes, but is methodical and cautious to ensure medical staff are not harmfully exposed to radiation. They wear dosimeters, which sound an alarm if dangerous levels are reached.

Mr Kennys wife Val had to wear one at home for days after the treatment to make sure she was safe. The couples son (18) and daughter (16) also took precautions. Patients are only allowed home after the radiation emitting from their body drops below a certain level.

When you get home, you cant use public transport, cant go to the supermarket, need to stay away from pregnant women  youre confined to the house. The Covid skills kick in then, Mr Kenny said.

At home, you have to be aware and intentional about what youre doing. Time and distance are the critical things, so if Im talking to someone I would keep a two-metre distance and limit it to a few minutes. It decreases as time goes on.

Cancer patient Aiden Kenny. Picture by Mark Condren

Mr Kenny slept in a different bedroom and used a different bathroom to the rest of his family so they would not be exposed to radiation. He also had to use different crockery and cutlery, which he hand-washed and stored separately.

This continued, usually for about a week, until the radiation levels dropped to a safe enough level to live fairly normally.

I had a very naive idea of what going to London for treatment would be like. Having gone through the procedure, I would not like to be taking that route, he said.

The logistics of being in London and staying in a hotel for a week, being un-able to use transport while going through this, is far from ideal.

The long-term prognosis remains uncertain, but he has no doubt about the treatments benefits.

His Lutetium course finished in January, and there are no plans yet to put him back on any other treatment. He credits it with giving him a better quality of life and time to make memories with his family.

Mr Kenny is also back working part-time as a designer. Last summer, he was able to help his daughter redecorate her room, a physical task he would previously have been unable to carry out. He is adamant the treatment must be made available here.

Within two cycles of starting the Lutetium treatment I was getting my energy back, he said. I used to have to go to bed in the afternoon, but that was gone after the treatment. I was able to go to the shops, pick the kids up from school and get my life back.

My children are happier seeing me back to myself. Me being healthy benefits our family. If you were to give other people that 180-degree change in life quality, it would have a huge effect.
William Gorry is left gutted as DPP rules no charges will be brought

I was just 11 when my life was ripped apart  survivor of sexual abuse at industrial school seeks justice

William Gorrys father cut a sad figure when a social worker came and took his son away.

It was the late 1970s, and the 11-year-old William was being sent to join two of his brothers and three of his sisters at Mount Carmel Industrial School in Moate, Co Westmeath, run by the Sisters of Mercy.

As he was being driven away, the boy felt a jolt of concern towards his father, sitting alone on a bridge in rural Offaly. He worried about how his dad would fare on his own.

Both of my parents were good people and good parents. They just couldnt cope.

"They had 13 children and shouldve had help and support from the then health board to keep us together, rather than taking all us younger children away, William (57) told the Sunday Independent.

The health board took the six youngest children away. We were told we were going on holidays

As soon as I got to Mount Carmel, the violence began almost straight away. I said: Im worried about leaving my daddy on his own and I was hit. I was told he didnt care about us, that he didnt love us. That was just the beginning.

Williams mother had recently left the family, overwhelmed by the financial and emotional pressures of trying to raise 13 children without enough money.

I dont blame my mother for what happened. She was having a difficult time. I re-established contact with my mother in later years.

"We had no running water, no electricity and there was fighting. It was a tough life, William said.

The health board took the six youngest children away. We were told we were going on our holidays. My older brothers and sisters were married or able to take care of themselves. Being taken was the worst thing that could have happened.

William, who is visually impaired since birth, was sexually, physically and emotionally abused during his 10 years living at the industrial school.

In correspondence seen by this newspaper, the DPP ruled last year that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against a number of people  including a nun, priests and lay people  accused of physical and sexual abuse, including rape.

Some of the alleged abuse also took place when he was part of a local voluntary group, run by the clergy, in the locality.

Another incident occurred when he was sent on his holidays to a family in the Wexford countryside to get a break from the industrial school.

William was awarded a sum of money years ago through the redress scheme, which he feels was entirely insufficient, given what he suffered.

I found the redress scheme demeaning and belittling. It was a pittance awarded to all of us, considering what we went through. It was a cheap way of getting us out of the way, he said.

William Gorry who was under the care of the Sisters of Mercy. Photo: Steve Humphreys

It has never been about money, William continued, but instead about people responsible for his abuse being criminally held to account.

In recent years he made complaints against a number of people for alleged physical and sexual abuse while he was in the care of the State.

Gardai investigated and sent an extensive file to the DPP, who ruled no criminal charges should follow.

William, who now lives in Dublin, is represented by Belfast-based solicitor Kevin Winters, of KRW law. The firm recently sought a review from the DPP on why it opted not to prosecute the alleged abusers.

In a letter, also seen by this newspaper, the DPP outlines that it is standing by its decision not to issue criminal proceedings.

I was constantly told that I was useless they told me no one would ever love me

To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. I am totally gutted. I just cannot understand how no prosecution was issued, given the evidence presented by the gardai, William said.

I am not prepared to let this go. I am considering a judicial review of the DPPs findings, which would be costly  but I feel I must do this, if I can raise the money.

What happened to me as a child had a huge negative emotional impact on my life. Ive found it hard to find happiness. My life was ripped apart.

He remembers his life at Mount Carmel clearly and still suffers flashbacks.

When he arrived age 11, he was given two sets of clothes that he was warned must last a year, and assigned a number: 217.

I was constantly told that I was useless, stupid, blind. They told me no one would ever love me or want me. The physical abuse was constant. I was beaten around the head and had my head smashed against walls constantly.

Doctors have told me since that my visual impairment got worse because of the beatings. I am now in danger of going permanently blind, he explained.

The abuse was so severe at Mount Carmel that he tried to end his own life on a few occasions.

It was the only way I could think of sometimes to try and get the beatings and sexual abuse to end. I often felt like I couldnt go on.

Every day, it was his responsibility to wash and dress his little brother Thomas, who was severely disabled and had brittle bone disease. It was also up to him to feed his brother.

But worse than any of the physical and emotional abuse was undoubtedly the sustained sexual abuse he suffered.

In one harrowing incident, he recalls being raped, alongside Thomas, by two members of the clergy who took turns after isolating the brothers in an upstairs room over a weekend. He was 14, Thomas was around seven.

Not long after, Thomas was taken to Lourdes and never returned.

William was told his brother passed away but has never gotten any information since about the circumstances of his death.

William suffered countless other instances of rape and sexual abuse over the years, by priests as well as lay people.

It happened so many times that I just got used to it. I felt as though it was going to continue my entire life. It was as if I was constantly trying to fight my way out of it, but I couldnt.

When he turned 16, he was permitted to leave the school. But with nowhere to go, he stayed, remaining in aftercare.

I stayed until I was about 21, working there. I didnt know what else to do, where to go. I eventually left, and was homeless for a while.

Eventually he found happiness and married Patrick in November 2022

After a number of years, he moved to Dublin and tried to deal with the past. He was also struggling with his sexual identity and eventually accepted he was gay. He had issues finding employment, given the lack of education he received, as well as his worsening eyesight.

After years of struggling and bad relationships, he found happiness and married Patrick in November 2022.

I cannot give Patrick enough credit, I owe a lot to him, he said.

In 2017, he set up RISN (Residential Institutions Survivors Network), which has over 500 members. Its objective is to help others who have gone through the same experience.

The truth is, if RISN wasnt around, I dont think Id still be here. Ill keep fighting for my own justice too.

When contacted, the DPPs office said it does not comment on individual cases but that where possible it attempts to explain to victims its reasons when it does not prosecute. The Sisters of Mercy were also contacted for comment.

The national 24-hour Rape Crisis helpline is 1800 77 8888
Only 18 people still speak distinct east Galway dialect of Irish

Seachtain na Gaeilge may be coming to a close, but every week is Irish language week for Tom Concannon and John Murphy.

The friends, both in their mid-90s, are two of the last native speakers of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht area of east Galway.

They are among about 18 native Irish speakers living near the south-eastern shoreline of Lough Corrib who have had their distinct dialect recorded for a research project.

People say they love listening to my Irish and that it must come from the cradle, Tom Concannon told the Sunday Independent.

Mr Concannon, who says he is 96-and-a-half, lives near Anach Cuain. He still farms and was last out on his tractor a few weeks ago. He is one of nine siblings, and stayed with his parents to keep the farm going.

Ive nothing against anyone who doesnt have Irish, but I hate to hear anyone saying What good is it? to anyone, he said. I wouldnt be too proud of a country that didnt keep its own language, and its great to see its coming back among the young people.

Mr Concannons late wife, Mary, from Moycullen, had Connemara Irish, so it was the language of the home.

His friend, John Murphy (95), who lives in the Anach Cuain parish, said his late wife Bernadette did not have much Irish as she was from Portumna.

Our children learned it at school in Corrandulla, but it was different to the old Irish I speak, he said, adding that he is not so keen on the Irish used on TG4, but loves the language used in south Connemara and in the east Galway villages of Menlo and Castlegar.

Alanagh Ni Chonghaile Ni Ghriofa, lead researcher on the project, said the east Galway dialect the two men use appears to be very similar to that spoken in Donegal and Mayo.

There are some small differences, she said, as a Connemara Irish speaker herself from an Aran island family.

Alanagh Ni Chonghaile Ni Ghriofa with Tom Concannon

Where I might say togha for grand, they would say tofai, and I also heard them use words such as suiste  a farm implement to take seeds out of hay  that I hadnt heard before.

Ms Ni Chonghaile Ni Ghriofa has almost completed the series of interviews, commissioned by language-planning officers Ciaran Tierney and Micheal Mac Aodha of the Gaeltacht areas of An Eachreidh and An Bruach Thoir.

Both men are employed by Udaras na Gaeltachta to promote the language in these two Gaeltacht areas that lie to the east and north-east of Galway city, where its daily use has been dying out.
Muhammad Usman Sarwar from Pakistan, who lives in Ballyhaunis, Mayo with his wife Noreen Iqbal and son Sinan Sarwar.

Anastasia Kovalenko, moved from Ukraine to Ireland with her daughter and elderly mother in March 2022

A Ukrainian mother who took part in Irish language lessons has spoken of how it helped her integrate into a new community during her darkest times.

Anastasia Kovalenko, moved from Ukraine to Ireland with her daughter and elderly mother in March 2022, the same month that Russia invaded her country, completely upending her life.

Before the war, she had what she described as a nice life with a good job, private healthcare, creche access and could travel abroad.

Following huge changes, she slipped into a near depression.

All of a sudden we had no home, no family, no friends, no independence and depended on the goodwill of other people. That is when Gaelic lessons appeared, she told the Irish Independent.

Ms Kovalenko signed up to Conradh na Gaeilges Cead Mile Failte initiative, which brings people together from various backgrounds to celebrate the Irish Language through lessons as Gaeilge.

I wanted to try and learn some of the language to show respect to the country that opened its doors to us at the darkest time in our lives, she said.

The lessons also helped her forget half of her circumstances and also get involved with others in the community and meet other people.

Ms Kovalenko said she loved all six of the lessons.

After the programme, she couldnt wait to test out her newly acquired phrases, and used conas ata tu? and go raibh maith agat in as many cafes as she could.

When I was in the local Post Office I used the phrases and you could see how much they enjoyed it, as well as being completely surprised. They didnt expect it at all.

It is just my way of saying thank you to Ireland and trying to understand the culture, she added.

Pakistani national Muhammad Usman Sarwar, came to Ireland in 2018, with a little English from his school days, as well as his national language Urdu and mother tongue Pubjabi under his belt.

After moving from the capital to Ballyhaunis, knowing nobody, he decided to take up the Cead Mile Failte programmes Irish lessons, after seeing it in a cafe window.

It ended up being very similar to my own language of Urdu in some of the pronunciation, especially when saying how are you and my name is, he told the Irish Independent.

Mr Sarwar loved learning about the culture and food through the Irish language classes and said the classes helped him integrate into his local community and make a number of friends.

Following the lessons we still kept in touch and even though I am a Muslim and dont drink, I joined them at an Irish language night at the local pub, he said.

Despite the lessons being several years ago, the group are celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge this weekend by watching movies in Irish in the local community hall in Ballyhaunis, as well as listening to some trad.

Mr Sarwar believes every country should take pride in its mother tongue and would like to see more people speak Irish. His Pakistani wife Noreen, speaks a little Irish having been in the country 28 years.

My son Sinan also speaks Irish, which he is learning in school. I want him to grow up learning Irish as well as Urdu which is from his roots.

People in the local shop where I work here have been completely shocked, when they seen me, a brown Pakistani speaking in Irish to them.

Irish has helped me understand so much about the culture here, Mr Sarwar added.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrives at the residence of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended his decision to attend the White House St Patricks Day Shamrock Ceremony amid on-going international unease over the role the US is playing in the on-going war in Gaza.

Mr Varadkar said it would not have been a wise decision to meet with President Joe Biden on Friday in the Oval Office and then refuse to take part in the 40 year old ceremony two days later.

The Taoiseach said the Shamrock Ceremony is only one part of a week of engagements in the US which gives Ireland unique access to senior echelons of American politics.

Mr Varadkar said he was given an informal briefing by the Director of the CIA Bill Burns on how America planned to secure a ceasefire in the Israeli war on Gaza.

Speaking on his final day of events for his St Patricks Day visit to Washington DC, the Taoiseach said President Joe Biden is working hard to secure a peace deal for the now five month long conflict.

Even last night, I had the chance to meet and speak informally to the head of the CIA, who was able to me you about the work that they're doing to try and secure that, Mr Varadkar said.

So I have no doubt that the US administration is working hard to put a stop to the violence in Gaza type of ceasefire, he added.

Mr Varadkar defended being less forceful with President Biden about the military support his country is providing Israel.

He said he wasnt shocked by Americas strong support for Israel.

I would struggle to understand why other people would be shocked at that. Perhaps they need to spend more time reading foreign policy because that is the established position of the US.

Asked if the US position makes him angry, Mr Varadkar said its not about that.

I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when you're not angry. You're asked why aren't you angry, he said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar dined with US President Joe Biden and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos at a behind closed doors event in the Washington DC on Saturday night.

Mr Varadkar attended the exclusive Gridiron Club dinner and sat on the same table as the President and Mr Bezos. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas were also seated at the table.

Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Bill Burns and US Army Chief of Staff General Randy George were also on the same table as the Taoiseach.

The Gridiron Club is described as the oldest and among the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, DC. However, the travelling Irish media were not invited to the event.

Mr Varadkars dinner with Jeff Bezos comes at a time of heightened concern over the impact of data centres on the economy. Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova was also at the event.

At the event, President Biden took aim at Congress for failing to agree on a financial support package for war torn Ukraine.

"The Republicans would rather fail at impeachment than succeed at anything else, Mr Biden said.

Referring to the Taoiseachs State visit to Capitol Hill, the President said: "He took one look at Congress and he asked for another Guinness."

The President also said he and Vice President Harris are going to be making the case for how Americans are better off than four years ago.

How we got through the pandemic, turned around the economy, reestablished American leadership in the world all without encouraging the American people to inject bleach. Or without destroying the economy, embarrassing us around the world or itching for insurrection. Look, I wish these were jokes, but they're not, Mr Biden said.

As I said in my State of the Union address, we live in an unprecedented moment of democracy, an unprecedented moment in history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin's on the march in Europe.

"My predecessor bows down to him and says, 'Do whatever the hell you want.' An American president actually said that. Joining us tonight is the prime minister of Estonia and the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. We will not bow down, they will not bow down and I will not bow down, he said.

"Freedom is under assault. The freedom to vote, the freedom to choose and so much more. The lies about the 2020 election, the plot to overturn it, to embrace the January 6 insurrection pose the greatest threat to our democracy since the American Civil War.

"In 2020, they failed, but ... the threat remains. A poison coursing through the veins of our democracy. Disinformation everywhere. There's a toxic cycle of anger and conspiracy.

"Every single one of us has a role to play in making sure American democracy endures. This year, you, the free press, have a bigger role than ever. Let me state the obvious: You are not the enemy of the people. You are a pillar of any free society, he added.

Mr Biden also joked ahead of the November election that one candidate's too old and mentally unfit to be president and the other guy is him.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking to the media at Blair House in Washington, DC, during his visit to the US for St Patrick's Day. Picture date: Saturday March 16, 2024. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not see himself as woke amid the fallout from the defeat of the family and care referendums a week ago.

Speaking in Washington DC on Saturday evening, Mr Varadkar hit back at claims by former tanaiste and No campaigner Michael McDowell as well as others that the Government was focusing too much on woke issues instead of policies that effect the average voter.

No, I think people considered the proposition that was put to them and they listened to the arguments and they decided to vote against it. It wouldn't read across anything else, he said.

Asked if he considered himself woke, the Fine Gael leader said: "I don't think so. But I've never really been fully sure what woke and anti-woke means.

"Like, people who say they're anti woke, just seem to be against whatever new idea or new concept is, but it's popular at the time, but no is the short answer."

Mr Varadkar also said Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 meant the group - an EU-designated terrorist organisation which has controlled Gaza since 2007 - cannot be part of any future administration in the region.

But he also said Israel cannot permanently occupy Gaza after a ceasefire or peace deal is reached.

I think the most important and most urgent thing is the need for a ceasefire, so that the killing stops, so that the hostages can go home, so the food and medicine can get into the people who need it in Gaza, he said.

Once that happens, we would hope that becomes possible to build a more permanent ceasefire. I think everyone agrees that Hamas can't be part of the governing of any Palestinian territory given what's happened on October 7.

"We don't believe that it should be reoccupied by Israel. We certainly don't believe it should be resettled by Israel. We believe it should be handed back over to Palestinian civilian control."
As a sociologist, Niamh Hourigan has, among other things, spent the last 25 years researching and writing about politics and political culture in Ireland while trying to feed into policy-making.

There comes a point where you kind of go, OK, rather than standing on the sidelines shouting at people, maybe its time to get into the arena, she says.

So the Mary Immaculate College professor is swapping academia for politics, and last month was selected, without a contest, as Labours candidate for the European elections in Ireland South.

She comes from a family rich in political diversity  her sister is the rebel Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan and their father is Michael Hourigan, a former Fine Gael councillor and mayor of Limerick.

So why Labour for this Hourigan?

My focus has always been on inequality and I suppose, when I was looking to find a political home, I was looking for a party where that was part of the history, she says.

As a regular contributor to TV and radio panels during the financial crisis, she was critical of Labour policies in government between 2011 and 2016. Somewhat conveniently, Hourigan now says she cannot remember which policies she opposed. However, she does make clear her concerns about successive governments facilitating the rise of investment funds in the housing market.

The whole drive for the Cap [Common Agricultural Policy] was food security. The EU is almost completely blind to housing security, she says.

Its time to start pushing back

Housing is as basic a need as food, but the EU has allowed the whole housing stock in Europe to be ravaged by investment funds. So its time to start pushing back.

Hourigan also takes aim at Fine Gael over the European Peoples Partys support for the long-stalled EU-Mercosur trade deal, which Irish farmers have argued could undercut them with cheap beef imported from South America.

Hourigan says farmers in Ireland South can legitimately say they have been traded down the Swanee to facilitate Mercedes and BMW gaining access to South America. It is an interesting pitch from a Labour candidate for the farming vote.

But this issue could be big in this election, given the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Associations general secretary Eddie Punch is planning to run as an independent in the same constituency. So why should farmers vote Labour?

I think farmers should vote for Labour because, in fairness to Alan Kelly, when he was an MEP, I dont think anyone could say he was blind or indifferent to the interests of farmers, Hourigan says.

For all the digs at Fine Gael, she is more reluctant to get stuck in to Mick Wallace or Sinn Fein. She says people are entitled to know where Wallace, whose views on Russias invasion of Ukraine are controversial, stands, but goes no further.

People are struggling to get a handle on what Sinn Fein actually stands for

On the main opposition party, Hourigan says the people in Ireland South are struggling to get a handle on what Sinn Fein actually stands for.

Its a canny play for transfers, perhaps, for Hourigan can be under no illusions she is running for a party in the electoral doldrums.

Labour has languished in low single-digit polling for much of the last decade, despite four leadership changes in that period. Hourigan argues that the Greens polled similar levels in the run-up to the 2019 elections, when candidate Grace OSullivan took a seat in Ireland South.

Im a good candidate, and I think the headwinds the Greens had the last time, they probably wont have this time, she says. But can Labour break free from the candidates and parties on the left, not least their first cousins, as Alan Kelly referred to them, in the Social Democrats?

Although the Soc Dems are fiercely resistant to any alliance, Hourigan sees the differences between the two parties as similar to those between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael  really not that different.

I dont see it as an either/or, its a question of growing both, she says.

Underlining their ideological alignment is the fact Hourigan previously endorsed academic and housing activist Rory Hearne  now running for the Social Democrats in the Midlands-North-West constituency  for a Seanad seat. So would she be happy to see Hearne get a seat in the European Parliament in June?

Yeah, I would. Rorys a good candidate, she says. But Ill obviously be supporting the Labour candidate.

Perhaps aware that Brussels is a long shot, Hourigan confirms her interest in running for a Dail seat, most likely in Limerick city, in the event she does not upset the odds in June.

I might indeed be interested, she says cautiously.
Unacceptable that a full-time safeguarding officer still not in place

Mick Finnegan found himself sleeping rough after the publication of the report into historical sexual abuse cases at St John's Ambulance Ireland. Photo: Frank McGrath

A survivor of sexual assault at St John Ambulance Ireland (SJAI) has said his life has spiralled out of control one year on from the publication of a report that highlighted historical child sex abuse at the organisation.

Mick Finnegan, from Dublin, was the first person to speak out publicly about the abuse he suffered as a child from a senior figure in the organisation.

He said there has been inaction and a lack of accountability by SJAI in the 12 months since the reports publication.

In response, St John Ambulance insisted most of the recommendations from the report have been implemented by SJAI, despite having not yet appointed a full-time safeguarding officer.

Mr Finnegan said: Since the report was published, my life spiralled out of control due to the inaction and lack of accountability.

I started to drink heavily to help me cope and get through the day. I desperately tried to hold it together, but I was afraid to let anyone around me know what was really going on.

I began to distance myself from my friends and my partner and, as a result, my mental health deteriorated, my relationship ended and Ive been sleeping rough.

I have been accessing North Dublin homeless mental health team who have helped me slowly get my life back on track.

Mr Justice Geoffrey Shannons report into SJAI was published on March 16 last year. It found its past culture had facilitated the grooming of children and failed to intervene on knowledge about boys being at risk in the 1990s.

More than 16 boys were allegedly sexually abused by one former senior figure in the first-aid organisations Old Kilmainham division in Dublin between the early 1960s and late 1990s.

SJAI had failed to act against the man for years, despite a significant awareness of the risk he posed to children.

The organisation had requested financial assistance for a safeguarding officer after it had identified a candidate, which had been granted by Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman. It is understood to be worth 100,000.

Mr Finnegan said it was unacceptable that a full-time safeguarding officer was still not in place.

SJAI said it is committed to implementing the recommendations in full for improvements to its current safeguarding procedures.
Background of two of 10 men raises fears of links to Hezbollah militants

The garda operation in Leap when the arrests were made.

The international trafficking gang suspected of attempting to land a multi-million euro consignment of cocaine in West Cork had been under surveillance since their arrival in Ireland more than a week ago.

Detectives had secretly monitored some of the key figures, who are believed to have flown into Dublin last weekend before travelling south.

The surveillance operation was launched on foot of intelligence that the gang was preparing to land a significant shipment off the south-west coast.

National drugs unit officers, working with local gardai, were in position to make the drugs seizure, according to security sources.

It is believed the gang, which included experienced divers, had attempted to collect the drugs from a pre-arranged rendezvous off the coast on Thursday morning, but the attempt failed because of the poor weather conditions.

International hunt now under way for the mothership believed to be carrying the drugs

There was a clear indication that something was going to happen. The only thing was the timing, said an informed source.

We were very much monitoring what was going on. They had gone to sea. They came back.

We didnt know [whether] they had drugs.

Expecting the gang might disperse, gardai stopped an articulated lorry and a jeep on the pier in Tragumna, near Skibereen, and a camper van at Leap village.

A rigid inflatable dinghy was in the lorry, still wet, and diving suits were recovered from the camper van.

Ten men of different nationalities were arrested, including the driver of the lorry who is believed to be from Northern Ireland.

The others include two Dutch nationals of Iranian heritage, giving rise to suspicion the suspected drugs drop could be linked to the Lebanese militant organisation Hezbollah.

Six Spanish nationals and a Serbian man were also among those arrested.

The men range in age from 20s to 50s.

They are being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 which allows suspects to be held for up to seven days before they must be charged or released.

A clearer picture emerged yesterday of how the gang arrived in small groups, with the truck arriving by ferry at Rosslare, which in turn carried the rigid inflatable dinghy, or RIB.

It is believed the camper was hired in Northern Ireland and driven to West Cork, where the gang assembled. The group stayed in separate accommodation, including bed and breakfast and hotels for several days.

Mobile phones and electronic devices were seized and are being examined for communications about the suspected drugs rendezvous.

An international hunt is now under way for the mothership believed to be carrying the drugs, with gardai liaising with security agencies across Europe.

We are examining the mobile phones, said a garda source. We are collecting CCTV in the area. We are making house-to-house inquiries and are talking to accommodation providers in the area.

Rory Jackson, who lives in Tragumna and is a Green Party local election candidate, said: Nobody wants to see activity like this in their communities. It is unsettling.

Like others here in this community, I saw the camper van a few days ago and I saw the articulated truck at around 11.30pm on Wednesday night. It was leaving Tragumna, and I pulled in to let it pass. I thought it was unusual to see a truck on the road at that hour of the night.

Mr Jackson added that contrary to media reports, a local woman out walking her dog saw gardai arresting the suspects on Tragumna pier but had no interaction with the suspects herself.
Charlie Bird was nervous. Id never met him before. I was expecting a hard-bitten hack; instead, the man who arrived at the cafe in Dawson Street, Dublin, clutching a manila folder stuffed with typed pages, seemed unsure of himself and anxious.

Charlie had been put in touch with me by a mutual friend, his former boss at RTE, Ed Mulhall. Charlie thought he had some good material for a play, but he didnt know anything about plays. Talk to Colin, Ed had said.
Commentator Eoghan Harris refers to Middle Ireland as Moby Dick. Middle-of-the-road voters lurk like the great white whale somewhere below the surface and politicians never quite know where and when he will breach the surface, but when he does, the effect is mighty and awe-inspiring.
While Irish artists boycotted the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Texas because its sponsored by the US Army, a company in Cork has no qualms about linking up with the top brass.
I watched last years November 23 Dublin riots play out on social media from a hotel in East Jerusalem. I was in Israel reporting on the war in Gaza. That evening, I should have been absorbed in the conflict there, but all I could do was scroll through pictures and videos of Dublin on fire. I was ashamed of myself. Having reported on the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment in other parts of the world, I hadnt properly noticed it happening at home.
Sam McBride: What would happen if St Patrick, the refugee, came to Ireland today?

As anti-immigrant sentiment rises, would our quintessentially Irish saint, himself a Brit, marvel at the progress made or mourn what has been lost?

An old engraved illustration of Saint Patrick. Graphic: Getty

Sam McBride Sun 17 Mar 2024 at 03:30

Were Saint Patrick to come to Ireland today, hed be nowhere near as welcome as the festivities in his name suggest. A Brit of the lowest social standing going around preaching to people about their sins is about as far removed from wealthy, secular Ireland as can be imagined.
Shane Ross: Suffered an embarrassing referendum defeat? Dont worry, just flee the country, sharpish

No one in power has stayed at home to explain the disastrous referendum vote

US president Joe Biden meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: Reuters

Shane Ross Sun 17 Mar 2024 at 03:30

It was a great week to be Irish abroad. Cheltenham was an Irish superfest. Twickenham was a one-point defeat for our stellar rugby team, cheered on by thousands of proud Irish fans. Rory McIlroy had 10 birdies in his first round in Sawgrass, Florida. Today, all over the United States, squads of Irish politicians and their hangers-on are attending banquets galore for St Patricks Day.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar shakes hands with US president Joe Biden during their meeting at the White House on Friday. Photo: Reuters

At this time of year, Washington is generally swarming with green social butterflies proudly talking of their links with the old country amid the spirit of St Patricks Day camaraderie.

But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has had to assume a mission more akin to that of a mosquito in attempting to sting US president Joe Biden into bringing great pressure to bear on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Gazas plight.

A passionate case for doing so was laid out by former president Mary Robinson, who was speaking in her role as chair of the Elders.

She appealed to Mr Varadkar to implore the US to end its military and financial support for Israel.

Stop the arms supply, stop the money, said Mrs Robinson. And Mr Varadkar was commendably direct in calling on the US to work with Ireland to push for peace in the Middle East.

Deftly evoking the role Washington played in brokering the Good Friday Agreement, he also asked the US to push for peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

To his credit, Mr Biden responded positively, saying Ireland and the US were working together to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

He also acknowledged the need for action now, adding: We both know theres a lot more that has to be done.

And in case Tel Aviv was in any doubt, the US president said I agree in response to Mr Varadkars comments on a ceasefire, and again to the two-state solution.

As the worlds remaining superpower, the US has a heightened responsibility to intercede on behalf of the powerless. To stand idly by and allow the mass starvation of a people when aid is so close at hand would be unconscionable.

Clearly, a sea change in US attitudes to unequivocal support for Israel is taking place. This weeks call by US senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, Americas most prominent Jewish politician, for Mr Netanyahus hardline government to be replaced speaks to the deep unease at the civilian casualties and the catastrophic humanitarian situation.

Mr Schumer is a close ally of Mr Biden and the most senior Democrat in the US Senate. That he would so urge Washington to use its leverage to force Mr Netanyahus ruling coalition to adopt a more moderate course is telling. It may have been fortuitous that this week also marks 100 years of diplomatic relationships between Ireland and the US.

It was not only opportune, but important, for Mr Varadkar to use whatever influence Ireland holds at such a critical time for those without a voice in Gaze,

As a long-standing friend of America, and as a country whose population came close to being destroyed by famine, Irelands appeal carries a historical resonance.

Speaking truth to power is valuable, and providing power pays attention it can be transformational.

But fine words must now be followed by fine deeds if Gaza is to get the lifeline it so desperately needs.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar used the occasion of a bilateral meeting with US president Joe Biden during traditional St Patricks week political engagements in Washington to raise the concerns of Irish people on the worsening crisis in Gaza.

To his credit, Mr Varadkar has been consistent at home and abroad in reiterating Irelands call for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire to facilitate a massive increase in humanitarian aid.

The situation in Gaza is dire, with a growing risk of famine now also a threat to the lives of Palestinians, including many innocent women and children. In keeping with Irish foreign policy, Mr Varadkar also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas in its horrific attack on Israel last October 7.

The Taoiseach emphasised a peaceful and secure future for all people in the region can come only from a two-state solution, with Israel living side-by-side in peace with a fully-fledged state of Palestine.

In front of international media, Mr Biden, whose administration has been slow to rein in Israel or condemn outright its utterly disproportionate actions in Gaza, agreed when Mr Varadkar referred to the need for a ceasefire and when he spoke about a two-state solution.

Belatedly, and ahead of elections later this year, the US administration is firming up its position on the hawkish government in Israel, illustrated to great effect in a powerful speech last week by Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who warned Israel risked becoming a pariah. Mr Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish American in the US government, called for new elections in Israel in a speech that reportedly stunned the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. It was described as a significant moment in modern US-Israel relations.

Mr Schumer also voiced support for a two-state solution, a position Netanyahu has rejected.

In an unprecedented intervention, Mr Schumer said the Netanyahu coalition no longer fitted the needs of Israel, and he believed a new election was the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel.

It was an extraordinary and timely speech shared in advance with the presidents office and, therefore, is taken to contain many views shared by Mr Biden himself.

It also represents a hardening of position in the US. Earlier this month, vice-president Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire and Mr Biden has warned that Netanyahu was hurting Israel more than helping Israel with his assault on the Palestinian enclave.

In the face of such pressure, the Netanyahu government has said it has made final preparations for an assault on Rafah, the last reasonably secure Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. Such an attack would be unconscionable.

In his meeting with the president, Mr Varadkar did not call on the US to stop its arms supply to Israel, which disappointed some critics. However, most reasonable people would accept nations have a right to defend themselves, and for this they must have arms. But as the taoiseach subsequently intimated, Israel can no longer be said to be using weapons in such a manner.
Charlie Bird, who died on Monday, used his motor neurone disease diagnosis to spread awareness. Photo: Collins

We all feel we knew Charlie Bird. For some, it was through his dedication to reach the truth of every story he reported on in his outstanding career.

For others, it was in walking the roads or climbing the mountains of illness with him, both literally and metaphorically. He was truly inspirational.

To people on difficult life journeys, he was a beacon of light in the darkest moments. His positive outlook, his courage and determination made everything seem possible. These were wonderful gifts, and he willingly shared them.

My mother, Maureen Noone, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in December 2016. She quickly lost her speech and her ability to move.

This is such a debilitating and isolating illness for sufferers and their families. The work Charlie did in raising awareness of MND is immeasurable.

I recall watching Charlie and his wife Claire tell the story of his diagnosis to Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show. He spoke of his plans to extend the hand of friendship and raise awareness of the illness. At this moment, I knew I had to contribute.

I have always enjoyed songwriting, and it was a privilege to have written the lyrics of Shine a Light. The song was recorded by Michael English and formed part of Charlies fundraising campaign for the Irish MND Association and Pieta House in 2022.

Each lyric was written from my heart. Our family walks the rocky road of MND alongside our mother every day. In her, we see the same spirit burning brightly that I saw in Charlie on The Late Late Show.

Through his selflessness and courage in going public with his diagnosis, he enabled the voiceless to be heard and he has helped countless people in the process.

My mother was so sad to learn of Charlies death, as we all were. On behalf of our family, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to Claire, as well as Charlies daughters Orla and Neasa, his extended family, his friends, colleagues and, of course, his best pal Tiger.

It was an honour to have met Charlie and Claire at the recording of Shine a Light. His spirit will always shine brightly in the hearts of those he inspired. May he rest in peace.

Sara Noone, Kilkerrin, Co Galway

Time to show Irish abroad they are truly appreciated by extending voting rights

It is that time of year when we celebrate all things Irish through parades, flags and the wearing of green jerseys.

Our politicians have scattered to all parts of the globe to recognise the importance of Irishness abroad and the wonderful and disproportionate role the Irish diaspora plays on the world stage.

Let us take a moment to remember those Irish citizens abroad who, unlike their fellow expatriates from most other countries, are completely disenfranchised by their own country.

I contrast this situation with that of France  my adopted home  where French citizens living abroad enjoy full voting rights in presidential and parliamentary elections.

France even has a number of dedicated constituencies, formed to give parliamentary representation to French citizens overseas. Comparing this with the treatment of the Irish abroad is a sobering exercise.

The only time in recent memory the Irish abroad seemed to matter electorally was when we were encouraged to come home to vote in referendums.

These were occasions when the Government felt it needed the votes of the Irish abroad to carry the day (even if many of us shouldnt have still been on the electoral register, but thats another story).

I believe Ireland wishes to keep her citizens abroad engaged in Ireland, interested in her future and wearing the green jersey.

If it wishes for this continue into the future, the least that can be done is to give us a vote.

Conor Mooney, Name and address with editor

We keep hearing this is a wealthy country, so why all the dreadful deprivation?

There are 14,000 homeless people in Ireland accessing emergency accommodation. It is a staggering figure. At least one-third of these are children.

There are over 1,400 asylum-seekers sleeping rough, risking illness and death.

Nearly one million citizens, with one-third of these children, are experiencing severe deprivation in Ireland.

Through all of this, we are recognised as one of the richest countries in the world.

The Government pits citizens, refugees, asylum-seekers and others against one another with its policies and spending. The needs of a huge chunk of the population are shamefully ignored.

The emphatic rejection of the recent referendums demonstrated the disconnect between politicians and citizens.

Hugh McDermott, Dromahair, Co Leitrim

Tent City tells us the land of a hundred thousand welcomes has changed

Our much-vaunted cead mile failte  a hundred thousand welcomes  goes into overdrive over St Patricks weekend.

However, this sentiment is shockingly contradicted by the sight of so many immigrants tents on Mount Street in Dublin city centre. The situation is so grim that people are now referring to it as Tent City.

How can our Catholic bishops and our millionaire countrymen allow the Government to betray our best instincts?

There are empty offices and churches all over the city that could house those in need.

If we cannot find a better way to welcome people fleeing the horrors of war and persecution, I will have to find a tent and join them next week.

Lelia Doolan, Kilcolgan, Co Galway

Taoiseach says this is our war too  a worrying claim for a peacekeeping nation

This is our war too... The least we can do is to provide them with the tools they need to defend their country and their homes.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkars words go against our obligation to be international peacemakers.

Real security in Ukraine and elsewhere is built on bridge-building and peace talks, not supplying weapons for an unwinnable war.

Elizabeth Cullen, Kilcullen, Co Kildare

Biden made it sound like Israel had only crossed the line after killing 30,000

US president Joe Biden attempted to increase pressure on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he stated there are red lines.

Clarifying the point, he added: They cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead.

This talk of red lines by Mr Biden is confusing. Were the first 30,000 deaths, including those of roughly 12,000 children, acceptable to the US administration? And who does Mr Biden think is supplying the munitions that would be used by Israel to massacre a further 30,000 people?

Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

Locals wrath should have been directed at those in power, not at refugees

What an interesting night it was earlier this week. While the country was flooded with rain, the Muslim Sisters of Eire were feeding over 400 hungry people outside the GPO in Dublin.

Meanwhile, in Roscommon, 150 Christians met to complain about refugees getting accommodation. To compound the hypocrisy, it was addressed by a Fianna Fail senator who declared it was time to call a spade a spade (Senator says locals are right to refuse arrivals to their town, Irish Independent, March 15).

The senator rightly pointed out that all local services and infrastructure either no longer existed or were at breaking point. I hope the people of Roscommon can discover which political parties brought this destitute state of affairs on us all.

Glyn Carragher, Co Roscommon

Inequality in cancer care is an outrageous reality that must be tackled now

A leading cancer specialist has warned that Ireland has a two-tier cancer system (Cancer patients in west endure poor facilities, says specialist, Irish Independent, March 8).

Professor Michael Kerin said Galway University Hospital is outdated and has inadequate facilities for cancer patients. He further stated that the west and north-west suffer from economic deprivation.

The EU recognises this part of our country as a lagging region that needs much investment.

There are sick people travelling from Donegal to Galway on the cancer bus. They endure a 10-hour journey there and back for life-saving treatments at an inadequate, crowded hospital. If this happened anywhere else, there would be outrage.

Tom Towey, Cloonacool, Co Sligo
Irish Rail has announced that the Limerick to Ennis rail services are expected to be suspended from Monday March 18, as Ballycar is set to flood.

Iarnrod Eireann explained that flood waters have risen significantly at Ballycar on the Limerick to Ennis railway line in recent days. As a result, the company expects the line to close, and for services to be suspended, from Bank Holiday Monday March 18 until further notice.

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Bus transfers will be in operation between Limerick and Ennis in both directions for all services, meaning the Limerick to Ennis and Ennis to Limerick services will be replaced by bus, while the Limerick to Galway and Galway to Limerick services will involve a bus transfer between Limerick and Ennis, and train between Ennis and Galway.

Iarnrod Eireann has apologised for the inconvenience caused, ensured they will monitor flood levels which are continuing to rise, and will advise customers on likely service restoration dates when flood levels begin to recede.

Following the announcement, TD for Limerick City Brian Leddin has called calls for urgent action to alleviate flooding at Ballycar.

The Green Party politician said: To date there has been little urgency on the part of the Minister, his Department or the OPW to resolve the issue. It is absolutely unacceptable that the fastest growing rail service in the country which connects the third and fourth largest cities will be closed indefinitely. This is despite multiple warnings and the solution and the costs having been identified a number of years ago

The repercussions extend far beyond the inconvenience to thousands of commuters, students and tourists. The closure highlights vulnerabilities in the Midwest region's transportation network and also erodes confidence in its reliability and resilience. This unreliability may become a significant deterrent for future investment in Limerick, Ennis and the Midwest if it is not addressed urgently.

While this is the first time in four years that the line has closed due to flooding, the railway track at Ballycar Lough has flooded on a number of occasions in recent years. The flooding occurs due to the cumulative affect of rainfall, and the slow drainage associated within Ballycars geological and hydrogeological environment. As a result, the line is expected to be closed for many weeks.
All aspects of the Knocknagree community were showcased in the event

Mary Lowe and Steve Bagg with Ballyweedy Breaking Bad in the Knocknagree Parade. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Kerry for the Healy Raes 50th Party but Cork takes the Oscar said Denis O Mahony, Breda Twomey, Margaret Goulding, Geraldine O Connell and Eileen O Leary at the Knocknagree St. Patricks Day Parade. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Philip Horton was Cillian Murphy in the Knocknagree St. Patricks Day Parade. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Pat O Connell as St. Patrick in the Knocknagree Parade. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

The village of Knocknagree hosted a St Patricks Day parade that showcased all aspects of its vibrant community this afternoon.

Participating in the colourful event were local businesses, community groups, clubs and schools, with marchers dressed in all sorts of convincing costumes and apparel that celebrated St Patrick and other prominent Irish figures from the past.

Alongside many participants, some of whom were driving rare vintage cars and tractors, were magnificent floats that added an extra bit of local character to proceedings.

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Parade-goers were also blessed with clear skies and a bit of spring sun, which added an extra enjoyment factor to participants and those that lined the route of the event.

The parade in Knocknagree was certainly a knock-out event!
The McGough family: Anthony, Chris, Lauren, Donal, Isabeal and Feadh enjoyng the St Patrick's Parade in Killarney. Photo by Tatyana McGough

The Lenihans family pictured at the St Patricks Parade in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Pictured at the St Patricks Parade in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Ray, Lauren and Cathy O'Sullivan enjoying the St Patricks Parade in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Members of Killarney Rugby Club, Joe Bradley, Lachlan Leslie and David Kennelly, participating in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney. The theme of the Killarney Parade was 'Echoes of. Killarney'. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan

Peggy and Tanya O'Brien pictured at the St Patricks Parade in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Aurelija Armoniene with her children Aukse and Aiste enjoying the St Patricks Parade in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Meet the Monarch of Muckross...the native red stag operated by Klaus Ernst, participating in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney. The theme of the Killarney Parade was 'Echoes of. Killarney'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan.

Ita, Mark and Sebastian Leenders from Knocknagoshel enjoying the St Patricks Day in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Members of the Fiona Crowley School of Drama, Killarney, participating in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney. The theme of the Killarney Parade was 'Echoes of. Killarney'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan.

The Hughes family: Kevin and Gillian with their children Anna Mai, Conor and Harry enjoyng the St Patrick's Parade in Killarney. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Carol O'Driscoll with Helen Edwardes and Casey Beau Edwardes enjoying the St Patricks Parade in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Caralyna, Bryana, Graham and Regina Coughlan enjoying the St Patricks Parade in Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Meet the Monarch of Muckross...the native red stag operated by Klaus Ernst, participating in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney. The theme of the Killarney Parade was 'Echoes of. Killarney'. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

The magnificent Monarch of Muckross led the way for one of Kerry's biggest parades with almost 70 floats winding their way through the town of Killarney on St Patricks day.

The Kerry town was determined to be one of the best parades outside Dublin and they did a superb job bringing festivities to the streets of the town.

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The giant artistic stag, representing Killarneys great culture and history, was a key attraction in the parade but the various themed floats also told their own story of this year's parade them Echoes of the Past.

The 2024 parade was led grand marshal the hugely popular Muckross man Dan Kelleher who spent an incredible 58 years working in Killarney National Park, rising to the esteemed rank of park superintendent.

There was also an international theme to the parade both on the ground in the various floats as well as on the stage with Mayor Niall Kelleher joined by the visiting mayors from sister and friendship towns Verres in Italy, Schlebusch/Leverkusen in Germany, Casperia in Italy, Pleinfeld in Germany and Kendal in England.
The St Patrick's Day parade in Baile an Fheirtearaigh. Photo by Declan Malone

Cillian O Suilleabhain and his sisters Orlaith and Clodagh at the St Patrick's Day parade in Baile an Fheirtearaigh. Photo by Declan Malone

A finely balanced display at the St Patrick's Day parade in Baile an Fheirtearaigh. Photo by Declan Malone

Members of Rinceoiri na Riochta taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

On a day of celebration in Ireland there was support for the people of Palestine at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Risteard Mac Eoin (St Patrick) greets Risteard Mac Liam (parade MC) at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Pupils of Scoil an Ghleanna taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Pupils from Scoil Chaitlin Naofa, Cill Mhic a' Domhnaigh, taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Watching the St Patrick's Day parade go by in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Members of the Ukrainian community in West Kerry taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Members of the Southampton Fire Dept, New York, who were on holiday in West Kerry, joined their Dingle colleagues in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Pupils from Scoil an Chlochair taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Vintage style at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Gene Courtney and Breandan Fitzgerald on marshalling duty at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Taking in the view from the van at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Ar mBaile, Ar gCultur, Ar dTeanga... Duchas an Daingin spell out their mission at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Sacred Heart University students taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. All photos by Declan Malone.

Weve had one parade yes, but what about another?

Cillian O Suilleabhain and his sisters Orlaith and Clodagh at the St Patrick's Day parade in Baile an Fheirtearaigh. Photo by Declan Malone

Leanai o Scoil Dhun Chaoin ag glacadh pairt i paraid La le Phadraig ar an mBuailtin. Photo le Deaglan O Maoileoin

Vintage style at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Pupils from Scoil an Chlochair taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Gene Courtney and Breandan Fitzgerald on marshalling duty at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Ar mBaile, Ar gCultur, Ar dTeanga... Duchas an Daingin spell out their mission at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

After the success of their early morning parade as dawn broke on St Patricks Day, Dingle enjoyed the second of its two parades earlier this afternoon and as you can see from the photos, it went down an absolute treat.

Members of Rinceoiri na Riochta taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Muiris Mac Gearailt a bhi mar Grand Marshall ar pharaid La le Phadraig ar an mBuailtin. Photo le Declan Malone

Watching the St Patrick's Day parade go by in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Members of the Ukrainian community in West Kerry taking part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

Elsewhere in West Kerry, Ballyferriter was a hive of activity as the village turned green and gold in honour of Irelands national holiday.

Risteard Mac Eoin (St Patrick) greets Risteard Mac Liam (parade MC) at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dingle. Photo by Declan Malone

See all the photos from the celebrations back west in the photo gallery.
The Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC) marked its first St. Patricks Day with an international campaign to highlight the viability and sustainability of Irish grown wool.

Formed in April of last year, the IGWCs recently-appointed Interim Chair is Catherine Phibbs, who is originally from just outside Blessington in west Wicklow and comes from a long-line of sheep farmers spanning many generations.

The aim of IGWC is to transform Irish grown wool, an under-utilised and undervalued resource, into a branded value-added product for the benefit of primary producers and the wider supply chain. IGWC was formed as a result of recommendations from the 2022 report Review Of Market Opportunities For Irish-Grown Wool Based Products from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

During the week the IGWC celebrated St. Patricks Day by sharing Irish grown woollen products globally. IGWC commissioned bespoke knitted white woollen throws and emerald green scarves, using Irish grown wool sourced from farms on the Island of Ireland. These items were presented and distributed by members of the IGWC to Irish Ministers and Senators last week to wear and gift while travelling abroad on their trade missions to promote Irelands Future in the World.

The IGWC is a voluntary body with an all-island approach. Its purpose is to promote an Irish grown wool brand both domestically and internationally. Designed to create awareness of the bioeconomic characteristics of wool, increase the value in the total wool chain and ensure that a fair proportion of this value reaches the primary producer.

Speaking about the importance of this campaign Catherine Phibbs, Interim Chair, IGWC, stated: This is a significant opportunity to showcase Irish grown wool to the world. Representatives of our State engage in an extensive international programme to promote Ireland and Irish interests and values around the world during St. Patricks week and now Irish grown wool is a visible part of this years global story.

"The Irish Grown Wool Council through its expert working groups is developing collaborations nationally and internationally to apply innovative solutions to address current challenges and create pioneering innovation in bio-fibres and sustainable practices.

Recent shifts in global economies, market demands and the emergence of unsustainable fibres have significantly impacted the Irish grown wool industry. The Irish Grown Wool Council brings wool stakeholders together to realise the true potential of Irish-grown wool, locally and globally.
Our patriotic columnist gets green with her organic and ecological creams, make-up and tanning lotions

My uncle Neilous passed away recently so we were all down in Skibbereen for his funeral. Horses and Hereford cows were his passion but my goodness did he know a lot about lipsticks and moisturisers as well. He read my column every single week for the last 22 years and would always tell me I was much better looking than that little pic you see!

I promise you now Neilous, Ill get a new one in your honour. It was a massive funeral for this marvellous man with Mary, his wife of nearly 60 years, shown so much support at such a sad time. I always say it was her pharmacy on North Street, where I loved to hang out as a young wan, that inspired my passion for lipsticks and moisturisers. As you read this, I will be enjoying the St Patricks Day celebrations at home in Schull, where the brilliant parade is always the highlight of Maxi and Minis day. Im wearing my sparkly green geansai today, but Im also going green with my recommendations this week and plumping for sustainable, eco-friendly options.

Valentines scents to make your crush swoon!

I pop into Kiehls on Dublins Wicklow Street a lot as it is always great for refills. I love Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream, which has a lightweight texture and gives up to 24-hour lasting hydration, plus theres currently a 50ml pot and 150ml refill bundle offer (85, kiehls.ie). It is formulated with glacial glycoprotein and olive-derived squalane to leave skin softer, smoother and visibly healthier.

Seabody Hydrogel Mask Cleanser, 44, seabody.com

Im also a fan of Irish seaweed-based skincare and supplement brand, Seabody, as its co-founder, Dr Helena McMahon, has a huge passion for sustainability, nature and innovation. Seabodys products are powered by the marine molecules it has sustainably isolated from Irish organic seaweed using clean, zero-waste technologies. I love multi-purpose lotions and potions, so one of my favourite products is the Seabody Hydrogel Mask Cleanser (44, seabody.com), which is both a cleanser and a mask combined in one.

Another brand that epitomises consciousness and ethical business practices is Gen See  a clean, sustainable, cruelty-free, and vegan beauty brand founded by the visionary duo Danya Klein and Tamar Yaniv. And while I love the Gen See Mixed Media Metallic Liquid Eyeshadow in Bronze (28, genseebeauty.com), I adore that the brand is passionate about its impact on the earth and its people.

Another visionary businesswoman dedicated to revolutionising the beauty industry with eco-friendly and nourishing skincare products is Noelle OConnor, founder of The Kind Brand Company.

She has consistently demonstrated that beauty and environmental consciousness can harmoniously coexist, which can be seen in her TanOrganic and Vegan Tan brands. For example, her company pledges to remove one pound of plastic from the worlds oceans for every bottle sold, which is why youll get extra satisfaction from buying the fantastic Vegan Tan Self Tan Mousse (12.99, vegantan.com).

Another brand committed to sustainability, Sasta Skin Health has made environmental awareness a cornerstone of its operations. Its hero product is the Sasta Microbiome Booster Serum (45, sastaskinhealth.com), which is crafted with a blend of prebiotics and postbiotics to reduce inflammation, hydrate skin and maintain pH balance. Sasta conducts its entire product cycle  from formulation to delivery  here in Ireland, and its packaging is 97pc recyclable  and there is a packaging-free option.

So for the day thats in it, lets all go sustainably green  Ill probably still be green tomorrow after all the celebrations but thats another story

Three of the best Patches

Cutie Pimple Patches, 15, cutie.ie

1 Cutie Pimple Patches, 15, cutie.ie Pair these patches when wearing your shamrock today as sisters Kate and Jyll Powers compact houses 32 heart-shaped pimple patches. Apart from aiding healing, the patches come in two shades of pink to help end the stigma of problematic skin.

Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches, 20, augustinusbader.com

2 Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches, 20 for a pair, augustinusbader.com These new revitalising hydrogel eye patches hydrate, brighten and smooth skin while reducing the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Storyderm Time Patch, 99 for five pairs, storyderm.ie

3 Storyderm Time Patch, 99 for five pairs, storyderm.ie While most women my age are wearing HRT patches, Im reaching for these! Designed to be worn overnight, these patches contain crystallised hyaluronic acid to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and enhance volume of the skin.

Valentines scents to make your crush swoon!
Emilie Williams began making T-shirts in her bedroom two years ago and now she has her own studio and fashion line, Ditsy Bits

The Ditsy Bits Eire Tee, 30, modelled by Catriona Duyile, in red, and Emma Murphy, in pink. Stylist: Isabella Tierney. Photo: Zoe Ardiff

Do you enjoy a bit of sartorial patriotism but find that the pog mo thoin and kiss me Im Irish T-shirts just dont do it for you? Then look to Ditsy Bits  a company where Irish pride meets fashion.

I started making T-shirts in my bedroom in January 2022, the brands creator Emilie Williams says. I painted them by hand using textile paint at first, so it was a very slow process. I would spend three hours per T-shirt. My first design was a face I drew with four eyes on it. I still love it.

From a young age, Williams had been encouraged to express herself artistically. My mam is a visual artist and sculptor so I picked up the love of painting from her. Im so lucky I had that encouragement, otherwise I dont know if I would have fallen into this business.

Her illustrated T-shirts were popular among her customers, but it wasnt until she began including the Irish language in her designs that the brand really began to gain traction.

Williams (23) had previously spent one year studying primary school teaching at DCU in Dublin. She decided teaching wasnt for her, but she greatly enjoyed the Irish language that was part of the course.

Ditsy Bits brands creator Emilie Williams. Photo: Zoe Ardiff

I started creating designs that included the Irish language. For my Valentines drop, I illustrated a little cherub holding a heart that read Me Fein. That was a year and a half ago.

The Dubliner consistently pushes herself to develop her independent brand by streamlining her work and growing her offering.

I got a studio based in the city centre last July. It gave me the space to make screens [a tool used to print a design on fabric] by myself rather than hand paint everything, but it was still a really long process.

She now works with a family-run printing business in Santry, north Dublin. It was quite scary getting my own studio and outsourcing work, but it was too difficult working from home and being in the same environment constantly.

With her focus taken off the nitty gritty details, Williams was free push her love of design and Gaeilge further.

Other people seemed to really like me including Irish. I always try to have some aspect of Irish in my designs now, she says.

The Pub of Dream Tee, 30, from the Ditsy Bits Paddy's Day collection. Model: Catriona Duyile. Stylist: Isabella Tierney. Photo: Zoe Ardiff

Some of the Ditsy Bits T-shirts have featured pints of stout with the salutation Slainte and Claddagh rings with Gra on them. Irish expats from Australia and England often buy the designs to wear a little piece of home.

However big it goes, I want to keep parts of Ireland within the designs. My Patricks Day collection is based around a 2002 Irish stamp, she says of the T-shirts pictured on this page. I like keeping it close to home. Thats where it started and I dont want it to go anywhere else. I always want my label to say Made in Ireland.

The Ditsy Bits St Patricks Day collection is available now at ditsybits.com
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae visit the Gangdong Greenhouse in North Korea. Photo: Reuters

North Korea has described Kim Jong Uns teenage daughter as a top leader for the first time in a move that bolsters her status as the dictators successor.

She was described as a great person of guidance, a term usually reserved for senior leaders, in an official report of a visit to a greenhouse farm.
My dad was a strong person  so if this can happen to him, what else is happening?  Martin Abbott's daughter on his death in University Hospital Limerick
Ukraines air defences will be almost out of missiles by the end of the the month

Donald Trump told Viktor Orban that  if elected  he wont fund Ukraine

Ukrainian paramedics help a comrade injured by a Russian attack in Odesa that deliberately targeted emergency services. Photo: AP

James Kilner  Telegraph.co.uk Sun 17 Mar 2024 at 03:30







Ukraine is running so low on ammunition that it will run out of air defence missiles to defend its cities by the end of the month, according to reports.
Humanitarian aid ship carries out first sea delivery to Gaza

At least 27 people, mostly children, dead from malnutrition or dehydration in recent weeks

Smaller boats nudge the barge carrying 200 tonnes of food towards the shore in Gaza. Photo: IDF

Kelsey Ables Sun 17 Mar 2024 at 03:30







A humanitarian aid ship has completed the first aid delivery by sea to Gaza via a new maritime corridor, unloading 200 tons of food and water to the besieged enclave, the non-profit World Central Kitchen said yesterday.
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi: A Delhi Special court Saturday sent Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha to seven-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody in connection with the excise policy case.

Special Judge MPs/MLAs cases M.K. Nagpal, after hearing arguments on behalf of Counsel for ED and Defence Counsel, passed an order sending her to ED custody till March 23.

The counsel representing Kavitha opposed the ED custody arguing that it is a fabricated case and all allegations against her are illegal.

Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was arrested by the ED on Friday after the law enforcement agency team raided her residence in Hyderabad.

She was produced before the court in New Delhi on Saturday morning for obtaining her custody for interrogation in a Money Laundering case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

EDs Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain and Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta moved an application under section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr. P.C.) read with section 65 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), seeking 10 days ED custody of Kalvakuntla Kavitha.

ED told the court that an FIR was registered by CBI on 17.8.2022 against Manish Sisodia, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister related to irregularities in framing and implementation of the Excise policy of Delhi for the year 2021-22.

The government counsel submitted that ED initiated an investigation by registering ECIR on 22.8.22.

ED filed a prosecution complaint on 26.11.22 and the Special PMLA Court took cognizance of the offence.

ED sought custody interrogation, arguing that the arrestee is required to be interrogated in respect to unearth the remaining proceeds of the crime.

The government counsel further said that the arrestee is required to be confronted with voluminous material which is possible in the custodial interrogation.
Videograbs of Gujarat hostel mob attack

Ahmedabad/IBNS: Five international students were left injured after a mob, that stormed a Gujarat University hostel in Ahmedabad last night, attacked students from African countries, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, allegedly for offering namaz.

State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi has spoken to Gujarat's top police officers and directed them to arrest the accused at the earliest and ensure a fair probe.

The victim students said that since there is no mosque on the campus, so they had gathered inside the hostel to offer taraweeh - a namaz offered at night during Ramadan.

Soon after, a mob armed with sticks and knives stormed the hostel, attacked them, and vandalised their rooms, the students have alleged.

According to students, the hostel's security guard tried to stop the mob but failed.

A student from Afghanistan said people in the mob raised slogans and asked them who had allowed them to offer namaz in the hostel. "They attacked us inside the rooms too. They broke laptops, phones and damaged bikes," he said.

The five injured students include one each from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan and two from African countries.

Visuals shared on social media showed damaged bikes, broken laptops and ravaged rooms.

In some of the visuals, people are seen throwing stones at the hostel and hurling abuses at the overseas students. In the visuals, the international students are heard saying that they are "scared" and that "this is unacceptable".
Indian Army contingent departs for Seychelles to p[participate in a joint military exercise. Photo Courtesy: PIB

An Indian Army contingent departed for Seychelles on Sunday (March 17, 2024) to participate in the tenth edition of Joint Military Exercise Lamitiye-2024 between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).

The Joint Exercise will be conducted in Seychelles from 18-27 March 2024.

Lamitiye meaning Friendship in the Creole language is a biennial training event and has been conducted in Seychelles since 2001.

45 personnel each from the Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) will participate in the exercise.

The exercise aims to enhance interoperability in sub-conventional operations in semi-urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter on Peacekeeping Operations.

The exercise aims to enhance cooperation and interoperability between both sides during Peace Keeping Operations.

The exercise aims to build and promote bilateral military relations in addition to exchanging skills, experiences and good practises between both armies.

"Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in Semi-Urban environment, while exploiting and showcasing new-generation equipment and technology," read a statement issued by the Indian government.

The 10-day-long Joint Exercise will include Field Training Exercise, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, which culminate with two days of Validation Exercise.

"The exercise will contribute immensely to developing mutual understanding and magnify jointness between the troops of both the Armies. The Exercise will also foster collaborative partnership and help in sharing best practises between the two sides," the statement said.
Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Police has arrested two people for assaulting foreign students at Gujarat University, allegedly over their participation in Taraweeh, a Ramadan prayer, media reports said.

The accused in custody have been identified as Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel, reported India Today.

On Saturday, a group of men allegedly targeted foreign students while they were offering nighttime Ramadan prayers at their hostel roof inside the campus premises.

They demanded the students cease their prayers anywhere on the grounds.

The assailants vandalized hostel rooms, chanted slogans, and pelted stones at the foreign students, resulting in injuries to two of them.

The five injured students include one each from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan and two from African countries.

According to reports, the Gujarat Home Minister, Harsh Sanghavi, has spoken to Gujarat's senior police officials, directing them to immediately arrest the suspects and ensure a thorough investigation.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said it is in touch with the Gujarat government, assuring stringent measures will be taken against the attackers.

According to the police, they face multiple charges including unlawful assembly, armed assembly, rioting, forgery, causing harm, endangering life, criminal trespass, and other offenses, the report said.

According to the complaint, initially, three students attempted to intervene, but soon after, their number swelled to 15, and eventually, around 200 people joined in.

In response, the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 men for charges of rioting. Subsequently, nine investigative teams were deployed to track down the suspects.

According to an NDTV report, Ahmedabad city police commissioner GS Malik said they have started an investigation. "About 300 overseas students study here. They are from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and African countries. Some of them were offering namaz on the terrace yesterday. Some people came and asked why they were doing so and that they should offer namaz at a mosque. This led to a heated exchange and a fight. The outsiders then threw stones and vandalised the hostel rooms."

The senior officer said police rushed to the spot soon after they were informed over a phone call. "We have formed nine teams and investigate this. We have identified one person. A complaint has been received against 20-25 people and an FIR registered. We will scan the videos doing the rounds. We will take strict action against those involved," he said, adding that the situation is under control.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said the Gujarat government is taking strict action against those who attacked the international students. "An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. MEA is in touch with Gujarat government," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.
Representative image/ courtesy: Unsplash

Damascus/IBNS/UNI: Israeli missiles hit multiple sites in the countryside of Syria's capital Damascus on Saturday night, a war monitor reported.

At least two locations were struck -- one harboring a weapons shipment within a military installation used by Syrian military forces and the other near an engineering battalion in the Qalamoun rugged region in the northern countryside of Damascus.

The attacks triggered massive explosions, and Syrian ground defenses scrambled to intercept incoming threats, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The strikes mark the latest escalation in Israeli military actions against Syria.

According to the Observatory, 16 Israeli aerial assaults and eight ground operations have been documented so far this year.
Photo Courtesy: twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal

London: Amid rumours and speculations on social media about Britains Princess of Wales Kate Middleton's health, her senior staff members have said that they have not seen the British Royal for quite some time, media reported.

According to Kensington Palace, the 42-year-old is recovering at home after a "planned abdominal surgery" in January, but some users believe the royal is in an "induced coma".

However, her senior staff members said that they are not aware of her post-recovery process.

"A few of Kate's senior staffers haven't been able to see or speak to her, and they didn't even know about the surgery until it was announced, so it's caught them off guard," a source told Us Weekly.

According to the New York Post, some of them had no idea about the medical procedure until it was announced by the Kensington Palace.

Only a few people know what's really going on, and they're tight-lipped. It's confusing and causing some concern," they continued.

According to the report, a "shroud of secrecy" surrounds the British Royal and King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla have been her only visitors.

It added that the palace is keeping the royal's post-op recuperation "very hush-hush."

"Kate's said she feels she's entitled to heal and recuperate without all of this frenzied speculation. Neither Kate nor William think her medical records should be for public consumption. She's trying not to pay attention to all the rumours and gossip, and William is doing his best to shield her, but it's distressing," they added.

Amid the rumours about Middletons health, another controversy erupted when after the Princess of Wales shared a family snap of herself with her children on Mother's Day.

The photo was retracted by news agencies upon discovery that it had been "manipulated."

The princess later apologised, saying, "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing."

According to reports, the controversy left the 42-year-old princess "very sad" that a happy family snap had sparked such chaos.

The incident sparked a fresh surge of conspiracy theories surrounding the British royal family, dubbed "Katespiracy" in online discussions.

There was also widespread curiosity about past instances of photograph manipulation by British royals.

Media organisations, such as CNN, declared they would now review all handout photos disseminated by Kensington Palace so
Photo Courtesy: Penny Wong Instagram page

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is the country's first openly gay female parliamentarian, on Sunday (March 17, 2024) announced she has married her partner Sophie Allouache.

Wong wrote on Instagram: "We are delighted that so many of our family and friends could share this special day with us."

She also shared an image on the social media platform where Wong and Allouache could be seen posing together in wedding attire and holding a bouquet.

The marriage took place at the Bird in Hand winery at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday (March 16, 2024), reported Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon joined a number of Labour colleagues in attending the marriage.

The couple's daughters, 12-year-old Alexandra and eight-year-old Hannah, were flower girls, ABC reported.

Penny Wong reportedly met Allouache in 2007.

Australian politicians congratulate the couple

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas did not attend the wedding but wished the couple as quoted by ABC: "I'm happy for them and I hope they had a thoroughly enjoyable day."

Congratulating the couple, opposition Senate leader Simon Birmingham posted on Facebook: "Many congratulations to Penny & Sophie, their daughters Alexandra & Hannah, as well as all of their family & friends. May their commitment to one another see them enjoy a lifetime together filled with love & happiness, along with additional strength in times of adversity."

Same-sex marriage became legal in the country in 2017.

Homosexuality was not decriminalized in several states across the country till 1997.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Amnesty International has demanded the immediate restoration of micro-blogging site X in Pakistan.

The social media platform, X, formerly Twitter, was blocked in Pakistan on 17 February 2024 and has remained blocked since then.

 PAKISTAN: It has been 29 days since the Government of Pakistan has blocked access to X, formerly known as Twitter, in the country.



Amnesty International is one of 28 civil society organizations that have signed a joint statement calling for immediate restoration of the  Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) March 16, 2024

This came a week after mobile services were shut down across the country on election day, 8 February 2024, read the Amnesty International website.

Amnesty International said it is one of 28 civil society organizations that have signed a joint statement calling for immediate restoration of the platform.

The group posted on X: "It has been 29 days since the Government of Pakistan has blocked access to X, formerly known as Twitter, in the country."

"Amnesty International is one of 28 civil society organizations that have signed a joint statement calling for immediate restoration of the social media platform, and urge the Pakistani authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression and access to information under the countrys international human rights commitments," group said.
Image credit: UNI

New York/IBNS/UNI: Three people were killed in shootings in a suburban township outside Philadelphia in the United States on Saturday, local media reported.

The shootings took place at two homes in Falls Township in Bucks County. The victims were known to the shooter, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The shootings appear to be domestic, the newspaper reported.

Following the incident, the shooter hijacked a car and remained at large. Falls Township residents were told to shelter in place, it said.

The Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Parade was cancelled following the shootings in Falls Township.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab from X page video

Police have arrested the key suspect who is accused of killing three people at Falls Township in the US state of Pennsylvania on Saturday.

He was identified as Andre Gordon.

Hes in custody. No one else was injured, Trenton, New Jersey, police director, Steve Wilson, told CNN.

The 26-year-old suspect allegedly killed three people in two different homes before carjacking a driver and heading for New Jersey, media reports said.

Wilson said authorities who were looking to apprehend Gordon initially thought he was barricaded inside a home which prompted setting up of a perimeter of an area.

Apparently, before the perimeter was completed, the suspect was able to get out of the location unseen. However, our information was that he was still in there, Wilson told CNN.

The suspect was actually walking on New York Avenue, Wilson said. He was stopped and identified and taken into custody.

The FBI office in Philadelphia told CNN they are aware and tracking the incident and are working closely with our local partners.

According to reports, the Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Parade was cancelled following the shootings in Falls Township.

Pennsylvania Governor reacts

Governor Josh Shapiro said authorities briefed him about the incident.

Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground.



For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to https://t.co/RnmJJFfS9d  Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 16, 2024

He posted on X: "Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. "

"For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to law enforcements direction," he said.
One week out of every month, between 40 and 70 women from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and North Dakota travel to Billings with a shared mission: to undertake some step of the in-vitro fertilization process at the states only fertility clinic. It's also the only clinic between Fargo and Spokane, or north of Salt Lake City and Denver.

The Billings Clinic Fertility Specialists now see about 500 patients per year, up from 58 patients in 2011, the year the clinic opened. And it all still happens in a one-week window each month.

We batch all our IVF cycles so we all land in Billings during a specific week, said Dr. Stacy Shomento, the medical director of Montana's sole IVF program. Shomento, along with another reproductive doctor from North Dakota and embryologists, travels to Billings each month for the cycle.

IVF programs are concentrated in big cities, Dr. Shomento said. It's very special that we're able to do this in a rural location and that means there's travel involved for a lot of people.

In the weeks leading up, patients take hormones to stimulate egg production. Patients on the western half of the state receive ultrasounds in Bozeman, patients on the eastern half  as well as from Cody and Powell, Wyoming, and Williston, North Dakota  receive ultrasounds in Billings. But every patient must come to Billings at least twice: to have eggs retrieved, or removed, and, once again, to have embryos transferred, or put into the uterus.

The clinic transferred 44 embryos in a single week this past February.

Part of the process is testing for infertility on both the male and female side. About 40% of couples have infertility on the male side, another 40% have it on the female side, and about 20% have it on both sides, according to Dr. Shomento.

In 2021, the most recent year with available data, 412 Montanan women used assistive reproductive technology, leading to 179 births, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This accounted for 1.6% of Montanas births that year, which is still below the national rate of 2.3%.

Despite growing steadily over the years, Montanan women use IVF at just over half the national rate, according to data from the CDC. This is because there isnt much insurance coverage for IVF in Montana and a cycle at Billings Clinic costs about $15,000 to $20,000.

Other states, such as Arkansas and Colorado, require insurance to pay for IVF for couples struggling with infertility.

The vast majority of patients are having to pay for services completely out of pocket, Dr. Shomento said. Its a great financial strain for people.

Just last year, the legislature passed a bill requiring insurance companies to pay for fertility assistance for cancer patients, joining 16 other states which require some kind of insurance coverage for medically-induced infertility.

Every single person probably knows somebody suffering from infertility or sub-fertility, its just not as talked about, Dr. Shomento said. A cancer patient tells all their friends and the insurance company gets behind them. IVF is costly, time intensive, requires lots of travel, and people go through it by themselves.

Alabama and Montana

Meanwhile, a decision by the Alabama Supreme Court to treat frozen embryos as children has led to battles over whether to protect IVF access at the federal level, with politicians vying for office weighing in on whether they support protections of the procedure.

Incumbents Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Ryan Zinke both said they support IVF, as does Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy and Monica Tranel, a Democrat running for Zinke's seat. But what support means depends on the candidate.

Tester came out in support of the Access to Family Building Act, which would establish a legal right to access IVF. He also supports the Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2023, which would expand fertility treatments available to veterans under health care, including IVF for veterans who cannot conceive without assistance.

Both bill sponsors tried to pass the bills through unanimous consent and both bills were blocked by Senate Republicans.

In response to a question about whether Sen. Steve Daines supports federal protection of IVF, a spokesperson said that he fully supports IVF and no one is discussing a ban on IVF.

In a post on X, Sheehy wrote that he will fight against efforts to restrict (IVF).

In response to a question about whether Sheehy would support protecting it at the federal level, a spokesperson said that No one is talking about banning it. Of course he supports IVF.

Tranel was unambiguous about her support for federal protections.

"In Congress I will fight to protect Montanans' freedoms, including access to IVF," she said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Zinke said that his staff is reviewing the several bills on the issue in the House and are looking to see which will advance with the most bipartisan support.

Rep. Matt Rosendale, who has announced that he will not seek re-election, was the only federal representative who did not voice support for IVF.

When the Supreme Court decided Dobbs v. Jackson there was a clear mandate to states that they are able to set their own rules pertaining to the life of an unborn child, he said.
The late Punjabi artist Sidhu Moosewala's father, Balkaur Singh and mom Charan Kaur, welcomed a new son. On Sunday, he posted a picture of the baby on Instagram. There was also a picture frame of Sidhu in the background of the image. The baby was in the arms of Balkaur. There was also a cake on a nearby table.



Balkaur captioned the post in Punjabi, "With the blessings of millions of souls who love Shubdeep, the Almighty has put Shubh's younger brother in our lap. With the blessings of Waheguru, the family is healthy and I'm thankful to all the well-wishers for their immense love (folded hands emoji)."



Sidhu Moosewala's Parents Welcome Second Son

Reacting to it, one wrote, "Sidhu veera aya gya. waheguru jii."



Another added, " Sidhu is back."

A third added, "Congratulations ji."

Balkaur

Balkaur Singh





Sidhu Moosewala's Parents Welcome Baby Via IVF

As seen in a video shared by Balkaur Singh, Charan Kaur went through an IVF treatment and welcomed a baby boy.

Sidhu Moosewala's father, Balkaur Singh Reacts To Reports Of New Baby

He wrote, "We are grateful to Sidhu's fans who are concerned about the family, but we appeal that there are a lot of rumors going around about the family. They should not be trusted. Whatever the news, the family will share it with all of you.

Also read: Sidhu Moose Wala's Father Balkaur Singh Breaks Silence On Reports Of Wife Charan's Pregnancy

On May 29, 2022, Sidhu Moosewala, 28, was shot and died in Mansa. Upon his arrival at the Mansa Civil Hospital, he was pronounced deceased. The attackers shot him more than thirty times, and the residents discovered him slumped in the driver's seat.



The event happened the day after his security cover was removed as part of the government's effort to combat the VIP culture in the state, spearheaded by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In the previous Assembly election, Sidhu ran from Mansa on a Congress ticket, but AAP candidate Vijay Singla defeated him.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Hindu New Year 2024 Date: While the Gregorian calendar marked the beginning of the New Year on January 1st, the Hindu New Year is still a few weeks ahead. So, when exactly will the Hindu New Year 2024 commence? Traditionally, the Hindu New Year starts with the month of Chaitra. Let's delve into what we can expect from Vikram Samvat 2081 and explore all the details surrounding the Hindu New Year.

Hindu New Year 2024 Date: When will Vikram Samvat 2081 start?

Hindu New Year, also known as Vikram Samvat, is a significant event celebrated by millions of Hindus worldwide. This year, the Hindu New Year falls on April 9. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and traditional fervor across India. It is a time for new beginnings, launch of new ventures, and renewed optimism. The festival has its roots in ancient Hindu mythology and traditions.

The day is observed differently across various regions of the country, but the fundamental message remains consistent - to embrace the New Year with positivity and optimism.

Vikram Samvat 2081: History

According to legend, Vikramaditya, the esteemed king of Ujjain, liberated his people from the rule of the Sakas and initiated Vikram Samvat 2068 years ago.

Vikram Samvat is the traditional calendar utilised by Hindus across India, typically preceding the Gregorian calendar by 57 years. This year, it will be Vikram Samvat 2081.

The Hindu New Year, or Vikram Samvat, is celebrated on the first day of the Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month and is regarded as mathematically precise. In many states, the Hindu New Year also commences from the first day of the Hindu month of Baishakh.

However, Indian scholars hold differing opinions regarding the commencement of the Hindu New Year.

Vikram Samvat 2024: Significance

The Hindu New Year, also known as Vikram Samvat, holds great significance for many Hindus and is celebrated throughout India. Typically falling in late March or early April of the Gregorian calendar, it signals the start of a new year in the traditional Hindu lunar calendar. This auspicious occasion is embraced as a time for new beginnings, fresh starts, and the rejuvenation of relationships.

The festivities accompanying the Hindu New Year involve various rituals and customs, such as cleaning homes, preparing elaborate feasts, and offering prayers to the deities. Additionally, many people exchange gifts and heartfelt greetings with their loved ones during this joyous time. Beyond its cultural and religious importance, the Hindu New Year also heralds the onset of the new harvest season in numerous regions across India.
Khatu Shyam Mela 2024: The Khatu Shyam Lakhi Mela is a grand ten-day festival held annually in Sikar district, Rajasthan, India to honour Khatu Shyam, a revered Hindu deity. It's believed to be Khatu Shyam Ji is believed to be the grandson of Bhim and the son of Ghatotkach. Previously known as Barbarik, devotees flock to this temple to seek blessings. Many followers consider Khatu Shyam Ji as the Kaliyugi avatar of Lord Krishna. He is also affectionately referred to as "Haare Ka Sahara" or the support of the defeated.



Khatu Shyam Lakhi Mela 2024 Date

This year, the mela commenced on March 11th and will culminate on March 21st, 2024. Here are some key things to know about the mela:

Significance: Lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of devotees throng the Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar during this time to seek blessings and offer prayers. The atmosphere is electric with devotion and vibrant colours.

Special Events: The mela features a variety of religious and cultural events, including daily prayers, hymns, and bhajans (devotional songs). There are also cultural performances, processions, and stalls selling traditional food and religious items.

Preparations: The Shri Shyam Mandir Committee meticulously plans and organises the mela to ensure a smooth and safe experience for the massive influx of devotees. Special arrangements are made for crowd control, sanitation, and transportation.

How to Reach: Sikar is well-connected by road, rail, and air. During the mela, special trains and buses are often operated to cater to the large number of pilgrims.

Here are some additional details that might be helpful:

History: The origins of the Khatu Shyam Lakkhi Mela can be traced back centuries. Legends associate the place with the Mahabharata war and the Pandavas. Over time, the mela has grown into a major religious and cultural event in Rajasthan.

Do's and Don'ts: As with any religious gathering, it's important to be respectful of the traditions and customs. Dress modestly, maintain decorum, and follow any guidelines set by the temple authorities.

If you're interested in experiencing a vibrant and colourful Hindu festival, the Khatu Shyam Lakkhi Mela is definitely worth considering, especially if you are visiting Rajasthan during this time.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on general information.

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Holi 2024 at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan: Holi is popularly referred to as the festival of colours. This vibrant festival essentially is the occasion to spread joy, harmony and happiness in the society. The festival of colours is one of the most popular spring festivities. The Holi festival reminds people to let go of grudges and come together to spread joy and love. Friends and family gather to smear colours and splash water while dancing to the beat of dhol.

In Braj Bhoomi, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, Holi takes on a unique hue, deviating from the customary splashes of colors seen across the country. Here, it is an enchanting celebration adorned with vibrant flowers, preceding the grand Holi festivities at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. Devotees congregate at the temple, where the air is filled with a fragrant shower of blossoms, marking a sacred spectacle.

Amidst the revelry of Vrindavan's Holi, devotees assemble at the revered Shreeji Temple. In a tradition reminiscent of Lord Krishna and Radhaji's playful moments, laddus, symbolic sweet balls, are joyfully tossed and blessed. Alongside, worshippers offer flowers to the divine idols, cherishing the spirit of the ancient Holi festivities. Moreover, the event advocates for safety, utilizing natural colors extracted from flowers to impart a profound message.

Phoolwali Holi at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan

Phool Wali Holi is quite popular among the tourists who visit the holy city of Vrindavan. Before the Holi day, Phool Wali Holi is celebrated. This year Phool Wali Holi at the famous Bankebihari temple of Vrindavan will be celebrated on March 3, as per the panchang. On this day colourful flower petals are showered on the idols Radha-Krishna at the temple.

Significance of Brij Ki Holi

Holi is steeped in numerous mythological tales, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its origins. One such legend revolves around the childhood of Lord Krishna. As a young boy, he lamented to his mother about the stark contrast in skin tones between himself and Goddess Radha. In response, his mother suggested a playful solution: applying vibrant colours to Radha's complexion, birthing the joyful tradition of Braj ki Holi. The narrative unfolds with an annual journey undertaken by Lord Krishna from Nandgaon to Barsana, where Radha and her companions playfully wield sticks in jest.

Another captivating story centers around Prahlad and Hiranyakashyap. Prahlad, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, faced opposition from his powerful and malevolent father, Hiranyakashyap. The father desired his son's allegiance to him rather than to Lord Vishnu. A nefarious plot was hatched involving Holika, Hiranyakashyap's sister, who possessed a boon rendering her impervious to fire. The plan involved Holika sitting in the flames with Prahlad in her lap. However, the divine intervention protected Prahlad, while Holika met her demise as the flames engulfed her, penalising her misuse of supernatural powers.

This is how the tradition of Holika dahan or Holika bonfire started being practiced to mark the beginning of this Hindu festival.

Later, Hiranyakashyap was left aghast with the incident and challenged his son to show if his God exists. When Prahlad affirmed the omnipresence of Lord Vishnu, the infuriated father broke down the pillar on which his son was sitting and was shocked to see a half-lion and half-human featured boar coming out of it.

Lord Vishnu took the form of this huge boar, called Narasimha, to rip Hiranyakashyaps torso apart with his bare nails and kill the king at twilight.

Holi 2024 Date in India

Holi 2024 in India falls on Monday, March 25th, marking the celebration of Rangwali Holi, where people gleefully smear colors on each other. Preceding this vibrant festivity is Holika Dahan, observed on March 24th, a day dedicated to bonfires and traditional rituals. The festival of Phoolon ki Holi, also known as Holi with flowers, continues to attract tourists and pilgrims from both India and abroad. This beloved event not only showcases India's rich customs and traditions but also acts as a platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding, promoting unity amidst diversity.

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Today's youth, comprising the Gen Z and Millennials, distance themselves from Narayan Murthy's 70-hour work week culture. They prioritise having a life outside of work and embrace the YOLO (You Only Live Once) culture. Therefore, when a job application requires applicants interested in a 'work/life' balance to stay away, the Internet had plenty to say about it.

'Work is life,' states job posting

A job posting has recently gone viral on Reddit for all the wrong reasons.

The posting mentioned, "If your goal in life is to have a work/life balance, then please dont apply. That is usually someone looking for any reason not to work."

The company clarified that while they don't promote constant work, they acknowledge its necessity in life. Thus, they consider work to be part of life rather than something separate.

Representative image

"Work hard, Play hard," seems to the motto of the company, which goes on to add in the posting that, "Most people seem to want to play hard and work as little as possible and that is what we don't agree with. Enjoying the fruits of your labour is an amazing thing."



Check out the job posting here:

A big red flag, says Internet

The post didn't sit well with people on the Internet.

Some criticised the company, calling it a 'red flag' and stating, "It's good of them to put that enormous red flag right out front. Saved a lot of time and effort when you know the scam up front."

Representative image

Another said, "I do like to enjoy the fruits of my labor. By using the money I earn from my labor to enjoy life."

Someone else pointed out, "Only pre-brainwashed people may apply."

Another lamented, "Sadly this probably works great for them. All they want are like minded individuals."

In October 2023, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy had stirred controversy by suggesting that 'young people should work 70 hours a week for India to compete with rapidly advancing economies.' Since then, the debate over the 70-hour work week has continued.

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The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India is going to have a 'vote from home' feature. This is the first time that the feature is being provided in the Lok Sabha elections. The 'vote from home' feature is available only to those above the age of 85 and persons with disability (PwD).

How will the 'vote from home' feature work?

Under the 'vote from home' feature, voters will have the convenience of casting their ballot for their preferred candidate via postal ballot from the comfort of their residences, ensuring the secrecy of their choice.

IT

To avail the option of voting from home, individuals must apply to the returning officer of their respective constituency using Form 12-D. This application needs to be submitted within five days of the election notification.



Booth-level officers will then visit the homes of "absentee voters" to deliver Form 12-D. If these voters opt for the postal ballot, the booth-level officer will collect the completed Form 12-D and submit it to the returning officer.

Approximately 1.8 crore senior citizens aged 80 and above are eligible to benefit from this initiative, with 98 lakh falling between the ages of 80 and 85, and 82 lakh being over 85 years old.

HelpAge India

Polling officials will visit these 82 lakh senior citizens, as well as the 88.4 lakh registered voters with disabilities (PwD), at their residences to facilitate their participation in the electoral process.



This service was initially introduced during the 2020 Bihar assembly elections.

80-plus voters actually venture out of homes to vote, says official

An official from the Election Commission mentioned that discussions with the chief electoral officers of the most recent 11 states where elections were held revealed that almost all senior citizens over 80 years old, about 97-98%, preferred to cast their votes in person rather than using postal ballots.

Rediff.com

In line with Rule 27A of the Conduct of Election Rules, which was updated in 2020, the option for postal voting was extended to senior citizens over 80 years old, individuals with disabilities (defined as those with a 40% benchmark disability), election officers, and individuals infected with COVID-19.



However, the government recently amended this rule, increasing the minimum age for senior citizens to qualify for postal voting to 85 years.

An official quoted by TOI stated, "The 80-plus voters, who have witnessed Independence, have shown far more keenness to vote physically, setting an example for youths who are not so enthusiastic despite being able-bodied. For the former, voting is a reason to venture out of their homes. Many times, they are accompanied by one or more family members, who may not vote otherwise."

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In a distressing incident at a community health centre (CHC) in Dhanbad's Govindpur block, 30-year-old Sumati Devi encountered a harrowing ordeal after delivering her baby. Sumati, a Dalit woman, was denied the chance to see her newborn until she paid Rs 1,500 to the nurses and auxiliary staff at the CHC.

Representational Image

Dhanbad CHC nurses bar mother from seeing baby

According to a TOI report, Sumati, accompanied by her husband Balram Rajwar, arrived at the CHC around 4 pm on Thursday. Within an hour of admission, she successfully delivered a healthy child. However, her joy turned to dismay when she was prohibited from laying eyes on her newborn by the nurses, who demanded Rs 1500 as 'baksish' (tips).



Balram Rajwar, a daily wager, was compelled to borrow the money from a friend to meet the nurses' demands. Despite repeated requests to hand over the baby to Sumati, the nurses remained unyielding.

Representational Image| Lexica

Expressing outrage over the incident, Balram submitted a written complaint to Dr. B Kumar, the medical officer in charge of the CHC, urging immediate action against the staff involved. Dr. Kumar assured that he would personally investigate the matter.



Disturbing trend of 'bakshish' in hospitals

This incident echoes a previous disturbing case from 2016, where nurses allegedly subjected a newborn girl to peril by placing her near a heater blower, demanding Rs 300 as 'badhai' money.

Representational Image

In response to this development, the Health department took proactive measures. A four-member committee of doctors was constituted to investigate the shocking case involving an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) at Churu's government maternal and childcare hospital.



The recurrence of such incidents raises serious concerns about the quality of patient care and underscores the urgent need for stringent measures to ensure the dignity and safety of patients, particularly vulnerable individuals like Sumati Devi and her newborn child.

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Gossip - defined as the exchange of personal information about absent third parties - has got a bad rap, thought to be indulged in by people who have nothing better to do. But a recent study from Stanford and the University of Maryland suggests that gossiping might not be as harmful as commonly believed, and in fact, might have positive aspects.

An hour of gossip a day can help

In 2019, a study found that people spend around an hour each day gossiping about others.

The main reason behind gossiping, as per a recent study, is to help individuals understand their surroundings better.

Unsplash

Previously, theories had hinted that gossiping could bring large groups of people together and encourage cooperation.



The new study by Stanford and the University of Maryland now delves deeper, demonstrating that gossip serves multiple purposes. It spreads useful information about people's reputations, helps individuals identify social connections, strengthens bonds, and promotes communication among peers.

Figure from the research paper/ cmns.umd.edu

Gossip: Important role in sharing information

To understand the intricate networks of gossip, the research team employed an evolutionary game theory model which simulated human decision-making processes, allowing the researchers to observe how their virtual study subjects, referred to as agents, interacted with each other.

IT

The study found that gossip plays a crucial role in sharing information about people's reputations.

Additionally, when people want to know if someone is good to interact with, getting information from gossip can be helpful.

Once individuals have this information, they can find other cooperative people to interact with, which benefits the group as a whole.

However, there's a catch - the information needs to be honest and true.

Unsplash

But ultimately, according to author Xinyue Pan, both positive and negative gossip is important because "gossip plays an important role in sharing information about peoples reputations."



Well, one thing is for sure, whether you like or dislike gossip - it's here to stay.

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A Delhi man has started a unique treasure hunt of his own by hiding Rs 500 notes in hidden spots around the city and giving hints through his videos on where to find them. The Instagram page 'Treasure Hunt Delhi' was started on February 25 and has gained nearly 14k followers in less than a month. His unique selling point is cleverly giving away something everyone enjoys  money.

Guess the location, take the money

Every day, the 25-year-old posts a video on Instagram holding Rs 500, then hides it wherever he goes - from monuments to lakes.

The money is hidden in hard-to-spot places, such as pavement cracks or between rocks.

Instagram

The only hint to locate the money is provided in the Instagram video. Whoever correctly guesses the location and discovers the money gets to keep it.



When users find the money, they are asked to send a photo or video of where they found it, which Treasure Hunt Delhi then shares on its Instagram Stories as proof.

So far, the Delhi resident has finished about 25 treasure hunts successfully. He's hoping that as the account gets more popular, he can increase the cash prize.

Watch one of his videos here:

A real-life competition

Speaking with Moneycontrol, the 25-year-old artist expressed his dissatisfaction with the treatment of artists in large companies. He stated that despite working tirelessly, artists often receive only a fraction of what they deserve while companies profit significantly from their projects.

Feeling disillusioned by this reality, the artist initiated the Treasure Hunt Delhi Instagram account as a means to assist people.

Instagram

He acknowledged that the amount offered may be small but could potentially benefit individuals in various ways.



Describing his initiative as a real-life competition with valuable rewards, he expressed his intention to start small with Rs 500 and gradually increase the prize pool through potential brand promotions as the page gains more followers.

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In the bustling streets of Bangalore, amidst the chaos of traffic and the cacophony of horns, there lies a heartwarming tale of human kindness and camaraderie.

A young woman, on her routine commute, found herself in a predicament that could have turned distressing were it not for the selfless assistance of strangers.

What happened with the woman on Bengaluru roads?

An unexpected glitch with her bike near Gopalan Mall | Image: Unsplash

It was just a few weeks ago when 26-year-old Sarah, navigating her way from Old Madras Road towards Indiranagar, encountered an unexpected glitch with her bike near Gopalan Mall.



Sensing trouble, she tried to troubleshoot the issue herself but to no avail. As fate would have it, two vigilant traffic cops noticed her plight and offered their help without a second thought.

With their expertise, they attempted to kick-start the bike, but the problem persisted. Undeterred, they enlisted the support of an auto-rickshaw driver nearby.

How did the policeman help?

Police helped the woman | Representational Image: File

Together, they meticulously inspected the bike and diagnosed the issue  an overfilled tank causing air to obstruct the engine. With deft hands and shared determination, they rectified the problem, and Sarah's bike roared back to life.



Grateful for the assistance, Sarah resumed her journey, albeit briefly. The unforeseen setback recurred, leaving her stranded once more. However, fate wasn't finished weaving its tapestry of goodwill.

When did the auto rickshaw driver came in the picture?

The persistent auto-rickshaw driver, who had gone out of his way to ensure Sarah's initial problem was resolved, returned with a mechanic after consulting a nearby vendor.

Auto driver went to great lengths to help the woman| Image: Unsplash

Meanwhile, Sarah found herself surrounded by empathetic passersby, each offering a helping hand.



A fellow commuter, moved by her plight, volunteered to assist in restarting the bike. With the vendor's guidance and the stranger's efforts, they persevered, patiently kick-starting the bike until it roared back to life.

Despite the mechanic's arrival, their services were no longer required, thanks to the collective efforts of compassionate strangers. Sarah, deeply touched by the outpouring of support, offered monetary gratitude to the auto-rickshaw driver, who graciously declined, citing his belief in the power of altruism.

As Sarah resumed her journey, escorted by the auto-rickshaw driver for a stretch to ensure her safety, she couldn't help but reflect on the inherent goodness that thrives within her city's bustling streets.

In a world often overshadowed by cynicism and apathy, the story of Sarah and her benevolent allies shines as a beacon of hope, illuminating the inherent goodness that resides within us all.



Check the viral post here.

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"A Bend In the River" by V. S. Naipaul changed Ha Jin's life("The Writer

as Migrant"). The opening paragraph of book 2 where the stragglers from a

column of ants lose their way and die while the horde carry on oblivious, for

Jin, captures the "true relationship between the individual and the

collective" and thereby enabled him to see through his self-deceptive

aspiration of speaking for the unfortunate Chinese.

I'm not young anymore and have long given up speaking for anyone but myself.

My quest for freedom blesses me with no nostalgia whatsoever and wherever. In

pursuing truth and trying to understand the whole, I am no migrant. I read for

knowledge (which I have an incurable desire to acquire) and fun.

I borrowed the large-print version and thought it would be easier on my eyes.

Instead, the change in font size made words less certain and one glance felt

no longer enough to capture the meaning of a sentence. As a habit formed in

the exam-passing days, I kept double-checking to see if I misread and

frequently I did.

"A Bend in the River" was a slow read, about 100 pages a day. There were not

many new words but its contemplative narration commanded concentration and

thoughts. The author employs flashbacks often and has a way of repeating key

phrases and their reappearances can feel deep and funny at the same time. But

he does not overplay it. That is his style.

It is all very quotable but I was particularly impressed by the following

paragraph where Salim, who moved from the east coast to a post-colonial

central African republic, met father Huismans who explained a Latin motto

carved on a fallen monument.

Miscerique probat populos et foedera jungi. "He approves of the mingling

of the peoples and their bonds of union": that was what the words meant,

and again they were very old words, from the days of ancient Rome. They

came from a poem about the founding of Rome. The very first Roman hero,

travelling to Italy to found his city, lands on the coast of Africa. The

local queen falls in love with him, and it seems that the journey to Italy

might be called off. But then the watching gods take a hand; and one of

them says that the great Roman god might not approve of a settlement in

Africa, of a mingling of peoples there, of treaties of union between

Africans and Romans. That was how the words occurred in the old Latin

poem. In the motto, though, three words were altered to reverse the

meaning. According to the motto, the word carved in granite outside our

dock gates, a settlement in Africa raises no doubts: the great Roman god

approves of the mingling of peoples and making of treaties in Africa.

Miscerique probat populos et foedera jungi.

I was staggered. Twisting two-thousand-year-old words to celebrate sixty

years of the steamer service from the capital!

A nice recap of the Aeneid and sounds both funny and at the same time insightful!

In addition, I learned some refreshing perspectives:

- Europeans are bored with machines and factories. Asian people love them;

they secretly prefer factories to their family life.

- Americans: They are not a tribe, as you might think from the outside.

They're all individuals fighting to make their way, trying as hard as you or

me not to sink.
The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that about 15 military personnel have been killed during a communal clash in Delta State.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the officers consist of two Majors, one Captain, and 12 soldiers.

It was gathered that the military men were killed while responding to a distress call during a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State on Thursday.

According to a statement made available on Saturday by the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, the troops who were on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA were attacked and got ambushed by some community youths.

He noted that the commanding officer who led the reinforcement team was among those killed in the clash.

READ MORE: Soldiers Nab Journalist, Activist Over Planned Protest In Delta

Gusau said: The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State While on a peace mission to OKUOMA community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.

The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 Soldiers.

CDS has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Govt.

However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps are in place to unravel the motive behind the attack. Additional details later.
A yet to be dentified man has been killed after an electric cable drum fell on him on Ojo-Igbede Road in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the incident occurred when a fork-lift operator was moving armoured cables from a container on Thursday.

A police source told PUNCH that the deceased was busy with his phone when the cable fell on him, adding that the man died on the way to a hospital.

The source said: The manager of an electrical enterprise dealing in armoured electrical cables reported at Ilemba Hausa division that at about 8:30 am, a forklift was trans-loading their companys armoured cables from a container into its body, along Ojo Igbede Road by St Andrews Catholic Church.

READ MORE: Lagos Police Arrest Woman Who Attempted To Kill Her Baby With Sniper

Incidentally, one of the cable drums disconnected and fell on a passerby, who was said to be pressing his phone while walking and he gave up the ghost on the way to hospital.

Reacting to the incident on Saturday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the owner of the company was undergoing interrogation and an investigation was ongoing.

Hundeyin said: The scene was visited by detectives of the division and inquiries were made, and the investigation is ongoing.

The owner of the said company is undergoing interrogation for reckless and negligent acts by refusing to place any sign signifying the inherent danger nor hiring a guard to direct other road users away from the scene.

The corpse has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy and preservation. An investigation is ongoing.
The Federal Government has charged the Nigerian Police Force to develop a new strategy against terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the country.

Ibrahim Gaidam, Minister of Police Affairs, gave the charge at the weekend during his visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

He also urged the police to take the fight to the doorsteps of the criminals by seeking out their hideouts, disrupting their operations, and dismantling their networks.

Accompanied by the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, he maintained that all enemies of peace in the country should no longer be given the opportunity to strike first.

In our fight against these enemies of peace, we must embrace a new strategy, a strategy of aggression. We must no longer wait for the enemy to strike. We must take the fight to their very doorstep.

READ ALSO: No Ransomll Be Paid To Rescue Abducted Children  Tinubu

We must seat out their hideouts and stop their operations and dismantle their networks. Being on the defensive has only emboldened our enemies and allowed them to be stronger. It is time for us to change the narrative to shape the balance of power at our table, he said.

Commenting, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, expressed optimism that the battle against insurgency and other criminal activities in the country will be won.

Egbetokun also pledged that the police, under his leadership, will continue to partner with the ministry in the discharge of its core mandate.

He said, The ministry and the police have had a very robust relationship in the past. I want to assure you, Your Excellency, that we are committed to this robust relationship.

We will continue to partner with your ministry and ensure that the good of democracy is delivered to members of the public.
A notorious terrorist recently arrested by vigilantes in North-Western part of Nigeria, Mohammed Dikko Radda, has said that he cannot recall the number of people he has killed.

The terrorist hails from Jajjaye, a village in Katsina State, Information Nigeria learnt.

In a video posted via X by counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, the terrorist said he doesnt look back to count numbers of casualties whenever he his shooting his victims.

READ ALSO: Devise Aggressive Strategy To Tackle Terrorists, Kidnappers  FG Charges Police

My name is Mohammed Dikko Radda, from Jajjaye village in Katsina state. I used an AK47 rifle during operations.

Actually, I cant remember whether Ive killed or how many people I have killed because once I shoot, I dont look back to see whether the victims are dead or not.

Ive participated in a couple of kidnap operations in about two communities. I can remember attacking Bargaji and Sabon Gari communities, the terrorist confessed.
Joshua Iniyezo, also known as Solidstar, a Nigerian artist, has spoken out about his battle with drug addiction.

In an interview with The Honest Bunch podcast, he detailed how he entered the realm of hard substances in 2021.

According to the musician, he was introduced to Ice by several young men, which had a negative impact on him.

Sharing his sad story, he claimed that after using the hard substance, it always made him to feel like a King, with a voice commanding him not to pay for items.

To make matters worse, he once trekked from Awoyaya on Lagos mainland to the Or!ental Hotel on the island.

READ MORE: BBNaijas Queen And Husband, David Legally Ties Knot (Photo)

In his words,

A lot of things happened to me o, young boys come introduce me to this substance, Ice, this was three years back. This thing really do bad, as in the thing affect me a lot. This substance now, sometimes the thing go tell me say youre a king, youre this, youre that. E go tell me say I don be king, make I no dey pay stuff. Can you imagine say I waka from Awoyaya to Oriental Hotel!.

SEE POST:
The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has weighed in on the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central by the Senate over his padding allegation of the 2024 budget.

Ningi, who made the claim , culminated in his three-month suspension for what the Senate labelled an unfounded allegation.

Reacting via a Saturday statement in Kaduna, the ACF said the Red Chamber should have allowed an independent investigation into the matter before suspension.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Tukur-Baba, said added that the process that culminated in Ningis suspension appeared rushed, and was like a case of looking more on the messenger than his message.

With the suspension of Ningi, who had served as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum, the ACF noted that the the interests of many communities in the region are at stake.

READ ALSO: Budget Padding: Many Senators Are Solidly Behind Ningis Claim  LP Youths

ACF acknowledges the 10th Senates constitutional privilege to determine how it operates or conducts its affairs

ACF notes that the allegation has since been denied by the 10th Senate as lacking in veracity. However, the interests of many communities in Northern Nigeria are at stake.

Rather than the route of a rushed suspension of Senator Ningi, ACF prefers a thorough investigation of the allegation by some statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.

ACF regrets that Bauchi Central will be without representation in the 10th Senate for the 3 months, and stands with Senator Ningi and his supporters in whatever constitutional means they seek to respond for a satisfactory denouement to this sad development.

ACF also calls on the 10th Senate to act with more circumspection and sensitivity in processing criticism of its operations. Robust debates on public policy issues undoubtedly strengthen the development of the democratic project, it said.
The Lagos State Government, at the weekend, opened food markets known as Ounje Eko to sell food items at discounted rates across five divisions of the State.

The five divisions Ikeja, Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry and Lagos (Eko).

According to the State, the discounted sale of food items begins today  Sunday, March 17.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said food items such as rice, beans, garri, bread, eggs, tomatoes, pepper, among others, will be sold at 25 percent discount to residents.

Omotoso noted that to prevent sharp practices and ensure the foodstuff reaches a large number of Lagosians, a voucher system will be introduced as the pilot scheme kicks off.

READ ALSO: Subsidy: Well Protect Nations Treasury From Looters  Tinubu Assures

Independent payment solution providers and food vendors have been identified and carefully selected to operate the process. They will also provide real-time data on the exercise for monitoring. For the purpose of transparency, prices of the items have also been listed.

A 5kg bag of rice would sell for N5,325 while 1kg goes for N1,065; 5kg bag of Beans  N6,225 while 1kg would sell for N1,245. Prices of other staple food items will also be made available through various media outlets, the statement read.

He disclosed that the markets will be opened in 27 locations in Ikeja; six in Lagos Island; nine in Ikorodu; five in Epe; and 10 in Badagry divisions.

Omotoso furthered that the Governor called on Lagosians to cooperate with the operators at the various locations, monitor the process, and provide feedback through official channels of the Lagos State Government.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have arrested a 20-year-old hair stylist, identified as Josephine Odunu and a 30-year-old dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, for allegedly selling drugs to students.

It was gathered that the two individuals, sell chin-chin, often laced with cannabis and tramadol, to students and at social parties in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, said that while Ikporo handles the delivery to buyers, Odunu is a major distributor of the drugged chin-chin.

The statement reads: NDLEA officers on patrol around Opolo area of Yenagoa had on Sunday 10th March 2024 intercepted the motorcycle dispatch rider, Edesemi and recovered 200grams of chin-chin produced with cannabis sativa, which he was on a mission to deliver to a buyer.

READ MORE: Over 14 Million Hard Drug Users Are In Nigeria  NDLEA

A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the hairdresser, Josephine, who distributes the drugged chin-chin from the salon where she works in Kpansia area of Yenagoa.

A search of the salon also led to the recovery of 3.00kilograms bringing the total weight of the illicit substance seized from the duo to 3.2kg.

Investigations reveal that they distribute the chin-chin often laced with cannabis and tramadol to students and at birthday parties.

While Edesemi handles the delivery to buyers, Josephine is a major distributor to a wanted suspect who produces the drugged chin-chin.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a woman for staging her own abduction in Akwa Ibom State.

The woman, from Nung Oku village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the State, also demanded N4 million as ransom.

She was one the four kidnap victims rescued in the last one month by the police in the southern state.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Waheed Ayilara, disclosed the development while addressing journalists in Uyo at the weekend.

According to him, the victim conspired with four other persons to carry out the fake abduction.

READ ALSO: Resign Your Position To Contest Chairmanship- LP Mocks NLC President

A report was received on Monday from one Enobong Sampson that her sister had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N4m as ransom.

As a result, operatives of Anti-kidnapping Squad of the Command embarked on an intense and intelligence-driven operation to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victim.

On Tuesday, however, the purported victim and her boyfriend were arrested at a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

She confessed to have conspired with her boyfriend and three others to proclaim her kidnap to raise money from her aunty based outside the country, Ayilara said.
Richard Watson, an artist in residence and exhibits manager with the African American Museum in Philadelphia, prepares one of Dox Thrash's works for the new exhibit. Read more

By the time the pioneering artist Dox Thrash arrived in Philadelphia in 1926, the young man had already experienced a full spectrum of Black American life. His drawings and prints documented what it looked like to be a Black person in early 20th-century America, depicting what he saw in rural Georgia, Chicago, Philadelphia and even on the front lines of the first World War.

Thrashs work is the subject of a new exhibit at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, which will feature nearly 100 of his prints, drawings, watercolor works and other pieces of art. The majority of the works are made with the unique carborundum mezzotint printmaking process that he co-invented in Philadelphia. The exhibit will officially open Saturday, March 23 and will run through Aug. 4.

On the evening of March 22, which is Thrashs birthday, the museum will hold a free opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m., when visitors can view Imprint: Dox Thrash, Black Life and American Culture and hear from museum staff about Thrash and his work.

You get to look through Thrashs eyes, through [his] life experiences, said Dejay Duckett, vice president of curatorial services at AAMP.

I think about how much might have been lost if we didnt have this work, how much of just everyday Black life and communities of the [20th century] that we wouldnt know if he hadnt taken the time to do this work.

Everyday life and extraordinary innovation

Thrash was born in rural Georgia in 1893, and left home when he was 15 in search of work as one of the millions of African Americans moving north in the Great Migration. He worked odd jobs in Chicago, including as an elevator operator, and enrolled at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

It gives such, such rich lights and darks. These velvety blacks. Its a sumptuous process of print-making. Dejay Duckett

But when the United States entered World War I, Thrash enlisted in the Army. He served as one of the famed Buffalo Soldiers on the front lines, even needing to be hospitalized after suffering gassing and shell shock as a private in the 365th infantry, but was able to resume his art studies once the war was over.

After he settled in Philly, Thrash began working at the Fine Print Workshop of Philadelphia in 1937, funded by the New Deals Federal Art Project. He was the workshops first Black artist. It was here that he and other artists developed the carborundum mezzotint printing that Thrash became known for.

Thrash once described the intricate process:

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I got some of the carborundum powder they used in grinding lithograph stones and rubbed it into a copper plate with an old flatiron. I got a queer rough surface. Well, this fellow [Hubert] Mesibov looks over my shoulder, and says, Hey, I bet you could work lines into that.

Thrash, Mesibov and Michael Gallagher perfected the technique together, and Thrash later called his prints opheliagraphs, in tribute to his mother.

It gives such, such rich lights and darks. These velvety blacks. Its a sumptuous process of print-making, Duckett said. The result is just really stunning. ... When you look at these pieces, theyre just so intimate.

The subject of Thrashs work largely was everyday Black life. His prints depicted street corners and close-up portraits, people at work and dressing up for a night out. A print of a girl reading and another of a mother and child walking past a lynched man both tell part of the story of African American life before the Civil Rights era.

 READ MORE: Phillys Dox Thrash house will get a second life with preservationists acting as investor-partners

This exhibition really thinks about and talks about the importance of cultural and historic preservation  that we think about these places, that we pass down the information, that lobby for these places to remain in the community, Duckett said, referencing the historic Dox Thrash House in North Philly where the artist once lived that advocates have fought to preserve.

This history can easily dissipate. His work is so beautiful and technically astonishing, she said.

I think Thrash captures what otherwise might have been lost to history.
Artists perform the dance "Dongpo: Life in Poems" at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, March 15, 2024. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

The contemporary operatic dance "Dongpo: Life in Poems" greeted the audience at Lincoln Center in New York City on Friday, following its U.S. premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

The latest work by the well-known choreographer Shen Wei, the dance revolves around 12 original poems by Su Dongpo, incorporating traditional Chinese music and calligraphy. Around 1,500 people attended the show.

"I can't think of a way to better introduce Su Dongpo, the most preeminent and legendary Chinese poet to the United States," said Huang Ping, the Chinese consul general in New York, at the reception prior to the performance.

"I believe that tonight, through the dialogue between 'Su Dongpo' and 'Shen Wei,' transcending time and space, the audience can have a peek of the inner world of the Chinese people," said Huang.

Jing Xiaoyong, chairman of China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd., which performed and produced the show jointly with China's Meishan Song and Dance Theatre, said the piece intends to interpret Su Dongpo, an icon in Chinese culture, and share his story and spirit with overseas audiences.

"I had the opportunity to see it at the Kennedy Center, and I honestly cannot wait to see it again. It is a breathtaking journey. It is quiet. It is a visual feast for the eyes," said Jodee Nimerichter, executive director of the American Dance Festival.

Jing said that the dance has been staged 20 times in China since its premiere in Shanghai in July 2023, winning the hearts of Chinese audiences.
Is Buffalos theater scene all its cracked up to be? The word vibrant comes up often when local theater activity is mentioned. Its a word that gets thrown around a lot  Im guilty  but how often is it really deserved, particularly when it comes to Buffalos post-pandemic arts scene?

This may seem more like a Curtain Up! question, better posed in early September, but mid-March is when Sheas Performing Arts Center makes its annual Broadway Season announcement.

For many, if not most Western New Yorkers, Buffalos theater scene is Sheas.

The landmark theater hosts one of the most popular Broadway touring programs anywhere in the United States. As longtime Buffalo theater critic and observer Anthony Chase notes, That one week when theres a performance at Sheas is one of the most lucrative weeks in American theater.

But Sheas is a presenting theater that brings in out-of-town productions. Homegrown is not its mission and was never intended to be.

Chase, who co-hosts WBFOs Theater Talk, is a big Sheas fan, but he would like to see more attention paid to the growth of the regions many producing stages, especially those that focus on new work.

Donna Hoke, an equally fervent devotee of all things theatrical, is a Buffalo-based playwright with an impressive resume. Her plays have been produced across the United States and worldwide. Hokes most recent local production is Teach, a challenging look at sexual harassment and gender bias in a high school setting. Though a student production that ran for just a few days at SUNY Buffalo State University, Teach inspired comments like these:

Teach shows us what theater should be ... Its a play about being human, not about being male or female, and so it achieves gender parity, which is why I say that the plot device is genius.  WNED FMs Peter Hall.

A unique investigation and exploration on those that teach us in our lives, those that we teach, and the mistakes (sometimes catastrophic, sometime stumbles) that make us all flawed and human.  Award-winning Minneapolis-based playwright Andrew Rosendorf.

And from Chase: Teach should have been in a LORT setting. It could go off-Broadway. It has the quality of Mamets Oleana.

Whats a LORT setting? Its actually something Buffalo once had: a professional theater that belongs to the National League of Resident Theatres, which currently has 81 members. Buffalos Studio Arena, which closed in 2008, was such a theater. It often produced world premieres and featured Actors Equity players, including marquee names like Kelsey Grammer, F. Murray Abraham, Julianne Moore, Kathy Bates, Ving Rhames and many others.

The former Studio Arena space is now run by Sheas and known as Sheas 710, which hosts productions by other local theaters or collaboratives, who value the access to a bigger, better space and the benefit of association with Sheas.

Former Rep. Brian Higgins, now the president/CEO of Sheas, has a big-picture view of 710 and its place in downtowns Theatre District. 710 is inactive a lot, he admits, but Ujima Theatre produced The Color Purple there, which was wildly popular and showed what 710 can do. There is great, great potential and we are going to do an aggressive marketing campaign to increase the activity of all three Sheas venues. Higgins imagines bringing more daytime offerings into these downtown spaces as well. Downtown Buffalos best days are immediately in front of us, he said.

Higgins also has answers for those wondering why he made the move to Sheas in the first place: Theater is about the punks and the poets, about the destination and the journey. You want to teach your kids empathy? Introduce them to the theater. It gives them confidence and nurtures the emotional muscle of empathy.

Aside from the poetics, Higgins has a laser-focus on boosting the overall health of downtown and taking advantage of its residential component, which has drawn new businesses like the recently opened 42 North brewery in Wurlitzer Flats.

Hoke and Chase are less concerned about spinoff and more worried about the specific programming of smaller theaters downtown and elsewhere.

Hoke says: I would like to see more original productions. Theaters have discovered that they can show their most popular titles. We are an active theater community, but not a vibrant theater community because we do not have new work.

Chase is still regretting the loss of Studio Arena, for one specific reason: When our city had a LORT member theater, a new play that was a success could attract national attention. That is nearly impossible now. Any city that wants to be significant in the American theater needs to export product. That is how you get a national profile.

And thats why Buffalo will never be the theater city Chicago is.

But there are bright spots. Hoke is excited by Alleyway Theatre under the leadership of Chris Handley, noting, When Chris took over I felt like a new theater opened. He elevated new work, in terms of production values, to a level that we have never seen in this town. Hoke notes that Road Less Traveled Productions can always be depended upon to to produce new work.

Chase lauds Ujima Theatre, which, he says, survived the loss of Lorna Hill and is doing better than ever. He also singles out Torn Space: It has vision and shows responsibility to its neighborhood.

Both Hoke and Chase are thrilled by the expansion of Shakespeare in Delaware Park, which now sends dozens of touring productions every summer to all corners of Western New York, drawing big crowds, whether at Bassett Park in Amherst, Hamburgs Penn Dixie Fossil Park, the Central Terminal or Niagara Arts & Cultural Center in Niagara Falls.

Innovative strategies like this are necessary to coax back patrons that got out of the habit during the pandemic.

Im one of those reluctant patrons and never attended theater productions that much at the best of times. (Art galleries are another matter.) But I saw Hokes Teach during its short run at Buffalo State and Im glad I did.

During our interview, Higgins said something everybody  quite rightly  says: We live in a very polarized society. That polarization leads to snap judgments, but snap judgments are exactly what a play like Teach does not allow.

After the matinee performance, I had to wait before even being able to discuss the play. I needed to think.

If Buffalo stages have the courage to include productions like Teach at least a few times every season, maybe the word vibrant is not so undeserved after all.
Julian Plotnick of Roxborough juggles on Forbidden Drive in Philadelphia on a Friday afternoon. Plotnick is an employee of Metropolitan Acoustics who works on a 4-day work week, with no work on Fridays. His individual experiment with the new work arrangement inspired his CEO to implement it for the whole company. Read more

Software engineer Julian Plotnick made a pitch to his companys CEO last year: Let me work one less day per week, 32 hours total, without a cut in pay.

The answer was yes, and after six months of Plotnick testing it out, consulting firm Metropolitan Acoustics is working on transitioning its entire 12-person staff to a four-day work week.

The idea of working fewer days and hours has been gaining traction in pockets of the corporate world. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) introduced a bill on Thursday that would reduce the standard U.S. workweek to 32 hours over four days.

Bill Gates even suggested last year that artificial-intelligence technology may one day allow for a three-day work week.

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As many employers continue to face a tight labor market and some try to get more workers to come to the office again, abridging the work week could be one way to woo talent. Those who have tried it say the decrease in hours has encouraged efficiency, leading to time-saving choices.

Thats what Metropolitan Acoustics founder and CEO Felicia Doggett saw after observing Plotnicks six-month experiment. She has run her company with a five-day week since 1990, but shes confident they can accomplish just as much in four days by shortening meetings and dedicating time to heads-down work.

Theres enough wasted time during the work week.  [T]heres definitely time we can cut out, Doggett said.

Fridays off is a growing trend

A few other companies locally have been experimenting with a four-day work week, and dozens more across the globe.

In January, Philadelphia-based Insomnia Cookies started giving Fridays off to all 100 full-time corporate employees, citing mental health and work-life balance benefits. Chief marketing officer Tom Carusona told The Inquirer in February that feedback from employees has been positive and productivity is doing great since the change.

Philly Marketing Labs, which designs digital campaigns for consumer brands like Chloraseptic and Summers Eve, switched to a four-day week in 2021 and never looked back. The 12-person company had been a fully remote workplace since its founding in 2009, a deliberate choice meant to attract and retain talent.

When everybody went remote during COVID, we kind of lost our differentiator. It wasnt anything special anymore, said CEO Bechara Jaoudeh. Making Friday part of the weekend was seen as a way to stand out again.

We realized our clients were not very active on Fridays anyway, Jaoudeh noted, and the arrangement allows some flexibility so client service doesnt suffer. For instance, if a clients campaign is meant to launch on a Friday, the PML team still does all the work ahead of time, and simply puts in the small amount of time needed to actually launch during the three-day weekend.

Jaoudeh conducted a client satisfaction survey just before switching to the four-day week in July 2021. The company then implemented a four-day week without telling any clients about it, and surveyed them again after six months. Satisfaction levels were unchanged and clients had no complaints, he said.

Beyond Philadelphia, at fundraising platform Kickstarter and online consignment retailer thredUP, employers have cut the work week by one day.

In the United Kingdom, 61 organizations took part in a four-day work week pilot beginning in 2022. A recent report said that 89% of participants were still operating that way after a year and that the majority of them had decided to make the change permanent.

What companies learned

The UK study was conducted by economic planning organization Autonomy Research, as well as researchers at the University of Salford, University of Cambridge, Boston College, and University College Dublin. Nearly half of their original testing group agreed to take part in a follow-up study one year later.

When asked what the shorter working week had changed, 82% of surveyed companies reported positive impacts on staff well-being, researchers said. Half saw lower turnover, and nearly a third said recruiting had become noticeably easier.

Jaoudeh said PML hasnt lost a single employee since launching the four-day week more than two years ago. It creates such stickiness, he said, predicting that larger companies would see significant savings on recruiting costs if they moved to the same model.

Also in 2021, PML started offering employees 20 hours per year of free online therapy and retained a nutritionist for employees who opted in, Jaoudeh added. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he wanted to invest in employees mental health, and he thinks those changes have helped them.

Metropolitan Acoustics CEO Doggett says she has already seen a change in personality in Plotnick since he began working four days a week. He definitely seems more energetic and engaged, refreshed.

Plotnick said hes more inclined to spend time in the office now that he has Fridays off to run errands and pursue hobbies. While he previously went to the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, he now often stops by on Thursday afternoons as well before ending the work week with an evening networking event.

Its been so great for my life, he said. Everyone I talk to is a little bit jealous.
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora speaking to reporters after Andre Gordon was captured in Trenton on Saturday. Read more

New Jersey has filed the first charges against Andre Gordon in connection with his alleged fatal shooting of three people  including his 13-year-old sister and his stepmother  Saturday in Falls Township, Bucks County, before fleeing to Trenton, where he was taken into custody.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platin and other law enforcement authorities announced Sunday that Gordon, 26, faces charges of carjacking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of an assault firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines, and possession of hollow-point ammunition.

Gordon is being held at the Mercer County Correctional Center. Officials said Saturday that he will remain in New Jersey until he has a hearing to be returned to Bucks County, where court records indicate he will be charged with first- and second-degree murder, burglary, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, and related crimes. It was not known whether Gordon has retained legal representation.

 READ MORE: Suspect in Bucks County shootings that killed family members is captured several hours later in Trenton

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We will work closely with our partners in Bucks County to ensure that the defendant answers for his alleged crimes in both Trenton and Falls Township, J. Stephen Ferketic, director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, said in a statement.

Gordon surrendered to police around 5:15 p.m. Saturday in Trenton after shootings at two residences in Falls Township left his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, and 25-year-old mother of his two children, Taylor Daniel, dead.

Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn said Saturday that Gordon was known to police and believed to be experiencing homelessness in Trenton.

New Jersey law enforcement officials said Sunday that Gordon carjacked a vehicle in the parking lot of Donnelly Homes in Trenton around 8:40 a.m. Saturday, drove to Falls Township to commit the shootings, carjacked a second vehicle in Morrisville, and returned to Trenton. He was then reported to be in a house on Phillips Avenue in Trenton. But, after surrounding the house, police found Gordon walking on a nearby street.

He was taken into custody without incident. Inside the Phillips Avenue home  which authorities believe is associated with Gordon  police found a semiautomatic assault rifle, an untraceable ghost gun with no serial number, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

Authorities also found high-capacity magazines, hollow-point cartridges, electronic devices, and the clothes Gordon was wearing during his violent rampage, the affidavit said. Police believe the ghost gun was used in Saturdays carjackings and murders, authorities said.

On Sunday, Gordons sister was mourned by Pennsbury School District.

Kera Gordon was an eighth grader at Charles Boehm Middle School in Lower Makefield Township, and Pennsbury Superintendent Thomas A. Smith issued a statement on the schools website announcing the availability of counselors for students, families, and staff members.

When the death of a student occurs, it is particularly difficult and presents us with many questions that we may not be able to answer right away, Smith said.

Counselors were to be available Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Charles Boehm as well as Monday during school hours.

Smiths message included links to a few trauma and grief resources, and urged parents to keep an eye out for common characteristics that may show their children might be having a difficult time coping.

The school also issued a Facebook post linking to donations to lessen the financial burden for this grieving family. Venmo donations can be made to @Donna-Gross-1, the account of the school PTO copresident and fundraising coordinator.

Checks may be made payable to Charles Boehm PTO and must be mailed to Charles Boehm Middle School, 866 Big Oak Rd., Yardley, Pa. 19067. For cash donations contact cboehmpto@gmail.com.

Staff writers Vinny Vella and Rodrigo Torrejon contributed to this article.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker delivers her first budget address in City Council chambers in Philadelphia on Thursday. Read more

Philadelphia is a step closer to establishing city-funded intake centers for people in addiction after Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Thursday proposed spending $100 million on new triage and wellness facilities, part of her pledge to end open-air drug markets.

While the mayor said the centers are a priority for her administration, she indicated during her first budget address to City Council on Thursday that the idea is a work in progress. Details about the proposed treatment options are scarce, and its not clear what role law enforcement would play in the facilities, including whether police would take people to them involuntarily.

Parker said administration officials, led by Managing Director Adam Thiel, are examining every option for providing long-term care, treatment, and housing for those suffering from addiction, homelessness, and mental-health challenges.

She added that Thiel earlier this month met with leaders from Philadelphia health care systems and insurance companies to develop recovery and treatment plans.

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Opening the first such facility would be a shift in strategy for a city that saw a record number of overdose deaths in recent years. It could also be a flashpoint for residents, as some civic groups have long battled against drug treatment facilities opening in their neighborhood.

Locations havent been selected, but Parker said in an interview Thursday that she is hopeful about one space the administration is exploring. She declined to say where it is.

We have to find facilities that can get up and running quickly, she said.

The earmarked funds for triage facilities come a month after City Council members floated the idea. A group of four lawmakers who represent Kensington  the epicenter of the citys opioid crisis  said they would seek funding for a city-run triage center as a means of getting people in addiction off the streets and into treatment.

They proposed that police and outreach workers could bring people who use drugs openly or commit nuisance crimes to intake centers to enter recovery or, if they refuse, they could be arrested. The city already has programs that offer rehabilitation options to people facing criminal charges for such low-level crimes as drug possession and prostitution.

There will be court-driven treatment or court-driven programs that they will have to attend, or there will be arrest and consequences that may be possible, Councilmember Mark Squilla said at the time.

Parker has said repeatedly that shes supportive of the lawmakers who represent Kensington, and Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, who has been outspoken about the neighborhoods challenges, praised Parkers budget as a product of community input.

But the mayor has not explicitly endorsed the specifics of the Council members triage center proposal and said the city needs multiple locations.

Its also unclear how the proposed facilities would differ from existing drug addiction intake centers. The city has at least five crisis resource centers that connect people to such services as detox programs and medication-assisted treatment. Several nonprofits in Kensington offer similar services.

There are also significant barriers that keep people out of treatment in Philadelphia, complicated by the potency of the citys drug supply, according to a recent study of Philadelphias treatment system by Thomas Jefferson University researchers.

 READ MORE: A powerful sedative in Phillys drug supply is causing severe wounds and agonizing withdrawals

Fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid behind most of the citys overdose deaths, wears off quickly, sending people into painful withdrawal faster. Xylazine, the animal tranquilizer often paired with fentanyl, causes serious wounds and intense withdrawal symptoms that doctors are only just learning how to treat.

People in addiction often face long wait times for a clinical assessment to enter treatment, leading some to return to the streets to stave off withdrawal symptoms. And once cleared for treatment, some people addicted to fentanyl and xylazine are still unable to enter because many treatment centers do not have the medical capacity to treat wounds associated with xylazine.

Philippe Bourgois, an anthropologist at the University of California-Los Angeles, has studied addiction and Kensingtons drug market and said triage facilities could be effective for some users. But he said zero-tolerance policies seldom work on a large scale.

Given a treatment-or-jail ultimatum, Bourgois said, many people relapse. A 2018 study found that recently incarcerated people in Philadelphia faced an outsized risk of overdose in the first two weeks after their release.

I have seen people who attribute their recovery to a zero-tolerance approach, he said. But the general pattern is that the reverse happens: youre pissed off and angry and when you get out, youre not open to stopping.

He said the gold standard for addiction treatment, as found in many European countries, is to maximize the number of recovery pathways and reduce the punitive alternatives.

Parker said her administration is seeking input from experts  her budget plan says they include leaders from Jefferson, the University of Pennsylvania and Temple Health. And she said her staff is working closely with state lawmakers to explore programs that ease access to insurance coverage for people seeking recovery treatment.

Still, the $100 million worth of spending  which would come out of the citys capital budget, meaning it would be paid for through borrowing  is not certain.

Parker and her allies could face resistance in City Council, particularly from members of the progressive wing who have advocated for public-health driven approaches to the overdose crisis and are unlikely to support an initiative if they believe its criminalizing addiction.

Negotiations between Council and the administration are already underway, and Council must approve a spending and revenue plan by the end of June before the current budget expires.

Inquirer staff writer Sean Collins Walsh contributed to this article.
Julian Plotnick of Roxborough is an employee of Metropolitan Acoustics. He is on a four-day workweek and during his extra day off he practices his juggling. Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Welcome to Sunday. Partly sunny skies are in store, with a high near 62.

Looking forward to Friday? The Cure really nailed that feeling. The idea of working fewer days and hours has been gaining traction in pockets of the corporate world. Some Philly-area employers are experimenting with it, so were checking in with them to learn why they did it, and if making the switch had any impact.

Well also bring you up to speed on the timeline of events that led to the capture of Andre Gordon, the man police say went on a deadly shooting spree in a Philadelphia suburb on Saturday. Theres a lot of ground to cover, so lets get into it.

 Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Software engineer Julian Plotnick, pictured above, likes to use his extra day off to practice juggling.

Six months ago, Plotnick asked his company, Metropolitan Acoustics, to let him work one less day per week, 32 hours total, without a cut in pay. The consulting firm gave Plotnick the green light, and now it plans to transition its entire 12-person staff to a four-day workweek.

Metropolitan is among a few local companies that have been trying out the four-day workweek, and dozens more across the globe are following suit. And just last week, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to slash the standard U.S. workweek down to the same length.

Catch up quick: Philly-based Insomnia Cookies started giving Fridays off to all 100 full-time corporate employees. And Philly Marketing Labs, which designs digital campaigns for consumer brands, switched to a four-day week in 2021 and never looked back.

Why its working: Insomnia cites mental health and work-life balance benefits, and says feedback from employees has been positive and productivity is doing great since the change. Philly Marketing Labs says the arrangement allows some flexibility so client service doesnt suffer.

Notable quote: Its been so great for my life, Plotnick said. Everyone I talk to is a little bit jealous.

Keep reading for a closer look inside how the companies are faring after cutting the workweek by one day.

A man armed with an assault rifle shot and killed three people  including his stepmother and sister  Saturday morning at two homes in Falls Township, Bucks County, then fled in a stolen car and was captured several hours later in Trenton, police said.

The victims were identified as Karen Gordon, 52; Kera Gordon, 13; and Taylor Daniel, 25. The suspect, identified as Andre Gordon, 26, surrendered to police without incident around 5:15 p.m.

It was at least the third violent incident involving the slaying of family members in the Philadelphia suburbs in the last two months.

Prior to Gordons capture, police believed he had barricaded himself in a home with hostages, but later said he was able to escape before officers surrounded the home, according to Trenton Police Detective Lt. Lisette Rios.

The shootings were a shock to the Falls neighborhood. Ive been here 20 some years and I dont think we ever had a cop sitting in front of anybodys house for more than a minute, said Charles Flanagan, who lived near the Viewpoint Lane house. Its a very quiet neighborhood.

Keep reading for our latest coverage and visit inquirer.com for more updates.

What you should know today

Pop quiz

Philadelphia Whiskey is neither made nor sold in Philly. Our columnist Stephanie Farr calls it a plastic bottle of lies.

Where is the whiskey actually manufactured?

A) Texas

B) Kentucky

C) New York

D) Tennessee

Think you know? Check your answer.

 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Never iron one of these. You dont want to press your luck.

ALOOF CLEVER FUR

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Christina Ludwig who correctly guessed Fridays answer: The Fillmore, the latest Philly music venue to go cashless.

Photo of the day

The National Resident Matching Program pairs medical students with the hospitals where they will spend their first years as doctors. Inquirer reporter Aubrey Whelans dispatch from Match Day at Drexel is worth a read.

 For todays Sunday track, were still listening to World Wide Whack. One song goes like this: Used to have dreams of escaping / Now I make the best of every situation.

 Thanks for starting your morning with The Inquirer, especially on days when the news is a lot to take in. Take care, and Ill see you again tomorrow.
Harm reduction activists gathered outside City Hall on March 7. Harm reduction services help save lives, writes the Editorial Board, and must have city support as part of the plan to tackle the Kensington open-air drug market. Read more

After years of neglect from city officials, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker is taking a more aggressive approach than her predecessors in addressing the open-air drug market in Kensington: In her first official act as mayor, she ordered police to use any lawful means necessary to abate what has become a civic catastrophe.

It is a long-overdue move from City Hall after a failed strategy that mired the neighborhood in homelessness, public drug use, and violence.

Parker has been unapologetic about making law enforcement a key part of her strategy, and few could credibly argue that policing should not play a role in the effort.

But the mayor would do well to recognize that harm reduction services that help protect people struggling with addiction until theyre ready for treatment can play a vital role in fixing what ails Kensington.

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Parkers recent moves, however, have left harm reduction providers feeling under siege when the mayor should be bringing them into the conversation about how to solve one of the citys most intractable problems.

The Parker administration has said it will not allow any part of the $180 million coming to Philadelphia as part of a court settlement with opioid painkiller manufacturers to go to needle exchange programs. While the amount may be negligible  less than $40,000 in grants last year  the message is clear.

 READ MORE: Want to help Kensington? Start by listening to neighborhood voices. | Editorial

More immediately troubling is the removal of the harm reduction group known as Savage Sisters from its Kensington storefront. The small nonprofit  which distributes sterile syringes to prevent the spread of infection, provides showers and wound care, and helps connect people with treatment options  lost its lease after City Councilmember Quetzy Lozada interfered.

Critics say harm reduction providers attract and enable drug users. Lozada, who represents the 7th District, has said the group are not good neighbors, and also threatened funding for Prevention Point, a longtime needle exchange program on Kensington Avenue.

Lozada frames her decisions as supporting the wishes of her constituents, longtime residents of Kensington who are sick and tired of watching their children navigate around used needles and crumpled bodies on their way to school. Alongside her allies in the Kensington Caucus and the Parker administration, she is also pushing for triage centers to direct those suffering from addiction to treatment options, or in the case of refusal, incarceration.

All of this is meant to show a determination to do whatever it takes to eliminate the drug market. A goal that is, by itself, laudable.

What has happened in Kensington over the last decade, what former 7th District Councilmember Maria Quinones Sanchez described as a containment strategy, was morally wrong. It never should have been the case that most of the burden for the citys opioid epidemic should fall on the poorest residential community in Philadelphia.

No other community in the region, whether urban or suburban, allows people to engage in the rampant open-air drug usage that goes on 24/7 in Kensington. Restoring the basics of law and order is far from unreasonable.

 READ MORE: Its going to take more than $20 million to help the people of Kensington | Editorial

More to the point, the old approach has an evident weakness: What happens when the chaos breaks containment? The city simply isnt going to be able to find and process every drug user. The market will still exist and could spread to other neighborhoods if pushed out of Kensington. This could spark new turf wars, contributing to the gun violence epidemic. Without access to safe needles, those who continue using drugs despite the crackdown will be exposed to diseases like AIDS and hepatitis.

If Parker and the Kensington Caucus want to push the drug market out of Kensington, they need to identify spaces somewhere for harm reduction services to operate  with city support.

Parker has said that while she believes in harm reduction, she doesnt support using city dollars to provide these services. If Prevention Point is unable to keep operating, and Savage Sisters is unable to find a new landlord, that may be a distinction without a difference.

These services have their fair share of critics within the neighborhood, but they also help keep people alive. If not in Kensington, then where? No one has yet provided an answer.

After a mass shooting in Northeast Philadelphia, Parker said the city needs an all of the above approach to gun violence. The opioid epidemic requires the same.
There has been a surge in the past two years of Irish exports to former Soviet Union countries suspected of being used to circumvent trade sanctions imposed on Russia after it initiated a war against Ukraine.

Official trade figures show the overall level of exports from Ireland to one country with close trading ties with Russia has increased more than 50-fold since 2021.

The figures raise the potential that some Irish companies may be exporting goods which are ending up in Russia, in breach of EU sanctions.

In many cases, there has been a sharp reduction in exports to Russia of specific classes of goods including oils, chemicals, and machinery, which has coincided with exports of the same categories of products from Ireland for the first time to former Soviet Union republics.

The European Commission has advised all exporters based in the EU to take adequate diligence measures to prevent the circumvention of trade sanctions imposed on Russia.

It recommended exporters to pay particular attention with exports to third countries from where such goods could easily be diverted to Russia.

The commission said the potential for circumvention of the sanctions particularly existed in relation to countries of the Eurasian Economic Union including Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Figures published by the CSO showed the value of exports from Armenia has risen from less than 0.9m in 2021, to 6m in the first year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and to almost 10.7m in 2023.

Significant increases in the value of exports from Ireland have also been recorded to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan over the past two years.

Similar large-scale increases in exports to several former Soviet Union countries have been documented over the same period from countries as diverse as Britain, Poland, and China.

A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which is responsible for the implementation of trade sanctions on Russia, said it was aware of the risk of the circumvention of sanctions via third countries.

The spokesperson said an analysis of trade flow indicated the volume of trade to third countries was at a low level in relation to overall trade levels.

Trade to individual countries will contain legitimate exports, but where there are suspicious spikes in trade, examination of the elements of the trade is undertaken and actioned where necessary, the spokesperson said.

Under EU sanctions, it is prohibited to sell, supply, transfer, or export dual-use goods and technology to Russia  including specified goods which might contribute to Russias military and technological enhancement or its industrial capabilities.

Such equipment includes generators, drones, laptops, IT components, cameras, chemicals and machinery. Goods and technology intended for use in Russias energy sector and its aviation and space industries are also banned.

Other items prohibited are luxury goods and electronic components, as well as intellectual property rights. There are also corresponding bans on the provision of technical assistance, brokering, and other services for goods covered by the sanctions.

EU regulations also require exporters of particularly sensitive goods and technology to contractually prohibit re-exportation of their products to Russia.

CSO figures show over 1.9m worth of machinery specialised for particular industries and chemical materials were exported to the Kyrgyz Republic in the last year. The value of such exports in 2021 was zero.

Almost another 1.3m classified as essential oils, perfume materials, toiletries and cleansing preparations were exported to the Kyrgyz Republic from Ireland last year, where no similar goods had been traded before 2022.

The department said it was in regular contact with Irish exports in order to further Irelands compliance with the current sanctions regimes. The spokesperson said officials were currently considering further activities with regard to both enforcement and stakeholder engagement.
Nancy Barrett has spent much of her life worrying about her daughter, Lisa Noble, and trying to understand why she gets into trouble.

Over the past two decades, Nobles life included a bankruptcy, extravagant spending, casino gambling and an 18-month state prison term after she admitted in 2009 to stealing from four former employers.

More recently, the 43-year-old Noble became the prime suspect in about $1 million in thefts from two of her other employers, a Town of Tonawanda church and a medical business. On March 8, she was arrested on a fugitive warrant by federal marshals who tracked her down in North Carolina, where she was using an alias.

Why does she do these things? I dont know, the exasperated Barrett told The Buffalo News. Growing up, Lisa was a very good student and never in any kind of trouble. Once she got out of high school and into the working world, she started getting into trouble.

Barrett and her partner, Carl Bennett, spoke to The News by telephone from their home in Ocala, Fla. They said Nobles high-profile problems with the law have been hard on them, and especially hard on Nobles 16-year-old daughter, who now lives with them in Ocala.

Its been difficult seeing all of Lisas trials and tribulations, and how they have affected my significant other and her granddaughter, Bennett said. Its all been very painful for them.

If Noble did steal $1 million, where is that money now?

Hardly any of the stolen money has been recovered, law enforcement officials told The News.

Weve been wondering about that ourselves, Bennett said. I can tell you that Lisa over the years has done a lot of gambling on slot machines at the casino. And shes spent money on very extravagant vacations  especially cruises.

For a while, she was going to the casino two or three times a week. She told us she kept winning big jackpots, $5,000 or $10,000 at a time, Bennett said. But that sounded fishy to me. Nobody wins at the casino on a regular basis, except the casino.

Held without bail in a detention center in Raleigh, N.C., Noble has agreed not to fight extradition to Buffalo, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn said on Friday.

Attorney Michael T. Dwan, who has represented Noble, said he anticipates she will be returned to Buffalo for a court appearance within the next few days.

While Flynn said he cannot discuss the charges against Noble until they are unsealed, other law enforcement officials told The News that Noble will be charged with stealing $465,000 while working as business manager at St. Amelia Catholic Church.

Noble will also face charges in connection with the theft of more than $500,000 from another of her former employers, Audiology Service Associates, based in the City of Tonawanda, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the case.

Dwan confirmed that the DAs Office is targeting Noble for prosecution in connection with the St. Amelia and Audiology Service thefts.

He is not yet certain whether he will continue to represent Noble, he said on Friday.

The DA has told me they anticipate her being returned to Buffalo next Tuesday or Wednesday, Dwan said. I will try to talk with her as soon as possible after she gets back here, and well see where it goes after that.

Last November, Noble spoke with prosecutors in the DAs Office about taking a plea deal in connection with the thefts, Dwan told The News.

We had two meetings scheduled to finalize the plea agreement, and Lisa missed both of them, Dwan said. I have not heard from her since a day or two before Thanksgiving.

Barrett said she last spoke to her daughter around Thanksgiving, after Noble overdosed on a prescription drug and was hospitalized in the Erie County Medical Center.

Barrett said she called her daughter in the hospital after family members informed her that Noble had tried to commit suicide.

She told me, Ive been to prison, and Im not going back there again,  Barrett said. She also told me that she never stole any money from St. Amelias.

Ive been through a lot of this with Lisa before, she said, adding that Noble has stolen money from her at times.

Days after that conversation with her mom, Noble disappeared from Western New York, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

$20,000 seized

Noble wound up in Raleigh, N.C., where she began using the name Julie Wilson and got a job working as a nanny for a family with four children.

Federal marshals arrested her on March 8 after learning that Noble had applied for a job with a nursing home in the Raleigh area.

The marshals just missed her at the nursing home, but they arrested her the next day at a library. She was there with two of the children she was watching, Flynn said.

Noble had dyed her hair bright red since leaving Buffalo, Flynn said.

Police so far have only recovered a tiny percentage of the money that Noble allegedly stole.

Twenty thousand dollars was found in a bag inside her car last fall, but the vast majority of the missing money is still missing, and quite possibly, always will be, said a law enforcement official close to the case.

The official said police have learned that Noble loved playing slot machines, and took extravagant trips. The official said Noble spent about $20,000 last year on a trip with her daughter to see Taylor Swift in concert.

Bennett said he, too, was aware of the Taylor Swift trip and other expensive trips that Noble took.

Noble loved taking Caribbean cruises and sometimes paid for groups of friends  sometimes eight or 10 friends at a time  to go with her, both Barrett and Bennett said.

Although Noble did buy clothing for her teenage daughter and took her to see Taylor Swift, her debts and legal problems made life very difficult for the girl, Bennett told The News.

After Noble was released from prison about 13 years ago, I thought she was going to live life on the straight and narrow, her mother said. I thought she was done getting into trouble, but it didnt last.

GoFundMe drive launched

She said Noble has not spoken to her daughter since she vanished from the Buffalo area late last year.

Bennett recently started a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money for the teenager.

Barrett said her granddaughter really misses Buffalo, and the friends she has there.

She wants to move back to Buffalo to finish high school, to be with her friends, Barrett said of the teenager. She also loves the Buffalo Bills.

She added that her granddaughter especially misses her dog, who is staying with a family friend in the Buffalo area. The girl named the dog after her favorite Bills player.

His name is Diggs, Barrett said.
Over recent months, some global forecasters  most notably the International Monetary Fund (IMF)  have begun using a phrase to describe the current global economic outlook which will awaken a deep sense of unease in most Irish people.

In their view, the global economy is on its way toward a soft landing. Focusing too much on short-term landing points now, and ignoring the big structural changes underway, would also be a mistake.

It would miss the big story in global economy in 2024, that we are now in a period of rapid and accelerating change.

Much in the same way that many peoples day-to-day lives are a lot different than they were before covid, so too is the global economy. The move in European interest rates to 4.5%, from initial rates of close to zero, in the two years was the fastest increase in interest rates we have seen since the 1970s.

Whilst rates are still very low in a historical context, what matters for the economy is the pace of change as well as the level. The last decade was the first era of zero or negative interest rates in recorded history, going back to the Middle Ages. It is very likely that the era of cheap money is behind us.

Some business models that grew up in that era have struggled to adjust. For example, parts of the tech industry that put investing in rapid growth ahead of achieving profitability have had to cut back. However, overall business investment across most of the world continues to grow robustly.

This is down to major changes in how governments compete for investment.

China exported 5.2m cares last year, up from around 1m a year in 2019 - passing out Germany and Japan as the world's largest car exporter. Picture: John Walton

Throughout most of the last 40 years, the use of industrial policy  where governments overtly backed specific industries  has played second fiddle to open markets. That is changing.

The US, with its Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act aimed at boosting manufacturing, is now more involved in subsidising industries than it has been in decades. The collapse in investment in the Chinese real estate market has also seen it heavily subsidise its exporting industries in similar areas, such as batteries and electric vehicles to compensate.

China exported 5.2m cars last year, up from around 1m a year in 2019  passing out Germany and Japan as the worlds largest exporter of cars in the process. Europe is well behind the other two major economic blocks, but slowly moving in the same direction. On top of this, change in global supply chains is accelerating.

Commodity prices, which drive the price of every other physical thing we buy, are well down on their peak in 2022  but are still almost a third higher than they were in 2019.

Prices in commodities will remain higher and more volatile in the coming years due to geopolitical tensions.

The falling levels of trade openness and rising geo-political risk means that there will be more frequent disruptions to global supply chains and less integrated trade. In turn, inflation and costs for business will remain more volatile.

The rise of state driven competition for investment, rising geo-political tensions, and falling trade openness is not good for small countries such as Ireland. We will never be able to compete with larger countries when it comes to subsidies, and have benefitted enormously from global trade integration.

We need to be laser focused on competing where the global economy is seeing the benefits of this era of rapid change.

For one, the advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) feels like a generational technology. Ireland has strengths in data and digital, but it will require significant investment to harness its transformative potential.

At the same time, climate change and the net zero transition are driving a focus of major industrial investors on access to abundant and affordable clean energy and water. We have more natural resources in wind and water than most, if we can build the infrastructure to harness them.

If we want to guarantee high living standards into the future, then we have an opportunity in this year of elections to look past the short-term landing point and embrace a period of accelerated change.

Gerard Brady is chief economist at Ibec.
The possibility of restricting certain dog breeds is to be considered by the new Dog Control Stakeholder Group.

It is in line with actions being taken in Northern Ireland and regions across Britain to strengthen policy and legislation around dog control.

Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys has asked the stakeholders group to examine the issue.

The request followed the appointment by the Minister of former Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey as the independent chairperson of the group.

It follows growing concern about dog attacks on livestock and members of the public countrywide.

Beginning later this month, the stakeholder group, which represents a wide range of interests, will meet quarterly.

Minister Humphreys said that as a dog owner herself, and someone from a farming background, she was very conscious of the public concern about dog control.

We have seen horrendous attacks by dogs on people, including children, in recent months, and the issue of sheep worrying in our countryside continues to be a huge problem for our farmers, she said.

The Minister said she had taken a series of measures already. These include the trebling of on-the-spot fines for the most serious offences, and the provision of 2m for dog warden services.

But I do believe we need to take further action, and thats what this stakeholder group is going to consider, she said.

The group will consider dog control issues under the policy remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Discussions will focus on immediate improvements within the limitations of the current situation, while also scoping a way forward for longer-term changes and improvements.

Themes include restricted dogs legislation, guidance on proper controls, breeding establishment standards and general awareness raising.

I have spent a lot of time considering how to bring the right voices to the table in a way that supports constructive discussion.

I am confident that the group members represent a huge range of backgrounds and viewpoints, share the same root desire to see better outcomes for everyone in relation to dog control, and are committed to making lasting improvements in this area.

Initiatives like this depend on the willingness of these experts to share their knowledge and experience and to work collaboratively for better outcomes, she said.

The Department of Rural and Community Development is responsible for policy and legislation regarding dog control and breeding establishments.

Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, local authorities have responsibility for all operational activities including enforcement matters.

They have the power to appoint wardens, provide shelters, seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against owners.

Meanwhile, the Irish Farmers Association, one of the nineteen bodies represented on the stakeholders group, has launched its own 2024 No Dogs Allowed campaign.

Francie Gorman, president, said the Government and local authorities continue to ignore the deepening issue of dog attacks on livestock.

He said IFA first launched its No Dogs Allowed campaign in 2021, and despite continuous appeals for action, both the Government and local authorities have failed to address the issue.

The lack of robust enforcement of the legal obligations on dog owners has allowed these attacks to persist and increase across the country, and it is unacceptable.

Farmers have had enough, and its time for decisive action to protect our livestock. We are demanding stronger regulations and stricter enforcement for those who disregard the safety and wellbeing of our livestock immediately, he said.

IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said stronger regulations announced by Minister Humphreys in November were steps in the right direction but did not go far enough to protect livestock from dog attacks.

He said the IFA has consistently called for appropriate sanctions and to develop a single national database identifying dogs and their owners, like that in other jurisdictions.

The critical issue in the first instance is to have all dogs in the country microchipped, registered to the owner and licensed in order to establish a national database for all dogs and the person responsible for the dog.

Implementing stronger legislation and sanctions reflective of the damage and trauma these dogs cause on farms has been key to our campaign and would be a significant step in delivering for farmers.

Stronger regulations and increased sanctions must be implemented to ensure that dog owners understand their responsibilities and the consequences of failing to fulfil them, he said.

Pointing out that this a critical time as lambing commences, Mr Gallagher warned owners that dogs are not allowed on or near farmland. He urged them to behave responsibly.

It is also important to remind dog owners that they are fully liable for any damages caused to farmers and their livestock and dogs found on our lands can be shot, he said, adding that the IFA will participate in a new stakeholder group.
Before noon on Friday, March 1, eager editors gathered to congratulate fashion designer Roisin Pierce at the Irish embassy on the occasion of her autumn/winter 2024 collection at Paris Fashion Week.

Moments previously, in the reception rooms, a procession of models had filed through gilded parlours, smocked, ruched, ruffled, and crocheted.

In Pierces signature white, the angelic passage was a balm to the pomp and ceremony that typically dominate fashion week.

Entitled O Lovely One, Girl That Fell From a Star, after a poem that Pierce had written with the poet Michelle Freya, the overarching mood of the collection proffered joy and hope in the face of humanitys fracture, Pierce says.

With political and military conflicts raging the world over, the young Irish talent pondered how the magnitude of craft might offer a salve.

Im a sponge to everything thats taking place in the world, so its hard not to channel that message in the collection. While what we do is very design-led, its also very emotionally-led, Pierce says.

Pierce crochets a tale of substance and subtext, via uplifting womens stories gleaned from Irelands dark history.

With reference to how femininity and female sexuality are challenged by the Government, the Catholic Church, and other structures, the Dublin-based designer preserves traditional crafts, like crochet and lacemaking, to enrich her narrative. Despite the loaded context, her work possesses an ethereal lightness and knowing strength.

Roisin Pierce: "I wanted to make something spiritual, but not religious"

While other collections have looked to the institutionalisation of women in Magdalene laundries and to the referendum on womens reproductive rights, this season took a turn for the conceptual, with a stance on global issues.

A cast of size-, gender- and age-inclusive models was depicted as celestial beings who had fallen from the sky, or goddesses who had emerged from the sea. Pierce listed ancient Roman paintings, Dantes Paradiso, and Roman goddess Aphrodite, as primary references.

I wanted to make something spiritual, but not religious, says Pierce.

They were garlanded in dripping florets of crocheted lace; embroidered lace sourced from St Gallens, Switzerland, was blended into a mix of deadstock cotton to create a weightlessness; bouncy smocked flowers were overlaid with transparent organza.

Leaning into the romanticism of Xs and Os, lattice bodies resembled the symbol for a kiss, but the outcome somehow looked like an armour. An inky blue dress  her first foray in to colour  was made from deadstock cotton, renewed with her skilful smocking.

A look from Roisin Pierce's Paris Fashion Week A/W 2024 collection, O Lovely One'

In their delicacy, the pieces came across as protective. Nods to Irene MacWilliams Peace Quilt played into the notion of textiles as a vessel for collective healing. Ultra-feminine, but never twee or facile, the designers exploration of craft and textiles is as fiercely resistant as it is subtle.

Subtlety and care, Pierce says, send a stronger message than plastered on a t-shirt. If its an important message to you, thats how you should get it across.

From Rathfarnham, Dublin, Pierce works with her mother, Angie. Together, from her childhood home, they are entirely responsible for the design and production of the label.

We usually sing off the same hymn sheet, Pierce says of their working relationship. Angie began practising intricate Irish crochets when her daughter was eight, a skill she passed down to her.

Everything, Pierce says, is crafted, as ever, by hands we hold dear. Last March, Pierce became the first designer from the Republic of Ireland to show their namesake brand on the official Paris Fashion Week schedule.

A look from Roisin Pierce's Paris Fashion Week A/W 2024 collection, O Lovely One, Fallen From a Star'

In the span of a year, Irish designers have continued to exceed expectations. Simone Rocha collaborated with Jean Paul Gaultier on a haute-couture collection in January.

Earlier this month, Sean McGirr, as artistic director, issued his highly-anticipated take on Alexander McQueen.

Elsewhere in Paris, Jonathan Anderson marked 10 years of producing cutting-edge designs for Loewe. That Pierce is at the heart of a Celtic twilight is no small feat.

Pierces debut, in 2019, was unlike many of her peers. At the Festival dHyeres, a fashion and photography event in the south of France, she won the Chanel Metier dArt Award, which provided her with invaluable support from three of Chanels ateliers.

Her deft approach to crochet, smocking, ruching, and embellishment appealed to the discerning judging panel of industry experts.

Five years on, the biggest challenge Pierce faces is how to scale her business. Her model is different: Everything is hand-produced in Ireland, with individual pieces taking between one and 10 days to complete; she shows one collection a year, instead of two.

Her beautifully poetic, tactile approach is one thing, but, at the end of the day, fashion is a business. Its quite tough being an independent brand, Pierce says.

Dover St Market Paris have stepped in to resolve that issue. The brand incubator will assist Pierce in finding new stores for autumn/winter 2024, with production assistance from 2025.

A look from Roisin Pierce's Paris Fashion Week A/W 2024 collection, O Lovely One, Fallen From a Star'

The Irish designers work is on sale at Dover St Markets New York and Los Angeles stores, and this promise of support will give her greater exposure and the capacity to meet the size of orders.

Kate Garvey, brand manager at Dover St Market Paris, who is Irish, but lives in Paris, says, The opportunity to support the commercial success of an Irish, woman-led brand, within this context, is thrilling, and I am eager to highlight her culturally rich and relevant storytelling on a global stage.

The partnership is a commitment to a slower approach to fashion, one that values time and craftsmanship, when both of those things are scarce.

Pierce says, Its not just a financial backing, but a real respect for each other and creativity. The brand will continue to show one collection per year and have its primary focus on craft, but this, Pierce says, will allow her to achieve a lot more, a lot faster.

The day after the show, glowing reviews were rolling in from industry insiders.

That was like the rugby team: another win for Ireland, one Irish guest was overheard saying after Pierce took her bow.

Vogues Sarah Mower says Pierces way of speaking can take your breath away.

A look from Roisin Pierce's Paris Fashion Week A/W 2024 collection, O Lovely One, Fallen From a Star'

Serge Carreira, head of emerging designers at the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the governing body that presides over Paris Fashion Week, told the Irish Examiner, [Pierce] drafts a subtle femininity full of poetry. It is soft and bold at the same time. There is something radical in her sweetness.

With a promising chapter of potential ahead, Pierce says, Its challenging to come up with something new every season, but thats the beauty of working in white, because it forces you to work harder, to consider every transparency, lace, trims, and so on.

We are committed to creating something new, with a huge focus on design and textiles. The woman we have in mind would admire that: She appreciates new design and thought.

MAKING THEMSELVES HEARD

In 2024, Irish designers are staking their claim. Alongside Pierce, designers Sinead ODwyer and Michael Stewart from Standing Ground are making their voices heard.

Sinead ODwyer

A trailblazer for inclusivity, Tullamore designer Sinead ODwyer is widening the scope for luxury fashion to accommodate many more body types than just the rake-thin models that have dominated catwalks for decades. Her story encompasses UK sizes 4 to 32, and models with different abilities, in an honest refusal of convention. While uptake for larger sizes from stores is slower than she anticipated, London-based ODwyer is committed to inclusivity.

Last year, she told the Irish Examiner, I want people to realise how the lack of pattern cutting for a variety of sizes and shapes was really detrimental to mental health and, overall, the whole nature of ignoring people and discrimination. Her recent autumn/winter 2024 collection presented at London Fashion Week was entitled Supervisor. She studied the codes of corporate dress, with fitted tailoring, mixing them with sexy accents like Shibari ties and casual items like her popular black denim.

Standing Ground

Hailing from Co. Clare, Michael Stewarts label Standing Ground is another refreshing perspective in fashion. His preference for made-to-measure eveningwear is self-assured and rigorous, with a razor-sharp focus on craftsmanship. Best observed up close, where one can study the technical construction that goes into his one-of-a-kind garments.

This April, Stewart is in the running for the prestigious LVMH Prize, an award that provides young talent with an endowment and mentorship scheme to grow their business. Past winners have included Jacquemus and Wales Bonner, both of whom have experienced enormous growth since the prizegiving. Could Stewart be next?
Irelands first stamp was a simple but powerful statement of its autonomy.

Economically and logistically crippled by years of war, the new state was too poor to print something unique but needed the world to know we were now free from the shackles of empire.

One of the first things the new government did was appoint a postmaster general, says Stephen Ferguson, An Post Archivist and Museum Curator.

This was a man named JJ Walsh from Cork. He knew that it was important for the new country to represent itself as an independent nation and one way of doing that was through the issue of our own stamps. He got permission from the post office in London to overprint King George with Rialtas Sealadach na hEireann - provisional government of Ireland.

The first Irish postage stamps - overprinted British stock

The overprint, in bold black ink, obscures the profile of the British monarch and declares the year of Irelands rebirth, 1922. This first stamp is just one of many on display at Miniature Masterpieces at the National Print Museum in Dublin. This fascinating exhibition, which runs until May, examines how Irelands cultural identity and independence were expressed through both the artwork and messaging on the humble stamp.

Most people look at stamps simply as their receipt, says Stephen. The main purpose of the stamps is, of course, to send a letter. But if they look a little more closely, then you can get into the interesting facets of how we see ourselves or maybe how we wish to be seen as a people and as a country by what is on the stamp. Over the last century, that vision and perspective of ourselves has changed quite a lot.

Daniel O'Connell, who featured on a commemorative stamp early in the State's existence

As the state got itself to its feet, JJ Walsh got to work on producing something that would be ours alone. He opened a competition to the public asking them to submit their designs and ideas with the caveat the design should not show a person. No doubt this was driven by the raw and fractured loyalties to powerful political personalities that still existed in the country.

Over eight hundred submissions were made from which a committee, headed by former printer Arthur Griffith, chose four designs - a map of Ireland, a Celtic cross, the arms of the four provinces and the sword of light. These designs would stay in circulation for nearly fifty years and represented Ireland as both independent and Catholic. Those were the predominant themes in the majority of the early commemorative stamps too. In 1929, for example, one hundred years of Daniel OConnells Catholic Emancipation success was commemorated, in 1933 the Eucharistic Congress and in 1937 both St. Patrick and the new constitution were celebrated. The latter, a stunning design by the inimitable Harry Kernoff, has definite echoes of the handing down of the Ten Commandments.

A stamp commemorating the Shannon scheme, 1930

Some designs occasionally went off-script. The 1930 double-sized stamp commemorating the completion of the dam at Ardnacrusha conveys an image of industrialisation and modernity very much at odds with the saints, scholars and patriots' image in most of the earlier designs. It wasnt until later decades that our stamps began to move away from those central themes and look outward at our place in the wider world.

I would say from the late 1960s and early 1970s, youll begin to see changes in design, says Stephen. You have examples such as the celebration of Aer Lingus, so again, modern Ireland. Were also beginning to mark international events.

"You have a design by Louis LeBrocquy called Flaming Sun that celebrates the idea of Europa. He actually won the competition run by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations in 1970.

"That stamp was issued by various post offices throughout Europe. So you begin to see modern art coming into the design.

Louis Le Brocquy's Europa, 1970

As well as a slow change in style, the broadening of messaging and representation has continued. In recent years, those commissioning designs have been keen to depict as many sections of Irish society as possible.

The policy has been more inclusive, says Stephen. You'll find recognition for minority Protestant religions, Methodists, Presbyterians or whoever it is. Different groups are represented, people living with disabilities, for example. We used Braille, for instance, in 2006 for the Irish Guide Dogs where you can actually feel the Braille on the stamp. All sorts of things get represented on stamps now. We recently had a series on urban art, there was one with emojis and another set celebrating computer games like Pac-Man, Super Mario, and Space Invaders.

Brooklyn's finest, plumber and princess-rescuer Super Mario, featured on a 2014 Irish stamp

Modern print production has also broadened the capabilities of stamps. Stephen points to a commemorative stamp for 1916 which allowed users to scan a QR code that brought them to a page where they could find out more about events in the Rising.

But for all the positives that modernity brings, there is no denying the stamp is in decline. For obvious reasons, stamp production is on the wane and commemorative stamps are no longer distributed as widely as they once were.

I would like a slightly wider circulation, says Stephen. In a way, the ambassadorial role of stamps has been curtailed a little because we dont send letters as much. But you cant change the way things are going. That ambassadorial role that Stephen speaks of is perfectly represented in what is his favourite series of stamps.

A 2006 stamp commemorating the Irish Guide Dogs

Over a period of maybe fifteen years from the mid-1960s, we issued a small number of special stamps for airmail letters, he says. They were double-size and they showed an angel going over an Irish landmark. So you have the angel Victor who is bringing the voice of Ireland - VOX HIBERNIA - throughout the world. They're beautifully designed stamps. They are recess printed, which means you can actually feel the lines on the stamp itself.

"But theyre also clever because theyre representing Ireland and its beauty spots - Lough Derg, Glendalough and the Rock of Cashel. So youre doing two things: youre maintaining the Irishness of everything with that saints and scholars image while at the same time, youre showing Ireland as a place where we have numerous beauty spots which you could come and visit if you were so minded. And these were the stamps that especially went throughout the world as airmail. If I were to pick one, Id probably go for one of those.

An Aer Lingus stamp from 1981

Miniature Masterpieces goes a long way in a small space. Our stamps represent a fascinating and underappreciated visual reflection of Irish history and culture.

There are still a few young people who collect stamps, says Stephen. And if you can get them interested, the hook very often now is postal history where people get interested in the actual letter and the story in the letter as well as the story on the stamp. Its an interesting part of our social history and as long as stamps are produced they will be a record of home.
Leaving Cert students have criticised the Government for holding the local and European elections on one of their exam days.

The National Youth Action Group, part of Youth Work Ireland, has said it is disappointed that its concerns about potential interference with exam schedules have fallen on deaf ears.

The organisation has said it is deeply unfair to ask the public to go to the polls on June 7, which is the day Leave Certificate students will be sitting maths and geography State exams.

More than 130,000 secondary school pupils are due to sit the Leaving Cert state exam this year.

In a statement, the group said it had previously aired concerns that the Local and European elections and another referendum may be held on an exam day.

"Increasingly many 18 and 19-year-olds are taking the Leaving Cert and voting on the same day. It is another hurdle they could do without.

The group expressed the view that the Government holding elections on dates that young people cant work around (state exams) is no way to engage them in the elections," the statement adds.

The group also flagged problems relating to transport and believe free public transport should be available on election day. Similarly, the group believed that many young people in remote rural areas and on islands find it difficult to get out to vote.

Jessica Moffitt, an 18-year-old Leaving Cert Student and first-time voter, said: As a current 6th year student who will be voting for the first time in this election, I am heartbroken over the inaccessibility.

When I first heard this election would be held on the first Friday of the Leaving Cert I was appalled.

This decision feels to me as if the Government does not want to hear young voices or opinions. Over 130,000 students will only have one focus on that day  their Leaving Cert  and to then add the extra pressure of local and European elections, as well as a referendum to the mix is crazy.

It is unfair on the mental health of these students to expect them to have a stable and clear mind whilst in the midst of the, arguably, worst weeks of their life. If the voting were to be held on Saturday the 8th it would give me and my fellow students the chance to actually think about what and who we will be voting for.

Hopefully the Government will have a change of heart and put the needs of the students before anything else.

Campaign organiser Jamie Mac Giolla Bhain said: By holding polling day on Saturday the 8th of June, the Government would be honouring the work they have already done to raise engagement from those who are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but already are the leaders of today.

It's crucial that young people are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote without the added pressure of exams. Shifting the local elections to Saturday, June 8th, would make it more accessible for students to balance their academic responsibilities with civic duties.

These elections play a pivotal role in shaping our communities, and it's essential that the youth's voice is heard. Rescheduling the elections to Saturday would empower young voters and encourage their active participation in the democratic process. We want to ensure that the voices of the next generation are heard loud and clear.

By moving the election date to Saturday, we're not only easing the burden on students but also fostering a more inclusive and participatory democracy.
The Bishop of Limerick has said that Ireland is now far from a place of a thousand welcomes, and has accused some people of stoking division and distrust of migrants.

In his homily for St Patricks Day, Bishop Brendan Leahy said Ireland cannot be allowed to become a place where the "warm fire of hospitality is being replaced by raging fires of division, distrust, and disdain, stoked by a few".

He acknowledged bona fide concerns about a reduction of services and a shortage of hotel spaces when asylum seekers and refugees are located in communities.

However, he added: There are undoubtedly also those who are taking advantage of this, leading to stirring tensions, riots, murmurings, social media campaigns.

"The migrant St Patrick puts before us the question: How are we today treating those who have migrated to our land?"

He was speaking a day after more than 100 asylum seekers, who had sleeping in tents on Mount St in Dublin city Centre, were unexpectedly bussed to a rural campsite 20km away.

The Government has been accused by some migrant rights campaigners of moving the asylum seekers to effectively clear the streets of Dublin for St Patrick's Day.

Lucky Khambule, a member of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, said: We condemn in the strongest possible way treating people who seek international protection in this way. They were treated like criminals.

Tents returned to Mount St, Dublin, after the area was cleared on Saturday of refugee and asylum seekers. Picture: Leon Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

We believe strongly the Government did that so abruptly because there was the parade. They didnt want the shame of these tents to be seen by visitors and international media.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said: It is shameful really, in a relatively prosperous European country, that we cant find appropriate accommodation for people who are here in the asylum system.

She called for immediate improvements at the new site and understands that at least 20 men have already returned to the city centre.

Mount St was utterly unsuitable, but the problem is Crooksling [the new site] appears to be not particularly suitable, she said.

Vacant buildings, such as Baggot St Hospital or space at the Defence Forces Curragh Camp, should used instead, she suggested.

Ms Bacik also praised local volunteers and SafetyNet doctors for supporting asylum seekers in Mount St.

This echoed comments from Bishop Leahy as he commended parishes and small faith communities and community initiatives in Limerick working with migrants.

He added: It is sometimes said Ireland is full and that we cannot take more migrants, but that is not true. We know there are many areas where workers are needed in Ireland.
A small flash protest has been held in the reception of University Hospital Limerick to highlight ongoing overcrowding concerns.

HSE figures showed 43 patients were on trolleys at UHL yesterday, with another 13 people on temporary surge beds in other parts of the hospital.

Of these, three people had been waiting over 24 hours up to 8am, including one person aged over 75.

A protest was organised at the hospital on Saturday by campaigner Mike Daly, who has previously helped to organise large protests in the city and outside the hospital against overcrowding.

We did this so management knows that we are not going away, he said afterward.

Mike Daly (left) in protest at overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick on Saturday afternoon

We informed management we plan on many more flash protests on random days inside the hospital until they do something to alleviate the overcrowding that is needlessly killing people.

He said. in his view, adding more doctors, nurses, or beds to UHL will not address the problem fully, and he called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to do more.

This isn't about staffing or facilities; it's a basic mathematical issue, he said.

UHL operates the only emergency department (ED) in the mid-west region, providing emergency care to Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary.

Mr Daly said one ED cannot handle patient numbers for an estimated population of 420,000, saying this is leading to chronic overcrowding.

We stand inside the hospital, urging Stephen Donnelly to recognise this very simple math issue and take immediate action to reopen at least one more A&E, fully equipped to handle all emergencies, he said.

Mr Daly supports calls by the separate Midwest Hospital Campaign to re-open smaller emergency departments at hospitals in Ennis, Nenagh, and at St Johns in Limerick.

On Thursday, April 25th, we are taking this issue to the gates of the Dail, he added.

He and three others took part in the protest on Saturday.

He said Gardai attended at the start of the protest. He understands they were called by the hospital to assess the situation but they did not ask him to leave.

A Garda spokesperson said they could not find "such a reported incident on our PULSE system in relation to this."

Separately, the Midwest Hospital Campaign announced a plan for a convoy of protesters from Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary to drive together and highlight concerns on April 13.

The group has called for people living in the three counties to unite and send a clear message to the HSE, Stephen Donnelly, and all political parties.

We are not and will not be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to emergency care in our health service, the campaigners said.
Mary Lou McDonald has defended her decision to go to the US for St Patricks Day despite calls for politicians to boycott events this year.

The Sinn Fein leader said she couldnt refuse the unparalleled access that Washington DC offers this week.

She made the comments in the face of a push for politicians to snub meetings with senior US figures in a show of Irish opposition to the growing number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at the Ireland Funds 32nd National Gala during the Taoiseachs visit to the US for St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA)

The SDLP said it has not sent any party representatives to the US this year due to the conflict in Gaza.

But Ms McDonald said it was her responsibility and duty to speak to anyone she can in a bid to stop the spiralling death toll during an interview on the Sky News programme Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

Asked whether she should have boycotted the White House reception this year, Ms McDonald admitted that words arent enough but added Im not talking about words.

Im talking about concrete action. We need a ceasefire. We need to end the slaughter of women and children in Gaza. 30,000 deaths now.

She continued: So the question isnt why did you come? The question has to be how could you possibly stay away?

In a way, we have a unique position as Irish political leaders in that we have a very strong, relationship with the United States, very strong, unparalleled access in a week like this.

And we also have a very strong relationship with the Palestinian struggle and a strong commitment to freedom for Palestine and self-determination, an end to the occupation.

How on earth could I possibly justify not coming and not pressing that case in the strongest possible terms?

She said that there was an unanswerable need for a ceasefire and for the US to lead on that amid the ongoing vicious, criminal bombardment of Gaza.

Weve had very frank conversations with individual members on the Hill, with the administration itself and our message has been very clear: we come here as friends, as people who have had the benefit of great support from the United States for our own peace process, and we acknowledge that, but in respect of Palestine they have got it dangerously badly wrong and the ceasefire now has to be the absolute priority for everybody concerned.

Irish politicians have emphasised the need for dialogue as part of efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stating its not our policy to boycott, its our policy to engage.

Irish artists including Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Kneecap withdrew from the South by Southwest arts festival in Texas this week over opposition to the US Army being a sponsor.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast this week, to coincide with the high-profile engagements in Washington DC, urging the US to end support for Israels military offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
Anyone who is surprised by the US stance on Israel "needs to spend a bit more time reading foreign policy" the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar has said he was not surprised or angered when president Joe Biden told him in the Oval Office that the US will not be halting the shipment of military aid to Israel.

He suggested that anyone who had been shocked by this "needs to spend a bit more time reading foreign policy", as supporting Israel's right to defend itself is the established position of the US.

It comes after former president and chair of the Elders Mary Robinson had urged Mr Varadkar to use his time with Mr Biden to strongly call for an end to military support, given the continued bombardment of Gaza which has killed more than 31,000 people.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and partner Matt Barrett during the St Patrick's Day brunch. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Defending his participation in the White House shamrock ceremony, Mr Varadkar said: "I don't think it would have been a wise decision or appropriate for me to take the time in the Oval Office and do that meeting and then turn around a day or two later and say that I wouldn't participate in a ceremony that goes back 40 years."

He said the US engagements are "about a lot more than the shamrock ceremony", and there is enormous value in having meetings over St Patrick's week.

Mr Varadkar acknowledged that there are "different perspectives" between Ireland and the US on Gaza, but said Mr Biden is "working hard" to secure a ceasefire.

"But I have to say, nobody I have encountered has said to me that we should tone down our position or that they feel that that we've gone too far in the comments that we have made and the position we have taken and that is reassuring."

US President Joe Biden speaking during the St Patrick's Day brunch. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

When it was suggested that he didn't receive pushback because his comments this week were not strong enough, Mr Varadkar said that, in politics, it is important to try "bring people with you who don't agree with you yet".

When pressed on whether he had been angered by Mr Biden's insistence that the US will continue to arm Israel, Mr Varadkar said: "I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when you're not angry, you're asked: 'Why aren't you angry?' That's not the way I operate."
Following the announcement of another confirmed case of measles in Ireland last week, passengers who travelled on a recent flight from Abu Dhabi to Dublin were urged to come forward.

The HSE said the appeal particularly related to pregnant passengers, the immunocompromised, or those under the age of 12 months, as immediate treatment may be beneficial.

As cases continue to rise across Europe and the UK, and the HSE responds by rolling out a measles vaccination programme targeting around 300,000 people, why is there a threat of a measles epidemic?

Its not just measles. The last century saw many diseases that had previously decimated society being contained and, in many cases, eliminated, but in a post-pandemic world, disinformation is causing humanity to slide backwards.

Life expectancy in Ireland in 1900 was 49 years. A century later it was 76 and by 2023 it had risen further to 83 years. Public health advancements, including vaccines, have played a major role in these gains.

Since 1990, World Health Organisation (WHO) data reports that immunisation has played a key role in the 60% fall in childhood mortality. The evidence confirms that immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions, saving an estimated 2 -3m lives per year.

However, the huge gains in vaccine programmes have made us complacent. Parents no longer live in fear of measles, whooping cough, polio, diphtheria or tuberculosis. And neither parents or our public health teams were prepared for the power of the internet and social media to potentially scupper these century-won health gains.

A paper published in the Lancet in 1998 by Andrew Wakefield alleged a link between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism. The findings were subsequently entirely debunked and the paper was retracted by the Lancet, but the misinformation led to a precipitous drop in MMR vaccination rates across the globe.

If the truth spreads like thick porridge, falsehoods spread like wildfire.

A study in the journal Science (2018) documented how lies spread faster than the truth. Where individual tweets of truth rarely reached more than 1,000 people, the top 1% of fake news reached up to 100,000 people.

Two months after a global covid-19 pandemic was declared by WHO in May 2020, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, reported that much of the discussion on Twitter surrounding covid-19 was misinformation fuelled by bot accounts. An examination of 200m tweets discussing coronavirus since January 2020 found that of the top 50 influential retweeters, 82% were bots.

So, what is the truth about the measles vaccine? Since its introduction in 1963 globally deaths dropped from 2.6m a year annually to around 100,000.

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study (2019), vaccine-preventable deaths from diseases such as measles as well as pertussis, diphtheria, and meningitis declined by almost 80% to 90% between 2000 and 2019 in children under the age of five.

Prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine in Ireland in 1985, by the age of 25 years, almost everyone had suffered from measles infection and risked complications of pneumonia, deafness, encephalitis, and death.

In the 1950s, an average of 8,500 cases were reported each year. In the 1970s, an average of 7 children died in Ireland every year from measles. In 1985 there were almost 10,000 cases notified. By 1991, this had plummeted to 135.

That is how effective this vaccine is when uptake rates are high. But vaccines only work when they get into peoples arms.

Data from Unicef and WHO reports that the percentage of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis fell five percentage points between 2019 and 2021 to 81%, the lowest level since 2008.

'Alert' over decline

Unicef executive director Catherine Russell warned this was a red alert for child health.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) predicts that measles cases will continue to increase in Europe in the coming months because of sub-optimal vaccination coverage in a number of countries.

With peak travel occurring at Easter, in peak measles season, unvaccinated children and young adults are taking a risk, and it's a risk they spread to pregnant women, young babies or anyone who is immunocompromised, as the recent HSE alert highlighted.

The measles vaccine is highly effective. However, because measles is so infectious, very high vaccination coverage (95% or more) with two doses is necessary to block transmission. Measles is so contagious that one patient can infect an average of 12 to 18 people who lack immunity, much more contagious than covid or flu.

For people who have had measles, or have had two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, the risk is deemed to be low due to the high protection conferred by two doses of the vaccine or the lifelong protection from having had the disease.

Professor Peter J Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Centre for Vaccine Development and author of The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science' (2023) suggested recently that people who decline to vaccinate their children against measles are taking large and unnecessary risks.

Measles vaccines have repeatedly been shown to be safe. For every 10,000 children infected with measles, 2,000 will be hospitalised; 1,000 will develop ear infections; 500 will develop pneumonia; and 10 to 30 will die.

President of the US National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, Patricia Stinchfield, told NBC News that about a fifth (20%) of measles patients are hospitalised, often because they need intravenous fluids:

"These kids come in, slung over their parents shoulders, barely able to hold their head up. Theyre like little rag dolls," she said.

Advice for parents is clear, unequivocal and unapologetic  make sure your children are up to date with their measles vaccines.

This third confirmed case of measles in Ireland was a red flag for air travel, leading to prolonged exposure in a contained space, to a highly transmissible and potentially serious disease.

Consider the Easter break as a red flag for measles being transported into Ireland from countries with outbreaks. The only way to protect your family is to make sure vaccinations are up to date. That means checking those vaccine records now.

Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork and former director of human health and nutrition at Safefood
Canisius University to honor five grads with its Distinguished Alumni Award

The Canisius University Alumni Association will honor five graduates with its Distinguished Alumni Award during ceremonies at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Montante Cultural Center.

They include Joseph G. Grifasi, Class of 1970; Dennis R. DePerro and Gregory W. Mott, both Class of 1981; Caroline A. Croen, Class of 1985; and Marya J. Propis, Class of 1991.

Grifasi, an actor and director, has appeared in more than 150 productions on stage and television and in films such as The Deerhunter, Moonstruck and Hide in Plain Sight. Mott is a supervising editor for Politico and former finance editor for Bloomberg News. Croen is vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of the WNET Group in New York City, the nations largest public media company. Propis, a prominent insurance company executive in New York City, served on the Canisius board of trustees from 2018 to 2023.

The award for DePerro, who earned bachelors and masters degrees at Canisius and served as the 21st president of St. Bonaventure University, will be presented posthumously. He died in 2021.

- Dale Anderson
A man suspected of killing three people in the Philadelphia area has been arrested in New Jersey on Saturday after a stand-off with police.

Police said the man was found near a house in the city of Trenton, were he was believed to have barricaded himself, and was taken into custody.

No-one else was injured.

Three people were killed earlier in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The suspect was identified earlier as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. Authorities said he killed his stepmother, his teenage sister and the mother of his children in shootings that stretched into two homes in eastern Pennsylvanias Falls Township on Saturday morning, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said.

While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference.

Police said Gordon was believed to be homeless.

The mayhem forced the cancellation of a St Patricks Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park.

Authorities in Pennsylvanias Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours.

After fleeing in a stolen car, then taking another in a carjacking in a car park, Gordon went to the home in nearby Trenton, authorities said.

By mid-afternoon, officers surrounded the house on a taped-off block, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker and trying to persuade him to come out.

Neighbours gathered by the barricade to watch what was happening. The homes residents had been taken to safety with no injuries, the Trenton Police Department said.

Ms Schorn said Gordon first broke into a home in the Falls Township community of Levittown and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon.

Three other occupants, including a 14-year-old, hid as the suspect went through the house, searching for them, the district attorney said.

She said Gordon then drove to another home in Levittown and shot and killed 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were there.

The victims mother was bludgeoned with a rifle, Ms Schorn said. Police said the injured woman is expected to recover.

Ms Schorn added that after the shootings, Gordon carjacked a vehicle in a parking lot in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, from a 44-year-old man who was not harmed. From there, officials said, Gordon drove to the home in Trenton.
Benjamin Netanyahu has railed against growing criticism from the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, saying the pressure will not stop Israel from achieving total victory.

In recent days, top officials in Washington  Israels staunchest ally which has provided key military and diplomatic support during the war  have publicly voiced their frustration with the Israeli Prime Minister and his government. US President Joe Biden has accused Mr Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in America and a strong Israel supporter, then called on Israel to call an election, saying Mr Netanyahu has lost his way. Mr Biden expressed support for what he called a good speech.

The US has also expressed concern about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, and support for a new round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages.

Benjamin Netanyahu was defiant in the face of criticism from the US (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

The Israeli delegation to those talks is not expected to leave for Qatar until after Sunday evening meetings of the security cabinet and war cabinet, which will give them directions for the negotiations.

Despite the talks, Mr Netanyahu made it clear on Sunday he has no plans to back down from the fighting that has already killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, in the more than five months since Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel. Hamas killed 1,200 people in that raid and took another 250 hostage in Gaza, Israeli authorities say.

Mr Netanyahu said calls for an election now  which polls show he would lose  would force Israel to stop fighting and would paralyse the country for six months.

If we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, this means that Israel will have lost the war, and this we will not allow, he said.

Humanitarian aid is air-dropped to Palestinians in Gaza City (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

Therefore, we cannot, and will not, succumb to this pressure.

While the international criticism was mainly directed at Mr Netanyahu and his leadership specifically, his statement on Sunday painted it as a broader attack on Israel.

No international pressure will stop us from realising all of the goals of the war: Eliminating Hamas, freeing all of our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel, he said.

He reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said his government has approved military plans for such an operation.

We will operate in Rafah, he said. This will take several weeks, and it will happen.

Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid air-dropped into Gaza City on Sunday (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Mr Netanyahu, said the Israeli leaders comments fit in with his efforts to find someone else to blame should Israel not achieve its wartime goal of destroying Hamas.

Hes looking on purpose for a conflict with the US so that he can blame Biden, Mr Pinkas said.

Both sides have something to gain politically from the public spat. The Biden administration has come under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israels war against Hamas. Mr Netanyahu, meanwhile, has used the recurrent arguments to show his base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israels closest ally.

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of the population is starving, according to the UN.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to extend his near quarter of a century of rule for six more years as early returns announced after polls closed in Russia showed he had nearly 88% of the vote with 24% of the precincts counted, according to Russias Central Election Commission.

The election took place after a relentless crackdown on dissent  and amid attacks within Russia by Ukrainian missiles and drones, which have killed several people.
Huayla Lopez has long held fast to a dream: create a space where women build community  a place to dance together, celebrate holidays, and find a home away from home.

As founder of Key2 Dance and Fitness, located next to Dominos Pizza in Key Biscaynes Arcade Shopping Plaza, Huayla is well on her way.

Born and raised in Cuba, Huayla left her homeland in 1993 to compete as a roller speed skater in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico. Two years earlier, she had earned the Silver Medal in the 3,000-meter event in Cuba. But she took away something much more meaningful from her trip to Puerto Rico: a new life.

She decided not to return home. A Cuban family living in Puerto Rico, the Morinis, took her in. They treated her like a daughter.

They were the sweetest, Huayla recalls. They helped me in many ways, like taking me to the dentist, and they helped me get a job at a gym. She used her skates to commute the five miles to work each day.

A few years later, the Morinis helped Huayla navigate her way to Key Biscayne. Their daughter, Bebe Echarte, was living on the island, and Huayla accepted an invitation to stay with her.

It wasnt long until Huayla was teaching aerobics on the island. Marilyn Myles got her started, offering Huayla a job at her studio at the Sonesta Hotel.

Huayla went on to pick up some classes at other gyms, including at Body & Soul in South Miami. One of the other instructors at Body & Soul was the Colombian dancer and choreographer Beto Perez, who famously created the Zumba fitness program. Huayla become one of the first certified Zumba instructors.

Eventually Huayla began teaching classes at the Community Center, where she developed a loyal following. After ten years at the Center, Huayla took the leap and opened her own studio.

She lacked funds to hire other instructors the first year, so she did it all herself. I taught everything, she recalls now with a laugh. Zumba, body sculpting, weight training, personal training  everything!

Now her studio is thriving. She credits her success to the generous help others have provided along the way. Key Biscayne is an amazing community. I feel fortunate because so many people have come into my life, she reflects. For example, it was my client Mari who pushed me and inspired me to open my own studio.

To say that Huayla is passionate about her work is an understatement. She brings joy and a playful spirit to her classes. I see all the people in class happy and smiling, telling me how good they feel, how they come to the studio and forget whatever problems they are facing.

Gerry Dardinski is an example. She escapes Boston winters every year by spending three months on the Key. While here, she attends Huaylas classes regularly. My cardiologist is impressed  he tells me to keep doing Zumba, she says with a laugh. I love the camaraderie and the invigorating classes make me feel alive.

Most mornings and some evenings, youll find Huayla doing what she loves most: teaching her signature dance class, Huaylando. She encourages everyone to explore dance, even those who have not tried it before. Dance is great exercise, she points out. It provides cardio and uses all your muscles. And dance is fun! It makes you happier than many other kinds of exercise.

While many of Hualyas clients are women, her studio is open to everyone, and some classes are just for kids. A full schedule is available at key2dance.com.

From speed skater in Cuba to dance teacher on Key Biscayne, Huayla has traveled a long way. We are glad she made the journey.

Thanks to Lila Zipay for suggesting this topic.

For the last #lighterside column, click here.

To receive Key Biscayne daily news update, click here to subscribe to our KeyBis e-newsletter.
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  This past week, the United States joined the rest of the advanced industrial countries in the world in having at least one functioning large offshore wind farm. Governor Kathy Hochul and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, among others, flipped a large electrical switch to signal that all 12 of the large wind turbines built by Orsted and Eversource Energy 35 miles off Long Island are now functional. Construction began in 2017.

The wind farm will generate 130 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 70,000 average-size homes. Long Island is usually spoken of as Nassau and Suffolk counties. Nassau County has roughly 450,000 households, so this one wind farm could power over 15% of them.

Hochul posted on on X,

With the flip of a switch, utility-scale offshore wind power is officially being generated in the United States. An incredible moment for Long Island, New York, and our entire country.

In a statement released after a visit to Stony Brook Southampton, the governor said, When I broke ground on the South Fork project, I made a promise to build a cleaner, greener future for all New Yorkers. Im keeping to that promise and South Fork Wind is now delivering clean energy to tens of thousands of homes and businesses on Long Island. With more projects in the pipeline, this is just the beginning of New Yorks offshore wind future and I look forward to continued partnership with the Biden Administration and local leaders to build a clean and resilient energy grid.

The average cost for residential electricity to PSEG Long Island customers is 22.24 cents per kilowatt hour. that is 9.93% higher than the 20.23 cents the typically paid by other state residents.

The East End Beacon notes that the the cost of the South Fork electricity is 16 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 90 MGW produced, and 8.6 cents/ kWh for an additional 40 megawatts. (Wind turbines are falling in price). So that is about 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour to begin with for the 130 megawatt capacity. What Im trying to say is that this electricity generated by offshore wind is much less expensive that what Long Islanders are now paying. Even though a 2% per annum rate hike is built in over 20 years, the residents are getting a great deal here.

Governor Kathy Hochul Video, Governor Hochul Announces Completion of South Fork Wind

And the electricity is actually even cheaper since it is avoiding six million tons of deadly, planet-wrecking carbon dioxide each year. That is, if you figure in the cost of billion-dollar climate disasters per year caused by burning fossil fuels, Long Island residents arent paying 22 cents a kilowatt hour for their hydrocarbon-generated electricity, they are paying more like a dollar or two.

The project generated hundreds of union jobs, and Hochul is dedicated, according to The East Hampton Star, to standing up a brand-new domestic supply chain. She explained, You know why? Because I dont ever want to be vulnerable to geopolitical concerns or supply chains or ships that are jammed up in ports. Im not predicting another Covid event, but my god, we learned some lessons. And we have to make sure we build here in America.

The governor noted the opposition to the project among some residents worried about their beach and from fishermen. At 35 miles offshore, it is difficult to see how the project could affect beaches (the turbines cant be seen), and there is no evidence that offshore windfarms interfere with fishing. As Hochul noted, it is global heating that is endangering beaches.

Offshore wind turbines benefit from the stronger and steadier winds that blow over the oceans as compared with onshore windmills.

The US is now playing catch-up in this sector. China has the most offshore wind farms, followed by Britain, Germany, Vietnam and Denmark. But China has 105 wind farms, and Britain has 39. No one is in Chinas league here.

The International Trade Administration notes, Offshore wind currently contributes about 13% to the UK electricity mix. The UK now possess around 12.7 GW of connected offshore wind energy across 44 wind farms totaling over 2,500 turbines. It installed over 2.3 GW of new installations in 2021 alone which made up 70% of total installations in Europe that year.

So now we have 12 offshore wind turbines and 130 MW. The British did that much, apparently, on one day during their lunch break.

President Biden has set a goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, which observers are saying will be difficult for the US to reach. It is estimated, however, that offshore wind alone could provide all the electricity the US could ever want.
By Alex Hager/KUNC

( Cronkite News ) The current Western megadrought is unlike any other dry period the region has experienced over the past 500 years.

Thats according to a new study in which scientists looked at tree rings to track changing temperatures going back to 1553. Researchers found that human-fueled climate change is driving temperatures higher, which makes soil drier and droughts more frequent, intense and widespread.



King, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, gathers a core sample from a mountain hemlock tree at Lassen National Volcanic Park in northern California. King is the lead author on a study of tree rings that puts the 21st century Western megadrought into historical context. (Photo by Grant Harley/University Of Idaho)

Karen King, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the studys lead author, said it shows the role of temperature in shaping modern drought.

We know that extreme heat has consequences, King said. We know that drought has consequences. So when theyre compounded together, we can expect that those vulnerabilities are only going to be magnified and the consequences are going to be more wide reaching.

The study, which was published in the journal Science Advances, analyzed cross-sections of trees from a number of Western states, including Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming. The studys authors concluded that the two-decade period from 2000 to 2020 was the warmest in half a millennium.

The consequences of dry conditions in the 21st century include significant strain on the Southwests most important water supply, the Colorado River, which supplies about 40 million people across seven states. It has been shrinking as a result of those higher temperatures, but demand for water has not.

Policymakers around the region have struggled to rein in demand for water, even as more than two decades of dry conditions have shrunk the nations two largest reservoirs  Lake Mead and Lake Powell, both on the Colorado River  to record lows.

Some scientists and water managers say the Southwests currently dry period extends beyond the normal definition of drought, arguing that it should be categorized instead as aridification, a permanent resetting of the baseline for how much water enters the regions streams, rivers and reservoirs each year.



Eric Balken, executive director of Glen Canyon Institute, walks along a sandbar that had long been submerged under Lake Powell. But as the reservoir drops to record lows, as a result of more than 20 years of drought in the region, areas that were underwater for decades have begun to emerge. (Photo by Alex Hager/KUNC)

Experts say warm temperatures are, essentially, the first domino in a chain of changing conditions that impact water supply.

Since 2000, average temperatures in the upper Colorado River basin have been more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than in the previous century. That upper Colorado is the region where the river begins, mostly as snow in high-altitude portions of Colorado and Wyoming.

The new tree-ring study shows how high temperatures have made the regions soil drier. Dry soil means less water in streams and rivers.

When rain falls or snow melts, it seeps into the dirt before entering streams and rivers. When that dirt is saturated, it cant absorb additional water, and snowmelt flows directly into nearby waterways. But when the soil is dry, as it is now, it acts like a sponge, soaking up water before it has a chance to reach the places where humans collect it.

The data in this new tree-ring study, as well as findings from other similar research, spell trouble for decision-makers trying to share a shrinking resource across a region with growing populations and a multibillion-dollar agricultural economy.

While the future of precipitation in the region remains uncertain, projections of increasing temperatures pose substantial risk for intensifying drought conditions and increasing water insecurity for these economically important, population-dense, and historically active megadrought regions, the studys authors wrote.

This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Colorado River, produced by KUNC in Colorado and supported by the Walton Family Foundation. KUNC is solely responsible for its editorial coverage.

-This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Colorado River, produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation.

Via Cronkite News
Security Council Should Act on Access for Aid Deliveries

( Human Rights Watch )  (New York, March 15, 2024)  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to alert the Security Council in the coming days that Sudan has entered a downward spiral of extreme conflict-induced hunger, Human Rights Watch said today. The council should immediately take action, including by adopting targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for obstructing aid access in Darfur.

The Security Council will be formally put on notice that the conflict in Sudan risks spurring the worlds largest hunger crisis, said Akshaya Kumar, crisis advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. The Council just broke months of silence by adopting a resolution on Sudan last week, and should build on that momentum by imposing consequences on those responsible for preventing aid from getting to people who need it.

The alert will be sent to the Council as a so called white note, drafted by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in accordance with its mandate under Security Council resolution 2417 to ring the alarm about the risk of conflict-induced famine and wide-spread food insecurity. OCHAs alert follows warnings by international aid experts, Sudanese civil society leaders, and Sudanese emergency responders that people across Sudan are dying of hunger. It also comes on the heels of Sudans Armed Forces (SAF) brazenly escalating its efforts to restrict the movement of humanitarian aid.

Sudan war may spark worlds largest hunger crisis, says aid organisation | BBC News Video added by IC

In a 2023 presidential statement, the Security Council reiterated its strong intention to give its full attention to information provided by the secretary-general when it is alerted to situations involving conflict induced food insecurity. The council should honor that commitment and convene an open meeting to discuss OCHAs findings. That could pave the way for decisive action, including sanctions on individuals responsible for obstructing aid delivery, Human Rights Watch said.

Since conflict broke out between Sudans Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, both warring parties have restricted aid delivery, access, and distribution. Ninety percent of people in Sudan facing emergency levels of hunger are in areas that are largely inaccessible to the World Food Programme. Communities (in Sudan) are on the brink of famine because we are prevented from reaching many of the children, women and families in need, according to UNICEF executive director, Catherine Russell.

In February, Sudans military leader, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said the authorities would no longer allow aid to reach areas under RSF control. Aid organizations have repeatedly said that the SAF is obstructing their delivery of aid to RSF-controlled areas. Aid groups face a maze of bureaucratic impediments, including delays, arbitrary restrictions on movement, harassment, and outright bans on some supplies.

On March 4, Sudans foreign affairs minister added to the restrictions , announcing that the government opposed cross-border aid delivery from Chad to areas under RSF control. On March 6, Sudanese authorities informed the UN that they would allow limited cross-border movement exclusively through specific crossings under the control of forces allied to the military. Sudanese authorities have also blocked cross-line aid movement to RSF-controlled territory, which has put Khartoum under a de facto aid blockade since November 2023 at least, aid groups told Human Rights Watch.

The UN welcomed the Sudanese authorities announcement identifying aid crossings. The medical charity, Doctors Without Borders, however, raised concerns that this would leave vast areas in Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Jazeera states still inaccessible.

Aid operations have also been choked by limited funding. As of the end of February, the UNs appeal was 5 percent funded. That gap is exacerbated by widespread looting of warehouses, including a December 2023 incident in which Rapid Support Forces fighters looted stocks in a World Food Programme warehouse in Wad Madani that would have been used to feed 1.5 million hungry people and attacked an MSF compound, forcing the organization to evacuate its team. There have been widespread attacks on aid workers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, including killings, injuries and detentions.

The Security Councils latest resolution 2724 on Sudan calls on all parties to ensure the removal of any obstructions to the delivery of aid and to enable full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, including cross-border and cross-line, and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that the apparently deliberate denial of safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian agencies within Sudan itself constitutes a serious violation of international law, and may amount to a war crime.

The Security Councils Sudan Sanctions Committee met in February, announcing that it wishes to remind the parties that those who commit violations of international humanitarian law and other atrocities may be subject to targeted sanctions measures in accordance with paragraph 3 (c) of resolution 1591 (2005).

The World Food Programme and the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization found in a recent report that food security in Sudan had significantly deteriorated even faster than anticipated, and that there is a risk of catastrophic conditions hitting the states of West and Central Darfur during the lean season in early 2024, roughly from April to July.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network, a US government-funded group that monitors food insecurity, said in February that the worst-affected populations  in Omdurman (in Khartoum state) and El Geneina (in West Darfur state) were expected to soon see Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) outcomes. Under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, a globally recognized scale used to classify food insecurity and malnutrition, catastrophic conditions are the fifth and worst phase. The program determines that famine is occurring when over 20 percent of an areas population are facing extreme food gaps, and childrens acute malnutrition and mortality exceed emergency rates.

According to new figures released by the Nutrition Cluster in Sudan, nearly 230,000 children, pregnant women, and new mothers could die in the coming months due to hunger.

In Darfur, civil society and local leaders have repeatedly sounded the alarm about hunger among displaced people living in camps in areas under RSF control. Leaders shared that their communities have resorted to eating ants, tree bark, and animal feed. People currently in West Darfur include survivors of waves of attacks by the RSF and their allied militias, which Human Rights Watch has described as having all the hallmarks of an organized campaign of atrocities against Massalit civilians. A local government official reported in early March that 22 children had died of hunger in Murnei, a town in West Darfur that was the site of horrific RSF attacks in June 2023.

In January, Doctors Without Borders raised the alarm on malnutrition in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, warning that an estimated one child is dying every two hours. A camp leader from Kalma camp in Nyala (South Darfur) told Human Rights Watch that 500 to 600 children and at least 80 older people have died in the camp since the start of the conflict because of what he believed was the result of lack of food and medical supplies. People [are] dying every day, he said. He said that the RSF has also been limiting the amount of food supplies entering the camp since it took control of the city in October.

In Khartoum, a communications blackout has forced hundreds of communal kitchens run by Sudanese emergency response rooms, a grassroots mutual aid network, to pause operations, leaving many people without food, and reports of people dying alone in their homes of hunger. The shutdown has a significant impact on food access and distribution, a member of one of the emergency response rooms in Khartoum told Human Rights Watch in mid-February, it is happening while we are facing growing food insecurity and risk of famine in the capital.

This is the first time Sudan has been spotlighted in this kind of an alert from the secretary-general to the Security Council. Guyana, Switzerland, the US , and other Security Council members have pledged to make combating food insecurity a priority for the UNs most powerful body.

Council members should show leadership by holding open discussions to develop a plan that averts the risk of mass starvation in Sudan and imposing targeted sanctions on the individuals responsible for obstructing aid, Kumar said. The people of Sudan need more than words. They need food.

Via Human Rights Watch
More than three dozen local business owners, workers and elected officials converged Friday at Chefs Restaurant to protest an initiative supported by Gov. Kathy Hochul that seeks to ban a key chemical component of refrigerators and air conditioners.

Nick Kusmierski of Market in the Square grocery store in West Seneca organized the gathering and said the proposal would have a devastating impact on businesses and consumers across the state.

The overwhelming backlash from this proposal needs to be heard. The general public, the everyday consumer from across the state needs to know exactly what is contained in this regulation and how it will affect their lives and what they can do about it because our time is short, Kusmierski said.

In December, the state Department of Environmental Conservation introduced proposed limitations on certain hydrofluorocarbon, or HFC, substances that are used in refrigeration and air conditioning as part of the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Hydrofluorocarbons are a greenhouse gas that contribute to climate change. Under the state timetable, the substances would begin being phased out in 2025.

The result, said Kusmierski, is that retailers, suppliers, manufacturers and, ultimately, consumers will see an unprecedented increase in costs driven by the requirements of the new law that, he added, are not aligned with federal or international standards.

Nelson Eusabio, a representative with the National Supermarket Association, told the New York Post it could cost grocery stores between $300,000 to $1 million to eventually replace the cooling compressors that power refrigerators.

While the DEC has attempted to assure us via X and Twitter that these rules will not result in increased costs nor equipment replacement before end of useful life, we know this is not the case, Kusmierski said Friday.

In a news release, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said New York is continuing to push efforts that will reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. He said HFC substances and other greenhouse gases are accelerating the costly economic, public health, and environmental impacts of climate change in New York State and across the globe.

Hochuls office did not return calls for comment on Friday.

The proposed regulation would not require State Legislature approval, which State Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan, R-Elma, criticized.

In a representative government, like we are supposed to have, it should be the representatives being the voice of the people that theyre representing and working together for policies that are responsible for everybody that work to keep the community safe, still protect the consumers, but are not obstacles and dont take money out of peoples pockets and dont put businesses out business, he said.

Cathy Piciulo of the Kenmore Chamber of Commerce echoed concerns about the proposals effect on local businesses.

While I appreciate the goal of environmental sustainability, these changes could spell disaster for businesses, workers and consumers across our state. If these revisions go through as written, were looking at a major hike in costs for everyone involved. It is important to make your voice heard, as the folks who want this are the only ones on the playing field right now, Piciulo said.

The deadline for submitting comments on the proposal to state environmental regulators is Tuesday.
British Columbia's integrated homicide investigation team says a man in Abbotsford, B.C., has been charged with murder in the death of his wife. Police tape cordons off a crime scene in Toronto on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
With the blood, sweat, and tears of advocates and the vision and wisdom of some of our leaders, New York passed a landmark climate law in 2019 to gradually liberate us from the toxic grip of combustible fuels that damage our health and the environment alike.

As the state now considers the first baby steps of this long, slow transition with legislation like the popular NY Home Energy Affordable Transition (HEAT) Act, the purveyors of deadly fuels are inundating the state with misinformation  a decades-old industry practice.

Reducing our dependence on polluting fracked gas threatens our energy reliability and affordability, they have repeatedly claimed.

As for reliability, most gas-fired appliances dont operate amid power outages like the one during the 2022 Christmas blizzard perversely exploited by fossil-fuel advocates for propaganda. Every home with a death during that blizzard was fueled by fracked gas, which is also responsible for fires, explosions, and hundreds of hospitalizations and emergency room visits each year in New York from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Almost 19% of all childhood asthma in the state can be attributed to gas stoves, whose pollution prompted AARP to warn its members of elevated dementia risk.

To add insult to injury, antiquated state laws force New Yorkers to buy a harmful product and pay monopolistic gas utilities more and more for subsidizing new hookups and funding guaranteed shareholder profits.

Unsurprisingly, National Fuel is proposing a double-digit base delivery rate hike to saddle its customers with the increasing costs of new-hookup subsidies and maintaining the decrepit gas pipeline network.

The NY HEAT Act will modernize New Yorks utility regulations, will enable entire neighborhoods to choose modern safe and clean alternatives for the first time, and would free up funds for these neighborhoods transition. It will put the brakes on wasteful ratepayer-funded subsidies and investments into new fracked gas pipes and will kickstart the implementation of the states longtime goal of limiting households energy burdens to 6% of earnings.

Senator Kennedy and Assemblymember Rivera have introduced another piece of legislation to lower the upfront cost of the heating technology with the lowest operating expenses. Their bill will increase the state tax-credit cap for highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling systems to $10,000 and make the credit refundable for lower-income households and seniors with smaller tax liabilities. These pollution-free systems use 45 times less energy than gas heating  a huge advantage in the cold Western NY climate.

These common-sense climate and energy affordability bills will protect New Yorkers health, safety, and wallets. But sensing a threat to their massive competition-free profits, gas utilities have unleashed the best fear mongering campaign their customers money can buy.

Lynn Saxton is chair of the Western NY Chapter of the Climate Reality Project; Anshul Gupta is the policy and research director at New Yorkers for Clean Power.




Sunday, March 17, 2024- Two notorious criminals are now guests of the state, thanks to the efforts of a combined team of detectives drawn from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau from Nairobi region, DCI Starehe, and General duty officers.

The two were wanted following the murder of a young man in the wee hours of Thursday, March 7, 2024.

Investigations have revealed that the trio were walking in the same direction and after a disagreement, one of them drew a knife and stabbed the other on the left side of the chest.

Nehemia Odhiambo, alias Oti, and Emmanuel Otieno, alias Emasu fled from the scene but the victim who sustained a deep cut on the left side of the chest succumbed to the injuries while receiving treatment at Baba Dogo health facility.

The two suspects who fled the scene after the heinous act were smoked from their hideouts in Baraka estate and Kwa Bhajia areas in Dandora have been linked to a spate of criminal activities that have been reported in Baba Dogo, Huruma, and Lucky Summer.












Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked members of the Kalenjin community to respect President William Ruto and stop heckling leaders during a presidential function.

Speaking on Saturday in Bomet County, Gachagua said that despite acknowledging a few issues on the ground, the residents should respect President William Ruto and deliberate on home issues after he leaves.

"Naomba kwa heshima, rais ako area na huyu ni rais wa Jamhuri ya Kenya.Kama iko maneno kidogo ya nyumbani, mnangoja rais akiondoka mnatatua ya nyumbani.

"Lazima tuchunge heshima ya rais wa Jamhuri ya Kenya," he said.

However, in one of the stops, Bomet Governor Hilary Barchok had a hard time addressing the residents.

The governor had just started highlighting the projects his administration was undertaking when some residents started heckling.

When he stood to address the residents President Ruto told the people of Bomet to wait for 2027 if they are dissatisfied with their leaders.

He told the residents that they have the power in their hands.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Saturday, March 16, 2024  Former US Vice President, Mike Pence on Friday March 15, said he cannot in good conscience endorse presumptive Republican party nominee, Donald Trump, a stunning rebuke of his former running mate and the president he served with.

Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. Thats why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign, Pence said on Fox News.

Pence, after ending his own presidential bid in October, withheld an endorsement in the 2024 Republican primary, but he previously vowed to back the eventual Republican nominee. Trump had said after Pence dropped out that his former vice president should endorse him, saying, I chose him, made him vice president. But  people in politics can be very disloyal.

While he said he is incredibly proud of the record of the Trump-Pence administration, Pence argued that Trump has walked away from conservative issues, pointing to Trumps stance on abortion and US national debt and his reversal on TikTok.

During my presidential campaign, I made it clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues. And not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised January 6th, Pence said on The Story with Martha MacCallum.

As I have watched his candidacy unfold, Ive seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. Ive seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life. And this last week, his reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations efforts to force a sale of ByteDances TikTok, he added.

Pence did not reveal who hell vote for in the 2024 general election, saying that hell keep my vote to myself.

He, however, said he will never vote for President Joe Biden. Pence also suggested that he would not back a third-party candidate.

Pence broke with Trump in his decision to not overturn the 2020 election results while he was ceremonially overseeing Congress certification of Bidens win on January 6, 2021. Pence later said Trumps reckless words that day, when a mob of Trump supporters violently breached the US Capitol, endangered his family and others at the US Capitol.

In his own presidential campaign last year, Pence warned Republicans of the siren song of populism from Trump and his imitators.


Saturday, March 16, 2024  The judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial in Manhattan, New York has agreed to delay its start, adding more uncertainty into the legal calendar for the former US leader.

The trial had been scheduled to begin on March 25 but now a new trial date is yet to be determined.

The announcement follows a contentious back-and-forth between the Manhattan district attorneys office and the Trump legal team over the production of tens of thousands of documents turned over this month by the Department of Justice.

A March 25 hearing will address the events specifically surrounding the documents turned over this month, as well as Trumps motions to dismiss the case and sanction District Attorney Alvin Braggs office over what he says are repeated discovery violations.

There are significant questions of fact which this Court must resolve before it may rule on Defendants motion, Judge Juan Merchan wrote Friday. Therefore, the Court agrees with Defendant that a prompt hearing is required on the pending discovery motion, the circumstances surrounding the document production by the USAO-SDNY and the scheduling of a trial date, if one is necessary.

Trial on this matter is adjourned for 30 days from the date of this letter on consent of the People. The court will set the new trial date, if necessary, when it rules on Defendants motion following the hearing, the judge added.

Legal scholars reportedly believe the delay shows that Merchan is concerned about the dispute over document production.

The judges letter tells me he is taking the defense allegations seriously, Honig said. The judge now has demanded that prosecutors provide him chapter-and-verse details on how the documents came to be produced so belatedly to the defense.

Merchan ordered the parties, namely Trump, to avoid scheduling any commitments that would compete with the new trial timeline based on the 30-day delay.

The parties must file a detailed timeline of the events surrounding document requests and productions from the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York including all correspondence by March 21.

Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, stemming from reimbursements made to Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen for hush money payments he made before the 2016 election to an adult film star alleging an affair with Trump. The former president has pleaded not guilty and denied the affair with Stormy Daniels.
Sunday, March 17, 2024  It seems there is a silent uprising in Rift Valley against governors who often accompany President William Ruto.

After Kericho Governor Eric Mutai was humiliated in front of Ruto's working tour in the tea-growing county, yesterday was the turn of Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok.

This is after his own residents heckled him during Rutos working tour of Bomet County.

Governor Hillary Barchok led other local leaders in welcoming the president who made several stopovers to commission development projects.

However, in one of the stops, Barchok suffered humiliation at the hands of the locals as he spoke in front of the president.

He had just started to highlight the doings of his county administration when the locals started heckling him.

Barchok's speech was immersed in the noise prompting a reaction from the president.

He took over the function and cautioned the locals against bringing chaos to meetings.

"I don't want chaos in meetings. You are the ones electing these leaders; the MCAs, MPs, and even the governor.

"If someone has not performed, please wait for them at the ballot. At the moment we are in a meeting," said the president.

Redeeming himself after the humiliation, Barchok pledged support to the president, dismissing the hecklers as a few individuals paid to dent his profile.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sunday, March 17, 2024 - A section of Luo community elders has urged President William Ruto not to sack members of the community who are in the government if he enters into a handshake with opposition leader, Raila Odinga.

The elders led by their chairman Nyandiko Ongadi and Vice Secretary Okinyi Rawo, voiced apprehension that the collaboration between Ruto and Raila might lead to the sidelining of Luo Nyanza leaders who are actively engaged with the government.

There are already signs of a handshake between Raila and President Ruto over the AUC leadership. We however want the cooperation not to make our sons and daughters already in government lose their jobs, Rawo said.

We appeal to President Ruto and Raila that their cooperation shouldnt make others lose the gains the community has made. Let those who are already holding government positions continue to serve Kenyans, he added.

They spoke on Friday after their meeting at Pier Got in the Karachuonyo constituency.

The members of the Luo community who are currently active in Rutos government are ICT Cabinet Secretary, Eliud Owalo and Interior Principal Secretary, Raymond Omollo

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, March 17, 2024  Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS, Musalia Mudavadi, has hailed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the best fit for the African Union (AU) Chairmanship.

Following a historic vote in Addis Ababa on Friday that gave Raila fresh impetus, Mudavadi expressed unwavering support for Babas bid to lead the continent.

We believe there's a strong synergy, and we are offering Africa a very credible candidate, said the Foreign Affairs CS.

He heaped praises on Raila and hailed his extensive experience in public office, citing his tenure as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya.

He emphasized Raila's strong Pan-African credentials and his proven ability to foster unity even in the face of adversity.

Mudavadi underscored Raila's potential to address pressing issues facing Africa, such as conflict resolution, food insecurity, and economic integration.

Raila has seen both hot and cold, if I may use such terminology. And he has shown the capacity to bring people together and to reconcile even under difficult circumstances, Mudavadi stated.

And looking at the kind of challenges we are facing on the African continent, issues around conflict, food insecurity, the need to foster greater integration and enhance economic activity along the African continent, he added.

The endorsement comes as Kenya prepares to launch a continental campaign following the AU Executive Council's decision to drop two key proposals that could have hindered Raila's candidacy.

Reacting to the development, Mudavadi asserted that Raila Odinga is now poised to enter the race for the AU Commission Chairperson.

He emphasised that no technical or legal obstacles hinder Kenya from submitting its candidate, signaling a clear path forward for Raila.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Embattled Jubilee Party Secretary General, Jeremiah Kioni, has claimed that Raila Odinga will indeed contest for the presidency in 2027, even if he secures the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position.

In an interview with Kameme FM on Friday, Kioni, who is also a former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament, emphasized that winning the AUC role would serve as a strategic move for Odinga, positioning him for the upcoming presidential race.

"Raila Odinga will unquestionably be on the ballot in the next general election, Kioni said.

Kioni further stated that Odinga's pursuit of the AUC chairmanship is primarily a strategic move to bide time until the 2027 presidential contest.

Raila,79, has emerged as the front runner in the race to succeed current AU chairman, Mousa Faki.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, March 17, 2024 - More than 10,000 people in Muranga have been rendered jobless following the directive by President William Rutos government.

In a meeting on Friday, the area leaders condemned the move to close bars operating near residential areas and schools, advocating for the rights of those affected.

The leaders further requested that the government focus its efforts on regulating manufacturers instead, as the owners of bars and joints were not involved in producing the illegal drinks.

From the Chiefs to their assistants, whatever is happening on the ground is very malicious and its harassment. Let us work together to wage war on the illicit products, but not on local businesses, one leader stated.

Jubilee Secretary General (SG) Jeremiah Kioni, who attended the meeting condemned the closure of bars, terming it as a targeted attack on local investors.

They have not been given the products not supposed to their shelves, and no one has compensated their licenses, Kioni stated.

They are the manufacturers that have produced products that have killed people in the past.

Kioni also promised to join Martha Karua and other lawyers to advocate for the rights of bar owners and other elders recently involved in a Mungiki-related case.

This comes after he made a vow on Thursday, to sue the government over the closure of bars, if nobody attempted to do so in the coming week.

I believe in the coming days there has to be somebody going to court, and if we dont see one going to court, we will spearhead one in the form of a class suit, Kioni vowed.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Housing is an urgent need throughout New York State but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. What helps densely populated New York City, where residents are faced with small spaces and ridiculous rents, will not work for Buffalo and will work even less well for Western New York as a whole.

Urban, suburban and rural communities, of which this region is a mix, have different types of housing needs, but make no mistake  they all need more of it. And more of it needs to be affordable.

All three proposals for the states 2024-25 budget have been released: the governors spending plan, as well as the one-house budget bills from the Assembly and Senate. All three contain housing recommendations, with various iterations of carrot-plus-stick strategies.

What finally comes out of Albany regarding housing  whatever else it contains  needs to protect lower-income tenants from continually hovering on the edge of eviction, incentivize developers to produce affordable units and extend the dream of home ownership to those it has long eluded.

Those are the needs of Western New York.

Strategies for new housing

Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposal includes an easy lift that makes sense: building on state-owned property. She also intends to support new housing with $650 million to certified Pro-Housing Communities through executive action.

Both the Senate and Assembly support  to varying degrees  the resurrection of a '50s-era program known as Mitchell-Lama. As it did 70 years ago, this would enable the construction of housing developments for middle-income families and senior citizens. The difference is that it would be tied to building on state-owned land. However, though supposedly statewide, Mitchell-Lama would help New York City the most.

The most encouraging news from Albany on housing is that Sen. Sean Ryans idea of building 2,000 one- to two-family houses on vacant lots in Buffalo is in the Senate bill. Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Binghamton also would benefit if this survives the budget process.

Many Buffalo residents long for home ownership and prefer human-scaled housing to large apartment blocks.

Protecting vulnerable tenants

Good cause eviction legislation is a continual refrain among Legislature progressives, but it wont help those who simply cant pay their rent, because, though Good Cause may guard against unreasonable rent increases, it cant keep tenants in apartments if the rent is already unaffordable. The Ryan legislation includes what many housing advocates in New York, including the New York Housing Conference, are also urging: easier access to emergency rental assistance funds.

What Buffalo can do

Recommendations and reports are coming from Buffalos Affordable Housing Task Force, which was appointed in February 2023 and has been meeting regularly ever since, including two meetings that were open to the public. So far, the Task Force is looking at:

 Updating Buffalo 2006 Fair Housing Law, to further remove barriers that hurt lower-income renters.

 Increasing transparency about exactly who owns Buffalos many limited liability companies. LLC status often allows negligent owners to hide from consequences.

 Conducting a vacancy study. If vacancies are less than 5%, the city can initiate rent stabilization measures.

 A more robust launching and more funding for Buffalos Proactive Rental Inspection (PRI) program of investor-owned single and double units. The program was passed by the Common Council in 2020, but never fully implemented.

All of this makes sense, but so far these are just proposals. There are no plans yet for implementation. In Buffalo, thats a big gap.

Finally, just as New York States solutions cannot be trained solely on downstate issues, Western New Yorks cannot be limited to Buffalo. Suburban municipalities must find a way to accept more affordable housing. Indeed, there are pockets of resistance in some communities to adding more housing of any kind.

Specific, locally targeted housing solutions require the acute attention of Western New York lawmakers, governments and advocates. All should be held accountable if this crisis is not met with action.

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Former Mukurweini MP Kabando Wa Kabando has gone nuclear after he called for the impeachment of President William Ruto.

This follows reports that some top police officers that Ruto deployed to Haiti for a reconnaissance mission ahead of full deployment were killed.

Referencing a claim by former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who implied some police officers were killed in the Caribbean nation, Kabando explained that the president flouted the constitution by sending the troops there, despite a court decision that halted it.

"My wakili, mentor, and friend CJ Mutunga is of privileged status as an eminent state officer Emeritus.

"If what he says about Haiti is true, President William Ruto should be impeached for gross violating the Constitution, gross misconduct, and committing a crime against national law," said Kabando.

Seeking clarity on the matter, the former CJ tasked Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to address the reports.

Mutunga argued that it would be wrong on the side of the state to cover up the information when the officers' families would want to know their whereabouts.

"We are hearing that some of our police officers in the advance team in Haiti have been killed.

"I am asking the IGP and CS Internal Security to answer my question. If true the families involved should not keep quiet about the tragedy," said Mutunga.

This was after the Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Singoei stated that the police deployment to Haiti would not proceed due to the administration's challenges.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Four suspects including three Nigerian nationals have been rounded up in an ongoing crackdown on drug traffickers and peddlers in Nairobi, a joint operation being spearheaded by Anti-Narcotics and Transnational Organized Crimes detectives.

Muthaiga Police Station was the first to cool the heels of an early guest of the state when Igboke Okwuchukwu Stephen was booked in by ANU officers. The man had been found with several pellets of a brown powdery substance concealed in his house at Nasra Estate, Nairobi.

Moments later, 25-year-old Njuguna Karumo secured his interrogation space at DCI's Mazingira Complex, after similar substances were found hidden under the mats of his Honda vehicle during a stop-and-search operation within the town of young professionals and expatriates, Ruaka

In a separate intelligence-led operation at Nyamakima in Nairobi CBD, Ilo Ebuka Titus and Kanu Arinze were cornered and escorted to their residence at Sunton, Kasarani. On searching the house, suspected bhang and a package of brown powdery substance were found and seized.

Kanu and Ebuka were also taken to Muthaiga P/Station pending testing of the drugs and possible prosecution for use and peddling.



The operation which extends to all counties is aimed at fighting the vice from the grassroots, with the police firmly enforcing anti-narcotic laws.





























The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Sunday, March 17, 2024  Disturbing information has emerged regarding the advance team of top police officers that President William Ruto sent to Haiti for a reconnaissance mission ahead of the deployment.

This is after it emerged that most of them were killed in the troubled Caribbean country.

Seeking clarity on the matter, former Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga tasked Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to address the reports.

Mutunga argued that it would be wrong on the side of the state to cover up the information when the officers' families would want to know their whereabouts.

"We are hearing that some of our police officers in the advance team in Haiti have been killed. I am asking the IGP and CS Internal Security to answer my question.

"If true the families involved should not keep quiet about the tragedy," said Mutunga.

A few days ago, Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Singoei stated that the police deployment to Haiti would not proceed due to the administration's challenges.

This was after embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned.

However, President William Ruto would later insist the mission was on after a phone call with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

The Head of State noted that Kenya would take leadership of the UN Security Support Mission in Haiti to restore peace and security in Haiti.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Pauline Desmarais never misses a night of line dancing, but she does take regular breaks to rest. (Sebastien Ross/Radio-Canada - image credit)

Pauline Desmarais has no memory of what happened on March 13, 2023  the day she survived a deadly attack in the town of Amqui, Que.

The driver of a pickup truck had slammed into a group of pedestrians walking down the street, injuring eight pedestrians and killing three people, including her husband of 51 years, Jean Lafreniere, 74.

Doctors feared for Desmarais's life, but in the end she pulled through and is now on the long road to recovery, finding her feet on the dance floor where she continues to heal one step at a time.

For five weeks, Desmarais lay in a medically induced coma. "They brought me into the operating room two to three times a day," said Desmarais, who then spent almost two weeks in a trauma centre.

Slowly, she underwent physiotherapy and occupational therapy before many months of physical rehabilitation.

At first, she couldn't walk, but with the help of a special belt and her physiotherapist, she began to take her first steps. "I was exhausted. Just one step," she said.

Jean Lafreniere, Desmaraiss husband, was 73 when he was killed last March.

Jean Lafreniere, Desmaraiss husband, was 73 when he was killed last March. (Francois Gagnon/Radio-Canada)

It was two months before she could even walk again, but at no time in her recovery did she even consider giving up her passion: line dancing.

"I like to dance," she said, her face lighting up.

Just six months after the attack, she returned to the dance floor at the Club de danse l'Amitie d'Amqui " as soon as I felt that I had enough strength in my legs, then enough balance," though she needed the help of a cane.

"I find it difficult not being able to finish the full dance," she admits, adding she has to take frequent breaks.

Line dancing at the dance club isn't just exercise; it's a place to meet friends, even if her dance partner for half a century is no longer there to accompany her.

"In October or November, I attended a party and then there was a couple's dance, a waltz. I started crying because it was his favourite dance," said Desmarais, who between 1991 and 1993 served as the mayor of Albertville, a small town in the Lower St. Lawrence region of the province.

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Pauline Desmarais line dances two to three times a week.

Pauline Desmarais line dances two to three times a week. (Sebastien Ross/Radio-Canada)

"At the same time, if I stop doing all that we did together, what would I do? Am I going to stay here and cry, to bore myself? Out of the question."

Since autumn, Desmarais has taken part in dances and has even helped teach line dancing on Mondays.

But she is still in mourning, recalling the daily walks she would take with her husband.

"You never think that something like that can happen in a small country town like Amqui," said Desmarais.

"I was told that we left the car at the grocery store and then went for a walk, but I don't remember that," she said, struggling to recall the details of her last memory of Lafreniere.

"He's sitting at the end of the table," she recalls. "He's looking outside [], we're having lunch. I put my hand on his. He looks at me, gives me a smile and continues eating. I don't know if it was that same afternoon or if it was the day before. It's really not clear to me."

On March 13, 2023, a gathering took place in Amqui to honour the dead and the survivors.

"I couldn't be there at the funeral, I was still in a coma," she said. She hopes to organize her own gathering, with her siblings and her children, to feel the support and love that helped others get through their pain.

In the meantime, Desmarais says she isn't following the trial of the man charged with killing her husband and nearly ending her own life. Her next steps, she says, are about looking forward.
Mark Stocker writes:

this article will not engage in the vexed question of Cook's impact on New Zealand history, other than to say that his voyages  and tragic death  preceded any significant European settlement by decades. Therefore, holding him to any personal, adverse responsibility here is both silly and misplaced. The same goes for a North Island tribal chief executive's characterisation of Cook as a barbarian' when the whole ethos behind Cook's voyages was specifically not imperial conquest but that noble Enlightenment goal (trashed by postcolonial academics in recent years), dare to know'. All this and more has been said in the columns of History Reclaimed, when Robert Tombs explained why Scapegoating Cook is a facile response to problems that we are far from having solved. We can't hide 21st century failings by blaming Cook'.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Canada's most high-profile talent show is returning for another season, and this time the stakes are even higher.

Citytv's "Canada's Got Talent" has increased its top prize to $1 million, and one of its celebrity judges says that will be life-changing money for the lucky winner.

Comedian, actress and writer Lilly Singh says the million-dollar season puts a lot of pressure not just on the contestants, but also on the judges who will scrutinize more than 100 musical, dance, comedy and novelty acts.

The bumped-up award from Citytv's parent company Rogers is billed as the biggest cash prize in Canadian television history.

The third season of the show, which kicks off Tuesday, will also award $25,000 each to six Golden Buzzer acts, or entertainers deemed good enough to progress from auditions straight to the semifinal.

The top prize is now much higher than the $150,000 awarded at the end of Season 2 to a dance troupe from Quebec.

"I mean this is truly life changing money," Singh said in an interview last fall, as she and the other judges -- Howie Mandel, Trish Stratus and Kardinal Offishall -- prepared to film audition episodes in Niagara Falls, Ont.

"Someone's life trajectory could change and so the stakes are really high on both sides," she said. "We really are feeling the nerves."

This season's contestants hail from across the country, and they will try to dazzle the judges with their voices, dance moves and magic tricks, among other talents.

Aside from the massive top prize, another thing that will be different this season is the show's use of Bollywood music.

Singh said one of the reasons why it was difficult to get South Asian acts on stage in previous seasons of "Canada's Got Talent" were the barriers to clearing Bollywood songs for use on the show.

She said she used her contacts at a major Indian music label to resolve a song clearance issue that surfaced in preparation for the show's new season, opening the path toward an overall deal to ensure that Bollywood music can be used on "Canada's Got Talent."

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"Which is important because naturally if you can't use the music that's part of your culture, you're at a disadvantage," Singh said. "Anyone that's been following me knows that representation really means a lot to me."

The first episode of the new season, hosted by Lindsay Ell, airs Tuesday night on Citytv and will also stream on Citytv Plus. The talent competition will culminate in a two-hour finale on May 14.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2024.

Sonja Puzic, The Canadian Press
Speaker Mike Johnson tries to stop Republicans from campaigning against each other
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
China Literature Limited (OTCMKTS:CHLLF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,181,900 shares, a growth of 29.0% from the February 14th total of 2,467,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

China Literature Stock Performance

CHLLF remained flat at $3.29 during trading on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $3.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3.45. China Literature has a 1-year low of $3.29 and a 1-year high of $5.43.

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China Literature Limited, an investment holding company, operates an online literature platform in the People's Republic of China. The company promotes intellectual properties primarily through its online literature platforms, such as QQ Reading and Qidian; and New Classics Media, a film and TV drama series production house.

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Commercial National Financial Co. (OTCMKTS:CEFC  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a growth of 33.3% from the February 14th total of 300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Commercial National Financial Stock Down 1.7 %

OTCMKTS:CEFC traded down $0.16 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $9.00. Commercial National Financial has a one year low of $7.50 and a one year high of $10.94. The firms 50-day moving average price is $9.42 and its 200-day moving average price is $8.80.

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Commercial National Financial (OTCMKTS:CEFC  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $5.02 million for the quarter.

Commercial National Financial Announces Dividend

Commercial National Financial Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Commercial National Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 35.90%.

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Commercial National Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Commercial Bank that provides various banking products and services to individuals, agricultural businesses, commercial businesses, and light industries in Michigan. The company accepts various deposit products, including checking and savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, certificates of deposit, and health savings accounts.

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Ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon urged law enforcement Sunday to summon the ambassador to Australia home amid the ongoing investigation into his alleged interference in a military probe into the death of a Marine.



Han Dong-hoon, the interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, made the remarks as criticism is growing over the controversial departure of Ambassador Lee Jong-sup to the host country last week despite him being a subject in the investigation.



"The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials has to subpoena (Lee) immediately and the ambassador has to return immediately," Han told reporters at the party's headquarters in western Seoul.



"I don't think it's an issue over which we should engage in political bickering ahead of the elections and cause distress to the people."



Lee, a former defense minister, is suspected of exerting undue influence in the Marines' internal probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died last July during a search mission amid heavy rains.



Critics say that Lee's appointment and letting him leave the country to take up the top envoy post amount to helping a suspect flee overseas.



The issue is increasingly drawing attention weeks before the April general elections.



Han also suggested that Whang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social agenda, should step down over intimidating remarks he made to reporters last week.



The public broadcaster MBC reported Thursday that Whang, a former KBS news anchor, brought up during lunch with some reporters a 1988 stabbing case of a journalist by soldiers of the military intelligence command.



Recalling that the journalist was stabbed twice in the thigh in the attack for writing a column criticizing the military at the time, Whang told the MBC reporters to "listen carefully," in what may seem to be an apparent warning to the media against running anti-government stories.



"It was a remark that does not measure up to the public's expectations, and the secretary must decide on his next course of action," Han said.



MBC reported that Whang also raised suspicions about the civilians-led 1980 democracy uprising in the southern city of Gwangju, alluding to the possible involvement of some professionally trained groups, including from North Korea, besides the ordinary citizens who took part in the revolt.



During the nine-day revolt in May 1980, the military junta, led by late former President Chun Doo-hwan, ruthlessly cracked down on civilians. Official data put the death toll at over 200 and thousands wounded, but critics argue that as many as 2,000 people were killed.



The suspected involvement of North Korea in the Gwangju incident is an oft-cited claim by hard-line conservatives in South Korean politics. (Yonhap)
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Alex Stroie and Toader Sarbu have been helping deliver aid from Jersey to Ukraine since the war began two years ago

Two former college friends have reunited to help people deliver aid from Jersey in Ukraine.

Alex Stroie from Romania has been working with Ukrainian Toader Sarbu to distribute food, clothes and gifts from Jersey Mustard Seed.

The charity has been providing aid since the invasion started.

Mr Sarbu said without the aid from Jersey, villagers would "struggle to live", and that they would queue for hours ahead of the supplies arriving.

He said: "I am always moved by the villagers who queue to get the food we give them.

"Sometimes they start to gather the evening before the truck arrives - but they are always grateful for what they receive."

'Make a difference'

Mr Stroie said he had been working alongside Mustard Seed for 25 years, and that all the help was needed.

He said: "When the war started we knew we had to help - the parcels and gifts from Jersey really make a difference.

"The Ukrainian army helps us take them across the border - as they know how important they are."

Mr Stroie said donators helped to "feed our poorest villagers, support our children and give our young people help".

Follow BBC Jersey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
A graduation ceremony celebrating the Denham Springs High Class of 2023 was held inside the University Center in Hammond on Sunday, May 21, 2023.
A drone photograph of Seal Island lighthouse taken on Sept. 2, 2023. (Sonia Newell/Seal Island Lighthouse Preservation Society - image credit)

A community group is calling on the federal heritage minister to help save the 200-year-old Seal Island lighthouse that the Canadian Coast Guard and Fisheries and Oceans Canada say is too expensive to maintain.

The lighthouse is located on a remote island about 30 kilometres off southwest Nova Scotia.

The oldest wooden lighthouse in Nova Scotia and the second oldest in Canada, it was constructed in 1831 by local families in response to numerous shipwrecks in the area.

Seal Island Lighthouse Preservation Society wants to save the existing lighthouse for its historical and architectural significance.

The lighthouse was given heritage status by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office in 2009.

Mary McLaren, a society board member, says the structure is in good shape overall but it needs repairs.

She said the coast guard, which has primary responsibility for the structure, has not adequately maintained it.

McLaren said the wooden shingles, which haven't been painted in years, are deteriorating and a badly installed window has caused some rotting in the interior.

Mary McLaren is a board member of the Seal Island Lighthouse Preservation Society

Mary McLaren is a board member of the Seal Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. (Phil Matthews)

An emailed joint response from DFO and the Canadian Coast Guard to CBC News, said the lighthouse requires extensive structural repairs.

According to the email, a decision was made to erect a steel tower next to the existing lighthouse to serve as a navigational aid because of lower maintenance costs and for the health and safety of coast guard maintenance employees.

"A decision has not been made regarding the disposal of the lighthouse structure once the new steel tower will be built," the email said.

The society wrote to heritage minister Pascale St-Onge on Friday asking for her support to ensure that the lighthouse is repaired to the standards outlined in the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act.

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"We are deeply concerned that DFO and Coast Guard is intentionally allowing this historic structure to undergo 'demolition by neglect,' and disregarding their responsibility as outlined in the Heritage Act," the letter said.

McLaren said the society is willing to consider taking over the building but wants the coast guard to fix the building first.

She said despite being classified as a federal heritage building, DFO and the coast guard have not taken the classification seriously.

The lighthouse was built on Seal Island off the southwest tip of Nova Scotia in 1831 and is still operational.

The lighthouse was built on Seal Island off the southwest tip of Nova Scotia in 1831 and is still operational. (Paula Waybret)

McLaren said under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act they are supposed to maintain the structure.

"This has not happened. So, in 15 years of doing nothing  it requires some more significant repairs than had they just been doing what they needed to do all along."

McLaren said the society has started a petition to save the lighthouse and is trying to raise more awareness about its historical and architectural significance through social media.

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Lucknow, Mar 17 (PTI) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday congratulated former Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his "strong determination" on the occasion of the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and described him as a "rare person".

Rahul Gandhi concluded his 63-day-old Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai by paying tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at his memorial Chaityabhoomi in central Mumbai and reading the Preamble of the Constitution.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Banks on Beneficiaries of Welfare Schemes To Gift UP's All 80 Seats to PM Narendra Modi.

On Sunday, Akhilesh Yadav along with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was scheduled to take part in the event. However, the SP chief did not attend the event.

In a post on X in Hindi, Akhilesh Yadav said, "Congratulations on the successful completion of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Mumbai! Due to sudden announcement of elections and owing to busy schedule, we announce from here that all of us who want the unity and progress of the country, this time we, with the support of like-minded patriotic parties, with full mutual cooperation and the support of the cordial people of the country, will defeat the BJP in a historic way. Will defeat the BJP, make India win!

Also Read | Akhilesh Yadav Congratulates Rahul Gandhi for His 'Strong Determination', Calls Him 'Rare Person'.

"The BJP will lose, the countrymen will win! Remove the BJP, save the country! Remove the BJP, get a job! Remove the BJP, save the Constitution! Remove the BJP, save reservation!" he said.

In a letter dated March 17, written to Gandhi by Yadav, the SP chief said, "Today your Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is concluding in Mumbai. Rare are those people, who can take out such 'yatra'. Heartiest congratulations to you for your strong determination.

"You started this yatra from Manipur, which is burning due to the failure of the BJP government. You have given a strong message against the dictator government from the north-east. During the course of the entire yatra, you met (people from) all the sections of the society, including farmers, youngsters, women, elderly and you got acquainted with their problems very closely," Yadav said.

The SP chief went on to say, "The Election Commission yesterday announced the elections. Nominations will begin in UP from March 20, and owing to its preparations, I will not be able to attend the closing programme of the yatra.

"Not only hopeful, but fully confident that the public will uproot and throw out the BJP, which is against the farmers, youngsters, backwards, Dalits and women. The real success of the yatra will be that the BJP gets defeated in these elections," Yadav said.

The former Congress president was accompanied by his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday.

The yatra, which commenced from strife-torn Manipur on January 14, entered Mumbai from neighbouring Thane on the 63rd day on Saturday.

On February 21, INDIA bloc partners SP and Congress announced a tie-up for the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the UP's main opposition party leaving 17 out of the 80 seats in the state for the ally.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party will contest on a single seat, Khajuraho, and support the Congress in the remaining constituencies in the state.

Among the 17 seats on which the Congress will contest in UP include Rae Bareli and Amethi, once considered pocket boroughs of the party, and Varanasi which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the implementation of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

In his petition, Owaisi sought directions to the central government not to entertain or process the applications seeking grant of citizenship status under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (as it stands amended by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019) during the pendency of the proceedings.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: IUML To Approach ECI Seeking Change in Kerala, Tamil Nadu Polling Dates.

Advocate Nizam Pasha, Asaduddin Owaisi's attorney, told ANI that they filed an application in 2019 when the act was passed in Parliament.

"We had filed a petition in 2019 when CAA was passed, challenging its constitutional validity in Articles 21 and 25. At that time, the application for interim stay was not argued because the lawyers for the central government had said that they had no intention of immediately operationalising the act. Now, after four years, the government has notified rules to operationalise the act and therefore we are filing an interim application asking for a stay of implementation of the act and the rules," he said.

Also Read | Sri Lankan Navy Apprehends 21 Rameshwaram Fishermen: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, March 17, 2024.

The Union Home Ministry notified the rules for implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on March 11.

Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the fate of 1.5 lakh Muslims, who were allegedly left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list in Assam after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was implemented in the state.

Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad on Friday, days after the BJP-led Centre published the rules for implementing CAA across the country, Owaisi said, "Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 12 lakh Hindus not listed in the NRC that was conducted in the state will be given Indian citizenship under the CAA. But what about the 1.5 lakh Muslims?"

The CAA rules, introduced by the Centre and passed by the Parliament in 2019, aim to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Rohtak, Mar 17 (PTI) Haryana fell behind in various parameters, be it per capita income or law and order, during the BJP's nine and a half years of rule in the state, the Congress alleged on Sunday, calling its rival a party that lies.

Also Read | Watermelon Scare in Kashmir: Sales Hit Amid Chemical Ripening Concerns, Govt Dismisses Rumours.

"The time has come to change the BJP-led governments both at the Centre and in the state," Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said at a 'jan aakrosh' rally at the new grains market in Meham, a day after the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha polls.

Polling in Haryana's 10 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the sixth phase of the seven-phase elections on May 25. Assembly polls in the state are due later this year.

Also Read | Mumbai: Three Arrested for Defrauding Traders, Farmers To The Tune of Rs 26 Crore.

It is painful to see that Haryana, which was "number one in per capita income and per capita investment, was doing good on the law and order front and in sports, and providing employment, has now fallen behind in various spheres", the former chief minister said.

"Today Haryana is facing unemployment, the crime graph is up, the problem of drugs is there, and the state has become number one in corruption. The Social Progress Index released by the Government of India has stated that Haryana is one of the most unsafe states," Hooda alleged.

He said after the state assembly elections, which are due in October, "change of power is certain in Haryana".

"When the Congress forms government in the state, the elderly will be given a monthly pension of Rs 6,000, 300 units of (monthly) electricity will be free for every family, gas cylinders will be given for Rs 500 to women... plots of 100 square yards will be given to poor families for free and houses will be built on those plots," the Congress leader said.

State Congress president Udai Bhan, in his address, attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying, "The BJP is a party that lies. It has not fulfilled any of the promises it made to the people, whereas the Congress fulfils what it says."

"When the Congress forms government, work will be done to provide relief to farmers from debt through loan waiver, along with a guarantee of MSP (minimum support price) for crops," he said.

Giving details of development works done in the state during the erstwhile Hooda-led Congress government, he said that 81.5 kilometer of metro line was laid in Haryana then.

"Four big power plants and one nuclear power plant were established in Haryana. The present government has not done the work of generating even a single unit of electricity," he said.

Congress' Rajya Sabha member Deepender Singh Hooda also the BJP government in the state.

On Nayab Singh Saini replacing Manohar Lal Khattar as the chief minister of Haryana, Deepender Hooda, with taking names, said, "The BJP put the blame of the failure of the nine-and-half-year-old government on the (former) chief minister (Khattar) by changing him."

Making changes won't work and "the people will change the entire BJP government" in the elections, he said.

"In the last nine and a half years, the BJP government did not build any new hospital, school or college, or a big institute in the state. But it has built luxurious offices for itself," he said.

On the BJP and its ally Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) separating, he said, "Everyone knew well in advance that the BJP and the JJP had made an agreement to break their alliance before the elections".

The BJP-JJP coalition has "looted" the state for five years and the parties are still in collusion, Deepender Hooda alleged.

The proof of this is that instead of voting against the BJP, during the Saini government's trust vote, the JJP issued a whip to its MLAs asking them to remain absent, he claimed.

The BJP has been power in Haryana since 2014. In its second term, the party formed government in 2019 along with the JJP. The alliance partners separated with the changing of chief ministers this month.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kozhikode, March 17: A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll dates for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), on Sunday said it will move the poll panel seeking to change the polling dates in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as they fall on Friday. For Tamil Nadu, the polls will be held on April 19 and in Kerala on April 26. Both dates fall on a Friday. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Dates: EC Announces Schedule for General Elections, Check Polling and Result Dates

The IUML, a major ally of the Opposition Congress party in the UDF, said it will approach the ECI to change the dates of elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as it causes inconvenience to voters, officials, and candidates as Friday is important day for Muslims. Talking to PTI, P M A Salam, state general secretary of IUML, said Fridays are an important day for the Muslims who gather in mosques for prayer. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: IUML To Approach ECI Seeking Change in Kerala, Tamil Nadu Polling Dates

"The announcement of polling on Friday will cause inconvenience to voters, candidates, polling agents, and officials assigned to election duty. We will move the ECI," he said. Other Muslim organisations are also reportedly planning to move the commission, seeking a change in the date.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
A delegation of over 20 people from the German city of Duisburg, who recently visited Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, said that they anticipated deeper cooperation with the city.

From March 11 to 14, the guests, marking the largest delegation sent by Duisburg over the past 15 years, visited companies in Wuhan related to renewable energy, intelligent vehicles and logistics, among other fields. They also held trade talks with local companies to further consolidate the cooperation between the two cities.

"We attach great importance to the cooperation with Wuhan. I have always been happy to come here, and over more than 40 years, our cooperation in many fields has been great," said Soren Link, mayor of Duisburg, who has visited Wuhan five times.

Although Wuhan and Duisburg are thousands of kilometers apart, they share many similarities -- both cities are home to world-renowned steel producers, and both are located on the confluence of two major rivers. In 1982, Duisburg became the first city in the Federal Republic of Germany to establish a "sister cities" relationship with Wuhan.

During the visit, Dominik Bartz, head of Hub International, Duisburg, traveled in a fully self-driving car for the first time.

"The first two to five seconds were really strange, seeing the steering wheel move by itself, but after that, it was a brilliant experience and was really joyful," said Bartz, adding that he hopes to broaden the existing cooperation, especially on battery-powered cars, and is looking for cooperation in the field of hydrogen.

Frank Ahrenhold, head of Sustainable Steel Production at Thyssenkrupp Steel, was impressed by the visit to the Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Company.

"It's an extraordinary site, with the cleanliness and a lot of green around it. We also saw the central control room with 5G technology that is something unique as well. I'm very impressed with the upfront production," Ahrenhold noted.

"There's a lot of potential (for Wuhan and Duisburg) to do something together in green transformation. Because a lot of effort has been made, especially in China and Europe, and we should really team up there," Ahrenhold added.

There are currently over 110 German companies established in Wuhan, making Germany among the top 10 largest trading partners of the city. Meanwhile, a Sino-German international industrial park, with a planned area of 20-square-km, has become a new highlight of Wuhan's economic development.

"We started our branch in Wuhan in 2014, and since then, we've been developing on the superfast track," said Jack Ge, the managing director of Webasto (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch, which is among the first batch of companies in the industrial park. "We used to produce only automobile roof systems, but now we can manufacture more products, such as high-voltage heaters, charging piles and radar sensor modules," he said.

"What's more, our production lines in Wuhan were all designed by Chinese people, and they have been purchased by many companies in Germany and the United States. Even though we only have around 400 employees, our annual output value surpassed 1.2 billion yuan (about 169 million U.S. dollars) last year," Ge added.

"The industrial park looks great. I see great potential," said Daria Kreutzer, head of Foreign Trade, Chamber of Industry and Commerce Niederrhein. "In particular, I think the Germans are really impressed by the very strong ties between your research and your practice, and this is something that the German companies can also learn from," she said.

For Kreutzer, the trip to Wuhan has been a useful opportunity to gain insights and gather data.

"It is actually good that I'm here to get all this information, because then I can just take everything I get here, take it back and then present in front of our companies," she added.
On March 17, 1974, the oil-producing Arab countries agreed to lift a five-month embargo on petroleum sales to the United States. File Photo by Warren K. Leffler/U.S. Library of Congress

March 17 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1762, New York City staged its first parade honoring the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It was led by Irish soldiers serving in the British army. In 2002, President George W. Bush became the first sitting U.S. president to take part in the event, more than six months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the city.

In 1776, the Continental Army under Gen. George Washington forced British troops to evacuate Boston.

In 1901, 71 paintings by the late Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh were shown at the Bernheim-Jeune gallery in Paris and caused a sensation across the art world.

File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Participants march on the parade route at the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City on March 17, 2017. On March 17, 1762, New York City staged its first parade honoring the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 1917, Russia appeared headed toward a republic following the end of the 300-year-old rule of the Romanoff family.

In 1958, the U.S. Navy launched the satellite Vanguard 1 into orbit around Earth.

President Nelson Mandela casts his vote in the second all-race democratic elections in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 2 1999. On March 17, 1992, South African whites, by a margin of 68.7 percent to 31.2 percent, voted to end minority rule. File Photo by Debbie Yazbek/UPI

In 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet for India.

File Photo by John Eggitt/UPI

U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger shakes hands with outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir on May 2, 1974. On March 17, 1969, Meir, a 70-year-old former Milwaukee schoolteacher, was elected first female prime minister of Israel. UPI File Photo

In 1969, Golda Meir, a 70-year-old former Milwaukee schoolteacher, was elected first female prime minister of Israel.

In 1974, the oil-producing Arab countries agreed to lift a five-month embargo on petroleum sales to the United States. The embargo, during which gasoline prices soared 300%, was in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel during the October 1973 Middle East War.

Proponents of a free Lithuania gather on Capitol Hill on June 2, 1990, to urge freedom for the Baltic state. On March 17, 1990, Lithuania rejected the Soviet Union's ultimatum to renounce its declaration of independence a week prior. File Photo by Richard Tomkins/UPI

In 1990, Lithuania rejected the Soviet Union's ultimatum to renounce its declaration of independence a week prior. The Soviets implemented sanctions against Lithuania and conducted a military operation in 1991 before other Soviet republics eventually declared their independence.

In 1992, South African Whites, by a margin of 68.7% to 31.2%, voted to end minority rule. Nelson Mandela was elected two years later as the first president in a fully representative democratic election.

President George W. Bush speaks to the world from the Oval Office on March 19, 2003, announcing the start of the war against Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Two days earlier, the president gave Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq, an ultimatum that was rejected. File Photo by Alex Wong/UPI

In 2003, as war with Iraq seemed a certainty, U.S. President George W. Bush gave Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave the country. The ultimatum was rejected.

Story continues

In 2020, the French Open, Euro 2020, Copa America 2020 and Kentucky Derby were postponed amid the spread of COVID-19 as the global case count reached 200,000 and death toll neared 8,000.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama is seen here in this 1985 file photo. On March 17, 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet for India. UPI File Photo
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Holding of Lok Sabha elections is a mammoth exercise that entails the biggest peacetime movement of men and material in the world through waterways, air and land across India to ensure no voter is left behind.

The Election Commission, mandated to hold the gigantic democratic exercise starts preparing for the polls at least one-and-a-half years in advance by training officials, poll personnel and ramping up the supply of required EVMs and indelible ink, besides other equipment.

Also Read | Bihar Police Detain over 270 Aspirants in Connection with Alleged Paper Leak of Teachers Recruitment Exam.

The elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19 followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

Nearly 97 crore registered voters across 543 constituencies will cast their ballot at 10.5 lakh polling stations.

Also Read | Mumbai: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Holds 'Jan Nyay Padyatra' From Mani Bhavan Sangrahalaya to August Kranti Maidan (Watch Video).

Around 1.5 crore polling and security personnel, about 55 lakh EVMs and four lakh vehicles will be deployed for the polls, according to the poll authority.

As early as in June last year, the EC had initiated "first level checks" of EVMs and paper trail machines across the country in a phased manner.

"Mock polls" are part of the first level check (FLC) process to ensure parties are satisfied with the machines.

The EC issues a calendar for such exercises and there are standing instructions that are to be followed by state chief electoral officers.

During FLCs, electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are checked for mechanical flaws by engineers of BEL and ECIL, the two PSUs which manufacture the two equipment.

Faulty machines are returned to the manufacturers for repair or replacement.

A mock poll is also held to check the two machines in the presence of representatives of political parties.

While it puts the required equipment and infrastructure in place, the poll panel also starts interacting with its officials at the state level to understand their requirements.

State chief electoral officers are called for sessions where they share best practices and learn from each others' experience in election management, voter awareness and preventing malpractices which can disturb level playing field during polls.

A key component of election management is the deployment of security personnel and their movement by trains, boats and helicopters.

To firm up the plan, the EC top brass holds meeting with senior officials of the Union home ministry and Railways. Comfortable stay and hygienic food for security and polling personnel also requires planning at the grass-roots level.

While the EC is busy sending the required number of EVMs in states ahead of polls, the Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd gets ready to complete its order of providing indelible ink.

This time it has been tasked with providing over 26 lakh vials of indelible ink, which leaves a deep purple mark on a voter's left forefinger, to various states.

The Karnataka government undertaking has been manufacturing the ink since 1962, solely for the Election Commission.

The ink is applied on the left forefinger of a person as proof that she or she has cast the vote.

One 10 ml vial can ink 700 people. Every polling station has 1,500 voters, which means two vials of ink is needed per polling station.

Ahead of voting day, EVMs are carried to the polling stations.

Once the voting ends, the machines are brought back to the strong room where they are kept under three layers of lock.

The machines later reach the counting centres on the day votes are to be counted.

The machines in which votes are stored and the paper trail machine slips are preserved for at least 45 days in case the election is challenged in a high court.

An "election petition" challenging the poll result has to be filed within 45 days.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will discuss the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections at its meeting on March 19 and give the final shape to it.

The Congress' central election committee (CEC) chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is also likely to meet on March 19 to 20 to finalise the remaining candidates of the party for the seven-phase polls beginning April 19.

Also Read | Electoral Bonds Data: BJP Got Rs 6,986.5 Crore Through Poll Bonds; Future Gaming and Hotel Services Top Donor for DMK.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the CWC, its top decision-making body, would meet on March 19 and give its nod to the draft manifesto which carries the five 'guarantees' for justice.

He said the party will fight the elections on the issue of 'five nyay' (justice) -- 'Bhagidari Nyay', 'Kisan Nyay', 'Nari Nyay', 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Yuva Nyay' -- with 25 guarantees, five for each nyay, which have already been announced by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former president Rahul Gandhi.

Also Read | Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Says Will Have To Take Tough Decisions To Counter Conspiracy To Topple Government.

"These are the guarantees by the Congress party and not by a single person," he remarked in an obvious jibe at the prime minister who has been claiming to provide "Modi ki guarantee".

Sources said the party's CEC would also discuss and finalise the party candidates. The Congress has so far announced a total of 82 candidates in two separate lists -- first list of 39 candidates and the second of 43.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Palnadu (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 17 (ANI): Asserting that the Nationalist Democratic Alliance (NDA) is moving ahead taking regional aspirations and national progress and during its third term after the polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people of Andhra Pradesh to cast vote in favour of the alliance to ensure speedy development of the state.

PM Modi, while addressing a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) election meeting at Boppudi village in Palnadu district in the presence of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party (JSP) Pawan Kalyan, hit out at the Congress, accusing it of "using and throwing the people of the alliance" in contrast to the BJP.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024: MVA Partners Seal Seat-Sharing Agreement in Maharashtra for General Elections.

"NDA alliance moves ahead carrying both regional aspiration and national progress. The support of the BJP in this election, and our partners are continuously increasing, the strength of NDA is increasing, and both Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan have been supporting the rights of the people here, for a long time. In NDA we take everyone along, but on the other hand, there is the Congress party which has only one agenda - to use and throw the people of the alliance. Today Congress may have formed an INDI alliance, but their thinking remains the same," PM Modi said.

Asserting that the NDA's aim is for 'Viksit Bharat' and to build 'Viksit Andhra Pradesh', he said a double-engine NDA government in Andhra Pradesh will ensure speedy development of the state.

Also Read | Amber Dalal Booked: Mumbai Police Register Case Against Chartered Accountant for Duping People of Rs 54.4 Crore Through Ponzi Scheme; Accused Absconding.

"We have been working for you day and night, for the development of Andhra Pradesh. NDA aims to build a developed Andhra Pradesh for developed India... You have to make NDA MPs and MLAs win. All NDA MPs and MLAs will work for you with great effort, this is Modi's guarantee," the PM said," he added.

Coming down heavily on the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), the PM said that the people of Andhra Pradesh are feeling "betrayed" by the state government.

"Never think that Jagan's party and Congress are two different parties. Both of them are the same..."The people of Andhra Pradesh are moving forward with two resolves. They have decided they will bring back the NDA government in the centre. The people are angry with the state government and want to remove them. The ministers of the state are competing in corruption here. The people of Andhra Pradesh are feeling betrayed by the state government," he added.

Accusing the Congress Party of insulting the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh NT Rama Rao, the PM also said that it is his government that has always respected the pride of Andhra Pradesh.

"I remember how on the day of the inauguration of Ram temple, the entire state celebrated Lord Ram's returning home. Telugu people can never forget NTR. How he enlivened the roles of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. He had fought for the rights of farmers and the poor all his life and because of this, he had to endure the atrocities of the Congress. Congress has always insulted the pride of Andhra Pradesh. It is our government that has always respected the pride of Andhra Pradesh. I do not want to discuss how Congress had insulted him (NTR). But BJP and NDA always respect leaders dedicated to the country by rising above the party line," he added.

Notably, the BJP has formed an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

PM Modi further reiterated the NDA's goal to cross 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

"See this coincidence, this time the results of the elections are going to be declared on 4th June. The whole country is saying, '400 paar'. '400 paar' for developed India, '400 paar' for Andhra Pradesh'..." he said.

PM Modi addressed the NDA rally 'Prajagalam' with the TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan for the first time in Palnadu district.

'Prajagalam', which translates to 'voice of the public', is the first joint public meeting of NDA partners in Andhra in the past ten years.

Jana Sena is contesting the general elections in alliance with the BJP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh. As per the seat-sharing agreement, the BJP will contest six Lok Sabha seats and 10 assembly seats, while the TDP will contest 17 seats and 144 assembly seats. Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 assembly seats.

The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections nationwide.

According to the EC's announcement, Andhra Pradesh will hold elections for its 25 constituencies on May 13th. The coastal state's elections will take place in just one phase.

A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to cast their vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The rally was briefly interrupted after a group of people climbed atop a light tower to listen to their leaders.

Modi, however, noticed people climbing the structure on which lights were fixed and immediately interrupted Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan, who was addressing the gathering, to urge them to come down.

"There are electric wires. What are you doing there? Your life is precious to us. Please come down. Media persons have taken your photographs. Now come down. Police personnel deployed here, please take care of people. It would be painful for us if something happened wrong," PM Modi said while urging the group to come down for safety.

PM Modi then sat back in his seat, and the Jana Sena chief went on to complete his speech.

Pawan Kalyan praised PM Modi for his visit to the state of Andhra Pradesh, drawing a parallel between Modi's arrival and the mythological tale of King Bhagiratha bringing the River Ganga to Earth for his ancestors' salvation.

"PM Narendra Modi's arrival in Andhra Pradesh resembles how Bhagiratha brought Ganga to Earth. Modi has come here to support us and save us from undemocratic rule," Pawan Kalyan said while addressing the rally.

"In 2014, with the blessings of Tirumala Sri Venkateswara, the NDA saw victory. In 2024, with the blessings of Vijayawada's goddess Kanaka Durga Devi, the NDA will form the government. Under PM Modi's leadership, the country is growing. Modi has introduced digital payments. However, YSRCP is not interested in digital payments," he added.

Naidu on Sunday exuded confidence that the NDA will form the government in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and said that only the flags of the BJP-TDP-JSP alliance are different, not the agenda.

"I'm happy to see the public gathered before the stage. The NDA will form the government in the upcoming 2024 polls. For the last five years, anarchy has ruled the state. We will take care of the growth and development of the state, and we appeal to the public to vote for the TDP, BJP, and Jana Sena alliance. PM Modi is the 'Viswaguru' of Bharat. Our flags are different, but our agenda is not," Naidu said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) India and the Maldives on Sunday reviewed the ongoing process of replacing Indian military personnel from the island nation with Male saying the second group will leave by April 10.

The two sides held the third meeting of the bilateral high-level core group in Male, days after India withdrew the first team of military personnel that was operating an advanced light helicopter in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Also Read | Electoral Bonds BJP's 'White Collar Corruption', Says Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (Watch Video).

The military team has been replaced by civilian technical experts. The Indian personnel are operating three aviation platforms in the Maldives and New Delhi is now deploying civilian personnel to operate them.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu had set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country.

Also Read | Assam Shocker: DSP Arrested for Sexual Harassment of Minor Domestic Help in Golaghat District.

"During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing deputation of Indian technical personnel to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac (medical evacuation) services to the people of Maldives," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

It said both sides continued their discussions on wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation.

"This inter alia included expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects through regular convening of joint monitoring mechanisms, efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment and enhancing people-to-people linkages through capacity building and travel," the MEA said.

The Maldivian foreign ministry said both sides noted the progress that has been made in replacing Indian military personnel with civilians at the aviation platforms in the Maldives.

"To date, military personnel in one such platform have been replaced with civilians, and the remaining two will be replaced by civilians on April 10 and May 10," it said.

"The high-level core group covered a broad range of areas in economic and development cooperation between the two countries and noted the capacity building programs recently concluded," the Maldivian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Additionally, discussions covered areas related to bilateral cooperation aimed at enhancing the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing developmental cooperation projects," it said.

It was agreed that the fourth meeting of the core group would be held in New Delhi on a mutually agreeable date.

India on Friday said its first team of military personnel that was operating an advanced light helicopter in the Maldives has returned from that country. The military team has been replaced by civilian technical experts.

The second meeting of the core group took place in Delhi on February 2.

The two sides decided to set up the core group following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under some strain since Muizzu came to power in November.

Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president that he would keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country.

Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.

The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties, including in areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached four immovable properties of 11 accused as 'proceeds of terrorism' in the ISIS module case in Pune being used for IED fabrication and its training and planning of terrorist acts. The attached properties in Kondhwa, Pune (Maharashtra), are linked with 11 accused persons, including three absconders, said the NIA on Sunday.

As per the agency, it is a move forward on the NIA's mandate to dismantle the global terror outfits' network in the country, and "the four properties were being used for IED fabrication and its training and planning of terrorist acts."

Also Read | US Shocker: 20-Year-Old Indian Student Killed by Unidentified Assailants in Boston, Body Found Inside Car Within Forest.

The NIA has already charged all 11 in the case. Attached under Section 25 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the properties are residential houses and flats linked with accused Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam, Md. Rizwan Ali, Kadir Dastagir Pathan, Simab Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh, Talha Liyakat Khan, Shamil Nachan and Aakif Nachan. The case relates to an ISIS conspiracy to spread terror by carrying out attacks at various places in Maharashtra, Gujarat and other parts of India, through IED fabrication training workshops and recce of jungles for firing practices and hideouts, besides raising terror funds by committing armed robberies and thefts. In pursuit of its efforts to destroy the terror networks of the proscribed global terrorist organisations and safeguard India's interests, the NIA has cracked down on various ISIS modules across different states in recent months. Its investigations into the conspiracy and activities of ISIS are continuing," added the agency. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Guwahati, Mar 17 (PTI) Over 75 prominent personalities from Assam have appealed to the Congress to reconsider its decision to contest the Barpeta constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Instead, they have urged the party to support the Communist Party of India (Marxist) nominee.

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The request was conveyed to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah through a letter signed by leading intellectuals, educationists, and cultural figures of the state on Saturday, a copy of which was also marked to the AICC.

This letter, shared with the media, emphasises the need for unity among anti-BJP secular political parties and underscores the importance of isolating the BJP and its allies to safeguard the rights and interests of the people of Assam.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Horror: Woman Gangraped, Consumes Pesticide, Hospitalised in Betul District; One Accused Arrested.

"At this critical juncture, we appeal to you to re-consider the decision for fielding the Congress candidate in Barpeta Parliamentary constituency and withdraw the candidature of your party's nominee in favour of the CPI(M)," the letter said.

The United Opposition Forum, Assam, of which both the Congress and CPI(M) are members, was formed with the objective of defeating the BJP-led ruling alliance.

However, despite initial indications of fielding joint candidates against the ruling allies, there have been instances of opposition members contesting against each other in various constituencies, including Barpeta.

While the Congress has nominated Deep Bayan, the state Seva Dal chief, as its candidate from Barpeta, the CPI(M) has named Manoranjan Talukdar, its lone MLA in the state assembly, for the seat. The ruling alliance's candidate is Phani Bhusan Talukdar from the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

Congress' Abdul Khaleque is the sitting MP in the outgoing House, but he recently quit the party after being denied ticket.

The signatories include notable figures such as Hiren Gohain, Udayaditya Bharali, Chandra Mohan Sarma, and others. They emphasised the critical need for unity and cooperation among opposition parties to effectively challenge the BJP in the upcoming elections.

(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, March 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the National Democratic Alliance rally 'Prajagalam,' (the voice of the public), the first joint public meeting of NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu district, on Sunday evening. Taking to his social media handle, Prime Minister Modi posted on X, "On the way to Andhra Pradesh, where I will be addressing an NDA rally at Palnadu along with @ncbnJi and @PawanKalyan Ji this evening. The NDA is seeking AP's blessings to bring a positive change in people's lives and take the state to new heights of progress."

Prime Minister Modi will be joined by TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan in the public meeting, and this is the first time all three leaders will share the stage in a rally for the 2024 polls. PM Narendra Modi Says 'Festival of Democracy Is Here' After EC Announces Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Dates.

The meeting, named "Prajagalam," will mark the first NDA election meeting in Andhra Pradesh in the run-up to the simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled for May 13. Along with announcing Lok Sabha elections that will be held in seven phases beginning on April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday announced the schedule of Assembly polls in four states - Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha.

A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to cast their vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said. Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) released the list of election candidates for the 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha on Saturday. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Dates: EC Announces Schedule for General Elections, Check Polling and Result Dates.

Party leaders Dharmana Prasada Rao and Nandigam Suresh read out the list of candidates here on Saturday in the presence of Chief Minister and party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Before releasing the list, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and other party leaders offered prayers at the Samadhi of Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy and sought blessings.

The party has affected changes in 81 assembly constituencies and 18 Lok Sabha constituencies, he clarified. The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held on May 13. The election for Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held on the same day.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna, March 17: The Economic Offences unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has detained over 270 aspirants in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district in connection with an alleged paper leak of Bihar Public Service Commission's (BPSC) Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE)-3. According to a statement issued by the EOU here on Saturday, acting on a tip-off unit's sleuths conducted searches at several locations in Hazaribagh on March 14 and 15 and found that aspirants of TRE-3, who had been brought from several places in Bihar, had been supplied question papers. UP Police Constable Paper Leak: Nearly 1500 Aspirants Got Leaked Exam Paper at Gurugram Resort, Delhi Cop Among Suspects (See Pic)

"On the day of the examination, March 15, candidates were supposed to leave at around 3 am for their respective exam centres. They all were detained and on the basis of their interrogation, officials managed to nab certain members of the gang involved in the paper leak", the statement said. Police had already arrested five persons, who allegedly masterminded the paper leak of TRE-3, a few days ago. Police recovered question papers, computers, laptops, printers and pen drives from their possession. 3 Masterminds of UP Police Recruitment Paper Leak Arrested: DGP

Further investigations have revealed that a hefty amount was charged from each candidate for providing answer sheets by the accused, said the statement. Further investigation is on. The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) conducted TRE-3 on March 15 for Primary Teachers and Middle School Teachers in offline mode. Prior to this, as many as 96,823 candidates cleared the Teachers Recruitment Examination (TRE-2) organised by the BPSC.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kota (Rajasthan), Mar 17 (PTI) Congress leader Amin Pathan was arrested on Sunday for allegedly obstructing a government team from marking his farmhouse here in Rajasthan as an encroachment on forest land, police said.

Pathan, after being in the BJP for 25 years, joined the Congress in November last year. He is a general secretary in the Congress' Rajasthan unit.

Also Read | Electoral Bonds BJP's 'White Collar Corruption', Says Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (Watch Video).

Circle Inspector (CI) at the Anantpura police station Bhupendra Singh said Amin Pathan, his wife Raziya Pathan and more than a dozen others are accused of misbehaving with government officials, using "criminal force" on them and obstructing government work.

The team of officials, which was in Anandpura village to survey structures, including the farmhouse, for encroachment on forest land, was forced to leave the area on Saturday afternoon, he said.

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Singh said a case was registered against Amin Pathan, his wife and the others on Saturday night under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 332 (causing hurt to public servant) and 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty).

Amin Pathan was produced before a residential court here on Sunday evening and it ordered that he be sent to judicial custody, police said. He had moved a bail application but it was rejected.

A large number of his supporters had gathered around the court complex. There was heavy deployment of police personnel there.

On Saturday afternoon, a forest team along with revenue department and urban improvement trust personnel had visited the village for land measurement on basis of a report that Amin Pathan's farmhouse and other structures were built on forest land illegally, Singh said.

While the team was marking the farmhouse's area on forest land as encroachment, Amin Pathan, his wife and 10 to 15 others allegedly came out of the farmhouse, misbehaved with officials, used criminal force and obstructed government work, he said.

The team was forced to leave the spot, the CI said, citing a report on the incident from a forest ranger.

Amin Pathan was arrested on Sunday after his interrogation, Anantapura Circle Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police Manish Sharma said.

Investigation against 13 other accused and his wife in the matter is underway. None of them have been detained for interrogation yet, he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru, Mar 17 (PTI) Reluctance of some ministers and lawmakers in Karnataka to contest the Lok Sabha polls seems to have put the Congress scouting for "winnable" candidates in a spot of bother in finalising contestants for bulk of the seats.

It has been ten days since the Congress announced its candidates for seven segments while the process to pick nominees for the remaining 21 seats is on.

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The Congress' first list released on March eight did not have names of any of the ministers and legislators.

According to party sources, the Congress leadership has been making efforts to convince some ministers and lawmakers to contest, as they have faced problems in identifying winnable candidates in several segments.

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Senior Congress leader and Home Minister G Parameshwara had recently said there are discussions in the party to field seven to eight ministers.

Some ministers instead of themselves contesting, are said to be pushing for the candidature of their family members and, according to sources, the party leadership seem to be worried about the message it may send out if their kin are fielded.

It is now left for the Congress leadership including president Mallikarjun Kharge and party senior leader and MP Rahul Gandhi to take a call on the issue of fielding ministers or their family members, party sources said.

State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the process of selecting candidates has come to a final stage.

"Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has ended today (Saturday), tomorrow there is an INDIA bloc leaders public meeting, and on March 19 there is our meeting (to finalise candidates). On March 19 night or 20th morning, all our candidates will be announced," he said.

According to sources, the Congress is keen on fielding Cabinet Ministers H C Mahadevappa from Chamarajanagar, K H Muniyappa from Kolar, B Nagendra from Bellary, Satish Jarkiholi from Belgaum, Eshwar Khandre from Bidar, and Krishna Byre Gowda from Bangalore North.

Almost all these ministers are reluctant to fight the polls and some are said to have suggested the names of their family members, with assurances that they will ensure their victory.

Gowda is said to have told the party leadership that he doesn't want to contest. He lost from Bangalore North in 2019 and in 2009, from Bangalore South.

Mahadevappa is said to be insisting on Chamarajanagar ticket for his son Sunil Bose.

Parameshwara, who was earlier the party state unit president, had recently said, "He (Mahadevappa) is saying that he doesn't want to contest and the ticket be given to his son. Party will ultimately decide whether it will be Mahadevappa or his son or someone else. He cannot be pressured if he doesn't want to (contest)."

Another senior Minister Muniyappa, a seven-time MP and a former central minister, who returned to state politics after losing 2019 Lok Sabha polls, is said to have pitched his son-in-law Shashidhar J E for the Kolar seat.

Similarly, names of Satish Jarkiholi's daughter Priyanka Jarkiholi for Chikkodi, Laxmi Hebbalkar's son Mrinal Hebbalkar for Belgaum, Nagendra's brother Venkatesh Prasad for Bellary, and Eshwar Khandre's son Sagar Khandre for Bidar, are doing rounds.

The Congress had initially tasked ministers with identifying potential candidates but Shivakumar had said that reports received were not satisfactory.

He had also said that the party has decided to commission one more survey to identify winnable candidates.

A Congress leader said having faced a rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls which saw the defeat of several top leaders -- including M Mallikarjun Kharge, Veerappa Moily, and Muniyappa -- despite the party being in power in the state in alliance with JD(S), many senior leaders don't want to enter the fray, as the outfit's prospects at the national level still don't look promising.

The Congress' performance in this election is another key test of sorts for Shivakumar, who has made no secret of his ambition to become chief minister, amid speculations of change in guard mid-way of the Assembly term.

The BJP has already announced its candidates for 20 seats. It is yet to make an announcement for eight seats out of which three -- Mandya, Hassan and Kolar -- are likely to go into the kitty of its alliance partner JD(S).

Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJP won 25 seats in the 2019 general elections, while an independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious.

The Congress and JD(S), which were running a coalition government back then and fought the elections together, secured one seat each.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The Grad Club at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., has been a campus landmark for decades. The university, which owns the building, plans to raise the rent by more than 300 per cent over the next five years. (Dan Taekema/CBC - image credit)

It hosted some of The Tragically Hip's earliest shows and has been a gathering place for the local LGBTQ community, not to mention its decades-old status as a staple of the graduate student scene at Queen's University.

But now the Grad Club in Kingston, Ont., says it's at risk of closing, partly due to a more than 300 per cent rent increase being levied by the university.

Starting in September, Queen's wants to begin raising the rent on the building that sits at the corner of Union and Barrie streets to $4,200 a month from $1,000. The increase would take effect gradually over the next five years.

That doesn't sit well with the non-profit Society of Graduate and Professional Students that runs the club, and has operated in some capacity since 1963 before renting the current location in 1979.

"I think Queen's is trying to squeeze water from a stone all over campus, and hurting some of the folks who are already hurting the most," said Astrid Hobill, the Grad Club's director of operations.

Astrid Hobill is drector of operations at the Grad Club, run by a non-profit organization consisting of graduate and professional students at Queen's University.

Astrid Hobill is drector of operations at the Grad Club, run by a non-profit organization consisting of graduate and professional students at Queen's University. She says the rent increase could cause the club to close. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

The club serves as both a dedicated study space for students and a favourite gathering place for the wider Queen's and Kingston communities, Hobill said.

"A lot of community space and community feeling will be lost if this space is lost," she said.

LISTEN | Local Kingston student hub is now at risk of closing after a massive rent increase

Post-secondary institutions in Ontario have been facing a funding crunch in recent years amid a tuition freeze for Canadian students.

In December, Queen's provost Matthew Evans said he was "concerned about the survival of this institution" amid a $48-million deficit. Principal Patrick Deane later reassured worried staff and students that the university is not facing imminent financial collapse or closure.

Story continues

Cost exceeding rent, university says

In a statement to CBC, the university said it recognizes the value the Grad Club provides to both students and the community, but pointed out it hasn't raised the building's rent in more than a decade. The club is currently paying more than four times less than it would for a similar space in Kingston, the university said.

The university also noted it provided the Grad Club with rent relief for two years during the pandemic, but said maintenance and upgrades to the building have "have far exceeded the [rental income] for several years," costing nearly $650,000 since 2017.

The Grad Club at Queen's University sits at the corner of Union and Barrie streets in Kingston, Ont.

The Grad Club at Queen's University sits at the corner of Union and Barrie streets. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

Queen's said it believes phasing in the rent increase will help the non-profit that runs the Grad Club "prepare and adapt."

"We are always open to discussing their finances and options with them," the university wrote.

Even with the rent relief, Hobill said the Grad Club suffered a setback last year when it had to close for a month because of a plumbing problem.

"We're just finally starting to claw our way back from under that," she said, adding the society is also working to repay a Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan it took out during the pandemic.

A local landmark

Chris Eckert, a professor and associate head of the biology department at Queen's, said it's hard to imagine his more than 30-year career at the university without the familiar "academic living room."

"If you're a music lover as I am, you know about the Grad Club regardless of where you live in Ontario," he said, reminiscing about the bands the venue has hosted over the years including the Constantines, Joel Plaskett, Doug Paisley, Sarah Harmer and of course local heroes the Hip.

But the club is more than just a place to study and take in live music, Eckert said: it's also been instrumental in attracting faculty to the university, something he hopes Queen's administrators take into account.

"Talking to several of my now colleagues, that trip to the Grad Club, that's when they realized that actually the biology department has a great culture and they can imagine an academic home for themselves here," he said.
Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 17 (ANI): The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 21 fishermen and seized two of their boats, said the president of the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, N Devadass.

Yesterday, more than 480 boats went to sea from Rameswaram to catch fish. At night, while they were engaged in fishing in the Palkbay sea area between Appadeevu and Nedundeevu, the Sri Lankan navy came and apprehended all the 21 fishermen and confiscated their boats, Devadass said.

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Fishermen claimed that they had come to fish from across the border, and the Sri Lankan Navy took them to the Kangesanturai naval base for investigation. "This is causing turmoil among the Rameswaram fishermen," he said.

In another incident, family members of four arrested fishermen staged a protest in Ramanathapuram on Friday, demanding their release after they were jailed in Kuwait last year.

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The family members alleged that they were falsely implicated in a case of drug smuggling that was filed in December 2023.

Four fishermen, Sesu and Karthik, fishermen from Tiruppalaikudi, Ramanathapuram district, Santhuru, a fisherman from the Morpannai area, and Vinodkumar, a fisherman from the Pasipattanam area, were arrested on December 5, 2023.

Ramanathapuram District Maritime Workers' Union held a demonstration in front of the district collector's office to demand their immediate release as prisoners of trial in the Kuwaiti jail.

A person who was smuggling drugs in a boat was caught there. Four fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were not connected to the case have been included in the case of wrongful smuggling of drugs, the union members said.

More than 500 people from Tirupalaikudi, Morpannai, and Pasipattinam fishing villages came together with their families and raised slogans to emphasize their demands. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) India on Sunday said that the Gujarat government is taking strict action against the perpetrators of violence at a university in Ahmedabad in which two foreign students sustained injuries.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said one of the two foreign students injured in the violence has been discharged from hospital.

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"An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators," he said on 'X'.

"Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention," he said.

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According to Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik, the incident occurred on Saturday night when some 20-25 people entered a hostel premises of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad "and objected to the international students offering namaz there, asking them to do so in a mosque. They argued over the issue, assaulted them and hurled stones".

Two students -- one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan -- were hospitalised, the police said.

An FIR was registered against 20-25 people and nine teams were formed to conduct a probe into the incident, Malik said.

There are around 300 international students enrolled at the university including from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and countries in Africa, he said.

Nearly 75 of the international students stay in the A-block hostel of the university where the incident occurred, the official said

All those involved in the incident will be arrested, the official said, adding the case will be monitored by the joint commissioner of police (crime).

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Agartala (Tripura) [India], March 17 (ANI): One Bangladeshi smuggler was killed in Tripura during the firing done by the Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday.

When BSF troops were performing duty ahead of the fence in the AOR of BOP Magroli, observed 15 - 20 miscreants approaching IBBF from the India side with a head load and 25 -30 miscreants from the Bangladesh side with a bamboo ladder.

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BSF troops challenged them to stop but they didn't pay heed, became aggressive and encircled BSF Jawan on duty. Sensing imminent danger to life and government property BSF Jawan fired 01 PAG round which hit one of the smugglers and was further apprehended, said officials.

In this incident, one of BSF Jawan got grievous injury on his forehead and was further admitted to a nearby District hospital where he got preliminary treatment. The condition of the Jawan is stable, said officials.

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The Bangladeshi national who got killed has been identified as 23-year-old Saddam Hussein was hit by PAG. He was also shifted to the District hospital where the doctor declared him dead, added the officials.

One more miscreant got injured in the firing and was taken back to Bangladesh territory by miscreants. A protest in this regard with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was being lodged, said officials. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, March 17: As the country gears up for the world's biggest electoral exercise, messaging platforms like WhatsApp and social media influencers have emerged as the go to mediums for political parties to influence voter psychology, ad gurus and political analysts say. In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, political parties are extensively using social media to propagate their achievements and seek support from voters.

How Parties Are Wooing Voters?

The BJP is trying to engage with the voters by sending them a personalised 'Letter from the Prime Minister' on WhatsApp  which has over 500 million active users monthly in India  highlighting the achievements of the Narendra Modi government and seeking feedback from voters. The party launched the website 'My First Vote For Modi,' which allows visitors to pledge to vote for Modi and submit a video stating the reason behind their choice. The website also hosts several short videos highlighting the development work done under the NDA government. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Dates: EC Announces Schedule for General Elections, Check Polling and Result Dates

On the other hand, the Congress runs a Rahul Gandhi WhatsApp group in which the leader is said to interact with people and respond to their queries. The circulation of WhatsApp information is monitored at the district level to ensure it reaches the masses and corrects the party's voter base. "Whichever political party has higher WhatsApp groups under its banner can communicate faster and better with the voters. It helps them to highlight their achievements instantly with a large user base and influence the voters by drawing parallels with the opposition," Amitabh Tiwari, an election analyst and commentator, said.

According to Tiwari, Facebook, once the most preferred platform for social media campaigning, has seen a downslide due to many restrictions on advertisements on political pages. Facebook boasts 366.9 million users according to Statistica, a data-gathering and visualisation platform. "Parties opt for social media platforms which help them connect with the masses instantly without much restrictions and have a large user base. There are many other platforms like Instagram or Twitter, which cater to a specific audience and have different formats," he said.

According to the data from the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party spent a total of Rs 325 crore for media advertisement (print and electronic, bulk SMS, cable website, TV channel, etc) during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while Congress incurred an expenditure of Rs 356 crore. EC Press Conference: Man Not Belonging To Press Removed From Election Commission PC (Watch Video)

Post-Pandemic Boom In Social Media

After the COVID-19 pandemic, perspective towards social media as a tool of information significantly changed, Ankit Lal, founder of Politique Advisor and former IT Cell head of Aam Aadmi Party, said.

"Many political parties now adopt a digital-first strategy for their poll campaigns to connect with the voters who heavily depend on social media to get information. Social media influencers have become another important medium through which parties try to influence the floating audience of those who do not vote but engage in consuming the narratives," he said.

Social Media Influencers Take The Lead

In the last few months, several political leaders have appeared on YouTube channels of popular social media influencers to connect with the younger audience. BJP leaders like S Jaishankar, Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal, and Rajeev Chandrasekhar have given interviews to podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, who has over 7 million followers on YouTube.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also joined Kamia Jani, founder of Curly Tales, a travel and food video podcast, for a candid conversation over a meal. In the 2014 general election, BJP had the first mover's advantage in utilising social media for election campaigning as many leaders were not there on these platforms, Tiwari said. "Because others (opposition) didn't realise the importance of social media for campaigning then, the ruling party was able to create more impact," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined X in 2015 (when it was still Twitter) and has 25.1 million followers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who joined X in 2009, is followed by 96.3 million people.

Effect Of Social Media Campaigning On Poll Results

Explaining the importance of social media campaigning on poll results, Lal said, "With the internet penetration of 40 per cent, in an assembly constituency of an average of two lakh people, it is possible to influence 75,000 to 80,000 people through digital mediums. Even a difference of 5,000 votes is a good win-loss margin in any assembly election." Other analysts, however, have their doubts about the power of social media to turn people into voters. It requires more analysis and research, they say.

Chambi Puranik, professor of political science and a poll analyst, said election campaigns on social media may not influence the opinions of traditional voters or party supporters who have their loyalties fixed. He said loyalty factors such as caste and local affiliation weigh far more for traditional voters as the elections come closer. "The popularity, credibility and charisma of the party face contesting in the election also swing the voters."

The Need For Regulations

Meanwhile, highlighting the need to regulate social media campaigning by parties, former chief election commissioner of India SY Quraishi said that the EC should speak to tech companies to strengthen their mechanism to take down reported posts that violate the rules of the poll body.

Do Electoral Bonds Make A Difference?

Tiwari observed that the money spent by parties for campaigns does not necessarily impact who wins or loses. Various factors contribute here, including the party's face, public image, and issues raised by the party, among others, he said. On Thursday, the Election Commission published data on electoral bonds bought between April 2019 and February 2024.

According to the data, the BJP received the highest contributions, Rs 6,566 crore or 54.77 per cent, through the bonds, followed by the Congress, which received Rs 1,123 crore or 9.37 per cent of the total.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Palnadu (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 17 (ANI): The National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s rally 'Prajagalam,' a joint public meeting of NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu district on Sunday evening, was briefly interrupted after a group of people climbed atop a light tower to listen to their leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, noticed people climbing the structure on which lights were fixed and immediately interrupted Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan, who was addressing the gathering, to urge them to come down.

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"There are electric wires. What are you doing there? Your life is precious to us. Please come down. Media persons have taken your photographs. Now come down. Police personnel deployed here, please take care of people. It would be painful for us if something happened wrong," PM Modi said while urging the group to come down for safety.

PM Modi then sat back in his seat, and the Jana Sena chief went on to complete his speech.

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PM Narendra Modi participated in the NDA rally 'Prajagalam' with the TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan for the first time in Palnadu district.

'Prajagalam', which translates to 'voice of the public' is the first joint public meeting of NDA partners in Andhra in the past ten years.

The BJP has formed an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Jana Sena is contesting the general elections in alliance with the BJP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh. As per the seat-sharing agreement, the BJP will contest six Lok Sabha seats and 10 assembly seats, while the TDP will contest 17 seats and 144 assembly seats. Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 assembly seats.

The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections nationwide.

According to the EC's announcement, Andhra Pradesh will hold elections for its 25 constituencies on May 13th. The coastal state's elections will take place in just one phase.

A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to cast their vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Mother Dairy will invest Rs 650 crore to set up two new plants for processing of milk as well as fruits and vegetables to expand its business amid rising consumer demand.

Mother Dairy, which is a leading milk supplier in Delhi-NCR, will also invest another Rs 100 crore to expand capacities of its existing plants.

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"In our endeavour to expand our distribution and reach to our consumers, we have earmarked a capital expenditure (capex) outlay of over Rs 750 crore to enhance our dairy and F&V (fruits and vegetables) processing capacities across key locations," Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd MD Manish Bandlish told PTI.

Mother Dairy is coming up with a big dairy plant in Nagpur, Maharashtra with an investment of around Rs 525 crore, he said.

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The greenfield plant will have a processing capacity of 6 lakh litres of milk per day, which can be expanded up to 10 lakh litres a day.

This upcoming plant will serve the markets of central and southern regions.

"We also plan to commission a new fruit processing plant in Karnataka with an investment of over Rs 125 crore under our Safal brand," Bandlish said.

These two plants are expected to be completed in about two years.

"In addition to these new greenfield plants, we are also strengthening our capacities in our existing facilities with an outlay of around Rs 100 crore," Bandlish said.

At present, Mother Dairy has nine company-owned processing plants for dairy with a total total milk processing capacity of more than 50 lakh litres per day.

It also undertakes processing at third party facilities.

For the horticulture (fruits and vegetables) segment, the company has its own four plants, while for edible oils it manufactures through 15 associated plants.

Mother Dairy's turnover in the 2022-23 fiscal stood at around Rs 14,500 crore.

On the expected turnover for this fiscal, Bandlish said, "despite a challenging year amid subdued summer season last year, deflation in the edible oil sector, the company is likely to exit 2023-24 with a moderate growth rate of around 7-8 per cent in volume terms."

Mother Dairy was commissioned in 1974. It is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

Mother Dairy was established under the initiative of 'Operation Flood', world's biggest dairy development program launched to make India a milk sufficient nation.

Mother Dairy, one of the leading dairy players in India, manufactures, markets and sells milk and milk products including cultured products, ice creams, paneer, ghee, etc. under the 'Mother Dairy' brand.

The company also has a diversified portfolio with products in edible oils under the 'Dhara' brand and fresh fruits & vegetables, frozen vegetables & snacks, unpolished pulses, pulps & concentrates, etc. under the 'Safal' brand.

In Delhi-NCR, it has hundreds of milk booths as well as Safal retail outlets.

Mother Dairy sells more than 35 lakh litres of fresh milk (pouched and token milk) per day in Delhi-NCR.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dubai, Mar 17 (AP) A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre offered few details in an announcement about the attack, saying only it happened off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.

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The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden.

The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though it typically takes the Houthis several hours before acknowledging their assaults.

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Separately, the US military's Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Houthis. It said it destroyed five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday. It was an unusually high number of drone boats to be destroyed.

Separately, the US military shot down one Houthi drone over the Red Sea, while another was presumed to have crashed.

There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity, Central Command said.

The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.

The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the US or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam's minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.

A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now have a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.

Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.

Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertiliser that later sank after drifting for several days. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Moscow, Mar 17 (AP) Russians crowded outside polling stations at midday Sunday on the last day of a presidential election, apparently heeding an opposition call to protest against President Vladimir Putin in a vote that offered them no real alternatives.

Putin is poised to extend his nearly quarter century of rule for six more years after a relentless crackdown on dissent  and early returns announced after polls closed in Russia showed he had nearly 88% of the vote with 24% of the precincts counted, according to Russia's Central Election Commission.

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The election took place amid attacks within Russia by Ukrainian missiles and drones, which have killed several people. Polling happened in a tightly controlled environment where Putin only faces competition from three token rivals and any public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine is stifled.

Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. Beyond the fact that voters have virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election is extremely limited.

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Navalny's associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to protest by coming to the polls at noon on Sunday  and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's widow, who joined a long line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin as some in the crowd applauded and chanted her name.

She spent more than five hours in the line and told reporters after casting her vote that she wrote her late husband's name on the ballot.

Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he's a killer, he's a gangster.

Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St. Petersburg told the Associated Press that they were taking part in the protest, but it wasn't possible to confirm whether all of those pictured in line were doing so.

Joining a line at a polling station around noon in Moscow, a woman who said her name was Yulia told the AP that she was voting for the first time.

Even if my vote doesn't change anything, my conscience will be clear ... for the future that I want to see for our country, she said. She, like others, didn't give her full name because of security concerns.

Another Moscow voter, who also identified himself only by his first name, Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that unfortunately, it's unlikely.

Independent Russian media posted images of spoiled ballots posted by voters, with killer and thief inscribed on one, and waiting for you in The Hague written on another, in a reference to an arrest warrant issued for Putin on war crimes charges related to his alleged responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Still, some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

While Russians went to the polls, a major Ukrainian drone attack across Russia Sunday once again was a reminder of challenges faced by the Kremlin.

The governor of the Belgorod region near Ukraine said that three people were killed in the attacks while Russia's Defense Ministry said it took down more than 100 Ukrainian drones and missiles across the weekend.

Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online. While polls closed Sunday night in Russia, voting continued at some embassies around the world.

Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported across the voting period.

Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of the Russian Security Council chaired by Putin, called for toughening the punishment for those who vandalize polling stations, arguing they should face treason charges.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said that pressure on voters from law enforcement had reached unprecedented levels.

Russians, he said in a social media post, were searched at polling stations, their ballots checked before they were cast, and police demanded a ballot box was opened to remove a ballot.

"It's the first time in my life that I've seen such absurdities, Andreychuk wrote on the messaging app Telegram, adding that he started monitoring elections in Russia 20 years ago.

A video, shared on social media, also appeared to show an armed man in camouflage gear going into booths, harassing Russians as they voted.

Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that the opposition's call to protest had been successful.

The action has shown that there's another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin.

Huge lines also formed around noon outside Russian diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Belgrade and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left Russia after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Protesters in Berlin displayed a figure of Putin bathing in a bath of blood with the Ukrainian flag on the side, alongside shredded ballots in ballot boxes.

Russian state television and officials said the lines abroad showed strong turnout. The Russian Embassy in Germany posted a video of the queue in Berlin on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption, together we are strong  Vote for Russia!

In Tallinn, where hundreds stood in a line snaking around the Estonian capital's cobbled streets leading to the Russian Embassy, 23-year-old Tatiana said she came to take part in the protest at noon.

If we have some option to protest I think it's important to utilize any opportunity, she said, only giving her first name, citing personal security reasons.

Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who tried to join the race on an anti-war platform but was barred from running by election officials, voiced hope that many Russians cast their ballots against Putin.

"I believe that the Russian people today have a chance to show their real attitude to what is happening by voting not for Putin, but for some other candidates or in some other way, which is exactly what I did, he said after voting in Dolgoprudny, just outside Moscow.

The OVD-Info group that monitors political arrests said that 80 people were arrested in 20 cities across Russia on Sunday. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], March 17 (ANI): Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has dissociated itself with the ongoing protests by Pakistanis in the United States outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) headquarters, Geo News reported.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that these demonstrations are the individual decision of those involved and party has not played any part in it.

Also Read | Cyberattack in Russia: Russian Election Authorities Reports 160,000 Cyberattacks on Country's Remote Voting System.

"If overseas Pakistanis are making up something, then it would be their own decision," Gohar said while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail.

Notably, several PTI workers from overseas chapter staged protests outside the IMF and WB headquarters in Washington against alleged irregularities in the 2024 general elections in Pakistan, as reported by Geo News.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra and Actor Swara Bhaskar Kick Off 'Jan Nyay Padyatra' in Mumbai: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, March 17, 2024.

The Saturday protest in US was attended by Imran Khan's ex-chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill and PTI spokesperson in the United States, Sajjad Burki.

The demonstration -- organised by "First Pakistan Global" -- alleged that the PTI's National Assembly seats were "reduced" to 90 from 180 in the general elections, The News reported.

The protests drew severe criticism from the Pakistani government at the time when the country was seeking another bailout package from the global lender to address its economic woes.

Responding to this criticism, the PTI chairman said that the party did not ask the IMF to stop disbursing financial aid to Pakistan; however, it admitted that the party urged the global lender's recall its commitments for free and fair elections and transparent allocations of its funds.

Speaking further, Gohar said that his party's merger with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) was "serious and best decision" in the circumstances prevailing at the time when PTI lost its "bat" symbol and was looking for options to secure its reserved seats.

Gohar added that the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) decision upholding the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) ruling to deny reserved seats to PTI would be challenged in the apex court. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], March 17 (ANI): An Islamabad district and sessions court on Saturday dismissed a Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20 billion defamation case filed against former Prime Minister Imran Khan by former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry after nearly 10 years, The Express Tribune reported.

In July 2014, Iftikhar Chaudhry sent a defamation notice worth PKR 20 billion to Imran Khan for accusing him of rigging in the general election held in 2013. After the notice, Chaudhry's legal team warned of initiating legal proceedings if Imran Khan did not issue an apology for his statements.

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Chaudhry formally registered a case in January 2015. In the lawsuit, the former Chief Justice of Pakistan accused Imran Khan of using derogatory remarks against him in a statement published on June 27, 2014, and had levelled baseless allegations against the judiciary.

After the lengthy proceedings, the court announced the decision in Imran Khan's favour and dismissed the lawsuit filed by Chaudhry and called the defamation notice time-barred, according to The Express Tribune report.

Also Read | Amnesty International Urges Pakistan Government for Immediate Restoration of X As Ban Enters 29th Day.

In her ruling, Additional District Session Judge Haseena Saqlain stated, "As per the plaint, the last alleged defamatory statement was made on 27.06.2014, and the suit has been filed on 20.01.2015, that is after lapse of almost six months and 24 days."

"The argument of the plaintiff is that the suit has been filed within six months of the purported notice issued on 24.07.2014, hence, is filed within time," the ruling read, according to The Express Tribune.

The judgement highlighted the importance of including the date of knowledge of publication of defamatory material in the plaint. It stated, "Including the date of knowledge of publication of defamatory material in the plaint is crucial because it plays a significant role in determining whether the suit is within the statutory limitation period."

The court also mentioned that the plantiff under the Defamation Ordinance 2022 needs to file the lawsuit within six months from the date of knowledge of the publication of defamatory material and failure to do so would render the suit time-barred, as per Section 12 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002, according to The Express Tribune.

"The presumption is now that the plaintiff was aware of the alleged defamatory remarks on the date of publication. Consequently, the filing the instant suit beyond the limitation period stipulated under Section 12 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002 is not permissible as the same has been filed after more than six months and 24 days of alleged defamatory statements published," the court ruled.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder is presently incarcerated at Adiala Jail. He has been facing a number of legal challenges since his ouster in April 2022 through a no-confidence motion.

Meanwhile, PTI-affiliated candidates dominated elections held in Pakistan on February 8. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Two of the great granddaughters of a Sakalava king in Madagascar, who was beheaded in 1897 by colonial troops, publicly addressed the French ambassador, asking him to speed up the restitution of their ancestor's skull.

In all, they are claiming three skulls belonging to the Sakalaves, an ethnic group living on the west and northwest regions of the island.

Plundered at the end of the 19th century during the French colonial conquest, the skulls are now kept at the Musee de l'Homme in Paris, along with several hundred human remains from Madagascar.

Among the three skulls is the skull of King Toera, who was beheaded in 1897 in Ambiky, the former royal capital of the Menabe region, to quell a rebellion during an attack by French colonial troops.

DNA tests have not been able to fully confirm that the skull belongs to King Toera.

King Toera's great granddaughters

On 11 March, during celebrations for Taombaovao  the Malagasy New Year  in Antananarivo, the French ambassador, Arnaud Guillois, received a letter from two of King Toera's great granddaughters.

While the very first request for restitution made by the current Sakalava king, Magloire, for Princess Julia Georgine Kamamy dates back to 2003, this request is special.

"He can't fulfil his role as protective ancestor for his people and his descendants.

A joint Franco-Malagasy commission is expected to rule soon on the return of the skull of King Toera along with the two other skulls.



Read more on RFI English



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Moscow [Russia], March 17 (ANI): All schools and colleges in parts of Russia's Belgorod will remain shut on Monday and Tuesday after a rise in Ukrainian attacks on the region, CNN reported, citing the region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

In the statement issued on Telegram, Gladkov stated that shopping malls will also remain closed on Sunday and Monday. The impacted districts lie near the border with Ukraine. The frequent attacks have brought the conflict in Ukraine to the people of Russia largely isolated from the war.

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On Saturday, Ukraine's Spy Chief Kyrylo Budanov said Russians are among the sabotage groups attacking Belgorod and Kursk, which shares the border with Ukraine, according to CNN.

"This is a story about how Russians solve this domestic issue. We may like some of them more, others less. But still, both are Russians," Budanov said, adding that the attacks will continue.

Also Read | Amnesty International Urges Pakistan Government for Immediate Restoration of X As Ban Enters 29th Day.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the attacks carried out on the Belgorod and Kursk regions have been largely unsuccessful. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being constantly updated on the situation, CNN reported citing Russian state news RIA Novosti.

In his earlier statement, Belgorod's governor Gladkov stressed that the situation in the city and Belgorod district was 'quite difficult', adding, "Naturally, the issue of safety is the most important for all of us. It is clear that teachers, nannies and technical staff are all worried."

Schools and colleges in the impacted districts have been closed since Tuesday evening last week, when Gladkov announced students would be having "days of self-learning" through Friday. At the time of the announcement, he said he hoped schools would be able to begin normal activities on Monday, CNN reported.

Since the first half of 2023, Ukraine has been attacking Russia's Belgorod region off and on, according to reports. However, Ukraine has scaled up shelling and strikes about a week ago.

People in Belgorod, as well as other parts of Russia, are presently voting for the Presidential elections.

Meanwhile, voting continued in Russia for a second day on Saturday, with authorities apprehending several Russians for carrying out acts of civil disobedience.

On Saturday, Gladkov said two people, including a truck driver whose vehicle was hit by a shell, were killed in early morning attacks.

In a post on Telegram on Saturday, Russia's Defence Ministry said Russian forces repelled Ukraine fighters attempts to infiltrate the country in several areas, saying that it had conducted "a complex fire attack on concentrations of enemy manpower and equipment".

Local residents in Belgorod have been sharing images and videos on local social media platforms, showing explosions in the city and fires burning outside residential buildings where Ukrainian strikes have taken place, CNN reported.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian groups of Russian fighters mounted a cross-border attack in Belgorod while heavy drone strikes and shelling were also reported in the city. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dubai [UAE], March 17 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, affirmed that the Genetic International Trade Association (GITO) Summit in Dubai carries great importance in exploring investment opportunities and enhancing trade exchange between India, African countries, the Middle East and North Africa region, which reflects the UAE's commitment to enhancing international cooperation and strengthening the global economy, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"Growth has become one of our most important priorities, in light of the UAE's close trade and economic relations with most countries of the world, which emphasises our role in promoting development and regional and global cooperation, in order to provide an economic model that everyone can adopt, because the Emirati model confirms that economic prosperity is the foundation of a successful society and is necessary to improve the quality of life of its people," he said.

Also Read | Air Pollution in Pakistan: Karachi Becomes Seventh Most Polluted City in World.

This came during Sheikh Nahyan's participation in the Dubai International GITO Summit, in the presence of more than 600 economic figures from more than 18 countries. Abdullah Al Hashimi, Executive Director of Operations at Parks and Zones and DP World for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries; Sanjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE, and a large number of international figures, also spoke at the summit.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak honoured Vinod Adani, Chairman of Adani Global, with the Jeetu Ratna Award for his outstanding contributions to national growth and promotion of Jeetu.

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He said, "Your summit is a call to the business communities in India, African countries, the Middle East and North Africa region to partner for success, and it is important to realise that managing large-scale investment and capital flows between India and those countries requires steadfastness and hard work, through appropriate social initiatives and emphasising ethical and transparent deals, and expanding individual and institutional participation in all joint projects and investments."

He added, "I look forward to your discussions on how to achieve greater integration between India, the countries of Africa, the Middle East and North Africa region, and in particular, how to build stronger trade and economic ties to enhance regional trade and investment, also how to strengthen the private sector in each aspect and increase its participation in national and regional development, and in the global economy respectively. How to manage globalisation while sharing the benefits of modern technology, how to build and strengthen the institutions that make economic cooperation possible, and how to benefit from the growing and the special status of India, Africa, the Middle East and North Africa region in the global economy."

Sheikh Nahyan directed the audience to the importance of everyone considering how to train and develop the business leaders that India, Africa, the Middle East and North Africa region need in order to achieve their full potential in terms of economic and social and human development, so that such leaders have the ability to adapt to changes in business environments, and that they must develop the skills necessary to overcome obstacles and build relationships across borders.

He concluded, "I certainly wish you a successful summit. I also look forward to our esteemed guests from abroad enjoying their time in Dubai and the UAE. I take this opportunity to wish all of you and all the people of India prosperity and continued luxury in the years to come. "We, in the United Arab Emirates, deeply values our friendship with India and hopes that the excellent relations between our two countries will develop and become more productive."

Sheikh Nahyan also extended a special greeting to the African ambassadors who attended the summit, expressing his deep appreciation for the close and lasting relations between the UAE and all African countries. (ANI/WAM)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sharjah [UAE], March 17 (ANI/WAM): The emirate of Sharjah reinforced its status as a beacon of Arab culture, supporting Emirati and Arab authors and publishers, and highlighting its array of initiatives and programmes to advance the publishing industry during Sharjah Book Authority's (SBA) participation in the London International Book Fair (LIBF) 2024, which concluded recently, leading a delegation representing the emirate's cultural pillars.

At the international event, which annually attracts over 1,000 exhibitors and publishers worldwide, SBA showcased the latest strides and milestones achieved in Sharjah's cultural project, born from the vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to support the publishing sector, libraries, and the broader creative industries, and create a nurturing environment for networking, exchanging expertise, and forging partnerships and deals between Emirati publishers and their global counterparts.

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The Sharjah delegation at the London International Book Fair included key cultural entities, such as Al Qasimi Publications, the Department of Culture, Sharjah Publishing City, Kalimat Group, Arab Children's Book Publisher Forum, as well as the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature, and Turjuman Award affiliated with SBA. At the emirate's pavilion, each entity showcased its projects, initiatives, and vision, presenting an opportunity to highlight the significance of culture, specifically books, in the UAE's developmental journey and fostering cultural cooperation between Sharjah and the cities around the world.

Commenting on the event, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, emphasised Sharjah's pivotal role in enriching global culture and international initiatives due to the emirate's extensive journey envisioned by H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, founded on nurturing and upskilling humans as a cornerstone for sustainable progress and development for nations worldwide.

Also Read | Russia Presidential Elections 2024: Vladimir Putin Poised To Rule Country for Six More Years After an Election With No Other Real Choices.

He added, "Under the patronage and guidance of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, and in partnership with the emirate's cultural institutions, our participation this year showcased a diverse programme to foster partnerships with global cultural hubs and forge stronger ties with leading figures in the book industry. This will stimulate the cultural scene, enhance support for publishers and translators, and underscore the critical role of creativity and innovation in propelling the influence of books in realising the aspirations of societies worldwide."

During the book fair, SBA highlighted the unique opportunities stemming from participation in its events, such as the Sharjah International Book Fair, Publishers Conference, Sharjah International Library Conference, and Sharjah Booksellers Conference, which have been instrumental in bolstering the publishing sector and fostering translation activities across varied cultures. (ANI/WAM)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Pennsylvania [US], March 17 (ANI): A man accused of killing three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, on Saturday morning was finally taken into custody, CNN reported, citing police. Andre Gordon, the 26-year-old suspect, allegedly killed three people at two different homes in Pennsylvania before carjacking a driver and heading for New Jersey.

Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said, "He's in custody. No one else was injured."

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Wilson added that the authorities in Trenton, who were looking to arrest Gordon, initially believed he was barricaded inside a home, which led to the setting up of a perimeter of the area.

"Apparently, before the perimeter was completed, the suspect was able to get out of the location unseen. However, our information was that he was still in there," he said, adding that Gordon was taken into custody without any incident, CNN reported.

Also Read | Amnesty International Urges Pakistan Government for Immediate Restoration of X As Ban Enters 29th Day.

"The suspect was actually walking on New York Avenue." He further said, "He was stopped, identified and taken into custody," Wilson informed further.

Falls Township Police said officers were called just before 9 am (local time) to conduct an investigation into the reported shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown.

Addressing a news conference on Saturday afternoon (local time), Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Gordon, who was driving a stolen vehicle, shot his 52-year-old stepmother Karen Gordon and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon in their home. Schorn said that three other people who were present in the home successfully hid from Gordon during the attack.

After the shooting, Gordon visited Edgewood Lane and shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, with whom he has two children. According to Schorn, four other people were present inside the home, including Daniel's mother, who was injured by Gordon and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Police said Gordon after the shooter carjacked a 44-year-old driver at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville. The police said the driver was not injured in the incident. According to Falls Township Police, the carjacked Honda CRV was found abandoned in Trenton at around 11:38 am (local time), CNN reported.

Falls Township Police said they believe Gordon knew all the victims except for the driver. In the statement, the police said he is "believed to be currently homeless and has ties to the Trenton, New Jersey, area." In the news conference on Saturday, police said it had "minimal contact" with Gordon in the past.

The FBI office in Philadelphia said they are "aware and tracking the incident" and are "working closely with our local partners," CNN reported. A shelter-in-place order for Falls Township was lifted after police found that Gordon was in New Jersey.

The Pennsylvania State Police, meanwhile, said they were assisting with the probe.

In a post on X, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated that he had been "briefed on the developing incident."

Falls Township lies approximately 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia and is close to the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The cards were then sold to people in Vietnam at a "high price" and these were "further used for gaming and social media applications", the official said. The accused used to receive money on "Chinese cryptocurrency application", which was recently banned in India, police said and added that 500 SIM cards have been seized.
Eighteen Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad have been granted Indian citizenship during a camp attended by Gujarat minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi.
Former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been found guilty of drug trafficking charges at a federal court in New York. How did we get here? Who is Juan Orlando Hernandez, and how did he get to power? As revealed by the results of his trial, it was thanks to the big drug cartels.

Known as JOH back home, Hernandez was the leader of the National Party and was even the president of the National Congress of Honduras before being elected as president in 2013 and then re-elected in 2017. He used to represent the Lempira Department of Honduras in the National Congress and became the congress president in that position.

As a presidential candidate, the staunch conservative politician campaigned against crime and vowed to fight drugs, which would be quite ironic given how he eventually ended up. He defeated Ricardo Alvarez in the primary election. His rival denounced the result as fraudulent, but soon enough, he became the nominee of the party before moving on to become president of Honduras. However, his 2013 win was marred by controversy.

As a candidate, Hernandez did not poll very highly as he was previously in 3rd place with only a projected 18% of the vote. However, the then-Congressman campaigned by claiming that his closest rival, Xiomara Castro, wanted to remove the Policia Militar. This was one of the reasons that he surged as he defeated Castro by 250,000 votes.

However, as the US Justice Department noted, Hernandez was taking bribes from some of the biggest drug traffickers in the world, including the infamous leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. He then used that bribe money to bribe other officials to help him secure the presidency.

While Hernandez argued that he extradited drug traffickers to the US, the DOJ pointed out that he did so selectively. He also allegedly used the Honduran National Police and the Honduran Army "to protect and grow" the criminal organizations he was allied with.

READ MORE: Honduras: Trial of Ex-President Juan Orlando Hernandez Considered Must-See TV for Citizens

Juan Orlando Hernandez and His Relationship With the US as President of Honduras

In the beginning, the US was supportive of Hernandez because of his "tough on crime" persona as he campaigned against the drug syndicates. This is despite the DEA investigating him in 2013 over those alleged ties with the drug cartels.

When Hernandez's power grew in Honduras, however, the US noticed that as president, Hernandez "limited the ability of US law enforcement to act on the evidence it collected," according to Insight Crime. However, the US was letting him off the hook at that time, as he was helping the US stem migration.

However, things changed after his re-election as more and more allegations of his ties to the drug cartels came out, not to mention the election irregularities of his 2017 re-election win. Things then took a turn when his brother, Tony Hernandez, was arrested in Miami for bribery and drug trafficking.

Facebook Contributed to Juan Orlando Hernandez Misleading Honduras Citizens

Like many politicians, Juan Orlando Hernandez also used social media to his advantage. However, the right-wing leader was notable for using Facebook to spread disinformation. His posts also received hundreds of thousands of fake likes from more than a thousand inauthentic Facebook Pages. The thing is, Facebook knew about it and did nothing for nearly a year.

Facebook data scientist Sophie Zhang discovered the anomaly, according to The Guardian. She found that he received 90% of all the known fake engagements received by civic or political Pages in Honduras. This was supposed to violate Facebook's policy against "coordinated inauthentic behavior," but Facebook did little about those fake "likes." Zhang came out and revealed that the company was doing little about the Honduran situation, and it eventually forced the platform to act.

READ MORE: Honduras Ex-President Juan Orlando Hernandez Convicted on Drug Trafficking Charges in New York Trial

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: How Juan Orlando Hernandez Went From Honduras President to Shoving Drugs Up 'Noses of the Gringos' - NBC New York
In an interesting view of the two likely candidates for president in 2024, both found themselves at the U.S. Southern border recently. Both spoke. And the contrast couldnt have been more vivid.

One is seeking solutions, working with Congress to try, in a bipartisan way, to solve what appears to be an intractable problem made worse by a governor in Texas on a mission to vilify and abuse desperate migrants.

The other likely candidate cast immigrants as less than human, too, and focused his venom on one immigrant in particular, a man accused of murdering Laken Riley. And whether or not this individual committed this crime, Trump has chosen to cast all immigrants in the same light, as criminals.
A bill advanced Thursday that would trigger five years of automatic gas tax hikes and a new $250 fee on electric and other zero emission vehicles in New Jersey to reauthorize the states Transportation Trust Fund.

The state Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 5-4 along party lines to release the Democratic-sponsored measure (A4011) after an hour of testimony and objections Thursday afternoon at the Statehouse in Trenton. A companion bill in the state senate cleared the bodys appropriations committee on March 11 by a 9-4 vote.

The legislation proposes changing the states gas tax formula in fiscal year 2025, which starts on July 1, to raise $2.3 billion in revenue for the trust fund that finances major highway and transit projects. That revenue goal would increase to $2.115 billion in fiscal year 2026, $2.119 billion in FY 2027, $2.366 billion in FY 2028 and $2.366 billion in FY 2029.
McDonald's burger rand hashtag fries - Pavlovska Yevheniia/Shutterstock

Customers at many McDonald's locations around the world were not lovin' it due to a global tech outage that kept ordering systems offline for hours. Because the outage impacted point-of-sale systems, app- and kiosk-based transactions ceased. Stores in some affected countries shut down entirely, frustrating customers who might have just dropped by for a pie and discovered that ordering one wasn't as easy as pie. Other locations reverted to cash payments when possible, according to news reports. McDonald's issued a statement apologizing to customers and franchisees, saying the outage was not due to a cyber attack but rather an error during a "configuration change" at 1 a.m. ET on March 15. The first reports of the problem surfaced in Australia, according to the site Downdetector, which keeps tabs on web outages.

Reports indicate McDonald's operations were affected in London, Hong Kong, various parts of Japan, Australia, and some U.S. cities, among other places. The problem lasted roughly 12 hours. But not all locations experienced it equally. For instance, the Associated Press reports that a worker in Milan described a two-hour outage while one in Bangcock said theirs lasted an hour. A post on X from McDonald's Australia confirms that all its ores are and back to normal. McDonald's Chief Information Officer Brian Rice said the company was "working with absolute urgency to resolve" the technology meltdown.

Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home

Customers And Employees React On Social Media

McDonald's kiosk system - Hapabapa/Getty Images

The widespread nature of the outage caught the attention of customers around the world, and some speculated on social media about the cause. Redditors peppered comments throughout several threads mentioning what they dubbed the "McMeltdown" or the "MacTastrophe." Some employees talked about missed shifts and technical problems caused by the glitch or suggested a cyber attack was to blame. Many Instagram commenters used the situation as an opportunity to poke fun at the chain's chronically out-of-service ice cream machines, wondering if this was finally the day the machines would ironically work again with no way to place an order.

The tech glitch affected a huge swath of territory, impacting untold numbers of customers and employees and potentially damaging each restaurant's bottom line. McDonald's has over 40,000 fast-food outlets worldwide. They collectively made over $20 billion in sales in 2023. Over 1,000 McDonald's are located in Australia, and in Japan, McDonald's has a 20% fast-food market share, encompassing nearly 3000 stores.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
A newcomer to Laois who is a performing poet has told his story on RTE on The Tommy Tiernan Show.

Dagogo Hart was one of Tommy's guests on March 16.

The poet, writer, spoken-word artist and pharmacist recently moved to Portlaoise from Dublin.

He told Tommy he moved to Laois a month ago with his wife because of homes were more affordable in Portlaoise than Dublin.

Apart from talking about his creative passion and performing some of his work, Dagogo joked with Tommy about already picking up a Portlaoise accent. MORE BELOW TWEET.

Poetry I think is something that is really in my veins.



Tommy meets poet and spoken-word artist Dagogo Hart#TommyTiernanShow@tommedian pic.twitter.com/cbYk3GJWcY  RTE One (@RTEOne) March 16, 2024

The Nigerian native who has lived in Kerry, Cork and Dublin during his 14 years in Ireland, also chatted about the challenges of getting a haircut in Portlaoise.

Harts poetry is inspired by his hometown in Lagos and his experiences since moving to Ireland.

Tommy's other guests on the eve of St Patrick's Day were Kerry GAA legend Kieran Donaghy, Linda Ervine, Irish language rights activist Linda Ervine from east Belfast and music from The Workshop performing 'Gadget'.
The death of Emmet Stagg marks the passing of the foremost staunchly socialist parliamentarian to represent County Kildare on the national political stage for the better part of two decades

A left leaning politician within the Labour Party, he was identified as being on the extreme left wing of the party. He opposed coalition with Fine Gael but, during his career, he twice served as a Minister for State in coalition administrations.

He became Minister of State at the Department of the Environment in the Fianna Fail/Labour administration created after the 1991 general election.

Two years later Stagg was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications in 1994, in the so-called Rainbow Coalition Government of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left.

A native of Hollymount, County Mayo he came from a large family, the best known of whom was his republican activist brother Frank.

At a trial in Birmingham, UK, in 1973 Frank was found to be the co-commanding officer of a IRA unit in Coventry

Frank Stagg died on hunger strike in prison in the UK after 62 days without food, having been sentenced to ten years in prison and initially held at a top security jail on the Isle of Wight.

He went on hunger strike seeking to be returned to Ireland and an end to prison work - which republican inmates generally opposed on the basis that they were political prisoners.

His death led to considerable controversy, even disgrace, over where he should be buried. Emmet and Franks widow wanted to have him buried in the family plot in the cemetery in Hollymount.

However, two other brothers and the republican movement wanted him buried in the republican plot in Ballina.

At the last minute the Fine Gael led Irish government diverted the flight carrying his remains to Shannon Airport from Dublin, where republicans, family members and journalists were waiting.

Its estimated there were 1,600 gardai and soldiers at the funeral. The grave was covered in concrete and guarded for six months. Later it was dug up and reinterred at a republican plot.

For a time afterwards brother Emmet, who always maintained he was following his mothers wishes, was provided with a firearm by the authorities for his own protection because he had been threatened by republicans.

Born on October 1, 1944, he was first elected to Kildare County Council in 1979 representing the then Celbridge electoral area.

He was returned as a councillor in the 1985 election, this time topping the poll and was elected on the first count with more than two quotas and with more than 1,500 first preferences ahead of third placed Bernard Durkan.

He was returned again in the 1991 elections finishing ahead of current Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, who was then representing the Workers Party

Stagg was first elected to the Dail at the 1987 election and this was a time when the dual mandate existed which allowed councillors to serve as TDs.

In 1987 Kildare was a single constituency with five seats before population growth led to the creation of Kildare North and Kildare South a decade later.

Castlemitchell grocer Joe Bermingham had been the standard bearer for the Labour Party since winning the seat in 1973 in what was then a three seater.

In 87 Stagg was the second TD home, marginally behind Fianna Fails Paddy Power.

There was another general election in 1989 which saw Stagg the third Dail representative elected for Kildare behind the poll topping Charlie McCreevy.

The high water mark of his career came in the 1992 election when he topped the poll with 21% of the first preference votes cast, comfortably exceeding the quota by more than 2,000 votes.

In 1997 Kildare North and Kildare South came into being and Stagg took the third seat in the three seater and he won the second seat in 2002 - as he would in 2007 and 2011.

In 2016 he lost his seat as Catherine Murphy put in a barnstorming performance for the Social Democrats, taking more than one in five of all first preferences. Stagg finished in sixth place as James Lawless, Frank ORourke and Bernard Durkan were elected without reaching the quota.

Jack Wall, who had held the seat for Labour in Kildare South since1997, retired before the 2016 poll.

Stagg ran again last time out, in 2020. But his share of the vote fell by three percentage points to 5.4% and he finished behind Vincent P Martin (Green Party) and Anthony Lawlor (FG), with more candidates ahead of him than behind him.

He will be remembered as a wily operator who managed to ensure that few genuine alternative Labour Party candidates emerged to oppose him and he seldom, if ever, had a running mate when seeking a Dail seat. Leixlip-based Catherine Murphy, herself an impressive vote winner, was seen by many as a strong left wing politician but she left Labour in 2003.

Rakish and thin, he frequently wore a wide brimmed Fedora-type hat and his bookish appearance belied an often strident disposition. He had the reputation of being a hardworking constituency TD.

He was an impressive orator with a quick wit, he was not shy of controversy and was unafraid of the consequences when he spoke.

He once said he would have no objection to people working while claiming unemployment payments because these payments were so paltry in the 1980s.

He was a vocal critic of the Environmental Protection Agency when the dump at Kerdiffstown first began to to stink and then went on fire over a decade ago.

Where once there was a hole in the ground, there is now a veritable mountain of rotting, stinking, waste. It is one of the highest points in County Kildare. There is no protection for ground or surface water from the leachate running off the dump and it should be noted that the River Morrell, a tributary of the Liffey and a source of Dublin and Kildare water supply, runs within 100 metres of the site, he said in the Dail.

In 1994 he was at the centre of controversy when it emerged that gardai had previously found him in a part of Phoenix Park frequented by male prostitutes,

There was criticism of the garda leak to the media. No charges were brought against him and no crime was committed.

He was also a champion of decent housing for everyone and railed against the appalling housing conditions which the Travelling community must endure.

Referring to official and unofficial sites in Kildare in 1999, he said Irish families are still forced to rear their children without basic water, sanitary and refuse facilities.

I met one woman who shares her caravan with six teenage daughters in Leixlip. She has no running water or refuse service. The halting site is only a stones throw from the Intel plant in Leixlip, one of the most impressive examples of Ireland's new found economic confidence and technological skills, he said.

Read more Kildare news

He had an impish sense of humour too, telling this reporter that party colleague and former Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn was known as Ho Chi Quinn in his younger days, a play on the pronunciation of Vietnamese communist leader Ho Chi Minhs name.

By profession he was a medical technologist who worked in Trinity College and he lived at Lodge Park, Straffan, originally built as a Kildare County Council estate for most of his life.
Mary Lou McDonald has defended her decision to go to the US for St Patricks Day despite calls for politicians to boycott events this year.

The Sinn Fein leader said she couldnt refuse the unparalleled access that Washington DC offers this week.

She made the comments in the face of a push for politicians to snub meetings with senior US figures in a show of Irish opposition to the growing number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

The SDLP said it has not sent any party representatives to the US this year due to the conflict in Gaza.

But Ms McDonald said it was her responsibility and duty to speak to anyone she can in a bid to stop the spiralling death toll during an interview on the Sky News programme Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

Asked whether she should have boycotted the White House reception this year, Ms McDonald admitted that words arent enough but added Im not talking about words.

Im talking about concrete action. We need a ceasefire. We need to end the slaughter of women and children in Gaza. 30,000 deaths now.

She continued: So the question isnt why did you come? The question has to be how could you possibly stay away?

In a way, we have a unique position as Irish political leaders in that we have a very strong, relationship with the United States, very strong, unparalleled access in a week like this.

And we also have a very strong relationship with the Palestinian struggle and a strong commitment to freedom for Palestine and self-determination, an end to the occupation.

How on earth could I possibly justify not coming and not pressing that case in the strongest possible terms?

She said that there was an unanswerable need for a ceasefire and for the US to lead on that amid the ongoing vicious, criminal bombardment of Gaza.

Weve had very frank conversations with individual members on the Hill, with the administration itself and our message has been very clear: we come here as friends, as people who have had the benefit of great support from the United States for our own peace process, and we acknowledge that, but in respect of Palestine they have got it dangerously badly wrong and the ceasefire now has to be the absolute priority for everybody concerned.

Irish politicians have emphasised the need for dialogue as part of efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stating its not our policy to boycott, its our policy to engage.

Irish artists including Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Kneecap withdrew from the South by Southwest arts festival in Texas this week over opposition to the US Army being a sponsor.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast this week, to coincide with the high-profile engagements in Washington DC, urging the US to end support for Israels military offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
A Donegal man who admitted setting his sister's rented home on fire after she refused to give him money for drugs had to be removed from court after launching a vicious attack on a judge who sent him to jail.

Glen Friel appeared before Judge John Aylmer last week and admitted causing up to 80,000 of damage to the rented house in Killybegs.

He appeared at Donegal Circuit Court, which was heard at Letterkenny courthouse, after pleading guilty to setting fire to his sister's rented home at Straleeny, Killybegs on April 22, 2020. The 24-year-old had his case adjourned for final sentencing to allow Judge Aylmer to read a psychiatric report on the accused man.

Having considered all the facts, Judge Aylmer sentenced Friel to five years in prison with the final two years suspended. However, after the sentence was handed down, Friel exploded into a fit of rage in court.

He began shouting No, Im not going to prison and jumped out of the witness box and ran to the top of the courtroom. Judge Aylmer was forced to leave his seat as prison officers and Gardai restrained Friel who continued shouting and trying to break free while shouting f**k you and b******s while he was being removed.

He was removed from the courtroom and taken to the custody cells. Friel was expected to sign a bond to keep the peace for the duration of the suspended sentence but it was decided that the bond would be signed in front of the prison governor instead.

The court heard in evidence how Friel had asked his sister to sell herself for sex to get him money for drugs and set fire to her home when she refused.

The court heard how the 24-year-old accused arrived at the house and wanted his sister to give him money for drugs and even asked her to sell her body for money and threatened to kill her if she didn't.

The terrified woman asked her mother to call Gardai and Friel then managed to barricade himself into the house. His sister left the house which she had rented for five years and he smashed it up and after setting fire to the house, Friel also fled.

The house belonged to a local man, Conal Doherty, and was worth 130,000. The court heard that 79,450 of damage was caused to the house and that the contents of the house were not insured.

When arrested, Friel made certain admissions and said he wanted to start the fire to bring him "joy and revenge."

He told Gardai he was hoping to get revenge on his sister Linda as she had been a bitch to him that day.

"I do feel a bit angry but I'm sorry at the same time," he told Gardai.

Garda Sergeant Stuart Doyle said Friel admitted starting the fire with a lighter but did not think he had started it in the bedroom of the house as the fire service had suspected.

The court was told that Friel, of no fixed abode, has 12 previous convictions including convictions for threatening and abusive behaviour, assault, possession of drugs and intoxication in a public place.

The injured party, Mr Doherty, did not want to come to court or give a victim impact statement. The barrister for the accused, Mr Colm Smyth, SC, said his client had a number of issues.

He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after his brother took his own life when Friel was aged just nine and he was also sexually assaulted when he was a young boy. He no longer speaks to his parents and had been living rough in Dublin.

Friel, who has been in custody since last October, took to the witness stand and said he was very sorry to the man whose house he destroyed and promised to go to all appointments. Asking Judge John Aylmer to be as lenient as possible, Mr Smyth said his client is indeed a troubled individual with a number of diagnoses including PTSD and a personality disorder.

He has expressed a desire to get back on track and engage with various agencies, Mr Smyth adding that if he does not he will end up in a very difficult position and his life will be cut short.

"He doesn't immediately give one confidence but I think he has a lot of outlying issues," added his barrister.

Passing sentence, Judge Aylmer placed it in the mid-range of such offences which warranted seven years in prison before mitigation. He said arson was a very serious offence which must include a level of deterrence and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The judge said he considered the incident to be quite premeditated albeit contemplated within a relatively short time frame and came about in order to get at his sister who was refusing to provide him with money for alcohol and drugs.

In mitigation, Friel had co-operated to a significant degree with the investigation, had entered an early plea of guilty and had expressed remorse.

Judge Aylmer added that it was very clear from the psychiatric report that Friel is a very troubled young man who had a very adverse experience in his childhood.

The court heard that he was in care as a young person and the judge said it appears he resorted to polysubstance abuse at a young age while labouring under post-traumatic stress disorder. The probation service found him to be completely uncooperative and had not engaged with them.

He said it is regrettable that Friel had not cooperated with the probation service as it had left the court limited in what they can try to do, but added he is clearly in need of intensive rehabilitation. He also said Friel has previous convictions but are minor.

Judge Aylmer said the court takes the view that the sentence has to be reduced to take into account mitigation and he reduced the sentence to one of five years.

He said he hoped that after some years in custody and abstaining from drugs, Friel would come around to a frame of mind that would allow him to engage with the service.

He said he would take a chance on him and suspend the final two years of the five-year sentence and ordered him to enter into a bond of 100 and ordered him to abstain completely from drugs and alcohol for the duration of the suspended sentence.

He also ordered that in the 12 months before his release, he must engage with the probation service and engage with mental health services while in prison and on release for a period of two years. Judge John Aylmer thanked the prison service and Gardai for removing Friel from the courtroom.
Very comfy and roomy 3 row SUV! By Mike | on 5.0

(Warning- a little long) We were looking for a roomy 3 row SUV with easy access to all 3 rows. After a ton of research and multiple test drives of the possible options, we settled on the VW Atlas, SEL Premium. Weve owned our Atlas for a little over a month now. Weve taken it on a couple of long trips (1000+ miles), so weve seen enough to write a decent review. The Atlas was one of 4 finalists for us. The others were the GMC Acadia, the Chevy Traverse, and the Infiniti QX60. These were our finalists for one primary reason- access to the rear seat with car seats installed in the middle row seats (without climbing into the middle row, and going through the middle space between the captains chairs). No other 3 row SUVs had this option, although I understand some will have it for the 2020 model year. Because we only had 4 models to look at, we focused all our attention on these models. Likes: Third row access is incredibly easy in the Atlas. By pulling up on the release on the top of the seat, the entire seat tips forward, and then slides forward, leaving a large opening to access the rear seat, and allowing us to buckle our 4 year old into that seat very easily, even while standing outside the car. This middle row seat movement can be performed with a car seat installed in the middle row seats, a maneuver that very few 3 row SUVs are capable of. The Infiniti QX-60 has a similar setup, and it is just as easy to use. The Acadia and Traverse also have this option, but during our test drives, we found the mechanism to be incredibly difficult to use. The salesman said it was probably just stiff, but it was almost impossible for my wife to get the seat to move, and it happened in both of those models. Also, the GMC and Chevy only have this capability on the passenger side, which is highly annoying. The interior of the Atlas is HUGE, the door openings are very wide to provide easy access, and it is very comfortable. The seats in the Atlas were by far the most comfortable of any vehicle we tested. When I say that, I mean ALL of the seats, to include the 2nd and 3rd rows, and the 3rd row is actually usable by adults. I am 510, and I was very comfortable back there. I would not say the same of the other three vehicles tested. Also, the middle row seats of the Chevy and GMC were very uncomfortable. The had a weird shape, with a weird forward hump that hit right between the shoulder blades. Im sure this has something to do with crash safety or something like that, but those seats were just extremely uncomfortable. Our Atlas is equipped with a panoramic sunroof, which is pretty cool. It also has a power sunshade for the sunroof. The Chevy and GMC have a very cheap, manual cover. It is spring-loaded, and if you accidentally let go of it, it will snap back like a window shade. At this price level, it should be a power sunshade. While we are on the topic of sunshades: the 2nd row windows in the Atlas have built-in sunshades, which is ingenious! I wish all cars had this feature. The Atlas has an infotainment system that is easy to use and intuitive, and it allows for swiping and pinch zooming. Apple Car Play is awesome! Surprisingly, some manufacturers have not integrated this feature at this time. The digital instrument panel has a very nice, modern look, and it offers 5 or 6 different views. One of the really cool things about the Atlas- you can display the nav map in the middle of the instrument panel. Additionally, you can make the map bigger and the gauges smaller, which allows you to see more map detail- a really nice option. The car even has an altimeter, which is really cool to me (Im a pilot by trade). Not so much for my wife The Atlas allows for 4 customizable driver settings. It also has an overhead view camera, which allows you to see a birds-eye view of the vehicle- very handy to ensure you are actually centered in that parking spot! (this is only offered in the highest trim level) The car also has a traditional shift lever. This appeals to me, because Im old school. The Atlas has a very nice exterior, and it looks great from both the front and the back. The LED headlights are really nice, and much brighter than standard headlights. Also, the daytime running lights look really cool (I noticed that when another Atlas pulled up behind us on the freeway). It also has a small turn radius, which makes maneuvering in tight spaces much easier. The Atlas has a few other really nice options- adaptive cruise control, auto-dimming headlights, auto-wipers, and an auto-park feature (highest trim level only) for parallel and back in perpendicular parking. The cruise control also has an option to speed up or slow down in increments of 5 mph in addition to the more standard 1 mph increment, which is handy. It also has a feature that turns on the fog light on the side of the car in the direction of a turn, providing extra light for making the turn safely. You can also lock the middle row seat HVAC controls, to prevent the inevitable arguments from the kiddos! One of the best things about the Atlas is the industry leading warranty- 6 years/72k miles, bumper to bumper. Very few of the competitors even come close to this. And it is manufactured in the USA, which I really like. Now lets talk about the things I dont like about the car. (And believe me when I say these things are pretty minor in the grand scheme of things) The biggest gripe I have is the engine power. Given that my primary goal with this vehicle is to comfortably get a lot of people from point A to B, this isnt a huge deal. I didnt buy this car to qualify for the Indy 500, but I do wish VW offered some different engine options, like a V-8 or a turbo V-6. They do offer a turbo 4 cylinder, but it is not offered above the base trim level, and I dont think it is anything more than adequate for this car anyway. A close 2nd for cons would be the height of the front seat armrests (on the door side of each seat). I like to drive with my left arm resting on the armrest while my left hand is controlling the steering wheel. In this car, I simply cannot do that, because the armrest is not high enough. Ditto with the passenger seat. It just isnt comfortable for me, and I think I am pretty representative of a standard driver/passenger. I found that during longer drives, I have to fold up a coat and stick it under my left arm to make it comfortable to drive those longer distances. This is just me, but you might find it to be a similar issue. The rest of the cons are really only small things: the blind spot warning only gives a visual cue in the side mirror, but no audible warning like all of my other vehicles; you cannot program which view comes up for the reverse camera- it is the same initial view every time you shift into reverse, and then you must select the menu and then the view you desire; an entry/exit seat position is not programmable; the adaptive cruise control cannot be turned off to make it operate like normal cruise control, and the following distance setting resets every time the car is shut down, rather than keeping the last used setting; an audible warning sounds whenever the temperature hits 39 degrees, to let you know you might have slick road conditions- seems like an arbitrary number and a little too high to me; the trip mileage reset switch is a manual switch, unlike everything else in the car, which is digital and/or automated; the gauge views themselves are not customizable, but I do love the altimeter!; the seat bolsters are not heated along with the rest of the seat, which makes them seem really cold to the touch when the seat heaters are on; the gas mileage cannot be reset manually; there is only one trip odometer- most vehicles have two or more; gas mileage is just average for this class. Keep in mind, these things are all very minor, but they might be major things for you. Bottom line, this is a nice, comfortable, feature rich 3 row SUV, with 3rd row seats that are useable by full sized adults. My wife and I love it! We highly recommend it, especially if you need access to the back row with car seats installed in the middle row.  Read More
Brandon McPhee will make his mark on the Country and Irish music scene on March 22 at the Backstage Theatre.

It is just over 15 years since Brandon- at age 10 - ventured his first notes on the button accordion at his granddad Donalds knee. A good listener and keen pupil, he was soon playing The Dark Island.

To say he took to the instrument is an understatement; by the age of 17, Brandon was the . His love of singing and country music grew apace, and he has worked with some of the finest Irish artists, including Daniel O Donnell, Philomena Begley and Foster and Allen.

A single, Walking On The Waves, made Number 1 in the Country Music charts based on airplay. Brandon has subsequently recorded a single with Foster and Allen titled Spanish Lady. Another single, this time with Daniel ODonnell, is due for release next Spring.

After 17 CDs and 8 DVDs, an evening with Brandon McPhee and his band featuring Manson Grant is a wonderful mix of classic Country, Folk, Irish and Scottish music.

Brandon has a growing catalogue of Traditional Scottish and Country Music Albums (Pan Record label), which has led to multiple songs reaching charted levels in Joyce Ramgatie Country Music Chart and the prior European Country Music Chart.

This really is a music variety show thats not to be missed. Admission is 23, and tickets are available at https://backstage.ie/events/the-brandon-mcphee-show/.
Risks of water mismanagement

Trillions of gallons leak from aging drinking water systems, further stressing shrinking US cities, (modbee.com, March 2)

One of our top local issues is drinking water. Notably, only a very small percent of our water is used for drinking (nearly 80% is used by agribusiness, as proven via our billion-dollar-a-year almond industry). Some areas have awful tasting water that they cant drink or cook with. Drinking water is expensive, and PG&E fees are rising on water.

But were luckier than some, as others have no water or are in danger of flooding due to land subsidence  a settling or sinking of the Earths surface, often due to groundwater withdrawal  which can cause Earth fissures and damage to buildings and roads, the destruction of aquifer storage capacity and increased flood susceptibility risk. Large areas have sunk and others are sinking. We are surrounded by almond orchards which demand a lot of water, and we may be vulnerable to subsidence.

The Water Leadership Institute is hosting free educational classes on groundwater management and sustainability. Residents are encouraged to contact elected leaders on this issue. I would like to invite the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and Modesto City Council members to attend an upcoming training session on April 13.

Jorge Martinez

Newman

Opinion

Condolences and gratitude to Monteith

After two break-ins, Modestos Cambodian temple is building its own defense, (modbee.com, Oct. 5, 2022)

On behalf of the Cambodian Buddhist Temple in Modesto, we are saddened to hear about the passing of Richard Dick Monteith, a long-time California state senator and Stanislaus Counry supervisor. Monteith was one of four supervisors who voted to allow for the building of our current temple. Our heartfelt gratitude to those supervisors and supporters who went and spoke on our behalf on that public hearing day are still deeply embedded within our hearts and minds.

Story continues

We would like to express our deepest condolences and gratitude.

Pauline Wou

Modesto

MAGA is fascism

Biden, Trump issue dire warnings of the other, as rematch comes into view in Georgia, (modbee.com, March 11)

Just as MAGA has embraced Donald Trumps support of a U.S. autocracy, Germany embraced Hitler and the rise of fascism. It isnt much of a surprise that Trump, an admirer of dictators like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, recently said that Hitler did some good things.

What good things will Americans expect from Trumps MAGA reich if he wins? State censorship, and the targeting of school and city libraries to be certain. I can foresee that principals and teachers will have to comply with Trumps Fahrenheit 451-esque order.

MAGA is fascism.

Brooks Judd

Turlock

Livid with Schiff

Porter continues to claim CA primary election was rigged, (sacbee.com, March 7)

Katie Porter is livid and so am I! I voted for her, and for Adam Schiff and his cronies to have contributed to ads that supported Steve Garvey is shifty and sleazy.

Porter is no-nonsense and a straight-shooter, which clearly intimidated Schiff. For that, Im not voting for either Schiff or Garvey.

Bridget Whitted

Folsom

Senator Schiffty

Porter continues to claim CA primary election was rigged, (sacbee.com, March 7)

I agree that the funding of Steve Garveys campaign by the Democratic party and candidate was lacking in integrity. Did some of Donald Trumps narcissism rub off on Adam Schiff during the impeachment hearings?

After this, I will always think of him as Senator Schiffty, who put his career before what may be best for California and its citizens. I will likely write in Katie Porter in November.

Muriel Strand

Sacramento
The US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Irish premier has said.

Leo Varadkar is meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House on Sunday, at the end of a week of engagements which involved an earlier bilateral between the two leaders.

Mr Biden said he agreed with the Taoiseachs calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

However, speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Mr Varadkar said there were areas in which the two administrations remain at odds.

He said he made it very clear to Mr Briden that Israels continued military actions in Gaza were not self-defence.

United by history, heritage, and hope  there's not a thing the United States and Ireland can't do together. pic.twitter.com/eQaZkyqPDQ  President Biden (@POTUS) March 16, 2024

Asked about the US continuing to supply Israel with weapons, Mr Varadkar said: Thats something we dont agree with, but the American government is a sovereign government that makes its own decisions.

The Irish leader said the US was working very hard towards a ceasefire, but Mr Biden has stopped short of calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

Asked what he wanted to see happen in Gaza, Mr Varadkar said: The most important and most urgent thing is the need for a ceasefire so that the killing can stop, so that the hostages can go home, so that food and medicine can get into the people that need it in Gaza.

Once that happens, we would hope that it becomes possible to build a more permanent ceasefire.

I think everyone agrees that Hamas cant be part of the governing of any Palestinian territory given whats happened on October 7, but we dont believe that it should be occupied by Israel.

We certainly dont believe it should be resettled by Israel. We believe it should be handed back over to Palestinian civilian control and unlike was the case since 2005, it shouldnt be blocked by Israel.

Mr Varadkar rejected an assertion that Ireland was seen as weak on both Israels right to defend itself as well as support for Ukraine.

He said: What Ive been encouraged by both here and then also in meeting recently in Europe is  if anything  people kind of encouraging us to stick by our stance and take the position that were taking.

Today, as we celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland, we also look forward. Heres to another century defined by shared values and strong friendships.  President Biden (@POTUS) March 15, 2024

And I do think that a lot of people in America and across Europe agree with the position that were taking.

Certainly on Ukraine, I think its recognised that Ireland has been a very strong supporter of Ukraine.

We dont provide military aid, but we help them in every other way imaginable, whether its accepting refugees, whether its financial support, non-lethal military aid, loans.

On Sunday, Mr Varadkar will officially gift Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock as part of a long-running tradition for St Patricks Day.

On Friday, the Irish premier met the US President for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

The two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Asked afterwards if he believed Mr Biden was fit for an election campaign, Mr Varadkar said: I do and hes in very good form, very engaged and very sharp.

The Taoiseach said he did not believe that he would be attending a mass with the president on Sunday which had been proposed in early discussions of the itinerary for the week.

However, he added that he would have been happy to attend if there was such an invite.
Excited children and fun-loving visitors thronged Dublins streets on Sunday to catch sight of Irelands energetic national St Patricks Day parade.

Attendees packed the city centre to the brim, wearing shamrock-shaped sunglasses, Irish jerseys and leprechaun hats of all sizes.

Visitors travelled from as far away as Bolivia, California and China to catch a glimpse of the vibrant spectacle  a mixture of talent, creativity and pure silliness.

People gathered at the barriers from early in the morning in their green and tricolour gear, bringing snacks and tea in flasks as they waited for the noon start time.

Many attendees said they had travelled to take part in what they said was a worldwide party.

Its a big party, were here to have fun. People are very kind and friendly and we love the country, Flavie Rougier from France said, who was visiting Dublin for three days with her mother Joelle and their friend Mathilde.

Aisling Conroy from Donaghmede said that it was a chance to have everyone together, which was especially valued after the Covid-19 pandemic and even more appealing in the sunny weather.

Its a happy party! Karen said, who travelled to Dublin with six friends from California.

Its been great, everybody has been very friendly, added her travel companion Larry, who has Irish roots. Its a great time to celebrate both the religious aspect of St Patrick but also the cultural aspect.

The holiday commemorates Irelands patron saint and has become popular around the world.

While St Patricks Day falls on March 17, some parades were moved to Saturday in the US because Sunday is a day of worship for the Christian faithful.

The Dublin parade featured performers dressed as sea creatures, as ancient Celtic goddesses, as Dublins landmark street lamps, and a group of greedy giant gulls.

It also showcased traditions from countries such as Bolivia, Ukraine, Georgia and Brazil.

One segment took an imaginative look at what it meant to be 110% Irish  featuring a group of red-wigged men all wearing the same connected Aran jumper.

In Belfast, thousands of people gathered to watch as a colourful and noisy parade made its way through the city centre.

Lord Mayor Ryan Casey led the carnival procession as it departed from outside City Hall.

Dancers, drummers, giant characters in costume and brightly coloured props delighted the crowds, young and old, along the route.

A light rain shower amid the spring sunshine failed to dampen the spirits as the Northern Ireland capital partied for the patron saint.

New Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty, the grand marshal of the national parade in Dublin, described Irelands national day as the biggest party in the world.

Kielty said that as a man called Patrick, who is from Downpatrick in Co Down, and who attended St Patricks School, he was the proudest man in Ireland.

The TV presenter said that it was a massive honour to be the grand marshal, adding it was emotional for him.

To be the Patrick at the front of this parade is one of the proudest moments of my life.

Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: I think St Patricks Day is so important to people because it gives us all a chance to share in something, it brings a lot of people together. I think sometimes here we maybe take it for granted.

As someone who has lived abroad and knows what that day means to so many people who are longing for a connection to their lives back home, thats what its about.

Especially when you come from the north, growing up, St Patricks grave was at the Church of Ireland, basically everything that used to happen through some type of binary prism.

The idea of were now in a position where we can actually share these things, I think thats why today is so important.

Asked if he will be able to enjoy the day with so much pressure on him, he said: Lets be very, very clear, theres definitely going to be a lot of fun squeezed out of this.

This is normally like my second birthday, so we will definitely be celebrating to the max.

There were some protests over Gaza held in the city centre to coincide with the traditional shamrock ceremony in the White House between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden.

A group called Mothers Against Genocide organised a kayak, carrying a cutout of Joe Biden, to travel up the Liffey towards Dublins famous Hapenny Bridge ahead of the parade beginning.

One woman was also heard chanting Free Free Palestine at marching bands in the parade who were from the US.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg deliver press statements following their talks in Baku on March 17, 2024. HANDOUT / AFP

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday, March 17, stressed the need to fight global warming and called climate change a "crisis multiplier" with implications for global security. He made the remarks during a press conference in Baku along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose energy-rich country is set to host the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in November.

Praising Azerbaijan for its "important role in delivering (natural) gas to key NATO allies," Stoltenberg said that "the challenge is that the world needs energy, but at the same time we need to fight global warming."

"We need to reconcile the need for energy and environment," he said, adding that "climate change matters for security, matters for NATO (...) Climate change is a crisis multiplier, and we see the effects of climate change all over the world."

Stoltenberg also hailed Azerbaijan for investing in alternative energies, stressing the country's "great potential" as a supplier of hydropower and solar power to the European markets.

Read more Subscribers only 2024: A crucial year for climate diplomacy

The decision to hold a climate summit in oil-and-gas-producer Azerbaijan has been criticized by environmental groups. But the tightly controlled Caspian nation is seeking to change its reputation as a polluting authoritarian state.

Aliyev said that while his country is a "pan-European gas supplier" it has an ambitious green transition agenda. He said Azerbaijan's selection as a host of COP 29 on November 11-24 was a "sign of recognition of our efforts on green transition."

Read more Subscribers only How geopolitics and climate change are disrupting shipping routes

2024 will be the second year in a row that the COP29 will be hosted by an oil giant, with the 2023 conference held in the United Arab Emirates. Adding to the controversy, the presidency of the conference has been entrusted to Mukhtar Babayev, a former executive of Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR.
In DepthConflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere, combined with the effects of global warming, are disturbing maritime traffic. New routes are being employed around the globe.

Caught up in the upheavals of geopolitics and global warming, shipping routes are experiencing major disruption. In the space of a few months, traffic has faced major complications on two routes that are crucial to global trade.

The Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and through which 5% of the world's maritime trade passes, has seen its traffic fall by 30% due to an unprecedented drought that has lowered the water level in the locks. Ships linking China to the east coast of the American continent have to wait several weeks and pay millions of dollars to acquire a right of way, or unload their goods to transport them overland.

At the other end of the planet, the strategic route linking Europe to Asia via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea has lost 40% of its traffic since December 2023, in the wake of the Israeli offensive in Gaza. In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthis, who claim to be acting "in solidarity" with the Palestinians, are stepping up attacks on ships around the Bab el-Mandab Strait. Although the number of incidents has fallen since the end of January, the threat remains high, as do insurance premiums. Many ships now prefer to sail along the African coast, via the Cape of Good Hope, which increases transport times and costs.

Grain trade turned upside down

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, disruptions to Black Sea shipping deeply impacted global grain trade. Egypt, whose imports of Ukrainian wheat plummeted by 81% in the first eight months of the conflict, was forced to seek emergency supplies from Russia, the United States and the European Union. Ethiopia, meanwhile, turned to Argentina and the US.

GEOPOLITICAL CRISES ARE RE-ROUTING traffic High-risk zone Conflict zone Acts of piracy in 2023 and 2024 CLIMATE CHANGE IS DURABLY IMPACTING TRADITIONAL ROUTES Main ports Ports most culnerable to climate change Areas affected by extreme climate change events 80% of goods traded in the world depend on maritime traffic Panama Canal Hit by drought Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Gibraltar Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Bosporus Strait Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Black Sea Blockaded by Russian, access controlled by Turkey Suez Canal Weak link in global traffic Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Bab el-Mandeb Strait Under fire from Yemen's Houthis Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Cape of Good Hope An expensive alternative to the Suez Canal Since the attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea, many shipowners have opted to bypass Africa, despite rising costs and delays. This detour leads to a decline in service to Mediterranean ports. Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Gulf of Guinea Piracy hub The Gulf of Guinea, most dangerous maritime zone in the world, accounts for 90% of all kidnappings at sea. Although this region is not crossed by a major trade route, pirates are now capable of attacking on the high seas, complicating surveillance and rescue operations.. Strait of Hormuz Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Malacca Strait One ship every eight minutes An essential passageway between Asia and Europe, this is the second most frequently used strait, after Hormuz, for transporting oil. A ship passes through every eight minutes, despite the high risk of piracy. With rising tensions in the China Sea, alternative routes are being studied, such as the drilling of a canal through the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, or the creation of a land corridor via Burma. These projects are not unanimously supported by the countries concerned. Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month Taiwan Strait Eyed by China China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, is stepping up intimidation actions around the island, at the risk of disrupting traffic on this strategic route, through which 48% of the world's container ships passed in 2022. Bypassing the strait would push ships towards Philippine waters, which are affected by typhoons. Strategic Passageway Number of ships crossing per month The ports of southeast China n the eye of the storm Port infrastructures are particularly vulnerable to the risks of storms and flooding, amplified by global warming. In the summer of 2023, typhoon Doksuri hit China, causing the worst flooding in half a century in Beijing, and forcing the country's major southeastern ports to turn away dozens of ships, to the point of disrupting global logistics chains. The Arctic The emergence of a polar route Melting ice could open up this route and shorten journeys between Europe and Asia. However, this is still a long way off, not least because of the lack of port infrastructure for large-tonnage ships. The route, open for part of the year, is only accessible to certain ships equipped for extreme conditions, or escorted by Russian icebreakers.

The concern is such that the EU revised its strategy in October 2023, seeking to maintain stability and security along key shipping routes. In addition to wars, the rise in drug trafficking increases the risk of ships being detained for inspection. Piracy, which is on the rise again in the Indian Ocean now that the naval forces of the Washington-led coalition have departed for the Red Sea, represents an additional threat. "Attacks, most probably linked to illegal fishing disputes, have been resuming off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean since November 2023," pointed out Louis Borer, maritime security analyst at Risk Intelligence. "More ambitious attacks on the high seas have also been reported  notably in the Gulf of Guinea, the world's piracy hotspot, with violent, complex, sometimes long-range attacks."

Trade tensions are also reconfiguring the flow of goods, 80% of which are transported by sea, as is the worsening relationship between Beijing and Washington, against the backdrop of a tariff war. The share of containers from China unloaded on US soil has plummeted from 40% in 2017 to 31% in 2022. But over the same period, the share from Vietnam rose from 4% to 8%, and from 3% to 5% from India.

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A woman walks past a banner bearing the portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ahead of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic in Edirne. OZAN KOSE / AFP

On March 3, 1924, the Turkish Parliament voted to abolish the caliphate, of which Abdulmecid II (1868-1944) was the 101st caliph. It was the end of a myth: that of the Ottoman magistracy over the ummah, the community of faithful Muslims with a universal vocation. But it was also the end of an illusion, since the Ottoman caliph had lost all worldly power with the abolition of the sultanate in 1922, and the proclamation of the Turkish Republic the following year, with Mustapha Kemal (1881-1938) as its first president. It was not until 1934 that the founder of modern Turkey was conferred the title Ataturk, Father of the Turks, by Parliament.

For more than two centuries, the dignity of caliph had been of minor importance to the Ottoman sultans, who were more attached to their effective power (sulta) than to the succession (khilafa) of the prophet Muhammad.

The fiction of the Ottoman caliphate

In 1517, Sultan Selim I brought the Caliph Al-Mutawakkil III, a distant descendant of the Abbasids who were expelled from Baghdad in 1258, from Cairo to Istanbul. But unlike the Mamluks of Egypt, who had Friday prayers performed in the name of a caliph who had no real authority, the Ottoman sultans had long since organized this rite, which was fundamental to their legitimacy, in their own name.

It is more accurate to say that the caliphate was abolished when Cairo was taken in 1517, not when Ankara was voted into power in 1924. What's more, the Ottomans had no right to claim a title which could certainly only go to an Arab, although there was some debate as to whether it should fall to the Prophet's kin or be the result of a consensus.

It was this laborious construction that enabled the Ottoman Sultan to proclaim himself caliph in 1774. As part of a treaty with Russia: Sultan Abdulhamid I recognized the formal independence of Crimea (which was soon annexed by Catherine II), but as caliph he retained spiritual authority over the territory's Muslim population. This union, in the single person of the Ottoman sovereign, of the worldly powers of the sultan and the spiritual powers of the caliph lasted until the 1908 accession to power of the Young Turks, a revolutionary nationalist political party.

In 1909, the new masters of the empire did not hesitate to replace Abdulhamid II  nicknamed "the Red Sultan" because of the bloody repression that followed an Armenian rebellion in 1894  with the more docile Mehmed V. They thought they could take advantage of his prestige as caliph to unleash a jihad against France, Russia and Great Britain in his name in November 1914. But this call had no echo in British India, the Russian Caucasus or French North Africa, proving that the Caliph's moral authority was already no more than a fiction.

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Niger's government announced on Saturday, March 16, that it was breaking off "with immediate effect" its military cooperation agreement with the United States. The declaration came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military junta that ousted the president and moved closer to Russia.

The statement said the government had decided to "denounce with immediate effect" the agreement relating to US military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense inside Niger. It was read out Saturday evening on national television.

The United States still stations some 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base built at a cost of $100 million. Movements there have been limited since the July 2023 coup and Washington has curbed assistance to the government.

Read more Subscribers only France completes troop withdrawal from Niger, closes embassy

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a rare visit to Niger a year ago in hopes of shoring up President Mohamed Bazoum, a stalwart ally in Western security efforts against jihadists. Just four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest.

The junta took a hard line against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade. Niger's military had in the past worked closely with the United States. But the junta has sought cooperation with Russia while stopping short of the full-fledged embrace of Moscow by military-run neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso.
LIMERICK City and County Council has announced the commencement of construction of ten housing units in Radharc Cillin, Kilfinane at a cost of 3m.

The development comprises of three four-bedroom houses; three three-bed houses; two two-bed houses and two one-bed duplex units.

Contracts have been signed with KDC Building & Civil Engineering Ltd from Kilworth, Cork who won the competitive tender process. The overall contract is worth in the region of 3 million.

A council spokesperson said the proposed development will have its own distinctive built form and design and will seek to integrate into its existing surrounds and the existing residential development of Radharc Cillin.

Careful consideration has been given to the layout of the housing proposal, which has been particularly cognisant of the existing public open space and extensive views to the north.

The development will be accessed via the existing road serving Radharc Cillin. The construction phase is expected to take 16 months to complete, said the spokesperson.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell said he was delighted to announce the signing of the contract for Radharc Cillin.

This builds on recent additions to our housing stock such as new houses in Kilmallock, Knocklong and Hospital. This development is one of a series of Part 8 housing applications, which were granted by Limerick City and County Council and has now been approved for funding by central Government.

READ MORE: New TUS programme will make Mid-West a global leader in autonomous vehicles

"The development is part of the councils plans for new homes in Limerick as part of its commitment to the governments Housing for All programme, said Mayor Mitchell.

Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council, Dr Pat Daly said Radharc Cillin represents more than just another housing project for Limerick City and County Council.

It's a testament to community integration and thoughtful design. Our partnership with KDC Building & Civil Engineering Ltd marks a milestone towards fulfilling the promise of accessible, quality housing for all. Radharc Cillin is a symbol of our commitment to nurturing vibrant communities, said Mr Daly.
IN 1985, Rachael English travelled from Shannon to see Bruce Springsteen perform in Slane - a night of firsts for both her and The Boss.

While Springsteen was playing for the first time in Ireland, Rachael was attending her first ever big concert. She didnt sleep for a few days. But, it was completely worth it!

With her friends, Patricia and Sandra, a 16-year-old Rachael got on the bus. The girls had a lot to celebrate as they had finished off their exams the previous day.

We left quite early in the morning and didn't get there until five o'clock when the concert started. There was so much traffic in the area, it was just mayhem. It was estimated that there could have been 90,000 people there that day. It was so brilliant.

We didn't get back until seven o'clock the following morning, she recalls. I was working in Bunratty Castle Hotel, washing dishes, and I had to be at work at 10. So I literally went a couple of days with no sleep, but it was completely worth it. Completely worth it.

During Covid, the Clare author became obsessed with the music that was popular when she was in her early teens.

This was one of the things that was the catalyst for the book, she points out.  Those would be my memories, the bands who were popular in the early 1980s. That was the time that U2 emerged. I remember in Shannon at the time when I was growing up, like it really was a music-mad town, she says.

In her seventh book, Whatever Happened to Birdy Troy, the author takes us on a rollercoaster journey through the rise and fall of an all-woman rock band from a small town in Ireland. As they were on the verge of international success, The Diamonds vanished.

Forty years later, podcaster Stacey Nash becomes fascinated with the band that broke up before she was born. But as former band members are reluctant to cooperate, will she ever know whatever happened to them?

Weaving nostalgia with music, Rachael masterfully immerses the reader in a compelling story. It's a portrayal of women whose careers got cut short, in a music scene where darkness often lurks beneath the glamour.

Rachael explains: What I wanted to do was to write about the women I grew up with and try and capture those times as well. I had this little idea at the same time of a podcaster who would sort of be like a detective without solving murders. The mystery being what happened to a particular group of people who were once famous, and try to find out what happened to them.

Rachael, of course, is well known as a presenter on RTE's Morning Ireland. Would she ever consider doing a series of podcasts to investigate the past, in the same way her protagonist does?

It's funny, I was thinking about that because when the idea first came to me, I thought that would be really interesting, she says. Then I thought, in this day and age, it's hard to imagine any employer certainly being willing to allow you to do something that's a bit flaky like that might end up as a program or a podcast.

In the book, Rachael captures the essence of the 1980s. As she wrote her novel, she remembered her own youth.

I would be a few years younger than The Diamonds in the book. I remember Shannon at the time, you had all these different groups. You used to have mobs, all the guys who were into AC/DC and nothing else. I read somewhere, and apparently there is science behind this, that the music that you like when you're 13 or 14, pretty much defines you for life as far as your taste in music is concerned.

READ MORE: PICTURES: International Women's Day marked by poetry walk in Limerick

The first cassette she ever bought features in the book.

The first album that I ever bought, even though it was a cassette, was Dare by The Human League, which came out in 1981. When I was putting together a playlist, I had to feature a song from that album in it, she says.

Rachael was always interested in writing. However, being an author does not always seem feasible.

I think for a lot of people, life sort of knocks that out of you because you have to earn a living. It's hard to earn a living from writing books, she says.

I was lucky to get work as a journalist. I worked in Clare FM before I worked in RTE. I landed into something else that suited me and which I enjoyed and where I got opportunity, so I put the book thing on the back burner until recent years. Then I thought, If I don't give this a try now, I'm probably never going to do it. I didn't think I'd get as far as seven books.

While working on her new book, she read a few autobiographies by women who had been in bands. So who would she like to spend 24 hours in the shoes of?

I did become fascinated by Patti Smith and what an amazing life she has had and still has. She still performs a lot, and she's still very much involved in art. So I think being her would be fantastic.

Growing up in Shannon, Rachael and her friends often went to Limerick to go to discos or see bands. Now, with a series of big gigs to take place in Limerick this summer, some of her friends might have to travel from Dublin to the Treaty City - for a change.

We tended to go into Limerick a lot, it was it for us. So it's fantastic to see the way that these huge names are playing in Limerick now and people don't have to travel to Dublin or Cork to go and see bands, she says.

A friend of mine couldn't get tickets for Liam (Gallagher) in Dublin. I said, There you go now, there's your chance. It's great to think that people from Dublin might be travelling to Limerick for a change to see a band, she laughs.
BISHOP of Limerick Brendan Leahy has said that Ireland cannot be allowed to become a place where the warm fire of hospitality is being replaced by raging fires of division, distrust and disdain.

In his homily at the St Patricks Day Mass at Sarsfield Barracks, Bishop Leahy said this Feast Day provides us with a golden opportunity each year to reflect on emigration and immigration.

St. Patrick, he said, is a figure to help us reflect on migration in both its difficult aspects and its positive possibilities. We cant forget, he said, that some of our people abroad experience hardship.

The migrant St Patrick puts before us the question: how are we today treating those who have migrated to our land? Some came here out of choice. Others have come escaping from war, persecution, or exploitation. For the most part they are ordinary human beings like us, many indeed very talented, people who reached good careers before they had to flee, said Bishop Leahy.

The majority of people in Ireland are open and welcoming, he said.

"Indeed, polling has shown that the Irish public remains one of the most positive in the EU27 regarding their attitudes towards immigration. There are undoubtedly bona fide concerns within some communities about the lack of services and supports to support people coming here, or the negative impact on local livelihoods when all hotel beds are taken up.

"But there are undoubtedly also those who are taking advantage of this, stirring tensions, triggering riots, murmurings, social media campaigns. As a result, migrants who for many years were made very welcome here, might now feel Ireland is becoming inhospitable, far from a place of a thousand welcomes; a place where the warm fire of hospitality is being replaced by raging fires of division, distrust and disdain stoked by a few who can so easily gain a hold on the many.

"Instead of welcoming and protecting, promoting and integrating refugees we witness outbursts of racism and violence, hatred and misinformation," said Bishop Leahy.

READ MORE: County to go green for St Patricks Day events

Its important, he said, that on St Patricks Day we also commend parishes and small faith communities and community initiatives in Limerick that promote encounter between our new and local native Irish communities.

Welcoming communities are key to effective integration, he continued.

The New Irish, as many are rightly calling them, are making a positive and vibrant contribution to the life of the parish and in the process are opening new cultural experiences for Irish Catholics. They are evident in the wider society in many services and projects. It is sometimes said Ireland is full and that we cannot take more migrants. But that is not true. We know there are many areas where workers are needed in Ireland.

Bishop Leahy concluded, Above all, St Patricks Day is a day to call on God to create a new heart for us and put a steadfast spirit, the spirit of care, of outreach, of love. Theres always need for conversion. We can never sit on the laurels.

"We need to be steadfast in our resolve, inspired by the example of St. Patrick, the migrant who made such a difference, the one without whom we would not be here today."
A team of 20 from an Irish company are soon to climb the three peaks of Sliabh Donard, Croagh Patrick and the infamous Carrantuohill to raise funds to help keep a mother-of-two with multiple sclerosis (MS) out of a wheelchair.

Sarah Irvine, 46, is married to Gareth, and together they have two teenage daughters, Alice and Juliette. Sarah, noted as being a "fun-loving, outdoors person who loves water sports, particularly sea swimming," unfortunately had her zest for life disrupted in 2019 with the diagnosis of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS). Since then, she has courageously battled the disease.

MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. Currently, there is no cure for MS, but some drugs can help slow the progression of the disease.

Now, an adventurous few from Galway-based VorTech Water Solutions, are hoping to climb to the highest point in Ireland in 24 hours including a night time climb of Croagh Patrick, all to raise money for Sarah who needs 180,000 to have stem cell therapy to hinder the advancement of her MS.

Sean Mulligan and Fergus Clifford

The team are pledging the final 80,000 required for Sarah to meet her target as her treatment is not covered by either the Government or by her medical insurer, leaving the fundraising to friends and the very generous Irish public.

The urgency of Sarah's situation prompted VorTech's intervention, facilitating her treatment booking at Guy's Hospital in London, scheduled to begin in April.

This treatment regimen involves chemotherapy to reset her immune system, followed by stem cell therapy, offering an 80% chance of arresting her MS symptoms.

Sean Mulligan, VorTech CEO said: Our team are driven people, used to meeting challenges every day, this challenge is a tough one, but we will complete it. However it is nothing compared to the challenges someone with progressive MS faces. We must help where we can and be thankful for what we have.

VorTech team out training

Irish company, VorTech Water Solutions are innovators in addressing some of the worlds leading water challenges through Aeration technology. Based in Mervue Business Park, Galway. Providing their technology around the world to allow companies be more sustainable, VorTechs unique technology was developed at the University of Galway after several years of PhD and postdoctoral research into the fundamental scientific nature of vortex flows.

The challenge will take place on March 22, also known as World Water Day, made even more fitting as Sarah is an avid sea swimmer.

If you would like to donate please click here.
Rishi Sunak is bracing for a rebellion over plans to exempt Afghan heroes who have supported UK troops from being deported to Rwanda.

The House of Lords backed an amendment to the prime ministers flagship small boats bill which would prevent deportation of anyone who supported British armed forces in an exposed or meaningful manner to the east African country.

It comes after extensive reporting by The Independent on the plight of Afghan heroes who helped the British but were left behind after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats one of his key pledges to voters (PA Wire)

And, as the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill this week returns to the House of Commons, MPs are set to vote on whether to strip out amendments made by peers. Labour is poised to back the 10 amendments sent back by peers, including on Afghans, meaning a Tory rebellion could force the PMs hand.

The amendment was backed by two former chiefs of the defence staff, a former defence secretary and a former British ambassador to the US.

It was one of several defeats for Mr Sunak over the Rwanda bill in the House of Lords this month.

The Independent has documented several cases of asylum seekers who supported the UK armed forces efforts in Afghanistan and who have since been threatened with removal to Rwanda after arriving in the UK via small boat.

The bill will now go through an extended tussle between the Commons and Lords during ping-pong, where legislation is batted between the two Houses until agreement is reached.

The prime minister had previously warned the Lords against frustrating the will of the people by hampering the passage of the bill, which has already been approved by MPs.

Mr Sunaks government is using the bill to try and prevent any legal challenges by asylum seekers to their deportation.

It also currently gives ministers the power to ignore emergency injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights, aiming at clearing the way to send asylum seekers on flights to Rwanda by spring.

Story continues

The Home Office is considering widening an existing voluntary scheme for migrants to Rwanda (PA Wire)

Other amendments which the PM will seek to strip out of the bill include one that would overturn the governments plan to oust the domestic courts from the process of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Peers also voted to enable UK courts to consider appeals against age assessment decisions before a person claiming to be an unaccompanied child is removed to Rwanda.

The Afghan amendment was brought forward by former Labour defence secretary Lord Browne of Ladyton, who highlighted his concerns with the proposed law by citing four examples of cases uncovered by The Independent.

They include former members of the Afghan special forces units, known as The Triples, who fought alongside and were paid and trained by the UK special forces. One former senior British diplomat said it beggared belief that these soldiers, who were forced to flee the Taliban, could face being deported to the east African country after all they had been through.

Under the terms of the Illegal Migration Act, the government is required to remove illegal migrants who entered the country after 20 July 2023, when the act received royal assent. The act also bans ministers from granting asylum to anyone who entered the UK illegally on or after 7 March 2023, when it had its first reading.

The new clause, which is also being proposed by crossbench peers Lord Houghton of Richmond, Lord Stirrup, and Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, would mean that people of any nationality who supported the armed forces overseas in an exposed or meaningful manner or who were employed by or indirectly contracted to provide services to the UK government in an exposed or meaningful manner would be ineligible for Rwanda deportation. It would also exempt their family members from deportation.

Tory MP Julian Lewis indicated he was sympathetic with Afghans at risk due to their work helping British and Nato forces fight the Taliban.

But Mr Lewis said it should not be necessary for them to come to Britain in small boats, which would mean they should not have to risk deportation to Rwanda.

Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Immigration Minister, said: We owe many Afghans a debt of gratitude for supporting British aims in Afghanistan, yet the governments Operation Warm Welcome has fast become Operation Cold Shoulder.

It beggars belief that, instead of processing their claims, the Tories are leaving them in indefinite limbo, unable to get on with their lives, and threatening to send them to Rwanda. Its time for the government to rethink.

A Downing Street source said there were no particular concerns about a potential rebellion this week.
New Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty, the grand marshal of the national parade in Dublin, described Irelands national day as the biggest party in the world.

More than 4,200 participants are expected to take part in the flagship parade in the capital, featuring 18 performances and pageants.

To be the Patrick at the front of this parade is one of the proudest moments of my life, said Mr Kielty.

In a new aspect, a quiet space will be set up near College Green for 1,000 neurodivergent people and their families which will have sensory areas and where the volume of noise from the festivities will reduce dramatically.

A Festival Quarter at Collins Barracks will open again from noon to 6pm on Sunday, with music, food stalls and games for children.

The parade will start from Parnell Square at 12pm and proceed through the heart of the city.

Thousands are expected to line the streets to celebrate this years theme spreach, or spark in Irish.

Among the participants are a group examining the theme and the circular economy, a showpiece called Dublin Seagulls, as well as 14 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and France.

The holiday commemorates Irelands patron saint and is popular around the world by Irish immigrants.

While St Patricks Day falls on March 17, some parades were moved to Saturday in the US because Sunday is a day of worship for the Christian faithful.

The Chicago River is dyed green for St Patricks Day celebrations in the US (Erin Hooley/AP)

Kielty said that as a man called Patrick, who is from Downpatrick in Co Down, and who attended St Patricks School, he was the proudest man in Ireland.

The TV presenter said that it was a massive honour to be the grand marshal, adding it was emotional for him.

To be the Patrick at the front of this parade is one of the proudest moments of my life.

Comedian and TV host Patrick Kielty spoke of his pride at leading the St Patricks Day parade (PA)

Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: I think St Patricks Day is so important to people because it gives us all a chance to share in something, it brings a lot of people together. I think sometimes here we maybe take it for granted.

As someone who has lived abroad and knows what that day means to so many people who are longing for a connection to their lives back home, thats what its about.

Especially when you come from the North, growing up, St Patricks grave was at the Church of Ireland, basically everything that used to happen through some type of binary prism.

A performer dressed as St Patrick poses with spectators during the St Patricks Day Parade in Dublin in 2023 (PA)

The idea of were now in a position where we can actually share these things, I think thats why today is so important.

Asked will he be able to enjoy the day with so much pressure on him, he said: Lets be very very clear, theres definitely going to be a lot of fun squeezed out of this.

This is normally like my second birthday, so we will definitely be celebrating to the max.
A consumer disputes redressal commission here found Flipkart guilty of adopting unfair trade practices and ordered it to pay a customer 10,000 for the mental harassment he suffered after it cancelled his iPhone order.

The cancellation was intentional to make extra profit, which amounts to a deficiency in service and unfair and restrictive trade practice adopted by the online platform, said the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Central Mumbai, in the order passed last month.

The detailed order was available on Sunday.

The commission noted that though the customer had received a refund, he needed to be compensated for the mental harassment and agony he suffered because of the unilateral cancellation of his order.

As per the complainant, a Dadar resident, he ordered an iPhone from Flipkart on July, 10 2022 and paid 39,628 using his credit card.

The phone was supposed to be delivered on July 12, but six days later he received an SMS from the e-commerce company that his order was cancelled.

When contacted, the company told him that their Ekart delivery boy had made several attempts to deliver the product but the complainant was unavailable and hence, the order was cancelled.

The cancellation has not only caused loss, and mental harassment but also subjected him to online fraud, the complainant said.

Flipkarts delivery partner, Ekart Logistics, was also a party to the complaint but the commission held that it is a delivery partner and there is no consumer and service provider relationship between the complainant and the logistics firm.

Flipkart, in its written response, said the complainant had mistakenly taken it as the seller of the product.

The company said it merely operates as an online platform as an intermediary, and all the products on the platform are sold and supplied by independent third-party sellers.

The seller in this case was International Value Retail Private Limited, and Flipkart had no role to play in the entire transaction entered between the complainant and the seller, it said.

The company claimed that it informed the seller of the complainant's grievance, the latter said the delivery person had made several attempts to deliver the product to the address but the complainant was unavailable and hence, the order was cancelled by the seller.

The money has been refunded and the dispute exists only between the complainant and the seller, and there is no cause of action against Flipkart, it said.

However, the commission, noted that the order was "unilaterally cancelled" by the e-commerce company that too when the complainant was constantly in touch with it and was assured that his concern was being looked into.

It further said Flipkart had not produced any proof about multiple attempts of service by it or by the seller as claimed.

The commission noted that Flipkart has admitted that the order was cancelled and the complainant was asked to place a fresh order.

This adds weight to the complainant's case that the cost of the said product had increased by around 7,000 and hence the order was cancelled and he was asked to place a fresh order, it said.

The commission pointed out that Flipkart had done this intentionally to make extra profit, which amounts to a deficiency in service and unfair and restrictive trade practices adopted by it.

"Though the complainant has received the refund, he needs to be compensated for the mental harassment and agony suffered by him due to the unilateral cancellation of his order by Flipkart," it said.

The commission ordered Flipkart to pay 10,000 towards compensation for the mental harassment and agony suffered by the complainant and 3,000 towards the cost.

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Nvidia has reigned as the investor darling of the artificial intelligence boom, more than quadrupling the value of its shares in the past year. But one of the chipmakers customers is performing even better.

Once under the radar, server-maker Super Micro Computer has become a go-to supplier for companies and governments eager to participate in the AI boom. Runaway sales of its servers filled with Nvidias AI chips are projected to double the companys revenue this year and have leapfrogged it ahead of some of its biggest competitors.

Super Micro Computers shares have increased more than 12-fold in the past 12 months, and it is set to become part of the S&P 500 index of large U.S.-listed companies on Monday. When it does, it will beby farthe indexs top one-year performer.

The company, usually referred to by its Supermicro brand, was founded in Silicon Valley in 1993the same year Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia. And like Nvidia, Supermicro has also been led for its entire history by one person. In Supermicros case, by President and Chief Executive Charles Liang, who was born in Taiwan and came to the U.S. after college.

Liang said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he has known Huang for decades. But the companies fortunes have become heavily entangled only now, amid the boom in AI.

Nvidia spent its first couple of decades focusing mostly on making chips that improved computer graphics for gamers. Supermicro competed in the less-flashy world of servers for data centers, latching onto the growth of cloud computing and the digital economy.

Then AI came along. Nvidias chips became the workhorses of the boom, making the complex computations necessary to create systems such as OpenAIs ChatGPT. Server manufacturers who could ship those chips to customers fastest and in the largest quantities had an edge.

Liang said it has been helpful that his base in San Jose, Calif., is just a 15-minute drive from Nvidias headquarters in Santa Clara. Our engineering teams are able to work together from early morning to midnight," he said.

Supermicros recent dominance in the AI boom, industry executives and analysts say, also stems partly from its strategy of making electronic building blocks" that can be assembled into servers in an almost endless number of configurations. Rivals offer a more limited menu to customers.

That flexibility has been an advantage in the AI boom, analysts say. Developers of self-driving car technology want different server setups than companies making language-generation AI systems such as ChatGPT. Supermicro can deliver customized infrastructure for both.

Competitors are trying to match Supermicros speed at building custom servers, said Hans Mosesmann, analyst with Rosenblatt Securities.

The treadmill is just going too fast," Mosesmann said.

Give me more chips

Liang said Supermicro has also benefited from having a $1 billion-plus inventory. And it has been able to get its hands on large quantities of Nvidias most advanced AI chips, even during a period of sky-high demand for them that has led to a long-lasting shortage.

When Liang and Huang appeared together at a computing conference in Taiwan last summer, Liang launched an AI server that he said would be available in the next few weeks, depending on the availability of Nvidias chips. It depends on you, not me," Huang said.

Give me more chips!" Liang replied.

Supermicro has grown so fast that it has needed to raise money to afford those chips, each of which costs around $25,000. The company raised $1.5 billion from the sale of convertible debt last month, after adding $600 million to its coffers from a stock issuance three months ago.

We need more money because demand is so strong," Liang said, adding that the cash would also help to build up Supermicros supply chain.

View Full Image Graphic: WSJ

As part of that effort, Liang is expanding manufacturing in San Jose, as well as in Taiwan and Malaysia. Liang said his goal was to be producing 5,000 racks of servers a monthan amount of computing infrastructure that would measure 6 feet high and almost 2 miles longby the middle of this year.

More than 50% of that is AI," he said. Liang has also said that the manufacturing growth is sufficient to bring the companys potential revenue above $25 billion a year, an addition of roughly $10 billion to annual sales based on its latest quarterly revenue.

Past and future challenges

While analysts say the companys prospects remain bright even after the stocks meteoric rise, Supermicro has had its share of challenges. Its chief financial officer and one of its co-founders stepped down after an internal audit begun in 2017 led to revisions to the companys previous financial statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission charged the former CFO with accounting violations in 2020, which was followed by a settlement of the proceeding.

Liang has said those troubles are behind the company, which is focused now on making sure it stays ahead of its competitors in the increasingly fierce battle for market share in AI computation. Both of Supermicros main rivals, Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, have more employees and more than double the companys revenue, even after its recent rise.

The AI processor market is expected to keep growing fast. Chip maker Advanced Micro Devices is projecting the market for AI accelerators will reach $400 billion by 2027, and analysts expect demand for servers to increase in tandem.

Supermicros AI-oriented servers made up more than half of its nearly $3.7 billion in sales in its latest quarterly report. Dell and HPE, by comparison, shipped $800 million and more than $400 million of similar servers, respectively.

Analysts clash on Supermicros ability to hold on to its position longer term. Wedbush analyst Matt Bryson said, historically, no company selling servers has had more than 30% market share.

Theres not a reason Dell cant do exactly what theyre doing," Bryson said.

Others arent so sure. Some analysts say that established competitors will have a hard time bringing new products to market so quickly and have larger revenue streams from software and services.

Supermicro is trying to gain further market share by doubling down on AI and continuing to ship its servers out quickly. The company is also keeping prices low to entice new customers: Its gross profit margin totaled around 15% in its latest quarter, down from 17% in the previous one. HPE, by comparison, had gross margins of 36% in its latest quarter.

In order to take market share, we will take opportunities by being more competitive on pricing," Chief Financial Officer David Weigand said on the companys earnings call in January.

Write to Asa Fitch at asa.fitch@wsj.com and Ben Glickman at ben.glickman@wsj.com
If Americas economy begins to deteriorate, people in Ningbo will be among the first to know. The eastern Chinese port, home to 9.6m residents, contains a sprawling industrial district. Its goods are prepared for export, and are shipped abroad via a deepwater harbour, which is one of the worlds busiest. The coast of Zhejiang province is dotted with similar entrepots, where thousands of mostly family-owned firms have built up a diverse manufacturing base over the past 40 years. They make everything from textiles and car parts to electronics and machine components.

Ningbo is also a city of political importance. Although private industry, rather than state-backed enterprise, has thrived in the region, it has nevertheless been held up as a model of common prosperity"Xi Jinpings way of dealing with wealth inequality. And amid a gloomy overall outlook, with much of the country mired in a property crisis and suffering from weak consumer demand, surprisingly strong exports and fading fears of a recession in America have combined to make Ningbo one of Chinas most optimistic cities.

Official data released on March 7th showed that Chinas exports surged by 7.1% year on year in the first two months of 2024. This is especially impressive given that some analysts had expected growth of less than 1%. Even exports to America climbed 5% year on year, after having tumbled by nearly 7% in December. The figures were sufficiently encouraging that policymakers at Chinas annual congress in Beijing disclosed a version of them a day ahead of the expected release date.

Little surprise, then, that the atmosphere in Ningbo is more cheerful than in other Chinese cities. Part of this, locals say, can be attributed to its relatively easy covid-19 years. In 2022 many large Chinese cities were locked down for months on end. Ningbo, perhaps by dint of luck, avoided a full-city lockdown and closed few factories. When Shanghai was shut down in April and May that year, halting lorries bound for its port, some traffic was rerouted to Ningbos busy harbour.

The good cheer has limits, though, which suggests that cities such as Ningbo may not drive Chinas recovery. A downturn in foreign demand would be devastating for the region. Local factories experienced a brief taste of this as China reopened in early 2023. Empty containers began stacking up in Ningbos port, indicating a lack of overseas purchases. An official who visited the city last March says he anticipated a disaster for the city and other export hubs. Fortunately, part of the phenomenon was explained by excess shipping containers returning to China for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The drop in demand was a blip.

Ningbonese factory bosses have other concerns. The family-controlled nature of their firms makes financing from banks more difficult to secure. As larger manufacturers in southern cities such as Shenzhen enjoy government support for technology upgradesinvolving robotics and the internet of thingslocal companies are finding it tough to keep pace.

And although the most recent export data beat expectations across the board, things improved from a very low base. Analysts at HSBC, a bank, expect trade uncertainty to persist. Meanwhile, demand is shifting: that from poorer markets, such as Africa and South America, is surging, according to the most recent data; that from America remains strong; but that from Australia, the EU and Japan is falling.

How well will Ningbo adapt? Many manufacturers got their start supplying foreign brands. More recently, they have begun selling directly to customers in the rich world through Amazon, an online marketplace, and Temu and Shein, two Chinese e-commerce sites, notes Hing Kai Chan of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. They are unlikely to have developed similar channels in the markets now growing strongly. If rich-world demand fizzles out, Ningbos happy days could come to an end. Instead of developing a new path to prosperity, Chinas optimistic city is riding on the coat-tails of the countrys geopolitical rivals.

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 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share the dais with TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and JSP chief Pawan Kalyan at a mega public rally in Boppudi village in Andhra Pradesh 's Palnadu district today, March 17, Sunday.

The Telugu Desam Party received the information about PM Modi's rally in Chilakaluripet from the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday, the party leader aware of the development said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Chandrababu Naidu extended a formal invitation to PM Modi and requested him to participate in the Chilakaluripeta rally on March 17, the TDP leader said. This came after the Bharatiya Janata Party finalized the seat-sharing talks with the TDP in the national capital on March 9.

Notably, this is the first rally of the National Democratic Alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled to take place in seven phases starting from April 19. The TDP will formally join the NDA at this rally, following their alliance with the BJP, even though the Jana Sena Party is already a member of the NDA.

Earlier, PM Modi, Chandrababu Naidu, and Pawan Kalyan addressed a joint election rally in Andhra Pradesh in 2014 when the Jana Sena Party and TDP were part of the NDA. The Jana Sena Party did not contest the election with the TDP-BJP alliance, however, it supported the combine.

In an official statement, the TDP on Tuesday said Nara Lokesh, the party general secretary, and Naidu's son, has been given the responsibility of organizing the NDA allies' public meeting. To discuss the plans for the rally, Lokesh convened a meeting with high-ranking representatives from all three political parties.

Some media reports stated that the BJP has agreed to contest six Lok Sabha seats, while Jana Sena will likely contest the general elections two seats. The TDP may fight on the remaining 17 constituencies.

The saffron party may contest around six Assembly seats in the southern state. The TDP will contest the remaining 145 Assembly seats in the Andhra Pradesh elections.

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Kurukshetra, Haryana: Jatinder Singh is ready for the next phase of his professional career. A former agriculture development officer at a public sector bank, 37-year-old Singh is leaving a sought-after government job after nine years of service. Two years back, Singh, together with a friend set up an agritech service firm in Haryanas Kurukshetra district, hoping to bring cutting edge technologies to farmers. Their first betoffering spraying services using dronesmade him believe that cutting edge technologies can be profitably deployed on the farm.

The company, GuruDrone Agritech, with a small office in a newly built shopping mall in the outskirts of Kurukshetra town, now provides drone-as-a-service to local farmers. Singhs client list has seen a phenomenal growth, from less than ten farmers in 2022most of whom had to be coaxed for trialsto over 1,000 farmers in the last Kharif crop season that began in June last year. That season Singh serviced over 10,000 acres of farm land, spread across crops like rice, sugarcane and vegetables.

Singhs firm now owns 20 drones. At an average purchase cost of 7.5 lakh per drone, it is an investment of 1.5 crore.

A chunk of this capital investment was financed through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund set up by the union government, which provides loans at concessional rates of 6% per year.

A year of awareness campaigns and demonstrations seem to have paid off. The technology is so popular that we are often unable to service the demand during peak growing seasons. Farmers who have used drones vouch for its effectiveness," Singh claimed.

View Full Image Farmers usually spray pesticides or liquid nutrients using hired labour. (AFP)

How are drones making a difference? Farmers usually spray pesticides or liquid nutrients using hired labour who carry 20 litre knapsack tanks on their backa drudgery during scorching summer months. Manual spraying usually costs around 200 per acre in labour charges and takes between 30-45 minutes. In comparison, spraying by drones with a payload of 10 litre takes just 5-7 minutes for an acre.

Hiring a drone costs around 300-500 for an acre, higher than manual spraying. But the spraying is more uniform and effective as the thrust created by the drones wings spray chemicals evenly in a fine mist, down to the bottom of the plants.

This is also safer as manual spraying entails the risk of contamination for workers, and serious health hazards and deaths in some cases. Drones are more effective while spraying on tall crops like sugarcane which are over 10 ft high. Workers often find it difficult to spray on those crops. The other benefit is a significant reduction in use of water. Usually, 150-200 litres of water is used for manual spraying in an acre, compared to just 10 litres using drones.

Spraying by drones is more uniform and effective as the thrust created by the drones wings spray chemicals evenly in a fine mist.

As drones are remotely operated from the edge of the field there is no trampling and damage to crops while spraying. But for most farmers who have used drones the biggest benefit is on-time sprays as hired workers are often hard to arrange during the peak season.

Billions in the making

In the next few years, the drone-as-a-service market could be a big opportunity for rural entrepreneurs like Singh. A conservative, back of the envelope calculation by this writer shows that if a tenth of Indias total net sown area of 140 million hectares is sprayed using drones, four times every year (two sprays per season in a year), it will create a 5,600 crore business opportunity. This calculation assumes a cost of 400 per acre, per spray for farmers. A hectare equals 2.5 acres. Of course, startups have more aggressive projections, running into billions of dollars.

Add to this the market for drone manufacturing, and the overall industry bulks up quite a bit. A 2022 report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, an industry lobby, and Ernst & Young, a consulting firm, estimated that India can unlock a 98,000 crore manufacturing potential in drones by 2030. Agriculture can contribute about a quarter of that market, which includes other commercial uses in retail and infrastructure in addition to defence and security.

Drone Didi

The recent push to use drones has emerged from all frontspesticide companies promoting its use for higher efficacy of their products leading to yield gains; drone manufacturers scoping out a new market; the government seeing it as a tool to empower women and create rural entrepreneurs.

In November last year, the government approved a new Namo Drone Didi scheme to provide drones to 15,000 women self-help groups (SHGs). The scheme has a financial outlay of 1,261 crore for the next two years, 2024-25 and 2025-26. Under this scheme, women groups are eligible for 80% subsidy, up to 8 lakh per drone.

View Full Image In November last year, the government approved a new Namo Drone Didi scheme to provide drones to women self-help groups. (PTI)

A qualified woman member will receive two-week training to become a certified drone pilot after which the group can offer rental services to farmers. The government expects each SHG to earn about 1 lakh per year.

At an event on 11 March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed 1,000 drones to rural women, marking the launch of the Drone Sister scheme. India has the highest number of women commercial pilots globally, and now her daughters will be pioneering a new technology which will revolutionize agriculture, Modi said at the event.

Other than women groups, rural youth running custom hiring centers, farmer producer companies and individual farmers are also eligible for 40-50% subsidy for purchasing drones.

Rise of DaaS

View Full Image Gurvinder Singh, a farmer in Haryana. After he started using drones to spray, his pesticide costs have shrunk by 10%, he said.

Currently, a handful of manufactures are offering drone variants approved by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Spread across the country, the list includes Gurugram-based IoTechWorld, Chennai-based Garuda Aerospace, Hyderabad-based Marut Dronetech, Bengaluru-based General Aeronautics, and Chennai-based Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, which was acquired by Coromandel International, a leading manufacturer of fertilizers and pesticides.

While most of these firms are now making drones for spraying, the technology is likely to see an upgrade in future. High-end multispectral cameras attached to drones can provide early warnings on diseases and pest attacks, perform soil tests, and monitor and record crop yields.

Our goal is to bridge the technology gap in Indian agriculture, said Deepak Bhardwaj, co-founder and director at IoTechWorld which began operations in 2017. For several years now, countries like China and Japan have been using drones extensively. Indian soils are in a poor state due to improper and overuse of chemicals. Drones can not only restore soil health but also improve crop yields," Bhardwaj added.

We do not think subsidies are required to promote drones as it can paralyze the system. Even at current costs, drones can deliver value to farmers. They can get additional two-three quintals of yields and a better-quality harvest. The higher prices and returns per unit of land will drive future demand," Bhardwaj said.

We do not think subsidies are required. Even at current costs, drones can deliver value to farmers. Deepak Bhardwaj

It was not an easy ride, explained Bhardwaj. Aerial spraying of crop protection chemicals was a taboo after the endosulfan tragedy in Kerala. The tragedy, which took place in Kasaragod district of the state, is considered one of the worst pesticide disasters globally. It started with the use of endosulfan, a pesticide, in a populated, waterbody rich area where it was aerially sprayed on cashew plantations for 20 years. It led to cases of congenital anomalies, delayed puberty, mental retardation, abortions, and even cancer. Following court cases and public protests, Kerala banned the sale and use of endosulfan in 2003.

For the past six years, drone manufacturers worked closely with government departments and agricultural research organizations. In April 2023, the agriculture ministry released the standard operating procedure (SOP)a manual for application of pesticides and crop nutrients using drones.

According to the SOP, manual or tractor-mounted spraying leads to overuse of chemicals and water while drones can lower use of these inputs and reduce human exposure to hazardous chemicals. For now, 477 chemicals have been provisionally approved for drone spraying for two years. During this period pesticide manufacturers are expected to generate safety and efficacy data.

Following the approval for commercial use in agriculture, IoTechWorld has sold 2,000 drones. To propagate use of drones it now works with twenty drone-as-a-service or DaaS partnersin this model, local entrepreneurs provide rental services to farmers. In 2021, Dhanuka Agritech, a leading pesticide manufacturer invested 30 crore in the startup.

Indian farmers need to adopt precision farming techniques to bridge the yield gaps to match global averages, said R.G. Agarwal, group chairman at Dhanuka. Farmers will only be able to invest more when they earn more per acre of land. Alongside pesticides, drones can effectively solve the micronutrient deficiencies in Indian soils," he added.

Yield gains

View Full Image Jatinder Singh, cofounder of GuruDrone Agritech.

Back in Kurukshetra, an upbeat Jatinder Singh is banking on the growing demand. After a year of out-of-pocket spending to demonstrate the effectiveness of drones, Singh is estimating a turnover of 1 crore in the financial year ending March. He has already hired 25 certified drone pilots who receive a salary of 20,000 per month along with accommodation.

Among them is 22-year-old Salita, who is pursuing a graduate degree. The daughter of a small farmer from Kaithal in Haryana, Salita received her pilot training in July last year. In a nearby farmers field, she demonstrated the workings of a drone which weighs 25kg (with a 10 litre payload), flying it adeptly over the wheat crop.

After I gather enough experience, I want to purchase a drone and offer services to farmers in my village," Salita said. How long will it take her to recover the capital expenses of purchasing a drone? Less than a year, explained Singh. A drone can easily cover 20 acres in a day and 400 acres in a month. If used for eight months in a year, a service provider can earn 16 lakh (assuming a service charge of 500 per acre).

A study recorded an incremental yield of 12 quintals per hectare in paddy on pesticide application through drones, when compared with manual spraying.

Singh added that associated costs are likely to reduce in the future as the market picks up. For instance, currently it costs over 35,000 a year to insure a drone. It will also become easier to transport drones to remote fields, Singh said, showing new models in his stock (manufactured by IoTechWorld) which can be neatly packed on the back of a bike.

The farmers in the field where Salita did a trial demonstration appeared happy. My pesticide costs are 10% lower and yields are higher by three quintals per acre for wheat and over five quintals in rice," said Gurvinder Singh, who farms on 20 acres in Rajgarh village. The higher yields means an additional income of 6,000 to 10,000 per acre.

Gurvinder added that after seeing the results, 15 farmers from the village are now regularly using drones for spraying pesticides and micronutrients.

Results from a research trial published by the Telangana state agriculture university, published in December 2022, lends credence to Gurvinders experience. The study recorded an incremental yield of 12 quintals per hectare in paddy (or about 5 quintals in an acre) on pesticide application through drones, when compared with manual spraying.

View Full Image IoTechWorld-manufactured drones can be packed on the back of a bike and easily transported.

A flying tractor

With an expanding market, drone manufacturers are gearing up to produce more. For instance, Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, which has sold over 1,000 drones so far, is expanding its capacity to produce 800-1,000 units per month. Most domestic manufacturers use 65% local materials while critical parts like propeller motors, cameras and transmitter devices are imported," said Ramanathan Narayanan, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) at Dhaksha. The company has trained 200 women and 20 transgender drone pilots so far. With government subsidies, we foresee increased adoption and reduced costs of hiring for farmers," Narayanan added.

Manufacturers of crop protection chemicals and seeds are also at the forefront of promoting drones. For instance, Syngenta India has so far used drone sprays in over 100,000 acres spread across 15 states. We have been aggressive in demonstrating the utility of this technology for farmers. But the ecosystem is not ready yet. While manufacturers are ready with drones, there is a shortage of service providers, maintenance personnel and drone pilots," said Susheel Kumar, country head for Syngenta. Cutting edge technologies like drones are critical to retain youth in agriculture.

View Full Image Going ahead, drones can transform into an aerial tractor performing multiple operations. (HT)

In future, drones can transform into an aerial tractor performing multiple operations, said Prem Kumar Vislawath, founder and chief innovator at Marut Dronetech. These include transplantation of seedlings, pollination and monitoring of fields, in addition to spraying of nutrients and crop protection chemicals.

Since December 2022, Marut has sold over 600 drones which are priced upwards of 6.75 lakh per unit. The company has worked with five stakeholders in the ecosystem to expand the market which include drone-as-a-service entrepreneurs, farm machinery dealers, chemical companies, contract farmers (growing commercial crops like tobacco), and agriculture universities.

In its early years, Marut used drones to control the spread of mosquito borne diseases like dengue and malaria. It entered the agriculture space in 2018. In the past, we have seen several deaths due to pesticide poisoning (in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, 2017) and we also know about the train carrying cancer patients from Punjab to Rajasthan," Vislawath said.

A train from Bhatinda in Punjab to Bikaner in Rajasthan used to carry several cancer patients daily till a few years backbefore treatment facilities opened locally. In parts of Punjab, the cradle of green revolution, indiscriminate use of fertilisers and pesticides is considered to be a probable reason behind high incidence of cancer.

Controlled and effective spraying is the answer to the damaging practices around pesticides application," Vislawath added.
When Indias largest conglomerate, Tata Group, broke ground on a $11 billion semiconductor factory this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country was poised to become a world leader in the sector.

He might be in for a rude awakening.

Tata isnt going it alone, which raises the probability of success. It will partner with Taiwans Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing to make older-generation, mature-node chips, which have features measuring 28 nanometers or wider.

The problem is that China, whose ambitions in cutting-edge chips have been stymied by U.S. and European export controls, is pouring capital into legacy chip making on a breathtaking scale. That will compress margins for everyoneand make life especially difficult for new small-scale players.

China will add more chip-making capacity than the rest of the world combined in 2024, according to research consulting firm Gavekal Dragonomics: one million more wafers a month than in 2023all mature nodes. Tata plans to make 50,000 wafers a month. Industry tracker TrendForce projects that Chinas share of global mature-node production will grow from 31% in 2023 to 39% in 2027.

View Full Image (Source: WSJ)

Chinas aggressive expansion comes at a time when the market for legacy chips is already well supplied. The artificial-intelligence revolution is supercharging demand for advanced chips, but older ones are another matter. Utilization rates for producers of mature-node chips have fallen from nearly 100% in 2020 to 65-75% at present, according to Gavekal.

Chinas government incentivesworth more than $150 billionwill help producers absorb losses. But India would struggle to shower such a capital-intensive infant industry with that kind of cash, especially given its already high government debt and enormous funding needs for infrastructure in general. Those infrastructure challenges represent a direct challenge to the chip-making process, too. Dependable water and power are essentialpower outages not only disrupt operations but can damage equipment and wafers in production. The Tata project is already poised to absorb billions of dollars worth of state funding.

A lack of upstream industrial capacity is another hindrance. Indias chemical and gas producers, for example, already produce many chemicals required for semiconductor manufacturing. But India lacks the refining capacity to boost purity levels to semiconductor grade, according to an industry-funded report by the Washington, D.C.-based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Foreign sourcing can substantially raise costs, the ITIF says.

Protectionismi.e., big tariffs on Chinese chipsmight be one solution. But as Western nations have learned to their chagrin over the past two years with Russia, controlling trade flows of legacy chips is difficult. The incentives for corruption and gaming the system through third countries would be enormous. And even assuming a tariff system worked as intended, it would put the rest of Indias burgeoning electronics business at a serious disadvantage.

According to Ashok Chandak, president of the India Electronics & Semiconductor Association, Tatas success will be critical to attracting other chip makers to Indiaand it will have to surmount big challenges so it becomes easier for those that follow. The ITIF says India is likely to commission two to three plants for mature-node chips within the next five years.

But China could pour cold water on those ambitions. Gaining a foothold in the less demanding area of chip packaging and testingwith the help of foreign firms like Micronmakes good sense for Indian companies. Spending scarce government funds babysitting cash-hungry infant chip-fabrication plants, rather than on infrastructure in general, could be a far riskier move.

Write to Megha Mandavia at megha.mandavia@wsj.com
Mumbai: Multiple mutual funds bought shares of ICICI Securities in February, ahead of a pivotal shareholder vote that will decide if the broking company will remain publicly listed.

Interestingly, these funds bought ICICI Securities shares at a premium to the value of ICICI Bank shares they will get in exchange, if the delisting of ICICI Securities goes through. For every 100 shares of ICICI Securities, shareholders will get 67 shares of ICICI Bank, translating to a share swap ratio of 0.67.

However, throughout February, ICICI Securities shares traded at a premium to this swap ratio, throwing up questions over the rationale of these mutual funds investing in the brokerage firm.

The volume weighted average price (VWAP) of ICICI Securities shares for February was 0.79 times the VWAP of ICICI Bank shares during the same period, as per Mints calculations. The closing price of ICICI Securities shares throughout the month was between 0.75 to 0.81 times of ICICI Bank shares, data show. This translates to a premium of between 12% and 21% to the swap ratio.

Some market observers say mutual funds might be expecting the delisting to not go through, justifying their bullishness on the brokerage firm.

"The buying interest among funds is on hopes that the shareholders would vote against the resolution in its current form as they believe the standalone broking entity is more value-accretive. If the resolution fails, the price of ICICI Securities will rise to the benefit of the fund's clients," a veteran at a leading asset management company, said on condition of anonymity.

When the swap ratio was first disclosed in June 2023, the spread between the listed bank and the broking entity was 21 a share. In such situations, buying the shares of ICICI Securities would have been justified, as the funds can lock in a risk-free rate of return by implementing "special situation strategies", said U.R. Bhat, co-founder of Alphaniti Fintech and a former director of JP Morgan India. In other words, this means that the funds buy the target company - ICICI Securities in this case - and sell the acquiring company  ICICI Bank -to pocket the risk free spread of 21 without any tax implication for the fund.

However, this spread was negative in February, closing the opportunity of profiting from arbitrage.

The mutual funds that bought into ICICI Securities in February include UTI Banking and Financial Services Fund, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Scheme, Kotak Multicap Fund, Axis Quant Fund, UTI Balanced Advantage Fund, ITI Banking and Financial Services Fund, Kotak Banking & Financial Services Fund and ITI Value Fund. These funds collectively bought almost a million shares among them, worth just over 75 crore as of 29 February.

Interestingly, these funds had no exposure to ICICI Securities before February. Most of them also have a significant exposure to ICICI Bank shares. Data for share purchases in March is unavailable as yet, to see if the funds are still buying into ICICI Securities. Broadly, mutual funds were net sellers of ICICI Securities in December and January.

Mint sought comments from these funds on their rationale for buying ICICI Securities shares and how they plan to vote on the delisting proposal. UTI Mutual Fund, Kotak Mutual Fund and Axis Mutual Fund declined to comment. ITI Mutual Fund did not respond to Mint's queries.

In June 2023, ICICI Securities proposed to delist from the public markets and become a 100% subsidiary of parent ICICI Bank. Investors will vote on the resolution between 22 and 26 March, before a meeting on 27 March.

Only minority shareholders of ICICI Securities, who collectively own 25.23% of the company, can vote on the resolution. ICICI Bank holds the remaining 74.77% shares of the company.

To succeed, the resolution needs more than two-thirds of the votes cast to be in its favour.

The resolution now hangs in a delicate balance. On one hand, two leading proxy advisory firms have given a thumbs-up to the delisting. With nearly 17% of ICICI Securities shares held by institutions like mutual funds, insurance companies and foreign portfolio investors, a green light by proxy advisors can go a long way in getting the delisting through.

However, many public shareholders are an unhappy lot, disputing the valuation at which the company is being delisted. Many retail shareholders have banded together on platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp and Twitter, gathering opposition to the delisting.

ICICI Securities minority shareholders include foreign institutions like Norways Norges Bank Investment Management, the worlds biggest sovereign fund, which holds 3.2% of the company as of December-end. Life Insurance Corp. of India owns 2.58%, while Boston-based Fidelity, a large money manager with over $10 trillion in assets under management, owns 1.29%.

When contacted earlier with queries regarding the share swap ratio, an ICICI Securities spokesperson had said: The valuation has been prepared by reputed independent valuers and confirmed by reputed investment bankers. A detailed valuation report has also been published and forms a part of the notice to the shareholders."

The swap ratio was arrived at independently by EY and PwC and reviewed by JM Financial Limited and BofA Securites India Ltd.

Some experts feel that delisting can still go through as it has several benefits for minority shareholders. Following delisting, the company will become a 100% subsidiary of ICICI Bank, effectively turning the transaction into a merger. This will act as a "hedge" against the cyclicality of the broking business during market downturns and benefit minority shareholders, thanks to the business of wealth management and lending available to them under ICICI Bank, said Nirav Karkera, head of research at Fisdom. Karkera feels that the qualms of the shareholders are likely to be ironed out at the upcoming shareholder meeting, paving the way for the delisting.
Foreign investors have increasingly shifted their investments to India from China in recent years, partly because of concerns over Beijings unpredictable policy moves and Chinas sputtering economy.

But a recent clampdown on one of Indias biggest financial technology companies rattled investors and serves as a reminder that New Delhi can also make sudden moves with a hefty impact on companies and market value.

Indias Paytm, a pioneer in the countrys shift to mobile payments whose investors have included Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway and Chinas Alibaba Group, has been shaken following an order from Indias central bank that largely crippled its banking affiliate. From Saturday, the bank can no longer carry out most types of transactions.

One97 Communications, Paytms parent, also owns 49% of Paytm Payments Bank and was relying on it to build new sources of income. After the Reserve Bank of Indias order, which was issued in late January and cited persistent failures in compliance at the bank, One97s share price tanked.

Paytm is now in damage-control mode. Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma called the order a speed bump," and said Paytm and the bank are moving to address the regulators concerns. But with the affiliates regulatory uncertainty clouding Paytms prospects, the companys market cap has sunk to around 15% of its valuation of nearly $19 billion at the time of its blockbuster IPO in 2021.

Investors dont like surprises," said Mohanjit Jolly, co-founder of Iron Pillar, a U.S. venture-capital fund that invests in Indian startups. Jolly said they have largely steered clear of investing in financial technology startups because of the regulatory unpredictability."

The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized fighting tax evasion and money laundering, which has led to intensifying scrutiny of a financial sector that now includes thousands of fintech firms that some experts say have been lightly regulated.

Foreign companies have raised concerns about regulatory surprises in other arenas as well.

In its recent list of challenges of doing business in India, the U.S. International Trade Administration, which supports American businesses overseas, cited nontransparent or unpredictable regulations and tariffs.

One such move came in August last year, when Indias Ministry of Commerce and Industry abruptly announced that the import of laptops and other personal-computing devices would require permits, a move that would make the process more onerous. After an outcry, the government ultimately diluted the new rule.

In 2020, Chinese firms and Indian internet users were caught off guard by Indias decision to ban 59 Chinese apps, citing national security, after India and China engaged in a deadly clash on their disputed Himalayan border. In one fell swoop, short-video platform TikTok, owned by Chinese social media giant ByteDance, lost its biggest market. India has banned dozens more apps since.

Internet policy experts say Indias bans should be accompanied by more public notice and disclosures about the process. In the U.S., a monthslong legislative process is under way that could potentially ban TikTok.

The trade and technology ministries didnt respond to requests for comment.

It was Indias most unexpected policy move of recent years that helped Paytm rise in the first place. In 2016, Modi canceled two widely used currency notes to combat tax evasion, a step that throttled many small businesses that operated largely on cash and slowed the economys growth.

The decision was a shot in the arm for Paytm, which immediately advertised its digital wallet on the front pages of major newspapers. The company became synonymous with mobile payments in India and has nearly 100 million active monthly users.

For years, Paytm was on the right side of Indias drive to curb the use of cash and move more transactions into the formal domainand tax them. In 2017, Paytm Payments Bank started operations as a new type of bank in India intended to serve users who often struggle to access financial services. While it couldnt lend, it could sell loans and other financial products from traditional banks and collect fees.

But the affiliate ended up in the crosshairs of Indias central bank, which has focused its sights on reining in new avenues of lending and policing how firms vet new customers, impacting both startups and established financial firms, such as foreign credit-card issuers. The RBI, which is seen as one of the countrys more methodical regulators, had previously flagged issues related to customer due diligence at the Paytm bank, and last year fined it.

A person familiar with the matter said the Paytm affiliate didnt address the compliance issues previously raised, leading to further action.

Analysts said that the stringency of the Paytm Payments Bank action, while directed at a single entity, signals that the bank wont tolerate lapses. This is a warning to the entire sector," said Hemindra Hazari, a banking analyst in Mumbai.

One of the risks Paytm faces now is that the affiliates regulatory woes drive away a core income-generating client baseshopkeepers and merchants who use Paytms technology to conduct transactions for a fee. The hit to Paytm comes amid growing competition from competitors like Walmart-backed PhonePe and Alphabets Google Pay, which have taken over market share.

The government has sought to temper concerns among startups sparked by Paytms troubles. In February, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with fintech firms. At the meeting, Sitharaman asked regulators, including the central bank, to meet startups monthly to field their concerns over regulation, the ministry said.

Also last month, in an unusual departure, central bank governors took time at a monetary policy meeting to dispel concerns that the central bank had been hasty in its dealings with the fintech giant and its affiliate.

Some experts said drastic action in this case was warranted.

The one thing regulators have realized around the world is that fining people fails to havemuch of an impact," said Siddarth Pai, founding partner of 3one4 Capital, a venture fund that manages around $500 million.

In the case of Paytm, Pai said the central bank had given plenty of warnings.

If you fail to adhere to those, then they have to take action, otherwise the regulator looks weak and the regulator cant look weak," he said.

Write to Shefali Anand at Shefali.Anand@wsj.com
House of Gods, a Matchbox Pictures six-part series, boasting an entirely Arab Australian cast, presents a perspective seldom seen on screen, a Muslim community in Fairfield, Australia.

You cant manufacture authenticity. Audiences are so intuitive and adept, they can smell if something is off a mile away. So for us, having actors who understood the idiosyncrasies of Arab/Muslim culture added an intangible layer of soul to the show, explained Osamah Sami, co-creator and one of the stars of the show.

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We both were raised in a religious setting where culture, traditions and spiritual beliefs govern daily lives. Immigration often reinforces our desire to cling on to our motherland customs even tighter Shahin Shafaei co-creator shared with Variety. As storytellers, we have both previously highlighted the lived experiences of our community in film and theater. But with House of Gods we found an opportunity to explore this living organism which is the community in a deeper way. 

Osamah Samis childhood was marked by displacement in Iran amidst the Iran-Iraq conflict, a narrative he later recounted in his award-winning novel, Good Muslim Boy.

Similarly, Shahin Shafaeis creative expression with his play in Iran led to dire consequences, forcing him to flee. His perilous journey to Australia culminated in a lengthy detention, including a significant period in solitary confinement, after being intercepted at Ashmore Reef.

The narrative of House of Gods begins deep in suburban Fairfield, with an electoral contest for head cleric of the local mosque. Its a duel between the progressive Sheikh Mohammad, portrayed by the magnetic Kamel El Basha, and the conservative Seyyed Shaaker (Simon Elrahi). A contentious photograph threatens Sheikh Mohammads campaign, yet he secures a narrow 4-3 victory, a win corruptedly secured by his son, Isa (Osamah Sami), through vote manipulationa naive deal with consequences.

Story continues

The series casts a rich portrayal of the community, too often overly simplified on screen. For a long time now, Muslims have been talked about but are rarely heard or listened to. House of Gods is a story about the inner workings of a community never seen in this way; and the hope, God-willing, is that diasporic communities will finally feel seen in all their colors. Sami says.

This isnt a sanitized portrayal of Muslims, nor is it a story intended to feed offensive stereotypes. It is an authentic depiction of a community, which I genuinely believe is relatable to anyone. Love, betrayal, and a sense of duty to ones family are universal human experiences after all.

A particularly striking and fresh aspect of House of Gods is its focus on female Muslim experiences, with Maia Abbas as Batul the confident and assertive daughter of Sheik Mohammad. These are the women we know, love and grew up with. We are just highlighting the vital role they play in our community. says Shahin.

Osamah Sami agrees: They helped us with our schoolwork, answered our silly questions, cuddled us when we were afraid. Unfortunately, the narrative we often digest about Muslim or Arab women is one of oppression and voicelessness. But women in our societies are lionesses. And it was our duty to showcase this truth. Also, how awesome is it to see uniquely individual women in hijabs kick ass on screen?

There is an overarching theme of coexistence embedded here, We can respect others culture without adopting them. We can be proud of our new home but still proud of who we are, Kamel El Bashas character preaches at one point in his bid for leadership.

We wanted to say, yes, we may come from different places and have different customs or cultures, but why not celebrate these differences? Why choose to see them as thorns pricking at our own identities? Sami says.

With projects such as Emmy winner Safe Harbour, and Cate Blanchett starrer Stateless, Matchbox Pictures has consistently aimed to elevate Australian production to appeal internationally.

Producing shows from perspectives and voices rarely represented is part of the Matchbox Pictures DNA. Debbie Lee, executive producer and director of scripted at Matchbox Pictures, told Variety adding Were so proud of House of Gods as a prime example of introducing audiences to an unfamiliar world from the insidea world with complex, specific, and relatable characters. I genuinely believe that the more specific you make something, the more universal it becomes, and absolutely think its what makes a show like this globally appealing. Telling these stories is vital, but without the support of our partners at the ABC in Australia, House of Gods simply would not have been possible.

Shahin sums up House of Gods as ultimately a family drama that happens to be set in a Mosque. It is an entertaining show filled with complicated family dynamics, power struggles, and workplace conflicts. It is all these things, and an exploration into the cultural nuances of a community trying to call a new country home.

It has its international premiere at Frances Series Mania this week, having recently broadcast on ABC Australia. With Matchbox Pictures being part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, international sales are handled by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.

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What if you inherited a home, a title and all the underhanded business that has been going on for years? Youll do everything to get out of the shady business innit?

So a British peacekeeping soldier Edward Horniman (played by the handsome Theo James, whom you last saw in The White Lotus) loses his father and earns a Dukedom which his father has willed to him and not his older brother Freddy. He realises that Freddy is in debt and his father has been leasing out their ancestral lands to Susie Glass and her father who run a business of growing weed.

The family groundskeeper and the Dukes mother know the goings on but have done nothing because upkeep of the estate needs the money. The upright, freshly minted Duke needs to get out of the weed business, but he also needs to pay off his brothers debts. Will he get out of the family business?

Family businesses are hard to deal with, especially if you, dear investor, are not interested in it. Here are the two really important money lessons you need to learn from this awesome, fun, bloody (it is a Guy Ritchie series, after all!) show on Netflix.



Also Read: Learn from Sidharth Malhotra: Become a financial Yodha with these 3 lessons

Its tough to exit family businesses

The new Duke is a calm, unruffled man. He knows that allowing marijuana cultivation in his lands is not right, and he tells Susie Glass (played by the saucer-eyed Kaya Scodelario) that he wants out. But Susie can help with money and connections to that bad men who will kill Freddy if his loans arent paid, so the Duke gets embroiled in the business.

One thing leads to another and you end up sympathising with his situation, once you begin to deal with the illegal business, it is impossible to get out. His drunk, drugged out brother - of all people - offers the Duke the best advice: You are not cut out to be a slave to the marijuana trade, take a chance and own it.

Its a great lesson to learn in life too. Before you suddenly inherit properties, farms, and even poorly made long term investments made by a parent who stubbornly believed they did not need your advice, sit down and have a family meeting and talk about living wills and inheritance and taxes that will surely put a huge dent in your life savings.



Also Read: Laapataa Ladies: 4 money lessons one can learn from this funny, heartwarming take on life

Its best to know your associates

Susie Glass works for her father who operates his marijuana empire out of a fancy prison. The wandering community (calling them Gypsies is an offence today) can steal at will and Edward cannot do anything because they have hundreds of cousins. Gospel John has a gang that will kill in the name of God and hes still searching for his missing brother and the money counter Jethro.

Freddy killed the said brother in a cocaine-fueled rage because he had to dress in a chicken costume (an Oscar win worthy glorious costume!) to apologise. Besides these, the Duke also has to deal with Sticky Pete, Blanket, Mercy, King Zog, Chucky and other gloriously named bad characters. And yes, you cannot forget the bigger enemy - Mr. Johnston, with a T - who is a constant threat to the Duke and Susie.

The business of investing your money is a matter of trust too. The best way to negotiate this jungle of people, financial institutions, laws connected with these needs you to work like a trapeze artist. When it comes to investing your hard earned money, you must educate yourself - just like the Duke does - about everything. Only then will you know how to come out on top and raise a toast to success.



Manisha Lakhe is a poet, film critic, traveller, founder of Caferati  an online writers forum, hosts Mumbais oldest open mic, and teaches advertising, films and communication. She can be reached on Twitter at @manishalakhe.

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Avoiding credit score scams call for an extreme sense of caution. These are a number of steps that one can take to stay safe. First and foremost, one should share only personal and financial information with the reputable sources.

For example, one Ajay Sharma has a poor credit score of 550 and he now wants to improve it in the next one year since he plans to raise loan to buy a house.

He gets a link to an organisation that offers a guarantee of credit score improvement by 200 within three months. This sounds too good to be true. But the catch is that he is asked to pay 20,000 in advance. So, the best thing that Ajay should do is to stay away from such an offer.

ALSO READ: How to ensure a good interest rate on your personal loan? Here are 3 primary ways

And in case you are not sure about a company or website that offers credit score services, you should make sure to research it thoroughly. It is recommended to look for reviews, ratings, and any complaints that are lodged against it.

These are the ways to avoid credit score scams:

Use official channels: Stick to official channels for obtaining your credit score, such as authorised credit bureaus of Cibil, Equifax and Experian. These agencies provide legitimate and accurate credit reports.

Beware of unsolicited offers: Be careful of unsolicited offers for credit score checks, especially if they are sent via phone calls, email or text message. Fraudsters tend to use such methods in order to lure gullible victims.

Check your report: You should monitor your credit report on a regular basis to detect any unauthorised activity or errors. You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus once a year.

ALSO READ: How does foreclosure of loan impact your credit score?

Keep guaranteed results at bay: Stay away from the companies which promise to improve your credit score immediately or guaranteeing specific results. Genuine credit repair services may offer assistance in improving your credit, but they cannot give guarantees.

Stay updated: Acquaint yourself with common credit score scams and red flags to watch out for. Stay informed about new tactics used by scammers, and share this information with friends and family.

Secure your personal information: Protect your personal and financial information by using strong, unique passwords for online accounts, and avoid sharing sensitive details over unsecured networks or with unknown parties.

Report suspicious activity: If you suspect you have encountered a credit score scam or have become a victim of identity theft, report it to a law enforcement agency.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does checking your credit report impact your credit score?

It does not impact your credit score. As a matter of fact, it is advisable to keep checking the score from time to time.

How can you improve the credit score?

You can work on improving your credit score by making timely payments, reducing outstanding debt, and maintaining a healthy credit utilisation ratio (CUR) before applying for a car loan.

How can you secure your personal information?

You can protect your personal and financial information by using strong passwords for online accounts, and you should avoid sharing sensitive details over unsecured networks or with unknown parties.

What are the agencies you should approach for credit rating?

One should only approach only the reputable agencies such as Cibil.

Why should one stay away from the ones that give guaranteed offers?

One should stay away from the agencies that promise to improve your credit score immediately or guaranteeing specific results. Genuine services may offer assistance in improving your credit, but they never give guarantees.SO

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Google Doodle celebrates St Patrick's Day today with an illustration depicting the serene landscape of the country of Ireland.

This handmade doodle was made using the wood burning technique that shows sunrise across the countryside in a lush green setting and sunset in the city amidst calmness and warmth from the sun. The doodle released on Sunday, March 17, in terms of visibility, spans the countries of the United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virginia Islands, Ireland, United Kingdom, Latvia, Croatia, Iceland and Singapore.

This doodle's description states, Put on something green because its St Patricks Day! This handcrafted Doodle made with a wood burning technique showcases the beauty of Ireland."

This handcrafted St Patrick's Day Doodle features the beautiful landscape of Ireland, from the countryside to the city.

Celebrations

Parades are now central to the celebrations of St Patricks Day as many cities across The Emerald Isle host lively parades. These processions featuring the rhythmic footwork of traditional Irish dance, bodhrans (an Irish drum) and fiddles mark the celebrations of the day.

Moreover, two million bystanders gather across the Atlantic Ocean in New York City each year to cherish the enormous St Patrick's Day parade in the world. This largest parade boasts around 250,000 marchers.

History

Until the late 20th century, the large-scale parades associated with the occasion weren't a familiar sight in Ireland. However, though New York City boasts the largest St Patrick's Day parade, its certainly not the oldest as Boston is the city where the earliest celebrations took place.

In 1737, one of the earliest celebrations of St. Patrick's Day took place in Boston. This parade took place as an act of solidarity for the city's Irish immigrants. Over time this small tradition of theirs evolved into worldwide global celebration. In 1903, Ireland declared St Patricks Day an official public holiday on March 17.

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Three-time Grammy award winner and the UN Goodwill Ambassador (UNCCD) Ricky Kej has shared his bad experience after staying at a budget hotel near Mumbai airport. Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Kej said that the hotel had not only untrained staff", but also cockroaches in the room, faulty plumbing, non-existent laundry pickups, dirty toilet drains". The music composer said, that in the past, he had a similar experience with the hotel, however, he thought of giving them a "second chance."

"Currently staying at @stayatginger Ginger Hotel at the Airport in Mumbai. Thought it would be a good idea to stay at a no-frills business hotel by the @TataCompanies, being a huge fan of Tata. Bad experience once in the past, tried giving them a second chance. Unfortunately - untrained staff right from the check in counters, cockroaches in the room, faulty plumbing, non-existent laundry pickups, dirty toilet drains, Etc. I really hope they improve.. for the sake of the group," Kej wrote on X.

The post has gone viral on social media, and has amassed 332.1k views, 1.3k likes, 291 reposts and 130 comments since posted on March 15, at 3.06 pm.

Also Read | Electoral bonds 2nd list out: Election Commission uploads fresh info on funding to political parties

Sharing a video of a cockroach in his room, the music composer shared another post, "A happy wandering cockroach in my room @stayatginger hotel at Mumbai Airport. I was told it would be a single occupancy room. Hahhaha".

Room key deactivated after social media post

Sharing his harrowing experience at the Mumbai budget hotel, Kej added that after he posted the same on X, the hotel staff deactivated his room key. " The folks at @stayatginger

have deactivated my key. Rude, threatening service, complacency.. and now vengeance. There seems to be a huge culture problem with Ginger Hotel at the Mumbai Airport," he wrote.

Fictitious bill after checkout

In another tweet, sharing a photo of a laundry bill, the renowned musician wrote, This saga just does not end! Just checked out of the @stayatginger hotel at Mumbai Airport. After all the drama, tweets, and some pseudo apologies from staff, I receive this Laundry bill which is completely fictitious!"

Yesterday I did call for laundry at 2pm - NO ONE ARRIVED AT MY ROOM TO PICK UP LAUNDRY. I waited 45 min and gave up. So there was NO Laundry done! For your own good, @stayatginger and @TataCompanies, please investigate staff, look through cctv footage and please figure out how are these continuous lapses in operations, efficiency and service happening. Who is responsible (is it just some staff who is disgruntled?) and what needs to be done to restore trust in this brand.."

Also Read | EC changes vote counting date for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Assembly election

Hotel responds to Ricky

The hotels took note of the social media tweets and apologised for the inconvenience caused during his stay. Dear Ricky, please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused during your stay. We are investigating the matter with urgency. Your feedback is invaluable, and a member of our team will reach out soon. Regards."

Netizens reaction

The social media post of the renowned musician having 39.8k followers on X went viral and has received 131 reactions from netizens till now.

I wonder why you choose @stayatginger this place is not for people like you. It's a low budgeted hotel for upper middle class like us, I usually stay in it so have experienced it in Ginger Nashik", wrote a user.

"Very brave to choose Ginger. Even normal folks don't dare tread there," reacted another user.

"No proper lighting, matchbox size rooms. Total harassment," commented a user.

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The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday issued a ninth summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and asked him to appear before the federal agency on March 21 in the excise policy case.

The AAP supremo was granted bail by Delhi's Rouse Avenue court against arrest for skipping probe agency summons on a bail bond of 15,000 and a surety of 1 lakh in the money laundering case.

Kejriwal appeared before the court following a summons issued to him by the court based on two ED complaints in connection with the liquor policy case. He had moved the Rouse Avenue Court against the order passed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra asking him to appear before her on March 16.

Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Minister Atishi said Kejriwal has given a reply to all BJP leaders who were repeatedly saying that the chief minister is running away from the court and the federal agency.

...Arvind Kejriwal went to court yesterday. He has given a reply to all the BJP leaders who were saying repeatedly that Arvind Kejriwal is running away from court and the ED...Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has shut their (BJP leaders) mouth," she said.

Atishi said the BJP and PM Modi don't care about the legal proceedings, they only want to jail Arvind Kejriwal and stop him from campaigning ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

They don't want to wait for the court's verdict. They don't care about the law, the investigation, the justice, and the truth. That's only aim of the BJP, PM Modi, and the ED and CBI. That's why they have sent another summons to Arvind Kejriwal (in the excise policy case)," the AAP minister added.

So far, Kejriwal has skipped eight summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the excise policy case. He has maintained that ED summons to him were "illegal". The AAP has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of stamping out opposition parties and toppling governments.

According to the ED, the agency wants to record Kejriwal's statement in the case on issues like the formulation of excise policy, meetings held before it was finalized, and allegations of bribery.

The excise policy was aimed at revitalizing the city's flagging liquor business and replacing a sales-volume-based regime with a license fee for traders. It promised swankier stores and a better buying experience. The policy introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor for the first time in Delhi.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena's move to order a probe into alleged irregularities in the regime prompted the scrapping of the policy. The AAP has accused Saxena's predecessor, Anil Baijal, of sabotaging the move with a few last-minute changes that resulted in lower-than-expected revenues.

Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are already under judicial custody in the case.

ARVIND More Information

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday stressed the importance of establishing a system to regulate "unaccounted" donations, while also safeguarding the privacy of donors and ensuring they are not subjected to harassment.

During a press conference, when questioned about electoral bonds, Kumar addressed the issue, saying, As far as electoral bonds are concerned, the Commission has always been in favour of transparency".

In a democracy, there is no scope for hiding things, it is all about making everybody know, that we are all for transparency. This is the first part of the exercise that it must be known, the country now has to ask and find solutions through an institutional mechanism where the donor's privacy is also considered," PTI reported Kumar as saying.

Also Read: Electoral Bond Case: Here's what the SC told SBI about unique number

In its landmark verdict on February 15, the top court had scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding, calling it unconstitutional" and ordered disclosure by the EC of donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients.

Kumar said, The unaccounted money which is used in the elections... during the elections we are very particular to control it but how do we also control the donations in the unaccounted form is something which the entire nation needs to work together... the donor's privacy is also protected so he is not harassed, how the money is channelised and how it is more and more white."

The CEC expressed confidence that a better" system will evolve.

Also Read: Electoral Bonds not perfect but better, it is at least transparent, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

In the digital age... it should be very very low cash economy... therefore one has to think of it and I am sure a better system will evolve," Kumar added.

The CEC said that the Election Commission has made it compulsory for all political parties to inform it about the contributions they are receiving. The parties are also supposed to declare how much they have collected and how much they have spent in the annual accounts.

Also after every election they are supposed to give us an account of what they have spent during the particular action...we also publish this on the website of the Commission for everyone to know what is happening," he said.

In compliance with the Supreme Court's order, the State Bank of India (SBI), the authorized distributor of electoral bonds, provided the data to the Election Commission on March 12. The court had instructed the Election Commission to publish the data on its website by 5 pm on March 15.

According to SBI, donors purchased a total of 22,217 electoral bonds of different denominations between April 1, 2019, and February 15, 2024, with 22,030 of them being redeemed by political parties.

Also Read: Amit Shah shows full respect' to SC order on electoral bonds, but says it should

On Friday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the SBI for failing to disclose the unique alphanumeric numbers associated with each electoral bond, which are crucial for matching donors with recipient political parties. The court asserted that the SBI was obligated to disclose this information and issued a notice to the bank, demanding an explanation for its non-compliance with the court's directives. This development occurred amidst a growing political controversy surrounding the electoral bonds scheme.

However, the CEC did not respond to a question about non-disclosure of the unique numbers.

(With inputs from PTI)

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The police on Sunday said they have arrested two men and are looking for more after international students in Ahmedabad's Gujarat University were assaulted in the hostel for offering namaz.

Two students  one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan  were hospitalised after the Saturday night incident.

DCP (Zone 7) Tarun Duggal said that the two arrested accused have been identified as Hitesh Mevada and Bharat Patel. "Search operations to arrest the remaining accused are underway".

"An FIR was registered against 20-25 unidentified accused persons under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, damage to property, and criminal trespass, among others. Two of those accused have been arrested," Duggal added.

Police Commissioner GS Malik informed that as many as nine teams, including four from the crime branch and five from local police under DCP, have been formed to probe the incident.

Reacting to the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Gujarat government is taking strict action against the perpetrators of violence.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed that one of the two foreign students injured in the violence has been discharged from hospital.

"An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The incident was reported at around 10:50 pm yesterday when around two dozen people barged into the Gujarat University hostel and raised an objection to international students offering namaz in the facility where they stayed, the police said.

Two groups clashed on the premises of the A-block hostel where 75 international students were staying, said Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Neerja Gupta.

"The matter escalated and some international students were hurt. An FIR has been registered. The government and police have taken the matter seriously and an investigation is underway," she added.

(With agency inputs)

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The Indian Navy said that INS Kolkata cornered and coerced all 35 pirates to surrender on Saturday, securing the safe extraction of 17 crew members from the pirate vessel without harm.

Here are top five things you should know about the rescue mission:

1. During the 40-hour rescue mission, INS Kolkata intercepted the targeted pirate ship Ruen, which was approximately 2600 km away from the Indian Coast, and brought it to a halt using strategic measures. In the operation, Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft had picked up Marine Commandos in large numbers from an air base on the west coast of India and then airdropped them in the Arabian Sea near the hijacked vessel around 2600 Km away from Indian shores. Special boats of commandos were also airdropped separately on the location in which they moved towards the vessel and carried out the operation," said Indian Navy officials.

2. To ensure the safe retrieval of the crew members and the complete takeover of the troubled vessel, the mission received backing from various assets, including the Indian warship INS Subhadra, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones, P8I maritime patrol aircraft, and MARCOS PRAHARs parachuted byHALE RPA. Meanwhile, the Indian Army officials said, The Indian Navy is also bringing along the merchant vessel MV Ruen to the Indian coast. The vessel is carrying a huge amount of steel. The pirates had fired at the Indian Navys assets before surrendering before Marine Commandos."

Also Read: Indian Navy establishes link with cargo ship Ruen's crew after thwarting Somali pirates' hijacking attempt

3. Later, the vessel was also sanitized for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband. Earlier, the Indian Navy shared about the ongoing rescue operation to evacuate crew members onboard a distressed vessel.

4. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been commandeered by Somali pirates on December 14, 2023, reappeared as a pirate vessel, threatening merchant shipping in the high seas. Responding swiftly to the threat, an Indian Navy warship engaged the pirate vessel on March 15, the Navy said in its statement.

Also Read: Indian Navy thwarts Somali Pirates' hijacking attempt; intercepts ex-MV Ruen | Watch Video

5. The Indian Navy urged the pirates aboard the vessel to surrender promptly and release any hostages they might have been holding, according to an official statement. Emphasizing its steadfast dedication to maritime security and the protection of seafarers traversing these dangerous waters, the Indian Navy's intervention underscores India's determination to combat piracy and uphold global maritime regulations.

(With inputs from ANI)

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Bulk cargo vessel Ruen , which was hijacked by pirates three months ago, was rescued in a joint operation carried out by Indian Navy's INS Kolkata with the support of INS Subhadra, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones, P8I maritime patrol aircraft, and MARCOS PRAHARs.

INS Kolkata carried out the 40-hour-long operation by sailing almost 2600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast to force the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions.

Also Read: Indian Navy establishes link with cargo ship Ruen's crew after thwarting Somali pirates' hijacking attempt

Indian Navy rescue operation: Top points to know so far

-The action against Somalian pirates to rescue the vessel was carried out by a calibrated operation of the Indian warship INS Subhadra, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones, P8I maritime patrol aircraft, and MARCOS PRAHARs airdropped by C-17 aircraft.

Also Read: Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas passes away at 90

-After the completion of the rescue operation, the vessel was sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband.

-The development came after men on the bulk carrier fired at an Indian warship in international waters on Friday, March 15. The action forced the navy to intercept the vessel some 2,600 kilometres (1,615 miles) off the Indian coast.

Also Read: Indian Navy commissions INS Jatayu  What is the significance of second naval base in Lakshadweep?

-Within a day, the Indian Navy forced all the 35 pirates on board the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen to surrender. The Navy was able to accomplish the operation within 40 hours.

- "INS Kolkata, a mission deployed in the Arabian Sea, through the sustained high tempo of operations, has thwarted the designs of the Somali pirates to hijack ships transiting through the region by intercepting the pirate ship MV Ruen, on March 16. The merchant vessel had been hijacked in December 2023 and was under the control of the Somalian Pirates till now," the statement read.

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The world is set to witness a series of important political events today, Sunday, March 17. From the Russian presidential elections's final day of voting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha poll campaign in Andhra Pradesh, Mint lists important events to watch.

- The Congress-led INDIA bloc will hold a Lok Sabha polls rally in Mumbai's Shivaji Park today, Sunday. Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, RJD leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav are some opposition leaders who will take part in the campaign.

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold the first NDA rally in Andhra Pradesh today, March 17. This comes days after he completed an extensive 10-state tour of India, during which he unveiled development projects valued at thousands of crores and attended numerous important occasions including his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since Article 370 was abrogated.

- Sunday marked the beginning of Russia's last day of presidential voting. Moscow accused Kyiv of attempting to sabotage the election, which is likely to extend President Vladimir Putin's term in office by six years, by using air strikes. More than half of Russian voters have already gone to the polls in the first two days of the three-day election.

- The Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate Programmes graduation (CUET-PG) is being conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These exams are pre-requisites to take admission to Central and State Universities and other institutions providing a single window opportunity to the aspiring candidates. Today, students will appear for M.Ed, Criminology, Physical Education, MA Education, and Food Engineering and Technology exams.

- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held in seven phases starting from April 19 and continue until the seventh phase on June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced the final list of candidates for the Senate elections, scheduled to take place on April 2. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will hold the Senate election in April to fill the 48 seats that fell vacant upon the expiration of the six-year term of the incumbent senators last week.

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BELOIT  Authorities say a carjacking suspect is dead after leading Illinois and Beloit police on a pursuit Saturday morning that ended when the suspect rammed a vehicle into a squad car in Beloit and a Roscoe, Illinois, officer shot the suspect.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation reported in a statement that shortly before 9:30 a.m., the suspect fled Illinois law enforcement north into Beloit, where Beloit police assisted in the vehicle pursuit.

Officers attempted a maneuver to stop the vehicle, but the subject rammed their vehicle into a Roscoe officers squad car, the DCI said. A Roscoe police officer fired, striking the subject. Life-saving measures were performed, and the subject was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.

A Roscoe police officer was taken to an Illinois hospital, treated for minor injuries and released.

Both Beloit and Roscoe officers were wearing body cameras during the incident. The DCI is leading the investigation, assisted by the Rock County Medical Examiners Office, Beloit Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, a DCI crime response specialist and members of DCIs Digital Evidence Unit.

All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating, the DCI said.

The DCI said it will turn over investigative reports to the Rock County district attorney when the investigation concludes.

City of Beloit spokesperson Sarah Lock said in a statement that no shots were fired by Beloit police.

Lock said the Winnebago (Illinois) County Sheriffs Office in a statement on behalf of the South Beloit Police Department and Roscoe Police Department reported that there was an officer-involved shooting about 9:10 a.m. Saturday during a traffic stop involving a South Beloit officer on Highway 251 north of Prairie Hill Road in Illinois.

That traffic stop preceded the second officer-involved shooting in Wisconsin reported by DCI, Lock said.
(Bloomberg) -- Residents in Australias far north are bracing for destructive winds and intense rainfall as Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan moves closer to the coastline, prompting evacuations and the closure of a major manganese mine.

The category three cyclone in the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria is forecast to cross the coast Monday, according to an update from the Bureau of Meteorology. After making landfall, its expected to weaken during Tuesday and move west across the Northern Territory as a tropical low, the bureau said.

The storm has already led to the closure of a manganese mine on Groote Eylandt island, the worlds largest producer of the metal, according to the Northern Territory government. The mines production value was A$1.53 billion ($1 billion) in 2022-23, it said. The storm may also impact Shell Plcs Prelude liquefied natural gas plant off the coast of Western Australia.

The very destructive core of the storm is expected to impact the coast between the Northern Territory and Queensland border with winds of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) an hour, according to the bureau. About 800 people are likely to be evacuated from the Indigenous community of Borroloola to Darwin on Monday, federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said in a radio interview.

Another tropical low storm northwest of the Pilbara coast is expected to remain weak until Tuesday, the bureau said. From Wednesday, it is forecast to move steadily westward across the Indian Ocean and have an increasing chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. At this stage, there is no threat of any direct impacts to the Pilbara coast, it said.

--With assistance from Amy Bainbridge and Georgina McKay.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company.

United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10:20 a.m. and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. The airports director, Amber Judd, said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. No injuries were reported.

The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, Judd said, and none was found.

Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel.

A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight.

After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel," the United spokesperson said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred."

The Federal Aviation Administration also said it would investigate.

The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said.

The plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year, according to the FAA. United Airlines has operated it since Nov. 30, 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max.

Boeing said, also via email, that it would defer comment to United about the carrier's fleet and operations.

In January a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries.

The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in southwest Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation.

On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport.

The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalized, officials said.

___

Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington.

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Kate Middleton, the British royal has long been away from the public eye arousing speculations and conspiracy theories about her absence.

Her absence has left social media users searching for answers. The 42-year-old Princess of Wales had a surgery in January and is recovering at home after a planned abdominal surgery", according to Kensington Palace. Netizens are out with theories suggesting that Prince William's wife is in an induced coma" amid speculations that the Princess' senior staff members are unaware of her post-recovery process.

Meanwhile, some of the staff members informed that she was nowhere to be seen. Moreover, some staff members were unaware about the surgery until it was announced later. "Only a few people know what's really going on, and they're tight-lipped. It's confusing and causing some concern," the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

A few of Kate's senior staffers haven't been able to see or speak to her, and they didn't even know about the surgery until it was announced, so it's caught them off guard," Us Weekly quoted a source as saying.

As per the report, a "shroud of secrecy" surrounds Kate Middleton's disappearance. Only cancer-stricken King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla have been the guests at the Palace as the royals are reluctant to reveal any information to the media, keeping the Middleton's post-op recuperation very hush-hush."

A source from the palace suggested that Kate feels she's entitled to heal and recuperate without all of this frenzied speculation. The source further claimed that neither Kate nor William think her medical records should be for public consumption and stated She's trying not to pay attention to all the rumours and gossip, and William is doing his best to shield her, but it's distressing."

Furthermore, a controversy sparked after the Princess of Wales shared a family photo of herself with her children on Mother's Day. The photo was found to have been manipulated" and was thus withdrawn by news agencies. Kate Middleton in her apologies later stated, "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing."

What's more striking is that Frances AFP news agency announced that Kensington Palace cannot be deemed a trusted source" of information. Media outlets like CNN said that they would scrutinise all of the handout photos that Kensington Palace had previously provided.

This incident has given rise to a wave of conspiracy theories termed "Katespiracy" on social media. Moreover, the royals are further under scanner amid speculations of manipulations of photographs.

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The British royal, Kate Middleton 's post-surgery recovery, which is seen as a justification for her absence from public gatherings, has worried her senior staffers. According to US Weekly, senior staffers of the Princess of Wales , were not even aware about her planned abdominal surgery until it was announced. Moreover, they havent been able to see or speak to her or even see her for a long time. Her disappearance has raised speculations about her relationship with Prince William.

Also Read: Kate Middleton apologises for manipulated family photo: Was experimenting with editing

A few of Kate's senior staffers haven't been able to see or speak to her, and they didn't even know about the surgery until it was announced, so it's caught them off guard," reported Us Weekly referring to sources.

According to a New York Post article, the royals have maintained massive secrecy around Kate Middleton's disappearance lately. The report said that Middleton is visited by only a few people including cancer-stricken King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla.

Also Read: Princess of Wales Kate Middleton's first official photo since surgery released: See photo

So far there is no official confirmation about the exact reason behind the secrecy of Middleton's isolation apart from her post-recovery surgery. Several media outlets are reporting her disappearance to be a signal of trouble between William-Kate Middleton hinting at a potential split. A few media reports suggest that the strife in their marriage is because of Lady Sarah Rose Hanburry.

Who is Lady Sarah Rose Hanbury?

Lady Sarah Rose Hanbury is the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. She comes from a family that has a deep-rooted history with the British Royal family. According to a Times of India report, she is believed to be closely connected with Kate and William's inner social circle.

Several media reports suggest a contradictory theory about Middleton's appearance and say that William is helping Kate maintain her isolation from the public to ensure her recovery post-surgery. Kates said she feels shes entitled to heal and recuperate without all of this frenzied speculation, Neither Kate nor William think her medical records should be for public consumption," reported the New York Post referring to a source.

The report also added that she is trying her best to pay no heed to the rumours and gossip. Whereas the Prince of Wales is trying his best to "shield her, but its distressing."

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar dismissed the criticism from the United States regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), asserting that the remarks were made without a proper understanding of the law's historical background.

While speaking at the India Today Conclave, EAM further stressed that the CAA was introduced to tackle the challenges arising from the partition and remarked that the global response seems to ignore the historical context of partition. Jaishankar said, principles of freedom and equality" are prime in a democracy, S Jaishankar said, I am not questioning the imperfections of their democracy, their principles or lack of it. I am questioning their understanding of our history."

Also Read: Jaishankar defends CAA in Brussels as he promotes India-EU ties

The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, speaking at the India Today Conclave on Friday said that the United States can't give up on principles and principles of religious freedom and equality are a cornerstone of democracy.

Speaking on this, S Jaishankar said, I have principles too, and one of my principles is an obligation to people who were let down at the time of partition".

If you are saying you are picking some faiths and not other faiths, I will give you many examples from across the world," Jaishankar said and mentioned the JacksonVanik amendment, Lautenberg Amendment, Spector Amendment and so on that fast-tracked citizenships for specific ethics minorities such as Jews and Christians.

What is the Jackson-Vanik amendment?

In 1951, the United States suspended the most-favoured-nation (MFN) status to the Soviet Union and other communist nations, excluding Yugoslavia. Under international trade rules, the MFN principle ensures equal treatment of goods and services from all countries with this status, avoiding discrimination, as stated by the CRS report.

Also Read: US comments on CAA misplaced, misinformed and unwarranted: India

In 1974, the Jackson-Vanik Amendment barred the restoration of specific commercial relations with any non-market economy (NME) that prohibited or severely restricted its citizens' freedom to emigrate.

Lautenberg Amendment

In 1990, the Lautenberg Amendment was introduced, setting a lower evidentiary requirement for refugee status applications for specific groups, such as Jews and certain Christian minorities from the former Soviet Union, along with individuals from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, in 2004, the Specter Amendment expanded the scope to include certain Iranian religious minorities experiencing heightened discrimination, arrests, and imprisonment. This comprised Jews, Armenian and Assyrian Christians, Bahais, Sabaean-Mandaeans, and Zoroastrians.

Also Read: Supreme Court to hear pleas seeking stay on Citizenship Amendment Act rules on March 19

Earlier on Friday, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily briefing, We are concerned about the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on March 11. We are closely monitoring how this act will be implemented. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles."

However, this is not the first time, Jaishankar has defended CAA. During the European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels in February 2020, EAM compared the CAA rules to immigration and refugee resettlement policies across Europe, pointing out that many EU countries also use national or cultural criteria.

Now, they did it with a context and they did it with a criteria. I mean, no European country said: 'Anybody anytime, anywhere in the world can come because they feel it's nice to live in Europe'."

Without mentioning Pakistan by name, he said some of India's neighbours have Islam as a state religion, and there are persecuted religious minorities who came to India because many of them find people have the same faith."

The Central government enacted the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 on Monday, just days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. CAA will facilitate the provision of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

Also Read: Lectures by those who: India reacts to US concerned remark on CAA

Under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, individuals who have migrated to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014, citing "religious persecution," and belong to six specific religious minorities - Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian - are eligible for citizenship.

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The main U.N. aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks on a hostage deal with Hamas.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine.

Also Read: Israel-Gaza war: At least 20 people killed, 155 injured in shelling while awaiting food aid in Gaza, says report

On Friday, Israel said it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners.

The delegation will be led by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene his security cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahu's office has said the latest Hamas offer was still based on unrealistic demands."

Efforts failed to secure a temporary ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago, and Israel said on Friday it planned a new offensive against an Hamas stronghold in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in Gaza after five months of war.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a visit to the region, voiced concern about an assault on Rafah, saying there was a danger it would result "in many terrible civilian casualties".

Also Read: Ramadan 2024: Palestinians in Gaza observe fast as hunger lingers on amid ongoing Israel-Hamas war

On Friday, Netanyahu's office said he had approved an attack plan on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are sheltering, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. It gave no time frame and there was no sign of imminent preparations on the ground.

The Hamas offer, reviewed by Reuters, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let more aid into Gaza. Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera the group's proposal is so realistic that "no one can object to it" and claimed mediators had reacted positively.

Also Read: Hezbollah fires at least 100 rockets into Israel as Palestinians starve in Gaza during Ramadan | 10 updates

He said it consists of two stages, with a complete "cessation of aggression" at the start of the second one - something Israel has rejected, vowing to resume its goal of destroying Hamas once any truce expires.

Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters again gathered in Tel Aviv, urging a deal for their release.

At the same time, anti-government protesters, estimated by Israeli media at a few thousand, called for new elections and blocked streets in Tel Aviv.

Humanitarian crisis

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas members.

The assault has forcing many inhabitants from their homes, leaving much of the territory in rubble and triggering a hunger crisis.

"Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," UNRWA said in a social media post. Hospitals in Gaza have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration.

Later, Palestinian media outlets said aid trucks had reached the northern Gaza areas of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya for the first time in four months. The 13 trucks carrying flour arrived at an UNWRA facility, according to the reports.

Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the U.N. saying it faced "overwhelming obstacles" including crossing closures, onerous vetting and unrest inside Gaza.

Also Read: 2024 Ramadan: Joe Biden wishes Muslims Ramzan kareem, pledges to work non-stop for ceasefire in Gaza

Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on a lack of capacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies.

A first sea shipment of aid into Gaza by the World Central Kitchen, using a new route via Cyprus, arrived on Friday.

A second cargo of food aid was ready to depart, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, while the U.S. and Jordan carried out an air drop of humanitarian aid.

Queen Rania of Jordan told CNN the airdrops were literally just drops in the ocean of unmet needs" and accused Israel of cutting off everything that is required to sustain a human life: food, fuel, medicine, water."

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One morning late last month, the financial futures of hundreds of medical students in the Bronx, New York, changed forever. A gift of $1 billion from Ruth Gottesman, a former professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and chair of its board of trustees, will make the school tuition-free in perpetuity. The donation, one of the largest in US higher education history, is an act of generosity that will undoubtedly improve life for Einsteins students and potentially benefit the surrounding community, one of Americas poorest. It also highlights how much US colleges and universities rely on wealthy donorsand raises the question of whether more systemic changes would better serve students and society.

Im under no illusions about how hard that change would be. When the federal government attempts to forgive or cancel student loan debt, there is an outcry. This includes Republican attempts to end the Public Service Loan Forgiveness programme for new borrowers, which requires 10 years of work in exchange for forgiving remaining debt. This is in a nation whose citizens rely on friends, neighbours, relatives and perfect strangers on the internet, on sites such as GoFundMe and ModestNeeds, to help pay for such things as rebuilding after a natural disaster, educational debt or medical expenses.

Relying on the kindness of strangers in the wake of a tragedy is not a new phenomenon, of course. Yet the sheer proliferation of requests for help is an indicator of gaping holes in Americas social safety nets. Some 30 million people gave or received help on GoFundMe in 2023, according to the companys 2023 Giving Report.

Its important to reiterate that gifts such as Gottesmans deserve to be celebrated, as was New York Universitys announcement in 2018 that its medical school would be free. Gottesmans bequest also represents a significant share of her wealth, estimated to be about $3 billion. If were going to applaud billionaires for their philanthropy, we should consider the proportion of their wealth they donate.

Its also important to note that the high cost of higher education in the US forces millions of students to take out loans to pay tuition. The estimated costs for a student entering Albert Einstein in the 2024-25 school year, including living expenses, amount to almost $400,000 for all four years. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, 54% of medical-school graduates in 2023 had at least $200,000 in education debt, and 84% had $100,000 or more, which is inclusive of undergrad. Medical students who anticipate hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt will likely make career decisions based on whether they can afford their monthly payments. Graduating debt-free opens every possible optionincluding working in less lucrative specialties or in underserved communities. Some Einstein graduates may opt to work in the Bronx, which needs more doctors.

Then again, theres no requirement for medical students to become bleeding hearts willing to forgo wealth and prestige so they can help those less fortunate. Its entirely possible that plenty of Einstein students will just become millionaires significantly faster than they otherwise would have because they dont have a heavy debt load keeping their net worth in the red.

What to do with their debt-free future will be a personal choice for Einsteins students. What to do about the excessive costs of higher education is a question for society. Continuing to streamline repayment programs, as well as protecting public service loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans, is a start. Considering how many professions require education beyond an undergraduate degree, expanding grant options for graduate school would also help. And state governments should continue supporting public universities and community colleges to keep tuition at affordable levels relative to median income levels in their state.

Students should also have access to federal grants and loans that cover the cost of tuition plus room and board for an in-state university. If the maximum a student can borrow is set below the cost of tuition plus room and board, then more students will rely on expensive private student loans. Finally, there has been bipartisan support for ending interest capitalization, which would help prevent loan payments from spiraling into huge financial burdens.

Wealthy donors can help make education more affordable for individual students, groups of students, even universities. Making it more affordable for everyone is a challenge that can only be met by all of us, wealthy and not, working together to ensure the federal and state governments do as much as possible to clear the paths to higher education. bloomberg
As the Election Commission of India (ECI) released the second list on electoral bonds on Sunday on the directions of the Supreme Court, one name has prominently came up, Santiago Martin.

The 'Lottery King' bought a whopping 1,368 crore of the bonds issued between April 2019 and January of this year, or around 11 per cent of the total electoral bonds sold in five years.

State Bank of India's second list on electoral bonds has revealed that the biggest beneficiary of the donations made by Martin's Future Gaming and Hotel Services PR is the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Of the 1,368 crore funding by the 1991 Coimbatore-based company, DMK received 37 per cent, amounting to 509 crore.

Who is Santiago Martin aka Lottery King?

Santiago Martin began humble as a labourer in the neighbouring Myanmar. Upon his return from Yangon in 1988, Martin set up a lottery business 'Martin Lottery' in Tamil Nadu.

According to his charity website, Martin Charitable Trust, the lottery business was later expanded to Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra and northeastern states.

The rags-to-riches story of Martin came under the scanner of authorities. The 'Martin Lottery' was banned in Tamil Nadu in 2003.

Since 2011, Martin and his company have been subject to several investigations on suspicion of unpaid income tax, money laundering and fraud.

Following questioning by income tax authorities, an accountant of a college in Coimbatore run by Martin was found dead in 2019.

Several Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department, have raided and frozen the assets of Martin.

In 2023, ED froze assets worth about  457 crore over an alleged loss of over  900 crore to the Sikkim government because of fraudulent lottery sale in Kerala.

457 crore over an alleged loss of over 900 crore to the Sikkim government because of fraudulent lottery sale in Kerala. Martin is known to have friends in political parties across India.

In 2008, Martin donated  2 crore to CPI(M)'s Kerala unit and its mouthpiece, headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. However, due to internal feud in the party, the money was returned to the Lottery King.

2 crore to CPI(M)'s Kerala unit and its mouthpiece, headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. However, due to internal feud in the party, the money was returned to the Lottery King. Lottery Kings son-in-law, Aadhav Arjuna, is believed to be in the inner circle of Tamil Nadu's DMK. Arjuna has now joined the Dalit party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

(With agency inputs)

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Voters across Indias 543 parliamentary constituencies will cast their votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled to be held between 19 April and 1 June. This is the second longest poll season ever, set to run for 44 days. The voter turnout amid the sweltering heat will be in focus, but data shows that Indians have increased their participation in elections over the years.

Several states in the south and north-east crossed 70% voter turnout in 2019. The turnout of women voters has, in particular, been on the rise, and caught up with the turnout of male voters in that election.

Another significant change in the past eight Lok Sabha elections has been the gap between the seat share and the vote share of the single largest party. This highlights the limitations of the first-past-the-post system and also reflects an increase in sharper contests. For example, in the 2019 elections, while the BJP won 56% of the seats, its vote share was just 37%meaning 63% voters didnt pick the party.

As the voters have evolved, so has the battleground. In the early years, the Congresss dominance held strong but more parties are now trying their luck. The phenomenon of independent candidates winning elections has become feeble over the decades. Heres a look at how the contenders and voters have shaped up since the 1950s, through numbers and charts.
Signaling at the confidence that he would return to power for the third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Today Conclave on Saturday evening said that he would attend the event again.

I will come again to India Today's Conclave. I will talk about my promises in detail," PM Modi said.

The Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held in seven phases starting April 19 to June 1. The results of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, known as the largest democratic exercise in the world, will be announced on June 4.

When asked if he was preparing for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi said, you are stuck on 2029. "Find out what Modi is. I am planning for 2047."

He also talked about making India a Viksit Bharat. The mood of the nation is about making India a Viksit Bharat," he said.

The Prime Minister also asserted that India will become third largest economy of the world in the next 5 years, under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule.

I can say it with conviction that coming 5 years will make India 3rd biggest economy in the world," he said.

PM Modi also guaranteed" a stable, capable and empowered India in an uncertain world, in the next 5 years.

At the India Today Conclave 2024, PM Modi said that he works for deadlines, not headlines.

"Audience expect me to say things that will make loads of headlines. However, I am someone who works towards deadlines, not headlines. There are initiatives that the media rarely covers but these are issues that connect with ordinary people," he said.

The Prime Minister also took a veiled dig at the Congress, saying, "A political party, which seldom found it worthwhile earlier to even speak of startups, is forced to talk about them today."

(With agency inputs)

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NEW YORK  On St. Patricks Day, throwing back an Irish whiskey might taste different than it used to.

Flavored whiskey from American and Canadian companies isnt novel  Southern Comfort, Fireball, Crown Royal apple and Knobb Creek maple have been liquor store staples for decades  but its now attracting the attention of the Irish, a once inconceivable thought at distilleries that have prided themselves on whiskeys taste itself being the draw.

Whiskey purists have talked about flavored whiskey as an overall challenge to the category and in a negative way because they think it kind of defeats the purpose of why youre distilling high-quality liquid and then putting it into a barrel, said Lander Otegui, chief marketing officer for Proximo, the spirits company that owns Irish stalwarts Bushmills and Proper No. Twelve.

However, thats changing among the Irish, with Jameson jumping on the trend a few years ago with two flavors. Jameson Cold Brew rolled out in 2020 followed by orange two years later. Both remain on sale and are attracting new drinkers to the brand.

Flavored whiskey is a $1.5 billion category and accounts for 20% of all U.S. whiskey sales. In the past few years, flavored whiskey sales have outpaced unflavored whiskey, according to Southern Glazers distributors. Since 2019, the number of flavored whiskeys on shelves soared 37%, surpassing 1,000 options.

And more are joining: Conor McGregors Irish whiskey, Proper No. Twelve, recently debuted an apple-flavored version, which has performed strongly for the brand since its launch a year ago.

That wasnt without hesitation from the brand, Otegui admits. They werent very convinced about launching a flavored whiskey. But with younger drinkers gravitating toward punchier flavors, Irish brands have to be much more flexible than their historical beliefs have been, he told CNN.

Another Irish distillery is leaping into the trend. Tullamore D.E.W., for the first time in its 200-year history, released in the U.S. last month a flavored whiskey, choosing honey, ahead of St. Patricks Day.

Honey was an easy choice, said Paul Basford, U.S. president for Tullamore D.E.W.s parent company, William Grant and Sons, which also owns Glenfiddich whisky and Hendricks gin.

First off, its familiar to drinkers, thanks in part to flavored American whiskey doing very strong things in the market, so its a natural extension for the Tullamore D.E.W. brand to play in that footprint, Basford told CNN. (Jack Daniels and Jim Beam have had honey on shelves for years , and sell strongly.)

Theres a propensity to drink more flavors, and theres some very different flavors out there, he said, singling out banana and cinnamon, but the brand decided going on something a bit more traditional that fits in with Tullamore D.E.W.

Initial sales have been strong. Basford predicts it will be pretty big this year, and even bigger next year with honey encompassing 20% of Tullamore D.E.W.s total sales in the next year and projected to increase to 35% over time.

Honey and apple are among the top sellers in the whole flavored whiskey category, according to NIQ data given to CNN, as well as cinnamon, peach and peanut butter.

The U.S. consumer has a significant appetite for flavor in general, and the spirits business is no exception to that, Jon Berg, vice president of beverage alcohol thought leadership at NIQ, told CNN.

However, he warned that flavors tend to have a sales fall off time frame, based on the trial and repeat rates that shoppers are willing to give a product.

Changing tastes

Both companies face similar challenges of attracting drinkers in their mid-twenties who want different flavors compared to older generations, a trend that accelerated following the pandemic.

After Covid-19, the whole consumer base became more promiscuous, wanting to be experimental and less about what they had before, Basford said. And since younger drinkers arent often whiskey aficionados, having a flavor helps people coming into the category for the first time.

Otegui said that younger consumers are open to exploring new flavors within the spirits category. A flavored whiskey acts as an entry point for someone that wants to drink whiskey , but might be intimidated by the spirits taste, he added.

Flavors are a good way to get them into the brand and into the whiskey category, and certainly into Irish whiskey, Basford said.

___
After the Election Commission of India announced the Lok Sabha election schedule, opposition parties claimed that the seven-phase voting plan is likely to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Trinamool Congress criticized the announcement, saying there is no substantial justification for such a prolonged electoral process and more phases help political parties with deeper pockets.

"We wanted a single or twin phase Lok Sabha election in the state. Our views were that a multiple-phase election helps political parties with deeper pockets, and gives them an advantage over others," said state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya.

The Congress asserted that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be the last chance to save democracy. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the 'Door of NYAY' for India."

"This would be perhaps the last chance to save Democracy and our Constitution from Dictatorship. 'We the people of India' will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities," he said.

"We are not anxious about what is going to happen, but Modiji putting seven phases, which means that he wants to tour everywhere. In this country, I have also contested nearly 12 elections and there hardly used to be four phases. Sometimes it used to be even one phase," Kharge added as quoted by PTI.

Shiv Sena (UBT) also launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission over voting in PM Modi's constituency Varanasi in the last phase, saying ECI has lost its dignity".

TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray claimed that not taking into account the state government's views was a disregard for the federal structure of the country.

"The state government's views were not taken into account. This is a disregard for the federal structure. We fail to understand the reasons for holding such a long election. This is quite surprising," he said.

Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place in seven phases beginning from April 19 and concluding on June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: In his first public appearance since the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates , Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his ambitious plans for transforming the Indian Railways sector if voted back to power. Addressing the India Today Conclave 2024, PM Modi outlined his vision for the "coming five years" under his leadership.

"The coming five years will give a new height to India's infrastructure. The coming five years will be of Indian Railways revolution," PM Modi declared, emphasizing his commitment to modernizing and revolutionizing the country's rail network. He promised to share detailed information about these development plans at a future India Today Conclave event.

During the session themed 'Redefining Bharat,' the Prime Minister touched upon a range of key issues, including startups, the digital revolution, women's empowerment, and the global initiative 'One Earth One Health.'

He also praised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its "stringent and unwavering" actions against corruption, taking a veiled dig at opposition parties concerned about the probe agency's remarkable efforts.

PM Modi exuded confidence in securing another term, asserting, "The coming five years will be a guarantee of stable, able and strong India." He highlighted his government's achievements across various sectors, including infrastructure, defence exports, and the space sector, promising to take them to new heights.

As the Prime Minister concluded his speech amid chants of "phir ek baar, Modi sarkar" (Modi government once again) and "aayega to Modi hi" (it will be Modi again), he reiterated his commitment to working tirelessly on these projects, setting the stage for a potential second term focused on transforming India's rail infrastructure.

PM Modi's emphasis on an "Indian Railways revolution" has generated anticipation and curiosity among industry experts and citizens alike, who eagerly await further details on his plans to revamp and modernize the nation's vast rail network.

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A WhatsApp message from 'Viksit Bharat Sampark' seeking feedback and suggestions from the public attached to a letter by PM Narendra Modi has sparked political controversy. The Congress has called the pdf file attached with the message a political propaganda.

Also Read: Lok Sabha elections 2024: BJP-led NDA on way to 400 paar, INDIA bloc to stop at 105, poll says

The message talks about taking feedback from Citizens, but the attached PDF is nothing but political propaganda," Kerala Congress wrote in a post on X.

The WhatsApp message, sent to several Indian WhatsApp users, by Viksit Bharat Sampark sought feedback and suggestions from citizens related to government schemes and policies.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi slams BJP on 'Constitution change' controversy, says 'doesnt have courage to...'

The pdf file attached with the WhatsApp message is a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioning government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Matru Vandana Yojana, etc, and seeking suggestions from the citizens over government initiatives and schemes.

Also Read: BJP candidate list 2 highlights: Around 25 sitting MPs replaced with new faces | Check full list here

Accusing the government of misusing public data, the Congress unit in Kerala has called the message to be a part of a campaign for the upcoming general elections.

The message talks about taking feedback from Citizens, but the attached PDF is nothing but political propaganda. In the guise of feedback, the letter is nothing but claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making about his Govt as part of his campaign for the upcoming General Elections, misusing govt database," wrote Congress on X, formerly Twitter, tagging Meta.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Polls 2024: 63 MPs dropped in BJP's two candidate lists. Details Here

WhatsApp's stated policy prohibits the usage of WhatsApp for political campaigns. If that's the policy, how do you permit a political leader to do propaganda on your platform? Or do you have a separate policy for BJP," wrote Congress Kerala.

The government's promise of social and economic development of the country under Viksit Bharat by 2047 is a key poll plank of the BJP. The Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra also lashed out at the BJP government for sending PM Modi's letter in the name of seeking feedback at the cost of taxpayers' money. She criticised the message which came after the implementation of the model code of conduct on Saturday.

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Pressure Mounts on Biden to Assist in Release of Detained Binance Executives

There has been mounting pressure on the Biden administration to intervene and secure the release of the detained Binance executives.

The administration is facing increasing calls to take swift action in securing the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive and former U.S. federal agent, and another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who have been detained by the Nigerian government since February 26, 2024.

The U.S. Chamber of Digital Commerce made an appeal through a blog post on its website on March 15, leading the charge for urgent diplomatic intervention to address what it deems a grave injustice.

Gambaryans Detention Could Set Troubling Precedent



The Chamber of Digital Commerce argues that Gambaryans detention under questionable circumstances sets a troubling precedent, suggesting that any American entrepreneur abroad, particularly those in the cryptocurrency industry, could face similar unlawful actions by foreign authorities.

The unwarranted detention of Tigran Gambaryan is more than a legal issue; it is a matter of national dignity and the protection of American citizens worldwide, they wrote in a recent blog post.

The Chamber of Digital Commerce contends that Gambaryans detention lacks due process and represents a significant challenge to international law norms and diplomatic relations.

Nigeria, which receives over $1 billion in U.S. foreign aid annually, is a U.S. ally.

Reports of Gambaryan and Anjarwallas apprehension emerged in late February, with the Financial Times covering the detentions without explicitly naming the executives.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla Detained After Meeting with Officials



According to their families, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, the latter being a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Kenya, arrived in Abuja on February 25 in response to an invitation from the Nigerian government to discuss the ongoing dispute with Binance over its alleged illegal activities in the country.

The executives reportedly met with Nigerian officials the following day to address the governments directive for telecom providers to restrict access to Binance and other cryptocurrency exchanges.

The officials attributed the devaluation of Nigerias official currency, the naira, and the facilitation of illicit financial flows to crypto exchanges.

However, instead of reaching a consensus, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were escorted to their hotels shortly after the meeting and instructed to gather their belongings.

They were then transported to a guesthouse managed by Nigerias National Security Agency, according to their families.

The arrests of Gambaryan and Anjarwalla occurred a few days before Binance officially announced its exit from Nigeria on March 5, adding further complexity to the situation.

Prior to joining Binance, Gambaryan was involved in high-profile cases, including the investigation into the Silk Road dark-web drug market and the takedown of the Welcome to Video crypto-based child sexual abuse materials network.

As reported, Binance recently had to discontinue all services involving Nigerian local fiat currency, the Nigerian naira (NGN), after regulatory scrutiny.

The worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange said it would suspend NGN withdrawals after March 8.

Earlier, the Nigerian government imposed a staggering $10 billion fine on Binance as part of a crackdown on the platform in an effort to stabilize the nations local currency.
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The storied history of Longford has many characters that added to the pantheon of Irish literature. Oliver Goldsmith, Padraic Colum and Maria Edgeworth are among those whose literary gifts went far beyond this island.

One name of enormous significance, yet without much of the accolade other writers enjoy, is Charlotte Brooke. Ms Brooke commenced her profession as a translator in 1787 with hopes of preserving Anglo-Irish poetry.



A distinguished writer, whose book Reliques of Irish Poetry contains translations of myths and poems from Irish, Charlotte died at Moneylagan, near Newtownforbes, in 1793 and is buried in St Paul's Churchyard.

County Longford Historical Society will host a lecture by Stephen McCracken on the contribution she made to the preservation of Irish culture and her links with the United Irishmen.

Mr McCracken is a public historian from North Derry, now based in Antrim. He is active in teaching 18th century history across the community.



I've penned a number of books on the United Irishmen, and I've explored the Ulster Scots in the North, Stephen told the Leader, My interest in Charlotte Brooke comes through the Irish language and her dedication to preserve it. Her work came at a time of the penal laws. Irish wasn't outlawed, but it wasn't desirable to use it.

The preservation of Irish poetry was a task she dedicated herself to: She made it her mission to scour the country, recording and translating Irish poetry. Basically we have her to thank for what the Irish language we have today. The great leaders in the 1890s, pioneers of the Irish language, they all took from her book.

Born around 1740, Charlotte was one of 22 children, however only two survived to adulthood: This is a well-to-do family. Charlotte Brookes' father had quite a lot of money. It was very unusual for those people, the ascendancy, to have so many weaned pass away.

Her father was Irish novelist and dramatist Henry Brooke. Henry achieved some notoriety in London when his play Gustavus Vasa was about to be staged at Drury Lane Theatre, only to be banned because the villain resembled Prime Minister Robert Walpole.



Charlotte's most celebrated work, Reliques of Irish Poetry, was published in 1788. Although a popular tome it was not a commercial success: It took a lot of money to actually develop that script. The fancy script we associate with written Irish of the time was developed for the book. That's the first time of printing in this style, so it cost a wild lot of money, Stephen explains.



The writer ended her days dependent on friends, dying in County Longford in 1793: I don't see that as a tragedy. I think it's nice she was with her friends. She must have been frail enough, even though she wasn't an old lady.She was middle-aged when she passed away, she wasn't married either, which was a stigma at the time.



Stephen McCracken's lecture for County Longford Historical Society will hone in on the impact of Reliques of Irish Poetry: It is great to explore the links with the United Irishmen, because the United Irishmen really developed in the wake of the publishing of Ms Brooke's book. There's a wild lot of United Irishmen who were influenced by her writing.

The lecture takes place on Wednesday, March 20, at 8 pm in Teallach Iosa, St Mel's Road, Longford.
You are here: China

China plans to build a modern eco-environment monitoring system that it expects will play a significant role in pollution control, pollution treatment, ecological conservation and climate change response.

The new system will raise the bar for the timely collection of authentic, accurate, comprehensive and new data, according to a Saturday press release from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

A monitoring net that leverages satellite, aviation and ground-based remote sensing methods will be established, and digital intelligence will be introduced to upgrade monitoring technologies.

China aims to complete the construction of the system by 2035, bringing the country's eco-environment monitoring capabilities to a globally advanced level.
Cumberland County commissioners approved a preventative maintenance contract for the roof of the Old Courthouse on the Square in Carlisle.

During a meeting Thursday, commissioners Gary Eichelberger and Jean Foschi approved a three-year contract with Moser Roofing Solutions of Lancaster for $11,025. Commissioner Kelly Neiderer was absent.

The contract calls for two roof inspections per year along with debris removal, minor roof repairs, emergency leak response and a warranty on any repair work, said Brent Durham, county director of facilities management.

The scope of work also requires Moser to provide the county with a comprehensive report with photographs on the condition of the roof, Durham said. We have been experiencing some problems with this roof. I attribute it to the fact that we did not have a good preventative maintenance program for this facility.

County employees lack the equipment to safely access the Old Courthouse roof, Durham said. There are limitations to using binoculars from a high vantage point to spot roof problems, he said.

Were unable to get down in and see the nitty gritty, Durham said. I believe in being proactive in implementing this PM program. Its a better approach than being reactive to leaks.

Maintenance staff can access all the other roofs of county buildings, except for parts of the slate roof of the more modern county courthouse, Durham said.

The commissioners also hired two contractors to provide mowing at seven county building sites over the next five years.

We advertised for bids, Durham said. We received six bid packages. Two of which were disqualified for not having the required documentation. The bids that were received were per location [and] per cutting price.

Carns Services LLC of Carlisle was the low bidder for the public safety building at $180, the prison at $325 and 1615 Ritner Highway at $65.

Coldsmith Lawn Care of Newville was the low bidder for the office of aging at $145, the fire training ground at $125, 1601 Ritner Highway at $130 and 310 Allen Road at $180.

Durham suggested that the county allow the work group program of the juvenile probation department mow the grass at county property along Army Heritage Drive and behind the Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

This is a community service program that has been in place since 2000, Durham said. They work closely with the Office on Aging providing clients with lawn care services. Their equipment is kept right there in the [county] barn so it would be easy for them to take care of this area. This would provide the juveniles with valuable skills and at the same time will be about a $2,000 annual savings to the county.

Eichelberger asked if the county could use prison inmates on work release to mow grass on county property. We probably could use the prisoners to do this type of work, but then you would have to purchase equipment to cut that amount of grass, Durham said. There is upkeep with mowing equipment.

The commissioners also:

Authorized Victim Services of the county district attorneys office to apply for a $220,550 Victim of Crime Act grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Under this program, Cumberland County can expect a $12,000 decrease over the prior year that would require Victim Services to close its West Shore office, Director Adrienne Vaughn said.

Approved a $2,500 contract between Shippensburg University and the Cumberland-Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission. The contract supports a web-based method for administering the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment program for college students.
A lucky state lottery player purchased a winning $50,000 Powerball ticket at a western Massachusetts Cumberland Farms on Saturday.

The ticket was purchased for $2 at a Cumberland Farms location in North Adams.

In Powerball, players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. They then choose how many drawings they want to use those numbers for. Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

Players that match all five numbers and the Powerball number win the jackpot, which currently stands at $645 million. They have 1 in 292,201,338 odds of winning this prize.

Saturdays $50,000 winner won by matching four numbers and the Powerball number. Odds of winning this way are 1 in 913,129.

Overall, at least 243 lottery prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Saturday, including four in Springfield and seven in Worcester.

The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes tickets worth more than $600.

So far, the two largest lottery prizes won in Massachusetts in 2024 were two $4 million prizes. One was claimed on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and the other was claimed on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Charges against a man accused of stabbing another man to death inside a Fall River rooming house they were both staying in have been upgraded to murder, the Bristol County District Attorneys Office announced Sunday afternoon.

Pedro Fernando Orellano Alvarado, 42, was originally charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the death of 44-year-old Joseph Bump, but he is now facing a murder charge, the district attorneys office said in a press release. Bump was stabbed to death at a rooming house at 234 Tripp St. on March 15.

Fall River police and paramedics were called to the rooming house around 9:45 p.m. on Friday and provided Bump with medical aid at the scene, the district attorneys office said. Paramedics rushed Bump to Saint Annes Hospital in Fall River, but he was declared dead a little before 10:30 p.m.

Police arrested Alvarado at the scene, the district attorneys office said. He is being held over the weekend and is set to be arraigned in Fall River District Court Monday morning.

Fall River and state police are still investigating the stabbing, the district attorneys office said. Authorities have not released further information about the killing, including a potential motive.
A Chelsea detective and U.S. Army veteran died March 15 after a lengthy battle with illness, but the police department is remembering him for his ardent dedication to our community and service to our nation.

Det. Scott Conley was born on Nov. 10, 1971, and was 52 when he died, Chelsea police wrote in a Facebook post Saturday evening. He served in the Army from 1991 to 2000 and earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice and a masters degree in criminology during his life.

During Conleys tenure at the Chelsea Police Department, he was assigned to its first critical response team and received specialized training in tactical and urban operations with a focus on gang-busting, according to Chelsea police. His phenomenal work in this area earned him a spot on FBI Bostons Violent Gang Task Force investigating international gangs.

Conley was so experienced with international gangs that he traveled to Central America as a consultant for the U.S. Department of State several times as part of this work, according to Chelsea police. He was even asked to testify in front of Congress Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs as a border security and international gangs expert in 2017.

Chelsea Det. Scott Conley, 52, died March 15 after a lengthy battle with illness, according to the Chelsea Police Department. He testified before Congress as a gang-busting expert in 2017.Chelsea Police Department

Conley was part of the Chelsea Police Department for over 20 years when he died, according to Chelsea police. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

We shall honor Detective Conleys memory by continuing to serve with the same professionalism, dedication, and compassion he exemplified, Chelsea police wrote on Facebook Saturday. " ... Rest in peace brother, Well hold the line from here.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll showed up to the annual St. Patricks Day Breakfast in South Boston in style on Sunday. The two officials donned the Dunkin-brand DunKings tracksuits that Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Tom Brady and others wore in the coffee shop chains 2024 Super Bowl ad.

Healey posted a picture of herself and Drisoll in the suits on social media Sunday morning, writing them: take it easy at the St. Patricks Day Breakfast this year; me: hold my large iced regular.

Needing a third member to complete the trio, Healey and Driscoll recruited former Gov. Jane Swift  the first woman to serve as governor of Massachusetts. Swift became acting governor in April 2001 after Gov. Paul Cellucci was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to Canada by President George W. Bush.

Driscoll posted a picture of the three of them on social media Sunday in which they reenacted a photo of Affleck, Damon and Brady in the suits, writing spot the difference.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (right) and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll (left) wore Dunkin-brand tracksuits to the annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast in South Boston on Sunday. They are pictured here with former acting Gov. Jane Swift. (middle)Joshua Qualls/Gov. Maura Healey's Office

Healey and Driscoll tossed Munchkins to the crowd at the Ironworkers Local 7 Union Hall as they made their entrance, according to WCVB. At the podium, the two declared themselves the DunQueens and quoted the commercial.
A man was killed in a fire Saturday night that broke out in a Lowell house with no working smoke alarms, according to the Massachusetts Fire Marshals Office.

Lowell firefighters responded to the single-family home at 114 Farmland Road around 10:50 p.m. after multiple 911 callers reported the fire, according to a press release from the state fire marshals office. At the scene, firefighters discovered heavy flames coming from the back of the house.

Firefighters soon learned that someone was still inside and quickly entered the home to attack the fire, the fire marshals office said. They pushed up to the second floor of the home and found the victim, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Another person who was in the home when the fire broke out was able to escape with non-life-threatening injuries, the fire marshals office said. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

On behalf of the Lowell Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the mans family and loved ones, Lowell Fire Chief Phillip Charron said in the release. This is a sad day for them and our community.

Firefighters succeeded in keeping the fire from spreading and knocked it down in about 20 minutes, the fire marshals office said. Investigators have determined that the fire began in a second-floor bedroom, and that there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

Lowell firefighters and police, the fire marshals office and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are still investigating what caused the fire, but they do not believe it was intentionally set, the fire marshals office said. Authorities have not released the victims name.

A fire at home can become deadly in three minutes or less, Massachusetts Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in the release. Please take a moment to be sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Theyre your familys first line of defense against a fire, especially in the overnight hours when fires are most likely to become deadly.
A 17-year-old Nantucket male died Saturday night after crashing a cargo van into a berm on the island, according to Nantucket police.

Officers responded to the crash on Bartlett Road after several 911 callers reported it around 10:30 p.m., police said in a press release. At the scene, they found that a white 2024 Dodge Promaster van had crashed into an earthen berm at the end of the road where it intersects with Raceway Drive.

Officers found the van upright and on top of the berm with front-end damage, police said. The driver was dead by the time police arrived and was the only person in the van.

The drivers family has been notified of his death, but as he is a minor, police will not be releasing his identity, the department said. No one witnessed the crash and it is still being investigated, but police believe speed was a factor.
A little boy named Sa-Royal Owens hadnt yet reached his second birthday when he was shot in the head by his 3-year-old brother in a downtown Charlottesville apartment two years ago.

Now, one of the two people convicted for allowing an unattended gun to get into a childs hands, RQuis Nathan Jones, is back in court, this time facing a charge of assault and battery of a family member.

[He] proceeded to try to grab baby out of my arms, wrote the alleged victim, Fatima Noemy Espindola, of the Dec. 29 incident. Pushed me with baby in my hands.

Standing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on March 4, Jones was informed that a conviction on this charge or another charge he faces, failure to appear, could lead to jail time. He told the judge that he intended to get the Office of the Public Defender to represent him.

The 22-year-old man has one prior conviction for failure to appear for a court hearing. However, it was an apparent flight from justice after the childs shooting that particularly concerned Charlottesville police, who reached out for the publics assistance tracking down Jones and the childs mother.

While the little boy was reportedly in critical condition and facing emergency surgery, his mother allegedly slipped out of the University of Virginia hospital. She and Jones were arrested a week later.

What happened on Jan. 14, 2022, seemed to shock even the investigator, Charlottesville police detective Alexander Blank.

[There was] a large amount of blood located on the floor and the bed, he wrote in his criminal complaint. The childs expectation for survival was unclear at this point based on the severity of his injuries.

As Blank inspected the apartment on South First Street, a public housing apartment leased to Jones, he noted the squalid conditions.

There is obvious trash and dirt with the entire apartment being in almost unlivable condition, he wrote.

Blanks search failed to uncover a firearm, but he did report finding several .380 cartridges on the floor.

Several of these loose cartridges were located under the couch for anyone to access, wrote Blank, adding that he saw a bullet hole about three feet above a bed, which he found soaked in blood.

During this search we were unable to locate any safe, lock box, gun lock or any other mechanism used for safely storing firearms or firearm components, Blank wrote.

Acting under a search warrant, Blank reported that he saw in plain view at least a dozen manipulated money orders that convinced him and detective Jacob Russell Bowlin that something else was afoot.

A separate search warrant, Bowlin wrote, for the fraudulent money orders from Western Union Financial was obtained.

Bowlin reported seizing a pair of $1 money orders that had been altered to read $350. He alleged that 11 more money orders had been adjusted from their $1 face value to $493 each.

It appears that Mr. Jones is scratching the top layer of paper on the money order that displays the amount of one dollar, Bowlin wrote. Mr. Jones then prints the larger amount of money in the place of where the amount of one dollar was.

The detective said that he found a template for practicing how to print new monetary amounts as well as a homemade how-to guide.

There was a composition book collected in the residence where there were multiple phrases written pertaining to check writing software and putting credentials on checks, Bowlin wrote.

At that time, Jones was facing a credit card fraud charge in Albemarle County General District Court and an assault charge in Charlottesville General District Court. Those charges were eventually dismissed, but police pressed a forgery charge for the modified money orders along with a child abuse charge in Charlottesville Circuit Court.

There, in July 2022, Jones was convicted both of forgery and child abuse. While the entirety of the child abuse sentence was suspended, Jones was handed a six-month active term on the forgery charge along with a demand of five years of good behavior.

The court record is silent on whom the gun belonged to or whether it was ever found, although in a bedside interview, the childs mother allegedly claimed that the gun belonged to Jones.

The mother, 24-year-old Diamond Djenne Owens of Waldorf, Maryland, allegedly told Blank that she had met Jones online and moved into his apartment with her children just two months before the incident.

It is clear Miss Owens was aware that a firearm was in the home at 924 S. First St. Apt. C based on her own admissions, Blank wrote.

In 2022, Owens was convicted of child abuse, but her sentencing was delayed by a defense motion until January 2023, when she received a sentence of four months and 10 days, which was the amount of her time served.

Jones is due back in court on the assault charge on March 26.
A New Hampshire grand jury has indicted an Ossipee man on second-degree murder charges in the death of a pregnant woman he lived with and in the death of her unborn child, the state attorney generals office announced Friday.

A Carroll County Grand Jury indicted 38-year-old William Kelly in connection with the deaths of 33-year-old Christine Falzone and her unborn child, who was likely days or weeks away from being born, the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office said in a press release.

Falzone was beaten to death in the home she shared with Kelly late last year, the attorney generals office said previously. Authorities have not said what Kelly and Falzones relationship was, or whether the unborn child was his.

Ossipee police found Falzone badly beaten and injured in her home at 332 Water Village Road on the morning Dec. 17, 2023 after responding to a 911 call, the attorney generals office said. She was soon declared dead, and Kelly was arrested at the scene.

An autopsy of Falzones body found that she died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries, and that her manner of death was homicide, the attorney generals office said. It also revealed that she was 35 to 37 weeks pregnant when she died. A typical pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Kelly was previously charged with second-degree murder in Falzones death, but was not immediately charged in the death of her unborn child. Investigators needed to determine whether Falzones death was the proximate cause of her unborn childs death before they could charge Kelly, they told WMUR previously.

Kelly has a long list of previous convictions going back as far as 2004 that includes charges such as sexual assault, domestic assault and child endangerment, Ossipee police said previously. At least three women have accused Kelly of violence against them, including a former girlfriend, WMUR reported.

Kelley has been held without bail since his arrest and is still in custody, the attorney generals office said. He is set to be arraigned on the new charges in Carroll County Superior Court on Monday.
Massachusetts State Police have arrested and charged a Chelsea man after finding thousands of photos and videos of child sexual abuse on his electronic devices, according to the department.

Troopers arrested 38-year-old Timothy Brown at his 165 Hawthorne St. apartment and charged him with possession of child pornography, state police said in a Saturday press release.

Read more: Revere sex offender arrested on child pornography possession charge

Troopers identified Brown as a suspect after uncovering evidence that implicated him during their investigation into 45-year-old Revere resident Kenneth Higgins, who they arrested and charged with child pornography on March 13, state police said. Higgins and Brown are believed to be friends.

As a result of the investigation, Troopers were able to obtain a search warrant for Browns apartment and seize several of Browns electronic devices, state police said. Investigators uncovered more than 700 videos and 2,700 photos on a memory card belonging to Brown, the majority of which contained child sexual abuse material.

Brown is being held on $100,000 cash bail and is set to be arraigned in Chelsea District Court this coming week, state police said.
A Stoughton man has pleaded guilty to participation in a COVID-19 business relief loan fraud scheme that netted those involved over $220,000, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office.

On Thursday, 41-year-old Patrick Joseph pleaded guilty to several fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud charges, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release.

Between April 2020 and April 2021, Joseph participated in a scheme that netted those involved over $220,000 through fraudulent COVID-19 paycheck protection business loan applications, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. He and co-conspirator, 55-year-old Stoughton resident Yves Montima, submitted 12 fraudulent loan applications, both in their names and on behalf of others.

The fraudulent loan applications claimed non-existent independent contractor income that they substantiated through falsified tax documents, the U.S. Attorneys office said. In addition to the money they got from the loans submitted in their own names, Joseph and Montima received kickback payments from the other people who benefited through their scheme.

Montima pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in November 2021, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys office. In September 2023, a federal judge sentenced him to three years of supervised release  with the first 10 months served in home confinement  and to pay $239,595 in restitution.

Joseph was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2021, and his sentencing is scheduled for June 20, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. He faces decades in prison, over a decade of supervised release and over $1 million in fines and forfeiture.
A federal judge has sentenced a Sudbury bookkeeper to prison for embezzling over $180,000 from a Lexington interior design firm, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office.

On Dec. 15, 2023, 51-year-old Christina Iannelli pleaded guilty to seven counts of bank fraud, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys office. On Thursday, a federal judge sentenced her to two years in prison, three years of supervised release and to pay over $185,00 in restitution and forfeiture.

The charges stem from Iannellis work as an independent contractor for a Lexington interior design firm, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Beginning around October 2018, she prepared dozens of fraudulent invoices with inflated totals for the firm, and then issued herself checks from the firms checking account.

Additionally, beginning around July 2019, Iannelli issued herself dozens of unauthorized checks from the firms accounts, the U.S. Attorneys office said. During both periods, she used a signature stamp in the name of the firms owner to issue the fraudulent checks and made false entries in the firms accounting records to conceal her crimes.

In total, Iannelli embezzled over $30,000 through inflated compensation checks and more than $150,000 through the unauthorized checks, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release. She was arrested and charged in March 2022.
SPRINGFIELD  The head of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley hopes the settlement announced Friday by a national group representing real estate agents will not leave homebuyers without representation.

That would be a return to the way homes were sold in the 70s and 80s, said Peter Ruffini.
We recently covered the news that a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst won a large grant to examine neglected aspects of the history of black slavery in northern states and Canada. UMass intends to use some of the money to make this history more accessible to the public by digitizing key documents and building out its Slavery North Initiative website to make information easy to find and use.

We welcome this effort and will expect it to make good on its promise to bolster public knowledge, illustrating how this history is relevant today.

Massachusetts was the first colony to legalize black slavery, in 1641, but was also a freedom pioneer by abolishing the odious institution in 1780 with ratification of the new Massachusetts constitution in 1780  something that didnt happen nationwide until 1865 with ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mauritius have demonstrated remarkable resilience and agility in the face of numerous challenges and crises. Despite their ability to weather these storms, it is evident that relying solely on their resilience is insufficient. Recognizing the pivotal role of SMEs in driving economic growth, employment, and exports, the Mauritian Government has taken proactive steps to create a conducive framework for their progress, particularly in the wake of recent adversities.

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SMEs are a cornerstone of the Mauritian economy, representing 99% of all enterprises and contributing significantly to employment, Gross Value Added (GVA), and total exports. According to a 2019 handbook by the Ministry of Industrial Development, SMEs, and Cooperatives, SMEs in Mauritius accounted for 50% of employment, 35.7% of GVA, and approximately 12% of total exports. This underscores their substantial contribution to the economic landscape of the country.

  

The Government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting SMEs through various initiatives. Notably, the recently announced Mauritius Budget 2022-23 includes a range of supportive measures for entrepreneurs. One of the key highlights is the proposed amendment to the definition of SMEs, which aims to expand the scope of support. This includes increasing the turnover thresholds for micro, small, and medium enterprises, effectively enabling a larger number of enterprises to benefit from improved access to government support programs and financing. Additionally, the Mauritius Investment Corporation has announced the establishment of a Venture Capital Fund of Rs 5 billion aimed at SMEs and mid-market enterprises, further bolstering support for the sector.

   

Financial institutions, such as Cim Finance, have recognized the pivotal role of SMEs in the Mauritian economy and have actively engaged in supporting these enterprises. With SMEs comprising 99% of all registered companies and employing nearly 50% of the national workforce, financial institutions have a crucial role to play in providing the necessary financial support and guidance to help SMEs navigate the current economic challenges. The Ten-year Master Plan for the SME sector, unveiled in March 2017, emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of the current crisis on SMEs and designing appropriate services to meet their needs. Financial institutions have been instrumental in providing fast, simple, and easily accessible tools to help SMEs ensure business continuity and contribute to long-term economic recovery.

      

The services sector has been a key driver of the Mauritian economy, contributing to approximately 70% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This sector has experienced significant growth, particularly in financial services and tourism. However, the tourism industry faced challenges in 2008 due to global economic slowdown and currency fluctuations in key tourism markets. Despite these challenges, the services sector remains a vital component of the Mauritian economy, with the potential to drive sustained economic growth and recovery.

       

In the forthcoming national budget, the Mauritian government should consider the following proposals to provide enhanced support to service-oriented SMEs:

1. Financial Assistance: Allocate dedicated funds and financial incentives to support the growth and development of service-oriented SMEs, including grants, subsidies, and low-interest loans.

2. Export Promotion: Provide support for market research, trade missions, and participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions to facilitate the export of services to foreign markets.

3. Regulatory Reforms: Simplify regulatory processes, harmonization of definition of export oriented enterprise and create a conducive business environment to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and promote entrepreneurship in the service sector.

4. Collaboration with Financial Institutions: Foster collaboration with financial institutions to provide tailored financial products, investment advisory, and risk management support to service-oriented SMEs.



As Mauritius navigates the challenges posed by the global pandemic and economic uncertainties, the forthcoming national budget presents a strategic opportunity for the government to provide targeted support to service-oriented SMEs. By prioritizing measures aimed at fostering growth, increasing competitiveness, and facilitating market access, the government can unlock new opportunities for SMEs to thrive and contribute to the Mauritian economy. Collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions, and industry stakeholders is essential to catalyze the growth and development of the service sector. Investing in service-oriented SMEs is imperative for driving sustainable growth and positioning Mauritius as a global leader in services innovation and excellence.
The woman accused of stabbing her twin sister to death last summer in an Albemarle County apartment will likely be deemed mentally able to participate in a trial.

The determination was aired in court March 4.

There is a determination that she has been found competent for trial, said lawyer Nicholas J. Reppucci of the Office of the Public Defender. That is a fluid diagnosis.

Reppucci clarified he was waiting to examine a written report that he expected to receive before the defendants next hearing. Jessie Christine Krahenbill Greyer, 59, has been charged with the second-degree murder of her twin sister Jennie Marie Quick.

In charging documents, Greyer has a Waynesboro address, but the sisters trace their roots to Louisa County, where Quicks funeral was held.

Before Quicks death, both sisters adorned the front of their Facebook page with images of each other embracing. But authorities allege that the sibling bond was destroyed in in the early hours Aug. 29.

Charging documents allege that Greyer called 911 at 5:03 a.m. that day to tell a dispatcher that she had stabbed her twin after they got into it. When police arrived at Quicks apartment in the Four Seasons complex just north of Charlottesville, they reportedly found a knife sticking out of her back.

Reppucci indicated that the anticipated competency report would be coming from Daniel Murrie. He is one of the two directors of an interdisciplinary forensic psychology program at the University of Virginia called the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy.

Murrie is the same person who recently found the suspected killer of Albemarle County author and publisher Matthew Farrell to be competent to stand trial. In that case, it took doctors at Western State Hospital, a Staunton public psychiatric facility, more than a year to treat that suspect, Shawna Marie Natalie Murphy, competent for trial.

A conviction of second-degree murder in Virginia can bring a prison sentence of five to 40 years. Greyers next hearing is slated for March 18 in Albemarle Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court.
by Ray Schultz , March 17, 2024

Meta is decidedly not rolling over in its battle with the Australian government over payments to publishers for using their content.

The social giant said two weeks ago that it would not extend contracts it had to pay for news in the country. Meta had been paying $70 million a year to news outlets in deals made under the News Media Bargaining Code.

Australian officials called this a fundamental dereliction of [Metas] responsibility to its Australian users in an op-ed piece, according to The Guardian.

But Meta fired back in a blog post, saying that in 2023, Facebook Feed sent Australian publishers more than 2.3 billion free clicks  for no charge  driving an estimated (AUD) $115 million worth of value.

Meta continued, Ultimately, there is a misunderstanding of how news content works on Facebook. Some have accused Meta of taking or stealing news content but thats not the case. We dont scrape or pull content from publisher websites, unlike other companies. We provide a free service which publishers voluntarily choose to use and can benefit from.

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However, the ministers argued, The (News Media Bargaining) code recognizes that these digital platforms have immense market power, and seeks to correct the imbalance in bargaining power to incentivize fair commercial outcomes for Australian publishers  and in turn, the communities they serve, the ministers said.

But Meta contends that, As a content type on Facebook, news is highly substitutable. We have observed that when there is less or no news on our platforms, people continue to use our services.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., Meta threatens to remove news links in Illinois if the Illinois General Assembly passes the Journalism Preservation Act (SB3591), a bill that would require social platforms to remit a ournalism fee to digital journalism providers.
by Ray Schultz , March 17, 2024

Manny Garcia has been named as editor in chief of Houston Landing, a digital nonprofit newsroom.

Garcia will leave his current position as executive editor of the Austin American-Statesman, on March 29, according to the Statesman.

The Statesman said it would launch a nationwide search for a successor.

Garcia, who joined the Statesman in 2021, was on board during the paper's defining moment in 2022  the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The Statesman was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2023 for its unflinching coverage of local law enforcements flawed response to the tragedy.

Prior to this, Garcia held editorial leadership positions at Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald, Naples Daily Herald, USA Today and the ProPublica-Texas Tribune Investigative Unit initiative.
What is Paranoia?

Paranoia is having a false belief or delusion. Paranoia is a relatively rare syndrome that was first characterized by Dr. Kraepelin in 1899. It is a symptom of individuals when they feel (rather irrationally) that others are targeting or threatening them through comments or actions. A paranoid individual develops an abnormal and intense suspicion and mistrust in other people and fails to have a social life. Paranoia is a predominant symptom of three disorders namely paranoid personality disorder, schizophrenia, and delusional disorders. Paranoid individuals suffer from permanent delusions. The delusions vary from jealousy, hypochondria to persecution.

It is interesting to note that paranoia is not just observed in psychotic patients but the general population as well.

Important Mental Conditions Marked By Paranoia

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) : It is considered the mildest type of paranoia and most persons with PPD function quite normally. It is an inherent personality trait , and the associated behavior and attitudes are present during much of the persons life.

: It is considered the and most persons with PPD function quite normally. It is and the associated behavior and attitudes are present during much of the persons life. Delusional (paranoid) disorder : Presence of a single dominant delusion or false belief such as delusion of persecution, for example when a person believes that his boss is spying on him, the delusion of a terrible illness despite reassurances by doctors.

: Presence of a such as delusion of persecution, for example when a person believes that his boss is spying on him, the delusion of a terrible illness despite reassurances by doctors. Paranoid schizophrenia: This is the most severe form of paranoia and seriously limits daily functioning and relationships and requires treatment. For example, the affected person may believe that they have landed on the moon, report hearing voices that control their every action, see things that are not there, along with other bizarre symptoms associated with this condition.

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There are different types of paranoia as listed below:

Religious paranoia  The individual feels the world is coming to an end or he/she is Gods messenger.

 The individual feels the world is coming to an end or he/she is Gods messenger. Erotic paranoia (erotomania)  The individual feels an unknown person (e.g., a celebrity) likes him/her.

(erotomania)  The individual feels an unknown person (e.g., a celebrity) likes him/her. Persecutory paranoia  Paranoid individuals feel they are surrounded by enemies intent on causing harm or death to them.

 Paranoid individuals feel they are surrounded by enemies intent on causing harm or death to them. Reformatory paranoia  In such cases, individuals feel they can cure or reform everyone who is suffering around them.

 In such cases, individuals feel they can cure or reform everyone who is suffering around them. Hypochondriacal paranoia  Individuals feel they are suffering from a disease and consult doctors frequently for second opinions.

 Individuals feel they are suffering from a disease and consult doctors frequently for second opinions. Litigious paranoia  Individuals tend to file cases against those who they feel have wronged them.

 Individuals tend to file cases against those who they feel have wronged them. Delusions of greatness  In such cases, individuals feel they are very important or powerful, and this can correlate with persecutory paranoia making them think they are targets of harm or death.

 In such cases, individuals feel they are very important or powerful, and this can correlate with persecutory paranoia making them think they are targets of harm or death. Jealous paranoia  Individuals feel suspicious of their sexual partner.

It is hard to pinpoint what causes paranoia. Some contributory factors are listed below:

Genes  In the case of paranoid personality disorder (PPD), genes may play a role as PPD is observed in families that exhibit a prevalence of delusional disorders or schizophrenia.

 In the case of paranoid personality disorder (PPD), genes may play a role as PPD is observed in families that exhibit a prevalence of delusional disorders or schizophrenia. Insomnia  Paranoia may be a result of insomnia since lack of sleep can trigger anxiety and depression, which are also factors that cause paranoia.

 Paranoia may be a result of insomnia since lack of sleep can trigger anxiety and depression, which are also factors that cause paranoia. Trauma  When an individual experiences traumatic life events, it can alter the individuals perception of life and create paranoid thoughts.

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Altered brain chemistry  Certain drugs, such as amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana along with substances like alcohol can alter the signaling within the brain causing paranoia.

 Certain drugs, such as amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana along with substances like alcohol can alter the signaling within the brain causing paranoia. Stress  Prolonged periods of stress as seen in the case of prisoners of war can lead to paranoia.

 Prolonged periods of stress as seen in the case of prisoners of war can lead to paranoia. Socioeconomic status and race  Lower socioeconomic status and racial differences influence the quality of health services provided. Hence, paranoid individuals tend to be higher in underprivileged sections of society.

 Lower socioeconomic status and racial differences influence the quality of health services provided. Hence, paranoid individuals tend to be higher in underprivileged sections of society. Combination of causes  One must be aware that paranoia may be due to a combination of any of the above factors and not caused by one single factor alone.

Following are the symptoms associated with paranoia:

Negative beliefs that develop during childhood about others, self, or the world following certain experiences

Anxiety and irrational fear

Reaching conclusions without a clear understanding

Inability to think of alternate explanations

Abnormal experiences

Cognitive irregularities

Aggressive, argumentative, hostile

Intensely suspicious nature

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Gets offended quickly

Trust issues  unable to confide in anyone, inability to maintain a relationship

Inability to forgive and forget

Inability to compromise

Inability to take criticism

Feels persecuted or victimized by everyone in the world

Hostility towards others due to mistrust

Detachment

Paranoia is diagnosed by the presence of characteristic symptoms during history taking and thorough psychological evaluation. Cognitive-behavioural therapy can effectively treat paranoia with patient cooperation.

Paranoia is a symptom observed in many mental disorders. Hence, diagnosing paranoia can be quite difficult. An effective diagnosis can be made only if the patient is affected with paranoia for at least a month. Diagnosis is carried out as follows:

Symptom assessment

Medical history to rule out other illnesses as the possible cause of the symptoms

Physical examination

Diagnosis of exclusion  rule out other psychiatric conditions that may display similar symptoms (e.g., mood disorder, schizophrenia, substance-induced toxicity, and medical disease).

Psychological assessments to determine mental health status

There is no permanent cure for paranoia. Patients are often reluctant to get treatment and hence, there is very limited research on paranoia treatment. Also, these patients may not trust doctors or therapists making treatment difficult. The management strategy ideally involves hospitalization, medications, and psychotherapy.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy  There is evidence that this form of psychotherapy is useful in reducing symptoms of psychosis by nearly half, reducing relapse rates and improving recovery speed. This form of therapy requires patient-therapist collaboration and empathy from the therapist. The CBT therapy is required once a week for six months. The therapist listens and takes notes of the paranoid experiences of the patient and then discusses the issues affecting the patient. Decisions on how to tackle these paranoid states are provided to the patient, but at the same time, the patient is involved in the decision-making process.

Medications  Anti-anxiety or anti-psychotic drugs are prescribed by therapists for psychotic conditions, such as delusional conditions, psychosis or schizophrenia. Also, the person may refuse to take medications fearing it may cause harm. There are no FDA-approved drugs for paranoid personality disorder.

Hospitalization  If the patient has a bad case of paranoia, then hospitalization is recommended until the underlying condition stabilizes.

Coping mechanisms  Patients are taught to drop their defenses and learn to face people and situations in the virtual world (by simulating situations) to prepare themselves for similar situations encountered in the real outside world. A study found patients were able to relax and felt more confident when they stepped into the real world in similar situations. Other options include practicing relaxation techniques and behavioral modification therapy.

Paranoia is a condition that can be effectively tackled with the help of an empathetic and supportive clinician. Clinicians can help to tackle depression, structure time, introduce helpful activities and reduce negative self-worth.

Based on the cause, avoiding recreational drugs or alcohol could mitigate the symptoms.

Self-help strategies to overcome paranoia are:

Do not focus on suspicious thoughts but focus on the action of the moment

Challenge irrational suspicious thoughts

Spend less time worrying about paranoid thoughts

Become detached and observe the fears

Try and understand paranoid fears before accepting them

Try and understand the cause of paranoid thoughts

A therapist can identify the triggers of paranoia and provide strategies to avoid the recurrence of paranoia.
About

Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease which affects domestic and wild animals. Rabies is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans(1 Trusted Source

Rabies: Definition



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Each year, rabies kills more than 60,000 people and millions of animals around the world(2 Trusted Source

Rabies Day



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Rabies transmission occurs through close contact with the saliva from infected animals through bites, scratches, or licks on broken skin and mucous membranes(3 Trusted Source

Rabies Virus



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Following a bite from a suspected rabid animal, it is essential to clean the wound properly. In addition, immunization should start immediately along with the administration of human rabies immunoglobulin. The newer vaccines have a shorter schedule and are less commonly associated with side effects, as compared to the older vaccines.

The above measures, if started immediately, can prevent the onset of rabies and death. Once the infection is established, death is inevitable. In such circumstances, the person should be isolated and provided nursing care in the last days.

The animal should be observed for a period of at least 10 days following a bite. If the animal is alive and well till this time, it is unlikely that it suffers from rabies. If the animal dies, examination on a sample of the brain helps in the diagnosis(4 Trusted Source

Domestic Animals



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World Rabies Day is observed on September 28. The date also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine(5 Trusted Source

World Rabies Day



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Rabies encephalitis is one of the oldest communicable diseases known to man. It is an acute infection involving the central nervous system (CNS) in humans and other mammals caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus family. Transmission of the disease is through the bite of dogs and wild animals(6 Trusted Source

Imaging findings in rabies encephalitis



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There are two forms of rabies(7 Trusted Source

Rabies



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Furious rabies  characterized by hyperactivity and hallucinations.

 characterized by hyperactivity and hallucinations. Paralytic rabies  characterized by paralysis and coma.

Furious rabies results in hyperactivity, excitable behavior, hallucinations, lack of coordination, hydrophobia (fear of water), and aerophobia (fear of drafts or of fresh air). Death occurs after a few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest.

Paralytic rabies accounts for about 20% of the total number of human cases. This form of rabies runs a less dramatic and usually longer course than the furious form. Muscles gradually become paralyzed, starting from the wound site. A coma slowly develops and eventually death occurs. The paralytic form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, contributing to the under-reporting of the disease(8 Trusted Source

Rabies : Types



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Rabies is caused by a virus

It is usually transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch from an infected animal (rabid dogs) and less frequently by cats. It can also be transmitted if the infected saliva enters the body through broken skin. Rabies may be contracted by inhalation of virus-containing aerosol or via transplantation of an infected organ, but this is very rare.

From the wound site the virus enters the muscles and travels to the brain via the peripheral nerves. It multiplies in the brain and causes swelling or inflammation(9 Trusted Source

How is rabies transmitted?



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Other animals that can spread rabies include(10 Trusted Source

Animals and Rabies



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Foxes

Bats

Raccoons

Skunks

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The initial symptoms of rabies are non-specific but may progress to mild fever, anxiety, agitation, hydrophobia, aerophobia, etc.

Usually the incubation period of rabies is 13 months, but may vary from less than 1 week to more than 1 year(11 Trusted Source

A case of human rabies with a long incubation period in Wuhan



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The initial symptoms of rabies are usually non-specific and suggest involvement of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and/or central nervous systems. Symptoms include(12 Trusted Source

Rabies : Symptoms



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Fever

Headache

Pain and tingling at the site of the bite

Ten days later, the patient may experience -

Anxiety, agitation or depression

Hallucinations

Bizarre behavior

Drooling

Convulsions

Increased excitability, which is the hallmark of the condition

Hydrophobia (fear of water) is present in half the patients. This is usually due to difficultywith swallowing.

Aerophobia (fear of fresh air) is considered a characteristic feature of rabies

The patient goes on to develop fits and respiratory paralysis.

Death usually occurs within 10-14 days. Without intensive care, death occurs during the first seven days of illness.

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Diagnosis is made by rabies specific signs as there are no specific tests to detect the rabies virus before the actual onset of the clinical disease.

Diagnosis of rabies is generally made based on the presence of rabies-specific signs like hydrophobia and aerophobia. No specific tests are available to detect the rabies virus before the actual onset of the clinical disease.

The suspected rabid animal should be observed for a duration of up to 10 days following a bite. If the animal is alive till this time, then it is unlikely that it suffers from rabies.

The direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA) is most frequently used to diagnose rabies in animals. This test can be performed on brain tissue of dead animals suspected of being rabid. Specific collections of particles called Negri bodies are seen on microscopic examination of brain tissue.

This same test can be used to check for rabies infection in humans by using a piece of skin from the neck.

Isolation of the virus from saliva or spinal fluid of the patient can also be done. Specific antibodies produced by the body against the virus can be highlighted in the salivary secretions. However, these tests are not as sensitive and the diagnosis should be confirmed on a suspected animal by examining its brain a under microscope for changes related to rabies(13 Trusted Source

Antemortem diagnosis and prevention of human rabies



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Proper wound cleansing, immunization and administration of human rabies immunoglobulin can prevent the onset of rabies and death. Rabies has approximately 100% mortality rate but by using the aggressive treatment approach, the patient may survive(14 Trusted Source

Survival in human rabies but left against medical advice and death followed - Community education is the need of the hour



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Rabies kills if it is not prevented or treated immediately. Effective treatment soon after exposure to rabies virus can prevent the onset of symptoms and death.

Treatment of rabies following infection comprises of -

Local treatment of the wound

Immediate vaccination

Administration of human rabies immunoglobulin (HRiG)

Local treatment of the wound - The wound should be washed thoroughly for a minimum of 15 minutes with soap and water, povidone iodine or other substances that kill the rabies virus(15 Trusted Source

Studies on the local treatment of wounds for the prevention of rabies



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Vaccination - An anti-rabies vaccine is generally given in 5 doses over 28 days.The standard rabies vaccine schedule is five doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28, with day '0' being the day of commencement of vaccination. One shot is given around the area of the bite. The rest are given in the arm(16 Trusted Source

New Rabies Vaccines for Use in Humans



Go to source). Sometimes, an additional shot is required on the first day if it is not possible to give all the vaccine around the site of the bite. The rabies vaccine produces an immune response, which helps the body fight off the virus. The shot makes the body produce antibodies that kill the virus. Rabies vaccine is safe for use among pregnant and breastfeeding women(17 Trusted Source

Rabies antibody levels in pregnant women and their newborns after rabies post-exposure prophylaxis



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The vaccine is available free of cost in government hospitals and facilities. In private hospitals and clinics, the cost of Anti Rabies vaccine is Rs.350/-per dose., so the cost of 5 doses will approximately be around Rs.1,700- 2,000.

Administration of human rabies immunoglobulin (HRiG) - HRiG is given on the day of the bite. Half of the HRiG should be injected around the wound and the other half should be given intramuscularly(18 Trusted Source

Intravenous human rabies immunoglobulin for post-exposure prophylaxis: serum rabies neutralizing antibody concentrations and side-effects



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Once the disease is established, therapy is to relieve the symptoms as death is inevitable.

The patient should be isolated and nursed in a dark, quiet

Nutrition, respiration, and heart condition should be monitored and supported.

Drugs to sedate the patient, relieve pain and to reduce hallucinations can be given liberally.

Rabies can be prevented with the following measures(19 Trusted Source

Rabies Prevention



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Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by trematode worms or blood flukes of genus Schistosoma. It is usually prevalent in the tropical and subtropical countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2013, 261 million people sought treatment for schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is frequently observed among poor people with poor access to hygienic sanitation and clean drinking water. Normally, people who come in contact with contaminated freshwater get infected. The contamination occurs when infected individuals urinate or defecate in freshwater and release the parasitic worms into the water. The worms breed within snails or water buffaloes and are released into the freshwater. Individuals who bathe, wash clothes, or swim in the water, get infected when the worms penetrate their skin. Worms may live in humans for a timespan ranging from 5 to 30 years. According to WHO, 90% of infected individuals in the world are in Africa. The transmission of the disease does not occur between humans.

There are 2 types of schistosomiasis:

Urogenital schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma haematobium and is observed in Corsica (France), Africa, and the Middle East .

is caused by and is observed in Corsica (France), Africa, and the Middle East Intestinal schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni, S. intercalatum, S. guineensis,and S. mekongi. These species have been observed in the Middle East, China, Indonesia, Brazil, certain regions of Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, the Philippines, the Caribbean, Suriname, and central Africa.

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Life cycle of Schistosoma worms

The female worms, in humans, release eggs in the blood vessels. Some eggs infect other organs within the body and cause immune reactions. Some eggs are released out of the body through feces or urine where they survive for a week. Eggs released in water, hatch and release larvae. The larvae find snails to penetrate and mature into the next stage called cercaria. During the subsequent 4 to 6 weeks, these cercariae develop within the snails and then move back into the water to survive for 72 hours. During this period, if they come into contact with human skin, they penetrate the body, and develop into the next stage called schistosomule. The schistosomules move into the blood vessels and enter organs of the abdomen. During the next 4 to 6 weeks, these schistosomules mature, mate, and lay eggs. The eggs either remain in the organ, move out into the blood vessels, or are released out of the body to continue their life cycle if they find snails.

The signs and symptoms of schistosomiasis are caused due to reaction of the human body to eggs that are released into the blood vessels. Based on the stage of the infection, the symptoms vary. In the initial stage of infection, the individual may experience itchiness and rash. Eventually, within 1 to 2 months, individuals start to develop muscle ache, fever, chills, and cough. Chronic schistosomiasis hampers the individuals ability to work and may even result in death. Schistosomiasis that affects children results in diminished learning capabilities, anemia, and stunting due to malnutrition. These effects may be reversed with adequate treatment.

Clinical features of urogenital schistosomiasis are as follows:

Predominant feature of blood in the urine (haematuria)

Infection of prostate and seminal vesicles in males

Damage to the bladder and bladder cancer observed in the later stage

Damage to kidneys and ureters observed in later stages

Vaginal bleeding, nodules in the vulva, genital lesions, and pain during intercourse, observed in females

Infertility

Clinical features of intestinal schistosomiasis are as follows:

Diarrhea, blood in stools, abdominal pain

Splenomegaly (enlargement of spleen)

Enlargement of liver (hepatomegaly)

High blood pressure in portal veins, the veins that connect the spleen, stomach and intestines to the liver

Fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity in later stages

In rare instances, eggs may penetrate the spinal cord or brain and cause paralysis, spinal cord inflammation, and seizures.

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Diagnosis of schistosomiasis is based on:

Detection of antigens or antibodies in the urine or blood.

Detection of schistosome eggs in urine and stool samples. Intestinal schistosomiasis may be diagnosed by the Kato-Katz method that is used to detect parasitic eggs in fecal samples. In this method, cellophane, either soaked in glycerine or placed on a glass slide, is stained with methylene blue. Urogenital schistosomiasis may be detected with a filtration technique that uses polycarbonate, nylon, or paper filters.

The urine tests positive for the presence of blood in case of urogenital schistosomasis.

The only safe recommended treatment for schistosomiasis is praziquantel. It is a low-cost drug that is effective in treating all forms of schistosomiasis. It prevents the disease from developing into a chronic condition especially when treated in the early stages. A recent study indicated that targeting an enzyme glutathione reductase in Schistosoma mansoni could be effective in treating the condition. Another study has reported the effectiveness of breeding prawns in infected freshwater regions since they consume snails. This prevents the transmission of the parasites since prawns are not natural hosts for the parasite.

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Schistosomiasis is observed in certain high-risk groups in different countries. Travelers should take necessary precautions when present in these regions. Drinking water should be boiled before consumption. Bathwater should also be boiled before use. Individuals should avoid swimming in freshwater ponds. Chlorinated swimming pools or the open sea are safe places to wade or swim in endemic regions. In the event of contact with contaminated water, individuals may dry themselves vigorously with a towel to prevent the penetration of the parasites. However, this technique may not completely avoid the risk of contamination.

Groups at risk of schistosomiasis should be regularly treated with praziquantel. Such groups should be monitored periodically for infection. In high-risk areas, individuals should be treated on an annual basis. High-risk groups, include individuals whose profession involves contact with water, such as farmers, women doing laundry in freshwater bodies, fishermen, and irrigation laborers. School children and other individuals living in high-risk endemic regions also fall in the high-risk group.

Health Tips

Individuals should avoid contact with contaminated water bodies. They should have access to safe, drinking water. Improved sanitation must be practiced. Individuals at risk should be monitored and treated at regular intervals.
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Tuberculosis



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Did You Know?

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, despite being curable and preventable. #worldsleepday #tuberculosis #medindia

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, despite being curable and preventable. #worldsleepday #tuberculosis #medindia

Community-led Efforts are Crucial in the Fight

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Tuberculosis - (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis)

In anticipation of World TB Day on March 24, Survivors Against TB (SATB), driven by TB survivors, experts, and advocates, sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pressing for expedited measures to eradicate the disease in India ().While India has committed to eliminating TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030, the country is currently facing a large burden of the most infectious disease , the SATB wrote in the letter.They said that millions are affected by TB in India, andIn the letter, they called for immediate action to expand access to free, accurate, and affordable TB diagnosis,, especially in remote and marginalized communities.The list also included investment in diagnostic facilities, mobile testing units, and access to rapid and molecular testing; access to free and accurate treatment, high-quality drugs, and shorter regimens.Challenges such as limited access to diagnosis and treatment, stigma, socioeconomic barriers, and out-of-pocket expenses persist, and are hindering progress in tackling TB effectively even today, said Ashna Ashesh, public health professional, lawyer, and MDR TB survivor, in a statement.Apart from counseling and management support for patients, the SATB recommended measures to prevent stock-outs in both public and private sectors.Stressing the importance of nutrition among TB patients, the SATB also called for increasing the Nikshay Poshan Yojana scheme to at least Rs. 2,000 per month from the current Rs 500, and to integrate mental health services."India has the capacity to make significant strides towards ending TB. We need to prioritize the voices and needs of TB survivors in shaping policies and interventions," added Chapal Mehra, Convenor of SATB, in the statement.Source-IANS
Retired Charlottesville teacher and civil rights pioneer Lorraine Williams, who helped desegregate the citys schools with her children and husband Eugene, died March 12 at the age of 98.

May we never forget Lorraines remarkable courage and dedication as a civil rights advocate who has reshaped Charlottesville for the better, former city councilor Dede Smith told The Daily Progress.

In 1955, while she was teaching business education at the then-all-Black Jackson P. Burley High School, she and her husband were among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Charlottesville School Board, which was engaged in the so-called Massive Resistance campaign in Virginia to prevent the desegregation of public schools. The couple demanded the school board adhere to the Supreme Courts year-earlier decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Their daughters were among the first to enter formerly all-White schools.

Their leadership in that fight and in their familys subsequent investment in providing affordable housing earned Lorraine and Eugene Williams a place in The Daily Progress Distinguished Dozen for 2023. But that has not been her only accolade.

According to her obituary, Lorraine Williams was designated an outstanding teacher at Lane High School, where she reportedly endured having a closet as an office. Additionally, she and her husband won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2023 and she was cited for Service Above Self by Rotary International in 2015.

According to daughter, Scheryl Williams Glanton, Lorraine Williams managed to maintain a joyful outlook on life despite the obstacles she faced earlier in life and the poor health she faced later in life.

I have a picture of her at Christmas where she was dancing, Glanton told The Daily Progress.

But in early March her father urgently contacted her and her sister, Karol Williams Biglow.

I jumped on a train and came down, said Glanton, who lives in Philadelphia. And as soon as I got here, I knew there was trouble.

Her mother received five days of hospice care, Glanton said, and the whole family was present for her death in the Ridge Street house where the Williams have lived for decades.

She was only in hospice care five days, and we loved her those five days, said Glanton. It was peaceful.

Born Doris Lorraine Payne in 1925, she spent her early years with six siblings in the Ivy-area community of Broad Axe near the Mechums River.

Lorraine and her six siblings undertook a daily journey of resilience, walking approximately three miles to attend the two-room segregated Terry School in Little Ivy, according to her obituary.

Educated at the Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, Williams went on to earn a masters degree at whats now called the University of Virginia School of Education.

If she would see her former students on the Mall or at a public gathering, her widower told The Daily Progress, they would walk up and put their arms around her and say things like, Mrs. Williams, were so glad to see you.

Eugene Williams said that in her retirement, his wife took joy in her sorority and in visits with friends and family.

We had such a close connection, he said, and enjoyed each other for 75 years of marriage.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, is travelling to Brussels today, where he will participate in the Foreign Affairs Council tomorrow, Monday, March 18.



The main items on the Council's agenda include the crisis in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, on which the Foreign Ministers of the European Union will have a discussion, via video teleconference, with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.



Subsequently, the EU Foreign Ministers will be briefed by the EU Sanctions Envoy, David O'Sullivan, while developments in Belarus, Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, as well as the situation in Niger and Haiti are expected to be discussed, as well.



Prior to the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Mr. Gerapetritis will participate in the 3rd European Humanitarian Forum.
CAIRO (AP)  Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials.

The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldnt lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected.

But both sides have made moves in recent days aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track.

Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions.

The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire that would see the release of 35 hostages  women, those who are ill and older people  held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said.

Nearly one in three children under 2 years old in the isolated north have acute malnutrition, the U.N. children's agency said Friday.

In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent cease-fire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said.

In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies its holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said.

Talks were expected to resume Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic" but agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar. His government has rejected calls for a permanent cease-fire, insisting it must first fulfill its stated goal of annihilating Hamas.

Thousands of people demonstrated Saturday night in Tel Aviv to show their impatience with Netanyahu's government and demand a deal to free hostages. Some expressed support for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's sharp criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the war and his call for a new election.

I think that we are in a situation where they are completely right, that we have a war that is continuing well beyond what is necessary, protester Yehuda Halper said.

Netanyahus office said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians  more than half the enclave's population  are sheltering. Israel wants to target Hamas battalions stationed there.

Many fled to Rafah when Israel attacked Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage.

The United States and other countries have warned that a military operation in Rafah could be disastrous.

Netanyahu's office didn't give details or a timetable for the Rafah operation, but said that it would involve the evacuation of the civilian population. The military has said it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza.

Many people are too fragile, hungry and sick to be moved again, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media, adding that there are no fully functional, safe health centers they can reach elsewhere in Gaza. In the name of humanity, we appeal to Israel not to proceed.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,553 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

An Israeli strike early Saturday flattened a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 19 people, including nine children, according to records at the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. An Associated Press journalist there saw the bodies.

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the U.N.

As part of efforts to deliver desperately needed aid, a ship inaugurated a sea route from Cyprus on Friday and offloaded 200 tons of humanitarian supplies sent by the aid group World Central Kitchen destined for people in northern Gaza.

The group said it was preparing another vessel in Cyprus with hundreds of tons of aid.

Also on Saturday, Germany joined a group of countries, including the U.S. and Jordan, in conducting airdrops of aid over Gaza. The U.S. also has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in.

Displaced Palestinians living in tents along the Mediterranean coast remained hungry and bleak.

The situation is so bad that no one can imagine it, and the ship, even if it helps, will be a drop in the ocean, said Zahr Saqr in Muwasi. We run like dogs behind air drops.

___

Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Shlomo Mor in Tel Aviv, and Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Alexei Navalnys team is used to working independently. The most potent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin was frequently absent for long stretches after being arrested, assaulted, poisoned, or imprisoned.

But when Navalny died suddenly in February at age 47 in a remote Arctic prison, his team was left with a monumental challenge: sustaining an opposition movement against Putin  who is all but assured to be reelected  without the living example of their defiant and charismatic leader.

After the initial shock wore off, Navalny's closest allies returned to the work that cost his freedom and his life: undermining Putins iron-fisted grip on power.

A significant test will come Sunday, the last of three days that voters can go to the polls in an election that is widely viewed as more of a formality than an exercise in democracy.

That's when Navalnys team  with the endorsement of his widow, Yulia Navalnaya  is calling for a protest dubbed Noon Against Putin. They are asking Russians to flock to polling stations Sunday at noon local time across the country's 11 time zones to demonstrate their discontent with Putins rule and his war against Ukraine.

It is a very simple and safe action, it cant be banned, Navalnaya said in a video address. It will help millions of people to see their like-minded allies and to realize that we are not alone, were surrounded by people who are also against the war, against corruption and against lawlessness.

Navalnys followers have expressed a wide mix of emotions in the weeks since his death, from renewed inspiration to a sense of defeat.

Maria Obukhova of Moscow, who paid tribute to Navalny on Wednesday at the Borisovskoye Cemetery, said the crowds she saw at his funeral  which numbered in the thousands  were motivational.

It was a huge surprise for me, because it seemed before like everything had died here, that Russia is no longer, that it had died, said Obukhova, who placed white daisies at Navalny's gravesite.

Valery, another Muscovite at the cemetery, who withheld his last name for security reasons, said he had little hope for the future and that after Navalny's death, that something has really broken inside of him.

Just several days after her husband's death, Navalnaya expressed determination to keep his mission alive.

In the past month, she has addressed the European Parliament, met with United States President Joe Biden, and urged Western countries not to recognize the results of Russias election. She has also called on the West to impose more sanctions on those close to Putin.

Leading up to the election, Navalnys team urged supporters to cast their ballots for any candidate other than Putin, or to invalidate them by choosing two or more candidates. They also had dozens of volunteers call ordinary Russians to ask them about their grievances and try to turn them against Putin.

The phone campaign was announced by Navalny over the summer, and since then tens of thousands of calls were made, Leonid Volkov, Navalnys top strategist, said a video. We will not stop doing that, he vowed.

Volkov also gave a video address shortly after Navalnys death in an effort to rally supporters, and perhaps tap into his longtime allys spirit of persistence. It will be a monument to Alexeis cause if you and I live to see how this regime disintegrates before Putins eyes, he said.

Still, the Putin opposition's uphill battle has only gotten steeper with its leaders in exile.

(Putins) regime pushes people out of the country because it understands very well that the possibilities of influencing political processes in Russia from abroad are minimal, said Nikolay Petrov, a visiting researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Sunday's Noon Against Putin protest will be a test of how much Navalny's team can do in Russia from abroad, said Sam Greene, a director at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington.

One part of what they want to do is to send a message to those who remain in Russia that youre not alone, that the opposition in exile has their back to a certain extent and will support them," said Greene. "But then the question is, how do they support them?

Efforts are underway to disrupt the protest. Navalny's team said fake emails have been sent around purporting to be from them telling Putin opponents to show up at the polls at 5 p.m. instead of noon.

Russias independent election watchdog, Golos, reported that officials in at least one region are being instructed to report large gatherings near polling stations to the police.

On Thursday night. the Prosecutor's Office in Moscow warned that unauthorized rallies near polling stations may prevent citizens from freely exercising their voting rights and the work of election commissions, a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

The personal risks for Putin's opponents remain high.

On Tuesday, Volkov was attacked near his home in Lithuania. Assailants smashed a window of his car, sprayed tear gas into his face and beat him with a hammer, according to Navalnys team.

Volkov was taken to a hospital, and upon release said his arm was broken and his leg was injured so much it was painful to walk.

He accused Putins henchmen of the attack and said it was an attempt to intimidate the team ahead of the Noon Against Putin protest.

With Navalny gone, some of his supporters are recalibrating their expectations.

Valery, one of many people who visited Navalny's grave in southeastern Moscow in recent weeks, said he is less optimistic about the opposition's prospects going forward.

Even though Yulia, his wife  his widow  has picked up the baton, Im not sure that it is going to be the same as it was when Alexei was alive," he said.
Ukraine launched a massive new wave of drone attacks on Russia Sunday as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule for another six years.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said a fifth drone, close to the capitals Domodedovo airport, was downed on Sunday morning. No casualties or damage were reported.

According to the Defense Ministry, two drones were shot down over the Kaluga region, just south of the Russian capital, and four in the Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow.

The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is located about 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were some of the farthest launched by Ukraine so far.

More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions that border Ukraine and the southern Krasnodar region, the Defense Ministry said.

Shelling of Belgorod on Sunday morning killed a 16-year-old girl and injured her father, while a second assault later in the day killed another man and injured 11 others, said Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Authorities also said that a drone fell on a refinery in the Krasnodar region, sparking a blaze that was extinguished a few hours later. A worker at the refinery died of a heart attack, officials said. Refineries and oil terminals have been key targets of Ukrainian drone attacks.

Elsewhere, a drone strike at a military installation in Moldovas breakaway republic of Transnistria on Sunday destroyed a helicopter and ignited a fire, officials said. The areas pro-Russian authorities blamed the strike on Ukraine.

In a statement, the Bureau for Reintegration Policies said that they did not confirm any attack on Transnistria and described the reports as an "attempt to cause fear and panic in the region.

There have been a series of Ukrainian drone raids over the past few days that Putin described as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten residents and derail Russia's presidential election.

Those enemy strikes havent been and wont be left unpunished, he vowed during Friday's meeting of his Security Council. Im sure that our people, the people of Russia, will respond to that with even greater cohesion."

Two Russian ballistic missiles hit the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Sunday, injuring at least five people, the regions Gov. Vitaliy Kim wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The Ukrainian military also said that 14 Russian drones had been shot down over the Odesa region Sunday, following a Russian ballistic missile assault on the southern port city Friday that killed at least 21 people.

Britains defense ministry said Sunday that the countrys defense secretary, Grant Shapps, abandoned a trip to Odesa earlier this month because of a Russian missile threat. The Sunday Times reported that Shapps, who visited Kyiv on March 7, had been warned by British intelligence that Russia had become aware of his travel plans.

Russian forces also launched five S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles at Ukrainian-controlled areas in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, as well as two X-59 guided missiles in the Chernihiv region, the Ukrainian air force said Sunday.

As the war drags into a third year, Russian forces have made some slow and incremental gains along the front line, relying on their edge in firepower, while Ukraine has fought back with more drone attacks deep inside Russia.

There has also been an increasing number of cross border raids.

The Freedom of Russia Legion  one of a number of armed groups which includes Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces  said Sunday that it had taken control of the Russian border village of Gorkovskiy in the Belgorod region. A video released on social media appeared to show troops removing the Russian flag from the villages main administration building. The images were not independently verified by The Associated Press.

A similar group, the Russian Volunteer Corps, released a video on social media Saturday alleging to have captured 25 Russian soldiers. The claim also couldnt be independently verified.

Meanwhile, the Russian military said on Saturday that it had thwarted another attempted cross-border incursion by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

Cross-border attacks in the area have taken place sporadically since the war began and have been the subject of claims and counterclaims, as well as disinformation and propaganda.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Stephen McGrath in Bucharest contributed to this report.
HOLLAND, MI  A house and a motor home were destroyed early Saturday morning when a fire broke out in the motor home that quickly spread to the house.

Fire crews were called at 4:37 a.m. Saturday, March 16, to a residence in the 600 block of Concord Drive for a report of a house on fire, according to the Holland Fire Department.

Early reports indicated that a motor home was on fire which was quickly spreading to the adjacent residence, officials said.

Crews arrived to find both the home and the motor home fully involved with heavy flames erupting from both, officials said. Fire conditions were challenging due to flames spreading into interior attic and basement areas of the home.

Arriving firefighters were initially focused on containing the fire and searching the interior to confirm all occupants were outside and accounted for. Once cleared, crews continued to work on containing the blaze for several hours until it was extinguished, officials said.

No injuries were reported and, due to the extent of the damage, both the house and the motor home are uninhabitable and have been declared a total loss, officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Park Township Fire Department, Holland Police Department, American Medical Response assisted at the scene, officials said.
JACKSON, MI  It was where manufacturers built cars, radios, televisions and even war products, but a nearly 130-year-old building in Jackson is now being auctioned.

The Commercial Exchange Building, 2301 E. Michigan Ave., is expected to be sold to a new owner, with auction bids beginning on Monday, March 18.

Building owner Laurice LaZebniks husband Robert purchased the building from Sparton Corp. in 1961, and renamed it the Commercial Exchange Building. Robert died in July 2023, and LaZebnik continued running the property.

But, as she continued to see the needs for businesses change, shes decided its time to sell the historic building.

Its the hardest decision Ive made because it was my home for a long time. I know every inch of this building, LaZebnik said. Its obsolete as a warehouse because they need 30-foot ceilings, its obsolete for a manufacturer because they need concrete floors and we have wooden floors and its obsolete for offices because everyone is working from home.

LaZebnik said shes been trying to sell the building for nearly three years but had no luck finding an interested buyer. She said a Realtor with commercial real estate company Ten-X suggested she may have a better chance selling the property at auction.

The 168,600-square-foot building is listed on the Ten-X website, with a starting bid of $350,000. Bid submissions will close on Wednesday, March 20.

The three-floor building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, and has a history in manufacturing dating back to the late 1800s.

An original building was constructed on the site in 1886 by Samuel B. Collins and Dwight and Henry Smith of Collins Manufacturing Company to craft farm tools and horse-drawn carts and buggies, LaZebnik said.

Owner Laurie LaZebnik points out parts of the interior at The Commercial Exchange Building, 2301 E. Michigan Ave. in Jackson, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The building is coming up for possible auction. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com

That building was destroyed by fire in 1895, but the company rebuilt with the three wings of the current building, creating a massive U-shaped factory on the site.

In 1897, Jackson-based National Wheel Company absorbed Collins Manufacturing Company, and relocated its offices to the site until 1908. From there, the building was taken over by he Jackson Automobile Co., which built the Jaxon cars there.

Related: Peek Through Time: Made in Jackson appeared on 25 models of automobiles from 1901 to 1954

Jackson Automobile Co. made 10,000 vehicles before it folded in 1922. Its failure was blamed by some on its inability to efficiently return to auto production after manufacturing shells and airplane parts during World War I.

The building was vacant until 1926 until William Cap Sparks, a former Jackson mayor, creator of The Cascades illuminated falls and partner of Sparks-Withington Co. (later known as Sparton Corporation), moved his all-electric radio business into the factory.

Sparks purchased the property in 1929, and continued to build radios, radio tubes and televisions there, while also renovating offices on the first and second floors.

Related: Peek Through Time: Jacksons Sparton Corp. a well-known player in several innovative industries

When World War II began in 1941, Sparks-Withington shifted its business to war production, including making bomb hoists, communications equipment and magazine clips. Sparks-Withington occupied the building until the late-1950s.

Scenes of the interior at The Commercial Exchange Building, 2301 E. Michigan Ave. in Jackson, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The building is coming up for possible auction. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com

After purchasing the building in 1961, the LaZebniks transformed it into leasing space for commercial, manufacturing, warehouse and office space.

Tenants through the years have included Rogers Industries, which built wooden floors, and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, which rehearsed in the building. The LaZebniks also lived in an apartment on the upper floor for around 25 years.

We could seat 85 people for dinner, LaZebnik said. (We had) lots and lots of parties here.

Touches of the buildings history can still be seen throughout the building, including parts of a former buggy that rests on the ceiling, old business cards nailed to a pillar and original wood floors. The offices on the first floor that Sparks and his team used are still there with original light fixtures and doors, LaZebnik said.

Other features in the building include the brick facade, ample parking, natural lighting from windows and skylights and a central courtyard, according to the Ten-X listing. Each floor also contains a vault.

Currently, the building has 16 tenants, including the Jackson District Library, which uses it for storage, and Shawna Gerry Photography, which uses it for office space. Leases for these tenants will be transferred to the new owner, LaZebnik said.

While the new owner will decide what the buildings future purpose is, LaZebnik said she hopes it will be turned into a mixed-use space that includes housing, retail and maybe some restaurants.

LaZebnik also operates manufacturing and office property at 1300 Falahee Road and 2211 and 2313 Tyson St. in Michigan Center. She said she plans to move her business from the Commercial Exchange Building into the Falahee Road facility.

Its a full-time job there, LaZebnik said, of the Falahee Road facility. Its a building thats not obsolete. It has a 16-foot ceiling, concrete on the floor. Everything that a manufacturing company would want.

LaZebnik also owns commercial property at the intersection of North and Hamilton streets, that was damaged by a fire in August 2023.

More information and bids can be found on Ten-Xs website.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? returns Sunday, March 17 at 8/7c. Stream the TLC premiere for free with a trial from Philo or FuboTV.

About the show:

A spinoff of the longstanding TLC reality series 90 Day Fiance, in which international couples document their K-1 visa process, 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? continues the newlyweds stories, following up with them as they adjust to their new togetherness. The show revisits the couples in the wake of their fast-tracked weddings to find out how their relationships have evolved on and off camera.

Season 8, episode 1, Once Upon a Rocky Relationship, finds Jasmine and Gino struggling with secrets, Mahmoud readying himself for a life-changing move, and Rob fearing Sophie may be seeing someone else. Meanwhile, Emilys habits culturally clash with Kobes family, and Manuel is hesitant to open up, despite now being married.

Watch the 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? season 8 premiere tonight at 8/7c on TLC.

Where to watch:
Construction on the Ellsworth Street Bridge will soon redirect traffic in the evening hours to the Lyons Street Bridge, starting Sunday, March 24.

The bridge will be under construction to raise the beam supports, which have suffered damage over the years by tall trucks passing under  and sometimes colliding with  them.

A Place to Sleep, episode 2: Albany, part II Last week we introduced Dusty Bryant, who police evicted from Albany's designated resting site for homeless individuals. This week, we check in to see what's happening with Dusty.

The project is being conducted by the Oregon Department of Transportation, which identified the change as a "long-desired project."

The project will increase the vertical clearance from 14 feet and 11 inches to 16 feet, ODOT spokesperson Mindy McCartt said

"Increasing the height clearance will reduce the amount of maintenance needed to repair the bridge after strikes," she said.

The damage was caused less by commercial vehicles and more by trucks with construction equipment in the back or vehicles with drivers who might not have known their height, she said.

Anytime something is hitting the structure, it degrades part of it and damages the whole and weakens the integrity, McCartt said.

Work on the Ellsworth Street Bridge, which features two eastbound lanes of Highway 20 over the Willamette River, will require that traffic be redirected during construction hours.

Construction is scheduled to commence 8 p.m. Sunday, March 24.

Closures will be in effect nightly from 8 to 6 a.m. Sunday through Friday. Traffic will be detoured onto the Lyon Street Bridge, with one lane of traffic in each direction.

Flaggers will direct traffic at First Avenue and Lyon Street, returning eastbound traffic down First then back onto Ellsworth Street. Parking will be impacted temporarily on First between Lyon and Ellsworth and along Lyon from Third to First avenues.

The project is expected to wrap up by fall 2024.

The detour is going to be significant, city Transportation Analyst Ron Irish said.

There are not many alternate routes for local traffic, he said. But with the work being done overnight, away from peak hours of traffic, Irish hopes it will only be a minor inconvenience.

There was also careful consideration from the beginning to ensure the construction didnt impact River Rhythms, the citys outdoor summer concerts.

This year they are expected to be back at Monteith Riverpark after the completion of the Albany riverfront project, which includes a new stage and pathways that better connect downtown to the Willamette.

The Ellsworth Street Bridge was first constructed in 1925 and holds historic significance. Its younger than its sister bridge, the Lyon Street Bridge, so there isnt a need to raise support beams on that bridge, McCartt said.

Originally called the Albany Bridge, it took the Ellsworth name when the Lyon Street Bridge opened in 1973.

The bridge was constructed by Conde McCullough, who designed most of Oregons costal bridges on Highway 101, according to a 2014 Democrat-Herald article.

If you look closely you can see art deco details along the concrete rails, Irish said. Those details dont really exist any more with modern architecture that has become more simplistic, he said.

For more information about the project visit https://bit.ly/3ICtAYj.

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The LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that suddenly lost altitude mid-flight a day earlier, dropping violently and injuring dozens of terrified travelers, is seen on the tarmac of the Auckland International Airport in Auckland on March 12, 2024. Photo by AFP

Boeing on Friday warned airlines flying its 787 Dreamliner model to inspect certain switches in the cockpit, after a New Zealand-bound LATAM plane dropped violently mid-flight, injuring dozens of travelers.

"The investigation of Flight LA800 is ongoing and we defer to the investigation authorities on any potential findings," a statement from the US aeronautics giant said.

"We have taken the precautionary measure of reminding 787 operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017 which included instructions for inspecting and maintaining switches on flight deck seats," Boeing said, adding, "We are recommending operators perform an inspection at the next maintenance opportunity."

Boeing regularly sends recommendations about its planes to its clients. But this one involved a particularly dangerous incident.

The Chilean airlines LATAM was flying Monday from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand, when the plane suddenly plunged earthward, flinging unrestrained passengers out of their seats and smashing some into the cabin roof.

Fifty people were injured, including 13 who were hospitalized.

The airline on Tuesday attributed the accident to an unspecified "technical event."

But the Wall Street Journal, citing US industry sources, said Friday the incident was caused by the clumsiness of a crew member.

It said a flight attendant inadvertently hit a switch on the pilot's seat while serving a meal, causing a motorized feature to thrust the pilot into the controls and push the plane's nose sharply down.

It said the switch is usually covered and is not meant to be used when the pilot is in the seat.

Contacted in Chile by AFP, LATAM refused to comment, citing the ongoing investigation. "From the beginning we have collaborated with the authorities to clarify this matter," it added.

Boeing also refused to comment.

For its part, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was convening a Corrective Action Review Board (CARB) made up of safety experts to study the matter "and provide feedback to Boeing."

It added, "The process will include reviewing the 2017 service bulletin related to the switches in the pilot seats."

Boeing has suffered a series of safety issues in recent years, including the fatal crashes of 737 MAX planes in 2018 and 2019 that killed more than 350 people and the near-catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight.

Last week, a Boeing 777 jetliner bound for Japan had to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from San Francisco when a wheel fell off and plunged into an airport parking lot, damaging several cars.

US regulators earlier this month gave Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan addressing quality control issues, with the Federal Aviation Administration chief saying the company must "commit to real and profound improvements."

Boeing's share price has dropped 25% since the start of the year.
GMS Inc. (NYSE:GMS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,160,000 shares, a growth of 14.9% from the February 14th total of 1,010,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 353,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.3 days. Approximately 2.9% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Insider Buying and Selling at GMS

In other news, CFO Scott M. Deakin sold 7,238 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.02, for a total value of $608,136.76. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 14,776 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,479.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CAO William Forrest Bell sold 1,976 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.80, for a total value of $165,588.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Scott M. Deakin sold 7,238 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.02, for a total value of $608,136.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 14,776 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,241,479.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 17,073 shares of company stock valued at $1,400,396 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.90% of the companys stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On GMS

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GMS. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of GMS by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,242,989 shares of the companys stock valued at $209,773,000 after purchasing an additional 154,926 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of GMS by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,482,066 shares of the companys stock valued at $204,600,000 after purchasing an additional 14,005 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of GMS by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,596,626 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,429,000 after purchasing an additional 7,235 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of GMS by 57.5% in the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 1,250,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $103,068,000 after purchasing an additional 456,692 shares during the period. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of GMS by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,018,642 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,967,000 after purchasing an additional 76,417 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.88% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered GMS from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on GMS from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on GMS from $92.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Raymond James lifted their price target on GMS from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on GMS from $72.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $89.63.

Get Our Latest Report on GMS

GMS Stock Up 1.8 %

NYSE GMS traded up $1.71 on Friday, reaching $94.23. The stock had a trading volume of 1,801,549 shares, compared to its average volume of 360,609. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $86.43 and a 200 day moving average price of $74.07. The company has a current ratio of 2.40, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. GMS has a 1 year low of $50.93 and a 1 year high of $94.52. The company has a market capitalization of $3.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.20 and a beta of 1.72.

GMS (NYSE:GMS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.61 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $1.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.27 billion. GMS had a return on equity of 25.65% and a net margin of 5.48%. The businesss revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.85 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that GMS will post 8.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

GMS Company Profile

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GMS Inc distributes wallboard, ceilings, steel framing and complementary construction products in the United States and Canada. The company offers ceilings products, including suspended mineral fibers, soft fibers, and metal ceiling systems primarily used in offices, hotels, hospitals, retail facilities, schools, and various other commercial and institutional buildings.

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Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 24,640,000 shares, a growth of 14.4% from the February 14th total of 21,530,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,340,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 10.5 days. Approximately 6.9% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Bausch Health Companies Stock Performance

Shares of BHC stock traded up $0.11 during trading on Friday, reaching $9.20. The company had a trading volume of 1,385,517 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,392,047. The company has a market capitalization of $3.36 billion, a PE ratio of -5.68 and a beta of 0.83. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $8.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $7.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 74.20, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Bausch Health Companies has a one year low of $5.57 and a one year high of $10.15.

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Bausch Health Companies (NYSE:BHC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported $1.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $2.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. Bausch Health Companies had a positive return on equity of 5,147.48% and a negative net margin of 6.76%. Bausch Health Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.02 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Bausch Health Companies will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Bausch Health Companies from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Bausch Health Companies from $16.00 to $14.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Bausch Health Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on BHC

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bausch Health Companies

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BHC. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in Bausch Health Companies by 127.9% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 394,232 shares of the companys stock worth $3,241,000 after acquiring an additional 221,213 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG raised its holdings in shares of Bausch Health Companies by 1,397.8% in the third quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 362,850 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,983,000 after purchasing an additional 338,624 shares during the last quarter. Segantii Capital Management Ltd increased its holdings in Bausch Health Companies by 20.0% during the third quarter. Segantii Capital Management Ltd now owns 3,000,000 shares of the companys stock worth $24,660,000 after buying an additional 500,000 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Bausch Health Companies during the third quarter worth $1,157,000. Finally, Mizuho Markets Americas LLC acquired a new position in Bausch Health Companies during the third quarter worth $57,540,000. Institutional investors own 74.56% of the companys stock.

Bausch Health Companies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bausch Health Companies Inc operates as a diversified pharmaceutical company. It develops, manufactures, and markets a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology, dermatology, international pharmaceuticals, and eye health. The company operates through five segments: Salix, International, Solta Medical, Diversified, and Bausch + Lomb.

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Big Yellow Group Plc (OTCMKTS:BYLOF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 526,900 shares, a growth of 37.6% from the February 14th total of 383,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 4,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 112.1 days.

Big Yellow Group Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS BYLOF remained flat at $13.35 during mid-day trading on Friday. 7,567 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,302. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $13.81 and a 200 day simple moving average of $13.38. Big Yellow Group has a 1 year low of $11.06 and a 1 year high of $15.73.

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About Big Yellow Group

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Big Yellow is the UK's brand leader in self storage. Big Yellow now operates from a platform of 109 stores, including 24 stores branded as Armadillo Self Storage. We have a pipeline of 0.9 million sq ft comprising 13 proposed Big Yellow self storage facilities. The current maximum lettable area of the existing platform (including Armadillo) is 6.4 million sq ft.

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Ceconomy AG (OTCMKTS:MTTRY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 11,500 shares, a drop of 25.3% from the February 14th total of 15,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.1 days.

Ceconomy Price Performance

Shares of MTTRY traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $0.36. 318 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 679. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $873.40 million, a PE ratio of -18.00 and a beta of 1.69. Ceconomy has a fifty-two week low of $0.32 and a fifty-two week high of $0.65. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.41.

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Ceconomy (OTCMKTS:MTTRY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 9th. The company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $7.61 billion for the quarter. Ceconomy had a negative return on equity of 2.17% and a negative net margin of 0.17%.

About Ceconomy

Ceconomy AG, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the consumer electronics retail business. It operates stores under the MediaMarkt and Saturn brands. The company offers professional assistance for the installation, connection, and troubleshooting of electronic devices at home under the Deutsche Technikberatung brand.

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Koninklijke Vopak (OTC:VOPKF  Get Free Report) and Navigator (NYSE:NVGS  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Dividends

Koninklijke Vopak pays an annual dividend of $0.77 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. Navigator pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. Koninklijke Vopak pays out 34.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Navigator pays out 18.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Koninklijke Vopak and Navigators revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Koninklijke Vopak N/A N/A N/A $2.21 16.78 Navigator $532.39 million 2.15 $53.47 million $1.11 13.83

Analyst Ratings

Navigator has higher revenue and earnings than Koninklijke Vopak. Navigator is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Koninklijke Vopak, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Koninklijke Vopak and Navigator, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Koninklijke Vopak 0 0 0 0 N/A Navigator 0 0 1 0 3.00

Navigator has a consensus target price of $18.00, indicating a potential upside of 17.26%. Given Navigators higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Navigator is more favorable than Koninklijke Vopak.

Profitability

This table compares Koninklijke Vopak and Navigators net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Koninklijke Vopak N/A N/A N/A Navigator 14.94% 7.01% 3.74%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

23.0% of Koninklijke Vopak shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 18.5% of Navigator shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Navigator shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Navigator beats Koninklijke Vopak on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Koninklijke Vopak

(Get Free Report)

Koninklijke Vopak N.V., an independent tank storage company, stores and handles liquid chemicals, gases, and oil products to the energy and manufacturing markets worldwide. The company operates LPG and chemical gas, industrial, chemical, and oil terminals; and owns and operates specialized facilities consisting of tanks, jetties, truck loading stations, and pipelines. It stores and handles chemicals, such as methanol, xylenes, styrene, alpha olefins, and mono-ethylene glycol; gas, including LNG, LPG, ethylene, butadiene, and ammonia; oil products consisting of crude oil, fuel oil, diesel, jet fuel, gasoline, and naphtha; and vegoils and biofuels comprising ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel. In addition, the company is involved in the development of infrastructure solutions within ports for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, CO2, long-duration energy storage, and sustainable fuels and feedstocks. Further, it operates 76 terminals in 23 countries with a storage capacity of 35.2 million cubic meters. It serves producers, manufacturers, distributors, governments, traders, and chemical and energy companies. The company was founded in 1616 and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

About Navigator

(Get Free Report)

Navigator Holdings Ltd. owns and operates a fleet of liquefied gas carriers worldwide. It provides international and regional seaborne transportation services of petrochemical gases, liquefied petroleum gases, and ammonia for energy companies, industrial users, and commodity traders. The company also offers ship shore infrastructure and consultancy services. It operates a fleet of 56 semi- or fully-refrigerated liquefied gas carriers. The company was formerly known as Isle of Man public limited company and changed its name to Navigator Holdings Ltd. in 2006. Navigator Holdings Ltd. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Income Opportunity Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IOR  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,300 shares, a growth of 44.4% from the February 14th total of 900 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Income Opportunity Realty Investors

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Income Opportunity Realty Investors stock. Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in Income Opportunity Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IOR  Free Report) by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,022 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,385 shares during the quarter. Millennium Management LLC owned about 0.53% of Income Opportunity Realty Investors worth $285,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 0.40% of the companys stock.

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Income Opportunity Realty Investors Price Performance

NYSEAMERICAN IOR remained flat at $16.50 on Friday. 2,744 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,710. The company has a market capitalization of $68.81 million, a PE ratio of 11.96 and a beta of 0.21. Income Opportunity Realty Investors has a twelve month low of $10.58 and a twelve month high of $17.24.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, TheStreet raised shares of Income Opportunity Realty Investors from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st.

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Income Opportunity Realty Investors Company Profile

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Income Opportunity Realty Investors, Inc, a Dallas-based real estate investment company, currently holds a portfolio of notes receivable. The Company invests in real estate through direct equity ownership and partnerships.

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Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:JTTRY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 600 shares, a growth of 50.0% from the February 14th total of 400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.2 days.

Japan Airport Terminal Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS JTTRY remained flat at $19.13 during mid-day trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 186 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,487. Japan Airport Terminal has a one year low of $18.64 and a one year high of $26.00. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $19.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.36.

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Japan Airport Terminal Company Profile

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Japan Airport Terminal Co, Ltd. primarily engages in the management of passenger terminal buildings in Japan. It operates through three segments: Facilities Management, Merchandise Sales, and Food and Beverage. The company constructs, manages, and operates domestic passenger terminal buildings; rents offices, stores, and other facilities to airline companies and airport concessionaires; and operates and manages parking lots.

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Kellanova (NYSE:K  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 13,410,000 shares, an increase of 14.0% from the February 14th total of 11,760,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,890,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.6 days. Currently, 4.7% of the companys stock are sold short.

Kellanova Trading Up 1.2 %

K stock traded up $0.62 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $53.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 22,198,351 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,327,253. Kellanova has a 52 week low of $47.63 and a 52 week high of $72.30. The stock has a market cap of $18.30 billion, a PE ratio of 19.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $54.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.55.

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Kellanova (NYSE:K  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.04. Kellanova had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 35.17%. The firm had revenue of $3.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.07 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.94 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Kellanova will post 3.57 EPS for the current year.

Kellanova Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.56 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.18%. Kellanovas dividend payout ratio is 81.45%.

K has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Kellanova from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. DA Davidson assumed coverage on Kellanova in a report on Friday, March 1st. They set a buy rating and a $67.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Kellanova from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. StockNews.com cut Kellanova from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on Kellanova in a report on Thursday, February 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $57.00 price objective for the company. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $62.27.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Kellanova

Insider Activity

In other Kellanova news, major shareholder Kellogg W. K. Foundation Trust sold 77,800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.25, for a total transaction of $4,298,450.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 53,087,038 shares in the company, valued at $2,933,058,849.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders sold a total of 933,600 shares of company stock worth $50,850,858 in the last three months. 1.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kellanova

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. CGC Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kellanova during the second quarter worth $27,000. Oakworth Capital Inc. increased its stake in Kellanova by 491.3% in the 3rd quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. now owns 473 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. Norwood Financial Corp increased its stake in Kellanova by 81.8% in the 3rd quarter. Norwood Financial Corp now owns 500 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP increased its stake in Kellanova by 205.4% in the 3rd quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP now owns 507 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Motco increased its stake in Kellanova by 757.6% in the 4th quarter. Motco now owns 566 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. 83.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Kellanova Company Profile

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Kellanova, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets snacks and convenience foods in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. Its principal products include crackers, crisps, savory snacks, toaster pastries, cereal bars, granola bars and bites, ready-to-eat cereals, frozen waffles, veggie foods, and noodles.

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Lundin Gold Inc. (OTCMKTS:LUGDF  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 613,200 shares, a growth of 45.0% from the February 14th total of 422,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 38,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 16.0 days.

Lundin Gold Stock Performance

Lundin Gold stock traded up C$0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting C$12.83. The companys stock had a trading volume of 6,744 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,613. The company has a 50 day moving average of C$11.78 and a 200-day moving average of C$11.83. Lundin Gold has a one year low of C$9.79 and a one year high of C$14.44.

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Lundin Gold Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.0997 per share. This is a boost from Lundin Golds previous dividend of $0.10. This represents a dividend yield of 3.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th.

About Lundin Gold

Lundin Gold Inc operates as a mining company in Canada. The company holds interests in metallic mineral concessions and construction material concessions covering an area of approximately 64,454 hectares located in Southeast Ecuador. It primary holds 100% interests in the Fruta del Norte gold project that comprising concessions covering an area of approximately 5,566 hectares located near the city of Loja in Ecuador.

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MFS High Income Municipal Trust (NYSE:CXE  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 46,300 shares, an increase of 48.4% from the February 14th total of 31,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 65,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its stake in MFS High Income Municipal Trust by 1,761.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 8,396 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 7,945 shares during the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Income Municipal Trust in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Income Municipal Trust in the 1st quarter worth $40,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Income Municipal Trust in the 1st quarter worth $50,000. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Income Municipal Trust in the 2nd quarter worth $73,000. 23.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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MFS High Income Municipal Trust Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of CXE stock traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $3.58. 30,270 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 52,290. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $3.59 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.40. MFS High Income Municipal Trust has a fifty-two week low of $2.95 and a fifty-two week high of $3.67.

MFS High Income Municipal Trust Increases Dividend

About MFS High Income Municipal Trust

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be paid a $0.015 dividend. This is an increase from MFS High Income Municipal Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.01. This represents a $0.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 12th.

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MFS High Income Municipal Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in the fixed income markets. It primarily invests in municipal bonds and local general obligations of various sectors, such as multifamily, hospitals, care retirement, and investor-owned utilities.

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Minh Tu, a 28-year-old university graduate from Hanoi, was confident that she would never fall prey to all the scams running rampant across Vietnam. But then life surprised her in the least expected way.

After working for two years at the previous office, situated 15 kilometers from her house in Hoang Mai District, Tu wished to find a new job. She has used TopCV, a reputable job portal in Vietnam, for her previous three jobs, and continued to trust the platform. She submitted several applications as a media officer or project assistant to three companies.

Immediately that afternoon, she received a call from the first recruiter. After confirming Tus details in his application, the recruiter introduced her name, Hai Yen, and said that she was an employee of the state-owned aviation company, Vietnam Airlines JSC.

"I saw your CV on TopCV," she said, "and I think you are very suitable for this job post." She continued, "I would now send an interview invitation to your email, please kindly respond when you have time."

The email arrived at Tus address, with an invitation for an interview the next morning, with a link to Telegram, an online instant messaging service well-known for its high secrecy and confidentiality. The email ended with Vietnam Airlines' address and logo, which gained Tu's trust.

The next day, at 8 a.m. on Feb. 23, Tu clicked on the Telegram link attached to the email and was redirected to a group named "Vietnam Airlines first-round of recruitment," created by Hai Yen for Tu and six other candidates.

After the first test, which asked some general questions related to corporate culture, the individuals passing this test would be transferred to a different Telegram group.

A new person, who was introduced as "Mr. Hung" who allegedly works for the human resource department of Vietnam Airlines, provided guidance for the second round of recruitment related to customer experiences.

Dubious requests

Hung asked for the bank account numbers of Tu and the other candidates, and later transferred Tu VND150,000 ($6), allegedly as "financial support to help the candidate conduct the second test," and a strange Internet link.

"I clicked on the link, which directed me to a website named "Kien Thiet Viet Nam" (Constructing Vietnam) or something similar. I only remember that the website was flashing in different colors, which looked like an online gambling or lottery site," Tu said.

Hung then asked the candidates to create an account on the site and deposit the "financial support" received from the company to the site. This closely resembles how online gambling sites function.

Upon a candidate questioning why a reputable company like Vietnam Airlines would work with a lottery website, Hung explained that Vietnam Airlines was "assisting a partner to boost revenue."

Tu deposited the money.

Tu was then asked to submit a screenshot of the deposit, and sent the photo, along with her name and the applied position, to a different individual named Duc to confirm the completion of the second round of the recruitment procedure.

Duc then asked Tu and other candidates to "make some orders" on the website. Tu admitted that she lacked financial or economic knowledge, and felt very perplexed with Duc's request.

Tu asked Duc why she had to do these activities which seemingly had no relation to the job posting, to which Duc answered, "it was just a procedural test that every candidate has to go through." Tu followed the instructions, thinking that she had nothing to lose anyway.

"The website showed five rows, Duc told us to disregard the top four rows and focus entirely on the last row. He told me to put in some numbers and I did accordingly, before hitting the confirmation button," Tu said. "When the system confirmed the order had been successfully completed, I was supposed to take a screenshot and send it to Duc."

After putting in an order with the VND150,000 financial support money, Tu "won" and got credited VND350,000 to her account. Duc congratulated Tu and told Tu to withdraw the money to her bank account.

Tu thought that the second round had been completed, but Duc then sent Tu and the candidates back to Hung, saying that "the trial was done, now is the time for the real second round."

Hung then sent Tu a package of four orders, ranging from VND1 million to VND10 million, which would translate to hypothetical wins ranging from VND2 million to VND30 million, and asked Tu to choose an order. Tu was cautious and checked if she would receive the money as previously, to which Hung confirmed.

Tu then made a VND1 million order, the smallest available. As she had withdrawn the previously won amount, Tu deposited, made an order, and won VND2 million. She continued to take a screen capture to send Hung.

Hung then added Tu and some other candidates to a new group with two "seasoned members." The mission was similar, but the stakes increased. The lowest order was raised to VND3 million ($120.72) while the highest was VND50 million ($2,012.08). Hung explained that team members afterwards needed to make orders of the same value; while most candidates wished to make orders of the lowest value possible, the two allegedly "seasoned members" wished to make the VND50 million order.

Hung casually said "I would let the team members discuss" before leaving the group. After lengthy discussions, the two "seasoned members" agreed to lower the order value to VND10 million.

"I did not have enough money on the website, and could not make the order. If I did not make the order, it could affect the whole group," Tu explained her thoughts then.

The whole "interview" had then lasted for five hours. The two "seasoned members" appeared to be impatient and hushed Tu and the other candidates to hurry up.

Tu felt guilty. She did not want to negatively affect others, and hastily deposited VND8 million more so her account could reach VND10 million. She continued to repeat the procedure accordingly, and sent the screen capture. Two other members also sent the screen captures, and VND30 million was deposited to Tu's account.

But several people could not make the order in time. Hung then came in and said that the group needed to do a "make-up" order: every member who had succeeded the last time needed to make a VND10 million order, while others who had failed needed to make a VND30 million order.

Tu was confused at this point and she made an order with the entire VND30 million in her website account, instead of VND10 million. The group then had to do another "made-up" order. The group got frustrated. Tu then had to deposit VND30 million more money, and she did not have enough in her bank account. She became impatient and decided to borrow from her friends.

Tu had rarely ever borrowed money from friends, so when she borrowed VND1-2 million ($40.24-80.48) from each friend, no one asked any questions. "I immediately deposit all the money into the website." In a few minutes, the two "seasoned members" continued to send screen captures of won orders to the group, and Tu frantically asked a cousin who worked for a bank to borrow money.

The cousin was cautious, as Tu borrowed a large amount of money (VND10 million  $402.42). Tu then had to confess what she was doing. "After only a few seconds, my cousin immediately told me that I was being scammed, and there is no recruitment process like that whatsoever," Tu said. "I continued to argue that I could withdraw the money anytime, and tried to withdraw. Only then I realized that I need approvals from Hung or Duc to withdraw."

Only then did she realize what she got herself into. She immediately quit the Telegram group. "If I continued to stay there they would most likely drain me until I was broke."

Though she had reported to the local police, she did not have any concrete proof. All the messages on the Telegram group disappeared, according to the group settings. In total, Tu lost VND40 million ($1,622).

Fighting scams

A representative from Vietnam Airlines said that the company would never ask candidates to pay any fee for job applications or interviews, or ask the candidates to deposit money to any third-party websites.

Recently, many scammers also posed as Vietnam Airlines employees to give fake flight, travel, or gift vouchers.

The Vietnam Airlines representative said that all of these forms were scams and asked all customers to be highly alert, especially with requests that entail bank transfers or disclosures of sensitive personal information.

The representative also recommended all customers to call the official hotline of Vietnam Airlines to receive consultations, or immediately report to the local police.

A representative of TopCV said that the job portal had recently implemented a five-level authentication process to verify the identity of job posters to prevent all scamming activities from the portal.

The job portal has approved the authentication process to rule out all unreliable accounts, while working together with third parties to prevent frauds, inspect the internal processes, oversee all job postings, and inform the respective job recruiters of any potential scammers posing as the respective company.

On its main website, TopCV has also notified all job applicants of the rampant scamming activities, as well as informing with details the candidates of the most prominent scamming activities online. These aim to help the candidates from all unfortunate circumstances.

Tu now realizes that she should always be cautious. She was, admittedly, too confident.

She said that the scammers now are "too fast, professional, and manipulative." She now knows that no employers would ever ask employees to pay money for any job applications.
Naspers Limited (OTCMKTS:NPSNY  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 20,700 shares, a decline of 25.0% from the February 14th total of 27,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 92,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Naspers Stock Performance

OTCMKTS NPSNY traded down $0.73 during trading on Friday, reaching $32.14. 143,085 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 57,126. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $33.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $33.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 5.09 and a quick ratio of 5.00. Naspers has a fifty-two week low of $29.51 and a fifty-two week high of $39.71.

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Naspers Company Profile

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Naspers Limited operates in the consumer internet industry in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America. The company operates through Classifieds, Food Delivery, Payments and Fintech, Etail, Edtech, Social and Internet Platforms, Media24, and Other Ecommerce segments. It holds investments in classifieds, food delivery, payments and fintech, education, health, and ecommerce, as well as ventures, and social and internet platforms.

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Net One Systems Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:NONEF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 174,700 shares, a decline of 22.8% from the February 14th total of 226,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Net One Systems Price Performance

Shares of NONEF stock remained flat at $13.64 during trading hours on Friday. Net One Systems has a 12-month low of $13.64 and a 12-month high of $16.87. The business has a 50-day moving average of $13.64 and a 200-day moving average of $17.03.

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Net One Systems Company Profile

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Net One Systems Co, Ltd. provides information platform solutions and services in Japan. The company offers information and communications technology, and virtual desktop infrastructure solutions. It also provides telecommunication networks, such as carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS networks, mobile network infrastructure, and SDN/NFV for telecom operators; and installation planning, operational support, and computer network system optimization.

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Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBH  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 5,900 shares, a decrease of 29.8% from the February 14th total of 8,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 92,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of NBH. US Bancorp DE purchased a new position in shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund by 11.5% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 9,948 shares of the companys stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 1,028 shares in the last quarter. Arlington Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $112,000. Fairhaven Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $113,000. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund by 23.5% in the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 13,125 shares of the companys stock worth $121,000 after acquiring an additional 2,500 shares during the period.

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Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Stock Up 0.3 %

NBH traded up $0.03 on Friday, hitting $10.40. 64,533 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 79,237. Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund has a 12-month low of $8.75 and a 12-month high of $11.01.

Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Announces Dividend

About Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were paid a dividend of $0.0377 per share. This represents a $0.45 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th.

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Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Neuberger Berman LLC. The fund is co-managed by Neuberger Berman Management LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in municipal bonds which have income that is exempt from federal income tax and have remaining maturities of less than 15 years.

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Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NYSE:NXN  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 10,800 shares, a decline of 20.6% from the February 14th total of 13,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 11,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days.

Institutional Trading of Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. UBS Group AG lifted its stake in shares of Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 10.9% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 13,517 shares of the companys stock worth $149,000 after buying an additional 1,326 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its stake in Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 10.0% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 14,548 shares of the companys stock valued at $161,000 after purchasing an additional 1,327 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its stake in Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 20.3% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 12,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $139,000 after purchasing an additional 2,024 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp raised its stake in Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 25.3% during the 1st quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 14,662 shares of the companys stock valued at $177,000 after purchasing an additional 2,958 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 36.8% during the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 18,640 shares of the companys stock valued at $215,000 after purchasing an additional 5,014 shares during the last quarter.

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Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Stock Performance

NXN stock traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $11.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,216 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,860. Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio has a 12 month low of $10.64 and a 12 month high of $12.45. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $11.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.56.

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Dividend Announcement

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.041 dividend. This represents a $0.49 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th.

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Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of New York. The fund invests in the securities of companies that operate across diversified sectors.

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OceanaGold Co. (OTCMKTS:OCANF  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 2,498,200 shares, an increase of 37.3% from the February 14th total of 1,819,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 256,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 9.7 days.

OceanaGold Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS OCANF remained flat at $2.04 during mid-day trading on Friday. 75,712 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 84,560. The firms fifty day moving average is $1.94 and its 200-day moving average is $1.90. OceanaGold has a one year low of $1.53 and a one year high of $2.60.

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OceanaGold Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a yield of 1.28%.

OceanaGold Company Profile

OceanaGold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of Free Cash Flow from our operations and delivering strong returns for our shareholders. We have a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand.

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Pilbara Minerals Limited (OTCMKTS:PILBF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 16,611,800 shares, a growth of 25.0% from the February 14th total of 13,291,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 398,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 41.7 days.

Pilbara Minerals Price Performance

PILBF traded down $0.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $2.62. 68,892 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 134,539. Pilbara Minerals has a 1 year low of $2.06 and a 1 year high of $3.71. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $2.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.52.

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Pilbara Minerals Limited engages in the exploration, development, and operation of mineral resources in Australia. The company primarily explores for lithium. It primarily holds a 100% interest in the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

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PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PPERY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 18,300 shares, a drop of 21.8% from the February 14th total of 23,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 84,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk Price Performance

PPERY traded up $0.12 on Friday, hitting $18.82. 18,487 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 71,673. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $17.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $16.05. PT Bank Mandiri has a 12 month low of $10.55 and a 12 month high of $19.42.

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PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a $0.6765 dividend. This is a positive change from PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbks previous dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd.

PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk Company Profile

PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk provides various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Timor Leste, Shanghai, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the Cayman Islands. The company operates through Wholesale and Retail segments. It offers savings and current accounts, time deposits, demand deposits, and foreign currency savings and current accounts; motorcycle loans, mortgage loan, and housing loans, as well as loans for various purposes, such as education, home renovation, marriage, health, and other needs for individuals; and working capital loans, investment loans, people's business loans, syndicated loans, and micro business loans for businesses.

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Bank of Ireland Group plc (OTCMKTS:BKRIF  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,440,700 shares, a drop of 25.7% from the February 14th total of 1,940,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 19,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 73.5 days.

Bank of Ireland Group Stock Up 0.3 %

BKRIF stock traded up C$0.03 during midday trading on Friday, reaching C$9.68. 138 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,480. Bank of Ireland Group has a 1-year low of C$8.51 and a 1-year high of C$11.00. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$9.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$9.25.

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Bank of Ireland Group plc provides various banking and financial products and services. It provides current and savings accounts, and business deposits and accounts; personal, car, home improvement, graduate, motor finance, and student loans, as well as overdrafts; and business and farming loans, green business, insurance premium finance, invoice finance, hire purchase, and leasing services.

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China Everbright Environment Group Limited (OTCMKTS:CHFFF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,732,400 shares, an increase of 28.2% from the February 14th total of 2,912,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1,696.5 days.

China Everbright Environment Group Price Performance

OTCMKTS CHFFF remained flat at $0.33 during trading on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.14. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.34. China Everbright Environment Group has a 12-month low of $0.32 and a 12-month high of $0.37.

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China Everbright Environment Group Limited provides environmental solutions worldwide. The company's Environmental Energy Project Construction and Operation segment constructs and operates food and kitchen waste treatment, leachate treatment, sludge treatment and disposal, methane-to-energy, fecal treatment, fly ash landfill, medical waste treatment, and solid waste treatment projects, as well as waste-to-energy plants.

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China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE:CYD  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,700 shares, an increase of 48.0% from the February 14th total of 2,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 19,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys stock are sold short.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On China Yuchai International

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of CYD. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in China Yuchai International by 1,245.3% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 2,777 shares in the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG purchased a new position in shares of China Yuchai International during the second quarter worth about $45,000. Citadel Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of China Yuchai International in the 2nd quarter valued at about $119,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in shares of China Yuchai International by 293.6% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,397 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 2,534 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG grew its stake in China Yuchai International by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 95,400 shares of the companys stock worth $675,000 after buying an additional 2,182 shares during the last quarter.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded China Yuchai International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th.

China Yuchai International Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE:CYD traded up $0.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $8.75. The stock had a trading volume of 9,200 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,850. China Yuchai International has a twelve month low of $6.92 and a twelve month high of $12.50. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $8.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.10.

China Yuchai International Company Profile

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China Yuchai International Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures, assembles, and sells diesel and natural gas engines for trucks, buses and passenger vehicles, marine, industrial, and agriculture applications in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It operates through two segments, Yuchai and HLGE.

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France provides loan for Hoi An anti-erosion project

Erosion along the coast of Hoi An City, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/ Dac Thanh

The French Development Agency will provide 42 million euros (US$45.7 million) between now and 2028 to fund works to prevent coastal erosion in Hoi An City.

The Ministry of Finance and the European Union (EU) on Friday signed an agreement for the Hoi An Erosion Prevention and Sustainable Coastal Protection project.

Of the 42 million euros, 35 million euros are a loan from the AFD, two million euros are in the form of non-refundable aid from the EU, and five million euros are Vietnam's counterpart fund.

The work comprises building seven concrete embankments and pouring sand to create a beach along a five-kilometer stretch of coast along Cua Dai Beach.

The goal is to restore the coast to support tourism and associated services, creating jobs for locals.

When the work is completed, it will protect people's lives and lands, houses and other properties, and tourism and resort infrastructure on an area of 3.2 km2. More than 1,300 families live there.

Oliver Brochet, Frances ambassador to Vietnam, said his government wishes to support Vietnam through the AFD in achieving its priority goals for coping with climate change.

He hoped the project would address the issues of flooding and erosion, enable economic development and improve living conditions for local people.

A detailed plan of the Hoi An Erosion Prevention and Sustainable Coastal Protection project. Photo by AFD

The Hoi An City coastline stretches 7.5 km and comprises several beaches such as Cua Dai, Thinh My and An Bang.

Cua Dai was consistently ranked among the most beautiful in Asia but has been steadily eroding since 2000, with some areas receding 100 meters inland.

In 2015 Quang Nam Province, home to Hoi An, built an 850-meter-long concrete-reinforced embankment, a 415-meter soft embankment using geotechnical bags, and a soft embankment made of geotube fabric extending over one kilometer at a cost of over VND140 billion (US$5.6 million).

But they failed to check the erosion.

In June 2020 the province built a 220-meter dike submerged half a meter in the sea and running parallel to the shore at a distance of 250 meters and cost of VND40 billion.

Measuring 4.5 meters tall, 12 meters wide at the base and 1.5 meters wide at the top, it was partially completed but there was no funding to continue.

Quang Nam then spent VND510 billion on a submerged dike running over two kilometers and dumped 600 cubic meters of sand into it.

Cua Dai has been gradually revitalized, but the one-kilometer stretch from the beach to An Bang to the north continues to erode.
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA (OTCMKTS:PWZYF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 154,200 shares, a growth of 21.5% from the February 14th total of 126,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen Price Performance

Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen stock remained flat at C$12.00 during mid-day trading on Friday. Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen has a one year low of C$9.22 and a one year high of C$12.00. The firms fifty day moving average is C$12.00 and its 200 day moving average is C$11.28.

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POWSZECHNY Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA provides life and non-life insurance products and services in Poland, the Baltic States, and Ukraine. It operates through Corporate Insurance, Mass Insurance, Group and Individually Continued Life Insurance, Individual Life Insurance, Investments, Pension Insurance, Banking, Baltic States, Ukraine, Investment Contracts, and Other segments.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (NYSE:EVTL  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 384,700 shares, a growth of 48.0% from the February 14th total of 260,000 shares. Approximately 0.8% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 485,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.8 days.

Vertical Aerospace Stock Down 1.3 %

Vertical Aerospace stock traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $0.62. The stock had a trading volume of 156,191 shares, compared to its average volume of 335,698. Vertical Aerospace has a 1-year low of $0.51 and a 1-year high of $2.35. The stocks fifty day moving average is $0.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.88.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group raised Vertical Aerospace from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $1.00 to $1.50 in a report on Tuesday, February 20th.

Institutional Trading of Vertical Aerospace

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of EVTL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Vertical Aerospace in the first quarter valued at $198,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Vertical Aerospace by 54.4% in the first quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 10,358 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 3,651 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of Vertical Aerospace by 1,048.3% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 32,325 shares of the companys stock valued at $225,000 after acquiring an additional 29,510 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Vertical Aerospace in the first quarter valued at $910,000. Finally, Polar Capital Holdings Plc purchased a new stake in shares of Vertical Aerospace in the first quarter valued at $154,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.67% of the companys stock.

About Vertical Aerospace

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd., an aerospace and technology company, engages in designing, manufacturing, and selling zero operating emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for use in the advanced air mobility in the United Kingdom. It offers VX4, an eVTOL aircraft. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom.

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March 16, 2024 | 05:30 pm PT

Over 1 million cats are killed for consumption in Vietnam every year, according to animal welfare organizations.

Stolen from the streets and people's homes, crammed into small cages for days on end whilst the sellers ensure they have enough to earn a profit before transporting, often with no food, water or ventilation - these are the cruel conditions many of these beloved pets have to endure before arriving on someone's plate. The survivors of this journey who haven't succumbed to dehydration, exhaustion or injuries from the capture, then have to suffer even further by being individually drowned in a bucket.

In December 2023, Pham Quoc Doanh, the owner of Gia Bao - a former cat restaurant in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, discussed how he even had to often use alternative methods of bludgeoning the cat to death, electrocution or boiling if drowning was not initially successful.

His story shed some much-needed light on the cat meat industry in Vietnam and was shared in international newspapers around the world, such as Daily Mail, South China Morning Post and Metro. An important focus on his story with Business Insider was how his guilt encouraged him to reach out to Human Society International, who offered him a grant to help close down this business and explore another venture. Doanh intends to use this money to open a grocery store and has expressed a greater sense of peace with himself since the closure.

Doanh's story exposed the cat meat industry in Vietnam to many around the world and even to many within Vietnam, where the sale of dog meat is far more common and discussed frequently by locals and foreigners. Unfortunately his story is a rare example of an individual within Vietnam sourcing this alternative form of income instead of continuing running a thriving restaurant selling cat meat.

On a similar note, around 5 million dogs are still consumed in Vietnam every year, but as many restaurants continue to close and other Asian countries such as South Korea recently banning the sale of dog meat - is the future a little brighter for the two most-beloved pets on our planet here in Vietnam?

Firstly, it is worth considering why cat meat is consumed in Vietnam. Many of the older generation argue it is part of their customs and tradition. Whereas, younger individuals may be attracted to consuming it due to the exotic nature of the dish. Some Vietnamese also suggest that consuming cat meat repels bad luck and has healing properties.

Similar to the dog-meat trade, there is arguably a growing disparity in how different generations of Vietnamese consider the ethics of going to a restaurant that sells cat meat. It is more likely eaten at traditional event such as a wedding, where an elder member of the family may insist on it being included in the spread laid out the table.

One of the significant contrasts to the dog meat industry is that, until January 2020, the hunting, slaughtering and consumption of cat meat was explicitly illegal in the country, as parts of measures stipulated in a 1998 government decree to prevent rats from damaging crops. It begs the question, why was this law reversed? I find it baffling frankly.

As countless dog and cat meat restaurants have closed in Hanoi in recent years, owners continually opt to switch to hotpot places or other businesses to gain more customers. The apparent tide against the consumption of these animals was further exemplified in 2022, when Hoi An became the first locality to phase out dog and cat meat when authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding with animal welfare organization Four Paws.

I would argue that it is much easier and greatly encouraged for this move to take place in Hoi An, where a huge percentage of the income comes solely through tourism and attempts to depict a better perception of the country to outsiders. I would love to see other provinces follow suit in the coming months and years. However, I fear this is far closer to fiction rather than reality at this point.

In the north of Vietnam, Hanoi and Thai Binh have been identified by Four Paws as hotspots for the cat-meat industry. Although the organization states they are not aware of any farms in Vietnam where cats are bred specially for the meat trade, one has to imagine that a lot of these cats are being traded and sold in secret and it is difficult to determine the true scale of it.

Their website states that a live cat is sold for around $6.50 per kilo and one kilo of their meat costs approximately $8.50. This meat can go towards creating dishes such as the southern specialty rau ma (Vietnamese pennywort) which is tossed in sesame seeds and garnished with coriander before wrapped around the cat meat and then dipped in peanut sauce. It has been a popular dish for many over the years, but I would insist that an alternative meat could easily be used without losing much flavor.

Despite drawing optimism from stories such as Doanh's and the positive regulation in countries nearby, I strongly hope that with stories gaining a readership from an international audience and the growth of international tourism there will be increased external pressure, and more importantly, internal support to find an alternative to running a business in the cat meat industry going forward.

*Darren Barnard is a British teacher in Hanoi.
Accordingly, the Southeast Asian nation officially surpassed India's world record for the largest number of participants in creating the largest human lung formation in response to World TB Day this year, with over 5,596 participants gathered at Quirino Grandstand, Manila.

Initiated by the Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines in collaboration with development partners, the activity aims to raise global awareness about TB and eliminating stigma related to the disease.

In an statement, Philippine Minister of Health Herbosa said TB continues to be a global concern even in 2024 and it is also one of the leading causes of death even though it can be cured.

With over a million cases, the Philippines has the third-highest number of TB cases worldwide, he added.

Herbosa said the attempt to break the Guinness World Record isn't just about setting records, its a call to action and a show of shared commitment of the Philippines to overcome the challenges posed by tuberculosis.

Previously, the largest human image of an organ consists of 5,003 participants, achieved by Lung Care Foundation and Petronet LNG in New Delhi, India on 23 December 2017.

Around 70 Filipinos die everyday from TB, a serious illness caused by a bacteria affecting the lungs, according to the 2023 data of DOH.

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO), thanks to global efforts in the fight against TB, 75 million lives have been saved since 2000./.
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Zepto's latest foray is in line with its plans to increase market share from 20 percent and push up average order values (AOVs).

Online meat delivery in India is a tricky business, thanks to an expensive cold storage infrastructure and a highly unorganised market. This is why quick-commerce players have typically stayed away from sourcing meat on their own.

Instead, they deliver meat from industry players such as Licious and FreshToHome (FTH). But now, on-demand delivery unicorn Zepto wants to take a crack at it.

Zepto launched in-house meat brand Relish last year to take on the likes of Licious, the biggest
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Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_
Pallavi Mehra is a freelance lifestyle writer. She is on Instagram at pallywally_
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (L) and State Secretary of the Croatian Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Ivan Vidis (Photo: VNA)

Briefing Vidis on Vietnam's socio-economic landscape, Hang highlighted the potential and strength of Vietnam's labour force. With 53% of Vietnam's 100 million people falling within the working-age range, she presented Vietnam as a promising source of qualified labour for Croatia.



Vietnam expects to collaborate with Croatia in vocational training to equip Vietnamese workers with the skills necessary to meet the European Union (EU) standards, she said.



Vidis, for his part, agreed to boost bilateral labour and vocational training cooperation.



He noted that despite having around 200,000 foreign workers, constituting 6% of the population, 80% of Croatia's economic sectors still face labour shortages. Croatia, he explained, aims to attract skilled and legal foreign workers, and Vietnam is seen as a potential partner in this effort.



To facilitate this partnership, Vidis highlighted Croatia's policies that allow work permits and contracts for foreigners for up to three years, ensuring their rights are protected on par with local workers.



Both sides pledged to step up labour cooperation, including continuing to facilitate direct cooperation between businesses from both countries. They will initiate negotiations to build a legal framework through the signing of a bilateral agreement.



The guest also further expressed his intention to visit Vietnam next year to conduct surveys./.
The public disclosure of subscription to electoral bonds, mandated by the Supreme Court, has revealed several questionable practices that demand further scrutiny. Reports indicate that some companies have spent multiples of their annual profits to donate to political parties through electoral bonds. Additionally, some companies have allegedly used indirect methods to purchase these bonds. Perhaps most troubling is the allegations that central investigative agencies like the directorate of enforcement (ED), income-tax department (I-T), and central bureau of investigation (CBI) have been deployed as a means to compel companies to make donations.

Data from State Bank of India (SBI) suggests that at least 14 out of the top-30 companies which purchased electoral bonds between 12 April 2019 and 24 January 2024 have faced action by Central or state probe agencies.

Allanasons: The Allanasons group, the beef exporter, donated Rs6 crore on 9 July 2019 (three entities), Rs1 crore on 9 October 2019 and Rs2 crore in January 2020. Here comes the interesting part: the Mumbai wing of the I-T department conducted raids on the Allana group in January 2019. The raids were conducted at 100 units for over two days, as per The Allanasons group, the beef exporter, donated Rs6 crore on 9 July 2019 (three entities), Rs1 crore on 9 October 2019 and Rs2 crore in January 2020. Here comes the interesting part: the Mumbai wing of the I-T department conducted raids on the Allana group in January 2019. The raids were conducted at 100 units for over two days, as per The Economic Times

The report mentioned that nearly three months following the survey conducted by the I-T department on the Allana group, tax officials had reportedly discovered that the meat exporter may have evaded paying taxes worth Rs2,000 crore, according to two individuals familiar with the matter.



Grasim Industries: As per a report from The Reporters Collective, The Aditya Birla group has made a total donation of Rs534 crore, distributed as follows:

Rs224 crore from Essel Mining and Industries Ltd

Rs135 crore by Utkal Alumina International Ltd

Rs35 crore through Ultratech Cement

Rs105 crore by Birla Carbon

Rs33 crore through Grasim Industries

Rs2 crore through Birla Estate Pvt Ltd



In August 2021, the Union government lifted the anti-dumping duty on viscose staple fibre (VSF), a man-made, biodegradable fibre used in textiles manufacturing which had been Grasim's speciality for decades.



The decision to remove the anti-dumping duty on VSF followed an order by the competition commission of India (CCI), which found that Grasim had abused its dominant position in the VSF market "by charging discriminatory prices to its customers, denying market access and imposing supplementary obligations upon its customers." This decision opened the door for foreign manufacturers to enter the market with cheaper products, adversely impacting Grasim.



However, as per an investigative report from The Indian Express, Grasim officials reportedly lobbied successfully with Piyush Goyal, the Union minister for textiles, to implement stringent quality control measures in the sector. The order outlining stricter quality control measures was issued in December 2022, effectively restricting imports from China and Indonesia. These imports had previously sustained the operations of small- and medium-sized companies.



In less than a year since India implemented a stringent quality control order for VSF, a crucial raw material in the textiles supply chain, imports of VSF plummeted by 65%. This development enabled Aditya Birla group-owned Grasim Industries to strengthen its market share to 95%, up from 90%.



Rithwik Projects: Rithwik Projects is a mining and infrastructure company founded by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) but resigned in 2019 after the I-T raids in October 2018 and immediately after TDP lost power in 2019.



In October 2018, during his tenure with the TDP, the I-T department conducted searches at his residence and locations. Mr Rajesh, his brother and executive director at Rithwik Projects, was also reportedly subjected to these searches. The MP characterised the raids as 'a clear instance of political vendetta', alleging that the Union government had been targeting TDP leaders for the past 15 days. In June 2019, Mr Ramesh, along with four other MPs from TDP, resigned to join the BJP. This decision followed the TDP's loss of power in Andhra Pradesh.



A report by The Reporters Collective says Rithwik Projects donated Rs5 crore through electoral bonds in January 2023, ahead of the February 2023 elections in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. Additionally, it purchased bonds worth Rs40 crore in April 2023, prior to the Karnataka elections.



Ramky Group: In July 2021, I-T investigators conducted raids on 15 properties belonging to the Ramky group, including its headquarters in Hyderabad. The investigation focused on suspected tax evasion involving the group's fabrication of losses amounting to Rs1,200 crore. Additionally, the Ramky group, which owns the construction company, has been subjected to raids by the ED, CBI, and I-T authorities on multiple occasions.



After the raids, in January 2022, the group donated Rs40 crore, followed by another donation of Rs50 crore in April 2022 and a further Rs15 crore in October 2023.



These donations were made before the state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Manipur.



The group was established by Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, a Guntur businessman-politician member of Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party. He was appointed to the Rajya Sabha in 2020 by the YSR Congress Party.
Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa and Zimbabwe Hoang Sy Cuong (R) presents his credential letter to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. (Photo: VNA)

During a reception for the diplomat after the presentation ceremony, President Mnangagwa congratulated Vietnam on its impressive achievements in socio-economic development, and its increasing international role and position. He showed his admiration for Vietnam's historical struggle for national liberation and reunification.

The host urged Ambassador Cuong to continue efforts to nurture the good political relations between the two countries and the two ruling parties, and promote economic cooperation and investment activities.

He also introduced areas and products of Zimbabwe's strength, such as mining, cotton, and tobacco, while expressing his hope to attract Vietnamese partners to invest in and do business in the Southern African nation.

Ambassador Cuong suggested the two countries increase the exchange of all-level delegations through party and state channels, as well as promote people-to-people exchanges, to broaden mutual understanding and lay foundation for all-around cooperation.

He stressed that with a foundation of friendly political relations and trust between Vietnam and Zimbabwe, the two sides need to continue to coordinate and support each other in multilateral forums, particularly at the UN.

The host agreed that the two countries should further strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums.

On the occasion, on March 13- 14, the Vietnamese diplomat had working sessions with and paid coutersy calls to Secretary for Foreign Relations of the Zimbabwe African National Union  Patriotic Front (ZANUPF) Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe Amon Murwira./.
An active-duty member of the U.S. Navy is accused of shooting three strangers last month after a night out in Seattle, killing one man and injuring two other people, according to prosecutors. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Mr. Ono Masuo, Consulate General of Japan, (right) signs an aid contract for the project on equipping an electroencephalography machine for Khanh Hoa Provincial Psychiatric Hospital (Photo: baotintuc.vn)

Specifically, the project on equipping a rice milling system for Vung Liem district of Vinh Long province with an aid of 81,463 USD; the project on equipping digestive endoscopy system for the healthcare centre in Hoa Binh district of Bac Lieu province with an aid of 69,734 USD; and the project on equiping electroencephalography machine for Khanh Hoa Provincial Psychiatric Hospital with an aid of 27,610 USD.

The projects that signed aid agreements today are all in urgent and practical areas. We expect that the closed organic rice milling system meeting international standards granted to Tan Dat Agricultural Production and Services Cooperative in Vung Liem district of Vinh Long province will help improve techniques, improving rice milling productivity in the region, Mr. Ono Masuo, Consulate General of Japan in HCMC, said.

At the same time, it helps the cooperative provide high-quality organic rice to meet demands of domestic and foreign markets, thereby contributing to increasing income and improving the economy for farmers in the area, he added.

He also stressed that by providing medical equipment for Khanh Hoa Provincial Psychiatric Hospital and Hoa Binh District Healthcare Centre of Bac Lieu province, it will contribute to improving the quality of healthcare in the localities and surrounding areas.

Also according to Mr. Ono Masuo, in the near future, if there are any projects that bring direct benefits and contribute to improving the quality of life for people in the area, localities can contact the Consulate General of Japan to propose aid./.
War vets warn against Mnangagwa third term

CRACKS have started to emerge in the ruling Zanu PF party over President Emmerson Mnangagwas alleged manoeuvre to stay in office beyond the allowed two terms, with war veterans warning that they will oppose dynastic rule.

The strong words used by a faction of the former liberation war that has virtually taken control of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA)  an affiliate of Zanu PF  are the first indication of internal opposition to those pushing for Mnangagwa to hang on to power.

Ex-combatants were instrumental in Mnangagwas rise to power through a military sponsored coup.

Mnangagwa, who took over from the former iron-fisted Zanu PF party leader, Robert Mugabe in 2017, is yet to come out publicly on his official position on the matter.

He has, however, previously declared he would still be at the helm of the countrys affairs in the year 2030.

Zanu PFs Masvingo province exposed behind the scenes manoeuvres for a third term bid during the ruling partys Youth Day celebrations in February this year through a slogan.

The slogan 2030 VaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo (Mnangagwa will still be in power in 2030) is now being used at Zanu PF events, much to the chagrin of his opponents

On Friday, Bulawayo police blocked the ZNLWVA from holding a meeting amid suspicions that the conveners were seen as party spoilers.

The meeting was organised by the ZNLWVA led by Andrease Mathibela.

Sources said Mathibelas leadership is being viewed within Zanu PF circles as a resistance movement to the broader political plans by Mnangagwa and his faction.

Sources said there is a push to have Mathibela and his team removed to make life easier for Mnangagwas loyalists in the third term push.

After the ZNLWVA meeting was banned, Mathibela held a press conference in Bulawayo where he warned that the former liberation war fighters would block moves to have Mnangagwa in office beyond the end of his second term.

He also blasted the police for disrupting their planned meeting.

In a veiled attack on those behind Mnangagwas third term push, Mathibela said: On March 16 and 17, 2013, Zimbabweans en masse voted for a new constitution following the referendum which had a turnout of 95.5% of the electorate.

Unanimous in this constitutional resolve was the irreversibility of the land reform programme and the finality of the presidential term limit to two five year terms.

Yet today, we have seen the unceremonious abandonment of the indigenisation laws, which sought to reverse years of colonial injustice and domination by protecting Zimbabwean nationals from future subtle re-colonisation practices and dispossession of our rightful heritage by new colonial masters.

He added: Equally, we have witnessed gross mischief by a few sloganeering miscreants, who seek to test the waters by conditioning the population to accept the setting aside of our sacred constitutional provisions, thereby attempting to usher in an open ended dynastic rule for Zimbabwe.

Let them be warned.

Mathibela insinuated that Mnangagwa was surrounded by criminals.

In 2017, the special operation (carried out by the military) sought to remove criminals from around the presidency and bring sanity to the top leadership of the country, he said.

The people of Zimbabwe and the war veterans led the charge. Perhaps we did not carry out the task to the letter.

Today, it is every criminals dream to be called honourable and the criminals are becoming more emboldened.

Yesterday, Mathibela told The Standard that police blocked their meeting using a lame excuse.

We were given the nod for the meeting to go ahead only for the police to make a u-turn on Thursday to inform us that the meeting should be called off, he said.

When we enquired further, we were advised by one Nsingo from Southampton House, the Bulawayo police administration centre, that police had received threatening calls to the effect that the intended meeting must not go ahead.

He even said that the callers had said should the meeting go ahead, there would be violence.

This is unacceptable and it shows how some people are abusing the police to further their political agendas.

Mathias Mbambo, the spokesperson Mathibelas ZNLWVA group, also expressed similar sentiments.

I think the so-called threats are coming from them (Zanu PF) and those that hijacked the association and took it to the ruling party, Mbambo said.

They hijacked the association so that they can abuse it.

We are the genuine war vets association that is championing the cause of all ex-freedom fighters irrespective of political affiliation, including those in Zanu PF that are coming to disrupt our meetings.

Sources told The Standard that police called off the meeting at the behest of political heavyweights, who feared the event was meant to drum up support for the former liberation war fighters bid to block Mnangagwas third term bid.

The police were told this was not a welfare meeting for war veterans, but a meeting wherein the war veterans leadership wanted to mobilise the war vets and gear them towards resisting Mnangagwas third term effort, the source said.

This is primarily why the meeting was banned by the police.

This publication is reliably informed that there is a serious tussle for power within the ex-liberation war veterans movement.

Sources said there were efforts by some in Zanu PF to parachute a malleable leadership into the association.

Mnangagwa last year blocked the ZNLWVA from holding its elective congress as the former fighters agitated for the removal of Chris Mutsvangwa as chairman.

War veterans played a key role in the removal of Mugabe from o ce through a military coup. The Standard.

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I have it on good authority that Ukrainians want to fight so we must keep funding their war effort. If the Washington Post is trying to imply that Ukrainians are being conscripted involuntarily to fight a doomed war, it has fallen prey to vatnik propaganda. pic.twitter.com/FVdCvOTWMl  David Sacks (@DavidSacks) March 16, 2024

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Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
(As delivered)

Thank you so much, Mr President, President Aliyev. Its great to be back in Baku.

This is my first visit to Azerbaijan, to Baku, as Secretary General of NATO but it's not my first visit to Baku, because I had the privilege and the honour of coming here several times in the 1990s as Minister of Energy of Norway. I have fond memories of those visits, not least because then I saw the vibrant and strong energy sector being developed in this country and it's therefore great to be back also to have the opportunity to discuss energy security, because energy matters for our security and I welcome that Azerbaijan is developing closer and closer ties with several NATO Allies and that your country is playing a more and more important role in delivering gas but also in the future power, electricity, to key NATO Allies in Europe and therefore you play an important role for the resilience of our societies.

Im also welcome to be here in Baku as Secretary General of NATO because, as you mentioned, Azerbaijan is a long-time partner of NATO. We have worked together for many years. We appreciate very much your contributions to our KFOR mission in Kosovo, but also of course, your presence, your contributions to our mission in Afghanistan over many years, was extremely important. And you're absolutely right that one of the last troops to leave Afghanistan was actually Azeri troops because you were responsible for protection of the airport, which was a key task in the evacuation of the NATO presence in in Afghanistan. So this demonstrates that our partnership is about political dialogue but also about practical cooperation. And we welcome that.

Then, of course, peace in this region is extremely important for the people, the countries in the region, but it also matters for the Black Sea region and for North Atlantic security, and therefore peace and stability is not only important here, but for security more broadly. Armenia and Azerbaijan now have an opportunity to achieve an enduring peace after years of conflict. I appreciate what you say about that you are closer to a peace agreement than ever before. And I can just encourage you to seize this opportunity to reach a lasting peace agreement with Armenia.

Then it is also important to highlight that of course, when we look at the broader region, Ukraine is a Black Sea country. It's a country which is a partner of NATO, and Russia continues to conduct a war of aggression against Ukraine. NATO Allies are extremely concerned about the consequences of the ongoing war and NATO Allies provide support to Ukraine. I welcome the much needed support also Azerbaijan provides to Ukraine. Also when it comes to humanitarian aid, which is much needed, but more support is needed because the situation in Ukraine is extremely difficult.

Then, I will say that we very much look forward to Azerbaijan hosting the next COP meeting. Climate change matters for security and therefore it matters for NATO, climate change is a crisis multiplier. And we see the effects of climate change all over the world, also here in Azerbaijan. And therefore the challenge is that the world needs energy, but at the same time, we need to fight global warming. We need to reconcile the need for energy and environment. And not only is Azerbaijan exporting natural gas but you are also now investing in alternative energies. You updated me on the great potential on also to what you do when it comes to building out hydro power, but also wind power, and solar power, and also connecting then your power production to the European market. So the COP 29 will be an important milestone. It is important for everyone concerned about climate change but also important for our security because those issues are closely interlinked.

So thank you so much for hosting me and my delegation here tonight and tomorrow. I look forward to the meetings and the discussions.
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry RESIGNS amid allegations of CANNIBALISM, societal breakdown stemming from gang warfare

Following several weeks of out-of-control chaos in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned from his post as many were demanding.

In a statement, Henry revealed that he will step down completely once a transitional presidential council is formed and an interim prime minister is named.

"The government that I'm running cannot remain insensitive in this situation. There is no sacrifice that is too big for our country," Henry said. "The government I'm running will remove itself immediately after the installation of the council."

In case you missed it, roving gangs have been terrorizing Port-au-Prince for weeks, some of them cannibalizing their victims. One of their demands was that Henry resign, which he now has.

Haitian PM Ariel Henry released a video confirming he will step down after the creation of a transitional council, under a plan agreed with regional leaders. Henry was speaking from Puerto Rico after gangs prevented his return to Haiti from a visit to Kenya. pic.twitter.com/JT1Xweu4hn  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 12, 2024

(Related: Did you know that almost nobody in Haiti died from the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] because almost nobody there got "vaccinated" for it?)

U.S. to give $100 million to Haiti

Just hours before Henry's resignation, Caribbean leaders and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Jamaica to discuss the unraveling situation in Port-au-Prince.

Henry is currently in Puerto Rico where he is reportedly "stuck" and unable to return home due to armed gang attacks on Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

"I want to thank the Haitian people for the opportunity I had been granted," Henry said in his departure statement. "I'm asking all Haitians to remain calm and do everything they can for peace and stability to come back as fast as possible."

To help "secure" the nation, the United States says it will send another $100 million in taxpayer dollars to Haiti, though the nation's most powerful gang leader, "Barbeque," says he will not accept any U.S. intervention.

"Today, we are taking the occasion to tell the international community to give Haiti a chance," Barbeque said. "Because of what is happening in Haiti now, we Haitians have to decide who is going to lead the country and what model of government we want."

??BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Haiti Gang leader Jimmy Cherisier aka Barbecue said if Haiti PN Ariel Henry doesn't resign Haiti will have a genocide, Barbecue went on to say if the Prime Minister insists on staying in power, they can all expect a civil war against Ariel and the pic.twitter.com/hbYFJrbriX  Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) March 11, 2024

As of right now, Haiti as a nation is said to be collapsed. Henry is no longer there, the ports are officially closed, and cannibal gangs led by Barbeque continue to rove the streets of Port-au-Prince like some kind of horror film.

All of this came to a head just days after the U.S. military conducted emergency airlifting operations to evacuate non-essential personnel from the U.S. embassy in Haiti. U.S. Marines were also sent to the embassy to improve security.

"This is what's going to happen when the financial crisis really hits and there is only enough cash value to pay the government pigs," one commenter warned about what America, in his opinion, has to look forward to. "The streets will become 'barbeque' territory and those in power with limited police will retreat to protect their own."

"If you can't feed the police, they'll turn on the politicians," responded another. "Mercenaries only work for you when you pay and feed them."

More related news can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
TikTok ban bill could lead to broader surveillance and censorship by the U.S. government

The TikTok ban bill that is making headlines this week may seem like a good idea on the surface, but there are concerns it could pave the way for even more governmental overreach

The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, would prohibit the TikTok video sharing app from appearing in American app stores unless ByteDance, its parent company, divests it. This is because as a Chinese company, ByteDance is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party and is required to share data with them upon request. There have long been fears that the CCP will use the app to access peoples personal data and use algorithms to show individuals videos that may influence their opinions and views.

The bills sponsor, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin), said: Americas foremost adversary has no business controlling a dominant media platform in the United States. TikToks time in the United States is over unless it ends its relationship with CCP-controlled ByteDance.

However, analysts and politicians are pointing out that the way the bill is written opens the door for broader government censorship and domestic surveillance. The bill essentially creates a process through which intelligence agencies and the FBI can designate social media applications as being under the control of foreign adversaries such as China, North Korea, Iran and Russia and therefore potential national security threats. Those apps that are deemed risky will be banned from online app stores and web hosting services if they fail to sever ties with the entities that are under the control of foreign adversaries within 180 days.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

The Leading Reports Patrick Webb pointed out that a provision in the bill could give the executive branch the power to label any website or platform it chooses as foreign owned, even if it is domestic, and therefore give themselves the power to censor and control the content that they publish.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also raised alarm bells over the bill, which he says could serve as a Trojan horse that gives the president the power to ban any website or app he chooses by claiming it is under foreign influence.

Is the government seeking to gain control over TikTok's user data?

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) is one of many parties concerned that the real motivation for the bill is not to shut down TikTok but to instead gain control over it so that intelligence agencies can collect data and use it to influence young people.

On X, The Federalist CEO and Cofounder Sean Davis posted his theory of what is at play here, writing: Deep State toadies are taking advantage of anti-China sentiment to transfer TikToks surveillance apparatus from Chinas evil surveillance state to the U.S. governments evil surveillance state.

He said that TikTok wont be banned because the U.S. government wont want to lose such a valuable tool for spying on Americans and poisoning the minds of their children.

He pointed out that there are only a few companies in the U.S. that would be capable of buying and managing the platform if the bill succeeds in forcing it to divest, and these companies are already appendages of the Deep State surveillance apparatus.

Free speech concerns

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, was one of the representatives who voted against the bill, citing free speech issues.

He said in a statement that countries like China "shut down newspapers, broadcast stations, and social media platforms. We do not.

He added: We trust our citizens to be worthy of their democracy. We do not trust our government to decide what information they may or may not see."

The bill was passed with an overwhelming majority of 352 to 65. Although it is not known how it will fare in the Senate, should it pass, President Biden has already said that he will sign it into law.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

NBCNews.com
Titathy Nguyen, President of WEC Vietnam speaks at the press conference (Photo: qdnd.vn)

This is the time the WEC has invited Vietnam to participate in the event, which aims to discuss energy development issues in the future.

Titathy Nguyen, President of WEC Vietnam, stated that the press conference was organised to promote communications on the event and guide individuals and organisations in Vietnam to participate in a globally scaled programme, thus accessing important global energy-related issues.

The goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires Vietnams high determination, great effort, and mobilisation of all resources for investment in development and ensuring social welfare across sectors, she said.

Attending the 26th World Energy Congress, Vietnamese businesses will have an opportunity to access the latest trends in the energy sector and global financial resources, enabling them to develop solutions and products using cleaner and more efficient energy, Titathy Nguyen said, adding that this will help firms not only create new business opportunities, but also enhance their international competitiveness and promote sustainable development.

WEC Vietnam took the occasion to launch a series of projects themed Enternal green  Offsetting carbon footprint.

Established in 1923, the WEC is a global energy agency recognised by the UN to represent all forms of energy, and is also a strategic partner of a number of key organisations in the energy sector. The WEC has more than 3,000 member organisations including WEC National Committees in nearly 100 countries around the world. The WEC hosts the World Energy Congress triennially.

WEC Vietnam serves as a bridge for sustainable cooperation among energy-related organisations./.
Leprosy, officially known as Hansen's disease, is a skin infection caused by the slow-growing bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. In the past, humans acquired the disease through animal exposure, specifically from the armored armadillos, which are New World placental mammals. In the southern United States, some armadillos are naturally infected with leprosy bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For over a century, US leprosy cases in the South were caused by animal exposure, specifically after coming into contact with armadillos. However, a recent resurgence of the ancient disease in the Southeast US, particularly Florida, was not linked with animal exposure. Aside from zoonotic transmission from animals to humans, Hansen's disease (sometimes spelled as Hansen disease) can also be spread between persons.

US Leprosy Cases

US leprosy cases are on the rise with recent outbreaks that regularly occur within parts of the Southeast US, according to an article on Friday, March 15, by Robert Schwartz, professor and head of dermatology at Rutgers University. Accumulating evidence about the endemic increase of Hansen's disease in Florida were published in the August 2023 study in the journal JAMA Network Open. This is based on leprosy diagnoses in Floridians in recent years.

In addition to M. leprae, leprosy is also caused by another bacteria called Mycobacterium lepromatosis which was identified in 2008. Now, the spread of the zoonotic skin disease is reportedly occurring across the region even without exposure from armadillos. These wild animals have been the only known zoonotic reservoir of the leprosy-causing bacteria that can be transmitted to humans.

Also Read: ALERT! Leprosy Found to Infect Red Squirrels in the British Isles

What is Hansen's Disease?

Hansen's disease is known to spread between people but it is not clear how it is exactly transmitted amongst members of the Homo sapiens species. Still, scientists think the transmission can still happen when a person infected with leprosy releases droplets through coughs or sneezes. Then, the infection starts when a healthy person inhales the droplets containing the bacteria, according to the CDC, which refutes that shaking hands or hugging can spread the disease.

Due to the risk posed by leprosy, the CDC warns the public to "avoid contact with armadillos whenever possible," adding that one should talk with his or her healthcare provider if exposure to the animal occurs or is worried about getting Hansen's disease. While US leprosy cases are relatively rare, the bacteria-borne disease is common worldwide, where as many as 2 million people are permanently disabled due to Hansen's disease, the US health body says.

Leprosy outbreaks date back to the ancient world. This is based on early written records showing that Hansen's disease, which we know today, was described clinically from 600 BC to possibly as early as 1400 BC in India, where it was previously called Kushta, according to a research article.

Related Article: In a Historical First, Chimps in Africa were Infected with Leprosy
The oldest earthquakes on record dating billions of years ago were found at ancient rock formation in Africa, according to a new study led by scientists in New Zealand. The discovery comes after geologists conducted new mapping of the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa, revealing the earliest known earthquakes on the planet 3.3 billion years ago. The complex geological formation also confirms the existence of ancient plate tectonics.

Earthquakes are known both in recorded and ancient history as part of seismic activities beneath our planet, particularly the movement of tectonic plates. There are instances when powerful quakes cause widespread damage and fatalities. However, some scientists believe that this violent geological phenomenon and other seismic activities related to it are one of the key conditions for the emergence and survival of life billions of years ago.

Oldest Earthquakes on Record

In their study published in the journal Geology on February 27, researchers confirmed traces of some of the oldest earthquakes on record through large-scale submarine landslides in the Barberton Greenstone Belt in southern Africa. The discovery shows strong evidence for the phenomenon of subduction and great earthquakes during the Paleoarchean geologic period spanning from 3.6 billion to 3.2 billion years ago.

After Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, the planet was believed to resemble an unformed ball of molten rock. During these primordial days, evidence shows the entire planet was molten, meaning there was an endless sea of magma, long before oceans and land masses existed. Under this context, the discovery of the earliest earthquakes confirms Earth's prehistoric transition into a solid, habitable planet 3.3 billion years ago.

Also Read: Earthquake Emergency: How Homeowners Can Prepare

Barberton Greenstone Belt

The New Zealand research team arrived at their conclusion by conducting new mapping of the Barberton Greenstone Belt. Their surveying showed that the central part of the rocky structure is a "pseudo-stratigraphy" composed of shallow water and deep water siliciclastic and volcanic slide blocks. Since the discovery is similar to ancient and recent submarine landslides in New Zealand, the earthquakes had been linked to tremors during the Paleoarchean.

The researchers explain the geological formations in the South African region were previously difficult to decipher, despite many attempts to understand them. Yet, the new research is comparable to the young rocks on the seafloor of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Zealand. The discovery also paved the way for a new perspective of what Earth looked like when it was still young, according to reports earlier this week.

The February 2024 study highlights not only new knowledge on ancient earthquakes but also their potential role in the proliferation of life on Earth. To prove the significance of quakes or at least geological activities to the emergence of living organisms, further research is needed that may include a combination of biology and geology to link a gap in the mystery of the origin of life.

Related Article: Blood Moon Causes Intense Earthquakes Across the Globe
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has sent letter of condolences to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense.

The letter says: "I am deeply saddened by the news of becoming Shehids (Martyrs) and injury of servicemen of Pakistan Armed Forces as a result of the treacherous attack by terrorists in the northwestern region of Pakistan.

I pray to Almighty Allah for the repose of the souls of the deceased, share the sorrow and grief of their relatives, and express my deep condolences to their families.

May Allah rest the souls of Shehids in peace".
Putin basks in electoral victory that was never in doubt even as Russians quietly protest

Russian President Vladimir Putin is basking in a victory that was never in doubt, as partial election results showed him easily securing a fifth term after facing only token challengers and harshly suppressing opposition voices
Making a personalized T cell therapy for cancer patients currently takes at least six months; scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University Medical Center Mannheim have shown that the laborious first step of identifying tumor-reactive T cell receptors for patients can be replaced with a machine learning classifier that halves this time.

Personalized cellular immunotherapies are considered promising new treatment options for various types of cancer. One of the therapeutic approaches currently being tested are so-called "T-cell receptor transgenic T-cells". The idea behind this: immune T cells from a patient are equipped in the laboratory to recognize the patient's own unique tumor, and then reinfused in large numbers to effectively kill the tumor cells.

The development of such therapies is a complicated process. First, doctors isolate tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) from a sample of the patient's tumor tissue. This cell population is then searched for T-cell receptors that recognize tumor-specific mutations and can thus kill tumor cells. This search is laborious and has so far required knowledge of the tumor-specific mutations that lead to protein changes that are recognized by the patients' immune system. During this time the tumor is constantly mutating and spreading, making this step a race against time.

"Finding the right T cell receptors is like looking for a needle in a haystack, costly and time-consuming," says Michael Platten, Head of Department at the DKFZ and Director of the Department of Neurology at the University Medical Center Mannheim. "With a method that allows us to identify tumor-reactive T-cell receptors independently of knowledge of the respective tumor epitopes, the process could be considerably simplified and accelerated."

A team led by Platten and co-study head Ed Green has now presented a new technology that can achieve precisely this goal in a recent publication. As a starting point, the researchers isolated TILs from a melanoma patient's brain metastasis and performed single cell sequencing to characterize each cell. The T cell receptors expressed by these TILs were then individually tested in the lab to identify those that were recognized and killed patient tumor cells. The researchers then combined these data to train a machine learning model to predict tumor reactive T cell receptors. The resulting classifier could identify tumor reactive T cells from TILs with 90% accuracy, works in many different types of tumor, and accommodates data from different cell sequencing technologies.

predicTCR enables us to cut the time it takes to identify personalized tumor reactive T cell receptors from over three months to a matter of days, regardless of tumor type." Ed Green, co-study head

"We are now focusing on bringing this technology into clinical practice here in Germany. To finance further development, we have founded the biotech start-up Tcelltech," adds Michael Platten. "predicTCR is one of the key technologies of this new DKFZ spin-off."
Hunger can drive a motivational state that leads an animal to a successful pursuit of a goal -; foraging for and finding food.

In a highly novel study published in Current Biology, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH, describe how two major neuronal subpopulations in a part of the brain's thalamus called the paraventricular nucleus participate in the dynamic regulation of goal pursuits. This research provides insight into the mechanisms by which the brain tracks motivational states to shape instrumental actions.

For the study, mice first had to be trained in a foraging-like behavior, using a long, hallway-like enclosure that had a trigger zone at one end and a reward zone at the other end, more than 4 feet distant.

Mice learned to wait in a trigger zone for two seconds, until a beep triggered initiation of their foraging-like behavioral task. A mouse could then move forward at its own pace to the reward zone to receive a small gulp of strawberry-flavored Ensure. To terminate the trial, the mice needed to leave the reward zone and return to the trigger area, to wait for another beep. Mice learned quickly and were highly engaged, as shown by completing a large volume of trials during training.

The researchers then used optical photometry and the calcium sensor GCaMP to continuously monitor activity of two major neuronal subpopulations of the paraventricular nucleus, or PVT, during the reward approach from the trigger zone to the reward zone, and during the trial termination from the reward zone back to the trigger zone after a taste of strawberry-flavored food. The experiments involve inserting an optical fiber into the brain just about the PVT to measure calcium release, a signal of neural activity.

The two subpopulations in the paraventricular nucleus are identified by presence or absence of the dopamine D2 receptor, noted as either PVTD2(+) or PVTD2(), respectively. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows neurons to communicate with each other.

We discovered that PVTD2(+) and PVTD2() neurons encode the execution and termination of goal-oriented actions, respectively. Furthermore, activity in the PVTD2(+) neuronal population mirrored motivation parameters such as vigor and satiety." Sofia Beas, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Neurobiology and co-corresponding author of the study

Specifically, the PVTD2(+) neurons showed increased activity during the reward approach and decreased activity during trial termination. Conversely, PVTD2() neurons showed decreased activity during the reward approach and increased activity during trial termination.

"This is novel because people didn't know there was diversity within the PVT neurons," Beas said. "Contrary to decades of belief that the PVT is homogeneous, we found that, even though they are the same types of cells (both release the same neurotransmitter, glutamate), PVTD2(+) and PVTD2() neurons are doing very different jobs. Additionally, the findings from our study are highly significant as they help interpret contradictory and confusing findings in the literature regarding PVT's function."

For a long time, the thalamic areas such as the PVT had been considered just a relay station in the brain. Researchers now realize, Beas says, that the PVT instead processes information, translating hypothalamic-derived needs states into motivational signals via projections of axons -; including the PVTD2(+) and PVTD2() axons -; to the nucleus accumbens, or NAc. The NAc has a critical role in the learning and execution of goal-oriented behaviors. An axon is a long cable-like extension from a neuron cell body that transfers the neuron's signal to another neuron.

Researchers showed that these changes in neuron activity at the PVT were transmitted to the NAc by measuring neural activity with an optical fiber inserted where the terminals of the PVT axons reach the NAc neurons. The activity dynamics at the PVT-NAc terminals largely mirrored the activity dynamics the researchers saw at the PVT neurons -; namely increased neuron activity signal of PVTD2(+) during reward approach and increased neuron activity of PVTD2() during trial termination.

"Collectively, our findings strongly suggest that motivation-related features and the encoding of goal-oriented actions of posterior PVTD2(+) and PVTD2(-) neurons are being relayed to the NAc through their respective terminals," Beas said.

During each mouse recording session, the researchers recorded eight to 10 data samples per second, resulting in a very big dataset. In addition, these types of recordings are subject to many potential confounding variables. As such, the analysis of this data was another novel aspect of this study, through use of a new and robust statistical framework based on Functional Linear Mixed Modeling that both account for the variability of the recordings and can explore the relationships between the changes of photometry signals over time and various co-variates of the reward task, such as how quickly mice performed a trial, or how the hunger levels of the animals can influence the signal.

One example of how researchers correlated motivation with task performance was separating the trial times into "fast" groups, two to three seconds to the reward zone from the trigger zone, and "slow" groups, nine to 11 seconds to the reward zone.

"Our analyses showed that reward approach was associated with higher calcium signal ramps in PVTD2(+) neurons during fast compared to slow trials," Beas said. "Moreover, we found a correlation between signal and both latency and velocity parameters. Importantly, no changes in posterior PVTD2(+) neuron activity were observed when mice were not engaged in the task, as in the cases where mice were roaming around the enclosure but not actively performing trials. Altogether, our findings suggest that posterior PVTD2(+) neuron activity increases during reward-seeking and is shaped by motivation."

Deficits in motivation are associated with psychiatric conditions like substance abuse, binge eating and the inability to feel pleasure in depression. A deeper understanding of the neural basis of motivated behavior may reveal specific neuronal pathways involved in motivation and how they interact. This could lead to new therapeutic targets to restore healthy motivational processes in patients.

Co-authors with Beas in the study, "Dissociable encoding of motivated behavior by parallel thalamo-striatal projections," are Isbah Khan, Claire Gao, Gabriel Loewinger, Emma Macdonald, Alison Bashford, Shakira Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Francisco Pereira and Mario Penzo, NIMH, Bethesda, Maryland. Beas was a post-doctoral fellow at the NIMH before moving to UAB last year.

Support came from National Institutes of Health award K99/R00 MH126429, a NARSAD Young Investigator Award by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and NIMH Intramural Research Program award 1ZIAMH002950.

At UAB, Neurobiology is a department in the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.
Specialized nursing facility clinicians, or SNFists, may decrease the likelihood of nursing home residents experiencing stressful hospitalizations and improve the quality of life in their last days, according to researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine.

The paper, published in JAMA Network Open on Mar. 15, examined how SNFists uniquely impacted the care of nursing home residents in their last 90 days, compared with those cared for by other clinicians. This large-scale study is the first of its kind.

The literature has described certain features or outcomes that translate into what we think is poor quality at the end of life. One example is transferring residents to the hospital and admitting them for conditions like pneumonia or UTIs (urinary tract infections) that may have been managed in the nursing home, or going from nursing home to hospital to another nursing home." Dr. Arnab Ghosh, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and a hospitalist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

The physical act of transferring the residents to new environments increases their risk of delirium and discomfort, the researchers said. Transfers also interrupt communication and continuity of care, burdening patients and making them more uncomfortable.

The study defined SNFists as healthcare professionals (physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) who provided at least 80 percent of their patient visits in the nursing home setting. They noted this specialization gives SNFists deeper insight into the clinical conditions facing nursing home residents, which allows for better communication between the residents, their families and other staff members.

The study of 2,091,954 nursing home residents aged 65 and older, during a period from January 2012 to December 2019, found that SNFists managed about 46 percent of this group. The researchers determined that care from an SNFist decreased risk up to 6 percent for hospitalizations due to any reason including pneumonia, urinary tract infection, dehydration or sepsis.

The need for SNFists will only grow as the U.S. population ages and more people develop dementia-;two-thirds of all deaths related to Alzheimer's disease occur in nursing homes. Other professions may also need to step up. "We need more research comparing the quality of care from different nursing home clinicians including medical doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, but we clearly see fewer MDs working in nursing homes while NPs and PAs are increasing," said Dr. Hye-Young Jung, associate professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine.

The researchers suggest that medical schools and residency programs may need to offer more nursing home care experiences to increase the number of physicians in this field. They also emphasize the need for designating an official specialization, as with other areas of medicine like hospitalists, which would provide certification of the unique knowledge and skills needed in the nursing home setting.
The Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) announced the results for the Bihar Police Sub-Inspector Mains Exams 2024 on March 15. Aspirants who appeared for the written examination can now view and download their results directly from the official website, bpssc.bih.nic.in.

The exam was conducted in two shifts on February 25, with the first paper focusing on General Hindi and the second on general studies. Candidates are required to secure a minimum of 30 per cent marks in the General Hindi paper to qualify.

As per the official notice, out of the total 23,957 candidates who appeared for the first paper, 1,448 were absent, and 275 candidates were disqualified due to various reasons, including misconduct. Similarly, for the second paper, out of the 23,948 candidates, 678 were disqualified or declared ineligible.

Out of the 23,204 candidates who achieved the minimum qualifying marks in the second paper, six times the number of available vacancies across different categories have been chosen to proceed to the Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Candidates selected for PET will receive separate admit cards for the Bihar Police SI PET 2024.

Bihar Police SI Mains Result 2024: Steps to Check

Step 1: Go to the official website of BPSSC at bpssc.bih.nic.in.

Step 2: Navigate to the homepage and click on the link titled, Results: Mains (Written) Examination conducted for the post of Police Sub-Inspector in Home (Police) Dept, Govt of Bihar.

Step 3: The Bihar Police SI Mains Result 2024 PDF will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4: Search for your roll number within the document.

Step 5: Download the result and retain a printed copy for future reference.

This recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 1,275 vacancies for Police sub-inspector positions in the Bihar Police, conducted by the BPSSC. The selection process includes several stages: the preliminary exam, main exam, PET (Physical Efficiency Test), medical exam, and document verification. The preliminary exam acts as a screening test, allowing qualified candidates to progress to the main exam. Following the main examination, candidates undergo PET, medical examination, and document verification. Based on their performance in these stages, a final merit list is compiled. A total of 25,405 candidates have been selected for the preliminary exam.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. Ukraine is a Black Sea country. It's a country which is a partner of NATO, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said while making a press statements with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, Trend reports.

"NATO Allies provide support to Ukraine. I welcome the much needed support also Azerbaijan provides to Ukraine. Also when it comes to humanitarian aid, which is much needed, but more support is needed because the situation in Ukraine is extremely difficult", he noted.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants Of India (ICAI) has postponed the CA May 2024 exam dates. This decision comes following the announcement of this years general election dates for the 18th Lok Sabha which will commence on April 19 and the results will be declared on June 4. The ICAI has further informed that it will issue the detailed revised schedule on the official website at icai.org on March 19.

The Election Commission today have announced schedule of Election to the 18th Lok Sabha in the month of April  June 2024. It is observed that the aforementioned Lok Sabha Election, which will be held in 7 phases, will commence from 19th April 2024 and conclude on 1st June 2024. Counting for all phases will be done on 4th June 2024, reads the official notice by ICAI.

According to the official notice released by ICAI earlier, the CA foundation course exam was scheduled for June 20, 22, 24, and 26, 2024. For the CA Intermediate course, group 1 exams were scheduled for May 3, 5, and 7, 2024, and group 2 exams on May 9, 11, and 13. The CA final course examinations for Group 1 were slated to be held on May 2, 4, and 6, and group 2 examinations on May 8, 10, and 12.

The exams for foundation papers 1 and 2 are usually held for a duration of three hours, from 2 pm to 5 pm, while papers 3 and 4 are conducted for two hours, from 2 pm to 4 pm. The timings for all intermediate papers are from 2 pm to 5 pm. Papers 1 to 5 of the final course are conducted from 2 pm to 5 pm, while paper 6 is held for four hours, from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Meanwhile, the ICAI had announced that the Foundation and Inter exams will be held three times a year. Until now, the ICAI administered the CA Inter and Foundation exams twice a year. A Central Council Member (CCM) of the ICAI, Dhiraj Khandelwal, announced the big change, Welcoming move by the ICAI to bring a beneficial change in favour of the CA student fraternity by introducing CA examinations thrice a year for CA Foundation and CA Inter level. Further Updates shall be clarified by the ICAI soon.
Amid the challenges posed by the ethnic tension and violence, the north-eastern state of Manipur is set to vote in two phases in the Lok Sabha elections, just like in 2019, to elect two members. Violence first engulfed Manipur in May last year, following which multiple episodes were reported across the state, especially in the hill regions.

Voting for the Inner Manipur seat will be held on April 19, while the Outer Manipur seat will see voting in two phases  some parts on April 19 and the remaining on April 26.

ALSO READ | People Living in Camps in Violence-hit Manipur Will Be Allowed to Vote from There, Says EC

While the Centre continues to keep a watch on the law and order and security situation, adequate security will be deployed for the Lok Sabha elections, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh told CNN-News18 exclusively. A total of 51 companies of paramilitary forces are already present in the state. To ensure that security remains robust during the elections, we have requested for an additional 24 companies," Singh said.

WILL STRENGTHEN MODI JIS VISION

This is the first acid test for the Biren Singh government, which was elected for a record second time in early 2022. The CM is confident that his state will also contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Ab Ki baar 400 Paar. The people of the state believe in the absolute power of democracy and understand that there is no bigger power than the power of the ballot. I hope we will vote in big numbers and strengthen the hands of Modi ji by winning the seats in the state," Singh said.

Like any other state in the country, we want the story of Manipur to be that of Viksit Bharat. The special emphasis by the Modi government, especially on the people of the North-East, is exemplary. We will also keep the Viksit Bharat journey going," Singh said.

THE PROBABLE CANDIDATES

It is likely that both the sitting Members of Parliament will be dropped for the upcoming elections.

Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Inner Manipur MP and Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, who was at the receiving end of the violence in Manipur, is unlikely to be fielded. The party may decide to field a new face, to ward off the anger of people against Singh, sources said.

Names of two-three people are doing the rounds for the seat, including BJP Manipur State President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi and Lt General (R) Himalay Singh.

ALSO READ | 1,058 Polling Stations Vulnerable Critical: Manipur Chief Electoral Officer

The BJP had sent a strong message to the people of Manipur by appointing Sharda Devi as the state president. She became the first woman president of the party in the state, where more than 50% of the population is women. Sharada Devi displayed good leadership qualities even during the violence and was able to reach out to the aggrieved public. In a state which is dominated by women, it will be a great message if a woman Member of Parliament is elected," a senior leader from the state said.

Himalay Singh has the unique distinction of being the first army man from the state to reach the rank of a brigadier and a major general. He was the first lieutenant commander from the whole of North-East. Like Sharda Devi, he too comes from Imphal West district. In the present situation in the state and given his position, stature and vast experience, it actually might instill a lot of confidence in the people of Manipur that their voices can reach the right corridors of power," a source said, explaining why his name was on the list of shortlisted candidates.

Lorho S. Pfoze, sitting Member of Parliament from the Naga Peoples Front (NPF), is also unlikely to be given a ticket. The state unit of Manipur has already had a conversation with the Centre over the probable candidates. In place of Lorho, the NPF may look for another Naga face. The party is keen on a ticket for retired bureaucrat Timothy Zimik, who hails from Ukhrul district," a source from NPF told CNN-News18.

The former IRS officer has already expressed his intent to contest the Lok Sabha elections towards the end of last year.

The candidate for Inner Manipur is likely to be finalised by the BJP within the next couple of days, as will be the discussion with the NPF, whose president Nephiu Rio, is in an alliance with the BJP in Nagaland.

In 2019, the Manipur elections took place in two phases on April 11 and 18. While Outer Manipur saw more than 84% voting, Inner Manipur saw 81%.
As she begins her Lok Sabha electoral journey, Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of the late Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Sushma Swaraj, in an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, said her mother would have advised her to keep working fearlessly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dropped Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi to give the New Delhi seat to Swaraj. Last year, Swaraj was given the responsibility of co-convener of the BJP Delhi Legal Cell  a first official role for her. Swaraj is a secretary of the Delhi unit of the BJP and has a natural flair for oratory like her mother.

ALSO READ | Oxford Grad, Millennial Politician, SC Lawyer & Kejriwal Critic: Meet Bansuri Swaraj, Delhi BJPs Rising Star And Lok Sabha Pick

Swaraj has been a sharp critic of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Interestingly, Kejriwals assembly seat falls under the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.

Swaraj was the additional advocate general for Haryana and has a private practice since 2007. Right now, she is an advocate of the Supreme Court of India, where she recently appeared as one of the counsels in the Chandigarh mayor election case. The soft-spoken yet assertive politician graduated in English Literature from the University of Warwick and has a masters degree from St Catherines College at the University of Oxford.

Edited excerpts:

What has changed since the announcement of your name as a BJP candidate? How did you learn about your candidature?

I was watching television with my father when the announcement happened. I said, Aapka aashirwad sar mathe par." I am speaking to journalists these days a little morebut the campaign started on March 2 itself. Ill be very honest. I was scheduled to go to JNU to speak to ABVP karykartas and I made sure that I kept that promise because I did not want to start my political journey by breaking one. After all, I began my journey as an ABVP karykarta.

The Delhi Lok Sabha seat is high-profile because people like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and even Rajesh Khanna contested from there. Your mother was also the Chief Minister of Delhi. What is going on in your mind? What is your vision for Delhi?

There are two aspects to it. First, there is no high-profile seat. Every voter is devtulya. In public outreach, one needs to go to every voter across economic strata, caste, religion, community and region. Every seat demands equal amount of hard work.

clean drinking water

My vision for Delhi is two-fold. Firstly, to translate Prime Minister Narendra Modis Viksit Bharat plan on ground. The welfare schemes of the Modi government must reach every individual. Also, there are local issues which need to be highlighted such as the Ayushman Bharat Yojana not being implemented in Delhi because of the AAP government. Unfortunately, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has deprived the people of Delhi of the health benefit. Secondly,and pollution. People of Delhi want clean water, not free water. I have strategies for it, which I am not going to share at this moment. People of Delhi are also suffering because of the long list of the scams of the AAP.

You talk about free water and clean water in Delhi, but Kejriwal is giving free water with electricity, free bus rides for women and also Rs 1,000 per month to women. How will you counter it?

People of Delhi are smart. Take the last example of Rs 1,000 for women. Last month, I was watching an interview of AAP leader and minister Aatishi ji. She said this will not be implemented in the near future. It will go to the cabinet in June, they will take a decision on it and then implement it in October and may be later. You remember Kejriwal swore on his kids that he will never get into an alliance with the Congress and now see what he did. The people of Delhi are no longer going to believe him. This is just a chunavi jumala.

Ever since your candidature has been announced, Atishi called you anti-democratic and another AAP leader Somnath Bharti asked you five questions and called you anti-national for representing people like Lalit Modi and the Chandigarh mayor elections case.

I would respond to these allegations if they were correct. I said this time and again that the research team of AAP is too lazy. Atishi ji and Somnath ji should have called me when they were planning to do the press conference. I would have sent them the copies of every order to get their facts right before they levelled baseless allegationsLekin main kahungi AAP kichad failate rahiye, main kamal khilati rahungi.

ALSO READ | Bansuri Swaraj Hits Back After AAP Alleges BJP Candidate Represented Anti-national Forces In Court

The New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency includes Kejriwals Assembly constituency too. The AAP has been saying that they have done tremendous work. They also have an alliance with the Congress. What will be your strategy against them?

This alliance is immaterial. I am a resident of Kejriwals constituency. I never saw my MLA in my constituency ever. I am saying this as a voter of this area. He is the same person who talked about the black dairy and Rs 500-crore scams in which many senior Congress leaders were named. This coalition is based on self-interest. Where is your raj dharm and desh dharm when you have such a coalition? I have not seen Congress and AAP leaders speak about Sandeshkhali too.

Kejriwal has got bail from the Delhi Court in the Enforcement Directorates case. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavita has been arrested by the ED. How do you look at these developments?

It is saddening to see that it has come to a point where Delhis chief minister has to seek bail. The reality is that in this matter he was supposed to get bail, so there is nothing to gloat about the victory". When the ED issues summons under the PMLA, it is mandatory to adhere to it and when you do not follow the summons, you actually commit a crime which is punishable under the IPC. Had the chief minister simply gone to the agency, the situation would not have reached to this point. The allegations against K Kavita ji are very serious. One is that she is a member of the South Lobby, which has proven involvement in the Delhi liquor case. She was also holding benami shares in a liquor company which gave kickbacks and that is why the ED arrested her.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been notified, but Kejriwal says that now you will have people coming from Pakistan and they will take the jobs of our children in India.

I am surprised that such an intelligent and educated man has made such a statement. It is unbecoming of a chief minister to raise such issues and spread misinformation. He knows that the CAA is not a law to take anyones citizenship away, it is actually to give citizenship. It gives citizenship to certain minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who have already come to India because of persecution before December 31, 2014.

Your government passed womens reservation bill in Parliament. It cannot be implemented because of constitutional issues. The opposition is asking why did the BJP not give the reservation in their list of Lok Sabha candidates. The BJP has declared 267 candidates as of now and 16% women are part of it.

This is such an unfair comparison. Lets look at Delhi. The AAP has not given a single ticket to a woman candidate, but Modi ji has ensured that the BJP has not one, but two women candidates from Delhi. The reservation bill is such a significant stepNo other government was able to formulate the political will to implement it, but the Modi government did it. At times, the opposition raises issues just for the sake of it.

ALSO READ | Sushma Swarajs Daughter Hits Out At Jhagdalu, Nikammi AAP Govt Over Delhi Services Law

How will the target of 400 for NDA and 374 for BJP be achieved? The question being asked is if you were so confident, why did you replace six sitting MPs in Delhi?

Abki Bar 400 Paar is a pledge, not a slogan. This is our sankalp. Aur sankalp ko siddhi tak lekar jayegi Bhartiya Janata Party. The BJP doesnt cut tickets, it gives opportunitiesIn the BJP, you discharge the responsibility that is given to you to the best of your ability. Later, if that responsibility or the baton is passed on to somebody else, one is supposed to guide the other and ensure that another individual fulfils the responsibility to the best of his ability.

Before you go ahead with the campaigning programmes, any advice that your mother would have given to you for life or for politics that you would like to share with us?

Oh absolutely, she would have said, Nirbhay raho, nirbhid raho, kam karti raho aur baki sab Krishna per chhod do."
The office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer has set up flying squads and control rooms across the citys seven Lok Sabha constituencies to check incidents of voter intimidation.

In a public notice issued on Sunday, the poll office in Delhi said district election functionaries or returning officers will enforce the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit.

Polling for Delhis seven Lok Sabha seats will be held on May 25 in the sixth phase of the general elections, with 1.47 crore people eligible to exercise their franchise, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday.

According to the notice, flying squads have been formed to register cases against both the giver and the taker of bribes and for taking action against those engaged in threat and intimidation of electors. All the citizens are hereby requested to refrain from any illegal activities as above and in case anybody offers any bribe or is having knowledge about the bribe or case of threat/intimidation of electors, then he/she should inform on the toll free number of the 247 complaint monitoring cell of the returning officers/district set up for receiving complaints, it said.

The poll body has also urged people to inform of incidents related to Model Code of Conduct violation, including defacement of any public property/any property in public view, distribution of cash, liquor, gifts or offering/attempting to offer bribe by candidates/political parties to the returning officers of their respective constituencies.

If there is threatening/intimidation of electors and instances of other electoral malpractices, it should be reported to the district election officer, it said. According to Section 171 B of the Indian Penal Code, any person giving or accepting gratification in cash or kind during the election process, with a view to inducing any person to exercise his/her electoral right, is liable to punished with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both.

Section 171 C of the Indian Penal Code states that any person who threatens a candidate or elector or any other person with injury of any kind is liable to be punished with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both. The Delhi poll body has also set up a single window system in the offices of all seven returning officers in the city for receiving applications and issuing permissions/decisions to political parties and candidates for public meetings/rallies/processions/loudspeakers and use of vehicles for election campaigning as well as use of non commercial/remote/uncontrolled airports/helipads etc during the election period.

Political parties/candidates seeking permission has to apply online through the Suvidha Candidate mobile app or ENCORE on the Election Commission of India website at least 48 hours before an event, along with expenditure plan details. Parties/candidates seeking permission can also apply to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Permission) at the single window in the office of the returning officer concerned. A political party/candidate can apply through an application for permission for events/rallies/processions, scheduled to be organised within seven days of making the application (excluding the day of application).

A separate application has to be filed for more than one event on a particular day, the poll body said. In case an event/rally/procession etc is to be held in the area covering the jurisdiction of more than one returning officer of parliamentary constituency, then separate applications have to be filed to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Permission) in the office of the returning officer concerned, it said. The permission or decision to the applicant will be issued on first come, first served basis from the single window system, it added. Polling for the 543 Lok Sabha seats in India will be held in seven phases, with the first one on April 19.

The votes will be counted on June 4. The Model Code of Conduct came into force on Saturday with the announcement of Lok Sabha polls by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who requested political parties to maintain decorum during campaigning. Kumar also advised the parties against hate speeches, caste or religious appeals, criticism of any aspect of private life, masquerading of advertisements as news and social media posts vilifying or insulting rivals.
In a setback to Bharatiya Janata Partys efforts in Southern Indias Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections, senior party leader KS Eshwarappa decided to contest the polls independently.

Eshwarappa is reportedly upset because his son was denied a Lok Sabha ticket from Haveri Constituency.

Former Chief Minister and BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa said that the saffron party is attempting to persuade him to not fight the elections on an independent ticket and hoped that he would come along.

However, it seems the BJP is failing to pacify the Eshwarappa situation as the senior BJP leader made his stand clear on contesting Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate

We must free the BJP from the stronghold of the BSY family. I wont listen to anyone, I will contest elections independently, said Eshwarappa.

The BJP leader further alleged that the party is in the stronghold of the BSY family and he feels he must free the party from their clutches and further accused BSY of sidelining Vokkaliga and Kuruba community leaders in the party.

Karnataka is the most important State for the BJP in south India as its only here that it had held power in the past.

The Election Commission on Saturday announced that the Lok Sabha polls will be conducted in seven phases starting April 19, with the results to be declared on June 4, while voting in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in five phases.

In the 2019 Parliamentary elections, the Congress and JD(S) fought together but secured only one seat each in the state. The BJP bagged 25 out of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats.
The Congresss Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is over but the journey to fighting for power begins. Prime Minister Narendra Modis aggressive and confident electioneering has cast a shadow over the hopes of the oppositions Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) front that it can emerge as an alternative to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

As the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced on Saturday, the battle lines were also drawn. But this also raises the question  is the INDIA bloc ready to take on the Modi factor? Here are some reasons why the going may be tough.

CASTE CENSUS

The Congress under its MP Rahul Gandhi has always pitched itself as a party brimming with ideas to attract the youth. Rahul had made it clear to his party when he joined politics that he would want to see all as one. We are not like the BJP, we dont divide nor do we differentiate on the basis of colour, caste and creed, he said.

So its difficult to accept that the same person is now pitching caste as a game changer. And will this help as not many may be convinced that a mere census can give them jobs?

PUTTING BEST FACE FORWARD

The Bharatiya Janata Party has begun its social media campaign already with the PM being the fulcrum. As the posters go up, the other side will have many faces, which may end up confusing the voters as to who is the real face.

As the Congress pushes for Rahul Gandhi as a messiah, the other allies who dont share a warm relationship with the MP would not be happy with this projection. It has every potential to create disquiet, which would embolden the BJP to make the point that this is a khichdi alliance that cannot offer stability.

NO DOSTI ON GROUND?

During the UP ke ladke phase when the Congress and Samajwadi Party had tied up, the bonhomie between Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi did not percolate to the ground. The confused party workers, who were left wondering how to raise slogans together after they had been doing it against each other left the voters even more confused.

In 2024, the Aam Aadmi Party-Congress, Left-Congress, and SP-Congress tie-ups could be a repeat of that. Will these unlikely alliances ensure a transfer of votes and supporters? Unlikely.

DWINDLING ALLIES AND SEATS

Politics is about perception. While the opposition ridicules the search for allies by the BJP as desperation for a win, in terms of perception, the saffron party looks more attractive than others as one that is able to bring people together.

Also, the BJP was the first to release its candidate list with a whopping 195 names, while others have been slow.

Not just this; while the BJP has unleashed its ministers and stalwarts on the field, the Congress has faced reluctance from its biggies.

YATRA BLUES

Unlike Rahul Gandhis first Bharat Jodo Yatra, the second one began on a wrong note.

First, it was hit by the loss of allies like Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress and Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United).

Second, many allies felt the timing of the yatra was wrong.

Third, it came at a time when the party cadre should have concentrated on the polls and related work.

Finally, Rahuls frequent angry outbursts made him look frustrated and not a decent guy as most thought him to be.

A long seven-phase election lies ahead. Will the election heat and sweltering summer drain the INDIA front?
In a brilliant move to empower voters ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Election Commission of India introduced the Know Your Candidate digital application to help voters gain knowledge and make informed decisions about their respective candidates.

This innovative mobile app aims to provide voters with valuable insights into the criminal background, assets, and liabilities of electoral candidates standing in their respective constituencies.

We have introduced a new mobile app that will enable voters to find out if a candidate, who is bidding to represent them in the Lok Sabha, has a criminal background. The application is called Know Your Candidate or KYC, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference where the schedule for the upcoming General Elections was announced.

According to the poll body, the app will enable voters to independently verify details about the electoral candidates in their constituency and make informed decisions to exercise their democratic rights.

The Know Your Candidate (KYC) app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

KYC App: What Are Its Features

It allows voters to search for candidates by their names.

It displays information about the candidates criminal antecedents, if any.

It provides information about the status of any criminal cases filed against the candidate.

It shows the nature of the offences that the candidate has been accused of.

The Election Commission on Saturday announced that the Lok Sabha polls will be conducted in seven phases starting April 19, with the results to be declared on June 4, while voting in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in five phases.

Over 97 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday and urged everyone to get inked.
The dates of the general elections have been announced. The grand festival of democracy will begin on April 19 and end with a seventh phase on June 1, with the counting of votes on June 4. The state of Maharashtra, which has been making headlines for the past 18 months because of the persistent political churning, will have voting in five phases.

The opposition, however, has raised questions about the length of the exercise. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) state president Jayant Patil told News18, The entire general election should happen in a maximum of four phases. In the state of Maharashtra, the voting will happen in five phases. Have seven phases of the election been planned to benefit someone?

In 2019, the state had voted in four phases, but this time one more round has been added. When asked about this, state chief electoral officer S Chockalingam said, Deciding the phases of voting is the call of the Election Commission.

Sources in the state election commission said that while deciding the number of phases, the poll panel considers factors like geography, movement of the central forces (as per requirement), and number of constituencies. Maharashtra has the second highest number of Lok Sabha seats (48) after Uttar Pradesh (80).

The five districts of Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara Gondia, Gadchiroli Chimur, and Chandrapur in Maharashtras Vidarbha region will see voting in the first phase on April 19.

The second phase on April 26 will have voting in the remaining districts from Vidarbha, like Buldana, Akola, Amaravati, Wardha, and Yavatmal, aside from a few districts of Marathwada region like Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, and Parbhani.

The third phase on May 7, will witness polling in the remaining districts of the Marathwada region like Dharashiv and Latur apart from Konkan region seats such as Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Raigad. Voting in western Maharashtra has also been planned in this phase, including in Baramati, Solapur, Madha, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, and Hatkangale.

In the fourth phase on May 13, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raver, Jalna, Sambhaji Nagar, Pune, Shirke, Ahmednagar, Shirdi, and Beed will go for polling.

The final round, which is the fifth phase of the general elections, will happen on May 20, with voting in 13 districts, including the six seats of Mumbai city, Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Palghar, Nasik, Dindori, and Dhule.

The general elections this time in Maharashtra will be unique as the original Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have both been split, with one faction from each tying up with the BJP. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) are in an alliance with the Congress in the form of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. While BJP ally and chief minister Eknath Shinde has the Shiv Sena name and symbol, the same is the case with deputy CM Ajit Pawar and the NCP, which may play a crucial role in the polls.
The Election Commission has teeth, but it doesnt bite  the perception among political parties, which has emboldened them to disregard the EC notices for model code violations, could change during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

From Sonia Gandhi calling then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Maut ka Saudagar during the Gujarat Assembly campaign in 2007 to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Parvesh Verma calling Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a terrorist during the Assembly election campaign for the UT in 2020  the EC, by its admission, has only used moral censoring" as a tool. In other words, it showed it has teeth, but never dared to use it.

ALSO READ | Verify Before You Amplify: CEC Rajiv Kumar on Fake News, Misinformation Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections

However, with rising hate speeches from all political parties, plummeting political discourse and baseless allegations becoming a norm, the EC has promised action" this time, to keep the discourse civil. Earlier, we used to morally censor, but now we will take action," warned Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday, as he announced the Lok Sabha election schedule.

WONT SPARE ANYONE

While controversial statements by candidates have been a constant, violations by big leaders is the new trend. In 2007, when Gandhi made the objectionable remark, she was the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Chairperson. In 2020, ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, UP CM Yogi Adityanath created a storm by saying, Boli ki bhasha nahi manega, toh goli ki bhasha samjhayegi (those who dont understand words, will surely understand the language of the bullet)."

The EC sought to dispel the assumption that these promised actions" will be limited only to regular candidates. Wherever there will be a case of violation against anyone, however renowned the politician may be, we will not sit back. We will take action," the CEC clarified.

POISONOUS TO SLAPPING: REMARKS GALORE

Last year, in April, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a snake at an election rally in Gadag district. "If you try to test whether it is poisonous or not, you will die." Later his clarification didnt make it any better, What I meant was the BJP is like a poisonous snake."

PM Modi retorted, reminding how the Congress abused" Ambedkar and continues to tarnish Savarkar. The Congress called the great man a rakshasa (demon), a traitor and a fraud. We see how it is abusing Veer Savarkar these days," he said.

This January, West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar asked people to slap Mamata Banerjee. In a viral video, Majumdar said, When your children return from school, they cant answer anything. You slap and ask them what they studied in school. Instead of slapping your children, slap Mamata Banerjee because she has destroyed the education system."

REFRAIN FROM PERSONAL ATTACKS

No wonder then, the Commission has put a lot of responsibility" to remain civil on the star campaigners. I urge parties to refrain from personal attacks and foul language. No-go areas in speeches are defined to maintain civility. Let us not cross lines in our rivalry," said Kumar.

This month itself, the Commission had to ask Congresss star campaigner Rahul Gandhi to be more careful in his public utterances, after he called the Prime Minister panauti" (bad omen) and pickpocket". Interestingly, this was not the first time he used those derogatory terms and not the first time the EC warned him.

Now, with the EC promising to go beyond lip service and take definitive action against violators, it remains to be seen whether the poll body can walk the talk and keep this Lok Sabha election civil.
As many as 22 states and union territories across India will have single-phase elections during the seven-round Lok Sabha polls scheduled between April 19 and June 1, with the votes to be counted on June 4. The list includes four of the five south Indian states, data from the Election Commission of India shows. There are 182 seats in all these states and union territories.

Tamil Nadu, with 39 seats, will go for polls first in the opening phase on April 19, while in the second phase, it will be Kerala with all 20 seats having voting in a single round on April 26.

The two states are critical for the Bharatiya Janata Party as it has been aiming to open its account in these parts after getting zero seats in 2019. That year, the Congress swept the polls in Kerala as it bagged 15 seats, and in Tamil Nadu, it was the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) with 24 seats.

Andhra Pradesh, which has 25 seats, will also have a single-day election in the fourth phase on May 13. In 2019, it was the YSR Congress Party that swept the polls by winning 22 out of the 25 seats. Both the Congress and BJP drew a blank in the state.

In Telangana, with 17 Lok Sabha seats, voting will also be held in the fourth phase on May 13. In 2019, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi won nine seats here and the BJP got four. The Congress managed three seats.

The fifth state in the south  Karnataka, with 28 Lok Sabha seats  will go for polling in two phases. The state will have voting in the second and third phases for 14 seats each.

The other states and UTs that will see single-phase polling include Gujarat where all 26 seats will have voting on May 7 in the third phase. Haryana with 10 seats will go for voting in the sixth phase on May 25. Punjab with 13 seats has been saved for the last phase of polling on June 1. All seven seats in Delhi will go for single-phase polling on May 25. Uttarakhand with five seats will also be covered in the first phase on April 19.

The majority of smaller states with single-digit Lok Sabha seats will have one-day polling, except Tripura and Manipur. Despite having two seats each, they will undergo polling in the first and second phases.

The other states and UTs that will have single-phase polling include Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Meghalaya, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (with two seats each). Similarly, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Chandigarh with one seat each will also have single-phase polling.

Three states  Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal  will have elections in all seven phases covering 162 seats.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. Today, we are in an active phase of peace talks with Armenia, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trend reports.

Once again, Id like to say that it was our initiative to start peace negotiations. We have already had seven rounds of exchanges of comments with Armenian counterparts on a draft peace agreement, the head of state emphasized.
With the 18th Lok Sabha Election to start from April 19 in seven phases, the Model Code of Conduct will come into effect in all states before polling.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar called upon all parties to strictly follow the Code, and laid down dos and donts for the leaders.

Let us look at the 10 most important rules under Model Code of Conduct that all political parties and leaders need to follow.

No party or candidate shall carry out any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, on religious or linguistic grounds.

Political parties and their candidates should confine their criticism of rivals to the policies, programmes, past record and work. No candidate or political party is allowed to make personal remarks or any other statement not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers.

The political parties and candidates or other leaders have been strictly prohibited from seeking votes on caste or communal lines. The religious places of worship should not be used as a forum for election propaganda.

The Election Commission has made it clear that all parties and candidates should avoid corrupt practices such as bribing voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 metres of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of polls, etc.

The poll panel prohibits demonstrations or picketing before the houses of individuals by way of protesting against their opinions or activities. Besides this, no political party or candidate is allowed to let his or her followers to make use of any individuals land, building without permission for erecting flags, banners, notices and writing slogan.

The political party or candidate must inform the local police authorities of the venue and time for any proposed meeting well in advance for security arrangements to be put in place. Proper permission should be sought for loudspeakers or any other facility as prescribed by the local authority.

The local police authorities should ensure there is no block or hindrance to traffic during organised processions or campaigns. The political parties or the candidates must exercise control to the maximum extent. Carrying articles which could be misused or carrying effigies of opposition parties and leaders are not allowed.

On the day of polling, all political parties and candidates should cooperate with election officers on duty to ensure peaceful and orderly polling. They should refrain from serving or distributing liquor on polling day and during 48 hours before it.

Except the voters, no one without a valid pass from the ECI should be allowed to enter the polling booths.

The ruling party at the Centre or states should ensure that it does not engage in practices to indicate using official position for the purposes of election campaign. The ministers should not combine their official visit with election campaigns and must not use official machinery or personnel for campaigning.

Public places such as the grounds, helipads in connection with elections should not be monopolised by the ruling party. Other parties and candidates should be allowed the use of places and facilities on the same conditions and terms which they are used by the ruling party.

Is MCC Enforceable?

The MCC is not legally enforceable but it draws its power from the Representation of People Act, 1951, and the IPC.

Former CEC SY Qureshi had said, as quoted by The Economic Times, The idea was that the legal backing would make it stronger. But a law would mean it would be subject to judicial processes. Under MCC, we expect responses within 24 to 48 hours, but that would not happen with an FIR.

In the 2017, the EC annulled the by-polls in Tamil Nadu after it found a large amount of cash distributed in the constituency.

Political parties voluntarily agree to work within the Code, and show respect for their opponents, criticise their policies and programmes constructively, and avoid making any hate comments or personal attacks.

The MCC is intended to help the poll campaign maintain high standards of public morality and provide a level playing field for all parties and candidates.

Does MCC Cover Social Media and AI?

The use of hate speech in campaigns is already covered under the existing legislation. Institutionalising Democratic Uncertainties suggests there could be a voluntary commitment from social media platforms, as in place during the 2019 elections, which could be reinforced in context with new developments.

Experts point out that the ban on campaigning 48 hours before the elections is not that relevant as the social media is constantly active circulating information/ misinformation. In the 2019 elections, the EC reported 154 incidents of fake news and misinformation on social media.

Now, with the artificial intelligence much in use compared to five years ago, MCC does not clearly deal with the challenges that emanate from it. There is a total void in our electoral rules as far as futuristic threats from AI are concerned. So far, the EC has only taken executive action, like in 2018 and 2019, when the social media agreed to take down anything objectionable within 24 hours of election officials raising it, said former CEC OP Rawat, as quoted by The Economic Times.

The World Economic Forum had warned about AI disrupting electoral processes in several countries, including India. CEC Kumar had made a statement recently about EC being cognisant of the dangers of AI, and the disturbing trend of deepfake narratives becoming more common in elections.
Days after the successful implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 18 Hindu refugees from Pakistan, who have been residing in Gujarats Ahmedabad, were granted Indian citizenship.

The documents were given to them during an event at a refugee camp attended by Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi. The camp was organised at the district collectors office on Saturday,

It is expected that all of you will be determined to participate in the development journey of the country, Sanghavi said, adding the central and state governments were committed to bringing all those who have obtained Indian citizenship to the societys mainstream.

Gazette notifications of 2016 and 2018 empowered the district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch in Gujarat to grant Indian citizenship to people of minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, according to an official release.

With this, a total of 1,167 Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad district have so far been granted Indian citizenship, it said.

On March 11, the Centre government announced the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, paving the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

With this, the government aims to start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants  Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians  from the three countries.

Meanwhile, amid criticism of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) from the US and other parts of the globe, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said it is important to put it in the context of the Partition, and underlined that there are a number of examples in which many countries have fast-tracked citizenship.

The US on Thursday said it is concerned about the notification of CAA in India and is closely monitoring its implementation.

(With PTI inputs)
The Indian Air Force (IAF) released photos and a video on Sunday showing a joint operation with the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea. This followed the successful coercion of 35 Somali pirates by the Navy warship INS Kolkata, ensuring the safe evacuation of 17 crew members on Saturday.

A C-17 tactical transport aircraft of the IAF executed a precise airdrop of two combat boats, alongside marine commandos, in the Arabian Sea.

In a post on the social media platform X on Sunday, the IAF described the airdrop of the Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and the MARCOS commandos as a remarkable display of jointness and integration between the two forces.

In a remarkable display of #Jointness & #Integration, an IAF C-17 aircraft executed a precision Airborne Drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats, along with Indian Navy MARCOS in Arabian Sea in support of ongoing anti piracy Op Sankalp, the IAF wrote.

Flying for almost 10 hrs to an area 2600 kms off the Indian Coast, the Op was carried out to rescue crew of bulk carrier vessel MV Ruen. The ship was hijacked by Somali pirates near Yemeni island of Socotra recently, the Indian Air Force stated, adding, Working seamlessly with @indiannavy, the mission was successful with all the 17 crew on-board recovered safely.

In a remarkable display of #Jointness & #Integration, an IAF C-17 aircraft executed a precision Airborne Drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats, along with Indian Navy MARCOS in Arabian Sea in support of ongoing anti piracy Op Sankalp.Flying for almost 10 hrs pic.twitter.com/DEMgvZQI1N  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 17, 2024

On Saturday, the Indian Navy intercepted the hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen and demanded the Somali pirates on board to surrender, according to a spokesperson from the Indian Navy. The special forces of the Indian Navy, Marine Commando Force also known as MARCOS, boarded the vessel, navy officials said.

The Navy in a statement on Saturday said, in the past 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 pirates to surrender and ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members in the evening today, 16 March, from the pirate vessel without any injury.

The Navy confirmed that all 35 pirates aboard the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel MV Ruen had surrendered, and the ship underwent inspection for illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband.

INS Kolkata had carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 1,400 nm (2,600km) from the Indian Coast and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft and MARCOS PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft, the Navy statement read.

The Somali pirates, who had seized the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel on December 14, fired at the Indian Navy in international waters on Friday. The navy had urged the pirates to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may have been holding. The pirates had previously released one hostage crew member for medical reasons.

The Somali pirates may have used the merchant vessel to take over a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia this week, according to the European Union naval force. Somali pirates had not successfully hijacked a merchant ship since 2017, until the Ruen was seized.

At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking, or suspicious approaches have been recorded by the Indian Navy since December, officials said. India deployed at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea in January to provide security against pirates and has investigated more than 250 vessels.

(With inputs from agencies)
The external affairs ministry on Sunday said that the government of Gujarat has initiated strict action against the perpetrators who engaged in an incident of violence at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention.  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 17, 2024

The external affairs ministry said that it is in touch with the Gujarat government and said that out of the two injured foreign students one was discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Police has arrested two people accused of attacking the international students, India Today said in a report.

An incident of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. MEA is in touch with the Gujarat government, the MEA said in a post on social media site X.

Police are probing a purported attack on a group of foreign students at Gujarat University who have alleged that they were assaulted by a mob while offering Ramzan prayers at their hostel.

Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik told news agency ANI that on Saturday night 10:30pm a group of students were offering Namaz and around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz inside the hostel and told them to read Namaz in the mosque.

Yesterday, at around 10:30 pm a group of students were offering Namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz here and should instead read it in the Masjid, Malik was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Malik said that an argument broke out between both parties after which the people who came from outside pelted stones and vandalised their rooms. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside, he said.

The incident has triggered a big debate on social media amid claims and counterclaims. While there are allegations that a group of outsiders harassed five international students offering the voluntary Tarawih prayer during Ramzan, another section of social media claims one of the students escalated the tensions after hitting a person who was enquiring why they were offering namaz in the hostel.

Both sides shared videos to back their claims. News18 couldnt independently verify the videos. Social media users said that Afghan, Uzbek and African students were also attacked.

Meanwhile, police said that an FIR was registered against the 20-25 people and the law and order situation is under control. Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University and around 75 foreign students stay in A Block (hostel). Two students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan are admitted to the hospital, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik said.

Police took swift action and action will be taken against those involved in this. One person has been identified. FIR has been registered against 20-25 people. Law and order situation is under control now, he further added.
Hello readers, News18 evening digest brings you the latest updates: Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis: BJP Took 2.5 Years, But Split 2 Parties While Coming to Power; ED Issues Back-to-back Summons to Arvind Kejriwal among others

Modi Means Development: After NDA Return, Naidu Praises PM As They Share Stage During Andhra Rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a grand National Democratic Alliance rally Prajagalam (the voice of the public), on Sunday evening in Palnadu district. PM Modi, while addressing the people gathered at the rally said that people of Andhra Pradesh have decided to support the NDAs development agenda in the upcoming polls. READ MORE.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis: BJP Took 2.5 Years, But Split 2 Parties While Coming to Power

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis, while interacting with author Priyam Gandhi-Mody, said that while it took them 2.5 years to come to power, when they eventually did, they managed split two parties in the state. READ MORE.

ED Issues Back-to-back Summons to Arvind Kejriwal; AAP Calls It Backup Plan To Arrest Him

The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday issued two fresh summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection to two different cases  liquor policy case and a case linked to the Delhi Jal Board. READ MORE.

IAF Shares Visuals of C-17 Precision Airdrop from Joint Op with Navy, Leading to Surrender of 35 Somali Pirates

The Indian Air Force (IAF) released photos and a video on Sunday showing a joint operation with the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea. This followed the successful coercion of 35 Somali pirates by the Navy warship INS Kolkata, ensuring the safe evacuation of 17 crew members on Saturday. READ MORE.

Foreign Students At Gujarat University Say They Were Attacked During Prayers, MEA Takes Note; 2 Held

The external affairs ministry on Sunday said that the government of Gujarat has initiated strict action against the perpetrators who engaged in an incident of violence at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad on Saturday. READ MORE.

Elvish Yadav Arrested by Noida Police In Snake Venom Case, To Be In Judicial Custody For 14 Days

Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner and YouTuber Elvish Yadav has been arrested by Noida Police in a snake poisoning case. The case was lodged under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and for criminal conspiracy under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, they said. Elvish will be presented in court in some time. As per latest reports, he will be in judicial custody for 14 days. The Noida Police will seek police custody in the next few days. READ MORE.
Patients, attendants and hospital staff of Lucknows King George Medical University (KGMU) were in for a shock as they spotted a stray dog roaming around with a severed human hand in the mouth. Surprisingly, despite being informed, no attempts were made by the hospital staff to hush away the stray dog or to snatch the limb from the dogs mouth.

The incident, which highlights the sheer negligence of the hospital staff, came to the fore on Friday afternoon. It was a shocking scene, not everybody was comfortable with it, some people ran at a distance, while others started clicking pictures of the dog. It caused panic, said Pramod Gupta, an attendant, who was the first to spot the dog. Gupta was in the hospital with his ailing mother for a routine check-up.

Bystanders informed the management about the dog, however, as no one from the management intervened, they mustered the courage to hush away the dog, which ran, leaving the limb on the floor.

After almost half-an-hour, when none of the hospital management staff came to remove the limb, the dog came again and started feeding on it, said witnesses. Soon after the picture of the dog with the hand in the mouth went viral on social media, the hospital management swung into action and chased away the dog.

According to the hospital, the limb belonged to one Sumit Kumar, who is a resident of Hardoi District, whose hand got severed after coming in contact with a wood-cutting machine. The patient tied the hand to the stretcher while consulting the doctor about reattaching the amputated limb. As the limb was in a bad state, the doctors told the patient that reattaching was not possible. The patient, somehow, left the limb tied to the stretcher, which the dog took away, said Dr Sudhir Singh, spokesperson, KGMU, which ordered a probe into the matter.

On Saturday, the hospital administration handed over the hand to the patient in the presence of local police.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to his Bulgarian counterpart Mariya Gabriel after she expressed gratitude for the rescue operation carried out by the Indian Navy on the hijacked cargo ship, MV Ruen, in the Arabian Sea. Among the 17 rescued crew members, seven were Bulgarian nationals.

Garbriel, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, took to X and said, I express my gratitude to the Indian navy for the successful operation to rescue the hijacked vessel Ruen &its crew members, including 7 BG nationals. Thank you for support & great effort. We continue to work together to protect lives of the crew.

Responding to the post, EAM Jaishankar said, Thats what friends are for.

Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata successfully coerced all 35 Somali pirates, who had hijacked a vessel in the Arabian Sea to surrender, and ensured the safe evacuation of 17 crew members on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Navy intercepted the hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen and told the Somali pirates on board to surrender, a spokesperson from the Indian Navy said. The special forces of the Indian Navy, Marine Commando Force aka MARCOS, had boarded the vessel, navy officials said.

An Indian Navy statement read, INS Kolkata had carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 1,400 nm (2,600km) from the Indian Coast and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft and MARCOS PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) also released photos and a video on Sunday showing a joint operation with the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea following the successful operation.

The Somalian pirates, who had hijacked the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel on December 14, opened fire on the Indian Navy in international waters on Friday. The navy had asked the pirates to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding.
In a life full of calling quits and denial, real-life relationships that are built on trust, open communication, and mutual respect are hard to find in our industry. These power duos have set major relationship goals from time to time and influenced all generations of couples who believe in love and togetherness for life giving us major green flag energy.

Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan

View this post on Instagram A post shared by N A Y A N T H A R A (@nayanthara)

Lady Superstar Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan have a beautiful love story that has captured the hearts of the nation. The couple first met on the sets of the Tamil film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan back in 2015, and have been inseparable ever since. The pair are ideal supporters of each other, navigating through business ventures, deeply rooted in their connection, and continually growing and encouraging each other. Additionally, Vignesh often takes to social media to showcase Nayantharas accomplishments and express how proud he is of her.

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli

View this post on Instagram A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma)

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli are considered as the ideal couple for many, setting relationship goals for everyone. They emphasize the importance of growing together while also being the best version of yourself. They celebrate each others success and are each others biggest cheerleaders, which strengthens their emotional bond. Their playful and goofy nature helps them connect emotionally and build a strong relationship.

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra

View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani)

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani started their rumoured relationship while working together on the movie Shershaah. They were seen hanging out together quite often, which further fuelled the rumours. The couple enjoyed their initial phase of romance in private and finally tied the knot on February 7, 2023, in a lavish wedding ceremony surrounded by their loved ones. It was such a beautiful event that even the wedding video has been considered one of the cutest of all time!

Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif)

Talk about manifestation come to reality! Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif make for one of the most adorable couples in Bollywood. Their love story is nothing less than a Bollywood movie, starting from Vicky admitting to having a crush on Katrina, to both of them falling in love and eventually getting married. Although the couple initially kept their relationship low-key, they now openly express their love for each other. I must say, they are a perfect match, with Vicky being the Gabru Munda and Katrina being the Desi Barbie.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Jonas (@nickjonas)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Jonas (@nickjonas)

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas basically kicked off their love story at the Met Gala in 2017, catching everyones eye. But it wasnt until around May 2018 that they spilled the beans about being a couple. Fast forward to August 2018, and they made it official with a traditional Roka ceremony in Mumbai. Their wedding extravaganza in India had it all  a Christian ceremony, a Hindu ceremony, and enough celebrations to last a lifetime. To this day, Nick never misses a chance to showcase his love for PCs and has become known as the #Jiju of the Nation.
In the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema, a new star is on the horizon, commanding attention with her exceptional talent and captivating presence. Amaara Sangam, a name that has begun to resonate with versatility and depth in acting, has graced the screen in Homi Adajanias latest cinematic venture, Murder Mubarak. This highly anticipated movie, which also stars Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Karisma Kapoor, and Vijay Verma, was released on March 15.

Amaara, whose career has been on a meteoric rise, was last seen captivating audiences in Ajay Devgns enthralling web series Rudra  Edge of Darkness. Her portfolio, rich with diverse roles, includes standout performances in the likes of Luvdown on Hotstar and Sanak  Ek Junoon on MX Player. Amaaras versatility doesnt end with the big screen or digital series; she has also mesmerized viewers in the music video domain with hits such as Maira by the renowned duo Salim-Sulaiman and Aadat by Shefali Alvares.

In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Amaara Sangam got candid about her experience working with a stellar cast in Murder Mubarak, her acting career and more.

Here are the excerpts:

Can you share how youre feeling about your upcoming role in Homi Adajanias Murder Mubarak and what drew you to this project?

I am excited and nervous. I hope that people love it as much as I loved working on it. But I tell myself that its Homi sir, its Netflix, its the huge ensemble of iconic actors and stars, its got drama, thriller, love, music, comedy..the complete recipe for mainstream superhit. So logically I know it will be received very well. But ofcourse, as an actor who is part of a bigger ensemble, Im curiously nervous about how my character and the performance looks after edits, how it will impact my future and career in the industry and just general excited nerves of being part of something bigger than me.

Without giving too much away, could you tell us a little about your character in Murder Mubarak and how you prepared for this role?

My character is called Minu. Minu is this young girl working as a barista in the elite Delhi club where the story is set. Homi sir encouraged me to add character nuances. Like youll often see her blowing her nose and crying about things etc etc. To the extent that I improvised things in a scene and both, Pankaj sir and Homi sir complimented me and made it a character nuance. Was talking to Panchmi, my casting director, after and she was so proud that I had this moment on set. And youll see it in the film. I hope its equally memorable for audiences but it was a special moment for me.

The look itself was something I have never done before. Noodle hair and staff costume beautiful designed by Venuss team Basudha & Ashi, and Anaitas team Pranal, Amoli..is very different from me. I have fairly straight hair. So it would take my hair stylist an hour everyday to noodle curl my hair so it looks like its natural. In fact, it came to a point where one day Homi sir realised I dont actually naturally have noodle hair and was shocked I did that everyday. Everyone in crew thought I had noodle hair. Im fairly sure many of my friends and family wont be able to recognise me in the film. Its such a fun experience when you get to transform your look and personality. She almost comes across naive. But is she really? Youll have to watch the film for that.

The prep for a character is the most fun part always. I am trained in many different techniques and my most comfortable is the Eric Morris system which I learnt from Daminee Benny Basu (The Class Act Commune). I spent time using the technique to develop truth in my character and performance. I also visited cafes, talked to baristas about their lives, understood the sociology of how class difference, aspirations and dignity of labour in our country impacts the psychology of someone like Minu, empathised with the people and their stories  And thats how I let it grow on me. It was a proud moment when both Pankaj sir and Homi sir complimented me for a scene I was doing with Pankaj sir. And that validation was proof of when you work sincerely and shamelessly hard and enjoy the process, then in front of the camera we can let go and let that magic happen.

Working alongside stars like Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Karisma Kapoor, and Vijay Verma must have been an enriching experience. Could you share one of your favourite moments from the set?

My most favourite was all my conversations with Pankaj sir. Every chat with him was adding a new leaf of wisdom to my acting career. He is so humble and wise, and I would keep asking him deep meaningful questions with genuine want to learn from him and he would patiently engage and share such pearls of wisdom!! He would only speak in hindi. Everytime he would finish and say Agla question agle episode mein. We would find those little moments between takes and it was a surreal for me and extremely enriching time.

With Murder Mubarak releasing on Netflix, how do you feel about the growing trend of movies premiering on digital platforms, and what impact do you think this has on actors and the industry?

I used to do theatre in London for almost a decade when I was growing up there. My career on screen started during Covid. I was casting for Gehraiyaan, which was Deepika Padukones OTT debut! And now part of a film that has Sara who is a theatrical A-lister star, a Vijay Verma who has built career in OTT and Pankaj Tripathi who found his big break on OTT and now is a crowd puller in theatres as well. And all of us directed by the theatrical superhit director Homi Adjania! It has brought the biggest of A-listers stars to OTT and many talented actors who have curated their fame on OTT, and a rebirth to many actors who were stuck in stereotypical roles in massy theatrical releases. And one thing I can tell you though is, its not always hard for a nobody actor to enter the industry but it is very challenging to sustain ourselves. Our personal privileges definitely play a huge part in our careers. But with films releasing on OTT its given hope to many that may be they stand a chance here. Now we get to experience working in films and in web shows, without having to wait for that one producer who will take us on depending on how big a star we are. Instead people do look at craft potential, among other things. Theres more structure to the industry and quality check for content. Great time to hold on to our hopes while being strategic about how the industry is quickly changing.

Reflecting on your role in Ajay Devgns web series Rudra  Edge of Darkness, how do you think your acting has evolved since then?

I used to work as a data analyst. So I naturally pick up patterns and trends in a space. And my observation tells me, an acting career is 60% business and 40% craft. With every project I do, I definitely understand the workings of the business of acting better, while actively working on my craft with discipline. Rudra was a thriller too but I was a victim. In Murder Mubarak, I could be a suspect, could not be too. So very different prep style although technique is the same at core, to bring utmost believability. But I do think I understand the technique better now. And thats natural when you practice acting like you practice any art. More nuances and clarity reveals to you. Also Rudra was a webshow. This is a film, which feels like an upgrade because traditionally Indian audiences mostly watched films. So, I feel like my acting ki dukaan is growing. Its now a small showroom. Not just a kirana shop. Haha.

What did you take away in terms of learning from Rudra? Can you recall the kind of atmosphere you got from the sets of that series?

The most important was I learnt to be so calm in intense scenes. The set can be quiet in a story like that. When I was doing a Rudra, I spent 10y on stage and 2y in front of camera camera. On Rudra sets, my anxiety found a safe space in front of camera as I saw how my director, my costar and the working of a set.

From Luvdown to Sanak  Ek Junoon, and now Murder Mubarak on Netflix, youve been part of projects across different platforms. How do you choose your projects, and is there a particular genre youre looking forward to exploring?

Its fairly early in my career to be too choosy or picky, to be honest. Its a privilege a young actor working actor in India trying to pay bills and survive the industry  doesnt have. I seek opportunities to act and when I get them, I embrace them with open arms and immense gratitude and sincerity. But I do have 5 parameters for my projects  either the character makes me excited to explore and empathise with human parts I would love to express, or I love the story, or I really want to work with the director/ coactors/ production house or I just really want to be on a set or need the money if anything! If it meets any one or more of these criterias, I entertain or pursue the project. As you see, Im very methodical with my approach. But above all, eventually I end up following my gut. I truly believe my inner intelligence is bigger than any pragmatic approach and it makes me fairly spontaneous.

Music videos like Maira and Aadat feature you in a different light compared to movies and series. Can you talk about your experience in the music video industry and how it complements your acting career?

Music videos for me are just another medium to play a character. Maira was a fun affable character who walks away from her love, and Aadat was powerful hurt wife dealing with her husbands infidelity and goes through a grief cycle of anger, depression and acceptance by walking away. I dont see it as a different process, to be honest. I build a story and live that to complete believability. The only technical difference is its a shorter shoot, the character and story arch is experienced in a shorter time and very quickly. And of course, I do understand the music industry is a different beast of its own. But for me its not a complimentary track to my acting career but it is my acting career. I am still acting.

Every actor faces their own set of challenges and experiences significant growth. Could you share a challenge youve encountered in your career and how you overcame it?

So many! I think Actors are a culmination of their hardships. I certainly am. We face rejections every single day like no other career and still have to show up like we own the world. We dont work all the time but have to look worth a million dollar often. These are just some of the juxtapositions built into the career choice I have made. My biggest hardship is also where I utilise my biggest strength. I think every actor who doesnt come from a financially supported background has had times where you have nothing left in your account. I had 230 left on me not so long ago. I have debts and responsibilities that are above my neck. And have had financial anxiety over time. But I continue to overcome it by working hard and not putting all my eggs in one basket. My strength is discipline and systematic thinking. I am obsessively good at time management and at any given times I am doing multiple other roles of being a founder of The Acting Biz or a consultant to brands or working as a producer or teaching at universities or speaking at conferences or anchoring  I earn from multiple sources, so I never depend on Acting to pay my bills while still pursuing it full time. I approach my acting career like a business I am investing and any returns I get, I reinvest into running my acting business and sustaining it. Thats exactly why I prefer to be called an actorpreneur instead of just an actor. Its a business I run where I am the product. Currently I am at start up stage, not pre revenue anymore but still margins are low even if revenue is high. Not broken even yet but getting close. Being a female actor is a high maintenance job. (You see why I love watching shark tank from all over the world. I love to speak shark tank).

Looking forward, what are some goals or aspirations you have for your career? Are there any directors or actors youre particularly keen to work with?

My parents, Bandita Sangam and Devi Prasad, are humble, loving people whose love language is service. I dont have the privilege to sit still and savour my wins. I am fiercely ambitious and not afraid to work hard for it, so, I am hustling hard these days. My immediate goals in the future right now are intertwined with focusing on serving my parents, giving my dog Cuddles her best life possible, and continuing to make them all proud of me by serving every project I am part of, with utmost passion and sincerity. And lastly, serving my fellow actors community through my venture The Acting Biz (TAB) where we workshop about the business side of acting for aspirant actors. The workshop is called MBA  Masterclass in Business of Acting. How all of that happens will depend on how the magic pans out. But something I learnt from Pankaj sir, is this idea of small dreams and enjoying the wander after. I want to live in the now, do my best NOW, work with inspiring people and give every audition, every interaction my authentic best version, without any regrets, knowing I gave it my very best I could in that moment. I like to keep life simple that way. Ofcourse, I want to work with all the whos whos of our industry who tell inspiring stories to challenging stories to shamelessly entertaining stories. I want to work them all. But I want to let life happen. The one thing I know is I want to be a trailblazer, and pave my own career. So I look forward to warmly welcoming all that my career holds for me in the future.
Nikhil Siddhartha, a popular actor known for his memorable performances, has left audiences spellbound once again. Famous for playing Dr. Karthikeya in the mystical-adventure series, his role in the franchise has quickly become iconic among online communities. Following the success of his 2014 movie, a sequel, Karthikeya 2, was launched in theaters, earning critical acclaim and audience admiration alike. Nikhil recently teased fans about the eagerly awaited next installment in the series.

On March 16, using his social media account on platform X(formerly Twitter), Nikhil shared two images from the 2022 hit Karthikeya 2. The shared photos included a captivating shot of Nikhil holding and looking into a diary, and a second featuring a striking depiction of Lord Krishna resurrecting beautifully in the background. Accompanying the stills, he teased, Dr. Karthikeya In Search of a Brand new Adventure  Soon #Karthikeya3.

For the unversed, the plot of Karthikeya 2 delved into Dr. Karthikeyas latest enigmatic journey, unfolding during a family trip to Dwarka, leading him on a perilous quest for an ancient anklet. Directed and written by Chandoo Mondeti, Karthikeya 2 was produced by Abhishek Agarwal through Abhishek Agarwal Arts and People Media Factory.

Featuring alongside Nikhil were stellar performers such as Anupama Parameswaran, Adithya Menon, Srinivasa Reddy, Harsh Chemudu, and the veteran actor Anupam Kher in a memorable role. Despite facing competition from big budget Bollywood films like Lal Singh Chaddha with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor and Raksha Bandhan starring Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar, Karthikeya 2 was released to theaters on August 13, 2022, and triumphed as one of the years top-grossing productions, receiving widespread acclaim.

Talking about Nikhils career, after receiving incredible success with Karthikeya 2, he starred in the film 18 Pages. This much-anticipated movie hit the screens on December 23, 2022 and met with a favourable reception similar to his previous success. After that, he did another action film titled Spy. Directed by Gyari BH, the film was released in June 2023. The film also starred Iswarya Menon, Sanya Thakur and Aryan Rajesh in important roles. Despite a lot of buzz, the film failed to impress the audience and was a big disaster at the office.

Currently, the actor is shooting for his next, titled Swayambhu. It is directed by Bharat Krishnamachari and Aadhitya Bahudhanam and stars Samyuktha Menon in the lead role. The film is expected to be released later this year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. The recent meeting of the foreign ministers and also the meeting of the deputy prime ministers on the issue of border delimitation demonstrate that there is a good chance for settlement. As I said relatively recently, we are now closer to peace than ever before, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trend reports.

As a result of the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, we are very close, I think, and I hope, to having a breakthrough. It will be a very serious change in the South Caucasus. It will mean that peace long-awaited peace will come here, the head of state added.
Actor and filmmaker R Madhavan remembered a funny incident while filming a scene for the movie 3 Idiots. He revealed that he was actually drunk on set for a particular scene, on the advice of Aamir Khan, the movies star. Madhavan mentioned in an interview that Aamir suggested its easier to act sober when drunk than the other way around. Madhavan confirmed during a podcast that all three main actors were drunk while filming the scene.

He explained that Aamirs idea for drunk scenes was not to act drunk but to drink and act normal. They planned to start drinking by 8 for a 9 oclock shoot, aiming to have a few drinks by 8:30-8:45. He said, So, Aamirs idea was that in drunk scenes, you should never act like youre drunk. You should drink and act like youre normal. Basically, we wanted to shoot at 9, so Aamir made a plan. By 8 wed start drinking; by 8:30-8:45 wed have had our three-four pegs. But what happened is that the lighting conked off, so at 8:30 they said another two hours left. So, we wanted to maintain the same level of alcohol in our blood, except we didnt realise that the cold Bangalore air would have a complete different impact on our intoxication. By the time the shot came, we thought we were completely normal, except we didnt realise we were taking hours to deliver the lines.

Madhavan also shared a personal anecdote reminiscent of a scene from 3 Idiots, recounting a heart-to-heart talk with his disappointed father. He revealed that he failed in the 8th grade due to scoring only 39 per cent in mathematics. He admitted, I was not a very good student, much to the disgust and dismay of my parents. Their dream was that I should get married and join Tata Steel, and live in the same house as my father. I remember my parents being heartbroken. My dad isnt prone to being dramatic, but we were walking down the railway track after the last engineering college had rejected by application. He had tears in his eyes, and he asked, What have I done wrong with you? I said, Appa, I dont know what I will become, but I know what I dont want to do, and I dont want to do your job. If I sit on the table for 30 years, Ill end up killing somebody. Im not right for that. All I can tell you is that I wont let you down.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis, while interacting with author Priyam Gandhi-Mody, said that while it took them 2.5 years to come to power, when they eventually did, they managed to split two parties in the state.

After the 2019 election, the tagline I used in my last speech as the CM of the state, Mi Punya Yein (I will come back) went viral. When despite having majority, we could not form a government, the opposition used it against me. They only captured one line of my speech, which was actually about my vision for the state. It took us long, 2.5 years, but when we returned, we had broken two parties, Fadnavis said, at the launch of Gandhi-Modys book, What If There Was No Congress.

When the author asked him what if there was no Congress, Fadnavis replied, In such a scenario, the Partition of the country would not have happened. The country would have never faced terrorism. The development the country is seeing in the past 10 years would have happened way earlier. We could have established our cultural identity many years ago. Mistakes such as implementation of Article 370 would have never happened, which PM Modi corrected.

Fadnavis believes that after the formation of Maharashtra, for 30-40 years, the politics of the state revolved around 40-50 families. While some of them had a vision and contributed to the state, most used the government money for themselves and made people of the state dependent on them. These families further started using criminal elements and Bahubalis to establish more control over people.

Fadnavis also stated that in the past, underworld used to control state politics. Since the BJP and Modi came to power, the state has seen changes. PM Modi broke that circle of leadership and showed the entire country that politics without bahubalis and money is possible and big leaders, too, can be defeated by common man.

Fadnavis said while relatives of politicians should join politics, they should get opportunities depending on merit, and not by ignoring deserving candidates. Despite being the head of the Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge cant take decisions on his own. He has to consult Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. Why did the NCP break? Sharad Pawar developed Ajit Pawar as his natural heir, but later wanted to give the partys reins to his daughter. Why did the Shiv Sena split? Because Uddhav Thackeray wanted to make his son Aaditya the CM of the state and hence joined hands with unnatural allies.

We have seen cross-border terrorism and terror activities in the state. After an attack, the government just condemned it. But when PM Modi did a surgical strike, our neighbours got the idea that this nation could retaliate. Now they cant dare to attack us, said Fadnavis, adding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks were not an attack on only Mumbai, but on the sovereignty of India. Targets of 26/11 were selected carefully and what we did was we approached America. They didnt even give us access to main culprits such as David Headley and Tahawwur Rana. The then Congress-led government was weak and dependent on other super nations.

Fadnavis also took a potshots at Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on the issue of development of Mumbai city. The Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, which was in power in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the past 25 years should show what work they have done for the development of the city, due to which city has been transformed.
Cyber scams are becoming more widespread, with a growing number of individuals falling victim to them. A man claimed that he lost lakhs of rupees after befriending a woman on Facebook. The Gujarati businessman reportedly lost Rs 95 lakh in total to a scam.

A resident of Alkapuri, Parag Desai, complained to the Cyber Crime Police Station after falling victim to a scam, as reported by the Times of India (TOI). He explained to the police that he had received a friend request from a woman named Steff Mhiz on Facebook last year in October, which he accepted.

They later moved their conversations to WhatsApp. According to the outlet, Desais friend suggested that he purchase herbal goods from India for Rs 1 lakh apiece and sell them to Mhizs firm for Rs 2 lakh.

Once Desai consented, she urged him to get in touch with someone named Dr Virendra to obtain the items. Dr Virendra and Desai communicated by email.

He paid Rs 1 lakh and received a sample packet following their online chat. The box came on schedule, but Desai did not open it.

As the publication stated, he instead ordered more orders.

Desai allegedly continued to give money to Dr Virendra after that in several accounts per his instructions. When Virendra persisted in requesting more money under fictitious pretences, he became sceptical.

According to TOI, when he didnt get the promised sum, Desai urged Dr Virendra to call off the agreement and give him his money back.

But since then, neither Dr Virendra nor the woman have been in contact.

To his surprise, there were no herbal items within the packages when he finally opened them.

According to TOI, they were packed with fried chips and powder.

Meanwhile, on February 6, the Ministry of Home Affairs released a report claiming that Indians lost Rs 7,488.6 crore to online scams in 2023.

Highlighting the pervasive nature of cybercrime in the country, Maharashtra tops the pack with losses of Rs 990.7 crore, followed by Telangana with Rs 759.1 crore.

The home ministry went on to say that 11,28,265 complaints were received by the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting Management System in the previous year.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday pledged to strengthen the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and said the current condition of the army is poor.

This is very unfortunate. Years have passed without attention being paid to these issues. This is the Maldivian army. This is unacceptable. This is not what Maldivians deserve, Muizzu said, lamenting that there are currently 10 small vessels available for the Coast Guards use and out of those some are unusable.

His comments came during the inauguration ceremony of MNDF Air Corps and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) held at Noonu atoll Maafaru International Airport.

Vessels of various sizes will be procured, and the process is already underway, as mentioned earlier, with the Turkish government working closely with us. We are also in discussions with friendly nations, Muizzu was quoted as saying by The Edition.

He also said that efforts being undertaken to strengthen the Maldivian army should not worry any nation. We are not enemies of any country. What is important for us is to ensure that this country stands on its own feet and is self-reliant. Unless this country is self-reliant in every sense of the word, be it economically or in military capacity, and is a place where people live in peace and prosperity, there will be no stability in the region, he said.

He further added that most of the equipment that will be used by the MNDF Air Corps to survey the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Maldives were given as free aid to the Maldives by Turkey, according to The Edition.

The defence deal with Turkey has raised eyebrows and the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the deal with Turkey to buy drones to conduct 24-hour surveillance of Maldivian waters was overpriced.

They also questioned the Presidents trip to Turkey and said the drone deal could have been cheaper as there are more affordable options on the global market.
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has reached out to her sister-in-law, Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton to connect with her and extend her support as the latter recovers from an abdominal surgery and has landed in controversy following her photoshopping incident.

Meghan Markle has reached out to Kensington Palace several times via back channels in an effort to connect with Kate Middleton, Scandals of the Royal Palaces author Tom Quinn said while speaking to The Mirror.

She is genuinely worried about Kates health, Quinn claimed. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not on speaking terms with Kate Middleton and Prince William when the former stepped back from their royal duties and moved to Montecito, California in 2020.

Another royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! that it is unlikely that Kate will start reconciliation talks with Meghan as she recovers and is possibly not even in a state to even consider whether to take Meghans advice and support.

Bond said Kate is unlikely to consider Meghan Markle who spent such a very short time in the royal fold as an appropriate or qualified person to give her advice or support.

Bond said it is time for Kate to focus on regaining her physical and mental strength. I dont imagine she would welcome tackling the family rift right now, she added.

She said, however, that if Markle decides to send flowers or goodies to the princess to cheer her up, the gesture would be politely accepted.

Author Quinn also claimed that Kate would accept the olive branches extended by her sister-in-law and would not want to be seen as rebuffing these gestures.

Quinn, however, suspected that it would not lead to reconciliation between the pair or the feuding brothers.

The feeling in Kensington Palace is that if Meghans attempts to extend an olive branch are welcomed, it will just re-open old wounds, Quinn said.

Kate Middleton has not been seen in the public since Christmas 2023 and has been spotted only while travelling, surrounded by tight security.
US President Joe Biden joked about his own age and about Donald Trumps age at an annual media dinner on Saturday held at the Gridiron Club in Washington.

One candidates too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other guys me, the 81-year-old Democrat quipped before seriously criticising his rival.

He also took potshots at the Republicans in the Congress who launched an impeachment inquiry and said they would rather fail at impeachment than succeed at anything else.

He took potshots at Trump for asking a top medical advisor whether if Covid-19 patients could be injected with disinfectant to cure them. Biden said his administration rebuilt the US economy after the Covid-19 pandemic without encouraging the American people to inject bleach.

The Gridiron dinner  held behind closed doors with no photos allowed  sees Washingtons elite unwind for a night of self-deprecatory humor which includes costumed members performing a song.

Look, I wish these were jokes, but theyre not Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putins on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says, Do whatever the hell you want added Biden.

Democrat Biden was making his first speech as president at the annual white tie gala for the US media and political elite, an event that Republican former president Trump addressed in 2018.

Biden is trailing in a number of polls and faces voters concerns about his age, which he has tried to address by highlighting 77-year-old Trumps recent verbal slip-ups.

He added that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, sitting at the head table with Biden on the eve of St. Patricks Day took one look at Congress and he asked for another Guinness.

Varadkar and Biden both pushed during a meeting at the White House on Friday for Republicans in Congress to stop blocking military aid for Ukraine to fight Russias invasion.

Noting that Estonias Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a strong critic of Russia, was also at his table, he added We will not bow down, they will not bow down and I will not bow down.

Biden added that Trumps false claims to have won the 2020 election, and the January 6 2021 Capitol assault by pro-Trump rioters, showed there was poison coursing through the veins of our democracy.

He also backed journalists whom Trump has repeatedly attacked, adding: You are not the enemy of the people. You are a pillar of any free society.

In his own appearance at the Gridiron Club six years ago, Trump did trade unusually playful digs with the Washington press corps and also joked about North Korea and his own leadership style.
Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said he questioned the US understanding of Indias history while rejecting their criticism of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

I am not questioning the imperfections of their democracy, their principles or lack of it. I am questioning their understanding of our history. If you hear the comments from many parts of the world, it is as if the Partition of India never happened. And there were no consequential problems which the CAA is supposed to address, Jaishankar said, stating the remarks were made without a proper understanding of the historical context behind the law.

He said the law was brought to address problems created during the Partition of India.

Referring to the US Ambassador Eric Garcettis comment that principles of freedom and equality are prime in a democracy, Jaishankar told the India Today Conclave: You take out a problem and remove all the historical contexts, sanitise it and make it into a politically correct argument, and say oh, I have principles and dont you have principles.

Garcetti, who also spoke at the India Today Conclave said the US cant give up on principles and principles of religious freedom and equality are a cornerstone of democracy.

He said the US was concerned about the CAA and was closely monitoring the implementation of the law.

I have principles too, and one of my principles is an obligation to people who were let down at the time of partition. (They are not) holding up a mirror to their policies, Jaishankar said, referring to the JacksonVanik amendment, Lautenberg Amendment, Spector Amendment and so on that fast-tracked citizenship for ethnic minorities like Jews and Christians.

If you ask me if other countries fast-tracked citizenship based on ethnicity, faith, or social attributes, I can give you any number of examples. (When something of a) very major scale (happens), it is not possible to deal with all the consequences right then and there, he said.

The central government announced the implementation of the contentious Citizenship Act for granting citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who reached here before December 31, 2014 on Tuesday.
Unidentified assailants in the US killed a student hailing from Andhra Pradeshs Guntur district. The body of 20-year-old Paruchuri Abhijit who was studying engineering in Boston University was in a car inside a forest and was left there by his killers.

He was the only son of his parents Paruchuri Chakradhar and Srilakshmi.

Paruchuri Abhijit, according to a report by the Times of India, was a bright student since his childhood. His mother initially did not want him to go abroad for higher studies but later agreed keeping his future in mind, his family members told the newspaper.

The report also said that assailants may have killed Abhijit for money and his laptop. There are also questions being raised regarding a quarrel he had with other students in the university. The murder in the campus has raised many suspicions.

His mortal remains were moved to Burripalem in Guntur district after completing all the formalities in the US.
A new volcanic fissure on Icelands Reykjanes peninsula spewed lava on Saturday prompting evacuation of residents. The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) said that a volcanic eruption has started between Stora-Skogfell and Hagafell on the Reykjanes Peninsula" in a statement as live video from Icelandic news outlets images of glowing lava and billowing smoke.

It is the fourth eruption to hit the area since December, authorities said.

Icelands Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management announced it had sent a helicopter to narrow down the exact location of the new fissure.

Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gumundsson while speaking to Icelandic media outlet RUV described the current eruption as the strongest in the recent series of seismic activities reported from the region. He also took a helicopter flight over the site.

Local media reported that the evacuation of the fishing town of Grindavik had started, residents having received text messages telling them to leave quickly.

Icelands Blue Lagoon which is a geothermal spa located in a lava field in Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula and residents there were also told to relocate.

Its renowned for its milky blue waters, which are rich in minerals like silica and sulphur, believed to have therapeutic properties for skin conditions like psoriasis. The lagoons water is sourced from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant.

The roughly 4,000 residents of Grindavik were only cleared to return to their homes on February 19 after having been evacuated on November 11. In November hundreds of tremors damaged buildings and opened up huge cracks in roads. A volcanic fissure appeared on December 18 but it spared the village.

But a fissure opened right on the towns edge, in January, sending lava flowing into the streets and reducing three homes to ashes, followed by a third eruption near the village on February 8.

Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe.

It straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. But until March 2021, the Reykjanes peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. Azerbaijan was unanimously selected as the host country for COP29. This is a sign of recognition of our efforts in the green transition, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trend reports.

Having rich natural resources and fossil fuels, we invest largely together with our partners in renewable sources. I invited Mr. Secretary General to visit us this November in any capacity and to be part of our important conference, the head of state underlined.
"We have a bone grafting problem here in Utah." The quote is from an orthodontist in a ProPublica investigation into the treatment of cleft lips and palates in the state, which has a higher-than-usual number of such cases. The orthodontist is among critics who say that doctors at Primary Children's Hospital in Utah are performing surgeries that are too risky on patients who are too young.

A big question raised in the piece is whether parents were properly informed that the procedures were outside the norm of what is typically recommended in the rest of the country. (The piece interviews some parents who say they were not.) Of course, "innovating in surgery is a gray area," notes the article. Dr. Dana Johns, director of the hospital's cleft team, argues that just because the hospital's practices differ from the norm doesn't mean they are wrong. Johns believes that intervening earlier is better for the children in the long run, though critics say it's too risky to perform surgery when bones still have so much growing to do. Meanwhile, Utah's Division of Professional Licensing is investigating the complaints. (Read the full story, or check out other longform recaps.)
This isn't an easy story to stomach, so read with caution. Reporters from the Washington Post, Wired, Germany's Der Spiegel, and Romania's Recorder worked together to uncover the dark underworld of a new type of predator group targeting children on the web. And while online abusers are not new, these groups, like one called "764," have developed tactics to coerce minors into livestreaming the sexual abuse and torture they inflict from afar. "You just don't realize how quickly it can happen," says the mother of a 14-year-old daughter who was coerced into beheading her pet hamster, drinking from the toilet, carving names into her skin, and other degrading acts under the threat of sending a nude photo to her classmates. Her tormentors were urging her to commit suicide on camera when her mother discovered what was happening and put an end to it.
Donald Trump spoke at a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday, with his remarks on migrants and about a potential "bloodbath" should he lose the election drawing particular attention. But there is disagreement about what he actually meant on the latter:

The line: While talking about the economy, Trump promised to raise tariffs on foreign-made cars. He added: "Now if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the wholethat's gonna be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country," per NBC News.

While talking about the economy, Trump promised to raise tariffs on foreign-made cars. He added: "Now if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the wholethat's gonna be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country," per NBC News. Two meanings: The Biden campaign accused Trump of doubling down on "threats of political violence," per the AP. "He wants another January 6." But the Trump campaign said the former president was still talking about cars. "If you actually watch and listen to the section, he was talking about the auto industry and tariffs," spokesman Steven Cheung wrote to the Washington Post. Cheung added that "Biden's policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and autoworkers." Watch video of Trump's comments here.

The Biden campaign accused Trump of doubling down on "threats of political violence," per the AP. "He wants another January 6." But the Trump campaign said the former president was still talking about cars. "If you actually watch and listen to the section, he was talking about the auto industry and tariffs," spokesman Steven Cheung wrote to the Washington Post. Cheung added that "Biden's policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and autoworkers." Watch video of Trump's comments here. Election warning: Trump also said that if he loses, "I don't think you're going to have another election, or certainly not an election that's meaningful," per the New York Times.
President Biden kidded on the square about issues including agehis and Donald Trump'sin a jokey address to the Gridiron Club on Saturday night. The yearly, $400-a-plate dinner for Washington politicos and reporters included speeches from others, as well, who zinged the president in their turns. One was Michigan's top Democrat. "I'm Gretchen Whitmer," she told the crowd. "My name is usually preceded by the phrase 'governor,' or the phrase 'Hey, what about'" Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah said speechwriters wanted $20,000 to help with his address. The "exact same speech," Cox said, "only cost $200 before Bidenomics." It was Biden's first appearance at the dinner of his term. The president's lines, per the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, referenced:
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 17. Turkmenistan's Turkmengaz State Concern has drawn up an action plan to obtain additional volumes of gas as soon as possible, Trend reports.

This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Government of Turkmenistan Batyr Amanov at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on March 15 this year.

"In order to search for new gas fields in the coming years and ensure their safe delivery to consumers, the Turkmengaz State Concern has drawn up an action plan to obtain additional volumes of natural gas from gas wells as soon as possible. In this context, drilling of operational and appraisal wells has begun," he said.

Amanov noted that the state concern carries out effective work on the search for sulfur-free gas at the wells of promising fields being developed, primarily at the large Galkynysh gas field.

"In this regard, with the help of special equipment and funds allocated by the Turkmengaz State Concern, operational evaluation wells have been drilled in oil and gas fields, which have produced industrial inflows of sulfur-free gas," he added.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan is increasing its gas production, focusing efforts on modernizing its gas fields and developing infrastructure to increase export flows.

Thus, the official data of the country show that last year, Turkmenistan produced more than 80.61 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Russians crowded outside polling stations at midday Sunday on the last day of a three-day presidential election, apparently heeding an opposition call to protest against President Vladimir Putin, who is poised to extend his rule of nearly a quarter-century for six more years after a relentless crackdown on dissent. The election that began Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where there are no real alternatives to Putin and no public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine. Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Navalny's associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to protest by going to the polls at noon Sunday, a strategy endorsed by Navalny shortly before his death. Team Navalny described it as a success, releasing pictures and videos of people crowding near polling stations in cities across Russia around noon. The 71-year-old Russian leader faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties that have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his invasion of Ukraine. Russia's wartime economy has proven resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Russian defense industry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks, and ammunition.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast country's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots as of early Sunday. In Moscow, Dmitry Sergienko said he voted for Putin: "I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now." Another Moscow voter said that he hopes for change but that "unfortunately, it's unlikely." In a YouTube broadcast, Ivan Zhdanov, head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said: "The action has achieved its goals. The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin."

(More Russian elections stories.)
Ukraine launched a massive new wave of drone attacks Sunday on Russia as voters cast ballots on the final day of an election on extending President Vladimir Putin's rule for another six years. The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said a fifth drone, close to the capital's Domodedovo airport, was downed on Sunday morning. No casualties or damage were reported. According to the Defense Ministry, two drones were shot down over the Kaluga region, just south of the Russian capital, and four in the Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow.

The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is about 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, were some of the farthest launched by Ukraine so far. More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk, and Rostov regions that border Ukraine and the southern Krasnodar region, the Defense Ministry said. Shelling of Belgorod on Sunday morning killed a 16-year-old girl and injured her father, while a second assault later in the day killed another man and injured 11 others, said Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov.

The Ukrainian military said 14 Russian drones had been shot down over the Odesa region Sunday, following a Russian ballistic missile assault on the southern port city Friday that killed at least 21 people. Britain's defense ministry said Sunday that the country's defense secretary, Grant Shapps, abandoned a trip to Odesa earlier this month because of a Russian missile threat. The Sunday Times reported that Shapps, who visited Kyiv on March 7, had been warned by British intelligence that Russia had become aware of his travel plans. Russian forces also launched five S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles at Ukrainian-controlled areas in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, as well as two X-59 guided missiles in the Chernihiv region, the Ukrainian air force said Sunday.

(More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
Two Kiwi brothers visiting Thailand have been arrested after allegedly wrestling and injuring a local police officer to the ground and snatching his gun, according to local media.

On Saturday afternoon, the pair were ordered to stop in the Phuket town of Chalong after allegedly speeding on motorcycles and failing to stay in the left lane.

Chalong Police Senior Sergeant Maj Somsak Noo-iad was reportedly ignored by the brothers, so he chased after them as they sped away.
A person has been critically injured following a serious crash in Auckland's Onehunga this morning, closing a major road.

The crash, involving two vehicles on Onehunga Harbour Road, was reported to police around 7:35am on Monday.

Emergency services are at the scene, where one person has received critical injuries.
That agreement, signed during a visit to Wellington by Xi Jinping in November 2014, marked the start of glory days for bilateral trade. New Zealands exports to China have roughly doubled in value since Xis visit. They now stand at nearly $NZ21 billion annually. Imports are not far behind, but there is still a trade surplus of some $NZ3 billion in New Zealands favour.

Indeed, China has been New Zealands biggest two-way trading partner since 2017. A consistent flow of agricultural exports to China  especially milk powder and meat  helped to keep New Zealand afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic while both countries borders were closed.

However, New Zealands exports to China fell last year for the first time (except for covid-affected 2020) since the 2014 pact was signed. Goods exports took a particular tumble, falling $NZ1.7 billion from 2022 levels in the year to December 2023. Only a post-pandemic recovery in services exports, driven by travel, was able to mask a greater fall. But it was not enough to prevent a $NZ500 million drop overall.

The removal of Chinas last remaining tariffs on New Zealand dairy products at the start of 2024 may provide some hope for improvement this year.

But forecasts for Chinas economy are mixed and a bumpy post-Covid 19 recovery seems likely. After an expansion of 5.2 per cent in 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Chinas economy will grow by only 4.6 per cent this year and 4.1 per cent in 2025.

Given its food-focused exports, New Zealand is particularly vulnerable to sluggish Chinese economic growth. Tourism is also affected: visitor numbers from China for November 2023 were just 52 per cent of those seen during the same month four years earlier, before the pandemic.

A visit by Wang Yi cannot solve these wider macroeconomic problems. But it will put New Zealands crucial relationship with China in the spotlight.

There is every chance the trip could set the stage for an anniversary year visit to Wellington by Xi Jinping later in 2024.

However, whether this occurs will be highly dependent on New Zealands next steps in relation to Aukus.

It can be taken as read that Wang will have strong words for Winston Peters, his New Zealand counterpart, about Wellingtons apparent enthusiasm to entertain joining Pillar II of the new pact.

The tea leaves are still being read after Labour lost power in the October 2023 election and a new three-way, centre-right coalition led by the National Partys Christopher Luxon took office the following month.

A joint statement issued by Australia and New Zealand after the countries foreign and defence ministers met in Melbourne in early February claimed Aukus was making a positive contribution toward maintaining peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Reaction from the Chinese Embassy in Wellington to the text was typically furious. In an apparent reference to another section of the joint statement which expressed grave concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang, a spokesperson argued that groundless accusations have been made on Chinas internal affairs.

Meanwhile, on Aukus, the Embassy asserted that the pact ran counter to the common interests of regional countries pursuing peace, stability and common security. The spokesperson asked relevant countries to cherish the hard-won environment for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and be prudent with their words and action to maintain peace, stability and development.

An indirect, yet ultimately harder-hitting rebuke came from the Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand himself, Wang Xiaolong. Lamenting a lack of options after a last-minute cancellation of a flight to Auckland the day after the joint statement was issued, the Ambassador posted on X: Stuck at Wellington airport clueless as to what to do due to the cancellation of my flight to Auckland and the lack of alternatives. Right now, I am really missing the high-speed trains back in China.
It wasn't a warm welcome waiting for Peters in Palmerston North as protesters charged him with genocide.

But through the doors a much more polite greeting was waiting - all building to the mother of all welcomes for the ultimate comeback king.

"It was a most surprising welcome. We've got over 600 seats here and standing room only but outside there is a group shouting out 'Winston go home'," Peters told his supporters.

The State of the Nation speech was shaping up to be a Peters classic to an adoring crowd.

But then he compared the last Labour Government's approach to co-governance to Nazi Germany.

"I've seen that sort of philosophy before. I saw it in Nazi Germany, we all did. We've seen it elsewhere around the world in the horrors of history," he said.

"But right here in our country, tolerated by people whose job was to keep the system honest, this happened - where some people's DNA made them better than others."

Peters later doubled down when questioned by the media if that comparison was appropriate.

"Because that's what it's based on. It's based on racial preference, based on someone being superior," he said.

The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand said Peters should know better.

"It's offensive to those who were lost and to the trauma of those who survived and are still here," spokesman Ben Kepes told Newshub.

Peters tried to brush off questions over how his speech would make the Jewish community feel - but couldn't dodge the question.

"Clairvoyant are you? Well, I think that they would understand entirely what I'm saying," he said.

Labour leader Hipkins also weighed in, telling Newshub it's the "same old Winston Peters" who's "using racism and anti-media rhetoric to divide our country".

"He should be focusing on the real work of leading New Zealand forward, but that would require a plan and a vision. Sadly, this Government is lacking in both," Hipkins said.

"I ruled out working with Winston Peters before the election. Every day that goes by I feel more and more vindicated by that decision. Kiwis deserve better than a Deputy Prime Minister who behaves like a drunk uncle at a wedding."

Peters also had some controversial words for Te Pati Maori and the traditional ceremonial attire they wore when they were sworn in.

"They had half the plumage from the native birds on their head. Truly, I thought that they were protected, but they had half of them on their head," he said.

"And they're anti-mining, but they had half the greenstone around their chest."

Though Peters did make a point about the state of the Government's books, agreeing with a Sunday Star Times columnist that there was a $5.6 billion fiscal hole.

"He's right, but he's wrong when he said politicians were warned of that. 'Cause if he's right please show me where that warning came," Peters said.

The columnist was making the point that the parties' election promises didn't add up - Peters blames the economy.

"The growth rate is not what we thought it was, that's the real difference."

It was a day of very real differences, particularly when he compared co-governance to Nazi policies.
"State of the Nation - We Got Back Up Again"

Good afternoon.

Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today.

On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing.

New Zealand First campaigned to 'take back our country' and stop the disastrous economic and social path New Zealand was on. In government, and pulling back the curtain in the first three months, has shown our country to be in a much worse state than too many politicians and observers understood in 2023.

Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour Government, Vernon Small, refers to the 'present government facing a fiscal hole' of $5.6 billion.

He's right of course, but he's wrong when he said that last year politicians were warned of that.

Only one political party in the 2023 campaigned to alert New Zealanders as to how bad things were. New Zealand First pointed out where optimistic predictions of others were false - such as the 'House Buyers Tax', and taxing on overseas online gambling.

The Labour Government Failures

There is no sugar-coating it.

We inherited a broken economy, a fractured society, and a country on a road to social disaster. That road was paved with the breathtaking naivety and incompetence from a lost Labour government. After the 2020 election, and without a handbrake, Labour cared more about 'feelings' and 'ideology' than the duty to competently govern our country.

New Zealand's debt ballooned, there were multiple fiscal policies with no allocated funding, the insidious creep of racist co-governance had spread throughout legislation and the public sector. Not just ideological theory, it was race-based theory - where some people's DNA made them better than others. The left had simply run roughshod over society and the people of New Zealand with ideas and plans they had never campaigned on.

Time for Reflection

Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot fix this country until we acknowledge what is wrong with it.

Labour has left us a folio of failures and barrage of broken promises:

A crumbling, underfunded, overwhelmed Health System.

An education system that has seen:

a record number of children failing basic standards and truancy rate,

an unmanageable number of schools without adequate classrooms, and

many in the teaching force under enormous strain.

A Defence Force that had lost more than a third of its personnel over the past three years.

An undermanned Police Force:

haemorrhaging officers to Australia,

massive shortages in recruitment,

massive increases in crime, and

youth ramraids and violence that is simply out of control.

Gang numbers that ballooned over the past three years.

A cost of living crisis.

A housing crisis with skyrocketing prices and unprecedented numbers living in emergency hotels. Remember the Labour promise 100,000 new houses in ten years?

A rate of child poverty even higher than when in 2021 Jacinda Ardern made herself the 'Minister of Child Poverty'.

A mental health system that has seen more and more mainly young people suffering with no respite.

Crumbling basic infrastructure around the country with no plan, no funding, and no idea.

An unprecedented, uncontrollable level of new migrants entering our country - over 133,000 net entering in 2023 alone - that's more than the population of Dunedin coming into our country in just twelve months last year.

Where was the funding and plan for any sort of infrastructure to cope with such numbers coming into New Zealand?

Health Infrastructure

Education Infrastructure

Housing Infrastructure

Where were these utilities for such a massive immigration programme?

Ladies and gentlemen, if you need any more evidence of Labour not giving a damn about ordinary people's needs just take a look at that policy - all talk about humanity and kindness and no action.

Labour left large numbers of people ostracised, demonised, shutdown and shutout, ignored and cancelled - all because those people fought for their right to say 'no, we disagree.'

Well, at the election, voters did disagree, in a massive, historic repudiation of Labour.

The Lost Labour Party

On the 14th October last year the people of New Zealand voted for change, although it seems some in the media and the opposition parties refuse to accept the result.

On more than one occasion Chris Hipkins and other Labour MPs have tried to explain that New Zealanders may have voted for change, but that they - 'didn't know what they were voting for'.

The self-denial and arrogance to imply kiwis who voted for the new government and a new direction, are somehow too unaware to know why and who they voted for.

What is most astonishing is the lack of self-reflection of Labour MPs, who had an outright majority for three years, whilst treating New Zealanders with contempt.

We had three years of the dripping self-righteous moral high-horse - where they were right and everyone else was wrong.

They made decisions, many in secret, echoing a Machiavellian-like approach to governing -

"We who have the power are always right;

the weaker is always wrong"

and that "the ends justify the means".

The problem for Labour was that there were no 'ends' because they had no concept of where they were going - the hapless freight train ran out of tracks. And the 'means' only exposed an unheralded level of contempt.

Ladies and gentlemen, there's no-one more expert on Labour's contempt for democracy than the person you're listening to right now.

Having governed with former Prime Minister Helen Clark, one can say that there are light-years between her and the last two Labour Leaders in their most basic understanding of democracy.

Right now, in March 2024, they are hellbent in a race to the bottom of the political wilderness with the Maori Party and the Greens.

In other words, these three parties are arguing over 'who can be most culturally woke and go the furthest to the left'.

Months into being in opposition, many still remain blind to the fact that the 'leftist groupthink' in their government, is the rod they have made for their own backs.

Labour has deserted the traditional blue-collar workers of New Zealand.

The 'slow boil' movement of the party to the far left has caused a huge number of longtime Labour voters to feel abandoned by a party that once stood for the 'ordinary hard-working kiwi'.

Instead, Labour now seem to care more about leftwing 'social justice' issues, ideological crusades, and woke cultural Marxism. The very same failings and racial obsessions of the Maori Party and the Greens.

The once great Labour Party of Savage and Fraser, has turned into the 'Party of Moral Outrage and Political Inertia'.

The Media

As New Zealand First leader, in an article written not so long ago about the state of our media we said this:

New Zealand First has always held the view that the 'fourth estate' is essential to any successful functioning democracy.

But it's not just the existence of the fourth estate that is essential. It is the need of a fourth estate that is impartial, politically neutral, fair, and objective.

These are the qualities and attributes that the public expect of an effective media in any free society - something that is lacking in much of the media landscape today.

The revelation that Newshub is set to close, as well as job losses from TVNZ, is obviously devastating for those who will lose their jobs, but it is also seriously concerning for the robustness of our local media landscape.

One of those reasons is the increased lack of trust in New Zealand's media that has seen much of the public actively avoid engaging with them.

The impartiality of media should be the foundation of its reporting, but in the main, it has morphed over the past few years to rely on opinion, narrative, agendas, and click bait.

Over the past four years the sign up of media outlets to receive $55 million of public funding through the Public Interest Journalism Fund has cemented that mistrust from the public for obvious reasons - most of which, it seems, is lost on the very media outlets that received those funds.

It is a plain fact that in order for media organisations to be eligible for funding they had to sign up to certain criteria and conditions - including reciting certain narratives of the Labour government at the time.

Jacinda Ardern herself said when addressing the issue of alternate or dissenting views about Covid-19 - "We had to act so we made it a priority to establish a Public Interest Journalism Fund to help our media continue to produce stories that keep New Zealanders informed." i.e. funding media to promote a government narrative - the 'single source of truth'.

One of those conditions was based on a purely political view that is not supported by many in New Zealand or political parties.

It stateed that the media organisation must "actively promote the principles of Partnership, Participation and Active Protection under Te Tiriti o Waitangi acknowledging Maori as a Te Tiriti partner."

If they didn't sign up to this condition, they wouldn't get the money.

How can a politically neutral and independent media organisation give balanced political commentary, analysis, and in particular 'opinions', when this was the basis of the funds they received for their very survival?

This was the sinister seed that provided the platform for inevitable political bias.

It created a media environment where certain leftwing political narratives and agendas seeped into much of what the media presented to the public - where any opposing views were shutdown, cancelled, and labelled as 'far right' or 'fringe'.

The landscape of mainstream media is in a dramatic process of change. That is an undeniable fact. The current situation has highlighted that the mainstream media need serious self-reflection.

We are in need of a robust fourth estate in our democracy more desperately than ever. But one that focusses on 'thinking news, not breaking news'.

The Election

The new coalition government faces massive challenges.

While there is much wrong with New Zealand today, there is nothing that cannot be fixed by what is right with New Zealand today. With the right polices, the right attitude, and above all the right commitment, we can secure a much better future.

New Zealand First campaigned for a full two years before the election, packing halls around the country, talking to the people, listening to the people, and with your help we made it back into government.

Our campaign message was for voters to join us to 'Take Back Our Country' - and that's what we intend to do.

Where we as New Zealanders take back our country to where we once were - the number one democracy in the world. Number one economy in the world. And where we were the envy of others for our egalitarianism, unity, and national pride.

We are the Party that is bringing steel to our government through the hard times, and above all experience and common sense.

We have highly experienced team of Ministers and MPs in Shane Jones, Casey Costello, Mark Patterson, Jenny Marcroft, Jamie Arbuckle, Andy Foster, and Tanya Unkovich.

New Zealand First Coalition Agreement

The coalition agreement New Zealand First fought for, is the blueprint for the changes that New Zealand First will make as part of this coalition government.

Throughout the campaign, we heard what our supporters wanted and what our country needed us to deliver in the new government with a new direction.

To list just a few:

For our Economy, Infrastructure, and Cost of Living:

Establish an inquiry into banking competition.

Strengthen the powers of the Grocery Commissioner.

Establish a National Infrastructure Agency.

Establish a Regional Infrastructure Fund - creating jobs and much needed infrastructure around our country.

Investigate the reopening of Marsden Point Refinery.

For restoring Law and Order on our streets:

Training 500 new frontline police.

Introduce measures designed to tackle youth crime.

Amend the Sentencing Act to ensure appropriate consequences for criminals - putting the rights of victims before the rights of offenders.

In Education and Health:

Refocus the curriculum on academic achievement and not ideology, including the removal and replacement of gender, sexuality, and relationship-based education guidelines.

Repeal the Therapeutic Products Act 2023.

Fund Gumboot Friday

Ensure Plunket is funded to do its job properly.

For our Seniors:

Keep the superannuation age at 65.

Upgrade the Super Gold Card and Veterans Card.

For strengthening our Democracy and Freedoms:

Ensure publicly funded sporting bodies support fair competition that is not compromised by rules relating to gender.

Legislate to make English an official language of New Zealand.

Protect freedom of speech by ruling out the introduction of hate speech legislation.

End all Covid-19 vaccine mandates still in operation.

Ensure a full scale, wide ranging, independent inquiry into the Covid pandemic - widening the Terms of Reference, led by the right people, to ensure New Zealand gets real answers.

Ensure a ' National Interest Test' is undertaken before New Zealand accepts any agreements from the UN and its agencies.

Remove co-governance from the delivery of public services.

Stop all work on He Puapua.

Amend the Waitangi Tribunal legislation.

Amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act - which no has over 600 claims for New Zealand's coastal environment.

These are only some of what we have cemented in our agreement. And many are already completed, or work is already well underway.

We have a lot to accomplish in this term through our coalition agreement that was designed to turn this country around.

Developing an Economic Plan

For far too long New Zealand's economy has been the victim of ideological dogma. If anyone doubts that have a look at how far this country has declined as opposed to for example Australia.

Forty years ago, New Zealand had an economic far-right revolution while next door in Australia, a government of the same ilk, Australia's Labour, went down the pathway of 'incremental change for the better'.

The result: Australia grew in real terms 35% larger in their economy than New Zealand.

But this obvious fact still blinds many New Zealand commentators, as to why they were wrong back then, and are still wrong today about how New Zealand should go forward.

Look overseas at the successful economies of the Nordic countries, or like Singapore, Taiwan, or Ireland.

But many of these countries are small or have few natural resources at all. But they all have an economic plan where their people are their number one resource.

Where education is critical, where they employ incubators for innovation and social mobility, where they have taxation incentives for real business growth to attract investment into the right areas, and where their primary focus of expenditure is on wealth creation, production and exports, not consumption - or 'here today gone tomorrow'.

An Inflection Election

Before the election last year we were campaigning saying that it was an 'inflection election'. There was no doubt that if we didn't get it right, with a choice of a new government, with New Zealand First at the heart of that government, our country was on a pathway of economic, social, and cultural disaster.

And in government when we pulled back the curtain to see what Labour had left us to deal with, there is no doubt that New Zealand made the right choice.

New Zealanders voted for change. For a new direction. And they knew what that change meant - despite what Mr Hipkins, the Labour Party, the Maori Party and the Greens might want to believe.

New Zealand First has come back into government after being written off and ignored. We made it back, with your support, because we bring steel to New Zealand's cause. We bring steel to our government.

We stood for change and a chance to make it count for all New Zealanders, with the values and principles that we once had that made us the greatest country to live in.

We have this real chance to "Take Back Our Country".

Demolishing the Racist Myth

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a university city, where every year of late students are taught that the Treaty of Waitangi was a partnership between the signatories.

That misconstruction, of what happened in February 1840, is a recent one.

A simple agreement between the signatories at Waitangi on 6th February 1840 could not have been a partnership.

Why? Well, if no one was, on the 5th of February 1840, whether in England or the far flung reaches of the British Empire, in partnership with Queen Victoria, then how could the Maori be in such a partnership one day later?

The protagonists of the Treaty of Waitangi being an equal partnership, have never, can never, and will never, answer that very simple question.

And until they do, they are simply showering shibboleths of deceit.

After Waitangi Day, the ownership of land for all landowners, including Maori landowners, was guaranteed, and only the Crown had the right of purchase. Maori understood that back then, because the Waitangi event, was something the Maori population had asked for.

We became British citizens, we would be Rule of Law beneficiaries, under Crown protection from other outside rapacious colonial powers.

Today what is being taught at universities on this matter, denies the simple fact that neither Queen Victoria, nor her successors, could constitutionally enter with their subjects, a partnership.

And from this academic deceit and legal misconstruction have come all manner of demands based on ethnicity or race. Inevitably, to the benefit of a self-appointed Maori elite, and again inevitability at the enormous cost of ordinary Maori.

Maori concerns for housing, health, education, and first world wages, get sidelined when political priorities suffer a deliberate misfocus.

Conclusion

We must remember, New Zealand is the beneficiary of Western values, democracy, and the rule of law. And the advancement and enhancement of those principles have only occurred in those societies that have united together as one people - and who celebrate their nationhood instead of perpetuating division.

With cooperation, conciliation, inclusivity and teamwork, our country can make it out of a crisis to a better future for every New Zealander.

We can become, again, the envy of the world.

Remember, politicians are not meant to be your masters, they are meant to be your servants.

Too much of our country was left in a real mess. That's because the people who were suffering were not the ones who caused the mess.

Our once great society was built on hard work and a fair go for everyone. Bold steps are needed now to lift our country back where it belongs. Countries that do well, work well as a team, and everyone has a part to play.

We have a plan.

We now have hope.

We together can change New Zealand.

We will rebuild our country, for the many, not the few.

We will reconstruct our economy for every New Zealander, not just a select self-appointed elite few.

That is our vision, that is our commitment, that is our commission.

To protect and save New Zealand.

We got knocked down, but we got up again - and nothing is going to stop us now.
Deputy Prime Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters has compared co-governance to Nazi Germany in a fiery State of the Nation speech.

He entered the event at Palmerston North's Convention Centre on Sunday to the Chumbawamba chorus "I get knocked down, but I get up again" as supporters cheered him on.

Peters began his speech by telling the hundreds gathered at the centre about what he saw as the previous government's failings, including "racist co-governance".

"Their (Maori) DNA made them somehow better than others  I've seen that sort of philosophy before, I saw it in Nazi Germany, we all did. We've seen it elsewhere around the world in the horrors of history," Peters said.

It appears the Nazi comment was off-the-cuff, as a transcript of Peters' speech sent out to media made no mention of Nazi Germany.

"When you have the audacity to say there's something dramatically wrong here, not just about the policy but the lack of warning, they shout 'racist'," Peters said.

Holocaust Centre of New Zealand spokesman Ben Kepes told Newshub politicians needed to be "careful with their words" when it comes to speaking about the Holocaust or Nazi era.

Kepes said it was "a singular event in history" which should not be used for gain in other areas.

"Words are very important."
SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a US intelligence agency, five sources familiar with the program say, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company and national security agencies.

The network is being built by SpaceX's Starshield business unit under a US$1.8 billion (NZ$2.96bn) contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, the sources said.

The plans show the extent of SpaceX's involvement in US intelligence and military projects, and illustrate a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces.

If successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the US government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.

The contract signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and sparked controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, the sources said.

The Wall Street Journal reported in February the existence of a US$1.8bn classified Starshield contract with an unknown intelligence agency without detailing the purposes of the program.

Reuters reporting discloses for the first time that the SpaceX contract is for a powerful new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits, and that the spy agency that Musk's company is working with is the NRO.

Reuters was unable to determine when the new network of satellites would come online and could not establish what other companies are part of the program with their own contracts.

SpaceX, the world's largest satellite operator, did not respond to several requests for comment about the contract, its role in it and details on satellite launches. The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the NRO and SpaceX.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Variably cloudy with snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 22F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. Topographic and legal working groups from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have successfully described over 10.7 km of the disputed border between the two countries, Trend reports.

This collaborative effort took place during a meeting held from March 12 to March 17 in Tajikistan's Buston, Sughd Province.

Following the meeting, an agreement was reached regarding the 10.76 km Tajik-Kyrgyz border, and a relevant protocol was signed. Additionally, both sides agreed to convene the next meeting in Kyrgyzstan to continue outlining the remaining border sections.

In February, Tajikistan's foreign minister disclosed that approximately 200 km of the border line had been defined, leaving around 100 km of disputed sections unresolved. While both nations are keen to swiftly complete the delineation and demarcation process, the exact date for signing a final agreement remains uncertain.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. Activity in Uzbekistan's real estate market rebounded in February following a slight decline earlier in the year, Trend reports.

Rental price decreases in Tashkent eased, with rates in the Bektemir and Shaykhontohur districts rising by 3.5 percent, while decreasing by nearly 6 percent in Yashnobod and Chilonzor districts.

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms attributes this uptick in market activity to expanding economic operations.

During this period, 22,200 real estate sale and purchase contracts were signed, marking a two percent increase from the previous month. Regional markets also saw growth, with activity up by 14 percent in Tashkent, 16 percent in Andijan, and 13 percent in Fergana.

In Tashkent's rental market, the pace of price decline slowed, with rates decreasing by 1.1 percent in February to $8.9 per square meter. The largest decreases in rental value were noted in the Yashnobod district by 6.3 percent and in the Chilonzor district by 5.7 percent. Conversely, rent increased in the Bektemir and Shaykhontohur districts by 3.5 percent and 2.5 percent respectively.

Secondary housing prices increased by 0.8 percent during the month and by 14.1 percent annually. Notable price increases for secondary housing were recorded in Tashkent (26 percent), Bukhara (24.1 percent), and Andijan (24.0 percent) regions. In Tashkent, average prices for secondary housing rose by 1.6 percent over the month, reaching $1,140. Notable price increases of 2-6 percent were observed in Mirabad, Yashnobod, and Yakkasaray districts. Conversely, secondary housing prices in Bektemir and Uchtepa districts decreased by 1.1 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.

Over the year, the secondary housing market in Tashkent rose by 17.3 percent, while the growth rate slowed down by 2.7 percent compared to the previous year.

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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, emphasised the robust relations and strategic partnerships between Bahrain and the US.

During a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, HRH Prince Salman highlighted the ongoing development and growth across various sectors, underscoring his commitment to advancing effective partnerships and joint coordination between the two countries.

The meeting, attended by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund, and officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, featured discussions on bilateral cooperation and the importance of further strengthening ties to achieve shared goals. Amidst discussions on regional and international developments, particular attention was given to the situation in the Gaza Strip.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister reaffirmed Bahrains unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and emphasised the nations commitment to promoting a just and peaceful solution.

Stressing the importance of protecting civilians and preventing escalation of violence, His Royal Highness called for the release of hostages and detainees, and emphasised the need for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza residents in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Highlighting the pivotal role of regional security and stability in fostering global development, HRH Prince Salman acknowledged the significant contributions of the US and other friendly nations in promoting international security, securing maritime navigation, and facilitating free trade.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Gulf Tamin Ltd, a consortium led by Lepercq, de Neuflize & Co, a New York based financial company, and Callaway Capital Management LLC, a U.S. based hedge fund, today acquired 13.85% of Arab Insurance Group (ARIG).

Gulf Tamin Ltd. was advised by SICO BSC (c), a leading GCC investment bank, and legal advisors Trowers & Hamlins and Zubi and Partners.

Wissam Haddad, Head of Investment Banking and Real Estate at SICO, said,We are delighted to be working closely with Gulf Tamin and their international shareholders and to have now successfully completed their purchase of a significant 13.85% shareholding in Arab Insurance Group.

Daniel Freifeld, Director of Gulf Tamin Ltd, stated,We are pleased to have secured a stake in the renowned insurance company ARIG. We look forward to working with the Board to reinvigorate ARIGs underwriting business in Bahrain and the region.
AFP | New York, United States

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Boeing on Friday warned airlines flying its 787 Dreamliner model to inspect certain switches in the cockpit, after a New Zealand-bound LATAM plane dropped violently mid-flight, injuring dozens of travelers.

The investigation of Flight LA800 is ongoing and we defer to the investigation authorities on any potential findings, a statement from the US aeronautics giant said.

We have taken the precautionary measure of reminding 787 operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017 which included instructions for inspecting and maintaining switches on flight deck seats, Boeing said, adding, We are recommending operators perform an inspection at the next maintenance opportunity.

Boeing regularly sends recommendations about its planes to its clients. But this one involved a particularly dangerous incident.

The Chilean airlines LATAM was flying Monday from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand, when the plane suddenly plunged earthward, flinging unrestrained passengers out of their seats and smashing some into the cabin roof.

Fifty people were injured, including 13 who were hospitalized.

The airline on Tuesday attributed the accident to an unspecified technical event. But the Wall Street Journal, citing US industry sources, said Friday the incident was caused by the clumsiness of a crew member.

It said a flight attendant inadvertently hit a switch on the pilots seat while serving a meal, causing a motorized feature to thrust the pilot into the controls and push the planes nose sharply down.

It said the switch is usually covered and is not meant to be used when the pilot is in the seat. Contacted in Chile by AFP, LATAM refused to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

From the beginning we have collaborated with the authorities to clarify this matter, it added. Boeing also refused to comment.

For its part, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was convening a Corrective Action Review Board (CARB) made up of safety experts to study the matter and provide feedback to Boeing.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 24. The number of deaths in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has exceeded the mark of 32,200, more than 74,500 people were injured, Trend reports, referring to the local Health Ministry.

"The number of deaths in Gaza since last October has increased to 32,226, at least 74,518 people have been injured," the ministry said.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.

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Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has condemned the killing of army officers and soldiers in Delta state.

On Thursday, some personnel of the Nigerian army  comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers  were killed by youths while on a peace mission at Okuoma, Bomadi LGA of Delta state.

Reacting in a post on his X handle, Obi called for an immediate investigation of the incident.

This killing is barbaric and totally unacceptable and should not be tolerated by Nigerians and any sane society, Obi wrote.

For a nation already combatting a high level of insecurity, the killing of our security personnel who put their lives on the line for the security of the nation will be too much of a burden to bear.

These sad occurrences and many cases of killings, kidnappings, and violent crimes around the country have continued to fuel very deep concerns over the security of the nation.

These security operatives are making a lot of sacrifices in their line of duty and, in some cases, pay the supreme price. We must therefore appreciate and value them by showing empathy towards them and ensuring healthcare for those who are wounded.

There should be adequate compensation and welfare packages for the families of those who die in active service. All of us should always show our love by commiserating with their families and even visiting them in such difficult times.

The former Anambra governor urged security agencies not to be demotivated by the incident.

I sincerely condole with the families of the security personnel that died and their security formations (Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force respectively) over the sad loss of their personnel, Obi added.

I encourage them not to be dispirited by these ugly developments but to see it as a challenge to increase their efforts in their duties.

I urge the government and the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in investigating, arresting, and prosecuting those behind these ugly acts.

May God grant eternal rest to all the security officers who have lost their lives fighting for the peace and security of our nation. May God grant all of us the fortitude to bear this sad, irreplaceable loss.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. The US Army launched a new strike on Yemen, targeting surface drones and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), US Central Command (CENTCOM) says, Trend reports.

"CENTCOM destroyed five surface drones and one UAV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," the command says. According to the information, unmanned vehicles posed a threat to commercial ships and US Navy ships in the region.

In addition, it is noted that on the same day, the Houthis launched two drones in the direction of the Red Sea, one of which was shot down and the second, presumably, fell into the water.




Several houses in the coastal and rustic Okuoma community, in the Bomadi LGA of Delta state, were on fire, hours after 16 military personnel on a peacekeeping mission were killed.

Tukur Gusau, director of information at the defence headquarters, in a statement on Saturday, said the military personnel  comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers  were killed by youths on Thursday.

The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024, Gusau said.

The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.

The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 Soldiers.

Christopher Musa, the chief of defence staff (CDS), has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.

In a video posted by Channels Television , black smoke could be seen billowing from some buildings in the community, as flames flickered in the distance.

A voice in the background could be heard saying: Your eye go clear well well, I swear to God. No worry.

Latest reports say 14 of the beheaded corpses have been recovered, with the entrails of some ripped out.

Some residents of the community have also fled, for fear of reprisal attacks from military personnel.

Gusau was not immediately available for a reaction to this story.

Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, has condemned the incident, promising to fish out the perpetrators.
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked the police to find and prosecute those who killed 16 soldiers in Delta state.

The soldiers comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors and captain were killed while on a peacekeeping mission on Thursday in Okuoma, Bomadi LGA of Delta state.

They had responded to a distress call after a communal clash broke out between the Okuama and Okoloba communities.

Some suspects have reportedly been arrested.

In a statement on Saturday, Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), commended the army for not responding by way of a reprisal attack on the communities.

We join the members of civilized humanity in condemning the brutality meted out to the military officers and soldiers as they were deployed for a peacekeeping mission to resolve the crisis in two warring communities in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta state, he said.

We are, however, pleased to note that the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

Having regard to the massacre of innocent people when the military invaded Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State in similar circumstances, we commend the military authorities for resisting the temptation to subject the two warring communities to a reprisal attack.

By all means, the army should avoid a repeat of the history of having multiple tragedies.

The human rights lawyer said the Delta state government and local authorities should assist the police in fishing out the killers so they could be prosecuted.
Afenifere chieftain, Pa Ayo Adebanjo said President Bola Tinubu and his South-West counterpart governors missed the opportunity to rewrite the nations constitution when Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.

Adebanjo stated this in an interview on Channels Television on Friday.

According to him, the former governors failed Nigerians because they were too frightened to insist on a peoples constitution when they had the opportunity.

Recall that Tinubu served as the Lagos State governor from May 1999 to May 2007.

Adebanjo noted that Tinubu was among the six governors of the South-West who chickened out from demanding a Sovereign National Conference after the then military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, decided to return the country to democracy after the death of ex-military dictator Sani Abacha.

Adebanjo, however, said Tinubu now has the opportunity to rewrite the 1999 Constitution now that he is in office as Nigerias President.

The elder statesman said Tinubu now has an opportunity to rewrite the mistakes of the past by ensuring that Nigerians decide on a constitution they agree to govern their co-existence.

He said Nigerians deserve a better constitution, as against what he described as the military-imposed constitution still operational in the country since 24 years ago.

Adebanjo noted that a brand-new peoples constitution will end the menace of insecurity, adding that a peoples constitution will make room for state police.

He said, There was a clamour for a Sovereign National Conference at that time (in the buildup to the 1999 election). The military said they were going back to the barracks and we said, Well, go back to the barracks with your constitution; its your baggage and return us to where you met us.

If you are not going to do that, schedule another conference and we will agree on how to live together.

He said the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere refused to take part in any deliberations with the Abdulsalami Abubakar regime but later agreed to take part in the 1999 election after getting assurances that there will be a Sovereign National Conference thereafter.

Adebanjo said, So, we contested that election on protest. This is why I disagreed with Ex-Governors (Bisi) Akande and (Segun) Osoba. When we were campaigning for them to be governors, it was on the heels of federalism, and Sovereign National Conference.

We insisted that the constitution must be changed. So, when we (Alliance for Democracy) came in, we got the mandate of the people; we won the election in the whole of the Western Region;

We told all our governors including Bola Tinubu not to go to Abuja until the Federal Government changed the constitution but they chickened out; they were involved in the paraphernalia of office that is the beginning of the struggle of Nigeria.

Adebanjo said all the six state assemblies in the South-West at that time passed a resolution for a Sovereign National Conference but all our governors disappointed us.

He said, If the Western Region didnt take part in any of the activities in Abuja, the Eastern Region will follow us and we will all be forced to come back to the table again.

They (South-West governors) chickened out, they sold the Nigerian people, they disappointed us. And that is why I said the wrong at that time, Bola Tinubu is in a position to rewrite it now by changing the constitution now to what we wanted it to be.

And it is not a long thing to do; take the 2014 National Conference Report, take the (ex-Governor Nasir) El-Rufai Constitution Recommendation of the APC, set up a committee to reconcile the recommendations and we will move on.

We are now talking of insecurity, kidnapping, how can insecurity be solved when those fighting it are in Abuja? It is not possible. All the governors have been clamouring for state police, for the policing system to be localisedWhen security is localised, they will take care of their people.

We copied our federalism from Britain and the United States but have you heard of the Inspector General of Police in America? All you have is the Cosmopolitan Police.

On claim that the governors would abuse state police, Adebanjo said, The constitution says that governors are chief security officers of their states but you deprive them of the role.

Adebanjo said Nigerians are tired of empty promises and reassurances, adding that We are tired, we want double action. Until we go back to agree on conditions for us to live together, we will never get peace.




Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has said he does not receive salary from the state government, as a way of saving cost.

The governor spoke during an interdenominational service to mark his second year in office at the International Convention Center, Awka, the state capital.

Soludo said he has plugged many leakages in government, cut a lot of cost, and has been doing a lot with little. He said as part of realizing the plans of his government, the first lady of the state, Mrs Nonye Soludo, does not drive official cars, rather she drives his old cars.

Today we have come to report some aspects of what we have been able to do within these two years. Anambra people are our employers, you elected me and my deputy, and we took office exactly two years ago as your chief servants.

Today I tell you that Anambra is strong and getting stronger. We are intentional about doing more with less because we are facing extraordinary times in Nigeria, but tough times are for tough leaders who are innovative. Banks have been offering to lend to us, but we decided that these two years, we will show that we can do more with less and we choose deliberately not to borrow.

Having been governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and managing the finances of the entire country, I needed to demonstrate that some things are possible. Today we are managing the finances of Anambra and we need to show what we can do. From henceforth, we are changing gears.

Anambra has not seen anything yet. Every kobo of Anambras resources entrusted in our hands, we will show you where we put it. When we borrow, and of course you can borrow when you have good reason to, and when we do, we will show you what the money was used for, and we will borrow to invest in things that can pay back the investment. But you will never see the kind of borrowing we saw before.

The governor spoke about his achievements in office, saying, We have built 240 kilometres of roads in 24 months. What this means is that for every month we have been here, we have constructed 10 kilometers. Even if you put the entire state resources in one local government, you will still not finish every road, but we are picking strategic roads.

We are working on the Anambra State Government House and Governors Lodge. Anambra is the only state created over 30 years ago that does not still have a permanent government house. Soon, the new Anambra Government House will be commissioned soon.

We will commission roads in Okpoko tomorrow. Okpoko is one of the biggest slums in the entire West Africa, and for the first time a general hospital has been built there, and we will commission it tomorrow. Anambra wide water scheme is now being test run. Ours is an agenda with a deadline, and we are not relenting, the governor stated.

The governor decried the dwindling resources in the country, saying, The resources available to the state today are a fraction of what it used to be. If you go by the purchasing power of money then, you will know that we have far less to spend. What we are doing is that we are managing what we have very well.

I can tell you that Im not getting salaries from the Anambra State government. My wife, the first lady, does not have any official cars, she still drives my cars. We are cutting waste, and plugging loopholes.

On power generation, he said: We are working to crack the power puzzle in Anambra too. We have learnt something from Barth Nnaji. It took him 20 years to deliver the Aba Power project. We have learnt from how he did it, and ours will not take that long. We have assembled experts for that reason. What we can tell you is that we will do it, but I will not stand here and tell you the length of time.

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku who spoke at the event said: Im not surprised at what Soludo is doing in Anambra.

Is it security, human capital development, social agenda or recognizing and reordering the governance value system? What is most impressive about Soludo is that these things are not in the realm of hearsay, but projects we can see. I congratulate Soludo on his excellent performance in the last two years.

Also, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor who officiated the thanksgiving mass said: He is a man who is well known, and the last two years have seen extraordinary achievements in some areas, and acceleration in other areas, especially in the socio economic and infrastructural transformation in Anambra State.




A crisis of confidence has broken out between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the leadership of the Labour Party.

The NLC in a widely publicized letter passed a vote of no confidence on the LP National Chairman, Julius Abure and demanded his immediate resignation.

The Labour Union also dissociated itself from the national convention scheduled for March 27, 2024. It said the convention which is being organised by the Comrade Julius Abure-led National Working Committee is illegal.

In response, The leadership of the Labour Party asked the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajero to resign his position to contest for the Chairmanship of the party since he appears desperate to replace Julius Abure.

National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, said this in a statement, in Abuja, on Saturday.

He said the partys attention was drawn to a Press Release titled A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour gone too far written by the NLCs Political Commission as an agent of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The NLC letter he said, did not come to party leaders as a surprise or a shock, because it was long expected before now, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in this misadventure.

Ifoh said, Nigerians will recall that in 2014, NLC has been involved in a war of blackmail and attrition against the Labour Party and its leadership.

It was only recently, following the civil and diplomatic approach adopted by Barrister Julius Abure when he assumed leadership that he was able to get the then President of the NLC, Ayuba Waba and the then President of the Trade Union Congress, Olaleye Quadri to a truce where the NLC, TUC and Labour Party agreed to work together in harmony.

Unfortunately, the rascality of the current president of the NLC, Joe Ajero has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has written several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and to the party on the need to conduct a national convention.

In fact, the NLC has queried even the rationale behind the one year extension which was graciously granted by the NEC in session in Asaba, which is in line with the party constitution.

The leadership of the party in its wisdom has decided to yield to their agitation for a convocation of a national convention.

Article 14:4b of our party constitution mandates the National Secretary in consultation with the National Chairman to issue notices of meetings of National Convention, NEC, NWC amongst others.

 It is in the exercise of this power that the national chairman and national Secretary have called for the convention following the decision of the national executive council of the party.

It is therefore ironical for the same NLC which has been agitating for a convention to now be demanding the rationale for the call for a convention.

At this point, the leadership of the party wants to ask the NLC, what exactly do they want? If Joe Ajero is interested in the leadership of the party, he is therefore advised to resign as the President of the NLC and join in the contest for the National Chairmanship of the party that is scheduled for the convention on the 27th of March, 2024.

He further said, We must note that undue interference by the Nigeria Labour Congress on the affairs of the party has become worrisome and it has become needful to emphasis here the distinction that the Labour Party has a life of its own different from that of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

 In fact, the 1999 Constitution states clearly that once a political party is registered, it has a life of its own whereby it can run its own affairs without any interference.

The Electoral Act and the Constitution provide that no organisation can own any other organisation. The NLC as an organisation can not claim the ownership of the Labour Party.

The constitution of the party is clear that it is only those who subscribe to the party and those who are financial members of the party are the owners of the party and therefore can have a say on the affairs of the party.

The interference of the present leadership of the NLC on the party is really choking and we can hardly breath. It is this NLC leadership which pressured on the Party not to give His Excellency, Alex Otti the governorship ticket for the 2023 general election on the ground that he was allegedly not workers friendly when he was a Chief Executive of a bank.

But today, that same Alex Otti is doing Labour Party proud with the work he is doing in Abia state.

Again, the same NLC attempted to prevail on the leadership of the party to upload a different candidate other than Senator Athan Achonu after he won the Imo state party primaries under the Labour Party.

It will shock Nigerians to know that members and officials of the NLC are not even card carrying members of the Labour Party. All over the country, NLC members have been found to be supporting either the APC or the PDP.

It is again of importance to make certain clarification as to the so called judgements that were referred to by the NLC, we must indicate clearly that the Labour Party is not in default of any court judgment whatsoever.

The agreement reached by the NLC to call for a convention is what we are following, we have fully implemented that agreement and the convention is in line with the agreement. We are therefore not in any default of court judgment as erroneously implied by the NLC.

We therefore want to advise the NLC and its commission that it should focus only on its statutory responsibilities of defending the workers and the workers right.

Today minimum wage is N30.000 while a bag of rice is N80.000. We hear about NLC talk about ethos and ethics of the Labour movement and the Labour Party, this is also an NLC that cannot call or sustain a strike for one or two days without calling it off.

This is an NLC which cannot think of calling a protest and sustaining it in order to get the attention of the government for the interest of the workers.

The present NLC should take a time to listen to the opinion Nigerians have formed about them. Can the NLC of today in any way be compared to NLC of the then Hassan Sumounu, Adams Oshiohmole and a few others in the past?

The LP Spokesman said the leadership of the Trade Union Congress, TUC and its Political Commission under the leadership of Comrade Festus Osifo for their commitment to labour related issues and their refusal to sign the press release which the NLC issued.

The party equally advised Joe Ajero to emulate leadership of Ayuba Waba, Olaleye Quadri and Osifo in working closely with the party.

It noted that the ill-intended Press Release by the Political Commission also made a reference to spurious allegations made by the suspended National treasurer, Oluchi Opara and it attempted to give it some credence.

Adding, This clearly exposes the mischief by the NLC to hoodwink the people. We have stated clearly that the total money received by the party was N1.3billion and no other report has contradicted it.

So for the NLC to be quoting that spurious allegations goes to show that they are part of the challenges Labour Party has been facing.

We are shocked that NLC which was a victim of a recent harassment, threat to life and brutalization of its president would express shock over similar treatment meted to our chairman, Barrister Julius Abure who was brutalized for political reasons and nothing more.

We must also state clearly that our leader, Peter Obi made reference to the audit of the campaign account and not forensic audit for the Labour Party. In any case, we have stated clearly that the Labour Party is open to forensic audit of its accounts.

We are even calling on the NLC to send its own external auditors to check our financial books. We are also calling on Peter Obi to expedite action on the auditing of our accounts. And for the NLC to be using this as a cheap blackmail is to show their high level of desperation and mischief.




The military junta in Niger Republic says it has ended its cooperation with the United States.

The agreement allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the US department of defence to operate in the country.

Announcing the change on national television, Amadou Abdramane, Niger military spokesperson, said the agreement between the two countries, which was signed in 2012, was imposed and had been in violation of the nations sovereignty.

The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense in the territory of the Republic of Niger, he said.

This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its substance but it also does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people.

The announcement comes after a senior US delegation paid a three-day visit to Niger this week.

Abdramane said during the meetings, Nigerien and US officials discussed the military transition in Niger.

He, however, said the US delegation was received out of courtesy and did not respect diplomatic practices by not providing information regarding the date of its arrival, the composition of the delegation, and the purpose of the visit.

Abdramane said Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude of the US, accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people.

The government of Niger regrets the desire of the American delegation to deny the Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships capable of helping them truly fight against terrorists, he said.

This attitude is likely to undermine the quality of our centuries-old relations and undermine the trust between our two governments.




A former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Christopher Kolade Nigerian politicians of today only work for their personal interest above national interest.

Kolade stated this in an interview with Channels Television during the week.

The elder statesman said he never joined politics because he would not be able to be myself.

According to him, things have changed compared to the politicians of the first republic  from 1963 to 1966  who actually were serving the country, and were imprisoned because of their beliefs.

He said, My view of politics is that the practice of politics can be very sensitive and one can begin to do things, begin to participate in decisions that conflict with the values, the standards, the principles that one believes. That has been my experience.

Ive never gone into politics because the way it was being practised, I thought I would not be able to be myself if I became a politician now.

That may be simply my own weakness but this is the situation and so when I see politicians today and the way they behave, if I compare todays politicians with politicians of the First Republic, for example.

I can tell that my experience of the politicians of the First Republic was that they actually worked for Nigeria; they actually were serving the country;

they put themselves and their own interests lower than the national interests and some of them in order to serve the country well were actually imprisoned, they suffered hardships in order to get the country to where they thought it should go.

I think that has changed. I believe that today many politicians, in fact most politicians that I know of, tend to put their own interests ahead of the national interest, he said.

Recall that Kolade was appointed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012 to chair the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

But, Kolade said his friends advised him against accepting the role to safeguard his reputation.

He said despite the advice to decline the offer, he went on to accept the job because somebody must do it.

Kolade said, In fact, there was a group of young people that I was mentoring at the time and they said to me in a meeting: We respect you too much, dont go for this.

I asked for Gods direction, I asked them a question: I said so if I dont take it, if I say because I want to protect my reputation I dont take it, whom shall I point to and say you take it, you go and endanger your reputation, you go and do this? I said so I cannot refuse to take it because I know somebody must do it.

What I can do is to say if I go and do it, God is able to see me through it. That was what happened.

So, friends can tell me their preference and sometimes I even have my own preference but I remember always that Im Gods child and that he has my best interests at heart.

Kolade resigned his appointment in 2013 as a result of age, corruption and transparency-related issues.




The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Sunday posted a cryptic message on X, formerly called Twitter, after 16 military personnel were killed in Delta state.

The personnel  comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers  were killed on Thursday while on a peacekeeping mission in Okuoma, Bomadi LGA of Delta.

They had reportedly responded to a distress call after a communal clash between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities.

In a post on X, the DHQ simply said: The Audacity, accompanied with a black love emoji.

The post has since been deleted.

In 2001, more than 100 people were killed in Zaki Biam, a community in Benue state, by soldiers who were out to avenge the death of 19 of their colleagues.

The soldiers were killed when they were deployed to restore law and order, following clashes between the Tiv in Benue and Jukun in Taraba.

Two years prior, the army invaded Odi, a community in Bayelsa state, and killed many civilians. The death toll from what became known as the Odi massacre is still disputed.

The army had invaded the community after 12 police officers were killed by a militia.

In 2009, tens of thousands of civilians were caught in the crossfire between the Joint Task Force (JTF) and armed groups in Gbaramatu, a community nestled in Warri, Delta state.

The JTF offensive began after personnel were reported to have been attacked by armed groups from the community.

In 2014, government officials said about 26,000 people were displaced by fighting in Bama, Borno state, after soldiers battled to retake a town that had been seized by Boko Haram insurgents.




President Bola Tinubu has broken his silence on the attack in Okuama community, Delta State, which left 22 officers and men of the Nigerian Army dead.

According to the President, the soldiers were on a peace mission, responding to a communal crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities.

Tinubu vowed that the culprits will be brought to book.

He said his administration will do everything possible to maintain peace in every part of the country.

The President noted that the Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to be involved in the killing of the Army officers and soldiers.

The statement reads: On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred on Thursday, March 14, 2024, when our troops, responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, were ambushed.

A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed.

As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.

I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident.

The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished. This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage, and uncommon grit and patriotism.

As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our nation safe, strong, and united.

The officers and men who died in Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.

Members of our armed forces are at the heart and core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.

The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.

My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep members of our armed forces safe.
A Vision of Luck

Those who believe in manifestation know that envisioning a desired outcome with great emotion and optimism is a key step in the process of attraction. Imagining the lucky circumstance is happening now and feeling grateful and celebratory is in there, too. The solar conjunction to dreamy Neptune lends augmented powers of vision to this St. Patricks Day.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Humor helps you hook into reality. It gives the lightness and flexibility of mind you need to be fully present. In fact, you will gauge your level of awareness by your ability to find whats funny about your surroundings.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). A fiery spirit within you ignites. The redness of passion fuels your ambitions. In other words, just another day in the life of an Aries. The one who tempers this fire with a cool, collected demeanor will be of particular interest to you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The right way to leave things is usually not decided on impulse. It may take time and planning to end a thing. There will likely be stages to it. Expect a process, and give yourself grace along every moment of it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are some people who like you, and yet they just dont really get who you are. Being appreciated for your image is still being appreciated. Its not ideal, but this is power nonetheless, and you can use it to get closer to what you really want.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Youll embrace a spirit of camaraderie by volunteering for community activities or joining clubs and organizations that resonate with your passions. In these collaborative efforts, theres a tapestry of friendships waiting to be woven.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Is there anything less relaxing than someone telling you to relax? It always seems to come from the wrong person at the wrong time. Youll relax when youre good and ready, after the situation is handled.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The situation will bear the weight you give to it. It will take the amount of space in your psyche and life that you allow it to. Imagine youre creating the container, and make it the right size and strength to hold the situation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Its a big yes from the universe today. Youll mostly feel it in the way people respond to you. They pick up what youre putting down, buy what youre selling and return the serve.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Learning people is a way of respecting them and maybe even loving them. As you stay aware to how a person behaves, pay attention to what they dont do as well. The latter focus will give you the most information.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are determined to do whatever it takes to defend, encourage and uplift someone. Because of this, something inside you wakes up -- an intuition activates. Youll know just what to do.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You know your purpose and you recognize it as worthy. Not everything youre moved to do is entirely logical, and yet you can trust yourself to act in a way that will serve your purpose.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Youre not the most objective person when it comes to you. A little introspection will go a long way. Too much will thwart your productivity. Connect with others today. They will show you a different side of yourself.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (March 17). Your work will exceed expectation and then defy it completely, taking you to places you wouldnt have dreamed youd go. Youll find bridges that transcend boundaries, connecting you with souls from all walks of life. More highlights: Youll be lavished in sweet affection. Personal growth aids finances. Youll experience stylish transportation. Gemini and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 20, 1, 44, 38 and 17.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: In the television series Unstable, Rob Lowe plays the eccentric father to a character played by John Owen Lowe, his actual son. The actor and activist is among a select group of celebrities who seem able to defy time itself and remain perennially ageless. Maybe its his youthful Mercury and Jupiter in Aries! Lowe is an artistic Pisces with Mars also in this psychic and sensitive sign.

Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
The son of the Dukes of Wales, Prince George, who will turn 11 in the summer, is already preparing for the role of King of the United Kingdom. When the eldest heir to Crown Prince William went to school, he was told about the succession to the throne, but he was taught to behave in public accordingly earlier.

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CafeMom, a well-known website for parents, named the main signs that the little prince is being taught the behavior and duties of a ruler from an early age. According to experts, his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, also did this until her death.

Private audiences

The British media, citing royal insiders, said that from the age of 5, the Queen arranged private meetings with George, and this was repeated until her death. She already had many great-grandchildren, but she paid special attention to the eldest of them as the future king. Perhaps during these meetings, the ruler shared her experience with him to the extent that his childish mind could perceive.

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Portraits and photos

In the lives of British rulers, special attention is paid to portraits. Sometimes a wrong shot can cause a loud scandal, as recently happened with George's mother Kate Middleton. So, the Windsor collection has many photos with the Queen, Charles, William, and George as contenders for the crown. Now the schoolboy's grandfather holds the throne, after his death it will be the Duke of Wales, and then it will be George's turn.

Public events

There are no strict requirements for the younger sister and brother of the future king to attend all official and social events, although they often do so together. From an early age, the 10-year-old is taught how to behave in front of cameras and subjects, how to behave with restraint, and even how to wave properly.

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"Smart clothes"

Modern fashion and design services allow the Dukes to dress their children in classic looks almost from the cradle. However, only George adheres to such a strict dress code and attends most events in classic two-piece suits. Shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers are almost always unavailable to the prince, which seems to hint at his status and role in the family.

A special role at the coronation

Charles III made sure to include George in the coronation process when he was just 9 years old. The prince was chosen to act as his grandfather's page of honor during the ceremony, but usually such duties are given to schoolchildren aged 10 to 13. The deviation from tradition may mean that the reigning king wanted to show his grandson up close what he would have to go through someday, in order to further entrench the idea of succession.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop will deliver this years State of the City address at City Hall Thursday, the 11th in his three-term tenure as mayor and the first since declaring his candidacy to become New Jerseys next governor.

Fulop is expected to highlight his administrations innovative efforts and transformative achievements over the past 11 years and future goals to bring further progress to Jersey City, city officials said.
While no winning tickets were sold for Saturdays $600 million Powerball jackpot, a ticket worth $1 million was sold in New Jersey, according to the Powerball website.

The winning numbers were 12, 23, 44, 57 and 61. The Powerball was 5, with a Power Play of 2X.

Winning $1 million tickets that matched five numbers were also sold in Michigan and South Carolina.

The jackpot stands at $645 million for the next drawing on Monday night.

No one has hit the jackpot since a lottery player in Michigan won the $842.4 million jackpot on New Years Day. Since then, 32 drawings have been held without a top prize winner.

The odds of hitting Saturdays Powerball jackpot were 292,201,388 to 1. A player who bought a $2 ticket had about a 1 in 11,688,053 chance to match five numbers and win at least $1 million, while the odds were 913,129 to 1 to win a third prize of at least $50,000.

Powerball drawings are held each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com.
A 26-year-old man suspected of killing two family members and his childrens mother in Pennsylvania in an hours-long crime spree has been charged in New Jersey following a manhunt, authorities said Sunday.

Andre Gordon Jr. was arrested in Trenton on Saturday after authorities say he shot and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. He then allegedly killed Taylor Daniel, 25, the mother of his two children.

He fled to New Jersey, where about 60 law enforcement officers searched for him until his arrest, according to state Attorney General Matthew Platkin. Gordon entered a residence on Phillips Avenue and was later found on New York Avenue at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday.

The string of violent acts that took place yesterday, allegedly at the hands of a single armed individual, alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties, Platkin said in a statement. It is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor to do immense damage and leave a trail of tragedies in their wake.

Heres what we know about the case, so far:

Charges

Gordon is charged with three counts of both first-and second-degree murder and a slew of related charges in Pennsylvania Superior Court, records obtained Sunday show. Bucks County officials said he will remain in New Jersey custody ahead of an extradition.

Gordon was charged in New Jersey with first-degree carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, along with possession of an assault firearm, possession of a firearm without a serial number, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines and possession of hollow-point ammunition.

How Gordon allegedly obtained the gun allegedly used in the crime spree was unclear on Sunday.

He was being held at the Mercer County jail. No information about his attorney was immediately available.

Timeline of the alleged crimes

Gordon allegedly began his crime spree by carjacking a vehicle near Donnelly Homes, a public housing complex managed by the Trenton Housing Authority. Police were informed of the stolen car around 8:40 a.m. Saturday, New Jersey officials said.

Using the stolen car, Gordon crossed into Falls Township, a Philadelphia suburb west of Trenton across the Delaware River, officials said. He drove to his familys home on Viewpoint Lane in the townships Levittown section, armed with an AR-style rifle, local police said.

Trenton police thought the suspect was hiding in a house and the residents were successfully evacuated with no injuries. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP

After fatally shooting both his stepmother and sister, Gordon allegedly broke into a home on nearby Edgewood Lane, killing Daniel, the mother of his children, while four others were inside. Police said Gordon injured Daniels mother, who was being treated at a hospital for unknown injuries.

Gordon then carjacked another man at gunpoint outside a Pennsylvania store, using the car to return to Trenton, authorities said.

Capture and response

Falls Township police issued shelter-in-place orders following the deaths in Pennsylvania. The Bucks County St. Patricks Day parade was canceled, and the search forced the Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place in nearby Langhorne to close.

In New Jersey, officers from across the region responded to the search, Platkin said Sunday.

As law enforcement officers, we rely on our professional training and experience when handling events like this, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan said in a statement Sunday. These situations are challenging and show the dangers law enforcement officers face daily.

Police focused their search on Trenton after the second stolen vehicle was found around 11:38 a.m. Gordon was arrested around 5 p.m. near a Trenton home.

The arrest ended an hours-long manhunt that led to confusion in two states. Police initially thought Gordon was barricaded in a home on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in North Trenton.

Police believed Gordon was holding hostages in the house after one of the residents called 911 while hiding, officials said Saturday. The residents and their neighbors were safely evacuated by a SWAT team as police surrounded the area.

However, authorities later said they learned Gordon had left the house before police arrived.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims and their families, Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said. Id like to thank the local, county, and state authorities for their immediate deployment of additional resources that helped prevent further injury and loss of life to the public and to any law enforcement officer.

We are pleased that this incident ended with the peaceful apprehension of the suspect, he added.

Lehigh Valley Live staff writer Kurt Bresswein, NJ Advance Media staff writers Adam Clark, Bill Duhart, Brent Johnson, Deion Johnson, and Kevin Shea, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A Rutgers University student filed a class action lawsuit Friday against unionized professors who went on strike last spring, alleging the unions were aware that strikes would cancel classes, causing students to miss out on the education they had paid for.

The suit, which was filed Friday in Middlesex County Superior Court, seeks to have the strike declared illegal and class status certified for 67,000 students who were denied a week of education.
A man suspected of killing three people in Pennsylvania on Saturday morning and fleeing to Trenton has been taken into custody, authorities said.

Andre Gordon, 26, was found around 5 p.m. near a Trenton home where he was initially believed to have barricaded himself, said Steve Wilson, the city police director. No one was injured during the arrest.

Gordon, believed to be homeless with ties to Trenton, is suspected of shooting and killing his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, before also killing Taylor Daniel, 25, the mother of his two children, authorities said.

The shootings occurred at two separate homes in Falls Township, a Philadelphia suburb about six miles from New Jersey, authorities said.

Gordon will be charged in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at the appropriate time, according to the county prosecutors office.

The arrest ended an hours-long manhunt that stirred fear and confusion in two states and led police to what they thought was a barricaded home on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in North Trenton.

The alleged spree began when Gordon stole a car in the area of the Donnelly Homes in North Trenton on Saturday morning, Wilson said. He then crossed state lines in the stolen vehicle to Falls Township, authorities said.

Gordon allegedly shot and killed his stepmother and sister at their home on Viewpoint Lane in the Levittown section of Falls Township before 9 a.m., Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn said in a briefing with reporters Saturday afternoon.

Other people in the home were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them, she said.

Steve Wilson, police director for the city, speaks in Trenton, N.J. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. A man suspected of killing several people in their Philadelphia-area homes was later arrested in New Jersey's capital city following a major police response, authorities said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP

After that, Gordon allegedly broke into a home on nearby Edgewood Lane, where he shot and killed Daniel, the mother of his children, Schorn said. Four other people were inside, including the victims mother, whom Gordon allegedly injured, Schorn said. The woman is being treated at a local hospital, Schorn said.

Gordon allegedly used an AR-15 style assault rifle, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said.

He then allegedly carjacked a man at gunpoint around 9:13 a.m. in the parking lot of the Dollar General in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, authorities said.

Local officials in Pennsylvania quickly ordered Falls Township residents to shelter in place, canceled the countys St. Patricks Day parade and closed the nearby Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place amusement park.

The stolen car was found abandoned in Trenton around 11:38 a.m., Schorn said.

Police initially believed Gordon had taken hostages in the home where he had fled after one of the residents called 911 from hiding, Wilson said. The residents and their neighbors were safely evacuated by a SWAT team as police surrounded the area.

Authorities later learned Gordon escaped the home before police surrounded the perimeter. He was ultimately found several blocks away.

Lehigh Valley Live staff writer Kurt Bresswein, NJ Advance Media staff writers Bill Duhart, Brent Johnson, and Kevin Shea, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com.

Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com.
Sunday is St. Patricks Day, and if youre looking to celebrate with a parade, youre in luck.

St. Patricks Day parades are being held Sunday in Bayonne, Freehold and South Amboy. They are the latest in a series of celebrations that began in early March and will continue through next weekend.

Newton, North Wildwood and Sea Isle City were scheduled to host parades earlier this weekend.

For those whove missed out so far, and perhaps are busy today  its not over. New Jerseys extensive schedule of St. Patricks Day parades concludes next Saturday with three additional parades.

All told, more than 30 parades were scheduled this month to honor St. Patrick, the primary patron saint of Ireland.

Newark held its St. Patrick Day parade, the oldest in New Jersey, on Friday. It was first held in 1936.

Heres a list of New Jersey parades scheduled for this weekend, and beyond.

Sunday, March 17

Bayonne

The Bayonne St. Patricks Day parade is Sunday, March 17, at 1 p.m. The parade route begins at Broadway and Fifth Street, heads north to 39th Street and west to Avenue C before ending at the entrance of Stephen R. Gregg/Bayonne County Park. Sheila OBoyle Hudacko, a longtime parade volunteer, is the grand marshal.

Freehold

The Freehold St. Patricks Day parade is Sunday, March 17, at 12:30 p.m. The parade route runs down Main Street and ends at Freehold Elks Lodge 1454. This years grand marshal is Teri OConnor, the administrator of Monmouth County.

South Amboy

The South Amboy St. Patricks Day parade is Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. South Amboy Council President Michael Mickey Gross is the grand marshal.

Saturday, March 23

Highlands

The 20th Highlands St. Patricks Day parade is Saturday, March 23, at 2 p.m. Tim Hill, who retired in 2016 as Highlands business administrator, is the grand marshal.

Keyport

The Keyport St. Patricks Day parade is Saturday, March 23, at 1 p.m.

Ringwood

The 33rd Ringwood St. Patricks Day parade is Saturday, March 23, at 1 p.m. The grand marshal is Jack Fehrenback, a 38-year Ringwood resident and longtime volunteer.

Are we missing any St. Patricks Day parades happening this weekend? Please let us know.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
There was a day, long ago, when Americans could defend unconditional support for Israel. It was David fighting Goliath, a democracy struggling to survive against long odds, while offering credible peace plans designed to pave the way for a Palestinian state.

But the war in Gaza has shown us a new Israel, a grotesque perversion of the original, now a Goliath itself, stomping on weaker Palestinians, cutting off food and medicine as it pounds one neighborhood after another into dust. All while expanding settlements on the West Bank and vowing to forever suffocate Palestinian hopes for their own state.

Children in Gaza are starving to death, a few miles from crowded dinner tables in Israel. In the handful of hospitals left standing in Gaza, doctors are operating without anesthesia in many cases. More than 80 percent of Gazans are homeless, running for their lives, waiting in fear of the next offensive. Anarchy reigns, with no plan to end it.

This cant be justified, and it cant be called self-defense. This is savagery, and its time for America to draw the line, to call unequivocally for a cease-fire in the United Nations, and to begin cutting offensive arms, and attaching conditions on their use. Israel is making itself a global pariah, with our weapons, making us complicit in all this.

The ties that bind us to Israel, once as strong as iron, are beginning to fray. Last week, eight Democratic U.S. Senators signed a letter to President Biden urging him to obey existing American law, which calls for a cutoff of offensive arms to any nation that interferes with the delivery of humanitarian aid from the United States.

Israel has the right to defend itself, said Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, one of the signers. But Israel does not have  in any way, shape or form  the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Delaware put it this way: I dont know how many more kids have to starve before we use all the levers of our influence.

New Jerseys senators, Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, did not sign the letter, and neither would answer questions on the topic, even through press staffs.

After the letter came a bigger shock: Sen. Chuck Schumer, perhaps Israels most avid supporter in Congress, used a floor speech on Thursday morning to call for new elections in Israel to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Biden on Friday called it a good speech.)

Nobody expects Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the thing that must be done to break the cycle of violence, preserves Israels credibility on the world stage, and work towards a two-state solution, he said.

These are not fringe voices. President Biden himself has called the Israeli bombings indiscriminate and warned against an invasion of Rafah, the southern corner of Gaza, where the United Nations says half of Gaza population is crammed in, facing horrific shortages of food, clean water and medicine. Netanyahu says he is determined to invade, a move thats certain to create new levels of carnage.

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In Israels defense, it was Hamas that picked this fight with its barbaric attacks on civilians on Oct. 7. Taking hundreds of hostages adds to its war crimes. And by hiding in tunnels underneath homes, hospitals, mosques and schools, Hamas bears moral responsibility for the civilian deaths as well. American critics of Israel on the hard left who glamorized the attack as an anti-colonial liberation fight are demented fools. If Israel fought back with some concern for civilians, this war would be entirely justified.

But Israel is showing no restraint. It has dropped hundreds of 2,000-pound bombs in civilian areas, even in places they had advised Palestinians to flee for safety. These bombs are so powerful they can injure or kill people 1,000 feet away, the distance of three football fields. The cut in arms should begin with those monstrous bombs, which have no place in urban warfare.

Biden has been a huge disappointment on this. He comes from a generation that cherishes Israel as a lone democracy surrounded by hostile neighbors, a small nation fighting for survival against the odds, and somehow winning, again and again.

But that Israel left the stage many years ago, as it began to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and as Netanyahu maneuvered to block a Palestinian state. One of his tactics was to permit financial support of Hamas rule in Gaza to cement its rupture with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, a cynical stunt designed to thwart a Palestinian state.

The Israeli paper, Haaretz, quoted Netanyahu as saying in 2019, Whoever opposes a Palestinian state must support delivery of funds to Gaza because maintaining separation between the PA in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza will prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

This political design, this promise to block a Palestinian state, is the backdrop to the brutality in Gaza. Senior members of Netanyahus cabinet go even further and call for the expulsion of Palestinians altogether, and the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.

The United States needs to make a clean break with these fanatics. They have charted a course that is unjust and violent, one that promises only more bloodshed and hatred. It is a scary moment for Israel, and heartbreaking.

But America is not to blame for this rupture. If Israel wants to save this alliance and stop the bleeding of public support for its cause in America, it will have to change course.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

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Water Seed has been Clark Kenting it, says drummer and vocalist Lou Hill.

The New Orleans band has always been forward-looking, both in its progressive mix of funk, soul, electronic music and pop  a blend Water Seed dubbed Future Funk  and in its ambitions. Fans of sci-fi, comic books and tech, the band members over the years imagined new ways to present Water Seed, their performances and their storytelling, but while there have been glimpses along the way, practical constraints have kept the band from creating the worlds theyve pictured. Audiences have only seen maybe 15% or so of what Water Seed hoped to one day do, Hill estimates.

Now, with the new immersive concert Journey to Funkstar, Water Seed is turning many of those ambitions into a reality. And with a desire to grow what theyre capable of, Hill says, this isnt so much a new era as it is Water Seed moving past Clark Kent constraints and showing off its Superman potential.

Journey to Funkstar, which takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, March 22, at The Hangar, brings together music, video, lighting, projection mapping, augmented reality, cosplay and impressive world building in a 90-minute show.

Water Seed  Hill, keyboardist Jentleman Sharp and flautist Cinese Love  along with bassist Jemila Dunham, guitarist Grant Hudson and percussionist Ezell Smith Jr. will provide the soundtrack while large screens display 3D animation (made with the powerful Unreal Engine software) that moves the audience through the intergalactic fantasy. Augmented reality, lighting and other elements around The Hanger tie the project together, Hill says.

Its something weve been working on for a number of years now, Love says. To do it here in New Orleans is going to mean a lot. To realize that vision, those conversations that have been had  and to have the team and support means a lot.

The concept has been in the works for a while, says Hill, who founded the band while living in Atlanta following Hurricane Katrina and the federal levee failures. Water Seed relocated back to New Orleans in 2014.

The band has been calling itself Future Funk Stars for a long time, and early on, Hill and other band members started building a fictional mythology around the Funk Stars. They had an original comic book concept, but ultimately decided to shelve it.

A few years later, another comic book idea struck Hill, and this time Water Seed developed it into Sounds of the Wasteland, a comic book series and EP released in 2022. It opened up a new world for the band, Hill says, especially as Water Seed began hosting events around Sounds of the Wasteland that blended music, comic books and gaming .

Water Seed has been developing Journey to Funkstar for more than a year. Hill says this first edition will introduce audiences to the characters, people and mythology of Funkstar and its surrounding galaxy. A spacesuit-wearing narrator will welcome concertgoers and guide them through several cities and environments as the story unfolds.

This particular portion of the story is a prequel to the prequel to the prequel, Hill says. We visit Funkstar, we meet a small sliver of our bad guy, two people fall in love, theres some conflict and the Funk Stars defeat their enemy through the beautiful sounds of music.

Water Seed hopes to take the concept in a number of directions in the future  were still only seeing about half of what the band would like to do, Hill says.

Were preparing like weve never prepared for a show before, Hill says. We use stuff like Unreal Engine. Were using MetaHuman. Were using motion capture. Theres a ton of people working behind the scenes. Theres animators, directors, actors. Theres all these people who have signed on to help us bring this thing to life and really make it a super impactful emotional experience.

Water Seed has collaborated with a number of people and organizations for Journey to Funkstar, including animators from New Orleans Metric Creative, ticketing platform Lyte, tech company Rypplzz and filmmaker and performing artist Gian Smith, who directed the visual story that will unfold on screens.

The band will be joined on stage by Erica Falls, Brass-A-Holics, Kr3wcial, HaSizzle and Casme. And Marvels Voices host Angelique Roche, voice actor Dan White and Terence Rosemore, who will appear in James Gunns upcoming Superman film, also are special guests.

As many concerts as Ive been to, the most immersive experience I can remember might have been Janelle Monae and how she used the screen, Smith says, but this will definitely be something way different than even that. I dont know what artist I would have seen that I would think, This is something they would have done.

Because Journey to Funkstar involves the intersection of music and art, math, science and technology, Water Seed is hosting a behind-the-scenes tour for schools to show kids how the show was built. A grant from the Positive Vibrations Foundation is supporting the tour.

We want kids to understand that right here in New Orleans, tech is here and that everything is a tech move, Hills says. If youre an artist, if youre a musician, if youre a songwriter, if you want to make films or build video games, its right here in the city. And we want to be a lightning rod to kids to be like, If they did it, we can do it.

After the March 22 premiere, Water Seed will adapt the show for a French Quarter Fest set on April 14 and will release a corresponding album. The band also plans to tour Journey to Funkstar in the near future, but it was important for them to do it first in New Orleans, Hill says.

The decision was made to debut it here because its home and New Orleans needs to put a stamp on it, he adds. We view this as an opportunity for New Orleans to do what New Orleans does, and to stake a claim and say That concept came out of New Orleans.

Tickets for Journey to Funkstar are $30 general admission and $39 VIP. Find more at journeytofunkstar.com.
Ukrainian actor Ivan Blindar, who played the role of Andriy Kuzmenko in the movie Me, Victory and Berlin, admitted that he is studying military affairs. The actor believes that in a full-scale war, one should be prepared to go to the front to defend his native land from Russian invaders.

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Currently, Blindar is helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a volunteer, but he does not rule out that sooner or later he will have to join the Armed Forces himself. He shared his thoughts in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, which was posted on YouTube.

"These are the times when you either need to be in the Armed Forces or for the Armed Forces. There is no third option. So you need to live as much as possible in these pauses while you are donating, working for donations, learning to fight, or fighting. Don't forget about life," said the actor who plays Kuzma Scriabin in the film based on the story of the legendary deceased musician.

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Not long ago, Blindar visited Donetsk region, in particular Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka. There he talked to Ukrainian heroes, to whom he plans to show the film about Kuzma in the future.

Communication with the soldiers inspired Ivan to prepare for service in the Armed Forces. The actor says he has already completed a course in tactical medicine, but now his goal is to master drone control.

"I made an agreement with the guys - we downloaded a training course for a drone, a Mavic, and my classmate handed me the remote control. I'll be learning a little bit on my own. As the saying goes, it's better to know and use than not to know and shit yourself. Plus, I still want to master FPV, but in the future I would like to learn how to fly large wings - Leleka... In case of emergency, you have to be ready for anything," Blindar said.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Kuzma Scriabin's wife Svitlana Babiychuk and their daughter Barbara attended the pre-premiere screening of the film Me, Victory and Berlin in Kyiv. The artist's family members rarely go out and communicate with the press, but this time they made an exception, because the film is based on a story by Andriy Kuzmenko.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Faimon Roberts III covers rural communities in Louisiana. His work is supported by a reporting grant from the Microsoft Journalism Initiative and is administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

He can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com.
Russians continue to complain about the shelling of Belgorod, which has been happening almost every day lately. Russian propagandists and residents of the city publish videos and photos of the debris collected at the sites of the attacks.

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However, this debris is not from Ukrainian missiles, but from the ammunition used by Russian air defense to shoot them down. This was noted by Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military and political observer of the Information Resistance group.

"Russian air defense missiles continue to fall on the heads of Belgorod residents. In recent days, Belgorod residents have provided a lot of photos and videos with the wreckage of not Ukrainian missiles, but with elements of air defense systems for S-300, Tor-M2, Pantsyr-S1," he stated.

The Information Resistance observer also showed photos with fragments of Russian ammunition, which are being distributed online under the guise of "fragments of Ukrainian missiles."

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At the same time, Kovalenko emphasized that, unlike the civilian population, numerous "military commanders" must understand exactly what they are showing as "proof" of the "crimes" of the Ukrainian army.

"Of course, the average resident of Belgorod will not be able to tell the difference between a 122-mm rocket and a 5B55 S-300, but the funny thing is that the so-called Russian 'military officers', who should in principle have at least some understanding of the types of weapons, present Russian SAMs as 'evidence' of the crimes of the Ukranian Nazis! Clowns," the expert wrote.

Meanwhile, Russian propagandists announced a new shelling of Belgorod, publishing photos of the aftermath. The propaganda media do not mention what percentage of the damage was caused by the "Belgorod air defense system", which Belgorodians massively confessed their love for on social media at the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression.

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Earlier, on March 17, it was reported that explosions occurred in Belgorod after the Russian army attempted to shoot down targets. Local authorities and propaganda rushed to accuse Ukraine of terrorism and claim destruction and casualties.

It was also reported that fighters of the "Siberian Battalion" said they had entered the village of Gorkovsky near Belgorod and occupied the administration. Volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion and Chechen volunteers who support an independent Ichkeria reportedly took part in the operation.

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Residents and their families in North Devon have reason to celebrate as Care South, the owner of Kenwith Castle and Fremington Manor has secured its position among top national care providers for the fourth consecutive year.

The not-for-profit charity has been honoured as one of the Top 20 Care Home Groups in the UK at the prestigious Care Home Awards.

The charity operates Kenwith Castle at Abbotsham near Bideford offers residential and specialist dementia care amidst 40 acres of picturesque parkland.

It also runs Fremington Manor, an elegant 19th-century country house care home in Barnstaple, specialises in nursing and residential care.

Care South operates across Dorset, North Devon, Somerset, and West Sussex, with facilities consistently delivering high-quality care to residents.

At the heart of this recognition is the invaluable feedback from residents, relatives, and friends, shared on the care home reviews guide, carehome.co.uk.

With an average group review score of 9.7 out of 10, Care South continues to set the standard for exceptional care provision.

Simon Bird, Chief Executive of Care South said: We are thrilled to receive the Top 20 Award for the fourth year in a row. It is even more pleasing given that this accolade is based on reviews from residents in our care, their families, and their friends and given their actual experiences of us."

He continued, "Naturally, I am so proud of all our caring teams at Care Souths care homes who work so tirelessly and compassionately to make sure that all residents in our care have the best possible experience in later life. Clearly food, fun, and friendship are in good supply at our care homes, which means our residents continue to live their lives to the full, whilst in our care.
Earlier this month, Torridge District councillors and officers gathered at Riverbank House to raise the Commonwealth Flag with councillor Doug Bushby, chair of Torridge District Council presiding over the event.

The Commonwealth represents over 2.5 billion people or about a third of the worlds population, and almost a quarter of the world in size.

It remains a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states constituted by the London Declaration of 1949 as the Commonwealth of Nations but continues to be open for any country to join.

The theme of this years celebration, One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth, encourages members to harness their strengths by building resilience, unlocking potential and leveraging the 'Commonwealth Advantage' to foster a connected, digital Commonwealth.

It is believed this transformation is vital to ensure a resilient common future where no one is left behind.

Councillor Doug Bushby, chair of Torridge District Council said: The flag-raising ceremony is an opportunity for us all to express commitment to shared beliefs for prosperity, democracy, peace and respect.

This year's theme aligns with Torridge District Council's goal of improving the community by committing to create good-quality employment opportunities for future generations.
In the run up to the introduction of the all-new Swift Hybrid this spring, Suzuki has been looking back on the last 40 years of its popular model.

Suzuki is well-known as the small car expert and Swift sales recently passed nine million units since its inception as a globally-focused car in 2004.

The Suzuki Swift was originally marketed in Japan and sold as the Cultus/SA310 until early 1985 when the Swift name was used for Europe and the model launched in the UK. In Japan, the Swift name only became used in the late 1990s.

It was first launched in 1983 at the 25th Tokyo Motor Show and went head-to-head with the Toyota Starlet and Nissan Micra. Very early models utilised a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with leaf springs for the rear suspension.

Later Swifts were powered by a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine that was noted by media at the time for its smoothness and good fuel economy. The dashboard was a mix of analogue and digital instruments including a gear selection indicator for the optional three-speed automatic transmission.

In the UK, Swift was offered in both three-door and five-door hatchback forms as well as a 1.3GTi three-door model.

1989-2003: Introduced in the UK in 1989, this model was the longest running Swift variant with production spanning over 13 years.

This Swift, with its pronounced wedge styling, had similar dimensions to the first model introduced in 1983 but was redesigned to make better use of the luggage area and cabin space. It featured four wheel independent suspension and was available as both three and five door variants with either 1.0-litre three cylinder or 1.3-litre four cylinder engines.

A 1.3-litre GTi three door was also available with almost 100bhp and four wheel disc brakes and was classed as one of the first hot hatchbacks of the era.

On average, Suzuki GB sold around 5,000 units every year of this Swift and it was a popular hatchback with its high standard specification and low fuel consumption - a rare sight on UK roads now with only around 470 examples currently registered.

2005-2010: Launched in the UK in May 2005 and following an 18-month break after the previous model, Swift was the first product of a radical innovation programme.

Much of the chassis development and refinement was based on real-world intelligence gained through extensive road and track testing.

The result was an innovative, sporty and elegant design with international appeal. The stylists deliberately shunned the trend towards one-box uniformity, instead producing a design with a distinct bonnet.

This generation was available with either 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines and the 1.6-litre Sport three door model was introduced in May 2006.

2010-2017: Introduced in the UK in September 2010 with SZ3, SZ4 and SZ5 grades with optional Allgrip 4WD technology.

At launch, Swift was one of the cleanest petrol engine superminis on the market with emissions of just 116g/km and only 30 in annual VED charges. Seven airbags included as standard.

Versus its predecessor, Swift 1.2-litre was even more economical with fuel consumption on the combined cycle 56.5mpg for the manual transmission model, an improvement of 7.8mpg over the previous 1.3-litre unit.

The 1.6-litre Sport model with six speed manual transmission was introduced to high acclaim early in 2012.

2017-2023: This Swift, on sale in the UK and Republic of Ireland since June 2017, then facelifted for 2021 model year with revised front-end styling, higher standard specification and even further emphasis on safety equipment levels.

All models were fitted with Suzukis enhanced 12V Hybrid system. Available in SZ-L, SZ-T, SZ5 and 1.4-litre Sport grades.

Suzuki launched the Swift in May 2017 in the UK and Ireland with 2WD and Allgrip optional 4WD, it was then facelifted for 2021 with a new 1.2-litre enhanced Hybrid engine as well as further standard safety upgrades.

Available as standard for all Swift models, the upgraded 12V Hybrid system is a compact and lightweight unit that incorporates an Integrated Starter Generator (known as ISG) which acts as both a generator and starter motor.

The 1.4-litre Sport model with six speed manual transmission was introduced in May 2018 and a 48V Hybrid application for even greater economy and lower emissions was added in 2020.

Meet the Swift in North Devon at County Suzuki in Barnstaple  visit www.countygaragegroup.co.uk for more information.
CARMEL  In two months, Hoosier voters will be selecting nominees for their next governor. Former Republican school superintendent Jennifer McCormick will be the Democrat nominee, and Libertarians have nominated Donald Rainwater again. For Republicans, there are an unprecedented six candidates seeking to replace term-limited Gov. Eric Holcomb.

I say "unprecedented" because in the television age of Hoosier politics, the GOP primary race usually comes down to two or three candidates, like in 2004 when Mitch Daniels faced Eric Miller after the field winnowed. That six candidates are in the field in a race that will almost certainly exceed $20 million means that no one has consolidated a grip on the nomination ... yet.

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun is the perceived frontrunner. A poll this week by The Hill and Emerson College had him leading the field with 33%, followed by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch at 7.2%, Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden at 6.6% and former Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers at 5.2%. Also in the race are former attorney general Curtis Hill and businesswoman Jamie Reitenouer.

That leaves a whopping 43% undecided.

Brian Gramache, spokesman for the Doden campaign, observes that "despite spending more than $3 million, Mike Braun has slipped from 47% to 34% in the most recent public survey. Thats a 13-point drop in the polls without a dollar of advertising spent against him." He cited internal Braun polls showing the senator with 40% in late December and 47% in late November.

So this race is in a state of flux, as to be expected. Coming next will be a spate of attack (or contrasting) TV ads. By this weekend, whether you are watching Fox59, CNN or Peacock, this race will switch into hyper-mode, and the gloves will finally slip off the brass knuckles.

We will be the beneficiary of a seven-figure broadcast, mail, digital and streaming independent buy attacking Braun by this weekend, Marty Obst, senior adviser for the Brad Chambers campaign, told Howey Politics/State Affairs Pro earlier this week.

But Obst contends that internal polling for Chambers about two weeks ago shows Brauns support is shallow. Brauns numbers are weak and soft, Obst said. He will be vulnerable to attacks from Doden  and Chambers  affiliated PACs. The perception is that Braun is up with about 40%, but it is soft. Doden, Crouch and Chambers are crowded around second place.

The Chambers campaign has spent $8 million thus far ginning up his name ID and positive message. Obst insisted Chambers wouldn't have entered this race had there not been a path to victory.

Gamache added, To date, the Doden campaign has spent less than $5 million on media and advertising, and thanks to our strong fundraising, were well-positioned to continue advertising competitively with the other campaigns.

The Crouch campaign, which unveiled its first TV ad earlier this week, declined to specify how much it will spend. Its significant, campaign spokesman Robert Vane said. We will be on the air until May 7.

Braun campaign spokesman Jahan Wilcox declined to specify how much the campaign has spent to date. (Obst says its about $3 million, but Howey Politics/State Affairs has not independently verified any of the ad expenditures.) The rest of the questions pertain to strategy, and we dont discuss that, Wilcox said.

Wilcox confirmed Braun will not participate in next the first debate hosted by the Carmel Current at the Palladium. The sold-out event was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET and livestreamed at YouAreCurrent.com. The campaign did not say why Braun will skip this debate but indicated he will participate in the other scheduled debates in March and April.

Perhaps the biggest advertising change comes with the expansion from broadcast, cable, mail and digital modes and into streaming services as more consumers cut their cable cords.

According to Maya Hoff of Marketplace, "Streaming services  are a relatively new territory for political advertising regulation. Since the FCC has no oversight over how political ads are streamed, the services are left to write their own rules and policies on the ads they choose and how they run them.

Key questions heading into the final two months of the campaign:

1. Will former president Donald Trump come back to Indiana to campaign for his endorsed candidate, Sen. Braun? In 2018, Trump had multiple rallies for Braun, helping him upset Democrat Sen. Joe Donnelly.

2. Will candidates with the ability to self-fund  Braun, Doden and Chambers  write more big personal checks? Chambers just gave his campaign another $2 million on top of the $5 million he seeded last August.

3. Lt. Gov. Crouch will be freed from her Statehouse duties after the General Assembly's sine die this weekend. She has been endorsed by more than 100 locally elected officials, including 27 in law enforcement and won recent straw polls in the 6th Congressional District and Tippecanoe County. Will that local support give Indiana Republicans their first female nominee?

4. Doden has raised close to $700,000 in large donations this past month (compared to $265,000 for Braun, $360,000 for Chambers and $210,000 for Crouch), suggesting he has some momentum.

5. After a generation of GOP campaigns without negative TV ads (by Govs. Daniels, Mike Pence and Holcomb) will the coming din turn off voters?

Stay tuned, folks.
On the night of Sunday, March 17, unidentified drones attacked a number of facilities in Russia. Although the aggressor country's Ministry of Defense claimed that all the drones were shot down, another refinery was on fire in Krasnodar Krai, and electricity and gas supply lines were damaged near Belgorod.

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The attack covered a total of six regions, including the capital. Propaganda channels wrote about it, in some cases publishing footage of hits.

Moscow

According to the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergei Sobyanin, air defense shot down two UAVs in Domodedovo airport, as well as one each in the Ramensky and Stupinsky urban districts. He assured that there were no casualties.

Krasnodar region

Around 03:00, drones attacked a refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban, causing a fire. The Russian operational headquarters reported that one person died in the attack, though it was preliminarily attributed to a heart attack. In general, the Russians said there were no casualties as a result of the fire.

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Belgorod region

Four unmanned aerial vehicles dropped explosive devices on the village of Oktyabrsky in the Belgorod region. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed this, assuring that there were no casualties as a result of the explosions, only damage to electricity and gas supply lines.

Rostov region

According to Governor Vasily Golubev, Russian air defense units successfully repelled an attack by an unmanned aircraft on the approach to Kamensk at night. He said that "the consequences on the ground are being clarified."

Kaluga region

Russian air defense systems allegedly shot down three drones that were attempting to attack infrastructure facilities in Kirovsky district. Governor Vladislav Shapsha claimed that another drone was destroyed on the outskirts of Kaluga on Sunday morning, saying that "there were no casualties or damage". However, task forces were working in the area of the attack.

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Yaroslavl region

Governor Mikhail Evraev reported four downed drones. According to him, there was no damage or casualties at the site of the UAV crash.

As reported, on the night of March 16, SSU drones attacked four Rosneft refineries in the Samara region of Russia. At the Syzran refinery, an atmospheric-vacuum oil distillation unit was put out of commission.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Q: When I checked to see if my home was put into my trust, I discovered my home was still in my name but is TOD into my trust. Is this going to be a problem?

A: Let me start by saying that you are not alone and its certainly not an oops. The Indiana Code allows a trust to be named beneficiary of a TOD deed. I wont go as far as saying its the norm, but its certainly not unheard of.

Now having said that, Im not a big fan of using TOD deeds to fund real estate into the trust. Its not because it doesnt work, but more an interest in keeping everything orderly and simple. Im a firm believer in organization. Its because of this that I use a deed in trust to transfer title of real estate into the name of the trust, usually when it is set up.

My first problem with using a TOD deed rather than a deed in trust is control of the asset. Remember that a trustee can only exert control over assets that are in the trust. If the real estate is not transferred into the trust, the trustee cannot control it. The trustee simply lacks the authority to manage the asset.

Why is this a problem, you ask? Well, for starters, if the grantor of the trust becomes incapacitated or incompetent to the point that they can no longer handle their affairs or live independently, the trustee wont be able to deal with the real estate. That means if the home needs to be sold, the trustee cant handle that for the grantor.

Even if there is someone who can exercise control over the real estate such as an Attorney-in-Fact (AIF) appointed under a Power of Attorney (POA), are they the same person as the trustee? If the AIF and the trustee are different individuals, do their interest align?

What if the AIF and the trustee are different people and the AIF has to sell the home, who gets the proceeds? Will the AIF turn the funds over the trustee or will they administer the funds themselves under the POA?

If the AIF and the trustee are the same person, there probably wont be an issue. However, what if the trust leaves the money to people other than those who would get the money from a probate estate? Or perhaps the AIF keeps control of the funds because that is what they believe the grantor would want them to do.

Im not saying that the AIF wouldnt turn the funds over, but there might be an incentive to keep the funds out of the trust. Now we have a potential fractured estate plan. Also, if you go through all of the time and expense to establish a trust and you designate someone to administer it, dont you want them to be in charge and have enough flexibility to do whatever is necessary to take care of you and ultimately administer their estate?

Now like I said, there are attorneys that still use TOD deeds to fund trusts. I want to make it clear that I dont think they are doing anything wrong. Its just that I prefer to go a different route.

If your attorney utilized a TOD deed, I will of course defer to my more learned counsel. There could be valid reasons to handle the real estate that way and they are in the best position to know all of the facts and circumstances.

I just prefer to simplify the process as much as possible and to make sure that potential issues, even remote ones, are avoided. I dont use TOD deeds to fund trusts, but thats just me.
Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch plans to host her inaugural charitable gala next month for Connecting Youth to Opportunities."

The black tie-optional affair will take place on April 19 at the Stardust Event Center at the Blue Chip Casino at 777 Blue Chip Drive in Michigan City.

The public event will raise money for youth organizations in Michigan City.

This year were doing things a little differently, she said. Our goal is to push out grants to youth-serving organizations. In years past, they only went to two or three organizations; but we have implemented a simple grant process through the United Way of LaPorte County that allows for us to reach more youth. We want to provide safe spaces while enhancing learning opportunities, especially during the summer months."

Sponsors include the Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa, American Structurepoint, HealthLinc, LaPorte County Project Management, Meticulous, NIPSCO and Purdue University Northwest.

We set an ambitious goal of $100,000 and were already over halfway there," she said. "I would like to thank Horizon Bank for stepping up to be our presenting sponsor. We look forward to a sell-out crowd.

Thomas Prame, CEO of Horizon Bank, said the financial institution supposed the cause to give back to the community.

As a company that has been headquartered in Michigan City for over 150 years, we are proud to be able to partner with our elected officials in support of the Mayors Charitable Gala and Mayors Community Empowerment Fund benefitting local youth-serving organizations," he said. "By investing today in our youth, we are helping to ensure the future prosperity of tomorrows leaders and the well-being of our entire community.

For a sponsorship, email mayorsgala@emichigancity.com or call 219-873-1400, ext. 2002.

To buy tickets, call 219-873-1400.
The Porter County Community Foundation gave $11,000 to the MAAC Foundation, the Valparaiso facility that provides training to first responders from across Northwest Indiana, to address mental health.

The $11,000 grant will help fund the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative Foundation's First Responders Mental Health Initiative, which is steered by a committee that includes first responders, doctors, chaplains and health care officials. It aims to bring more mental health resources into the 30-acre campus that includes 15 buildings for realistic training for paramedics, firefighters, police officers and police dogs.

The funds will for instance be used to bring in the military and first responder health and wellness advocate Travis Howze to speak. The author, motivational wellness educator and touring speaker served as a U.S. Marine for 14 years and also has been a police officer and firefighter. He will present a program on mental health and resiliency.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Porter County Community Foundation for their generous support. This grant will allow us to expand training opportunities and resources to include mental health and resiliency to continue positively impacting the first responder community," MAAC Foundation President and CEO Celina Weatherwax said.

MAAC's First Responder Mental Health Initiative aims to help alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, which first responders are estimated to be five times more likely to suffer than the general public. They have to cope with high-stress jobs, high-stakes conditions, traumatic events, long hours and sometimes life-threatening situations.

First responder careers are known for being dangerous and physically demanding, but the conversation is just getting started about the mental and emotional challenges these roles present. Porter County Community Foundation is proud to support our first responders and this mental health initiative, Porter County Community Foundation President and CEO Bill Higbie said.

For more information, visit www.maacfoundation.org
The Urban League of Northwest Indiana held its annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Symposium at Valparaiso University Thursday.

The Urban League, which has worked to improve the lives of African Americans and other minorities in Northwest Indiana for the last 78 years, discussed how to "Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity and Defeat Poverty" at the daylong symposium at the Harr Union on the campus of the Lutheran university on U.S. 30 in Valpo.

High school students from across the Region took part in interactive sessions. Workshops served to raise awareness on diversity, equity and inclusion and how to advance those principals at work and in the community at large.

The inclusion of students in the 2023 DEI Symposium continues to be a welcomed addition to our line-up, said Urban League of NWI President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud. We look forward to their diverse perspectives and the value they add through creative solutions for equality. It is our goal to engage even more young people as the symposium continues to grow.

The symposium discussed topics like DEI training, wealth inequities, systemic discrimination in legislation and critical race theory. Attendees includes business people, educators, nonprofit leaders, churches, grassroots groups and affirmative action officers.

Valparaiso University is pleased to support and host the DEI Symposium  to defend democracy, defeat poverty, and demand inclusion. said Jose D. Padilla, President of Valparaiso University. We all have an obligation to our fellow brothers and sisters. As servant leaders, our success is measured by the selfless love and support we show others. We must strive to put into action the direction of Matthew 25:40,  Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

For more information, call 219-887-9621 or visit www.ulofnwi.org.
The sun is about to pull another disappearing act across North America, turning day into night during a total solar eclipse.

The peak spectacle on April 8 will last up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds in the path of total darkness  twice as long as the total solar eclipse that dimmed U.S. skies in 2017.

This eclipse will take a different and more populated route, entering over Mexico's Pacific coast, dashing up through Texas and Oklahoma, and crisscrossing the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and New England, before exiting over eastern Canada into the Atlantic.

An estimated 44 million people live inside the 115-mile-wide (185-kilometer-wide) path of totality stretching from Mazatlan, Mexico to Newfoundland; about 32 million of them are in the U.S., guaranteeing jammed roads for the must-see celestial sensation.

The eclipse will allow many to share in the "wonder of the universe without going very far," said NASA's eclipse program manager Kelly Korreck.

Here's what to know about April's extravaganza and how to prepare:

What happens during the total solar eclipse?

The moon will line up perfectly between the Earth and the sun, blotting out the sunlight. It will slice a diagonal line from the southwest to the northeast across North America, briefly plunging communities along the track into darkness.

Fifteen U.S. states will get a piece of the action, albeit two of them  Tennessee and Michigan  just barely.

Among the cities smack dab in the action: Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Cleveland; Buffalo, New York; and Montreal  making for the continent's biggest eclipse crowd.

Don't fret if you don't have front-row seats. Practically everyone on the continent can catch at least a partial eclipse. The farther from the path of totality, the smaller the moon's bite will be out of the sun. In Seattle and Portland, Oregon, about as far away as you can get in the continental U.S., one-third of the sun will be swallowed.

Why is totality longer?

By a cosmic stroke of luck, the moon will make the month's closest approach to Earth the day before the total solar eclipse. That puts the moon just 223,000 miles (360,000 kilometers) away on eclipse day.

The moon will appear slightly bigger in the sky thanks to that proximity, resulting in an especially long period of sun-blocked darkness.

What's more, the Earth and moon will be 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from the sun that day, the average distance.

When a closer moon pairs up with a more distant sun, totality can last as long as an astounding 7 1/2 minutes. The last time the world saw more than seven minutes of totality was in 1973 over Africa. That won't happen again until 2150 over the Pacific.

How do I safely watch the eclipse?

Sunglasses won't cut it. Special eclipse glasses are crucial for safely observing the sun as the moon marches across the late morning and afternoon sky, covering more and more and then less and less of our star.

During totality when the sun is completely shrouded, it's fine to remove your glasses and look with your naked eyes. But before and after, certified eclipse glasses are essential to avoid eye damage. Just make sure they're not scratched or torn.

Cameras, binoculars and telescopes must be outfitted with special solar filters for safe viewing. Bottom line: Never look at an exposed sun without proper protection any day of the year.

Where are some eclipse watch parties near me?

Towns up and down the path of totality are throwing star parties. Festivals, races, yoga retreats, drum circles and more will unfold at museums, fairgrounds, parks, stadiums, wineries, breweries and even one of Ohio's oldest drive-in movie theaters and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Besides looking up, you can attend a "space prom" in Texas Hill Country, get married at eclipse-themed ceremonies in Tiffin, Ohio, and Russellville, Arkansas, or brush up on moonwalking history at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio  Neil Armstrong's hometown.

As the eclipse unfolds, NASA will launch small rockets with science instruments into the upper atmosphere from Virginia and chase totality's shadow from high-altitude planes. Satellites and the International Space Station crew will attempt to capture the show from space.

There will be numerous livestreams for those stuck with clouds or outside the path.

When is the next total solar eclipse?

Full solar eclipses occur every year or two or three, often in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic. The next total solar eclipse, in 2026, will grace the northern fringes of Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

North America won't experience totality again until 2033, with Alaska getting sole dibs. Then that's it until 2044, when totality will be confined to Western Canada, Montana and North Dakota.

There won't be another U.S. eclipse, spanning coast to coast, until 2045. That one will stretch from Northern California all the way to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Aside from Carbondale, Illinois, in the crosshairs of both the 2017 and 2024 eclipses, it usually takes 400 years to 1,000 years before totality returns to the same spot, according to NASA's Korreck.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Four Indiana municipalities, including Valparaiso, are challenging the constitutionality of a 2023 state law that seeks to retroactively terminate their efforts to require video streaming services pay the same franchise fee charged to cable television operators.

The outcome of the case, however, could reverberate well beyond streaming video as the Republican-controlled Legislature this month approved a similar retroactive proposal to shoot down a pending Gary lawsuit against a number of gun makers and retailers it claims are responsible for gun violence in the Steel City.

The streaming video litigation centers on a provision in the Indiana Constitution requiring all proposed new laws approved by the General Assembly, with limited exceptions, "be confined to one subject and matters properly connected therewith."

The municipalities claim House Enrolled Act 1454 (2023) failed to comply with that mandate by combining numerous unrelated topics, including the streaming video issue, in a 281-page measure  longer even than the 262-page, two-year state budget  titled "Department of Local Government Finance."

The legislation indeed spans a broad swath of subjects, including rural broadband grants, Lake County judgment bonds, cigar taxes, oversight of community mental health centers, rental housing inspection, town attorney hiring, and contracting for public works projects, among others.

"Of course, a single subject can mean about anything if construed at the highest-level meaning," the cities note.

"But, as the Supreme Court has applied it, (the Constitution) does not permit the contortions employed by HEA 1454 to include a half-page amendment to the Video Service Franchises (VSF) Act among 281 pages otherwise having no rational connection whatsoever to video service or franchise fees."

In general, the Indiana Supreme Court tends to defers to the Legislature on such matters. But the municipalities cite two 20th century rulings where the state's high court found legislation violated the single-subject requirement by addressing real estate brokers and real estate auctioneers in the same measure, and another with provisions covering prison employees and the length of prison sentences.

"If provisions concerning different occupations that sell real estate are too unrelated to be included in the same act, and if an act cannot constitutionally address both prison employee salaries and prison sentences, then the many varied subjects of HEA 1454 cannot constitutionally co-exist with an amendment to the VSF Act," the municipalities said.

They also claim the law violates a constitutional prohibition on special legislation relating to fees, as well as a constitutional requirement that all laws be generally applicable unless the unique characteristics of an affected class justify differential treatment.

In this case, the cities said streaming video services and cable TV companies both use the public right-of-way to transmit their programming, so it's improper to exempt streaming video services from the franchise fee that cable companies pay for the privilege.

"By both definition and intention, the amendment treats members of a single class  those who sell video programming to subscribers  differently," they said.

Meanwhile, the defendants in the case  Netflix, DirectTV, Dish Network, Disney+ and Hulu  each have asked the Marion Commercial Court to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Valparaiso, Evansville, Fishers and Indianapolis because the 2023 law redefining the term "video service" in connection with the franchise fee, retroactive to 2006, now excludes satellite and video streaming services.

The municipalities insist, however, they were right all along that streaming video services are subject to the franchise fee because otherwise the companies would not have worked to have the statute changed mid-litigation to exempt them.

A hearing on the motions to dismiss the case is scheduled for May 20 in Indianapolis.

Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English State Motto: "Crossroads of America" State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree
Some shocking news is developing, reminiscent of the Cold War and, even earlier, popularity of militarism and fascism. Senior government officials in Brazil have announced that ex-President Jair Bolsonaro plotted with military leaders to take control in a military coup.

Brazils Supreme Court along with senior police officials have released documents that detail plans for military intervention. Homes of far-right military officers have been raided, and at least three individuals have been arrested.

Bolsonaro has been ordered to surrender his passport, and has complied, while denying any plot.

The alleged scheme was developed between 2019 and 2022 during Bolsonaros far-right administration. A principal focus was trying to influence voting. The 2022 election in fact was won by leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva  known as Lula.

Great credit for economic growth accrued to Lula da Silva during his earlier time as president, from 2003 to 2011. After leading the Socialist Workers Party to victory, he proved remarkably adept at courting capital investment, building on the market reforms of his two immediate predecessors.

But during his tenure as chief executive and afterwards, he and successor President Dilma Rousseff were involved in scandal and prosecution regarding alleged corruption.

At the end of July 2016, Lula da Silva was formally charged with corruption by a federal judge, accused of obstruction of justice regarding the national oil company, Petrobras. Charges against Lula and others alleged diversion of billions of dollars for political and personal uses.

In 2017, he was convicted of money laundering and corruption, and sentenced to a harsh prison term. Then, in a turnaround, the Supreme Court ordered him released, and eventually nullified all charges, citing judicial irregularities. This permitted him to run for president.

The legal challenges unfolded during a severe economic recession. This followed the impressive growth during Lulas presidency, a notably non-socialist, non-ideological regime.

Politically-motivated media harassment is a related problem. In 2012, the Brazilian National Newspaper Association announced member papers were advised to ban Google from using their content. The head of Google in Brazil, Fabio Jose Silva Coelho, was arrested. There was a similar event in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

Several years after this, Facebook experienced judicial pressure. Diego Dzodan, Vice President for Latin America, was imprisoned for twenty-four hours.

Companies have succeeded in mitigating and deflecting some of this sort of punitive harassment, but problems continue. In early 2023, mobs of Bolsonaro supporters angry at losing the election targeted and attacked journalists.

From 1964 to 1985, Brazil was under military rule. Laws dating from that era facilitate more recent government interference, fitful but persistent, with the media.

Military rule took place during the Cold War. Armed forces leaders, alarmed by policies perceived as radical, ended representative government. Officers overthrew the democratically elected administration of President Joao Goulart, whose radicalism fed fears of a communist takeover of Brazil.

The U.S. administration of President Lyndon Johnson encouraged this coup. As is generally known, there is a long history of such interference in the domestic affairs of Latin American nations. The end of the Cold War has made such behavior less defensible, or advisable.

Current developments should be viewed in this context. Whatever the outcomes of the previous corruption scandals, or current military takeover allegations, orderly due process and rule of law so far is being respected.

This represents great progress from the state of affairs even relatively recently in Brazil.
Patrick T. Clifford was born on St. Patricks Day, March 17, 1823, in Kerry County, Ireland.

He migrated first to Quebec, Canada, then to our country through Vermont, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where he became a contractor involved in construction of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Columbus Railroad, which is now a part of the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

He built dozens of miles of the rail line in Ohio and kept heading west toward Northwest Indiana. In 1854, he arrived in Porter County, which reminded him of the Emerald Isle.

He came here with a pocket full of gold, a few oxen and a large crew of workers, said Chad Clifford, his great-great-great grandson. When he saw this hilly land, the same land Im standing on today, it reminded him of his home country. He said, This is where Im staying.

P.T. Clifford wanted to change the landscape of this Region. And he did. Clifford Road still runs alongside Lincolnway on the west side of Valparaiso, appropriately near a set of railroad tracks.

This is where I met with Chad Clifford, a well-known musician who will be performing a very special show on Sunday, the birth date of his great-great-great grandfather. (Watch a video and view more photos at the online version of this column at NWI.com.)

I am excited to be playing music on this very land all these years later, Clifford told me while strumming a song on his guitar.

We met Friday at Trailyard restaurant, bar, coffee shop and outpost, located on Clifford Road. On Sunday, the site will host a free St. Patricks Day event from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring an authentic Irish celebration with corned beef and cabbage, various beers, Orak Shrine Pipes and Drums, Mayer School of Irish Dancers, bagpiper Craig Brooks, and headlining band, Crawpuppies, with Clifford.

We will be performing songs from U2, my second favorite band next to the Beatles, Clifford said. We will also play a Thin Lizzy and Van Morrison song to keep the Irish set list intact.

On the spacious and beautiful back patio deck at Trailyard, Clifford tuned up his guitar and played the U2 deep-cut song, Van Diemans Land, to an audience of one  me. Ive been a fan of U2 since the Dublin-based, post-punk band hit the mainstream music scene in the late 1970s.

Back then, U2 was often mislabeled as a Christian rock band because three bandmates  Bono, guitarist The Edge and drummer Larry Mullen Jr.  were members of a Christian fellowship called Shalom.

We will be playing about 15 songs from that band on Sunday night, Clifford said.

In August, he will again be co-hosting an eight-day magical mystery tour to Liverpool and London, literally walking in the famous footsteps of his musical heroes. In coordination with Valparaiso-based Authentic Irish Tours, he will be joined by Beatles fans from this Region whove enjoyed listening to Cliffords renditions as a member of MegaBeatles and the Crawpuppies. (Read my previous column on their 2022 trip at NWI.com.)

Tickets are still available for this years tour, Clifford said.

For details about Beatles Forever 2024, contact Authentic Irish Tours at 219-246-5163 or visit www.airishtours.com.

Clifford joked that his musical contributions to this Region, and to the world, may not match those of his great-great-great grandfather. But hes proud of building his own set of musical railroad tracks into the hearts of his fans across Northwest Indiana and beyond.

And to think I will be doing it again on St. Patricks Day, when my direct ancestor would have turned 201 years old, he said. In his honor, theres even a Clifford burger on the menu here.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
A Haitian migrant has been charged with raping a 15-year-old girl at a hotel serving as a migrant shelter in Massachusetts, authorities said Thursday.

Cory B. Alvarez, 26, was arrested on Thursday and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment that day in Hingham District Court on one count of aggravated rape of a child. He entered the United States lawfully in June 2023 through New York, according to James Covington, a spokesman for the Enforcement and Removal Operations unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Boston. But it was unclear through which specific immigration program Mr. Alvarez entered the country.

The charge comes as Boston and other cities grapple with questions over migrant housing and amid intense debate across the country over Americas immigration policy. The killing of a 22-year-old woman at the University of Georgia campus in February became a political flashpoint when a Venezuelan migrant was charged with the crime, with Republicans including former President Donald J. Trump blaming the death on President Bidens policies. Such statements have struck many liberals as inflammatory rhetoric.

National data has suggested that there is not a causal connection between immigration and crime in the country, and that growth in illegal immigration does not lead to higher local crime rates. Many studies have found that immigrants are less likely than people born in the United States to commit crimes.
Former President Donald J. Trump, at an event on Saturday ostensibly meant to boost his preferred candidate in Ohios Republican Senate primary race, gave a freewheeling speech in which he used dehumanizing language to describe immigrants, maintained a steady stream of insults and vulgarities and predicted that the United States would never have another election if he did not win in November.

With his general-election matchup against President Biden in clear view, Mr. Trump once more doubled down on the doomsday vision of the country that has animated his third presidential campaign and energized his base during the Republican primary.

The dark view resurfaced throughout his speech. While discussing the U.S. economy and its auto industry, Mr. Trump promised to place tariffs on cars manufactured abroad if he won in November. He added: Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a blood bath for the whole  thats going to be the least of it. Its going to be a blood bath for the country.

For nearly 90 minutes outside the Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, Ohio, Mr. Trump delivered a discursive speech, replete with attacks and caustic rhetoric. He noted several times that he was having difficulty reading the teleprompter.
The company of the American billionaire Elon Musk SpaceX has signed a secret contract with the US intelligence agency and is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under it. It will be called Starshield.

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Reuters writes about this with reference to five informed sources. This indicates deepening ties between Musk's space company and national security agencies.

The network of satellites is being created as part of a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which operates spy satellites. The NRO includes members of the US Space Force and the CIA, and provides classified satellite imagery to the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies.

The Pentagon is investing in large satellite systems in Earth orbit to support ground forces. If successful, this satellite network program will greatly enhance the ability of the U.S. government and military to quickly identify potential targets almost anywhere in the world.

"No one can hide," one source said of the system's potential capabilities.

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The National Reconnaissance Office said they are developing the most effective and resilient space intelligence and surveillance system the world has ever seen.

"The satellites will be able to track targets on Earth and share that data with U.S. intelligence and the military. This would allow the US government to quickly get continuous images of what is happening on the ground almost anywhere in the world, helping intelligence and military operations," the sources said.

As reported earlier, the media have already written that Elon Musk's SpaceX company is quietly but steadily establishing deeper ties with the US intelligence and military departments. It was about a secret satellite program called Starshield.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The first shipment of aid to reach Gaza by sea in almost two decades was fully unloaded on Saturday on a makeshift jetty in the Mediterranean, marking a milestone in a venture that Western officials hope will ease the enclaves worsening food deprivation.

The ship, the Open Arms, towed a barge from Cyprus loaded with about 200 tons of rice, flour, lentils and canned tuna, beef and chicken, supplied by the World Central Kitchen charity.

Jose Andres, the Spanish American chef who founded the World Central Kitchen, said his team would begin dispatching the food by truck, including to Gazas north, an area gripped by lawlessness and badly damaged by Israeli airstrikes.

But the distribution was set to unfold in the shadow of a series of attacks that have killed or wounded Palestinians scrambling for desperately needed food. United Nations aid groups had to largely suspend deliveries in northern Gaza last month, and its human rights office has documented more than two dozen such attacks.
Margaret Grade, a California neuropsychologist who made a sharp career turn to open a cozy, eclectic inn near the Point Reyes National Seashore that was known for tending to farmers and fishers with the same attentiveness it gave to the film stars and writers who sought sanctuary there, died on Feb. 28 in San Francisco. She was 72.

Ms. Grade was injured in a car accident in Marin County on Jan. 11. She spent several weeks in a hospital before she died there of complications related to her injuries, her brother Matthew Grade, a physician, said.

The introverted Ms. Grade acknowledged that she was a most unlikely innkeeper.

If they put me in the front, I would be bad for business, she said in a 2003 interview with The San Francisco Chronicle. She also admitted that when she opened her inn, Mankas Inverness Lodge, she didnt have the first idea about running an establishment. I didnt know the term working capital, and as a result I had none, she said.

Still, Mankas, a century-old former hunting retreat tucked into the woods two hours northwest of San Francisco in Inverness, Calif., was in the vanguard of hyperlocal food, a haven for chefs and celebrities and a national media darling.
Rihanna, Mark Zuckerberg, bejeweled elephants and 5,500 drones. Those were some of the highlights of what is likely the most ostentatious pre-wedding ceremony the modern world has ever seen.

On a long weekend in early March, members of the global elite gathered to celebrate the impending nuptials of the billionaire business titan Mukesh Ambanis youngest son, Anant, and Radhika Merchant. Monarchs, politicians and the ultrawealthy, including Bill Gates and Ivanka Trump, descended on an oil refinery city in the western Indian state of Gujarat for an event so extravagant, youd be forgiven for thinking it was, well, a wedding. But that will take place in July. For the long windup to the big day, some of Bollywoods biggest stars, though invited as guests, took to the stage to sing and dance in what amounted to a bending of the knee to Indias most powerful family.

Watching the event, I couldnt help thinking of the 1911 durbar, or royal reception, when King George V was proclaimed emperor of India. Once India won its independence from Britain in 1947, it committed itself to becoming a democratic welfare state  an audacious experiment that resulted in what is now the worlds largest democracy. But in advance of this years general election, expected to begin in April, the Ambani-Merchant matrimonial extravaganza shows us where true power in India now lies: with a handful of people whose untrammeled wealth and influence have elevated them to the position of Indias shadow leaders.

Its difficult to imagine the Ambani-Merchant wedding event in an India that isnt ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Its true that the Ambanis have been wealthy for years now and that accusations of favorable treatment from government authorities are not unique to this family or the Modi government. But no other prime minister in Indias history has been so openly aligned with big business, and never before has the concentration of wealth been more apparent. Indias richest 1 percent now own more than 40 percent of the countrys wealth, according to Oxfam. The country has the worlds largest number of poor, at 228.9 million. And according to a newly published study looking at 92 low- and middle-income countries, India had the third-highest percentage of zero food children  babies between 6 months and 23 months old who had gone a day or more without food other than breast milk at the time they were surveyed. Oxfam has described this new India as the survival of the richest.
To the Editor:

Re Were Not Battling the School Issues That Matter, by Nicholas Kristof (column, March 7):

I completely agree with Mr. Kristofs column. The situation is serious, not only for education but also for our embattled democracy.

I would like to add some nuance. I have been working on a state-by-state analysis of the possible influence of racism, specifically anti-Black racism, on educational achievement.

What I have found so far indicates that some children are taught quite well: those in private schools, of course; Asian American children (particularly those whose families are from India); white children of families prosperous enough to be ineligible for the National School Lunch Program; children of college-educated parents; and Hispanic children who are not English-language learners.

Some students are in groups that are not likely to be taught to read effectively: Native Americans, children who are poor enough to be eligible for the National School Lunch Program and Black children.
Its hard to explain how it feels to be behind an artillery piece when it fires. First is the roaring sound that no movie can ever match. Then comes the sight: the gun jerking violently, smoke billowing from its tube as the crew scrambles to load the next round. Finally, theres the physical feeling of the explosion that threw a hundred-pound shell for miles, knocking the breath out of you and causing your bones to shudder.

Each firing left me with a dull pain in my head, like I had just gotten hit in the face. But then it would fire again. And again. And again. So imagine experiencing this feeling 1,000 to 5,000 times in the span of less than a year, as some service members on gun crews in Iraq and Syria did.

I was deployed in Iraq from 2016 to 2017 and served as an infantry officer and a journalist, assigned to cover artillery units. I know this experience intimately.

The kind of injuries I sustained dont only occur in combat zones or with heavy weapons. Earlier this month we learned that Robert Card, a U.S. Army Reserve soldier who killed 18 people in a mass shooting in Maine in October, experienced high levels of brain damage. For around eight years, Mr. Card spent summers working as a hand grenade instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Though grenades have a smaller explosive force than artillery, imaging shows the brains of those exposed to these blasts exhibit significant, potentially damaging changes in as little as five months. Mr. Card may have been exposed to over 10,000 blasts.
The last time Phoebe Philo, who has been called the Chanel of her generation, gave a formal interview was a decade ago. The designer, whose work offered women respite from the limits of the male gaze, has never been all that interested in explaining herself.

I say most of what I feel, and most of what is worth me saying, through what I make, she offered recently. We were sitting in a blank white room in what would be her new headquarters in Ladbroke Grove in London, far from the hipster East End and the luxury stores of Bond Street. The office, still under construction, contained not a single personal item  not even a marketing photograph on the wall.

Her black nylon bomber, rounded in the shoulders and cropped above the waist, looked sort of like a small turtle shell into which she could withdraw and emerge at will. Under the bomber she wore gray pinstripe trousers and a matching oversize shirt. Her brown hair was pulled into a casual ponytail, and she wasnt wearing any makeup. She is as disinterested in artifice as she is in oversharing.

When Ms. Philo speaks, she does so in elliptical phrases, using questions as an opening to more questions.
Chicago officials on Sunday began evicting some migrants from shelters, joining other cities that have made similar moves to ease pressure on overstretched resources.

The process is starting gradually. Out of the nearly 11,000 migrants living in 23 homeless shelters in Chicago, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, a fraction  34 single adults  were required to leave on Sunday.

Many people will be eligible for exemptions. They will be determined on a case-by-case basis, city officials said, for pregnant women, people with certain medical issues and migrants who are already in the process of securing housing. Families with children can receive renewable 30-day extensions.

But officials said that more than 2,000 people would be evicted by the end of April. And many families with children may be forced to exit the shelter network altogether by the summer.
Niger said it is revoking its military cooperation deal with the United States, ordering 1,000 American armed forces personnel to leave the country and throwing the United States strategy in the region into disarray.

The announcement by the West African nations military junta on Saturday came after meetings last week with a delegation from Washington and the top U.S. commander for Africa, Gen. Michael E. Langley. The move is in keeping with a recent pattern by countries in the Sahel region, an arid area south of the Sahara, of breaking ties with Western countries. Increasingly, they are partnering with Russia instead.

American officials also voiced alarm in the meetings about several other issues, including whether Nigers military government was nearing a deal to give Iran access to Nigers vast uranium reserves, a concern that was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.

Nigers rejection of military ties with the United States follows the withdrawal from Niger of troops from France, the former colonial power that, for the past decade, has led foreign counterterrorism efforts against jihadist groups in West Africa, but which has lately been perceived as a pariah in the region.
Taina Cenatus, a 29-year-old culinary student in Haiti, lost her balance at school one day this month and toppled over, but it was not until she hit the ground that she realized she had been hit in the face by a stray bullet.

It left a small hole in her cheek, just missing her jawbone and teeth.

Unlike many Haitians wounded by gunfire in the middle of a vicious gang takeover of the capital, Port-au-Prince, Ms. Cenatus was actually lucky that day  she made it to a clinic. But she is still in pain, her wound swelling, and she cannot get any relief, with more and more hospitals and clinics abandoned by staff or looted by gangs.

My teeth hurt, she said. I can feel something is wrong.

A gang assault on Haitis capital has left an already weak health care system in tatters.

More than half of the medical facilities in Port-au-Prince and a large rural region called Artibonite are closed or not operating at full capacity, experts said, because they are too dangerous to reach or their medicine and other supplies have been stolen.
Putin extends his rule after a predetermined vote

President Vladimir Putin claimed another six-year term in a presidential contest in which he faced no real competition. He is expected to hold a Red Square rally to formally declare victory  and to portray the vote as a public endorsement of his invasion of Ukraine.

Heres the latest.

Some Russians quietly registered their dissent yesterday. They turned the rubber-stamp election into a startling protest: Many formed long lines at polling stations to register their discontent with Putin as he prepared to take his fifth term as president.

Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader who died in prison last month, had urged his supporters to vote at noon local time. Lines formed quickly at polling stations in major cities, and several people in Moscow told The Times that they had come to express their support for Navalny.

One woman, who gave her name as Dayana, 22, said she was heartened to stand among fellow Putin critics and feel that I am not alone, that there are a lot of us.
The "victory" of incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin in the "election" is a foregone conclusion, as he has no serious challenger. In addition, the Kremlin has spent approximately $1.2 billion on lies and propaganda, falsification of the results of the "vote" in the occupied territories of Ukraine, and an unimpeded nationwide campaign.

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This was reported by the British newspaper The Observer. According to the article published on March 17, the frequency with which Putin resorts to nuclear threats is frightening and irresponsible.

These threats have become almost routine, leading to speculation that Putin is not really serious. However, while there is certainly an element of bluffing and crude attempted intimidation, complacency about his behavior is dangerous - and potentially catastrophically misplaced, the newspaper writes.

"Putin is not fit to lead Russia. He portrays himself as a man of the people, but he completely lacks decency, honesty and honor," the article says, noting that the Kremlin leader should stand trial in The Hague, where he is facing war crimes charges, rather than run for another six years.

The Observer writes that Putin's victory in the March 15-17 "elections" is "a foregone conclusion" because he has no serious opponent. In addition, the Kremlin has spent approximately $1.2 billion on what Moscow claims is "information management," but in reality is lying and propaganda, election fraud in the occupied Ukrainian territories, and an unimpeded nationwide campaign, the authors write.

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The "generous state funding," which reportedly includes a 20-fold increase in spending on Internet projects, platforms, and media, has a single goal: a landslide victory for Putin.

"If it weren't so ominous, Putinism could objectively be considered an interesting phenomenon. ...A weak man pretends to be a strong man, riding a bare-chested horse through Siberia and killing his rivals with mockery and sneer. For almost a quarter of a century, Putin has bent the entire system of government in Russia to his will," the article says.

According to the newspaper, Putin "has turned the state into his personal fiefdom and embezzled on an obscene scale."

Putinism operates through fear and corruption, backed by exploitative patriotism.

The main critic of Russian President Alexei Navalny was killed for exposing such abuses, ridiculing an insecure Putin and making him feel insignificant when he desperately needs to feel great, the article says.

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"This travesty of an election will be remembered, if at all, for the cynical and methodical manner in which Putin and his cronies stole the people's right to freely elect a Russian leader. He will be remembered for his accompanying threats to unleash a nuclear war that would destroy humanity around the world," The Observer writes.

The newspaper also notes that the "brute brutality of Putinism" will forever remain a symbol of last week's hammer attack in Lithuania on Navalny's associate Leonid Volkov.

"In the end, it is violence, not votes, that keeps Putin in power. But it cannot sustain him indefinitely. The oppressed in Russia must turn to their history and keep their faith. One day, this too will pass," the newspaper believes.

The "elections" of the Russian president will take place from March 15 to 17. Voting will be completed on Sunday evening, and the first results are to be announced on March 18.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the occupiers also organized pseudo-elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. In occupied Mariupol, construction workers who came from Russia were driven to polling stations, and in Henichesk, people are going door-to-door to force people to go to the polls.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Ukraine fired a volley of exploding drones at Moscow and other targets on the final day of Russias presidential vote on Sunday, the local authorities said, continuing a flurry of attacks over the past week timed for the rubber-stamp election.

The assaults combine strategic goals  diverting Russian troops from the front inside Ukraine and destroying energy infrastructure  with a political objective, namely undermining President Vladimir V. Putins long-cultivated image as a leader protecting Russia.

In recent days, ground assaults along the Russian border appeared to be the most disruptive of the attacks. On Sunday, Russian officials said that Ukraine had targeted seven regions of the country. The Russian military said it had shot down 35 exploding drones.

An oil refinery was set on fire in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia and air defense forces shot down two drones flying toward Moscow, Russian officials said.
The rift over the war in Gaza between Israel and the United States, its closest ally, broadened on Sunday when Israels prime minister accused a top-ranking American lawmaker of treating his country like a banana republic.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing increasing pressure to negotiate a cease-fire, lashed out at Senator Chuck Schumer over his call for elections to be held in Israel when the war winds down. In an interview on CNNs State of the Union, Mr. Netanyahu suggested that Mr. Schumer, the Senate majority leader, was trying to topple his government and said his call for an election was totally inappropriate.

Thats something that Israel, the Israeli public, does on its own, he said. Were not a banana republic.

On Thursday, Mr. Schumer, a Democrat from New York who is the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, delivered a scathing speech on the Senate floor, accusing Mr. Netanyahu of letting his political survival supersede the best interests of Israel and of being too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza.
Five students from Offaly were among a total of 626 first-year students from Ireland and overseas who received prestigious Entrance Exhibition Awards for the 2023/4 academic year from Trinity College Dublin.

The awards go to students accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points (or equivalent).

The five Offaly students are Niall Kelly, Banagher College; Claire Ellen Hendy, Sacred Heart School; Sophie Moore, Oaklands Community College, Edenderry; Olivia Craig St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry; Sophia Shiel, Tullamore College

Many former awardees have gone on to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and political life of Ireland and beyond. Past Exhibitioners include Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The students come from 445 different schools and from all 32 counties on the island of Ireland as well as 28 countries overseas.

The awards were delivered at three ceremonies at Trinity, to which the students and their school principals were invited.

Provost of Trinity Dr Linda Doyle said: The Entrance Exhibition Awards are our way of recognising these fantastic students and acknowledging the huge effort they put into their Leaving Certificate exams. I am really honoured that they have chosen Trinity College Dublin for this next step of their education.

"This years award recipients are now in the First Year of their studies and I hope they are finding their studies enjoyable and rewarding, and enjoying the huge variety of clubs and societies in Trinity.

Our Entrance Exhibition Awards programme includes a special event for school principals, and I want to really acknowledge the amazing work of principals, teachers and school staff who are so dedicated in making sure that students achieve their full potential.

Students who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school with at least 500 points in the Leaving Certificate (or its equivalent EU/EEA second-level final examinations) are eligible for an Entrance Exhibition Award. This includes bonus points for Mathematics. When more than one student from a school gets the same high points, all receive an award.

The Entrance Exhibition Awards were awarded to 408 students from Leinster (257 from Dublin), 84 from Munster, 53 from Connacht and 44 from Ulster.

Awards also went to students from the following countries: Austria (2), Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany (4), Greece , Hungary, India, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal (2), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (2), Ukraine (3) and UK (excluding NI) (5).

Awardees received a certificate and a 150 book token.
A popular Chinese takeaway in Offaly was served a closure order by the HSE last month after a number of breaches under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

Hayashi, a popular Chinese and Japanese takeaway on JKL street in Edenderry, was served the order on February 7 but appears to have re-opened. The issues were largely around cleanliness, including food encrusted onto kitchen appliances and mould spotted by an inspector on food shelves.

The inspector wrote to the proprietors to say they were issuing the closure order because they were of the opinion that there was a "failure to comply with food legislation."

In their report, the HSE inspector said: "The premises was not maintained in a clean condition or good repair and condition. There was evidence of a lack of adequate and regular cleaning in food rooms. This lack of adequate cleaning in the premise was identified during previous inspections and you have failed again to maintain consistent cleaning standards at your premises. Hot water was not available when I commenced my inspection and was only provided when requested to do so.

"Mould growth was visible on food shelving and on ceilings and walls throughout the rear preparation and storage areas. Ceiling in kitchen was discoloured. Floor throughout was unclean with dirt and grease noted at edging of walls, underneath equipment and tables and behind chest freezers. Dirt was lodged at wall to floor junctions throughout. Walls throughout the preparation areas were splashed with food stains. Cobwebbing evident on upper walls and ceiling in storage areas," they added.

They said "ineffective and infrequent cleaning pose a risk of contamination of foods prepared in the premises and the provision of a food source for pests in the premises and this is a risk to public health."

The inspection also found that "inadequate lighting provided in food store," adding that "insufficient lighting does not allow for thorough cleaning and reading of food labels which pose a risk to contamination of foods and this is a risk to public health."

The inspection also found "there was evidence that articles, fittings and equipment coming into contact with food were not effectively cleaned and disinfected.

"There was evidence that cleaning and disinfection was not taking place at a frequency sufficient to avoid any risk of contamination. Dried food debris was encrusted onto food storage containers and equipment in which food was stored. Chinese cooker was encrusted with food debris and grease."

The inspector noted: "Ineffective and infrequent cleaning of articles and equipment that come into contact with food pose a risk of contamination of foods and this is a risk to public health."

They also uncovered "insufficient evidence to demonstrate adequate food safety controls in the production of sushi. Records for sushi production were not fully up to date and sushi production was not identified in your food safety management system."

The inspection report continued: "Sushi production is an extremely high-risk process because it contains raw fish, which can be contaminated with food poisoning bacteria and parasites. Failure to provide adequate documentation on the process may lead to unsafe food being placed on the market which poses a risk to public health."

Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that food safety is a legal requirement and that all food businesses must comply with the law.

Food safety is not a nice to have in a food business. Its a legal requirement and the law is there to protect consumer health. Consumers have a right to safe food and the food business owner is legally responsible for ensuring that the food they produce is safe to eat. Maintaining a clean premises that is fit for purpose, managing pest control, properly labelling produce and providing traceability information are mandatory legal requirements for all food businesses.

"By neglecting to uphold basic food safety and hygiene standards, a business not only jeopardises the health of its customers, but also risks damaging its own reputation as a trustworthy food business, said Dr Byrne.

Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAIs website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month from the date the Order was lifted.
More than 1,000 trucks are currently queuing at the border between Ukraine and Poland. On March 17, farmers continue to block traffic.

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Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, said this during a single telethon. According to him, Polish farmers continue to block or obstruct traffic at 5 checkpoints.

Demchenko emphasized that he does not see any significant changes in the actions of the Poles at the border. "In total, a little more than 1,000 trucks are waiting in queues in all directions in Poland," he said.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On the night of March 17, unidentified drones attacked the village of Domodedovo on the outskirts of Moscow, where the airport of the same name is located. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin was quick to claim that two drones were allegedly shot down.

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However, not all the drones were actually shot down: one of them hit a warehouse where fuel and lubricants are stored. This was reported by the Russian Telegram channel Cheka-OGPU.

"As the Cheka-OGPU found out, the target of one UAV during the night attack was the warehouse near Domodedovo, more precisely, sector G, where fuel and lubricants are stored. There was a clear arrival, not a fall of debris. The second UAV flew past the warehouse. The air defense system in Domodedovo did not work on these targets," the publicist claims.

The channel's authors illustrated the message with a photo, which, according to Z-propagandists, shows the consequences of the drone's "falling debris" on the roof of the warehouse.

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Overnight, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that "the Defense Ministry's air defense forces in the Domodedovo urban district repelled an attack by two drones flying towards Moscow."

"According to preliminary data, there is no damage or casualties at the site of the crash. Emergency services are working at the scene," the official said.

In the morning, a few hours after the first attack, Sobyanin claimed "another downed UAV" in the Domodedovo urban district.

However, the inconsistency is that eyewitnesses to the nighttime attack counted at least three drones.

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Earlier, details of a nighttime UAV attack on the Slaviansk refinery in Russia became known. According to OBOZ.UA sources, it was the result of a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Special Operations Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After the attack, a massive fire broke out at the enterprise in the area of the atmospheric columns, which were the main target of the strike.
21 Indian fishermen arrested, 2 fishing trawlers seized for poaching in Sri Lankan waters

Posted by Editor on March 17, 2024 - 10:19 am

The Sri Lanka Navy reported conducting a special operation last night (March 16) to repel Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters, resulting in the seizure of two Indian trawlers and the apprehension of 21 Indian fishermen found poaching near the Delft Island.

The Northern Naval Command dispatched Fast Attack Craft after identifying a group of Indian poaching trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island.

As a result of the operation, two Indian poaching trawlers were seized, and 21 Indian fishermen who were found in Sri Lankan waters were apprehended.

The seized trawlers, along with the 21 Indian fishermen, were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal proceedings, as stated by the navy.

This recent apprehension brings the total number of Indian poaching trawlers seized by the Navy in 2024 to 18, along with 146 Indian fishermen, all of whom have been subsequently handed over to authorities for legal actions.
New Delhi: The Kerala government has filed a fresh plea in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, contending it was discriminatory, arbitrary and contravened the principles of secularism. The move comes days after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed them anti-constitutional. He also declared that his government would not implement it in Kerala.



The Centre had on March 11 paved the way for the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, with the notification of the relevant rules, four years after the contentious law was passed by Parliament to fast-track Indian citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014.

Terming the CAA Rules as 'unconstitutional', the state government said classifications based on religion and country are discriminatory, arbitrary, unreasonable, and contravened the principles of secularism.

"The fact that the defendant (Union) itself has no urgency in the implementation of the 2019 Act is a sufficient cause for staying the 2024 rules," the plea said.

The Kerala government, which had earlier filed an original suit against the validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), said the Amendment Act and Rules and Orders are bereft of any standard principle or norm in discriminating migrants from other countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bhutan, which are sharing international borders with India and to which and from which there has been trans-border migration.

Contending that the CAA was "arbitrary", Kerala said the Rules was a "class legislation" that fast-tracked procedure for granting Indian citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community members who entered India on or before December 31, 2014 from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan.

"Classifications based on religion and country are manifestly discriminatory. It is trite and settled law that a legislation discriminating on the basis of an intrinsic and core trait of an individual cannot form a reasonable classification based on an intelligible differentia," the plea said.

The apex court had on Friday agreed to hear on March 19 the pleas seeking a direction to the Centre to stay the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024 till the disposal of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

With the unveiling of the rules on March 11, days ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, the Modi government kicked off the process of granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians -- from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The rules came into force with immediate effect, according to a gazette notification.

The CAA had sparked protests in various parts of the country in late 2019 and early 2020 over alleged discriminatory provisions.

While refusing to stay the operation of the law, the apex court had on December 18, 2019 issued notices to the Centre on the pleas.

(With PTI inputs)
Note: Today Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 11 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time (5 PM Palestine time, 4 PM CET, 3 PM GMT, 8 AM Pacific Daylight Savings Time) I will be giving a talk on the status of Palestine you can watch at .youtube.com/channel/UCxzqBfbtvnhNKWmzpCm0lIA

ITEM 1: Ego is the enemy: reflection on the sad state of current affairs and hope for the future of Palestine and the world (on my blog) ular-resistance.blogspot.com/2024/03/ego-is-enemy.html

ITEM 2: Protesters shut down airport terminal at San Francisco for 158 minutes .youtube.com/shorts/mbx6YhCczkU

ITEM 3: We remember our friend Rachel Corrie, an American student murdered in Rafah 21 years ago (see rachelcorriefoundation.org). Like the 150,000+ Palestinians murdered by the Israeli colonial regime over 76 years, the killers do not face justice because of a strong Zionist lobby that shapes policies and ensures continuing genocide supported by the west.

ITEM 4: Israel lied (again):

We knew it, the world knew it but still they cut of aid to the only entity (UNRWA) that can help Gaza civilians. Israel's aim is genocide and liquidatuoion of the Palestinian cause) and UNRWA provided limited food, medicine, water so it was targeted for physical liquidation (by bombings and by pressuring governments to stop funding UNRWA).

Canada, EU and Australia did resume aid but not the US (Israeli occupied territory)! click here

Maternal and girl's health in Gaza tter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1768862001307046074

Bisan reports in English from Gaza Strip: tu.be/8UmpeJyO1Gc

ITEM 5: How Israeli universities are an arm of settler colonialism:

Maya Wind's new book meticulously demonstrates how Israeli academic institutions were created to serve the Zionist colonization of Palestine. They continue to do so to this day while fueling Israel's university-military-industrial complex click here

Prof. Nadera suspended by the Hebrew University for exercising free speech tter.com/nookyelur/status/1768671627351588985?s=20

ITEM 6: US (under Zionist lobby) push to ban TikTok is due to:

Young people spreading truth about Gaza gaza solidarity played major role in renewed us push to ban tiktok.

Washington's renewed urgency for tiktok ban is due to war on gaza

In full view of the world, the US is facilitating some of the worst crimes of our age, an action that could ultimately cause America's downfall. Why is this happening and what can be done about it? Will the Israel Lobby cause america's downfall?

ITEM 7: War on Gaza: How Israel's leftists quickly lost their compassion for Palestinians click here

Stay Human and keep Palestine alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine siyeh.org estinenature.org

facebook pages Personal .facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9 Institute .facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH
This is the 5th Sunday of Lent. I've read the liturgical selections as found on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' website. Anticipating Easter in just two weeks, the first reading is about Ezekiel's 6th century BCE promise of resurrection to a Jewish people in their Babylonian Exile. The day's selection from the Gospel of John describes Jesus' raising of his friend Lazarus from his moldering grave.

In in the face of what the odious Benjamin Netanyahu doing in Gaza (with 95% support from his constituents) it all nearly turns my stomach. It has shut down my ability (and desire) to write anything sympathetic to any tradition about "God's People" returning home.

Think of the ironies contained in today's readings!

In the selection from Ezekiel, the prophet writes about the sixth century BCE Babylonian Exile. Exile, he laments, has meant death for his people.

So, to encourage them, he writes of a future when graves will be opened, where the dead will rise, and return to Israel, their home. More than that, the prophet promises that the returnees will embody God's own Holy Spirit.

Then the liturgical response drawn from Psalm 130 acknowledges God as the liberator of the oppressed. It sings of a God whose mercy responds to the prayers of captives by expressing forgiveness and kindness.

Who among us can read such sentiments without throwing up?

I mean, the Zionist Jews with their people's lamentable history of exiles and occupations by foreigners and with their experience of pogroms, and Holocaust at the hands of Christians have suddenly been revealed as the monsters they've always been. Absolute monsters!

Yes, it's true: the Jewish people have more than once risen from the dead and returned "home" just as Ezekiel promised. But this time since 1948 and especially since October 7th, 2023, contemporary Zionists have completely assumed the identity of their oppressors. They've become Nazis! Yes, Nazis!

And the hell of is: so have we Americans. With "Genocide Joe" Biden leading the way, virtually all the U.S. senators and members of Congress have enthusiastically supported Israel's ethnic cleansing, collective punishment, infanticide, femicide, and starvation tactics. They (and we who fail to protest) are just as guilty of genocide as the Nazi apartheid Zionists.

And in the face of it all, where in the collective west are Christian voices united in protest and calling genocide what it is? Why is Pope Francis not unambiguously joining Jesus portrayed in today's Gospel selection as railing against death and promising resurrection? Why are he and other Christian leaders not publicly weeping before the mountains of dead bodies who (unlike Jesus' friend) can't even claim the dignity of proper burial?

It's all too much for me.

And so, I'm sorry. In the face of the Zionists' current genocide against Palestine's indigenous people, in the face of the apartheid Jews' utter arrogance and cruelty, I find it impossible to write anything sympathetic to their religious tradition. I find it impossible to comment on "God's word" that has been invoked so cynically to justify the sadistic slaughter of far more than 31,200 innocents, more than half of them children and their mothers.

My stomach is sickened. I can think of almost nothing else. My heart is broken. My faith is challenged. I can write no more.
UPDATE: Man arrested in fatal Steel Bridge stabbing released due to insufficient evidence, official says

Portland police have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the fatal stabbing Friday along the popular waterfront path near the Steel Bridge.

Noor Baheej was booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center at 11:49 a.m. Saturday on suspicion of second-degree manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon and disorderly conduct. Police have not identified the victim as of Sunday.

Police zeroed in on Baheej, who is listed in court records as transient, about an hour before his arrest when they responded to a report of a man threatening another man with a knife near Northwest Third Avenue and Davis Street.

In 2022, Baheej was accused of leading police on a 20-mile chase on Interstate 5 after he allegedly stole a Woodburn ambulance, according to news reports and court records.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

 Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Clear skies and warm weather have synched up perfectly with St. Patricks Day weekend, and Portland is ready to party. The citys police force has partnered with officers from across the metro area to make sure revelers get to and from their destinations safely.

Portland police and 15 other law enforcement agencies will increase patrols in and around the city through the holiday weekend and crack down on drunk and impaired driving, police said Friday.

We want to do what we can to make the roads more safe, said Traffic Sergeant Ty Engstrom.

The weekend mission focuses on the fatal five behaviors, which include speed, occupant safety, driving within the lanes, impaired driving and distracted driving, police said.

Engstrom said at least 15 people have died in Portland crashes so far this year. He encouraged pedestrians to exercise caution this weekend and wear light, visible clothing.

St. Patricks Day is one of the deadliest days to be on the roads in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In addition to increased traffic patrols, the city will be offering rideshare and taxi discounts until 3 a.m. Monday. People using Lyft or Uber in Portland can get $10 off. Nearly 50 bars in the city will also be handing out taxi coupons. Those interested in the discounts can check Portlands St. Patricks Day 2024 page.

Get a safe ride home this weekend, said Dylan Rivera, a spokesperson for the Portland Bureau of Transportation. This may cost a little bit up front, but if were able to save one life, the return on investment will be priceless.

 Austin De Dios covers public safety and diversity, equity and inclusion. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Portland police arrested two men Friday night in Northeast Portland after a carjacking was reported in North Portland.

Police were dispatched to North Skidmore Street and Albina Avenue at about 7:40 p.m. Friday. Officers learned that a man was unloading groceries from his SUV when two men approached, police said. One of them pointed a gun at the victim and demanded his keys and the suspects drove off in the SUV. The owner of the SUV was not injured.

Police officers, including K9 and air support teams, were looking for the suspects when the SUV was spotted being near Northeast Lombard Street and 82nd Avenue. As officers responded to the area, they found the SUV crashed at Northeast 70th Avenue and Mason Street. They learned that two suspects had run away from the scene. Officers searched the neighborhood and quickly found two men, police say.

Raheim A. Carter, 41, was arrested on allegations of first-degree robbery and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Brandon T. Plumb, 24, was arrested on allegations of first-degree robbery and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: Major Crimes Unit and reference case number 24-64200.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
On the afternoon of March 17, Russian propagandists and numerous Telegram channels began to massively disseminate reports of the alleged downing of a Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Representatives of the aggressor state claimed that it allegedly contained a "landing party" of "up to 20 people."

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The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine called these claims a lie timed to coincide with Putin's election. The intelligence officers also advised "black-mouthed propagandists and their slave masters from the Kremlin" to give up alcohol.

On the afternoon of March 17, Russian propagandists began spreading information about the downing of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Sumy region. They linked this statement to a raid by Russian volunteers on Russian territory.

"Russian army soldiers shot down an enemy UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter made in the USA with a troop on board. The enemy aircraft was destroyed near Ukrainian Lukashivka. There were up to 20 people on board the military transport helicopter. The enemy planned to land in Russian Kozynky to create the appearance of control over the settlement," said one of the z-propagandists, whose post was replicated by propaganda media.

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DIU representative Andriy Yusov reacted to the "victory" of the occupiers and their mouthpieces over the "American-made helicopter".

"I can confirm that the statements of Russian propagandists are yet another lie within the framework of Putin's so-called elections. All Black Hawk aircraft are in good condition and continue to perform their tasks," he said.

Meanwhile, the DIU's official Telegram channel advised propagandists and their curators to give up alcohol.

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"All Black Hawk aircraft of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine are in excellent working condition; their crews continue to perform combat and special missions. Black-mouthed propagandists and their slave masters from the Kremlin, who spread fakes about the alleged downing of a helicopter of the military intelligence of Ukraine, should drink less alcohol," the statement said.

The scouts also showed the work of the Black Hawk on video.

Earlier, on March 17, the FRL and the Siberian Battalion announced that they had captured another village in Russia. Volunteers from Siberia showed photos with "trophies," and the Freedom of Russia Legion showed a video of them slowly tearing down flags in the village of Gorkovskoye, Belgorod region, and a sign from the local administration building: the fighters assure that it is under their control.

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The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok, the popular video app, over concerns that its Chinese owner is collecting data on Americans that could be used to undermine national security. The bill faced a tougher climb in the Senate.

Editorial cartoonists expressed a variety of viewpoints on the TikTok bill. NJ.coms Drew Sheneman leads the gallery with his view of China as a snake stalking a juicy egg. Banning TikTok isnt a bad idea, he wrote. Bill Bramhall points out that forcing the Chinese company ByteDance to sell the app to an American owner would not address user privacy concerns. Steve Breen draws a congressman being chased by a group of kids with pitchforks, angry at the threat to their favorite app. Nick Anderson notes former President Donald Trumps flip-flop from TikTok critic to TikTok defender.

Another big political story last week was the Trump campaigns merger with the Republican National Committee. Mike Luckovich sees daughter-in-law Lara Trumps new role in the party as a fundraiser for Trumps personal causes. Jack Ohman draws the GOP elephant in the palm of Trumps hand.

Cartoonists also commented on President Joe Bidens medical exam, which did not address questionsa bout his cognitive abilities; Alabama Sen. Katie Britts GOP response to Bidens State of the Union address, which went viral (and not in a good way); and the public relations scandal surrounding a photo doctored by Kate, Princess of Wales.

Cartoons were drawn by Jack Ohman, Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Mike Luckovich, Steve Breen and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.
This weekend marks the end of Sunshine Week, when open government advocates such as journalists highlight the publics right to know.

I decided to list some public disclosure highlights and lowlights from Oregon, along the lines of the venerable New York Times in-house newsletter called Winners and Sinners, which calls out journalistic hits and misses.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in-charge of political affairs, Mohamed Issa, has underlined "the importance of the political alliance of African countries", stressing "the need for uniting African ranks, in light of the surrounding circumstances, and the need to work towards a global renaissance of the African continent"
Photo: (Photo : MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images )

Chicago is set to proceed on Sunday with its previously postponed initiative to remove thousands of migrants from shelters operated by the city and state, a move that has sparked outrage among advocates and some local officials, and left migrants confused about their housing options.

Shelter Eviction for Migrants

City authorities announced on Friday that a total of 2,026 individuals will be evicted from their current shelters by the end of April, with the first group of 35 required to vacate on Sunday.

By the month's end, 244 migrants will have been evicted, while the remaining 1,782 will depart throughout April.

This mass eviction comes after the city's announcement in November to cap shelter stays at 60 days, necessitating migrants who reach this limit to secure alternative housing or return to the city's "landing zone" for new arrivals to request placement at another shelter.

The implementation of this policy was delayed three times due to severe winter conditions, staffing issues, and pushback from advocates and certain officials.

As of Friday, there were 11,210 individuals residing in 23 active shelters operated by the city and state, with over 37,100 new migrants arriving since 2022, many as part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to bolster border security.

This influx has strained social services and intensified the demand for housing in Chicago, as well as other cities like Denver and New York.

Read Also: CDC Team Joins Efforts to Address 8 Cases of Measles in Chicago Migrant Shelter

Exemptions on the Eviction of Migrants

Mayor Brandon Johnson's office announced on Friday that approximately 4,500 individuals, who would have been subject to the initial wave of evictions, will qualify for exemptions granting them additional 30-day stays in shelters, potentially extending to the end of June.

Exemptions will be granted to families with children under 18, those actively seeking housing, and individuals with specific medical conditions, including those in quarantine due to a recent measles outbreak.

These exemptions aim to minimize disruption, especially for families with children during the school year.

However, some individuals assisting migrants have criticized the lack of transparency in the eviction process and argue that the exemptions offer little clarity or reassurance.

They express concerns about migrants' anxieties and uncertainties regarding their housing situation, especially considering the chaotic process of re-entering the shelter system through the landing zone.

The city plans to provide notices to evicted migrants reminding them of their exit dates and directing them to the landing zone, where staff will assist with re-entry into the shelter system if beds are available.

However, if beds are not immediately accessible, migrants will be supported in connecting with family and friends while awaiting placement.

Since the beginning of the migrant crisis, 14,700 people in the Chicago area have left shelters due to resettlement, and another 5,200 have reunited with family and friends.

Concerns have been raised by local elected officials and organizations, persuading the mayor to reconsider the 60-day shelter stay policy and adopt a more flexible, case-by-case approach.

Mandatory Vaccinations for Migrants in Shelters

Furthermore, the latest measles outbreak connected to a migrant shelter in Pilsen has prompted the city to impose vaccination requirements for all residents in city-operated shelters.

The Department of Public Health has vaccinated around 900 individuals and confirmed immunity for others, emphasizing containment of the outbreak as a top priority.

Overall, while efforts are being made to address immediate concerns such as the measles outbreak and provide exemptions for vulnerable populations, challenges remain in ensuring clarity, transparency, and effective housing solutions for migrants within the shelter system.

Related Article: Migrant Children Face Challenging Situations in Border Camps, Court Records Revealed
Photo: (Photo : Jamie Squire /Getty Images )

A mother accused of killing her 5-year-old son and concealing his body in a suitcase, allegedly believing he was possessed, was apprehended in California after nearly two years of evading authorities.

DeJuane Anderson was arrested in Arcadia, California, a Los Angeles suburb, on Thursday, March 14, by US Marshals, according to the Indiana State Police.

Mother Arrested After 2 Years for Killing Son

Nearly two years following the discovery of her son Cairo's body in a suitcase along an Indiana highway, Anderson was taken into custody in California, police confirmed.

Anderson had been sought since a warrant was issued in October 2022 for her arrest in connection with Cairo Jordan's death. She is suspected of killing her son at their Louisville-area residence and, with the assistance of another woman, Dawn Elaine Coleman, disposing of his body in a wooded area in rural Washington County.

The remains of Cairo were discovered in a Las Vegas-themed suitcase by a mushroom hunter in April 2022 along a road in rural Washington County.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls stated at a news conference that the arrest warrant issued for Anderson in October 2022 includes charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.

Another arrest warrant had been issued for Dawn Coleman, who was subsequently apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Anderson, however, remained at large until this recent arrest.

Indiana State Police detectives received crucial information from a concerned citizen that ultimately led to Anderson's arrest in Arcadia, Huls mentioned.

Anderson is currently held in a Los Angeles jail, with plans to extradite her to Indiana to face the aforementioned charges. Coleman, who was implicated in the conspiracy to commit murder, was sentenced to 25 years in prison following her guilty plea in November. An autopsy determined that Cairo's cause of death was dehydration resulting from vomiting and diarrhea.

Cairo was laid to rest in Indiana, with the community honoring him with a funeral and a headstone, Sgt. Huls mentioned, noting the ongoing support and prayers from people for Cairo and his family.

Read Also: Massachusetts Middle Schoolers Face Charges in Shocking Racist Snapchat Exchange

5-Year-Old Boy's Body Found in Suitcase

Indiana State Police (ISP) Sgt. Stephen Wheeles expressed relief at having the main suspect in custody, stating that the investigation into the tragic murder case can now progress, according to Fox 5 Vegas.

The accused mother, who had been evading authorities since April 2022, is currently detained in a California jail awaiting extradition to Indiana.

The body of Jordan, discovered by a mushroom hunter in a vividly colored suitcase bearing the words "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" on April 16, 2022, took nearly six months to be identified by investigators.

Authorities found Jordan's body clean and dressed, suggesting he was deceased before being placed in the suitcase.

Before the tragic event, Anderson allegedly posted on Facebook, accusing her son of demonic possession and advocating for an exorcism.

Coleman, also on the run, was apprehended in San Francisco in October 2022. She confessed to witnessing Anderson lying atop the child in their Louisville home, with Anderson subsequently asking for assistance in disposing of Jordan's body in a trash bag and then the suitcase. Following the gruesome act, the pair traveled to Washington County, Indiana, to discard the suitcase containing Jordan's remains.

Autopsy results indicated that Jordan died from an electrolyte imbalance, likely caused by vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration.

ISP detective Matt Busick, aided by a concerned citizen's tip, tracked Anderson's location to California. Working alongside US Marshalls, Anderson was arrested while attempting to board public transit, with the extradition process expected to take up to 30 days.

Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and received a 30-year sentence with five years suspended in exchange for her cooperation, including testifying against Anderson during the upcoming trial.

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The United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing GHS 2.8 million (USD 225,000) to develop and operationalize the School Licensing and Inspection Management System (SLIMS) database.



This support includes the purchase of 100 tablets for the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) to digitally collect school inspection data. The support from the United States is helping streamline the licensing, monitoring, and evaluation for all schools across Ghana by putting all data on a single platform.



During the launch of SLIMS in Accra on Wednesday, USAID/Ghana Mission Director, Kimberly Rosen, said, SLIMS complements our collaborative efforts to improve education quality and accountability in schools. The United States is proud to support the use of technology in Ghanas educational system  not just for instruction but for sound management and accountability.



Over the past seven months, USAID has launched three education initiatives to make education accessible to all, strengthen sector accountability, and promote public-private partnership.



The first initiative, the Strengthening Accountability in Ghanas Education System (SAGES) government-to government (G2G) agreement, aims to institutionalize and create an enabling environment for education accountability at all levels.



The second initiative, the SAGES Systems Strengthening Activity, complements the G2G agreement by providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Education and its agencies to support education management and citizen engagement.



The third initiative, the Advancing Partnerships for Improved Learning (APIL) Activity, supports more than 200 low-fee private schools to provide quality education for children in underserved and marginalized communities in northern Ghana.



The United States is Ghanas largest bilateral development partner. In the past year, development support through USAID totaled over $140 million dedicated to education, health, economic growth, agriculture and more.



About USAID



USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID's activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development. It promotes accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Director of Electoral Services of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Quaicoe Serebour, has said that they await notification from Parliament about the vacancy created by the death of the Ejisu Constituency MP, Dr. John Kumah.



The disclosure comes on the heels of questions about the by-election which should, in line with the constitution, be held to fill the gap left by the deceased MP.



According to the Director, the 1992 Constitution forbids the holding of by-elections three months prior to general elections. If you look at Article 112 as amended, we wont hold a by-election if a vacancy occurs fewer than three months before general elections. However, the Commission must schedule a by-election if it endures more than three months.



Continuing, he said that the commission has not yet received any notification from Parliament about the creation of a vacancy following the passing of the MP for the Ejisu Constituency as required by the constitution. He added that Parliament has seven days within which to notify the commission when a vacancy is created.

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On the afternoon of March 17, an air alert was issued in Ukraine due to the threat of enemy ballistic missile use. During the alert, an explosion occurred in Mykolaiv.

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This was reported by the head of the Mykolaiv regional military administration Vitaliy Kim. According to him, the city was hit.

"There was a hit on Mykolaiv. From a place that came from Odesa. And the re-launch is the same," Kim said at 14:02.

Later, the head of the Mykolaiv regional military administration announced another arrival.

"There is a second arrival," he wrote at 14:07.

Kim added that the invaders struck with ballistic missiles.

"On Forgiveness Sunday, should we forgive the Katsaps for firing ballistic missiles at us?" he asked rhetorically.

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According to the Telegram channel Mykolaiv Vanek, the invaders attacked Mykolaiv with Iskander-M missiles. The missiles were launched from the area of Yevpatoria in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The alert in Mykolaiv region was announced at 13:53.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned about the threat of enemy ballistic missile attacks, first from the east and then from the south, at intervals of several minutes.
Former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has waded into the brouhaha concerning the death of Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah.



News about the John Kumahs death broke on Thursday, March 8, 2024, sending shocking waves across the nation.



Mr. John Kumah, who doubled as the Member of Parliament for Ejisu, passed away after an illness.



But his death has been associated with food poisoning with broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly called Captain Smart, and some people claiming the Deputy Minister didnt die a natural death but was killed by some person(s) within the governing New Patriotic Party.



They cited his rising through the ranks of the party as a reason for his demise.



This compelled the wife of the late Deputy Finance Minister, Apostle Lilian Kumah to break tradition and set the record straight on the cause of her husband's death.



I know the disease that killed my husband and no doctor has told me he was poisoned, she said in an interview on Asaase radio.



She revealed that her late husband had been battling an illness since August 2023.



As far as Im concerned, my husband was sick, and I know the sickness and I wont lie, she said.



The widow also called on the Police to deal with those spreading her late husbands poison news, beginning with the Onua TVs morning show host, Captain Smart.



Why is it that someone (referring to Captain Smart) has been this bold to claim that he knows for a fact that a person like John Kumah who has served his country virtually all his life, was poisoned, while he was working for his country and party (New Patriotic Party, NPP), why should we sit down and not bring that person to book.



If it is true that a person who is not dead but alive claims that he knows how my husband (John Kumah) died and that he was poisoned, and that person is still moving around for the past three weeks, it hurts me, it saddens me and I do not know how best to express my frustrations about these false claims by Captain Smart, the widow lamented.



She added; If there are laws in this country concerning such false claims, I think this is the time for the leadership of the land to bring that wicked person (Captain Smart) to book to prove his false claims and to point out the persons who were involved in the poisoning of my late husband.



Commenting on the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Allotey Jacobs described it as the "greatest political conspiracy" ever in the history of Ghana.



He said this to wit the poison claims are concocted stories by some political opponents for their political expediency.



"This is the greatest conspiracy. From UGCC to CPP, I haven't ever seen this kind of conspiracy before," a shocked Allotey Jacobs told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe says dishonesty from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has led to Ghana's current state.



He claimed that President Akufo-Addo and his government had failed millions of Ghanaians who trusted in their capabilities.



That is why I keep saying that if a leader is not honest with his people, he falls into these sorts of traps. This government has not been honest with its people right from the get-go, he said.



Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe addressed the current hardship in Ghana and the recent power outages Dumsor in an interview with Joy News monitored by Peacefmonline.com.



He blamed the power outages on the government's negligence and said the situation could have been averted if the president was an honest person



"He's not been honest with the people of this country from day one, even right from the day he was being sworn in." He noted.



Adding, Of course, yes, that should have alarmed us. Even though I warned Ghanaians before that they shouldn't vote him in, that should have alarmed Ghanaians.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com









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The Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Raphael Sarfo Patrick, has launched a vitriolic attack on two persons linked to the regional party chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi for orchestrating a fake letter inviting the Manhyia South Constituency chairman, Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta popularly known as 'Tom Tom' to answer allegations of misconduct before the regional disciplinary committee of the party.



Raphael Sarfo Patrick, popularly known as 'Ralph', described the two persons - Andy Owusu, a special aide to Chairman Wontumi and Paul Yandoh, the regional communications director- as wicked and dangerous who are doing a lot of bad things on the blind side of Chairman Wontumi.



Speaking on Kumasi-based Sompa FM/TV in Kumasi on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Ralph said he first saw the statement of invitation on the official WhatsApp group platform of the regional functional executive committee, adding, "I even thought it was a fake news until a colleague confirmed it.



PARTY CONSTITUTION



Referring to the NPP constitution, Ralph said it clearly defines how to handle disciplinary issues.



Article 9 of the constitution mentions the Regional Executive Committee to include the 17 regional functional executives, constituency chairpersons Constituency Chairpersons, parliamentary candidates in the region, MMDCEs in the region among others . As a member of the regional executives, I am not aware of any disciplinary proceedings against the Manhyia South Constituency chairman, he stated.



LAW



While stating that he has no problem with a party member being taken through the disciplinary process, he however, added: that should be done in line with the laws of the party.



What is even more surprising is that the letter inviting Tom Tom indicated that the National Executive Committee met to take that decision. When I saw the statement on our platform I called most of the 17 functional executives of the region to establish the authenticity of the letter but all of them denied knowledge of the letter, the youth organizer stated.



NO MEETING, NO DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE



Ralph stated categorically that it is not true that the regional executive committee has invited Tom Tom for disciplinary reasons.



If he has done anything wrong, lets use the lawful channel to invite him. The last meeting we held, this issue never came up for discussion.



Ive seen the issues the Manhyia South chairman has raised in response to the allegations Paul Yandoh and his boss Andy have leveled against him and he has raised the point that we dont have a disciplinary committee. I want to state that Im not aware of any existing disciplinary committee in the region. They should tell us who the members of the disciplinary committee are.



WONTUMI UNAWARE



Ralph said he is tempted to believe that the regional chairman is not aware of the letter.



The regional chairman that I know, may not be aware of this letter. I insist Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the liberal politician that I know may not be aware of this letter because if he was aware, all the other functional executives would also be aware. My regional chairman is a hardworking person who loves the NPP but he is surrounded by wicked, dangerous people who dont love the party, but only after their interests."



He added: Adom Appiah, the regional secretary whose signature appeared on the letter may equally not be aware of the letter that is why he refused to speak to you publicly when you called him to speak to the letter", Ralph told the host.



Asked who then actually wrote the letter, Ralph said, This is the problem we have in the region. I dont want to doubt that it originated from Wontumis aide, Andy. He is a very dangerous and wicked guy. Paul Yandoh was a cleaner at Andys pharmacy shop. We are sick and tired of what is happening in this region.



Ralph further stated that the man who wrote the petition Paul Yandoh, describing himself as regional communications director is problematic, adding, That title is under contention. 



PROBLEM



According to the regional youth organizer, the problem with the NPP in the Ashanti Region is that we have someone called Andy Owusu who is doing many wrong things in the name of the regional chairman but he ( Wontumi) cannot talk about it. Many people are not happy about our chairman because of Andy.



He added: You cannot run a political party like the NPP in its stronghold from a pharmacy shop. You cannot insult the intelligence of the big people in the NPP in the region .



Firing more salvos, Ralph said, Sometimes, Andy can do something using the regional chairmans name and at the end of the day, it becomes very difficult to deny it . There have been several instances Andy has taken decisions without informing the chairman, issued them to the public and the chairman could not deny it, and had to accept them.



MEETING VENUE



Ralph further raised concern about the attempt to link the chief of Agric Nzema, Nana Nkansah Boadu to active party politics.



He said it was distasteful for the so-called invitation letter to indicate that the residence of the chief had been selected as the meeting place to hear the petition against Tom Tom.



Nana Nkansah Boadu is a very respected chief in the region who loves the NPP with all his heart. The foundation of the party is at the Manhyia Palace but Nananom do not engage in active politics even though they follow the progress of the party. Going by what happened at Manhyia South involving Kokosohene and Chairman Wontumi and the ruling the Kumasi Traditional Council chaired by the Bantamahene gave on behalf of the Asantehene, Nananom cannot do active politics so Im surprised that the invitation letter to Tom Tom mentioned the residence of the chief as venue for the meeting. This is an affront to our cherished chieftaincy institution, he said.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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LEVITTOWN, Pa.  A man faces murder charges in Pennsylvania and carjacking and weapons charges in New Jersey after allegedly killing three family members, carjacking vehicles in both states and evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilized in two states, authorities said Sunday.

Andre Gordon Jr., 26, is charged in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with three counts of first- and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other charges, according to court documents. In New Jersey, Gordon is charged with first-degree carjacking and weapons offenses, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement Sunday.

The string of violent acts is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor, Platkin said. We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions.

Court documents in Pennsylvania dont list an attorney for Gordon and a number listed in his name wasnt in service. New Jersey authorities said they had no information as yet on a defense attorney for Gordon in that state.

Gordon carjacked a vehicle in Trenton around 8:40 a.m. Saturday before driving to Levittown in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, and killing his stepmother and sister, authorities said. He then drove to a second location in Levittown and killed the mother of his two children, authorities said.

The victims were identified by Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn on Saturday as the suspects 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon; and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon; and 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were present at the time of the shooting in that home. He is also charged with having beaten Daniels mother with the assault weapon; she was taken to a hospital for treatment.

He then carjacked a second vehicle in Morrisville and returned to Trenton, authorities said. Police surrounded a home for hours in the belief that he was there, but Gordon apparently slipped out before the police cordon went up. He was arrested at around 5 p.m., unarmed, when he was spotted walking down a street a few blocks away, police said.

Officials in Pennsylvania said they couldnt yet speak to a motive for the attacks. While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference.

Steve Wilson, police director for the city, speaks in Trenton, N.J. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. A man suspected of killing several people in their Philadelphia-area homes was later arrested in New Jersey's capital city following a major police response and hourslong standoff, authorities said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP

The mayhem forced the cancellation of a St. Patricks Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park, and a number of other businesses elected to close as well, authorities said. Authorities in Pennsylvanias Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours.

Platkin said the crimes alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties.

Gordon is currently being held is being lodged at the Mercer County Correction Center. Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said Gordon would be extradited to Pennsylvania at some point.
By Tia Goldenberg and Ravi Nessman, The Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed Sunday against growing criticism from top ally the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, describing calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate.

In recent days, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had lost his way. President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumers good speech, and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, and denounced Schumers comments as inappropriate.

Were not a banana republic, he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who theyll elect, and its not something that will be foisted on us.

When asked by CNN whether he would commit to a new election after the war ends, Netanyahu said that I think thats something for the Israeli public to decide.

The U.S., which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told Fox the U.S. still hasnt seen an Israeli plan for Rafah.

The U.S. supports a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas Oct. 7 attack.

The Israeli delegation to those talks was expected to leave for Qatar after Sunday evening meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give directions for negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear he would not back down from the fighting that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. More than five months have passed since Hamas attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said that calls for an election now  which polls show he would lose badly  would force Israel to stop fighting and paralyze the country for six months.

Netanyahu also reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers his speech after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Jerusalem, Israel, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, Pool)AP

We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen, he said. The operation is supposed to include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians, but it is not clear how Israel will do that.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reiterated his warning that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have grave repercussions on the whole region. Egypt says pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula would jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability.

We are also very concerned about the risks a full-scale offensive in Rafah would have on the vulnerable civilian population. This needs to be avoided at all costs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with el-Sissi.

And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, warned that the more desperate the situation of people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?

Germany is one of Israels closest allies in Europe and, given memories of the Holocaust, often treads carefully when criticizing Israel.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said that the prime ministers comments fit with his efforts to find someone else to blame if Israel doesnt achieve its goal of destroying Hamas.

Hes looking on purpose for a conflict with the U.S. so that he can blame Biden, Pinkas said.

Both sides have something to gain politically from the dispute. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israels war against Hamas. Netanyahu, meanwhile, wants to show his nationalist base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israels closest ally.

But pressure also comes from home, with thousands protesting again in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Netanyahus government and calling for a new election and a deal for the release of hostages. Large parts of the Israeli public want a deal, fearing that hostages are held in poor conditions and time is running out to bring them home alive.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators lie on the ground as they protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)AP

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the U.N.

Airdrops by the U.S. and other nations continue, while deliveries on a new sea route have begun, but aid groups say more ground routes and fewer Israeli restrictions on them are needed to meet humanitarian needs in any significant way.

Of course we should be bringing humanitarian aid by road. Of course by now we should be having at least two, three other entry points into Gaza, chef Jose Andres with World Central Kitchen, which organized the tons of food delivered by sea, told NBC.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Israel says Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths because it operates in dense residential areas.

The Health Ministry on Sunday said that the bodies of 92 people killed in Israels bombardment had been brought to hospitals in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 130 wounded, it said.

At least 11 people from the Thabet family, including five children and one woman, were killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and an Associated Press journalist. The body of an infant lay among the dead.

Nessman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed.

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
By Maddie Aiken, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

Southwestern Pennsylvanias small colleges are hurting.

An analysis by the Post-Gazette found that over four-fifths of small, private institutions in the region experienced overall enrollment declines between fall 2013 and fall 2022.

Of the private schools that have experienced enrollment drops, some lost just small fractions of their student bodies.

Others have watched upward of 37% of their student bodies diminish over the past decade.

Enrollment challenges have also hit Penn States regional commonwealth campuses and the University of Pittsburghs Greensburg campus, where enrollments fell anywhere between 21% and 50% in a decade.

Institutions with enrollments of under 5,000 total students were included in the analysis. Colleges fall 2022 numbers were analyzed, as the Department of Education has yet to release fall 2023 enrollment data, and most of the schools have not individually released these data.

While small colleges that are selective and have reasonable endowments can likely weather challenges, other schools are at risk  particularly those with a larger share of first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients, said Joni Finney, an education consultant and the former director of the University of PennsylvaniasInstitute for Research on Higher Education.

Ms. Finney believes that, to attract more students, institutions need to show the public that their educational opportunities are worth it. In part, this can be completed through student and community cooperation, she said.

Small institutions can revitalize the local communities around them, Ms. Finney said. [They should put] students in positions at different companies and have them [complete] internships, or [offer] structured internships on campus through student work.

As small colleges navigate an ever-changing higher education landscape, it could be key for many of these institutions to rethink and reform the ways that they recruit students.

La Roche University has bucked the recent trend. It saw a 40% spike (from 1,481 students to 2,068) between fall 2013 and fall 2022.La Roche University screenshot

Which schools have seen enrollment decreases?

Of 13 small, private colleges and universities in the region, only two saw their overall enrollments increase between fall 2013 and fall 2022.

Those universities were Chatham University, which had a 10% enrollment increase during that time frame (from 2,170 students to 2,387), and La Roche University, which saw a 40% spike (from 1,481 students to 2,068).

Both of those schools underwent transformational changes in the 2010s. Chatham, a former womens college, began enrolling men in 2015, while La Roche achieved university status in 2019. That helped the Catholic school support a growing student population and new academic programs, university officials said at the time.

The remaining 11 colleges and universities saw their student populations fall during that decade.

While some enrollments dwindled moderately, others plummeted.

Waynesburg University, Robert Morris University and Allegheny College experienced the most dramatic declines: Each saw their student populations fall about 37%.

Robert Morris had over 5,400 students in fall 2013. In fall 2022, it enrolled 3,431 students, according to Department of Education data.

Meanwhile, Waynesburg saw its student population fall from nearly 2,200 students to 1,366, and Allegheny Colleges enrollment dropped from over 2,100 students to 1,353.

Other enrollment declines occurred at Geneva College (33% enrollment decrease between 2013 and 2022), Carlow University (30% decrease), Seton Hill University (16% decrease), Saint Vincent College (15% decrease), Point Park University (14% decrease), Washington & Jefferson College (13% decrease), Westminster College (11% decrease) and Grove City College (7% decrease).

Its worth noting that enrollment at Carlow and Grove City remained stable over the last five years. Carlows enrollment increased slightly, by 1%, from 2,076 students to 2,104 in fall 2022. The Catholic university reported an enrollment uptick in the fall with over 2,300 total students.

Grove Citys enrollment decreased slightly, by 0.9%, in five years. The Christian college enrolled 2,338 students in fall 2018 and 2,316 in fall 2022.

Enrollment declines are also occurring at local Penn State commonwealth campuses and the University of Pittsburghs Greensburg campus.

Penn State Shenango and Penn State Fayette watched their enrollments drop by about half during the 2013-22 time frame. Shenango enrolled 281 students in fall 2022, while Fayette enrolled 424. ( Shenango did see an 18% increase in students in fall 2023, for a total of 332 students.)

Other commonwealth campus enrollment declines were 42% at Penn State Greater Allegheny (363 students enrolled in fall 2022), 32% at Penn State New Kensington (460 students enrolled) and 26% at Penn State Beaver (522 students enrolled).

At Pitt-Greensburg, enrollment fell 21% between 2013 and 2022, from 1,677 students to 1,328.

The commonwealth campuses that have seen enrollment declines include Penn State Beaver, down 26% from 2013 to 2022.Penn State Beaver

How can these colleges attract more students?

Experts have attributed these enrollment drops to a variety of factors, including rising tuition costs, dwindling trust in higher education and a drop in the college-aged population in Northeastern states.

A looming demographic cliff exacerbates concerns for both private and public institutions. The number of traditional-age college students is expected to peak by 2026, and then steeply decline. In Pennsylvania, the share of younger residents has already diminished faster than 46 other states.

Because of this, attracting older students could be key for these institutions. A January report by National Student Clearinghouse in part attributed nationwide increases in fall 2023 freshman enrollment to a 6% boost in freshmen aged 21 or older.

Jennifer Causey, a senior research associate with National Student Clearinghouse, said that, based on these data, schools might want to consider targeting older students through methods like revamping pipelines from community colleges to four-year institutions.

Could [colleges] be working more closely with local community colleges to improve transfer pipelines? How can [colleges] make transfer pipelines more efficient in order to help ease that process? Ms. Causey said. Its not necessarily trying to go and grab older students per se.Technically you are, but its not as if youre just trying to grab them from the freshman standpoint.

That National Student Clearinghouse report also found that, nationally, enrollment at private, nonprofit colleges and universities increased slightly, by 0.6%, between 2022 and 2023. Those data accounted for both large and small institutions.

But in the Keystone State, enrollment at all private, nonprofit institutions slightly decreased, with a 0.1% decline in students.

This growth is more of a national trend, Ms. Causey said. " Pennsylvania is seeing a little bit of a slightly different story.

To maintain the health of private colleges and universities, Barbara Mistick, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said its important to ensure these schools are affordable.

NAICU, which has over 1,000 institution members, works to ensure aid is directed toward students, rather than institutions, so students can choose the best institution for them, Ms. Mistick said.

And, from a recruitment perspective, Ms. Mistick believes its important for small schools to differentiate themselves from other institutions. That could mitigate environmental challenges like the demographic cliff, she said.

The institutions that I see that are successful have a very well-defined mission and they have a very well-defined market, Ms. Mistick said. They know what theyre good at, they recruit students that are interested in those subjects and they recruit broadly.

(c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By Patrick Orsagos, The Associated Press

LAKEVIEW, Ohio  Residents in a swath of the central U.S. hit by deadly tornadoes were cleaning up, assessing damage and helping neighbors on Saturday. But it will be a long recovery from the storms that ripped through parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas.

Thursday nights storms claimed three lives in the Indian Lake area of Ohios Logan County, one of the hardest-hit regions, and about 40 people were injured and dozens of homes damaged in one Indiana community. Tornadoes were also reported in Illinois and Missouri.

Samantha Snipes, 33, said that when she first heard the tornado warning, she called her father who lives seven minutes away and told him to take cover. He said he was trying get into the closet in her childhood home and then the phone cut out, she told The Associated Press.

She and her husband attempted to drive down the main road to get to him but couldnt and had to get through the back way after the tornado passed.

It looked like out of a movie, like Twister she said. My dads garage was leveled. The back of his house is gone. Like everythings gone.

A woman searches through clothing at Indian Lake High School on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Indian Lake, in Logan County, Ohio. The high school has become a donation center after a tornado swept through the Indian Lake area Thursday. The Indian Lake area in Ohios Logan County was one of the hardest hit. (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)AP

They climbed over everything screaming for him. When they found him, he wasnt injured and he told them to stop crying, she said.

Her father, Joe Baker, had always told his children to hide in the closet if there was ever a tornado.

We grew up here. Like this is our childhood home, said Snipes who Saturday was throwing away things and figuring out what could be saved. And you see it on the news. But you never imagine its going to happen to you.

Steve Wills, a pastor who owns a vacation home down the road on Orchard Island, said Saturday he was bringing a family crew to finish cleaning up and cover a hole in the roof.

Were saddened for the families that lost people. Theres three deaths in our community. You know, that breaks our heart, Wills said. But it could have been so much more, so much more. Yeah, so I still have faith.

The community has been really helpful, Snipes said.

The school superintendent was dropping off food, clothes and diapers on Friday. The night of the tornado, neighbors on her dads street were going house to house shutting off the gas, she said.

Everybody on this road is safe. You know neighbors helping neighbors is what its been, Snipes said.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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Czech President Petr Pavel has said that Ukraine and Russia will not be able to agree on ending the war. According to him, until now, the terrorist country of Russia has offered only unfavorable terms of negotiations for Ukraine.

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At the same time, the Czech president emphasized that the Kremlin has no right to impose any conditions on Ukraine at all. This was reported by Radio Prague International.

The Czech president is convinced that the war in Ukraine will end either with the defeat of one of the warring parties or with exhaustion and the realization that no one will be able to fully achieve their goals. Pavel also believes that there may come a time when Moscow and Kyiv realize that continuing the conflict means only new costs, suffering and losses without hope of success.

"All of Russia's proposals so far have been virtually dictates. The Kremlin has presented its list of conditions that it, as an aggressor, has no right to impose," Pavel said.

At the same time, the Czech president said that it may take a long time before the situation reaches this point, and the losses of both sides, both in terms of economic and casualties, are already very significant. He also added that the situation is beginning to have negative consequences, including for Russia.

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As a reminder, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala decided not to talk about helping Ukraine, including the Czech initiative to find the shells, during the summit in Paris. He did so when he learned that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, known for his pro-Russian stance, was among those present.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in addition to the commitment to purchase 300,000 artillery shells for Ukraine, the Czech Republic has been given the opportunity to purchase an additional 200,000 rounds of ammunition. This refers to an initiative under which EU countries will purchase 800,000 NATO standard caliber shells for Ukrainian defenders.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Jen Psaki destroyed the Trump campaigns spin of his bloodbath comments by providing the full context for what Trump was talking about.

Psaki said on her MSNBC show:

If they want us to consider the full context, lets do just that because the full context is that Trump kicked off the same exact rally by saluting the people who were convicted for the deadly assault on the US Capitol on January 6th, all to the tune of the national anthem sung by a choir of imprisoned insurrectionists. The full context is that some of the first words out of Trumps mouth last night, same rally were thanking those rioters and calling them patriots. The full context is that he also said in this same rally, quote, if this election isnt won, Im not sure that youll ever have another election in this country. The full context is that he went on to say some undocumented immigrants are quote, not people. And of course, the full context is that this is much bigger than one single speech.

This embrace of political violence, this dehumanizing language. This is what Donald Trump has been preaching for years. In January, he warned that there will be quote bedlam in this country. If his criminal prosecution derailed his campaign late last year. He echoed the dehumanizing language of Adolf Hitler comparing his political opponents to vermin and saying immigrants are quote poisoning the blood of our country last month. He said there would be potential death and destruction if he was charged in the Manhattan criminal probe. And during his first term, he flat out refused to condemn the political violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia saying there were very fine people on both sides. In 2020, he reportedly asked his defense secretary about shooting people who were protesting the death of George Floyd saying, can you just shoot them, just shoot them in the legs or something? And of course, his very words inspired violence on January 6th 2021 when he told a crowd of his supporters to walk down to the Capitol and fight like hell because quote, youll never take back our country with weakness. Trust me, I could go on and on and on.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

We all know by now that Trumps illusions to political violence are not merely rhetorical. His supporters take them literally. Thats part of the big problem here. And he knows that too. So, no, we did not miss the full context. This was not some meandering off-message comment. This is his message.

Video:

Jen Psaki provides the full context of Trump's bloodbath remark, "We did not miss the full context, this was not some meandering off-message comment. This is his message. " pic.twitter.com/h3yiHDzKTy  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 17, 2024

The full context is that Trump continues to sell the myth that he is strong, so he emulates the language of authoritarians. It doesnt matter what Trump was talking about. Democratic leaders dont use violent rhetoric when discussing domestic politics. If Biden would have said there will be a bloodbath if his infrastructure legislation wasnt passed.

The Trump campaigns spin defies common sense and doesnt add up. Everyone knows what Trump was really talking about. After 1/6, there is no ambiguity. Trump talks political violence in the hope that his supporters will act.

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Mike Pence accused Trump of abandoning Americas leadership in the world, which is a clip the Biden campaign will definitely use.

Pence said on CBSs Face The Nation that his refusal to endorse Trump was about more than 1/6:

The president and I have profound differences. Many think its just over January 6th, and frankly, the fact that president continues to insist I had the right to overturn the election that day is a fundamental difference.

I want to be clear that Ive forgiven the president in my heart for what happened that day. As a Christian Im required to do that. Ive prayed for him in that regard. The issue to the constitution is not a small matter, but its not just that.

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I mean, the reason that I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump this year also has to do with the fact that he is walking away not just from keeping faith with the constitution on that day, but also, Margaret, with a commitment to fiscal responsibility, a commitment to the sanctity of life, a commitment to American leadership in the world.

Pence went on to criticize Trump for changing his position on China and TikTok.

Video:

Mike Pence says Trump has abandoned, a commitment to American leadership in the world. pic.twitter.com/DUH88OXhpn  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 17, 2024

Mike Pence will not be endorsing President Biden. That is a certainty, but Pence knows exactly what he is doing. Trumps abandoning Americas global leadership has been one of the main points of the Biden campaign.

The former vice presidents comments will be used in ads by President Biden, and other groups who are opposing Donald Trump throughout the campaign.

Trumps own former vice president says that he is abandoning Americas leadership in the world. That is a powerful campaign ad waiting to happen, and Mike Pence just handed it to President Biden.

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Aziaha James made a career-high seven 3-poiners and scored 27 points, and third-seeded North Carolina State earned its first trip to the Final Four of the womens NCAA Tournament since 1998, beating top-seeded Texas 76-66. The played with 3-point lines at different distances on opposite ends of the court. River Baldwin added 16 points for N.C. State, which will face unbeaten South Carolina in the national semifinals in Cleveland on Saturday. Freshman Madison Booker finished with 17 points to lead the Longhorns, who were vying for their first Final Four since 2003. Both coaches were informed about the problem with the 3-point lines before the game but decided to play on. Read moreAziaha James scores 27, leads NC State to 76-66 win over Texas, first women's Final Four since 1998
Businesses were reporting damage on social media following a fire March 16 at Crofts Block, a building on the corner of Laurens Street and Hayne Avenue in downtown Aiken.

Fire crews responded to a possible structure fire on 311 Haye Ave., with the initial report stating that the caller said they heard electrical popping noises and saw smoke coming from the inside the building according to a fire report from Aiken Department of Public Safety.

Upon arrival, crews saw visible smoke coming from a two-story building and it was determined that the fire was coming from a business at 309 Haye Ave., the report said.

Once crews made entry into the building, the fire was located at the back of a storage room and crews suppressed the fire, the report said.

Other occupants of the building were evacuated, the report said.

Smoke entered other businesses in the building but the fire had not spread to any other parts of the building, the report said.

Dominion Energy responded to secure utilities and disconnected services before it was restored, the report said.

An investigation determined that the fire was electric, with the fire starting in the rear portion of the building at 309 Haye Ave., the report said.

No injuries were reported during the fire, the report said.

We are so heartbroken this happened in our building today, a post on 3 Monkeys Fine Gifts Facebook page stated. We thank ADPS (the Aiken Department of Public Safety) for their quick response! We will keep you all updated about what happened and the smoke damage as the details come in, but our employees were safe & we appreciate your prayers & support for ALL the businesses affected.

Another post that appeared on the Facebook page of A Foxs Tale reported the following in part: Our shop has smoke damage and our books upstairs are probably a loss.

Thankfully everyone is safe, it also stated. Obviously we will be closed until further notice.
RIDGELAND  It's a cool, late-winter morning as Charles Lane's SUV bumps along the dirt roads crisscrossing a massive Lowcountry property once known as the Gregorie Neck Plantation. Leaden skies threaten rain, but it never materializes.

The 4,409-acre tract nestled between the Coosawhatchie and Tulifiny rivers at the head of the Broad River is a special piece of land. Even in the damp morning grayness, that is evident.

Maybe it's the abundant wildlife. Maybe it's the beauty of land well-cared for. Maybe it's the solemnity of the Civil War battlefield that sits as quiet as it may have been before the first shots of the Battle of Tulifinny erupted in December 1864. Maybe it's all of these things or something else altogether.

The Nature Conservancy recently purchased the tract, which includes 13 miles of waterfront, from the Jepson family for $35 million.

"It's an expensive property," said Lane, a real estate broker who represented the seller. "It's expensive because of the size and the amount of water frontage."

The purchase was a conservation win by any measure. A lot of things had to go right for it to happen. A lot of things need to continue to go right before a full measure of success can be known.

The Jepsons wanted a conservation outcome, Lane said, but they also wanted a market-value return. The $35 million price tag was a big ticket. And, Lane added, the landowner did receive a full-price offer from a developer.

The Nature Conservancy's purchase might not have happened had Jasper County officials not temporarily halted development approvals last year.
He owned a $1.1 million spread in a posh Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

He collected sporty automobiles.

He dabbled in commercial real estate.

But it all suddenly vanished after Andrew Chmiel emerged as a central figure in an international telemedicine scam that fleeced U.S. taxpayers out of more than $1 billion, according to government estimates.

Nearly five years after he was named among the first suspects charged in Operation Brace Yourself  and about three years since he took a plea deal and agreed to cooperate  Chmiel is expected to learn the extent of his punishment this week.

The government sting operation, as its oddly playful name suggests, centered on fraudulent prescriptions for medical braces and other so-called orthotic support devices.

The probe originated in South Carolina, but the tentacles soon spread to corrupt health-care practices and suppliers across the country and, eventually, to a phone bank operator in Asia. The investigation pulled in the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service and the agency that runs Medicare.

Chmiel and about two dozen others were singled out as the key ringleaders.

Prosecutors said the scheme hinged in part on call-center workers in the Philippines. Known as chasers, their job was to obtain prescription information from elderly Medicare recipients who phoned in after seeing targeted TV promotions.

An example of the advertisements are back brace commercials that run in the afternoon specifically asking: Are you over 65 and on Medicare  do you need a back brace at little or no cost to you? according to evidence presented in 2019. The commercials list a 1-800 number  when the Medicare beneficiary calls in, the call is routed to a call center in the Philippines.

Physicians at telemedicine practices were then paid kickbacks for signing the prescriptions, usually for patients they never met or examined. The information was then sold to suppliers that shipped the devices and charged Medicare.
The aggressor country Russia has not deployed warships to the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov. At the same time, it keeps several Kalibr missile carriers in the Mediterranean sea.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by the Ukrainian Navy. The information on the maneuvers of enemy vessels was up to date as of 07:00 on Sunday, March 17.

It is noted that at that time there were no enemy ships in the Black and Azov Seas. Three ships were observed in the Mediterranean Sea, including two Kalibr cruise missile carriers with a total volley of up to 12 missiles.

In addition, in the interests of Russia, during the day the Kerch Strait was passed by:

- eight ships heading to the Sea of Azov (none of them were sailing from the Bosporus)

- nine ships heading to the Black Sea (two of them continued to move in the direction of the Bosphorus).

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"The Russian Federation continues to violate the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974 (SOLAS) by disabling automatic identification systems (AIS)," the Ukrainian Navy emphasized.

As reported, the Russian occupiers have not been deploying ships to the Black Sea for a long time. The Kalibr cruise missile carriers have been at their home bases for three weeks.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Also, the owner of the Mount Holly aluminum smelter near Goose Creek plans to open the first new U.S. metal-making plant in nearly 45 years. Read moreSC ports paving higher ground to protect BMWs from Charleston flooding
But heres the thing, the resurrection of Easter actually tells me that God didnt lose. He categorically won. The losers of the day were the power-hungry folks who sought the winning favor of an earthly king. The real losers were those whod only followed Jesus hoping hed lead armies against their Roman oppressors, feeding his soldiers with five bread loaves and two fish. Read moreNorris Burkes: The lessons of Easter
With the recent substantial increase in mortgage interest rates, many homeowners have been asking, Will this finally cause home prices to drop? In a market where rates are predicted to rise even further this year, buyer affordability could take a serious hit. To give you a better idea of w Read moreAre home prices falling?
The land is secured. Now the historical interpretation begins.

The Nature Conservancy recently closed on the $35 million purchase of Gregorie Neck, a 4,400-acre tract in Jasper County wedged between the Coosawhatchie and Tulifiny rivers just south of Interstate 95. The conservation easement will be held by the Beaufort-based Open Land Trust.

It should surprise no one that this land has historical significance. This is the Lowcountry of South Carolina, after all.

Tulifinny Hill, located in the northern reaches of Gregorie Neck, was the site of two military battles, one during the Revolutionary War and another during the Civil War.

It had strategic value because it was near a transportation crossroads and the vital railway line connecting Savannah and Charleston that, because of geography, ran along terra firma skirting the several wetland estuaries found along South Carolinas coastal plain. Whoever controlled the area had the power to disrupt the flow of troops and supplies.

In early May 1779, Brig. Gen. William Moultrie was stationed west of that area at Black Swamp preparing to give British Brig. Gen. Augustine Prevost and his fighters a hard time.

Help came from 1,000 men sent by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. The rebels sought to repel, or at least slow, the British armys progress toward Charleston, according to Rick Wise, interim executive director of the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust .

Prevost arrived with double the men, so Moultrie retreated, leaving 100 fighters of the S.C. 5th Regiment to harass the British. Moultrie asked Gov. John Rutledge for artillery, to no avail. Rutledge and Lincoln didnt think Prevost would attempt to take Charleston, not at this stage anyway.

Rutledge was inclined to negotiate a neutrality deal, Wise said. Moultrie objected, telling the governor his men could hold off the British. Prevost made it clear that no settlement was possible since he had no political authority, only military command.
I just put the Stars and Stripes back up outside my house. Though hard winds keep blowing it down, I put it up again. Having it regularly knocked down has me reflecting on what it means to be American in 2024. Read moreCommentary: Why I put my US flag back up again even as the hard winds blow
The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication.
A trio of federal judges ruled March 28 that the 2024 elections in South Carolina's 1st and 6th congressional districts will go forward with their current boundaries as the Supreme Court has yet to rule whether those lines are unconstitutional. Read moreFederal judges say 1st District lines will stay for 2024 with no word from Supreme Court
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-17 18:07:33

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Fair Isaac Corporation ("Fair Isaac Corporation") (NYSE:FICO) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.On March 12, 2024, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, urging it to investigate FICO's "potentially anticompetitive practices." In the letter, Senator Hawley asserted that FICO "appears to be using its monopolistic power of the credit scoring market to increase costs for mortgage lenders-an increase that will be passed onto consumers." Senator Hawley accused FICO of "astronomically hik[ing] its prices" "[i]n an apparent abuse of this market power." Following this news, on March 13, 2024, FICO's stock price fell over 5%. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
On the morning of March 17, the Russian terrorist army attacked Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region. The enemy attacked the town with kamikaze drones.

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Three men were injured in the attack. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Lysak on Telegram.

According to him, in the morning the Russians attacked Nikopol with two UAVs. The target of Putin's terrorists was a gas station.

Men aged 32, 43 and 67 were wounded in the attack. The medics provided them with all the necessary assistance. The explosions also damaged the gas station equipment and a truck.

The regional prosecutor's office reported that under the procedural guidance of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, a pre-trial investigation was launched in criminal proceedings over violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Prosecutors, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, are taking all possible and appropriate measures to document war crimes committed by representatives of the Russian armed forces.

ADVERTISIMENT

As a reminder, in the morning of March 17, Russian invaders attacked the village of Buhaivka, Kharkiv region. The occupiers hit a temporary medical center.

Earlier it was reported that Russian invaders fired at Sumy region at night and in the morning. In particular, they hit the border village of Velyka Pysarivka, destroying the center of the village.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-17 22:16:19

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PALO ALTO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2024 / Exciting news awaits! Textopia, a fresh face in quantum computing and artificial intelligence, is getting ready to show off its newest ideas. It's focus is on creating awesome tech that makes a real difference in people's lives.Check out the Key Features of the New Products: Text to Video: Transform your written ideas into captivating visual narratives with our Text to Video feature. Experience the power to breathe life into your words, as Textopia seamlessly converts your text into dynamic and engaging video content. Whether you're sharing stories, presenting concepts, or expressing creativity, Text to Video empowers you to create stunning visuals that captivate and inspire. AI UHD Speech-to-GIF: Ever wanted to make awesome GIFs? Now you can with Textopia's AI UHD speech-to-GIF feature. It makes creating high-quality GIFs super easy! UHD Text-to-Sticker: Turn your text into fun stickers with Textopia's UHD text-to-sticker feature. Get ready to let your creativity run wild! Quantum Image Generator: Dive into the world of digital visuals with Textopia's Quantum Image Generator. It's like magic, allowing you to create detailed images effortlessly. AI Personal Assistant: Keep things organized and get stuff done with Textopia's AI Personal Assistant. Say goodbye to hassle and hello to productivity! AI Text Generator: Need some engaging text content? Textopia's AI Text Generator has got you covered. Whether you're a writer, marketer, or content creator, it's here to help you out. Quantum Studio: Unleash your creativity with Textopia's Quantum Studio. It's packed with cool tools to help you bring your ideas to life!These new and upcoming features have tech enthusiasts buzzing with excitement. Textopia is making waves in the digital currency world, setting new standards and making digital creativity more accessible to everyone.About Textopia: Textopia.ai is a crypto startup specializing in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Centered on innovation, Textopia is crafting solutions that pave the way for the future of machine learning. As the launch date approaches, Textopia remains committed to bringing intelligent computing to the forefront of the tech scene. Textopia is determined to keep pushing forward to make life better for everyone, not just through its products, but through ongoing advancements and improvements. For more information, visit https://textopia.ai/ For media inquiries, please contact:Company: Textopia Inc. Website: https://textopia.ai/ Email:info@ textopia.ioContact Person: Ciaran BrennanSOURCE: Textopia
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* Efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of Thermobalancing therapy and Dr Allen's Devices were showcased at the Arab Health Exhibition, the largest annual medical event in the Middle East.* Ariana Adjani, co-founder of Fine Treatment, was invited to deliver a presentation about therapeutic Allen's Devices clinically proven to dissolve kidney stones, treat the enlarged or inflamed prostate gland, and ease low back pain.OXFORD, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2024 / Novel Thermobalancing therapy and Allen's Devices have shown exceptional efficacy and safety for various, highly wide-spread health conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), kidney stone disease, and chronic low back pain. Fine Treatment's expert Ariana Adjani was invited to give a talk on thermobalancing treatment at the prestigious annual Arab Health Medical Expo, attended by over 50,000 visitors."Thermobalancing therapy is a unique, non-invasive treatment option that allows to avoid serious side effects and complications of different medications and surgeries. The data showing superior treatment outcomes has been presented to the diverse audience at Arab Health", explains Fine Treatment's co-founder Ariana Adjani. "Several clinical trials demonstrate high efficacy and safety of this therapy. Our wearable Dr Allen's Devices have been successfully used to treat different health conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis, low back pain, and kidney stones." How Thermobalancing therapy with Dr Allen's Devices workDr Allen's Devices need to be worn on the body. Their design applies naturally derived components, namely special thermoelements, to the projection of the affected area or organs of the body to the skin. Dr Allen's Devices should stay on the body for a prolong period of time, and they are specifically designed to cause no harm. While troubling symptoms ease fast, the actual treatment takes time. For instance, BPH treatment with Dr Allen's Device can take 6 months or longer, chronic prostatitis and chronic low back pain can take 1-6 months, and the time to dissolve kidney stones depends on their initial size, with results evident from as little as 3 months.The design of Dr Allen's Devices incorporates a different number of thermoelements depending on the health condition it is intended to treat. One thermoelement is used to treat BPH, chronic prostatitis, and back pain, while 2 thermoelements are used to treat renal calculi in both kidneys simultaneously.Thermobalancing therapy clinical trials outcomesResearch shows that Dr Allen's Devices stimulate blood circulation naturally leading to the reduction of pain or other troubling symptoms, and to the subsequent treatment of diseases.In patients with BPH, Dr Allen's Device:Reduces the size of benign tumour of the prostate gland, Decreases nasty urinary symptoms, known as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), such as sudden and frequent urges to pee, a weak stream, or a feeling like one can't empty the bladder.In patients with chronic prostatitis, Dr Allen's Device:Dramatically reduces chronic pelvic pain, Decreases troubling urinary symptoms.In men and women with lower back pain, triggered by either lumbar disk herniation (slipped disk) or non-specific causes, Dr Allen's Device:Significantly relieves pain, Eases stiffness, comforts standing, improves walking ability and mobility.In male and female patients with kidney stones, Dr Allen's Device:Dissolves the stones gradually, without renal colic, Provides non-invasive treatment for any type and size of kidney stones. Quality of life improvement with Dr Allen's DevicesAll clinical studies on Thermobalancing therapy with Dr Allen's Devices demonstrate a major improvement of the quality of life of patients treated with this medtech solution. No adverse events have ever been observed in men and women involved in these clinical studies. Thermobalancing therapy and Dr Allen's Devices are totally safe and can be used by people at home, helping to avoid serious side effects and complications of various medications and surgical procedures.Ariana Adjani presented this new patient data at the Arab Health Medical Expo in Dubai. Invited by the Conference Producer Zohaib Meghji, she demonstrated how thermobalancing therapy can help to extend healthspan and stimulate longevity in patients affected by chronic diseases.Ariana Adjani also attended the Future Health Summit held at the Museum of the Future in Dubai in conjunction with Arab Health. Invited by Mohamad Sabri, Strategic Partnership Director at Informa Markets, Ariana Adjani met with different healthcare industry stakeholders and discussed novel medical technologies, including thermobalancing therapy with Dr Allen's Devices, that will have a significant impact on population health in the future.Fine Treatment, a British R&D and medtech company leading the development of Dr Allen's Devices, was welcomed at Arab Health Expo's UK Healthcare Pavilion by Barbara Hollyhead and Mark Oakes, trade advisers at the UK Department for Business and Trade. Fine Treatment company profile on great.gov.uk showcases its ground-breaking achievements in the healthcare industry.Contact Information:Alex DayCustomer Service ManagerFine Treatment, Oxford, United KingdomTel.: +447958878300Email: info@ finetreatment.comwww.finetreatment.com SOURCE: Fine Treatment
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its directive to banks regarding the utilisation of foreign currency (FCY) revaluation gains.

In a circular released by the bank on Thursday and signed by the Acting Director of the Banking Supervision Department, Adetona Adedeji, the CBN advised banks against undertaking such actions.

In the circular, referencing a letter dated 11 September 2023, the CBN emphasised the need for banks to exercise utmost prudence in handling these gains.

According to the directive, banks are required to set aside FCY revaluation gains as a counter-cyclical buffer to mitigate any adverse movements in the foreign exchange (FX) rate. It specified that banks should not use such gains to pay dividends or cover operating expenses.

Further to our letter dated September 11, 2023, referenced BSD/DIR/CON/LAB/16/020 on the above subject, the Central Bank of Nigeria wishes to reiterate that banks are required to exercise utmost prudence and set aside FCY revaluation gains as a counter-cyclical buffer to cushion any adverse movements in the FX rate.

In this regard, banks shall not utilize such FX revaluation gains to pay dividends or meet operating expenses. Please be guided accordingly, it said.

Banks and financial institutions are advised to take note of this directive and comply accordingly to avoid any sanctions or regulatory actions from the CBN.

READ ALSO:

In September 2023, the CBN instructed banks to cease using profits from their foreign exchange revaluation for dividends and operational costs. The directive, outlined in a letter dated 11 September 2023, and signed by the then Director of the CBNs Banking Division Department, Haruna Mustafa, was to be implemented promptly.

The bank thus approved the following prudential guidance and directives for immediate implementation by banks. Treatment of FX Revaluation Gains: Banks are required to exercise utmost prudence and set aside the FCY revaluation gains as a counter-cyclical buffer to cushion any future adverse movements in the FX rate. In this regard, banks shall not utilise such FX revaluation gains to pay dividends or meet operating expenses.

Single Obligor Limit (SOL): Banks that inadvertently breach the Single Obligor Limit (SOL) due to the FX policy will be granted forbearance upon application to the CBN. The forbearance shall apply only to existing facilities as of the effective date of this policy. Such banks shall be exempted from the regulatory deductions on the excess above the SOL limit in their CAR computation.

Net Open Position Limit: Banks that exceed the NOP prudential limits due to the FX revaluation shall be granted forbearance for the breach upon application, the circular stated.

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Some residents of warring communities ambushed and killed 16 officers and personnel of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta on Thursday.

Those killed were the commanding officer, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, made this known on Saturday in Abuja.

He stated that the troops were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call arising from a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta.

Mr Gusau, a brigadier general, stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, had directed immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.

He added that the incident had been reported to the Delta State Government.

The military, however, remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

So far, a few arrests have been made while steps have been taken to unravel the motive behind the attack, he assured.

(NAN)

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MainOne, a Digital Infrastructure Service Provider, on Saturday, said that it had restored service to some customers and was actively working on restoring all services through capacity acquired on available cable systems.

The organisation made this known via a statement on its website after it earlier said it would take two weeks to five weeks for it to fully restore internet services.

The statement said that the estimated repair time that it had earlier declared was for its submarine cable fault to be fixed.

The repair time is to enable our services to become fully restored and independently supply capacity to customers.

We have already restored services to some customers and are actively working on restoring services to others via capacity acquired on available cable systems, the statement said.

Earlier, MainOne said that it recognised the impact of the outage and was working tirelessly to make available restoration of capacity for temporal relief where feasible.

We are very optimistic that our cable will be repaired as planned and services fully restored so that we can continue to operate with continued integrity of the submarine cable, it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) had said that the internet disruptions being experienced by organisations, banks, and individuals were a result of damage affecting major undersea cables near Abidjan in Cote dIvoire.

The NCC said that the damage was causing downtime across West and South African countries.

It said that the cuts occurred somewhere in Cote dIvoire and Senegal, with an attendant disruption in Portugal.

It said that cable companies  West African Cable System (WACS) and African Coast to Europe (ACE) in the West Coast route from Europe  had experienced faults, while SAT3 and MainOne had downtime.

The regulatory body added that similar undersea cables providing traffic from Europe to the East Coast of Africa, like Seacom, Europe India Gateway (EIG), and Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE1), were said to have been cut at some point around the Red Sea.

This, it said, resulted in the degradation of services across these routes.

NAN reports further that in an earlier statement, MainOne had declared a force majeure on its contractual obligations while explaining steps to restore connectivity.

The force majeure is an unforeseeable circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract.

The unforeseen circumstances may be natural disasters (fire, storms, floods), governmental or societal actions (war, invasion, civil unrest, labour strikes), or infrastructure failures (transportation, energy).

MainOne, an Equinix company, is one of the leading data centre and connectivity solution providers with a presence in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote dIvoire.

(NAN)

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The leadership of both the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have directed their members across university and inter-university centre campuses nationwide to withdraw services beginning from Monday, 18 March.

The seven-day industrial action, according to a memo addressed to the branches of the unions and dated Friday, 15 March, is in fulfilment of the earlier threat and ultimatum issued to the Nigerian government by the unions over the unpaid withheld salaries of their members.

The memo, which was issued by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both SSANU and NASU, and signed by the National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, urged the branch leaders to ensure total compliance to the directive.

JAC blamed the Nigerian government for allowing the matter to degenerate, querying the justification for the payment of the withheld salaries of the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) but decided to leave out their members.

The memo reads in part: Please note that the 7-day warning strike should be comprehensive and total as no concession should be given in any guise.

Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in the Universities and Inter-University Centres.

Backstory

In 2022, two months after ASUU commenced a nationwide strike, both SSANU and NASU also embarked on nationwide industrial action that further crippled activities across the campuses.

The action was to protest the governments failure to fulfil its promises to the workers and what they described as gross underfunding of the universities.

At the time, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari invoked a No Work, No Pay policy and withheld the workers salaries.

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) also took part in the strike at the time.

SSANU queried the rationale behind the governments insistence on the no work, no pay policy, saying that due process was followed before embarking on the strike that lasted four months. Till the end of his tenure, Mr Buhari never authorised the payment of the workers.

Tinubu orders payment of ASUU members

Meanwhile, in October, President Bola Tinubu announced that his government would pay four months of the withheld salaries to members of ASUU. The announcement instantly raised concerns over the fate of the members of the other unions.

The National Vice President of SSANU, Abdussobur Salaam, told PREMIUM TIMES that the directive appeared to be selective in favour of a single union out of others whose members salaries were withheld.

He said the presidents directive if not reviewed to include SSANU and other unions could be a recipe for disaster as he threatened another round of strikes if SSANU members withheld salaries were not paid alongside that of ASUU.

The directive appears to be misdirected because all university unions went on strike last year and not ASUU alone. To that extent, that directive cannot be selective in favour of a single union but can only be general, Mr Salaam said in October.

However, some days ago, the Nigerian government paid four months of the more than seven months salaries of the academics, leaving out the non-academic staff.

SSANU, NASU kick

Following what it described as deliberate neglect of their members to pay their withheld salaries, and the alleged refusal to acknowledge their various letters addressed to the government through the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, both SSANU and NASU threatened to down tools.

Earlier on 1 March, PREMIUM TIMES reported a joint statement issued by the two unions, urging the government to consider their case by paying their members.

Similarly, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, a few days ago, SSANU approved the suggestion that its members should be withdrawn from their duty posts for seven days.

The union urged its NASU counterpart to also reach the same conclusion with its members for joint action, saying there would be no going back if the government refused to accede to their request.

JAC gives directive

In its latest action, JAC on Friday directed the unions members nationwide to commence the seven-day industrial action, blaming the government for ignoring their appeals.

The unions also listed their efforts towards an amicable resolution of the matter but that they received no response from the government.

The memo addressed to all branch chairpersons of SSANU and NASU reads in part: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU has inundated the Federal Government with the need to pay the withheld four months salaries of our members in the federal universities and inter-university centres as done for our academic counterparts to no avail.

As a matter of fact, the attention of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, and Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, OON, the Honourable Minister of Education, were called to this injustice and unfair treatment of our members in our letter referenced JAC/NS/VOL.II/277 dated 13th February, 2024 and to also inform them to resolve the issue positively before it leads to unnecessary upheaval in our university sector.

In a similar vein, a press release was issued on 1st March 2024 and the Federal Government was given a seven-day ultimatum to do the needful in respect of the payment of the withheld 4 months salaries but nothing was done on same.

JAC said having waited patiently for the ultimatum to expire without a positive response from the government, this is to direct our members in the universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to commence a 7-day warning strike effective Monday, 18th March 2024 in the first instance.

It urged members of the unions to ensure strict compliance with the directive, noting that whatever happens within the seven days would determine the next line of action to be pursued.

Consequences

The President of SSANU, Mr Ibraim, while appearing on Channels Televisions Politics Today recently, gave the breakdown of the likely consequences of the strike.

According to Mr Ibrahim, the campuses will be left without light and water, and sanitation will be left unattended by his union members.

He said NASU members are in charge of social services on campuses while SSANU members are in charge of the institutions bursary, registry, and library, among others, noting that the university communities arent just about teaching.

So all these services will be withdrawn and I doubt if anyone will be able to teach or conduct academic activities under such conditions, he said.

Meanwhile, some students including those of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, who are currently sitting their first semesters examination may be critically affected by the new developments.

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The Edo State Government says it is working to secure the release of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi.

The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this in a statement issued in Benin on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Aziegbemi was kidnapped close to his GRA residence on Friday night while returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House.

The commissioner said the state government had stepped up surveillance and was collaborating with security agencies for the safe release of the kidnapped victim.

We have also increased surveillance and beefed-up security measures across the state to ensure that these criminal activities are quelled and culprits are brought to justice.

We encourage residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the state emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs, he said.

Mr Nehikhare reassured the public of the governments commitment to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents.

He said the government would spare no resource in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act were apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Similarly, the police command in Edo said its operatives were collaborating with the local security network to rescue the victim unhurt.

The command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Funsho Adegboye, received the report of the incident with shock.

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Mr Nwabuzor, however, noted that the CP immediately gave a marching order to the tactical team leaders to conduct a rescue operation in collaboration with local vigilante groups and hunters.

The commands spokesman said the CP solicited the cooperation of Edo citizens, urging them to give information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and the rescue of the victim.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo condemned the abduction in a statement issued by its state acting chairman, Jarret Tenabe.

In the statement, APC attributed the development to the lack of strong security architecture in the state.

The kidnap is a wake-up call on the Governor Obaseki-led administration that all is not well in terms of securing the state, which is the primary responsibility of government.

The APC, Edo State Chapter, uses this medium to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman, it read.

The party, however, called on state security agencies to leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensure his release unhurt.

(NAN)

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The police in Lagos State have confirmed the death of a motorist, Seun Sahola, 33, while protesting against another motorist, who allegedly hit and damaged his car on Jakande-Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

Mr Hundeyin said that the Ilasan Police Division got information on Monday at about 2.30 p.m. of a hit-and-run fatal motor accident along Jakande-Lekki-Epe Expressway, involving a Lexus car.

He said the information revealed that the late motorist drove the car, while a Honda Accord car driven by a yet-to-be identified person damaged his car.

The spokesperson said that the report further revealed that the Honda Accord car driver allegedly hit the Lexus car, where it was parked along the expressway.

Mr Hundeyin said the owner of the Lexus car, now late, came out from his car and demanded that the Honda Accord car driver must come down and see the damage his car had done on his.

The report says that instead of the Honda Accord car driver to come down to check, he refused, rather, he allegedly used his Honda Accord car to knocked down the Lexus car motorist and drove off.

The driver of the Honda Accord car, in an attempt to flee the scene of accident, lost control of his car and ran into an electric pole at Igbo Efon and abandoned his accident car at the middle of the road and ran away.

The traffic personnel of the police division immediately went to the scene. One Seun Sahola was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment, where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, he said.

Mr Hundeyin further said that the corpse was deposited at the mortuary for autopsy, while the abandoned car has been taken to the police station for custody.

He said that investigation was in progress as the police were on the trail of the fleeing driver.

(NAN)

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The Nasiru Danu Foundation on Saturday donated 500 cartons of noodles to students of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Nasir Danu, handed over the cartons to the Vice-Chancellor of UNIABUJA, AbdulRasheed NaAllah, at the Senate Chamber of the university.

Mr Danu, who is the Sardauna of Dutse, promised to continue donating food items to students of the university for the next 25 days, in the spirit of giving to support indigent students during the ongoing Ramadan.

Our intention when we came here was to donate 500 packages for 500 students, but when we saw the development of the university as a result of the commitment of the Vice Chancellor, I therefore spoke with my partners. We have decided to feed 300 students for the next 25 days, so every day, were going to agree on the figures to donate, he said.

Prices of noodles have shot up remarkably, forcing many Nigerians to remove the staple from their routine menu.

Mr Danu said the foundation has been working assiduously to add value to humanity across all strata, which, according to him, led to the supply of cartons of noodles to 500 students of the Federal University, Dutse, daily during the ongoing Ramadan.

He said the foundation chose some federal universities because majority of students in need are studying there.

We have decided to do a special package for federal universities. The reason why we chose these universities is that these are where children of the downtrodden who need this support are. We started with Federal University, Dutse, he said.

Giving is a priority in Islam

Mr Danu said giving to society is an obligation clearly stated in Islam, which he believes in and is committed to seeing lives touched.

He stated that this Holy Month of Ramadan has necessitated sharing food and water, especially with the challenges being faced by many in Nigeria.

As a Muslim, were in the Holy Month of Ramadan, and normally even without the hunger, its time we should try to share food and water, since we know the condition we are in, its encouraging. Its a good work we are doing at the foundation.

In Islam, we have whats called Zakat, whatsoever God has given to you, its a platform for you to touch lives, he said.

Call for strategic partnership

Mr Danu also encouraged everyone with the means to play a part in alleviating the suffering of the downtrodden in society.

He said everyone has a role to play in improving the welfare of others, no matter their own circumstances.

He called on philanthropists across the country to engage in strategic partnerships with universities and society to ensure lives are changed.

In Islam, philanthropy work is a sensitive position because some of these students do not have food to eat, or transport to go home, and some do not have food to eat as they wake up from their sleep this morning. We are encouraging many people because you dont have to be a millionaire or a billionaire to give, he said.

He added that the foundation would continue to provide basic needs for the people within society as long as he can afford it.

Reactions

Mr NaAllah, the vice-chancellor, said he was excited to receive a call in the morning that food items would be brought to the university.

He lamented the inability of the university to accommodate all suffering students in the universitys employment scheme.

He promised that the Students Dean and the Students Union leadership would adequately share the food items with students who are in need.

He called on public-spirited individuals to come to the aid of the university since the government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibilities.

This university is ready to have private participation; we are eager. Universities cannot be run by the government alone, industries have their roles, parents have their roles, and philanthropists have their roles. The truth is that for Danu Foundation to come here is a demonstration of what we believe as a university, he said.

The Students Union leadership and the Dean of Students Affairs thanked Mr Danu for the donation and promised to equitably distribute the items to indigent students.

The event was attended by the universitys leadership team and management of the Nasiru Danu Foundation.

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A group, Child Protection Network (CPN), has expressed fears over the rate of child kidnapping in Nigeria, saying it could lead to the grooming of a new set of bandits in the country in future.

CPN National Coordinator, Kunle Sanni, stated this at a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Friday.

Mr Sanni, flanked by other officials of the group, said the welfare of the children should be paramount to the Nigerian government, pointing out that with the trend of the kidnap, it was glaring that there would be more out-of-school children in the country

He stated that the group is deeply concerned about the protection of children in places that should be the safest for them.

Mr Sanni recalled the recent abduction of over 200 children from a government secondary school in Kaduna on 7 March as well as others in Sokoto and Ekiti States, saying the incidents cast a dark shadow over the nation.

The sheer scale of these abductions, coupled with the growing number of similar incidents over the years, underscores a glaring failure in ensuring the safety of our children in schools.

Despite the substantial allocation of funds, such as the N145 billion earmarked for the Safe School Initiative, there has been a disturbing lack of tangible progress in fortifying school security and preventing such heinous acts.

This failure not only jeopardises the education and well-being of our children but also poses grave long-term consequences for our society as a whole, he stated

The prevalence of child abduction incidents contributes to a pervasive atmosphere of fear and insecurity among parents and students alike, leading to an alarming rise in school dropout rates. This not only deprives countless children of their fundamental right to education but also perpetuates a cycle of ignorance and disenfranchisement that undermines the fabric of our society, Sanni added

ALSO READ: Bandits demand N1 billion ransom for abducted Kaduna school children

Moreover, the abduction of children by criminal elements poses a significant risk of indoctrination and radicalisation, as these vulnerable individuals are often groomed to perpetuate violence and terrorism. The potential consequences of allowing such practices to continue unchecked are dire, with the spectre of a future generation shaped by violence and extremism looming ominously on the horizon, he stated.

Mr Sanni lamented that the harrowing experiences of the abducted children extend beyond the initial trauma of their abduction, stating that many are subjected to sexual exploitation and trafficking, which further exacerbate their suffering and perpetuate a cycle of violence and victimisation.

While commending the Nigerian governments stance against paying ransom, Mr Sanni urged it to take decisive action and unwavering commitment to addressing the root causes of the scourge.

In light of these grave concerns, we urgently call upon the authorities to prioritise the immediate rescue and safe return of the abducted children. This must be accompanied by comprehensive efforts to strengthen school security measures, including the implementation of advanced security systems and the erection of physical barriers to deter potential perpetrators.

Moreover, while we commend the governments stance against paying ransom, we emphasise the need for decisive action and unwavering commitment to addressing the root causes of this scourge. This includes holding those responsible for these abductions accountable and implementing robust measures to dismantle criminal networks involved in such nefarious activities.

In this time of crisis, it is imperative for our leaders to demonstrate empathy, resolve, and decisive leadership. We urge the President to address the nation directly on this matter and to prioritise the safety and well-being of our children above all else.

Furthermore, we stand in solidarity with the affected families, offering our unwavering support and assistance in their time of need.

The Ogun State Coordinator of CPN, Adedamola Lapile, urged the state government to take proactive measures in tackling insecurity and kidnapping rather than wait for a tragedy to strike before taking action

We urge our governor to take proactive measures rather than waiting for a tragedy to strike our schools in Ogun state. We implore him to prioritise the enhancement of security infrastructure for the safety of our children. May God guide us through this endeavour, Mr Lapite said

He added, Regarding the Safe School Project, its success hinges on meticulous planning tailored to the unique needs of each school. Its imperative to involve every teacher and school administrator as they are the frontline guardians of our childrens safety.

Without their active participation, achieving a safe school environment is unattainable. Only when they are fully integrated into the security infrastructure can we speak of true success.

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In the absence of US military aid, Ukraine may run out of missiles for its air defense systems by the end of this month. In this case, the Ukrainian military will be able to shoot down only one out of five Russian missiles.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, the terrorist country Russia is stepping up missile and drone strikes against Ukraine. This was reported by The Telegraph.

According to Ukrainian sources, the stockpile of missiles for anti-aircraft missile systems that protect cities such as Odesa is rapidly dwindling. At the same time, political debate over US military assistance is only intensifying amid escalating Russian attacks.

Analysts have noted that instead of trying to shoot down four out of five Russian missiles, as is currently the case, Ukraine will soon have to limit its air defense systems to shoot down only one out of five targets. Western media also warned that this would have a "significant impact on Ukrainian cities."

While Russian terrorists are killing civilians in Ukraine, politicians in the United States are engaged in a fierce debate over whether to maintain military aid to Ukraine. Moreover, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Donald Trump, if elected president, would no longer give Ukraine money.

ADVERTISIMENT

The warning comes as Russia is stepping up its missile attacks on Ukraine. The recent attack on Odesa killed 20 people, the largest number of deaths in the city in the war in a single day.

In addition, Russian officials said they knew that Ukraine was running out of ammunition. Therefore, Russia decided that it was time to launch more missiles and drones.

As a reminder, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk strongly urged Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson to speed up the process of voting on the US aid package for Ukraine. He noted that Johnson should take a close look at the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack in Odesa.

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held telephone talks with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The parties support the need for a prompt vote by the U.S. House of Representatives for additional military funding for Kyiv.

ADVERTISIMENT

As previously reported, on March 12, Washington announced emergency military aid to Kyiv totaling $300 million. However, the US will not be able to provide Ukraine with another package without additional funding.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The claim by a senator, Abdul Ningi, that over N53 billion worth of projects in the 2024 Appropriations Act are without a specific location, is true, a check by PREMIUM TIMES has revealed.

The suspended lawmaker, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, recently accused the leadership of the Senate of fraudulently smuggling projects into the 2024 budget.

The lawmaker, who was suspended by the Senate on Tuesday over the claim, had disclosed that he got experts to review the budget and discovered some projects that do not have locations.

A review of the document obtained by this newspaper as well as a review of the proposed 2024 budget and the one eventually passed by the lawmakers, indicate that there is substantial merit in Mr Ningis claim.

According to Mr Ningis document, the consultants traced 36 projects that are worth N53 billion though the projects have no specific locations they are to be sited.

The 2024 Budget

On 29 November 2023, President Bola Tinubu presented the N27.5 trillion budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.

The budget has a recurrent expenditure profile of N9.92 trillion, a capital expenditure component of N8.7 trillion while N8.25 trillion was set aside for debt servicing.

Within 30 days, the lawmakers passed the budget, increasing it by N1.2 trillion and bringing the total figure to N28.7 trillion

Many observers believe that the lawmakers sacrificed diligence on the altar of speed.

It was not only the lawmakers who were in a hurry, President Tinubu also signed the bill into law within 48 hours after it was transmitted to him.

However, barely 60 days into the implementation of the budget, controversy arose.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the meeting between Mr Ningi, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and some principal officers of the Senate.

During the meeting, Mr Ningi, who at the time was the leader of the Northern Senators Forum, alleged that about N3.7 trillion worth of projects were smuggled into the budget.

Mr Ningi also had an interview with BBC Hausa, during which he was quoted as saying, Apparently, we discovered N3 trillion was inserted into the budgets for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabios watch.

The lawmaker later claimed that he was misquoted in the interview, insisting that he never mentioned budget padding or Mr Akpabio.

He, however, refused to be pressured to recant his claims by his colleagues during Tuesdays plenary session. He was subsequently suspended.

In the course of the saga, two main issues have occupied centre stage  budget padding and constituency projects.

Tracking the 36 projects without location

In the document Mr Ningi has, for instance, N500 million was allocated for Energy Poverty Intervention in Selected Rural Cooperators Settlements. The project is under the Federal College of Land Resources Owerri, Imo State.

This line item has a very vague description with an equally vague location. Selected rural cooperators settlement was the only description for the location of the project.

Further checks revealed that this project was not in the budget proposal submitted by President Tinubu.

Aside from this project flagged by Mr Ningi, this paper also flagged several other projects placed under the same college in Imo.

For instance, N500 million was allocated for the construction of solar street lights in selected cooperators settlement. Like other projects, it has no specific location and it was not contained in the proposed budget submitted by the president.

In total, 14 projects worth N2.4 billion were injected into the institutions budget. These 14 projects were not in the proposed budget by the president.

A similar vague project was domiciled in the budget of the Agricultural Council of Nigeria. The N40 million project is tagged, supply of farm inputs and farm implements in selected communities. No specific location was put in place for the project.

When President Tinubu presented the budget, the agency had a N2.7 billion budgetary allocation. After the lawmakers controversial insertions, the agencys budget was increased to N22.9 billion.

Many of the projects are to be executed in different senatorial districts. However, some have very vague descriptions.

For instance, N297.6 million (N297,555,911) was repeated four times in the agencys budget for projects without specific locations.

There is Solar street light installations in selected federal constituencies in the six geopolitical zones, and there is another: entrepreneurship/empowerment of SMEs in some six geopolitical zones in the country."

Another agency that Mr Ningi flagged is the Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research. He highlighted N1.5 billion worth of projects that could not be tied to any specific location. A simple search revealed that Mr Ningi only scratched the surface. Over N54.2 billion worth of projects were dumped by the lawmakers in this agency. Many of them are vague.

In the budget of the National Centre for Agriculture Mechanisation, over N36 billion was inserted in the budget of the agency by the lawmakers. When President Tinubu presented the budget in November 2023, the agency had about N1.8 billion as total estimated expenditure. However, by the time the lawmakers dumped their projects in there, the allocation increased to N38.6 billion.

Duplicating same untraceable projects in two agencies.

Mr Ningi's claim that projects worth about N2 billion in the budget of the National Horticulture Research Institute, Ibadan, cannot be traced to any specific location is also true.

Four line items at the rate of N500 million each are in the budget without any specific location.

However, the problem is not just the lack of specific locations of the projects, there appears to be an intent to commit fraud. These same projects in the National Horticulture Research Institute, Ibadan were also dumped in the budget of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research. It has the same amounts and the same project titles.

These projects were not in the original budget submitted by the president. They were included by the lawmakers.

Most of the projects flagged by Mr Ningi checked out following an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES. However, the lawmaker only scratched the surface, as a deeper search showed that many more projects were dumped by the lawmakers.

Budget Padding vs Constituency Projects

The emergence of the phrase budget padding into Nigerias political lexicon could be traced to 2016, when Abdulmummin Jibrin, the then chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, accused the then Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and some principal officers of the House of padding the budget of the House with projects.

Amid that scandal, Mr Jibrin was suspended by the House.

However, controversies over the insertion of projects into the budget could be traced to the beginning of this Fourth Republic.

Lawmakers have always maintained that they reserve the power to insert projects into the proposed budgets.

As a minority leader in the House in 2013, Femi Gbajabiamila argued in favour of the lawmakers having the constitutional power to do so.

Surely a legislator represents his people in the centre and part of his responsibility is to attract federal presence to his community. How else can he do this? The annual budget provides him with the opportunity to attract the much-needed federal presence in his constituency and justify his raison detre, Mr Gbajabiamila stated in an opinion piece published by PREMIUM TIMES in 2013.

However, the argument on the other side has been compelling. Shehu Sani, a member of the 8th Senate, had called for the scrapping of the constituency projects, describing it as a distraction.

Over the years, the phrase budget padding has been used to connote the smuggling of projects into the budget by lawmakers.

Ordinarily, Nigerian lawmakers are entitled to a statutory fund called the Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP), also called constituency projects. The ZIP is a N100 billion fund allocated annually under which lawmakers can allocate funds to nominate projects in their constituency.

Under the scheme, the N100 billion is shared between the Senate and the House of Representatives at a ratio of 40 per cent to 60 per cent respectively. The fund is shared equally across geopolitical zones. For instance, senators in the South-east may get more than senators in the North-west because the latter has more senators than the former.

In the case of the House, lawmakers from Bayelsa State may get more ZIP funds allocated to their constituencies than lawmakers from Lagos because while Bayelsa State has five lawmakers, Lagos State has 24.

However, 10 per cent of the funds of the respective chambers are set aside for the principal officers of both chambers. The sharing formula shows that the principal officers of the Senate and the House get N4 billion and N6 billion respectively.

In the case of the House, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Whip, Deputy Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and the Deputy Minority Whip are to share N6 billion, hence, they get more as ZIPs.

Ordinarily, ZIPs are supposed to be nominated by lawmakers, while MDAs are charged with the responsibility of implementing them.

However, the process of implementation of ZIPs has been riddled with corruption. Oftentimes, lawmakers, MDAs and contractors collude to siphon the funds. In some instances, lawmakers use personal companies to execute ZIPs.

Despite the ZIP provision, the lawmakers still smuggle projects worth hundreds of billions into the budget. Budget padding has become an annual ritual in the National Assembly during the passage of the document.

In the 8th Assembly, the then leadership of the National Assembly and former President Muhammadu Buhari had a strained relationship over the power of the lawmakers to include projects in the budget.

In 2018, the then-president accused the lawmakers of inserting non-essential projects into the budget while cutting the essential ones. The accusation by the president led to back-and-forth arguments between the lawmakers and the executive.

The relationship between Mr Buhari and the 9th Assembly was a bit cordial and gave the lawmakers more leeway to add projects to the budget. However, despite the friendly relationship, on several occasions, Mr Buhari raised alarm over the smuggling of projects into budgets by the lawmakers. He said he reluctantly signed the 2022 budget into law because of the insertions by lawmakers.

Extra N100 million for lawmakers

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that each member of the 9th House got an additional N100 million aside from the so-called constituency projects allocated to them.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen confirmed this during the campaign for the speakership. While trying to convince his colleagues to support him, he said members of the 9th Assembly got an additional N100 million worth of projects in the budget for their constituencies.

Let us take the 9th Assembly, which was the first time when the thinking of the members coincided with the thinking of the government. What happened? We saw a tremendous shift in the body language of the government. We saw a tremendous shift in the cooperation between the executive and the legislature. N100 million was handed to say thank you to each member. An unprecedented move, Mr Tajudeen said during a meeting with lawmakers at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

It never happened in the history of the parliament. A N100 million capital project was given to each member. Choose whatever you want for your constituency, N100 is there for you.

He added: Also, our traditional ZIP was funded right from 2019 till date.

Tinubus disposition

President Tinubu appears not to be against lawmakers inserting projects into the budget. During the budget presentation, Mr Tinubu urged the lawmakers to include only projects that are of equitable spread into the 2024 budget.

He, however, warned that projects should be within sectorial mandates.

We must ensure that only projects and programmes that would be of equitable benefits to all Nigerians are allowed into the budget, additionally, only projects and programmes which are in line with the sectorial mandates of MDAs and which are capable of realising the vision of our government should be included in the budget. As a government, we are committed to improving the lots of our people, he said.

While signing the passed budget, Mr Tinubu did not object to any inclusion, including the increase of the budget of the National Assembly from N197 billion to N344 billion.

The current federal government is run by former legislators. Mr Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, are former senators. In the short-lived Third Republic, Mr Tinubu served as the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Also, the man in charge of the budget, Atiku Bagudu, who is the minister of budget and national planning, is also a former senator while Mr Tinubus Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila spent 20 years in the House.

Perhaps, this accounts for the reason the executive seems unperturbed by the allegation of budget padding. It, in fact, scolded Mr Ningi for alleging that the government is running two different budgets. Mr Ningi has since recanted the comment.

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The eight lawmakers suspended indefinitely by the Zamfara House of Assembly said they have been hounded out of the state by political thugs for exposing the worsening security challenges in the state.

The lawmakers also claimed that some security agents had been sent to hunt for them without any reason, a situation which made them go into hiding.

Bashir Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the eight suspended lawmakers at a news conference in Zaria on Sunday, said they would not be silenced until action is taken to tame the high level of insecurity in Zamfara.

Mr Aliyu said when they moved to effect changes in the leadership of the assembly, it was to draw attention to the alleged prolonged absence of the Speaker and his deputy from the state.

He, however, said some forces in the state have since been hounding them instead of working to make the state safe.

According to him, some of the suspended lawmakers were attacked by thugs linked to a politician in the state during the wedding of the Deputy Governors daughter on 24 February.

He said a letter with reference no. ZMHA/ADM/223/Vol. 1, dated 7 March, has now directed them to return the official vehicles in their care to the Clerk of the state assembly within seven days.

We want to notify Nigerians that democracy is in danger in Zamfara despite the prevailing insecurity, poverty and other challenges bedevilling the people of the state.

We hence call for the intervention of key stakeholders to salvage the situation, Mr Aliyu who represents the Gumi I constituency added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on 27 February the eight lawmakers were suspended by the state assembly for allegedly holding an illegal plenary.

READ ALSO: Zamfara Assembly suspends eight members

The suspension of the eight members was to give room for a full investigation.

The suspended lawmakers are Bashir Aliyu (PDP-Gummi 1); Amiru Keta (PDP-Tsafe West); Nasiru Abdullahi (PDP-Maru South); Bashir Masama (PDP-Bukkuyum North); Faruku Dosara (APC-Maradun 1); Ibrahim Tukur (APC-Bakura Constituency); Shamsudeen Hassan (APC Talata-Mafara North) and Bashiru Sarkin-Zango (PDP-Bungudu West).

(NAN)

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The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye, has vowed that the police will track down gunmen who attacked the office of Anambra State Vigilante Group in the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement which was forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.

The attack

PREMIUM TIMES reported how some gunmen on Thursday attacked the security facility in Amichi, a community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the South-eastern state.

A yet-to-be-identified man was set ablaze by the gunmen during the attack which lasted for about an hour.

The victim, suspected to be a vigilante operative, was shot while he was hiding from flying bullets, residents told this newspaper.

The gunmen razed a section of the security facility and a Sienna vehicle belonging to the vigilante operatives, a video clip apparently shot shortly after the attack showed.

Police speak

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, confirmed in the statement that the man set ablaze by the hoodlums was a vigilante operative.

The spokesperson said the police commissioner condoled with the people of the community on the loss of the vigilante operative during the attack.

Mr Adeoye, according to the statement, commended the Anambra State Vigilante Group across the state for their commitment to the security of residents of the state and assured that the police would work hard to protect them.

The commissioner of police has also directed Police Tactical Teams and Special Forces across the state to respond promptly to all distress calls from vigilante groups anytime they come under attack, the statement said.

The commissioner said efforts were already ongoing to identify and smash the hoodlums that carried out the attack.

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President Bola Tinubu has given the Nigerian military full authority to bring those behind the Thursday killing of 12 soldiers and four army officers to justice.

Mr Tinubu, in a statement he personally issued on Sunday, vowed his government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.

The killing occurred on Thursday during a rescue mission in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Troops were responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State when they were ambushed.

A commanding officer, two majors, one captain, 12 soldiers and one civilian were killed in the attack. The soldiers are believed to have been killed in Okuama community where many houses were razed Sunday morning. It is not yet clear if it was soldiers on a revenge mission who razed houses in the community but most residents are believed to have fled to a neighbouring community before the houses were razed.

Mr Tinubu, on Sunday, commisserated with the armed forces over the death of the soldiers.

He expressed his profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.

The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people, the president wrote.

Read President Tinubus full statement below

STATEMENT ON THE KILLING OF NIGERIAN SOLDIERS ON A PEACE MISSION TO OKUAMA COMMUNITY IN DELTA STATE

On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred on Thursday, March 14, 2024, when our troops, responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, were ambushed. A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed.

As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.

I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.

This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage, and uncommon grit and patriotism.

As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our nation safe, strong, and united. The officers and men who died in Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.

ALSO READ: Delta community razed after killing of soldiers

Members of our armed forces are at the heart and core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.

The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.

My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.

May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep members of our armed forces safe.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria

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Nigerians including telecommunications companies, banks, and media among others were on Thursday hit by an internet outage as a result of damage to international undersea cables supplying them with connectivity.

Confirming the incident, the Nigerian government said the damage affects major undersea cables near Abidjan in Cote dIvoire and is causing downtime across West and South African countries.

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), in a statement through its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, said the cuts occurred somewhere in Cote dIvoire and Senegal, with an attendant disruption in Portugal.

It said that cable companies  West African Cable System (WACS) and African Coast to Europe (ACE) in the West Coast route from Europe  had experienced faults, while SAT3 and MainOne had downtime.

The regulatory body added that similar undersea cables providing traffic from Europe to the East Coast of Africa, like Seacom, Europe India Gateway (EIG), and Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE1), were said to have been cut at some point around the Red Sea.

This, it said, resulted in the degradation of services across these routes.

Below are some key things to know about the internet disruptions.

1). Cause of the network outage

In a statement on Friday, MainOne network, whose facilities provide internet services to many parts of western and southern Africa, said on Thursday, 14 March, at 7:43 GMT, it experienced a fault in its network and its investigation revealed that the fault occurred due to an external incident that resulted in a cut on its submarine cable system in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Cote DIvoire, along the coast of West Africa, experienced a fault that has also affected other cable systems and is disrupting international connectivity and internet services to countries across West Africa.

2). How long will the outage last?

It explained that the MainOne submarine cable carries a significant portion of the international traffic into West Africa and provides services to multiple countries hence the magnitude of the impact.

The company said it has a maintenance agreement with the Atlantic Cable Maintenance and Repair Agreement (ACMA) to provide repair services for the submarine cable.

The service provider added that the steps to be taken include first identifying and assigning a vessel to retrieve the necessary spares required for repair and then sailing to the fault location to conduct the repair work.

It said that the next step in order to complete the repair, the affected section of the submarine cable will have to be pulled from the seabed onto the ship where it will be spliced by skilled technicians.

Post repair, joints will be inspected and tested for any defects and then the submarine cable is lowered back to the seabed and guided to a good position. This process might take 1-2 weeks for repairs while about 2-3 weeks of transit time may be required for the vessel to pick up the spares and travel from Europe to West Africa once the vessel is mobilised, it said.

3). The cause of the outage in the sea

It added that most submarine cable faults occur as a result of human activities such as fishing and anchoring in shallow waters near shore, natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and then equipment failure.

Given the distance from land, and the cable depth of about 3 km at the point of fault, any kind of human activity, ship anchors, fishing, drilling etc has been immediately ruled out.

Our preliminary analysis would suggest some form of seismic activity on the seabed resulted in a break to the cable, but we will obtain more data when the cable is retrieved during the repair exercise.

The company said it is working with Atlantic Cable Maintenance and Repair Agreement (ACMA) which will deploy the vessel and is unable to provide more information at this time.

4). What it means to customers

The service provider noted that international services on its cable south of the landing in Senegal have been disrupted.

This, it said has resulted in the outage of internet services for the majority of its customers.

We recognize the impact of the outage and are working tirelessly to make available restoration capacity for temporary relief, where feasible.

While we do have some pre-configured restoration capacity on other cable systems, unfortunately, those cable systems are also down currently. We have since acquired capacity on available cable systems, but we have not found readily available capacity to fully restore services to all our customers, it said.

5). MainOne declares a force majeure

The company also declared a force majeure, which absolves it of contractual obligations to its customers in certain circumstances.

It said that commercial contracts typically included such a force majeure clause which enabled service providers to suspend contractual obligations for the duration of such disruptions.

The company said it is working to provide restoration services to as many of our customers as possible and to complete the repairs to the cable system in record time.

MainOne declared a force majeure event subsequent to testing of the cable system and when we had enough technical data from the preliminary assessment to indicate some underwater activity was the likely cause.

We believe it is important to inform our customers of the fault details given the magnitude of the situation in order to set expectations and make contingency arrangements while the repairs are ongoing.

The statement said MainOne has some restoration agreements with other operators but unfortunately, those cable systems are also impacted by outages at this time.

We believe our submarine cable carries a significant portion of the international traffic into West Africa and provides services to multiple countries hence the magnitude of the impact.

We are actively restoring services to the extent possible and are mobilising a vessel for repair and will update once we have more details.

According to the statement, the MainOne cable is very well protected as can be seen from the number of incidences on our cable system since inception in 2010.

We have taken a lead in West Africa in championing the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and organizing submarine cable owners associations in Nigeria and Ghana, which promote awareness of the strategic benefits of submarine cables and proactive regulations and measures to minimize submarine cable damage.

We are very optimistic that our cable will be repaired as planned and services fully restored so that we can continue to operate with the continued integrity of the submarine cable, the company said.

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Senate panel begins probe of N30trn CBN loan obtained by Buhari

The Senate began legislative activities last Monday with the inauguration of a nine-member ad hoc committee to interrogate the disbursement and usage of the 30 trillion Ways and Means loan obtained by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The panel will also probe intervention programmes implemented by the former president such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, excess funding in the power sector, and monies given to manufacturers, banks and airline companies which contributed to the increase in the countrys debt profile.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, inaugurated the interrogation committee in the Senate complex, Abuja

After the inauguration, members of the committee held their first meeting which lasted for about one hour. The lawmakers rose from the meeting with an assurance that they would not be compromised.

Chairman of the Committee, Isah Jibrin, called on persons involved in the issue to be ready to appear before the lawmakers for questioning.

Mr Jibrin, the lawmaker representing Kogi East on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the relevant authorities to make procurement documents available to the committee for proper scrutiny.

Ningis suspension

The Senate on Tuesday slammed a three-month suspension on Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) over his allegation that lawmakers padded the 2024 budget with N3 trillion.

Mr Ningi, who was at the time Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, had made an allegation three days earlier. Thus when the plenary opened on Tuesday, the first legislative sitting day, it was natural that the matter was going to take centre stage.

It did. After a lengthy debate that lasted for several hours, the Senate resolved to suspend the Bauchi senator.

Senator Ningi is here suspended for three months from all activities relating to the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Akpabio announced after the majority of the lawmakers supported the move during deliberation on the matter at the Committee of the Whole.

The senate president also issued a warning to Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano) who was the spokesperson of NSF, to desist from spreading false allegations against the Senate.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a day before the plenary, Mr Ningis fate appeared to have been sealed as some northern senators dissociated themselves from padding allegations.

The senators are Aminu Abass (PDP, Adamawa Central), Ibrahim Bomai (APC, Yobe South), Abdulaziz Yaradua (APC, Katsina Central) and Lawal Usman (PDP, Kaduna Central).

Others are Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central) and Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central).

Three of their colleagues, namely Sunday Karimi (Kogi), Titus Zam (Benue) and Kaka Sheu (Borno), also did.

N500m project for each ranking senator?

One revelation that emerged from the budget padding saga was made by Cross River North senator, Agom Jarigbe.

There was pandemonium in the Senate chamber when the PDP senator revealed that some ranking senators received N500 million projects in the 2024 budget for their constituencies.

Mr Jarigbe made the revelation during plenary while commenting on the allegation of budget padding made against the Senate by Mr Ningi.

Ranking senators are those who have spent more than one term of four years in the upper chamber.

Mr Jarigbe said a majority of the senators are guilty of the budget padding scandal because some of the senior senators got N500 million each from the budgetary allocation.

If we want to go into this issue, all of us are culpable. Some senators here, so-called senior senators, got N500 million each. I am a ranking senator. I didnt get. Did I go to the press? We dont have to go into those issues, he said.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, quickly muted Mr Jarigbes microphone apparently to prevent people from hearing the details of the N500 million.

The Senate erupted in a rowdy session for about 30 minutes before Mr Akpabio directed the senators to return to their various seats.

Meanwhile, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, while addressing journalists after the plenary dismissed the issue of the provision of N500 million as constituency funds to senators, describing the allegation as a fairy tale.

This is the second time that the distribution of money to the senators will attract public attention.

Senate explains additional N3trn to the budget

Shortly after the suspension of Mr Ningi from legislative activities, Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, addressed the press and explained the reasons for the N3 trillion added to the 2024 budget.

Mr Adaramodu said the N3 trillion allegedly added to the 2024 budget was statutory transfers to first-line charge agencies of government not domiciled in the ministries.

The N3 trillion is for statutory transfers of government agencies on the first lines charges, Mr Adaramodu said.

He listed the agencies to include Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Public Complaints Commission, National Judicial Council, North East Development (NEDC), and Niger Delta Development Commission Commission (NDDC), among others.

The Senate spokesperson stressed that there was nothing like budget padding and that the false narrative on N3 trillion padding was a demonstration of the error of arithmetic and innocence of procedure by the protagonists of budget padding.

He said the 10th Senate needed to be treasured as a pillar of democracy and would only do what would promote national interest.

Senate Leader raises alarm over alleged impeachment plot against Akpabio

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, during the plenary on Tuesday, raised the alarm that some losers of the senate presidency election conducted last June were plotting to impeach the senate president.

Mr Bamidele claimed that the losers were plotting the impeachment because they were still angry about the fact that they lost the election.

The senate leader stated this while he was contributing to the motion to suspend Mr Ningi from legislative activities.

We must never accept any apology from Senator Ningi. It is ridiculous to do so. He lied deliberately. Mr Senate President, youre occupying that seat 40 years after a South-South person occupied it.

The last time a Southerner was there was during Obasanjo and they were being changed every time. It was only stable when it returned to the North. David Mark spent 8 years, Saraki completed his four years, and Lawan spent his four years. Dont be deceived, the losers of the June 2023 Senate presidential election are still angry.

Some have accepted but a few havent. They have plotted to remove you before June 2024. That is why you must not allow this deliberate mischief by Ningi to go away. He did it on purpose. He knew he was lying, he set the public against you, he will do it again. We must apply our sanction the senate leader said.

Tinubu replaces South-east nominee on CBN Board

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu asked the Senate to screen and confirm Ruby Onwudiwe as a member of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The presidents request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary.

In the letter, Mr Tinubu noted that Mr Onwudiwe is a replacement for the former South-east nominee, Urum Eke, who declined his nomination due to his current engagement at the World Bank.

Mr Eke, a consultant to the World Bank and native of Abia State, rejected his nomination as a member of the CBN board last month.

President Tinubu nominated him and four others as members of the CBN board of directors.

While MrvEke was absent from the screening, the four other nominees, Robert Agbide, Ado Wanga, Murtala Sagaley, and Muslimat Aliu were present upon and they were subsequently confirmed.

President Tinubu, in his letter announcing the replacement, said his action is in compliance with the provision of section 10 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

Yaradua leads northern senators

On Wednesday, members of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) appointed the Katsina Central senator Abdulaziz Yaradua, as their new chairman.

The forum also appointed Mohammed Monguno, the senator representing Borno North Senatorial District, as its Publicity Secretary.

The duo were appointed following the resignation of the suspended senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, as chairman of the forum.

Mr Monguno, a lawyer, replaced the senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) as the forums spokesperson.

It is not clear why the forum replaced Mr Kawu with Mr Monguno but it may not be unconnected to the resolution of the Senate on Tuesday, issuing a warning to Mr Kawu to desist from spreading misinformation with a view to incite the public against the senate.

Messers Yaradua and Monguno are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Southern senators get new chairman

On Wednesday, Adetokunbo Abiru (APC Lagos East) emerged as the are chairman, the Southern Senators Forum (SSF).

Mr Abiru took over from Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti Central), who had been the leader of the forum since the ninth Assembly.

Mr Abiru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, emerged after a meeting of South-east, South-west and South-south senators.

Speaking at a news conference after his emergence, the senator said the SSF would partner with the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) to move the country forward.

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Amidst ongoing leadership tussle in the Labour Party (LP), the partys National Working Committee has accused the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, of desperately seeking to replace its National Chairman, Julius Abure.

The LP made the accusation in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Saturday.

The statement was in response to an open letter titled: A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour gone too far written on Friday by the political wing of the NLCthe Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission.

The commission, in the letter jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary of the commission, Titus Amba and Chris Uyot, alleged that Mr Abure and the NWC were proposing a secret national convention in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on 27 March that will re-elect the national chairman (Abure) to continue running the (LP) as a sole administrator.

The commission also alleged that the circular was passed without the input of stakeholders, especially the NLC, adding that Mr Abure had in April last year tried to extend his tenure in office by two years unilaterally but was stopped at the instance of the partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who insisted that the right thing be done.

In its statement on Saturday, the LP said the NLC letter did not come to them as a surprise or a shock, noting that it was long expected, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in what they described as misadventure.

Unfortunately, the rascality of the current president of the NLC, Joe Ajero, has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox, Mr Ifoh said.

He explained that it must be noted that undue interference by the NLC on the affairs of the party has become worrisome and that it has become needful to emphasise the distinction that the LP has a life of its own different from that of the Congress.

In fact, the 1999 Constitution states clearly that once a political party is registered, it has a life of its own whereby it can run its own affairs without any interference, the statement said.

Mr Obiora said the LP will be going ahead with its programme and that the convention will be held as scheduled.

We have consulted with our stakeholders and the consultation is ongoing and we will continue to consult until March 27, when the new leadership of the party will emerge. We have advised the NLC before now that party politics is played at the Ward level and not at the national level, the statement said.

It said: If NLC is interested in taking the leadership of the party, they should go and engage in the mass mobilisation of its members to join the party at the grass-root.

Before now, the LP had been engulfed in a leadership crisis with a faction led by Lamidi Apapa laying claim to the Chairmanship of the party.

The Court of Appeal had on 6 March confirmed Mr Abure as the partys chairman.

Read the full statement of the LP below:

The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to a Press Release titled A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour gone too far written by the NLCs Political Commission as an agent of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The NLC letter did not come to us as a surprise or a shock, it was long expected before now, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in this misadventure.

Nigerians will recall that in 2014, NLC has been involved in a war of blackmail and attrition against the Labour Party and its leadership. It was only recently, following the civil and diplomatic approach adopted by Barrister Julius Abure when he assumed leadership that he was able to get the then President of the NLC, Ayuba Waba and the then President of the Trade Union Congress, Olaleye Quadri to a truce where the NLC, TUC and Labour Party agreed to work together in harmony.

Unfortunately, the rascality of the current president of the NLC, Joe Ajero has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has written several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and to the party on the need to conduct a national convention. In fact, the NLC has queried even the rationale behind the one-year extension which was graciously granted by the NEC in session in Asaba, which is in line with the party constitution.

The leadership of the party in its wisdom has decided to yield to their agitation for a convocation of a national convention.

Article 14:4b of our party constitution mandates the National Secretary in consultation with the National Chairman to issue notices of meetings of the National Convention, NEC, NWC amongst others. It is in the exercise of this power that the national chairman and national Secretary have called for the convention following the decision of the national executive council of the party.

It is therefore ironic for the same NLC which has been agitating for a convention to now be demanding the rationale for the call for a convention.

At this point, the leadership of the party wants to ask the NLC, what exactly do they want? If Joe Ajero is interested in the leadership of the party, he is therefore advised to resign as the President of the NLC and join in the contest for the National Chairmanship of the party that is scheduled for the convention on the 27th of March, 2024.

We must note that undue interference by the Nigeria Labour Congress on the affairs of the party has become worrisome and it has become needful to emphasise here the distinction that the Labour Party has a life of its own different from that of the Nigeria Labour Congress. In fact, the 1999 Constitution states clearly that once a political party is registered, it has a life of its own whereby it can run its own affairs without any interference.

The Electoral Act and the Constitution provide that no organisation can own any other organisation. The NLC as an organisation can not claim the ownership of the Labour Party. The constitution of the party is clear that it is only those who subscribe to the party and those who are financial members of the party who are the owners of the party and therefore can have a say on the affairs of the party.

The interference of the present leadership of the NLC on the party is really choking and we can hardly breathe. It is this NLC leadership which pressured the Party not to give His Excellency, Alex Otti the governorship ticket for the 2023 general election on the ground that he was allegedly not workers friendly when he was a Chief Executive of a bank. But today, that same Alex Otti is doing the Labour Party proud with the work he is doing in Abia state.

Again, the same NLC attempted to prevail on the leadership of the party to upload a different candidate other than Senator Athan Achonu after he won the Imo state party primaries under the Labour Party.

It will shock Nigerians to know that members and officials of the NLC are not even card-carrying members of the Labour Party. All over the country, NLC members have been found to be supporting either the APC or the PDP.

It is again of importance to make certain clarification as to the so-called judgements that were referred to by the NLC, we must indicate clearly that the Labour Party is not in default of any court judgement whatsoever. The agreement reached by the NLC to call for a convention is what we are following, we have fully implemented that agreement and the convention is in line with the agreement. We are therefore not in any default of court judgement as erroneously implied by the NLC.

We therefore want to advise the NLC and its commission that it should focus only on its statutory responsibilities of defending the workers and the workers rights.

Today the minimum wage is N30.000 while a bag of rice is N80.000. We hear about NLC talk about the ethos and ethics of the Labour movement and the Labour Party, this is also an NLC that cannot call or sustain a strike for one or two days without calling it off. This is an NLC which cannot think of calling a protest and sustaining it in order to get the attention of the government for the interest of the workers.

The present NLC should take time to listen to the opinion Nigerians have formed about them. Can the NLC of today in any way be compared to NLC of the then Hassan Sumounu, Adams Oshiohmole and a few others in the past?

We must at this point appreciate the Trade Union Congress, TUC and its Political Commission under the leadership of Comrade Festus Osifo who stoutly refused to sign the Press Release with the NLC on the ground that it was baseless, frivolous, unrealistic and an evidence of power thirst, which to them was not necessary at this time considering the successes already achieved at the Labour Party.

We equally want to advise Joe Ajero to emulate the leadership of Ayuba Waba, Olaleye Quadri and Osifo in working closely with the party.

The ill-intended Press Release by the Political Commission also made a reference to spurious allegations made by the suspended National treasurer, Oluchi Opara and it attempted to give it some credence. This clearly exposes the mischief by the NLC to hoodwink the people. We have stated clearly that the total money received by the party was N1.3 billion and no other report has contradicted it. So for the NLC to be quoting spurious allegations goes to show that they are part of the challenges the Labour Party has been facing.

We are shocked that NLC which was a victim of a recent harassment, threat to life and brutalization of its president would express shock over similar treatment meted to our chairman, Barrister Julius Abure who was brutalised for political reasons and nothing more. The NLC statement has it that Abure was arrested for fraud even when the police stated that the arrest was for attempted murder, which of course was a fabricated falsehood. We are shocked that the NLC which its President suffered the same fate, with bloodied face in Imo state will in one breath speak of Abure in this manner. This goes to portray the desperate characters in the current NLC.

We must also state clearly that our leader, Peter Obi made reference to the audit of the campaign account and not forensic audit for the Labour Party. In any case, we have stated clearly that the Labour Party is open to forensic audit of its accounts. We are even calling on the NLC to send its own external auditors to check our financial books. We are also calling on Peter Obi to expedite action on the auditing of our accounts. And for the NLC to be using this as a cheap blackmail is to show their high level of desperation and mischief.

The conclusion of the NLCs Press Release is laughable, in fact, it didnt come to us as a surprise. It will interest Nigerians to know that the NLC has through some proxies gone to court severally to fight the leadership of the party, the most recent being the case filed by one Ado. Passing a Vote of no Confidence in the leadership of the party is laughable. It clearly shows that they neither have nor read the constitution of the party.

Article 17:1 of the party constitution is very clear on how the national chairman of the party can be removed from office. We must state clearly that it is only the National Convention that can pass a Vote of No Confidence in the leadership of the party and not the NLC who are not even members of the party. Ironically, members of the so-called Political Commission who are being used by the NLC are not card carrying members of the Labour Party. I wonder how people who are staying outside a house are hoping to interfere in what is happening inside. They simply do not have both the power and the capacity to do so.

Members of the Labour Party appreciate the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure who has taken the party from obscurity to the enviable position it found itself now. It is under his leadership that the party has found limelight. Today in the Labour Party, we have a governor, senators, house of representatives and assembly members amongst others. Today, the Labour Party is the major opposition political party in Nigeria.

We therefore urge the NLC to go and learn from other developing democracies across the world, how the Labour movements have given support to Labour Parties across the world in Australia, Brazil amongst others who have captured power in their countries. Such intellectual exploration has become necessary so we can collectively work towards the goods of Nigerians. There is a need for us to come together and collectively fight the ruling class that has held the nation down for so long and has impoverished the nation. It makes no sense for us to be fighting ourselves.

In conclusion, we note that the Labour Party will be going ahead with our party programs, our convention will hold. We have consulted with our stakeholders and the consultation is ongoing and we will continue to consult until March 27, when the new leadership of the party will emerge. We have advised the NLC before now that party politics is played at the Ward level and not at the National level. If NLC is interested in taking the leadership of the party, they should go and engage in the mass mobilisation of its members to join the party at the grass-root.

SIGN

Obiora Ifoh

National Publicity Secretary

Labour Party

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The time is coming, but now is.

Jesus says to Nicodemus: Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3). Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5).

This means some things can only be discerned by those who are flesh and blood but not in the flesh but in the spirit. Some things are only perceptible to those who are here on earth but at the same time are sited in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6).

Everything about the kingdom of God is counterintuitive. Because it is currently a spiritual kingdom, it can only be seen by those able to see the invisible things of God. (Romans 1:20). Those things can only be seen by those who are blind but can see. But those who are not blind but can see are blind to them.

Jesus says to a Jewish man: I entered this world to render judgmentto give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.(John 9:39).

Eye-openers

God says: Who is blind but My servant? Who is blind as he who is perfect, and blind as the Lords servant? Seeing many things, but you do not observe. (Isaiah 42:19-20).

Therefore, He reveals to those born again a kingdom that is yet to come but nevertheless is already here. That is why faith in God is: The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1).

But how can something intangible be substance? How can something we cannot see be evidentiary? The answer is simpler than it seems. Jesus says: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4).

A man who lives by bread alone lives an incomplete and unfulfilling life. A man who lives only on his salary is a candidate for hardship. A believer is not rich in money but in the glory of God. (Phil 4:19). He must live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

This is because God Himself is the life of the believer. (Colossians 3:4). In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28). Moreover, God calls those things which do not exist as though they did. (Romans 4:17).

Once He calls them into existence, they exist, whether physically manifest or not. Once He calls them into existence, we can live by them, whether we have them physically or not.

If God tells the barren she has a child, she must receive the child, whether she is pregnant or not. She must then live in the consciousness of that child, even before she is pregnant. God says His word never returns to Him void: But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Believing to see

In the world, we say, Seeing is believing. In the kingdom, we believe to see. David says: I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13).

Jesus says to Martha at the graveside of Lazarus: Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God? (John 11:40).

He said to Thomas who did not believe He had risen from the dead: Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:29).

Accordingly, We walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7). We must receive things spiritually even before receiving them physically. Therefore, Jesus says: Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mark 11:24).

Promised Kingdom

God promised Israel a kingdom that will never pass away. Nathan said to David, king of Israel: Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:16).

Daniel also confirmed this: The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44).

This kingdom has yet to be established. And yet, it is already here.

However, the Jews expected this promised kingdom to be established physically. But God brought it to them spiritually.

Jesus told the Pharisees when they asked Him when the kingdom would come: The Kingdom of God cant be detected by visible signs. You wont be able to say, Here it is! or Its over there! For the Kingdom of God is already among you. (Luke 17:20-21).

The kingdom of God was already among them, but they could not see it. The kingdom was already among them because Jesus was with them. Jesus is the King of the kingdom of God. But He has not yet been installed as King in this world. Therefore, He told His disciples to pray that the kingdom of God should come on earth and that Gods purpose should be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10).

We are still using this prayer guideline today, asking for the kingdom to come, because the kingdom has yet to be physically established. It will only be physically established in Jerusalem at the Second Coming of Christ.

World of Evil

Currently, it is the will of the devil that is done on earth. Or so it appears.

Daniel says: The Most High rules in the kingdom of men. (Daniel 4:17). But John observes that: The whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19). Indeed, Jesus calls the devil: The ruler of this world. (John 12:31). He told Pilate: My kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36).

Therefore, Jesus is still referred to as a Prince because He has yet to be crowned as King. He is: The Prince of princes, (Daniel 8:25); Messiah the Prince, (Daniel 9:25); and The Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6).

But when John sees Jesus by revelation, He is a King: He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16).

Is Jesus a King now or will He be a King?

Jesus is already a King, but He is yet to be a King. When He is installed as King: Every knee (will) bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue (will) confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:10-11).

But that Has yet to happen.

Declaring the Kingdom

The Bible records that: Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15).

He was asking Israel to believe what the Jews could not see. The kingdom was at hand but not yet. The King was in their midst, but Israel did not recognise or acknowledge Him. He did not come in the pomp and splendour that they anticipated. He was not a conquering war hero, but a peace-loving and humble servant who laid down His life for the sins of mankind:

That was the openly hidden promise of the scriptures: He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6).

Jesus rebuked even His disciples for rejecting what was written in the Old Testament: O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (Luke 24:25).

They did not believe Zechariah, who said: Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey riding on a donkeys colt. (Zechariah 9:9).

When Jesus rode a donkey triumphantly into Jerusalem, they did not get the message. Instead of crowning Him, they killed Him. TO BE CONTINUED.

Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com

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The question that arises in this age in which the most trenchant all progressives are no progressives, and the true progressives have been more or less decommissioned, is this: What can the progressive-liberal intellectual formation do to reenergise, if not rethink, Awolowos theory of political action, indeed, his praxis? This is an urgent question in the context of the ascendant socio-economic and political paralysis.

In its 10 November, 1958 edition, TIME magazine published an interesting story about the Constitutional Conference attended by 80 leaders from Nigeria to finalise the arrangements for independence in October 1960. In the story, the magazine drew a contrast between Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of the Western Region, and his counterparts from the other two regions. What is significant about the report is that while the then, arguably, most globally prominent weekly newsmagazine focused on Awolowos capacity for leadership, it focused on other aspects of the personality or political life of the others. Stated TIME, In Western eyes, Obafemi Awolowo of the Western Region seemed the most statesmanlike: as the conference began, the London Times carried a full-page ad proclaiming his declaration for freedom under the title This I Believe, prepared with the help of an American public relations man.

The report was a pointer to some of the ideas and ideals that were later identified with the man: vision, mission, conviction, planning, and capacity for state-building. These were some of the qualities that separated Awolowo from his peers and have ensured that his ideas about how to build a country, where there is freedom for all, [and] life more abundant, remain the most fundamentally clear and far-reaching of all the serious proposals that have ever been articulated about how to make a multiethnic state such as Nigeria, a plural but universally egalitarian polity.

As we posthumously celebrate the 115th birthday of Africas ultimate-man of praxis, we are again compelled to reflect on his contributions to human possibilities in our part of the world, as well as the national disabilities wrought by the departures from, or antagonism towards, the path he laid.

Such a reflection is particularly crucial for the progressive forces who, paradoxically, have been fighting what would seem a rearguard battle, especially since the start of the Fourth Republic. This is even more so given that, in the last decade, the same progressive forces, those who claim to be the heirs of Awolowos political legacy, have been acting as if Obafemi Awolowo had, before his passing, indemnified them against thinking new thoughts, or thinking at all in innovative, yet practical ways about what is to be done about Nigerias challenges.

Perhaps the most salient question that has been posed to progressive forces since Awolowos passing was this: Is Nigeria saveable? There is no consensus on this question among this formation of the Nigerian political elite. Between the moderately ambitious and the monstrously ambitious in the rump of the progressive class, what Nigeria represents, and its future possibilities, have been mired in the question of immediate political power  and its benefits.

The middle ground in this formation that is still quietly, though quintessentially, devoted to long term collective (national) public good are so bereft of socio-economic and political muzzle that they exist now only as side shows in the political arena. While their conservative opponents (and allied forces  some of them pretending to be progressives) are united in the mission of milking the country dry while preserving it with the force of arms, the progressives are left with publicly and privately weeping about the path not followed.

As a social democrat, he was more devoted to egalitarian rule and egalitarian life than to their ideological provenance. As a social welfarist, he saw the state as an instrumentality of ensuring the good life for all than as a mere rationality of rule, let alone as a modern technique of class accumulation. This was why his reflections led him to a two-pronged approach to Nigerias peculiar challenges. The first was the instrumentality of rule and the second was about the agencies of ensuring human possibilities.

Those among them who are truly committed to Awolowos ideas concerning the capacity and pathways to save Nigeria are not engaging in any form of strategic thinking and planning about how, what the Italian thinker, Antonio Gramsci, describes as the war of position, would translate into the kinds of manoeuvring that can save Nigeria from the clutches of its abductors. And those who want Nigeria extinguished are more romantic than practical about how to create a new country of their own. But for the tragic consequences of these deficiencies, it would have been comical to witness how both factions of the progressive formation, particularly in South-Western Nigeria, have now been left in the lurch by the Bola Tinubu presidency.

As things stand now, the progressives who think Nigeria is unsaveable are hoarse in their badgering, and those who think Nigeria is saveable appear preposterous in the ominous lack of imagination in their proposals about what actions are necessary for national transformation. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that a less illustrious mouthpiece of the former group is now trapped between ethnonationalist aspirations and ethnic solidarity.

Yet, in the middle of the paralysis provoked by the salient question re-emerges the figure of Awo. The progressive forces remain confronted by the figure of a man with an obstinate commitment to the possibility of progressive social transformation. Indeed, the dilemmas of Awolowos political heirs are simultaneously affirmed and denied by the complex figure of Awo. Awolowo approached every social problem with the intuition of possibilities, even while recognising historical and structural constraints. Yet, he never failed to ask the first order question: Is the problem insuperable? His answer was almost always in the negative. This constantly led him to the question of what is to be done. While he always approached the latter question from an ideological position, he was never dogmatic about the approach.

As a social democrat, he was more devoted to egalitarian rule and egalitarian life than to their ideological provenance. As a social welfarist, he saw the state as an instrumentality of ensuring the good life for all than as a mere rationality of rule, let alone as a modern technique of class accumulation. This was why his reflections led him to a two-pronged approach to Nigerias peculiar challenges. The first was the instrumentality of rule and the second was about the agencies of ensuring human possibilities.

The core reflection of the first, for him, was democratic federalism. That is why in Nigerias history, there is hardly any other leader who comes close to him as the grand apostle of democratic federalism. Thus, Awolowo was undivided in his attention to the necessity and viability of federalism in the context of a plural polity such as Nigeria. Yet, he realised that federalism was not enough. It was, for him, a political structure that created the possibility of a healthily competitive polity, one which made the competitive generation of public wealth and public good possible and sustainable. However, democratic federalism needed to be complimented by the programmatic agency of social good that would ensure equitable distribution of the wealth generated. As the Unity Party of Nigerias (UPN) anthem emphasised: Egalitarianism in our national watchword/equality of good fortune/must be to each sure reward.

Thus, the core reflection of the second is social welfarism. This is why even those who either opposed him or were not alive when he was around but are either genuinely engaged in the struggle over creating a humane society in Nigeria or pay lip service to the past and ongoing struggle for egalitarian rule, all speak to a project that was best articulated by Obafemi Awolowo and the political parties that he created and led.

Nigeria is yet to answer the question he posed about both the countrys possibilities and the consequences of a departure from the path he laid for national greatness. Also, those he left behind are yet to pose that question in a new way, let alone produce the answer that is necessary to terminate, or at least attenuate, the misery of tens of millions of our compatriots caught up in the current contraption.

Awolowos awareness of a range of existing transcendental visions and interpretations led him to a particular path in his reflections in the first part of the 20th century. These reflections were about the place of Africa in the global context. His grasp of the existing political rationalities produced an embrace of a particular form of local, yet universalisable political rationality with a fundamentally egalitarian goal. This was the reason why, for him, the primacy of politics involved investing politics with the capacity to reconstitute society and mobilise all aspects of political, economic, and social life in ensuring shareable human emancipation and social progress.

His was the most holistic of thoughts about how to link the political condition of the Nigerian society to the economic and social transformation necessary for human flourishing. Yet, Awolowo showed us that while politics may fail (for instance, in achieving egalitarian rule in the immediate), political principles must endure. Political principles would eventually make it possible to recover the egalitarian possibilities of politics and ensure that they become triumphant. This is especially important in a plural polity such as Nigeria where a strong tradition of anti-egalitarian politics is regarded as a cultural heritage among the most dominant faction of the ruling elite.

Despite this, Awolowo was relentless in his investment in the prospect of a new dawn and the necessity of human agency in producing this. There is need to remember this even as we confront yet another false dawn. This is why 37 years after his death, those who exulted in, and still exult in him and those who execrated, and still execrate him, are yet to find a better holistic thinker about the Nigerian condition with whom to have a regenerating conversation about why a country of such immense human and material resources always finds the most intellectually incapacitated members of the political elite at the helm of its affairs. Therefore, for those who claim to be his political heirs, legitimately so or otherwise, the ongoing vulgarisation of the liberatory politics of the Awolowo tradition ought to be concerning.

The question that arises in this age in which the most trenchant all progressives are no progressives, and the true progressives have been more or less decommissioned, is this: What can the progressive-liberal intellectual formation do to reenergise, if not rethink, Awolowos theory of political action, indeed, his praxis? This is an urgent question in the context of the ascendant socio-economic and political paralysis.

Perhaps this is why we are unable to leave Awolowo behind as we continue this journey. His ideas accompany us. Nigeria is yet to answer the question he posed about both the countrys possibilities and the consequences of a departure from the path he laid for national greatness. Also, those he left behind are yet to pose that question in a new way, let alone produce the answer that is necessary to terminate, or at least attenuate, the misery of tens of millions of our compatriots caught up in the current contraption.

Wale Adebanwi is the author of Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency (Cambridge University Press, 2014). The foregoing is excerpted from his work in progress on Obafemi Awolowos political life.

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One of the lost important needs of our modern life is how to keep people inspired. If we could tech people not just to be insured but to be self-inspired and motivated, we would have gone a long way in improving peoples life in our age. It seems as if with every passing day, more people simply lose the motivation to live. People dont just have the motivation to live anymore. People are losing passion for life by the hour. As we have stated above. This loss of interest in life leads to depression, mental sickness, anger, frustration, hatred, jealousy, the list goes on and on.

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.  W. Clement Stone

Drug abuse and drug addiction has become a major menace in our world today. A careful study of addiction, will almost definitely lead us to the issue of hopelessness and lack of motivation. When we see people using drugs, drinking, smoking and addicted to pornography, it is simply because they are bored, they have little interest in life. They are not motivated. Drugs, alcohol, pornography therefore becomes a means by which people try to get themselves motivated. People try to get some form of excitement out of drugs, alcohol and pornography.

Everyone wants to be excited. Everyone wants to be happy. Everyone wants to be inspired and motivated. The tricky aspect of motivation though is that you need energy to be motivated and excited. You need some form of energy to keep yourself happy. When that energy is lacking, that is where the crisis comes in. when we lack the energy for life, depression steps in, frustration steps in, anger and mood swings step in. In an attempt to overcome these negative tendencies, men do desperate things.

Apart from the extreme things like drugs and alcohol, there are other subtle ways that our generation try to find energy for living. Some over eat leading to gluttony. Others rather refrain from eating leading to anorexia. Some eat and try to get rid of it leading to bulimia. Yet others find solace in sex, leading to sex addiction.

The quest for energy, leads to all forms of sins and malpractices. All these on the other hand, take us into the dungeon of darkness, more darkness leading into even more depression. Losing even more energy in the process. So how do we get ourselves motivated all the time? I would like to start this my article by first giving a list of the popular and more contemporary methods of motivation that we all are familiar with.

The Fear Factor

Fear is one of the most common and probably the greatest motivating factor in the world. It is fear that makes people to wake up in the morning to go to work is not because they love their jobs so much, but because they are afraid of getting fired or being jobless. On the other hand, most people especially in the developed countries, are motivated to work and go to jobs because they have to pay their bills. Many people in the western nations would be homeless if they try to stay out of work for a year. That fear of being a social outcast gets people motivated to go to work to do the things they would not normally do.

In most cultures, the fear of public opinion keeps people straight. Many people dont want to be social outcasts or ostracized from the society. Most of us want to be accepted by our peers and countrymen. We want to fit into society. That fear of falling out of societal expectation, motivates us to keep on largely doing the things expected of us.

So fear is a powerful factor of motivation. This is probably the most wide spread factor of motivation for people. In most countries of the world, children in their millions wake up the morning to go to school. We all know it is not because they want to. Most of them probably dont want to go, but the fear and the perception of the society keeps them coming back to those classes. The parents make sure their kids go to school because they are driven by societal expectations, while the kids oblige to the requirements of the parents and go to school because of fear of punishment. So fear is a factor everywhere.

Fear sells. Fear makes money. The countless companies and consultants in the business of protecting the fearful from whatever they may fear know it only too well. The more fear, the better the sales.  Daniel Gardner

When kids refuse to do their assignments and home works, the teachers use the fear factor to keep them straight. The students are told they will not get money, they would not get promoted and all kinds of things. Unfortunately, with the modern world of social media, and information age, people are getting themselves breaking free off the fear factor. So we need to look for other ways of keeping people motivated apart from the more traditional reason like fear.

Fear begins and ends with the desire to be secure; inward and outward security, with the desire to be certain, to have permanency. The continuity of permanence is sought in every direction, in virtue, in relationship, in action, in experience, in knowledge, in outward and inward things. To find security and be secure is the everlasting cry. It is this insistent demand that breeds fear.  Jiddu Krishnamurti. TO BE CONTINUED.

Sunday Adelaja is a Nigerian born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Ukraine.

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A girl flies a kite amid blooming yellow canola flowers in Changsheng Town of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. Changsheng Town has made efforts to inject new vitality into rural revitalization in recent years. The town has built a demonstration base where farmers cultivate paddy rice and cole in rotation, and held a variety of agritourism activities to improve farmers' incomes. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)
Former Vice President of the United States Mike Pence, who held this position during the presidency of Donald Trump, said he would not support his former boss in this year's US presidential election.

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Pence made the announcement on Friday, March 15, Reuters reports. "It is not surprising that I will not support Donald Trump this year," he said.

The publication recalled that Pence publicly parted ways with the former Republican president over his involvement in the riots in the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

"On that day, Pence, who as vice president served in the ceremonial role of president of the US Senate, watched Biden's victory in the 2020 election over Trump confirmed. He refused Trump's instructions to postpone or halt the certification, drawing anger from Trump during the riots. Some rioters shouted, "Hang Mike Pence," the article says.

Earlier, Mike Pence spent several months trying to convince Republican voters that he was the best alternative to Donald Trump. He urged Republicans not to choose Trump as their presidential candidate.

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However, in October 2023, Pence eventually decided to end his presidential campaign, explaining that "this is not my time."

As reported, Mike Pence condemned the rhetoric of his fellow Republican party members, who, in his opinion, contribute to aggression against Ukraine and Israel. He was referring to Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, who, in particular, opposed Washington's active assistance to Kyiv to fight the Russian invasion.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Terrorists on Friday released nine of the 21 kidnapped students of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State.

One of the negotiators who asked for anonymity told PREMIUM TIMES that the release of the nine students followed about four months of intense negotiations and lobbying.

The students spent 178 days in the terrorists camp following their abduction last September.

The students were abducted when terrorists stormed an off-campus hostel in Sabon Gida, a community opposite the university in the Zamfara State capital in September last year and abducted students and other residents of the community.

A few hours later, some of the victims were rescued by security officials.

Intense negotiations

The negotiator told PREMIUM TIMES that the terrorists made it clear after the abduction that their aim was not money.

We began discussing with them immediately after the students were taken. They were reluctant in the beginning but when we insisted, they listened to us, he said.

He said Ali Kawaje, the leader of the terror group that carried out the abduction, was angry with both the federal and Zamfara State governments for arresting his brother.

He insisted that we must make amends, the negotiator said, asking not to be named for safety reasons.

The negotiator said after Mr Kawaje was killed in an air raid by the Nigeria Air Force, the negotiations started afresh as the new group commander insisted the students would not be released.

It took us weeks to convince him, with the help of some Fulani leaders. When we resumed the discussion, they insisted that the reason for the abduction was not for money but to have some of their relatives released by security agents.

These nine students were released as part of commitments by some of the Fulani leaders we involved in the negotiations, he said.

When asked if money was involved, the negotiator said the terrorists themselves were clear from the beginning that no money should be involved.

Even the people theyre saying the federal government should release, were yet to know who and who theyre talking about. So, we didnt talk to the government about money and secondly, there was no prisoner swap. Thats what I can tell you, he said.

The students were held by the terrorists in Babbar Doka forest near Kaduna State. They were released late evening on Friday and handed over to the negotiators.

This is part of the commitment and we believe that by the grace of God, theyll release more. The most important thing is that no money is involved in the process, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the students have been handed over to security agencies who are expected to hand them over to the state government later today.

When contacted, the university spokesperson, Usman Umar, said he had not been officially briefed about the release of the students.

Ive also seen information about the release of the students like you said but Ive not been officially briefed by the management.

The group that carried out the abduction is one of several terror groups operating in northern Nigeria.

The terror groups have been unleashing mayhem on residents for over a decade leading to the death or displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

The terror groups, locally called bandits, are separate from the Boko Haram terror group which operates mainly in north-eastern Nigeria and has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people.

The mass abduction of students in north-west and north-central Nigeria has been rife since 2020. Apart from the kidnap of over 300 students in Katsina, terrorists have abducted students twice in Niger, thrice in Kaduna, four times in Zamfara and once in Sokoto.

The latest mass abduction of students was in Kuriga, Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria. The over 200 students are yet to be released.

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The Edo State Government says it is on top of the kidnapping of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi.

The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this in a statement in Benin on Saturday.

Mr Aziegbemi was kidnapped close to his GRA residence on Friday night while returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House.

The commissioner said the state government had stepped up surveillance and was collaborating with security agencies for the release of the kidnapped politician.

We have also increased surveillance and beefed-up security measures across the state to ensure that these criminal activities are quelled and culprits are brought to justice.

We encourage residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the state emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs, he said.

Mr Nehikhare reassured the public of the governments commitment to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents.

He said the government would ensure the perpetrators of this dastardly act were apprehended and made to face justice.

Police react

Similarly, the Police Command in Edo State said its operatives were collaborating with the local security network to rescue the victim unhurt.

The command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Funsho Adegboye, received the report of the incident with shock.

Mr Nwabuzor, however, noted that the CP immediately ordered the commands tactical team leaders to conduct a rescue party in collaboration with local vigilance groups and hunters.

The commands spokesperson said the CP solicited the cooperation of Edo citizens, urging them to give information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and the rescue of the victim.

APC reacts

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo condemned the abduction in a statement by its state acting chairman, Jarret Tenabe.

In the statement, the APC attributed the development to the weak security architecture in the state.

The kidnap is a wake-up call on the Governor Obaseki-led administration that all is not well in terms of securing the state, which is the primary responsibility of government.

The APC, Edo State Chapter, uses this medium to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman, it read.

The party, however, called on security agencies to do everything possible to ensure his release unhurt.

(NAN)

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The Delta community where 16 soldiers were killed on Thursday has been razed, Channels Television is reporting.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Nigerian military confirmed the killing of the soldiers including four officers in a statement on Saturday. The victims included the commanding officer, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers.

The troops were deployed to restore order between two warring communities: Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State.

According to Channels Television, the Okuama coastal community where the killing of the soldiers took place was razed Sunday morning.

It is not clear who razed the houses in the community or if anyone died from it but the television station reported that residents have fled to the neighbouring Ughelli community for fear of reprisals by soldiers.

Tukur Gusau, a brigadier general and spokesperson of the Nigerian military, had in his Saturday statement said the military would investigate and bring the culprits to book.

He did not indicate that the military would conduct reprisals on the community as was done during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration (1999-2007) when the military destroyed communities in Odi and Zaki Biam for killing soldiers.

There is no indication as of the time of this report that soldiers were responsible for the burning of the Okuama community.

In his Saturday statement, Mr Gusau said some suspects had been arrested.

The military, however, remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

So far, a few arrests have been made while steps have been taken to unravel the motive behind the attack, he said.

Delta government condemns killing

In his statement, Mr Gusau said the military had reported the matter to the Delta State government.

Hours after the militarys statement, the Delta government also confirmed the killing of the soliders and vowed to work with authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, in a statement by his spokesperson, Festus Ahon, condoled with the military and the families of the slain soldiers.

Mr Ahon said the Delta government is gravely disturbed by the violence and unprovoked killing of the soldiers.

This incident is despicable and not in sync with the culture and tradition of Deltans. It runs contrary to the values and path of peace that the State Government is promoting as I have always emphasized in our MORE agenda to enhance peace and security.

On behalf of the Government and good people of Delta State, I wish to condole, in particular, the families of the killed gallant officers and soldiers, the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general, over this sad occurrence.

The State Government shall take all measures necessary to fish out all those behind this dastardly act and ensure they are made to face the full wrath of the law.

Delta State is governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency. Acts such as this incident cannot and will not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, all citizens and residents of the state are enjoined to remain law- abiding and the State Government shall continue to take all measures to protect lives and property in Delta State.

PREMIUM TIMES will provide more updates on this matter in subsequent reports.

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Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State says he has not taken any salary from the state government since assuming office as governor two years ago as part of his efforts to cut the cost of governance in the state.

Mr Soludo, a professor, spoke on Sunday during the celebration of the second anniversary of his administration at the International Convention Center, Awka, Channels TV reported.

Any governor that comes (into power), floods you with offers for borrowing and so on and so forth, but we decided for the first two years to demonstrate something: Capacity to do more with less.

My wife has no official car

And so far as has been said, for two years, despite receiving about 25 per cent in real terms or in dollar terms of what was in the past, we have chosen deliberately not to borrow, Mr Soludo said.

Mr Soludo, who came into power as governor on 17 March 2022, also said his wife, Nonye Soludo, does not have an official car as the first lady of Anambra State at the moment.

I have been asked severally; how do you do without borrowing and with the difficult circumstances? And my answer is that we are doing so because we are executing the most austere measure of government ever.

As I speak to you, I am not taking any salary. I am not paid any salary by the Anambra State Government. Even the First Lady of Anambra does not have any official car, she still drives my personal vehicles, he added.

However, PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Office of the First Lady of a state is unknown to law although some state governments in Nigeria appear to be allocating funds to such offices.

The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), for instance, did not make any provision for the Office of First Lady of a state.

Why Im cutting cost of governance

Mr Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said his decision to cut cost of governance in the state was to direct resources and prioritise them to things that are important to the people of the state.

The governor said his administration has prioritised areas that have been neglected in the past, and listed some projects done in such areas as building hospitals, roads and schools.

The former CBN boss assured the people of Anambra State that any money entrusted in his hand as the state governor would be accounted for.

He stressed that if he ever borrows, the people will be shown the projects the loan was used for and how those projects would be used to repay the loan.

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The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to stop using and dropping the names of President Bola Tinubu to disrupt governance in Osun state, warning that the state will open a can of worms on the former governor unless he stopped his disruptive activities.

In a strongly worded statement issued by the partys chairperson in the state, Sunday Bisi, on Sunday, the party accused the former governor of being a bad loser who has continued to pursue a failed agenda to make Osun state ungovernable through the dropping of Mr Presidents name

The statement reads further:

We are constrained to bring to the attention of Mr President and the entire Presidency the untowards activities of former Governor Oyetola which are capable of destroying the peace and stability of Osun state and negatively undermine the presidential agenda for Osun state, South West and Nigeria as a whole.

We start by noting that the opposition has a legitimate right to play the role of the opposition. Such opposition roles do not however entail evil moves targeting at destroying the peace of the state, misrepresentation of presidential intention, the deliberate disruption of state-federal relations or attempted unlawful abuse of federal power against state officials performing their statutory roles. That will amount to malignant behaviour and a direct threat to democratic ideals.

We posit that Mr Oyetola was not the first person to lose an election. Great democrats abide by peoples wishes and prepare to recontest. They dont pull down the house; they dont get consumed under vengeful poison.

Governor Adeleke, despite being rigged out in 2018, congratulated Mr Oyetola and moved abroad to complete his education. He instructed us never to attack the new government but to go and prepare for 2022, a process we launched when the timetable for the election was released.

In 2022, Osun people voted for Governor Adeleke. Right now, the governor is delivering many projects and programmes which Oyetola failed to achieve under four years. This government has full records of several projects for which money was collected without the jobs being done. Mr Governor abandoned the idea of a probe and is instead completing many projects and starting new ones. Osun is today one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria attracting multiple interests and attention of foreign investors

Surprisingly , Mr Oyetola has been dropping Mr Presidents name to manipulate federal agencies to serve his selfish interest. The other time, he hijacked SMEDAN SME programme to serve his own faction of APC, even leaving out other APC members, giving Mr President a bad name. He did the same on rice distribution which he allegedly took from NEMA but which he shared to his faction against reaching out to the generality of Osun people as Mr President clearly preferred in line with the law.

Rather than working to unite his party ahead of 2026, he is busy trying to make the state ungovernable, disrupting federal  state collaboration and attempting to use federal agencies such as the FCT DSS to harass state officials. We learnt Oyetola has used the FCT DSS to threaten arrest of the spokesperson to the Osun State Governor for performing his statutory duties of projecting and promoting Mr Governor.

We warn that such an attempt at arm twisting is a failed strategy as officials and citizens are entitled to the enforcement of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution and as the same constitution also regulates human rights and intergovernmental relations among the three tiers of government. We are also convinced that both the Presidency and the national headquarters of the DSS will not endorse deployment of sensitive state services to pursue personal political vendetta.

Mr Oyetola should stop his evil agenda against Osun state because he should know we have the capacity to tame him but for the state governments due respect for Mr President. If he does not stop, we will open his records which we are not doing because of our respect for the Presidency.

We urge Mr President and the entire Presidency to nip in the bud the nefarious, vindictive, anti-state and vengeful activities of Mr Oyetola which are tarnishing the image of the Number One Citizen of the nation as he is using the Presidents name to pursue vendetta and activities directly contrary to the bigger agenda of the Presidency.

Mr President should call Mr Oyetola to order before plunging Osun into an avoidable crisis. Osun is peaceful and our Governor is delivering dividends of democracy under the umbrella of good governance.The State-Federal partnership is moving smoothly and no sore loser should be allowed to jeopardize the larger political and bigger interest of Mr President, the statement concluded.

Signed:

Hon Sunday Bisi,

State Chairman,

Osun State PDP.

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O'Brien, Zuckerman to Join 420 Brewery Workers Fighting for Fair Contract

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman will join rank-and-file Molson Coors Teamsters in Fort Worth, Texas, for a rally today, March 17, to demand a fair contract and an end to the nearly month-long strike.

On Feb. 17, the 420 brewery workers were forced onto the picket line after the beer giant made an insulting 99-cent pay package proposal. Molson Coors has remained unwilling to reach a strong, respectful agreement with the men and women who brew, package, and warehouse the beer.

As the Teamsters keep the pressure on this multibillion-dollar corporation to do right by its American workforce, union families in Texas are asking the public not to drink Molson Coors products until workers are given the wages and benefits they've earned.

WHO: Molson Coors Teamsters

Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien

Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman

Teamsters Southern Region International Vice President Brent Taylor

Elected leaders and rank-and-file members of Teamsters Local 997

U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX, 30th)

Texas State Rep. Cassandra Hernandez (TX-HD 115)

Fort Worth City Councilman Jared Williams

Tarrant County Commissioner Candidate Roderick Miles WHAT: Rally for Molson Coors Teamsters WHEN: Today, March 17, 2024, 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET WHERE: 7301 South Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas 76134 (rally site in Bimbo Bakery parking lot adjacent to Molson Coors brewery) VISUALS: Molson Coors Teamsters in union gear, chanting while holding signs that read, "Don't Mess with Texas Teamsters" and "Don't Drink Molson Coors!"

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Prayagraj, March 17 : The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a plea filed by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging the order of a single judge bench which had set aside the suspension of a lecturer, who was suspended from service on the charge that he got married a second time without the annulment of the first marriage.

A division bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Syed Qamar Hasan Rizvi said: "For exercising such power like minor penalty, the state government will have to inform the delinquent employee on the substance of imputations against him and call upon him to submit an explanation within a reasonable time."

"Once the jurisdiction was invoked to award minor punishment, it was impermissible to place the employee under suspension...," the bench said.

The bench noted that requirements of enquiry and opportunity of hearing before any action were not met in the case.
Patna, March 17 : Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) H.R. Srinivasa has said that the low voter turnout in the state remains the biggest challenge for him and he is proactively making efforts to increase the same.

"The biggest challenge in Bihar is low voter turnout on the polling days. Bihar has the lowest polling percentage after Jammu and Kashmir in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The average turnout in the country was 67 per cent last time while in Bihar, it was 56 per cent," he told IANS on Saturday.

"We are making efforts to increase voter turnout in the state. We have already launched many campaigns to encourage voters' engagement and participation in the Lok Sabha elections. We are appealing to people to reach polling booths and use their voting rights in maximum numbers," the CEO added.

Srinivasa further said that eligible people who haven't yet registered in the electoral roll are being encouraged to enrol in the voter list.

The number of first-time voters, who are in the 18-19 age group, is the lowest in the state while those in the 30-39 age group are the highest. A large number of young voters have enrolled their names in the electoral roll, he said.

About the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the CEO said that all political posters and banners will be removed from streets, buildings and government offices within a maximum of 72 hours.

"The MCC has been implemented in the state and we have already started removing posters and banners from government and private buildings, roads, streets, and other public places. No political party or leaders will be allowed to use government or private places like petrol pumps or roads for advertisements. They have to get permission from the competent authorities for advertisement and election campaigns," Srinivasa said.

"Officers posted at one place for more than three years will be transferred immediately," he added.

The CEO said that people can report MCC violations through the 'cVIGIL'. "Once a complaint is registered on the app, within 25 minutes our flying squad will reach the spot to check the violation," he said.

About sensitive and super-sensitive polling stations in the state, Srinivasa said that the process of identifying such polling stations is currently underway and the final figures are yet to come.
Lucknow, March 17 : Supremely confident of its own performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has snubbed the Mahan Dal that offered to support the BSP without any conditions.

Lucknow, March 17 (IANS) Supremely confident of its own performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has snubbed the Mahan Dal that offered to support the BSP without any conditions.

Mahan Dal president Keshav Dev Maurya claimed that he has met senior BSP leaders, including Akash Anand and BSP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Sidhartha, in Lucknow and is ready to field three candidates on BSP symbol if the party agrees to their support.

He also said that his party would campaign in support of BSP candidates not just in Uttar Pradesh, but also in other states like Madhya Pradesh, having the vote share of Maurya, Shakya, Saini communities among others, if the arrangement worked.

However, BSP state president Vishwanath Pal, on Sunday, refuted Maurya's claims on support from Mahan Dal and said, "I am not aware of any such talks."

A senior BSP functionary said that the party president had not even accepted Keshav Dev Maurya's request for a meeting. "This clearly shows that the party is in no mood or any alliance," he said.

Formed in 2008, the Mahan Dal claims an influence among voters from Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha as well as Saini communities, from parts in central and western Uttar Pradesh especially in the regions like Etah, Bareli, Agra, Firozabad, Moradabad, Sambhal, etc.

According to sources, the Mahan Dal is eyeing three seats -- Etah, Agra or Farrukhabad.

Mahan Dal had contested 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Congress, which had given them seats to contest on their symbol. The party failed to win any seat.

However, the two parties did not come together after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

In the 2022 state Assembly elections, Mahan Dal became an alliance partner with the Samajwadi Party. But after the polls it snapped ties with the SP and offered support to BSP.

It again entered into an alliance with the SP during the Madhya Pradesh elections last year and claimed to have contested three seats in the state on the SP symbol.

Asked about his frequently changing alliance partners, Maurya said that they were unable to develop a relationship with Congress.

"We could never develop a relationship with Congress after 2014. We have a soft corner for Samajwadi Party, but it started giving importance to leaders like Swami Prasad Maurya and there were indications that SP does not need our support," he said.

Maurya said his community, comprising Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha, feel closer to the ideologies of BSP, which are believers of Lord Buddha and Ambedkar.

"Our community, especially Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha, feels more inclined towards BSP ideologically," said Maurya.
Kanpur, March 17 : Doctors at the LPS Institute of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur have been accused of assaulting the family of a patient, who recently died, allegedly due to negligence.

Director of Cardiology, Dr Rakesh Verma, said that he has formed a five-member team to investigate the allegations. The team will submit its report in two days, following which further action will be taken, he added.

The family alleged that they were harassed and assaulted when they questioned the doctors.

Chandrapal Nishad from Fatehpur district, had complained of chest pain three days ago, following which he was admitted to the LPS Institute of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Kanpur. Chandrapal died on Friday evening, allegedly due to medical negligence.

Chandrapal's son, Aditya, alleged that when his father's health deteriorated, he consulted several doctors, but no one attended to him, after which he died.

Aditya further said that when he and his sisters, Sandhya, Rani and Anju, asked the doctors about the cause of their father's death, the junior doctors abused them.

He also alleged that when they tried making videos of the doctors, their phones were snatched away, and they were assaulted by the doctors.

Aditya said when he called the police, they were taken to a police station. He alleged that the police also threatened the family with action and tried to make them strike a compromise.
Mumbai, March 17 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a swipe at the BJP, saying that the fight was between two ideologies as one essentially believed in centralisation of power and the other was like 'Shiv Ki Baraat' taking all together.

The former Congress president, accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mahatma Gandhi's great grandson Tushar Gandhi, held an interactive meeting with the representatives of NGOs and civil society. They discussed the five guarantees (Nyay) which were announced by him during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that concluded at Chaityabhoomi on Saturday.

The Congress leaders from Mumbai and Maharashtra along with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi held a padyatra from August Kranti ground to Mani Bhavan in south Mumbai.

"Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's strength was not only me but the crores (of Indians) who walked with me. This fight is not limited to Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi or Congress and BJP. The fight is between two thoughts. One says the country will be run from the top and all will follow the orders. The second says, run the country in a decentralised manner. In religious terms, we can call it 'Shiv Ki Baarat'," said the Congress leader.

He called upon the people not to be scared especially when the battle was of two different ideologies. "Some say that BJP will change the constitution and all. Let me tell you that they have no courage to change the constitution. In this battle, the truth and Hindustan stand with us,'' he said.

He said, "Injustice against poor, Dalit, women, is a root cause of growing hatred in the country as barely 2 to 3 per cent get justice for whom the government and all the institutions work."

"When we were in the government and raised the issue of farm loan waiver, we were told that farmers will become lazy. When we brought MGNREGA, we were told that the poor will be spoiled. On the other hand when a Rs 16 lakh crore bank loan of 20-25 people gets waived off, then doesn't it spoil them?" Rahul Gandhi said.

He said that although issues like paper leak, MSP, minimum wages, small traders are facing GST problems were highlighted there was no consensus. "It is important to realise that injustice is happening not only against me but against my brother (others) as well," he said, adding that the movement is created when everybody starts protecting the interests of each other.
New Delhi, March 17 : Indian Navy on Sunday said that its rescue operation in the Arabian Sea, which last lasted approximately 40 hours, led to the surrender of 35 pirates and the rescue of 17 crew members of merchant vessel ex-MV Ruen.

The Navy said that it had deployed INS Kolkata in the Arabian Sea to thwart the designs of the Somali pirates to hijack ships transiting through the region.

"Merchant vessel MV Ruen was intercepted on March 15 by INS Kolkata which had been hijacked in December 2023 and was under the control of the Somalian pirates," the Navy said.

It said that INS Kolkata confirmed the presence of armed pirates on MV Ruen through a ship-launched drone.

"In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the drone and fired at the Indian Naval warship. INS Kolkata disabled the ship's steering system and navigational aids, forcing the pirate ship to stop," the Navy said.

The efforts of the Indian Navy in the ongoing anti-piracy operation 1400 nm (2600 km) from mainland India were augmented by the deployment of INS Subhadra in the area and also by air-dropping of the Marine Commandos (PRAHARS) by C-17 aircraft, the official said.

"The pirate vessel was kept under surveillance by HALE RPA and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered on March 16 while all 17 original crew members of MV Ruen were safely evacuated from the pirate vessel without any injury," he said.

He said that the vessel has also been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband.

The Navy has also mentioned that the seaworthiness of MV Ruen will be assessed on March 17 and the vessel carrying approximately 37800 Tonne cargo, estimated at around one million dollars will be brought safely to India.
New Delhi, March 17 : The Supreme Court will deliver on Monday its verdict 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.

In January this year, a Bench headed by Justice Bela M. Trivedi reserved its judgment in the matter after 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, will also deliver its verdict on a plea filed by Ankush Jain and Vaibhav Jain, the other co-accused in the case.

Satyendar Jain is currently out on interim medical bail.

The apex court had initially granted Jain interim relief in May last year for six weeks but the same was extended 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 was an influential person and can tamper with evidence.
New Delhi, March 17 : A contingent of Indian Army departed on Sunday for Seychelles to participate in the 10th edition of Joint Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2024' between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).

The Joint Exercise will be conducted at Seychelles from March 18-27.

'LAMITIYE', which in Cerole means 'Friendship', is a biennial training event being conducted in Seychelles since 2001.

Forty-five personnel each from the Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and SDF will participate in the exercise.

The objective of the joint exercise is to enhance interoperability in sub-conventional operations in semi-urban environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.

The exercise will also build and promote bilateral military relations in addition to exchanging skills, experiences and good practices between both armies.

Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in semi-urban environment, while exploiting and showcasing new-generation equipment and technology.

The exercise will include field training exercise, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, which culminates with two days of validation exercise.
Chandigarh, March 17 : A constable, Amritpal Singh, was shot dead by a gangster on Sunday when the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) team was raiding his house in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district.

Acting on a tip-off, the CIA team of the Punjab Police raided the house in Mukerianas Mansoorpur village where the gangster stored a huge cache of illegal firearms.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba told the media that the CIA team was in the village to raid the residence of Sukhwinder Singh.

As the team was entering the house, the suspect opened fire and constable Amritpal Singh was hit by a bullet in the chest, he said.

However, the gangster managed to flee the scene, he said.

Amritpal Singh was initially admitted to the Civil Hospital in Mukerian and from there he was referred to a private hospital where he died, the SSP added.
Seoul, March 17 : Medical professors are blackmailing people with mass resignations, said South Korea's Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo on Sunday.

Seoul, March 17 (IANS) Medical professors are blackmailing people with mass resignations, said South Koreaas Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo on Sunday.

Amid the ongoing rift between trainee doctors and the government over enrollment at medical schools, professors from 16 medical schools, last week, have decided to submit resignations en masse March 25, in protest. Their decision comes after more than 90 per cent of the country's 13,000 trainee doctors walked off for nearly four weeks in the form of mass resignations.

Park reaffirmed that the government's decision to increase medical school quota by 2,000 from the current 3,058 is not subject to negotiation, rejecting a demand from medical professors that the government first back off from the decision, Yonhap news agency reported.

"Even professors have declared that they would resign collectively unless their demand is met," Park said on YTN TV. "This is huge blackmail against people. We have to break the cycle of collective action in the medical sector."

The government has been pushing to sharply raise the number of medical students to brace for the country's fast-ageing population, and address a shortage of physicians in rural areas and essential domains.

However, doctors claim that the quota hike would lead to a surplus of physicians and compromise the quality of medical education and services.

Additionally, they said that it would result in higher medical costs for patients. They have called for measures to first address the underpaid specialists and improve legal protection against excessive medical malpractice lawsuits, the report said.

Park also rejected calls for raising health insurance payments to doctors, especially those in essential sectors short of physicians, saying that such hikes without increasing the medical school quota would lead to a four to five-fold hike in health insurance premiums, the report said.

Park noted that the government cannot accept doctors turning away from their patients even if they have concerns about the government's policy.

"Professors say they will not stand still if their pupils face disadvantage, and this is a remark that challenged the rule of law."
Kiev, March 17 : The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), together with the Special Operations Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, attacked the Slavyansk-on-Kuban oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai with drones on the intervening night of March 16 to 17, said a media source in the SSU.

The source indicated that the attack was successful as a large-scale fire was reported near the atmospheric distillation towers, which were the primary targets, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

The source noted that the SSU drones have recently successfully struck 12 oil refineries in Russia.

"Thanks to the SSU, the (Russian) acronym for 'refinery', NPZ, now stands for 'New Plant Zapped'."

On the intervening night of March 16 to 17, residents of Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Russia's Krasnodar Krai reported explosions and a fire at the city's oil refinery.

The Russian Army confirmed the drone attack but claimed that "the drones had been destroyed", although the video posted online revealed UAV strikes.
Will have to take tough decisions to counter conspiracy to topple govt: Telangana CM. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, March 17 : Alleging that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are conspiring to pull down his government, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Sunday that he will have to make some tough decisions to counter this conspiracy.

He also stated that with the election code coming into force for Lok Sabha elections, he began his political role as state president of the Congress party.

"From today, I have started playing a political role. Since the poll bugle has been sounded, I will now show my political role as president of the political party," he said.

His remarks at a 'Meet the Press' programme came a few minutes before a sitting MP and a sitting MLA of BRS joined the Congress party.

Revanth Reddy, who completed 100 days in office on Sunday, said leaders of both BRS and BJP were speaking the same language on the future of his government. Referring to BJP MP Laxman's prediction that the Congress government will collapse after the Lok Sabha elections, he said BRS leader Kadiam Srihari had also made a similar statement earlier.

"BRS has 38 MLAs and BJP has eight. How can they form the government without adopting some other tricks? Shall we keep quiet when they are conspiring against the government," he asked.

He claimed that in 100 days the government tried to give good governance and made no attempt to encourage defections. "For 100 days as Chief Minister, I focussed only on governance. Working daily for 18 hours, I tried to provide transparent governance," he said.

Comparing KCR's 10-year rule with Nizam's rule, Revanth Reddy alleged that like Nizam, KCR also acted in an autocratic manner and wanted to keep people as bonded labour citing the development and welfare works done by him. He said the BRS Chief also followed in the footsteps of Nizam by trying to continue family rule with autocracy.

He said December 3, 2023 (when Assembly elections results were declared) has the same significance as September 17, 1948, when Hyderabad State got liberation from Nizam's rule.

Stating that Telangana never accepted slavery, Revanth Reddy said after 75 years they fought again for independence from Neo Nizam.

Claiming that the Congress government gave freedom to people in its 100-day 'people's rule', the Chief Minister said it was moving ahead with the implementation of guarantees.

"We are doing our best to show that we are not rulers but servants of people," he said, claiming that the government tried to bring transparency through decentralisation of governance.

Revanth Reddy said that the government is implementing the guarantees one after the other and ensuring their benefits to the poor.

He mentioned that soon after assuming office, he implemented the guarantee to provide free bus travel facilities for women. The government is also implementing a cooking gas cylinder for the Rs 500 scheme. So far eight lakh families have received gas cylinders for Rs 500.

Revanth Reddy said the government will also implement the guarantee of free electricity up to 200 units per month. He claimed that 39 lakh households have benefited from this.

He alleged that the previous BRS government turned Telangana into a debt-ridden state with Rs 9 lakh crore debts.

He pointed out that when Telangana state was formed, the state had to pay Rs 6,000 crore annually towards debt servicing but now the state is paying Rs 64,000 crore every year.

Replying to a query, he said the government was trying to put the state's finances back on track by curbing wasteful expenditure and improving the GST collections. He expects that the state can mobilise an additional Rs 12,000 crore annually by improving the revenue collection.

Alleging that there was corruption of thousands of crores during BRS rule, he said the government has initiated steps to probe the same. "We will take action after completing the process of investigation in a legal manner," he said.

Stating that vibrant Telangana is the government's goal, the Chief Minister said the government was trying to resolve the issues one by one through cordial relations with the Centre and the Governor.

On Dharani portal, the online platform for land transactions launched by the previous government, Revanth Reddy said it was earlier controlled by a private organisation but his government has brought it under government control.

He announced a forensic audit of the portal will be done to find out how the ownership of lands, especially of those belonging to farmers, changed after 2014.

He said those found guilty of irregularities will not be spared.
New Delhi, March 17 : A day after the announcement of poll dates for general elections 2024, the day marks a 'Super Sunday' for the ruling BJP and opposition INDIA bloc. Both the alliances are set for major show of strength in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra this evening, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi respectively.

PM Modi is set to address a large congregation of people in Andhra Pradeshas Palnadu district, along with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party. This will also be the first time former Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu and Pawan Kalyan will share the stage with the Prime Minister. NDAas first big election rally, just a day after announcement of poll dates, will set the tone for elections in the state and give the alliance a headstart in the campaign.

For the opposition parties under INDIA bloc, Mumbaias Shivaji Park is the zone of action this evening as supporters are rushing in large numbers to celebrate Rahul Gandhias conclusion of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Many opposition leaders like Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP), DMK President M. K. Stalin, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav will mark their presence the mega rally at Shivaji park.

The gathering of INDIA alliance leaders on stage, a day after culmination of Rahul Gandhias 63-day long Nyay Yatra, is aimed at rallying its supporters for a spirited fight against BJP in Maharasthra, and all across the nation.

Political watchers see it as good optics by INDIA but have apprehensions about the message it wants to convey. Maharashtra remains the weakest link of INDIA as both Shiv Sena and NCP have fallen apart, with stronger and bigger splinter groups joining hands with BJP.

For Congress, in particular, there has been many setbacks lately as party stalwarts like Ashok Chavan and Milind Deora recently snapped ties with it.

In days to come, the electioneering is set to heat up and both NDA and INDIA allies will pull out all stops to woo the electorate. Recent opinion polls have already come as a shot in the arm for BJP while the INDIA bloc is seen playing catch-up, both in Mahasrashta and across India.

Also, the optics for todayas rallies favour BJP, as experts feel. While PM Modi-led NDA is widely expected to bring major disruption in Telangana, the gathering of INDIA leaders on a alost territorya wonat be enough to send the right message.

In Andhra Pradesh, BJP finalised alliance with TDP and Jana Sena Party, days after PM Modias call for 370 seats on BJP's own, and breaching the 400 mark, with support from allies. BJP has struck deals with both regional satraps to fight Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls together. It will contest on six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats, while TDP and Jana Sena Party on 17 Lok Sabha and 144 Assembly seats, and two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly seats respectively.

Although, TDP stands to gain much from the alliance, on a national level, BJP is expected to get a boost in numbers and make it easier to accomplish its "400 paar" target.
Jaipur, March 17 : Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday made a "humble appeal" to voters of the state to support his party in the forthcoming Parliamentary polls so that the promises made to them during Assembly elections can be fulfilled.

However, the BJP termed Gehlot's appeal an "acceptance of defeat" even before the Parliamentary polls.

Gehlot, in a video message shared on his social media handle, alleged that during the Assembly poll campaign, PM Narendra Modi and BJP leaders made false claims "which misled voters, due to which the Congress lost the Assembly polls".

Noting that the campaign has started for parliamentary polls, he appealed to people "not to get trapped by false narratives".

"We are getting feedback that people are missing our governance and there are reports that we can win elections in many places. I want to appeal to voters to vote for our candidates. Although we have lost elections in Rajasthan, our vote percentage increased. This shows that people trusted us, and we got an additional 16 lakh votes... now if we get people's blessings and if we win more seats in Parliament, then this will be a lesson for the Central government too and it will start focussing on Rajasthan," he said.

"I want to make a humble appeal that you should unite and make Congress candidates win. If they win, they will raise Rajasthanas issues strongly. No matter if the issue is of inter-state water challenge, or any other challenge like OPS, etc, we will raise them strongly so that they are implemented. This time, the campaign has started and again leaders will mislead people. It's my appeal that you should make Congress candidates win. I guarantee you that PCC leaders and our MLAs unitedly will raise issues; PCC leaders will raise state's issues outside the Assembly while the Leader of the Opposition will raise these issues inside the Assembly to ensure that all these projects are implemented so that beneficiaries get due benefit," he added.

Reacting to Gehlot's message, BJP state spokesperson Laxmikant Bharadwaj termed it "an acceptance" of Congressas defeat in the forthcoming Parliamentary polls.

"This sounds like a premonition and prediction of the Congressa defeat which Gehlot has accepted well in advance. He has been in politics for around five decades and hence, has a strong understanding of permutations and combinations of politics. Now he has understood how badly his party will be losing elections for the third time straight, and we will win all 25 Lok Sabha seats," he said.

"Gehlot knew his fate and hence, shied away from contesting the polls too. And in fact, not only Gehlot, but other party leaders too shied away from contesting polls," he claimed.

Veteran leader and BJP Vice President Narayan Pancharia also claimed that Gehlot knew that the Jodhpur seat was "unsafe" and hence, he did not contest the polls.
Vitrectomy: The surgery to treat retinal damage due to diabetes or digital screens. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 17 : Uncontrolled diabetes and increased use of digital screens may affect your retina, requiring vitrectomy -- a surgical procedure that Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha is reportedly set to undergo in the UK, doctors said on Sunday.

Media reports, citing party sources, stated that the AAP Rajya Sabha member will undergo vitrectomy surgery in the UK to prevent retinal detachment.

Vitrectomy is a surgical technique used to remove the gel-like fluid that fills the eye and is called the vitreous gel.

"Vitrectomy is a procedure to remove the gel behind the lens. It is a part of surgery for retina problems. It is performed in retinal disorders like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal detachment," Dr Rohit Saxena, Professor, Dr R.P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS, Delhi, told IANS.

People experiencing a retinal detachment are likely to witness reduced vision and the sudden appearance of floaters with occasional flashes of light.

While there is no direct link between vitrectomy and increased use of smartphones and gadgets, Dr Mahipal Singh Sachdev, Chairman and MD, Centre for Sight, New Delhi, told IANS that prolonged use of digital devices can contribute to eye strain and dry eyes that may necessitate vitrectomy in some cases.

"Eye strain from digital screens can exacerbate existing eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy or retinal detachment, which may eventually require vitrectomy if left untreated," he added.

The doctors called for maintaining general eye health and routine eye exams with an optometrist or ophthalmologist to discover any eye issues, which may cause complications necessitating surgery to prevent vitrectomy.

"Control of diabetes, early and regular examination of the retina in cases of myopia and any retinal disorders," said Dr Saxena.

"Controlling blood sugar levels is crucial to avoid diabetic retinopathy," added Dr Sachdev.

They also suggested people using smartphones and other gadgets frequently take regular breaks to reduce the risk of eye strain and dry eyes.

"Follow the 20-20-20 rule (looking away from the screen every 20 minutes at anything 20 feet away for 20 seconds), and practise proper eye hygiene," Dr Sachdev said.
Berlin, March 17 : The large number of civilian casualties that would result from an Israeli assault on the Gazan city Rafah would make regional peace "very difficult," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday after talks with Jordanian King Abdullah, media reported.

He added that this is one of the main arguments he will bring to talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later on Sunday during his visit to Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

The hastily arranged talks come after Netanyahu said on Friday that he had approved a plan for an offensive on the southern Gaza city.

"Right now, it is about ensuring we come to a long-lasting ceasefire," Scholz said after talks with Abdullah at the monarch's private residence in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.

"That would enable us to prevent such a ground offensive from taking place."

Asked if he was prepared to exert pressure on Netanyahu to stop such an assault, the German Chancellor added that it is "very clear we must do everything so the situation does not get worse than it already is".

"Israel has every right to protect itself... At the same time, it cannot be that those in Gaza who fled to Rafah are directly threatened by whatever military actions and operations are undertaken there."

Israel has vowed to move into Rafah to eliminate the last Hamas stronghold there. It also believes that some of the hostages and Hamas leaders are in Rafah. Last month, special forces rescued two Israeli hostages from captivity in an apartment in the city, The Times of Israel reported.

Over half of the Gaza Strip's population has fled to Rafah during the war sparked by Hamas's devastating attack on October 7. The offensive in Gaza has displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million people and led to critical shortages of food, water and medicine.

Scholz did not directly answer a question about whether Germany would react to a large-scale Rafah offensive, for example by restricting German weapons exports to Israel.

Germany has been one of Israel's staunchest allies alongside the US, consistently supporting Israel's right to defend itself, stressing Germany's duty to stand by the country's side in atonement for its perpetration of the Nazi Holocaust in which six million Jews died.
New Delhi, March 17 : The Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday that it is in touch with the Gujarat government and strict action is being taken against those who attacked a group of foreign students while they were offering namaz inside a university hostel premises.

The incident occurred late Saturday night when the students gathered at the Gujarat University hostel in Ahmedabad to perform 'Taraweeh', a night prayer during Ramzan.

"The state government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X.

According to the victims, who were from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, and two African countries, the attackers fled the scene as the police arrived.

Armed with sticks and knives, they forcefully entered the hostel and assaulted them, causing damage to the property.

Dr Neerja Gupta, University Vice-Chancellor, said: "We are taking this matter seriously. We will soon take some administrative decisions in this matter. Even the police are working with us to address this matter. It is yet to be investigated whether the students who attacked were university students or not. Namaaz is a personal decision, and whether they are having it in their room or the mosque, and what is ideal for them -- all these only students can answer."

Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner J.S. Malik confirmed that an investigation is underway, emphasising the commitment to justice and the protection of all students.
Tel Aviv, March 17 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting criticised those "in the international community who are trying to stop the war now, before all its goals are achieved," media reported.

Netanyahu's comments are likely a reference to calls last week for elections in Israel from US Senator Chuck Schumer, and growing criticism from the White House over Netanyahu's conduct of the war, The Times of Israel reported.

The Prime Minister added that those who want to stop the war do so "by making false accusations against the IDF, against the Israeli government and against the Prime Minister of Israel. They do this by trying to bring about elections now, in the midst of the war".

Turning to Israel's "friends in the international community," Netanyahu asked pointedly: "Is your memory so short? Did you forget so quickly October 7, the most terrible massacre committed against Jews since the Holocaust? Are you so quickly ready to deny Israel the right to defend itself against the monsters of Hamas? Did you lose your moral conscience so quickly?"

He called for international pressure to be put on Hamas and Iran, rather than Israel, The Times of Israel reported.

"No amount of international pressure will stop us from realising all the goals of the war: eliminating Hamas, releasing all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat against Israel," insists Netanyahu.

"We must not give in to these pressures, and we will not give in to them," Netanyahu stressed.

He also promised that the IDF will operate in Rafah, "carefully".

"It will take a few weeks, and it will happen," he said.

"Those who say that the operation in Rafah will not happen are the same ones who said that we will not enter Gaza, that we will not operate in Shifa, that we will not operate in Khan Younis and that we will not resume fighting after the (weeklong November) ceasefire," Netanyahu added.
Aizawl, March 17 : Five months after its victory in the November 2023 Mizoram Assembly polls, the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) will fight its first-ever Parliamentary election as the state's lone constituency votes in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19.

Formed just before the 2018 Assembly polls, the ZPM, led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, a former IPS officer who was the security officer of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, came to power for the first time in Christian-dominated Mizoram, securing 27 seats in the 40-member Assembly in the November 7, 2023 polls.

The ZPM, which gave a humiliating defeat to the militant outfit-turned-political party -- the Mizo National Front (MNF), which secured only 10 seats, will once again take on the MNF in the parliamentary polls besides the Congress.

Both the Congress and the MNF had governed Mizoram for many years since it became the 23rd state of India on February 20, 1987.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who has been an MP from the state, had, before and after the 2023 Assembly polls, announced that his ZPM would neither ally with the Congress-led INDIA bloc nor the BJP-led NDA. Like the MNF, the ZPM also strongly opposes the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the Uniform Civil Code and promises to take up issues concerning the Mizo tradition, culture, and ethnicity.

Mizoramas solitary Lok Sabha seat is reserved for the Schedule Tribe community, which comprises around 95 per cent of the state's 1.2 million population.

Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer Madhup Vyas said that for the past few decades, female voters in Mizoram outnumbered their male counterparts, thus playing a vital role in each electoral battle in the mountainous state.

He said that of the total electorate of 8,61,277 in Mizoram, 4,14,777 are male voters, 4,41,520 female electors and 4,980 service voters. According to Vyas, the gender ratio is 1,064 in Mizoram and of its 11 districts, Mamit is the only one with more male voters than females.

As per the final electoral rolls, published on February 8 this year, there are 36,214 young voters (18-19 years old), 4,758 senior citizen voters (85 years and above) and 3,399 PwD (Persons with Disability) voters.

There are 1,276 polling stations in Mizoram, or 101 more than that in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This election will be eco-friendly, and the Election Commission has advised parties and candidates to refrain from using single-use plastic.

Election officials said that over 3,000 state police personnel and 15 companies (around 1,000 personnel) of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed to maintain law and order situation, though Mizoram is one of the very states where election-related violence and incidents are always almost zero.

Multiple teams have been assigned to monitor election expenditures, and there are serious efforts to curb the menace of drugs, alcohol and other harmful substances.
New Delhi, March 17 : A day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a Cabinet meeting during which he directed his Ministers to prepare an action plan for the next 100 days of the new government as well as a roadmap for the next five years.

In the meeting, PM Modi said that the government led by him would be coming back to power again, and hence, the development work should continue.

He said that after the formation of the government, a roadmap/ blueprint should also be prepared for better implementation of the agenda of the first 100 days, and the next five years.

During the meeting, PM Modi also asked his Ministers to outline key initiatives and deliverables for the next 100 days along with a comprehensive five-year roadmap.

These documents, focusing on the priorities and strategies of the government, are to be submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat.
Kiev, March 17 : During a visit to Ukraine, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Army Commander Antony Radakin have advised Ukraine's senior leadership and military commanders on war strategy against the Russia as quoted by media reports.

Shapps and Radakin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, and the new Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

According to the media, Radakin was concerned that Syrskyi would become overly focused on ground battles, while the UK Commander spent two years attempting to develop a Ukrainian strategy based on Western military doctrine and the need to advance on land, in the air, and at sea.

Radakin, in particular, is actively involved in the development of a new Ukrainian Navy that meets NATO standards. He advised paying attention to the Iranian-style fleet, which consists of lighter, more manoeuvrable ships and drones capable of restraining Russia in the Black Sea while also protecting vital shipping routes for Ukrainian exports.

According to a news article, during a meeting at the Mariinsky Palace, Shapps and Radakin advised abandoning plans for a frontline offensive in favour of maintaining defence on the northern and eastern fronts and, if necessary, retreating to more advantageous positions to hold off the Russian Army, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

The UK officials hope that this will allow the Ukrainians to concentrate their efforts on the Black Sea and Crimea, where they have inflicted significant blows with the help of Western long-range missiles over the last six months.

According to media sources, Zelensky was enthusiastic and upbeat as well as willing to consider their proposals.

According to the news article, Ukraine recently achieved significant results against the Russia's Black Sea Fleet, destroying several ships.

The UK Defence Ministry believes that for the first time since the Crimean War, Russia cannot operate freely in the Black Sea region.

According to sources, Radakin believes that the key to Ukraine's success in 2024 lies in attacks on Crimea and the Russian fleet, and that attacks on Crimea and the destruction of Russian warships, particularly submarines, hit at the very core of the "Russian mentality".

Shapps emphasised the importance of Putin understanding that he is losing Crimea and the Black Sea.

He said that for nearly 200 years, the Black Sea Fleet had the opportunity to conduct exercises in the Black Sea. However, following a series of successful attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, there are currently no warships in the Black Sea.

Shapps believes that this demonstrates the scale of Ukrainian success in Crimea.

According to the article, Grant Shapps was forced to cancel a visit to Odesa due to intelligence warnings about the present missile threat from Russia.
Patna, March 17 : Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said that the Bihar results in the upcoming Lok Sabha election will surprise everyone.

"The biggest festival of democracy has started. Bihar results will surprise everyone. Our preparation for the Lok Sabha election is completed and we will contest the election with full strength. We are confident that we will win big in the Lok Sabha election," the LoP said.

He said that various television channels have been doing surveys ahead but the result of Bihar will surprise everyone.

"I am using the 'surprising result' word again. The common voters are different from what is shown in surveys. People in Bihar will vote on the work done during the 17-month tenure of the Mahagathbandhan government versus 17 years of the NDA government headed by Nitish Kumar. People are also analysing what the Central government has done for Bihar in the last 10 years," LoP Yadav said.

He said that the Centre has not given anything to Bihar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other leaders of his party also criticised it when they were in the Mahagathbandhan government.

"We enhanced reservation up to 75 per cent in Bihar. The NDA government did nothing as far as reservation is concerned while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also turned silent after joining NDA. He is our senior and we understand his compulsions," Yadav said.

"I want to challenge the Central government on permanent jobs. They should make the data public about who gave more jobs was it the NDA government or the Mahagathbandhan government in the 17 months. They have failed to address issues like price hike, farmers' issue, among others. If the Centre would not help backward states like Bihar, how will the country develop," he said.

He said that NDA won 39 seats of Lok Sabha from Bihar in the 2019 election. Those 39 MPs should point out the developmental work they have done in their respective constituencies in the last 5 years.

"How many industries came to Bihar? When Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Union Railway Minister, he had given many railway factories, introduced Garib Rath trains, low fares in trains, coolies were given permanent jobs and various trains were given to Bihar," the LoP said.

When asked about NDA leaders claiming more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha election, Tejashwi said that they can say anything but the INDIA bloc is concentrating on the issues related to the common people.
New Delhi, March 17 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday made public the declarations received from various recognised national and state political parties on electoral bonds.

The poll body had submitted these details in sealed covers to the Supreme Court and was later asked to make the data public.

According to the second set of SBI electoral bonds data posted by the ECI on its website, Future Gaming and Services and Megha Engineering & Infra are the top donors to MK Stalin-led DMK, the ruling party of Tamil Nadu, through electoral bonds, with Future Gaming contributing Rs 509 crore and Megha Engineering Rs 105 crore.

The total monetary contribution that the DMK got through electoral bonds stands at Rs 656.5 crore. The other major contributors to DMK include India Cements (Rs 14 crore) and Sun TV (Rs 100) crore.

DMK's rival AIADMK received a total of Rs 6.05 crore in electoral bonds out of which Rs 5 crore were contributed by Chennai Super Kings. Lakshmi Machine Works was the other top donor to AIADMK.

Janata Dal (United) has declared receiving Rs 10 crore. The response that the JD(U) had given in the letter to the EC official was quite interesting in itself.

"We are neither aware about the details of the donors nor did we try to know. Somebody came to our office and handed over a sealed envelope and when it was opened we found a bunch containing 10 electoral bonds of Rs one crore each. We opened an account in SBI in Patna and deposited the same into the account. In view of the situation, we are unable to provide any detail about the donors," says the JD(U) in the letter.

Meanwhile, the BJP received Rs 6,986.5 crore through electoral bonds, which is the maximum since the bonds were introduced in 2018.

TMC got Rs 1397 crore, the second largest recipient after BJP. However, Bengal's ruling party did not disclose the donors, saying that these are bearer bonds and no details of purchasers are printed on them.

"Messengers dropped them in the drop box of the office. We have requested the SBI to provide us with the required details of the issuers of the bonds as the KYC and ID proofs of the buyers are with the bank," Trinamool's letter says.

Congress redeemed a total of Rs 1334.35 crore through electoral bonds. The BRS encashed bonds worth Rs 1322 crore. Odisha's ruling party, BJD, got Rs 944.5 crore. Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSR Congress redeemed bonds worth nearly Rs 442.8 crore.

The JD(S) received bonds worth Rs 89.75 crore, including Rs 50 crore from Megha Engineering, the second-largest purchaser of electoral bonds. The party also got Rs 22 crore from Embassy Group.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has received Rs 50 lakh from Bharti Group, and SDF has received donations worth Rs 50 lakh from Alembic Pharma. MGP Goa has received Rs 55 lakh from VM Salgaoncar and Brothers.

San Beverages, SK Traders, and BS Traders emerge as top donors to the Samajwadi Party. In 2019, Aam Aadmi Party received Rs 3 crore from Bajaj Group and Rs 1 crore from Torrent Pharmaceuticals. The TDP redeemed bonds worth Rs 181.35 crore, Shiv Sena Rs 60.4 crore, and RJD 56 crore.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) among national parties, and the Communist Party of India, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Indian Union Muslim League, and the Kerala Congress among state parties, denied receiving any Electoral Bonds (EBs).

Earlier, the ECI in a statement said: "Political parties had filed data on Electoral Bonds in a sealed cover as directed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court's interim order dated April 12, 2019, in the said WP No.880 of 2017. Data so received from political parties was deposited in the Hon'ble Supreme Court without opening sealed covers. In pursuance of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's order on March 15, 2024, the Registry of the Supreme Court has returned physical copies along with a digitised record of the same in a pen drive in sealed cover."

"The Election Commission of India has today uploaded the data received in digitised form from the registry of the Supreme Court on electoral bonds on its website," the EC added.
Chilakaluripet : , March 17 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on the people of Andhra Pradesh to vote for "double-engine sarkar" of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for rapid development of the state.

Addressing a mammoth rally of the NDA in the state's Palnadu district, he appealed to people to vote for 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Viksit Andhra Pradesh'.

Sharing the dais with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader and actor Pawan Kalyan after a gap of 10 years, the Prime Minister said that the next five years will be important for the rapid development of Andhra Pradesh.

He promised that over the next five years in Andhra Pradesh, welfare schemes will be expanded, new opportunities will be created for youth and women, infrastructure will be taken to new heights, and there will be port-led development and expansion of the 'blue economy'.

This was the NDAas first public rally in Andhra Pradesh for simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, scheduled on May 13.

Titled 'Prajagalam' (peopleas voice), the public rally was the first show of strength by the TDP, the BJP and the JSP after they forged their alliance.

PM Modi stated that the NDA government will take major decisions in its third term.

"The poll bugle was sounded only yesterday. This time, results are to be declared on June 4. People have already started saying '4 June ko 400 paar'," he said.

Claiming that the NDA carries together regional aspirations and national progress, he said the number of NDA partners was increasing and the alliance was growing in strength.

Stating that the BJP carries along all partners in the NDA, he said that, on the other hand, Congress uses and throws away its alliance partners.

"Today Congress may have been compelled to form the INDIA alliance but their thinking remains the same," he said, noting how the Left and Congress in Kerala target each other, what the Trinamool and Left speak about each other in West Bengal, and how the Congress and AAP abuse each other in Punjab.

"When they are fighting before elections for their vested interests, you can imagine what they will do after elections," he said.

Targeting the state's ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Congress, he said they are one and the same. He appealed to people not to commit the mistake of treating "Jagan's party" and the Congress as different.

Stating that members of the same family are running two parties, he said their game plan is to divide the anti-YSRCP votes so that NDA does not get the benefit.

PM Modi claimed that people are so angry with the state government that they have made up their minds to remove it from power. There is competition among state ministers in corruption, he remarked.

"There was a need to promote a positive environment for speedy development of Andhra Pradesh and people are watching how this received a setback during the last five years," he said.

He praised the leaders of the TDP and JSP.

"For long, Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan have been working day and night for your rights and development of Andhra Pradesh. NDAas goal is the construction of Viksit Andhra Pradesh for Viksit Bharat. NDAas double engine sarkar in Andhra Pradesh will speed up the stateas development," he said.

He asserted that the NDA government has been serving and caring for the poor in the last 10 years. He said during these 10 years, 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty. He also mentioned how the Central schemes like PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat, and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi benefited people in Andhra Pradesh.

Stating the Centre is developing Andhra Pradesh as an education hub, he referred to various educational and research institutes launched in the state. These institutes include the NIDM, the National Institute of Custom and Indirect Taxes at Palasamudram, the IIT in Tirupati, the IIITDM in Kurnool, the IIM in Vizag, the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, the AIIMS at Mangalagiri, the NID at Vijayawada, the NIT at Tadepalligudem, and Central Tribal University at Vizianagaram.

PM Modi invoked TDP founder and legendary actor N.T. Rama Rao, recalling how he brought to life the roles of Bhagwan Ram and Bhagwan Krishna on the screen.

"Throughout his life, he fought for farmers and the poor. He had to bear the atrocities of the Congress," he said.

He also alleged that the Congress always insulted the self-respect of Andhra Pradesh. Asserting that the NDA government always honoured the self-respect of Telugus, he said on NTRas birth anniversary, a commemorative coin was released. The Prime Minister said the NDA government recently conferred Bharat Ratna on the son of Telugu soil P. V. Narasimha Rao and alleged that Congress insulted him.

"The BJP and the NDA always rose above party lines to honour leaders dedicated to the nation," he said.

He said the festival of democracy began in the country today and requested people in the rally to turn on flashlights of their mobile phones to welcome it.
Agartala, March 17 : The CPI-M-led Left Front on Sunday announced its candidate for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat (ST) and decided to support the Congress in the Tripura West seat.

After separate meetings of the CPI-Mas state committee and of the Left Front, Left Front convener Narayan Kar said that former CPI-M MLA Rajendra Reang would be the Leftas nominee for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat, which is reserved for the tribals.

He said that former CPI-M MLA Ratan Das, who is also the Secretary of the CPI-M West District committee, would be fielded in the Ramnagar Assembly seat where by-elections would be held on April 19.

The Assembly seat had fallen vacant due to the death of sitting BJP MLA Surajit Datta on December 28.

The Left leader, addressing the media, said that the Left Front, as a part of the INDIA bloc, decided to fight the poll battle together with partners of the grouping to defeat the BJP.

CPI-M state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said that the Left parties would soon hold meetings with the Congress and other INDIA bloc partners to chalk out the campaign and other strategies.

Congress on March 8 nominated its state party President Ashish Kumar Saha from the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat.

The CPI-M has won both the seats many times since 1952 while the Congress has also won a few times.

The BJP won both seats for the first time in 2019, with Union Minister of State for Social Justice Pratima Bhoumik (Tripura West) and teacher-turned-politician Rebati Tripura (Tripura East) emerging triumphant. However, both have been dropped this time and aMaharania Kriti Singh Debbarma and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb were named for the Tripura East Lok Sabha and Tripura West seats, respectively.

A resident of Chhattisgarh, Debbarma, a member of the erstwhile royal dynasty, is the elder sister of Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo and royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman.

Polling for the West Tripura parliamentary seat will be held on April 19, in the first of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, while the Tripura East (ST) constituency will go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.
Chilakaluripet : , March 17 (IANS) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national President N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said that the welfare of the people is the common agenda of his party, and its allies - the BJP, and the Jana Sena.

Addressing the NDAas first public rally here in Palnadu district along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan, he said that their flags may be different but their agenda is common.

Sharing the dais with PM Modi and Pawan Kalyan for the first time after 2014, Chandrababu Naidu, who recently rejoined the NDA, said that there is no doubt that the NDA is forming the governments both at the Centre and in the State.

The TDP chief said that the meeting is a platform to reconstruct the state which will realise the dreams of the people and work for their welfare.

Maintaining that the TDP, the Jana Sena, and the BJP have joined hands only to take the people's welfare agenda forward, Chandrababu Naidu told the people that the verdict that they are going to give in these elections will decide the future of the state.

Seeking the blessings of the voters for the NDA, he said that PM Narendra Modi is not an individual but a force, transforming India into a power that commands the whole world.

"PM Modi is a leader whose services are praised by almost all the countries and the schemes like Awas Yojana, Ujwal Yojana and Kisan Samman have given a totally new definition for welfare," he said.

Thanking Pawan Kalyan for his support, he said that the Jana Sena Party chief always yearns for the people's progress.

Observing that PM Modi wants to build a poverty-free nation, Chandrababu Naidu appealed to the people to join hands with him in this endeavour and for Viksit Bharat. He said that the PM has taken the nation to a very high position in the world and soon, India will be the number three country in the world in development.

"We will be in a commanding position to dictate to even countries like China and the United States," he felt.

Maintaining that the state has been facing several problems after bifurcation, the TDP supremo said: "We could overcome certain issues but with Mr Jagan (CM Jagan Mohan Reddy) in power in the past five years, the state again has moved backwards."

Observing that the foundation has been laid for Amaravati and several educational institutions with global standards have also been established besides completing 72 per cent of the Polavaram project, he felt that had these been completed, the state would have progressed well and reached the top position in the country.

Alleging that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has simply looted all the natural resources and turned the state into a ganja hub, he said that now the condition of the state is so poor that there are no roads even in many areas. Meanwhile, industrialists have been chased out, unemployment is very high in the state and the people have lost mental peace, he added.

Chandrababu Naidu said that the Chief Minster has polluted politics by filing false cases against several leaders, and Jagan's sister (state Congress chief Y.S. Sharmila) is asking the people not to vote for him.

He claimed that almost all the government buildings have been mortgaged to raise funds and appealed to the people to come forward and support the NDA which only can save the state. Expressing confidence that the NDA is going to win 400 plus seats, he appealed to the people to see to it that the alliance wins all the 25 seats in the state.
Jaipur, March 17 : The general secretary of Congress' Rajasthan unit, Amin Pathan, was on Sunday arrested for allegedly misbehaving with a Forest Department team that had come to take action after it was learnt that he owns a farmhouse built on forest land.

Pathan was taken to a police station and later presented at a court which sent him to judicial custody.

The Congress leader was arrested from his house at Anantpura in Kota on Sunday evening.

Many police personnel were present outside his house.

A number of his supporters had gathered when Pathan was presented in the court.

Eventually, numerous Rajasthan Armed Constabulary and police personnel were deployed outside the court.

Pathan also submitted a bail plea, which was rejected, and he was sent to jail.

An official said that a further decision would be taken after a regular hearing in the court on Monday.

The case against Amin and his wife was registered on Saturday.

According to police sources, Forest Department Ranger Sanjay Nagar had submitted a complaint based on which a case was registered against Amin Pathan.

It was claimed that on Saturday, a Forest Department team along with Revenue Department officials and Police had gone to Anantpura village where Pathan has a farmhouse built on forest department land.

The farmhouse was also surveyed and marked.

However, Pathan misbehaved with the officials.

Amin Pathan joined the Congress before the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections after he was denied a ticket by the BJP.
Hyderabad, March 17 : The notorious 'Chaddi Gang' struck in Hyderabad, looting Rs 7.85 lakh cash from a private school at Hafeezpet.

The theft was committed on Sunday night at the World One School under the limits of Miyapur Police Station of the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate.

The crime was recorded on CCTV cameras. The footage shows two masked offenders wearing underwear and gloves breaking into the school and searching a table for valuables.

The police took up the investigation after the school management lodged a complaint on Sunday.

Members of the 'Chaddi Gang' keep resurfacing in different areas, especially on the outskirts. In August last year, the gang was spotted at a gated community in Madhapur. The gang was also found active on the outskirts of Tirupati in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Police believe that 'Chaddi Gang' members hail from other states. They often target locked houses and commercial buildings on the outskirts of towns and cities.
Moscow, March 18 : Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to win his fifth term as head of state with nearly 90 per cent of the vote, the country's Central Election Commission said on Sunday.

Nearly a quarter of the votes have been counted, as of 9 p.m. (Moscow time) and he is leading the race with 87.9 per cent, RT reported, quoting the CEC.

Communist Party candidate, Nikolay Kharitonov, who had also contested against Putin in 2004 and come second, is expected to come in second this time too, with 4.7 per cent, followed by Vladislav Davankov of the New People party with 3.6 per cent, and Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democrats at 2.5 per cent.

Exit polls, conducted across the country, earlier showed similar trends, with the incumbent head of state expected to win the election with 87.8 per cent.

These were the first polls since the 2020 constitutional amendment, which set a limit of two presidential terms - but not retrospectively, thus allowing Putin, who succeeded Boris Yeltsin as President in 1999, and won the polls in 2000 and 2004, and then again in 2012 and 2018 (with a stint as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012) to contest this year, and even 2030.

This yearas election clocked a historic high voter turnout, which topped 74 per cent, according to data from the CEC.

More than 74 per cent of Russiaas 112.3 million voters had cast their ballots in the presidential elections by the time polling stations closed on Sunday, the Russian CEC reported, in a historic turnout for modern Russia.

Voting was held over three days, between March 15 and 17 in the first multi-day election. Voters in 29 out of 89 Russiaas regions, including Moscow a" the nationas most populous region, incorporating the capital city a" also had an opportunity to vote online, in another first, and 90 per cent of the over 4.7 million people who applied, used this format.

The 2024 election is also the first in which voters in four "new Russian regions" - Kherson and Zaporozhye, as well as Donetsk and Lugansk Peopleas Republics - exercised their franchise.

The highest turnout at polling stations was reported in the regions of Chechnya (96 per cent), Tuva (more than 94 per cent), Kemerovo Region (94 per cent) and Donetsk Peopleas Republic (88.17 per cent). Low turnouts were recorded in the Tomsk and Altai Regions as well as in Russiaas Republic of Karelia, where it was still above 51 per cent.

Some sporadic attempts at disrupting the work of the polling stations occurred, involving attempts to set ballot boxes on fire or to pour a dye into the box to destroy the votes in it, Russian media reported.

CEC head Ella Pamfilova also said that more than 280 hacking attacks on the online voting system had been repelled.
Baghel gets into 24x7 election mode as Cong eyes second term. Image Source: IANS News

Raipur, March 18 : Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday blamed the BJP after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the Mahadev betting app case.

Baghel has termed the development as an attempt by the BJP to tarnish his image.

Interacting with the mediapersons, Baghel said a question also arises as to why the matter was made public on March 17 while the case was registered on March 4.

Baghel claimed the BJP has realised that it is going to lose in the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, and therefore, "a conspiracy was planned" to tarnish his image.

"After repeated surveys, BJP is well aware that it is going to lose in the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat," he said.

The Congress has fielded Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon constituency in Chhattisgarh.

"When you mention the officers who worked on my instructions are involved in the case, why were their names not disclosed?" he questioned.

Notably, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Chhattisgarh Police has booked ex-CM Baghel and 20 others in connection with the alleged Mahadev betting app case.

Those booked in the case include Mahadev App promoters Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni, Anil Kumar Agrawal, some police officers and bureaucrats of Bhupesh Baghel's regime.

The development came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the case and has already arrested several accused in the case, and submitted a report to the state police.

Some of the accused persons named in the FIR are from Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Kolkata.

In January, Bhupesh Baghel was named in a supplementary chargesheet by the ED regarding allegations of receiving bribes, approximately Rs 508 crore, from the Mahadev app promoters in the UAE.

The ED had started an investigation into the matter in July 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

During investigation, it was found that Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who reside abroad, were overseeing illegal betting operations remotely, with proceeds of crimes amounting to several thousand crores.
Chennai, March 18 : A fishermen's association of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu staged a protest on Sunday against the arrest of 21 fellow fisherfolks by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The association leaders and fishermen's families had also blocked the road in Rameswaram against the arrest.

Association leader A.R. Devadass told IANS that the fishermen in the area feel helpless due to the continuous arrest of fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy, adding that the Central government should take the matter "seriously".

He said with the arrest of these 21 fishermen and holding back 2 boats, the Sri Lankan Navy has seized a total of 18 Indian boats and arrested 146 Indian fishermen since the beginning of 2024.

Twenty-one fishermen hailing from Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of Sunday over alleged violation of the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL).

They were taken to Kankesanthurai Harbour in Sri Lanka for further investigation.
New Delhi, March 18 : The US and several Western countries have questioned the credibility of the polling process in the Russian presidential election amid reports suggesting another term in office for the incumbent Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

Terming the election process "not free nor fair", the White House's National Security Council spokesperson said that the elections are "obviously not free nor fair given how Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also hit out at his Russian counterpart, saying Putin was "sick from power" and "doing everything to rule forever".

"There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be... There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power," he said in a video address.

In a statement, the UK's foreign office criticised Russia for "illegally holding elections on Ukrainian territory", saying that this demonstrates Russia "is not interested in finding a path to peace".

"The UK will continue to provide humanitarian, economic and military aid to Ukrainians defending their democracy," it added.

Germany's Foreign Ministry said that the "pseudo-election" in Russia is "neither free nor fair". "Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The 'election' in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law," it said in a post on X.

Poland's Foreign Ministry has also spoken out against Russia's "so-called presidential elections".

"The voting took place in conditions of extreme repression against society, making it impossible to make a free, democratic choice." from Polish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The Kremlin's unfair decision to conduct the election in the temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine deserves particular condemnation. It is an ostentatious violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter, and may only be treated as another attempt to undermine Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," it added.
The suspect in the killing of a New Mexico State Police officer west of Tucumcari was captured Sunday morning in Albuquerque after a foot pursuit and shootout.

Jaremy Smith of South Carolina was taken into custody in Albuquerque after being shot at least once by pursuing officers. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to a Bernalillo County sheriff's officer during a news briefing shortly before noon.

A store clerk at an Albuquerque gas station spotted Smith and called police, noting he matched the description of the suspect. Smith had been the subject of an intense manhunt for more than two days.

Smith was wanted for multiple charges, including first-degree murder, after shooting and killing NMSP officer Justin Hale on Friday morning on Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari.

Hare, a Logan resident, left behind a girlfriend and two children.

Smith also is considered a person of interest in the killing of a paramedic in South Carolina. Smith reportedly was driving the paramedic's stolen car when the vehicle sustained a flat tire west of Tucumcari.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler also said officers would pursue charges to anyone to aided and abetted Smith, who was known to have ties to Albuquerque.
Alstom has been awarded a contract to supply the signalling, safety, and control systems for the new pink Metro line in the city of Porto in Portugal.

Alstom will utilise its Cityflo 250 signalling system, which includes state-of-the-art interlocking and allows the integrity of the trains to be monitored in real-time.

Systems engineering and development will be carried out locally at Alstom's site at Maia in Porto.

New trains for Metro de Porto Pink Line. // Credit: Alstom

The first section of the pink line, from S. Bento to Glorieta de Boavista, will be 3 km long with four underground stations, and improve access to the Porto city centre.

Once it is in operation, Metro expects passenger numbers to increase rapidly, with 30 million passengers in the first full year of operation.

With the opening of this new line, it is expected that the use of private vehicles will significantly reduce, and contribute to a reduction in traffic congestion and a saving of almost 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Alstom Metro system. // Credit: Alstom

Metro de Porto plans to expand the Pink Line, so that it will eventually become a circular route around the city which connects with all other Metro lines.

The Metro do Porto system currently comprises six lines with a total of 78 km of track on which around 70 million passengers travel each year.

Alstom supplied all 102 of the trains currently in service with Metro de Porto as well as their onboard signalling systems.

It is a great honour for Alstom to partner again with Metro do Porto, to improve mobility for citizens and tourists in Porto. David Torres, Alstom in Portugal Managing Director

It also supplied the onboard Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system for 18 trains recently added to the fleet.

Metro de Porto is just the latest contract that Alstom has secured in Portugal, where it has had a presence for over 30 years.

Two out of three trains currently in service in Portugal, including high-speed, regional, metro, and tram trains, were either manufactured by Alstom or incorporated Alstom technology.

Alstom's Metropolis metro train. // Credit: Alstom

Alstom's ATP system is responsible for controlling over 1,500 km of the Portuguese rail network and over 500 trains.

In 2022, Alstom secured a contract to supply a state-of-the-art signalling system to Metro de Porto's yellow line and opened an Engineering and Innovation centre at Maia on the outskirts of Porto.



As part of the development of Porto's network Alstom is drawing on 30 years of expertise in communications-based train control (CBTC), which has been supplied to over 190 metro lines in 32 countries.

Alstom aligns its developments with customer requirements for low-carbon solutions, including high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility.
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Concurrently, there were reports of people in different parts of the country running through public places without clothes on. The news reports called it "streaking, and it was mentioned daily. Soon, sightings of streakers at UGA began circulating. Through classrooms, across quadrangles, through the cafeteria, anywhere was fair game.
The Economic Offences Wing in Chhattisgarh has registered a case against former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others in the alleged Mahadev online betting scam based on a probe report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate, officials said on Sunday.

IMAGE: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel (left) hands over his resignation to Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan following the defeat of the Congress in state polls, on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Enforcement Directorate, which has been investigating the Mahadev app-linked money laundering case for more than a year, alleged in the past that its probe has shown involvement of various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh, where the two main promoters of the app hail from.

The projected proceeds of crime in this case are about Rs 6,000 crore, according to the ED.

"The ED has been investigating the case and based on its report submitted to the state's Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau, the FIR was registered against Baghel and others at the EOW police station here on March 4," a senior EOW official said.

Baghel, the senior Congress leader, along with the app promoters Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni and Anil Kumar Agrawal and 14 others have been named as accused in the FIR, he said.

Some bureaucrats, police officials, officers on special duty and other unidentified private persons have also been made accused (without being named) in the case, he said.

The case has been registered under various Indian Penal Code Sections, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document), and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, the official said.

The FIR, citing the ED's report, stated that Mahadev Book App promoters Uppal, Chandrakar, Soni and Agrawal created the platform for live online betting and indulged in betting through Whatsapp, Facebook and Telegram and other social media platforms.

The promoters created different platforms and conducted illegal acts of online betting through panel operators/ branch operators.

They kept 70 to 80 percent of the illegal earnings with them and distributed the rest of the money to panel operators/ branch operators, it alleged.

The promoters and panel operators fetched around Rs 450 crore per month through the online betting app after the lockdown was imposed in 2020 (following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic), the FIR claimed.

For transactions of illegally obtained money, bank accounts were opened on the basis of fake documents by the promoters and panel operators of the Mahadev Book App and hundreds of bank accounts were operated on the basis of commission with the money obtained from betting.

The panel operators transferred illegal money to the promoters in the UAE through various bank accounts, it said.

A huge amount of money was spent by the app promoters for advertising betting websites. For this, annual star-studded events were also organised, in which celebrities were involved by paying them illegal money obtained from betting, the FIR said.

The illegal money obtained from online betting by the app promoters has been invested in many companies, shell companies, stock market and crypto currency, it said.

A similar betting platform called Sky Exchange was being run by Hari Shankar Tibrewal, who was associated with the Mahadev Online Book and the ED has attached his assets worth around Rs 580 crore, the FIR said.

To prevent legal action against the illegal act of online betting, the promoters of Mahadev Book App had given huge protection money to various police and administrative officers and influential political persons, it claimed.

Hawala operators were used for the arrangement and distribution of the protection money and police officers/employees were also used as couriers for the purpose, the FIR claimed.

Various police, administrative officers and influential political persons have misused their positions and acquired illegal assets in the form of protection money. Provisional attachment of many immovable properties has been done by the ED, it said.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, targeted Baghel over the Mahadev app case during the Chhattisgarh assembly polls last year.

Baghel had termed the ED's action in the Mahadev betting app case as a "political conspiracy" and accused the federal agency of acting at the behest of its "political masters".

So far, the ED has arrested nine persons in this case.

The ED has filed two chargesheets in the case till now in Raipur court, including against Chandrakar and Uppal. It had earlier conducted multiple raids in connection the case.

"Operations of Mahadev Online Book are being run from Dubai and it operates by franchising panel/branches to their known associates on 70-30 percent profit ratio," the ED said.

"The main promoters of MOB are also partners/promoters in multiple such online betting books like Reddy Anna, Fairplay, etc and large-scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting proceeds to off-shore accounts," it claimed.
Top purchaser of electoral bonds Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated Rs 509 crore to Tamil Nadu's ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam through the now-scrapped payment mode, the Election Commission's data showed on Sunday.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Photograph: ANI Photo

The donations given by Future Gaming, whose owner, "lottery king" Santiago Martin, has been under the Enforcement Directorate's scanner, accounted for more than 77 percent of the total receipts from electoral bonds of Rs 656.5 crore disclosed by the DMK.

Since most political parties have not disclosed the names of the donors, it was not known who were the beneficiaries of the balance Rs 859 crore worth bonds purchased by Future Gaming.

The disclosure is part of the data dump pertaining to a total of 523 recognised and non-recognised political parties made public by the EC on the Supreme Court's orders.

This was followed by another dataset published by the EC last week based on the information submitted by the State Bank of India, the sole bank authorised to sell and redeem electoral bonds.

The latest dataset released by the EC included scanned copies of the disclosures made by the political parties, running into hundreds of pages.

While initially the data submitted by the SBI pertained to a period from April 12, 2019 till the scrapping of the bonds by the apex court last month, the latest disclosure is based on the declarations given by various political parties in November last year on the bonds redeemed by them since the scheme was launched in early 2018 and exclude the last few tranches.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre received the maximum funds through these bonds at Rs 6,986.5 crore since they were introduced in 2018, followed by West Bengal's ruling party Trinamool Congress (Rs 1,397 crore), Congress (Rs 1,334 crore) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (Rs 1,322 crore), according to the latest data shared by the EC.

Odisha's ruling party Biju Janata Dal was the fourth-largest recipient at Rs 944.5 crore, followed by the DMK at Rs 656.5 crore and Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSR Congress at nearly Rs 442.8 crore.

According to an earlier report compiled by NGO Association of Democratic Reforms, electoral bonds worth Rs 16,518 crore were sold from March 2018 to January 2024.

Collating the two datasets, the BJP is estimated to have received a total amount of Rs 7,700 crore during the entire duration of the scheme.

According to the data released on Sunday, the Janata Dal-Secular received bonds worth Rs 89.75 crore, including Rs 50 crore from Megha Engineering, the second-largest purchaser of electoral bonds.

Future Gaming was the biggest purchaser of electoral bonds at Rs 1,368 crore, of which nearly 37 per cent went to the DMK.

Other major donors of the DMK included Megha Engineering (Rs 105 crore), India Cements (Rs 14 crore) and Sun TV (Rs 100 crore).

The Trinamool Congress received Rs 1,397 crore through electoral bonds, making it the second-largest recipient after the BJP.

The DMK is among the few political parties that have disclosed the identity of the donors, while major parties such as the BJP, Congress, TMC and Aam Aadmi Party have not revealed these details to the EC, which has now made public those filings pursuant to a Supreme Court order.

The Telugu Desam Party redeemed bonds worth Rs 181.35 crore, Shiv Sena Rs 60.4 crore, Rashtriya Janata Dal Rs 56 crore, Nationalist Congress Party Rs 50.51 crore, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha Rs 15.5 crore, Samajwadi Party Rs 14.05 crore, Akali Dal Rs 7.26 crore, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Rs 6.05 crore, National Conference Rs 50 lakh from the Bharti Group and Sikkim Democratic Front Rs 50 lakh.

While the AAP did not give a cumulative figure of its donations, the SBI's data showed it had received Rs 65.45 crore, while it is estimated to have received another Rs 3.55 crore after its filing with the EC, taking its total to Rs 69 crore.

Among the major parties that have disclosed the identity of their donors, the AIADMK got most of its donations from India Cements-owned IPL cricket team Chennai Super Kings, while the contributors to the Janata Dal-Secular included the Aditya Birla Group, Infosys, the JSW Group and the Embassy Group.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist has declared that it will not receive funds through electoral bonds, while the filings made by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Indian National Lok Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party showed nil receipts.

After the disclosures, the opposition parties have dubbed the electoral bonds as legalised corruption, while the BJP has said scrapping of the bonds could lead to the return of black money in politics.
Entering the Lok Sabha poll fray after two successive defeats with its political image considerably dented, the Congress faces a tough battle for its very survival this election as it fights a powerful Bharatiya Janata Party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others during the Nyay Sankalp Sabha, in Mumbai, March 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The grand old party, which dominated the national political scene from the pre-Independence era until the last decade, has been reduced to a pale shadow of what it once was.

It is in power on its own only in three states -- Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana - with a big question mark on whether it can even stake claim to be head of the INDIA bloc.

The past decade with Modi at the Centre has been one of particular strain for the 138-year-old party, which failed to get even 10 percent seats of the total strength of the Lok Sabha needed to secure the Leader of Opposition's position in the House.

Now banking on its glorious legacy, the Congress is hoping to arrest its decline though multiple challenges continue to stare it in the face.

The party secured only 52 seats out of 421 contested in the last election, improving its tally slightly over 2014 when it bagged 44 out of 464 seats contested. As many as 148 Congress candidates lost their deposits in 2019 as against 178 in 2014.

The peak came in 1984 when it won a record 404 seats.

From that high, its Lok Sabha strength fell to 197 seats in the 1989 general election to 232 in 1991, 140 in 1996, 141 in 1998, 114 in 1999, 145 in 2004 and 206 in 2009, shrinking to double digits for the first time in 2014 and hovering there in 2019.

The faint silver lining for the party in the 2019 and 2014 LS polls was that it maintained its vote share of nearly 19 percent, which it now hopes to build on.

In 2009, when Manmohan Singh returned to power, it secured 28.55 percent of the votes.

Here is an analysis of the Congress party's strength, weakness, opportunities, threat (SWOT) ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Strengths

Endowed with a rich political legacy, the Congress continues to project itself as a secular, all-inclusive pan-India party with pockets of influence in traditional voter constituencies of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and Muslims. With a consistent all-India caste census push, it hopes to woo the OBCs, the biggest estimated voter block in the national population.

Continuing with its rights-based promises, the Congress has assured justice for all -- the poor, oppressed, Dalits, farmers, youth and women. It has also appealed to the people on its five guarantees to empower India -- Yuva Nyay, Bhagidaari Nyay, Naari Nyay, Kisan Nyay and Shramik Nyay. The party is hoping it can encash on this.

The party has presence in every state. Its stress on bread and butter issues -- price rise, unemployment and communal disharmony -- are designed to engage the powerful youth voter who has emerged as a swing factor in poll after poll.

Weakness

The grand old party, which boasts of stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri and even Shyama Prasad Mukherjee at one point of time, today lacks the quality of leadership it once offered.

The top party brass has been repeatedly accused of losing touch with the pulse of the people despite former Congress president Rahul Gandhi trying to reconnect through the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Consistent lack of introspection despite successive poll losses appears to have added to the hubris with several one-time loyalists leaving for other parties.

The party also appears to be out of touch with the national mood on major issues of the day where the BJP continues to command the narrative. Its decision to decline to attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony led to consternation in some quarters.

The party's position on criminalisation of triple talaq law, stand on abrogation of Article 370 and the CAA have also led to questions.

The BJP has been painting the principal opposition party as a "negative frustrated force" which "opposes for the sake of opposition" and this found resonance in some members of the party who finally left.

Too much dependence on past glory, disconnect with Generation Next and the millennials are its other weaknesses. The new generation has no consciousness of Congress party's golden era under Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi while the BJP has built its entire anti Congress stand on UPA's decade-long rule which it says was "marked by corruption, nepotism and appeasement".

A cash crunch following the freezing of bank accounts to the tune of Rs 225 crore poses another major hurdle for campaigning.

Opportunities

The Congress will aim to consolidate the anti-BJP vote building on the recent groundswell of Rahul Gandhi's two Bharat Jodo Yatras, besides hammering the latest ECI disclosure on electoral bonds as an "extortion racket".

The party also seeks to gain from the BJP's decade-long incumbency by offering sops and freebies which powered it to victories in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.

Unity among Opposition parties in the anti-BJP INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the Congress.

Threats

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mass connect and growing domestic and global profile may hit the party hard.

The BJP continues to rise electorally. It has grown from two MPs in 1984 to 303 in 2019, and has now set itself a target of 370 seats.

The continued hold of regional parties fighting to retain core constituencies across states may scatter the anti BJP vote to Modi's advantage.

A major threat for the Congress is the consistent exodus of leaders, simmering internal rumblings and inaccessibility of top leadership, with the Gandhis still in command and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge largely seen as their proxy.

The Congress has to contend with Opposition parties competing with each other in several states, undermining the unity of the INDIA bloc and dividing the Opposition vote bank.

The failure of the bloc to put up a single candidate against the BJP might affect electoral prospects.
The Enforcement Directorate has issued two summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear for questioning on March 18 and 21, official sources said Sunday.

IMAGE: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrives at Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo

The first summons, which is the ninth in this case, is related to the excise policy linked money laundering case. The 55-year-old national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been asked to depose at the central agency's office in central Delhi on March 21. The ninth summons have been issued so that Kejriwal's statement can be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.

Kejriwal has also been summoned by the ED questioning on March 18 in a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), official sources said on Sunday.

This is the second case registered under the anti-money laundering law in which the AAP convenor has been called.

Senior AAP Leader and Delhi minister Atishi on Sunday said the ED has sent Kejriwal a fresh summons to join its probe in a 'fake' case linked to the Delhi Jal Board.

"Nobody knows what this DJB (Delhi Jal Board) case is about. This seems to be a backup plan to arrest Kejriwal anyhow and stop him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls," she claimed at a press conference in New Delhi.

Atishi said two summonses asking Kejriwal to appear before the federal agency next week were received hours after the Lok Sabha poll date announcement on Saturday. One of them is related to the excise policy case and the other to the DJB, she added.

The AAP leader charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was using the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation as its 'goons' to finish off political opponents.

There was no immediate reaction from the ED and the CBI on this.

A Delhi court on Saturday had granted bail to Kejriwal on two complaints filed by the agency against him for skipping six of the previous eight summons in the excise policy case.

The ED had moved the magisterial court seeking Kejriwal's prosecution for not attending the summonses issued to him in the case.

The agency arrested Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K Kavitha in this case two days ago.

Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in charge sheets filed by the ED in the excise policy case.

The agency has said that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal regarding the preparation of the excise policy for 2021-22.

So far, the ED has arrested AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, party communications in-charge Vijay Nair and some liquor businessmen in this case.

The ED had claimed in its charge sheet that the AAP used "proceeds of crime" to the tune of about Rs 45 crore in its Goa assembly polls campaign.

It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP.

The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the irregularities in its formulation and implementation. Later, the ED registered a case under the PMLA.
While several political parties received donations worth crores of rupees via electoral bonds, there is a vast majority which did not get any money through the now-scraped scheme for political funding.

IMAGE: BSP supremo Mayawati. Photograph: Pramod Adhikari/ANI Photo

Over 500 recognised and unrecognised political parties had shared details on electoral bonds in sealed covers to the Supreme Court.

The data was submitted through the Election Commission and was put in the public domain by the poll panel on Sunday.

Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, which is a recognised national party, has told the Election Commission that it did not receive any funding through electoral bonds since the inception of the scheme.

The National People's Party, which rules Meghalaya, is another national party which received no donations through electoral bonds.

National Conference, a recognised state party in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, has disclosed receiving Rs 50 lakh from the Bharti group through electoral bonds.

The Sikkim Democratic Front disclosed it received Rs 50 lakh via electoral bonds from Alambic Pharma.

Left parties, including the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India-Marxist, All-India Forward Bloc and Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist did not receive any electoral bond funding.

They said as a matter of principle they refused donations through this route.

Some of the registered, unrecognised parties made their submission in hand-written notes on plain paper declaring not receiving any funding through poll bonds.

Several of the parties which are active in states, such as Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, All India United Democratic Front, Zoram People's Movement, Asom Gana Parishad, Bodoland People's Front, Kerala Congress-Mani, late Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Indian National Lok Dal, Tamil Maanila Congress did not receive donations through poll bonds.

On the other hand, some other smaller regional players such as the Goa Forward Party and MGP received electoral bonds worth Rs 36 lakh and Rs 55 lakh respectively.

According to an earlier report compiled by NGO Association of Democratic Reforms, electoral bonds worth Rs 16,518 crore were sold from March 2018 to January 2024.
Eighteen Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad have been granted Indian citizenship during a camp attended by Gujarat minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi.

IMAGE: Pakistani Hindu women carry kalash as they take part in a 'Sadbhavna Yatra', in Haridwar on February 18, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

At the camp organised at the district collector's office on Saturday, Sanghavi conferred Indian citizenship to the 18 persons and urged them to work together to realise the dream of a new India.

"It is expected that all of you will be determined to participate in the development journey of the country," he said, adding the central and state governments were committed to bringing all those who have obtained Indian citizenship to the society's mainstream.

Gazette notifications of 2016 and 2018 empower the district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch in Gujarat to grant Indian citizenship to people of minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, said an official release.

With this, a total of 1,167 Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad district have so far been granted Indian citizenship, it said.

Sanghavi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have made special efforts for the suffering minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to get Indian citizenship easily and quickly.

On March 11, the Union government announced implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, paving the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

With this, the government aims to start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians -- from the three countries.
Holding of Lok Sabha elections is a mammoth exercise that entails the biggest peacetime movement of men and material in the world through waterways, air and land across India to ensure no voter is left behind.

IMAGE: Security personnel leave for polling stations, for the last phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Patna, May 18, 2019. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Election Commission, mandated to hold the gigantic democratic exercise starts preparing for the polls at least one-and-a-half years in advance by training officials, poll personnel and ramping up the supply of required EVMs and indelible ink, besides other equipment.

The elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19 followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

Nearly 97 crore registered voters across 543 constituencies will cast their ballot at 10.5 lakh polling stations.

Around 1.5 crore polling and security personnel, about 55 lakh EVMs and four lakh vehicles will be deployed for the polls, according to the poll authority.

As early as in June last year, the EC had initiated "first level checks" of EVMs and paper trail machines across the country in a phased manner.

"Mock polls" are part of the first level check process to ensure parties are satisfied with the machines.

The EC issues a calendar for such exercises and there are standing instructions that are to be followed by state chief electoral officers.

During FLCs, electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are checked for mechanical flaws by engineers of BEL and ECIL, the two PSUs which manufacture the two equipment.

Faulty machines are returned to the manufacturers for repair or replacement.

A mock poll is also held to check the two machines in the presence of representatives of political parties.

While it puts the required equipment and infrastructure in place, the poll panel also starts interacting with its officials at the state level to understand their requirements.

State chief electoral officers are called for sessions where they share best practices and learn from each others' experience in election management, voter awareness and preventing malpractices which can disturb level playing field during polls.

A key component of election management is the deployment of security personnel and their movement by trains, boats and helicopters.

To firm up the plan, the EC top brass holds meeting with senior officials of the Union home ministry and Railways. Comfortable stay and hygienic food for security and polling personnel also requires planning at the grass-roots level.

While the EC is busy sending the required number of EVMs in states ahead of polls, the Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd gets ready to complete its order of providing indelible ink.

This time it has been tasked with providing over 26 lakh vials of indelible ink, which leaves a deep purple mark on a voter's left forefinger, to various states.

The Karnataka government undertaking has been manufacturing the ink since 1962, solely for the Election Commission.

The ink is applied on the left forefinger of a person as proof that she or she has cast the vote.

One 10 ml vial can ink 700 people. Every polling station has 1,500 voters, which means two vials of ink is needed per polling station.

Ahead of voting day, EVMs are carried to the polling stations.

Once the voting ends, the machines are brought back to the strong room where they are kept under three layers of lock.

The machines later reach the counting centres on the day votes are to be counted.

The machines in which votes are stored and the paper trail machine slips are preserved for at least 45 days in case the election is challenged in a high court.

An "election petition" challenging the poll result has to be filed within 45 days.
In a setback for the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, its Uttarakhand MLA Rajendra Singh Bhandari joined the BJP in New Delhi on Sunday and said that he was impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership which motivated him to take the step.

IMAGE: Uttarakhand MLA Rajendra Singh Bhandari (right) joins the BJP in the presence of Union minister Piyush Goyal and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. Photograph: Courtesy Pushkar Singh Dhami on X

Bhandari, a three-term Congress legislator who was also a minister in the state in the past, joined the BJP in the presence of its senior leaders, including Union Minister Piyush Goyal and the party's national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam.

Gautam is also the BJP's in-charge for Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni, a Rajya Sabha member who will contest his first Lok Sabha election from the Garhwal seat in Uttarakhand, were also present on the occasion.

Bhandari, who is learnt to have resigned from the Congress before joining the BJP, represented the Badrinath seat in the Uttarakhand assembly.

He won the seat by defeating the BJP's Uttarakhand unit chief Mahendra Bhatt by a small margin in the 2022 assembly polls.

Badrinath is one of the 14 assembly segments which falls under the Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency from where the BJP's Anil Baluni will contest the parliamentary election this time. Of these 14 assembly segments, Badrinath is the only seat which is with the Congress. The rest are with the BJP.

Addressing a press conference with the BJP leaders in New Delhi, Bhandari said that he decided to join the ruling party after being impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and the work done by his government for the country's progress in the last 10 years.

"I am very much impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy for the welfare of the poor people. Under his leadership, a continuous journey of development is going on across the country. I want to contribute to making India a developed country by 2047, a goal set by Prime Minister Modi," he told reporters at the BJP headquarters.

Bhandari expressed gratitude towards BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as well as party chief J P Nadda for allowing him to serve the country as a party worker.

"I want to assure the party that I will work with complete dedication for the progress of the country and Uttarakhand, and serve the people as well," he said.

"Baluni ji has been fielded as BJP candidate from Garhwal. He is a man with a clean image. I want to assure you that I will work day and night. I am confident that he will emerge victorious (in the Lok Sabha polls) with lakhs of votes," Bhandari added.

Welcoming him to the BJP fold, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dhami said Bhandari has joined the party as he was "impressed" by the work done in Badrinath and across Uttarakhand under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, be it the implementation of the Centre's Char Dham project, redevelopment of Kedarnath and other development projects in the state.

Though there was already a "positive atmosphere" in favour of the BJP in Uttarakhand, it will get a further boost in the state, including in the Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency, with Bhandari joining the "BJP family", Dhami said.

"We are going to win all five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand with big margins," he told reporters.

Piyush Goyal said Bhandari has been a "popular and influential" leader in Uttarakhand due to the work he did in various capacities. "For several years, he has served Badrinath and won the hearts of people. He was elected to the state assembly three times, which shows that his popularity and influence are still growing due to his work."

He hoped that Bhandari would continue to serve people with the same dedication while being with the BJP.

Goyal, who will contest his maiden Lok Sabha polls from Mumbai North, also highlighted the achievements of the Modi government and asserted that the BJP-led NDA will return to power for a third consecutive term at the Centre following the general elections.

Baluni expressed happiness over Bhandari joining the BJP and said it is a "special moment" for him.

"He is a sitting MLA from one of the 14 assembly segments under the (Garhwal) Lok Sabha constituency from where I have been fielded as the BJP candidate," he said.

"Of the 14 assembly segments under Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency, 13 were already with the BJP. With Bhandari joining the BJP, the Congress now does not have any MLA there," Baluni added.
Croissants beignets by Grolet. Calvin Courjon

Next to the Eiffel Tower, it is perhaps Frances most emblematic monument: the butter croissant is a must in the countrys bakeries. The ideal texture is crispy on the outside and spongy on the inside, and you can find it at any store at relatively affordable prices. But in recent years, the prestigious viennoiserie, as this type of flaky pastry is known in France, has been overshadowed by the growing success of cookies, doughnuts and other American snacks, and its creators seem intent on continuing to fight for their rightful place among baked goods. For many bakers, the secret to success lies in experimentation and social media impact. Indeed, that has led a neighborhood bakery in Paris to have constant lines of tourists and young people eager to try the crookie, a combination of croissant and cookie dough.

I did it for fun, I had no pretensions, the crookies creator, baker Stephane Louvard of Boulangerie Louvard, near the Grands Boulevards, tells EL PAIS. In recent weeks, production has gone from about 100 units a day to 1,500 and 2,200, after two influencers talked about his crookies on Instagram and TikTok. Since then, the influx just keeps going up, its hard to keep up with whats been coming at us. By comparison, they sell about 250 butter croissants every day.

Although the lines started at the end of January, the crookie itself was created in October 2022. One day we were making cookies and tried putting the dough inside croissants. We liked it and decided to sell some. Weve always liked them, but now we see a new public coming to look for us, especially tourists, young people and TikTokers from the area. Its what they call food porn, which sells well on social media, and the latter is what we find really incredible, says Louvard, still incredulous at the media popularity of his latest creation.

The 'crookie,' a croissant filled with cookie dough, from Boulangerie Louvard in Paris.

The crookie sells for 5.90, the total of the price of the croissant and cookies. The croissant has uncooked chocolate chip cookie dough, and two flaky layers of baked dough on the outside. The secret is that the croissant is crispy, while the cookie is almost melted inside, Louvard confides. We use top-quality ingredients. There are stores that are selling frozen versions and I know of other bakers who are trying to make their own, even in England and Morocco, he says. Indeed, some videos with homemade crookie recipes are already circulating on social media.

In a survey published by the gastronomic consultancy Strategeat for the Sandwich & Snacking Show, pain au chocolat (or chocolatine, depending on which corner of France you are in) is Frances favorite sweet snack (34%), ahead of croissants, which are in second place (28%). But if we only consider Generation Z data, cookies come out on top among 38% of the youngest. That figure reflects the growing French passion for American baked goods, which are gaining ground against viennoiseries.

Were seeing that viennoiseries will always have a place in the hearts of the French, although less so in the hearts of Generation Z, especially those under 25. Is this the end of French pastry? I dont think so, but it does force us to have a variety of products in bakeries, explains Nicolas Nouchi, founder of Strategeat. He believes that the will to exist on social media through notoriety is a necessity for retailers.

A croissant beignet at Grolet's in Paris. Calvin Courjon

In a country where the majority still does not eat breakfast away from home, offerings of savory or cream-filled croissants are extras; for the most orthodox, they are a form of blasphemy. However, the presence of these products has continued to make an impact after the French haute patisserie opted to refresh its croissants and pains au chocolat. In recent years, the novelties have kept coming: from Philippe Conticinis giant croissant and pain au chocolat (about 30 per unit), to Cedric Grolets beignet croissant, sold for 5 at his store in Opera Cedric Grolet Cafe. Grolet mesmerizes social media with the preparation of his recipes and famous guests to his workshop like Rosalia and Pedro Alonso. The croissant is our foundation and star product. The chef has proposed a new version combining it with a fritter to add novelty and an urban influence, Grolets team emphasizes. We see real enthusiasm from viennoiserie customers. They appreciate simple creations, full of techniques and especially full of meaning. In our new cafe, we are seeing a new, younger clientele.

Outside Paris, experiments are also swooping in, with the added challenge of winning over more conservative local consumers: Louis Tortochot, who was voted best baker in France in 2019, made a name for himself in 2011 with his flavored croissants and eventually set up a croissant bar in his two bakeries in Dijon, Du Pain pour demain. There, customers can fill their croissants with praline, raspberry, pistachio and other creams right in the store. The croissant (1.30) makes up a third of pastry sales, another third would be the pain au chocolat and the third [are] flavored croissants (2.10), of which we sell about 600 a day. Not bad for a city like Dijon, says Tortochot, who notes that this trendy product does best with those under 45 years old. Although he started this project before the boom on social media, Tortochot does not mind its influence on consumers. We are a zapping generation. We like to be stimulated with novelties and [then] move on to something else. Thats why you have to have options. In this society, you either move or you die, he says.

Croissants from Du pain pour demain bakeries.

In Bordeaux, Louis Lamour is part of the new wave of bakers who are daring to test the limits of traditional recipes. In his two stores, which have constant lines of customers, he offers daily Croichoc (2,50), with chocolate inside, and Beyrouthin (2.50), a croissant filled with goat cheese and Asian spices. On weekends, he adds the Croistache (3), which has pistachio cream, to the menu. Moving beyond the traditional croissant, which is still the most interesting product, allows us to communicate better and give value to our craftsmanship. The customers perception is that the traditional croissant should not be expensive because they consume it often, they do not appreciate the value of the craftsmanship despite the fact that there are very significant costs for raw materials and labor, says Lamour. He notes that many French bakeries resort to frozen croissants, charging a price very similar to that of croissants made from scratch, as in his case (1.30). For us, seeking originality is fun; its a challenge, but above all it allows us to make people aware that they are eating a unique product. The customer is more willing to pay more for it, he emphasizes.

Social media has also marked a before and after. Im not particularly a fan of the transformation imposed on us by social media, but as an entrepreneur, [I know that] it is a dominant means of communication. And these products attract a younger clientele and foodies that you cant attract with a baguette or a buttery croissant, no matter how good and pretty it is, Lamour laments.

Consultant Nicolas Nouchi is quick to describe this as a micro-trend, which puts more intrepid customers in a delicate position: if they want to try it, theyd better get in line soon, before the crookie is overtaken by the next viral creation.
The reluctance of some ministers and lawmakers in Karnataka to contest the Lok Sabha polls seems to have put the Congress scouting for 'winnable' candidates in a spot of bother in finalising contestants for the bulk of the seats.

Photograph: / Rediff.com IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (centre) announces 4th and 5th guarantees 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Hissedari Nyay' during a press conference as state CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar (left) look on, in Bengaluru, March 16, 2024.

It has been ten days since the Congress announced its candidates for seven segments while the process to pick nominees for the remaining 21 seats is on.

The Congress' first list released on March eight did not have the names of any of the ministers and legislators.

According to party sources, the Congress leadership has been making efforts to convince some ministers and lawmakers to contest, as they have faced problems in identifying winnable candidates in several segments.

Senior Congress leader and home minister G Parameshwara had recently said there are discussions in the party to field seven to eight ministers.

Some ministers instead of themselves contesting, are said to be pushing for the candidature of their family members and, according to sources, the party leadership seem to be worried about the message it may send out if their kin are fielded.

It is now left for the Congress leadership including president Mallikarjun Kharge and party senior leader and MP Rahul Gandhi to take a call on the issue of fielding ministers or their family members, party sources said.

State Congress president and deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the process of selecting candidates has come to a final stage.

"Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has ended today (Saturday), tomorrow there is an INDIA bloc leaders public meeting, and on March 19 there is our meeting (to finalise candidates). On March 19 night or 20th morning, all our candidates will be announced," he said.

According to sources, the Congress is keen on fielding cabinet ministers HC Mahadevappa from Chamarajanagar, KH Muniyappa from Kolar, B Nagendra from Bellary, Satish Jarkiholi from Belgaum, Eshwar Khandre from Bidar, and Krishna Byre Gowda from Bangalore North.

Almost all these ministers are reluctant to fight the polls and some are said to have suggested the names of their family members, with assurances that they will ensure their victory.

Gowda is said to have told the party leadership that he doesn't want to contest. He lost from Bangalore North in 2019 and in 2009, from Bangalore South.

Mahadevappa is said to be insisting on Chamarajanagar ticket for his son Sunil Bose.

Parameshwara, who was earlier the party state unit president, had recently said, "He (Mahadevappa) is saying that he doesn't want to contest and the ticket be given to his son. Party will ultimately decide whether it will be Mahadevappa or his son or someone else. He cannot be pressured if he doesn't want to (contest)."

Another senior minister Muniyappa, a seven-time MP and a former central minister, who returned to state politics after losing 2019 Lok Sabha polls, is said to have pitched his son-in-law Shashidhar J E for the Kolar seat.

Similarly, names of Satish Jarkiholi's daughter Priyanka Jarkiholi for Chikkodi, Laxmi Hebbalkar's son Mrinal Hebbalkar for Belgaum, Nagendra's brother Venkatesh Prasad for Bellary, and Eshwar Khandre's son Sagar Khandre for Bidar, are doing rounds.

The Congress had initially tasked ministers with identifying potential candidates but Shivakumar had said that reports received were not satisfactory.

He had also said that the party has decided to commission one more survey to identify winnable candidates.

A Congress leader said having faced a rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls which saw the defeat of several top leaders -- including M Mallikarjun Kharge, Veerappa Moily, and Muniyappa -- despite the party being in power in the state in alliance with Janata Dal-Secular, many senior leaders don't want to enter the fray, as the outfit's prospects at the national level still don't look promising.

The Congress' performance in this election is another key test of sorts for Shivakumar, who has made no secret of his ambition to become chief minister, amid speculations of change in guard mid-way of the assembly term.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has already announced its candidates for 20 seats. It is yet to make an announcement for eight seats out of which three -- Mandya, Hassan and Kolar -- are likely to go into the kitty of its alliance partner JD-S.

Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJP won 25 seats in the 2019 general elections, while an independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious.

The Congress and JD-S, which were running a coalition government back then and fought the elections together, secured one seat each.
Seen by political watchers as the favourite to retain power for a third straight term, the Bharatiya Janata Party has set itself an ambitious target of winning 370 Lok Sabha seats, a goal aimed as much at projecting its strength as at diminishing the opposition in popular imagination.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd during a public meeting, in Nagarkurnool, Telangana on Saturday, March 17 ,2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Only once in the last five decades has a party won so many seats.

A nationwide sympathy wave following Indira Gandhi's assassination had carried the Congress to 414 seats in the 543-member House in 1984.

The Election Commission formally kicked off the 2024 general election with the announcement of the poll schedule on Saturday.

Lok Sabha polls for 543 seats will be held in seven phases starting with voting for 102 seats in first phase on April 19.

Counting of votes will be held on June 4.

Sceptics believe that the BJP maxed out in 2019 when it won 303 seats by virtually sweeping its strongholds in the west and Hindi-speaking states in east and central India.

They argue that since the BJP has not been able to make much headway in assembly elections held thereafter in south India and states like West Bengal, where it made impressive gains in 2019, the party do not have much scope for improvement and can go down if the opposition can get their act together.

However, the BJP has often surprised political watchers with its poll performance on the back of its enviable feedback mechanism, organisational heft and willingness for course correction combined with a charismatic leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose popular appeal endures.

Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the ruling party as it chases a third straight stint in power.

STRENGTHS

* The BJP has a leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi who towers over opposition leaders like a colossus. His mass appeal has propelled the party into making an impact in Lok Sabha polls even in states where it lacked strong organisation and faced formidable opposition -- in many places in 2014 and West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana in 2019.

* Since 2014, the BJP has built up an organisational machinery that was overseen by seasoned poll campaigners at regional and state levels and supervised by its national leadership. This can create and shape helpful narratives and take the party to the masses with clinical efficiency.

* It is not unusual to see non-BJP leaders acknowledging the overwhelming superiority of the saffron organisation even in states where it is not in power. It was evident in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in the recent assembly polls when the BJP returned to power.

* Another strength of the BJP is its uncontested dominance in setting the pitch of the electoral battle, more so in the Lok Sabha elections.

* If its agenda built on national and cultural pride has touched a chord with a large section of the masses at a deeper level, its "labharthi" (beneficiary) outreach around its welfare schemes has swayed the poor.

WEAKNESSES

* The BJP has eased out many of its experienced state satraps having popular appeal in their territory, as it sought to groom a younger generation of leaders who lack the stature of their predecessors.

* Political skills of the likes of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Madhya Pradesh's Mohan Yadav and Haryana's Nayab Singh Saini will be on the test.

* As much resonant as the BJP's Hindutva, nationalism and 'labharthi' agenda is in large parts of the country, it does seem to lose traction in unfamiliar linguistic and cultural milieus as in parts of south and east India where the opposition also has strong satraps.

OPPORTUNITIES

* The BJP starts the poll battle with more odds-on favourite this time than it was in 2019 and 2014, a factor which will help the party win over floating voters and give momentum to its push in new territories.

* The opposition's attempt to come under a united banner under the 'INDIA' bloc has turned out to be a half-hearted exercise marred by one-upmanship amid the continuing decline of the Congress, its principal constituent, giving rise to the impression that the BJP faces no serious challenge.

* The BJP's alliance with N Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh and the perceived decline of the BRS in Telangana and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has presented the national party with an opportunity to grow in these states, highlighted by Modi's ongoing barnstorming campaign in south India.

THREATS

* The Supreme Court's decision to strike down the electoral bond scheme for funding to political parties and the latest revelation about the donors have given the opposition an issue to target the government over alleged corruption and its misuse of probe agencies.

* Some big states, where the BJP did well in 2019, like Karnataka and Maharashtra, have a strong presence of opposition parties while regional parties like Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh are seeking to chip away at its Other Backward Classes and Dalit support base.

* Opposition parties have been trying to build a counter-narrative around bread-and-butter issues such as employment and price rise.
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TOWNSHEND  With a projected student count of nine in K-5 classes for next year at Jamaica Village School, school officials are exploring options.

"It's concerning I would say," Superintendent Bob Thibault said at the West River Education District Board meeting last week.

Thibault briefly discussed ongoing long-term planning efforts, which have included talks of closing a school building in the district in the face of declining enrollment. Board member Dana West said the topic was presented at annual Town Meeting in Jamaica last week.

"There were some questions," West said. "We don't have definite plans. We were putting feelers out to see how the Jamaica townspeople would feel about it."

Having such a small student count could present "equitable education issues," Thibault said. Current enrollment at JVS is 12 students in K-5 classes.

Teaching contracts are going out for signatures in April. Looming deadlines could create some challenges, Thibault said.

Currently, he reported one definite and two maybes for pre-k students at JVS. In November, plans had been presented for rebuilding the pre-k program at the school.

Pre-K will return to Jamaica Village School TOWNSHEND  A plan to spread 3- and 4-year-olds across Townshend Elementary and Jamaica Vill

Next year, Townshend Elementary's pre-k program will be capped at 20. If the numbers are the same as this year, Jamaica would get nine students unless families decided to go to a private provider.

The board agreed to take Thibault's recommendation to ask the district's long-term planning committee to look at the enrollment issue. He noted Windham voted last week to pay tuition for students for elementary education.

Karen Ameden of Jamaica said JVS Principal Monica Deuse is "applying for a pre-k license, which was taken away from us years ago."

"We had no pre-school or kindergarten," she said. "We had a great program before that then it was abruptly changed."

JVS can't grow without 3 to 5-year-olds attending, Ameden said.

"I think you need to give us a chance to get our kids back especially when you're talking about Townshend school not having any room and refusing to take any pre-k students in Townshend," she said. "We have a principal who is absolutely fantastic and has great programs going at school. I think we can grow it up some."

Former board member Drew Hazelton of Rawsonville in Jamaica encouraged the board to conduct outreach before making a decision and announce a timeline soon. That would "light a fire under all of us," board member Lindsey Bertram said.

"I think that one way or another we need to move this along quickly, at least certainly quicker than we are," she said.

Board Chairman Al Claussen said the board will check in with architecture and engineering firm Stevens & Associates, which has been working on long-term planning options in the district, "and we will move with haste."
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A few clouds. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed Sunday against growing criticism from top ally the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, describing calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate.

In recent days, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had lost his way. President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumers good speech, and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11 attacks, and denounced Schumers comments as inappropriate.

Were not a banana republic, he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who theyll elect, and its not something that will be foisted on us.

When asked by CNN whether he would commit to a new election after the war ends, Netanyahu said that I think thats something for the Israeli public to decide.

The U.S., which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told Fox the U.S. still hasnt seen an Israeli plan for Rafah.

The U.S. supports a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas Oct. 7 attack.

The Israeli delegation to those talks wasnt expected to leave for Qatar until after Sunday evening meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give directions for the negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear he had no plan to back down from the fighting that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. More than five months have passed since Hamas attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage in Gaza.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said that calls for an election now  which polls show he would lose badly  would force Israel to stop fighting and would paralyze the country for six months.

Netanyahu also reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation.

We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen, he said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reiterated his warning that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have grave repercussions on the whole region. Egypt also says pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula would jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability for nearly a half-century.

And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, warned that the more desperate the situation of people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?

Germany is one of Israels closest allies in Europe and, given memories of the Holocaust, often treads carefully when criticizing Israel.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said that the prime ministers comments fit with his efforts to find someone else to blame should Israel not achieve its goal of destroying Hamas.

Hes looking on purpose for a conflict with the U.S. so that he can blame Biden, Pinkas said.

Both sides have something to gain politically from the dispute. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israels war against Hamas. Netanyahu, meanwhile, wants to show his nationalist base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israels closest ally.

But pressure also comes from home, with thousands protesting again in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Netanyahus government and calling for a new election and a deal to free remaining hostages.

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the U.N.

Airdrops by the U.S. and other nations continue, while deliveries on a new sea route have begun, but aid groups say more ground routes and fewer Israeli restrictions on them are needed to meet humanitarian needs in any significant way.

Of course we should be bringing humanitarian aid by road. Of course by now we should be having at least two, three other entry points into Gaza, chef Jose Andres with World Central Kitchen, which organized the tons of food delivered by sea, told NBC.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

The Health Ministry on Sunday said that the bodies of 92 people killed in Israels bombardment had been brought to hospitals in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 130 wounded, it said.

At least 11 people from the Thabet family, including five children and one woman, were killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and an Associated Press journalist. The body of an infant lay among the dead.

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Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong waves during a press conference after the closing ceremony of the Communist Party of Vietnams national congress in Hanoi on Feb. 1, 2021.

January brought a fresh gust of rumors about the whereabouts of Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist Party of Vietnam general secretary. He hadnt been seen in public for a few weeks and failed to meet with the visiting president of Indonesia, leading some commentators to speculate that his health was deteriorating once again.

We had been here in 2019 when it was rumored  accurately, it turned out  that Trong had suffered a stroke while on a visit down south. This time around, Trong showed up again rather quickly, delivering a speech to the National Assembly on January 15.

But rumors of the 79 year-olds failing health are a reminder of his and the countrys frailty.

Given that party chiefs tend to rule for two five-year terms, we can assume that the next general-secretary, if voted in at the next Communist Party of Vietnam, or CPV, National Congress in 2026 and if Trong does actually retire then, will rule until 2036.

It is not overly dramatic to say that the next party chief will govern during the most consequential decade of Vietnams development.

Women work at the Hung Viet garment export factory in Hung Yen province, Vietnam, Dec. 30, 2020. (Kham/Reuters)

Not least, that person is likely to enter office facing even more uncertain world politics.

One uncertainty is China, whose economy is in a terrible state and which is set to experience perhaps the worst demographic crisis of any country in known history.

The other is a retreating America. The great debate in the United States right now is whether to maintain its post-1945 interest in world affairs or to descend into nationalism and protectionism.

If Washington chooses the latter  and Donald Trumps possible re-election later this year would be an indication of that  the globalization weve known since 1945 that has depended on U.S. security guarantees, not least to keep the seas safe for world trade, could collapse.

Vietnam has arguably been one of the biggest beneficiaries of globalization  perhaps second only to China in recent decades. More to the point, China and the United States combined account for 46 percent of Vietnams exports and 40 percent of its imports.

Demographic time bomb

Hanoi can do little to rectify Chinas troubled economy or dispel America's isolationist tendencies. But it can clean its own house.

The most existential concern, as framed by a headline in the state-run press last year, is its demographic time bomb. Thailand is set to lose 10 million people of working age by 2050, about a quarter of its current workforce. China, based on conservative estimates, will lose 217 million workers, down from 984 million today.

Vietnam, thanks to its citizens having so many children in the 1990s, will only see its working-age population dip by around 253,000 people by 2050, from 67.6 million now  a 0.3 percent fall. The workforce will have passed its peak by the mid-2030s.

Instead, Vietnam appears set to suffer the problem of too many retirees. Vietnam became an aging society in 2011, when 7 percent of its population was aged over 65. It will become an aged society, when that demographic is more than 14 percent of the population, in 2034.

Elderly people exercise at a public park in Hanoi, Oct. 9, 2018. (Kham/Reuters)

Vietnam will be the fourth aged society in Southeast Asia, after Singapore, Thailand and Brunei. The percentage of people over 65, those who dont work and are net extractors of state money, will double between now and 2050, from 10 percent to 20 percent.

In fact, people over 60 will go from 14.7 to 26.5 percent of the population over this timeframe. Thats the figure to bear in mind since Vietnams retirement age for men will be 62 in 2028 and 60 for women in 2035.

Moreover, the proportion of retirees will probably be higher than 26 percent of the population since women, who retire earlier, outnumber men by the time theyre 60 years old. So its possible that Vietnam is looking at around a fifth of its population in retirement by 2030 and nearly a third by 2050.

Unlike Thailand and China, whose demographic future is dire, more so than some analysts think, Vietnam wont see a declining workforce at the same time as an increase in retirees, so it wont be left trying to scrape less money from fewer workers for greater welfare payments to more retirees.

However, Vietnam is starting from a lower wealth base. If its GDP per capita doubles between now and 2034, it would still be on par with Thailands GDP per capita today. If it triples, it will be on par with todays Malaysia, which wont become aged until 2042.

Tough decisions wont wait

Vietnam risks becoming old before it becomes rich, unless, that is, it can turbocharge its economy over the coming decade and half. According to the World Bank, Vietnam has until 2042 before its demographic window of opportunity will close.

The state will have to find vastly more money for its retirees, sapping funds that could be invested in infrastructure and education.

Spending on education has already fallen from around 18 percent of government expenditure in the early 2010s to around 15 percent. Infrastructure spending has been criminally misused. Just look at the badly managed Ho Chi Minh City metro project.

Currently, average social insurance payments are just $240 per month, a little over two-thirds of workers average income. A lengthy World Bank report noted that Countries with old-age dependency ratios equal to Vietnams projected level in 2035 typically spend 8-9 percent of GDP on public pensions, well above the 2-3 percent that Vietnam has spent over the past decade.

Commuters fill the street during morning rush hour in Ho Chi Minh City, Jan. 12, 2024. (Jae C. Hong/AP)

By todays GDP, that means the Vietnamese state will need to find something in the range of $18-21 billion annually just for pensions within a decade. Thats not counting the additional financial strain of an aged society on the government and on households for health services.

Demographics ought to focus minds in Hanoi on the fact that the good times wont last forever, and the population dividend Vietnam has been gifted since the 1990s will be over quite soon.

Things have to change now. In 2021, for instance, labor productivity was valued at just US$10.22 per hour, compared to US$13.53 in China and US$15.06 in Thailand.

Vietnamese companies have barely any international footprint at the moment. More work is needed to incorporate Vietnams economy into supply chains in Cambodia and Laos, both of which will see their workforces increase in size by 2050.

Private consumption as a percentage of GDP has fallen since 2015, making Vietnam more dependent on exports. Thats risky in this era of deglobalization. Then there are issues over whether upriver damming on the Mekong will decimate Vietnams food production  thus increasing imports in the future  and how climate change will impact the economy.

This demographic time bomb wont quite explode during the tenure of the next party chief assuming he serves two terms until 2036, but preparations for what to do when it detonates will certainly come on his watch.

Although, on a positive note, the economy should return to around a 6 percent growth rate by 2026, according to the World Bank, the next party chief will still have difficult decisions to make.

Trongs signature anti-corruption campaign has improved the CPVs image but it has massively sapped economic development. His successor, who will be selected because he is trusted to continue the campaign, will be pressured to end it.

Administrative reforms are overdue, but these will weaken the partys grip on power. The government will need to massively increase tax collection, not least to pay for the booming retirees, but this will be unpopular and difficult. And if the U.S. does decide on isolationism and China becomes more chaotic, diplomacy will have to be performed on a knifes edge.



Small wonder, then, that the CPV has dallied on choosing Trongs successor.

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat. As a journalist, he has covered Southeast Asian politics since 2014. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of RFA.
A year after the arrest of Evan Gershkovich in Russia, the Wall Street Journal reporters family pledged to continue to fight for release from a Moscow prison where he is being held on espionage charges the White House and his employer say are fabricated.

Gershkovich became the first U.S. journalist arrested on spying charges in Russia since the Cold War when he was detained on March 29, 2023, by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which said he had been trying to obtain military secrets.

The Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government have vehemently rejected the espionage charges, saying he was merely doing his job as an accredited reporter when he was arrested.

Gershkovich saw his detention extended to June 30 earlier this week by the Moscow City Court. The Kremlin said on March 29 it had no information on when the 32-year-olds trial will begin. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in jail.

"We never anticipated this situation happening to our son and brother, let alone a full year with no certainty or clear path forward," his family said in a letter published by the Wall Street Journal on March 29 to mark the anniversary.

"But despite this long battle, we are still standing strong."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on March 29 that "to date, Russia has provided no evidence of wrongdoing for a simple reason: Evan did nothing wrong. Journalism is not a crime."

Born in the United States to Soviet emigres, Gershkovich reported from Russia for six years before being detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

Leon Panetta, former director of the CIA, said the United States must play a "tough game" with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to get Gershkovich released.

"We have got to play a tough game with Putin to make sure hes not going to get away with this kind of game." Panetta said on Fox News.

Gershkovich will ultimately be released through a prisoner swap, Panetta predicted, saying the United States could "develop some leverage" for such a deal by arresting Russian spies in the United States "so that [Putin] has a reason to come to the bargaining table."

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel, also speaking on Fox News, said the United States engages daily with the "highest levels of the Russian government" in its effort to win Gershkovich's release, but he said it was "important not to talk about the deliberations in public."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also stressed the importance of silence about any negotiations, but Wall Street Journal Associate Editor Paul Beckett, who is leading the newspapers efforts to free Gershkovich, said talks involving Gershkovich on any level keep his supporters optimistic that something can be done.

Russian authorities accuse Gershkovich of collecting state secrets about the military industrial complex at the behest of the U.S. government.

Wall Street Journal Associate Editor Paul Beckett, who is leading the newspapers efforts to free Gershkovich, told Current Time in an interview broadcast on March 29 that the reporter is holding up OK under very difficult circumstances.

He's in his cell for 23 hours a day. He has an hour outside in the courtyard, which is about the same size as his cell. So we've just been very grateful that he's been able to maintain his equilibrium, Beckett said of Gershkovichs incarceration in Moscows Lefortovo prison.

Beckett said that besides one hour of courtyard time per day, Gershkovich has been in constant correspondence with his family, including swapping lines from shows that they enjoyed together, and weekly meetings with his lawyers.

Earlier on March 28 in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about reports of a possible prisoner exchange involving Gershkovich, and he stressed the importance of silence about any negotiations.

But Beckett said talks involving Gershkovich on any level keep his supporters "optimistic that something can be done."

Gershkovich is one of two American reporters currently being held by Russian authorities. The other is Alsu Kurmasheva, an RFE/RL journalist who holds dual Russian-American citizenship.

Kurmasheva, 47, was arrested in Kazan last October and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent under a punitive Russian law that targets journalists, civil society activists, and others. Shes also been charged with spreading falsehoods about the Russian military and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

RFE/RL and the U.S. government say the charges are reprisals for her work as a journalist for RFE/RL in Prague. She had traveled to Russia to visit and care for her elderly mother and was initially detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at Kazan airport, where her U.S. and Russian passports were confiscated.

Gershkovich has been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. Kurmasheva, however, has not despite pleas from RFE/RL and Kurmashevas family.

The Wall Street Journal on March 28 published a story about her detention and the difficulties her husband, Pavel Butorin, who also works for RFE/RL in Prague, and their two daughters, aged 12 and 15, have had without her and their efforts to have her designated as wrongfully detained.

The designation would mean her case would be assigned to the office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs in the State Department, raising the political profile of her situation and allowing the Biden administration to allocate more resources to securing her release. The designation currently applies only to Gershkovich and another American held in Russia, Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine and corporate security executive who is serving a 16-year prison sentence on espionage charges.

Other events being held to mark the one-year anniversary of Gershkovichs detention include a 24-hour read-a-thon of his work by his Wall Street Journal colleagues at the newspapers headquarters in New York and swimming events at Brighton Beaches in New Zealand, South African, Canada, the United States and Britain.

The beaches were chosen in recognition of his familys connection to Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, New York, which is home to a large Russian immigrant community. Gershkovich's parents emigrated from the Soviet Union, separately, in 1979.
Police in Moldova say a man threw Molotov cocktails at the Russian Embassy in the capital, Chisinau, while Russian voters were lining up outside the building on the presidential election day, March 17. As Moldovan officers were detaining the man, some of the voters scolded him and a woman kicked him. Authorities later identified him as a 54-year-old dual Moldovan-Russian citizen. Flames and rising smoke were seen across the embassy fence.
Thousands of Russians appeared to join an opposition call for protests by gathering at polling stations at midday local time, amid a presidential election engineered to deliver Vladimir Putin six more years in the Kremlin. Long lines of people formed in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and elsewhere while dozens of people were arrested at the "Noon Against Putin" gatherings, which were supported by opposition leader Aleksei Navalny before his death in prison last month.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, who died suspiciously in a remote Russian prison last month, cast her ballot for Russian president at the Russian Embassy in Berlin after standing in line for more than six hours on March 17.

"You are probably curious what I wrote on my ballot," she said, "who I voted for. Of course, I wrote in the name 'Navalny.'"

Navalnaya was one of many Russian opposition leaders who urged those who oppose longtime President Vladimir Putin and his seemingly unstoppable bid for a fifth term in the Kremlin to come to their polling station at precisely 12 p.m. in an action called "Noon Against Putin."

The idea was endorsed by Navalny in one his last social-media posts before his death on February 16. He noted that showing up to vote at a particular time was one of the only legal forms of registering dissent left in Putin's Russia.

The protest produced enormous crowds in cities outside of Russia, where hundreds of thousands of Russians remain after fleeing their country in the wake of Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin's implementation of military mobilization that September.

Some lines also formed inside Russia, although the protest was far from the "millions" that Navalny evidently hoped to see. In a YouTube video, Ivan Zhdanov, head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said the protest "achieved its goals."

"The action has shown that there is another Russia," Zhdanov said, "that there are people who stand against Putin."

Nonetheless, the protest appeared insufficient to impede the Kremlin's narrative about the election, which stressed that the country was united in its endorsement of Putin and his policies of war, repression, and confrontation with the West. Analysts predicted that the final tally of the March 15-17 election -- which was strictly controlled by the authorities, with only token opposition allowed to run against Putin and which came after years of harsh repression of political dissent -- would show that more than 85 percent endorsed another term for the 71-year-old former KGB officer amid a record turnout for a post-Soviet presidential race.

"We all know that Vladimir Putin is not fighting to win any voters," political analyst Nikita Savin told RFE/RL. "Putin holds elections in order to demonstrate the stifling figures of his support and to demoralize the political opposition."

Even in Berlin, where Navalnaya voted, the Russian Embassy noted the long lines of voters in a social-media post that ended with the Kremlin's election slogan: "Together we are strong. Vote for Russia!"

'An Innovation Of This Election'

At least 80 people were detained on March 17, according to OVD-Info, which monitors political repression in Russia, after smaller numbers were detained during the previous two days of voting. Some were held for carrying or wearing portraits of Navalny.

There were at least 14 incidents of people trying to spoil ballots by pouring a staining green antiseptic informally called "zelyonka," ink, paint, or other liquids into ballot boxes. There were two cases of fires being set in polling stations and at least five cases of attempted arson.

Such protests are "an innovation of this election," wrote Stanislav Andreichuk of the banned Golos election-monitoring group on Telegram.

"There were never such cases before, and most likely it is the result of the enormous tension within society and of the aggression that it spawns, for which the authorities bear direct responsibility," he wrote.

In Kostroma, the head of the local branch of the Communist Party, Andrei Tarasov, was detained for allegedly "discrediting the armed forces" by writing "No war" on his ballot, a photograph of which he posted on social media.

In Perm, a 63-year-old woman was badly injured when a firework she had brought to the polling station ignited in a restroom.

"These are acts of despair resulting from the powerlessness that people feel, the sensation that they have nothing to do with this so-called election and, in fact, have no role in the politics of their own country," Andrei Buzin, a co-founder of Golos, told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

Such actions, political scientist Mikhail Komin told Current Time, show the degree of "radicalization" in Russian society.

"They show that this radicalized [part of] society resents those in power quite strongly and is actually ready to accept criminal responsibility, because all these people will now be facing prison terms," he said.

'Anyone But Putin'

In recent months, the wives and other loved ones of mobilized Russian soldiers have been holding protests and speaking out about the treatment of their men, who have been in service now for nearly 18 months with no end in sight. Before the current election, the group, called The Way Home, emphasized that they were not anti-war or anti-government. Nonetheless, the protests attracted the attention of the security agencies, convincing the group's leaders that it was useless to hope for change under Putin.

On social-media forums, the group urged its sympathizers to join the opposition "Noon Against Putin" protest and to spoil their ballots or vote for "anyone but Putin."

"We have already come under the pressure of the security agencies," a member of the group in Novosibirsk, who along with the other members quoted asked not to be identified out of safety concerns, told RFE/RL.

"We understood that the only chance for us would be a change of power. Until the very last minute, we hoped. Even when the police began coming to our homes, we thought, well, Putin just hasn't heard our complaints yet and we kept coming up with new petitions and new officials...to send them to. But when Putin directly said there was 'no need' to bring the mobilized soldiers home...it became clear that he would never let them come home alive."

"Now we are writing openly that we have to act and vote in such a way as to bring our husbands home," said the wife of a mobilized soldier from the Altai region. "We know that we have to have anyone but Putin. Who among us in their right mind would vote for him?"

The Way Home is realistic about the impact of their action.

"But it is important to do everything that we can," said a member of the group from the Irkutsk region. "And we mustn't listen to those who say it is useless."

'This Story Will End'

Opposition activist and journalist Sergei Kovalchenko, who co-created the "Noon Against Putin" idea with former St. Petersburg lawmaker Maksim Reznik, told Current Time that the protest was sufficient to show that there was not a consensus in Russia that Putin is the "national leader," as the Kremlin would have it. But what comes next, he said, is not clear.

"I don't have an answer to the question of what we should do after the election," he said. "I think we all have to do what we consider necessary. Be human, first of all. And second, don't change your convictions. Don't give in to the authorities' provocations."

"This story will end, and it will end with the natural end of one person," he added. "I think it is important the people understand that their task is just to survive, to remain human, to preserve their dignity so that later we can build a new country. And it was important that they saw one another and understood that they are not alone."

Ilya Shablinsky, a lawyer and former member of the advisory Russian presidential council for civil society and human rights, told RFE/RL that Putin had insisted on astronomic turnout figures for the election as justification for "some harsh measures that will come later, mainly linked to the war [in Ukraine] and to the goal of extracting more money from the population."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time
Russian voters living abroad formed long lines outside embassy polling stations on March 17 as part of a "Noon Against Putin" protest on the final day of voting in Russia's presidential election. Thousands gathered outside Russian embassies in Japan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Georgia at midday after Russia's opposition called on people to go the polls at the same time. It was part of a protest against a presidential vote widely dismissed as a charade that Kremlin incumbent Vladimir Putin is expected to win.
Taurus missiles have become one of Ukraines most coveted weapons in the war unleashed by Russias invasion. These weapons have also become a headache for Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz continues to refuse to supply Ukraine with these air-to-surface cruise missiles, which are similar to the ones sent by the United Kingdom and France, which have allowed Kyiv to strike Russian targets far away from the front lines. Pressure on Berlin is growing in parallel to the Ukrainian armys need to replenish this type of weaponry, which is in alarmingly short supply throughout Europe. In the short term, Germany is the only country that can deliver a considerable number of missile systems like these, which are absolutely essential for the Ukrainian army, says Fabian Hoffmann, a researcher at the University of Oslo.

The Taurus missile is one of the most advanced weapons available to the Bundeswehr (the German army). Roughly speaking, it is very similar to British Storm Shadows and SCALP missiles, the French version. They are all long-range cruise missiles that are launched from fighter aircraft, similar in size and mass, and reach close to the speed of sound. Even so, the Taurus missile is more modern than the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles and more effective against targets with reinforced security, such as bunkers and bridges.

Hoffmann estimates that Ukraine has received between 400 and 600 Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles from France and the United Kingdom since the war began. According to his calculations, by the end of this year, or early next year at the latest, Kyiv will have used all of the air-to-surface cruise missiles that its allies have provided. Like other European analysts, the Norwegian expert believes that it is likely that Italy also sent some of the 200 SCALP missiles it acquired in 1999, although it did not announce doing so. In the short term, the possibility of London and Paris delivering more of these types of missiles seems to have been ruled out; Hoffmann estimates that the two countries have donated between 25% and 45% of the weapons in their arsenals over the last two years.

Last May, Kyiv formally asked Berlin to deliver some of its Taurus missiles, which cost between 1.1 million and 1.5 million ($1,198,450 to $1,634,250) per unit. A few days ago, the German government rejected Londons proposal offering to send more Storm Shadows to Ukraine in exchange for Germany handing over some of its Taurus missiles; Berlin has experienced some friction over the issue. In recent weeks, Scholz has reiterated that he is not considering the possibility of supplying cruise missiles to Ukraine, claiming that it could imply a direct confrontation with Russia and that it would be necessary to deploy German troops on Ukrainian territory for the allied army to be able to use this weapon.

The only reason why German soldiers would be needed on the ground to operate the Taurus is that the chancellor does not trust what Ukraine can do with them, says Hoffmann. He adds that the Ukrainian army could be independently instructed to operate them within three to four months. Lidia Gibadlo, a researcher at the Center for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Warsaw, emphasizes that Scholz will probably rely on his partys support, as well as on the popular rejection of sending the Taurus missiles reflected in the polls, to remain firm in his position.

Jacek Tarocinski, Gibadlos colleague at OSW, points out that the only solution to Ukraines current shortage of cruise missiles is for Germany to send some of its own and to produce and acquire more as soon as possible. The expert notes the short supply of this type of weapon throughout Europe and adds that, last Tuesday, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 821 Jassm missilesthe missile most like the Taurus produced on the other side of the Atlanticto the Polish Air Force, a greater quantity than the 600 that the German Armed Forces have.

U.S. missiles ruled out

Delivering Taurus missiles to Kyiv would not just alleviate the shortage of air-to-surface cruise missiles, which have been employed efficiently to reach command posts and ammunition and gasoline depots, disrupt and alter routes essential to Russian logistics and eliminate high-ranking members of the enemy army. Such missiles have also destroyed several ships in the ports of Sevastopol and Feodosia, in the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014. German missiles would also be more effective than French and British ones against targets such as bridges, as the Mephisto warhead is equipped with a smart fuse that allows for detonation to be delayed until it has penetrated the targeted structure.

A Storm Shadow/SCALP missile last June at an exhibition north of Paris, France. Lewis Joly (AP/Lapresse)

The analysts who spoke to EL PAIS agree that Taurus missiles are the ideal weapon for attacking the bridge over the Kerch Strait, which connects Crimea to Russia and which Kyiv has considered a priority target since the war began. Last week, Moscow leaked German military talks speculating that Kyiv would use the Taurus missile to attack this infrastructure, which is critical for Russian logistics. In the leaked conversation, German military personnel stressed that, unlike the Storm Shadow and Scalp, the Taurus could penetrate the structure. Moreover, the German missiles would be even more difficult for Russian anti-aircraft defenses to intercept than the French and British ones.

Taurus and Storm Shadow missiles have been out of production for years. France is producing between 50 and a 100 SCALP missiles that Greece ordered. Hoffman argues that Paris should deliver them to Kyiv instead and compensate Athens in some way. The Norwegian researcher emphasizes that a delivery of some German Taurus missiles, or the SCALP missiles requested by Greece, would not solve the issue in the long run. The only way to definitively address this problem would be to make it easier for the Ukrainian arms industry to manufacture such missiles, while [also] restarting production in Europe to be able to keep supplying them on a continuous basis, Hoffmann notes.

While Ukraine is desperately seeking an ally to deliver long-range cruise missiles, Russia continues to use this type of weaponry to strike energy infrastructure and cities far from the front lines. A recent report by the British think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) puts the monthly production of air-to-surface missiles in the Eurasian giant at around a 100. Tarocinski highlights the fact that the Russian army has launched over 500 of them in a month, more than the Ukrainians have done in the entire two years of war.

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The winner of this years overall County Roscommon Enterprise Award is Boyle based business Posude, which is owned and managed by local man, Kyle McLoughlin.

Proving the enduring reputation of these awards as a showcase for new and established businesses, Kyle completed a double of sorts at the Roscommon Local Enterprise Office (LEO) awards. He won the countys Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2016.

Presenting the award at a special ceremony last week, Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council Shane Tiernan said Posude characterised all the best qualities of a successful, ambitious local business.

Aoife, Belle and Kyle McLoughlin at the awards ceremony. Pic. Gerard O'Loughlin

Kyle designs business apps for accounting systems. An exciting new innovation of the business is the creation of a new cloud accounting software package, called Thrive, which is a business accounting system, particularly for the distribution sector.

Posude has six full-time employees and a further four employed through contract and other engagements. The company has a flourishing market both domestically and in the United Kingdom.

Kyle said that he was delighted to win the award.Since we launched Thrive, weve been in strong sales and marketing mode. Our ambition going forward is to get a further foothold in the UK and export market.

It has been a challenging time for our customers but they have been very loyal. We have seen the benefits of our product in terms of cost and time savings on their business, said Kyle, who was accompanied at the awards by his wife Aoife.

LEO have been there for me since day one of the business. Both Louise Ward and Enda Cannon have been particularly helpful to me. They have been very supportive in terms of innovation assistance, grant aid and mentoring, said Kyle, who also acknowledged the support of his right-hand man in the business, Kevin Purcell.
With sub 4m SUV rivals like Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue updated, Mahidra is now getting ready to launch XUV300 facelift

The sub 4m SUV space has seen increased competition and is one of the most competitive segment in India. Carving out a position for themselves is paramount for major players. Mahindra has three ladder-frame contenders on sale, but the monocoque offering from the brand, XUV300, is set to receive a major facelift.

Mahindra XUV300 Facelift New Spy Shots

Currently, Mahindra is surfing through a massive wave of success with its offerings in the mid size SUV segment with Scorpio Classic, Scorpio N and XUV700. The company intends to bring some of its SUV magic to sub 4m segment and consolidate its position further in ever-increasing competition from rival brands.

Apart from Thar, Bolero and Bolero Neo ladder frame offerings, XUV300 is the only monocoque sub 4m vehicle from Mahindra. This SUV is on the verge of a major facelift set to launch in the coming months. In latest spy shots credited to automotive enthusiast Ganesh Pagar, we can see a convoy of XUV300 facelift.

Mahindra usually operates its test mules in batches. Most interesting element about this convoy is that it consisted of XUV300 facelifts different trim levels. So, on a level, we can sort of figure out what the company has in its books with upcoming XUV300 facelift.

We can see a base trim on the move here. There are quite a few elements in this model to dictate its base-level positioning. For starters, there are steel wheels with conventional wheel covers. Other than that, we can see un-painted ORVMs too. Mahindra is still offering blackened pillars with this base variant, which lends an upmarket look.

Stylish steel wheels with mid-level trims

Just like what Renault and Tata Motors have been doing, Mahindra is hopping on the train of offering stylish steel wheels. As seen in the pictures, these steel wheels are designed to look like alloy wheels from a distance, in conjunction with their respective wheel covers. We reckon Mahindra will offer these with mid-level trims.

This convoy of Mahindra XUV300 test mules also had a higher trim vehicle as well. This variant dons alloy wheels that look identical to what Mahindra is selling right now. Interiors of this particular unit can be seen in these spy shots. The new and larger free-standing touchscreen infotainment is the primary highlight. There is a fully digital instrument screen too.

We have seen similar displays in recently launched XUV400 electric vehicle. Speaking of electric, we couldnt spot any exhaust tips on these test mules. This is likely to be the angle of the picture as all of these vehicles have a cutout in their rear bumper for exhaust positioning.

Same powertrains will continue with Mahindra XUV300 facelift  1.2L turbo petrol (109 bhp, 200 Nm, 6MT, 6AMT) (129 bhp, 230 Nm, 6MT) and a 1.5L diesel (115 bhp and 300 Nm, 6MT, 6AMT). There are rumours of an Aisin-sourced torque converter with XUV300 facelift. Prices could be increased in comparison to current XUV300, thanks to addition of new features and upgrades.
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This photo taken on March 15, 2024 shows smoke caused by an Israeli airstrike in Kafr Kila, Lebanon. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)



Salem Hijazi, a 50-year-old man displaced from Lebanon's southern village of Aitaroun, sits with his family around a wood-burning heater in a temporary shelter in the southern city of Nabatieh, discussing ways of securing his family's urgent needs during the holy month of Ramadan.

Hijazi had not anticipated that the conflict in southern Lebanon would extend into the holy month. He had wished for a ceasefire that would allow him to return to his home and observe the traditions of Ramadan with joy and tranquility.

"We miss the festive mood of Ramadan, which we will not feel this year, unfortunately," he told Xinhua.

Local people buy goods ahead of Ramadan at a market in Beirut, Lebanon on March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Hijazi is among thousands of residents in the border region of southern Lebanon who were forced to leave their houses and migrate to safer areas due to the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, which started a day after the outbreak of the Gaza conflict between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

"We cannot enjoy the festive atmosphere of Ramadan, and I can sadly say Ramadan has become a heavy burden since we cannot even secure our basic needs away from our jobs," Mariam al-Qadi, Hijazi's wife, told Xinhua.

Around 83,000 people were displaced from border areas in southern Lebanon, and half of them are women and children, according to official estimates.

Out of the displaced population, only around 3,000 individuals were housed in shelter centers located in the southern cities of Tyre, Nabatieh, and Hasbaya, while the remainder either rented accommodations or sought refuge with relatives.

This photo taken on Oct. 26, 2023, shows displaced people from southern Lebanon seeking refuge in a shelter center in a public school in the city of Hasbaya east of southern Lebanon. (Photo by Taher Ayo Hamdan/Xinhua)

Salima Abou Hamid, a lady in her 30s, closed her shop in the southern town of Bint Jbeil, and sought refuge in Tyre. She longs for the communal Ramadan experience with her neighbors in her hometown, where they come together to recite Quran verses and break their fasts together in the spiritual month.

"The war has ruined our festive mood during Ramadan, and we are no longer able to afford our basic food needs after we lost our businesses," she said.

The conflict on Lebanon's southern border is taking place at a time when the country is suffering from an unprecedented economic crisis that plunged 80 percent of its population into poverty.

The cash-strapped government has limited capacity to assist the tens of thousands of Lebanese displaced from border areas, leaving civil societies, associations and philanthropists to fill the gap.

People stand among the rubble left by Israeli artillery shelling and airstrikes in Dibbine, Lebanon, March 6, 2024. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

Sheikh Hassan Dallah, the mufti of Hasbaya and Marjeyoun in Lebanon, told Xinhua he had reached out to local and international philanthropists to provide financial support to secure food for the families in need, which totaled 1,600 in southeast Lebanon.

Jamil Daher, head of the al-Aman Foundation, which means "Security" in Arabic, told Xinhua his foundation is providing 500 meals daily this year for displaced individuals from border areas.

Mortada Mhanna, head of the disaster unit at the Union of Tyre Municipalities, mentioned that he had contacted international agencies to ensure the provision of daily meals from a communal kitchen in Tyre to the displaced individuals residing in shelters in southeast Lebanon.
I burned all my bridges on the first day, says Professor Francesc Pujol of the University of Navarra (Spain). In the semesters first class, I said: Welcome to this course. There are quite a few assignments, and you will have to use ChatGPT in all of them. After that introduction, there was no backing out. Pujol had to redesign every assignment to incorporate ChatGPT, the new artificial intelligence (AI) tool spreading like wildfire around the globe

When I presented my plan in class, 90% of the students didnt know what it was, and I got worried, Pujol says. But the situation is dramatically different now. Pujol, who teaches economics, business and design, believes his approach has obvious advantages. Instead of using it to beat the system, the students use ChatGPT constructively. In other words, they dont use it to cut corners and generate ready-made homework assignments.

Education is one of the most prominent and potentially disruptive applications for ChatGPT. While the free version is more limited than the paid option, it can still be used in many ways. It can summarize long lessons in impeccable English (and other languages), use simple words to explain complex problems and write synopses of philosophical theories. Its ideal for doing homework, answering questions, writing essays, formulas, or even computer code.

Well probably get an A

EL PAIS spoke with a dozen teachers and students over the last few weeks and was hard-pressed to find a teacher who has not mentioned it in class. Students expressed surprise at how it can help them in their schoolwork. Everyone in our project team knew about it, except for one girl, and it was incredibly helpful for our work, says a 17-year-old student from Madrid. Well probably get an A because of it. The assignment was to develop a business plan, and the students were having trouble thinking of weaknesses, strengths and potential customers. We asked ChatGPT to expand on our input, and we copied everything it produced after deleting some examples that we felt were too complex to be ours. But thats all, she said.

The student and her classmates quickly found another way of using ChatGPT. I know people often use it to create summaries of history topics and narratives. Theyll give us a topic of three to five pages, and you just copy it into ChatGPT and ask for a 50-sentence summary. It does all the work, and they are excellent summaries, she said.

Professors know all the tricks

Applications like ChatGPT will probably proliferate in academic settings. Every teacher will have to figure out how to deal with the impact without imposing an outright ban. Since the beginning of time, we have dealt with every new shortcut or cheating scheme that comes up, says Jesus Mana, a recently retired teacher from the Fray Pedro de Urbina high school in Miranda de Ebro in northern Spain. A teacher knows the type of language kids use, so its very easy to spot atypical words, adjectives, concepts, and expressions. Thats why oral tests are so useful. Mana believes that applications like ChatGPT can be helpful in academic settings with the proper support and guidance.

If a teacher says he knows about AI tools, students will be less likely to use them to cheat. I gave my students a few activities using ChatGPT, which made it obvious that I knew about it, says Lola Torres, a language teacher in Barcelona. Were going to use it in class so they can get more out of it.

Thats the challenge  how to get the most out of these tools. I tell my students that ChatGPT can provide faster answers, but theyll learn less, says Pujol. Or, they can use it to learn better. If used to do the work for you, it overrides your ability to think independently, analyze and research. If used to support this critical thinking and reflection process, it can enhance your analytical abilities.

It also makes mistakes

While its answers may sound convincing, ChatGPT often makes mistakes and confuses concepts. A 20-year-old student from Navarra (northern Spain) told EL PAIS that ChatGPT didnt help very much on a recent assignment. I requested 200 words about a vacuum test in a refrigeration installation, he said. But it gave me a superficial answer, which is not what I wanted. Its a specific subject  cold storage and air conditioning  so maybe it didnt know much about that. His own knowledge enabled him to improve ChatGPTs response. For technical topics, you need to know something about what youre asking.

Each subject broached with ChatGPT is a bit different. Asking for an exercise with English verbs is not the same as asking for a description of the precise functioning of a radiator sold only in the Canary Islands. Roman Alvarez, a high school philosophy teacher in Salou, northeastern Spain, says: ChatGPT is to other subjects what the Google translator was to English. After testing ChatGPT, Alvarez wrote an email alerting all the teachers at his school about the tool. Either we ride the wave, or it sinks us, he says. Teachers are of different minds about it. They are going through the stages of grief. Many are in denial  they hunt for mistakes and say, How silly or how awful, adds Pujol.

The students know what they are doing

Roman Alvarez recently gave his students their first assignment using ChatGPT  ask questions for the machine to answer as if it were Thomas Kuhn, a philosopher of science. On the first day of class, he wrote ChatGPT on the board and asked if anyone knew about it. We were very surprised, says a student. Were used to hearing other professors talk negatively about the internet, so it was weird to hear one telling us to use it. It was an interesting way of applying the chatbot!

Teachers seem cautious or uneasy about ChatGPT, while their students are quietly enthusiastic and have a natural intuition about the advantages and limitations of the tool. Enrique Munoz, a 23-year-old graduate student in business administration and finance, says: It can do some basic groundwork to get you started, which is sometimes the hard part. But then you have to dive deeper on your own. Its like training wheels on a bike  they help you learn, but you can go further after taking them off.

Munoz used ChatGPT for a paper on information protection law. After spending a lot of time reading textbooks, he says, I didnt understand half of it. So I gave it a try, and, to my surprise, it produced a text that was quite long but very easy to understand. It helped me understand the subject better.

Teachers are skeptical

Some professors are concerned that these ChatGPT aids are inaccurate and could mislead students. University students are still learning how to construct logical arguments and argue their points of view. These tools can shortcut that process, says Victor Perez Hernandez, a professor at the Ibero-American University in Mexico. They may no longer learn how to write clearly and coherently, but they will have to learn how to give precise instructions to the AI machine and assess the answers it provides. We still dont know much about the long-term consequences.

There are no instant experts, especially not on a tool still under development. My goal is not to become an expert, nor for my students to become one, but to provide them with knowledge so they can take advantage of these technologies, says Jorge Ordovas, a professor at Spains European University. Pujol asks students to include screenshots in their assignments to see how they used ChatGPT. We start with individual learning and then follow up with collective learning in the classroom when we discuss the assignment, he says. I present the best examples of how students phrased and refined their instructions to ChatGPT, which he hopes will help everyone improve.

Learning how to use the tool

Lucas Pose, a language and literature teacher, views ChatGPT as an aid to the writing process. The writing process is more important than the writing itself. If the assignment is to write a description, first I explain how description works  its structure and form  and then the students practice what they have learned. They write short drafts in class that I correct for things I want them to pay attention to, and little by little, they write better narratives. Its more productive than just handing in a one-off homework assignment. Most of the work has been done in the classroom, so AI-generated text wont help them much. The final write-up is just the icing on the cake.

Most teachers with advanced methods of evaluating students treat these AI tools with a healthy dose of skepticism. I evaluate students on how they think independently using certain materials, says Alberto Ribes, a sociology professor at Madrids Complutense University. Im neither a naysayer nor an evangelist for these AI tools. It seems to be just another resource for students. Some will use it well, and others wont.

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People opposing the plan to outsource library services hold up signs and wave to traffic outside Escondido City Hall before a council meeting August

Less than a week before Escondido is scheduled to transfer management of its public library to a private company, a city 140 miles to the north is doing the opposite by opting to end its contract with the same Maryland-based firm.

Meanwhile, a request for a temporary restraining order to block the companys contract from beginning next week was denied Thursday by a Vista Superior Court judge.

Santa Clarita Deputy City Manager Darren Hernandez said that city of 225,000 people went with Library Systems & Services LLC in 2011 when it switched from the Los Angeles County library system to a city one.

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For the first four years of our contract, we were happy with the progress we were making, Hernandez said. After that, we began to see more issues.

He said all 17 full-time librarian positions in the Santa Clarita library system have turned over since the contract went into effect and just a few months ago five positions were vacant, including two of the three branch manager spots.

He said all the librarians, except one who retired, left for mostly lateral positions in other cities for better pay and benefits.

He also said in the past several years the number of patrons served at the Santa Clarita branches has dropped dramatically and that LS&S management has been slow to respond to city complaints.

In this last year, morale has gotten so bad that it became a downward spiral, he said. There have been a lot vacancies and staffing shortages.

Calls to LS&S Chief Operating Officer Todd Frager were not returned.

The Santa Clarita City Council voted unanimously not to renew the contract with the company effective this summer.

Hernandez said Escondido never contacted Santa Clarita for a reference.

Interestingly, however, on Escondidos website, one of about a dozen reference letters endorsing LS&S was written last August by the Santa Clarita City Librarian Matthew Hortt, who is an employee of the private company.

Hortt praises LS&S, calling the company innovative and said he is proud to work for them.

Hernandez said the reference letter was not cleared through Santa Clarita City Hall and he knew nothing about it until recently.

Escondido City Manager Jeff Epp said the reference letters that appear on the website were received unsolicited by the city. He said informal inquiries of a number of communities serviced by LS&S were made by staff members, but the city did not actively seek out references. Many of the letters listed on the Escondido website were written by LS&S employees.

Thousands of signatures were gathered last year in Escondido from residents opposed to the library outsourcing plans, but the City Council voted 4-1 to move forward anyway, saying it believed services would be enhanced by the company and that the city can save $400,000 a year or more by decreasing city staff and their benefits, most importantly pension benefits.

Opponents repeatedly brought up at public meetings how various systems run by LS&S around the country were not happy with the services, but the city maintained they had received almost unanimous good references from other communities.

In Santa Clarita, they estimate ending the LS&S contract will save the city about $400,000, mainly because new city employees would be hired under new rules that diminish the citys pension liability.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, a Vista Superior Court judge denied a last-minute request for a temporary restraining order that would have barred the city from enacting the contract, which goes into effect on Tuesday.

If it had been granted, the order would have delayed implementation of the contract with LS&S while a lawsuit filed in October was fully litigated that claims the council exceeded its authority by eliminating the city department.

The lawsuit cites a part of the states education code that indicates it is up to a Library Board of Trustees, not a City Council, to make such decisions. The Escondido library trustees unanimously agreed to recommend to the council that they not outsource library management.

The city has maintained the code is being misinterpreted and misapplied and they remain confident the lawsuit will eventually be dismissed.

In his ruling Thursday, Judge Earl H. Mass said based on what he has been presented so far, it does not appear the lawsuit will be successful. He also said a restraining order would affect not only the city but numerous people who have made employment plans and decisions, as well as LS&S, none of which are parties to the legal action.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
RANCHO BERNARDO  Veteran sky diver Will Slattery survived aplane crash that killed five other men off the coast of Costa Rica,but just barely.

Still recovering from a chest injury Friday, Slattery, 34, satin his Rancho Bernardo living room and talked about his 24-hourordeal at sea after the deadly May 30 accident.

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Slattery talked easily and seemed almost surprised to bealive.

The miracle is certainly balanced by the tragedy of losing myfriends, he said. I was just really lucky.

Slattery and friends Jimmy Simplicio and Manny Sanchez, werefrequent sky divers out of Skydive Elsinore at Lake Elsinore beforethey took the trip to Costa Rica. Simplicio, Sanchez, and sky diverMilt Burton, who owned Skydive Elsinore, the Costa Rican resortthey were staying at, and the plane that crashed, died in themishap. Two Costa Rican men, Jean Roman, a student skydiver who wasjumping with Burton, and pilot Jorge Melendez, also perished.

Its a horrible tragedy that they passed away, and were goingto miss them greatly, said Betsy Burkey, a Skydive Elsinoreemployee.

When the plane went down, friends of Slattery, Simplicio, andSanchez hired a search crew for about $10,000 to hunt for them. Amemorial to be hosted by Skydive Elsinore on July 2 will helpreimburse the costs.

A sky diver for about 10 years, Slattery made most of his 330jumps during the last 12 months. Until the crash, he said, hisworst problem was a parachute malfunction a couple of months agothat he quickly handled.

The trip to Costa Rica was to be a sky diving adventure, madepossible because Simplicio found cheap round trip airline ticketsat $200 each.

The men made it to Burtons Bacara Beach Resort in EstrillosEste, less than 100 miles from Costa Ricas capitol of San Jose, byMay 26. They started jumping three days later.

It was fantastic, the most beautiful air, Slattery said,smiling. We had a great time landing on the beach in front of themotel.

The tragedy began, he said, as the men were up for their fourthdive under cloudy skies the next day and the plane hit extremeturbulence. The three friends had their parachutes on.

The plane started falling very fast, and then it came back upand then it fell again, Slattery said. Manny said Open thedoor. It took us several tries to get the door open as we weregetting bounced around.

Once the door opened, he said, all three friends jumped out.Slattery said that five seconds later his parachute automaticallyopened, indicating he was 750 feet up and falling fast.

A second, literally, after my parachute opened I heard theplane hit the water, he said. I turned around and saw thetail.

He also saw Simplicio and Sanchez with their chutes open beforeall three men hit the water. After landing, Slattery said hecouldnt see Simplicio. He tried to swim to Sanchez, but the swellswere too big and it took precious time to get his gear off.

Twenty-five seconds later I was alone and didnt see anything,Slattery said. I couldnt see land. I figured that was pretty muchit, one way or the other. I was pretty comfortable with that.

Mostly floating to save energy, he said, he tried swimmingtoward land when he saw lights after dark. Struggling againstincreasingly cold swells, Slattery worked to keep sea water out ofhis mouth.

My teeth were chattering, he said. I was getting bitten byjelly fish pretty bad.

Just as he thought it was all over, he bumped into a roundfloating tree trunk, about 7 feet long and two feet in diameter.Cradling his head on his arms atop the trunk, Slattery said hefloated in the water and slept.

The next day Slattery hailed fishing boats. No one saw him.

He realized the tree trunk was holding him back, so he tried toleave it. However, it had become his Wilson, Slattery said,referring to the volleyball companion Tom Hanks cherished in themovie Castaway.

It was really hard to give up, he said. The third time I letit go.

Slattery made headway during another three hours of swimming,but said he was near the end of his rope when a fishing crewrescued him at 5 p.m.

I still want to go sky diving, Slattery said. This was anairplane crash. Sky diving saved my life.

Contact staff writer Jo Moreland at (760) 740-3524 orjmoreland@nctimes.com.
On January 23, a group of Chilean scientists and a British colleague crossed Tierra del Fuego through the Strait of Magellan to Caleta Maria, a small estate half an hours sail from Jackson Bay, in the far south of Chile. They arrived there looking for the countrys only large resident population of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), which can number up to 160 individuals between October and November, the breeding months, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

After this period, the elephant seals shed their fur, along with the underlying layer of skin, and resume their journeys through the seas at the end of the world. We needed to catch animals that had already molted but had not yet left, says Maritza Sepulveda, a marine ecologist at the University of Valparaiso, who is leading a project that uses these pinnipeds to explore and collect oceanic data in the far south.

To attach the satellite transmitters, the scientists had to make sure that the animals had already shed their fur so that it would not detach from their skin. The researchers chose some of these seals  three males and three females  and fitted them with the devices. Their goal is to capture data both from the ocean and from these marine mammals.

Elephant seals were chosen because they are great divers: they can dive as deep as 6,560 feet (2,000 meters), explains Manuel Castillo, an oceanographer at the University of Valparaiso. Each time the elephant seals surface, the device connects with the satellite, the data theyve collected is triangulated, and the scientists can review it on a web page.

Chilean researchers fit an elephant seal with satellite transmitter.

The researchers study measures the structure of these waters, which involves taking data at different depths. This was a unique opportunity, Castillo says. Its very difficult to do it the way we typically do. We usually go in a boat, carry our instruments and go down, he says, describing the traditional method of exploration. But its a very complicated logistical feat, and it is also expensive and difficult, especially in the rugged southern channels and fjords.

The elephant seal was ideal and already proven to have the ability to go deep and make multiple dives, he notes. And unlike whales and dolphins, these marine animals then congregate in one place: They move around, but then come back to a place where you can find them, Castillo explains. There are different ways to take advantage of technology with organisms in a passive way, without stressing them so much.

The dirty work

Elephant seals rest on rocky beaches, laden with seaweed and trees that drift into the bay propelled by the current, while inland there are cold steppe grasslands. Elephant seals are very calm there, Sepulveda observes. Amid strong winds, seagulls, cormorants, buff-necked ibis and solitary condors flying over the nearby hills, by an ice fall, the scientists chose which individual animals to anesthetize and fit with transmitters.

The dominant male elephant seals measure up to 16 feet (five meters) in length and are much larger than the females; that is uncommon in pinnipeds, which usually show little sexual dimorphism: The other species are more monogamous, and the males do not have to compete with each other, so theres not much difference between sexes, explains the expert. She notes that there is no other mammal that has so many females  dozens of them  under its control. So, the larger males were not candidates for anesthesia. The ones we did put transmitters on were not so big, Sepulveda says, adding that, since it wasnt their breeding season, they were not as hostile.

The tide was another factor the scientists had to consider. If the tide was rising and the animal was half asleep, it was risky to execute the maneuver. They were alert. Veterinarian Josefina Gutierrez calculated the dose to give based on their size, until they relaxed and were anesthetized. Once they were asleep, nasal and blood samples were taken for analysis. Once we have the animals asleep, we have to get the juice out of them, she says. After cleaning their skin with acetone, the transmitters were glued to their hair with a harmless substance for 10 minutes to keep them firmly attached, while the specialist monitored the sedated animals heartbeat and breathing.

Aware of the avian flu epidemic that has killed thousands of marine mammals in the south of the continent, the researchers followed a strict dress code. The work was always done in pursuit of the seals welfare, which was the most important thing, the ecologist remarks. We didnt have any problem with the animals.

During their weeks of molting, elephant seals spend long hours lying down, while the young often go into the water to play among themselves by fighting and bumping their necks; they will also do that as adults, although more violently.

Among elephant seals, males can measure up to 16 feet (five meters); they are much larger than females.

Another difficulty of anesthetizing pinnipeds is that when sedated they experience apnea, and, in the worst cases, they do not wake up. You couldnt work in the rain because it could stimulate the animal to go diving, she explains. They had to be dry; there could not be more than a drizzle. We had one animal who went into a three-minute apnea and then it breathed normally [again].

Now, after returning to the water, the six elephant seals are expected to transmit data for eight to nine months. Among other factors, this will depend on the devices battery life; the deeper they go  about 328 feet (100 meters) and about 41F (5C)  the less time the charge will last.

Mysterious waters

The Cape Horn current is little studied: basic oceanographic parameters such as changes in temperature, salinity and chlorophyll are almost unknown, says Sepulveda. With the advance of technology, they invested in these live monitors that, through their routine of moving and feeding, collect data like 3D oceanographic sensors. In other words, they are explorer seals, she says of these divers that weigh a ton and have adapted to spend dozens of minutes submerged; for example, their blood can contain a lot of oxygen.

When you go to the doctor, you feel sick and dont know whats wrong. The doctor says, lets do some tests, because that way they get data that they can compare with normal ranges to find out if there is a disease, says Castillo. This is exactly what these researchers are looking for when they explore the ocean through the seals.

Some key data are water temperature and salinity at different depths and heights, from the surface to the bottom. They also collect information on the fluorescence or the concentration of organisms that photosynthesize, or phytoplankton. In addition, they take the pH and oxygen levels, which is highly relevant [because] it gives an idea about the general state of health of the bodies of water, he remarks. But while oceanographers study the sea, ecologists want to know about the divers themselves, where they go and how much they dive. Were doing two big investigations within one, says Sepulveda. Its quite original.

The researchers are also looking to get more information about the area, known as the Almirantazgo Fjord, west of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. They lowered an instrument called CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) almost to the bottom of the sea to make profiles of those sites and get new information that differs from what the National Oceanographic Committee, led by the Chilean Navy, has occasionally obtained from a ship.

Elephant seals in the waters of Jackson Bay. SONJA_HEINRICH (Nataly Oyarzun)

According to Castillo, some preliminary data they have attained from this new project is that, because the glacier at the front is melting due to rising temperatures, the waters of the fjord  that is, the deep gulf between mountains  are low in salt. Its low in salinity, he says, but then deep down it regains salinity. Researchers have also noticed a large accumulation of chlorophyll 33 feet (10 meters) below the surface: Its curious because organisms that photosynthesize typically like to be higher up but, in this case, they are lower down. This is something that has not been very well described, despite it being typical of channels and fjords.

In recent weeks, some elephant seals have already left Jackson Bay and taken dives exceeding 1,640 feet (500 meters) deep. The good thing is that they are already telling us that they are traveling, moving through the area that interests us and starting to connect the fluorometry, temperature and salinity data, Sepulveda says. The ecologist is also interested in knowing what their migrations are like, because very little is known about them... Will they return to the same place at the end of the year? She does not know, but she hopes so.

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A good speech that raised the serious concerns of many Americans. Thats how U.S. President Joe Biden described Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers fiery speech, which called for new elections in Israel and described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as an obstacle to peace. The presidents praise of Schumers words is the latest sign of his rapidly deteriorating relationship with Netanyahu. Back in October, the two leaders were hugging in Tel Aviv. But after more than five months of war in Gaza, their relationships appear on the verge of a complete breakdown.

After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,200 people, Biden stood firmly beside Israel  even as the number of Palestinian civilians killed in the Israeli offensive reached the thousands. The U.S. president, who maintains a decades-long relationship with Israel and its leaders, has even described himself as a Zionist.

But now something is changing in the U.S. administration, said a senior European official during EU High Representative for Foreign Policy High Josep Borrells visit to Washington. Biden and the Democratic Party continue to have a close relationship with their ally  Im never going to leave Israel, the president promised a week ago  but they are not hiding the fact that they would like to divorce the prime minister. Netanyahu and Biden have not spoken directly for a month.

The relationship has become deteriorated as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened. More than 31,000 Palestinians have died due to Israeli bombings, medicine and water are lacking, and 2.3 million Gazans are at risk of famine. Meanwhile, talks for a temporary ceasefire remain stalled. In early March, Biden warned that there were no excuses for Israel to continue blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The distance between Biden and Netanyahu has also grown as the Democratic rank-and-file have become more opposed to Washingtons position on the war in Gaza. According to an AP survey in January, 62% of Democrat voters believe that the Israeli offensive in Gaza has gone too far, and just over half criticize Bidens management of the conflict. Dozens of Democrat parliamentarians support a permanent ceasefire, but the White House has limited itself to supporting a temporary pause in the fighting.

In Michigan, the uncommitted campaign launched by progressive groups and the Arab-American community to punish Biden for his pro-Israel position secured 100,000 votes, 13.2% of the primary vote. This is in a state where Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020 by just 150,000 votes. The uncommitted vote also scored a high percentage in half a dozen other states, from Massachusetts to Washington, serving as a warning to the White House that its pro-Israeli positions could cost it key swing states, and with them, the presidential elections in November. This past Thursday, representatives of the Arab-American community refused to participate in a meeting in Chicago with Bidens advisors.

In the past two weeks, the White House has sent out a number of signs of its frustration with the Israeli government. Vice President Kamala Harris received Benny Gantz, Netanyahus political rival, at the White House, accentuating the difference in how the prime minister is treated. In response to Israels obstacles to the entry of humanitarian aid by land, which has fallen to a mere trickle, the White House air dropped aid in Gaza and announced the construction of a temporary port. Biden was caught on a hot mike saying that he and Netanyahu will need to have a come to Jesus meeting. And in an interview, Biden warned that Netanyahu is hurting Israel more than helping Israel.

Schumers speech, and Bidens praise of it, is just the icing on that cake. The senator is the highest-ranking Jew in the American political hierarchy and a pro-Israel hawk, whom no one can call anti-Semitic. His comments open the door for other Democrats to openly criticize the Israeli prime minister and his government.

Israel is not a banana republic

In Israel, such criticism has stung. Israel is not a banana republic, said Netanyahus Likud party after Schumers speech. The prime minister, and extremist members of his coalition, insist that, despite U.S. pressure, they are not going to give in on issues such as allowing the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza after the war, or the need for a two-state solution. When Biden warned that an offensive against the Gazan city of Rafah was a red line that should not be crossed, Netanyahu responded that his red line was making sure October 7 doesnt happen again.

But, despite the increasingly frosty relations, there are limits to what Biden seems willing to do. Unlike Schumer, he has not called for new elections in Israel. The president has ruled out suspending military aid to Israel  it receives $3.8 billion a year from Washington, which has asked Congress to approve another $14 billion , even though fellow Democrats have urged him to freeze or condition its release. A dozen Democratic senators are drafting an amendment that will require that U.S. weapons received by a country be used in accordance with U.S. law, which would mean limiting collateral damage to civilians.

If the U.S. does not use its levers for conditioning military assistance, it really does seem [...] like the U.S. Congress is giving a blank check to Israel during a context in which U.S. important policies like the civilian harm reform effort are really being undermined. And thats going to have an impact on the U.S. strategic interests in the future with other conflicts, not just this one, said Michelle Strucke, former deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Defense, at an event organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

But imposing conditions on military aid to Israel would spell trouble for the president. The Democratic administration does not want to create any openings that the Republican Party could take advantage of to present itself as the great, unconditional friend of the Jewish state. Immediately after Schumers speech, Republican lawmakers responded with a barrage of criticism. And the president does not want to leave Israel unprotected against possible threats from other fronts, including Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon.

In the bigger picture, the United States and Israel seem unlikely to abandon their broader regional security strategies, despite these recent divergences, said Brian Katulis from the Middle East Institute in Washington in an article.

This is unlikely to please Democratic voters. In statements to the MSNBC television network, Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan  the city with the largest proportion of Arab Americans in the United States  was skeptical about Schumers speech and the changes in Bidens position: Words are not enough, what we want to see is actual change in policy.

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In addition to the usual tribe of lobbyists and other merchants of influence that swarm around Washington, last week saw a group of TikTokers protest outside the Capitol. Giovanna Gonzalez  who has 200,000 followers on TikTok  was among the group. Last Tuesday, she met with members of Congress to try to get them to change their minds about new rules to ban TikTok in the United States. According to Gonzalez, those old white boomers want to ban a tool that has allowed her to turn her passion for finance education into a full-time job as a content creator and paid speaker.

Gonzalez was not successful: the next day the House of Representatives took the first step to force ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell the social media platform to an American company. If it does not do this, it will be blocked from the app stores in the United States, where 170 million  half the population  has a TikTok account. The move can also be seen as a challenge to China that will fuel the growing commercial and diplomatic tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Despite its popularity, few issues in Washington have achieved so much consensus in the most divided House of Representatives in memory. The measure was approved with 352 votes in favor and 65 against. In another sign of TikToks enormous influence, members of Congress received calls from TikTokers all throughout last week: the company had advised users on how it could send complaints to their corresponding representative.

Now that the law is on its way in the Senate  where it is not clear whether it will be approved  the company went on the attack again. On Thursday, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, visited Capitol Hill. Theres a lot of noise, he said. I havent heard exactly what weve done that is wrong. The next day, the company sent another notice: Tell your Senator how important TikTok is to you. Ask them to vote no on the TikTok ban. This is not the first time that a tech company has tried to pressure U.S. lawmakers by calling on its users, but none have ever campaigned so aggressively.

U.S. President Joe Biden has warned that he will sign the bill into law if it finally lands on his table. Although his re-election campaign has opened a TikTok account to reach Generation Z voters, the president agrees with cybersecurity experts, who point out that ByteDance is obliged under the Chinese espionage law to share its users data with Beijing authorities if they request it. Experts also warn that the addictive tool could contribute to misinformation and influence American public opinion ahead of the November election. And that worries the intelligence services, as the directors of the FBI and the CIA made clear this past week in the Senate.

TikToker Giovanna Gonzalez protests outside the Capitol last Tuesday. Craig Hudson (REUTERS)

So far Congressional critics of TikTok have offered no real examples of how TikTok is a threat to national security. The personal data provided willingly by TikTok users, particularly in personal videos, does not appear to constitute anything resembling a national security threat, Paul Triolo, one of the leading experts on the technological struggle between China and the United States, says in an email. TikTok has also already taken major steps to control access to US customer user data via Project Texas, with the data hosted by Oracle in US based data centers. The malign influence argument is also dubious, as the vast majority of content viewed by TikTok users is user generated, and what they see via the recommendation algorithm is what they prefer to see. There is no evidence that the Chinese government is interested in or capable of forcing Bytedance and TikTok to alter the way the algorithm works, and in any case, this would be obvious to users.

ByteDance has repeatedly denied that it shares its data with Chinese authorities. In its defense, the company has claimed the ban is a violation of freedom of expression (an argument shared by prominent civil rights associations) and would take a heavy economic toll on users  people like Paul Tran and Lynda Truong, who run a cosmetic company (@loveandpebble, 138,000 followers), which owes 90% of its income to the platform. Were not just on TikTok, we thrive on TikTok. If they pass this bill, they will be destroying the American dream, says Tran.

The list of the 65 members of Congress who voted against the bill (50 Democrats and 15 Republicans) is a curious list of strange bedfellows: a mix of more progressive lawmakers such as Pramila Jayapal and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and members of Trumpisms praetorian guard, from Matt Gaetz to Marjorie Taylor Greene. The youngest member of the Chamber, Maxwell Alejandro Frost, 27, also voted against the bill.

The voice of Generation Z

Frost is the voice of Generation Z on Capitol Hill, a group of voters that the parties risk losing with the TikTok ban. And not just them: according to the Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans agree that there needs to be more government regulation on tech companies use of data, an AP survey in February, found that just 31%. of U.S. adults are in favor of a TikTok ban.

At an event at Georgetown University on Thursday, influential tech journalist Kara Swisher tried to reassure students. Kids, your TikToks not going away, FYI, Swisher said. Its worth too much. None of these rich people are going to let that die. Its whether the Chinese government, which has been involved in every Chinese company, is going to be able to have this access.

TikTok's CEO Shou Chew meets with lawmakers on Capitol Hill a day after the House voted on a bill to ban the app in the U.S. Anna Moneymaker (Getty Images)

Swisher, however, is more concerned about TikToks propaganda power than its threat to national security. The app is already banned at almost all levels of the U.S. government. It is as if we gave ownership of all the cable television networks to a foreign government: the Chinese one, to be exact, she warned. Or worse, because TikTok has more power than CNN, MSNBC and Fox combined.

If the law goes ahead, ByteDance is confident that it could still be overturned by the U.S. courts, as happened when Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully in 2020 to get his hands on the Chinese technology company. But that effort was not entirely in vain: it forced ByteDance to store the data of American users on servers located in Texas and controlled by the technology giant Oracle.

Trump is now against banning TikTok because he argues that it will give Meta  a tech company he calls the enemy of the people  more power. Recently, U.S. media has shed more light on Trumps change of heart: it turns out that Jeff Yass  one of the most powerful donors of his campaign  owns 15% of ByteDance. And the Republican candidate for the White House is considering naming him secretary of the Treasury if he wins the election in November.

Under the bill, TikTik would have six months to find a U.S. buyer. Some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley are rumored to be interested. Steven Munchin, Trumps former Treasury secretary, announced the day after the House vote that he is gathering a group of investors to bid. According to CB Insights, ByteDance was valued in December at $225 billion, but the price of TikTok  known as Douyin in China  is not yet known, although some put it at $84 billion.

And the algorithm?

Its not clear how much it will sell for, nor what exactly will be sold. Swisher is convinced that if ByteDance finally sells, it will keep TikToks greatest secret weapon: the algorithm that has transformed internet culture and keeps users wanting more. In order to sell the algorithm, it needs permission from Beijing.

The bill is now moving to the Senate, but debate on its passage is expected to drag on, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet decided whether to force a vote. The bill would also requite the new owner of TikTok to cut any operational relationship with ByteDance.

It is unlikely that the Chinese government will approve the transfer or licensing of that artificial intelligence algorithm, says Triolo. Also, no one is going to pay what TikTok costs without having access to that secret. And it's also unclear how that technology could be transferred, even if Beijing approved such a deal, because the engineers and developers are in China. Recreating the algorithm would be difficult, time-consuming and there would be significant uncertainty around this process, which would worry investors.

If a U.S. company were still to buy it under these conditions  an operation that The New York Times columnist David E. Sanger compared to acquiring a Ferrari without its famous engine  the other big question is whether TikTokers will be faithful to the made in America version of the social platform or whether it will turn into a shiny husk of itself.

It is also not clear how the new algorithm would affect the more than seven million companies that, according to TikTok data, do business on the video-sharing app. On Friday, a TikTok spokesperson sent this newspaper a link to the profile of Carlos Eduardo Espina, one of the content creators who came to Washington to pressure lawmakers against supporting the ban. In a featured video on his profile, he explains that he made $770,000 on TikTok in 2023. In another clip, with the Capitol in the background, he warns his 8.8 million followers that the sale requirements would force TikTok to change drastically. It wouldnt be the platform we know and love, he argues.

TikTok did not, however, respond to EL PAISs request for a comment regarding the campaign to pressure senators. The companys move to encourage TikTokers to flood their representatives phone lines with angry calls has fueled further criticism of the app. Critics see it as the definitive (and perhaps unintentional) demonstration of TikToks enormous ability to influence American politics in one of its most decisive years in recent history.

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Analysts at Shore Capital downgraded Intertek from 'hold' to 'sell' on Friday following the group's recent results.

Shore Capital said the testing and assurance services specialist "likes to test our valuation thoughts", stating it "fundamentally like these activities", being "a necessary and growing element" within the global economy, underpinning quality companies' operations.

However, it stated growth rates were linked closely to GDP exposure and these services were delivered on a business-to-business basis in a competitive market, and noted that the margin ceiling was "surely determined by visible returns on capital".

"Reflecting on valuation metrics, is Intertek a growth or an income stock? FY23A results revealed a change to Interteks payout ratio from 2.0x to 1.6x from FY24F  the resulting upgrade brings the prospective dividend up to a yield at the current share price of 3.0%. Looking to future growth, however, our forecast model on a cash flow valuation basis suggests fair value at c.42/share (downside of 15%)  a FY24F PER of 18.0x, reflecting mid-single digit growth metrics," said Shore Cap. "With no substantive change to forecasts, but a c.20% share price outperformance to the market over the past three months, we move to sell."

Jefferies upgraded its rating on packaging firm Mondi on Friday following year-to-date underperformance.

The bank said the strategic rationale for the merger with rival DS Smith was "compelling", with "substantial" synergies and value creation.

"Consolidation is good for the industry - we upgrade standalone Mondi from hold to buy post underperformance YTD, and are buyers of both DS Smith and Mondi," it said.

However, the bank, which has a 1,650.0p target price on the stock, said it prefers DS Smith "given short-term technical pressures on Mondi".

RBC Capital Markets downgraded CVS Group on Friday to sector perform from outperform and slashed the price target to 1,200.0p from 2,100.0p after the UK Competition and Markets Authority said it had provisionally decided to launch a formal investigation into the vet market.

RBC said the decision "casts a pall over the industry that is unlikely to be resolved for 18-21 months".

"Based on our new scenario analysis, published today in our industry report, CVS' shares are significantly over-discounting the risk, based on our scenario analysis, but we doubt this valuation discrepancy will attract new investors until closer to a more final CMA outcome," the bank said.

RBC said the price target was cut only on the basis of a lack of news flow. It said investors may struggle to get excited about the stock until closer to the end of the investigation or, indeed, after full resolution.

"We think investors with an 18-24 month investment horizon should see the current price as a great opportunity to buy shares with almost 3x upside potential which on a worst-case basis is the upside when applying 13x to Jun-26 EBITDA," it said. "Investors focused on nearer-term performance are likely to take a view that shares will go sideways for now.

The Canadian bank stated its new price target was based on a "rather arbitrary" 50% discount to current "fair value" to account for the perception around CMA risk.
Editors Note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders making waves, being seen, supporting our community and just making our borough a special place to live. Have a story for Inside Out? Email Carol Ann Benanti at benanti@siadvance.com.

Rose Ann and Joseph McAllister celebrate Rose Ann's 70th birthday at the Crystal Room in South Beach. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Theres always been something extra special about milestone birthdays.

After all, they deserve a little more time and attention as the honoree reflects on the past and lifes heartfelt moments.

But at the same time they get to contemplate the fun and the brand new beginnings that may lie ahead  and maybe even future plans to enjoy them more than ever.

Rose Ann McAllister and husband Joseph, center, hold up a family collage as, from the left, grandson, Nicky; granddaughter, Marisa Rose; daughter-in-law, Cara, and son, Joseph look on. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

HAPPY 70TH ROSE ANN!

So then, on the pretense that she was to attend a celebratory party to commemorate her friends daughters engagement, Rose Ann McAllister emerged as the woman of the hour when revelers rose to their feet and shouted Surprise! at a 70th birthday bash in her honor at the Crystal Room last month.

The gala party, hosted by her husband, Joseph McAllister, was inclusive of everyone whos near to Rose Anns heart.

Rose Ann and Joseph McAllister smile along with their granddaughter, Marisa Rose. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

More than 85 family members, dear friends and representatives from the offices of local elected officials  who presented Rose Ann with individual proclamations  flocked to the South Beach banquet venue to toast the birthday girl, to party heartily and to wish her well as she celebrated her new title of septuagenarian.

Representatives from the offices of local elected officials presented Rose Ann and Joseph McAllister with Proclamations on the occasion of Rose Ann's 70th birthday. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

If the McAllisters name sounds familiar, it should.

The husband and wife team are the president and vice president, respectively, of the South Beach Civic Association, an organization which they founded some 25 years ago after approaching the late Lou Caravone, chairman of Community Board 2, with the idea of forming a local civic organization.

Joseph and Rose Ann McAllister toast to Rose Ann's 70th birthday. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

Thank you to my amazing husband for hosting my surprise 70th birthday party, Rose Ann gushed. Our good friend Tim T. played great music that spanned the generations all evening as everyone danced the night away. Good food and great company were some of my surprises of happiness.

Rose Anns granddaughter, Marisa Rose, whos on the seventh grade Principals List, enrolled in her schools fine arts program and has performed in 24 plays, sang I Need A Hero to Rose Ann and Joe.

Rose Ann McAllister's granddaughter, Marisa Rose, sang "I Need a Hero" to her grandmother. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

Joe selected the beautiful floral centerpieces from Eltingville Florist, and chocolate heart favors in vases from Superior Chocolates,' Rose Ann said. What a wonderful man I married! Thank you, Joe, for a wonderful birthday experience.

Joseph and Rose Ann McAllister celebrate at her 70th birthday celebration. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

The McAllisters are the parents of a son, Joseph; three grandchildren, Joseph, Nicky and Marisa Rose, and great-grandparents to young Joseph.

Rose Ann and Joseph McAllister, third and fourth from right, and family members and friends, gather at the party. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

Friends, including Eileen Martine and her son, Rev. Michael Martine, sitting, smile for the camera. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

MORE ABOUT ROSE ANN

Born in Manhattans Lower East Side, Rose Anns dad was the proprietor of a business located in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood of that borough.

From the left are Alba Rivera, Vito Fossella Sr. and Rose Ann McAllister. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

Tired of city life, when Rose Ann was 8 years of age her family opted to purchase a home on Staten Island. And the birthday celebrant has lived here ever since.

I love Staten Island with all its shops and restaurants and, above all, its diversity, said Rose Ann.

Family members and friends gather around the birthday cake for Rose Ann McAllister, fourth from right. (Courtesy/Steve White)Courtesy Steve White

Rose Ann is especially proud that her grandson, Joseph, served in the United States Army in the MP (Military Police) Special Forces for eight years, four of which were in Afghanistan, and her husband, whom shes known for 45 years, is the founder of the South Beach Civic Association.

The South Beach Civic Association was formed to enforce the quality of life issues and as civic leaders my husband, as president, and myself, as vice president, have served the Staten Island community for 25 wonderful years, fighting for the quality-of-life issues.

Joseph and Rose Ann McAllister join friends, including John Sollazzo, center, left, at Rose Ann's 70th birthday bash. (Courtesy/Steve White) CourtesyCourtesy Steve White

CELEBRATIONS - MARCH 17 TO MARCH 23

MARCH 17

Happy St. Patricks Day birthday to Glen Patrick Powell, Joseph Gardiner, who turns 25; Victoria Rae Parnese, who turns 24; Richard Kavanagh, Kathy DAgostino and Patrick Gordon.

MARCH 18

The best of birthdays Monday to New York State Supreme Court Justice Ralph J. Prozio, Ashley Maloy, who turns 20 years-old; Victoria Rae Parnese, who also turns 20; Dina Fleming, Bob Isola, Colleen Ryan, Sabato Conte, Stephen Castella Sr., Lauren Sklenar, Rocco Montali and triplets Scott, Cody and Sean Fox.

Happy 7th wedding anniversary to Lauren and John Paul Giordanella.

MARCH 19

Happy St. Josephs Day birthday Tuesday to former Staten Island First Lady Susan Lamberti, a Women of Achievement in the Class of 1986 and chairperson of Northfield Bank Foundation; Anne Manna, Karen Panarella, Anita Blasi, Kelly Stafford, Elene Pitelli, Peter Kruse, Jeffrey Scott Lee, Susan Andersen, John Crawford, Joy Truscelli, Jean Marshall and John Clark.

MARCH 20

Wednesday is birthday time for humanitarian Vito Picone, of Vito Picone and the Elegants, whose hit Little Star, topped the charts and earned a Gold Record in 1958.

The best of birthdays Wednesday to Elissa Montanti, founder and director of the Global Medical Relief Fund and an Advance Woman of Achievement in the Class of 2011; to Joan Grande, Barbara Nola, Fred Sklenar Jr., Noreen Lake, Genevieve Kindos, Frank Dina, Steve Kamvissis and twins Joseph and Robert Sbarra.

MARCH 21

Birthday greetings Thursday to Gabriela Palumbo, Joe Daly, Virginia Kemler, Robin Cutler, Rochelle Steinhaus, Gregg Engles, James Taylor, Samuel Mondello, Bill Baumwoll, Carmen Mottola and Ryan Clinton. There will be double celebrations today for twins Robert and Ronald Kilichowski and Jessica and Kimberly Gershon.

MARCH 22

Happy birthday Friday to Greg Kamback, John Denis Venturella, Robert Borik, Lindsay (cq) McMahon, Hannah Rose Deignan.

Friday is also birthday time for Alfred Forestier and Michael Brevetti.

MARCH 23

Birthday cards are in the mail Saturday for Cathy Akalski, Nicole Paradiso, William Marco, John Ferrante, Matthew Jordan Ferruli, Russell Harris, Stephen Baron, Michelle Scaglione and Joanne Walsh.

Saturday is also wedding anniversary time for John and Margaret LaMantia.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive.com. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here.

Joseph T. Brennan, 77, died Feb. 22, 2024. Born on Staten Island, he worked as a dispatcher with the Staten Island bus division for 28 years until retiring from the NYC Transit in 1996. In 1988, he and his wife Margie began building their new house in Cape Cod which they moved into in 1997. Upon moving to Cape Cod, Joe started a new career as an X-Ray Technician which he did for the next 11 years.

Rita Abraham, 69, died March 11, 2024. She raised her family on Staten Island and contributed much generosity, compassion and love to this world. She dedicated her life to raising and guiding her children and was a fierce ally and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ and Autistic communities, reads her obituary.

Thomas Leon Basile, 60, nicknamed The Disaster Pastor, died March 11, 2024 on Staten Island. Born in Texas, he was an Army Veteran with the 82nd Airborne prior to attending Dallas Theological Seminary: He loved to help people and boasted often about getting to do it for free. Hurricane Sandy opened up the disaster relief chapter of his life. While serving as Outreach Pastor at New Dorp Baptist Church, Tom was instrumental in coordinating various volunteer groups from around the country that arrived on Staten Island. He became known as the Disaster Pastor! Coordinating these groups for years thereafter led to forging ties with churches, reads his obituary.

Dorothy Scanlon, 85, a great-grandmother and native New Yorker, died March 14, 2024. She was born in Brooklyn, and lived in Westfield, then Scotch Plains, prior to moving to Mountainside, all of which are in New Jersey.

Madeline Barisciano, 90, a beloved mother and great-grandmother, died March 14, 2024 in Whiting, New Jersey. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, grandmama, aunt and dear friend to all who knew her. She enjoyed caring for and cooking for her family. She and her husband would often cook for parties of over 60 people and still have plenty of leftovers. Madeline loved spending time with her family, especially her adored grandchildren and great grandchildren, reads her obituary.

Harriette Lerche Goldberg, a beloved English teacher at New Dorp High School for over fifty years, passed away on Tuesday, Mar. 12, 2024, in Lantana, Florida, just one day before her eighty-eighth birthday.

Germaine Brennan Vindigni, a dedicated member of her community and a loving mother and grandmother, passed away on Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024, at the age of 88.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump took his violent rhetoric one step further on Saturday, predicting at a rally in Ohio that there will be a bloodbath in the United States if he is not elected in next Novembers elections. He also escalated his xenophobic discourse: claiming undocumented immigrants are not people.

Last Tuesday, Trump secured the delegates needed to cinch for the nomination of the Republican Party. The race for the White House is set to be a repeat of the 2020 showdown between Trump and Biden. In that race, the real estate tycoon refused to admit defeat. In the months leading up to election day, the Republican began spreading false accusations that the Democrats would steal the election  the Big Lie that led to the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

On Saturday, Trump gave one of his classic angry, disjointed and apocalyptic speeches, but it was not exactly a rally. The event was outside Dayton to endorse Bernie Morenos run for senate in Ohio. Trump grabbed the microphone and launched into a rant in which he criticized the electric car industry for manufacturing vehicles outside the United States. He also tried to co-opt one of Bidens favorite arguments  that a Trump victory would pose a threat to democracy  claiming that if he loses the November election, it would mark the end of democracy in the United States. If we dont win this election, I dont think youre going to have another election in this country, he told the crowd.

But Trumps address made headlines for the following statement: If I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole country. That will be the least of it. He did not explain the threat further, but his campaign later denied that Trump was trying to incite violence. A Trump spokesperson told the media that he was referring to the auto industry. At another point in his speech on Saturday, Trump promised to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-made electric cars.

The Biden campaign did not buy that argument, calling Trumps comments threats of political violence. He wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence and his thirst for revenge, James Singer, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, said in a statement.

The former president faces 91 criminal charges in four separate cases. Two of them stem from his efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election, and for his role in the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. One concerns his actions to subvert the Georgia election results, while the other is a federal case that will be heard in Washington once the Supreme Court clarifies whether Trump  as he claims  was protected by presidential immunity at the end of his term.

During his speech in Ohio, the Republican once again called the rioters arrested and imprisoned for attacking Congress hostages. He also promised to pardon them if he returns to the White House. More than 1,200 people were charged for their role in the attack.

Just like in his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump is focusing his fiery rhetoric on the undocumented immigrants who try to enter the United States through the southern border, which is in crisis due to the impotence of the Biden administration and the inaction of Congress. Back in 2016, he repeatedly called Mexicans rapists. Now, for his 2024 campaign, Trump has accused migrants of poisoning the blood of the country  a statement with overtones of Hitlers Mein Kampf. He has also called them  without evidence  of being criminals, arguing theyre entering the United States from prisons, mental institutions and insane asylums.

I dont know if you call them people, he said on Saturday. Theyre not people, in my opinion, but Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says its a terrible thing to say.

In addition to these recent controversial comments, Trump has also promised to be a dictator on the first day of his term to reverse all of Bidens policies and suggested that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries that do not meet defense spending quotas.

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Virgin Australia has officially pushed back its aircraft delivery timeframes due to production hurdles at global manufacturing giant Boeing, joining US giants United, Alaska and Southwest, which have all confirmed their orders will not arrive on time.

The airline told staff on Friday that 31 of the Max aircraft it has on order would not arrive on time, despite insisting in January that it would not be affected by the increased production timeframes imposed on Boeing after a door plug on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max-9 fell off mid-flight.

Virgins first Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, Monkey Mia, arrived last June.

The carrier business ordered 14 737 Max-8s in total, with the bulk of this order originally due to arrive by the end of this year and four already in service. The group now expects just four Max-8s to be delivered this year in light of the production delays, with the remaining six not expected until 2025. Virgin had originally expected one Max-8 to arrive every month for the rest of this year.

Virgins order of 25 Boeing 737 Max-10s were due to begin arriving next calendar year. The airline has pushed back its delivery timeframe to FY26.
Last week we got a reminder that, among its many functions, the federal budget is the repository of all the successful rent-seeking by the nations many business and other special interest groups. Unfortunately, it added to the evidence that the Albanese government knows what it should do to manage the economy better, but lacks the courage to do more than a little.

Rent-seeking involves industries and others lobbying the government for special treatment in the form of grants, tax breaks or regulatory arrangements that make it hard for new businesses to enter their market or protect them from competition in other ways.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: could do better. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Whenever that rent-seeking involves grants or tax concessions it weighs on the budget. Decades of continuous rent-seeking weigh hugely on every years budget, limiting the governments ability to ensure every dollar of taxpayers money is spent to great effect in benefiting all Australians.

For example, a big lump of the feds spending on education is devoted to achieving the Howard governments goal of enhancing parents choice of which school to send their kids to. When the callithumpians decide to build their own schools, so their children can be educated without contamination by people of other religions, the federal taxpayer coughs up.
The war in the Middle East hasnt stopped Australian politicians and business types from defying travel advice and making trips to Israel.

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Last week, former treasurer Josh Frydenberg returned from leading a group of media and business figures. And next month, high-profile corporate lawyer Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, will host a delegation to Israel, led by former Victorian Labor premier Dan Andrews and new NSW Liberal senator Dave Sharma. Its always charming to see bipartisanship in action.

We hear the trip will focus largely on Israels technology sector, but the delegation will also visit kibbutzes in the countrys south which were targeted by Hamas during the October 7 terrorist attacks, and meet high-profile political leaders including President Isaac Herzog.

Andrews has kept a fairly low profile since his shock decision to quit politics last year, but gave a speech at a St Kilda synagogue in November to reaffirm his support for Israel and the local Jewish community as the conflict with Hamas intensified.
Chinese author Liu Cixins award-winning science-fiction trilogy, Remembrance of Earths Past, is not sympathetic source material. Favouring concepts over characters, and the concepts grow ever wilder, the story alternates between a present-day international crisis, where leading scientists are inexplicably taking their own lives, and flashbacks to the life of Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng), a young physicist exiled during Chinas violent Cultural Revolution in the 1960s after student activists turn on her academic parents.

A big-ticket production that may well be Netflixs best scripted original series since Beef, 3 Body Problem hits the (not so) sweet spot between wonder and horror. In nature, nothing exists alone, one character ominously warns, and its the same with this series, which is a masterclass in adaptation that underpins its vast canvas with intimate dynamics.

Dont be deceived by the interplanetary intrigue: humanitys worth, and what we deserve for our collective failings, are at the heart of this deftly capable science-fiction puzzle-box.

Something is going on, and the shows creators, Game of Thrones architects David Benioff and D.B. Weiss along with The Terrors Alexander Woo, relentlessly unfold it.

Moving the books present-day plot from China to Britain, the fulcrum is a group of five friends and former Oxford science stars whose mentor, Ye Wenjies daughter Vera, has just taken her life. Soon Auggie Salazar (Eiza Gonzalez) is experiencing menacing visions, while Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) and Jack Rooney (John Bradley) are playing an illicit virtual reality game set amidst an arcane civilisation.

Eiza Gonzalez in 3 Body Problem: experiences menacing visions. Credit: Netflix

The eight episodes are rife with theoretical invention; blackboards and whiteboards are deployed in different eras. But 3 Body Problem also has a knack for personalising the perplexing. The lead British investigator, Da Shi (Benedict Wong) has a dry, pithy tone, while his boss, Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham), sends a jolt of cynical energy through his every interaction. The Irish spy is drily hilarious, but his blunt attitude is also transformative: unbelievable problems will require unbelievable responses.

The story makes humanitys self-obsession a flaw that has left us both unprepared and unwilling to deal with extraterrestrial rivals, and increasingly each other. The narrative craft is impressive: until the final episodes you hear more than you see, so that suggestion hooks you in. Ideas that are relevant now, such as faith allowing for extremism, get reframed by the plot. And humanitys response is never without risk. The last time we gave the best physicists in the world insane resource, were reminded, they gave us Hiroshima.
A disputed council study into flood risks sucked millions of dollars out of the community in lost property values and hiked insurance premiums, Sutherland Shire residents believe.

Sutherland Shire Council is now backpedalling after publishing a draft study which showed 15,600 properties in the southern Sydney region were at risk of flood.

Kathy Burton saw the sale price of a property drop by $300,000 after it was identified as at risk of flooding. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Insurance premiums jumped over 200 per cent in some cases, even for houses that had never flooded and were located on the top of hills, and over 300 complaints were made on the first day after residents received letters from the council.

The council had skimped on a community consultation process before releasing the study, documents released under freedom of information laws show, and was hit with an unprecedented deluge of complaints when the study was made public in October.
Jones announces next steps Jones flagged his intention to resume his role at ADH TV but said his health needed to take priority. I have every intention of returning to broadcasting eventually. It is what I do. My work is my life. I could have retired but as Ive often said if you stop you drop. However, I wont be returning just now because of my latest medical assessments conducted in the last week. Jones said he sought urgent medical attention last weekend to address traumatic pain, among other things, with his doctors describing his overall health as poor.

Referencing his use of a walking stick over recent months, Jones said he had been putting off necessary surgery for some time. My doctors are now urging that I address these issues now that I have no upcoming commitments. In May 2020, Jones announced his retirement from radio network 2GB on doctors advice. Behind the scenes, he was being forced out on commercial grounds as advertisers had boycotted his program over controversial remarks suggesting that then-New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern should have a sock shoved down her throat. 2GB is owned by Nine, the publisher of this masthead. In early November 2021, Jones contract was not renewed by Sky News, where Jones had been hosting a nightly television program. Indecent assault allegations

The initial December investigation by the Herald and The Age canvassed the claims made by six men who allege they were targeted by the former talkback star. A former 2GB employee alleged Jones would grope his penis while he was driving him from the networks Pyrmont studios to the broadcasters palatial apartment in Circular Quay. What he did to me was a criminal offence. He cannot die without people knowing what hes done, the former employee said. Loading Late businessman Alexander Hartman also made allegations to four journalists he was preyed on by Jones. Marcus Schmidt was 26 when Jones allegedly groped his penis while he was driving. Odin Childs alleged a drunk Jones fondled his penis without consent when he was 22 and working as a waiter at a South Coast restaurant. A fifth man, an aspiring musician, described being scared shitless when Jones allegedly pounced on him and began kissing him. The investigation later revealed that police investigated a 2017 complaint by a schoolboy who alleged Jones indecently assaulted him at the broadcasters sprawling Southern Highlands estate.

Two specialist detectives later met the schoolboy and his principal at his high school in Wollongong, south of Sydney. The detectives later came to his house, where he provided a statement alleging he had just turned 17 when he was invited to spend a weekend at Jones Fitzroy Falls property in January 2017. Loading At the time, Jones was the top-rating broadcaster on 2GB and had taken an interest in and was financially assisting the schoolboy and his mother as they battled numerous difficulties, including the death of the schoolboys sister. The schoolboy alleges he and Jones, who was 75 at the time, watched a movie at the luxurious rural property before Jones passionately kissed him on the lips and placed his left hand on the schoolboys buttocks. He initially froze, then pushed Jones away. He said he didnt make a scene because of anxiety that Jones might withdraw support for his family if he complained. He told the police in writing that he went to the bathroom with my loofah and soap and began scrubbing my mouth, inside and out, as much as I could.

The police complaint was not progressed at the time but in the years since, one of the officers  who now holds the rank of inspector  has continued to counsel and support the family. Health claims In his newly released video, Jones said he would focus on his health and if others want to continue to throw stones at me, that is their choice. I hope Im far from the end of life but I have been advised that I have a serious need of getting well and I must now take the medical advice and do everything within my power to preserve my existence in the most comfortable way possible, he said. Jones ended the video by reading a poem he said had been written by a viewer.
Ponder this: If a tree falls in the forest because a storm has knocked it over, should you cart it away and make use of the wood or just let fallen logs lie?

Almost three years since a savage windstorm tore through Victoria, some forests are still recovering from the catastrophe that brought down countless trees and left them strewn across the landscape. The Wombat State Forest, about 50 kilometres west of Melbourne, was among those hit hardest.

The Wombat State Forest where wind blown trees have been cleared away. Credit: Justin McManus

With fallen trees still prevalent in many areas, forest advocates and scientists are calling for Victorias windblown woods to be left alone.

They argue extracting large fallen trees inflicts further environmental harm due to the machinery that carves up the forest floor, and also denies habitat to small animals, insects and fungi that eventually inhabit the logs.
By Maricar Cinco, KYODO NEWS - Mar 17, 2024 - 20:15 | World, All

A Filipino woman has admitted to killing her sister and Japanese niece, who were initially reported missing but whose bodies were found last week in Quezon province, south of the capital Manila, Philippine authorities said Sunday.

A police official privy to the case told Kyodo News that they obtained a video of Ligaya Pajulas confessing to the crime. She is now in a hospital in Quezon after an attempted suicide upon learning the bodies were discovered.

Pajulas, an older sister of the victim Lorry Litada, purportedly said in the video that the crime was planned in December as they were fighting over money. Pajulas is now in police custody.

Litada, 54, and her daughter, Mai Motegi, 26, a Japanese citizen working for a Japanese airline-related company, arrived in the Philippines last month and stayed at Pajulas' residence in Tayabas City in Quezon.

According to the police, a nephew of the sisters said Litada and Motegi were planning to make transactions over a property during their trip and were carrying 5 million pesos ($90,000) in cash for it.

The mother and daughter were reported missing on March 9 after other relatives failed to make contact with them. They failed to board their respective flights late last month.

Police found the victims' remains in a shallow grave near Pajulas' home in Tayabas on March 14. Litada had a puncture wound on the chest, while Motegi had suffered a broken jaw, based on initial information, the police official said.

A suitcase belonging to one of the victims, along with its blood-stained contents, was also found in another area. A police investigator said security camera footage showed Pajulas, her husband Charlie and two other men, together with the suitcase, on a motorized tricycle.

Related coverage:

2 Filipinos face murder charge over bodies found under Tokyo home

8 telecom fraud suspects arrested after deportation from Philippines

Philippines' Marcos orders gov't not to help ICC drug war probe
Victorias popular hot air balloon industry has been rocked by tragedy after a man fell to his death on Monday in Melbournes northern suburbs.

Emergency services were called to Albert Street in Preston, where a mans body was found about 7.30am.

Hot air balloons flying over the Melbourne CBD in 2022. Credit: Getty

Police said the man was riding in a hot air balloon and his death was not being treated as suspicious.

Global Ballooning founder and pilot Kiff Saunders said he was flying another balloon with a basket of passengers early on Monday morning when he received a mayday call that a man had fallen from a balloon nearby.
A 30-year-old man accused of stabbing a stranger to death on a Balga street on Saturday has a long history of mental illness, a court has been told.

Mauwa Melanie Kizenga, 22, was on Walderton Avenue around 7.55pm, walking on the footpath with her cousin, when she was suddenly attacked by a stranger.

It appears to be a violent and completely unprovoked attack, WA Police detective senior sergeant Katharine Venn said.

We dont have a motive at this time. We believe the other woman and the suspect may be known to each other.
Lets move to some culture news.

The director of the 2015 Oscar award-winning film Son of Saul, Laszlo Nemes, has become the latest Hollywood figure to weigh in on the speech given by The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer at the Academy Awards last week.

While accepting the award last week for best international film, Glazer delivered a set of pre-written remarks in which he compared his Holocaust film to the current conflict in Gaza. He was accompanied on stage by producer James Wilson and executive producer Len Blavatnik.

Jonathan Glazer, winner of the Best International Feature Film award for The Zone of Interest. Credit: Getty

Our film shows where dehumanisation leads, at its worst, he said. It shaped all of our past and present. Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people, whether the victims of October 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza  all the victims of this dehumanisation, how do we resist?

Hungarian director Nemes, who  like Glazer  won the best international Oscar for a film about the Holocaust set in Auschwitz, said he feared the speech would stoke further antisemitism, saying Glazer should have stayed silent instead of revealing he has no understanding of history and the forces undoing civilisation, before or after the Holocaust.

Read more here.
Delhi: The Indian navy said late Saturday that it had taken control of a bulk carrier hijacked by Somali pirates and evacuated the 17 crew members on the vessel.

In a statement on X, the navy said all 35 pirates on board the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen had surrendered and the vessel was checked for illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. The whole operation took about 40 hours and involved drones, navy vessels and marine commandos.

People on board the hijacked ship ex-MV Ruen on Saturday. Credit: AP

The development came after men on the bulk carrier fired at an Indian warship in international waters on Friday, triggering the navy to intercept the vessel some 2600 kilometres off the Indian coast.

The vessel was first boarded by pirates December 14 near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometres off Somalia.
London: Vaughan Gething won the Welsh Labour Party leadership contest on Saturday, and is set to become the first black leader of Wales semi-autonomous government.

Gething, the son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, will be the first black leader of a government in the UK  and, according to him, of any European country.

Vaughan Gething is announced as first minister of Wales at Cardiff University. Credit: Getty

Today, we turn a page in the book of our nations history. A history we write together, Gething said in his victory speech. Not just because I have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any European country  but because the generational dial has jumped too.

I want us to use this moment as a starting point, for a more confident march into the future.
In the days after the October 7 massacre, US President Joe Biden rushed to Israel, stood shoulder to shoulder with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and pledged what sounded like almost unlimited support for Israels highly justifiable counterstrike. At this point, however, Israels line of credit has almost run out.

Most Western leaders support Israels right to self-defence. Its goal of removing the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group from power in Gaza was not unreasonable after almost two decades of absorbing thousands of rockets and other terrorist attacks. The last straw was the horrendous Hamas invasion during which 1200 people were barbarously murdered and over 240 abducted and taken hostage, including women, children and the elderly.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embraces President Joe Biden after the US president arrived in Israel on October 18. Credit: AP

But the Gaza war has not gone well. Approaching the half-year point, it has killed many thousands of Gazans (along with hundreds of Israeli combatants). More than 130 hostages remain in Gaza, dozens of them believed dead. Hamas remains in charge of the Rafah region in southern Gaza, to which most of the strips 2.2 million people have been displaced. Its terrorists continue to emerge from tunnels in other parts of the strip, commandeering aid shipments and causing mayhem. Theyre beaten but unbowed.

Netanyahu, reviled around the world and widely distrusted at home, has refused to articulate a day-after plan that might calm the region; Irans Houthi proxies in Yemen have upended maritime trade by impeding access to the Suez Canal; anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiments rage around the world. And, critically, in the US, Bidens re-election chances are undermined by Netanyahus provocations.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, March 17th, the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten celebrates its 52nd anniversary. The Club held a special lunch meeting on Wednesday, March 13th, its regular meeting day, to observe this special moment in our history. Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin, President of the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten, explained, "In September of 1970, a meeting was held through the efforts from both the Curacao and the Guadeloupe Rotary Clubs to form the provisional club, the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten. The charter was issued on March 17, 1972, and was presented to the Club". Richard Gibson, an original charter member of the Club, remains an Honorary Member to this day.

Over the years, the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten has assisted the community of St. Maarten in many ways with food distribution efforts, senior citizen initiatives, medical awareness initiatives, toy drives, youth initiatives, tourism initiatives, and beautification efforts. Two members of the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten, Aadu Abel (1987 -1988) and Reiner Heere (1996 - 1997), have served as the District Governor for Rotary District 7020. Additionally, the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten has assisted in the formation of four new Rotary Clubs: the Rotary Club of Anguilla (1978), the Rotary Club of St Martin Nord (1988), the Rotary Club of St. Martin Mid-Isle (1997) and the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise (2004).

"We look forward to serving the community of St. Maarten for many more years to come. I want to thank all our Past Presidents, our Members, our donors, and our supporters for their unwavering commitment to the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. May we all say, " Long Live Rotary and Long Live the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten", stated Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin.

For more information about the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website www.rotarysxm.com.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 17, 2024 - 10:03 | Japan, All

The Japanese government plans to expand the scope of foreign university students eligible for its scholarships from April to provide more academic opportunities to children of the country's growing number of foreign workers, according to officials.

The education ministry is set to include in the target students who are residing in the country with their parents under a "dependent" visa on condition they have completed education through elementary, junior high and high school level in Japan and intend to work and stay in the country after graduating from university, they said.

The scholarships, provided by the Japan Student Services Organization, are currently only available to Japanese citizens and foreign nationals with visas as special permanent residents, permanent residents or long-term residents who intend to stay in Japan permanently.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology expects that around 500 to 1,000 students would be newly eligible for the scholarships, which come in the form of a grant or loan, they said.

Lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party had been calling on the government to expand academic support for foreign children as the country looks to secure foreign labor amid the declining population.

Civic groups, including the nongovernmental organization Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, have also called for an expansion, noting that children of foreign workers tend to face financial difficulties.

Toru Takahashi, a steering member of the group, said he welcomes the government's plan to expand the scholarships but that requiring students to complete 12 years of education in Japan is likely to be too harsh a condition as it means children will need to be living in Japan before first grade to become eligible.

"We will closely pay attention to whether the government will move to ease the rules," Takahashi said.

The number of foreign workers in Japan as of the end of last October topped 2 million for the first time, hitting a record 2,048,675 foreign workers, up 12.4 percent from the previous year, according to labor ministry data.

In line with the increase in foreign workers, those who have entered Japan under a "dependent" visa came to 244,890 as of the end of June 2023, up 7.5 percent from the previous year, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan data showed.

Related coverage:

Japan Cabinet OKs new foreign trainee program to promote longer stays

Japan eyes up to 800,000 more skilled foreign workers over next 5 years

Japan OKs new foreign trainee program to strengthen rights protection
Russia orders more firepower against Ukraine naval drones



Moscow, March 17 (AFP) Mar 17, 2024



Russia on Sunday ordered increased firepower and training for the navy to counter the threat of Ukrainian air and naval drones after a series of strikes on Russian warships.

"There must be training for personnel every day. Training on how to repel attacks from the air and by uncrewed boats," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement during a visit to the Black Sea fleet in southern Russia.

Shoigu "ordered the installation of additional firepower, large-calibre machine gun systems to defeat enemy drones," the defence ministry statement said.

The Black Sea has been a vital battleground in the two-year conflict and Ukraine claims to have destroyed more than two dozen Russian ships.

Moscow has moved many military vessels from its historic Sevastopol naval base in Crimea to the port of Novorossiysk further to the east, amid the spate of Ukrainian attacks.

Ukrainian officials have talked up military success in the Black Sea at a time when their ground forces have often been forced back or on the defensive in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's GUR military intelligence unit earlier this month released a video of what it said was an attack on the Sergei Kotov, a 94-metre (308-foot) Russian military patrol ship.

The footage showed a naval drone approaching the side of the vessel, before a large explosion can be seen sending fire, smoke and debris into the sky.
NATO chief says climate change undermines global security



Baku, March 17 (AFP) Mar 17, 2024



NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday stressed the need to fight global warming, and called climate change a "crisis multiplier" with implications for global security.

He made the remarks during a press conference in Baku along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose energy-rich country is set to host the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in November.

Praising Azerbaijan for its "important role in delivering (natural) gas to key NATO allies," Stoltenberg said "the challenge is that the world needs energy, but at the same time we need to fight global warming."

"We need to reconcile the need for energy and environment," he said, adding that "climate change matters for security, matters for NATO."

"Climate change is a crisis multiplier, and we see the effects of climate change all over the world."

Stoltenberg also hailed Azerbaijan for investing in alternative energies, stressing the country's "great potential" as a supplier of hydropower and solar power to the European markets.

The decision to hold a climate summit in oil-and-gas-producer Azerbaijan has been criticised by environmental groups.

But the tightly controlled Caspian nation is seeking to change its reputation as a polluting authoritarian state.

Aliyev said that while his country is a "pan-European gas supplier" it has an ambitious green transition agenda.

He said Azerbaijan's selection as a host of COP 29 on November 11-24 was a "sign of recognition of our efforts on green transition."

2024 will be the second year in a row that the COP29 will be hosted by an oil giant, with the 2023 conference held in the United Arab Emirates.

Adding to the controversy, the presidency of the conference has been entrusted to Mukhtar Babayev, a former executive of Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR.
Israel confirms death of soldier in October 7 attack



Jerusalem, March 17 (AFP) Mar 17, 2024



The Israeli military said on Sunday that a soldier believed to have been held hostage in the Gaza Strip died during Hamas's October 7 attack.

Captain Daniel Perez, 22, was killed in the unprecedented attack on southern Israel which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza, and "his body is in the hands of a terrorist organization", a statement said.

He is the 33rd hostage confirmed dead -- including eight soldiers -- out of about 130 captives still held in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas militants seized about 250 hostages during the attack which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Perez's family has been notified and he has been posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant, Sunday's military statement said.

Confirmation of his death comes five days after the military announced that another soldier believed to be held in Gaza, 19-year-old Sergeant Itay Hen, also perished on October 7.

At a rally calling for the return of hostages on Saturday night, Perez's father, Rabbi Daniel Perez, said "all the hostages taken from their cradles, from their beds and those who defended their people must return unconditionally".

Israel's retaliatory military campaign to eliminate Hamas has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Israel is expected to send a delegation to Qatar to participate in a new round of talks about a potential truce in Gaza that would also see hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
Nigeria pays homage to troops slain on peace mission



Lagos, March 17 (AFP) Mar 17, 2024



Nigeria's president on Sunday paid tribute to 16 soldiers killed on a mediation mission to two warring communities in the south of the country, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The troops had been responding to unrest between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in the oil-rich southern Delta state.

"The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished," President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, paying homage to the soldiers' sacrifice.

"The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people," Tinubu added.

Tinubu said one civilian was also killed in what he termed "a direct attack on our nation".

Nigeria's military said Saturday the soldiers were killed in the Bomadi region on Thursday after being surrounded by local youths, during a bid to mediate between the ethnic Urhobo village of Okuama, and ethnic Ijaw from the neighbouring village of Okoloba.

Brigadier General Tukur Gusau said troops had "responded to a distress call", with media reports claiming the rival communities have clashed repeatedly over land ownership and fishing rights in recent weeks, leaving several people dead.

Gusau said an investigation was underway and several arrests had been made.

Okoloba village elder Clement Koki told AFP Okuama youths and "mercenaries" had posed a persistent threat for some months.

One Okuama resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the army had lied about events and said "most of the soldiers presumed dead are Okoloba in military uniform" who he claimed had "opened fire" on his village, drawing an armed riposte.

Femi Falana, a lawyer and human rights campaigner, urged the military to resist any temptation to subject either of the two communities to a "retaliatory" attack.

str-fvl/mba/cw/rox
NEW YORK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Several people were injured Saturday in "confirmed shootings" in the suburban Philadelphia township of Falls, local media reported, citing the authorities, who issued a shelter-in-place order following the shooting. 
The remarks came after comments made by General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff, were interpreted as suggesting that conscription could be required in any potential future battle with Russia due to the British Army being too small.
"It's all been designed to try and keep certain elements of his backbenchers happy and on that test it seems to have failed, just as it has failed on practically every other criteria that it could be assessed against."
BARCELONA, Spain, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Professionals in Spain's travel industry are delighted about China's ongoing return to be a major tourist destination for Spanish tourists.

At the B-Travel tourism fair, which opened on Friday and closed on Sunday in Spain's Barcelona, exhibitors showcased diverse tourism products and packages to promote traveling in China.

"Our tour operators and travel agents are developing products and packages ... China has always been an important destination for Spanish tourists," Marti Sarrate, president of B-Travel and Spain's Corporate Association of Specialized Travel Agencies, told Xinhua at the fair.

After the pandemic, "we're very happy that it (China) has reactivated because it represents a significant level of quality tourism and more Spaniards are now visiting China," he added.

Spanish travel agencies also applaud China's visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revive the tourism sectors in China and Europe. China applied a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from five European countries in December, including Spain. Later in January and starting from March 14, China added eight more European countries in total to its visa-free policy list on a trial basis.

Aspasia Travel, which organizes a 15-day guided tour in China that includes visits to Chinese cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Kunming and Shanghai, said China's decision to exempt Spaniards with ordinary passports from requiring a visa helps them to sell their package holiday to the country.

"Right now we are making an effort to put China back on people's radar and we have to incentivize them to go there, and something that helps with incentive is the situation with visa-free travel," Aspasia Travel Director Adonis Rahmouni told Xinhua.

According to Spain's tourism agency Turespana, over 60 percent of direct flights linking China and Spain before the pandemic have been restored. From March 31, Air China will have daily flights between Barcelona and Beijing while Cathay Pacific plans to restore direct flights to Hong Kong from Barcelona in June.

According to data from the Spanish Statistical Office, over 380,000 people visited Spain from China last year. However, the figure is well below the level before the pandemic, when more than 700,000 Chinese tourists visited Spain in 2019.

"Chinese tourism is important for our region and is now in the process of returning to Spain, including Andalusia, Malaga and Costa del Sol," said Jorge Martin, the president of the Axarquia-Costa del Sol town coalition, which is located in the southern region of Andalusia, one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations. 
With our busy and diverse operational schedules, it is the most prominent occasion for the regimental family to come together, and we are really looking forward to welcoming Micks of all ranks, from across the Army, past and present, and their families.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon led the tributes, posting on X, formerly Twitter: Henry was an extraordinary human being. While the world is a poorer place for his passing, there is no doubt that his life made it better.
Viewers were relieved at the end of the episode when it was clear Charlie had survived the attack, with his colleagues applauding him as he left the hospital and drove off in a vintage yellow Volkswagen Beetle, the same type of car he was shown driving in his first Casualty episode.
Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: I think St Patricks Day is so important to people because it gives us all a chance to share in something, it brings a lot of people together. I think sometimes here we maybe take it for granted.
But she lived here a very long time so she got used to it and liked how organised everything was and how things were functioning because it was organised.
BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- With its industrial upgrade creating new opportunities and strengthened policy support to boost employment, China is beefing up efforts from both the supply and demand sides to help young people secure jobs.

China is expected to see over 11.7 million college graduates in 2024, and the number of young job-seekers has continued to grow, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS).

"China's current employment situation is on the mend as the economy picks up momentum. Despite challenges, positive factors such as economic growth and policy support continue to bolster the job market," said Mo Rong, president of the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security.

FRESH OPPORTUNITIES

China's progress in technological innovation and industrial upgrading is catalyzing a boom in job opportunities, and an increasing number of young people are eyeing opportunities in high-tech and emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, big data and smart manufacturing.

In a manufacturing company in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, hundreds of new jobs such as supply chain manager and precision mold designer sprung up after the company's pivot to smart manufacturing. The company is now in need of talent with higher education and skills, according to its manager.

"Industrial upgrading is reshaping the talent structure of enterprises, and college graduates can adapt to these changes more easily as they are well-acquainted with the internet and more versatile," said Li Qiang, executive vice president of Zhaopin.com, a human resources platform.

With developing new quality productive forces high on this year's agenda, China is doubling down on its efforts to make traditional industries more sophisticated, smarter and more eco-friendly, fostering emerging and future-oriented industries, and opening up new fields such as quantum technology and life sciences.

According to Wang Xiaoping, minister of MHRSS, the country will beef up support for major employment drivers such as private, small and medium-sized companies, and boost the development of digital, elderly care, and green sectors to play a greater role in creating jobs.

"Many new jobs and occupations will emerge, providing young people with fresh career choices and new space for development," said Wang Jinsong, dean of the Graduate School of Tianjin University of Technology.

STRENGTHENED SUPPORT

As China transitions from traditional to new growth drivers, there's a burgeoning demand for talent. However, there's also a noticeable gap between the requirements of enterprises and the knowledge structure and technical skills of job applicants.

To better help young job-seekers adapt to market demand, this year's government work report has underlined improving the quality of education and vocational training.

Wu De, president of Sichuan Agricultural University, said that the university has been canceling or optimizing majors with low employment rates since 2020 and placing greater emphasis on practical training.

"Our students are now more adaptive and have a wider range of career choices, with the proportion of graduates pursuing higher education, getting employed or starting businesses jumping from 87.2 percent in 2020 to 90.5 percent in 2023," Wu said.

To meet the surging market demand for skilled professionals, China provided government-subsidized vocational training to 18 million people in 2023, with a special focus on key sectors such as advanced manufacturing and modern services, according to the MHRSS.

The country has set aside 66.7 billion yuan (about 9.39 billion U.S. dollars) for employment subsidies this year, with a particular focus on the employment and entrepreneurship of college graduates, rural migrant workers and other key populations.

"Policy support is bringing substantial benefits to young people like me," said Tang Jintao, a graduate student from Guangdong Ocean University.

Tang found it hard to find a job after finishing school last year, but through job fairs organized by the government and community recommendations, he was recently hired by a new energy technology company.

The country has vowed to continue to strengthen measures to promote youth employment, expand market-oriented channels, and provide better guidance for employment and entrepreneurship. 
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When you become self-employed, you join millions of other business owners hoping to materialize their dreams. However, navigating the murky waters of self-employment can be challenging, especially during the early stages.While there are no guarantees in business, there are some strategies that could increase your chances of success, especially financially. Here are a few mistakes to avoid as a self-employed person.

1. Not delegating or prioritizing

Self-employed people often act as their own stunt doubles in their business during the incipient stages because of budget constraints. However, trying to do it all on your own may be a mistake, says Ronne Brown, owner of Girl CEO and Herlistic in Washington, D.C.

We have to understand that we go fast by ourselves, but we go far as a team, she says. For people who feel they cant afford to delegate, Brown says to keep your expenses low until you can afford to do so.

If you do decide to delegate, its key to spend your dollars in ways that help your business grow. To do this, people should consider focusing on the business operations and systems versus just aesthetics, Brown says. Doing this effectively often requires prioritization.

In the beginning, people are always focused on the look. But thats not what truly creates the income in business, she says.

Brown suggests prioritizing bookkeepers and accountants, building automations or hiring someone to generate leads. Also, keep in mind that you can usually deduct the cost of contracted labor from your business taxes.

2. Not saving for retirement

Saving for retirement as an entrepreneur can easily fall to the bottom of your priority list. This is a common mistake self-employed people make, says Preston Cherry, a certified financial planner in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While it can be smart to reinvest income you generate into your business, it may be equally important to build an emergency fund with three to six months worth of expenses and invest in your retirement savings.

Cherry says self-employed people have multiple retirement savings accounts to choose from, including an IRA or a solo 401(k).

Not only are you as a business owner saving for your retirement, you are also getting to deduct the contributions [for] tax planning as well, Cherry says.

Contributions made to traditional solo 401(k)s and traditional SIMPLE IRAs can provide tax advantages like lowering your taxable income and enabling your investments to grow tax-deferred. That means your tax bill is deferred until you withdraw the money in retirement.

SEP IRAs are designed for self-employed people or small businesses with few or no employees and have similar characteristics.

3. Spending money on courses you dont take

As a new entrepreneur, you may want to amp up your knowledge to make your business more profitable. That could mean spending money on courses or training, which can sometimes cost a pretty penny. While investing in yourself can be worthwhile, you may not get a return on your investment if you dont take the courses and apply the knowledge.

Make sure that you are fully committed and that you are dedicated to actually doing the work and sitting down and making time before you invest in any course or class, says Brown. You cant have excuses. People buy stuff with an excuse in mind.

Brown also recommends doing your homework before investing in a course, especially on social media. You can do this by looking beyond good content and ensuring the person youre buying courses from has a proven track record of delivering results.

For me, when Im looking for a mentorship or Im looking for people to train me, Im looking at the personal success that they are having in the area that I am looking to grow in, she says.

4. Not considering health care costs

Health care may be a worry for self-employed people, especially when they dont have employer support. A health savings account is one way to make the financial load lighter since there are many tax benefits.

Theres no tax going in. Theres no tax while in it, and theres no tax coming out, Cherry says.

With HSAs, contributions are made pretax, interest grows tax-free and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. In 2024, single individuals can contribute up to $4,150, while families can contribute up to $8,300.

You must have a high-deductible health care plan to be eligible to open an HSA as a self-employed person. Another option to make health care more affordable is taking the self-employed health insurance deduction if you qualify.

5. Not having a clear why

Entrepreneurship can be a way to make extra money or materialize your dreams, but it can also become a money pit. For this reason, its important to have a clear why, Cherry says. Having a clear purpose can also help you know when to keep pushing through difficulties and when to stop.

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Its not supposed to be. Its not the only way to wealth.
On March 17, 1820, a small band of Irish settlers gathered to praise St. Patrick. It was the first recorded observance of St. Patricks Day here, although the sparse accounts disagree whether a parade was included. The Irish then were a small part of the citys 4,400 souls.

Marching came later, when the downtown parade started in 1969.
AWARDS

Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors, Edwardsville, Illinois, received the Anywhere Leads Networks Platinum Award. The Platinum is one of three Excellence Awards presented to Premier Network Brokers.

GETTING BETTER

Crown Center for Senior Living achieved the SAGECare Platinum Level Credential for providing an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ older adults.

HELPING OUT

Operation Food Search received a $25,000 grant from the Kohls National Giveback Initiative.

MILESTONES

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank celebrated its 10th anniversary.

MOVING

NOVUS Health, a nonprofit medical clinic currently located at 3960 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, moved its health care facility to 6155 S Grand Boulevard, St. Louis.

PARTNERSHIP

Conflux Co-Learning named Marsh McLennan Agency as a certified partner. The business insurance provider/firm will educate Conflux members on best practices for managing risk and retaining a talented workforce.

PROJECTS

St. Louis-based general contractor Integrate Construction Partners started construction on an $11.5 million government center for the city of Eureka. The 30,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to be completed in December.
 Flash

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,553, Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday.

During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 63 Palestinians and wounded 112 others, raising the total death toll to 31,553 and injuries to 73,546, since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has urged for an international humanitarian intervention via a binding resolution in the UN Security Council to compel Israel to halt its attacks in the Gaza Strip, guaranteeing the safety of civilians and the delivery of aid in a sustainable manner.

In a press statement, the foreign ministry highlighted that Israel persistently threatens to invade the city of Rafah without offering a realistic plan to safeguard civilians and address their fundamental humanitarian requirements.

Israel has launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
COLOMBO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's navy arrested 21 Indian fishermen who were poaching in the country's territorial waters on Saturday night, the navy said in a statement on Sunday.

The arrests were made during a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers poaching near the Delft island in northern Sri Lanka, and the navy also seized two trawlers that the Indians were traveling in, the statement said.

The seized trawlers and the 21 Indian fishermen were brought to Kankesanthurai Harbor, and they will be handed over to the local authority for onward legal proceedings, the navy said.

With this arrest, the navy has seized a total of 18 Indian poaching trawlers and 146 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters so far in 2024, the navy said. 
ST. LOUIS  An admitted drug dealer has been charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of a man from India who was pursuing a doctoral degree from Washington University.

Glenn Bailey, 46, is being held without bond in connection with the Feb. 27 death of a man at the intersection of Delmar Boulevard and Clarendon Avenue in the city's Academy neighborhood.

Devoleena Bhattacharjee, a Bollywood actress, previously identified the victim as her friend Amarnath Ghosh. Anna Gonzalez, vice chancellor for student affairs at Washington University, confirmed the identity in a public statement.

According to the police's probable cause statement, security footage showed Bailey's vehicle trailing the victim just before the shooting.

The other suspects have not been named by the police and have not been apprehended. Cartridge cases from three guns were found at the scene.

Bailey told police that he deals drugs in the area, and said that was what he had been doing that night.

Bailey has previously been convicted of robbery, assault, unlawful use of a weapon and a federal conviction for unlawful distribution of controlled substances.

A GoFundMe account purported to help Ghosh's family raised more than $15,000, more than enough to cover funeral expenses. The remainder will go to honor Ghosh's legacy in some way, according to the account, either by establishing a memorial or supporting a cause he favored.

Editor's note: This story was updated Monday, March 18, to correct that the suspect admitted only to dealing drugs in the area Ghosh was shot.
Just yesterday, St. Louisans flooded the streets of downtown St. Louis to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Today, St. Louisans took to the streets of Dogtown for a second day of festivities.

Dogtown is a traditionally Irish part of St. Louis just south of Forest Park. The neighborhood celebrates St. Patrick's Day each year with a parade of its own, followed by a festival. The parade began in 1984, making this year its 40th iteration.
We cant think of a single good reason why a new Missouri law would require redacting the names of all victims and witnesses from all public court documents and shielding all dates of birth for everyone involved in any court case.

But of all the bad reasons imaginable, one of the worst would be if the provision was created by a state legislator whose bid for higher office was being complicated by an old attempted assault allegation against himself.

Because Missouri state Rep. Justin Hicks wont talk to us, we cant say what actually motivated him to slip those unusual redaction requirements into a broader bill last year, apparently with little if any discussion in Jefferson City.

What we can say with certainty is that Hicks and his colleagues should either publicly explain why Missourians shouldnt have the right to even the most basic information about the parties in court cases  or else take this bizarre provision out of the statutes immediately.

The backstory is complicated, but stay with us:

A political rival says that Hicks, a Republican from Lake Saint Louis, is suing him for publicly disclosing that Hicks was the subject of an order of protection in 2010 from a former girlfriend who claims he tried to choke her.

Max Calfo publicized the order of protection on a campaign website last year, as he was challenging Hicks for the GOP nomination to his legislative seat. (Hicks later decided to run for Congress instead.)

Details about the documents are murky because, Calfo says, both the 2010 order of protection and the December lawsuit have been sealed by a judge at Hicks request. Calfo has said he obtained a copy of the order of protection from a third party.

The suit apparently is not a slander action claiming there was no order of protection. Instead, as the Post-Dispatchs Jack Suntrup reported last week, Calfo says Hicks suit accuses him and one of his campaign volunteers of public disclosure of private facts.

If in fact thats the suits claim  that a judicial order of protection filed in the court system alleging violence is no one elses business  its a galling legal action from a sitting legislator and congressional candidate who is asking for peoples votes.

Cutting off court information from the public was also the stated goal of language that Hicks last year added to an omnibus bill (SB 103) that addressed various issues regarding the court system.

Hicks amendment mostly flew under the media radar as it was added to the large bill last year. It requires that the names of all victims and witnesses be redacted from publicly available court files. It also redacts dates of birth of all parties  which would include alleged perpetrators.

For those who dont usually interact with the court system, suffice to say this is a truly unheard-of veil over the generally open world of court records.

In court opinions, Missouri has become the State of Unnamed Persons, attorney Mark Sableman wrote in Gateway Journalism Review last fall, in reference to the unusual new redaction law. ...The public will learn less about what the courts do, the media will find it harder to report meaningfully on court cases, and the courts themselves may lose some of the respect and legitimacy that has developed from their historic openness.

Yes, minors information must be protected and, yes, judges should have discretion to seal other records under specific circumstances. But hiding the names of all victims and witnesses would seem to be a roundabout way of improperly shielding the perpetrators themselves from legitimate public scrutiny.

A key way that journalists are able to report the stories behind court cases is to talk to the victims and witnesses  which is now inherently more difficult because their names are redacted from court documents.

Journalists also routinely use dates of birth on documents to confirm the identities of people who might have common names. But those dates of birth, even for alleged perpetrators, are now unavailable on court documents.

Though the order of protection against Hicks is currently sealed by a judges order, Calfo says he has sought to have it unsealed and made public.

Were that to happen, the new law that Hicks himself ushered in would presumably require redacting the name of his alleged victim and redacting his own date of birth. Both of which would make any media reporting on the issue significantly more difficult.

Whether that was Hicks intent when he filed the amendment last year or just happy (for him) coincidence is anyones guess.

Either way, the Legislature should revisit these redaction requirements, right now, and give them the thorough public debate they didnt get last year.

And voters in Missouris 3rd Congressional district  where Hicks is one of a wide field of candidates for an open seat  should think hard about whether they want a congressman whose first instinct regarding public information about the court system is to shut it down.
I am still recovering from my experience as a Nikki Haley supporter at the Parkway West Missouri Republican Caucus. I feel columnist Lynn Schmidt's pain. (" As a RINO, I knew Trumpers would win. I didn't know how they'd make me feel ." March 10.)

I too felt disrespected. But, more importantly, I felt that Nikki Haley was disrespected. There was derisive chanting alleging that members who did not support Donald Trump were "Rinos" (Republicans in Name Only).

Let me remind those hardline Republican Trumpers and Trump has changed his party affiliation at least five times: He was a Republican in Manhattan in 1987; he changed to Independence Party of New York in 1999; he became a Democrat in 2001; he went back to being a Republican in 2009; he declared no affiliation in 2011; and he returned to being a Republican in 2012.
Recently, Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville remarked that immigrants who know nothing about God are crossing the southern border illegally.

I have served in the United States for over 40 years as a priest with communities of immigrants from Latin America. They have inspired me deeply by their prayerful closeness to God, as well as their immense generosity for their families and neighbors. Tubervilles demonization of immigrant communities suggests that he lacks any personal relationship with them.

It is fashionable but strange for Jews and Christians to demonize such immigrants, since the Jewish Scriptures repeatedly enjoin believers to care for the stranger, the widow and orphan. In Matthews gospel, Jesus, at the last judgment, praises those who cared for strangers, and says, I was a Stranger and you welcomed me.

In our initial encounter with immigrants, our first response should be compassion and a desire to welcome, even though we may have to limit what we do, given resources and possible dangers. If we have to limit our compassion, we should do so with regret.

Rev. Michael Barber SJ

St. Louis
March 17, 2024: Tank warfare has gone through many changes since the early 2022 Russian invasion. Russia lost the majority of its most modern tanks during the first few months. They were victims of modern portable anti-tank weapons built by the United States and European countries, including Ukraine. There was also some opposition by Ukrainian T-72 tanks. Many of the Russian tanks lost were abandoned by the crews and captured by the Ukrainians. These tanks, about 500 of them, were given new paint jobs and became Ukrainian tanks. Ukrainians now knew the vulnerabilities of the T-72-type tanks they and the Russians used. In response to Ukrainian requests the Americans sent 31 M1s and Germany sent Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks.

The American M1A2 tanks arrived in Ukraine in 2023. These are an older model of the M1. The United States Army did not want to risk the Russians capturing a current model of the M1 and have an opportunity to reverse-engineer M1 capabilities for Russian tanks. That may change because Poland has more modern M1 models and will offer to send some to the Ukrainians if the situation gets desperate. Poland has provided similar military aid to Ukraine since before the 2022 Russian invasion. Poland shares a long border with Ukraine and realizes that if Ukraine is defeated, the Russians will come after Poland next. If the 31 M1 tanks sent to Ukraine prove useful, Poland could, with American permission and assurance of replacements, send more.

At the moment neighboring Poland has 366 American M1 tanks in service or on order. The first to arrive were 116 used M1A1 models that were ordered in 2022. These began arriving in Poland during 2023 and all will be delivered by 2025. In 2023 Poland ordered another 250 M1A2 tanks, with deliveries to begin in 2025.

The most current M1 is The M1A2SEP3, which cost about $6 million each and are also known as the MiA2C. The Poles consider M1 tanks the best option to deal with any new Russian tank developments. The 66-ton MiA2C also includes the Israeli Trophy ADS Active Defense System which has proved itself in combat and is capable of defeating ATGM Anti-tank guided missiles and RPG rocket propelled grenades. Deliveries began in 2022 and will be completed by 2025.

The 250 M1A2s will complement the 240 used German Leopard 2A4s that Poland obtained at bargain prices since 2002, along with a license to upgrade them to the 2A6 standard as the 62-ton Leopard 2PL. Poland is also upgrading over a hundred of its 380 older Russian T-72 tanks, most of them built in Poland during the Cold War and 225 PT-91s, a much-improved T-72 variant designed and built locally since 1995. Poland plans to retire its remaining T-72s as the M1A2s arrive.

Currently the most advanced Russian tank in service is the T-72B3, which is considered as good as the T-90, a 48-ton T-72 upgrade introduced in 1993 as the T-72BU but that was changed to T-90. Over 3,200 were built and most were exported to India where they were produced under license. The 45-ton T-72B3 is cheaper and considered by Russian commanders and crews as equal to the more expensive T-90. Russia had about 2,000 T-72B3s in service when they invaded Ukraine in 2022. Most of those T-72B3s were lost during the first few months of the war. This forced Russia to take its 590 more modern T-90s out of storage and put them to work in Ukraine where most of them were soon lost, often to swarms of Ukrainian UAVs.

Russia had also developed the 48-ton T-14, a radical new design that appeared quite impressive but proved too complex and too expensive for Russia to mass produce. Mass production was supposed to have started in 2015 but technical problems and shrinking defense budgets halted that until covid19 restrictions again delayed production until 2022. Russia has fewer than a hundred development and pre-production T-14s which have been undergoing field tests with a Russian tank unit since 2016. The T-14 has a three-man crew and a fully automated turret with the three crew all in an armored capsule under the turret. Division. The T-14 relies on a lot of new tech, some more advanced than any other Western tank has installed. Getting all that tech to work reliably has been a major problem. Getting all its problems fixed has made the T-14 more expensive, at about $4 million each. Thats twice what the reliable T-72B3 costs and Russian combat commanders and crews will have to be convinced that the T-14 works and is as reliable as the T-72B3. Mass production to build less than two hundred more T-14s was supposed to begin in 2022 but that did not happen and now the T-14 project is on hold, and actually, if not officially, dead and gone.

Polish M1A2Cs currently have few Russian tanks left to fight. Most of the Russian T-72B3s and T-90s were lost early in the war. The Russians were forced to bring 70-year-old T-55s and 60-year-old T-62s out of storage, get them running again and add a few upgrades before sending them to fight in Ukraine as infantry fire support vehicles and indirect fire artillery.

If Russia ever tries to make a move on Poland or if Poland decides to send Americans tanks to Ukraine, the M1A2C Abrams tank will likely go. This tank is considered the best combat proven tank in the world, though there are many different models of M1s which vary considerably in their combat capability. The earliest model is only about half as capable as the 2013 M1A2SEP model. The M1 is an old design with the first of 3,273 M1 Abrams tanks produced in 1978. This version had a 105mm gun. The first of 4,796 M1A1s, with a 120mm gun and depleted uranium armor, were produced in 1985. Another 221 were built for the U.S. Marines, 555 co-produced with Egypt and another 200 M1A1s sent to Egypt. Production of the M1A2, which had an improved fire control system, began in 1986, with 77 for the US Army, 315 for Saudi Arabia, and 218 for Kuwait. Another 600 M1s were upgraded to M1A2 standards. Deliveries of these upgrades began in 1998. In 2001 the army began to upgrade 240 M1A2 tanks as part of an ongoing SEP System Enhancement Package program with better thermal imaging and fire control equipment as well as communications and computer equipment which allow tanks to operate a full color battlefield internet with each other, as well as headquarters and warplanes with similar equipment. By 2013 the army had upgraded 700 tanks to the M1A2SEP standard and built another 240 new M1A2SEP vehicles. About 2,000 upgrades to M1A2SEP level have been delivered so far.

So far over 10,000 American M1 tanks have been produced and most of them subsequently updated at least once, mainly in the 1990s. The army is planning to maintain and upgrade its 7,000 strong M1 tank fleet into the 2030s. The M1 has already been in service since the 1980s and may become the first MBT, or Main Battle Tank design to be in service for half a century. Technically, some World War II tanks achieved that dubious goal but not in the service of a major power.

The SEP3 entered service in 2020 after being introduced for testing in 2017. SEP3 includes more improvements in the previous TUSK armor and RWS Remote Weapons Station machine-gun upgrades as well improved electricity generation and distribution for all the electronic components that need recharging or whatever, plus upgraded communications and networking and installation of the VHMS Vehicle Health Management System and the use of LRMs or Line Replaceable Modules to make it easier to upgrade or repair problems. The new communications features include ADL Ammunition DataLink to use airburst rounds. There is also an improved counter-IED improvised explosive device armor package, an upgraded FLIR night vision heat sensor and an APU Auxiliary Power Unit under the armor to run electronics while stationary instead of the engine. The final addition was the Trophy ADS. The SEP2/3 upgrades also expanded on MVP (Multifunction Vehicle Protection) features which includes external cameras that let the crew see what is going on outside at all times day or night and in bad weather.

The SEP program is continuous, upgrading existing M1A2 tanks to the new SEP3 standard as well as upgrading more M1A2SEPs to the SEP2 level. These upgrades keep the M1, or at least some of them, competitive with more recently designed and built tanks. The United States, mainly the army, has over a thousand of the SEP2 upgraded M1A2s and is getting as many of those upgraded to SEP3 as the budget allows.

The next upgrade is M1A3 which includes major upgrades to the tank software and whatever upgrades are available for the engine, armor, and electronics. A major upgrade is adding the capability to use advanced, including guided missile, projectiles from the 120mm smoothbore gun. The specifics of M1A3 were not set until 2018 because much of the tech was still in development or getting its first combat experience. What isnt ready in the early 2020s can be added with the M1A3. MVP notes this integration of multiple systems in the SEP program and makes compatibility with other systems a key feature of MVP.

The original M1A2SEP was developed in the late 1990s by upgrading protection and a few other minor fixes. These were followed after 2003s combat experience in Iraq with TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) and evolved into the SEP2 upgrade. TUSK was installed on hundreds of tanks headed for Iraq as well as several hundred more M1s that had battle damage repaired and TUSK upgrades installed at the same time.

TUSK entered service in 2007 with reactive armor panels for the side and rear of the tank to provide added protection from RPGs. A slat armor panel protects the engine exhaust outlet of the tank from RPGs. A 1.5-ton belly armor kit, which can be installed in two hours, provides additional protection from mines and large bombs. Enhancements also include night vision for all crew members. There is also a telephone added to the side of the tank, so that infantry can more easily communicate with the crew when the tank is buttoned up with all hatches closed. The complete TUSK kit costs about $500,000 per vehicle and takes about twelve hours to install all the components. Later additions to TUSK included a rear-view camera for the driver and RWS so the commanders' .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine-gun could be operated from inside the tank. This is particularly useful if the tank is taking a lot of small arms fire. This led to providing all-round vidcam views of what was going on outside the tank.

The M1A2SEP2 made most of the TUSK items standard and added more improvements like the RWS for the 12.7mm machine-gun as standard, as well in computer hardware, including color flat screen displays for the crew and software, including a new operating system along with improved TUSK ERA Explosive Reactive Armor, making the external phone standard and upgrading the transmission to make it more reliable.

The electronics on the M1 have undergone several upgrades so far, in addition to new ammo types for the main gun. A major enhancement was depleted uranium armor, which made the M1 virtually invulnerable from the front.

The one remaining item in need of major improvement is the 1,500-horsepower gas turbine engine. Past improvements here included electronic monitors on many engine components, an electronic logbook to record all pertinent engine activity, and a maintenance program that makes the most of all this data. If the engine is monitored closely and constantly, it's possible to carry out maintenance in a timelier, before something fails, manner. The army would also like to develop an improved, as in more efficient and less expensive to maintain, engine but that is also a costly item they can't afford at the moment.

MVP can also link to audio sensors that work with video sensors to automatically detect where enemy fire is coming from. The United States tested MVP on their M2 IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. New anti-tank weapons are always being developed and the army wants to at least be able to afford new equipment to deal with new threats. One threat that was ignored until recently was top attack warheads that used a shaped charge type warhead to penetrate the thin top armor. There are also new types of mines and electronic threats. If the M1 is to survive for half a century it will have to evolve, as well as endure. The M1A2C is an evolutionary design compared to the Russian T-14 which was a revolutionary design with a lot of new techs introduced at once. This led to failure of the T-14 and eventually Russia abandoned work on the T-14 because they could not get it to work reliably in training or combat.
March 17, 2024: Ukraine has two Ada-class corvettes being built partially in a Turkish shipyard, and then moved to the Okeans shipyard in Ukraine for completion, Five Adas have been built for Turkey, four for Pakistan and two for Ukraine.

The two Ukrainian ships are.

F211 Hetman Ivan Mazepa which began construction in October 2022 and is now fitting out Ukraine

F212 Hetman Pavlo Skoropadskyi began construction in Turkey during August 2023

Ada-Class ships are 2,400-ton corvettes that are a hundred meters long and designed for patrol and anti-submarine operations. Cruise speed is twenty-eight kilometers an hour and at that speed the ship can travel up to 6,500 kilometers. Max speed is fifty-six kilometers an hour. Crew size is ninety-three but there are accommodations for 106 personnel. Endurance is ten days on internal supplies and three weeks if there is a supply ship available. Electronics include air and sea search, sonar, and fire control systems for all weapons. There is also a SIGINT (electronic signals intelligence) system.

Weapons carried include one 76mm gun and two 12.7mm machine-guns that can be used manually or automatically by the fire control system. There are eight anti-ship missiles, either Harpoon or a similar model. There is a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) air defense missile system with twenty-one missiles that have a range of ten kilometers. There are two launchers for lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes. There is also a torpedo defense system. A Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopter is carried and operated from a landing pad in the rear of the ship. There is a hangar for the helicopter and UAVs used for patrolling. There are also two RHIB (Rigid Inflatable boats) with outboard engines for boarding parties.

Some of the Turkish Adas will be used for patrolling the northern, Black Sea coast of Turkey. The Ukrainian Adas will patrol the shipping corridor from the port of Odessa to the nearby waters of NATO members Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, where ships are safe from Russian attack. Using this route Ukraine has been able to continue grain shipments as well as imports for Ukraine. Ukraine also has used a large force of armed UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and USVs (unmanned surface vessels) to destroy most of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and force the remaining Russian warships to stay in the eastern Black Sea. Even there Ukrainian unmanned systems continue to destroy Russian warships the Ukrainians consider too close to Ukrainian shipping lanes. The Russian Black Sea Fleet dominated the Black Sea for over two centuries, until Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the Ukrainians have driven the Black Sea Fleet from the western Black Sea. Now Ukraine is obtaining two Ada class corvettes to assist in keeping what is left of the Russian Black Sea Fleet out of the western portions of the Black Sea.




Fly Play hf: Candidacy for the Board of Directors of PLAY

The Annual General Meeting of Fly Play hf. will be held at 16:00 (GMT) on March 21, 2024, at Setri, Grand Hotel, Reykjavik.

Notice about candidature for the Board of Directors expired on the 16th of March at 16:00 (GMT).

Five individuals have declared candidacy to the companys Board of Directors. The companys Board has declared all submitted candidacies in order in accordance with Article 63.a. of the Act respecting Public Limited Companies, and the companys Articles of Association.

As no additional candidacies were submitted, these candidates will be elected to the Board of Directors without a ballot at the meeting.

In the attachment is additional information about the candidates.





Attachments
With reference to the announcement of Kvika banki hf. ("Kvika" or "the bank") from November 17, 2023, and later announcements, regarding the sales process of its insurance subsidiary TM tryggingar hf. ("TM"), it is hereby announced that Kvika has received binding offers for the purchase of the share capital of TM.

The Board of Directors of Kvika has with its advisors evaluated the offers received and subsequently decided to accept an offer from Landsbankinn hf. with the aim to complete a confirmatory due diligence review, and sign a purchase agreement between the two banks for the purchase and sale of 100% of TM's shares as soon as possible, with standard conditions of approval from The Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central Bank of Iceland and the Competition Authority.

The purchase price according to the offer is ISK 28.6 billion and Landsbankinn will pay for the share capital in cash. The purchase price is based on TM's balance sheet at the end of 2023. The final purchase price will be adjusted for changes in TM's tangible equity from the beginning of the year 2024 to the completion date, and the amount of the change will be added to or subtracted from the purchase price in the offer.

TMs forecast for 2024 assumes a profit of just over ISK 3 billion. Kvikas holding in TM was valued at ISK 26.8 billion at the end of 2023.

Further updates on the sales process will be provided in a timely manner as material developments occur, consistent with the banks statutory disclosure obligations.

Armann orvaldsson, CEO of Kvika:

"We are very pleased that Kvika's sales process of TM has now reached the point where it is possible to accept the offer from Landsbankinn with the aim of completing the sale. If the process leads to the signing of a purchase agreement, it will be beneficial for all parties, Kvika, Landsbankinn and TM, their customers, shareholders, and other stakeholders.

TM is a well-run and valuable insurance company with excellent people, and I am confident it will continue to provide outstanding service to its customers and grow even further under new ownership."

Please note that this notice is a disclosure of inside information per article 17 of regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on market abuse ("MAR"), which is implemented into Icelandic law with the act on measures against market abuse No 60/2021.

For further information please contact Magnus or Gylfason, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations, at [email protected]
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.



Assertive Yield welcomes Priti Powell as its new Chief Strategy

Officer (CSO), effective immediately. In her role, Priti will spearhead the company's go-to-market strategy. Her responsibilities include identifying opportunities to accelerate growth and profitability while optimizing business performance.

Nils Lind, Founder, and CEO of Assertive Yield, stated: As we remain dedicated to empowering publishers to innovate and drive revenue growth, Priti will help us maintain our momentum globally. With Pritis experience working cross-functionally and taking ownership of commercial strategy, we're confident she'll drive future growth, and provide strategic guidance on our product pipeline.

Priti added, "Im proud to be part of an outstanding team of ad tech experts and engineering leaders delivering cutting-edge tech. I am thrilled to be part of shaping the future of our company, and eager to work alongside our team to create additional value for our publishers."

As a senior executive, Ms. Powell has deep experience in the areas of go-to-market strategy, publisher development, client success, marketing, and communications, primarily in the ad tech and consulting industries. Priti's career is distinguished by her leadership roles at organizations including The Trade Desk, OpenWeb, PubMatic, and PwC. With versatile experience within the Ad Tech ecosystem, particularly as the former Global Head of OpenWrap at PubMatic, leading Customer Success at OpenWeb and driving growth for TTDs OpenPath and UID2 solutions, she brings a wealth of knowledge in assisting Assertive Yields publisher community in navigating today's evolving market.

Assertive Yield's appointment of Priti coincides with significant growth, with profits doubling annually for three consecutive years. Sherzod Rizaev, COO, emphasized the company's commitment to innovative AI-driven monetization tools, stating, "Priti's appointment reaffirms our dedication to investing in team members and resources to continue empowering publishers for success in today's evolving landscape."

To learn more about Priti Powell, visit her online profile or schedule a call.

About Assertive Yield

Assertive Yield stands as a global leader in empowering publishers, SSPs and Ad Networks to maximize their revenue potential. Our suite of solutions, including Yield Manager, Yield Intelligence, and Yield Optimization, leverages AI and powerful scripts to offer comprehensive data from all revenue sources, enabling publishers to enhance both revenue and user experiences.

With advanced AI-driven features such as real-time revenue predictions, dynamic pricing flooring, AI layouts, Web Ad Mediation, and A/B/n testing, they provide an all-encompassing platform for publishers' monetization strategies. Distinguished clients, including LADbible, Content IQ, GumGum, benefit from Assertive Yield's services, with over 250 bidders monitored, encompassing more than 20 trillion data points for 300+ active users globally. For more information, please visit www.assertiveyield.com.



Contact Info:

Name: Katia Moura Rodrigues

Email: Send Email

Organization: Assertive Yield

Website: https://www.assertiveyield.com/



Release ID: 89124388

If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our expert team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours  ensuring swift resolution of identified issues or offering guidance on removal procedures. Delivering accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission.
People visit the AliExpo 2024 in Sydney, Australia, March 15, 2024. Alibaba launched a two-day e-commerce event AliExpo 2024 in Sydney on Friday to help inspire reading about opportunities in China and Southeast Asia and provide attendees with relevant information. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

China and Australia can leverage their strengths through their joint efforts to build a more prosperous and secure future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- As two major Asia-Pacific countries critical to global economic growth, enhancing the ties between China and Australia is mutually beneficial and echoes the expectations of neighboring nations.

There is no historical grievance or contemporary hostility between China and Australia, and their common interests vastly outweigh any differences. Both sides must ensure that cooperation continues as the cornerstone of the bilateral ties.

Since taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has remedied its predecessor's irrational anti-China policies, prompting a positive response from China. As a result, China-Australia ties have gradually bottomed out, recovered and stabilized.

Albanese's visit to China last year was highly successful, with leaders of both nations agreeing to advance the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. During the visit, the Statement on Joint Outcomes of the China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting was issued, outlining a blueprint for the future development of bilateral relations in the next stage.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is slated soon to hold the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue during his visit to Australia with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

The visit comes as the two countries mark the 10th anniversary of establishing the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides should seize this moment to review their past relationship and extract valuable insights and lessons to foster a stable and enduring bilateral relationship moving forward.

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao co-chairs the 16th China-Australia Joint Ministerial Economic Commission with visiting Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

China has long stood as Australia's most important trading partner, with bilateral trade comprising nearly one-third of Australia's total foreign trade.

The two economies are highly complementary: China boasts an enormous market in demand, an extensive industrial supply chain, and a large number of high-caliber workers and entrepreneurial talent, while Australia is home to rich and high-quality mineral resources, world-leading specialized expertise, a highly developed service industry and a well-established legal system.

There is no justification for such economically interdependent nations to fall victim to unfounded notions of "decoupling" or an imagined "new Cold War."

Instead, the two sides should fully exploit the potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and bolster ties in emerging areas such as climate change and green economy.

As the world's most dynamic region, the Asia-Pacific relies on close China-Australia relations. Together, they play a crucial role in fostering regional stability, driving economic growth, and tackling shared challenges like climate change and maritime security.

China and Australia can leverage their strengths through their joint efforts to build a more prosperous and secure future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. 
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

OX.FUN LAUNCHES COPY TRADING VAULTS IN WAKE OF $4 MILLION INVESTMENT



Last week, gamified crypto derivatives exchange OX.FUN secured a round of financing of USD 4 million. OX.FUN launched in January 2024 as a hybrid CEX/DEX perps exchange with Su Zhu and Kyle Davies (former Three Arrows Capital) onboard as advisors. Its mission is to make crypto trading attractive, engaging and rewarding again.

Advisor Su Zhu:

"OX.FUN solves the adversarial dynamics that characterize typical trading venues. It also has the most resilient community of this cycle. The best is yet to come.

Advisor Kyle Davies:



OX.FUN offers something for everyone, from active traders to passive stakers, in a flywheel ecosystem. The crypto community wants a fair product mechanism that's fun - and OX.FUN delivers.

WHAT THE FUN?

OX Coin ($OX) is OX.FUNs centerpiece. It is used as its on-platform collateral (with all PNL paid in $OX) and reward currency. Users earn $OX rewards when completing daily trading missions at 50% APY or passively HODLing $OX on OX.FUN. The exchange has also started burning $OX from collected fees.

OX.FUN provides a gamified trading experience and adopts an innovative dual-token trading model. Traders earn $OX for closing winning trades - but even closing losing trades is rewarded with OX.FUNs secondary token, $MILK. OX.FUN has recently listed 45+ pairs with deep liquidity and offers up to 10x leverage.

NOW LIVE: COPY TRADING VAULTS

OX.FUN has launched another avenue of earning: Copy Trading Vaults. It allows users to earn by copying the trades of the most interesting traders in the OX Community.

By staking a Copy Trading Vault, users are automatically copying Master Traders trades and earning from the Vaults PnL. Staking is set up flexibly: users can stake and redeem at any time, and stake multiple vaults simultaneously.

1 MILLION $OX PRIZE POOL for SU vs KYLE VAULT BATTLE

True to its playful nature, OX.FUN is launching copy trading with a gamified twist. Enter: Vault Battles. The first of its kind will be between none other than Su Zhu and Kyle Davies - with a prize pool of 1M $OX.

Users can stake the Vault which they believe will have the highest PNL at the end of the battle, and be eligible to win a share of the prize pool. And on top: stakers will be earning from Su and Kyles Vaults as they battle it out.

WHATS NEXT: EARNING FEES in PRISON and MORE

Since its inception, OX.FUN has reached the impressive milestone of 1.5B $OX deposits and volumes of 20 billion $OX. So whats next?

Launching in March, the Prison is a passive fee earning product which rewards stakers with a portion of collected fees plus treasury emissions. The longer you stake, the more you earn. Also on the horizon are multi-collateral and asset conversion to make onboarding even easier and attract a wider range of traders.

For more information, visit https://ox.fun and follow OX.FUN on X/Twitter

Contact Info:

Name: Jon Crane

Email: Send Email

Organization: OX.FUN

Website: https://ox.fun



Disclaimer:



This press release is for informational purposes only. Information verification has been done to the best of our ability. Still, due to the speculative nature of the blockchain (cryptocurrency, NFT, mining, etc.) sector as a whole, complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.



You are advised to conduct your own research and exercise caution. Investments in these fields are inherently risky and should be approached with due diligence.

Release ID: 89124478

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FILE PHOTO: Santiago Martin, an Indian businessman, poses for a photograph at an event in Coimbatore, India, June 30, 2021. Martin Group/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Shivam Patel

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's "lottery king", accused by the authorities of fraud and money laundering, has emerged with his company as the nation's top political donor under an opaque funding system that has just been partially opened to scrutiny.

Santiago Martin's Future Gaming and Hotel Services spent 13.68 billion Indian rupees ($165 million) between 2019 and 2024 - 40% more than the next-highest donor - under the now-scrapped funding system, which allowed anonymous and unlimited donations to political parties, data showed on Thursday.

The information, published by the election commission on the orders of India's Supreme Court, shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party was the biggest overall recipient but does not detail which party any donor gave to.

Future Gaming did not respond to Reuters request for comment on its donations. Although the court found the "electoral bonds" system unconstitutional, there was no suggestion that donations were improper.

The data on the defunct funding system draws attention to the chequered history of Martin, 59, who built a lottery-to-real estate empire up from selling lottery tickets as a teenager.

A flashy, smooth-talking figure who has made friends across the political spectrum, Martin has splurged on politicians, handing out expensive gifts as his business empire grew, according to local press accounts.

Over the years, tax authorities, police and investigative agencies have searched his business premises and seized properties in connection with cases against him. His appeals against property seizures by the Enforcement Directorate, India's financial crime agency, were dismissed last year.

The directorate filed a prosecution complaint in court in September against Future Gaming and 15 other Martin-affiliated companies under the money-laundering statute.

"They have allegedly cheated the lottery issuing state governments by not depositing the entire sale proceeds generated from the sale of lotteries," and violated the lottery law by illegally retaining and claiming prizes on unsold tickets, and manipulating data, the agency said.

Martin and his firm have denied wrongdoing. His conglomerate, Martin Group, said in October the group and its firms obey the law and that Martin was India's highest taxpayer in the financial year to March 2003.

LABOURER TO HOBNOBBER

After working as a teenage labourer in Myanmar to support his family, Martin returned to India in the late 1980s and began his business career in the southern city of Coimbatore, according to his nonprofit Martin Charitable Trust.

The two-digit lottery he ran gained popularity in the region as poor people dreamt of becoming rich overnight. Martin expanded to other states and eventually to neighbouring Bhutan and Nepal, where he had a monopoly on distributing the tickets, according to his website.

He produced a 200-million-rupee ($2.4-million) film - written by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu state and based on Russian writer Maxim Gorky's novel "Mother" - that was released in 2011.

That year the state's ruling party lost elections and Martin's fortunes turned.

He and his affiliates faced fraud allegations in 32 lottery scandal cases registered by India's federal police, including for allegedly defrauding the northeastern state of Sikkim of more than 45 billion rupees in unpaid lottery ticket proceeds.

He was jailed with several politicians for eight months in connection with 14 cases, including charges of land-grabbing, cheating and illegal lottery sales. He has not been convicted in any of the cases, some of which are still pending, and was released on bail in 2012.

As his troubles mounted, Martin's family took centre stage. His wife shared a dais in 2014 with Modi during his successful campaign for prime minister, and Martin's eldest son Charles joined Modi's party a year later.

($1 = 82.8830 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Shivam Patel; Editing by William Mallard)
YEREVAN (Reuters) - At least a thousand anti-Kremlin Russian emigres queued for hours outside their embassy in Armenia on Sunday, waiting to cast ballots in presidential election they admit they have little chance of influencing.

A more than one kilometre long queue was snaked through the streets around the large embassy complex in central Yerevan, where voting was being held. All those who spoke to Reuters said they had come to register their opposition to Vladimir Putin and his policies.

"It's clear that the president will be elected without us," said Kirill, a Russian living in Armenia who did not give his surname.

"I came personally to show that I disagree and to show that there are many of us. It seems to me that if the authorities see that there are many of us who disagree, then at least life in Russia may be a little easier for people and maybe some changes will occur."

Armenia, which allows Russians to stay without a visa, became one of the most popular refuges for Russians opposed to the Kremlin as political repression and conscription ramped up after the Feb. 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Yerevan authorities said in 2023 that over 100,000 Russians had moved to the mountainous South Caucasus country of around 3 million people.

Many of those Russians, who are typically young, anti-war and opposed to President Vladimir Putin, showed up to cast their votes on Sunday.

Allies of Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader who died in an Arctic penal colony last month, had asked his supporters in Russia and abroad to come to the polls at midday on Sunday in a show of strength.

They recommended supporters either spoil their ballots, or to vote for one of the three nominal opposition candidates permitted to run.

One Russian who gave her name as Alina said she had come with her husband without hope of her vote affecting the election's outcome, but to show how many people shared her views.

"The voting is not the most important thing here," she said.

Many of those queuing to vote said that they hope one day to return to their homeland in future, even as Putin is set to receive another six year term in office.

"I dream of returning to Russia," said Olga Mutovina, a journalist from the Siberian city of Irkutsk.

"I dream of a Russia where there will be independent courts, where the press will work freely, where people will not be imprisoned for their opinions."

(Reporting by Reuters in Yerevan; Writing by Felix Light in Tbilisi; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Military personnel are seen in the aftermath of what local authorities called a Ukrainian missile attack, in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Belgorod, Russia, March 17, 2024. Governor of Belgorod Region/Vyacheslav Gladkov via Telegram/Handout

(Reuters) -Ukraine launched 35 drones at targets across Russia that sparked a brief fire at an oil refinery, took aim at Moscow and disrupted electricity supplies in border areas, Russia said on Sunday, the last day of its presidential election.

Moscow has accused Kyiv of election sabotage with days of strikes on Russian infrastructure, one of the most sweeping air operations on Russian territory since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine two years ago.

Putin, all but certain to win re-election, has vowed to punish Ukraine for the attacks.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked his military forces and intelligence for new "long-range capabilities" in his nightly video address on Saturday, without mentioning the reported intensified attacks by his nation's forces.

The Russian defence ministry wrote on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday that 17 drones were destroyed over the southern Russian region of Krasnodar, four over the Moscow region and the rest over six other regions.

"The drones were neutralised, but a fire broke out as a result of the fall of one of the devices," the operational headquarters of the Krasnodar region in southern Russia said on Telegram.

The fire at the Slavyansk refinery in Krasnodar was extinguished and there were no casualties as a result of the fire, although preliminary information indicated one person had died of a heart attack, the administration said.

Roman Siniagovskyi, head of the Slavyansk administrative district, said on Telegram refinery workers had been evacuated and there was no threat to nearby populated areas from the incident.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda newspaper cited a Ukrainian intelligence source as saying Kyiv considered the drone raid a success because a large fire broke out near the crude distillation units which were the primary target.

The Slavyansk refinery, some 70 km (45 miles) north of Krasnodar, processes around 4.5 million metric tons of crude a year, producing fuel mainly for exports, but also sells some gasoline on the domestic market.

A Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters on Sunday that long-range Ukrainian attack drones launched by the SBU domestic security service had hit 12 Russian oil refineries during the war so far.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage reported from the drones shot down over three districts near Moscow.

North of Moscow four drones were destroyed over the Yaroslavl region, with no damage or injuries reported, Governor Mikhail Yevrayev said on Telegram.

In the border region of Belgorod, an attack by four Ukraine-launched drones damaged electricity and gas lines in one village, said Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Russia's defence ministry said Russian forces also shot down 12 rockets launched from Ukraine towards the Belgorod region on Sunday.

As Russia was facing attacks from Ukraine, Kyiv's military said on Sunday that Russian air attacks had damaged agricultural enterprises and destroyed several industrial buildings in the Black Sea port of Odesa overnight.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard, Tom Hogue and Hugh Lawson)
KYIV (Reuters) -Long-range Ukrainian attack drones launched by the SBU domestic security service have hit 12 Russian oil refineries during the war so far, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters on Sunday.

Officials in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar said Ukrainian drones had attacked the Slavyansk oil refinery, 70km (45 miles) north of the regional capital, overnight.

The Ukrainian source said the refinery, which processes about 4.5 million metric tons of crude a year and produces fuel mainly for exports, had been attacked in an operation staged by the SBU security service and other Ukrainian forces.

"The agency is continuing to implement a strategy to undermine the economic potential of Russia and reduce the flow of petro dollars that the enemy directs to the war," the source said.

"In total, SBU drones have recently successfully attacked 12 oil refineries in Russia."

The figure did not include operations conducted by Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency, which has also been attacking refineries with drones, a second intelligence source said.

Russia accuses Ukraine of using "terrorist activities" to try to disrupt its three-day presidential election. Official Russian media has reported that drones have attacked refineries in many regions in recent weeks, including refineries owned by Rosneft and Lukoil.

Oil and petroleum products are an important sources of revenue for Russia, which exports them to dozens of countries around the world.

Ukraine has developed and used long-range drones to try to strike back at Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has been conducting long-range aerial attacks with missile and drones throughout the war.

(Reporting by Tom BalmforthWriting by Pavel PolityukEditing by David Goodman)
A U.S. Air Force carry team transfers the remains of Air Force Maj. Randy Voas at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on April 10, 2010. (Brianne Zimny/U.S. Air Force)

The Air Force will posthumously award Distinguished Flying Cross medals to two airmen 14 years after they were killed in an CV-22 Osprey crash on April 9, 2010, during a mission near Qalat, Afghanistan.

Maj. Randell Voas and Senior Master Sgt. James Lackey helped save the lives of two crew members and 14 passengers on board after a series of incidents, including mechanical failure, caused the crash. Two passengers, as well as Voas and Lackey, were killed.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall authorized retroactive authority to Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, to approve the award nominations, according to a March 6 new release.

Randy and JBs actions in the face of chaos is what all Air Commandos train for, Bauernfeind said. I am grateful that we are able to recognize their final acts.

Team Hurlburt members from across the base line the streets, saluting the hearse carrying Senior Master Sgt. James Lackey as he is transported to the Hurlburt Field Airpark for his funeral April 16, 2010. (Caitlin ONeil-McKeown/Department of Defense)

Voas, a CV-22B pilot and flight lead, and Lackey, a CV-22B flight engineer, were assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

The crash was the first fatal accident in the Air Forces Osprey variant, the CV-22, since the special operations aircraft became operational in 2006, according to the Air Force Times.

An Air Force investigation listed 10 contributing factors to the cause of the mysterious crash, including weather, environmental conditions and aircraft performance.

The medals will be presented to the primary next of kin at a time to be determined.
An MH-139A Grey Wolf is displayed in a hangar March 9, 2024, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. The Grey Wolf, which will replace Malmstrom AFBs fleet of Vietnam-era UH-1N Hueys, provides the ability to cruise 50% faster and farther than the Huey, while also having a 30% larger cabin and capability to lift 5,000 pounds more. (Elora J. McCutcheon/U.S. Air Force)

The MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter, a replacement for the aging Vietnam-era Bell UH-1N Hueys, landed this month at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

The Grey Wolf is a multi-mission aircraft designed to protect intercontinental ballistic missiles and transport U.S. government officials and security forces.

The mission here is simply too important to be operating with yesterdays technology, Montana Sen. Jon Tester said at a ceremony March 9. And that is why, for years, we have worked to bring the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters to this base. This aircraft is state-of-the-art and will ensure Malmstroms mission will be able to carry on for decades to come.

The Grey Wolf also will be sent to Minot AFB in North Dakota, Warren AFB in Wyoming and Joint Base Andrews, Md.

Though the plan was for the Air Force to have 80 of the Grey Wolf helicopters, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the 2025 Air Force budget has cut the total.

The MH-139A program will replace the Air Force fleet of UH-1N aircraft, which have significant capability gaps in the areas of speed, range, endurance, payload capacity and aircraft self-protection, according to the budget report. Currently, funding is available to procure 42 MH-139A helicopters, training devices and associated support equipment.

The helicopter, according to Boeing, has a 50% increase in cruising speed and range, 30% larger cabin and an additional 5,000 pounds of lift capability than its predecessor. It also has state-of-the-art avionics with full autopilot mode, advanced flight deck functionality and lower operating and support costs. It also has better flexibility and improved safety.
Soldiers with the New York National Guards 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, lead the annual New York City St. Patricks Day Parade, Saturday, March 16, 2024. The Fighting 69th Infantry has led the parade since 1851. (Warren W. Wright Jr./U.S. Army)

A New York Army National Guard regiment with deep ties to Irish-American history once again took the lead in New York Citys St. Patricks Day Parade.

For the 173rd year in a row, soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment  the Fighting 69th  marched at the head of Saturdays parade, one of the worlds largest Irish heritage festivities.

The holiday commemorates Irelands patron saint and was popularized largely by Irish Catholic immigrants. While St. Patricks Day falls on March 17, some parades were moved up from Sunday, a day of worship for the Christian faithful.

Soldiers with the New York National Guards 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, lead the annual New York City Saint Patricks Day Parade, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Warren W. Wright Jr./U.S. Army)

This year marks the return of the 800-soldier battalion to the front lines of the parade, following their deployment to the Horn of Africa last year.

The regiment formed in 1849 as a New York state militia made up of Irish immigrants. Two years later, amidst anti-Irish Catholic sentiment, they were asked to lead the parade and fend off any attackers.

Traditions like these are fading out of our society, Lt. Col. Adam Bojarski, the batallions senior leader said. Its so important that units like the 69th continue to be the face of the Army National Guard and the National Guard as a whole.

A U.S. Army color guard comprised of soldiers with the New York National Guards 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, carry the nation, state, Army and unit flags into Saint Patricks Cathedral prior to the start of the New York City St. Patricks Day Parade, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Warren W. Wright Jr./U.S. Army) U.S. Army soldiers with the New York National Guards 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, wait for mass to begin at the Saint Patricks Cathedral in New York, Saturday, March 16, 2024. After mass, the soldiers led the annual New York City St. Patricks Day Parade down 5th Avenue. (Warren W. Wright Jr./U.S. Army)

The day began with an Irish whiskey toast at 6 a.m. at the historic Lexington Avenue Armory. Soldiers adorned their uniforms with sprigs of boxwood to emulate their Irish American predecessors who fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg during the Civil War, while officers of the unit received blackthorn fighting sticks, considered the mark of an Irish leader and gentleman, according to a New York National Guard news release.

Before dawn, they marched in formation to Saint Patricks Cathedral, where they attended a mass to remember the regiments fallen and to honor its heritage. Then the parade began in earnest.

In the moment, singing, just walking with everyone  it didnt feel long at all, said Pfc. Danyel Rodriguez, a computer and detection systems repairer assigned to the 69ths logistics unit, Hotel Company, 427th Brigade Support Battalion. Being around so many people, just singing along with everyone, it felt really nice. You just lose track of time, having a good time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Soldiers with the New York National Guards 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, lead the annual New York City St. Patricks Day Parade, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Warren W. Wright Jr./U.S. Army)

Soldiers with the New York National Guards 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, lead the annual New York City St. Patricks Day Parade, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Warren W. Wright Jr./U.S. Army)
Firefighters work at the site of a forest fire in Yajiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 17, 2024. The fire erupted in Baizi Village, in Yajiang County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Xinhua)

CHENGDU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- As of 2 a.m. Sunday, 930 individuals had already been dispatched to combat the forest fire raging in southwest China's Sichuan Province, with an additional 775 rushing to the site, local authorities said.

The fire erupted in Baizi Village, in Yajiang County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.

Eight helicopters had been deployed to put out the blaze.

On Sunday morning, several local residents told Xinhua that the fire was not visible from the county seat and that water, electricity, and communication services had remained unaffected.

Following the outbreak of the fire, Xinhua correspondents contacted Lianghekou hydropower station in Yajiang. A staff member said the station had not been affected by the fire.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Firefighters work at the site of a forest fire in Yajiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 17, 2024. The fire erupted in Baizi Village, in Yajiang County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Xinhua)

Firefighters work at the site of a forest fire in Yajiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 17, 2024. The fire erupted in Baizi Village, in Yajiang County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Xinhua)

A firefighter works at the site of a forest fire in Yajiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 17, 2024. The fire erupted in Baizi Village, in Yajiang County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Xinhua)

Firefighters work at the site of a forest fire in Yajiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 17, 2024. The fire erupted in Baizi Village, in Yajiang County of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Xinhua)
A protester burns tires during a demonstration following the resignation of its Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 12, 2024. (Clarens Siffroy, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  The U.S. government is arranging a charter flight to help U.S. citizens evacuate Haiti, where armed groups have once more breached the main seaport in Port-au-Prince and police on Saturday were carrying out an operation in the stronghold of a well-known gang leader who has been threatening civil war amid a wave of violent attacks.

The arrangement for the charter flight comes amid increased panic and fear after the private residence of the countrys police chief was set ablaze just hours after armed groups fired shots across the runway at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the direction of the polices headquarters.

The voluntary evacuations, which are not being done by the U.S. embassy, will occur out of Cap-Haitiens Hugo Chavez International Airport. Unlike Haitis gang-ridden capital, the northern port has been relatively calm. Still, like Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the capital, Cap-Haitiens runway has not seen any commercial air traffic since major U.S. carriers and other international airlines suspended service to the Caribbean country on March 4, citing the ongoing civil unrest. Domestic service was also suspended in Haiti after armed gangs breached the perimeter of both the national and international airports.

At least one flight, on a plane with 166 seats, is scheduled to leave Sunday, a source in Haiti confirmed to the Miami Herald.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the State Department said the flight is for U.S. citizens with valid U.S. passports. Americans are also warned that travel to Cap-Haitien is conducted at your own risk.

But getting to Cap-Haitien is no easy matter, leaving some Americans trapped on the island.

From Port-au-Prince, there is no way that you can safely travel to Cap-Haitien, said Andy Faller, who has been stuck in Haiti with his wife and their 6- and 7-year-old adoptive children. We are stuck here.

Faller said that even though theyre done with their adoption after seven years, they cannot safely get to the U.S. embassy to process the paperwork. Located in Tabarre, the embassy is in the crosshairs of several violent gangs that have been looting nearby businesses.

All of the roads heading north out of the capital are under the control of armed groups. Taking such a risk could lead to getting kidnapped and held for ransom  or worse, being killed.

Faced with few options, Haitians have been forced to shelter in place. Those living near the border with the Dominican Republic have attempted to cross, but the neighboring government is not accepting anyone with Haitian passports, several people who have attempted to flee said.

Others with deep pockets are attempting to leave by helicopters, but even that isnt guaranteed. Though several companies offering the service told the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald that charter prices range from $10,000 to $15,000, operators also acknowledge that costs could run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Several people in Haiti said theyve been quoted prices as high as $80,000.

It is not unusual for the State Department to coordinate flights for stranded U.S. citizens in countries where conflict or war has made it difficult or impossible for people to get out. How many Americans will avail themselves of the flight remains unclear.

On its travel.gov website, the State Department said the flight is available for U.S. citizens and their extended families. Americans are asked to fill out a crisis intake form at travel.state.gov

Haiti has had a Level 4 Do Not Travelwarning from the State Department for quite some time. Still, there are a number of U.S. citizens in the country, some of whom have been stuck waiting for the completion of adoptions, for example. Unlike after the 2010 earthquake, when both the Haitian government and the State Department made exceptions for those families, this has not been the case, leaving families to decide whether to stay with their children or leave them behind.

Faller, who is from Texas, recently contacted his congressional representative, Rep. Jake Ellzey, after calls to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, he said, didnt really answer his questions, other than asking if he filed Form N-600K.

Where we live, its fine, we havent had issues yet. The gangs arent here. But its more the unknown of what is going to happen, how far is it going to go, he said. Are we going to be able to find the supplies we need? Not being able to just leave. We dont have any options unless the United States is willing to do something as far as processing emergency visas in helping us get out. Were here.

The charter flight not only doesnt help those trapped in Port-au-Prince but also specifically mention that travelers have to have U.S. passports, which Faller said, appears to leave out those with U.S. resident cards. There is no option for residency or green cards on the intake form individuals are asked to fill out.

What about those with spousal visas or adopted Haitian children, even if you manage to get a visa? Where are they supposed to go if they cant get on this plane? Faller said. We are worried about us who cant get out, but the average Haitian is having a very hard time surviving right now.

Plans for the voluntary evacuations come as those in Haiti continue to find themselves faced with a rapidly deteriorating crisis. The coordinated violence by armed gangs has led to the escape of thousands of prisoners after two massive jailbreaks. Theyve also targeted the airport, seaport and National Palace.

On Saturday, Haiti National Police said specialized units were carrying out an operation in the lower Delmas neighborhood of the capital, which began on Friday.

Several bandits were mortally injured, firearms were sized and roads were unblocked by law enforcement officers, the police said in a statement.

Not initially planned, the operation began as an attempt by the police to unblock a road and regain control of one of the bases belonging to a specialized unit.

During the operation, however, police found themselves in a shootout with armed gang members, including Jimmy Cherizier, the former policeman turned gang chief known as Barbecue, who considers the area his fiefdom.

In a brief statement confirming the death of armed gang members, some also reportedly from an explosion in the area, the Haiti National Police did not provide details on the fate of Cherizier. It would only say that the operation remains ongoing and they were asking the population to cooperate.

As the police operation was unfolding, armed gangs attacked several businesses in lower Delmas and La Saline. A Toyota car dealership was looted and vehicles were stolen and set on fire. At another business, there was also reportedly an explosion that killed an unknown number of individuals. The bandits also returned to the seaport, which had been under the control of the police and army following several attacks days earlier.

Drone images showed dozens of people running in and out of containers at the port. The crowds are part of the gangs changing strategy where they send the population in first to pillage, and then follow.

Currently, over 260 humanitarian-owned containers are controlled by armed groups at the port, the United Nations lead child welfare agency said Saturday, announcing that 17 of its containers were looted.

Depriving children of vital health supplies amidst a collapsing healthcare system is a violation of their rights. This incident occurs at a critical moment when children need them the most, Bruno Maes, UNICEFs representative in Haiti, said. Looting of supplies that are essential for life-saving support for children must end immediately and humanitarian access must remain safe.

Maes, the UNICEF chief, said the violence is fanning a deeper humanitarian crisis that is bound to affect not just the capital but other areas of Haiti as people struggle to find food and other essentials.

For example, he said, six out of 10 hospitals are not functional due to the lack of electricity, fuel and medical supply shortages, which has a severe impact on children who need emergency medical attention, especially in Port-au-Prince. A critical shortage of blood products is also hindering surgeries, including those for individuals wounded in the crossfire.

2024 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an interview in Sochi, Russia, in June 2022. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool)

Ukrainians in territories occupied by the Russian military are being forced to vote in the Russian presidential election under the watch of heavily armed, masked soldiers who are accompanying election officials going from house to house, knocking on doors as they seek to compel participation.

The staging of the election in occupied Ukraine is a violation of international law and Russia was condemned in a statement at the United Nations on Friday by Ukraine and 55 other nations for its manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yevheniia Hliebova, head of Novomykolaivka village military administration in Kherson region, who has left occupied territory, described it as an election at gunpoint. That is, violence.

Election officials were walking around Novomykolaivka, Hliebova said, in a brigade accompanied by an armed soldier. He was carrying a weapon, so it was a threat, not verbal, but in fact it was a threat of violence. Those who refused to vote were threatened with repercussions, she said.

The intimidation of Ukrainians under Russian military control to cast ballots in the presidential election mirrors the process in autumn of 2022 when residents were similarly forced at gunpoint to vote in illegal referendums on Russian annexation. Then, Russia in some cases even claimed to annex territory in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia that its military had not yet occupied. In other cases, Ukraine later ousted the occupiers but Moscow has not relinquished its claims, which followed Russias illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Vladimir Putin, who has ruled as Russias supreme political leader since Dec. 31, 1999  repeatedly finding ways to defy term limits to stay in power  is guaranteed to win the election, giving him another six-year term. The election, even for legitimate voters in Russia, offers no genuine democratic choice with the Kremlin blocking genuine opposition candidates from the ballot, controlling media coverage and, critics allege, falsifying results.

Constitutional changes engineered by Putin in 2020 enable him to rule potentially until 2036, but it is generally understood that he will remain in charge as long as he wants.

The forced vote is part of a broader process of Russification in occupied regions, including forced curriculum changes in schools, the torture, imprisonment and expulsion of pro-Kyiv figures, the installation of Kremlin puppet administrations, and requiring Ukrainians to sign up for Russian passports to function in daily life.

In Mariupol, the occupied city on the Azov Sea, on Saturday, voting took place two years after Russias March 16, 2022 bombing of the citys drama theater, which killed hundreds of people sheltered there, despite a huge sign on the ground indicating that civilians, including children, were inside.

Russian state media, however, showed happy residents at a Mariupol polling station, which featured an exhibition of childrens drawings bearing slogans like Im a future voter  part of Russias continued use of children for state propaganda and indoctrination, which has been a central feature of the war in occupied areas and in Russia.

One Mariupol resident interview by The Washington Post by phone said, People couldnt care less about the elections because everyone understands perfectly well that its elections without choice. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the risk of retribution by Russian authorities.

Theres no rule of law, no courts, nothing. Everything is broken, the person said. Against this backdrop, the presidential elections are just some kind of crap.

The resident said people were forced to apply for Russian identity documents to receive social payments since early in the occupation, but new rules now require them to have Russian documents for everything from property titles of homes to drivers licenses. Many people are anxious, amid rumors that anyone with Ukrainian documents could be evicted.

In a post on Telegram, Ukraines military intelligence directorate, HUR, accused Russian forces of using intimidation, bribery, and pressure to force Ukrainians to vote.

Some Ukrainians who were being collared by election teams were asked to fill out ballots in front of pro-Kremlin election workers and soldiers  violating the principle of a secret ballot, a core tenet of democracy.

One woman in occupied Energodar, Zaporizhzhia region, was at her daughters apartment when she heard a knock on the door.

It was two representatives from the polling station and two seeming military personnel in balaclavas with rifles, carrying ballot boxes, the womans daughter, a former city council staffer who has fled the area, recounted. The woman and her daughter spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect the safety of family members living under occupation.

My mother had no intention of voting, but still, she was afraid to say so aloud, the daughter said. Instead, the mother said she did not live at the apartment and would vote later.

Other Energodar residents told election officials and soldiers that they had already voted, to which they replied, No problem, you can vote again, the daughter said. Men who could not produce Russian passports were questioned and their apartments searched, she said.

Natalia Petrenko, head of the military administration for Shulhyne, an occupied village in Luhansk region said that election officials and soldiers were targeting vulnerable elderly pensioners in house-to-house visits. Petrenko has left the occupied area but is in touch with friends and family still living in the village.

Days before the election they visited the pensioners with gifts, Petrenko said, and at the same time they told them that the commission will come to your home and you must put a mark for Putin.

A soldier in a balaclava came in with an automatic [weapon], she said. And now I just calmly imagine: an old woman is sitting, who remembers the Second World War, and a soldier with an automatic enters her house again.

What will she write down [on the ballot] What will she do? Theres this fear of the gun, the weapon, Petrenko added. And they are on every corner.

Halyna, who last year fled her home in Kakhovka, an occupied city in the southern Kherson region, said she spoke this week to her niece, 32, who is still there and described two soldiers accompanying a woman with a ballot box going from house to house, claiming they were carrying out preliminary voting because of shelling.

I wish these elections would pass quickly, the niece told her aunt in a message reviewed by The Post, adding that Ukrainian artillery fire had given the Russians an excuse to force people to vote at home. Theyre aiming at the military, she wrote, But when those rockets fly over, its so terrifying. I cover my ears but fear still overwhelms me. And now, Im crying again.

As the forced voting was underway, successive Russian ballistic missile strikes on Friday hit the southern port city of Odessa, killing 21 people, including rescuers who had arrived to help after the initial explosion. Dozens more were injured and hospitalized.

Among the dead were a former deputy mayor of Odessa, Serhii Tetyukhin, and a former head of the Odessa regional police, Oleksandr Hostishchev, who was also the head of a National Guard regiment, officials said.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said on Friday that Russias pattern of holding sham elections in occupied Ukraine was a cynical attempt to legitimize Putins illegal attempt at a land grab. Lets call this what this is, she said. Its a blatant propaganda exercise.

Russias deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyanskiy, replied that like it or not, Russia was conducting democratic elections on territories which administratively, politically and economically are part of our country.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that international bodies should no longer recognize Putins legitimacy and called for Russias suspension from global institutions.

In Berdyansk, an occupied Ukrainian city on the Sea of Azov, a 72-year-old woman reached by phone said that election officials were going door to door, urging people to vote. Thats how theyre trying to get a higher turnout, the woman said. She spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.

A 45-year-old woman in Berdyansk, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said three women with a ballot box accompanied by an armed soldier visited her home and others. Those who didnt vote at home, who they didnt catch, have to go vote at the polling station, she said. Whether Ill go or not is another question.

Election workers in Mariupol told Russian state-owned RIA Novosti news agency that the election was peaceful, and the agency broadcast interviews with voters who said they hoped that life would improve with the region as part of Russia.

RIA Novosti also quoted a pro-Kremlin official in Donetsk claiming that residents were voting in the recently Russian-seized city of Avdiivka, which was almost completely destroyed in fighting with most of the population displaced.

In Russia, the authorities have opened at least 15 criminal cases after a wave of protests at Russian polling stations during the first day of voting on Friday.

A voter was detained in Moscows Ramenki district on Saturday for writing Putin is a murderer on his ballot, RusNews reported, after a policeman saw his ballot.
U.S. Central Command conducted an airdrop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on March 17, 2024. (U.S. Central Command)

The U.S. military conducted an airdrop over Gaza on Sunday for the 11th consecutive day and 13th time overall, U.S. Central Command announced.

The joint operation included two C-17 Globemaster III U.S. Air Force aircraft and U.S. Army soldiers who specialize in aerial delivery of humanitarian assistance supplies. The C-17s dropped more than 28,800 meals and 34,500 bottles of water into Northern Gaza on Sunday.

The airdrops will continue, CENTCOM said, and they are part of an expanding U.S. effort that includes a sea route and a planned temporary port.

Four U.S. Army ships departed Virginia last week en route to the eastern Mediterranean Sea where soldiers on board will help build the offshore port to deliver aid.

The ships left Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Tuesday carrying dozens of soldiers from the Armys 7th Transportation Brigade, which was tapped last week with building the floating pier and causeway into Gaza. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman, said Navy personnel would also deploy to help construct the port, but the service has not publicly announced which of its units or ships would participate.
An F-22 Raptor taxis at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 9, 2019. (Michael Campbell/U.S. Air Force)

An airman died Friday after sustaining an injury while performing his assigned duties at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, according to the 3rd Wing.

The staff sergeant was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident, the wing announced in a statement that day. The airmans identity will be released 24 hours after family is notified.

Wing officials did not immediately respond to an email requesting further information Saturday.
NEW DELHI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to expand hydro-power cooperation during their talks held in the Indian capital, according to a joint statement issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs.

The two prime ministers met on Thursday, the first day of Tobgay's five-day official visit to India. It is Tobgay's first overseas visit after he assumed office in January.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, with a focus on energy cooperation and welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding on a 15 billion Indian rupee (around 181 million U.S. dollar) concessionary financing to the Bhutanese government for youth development. 
A wooden gavel and block is seen inside the Senate Hart Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

Federal judiciary leaders on Friday released the text of a revised policy directing district courts to assign judges at random in civil cases that have statewide or national implications, making clear that the policy is a recommendation and that they cannot force district courts to follow it.

The Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the policymaking body for the federal courts, released the guidance after receiving intense pushback about the change from judges, conservative lawmakers and judicial experts.

On Tuesday, conference officials announced that cases with statewide or national implications that are filed in single-judge divisions should no longer be automatically assigned to the judges who preside there. Such divisions exist in rural parts of the country where courthouses are spaced very far apart.

District courts may continue to assign cases to a single-judge division if those cases dont seek to bar or mandate state or federal actions through declaratory judgment or injunctive relief, the Judicial Conference said. When random assignments are required, the case should be assigned to a judge within the same judicial district.

The policy does not apply to criminal or bankruptcy cases, according to the memo released Friday. Case assignment in the bankruptcy context remains under study.

The memo, shared with district court judges across the country, includes guidance explaining how the judges might follow the updated rule while recognizing the statutory authority and discretion that district courts have with respect to case assignment.

Judicial Conference officials said their intent is to address widespread concerns about judge shopping - or filing a lawsuit in a courthouse where the lone judge is known or suspected to be sympathetic to a particular cause. The tactic has drawn scrutiny in abortion, immigration and environmental cases, among other hot-button topics, as well as in patent cases, which have been concentrated in a single-judge courthouse in the Waco division of the Western District of Texas.

But the changes proposed to address the concerns have drawn a wave of new objections, with some saying the new policy violates federal statute 28 U.S.C. 137, which says that the chief judges of each district court are responsible for assigning cases.

In the Friday memo, the committee said it was providing instructions on how to deter judge-shopping, not issuing a direct mandate, which would conflict with chief judges case assignment authority.

The policies and the accompanying guidance should not be viewed as impairing a courts authority or discretion, Jackie Koszczuk, spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, said. Rather, they set out various ways for courts to align their case assignment practices with the long-standing Judicial Conference policy of random case assignment.

Russell Wheeler, a judicial expert at the Brookings Institution, said the guidance suggests, without saying so directly, that conference officials are acting on their authority under federal statute 28 U.S.C. 331 to submit suggestions and recommendations to the various courts to promote uniformity of management procedures and the expeditious conduct of court business.

Confusion resolved, and the Guidance on first reading seems eminently sensible, Wheeler said in an email.

This guidance was helpful, Chief Judge Randy Crane of the Southern District of Texas wrote in an email. It made it clear that the policy adopted by the Committee and the Conference was not a mandate. As such, it does not conflict with each courts statutory authority to manage its docket. The guidance reflects that it is only an encouragement to the courts.

Democratic and Republican members of Congress, the Biden administration and organizations such as the American Bar Association have raised concerns about judge shopping in the past, and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. also highlighted the issue in his 2021 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary.

In November 2021, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and then-Democratic senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont criticized the extreme concentration of patent cases in U.S. District Judge Alan Albrights division in Waco. In a letter addressed to Roberts, who oversees the Judicial Conference, the senators asked the chief justice to direct the policymaking body to look into the matter and implement reforms.

We believe this creates an appearance of impropriety which damages the federal judiciarys reputation for the fair and equal administration of the law, they wrote.

In issuing its guidance, the Court Administration and Case Management Committee noted that public confidence in the case assignment process requires transparency and suggested that judicial districts post their rules for case assignments on their websites and avoid case assignment practices that result in the likelihood that a case will be assigned to a particular judge unless there is a specific determination that the case should be heard in a particular location.

The Judicial Conferences longstanding policies supporting the random assignment of cases and ensuring that district judges remain generalists deter both judge-shopping and the assignment of cases based on the perceived merits or abilities of a particular judge, the memo reads.

Much of the backlash against the new policy guidance has come from conservative judges and lawmakers, who accused the Judicial Conference and Democrats such as Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) of an attempt to grab power from conservative jurists in isolated jurisdictions.

Two days after the revised policy was announced, before the specifics were made public, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sent letters to about a dozen chief judges across the country advising them to ignore the change, saying it was up to them to manage the caseload of your court according to the dictates of local circumstances and convention.

The letter was also signed by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) and Tillis - who in 2021 questioned the concentration of patent cases in Waco. A spokesman for Tillis did not respond to a request for comment on the senators position Friday or early Saturday.

On Friday, after the text of the new guidance was released, a conservative judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit said he was glad to see that folks appear to be backing off.

Judges should follow the law, and leave the politics to Congress, U.S. District Judge James Ho said in an email. The last thing we should do is gerrymander the rules to favor one particular political viewpoint.

Other judges have expressed concerns about practicality.

Chief Judge Alia Moses of the Western District of Texas said it was hard to imagine how a random-case-assignment policy would work in her far-flung district, where the next courthouse can be a multiday drive away. The desire to avoid targeting a specific lawsuit to a particular judge is understandable, Moses said in an email, but difficult to apply in the real world in a district that is 93,000 square miles in size.

In announcing the policy on Tuesday, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th District Jeffrey Sutton, chair of the Judicial Conferences executive committee, told reporters that one option for dealing with geographical distance issues could be holding some court proceedings online.

Wheeler, the judicial expert, questioned whether the conference will be able to persuade all district courts to follow the policy. He said judicial leaders could use the rulemaking process to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which govern civil proceedings in the district courts.

But given the hostile reaction, especially from those where the judge-shopping practice has flourished, such a move would be a tough slog, he said.

That leaves Congress. Dream on.
The first portrait of Joe Biden as president of the United States on Jan. 1, 2021. (The White House)

A voting advocacy group is suing a political consultant and companies behind an AI-generated robocall of President Biden that in January urged New Hampshire voters not to participate in the states presidential primary.

The League of Women Voters of New Hampshire accuses campaign consultant Steve Kramer and telecom companies Life Corp. and Lingo Telecom of voter intimidation, coercion and deception in violation of federal and state laws, including the Voting Rights Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire on behalf of three voters who said they received the robocalls, asks a judge to fine the defendants and block them from producing, generating or distributing other robocalls generated with artificial intelligence.

These deceptive robocalls attempted to cause widespread confusion among New Hampshire voters, Liz Tentarelli, president of the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. The League of Women Voters works to ensure that all voters, regardless of their party affiliation, have the most accurate election information to make their voices heard. We will continue to advocate for New Hampshire voters and fight against malicious schemes to suppress the vote.

Generative AI - technology that forms text, images or sounds based on the data it is fed - has become more common and sophisticated in recent years. Deepfakes often spread on X, Facebook and other social media platforms, The Washington Post reports, but the January robocall incident is one of the first known major uses of AI to interfere with a U.S. presidential election and showcases the disruptive, sweeping powers of AI: Nearly anyone can use it to sow chaos and confusion.

While bad faith actors have long sought to undermine the electoral process through threats, intimidation, and coercion, the Defendants malicious use of artificial intelligence poses a novel and dangerous threat to American democracy, the League of Women Voters chapter wrote in its complaint.

Life Corp.; its owner, Walter Monk; Lingo Telecom; and a representative for Kramer declined to comment Saturday.

Kramer told The Washington Post in February that he hired magician and self-described digital nomad Paul Carpenter to imitate Bidens voice using software from the AI voice-cloning company ElevenLabs. Kramer said the deepfake voice of Biden was created in less than 30 minutes and delivered by Voice Broadcasting, an entity associated with Life Corp. Kramer told The Post that he created the robocall to raise awareness about the dangers of AI during a pivotal election year.

If anybody can do it, whats a person with real money, or an entity with real money, going to do? he said. Carpenter is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

His attorney Brandon Kizy said Carpenter is complying with the investigations, but he otherwise declined to comment.

The caller identification data showed that the messages appeared to come from former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Kathy Sullivan, who was leading the effort to get voters to write in Bidens name on the ballot, according to the lawsuit.

The call said: This coming Tuesday is the New Hampshire Presidential Preference Primary, according to the lawsuit. Republicans have been trying to push nonpartisan and Democratic voters to participate in their primary.

What a bunch of malarkey. We know the value of voting Democratic when our votes count. Its important that you save your vote for the November election. Well need your help in electing Democrats up and down the ticket. Voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again. Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday.

In early February, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella (R) opened a criminal investigation into Life Corp. and sent the Texas-based telecom company a letter ordering it to stop the calls. The Federal Communications Commission is also investigating.

Laws have been slow to match the pace at which generative AI is advancing. Discussions about the technology have stalled in Congress, despite warnings from industry officials such as OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. Meanwhile, European regulators have moved at breakneck speed.

However, the FCC has taken action to rein in AI. In the weeks after the robocalls, the FCC unanimously adopted a ruling clarifying that generating a voice with AI for a robocall is illegal.

Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. Were putting the fraudsters behind these robocalls on notice.
Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan Saturday directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to continue talks for the rights of his province at the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and other federal forums, besides cooperating with security agencies on security-related matters.

In a statement, KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif confirmed that CM Gandapur met with the party founder in Adiala Jail earlier today to seek his guidance on important political matters.

Matters related to the upcoming SIFC meeting  a hybrid civil-military forum created to attract investment from the Gulf countries  Senate elections, law and order situation in the province, and other issues were discussed in the meeting, the spokesperson added.

CM Gandapur also briefed the party founder in detail on his maiden meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier this week, which was seen as an important political development to bring down the political temperature in the country.

After his meeting with PM Shehbaz on Wednesday, Gandpur termed his first interaction with the premier as "good and positive".

Also read: KP chief minister meets PTI founder at Adiala Jail

Talking to newsmen flanked by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and other PML-N leaders following a meeting with the premier, CM Gandapur had said that during the meeting, he stressed on the need to hold political dialogue with the PTIs-incarcerated founder who has been behind bars since August last year in different cases, ranging from corruption to terrorism.

In the same media interaction, Gandapur said PM Shehbaz had also assured him that he would be allowed to meet the party founder in Rawalpindis Adiala Jail after the authorities beefed up security measures and barred ex-premier Imran from holding meetings owing to threat alert.

In the statement today, Barrister Saif said the law and order situation in the province also came under discussion in the meeting with Imran directing CM Gandapur "to continue cooperating with security agencies on security-related matters.

CM Gandapur also briefed Khan about the restoration of the Sehat Card (health card) and Ramadan package in KP.
Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Maleeka Ali Bokhari thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her timely intervention in getting her name removed from the exit control list (ECL), also known as no-fly list, so that the former could visit her ailing sister in Australia.

Maleeka had appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to allow her to visit the mother figure sister in Australia, who had suffered brain haemorrhage and was on her deathbed.

Taking notice of her request, Maryam through her social media account, X, assured her that she would talk to the concerned authorities in this regard.

Let me speak to the concerned authorities Maleeka. I hope you have filed a request in writing officially. May Allah bless your sister with good health, she tweeted.

After a while, Maleeka thanked Maryam for her assistance. Thank you for your timely intervention. I have been informed that my name has been removed from the no fly list, she responded.

In May 2023, names of hundreds of PTI leaders and former assembly members including party founder Imran Khan had been placed to the ECL.

Their names were placed on the no-fly list following the May 9 incident so that it could be investigated. The attacks refer to the violent protests that broke out after the arrest of the incarcerated PTI founder in Al-Qadir Trust case.

The placement of their names on the no-fly list prevented them from going abroad so that the allegations of their involvement in the May 9 violent riots could be investigated. The incidents on May 9, 2023, caused damage to public and private property, particularly those belonging to the states military.

In her request, Maleeka had said being a Pakistani citizen, the constitution had entitled her the fundamental right to freedom of movement and travel. She had said her eldest sister was fighting for her life and she wanted to see her face.

Her brain has swelled up, (she) had a massive heart attack, and is now on life support on a ventilator. The doctors have given us 24 hours to decide whether they will declare her dead or keep her on the ventilator, she had written adding that PM Shehbaz and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had placed her on an illegal no-fly travel list for a year now.
A day after seven Pakistan Army personnel, including two officers, were martyred in a terrorist attack, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said militants are using Afghanistan soil to carry out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

Terrorism against us is mostly being conducted from Afghanistan, the defence minister said while speaking to the media in Sialkot on Sunday.

Two officers and five soldiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred while repulsing an attack by terrorists on a post of security forces in the North Waziristan district on Saturday.

Pakistan has time and again accused the Afghan authorities of not taking action against terrorist outfits including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating on its soil and involved in cross-border attacks against security forces and civilians.

In the presser today, Asif said some facilitators of the terrorists have been traced, and Pakistan has raised the issue with the Afghanistan government, according to Radio Pakistan.

He also reiterated that "those people [foreign national] who do not have valid documents would not be allowed to live in Pakistan".

Earlier today, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) social media team of being behind the accounts targeting Pakistan Army and the soldiers who were martyred in North Waziristan a day earlier, warning action against them.

Tarar, while speaking about the terror incident, said that Pakistan Army, the police and people have made sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

"I condemn the insulting social media campaign launched by a political party against the martyrs and their sacrifices," said the information minister while speaking during a presser in Lahore.

Without naming the PTI, the defence minister said those behind the social media campaign against martyrs must be linked with the terrorists.

He said the Khyber Pakhtukhwa, where PTI is in power, is the most affected province by terrorism.

In a separate post on his X handle, the defence minister said the PTIs alleged involvement in the smear campaign against the martyrs and forces is a reflection of anti-state attitude.

Referring to the previous PTI-led government policy to strike a ceasefire deal with the TTP, Asif said: Who brought thousands of terrorists from Afghanistan to Pakistan [and] kept explaining the benefits of their return in the National Assembly.

Moreover, he also questioned why terrorism in the country witnessed a surge following the removal of the PTIs government.

Identify the enemies. Loyalty to Pakistan is conditioned to power, he added.

Responding to the, PTI senior leader Asad Qaiser Sunday censured federal ministers for accusing his party of running an "insulting campaign" against the martyrs of Pakistan Army and security forces personnel, terming it a misleading propaganda against PTI.

Khawaja Asif and Ata Tarars misleading propaganda about the Pakistan Armys martyrs is regrettable, Qaiser said while speaking to journalists.

Following a surge in terrorist incidents, the caretaker government initiated a deportation campaign against illegal refugees mostly Afghans in Nov last year.
Gangland figure Martin Foley could lose home over his failure to pay 738,000 penalty

CAB are looking to take ownership of Martin Foleys house in Crumlin

Veteran gangster Martin the Viper Foley is facing having his house repossessed to pay off his massive Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) bill.

The 73-year-old was ordered to pay 738,449 in tax, interest and penalties after losing a Supreme Court appeal against a CAB case in 2020.

However, Foley, who has more than 60 convictions for offences, including assault, robbery and possession of threatening weapons, hasnt paid off the massive bill more than four years later.

CAB have now initiated proceedings to take possession of Foleys home in Crumlin to pay off some of what is owed to the State.

CAB are looking to take ownership of Martin Foleys house in Crumlin

He was recently served with a civil bill accompanied by an affidavit setting out the claim being made against him.

The case came before the Dublin County Registrar Possession list on Thursday.

The State Solicitor told Dublin County Registrar Rita Considine that Foley had been served with the civil bill.

Foley was not present at the case but was represented by Keith Farry, BL, and the court heard the veteran criminal would put in a responding affidavit over the coming weeks.

Jonathan Gill and Martin Foley joined forces in a debt collection enterprise

The State Solicitor said after they receive that submission, they will need to see what is in it and would like time to respond with a final affidavit.

The court heard that process would be completed by May 30.

Once all the information is presented the registrar will either grant the order for possession, strike out or dismiss the case, or adjourn the case to allow time for Foley and CAB to reach an agreement.

In 2020, Foley exhausted all avenues of appeal against the Criminal Assets Bureau over a 1990s income tax bill.

Martin Viper Foley has to pay 738,000 in tax, interest and penalties

The Supreme Court ruled he would have to pay a CAB tax and interest bill, which by 2020 had ballooned to over 738,000 for the years 1993/94 and 1999/2000.

He was hit with a tax bill of 218,000 for the years 1993/94 and 1999/2000.

He made payments totalling 40,000, reducing the bill to 178,000. In February 2002, he brought an appeal against the assessment, which was rejected.

However, the bill ballooned because of interest and penalties on the unpaid sum over more than 11 years.

The Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court have ruled he had no case and dismissed his appeals.

Last month, Foley was banned from setting foot in Wexford town for a period of one year after he received a suspended sentence for his role in an incident during which a man was threatened that his throat would be slit.

Foley with his wife Sonya at Wexford courthouse

He pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour arising from the incident in which a heavy for his company, Viper Debt Recovery, made the threat in an effort to recover a 4,000 debt from a tenant who had fallen behind on his rent to his landlord.

A charge alleging Foley had made a threat to kill tenant Nigel Doolin on the day of the incident was dropped previously.

Foley had pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with an intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether such a breach of the peace at Holly Walk, Cromwellsfort Grove, Wexford on June 17, 2020.

Foleys co-accused Alan Nulty had already pleaded guilty and been sentenced for making the threat to kill.

Nulty was working for Viper Debt Recovery  a company founded by Martin Foley  when he threatened tenant Mr Doolin he would have his throat slit while he walked his dog if he didnt come up with 4,000 in rent arrears.

Nulty uttered that threat, and another that he would get someone to smash your head with a hammer while attempting to collect the debt.

Foley has been involved in criminality for decades and was a member of the gang led by notorious criminal Martin the General Cahill who was shot dead outside his Dublin home in 1994.

Foleys associate Alan Nulty

Foley has himself survived four attempts on his life by criminals and republicans.

He set up a debt recovery firm two decades ago and last year he was pictured with former CAB target Jonathan Gill calling to a property in the Midlands, suggesting the pair have joined forces in an apparent debt-collection enterprise.

Gill, from Dublins Malahide Road, was previously acquitted of tiger kidnapping charges. He has been advertising his services as a mediator and negotiator for over two years.

In January, the High Court struck out a claim by Foley and his wife Sonya against the former Dublin city sheriff and the State following a CAB raid on their home 10 years ago

He claimed a breach of privacy occurred when his home was searched on October 15, 2014,as members of the media arrived outside the house during the search.

The couple claimed various rights including their right to privacy, data protection rights and the right to enjoyment of their home were breached.

However, the claims were struck out in January.
Over 1kg of diamorphine, 300g of cocaine and 20g of cannabis were seized, with a combined value of 259,172

A man who told gardai he found over 250,000 in drugs under a bush has been jailed for seven years.

When interviewed by gardai, Stuart Simpson (43) also said that he thought someone would claim the drugs but later decided to sell them.

Imposing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan noted while Simpson fully admitted his own involvement, he didn't tell gardai where the drugs came from.

Referring to Simpson's claim that he found the drugs under a bush, Judge Nolan said, We know that is not the case; he got the drugs from someone.

Garda Lee Keenan told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that a large quantity of brown and white powder was found following a search of a property at Shancastle Crescent, Clondalkin, on October 7, 2022.

Mixing bowls, weighing scales, other drug paraphernalia and cannabis were also found during the search.

In total, over 1kg of diamorphine, 300g of cocaine and 20g of cannabis were seized, with a combined value of 259,172.

Simpson of Shancastle Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was arrested by appointment. During interview, he told gardai that he found the drugs in a bush.

He said he didn't know how to mix the drugs and thought someone would claim them and later decided to sell them.

Gda Keenan told the court, I don't believe it to be the case that he found them [the drugs] in a bush.

Simpson pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. He has 46 previous convictions, including two for drugs offences.

Gda Keenan agreed with Dean Kelly SC, defending, that Simpson was cooperative and made admissions.

He also accepted that Simpson told gardai he was a wild young man in his early 20s and that many of his previous convictions date back to this period.

Gda Keenan accepted Mr Kelly's suggestion that his client was not a top man, but not at the bottom of the tree and had no trappings of wealth.

Mr Kelly said his client is aware that he is facing a custodial sentence and instructs there is a certain reality and pressure to where he lives.

He said his client's claim to have found the drugs under a bush can't be put aside but is not a fundamental dishonesty.

He said Simpson is married, and his wife, who was in court to support him, has had some health difficulties. Simpson also supports his father, who is experiencing ill health.

Mr Kelly asked the court to take into consideration when imposing a sentence, the difficulties that his client's absence will cause for his family and children.

Judge Nolan said Simpson showed no great signs of wealth, and it could be inferred that a lot of the profit from the drug dealing was going elsewhere.

He said Simpson was not at the low end of drug dealing enterprise, and while he was not going to make too much money, he was an essential cog at the low mid or middle level.
Tristan McKenna told Gardai that he was asked to hold it as he was a quiet individual.

The defendant's flat on Market Street, Sligo was raided by Gardai.

A 29 year old man caught with over 50,000 worth of a synthetic drug in his flat told Gardai he didnt know whether it was illegal or not.

Before Sligo Circuit Court was Tristan McKenna who was addicted to drugs at the time, so much so that when Gardai entered the flat it was in darkness because he couldnt afford the electricity he was spending so much on drugs.

McKenna, now living in the UK but formerly of St Edwards Terrace and a flat at Market Street in Sligo pleaded guilty to possession of Eutylone for the purpose of sale or supply on April 28, 2021.

He was also charged with possession of a small amount of cannabis.

The court heard the drug was similar to MDMA (esctasy).

Outlining the case, Garda Enda Devenney led by Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with State Solicitor Ms Elisa McHugh (prosecuting) revealed that in late April 2021, Gardai received information that the defendant was dealing drugs from a flat on Market Street with a steady flow of people coming and going from it.

A search warrant was obtained and was executed on April 29. Gardai knocked on the door but got no answer and forced entry.

They were met by a man in the darkness in the sitting room. He gave his details and said he didnt have enough money to top up his electricity.

Gardai found half a gramme of cannabis on a table which was worth 10.

There was evidence of drug parphernalia all over the room and in a shopping bag there was a large amount of white powder believed at the time to be cocaine.

The defendant was arrested at 9.45pm and taken to Ballymote Garda Station.

The value of the drug found, which turned out to be Eutylone, was 52,320.

The defendant said he was working in LIDL at Finisklin for two years and was getting 1,600 per month. His rent was 750 and he spent the rest on drugs.

McKenna said he was smoking weed as well as using other drugs like cocaine. He said he didnt know whether Eutylone was legal or illegal.

He told Gardai that he was asked to hold it as he was a quiet individual.

McKenna said that by the end of every month he would be running out of money and that he owed people for grass.

MDMA tablets. Stock images

The defendant said he was instructed to give out small amounts of the white powder to people.

Mr Mulrooney said that in the interim McKenna went to the UK and was asked to return which he did so on May 24, 2023 when he was charged. He did not have any previous convictions.

Garda Devenney agreed with Mr Des Dockery SC with Mr Eoin McGovern BL, instructed by Mr Gerard McGovern, Solicitor that McKenna was a daily cannabis user and who was an occasional cocaine snorter and that his drug habits were getting progressively worse.

Mr Dockery pointed out that the defendant told Gardai that he had been in a bad place, was stuck for money, had no food in the house and was spending what he had on drugs.

The Garda agreed that McKenna said he was afraid to name who he was holding the drug for.

McKenna had stated that he took 14 to 15 grammes of the drug which he shared with friends but that he was not selling it to anyone.

Garda Devenney also agreed that McKenna went to the UK in April or May 2022 and had remained there ever since. He had co-operated with the Probation Service.

Asked by Judge Keenan Johnson what was meant by the term, there was evidence of drug paraphernalia all over the room, Garda Devenney replied that there were a lot of empty deal bags and cannabis grinders in the flat.

Mr Dockery said his client had been caught red handed but he had been forthcoming at interview not withstanding the fact he did not name the person he was holding the drug for.

The only reward he got was to be able to consume some of it himself.

He made no financial gain, he was sharing it with his friends and was not selling it, said Mr Dockery, who added that the defendant had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity on October 6, 2023.

Judge Johnson said he was surprised that a 15a charge had not been brought which carries a minimum sentence of ten years in prison given the value of the drug.

Mr Dockery pleaded for leniency saying the defendant had removed himself from the drugs scene in Sligo by leaving for the UK where he was now living in the Leicestershire area working for a demolition company. He was a young man with a good working history.

He made a foolish decision in the throes of a deepening drug habit, he said. McKenna was viewed by the probation service as being at low risk of re-offending.

Mr Dockery said the defendant had smoked cannabis occasionally in the past two years while in the UK but that was how far it had gone. He had returned three times to face the court proceedings. Family members were in court including his mother.

McKenna, in evidence, said that at the time he was taking cannabis and cocaine along with Eutylone every day.

Anything I could get my hands on, he said, adding that he was also drinking.

He would start work in LIDL at 4 or 5am and finish around midday.

When you are on drugs you dont really know what you are doing or care. I was just feeding myself, he said.

He said he never wanted to sell drugs.

Im not a drug dealer, he said.

Asked what was in it for him then, the defendant replied, free drugs.

He said he had supplied Eutylone to his friends.

I would have called it herbal cocaine. Id never heard of it, he said.

He began taking cannabis at 16 and it kind of grew from that to cannabis, cocaine and MDMA. He said he was drug free now.

He travelled all over the UK working for the demolition company. He said it was the best thing he ever did was move to England as it gave him his life back.

I enjoy doing what Im doing in England. Ive no plans to stay here (Ireland), he said.

He said it was impossible to escape from the drugs scene in Sligo. People who were doing drugs then were still at it.

Mr Dockery pleaded that it was one of those cases which warranted an immediate custodial sentence but this was an unusual sort of offender.

Apart from an early guilty plea, this was an intelligent, articulate person who had taken conrete efforts to address his issues and had done so over the past two years.

He said he was asking the court to dangle a fully suspended sentence over him.

Passing sentence, Judge Johnson said it appears this was an operation that had been going on for some period of time.

An aggravating factor was the quantity of the drug which was a significant haul and also the nature of the drug.

He was clearly actively involved in the distribution of these drugs, said the Judge.

In mitigation there was an early guilty plea, he had shown remorse, he didnt gain financially, had a good work record and had come off drugs with clear urine analysis produced.

The defendant was also at low risk of re-offending and was suitable for Community Service.

Judge Johnson imposed a sentence of six years and six months but said he was inclined to suspend this for ten years if there was another positive probation report for the court on December 10th next.

The defendant was ordered to come up with 15,000 for a drug charity in Sligo

The defendant would also be required to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for ten years, refrain from taking illicit drugs, remain working in the UK and submit urine analyis when asked. Judge Johnson said he wouldnt countenance any deviation from those orders.
The injured party Liam Ferry suffered severe cuts to his face and a severed tendon in his hand

A 25 year old man who admitted drinking a bottle of vodka and taking tablets slashed out at a young man unknown to him on a Sligo street, severely cutting his face and also severing a tendon in his hand, Sligo Circuit Court heard.

Jed Noonan, of Westport, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal but now living in Co Longford was charged with assaulting Liam Ferry causing him harm at The Mall, Sligo on February 15 2022. He was also charged with production of a knife.

Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with Ms Elisa McHugh State Solicitor were Prosecuting, while Mr Colm Smyth SC with Mr Keith OGrady BL instructed by Mr Tom MacSharry solicitor appeared for the accused.

Gda Cian Erraught of Sligo Garda Station was outlining the evidence, led by Mr Mulrooney.

The court heard there were two counts of assault and one production of a knife.

He pleaded guilty to both offences.

The injured party Liam Ferry, still has a scar on his jawline, the court heard.

At the time he was 20 years old and a student of Business and Law in ATU Sligo.

He was out for a couple of drinks with friends in Ballinode and himself and one of his female friends decided to walk together towards the Garavogue Bar.

They walked past the hospital on The Mall and two men were approaching on the footpath. Mr Ferry and his friend were minding their own business. While walking past, one of the men said what are you saying to me aggressively to Mr Ferry.

He replied lad I didnt say anything.

Noonan then lunged at him and headbutted him. His friend was trying to summons help.

Mr Ferry then got hit on his hand and had been slashed with a knife.

His friend began to freak out. Noonan cut his face which was bleeding profusely.

Mr Ferry also had a large cut on his wrist.

He was treated in A&E and received four or five stitches to his face and his arm was bandaged up. He was told he would have to be transferred to Galway for surgery as one of the tendon flexes in his wrist that controls the little finger had been severed.

Mr Ferry clarified that he didnt start any arguments and didnt think the night would end with him being slashed.

Gda Erraught said he was on mobile patrol at 11:40pm.

Two males approached the patrol vehicle close to The Mall and said that a man was badly slashed open.

There were two offenders, one in a white shirt and one in a puffy jacket.

Gda Erraught notified his colleagues and continued patrolling the area.

At Regional Stores filling station, he spotted a pair of males matching the description given.

Gda Brannick searched Noonan.

He found a knife in a backpack and he was arrested.

Photographs of Mr Ferrys injuries were handed into court.

He suffered a significant laceration from his left ear going down his cheek.

Noonan in interview said he had a borderline personality disorder and was not taking his medication.

When asked what was he doing in Sligo, he replied he was on his way back to Longford but missed the train.

When asked why he had the knife he said for his own protection because of stuff going on.

He and his wife were attacked, he said. When asked about the assault on Mr Ferry he said he was out of his head on diazepam and said he pulled out the knife to frighten the individual. He said he must have swiped and caught him.

He said he was out of his head and confirmed he didnt know Mr Ferry but he thought something stupid a comment was said that started it.

It was his intention to frighten Mr Ferry. He said he was sorry and was pleading guilty.

Mr Mulrooney said there was no medical report and the injured party had not made a Victim Impact Statement.

Noonan had five previous convictions, two for burglary, one for Public Order, one for the unauthorised taking of an mpv and one for possession of a knife.

At the time of the offence, he was on bail which was the subject of a suspended sentence in Longford.

Mr Smyth said his client co-operated although his memory was affected.

He accepted his guilt and was pleading guilty. What he had done was very wrong.

Judge Johnson asked why there was no medical report.

Gda Erraught said it was requested but never furnished.

Judge Johnson asked him about the surgery on the severed tendon and whether Mr Ferry had movement back and he replied he had. The wound on his face was on the jawline and he didnt have to have plastic surgery.

He said it is still noticeable.

Noonan said he was very sorry for inflicting the serious injuries.

He had written a letter as an apology. He said he was deeply sorry and will regret it for the rest of his life.

He was in a very bad place with addictions and was now clean and sober. He said that he has compensation for Mr Ferry and was sorry for the harm he did to Mr Ferry and his family

He told the court he had consumed a bottle of vodka and two trays of diazepam.

The court heard he started drinking at 13 and smoked cannabis at eleven. He sad a significant problem with cocaine and prescribed drugs.

He brought 1,000 to court in compensation.

He was deemed at moderate risk of reoffending.

Judge Johnson said the accused pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and possession of a knife.

The victim was out socialising with a friend and they were walking from the Brewery Pub past Sligo hospital. They met the accused and another gentleman.

The accused shouted at the victim alleging he said something. The victim was headbutted and then slashed on the face and left arm.

He endured very serious injuries. The victim was so close to the hospital and needed medical attention for his injuries including an extremely serious laceration from his left ear down his jawline.

His left wrist had a severed tendon and the scar on his face was still noticeable. Judge Johnson said this was a savage, unprovoked attack.

He said the court was obliged to send out the message these offences will be punished.

He said the proliferation of knife crime was a significant issue and the court must send out the message that anyone carrying a knife and uses it can expect a custodial sentence.

He said that while there was no Victim Impact Statement, no doubt Mr Ferry was traumatised. Judge Johnson said he hopes he can move on with his life and wished him well.

The aggravating factors were the extremely serious assault, the very serious injuries. The accused had a knife and it was an unprovoked assault. The affect of the victim was a huge aggravating factor. He also had a previous conviction for possession of a knife.

The mitigating factors were the early plea, he did co-operate and Judge Johnson said gardai should be commended for apprehending him so quickly.

The accused also apologised.

The Probation Report said he is the father of two children and separated from their mother.

His father had died and he is fortunate to have support from his mother.

He was not working and in receipt of a disability allowance.

He is now drug free. He brought 1,000 to court which he said falls way short. He said it was a very sad state of affairs that Mr Ferry wont get the recompense he deserves as the system does not provide people with serious injury compensation. He said enormous amounts of money are spent on sending offenders to jail and rehabilitation, but nothing is spent on the victim. Judge Johnson pointed out that all other jurisdictions in the EU have proper systems in place for victims of crime.

He said this was a case that was at the upper end. Noonan used a knife to inflict serious injuries on the victim.

He said the headline sentence was four years and six months and with mitigation he reduced that to three years and six months. He suspended the last six months for the accused to enter a bond to keep the peace for six years.
The lads were sporting their UVF teeth while Matthews was showing off his recent hair transplant

East Belfast loyalists splurged on a ritzy weekend in Dublin while their pals in Belfast face a murder trial.

Lee Finzer Finlay and David Wee Mac Matthews sampled a taste of the champagne life with a pricey weekend at the five star Westbury Hotel with their glamourous partners.

The happy couples enjoyed some fine dining and were snapped outside the Temple Bar where a drink can set you back 10.

The lads were sporting their UVF teeth while Matthews was showing off his recent hair transplant.

The Temple bar

Matthews and his wife have just returned from a luxury holiday in Dubai.

The couple tied the knot last summer in a two day bash at the five star Galgorm Spa Resort in Co Antrim.

Posing outside The Temple Bar the couples are dressed head to toe in designer clothes. The lads are sporting exclusive Moncler jackets  if you have 2,000 to spare you can have one too.

Finzer and his partner have also been snapped living it up in Dubai and he has forked out an estimated 20,000 on pricey veneers for his teeth.

The shiny white teeth have become a loyalist trade mark  particularly in east Belfast.

Finzer and Wee Mac have been snapped showing off their teeth along with another east Belfast loyalist Andy Thompson.

The display of wealth has not gone down well back in Belfast.

Sources in the east of the city say there is anger at the ostentatious lifestyles being flaunted on social media at a time when associates of the two men are facing a murder trial and others are lying in jail.

The UVF leadership has moved against the East Belfast, it was only a few years ago they were dubbed the Ulster Veneer Force for their predilection for cosmetic surgery.

Partners and girlfriends were dubbed the `Gucci Gang for showing off their wealth.

Wee Mac, son of alleged former UVF chief Stephen Matthews, had been facing charges over his alleged involvement in a paramilitary show of strength in the Pitt Park area of the city in 2021.

The charges were dropped but his father is still facing a criminal trial alongside fellow prominent east Belfast loyalist Derek Lammey.

The days of flashing the cash are coming to an end, an east Belfast told the Sunday World.

Theres a lot of bitterness, especially when people are in jail and on trial.

Five people are on trial for the 2019 murder of Ian Ogle who was beaten and stabbed to death close to his home in Cluan Place off the Newtownards Road.

Two men, Mark Sewell and Jonathan Brown, have already pleaded guilty the remaining charge deny involvement.

Given the pressure that has been put on east Belfast UVF, its not a good look to have these running about spending money like its going out of fashion, said our source.
Letsie III, the King of Lesotho, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Maseru, Lesotho, March 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

MASERU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- For the past 30 years, Lesotho and China have enjoyed a very healthy and productive relationship, Letsie III, the King of Lesotho has said, and he hopes the relationship continue to strengthen and grow stronger as time progresses.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Lesotho. "Under that relationship, as a country, we have benefited a great deal from Chinese assistance and generosity," Letsie III told Xinhua in an interview on Monday at the royal residence Matsieng in capital Maseru.

For example, China has been strongly supporting Lesotho in the infrastructure development, he said, adding that with the help of China, Lesotho has built new roads, hospitals and various projects.

Since 1983, China has completed several aid projects in Lesotho, such as the Lesotho National Library, Manthabiseng Convention Center, the Parliament building, the Phase I of the Mafeteng Solar Power Plant Project, and technical cooperation projects such as vegetable planting, biogas technical guidance, and Juncao planting. China has also provided food aid to Lesotho on many occasions.

Letsie III highly appreciated China's proposals such as the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.

Regarding the cooperation in industrialization between the two nations, Letsie III hopes more Chinese companies invest in Lesotho so as to strengthen private sectors. "So that the private sector can play its meaningful role as a development engine to the economy, and also create jobs," he said.

Letsie III attached great importance to food security during the interview. He highlighted China's contribution in the agricultural sector in Lesotho over the past years, hoping the two countries can work together to find ways of expanding the programs in agriculture.

"I believe that (with China's help) we can achieve greater food security and greater nutrition security. Many Basotho (Lesotho people) would very much be appreciative of that," he said.

Speaking of the talent development, Letsie III noted that in the last 30 years, there were a lot of Basotho studying in China, and more and more Basotho are getting interested in the ancient and rich Chinese culture.

"We hope that trend will continue," he said, "we also hope that through interactions of this nature, more and more Chinese people will learn about our culture and our history."

Letsie III said that Lesotho has always adhered to the one-China policy and will continue to support China in playing a more active role on the international stage, which is in the interest of all people.

"This is mutually beneficial cooperation, and we hope that we can maintain that characteristic so that both Basotho and Chinese people can benefit from this relationship," said the king. 

Letsie III, the King of Lesotho, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Maseru, Lesotho, March 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
Mother-of-five attacked by friends husband as he escorted her home

The courageous victim of rapist Aidan Kestell has revealed how he stalked her for three-and-a-half years before he raped her in a park  as we publish the first image of the sex beast.

Dangerous sex attacker Kestell was jailed for seven-and-a-half years on Friday for the rape of Paula Doyle, a friend of his wifes, on September 6, 2019, at Hartstown Park, Hartstown, Dublin 15.

The schemer, who attacked Paula as he was walking her home from a party at his house, would later tell a series of shocking lies to gardai in a bid to cover up his guilt, including the ludicrous claim that sex took place accidentally after he fell on top of her with his penis exposed.

Paula Doyle

The court heard the attack left Paula a walking corpse in its aftermath.

The jury saw through the duplicitous predators ridiculous lies, with Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt setting a headline sentence of nine years for the rape on Friday as he ordered that Kestell pay a serious price for his crime.

The actions of the predator that is Aidan Kestell have caused me immense suffering, Paula told the Sunday World in a statement handed over afterwards.

During the investigation it was found that the vile texts, photos, videos and stalking I had been subjected to for three-and-a-half years prior to the rape were from him too.

He even had the audacity to drive up and down the cul-de-sac where I live since the attack.

I believe in innocent until proven guilty, but I also believe theres not enough being done to protect the victim who has already had their world destroyed.

Paula described Kestell as a manipulative and calculated individual with no conscience.

You are a worthless individual and I dare not put you in the same bracket as other normal men.

I am so relieved you now cannot prey, touch, or hurt another woman and I do believe this country is a safer place without you in it. You are now and will forever be known as a sex offender. 

Aidan Kestell at court

Kestell (55) was convicted of rape after a four-day trial at the Central Criminal Court last month.

Garda Leona Bellow told the court Paula was a long-standing friend of Kestells wife and was among the guests at a party in his house on the night in question

When she was leaving, her friend insisted Kestell walk her home. She was reluctant but eventually agreed. Paula stopped several times during the walk to tell Kestell she was fine and could walk the rest of the way alone, but he insisted on walking with her.

After reaching Hartstown Park, the next thing Paula remembered was lying on the ground in agony.

She realised she was being raped, and she then tried to fight off her attacker, who she realised was Kestell.

After he left, Paula made her way home, arriving around 3am.

The court heard the woman spent the weekend trying to process what had happened before going to a friends house the following Monday and telling her.

She then contacted a sexual assault treatment unit and made a complaint to gardai.

Kestell was arrested and interviewed several times. He initially denied any sexual interaction with the victim before claiming that she initiated sexual contact by performing oral sex.

Aidan Kestell at court

In another interview, he claimed sex took place accidentally after he fell on top of her with his penis exposed. Kestell told gardai: Im not sure if I entered her... the ground was wet and slippy, I could have slipped in.

At his sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Hunt noted that Kestell had first denied the offences and then gave a grudging acceptance that it had come about in a preposterous way.

Mr Justice Hunt said his actions were intentional, and there was nothing reckless about it.

In her statement, Paula praised Mr Justice Hunt, the jury, and the gardai for how they all handled her case. She also praised her family and friends.

To my partner, my five incredible children and my bestest of friends, you know you are my lifesavers, and I wouldnt be here today without you.

Aidan Kestell was jailed for seven-and-ahalf years

I know my journey is not over, but I have spent 1,651 days since the attack looking over my shoulder, holding my breath and putting my life on hold. This part of my ordeal is now over, and I can finally begin to work on myself and on my recovery... Today I am no longer a victim but a real survivor.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800 77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline or visit Rape Crisis Help.
Garda surveillance of Irish drugs gang led to the arrest of 10-man international crew suspected of offshore smuggling operation

Garda surveillance of a Dublin-based organised crime gang led to the operation in Cork this week during which 10 suspected members of an international drug-smuggling network were arrested.

Intercepted communications led to gardai discovering the details of a nine-man crew, who flew into the capital for the scheduled collection of a major consignment of cocaine off the coast of Cork on Thursday morning.

However, when officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau moved in on the mens vehicles following the appointed pick-up, no product was recovered.

The most likely scenario is they missed their rendezvous, a senior source told the Sunday World yesterday.

The seas were rough and there was an orange weather warning in place.

Somewhat luckily for them, it appears things didnt go according to plan.

If these guys werent present at the designated meeting point, the container ship, or mothership, would simply have sailed on and is probably now back in international waters.

And thats where co-operation with our international policing partners and Maoc Narc (Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre  Narcotics) kicks in  because operations to locate and detain it are ongoing.

Gardai swoop on a camper van which contained some of the gang

The arrests were carried out exactly as planned as these guys would all have left the jurisdiction after the failed pick-up if they werent apprehended.

The source continued: This was a homegrown Garda operation that arose as a result of intelligence gained through surveillance on a Dublin-based gang.

They were actively involved in this  it was an active link and investigations are ongoing.

Nine of the 10 men arrested on Thursday are foreign nationals and include six Spaniards, a Serbian and two Iranians travelling on Dutch passports.

The tenth person is a Fermanagh man who was arrested, in possession of an articulated lorry parked up near Tragumna, near Skibbereen, at 7.30am on Thursday.

Its understood gardai suspect the most senior criminal in the group is an Iranian national  who holds a Dutch passport  and has links to Dubai.

He was already, prior to his arrest, a person of interest to international police for ties to an international drug gangs.

Although Gardai are liaising with police in Dubai in relation to this weeks operation, sources said gardai have not established any link between the botched smuggling operation and the Kinahan cartel.

The involvement of the Iranians has led to speculation of the involvement of the Iranian regime-backed terror group Hezbollah, who are actively involved in international drug dealing and who have links to the cartel.

However, our source was unable to confirm this.

The 10 men were arrested early on Thursday when gardai closed in on a camper van, a 4x4 and an articulated lorry that intelligence had identified as in their use.

Its understood two of the gang arrived in Dublin a fortnight ago, while the others flew into Dublin airport last week and then travelled down to Cork.

The majority were staying in rented accommodation, while others were staying in the camper van in which they were arrested on Thursday.

Paperwork showed that this vehicle was rented in Northern Ireland.

Gardai believe the group in its entirety met up in the Skibbereen area prior to engaging in the botched drug collection.

A RIB (rigid inflatable boat) being used by the men was equipped with three powerful outboard engines.

The boat is believed to have only arrived in Ireland recently through Rosslare.

On Friday night, all 10 men arrested were brought before a special sitting of Bantry District Court, where an extension was sought for their periods of detention.

Chief Supt Vincent OSullivan described the investigation as a fast-moving dynamic investigation with multiple international lines of inquiry.

A truck that Gardai believe was to transport the shipment

He said because the investigation was complicated and in addition to carrying out inquiries with foreign police forces through both Interpol and Europol, gardai had gathered a huge amount of evidence.

He said 43 separate electronic devices had been seized, including mobile phones, laptops and a satellite phone which gardai believed were integral to the activities of the men.

The evidence also included 120 hours of CCTV, which gardai had harvested from various locations in west Cork and elsewhere.

Chief Supt OSullivan said that gardai were continuing to harvest CCTV footage which needed to be examined before it could be put to the suspects at interview.

He said it his belief that considerable financial resources were required to book flights into Ireland, accommodation in Ireland and hire vehicles as part of their plan to import a large quantity of drugs into the State.

Judge McNulty granted the 72-hour extension in the case of all 10 men and they were removed from Bandon Courthouse amid tight security

The men can be held for a period of up to seven days.
Angry locals have called for politicians and police to get a grip on the situation over fears gangland thugs are turning it into a Wild West

IRISH tourists planning a visit to the crime-ridden Costa del Sol resort of Puerto Banus have been warned they might be best packing bullet-proof vests alongside their shorts and sandals this summer.

Angry locals have called for politicians and police to get a grip on the situation over fears gangland thugs are turning it into a Wild West which will scare away holidaymakers.

They vented their fury yesterday following the second shooting in the affluent destination, part of the municipality of Marbella which has traditionally been described as a jet-set paradise, in the past week.

Extraordinary footage of the latest incident, which left a man seriously injured with gunshot wounds, showed bystanders running for their lives as others screamed in terror before loud shots ran out and a black car reversed at speed.

The shooting outside a shisha bar-restaurant near one of the entrances to the port in Banus, where a seedy world of prostitution, drugs and gangsters lies behind the designer shops and Ferraris lining the waterfront in summer, occurred around 1.30am yesterday.

Police have confirmed a 20-year-old man was hurt. He had left the scene by the time the first police patrol cars arrived and it later emerged he had been taken to a hospital in Malaga where he was operated on for knee injuries.

Yesterdays drama followed a shooting incident at British-owned eatery La Sala a minutes drive away on Monday lunchtime, where visitors over the years have included the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Erling Harland, Jurgen Klopp and Harry Maguire.

A gunman fired several bullets into the window of the popular celeb restaurant, just a minutes drive from the spot where the new shooting occurred, before escaping on a motorbike with an accomplice.

Fortunately no-one was injured in the drama, which occurred around 12.30am when it was already open with workers and some customers inside although not at its busiest.

The venues shareholders include former Premier League star David Bentley, who was once branded the next David Beckham.

Respected Spanish news website El Espanol described the La Sala incident earlier this week as a very severe warning, highlighting the fact another restaurant less than 300 feet away was one of two eateries attacked by arsonsists in the area on the same night last December.

It added: In Marbella these mafia-style warnings tend to go more unnoticed because they tend to be carried out with more discretion.

At the end of December last year two restaurants were set on fire. But that occurred during the night and with no witnesses.

Disgusted local residents are now branding Puerto Banus the Wild West and openly expressing their fears the whole of Marbella, voted the best European destination of 2024 earlier this month by specialist website European Best Destinations, could suffer the effects of the ports dark underside.

Sales worker Lina Nouri raged: Two shootings in less than 10 days. What reputation has Puerto Banus got now!

Antonio Mayor said: Is this whats it like? In the summer lets put our swim shorts and sandals on as well as a bullet-proof vest.

Another local wrote on social media, expressing her fears a stray bullet could kill an innocent person if the problems persist: My god, that you go out for a quiet night out and this happens is incredibleand a boy aged just 20 and the car reversing at top-speed, its horrible.

A stray bullet could end up entering a house.

A worried mum said: I have two teenagers who go out and when they head to Puerto Banus I dont sleep, because Im so afraid.

Costa del Sol-based Ignacio Kindelan, in a direct message to Marbellas mayoress Maria Angeles Munoz whose stepson Joakim Peter Broberg is facing trial for crimes including money laundering and membership of a criminal gang, said on Instagram in a mix of English and Spanish: What the f##k!!! Its time to do something mayoress.

This has crossed the line. The Wild West is going to f##k all of Marbellas business.

Another concerned local said: Years ago Puerto Banus was a wonderful paradise.

Lets see if the police increase and reinforce surveillance in Banus and stop sitting on roundabouts doing routine stops all day. Theyd be much more effective.

Veronica Dentice added: What a shame!!! This will scare tourists away at Easter. There are honest people who need to work.

Referring to a previous shooting last July, when tourists were forced to run for cover after a gunman appeared from nowhere and fired towards a restaurant near another of Puerto Banus entrances, she added: After that incident visitors disappeared.

Before the La Sala shooting a man of Nordic origin was shot in the arm and leg in Nueva Andalucia, a residential area a short drive inland from Puerto Banus.

Witnesses said two men got out of a car late on February 10 and one fired the shots before they fled in the same vehicle.

In July 2022 a man was stabbed and four people shot at Opium Beach Club just east of Marbella town centre.

A 40-year-old Dutch national was arrested after the early-hours drama in front of hundreds of revellers.

One of the most seriously-injured victims was a 32-year-old Irishman who after hospital treatment was arrested on suspicion of being involved in an altercation moments before the shooting in a VIP area of the stage where South African DJ Black Coffee was playing to a packed crowd.
Flight Aer Lingus EI777 left the Canary island at 12.15pm and was forced to divert just 30 minutes later.

An Aer Lingus flight from Lanzarote to Dublin was forced to divert because the plane had insufficient fuel.

The aircraft was due to touch down at its intended destination at 3.40pm Irish time, but instead remains grounded at Faro Airport in Portugal this evening.

There were up to 170 passengers on board.

Flight Aer Lingus EI777 left the Canary island at 12.15pm and was forced to divert just 30 minutes later.

Passengers faced another setback when they learned that the plane cannot take off until a replacement crew is found, because the workers have now exceeded their flight time and must clock off.

One frustrated passenger told the Sunday World that they have been told that the earliest departure would be 10pm, but could face a night in the airport.

In a statement, a spokesman for Aer Lingus apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.

"Aer Lingus flight EI777 , travelling from Arrecife, Lanzarote to Dublin today, was required to make a fuel stop in Faro due to departure weight restrictions in Arrecife airport.

"Unfortunately during the stop over the operating crew went out of hours and were unable to operate the flight home.

"To prevent the flight from being cancelled, relief crew have been sent to Faro and will operate the flight home later tonight. We appreciate the obvious inconvenience of the significant delay and apologise to our impacted customers.
Security sources say there has been a deliberate step-up in terms of the pressure on dissident groups.

Police at the scene of an incident in Belfast

Masked police have been stepping up the pressure on groups such as the Real IRA, Oglaigh na hEireann, the New IRA and Arm na Poblachta.

Pictures shared with the Sunday World show armed officers with their faces obscured and identifying staff numbers removed from sight.

Dissidents say they are being routinely stopped up to three times a day.

Our boys are being stopped doing the school runs when their kids are in the car and its happening as much as three times a day, a dissident source told us.

Security sources say there has been a deliberate step-up in terms of the pressure on dissident groups.

We have our foot on their necks, said a source. There is no doubt we are putting increased pressure on them.

It comes as the threat assessment has been downgraded from critical to substantial.

The threat of attack was increased after the attempted murder last year of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who was shot by the New IRA in Omagh.

It also comes a year after Arm na Poblachta (ANP) issued a blanket death threat against family members of the PSNI. The group reappeared when they claimed to be behind last weeks security alerts in Dungiven.

A viable pipe bomb was discovered last Saturday, with information that there was another in the area.

The alert ended on Monday but police continued searching the area for the second device that was not discovered.

ANP claimed responsibility and stated they were intent on targeting PSNI officers out on patrol.

While the discovery was disturbing to the PSNI and local community, dissident sources say ANP are more of an annoyance to police than a direct threat to their lives. This is due to lack of skill, manpower and weapons.

Last year, in the immediate aftermath of the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector Caldwell, ANP issued a bizarre threat to family members of serving officers, stating they too were legitimate targets.

Their statement was treated with contempt by members of the New IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) who described the gang as a motley crew.

The micro-offshoot organisation in Belfast were warned by ONH to disband or face severe consequences.

ANP in Belfast heeded the warnings. However, a small cell remained intact in Derry  although sources say it consists of a maximum of 10 members.

The pipe bomb found in Dungiven is the height of their ability, according to rival dissidents. However, security sources are on high alert and taking no chances.

The ANP in Derry/Dungiven are a bunch of hangers-on, said a dissident source. We cant see how they could be of any real threat. They are an annoyance  more like a fly in your ear than something to take seriously.

Police at the scene of an incident in Belfast

They were told to shut down by ONH last year and most listened apart from this lot. They are of no notable threat in our opinion because of their lack of resources and that includes training, skills and access to weapons.

The only way they could have got that previously was through Belfasts connections and they are gone now  the boys in Belfast have walked away.

Another source connected to the New IRA said: What went down in Dungiven says it all. A pipe bomb at the side of the road and a call into the police with a hoax claim. That about sums up their ability in our eyes.

ANP consist of a small number of men, some of whom have previous links to the CIRA, ONH and the INLA.

They had small pockets in Belfast, Tyrone and Armagh. Derry is the only one remaining.

Their days are numbered, according to sources, with plans by the New IRA in Derry to order their immediate stand-down already being discussed.

A person with inside knowledge said: They have been warned once. To be warned again, well someone could take offence at that.

Its down to the boys in Derry to sort them out. Its their patch; weve cleaned up ours, got rid of a bunch of muppets and pill poppers up here. Its over to them.

A source affiliated with ONH said: The New IRA, to sort that down there with ANP  it wont be a hard job. Theres only a handful of them.

The Sunday World has revealed members of ANP were expelled from the dissident organisations over the past few years due to criminality.

The only murder associated with ANP since it was formedi n 2017 is that of Raymond Johnston in Poleglass in June 2018.

He was blasted once in the chest with a shotgun. No one has ever been charged with his murder.

In relation to the alert in Dungiven, two men aged 22 and 35, and two others aged 55, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. They were released pending investigations.

Police said the device in Dungiven was made safe and taken away for examination.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and have asked anyone with information to contact them.
After nine weeks, the competition will come to a head on Sunday evening.

Rosanna Davison has opened up about Dancing with the Stars coming to a bittersweet end as she prepares to dance on the RTE show for the final time tonight.

After nine weeks, the competition will come to a head on Sunday evening as RTE presenter Laura Fox, Paralympian Jason Smyth, RuPaul's Drag Race UK star Blu Hydrangea, and dancer Simone Arena face off in the final.

The four finalists will perform previous routines chosen by judges Loraine Barry, Arthur Gourounlian, and Brian Redmond before demonstrating their Show Dances.

And some special performances will have audiences glued to their screens as the cast of Riverdance will hit the dance floor while a crew of Dancing with the Stars alumni  including Lottie Ryan, Marty Morrissey, Suzanne Jackson, and Brian Dowling - are set to return to the RTE studio for a show stopping routine.

And to top off the line up of exciting performances, the eliminated duos from this season will make their comeback for their final group dance to Murder on the Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Ahead of Sunday nights show, former contestant Rosanna Davison, who was the fifth celebrity to be voted off the show this season, reflected on her Dancing with the Stars journey as she arrived at rehearsals one last time.

Taking to her Instagram Stories this morning as she wished her followers a happy St Patricks Day, she said: Ive just pulled up outside the Dancing with the Stars studio for the very last time and it feels bittersweet.

(Im) really looking forward to getting out on the dance floor for one more time later today in the group dance for the final without the stress of begging you guys for votes or listening to the judges comments and feedback.

Rosanna said that shes been reflecting on her experience, adding that shes extremely grateful "to have been a part of the show, for the people Ive met and worked with, the friendships Ive made and for the fact that Ive got everything out of the show and more that I went in for that I could have ever dreamed of.

She continued: As Ive said before, I went in to gain a little bit of confidence back after four intense years of babies and toddlers at home, to push out of my comfort zone, to learn a new skill, to do something that terrified me a little bit.

And I feel like I did all that. I embraced it and Ive come out of it with a whole new sort of self-confidence and self-belief that I can do anything that I put my mind to and I think thats an important message for anyone to take home as well, that you can really work hard at something and enjoy it and overcome your fears about it.

Signing off, she wished the four finalists luck in tonights final as she prepared to don her dancing shoes one last time.
Three lucky Tauranga players will be celebrating after each winning $19,281 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday night's live Lotto draw.

The winning tickets were sold at Paper Plus Mt Maunganui, My Pharmacy Papamoa Plaza and New World Gate Pa.

Two lucky players from Auckland and Christchurch will be feeling fantastic after each winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division in Saturday nightts live Lotto draw.

The winning tickets were sold at New World Albany in Auckland and Pak N Save Moorhouse in Christchurch.

Powerball was not struck on Saturday evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $10 million.

Strike Four also rolled over and will be $1 million on Wednesday, meaning it will be a Must Be Won draw. In a Strike Must Be Won draw, if no single ticket wins First Division, the prize pool is added to the next highest division with a winner.

14 Lotto players win Second Division

As well as the three Tauranga players, another 11 lucky Lotto players will also be having a blast after each winning $19,281 with Lotto Second Division in Saturdays live Lotto draw.

Two lucky players also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $28,159.

The winning Powerball Second Division tickets were sold at Palomino Supervalue and Fresh Choice Glen Eden in Auckland.

The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores:

Store Location Onerahi Dairy Whangarei Palomino Supervalue (+PB) Auckland Fresh Choice Glen Eden (+PB) Auckland Eastridge Lotto Auckland MyLotto Waikato Paper Plus Mt Maunganui Tauranga New World Gate Pa Tauranga My Pharmacy Papamoa Plaza Papamoa Pak N Save Palmerston North Palmerston North Pak N Save Kapiti Paraparaumu MyLotto Christchurch MyLotto Canterbury Pak n Save Timaru Timaru Wyndham Four Square Wyndham

Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.

Lotto NZ exists to return 100 per cent of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board.
Night time southbound road closures are planned this week along Maunganui Road and Hewletts Road while planned roadworks take place.

State Highway 2 Hewletts Rd Flyover and Maunganui Rd between Golf Rd and Bayfair Shopping Centre will be closed for southbound vehicles from approximately 7pm - 6am, Sunday, March 17 to Thursday, March 21.

The five nights of closure is in order to complete overhead signage and asphalt work.

Vehicles can detour onto Golf Rd, then right onto Oceanbeach Rd, right onto Girven Rd, and then continue south on SH2.

SH2 Bay Link

People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see road and lane closures at night.

This week, this includes overnight road closures of Hewletts Road flyover southbound, on Maunganui Road southbound (between Golf Road roundabout and Bayfair Shopping Centre), Girven Road and Matapihi Road, and around Bayfair roundabout. More information.

For any updates during the week, click on the Highway Conditions Map.
With one week of public submissions still to go, over 5000 stories of the pandemic have been shared so far with the Covid-19 Inquiry, says Inquiry Chair Professor Tony Blakely.

A vital part of the work of the Inquiry is hearing from Aotearoa New Zealanders about their COVID-19 experiences and their thoughts on how our country can plan for future pandemics, which is incredibly encouraging," says Professor Blakely.

"We feel honoured to hear these stories and receive these contributions to the work of the Inquiry."

Public submissions launched on February 8 2024, and close on Sunday March 24.

The Inquiry has received submissions on behalf of individuals, whanau, businesses, and organisations, and from across New Zealand  with most stories coming from Auckland and the least received from the West Coast and Chatham Islands.

To date, the Inquiry has received the most submissions from those aged 45-54, and the least from those aged under 18, and has heard stories from NZ European/Pakeha, NZ Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Niuean, Cook Islander, Tokelauan, Southeast Asian, Korean, Chinese, Indian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and others.

Professor Blakely says in addition to the submissions the Inquiry is receiving, the personal conversations he has had with people, from all walks of life, have been valuable in helping to inform the Inquiry.

Throughout the public submission period, weve had a presence at a range of events across the country to encourage people to share both their experiences and views on how we might respond to a pandemic in the future.

Everyone I have spoken to at these events, and during our other engagements, has been generous in sharing what happened to them personally.

"These individual reflections are of value in terms of both our understanding of the pandemic, and what happened.

"We will be weaving this information in with our interviews with decision makers and many other key players in the pandemic response, along with the many pages of evidence weve collected and are considering as we work towards making findings, lessons and recommendations.

Professor Blakely encourages all those yet to make a submission to do so.

You shouldnt assume that your experience was commonplace or that the insights you have will not be of use to our work. In many conversations Ive had since taking on this role, I have learnt something new that usefully feeds into our thinking as a Commission of Inquiry.

Alongside sharing their experiences of Covid-19, the public also have the opportunity to provide feedback on what an expanded terms of reference for the Inquiry might include.

Feedback on the terms of the reference will be provided to the Department of Internal Affairs, who will then provide advice to the Government ahead of any changes that might be made to the scope of the Inquiry.

As a result of this consultation, the Inquiry may be asked to look at additional aspects of the Covid-19 response.

People can share their Covid-19 story via the Inquirys dedicated online submission site  www.covid19inquiry.nz  up until March 24 2024.

We would like to thank everyone who has shared their Covid-19 experience with the Inquiry so far. The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on all of us, and we know that sharing your stories can be difficult or upsetting, says Professor Blakely.
Matias Stuber Malaga Sunday, 17 March 2024, 21:39 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A project dubbed the 'water highway' which promises to end the drought crisis in the northern part of Malaga province has the support of key agricultural associations.

The infrastructure, proposed by Dcoop president Antonio Luque, would consist of 120 kilometres of pipes, connected to the Guadalhorce wastewater treatment plant, which would supply water to parched areas in the northern part of Malaga province. The project has an estimated cost of 750 million euros and now needs the support of the administrations to fund it.

Help ailing farmers

Asaja president Baldomero Bellido told SUR the water highway is "key to guaranteeing the survival of agriculture". "We cannot allow wastewater to be poured into the sea with the current drought," he said. Bellido appealed to the Junta de Andalucia, Spain's national government and the European Union to help turn the project into a reality.

Coag secretary general Antonio Rodriguez also threw his support behind the project. "If this means that recycled water is not dumped into the sea, then that's a good thing," he said. However Rodriguez said the infrastructure would be "complex" to build and warned it would still be a far way off. "We need urgent solutions to alleviate the drought," he added.

Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias manager Carlos Cintas defended the project as a "solution to the problems of drought for an entire region". "There are more than enough reasons for this project to be carried out. First, for the social good... It would benefit our farmers and their ailing economy and help to restore the state of our aquifers," he added.

The water highway project took a decisive step forward with the constitution of an irrigation community comprising some 30 municipalities in Malaga province. Between them, they contribute 32,146 of the 33,463 hectares of land covered by the scope of the pipeline network. The rest is accounted for by thirteen towns in the provinces of Granada, Cordoba and Seville.
Daniel del Valle Blanco (C), permanent observer of the Office of the Permanent Observer of the International Youth Organization to the United Nations, attends the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. TO GO WITH "Dehua porcelain int'l exhibition held at UN" (Xinhua/Li Rui)

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on Friday.

The event is part of the exhibition's U.S. leg.

The international tour's promotional event in New York kicked off at Times Square on Thursday and is open to the public from March 15-18.

The 105 pieces of national treasure-grade Dehua porcelain are divided into four categories: antique-inspired cultural creations, artisanal porcelain, everyday porcelain, and export porcelain, showcasing the diverse characteristics of Dehua white porcelain.

Fang Junqin, the county magistrate of Dehua County in southeast China's Fujian Province, said he hopes the event will allow more friends to learn about porcelain, understand Dehua, know China, as well as create more opportunities and provide greater convenience for close exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Representatives from Fujian Province, the United Nations, and various countries attended the event and were amazed by the exquisite craftsmanship of the exhibits and their profound cultural significance.

Asim Sharma, chief of the Inter-agency and Intergovernmental Service Office of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, expressed his admiration for the exquisite Dehua white porcelain and thanked the delegation from the Dehua County Government for the invitation.

Daniel del Valle Blanco, permanent observer of the Office of the Permanent Observer of the International Youth Organization to the United Nations, spoke about the importance of cultural exchanges between nations for international cooperation and foreign relations, congratulating Dehua white porcelain, a historical and cultural heritage, on its exhibition at the United Nations.

As one of the "Chinese Brands on the Global Stage" series of activities initiated by Xinhua News Agency, the "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour started in 2023. The plan is to spend five years holding exhibitions, cultural exchanges, and other activities showcasing Dehua white porcelain in more than 20 countries and regions globally. 

Asim Sharma, chief of the Inter-agency and Intergovernmental Service Office of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, addresses the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. TO GO WITH "Dehua porcelain int'l exhibition held at UN" (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Dehua porcelain artworks are presented at the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN

headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. TO GO WITH "Dehua porcelain int'l exhibition held at UN" (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Dehua porcelain artwork Nostalgia is presented at the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. TO GO WITH "Dehua porcelain int'l exhibition held at UN" (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Daniel del Valle Blanco, permanent observer of the Office of the Permanent Observer of the International Youth Organization to the United Nations, addresses the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. TO GO WITH "Dehua porcelain int'l exhibition held at UN" (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Dehua porcelain artwork Porcelain Vase with Auspicious Clouds and Dragon is presented at the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. TO GO WITH "Dehua porcelain int'l exhibition held at UN" (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Pilar Martinez Malaga Sunday, 17 March 2024, 21:04 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Qatar Airways will link Malaga Airport with the Qatari capital of Doha all year round.

The flag carrier airline announced the permanent operation will involve at least three flights a week from 31 March. The airline's vice president of sales in Europe Eric Odone said the move is "a milestone" as the route has operated since 2018, but only during the summer months. Flights during the high season will increase to one daily flight in July and August. This will mean transporting more than 1,500 passengers a week, Odone said. The figure is expected to increase to more than 3,000 a week in July and August.

Malaga has become the third airport in Spain with a permanent connection to Doha, joining Madrid and Barcelona. Qatar Airways also becomes the first company in the Persian Gulf area to establish a permanent connection with Malaga and open the doors of Asia to the Costa del Sol. This is something Turkish Airlines is already doing on a daily basis with two flights a week to Istanbul.

"We are delighted to welcome more passengers," Odone said. "This now permanent flight route is a unique opportunity for the people of Malaga to discover Doha and connect with the 170 destinations around the world that Qatar Airways flies to. This means we can offer passengers in the region even greater connectivity to the most popular destinations in Oceania, Asia and Africa through our hub at Hamad International Airport," he added.

There will be three weekly flights between Malaga and Doha in April and May, a daily flight in the high season of July and August, five weekly flights in June and September, and three weekly flights on a permanent basis from autumn onwards. The airline will fly from Malaga to Doha at 3.05pm to arrive at 11.55pm local time. From the Qatari capital the aircraft will arrive at the Costa del Sol at 2.36pm. In April, May and October the connection will be on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays; in June and September it will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays; and in July and August it will be daily.

Qatar Airways will operate the route with Boeing 787-800 and aircraft which boast a business class section where seats convert into beds which has, for the tenth time, won the award for the world's best business class.
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Preston, N.Y. -- A 38-year-old missing, vulnerable man was found dead Sunday following an ATV crash in Upstate New York, deputies said.

Nicholas W. Andrews, of Preston, left his home around 6 p.m. Thursday on a Polaris Sportsman 4 wheeler, according to a news release Thursday from the Chenango County Sheriffs Office. He was found dead on Sunday in the Preston area, deputies later said.

On Thursday, deputies said, Andrews rode the ATV west on Turner Street in the town of Preston. Andrews had difficulty walking and poor vision due to a traumatic brain injury, they said.

A New York Missing Vulnerable Adult Alert for Andrews was issued on Saturday, deputies said. Andrews was found a day later. He died from injuries related to an ATV accident, they said.

The Chenango County Sheriffs Office, state Forest Rangers, the Search and Rescue Federation and community volunteers searched the area, deputies said.

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com
SYDNEY, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Taxi drivers who overcharge or refuse fares could be blacklisted in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) as the state plans to roll out a centralized database tracking bad behaviour, local media reported on Sunday.

The Australian state's Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing will work with the taxi industry to expand the Driver Vehicle Database to track illegal activity such as overcharging and fare refusal, according to 9News network.

The commissioner will look into improving how checks are performed on drivers, including any fare-related offences, in addition to eligibility, driving charges and criminal history, the report said.

Tougher penalties will also be considered with repeat offenders to be kicked out of the industry altogether.

Wing, who leads the Point to Point Transport Commission, the regulator for taxis, hire vehicles and rideshare services in NSW, said that his compliance team of over 70 plain-clothed officers would be "out in full force".

"A minority of taxi drivers are choosing to do the wrong thing by failing to use the meter during a rank or hail trip, overcharging their passengers or refusing a fare," Wing was quoted as saying.

NSW Taxi Council Chief Executive Nick Abrahim welcomed the move, saying a streamlined database will mean that service providers are better informed about the drivers they're onboarding. 
ads11 BHPian

Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Leeds Posts: 930 Thanked: 2,248 Times

re: The Missiles of India | EDIT: MIRV Ballistic missile on page 16 At the end of the day, when it comes to 'verified' carrier killers*, there's a reason most navies train both their attack submarine crews and their ASW capability. Until push comes to shove the debate around the efficacy of a ballistic missile based carrier targeting capability will remain conjecture**, with logical points on either side but no real way to know just how impactful each one is relative to the other. Until then you'll continue to see a premium paid on SSN's in particular. One need only look at the ripples from the RANs attempts to get their own via AUKUS.



*the most recent was the Swedes in their little Gottland class boats getting multiple 'hits' on a USN supercarrier in exercises, much to the chagrin of the USN (they ended up leasing the boat to study it for themselves, such was the success of the Swedes with their AIP submarine).



**there's value to that conjecture alone I reckon. Even if in reality that anti ship ballistic missile isn't worth it's salt, if it manages to get your opponent to think twice because of it, that alone is a success of sorts because it's perceived to be a risk.



I also feel that to a degree real time satellite surveillance is a capability that gets blown out of proportion a bit (or at least it's one that definitely get's Hollywood-ised a lot). In the 70s, the promise of satellite surveillance made platforms like the U-2 obsolete. Or so they thought. There's a reason that you have this entire cottage industry of MALE and HALE UAVs whose sole purpose is to provide real time surveillance (not to mention the venerable U2 still soldiering on). I'm not saying that the Americans for eg won't have access to really detailed satellite surveillance data, it's just that you need the whole mix of capabilities to really pinpoint a target, especially in a big old expanse like the Pacific. And like Jeroen alluded to, a big force multiplier for the Americans is their ability to call upon so many allies for data for eg. Even if the USAFs own satellite network has some coverage gaps, you can bet they'll be able to leverage allied satellite assets through the Five Eyes network for sure, if not others beyond that. Russia, China or India would very much be reliant on their own satellite networks for any anti ship ballistic missile targeting of a CBG. Maybe Russia and China share that kind of data but I doubt India and Russia share data of that sort.
maverick029 BHPian

Join Date: May 2023 Location: Pune Posts: 27 Thanked: 81 Times

Travelogue: Pune to Rajasthan on my KTM 390 ADV Inception: Circa 2017, Routes mapped, Vacation Planned, Heart Pounding, Excited to travel but Chickened out of a Solo Trip to Rajasthan from Pune. That's how this story started, It had been a dream of mine to ride from Pune to Rajasthan for a few years now and yet a bike without ABS and my apprehension on travelling solo meant i had to park the idea for the time being. Life moved on and this idea would eventually raise its head again in 2023 when missus decided we have to visit Rajasthan again in Dec-23. Little bit of convincing and it was decided this one will be a road trip.



Caution: Long Post Ahead



Routes: I had already travelled tiil Vapi and was aware of the route so we decided to take NH48 towards Rajasthan via Gujrat Instead of the Indore route.



Pune to Vadodara - Approx. 530 KMs

Pune > Lonavala > Panvel > Thane Bypass > Vasai Creek > Vapi > Navsari > Bharuch > Vadodara





Vadodara > Halol > Godhra > Modassa > Kherwara > Udaipur





Udaiur to Jodhpur - Approx. 265 KMs

Udaipur > Nathdwara > Deogarh > Jadan > Jodhpur





Jodhpur to Vadodara - Approx. 561 KMs

Jodhpor > Pali > Sirohi > Abu Road > Palanpur > Mehsana > Ahmedabad > Vadoara





Vadodara to Pune - Approx. 530KMs

Vadodara > Bharuch > Navsari > Vapi > Vasai Creek > Thane Bypass > Panvel > Lonavala > Pune





Preparation: Old Riding Gears made way for new upgrades and bike got few accessories like GPS Mount, Mobile Mount, Saddle Stay etc. Full list of all items is mentioned below along with summary of my experience with the item.

JB Racing Saddle stay (Purchased from bandidos for 2300 INR) (Awesome buy fits well and keeps saddle steady. Not one rattle in 2.5K KMS tour and not to forget cheap.)

Bikers Billet GPS Mount - 800 INR (Good thing about this is i did not have to remove the cover for GPS mount on the bike, it fit using the side screws and looks good.)

BOBO Mobile Holder - 2K INR (Well cushioned and waterproof, touch capable)

Zana Backrest - 1300 INR (Horrible, I will cover that later in the blog)

Liqui Moly Street Race 15W50 (Used it based on past experience but did not hold well during the ride.)

KTM OEM Sintered Front Brake pads - 2.6K INR (Marvellous, improved braking performance 200 times over, I could pretty much utilize the absolute max of the brakes.)

Raida Airwave Gloves 2 Pairs - 3.3K INR Each (Comfortable after breaking-in, has Knox armour on palms so that's a plus.)

LS2 Storm II Helmet 1 Full Face (Size M) + 1 Convertible(Size L) - 25K INR Approx. (Perfect fit, Hate that it comes without D-Rings, Integrated Goggles. Overall Good)

Raida Knee Guard - 3K INR (Good Mobility but you have to fix it pretty snug for them not to slip)

Raida Riding Pants - 7K INR (Great, CE2 Protection, Rubber coating on the bum end so you don't slip.)

Raida Rover Riding Boots - 6K iNR (Found them good, decent mobility after breaking-in)

Saddle Bag Purchased from Amazon - 2.5K INR (The brand is not on amazon anymore and I have forgotten the name. Decent pair have held on nice for 2 years now without any issues.)

Trek n Ride Empoacher - 1.5K for a Pair (Amazing , i mounted them on engine guard and they performed well. increased my carrying capacity by 16-20 litres.) We already had CE2 riding jackets from Solace(F) and Scala(M) purchased for 11K and 13K INR Approx. and they are great jackets.



Following are some pictures of the items mentioned.



Hotels we stayed at are mentioned below, I will also add our review later in the post.

1. Sayaji, Vadodara

2. The Chronicles Hotel, Udaipur

3. Ratan Vilas, Jodhpur

4. Hyatt Place, Vadodara The First Leg (Pune - Vadodara/ 22-12-23):

We commenced our journey around 8 AM, and by 9:15 AM, we were passing through Lonavala. We took a mandatory tea break and encountered heavy traffic on Lonavala's narrow roads. I made a navigating mistake near the section where bikes have to go on expressway and kind of circled back to Khandala . Corrected the course and pushed on towards Panvel on this beauty.





We passed through Panvel and opted for the Thane Bypass enroute to Vasai Creek. The roads were in good condition this time, not too heavy traffic, we managed to make decent progress. Midway, the rising temperatures prompted us to take a break near Vasai creek especially since we were wearing riding thermals. Decided to refuel the bike and ourselves at Shell Petrol pump on Eastern express highway. Combination of Cheese Maggi and Amul Buttermilk recharged us both and the clean & hygienic washrooms were a plus. We stopped there for about an hour and then off we went.





Crossing Vasai Creek, I was expecting the road to get better compared to what we had encountered so far, however I would soon be proven wrong. The roads beyond Vasai creek had numerous patchwork done which resulted in the roads being anything but smooth, Also the amount of traffic confused me whether this was a highway or a normal road . One observation worth noting which surprised me as well was Heavy Vehicles running on Middle lane and keeping the fast lane free of clutter, Some even gave way to us. Was surprised by the lane discipline for this leg of the journey.





By around 4 PM in the evening, we were nearing Surat, completely unaware of the challenges awaiting us. Google Maps shifted to orange and then to red. Despite maintaining a speed of 95+ KMPH after Vasai Creek to compensate for any time lost, the ETA remained stone-cold at 3.5 hours after Surat. The stretch from Surat to Vadodara felt like riding in a video game, Constant manoeuvring between all three available lanes(with due caution and following traffic rules always). Any slowdown would result tailing vehicle flashing the pass lights. It was especially bad after daylight faded, KTM 390 ADV headlamps (white led) were useless on the highway at night making it difficult to ride in the dark. After this debacle we reached Hotel Sayaji by 8:45 PM. While I was in decent shape my S/O was completely drained, the day ended with us enjoying a great dinner buffet and then falling asleep.



The next day we visited Laxmi Vilas palace and Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, the Palace was marvellous and we were in awe of the luxury kings would have lived in . Pictures were not allowed inside both the palace and museum so could only capture the beatifiul exterior.





There was an wedding being organized in the palace during our visit, the costs I guess would be mind numbing









After visiting both palace and museum we returned to Sayaji and rested for the remaining day. Our Stay in Sayaji was pretty good, rooms were clean and the staff (Except reception) was very helpful and prompt.



The Second Leg (Vadodara - Udaipur / 24-12-23):



Started out early morning 7:00 AM from Vadodara towards Udaipur, The roads on halol godhra route were pretty nice even if they were only 2 lanes. Traffic was minimal and the highlight was the narmada canal along the way. We travelled parallel to Narmada canal for about 30-40 KMs and it was one of the most pleasant part of the journey.



https://youtu.be/LDHpwlp84P4

Once in Rajasthan, we primarily traveled on NH48 (Golden Quadrilateral) and were impressed by the excellent road quality that inspired enough confidence to maintain triple digits Unfortunately, my action camera's battery died, puttiing a stop to further recordings. In Udaipur, the city traffic was in sharp contract with the highways, dissuading me from riding for the duration of stay. Our stay at The Chronicles hotel was pleasant, the food and staff were great and Rooftop Dinner on Christmas eve in chilly weather set to mood for the evening. Highlights of our visit included Udaipur Palace, Bagore Ki Haveli, Hathi Pol Market, Gangor Ghat, Saheliyon ki Bari, and Sajjangarh Palace, with Bagore ki Haveli and Sajjangarh Palace leaving lasting impressions. The climb to Sajjangarh Palace was both breathtaking and a bit un-nerving.



Recommended dining spots include Raaj Baag Restaurant near Fatehsingh Lake and Cafe Edelweiss beside Bagore ki Haveli, both offering excellent food and scenic views.



Below are some pictures from our visits.







City Palace



View from Gangor ghar



Met this little guy when visiting karni mata mandir



Lake view from Raaj Baag Restaurant



Atop Karni Mata mandir PS. Use the cable car and you won't be disappointed



The Valiant Maharana Pratap























The Third Leg (Udaipur - Jodhpur / 28-12-23):



We hit the road from our hotel at around 8 AM, making sure my trusty KTM, Pochita, was topped up with fuel. Google Maps decided to take us on a detour through village roads and through the heart of Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary, Manoeuvring through quaint villages and sharing the road with some curious wildlife, we eventually found ourselves in Pali, where a straightforward stretch of road led us to Jodhpur. Upon our arrival at Ratan Vilas, we were pleasantly surprised by the warm hospitality. The hotel manager gave us a rundown of the place, including its rich history and the ongoing Polo tournament in Jodhpur. We decided to check out the tournament, and boy, were we in for a thrilling experience. After a day well spent, we returned to the hotel to unwind with some local music, chilly evening breeze, and a delightful surprise anniversary cake. The following morning, we explored Mehrangarh fort and treated ourselves to some delicious local cuisine (Gatte ki Sabzi and Kair Sangri) at the fort's restaurant.

















The Return Leg 1 (Jodhpur - Vadodara / 30-12-23):



We set out at 8 AM on the Pali route, enjoying smooth roads and minimal traffic until the Rajasthan-Gujarat border. After lunch a few kilometers into Gujarat, our progress slowed considerably due to the narrow highways and traffic. Notable events included Zana Backrest breaking off near Mehsana and frustration due to the Hyatt Place staff's handling of guests on motorcycle. They wanted me to walk up 3 flights of stairs with 30 KGs plus of gear and luggage after riding for approx 600 KMs. After complaints, our luggage was picked up and delivered to our room after having been rummaged through in the name of security check. We did not have enough energy in us to give them a piece of our minds and dozed off after some light dinner.





The Return Leg 2(Vadodara - Pune / 01-01-24):



After starting the last leg, we were curious why so many trucks are laying stationary and lining up the highway. Soon we found out it was due to truckers protest . A good 20 odd KMs were traversed off tarmac and on sidewalks sometimes. Met a guy a Toyota corolla who refused to let us pass (he just had to move enough to open the sidewalk side of road and he had enough space on right side). Deboarded my Wife and circumnavigated his particular car and continued towards our destination. Heavy traffic near Vasai creek delayed us quite a bit and we crossed mumbai at approx 6 PM and reached home about 8:30 PM.



Looking back we are really glad that this trip was incident and heart in mouth moment free. I Could not have completed this trip without 3 essentials (1. My S/O, 2. My KTM 390 ADV, 3. My Colleagues catchy Advise "Jinko Jaldi thi wo chale gaye"). Do Pardon any shortcomings in this post as its my very first. Last edited by Aditya : 17th March 2024 at 07:33 . Reason: Images inserted
In context: OpenAI wants to free itself from its dependence on Nvidia chips, and CEO Sam Altman believes that the best way to achieve this is by developing its own semiconductor business. However, it's an expensive proposition, so Altman is traveling the globe in search of backers. His latest stop is the United Arab Emirates.

OpenAI may be getting closer to securing the funds it needs to launch its own semiconductor business, aiming to reduce its dependence on Nvidia for AI processors. According to a report in the Financial Times, the company is in talks with the state-funded Abu Dhabi investment company MGX for backing in this venture. The report cites two individuals familiar with the discussions.

MGX is a newly launched, AI-focused fund chaired by the UAE's national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan. One of its objectives is to establish Abu Dhabi as a hub for AI development, utilizing the country's financial resources for this purpose.

The report highlights OpenAI's ongoing efforts to attract investors as it seeks financing for its ambitious, albeit costly, enterprise. Estimates suggest the project could require as much as $7 trillion.

Since at least 2022, OpenAI has been exploring various options for chip development, considering possibilities such as creating its own AI chip, acquiring a chip manufacturer, collaborating more closely with other providers like Nvidia, and diversifying its supplier base beyond Nvidia.

Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Altman was in discussions with investors, including the UAE government, to raise funds ranging from $5 trillion to $7 trillion for a tech initiative aimed at addressing constraints to OpenAI's growth, including the shortage of AI chips. Altman denied seeking $7 trillion specifically for chip development but acknowledged that the investment required would be substantial.

Altman has emphasized the need for increased industry capacity, stating on X in February, "Building massive-scale AI infrastructure and a resilient supply chain is crucial to economic competitiveness. OpenAI will try to help."

we believe the world needs more ai infrastructure--fab capacity, energy, datacenters, etc--than people are currently planning to build.



building massive-scale ai infrastructure, and a resilient supply chain, is crucial to economic competitiveness.



openai will try to help!  Sam Altman (@sama) February 7, 2024

The reasons behind Altman's ambitions are straightforward: there is a scarcity of the GPUs necessary to power OpenAI's software, and the costs associated with running hardware are exceedingly high.

Altman has frequently complained about the shortage of chips, noting that OpenAI is severely limited by GPU availability, which has caused delays in many of their short-term plans. He also highlighted that the primary customer complaint relates to the reliability and speed of the API, with much of the issue stemming from GPU shortages.

The availability of GPUs also presents challenges for fine-tuning the API, as it requires significant computing resources to manage. Moreover, the GPU availability issue limits the capacity of its dedicated offering, which provides customers with a private copy of the model.

Then there are the costs to consider. OpenAI relies on a supercomputer developed by Microsoft, which utilizes 10,000 of Nvidia's GPUs, making ChatGPT an expensive system to operate. Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon estimates that each query costs roughly four cents. Scaling up, if ChatGPT queries were to reach a tenth of the scale of Google search, it would necessitate approximately $48.1 billion worth of GPUs initially and about $16 billion worth of chips annually to sustain its operations.
In a nutshell: Reddit is preparing for its upcoming IPO, aiming to become a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RDDT." In anticipation of this, the company has announced a new licensing agreement to sell user generated content for the purpose of training AI models. Google has been identified as the partner in this arrangement and the FTC would like to have a closer look.

Reddit is going public in the coming months, but before it hits the NYSE, their newly signed licensing deal with Google has attracted the scrutiny of the U.S. competition regulator, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Following an update to their IPO filing, Reddit disclosed that it received a letter from the FTC outlining the agency's plan to conduct a non-public inquiry into Reddit's practices concerning the sale, licensing, or sharing of user-generated content.

In their response, Reddit stated, "We are not surprised that the FTC has expressed interest in this area," acknowledging that content deals for AI training are a relatively new thing. They also mentioned that they do not believe they "have engaged in any unfair or deceptive trade practices." But that will be up to the FTC to decide.

The FTC has so far refused to comment on the news.

Reddit is seeking for a valuation of roughly $6.5 billion, looking to sell roughly 22 million shares at an expected value of between $31 to $34. This latest update on the FTC inquiry is valuable information for anyone looking to invest at the time of the IPO.

Reddit cautions (as they are likely legally obligated to do so) that regulatory investigations can be protracted and unpredictable, posing a risk of significant additional costs or reputational damage depending on the FTC's findings or disclosures.

Despite the FTC's interest, the content deal with Google is likely to be a net positive for Reddit's stock prospects. While Reddit primarily generates revenue through advertising, the agreement with Google is expected to secure around $200 million over the next three years, which is no small sum.

For their part, Reddit users have so far not been up-in-arms about the latest news. Given Reddit's penchant for mass protests, like over the 2023 API changes or even 2015's firing of a beloved Director, there has been relatively little chatter on the platform about the deal with Google. It remains to be seen whether this latest FTC development will change that.
The big picture: Starting tomorrow, Nvidia is hosting its GTC developer conference. Once a sideshow for semis, the event has transformed into the center of attention for much of the industry. With Nvidia's rise, many have been asking the extent to which Nvidia's software provides a durable competitive moat for its hardware. As we have been getting a lot of questions about that, we want to lay out our thoughts here.

Beyond the potential announcement of the next-gen B200 GPU, GTC is not really an event about chips, GTC is a show for developers. This is Nvidia's flagship event for building the software ecosystem around CUDA and the other pieces of it's software stack.

It is important to note that when talking about Nvidia many people, ourselves included, tend to use "CUDA" as shorthand for all the software that Nvidia provides. This is misleading as Nvidia's software moat is more than just the CUDA development layer, and this is going to be critical for Nvidia in defending its position.

Editor's Note:

Guest author Jonathan Goldberg is the founder of D2D Advisory, a multi-functional consulting firm. Jonathan has developed growth strategies and alliances for companies in the mobile, networking, gaming, and software industries.

At last year's GTC, the company put out 37 press releases, featuring a dizzying array of partners, software libraries and models. We expect more of this next week as Nvidia bulks up its defenses.

These partners are important because there are now hundreds of companies and millions of developers building tools on top of Nvidia's offerings. Once built, those people are unlikely to rebuild their models and applications to run on other company's chips, at least any time soon. It is worth noting that Nvidia's partners and customers span dozens of industry verticals, and while not all of those are going all-in on Nvidia, it still demonstrates immense momentum in Nvidia's favor.

Put simply the defensibility of Nvidia's position right now rests on the inherent inertia of software ecosystems. Companies invest in software  writing the code, testing it, optimizing it, educating their workforce on its use, etc.  and once that investment is made they are going to be deeply reluctant to switch.

We saw this with the Arm ecosystem's attempt to move into the data center over the last ten years. Even as Arm-based chips started to demonstrate real power and performance advantages over x86, it still took years for the software companies and their customers to move, a transition that is still underway. Nvidia appears to be in early days of building up exactly that form of software advantage. And if they can achieve it across a wide swathe of enterprises, they are likely to hold onto for many years. This more than anything else is what positions Nvidia best for the future.

Nvidia has formidable barriers to entry in its software. CUDA is a big part of that, but even if alternatives to CUDA emerge, the way in which Nvidia is providing software and libraries to so many points to them building a very defensible ecosystem.

We point all this out because we are starting to see alternatives to CUDA emerge. AMD has made a lot of progress with its answer to CUDA, ROCm. However, when we say progress, we mean they now have a good, workable platform, but it will take years for it to gain even a share of the adoption of CUDA. ROCm is only available on a small number of AMD products today, while CUDA has worked on all Nvidia GPUs for years.

Other alternatives like UXL or varying combinations of PyTorch and Triton, are similarly interesting but also in early days. UXL in particular looks promising, as it is backed by a group of some of the biggest names in the industry. Of course, that is also its greatest weakness, as those members have highly divergent interests.

We would argue that little of this will matter if Nvidia can get entrenched. And here is where we need to distinguish between CUDA and the Nvidia software ecosystem. The industry will come up with alternatives to CUDA, but that does not mean they can completely erase Nvidia's software barriers to entry.

Also read: Goodbye to Graphics: How GPUs Came to Dominate AI and Compute  No Longer "Just" a Graphics Card

That being said, the biggest threat to Nvidia's software moat is its largest customers. The hyperscalers have no interest in being locked into Nvidia in any way, and they have the resources to build alternatives. To be fair, they are not immune to staying close to Nvidia, it remains the default solution and still has many advantages, but if anyone puts a dent in Nvidia's software ambitions, it is most likely to be from this corner.

And that, of course, opens up the question as to what exactly Nvidia's software ambitions are.

In past years, as Nvidia launched its software offerings, up to and including its cloud service Omniverse, they have conveyed a sense that they had ambitions to create a new component of their revenue stream. On their latest earnings call, they pointed out that they had generated $1 billion in software revenue. However, more recently, we have gotten the sense that they may be repositioning or scaling back those ambitions a bit, with software now positioned as a service they provide to their chip customers rather than a full-blown revenue segment in its own right.

After all, selling software risks putting Nvidia in direct competition with all its biggest customers.
Tourists visit a museum in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 17, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 15, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Spectators watch a drama in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Actresses perform a drama in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit a museum in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 17, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists ride camels at the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)
Disappearance of little Emile: the child's bones have been discovered, announces the prosecution

Initial research, role play, discovery of bones... The key dates of the disappearance of little Emile

Medical innovation: New tests make it possible to detect cancer long before symptoms appear

The week of God Twitter: from the tragedy on the Baltimore bridge to Holy Week that looks like the Flood

Death of little Emile: how to explain the discovery of his bones near Haut-Vernet?

Remy Martin celebrates its 300th anniversary with the most exclusive cognac in the world and only 8 bottles for Spain

The revolution of the hungry is coming... even if it is delayed

Pension payments will be reduced in real terms, and changes to the social security system for the new fiscal year will be

The employment rate of people with disabilities required by companies will be raised to 2.5% or more.

Journal de l'Afrique - Second reading of the New Constitution in Togo, a setback in the face of opposition pressure?

The execution of young Palestinian men in Khan Yunis...a crime filmed by the killer who failed to bury the evidence

Massive destruction by Israeli bombing that targeted the home of the Abu Aoun family in the Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip

Infusions, ginger, lemon... an expert in digestive health teaches how to strengthen the microbiota to end spring colds

Samantha Vallejo-Nagera's warning hours before the premiere of MasterChef 12: "This year's contestants are very crybaby"

Stacy Martin, the French-British actress who is the muse of Louis Vuitton who excites the public and fashion: "Red carpets are a source of maximum pride and happiness, although they intimidate me"

Palm Royale: another example of how Apple doesn't care about spending money on mediocre projects

Tour of Flanders: Mathieu van der Poel wins for the third time in his career

Loudly slamming the door: Shevchenko won the mass start at the Chechen Biathlon Championships, and Garanichevs team won the relay

Premier League: City and Arsenal pave the way for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to the top of the table

A curious own goal by Suleymanov and a saving strike by Glushenkov: Krasnodar missed out on victory over Lokomotiv in the RPL match

Tennis: Sinner triumphs at the Masters 1000 in Miami by crushing Dimitrov in the final

Lebanon: Easter celebrations tarnished by the situation in Gaza and the south of the country

New employees take on the challenge of shearing sheep at a unique joining ceremony Shizuoka Fujinomiya

Ten years at the helm of the "Yixin-Europe" China-Europe freight train: from a line to a network

Hebei Chongli received more than 4.4 million tourists in the first full snow season after the Winter Olympics

Chicken and egg or egg? The industry is hotly discussing in Shanghai how the domestic computing power industry will rise.

China Eastern Airlines will add new and expanded routes to many airports in Guangdong during the 2024 summer and autumn flight season

The price of electricity will remain negative for several hours this Monday

In response to the 2024 issue, the maximum speed for large trucks on expressways will be increased to 90km/h

Sonko and the Senegalese... How did they make change despite the obstacles?

A rule so that appearances do not deceive: the EU legislates against 'greenwashing'

Commemoration of victims on 2nd anniversary of liberation of Bucha; many civilians killed in Russian military invasion

Coordination with Prime Minister Kishida invited to NATO summit meeting to be held in Washington, U.S. in July

The owners of the showroom of brands with history (and that Richard Gere and Cristiano Ronaldo like)

The "trans" judge who wants to intervene in the definition of "woman"

Britain probably couldn't fight Russia alone for more than two months

Until May 22: a court in Moscow arrested four accused of the terrorist attack in Crocus

Algorithmic video surveillance at the Olympics: what are we talking about, and why is it worrying?

Bandidos: a series so tacky that it seems taken from the Disney Channel of the 90s

The Russian Embassy in Seoul condemned the cartoon of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall

Antibes: an orca dies at Marineland park, the second death in five months

The captain of the expedition that crossed the Atlantic under sail as in the 17th century to make a documentary dies at the age of 75 on the high seas

Daily Shincho: Mariupol residents do not feel the impact of the conflict on the life of the city

Two Israelis were injured in a stabbing attack in Beersheba and the perpetrator was martyred

Israeli magazine: We are faced with two options, the better of which is bitter

Will Haniyeh and Nakhla's visit to Iran affect the course of the negotiations?

8 new massacres in Gaza and fierce battles between the resistance and the occupation forces

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"China has always been an important destination for Spanish tourists."

Professionals in Spain's travel industry are delighted about China's ongoing return to normality as a major tourist destination for Spanish tourists. #GLOBALink





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This photo taken with a mobile phone on March 16, 2024 shows a forest fire in Yajiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua)

CHENGDU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of 3,396 residents had been evacuated due to safety concerns as of 8 p.m. Sunday after a forest fire broke out in southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to the emergency response headquarters under the provincial public security department.

The fire erupted in Baizi Village, Yajiang County of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at around 5 p.m. on Friday. Due to sudden increases in wind speed, it rapidly spread to other areas, said the headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control in Garze.

In the nearby Jiaonibao Village, the fire has turned less fierce, although heavy smoke remains visible. Twenty-one houses in the village were burned, and about 70 villagers had been relocated.

Eight helicopters have been deployed to put out the blaze. Over 1,900 individuals have been dispatched to combat the forest fire, and an additional 890 are rushing to the site, according to Kang Bin, head of the emergency management bureau of Garze.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 
Elkieria Rangeq rings up customer Orese Alford, right, who was initially looking to but a vape at Deja Vu Smoke Shop. Rangeq told Alford they could no longer sell the product he was looking for.
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The owner of Leichhardt stalwart Grappa will give new life to the space at 107-109 George Street.

The handsome sandstone building Rockpool restaurant occupied for 25 years at The Rocks has sat empty since its last tenant departed in 2022. Now the George Street site is headed for a restaurant rebirth, with the owner of Leichhardt stalwart Grappa opening an Italian restaurant.

Restaurateur Charlie Colosi, who has successfully steered Grappa on Leichhardts fickle Norton Street for 25 years, was on the lookout for an iconic site for his next venture, and 107-109 George Street surely deserves a blue plaque for its role in Australian food history.

The new venue will open next year not far from Le Foote and Hickson House. Dallas Kilponen

Neil Perry took up residence in 1989, and traded there continuously until 2014, albeit with a brief name change in 2007  we remember you, Rockpool (fish). The hospitality students at William Blue College trod its boards until 2022, when they also left the building.

Colosi hasnt finalised a name, but has settled on Italian cuisine. And hes drafted in architect Vince Squillace (Hugos Manly, Shaffa) to recraft the space.
The crisis engulfing private school Cranbrook is set to escalate as the outgoing headmaster, Nicholas Sampson, threatens legal action against the governing council.

Sampson resigned just over a week ago from his more than $1 million-a-year post at the school amid claims he failed to disclose serious past conduct matters about a serving Cranbrook teacher.

The resignation of Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson has led to his lawyers issuing the school with a legal letter.

Sources close to the matter who could not speak publicly say Sampson has engaged high-profile lawyers to represent him as the dispute between him and the school council intensifies. A range of legal claims are being considered against the school council, including defamation, breach of duty and false and misleading conduct.

The 13-person council includes Old Cranbrookians Association president Martin Cayzer and the Anglican Archbishops nominee Geoff Lovell, who was previously deputy chairman of Shores school council and on the University of Sydneys St Pauls College council.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Chiselled out of sandstone beneath the heart of Sydneys CBD, a cathedral-like cavern and tunnels are growing by the day as construction workers dig deeper. The underground labyrinth that is emerging near landmark buildings will become the signature station for the $25 billion Metro West line between the CBD and Parramatta. After Metro West opens in 2032, Hunter Street will be the busiest station on the underground line for city-bound commuters in the morning peak, when up to 10,000 people an hour are forecast. For engineers, the stations construction comes with a twist. Its location at the eastern end of the underground line means a giant tunnel has to be dug so that the eastbound trains can cross to the other side of the railway, before heading back in the opposite direction. Apart from crossover tracks for trains to return to Parramatta, the so-called turnback will be large enough to store a 120-metre-long driverless train. The floor of the cavern for the Hunter Street stations platforms is about 30 metres below CBD streets. Credit: Wolter Peeters Twin tunnels almost a kilometre long will also extend under the Domain, passing beneath the heritage-listed State Library. In a move described as future proofing the mega project, the excavation of so-called stub tunnels about 45 metres below ground will allow for the rail line to be extended to Sydneys southeast in coming decades. Eastern tunnelling project director Bob Nowotny said excavating in a tight space beneath the heart of the CBD presents major engineering challenges. From an engineering standpoint its an engineers dream to be building this cavern because of the scale of it, where its located and the engineering that goes in behind what we do, he said. We are more sculptors than we are tunnellers  sculpting the rock to fit all the infrastructure in.

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Nowotny, a 35-year veteran of underground projects around the world including road tunnels and railway caverns, said the Hunter Street station was more difficult than others he had worked on because of its CBD location. You can see the vastness of the operation. Theres a lot of logistics and planning that goes into it, he said. Sydney Metro project delivery head Josh Watkin (left) and eastern tunnelling project director Bob Nowotny. Credit: Wolter Peeters Three giant machines known as road headers are scraping away at the sandstone around the clock, carving out the singular cavern about 180 metres long for the stations two platforms. Most of the other stops on Metro West will be binocular cavern stations, which have separate tunnels for each platform. The roof of the main cavern is about 12 metres below Hunter Street, while its floor is about 30 metres deep. The alignment of the main cavern and tunnels follows as closely as possible that of Hunter Street above to avoid office skyscrapers deep basements. Every day, special trucks carry soil excavated from the depths of the cavern and tunnels up a steep, winding road to a site near the surface. Giant ventilation machines blow air into the cavern and tunnels, where workers wear breathing masks. Workers have completed almost a third of the excavation.

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Sydney Metro project delivery head Josh Watkin said the station would act as a gateway to the northern end of the CBD when complete, connected by underground pedestrian links to the new Metro City and Southwest station at Martin Place and nearby Wynyard station for Sydney Trains services. The size of this is so unreal when you consider that it is happening under peoples feet. It is hard to convey to people what is happening underground  its in a league of its own, he said. It will sit at the intersection of a number of lines. Its not only a terminus destination in its own right but also a major thoroughfare underground for people connecting to all the other lines. In terms of the pedestrian walkways and customer accessibility, it absolutely does have some challenges for us to maximise those flows, so theres no crowding. A train will arrive every four minutes at the station, while another will head in the opposite direction to Parramatta and Westmead. The Hunter Street station will become the busiest on the Metro West line. Credit: Wolter Peeters If an ambitious plan to redevelop Rosehill Racecourse and build an extra station for Metro West on the valuable site fails to be realised, travel times from Hunter Street to Olympic Park will be 15 minutes, and to Parramatta 20 minutes. A trip under Darling Harbour to Pyrmont will take two minutes. Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the Hunter Street metro station was set to revitalise the commercial heart of Sydneys CBD. Were building Sydneys second under-harbour railway crossing, which is the final tunnelling piece in this massive public transport project, she said.

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By connecting our citys two CBDs from Parramatta to Hunter Street, passengers in between will have access to fast and reliable metro services. Two giant boring machines will begin worming their way from the Bays precinct at Rozelle within months towards the Hunter Street station, creating twin 3.5-kilometre rail tunnels. They are due to break through into the western end of the Hunter Street stations main cavern later next year. Two skyscrapers, in red, planned for above the Metro West train station will be up to 58 storeys high. Credit: City of Sydney Under the wider plans, a skyscraper up to 51 storeys will be built on the corner of Hunter and George streets above the stations western entrance, metres from Wynyard station and light rail stops. Another tower of up to 58 storeys will be erected at the corner of Hunter, OConnell and Bligh streets, near the upmarket Rockpool Bar and Grill. Loading Pub and restaurant billionaire Justin Hemmes is part of a consortium competing against a group led by global investment giant Brookfield, which redeveloped Wynyard station, for the right to complete the Hunter Street metro station and build the towers above. Watkin said the contract for the over-station development was expected to be awarded next year. Were working with two shortlisted consortia at the moment, but its a work in progress, he said.

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Enormous swings against Queensland Labor in two byelections have highlighted Premier Steven Miless difficult challenge to retain power in October.

The Miles government appears certain to have lost the safe seat of Ipswich West after an 18 per cent swing gave Ipswich Show Society president Darren Zanow and the Liberal National Party a 2.9 per cent margin.

Premier Steven Miles had predicted big swings against Labor, but emphasised that swings against incumbent governments were expected. Credit: AFR

The LNP also cannoned through a 28 per cent margin built up by former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Inala before retiring last year.

Labors primary vote fell to a historic low of 36 per cent, but projections on Sunday had candidate Margie Nightingale retaining the seat in Brisbanes south-west on a 7 per cent margin, beating out the LNPs Trang Yen.
Suzii Crowley accused Dr Con Kyriacou of sexual assault. Credit: Justin McManus An urgent priority is providing victims with stronger rights that are proactively upheld and establishing a free, independent legal service for all victims who suddenly have to navigate a complex justice system, McCormack said. The 500-page report also calls for victims to have some appeal rights regarding decisions over applications made by accused people to access victims confidential communications and when survivors are questioned in court about their sexual history. McCormacks report says victims should get access to state-funded legal help to uphold their appeal rights. Suzii Crowley said she felt betrayed by Victorias justice system in 2021, after making a complaint of sexual assault against Hawthorn doctor Con Kyriacou in 2018, along with 47 other women. Kyriacou was charged with 34 offences, comprising three counts of rape, 28 counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual penetration and indecent assault of a child aged 16 years.

Loading The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) decided in 2020 it would not include statements from more than 40 of Kyriacous former patients, but would proceed with a two-week trial with five of the alleged victims. But the case collapsed in October 2021 when the OPP withdrew all charges because the then 78-year-old was unfit to stand trial. All these women had gone to police and made statements. How do you think this feels when someone just pulls the plug? We didnt expect him to go to jail. But we did expect for there to be a finding that would validate us and make us feel believed, Crowley said. Crowley, 54, said she would not have made a complaint had she known of the hardship and heartache involved.

Nineteen years ago, I was assaulted by my doctor, but then I was assaulted by the legal system. Why would anyone come forward when this is what happens? she said. Sophia Papas, 38, is another victim of alleged sexual assault whose case was abandoned after years of delays. A security guard was charged in October 2019 with assaulting Papas at a King Street nightclub in 2015, which he appeared to admit in SMS messages sent to her and provided to police. But after more than three years before the Magistrates Court, the charges were withdrawn in June 2023 when two new witnesses agreed to provide evidence just days before the hearing. Papas was not given the identities of the witnesses or what new evidence they intended to provide. She was told by police she could apply for the statements under freedom of information laws.

I was incredibly upset when this came to light because they had years to do it and suddenly, a week before me going to trial, a new witness comes forward, she said. I went through all that trauma, reliving the night over and over. But Im left with nothing. No one seems to give a f--- about me. I went through all that trauma, reliving the night over and over. But Im left with nothing. No one seems to give a f--- about me. Sophia Papas on her experience with Victorias justice system She also said she would not subject herself to Victorias justice system again. Whats the point? I felt good when I reported it to police. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and he got charged. And then it just got thrown in the bin, Papas said.

Loading Papas and Crowley both agreed to be identified to tell their stories. McCormack said discontent with Victorias justice system was widespread, and she is calling for a new deal for victims. Time and time again, victims felt the person accused of the crime was given more consideration than them. Most of the victims surveyed felt their needs, concerns or preferences were unimportant or ignored, she said. McCormack said victims from Indigenous backgrounds, members of LGBTQI communities and those with poor English skills were particularly vulnerable.
The war in the Middle East hasnt stopped Australian politicians and business types defying travel advice and making trips to Israel.

Last week, former treasurer Josh Frydenberg returned from leading a group of media and business figures on a trip to the Jewish state.

Former premier Daniel Andrews. Credit: Scott McNaughton

And next month, high-profile corporate lawyer Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, will host a delegation to Israel led by former Victorian Labor premier Daniel Andrews and new NSW Liberal senator Dave Sharma.

We hear the trip will focus on Israels tech sector, but the delegation will also visit kibbutzim in the countrys south, which were targeted by Hamas during the October 7 terrorist attacks, and meet high-profile political leaders, including President Isaac Herzog.
Eva Urtone spent all of primary school being told no hat, no play.

When she started year seven, no one told her she had to wear a hat, so she didnt.

Eva Urtone dons a hat after Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College implemented a no hat, no play policy for high school students. Credit: Jason South

But from term four, the year nine student will face detention if she doesnt remember her headwear.

Its a significant shift at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College in Geelong, which is believed to be one of the states first public high schools to mandate the wearing of hats.
 Flash

Local residents vote in Russia's presidential election in Vladivostok, Russia, March 15, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Russians headed to the polls on Friday for a three-day presidential election to select their next leader for a six-year term.

For the country's eighth presidential election, the government has set up more than 90,000 polling stations operating from 8 am to 8 pm local time from Friday to Sunday.

Given Russia's vast expanse across multiple time zones, Kamchatka and Chukotka, situated in the Far East region, are the first areas to start voting, with voters heading to the polling stations at 8 am local time. Vladimir Solodov, governor of Kamchatka, became the first regional head to cast his ballot, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Polling stations in Kaliningrad, located at the western end of Russia, will be the last to begin voting.

Early voting began on Feb 25 for voters in remote, hard-to-reach areas, polar regions, overseas vessels and border outposts. Russian citizens living abroad could cast their ballots on March 1.

Four candidates will vie for the top position: Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, Nikolai Kharitonov of the Russian Communist Party, Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party, and Vladimir Putin, the incumbent who is running as an independent.

According to data released by the Russian Central Election Commission, about 110 million Russian citizens are eligible to vote, including more than 1.8 million living abroad.

Under Russia's presidential election law, the president, who serves as head of state, is elected directly by the populace for a six-year term. Eligible presidential candidates must be Russian Federation citizens who are at least 35 years old, have resided in Russia for more than 25 years, and have never held citizenship of another country.

A candidate who secures more than half of the votes will be elected president. If no candidate achieves a majority and there are more than two candidates, a second round of voting will be held between the two candidates with the most votes. The candidate with the highest number of votes in the second round will be elected president.

The counting of votes will begin once the election concludes and will continue until the results are finalized. The election commission will confirm the election results no later than March 28 and subsequently announce the outcome within three days of confirmation.

The overseeing mission of the Commonwealth of Independent States made up of 194 people will observe Russia's presidential election, the mission's head Ilkhom Nematov said.

The election came as Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine enters its third year.

"I support Putin and, of course, I will vote for him," Lyudmila Petrova, 46, who was shopping for sneakers at one of Russia's largest wholesale markets in southern Moscow, said.

"Putin raised Russia up from its knees. And Russia will defeat the West and Ukraine. You cannot defeat Russia  ever. Have you in the West gone completely mad? What is Ukraine to do with you?"

Aerial bombardment

Ahead of the election, Kyiv ramped up its aerial bombardment of Russian regions just across their shared border.

Kyiv has launched some of its largest air attacks on Russia this past week. Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday it had downed drones and rockets over the Belgorod border region and the Kaluga region, southwest of the capital Moscow.

Andrey Klimov, deputy chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday that anti-Russian forces are using attacks on Russia to artificially increase preelection tension.

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov echoed Klimov's sentiments and said on Thursday that his embassy has already received many threats, adding that provocations are being prepared for the voting period.




The blue-crowned laughingthrush, a species under top-level protection in China, has become an epitome of closer cooperation between China and France in biodiversity conservation.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Australia is being urged to learn the lessons from a scrapped New Zealand plan that imposed penalties on many petrol and diesel cars in a bid to spur the sale of electric vehicles, sparking claims that it set impossible targets.

The New Zealand vehicle industry has pointed to that countrys scheme as a warning to Australia on how to manage the shift to electric vehicles, because of the community backlash against the penalties levied on some cars to fund the discounts on cleaner vehicles.

The Australian standard would be applied to a carmakers entire fleet.

The challenge on the standard is to work really closely and listen to the industry and the sector, and to set a standard that is challenging but actually achievable, New Zealand Automobile Association policy chief Simon Douglas said.

New Zealand Motor Trades Association chief executive Lee Marshall backed those warnings by saying electrical vehicle technology had not developed as quickly as some government officials appeared to assume when the fuel standards began in January last year.
Several Palestinians fleeing the war in Gaza who were devastated after their visas were cancelled while en route to Australia have again been granted permission to travel to the country, a move that has thrilled advocates in Australia.

Rasha Abbas, executive director of the Palestine Australia Relief and Action group, said eight of the 11 Palestinians her organisation was assisting had been told their cancelled visas had been reinstated.

We are delighted and happy that they are able to travel to Australia, Abbas said.

We are working through booking the flights for them and we will work with the government on the process for the remaining visa holders.

We are relieved the government has reinstated some of the visas  not all of them but the majority have been reinstated.
Dear Premier Allan,

As leaders of churches in Melbournes CBD, we call upon you, the Premier of Victoria, and your colleague, the Victorian Minister for Mental Health, Ingrid Stitt, to honour your governments commitment to establish a medically supervised injecting service here in the heart of the city. The need is urgent.

Our churches have been here for almost as long as the city itself. Motivated by the call of our faith to love God and neighbour and our enduring Christian commitment to justice and the sanctity of life, we remain committed to ensuring Melbourne is a place that nurtures the wellbeing of all its citizens, including those most vulnerable.

In just 12 months, we have lost 24 people to drug overdoses in our churches immediate neighbourhoods. The City of Melbourne has the highest number of heroin deaths of any Victorian local government area. The call-outs to ambulance services in response to overdoses here has increased nearly 30% in the last year. As those who seek to care, we are confronted with the realities of this every day. The anxiety on our streets is palpable, especially among those who are struggling to survive.

Supervised injecting rooms, or overdose prevention services, recognise the complex societal factors that contribute to addition, including poverty, trauma and mental illness. These services recognise that some individuals may continue to use drugs despite efforts to discourage them. Drug use is often a response to trauma and abuse, sometimes at the hands of people who are meant to care for them. Some people may recover and then relapse many times over. They need our compassion, not our judgement.

We commend your government for establishing Victorias first medically supervised injecting service in North Richmond five years ago. Already, through this service, more than 1,000 people have been connected to drug treatment therapy providing a pathway out of addiction. In many cases this service has been life saving for those who find it difficult to access our health care system. Through this facility and its staff, disadvantaged people  some connected to our churches  have been connected to those who care about their welfare and are able to support them in a process of change, providing wrap-around support that addresses more than their drug use alone.

While the debate surrounding the establishment of such services has become highly politically, there is no controversy when it comes to scientific evidence. Studies of more than 120 injecting services around the world demonstrate that they are one of the most effective tools in addressing serious harm caused by drug dependence in our community. According to Co-Health Fitzroys Dr Paul MacCartney, one of Melbournes leading specialists in addiction medicine, these services work.

In our view, we cannot pretend any longer that that the need to provide appropriate care to those in the grip of addictions and related mental health challenges does not exist, nor that this need can be hidden or pushed elsewhere. We cannot imagine our city as one that welcomes only those who are healthy and well-resourced and leaves others on its edges. We are all diminished by such an approach. For this reason we support the implementation of our state governments decision, made in 2020, to provide a medically supervised injecting service here in the city as a matter of urgency.

It cannot wait.

We are open to meeting with you to discuss how we can support your government to move forward with this life saving initiative.

Sincerely,
Larnaca, Cyprus: A second cargo of food aid was ready to depart by sea from Cyprus to Gaza on Saturday, the islands president said, after a first aid shipment landed in the besieged Palestinian enclave overnight.

Almost 200 tonnes of food arrived in the enclave late on Friday, the first shipment in a new aid route to the Gaza Strip, devastated by five months of war.

Humanitarian aid transported from a ship from the World Central Kitchen organisation, led by the United Arab Emirates, arrives in the Gaza Strips maritime space on Friday. Credit: AP

The first ship has started its return to Cyprus, and we are ready to dispatch the second ship, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told journalists.

The second ship, with 240 tonnes of aid, was moored at Larnaca port awaiting a signal to sail.
The University of Wyoming Extension welcomes Jennifer Faulkner as a local foods coordinator in the Department of Agricultural and Applied economics.

Faulkner grew up on a Wyoming cattle ranch and managed a ranch operation in Riverton for three years. As a rancher, she was highly active in the local foods movement and sold meat, dairy and produce to local customers.

Faulkners experience with agriculture and passion for local foods serve her well in her new role. "Jen rolled up her sleeves and hit the ground running, finding creative solutions to grow and strengthen Wyoming's producers and food entrepreneurs, says Anders Van Sandt, UW Extension specialist and assistant professor of regional economics in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. She brings a unique blend of thoughtful determination and innovation emblematic of her Wyoming ranching roots."

Faulkners position is funded by the Northwest Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center grant, which is led by Oregon State University and Colorado State University. Members of the food business center team work within their individual states as well as across a six-state region to develop a robust regional food system.

Those funded by this grant serve underinvested communities and small to medium-sized food businesses. Their aim is to help small food businesses grow and connect food entrepreneurs to resources; support investment in effective infrastructure; and build meat supply chain capacity and resilience.

Over the first eight months of this grant, which launched in summer 2023, the food business center team has already impacted Wyomings food landscape. In particular, they have connected Wyoming food businesses to wholesalers and other resources.

Last month, the team sponsored a workshop at the statewide Wyoming Food Coalition conference, which is dedicated to bringing together food system leaders from across the state. The workshop showed participants how to move from a home kitchen into a shared commercial space.

Faulkner is excited to keep improving Wyomings food system infrastructure. Im especially eager to connect local food producers with resources and technical assistance to promote successful operations, says Faulkner. I want to help foster a sense of community around the state of Wyoming.

Faulkner assumed her new position in early 2024. She can be contacted at Jennifer.faulkner@uwyo.edu.
Despite ECONOMIC TURMOIL,Pakistan military remainsthreat for us: CDS Chauhan





NEW DELHI :

CHIEF of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Saturday said Pakistan may be in a kind of economic turmoil but militarily there has beenno denting in its capabilities and its Armed Forces remain a threat for us. During an interaction at a conclave here, he also said that India has resourcestotakecareofourborders, especially disputed borders in the north, very well. He said this in response to a question on some of the biggest security challenges for India in the 21st century during a session at India Today Conclave 2024. I think if you look at the Armed Forces, the biggest challenge would be mostly external (ones).

And they are of immediate concern. But then externalchallengealsounite anation. Wehave seen it inKargil,wehave seen it in Galwan, General Chauhan said. The interaction was on the subject of Vision National Security: The ChallengesBeforetheIndianMilitary. As far as the ArmedForces are concerned,ourimmediatechallengeisthe riseofChinaandtheunsettledboundaryproblem.Wehavetwoneighbours, both adversarial to us. Both of them profess that their friendship is higher than the Himalayas and as deep as the oceans. And they are both nuclear capable, the CDS said. But both of them are predictable actually and the Indian military knows that these are the kinds of threats, he said. What is unpredictable, and for us what the biggest challenge would be, isthewaywarfareischanginginfuture. And, because of this, we will have to introducenewweaponsystems,technologies and tactics and strategies are goingtochange.And,probablyorganisation systems, Gen Chauhan said. This particular path of how to predict and what pathstotakerightnowsothat we are at the right place at the right time that I think is the biggest challenge for us, he added. He was also asked if a financiallyweakerPakistan continuestoremainathreat.

Pakistan may be in economic kind of turmoil and maybepoliticallyalsoslightly unstable, now they have a propergovernment.Butmilitarilytherehasbeennodenting in its capabilities actually. And, we should.. Give full markstotheadversary.Thats a better way of looking at things, that is how I look at things, the CDS said. Theyretained their capabilities..., so, Pakistan remainsathreat,youcantsay that Pakistan armed forces will not remain a threat.Yes, there may be a challenge for them to fight a long war because of the current economic problems which they have.Buttheyremainathreat for us, he added.

The remarks from the top general of the Armed Forces comes days after the Indian militaryconductedthemega exercise Bharat Shakti at Pokhran near the international border, where it showcased the prowess of its indigenous defence equipment and platforms. GeneralChauhanandother members of Indias top military brass had also witnessed the exercise held in the field firing range located in the arid terrain ofPokhran in Jaisalmer district. As far as the border is concerned, they arereasonably well secured, the CDS said during the conclave. Wehaveresourcestotake care of our borders, especiallydisputedbordersinthe north very well, he said. The CDS also spoke about the recent testing of Agni-5 and how it will strengthen deterrence. India on March 11 successfully carried out the first flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with multiple independentlytargetablereentry vehicle (MIRV) under its Mission Divyastra, joining a select group of nations having such a capability. The MIRV feature ensures that a single missile can deploy multiple warheads at different locations, sources earlier said.
ED summons caseKejriwal gets bail





NEW DELHI :

A DELHI court on Saturday granted bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in two complaints filed by the Enforcement Directorateagainsthimforskippingsummons in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra also allowed Kejriwal to leave the courtroom. Offence being bailable, accused Arvind Kejriwal is admitted to bail, it said.

The court further directed the ED to handover documents related to the complaints to Kejriwal. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed two complaints before the magisterial court, seeking Kejriwals prosecution for skipping multiple summonses issued to him in the case.
ExcisescamCourt sends K Kavithato ED custody till 23rd





NEW DELHI :

BHARAT Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, allegedly a key member of the South Group, which has been accused of paying the ruling Aam Aadmi Party kickbacks of Rs 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital, was on Saturday remanded in ED custody till March 23 in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi Excise Policy scam. Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and daughter of former Chief MinisterKChandrashekarRao, was produced before Special Judge for ED cases M KNagpal, who sent her to the custody of the federal anti-money laundering agency for a week.

The ED had sought her custody for 10 days. Kavitha, 46, was arrested from her Banjara Hills residence onFriday amid protests by BRS supporters. Her remand came on a day Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared before a metropolitan court in connection with two complaints filed bytheEnforcementDirectorate against him for skipping summons in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Excise Policy scam. Whilebeingproducedbefore the judge, Kavitha termed her arrest as illegal and asserted, We will fight it out in court.

During the hearing, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhari, appearing for Kavitha along withadvocateNiteshRana,told the judge her arrest was illegal.The counsel also accused the federal anti-money laundering agency of flouting the SupremeCourtdirectionwhile arrestingher.Theyclaimedthe apexcourthaddirectedtheED to nottake any coercive action against Kavitha before it hears her plea against the summons issued by the agency to her on March 19. It is a black day that SC ordersareviolated,thatanofficerthinkshe/sheisabovelaw, the counsel told the court.

The ED, however, said it has notmadeanystatementbefore acourt,includingtheSupreme Court, that no coercive action will be taken against Kavitha. There is enough evidence, witnesses statements against K Kavitha in the case, the ED said. The agency also accused Kavithaofdestructingevidence in the case. We have summoned several witnesses to confront K Kavitha with, the agency told the court. ThoughKavithahasnotbeen named as an accused in any chargesheet filed, the agency has claimed she was a key figure of the South Group who made benami investments in beneficiary liquor companies.
Govt bans several J&K groups for terror activities





NEW DELHI :

THE Central Government on Saturday banned the Jammu andKashmirPeoplesFreedom League and all factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Leagueassociatedwiththeseparatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference under strict antiterror laws. Additionally, the ban on the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which is led by imprisoned terror accused Yasin Malik, has been extended by another five years. The announcement came just hours before the schedule for the general elections was to be declared. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Modi Government will remain unsparingtopeopleandorganisationsinvolvedinterroractivities.

The Modi Government hasdesignatedtheJammuand Kashmir Peoples Freedom League(JKPFL)asanUnlawful Association for five years. The organisationthreatenedIndias integrity by promoting, aiding and abetting the secession of Jammu and Kashmir through terrorism, he wrote on X. Shah also said that pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modispolicyofzero-tolerance towards terrorism, the Union Home Ministry has declared fourfactionsoftheJammuand Kashmir Peoples League unlawful associations.There are the JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza),theJKPL(BashirAhmad Tota), the JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan) and the Yaqoob Sheikh-led JKPL (Aziz Sheikh). These organisations were involved in inciting terror and abetting secessionism inJammuandKashmirandthe Government is committed to suppressing terrorism ruthlessly, he said. The Union Home Minister saidtheModiGovernmenthas extended the ban on the JammuandKashmirLiberation Frontforafurtherperiodoffive years.

The banned outfit continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Anyone found challenging the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation will face harsh legal consequences, he said. In a notification, the Union HomeMinistrysaidthe JKPFL, chairedbyMohammadFarooq Shah, was indulging in unlawful activities prejudicial to the integrity,sovereigntyandsecurity of the country. Members of the JKPFL have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-Indiapropagandatoincite secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir, and its leaders and members have been involved in mobilising funds to perpetrateunlawfulactivities,including supporting secessionist, separatist and terrorist activities, in the Union territory, it said. TEACHERDISMISSEDFOR INVOLVEMENT IN ANTINATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Jammu andKashmir administrationhasdismissedateacher from service for alleged involvement in anti-national activities, in south Kashmirs Kulgam district.
A variety of arms and ammunition rounded up by police in north Afghanistan's Balkh province are displayed in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, March 16, 2024.

Units of counter-terrorist police have rounded up 300 pieces of weapons during a series of operations in north Afghanistan's Balkh province over the past year, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaibar Akbari/Xinhua)

KABUL, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Units of counter-terrorist police have rounded up 300 pieces of weapons during a series of operations in north Afghanistan's Balkh province over the past year, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday.

"During a series of operations, which covered the provincial capital Mazar-i-Sharif and districts in Balkh, police have discovered 300 pieces of light and heavy weapons and arrested 35 persons on the charge of keeping arms illegally," the ministry said on its X account.

The ministry did not provide more details.

The Afghan caretaker government since assuming power in August 2021 in the wake of the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops from Afghanistan has rounded up thousands of weaponry including battle tanks from across Afghanistan and warned of stern action if anyone carries arms unlawfully. 

A variety of arms and ammunition rounded up by police in north Afghanistan's Balkh province are displayed in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, March 16, 2024.

Units of counter-terrorist police have rounded up 300 pieces of weapons during a series of operations in north Afghanistan's Balkh province over the past year, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaibar Akbari/Xinhua)

A variety of arms and ammunition rounded up by police in north Afghanistan's Balkh province are displayed in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, March 16, 2024.

Units of counter-terrorist police have rounded up 300 pieces of weapons during a series of operations in north Afghanistan's Balkh province over the past year, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaibar Akbari/Xinhua)
Indian Navy foils attempts bySomali pirates to hijack ships





NEW DELHI :

THE Indian Navy has foiled attempts by a group of Somali pirates to hijack ships in the high seas off the east coast of Somalia as it intercepted their vessel, officials said on Saturday. The armed pirates had sailed out on board a cargo ship named Ruen thatwashijackedaroundthreemonths ago, they said.

The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on 14 December,wasreportedtohavesailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of piracy on high seas, the Navy said. The vessel was intercepted by an Indian Navy warship on March 15, it said. The Navy said the pirates opened fire on theIndian warship, which took appropriate actions in self-defence as per international law and to counter piracyand usedminimal forcetoneutralise the pirates threat to shipping and seafarers.

Thepiratesonboardthevesselhave been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians theymaybeholdingagainsttheirwill, the Navy said in a statement. The Indian Navy remains committed to maritime security and safety of seafarers in the region, it added.
LAMITIYE-2024: Indian Army contingent departs to Seychelles for joint exercise





New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI):

An Indian Army contingent departed for Seychelles on Sunday to participate in the 10th edition of Joint Military Exercise 'LAMITIYE-2024', the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The Joint Exercise between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) will be conducted at Seychelles from March 18-27.

'LAMITIYE' meaning 'Friendship' in the Creole language is a biennial training event and has been conducted in the Seychelles since 2001. 45 personnel each from the GORKHA RIFLES of the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) will participate in the exercise.

"The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in sub-conventional operations in a semi-urban environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter on Peacekeeping Operations. The exercise will enhance cooperation and interoperability between both sides during peacekeeping operations. The exercise will also build and promote bilateral military relations in addition to exchanging skills, experiences and good practices between both armies," the statement read.

Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for the neutralization of likely threats that may be encountered in a semi-urban environment, while exploiting and showcasing new-generation equipment and technology.

The 10-day joint exercise will include field training exercises, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, which culminate in two days of validation exercises.

The exercise will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and magnifying jointness between the troops of both armies. The exercise will also foster collaborative partnerships and help in sharing best practices between the two sides, the ministry added. (ANI)
Polling in Nagpur, Ramtek on April 19





Staff Reporter :

Vidarbha votes in 2 phases  April 19 and April 26



With the Election Commission announcing dates of Lok Sabha election on Saturday afternoon, the model code of conduct has come into force. The 10 Parliamentary constituencies in Vidarbha will go to polls on April 19 and April 26. Polling in Nagpur and Ramtek constituencies will be held on April 19. Addressing mediapersons, Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector, said, As far as Nagpur and Ramtek Lok Sabha constituencies are concerned, notification regarding elections will be issued on March 20. Candidates have to file nominations by March 27. Scrutiny of nominations will be held on March 28 with March 30 being the last date of withdrawal of nominations. On April 19 people will cast their votes, and counting will be held on June 4, 2024. In Ramtek, 20,45,717 voters and in Nagpur 22,18,259 will cast their vote. Of the total voters in Ramtek, 10,43,266 are male while 10,02,396 voters are female. In Nagpur also the number of male voters (11,10,840) is more than the female voters (11,07,197). After the issuance of notification on March 20, candidates will get only seven days to file nominations. Of the seven days, three are holidays  Holi on March 25, second Saturday and Sunday on March 23 and March 24 respectively.

Considering only four working days, the administration has appealed to the candidates to file their nominations as early as possible. We want more and more voters should come out of their homes and exercise their franchise. Our machinery is visiting households with an appeal to vote. Administration expects over 75% polling, asserted Dr Itankar. Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Commissioner of Police informed mediapersons about the arrangements made by the police department regarding elections.

Tushar Thombare, Additional Collector who is in-charge of Ramtek constituency, Saumya Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad spoke about model code of conduct, Dr Harssh Poddar, Superintendent of Police gave detail information about deployment of police force during polls. Pravin Bahire, Deputy District Election Officer and others also were present. 4,510 poling stations in Nagpur and Ramtek A total of 2,105 polling stations will be set up in 6 assembly constituencies under Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency and 2, 405 polling stations will be set up in 6 assembly constituencies under Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency. Strong room and vote counting arrangements for both these constituencies will be made at Agriculture Produce Market Committee, Kalamna. A total of 7, 573 officers-employees have been appointed to carry out all these election system. Necessary manpower has been made available in the police department to conduct the elections peacefully.

Change in postal ballot system This time a change has been made in the process of casting vote through postal ballot. Till last elections people who are not able to come to their respective polling centres, used to send their ballot papers through post. This time Government has set up facilitation centres where these people have to go and submit the ballot papers.

Absentee voters The teams of administration will visit the residences of the people of four categories-- having 85 plus age, people with disability (over 40% disability), suffering from COVID 19 and those who are into essential services and get their voting done. The process of distribution of form number 12-D has already started. People those come in above four categories have to fill up those forms and submit them with Collector office. The teams from Collectorate will reach to the people whose Form number 12-D are submitted and get their voting done. The team will have micro-observer, police personnel, political leader etc in whose presence the voting of the absentee voters would be done at their places.
Symposium on cow dung explores sustainable practices





Business Reporter :

The Vidarbha Industries Association Agro Food Processing & Rural Development Forum wrapped up its landmark event, the Greentech Symposium: Cow Dung Innovations in Industry and Energy, on Friday, marking a significant step forward in the exploration of sustainable practices. The symposium, held at VIA Auditorium in Nagpur, brought together a diverse array of industry experts, researchers, students, women farmers and environmental enthusiasts, all united in their quest to explore innovative applications of cow dung for sustainable development. Farmers, dairy farmers, agri management students from the city, Katol, Bhandara, Danapur, Arvi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Hyderabad, aggarbatti manufacturers as well as women self help group representatives attended the programme.

Distinguished guests, including Dr Deepak Pinjari, Associate Dean of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. Dr Pinjaris presentation on novel, valuable and sustainable products from cow dung showcased the versatility in creating eco-friendly solutions. He gave examples of vegan leather and carbon credits, pigments and cellulose membrane for dialysis. Om Jajodia, Proprietor of Krishi Kranti Kendra, Nagpur conducted a session on Cownomics offered valuable insights into the economic potential of cow dung-based products, emphasizing on economic importance of gomutra.

He expressed satisfaction with the turnout and the quality of discussions, emphasizing VIAs commitment to promoting sustainable practices and leveraging innovation for societal betterment. Sanjay Sinha, alumina of Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Jaipur, offered practical guidance on implementing cow dung-based prakritik paints and cow dung chip for protection from UVradiation. Vivek Darwai, IT professional, lent his expertise and insights to the symposium and provided a comprehensive exploration of various aspects of cow dung utilization in industry and energy. He explained about his unique product, dairy mantra to help dairy farm management. Earlier, Shachi Mallick, Convener of VIA Agro Food Processing & Rural Development Forum, set the tone with her opening remarks, underscoring the importance of sustainable practices in today's industrial landscape. The interactive question and answer forum, moderated by Shachi Mallick and Dr Kirty Sirothia, Project Director, facilitated engaging discussions and enabled participants to gain deeper insights into the subject matter, supported by Aniruddha Ansingkar and Laxmikant Padole.
Aeva Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AEVA  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $2.29.

Several research firms recently commented on AEVA. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and set a $5.00 target price on shares of Aeva Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. Roth Mkm lifted their target price on shares of Aeva Technologies from $1.00 to $1.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th.

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Aeva Technologies Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of Aeva Technologies stock opened at $0.99 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $260.00 million, a PE ratio of -1.53 and a beta of 1.42. The firms 50 day moving average is $1.00 and its 200 day moving average is $0.81. Aeva Technologies has a 1 year low of $0.47 and a 1 year high of $1.67.

Shares of Aeva Technologies are set to reverse split before the market opens on Tuesday, March 19th. The 1-5 reverse split was announced on Tuesday, March 19th. The number of shares owned by shareholders will be adjusted after the closing bell on Tuesday, March 19th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Sylebra Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Aeva Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $20,730,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Aeva Technologies by 16.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,957,850 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,231,000 after acquiring an additional 1,841,986 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its stake in shares of Aeva Technologies by 249.7% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 1,212,233 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,267,000 after acquiring an additional 865,543 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP increased its stake in shares of Aeva Technologies by 195.0% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 575,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,076,000 after acquiring an additional 380,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Aeva Technologies by 333.9% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 436,727 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,366,000 after acquiring an additional 336,078 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.25% of the companys stock.

About Aeva Technologies

(Get Free Report

Aeva Technologies, Inc designs 4D LiDAR-on-chips in the United States, Thailand, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company develops its products using frequency modulated continuous wave sensing technology. It offers 4D LiDAR sensing system with embedded software for automotive, industrial, and security applications; and a silicon photonics engine and software algorithms for industrial automation and consumer device applications.

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Black Stone Minerals (NYSE:BSM  Get Free Report) and Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

13.3% of Black Stone Minerals shares are owned by institutional investors. 19.6% of Black Stone Minerals shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Dividends

Black Stone Minerals pays an annual dividend of $1.90 per share and has a dividend yield of 12.2%. Diversified Energy pays an annual dividend of $0.17 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.5%. Black Stone Minerals pays out 101.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Black Stone Minerals has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Black Stone Minerals is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Black Stone Minerals 0 2 1 0 2.33 Diversified Energy 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Black Stone Minerals and Diversified Energy, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Black Stone Minerals currently has a consensus price target of $19.33, suggesting a potential upside of 24.49%. Given Black Stone Minerals higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Black Stone Minerals is more favorable than Diversified Energy.

Profitability

This table compares Black Stone Minerals and Diversified Energys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Black Stone Minerals 70.46% 42.38% 30.78% Diversified Energy N/A N/A N/A

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Black Stone Minerals and Diversified Energys revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Black Stone Minerals $592.22 million 5.52 $422.55 million $1.87 8.30 Diversified Energy N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Black Stone Minerals has higher revenue and earnings than Diversified Energy.

Summary

Black Stone Minerals beats Diversified Energy on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Black Stone Minerals

(Get Free Report)

Black Stone Minerals, L.P., together with its subsidiaries, owns and manages oil and natural gas mineral interests. It owns mineral interests in approximately 16.8 million gross acres, nonparticipating royalty interests in 1.8 million gross acres, and overriding royalty interests in 1.6 million gross acres located in 41 states in the United States. The company was founded in 1876 and is based in Houston, Texas.

About Diversified Energy

(Get Free Report)

Diversified Energy Company PLC operates as an independent owner and operator of producing natural gas and oil wells primarily in the Appalachian Basin of the United States. The company is involved in the production, marketing, and transportation of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, and condensates. Its assets consist of conventional and unconventional natural gas, natural gas liquids, and oil producing wells; and natural gas gathering pipelines located in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The company was formerly known as Diversified Gas & Oil PLC and changed its name to Diversified Energy Company PLC in May 2021. Diversified Energy Company PLC was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

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AMMAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday cautioned against the risk of an Israeli attack on Gaza's Rafah.

At a meeting in Jordan's port city of Aqaba, the king stressed the need for reaching an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the state-run Al Mamlaka TV reported.

Calling for increased efforts to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to those in the region, the king reiterated Jordan's stance against any forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as against any attempts to divide them.

The two leaders warned of the danger of an Israeli attack on Rafah, noting that it will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The meeting also underscored the European Union's role in facilitating peace in the region, with the king urging effective steps to establish a political framework for attaining a fair and inclusive peace based on the two-state solution. 
Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLC increased its position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY  Free Report) by 1.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,521 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 260 shares during the quarter. Hershey makes up about 0.6% of Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position. Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLCs holdings in Hershey were worth $2,709,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. bought a new position in Hershey in the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Costello Asset Management INC bought a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its position in Hershey by 121.3% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Hershey during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Institutional investors own 56.47% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.07, for a total transaction of $273,105.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 31,316 shares in the company, valued at $5,701,704.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Hershey news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.07, for a total transaction of $273,105.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 31,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,701,704.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Charles R. Raup sold 2,065 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.85, for a total transaction of $396,170.25. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 14,770 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,833,624.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 5,518 shares of company stock worth $1,042,669 over the last ninety days. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hershey Stock Performance

NYSE HSY traded down $1.52 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $193.54. 12,184,826 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,082,628. The company has a market cap of $39.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.34. The Hershey Company has a 12-month low of $178.82 and a 12-month high of $276.88. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $192.41 and a 200 day moving average of $193.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $2.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.72 billion. Hershey had a net margin of 16.67% and a return on equity of 51.79%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.02 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Hershey Company will post 9.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This is a positive change from Hersheys previous quarterly dividend of $1.19. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.83%. Hersheys dividend payout ratio is currently 60.55%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on HSY shares. DA Davidson started coverage on Hershey in a report on Friday, December 8th. They set a neutral rating and a $205.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup assumed coverage on Hershey in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $213.00 target price for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Hershey from $185.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $213.00 target price on shares of Hershey in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on Hershey from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $228.33.

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About Hershey

(Free Report)

The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; protein bars; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HSY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY  Free Report).

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BBB Foods (NYSE:TBBB  Get Free Report) quiet period is set to expire on Wednesday, March 20th. BBB Foods had issued 33,660,589 shares in its initial public offering on February 9th. The total size of the offering was $589,060,308 based on an initial share price of $17.50. During the companys quiet period, insiders and any underwriters that worked on the IPO are prevented from issuing any research reports for the company because of regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Following the expiration of the companys quiet period, its expected that the brokerages that served as underwriters on the stock will initiate research coverage on the company.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on TBBB shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of BBB Foods in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. They set an overweight rating and a $30.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley began coverage on BBB Foods in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $22.00 price target for the company. Scotiabank began coverage on BBB Foods in a research note on Tuesday, March 12th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $33.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of BBB Foods in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. They set a buy rating and a $26.00 target price for the company. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on shares of BBB Foods in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. They issued a buy rating and a $26.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.40.

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BBB Foods Price Performance

About BBB Foods

BBB Foods stock opened at $21.71 on Friday. BBB Foods has a 52-week low of $18.71 and a 52-week high of $22.54.

(Get Free Report)

BBB Foods Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates grocery retail stores in Mexico. It offers food products, drinks, hygiene and beauty products, home clean products, coffee, tea and substitutes, jellies and desserts, and baby and pet products. The company also provides branded, private label, and spot products.

Further Reading

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Collective Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 6,522 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $220,000.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its position in Bank of America by 1.5% in the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 135,764 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,596,000 after purchasing an additional 2,013 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P raised its holdings in Bank of America by 150.3% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 1,985 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 1,192 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in Bank of America by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 405,098 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,698,000 after buying an additional 16,319 shares during the period. First Western Trust Bank bought a new stake in Bank of America in the 1st quarter worth $586,000. Finally, Pearl River Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of America in the first quarter valued at about $534,000. 68.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Bank of America Stock Performance

NYSE:BAC opened at $35.41 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $33.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $30.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $279.41 billion, a PE ratio of 11.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.38. Bank of America Co. has a 52-week low of $24.96 and a 52-week high of $36.44.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.01. Bank of America had a net margin of 15.42% and a return on equity of 11.38%. The company had revenue of $22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.70 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.85 EPS. Bank of Americas quarterly revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.15 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.71%. Bank of Americas payout ratio is 31.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on BAC. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Bank of America from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of Bank of America from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Odeon Capital Group cut shares of Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $33.90 target price for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Bank of America from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Bank of America from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $32.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of America currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $35.53.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bank of America

Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of America

In related news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank bought 5,398 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.56 per share, with a total value of $57,002.88. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 5,398 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,002.88. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

About Bank of America

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.

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PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM  Get Free Report) and Smith Douglas Homes (NYSE:SDHC  Get Free Report) are both construction companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares PulteGroup and Smith Douglas Homes gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio PulteGroup $16.06 billion 1.46 $2.60 billion $11.74 9.45 Smith Douglas Homes $925.89 million N/A N/A N/A N/A

PulteGroup has higher revenue and earnings than Smith Douglas Homes.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score PulteGroup 0 5 10 0 2.67 Smith Douglas Homes 0 5 1 0 2.17

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for PulteGroup and Smith Douglas Homes, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

PulteGroup presently has a consensus target price of $102.31, indicating a potential downside of 7.74%. Smith Douglas Homes has a consensus target price of $26.70, indicating a potential downside of 16.14%. Given PulteGroups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe PulteGroup is more favorable than Smith Douglas Homes.

Profitability

This table compares PulteGroup and Smith Douglas Homes net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets PulteGroup 16.20% 25.97% 16.52% Smith Douglas Homes N/A N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

89.8% of PulteGroup shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of PulteGroup shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

PulteGroup beats Smith Douglas Homes on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About PulteGroup

(Get Free Report)

PulteGroup, Inc., through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names. In addition, the company arranges financing through the origination of mortgage loans primarily for homebuyers; sells the servicing rights for the originated loans; and provides title insurance policies, and examination and closing services to homebuyers. PulteGroup, Inc. was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

About Smith Douglas Homes

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Smith Douglas Homes Corp. engages in the design, construction, and sale of single-family homes in the southeastern United States. The company operates in metropolitan Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Huntsville, Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, and Houston. It also provides closing, escrow, and title insurance services. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Woodstock, Georgia.

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Enterprise Bank & Trust Co reduced its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 8.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 8,314 shares of the companys stock after selling 747 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company comprises approximately 1.7% of Enterprise Bank & Trust Cos holdings, making the stock its 14th largest position. Enterprise Bank & Trust Cos holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $4,846,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter worth about $107,000. Roundview Capital LLC grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock worth $589,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter worth about $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 9.9% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 53,052 shares of the companys stock worth $15,193,000 after buying an additional 4,774 shares during the period. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter worth about $561,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 78,573 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $648.07, for a total value of $50,920,804.11. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 99,333,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $64,375,262,246.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders have sold a total of 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 0.9 %

NYSE:LLY traded down $6.56 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $754.17. 3,730,053 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,382,536. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The firm has a market cap of $716.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.03, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.34. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $323.26 and a 52-week high of $800.78. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $708.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $625.25.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $9.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 51.22%. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.41 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on LLY shares. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. DZ Bank lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $820.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Friday, March 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $805.00 to $950.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $677.62.

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Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

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Enterprise Bank & Trust Co grew its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 13.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 9,471 shares of the information technology services providers stock after buying an additional 1,107 shares during the period. Accenture makes up about 1.2% of Enterprise Bank & Trust Cos investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. Enterprise Bank & Trust Cos holdings in Accenture were worth $3,323,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. First Foundation Advisors raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 6.8% during the second quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 11,574 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,572,000 after purchasing an additional 741 shares during the last quarter. BOKF NA raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 0.6% during the second quarter. BOKF NA now owns 45,759 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $14,120,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. New Republic Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Accenture during the second quarter valued at approximately $606,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in Accenture by 2.3% during the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,284,770 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,315,832,000 after buying an additional 96,414 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dash Acquisitions Inc. increased its holdings in Accenture by 1.0% during the third quarter. Dash Acquisitions Inc. now owns 34,043 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $10,361,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the last quarter. 70.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Accenture Stock Down 1.0 %

ACN stock traded down $3.61 during trading on Friday, hitting $374.60. The company had a trading volume of 3,865,405 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,974,334. The firm has a market capitalization of $234.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.72, a PEG ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.20. Accenture plc has a 52-week low of $243.52 and a 52-week high of $387.51. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $368.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $338.86.

Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.17 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.65% and a return on equity of 29.08%. The firms revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.08 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 12.21 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 4,333 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $371.83, for a total value of $1,611,139.39. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 34,795 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,937,824.85. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $371.81, for a total value of $1,859,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 20,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,553,691.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 4,333 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $371.83, for a total transaction of $1,611,139.39. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 34,795 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,937,824.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 26,551 shares of company stock valued at $9,739,791. Company insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Accenture from $385.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Accenture from $365.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Accenture from $364.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Accenture from $369.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Mizuho initiated coverage on shares of Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $426.00 price objective for the company. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Accenture currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $372.45.

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Accenture Profile

(Free Report)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

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CK Infrastructure (OTCMKTS:CKISY  Get Free Report) and Avangrid (NYSE:AGR  Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

12.9% of Avangrid shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Avangrid shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares CK Infrastructure and Avangrids top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio CK Infrastructure N/A N/A N/A $62.69 0.46 Avangrid $8.31 billion 1.66 $786.00 million $2.03 17.55

Profitability

Avangrid has higher revenue and earnings than CK Infrastructure. CK Infrastructure is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Avangrid, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This table compares CK Infrastructure and Avangrids net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CK Infrastructure N/A N/A N/A Avangrid 9.46% 3.92% 1.90%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for CK Infrastructure and Avangrid, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CK Infrastructure 0 0 0 0 N/A Avangrid 2 3 0 0 1.60

Avangrid has a consensus price target of $34.75, indicating a potential downside of 2.44%. Given Avangrids higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Avangrid is more favorable than CK Infrastructure.

Summary

Avangrid beats CK Infrastructure on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CK Infrastructure

(Get Free Report)

CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited, an infrastructure company, develops, invests in, operates, and commercializes infrastructure businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The company invests in energy infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, water infrastructure, waste management, waste-to-energy, household infrastructure, and infrastructure related businesses. It is also involved in the production and laying of asphalt; manufacture, distribution, and sale of cement; and property investment and project management activities. The company was formerly known as Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited and changed its name to CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited in May 2017. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong. CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited is a subsidiary of Hutchison Infrastructure Holdings Limited.

About Avangrid

(Get Free Report)

Avangrid, Inc., an energy services holding company, engages in the regulated energy transmission and distribution, and renewable energy generation businesses in the United States. The company operates through Networks and Renewables segments. It is involved in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and distribution, transportation, and sale of natural gas. In addition, the company operates renewable energy generation facilities primarily using onshore wind power, as well as solar, biomass, and thermal power. Further, it delivers natural gas and electricity to residential, commercial, and institutional customers through its regulated utilities in New York, Maine, Connecticut, and Massachusetts; and sells its output to investor-owned utilities, public utilities, and other credit-worthy entities, as well as generates and provides power and other services to federal and state agencies, institutional retail, and joint action agencies. Additionally, the company delivers thermal output to wholesale customers in the Western United States. It owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.3 million customers in New York and New England, as well as owns and operates 9.3 gigawatts of electricity capacity primarily through wind power in 22 states. Avangrid, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Orange, Connecticut. The company operates as a subsidiary of Iberdrola, S.A.

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Charles Schwab Trust Co trimmed its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN  Free Report) by 7.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 116,477 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 9,560 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Cos holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF were worth $2,467,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Sweet Financial Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Sweet Financial Partners LLC now owns 25,534 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $536,000 after buying an additional 531 shares during the period. Dravo Bay LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Dravo Bay LLC now owns 19,627 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $412,000 after buying an additional 551 shares during the period. FC Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 0.8% during the third quarter. FC Advisory LLC now owns 67,885 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,425,000 after purchasing an additional 564 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 2.6% during the third quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 29,467 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $619,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealthcare Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 1.1% during the third quarter. Wealthcare Capital Management LLC now owns 64,968 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,364,000 after purchasing an additional 738 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco Senior Loan ETF Stock Up 0.0 %

Shares of BKLN traded up $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $21.22. 9,769,386 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,283,804. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a 12-month low of $20.33 and a 12-month high of $21.27. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $21.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.05.

About Invesco Senior Loan ETF

The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Jervois Global Limited (OTCMKTS:JRVMF  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 2,360,300 shares, a growth of 29.9% from the February 14th total of 1,816,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,117,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.1 days.

Jervois Global Price Performance

JRVMF opened at $0.02 on Friday. Jervois Global has a one year low of $0.01 and a one year high of $0.10. The stocks fifty day moving average is $0.02 and its 200-day moving average is $0.02.

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About Jervois Global

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Further Reading

Jervois Global Limited engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. The company explores for cobalt, nickel, copper, and gold deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Idaho Cobalt Operations project located in the state of Idaho, the United States; the Sao Miguel Paulista nickel cobalt refinery in Sao Paulo, Brazil; and the Nico Young nickel-cobalt deposits in New South Wales, Australia.

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Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the five brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $164.50.

Several research firms recently weighed in on ONTO. B. Riley raised their target price on shares of Onto Innovation from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Benchmark increased their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Onto Innovation from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th.

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Onto Innovation Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of Onto Innovation stock opened at $175.43 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $8.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 71.31 and a beta of 1.41. The companys 50 day moving average is $169.03 and its 200 day moving average is $146.02. Onto Innovation has a twelve month low of $76.40 and a twelve month high of $199.72.

Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The semiconductor company reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $219.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $209.06 million. Onto Innovation had a net margin of 14.85% and a return on equity of 10.95%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.57 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Onto Innovation will post 4.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Onto Innovation

In other Onto Innovation news, Director David Brian Miller sold 2,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.49, for a total transaction of $477,372.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,008 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,535,773.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in shares of Onto Innovation by 198.3% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 173 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Onto Innovation in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Huntington National Bank grew its position in shares of Onto Innovation by 70.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 247 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in Onto Innovation during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in Onto Innovation by 51.3% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 516 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.78% of the companys stock.

Onto Innovation Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Onto Innovation Inc engages in the design, development, manufacture, and support of process control tools that performs optical metrology. The company offers lithography systems and process control analytical software. It also offers process and yield management solutions, and device packaging and test facilities through standalone systems for optical metrology, macro-defect inspection, packaging lithography, and transparent and opaque thin film measurements.

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The centuries-old Tibetan opera, a living fossil of Tibetan culture in China's Xizang, has witnessed a renaissance thanks to relentless efforts in protection, engaging an increasing number of Tibetan youngsters to learn and inherit this intangible cultural heritage. #GLOBALink





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Orser Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS  Free Report) by 29.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 8,857 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,034 shares during the period. Zoetis comprises 2.0% of Orser Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Orser Capital Management LLCs holdings in Zoetis were worth $1,748,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of ZTS. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 7.4% in the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 93,735 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,308,000 after purchasing an additional 6,457 shares during the period. BLB&B Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 1.9% in the third quarter. BLB&B Advisors LLC now owns 60,872 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,591,000 after purchasing an additional 1,107 shares during the period. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 5.4% in the third quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 6,216 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,070,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares during the period. Advisor Partners II LLC boosted its stake in shares of Zoetis by 4.0% in the third quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 24,068 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,187,000 after purchasing an additional 922 shares during the period. Finally, Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC acquired a new stake in Zoetis in the third quarter valued at $1,049,000. 89.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on ZTS shares. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Zoetis from $215.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. StockNews.com cut shares of Zoetis from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Zoetis from $190.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Zoetis from $195.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. Finally, BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of Zoetis in a report on Thursday, December 7th. They set an outperform rating and a $237.00 target price on the stock. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $224.33.

Zoetis Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ZTS traded down $1.31 on Friday, reaching $172.57. 3,399,667 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,577,704. The company has a quick ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 3.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. Zoetis Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $151.03 and a fifty-two week high of $201.92. The businesss 50-day moving average is $190.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $183.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.04, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.87.

Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.08). Zoetis had a return on equity of 51.25% and a net margin of 27.43%. The firm had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.19 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.15 EPS. The firms revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Zoetis Inc. will post 5.8 EPS for the current year.

Zoetis Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.432 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 18th. This represents a $1.73 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.00%. Zoetiss payout ratio is 33.93%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Zoetis

In other Zoetis news, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 363 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $197.74, for a total transaction of $71,779.62. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 20,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,037,257.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Zoetis Company Profile

(Free Report)

Zoetis Inc engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of animal health medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic products and services in the United States and internationally. The company commercializes products primarily across species, including livestock, such as cattle, swine, poultry, fish, and sheep and others; and companion animals comprising dogs, cats, and horses.

Further Reading

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Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the eleven research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $72.18.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on PNW shares. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $79.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 6th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $78.00 to $74.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Guggenheim raised shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $78.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $76.00 to $69.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 4th.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pinnacle West Capital

Pinnacle West Capital Price Performance

Institutional Trading of Pinnacle West Capital

Shares of PNW opened at $70.98 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $69.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $72.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 0.67. Pinnacle West Capital has a fifty-two week low of $65.20 and a fifty-two week high of $86.03. The company has a market capitalization of $8.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 0.48.

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 116.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,507,809 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $467,521,000 after buying an additional 3,506,181 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 4th quarter worth approximately $112,914,000. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 18.4% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,911,753 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $539,808,000 after buying an additional 1,072,235 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 29.6% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,537,942 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $276,313,000 after buying an additional 808,207 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 297.6% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 633,531 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $48,174,000 after buying an additional 474,174 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.95% of the companys stock.

Pinnacle West Capital Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities. Its transmission facilities include overhead lines and underground lines; and distribution facilities consist of overhead lines and underground primary cables.

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Polianta Ltd purchased a new position in shares of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 4,300 shares of the insurance providers stock, valued at approximately $842,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 4,833.3% during the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 148 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of RenaissanceRe during the first quarter worth $32,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 519.4% during the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 192 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of RenaissanceRe during the first quarter worth $44,000. Finally, VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in RenaissanceRe in the third quarter worth approximately $57,000. 91.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at RenaissanceRe

In other news, EVP David E. Marra sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.05, for a total value of $209,050.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 80,449 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,817,863.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP David E. Marra sold 1,000 shares of RenaissanceRe stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.05, for a total value of $209,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 80,449 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,817,863.45. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP David E. Marra sold 750 shares of RenaissanceRe stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $229.00, for a total value of $171,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 79,699 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,251,071. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 5,130 shares of company stock valued at $1,167,479 in the last three months. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

RNR has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of RenaissanceRe in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $251.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group boosted their target price on RenaissanceRe from $229.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on RenaissanceRe from $216.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Evercore ISI started coverage on RenaissanceRe in a report on Thursday, December 14th. They issued an underperform rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Finally, TD Cowen initiated coverage on RenaissanceRe in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, RenaissanceRe currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $240.90.

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RenaissanceRe Price Performance

NYSE RNR traded down $0.44 during trading on Friday, reaching $237.40. 871,738 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 391,953. The company has a market cap of $12.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.30. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $221.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $210.60. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. has a 1-year low of $174.22 and a 1-year high of $239.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.40.

RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The insurance provider reported $11.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.13 by $3.64. The firm had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.83 billion. RenaissanceRe had a net margin of 28.04% and a return on equity of 26.93%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $7.33 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. will post 34.35 EPS for the current year.

RenaissanceRe Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.39 dividend. This is an increase from RenaissanceRes previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.66%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. RenaissanceRes payout ratio is presently 3.05%.

RenaissanceRe Company Profile

(Free Report)

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Property, and Casualty and Specialty segments. The Property segment writes property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance and excess of loss reinsurance to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, as well as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, windstorms, tornadoes, explosions, and acts of terrorism; and other property class of products, such as proportional reinsurance, property per risk, property reinsurance, binding facilities, and regional U.S.

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Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLC boosted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 8.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,533 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 615 shares during the period. Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $783,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TSM. Natixis Investment Managers International increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 3.3% during the second quarter. Natixis Investment Managers International now owns 56,651 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $5,717,000 after acquiring an additional 1,822 shares during the period. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 2.2% in the third quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 30,905 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,686,000 after purchasing an additional 671 shares in the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the second quarter valued at about $39,611,000. Metropolis Capital Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 21.0% in the third quarter. Metropolis Capital Ltd now owns 1,136,061 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $98,724,000 after purchasing an additional 196,867 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LGT Capital Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 4.4% in the third quarter. LGT Capital Partners LTD. now owns 1,554,790 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $135,111,000 after purchasing an additional 65,220 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on TSM. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Susquehanna increased their price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $130.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. StockNews.com raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $115.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $128.25.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Down 1.9 %

TSM stock traded down $2.64 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $136.98. 22,751,213 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 16,154,503. The company has a market capitalization of $710.43 billion, a PE ratio of 26.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a current ratio of 2.40, a quick ratio of 2.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a twelve month low of $81.21 and a twelve month high of $158.40. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $123.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $104.45.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 18th. The semiconductor company reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $19.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.99 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 38.80% and a return on equity of 25.24%. On average, research analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 13th will be paid a $0.4408 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 13th. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.29%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is currently 33.59%.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors.

Further Reading

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Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at Bank of America from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a note issued to investors on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage presently has a $210.00 target price on the oil and gas companys stock, up from their previous target price of $156.00. Bank of Americas price target suggests a potential upside of 28.28% from the stocks current price.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on VLO. Citigroup began coverage on Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. They set a buy rating for the company. Barclays raised their price target on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $149.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their target price on Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $155.83.

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View Our Latest Report on VLO

Valero Energy Stock Performance

NYSE VLO opened at $163.70 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.43 billion, a PE ratio of 6.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.53. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $139.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Valero Energy has a 1-year low of $104.18 and a 1-year high of $166.10.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.60. The business had revenue of $35.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $34.76 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 31.62% and a net margin of 6.10%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 15.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $8.45 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 15.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,005,346 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $142,468,000 after acquiring an additional 55,351 shares during the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its position in Valero Energy by 10.5% during the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 83,290 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $11,803,000 after purchasing an additional 7,910 shares in the last quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $773,000. EPG Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $220,000. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at $16,177,000. 77.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Valero Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. The company produces California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending and Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending gasolines, CARB diesel, diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt; aromatics; and sulfur crude oils.

Further Reading

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DAMASCUS, March 17 (Xinhua)-- Israeli missiles hit multiple sites in the countryside of Syria's capital Damascus after midnight Sunday, a war monitor reported.

At least two locations were struck -- one harboring a weapons shipment within a military installation used by Syrian military forces and the other near an engineering battalion in the Qalamoun rugged region in the northern countryside of Damascus.

The attacks triggered massive explosions, and Syrian ground defenses scrambled to intercept incoming threats, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The strikes mark the latest escalation in Israeli military actions against Syria. According to the Observatory, 16 Israeli aerial assaults and eight ground operations have been documented so far this year. 
The new Auckland footy club, nicknamed the Black Knights, only launched last week and jerseys are currently only available for pre-order. This has led fans to believe that the new club organised the pitch invader to gain some publicity and steal some thunder from the Phoenix.
Gearing up for Lok Sabha polls Sort of a referendum

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In more ways than one the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections, at least in the Inner seat, will be a sort of a referendum on the conduct of the BJP led Government at Imphal. The silence of the Prime Minister continues, even after more than 10 months of the clash first erupting on May 3, 2023, the BJP led Government at Imphal does not seem to have any clue on how to deal with the violence, thousands continue to survive in the numerous relief centres set up across the length and breadth of the State, many are still missing and over 200 people have been killed. It is against this reality that Manipur will go to polls in two phases, on April 19 and April 26 with the results set to come out on June 4. Apart from the ongoing ethnic clash, the BJP led Government should also be answerable for the stark absence of the rule of law all over the State. This is something which can easily be seen from the emergence of numerous power centres and the creation of a free for all environment, with the latest example coming from the open vandalisation and looting of a fuel pump at Sekmaijin Hangun, Imphal West. The question is, will voters in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency go for the BJP candidate in the hustings or will it be a case of the Opposition, particularly the Congress, emerging as the benefactor. Early days, but these are questions which must have already started haunting the saffron party here, but expect the resources within the BJP to come out with scripts which may just offset the narratives that have been spelt out adding that extra dose of spices to the election. In as much as the BJP may be lampooned for the sheer indifference shown by the Prime Minister, the inept handling of matters by Imphal, the saffron party can still trump what it would call, measures taken to safeguard the interests of Manipur and her people, most notably the recent decision to suspend the Free Movement Regime along with the announcement that the entire length of the Indo-Myanmar border would be fenced. Add the oft repeated NRC line from the State Government and these are all points which can be used as trump cards by the saffron party. Plus it is more than certain that it would hark back to the time when the Inner Line Permit System was extended to Manipur which automatically exempted the State from the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act. This is where it would be interesting to see the course to be charted by the Congress to blunt the supposed trump cards of the saffron party.

The interests that the impending Lok Sabha elections has kicked up is in a way unprecedented, at least in the last three/four Parliamentary elections. The reason should not be far to seek. This is the first time that Manipur will go to polls to send its representatives to Parliament under the long shadow of the ethnic clash which erupted more than 10 months back. How people vote on April 19 and April 26 will reflect what lessons they have learnt from the past nearly 10 months. Much will also depend on how the different political parties are able to make sense of the fallouts of the ongoing clash. The prospects of all the political parties, particularly the Big Two-the BJP and the Congress-will also depend on the number of candidates in the fray. Which of the Big Two political parties stand to gain more if there are more candidates in the fray ? The very fact that this question is being raised should tell so many stories and one wonders if the different political parties and the intending candidates have given any thought to this. This is about the Inner Parliamentary Constituency and in the Outer Constituency the equation could be different. In the Naga dominated districts one important issue will obviously be the ongoing political negotiation between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India while in the Kuki-ZO dominated districts it will be the question of a Separate Administration, the uncertain status of the Suspension of Operation pact, the ongoing ethnic clash etc. It is amid this reality that voters of 8 Assembly Constituencies which are located in the valley districts but fall in the Outer Constituency will get to play a key and critical role.
Demand for ST status by Meiteis and illegal migrants from Myanmar as reasons behind conflict in Manipur

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Oinam Nabakishore Singh, IAS (Retd)

Since the violence erupted on the 3rd May, 2023 in Manipur, different reasons have been cited by many important people in positions of authority, civil society organizations, media, academics, and individuals. Since the Tribal Solidarity March spearheaded by All Tribal Students Union (ATSUM) in hill districts of Manipur on the 3rd May, 2023 against the orders of Manipur High Court of 27th March, 2023 directing State respondent, Manipur to send recommendations to the Union Government for inclusion of Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the country was followed by violence, many including Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah attributed the violence to the orders and judgment of Manipur High Court referred here to be the cause of the violence.

There were protests, marches sponsored by ATSUM on the 3rd May, 2023 in all hill district headquarters including those inhabited by people of Naga tribes, which ended peacefully without any incident. One may be prompted to ask a question as to why there was different reactions from two broad groups of tribes, namely, Kuki-Zo and Nagas, to the demand for inclusion of Meitei in the list of Scheduled Tribes for Meitei ? Prima facie, both the communities are vehemently against the demand by Meiteis. One may be led to jump to a conclusion that demand for ST status by Meitei may not be the sole reason behind the violence; rather it could have provided the spark to the simmering discontent for altogether different causes. It may be preposterous to ascribe the Tribal Solidarity March to be causes of the violence. In fact, the march had ended peacefully in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Moreh well before the arson started there in the evening around 5.

Before brushing aside the proposal of inclusion of Meiteis in ST list as relevant to the present crisis, it may be worthwhile to ponder over the perceptions with respect to demand by Meiteis, of those already included in the list of ST in Manipur. Under the policy of the Government of India, 7.5% of the jobs in the Ministries, Departments, any Organization of the Government including Central Public Sector undertakings, armed forces, Nationalized banks, authorities, etc. are reserved for those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes. Similarly, same reservation is made in educational institutions of the Union Government including medical colleges, engineering colleges, management institutes, Central universities, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, etc. in admissions across classes and streams of subjects. Having seen Meteis from close quarters as being educationally and socially more advanced, tribals in Manipur see a threat to the privileges they have been enjoying for ages. It is quite natural to see the reactions to the demand of Meiteis for inclusion in ST list.

Land is a source of conflict among tribes in Africa and other continents, where agriculture is the main source of livelihood and sustenance. The same is true for Manipur. The traditional rights enjoyed by the Chiefs and tribals over land in the hill areas of Manipur are seen to be under threat by the proposed inclusion of Meiteis in ST list. Perception among tribal populace could be that the exclusive rights enjoyed by them as tribals would be encroached upon by the new entrants, Meiteis. It is logical to conclude that there would be strong opposition to the proposal of inclusion of Meiteis in ST list. Further, power asymmetry between tribal and non-tribals in the Government structuture would make tribals insecure.

While it is conceivable and justified to harbor a strong resistance to the proposal among the people already in ST list, it is hard to digest a conclusion that the orders of Manipur High Court was the reason behind the eruption of violence. It appears that Union Home Minister was ill informed of the ground situation in Manipur, and he read in to the manifest media reports, which lie on the surface.

If the demand for ST status and corresponding Tribal Solidarity March are not the sole reasons behind the violence, what could be the causes ? The oft-repeated explanation given first by Shri N Biren Singh, Chief Minister, Manipur is that illegal migrants from Myanmar are behind the present violence. He went to the extent of conspiracy among Chin-Kuki groups in Myanmar and Bangladesh to wage war against India. The same narrative was echoed by the Union Government. When the Chief Minister, Manipur is pressed for evidence, he mentions the name of Chairman of Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), who has entered into Suspension of Operation (SOO), agreement with Union and State Government of Manipur. It is reported that the said Chairman, Thanglianpau Guite, was once a Member of Parliament in Myanmar. Because of various factors like kinship, geographical contiguity of India and Myanmar having a common border, free migration from either side especially towards India, better economic opportunity in India, instability in Myanmar due to military rule, little or no restriction by the authorities on India side, encouragement by the politicians on Indian side, and easy mingling with local population because of similar ethnicity, there has been continuous flow of Chin-Zo-Kuki people from Myanmar to Manipur and Mizoram.

An effort was made by Manipur Government to identify illegal migrants from Myanmar by constituting a Cabinet Sub-Committee under the leadership of Tribal Affairs Minister, Shri Letpao Haokip at the beginning of 2023. The said committee identified about 2200 odd illegal migrants. The Government was planning to provide shelter for them at Singnnat. However, it is possible that many more illegal immigrants had come to Manipur and settled in various parts mainly in Tengnoupal, Churanchand-pur and Kangpokpi districts over the last few decades with permission from the local chiefs of the villages.

This assumption may be indirectly supported by the abnormal increase of about 1000 odd new villages, which came up in the last few years as claimed by the Chief Minister, Manipur. However, this is subject to verification by physically tracing the origin of the villages. It may be good to keep in mind that there is tradition of multiplication of villages among Kuki tribes as a tradition and for economic reasons. This could also contribute to the increase in their number of villages. While the size of Naga villages would go upto hundreds of houses, that of Kukis normally settle for twenties.

Why should illegal immigrants from Myanmar start the violence by burning houses of Meiteis in Churachandpur ? Will it be correct to assume and conclude that they would find a place to settle a place by driving away Meiteis from Manipur. Would they have so much of resources and audacity to arm themselves to indulge in burning of Meitei houses initially ? It is doubtful that illegal migrants would be so emboldened to resort to burning of houses in a foreign land without the support of local population. Illegal migrants, who were forced to leave Myanmar on account of conflict between the military and Chin Defence Force or Peoples Defence Force in Myanmar, came to Manipur to save their own lives, it would be preposterous to say that they are responsible for the violence in Manipur.

It is possible that they could have participated in the conflict by providing support in terms of manpower and tactical support. Prima facie, it is obvious that Union Government sings the same tune sung by Manipur Government. In case it is an external aggression, as implied in many statements, appropriate response is called for from the Union Government. Such diversionary statements are nothing short of diversionary tactics. It is true that Meiteis in general are against the illegal entry of Myanmar Nationals, there was no strong protest for their deportation. They are quite tolerant towards the illegal migrants, who would be sent back to their country when normalcy returns. However, in case of those who enter Manipur with intention to permanently settle in Manipur, Meiteis will always ask for identification and deportation of such migrants. Here, the attitude and response of Kuki-Zo people in Manipur and Mizoram are contrastingly different from those of Meiteis.

If the State Government sincerely identifies illegal migrants and segregate them in relief camps under the vigil of State machinery by providing distinct identity cards and collecting biometric data, the problem of illegal migrants is manageable. I am inclined to conclude that a few thousands of illegal migrants could not be the reason behind the present conflict as claimed by the Government of Manipur.
The Election commission in a bid to keep the parliamentary elections spotless and transparent has asked political parties to keep tainted candidates at bay and any violation of which the parties would have to take the onus by giving explanations on such selections by giving advertisements in newspapers about the candidature of such particular candidates. According to the EC strictures to parties, candidates found to having more than three criminal cases, the parties would be responsible to explain the reasons behind choosing such candidates by giving advertisements thrice in newspapers.

The chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state, Aariz Aftab, while addressing the press today on the issue of tainted candidates, preferred to go by the book when he said, the EC would proceed as asked to do by the ECI. On deployment of about 920 company of central forces in the state, the CEO said that nothing can be said right now and would depend on the arrival of CAPF companies. Meanwhile, the CEO said that about 7,59,19, 891 general voters of the state would exercise their franchise in the 19 April to 1 June parliamentary polls. In the state, elections will be held in 42 seats.

The male voters would be 3,85,69,610 and female voters to be around 3,73,48,511. The total number of voters, in the age group of 18- 19 years in the state are 15,72, 455 (2.07%), 20-29 age groups are about 1,66,39,081. The total number of polling stations in the state is 80,530 (including 77 ancillary). Number of polling stations to be managed by women is around 5,942. Figures of webcasting are around 42,000+ police stations

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A boat sails in the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing.

The Liangma River traverses diverse areas, including foreign embassies, international hotels, department stores, and trendy commercial streets, connecting various international business districts in Beijing.

In 2019, the city's Chaoyang District embarked on a waterfront project along the Liangma River. After two years of development and environmental improvements, the Liangma River has transformed from a mere waterway into a captivating aquatic landscape. It has now become a must-visit destination in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Tourists visit a cultural event along the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing.

The Liangma River traverses diverse areas, including foreign embassies, international hotels, department stores, and trendy commercial streets, connecting various international business districts in Beijing.

In 2019, the city's Chaoyang District embarked on a waterfront project along the Liangma River. After two years of development and environmental improvements, the Liangma River has transformed from a mere waterway into a captivating aquatic landscape. It has now become a must-visit destination in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Foreign tourists visit a cultural event along the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing.

The Liangma River traverses diverse areas, including foreign embassies, international hotels, department stores, and trendy commercial streets, connecting various international business districts in Beijing.

In 2019, the city's Chaoyang District embarked on a waterfront project along the Liangma River. After two years of development and environmental improvements, the Liangma River has transformed from a mere waterway into a captivating aquatic landscape. It has now become a must-visit destination in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

A boat sails in the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing.

The Liangma River traverses diverse areas, including foreign embassies, international hotels, department stores, and trendy commercial streets, connecting various international business districts in Beijing.

In 2019, the city's Chaoyang District embarked on a waterfront project along the Liangma River. After two years of development and environmental improvements, the Liangma River has transformed from a mere waterway into a captivating aquatic landscape. It has now become a must-visit destination in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Tourists enjoy themselves along the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing.

The Liangma River traverses diverse areas, including foreign embassies, international hotels, department stores, and trendy commercial streets, connecting various international business districts in Beijing.

In 2019, the city's Chaoyang District embarked on a waterfront project along the Liangma River. After two years of development and environmental improvements, the Liangma River has transformed from a mere waterway into a captivating aquatic landscape. It has now become a must-visit destination in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Addressing a rally held in Belda Stadium, West Midnapore, Trinamuls national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, today, threw the gauntlet to the central government, particularly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The challenge came in the form of a demand for a white paper detailing the funds disbursed under key schemes, namely the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Awas Yojana), in West Bengal.

Speaking before a crowd at Belda Stadium, Mr Banerjee asserted his commitment by boldly stating that he would step down from politics if the BJP-led Centre could furnish concrete evidence of releasing the due funds to the state. He lambasted the Modi government, accusing it of propagating falsehoods and failing to deliver on promises made to the people. Mr Banerjees address was punctuated by the screening of a five-minute video on a giant screen, which he utilized to highlight what he described as the Prime Ministers unfulfilled assurances.

He emphasized the importance of maternal power and reminisced about his past efforts to connect with constituents, particularly in the undivided Midnapore region during Naba jowar. He hailed the resilience of the people of Midnapore, recalling their historic struggles against the CPM and their sacrifices for the cause of progress. Addressing the crowd, Mr Banerjee recounted his own commitment to the people, narrating his relentless pursuit of justice during protests for the release of funds for 100 days work, under the MGNREGA. He juxtaposed his dedication with what he perceived as the lackluster performance of sitting MP and BJP leader Dilip Ghosh.

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Taking direct aim at Mr Ghosh, Mr Banerjee criticized his alleged failure to organize developmental meetings in the seven Assembly constituencies under the Midnapore Lok Sabha area during his tenure. He contrasted this with the track record of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whom he praised for keeping her promises to the people. Mr Banerjee did not mince words when discussing Ghoshs activities, describing his routine of morning walks and tea as insufficient for effective leadership. He questioned Ghoshs commitment to public service, suggesting that a more proactive and engaged representative, such as June Maliya, would better serve the interests of the people.
Former US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned of a bloodbath in the country if he does not get elected in the polls set to be held later this year, Politico reported.

Addressing a rally near Ohios Dayton, Trump said, Now, if I dont get elected, its gonna be a bloodbath. Thats going to be the least of it. He said, Its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

It was not clear what Trump exactly meant by his remarks, as the former US President was complaining about the automobile industry. Addressing the crowd, he said China will not be able to sell any vehicles imported to the US if he gets re-elected, Politico reported.

Trump often showcases a dark image of the nation to present his case against US President Joe Biden ahead of the presidential elections that are likely to be held in November. He frequently uses increasingly heightened rhetoric while speaking about the felony charges that he faces in his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the run-up to the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

During his campaign events, Trump frequently brings up the events of January 6, as he still denounces the 2020 elections that he lost. As he often does, the former US President opened the rally on Saturday with a recording of January 6 prisoners singing the national anthem, Politico reported.

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Saluting the crowd, the former US President announced he would issue pardons for Trump supporting hostages on the first day of his presidency. Referring to the people imprisoned in connection with the January 6 Capitol riots as hostages, Trump, in his opening remarks, said, You see the spirit from the hostages. And thats what they are  hostages.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, in his speeches, continued to bring up the events of January 6, saying the result of the November election matters for the fate of democracy. The attack continues to remain a political danger for Republicans and Trumps campaign.

Meanwhile, former US Vice President Mike Pence announced that he would not endorse Trump in 2024, the report said. On January 6, Trump supporters at the Capitol called for Pence to be hanged after the former made him a target for his refusal to help in efforts to overturn the US Presidential election in 2020.

Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. Thats why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign, Pence told Fox News.

Pence explained his stance during an appearance on Fox News, expressing concern over the disparity between Trumps current agenda and the conservative principles they upheld during their four years in office. This statement marked a significant departure from his previous alignment with his former running mate and the president he served alongside.

US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump secured the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, respectively, setting up a rematch with each other, according to CNN.

Trump clinched the Republican nomination for President on Wednesday morning, while Biden secured the Democratic nod.
As mainstream internet and streaming platforms like Netflix embrace gaming, Microsoft-owned professional networking LinkedIn is also reportedly planning to foray into the booming market.

LinkedIn, which now has more 1 billion users, is working on new games experience, reports TechCrunch.

Three early efforts are games called Queens, Inference and Crossclimb.

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A company spokesperson confirmed they are working on gaming, but there is no official launch date yet.

Were playing with adding puzzle-based games within the LinkedIn experience to unlock a bit of fun, deepen relationships, and hopefully spark the opportunity for conversations, the spokesperson said in a statement.

App researcher Nima Owji also said that LinkedIn appears to be experimenting with gaming.

LinkedIn, however, did not comment if Microsoft is involved in the gaming project at the company.

Microsofts gaming business  that includes Xbox and Activision Blizzard  registered $7.1 billion in revenues last quarter.

The company completed the acquisition of gaming company Activision Blizzard on October 13, 2023.

In the last quarter, Xbox content and services revenue increased 61 per cent, driven by 55 points of net impact from the Activision acquisition.

Microsoft said the net impact from the Activision Blizzard acquisition was just over $2 billion in revenue.

The company also laid off 1,900 workers in its gaming division in January this year  primarily affecting Activision Blizzard employees.
The Delhi Police have reunited an abandoned toddler with his family in South Delhi, the police said on Sunday.

On Saturday, the police was informed about an abandoned child at the roundabout near the Pilanji village through a PCR call. Soon after, a team from the Kotla Mubarakpur Police Station rushed to the spot.

Thankfully, the police found the three-year-old at the spot and launched a search for his guardians or parents. But initially, they met with no success.

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Police teams then, under the supervision of ACP Defence Colony, intensified their search considering the sensitivity of the matter as the child was very young.

Human intelligence was deployed, photos of the child were circulated through social media, and WhatsApp groups, and RWAs were also shown to people in markets.

Finally, the efforts of the team bore fruits when the location of the childs parents was zeroed in on Pilanji, New Delhi. Once the child was recognised by his family, he was handed over to them safely, under operation MILAP.

In recognition of their quick response to the situation and efforts to reunite the child with his parents, the police personnel involved in the mission are being rewarded suitably, a senior police official informed.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) organised a two-day Flower Food Festival at the Palika Services Officers Institute (PSOI Club), Vinay Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

The two-day Flower Food Festival, which concluded on Sunday, promised a unique gastronomic experience, featuring food with the special flavour of flowers. The entry in this Flower Food Festival was free for all and was held from 12 noon to 9 pm.

The highlights of the festival include an assortment of flower-based dishes such as Mocha Ghonta, Mochar Chop, Kumro Phuler Bora, Gulkand, Buransh Squash, Gulab Sattu sarbat, Gulab Ki Kheer, Zafarani Awadhi Murgh Biryani Phool Ke Baney Rang, Millet Based Energy Bar-Rose marry, Millet based protein bar each carefully crafted to contain the essence of spring.

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NDMC Chairman Amit Yadav inaugurated NDMC Flower Food Festival at the Palika Services Officers Institute in the presence of Council Members Vishakha Shailani and Girish Sachdeva on Saturday.

After inaugurating the NDMCs Flower Food Festival, Yadav said the main attraction of the NDMC Flower Food Festival is the Flower based Food which is mainly prepared with the essence of flowers. Different varieties of flower add a pinch of taste in the food at NDMC Flower Food Festival
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, while commenting on fresh the summons issued to Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), accused the Delhi chief minister of flouting the law by skipping the summons so far. He said the agency was working independently.

The BJP leader said the bail granted to Kejriwal on Saturday was not related to the liquor policy case. After disrespecting the summons which Kejriwal previously claimed were illegal, he has now taken bail confirming the validity of the summons, he pointed out.

Lashing out at AAP leaders for their claims that the liquor policy case was fake, Sachdeva said, Arvind Kejriwals former deputy chief minister has been in jail for over a year in the liquor scam case, and an MP (Sanjay Singh) has also been in jail for a long time, but the repeated assertion by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that there was no scam in the liquor policy is ludicrous in itself.

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He asked Kejriwal and Atishi, Firstly, what was the need to change the liquor policy in Delhi, and if the new liquor policy was good, why did it have to be withdrawn as soon as the investigation began?

The BJP leader further alleged that the new policy was implemented to push Delhis youth into addiction and to loot money, and now that investigative agencies are working, Delhi CM will have to answer, he asserted.

Speaking on the second summons by ED in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) case, the BJP leader claimed it was known all how the Jal Board had been looted.

The BJP has always maintained that the Jal Board scam was bigger than the liquor scam, Sachdeva added. Elaborating on his contention, Sachdeva said when Kejriwal came to power, he made big promises to end the tanker mafia, however, at that time Jal Board was into a profit, but at present, it is in huge loss.

He further said, Four to five officials have been arrested because fake documents were made and money was looted. Work was shown on paper but the ground reality is completely different. Contractors were paid and they took their commission in that payment.
In a recent interview, R. Madhavan shared a hilarious anecdote from the making of the iconic film 3 Idiots. The scene in question? The unforgettable drunken escapade that left audiences in stitches. Madhavan reminisced about the peculiar circumstances that led to the authenticity of their inebriated performances.

It all started with Aamir Khans ingenious strategy. According to Madhavan, Aamir suggested they actually indulge in a few drinks before filming the scene. His reasoning? Its better to be genuinely intoxicated and act sober than to fake drunkenness while stone-cold sober. And so, the trio, including Sharman Joshi, took Aamirs advice to heart.

On the day of the shoot, they embarked on their tipsy journey, kicking off their drinking session around 8:00 PM. The plan was flawless, with shooting scheduled for 9:00 PM. However, fate had other plans. Lighting issues led to a two-hour delay, throwing a wrench into their carefully orchestrated buzz.

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Despite the setback, the actors remained committed to their roles and maintained their level of intoxication. But heres where things took an unexpected turn. They hadnt accounted for the chilly Bangalore air, which prolonged their tipsiness without them even realizing it.

As the scene finally got underway, they confidently believed they were sober, oblivious to the lingering effects of the cold air on their inebriated state. Hours passed as they struggled to deliver their lines, grappling with the unexpected consequence of their pre-shoot revelry.

Madhavans recollection of the incident is not only humorous but also sheds light on the lengths actors sometimes go to for the sake of authenticity. From Aamir Khans unconventional method acting advice to the unforeseen challenges posed by Mother Nature, the behind-the-scenes story of 3 Idiots is as entertaining as the film itself.

Ultimately, their dedication to the craft paid off, resulting in a scene that remains etched in the memories of audiences worldwide. And for Madhavan and his co-stars, its a story theyll be recounting with laughter for years to come.
Exciting news is buzzing in the world of Tamil cinema as reports suggest that Dhanush might be teaming up with director Rajkumar Periasamy for an upcoming project. Dhanush, who is currently gearing up for his action-packed thriller Kubera alongside Nagarjuna and Rashmika Mandanna, seems to have another exciting venture on the horizon.

While theres been no official confirmation yet, sources hint that director Rajkumar Periasamy is in discussions with Dhanush for a collaboration under the banner of Gopuram Films, known for their earlier successful venture Thanga Magan in 2015. If the rumors hold true, this project would add to Dhanushs already impressive lineup for the upcoming year.

On the other hand, Rajkumar Periasamy himself is busy with his much-anticipated action thriller Amaran, starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi in lead roles. The film pays homage to the bravery of Major Mukund Varadarajan, who sacrificed his life on the battlefield in April 2014.

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Amaran features a stellar cast including Bhuvan Arora, Rahul Bose, Ajaey Naga Raaman, Mir Salman, Gaurav Venkatesh, and others. Notably, industry stalwarts Kamal Haasan and R Mahendran are joining forces to produce this project, adding to the anticipation surrounding the film.

In a recent development, Netflix has acquired the OTT rights for Amaran, indicating the high expectations surrounding the film. With music by G. V. Prakash Kumar, cinematography by CH Sai, and editing by R. Kalaivanan, Amaran promises to be a cinematic treat for audiences.

As fans eagerly await further updates on both projects, the Tamil film industry continues to witness exciting collaborations and promising ventures. Stay tuned for more updates as the stories unfold in the world of cinema.
Accusing the Congress of adopting a use and throw policy towards its alliance partners, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the parties in the INDIA bloc were already fighting among themselves in states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Punjab to further their self-interests and wondered what would be their fate after the elections.

Addressing the first NDA rally at Boppudi in Chilakaluripet mandal of Palanadu in Andhra Pradesh after the TDP rejoined the alliance, the prime minister, who shared the stage with N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan after a decade, took potshots at the Congress and its alliance partners on the eve of the latters rally at Mumbai.

In the NDA, we take everybody along. But on the other side, there is Congress which has only one agenda  to use and throw its alliance partners. Even though Congress has now been compelled to form the INDI Alliance, its mindset has remained the same, he alleged.

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Modi further said, In Kerala, what do the Left and the Congress call each other? In (West) Bengal, what do TMC and the Left say to each other? In Punjab, what kind of language Congress and the AAP use against each other? If they fight like this before elections for their own interests, you can very well gauge what they will do after elections.

He said in contrast, the NDA balanced regional aspirations with national progress. He claimed that a double-engine government in AP would expedite development in the state.

He reminded that Congress had always insulted the Andhra Pride. He also criticised the YSRCP Government under YS Jagan saying the ministers were competing with each other in corruption. He also warned the people about the collusion between YS Jagan and his sister YS Sharmila who heads AP Congress.

Dont make this mistake thinking that Andhra Jagans (YS Jagan Mohan Reddy) party and Congress are different, they are the same. Both are being run by people of the same family. This is their collusion so that in the anger towards the incumbent government, some of it (votes) goes to Congress so that NDA does not benefit. This is their cunningness.

He praised both Naidu and Pawan Kalyan for fighting for the development of Andhra Pradesh. Both the TDP and the Jana Sena supremos had lavished their praises on the Prime Minister in their speeches earlier. Referring to the prime minister as Vishwaguru, Naidu said Modi represented the countrys self-respect and its bright future. He even switched to Hindi and took the vow, We pledge to be with him.

He said though the three party flags were different, their agenda was the same. NDA will win 400 seats, the onus is on you to ensure it clinches 25 MP seats in AP, he reminded the massive gathering.

Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan vowed to defeat Ravana Jagan and establish Ram Rajya. The first meeting of the trio was however marred by disturbances in the public address system. The prime minister also had to intervene when enthusiastic supporters climbed on electric poles for a better view.
Listing several development works that have taken place during the past ten years in Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh is the first in Jammu and Kashmir to launch his election campaign.

He has been representing the constituency since 2014 after polling a record number of votes. Among the five Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory (UT), Udhampur will go to polls in the first phase on 19 April.

The supporters of Dr Jitendra Singh organised a large public meeting at Udhampur on Friday to mark the beginning of his election campaign, while the opposition Congress has not yet declared its candidate. BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh also addressed the rally.

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Moreover, the INDIA bloc has not yet hammered out any seat sharing formula in Jammu and Kashmir. National Conference leadership has refused to leave even a single seat for the PDP or Congress in the Kashmir valley.

The BJP has so far announced Dr Jitendra Singh as the partys candidate for the Udhampur seat and Jugal Kishore for Jammu, but has not declared the candidates for the three seats of Kashmir.

DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced his trusted lieutenant GM Saroori as his partys candidate against Dr Jitendra Singh. The Peoples Conference has fielded the party chief Sajad Lone for Baramulla constituency.

Enumerating the achievements of Udhampur constituency in the past 10 years, Dr Singh says that many of its parts during the Congress regime were hotbeds of terrorism but under Prime Minister Narendra Modi the area has become one of the most developed constituencies of the country.

He has posted on X a video showing Udhampur-Doda-Kathua constituency has witnessed in the past 10 years. He wrote that the constituency has witnessed numerous unprecedented development projects, many of them have also achieved the feat of being the first-ever not just in North India but also nationwide.

What the Udhampur constituency has seen is development of the road network even in the interior areas and construction on major bridges that have not only shortened the distance between places but also brought in economic development. The railways and highways connectivity in the constituency has considerably improved.

Despite being rich in natural resources, the Kishtwar district that has remained most backward, is now being developed as the hydroelectric generation hub of North India, Dr. Jitendra Singh points out.

The Aroma Mission, which has taken roots in the Bhaderwah sub-division of Doda district, has boosted the economy of the area and has also spread to Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya, he says.

Dr Jitendra Singh points out that North Indias first government homeopathic college, centrally funded at a cost of Rs.80 crore, is coming up in the Kathua district that falls in his constituency.

Highlighting the medical infrastructure of Kathua built in the last ten years, he says the district now has a government medical college and a cancer treatment facility being provided by Tata Memorial Centre, Bombay.

The addition of a government homoeopathic college will make Kathua an integrated and cost effective healthcare centre of North India, he said. Besides, he has a long list of development that has taken place in the constituency.
BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Sales of Chinese-brand passenger vehicles soared 26.7 percent year on year in the first two months of 2024, industry data showed.

About 2.07 million such vehicles were sold during the period, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The market share of domestic-brand passenger vehicles rose 7.6 percentage points year on year to 59.9 percent during the period.

In February alone, some 791,000 such vehicles were sold, with the market share up 6.5 percentage points year on year to 59.4 percent. 
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday informed that it has rescheduled the date for counting of votes for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim assembly elections to June 2 from June 4.

According to the poll panel, the decision was taken as the elections have to be wrapped up on or before June 2 when the term of the legislative assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim expires.

ECI is to conduct elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim before the cessation of their terms, in exercise of the powers conferred upon under Article 324 read with Article 172(1) of the Constitution of India and Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The term of house of both the Legislative Assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim is due to expire on 02.06.2024, the poll panel said in a statement.

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The date of counting of votes was rescheduled from June 4 to June 2 and the date before which the elections will be completed from June 6 to June 2 as well. The two states will go to polls on April 19. There shall be no change in respect of Schedule for Parliamentary Constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the poll panel said.

The counting for the Lok Sabha seats and Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Assembly polls will be held on June 4. The term of the Lok Sabha will expire on June 16.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is organising a workshop on Cultivating tomorrow: Advancing digital agriculture through IoT and AI in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The workshop is scheduled to take place on March 18 at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), ICAR in the national capital, the Ministry of Communications said here on Sunday.

The event will be hosted by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

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The workshop will be followed by the 9th meeting of the ITU/FAO Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) for Digital Agriculture (FG-AI4A) on March 19 at the same venue.

Around 200 delegates are expected to participate including international participants. They will share their experiences in this emerging field, poised to bring a complete transformation in agriculture, often referred to as Agriculture 4.0. Participation is open to ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates, ITU Academia, and individuals from countries that are members of the ITU, as well as members of international, regional, and national organisations in hybrid mode.

With the growing world population and climate change posing challenges to traditional farming practices, leveraging technology becomes imperative for sustainable food production.

The workshop will explore the application of Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other cutting-edge technologies across the entire value chain of agriculture, from production to consumption, including post-harvest management and marketing.

The workshop will delve into how these technologies can revolutionise agriculture by providing farmers with real-time data, predictive analytics and actionable insights.

Moreover, during the workshop, the Technical report on Revolutionizing Agriculture: The Digital Transformation of Farming will be released. This report will serve as a reference document for stakeholders of the agricultural sector, guiding decision-makers on harnessing the power of technology to drive sustainability, efficiency, and resilience in food production.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in touch with the Gujarat government over an alleged mob attack on some foreign students of Gujarat University when they were offering Namaz in the university hostel.

An incident of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. MEA is in touch with the Gujarat Government, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

On Saturday, a group of unidentified 20-25 people allegedly attacked a group of foreign students, pelted stones, and vandalised hostel rooms in the hostel premises of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad while they were offering Namaz.

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Describing details of the incident, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police G S Malik, said that around 300 foreign students study at Gujarat University and around 75 foreign students stay in A Block of Hostel.

Yesterday, at around 10:30 pm a group of students were offering Namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz here & should instead read it in the Masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside, he said.

Police took swift action & FIR has been registered against 20-25 peopleAction will be taken against those involved in thisOne person has been identified. The law and order situation is under control nowTwo students from Sri Lanka & Tajikistan are admitted to the hospital, he added.
At least five foreign students were injured after a mob stormed their Gujarat University hostel on Saturday night and attacked them allegedly for offering namaz. The students were reportedly from African countries, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

Following the incident, the Gujarat government has ordered an investigation and directed the state police to arrest the accused as soon as possible.

According to reports, the foreign students had gathered inside the hostel to offer taraweeh, a namaz offered at night during the holy month of Ramadan.

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While they were offering taraweeh, a mob carrying knives and sticks entered the hostel and attacked them. The mob also allegedly vandalised their rooms.

Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University, and 75 foreign students stay in A Block (Hostel). Yesterday, around 10:30pm, a group of students were offering namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering namaz here and should read it in the masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted, and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik told reporters.

Malik further said that the police acted swiftly and registered a case against some 25 people.

One accused has been identified while the hunt for the remaining is on. The official promised strict action against the accused.

Meanwhile, two students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan have been admitted to the SVP hospital for treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a Cabinet meeting during which he asked the ministers to prepare a roadmap for the first 100 days and the next five years of the new government with the officers and secretaries of their ministries, sources said.

The Cabinet meeting was held this morning, a day after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election dates by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The sources said the Union Government today initiated the process of notifying the dates of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections by sending the Election Commissions recommendation to President Droupadi Murmu.

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The Cabinet meeting recommended to the President to issue the notifications for the different phases.

The elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19 followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission on Saturday.

The Cabinet approved to recommend to the President for issuing statutory notifications under sub-section (2) of Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act 1951 from the Parliamentary constituencies for the election of members of the Lok Sabha, the sources said.

The first notification will be issued on March 20 for the first phase of polls on April 19 in 102 Lok Sabha seats. The nomination process starts for a particular phase with the issuance of the notification.

Based on the recommendation, the Law Ministry prepares a proposal for the Union Cabinet, which recommends to the President to approve the issuance of notifications for the different phases.
A day after Election Commission announced the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a joint rally on Sunday with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan at Boppudi village, near Chilakaluripet town in Andhra Pradeshs Palnadu district.

This will be the first NDA rally in Andhra Pradesh after TDPs return to the saffron fold.

The ruling BJP has formed an alliance with TDP and Jana Sena Party to jointly contest the Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh.

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As per their seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP will contest six Lok Sabha and 10 assembly seats while the TDP will fight in 17 parliamentary and 144 state seats.

Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena has been given two Lok Sabha seats and 21 assembly seats.

Andhra Pradesh will undergo state assembly polls from May 13 along with Lok Sabha polls. The results of both the Lok Sabha and the state assembly elections will be announced on June 4.

In the last assembly polls, YSRCP registered a landslide victory by winning 151 seats while the TDP could manage only 22 seats.
BJPs Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar launched a scathing attack on both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala stating that these fronts are involved in a mock fight and have nothing new to offer for the state.

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, Javadekar said the UDF and LDF are engaged in a superficial fight in Kerala, disguising their alliances in other states. He said the voters in the state are confident in Narendra Modis third term, acknowledging his efforts in delivering welfare schemes without discrimination.

Drawing parallels with their electoral fate in West Bengal, where both Congress and the LDF ruled for over three decades, the BJP leader predicted a similar downfall for them in Kerala.

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The UDF and the LDF have no future. They are parties of the past. In Kerala, they are playing a mock fight. They are allies practically in all other states and in reality they are tactically together here in Kerala also. They have nothing new to offer, therefore, they are raking up irrelevant issues. Congress and LDF ruled in West Bengal for more than 30 years each. Now, the tally of both the parties in the West Bengal Assembly is a big zero. The same fate awaits them in Kerala in the near future, he said.

He alleged that the LDF Government had failed on all fronts and is mired in corruption scandals.

The LDF Governments involvement in various scandals, including CMRL, gold smuggling, and cooperative society scams, is evidence of its failure on multiple fronts, Javadekar said.

He condemned the alleged disruptive activities of communist groups on college campuses, which he claims are detrimental to the education system.

The BJP leader attributed Keralas job crisis to the governments anti-development policies. It has failed miserably in the creation of Jobs as it lacks industrialisation. The governments policies and administrative processes are anti-development, complex and time-consuming along with inadequate infrastructure. The trouble of unions faced by any venture is well known, therefore, Kerala doesnt produce jobs. As a result, the youths of Kerala are going to other states and countries for education and jobs, Javadekar pointed out.

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership unparalleled, Javadekar said the prime minister has a vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047. The BJP emphasised its track record of good governance under the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.
During the second leg of his trip to East Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar explored the scope for stepping up security and economic cooperation with Japan during his twoday stay (March 6-8). Like in South Korea, in Japan too, Jaishankar sought to step up security and economic cooperation and more generally boost ties as the three countries ~ India, Japan, and South Korea ~ respond to Chinas growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Jaishankar held a joint news conference in Tokyo along with his Japanese counterpart Kamikawa Yuko wherein both the leaders reaffirmed their countries commitment to expand bilateral security cooperation, including in the field of defence equipment and technology transfers. In particular, Kamikawa mentioned the possibility of extending the cooperation between the countries in new areas of space and cybersecurity. Both India and Japan are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) grouping that also includes the United States and Australia. It is a framework of cooperation between the four nations on diplomacy, the economy and security.

Through this forum, the four countries have rapidly intensified ties amid shared concerns about Chinas increasingly assertive economic and military activities in the region. Indeed, as with South Korea, India and Japan, as two major Indo-Pacific nations share common values, history and interests. Both have an abiding stake in the peace, security, and prosperity in the region, and are ready to play a responsible role commensurate with the needs of the times. Both Jaishankar and Kamikawa noted the rapidly changing strategic relations and a worsening security environment on the global stage where divisions and contention are deepening. Kamikawa expressed keenness in Japan working with India in resolving common issues through dialogue and cooperation.

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Putting a premium on her countrys relations with India, Kamikawa appreciated that India by nurturing its own democracy and history, now is well positioned to represent the Global South. In view of the severe security environment in the region, both find it compelling to beef up their defence and security cooperation. For the same reason, both the countries have expanded their joint military exercises. Trade and investment cooperation between the two countries has grown at a rather slow pace and does not reflect the potential.

Japans Official Development Assistance (ODA) has played a critical role in Indias economic development process. Both Jaishankar and Kamkikawa expressed their commitment to work together to enhance economic security and supply chain resilience, and deepen cooperation in areas such as semi-conductors, green technology, and digital transformation. Technology collaboration holds great potential as does the mobility of Indian skills and talents to Japan. The Shinkansen project is the current flagship initiative. Japan has been supporting infrastructure development in India.

Japans continued help in high-speed rail projects is well appreciated in India. In view of the commonality of interests between the three countries and broad similarities between the scope of that cooperation, the present author had floated the idea of institutionalising a 1.5 Track II dialogue more than a decade ago while he was working with the IDSA. The idea was well-received and two such interactions took place in New Delhi and Tokyo before it went into hibernation.

It is time that the idea is revived and given a push so that new ideas could emerge, which could be useful to policy makers. There is a common complaint in India that Japans negotiating style is detailed and long drawn out, which sometimes can be frustrating to the negotiating partner. This feeling is not recent but has remained for years. To appreciate this, cultural understanding between the two sides is very much necessary. Keeping this in mind, ahead of his visit to Tokyo, in an interview with Asahi Shimbun, Jaishankar flagged the issue that Japanese firms are overly cautious and have missed Indias untapped potential.

He urged Japanese companies to invest more aggressively in the worlds most populous nation, which is forecast to soon surpass Japan and become the third-largest economy. As of 2022, the number of Japanese companies doing business in India stood at 1,400. In comparison to this, the number of Japanese companies operating in China in 2019 totalled 13,700, though it decreased from around 14,400 in 2012. The number further reduced marginally when Covid-19 broke out in China.

India would expect the number of Japanese companies to increase to 15,000. Global investors and international technology partners are recognizing the rapid transformation that the Modi government has brought in. In a report released in July 2023, the United Nations estimated that India, with its 1.43 billion people, surpassed China as the most populous country. While its nominal gross domestic product is currently the fifth largest in the world, India is projected to overtake Japan and Germany within a few years and trail only the United States and China.

During this transformation, the improved quality of infrastructure and greater ease of doing business brought about by the Modi government is clearly visible. Since global investors and international technology partners are recognizing this, India expects that Japan should not miss the bus by getting entangled with its bureaucratic process of decision-making and miss opportunities. In recognition of the importance of the relationship that India attaches with Japan, New Delhi has given special emphasis on promoting Japanese investments with Japan Industrial Townships (11 in number) exclusively for companies from Japan and a fast-track mechanism under Indias Industrial Competitiveness Partnership to support Japanese firms operating in India.

India has set the target of achieving 5 trillion yen ($33.21 billion) investment from Japan by 2027. The only hiccup in the bilateral relations was when Japan responded rather harshly when India detonated a nuclear device in 1998. India felt that Japan failed to appreciate the compelling reason behind Indias decision. This aberration was corrected after then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori decided to visit India in 2000, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.

There is however an aberration in the relationship that Japan needs to correct. There are 9 million Indians working in the Gulf region. This huge body of Indian diaspora working there is by itself a strategic partnership involving multiple countries in the Gulf. Compared with this, the number of Indians in Japan is only about 40,000. India would expect Japan to prepare the ground for this number to increase manifold.

RAJARAM PANDA The writer is former Senior Fellow at Pradhanmantri Memorial Museum & Library, New Delhi
In the midst of escalating tensions and sabre-rattling rhetoric, a statement by President Vladimir Putin serves as a chilling reminder of the ever-present spectre of nuclear war. Mr Putins brazen assertion that Russia stands prepared for nuclear conflict, coupled with warnings against Western intervention in Ukraine, underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for diplomatic resolution.

The prospect of nuclear war is a nightmare scenario that should compel leaders on all sides to pursue every possible avenue for de-escalation and dialogue. Mr Putins readiness to wield nuclear weapons as a tool of deterrence is deeply troubling, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It highlights the dangerous brinkmanship that has characterised Russias approach to international relations under Mr Putins leadership. Furthermore, Mr Putins warnings against Western intervention in Ukraine only serve to exacerbate tensions and prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

The conflict in Ukraine has already exacted a heavy toll in terms of human lives lost and communities torn apart. Any escalation, particularly involving the deployment of troops or the threat of nuclear weapons, could have catastrophic consequences for the region and the world at large. It is imperative that the international community takes Mr Putins warnings seriously and redoubles efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. This requires a commitment to dialogue, compromise, and respect for international law and sovereignty. The stakes are simply too high to allow brinkmanship and sabre-rattling to dictate the course of events.

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Moreover, Mr Putins assertions about Russias readiness for nuclear war must be met with a firm and unified response from the West. While it is essential to maintain a credible deterrent against aggression, the use of nuclear weapons can never be justified. Now more than ever, it is incumbent upon world leaders to uphold the principles of disarmament and non-proliferation and to work tirelessly towards a world free from the threat of nuclear annihilation. In the face of Mr Putins ominous warnings, it is crucial that the United States and its allies, even if they themselves face political uncertainty, remain steadfast in their commitment to peace and stability.

This means rejecting the temptation to escalate tensions and instead prioritising diplomacy and dialogue. The path to lasting peace in Ukraine and beyond lies not in the threat of nuclear war, but in genuine efforts to address the root causes of conflict and to build a future based on mutual respect, cooperation, and understanding. As we confront the spectre of nuclear confrontation, let us heed the lessons of history and rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of peace. The alternative is too grim to contemplate. Ultimately, the path to lasting peace and security lies in dialogue, cooperation, and a commitment to upholding the principles of international law and human rights.
The 2024 elections will soon be underway, and with only a few weeks left, political parties will compete for control at the national level. The BJP seeks to win 400 seats with the help of its allies, while the opposition group, the INDIA coalition, aims to remove Prime Minister Modi from power. The contest is between Modi and the rest, and there is no clear opposition candidate to challenge the BJP. The NDA has 39 parties, while the INDIA coalition has 26 parties, including Congress. Both will compete in the elections. Some neutral parties are not associated with either.

The Opposition is confident it can raise issues against the Modi government. It is critical of Modis inability to tackle the job crisis and condemns the BJPs anti-Muslim statements. The Opposition accuses the BJP of attacking media and research institutions. Lastly, they claim that democracy is in danger due to the Governments misuse of power to harass political opponents. The BJP emphasizes Modis 10- year tenure and welfare measures and promises more if re-elected. It has formed alliances, and focuses on strengthening its position with able leadership and a strategic plan. In the 2019 elections, the BJP achieved significant victories in the Hindi heartland, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. As the party has already reached its peak in the northern region, it can only increase its seat count in the southern part of the country.

Currently, the party holds only 28 out of 130 Lok Sabha seats in South India. Modi has been focusing on Kerala and Tamil Nadu to gain more support. He regularly visits these states to announce projects and emphasize the partys agenda. The BJP has stitched up alliances with multiple parties before the polls. The NDA in Andhra Pradesh has become stronger with an agreement between the BJP, Telugu Desam Party led by Chandrababu Naidu, and Jana Sena led by actor Pawan Kalyan. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is monitoring the ongoing farmers protest and waiting for a peaceful resolution before making any decisions. In Bihar, the Janata Dal (United) party led by Nitish Kumar has re-joined the NDA, which is expected to benefit the BJP. The Janata Dal (Secular) party in Karnataka has also joined the NDA alliance. The BJP is in talks with BJD in Odisha.

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The RLD, led by Jayant Chaudhary, has joined the ruling party in UP, weakening the opposition. The BJP is negotiating with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir. A faction of the Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCPs Ajit Pawar is leading the coalition government in Maharashtra. The southern states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, have traditionally been governed by regional parties and the Congress. They have different political beliefs from the BJP, which is why it hasnt been able to make inroads in the region. Secondly, the BJP is mostly perceived as a party for North India, causing the South to feel excluded and overpowered by Hindi-speaking regions. Tamil Nadu witnessed a movement in the 1950s and 1960s to protest against the imposition of Hindi, and the state still opposes it.

Thirdly, the Dravidian parties successfully produced leaders with charisma, such as M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, and Jayalalitha, which the BJP lacked. Fourthly, Dravidian parties have a strong vote bank and influential pockets throughout the state, whereas the BJP lacks both. Fifthly, the DMK and AIADMK have been alternating in power for the past many years with their strong organisations. Finally, the people of the southern region love movies, and the film industry holds a special place in their hearts. The BJP has been working hard to gain the support of the AIADMK since their alliance ended last year. To the DMKs horror, the CBI and other agencies have targeted many of its leaders.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJPs vote share fell to 3.6 per cent from 5.5 per cent in 2014. In Kerala, the BJP needs to establish stronger relationships with smaller parties to challenge the ruling CPIM-led Left Democratic Front and Congress-led United Democratic Front. However, this may be difficult as the BJPs ideology is not in line with that of smaller parties, and Muslims and Christians in the state are not voting for the BJP. BJP has gained ground in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Congress has now come to power in Telangana, previously ruled by TRS. Andhra Pradesh has been under regional parties rule since its bifurcation. Several political parties and leaders have allied with the BJP to evade scrutiny by government agencies. However, if the BJP wants to meet the target it has set for itself, it must conquer the South and weaken the INDIA coalition.
United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen speaks to reporters in Damascus, Syria, March 17, 2024. Pedersen expressed concerns about the current situation in Syria during his visit to the country on Sunday, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen expressed concerns about the current situation in Syria during his visit to the country on Sunday, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation.

Following a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, Pedersen highlighted the country's challenges regarding security, economy, and the political process.

"The situation in Syria now is extremely difficult I think all indicators are pointing in the wrong direction when it comes to the security, when it comes to the economy, and when it comes to the political process," he said.

Pedersen added that the increasing humanitarian needs in Syria coincided with a decrease in funding, noting that the UN will continue to work on increasing the funding to help address challenges facing the country.

As regards the recent escalation in the conflict between the Syrian government and opposition forces, Pedersen emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement between the two sides "in the manner that could give hope to the Syrian people." 
The Indian startups continued to raise funds at a normal pace, and this week, 30 startups secured around $287 million in the country.

This included six growth-stage deals and 20 early-stage deals, Entrackr reported on Saturday.

One growth and three early-stage startups kept their transaction details undisclosed, the report mentioned.

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Last week, 27 startups had raised about $307.8 million, which included 17 early-stage and seven growth-stage companies.

Delhi-NCR-based startups led the funding with 11 deals, followed by Bengaluru with 10 deals.

B2B SaaS fintech company Perfios led the funding and became Indias second unicorn of 2024 as it raised $80 million in a new funding round from Teachers Venture Growth (TVG), a late-stage venture and growth investment arm of Ontario Teachers Pension Plan.

Lithium-ion battery pack maker Lohum secured $54 million (Rs 450 crore) in series B funding from Singularity Growth, Baring Private Equity, Cactus Venture Partners and Venture East, among others.

Healthtech startup Sugar.fit raised an additional $5 million in its Series A funding, bringing the total funding to $16 million.

AI-driven dermatology platform Cureskin raised $20 million in its Series B funding. Smart Metering company Kimbal Technologies secured $5 million in growth capital in its first-ever funding round.
The IDF said on Saturday that nearly 15 terror operatives were holed up in a Hamas site in central Gazas Nuseirat were killed in an airstrike, media reported.

The airstrike which took place on Friday was directed by the 215th Artillery Regiment, following intelligence information about the operatives, The Times of Israel reported.

The IDF said that the regiment directed a separate airstrike, killing a Hamas sniper squad commander and another operative.

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In central Gaza, the IDF said that the Nahal Brigade killed nearly 10 gunmen on Friday.

Meanwhile, in southern Gazas Khan Younis, the IDF said that fighter jets struck and destroyed a Hamas weapons depot spotted by the 7th Armoured Brigade.

In Khan Younis, the Givati Brigade directed strikes on two Hamas operatives spotted entering and exiting a site known to be used by the terror group, the IDF added.
Centre of Supercomputing, which has worlds first five petaFLOPS AI Supercomputer: NVIDIA DGX A100, was inaugurated here.

The cutting-edge technology behind the SUPERCOMPUTER, NVIDIAs DGX A100 marks a milestone in the institutes commitment to advancing research and innovation across a wide range of disciplines.

KIET Group of institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad organised the inaugural ceremony of Centre of Supercomputing which is supported by Start in UP start-up policy, an initiative of the Uttar Pradesh government.

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UP Electronics and Information Technology Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma was the chief guest at the inaugural function held on Saturday along with special guest  Sanjeev Sharma, BJP Mahanagar chief and Keshav Tyagi.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said, I congratulate the institute for introducing this centre of supercomputing as it will shape the future of our nation. I believe when the students will begin working on supercomputers, they will be able to create new products and ideas that can multiply economic growth and promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

Ghaziabad MLA Atul Garg, also chairman of the governing board, said, Through NVIDIA DGX A100 supercomputer, we want to provide new opportunities to our children to progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. I request all the faculty members to provide all the technical facilities to make our children strong and competent.

Briefing about the newly launched Centre of Supercomputing at campus, Dr Rekha Kashyap, HoD CSE AI & CSE AIML said, The NVIDIA DGX A100 is the worlds first 5 petaFLOPS AI system, designed to unify training, inference, and analytics into a single, easy-to-deploy AI infrastructure. The addition of the DGX A100 systems to the Centre of Supercomputing represents a leap forward in our institutes research capabilities. With unparalleled computational efficiency and versatility, the DGX A100 will accelerate research in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, climate science, genomics, and more.


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Russia says Ukraine has launched a new wave of attacks as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putins rule for another six years
Ten years ago, a resounding electoral mandate ushered in the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The slogan that swept the nation thenVikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi (development as well as heritage)resonated deeply. While forging ahead, the Union government has not forgotten its commitment to heritage and culture.

It has celebrated the culture and heritage of the northeast like never before. For decades, the northeast remained geographically and economically distant. Today, significant investments in road and air connectivity, coupled with various initiatives and development projects, are bridging the gap. Tourism infrastructure is booming, showcasing the regions unique culture and natural beauty. This focus has led to a surge in economic activity and improved the living standards.

Indias road infrastructure has already seen a remarkable transformation. As of July 2023, over 60,000km of national highways have been constructed or widened, a significant increase from 34,339km in 2014. While the Indian Railways has witnessed modernisation with initiatives like the Vande Bharat trains and dedicated freight corridors, it also offers comprehensive Ramayana-based tour programmes, and a Buddhist circuit train. A Sufi-circuit is also in the pipeline.

Narendra Modi | Salil Bera

India has emerged as a global leader in digital adoption with UPI, digitisation of data in the government sector, introduction of GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal and digitisation of museums and libraries, while preserving what has been our cultural heritage for thousands of years. Startup India, with over 81,000 recognised startups, fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.

Whats more, the National Education Policy (NEP) emphasises the inclusion of regional languages, fostering cultural identity and inclusivity. This move resonates with Indias multilingual reality, strengthening connections to the past and present.

The Modi government has recovered artefacts stolen from India, like the idol of Goddess Annapurna. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, returned 15 artefacts in 2021 and more than 300 from 2014 to this day, which includes a ceramic pot from Chandraketugarh era, which belongs to the first century BCE, a stone bust of Kamadeva, the god of love, from the second half of the eighth century CE, a Svetambara enthroned Jina, with attendant Yaksha and Yakshi (11th century CE).

While Indias global presence was elevated at the G20 through our modern approach and infrastructure, the G20 theme, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) highlighted Indias cultural heritage as a guiding principle for global cooperation.

While India showcased technological prowess through locally developed Covid vaccines that were transported to 101 countries, we also organised the Festival of India initiative, showcasing our diverse cultural experiences at embassies worldwide, fostering appreciation on the global stage.

Schemes like Karmyogi, Vishwakarma, and SVANidhi have empowered skill development and transformed lives across sectors. It is a matter of joy that UNESCO, in the recent times, has also included the Ramappa Temple, the Hoysala temples, Dholavira, Santiniketan, Durga Puja, Garba and Kumbh Mela as intangible cultural heritage of the world.

The BJP governments 10 years have been marked by a conscious effort to balance development with the preservation of heritage. While strides have been made in infrastructure, digitisation, and regional development, the journey is ongoing. Yet, the emphasis on preserving and celebrating Indias rich cultural legacy sets a unique tone for the nations future. As India continues to grow and evolve, it does so by drawing inspiration from its past while confidently striding towards a brighter tomorrow.

Lekhi is Union minister of state for external affairs and culture.
The last thing the luxury business needed was the winner of the best actress award at the Oscars to go up to receive her statuette and say, I think my dress is broken. Emma Stones sartorial snafu was caused by none other than the mega brand she was wearing, Louis Vuitton.

The wardrobe malfunction has come on the most glamorous night of the modern worldthe Oscars. Its red carpet is also where the liaison between fashion and films began, when Giorgio Armani famously dressed Richard Gere for American Gigolo. But luxury labels are witnessing a slowdown in sales. After the post-pandemic boom, where the allure of glamour outweighed all common sense, with people aching to dress up and go out, shoppers have pulled back. It is ironic as the US economy is on a healthy footing; Bloomberg has reported the GDP forecast for 2024 at double of what it was last year.

Businessoffashion.com says there is a renewed focus on ready-to-wear as customers have overdosed on couture and handbags. The Prada groups results echo this, showing an 82 per cent rise in sales at their RTW label, Miu Miu.

From the label A Few Rahul Mishra | Instagram@afew.rahulmishra

Interestingly, the label that is probably the hardest hit is Gucci; its sales are down by four per cent. Gucci, once the biggest driver of the Kering group (it accounts for more than half of Kerings revenues), is now its biggest liability. The new Gucci, under Sabato De Sarno, appears to be inspired by ready-to-wear, but with the price tag of couture. Its advertising and coordinated covers on Elle and Vogue magazines (this months Vogue India has Tripti Dimri wearing Gucci) have not created much impact. Moreover, it signed on movie star Alia Bhatt last year to anchor itself to its growing Asian audience, but Bhatt is not known for her sartorial savoir faire, unlike Louis Vuittons Deepika Padukone.

Indias ready-to-wear market is growing. The new generation of Indian fashion designers are staying away from bridal wear and designing clothes they would like to wear themselves. They are finding an audience that is younger and chicer. They may not be big spenders, but they are repeat clients, which bridal wear nearly rules out. Ready-to-wear fashion can also allow for multiple and regular purchases, instead of that one-time massive sale.

Designer ready-to-wear is usually priced between Rs10,000 and Rs30,000.

Dhruv Kapoor, who makes mens as well as womens western wear, has been showing at Milan Fashion Week for a few seasons now. Moonray, the new ready-to-wear offering from Chanakya, has two stores in as many years already. Pero, a stylish and whimsical label by Aneeth Arora, has swept much of Europe and Japan since its inception. It has finally begun to showcase at fashion weeks in India, hoping for a bigger slice of the RTW pie. Anamika Khanna launched a more accessible line, AK-OK, two years ago.

Couture giant Rahul Mishra relaunched his ready-to-wear collection at Paris fashion week six months ago, signalling his plans to take it global. Mishras new label is called A Few Rahul Mishra, and is the result of a joint venture with Reliance Brands. He had launched RTW in 2006 when he made his debut, but it was not as well received as it is today. Two months ago, a multi-brand store ordered 300 pieces from A Few... and placed a re-order two weeks ago.

The bridal purchases are still taking place at the designers flagships. But multi-brand outlets like Ogaan and Ensemble are thriving with RTW sales, opening newer stores in cities like Kolkata and Ahmedabad respectively. Indian ready-to-wear is a small space ready to go big.
Heard of Hiroo Onoda?

Hiroo was one of the several thousand soldiers of Japans Imperial Army who were sent to fight on the scores of islands in the Pacific against the Allies in World War II. Their orders were to fight till death, and never to surrender.

Japan lost the war, and became an ally of its old enemies. The world changed, empires broke up, the Cold War began, hot wars broke out in Korea, Vietnam and West Asia, the Russians went into space, the Americans to the moon, women burnt bras, babies boomed, Beatles sang, Japan made carswithout Hiroo or his marooned buddies getting any wiser.

The post-war Japanese and their new American friends knew there were Imperial Army troopers left behind by time and war. They dropped leaflets on the islands to inform anybody out there that the emperors war had ended long ago. Hiroo and his buddies read a few of those, but dismissed them as enemy propaganda. They sat in the bushes through rain, shine and sounds of overflying airplanes, keeping their powder ready for an enemy who never came. Till an explorer found Hiroo in 1974, and convinced him that the war had ended three decades earlier.

Imaging: Deni Lal/Ai

The opposition in India is trapped in a similar time warp. Like Hiroo & Co who continued to fight the Yanks and the Brits after the latter became allies, they are still fighting their old enemiesthe Congress against the communists in Kerala, the commies against the Trinamoolis in Bengal, the Aam Aadmis against the Congress in Punjab, and Jagan against who knows.

The Congress in Kerala are the worst afflicted. They are fighting the faction wars of the 1970s and 1980s, calling themselves I group (I for Indira) group and A group (for A.K. Antony who had once opposed her Emergency). Believe me, they still divide party posts (plenty) and spoils (little), evenly between the A and the I groups. But then, why not? It keeps them fighting fit.

The allies are peeved that the Congress is not getting the coalition dharma right, causing many to leave. Nitish Kumar may have had axes to grind, but a bit more tact on the part of the Congress and the left could have prevented Mamata Banerjee from stomping out.

There are saving graces, though. Take M.K. Stalin. His DMK could have fought alone in all the 40 seats in his Tamil territory (including Puducherry), yet lent nearly half of those to allies including the communists who are fighting to prove they exist. Or Arvind Kejriwal. He had thrown tantrums in the early INDIA days, but in the end not only gave three of Delhis seven seats to the Congress, but has also hit the campaign road for all seven. Sadly, even one week after making the pact, the Congress couldnt give him the names of their three guys for whom Kejriwal has started seeking votes! Indeed, he has spurned the Congress in Punjab, but that is to give the opposition space to the Congress, rather than concede it to the BJP or the Akalis.

Meanwhile, the BJP, whom they are supposed to be fighting together, is befriending foes, eyes closed. Having grabbed JD(U), and factions of Shiv Sena and NCP, it is wooing Naveen Patnaik whose government it was supposed to be opposing.

Come to think of it, isnt opportunity knocking on the Congress doors? As the Aam Aadmis asked them in Punjab, who will occupy the opposition space in Odisha if the principal opposition allies with the rulers?

Does the Congress hear the knock? If yes, get into attack mode in the battle of Kalinga. If no, listen to Aristotle. Two millennia ago, the sage said, nature abhors vacuum. Even in political space.

prasannan@theweek.in
With the Lok Sabha elections a month away the political climate is heating up. If one were to believe the opinion polls, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government is in pole position. Even as the political silhouettes are more or less clear, the opposition bloc that includes the grand old party of Indian politics, the Congress, is expected to throw all its might to topple the Modi juggernaut.



So, will it be an easy ride for Modi? Will the NDA fall short of the majority? Or, in an utter surprise, will Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and company have the last laugh?



THE WEEK spoke to renowned astrologers to map out the next two to three months and fathom out what the stars have to say about the worlds largest democratic exercise and India's prime minister.



Said Chithrabhanu K. Poduval, an astrologer in Payyanur, Kerala, "The polling dates and the day of the result are favourable for the BJP and the NDA. The dates and the result day give a third time prime ministership to Modi with immense numbers." He said the second polling date, April 26, seems to be the only date undesirable for the BJP and Modi. It coincides with Modi's nakshatra or star day, which is Anuradha nakshatra. "But on that day the BJP can still win about 52 seats in 89 constituencies," said Poduval, "Looking at the placement of planets on the dates of polling and the result day it looks like the BJP can, on its own, touch a mark of 346 to 356 seats. And in my reading, the Congress will get only 29-36 seats, an all-time low in its history."



Dates don't matter as fate has already been decided, said Mumbai-based astrologer Sundeep Kochar. "Mars and Jupiter are guiding the destiny of Modi at the moment. The Mars-Jupiter conjunction in his horoscope is allowing him to pursue his goals with immense success. He is bound to succeed in anything he does at the moment," said Kochar who has 24 years of experience in astrology and is the favourite astrologer of many celebs in Mumbai.



"The horoscope for June 4, 2024, or in other words 4/6/24, indicates that anybody who rules the country on that day will continue to rule. In all likelihood as per my assessment Modi will see a huge victory on June 4 and continue as the prime minister," said Kochar who had in early 2009 predicted that former prime minister Manmohan Singh would rule the country for one more term. He had also correctly predicted a second term for former US president Barack Obama. "Interestingly, the horoscopes of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have changed recently. They will make some inroads in the next few months," said Kochar.



If Modi wins and completes five years (till 2029) he will become the third longest-serving prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru (who ruled for 16 years and nine months) and Indira Gandhi (who ruled for 15 years and 11 months). For Modi to break Nehru's record, he needs to occupy the prime minister's chair till June 2031 (that is a few months before he turns 81). Is that a possibility? "It is too early for me to assess that. We need to wait for some years," said Kochar.



The BJP definitely has an upper hand in the coming elections, said astrologer K.B. Unnikrishna Panicker. "It will win the maximum number of seats in the country and Modi will rule for yet another term," said Panicker who has a word of caution for Rahul Gandhi. "He has elarai shani (presence of Saturn) in his horoscope at the moment. He is bound to go through many challenges for the next few months or even years." Panicker said not all opposition leaders have a bad time. "In Kerala, in my reading, the CPI(M) will win more seats than the Congress," he said.



According to astrologer Kanippayyur Narayanan Namboodiripad 2024 is a done deal for Modi and the BJP. "He is coming back, bigger and mightier than before," said Namboodiripad who has gone through Modi's horoscope in detail over the last so many years. "There is nothing that should worry him for now. I am yet to study in detail the horoscopes of opposition leaders," he said.
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has warned public sector banks against mis-selling insurance products to customers, urging them to protect the interest of account holders.



DFS has been getting regular complaints regarding fraudulent and unethical practices being adopted by banks and life insurance companies for procuring policies from customers, said Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi

"Banks have been asked to give utmost importance to the interest of account holders," PTI quoted Joshi as saying.

His remarks came as some banks allegedly make customers buy insurance products when they approach for loans or term deposits. In some cases, life insurance policies were sold to customers aged above 75 years in tier-II and tier-II cities.

What should you do if banks mis-sell insurance products?

If you have found that your bank mis-sold you an insurance product withing the free-look period of 15 to 30 days, you can complain to the bank and the insurance firm, following which they will cancel your policy. They are bound to refund the premium amount you have paid.

In case you realise that the product was mis-sold after the free-look period, you can still complain to the bank. If the bank doesn't resolve the issue within 30 days, you can directly approach the banking ombudsman with the proofs, as per a June 2017 notification by the RBI.

The banking ombudsman could award up to Rs 20 lakh with additional compensation of up to Rs 1 lakh for loss of time and money, harassment and mental anguish suffered by the victim.

There is no fee involved in filing the complaint with the ombudsman. If the complaint is time-barred or already heard in another court, the ombudsman could refuse to hear the complaint.

Customers can write to the insurance regulator IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) regarding the grievances or register complaints under the Bima Bharosa system (bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in)
NANNING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region touched a new high in foreign trade in the first two months of 2024, local authorities said Sunday.

Guangxi's total imports and exports in January and February hit 109.1 billion yuan (about 15.4 billion U.S. dollars), up 18.9 percent year on year.

Exports rose 37.2 percent year on year to 60.59 billion yuan, and imports increased 1.9 percent to 48.51 billion yuan, according to the customs of Nanning, the regional capital.

During the period, the foreign trade of Guangxi's private enterprises reached 73.78 billion yuan, up 43.3 percent, accounting for 67.6 percent of the region's total.

The rapid growth of Guangxi's foreign trade is mainly attributable to the region's continuous expansion of opening up, according to a customs official.

Official data showed that Guangxi's trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries reached 80.75 billion yuan in the first two months, an increase of 24.1 percent year on year, contributing to 74 percent of Guangxi's total foreign trade.

Meanwhile, trade between Guangxi and other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership totaled 66.39 billion yuan, up 40.3 percent from the same period of the previous year. 
Actors Kriti Sanon, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tabu, recently attended the trailer launch of their film Crew. All three of them looked stunning.



Sanon wore a jersey bikini top and ruched skirt set from Kristina Fidelskaya and paired it with a cropped jacket from Comme des Garcons. She put her hair up and looked lovely. Khan chose a cold-shoulder bodycon full-length dress by Alberta Ferretti. She kept her make-up simple-- she looked lovely.

Tabu paired brown silk dhoti pants with a matching jacket. She looked nice with her hair let down, but, we do wish she had opted for flats.

At the launch event, Khan said, I am super excited because I got to work with Tabu for the first time. Lolo (her sister Karishma Kapoor) has worked with her so many times. I had the opportunity and the honour of finally sharing screen space with her."

Directed by Rajesh A Krishnan, the movie will release on March 29. The movie is produced by Anil Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. The film is about three air hostesses, who try to pull off a heist.

Sanon said it was refreshing for her to work with female co-stars. Whenever a women-led film comes, then people think it would be serious or some issue being raised, or it would be out male-bashing or something like that. But here nothing is like that. You can see women can do comedy very well, she told PTI.
Pune police are on the lookout for eight suspects who shot and hacked to death a person with criminal history at a Pune restaurant on Saturday night. Police have collected CCTV footage from the premises and probing.



According to police, the deceased was identified as Avinash Dhanve, 31, and has multiple criminal cases against him. The incident, which took place on Saturday night in the Indapur area, seems to be the fallout of a previous enmity, police said.

Pune Rural Police SP Pankaj Deshmukh said, A history-sheeter named Avinash Dhanve (31) was shot dead and attacked with sharp weapons in Indapur of Pune district yesterday night. Prima facie appears to be a case involving previous enmity between two rival groups. We have identified eight people who were seen on the CCTV. A team has been formed to nab the accused. The probe is underway, ANI reported.

-with agency inputs.
BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao Sunday met his sister K. Kavitha, who is in the Enforcement Directorate custody in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy case, at the agency office on Sunday.

Kavitha, 46, was arrested from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on Friday and was brought to Delhi. She was produced before a special PMLA court the next day, which sent her to ED custody until March 23.

While sending Kavitha to the ED custody, the court had allowed some relatives whom the court has named in its order, including brother KTR and husband Anil D, to meet her for half an hour every day between 6-7 pm during her remand period.

Official sources said KTR met Kavitha as per this permission granted by the court.

Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and daughter of former state chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was on Saturday produced before Special Judge for ED cases M K Nagpal.

The ED had sought her custody for 10 days.

It is alleged Kavitha is a key member of the 'South Group', which has been accused of paying Delhi's ruling AAP kickbacks of Rs 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital.
A mob attacked five international students studying at Gujarat University for offering Ramadan prayers in the University hostel premises during the late hours of Saturday. The students were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment and two of them remain hospitalised.



The five students hailing from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka were offering taraweeh - a namaz offered at night during Ramadan in their hostel rooms when a group arrived there with sticks and knives questioning the practice, Hindustan Times reported. The attack happened in Block A of the university and the group allegedly damaged mobile phones, laptops, motorcycles and ransacked the foreign students rooms. The students told NDTV that the security guard tried to stop the mob, but he failed.

An Afghanistan student studying at the university told Hindustan Times, "Last night around 11pm, 10-15 persons from outside came into our hostel campus. Three of them entered our hostel building while we were offering namaz. They told us we were not allowed to do so here and shouted slogans of Jai Shri Ram. They pushed the security guard out and then attacked the people offering namaz. When other non-Muslim foreign national students came to our help, they were also attacked. The student added their rooms were ransacked, and laptops, mobile phones and mirrors were damaged.

Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi spoke with senior police officials and directed them to nab the accused soon. Neerajkumar Badgujar, the additional commissioner of police (crime) for Ahmedabad city, said a FIR has been registered and attackers will be arrested soon.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik said, "Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University and around 75 foreign students stay in A Block (Hostel). Yesterday, at around 10.30pm a group of students were offering Namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz here & should instead read it in the Masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside. Police took swift action and FIR has been registered against 20-25 people. Action will be taken against those involved in this. One person has been identified. The law and order situation is under control now. Two students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan are admitted to the hospital," ANI reported.

Tweeting about the incident, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said domestic anti-Muslim hatred is destroying Indias goodwill. What a shame. When your devotion & religious slogans only come out when Muslims peacefully practice their religion. When you become unexplainably angry at the mere sight of Muslims. What is this, if not mass radicalisation? This is the home state of @AmitShah & @narendramodi, will they intervene to send a strong message? I am not holding my breath. @DrSJaishankar domestic anti-Muslim hatred is destroying Indias goodwill, he tweeted.
The CBI on Saturday arrested three people, including the brother of suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, for being allegedly involved in the January 5 attack on an Enforcement Directorate team at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, officials said.



Sheikh Alomgir, who is Shahjahan Sheikh's brother, Mafujar Molla, the president of the TMC's student wing in Sandeshkhali, and Sirajul Molla, a local, would be produced before a local court on Sunday. The agency took into custody Sheikh's brother and two others during their questioning.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over three FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police on the directions of the Calcutta High Court. After detailed examination, and according to technical evidence collected, they were arrested by the CBI on Saturday, the officials said. With these arrests, the number of people nabbed by the CBI in the case has increased to 14.

The agency suspects that these people were allegedly part of the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on January 5 and instigated a crowd to target the team when they went to raid the premises of Sheikh at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, they said.

Sheikh was arrested on February 29 after 55 days on the run following violent protests led by women, alleging sexual atrocities and land grabs. He went missing after a mob attacked the ED team that went to search his house in an alleged ration distribution scam. The state CID took over the investigation into the allegations against him. He was later handed over to the CBI on an order of the Calcutta High Court. On March 10, the court sent him to CBI custody for four days which was later extended by another eight days -- till March 22.

The CBI has taken over the investigation in three cases related to incidents on January 5, when the ED team was attacked by a around 1,000-strong mob. A former state minister has been arrested in the ration scam case.

Sheikh was arrested by the state police on February 29, a day after the high court ordered that the CBI, ED or the West Bengal Police could arrest him.
Controversial YouTuber and Bigg Boss OTT winner Elvish Yadav was arrested on Sunday by Uttar Pradesh police in connection with a probe into the suspected use of snake venom as a recreational drug at a party in Noida a few months ago.

A special court in Surajpur later sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

Police had filed an FIR against six persons, including Yadav, in November last year under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Indian Penal Code sections 120B (party to criminal conspiracy), 284 (negligent conduct related to poison that endangers human safety) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals).

The other five accused, identified as snake charmers, were arrested in November and are now out on bail.

Yadav was arrested after police added charges under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the case.

"Elvish Yadav was called for questioning in the case. He was arrested after adequate evidence, including those linked to the NDPS Act, was found in the case. Further investigation is underway," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Vidya Sagar Mishra was quoted as saying by PTI.

The case pertains to the police raid at a party in Noida on November 3, during which police found snake venom used for intoxication by the guests. Five people were arrested from a banquet hall in Sector 51 on November 3, and nine snakes, including five cobras, were rescued from their possession, while 20 ml of suspected snake venom was also seized.

During the probe, the cases were transferred from Noida's Sector 49 police station to Sector 20 police station on the orders of Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissioner Lakshmi Singh.

Yadav has denied any involvement in the case. If I have even one per cent involvement in this case, I will surrender myself, whether the punishment is 10 years or 100 years. Everyone knows that my level has not fallen so low that I will do this kind of work," he had said in a personalised YouTube video.

PFA chairperson and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi accused Yadav of involvement in illegally selling snake venom and sought his immediate arrest.
With Haitis leadership in crisis, gangs have tightened their grip and intensified their attacks. Medical aid and key institutions are targeted by the gangs as the Caribbean leaders struggle to find a solution to Haiti's administration unrest.

In the recent attacks, aid agency UNICEF said that a container carrying essential items for newborn babies and their mothers--including resuscitators and other critical supplies was looted in Port-au-Prince.

In a statement, UNICEF said that the looted container also held early childhood development and education and water equipment.

The theft of the supplies occurs at a critical moment when children need them the most, said UNICEF representative Bruno Maes in Haiti.

Looting of supplies that are essential for life-saving support for children must end immediately and humanitarian access must remain safe, Maes added.

Depriving children of vital health supplies amidst a collapsing healthcare system is a violation of their rights," he added.

Violence in Haiti intensified since January with the gang leader Jimmy Barbeque Cherizier demanding PM Ariel Henry to step down. The violence in Haiti has been brutal forcing Henry to submit his resignation.

With the political parties rejecting the plan to create a presidential council, the crisis has deepened. The transitional council would be responsible for selecting an interim prime minister and a council of ministers that would set a new path for the Caribbean country gripped with gang violence.

High-profile Haitian politicians declined to participate in the proposed council.

Under the circumstances, there are only two functional surgical operating facilities available in the capital city. Six out of the 10 hospitals across the country are unable to function due to electricity, fuel and medical supply shortages.

Meanwhile, the government of Guatemala said on Saturday that the offices of its honorary consul in Haiti were ransacked.

The details of the damage or thefts were not disclosed by the ministry. However, it said that only paperwork and documentation of the last four or five years had been previously transferred" to the Guatemala Embassy for Haiti.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed international pressure on ceasefire and vowed to resume the Rafah offensive.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel would push into Rafah and no international pressure would stop us from achieving all its war aims.

"If we stop the war now before achieving all of its goals, the meaning is that Israel has lost the war and we will not allow this," Netanyahu told a meeting of his cabinet.

"We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen," he said.

Israel's allies have urged Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, where more than a million displaced people from other parts of Gaza have sought shelter, without a plan to protect civilians.

"Are your memories that short? Have you so quickly forgotten October 7, the most horrific massacre of Jews since the Holocaust? Are you so quick to deny Israel the right to defend itself against the Hamas monsters?" Netanyahu hit out at the pressure from allies.

Though Netanyahu had stressed that Israel has a plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah, aid agencies and allies remain sceptical.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to meet Netanyahu on Sunday amid the Rafah invasion concerns. While speaking to the reporters in Jordan, Schloz said that "a large number of casualties in such an offensive" could destroy any hope for peace.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden also warned Israel against expanding its invasion of the city.

Meanwhile, Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks resumed on Sunday. A new ceasefire plan was proposed by Hamas last week including an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu had dismissed the proposal saying "unrealistic demands".

Also, a convoy of 12 trucks arrived in the north on Saturday- six in Gaza City and six in Jabalia refugee camp.
What would have been an uneventful Mother's Day turned into a PR nightmare for the British royal family when it emerged that the picture shared by Kensington Palace on March 10 for the occasion was not so innocent, after all.

All hell broke loose after it came to notice that the picture of Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, with her three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - was heavily and amateurishly Photoshopped that multiple photo agencies, including the AP and Reuters, issued a kill notice for it.



Ironically, the picture which was aimed at putting to rest all rumours surrounding Kate's illness - she underwent a planned abdominal surgery in January - backfired, triggering further rumours about her whereabouts. Though the Kate and Prince Williams X account posted an apology, claiming to be from Kate, stating "like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing", it only triggered hysterical speculations.



The fact that Kate hadn't been seen in public for over a month coupled with the Photoshop failure fuelled online gossip mills, which claim the royal family is trying to cover up something that has to do with Kate and her medical condition.



A week since the public debacle, the Palace has not reacted to the British Press Photographers Association's call for an unedited version of the Mothers Day photo or provided more information on Kates whereabouts. In the meantime, conspiracy theories flood the internet, some funny, some alarming and some even scandalous about their marriage and Prince William's "affair with her friend Lady Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley."



The scandal has now crossed British borders with "Kategate" becoming international news.



While multiple TikTok videos and internet sleuths claim the Mother's Day picture was clicked last year during an event in November during the family's visit to a Baby Bank, Commentator Piers Morgan said on his show that he has been "been told some stuff that, if even half of it is true, its pretty alarming." "I dont know what to believe, nor do any of us  were not there," he said.



The photo shared by Kensington Palace during Mother's Day

Some even went on with theories about Kate "being in an induced coma", jokes and memes are also doing rounds about the Princess getting a Brazilian butt lift or terrible bangs. Some say Kate has had a facelift, or she is in hiding or has been replaced by a body double.



Nevertheless, the world seems to be fixated on Kate's disappearance. Victoria Howard, a royal commentator and founder of a website devoted to the royal family called The Crown Chronicles, cites lack of information as the reason for the unwarranted speculations. "The length of Kates absence is unusual which suggests a significant procedure, but the lack of details is what is driving the rumour mill," Howard told The Guardian. "For those abroad, who dont have a royal family and liken them more to celebrities, they cant quite understand why the details arent being shared."



She added: "To not be away for so long due to real health issues would be highly risky and take advantage of public goodwill," she said. "No sensible communications team would allow them to do that."



The rumours are instigated by the fact that people don't really trust the Royal Family, say experts. "A lot of people still hold a grudge against the royals because of Princess Diana and wonder about the circumstances of her death. I also feel like a lot of this distrust stems from what Harry and Meghan have said since leaving working royal life. Their descriptions of a back-stabbing, machiavellian organisation in interviews and Harrys memoir 'Spare' have definitely made an impact on the publics perception of the monarchy and the royal reporting beat," royal expert Ellie Hall told Nieman Lab last week.



Then, there is the global penchant for conspiracy theories that make people feel powerful. Since royals lead lives which are unrelatable to most of us, the current drama feels like a fiction which needs to be deciphered.



But, until the Palace sheds its famous "never complain, never explain" or Kate makes a public appearance, the rumours will continue to swirl.


A November morning, 1996.

As the mist had cleared over the Yelahanka airfield near Bengaluru, a host of VVIPs, including prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, star-bearing air marshals and DRDO chief A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, sat down to watch dazzling fighter jets taking off and getting into stunts at Aero-India, Indias biennial air show. Just then, a pedestrian voice announced from the ATC: Next, ASP Avro.

These AEW&Cs are virtually one-tenth in size and fuel consumption, but have all the functionality of AWACS. Dr Sargunaraj Christopher, former director, DRDO

That was the understatement of the year. Hardly anyone paid attention to an Avro.

From a corner of the airfield, an old Avro lumbered down the runway and lazily lifted into the air, like an ostrich too heavy to fly. The propellers whirled noisily, eating up the air in front and keeping the garishly painted giant machine afloat. A thousand eyes turned to the slowly rotating dome, perched asymmetrically over the plane, somewhat like a Great War cannon on a pack-camels back. It kept a monotonous pace with the rambling plane, yet slowly activated a magnetic field of pride, admiration and envy.

Those who were on the airfield and watching could not believe their eyesthey were looking at an Indian AWACS in flight!

Sadly, as the superstitious would say, it attracted the evil eye too. About two years later, during an experimental flight from INS Rajali at Arakkonam, near Chennai, after 90 per cent of the project had been completed, the whole aircraft, complete with the rotodome, four scientists and four IAF men, crashed. The rotodome collapsed over the plane, and the plane did two somersaults, then swerved to avoid electricity lines and the villages, as an eyewitness told THE WEEK correspondent then.

With that went down Indias AWACS dreams.

Fast forward to February 11, 2017.

The mist over Jodhpur airfield had not yet cleared when the radio inside a gadget-filled room crackled: Chanakya! This is Mission Commander Antrix. Porus claims the simulated enemy aircraft; targets destroyed.

Antrix, the crew in Netra, Indias eye in the sky, was reporting to Chanakya, the ground station, that combat air patrol Porus had destroyed a simulated enemy aircraft called Sorethumb.

Netra had spotted Sorethumb for Porus to destroy.

The two crisp sentences electrified the small bunch of military scientists and IAF officials huddled in the room. They had done it. Three days later, on February 14, the eye in the sky, or the first India-built AWACS, was handed over to the IAF. With that, India became the seventh country to have built its own flying radarafter the US, Russia, China, Israel, Brazil and Sweden. It was our Valentines Day gift to the nation,recalls Dr Rajalakshmi Menon, director of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru, which had developed the flying radar.

Indias AWACS story is as thrilling and as mystifying as that of the mythical bird Phoenix from Greek mythology, that is believed to live a thousand years, burns itself into ashes, and then is born again from the ashes. The Indian AWACS, too, has had its births and deaths, and is now reborn. Netra is the third, achieved after two failures.

The idea of AWACSairborne warning and control system, essentially a flying radar, or a plane with a radar that would spot enemy planes as soon as they take off from their home fieldshad captured the imagination of air warriors since the 1960s. The idea was simple. A ground radar picks up enemy aircraft only when the enemy gets too close, because enemy aircraft tend to fly low. That leaves very little time for defending forces to react. But what if one has a radar that flies up in the sky? It would spot the enemy plane as soon as it takes off from hundreds of miles away.

Early bird: In 1996, India attempted to mount AWACS on an ASP Avro | The Week Archive

The higher we fly, the more the distance that can be seen; that gives us the advantage of early detection to carry out the strike, says Dr Suma Varughese who, along with Rajalakshmi, was part of the core team that developed the ill-fated ASP Avro under the supervision of Dr Sargunaraj Christopher.

The same team later developed the Netra, which is today flying the Indian skies and prying into enemy skies. Christopher retired after heading the DRDO, and Varughese is now heading the Micro Electronic Devices, Computational Systems & Cyber Systems (MED & CoS).

The first AWACS that appeared in the global skies was the US Hawkeye, which was soon put up for sale. Pakistan could not afford it, but when the US sold one to Saudi Arabia, Indian air warriors worried that it could be lent to Pakistan if the latter asked. Since India could not afford to buy one, the Indira Gandhi government ticked the option to develop one locally.

Studies began in 1985 under project Guardian, later renamed Airawat, after Indras white-skinned flying elephant. By a coincidence, the first office was set up in a hotel, which had a rotating dome, in New Delhis Asiad village! Yes, Airawat was the butt of jokes as the proverbial white elephant,recalls Christopher who was asked to develop its surveillance system at Bharat Electronics. The Airawat was the first phase where a feasibility study was conducted on a paper design based on Russian A50 aircraft, which is nothing but the Ilyushin 76 aircraft modified with a dome on top for AWACS purpose.

The challenges were two-fold. One was to build a rotating dome that would emit radar signals and capture them back when reflected by enemy aircraft. The second, more challenging, involved structural engineeringhow to fix a rotating dome over an airplane filled with electronic command and control systems, and keep the plane stable in the air.

Stronger together: (From left) Group Captain S. Chaki, Group Captain Karthikeyan, Dr Rajalakshmi Menon, Dr Suma Varughese, Dr S. Christopher, Air Commodore Biplab Banerjee, Group Captain G.D. Singh and Group Captain Pradeep Batra jointly carried out initial development flight tests.

Funds were at a premium. As the national kitty got smaller and smaller towards the politically unstable late 1980s, priorities had to be reordered. Techno dreams like guided missiles, combat aircraft and battle tanks got priority over flying radar, and slowly Airawat was given a quiet burial.

But when science dreams, you cannot kill it. The idea of an Indian AWACS stayed in the minds of men like CABSs founder director Dr K. Ramchand and Christopher, as also the ever-dreaming mind of Kalam. Even otherwise, labs like the DRDOs Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) were working on radar technologies for the IAF and the scientific minds could not keep themselves off packing them into a flying object.

The ASP project was the phase II where an attempt was made with HS 748 aircraft (Avro), which is an old British design produced and maintained by HAL. IAF spared two of their transport HS 748, which were modified by DRDO to carry a rotodome, says Christopher.

Technology development was sanctioned, and soon the HAL built a 24x5 foot rotodome, which could house the radar antenna. The idea was to develop technologies, mount the ASP onto these aircraft, test the systems, and then go for development. We had our first flight just with the rotodome on September 5, 1990, an achievement by itself, recalls Rajalakshmi.

That gave the confidence to work further. CABS was set up in 1991 under Dr Ramchand to act as a system house and integration agency. The challenge was to rotate the dome for all-round coverage. That is where they failed a second time, leading to the unfortunate crash in January 1999.

I went in that ill-fated aircraft in the previous sortie, for the trials of my systems on the airborne radar. I felt that God had spared me to complete the indigenous development of our own AEW&C [Airborne Early Warning and Control System] and I was determined to complete it, recalls Christopher.

Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar, who headed the inquiry wrote later: During the course of flight testing, the aircraft was cleared to a maximum speed limit of 180 knots... and altitude of 10,000 feet.... However, the speed limit for lowering the flaps was left untouched and it was presumed that the take-off flap at 150 could be lowered at the laid down limits of 180 knots, but was never tested in flight or analysed on the ground.

The problem was with structural engineering. The rotodome design was such that the centre of pressure was towards the front half of the rotodome and therefore the load on the rear bracket was presumed to be compressive, the report continued. However, when the flaps were lowered at 180 knots, the aerodynamics of the rotodome changed in such a fashion that the lower half became tensile because of the shift in centre of pressure. Under these circumstances, the two rear brackets failed, as established by the Court of Inquiry.

Give it up, DRDO was told by political masters. If the IAF wants one, they can buy.

Christopher and team did not give up. We all believed that if America or Israel can do it, so can we and we decided to do it all our way. Well, it means indigenous, recalls Varughese. They still nursed hopes of building another, probably not one with a rotodome that was unstable, but something more robust. The crash was a costly lesson we learnt, says Rajalakshmi. Also by then, the technology had changed from mechanically scanning to electronic scanning. In other words, you dont need a rotodome to rotate; you can have a fixed panel that emits electronic waves all around. From 1999 to 2001, we did a lot of studies on newer technologies, she says.

Experiments began with an Israeli Phalcon airborne surveillance system mounted on a huge Russian Ilyushin-76 aircraft. At the same time, the effort to develop the indigenous AEW&C continued earnestly since 2004. The challenges were manifold.

The prime sensor, the radar, was the first AESA [Active Electronically Scanned Array] where the critical components, the technology and its first use directly on an airborne installation posed many challenges, recalls Varughese.

Basically, three systems had to be developedthe AESA-based Primary Radar (PR), Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), an electronic intelligence and signal intelligence system all hosted on the Embraer-145.

Luckily, by the 2000s, funds were no longer a problem. Liberalised India was shining, making money, and spending money.

In October 2004, the project to design and develop three AEW&C systems at a cost of Rs1,800 crore was approved and the funds were released in December 2004.

Subsequently, the Operational Requirements was changed by IAF four times with increased systems such as air-to-air refuelling, additional crew and their seats, enhancement of flight endurance with reserve fuel and icing certification. This resulted in several iterations of design and suggestions to IAF even for a change of platform to meet the ORs. Hence, the compliance matrix could be signed between DRDO and IAF only in February 2007, which is the real start of the programme, points out Christopher. I was involved in the phase I programme when I was in BEL, Ghaziabad, and continued in phase II when I was in LRDE, DRDO, Bengaluru. Later, I was in full control of the phase III of the programme which ended successfully in Netra.

Soon it became a joint effort with agencies like Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC), Directorate General Quality Assurance, the IAF, the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), and many others, with CABS in the lead role.

We were sanctioned 43 schemes to develop all kinds of technologies, says Rajalakshmi. We collaborated with multiple labs within the DRDO, academic institutions, public sector units, and several small industries.

The sleek Embraer that replaced the giant Ilyushin was fitted with homemade radars. We developed the radars, we developed the mission systems and integration was done fully by us, says Rajalakshmi. There were many foreigners who would like to come and discuss and say that, okay, they would be able to give the technologies or develop, co-develop or even try to sell their products. But we had decided it had to be indigenous.

Rajalakshmi makes another point: None of the big companies responded to any of our tenders. It was only MSMEs who responded. And they were in the learning phase. We were also in the learning phase. Together we have actually succeeded.

On January 26, 2017, the AEW&C was flown for the first time in the Republic Day Fly Past with the call sign Netra. After being successfully flight-tested in Chabua, Bathinda, Jamnagar, Gwalior, Leh and many other places in India, and in Brazil, Norway and Sweden (the Americans did not allow tests in Alaska) before the final testing run in Jodhpur on February 11, 2017, it was handed over to the IAF on February 14, 2017.

The composite sorties totalled more than 11,700 hours. It was the first time in India that such an extensive flight test of an airborne system had been carried out.

The Indigenous airborne surveillance system was like the proverbial Phoenix that rose from the ashes of the crash of the ASP of 1999, says Dr Varughese. No other country has mounted that many systems on an Embraer 145 platform, but the hunger to succeed led us to innovate and come out with success.

But what gives Dr Rajalakshmi goose pimples even now is the memory of IAFs cross-border strike on a terrorist camp in Balakot in Pakistan in 2019 when the surveillance systems placed on an Embraer jet hovered around in a supporting role to the raiding IAF fleet of fighters. It was crucial to the IAF operations.

For a military scientist, to induct a system in ones lifetime is in itself a dream, she says. To see it being used and operationally deployed is amazing. Otherwise, when we are doing the flight trials, we know a systems capability but then we cannot speak about it. Rajalakshmis latest obsession is to put the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance (ISTAR) in place.

The AEW&C or the Netras are doing well, says Christopher. Even international press reports say that the Balakot victory was due to Netra! These AEW&Cs are virtually one-tenth in size and fuel consumption, but have all the functionality of AWACS. Therefore, for immediate requirement, the IAF has asked DRDO to give another 12 systems, out of which six will be in the same Embraer aircraft while the other six will be built on Air Indias used Airbus 321 aircraft.

The future looks bright for the Netra, including on the export front. A gritty never-give-up story of human tenacity and endurance overcoming repeated failures. Right from the beginning there was demand from South American countries and later, Indonesia also joined the league, says Christopher. The profits are expected to be large, but this depends on the industry that is going to be producing the same. More than that, the maintenance and upgrade contracts will be for at least another 30 years. The tacit benefit is the relationship between India and other countries.

With R. Prasannan
NEW DELHI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Over 40 workers were injured after a boiler burst in the dust collector inside a spare parts manufacturing facility in the northern Indian state of Haryana, officials said Sunday.

The blast took place Saturday evening at the industrial area of Dharuhera in Rewari district, about 68 km southwest of New Delhi, India's national capital.

A police official said the injured who suffered burns have been taken to Sir Shadi Lal Trauma Center and all of them are in stable condition.

Television images from the factory, namely Lifelong India, showed people running out of the factory gate with columns of smoke leaping into the evening sky.

Civil Surgeon Surender Yadav said they rushed 10 ambulances to the spot to ferry the injured.

"Following a tragic incident of boiler blast inside a factory, we have alerted the hospitals. We have sent the ambulances to the factory," Yadav said. "Over 40 people are injured and there is one serious patient who has been referred to Rohtak."

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh has expressed grief over the explosion and instructed the local administration to immediately provide first aid and complete treatment to the injured.

Singh has also given instructions for a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Accidental explosions are common in Indian factories as owners usually ignore safety standards. 
Islamabad, Mar 17 (PTI) An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have taken shelter in neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistans Special Representative to Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani has said, amidst a slew of terrorist attacks in this country.

Durrani was speaking on Saturday at a programme hosted by an Islamabad-based think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), on the topic of Afghan peace and reconciliation: Pakistans interests and policy options which was the 12th of the series of consultative talks on the Afghan issue, the Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday.

He said about 5,000 to 6,000 TTP militants were in Afghanistan. If we include their families, then the number goes up to 70,000, Durrani said.

Durrani said Pakistans peace talks with the banned TTP failed in the past because the militant group was neither ready to surrender nor swear allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan.

The special envoy said it was apparent someone else was paying for their upkeep as the interim Afghan government could not afford the per-day expenditure of such a large number of people.

The third primary reason for the deadlock in talks was that the group didnt want to face law for the heinous crimes it committed, including the attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, he added.

Durrani said Pakistan had told the interim government in Kabul that the latter needed to make TTP surrender and disarm the group and detain its leadership. He clarified that TTP is the red line for Pakistan.

His comments came after the Pakistan Army announced the death of at least seven of its personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel and Captain, when six terrorists attacked a security forces' post in Mir Ali of North Waziristan District on Friday. The TTP has been attacking Pakistani military personnel since a ceasefire deal with the dreaded militants and the government fell flat in 2022.

Referring to the Pakistan-Afghan border crossing issue, the envoy said Islamabad should implement the one-document regime on all border crossings with Afghanistan, according to the report.

According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 - marking a record six-year high.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84 per cent of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations.
Niamey (Niger), Mar 17 (AP) Niger's junta said on Saturday the US military presence in the country is no longer justified, making the announcement on state television after holding high-level talks with US diplomatic and military officials this week.

Niger plays a central role in the US military's operations in Africa's Sahel region and is home to a major airbase. The US is concerned about the spread of jihadist violence in the region, where local groups have pledged allegiance to al-Qaida and the Islamic State extremist groups.

In reading the statement, the junta's spokesman, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, stopped short of saying US forces should leave. He said Niger was suspending military cooperation with Washington and added that US flights over the country's territory in recent weeks were illegal.

The US military in recent years began operating a major airbase in the Niger city of Agadez, some 920 kilometers (550 miles) from the capital of Niamey, using it for manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations.

The US has also invested years and hundreds of millions of dollars in training Niger's military. Some of those forces were involved in the July overthrow of Niger's democratically elected president, Mohammed Bazoum.

In October, Washington officially designated the military takeover as a coup, which triggered US laws restricting the military support and aid that it can provide to Niger. But in December, the top US envoy for Africa, Molly Phee, said the US was willing to restore aid and security ties if Niger met certain conditions.

The Niger junta spokesman said the US tone was condescending and threatened Niger's sovereignty. Since the July coup, the country has ended its security partnership with the European Union and France has withdrawn its troops from the country.

Phee and Marine Gen. Michael Langley, head of the US military's African Command, were in Niamey this week to meet with senior Niger government officials. Phee did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

The US military had some 650 personnel working in Niger in December, according to a White House report to Congress. (AP) PY

PY
Dubai, Mar 17 (AP) A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre offered few details in an announcement about the attack, saying only it happened off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.

The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden.

The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though it typically takes the Houthis several hours before acknowledging their assaults.

Separately, the US military's Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Houthis. It said it destroyed five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday. It was an unusually high number of drone boats to be destroyed.

Separately, the US military shot down one Houthi drone over the Red Sea, while another was presumed to have crashed.

There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity, Central Command said.

The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.

The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the US or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam's minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.

A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now have a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.

Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.

Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertiliser that later sank after drifting for several days. (AP) PY

PY
Pune, Mar 17 (PTI) A 31-year-old man having multiple criminal cases against him has been hacked to death after being shot at allegedly by eight persons in Maharashtra's Pune district, police said on Sunday.

The incident, which took place on Saturday night in Indapur area, seems to be the fallout of a previous enmity, they said.

The deceased has been identified as Avinash Dhanve and the police have found CCTV footage of the incident.

"We have identified eight assailants through the CCTV footage and teams have been mobilised to apprehend them," a senior official from Pune rural police said.



"Dhanve, who had multiple cases against him, was shot at and hacked to death," he said.



A previous enmity with a rival group seems to be the reason behind the killing, the official said, adding that an investigation is on into the incident.
Mumbai, Mar 17 (PTI) Splits in key political parties Shiv Sena and NCP have made the battle for the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra more interesting, besides the focus on traditional issues like unemployment and farmer suicides.

Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra will be held in five phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13 and May 20. Counting of votes will be held on June 4.

The BJP-Shiv Sena won 41 of the 48 seats in the 2019 polls, but the Sena has split since and a vast majority of the Bal Thackeray-founded party is now allied with the BJP.

The Nationalist Congress Party also split as well with Ajit Pawar joining the ruling alliance in the state, led by Eknath Shinde.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP emerged the top party with 23 seats, followed by the undivided Sena with 18. The undivided NCP had emerged victorious on four seats, the Congress one, while the AIMIM and an Independent accounted for the remaining two.

A total of 9.2 crore persons, including more than 50,000 centenarians, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, an increase of 34 lakh from 2019.

Here is how the political landscape in various regions of Maharashtra looks like ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

Konkan: The coastal region of the state includes Mumbai, the country's commercial capital with six highly urbanised Lok Sabha seats, where issues include woes related to transportation, housing and jobs.

The BJP-Sena had won 12 of the 13 seats in the region in 2019. While the Shiv Sena (UBT) could attract some sympathy post the split, other issues all parties will have to contend with are plans to construct a massive refinery and nuclear power plant in Ratnagiri area and a mega port in Vadhavan near Dahanu in Palghar.

Western Maharashtra: One of the most developed regions in the state, it is home to industrial cities with information technology hubs as well as sugar mills, ethanol plants and agri-rich rurban (land on the edge of a town or city, on which new housing and businesses are being built) pockets.

The region receives ample rainfall but unequal distribution of water among various areas has been a traditional bone of contention. The split in the NCP, a strong contender in the region, and the Shiv Sena means the upcoming polls will ensure focus on candidates as much as party ideology due to fresh realignments.

In the 209 polls, the BJP won five seats, while the Shiv Sena and the Sharad Pawar-founded Nationalist Congress Party won three each from this region.

North Maharashtra: This region is among the country's top sources of grapes and onions, making it a hotbed for discontent in connection to changes in export-import policies for farm produce. Inadequate or unseasonal rainfall is another bugbear that can change the discourse.

The region has a significant population of tribals and backward segments. In the 2019 polls, the BJP-Shiv Sena won all six seats in the region.

Marathwada: The region is infamous for lack of adequate rainfall, which has left it under-developed when compared to other parts of Maharashtra, leading to unemployment woes. Unseasonal rains and crop loss are annual phenomena, resulting in sharp surges of discontent among farmers.

Apart from the industrial hub of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), the rest of the region is rural and lacks basic amenities. Speedy highway construction has boosted transportation. In 2019, the BJP won four Lok Sabha seats, followed by three for its ally Shiv Sena. The Aurangabad seat was won by the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange hails from Marathwada and has a following in the region as was seen during many of his protests in the last few months.

Vidarbha: Blessed with abundant natural resources and forests, the region in the eastern part of the state, however, has been in limelight for farmer suicides. Left Wing Extremism is also a problem in some parts, mainly in Gadchiroli. There are also problems of human-wildlife conflicts in districts like Chandrapur, home to a sizable number of tigers.

Soybean and cotton produce not fetching good returns could lead to agricultural distress in the region. Moreover, several MP's from the area were those who retained their seats, which means they may face anti-incumbency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Vidarbha, the BJP won five, Shiv Sena three, while Congress and an Independent emerged victorious on one seat each in the last elections.
Bhubaneswar, Mar 17 (PTI) Two persons were killed and 40 people injured as a pick-up van on which they were travelling to attend a wedding overturned in Odisha's Koraput district on Sunday, police said.

The accident happened near Khatlapadar bridge in Kundra police station area, they said.

The vehicle was heading to Nuagaon village in Borigumma block from Dalapur village in Boipariguda block for the marriage ceremony. Those travelling in it were guests of the bride's family.

The driver lost control of the crowded vehicle, following which it fell on its side, police said.

After getting information about the accident, police and fire service personnel reached the spot and rescued the injured persons from the vehicle.

While two persons died on the spot, 40 people were rushed to the district hospital in Jeypore, police said.

The condition of six injured persons is stated to be critical and they were shifted to the Koraput Medical College and Hospital for better treatment, they said.

An investigation is underway, police said.
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) In a calibrated operation, the Indian Navy on Saturday "coerced" 35 Pirates onboard a merchant ship around 1,400 nautical miles from the Indian coast to surrender and ensured the safe evacuation of 17 crew members without any injury, officials said.

The Navy deployed its P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, frontline ships INS Kolkata and INS Subhadra, and high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. The elite MARCOS commandos were air-dropped for the operation by C-17 aircraft.

Earlier, the Navy said it foiled attempts by a group of Somali pirates to hijack ships in the high seas off the east coast of Somalia as it intercepted their vessel.

The armed pirates had sailed out onboard a cargo ship named Ruen that was hijacked around three months back, they said.

"INS Kolkata, in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender and ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members in the evening today from the pirate vessel without any injury," Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

The vessel MV Ruen was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 14 last year and was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of piracy on the high seas, the Navy said.

In an earlier statement, the Navy said the pirates opened fire on the Indian warship, which took appropriate actions in self-defence under international law and to counter piracy, using minimal force to neutralise the pirates' threat to shipping and seafarers.

"The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding against their will," it said.

On Friday, the Navy said an Indian warship and a long-range maritime patrol aircraft extended assistance to a Bangladeshi-flagged cargo vessel after it was hijacked.

It said the safety of the crew held hostage by the armed pirates was ascertained and the Indian Navy warship continued to maintain its presence in the close vicinity of the vessel till its arrival in the territorial waters of Somalia.

In the last few weeks, the Indian Navy assisted several merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean following attacks on them.

The Indian Navy, earlier this month, foiled a piracy attempt on an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel with a crew of 11 Iranian and eight Pakistani nationals along the East coast of Somalia.

In January, Indian warship INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani crew of a fishing vessel after pirates on the east coast of Somalia attacked their Iranian-flagged fishing vessel.

The Navy on January 5 thwarted an attempted hijacking of Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea and rescued all its crew members.

Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off India's west coast on December 23.

The Navy has already enhanced the deployment of its frontline ships and surveillance aircraft for maritime security operations given the maritime environment in the critical sea lanes, including the North and Central Arabian Sea.

There have been mounting global concerns over Houthi militants launching a series of attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea in the last few months.
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Holding of Lok Sabha elections is a mammoth exercise that entails the biggest peacetime movement of men and material in the world through waterways, air and land across India to ensure no voter is left behind.

The Election Commission, mandated to hold the gigantic democratic exercise starts preparing for the polls at least one-and-a-half years in advance by training officials, poll personnel and ramping up the supply of required EVMs and indelible ink, besides other equipment.

The elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19 followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

Nearly 97 crore registered voters across 543 constituencies will cast their ballot at 10.5 lakh polling stations.

Around 1.5 crore polling and security personnel, about 55 lakh EVMs and four lakh vehicles will be deployed for the polls, according to the poll authority.

As early as in June last year, the EC had initiated "first level checks" of EVMs and paper trail machines across the country in a phased manner.

"Mock polls" are part of the first level check (FLC) process to ensure parties are satisfied with the machines.

The EC issues a calendar for such exercises and there are standing instructions that are to be followed by state chief electoral officers.

During FLCs, electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are checked for mechanical flaws by engineers of BEL and ECIL, the two PSUs which manufacture the two equipment.

Faulty machines are returned to the manufacturers for repair or replacement.

A mock poll is also held to check the two machines in the presence of representatives of political parties.

While it puts the required equipment and infrastructure in place, the poll panel also starts interacting with its officials at the state level to understand their requirements.

State chief electoral officers are called for sessions where they share best practices and learn from each others' experience in election management, voter awareness and preventing malpractices which can disturb level playing field during polls.

A key component of election management is the deployment of security personnel and their movement by trains, boats and helicopters.

To firm up the plan, the EC top brass holds meeting with senior officials of the Union home ministry and Railways. Comfortable stay and hygienic food for security and polling personnel also requires planning at the grass-roots level.

While the EC is busy sending the required number of EVMs in states ahead of polls, the Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd gets ready to complete its order of providing indelible ink.

This time it has been tasked with providing over 26 lakh vials of indelible ink, which leaves a deep purple mark on a voter's left forefinger, to various states.

The Karnataka government undertaking has been manufacturing the ink since 1962, solely for the Election Commission.

The ink is applied on the left forefinger of a person as proof that she or she has cast the vote.

One 10 ml vial can ink 700 people. Every polling station has 1,500 voters, which means two vials of ink is needed per polling station.

Ahead of voting day, EVMs are carried to the polling stations.

Once the voting ends, the machines are brought back to the strong room where they are kept under three layers of lock.

The machines later reach the counting centres on the day votes are to be counted.

The machines in which votes are stored and the paper trail machine slips are preserved for at least 45 days in case the election is challenged in a high court.

An "election petition" challenging the poll result has to be filed within 45 days.
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) The Election Commission on Sunday advanced the date of the counting of votes for the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim assembly polls to June 2 from June 4.

The EC had announced earlier that the votes polled in the two assembly elections were to be counted on June 4 along with Lok Sabha poll votes.

But as the term of the two assemblies are ending on June 2, the date has been advanced, the EC said.

"There shall be no change in respect of schedule for Parliamentary constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim," it noted.

Assembly polls are also being held in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha along with parliamentary elections.
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Top purchaser of electoral bonds Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated Rs 509 crore to Tamil Nadu's ruling party DMK through the now scrapped payment mode, the Election Commission data showed on Sunday.

The BJP received the maximum funds through these bonds at Rs 6,986.5 crore since they were introduced in 2018, followed by West Bengal's ruling party Trinamool Congress (Rs 1,397 crore), Congress (Rs 1,334 crore) and BRS (Rs 1,322 crore).

Odisha's ruling party BJD was the fourth largest recipient at Rs 944.5 crore followed by DMK at Rs 656.5 crore and Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSR Congress redeemed bonds worth nearly Rs 442.8 crore.

The JD(S) received bonds worth Rs 89.75 crore, including Rs 50 crore from Megha Engineering, the second largest purchaser of electoral bonds.

Future Gaming of lottery king Santiago Martin was the biggest purchaser of electoral bonds at Rs 1,368 crore, of which nearly 37 per cent went to the DMK.

Other major donors of the DMK included Megha Engineering Rs 105 crore, India Cements Rs 14 crore and Sun TV Rs 100 crore.

The TMC received Rs 1,397 crore through electoral bonds, second largest recipient after the BJP.

The DMK was among the few political parties to disclose the identity of the donors, while major parties such as the BJP, Congress, TMC and AAP did not disclose these details to the Election Commission, which has now made public those filing as per a Supreme Court order.

The TDP redeemed bonds worth Rs 181.35 crore, Shiv Sena Rs 60.4 crore, RJD 56 crore, Samajwadi Party got Rs 14.05 crore via electoral bonds, Akali Dal Rs 7.26 crore, AIADMK Rs 6.05 crore, National Conference Rs 50 lakh.

The CPI(M) has declared that it will not receive funds through electoral bonds, while filings made by the AIMIM and BSP showed nil receipts.
 Flash

As two major Asia-Pacific countries critical to global economic growth, enhancing the ties between China and Australia is mutually beneficial and echoes the expectations of neighboring nations.

There is no historical grievance or contemporary hostility between China and Australia, and their common interests vastly outweigh any differences. Both sides must ensure that cooperation continues as the cornerstone of the bilateral ties.

Since taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has remedied its predecessor's irrational anti-China policies, prompting a positive response from China. As a result, China-Australia ties have gradually bottomed out, recovered and stabilized.

Albanese's visit to China last year was highly successful, with leaders of both nations agreeing to advance the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. During the visit, the Statement on Joint Outcomes of the China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting was issued, outlining a blueprint for the future development of bilateral relations in the next stage.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is slated soon to hold the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue during his visit to Australia with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

The visit comes as the two countries mark the 10th anniversary of establishing the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides should seize this moment to review their past relationship and extract valuable insights and lessons to foster a stable and enduring bilateral relationship moving forward.

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao co-chairs the 16th China-Australia Joint Ministerial Economic Commission with visiting Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

China has long stood as Australia's most important trading partner, with bilateral trade comprising nearly one-third of Australia's total foreign trade.

The two economies are highly complementary: China boasts an enormous market in demand, an extensive industrial supply chain, and a large number of high-caliber workers and entrepreneurial talent, while Australia is home to rich and high-quality mineral resources, world-leading specialized expertise, a highly developed service industry and a well-established legal system.

There is no justification for such economically interdependent nations to fall victim to unfounded notions of "decoupling" or an imagined "new Cold War."

Instead, the two sides should fully exploit the potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and bolster ties in emerging areas such as climate change and green economy.

As the world's most dynamic region, the Asia-Pacific relies on close China-Australia relations. Together, they play a crucial role in fostering regional stability, driving economic growth, and tackling shared challenges like climate change and maritime security.

China and Australia can leverage their strengths through their joint efforts to build a more prosperous and secure future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
CAIRO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and visiting European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday held a meeting on boosting Egyptian-European ties, said the Egyptian presidency.

Sisi and von der Leyen discussed the expected signing of a joint political declaration document to elevate bilateral relations to "strategic and comprehensive partnership," the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Later in the day, Sisi met with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the current European Union (EU) rotating presidency.

Both meetings stressed the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian Gaza Strip, which has been suffering a deadly Israeli military campaign over the past five months.

Sisi reaffirmed "Egypt's rejection of the forced displacement of the Palestinians outside their land and that it would not allow it," according to the statement.

The meetings are expected to be followed by an Egyptian-European summit that includes leaders of Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Austria. 
New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency has filed a supplementary charge sheet against one more accused in a case related to unlawful and anti-national activities of the banned Popular Front of India in Bihar's capital Patna, an official said on Sunday.

State vice president of PFI Mohd Reyaz Moarif alias Bablu has been charge-sheeted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, raising the total number of accused to be charge-sheeted in the case to 17, a spokesperson of the federal agency said.

The official said the case was initially registered in July 2022 under various sections of IPC against 26 people. So far 40 people have been found involved in the proscribed outfit's criminal conspiracy to wage a war against the Government of India.

Investigations have revealed that Moarif was engaged in unlawful and anti-national activities under the banner of Popular Front of India (PFI) even after the organisation was banned by the Union government, the spokesperson said.

The official said the accused was actively radicalising Muslim youth to join the PFI, organising weapons training for them and also collecting funds for furthering the banned outfit's violent agenda and activities.

Acting on directions from top PFI leadership, Moarif, in association with accused Sanaullah, Athar Parvez and Jalaluddin Khan, had arranged a rented accommodation at Ahmad Palace in Patna's Phulwarisharif for recruitment, training and other criminal activities of PFI cadres on a large scale, the spokesperson said.

Along with the co-accused, the NIA said Moarif had organised several arms training camps for PFI cadres in Bihar, including at Ahmad Palace.

The spokesperson said the NIA had seized from the accused the PFI Vision document 'India 2047 Towards Rule of Islam in India, Internal Document: Not for circulation' and other incriminating articles, exposing the organisation's larger conspiracy to achieve its goal of establishing the 'Rule of Islam in India'.
Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Mar 17 (PTI) A constable was shot dead on Sunday when a police team came under attack while conducting a raid in a village here to nab a man suspected of harbouring illegal weapons.

The incident occurred in Mansoorpur village, about 66 kilometres from here, and the deceased was identified as Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Constable Amritpal Singh.

Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba a CIA team was in the village to raid the residence of Sukhwinder Singh.

As the team was entering the house, the suspect opened fire and Constable Amritpal Singh was struck in the chest, Lamba said.

The other team members escaped unharmed but Sukhwinder Singh managed to flee the scene, he said.

Amritpal Singh was initially admitted to the Civil Hospital in Mukerian but given the severity of his injuries, he was referred to a private hospital, where he died, the SSP said.

Efforts are underway to nab Sukhwinder Singh and police are conducting raids on locations suspected to be his hideouts, Lamba added.
Jaipur, Mar 17 (PTI) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday alleged the BJP propagated lies and mislead people for coming to power.

Gehlot appealed to the people to support the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, assuring that his party will raise their issues in and outside the assembly and the Parliament.

"Recently, the assembly polls were held and we all were confident that our government will repeat. Even the public shared the same sentiment because of the work done, schemes in sectors such as education, health and social security. There was not any sector left unattended," he said in a video message.

Gehlot said the number of employment provided during his government, around three lakh, were not given anywhere in the country.

"The state is being talked about across the country and abroad because of the schemes, which were even adopted by many states. But unfortunately, in the election campaign, the Union ministers levelled false charges on us, even the PM stated that the Hindus were given Rs 5 lakh and the Muslims Rs 50 lakh as compensation. It became a slogan, which was a lie," he added.

The former chief minister said the way his government ensured things after the murder of a tailor Kanhaiya Lal (in Udaipur in 2022), the accused were arrested in a few hours, Rs 50 lakh compensation and jobs were given to his sons.

Gehlot said that the case was taken by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) but nothing was done.

"Had the case been with us, the accused would have been hanged till now," he added.

Escalating his attack on the BJP, the former chief minister said, "Unfortunately, the way they (BJP leaders) propagated lies about crime, rape cases, law and order because of which the people got mislead and our government did not repeat."

Gehlot said that it has been three months now since the BJP government was formed in Rajasthan but it has not started working yet.

"They are either working to close the schemes started by us or weakening them. Even the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitras were removed. The ration shops are not getting their due commission and there are many examples showing that the government is not working," he added.

Gehlot said that Lok Sabha elections have come and the feedback received is that the people are remembering the works done by his government.

"The BJP won all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the last two elections but did any one of them raise the state's voice in the Parliament? I want to appeal that though we have lost in the assembly elections, the percentage of votes has not reduced, rather increased, which shows that people have faith in us," Gehlot said.

"The Congress (in the assembly elections) received 16 lakh more votes than last time and if the people bless us and the party wins Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan then the Central government would also learn a lesson," he added.

The former chief minister said the progress that happened in Rajasthan was remarkable during the Congress government's rule.

"We had a lot of hardship while in government as there were attempts to topple the government by the BJP. We did good work in managing the Covid and good governance," he added.

Gehlot said, "I want to appeal to the public to support the Congress and its candidates. If they win, they will raise Rajasthan related issues be it ERCP, inter state water issues, old pension scheme or other big projects."

"I guarantee the Congress will work to ensure that people's issues are raised in and outside the assembly. Also, states interests are raised and safeguarded in the Parliament," he added.
Kota (Rajasthan), Mar 16 (PTI) A 17-year-old JEE aspirant in Rajasthan's Kota who had been missing for five months was rescued from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, police said on Saturday.

The boy from Bihar went missing after leaving his hostel room in October. He was recovered from Thiruvananthapuram's Shivgiri area on Thursday and handed over to his parents after being counselled.

Superintendent of Police (Kota City) Amrita Duhan said in a press note that the boy, who hails from Raghopur-Supaul in Bihar, had been preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in Kota and living in a hostel in the Vigyan Nagar area.

His father lodged a missing person's report on November 9, stating that his son had left the hostel on October 5 and did not return.

Acting on the complaint, the police' anti-human trafficking cell began inquiries. However, the boy had changed his mobile number and social media accounts, Duhan said.

A police team, acting on an input, reached Kerala on March 8 and, after an extensive search, rescued the boy on Thursday, she added.

The boy revealed that instead of spending years preparing for JEE, qualifying Class 12 and getting a job through campus placement, he wanted to do something big through online trading, the police said.

Since he liked the sea, he moved to Black Beach in Shivgiri's Varkala.

The boy was produced before the Child Welfare Committee on Friday and handed him over to his parents, Duhan said.
Lucknow, Mar 17 (PTI) Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Sharma on Sunday said opposition parties which are trying to put up a facade of unity for the Lok Sabha poll will be fighting each other after three months.

Due to their inflated egos and poor performance in the election, they will not be able to "choose even a leader of the opposition (in the Lok Sabha) from amongst themselves", the BJP leader and former Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister told PTI in an interview.

The Lok Sabha poll was announced by the Election Commission on Saturday and it will be held in seven phases -- April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. Counting of votes will be held on June 4.

Sharma claimed that opposition parties are not in the election scene anywhere this time. Even the southern states will witness the sunset of opposition parties and the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in this election, Sharma asserted.

"Some opposition parties have come together for the Lok Sabha election. But due to inflated egos of their leaders, they won't be able to select the leader of opposition from amongst themselves," said the MP, who recently toured some southern states, including Tamil Nadu where the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a member of the opposition INDIA bloc, is in power.

The bloc was formed by some opposition parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Trinamool Congress, to take on the BJP in the election.

They have come together due to "Modi phobia", Sharma said and exuded confidence that the BJP and its allies will win the Lok Sabha poll with more than 400 seats.

The third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be full of great possibilities, he said.

Sharma also hit out at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for comparing Prime Minister Modi with Adolf Hitler.

"The real Hitler was the one who opened fire on 'karsevaks' in Ayodhya, and during whose time, people who talked about the Ram temple (in Ayodhya) were jailed," Sharma said in an apparent reference to SP founder, the late, Mulyam Singh Yadav's government.

"If they love Hitler so much, then they should also remember the Emergency imposed by their ally Congress and the anti-Sikh riots," he said.

Sharpening his attack on the opposition, the Rajya Sabha member said that the "election season is forcing even the opposers of Lord Ram and Sanatan Dharma to chant 'Ram Ram'".

"SP leaders who opened fire on Ram devotees are now building a temple in Etawah," the BJP leader said. Mulayam Singh Yadav's hometown is Safai in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh.

In an apparent reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Sharma said, "Nowadays, a former Congress president puts sandalwood powder on his forehead, but wonders why people are looking up to Modi."

He also termed the coming together of the SP and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the general election as a "meeting of two 'parivarvadi (dynastic)' parties".

Sharma claimed that the BJP will perform "very well" in the southern states this time.

"In Karnataka, there is anger towards the Congress, and the BJP will get more seats this time as compared to the previous election as it has a tie-up with the JD-S (Janata Dal (Secular)). It will be really surprising if the Congress manages to win even a single seat there," he said.

On Tamil Nadu and referring to Prime Minister Modi's political programmes there, Sharma said, in that state, "I had camped for quite some time, and I felt that the BJP is going to bag a huge number of votes on its own."

Modi is on a four-day visit to five southern states -- Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka -- till March 19. His tour of the region is part of the BJP's determined southern push for the Lok Sabha election.

The five states along with the union territory of Puducherry, which has one constituency, account for 130 of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country.

"In Andhra Pradesh, there is an anti-incumbency wave (against the YSR Congress Party). The TDP-BJP alliance will prove effective. In Kerala, the Christian community has got attracted towards the BJP. To summarise, I would say that the south will witness the sunset of the opposition, and there will be a sunrise for the BJP," he added.

Andhra Pradesh will witness simultaneous legislative assembly and general elections on May 13.

"Opportunistic opposition parties, who abuse each other, are forming mismatched alliances among themselves to save their existence. Those who talked about sending each other to jail are hugging each other today," he said.

"Due to Modi phobia, they have been forced to come together. The parties that are coming together now are going to be seen fighting among themselves after three months," he said.

Uttar Pradesh that sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament will see voting in all the phases of the general election. In 2019, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) won 64 seats -- 62 and two respectively. The SP-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance managed 15 seats and the Congress one.
Bengaluru, Mar 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections in Shivamogga on Monday, the BJP state unit said on Sunday.





This comes two days after his first election meeting in Karnataka was held in Kalaburagi, the home turf of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.





The party is expecting a turnout of 2.5 lakh people at the Allama Prabhu ground (Freedom Park).





The second public meeting in Karnataka for the 2024 Lok Sabha election is happening in the home district of BJP stalwart Yediyurappa. His elder son B Y Raghavendra is BJP's candidate for the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, where party rebel and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa says he will constest as an independent candidate.



BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra, who is former chief minister B S Yediyurappas second son, visited Allama Prabhu ground along with senior party functionaries to oversee the preparations and gave necessary directions to ensure that the meeting goes well.





The saffron party is aiming at repeating its 2019 performance in 2024 as well. The party had won 25 out of 28 seats in 2019, while the Congress and the JD(S) had to settle for just one seat each.







Party leaders have expressed confidence that the BJP would win all 28 seats in Karnataka this time.
Bengaluru, Mar 17 (PTI) Reluctance of some ministers and lawmakers in Karnataka to contest the Lok Sabha polls seems to have put the Congress scouting for "winnable" candidates in a spot of bother in finalising contestants for bulk of the seats.

It has been ten days since the Congress announced its candidates for seven segments while the process to pick nominees for the remaining 21 seats is on.

The Congress' first list released on March eight did not have names of any of the ministers and legislators.

According to party sources, the Congress leadership has been making efforts to convince some ministers and lawmakers to contest, as they have faced problems in identifying winnable candidates in several segments.

Senior Congress leader and Home Minister G Parameshwara had recently said there are discussions in the party to field seven to eight ministers.

Some ministers instead of themselves contesting, are said to be pushing for the candidature of their family members and, according to sources, the party leadership seem to be worried about the message it may send out if their kin are fielded.

It is now left for the Congress leadership including president Mallikarjun Kharge and party senior leader and MP Rahul Gandhi to take a call on the issue of fielding ministers or their family members, party sources said.

State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the process of selecting candidates has come to a final stage.

"Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has ended today (Saturday), tomorrow there is an INDIA bloc leaders public meeting, and on March 19 there is our meeting (to finalise candidates). On March 19 night or 20th morning, all our candidates will be announced," he said.

According to sources, the Congress is keen on fielding Cabinet Ministers H C Mahadevappa from Chamarajanagar, K H Muniyappa from Kolar, B Nagendra from Bellary, Satish Jarkiholi from Belgaum, Eshwar Khandre from Bidar, and Krishna Byre Gowda from Bangalore North.

Almost all these ministers are reluctant to fight the polls and some are said to have suggested the names of their family members, with assurances that they will ensure their victory.

Gowda is said to have told the party leadership that he doesn't want to contest. He lost from Bangalore North in 2019 and in 2009, from Bangalore South.

Mahadevappa is said to be insisting on Chamarajanagar ticket for his son Sunil Bose.

Parameshwara, who was earlier the party state unit president, had recently said, "He (Mahadevappa) is saying that he doesn't want to contest and the ticket be given to his son. Party will ultimately decide whether it will be Mahadevappa or his son or someone else. He cannot be pressured if he doesn't want to (contest)."

Another senior Minister Muniyappa, a seven-time MP and a former central minister, who returned to state politics after losing 2019 Lok Sabha polls, is said to have pitched his son-in-law Shashidhar J E for the Kolar seat.

Similarly, names of Satish Jarkiholi's daughter Priyanka Jarkiholi for Chikkodi, Laxmi Hebbalkar's son Mrinal Hebbalkar for Belgaum, Nagendra's brother Venkatesh Prasad for Bellary, and Eshwar Khandre's son Sagar Khandre for Bidar, are doing rounds.

The Congress had initially tasked ministers with identifying potential candidates but Shivakumar had said that reports received were not satisfactory.

He had also said that the party has decided to commission one more survey to identify winnable candidates.

A Congress leader said having faced a rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls which saw the defeat of several top leaders -- including M Mallikarjun Kharge, Veerappa Moily, and Muniyappa -- despite the party being in power in the state in alliance with JD(S), many senior leaders don't want to enter the fray, as the outfit's prospects at the national level still don't look promising.

The Congress' performance in this election is another key test of sorts for Shivakumar, who has made no secret of his ambition to become chief minister, amid speculations of change in guard mid-way of the Assembly term.

The BJP has already announced its candidates for 20 seats. It is yet to make an announcement for eight seats out of which three -- Mandya, Hassan and Kolar -- are likely to go into the kitty of its alliance partner JD(S).

Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJP won 25 seats in the 2019 general elections, while an independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious.

The Congress and JD(S), which were running a coalition government back then and fought the elections together, secured one seat each.
Jaipur, Mar 17 (PTI) The Anti Gangster Task Force of Rajasthan Police has caught two alleged smugglers who had come to supply illegal weapons to dacoits and local criminals in Rajasthan's Dholpur district.

The force also seized 20 illegal firearms and 32 live cartridges from them in the Maniyan police station area.

ADG and task force head Dinesh MN said on Sunday that after interrogating both the alleged smugglers, a huge quantity of equipment used in manufacturing illegal weapons was also seized by raiding the illegal weapons manufacturing factory based on their information.

The police officer said that the task force team raided near Modi Dhaba on the Mangrol Road, where two persons standing with plastic bags allegedly tried to flee after seeing the police. The police team surrounded and caught both of them.

He said that the two arrested smugglers have been identified as Indralal Kushwaha (50), a resident of Madhya Pradesh, and Narendra Singh Kushwaha (38), a resident of Dholpur.

He said that on receiving information, the team took both the arrested smugglers along and raided the factory built in Narayan's farm on Saturday night. The accused escaped under the cover of mustard crop in the dark.

The police recovered 20 illegal firearms and 32 live cartridges in the action.
Kozhikode, Mar 17 (PTI) The Kerala police on Sunday said a 26-year-old woman, whose body was found in a stream at Perambra last week, was murdered during a robbery bid.

The accused, a Malappuram native was taken into custody based on CCTV visuals, they said.

Perambra native Anu was found dead in a stream, which has only knee-deep water, on March 11. Her postmortem report cited the cause of death as drowning and also said that there were bruises on her body indicating signs of struggle. Her gold ornaments were also missing.

A senior police official from the district told PTI that the accused was identified from the CCTV footage, and a police officer was injured as the accused attempted to escape as soon as the team reached his house in Malappuram district.

"He is a history-sheeter with nearly 50 such cases registered against him. He stole a bike and was on the prowl looking for potential targets," police said.

The accused allegedly gave a lift to the woman, who was waiting for a bus to go to the medical college hospital.

"On the way, he stopped the bike at an isolated place and tried to snatch the ornaments she was wearing. We suspect that he drowned her in the stream and killed her before escaping with the gold ornaments," police said.

The gold ornaments were recovered by the police from a shop in Kondotty in Malappuram.

Further investigation is on, police said.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 37F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 37F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
LHASA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- On Saturday, annual spring farming ceremonies unfolded across agricultural areas of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, blending tradition with modern agricultural practices.

In Punsum Village of Qonggyai County, in the city of Shannan, the silence of the plateau fields was broken by roaring sounds of tractors. Nearly 30 of these vehicles stood in orderly formation as villagers presented the drivers with white hadas, traditional Tibetan silk scarves, symbolizing purity and auspiciousness.

Among them was Gyapel Tsering, a 56-year-old tractor driver clad in a conical yellow hat and a black woolen garment. At around 10 a.m., his tractor, adorned with a red tassel and bell reminiscent of those once decorating plowing yaks for millennia in Xizang, led the way into the fertile fields amid rising smoke from Tibetan incense.

"Our village's agricultural production has undergone full mechanization, significantly cutting down the time needed for plowing fields from over 10 days to just a few," said Gyapel Tsering, who acquired his tractor over a decade ago and oversees 12 mu (about 0.8 hectares) of crop fields.

Punsum Village boasts a population of 696 residents and over 1,300 mu of cultivated land, according to Dawa, the Party secretary of the village.

"We primarily cultivated high-quality varieties of highland barley," he said. "The yield per mu in our fields is approximately 300 kilograms, marking an increase of nearly 50 kilograms compared to previous years," he added.

With the widespread adoption of agricultural mechanization, the traditional plowing method, known as "two yaks lifting a yoke," has gradually faded into obscurity. However, in Gyaimain Village, situated approximately 10 km from Punsum, this ancient practice is still honored during the spring farming ceremony.

Wangdu, a 67-year-old villager, rose early on Saturday to prepare his plowing yaks for the ceremony. "The plowing ceremony is one of the most significant events of the year, attended by the entire village," he told Xinhua.

In a nearby field, 12 men, surrounded by over 100 villagers, sang traditional songs as they guided their yaks to plow the first furrow in 2024.

"Every spring, we continue to hold the ceremony to better preserve our agricultural culture of the plateau area," said Thubten, head of the village committee.

Qonggyai County aims to cultivate a grain area of 19,900 mu this year, primarily focusing on highland barley, according to the county's agriculture and rural affairs bureau.

Since the onset of spring, various townships and villages in the county have organized technical personnel to inspect and maintain agricultural machinery, as well as transport high-quality seeds, such as highland barley and wheat, to ensure smooth spring plowing.

Data from the regional agriculture and rural affairs department showed that Xizang had established 4.3 million mu of high-standard farmland as of Dec. 1 last year, with plans to add an additional 320,000 mu in 2024.

The grain output of the region has remained stable at over 1 million tonnes for nine consecutive years. 
Voters across Russia cast ballots Saturday on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years of power for President Vladimir Putin, who faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly quarter-century of rule.

The election comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has stifled independent media and prominent rights groups. Putins fiercest foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of him or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin has cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the U.S. and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia.

Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. But despite tight controls, at least a half-dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported Friday and Saturday, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant who splashed green disinfectant in his face.

A 50-year-old university professor was arrested Saturday after she unsuccessfully tried to throw green liquid into a ballot box in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg. She was imprisoned for 15 days for petty hooliganism, but could face further charges, according to local news outlet Ura.ru. A pensioner in the Altai region in southern Siberia was also detained after attempting to damage ballots, Russias state news agency Tass reported.

In Podolsk, a town close to Moscow, a woman was detained by police Saturday after she spoiled her ballot by writing an unspecified message, said OVD-Info, a police monitoring group that provides legal aid. She was charged with discrediting the Russian army and fined 30,000 rubles ($342).

Russian lawmakers have suggested introducing a new law to punish election saboteurs with sentences of up to eight years in prison.

Meanwhile, a video released on social media by Russian election monitoring group Golos appeared to show staff at a polling station in the southern city of Krasnodar stuffing multiple voting slips into ballot boxes.

Also Saturday, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks once again hit deep inside the country. Tass said an armed group also tried to penetrate Russias border region from Ukraine.

Two people were killed in Ukrainian shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, ordering shopping centers and schools to shut down because of the security situation. Meanwhile, local officials denied reports of explosions at polling stations in the border city, Tass said.

Dozens of people have been killed in Belgorod since the war began.

Elsewhere, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil company Rosneft in the Samara region, 1,065 kilometers (660 miles) southeast of Moscow, the regional governor said.

One person was killed and four other people were wounded in the city of Kakhovka in the illegally annexed Kherson region of Ukraine, the Russia-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said, blaming a Ukrainian drone attack that he said was aimed at disrupting the election.

Earlier, Tass reported that a Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive on a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.

In the period leading up to the vote, Putin boasted about battlefield successes in Ukraine, where Russian troops have recently made incremental gains relying on their edge in firepower.

On Friday, Putin described the weeks cross-border shelling and incursions by Ukrainian forces as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten Russians and derail the vote. He vowed that the attacks wont be left unpunished.

Despite the attacks, analysts say the Kremlin needs a high turnout in the election to signal that Russians approve of the war and to legitimize Putin for another term.

The Russian defense ministry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition and cushioning Russians from the economic impact of the war  driving down unemployment and driving up wages. Russias wartime economy has also proven to be resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions.

Russias opposition movement has urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to show up at the polls at noon Sunday, the final day of voting, as a form of protest. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across Russias 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online.

Western leaders have derided the vote as a travesty of democracy.

European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Putin on Friday on his landslide victory in an election that was technically still underway. No opposition. No freedom. No choice, he wrote on the social media platform X.

Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates  or state-backed advisory bodies  can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs.Voters across Russia cast ballots Saturday on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years of power for President Vladimir Putin, who faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly quarter-century of rule.

The election comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has stifled independent media and prominent rights groups. Putins fiercest foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of him or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin has cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the U.S. and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia.

Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. But despite tight controls, at least a half-dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported Friday and Saturday, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant who splashed green disinfectant in his face.

A 50-year-old university professor was arrested Saturday after she unsuccessfully tried to throw green liquid into a ballot box in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg. She was imprisoned for 15 days for petty hooliganism, but could face further charges, according to local news outlet Ura.ru. A pensioner in the Altai region in southern Siberia was also detained after attempting to damage ballots, Russias state news agency Tass reported.

In Podolsk, a town close to Moscow, a woman was detained by police Saturday after she spoiled her ballot by writing an unspecified message, said OVD-Info, a police monitoring group that provides legal aid. She was charged with discrediting the Russian army and fined 30,000 rubles ($342).

Russian lawmakers have suggested introducing a new law to punish election saboteurs with sentences of up to eight years in prison.

Meanwhile, a video released on social media by Russian election monitoring group Golos appeared to show staff at a polling station in the southern city of Krasnodar stuffing multiple voting slips into ballot boxes.

Also Saturday, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks once again hit deep inside the country. Tass said an armed group also tried to penetrate Russias border region from Ukraine.

Two people were killed in Ukrainian shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, ordering shopping centers and schools to shut down because of the security situation. Meanwhile, local officials denied reports of explosions at polling stations in the border city, Tass said.

Dozens of people have been killed in Belgorod since the war began.

Elsewhere, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil company Rosneft in the Samara region, 1,065 kilometers (660 miles) southeast of Moscow, the regional governor said.

One person was killed and four other people were wounded in the city of Kakhovka in the illegally annexed Kherson region of Ukraine, the Russia-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said, blaming a Ukrainian drone attack that he said was aimed at disrupting the election.

Earlier, Tass reported that a Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive on a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.

In the period leading up to the vote, Putin boasted about battlefield successes in Ukraine, where Russian troops have recently made incremental gains relying on their edge in firepower.

On Friday, Putin described the weeks cross-border shelling and incursions by Ukrainian forces as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten Russians and derail the vote. He vowed that the attacks wont be left unpunished.

Despite the attacks, analysts say the Kremlin needs a high turnout in the election to signal that Russians approve of the war and to legitimize Putin for another term.

The Russian defense ministry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition and cushioning Russians from the economic impact of the war  driving down unemployment and driving up wages. Russias wartime economy has also proven to be resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions.

Russias opposition movement has urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to show up at the polls at noon Sunday, the final day of voting, as a form of protest. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across Russias 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online.

Western leaders have derided the vote as a travesty of democracy.

European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Putin on Friday on his landslide victory in an election that was technically still underway. No opposition. No freedom. No choice, he wrote on the social media platform X.

Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates  or state-backed advisory bodies  can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs.

(AP)
Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod killed two people, officials said Saturday, while Russia claimed to have thwarted a new attempt by saboteurs to cross the border.

Saturdays attacks occurred as Russians entered the second day of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putins rule by another six years after he crushed dissent.

A man and a woman died in the attack and three other people were wounded, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on the Telegram messaging app. It was the latest in exchanges of long-range missile and rocket fire in Russias war on Ukraine.

Five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, some 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the Ukrainian border, Gladkov said.

Russias Defense Ministry also said Saturday that it had thwarted attempts by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to enter the country from Ukraines Sumy region. That followed an armed incursion claimed by Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin on Tuesday in the Belgorod and Kursk regions,

Russias Defense Ministry said that Moscows military and security forces killed 30 fighters while thwarting the latest incursion.

The Russian Volunteer Corps  one of the groups who claimed to have crossed the border on Tuesday, who say they are fighting for the freedom of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples  released a video on social media Saturday claiming to have captured 25 Russian soldiers.

Another of the groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion, warned of a massive strike on military bases in Belgorod late afternoon Saturday and urged residents to take shelter. Shortly afterward, Russias Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian air defenses had shot down 15 rockets over the Belgorod region. Videos appeared on local news sites, appearing to show smoke rising from buildings and falling shrapnel. The authenticity of the videos couldnt be independently verified.

Cross-border attacks in the area have occurred sporadically since the war began and have been the subject of claims and counterclaims, as well as disinformation and propaganda.

Also on Saturday, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, some 450 miles (725 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border, regional Gov. Dmitry Azarov said. He said an attack on another refinery was thwarted. No casualties were reported.

A Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive close to a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Russian state news agency Tass said. No injuries or damage were reported.

The attacks come a day after a Russian assault on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed at least 21 people. The ballistic missile attack blasted homes in the southern city Friday, followed by a second missile that targeted first responders who arrived at the scene, officials said.

More than 50 people are still in the hospital following the attacks, Odesa Deputy Mayor Svitlana Bedreha said Saturday, according to Ukrainian state media.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a just response to the attack in a video address Friday evening.

(AP)
Texas plan to arrest migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally is on hold while the Supreme Court considers a challenge to Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts latest move over immigration.

The nations highest court put the law on pause over a lawsuit led by the Justice Department, which argues that Texas is overstepping the federal governments immigration authority. Under the law, any police officer in Texas could arrest migrants for illegal entry and a judge could order them to leave the U.S.

Justice Samuel Alito has ordered a stay until Monday at 5 p.m. EDT, when the law could potentially take effect.

A federal judge in Texas had blocked the law in a sweeping rejection last month, calling it a violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Texas swiftly appealed the ruling and argued that it has a right to take action over what Abbott has described as an invasion of migrants on the border.

Heres what to know:

WHO CAN BE ARRESTED?

The law Abbott signed in December allows any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, migrants could either agree to a Texas judges order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. Migrants who dont leave could face arrest again under more serious felony charges.

Arresting officers must have probable cause, which could include witnessing the illegal entry themselves or seeing it on video.

The law cannot be enforced against people lawfully present in the U.S., including those who were granted asylum or who are enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Critics, including Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, have said the law could lead to racial profiling and family separation. American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in Texas and some neighboring states issued a travel advisory warning of a possible threat to civil and constitutional rights when passing through Texas.

Abbott has rejected concerns over profiling. While signing the bill, he said troopers and National Guard members at the border can see migrants crossing illegally with their own eyes.

WHERE WILL THE LAW BE ENFORCED?

The law can be enforced in any of Texas 254 counties, including those hundreds of miles from the border.

But Republican state Rep. David Spiller, the author of the law, has said he expects the vast majority of arrests will occur within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the U.S.-Mexico border. Texas state police chief has expressed similar expectations.

Some places are off-limits. Arrests cannot be made in public and private schools; places of worship; or hospitals and other health care facilities, including those where sexual assault forensic examinations are conducted.

Under the law, migrants ordered to leave would be sent to ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, even if they are not Mexican citizens.

Amrutha Jindal, executive director at Lone Star Defenders Office, said her organization expects the law will be enforced in border counties. Her office already represents migrants who have been arrested since 2021 under a more limited Texas operation that has charged thousands of migrants with trespassing on private property.

IS THE LAW CONSTITUTIONAL?

The Justice Department, legal experts and immigrant rights groups have said the measure is a clear conflict with the U.S. governments authority to regulate immigration.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, agreed in a 114-page order. He added that the law could hamper U.S. foreign relations and treaty obligations.

Opponents have called the measure the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law  denounced by critics as the Show Me Your Papers bill  that was largely struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Ezra cited the Supreme Courts 2012 Arizona ruling in his decision.

Texas has argued that the law mirrors federal law instead of conflicting with it.

WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE BORDER?

Arrests for illegal crossings along the southern border fell by half in January from record highs in December. Border Patrol officials attributed the shift to seasonal declines and heightened enforcement by the U.S. and its allies.

Tensions remain between Texas and the Biden administration, though. In the border city of Eagle Pass, Texas, National Guard members have prevented Border Patrol agents from accessing a riverfront park.

Other Republican governors have expressed support for Abbott, who has said the federal government is not doing enough to enforce immigration laws. Other measures implemented by Texas include a floating barrier in the Rio Grande and razor wire along the border.

(AP)
A man who shot and critically wounded another passenger on a New York City subway train may have acted in self-defense and will not immediately be charged with any crime, prosecutors said Friday.

Yesterdays shooting inside a crowded subway car was shocking and deeply upsetting. The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing but, at this stage, evidence of self-defense precludes us from filing any criminal charges against the shooter, said Oren Yaniv, a spokesperson for Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

The shooting during Thursdays rush hour came a week after Gov. Kathy Hochul sent the National Guard into the subway system to help police search people for weapons, citing a need to make people feel safer after a series of headline-making crimes in recent months.

Video taken by a bystander and posted on social media showed a confrontation that began with one passenger berating another and repeatedly threatening to beat him up. The two men squared off and fought before they were separated by another rider.

Then the belligerent rider who had started the confrontation pulled a gun from his jacket and cocked it. Passengers fled and cowered at the far end of the car, some screaming, Stop! Stop! The shooting isnt seen, but gunshots can be heard as passengers flee from the train as it arrives at a station.

Police said that the 36-year-old man who had pulled the gun lost control of it during the altercation. The other man, 32, got possession and shot him.

The man who was shot was hospitalized in critical condition. Police have not identified either man.

Michael Kemper, the Police Departments chief of transit, said at a briefing late Thursday that witnesses had reported that the man who was shot was being aggressive and provocative.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former transit police officer, said he believes the man who was shot was suffering from mental health illness.

When you look at that video, youll see the nexus between someone who appears, from what I saw, to be dealing with severe mental health illness, sparking a dispute on our subway system, Adams said on radio station 77 WABC.

Adams urged state lawmakers to give New York City more authority to remove mentally ill people from the streets and the subway system involuntarily.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said at a briefing Friday that the man who was shot had entered through an open emergency door without paying the $2.90 subway fare and suggested that the shooting highlights the need to crack down on fare evasion.

It is important that the NYPD enforces quality of life, Maddrey said. Its important that we enforce that service and people who are not paying the fare, oftentimes we see people enter the subway station looking to cause harm and they never pay the fare.

Violence in the New York City subway system is rare, but serious incidents such as a passengers slashing of a subway conductor in the neck last month, and a shooting on a Bronx subway platform, have attracted attention.

(AP)
The United States and allies warned Iran on Friday that major Western economies will pile new sanctions on Tehran if it moves forward with an advancing plan to provide ballistic missiles to Russia for its war with Ukraine.

The Biden administration has raised alarms for months that Russia is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran as Moscow struggles to replenish its dwindling supplies.

The U.S. has yet to confirm that missiles have moved from Iran to Russia. But U.S. officials are alarmed by comments by Iranian officials that suggest that a deal is imminent.

One action that the Group of Seven countries are mulling is to prohibit Iran Air, the countrys national air carrier, from flying to Europe, according to a senior Biden administration official. The official, who was not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, declined to preview other sanctions that the U.S. is mulling beyond describing the potential action as significant measures.

Were Iran to proceed with providing ballistic missiles or related technology to Russia, we are prepared to respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner including with new and significant measures against Iran, the G-7 leaders said in a statement.

Irans U.N. Mission said last month that there are no legal restrictions to prevent it from making ballistic missile sales but that is morally obligated to refrain from weapon transactions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict to prevent fueling the war.

The U.S. and Europe already impose extensive sanctions against Iran targeting individuals as well as limiting the countrys access to trade, financial services, energy, technology and other sectors. The sanctions on Iran are arguably the most extensive and comprehensive set of sanctions that the United States maintains on any country, with thousands of individuals and entities targeted.

The Democratic administration in January said that U.S. intelligence officials had determined a Russian-Iran deal had not been completed but that they were concerned that Russias negotiations to acquire missiles from Iran were actively advancing.

In September, according to the White House, Iran hosted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to show off a range of ballistic missile systems  a moment that sparked U.S. concern that a deal could come together.

Asked why the deal hasnt already been consummated, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said he could not speak for the mullahs.

Iran last year completed a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia and has been looking to buy additional advanced military equipment from the country, including attack helicopters, radars and combat-trainer aircraft, according to the White House.

The U.S. and other countries have taken steps aimed at thwarting the supply, sale or transfer involving Iran and ballistic missile-related items, including issuing guidance to private companies about Iranian missile procurement practices to make sure they arent inadvertently supporting Irans development efforts.

Weve sent very clear messages to Iran to not do it, this is a subject of considerable conversation among a number of countries in Europe and the United States and I think that the concern about that eventuality and the need to address it, if necessary, is very real and very strong, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a news conference on Friday in Vienna.

The Biden administration has repeatedly sought to make the case that the Kremlin has become reliant on Iran and North Korea for the arms it needs to fight its war against Ukraine and has disclosed intelligence findings that it says show as much.

Russia has acquired and used North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials, however, say that North Korean missiles when deployed by Russian forces have frequently missed targets.

Russia has received hundreds of one-way attack drones, as well as drone production-related equipment, from Iran, according to the White House. The Biden administration also has accused Tehran of providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow.

Iran initially denied supplying drones to Russia. Tehran later only acknowledged providing a small number before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.

(AP)
Two of Canadas leading kosher certification agencies, along with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, are taking legal action against the national government over recent regulations on animal slaughter, which they say are threatening the countrys kosher industry.

In a statement, the three organizations  the Kashruth Council of Canada, the Jewish Community Council of Montreal, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs  said: Since these new guidelines have gone into effect, the amount of kosher meat produced in Canada has decreased dramatically. The community has been trying to temporarily supplement this shortfall with imported kosher meat, but this situation is not viable over the long term.

The lawsuit centers on the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, introduced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which require the use of a stun gun in animal slaughter  a practice prohibited in shechita. Without a stun gun, ritually slaughtered livestock and birds must pass multiple cognitive tests to indicate loss of consciousness and brain death before continuing in the meat production process, adding time and complexity to a process that would otherwise take under a minute, kosher proponents argue.

The lawsuit claims that between August 2022 and January 2023, the number of kosher meat processing plants in Canada has fallen from six to four, resulting in a decline in the weekly yield of domestically produced kosher beef from 3,400 to 1,750 head of cattle.

This legal challenge comes after years of challenges to kosher slaughter in Europe, with a recent decision by the Court of the European Union upholding a ban on kosher slaughter in two of Belgiums three regions.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A fire caused damage to the Satmar Williamsburg Matzah Bakery on Sunday afternoon.

The FDNY responded to the scene just after noon after receiving reports of fire at the premises located at 427 Broadway near Hooper Street.

The fire was contained, but the FDNY was tearing walls and ceilings searching for additional fire, causing damage to the operations of the bakery.

The bakery belongs to the Satmar Williamsburg Kehilla (Rav Zalman Leib Shlita), and produces Matzah for thousands upon thousands of families. It is known as the Congregation Yetav Lev Satmar Matzoh Bakery.

The same bakery had a fire in 2017, as was reported at the time by YWN.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Documents seized in Gaza have revealed detailed plans for Hamass devastating October 7 onslaught, signed by the terror groups number three and deputy commander of Hamass military wing, Marwan Issa. The IDF confirmed on Monday that it had targeted Issa in a strike on central Gazas Nuseirat last week, although his death has not been officially confirmed by Israel or Hamas.

According to the documents, Hamass plan involved 1,500-1,800 terrorists from the elite Nukhba force targeting 46 communities and bases, including a base serving military intelligence Unit 8200 and the air force base at Hatzerim in southern Israel. However, the 3,000 Hamas-led terrorists that infiltrated on October 7 failed to reach those sensitive bases.

The recovered document also mentions coordination with Iran and Lebanon, saying the conditions in Iran and Lebanon allow us to tie the big project with the axis [of resistance], but does not specify if active coordination occurred before October 7.

Channel 12 also reports that the documents reveal how Hamas maintained secrecy around its plans. Brigade commanders were only informed five days before October 7, battalion commanders 48 hours before, and company commanders just 12 hours before.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Indirect negotiations aimed at securing a temporary ceasefire and hostage deal in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to restart in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials.

The talks, which will involve Israeli officials and Hamas leaders for the first time since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, will cover remaining gaps between the two sides, including the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for Israeli hostages and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Hamas has proposed a three-stage plan, which includes a six-week temporary ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the lifting of the blockade. However, Israel has ruled out a permanent ceasefire and insists it will resume its goal of destroying Hamas once any hostage-truce deal is carried out.

The talks, which will be mediated by Qatar and Egypt, are expected to be challenging, but both sides have made moves to get the negotiations back on track.

A source told Reuters that Mossad chief David Barnea will head to Qatar on Monday for talks with Qatars prime minister and Egyptian officials, while the war cabinet is scheduled to meet on Sunday night.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
GENEVA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday called on Israel to halt its ground assault on Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, saying 1.2 million people there have nowhere safe to go.

"I'm gravely concerned about reports of an Israeli plan to proceed with a ground assault on Rafah," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Further escalation of violence in this densely populated area would lead to many more deaths and suffering, especially with health facilities already overwhelmed," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved plans on Friday for an attack on Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinian refugees are seeking shelter.

The global health agency appealed to Israel not to proceed with the military operation, and instead work toward peace "in the name of humanity."

This humanitarian catastrophe must not be allowed to worsen, Tedros said. 
The IDF has announced that its Ncahal Infantry Brigade has killed more than 250 Hamas operatives in the central Gaza Strip over the past two weeks. The brigade has been operating in the Netzarim Corridor, a strategic area that spans Gaza from the Beeri area to the coast, enabling raids in northern and central Gaza.

According to the IDF, Nachal troops, including the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion, have engaged in gun battles and called in tank shelling and airstrikes, resulting in the destruction of numerous Hamas assets, including rockets, launchers, and weapons depots.

The IDF claims that these operations have significantly disrupted Hamass capabilities in the area.



(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Hamas terror organization privately confirmed that Hamas leader #3 Marwan Issa, was killed in an IDF strike last week, Kan News reported on Sunday morning.

According to the report, Palestinian sources privy to the details said that Issa, the deputy head of Hamass military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and one of the terror groups founders, has been buried ever since in the rubble of the tunnel he was hiding in.

The sources added that the commander of Hamass Central Camp Brigade, Razi Abu Tomeh, was with Issa inside the tunnel and was also killed in the strike.

Israeli security officials confirmed on Friday that Issa was eliminated in an IDF strike.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The Israeli govenment on Sunday unanimously approved the establishment of a new national day of remembrance day (yom zikaron) for the victims of the October 7th massacre and the Iron Swords War.

It will be held on the 24th of Tishrei, after Sukkos. However, the 24th of Tishrei falls out this year on Shabbos so the ceremonies will take place on Sunday, as they will every year when the 24th falls out on Shabbos.

The yom zikaron will be marked every in two state ceremonies: one at 11 a.m. in memory of the IDF soldiers and security officers who fell in the war and one at 1 p.m. in memory of the civilians who were murdered on October 7th.

Also, this year only, apart from the ceremonies that will take place on the 24th of Tishrei, there will also be a ceremony that will take place on the secular date of the massacre  October 7th  a date that has become synonymous with the massacre.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
In a tense interview on Sunday, CNNs Dana Bash pressed Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on his political future and the controversial war strategy in Gaza. Bash confronted Netanyahu with Sen. Chuck Schumers call for new Israeli elections and President Bidens apparent distance from the Israeli leaders actions.

Regarding Sen. Chuck Schumers demand for elections in Israel, Netanyahu commented: I think what he said is totally inappropriate. Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. Thats something that the Israeli public does on its own and were not a banana republic. I think that the only government that we should bring down now is the Hamas tyranny in Gaza who murdered over 1,000 Israelis, including dozens of Americans, and is holding Americans and Israelis hostage  thats what we should be focusing on. And as far as what Sen. Schumer said  the majority of Israelis support our government, the policies that were leading. Its not a fringe government, it represents the majority of the people. If Sen. Schumer opposes these policies, hes not opposing me, hes opposing the Israeli people.

Bash replied that President Biden is a self-described ZionistHe called what Schumer said a good speech. He shared the concern of many Americans, Bash said.

Dana, theres a fallacy that is being perpetrated here. And you should take polls. You have your own polls, and check whether the people of Israel support the policies that Im being criticized for, Netanyahu replied.

He continued: That is, supporting the policies of going into Rafah, destroy the quarter of the remaining Hamas terrorist army. Thats like leaving a quarter of the Nazi terrorist army in Germany and saying, No, were not going to finish the last quarter, and were not going into Berlin. Most Israelis overwhelmingly support the position that we have to go in. They oppose the idea of ramming down a two-state solution or a terrorist state against their will because they think that this will endanger Israels future. They support those policies that Im putting forward and to present that as something that is, Im an outlier, it doesnt represent the majority of the people of Israel is simply a fallacy.

Asked whether he would commit to elections once the war is over, Netanyahu said, well see when we win the war, and when pushed again about it, he responded, Thats for the Israeli people to decide.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Produced by the incredible Eli Gerstner & EG Productions and held at the prestigious NJPAC, its a high level event that you dont want to miss  and its already 50% SOLD OUT.

Shaindy Plotzker Live 24 is a benefit concert to raise money for EFRAT assisting Jewish women in Israel to have the ability to bring Jewish lives into the world, raise their families with dignity, and be able to afford the necessities for their precious babies.

The goal through this benefit concert for EFRAT is to raise enough money to bring 1400 Jewish Neshamos into the world  in memory of the 1400 Neshamos we lost on October 7th.

Be one of the 3,000 women and girls who will join together on April 9th to make a massive Kiddush Hashem, to sing and to unite for the Jewish nation.

For more info & Tickets: EfratConcert.com



Below are pictures from last years Shaindy Plotzker Live @ NJPAC.
It has been all change at investment trust Mid Wynd International over the past six months. New managers have been appointed, the fund's portfolio has been overhauled, and the trust's charges have been reduced.

Although it is too early to assess whether the transformation will result in enhanced returns for shareholders, the new fund managers are confident that the refresh will be to the benefit of investors.

'Our philosophy is simple,' says Louis Florentin-Lee, who, with Barnaby Wilson, now runs the 411 million trust, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. 'Great companies can make great investments.'

The duo work for Lazard Asset Management, which won the race to take over at the trust last October. They unseated investment house Artemis after the trust's board became concerned when the managers assigned to the fund left the firm.

Lazard's approach is built around identifying 'quality growth' companies  global businesses that generate sustainable long-term profits from the capital they employ, thereby creating value for shareholders. It is an investment strategy that Lazard developed 13 years ago, and assets worth 1.6 billion are run according to such a mandate.

'Investment theory states that market domination cannot persist because of the laws of competition,' says Florentin-Lee. 'We fundamentally disagree with this. Some businesses can build robust moats around what they do, and as a result thrive long-term and resist competitive forces.'

Lazard says there are 200-plus quality growth companies that it monitors. These are all characterised by operating in markets where barriers to entry make it difficult for competitors to make effective challenges to the status quo. They all also have the ability to keep making profits and reinvesting in their businesses.

The only differentiator is their market valuation  which determines whether Lazard buys, holds or sells them. Currently, Mid Wynd has 41 holdings, only six of which remain from the Artemis era. A recent addition to the portfolio is Swiss-listed VAT Group, a producer of vacuum valves used in the manufacture of semi-conductors.

'The valves play a critical role in ensuring the semi-conductor production process is not corrupted by dust particles,' says Florentin-Lee.

'VAT has 75 per cent market share and supplies the likes of Dutch giant ASML and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Its importance is such that it is often brought into the designing of new products.'

Another holding, which was bought last October, is US-listed Amphenol, a manufacturer of electronic and fibre-optic inter-connectors which are used in the aerospace and car industries.

'Without them, your laptop would not work,' says Wilson. 'Amphenol is renowned for the quality of its products and its hold on the market is such that it generates high returns on the capital it employs.'

Only one UK-listed company makes it into Mid Wynd's portfolio  analytics company RELX. But the managers insist that there are lots of 'high quality UK businesses' on their watch list.

In terms of returns, Florentin-Lee and Wilson have delivered respectable shareholder gains of 10 per cent over the past six months. But their strategy is very much focused on the long-term  companies they buy into tend to be held for between seven and ten years.

Overall annual fund charges are 0.62 per cent, lower than when Artemis was manager. Income generation is of secondary importance with payments equivalent to one per cent per annum. The stock market identification code is B6VTTK0 and the ticker is MWY.
About 20 years before he was roundly defeated at Waterloo, Napoleon allegedly described England as 'a nation of shopkeepers'. The claim was considered offensive, Napoleon got his comeuppance and today, the UK is proud of its retail prowess.

In food and drink alone, there are around 90,000 independent stores across the country, catering to our last-minute, local and impulse needs. But we are a nation that loves to grab a coffee, a pint or a bite to eat too, and some 350,000 outlets provide just that service from the Highlands to the Cornish coast.

Kitwave helps these businesses to function, delivering food and drink from well-known brands to more than 40,000 corner shops, cafes and caterers nationwide.

Choc full of products: Kitwave's range includes Magnum, advertised by Kylie Minogue

Petrol forecourts, care homes, gyms and schools are among the group's customer base too but in each case, Kitwave is laser-focused on delivering what businesses want when they need it at a price they can afford.

The strategy is working and Kitwave shares, at 3.42, should prove rewarding. Based in North Shields, a few miles from Newcastle, the company started in 1987 with a single cash-and-carry store.

Today, almost 5,000 deliveries a day are made from 30 depots. Orders vary in shape and size but Kitwave specialises in small, frequent drop-offs, averaging 350 a go. Chilled and frozen products are particularly popular with retailers, while eateries source almost all their goods from Kitwave, bar fresh meat and fish.

The company's range is extensive, with 44,000 individual products, from Magnum ice cream and McCain chips to crisps and Coke to onions and lettuce.

Customers do not pay delivery charges so Kitwave makes money by adding a mark-up to the products sold. Margins are small, however, and many businesses prefer to have goods delivered than take trips to cash-and-carry outlets.

Results for the 12 months to October 31 prove the point. Sales rose 20 per cent to 602 million, pre-tax profits rose 39 per cent to 25 million and the dividend rose 21 per cent to 11.2p.

Looking ahead, there is plenty of potential for continued strong growth. The wholesale market is huge, with annual sales of almost 25 billion, excluding cigarettes. Large players account for more than half of revenues but that still leaves around 10 billion in the hands of independent operators.

Here, Kitwave is doing better than most, with growth that far outstrips its peers.

The independent market is also deeply fragmented, with hundreds of small players owning one or two depots and serving local customers only. This presents attractive acquisitions for Kitwave, so the group has done 13 deals in recent years and more are expected.

Founder Paul Young, 67, is retiring this summer but his successor, Ben Maxted, has been with the business for more than a decade and knows it inside-out.

A youthful 40, Maxted is keen to improve profit margins and productivity by making the best use of technology, from route mappers for drivers to headphones that help warehouse workers navigate orders more effectively.

Online ordering is on the up too, with average orders growing as customers are presented with a plethora of product options. There is also a pipeline of acquisitions, as Maxted and finance director David Brind have a broad network of contacts and can source deals before they hit the open market.

There will be no radical departure from Young's tried and tested formula, however. Delivering thousands of goods to thousands of customers day in, day out is a demanding task. Plenty can go wrong and customers can be fickle.

Kitwave's success is built on developing relationships with its suppliers, understanding its customers and ensuring that goods are in stock and delivered on time to the businesses that need them.

The company joined Aim in 2021 and is reaping the benefits with greater recognition across its market. Brokers are optimistic about prospects, forecasting sales of 660 million and profits of 29 million for this year, with a dividend of 12.7p. Maxted and Brind are keen to reward shareholders and Kitwave's balance sheet is strong so steady dividend growth is expected.

Midas verdict: Kitwave is a North East success story, catering to shopkeepers, cafe owners and dinner ladies. It delivered strong growth as a private company, and has continued in that vein since listing three years ago. At 3.42, the shares are a buy.

Traded on: AIM Ticker: KITW Contact: kitwave.co.uk or 0191 259 2277
According to Macfarlane chief executive Peter Atkinson, the true test of a business comes when times are tough. If a company can do well against weak economic conditions, rising prices and falling demand from customers, that business is worth supporting.

Atkinson knows of what he speaks. At the helm of this Glasgow-based packaging firm for 20 years, Atkinson has steered Macfarlane through downturns, crises and commodity cycles.

Through it all, he and his team have delivered consistent growth in profits and dividends, keeping old customers happy, winning new ones and controlling costs.

Going places: Macfarlane is expanding and has started to move into Europe

Macfarlane designs and sells packaging for a range of businesses, from retailers such as Dunelm and Ikea, to industrial or healthcare giants such as Siemens and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Competition is fierce but Atkinson prides himself on working closely with customers, saving them money by designing boxes that fit products snugly and protect them. The group has also opened two innovation laboratories to ensure it leads on the packaging front.

This part of the business accounts for around three-quarters of its profits. The rest comes from a manufacturing division, which specialises in packaging for high-end, often fragile, products that need care  from eye-testing kit to brake lines for aircraft.

Most Macfarlane customers are feeling the effects of slow economic growth and consumer caution. This translated into a 3 per cent fall in 2023 sales to 281 million. But the group still increased its pre-tax profits by 10 per cent to 26 million and raise the dividend by 5 per cent to 3.59p.

Economic conditions are improving but many businesses remain concerned about the future so Atkinson does not expect a surge in demand any time soon.

He is optimistic, however, expecting to deliver continued growth by investing in innovation, working closely with customers and pursuing new ones in resilient markets such as aerospace.

Acquisitions boost returns too and last week, Atkinson unveiled his latest purchase, East Anglia-based Allpack, for a price of 3.25 million. More deals are likely, both here and across the Channel. Macfarlane earns most of its money in Britain but has started to move into northern Europe.

Brokers expect a small increase in sales and profits this year, accompanied by a rise in the dividend to 3.8p. Longer term, Atkinson is deeply ambitious, eyeing up group sales of 500 million over the next few years.

Midas verdict: Midas first recommended Macfarlane in 2012, when the shares were 27p. By 2019, they were 92p and today they are 1.34. Founded 75 years ago from a single room in Glasgow, the business now employs more than 1,000 people and is a top player in its field. Showcasing British resilience at its best, Macfarlane has proved it can deliver for shareholders. A robust, long-term investment.

Traded on: Main Market Ticker: MACF Contact: macfarlanegroup.com
City bosses have this week written to the Chancellor demanding he scrap bizarre European Union rules that are harming savers.

Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of investment firm Abrdn and one of the most respected figures in finance, is among more than 130 money managers to sign the letter to Jeremy Hunt.

They argue the controversial EU regulations mean Britain is missing out on 7 billion of money every year that could be ploughed into green energy, fixing roads, rail and building hospitals.

The controversial rules are being applied  despite Brexit  to British investment trusts.

Trusts have a long history in the UK dating back to the Victorian era when they funded railways and other engineering projects. Trusts today continue that tradition by investing in areas such as renewable energy, transport and other infrastructure.

Looking for a new dawn: The controversial rules are being applied  despite Brexit  to British investment trusts

Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of investment firm Abrdn and one of the most respected figures in finance, is among more than 130 money managers to sign the letter to Jeremy Hunt

There are 361 investment trusts on the stock market. Between them, they control 267 billion of assets.

Flint and his fellow executives argue that the trusts are being put at risk because of rules that make it look as though the costs of investing are far higher than is really the case.

Flint, previously chairman of banking giant HSBC, told The Mail on Sunday the rules were 'a barrier to getting money for the infrastructure we desperately need.'

He added: 'We need to make it attractive to invest in the UK and for people to fund infrastructure through their retirement plans.'

Justin Dowley, chairman of the FTSE 100-listed Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, also wants Hunt to act because investment trusts are being subjected to rules cooked up by the EU. Despite the UK voting to leave the EU  which means there is no need to apply them at all  City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is imposing them on firms in draconian style.

As a consequence, trusts are in a bizarre situation where many of their costs are being double-counted. Campaigners say this situation is unique to the UK.

It has caused a sell-off of investment trusts leaving them starved of cash and vulnerable to foreign takeovers as many of their share prices have tanked. In their letter, published this weekend, the City bosses warn Hunt the rules are 'cutting off' vital funding.

Campaigners say the regulations threaten to choke the flow of money into areas the Chancellor hopes to boost, such as renewable energy, science and biotechnology.

The letter says: 'This is having adverse effects on investment in the UK and is driving British investors' capital into companies listed overseas, contributing to the poor performance of the UK stock market. This surely cannot be allowed to continue. The UK's interpretation is flawed. Fixing the problem by doing the same as the rest of the world could restore over 7 billion per year of lost investment  with no cost to the taxpayer.'

It continues: 'We call on the Government and the Financial Conduct Authority to take action now to end this situation immediately and return the UK to a competitive position.'

More than 130 money managers have signed a letter to Jeremy Hunt demanding he scrap bizarre European Union rules that are harming savers

AJ Bell, one of the UK's largest investment platforms, has also called for the rules to be changed.

Senior politicians including ex-pensions minister Baroness Altmann also want an overhaul.

Altmann, alongside other peers including Lib Dem Baroness Bowles and Labour's Lord Davies of Brixton, is trying to push legislation through Parliament that would remove investment trusts from these rules.

A Treasury spokesman said: 'We recognise industry's concerns and are working at pace with the FCA to reform the UK's retail disclosure regime, including for investment trusts. We'll set out further details on these reforms soon.'
Decision time: Nationwide boss Debbie Crosbie

Nationwide's bid for Virgin Money could be blown off course if the building society's members demand a say on the 2.9 billion deal.

Calls to give the mutual's owners a vote in the takeover have grown since it revealed plans to snap up the challenger bank and create Britain's second biggest savings and loans group.

Buying Virgin, which is about a third of its size and includes Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks, would propel Nationwide into the big league of retail banking.

The combined group would have almost 700 branches and 366 billion of assets. Nationwide, which is led by Debbie Crosbie, has until April 4 to make a firm offer.

But the society also has to navigate between the conflicting codes of a democratic, member-owned mutual on the one hand and City rules which govern the takeover of a listed company like Virgin Money on the other.

It has emerged that just 500 Nationwide members depositing 50 each could call a special meeting to push for a vote on the Virgin deal, according to the society's own constitution which governs how it is run.

But insiders insist a members' vote would be an 'arbitrary test' and lead to delays that would make it impossible for Nationwide to make a binding offer by April 4 under Takeover Panel rules that govern bid timetables. Arranging a vote between members would take Nationwide far beyond that time.

The society says it has taken 'extensive' legal advice that no member vote is needed under the 1985 Building Societies Act to approve the Virgin takeover.

A poll would 'tie the board's hands' and restrict its ability ever to buy a listed bank, they add. Experts say that Nationwide would also get cold feet if a third party entered to fray with a rival offer for Virgin.

The mutual would not want to get dragged into a public bidding war for a listed bank, they add.

Santander has been mooted as a possible buyer of Virgin, but the Spanish-owned bank is not thought to be lining up a bid, sources say.

Shares in Virgin Money have continued to trade below Nationwide's 220p offer price, suggesting another bidder is unlikely to emerge. Nationwide's rules say 500 'qualifying' members who have been with the society for at least two years can call a members' meeting, which must be held within 63 days of the request being received. The hurdle is relatively low, especially in age of social media crowdfunding.

Nationwide has written to its 16 million members outlining the deal, which takes it into business banking for the first time, but it has been unable to say how they will benefit because it has not yet made a formal bid for Virgin.

Some members think the deal looks good on paper but want a say in the outcome on principle because they own the mutual.

Others are concerned that while Virgin Money shareholders get to vote on the deal, Nationwide's members do not. Virgin Money's founder Sir Richard Branson says he's 'minded' to accept.

Nationwide's bid was backed by two champions of mutuality. 'There are many parts of financial services which would benefit from the mutual model, not least business banking,' said Robin Fieth, chief executive of the Building Societies Association. And Peter Hunt of lobby group Mutuo said: 'It would also return much of the former Northern Rock mortgage book to the mutual sector.'
YINCHUAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- At Yuanshi Vineyard, which is located at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, stones from the Gobi Desert have been paved into buildings and roads, and wires and grape vines have been repurposed as construction materials.

"It's hard to imagine that the winery used to be a mine scattered with gravel and covered in dust," said Yuan Hui, founder of Yuanshi Vineyard.

In 2008, Yuan invested in a 400-hectare abandoned sand mine. He began growing grapes and undertook ecological restoration work with the support of the local government. In 2014, the winery opened to the public.

"Along with improved ecological conditions, wine and tourism have attracted a large number of tourists to visit and learn tasting techniques. Products from our winery also sell well," Yuan said.

The wine industry has helped turn the once-barren land near Helan Mountain into a 195-km-long green belt of grape vines. According to the management committee of a wine industrial park at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain, at a grape production base for wine-making, grapes were planted on barren land with the application of water-saving irrigation technology, forming a 20,000-hectare oasis of grape vines and nearly 4,000 hectares of shelterbelts.

The area's dry land, appropriate soil conditions and sufficient levels of sunshine have aided in the development of the local wine industry, enabling grape vine roots to absorb as much water and minerals from the soil as possible, according to Zhao Shihua, director of a wine-industry technology collaborative innovation center near Helan Mountain.

"As a result, grapes grown in the region have a good aroma and good pigment, and they reach appropriate sugar and acidity levels," Zhao said.

The vineyards in the area are located at a latitude of 38 degrees north -- the same latitude as key wine-producing areas in Spain, Italy and the United States. And these vineyards have gained an international reputation. Local wines are sold to countries such as Canada, Switzerland and Britain, and their quality has been recognized by Jancis Robinson, one of the world's top sommeliers.

"In the 1980s, when we sold our indigenously produced wine for the first time, we couldn't find a bottle opener on the market. Now, wine has grown into a large industry," said Yu Huiming, one the earliest wine-makers in Ningxia.

Ningxia's booming wine industry has brought about economic development in the landlocked region, as well as plenty of job opportunities for locals. Across the region, the industry provides about 130,000 jobs for locals every year.

Vineyards require a significant amount of labor for nearly eight months every year, including labor to clean buried grape vines, nurture the plants and bury them in the winter to protect them from freezing temperatures.

Local grape grower Ma Shoujian is particularly busy during the summer, when the grapes ripen. In addition to his work in the vineyards, he also arranges accommodation for the many migrant workers who travel to the eastern foot of Helan Mountain to work.

"In recent years, many vineyards have been built in the surrounding areas and it is easy to find a job here," he said. With several years of experience, he has been promoted to manage a large vineyard area.

"There is no difficulty earning 10,000 yuan (about 1,409 U.S. dollars) a month. I even bought a car for my family last year," he said. 
A giant Chinese cargo ship lumbers down the West Coast of Africa before making its way around the Cape of Good Hope. The 'BYD Explorer 1' is returning from a potentially game-changing trade mission: to flood Europe with cheaper electric cars, and knock Tesla off its perch.

The 200-metre long vessel is two weeks into the return leg of its maiden voyage, having dropped off more than 5,000 vehicles at ports in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Its final destination is Shenzhen in South-East China, whence it set sail more than two months ago.

This bustling city near Hong Kong is home to the ship's owner, BYD. This is a company so big it has built its own walled town, complete with an airport-style monorail for workers.

The brand  which stands for Build Your Dreams  is backed by legendary US investor Warren Buffet and is the biggest car manufacturer most Westerners have never heard of.

Show piece: BYD launched its all-electric Yangwang U9 three weeks ago to rival Ferrari

But that is about to change. BYD recently pipped Elon Musk's Tesla to become the biggest-selling manufacturer of electric cars in the world in the final three months of last year.

Some are dubbing BYD the 'Tesla Killer', after it came out on top in a brutal price war in China, a country which builds and buys more electric cars than the rest of the world combined. BYD looks unstoppable.

However, old-fashioned protectionism might slam on the brakes. Despite ambitious environmental targets to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars in just over a decade, the UK's Trade Secretary Mark Harper last week said Britain could use 'robust' trade sanctions to prevent China from flooding the market with cheap electric vehicles.

And the post-Brexit trade watchdog, the Trade Remedies Authority, has also signalled it is ready to launch an investigation into Chinese EVs.

Lawmakers in Europe and the US have baulked at the prospect of their citizens buying cheaper electric cars, subsidised by the People's Republic of China.

BYD has received a total of 2 billion in subsidies from the Communist government in Beijing between 2008 and 2022, it said in its annual reports.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen complained in September this was making the price of its cars 'artificially low'.

T he company, however, is forging on and the Explorer 1 signals the next logical phase in its quest for global domination.

Of the three million cars BYD sold last year, just 243,000 were exported.

The slowdown in global sales of electric cars, including in China, has given BYD more urgency to expand overseas.

This is why it has commissioned seven more cargo ships, all capable of carrying up to 7,000 electric cars, to take to the high seas within the next two years.

It has set up assembly lines in Brazil, Hungary, Thailand and Uzbekistan. More manufacturing plants are in the pipeline in Indonesia and Mexico, which is seen by BYD as a back door into the US market.BYD has a knack for making well-designed vehicles more cheaply than its rivals.

The firm recently announced the launch of its cheapest car yet in China  a super-mini called the Seagull Honor Edition, costing the equivalent of less than 8,000.

It launched its first model in the UK last year, the Atto 3 SUV, which starts at about 36,000, roughly 9,000 less than Tesla's equivalent, the Model Y  Europe's best-selling new car last year.

BYD's all-electric Yangwang U9 Supercar, with its distinctive scissor doors, was launched three weeks to rival Ferrari and Lamborghini. However, about half of BYD's sales are popular plug-in hybrids, which has helped give it an edge over Tesla as global appetite for electric cars has waned.

The company was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu  a chemist who came from a poor farming family  when he was just 29.

Now known as 'the chairman', he made his initial fortune manufacturing mobile phone batteries and other components for Siemens, Nokia and Motorola, before branching out into building cars after buying an assembly plant in Xi'an in central China in 2003.

BYD's potential was spotted by Warren Buffett's right-hand man, the late Charlie Munger, in 2008, several years before the company launched its first electric car.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway investment vehicle bought a 10 per cent stake for 181 million.

The holding, which has been whittled down to about 8 per cent, is now worth 5.1 billion.

Wang scored another major coup in 2016 by poaching Wolfgang Egger, a prominent German car designer who had worked for Alfa Romeo, Audi and Lamborghini.

BYD's cars, which until then had a reputation for being unattractive, were given a sleek makeover.

A few years later, Wang made a technological breakthrough with the launch of cheaper and more efficient 'Blade' batteries in 2020, which are used by Tesla and Toyota in some of their models.

This helped turbo-charge growth at BYD, which has a stranglehold on the supply chain for EV batteries, owning everything from stakes in lithium mines to the battery packs themselves.

It reached a key milestone in the final three months of last year, when it sold 526,409 fully electric vehicles, compared with 484,507 sold by Tesla (although the American company still sold more over the course of the year). BYD's meteoric rise has spooked more established car manufacturers around the world. They have clamoured for tougher trade barriers to stem the great Chinese electric car invasion.

Musk, who ridiculed the appearance of BYD cars in 2011 when he dismissed them as no threat, has changed his tune. In an earnings call with investors in January, he warned that Chinese car exporters would 'pretty much demolish most other companies in the world' unless new trade tariffs are quickly established.

Pushback from Western governments is the biggest threat to BYD's advance.

Higher tariffs are on the cards, with the EU launching a probe into whether not just BYD, but also other Chinese car manufacturers such as Geely  which owns Volvo  and SAIC, which owns MG, benefit from 'hidden' government subsidies, including cheap loans and supplies of steel and electricity.

Tariffs of 27.5 per cent on Chinese electric car imports imposed by the Trump regime have helped freeze BYD out of the US market.

Earlier this month US president Joe Biden took further steps towards blocking Chinese electric vehicle imports, by warning that internet-connected cars and trucks pose risks to national security.

But as things stand, BYD is still in pole position to overtake its rivals.
Direct Line's chief executive Adam Winslow faces a tough balancing act on Thursday.

As well as presenting the insurer's annual financial results, he will need to lay out his roadmap for transforming the business and make the case for fending off further takeover bids from Belgian rival Ageas.

He will have had only three weeks to put all this together.

Winslow's strategy is expected to include cost-cutting measures and plans to digitise the business.

Direct Line was the UK's first telephone-only insurer  but has failed to keep up with technology and does not even have an app.

Behind the times: Direct Line was the UK's first telephone-only insurer  but has failed to keep up with technology and does not even have an app

This may be Winslow's first port of call. Fortunately for him, there is at least some good news. Direct Line is expected to announce it returned to profit in 2023, making around 320 million, according to Refinitiv estimates.

In 2022 it lost 45 million after being caught by a combination of severe winter weather claims  such as burst pipes  and a drop in the value of its commercial property investments.

This led the company to scrap its final dividend. Within weeks it parted ways with chief executive Penny James. The tumultuous year continued as it was forced to pay around 30 million to customers who were charged more than they should have been to renew home and car insurance policies.

The general view in the City is that the company's move to sell its commercial insurance unit for 520million has shored up its balance sheet and put it in a better position  though ironically this has probably also made it more alluring to bidder Ageas.

Investors are unlikely to see much cash heading their way for the time being though.

Matt Britzman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'There's still a long way to go if Direct Line wants to return a stable dividend and restore investor confidence.'

Ageas's first bid, made in January, was 3.1 billion, which was swiftly rejected by Direct Line's board just two days before Winslow took the helm.

Another offer, that was only 3pc higher, was slapped down last week. Ageas has until March 27 to make a final firm offer.

It may well be waiting for Winslow to set out his strategy before making a move. Direct Line's share price has dropped from a recent high of 225p to around 208p  indicating that investors think it is less likely that a takeover will happen.

Analysts believe a price tag of 263p  rather than Ageas's previous 237p  would be needed.

The Mail on Sunday understands the Belgian insurer was in London wooing shareholders last week.

Panmure Gordon's Abid Hussain said that it should focus on improving margins, as rival Admiral has, as well as identifying 'avenues of growth'.
Dazzling: Taylor Swift was draped in De Beers jewels at the Golden Globes

De Beers is set to unveil a wide-ranging business strategy within weeks after warning it had been hammered by a slump in diamond prices.

Boss Al Cook is expected to lay out in more detail how many jobs will be cut from its 20,000-strong workforce, how it will slash costs by 78 million a year and which projects it will sell or shut.

De Beers is the world's largest diamond miner by value and is famous for creating the advertising slogan 'A diamond is forever' in the 1960s.

Cook told The Mail on Sunday he wanted to 'rekindle' the allure of natural diamonds at a time when cheaper lab-grown alternatives have risen in popularity.

As well as grappling with a slump in the value of the stones, De Beers' owner Anglo American recently wrote down the value of the company by 1.3 billion.

Cook said he did not expect the business to start recovering until the second half of this year.
Bank of America lowered shares of Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO  Free Report) from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a research report released on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have $86.00 price target on the financial services providers stock, up from their prior price target of $80.00.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $72.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Brown & Brown from $75.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Brown & Brown from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Brown & Brown from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price objective on Brown & Brown from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $83.60.

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Brown & Brown Price Performance

Shares of BRO opened at $84.94 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $24.28 billion, a PE ratio of 27.76, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a current ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $80.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $74.68. Brown & Brown has a 1-year low of $53.14 and a 1-year high of $86.53.

Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter. Brown & Brown had a net margin of 20.44% and a return on equity of 15.46%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.50 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Brown & Brown will post 3.2 EPS for the current year.

Brown & Brown Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 2nd were issued a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.61%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 1st. Brown & Browns dividend payout ratio is currently 16.99%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Brown & Brown

In other Brown & Brown news, Chairman Hyatt J. Brown sold 144,323 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.96, for a total transaction of $12,406,005.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 37,460,605 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,220,113,605.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 17.02% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Clear Street Markets LLC raised its position in shares of Brown & Brown by 93.7% during the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 461 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Brown & Brown during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Brown & Brown during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Brown & Brown during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Park Place Capital Corp raised its position in shares of Brown & Brown by 166.5% during the 4th quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 509 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 318 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.33% of the companys stock.

Brown & Brown Company Profile

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Brown & Brown, Inc markets and sells insurance products and services in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services. The Retail segment provides property and casualty, employee benefits insurance products, personal insurance products, specialties insurance products, risk management strategies, loss control survey and analysis, consultancy, and claims processing services.

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Morgan Stanley lowered shares of MP Materials (NYSE:MP  Free Report) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report released on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has $15.50 price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of $26.00.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of MP Materials from $22.00 to $20.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of MP Materials from $14.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, March 8th. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $30.00 price objective on shares of MP Materials in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $25.58.

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MP Materials Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of MP stock opened at $13.90 on Wednesday. MP Materials has a 12 month low of $13.44 and a 12 month high of $28.75. The stock has a market cap of $2.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 106.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 2.44. The company has a current ratio of 10.42, a quick ratio of 9.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.36.

MP Materials (NYSE:MP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $41.21 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $47.40 million. MP Materials had a net margin of 9.59% and a return on equity of 3.86%. On average, research analysts expect that MP Materials will post 0.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MP Materials

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Kennedy Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in MP Materials in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,996,000. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its holdings in MP Materials by 20.0% in the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 2,710,453 shares of the companys stock worth $51,770,000 after acquiring an additional 452,501 shares during the period. Independent Advisor Alliance purchased a new position in shares of MP Materials during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,197,000. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd boosted its stake in shares of MP Materials by 103.6% during the 3rd quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd now owns 3,645 shares of the companys stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 1,855 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of MP Materials by 14.2% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 122,019 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,331,000 after acquiring an additional 15,186 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.41% of the companys stock.

About MP Materials

(Get Free Report)

MP Materials Corp., together with its subsidiaries, produces rare earth materials. The company owns and operates the Mountain Pass Rare Earth mine and processing facility in North America. It holds the mineral rights to the Mountain Pass mine and surrounding areas, as well as intellectual property rights related to the processing and development of rare earth minerals.

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Knife River (NYSE:KNF  Get Free Report) is one of 26 public companies in the Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Knife River to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, institutional ownership and valuation.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Knife River and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Knife River $2.83 billion $182.87 million -0.15 Knife River Competitors $2.09 billion $265.82 million 6.70

Knife River has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its rivals. Knife River is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Analyst Ratings

67.1% of Knife River shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 49.2% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are held by institutional investors. 7.4% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Knife River and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Knife River 0 1 5 0 2.83 Knife River Competitors 207 991 1353 12 2.46

Knife River currently has a consensus target price of $72.20, suggesting a potential downside of 4.07%. As a group, Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies have a potential upside of 10.48%. Given Knife Rivers rivals higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Knife River has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Profitability

This table compares Knife River and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Knife River 6.46% 15.98% 7.14% Knife River Competitors 22.32% -26.92% 3.72%

About Knife River

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Knife River Corporation provides aggregates-based construction materials and contracting services in the United States. It operates through six segments: Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, North Central, South, and Energy Services. The company mines, processes, and sells construction aggregates, including crushed stone and sand, and gravel; and produces and sells asphalt and ready-mix concrete, as well as provides contracting service, such as heavy-civil construction, asphalt and concrete paving, and site development and grading. It also sells merchandise and other building materials and related services. The company serves federal, state, and municipal governments for various projects, such as highways, bridges, airports, schools, public buildings, and other public-infrastructure projects, as well as industrial, commercial, and residential developers. The company was founded in 1917 and is based in Bismarck, North Dakota.

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Research analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Get Free Report) in a research report issued on Friday. The firm set a hold rating on the basic materials companys stock.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $45.00 target price (up from $42.00) on shares of WestRock in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Argus raised shares of WestRock from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of WestRock from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of WestRock from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $42.00 price target on shares of WestRock in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $40.67.

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WestRock Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE WRK opened at $48.60 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $42.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.53. The company has a market capitalization of $12.47 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.55. WestRock has a 52-week low of $26.84 and a 52-week high of $48.96.

WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.15). WestRock had a negative net margin of 8.58% and a positive return on equity of 6.87%. The business had revenue of $4.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.79 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.55 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that WestRock will post 1.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total transaction of $149,695.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 92,117 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,939,844.09. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.49% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On WestRock

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WRK. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of WestRock by 0.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,619,872 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,440,053,000 after purchasing an additional 252,490 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of WestRock by 9.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 26,528,567 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $808,325,000 after purchasing an additional 2,320,073 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of WestRock by 14.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 11,986,307 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $348,442,000 after purchasing an additional 1,538,825 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in shares of WestRock by 59.0% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 9,318,827 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $283,947,000 after purchasing an additional 3,459,641 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of WestRock by 5.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,611,685 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $162,721,000 after purchasing an additional 279,006 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.51% of the companys stock.

WestRock Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers.

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Kojamo Oyj (OTCMKTS:KOJAF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,112,500 shares, a drop of 23.2% from the February 14th total of 1,448,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently ? days.

Kojamo Oyj Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS KOJAF opened at $12.30 on Friday. Kojamo Oyj has a 52 week low of $12.30 and a 52 week high of $13.19. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $12.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.97.

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Kojamo Oyj Company Profile

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Further Reading

Kojamo Oyj operates as a private residential real estate company in Finland. The company rents apartments and offers housing services under the Lumo brand name. It also offers broadband internet connection services. The company was formerly known as VVO Group plc and changed its name to Kojamo Oyj in March 2017.

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Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund (NYSEARCA:GPM  Get Free Report)s stock price dropped 1.8% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $9.87 and last traded at $9.89. Approximately 868,500 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 299% from the average daily volume of 217,604 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.07.

Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund Stock Performance

The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $9.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.89.

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Dalata Hotel Group plc (LON:DAL  Get Free Report) passed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 378.05 ($4.84) and traded as low as GBX 375 ($4.80). Dalata Hotel Group shares last traded at GBX 375 ($4.80), with a volume of 150 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 510 ($6.53) target price on shares of Dalata Hotel Group in a research note on Thursday, February 29th.

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Dalata Hotel Group Trading Up 1.6 %

Dalata Hotel Group Increases Dividend

The company has a market cap of 837.98 million, a P/E ratio of 1,102.94 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 68.42. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 398.14 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 378.17.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 4th will be paid a dividend of 0.08 ($0.09) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.69%. This is a boost from Dalata Hotel Groups previous dividend of $0.04. Dalata Hotel Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 2,941.18%.

Dalata Hotel Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dalata Hotel Group plc owns and operates hotels under the Maldron Hotels and Clayton Hotels brand names in Dublin, Regional Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The company operates three-star and four-star hotels. It also operates Grain & Grill restaurants; Club Vitae health leisure clubs; and Red Bean Roastery coffee shop.

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Brunei held a ceremony on Saturday to celebrate the harvest of a Chinese hybrid rice experimental field, according to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) of Brunei.

The ceremony was held at Lekiun Agricultural Development Area where a variety of rice for non-irrigation paddy farms was harvested. The seedlings of three rice varieties were planted on Dec. 14 last year as part of a suitability study to develop the local paddy industry using high-yielding hybrids from China, local daily Borneo Bulletin reported on Sunday.

"The harvest today is a good start for the two countries to deepen cooperation on hybrid rice. In the future, China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Brunei in terms of hybrid rice seeds and expert guidance, and provide more support," said Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Xiao Jianguo.

The MPRT, through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, is teaming up with Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center in China to find rice hybrids suitable for the conditions in Brunei, in particular non-irrigated farms, Borneo Bulletin reported. 
Boston Common Asset Management LLC bought a new position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 738 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $224,000.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Morton Capital Management LLC CA grew its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.1% in the third quarter. Morton Capital Management LLC CA now owns 3,126 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $831,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 1,974 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $598,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Stonehearth Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Stonehearth Capital Management LLC now owns 1,787 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $542,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the period. Ziegler Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC now owns 1,032 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $274,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. Finally, Dechtman Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Dechtman Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,389 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $370,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Trading Down 1.1 %

NYSEARCA IWF opened at $330.09 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $321.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $295.83. The company has a market cap of $84.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $228.25 and a 1 year high of $337.74.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC reduced its stake in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Free Report) by 5.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,988 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 377 shares during the quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $420,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in SO. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Southern by 0.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 99,572,665 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,444,343,000 after acquiring an additional 352,023 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its stake in Southern by 5.0% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 38,906,760 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,518,045,000 after acquiring an additional 1,838,857 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Southern by 2.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,816,104 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,387,945,000 after acquiring an additional 452,511 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of Southern by 4.2% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 16,070,918 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,128,982,000 after purchasing an additional 642,737 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of Southern by 8.0% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 11,910,166 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $836,689,000 after purchasing an additional 883,544 shares during the period. 62.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Southern

In related news, insider David P. Poroch sold 10,099 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.96, for a total value of $706,526.04. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 28,691 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,007,222.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Southern news, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 899 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $60,286.94. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,502 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,508,984.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider David P. Poroch sold 10,099 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.96, for a total transaction of $706,526.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 28,691 shares in the company, valued at $2,007,222.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 25,998 shares of company stock valued at $1,806,063. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on SO. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $80.00 price target on shares of Southern in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of Southern from $75.00 to $72.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of Southern from $76.00 to $73.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Southern from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Southern from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.46.

Read Our Latest Report on Southern

Southern Stock Performance

NYSE SO opened at $69.09 on Friday. The Southern Company has a twelve month low of $61.56 and a twelve month high of $75.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market cap of $75.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.03, a PEG ratio of 4.37 and a beta of 0.49. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $68.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.70.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The utilities provider reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.05. Southern had a net margin of 15.79% and a return on equity of 11.40%. The firm had revenue of $6.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.26 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 4.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.05%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. Southerns payout ratio is 77.13%.

About Southern

(Free Report)

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.

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Northside Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW  Free Report) by 4.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 90,229 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,486 shares during the quarter. Snowflake accounts for approximately 5.6% of Northside Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Northside Capital Management LLCs holdings in Snowflake were worth $17,956,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Kingfisher Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Snowflake by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC now owns 14,745 shares of the companys stock worth $2,253,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Snowflake by 8.1% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 859 shares of the companys stock worth $131,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. raised its position in shares of Snowflake by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 6,444 shares of the companys stock worth $985,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors raised its holdings in Snowflake by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors now owns 1,540 shares of the companys stock valued at $271,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its holdings in Snowflake by 54.1% in the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 205 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.74% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Snowflake

In other news, CEO Frank Slootman sold 250,000 shares of Snowflake stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.39, for a total transaction of $49,597,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 180,143 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,738,569.77. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Frank Slootman sold 250,000 shares of Snowflake stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $198.39, for a total transaction of $49,597,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 180,143 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,738,569.77. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Grzegorz Czajkowski sold 683 shares of Snowflake stock in a transaction on Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.42, for a total transaction of $110,249.86. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 86,208 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,915,695.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 390,440 shares of company stock valued at $80,383,938 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 8.30% of the companys stock.

Snowflake Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of SNOW stock opened at $156.97 on Friday. Snowflake Inc. has a 52 week low of $131.62 and a 52 week high of $237.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $51.69 billion, a PE ratio of -61.56 and a beta of 0.94. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $201.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $179.42.

Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The company reported ($0.44) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.49) by $0.05. Snowflake had a negative net margin of 29.79% and a negative return on equity of 13.80%. The company had revenue of $774.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $759.86 million. Analysts expect that Snowflake Inc. will post -1.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on SNOW. HSBC reiterated a reduce rating on shares of Snowflake in a report on Thursday, February 29th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Snowflake from $185.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $175.00 price objective (down previously from $230.00) on shares of Snowflake in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $230.00 price objective on shares of Snowflake in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on shares of Snowflake from $265.00 to $240.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $204.85.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Snowflake

Snowflake Company Profile

(Free Report)

Snowflake Inc provides a cloud-based data platform for various organizations in the United States and internationally. Its platform offers Data Cloud, which enables customers to consolidate data into a single source of truth to drive meaningful business insights, build data-driven applications, and share data and data products.

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Bath Savings Trust Co lessened its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 2.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 41,615 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 852 shares during the quarter. Bath Savings Trust Cos holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,198,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 89,592.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after buying an additional 160,963,976 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,150,472,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 95,772,746 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,161,261,000 after buying an additional 9,393,992 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 79,499,361 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,073,547,000 after buying an additional 7,419,929 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the 1st quarter worth approximately $311,238,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.05% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PFE has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen lowered shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Guggenheim initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. They set a buy rating and a $36.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $36.88.

Pfizer Price Performance

NYSE PFE opened at $27.94 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Pfizer Inc. has a 12-month low of $25.61 and a 12-month high of $42.22. The company has a market capitalization of $157.77 billion, a PE ratio of 77.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.61. The firms 50 day moving average is $27.65 and its 200-day moving average is $29.88.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by $0.29. Pfizer had a net margin of 3.62% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The company had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.37 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.14 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 41.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Company Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Bath Savings Trust Co grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 1.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,630 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the quarter. Bath Savings Trust Cos holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,376,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the third quarter valued at about $36,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 950.0% during the second quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 420 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 380 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PM opened at $94.27 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $146.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.78, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.61. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12 month low of $87.23 and a 12 month high of $101.92. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $91.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $92.60.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.39 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.52%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 103.59%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on PM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Societe Generale upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. UBS Group downgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and cut their price target for the stock from $105.00 to $86.50 in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Argus reiterated a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $105.40.

View Our Latest Research Report on PM

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total transaction of $181,380.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 9,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Philip Morris International news, insider Werner Barth sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.46, for a total value of $457,300.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 102,918 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,412,880.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total value of $181,380.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 9,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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VinaCapital Vietnam Opp Fund (LON:VOF  Get Free Report) passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 452.11 ($5.79) and traded as low as GBX 452 ($5.79). VinaCapital Vietnam Opp Fund shares last traded at GBX 466.50 ($5.98), with a volume of 318,796 shares changing hands.

VinaCapital Vietnam Opp Fund Trading Up 2.4 %

The stock has a market cap of 724.10 million, a P/E ratio of -268.10 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a current ratio of 41.15, a quick ratio of 55.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 452.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 451.04.

About VinaCapital Vietnam Opp Fund

(Get Free Report)

VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Limited specializes in private equity investments. The fund seeks to invest 80 percent of its portfolio in private equity and 20 percent in equitization projects will be re-allocated to listed shares. The fund also makes private investments. It invests in stocks of companies operating across the diversified sectors.

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The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:GLU  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 5,400 shares, a drop of 21.7% from the February 14th total of 6,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Institutional Trading of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. GABELLI & Co INVESTMENT ADVISERS INC. purchased a new position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $6,923,000. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors purchased a new position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $167,000. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 27.5% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 27,333 shares of the companys stock worth $441,000 after purchasing an additional 5,897 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 37,356 shares of the companys stock worth $531,000 after purchasing an additional 4,600 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG raised its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 46.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 13,326 shares of the companys stock worth $195,000 after purchasing an additional 4,249 shares during the period.

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The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust Price Performance

NYSEAMERICAN:GLU traded up $0.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $13.46. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,642. The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust has a twelve month low of $11.61 and a twelve month high of $15.40.

The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust Company Profile

The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc It is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It primarily invests in stocks of companies involved to a substantial extent in providing products, services, or equipment for the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, or water and infrastructure operations, and in equity securities including preferred securities of companies in other industries, in each case in such securities that are expected to pay periodic dividends.

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Howard Financial Services LTD. raised its position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL  Free Report) by 10.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 370,835 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 34,948 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF comprises 10.5% of Howard Financial Services LTD.s portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. Howard Financial Services LTD. owned about 0.16% of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF worth $54,565,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. WBH Advisory Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 10.1% during the 4th quarter. WBH Advisory Inc. now owns 44,423 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,536,000 after acquiring an additional 4,080 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 115.5% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 63,104 shares of the companys stock worth $9,285,000 after buying an additional 33,824 shares during the last quarter. EWG Elevate Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 39.2% during the 4th quarter. EWG Elevate Inc. now owns 72,348 shares of the companys stock worth $10,645,000 after buying an additional 20,383 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth $101,000. Finally, Fragasso Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Fragasso Group Inc. now owns 315,705 shares of the companys stock worth $46,453,000 after buying an additional 9,383 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Trading Down 0.9 %

QUAL traded down $1.53 on Friday, reaching $161.48. The stock had a trading volume of 3,647,216 shares. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a fifty-two week low of $71.96 and a fifty-two week high of $88.63. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $155.56 and a 200-day moving average of $144.36. The company has a market capitalization of $36.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.30 and a beta of 1.03.

About iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector.

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Howard Financial Services LTD. lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 21.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,607 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 630 shares during the period. Howard Financial Services LTD.s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $565,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of JNJ. DORCHESTER WEALTH MANAGEMENT Co increased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 8.6% during the 1st quarter. DORCHESTER WEALTH MANAGEMENT Co now owns 67,618 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,975,000 after purchasing an additional 5,327 shares during the period. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P boosted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 88.9% during the 1st quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 175,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,049,000 after purchasing an additional 82,429 shares during the last quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 18,305 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,244,000 after purchasing an additional 1,475 shares during the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 45,673 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,095,000 after buying an additional 2,119 shares during the period. Finally, USS Investment Management Ltd raised its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd now owns 860,371 shares of the companys stock worth $152,488,000 after purchasing an additional 20,528 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.40% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on JNJ shares. Raymond James raised their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $172.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $215.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. UBS Group raised Johnson & Johnson from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $167.00 to $180.00 in a report on Friday, December 1st. StockNews.com raised Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $170.00 to $169.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Johnson & Johnson has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $177.31.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total value of $9,281,969.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 141,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total value of $9,281,969.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares in the company, valued at $22,099,078.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder & Johnson Johnson sold 3,725 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total transaction of $96,142.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,099,575 shares in the company, valued at $105,810,030.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of JNJ traded down $1.03 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $158.18. The stock had a trading volume of 13,165,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,197,996. Johnson & Johnson has a 1-year low of $144.95 and a 1-year high of $175.97. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $159.58 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $156.95. The company has a market cap of $381.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.45, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $2.29 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.01. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 37.79% and a return on equity of 37.27%. The firm had revenue of $21.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.02 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.35 EPS. Johnson & Johnsons revenue for the quarter was down 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a $1.19 dividend. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is 34.47%.

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile

(Free Report)

Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use.

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Polianta Ltd acquired a new stake in Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 7,600 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $968,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Jabil during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $63,000. D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its position in shares of Jabil by 15.3% during the 3rd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 29,305 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,719,000 after buying an additional 3,887 shares during the period. Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Jabil by 21.4% during the third quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 90,828 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $11,525,000 after purchasing an additional 16,038 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc increased its stake in Jabil by 35.4% in the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 407,858 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $51,753,000 after purchasing an additional 106,673 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System increased its stake in Jabil by 16.3% in the third quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 187,875 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $23,839,000 after purchasing an additional 26,342 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.88% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Jabil

In related news, CEO Steven D. Borges sold 14,175 shares of Jabil stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $1,842,750.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 103,086 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,401,180. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, Director David M. Stout sold 31,300 shares of Jabil stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.12, for a total transaction of $3,853,656.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 67,300 shares in the company, valued at $8,285,976. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Steven D. Borges sold 14,175 shares of Jabil stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $1,842,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 103,086 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,401,180. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 55,658 shares of company stock valued at $7,011,771 in the last 90 days. 2.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Jabil Stock Down 16.5 %

Shares of JBL traded down $24.31 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $123.15. The stock had a trading volume of 8,496,708 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,388,745. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $135.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $127.53. Jabil Inc. has a twelve month low of $74.16 and a twelve month high of $156.94. The firm has a market cap of $15.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

Jabil (NYSE:JBL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 14th. The technology company reported $2.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.58 by $0.02. Jabil had a return on equity of 41.09% and a net margin of 2.36%. The firm had revenue of $8.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.35 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.61 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Jabil Inc. will post 8.22 EPS for the current year.

Jabil Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th were paid a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 14th. Jabils dividend payout ratio is 5.46%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

JBL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Jabil from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Jabil from $153.00 to $151.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Jabil from $141.00 to $161.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Jabil from $150.00 to $146.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $144.75.

Read Our Latest Research Report on JBL

Jabil Profile

(Free Report)

Jabil Inc provides manufacturing services and solutions worldwide. It operates in two segments, Electronics Manufacturing Services and Diversified Manufacturing Services. The company offers electronics design, production, and product management services; electronic circuit design services, such as application-specific integrated circuit design, firmware development, and rapid prototyping services; and designs plastic and metal enclosures that include the electro-mechanics, such as the printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA).

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TOKYO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite opposition and concern from at home and abroad, Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has finished its initial year of discharging nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean, according to the plant's operator.

The plant completed the fourth and final round of discharge for the current fiscal year ending in March, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said on Sunday.

As per the initial plan, approximately 31,200 tons of wastewater, containing radioactive tritium, was released into the ocean since the discharge started in August 2023, with each round of discharge carried out for about two weeks.

Earlier this week, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi emphasized continued efforts in monitoring Japan's ocean discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled plant, following his first visit to Fukushima prefecture since the discharge started.

Stressing that the discharge marks merely the initial phase of a long process, Grossi said that "much effort will be required in the lengthy process ahead," and reiterated the organization's stance on maintaining vigilance throughout the process.

While the Japanese government and TEPCO have asserted the safety and necessity of the discharge, concerns have been raised by neighboring countries and local stakeholders regarding environmental impacts.

"All fishermen are against ocean dumping. The contaminated water has flowed into what we fishermen call 'the sea of treasure', and the process will last for at least 30 years," said Haruo Ono, a fisherman in the town of Shinchi in Fukushima.

"There is no good reason to dump radioactive materials into the ocean. There is no reason to just dilute them and flush them away," said the man in his 70s.

"Is it really necessary, in the first place, to dump what has been stored in tanks into the sea? How can we say it's 'safe' when the discharged water clearly consists of harmful radioactive substances? I think the government and TEPCO must provide a solid answer," said Chiyo Oda, a resident of Fukushima's Iwaki city.

Concerns were fueled among the Japanese public over the recent leakage of contaminated water from pipes at the Fukushima plant. 
Polianta Ltd purchased a new stake in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 11,200 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $890,000.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kentucky Retirement Systems increased its stake in CF Industries by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 15,598 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,501,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the period. Arkadios Wealth Advisors grew its stake in CF Industries by 2.5% during the third quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 5,148 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $441,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Donoghue Forlines LLC grew its stake in CF Industries by 1.9% during the third quarter. Donoghue Forlines LLC now owns 6,835 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $586,000 after buying an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in CF Industries by 36.5% during the third quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 516 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eaton Vance Management lifted its stake in CF Industries by 3.4% during the first quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 4,727 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $487,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. 90.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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CF Industries Stock Down 0.5 %

NYSE CF traded down $0.45 on Friday, hitting $83.42. 16,560,665 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,497,957. The company has a market cap of $15.66 billion, a PE ratio of 10.64, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.03. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $60.08 and a 12 month high of $87.90. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $78.70 and a 200-day moving average of $79.74. The company has a current ratio of 3.81, a quick ratio of 3.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

CF Industries Increases Dividend

CF Industries ( NYSE:CF Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The basic materials company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $1.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.51 billion. CF Industries had a return on equity of 18.44% and a net margin of 23.00%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 39.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.35 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 5.8 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 14th. This is a positive change from CF Industriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. CF Industriess payout ratio is 25.51%.

Insider Buying and Selling at CF Industries

In other CF Industries news, EVP Bert A. Frost sold 6,000 shares of CF Industries stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.00, for a total transaction of $510,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 64,030 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,442,550. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CF has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $95.00 target price on shares of CF Industries in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Piper Sandler downgraded CF Industries from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $87.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. UBS Group cut shares of CF Industries from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $95.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Barclays raised shares of CF Industries from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $85.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on CF Industries from $98.00 to $97.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, CF Industries has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $90.19.

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About CF Industries

(Free Report)

CF Industries Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement, and other industrial activities in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through Ammonia, Granular Urea, UAN, AN, and Other segments.

Further Reading

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Daymark Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 220,999 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 2,772 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil comprises 1.0% of Daymark Wealth Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Daymark Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $22,096,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC increased its stake in Exxon Mobil by 17.4% in the 1st quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 7,909 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $680,000 after purchasing an additional 1,173 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Income Solutions Inc purchased a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $275,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its stake in Exxon Mobil by 318.8% in the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 17,163 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,417,000 after purchasing an additional 13,065 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC increased its stake in Exxon Mobil by 95.6% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 15,843 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,308,000 after purchasing an additional 7,744 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bridgefront Capital LLC purchased a new position in Exxon Mobil during the first quarter worth $237,000. 58.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Exxon Mobil Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE XOM opened at $111.27 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 1 year low of $95.77 and a 1 year high of $120.70. The firm has a market cap of $441.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a PEG ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $103.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $105.94.

Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement

Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 18.51% and a net margin of 10.45%. The business had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.03 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.40 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.42%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 13th. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is 42.74%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on XOM shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 price target on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Monday, February 5th. TD Cowen upgraded Exxon Mobil from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $115.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 8th. Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Exxon Mobil from $133.00 to $132.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.53.

Read Our Latest Research Report on XOM

Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil

In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total value of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 30,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,169,845. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,652,596.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total value of $252,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 30,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,169,845. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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Perkins Coie Trust Co lowered its holdings in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 5.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,732 shares of the companys stock after selling 264 shares during the period. Perkins Coie Trust Cos holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $742,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Hamlin Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Hamlin Capital Management LLC now owns 795,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $124,725,000 after purchasing an additional 55,259 shares in the last quarter. Southland Equity Partners LLC grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Southland Equity Partners LLC now owns 7,752 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,215,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares in the last quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. now owns 117,943 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,486,000 after purchasing an additional 1,758 shares in the last quarter. Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. now owns 23,699 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,715,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Signature Wealth Management Group acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the 4th quarter valued at $666,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.40% of the companys stock.

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Johnson & Johnson Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE JNJ opened at $158.18 on Friday. Johnson & Johnson has a one year low of $144.95 and a one year high of $175.97. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $159.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $156.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $381.02 billion, a PE ratio of 11.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $2.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $21.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.02 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 37.79% and a return on equity of 37.27%. Johnson & Johnsons revenue was down 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.35 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.65 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were paid a dividend of $1.19 per share. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is 34.47%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total transaction of $9,281,969.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total transaction of $9,281,969.19. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder & Johnson Johnson sold 3,725 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total transaction of $96,142.25. Following the sale, the insider now owns 4,099,575 shares in the company, valued at $105,810,030.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on JNJ. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $181.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $170.00 to $169.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $170.00 to $163.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $167.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $177.31.

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Johnson & Johnson Profile

(Free Report)

Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use.

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Enterprise Bank & Trust Co increased its stake in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW  Free Report) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 681 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. Enterprise Bank & Trust Cos holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $564,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. CI Investments Inc. grew its stake in W.W. Grainger by 2.9% in the third quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 489 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $338,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. grew its stake in W.W. Grainger by 3.0% in the second quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 518 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $408,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in W.W. Grainger by 1.6% in the third quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 927 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $641,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC grew its stake in W.W. Grainger by 6.0% in the third quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC now owns 301 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $208,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mcdonald Partners LLC grew its stake in W.W. Grainger by 0.8% in the third quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC now owns 2,027 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,402,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.24% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

GWW has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on W.W. Grainger from $800.00 to $925.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com upgraded W.W. Grainger from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Oppenheimer upped their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,075.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on W.W. Grainger from $809.00 to $907.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded W.W. Grainger from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $825.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, W.W. Grainger presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $886.11.

Insider Buying and Selling at W.W. Grainger

In other news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total value of $3,694,339.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 4,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,756,231.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,122 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $950.22, for a total transaction of $2,966,586.84. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 4,909 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,664,629.98. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total value of $3,694,339.44. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 4,909 shares in the company, valued at $4,756,231.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 9.90% of the companys stock.

W.W. Grainger Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE GWW traded up $2.68 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $994.37. 277,974 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 246,682. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 1-year low of $625.97 and a 1-year high of $1,016.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 2.88 and a quick ratio of 1.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.46, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.14. The companys 50-day moving average price is $925.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $814.50.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $8.33 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.05 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $4 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.04 billion. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 56.54% and a net margin of 11.10%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $7.14 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 39.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 12th were issued a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 9th. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.55%.

W.W. Grainger Company Profile

(Free Report)

W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools.

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Allied Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,433 shares of the investment management companys stock after acquiring an additional 540 shares during the period. The Goldman Sachs Group comprises approximately 2.4% of Allied Investment Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Allied Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $8,654,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GS. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $66,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. lifted its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1,505.1% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 41,300 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $13,633,000 after purchasing an additional 38,727 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.5% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 118,609 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $39,153,000 after purchasing an additional 18,540 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 79.4% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 827 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $273,000 after buying an additional 366 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 118.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 310 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $102,000 after buying an additional 168 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.06% of the companys stock.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GS traded down $1.40 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $387.21. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,763,948 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,348,329. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $289.36 and a fifty-two week high of $397.49. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $385.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $353.25. The company has a market cap of $126.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.42.

The Goldman Sachs Group Announces Dividend

The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.62 by $1.86. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 8.03%. The business had revenue of $11.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.32 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a dividend of $2.75 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 48.20%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $491.00 to $506.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Edward Jones initiated coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $333.00 to $449.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. UBS Group raised their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $382.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $440.00 price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $410.22.

View Our Latest Research Report on GS

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total transaction of $5,001,372.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 29,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,602,947.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total value of $5,001,372.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 29,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,602,947.31. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 11,650 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.64, for a total transaction of $4,550,956.00. Following the completion of the sale, the treasurer now directly owns 18,408 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,190,901.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 38,907 shares of company stock valued at $15,080,021. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About The Goldman Sachs Group

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

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Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:GNENF  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 5,377,700 shares, a decrease of 7.7% from the February 14th total of 5,827,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 24,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 218.6 days.

Ganfeng Lithium Group Price Performance

GNENF stock traded down $0.06 during trading on Friday, reaching $3.44. 5,879 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 15,186. The company has a 50-day moving average of $3.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.59. Ganfeng Lithium Group has a twelve month low of $2.41 and a twelve month high of $7.55.

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About Ganfeng Lithium Group

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Featured Stories

Ganfeng Lithium Group Co, Ltd. manufactures and sells lithium products in Mainland China, rest of Asia, the European Union, North America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Lithium Metal and Compound, Lithium Battery, and Lithium Ore Resource and Others. The company has interests in the Mount Marion mine located in Australia; Cauchari-Olaroz project situated in Jujuy Province, Northwest Argentina; Mariana project located in Salta Province, Argentina; Sonora project situated in Mexico; Pilbara Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in Western Australia; Ningdu Heyuan mine situated in Ningdu County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province; Avalonia project located in Ireland; Qinghai Yiliping lithium salt lake project situated in the Qinghai Province; Goulamina spodumene ore project located in southern Mali, Africa; PPG lithium salt-lake project located in Salta Province, Argentina; and Songshugang tantalum-niobium mine project located in Jiangxi Province.

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Orbia Advance (OTCMKTS:MXCHY  Get Free Report) and Barratt Developments (OTCMKTS:BTDPY  Get Free Report) are both mid-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and profitability.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

0.1% of Barratt Developments shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Volatility & Risk

Orbia Advance has a beta of 0.22, meaning that its share price is 78% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Barratt Developments has a beta of 1.68, meaning that its share price is 68% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Orbia Advance 0 0 0 0 N/A Barratt Developments 0 2 0 0 2.00

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Orbia Advance and Barratt Developments, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Profitability

This table compares Orbia Advance and Barratt Developments net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Orbia Advance 1.18% 5.73% 1.59% Barratt Developments N/A N/A N/A

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Orbia Advance and Barratt Developments top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Orbia Advance $9.65 billion 0.46 $567.00 million N/A N/A Barratt Developments $6.66 billion 0.88 $638.80 million N/A N/A

Barratt Developments has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Orbia Advance.

Dividends

Orbia Advance pays an annual dividend of $0.19 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.5%. Barratt Developments pays an annual dividend of $1.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.7%.

Summary

Barratt Developments beats Orbia Advance on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Orbia Advance

(Get Free Report)

Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. provides products and solutions for precision agriculture, building and infrastructure, fluorinated, polymer, and connectivity sectors worldwide. The company offers irrigation systems, agricultural and greenhouse projects, digital farming technologies, and related services; and connectivity solutions, including conduits, cable-in conduit, and other HDPE products and solutions. It also provides water delivering solutions for drinking water supply, sanitation, and urban water resilience; fluorine and downstream products, comprising fluorspar mine and produces intermediates, refrigerants, and propellants for used in automotive, infrastructure, semiconductor, health, medicine, climate control, food cold chain, energy storage, computing, and telecommunications applications; and general and specialty resins, PVC, and compounds and additives for stabilizers and plasticizers, as well as compounds formulated from polyolefin, thermoplastic polyurethane, and thermoplastic elastomer polymers for various applications. The company was formerly known as Mexichem, S.A.B. de C.V. and changed its name to Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. in August 2019. Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V. was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

About Barratt Developments

(Get Free Report)

Barratt Developments plc engages in the housebuilding business in the United Kingdom. The company acquires and develops land; plans, designs, and constructs homes, apartments, penthouses, and communities, as well as undertakes mixed-use regeneration schemes; and develops retail, leisure, office, industrial, and mixed-use properties. It is also involved in the commercial development business under the Wilson Bowden Developments brand name. The company offers its homes under the Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, and Barratt London brands. The company was incorporated in 1958 and is headquartered in Coalville, the United Kingdom.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:IQI  Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 35,900 shares, a drop of 21.4% from the February 14th total of 45,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 179,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust by 16.0% in the 2nd quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 1,073,175 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $10,260,000 after purchasing an additional 148,135 shares during the period. Robinson Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust by 76.3% in the 3rd quarter. Robinson Capital Management LLC now owns 189,018 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,584,000 after acquiring an additional 81,813 shares in the last quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at $157,000. AQR Arbitrage LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust by 80.3% in the 3rd quarter. AQR Arbitrage LLC now owns 369,017 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,096,000 after acquiring an additional 164,304 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its stake in Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust by 10.3% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 75,869 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $637,000 after purchasing an additional 7,100 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of IQI traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $9.64. The company had a trading volume of 58,440 shares, compared to its average volume of 156,962. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $9.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.11. Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust has a 1-year low of $8.05 and a 1-year high of $10.00.

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust Announces Dividend

About Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.0403 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.02%.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd.

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CAIRO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The remarkable development in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has significantly improved the living standards of the local residents, said an expert who visited the region in 2023.

"I was impressed by the economic development that has been taking place across China with no exception and no discrimination," Warda al-Husseni, managing editor of Egypt's state-run Akhbar El-Yom newspaper, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

As a member of a journalist delegation, al-Husseni visited several Chinese regions and provinces, including Xinjiang.

"Chinese development plans are inclusive, covering all areas across the country and leaving no city or region behind," al-Husseni said, expressing her admiration for the Chinese government's efforts to build a better and more prosperous future for its citizens.

"Living conditions in Xinjiang are steadily improving, and the local government and people are striving to achieve balanced development in many fields and create a prosperous life with concerted efforts," she said.

Noting that the Chinese government paid much attention to delivering the benefits of development to the local residents, she said that the people in Xinjiang, both the elderly and the young, were enjoying their lives.

"Every inch of the region reflects its history, including the Shaanxi Grand Mosque built in the Qing Dynasty in the capital city Urumqi, which we visited and is frequented by the citizens," she said.

Al-Husseni highlighted China's success in integrating different ethnic groups into one society while preserving their unique cultures. "China considers this diversity of people as a source of strength," she said.

She believed that Xinjiang's progress would significantly bolster cooperation under the Belt and Road given its geographic location and rich history in Silk Road trade.

Al-Husseni expressed hope that Egypt would benefit from bilateral cooperation with China. 
The 300 strong all-performing Marching Mizzou Band from Missouri arrived in Tipperary Town on Saturday to a rapturous welcome from the thousands who had come to watch the Band and the town's St Patrick's Day Parade.

The rain was certainly no deterrent for either the participants or the crowd, who revelled in every moment of the performance from the Marching Mizzou.

Dr. Amy A Knopps, the Director of Marching Mizzou said that they were thrilled to be in Tipperary Town to help celebrate St Patrick's Day.

"At the University of Missouri our fight song is called 'Every True Son' and is to the tune of 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'.

"We have come a long way to share our MIZZ with IRE and I would like to wish you all a very happy St Patrick's Day," concluded Dr Knopps.

The Marching Mizzou wasn't the only Band performing as the Parade was led by the town's C.J. Kickham Band. Both bands performed 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary' on the town's Main Street before the event concluded.

The Parade was full of flags and colour as the sporting clubs from the area turned out in great numbers as did a number of other organisations.

One of the guests of honour on the reviewing stand was autism campaigner, Cara Darmody along with the Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District, Cllr Declan Burgess.

PICTURES: by Martin Quinn
Like it or not, tough talk from Jeff City offers a truism that also threatens to impact Kansas City.



Here's the money line . . .



"I don't think there's no secret here to St. Louis," Parson said in an interview. "One of the problems they have is you've got to figure out how to deal with the crime situation. That's got to be a priority because if there's anything negative about St. Louis that I see from this position, that's the No. 1 thing that's going to come to the forefront and people are going to talk about."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Last year at this date the record breaking KCMO homicide count had already numbered 34.

There is a bit of progress as the warmer weather begins but the current number is basically the same as last year and might only reflect the impact of a historic arctic cold streak from January.



Here is the first report we're sharing on www.TonysKansasCity.com:



Homicide 94th and Cable



This morning around 1:26 A.M. officers were dispatched to the area of 94th terrace and Cable Road on the report of a dead body.



Upon arrival officers located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gun shot wound. EMS was summoned and pronounced the victim deceased.



Detectives are canvassing for witnesses and crime scene investigators are processing the scene for evidence to try to give detectives more information about what led up to the incident.



If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

#############

Developing . . .


The cowtown struggle to attach a monetary value to the eternal struggle for social justice will soon take the global stage.

Here's a sneak preview is a story that was mostly downplayed and politely ignored this week:



Kansas City African Americans provided their perspective on what the state of the community is ahead of Howard Law Professor Justin Hansford presentation to the United Nations Permanent Forum on people of African descent.

The report will be given in late April to the UN and the Mayors Commission on Reparations wants to use those findings here at the local level.



The concept of reparations, the key part of that term is repair, so youre trying to repair the city, Hansford said. True reparations involve investing in institutions that can bridge those gaps. Most people think about it in terms of handing an individual person a check, I dont think thats the whole story, I think its a lot to do with fixing institutions that are broken.



The Mayors Commission on Reparations has five core initiatives they aim to address here in Kansas City; health, education, economics, criminal justice and housing.





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Black Kansas City stories to be presented to United Nations The Mayor's Commission on Reparations hosted Howard Law Professor Justin Hansford during his listening tour across 40 cities in the United States for the Black Audit Report.

Black Kansas Citians tell their stories as mayor's reparations commission forges ahead Community members were invited to tell their stories in sessions hosted by the Black Audit Project, a group that is assessing communities on their work for Black residents, on Thursday.

Developing . . .
Angel Candice is an Aussie and not Irish but the blue/green backdrop in this promo image inspires this Sunday's peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Check Kansas City Upstarts

The Independent's 2024 Class of Rising Stars Jason Banks, Vice President, National Procurement Director, JE Dunn Construction "Courageous excellence," is how Stephenie Smith of Sophic Solutions describes Jason Banks. She goes on to say that she "... appreciates his ability to both care for others and move the needle professionally."

Cash To Save Community Roots

National Park Service grant to provide $75K to Kansas City to recognize Black history A new grant from the National Park Service to Kansas City is set to help preserve and celebrate Black history.

Rolling Danger Described

The True Dangers of Long Trains Trains are getting longer. Railroads are getting richer. But these "monster trains" are jumping off of tracks across America and regulators are doing little to curb the risk.

Local Arts Poverty Persists

Julius Karash on Business and the Arts | Nurturing the arts in trying times - KC STUDIO The Arts Council of Johnson County helps artists and art businesses in ways that ripple through the economy.

Kangaroos Examine Alt. Parties

Exploring St. Patrick's Day Alternatives in Kansas City The annual St. Patrick's Day celebration is just around the corner, and with celebration comes large crowds. The annual city parade usually draws in almost 200,000 attendees, but due to the recent tragedy at the Chiefs Superbowl parade, those numbers might decline. If you are looking for a different way to celebrate the holiday, check...

Hip-Hop Irish Anthem Endures

House of Pain's Jump Around is a St. Patrick's Day anthem Filmed at the 1992 St Patrick's Day Parade in New York, House of Pain's "Jump Around" is still the most popular Irish American rap video ever.

Prez Fears Future

Behind the scenes, Biden has grown angry and anxious about re-election effort Biden locked up the Democratic nomination last week, but looking ahead to the general, anxiety has seemed to increase.

MAGA Words Also Disturb Conservatives

Trump says 'it's going to be a bloodbath' if he does not get elected - Washington Examiner Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump warned Saturday that "it's going to be a bloodbath" if he does not get elected in November.

2024 Spoiler Alert?!?

Trump predicts the end of U.S. democracy if he loses 2024 election Donald Trump said on Saturday if he does not win November's presidential election it will mean the likely end of American democracy.

Former Prez Plays Favorites

Trump says some migrants are 'not people', and warns of 'bloodbath' if he loses Former President Trump claimed he will protect Social Security and warned of a "bloodbath" in the auto industry if he loses the election at a rally for Senate candidate Bernie Moreno in Ohio.

Eastern Europe Ablaze

Ukraine drone attacks spark fire at Krasnodar refinery, Russia says Ukraine launched several drones at the Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, sparking a brief fire at the site and resulting in one person dying of a heart attack, local officials said on Sunday.

Imagine Holy Land Equity?!?

How should Israel bring to justice the perpetrators behind the worst attack in its history? Israel is holding hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza who allegedly took part in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked its war with Hamas.

Icy Hot Redux

Iceland evacuations as volcano spews lava again It is the fourth eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula since December - and Grindavik is evacuated again.

Wild Rover For Realz

Titti Von Tramp: Why a drag queen jumped on police Land Rover How a picture of a drag queen on a police Land Rover came to represent Northern Ireland's gay community.

El Papa Tells His Story

Girls, Rivalries, Football In Pope Francis's First Memoir From being "dazzled" by a beautiful girl to his role in Argentina's dictatorship, Pope Francis reviews his long life in his first autobiography -- and makes clear he is going nowhere.

Smart Funny Man Might Be More Interesting Than Cowtown Fart Jokes . . . Probably Not

Nobel Peace Prize-nominated comedian set to roar into Kansas City A Nobel Peace Prize-nominated comedian is set to roar into Kansas City in April with a bag full of laughs.

Grigs Shares Irish Forecast

Colder air moving in for Sunday and Monday Temps will bounce upward by midweek

Crossing Sunday & Irish themes Hozier - Take Me To Church is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Just a glimpse at the newspaper writing stump speeches that aren't really analysis or insight but merely serve to convince us of the propaganda distributed by some of the better MSNBC programing.

Check-it:

"Though I believe Trump, like anyone else, should be held to account for his illegal acts, our criminal justice system does not and never has treated everyone the same way. Donald Trump has gotten special consideration all along, especially from Bidens timid attorney general Merrick Garland, who hoped to avoid the messiness of prosecuting a former president.



"But dont we all know that it would be better for our already fragile democracy if we voted to keep this world-class grifter out of office rather than relying on our judicial system to do that?



"Of course, if we do decide to reelect Joe Biden instead, Trump will still say he won, and his ensorceled followers will still believe him."





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

The lesson of Fani Willis: Don't hand Team Trump any sticks with which to beat you | Opinion This decision is a relief, but we can't count on the courts to save our democracy. From Melinda Henneberger:
GOMA, DRC, March 16 (Xinhua) -- At least eight peacekeepers of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO, were injured in an attack on Saturday in the eastern part of the country.

This attack occurred in Sake, a town located about 20 km from Goma, capital of the eastern province of North Kivu, MONUSCO said in a press release published late Saturday.

Bintou Keita, head of MONUSCO, condemned the attack in the strongest terms, saying one of the victims was seriously injured.

For weeks, the Blue Helmets have been deployed as part of Operation Springbok in North Kivu, where MONUSCO and the DRC armed forces (FARDC) are carrying out joint actions to counter armed groups, in particular the rebellion of the March 23 Movement (M23).

While calling for an immediate cessation of violence of all armed groups against civilians, Keita reaffirmed MONUSCO's commitment to strengthening joint and unilateral patrols alongside the FARDC to protect civilian populations.

"I particularly call on the M23 armed group to lay down their arms," she added.

The town of Sake, considered the last barrier for the city of Goma, has been plagued by repeated fightings between the FARDC and M23 rebels for months. 
Udaku Special

AJIRA ZA UHAKIKA NJE NJE, BONYEZA HAPA





Popular Kenyan TikToker Brian Chira has reportedly passed away after being involved in a road accident in Kiambu County.

According to Police who spoke to The Star Chira died as a result of an accident he was involved in, in the Karuri area.

It's reported that his body was collected from the scene on Saturday and taken to the City Mortuary at around 3 am.

Police said he was hit by a speeding car but they do not have more details on the same.

According to The Star, Brian Chira's body is lying at the City Mortuary with injuries on the forehead.

Police also said the deceased had been to a bar in the Gacharage area and later caused a commotion. He was then forced out.

He later took a motorcycle to his home and alighted before he tried to cross on foot.

A speeding lorry hit him and sped off. It did not stop, witnesses and police said. The matter is under investigation.

The news of his death spread on social media with many mourning him. While others took it as a clout-chasing stunt by the popular Tiktoker because of the actions he took in the past.

Rose to Fame in 2022

Brian Chira shot to fame in 2022 after a video titled Witness went viral on social media platforms.

The video showcased his eloquent English accent and engaging personality, capturing the attention of numerous viewers.

This sudden burst of attention encouraged Brian to focus on building his digital presence and connecting with a broader audience.
A record number of men with disabilities has been recorded in Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is almost certainly related to the war.

The UK Defense Ministry said this in an intelligence update published on X, Ukrinform reports.

According to an analysis by Verstka of Russian Pension and Social Insurance Fund data, there has been a record growth between 2022 and 2023 in the number of Russian men aged 31-59 years with disabilities, over the eight years of available data. In 2022, there were officially 1.67 million men with disabilities in Russia aged 31-59 years. This figure increased by 507,000 or 30% in 2023.

According to Russian demographers, this growth was most likely linked to the increase in the number of military invalids.

According to British intelligence, this is almost certainly the case. A significant majority of the more than 355,000 casualties that the Russian Armed Forces have suffered as a result of the conflict in Ukraine have been wounded personnel. The average daily number of Russian casualties grew from the start of the Russian offensive campaign in autumn 2023, reaching a peak of 983 per day in February, the highest rate since the start of the war.

"The record rise in men with disabilities aged 31-59 and wounded personnel will have a significant impact on the Russian medical and social services," British intelligence said.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian army's total combat losses in Ukraine from February 24, 2022 to March 16, 2024 amounted to about 429,580 troops, including 1,160 killed or wounded in action in the past 24 hours.
How the participants in a Russian youth forum from Africa became 'international experts'

The Russian state news agency TASS released a video about "international experts" from African countries (Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Namibia) who assessed the "transparency" of the pseudo-elections of the Russian president in the temporarily occupied Luhansk region.

These "experts" turned out to be participants in the World Youth Festival 2024, which Russia held in the village of Sirius in Russia's Krasnodar Krai. Officially, this forum ended on March 7, 2024, but then its participants were divided into groups of 20-30 people and transported to different regions of the Russian Federation and occupied parts of Ukraine. Excursions and round table discussions were held for them on the ground, and then some of them turned into "international observers" at the elections. In particular, this happened to representatives of Cameroon, Congo and Namibia - Nathalie Taka, Cornelia Muisi and Maurice Monusep. In the occupied Luhansk region, they became international election "experts."

We see Namibian Maurice Monusep as part of the World Youth Forum 2024 delegation during a tour of a museum in occupied Alchevsk. He is wearing a white hat and a white vest. In the second photo at the meeting of the so-called "Central Election Commission" in Luhansk, his "colleague" Natalia Taka from Cameroon is sitting next to him in the same vest. Already in the TASS video, he is simply standing in a black suit without a cap and vest.

As for the "expert" from Congo, Cornelia Muisi, she is photographed in the same gray sweater with an orange print at the "maslenitsa festival" with a student from Luhansk and makes comments to TASS as an "international expert."

Before the video was recorded, African "international experts" did not even have the badges of the World Youth Forum 2024 participants removed. And the Cameroonian "observer" was wearing a sweater with a patch of the Russian flag, like other participants of the youth forum who came to the occupied Luhansk region.

According to Ela Pamfilova, head of the Russian Central Election Commission, 706 international observers from 106 countries were accredited for the so-called Russian presidential elections. They will supposedly "monitor" the election process in 55 subjects of the Russian Federation and the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

According to Russian media outlets, about 2,000 participants in the Worth Youth Forum 2024 traveled to different parts of Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. It is unclear how many of them became "international observers" at the elections. However, it is now clear how the Russian Federation was able to gather "experts" from as many as 106 countries to simulate a democratic election process.

More than 55 UN member states have signed a statement condemning the Russian presidential "elections" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the White House would not recognize the results of sham Russian elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

There are no observers from the OSCE, PACE and the European Parliament at the pseudo-elections in Russia. Also, none of the parliaments of the EU countries and U.S. Congress sent their representatives to Russia.

Only those who have received an invitation from the Kremlin can receive accreditation.

By the way, the president of Cameroon has been in power for more than 40 years.

Andriy Olenin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Denmark for its solidarity with Ukraine.

In a post on Facebook, Zelensky wrote that Europe possesses the strength to prevent chaos and each of Ukraine's security agreements with its partners demonstrates this.

"I appreciate Denmark's solidarity with Ukraine. The security agreement between our countries opens up new security opportunities. Increasing pressure on Russia, defense cooperation with Denmark, and support for Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO are all things that strengthen us," Zelensky said.

On February 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen signed an agreement on security cooperation.

On March 12, the Danish government announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth about DKK 2.3 billion ($337 million).
The Foreign Minister of Latvia, Krisjanis Karins, believes that even after Vladimir Putin comes off the political scene, Russias imperial claims, which are now being manifested in Ukraine, will still threaten European nations.

The top diplomat spoke in an interview with The Telegraph.

From NATOs point of view, we will have to deal with a problematic Russia, a dangerous Russia for a long time to come, the minister warned. Even after the end of this war - and all wars end eventually - we will still have a problem in Russia which will not be related directly to the rule of Putin.

In his view, the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in an Arctic penal colony last month and the fictitious presidential election this weekend only underline this stark fact.

We see no indications that theres any movement within Russia which would produce a leader espousing enlightenment, liberal ideas. This is not in the foreseeable future at all, Karins said.

According to the minister, the constant threat from the East requires NATO a strong and transparent containment policy.

Karins, who has previously expressed interest in becoming the next NATO Secretary General, added that, if Moscow clearly see what we have, what were capable of, and how were willing to put it to use, Russias imperialistic ambitions would simply no longer have the opportunity to turn to the West.

There is no notion that the Baltics could be next, he said. But if Russia were to invade a Baltic country, Russia would be invading NATO.

The Alliance, he said, will protect NATO territory "from the first square centimeter". The minister believes the United States will remain engaged in NATO regardless of the election results this November.

Also, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Latvia rejected any voices calling Ukraine to sit at the negotiation table with Russia.

Russia has proven that it uses peace to rearm in order to attack, he says.

As reported earlier, Latvias Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins expressed his willingness to join the list of applicants for the post of NATO Secretary General as Jens Stoltenberg is set to step down later this year.
Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin is trying to intimidate Western audiences to restrain their governments but, in fact, he is afraid of the actual war with NATO Allies.

The prime minister spoke in an interview with BBC, Ukrinform reports.

According to the government chief, although Putin is well able to "sow fear", his threats should be taken seriously.

"He has been threatening with nuclear war for quite some time. But it has been only words. He has been very good at sow fear within our societies and listening, what we are afraid of," said Kallas.

"If we are afraid, then we start to self-deter. And that is what Putin wants," Kallas said.

"We also have to think what Putin is afraid of. And he is actually afraid of going to war with NATO countries. He doesn't want that. And we, of course, don't want it either," she added.

As reported, Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has refused to guarantee that the units of Estonias Defense Forces would not be deployed in Ukraine.
CAIRO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) agreed on Sunday to provide a financial package of approximately 7.4 billion euros (8.06 billion U.S. dollars) to bolster the Egyptian economy, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said.

Sisi made the remarks during a press conference jointly held with visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior officials from the bloc, during which he announced that Egypt and the EU signed a joint political declaration to "embark on a collaborative path" toward upgrading their bilateral relations to the "strategic and comprehensive partnership level."

The financial package will mainly focus on three aspects of the Egyptian economy, "namely concessional financing, investment guarantees, and technical support for the implementation of bilateral cooperation projects," he was quoted as saying in a Presidency statement.

Egypt and the EU also prepared to convene a joint investment conference in the second half of 2024 to welcome more European companies to engage in the Egyptian market, according to the statement.

"Our discussions placed special emphasis on energy as a key area for cooperation, with a particular focus on natural gas and electricity interconnection," Sisi noted, adding that it has been agreed upon to collaborate on green hydrogen production as a clean energy source.

Earlier in the day, Sisi and von der Leyen held a meeting on boosting Egyptian-European ties, on the sidelines of the Egyptian-European Summit that included leaders of Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Austria.

He also met with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the current EU rotating presidency. 
In Chisinau, a man threw two bottles containing an inflammable mixture into the courtyard of the Russian Embassy, which serves as a polling station on Russias presidential election day.

Thats according to Newsmaker, Ukrinform reports.

Before being detained, the man, the man who claimed to police he holds dual citizenship (Russia and Moldova) managed to throw two Molotov cocktails over the embassys fence.

During a police interview, the man said he expressed discontent over the Russian governments actions.

Russian diplomats are demanding that the man face a just and severe punishment, the report reads.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Moldovas Government said Russia was breaching laws, printing ballots in Transnistria on the eve of the presidential "election".

On March 11, the Transnistrian media with reference to the Russian embassy in Moldova wrote that several polling stations would be opened in the region on Russias presidential election day on March 17.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova summoned Russias Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov to protest the deployment of polling stations in Transnistria.

Photo: CAPTURIS FOTO/ZIUA.MD
An aerial drone photo shows rice fields in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

by Xinhua writers Gao Yang, Guo Xinhui

SUVA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- After days of torrential rain in the wet season of central Fiji's Nausori Town, Chen Huazao anxiously rushed to the paddy field to assess his rice crop, which was planted last November.

Wading through the muddy field, Chen's heart sank as he saw the almost mature rice plants flattened by the heavy downpours.

"We will likely face a decline in the yield of this test field. But fortunately, crops in the other two demonstration fields were not damaged," said Chen, team leader of the China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Fiji.

In another unaffected test plot planted with NP918, a Chinese hybrid rice variety, seed breeding expert Wu Mingkui was measuring the yield of the ripe crop.

After finishing his work, Wu told Xinhua that the yield of this Chinese rice variety was more than 7 tons per hectare, about 2-3 times of local rice varieties in Fiji.

Wu is among the six-member Chinese expert team, which arrived in Fiji in July 2023 to help the country enhance its rice production.

Rice farming is a challenging job, as the uncertainty of excessive rain, cyclones and flooding often destroys crops in Fiji and other Pacific island nations, which are highly vulnerable to climate change.

"Despite this," Chen said, "We can help local rice farmers achieve high yield by use of high-quality rice varieties and technology-driven farming techniques with scientific cultivation management measures."

STRIVING FOR RICE-SUFFICIENCY

Rice has been cultivated for many decades in Fiji, serving as a major source of food for its population.

However, the country's rice industry has faced challenges in recent years, marked by a decline in both lands and production, mainly due to traditional farming practices, labor shortage and the impacts of climate change.

Fiji produces less than 20 percent of its rice consumption needs, with over 80 percent being imported, said Tekini Nakidakida, deputy secretary for Agriculture Development of Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways.

To achieve rice self-sufficiency, the Fiji government has launched the "We Rice Up" initiative, aiming to increase the production and productivity of rice crops in the country, Nakidakida said.

"That's why we need more cooperation with China," the Fiji agricultural expert said.

Through the provision of expertise, machinery, seeds, and agricultural experts, Nakidakida said China's support for Fiji's rice sector will contribute to the realization of its rice self-sufficiency goals.

Since 2015, China has carried out three phases of agricultural aid projects to help enhance rice production in Fiji. Chen's team is currently engaged in the third phase.

During the first two phases, China's agricultural team rejuvenated five local rice varieties, introduced 16 rice varieties, provided machinery for mechanized rice cultivation, and trained over 2,500 local farmers in high-yield cultivation techniques.

For the phase three agricultural aid project, China will introduce 26 rice varieties, rejuvenate 10 local rice varieties, and cultivate model farmers, Chinese expert Wu Mingkui said.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES

To adapt the agricultural project to the specific conditions of Fiji's rice production, Chen and his colleagues conducted extensive on-site investigations throughout the island nation.

However, they encountered several challenges in their efforts to enhance local rice production. One of these obstacles is the shortage of labor.

"We face a labor shortage because many of our younger generations are migrating abroad in search of easier or more lucrative work," Nakidakida said.

He said the government will launch incentivized policies to encourage young Fijians to engage in rice cultivation, and hoped more of them will receive training in advanced agricultural technologies from Chinese experts.

Sharing technical experience in rice production is also a priority of the Chinese agricultural team.

The team has established a demonstration base at the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute in Nausori, providing training on advanced rice cultivation techniques for the college's students.

For other challenges, they found rice cultivation areas occupy a mere 1.04 percent of the arable land in Fiji, with a low average rice yield per hectare.

"Unscientific methods prevail, with farmers broadcasting seeds by hand rather than utilizing mechanical planting techniques," Chen said.

To address these issues, the Chinese expert team has established standardized rice fields and promoted the adoption of mechanical rice planters.

"Fiji has seen an improvement in the self-sufficient level of rice since the Chinese agricultural assistance team arrived here. More cooperation between China and Fiji is something that our agricultural sector really needs forward to realize its sustainable development," Nakidakida said.

The flourishing China-Fiji agricultural cooperation epitomizes China's unremitting efforts to help achieve sustainable development in Pacific island countries (PICs) by launching multiple agricultural technical assistance projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Through these projects, China has helped PICs improve agricultural production capacity and food security.

China's agricultural assistance to PICs reflects its contributions to addressing global challenges and its efforts to benefit all mankind with the goal of "no one will be left behind" in global development. 

Chinese expert Chen Huazao (R) checks the rice plants flattened by heavy downpours at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

Chinese expert Wu Mingkui (1st L) measures the yield of the crop at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

Chinese experts check the status of the crop at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)
Flight MU9629 of China Eastern Airlines receives a water cannon salute as it lands at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, March 16, 2024. China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday.

Passengers on board flight MU9629 arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Kunming, southwest China, were welcomed by Manoharan Periasamy, director-general of Tourism Malaysia, an agency under the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

"With this new additional route, it is a great opportunity to bring in more tourists from China's second-tier cities, especially now with our visa-free policy for Chinese travelers to Malaysia. We continue to amplify our promotional efforts in showcasing Malaysia's rich heritage and warm hospitality to one of our top markets through Tourism Malaysia's overseas offices in China," the agency said in a statement.

Since last December the visa-free policy for Chinese travelers to Malaysia has seen a significant increase in bookings to Malaysia. In 2023, Malaysia welcomed 1.47 million visitor arrivals from China, an exponential growth of 593.4 percent from 2022, it said.

This new route by China Eastern Airlines connecting Kunming to Kuala Lumpur operates daily with a capacity of 156 passengers. 

Passengers on board flight MU9629 pose for photos with staff members at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, March 16, 2024. China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

Passengers on board flight MU9629 pose for photos with staff members at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, March 16, 2024. China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

Passengers on board flight MU9629 are welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, March 16, 2024. China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2024) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited the Central Jail Kot Lakhpat here on Sunday and broke fast with the women prisoners.

The CM, instead of sitting with the guests, sat with the women prisoners. She herself presented samosas, pakoras, fruits and food to the women prisoners. She planted a sapling in the lawns of the Central Jail and ordered to plant more trees in jail. The CM also visited the cell where her father Nawaz Sharif was kept during his period of imprisonment. She, while recalling those days spent in jail, got emotional.

She inaugurated a 20-bed hospital for rehabilitation of drug-addicts in the Central Jail Kot Lakhpat. Maryam also inaugurated the video call facility for prisoners. Central Jail Lahore is the first jail of its kind for providing video call facility to prisoners across the globe.

The CM visited kitchen of the jail and checked and reviewed the quality of food being prepared for prisoners. On the direction of CM, a special Iftar menu had been prepared for prisoners.

On the direction of the CM, the prisoners were presented with biryani, samosas, pakoras, fruits and dahi bharay in their Iftar.

The CM conversed with the prisoners and inquired about their problems and needs. Maryam, while talking to the women prisoners, stated that she has come to meet them. The CM held the hand of a little girl accompanied by a woman prisoner and inquired from her about the food. Maryam Nawaz also met the jail staff being deputed during her period of imprisonment in the jail and also distributed gifts among the prisoners who got released from the jail.

On the direction of CM, every male prisoner getting released was given rupees 15 thousand along with clothes while women prisoners were given rupees 15 thousand per prisoner, clothes and bangles.

Former Senator Pervez Rasheed, Provincial Minister for Information & Culture Azma Bokari, Chief Secretary, Secretary Home, Special Secretary Home, IG Prisons Farooq Nazir and other officials also accompanied.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2024) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that the countrys future hinged upon well educated and skilled youth of the country and for the provision of quality education, the Federal government would facilitate the high achievers with scholarship schemes to get education in the well reputed global educational institutes.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Ikramullah, a student from Balochistan province, who is now studying in the 9th class at Lawrence College Murree.

Under the prime ministers direction, the student from 2022 flood affected area of Qila Saifullah was provided with a facility to get education at the countrys prominent educational institute.

The prime minister recalled that he met the desperate student in the Khasnoob camp in Qila Saifullah when floods had caused destruction in Balochistan province during 2022.

He said that he had assured the student of the provision of quality education, adding that it pleased him a lot that the student was now studying in Lawrence College.

The student thanked the prime minister for giving him an opportunity to meet him.

Congratulating the prime minister, he said that he prayed for Shehbaz Sharif for his kind gesture.

The student also expressed his resolve to achieve the goal and serve the country in the future.

The prime minister advised him to serve the nation and country by working hard and concentrating on his studies.

He assured that all his educational expenditures would be borne by the government as the students were the future and hope of the country.

The prime minister said that when he had visited the flood affected area, the student was in a protest mood but now he was showing a discernible change.

He mentioned that in Punjab province, they had sent the high achievers to get education at the best European and Scandinavian countries who later returned completely transformed and full of confidence.

The prime minister also welcomed the principal and housemaster of Lawrence College and gave away gifts to the student including a pen and tablet, expressing the hope that it would help him in pursuance of his studies.

Ikaramullah also presented a set of books to the prime minister.

The prime minister personally saw off the student from the Prime Ministers House.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2024) President Asif Ali Zardari,on previous night, attended Namaz e Janaza of Shaheed Lt. Colonel Syed Kashif Ali and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Bader who had been martyred in Mir Ali, North Waziristan during a terrorist attack on Saturday.

On the occasion, the president paid tribute to shuhada and reiterated the resolve to respond to terrorist activities with full force, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release, on Sunday.

He said that the people of Pakistan and its armed forces were united and would face terrorism in unison.

He also expressed the resolve to make the terrorists accountable for the blood of each martyred jawan, adding their brave brothers, sons and friends had been protecting the borders.

President Zardari promised that the blood of the sons of the soil would not go in vain.
Afghanistan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2024) Two miners were killed in a gold mine collapse in north Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, state-run Bakhtar news Agency reported Sunday.

The incident took place while the miners were working in Wakhanda area, Kohistan district of Badakhshan late on Saturday, Bakhtar quoted Hekmatullah Mohammadi, director of the department of information and culture of the province as saying.

A similar incident happened in Kohistan district on the same day, without causing any human casualties or financial loss, Mohammadi said.

Badakhshan is a remote and mountainous province of Afghanistan, home to numerous untouched mines, especially gold and lapis lazuli mines, some of which are extracted with no modern facilities or equipment.
Chisinau, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2024) Moldova on Sunday dismissed a claim by pro-Russian separatist authorities that an explosion in the breakaway region of Transnistria was likely caused by a drone launched from Ukraine as an "attempt to provoke fear and panic".

Kyiv, in turn, blamed Russia for carrying out "a provocation in Transnistria with a kamikaze drone attack on a military base".

Transnistria is a primarily Russian-speaking region that has long depended on Moscow for support, and broke away from Moldova after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"Today a fire occurred on the territory of a military base in Tiraspol as a result of an explosion," authorities in Transnistria said on social media.

"It was preliminarily established that the explosion was caused by a kamikaze drone attack," they added, claiming that the drone was launched from the Odesa region of Ukraine.

Separatist officials said that no one was hurt and opened a criminal investigation.

But Moldova said it could not confirm any attack.

"Authorities in Chisinau, in contact with the Ukrainian side, do not confirm any attack on the Transnistrian region," Moldova's reintegration bureau said in a statement.

"Following the examination of the video images and the exchange of information, we communicate that the incident in question is an attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region," it added.

A Ukrainian government office responsible for disinformation said: "Russians are trying to carry out provocations and manipulate the information space by spreading fakes."

There was no immediate comment on the incident from Moscow.

Grainy footage distributed by separatist authorities showed a projectile slamming into a military helicopter standing at an airbase surrounded by fields.

Late last month, Transnistria appealed to Russia for "protection", fuelling fears the territory could become a new flashpoint in Moscow's conflict with neighbouring Ukraine.

In 2006, the separatist territory's deputies announced a referendum on integrating with Russia that resulted in an overwhelming majority in favour.
Niamey, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2024) Niger's government announced on Saturday that it was breaking off "with immediate effect" its military cooperation agreement with the United States.

The declaration came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military junta that ousted the president and moved closer to Russia.

The statement said the government had decided to "denounce with immediate effect" the agreement relating to US military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense inside Niger.

It was read out Saturday evening on national television.

The United States still stations some 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base built at a cost of $100 million.

Movements there have been limited since the July 2023 coup and Washington has curbed assistance to the government.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a rare visit to Niger a year ago in hopes of shoring up president Mohamed Bazoum, a stalwart ally in Western security efforts against jihadists.

Just four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest.

The junta took a hard line against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade.

Niger's military had in the past worked closely with the United States.

But the junta has sought cooperation with Russia, while stopping short of the full-fledged embrace of Moscow by military-run neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso.
Around 50 people including an AFP journalist were detained by police Sunday in Istanbul on the sidelines of the Kurdish New Year celebrations, witnesses said.

AFP video journalist Eylul Yasar was preparing to film the celebrations of the Kurdish New Year when she was arrested at a checkpoint, journalists and lawyers at the scene reported.

She was released after being handcuffed and held by police for more than six hours, along with another 14 people locked up in the same van.

Yasar said she had been arrested and taken away in a police van after objecting to an "intrusive" and "brutal" body search.

She and the others being held in her van were insulted by police, she said, who called them "pig droppings, terrorists, traitors."

Two journalists from the Bianet news site who were filming the arrests said they were beaten and thrown to the ground by police.

A statement from Agence France-Presse said: "AFP deplores the detention of our journalist Eylul Yasar who was just doing her job.

"While it welcomes her release, AFP calls on the Turkish authorities to respect the rights of journalists and to treat them with respect."

Erol Onderoglu, correspondent with media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in Turkey, denounced Yasar's "arbitrary arrest, which prevented her from doing her job."

He had earlier said that around 50 people who came to attend the celebrations, which normally include traditional dances and a large bonfire, were also arrested at the site.

An AFP photographer said the bonfire had been canceled.

Many Kurds, who make up about a fifth of Turkey's estimated 85 million people, say they face significant discrimination in the country.

The former leading figure of the main pro-Kurdish party, Selahattin Demirtas, was imprisoned in 2016 for "terrorist propaganda," while more than a hundred mayors of Kurdish localities saw elections canceled in the last municipal vote in 2019.

Turkey has repeatedly insisted that it does not discriminate against Kurds as a minority but rather opposes the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an organization banned by Ankara and its Western allies as a terrorist organization.

According to the RSF, Turkey last year ranked in 164th place out of 180 countries on its index of press freedom.

That marks a drop of 16 places from 2022.
Airstrikes hit several sites in southern Syria early Sunday wounding a soldier, Syrian state media reported.

State news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military official, said air defenses shot down some of the missiles, which came from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights around 12:42 a.m. local time. The strikes led to "material losses" and the wounding of a soldier, the statement said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said airstrikes also hit two military sites in the Qalamoun mountains northeast of Damascus, an area where the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has operations. One of the targets was a weapons shipment, the observatory said.

The observatory said the strikes represented the 24th time Israel has been suspected of striking inside Syria this year. They have killed 43 fighters with various groups  including Hezbollah and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard  and nine civilians.

There was no immediate statement from Israeli officials on the strikes. Israel frequently launches strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past five months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border.

Last week, the Israeli army said it has carried out 4,500 strikes against Hezbollah targets over the past five months, most of which were in Lebanon, while a few were in Syria.

The army said in a statement that it "will not allow for any attempted actions which could lead to the entrenchment of Hezbollah on the Syrian front."
LONDON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite the rising tide of de-globalization and protectionism, China has played an important role in advocating economic globalization and its efforts in promoting high-standard opening-up are worth noticing, several British experts told Xinhua recently.

"Trade is the source of prosperity and the source of stopping poverty," said Stephen Perry, president emeritus of Britain's 48 Group Club, during a recent interview with Xinhua.

"In the long run, globalization and multilateral forms of trade are inevitable, because they are the only way to get what people want, which is better and safer conditions," Perry said.

Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the London-based Financial Times, said that because of economic realities, China has to push for globalization. "It makes sense for China in every circumstance to push for an open world economy."

China-Britain Business Council Chair Sherard Cowper-Coles said China's push for globalization is a win-win story. Speaking at the "Icebreakers" 2024 Chinese New Year celebration, he noted that "China matters more than it's ever done to the United Kingdom, to post-Brexit Britain."

Cowper-Coles told Xinhua during the event that China's advocacy of economic globalization is "terribly important."

"Britain needs China, needs this market for our goods and services, needs Chinese investment, needs Chinese students," he said.

Commenting on China's recent measures to push forward its high-standard opening-up, he said that "it's a win for the Western firms that want to enter the Chinese market. It's also a win for the Chinese consumers who get more choices, more options. So it's very positive in every way."

Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, chairman of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain, said some good decisions are being made in China such as nurturing and strengthening the private economy, which is welcomed by China and the foreign community.

At the same time, Pfetten expressed his concern that in terms of foreign direct investment in the West, it will be much more complicated for Chinese companies.

"The United States is not benefiting from its protectionist action," Pfetten said, adding that the so-called de-risking and de-coupling are "totally wrong."

Keith Bennett, an international relations consultant in London, told Xinhua that although there is a lot of talk about protectionism and restrictions on trade, and there are some measures in that direction, "the main trend is very much towards globalization."

"What's important is that China puts forward an inclusive and fair globalization," he said.

"China is giving a constructive lead on that to make it fair and equitable for all," said Bennett, adding that he thinks "the overwhelming majority of countries in the world support China's initiatives on this."

"And it's gaining more and more understanding in some countries. Even if there is some pushback or hesitancy from the government, it's very much supported by the business community who don't want any political issues to interfere with trade and business," he said.

"China is the only country so far as I know that organizes expos and conferences to encourage people to export to the Chinese market and to bring their high-quality, niche and specialized products to China," Bennett said. 
Air raid sirens wail almost daily in the southern Russian city of Belgorod, sending people rushing for cover and reminding residents the full-scale war in neighboring Ukraine is a reality for them too.

Compared with the destruction across much of Ukraine, Russia's vast territory has been largely unscathed.

Belgorod, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the border, is the main exception, a reminder that not every civilian can be shielded from the conflict.

As Russians began voting early on Friday in a three-day presidential election, a missile alert forced election officials to take shelter at a polling station in Belgorod and voting was briefly halted, according to Russia's RIA state news agency.

Vladimir Seleznyov, a pensioner who witnessed a missile attack on Plekhanov Street on February 15 in which seven people were killed, said it was hard to grow accustomed to the danger.

"Of course, the situation is difficult, but we live near the border. It would be a stretch to say that we got used to that," he told Reuters on a recent visit to the city to which international media rarely get access.

"It's understood that, naturally, we will win, we will prevail, but the people are worried and concerned," he said.

In the ancient fortress town, now a modern city of 300,000 people that is once again on Russia's front lines, scores of civilians have been killed in drone and missile strikes from Ukraine since February 2022, including two on Saturday.

Kyiv denies targeting civilians just as Moscow does, despite Russia having launched drones and missiles against Ukraine that have killed thousands of civilians and caused hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of damage.

In the worst civilian loss of life from foreign enemy fire in internationally recognized Russian territory since World War II, 25 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in missile attacks on Belgorod on December 30.

As he marches towards all but certain reelection in the March 15-17 vote, President Vladimir Putin nevertheless remains popular in Belgorod as he does across Russia, underlining how the war has galvanized support for him.

He calls it a "special military operation" and casts it as part of a long-running battle with a decadent and declining West that humiliated Russia after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Ukraine and its Western allies say the invasion was an aggressive and illegal land grab.

War footing

For Belgorod residents, disruptions are frequent, and the signs of war are in plain view.

Soldiers walk the streets and cement blocks have been positioned at bus stops to protect people from potential blasts.

Primary schools have moved to only online lessons while secondary schools are working on a hybrid model of home and in class, similar to how many Ukrainian institutions operate.

Buses stop running when warnings of a missile threat sound, forcing people to disembark and walk. Shopping can be complicated, and appointments are often canceled. Thousands of people left the surrounding region to escape the danger.

Civilian volunteer groups in Belgorod are supporting soldiers, a phenomenon that is common across Russia and Ukraine.

Galina, who collects everyday hygiene items and tools for digging trenches and sends them to the army, said she helps to try to bring the conflict to an end.

Echoing words used by the Kremlin to describe the leadership in Kyiv, she spoke of the need to "denazify" Ukraine and end "fascism" there. Ukraine and its allies dismiss such language as nonsense, pointing out that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish.

"There are no other options," said Galina, who gave only her first name, as she stood in a warehouse with goods for soldiers.

"I believe that the work that he [Putin] has started in terms of a special military operation, he must complete it," she said.

Cross-border incursions

Russia's defense ministry said on Friday its forces had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to launch a cross-border attack on the Belgorod region the day before.

In a statement, the ministry said Ukraine used helicopters to land up to 30 soldiers close to the border village of Kozinka. It said they were repelled by Russian soldiers and border guards.

Ukrainian officials said earlier on Friday that two Russian border provinces, Belgorod and neighboring Kursk, were under attack by anti-Kremlin Russian armed groups based in Ukraine.

The town of Shebekino, located some 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the border in the Belgorod region, was hit by shelling in May and June last year by armed infiltrators. Shell craters mark the roads, and buildings were hit and damaged.

At that time, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov escorted about 600 children from Shebekino and Graivoron districts to the cities of Yaroslavl and Kaluga, far from the Ukrainian border.

Pensioner Valentina said she also left Shebekino temporarily last summer, persuaded to do so by her daughter, before returning.

She said that she hoped the war would end soon and that people who left the town would come back.

"Everyone wants to get back home," she said, adding that she planned to vote for Putin. "He has to finish off this war."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour also including the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with two key regional allies.

Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden, which Seoul is hosting this week.

Before arriving in Seoul, Blinken made a brief stop in Bahrain, where he spoke to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa about efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza.

The summit, which runs from March 18-20 will bring together government officials, NGOs and civil society members.

Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South, to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North.

Seoul's conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang's threats.

Blinken will meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, the ministry said, for discussions that will cover how to boost the alliance, as Washington and Seoul explore how to improve their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea.

The democracy summit has attracted some criticism due to its selective invitation list, which excludes countries that consider themselves democratic, such as Thailand and Turkey.

After Seoul, Blinken heads to Manila, a trip that will reaffirm "our unwavering commitment to the Philippine ally," according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

He will talk with local officials including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  issues with China including disputes over the South China Sea are likely to top the agenda.

The U.S. is redoubling efforts to improve longstanding ties with regional allies such as Manila, in an effort to counterbalance China.

Beijing recently accused Washington of using the Philippines as a "pawn" in the dispute over the South China Sea, after a series of clashes around bitterly-contested islets in the waters.

China claims almost the entire waterway, brushing aside competing claims from a host of Southeast Asian nations and an international ruling that has declared its stance baseless.

The South China Sea is strategically vital for several countries  including China  providing a key route for the import and export of essential fuel, food and other goods.

China has rapidly grown its naval forces in recent years, and snatched vast tracts of maritime territory, hoping to project its military and political power well beyond the country's shores.
Twenty-one people were killed and 38 injured on Sunday in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province when a bus collided with an oil tanker and a motorbike, provincial officials said.



Deadly traffic accidents are common in the country, due in part to poor roads, dangerous driving on highways and a lack of regulation.



"On Sunday morning, 21 people were killed and 38 people were injured due to a collision between a tanker, a motorcycle and a passenger bus," the provincial information department said in a post on X.



The accident took place on the Herat-Kandahar highway in Grishk district of Helmand province, it added.



The collision caused the vehicles to ignite, Helmand governor spokesman Mohammad Qasim Riyaz told AFP.



Images shared by the information department on social media showed charred, twisted metal scattered across the highway and the crushed cabin of the tanker.



Cleanup crews were on site removing the debris, according to officials.



Of the injured, 11 were seriously hurt and 27 had minor injuries.



The passenger bus was traveling from Herat city to the capital, Kabul, when it first collided with a motorbike carrying two people, killing both riders, Helmand traffic management officials said, according to the information department.



The bus driver lost control and crashed into an oil tanker travelling in the opposite direction from the southern city of Kandahar to Herat, sparking a fire.



The accident killed three people on the tanker and 16 bus passengers.



Another serious accident involving an oil tanker took place in December 2022, when the vehicle overturned and caught fire in Afghanistan's high-altitude Salang pass, killing 31 people and leaving dozens more with burn injuries.
A Russian-Belarusian rock band that denounces Moscow's Ukraine invasion returned to the stage this week, voicing defiance after being detained in Thailand in January and threatened with deportation to Russia.

The band, Bi-2, formed in the 1980s in Belarus when it was part of the Soviet Union, left Russia in protest over the invasion and has been touring ever since in countries with large Russian-speaking communities.

Ahead of a concert in Vilnius on Thursday, band members met with exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and supporters of late Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison last month.

"We have become hostages to Russian history," Egor Bortnik, one of the band's two founders, told AFP ahead of a concert in Warsaw on Saturday.

But 51-year-old Bortnik, who is better known by his stage name "Lyova," said he was "not against the war."

"On the contrary, I'm for the war. I just want Ukraine to liberate its own territory," he said.

"Putin has to gather his orcs and get out of Ukraine," Bortnik said, using a disparaging term for Russian soldiers frequently used by Ukrainians.

The band was detained in Phuket, Thailand, in January on immigration charges in a case that has alarmed Russians critical of President Vladimir Putin living abroad.

The organizers of their concerts said all the necessary permits had been obtained, but the band was issued with tourist visas in error, and they accused the Russian consulate of waging a campaign to cancel the concerts.

After a week in detention, the band members were released and traveled to Israel, where they met with Foreign Minister Israel Katz who said in a statement that the episode showed that "music will win."

Several of their concerts in Russia were canceled in 2022 after they refused to play at a venue with banners supporting the war in Ukraine, after which they left the country.

"I put my prosperity on the line when the war began, and I had to leave Russia. It was unexpected, it was not a process we had prepared for," Bortnik said.

Bortnik, who moved to Israel while still a teenager, said he was more used to emigration than some of his peers who left Russia in the wake of the war.

"I understand how difficult it is," he said.

Bortnik said he was no "geopolitician" and does not write explicitly "political songs" although their lyrics can "hit a nerve that is constantly vibrating."

He said Putin's demise could be sudden and violent and would also bring down Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for three decades.

"If something happens to Putin then there could be a civil war  the finale for any tyranny," he said.
A prominent European far-right figure was prevented from giving a speech at an event in Switzerland and thrown out of the region where it was taking place.

Martin Sellner of the Identitarian Movement said in a video posted on social media network X, formerly Twitter, that he had been invited by a local group, Junge Tat (Young Deed), to talk about remigration and the ethnic vote and what happened at a recent meeting in Germany that prompted a string of large protests there. Remigration refers to the return, sometimes forced, of non-ethnically European immigrants back to their place of racial origin.

Sellner, who comes from neighboring Austria, said that a few minutes after he started speaking at the event Saturday, the electricity was turned off and he was taken to a police station, then told he was thrown out of Aargau canton (state) and escorted to Zurich.

Regional police said in a statement that they tracked down the Junge Tat event in the small town of Tegerfelden on Saturday after receiving several tips. They found some 100 people at the venue and said that, after the landlady found out about the contents of the planned meeting, she canceled the contract for it.

Police said they told organizers to end the event, but they didn't obey. Without identifying Sellner by name, they said the speaker was held and ordered out of the region to safeguard public security and prevent confrontations with opponents.

Germany has seen large protests of the far right following a report that extremists met in Potsdam in November to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship. Sellner presented his remigration" vision for the deportation of immigrants there.

That meeting has prompted widespread criticism of the Alternative for Germany party, some of whose members reportedly attended. The party has sought to distance itself from the event, while also decrying the reporting of it.
Greece is facing increasing illegal immigration as the Gaza crisis continues. The trend has Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and senior European Union officials heading to Egypt Sunday to sign an aid package worth just over $8 billion intended to help ease migration.

A surge in illegal migration has seen numbers entering Greece swell by more than 400% in the last month alone.

Palestinians rank high in these flows but Egyptians are increasingly following suit.

There is no doubt, that Egypt has suffered the greatest fallout of the crisis in Gaza," said Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Keridis. "And as if the country and its economy was not strained enough, the Gaza crisis and inflow of Palestinians has exacerbated the situation, setting Egyptians to a massive flight.

Since the start of the year, Greeces southernmost islands of Crete and Gavdos have been hardest hit with daily flows of Egyptians landing on their shores, seeking refuge to the West via Libya.

On Sunday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will travel to Cairo with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to finalize an $8.06 billion aid package to shore up the Egyptian economy and help stem the tide of illegal immigration.

Under the planned deal, a first tranche of $1 billion will be dispersed immediately as emergency financial assistance. The rest, will be tied to economic reforms.

Greece has been a favored gateway to the European Union for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia since 2015, when nearly 1 million people landed on its islands, causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Thousands others have since then died at sea.

The migration crisis has seen Greece take a strong-arm approach to fend off illegal flows, triggering, however, accusations that it is pushing back migrants on rickety rafts, endangering their lives, even torturing them upon arrival.

Authorities have largely refuted the accusations but migrants are increasingly speaking up.

Last week, four Greek bodyguards were arrested for beating a migrant, battering his face and breaking his ribs, according to a migrant's testimony.

An urgent investigation is underway.
Lava from a volcanic eruption in Iceland flowed Sunday toward defenses around the town of Grindavik, which have so far held the molten rock back from the evacuated community.

Scientists said the eruption appeared to be weakening and would probably peter out within hours.

A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the country's southwest erupted late Saturday for the fourth time in three months, sending orange jets of lava into the night sky.

Icelands Meteorological Office said the eruption opened a fissure in the earth about 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) long between the mountains of Stora-Skogfell and Hagafell.

The Met Office said Sunday that lava was flowing south and southeast at about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) an hour and might reach the ocean. Defensive barriers were built to stop it inundating the main road along the peninsulas southern coast.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa, one of Icelands top tourist attractions, when the eruption began, national broadcaster RUV said.

No flight disruptions were reported at nearby Keflavik, Icelands main airport.

The eruption site is a few kilometers (miles) northeast of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Icelands capital, Reykjavik.

The town was evacuated before the initial eruption on Dec. 18. A second eruption that began on Jan. 14 sent lava toward the town. Defensive walls that had been bolstered after the first eruption stopped some of the flow, but several buildings were consumed by the lava.

Both eruptions lasted only a matter of days. A third eruption began Feb. 8. It ended within hours, but not before a river of lava engulfed a pipeline, cutting off heat and hot water to thousands of people.

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, sees regular eruptions and is highly experienced at dealing with them. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe.

The latest eruptions signal a reawakening of the Svartsengi volcanic system after almost 800 years of quiet. It's unclear when the period of activity will end or what it means for the Reykjanes Peninsula, one of the most densely populated parts of Iceland.

No confirmed deaths have been reported from any of the recent eruptions, but a workman was declared missing after falling into a fissure opened by the volcano.
The Indian governments recent announcement of rules to implement a 2019 citizenship law has sparked protests in India, with many accusing it of polarizing the society ahead of general elections scheduled for next month.

Under the Citizenship Amendment Act or, CAA, persecuted religious minorities from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 2014, will be allowed to claim Indian citizenship on a fast-track basis.

Since the law applies only to non-Muslims, critics  including rights groups, opposition political parties and Muslim community leaders  say it discriminates against Muslims.

After last weeks announcement, Amnesty International described the CAA as a discriminatory law that goes against the constitutional values of equality and international human rights law.

A spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was quoted by the Reuters news agency on Tuesday as saying the law is fundamentally discriminatory in nature and in breach of India's international human rights obligations.

Home Minister Amit Shah has defended the CAA, calling it a special act designed to protect persecuted minorities from three countries and saying it has nothing to do with Indian Muslims.

Indian Muslims need not be afraid because of the CAA. It has no provision to take away the citizenship rights of any Indian, Shah said.

Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians will be allowed onto a fast track to Indian citizenship under the law. Jews and Bahais are not included among the specified minorities.

Although the measure was approved in 2019, the Modi government put implementation on hold after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets protesting what they called a discriminatory anti-Muslim law.

The protests led to the outbreak of communal violence in Delhi and other places, during which thousands of protesters were arrested and more than 100 were killed. The legislation was further delayed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Indian Citizenship Act, all foreign nationals are required to stay in India for 11 years before being eligible to apply for a passport. That law did not make religion a determinant of ones eligibility for citizenship.

Practitioners of the designated religions will now be eligible to apply for citizenship after having stayed in India for five years. It is the first time that religion has been explicitly made a basis on which people will be eligible for citizenship.

Despite the home ministers assurances, the implementation of the law has reignited fear among Indias 200 million Muslims, especially those in certain border states, of having their citizenship revoked should they be unable to produce specific documents.

Those fears could be realized if the government moves ahead with implementation of another law providing for an updated National Register of Citizens, or NRC, under which all Indian citizens are to be identified and listed.

People left out of the NRC will face the threat of losing their citizenship through the power vested in quasi-judicial bodies known as foreigner tribunals, which are responsible for determining if a person is staying in the country illegally.

Individuals determined to be foreigners will be sent to detention centers, Amnesty International noted in a report.

A provision in the CAA ensures that non-Muslims not included in the NRC are protected from the threats of deportation and internment but grants no such security to Muslims.

The sudden implementation of the CAA, after years of delay and weeks before April 19 general elections, suggests the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using it to polarize the Hindu-majority society and reap electoral benefits, alleged Zafarul-Islam Khan, former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission.

Minority Uyghur and Rohingya Muslims have for decades been facing persecution in neighboring China and Myanmar, and are seeking refuge in other countries, Khan told VOA. If the CAA is aimed to protect all persecuted minorities around Indias neighborhood, it should have included those Muslims, too. This is undoubtedly an anti-Muslim law.

The government maintains that the CAA is neither anti-Muslim nor unconstitutional. This law is to help those who during the partition of the subcontinent had stayed back in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, faced religious persecution there and later came over to India, Home Minister Shah said on Thursday.

The United States has said it is concerned about the notification of the CAA.

We are closely monitoring how this act will be implemented. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters during a daily briefing on Thursday.

On Friday, India said that the statement of the State Department on the issue was misplaced, misinformed and unwarranted.

"The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, while asserting that the issue is an internal matter.
Uzbek law enforcement officials this month confirmed to VOA that an Uzbek extradition request was behind the February 15 arrest in Kazakhstan of Karakalpak activist Akylbek Muratov, known as Aqylbek Muratbai on X and other social media.

Karakalpaks are indigenous Turkic people of Karakalpakstan, since 1993 a sovereign republic within Uzbekistan with its own parliament, national symbols and language. This status has been a source of friction with the Uzbek government because it often stirs discussions of secession.

Muratov, arrested in Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, had been under Uzbek scrutiny since 2015. He is suspected of engaging in separatism and destructive activism, according to officials in Tashkent.

Karakalpakstan's Internal Affairs Ministry indicted him late last year, accusing him of preparing and distributing materials that "threaten public safety and order." Uzbek authorities say he has used social media to foment mass unrest in Karakalpakstan, but he denies the charges.

Uzbek officials told VOA that Muratov had been warned through the Uzbek Consulate in Almaty and by his father, but that he persisted in what Tashkent views as anti-government propaganda. Writing on the X social media platform, formerly Twitter, in October, Muratov described these messages as threats and vowed to "not stop my activities to disseminate information about repressions against ethnic Karakalpaks in Uzbekistan.

Muratov is the sixth Karakalpak to be taken into custody in neighboring Kazakhstan at Uzbekistans request since protests in July 2022 against proposed constitutional amendments intended to strip the republic of its autonomous status and right to secede. At least 21 people were killed during the unrest in Nukus, Karakalpakstans capital.

None of the five previously arrested in Kazakhstan has been extradited, but they have not received refugee status, which would offer more international protection, including the opportunity to resettle in another country. Muratov, who lived in Kazakhstan for 13 years, is seeking that status.

As a result of the unrest, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev withdrew the proposed amendments that triggered mass discontent and pledged not to change Karakalpakstan's status.

Sixty-four people were convicted for their roles in the violence. One defendant, former police officer Polat Shamshetov, died in prison in February 2023, shortly after receiving a six-year prison term. The longest sentence, 16 years, was given to the lawyer and blogger Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, whose case Muratov often highlighted.

Karakalpaks in Kazakhstan on edge

Muratovs detention, days after a new Kazakh government was sworn in, has drawn attention to Kazakhstan and put Karakalpaks in Kazakhstan on edge.

Muratovs sister, Fariza Narbekova, told VOA that he has been charged by Uzbek authorities for publishing video of Karakalpak activists speeches at an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe conference in October and for urging Karakalpaks on his Telegram channel to switch off lights at home on November 13 for 16 minutes to mark the first anniversary of Tajimuratovs 16-year imprisonment.

Mihra Rittmann, senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a February 26 statement that the charges have no merit and should be dropped, and Kazakhstan should release him from custody immediately.

Kazakhstan is bound by international human rights law not to return Muratbai to Uzbekistan, where he faces serious risk of politically motivated persecution, she said.

Human Rights Watch said human rights organizations had documented numerous cases of torture and other ill-treatment, and arbitrary detention, of individuals accused of anti-state crimes in Uzbekistan in recent years.

This is a clear-cut case of retaliation by Uzbek authorities against Muratov for exposing human rights violations in Karakalpakstan following the July 2022 protests, Rittmann said.

Karakalpaks feel discriminated against in their own homeland because migrants from other parts of Uzbekistan are given jobs and farmland there, Galym Ageleuov, an Almaty-based Kazakh rights activist, told VOA.

The proposed constitutional amendments triggered an outpouring of discontent that had built up in Karakalpakstan for years, he said, citing local frustration that Tashkent brings workers from elsewhere to develop gas fields in the Aral Sea region instead of employing locals.

What Kazakh authorities are doing to Karakalpak activists living in Kazakhstan by detaining them is an incompetent policy to suppress the diaspora and its activists who are standing up for rights, and its the continuation of Uzbek authorities suppression of human rights in Karakalpakstan, said Ageleuov, who has researched the July 2022 events and monitored subsequent developments in Karakalpakstan.

Person seeking asylum status

In what is seen as a face-saving exercise, on February 23, Kazakh authorities granted Muratov person seeking asylum status for three months, preventing him from being handed over to Uzbekistan during that period, treatment similar to that of the five other Karakalpaks, who were released after a year in detention.

Muratov was instrumental in publicizing the detentions and court proceedings involving Karakalpaks in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on social media.

We fought for the rights of Karakalpakstan and Karakalpaks and activists, and ordinary Karakalpaks who were imprisoned after the July events rely on our help for their release, cardiologist Raysa Khudaybergenova, one of the five Karakalpaks detained in Kazakhstan, told VOA in an Almaty clinic where she works.

They all want to get out of prison, she said of the activists who remain in Uzbek prisons.

Like Muratov, Khudaybergenova is an Uzbek citizen and was not involved in political activism before the 2022 turmoil, focusing mostly on cultural, linguistic and health issues in Karakalpakstan.

Denis Zhivago, an Almaty-based human rights lawyer, told VOA that according to Kazakh law, detention on extradition requests could last for a year, thats why other Karakalpak activists spent a year in detention. Muratovs lawyer, Inara Masanova, would not comment on the case because of its sensitivity.

Akylbek is now likely to spend a year in detention, unfortunately, Zhivago said.

As in the previous five cases, I hope wisdom would triumph with Kazakh authorities and they will give the man a chance to avoid extradition and leave for a third country. There is a big chance that will happen, but we shouldnt rule out any possibilities.

In the past, Kazakhstan was notorious for handing over those without refugee status. It extradited about 30 Uzbek asylum seekers to Tashkent and at least one Uyghur to Beijing in the early 2010s. Last December, it extradited Russian security officer Mikhail Zhilin at Moscows request.

Zhivago said Uzbekistan keeps submitting extradition requests because it is irritated and wants to silence activists publicizing violations of rights in Karakalpakstan.

This has left Kazakhstan in a complicated situation because it is bound by agreements and friendly relations with Uzbekistan, he said.

Our government, on the one hand, doesnt want to spoil relations with Uzbekistan and, on the other hand, wants to provide Karakalpak activists with a chance of obtaining asylum, Zhivago said. He noted Kazakhstans status as a signatory to the Geneva conventions against torture and on the status of refugees.

Navbahor Imamova reported for this article from Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rebuffed international pressure, vowing that Israel would push ahead with an attack on Hamas militants in Rafah near the Gaza-Egyptian border, even as cease-fire talks were set to resume in Qatar in the coming days.

"No amount of international pressure will stop us from realizing all the goals of the war, to erase any Hamas control in Gaza, Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting in a video released by his office. To do this, we will also operate in Rafah, although he gave no indication of an imminent attack.

He later told CNNs State of the Union show that Israel would keep on trying to agree on a six-week cease-fire in the war with Hamas, now in its sixth month. But to achieve that, he said, Were going to maintain military pressure.

Netanyahu said it was totally inappropriate for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish-American official, to call last week for new Israel elections as he contended that Netanyahu has lost his way in the countrys bombardment of Gaza.

"I think the only government that we should be working on to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza, the Hamas tyranny that murdered over a thousand Israelis," Netanyahu said.

Schumer, long an ally of the Jewish state, said Netanyahu risks making his country a pariah in world affairs as tens of thousands of Palestinians are famished and many dying of malnutrition as Israel has for months limited truckloads of humanitarian aid into Gaza through time-consuming security checkpoints.

Netanyahu said, The majority of Israelis support what were doing. If we dont win the war, America loses, too.

The problem isnt getting aid into Gaza, he said. The problem is that its looted by Hamas, looted by gangs.

Netanyahu told CNN it is both cynical and factually wrong to blame Israel for the ongoing war.

He earlier told his Cabinet, To our friends in the international community I say, Is your memory so short? So quickly you forgot about October 7, the worst massacre committed against Jews since the Holocaust?"

"So quickly you are ready to deny Israel the right to defend itself against the monsters of Hamas?" he said.

The war started with the Hamas October terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and the Hamas capture of about 250 hostages. Health officials in Gaza say Israels ongoing counteroffensive has killed more than 31,600 people, the biggest majority women and children, displaced more than half the Gaza population of 2.3 million and leveled much of the territorys infrastructure and homes.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Jordan before a planned visit to Israel, said an assault on Rafah would make regional peace "very difficult" and that efforts now were "about ensuring we come to a long-lasting cease-fire."

Netanyahu has said Israel has a plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah before any ground offensive there but has not laid out plans of where they would go.

A source familiar with the truce talks in Qatar told Reuters the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency would join the delegation attending the negotiations with Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators.

Hamas presented a new cease-fire proposal last week including an exchange of about 40 Israeli hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel's security Cabinet is to meet to discuss it before the delegation leaves.

Netanyahu has already said the proposal was based on "unrealistic demands" by Hamas but a Palestinian official familiar with mediation efforts said chances for a deal looked better with Hamas having given more details on the proposed prisoner swap.

"The mediators felt positive about Hamas' new proposal. Some in Israel felt the group made some improvement on its previous position and it is now in the hands of Netanyahu alone to say whether an agreement is imminent," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in an apparent reference to the negotiations, said the security establishment "is committed to exhausting every possibility and willing to take advantage of every possibility, including the current one, to return the hostages to their families."

Some material in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
WASHINGTON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and five others wounded in a shooting in Washington, D.C., on early Sunday morning, local police has confirmed.

The shooting was reported at around 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) near the Kennedy Recreation Center, local media quoted the Metropolitan Police Department as saying, adding that the police have been searching for a suspect. 
Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to extend nearly a quarter century of rule for six more years on Sunday after wrapping up an election that gave voters no real alternatives to an autocrat who has ruthlessly cracked down on dissent.

The three-day election that began Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where no public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine is allowed. Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

The 71-year-old Russian leader faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Putin has boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the run-up to the vote, but a massive Ukrainian drone attack across Russia early Sunday sent a reminder of challenges faced by Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four near the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage.

Russia's wartime economy has proven resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Russian defense industry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition.

Russia's scattered opposition urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to express their protest by coming to the polls at noon on Sunday. The action was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death.

Navalny's associates described their strategy as a success, releasing pictures and videos of people crowding near polling stations in various cities across Russia. It wasn't immediately clear if the voters lining up at polling stations heeded the call from Navalny's allies or the queues reflected strong turnout that usually peaks around midday.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast country's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots as of early Sunday.

Despite tight controls, multiple cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported.

A woman was arrested in St. Petersburg after she threw a firebomb at a polling station entrance, and several others were detained across the country for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of the Russian Security Council chaired by Putin, called for toughening the punishment for those who vandalize polling stations, arguing they should face treason charges for attempting to derail the vote amid the fighting in Ukraine.

Ahead of the election, Putin cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as a life-or-death battle against the West seeking to break up Russia.

Russian troops have recently made slow advances relying on their edge in firepower, while Ukraine has fought back by intensifying cross-border attacks and launching drone strikes deep inside Russia.

The Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod near the border killed a 16-year-old girl on Sunday and injured her father, according to the local governor, who also reported two deaths from Ukrainian attacks the previous day.
Russia announced that President Vladimir Putin is capturing 88% of the vote in the first ballot counting in the presidential election Sunday, an exercise that gave voters no real alternatives to an autocrat who has ruthlessly cracked down on dissent.

The three-day election that began Friday to extend Putins 24-year rule for another six years took place in a tightly controlled environment where no public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine was allowed.

Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexey Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. But heeding Navalnys last political request, long lines of voters showed up at polling stations in major cities precisely at noon to cast symbolic, if futile votes against Putin, 71.

Associates of Putins top critic Navalny encouraged people to take part in the protest, which Navalny himself endorsed shortly before his sudden death in a Siberian prison in February.

The Reuters news agency reported the other results, with communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov coming in second with just under 4% of the vote, newcomer Vladislav Davankov third, and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth.

"The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him," the White House's national security council spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

For the protest, called Noon against Putin, Russians who are unhappy with Putin went to their local polling station at midday to either vote for one of the three candidates running against Putin, or spoil their ballot in protest.

Watch related report by Arash Arabasadi:

Others, meanwhile, said they would write in Navalnys name, whose death last month prompted grassroots memorials across the country that Russian authorities were quick to stamp out.

Several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were also reported.

The group OVD-Info, which tracks political arrests in Russia, said that more than 50 people were arrested in 14 cities across Russia on Sunday.

Similar protests appeared to take place at Russian embassies around the world. At polling stations at Russian diplomatic missions in Australia and Armenia, Kazakhstan and Japan, hundreds of Russians stood in line at noon.

And in the German capital of Berlin, Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who has become the face of his campaign following his death, appeared at the Russian embassy to take part in the protest, while others present clapped and chanted her name.

Alexey was fighting for very simple things: for freedom of speech, for fair elections, for democracy and our right to live without corruption and war, Navalnaya said in a message to a rally in Budapest on March 15. Putin is not Russia. Russia is not Putin.

But despite the show of opposition to Putin, the longtime Russian leader is almost guaranteed to win reelection. Assuming he does, and if he completes that six-year term, he would pass Josef Stalin and become Russias longest-serving leader in more than two centuries.

The election takes place against the backdrop of Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, which is now in its third year. Leading up to the election, Putin portrayed the war as an existential fight for Russia against the West.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
Residents in a swath of the central United States hit by deadly tornadoes were cleaning up, assessing damage and helping neighbors on Saturday. But it will be a long recovery from the storms that ripped through parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas.

Thursday night's storms claimed three lives in the Indian Lake area of Ohio's Logan County, one of the hardest-hit regions, and about 40 people were injured and dozens of homes damaged in one Indiana community. Tornadoes were also reported in Illinois and Missouri.

Samantha Snipes, 33, said that when she first heard the tornado warning, she called her father who lives seven minutes away and told him to take cover. He said he was trying get into the closet in her childhood home and then the phone cut out, she told The Associated Press.

She and her husband attempted to drive down the main road to get to him but couldn't and had to get through the back way after the tornado passed.

"It looked like out of a movie, like Twister," she said. "My dad's garage was leveled. The back of his house is gone. Like everything's gone."

They climbed over everything screaming for him. When they found him, he wasn't injured and he told them to stop crying, she said.

Her father, Joe Baker, had always told his children to hide in the closet if there was ever a tornado.

"We grew up here. Like this is our childhood home," said Snipes who Saturday was throwing away things and figuring out what could be saved. "And you see it on the news. But you never imagine it's going to happen to you."

Steve Wills, a pastor who owns a vacation home down the road on Orchard Island, said Saturday he was bringing a family crew to finish cleaning up and cover a hole in the roof.

"We're saddened for the families that lost people. There's three deaths in our community. You know, that breaks our heart," Wills said. "But it could have been so much more, so much more. Yeah, so I still have faith."

The community has been really helpful, Snipes said.

The school superintendent was dropping off food, clothes and diapers on Friday. The night of the tornado, neighbors on her dad's street were going house to house shutting off the gas, she said.

"Everybody on this road is safe. You know neighbors helping neighbors is what it's been," Snipes said.
April marks the one-year anniversary of the war in Sudan, sparked by a power struggle between two rival generals. Aid organizations say the war is having catastrophic consequences for the population of nearly 49 million people  more than half of whom need life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Since the conflict began April 15, 2023, tens of thousands of people have been killed and injured, millions have been forcibly uprooted from their homes and among the 18 million people suffering from acute hunger, 5 million are on the brink of famine, according to the World Food Program.

And yet this catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan today hardly receives the international attention that it warrants, said Dr. Richard Brennan, the regional emergency director for the World Health Organizations regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Cairo-based Brennan, who went on his first mission to an emergency country early last week since assuming his post just over a month ago, noted that he has visited Sudan multiple times over the past 25 years and seen the country through many crises  such as floods, displacement, conflict and political turmoil.

Nevertheless, Brennan said he was taken aback by the devastation that decades of fragility, and nearly a year of brutal war, have wreaked on the country.

In fact, I was just reading the report from my 2014 mission which described a desperate situation with over 6.1 million in need of humanitarian assistance.

It is extraordinary to reflect that today over 24.8 million people are in need  four times what we observed 10 years ago, he said, adding that the health needs are massive.

We estimate that almost 14,000 have been killed and 28,000 injured; there are ongoing outbreaks of cholera, measles, dengue fever, and malaria; around 3.4 million children are acutely malnourished; and 70 percent of health facilities in conflict-affected areas are non-functional or only partially functional, he said.

Early last week, Jill Lawler, chief of field operations and emergency for UNICEF in Sudan, led a team of 12 UNICEF staff on a mission to Omdurman  in the greater Khartoum area. Omdurman is a region that has been under near-constant fire since the war broke out.

She described the intolerable conditions under which millions of children are forced to live and told journalists in Geneva Friday about the difficulties of providing medical care to children in need.

She said, At Al Nau Hospital, one of the only hospitals in Khartoum with a functional and very crowded trauma ward, we met with two young people who had recent amputations  two young lives changed forever  and we learned from the hospital director that about 300 had limbs amputated in the hospital in just the past month alone.

She said Al Nau and other hospitals she and her team visited were overcrowded, with two or three patients having to share the same bed. She said medicine and equipment were in short supply, health care workers were overworked, exhausted, and that most have not been paid regular salaries in months.

During our visit, we learned that women and girls who had been raped in the first months of war are now delivering babies  some of whom have been abandoned to the care of hospital staff, who have built a nursery near the delivery ward, she said.

UNICEF projects nearly 3.7 million children in Sudan will be acutely malnourished this year, including 730,000 who need lifesaving treatment. The scale and magnitude of needs for children across the country are simply staggering, said Lawler, noting that Sudan is the worlds largest displacement crisis, adding, Some of the most vulnerable children are in the hardest-to-reach places.

The World Health Organization reports escalating fighting is preventing desperately needed humanitarian aid from reaching millions of people across the country.

We are especially concerned about the situation in Darfur states, where no direct humanitarian access has been possible for several months, and only limited aid is reaching people in these areas, said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, in a statement Friday.

Balkhy, who went on the mission to Sudan early last week with her colleague, Richard Brennan, said, Most health facilities have been looted, damaged, or destroyed. In West Darfur, the local health system has essentially ground to a halt.

We have consistently shown that when we are provided with sufficient access and resources, we achieve good health outcomes.

During my meetings with the deputy prime minister and minister of health, I received reassurances that all efforts will be made to facilitate the scale up of the health response throughout Sudan, she said.

UNICEF is appealing to the warring parties to enable rapid, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access both across conflict lines within Sudan and across borders with Sudans neighboring countries.

Chad has provided a crucial lifeline to communities in Darfur, and access through its border remains absolutely critical, along with access through South Sudan, Lawler said, adding that providing a lifeline for millions of destitute people will require generous support from the international community.

We need a massive mobilization of resources by the end of March so that humanitarian partners can get the supplies and capacity on the ground, in time, to limit the impending humanitarian catastrophe that we are seeing, she said.
CAIRO 

Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials.

The talks would mark the first time Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldnt lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected.

In recent days, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting back on track the talks that never fully broke off.

Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions.

The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire that would see the release of 35 hostages  women, those who are ill and older people  held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said.

Nearly 1 in 3 children under 2 years old in the isolated north have acute malnutrition, the United Nations children's agency said Friday.

In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent cease-fire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said.

In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies it is holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic. However, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar for more talks.

Those talks were expected to resume Sunday afternoon, although they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said.

Netanyahus government has rejected calls for a permanent cease-fire, insisting it must first fulfill its stated goal of annihilating Hamas.

Attack on Rafah

Netanyahus office also said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians  more than half the enclave's population  are sheltering.

Many Palestinians fled to Rafah when Israel attacked Gaza following the October 7 Hamas terror attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and claimed another 250 as hostages.

The United States and other countries have warned that a military operation in Rafah could be disastrous, but Israel says it plans to push ahead to destroy Hamas battalions stationed there.

Netanyahu's office did not give details or a timetable for the Rafah operation but said it would involve the evacuation of the civilian population. The military has said it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the U.S. has yet to see "a clear and implementable plan to safeguard innocent people in Rafah from an Israeli incursion.

Israel's assault continues

The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that at least 31,553 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

An Israeli strike early Saturday flattened a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 19 people, including nine children, according to records at the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. An Associated Press journalist there saw the bodies.

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the U.N.
NIAMEY, NIGER  Niger's government announced Saturday that it was breaking off "with immediate effect" its military cooperation agreement with the United States.

The declaration came a day after a senior U.S. delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military junta that ousted the president and moved closer to Russia.

The statement said the government had decided to "denounce with immediate effect" the agreement relating to U.S. military and civilian employees of the U.S. Department of Defense inside Niger.

It was read out Saturday evening on national television.

The United States still stations about 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base built at a cost of $100 million.

Movements there have been limited since the July 2023 coup and Washington has curbed assistance to the government.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a rare visit to Niger a year ago in hopes of shoring up President Mohamed Bazoum, a stalwart ally in Western security efforts against jihadis.

Four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest.

The junta took a hard line against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade.

Niger's military had in the past worked closely with the United States.

But the junta has sought cooperation with Russia, while stopping short of the full-fledged embrace of Moscow by military-run neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 

The number of Chinese workers across Africa has hit its lowest level in more than a decade, new data from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics show.

From a record high of 263,696 workers on the continent in 2015, only 88,371 were recorded in 2022, the most recent year on record.

The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, which analyzed data from 2009 to 2022, attributed the drop in numbers partially to the pandemic as Chinese workers left during that period and the country only reopened in early 2023.

But the plummeting numbers are also due to a variety of other factors, experts said, including oil prices and the downscaling of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings global Belt and Road Initiative, which initially saw thousands of Chinese sent out across the continent to work on large infrastructure projects.

SEE ALSO:

Uptick expected?

We have no data for 2023, but anecdotally we hear that more postponed projects are resuming. Yet we are unlikely to see the high numbers of the past, said Deborah Brautigam, director at the China Africa Research Initiative, when asked whether the numbers could have rebounded last year and might continue to do so.

Yunnan Chen, a researcher at ODI Global, a U.K.-based research group, was also bearish.

It might be that some construction has restarted since 2022, but we know the number of overall Chinese-financed projects has been in decline for a number of years, and the last few years have put a damper on any new project deals. So I wouldn't expect any dramatic increases in these numbers anytime soon, she told VOA.

The five countries with the most Chinese workers in 2022 were Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While still leading in the number of workers, Algeria and Angola also saw the biggest drops.

Algeria had more than 91,000 Chinese workers in 2016 while Angola had a peak of 50,000. By 2022, only about 7,000 workers remained in each country.

Brautigam told VOA the huge drops are explained by the price of oil. Theyre both highly reliant on oil exports and they use this oil to pay for nearly all government spending.

In Angola, after its civil war ended in 2002, the Chinese helped the country rebuild, with the Export-Import Bank of China pledging $2 billion in oil-backed loans. But then global oil prices fell and Angola become mired in debt.

The countrys president, Joao Lourenco, who was first elected in 2017, has sought to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on China, resulting in fewer Chinese projects and workers.

But more Chinese workers may soon be in Angolas future. During a visit to Beijing on Friday, Lourenco and China's Xi agreed to upgrade bilateral ties, which will allow for more trade and investment.

Bucking the trend

Not all countries in Africa have seen recent declines in Chinese workers, however, with the DRC, Egypt and Zimbabwe being the most notable outliers.

Egypt had more than 7,000 Chinese working in 2022, compared with around 2,000 pre-pandemic. The DRC had more than 8,000 in 2022, a rise from around 3,000 in 2012. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, has been stable with around 1,000 Chinese workers over the past four years.

Zimbabwe is especially interesting as there is a big near-completion steel plant and other minerals processing going on, said Lauren Johnston, an expert on China with the University of Sydney, noting China was becoming less dependent on African oil and was shifting toward green energy and minerals.

Zimbabwe has huge deposits of lithium, one of the critical minerals needed for the move to electric vehicles, and China has invested heavily in the industry there.

SEE ALSO:

There are large value-added mineral-processing facilities being constructed in Zimbabwe and also power projects which are needed for mining and mineral processing, Brautigam noted.

The DRC is likewise rich in minerals, particularly cobalt, and in Egypt, the Chinese are building the government a whole new capital outside Cairo.

Local jobs boost?

China has often been criticized for failing to aid job creation in Africa or equip locals with new skills, despite its massive projects. While large numbers of local workers have indeed been employed, its often been in the most basic of roles, while more senior jobs have been reserved for Chinese.

Generally, Chinese projects do hire local laborers, said Chen.

Usually at the beginning of projects there is a higher proportion of Chinese engineers and skilled labor, but over time this tends to shift, as more local laborers are hired, she said, noting however that the majority are in unskilled roles.

Even as China sends fewer of its own people to Africa, hiring Africans for higher-paid, skilled jobs by Chinese companies may not happen immediately, said Brautigam.

What they need to increase is hiring managers locally, said Brautigam. But this will take time and the development of Chinese language skills among local managers.
BY FARAI MUTSAKA NORTON, Zimbabwe (AP)  A man calling himself Prophet Ishmael was charged in a Zimbabwean court Thursday after police raided the compound where he led a religious sect and found more than 250 children being kept away from school and used as cheap labor.

Police also discovered 16 unregistered graves, including those of seven infants, at the farm about 34 kilometers (21 miles) northwest of the capital, Harare.

Ishmael Chokurongerwa and seven of his aides were charged with exploiting children and denying them access to education and health services. Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said investigations were still ongoing and authorities may press more charges.

The sect leaders are also accused of breaking laws that require deaths and burials to be registered. State media reported there were around 1,000 people living on the farm before the raid.

Chokurongerwa, 56, and his aides will remain in custody after a magistrate said at their court hearing that she would rule on their bail application next week. None of the men had legal representation at the hearing and it was unclear where they were being held.

The men pleaded with the magistrate to release them on bail, saying they were not violent people and had children to look after who would suffer if they were sent to prison.

Some of Chokurongerwas followers traveled to the court hearing in the nearby town of Norton to show support for him.

Come rain, come thunder, we will follow our God, said Tabeth Mupfana, a 34-year-old woman who said she was born into the sect when it was at another location and had not experienced any abuse. We will never leave our religion. We are like an elephant, nothing can stop us. All those people fighting us are merchants of Satan.

A man who lives near the farm said it was run like a factory, producing soap, cooking oil and furniture for sale, while the sect also grew crops and kept livestock.

Armed police officers with tear gas and dogs arrived on the farm Tuesday in trucks. They found 251 children who were being used to perform various physical activities for the benefit of the sects leadership, said Nyathi. He said 246 of the children had no birth certificates.

They were subjected to abuse as cheap labor, doing manual work in the name of being taught life skills, Nyathi said.

Police returned to the farm Wednesday with social workers and rounded up children and women, many of them with infants, and took them on buses to a shelter.

The sect is believed to be one of Zimbabwes many Apostolic Christian groups, whose followers are noticeable by their long white robes, with women and girls also wearing white headscarves. The Apostolic groups fuse traditional beliefs with a Pentecostal doctrine. Some are reclusive and shun modern medicine, keep children away from school and practice polygamy.

They sometimes seek healing for illnesses through prayer and the use of holy water and anointed stones.

Apostolic churches are highly popular in Zimbabwe, with the United Nations Childrens Fund estimating they are the countrys largest religious denomination with around 2.5 million followers in a country of 15 million.

At the farm on Thursday, mostly men remained, sitting in small groups and all wearing matching white T-shirts and khaki shorts. They declined to give their names.

One man said: We are different, but we are not weird. We just have our own beliefs that come directly from God and not from scripture. Human rights are applied selectively in this country. Some of us dont have any rights.

Another criticized the police action.

We are not a cult, we are here freely, he said. I have never seen such cruelty. Police dragged our wives and children into buses like criminals. He said the group was made up of hard-working people who took care of themselves.

Other men carried on with their work in small buildings dotted around the farm, some of them welding steel and others milling corn.

Edmore Kwesa said he lived near the farm and learned a little about their ways by speaking with sect members who took the prophets cattle to graze on communal grasslands. He said the group was reclusive but industrious.

It is like a mini-factory there, he said. They produce soap, cooking oil, furniture, crops and the livestock is so many. But no one gets paid. Instead, each member requests supplies from the prophet, who distributes according to need.

The sect sold their products at a local business center, while people from outside could also purchase items directly from the farm, he said.

When one of them dies, they just bury each other there without involvement from anyone outside their sect, he said.
NEW YORK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed in shootings in a suburban township outside Philadelphia in the United States on Saturday, local media reported.

The shootings took place at two homes in Falls Township in Bucks County. The victims were known to the shooter, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The shootings appear to be domestic in nature, said the paper.

Following the incident, the shooter hijacked a car and remained at large. Falls Township residents were told to shelter in place, it said.

The Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Parade was canceled following the shootings in Falls Township, the paper reported. 
Festa dell'Unita d'Italia is a national day of celebration in Italy.

Italy marks the occasion on 17 March each year with the Festa dell'Unita d'Italia, a national day of celebration to commemorate the birth of the country as a modern nation state.

The national day marks the anniversary of the proclamation in Turin of the Kingdom of Italy on 17 March 1861 when Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia and Piedmont, became King of Italy.

The complete unification of Italy was a gradual process however and occurred over subsequent decades.

In 1866 the Veneto and the province of Mantua were annexed after the Third Italian War of Independence, then in 1870 Lazio after the capture of Rome, and finally in 1918 Trentino-Alto Adige and Julian March after world war one.

Established in 1911 on the 50th anniversary of the unification of Italy, the national day is not a public holiday, although the country did celebrate the event with a day off in 2011 to mark the 150th anniversary.
The Affordable Care Act, a law once derided and demonized by Republicans as a big government power grab, is becoming a politically untouchable part of the American safety net, with more than 45 million people now relying on its provisions for health coverage.
Newsreaders generally dress fairly conservatively  men usually in a suit and tie, women often in a tailored jacket  their sneakers concealed under a desk and away from the camera. However, former SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin could never be described as a shrinking violet. A fashion legend as much as a polished presenter, Chin was admired by viewers who tuned in to see what she was wearing that day, just as much as to hear the news.

Unlike some fashionistas who are decked out in top-to-toe designer labels, Chin has always avoided the obvious. I have a total distain for labels and loud branding displayed across a garment. I am not a billboard, she says.

Former SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin is auctioning off items from her iconic wardrobe. Credit: Getty

In good news for anyone envious of Chins wardrobe, she will be parting with many of her designer pieces, clothing she has acquired over the decades, when they are sold by Andrew Shapiro Auctioneers in Sydney on Monday, 25 March.

This large offering, comprising over 67 items, including clothing, shoes and accessories, will be keenly watched  not just by those who have a similar diminutive figure to Lee Lin, but by those wanting to purchase a small piece of fashion history.
How often do you read about men going grey? Ill hazard a guess: never! Men with grey hair are distinguished, at the top of their game, all George Clooneys now.

The reality could not be more different for women. From the moment we viciously pluck that first grey hair from our scalp, we go into battle mode. For who wants to be described as an old woman, a stereotype that demeans and disparages?

Even in older age, women, their bodies and their behaviour are still policed if they do not conform to patriarchal norms. Credit: Stocksy

Women, of course, are practised at being at war with themselves: the tummy, the bottom, the thighs, the breasts. No part of the body is immune.

It didnt cross my mind when I discovered those early grey threads that I should do as nature intended. Instead, I camouflaged what is often the first sign of ageing, as if ageing was somehow shameful.
Labors mixed messages on the Israel-Palestine conflict, inflamed by the barbarous Hamas attacks on October 7, were perfectly illustrated by a midair turn this week. Palestinians fleeing war-ravaged Gaza found themselves turned around during their journey to Australia, with visas that had been approved suddenly cancelled.

The cruelty of turning around refugees seems inexplicable as images of Gazans increasing distress among the rubble of their city are carried on traditional and social media. The government has cited ongoing security checks, although it has not mentioned security concerns to the Gazans involved. Rather, it has told them there is a concern that they would have overstayed the visas that had been granted.

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Some Gazans attempting to flee, including to Australia, as international aid agencies say the territory is suffering from shortages of food, medicine and basic supplies. Credit: Fatima Shbair/AP

This episode goes against the way many people understand the world. Either these Gazans are victims, in which case they must be innocents deserving of protection, or they are security concerns, implying that they might not be innocent victims of Israeli aggression. Entertaining the idea that someone can be both a victim and not innocent is challenging, but key to how we respond in the face of this evolving crisis.

Humanitarianism, to paraphrase David Rieffs A Bed For the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis, has proven more ambiguous than humanitarians could have imagined. What aid workers have learned, Rieff frets, is that while politics and political analyses matter desperately to them, moral fables matter more to the general public. But Rieff says adults who cross a border, or get caught in a crossfire, or risk starving to death as a war intensifies, have political opinions and often have themselves taken part in killing.
A Palestinian journalist posted a video to Instagram from inside the hospital, saying there were intense clashes in the vicinity, and the situation was catastrophic. This might be my last video Were been shot at, Wadea Abu Alsoud said. Earlier Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a cabinet meeting to press on with the campaign against Hamas by sending troops into Rafah, despite mounting global pressure  including from the US  for a ceasefire. And he has railed against growing criticism from the US against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, describing calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the countrys highest-ranking Jewish official and a strong Israel supporter,last week called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had lost his way. Protesters start a fire at a Tel Aviv protest calling for the release of all hostages, and against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. Credit: Getty US President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumers good speech, and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza. Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new US election after the September 11 attacks in 2001, and denounced Schumers comments as inappropriate. Were not a banana republic, he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who theyll elect, and its not something that will be foisted on us.

When asked by CNN whether he would commit to a new election after the war ends, Netanyahu said that I think thats something for the Israeli public to decide. Loading The US, which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told Fox the US still hasnt seen an Israeli plan for Rafah. The US supports a new round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas October 7 attack. The Israeli delegation to those talks was expected to leave for Qatar after Monday morning (AEDT) meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give directions for negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear he would not back down from the fighting that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. More than five months have passed since Hamas attack on southern Israel killed 1200 people and another 250 were taken hostage. On Sunday, Netanyahu said that calls for an election now  which polls show he would lose badly  would force Israel to stop fighting and paralyse the country for six months. Netanyahu also reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation. We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen, he said. The operation is supposed to include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians, but it is not clear how Israel will do that. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reiterated his warning that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have grave repercussions on the whole region. Egypt says pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula would jeopardise its peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability.

We are also very concerned about the risks a full-scale offensive in Rafah would have on the vulnerable civilian population. This needs to be avoided at all costs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with Sissi. People inspect the damage and extract items from their homes in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. Credit: Getty And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, warned that the more desperate the situation of people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: no matter how important the goal, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal? Germany is one of Israels closest allies in Europe and, given memories of the Holocaust, often treads carefully when criticising Israel. Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said that the prime ministers comments fit with his efforts to find someone else to blame if Israel doesnt achieve its goal of destroying Hamas.

Hes looking on purpose for a conflict with the US so that he can blame Biden, Pinkas said. Both sides have something to gain politically from the dispute. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israels war against Hamas. Netanyahu, meanwhile, wants to show his nationalist base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israels closest ally. But pressure also comes from home, with thousands protesting again in Tel Aviv this weekend against Netanyahus government and calling for a new election and a deal for the release of hostages. Large parts of the Israeli public want a deal, fearing that hostages are held in poor conditions and time is running out to bring them home alive. Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the UN. Loading
Ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has criticized American outfit Haas for what he perceives as a lack of ambition to win in Formula 1.

Haas joined the fray in 2016 as an independent team funded in large part by its eponymous founder Gene Haas.

The US outfits business model is distinctive within Formula 1 as it relies heavily on partnerships and collaboration with Ferrari and Dallara rather than solely on internal development.

Instead of manufacturing most components in-house, Haas has formed a close technical partnership with the Scuderia.

Such an approach allows the team to leverage the expertise, resources, and components of its partner, enabling it to focus more on chassis design and assembly, while production is outsourced to Dallara.

While Haas model emphasizes cost efficiency and strategic collaborations to compete in F1, many believe it has run its course as former team principal Guenther Steiner recently suggested.

F1 changed from when Haas started to where it went in the past five years. Its a completely different ball game, argued Steiner who was instrumental in putting the team on its rails in 2016.

You just need to open your eyes, if you understand F1, and look at what the other ones do  and Haas isnt doing it.

At some stage, you cant get anywhere with [Haass] approach. Its just not time-representative anymore.

Beyond the merits of its model, and considering the teams perennial stagnation at the lower end of the field, Eddie Jordan has cast doubt on Haas F1's commitment to competing at the sport's highest level.

The former Grand Prix entrant believes that Haas is weighed down by its owners lack of aspiration to win, suggesting that it might be content with simply participating in Formula 1 without actively chasing victories.

If it was me, and I was there, Id cast my attention to the engineering, the speed of the car, the ability to do the job, Jordan told david Coulthard on the latters Formula for Success podcast.

Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen in particular - I worked with him just after the Jordan era - are talented drivers who can do the job. No issue there.

The issue is the commitment to the job in hand. Theyve been there for a long time, in Formula 1, and I havent seen the team move forward.

Aspirations of winning a grand prix? I dont see it.

Whether its personnel or the second-hand Ferrari engine But youd rather have the Ferrari engine than the Renault engine in the Alpine, thats for sure.

A lot comes down to aero, and to Gene Haas putting the right guys in place. He hasnt done that yet.

The car in race trim seems okay. But in qualifying? They are given no chance. The car is just marginally better than the Alpine.

Coulthard agreed that there is definitely room for improvement.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

The Taoiseach has said the reason dozens of asylum seekers were moved from a makeshift camp in Dublin city to a separate location was for health and safety reasons.

Concerns have been raised after men who had been camping on Mount Street were moved by authorities to tents at a location in south-west Dublin on Saturday morning.

Men who had been camping near the International Protection Office were taken by bus to a site at Crooksling.

Mr Varadkar is in the US ahead of St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA)

Some suggested that the abrupt movement of an estimated 100 asylum seekers from the location was due to the tents being an eyesore for tourists visiting the capital for the St Patricks Day weekend.

Speaking from Washington DC, Leo Varadkar denied that the decision was made to avoid an embarrassment for the Government close to St Patricks Day.

No, the reason why they were moved was essentially that there wasnt any sanitary facilities, there were no showers, no toilets on Mount Street, he told reporters on Saturday.

So the alternative in Crooksling had that, and so it was to move them really for health and safety reasons from a place where there was no facilities to somewhere where there is.

He said of the people who wanted to return to Mount Street: To me, being provided with accommodation where theres running water, where theres showers, where theres toilets, is better than living on the streets.

The Taoiseach said the new location was chosen because it offered much better conditions than on Mount Street.

The reason why it was chosen is because its State-owned and it was available, and there was running water, showers, toilets, so much better conditions than people would have experienced on Mount Street, Mr Varadkar said.

Unfortunately, there are protests and theres risks everywhere  youll recall what happened on Sandwith Street.

So, unfortunately, no matter where people are, theres going to be certain risks. But obviously, security measures are put in place as well.

Many of the dozens of tents that had been pitched at Mount Street had been slashed before they were cleared by council workers.

Volunteers who had supplied the men with tents worked to salvage some equipment.

Mr Varadkar cited health and safety reasons (Brian Lawless/PA)

Community volunteer Lena Seale told the PA news agency: Its pretty obvious to us that the reason they are here is because Paddys Day is coming, were going to be flooded with tourists and I think they see these men as eyesores, not as human beings, and theyre not serious about providing a real solution.

Volunteers at the site suggested that some asylum seekers at the new location they had been brought to by International Protection Accommodation Services staff were given tents and limited facilities.

It was claimed that some of them were walking back to the site at Mount Street where their tents had since been removed.

Shoes, cleaning supplies, blankets and other personal belongings were seen in the area after the tents removal.

Volunteers contradicted Mr Varadkars claims, claiming it was done ahead of St Patricks Day celebrations (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

Labour Party TD Aodhan O Riordain, who helped fold up some of the tents at the site, said there was a sense that the Government was playing a game.

He said: The sense of disappointment, (after we thought) we were getting proper accommodation is really, really palpable.

We feel that the Government are playing a game, this is all for show. I didnt want to believe that. I really wanted to believe that the advocacy had actually worked, and the Government were taking this seriously.

What has happened is they have just moved the situation from one place to another.

He said although there is less risk of infection at the new site, that at Mount Street the men had access to local facilities and mosques.

Mr O Riordain said he did not want to be cynical, but the site was in the eyeline of tourists.

Dublin City Council said the tents were causing an obstruction (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said: Why would they be here for a year and then moved on St Patricks weekend?

We wanted this to be moved, we wanted people to be given more dignity, but if the alternative is tents on the side of a mountain, its hard to know if were just being played.

In a statement, Dublin City Council said: Following the relocation of the International Protection Applicants by IPAS, contractors working on behalf of Dublin City Council removed the waste and tents that were left behind as they were causing an obstruction on the public footpath.

The Department of Integration said in a statement: This morning, the department has offered alternative shelter to all International Protection Applicants camped at Mount Street.

All those who accepted the offer will be provided tented accommodation at a site in Crooksling, where food, personal toiletries, toilet and shower facilities are also available.

The department will engage with HSE and healthcare providers in order to ensure the wellbeing of those on site.

The department has engaged closely with Dublin City Council regarding the situation at Mount Street, and DCC has confirmed that the site at Mount Street will be cleaned following the removal of the tents currently there.

More broadly, the situation in relation to accommodation remains very challenging. The supply of available accommodation is severely diminished.

What accommodation can be opened at this point is primarily being utilised for families in order to avoid women and children becoming homeless. Since January, approximately 2,400 beds have been brought into use for those seeking accommodation.
A Charlestown-based councillor has questioned why a critical piece of infrastructure that was built in 2009 is still lying idle.

Sinn Fein Cllr Gerry Murray told last weeks meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District that a state-of-the-art broadband line, constructed with EU funding of 3m to 4m, has not been turned on for 15 years.

Cllr Murray said he was approached by the late JP Duffy of Westel Utilities Ltd in 2017, who informed him that his company built a metropolitan broadband ring at Knock Airport in 2009, but it was never switched on.

Mr Duffy told him all it would take is someone in the private sector to switch it on by installing an aerial and it would provide high-speed broadband to thousands of homes and businesses in the surrounding areas.

Cllr Gerry Murray said it was astonishing that this was allowed to happen.

I assume its been switched on but it just shows that its a Wild West in terms of private utilities," Cllr Murray told a meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District. "Im not sure whos in charge of that metropolitan broadband ring. When JP brought me up there to show me it, people within a 10-15-mile radius of Knock Airport couldnt get proper broadband but by attaching an aerial to the ring at the airport, people would have been able to receive high-speed broadband via a radio signal. For eight or nine years, they couldnt find somebody in the private sector that would literally flick the switch.

Mayo Co Councils Head of Digital Development and Broadband, Danny OToole, said it was his understanding that the broadband ring still has not been switched on.

Cllr Murray said it was astonishing that this had happened.

You have a piece of infrastructure in East Mayo that at a flick of a switch would have solved an infrastructural deficit. I spoke with the European Commission about this and they were flabbergasted that nobody had the courtesy to flick a switch, Cllr Murray said.

Mr OToole said the issue only came across his desk in the last number of weeks but he would try to get to the bottom of it.
The fascinating life and work of the late Garech de Brun of Castle Mac Garrett, will be the subject of an illustrated presentation by the writer, James Morrissey, in Claremorris Town Hall Studio on Tuesday evening, March 26th, at 8.15pm. The event, entitled Garech Browne and Claddagh Records, is being hosted by Claremorris Historical Society and admission is free.

James Morrissey is a native of Kiltimagh. His latest work, Real to Reel: A History of Claddagh Records, published by Claddagh Records, includes a large-format hardback book together with a vinyl box set celebrating the life of Garech Browne and his quest to preserve Irelands musical and spoken-word heritage with Claddagh Records.

Garech Browne grew up in Castle Mac Garrett, Claremorris, the eldest of the three sons of Dominick Browne - the 4th Baron Oranmore and Browne - and his second wife, Oonagh, a wealthy heiress to the Guinness fortune.

Garech's father, Lord Oranmore and Browne, had the rare distinction of sitting in the House of Lords for 72 years, until his death at the age of 100 in August 2002, without ever speaking in a debate.

Garechs only full brother, The Hon. Tara Browne, was a young London socialite whose death at the age of 21 in a car crash in London's West End helped inspire John Lennon when writing the song, 'A Day in the Life', with Paul McCartney.

Garech spent most of his life at Luggala, Co Wicklow, a house made famous by his parties, which were attended by many musical luminaries of the 1960s, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. His former home, Woodtown Manor near Dublin, was for many years a welcoming place for Irish poets, writers and musicians. The folk-pop group Clannad made many of their recordings there.

A leading proponent of the revival and preservation of traditional Irish music, Garech was instrumental in the formation of the traditional Irish folk group The Chieftains. In 1962, having previously set up Claddagh Records, he asked his friend, the famed uileann piper Paddy Moloney, to form a group for a one-off album. Moloney responded with the first line-up for the band, which went on to achieve international commercial success as The Chieftains.

All of this and much more will be recounted by James Morrissey in what promises to be a most interesting evening. All are welcome.

James Morrisey is a leading communications consultant and the author of several books. A former award-winning journalist, he was a founder of the Sunday Business Post newspaper and attended Garbally College in Ballinasloe before embarking on his journalistic career.

As a boy, he vividly recalls visiting Castle MacGarrett with his father in the 1960s to buy apples and honey.
In this article, we will take a look at the 15 biggest bilingual cities in the US. If you would like to skip our discussion on the global landscape of bilingualism, you can go to the 5 Biggest Bilingual Cities in the US.

Almost half of the world population is bilingual, with 43% of the people speaking two or more languages, according to the Journal of Neurolinguistics. In the United States alone, there are roughly 67.3 million bilingual individuals, making up 20.6% of the total American population, according to the Centre for Immigration Studies. Bilingualism not only enriches cultures but also provides cognitive advantages and increases global interconnectedness. In today's interconnected world, bilingualism is increasingly important as it creates opportunities for economic engagement. According to some reports, bilingual employees potentially earn 5-20% more per hour compared to their monolingual counterparts. The benefits of bilingualism extend beyond economic advantages. Being bilingual can also help improve memory, attention span, and creativity. Bilingual speakers are also good listeners as they possess an understanding of various sounds and relevant aspects of speech.

The percentage of people who speak two or more languages varies worldwide. In Switzerland, 42% of people use two or more languages in everyday life, while only 20% do the same in France. The United States also has regions where residents are more likely to be bilingual. El Monte, California, is one of the most bilingual cities in the US, with 84.5% of its population speaking a language other than English. Meanwhile, California is among the most bilingual states in the US, with 46% of Californians speaking more than one language. This is why it comes as no surprise that California has the highest number of online searches related to learning a new language compared to any other state in the US. The top three most multilingual cities in the US are all situated in California as well.

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It is interesting to note that Spanish is the most popular second language spoken in the US, after English. There are around 57 million Spanish speakers in the United States as of 2023, which makes the US the biggest Spanish-speaking country after Mexico. Besides Spanish, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese are among the top 5 languages spoken in the US. Other popular languages also include French, Arabic, Korean, and German. According to Preply, an online language learning marketplace, Americans are most interested in learning Japanese, Korean, and French, after Spanish and English, based on their search history data. These preferences may stem from individuals' perceptions regarding the prominence of certain languages in the future. You can find out more about the 30 Most Spoken Languages in the World in 2050 here.

Importance of Bilingualism in the Workforce

The US government has launched several initiatives and programs to promote bilingual and multilingual learning in the US. One such program is the Being Bilingual is a Superpower initiative that promotes multilingual education and a multilingual workforce for the betterment of society. Additionally, reports indicate that nine out of ten US employers rely on bilingual staff, with a projected increase in demand for bilingual employees in the future. Many public companies in the US prioritize the recruitment of bilingual resources for their operations, with notable examples including Kelly Services (NASDAQ:KELYA), Danone (EPA:BN), and HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:HUBS).

Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:KELYA) is a workforce solutions company that offers a range of employment services, including bilingual job opportunities. Meanwhile, Danone (EPA:BN) is a multinational food company that places a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. It actively promotes a bilingual workforce within its organization as part of its commitment to support a diverse workplace. Similarly, HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:HUBS), a leading provider of inbound marketing, sales, and service software, recognizes the benefits of a bilingual workforce and encourages the recruitment of multilingual talent. HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:HUBS) shared an update on the financial performance of the company in its Q4 2023 earnings call:

We saw a solid finish to a good year despite the challenging macro environment. Q4 revenue grew 21% year-over-year in constant currency and full year 2023 revenue grew 25% in constant currency. We delivered a standout operating profit margin of 17% in Q4 and 15% for the full year, up over 500 basis points year-over-year. Total customers grew 23% to over 205,000 customers globally, driven by nearly 11,000 net customer additions in the quarter, a new record for us.

With this context in mind, lets take a look at some of the most linguistically diverse cities in the United States.

15 Biggest Bilingual Cities in the US

Our Methodology

To shortlist the biggest bilingual cities in the US, we referred to the latest data available from the United States Census Bureau. Our methodology involved gathering information on the total number of people aged five and above who speak a non-English language at home across the country. From the shortlisted database, we focused solely on the largest cities based on the latest population statistics. The biggest bilingual cities in the US have been ranked in ascending order of the percentage of bilingual population.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

15 Biggest Bilingual Cities in the US

15. Seattle, Washington

Bilingual Population = 24.1%

Seattle, Washington, is known for its linguistic diversity, with a significant number of residents speaking non-English languages. According to the City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), the most common non-English languages spoken in Seattle are divided into three tiers based on the needs of the community. The top languages include Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Amharic, Korean, and Tagalog, reflecting the city's multicultural and multilingual character.

14. Denver, Colorado

Bilingual Population = 24.7%

Denver, like many cities in the United States, has a diverse population. There is a considerable presence of bilingual individuals, with a quarter of the citys population being bilingual, particularly among Asian Americans and Latinos. The city's bilingual population reflects Denvers vibrant immigrant communities, contributing to a multilingual environment.

13. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bilingual Population = 24.9%

Philadelphia is rich with a bilingual and multilingual population. Almost 25% of the citys population is fluent in more than one language. The multilingual culture of Philadelphia highlights the welcoming nature of the city for immigrants and people from diverse backgrounds. Bilingual education programs in Philadelphia ensure that children from diverse backgrounds get equal educational opportunities within the city.

12. Austin, Texas

Bilingual Population = 29.6%

With almost 30% of its population being bilingual, Austin, Texas, is a vibrant city with a significant Hispanic population. Spanish is the second most popular language in the city, after English, and is followed by Chinese. This linguistic diversity is a symbol of Austin's multicultural environment, where residents from various backgrounds contribute to the city's culture.

11. Fort Worth, Texas

Bilingual Population = 32.8%

Fort Worth is home to a large Mexican American population, with Spanish being the second most spoken language. The city has implemented bilingual education programs and offers Spanish-language services to support its bilingual community. There are about 33% bilingual residents in the city, signifying its multicultural status.

10. Chicago, Illinois

Bilingual Population = 35.9%

Chicago has a significant immigrant population, including many bilingual residents. The city offers bilingual education programs, and its bilingual community makes up almost 36% of the citys population. Chicago's bilingual culture is a testament to its status as a global city with a mix of different languages and cultures.

9. Phoenix, Arizona

Bilingual Population = 37.4%

Phoenix has a diverse population with a significant number of Spanish-speaking residents. The city supports bilingual education and has programs to promote Spanish language services. Around 37.4% of the citys population speaks a non-English language at home. Arizona's efforts to limit English-only education have contributed to the growth of dual-language immersion programs in the state.

8. San Diego, California

Bilingual Population = 39.5%

San Diego, California, is known for its multicultural population, with Spanish being the second most spoken language in the city. San Diego's bilingual culture is a reflection of its status as a hub for immigrants and refugees, with almost 40% of the population being bilingual. The city is at the eighth position on our list of the biggest bilingual cities in the US.

7. San Antonio, Texas

Bilingual Population = 40.7%

Like many other Texan cities, San Antonio, Texas, has a large Hispanic population. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the city. About 40% of the citys population is bilingual. The Century Foundation has highlighted San Antonio's efforts to expand dual language programs through the inclusion of Dual Language Immersion in various schools across the city.

6. Dallas, Texas

Bilingual Population = 42.6%

Dallas, Texas, is home to a large Mexican American population, with Spanish being the second most-spoken language in the city. The city's bilingual culture reflects its status as a prominent urban center with a considerable immigrant presence. Nearly 42.6% of the citys population is bilingual.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Biggest Bilingual Cities in the US is published on Insider Monkey.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  Bethlehem City Council has listened to hours of public comments about fighting in the Middle East, pushing back its consideration of city business.

Many of those speakers were not Bethlehem residents.

City Council member Grace Crampsie Smith has proposed limiting comment to residents and taxpayers, a plan she says in a memo abides by the Sunshine Law, the Pennsylvania rules governing public meetings.

Council met March 5 for a five-hour meeting that ended without even reaching actual Bethlehem issues, as calls of "ceasefire now" brought the session to a close.

Many people spoke on the conflict in the Gaza Strip that night, some demanding the city pass a resolution calling for an end to fighting. Others opposed the idea, and some said Bethlehem has no business voting on global affairs.

The Gaza strip is a Palestinian enclave between Israel and Egypt. It is about 5,700 miles from Bethlehem. Fighting has raged in the strip since October, when the group Hamas killed Israelis and took hostages. Some estimates say more than 30,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel started retaliating.

Crampsie Smith's memo says existing rules can focus meetings on actual city business.

"Given the unfortunate series of events that occurred at our recent council meeting of March 5, 2024, I feel it is vital that we abide by our documented Rules of Council," the Crampsie Smith memo says.

She also suggests amending council's rules, and says under the Sunshine Law, "public comment is limited to citizens and/or taxpayers of the City of Bethlehem."

The Crampsie Smith memo is on Tuesday's meeting agenda.

Calls for symbolic resolutions have occupied council's time before. In 2019, much of one meeting was spent on a resolution encouraging the U.S. government to adopt a "Medicare for All" program. Speakers, some who did not live in the city, discussed their experiences with healthcare.

Meanwhile, people who attended to address city business waited.

Council adopted such a resolution supporting what the speakers sought. But more than four years later, there has been no change in national healthcare policy in favor of providing Medicare coverage.

Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, in Town Hall. The meeting agenda and a link to a webcast are posted on the city website.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

The nicest day of the forecast, with an egg-cellent Easter Sunday expected with partly sunny skies and mild highs near the 60-degree mark. .

Tonight

Clouding up with a bit of rain arriving late...after midnight.
TRENTON, N.J. - Andre Gordon Jr., the man arrested Saturday in connection with the fatal shootings of three people, has been formally charged by New Jersey and Pennsylvania authorities.

The 26-year-old Gordon is suspected of three murders in Pennsylvania, as well as a carjacking in both states.

Law enforcement officials in New Jersey and Bucks County were looking for Gordon in connection with shootings that occurred in two separate locations in Falls Township, Pa., on Saturday morning.

The Bucks County District Attorney said Gordon drove a stolen vehicle from Trenton and broke into a Falls Township home, shooting and killing his 52-year-old stepmother and 13-year-old sister.

"There were three other individuals at the residence, including a minor inside the home, who were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them," said Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn.

The District Attorney said Gordon then drove to another home, broke in and killed a woman he had two children with.

"At the time of the shooting, there were four other individuals present inside that home, one of which was injured after being bludgeoned by Gordon with the assault rifle," said Schorn.

According to the New Jersey Attorney General, Gordon allegedly carjacked a vehicle in the parking lot of Donnelly Homes in Trenton around 8:40 a.m., drove to Falls Township before committing the shootings. He then carjacked a second vehicle in Morrisville, Pa. before returning to Trenton, the DA said.

According to the DA, Gordon then entered a residence on Phillips Avenue and was later apprehended on New York Avenue at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday.

Gordon is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center and awaiting a preliminary hearing in Pennsylvania on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, burglary, robbery, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

New Jersey officials have filed charges that include first-degree carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, third-degree unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, third-degree receiving stolen property, fourth-degree unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines, and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition.

The string of violent acts that took place yesterday, allegedly at the hands of a single armed individual, alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties," said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. "It is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor to do immense damage and leave a trail of tragedies in their wake."

"I am grateful to all the brave law enforcement officers who mobilized in the face of grave danger and helped ensure this incident ended without further harm," Platkin added. "We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions.
Police said 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. has been arrested. He allegedly killed three people Saturday morning in Falls Township, Bucks County, near Philadelphia.

The Bucks County District Attorney said Gordon drove a stolen vehicle from Trenton and broke into a Falls Township home, shooting and killing his 52-year-old stepmother and 13-year-old sister.

"There were three other individuals at the residence, including a minor inside the home, who were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them," said Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn.

The District Attorney said Gordon then drove to another home, broke in and killed a woman he had two children with.

"At the time of the shooting, there were four other individuals present inside that home, one of which was injured after being bludgeoned by Gordon with the assault rifle," said Schorn.

"Something like that in my neighborhood is, that's terrible," said Steve Schive, a neighbor.

Residents in the area were told to shelter in place.

Nearby Sesame Place closed temporarily.

Investigators said Gordon stole another car in Morrisville

"The operator of the vehicle did not suffer any injuries," said Schorn.

The car was found in Trenton.

Police could be seen surrounding a home in the city.

"He was, he was at that house at one point. But before we were able to establish a perimeter he slipped out," said Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson.

Police said Gordon was located a couple blocks away.

"When they received the information that he's walking, they actually located him out on the street," said Wilson.

There is still no word from authorities on an alleged motive.

The District Attorney said Gordon will be charged in Bucks County at an appropriate time.
GLEN GARDNER, N.J. - New Jersey State Police say a 62-year-old man was struck and killed by a car on Route 31 in Hunterdon County Saturday night.

Police say the accident occurred around 10 p.m. on Route 31 North in Glen Gardner.

A preliminary investigation found that John Gallic was struck by a Honda traveling northbound in the area of milepost 37.3. Gallic sustained fatal injuries, while the driver of the Honda sustained minor injuries, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.
Voters across Russia have cast ballots on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years for Vladimir Putin.

Putin faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly quarter-century of rule.

The election comes amid a ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and prominent human rights groups. Putins fiercest foe, Alexei Navalny, died in prison last month.

Other critics are either in jail or in exile.
In this article, we will list the 15 US bucket list trips in 2024 for adventure lovers. If you want to skip our discussion about the travel industry and adventure travel, go to 5 US Bucket List Trips In 2024 For Adventure Lovers.

The global tourism industry is rebounding. It already reached 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and is expected to surpass it this year, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The United States has been leading this comeback of the global tourism industry, with the travel and tourism sector contributing $2.6 trillion to the economic footprint of the country in the year 2022. The US Travel Association also reports that the United States had reached 84% of 2019 visitation levels by December 2023.

In our piece about the best cheap summer vacation destinations in the US, we saw how an increasing number of Americans expressed a desire to travel in the summer months. Most travelers prefer domestic travel due to rising international travel costs. Summer travels often entail adventure vacations, which we are going to look at later in this article.

The United States offers diverse vacation experiences, including those for adventure lovers. The country has a plethora of hiking trails, national parks, waterfalls, and mountains for those who love to seek adventure. Adventure tourism is a large segment of the overall tourism market. The people in this segment seek outdoor activities and natural experiences. According to Allied Market Research, the global adventure tourism market size was estimated to be valued at $324 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $2 trillion by 2032, growing at a compounding annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5%. Adventure travel in the United States alone is quite significant. It contributes $887 billion annually to the US economy, with millions of Americans participating in outdoor activities each year.

The United States, although one of the most adventurous places in the world, does not top the list of adventurous countries. Many experts and adventure enthusiasts agree that New Zealand is the most adventurous place in the world. According to a survey conducted by Booking.com, New Zealand consistently ranks as the top destination for adventure tourism. Adventure tourism also contributes significantly to the economy of the country, with activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, and extreme sports.

Story continues

While the US is not the most adventurous place in the world, it ranks pretty high on the list. The variety of travel experiences within the United States combined with the rising cost of travel makes domestic vacation an attractive option for American travelers. This is one of the reasons why, despite the rising costs of everyday lives, Americans are spending a substantial amount on travel. In 2022, the total travel spending in the country reached $1.2 trillion as travelers started looking to travel smarter, exploring hidden gems, and opting for cheaper alternatives.

While the global travel and tourism industry is rebounding, the pace has been slower than expected amid inflation and rising travel costs. Companies, such as Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB), which are associated with the travel and tourism industry suffered slightly because of inflation. Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) is a leading short-term rental company that faced significant shifts in the year 2023. People were starting to wonder whether the company was on its way to dying out after a report published in Bloomberg reported available revenue per room in areas of Orlando and California dropped by 6.4% and 17%, respectively, in the first half of 2023. However, the company recently reported a positive revenue surprise for the fourth quarter of 2023, which depicts that Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) and the travel industry are on the rise. The company reported a revenue of $2.22 billion and outperformed market expectations by $53.47 million.

With that backdrop, let's look at the 15 US bucket list trips in 2024 for adventure lovers.

15 US Bucket List Trips In 2024 For Adventure Lovers

Pixabay/Public Domain

Methodology

To curate our list of the 15 best bucket list trips in 2024 for adventure lovers, we looked at 5 (1,2,3,4,5) sources on the internet. We used a consensus methodology in which we gave the highest priority to the number of times each adventure destination appeared on our sources (frequency). However, we also wanted to account for the ranking of each destination in our sources while giving each an equal weightage. So, we used our previously devised ranking factor and added it to the frequency to arrive at the Insider Monkey Score. The higher this score, the higher the destination ranks on our list. We used the following calculation for our ranking factor: (15/sum of rankings*100). The ranking factor is devised in a way that it is always greater than zero but less than one. So, if source A has an Insider Monkey Score of 3.25, 3 is its frequency and 0.25 is the ranking factor.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

15 - Everglades, Florida

Insider Monkey Score - 1.050

Everglades is one of the most unique destinations in the world with a diverse ecosystem and exciting opportunities for outdoor activities. Rangers-led tours give adventurous travelers a chance to experience swamp lands up close. You can also zip through the lily-covered water in an airboat and immerse yourself in nature.

14 - Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Insider Monkey Score - 1.074

Located in the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, Cape Cod is an arm-shaped peninsula that extends to the Atlantic Ocean. It offers a wide range of activities for visitors to enjoy such as whale watching and water activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and windsurfing. Cape Cod is also renowned for its bike paths and hiking trails.

13 - Juneau, Alaska

Insider Monkey Score - 1.075

The capital city of Alaska is 13th on our list of 15 US bucket list trips for 2024 adventure lovers. The city offers a host of activities for visitors, including a whale-watching experience, exploring glaciers, hiking on over 250 miles of trails, and sea kayaking. Another popular activity in the city is fishing which is planned around the salmon migration.

12 - Niagra Falls, New York

Insider Monkey Score - 1.150

No list of adventure trips for adults in the USA is complete without mentioning Niagra Falls, which consists of the following three waterfalls: The Horseshoe Falls, The American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. It is a renowned natural wonder located at the southern end of Niagra George. It spans the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York State. Some of the adventure activities in Niagra Falls include the Maid of the Mist boat tour and standing at the cave of the winds behind the Bridal Veil Falls.

11 - Adirondacks, New York

Insider Monkey Score - 2.004

Adirondacks, New York is 10th on our list of 15 US bucket list trips in 2024 for adventure lovers. It offers a stunning natural landscape with a plethora of activities for visitors to enjoy. Some of the adventure activities that you can do in Adrionacks include Aerial Adventure courses such as ziplines, white water rafting, Rock climbing, Canoeing, and Kayaking.

10 - Telluride, Colorado

Insider Monkey Score - 2.006

Telluride, Colorado, is among the top 10 US bucket list trips in 2024 for adventure lovers. It is a picturesque town nested in San Huan mountain that offers visitors a unique mix of history, culture, and adventure. Telluride is a hub for outdoors enthusiasts with activities like hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and kayaking.

9 - Moab, Utah

Insider Monkey Score - 2.008

Moab, Utah is one of the best places for family adventure vacations in the USA. It is a city located in the Western United States and is known for its dramatic scenery. Moab offers a host of outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hiking, mountain biking, offroading, rafting, and rock climbing.

8 - Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Insider Monkey Score - 2.010

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is 8th on our list of 15 US bucket list trips in 2024 for adventure lovers. The location is known for its stunning natural beauty and offers a wide array of adventure activities, including paragliding, White water rafting, horseback riding, and white water rafting.

7 - Vail, Colorado

Insider Monkey Score - 2.021

Nestled in the Eagles Count, Vail, Colorado is known for its stunning natural beauty and is the home of the Vail Ski Resort. The city offers a host of adventure activities for visitors throughout the year. In winter, visitors enjoy thrilling ski experiences. However, in summer, the town transforms into a serene European-style village where adventure seekers can go on mountain trails along rugged paths and enjoy scenic horseback rides.

6 - Yellow Stone National Park, Wyoming

Insider Monkey Score - 2.038

Yellow Stone National Park is sixth on our list of 15 US bucket list trips in 2024 for adventure lovers. It was established in 1872 as America's first national park. It is primarily located in Wyoming but extends to Montana and Idaho. The park is on top of a dormant volcano and is known for tourist attractions like Yellowstone Grand Canyon. The park also offers a host of adventure activities such as hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, fishing, Water activities, and rafting.

Click to continue reading and see 5 US Bucket List Trips In 2024 For Adventure Lovers.

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Curbstone Financial Management Corp lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 23,930 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 60 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. comprises 0.9% of Curbstone Financial Management Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Curbstone Financial Management Corps holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $4,070,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in JPM. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P boosted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 81.1% during the first quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 222,422 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,321,000 after purchasing an additional 99,636 shares during the period. BCK Partners Inc. bought a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the first quarter worth approximately $2,455,000. LSV Asset Management boosted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 35.6% during the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 37,300 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,085,000 after purchasing an additional 9,800 shares during the period. Wsfs Capital Management LLC boosted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 70.8% during the first quarter. Wsfs Capital Management LLC now owns 4,221 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $575,000 after purchasing an additional 1,749 shares during the period. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1,451.4% in the first quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,770 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $514,000 after acquiring an additional 3,527 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.94% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In other news, insider Lori A. Beer sold 3,920 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.74, for a total transaction of $716,340.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 44,996 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,222,569.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Ashley Bacon sold 3,368 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.73, for a total transaction of $561,546.64. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 205,461 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,256,512.53. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Lori A. Beer sold 3,920 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.74, for a total value of $716,340.80. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 44,996 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,222,569.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 845,383 shares of company stock worth $154,341,636. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance

Shares of JPM stock opened at $190.51 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $177.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $160.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The firm has a market cap of $548.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.75, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.14. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12 month low of $123.11 and a 12 month high of $191.73.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.73 by ($0.69). The firm had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.73 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 17.80% and a net margin of 20.70%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.57 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.93 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on JPM. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $177.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Barclays raised their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $186.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $179.11.

Read Our Latest Research Report on JPMorgan Chase & Co.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services to consumers and small businesses through bank branches, ATMs, and digital and telephone banking.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Free Report).

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Boston Common Asset Management LLC lessened its stake in Bancolombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB  Free Report) by 3.7% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 228,550 shares of the banks stock after selling 8,679 shares during the quarter. Boston Common Asset Management LLCs holdings in Bancolombia were worth $7,032,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CIB. C Partners Holding GmbH acquired a new position in Bancolombia in the 2nd quarter valued at $15,437,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Bancolombia by 25.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,227,183 shares of the banks stock valued at $95,011,000 after buying an additional 446,778 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Bancolombia by 3,230.6% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 354,579 shares of the banks stock worth $9,460,000 after buying an additional 343,933 shares in the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC boosted its position in Bancolombia by 14.2% during the third quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 2,515,052 shares of the banks stock worth $67,102,000 after acquiring an additional 312,502 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC grew its stake in Bancolombia by 447.3% during the 3rd quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 222,222 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,929,000 after acquiring an additional 181,615 shares in the last quarter.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, HSBC lowered Bancolombia from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $30.65.

Bancolombia Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of Bancolombia stock opened at $32.31 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $32.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Bancolombia S.A. has a 52 week low of $21.55 and a 52 week high of $34.43.

Bancolombia (NYSE:CIB  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The bank reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.26. Bancolombia had a net margin of 13.51% and a return on equity of 18.46%. The company had revenue of $1.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.68 billion. Research analysts predict that Bancolombia S.A. will post 5.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Bancolombia Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bancolombia SA provides banking products and services in Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Bermuda, and Guatemala. The company operates through nine segments: Banking Colombia, Banking Panama, Banking El Salvador, Banking Guatemala, Trust, Investment Banking, Brokerage, International Banking, and All Other.

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Dfpg Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA:EWZ  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 153,244 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $5,276,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted its position in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 35.6% in the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 9,253,730 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $283,812,000 after buying an additional 2,428,079 shares in the last quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department increased its holdings in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 7,535,887 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $210,779,000 after buying an additional 36,304 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,281,040 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $203,694,000 after purchasing an additional 376,704 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 0.6% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 3,637,406 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $111,559,000 after purchasing an additional 22,200 shares during the period. Finally, Meitav Investment House Ltd. boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 34,384.6% during the third quarter. Meitav Investment House Ltd. now owns 3,336,044 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $102,363,000 after purchasing an additional 3,326,370 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSEARCA EWZ traded down $0.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $32.09. 18,366,416 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,100,588. The companys 50 day moving average price is $33.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.57. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF has a 52 week low of $25.00 and a 52 week high of $35.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.28 billion, a PE ratio of 5.86 and a beta of 0.97.

iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Profile

iShares MSCI Brazil Capped Index Fund (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Brazilian market, as measured by the MSCI Brazil Index (the Index).

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Himalaya Shipping Ltd. (NYSE:HSHP  Get Free Report) declared a  dividend on Tuesday, March 5th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 19th will be given a dividend of 0.03 per share on Friday, April 5th. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 18th. This is an increase from Himalaya Shippings previous  dividend of $0.01.

Himalaya Shipping Trading Up 4.0 %

NYSE HSHP opened at $8.24 on Friday. Himalaya Shipping has a twelve month low of $4.30 and a twelve month high of $8.54. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $6.04.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Himalaya Shipping

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HSHP. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its position in shares of Himalaya Shipping by 141.1% during the 4th quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 4,643 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 2,717 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in Himalaya Shipping during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN acquired a new position in Himalaya Shipping during the second quarter worth approximately $58,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company acquired a new position in Himalaya Shipping during the second quarter worth approximately $67,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Himalaya Shipping during the second quarter worth approximately $86,000. 20.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Himalaya Shipping

Himalaya Shipping Ltd. focuses on the provision of dry bulk shipping services. The company was incorporated in 2021 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Further Reading

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Howard Financial Services LTD. raised its stake in Hartford Total Return Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:HTRB  Free Report) by 17.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 541,033 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 78,556 shares during the quarter. Hartford Total Return Bond ETF accounts for about 3.5% of Howard Financial Services LTD.s holdings, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Howard Financial Services LTD. owned approximately 1.52% of Hartford Total Return Bond ETF worth $18,411,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HTRB. Morgan Stanley acquired a new position in shares of Hartford Total Return Bond ETF during the 4th quarter worth $40,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Hartford Total Return Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth $48,000. Comerica Bank bought a new stake in shares of Hartford Total Return Bond ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $96,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Hartford Total Return Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth $205,000. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hartford Total Return Bond ETF by 1,085.5% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 6,876 shares of the companys stock worth $221,000 after buying an additional 6,296 shares during the period.

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Hartford Total Return Bond ETF Price Performance

Hartford Total Return Bond ETF stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $33.54. The company had a trading volume of 113,830 shares, compared to its average volume of 151,414. Hartford Total Return Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $31.16 and a 52 week high of $34.54. The company has a 50 day moving average of $33.68 and a 200-day moving average of $33.02.

Hartford Total Return Bond ETF Company Profile

The Hartford Total Return Bond ETF (HTRB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond index. The fund is an actively managed fund that invests in a wide array of global fixed income instruments considered attractive from a total-return perspective, with current income as a secondary goal.

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Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,160,000 shares, an increase of 24.9% from the February 14th total of 2,530,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 501,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 6.3 days. Currently, 5.8% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Institutional Trading of Kontoor Brands

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in Kontoor Brands by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 6,135 shares of the companys stock worth $295,000 after purchasing an additional 418 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 8.1% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 24,441 shares of the companys stock worth $1,011,000 after purchasing an additional 1,821 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Kontoor Brands by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 10,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $442,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of Kontoor Brands by 3.5% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 45,858 shares of the companys stock worth $1,895,000 after purchasing an additional 1,561 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in shares of Kontoor Brands by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 17,999 shares of the companys stock worth $771,000 after buying an additional 362 shares during the last quarter.

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Kontoor Brands Trading Down 0.7 %

NYSE:KTB traded down $0.39 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $59.01. 5,764,540 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 592,872. The company has a market capitalization of $3.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 2.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05. The companys 50 day moving average is $60.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.64. Kontoor Brands has a twelve month low of $37.10 and a twelve month high of $64.49.

Kontoor Brands Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. Kontoor Brandss dividend payout ratio is 49.26%.

A number of brokerages recently commented on KTB. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Kontoor Brands from $56.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $75.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Edward Jones cut shares of Kontoor Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Kontoor Brands from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $70.40.

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Kontoor Brands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. The company operates through two segments: Wrangler and Lee. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brand name.

Further Reading

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Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:KGTFF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,741,900 shares, a drop of 14.5% from the February 14th total of 2,036,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 21,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 82.6 days.

Krung Thai Bank Public Price Performance

Shares of KGTFF remained flat at $0.56 during trading hours on Friday. Krung Thai Bank Public has a twelve month low of $0.45 and a twelve month high of $0.57. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $0.56.

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About Krung Thai Bank Public

(Get Free Report)

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Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited provides various commercial banking products and services. The company operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, and Treasury and Investment. It offers various personal banking products and services, including current, savings, and fixed deposit accounts; time and foreign currency deposits; personal and housing loans; debit, travel, cash and top up, and credit cards; investment services; life, health, motor, accident, and non-life insurance products; money transfer, payment and top up, foreign exchange, and overseas education services; and e-banking services.

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loanDepot (NYSE:LDI  Get Free Report) and Firm Capital Mortgage Investment (OTCMKTS:FCMGF  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for loanDepot and Firm Capital Mortgage Investment, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score loanDepot 1 1 0 0 1.50 Firm Capital Mortgage Investment 0 0 0 0 N/A

loanDepot presently has a consensus price target of $2.50, suggesting a potential upside of 16.82%. Firm Capital Mortgage Investment has a consensus price target of $15.00, suggesting a potential upside of 76.26%. Given Firm Capital Mortgage Investments higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Firm Capital Mortgage Investment is more favorable than loanDepot.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio loanDepot $974.02 million 0.71 -$273.02 million ($0.63) -3.40 Firm Capital Mortgage Investment N/A N/A N/A $0.80 10.66

This table compares loanDepot and Firm Capital Mortgage Investments gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Firm Capital Mortgage Investment has lower revenue, but higher earnings than loanDepot. loanDepot is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Firm Capital Mortgage Investment, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares loanDepot and Firm Capital Mortgage Investments net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets loanDepot -11.31% -20.00% -2.61% Firm Capital Mortgage Investment N/A N/A N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

53.0% of loanDepot shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.3% of Firm Capital Mortgage Investment shares are owned by institutional investors. 83.9% of loanDepot shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Firm Capital Mortgage Investment beats loanDepot on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About loanDepot

(Get Free Report)

loanDepot, Inc. engages in originating, financing, selling, and servicing residential mortgage loans in the United States. It offers conventional agency-conforming and prime jumbo, federal assistance residential mortgage, and home equity loans. The company also provides settlement services, which include captive title and escrow business; real estate services that cover captive real estate referral business; and insurance services, including services to homeowners, as well as other consumer insurance policies. loanDepot, Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California.

About Firm Capital Mortgage Investment

(Get Free Report)

Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation, through its mortgage banker, Firm Capital Corporation, provides residential and commercial short-term bridge, and conventional real estate finance in Canada. The company engages in originating, funding, purchasing, and servicing mortgage investments. It also offers mortgage services, such as real estate financing, real estate investment financing, capital market, and loan servicing and advisory services; and a line of lending programs, including construction and development lending, investment property financing, short term lending, bridge finance, mezzanine and equity investments, capital market facilities, alternative residential lending program, and infill construction lending program. The company was founded in 1988 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

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Sage Capital Advisors llc decreased its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 0.3% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 113,659 shares of the companys stock after selling 352 shares during the period. Altria Group comprises about 1.5% of Sage Capital Advisors llcs portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Sage Capital Advisors llcs holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,585,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of MO. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 8.5% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 96,401,945 shares of the companys stock worth $4,367,008,000 after acquiring an additional 7,546,851 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 1.8% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 70,564,529 shares of the companys stock worth $3,262,710,000 after acquiring an additional 1,240,150 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 1.9% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 44,456,064 shares of the companys stock worth $1,857,271,000 after acquiring an additional 840,559 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 3.3% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,025,033 shares of the companys stock worth $1,672,836,000 after acquiring an additional 1,168,982 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 5.1% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 24,517,169 shares of the companys stock worth $990,002,000 after acquiring an additional 1,192,266 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group restated a sell rating and set a $36.10 target price on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com cut shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.22.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.9 %

MO opened at $43.87 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $77.36 billion, a PE ratio of 9.60, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.65. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $39.06 and a 52 week high of $48.04. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $40.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.55.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $5.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.06 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 244.55% and a net margin of 33.21%. The firms revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.18 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Thursday, February 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 1.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.94%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 85.78%.

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

Further Reading

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Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 5,450,000 shares, an increase of 19.5% from the February 14th total of 4,560,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,000,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.5 days.

Portland General Electric Price Performance

Shares of POR traded up $0.33 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $41.08. The stock had a trading volume of 2,503,304 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,000,927. The companys fifty day moving average is $40.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $41.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.74. Portland General Electric has a 52 week low of $38.01 and a 52 week high of $51.58.

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Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.88 by ($0.20). The company had revenue of $725.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $740.21 million. Portland General Electric had a return on equity of 7.21% and a net margin of 7.80%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.70 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Portland General Electric will post 3.06 EPS for the current year.

Portland General Electric Dividend Announcement

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.475 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 21st. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.63%. Portland General Electrics payout ratio is presently 81.55%.

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in shares of Portland General Electric by 1,022.6% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,105,863 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $145,448,000 after acquiring an additional 2,829,184 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Portland General Electric by 86.9% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,554,741 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $119,639,000 after acquiring an additional 1,187,890 shares during the last quarter. Channing Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Portland General Electric in the 4th quarter valued at about $49,763,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Portland General Electric by 21.8% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,067,961 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $334,647,000 after acquiring an additional 1,087,996 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Portland General Electric by 8.4% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,672,161 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $593,437,000 after acquiring an additional 986,445 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of Portland General Electric from a neutral rating to a buy rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Mizuho reiterated a neutral rating and set a $42.00 price target (down previously from $43.00) on shares of Portland General Electric in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Portland General Electric from $45.00 to $42.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Portland General Electric from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Finally, Bank of America lowered shares of Portland General Electric from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $43.00 in a report on Monday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Portland General Electric currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $45.13.

View Our Latest Analysis on POR

About Portland General Electric

(Get Free Report)

Portland General Electric Company, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. It operates six thermal plants, three wind farms, and seven hydroelectric facilities. As of December 31, 2023, the company owned an electric transmission system consisting of 1,254 circuit miles, including 287 circuit miles of 500 kilovolt line, 413 circuit miles of 230 kilovolt line, and 554 miles of 115 kilovolt line; and served 934 thousand retail customers in 51 cities.

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In this piece, we are going to look at 15 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US. If you feel like skipping on our detailed discussion on the meat and beef market, you can jump directly to 5 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US.

The global meat market was valued at a huge US$1.4 trillion in 2023. Looks like it's on track to reach a whopping US$1.7 trillion by 2032, with a steady growth rate of 2.01%. Why the boom? It's all about that protein-packed diet craze and the push for sustainable, ethical meat production. People are meat fans like never before, especially loving the lean, healthy options like antibiotic-free and grass-fed meats.

The beef market is also gearing up for a major surge, climbing from $414.98 billion in 2022 to a massive $604.34 billion by 2029. Steaks are the star of the show, dishing out top-notch cuts that everyone craves. Whether it's beef, pork, lamb, or veal, these meat delights are known for their top quality, taste, and tenderness. Steaks come in all sorts of styles, thanks to consumer preferences, processing techniques, and cattle care. Quality standards ensure that every steak is a flavor, texture, and nutrition superstar.

So, before we dive into the top 15 Steakhouses in the US, let's give a shoutout to the big players in the game  Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), JBS S.A. (OTC:JBSAY), and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NASDAQGS:PPC).

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN)

Based in Springdale, Arkansas, Tyson Foods is a major player in the meat industry, known for their chicken, beef, and pork offerings.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) are the second-biggest in the game, right behind JBS S.A. In Q1 ending on December 31, 2023, they saw sales hit $13,319 million, up slightly by 0.4%. However, their GAAP numbers took a hit, with operating income down 51% to $231 million and adjusted operating income down 9% to $411 million. GAAP EPS also dipped to $0.30, a 66% decrease compared to the previous year.

JBS S.A. (OTC:JBSAY)

JBS S.A. (OTC:JBSAY), the Brazilian giant, rules the meat processing scene, serving up beef, chicken, salmon, pork, and even meat by-products. In the fiscal Q3 ending on Sept. 30, 2023, their net income took a big tumble, dropping by a whopping 84.7% to $117.3 million, while net revenue for the quarter hit $18.7 billion, a slight 0.6% decrease from the previous year. JBS is focused on revving up business for Seara and JBS Beef North America to make big moves.

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Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NASDAQGS:PPC)

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NASDAQGS:PPC) is a major chicken player in the U.S., ranking high in chicken production and coming in second in Mexico. In the last quarter of 2023, they nailed it with adjusted earnings hitting 59 cents per share, exceeding expectations. That's a big leap from the 49 cents loss in the same period last year. Their net sales also rose to $4,528.3 million, a solid 9.7% increase from the previous year.

15 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US

Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

To curate our list of 15 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US, we searched across some sources across the internet listing the 15 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US, which helped us shortlisting almost 100 worst steak places in the USA. From that long list, we took each restaurants ratings from several sources like Google reviews, Tripadvisor, Yelp, Grubhub, and Opentable along with also noting down the number of ratings and settling our final judgment on the customers reviews. Based on the two metrics, we then ranked our list and brought to you 15 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

15. Outback Steakhouse

Rating: 4.0

Number of Ratings: 2,733

So, here's the scoop on Outback Steakhouseit's not exactly known for top-notch beef and placed 15th on our list of Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US. Unlike those fancy prime steakhouses, Outback rolls with "USDA Choice" meat instead of the juicier "USDA Prime," according to former worker at the steakhouse, so some folks find their steaks a bit on the tough and dry side. Plus, that whole Aussie theme they've got going on? Well, turns out, not everyone's buying it. Fun fact: Outback was actually born in sunny Tampa, Florida back in 1988, not Down Under like you'd think. The Aussie vibe was just a quirky twist the founders thought would set them apart. But despite calling their starters Kookaburra wings and Tasmanian chili, none of the grub is really Aussie-authentic. And that Bloomin' Onion? It's reported to be more American Outback than Australian outback!

14. Applebee's

Rating: 3.5

Number of Ratings: 3,028

Applebee's, known for their lackluster steaks and inconsistent quality, falls short in the realm of top-tier steakhouse experiences. Despite their attempts with wood-fired grills and various steak sizes, the end result often leaves much to be desired. Diners have reported issues like overcooked meats, chewy bits, and underwhelming sides, making Applebee's a less-than-ideal choice for a satisfying steak dinner. For those seeking a premium steakhouse experience, Applebee's might not quite hit the mark.

13. Texas Roadhouse

Rating: 3.8

Number of Ratings: 1,996

Ah, Texas Roadhousethose neon signs and Texas-style goodness draw folks in for a taste of the Lone Star State without breaking the bank. While the free rolls with honey-cinnamon butter have a cult following, the steak game has some mixed reviews, placing it 11th on our list of Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US. Most folks see it as just average, nothing to write home about. As one Reddit user put it, "It's decent for the price, but don't expect a top-tier steak experience." Others compare it to Chili's burgersnothing mind-blowing, just a safe bet. Hey, it's all good for the majority, just not the steakhouse to hit for a dazzling culinary adventure.

12. Saltgrass Steak House

Rating: 4.0

Number of Ratings: 1,572

Saltgrass Steak House prides itself on cozy vibes, great service, and wallet-friendly prices. They've got a solid lineup of starters and sweets to kick off your meal. But here's the kicker: when it comes to the steaks, they fall flat. The trick? Drown them in garlic butter. It's a nice touch at first, but after a while, you realize the steak itself lacks that wow factor. If you're on the hunt for a steak joint, you might want to look elsewhere for a more satisfying beef experience.

11. Logan's Roadhouse

Rating: 4.0

Number of Ratings: 1,541

Looking for some steak satisfaction? Logan's Roadhouse might not be your spot, as it is placed 11th on our list of Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US. While they offer tender ribs and killer Margarita Cheesecake, their steaks don't quite hit the mark. The flavor's meh, and the texture's hit-or-miss. On the upside, you used to get a bucket of peanuts at your table for some snackin' fun. But hey, with the peanut shell tossing banned now, the charm's kinda gone. No distractions from the lackluster food, unfortunately. So, might wanna look elsewhere for your steak fix!

10. Wolfgang's Steakhouse

Rating: 4.0

Number of Ratings: Rating: 1,209

Wolfgang's Steakhouse might not be your best bet for a stellar steak, even though it's a step up from your average steak joint. The kicker? The hefty price tag doesn't quite match up with the flavor. Sure, the rib eye's tasty, but it's nothing out-of-this-world for what you're shelling out. What makes it worse? The ambiance isn't exactly date-night or business-deal-friendlyit's loud and not so cozy. When you're forking over some serious dough, you'd hope for top-notch steaks and a chill vibe. Looks like Wolfgang's might need some sprucing up in both the food and atmosphere departments to truly make it worth the splurge.

9. Ponderosa Steakhouse

Rating: 3.5

Number of Ratings: 1,194

Back in the '90s, Ponderosa was a big player, with a whopping 700 restaurants worldwide. Fast forward to now, and there are just a few spots left in the U.S. Why the drop? Well, Ponderosa didn't quite get the memo that the all-you-can-eat buffet vibe feels a tad outdated now, making it sit at 9th position on our list of Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US. And it seems like the brand got stuck in a bit of a time warp. Reviews paint a bleak picture, with diners dishing about run-down interiors, lackluster service, and food that's just a no-go. We're talking sad mac 'n' cheese, fatty steak tips, and overcooked shrimp. Not exactly the steakhouse dream. One eater summed it up well: "Ponderosa isn't about quality eats, it's about quantity  and, well, going overboard." Looks like Ponderosa needs a serious spruce-up to bring back the steakhouse glory days!

8. Ruth's Chris Steak House

Rating: 4.0

Number of Ratings: 673

Ruths Chris, known for its upscale reputation, may not always live up to the high expectations some diners have for a premium steakhouse experience. For those who typically favor a ribeye cut, Ruths Chris failed to deliver a standout experience. Surprisingly, the most memorable aspects of the meal for some have been the crab cakes and drinks, rather than the signature steaks, leaving some patrons underwhelmed by the overall dining experience.

7. Black Rock Bar & Grill

Rating: 4.0

Number of Ratings: 443

Oh boy, it seems like Black Rock Bar & Grill might not be the best bet for a top-notch steak experience, as it is placed 7th on our list of Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US. The food's just okay, but be ready to walk out smelling like a grill master. Not exactly the spot for your cocktail attire! And if you're shelling out some serious cash for your meal, you probably don't want to be the one doing the cooking, right? With service falling short, as per many customers, and an atmosphere that's more smoke box than steakhouse, it's safe to say this place might not be your go-to for a stellar dining experience. Better tread carefully on those slippery floors!

6. Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar

Rating: 4.0

Number of Ratings: 394

Looks like Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar might not be the steak paradise you're hoping for, despite its name. With a menu as wide as an interstate, ranging from steaks to burgers, pizzas, and pies, it's hard for them to really nail down that steakhouse vibe. While they use USDA Prime beef and serve up hefty portions, the overall quality and vibe fall flat for many. If you're after an average dining experience, this spot might fit the bill. As one Yelp review put it, "It's all just so-so, nothing that blows your socks off."

Click to continue reading and find out about the 5 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Worst Steakhouse Chains in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Terreno Realty Co. (NYSE:TRNO  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the eight research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $64.88.

A number of brokerages recently commented on TRNO. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Terreno Realty from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Terreno Realty from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Terreno Realty from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Terreno Realty in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. They issued an overweight rating and a $71.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Terreno Realty from $67.00 to $52.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th.

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Terreno Realty Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE TRNO opened at $62.79 on Friday. Terreno Realty has a twelve month low of $50.42 and a twelve month high of $65.64. The company has a quick ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 2.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The companys fifty day moving average is $62.52 and its 200-day moving average is $59.55. The stock has a market cap of $5.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.69 and a beta of 0.81.

Terreno Realty (NYSE:TRNO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.10. Terreno Realty had a net margin of 46.76% and a return on equity of 5.55%. The business had revenue of $86.48 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $84.06 million. Equities research analysts predict that Terreno Realty will post 2.37 EPS for the current year.

Terreno Realty Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.87%. Terreno Realtys dividend payout ratio is presently 99.45%.

Institutional Trading of Terreno Realty

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Terreno Realty during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Terreno Realty by 93.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 537 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Terreno Realty by 337.2% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 529 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 408 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new stake in Terreno Realty in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Pinebridge Investments L.P. bought a new stake in Terreno Realty in the 2nd quarter valued at about $49,000.

Terreno Realty Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Terreno Realty Corporation (Terreno, and together with its subsidiaries, the Company) acquires, owns and operates industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets: Los Angeles, Northern New Jersey/New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Miami, and Washington, DC All square feet, acres, occupancy and number of properties disclosed in these notes to the consolidated financial statements are unaudited.

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Thrive Wealth Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 21.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,688 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,798 shares during the period. Thrive Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $629,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Aspen Grove Capital LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 13.0% during the second quarter. Aspen Grove Capital LLC now owns 4,756 shares of the companys stock worth $470,000 after buying an additional 547 shares during the period. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 2.8% during the second quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC now owns 17,016 shares of the companys stock worth $1,661,000 after acquiring an additional 471 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems purchased a new stake in Philip Morris International in the third quarter valued at approximately $11,288,000. Amica Mutual Insurance Co. boosted its position in Philip Morris International by 5.5% in the third quarter. Amica Mutual Insurance Co. now owns 147,492 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,655,000 after buying an additional 7,726 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Doliver Advisors LP boosted its position in Philip Morris International by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Doliver Advisors LP now owns 27,323 shares of the companys stock worth $2,530,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Philip Morris International Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSE PM traded up $0.32 on Friday, hitting $94.27. 16,373,155 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,144,925. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $91.91 and a 200 day moving average of $92.60. The company has a market capitalization of $146.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.61. Philip Morris International Inc. has a twelve month low of $87.23 and a twelve month high of $101.92.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.44 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 8.53% and a negative return on equity of 116.29%. The firms revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.39 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 21st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is presently 103.59%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total transaction of $181,380.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,726 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Werner Barth sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.46, for a total value of $457,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 102,918 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,412,880.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total transaction of $181,380.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on PM. Argus reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Societe Generale raised Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, UBS Group lowered Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and cut their target price for the stock from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $105.40.

Read Our Latest Report on Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report).

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A man rides a bicycle near a damaged market pavilion hit by recent shelling in the town of Shebekino in the Belgorod region of Russia on March 11.
Increase in violence and abuse against retail workers in North Wales

Retail workers across north Wales are facing increasing levels of intimidation, sexual harassment and threats, a new survey has revealed.

Retail trade union Usdaw has revealed the shocking statistics from its annual survey of over 5,500 retail staff showing.

The figures show that 18 per cent of shop workers in Wales suffered a violent attack last year, compared to eight per cent in 2022.

The increase in assaults comes during what the trade union describes as an epidemic of retail crime.

Usdaws survey shows that levels of violence, threats and abuse all increased compared to pre-pandemic figures.

In the last twelve months (pre-pandemic levels in brackets, from the 2019 survey):

70 per cent (68 per cent) have experienced verbal abuse.

46 per cent (43 per cent) were threatened by a customer.

18 per cent (five per cent) were assaulted.

These findings follow similar trends to recent reports from British Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores.

Both retail trade associations found significant increases in violence and abuse against shop workers alongside much higher levels of shoplifting, which is costing the industry 3 billion in lost stock and security measures.

Shop workers from north Wales have shared their experiences in retail, with one person stating that they were threatened after asking a customer for their ID.

Another staff member had money thrown at them whilst another said they experience sexual harassment and abuse over the Think 25 policy.

One worker said that one guy comes in on a Thursday and tries to intimidate you and is horrible to the staff.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary said it was heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from Welsh shop workers who deserve far more respect than they receive.

Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by retail staff, said Paddy.

No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that too many retail workers are.

It is shocking that nearly a fifth of our members working in retail are being assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community.

They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.

Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on.

Our latest survey results show that 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.

Theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for 61 per cent of these incidents.

Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and much more needs to be done to protect shop workers.

The UK Government has repeatedly failed to act in the face of an epidemic of retail crime, rising theft from shops and assaults against retail workers. It is disappointing that they have no measures in their legislative programme to tackle this issue.

We support Labours attempts to amend the Governments Criminal Justice Bill, so that the law is strengthened to protect shop workers from violence, threats and abuse.

A protection of shop workers law is also supported by many retailers. It already exists in Scotland and has secured over 500 convictions.

We also need more neighbourhood police with patrols in town centres, respect orders to ban repeat offenders and an end to the 200 threshold for investigating and prosecuting shop theft.

Most of all, we ask the public to support our campaign by respecting shop workers.

[email protected]
North Wales MS praises life-saving CPR training that only takes 15 minutes

A North Wales MS has praised a life-saving CPR training course that only takes 15 minutes on a mobile phone

Llyr Gruffydd, who represents the region in the Senedd, learned about the British Heart Foundations (BHF) REvivR course as part of Heart Month.

CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure that is performed when the heart stops beating.

Each year over 30,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK, with less than one in ten surviving.

Giving CPR and using a defibrillator can more than double someones chance of survival.

BHF have developed REvivR, which is a free, interactive, online CPR training course.

In just 15 minutes, it teaches participants how to save a life. All they need is a cushion and a mobile phone.

Llyr Gruffydd MS, of Plaid Cymru, said: CPR is often the difference between life and death, which is why its fantastic that the British Heart Foundation has developed this life-saving course.

It was a pleasure to meet their team at the Senedd and to learn about the important work they have been doing.

The data clearly shows that giving CPR and using a defibrillator can more than double someones chance of survival if they have a cardiac arrest.

Therefore, the more people who learn how to do it, the more lives can be potentially saved in the future.

This course is free, and it only takes 15 minutes so its very easy for people to give it a go.

To take the training course please visit: https://revivr.bhf.org.uk/

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70 new homes on Wrexham/Flintshire border approved despite local concerns

Plans to build 70 homes near the Flintshire border with Wrexham have been approved despite concerns about the impact on local services.

An application by Castle Green Homes to develop land known as the Bluebell Field off the A541 Wrexham Road in Abermorddu was considered by councillors this week.

The developers said the scheme would help to meet a need for housing in the area, with a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom properties, including 21 set aside as affordable housing.

A total of 52 objections were lodged against the plans due to concerns it would add to sewage problems in the area and place an extra demand on local schools and GP surgeries.

Issues were also raised at Wednesdays (March 13, 2024) meeting of Flintshire Councils planning committee regarding the loss of green space and the impact on traffic in the area.

Local resident Claire Olsen said: Residents have already submitted extensive objections not only to this application, but also to previous applications and I do feel very strongly about this proposal.

There are other sites within our area that are deemed to be more appropriate rather than using this area, which not only has a plethora of fauna and flora, but also is of significant importance to the residents.

With there being 70 houses, which will inevitably mean 70 cars, this will have an increased impact on the infrastructure.

Particularly given the location on the extremely busy road, that clearly is going to have a significant and detrimental impact on the local community.

It is unfortunately an age-old problem that we cannot get doctors appointments or dental appointments and clearly, there are issues across the board.

Despite the opposition, the local authoritys chief planning officer recommended the scheme should be approved due to the site being included in Flintshires Local Development Plan (LDP).

In a report to councillors, Andrew Farrow said there was a need for houses which form part of they key strategic plan to move forward.

But community councillor Lyn Davies said there were major concerns over the impact on the areas sewage system.

She said: Our main concern is the inadequate sewage system which is not fully considered in the LDP as new information has emerged and problems have worsened.

The sewage works, and ancient pipes are severely stressed leading to regular sewage overflows.

Any increase, plus added surface water, would lead to increase phosphate levels in our river system.

The land is subject to flooding and there are regular incidents of sewage erupting from grids in the areas and emitting foul smells.

Local county councillor David Healey also objected to the proposals due to drainage issues.

However, committee members said they were concerned that refusing permission for a site within the LDP could lead to speculative developments being brought forward.

Cllr Richard Jones said: This is allocation within the LDP for 70 dwellings and if we dont provide planning permission for these, then we will fall foul of speculative applications in the future.

If there are serious issues, as mentioned by the local member, perhaps they should have been brought forward at the time of the LDP, rather than waiting to this late stage.

Cllr Chris Bithell, cabinet member for planning, also echoed his comments.

He said: All developments are opposed by individuals for a variety of reasons as people dont like change.

People have to have somewhere to live, and we have to accept that.

If we dont, someone else will and well have a lot of speculative applications by developers.

The application was recommended for approval subject to the firm agreeing to pay a contribution of just under 222,000 towards improvements at Castell Alun High School in nearby Hope, as well as funding changes to parking restrictions.

Councillors voted in favour of granting permission by nine votes to four at the end of the debate.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter

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Welsh Governments 30m Warm Homes scheme delayed until April

The Welsh Government confirmed a new 30m programme aimed at tackling fuel poverty will not be in place until after winter ends.

Julie James, Wales climate change minister, told the Senedd the new Warm Homes programme will go live on April 1, 2024  a year later than expected.

She said advice will be provided by Energy Saving Trust while British Gas will install home improvements, and assurance services will be provided by Pennington Choices.

Ms James warned that Wales has some of the oldest and least energy efficient homes in Europe, with the cost-of-living crisis and energy prices pushing people into fuel poverty.

She said the scheme will prioritise low-carbon technologies and a low-income threshold for support will be introduced, rather than relying solely on means-tested benefits.

However, opposition MSs denounced the Welsh Government for failing to implement the programme with urgency in time for this winter.

Frightening

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymrus shadow housing minister, criticised delays, warning that cold and inefficient homes kill almost 300 people a year in Wales.

He said: Its extremely concerning that the [Welsh] Government failed to implement the Warm Homes programme before the end of November despite the pledges made, leaving many vulnerable households in the cold.

Ive noted the frightening statistics many times in the past, but almost 300 people die in Wales because of cold every year. This is shocking.

Indeed, some 30% of additional winter deaths are related to living in cold properties.

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd MS said 31% of people went without heating in the three months to January, with Citizens Advice reporting a record number of people seeking fuel vouchers.

Targets

Mark Isherwood, for the Conservatives, echoed concerns about delays and called for targets to be set on fuel poverty to hold the Welsh Government accountable.

The North Wales MS told the chamber a tender document outlined that work will be undertaken on 11,500 properties over seven years.

He said: Based on these figures, it would take 130 years to improve the energy efficiency of up to 217,700 lower income households currently estimated to be in fuel poverty.

Backing Citizens Advice Cymrus call for an awareness campaign, he warned that take-up of some Welsh Government grants and schemes is not as high as it could be.

Mr Isherwood also raised Care & Repair Cymrus concerns that the new programme does not cover enabling works, so some homes in a poor state of repair may not benefit.

He said: This means that older home owners  in particular on a low income  will continue to live in homes that are energy inefficient, cold and more expensive to heat.

Procurement hurdles

Ms James explained surveys will be carried out and homes retrofitted accordingly, saying: Theres no point in putting an air-source heat pump into a house that leaks like a sieve.

During the statement on March 12, she stressed that the Nest programme, which offers free energy saving advice to households, has been running over this winter.

Ms James admitted she would have liked to have rolled out the new Warm Homes programme quicker as she blamed procurement hurdles.

Jenny Rathbone, a Labour backbencher who represents Cardiff Central, backed the ministers three-pronged no wrong door approach.

Responding to calls for fuel poverty targets, which were echoed by Plaid Cymrus Sioned Williams, Ms James suggested milestones could be revisited in 12 months.

She said: We will then have much better data to be able to set smart targets, as theyre called, so ones that are much more likely to be achievable and stretching.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

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In this article, we will take a look at 20 Countries with the Most Refugees in the U.S. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to the 5 Countries with the Most Refugees in the U.S.

Fleeing ones home, with or without family members, and leaving behind prized possessions and a life, is a traumatic experience that millions of people go through every year. Amidst the plethora of bleak realities of life, the existence of millions of refugees stands as another sad fact. The forceful displacement of people has existed in the past, persists to this day, and will likely continue until the end of times. Both the US law and the United Nations' 1951 Refugee Convention (an international agreement signed by 149 countries to protect refugees) define refugees as individuals seeking entry into another country who can prove they have been persecuted or fear persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Refugees: A Global Overview

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), by mid-2023, 110 million people had been forcibly displaced due to 'persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events seriously disturbing public order.' Among these, 36.4 million are refugees. Remarkably, 52% of all refugees and individuals in need of international protection hail from just three countries: the Syrian Arab Republic (6.5 million), Afghanistan (6.1 million), and Ukraine (5.9 million). It's noteworthy that 3.4 million of these refugees are hosted by two Muslim-majority countries, namely The Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey. Following closely are Germany, hosting 2.5 million refugees, Colombia with just under 2.5 million refugees (including others in need of international protection), and Pakistan with 2.1 million refugees. Also check out our article 20 Most Refugee-Hosting Countries in the World for a detailed outlook.

Another troubling statistic is the number of children born as refugees, which reached 1.9 million (with 385,000 children born as refugees annually from 2019 to 2022). Furthermore, it was observed that the majority (69%) of refugees and individuals in need of protection relocated to neighboring countries, with low and middle-income countries accommodating 75% of these individuals. On a positive note, 463,500 refugees returned to their home countries in the first half of 2023.

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Refugees in the US

As the world's leading country resettling refugees, the United States has been welcoming them for decades. The country has provided assistance to approximately 650,000 displaced individuals from Europe after World War II, as well as people fleeing communist regimes in Europe and Asia during the Cold War, among others. Some US states, such as Texas, California, and New York, have accepted the largest numbers of refugees.

In 1980, the government established a permanent standardized system for identifying, vetting, and resettling refugees, known as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). However, the number of refugees admitted to the country has seen a decline from 200,000 in 1980 to 60,014 in 2023. The figures have fluctuated sharply over the years, depending on the prevailing strategies of the time. For instance, the 9/11 attacks led to a suspension of refugee admissions for several months. The ceilings for admission have also changed according to the administration and the global conditions. While President Obama's administration increased the ceiling to 110,000 in 2017 following the crises in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Trump administration reduced it to 50,000 in 2017 and further down to 18,000 for 2020. However, the Biden administration has reversed these previous ceilings and set the cap at 125,000 for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

Big US Companies Stepping-Up

At the 2022 Tent Business Summit, 45 major companies and brands, including Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HLT), PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), and Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) pledged to hire and train 22,725 refugees for full-time positions in the US.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced plans to hire 5,000 refugees over three years, while Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) committed to hiring 2,500, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HLT) to 1,500, and both PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) to 500 each. These collective efforts are expected to generate $913 million in income for refugees. Amazon's (NASDAQ: AMZN) VP of Employee Relations, WW Amazon Stores and Corporate, emphasized the importance of diversity within the company and expressed their commitment to hiring individuals in need.

20 Countries with the Most Refugees in the U.S.

20 Countries with the Most Refugees in the U.S.

Methodology

To compile our list of the 20 Countries with the Most Refugees in the US, we examined data from the Office of Homeland Security Statistics and the U.S. Department of State's report on 'Refugee Arrivals by Region and Country of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2022.' We focused on figures from the year 2022 and organized our list in an ascending order.

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Let us now take a look at our list for 20 Countries with the Most Refugees in the U.S.

20. Central African Republic

Number of Refugee Arrival: 181

A landlocked country in the heart of Africa, the Central African Republic has been besieged by armed conflict and instability for years. Additionally, it is considered one of the poorest states in the world. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), as of 2023, more than 1.4 million people in the Central African Republic have been displaced from their homes, which accounts for about one-third of the countrys population. Since 2013, armed conflict between various groups has forced many residents (more than 640,000) to flee the country, while approximately 630,000 have been displaced internally. Some have sought refuge in neighboring countries, while others have migrated to the US.

19. Armenia

Number of Refugee Arrival: 198

For a long time, Armenians have been immigrating to the US and settling, primarily in California. Historical events such as the Hamidian massacre of the mid-1890s, the Adana Massacre of 1909, and the Armenian genocide of 1915-1918 have contributed to this migration. More recently, factors such as war defeats and poor economic conditions in the country have compelled many to leave their homes. Many have found their way to the US, making them one of the countries with most refugees in the US.

18. Burundi

Number of Refugee Arrival: 219

An East Central African country with a population of 12.2 million, thousands have fled their country to avoid persecution due to their political beliefs. The refugee crisis began in 2015 following political unrest between civilians and the government. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), approximately 333,700 refugees have sought a safe haven in various countries, including the US. In 2015, 1,218 Burundi refugees arrived in the US. However, this figure steadily decreased until 2020, after which it began to increase once more.

17. Colombia

Number of Refugee Arrival: 254

For over 40 years, millions of Colombians have been forced to flee their country due to ongoing conflict. The war between the Colombian government, guerrilla groups like FARC and ELN, paramilitaries, and narco-traffickers has resulted in the loss of 50,000 to 200,000 lives. Additionally, it has internally displaced 3.5 million people and caused 500,000 to 750,000 Colombian refugees in neighboring countries. Some have sought refuge in the US, with their numbers fluctuating over the years.

16. Iran

Number of Refugee Arrival: 258

The 1979 revolution sparked the largest wave of Iranians leaving the country. The Iran-Iraq war and subsequent failed political reforms further worsened the situation. In the past decade, people have been compelled to seek refuge in other countries due to political oppression, social unrest, and religious persecution, leading to reports of many unaccompanied children fleeing to Europe. Refugees are also seeking asylum in the US, making it one of the countries with the highest number of Iranian refugees. While refugee arrivals were much higher in the years 2013-2017, they have since decreased.

15. Ethiopia

Number of Refugee Arrival: 266

Ethiopia is another country that has contributed a significant number of refugees to the US. The 1980 Refugee Act marked the beginning of Ethiopians moving to the US, largely driven by the repressive regime of Mariam. Additionally, many Ethiopians who had previously migrated to Sudan also sought relocation to the US. The number of refugees arriving in the country has fluctuated over the years, with a slower rate of arrivals depicted in recent years.

14. South Sudan

Number of Refugee Arrival: 290

The largest refugee crisis in Africa and the third-largest in the world, approximately 2.4 million South Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries, while 2.3 million are internally displaced, as of July 2023, according to the UNHCR. This crisis has primarily been triggered by civil wars in the country, along with economic decline, disease, and hunger. Sudanese refugees have been accepted into the US since 2001 and continue to arrive to this day, becoming one of the country with the most refugees in the US.

13. Eritrea

Number of Refugee Arrival: 317

Eritrea has long been recognized as one of the most repressive countries globally, characterized by the denial of basic rights such as freedom of speech and religion, as well as compulsory mass conscription for individuals aged 18-50. Consequently, according to UNHCR, as of June 2023, there are approximately 580,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers worldwide. The UN Refugee Agency has played a significant role in resettling many Eritrean refugees in the US. Although arrivals have tapered off in recent years, the country has experienced significant influxes at times. For instance, around 1,900 refugees arrived in the US in both 2016 and 2017.

12. Honduras

Number of Refugee Arrival: 447

According to the US Customs and Border Protection, Honduras is among the countries contributing the highest number of refugees to the southern US border. Several factors contribute to this movement, including natural disasters such as droughts and floods, as well as issues like corruption, poverty, and lawlessness in the country. In 2022, there was a significant increase in the number of Honduran refugees arriving in the US-- 447 compared to 83 in 2021.

11. Somalia

Number of Refugee Arrival: 491

The Somali refugee crisis stands as one of the largest mass displacements witnessed globally. For over thirty years, individuals from Somalia have fled to neighboring areas, primarily due to political instability, the civil war in the 1990s, and conflicts such as the one in the city of Laascaanood. According to UNHCR, approximately 714,390 Somali refugees and asylum seekers are living in nearby countries. A large number of these refugees have also sought refuge in the US. While the number of arrivals has declined in recent years, Somalia remains one of the countries with the highest number of refugees in the US.

10. Iraq

Number of Refugee Arrival: 501

The 2003 US invasion resulted in approximately 1 in 25 Iraqis being displaced, a situation exacerbated by the terrorist attacks of the Islamic State. According to UNHCR, as of April 2023, about 1.2 million Iraqis have been displaced. Many Iraqis have sought refuge in the US as refugees, with numbers as high as slightly over 19,000 in both 2013 and 2014. However, the numbers have steadily decreased over the years.

9. Moldova

Number of Refugee Arrival: 511

The civil war of 1992 resulted in the displacement of many Moldovans internally and as refugees across various countries. While some returned after the conflict ended, their integration into society was largely ignored by the government. Moldovan refugees have been arriving in the US for quite some time, with their numbers fluctuating. There was a substantial increase from 75 in 2021 to 511 in 2022.

8. El Salvador

Number of Refugee Arrival: 524

El Salvador has endured prolonged organized crime, violence, poverty, and numerous socioeconomic challenges, compounded by natural disasters and the recent Ukraine situation. As a result, many people have been forced to flee the country in search of a better future for their next generation, often ending up at the southern border of the US. A significant surge in refugee arrivals was recorded by the US government in 2017, after which the number has steadily declined.

7. Guatemala

Number of Refugee Arrival: 1,084

The deteriorating situation in the country across various aspects is driving refugee arrivals in the US. The presence of violence and worsening socioeconomic conditions, exacerbated by poverty and climate shocks, has made life in the country very challenging for some people, compelling them to seek refuge at the US southern border. Since 2016, their annual arrivals have been on the rise, reaching an all-time high of 1,084 registered in 2022.

6. Ukraine

Number of Refugee Arrival: 1,586

The February 2024 war in Ukraine has led to devastating consequences, displacing 3.7 million people internally and creating 6.5 million refugees spread across neighboring countries. Ukrainian refugees have also been arriving in the US. While the number steadily rose to an all-time high in 2020, registering 4,432 refugees, it began to decline before escalating once more in 2022.

Click to continue reading and see our 5 Countries with the Most Refugees in the U.S.

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Disclosure: None. 20 Countries with the Most Refugees in the U.S. is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In an interview this weekend with the newspaper Le Parisien, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed that ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary at some point. Macron spoke to Le Parisien after attending a summit in Berlin on Friday where France, Germany, and Poland declared their united support for escalating war with Russia, as NATO-backed Ukrainian forces face a military debacle on the front.

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, delivers a speech at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. [AP Photo/Gonzalo Fuentes]

Macron told Le Parisien, Our duty is to prepare for all scenarios, adding: I am convinced, by the way, that in some of these scenarios, anyone who is able to do so with their model would assume their responsibilities.

Macron is making clear that European powers are preparing a ground intervention into Ukraine that threatens to unleash nuclear war between NATO and Russia. He said, Maybe at a given point in timeI dont want it, I would not take this initiativeit will be necessary to have operations on the ground, of whatever character, to counter Russian forces. The strength of France is that we are capable of doing this.

He again asserted that the European powers plan to send troops into Ukraine to fight Russia. Many countries in Europe, and not the smallest ones, are totally on our line, Macron said.

Macrons call to deploy troops in Ukraine came only a few weeks after he said the NATO powers did not rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine to fight Russia at a February 26 conference in Paris. At that time, Macron declared that everything is possible to prevent a Russian victory in Ukraine, and that individual European countries sending troops to Ukraine is not excluded.

Initially, after Macron raised sending troops into Ukraine last month, French officials downplayed his comment, claiming that there were no concrete plans in that direction. Foreign minister Stephane Sejourne argued that Paris could send troops to Ukraine for specific needs, but not to fight a war with Russia. Sejourne said, We must consider new actions to support Ukraine. These must respond to very specific needs, I am thinking in particular of mine clearance, cyberdefence, the production of weapons on site, on Ukrainian territory.

Sejourne added, Some of its actions could require a presence on Ukrainian territory, without crossing the threshold of fighting. Nothing should be ruled out. This was and still is the position today of the president of the Republic.

However, Macrons latest interview and his remarks at last weeks Berlin summit confirm that Sejournes denials are lies, designed to cover up the war plans against Russia and hide the danger of nuclear war from the working class. In reality, Macron has repeatedly insisted that France must be ready to use its own military forces to wage war with Russia.

Le Parisien asked Macron, Is the general staff preparing military scenarios, just in case? To this, Macron replied, Our duty is to prepare ourselves for all scenarios. It would be an error; it would be wrong not to do this.

With such remarks, the European NATO powers are opening the path to escalation to World War III between NATO and Russia, including the use of nuclear weapons.

To the threat of troops deployment by the NATO powers, Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed it is setting into motion a vast escalation of the war. Last week, Putin warned: From a military-technical point of view, we are of course ready. ... As for governments who claim they have no more red lines with Russia, they must know that in this case, Russia will not have any more red lines with them, either.

Macron responded to Putins comments on the danger of nuclear war during his primetime TF1 interview Thursday with his own threats. He said, We must first and foremost feel protected, because we are a nuclear power. We are ready; we have a doctrine [for the use of nuclear weapons].

Despite Putins warning, Macron is downplaying the danger of war, ignoring the potentially catastrophic consequences of their threats against Russia.

Thus, commenting to Le Parisien on reports that he cancelled a trip to Ukraine in order to go to the war summit in Berlin, Macron said: Initially, I thought to go to Ukraine. I told President Zelensky it was more important for me to convince Germany and Poland to do more and do it differently, by my side. I will go to Ukraine later.

Another factor that likely played a major role in Macrons decision was the outcome of Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis March 6 trip to Ukraine to see Zelensky. While Zelensky and Mitsotakis were in the port city of Odessa, a Russian missile exploded close to where they were meeting. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev confirmed in a post on his Telegram channel that this was a threat to NATO heads of state visiting Ukraine.

Everything is clear for everyone, there was no attack on the group in Odessa, and if they had been the target, it would have been hit, Medvedev threatened. But its unfortunate, nonetheless. It is too bad they rushed to a place that had been announced well in advance.

Inside the French capitalist state, sections of the military are growing concerned of the rapidly growing risk of military escalation. The right-wing social-democratic magazine Marianne published a list of statements from French military sources, including from one unnamed senior officer who said: We should not fool ourselves, compared to the Russians, we have an army of cheerleaders.

Russias active-duty military numbers 1.5 million, compared to 205,000 for France, 184,000 for Germany and 170,000 in Italy. Macron also admitted Thursday night that, despite massive NATO military aid to Ukraine, Russian artillery outnumbers Ukrainian artillery 10 to 1 on the front lines. This is why Macron is pressing to re-establish universal military service, and the EU is calling to convert Europe to a war economy.

Last week, the French National Assembly gave broad support to a 10-year security agreement between France and Ukraine. The agreement calls to strengthen military cooperation, particularly in the fields of artillery and air defense. In 2024, Paris will provide up to three billion euros in additional support, declared French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. The billions of spending on war in Ukraine are to be financed by massive cuts to social spending like Macrons explosively unpopular pension reform last year.

Students protest against Macron and his pension reforms in front of the Pantheon, in the Latin Quarter of Paris.

There is massive popular opposition to the sending of European ground troops to Ukraine: polls have found 81 percent opposed in Germany and 68 percent in France. However, amid overwhelming opposition among workers and youth to the escalation of the war, the public is being kept in the dark about the imminence of the war danger, as the ruling class spins its military conspiracies without opposition in the political establishment.

Workers and youth must be mobilized against the war Macron is preparing behind their backs. Neither the union bureaucracies nor their defenders among the pseudo-left parties will oppose French imperialist war and its crimes. The way forward is the holding of anti-war meetings and protests, aiming to build an international anti-war movement in the working class, fighting against imperialist war based on a revolutionary socialist perspective to overthrow capitalism.
The interim report published this month from Operation Kenova, the police investigation into the British spy Stakeknife, confirmed that British agents within the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) committed multiple murders.

The Stakeknife operation is among the foulest episodes of British imperialism's decades long dirty war in Northern Ireland. Infiltration of the IRA and other republican and loyalist paramilitary groups, by British and Northern Ireland security and intelligence forces, was a central component of the 30-year conflict.

Kenova report, March 2024 [Photo: PSNI]

In line with the Low Intensity Operations doctrine codified by the British Army's late General Sir Frank Kitson, infiltration of republican groups provided information allowing arrests, operations to be sabotaged and executions and bloody ambushes set up. Infiltration of, and collusion with, the loyalist, pro-British groups provided them with weaponry and targeting information, allowing them to function as state-sanctioned assassination squads.

For several years up to 1991, for motives that remain uncertain, although money played a role, Freddie Scappaticci, a republican from Belfast, in the leadership of the IR's Internal Security Unit (ISU), intimidated, tortured, manipulated and murdered IRA members accused or suspected of being British agents. But, from sometime around 1978, Scappaticci was a British agent, feeding information on IRA discussions, operations and members to his British Army paymasters and controllers.

Scappaticci was handled by the British Armys spy operating Force Research Unit (FRU), while maintaining the image of a tough and violent operator respected by the republican leadership. Scappaticci, whose ISU also vetted new recruits to the Provisionals and maintained a brutal dictatorship in working class areas against youth accused of petty crimes, was outed in 2003 after years of suspicion, following failed operations, regarding the existence of top-level British spies in the IRA.

In his readable 2023 work, Stakeknife's Dirty War, former IRA prisoner and press officer, Richard O'Rawe noted the road to peace was strewn with dead bodiesmany of them ASU [Active Service Unit] members, who were cut down in carefully constructed SAS [Special Air Services] ambushes.

O'Rawe notes that the late Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, former head of the IRAs Northern Command, Martin McGuinness, was central to Scappaticcis rise to head the ISU in 1986.

Scappaticcis treachery ran parallel with efforts of the Sinn Fein leadership to end their guerrilla war and find terms on which they could integrate themselves into the British government in the North and serve as partners in the exploitation of the working class. Remarkably, although sidelined and widely distrusted in republican circles from 1991 on, Scappaticci continued to live in Belfast, unhindered and unharmed.

When he was first publicly named in 2003, then Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he initially accepted Scappaticcis protestations of innocence at face value. Stakeknife came to be identified, not because of republican efforts, but primarily through the work of disgruntled ex-FRU member Ian Hurst, incensed at the brutal treatment and murder of other British agents, sacrificed to maintain Stakeknife in place.

Scappaticci eventually fled, later in 2003, to unknown locations in the UK, after abandoning efforts to deny his role. He died in April last year.

He only surfaced in public once, at Westminster Magistrates Court, where he was found guilty of possessing extreme animal pornography. His case was heard by Chief Magistrate and Senior District Judge for England and Wales, Emma Arbuthnot, the same judge who spearheaded the legal torture of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange.

Unlike her treatment of the principled journalist and publisher targeted for exposing imperialist war crimes, Arbuthnot thought well of the brutal torturer and murderer Scappaticci. She told him You have not been before the court for 50 yearsand thats good character in my book, handing him a suspended sentence.

In 2003, the Stakeknife revelations threatened not only further damaging documentary and legal exposure of the British states murderous and cynical methods, and a large number of murder trials, but also to discredit the Sinn Fein leadership, with grave political consequences for the Good Friday Agreement. Therefore Operation Kenova was not commissioned until 2015, 13 years after Scappaticci's exposure, and tasked with investigating 24 murders. Scappaticci was not interviewed until 2018.

It has taken another nine years for Kenova to deliver an interim report which does not even formally confirm that Scappaticci was Stakeknife. Instead, Kenova, led by then Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Jon Boutcher, names Scappaticci as inextricably bound up with and a critical person of interest at the heart of Operation Kenova. Beyond that, the report rests on generalisations.

For example, Kenova identified three types of murders:

murders committed by agents, including cases in which one agent murdered another.

murders of alleged or suspected agents, carried out as punishment or deterrence, including cases when the victim was not in fact an agent.

murders of both categories which could have been prevented but were not.

Kenova came to its conclusions after following up 12,000 lines of enquiry, taking 2,000 statements and interviewing 300 people, including 40 under caution. Eventually 35 files were submitted to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPSNI). These referred to over 50,000 pages of evidence acquired from official sources including previously undisclosed files. Newly available forensic techniques were deployed.

More detailed and specific reports on individual murders are going to be handed to families at a later date along with a final report which, Boutcher claims, will confirm the truth and set out the full facts.

Much of Boutchers interim report is devoted to problems setting up and managing the investigation and his frustrations in dealing with multiple security and legal agencies. These are bound up with the need to draw a line under the dirty war, present all the issues arising out of it as legacy while offering a pretence of legal restitution for families whose relatives were killed.

The Shankill road, Belfast during the troubles, circa 1970 [Photo by Fribbler / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

This has given rise to considerable tensions between police and legal authoritiestasked with formally investigating large numbers of unsolved murdersand the huge intelligence, police and military apparatus and their political leadership in Britain and Northern Ireland. The British government and military have no more interest in investigating their crimes in Northern Ireland than in later and current atrocities in Iraq, Afghanistan and worldwide.

Boutcher, despite repeatedly insisting on his support for the intelligence services work, writes of:

The lack of any legal or policy framework to guide FRU and [Royal Ulster Constabulary] agent handlers in particular and of any associated oversight or supervisory mechanisms were very serious failings: they put lives at risk, left those on the frontline exposed and fostered a maverick culture where agent handling was sometimes seen as a high-stakes dark art practised off the books.

He admits:

Whether a result of cultural obstruction, documents being over-classified or difficulty identifying and locating relevant material held by the authorities, access to records has been a persistent problem and a legitimate concern to families.

Despite having negotiated agreements and single points of contact with the Security Service, MI5, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), data was still difficult to extract.

The Kenova team, for example, was given logins to the intelligence database, MACER, used by the British Army. It became apparent that the MoD had a different set of logins with access to more records. Kenova was duly given more access, but Boutcher noted that the logins with greater rights had not been available to the series of previous investigations into intelligence activity and collusion in the Troubles.

Jon Boutcher [Photo: kenova/kenova.co.uk]

Boutcher complained that MI5 was holding historical material from the Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch and the FRU which remained marked as Top Secret.

Boutcher notes that on the very day Kenova intended to submit its first set of files regarding members of both the Provisional IRA and the security forces, MI5 informed his team that their security credentials on their London building had expired.

He placed his difficulties in the context of a series of investigations into intelligence handling and collusion between loyalist killers and the British state, many remaining Secret or Top Secret.

These include the Stalker report of 1984 into shoot to kill allegations against the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), predecessor to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). A follow-up report, Sampson 1986, also remains Secret while a further review into both the Stalker and Sampson reports, the 1988 McLachlan report, is labeled Top Secret.

Sir John Stevens three reports into the leaking of targeting information from the security forces to loyalist killers found that almost all loyalist intelligence came from the British security forces. They were only partly released. A central focus of Stevens first report, Stevens 1, was the former soldier Brian Nelson's role as both intelligence officer for the loyalist Ulster Defence Association and an agent for the FRU. Nelson had a role in as many as 30 murders. He was eventually charged and found guilty of 20 crimes, including conspiracy to murder.

Remarkably, Stevens was entirely unaware of Stakeknife despite Scappaticci being handled by the same FRU that he investigated regarding Nelson. Stevens 1 remains Top Secret. A follow up Blelloch report on agent handling was, until Boutcher requested a change, marked as Top Secret, now downgraded to Secret. Boutcher noted, Lord Stevens said it was apparent that discussions at the highest level in the Army had resulted in the decision to withhold vital information from his inquiry team. Stevens 2 remains Top Secret. Stevens 3, released in 2003, found that members of the security forces had colluded with the UDA in loyalist murders including that of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane in 1989.

Pat Finucane mural on the Falls Road, west Belfast [Photo by Zubro  2003 / CC BY-SA 3.0

In his outcomes and findings, Boutcher insists that files handed to the PSNI contain significant evidence implicating Stakeknife and others in very serious criminality and that this needs to be ventilated publicly. But no-one in senior government or military positions claimed to have had any knowledge of Stakeknife. Boutcher points to what he euphemistically describes as conscious lack of professional curiosity from the very senior leadership of the Army regarding recruitment and running of agents.

Nevertheless, Our Kenova investigations have established that agents were regularly involved in inciting and committing serious criminal acts and It is undoubtedly the case that some FRU and RUC Special Branch agents disclosed their involvement in criminality to their handlers (both before and after the event) and were assured that their anonymity and status would always be protected and they would never stand trial or spend time in jail.

Shortly before Boutcher's report was published, the PPSNI announced it would not be taking action against seven people alleged to have been Provisional IRA members and five retired members of the British Army's Force Research Unit, said to be agent handlers, and more senior army figures. This follows decisions, stretching back to 2020, to avoid prosecuting former Security Service members and a PPSNI prosecutor.

Late 2023, the PPSNI said it would not be proceeding against civilian suspects in connection with murders, conspiracy to murder and false imprisonment, one police officer and six military personnel over allegations of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office. Earlier last month the PPSNI decided not to proceed against a further two former soldiers and two alleged Provisional IRA members.

Not one of the files submitted to the PPSNI by Kenova has resulted in a single prosecution.
The Arab regimes have not lifted a finger to oppose Israels genocidal war and ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

Instead, they have colluded every step of the way with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus gang of fascists, settlers and religious bigots committed to Jewish Supremacy from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, even as they wring their hands and call for a ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, with commanders and soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip, on December 25, 2023. Netanyahu has said Israel will continue with the offensive until a "final victory" achieves all of its goals. [AP Photo/Avi Ohayon/GPO]

Netanyahu and his paymaster in Washington have counted on them doing so because their entire record in relation to the Palestinians has been one of shameless betrayal.

When asked last Sunday whether the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would move into Rafah, Netanyahu replied, Well go there. Were not going to leave them. He added that he had the tacit support of several Arab leaders, saying, They understand that, and even agree with it quietly, in an interview with German media giant Axel Springer on Sunday March 10. They understand Hamas is part of the Iranian terror axis, he said.

Netanyahu named no names, but he did not need to. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have all been in constant communication with Israel and senior Biden administration officials under the guise of mediating an agreement on the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Retired US diplomat Ryan Crocker was, however, far more explicit in confirming every word that Netanyahu said. In a revealing interview with Politico magazine last month, he let the cat out of the bag, stating unequivocally why, despite publicly supporting Palestinian rights, none of the Arab regimes are willing to accept Palestinian refugeesbecause they have long viewed the Palestinians with fear and loathing.

Crocker is in a position to know. Beginning his diplomatic career with a posting in the US consulate in the inland port city of Khorramshahr, near Irans oilfields, in 1972 during the Shahs reign, he later served in Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Kuwait. While it is not necessary to accept everything he said, Crocker did expose the Arab regimes undying hatred of the Palestinians and gave examples of their repeated treachery and duplicity.

Ryan Crocker (right) is presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President George W. Bush

In reviewing the history of the Palestinians, Crocker explained that the Nakba of 1948, when more than 700,000 Palestinians fled to Jordan, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria to escape Zionist terrorism and the Arab-Israeli war of 1947-49, shook the legitimacy of Arab regimes. Seven Arab states declared war on the Zionistsand were decisively routed. Arab leaders feared the consequences of their failure in Palestine, both from elements within their own societies and from Palestinians themselves But the fact that [Palestine Liberation Army] units were under the command of the Arab armies allowed them to keep control of Palestinian arms until the [1967] Six Day War.

He described the Palestinians experience as refugees in neighbouring Arab countries as pure hell by and large. Only in Jordan did they get citizenship. In Lebanon, they remain stateless, they cannot own property and face restrictions on the jobs they are allowed to do, leaving them subject to super exploitation.

The 1967 Arab-Israeli war, which created a new wave of refugees, largely to Jordan, dramatically changed the Arab regimes relations with the Palestinians. Their decisive defeat ended any prospect of them defeating Israel militarily. But it also led to Yasser Arafats Fatah group, with its commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state by means of armed struggle, taking control of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), an umbrella group of multiple factions, each with different ideologies, each seeking support from different Arab states, Moscow or Beijing.

The PLO, now recognised as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, became a mass movement. The Palestinian struggle became somewhat independent of the Arab regimes, particularly Jordan and Syria. These factors combined to shift the fight for Palestinian control of territory to the Arab landsLebanon in 1969 and Jordan in 1970and turned the Arab regimes against the Palestinians. In essence, the struggle became an international struggle, beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories, threatening the ruling elites of the neighbouring states that were themselves weak, wracked with divisions and facing an increasingly impoverished working class and peasantry, plus the Palestinian diaspora.

As Crocker explained, while the Arab leaders routinely gave support to the PLO in what he described as the staple of Arab politics the actual practice of Arab governments vis-a-vis the Palestinians was exactly the opposite. In a particularly telling assessment, he said that they all viewed the Palestinians who had taken refuge in their countries as a threat, a foreign population that should be weakened if not exterminated.

Jordan

After 1967, the Palestinians stepped up their attacks on Israel from the Jordanian border town of Karameh, amid growing support both within the occupied West Bank and Jordan, more than half of whose populations were Palestinian. As the PLOs strength grew, some of the Palestinian factions began to call for the overthrow of the Jordanian monarchy, installed by Britain in the aftermath of World War I to preside over a mini state designed to be unviable and dependent on London. This led to violent clashes in 1970.

Jordanian soldiers surrounding Syrian Palestine Liberation Army tank during Black September, 17 September 1970 [Photo: jordanske arkiver / ukjent opphav]

As Crocker explained, Jordans King Hussein was able to defeat the PLO in what became known as Black September, not just because of the prowess of the Jordanian military but also because Syria refused to provide air cover to the Syrian tanks supporting the Palestinians as promised when they came under Jordanian attack, forcing the brigade to withdraw. This left the Palestinians isolated, and thousands were massacred by Husseins forces in pogroms. That Syrian air force, writes Crocker, was under command of a general named Hafez al-Assad [later ruler of Syria], whose hatred and fear of all things Palestinian was intense.

His treachery set a precedent that was to be repeated not just by Syria but all the Arab regimes.

Lebanons civil war 1975-1989

The PLO moved to Lebanon. Under an agreement brokered by Cairo in November 1969, the Palestinian guerilla movements set up their bases there, began taking at least partial control of 16 official UNRWA camps that were home to 300,000 refugees, and launched attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon. As home to the PLOs military headquarters, Beirut became an enemy stronghold as far as Israel was concerned, leading to multiple attacks aimed at undermining popular support for the Palestinians and sowing divisions between the Palestinians and Lebanese.

This set the stage for Lebanons civil war that raged from 1975-1989, between the Palestinians and their Muslim allies against the reactionary Maronite Christian ruling elite, backed by Israel.

Israel was to receive support from an unexpected quarter. In the first phase of Lebanons civil war, when it seemed that the fascist Phalangist forces faced being routed, the Syrian army intervened to preserve the Lebanese state and the Maronite establishmentshelling Tall al-Zatar, the big Palestinian refugee camp in East Beirut under siege from Lebanese forcesreducing it to rubble and leaving at least 1,500 Palestinians dead in August 1976.

Egypt signed an agreement with Israel at Camp David in 1978, ensuring the neutrality of the most important Arab country should Israel attack any of her other neighbours. This enabled Israel to invade Lebanon in June 1982. A botched attempt on the life of the Israeli ambassador, Shlomo Argov, in London, by a Palestinian faction hostile to Arafat and the PLO, provided the pretext for driving the PLOand Syriaout of Lebanon.

After Israel attacked Syrian forces in Lebanons Bekaa valley and bombed more than 60 Syrian aircraft in the first phase of the invasion, effectively neutralising Syria for the rest of the campaign, not one of the Arab regimes, including those in the Steadfastness Front seen as the most pro-PalestinianAlgeria and Libyacame to the PLOs defence. This took place while Iraq was embroiled in an eight-year-long war against Iran.

The attacks on the Palestinians by Arab forces continued even after the PLOs expulsion from Lebanon. In September 1982, Phalangist forces, under the protection of the Israeli military, massacred some 3,000 Palestinian men, women and children in the Sabra neighbourhood and the adjacent Shatila refugee camp in Beirut.

Aftermath of massacre of Palestinians directed by Lebanese Forces with the complicity of senior members of the Israeli Cabinet and Defence Forces and conducted by Christian Phalangists and members of the South Lebanon Army in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. [Photo: Robin Moyer, USA, Black Star for Time. Beirut, Lebanon, 18 September 1982. ]

As Crocker said, it was just one of many massacres.

Three years later, in 1985, Lebanese Shia in the Amal movement, along with other Muslim and Palestinian factions, laid siege for almost three years to the Shatila and Bourj el-Barajneh camps, in what became known as the War of the Camps. With backing from Damascus, which feared that Israel might use the Palestinians as a pretext for invading Syria, and Tehran, their aim was to dislodge supporters of Fatah and the PLO. It led to the deaths of several thousand Palestinians, with many more injured.

No neighbouring country willing to host the PLO

One of the most revealing accounts in Crockers interview is his description of the problems the US encountered organising the evacuation of the PLO, following Israels massive bombardment of Lebanon and siege of Beirut that together killed at least 19,000 people. It proved extraordinarily difficult to find an Arab country willing to provide a home for the PLO factions and its leadership. Crocker said that while Libya and Sudan agreed to accept a few Palestinians:

I dont know how we ever talked the Tunisians into accepting the PLO leadership. Some of the hardest parts of the entire diplomatic effort to end the fighting involved trying to find locations for the PLO leadership and its rank and file, because nobody wanted them. Those were extraordinarily tough talks. And again, it is noteworthy that the Syrians accepted none of them. We didnt even ask Jordan. So it was those countries farther afield, not directly involved in the conflict and without substantial Palestinian populations. Tunisia ended up with the headquarters I think the Tunisians eventually accepted because they felt not having a Palestinian population meant they were not likely to be internally destabilized by it.

Syria

Crocker pointed out that Arafat and his Fatah movement, whose secular nationalist ideology had a broad appeal, presented a particular threat to Syria. The support of that weak, unstable country for the Palestinian cause was never more than an attempt to dominate the Palestinian masses and use them as pawns in its political manoeuvrings at home and abroad in the service of Syrias national interestsmore precisely, those of the ruling clique. Hence its intervention in a de facto alliance with Israel against the Palestinians in 1976, when it looked as though Lebanon might be split in two, to bolster the Phalangist forces.

Yasser Arafat in a Southern Lebanon refugee camp. Damour, 1978 [Photo by Hans Weingartz - Hans Weingartz/ Randi Crott: Auf nach Palastina! / CC BY-SA 3.0

Israels subsequent invasion of Lebanon in 1982 performed a vital service for Damascus, itself beset with civil war against the Muslim Brotherhood, in dismantling the PLO structures in Lebanon and forcing the PLO to evacuate from Beirut.

Fatahs ideology was to lead to the refusal of most of the Arab regimes to host the PLO after its expulsion from Lebanon in 1982, but their hatred of the Palestinians was something, Crocker said, that successive US administrations and Israel had failed to grasp and exploit. He cited as an example Israels failure to agree a deal with Syria, which he said was entirely possible in January 2000, that would have served to further isolate Arafat and the PLO.

October 2023 and the Arab regimes

Fast forward to 2023. Netanyahu now has no intention of passing up that advice. He never hesitates to pose Irans support for Hamas, Lebanons Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen as a threat to the stability of the Arab regimes. His confidence in pressing ahead with a ground assault on Rafah rests on the Arab regimes support, amply demonstrated over the last five months.

Not one of the Gulf Arab oil producers has seen fit to even suggest imposing an oil embargo on Israels backers, as they did after the 1973 Arab Israeli war. And neither Egypt nor Jordan, which signed treaties with Israel, have revoked their treaties. None of the states that signed normalisation agreements with Israel under the Abraham Accordsthe United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain (with the approval of its paymaster, Saudi Arabia), Morocco and Sudanhave sought to void the Accords. Only Jordan, more than half of whose population is of Palestinian origin, has withdrawn its ambassador from Israel.

A bulldozer unloads the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel in a mass grave in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair]

The war has done nothing to derail Washingtons long-running efforts to broker a normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Even Riyadhs nominal support for the so-called two-state solution is a thing of the past. In September, the countrys de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman told a television interviewer that he did not demand a two-state solution but merely hoped for a deal that would ease the life of the Palestinians. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan later told CNN that such a treaty was dependent upon a viable pathway to establishing a Palestinian state [emphasis added].

In the meantime, the Saudis cooperation with Israel continues, particularly in relation to investment and trade in Israels high-tech and surveillance equipment.

Jordan, along with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is playing a key role in keeping Israels economy functioning. With shipping taking the route round the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Yemens Houthis attacks on ships in the Red Sea with links to Israel or its backers, the US and the UK, the Arab regimes are providing a land corridor for the transportation of goods to Israel.

All the Arab regimes have continued trading with Israel, which has become their go-to source of surveillance and hacking technology used to control political activism and dissidents among their own restive populations. The Arab signatory states to the Abraham Accords are the third largest purchasers of Israeli arms.

The Butcher of Cairo, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who has long used the military to serve as Gazas prison guard on Israels behalf, opposed Israels plans to push Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians into Egypts Sinai desert. This was not out of any concern for the Palestinians but apprehension they would become the focus for broader political opposition to his regime, to US imperialism and all its allies in the region. His counterproposal was to house them in Israels Negev desert instead of Sinai, until Israel is capable of defeating Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Afterwards, Palestinians could return to their homeland.

He ordered the army to fortify Egypts border with Gaza to prevent the Palestinians from fleeing into Sinai. Should the Palestinians succeed in breaching the reinforced border, they will be housed in a prison camp under construction in northern Sinai until they can return to Gaza.

It was El-Sisi who first put forward plans for a revitalized Palestinian Authority (PA) in Doha last December at a meeting of US imperialisms key Arab allies in the region: a new provisional PA government of technocrats would organise parliamentary and presidential elections to determine the post-war administration of the West Bank and Gaza. The PAs role would be to guard an open-air prison that the Arab regimes have been complicit in creating, not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank.

In the final analysis, their efforts to come up with a such plan to stabilise the regionalbeit one that is both unworkable and also unacceptable to Israelare aimed at obtaining Washingtons commitment to back their own security in the event of a new Arab Spring or mass movement to unseat them, to neutralize the Houthi threat to Saudi Arabia and to wage war against Iran, which has backed forces opposed to their rule, as part of Washingtons preparations for war on China.

The way forward

The oppression of the Palestinian people has been maintained not simply by Israeli violence and military might, but by the treachery of the Arab bourgeoisie. The line-up by the Arab states with Israel and US imperialism signifies the ultimate political collapse of all the regimes that emerged after the post-World War I imperialist carve-up of the resource-rich Middle East by Britain and France.

Moreover, the Palestinians, under the leadership of Arafat, Fatah and the PLOwith its perspective of a Palestinian nation state to be achieved by means of the armed struggle and the backing of the Arab regimes and the Soviet Unionwas unable to put forward a perspective and programme capable of uniting the working class and toiling masses of the region in what is essentially an international struggle. Today the Fatah-dominated leadership of the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas is also an accomplice to Israels savage repression, concerned only with ensuring the privileges of the West Bank and diaspora billionaires, dependant on acting as a police force for Washington and Jerusalem.

These tragic events provide a powerful confirmation of Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution, demonstrating that in the imperialist epoch the workers and oppressed masses in the less advanced countries cannot achieve any of their most basic needsfreedom from imperialist oppression, democratic rights, jobs, and social equalityunder the leadership of any section of the national bourgeoisie.

Under conditions of a globalised economy, an end to war and genocide, national oppression and social exploitation lies not along a national, but rather along an international and socialist road. It demands the taking of power by the working class as part of the struggle for world socialist revolution. This begins by waging a determined struggle to unify the working class, Arab, Persian, Jewish, Kurdish and across all other national, ethnic and religious divisions, for a Socialist Federation of the Middle East. It requires the building of a new leadership, the International Committee of the Fourth International.
On March 13, the Stalinist Communist Party of Spains (PCE) Mundo Obrero (Workers World) posted an opinion piece by Manu Pineda, calling for protests demanding the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Sumar government changes course to stop the genocide in Gaza.

The unbridled cynicism involved is breathtaking. Pineda is speaking about his own government, which has been arming the Zionist regime as it carries out its onslaught in Gaza.

MEP Manu Pineda, Chair of European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine. At a press conference, May 24, 2022 [Photo by The Left/Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Pineda is the Secretary of International Relations of the PCE, a Member of the European Parliament for the PCE-led United Left (IU) and Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Palestine. The PCE is integrated in the Sumar Movement, which rules with the PSOE at national level. It holds top positions within the government, including Yolanda Diaz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Sira Rego, Minister of Youth and Children.

Under the title, The historical priority of the Palestinian cause in the PCE, Pineda starts his piece by citing the resolution passed by the PCEs XXI Congress of July 2022. It stated: As a party we must continue defending and supporting the majority decisions made by the Palestinian people in defence of their self-determination and sovereignty, accompanying their struggle with all the solidarity actions within our reach.

Pineda intones, This is not abstract support, but an explicit defence of Palestine's right to resist and exist. We support all the popular expressions that the Palestinian people adopt in their struggle for national liberation. Pointing out at the same time the criminal and illegal nature of the occupation and colonisation of Palestine; and the necessary complicity and support of American imperialism and, by extension, its European butler. This is the position, tremendously summarised, that as a party we transfer to all spaces of intervention and public discussion.

Pineda omits to mention, of course, that the PCE was part of, first, the PSOE-Podemos government (2020 to 2023), and now, the current PSOE-Sumar government. During its time in office, the Spanish government increased trade, military, and economic relations with the Zionist regime, particularly in weapons trade. Under the PSOE-Podemos, Spain sold weapons to Israel worth hundreds of millions of euros while Madrid spent millions buying weapons with the combat-tested mark from Israel.

Last November, Spain continued exporting lethal ammunition to Israel worth nearly 1 million euros belonging to the category bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles, cartridges and other ammunition and projectiles. Spain also acquired 705 million worth of products from the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.

According to data analysed by Centre Delas, Spain continued sending weapons to Israeli until at least last December, despite Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares insisting several times in the media and in parliament that arms exports to the Israel were frozen since October 7, when the genocide started. In the December, the PSOE-Sumar government sent aviation bomb stabilisers as Israeli fighter jets destroyed over half of Gazas infrastructure.

Pineda then calls on workers and youth to continue protesting and bringing internationalist solidarity with Palestine to workplaces, schools and our neighborhoods. He adds, The priority is to end the massacre, and we will only achieve this through mobilisation. Only the strength of the solidarity movement will force the governments that today protect Israel to end its impunity.

Pineda calls for protests only because he knows they will not change the governments pro-genocide orientation but will instead provide a fig-leaf to conceal the PCEs collusion in this historic crime.

Pinedas statement is a negative verdict on the leadership presently dominating these protests, not only in Spain but internationally. It points to the essential contradiction between the millions who have taken to the streets seeking to stop to the slaughter and the political perspective advanced by the various pseudo-left, Stalinist, and social democratic tendencies of appealing for their governments and the international community to develop a moral conscience.

The more the tendencies dominating the mass protests have insisted that protesters confine themselves to appeals to their governments, the more brutally Benjamin Netanyahus fascist gang has waged its campaign of mass murder and ethnic cleansing. The Zionist regime could only do this with full backing of the US and its imperialist allies, including all the European powers. This is the case even with those such as the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Sumar government in Spain, who combine meaningless appeals for a ceasefire with practical support for Netanyahus genocidal regime.

Pinedas appeal for more protests along the same line is accompanied by a slanderous attack on anyone questioning the unity of these protests, based on an amnesty for the trade union bureaucracy and the PSOE-Sumar government. He states that the PCE supports the unitary nature of the mobilisations; understanding that Palestine is above particular interests. Today, more than ever, dividing the solidarity movementwhich is massive and unprecedentedis consciously or unconsciously supporting the genocide.

Pineda would like to continue with actions like those organised on February 16, when the PSOE, Sumar, Podemos, the PCE and their trade union allies, Workers Commissions (CCOO) and the General Union of Workers (UGT), organised a photo-op protest in Madrid under the banner Freedom for Palestine. No to impunity, end to the massacre.

Stopping the Gaza genocide requires not unity with the supporters of genocide like Pineda and the PCE and Podemos, but an intransigent break from these parties by the most politically conscious workers and youth. This means building new organisations of working class struggle and an international revolutionary leadership opposed to all nationalist political tendencies linked to counter-revolutionary bureaucracies.

As a political operative of the PSOE-Sumar government, Pineda is terrified at the prospects of mass anger at the genocide intersecting with broad social discontent against austerity, militarism and attacks on democratic rights. Workers are facing skyrocketing cost of living, soaring mortgage and rent prices, and are increasingly hostile to government inaction over human-induced climate change and pandemics such as COVID-19.

The PCE is a party steeped in counter-revolutionary violence against the working class, drowning the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War in blood, including aiding and abetting the abduction and murder of Trotskyists and of Andreu Nin, leader of the centrist Workers Party of Marxist Unification (POUM). During the 1950s, it called for national reconciliation with the regime of General Francisco Franco and in the 1970s, prevented a revolutionary reckoning with the Spanish bourgeoisie, co-writing Spains 1978 Constitution with the fascist Francoite authorities.

Today, the PCE has no remaining mass working class base. It represents a privileged layer of the upper middle class and sections of the union bureaucracy, which has gained wealth under capitalism and fears, above all, a movement of workers against the profit system.

Pinedas piece is so grotesque that even Spains Morenoite Corriente Revolucionaria de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras (Workers Revolutionary Current, CRT)the Spanish affiliate of Argentinas Socialist Workers Party (PTS) and Revolution Permanente in France, felt obliged to respond under the title, Sumar MEP on Palestine: We will only be able to end the massacre by putting pressure on the governments. Can you be more hypocritical?

But while criticizing the most hypocritical statements in Pinedas article, the CRT ultimately puts forward the same perspective of putting yet more pressure on the government, writing, Faced with a Eurocommunism that has become a tragic joke, we can only mobilise and confront the Government until it breaks its relations with Israel, withdraws troops from abroad and leaves NATO.

The CRT rejects the independent organisation of the working class against genocide and world war, in Spain and internationally, through strikes and a political struggle against arms deliveries to Israel.

This would cut across its links to the PCE, Podemos and its pseudo-left satellites and threaten its positions in the lower-ranks of the trade union bureaucracy and academia. It would mean adopting an openly hostile position to the PSOE-Sumar government, rather than appealing to them, and exposing rather than covering up for the trade union bureaucracys refusal to mobilise its members against the genocide.

Workers and youth cannot wait for the union bureaucracies or middle-class groups like CRT to organise a genuine struggle against the Gaza genocide. They must mobilise themselves independently in rank-and-file committees, in workplaces, schools and neighborhoods to block the war profiteers and against the PSOE-Sumar government complicit in genocide. Above all this means building a new revolutionary party of the Spanish working class, as a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement.
In this article, we will take a look at the 20 most fluent English speaking countries in the world. If you would like to skip our discussion on the global reach of the language, you can go to the 5 Most Fluent English Speaking Countries In The World.

English is spoken by nearly 1.5 billion people across the world. Out of these, about 400 million speak it as a first language, and over 1 billion use it as a secondary language. Thus, by combining native and non-native English Speakers, English is the single most widely-spoken global language. English is widely spoken throughout the world as a lingua franca because of its origins in Great Britain and the British Empire's extensive colonial reach. School systems set up by previous colonizing powers resulted in the adoption of English as an official language by former colonies. English also acts as the official language of numerous nations. In fact, 27 non-sovereign entities and 67 distinct countries acknowledge English as an official language. In addition, it is also widely used in commerce and is the official language of some of the most significant organizations in the world, such as the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations.

The United States and the United Kingdom are probably most frequently associated with the English language and are amongst the largest English-speaking countries in terms of the total number of English speakers. The widespread adoption of English can be largely attributed to the influence of the United States of America. It is estimated that over two billion individuals worldwide are exposed to American influence through various mediums, including marketing, television, literature, and other forms of communication. With over 20 million native English speakers, Canada is also among the countries with the largest English-speaking population in the world despite having two official languages. The Republic of Ireland, South Africa, and New Zealand are a few other well-known nations where English is the official language.

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You can check out the 30 Most Spoken Languages in the World in 2024 here.

As a means of communication, education, and career advancement in todays globalized world, fluency in English is a highly sought-after skill. This demand has fueled a thriving English Language Learning (ELL) industry, which is witnessing continuous evolution. The global ELL industry is a multi-billion dollar market, with estimates suggesting a size of around $21.3 billion in 2022. This figure is projected to reach $70.7 billion by 2030, reflecting a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2%. In 2022, the English language learning market in the United States was valued at about $5.6 billion. Meanwhile, in China, the second-biggest economy in the world, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 20.6% from 2022 to 2030 to reach an estimated size of $17.9 billion. Other notable geographic markets are Canada and Japan, which are expected to expand at respective rates of 11.5% and 13.8% between 2022 and 2030. Additionally, Germany is forecasted to demonstrate solid growth in Europe, with a CAGR of approximately 12.5%. Several key players dominate the global English language learning market, including companies such as Udemy, Inc. (NYSE:UDMY), 51Talk Online Education Group (NYSE:COE), and Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR). These companies play an important role in shaping the landscape of English language education on a global scale.

20 Most Fluent English Speaking Countries In The World

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Our Methodology

To shortlist the 20 most fluent English speaking countries in the world, we referred to credible sources such as Berlitz and WorldData to gather information regarding the percentage of English speaking population across countries. Furthermore, we referenced the 2023 English Proficiency Index to supplement our findings with information on English proficiency levels across countries, where available. The countries have been ranked in ascending order of their percentage of English speaking population as of 2024.

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20 Most Fluent English Speaking Countries In The World

20. Liberia

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 82.67%

English gained prominence in Liberia during the mid-1800s when English-speaking settlers arrived and settled themselves in the region. It is now the official language of the country. Liberian English refers to various dialects of the language spoken throughout the country. Standard Liberian English serves as the primary language for business transactions, diplomatic discussions with other nations, and educational instruction in Liberian schools. It is the medium through which children are taught in elementary, middle, and high schools across the nation.

19. Canada

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 83.06%

In the ten provinces of Canada, a lot of different languages are spoken. This is especially true in places like Toronto and Vancouver, where languages from all over the world are spoken, along with English and French. Even though Canadian English sounds a lot like American English, it also has features that are unique to Canada and are influenced by British English. About 76.1% of Canadians speak English as their first language, while 22% speak French as their first language.

18. Sierra Leone

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 83.53%

In Sierra Leone, 4.3 million individuals, constituting 83.53% of the population, speak English. This community communicates primarily in Sierra Leonean English, an English dialect specific to the region. Additionally, the Krio language, heavily influenced by English, serves as the country's principal lingua franca.

17. Israel

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 84.97%

Israel has a diverse population, with individuals from various cultures, faiths, and linguistic backgrounds. Hence, numerous languages are spoken within the country. English holds significant prominence in Israel, owing to its historical use as a language of trade among foreign traders and merchants. Since the 1940s, English has been integrated into the school curriculum, with current estimates suggesting that approximately 85% of Israelis possess some degree of proficiency in the language. Moreover, English serves as the preferred mode of communication in businesses and government agencies across the nation.

16. Denmark

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 86%

Denmark is known for its high level of English proficiency among its population. Children in Denmark start their English education as early as the first grade, allowing them to develop strong language skills from a young age. As a result, an impressive 86% of the Danish population can speak English. Alongside other Scandinavian countries, Denmark consistently ranks among the top four nations globally in terms of the English Proficiency Index.

15. Suriname

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 87.09%

While Dutch serves as the official language of Suriname, primarily due to its history as a former Dutch colony, the majority of the population, particularly in urban areas, speaks English as a second language. In fact, the English-based Creole language, Sranan Tongo, is commonly used in everyday interactions. In Suriname, an increasing number of individuals are becoming proficient in English due to factors such as business relations, educational opportunities, and media exposure.

14. Malta

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 89%

Due to its history as a former British colony, English has been a part of the daily and professional lives of the people of Malta for centuries. Today, around 89% of Maltese individuals can speak English, although it is not their first language. English has become the second most commonly spoken language in Malta. Furthermore, legal documents in the country are typically prepared in English. Both English and Maltese are compulsory subjects in schools across the country. Malta is at the fourteenth position on our list of the most fluent English speaking countries in the world.

13. Sweden

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 89%

In Sweden, 89% of the population speaks English proficiently. While the official language is Svenska or Swedish, English is widely regarded as the second language and is taught as a foreign language in schools. English is a mandatory subject in the Swedish curriculum, with students beginning English classes at an early age. According to the 2023 English Proficiency Index (EPI) data, Sweden has achieved a "very high proficiency" level in the language.

12. Uganda

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 89.9%

More than forty different languages are spoken in Uganda. The most widely spoken local language in the country is Luganda. However, English and Swahili are Uganda's official languages. English is well-integrated into the educational system, used in courts of law, and employed by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts across the country.

11. Norway

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 90%

Around 90% of Norwegians speak English as a second language, making it one of the most fluent English speaking countries in the world. As per the English Proficiency Index 2023, most Norwegians fall under the "Very Highly Proficient" category. Companies like Udemy, Inc. (NYSE:UDMY), 51Talk Online Education Group (NYSE:COE), and Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR) have also played a significant role in promoting language learning through their platforms.

10. Guyana

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 90.55%

Guyana is the only South American country where English is the official language, a legacy of British colonial rule. Guyana is among the top 10 most fluent English speaking countries in the world, with over 90% of its population speaking the language.

9. Netherlands

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 90.9%

The Netherlands has a high level of English proficiency among its population. This proficiency can be attributed to several factors, including the linguistic similarity between English and Dutch and the country's heavy reliance on international trade. In the Netherlands, an increasing number of schools at all levels have adopted English as the language of instruction, further reinforcing English proficiency among the Dutch populace.

8. Australia

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 92.8%

When the British arrived in Australia in 1788, they introduced English to the region. Over the next few decades, English slowly replaced the native languages and became the main language of Australia. While English is widely regarded as the de facto official and national language of Australia, it is not formally designated as the official language by law. Nevertheless, it stands as the most prevalent language in the country, with 72% of the population speaking it as their first language.

7. United States

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 95.5%

American English is used in various domains, such as business, government, and educational institutions across the United States. This linguistic variant includes the diverse range of accents spoken throughout the country. Over the past few decades, American English has risen in prominence.

6. Singapore

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 96.43%

Situated in Southeast Asia, Singapore recognizes English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil as its four official languages. Singaporeans demonstrate exceptionally high proficiency in English, ranking second out of 113 countries according to the EF English Proficiency Index. In 1987, Singapore made a significant shift by replacing Chinese with English as the primary language of instruction for most school subjects, including history, science, and mathematics. This strategic decision has contributed to the widespread fluency and proficiency in English among Singaporean students and the broader population.

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David Seidler, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind 2010s The Kings Speech, has died. He was 86.

The London native died Saturday during a fly-fishing trip in New Zealand, his manager, Jeff Aghassi, told The Hollywood Reporter.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

David was in the place he loved most in the world  New Zealand  doing what gave him the greatest peace, which was fly-fishing, Aghassi said. If given the chance, it is exactly as he would have scripted it.

The Kings Speech told the true story of King George VI (Colin Firth) who overcame his severe stutter with the help of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). When Georges brother abdicated the throne in 1936, Logue helped the king prepare for his first wartime radio message after the start of World War II.

Seidlers script was motivated by his experience overcoming a stutter as a child. He won an Oscar for original screenplay at the 2011 Academy Awards, and the film also won best actor for Firth, best director for Tom Hooper and best picture.

The film was also adapted into a play that has since been performed on four different continents, including at Londons West End.

Seidlers other writing included Francis Ford Coppolas Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988), animated childrens features Madeline: Lost in Paris (1999) and Quest for Camelot (1998). He also wrote 2016s The Queen of Spades and the 1988 telefilm Onasiss: The Richest Man in the World (1988).

Per Aghassi, Seidler had remained passionate about screenwriting and had multiple documentaries, limited series and feature films in development at the time of his death.

Seidler is survived by his children, Marc and Maya.

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Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Im such a hot sleeper and these keep me nice and cool

People / Amazon

Just in time for the warm weather, Amazon dropped a deal on cooling bed sheets recommended by thousands of shoppers.

Right now, the Mueller Austria Queen Bed Sheet Set is on sale for $23  a stellar deal for highly rated bedding. The set comes with everything you need to refresh your bed for the new season, including four pillowcases, a flat sheet, and a fitted sheet with side pockets to stow small essentials. Each piece is made with smooth microfiber thats breathable and moisture-wicking.

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Related: The 18 Best Bathrobes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Other convenient features? The material is wrinkle-resistant, so it feels comfortable and looks crisp on the bed. Its also machine washable and dryer-safe for easy care. The brand recommends using cold water and drying on a low tumble setting for proper care.

Even better, the worst part of washing your sheets  wrestling the fitted sheet onto the bed once theyre clean  is a breeze thanks to the sheets deep pocket that can fit a mattress up to 16 inches deep. And with an elastic hem, it stays in place even if you toss and turn.

Related: The 11 Best Fans of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

The sheet set is available in sizes full to California king, and you can shop it in eight colors. Take your pick from various shades of blue and neutrals like white and gray. The price depends on the size and color you prefer, and the good news is almost every option is marked down right now.

More than 13,400 shoppers have given the sheets a five-star rating. These are so comfortable, one user shared. Im such a hot sleeper and these keep me nice and cool.

The side pockets for holding items are a great place for me to put my phone and kindle when Im ready for bed, another reviewer wrote. I didnt end up with my things under me while I slept. They also raved, The sheets are super soft and worked overtime to keep me cool while I slept.

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James Van Der Beek and Kerr Smith are looking back at filming Dawsons Creek and recalled some death-defying experiences they had on jet skis at the time.

This week, the two actors told People magazine at 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, that things would sometimes get a bit wild behind the scenes of the hit teen drama when they were filming in Wilmington, North Carolina.

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A couple of the guys on the crew had boats and you know we had the guest stars come in and the writers come in every episode and we would take them out on the water on the weekends, Smith, who played Jack McPhee, recalled. Wed stop and eat crab in the morning yet. And wed fill up the boats with whatever we needed. We would barbecue out on the island. We all had jet skis.

He went on to remember one specific dangerous incident he had on the water, quipping, Im surprised I didnt actually kill myself!

I dont know if you guys know how the intercostal waterway works down in Wilmington, but theres a lot of grassy area and when the tide is higher, it kind of becomes a race course. When the tides lower, its all mud, the actor explained. So, I used to go back there and get this thing up to 70 miles an hour on the water. And I remember one time, I hit a sandbar and I flew 100 feet over the handlebars and made some waves.

Van Der Beek, who played Dawson Leery, also made some risky moves while on the water. He noted that although Wilmington used to get hurricanes every year, he would still try and catch some waves.

What I [would] do is I would book the first flight out the next morning and I would get on my jet ski and would ride the hurricane waves, he said. When you rode the back of the toward shore, the way the wave was going, it was an optical illusion because you couldnt see the shoreline but you were convinced you were going up and up and up and up. By the time the wave broke. I was convinced I was, like, 200 feet in the air.

Their shenanigans definitely got them into trouble at times, as Smith recalled occasionally they would hit the back jet on the ground and break the prop, causing them to get towed.

Dawsons Creek, created by Kevin Williamson, ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003. The show also starred Katie Holmes, Mary-Margaret Humes, Michelle Williams, John Wesley Shipp, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, Busy Philipps, Nina Repeta and Meredith Monroe.

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President Joe Biden, appearing at one of DCs oldest traditions, the Gridiron Dinner, made some sharp quips about Donald Trump but then turned serious about the threat that his rival poses to democracy.

Biden directed his barbs at his own age and at his predecessor.

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One candidates too old and mentally unfit to be president, Biden said. The other guys me.

The dinner tradition, which dates to the 19th century, is a white-tie night that routinely draws the top echelons of government, media and business to watch journalists perform musical skits and politicians, also including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Utah Governor Spencer Cox, do some of their own standup.

Biden noted that his student debt relief program doesnt apply to everyone. Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up and said, Im being crushed by debt. Im completely wiped out. I said, Sorry, Donald I cant help out.'

Noting that Mitch McConnell was stepping down as GOP leader, Biden said, I hate to see a friend give up in his prime.

The event  the 139th dinner  featured figures like ABC News Jon Karl and CBS News Ed OKeefe in the skits, before an audience that also included Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

The most unexpected attendee was perhaps Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, who has been meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as Congress moves toward legislation to force its divestiture from its China-owned parent ByteDance or face being banned on app stores. Chew later shook hands with Biden as the president lingered for a bit afterward chatting with attendees.

Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and owner of The Washington Post, sat next to Biden on the dais, while Leo Eric Varadkar, the Irish Taoiseach, sat just a few seats down from the person he bears a striking resemblance to, Emhoff. Sure enough, there was a joke about their likeness.

As he noted that he had walked the UAW picket line last year with Whitmer, Biden got in a barb about Bezos, quipping to the crowd, A strong union can make a corporation quiver. At least that is what Jeff Bezos would tell them.

Biden said of the Irish prime minister, He took one look at Congress and he asked for another Guinness.

Biden, like other speakers, ended on a serious note  even saying, I wish these were jokes but theyre not.

As I said in my State of the Union address, we live in an unprecedented moment of democracy  an unprecedented moment in history, Biden said. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putins on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says, Do whatever the hell you want.

The president chided Trump for calling the press the enemy of the people, even as many of you risked your lives in your jobs, sometimes even giving your life to do this job.

Biden added, Good journalism holds a mirror up to a country for us to reflect the good, the bad and the truth about who we are.

It is not hyperbole. We need you. Democracy is at risk and the American people need to know. In fractured times, they need a context and perspective. They need substance to match the enormity of the task. As a result, the choices that you make really matter, and each story you make makes democracy stronger.

He added, Every single one of us has a role to play in making sure American democracy endures. This year, you, the free press, have a bigger role than ever. Let me state the obvious: You are not the enemy of the people. You are a pillar of any free society.

The Washington Posts chief correspondent and president of the Gridiron, Dan Balz, opened the event with his own humor, again aimed at age. He noted that he is the clubs oldest president.

Our best-known motto is: Singe, dont burn, Balz said. We also have a lesser-known motto:

Elderly and well meaning.

With top officials in the Trump and Biden campaigns in the crowd, the musical satires strived for a bit of comedy balance. One featured Trump, a lawyer and a mini-chorus crooning, I Just Cant Wait To Be King, a play on The Lion King lyrics.

Im gonna be a dictator on day one, so I said

And on day one he will declare day one will never end

Ill crush the vermin Democrats from sea to shining sea

Ill issue pardons all day long, including some for me!

And then hell want us all to kiss his ring

Oh I just cant wait to be king.

Another moment featured Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin as she sang Bobby McFerrins Dont Worry, Be Happy.

When YOURE out pumpin gaso-lee-un

Stop mopin! Be happy (spoken) Be happy, dammit

Woo-woo-woo woo, woo-di-woo-di woo-doo-doo . . . Woo-woo

The markets boomin people why dont you get it?

Youre all too dumb to give the president credit?

Quit whinin!

Vote Biden!

Quit whinin!

Vote Biden!

The dinners speakers traditionally feature one Republican and one Democratic figure.

Cox, speaking for the GOP side, was a standout, as he came with a volley of quips. The Utah governor was a last minute addition after Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin had to drop out. Cox quipped to the well-heeled crowd, Im sure some of you have traveled to places like Utah, places like Park City and Sundance Film Festival. Thats fancy Utah, like if Jon Huntsman or Mitt Romney were a city.

Full disclosure, though: I did get a little help with my speech. So Senator Katie Britt offered some coaching. Notice I am a little breathy tonight

But I also reached out to my friend Mitch McConnell for some ideas and he said Cox then stopped a froze. That drew some laughter and some ooohs.

Cox responded, We really didnt know if we should use that one. I spoke to Mitch and he said he was okay with it.Well, he implied that he was OK with itHe didnt say no.

Cox, who is chair of the National Governors Association, has started a new initiative called Disagree Better, to improve public discourse. We are better than the hatred and the divisiveness, he said. I know its fun to make fun of MAGA. I get it. There are really people living real lives out there who are scared, partially because they have been lied to, but partially because they are struggling right now. And the same thing is happening on the other side.

The only way we fix this is if we pull our heads out of our collective asses and start caring about each other again. Theres nothing more un-American than hating our fellow Americans.

After he finished, Cox hugged Biden and Harris.

Whitmer opened her bit with one of the nights most ribald quips: I want to acknowledge the president of Gridiron Dan Balz, my friend and colleague governor of Utah Spencer Cox. You know, the Gridiron has come a long way, but on a night where you have your first woman vice president and that woman from Michigan, were still starting with cocks and balls.

Another: D.C. is a special town. There are so many fascinating characters here. Speaker Mike Johnson, off to a rocky start. Speaker Johnson and his teenage son use and app called Covenant Eyes. This is a porn accountability app.  How good is this app? Everytime Mike Johnson gets screwed by his own caucus his son gets a notification.

She, too, took on a sober tone at the end of her speech, referring to the January 6th attack on the Capitol as well as a foiled plot to kidnap her. We must never forget that. I personally know the stakes of rising political violence too well.

Biden and Harris both stayed for a bit after the dinner ended. Biden chatted with journalists and other attendees, telling a Wall Street Journal editor that the administration is doing what it can to secure the release of Evan Gershkovich, detained in Russia for nearly a year.

The president posed for selfies and even called a womans mother. And, asked by Deadline how he handles hecklers, who have been a common presence at his speeches and even at the State of the Union, he said, Well, they arent very smart.

Harris, meanwhile, was asked what she thought of the dinner. Its a part of a tradition and its wonderful. Its a good tradition. She then ribbed Politicos Jonathan Martin, asking him, Were you in the dog uniform? Was that you? One skit featured a singing Commander, one of the Bidens dogs, along with injured Secret Service agents. For the record, Martin did not play the dog.

Tonight was the Gridiron Dinner in DC, one of Washingtons oldest traditions. Joe Biden was here, and after some comedy schtick and a few serious words, he stayed afterward and chatted with a few of the attendees. Here he is leaving a message for one womans mother. pic.twitter.com/Om4LBDi1Gy  Ted Johnson (@tedstew) March 17, 2024

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Want to know where can you watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 online? Your search ends right here! We have covered all the details. Set in Meiji-era Japan, this anime television series centers on Shizuma Orikasa, a former samurai who works as a rickshaw driver. After being unexpectedly recruited by the police, he finds himself involved in a conspiracy to topple the government.

Heres where you will be able to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 online.

Is Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 streaming online?

Yes, you will be able to watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 on Crunchyroll.

The talented voice cast ensemble of Meiji Gekken: 1874 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

How to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 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 is one of the premium streaming services that offer access to hundreds of anime and manga series along with East Asian dramas. It offers 3 subscription plans to viewers. They are:

Fan Subscription Plan  It costs $7.99 per month.

Mega Fan Subscription Plan  It costs $9.99 per month.

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.

Paramount Plus new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include only two releases, Todd Haynes historical romance film

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

Amazon Prime Videos new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include films Road House and Expend4bles, and the

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

Netflixs new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include the final episode of Young Royals Season 3, the

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

HBO Maxs new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include the second season of Down Home Fab and

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

The post Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 Streaming: How to Watch & Stream Online appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 release date and time have been revealed. The episode will air on Crunchyroll. Set in 1874 in Meiji-era Japan, this anime series centers on Shizuma Orikasa, a former samurai who turns into a rickshaw driver. However, his life is upended when he intervenes in an assassination attempt while searching for his missing fiancee. This act of bravery results in Shizuka joining the newly formed police department. Tsukasa Sakurai and Naoki Tozuka are the creators of the series.

Heres when the episode is coming out.

When is the Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 release date and time?

The Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 release date is March 24, 2024.

The Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 official release time is not announced. However, Crunchyroll typically drops new content at 10:00 A.M. PT or 1:00 P.M. ET. Therefore, the estimated release time of the upcoming episode is:

10:00 A.M.  Pacific Time (PT)

1:00 P.M.  Eastern Time (ET)

7:00 P.M.  British Summer Time (BST)

8:00 P.M.  Central European Summer Time (CEST)

Where to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11

Viewers can watch the upcoming episode on Crunchyroll.

To watch Episode 11, you can purchase a Crunchyroll subscription plan. It offers three subscription plans to viewers from which users can purchase the subscription plan best suited to their needs. The basic Crunchyroll subscription plan is priced at $7.99 a month and offers complete access to its library. The Mega Fan subscription plan is priced at $9.99 per month while the Ultimate Fan subscription plan is priced at $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.

Paramount Plus new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include only two releases, Todd Haynes historical romance film

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

Amazon Prime Videos new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include films Road House and Expend4bles, and the

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

Netflixs new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include the final episode of Young Royals Season 3, the

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

HBO Maxs new TV and movie releases for March 18-24 2024 include the second season of Down Home Fab and

Guides Abdul Azim Naushad 18 hours ago

The post Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 11 Release Date & Time on Crunchyroll appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
'The Only Murders in the Building' costars enjoyed the show in New York City on Saturday night

Krystal Joy Brown/Instagram Meryl Streep at the SAG Awards; Martin Short at the 11th Annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards

Meryl Streep and Martin Short hit the Great White Way together!

The actor, 73, and the actress, 74, attended a showing of Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway on Saturday night. They were spotted sitting together at the Hudson Theatre by a fan in the audience.

After the show, Streep and Short joined the cast to offer their congratulations.

Wonderful! You were wonderful, Streep said in a video posted by Krystal Joy Brown, who plays Gussie Carnegie in the show. What a show. What a show. It must be a joy, I hope it is. That was  wow.

The Only Murders in the Building stars also posed for a photo with the whole cast. During the moment, Short began to sing Old Friends from the show, before Streep and the rest of the cast joined in.

Related: Martin Short Admits He Was 'Nervous' to Work with Meryl Streep on Only Murders in the Building

Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe, two of the musical's stars, could be seen singing along and posing in the video, with Groff, 38, kneeling below Short, who held him by the shoulders.

The Harry Potter alum, 34, meanwhile, was on the outskirts of the group and encouraged other cast members to join the shot.

This moment was not on my bingo card for this overall insane situation weve found ourselves in, wrote Max Rackenberg  who plays Frank Jr.  on Instagram as he shared the sweet video.

Krystal Joy Brown/Instagram Meryl Streep and Martin Short pose backstage at 'Merrily We Roll Along' on Broadway

Meryl & Martin Short?!?! I am absolutely floored, Brown wrote on her Instagram Story as she shared a photo from backstage with the pair. I performed for these two legends and they were so kind & effusive about our show and said some kind words to me I will NEVER forget.

Another one of the shows stars, Corey Mach, posted on X (formerly Twitter), writing, "Today is the day my beautiful MERRILY cast has been waiting for for almost two years MERYL IS HERE (with Martin!) #MeryllyWeRollAlong.

Krystal Joy Brown/Instagram Meryl Streep and Martin Short backstage with he cast of 'Merrily We Roll Along' on Broadway

Related: Meryl Streep and Martin Short Had a 'Blast' Out at Dinner Together After Romance Denial (Source)

The outing between Streep and Short took place amid speculation that the actors are romantically involved, despite continued refusal on their parts. In January, a rep for Short confirmed to PEOPLE that they are "just very good friends, nothing more." (The denial came following news that Streep and her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, had been separated for six years.)

Short later said of his relationship with Streep: "We're not a couple, we are just very close friends," on an episode of Club Random with Bill Maher.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The pair's Broadway outing also comes after Streep, Short and their Only Murders costars Steve Martin and Selena Gomez returned to filming the hit Hulu series earlier this month. The fourth season will be set in Los Angeles rather than New York, as the previous three seasons were.

In an interview with Deadline, Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich revealed that season 4 will see the core trio take a trip to Los Angeles before returning to The Arconia in New York City.

Streep was previously confirmed to be returning to the show as Broadway star Loretta Durkin because she "had a tremendous time" working on season 3, 20th Television president Karey Burke said on THR's TV's Top 5 podcast in February.

Several new stars are joining too, including Molly Shannon, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria and Kumail Nanjiani.



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Read the original article on People.
In this article, we will be covering the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the travel and tourism industry, you can go directly to 5 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers.

Global Travel and Tourism Industry Poised for Growth

The travel and tourism industry contributes significantly to the economic growth of many countries, producing income generation, employment opportunities, and foreign exchange earnings. According to a report by Custom Market Insights, the global tourism market reached a value of $8.87 trillion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% from 2023 to 2032 and reach a value of more than $12.31 trillion by the end of the forecast period.

Technological advancements, such as the internet, mobile apps, and online booking platforms, are making it easy for travelers to research, book, and access travel and travel-related services. Changing consumer behavior, with people increasingly prioritizing travel experiences over material possessions, has significantly fueled the growth of the global travel and tourism industry. The rise in disposable income is also leading to increased spending on travel and tourism.

Political factors can also impact the competitiveness and stability of tourism destinations, influencing the industry's growth and performance. Governments play a crucial role in influencing travel patterns through travel advisories and visa requirements. As reported by UN Tourism, openness to international travel has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels and fewer people now require a traditional visa to travel. According to the report, 21% of the world's population does not need any form of visa and 14% of the global population can apply for a visa on arrival. Moreover, 18% of the global population can apply for eVisas, marking a significant rise from 7% in 2018. Simplifying visa processes and a welcoming travel and tourism environment can attract more visitors, boost tourism revenues, and stimulate economic growth.

Story continues

Key Players in the Travel and Tourism Industry

Some of the most prominent names in the global travel and tourism industry are Marriott International Inc. (NYSE:MAR), Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT).

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) is an American multinational hospitality company. As one of the largest travel companies in the world, it manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels, resorts, and timeshare properties in more than 120 countries around the world. On February 7, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) reported strong earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.68, surpassing EPS estimates by $0.11. The companys revenue for the quarter grew by 6.75% year-over-year and amounted to $2.61 billion, ahead of market consensus by $3.97 million. Here are some comments from Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.s (NYSE:HLT) Q4 2023 earnings call:

Last quarter, we announced Hilton for Business, our multifaceted program designed to transform the travel experience for small and medium sized businesses by providing a new booking Web site along with targeted benefits designed specifically for SMBs. The program launched in January with thousands of companies registering in just the first few weeks. SMBs account for approximately 85% of our business transient mix and comprising meaningful and growing percentage of our group mix. Given its greater resiliency and higher rates, we think this important customer base provides significant opportunities to drive further growth. Overall, we remain focused on creating unique experiences in our hotels, including through innovative food and beverage offerings.

Travel companies are focusing on making travel easier for customers by offering convenient solutions to enhance the travel experience. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is an American travel technology company that provides online travel and related services in over 220 countries through its brands, which include Priceline, Booking.com, Agoda, KAYAK and OpenTable. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) ranks among the best travel stocks to buy. On February 13, Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) announced that its brand Priceline introduced new AI-powered trip intelligence features, including major upgrades to Penny, its AI-powered travel assistant. The addition of more than 30 new features to Pricelines Trip Intelligence suite will dramatically streamline the travel planning and booking process to help consumers save time and money. The report also mentions that Priceline is introducing Penny across all categories, including hotels, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages.

Marriott International Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is one of the most valuable travel companies in the world. It operates, franchises, and licenses hotels and restaurants in more than 130 countries around the world. On March 13, Marriott International Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced that it has entered into an agreement in collaboration with Vasilakis SA to bring the JW Marriott brand to Greece. JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, expected to launch in 2025, will span 100 acres of picturesque coastal land, offering exceptional service and holistic well-being experiences for travelers seeking a luxury escape.

Now that we have discussed whats going on in the global travel and tourism industry, lets take a look at the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.

20 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers

A bustling airport terminal with travelers heading to their dream destination.

Methodology

In this article, we have listed the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. To collect data for our list of most visited cities in the US by foreigners, we consulted the International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce. This database provided us with a list of metropolitan areas and cities in the US that were visited the most by overseas travelers in 2022. We used the data available for 2022 to select and rank the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers, which are listed below in ascending order.

20 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers

20. Philadelphia, PA MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 326,000

Philadelphia is a metropolitan area surrounding the city of Philadelphia in the US state of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is also one of the most populated cities in America. In 2022, Philadelphia attracted 326,000 foreign travelers.

19. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 340,000

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, also known as the Tampa Bay Area, is a metropolitan area in West Central Florida. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. In 2022, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater attracted 340,000 foreign travelers.

18. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 362,000

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, also known as the Atlanta metropolitan area, ranks 18th on our list of the most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. The metropolitan area in the US state of Georgia attracted 362,000 foreign travelers in 2022. Its principal cities are Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Marietta.

17. Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA MD

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 395,000

Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine is a metropolitan division that forms part of the Greater Los Angeles area in the state of California. Its main cities are Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine. In 2022, Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine attracted 395,000 foreign visitors.

16. Flagstaff, AZ MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 400,000

Flagstaff is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Arizona. In 2022, Flagstaff attracted 400,000 overseas travelers. Flagstaff is one of the most visited cities in the US by foreigners.

15. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA MD

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 412,000

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett is a metropolitan division that forms part of the Seattle metropolitan area in the US state of Washington. It ranks among the top 15 on our list of the most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. Home to the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, and Everett, this metropolitan division attracted 412,000 visitors in 2022.

14. Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 453,000

Dallas-Plano-Irving is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Texas. Home to the cities of Dallas, Plano, and Irving as well as other cities in Texas, this metropolitan area boasts a dynamic and diverse metropolitan economy. In 2022, Dallas-Plano-Irving attracted 453,000 foreign visitors.

13. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 558,000

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of California. The main cities in this metropolitan area are San Diego, Carlsbad, and San Marcos. In 2022, San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos attracted 558,000 foreign travelers.

12. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 596,000

Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, also known as Greater Houston, is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Texas. It is one of the most populated metropolitan statistical areas in the US. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown attracted 596,000 foreign travelers in 2022.

11. Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL MD

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 675,000

Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach is a metropolitan division in the US state of Florida. The three principal cities in this metropolitan division are Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach. In 2022, 675,000 foreigners traveled to the Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach metropolitan division.

10. Honolulu, HI MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 711,000

Honolulu is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Hawaii. It includes the capital of Hawaii, Honolulu, and several minor islands. In 2022, Honolulu attracted 711,000 foreign travelers and it ranks among the top 10 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.

9. Boston-Quincy, MA MD

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 738,000

Boston-Quincy is a metropolitan division in the US state of Massachusetts. It forms part of the Greater Boston metropolitan region of New England. The two main cities in this metropolitan division are Boston and Quincy, which attracted 738,000 foreign visitors in 2022.

8. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL MD

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 1.06 Million

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville is a metropolitan division in the state of Illinois that forms part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It includes the cities of Chicago, Joliet, and Naperville. In 2022, this metropolitan division attracted a total of 1.06 million foreign travelers. It ranks 8th on our list of the most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.

7. Washington (DC Metro Area), DC-MD-VA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 1.16 Million

The Washington metropolitan area, also referred to as the DC area, is the metropolitan area centered around the federal capital of the US. The metropolitan area includes all of Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland and Virginia. In 2022, 1.16 million foreigners visited Washington (DC Metro Area).

6. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA

Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 1.66 Million

Las Vegas-Paradise, also known as the Las Vegas Valley, is a major metropolitan area in the southern part of the US state of Nevada. It includes Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas, the three largest incorporated cities in Nevada. In 2022, the Las Vegas-Paradise metropolitan area attracted 1.66 million foreign travelers. It ranks 6th on our list of the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers.

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Disclosure: None. 20 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers is published on Insider Monkey.
Harry Potter franchise professor Miriam Margolyes told News Corp Australias News.com.au that she was approached by Marvel to star in a project described to her as a story about witches. But she ultimately turned it down due to its location, along with the fact that playing the Potter films Pomona Sprout had her reluctant to play in the magic world again. Given the timing and Marvels projects in development, it appears to be WandaVision spinoff miniseries Agatha.

The actress explained in the interview, published last year, that the shows location was a problem for her. I dont like America and I didnt want to be in Georgia for four months, she said. So I just said, well, I want a million pounds and they said, you can have half a million, and I said, no, I dont want to do it, so it just stopped.

Really its a story about my own greed rather than anything else, Margolyes coyly admitted.

The show  which was in development previously with subtitles including House of Harkness, Coven of Chaos and Darkhold Diaries before settling on just plain Agatha  is set for release this September, starring Kathryn Hahn. She first played the character in WandaVision.

Elsewhere in that interview, Margolyes described her Little Shop of Horrors costar Steven Martin as incredibly unfriendly, owing to his perfectionism. She explained, He was an artist and all he was interested in was getting the comic moment right, and he was correct to do that, but he should have included me. I would have included the person I was working with. He wasnt interested in that.

I just thought he was rather horrid, Margolyes concluded.

She also took issue with Mick Jagger, who at the time was in a relationship with her costar in The Vagina Monologues, Sophie Dahl. As Margolyes put it, He thought he was important, and he is important, but important people should never think theyre important and should never show it if they think it. I just thought he was a tiresome old git.

The post Miriam Margolyes Turned Down Marvel Story About Witches Over Shooting in Georgia: I Dont Like America appeared first on TheWrap.
Real Housewives taglines are something of an art form. Some are better at it than others. Say what you will about Lisa Vanderpump, but she nailed it, perfectly delivering the best cheeky lines every season. Some are too bizarre to quantify as good or bad, like Karen Hugers Season 8 tagline or Mary Cosby threatening to send Jesus after people in RHOSLC Season 2.

And then there are the taglines that made viewers cringe every week. The ones that still give secondhand embarrassment when remembered years later. These are the worst Real Housewives taglines of all time. Considering how many cities, seasons, and Housewives theres been over the years, that says a lot.

I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but Im pretty Kristen Taekman, RHONY Season 6

Peacock/YouTube

Before she returned to the franchise in RHUGT RHONY: Legacy, Kristen Taekman was best remembered for one of the worst taglines of all time. Her Real Housewives of New York Season 7 tagline, Pretty is smarter than you think, wasnt much better.

Are the police involved? Lauri Peterson, RHOC Season 1

Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

To be fair, this wasnt the Real Housewives tagline format we know and love today. In the first season of OG series Real Housewives of Orange County, clips from the casts scenes were played instead. This included Vicki Gunvalson yelling I dont want to get old! But surely there was a better quote for Lauri Peterson than Are the police involved?

Every time sound bites from the show are added in the intro, its hilariously awkward. Who could forget Kandi Burruss tagline getting interrupted by a clip of her singing hooooo in Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 5? Or Emily Simpsons New hip! in RHOC Season 15?

I live in a house full of ballers, but I never get played Robyn Dixon, RHOP Season 5

Photo credit: Bravo/YouTube

Does Robyn Dixon lack self-awareness, or is she in deep denial? Because she gets played every RHOP season by one of those ballers she lives with, aka husband Juan Dixon. The Dixons have also been scammed by multiple people.

They say wisdom comes with age, but Im proving otherwise Crystal Kung Minkoff

Photo Credit: Bravo via YouTube

It seems like Crystal Kung Minkoff was trying to say shes wiser than her older castmates. Instead, this tagline sounds like shes calling herself dumb.

The only title Id trade Countess for is wife Luann de Lesseps, RHONY Season 9

Photo by: Sophy Holland/Bravo

Talk about a tagline that did not age well! Despite the its about Tom bombshell in Season 8, Luann de Lesseps stayed devoted to Tom DAgostino. The marriage was doomed from the start, and was incredibly cringe worthy to watch. This tagline is so far removed from the maneater Luann RHONY fans know today, its like shes a different person.

Luanns tagline for the first three seasons, I never feel guilty about being privileged, could also make this list.

You can never be too young, too thin, or too honest Joyce Giraud, RHOBH Season 4

Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

The RHOBH one and done Housewife didnt leave much of a mark aside from this icky, and more or less objectively incorrect, tagline.

Im living the American dream, one mistake at a time

Peacock/YouTube

Theres a lot of things Kelly Bensimon says that make no sense. And this tagline is definitely one of them.

Now that I got my baby, thats the only crap I take Ashley Darby, RHOP Season 5

Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

Why did Ashley Darby choose a tagline about her sons poop? And why did she seem to do it again the following season, when her tagline was The only thing messier than two boys is me? Ashleys never been great at taglines, but these were a new low.

Stop Trying to Make Holla Happen!

Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Theres a certain type of bad Real Housewives tagline that deserves its own entry. This is when Housewives keep incorporating something, season after season, that does not catch on. One obvious example is Heather Thomson always ending her taglines with Holla! which she desperately tried to make a catchphrase. Similarly, Gizelle Bryant found a way to incorporate word on the street in her Real Housewives of Potomac taglines for three seasons straight.

In addition to attempted catchphrases, some Housewives make repetitive taglines about one trait. Has Wendy Osefo ever had a tagline that didnt mention shes a professor? How many times did Lisa Rinna reference her lips? And we cant forget how many years Kyle Richards spent emphasizing that Beverly Hills was HER town.

The only thing Im guilty of is being SHAH-MAZING! Jen Shah, RHOSLC Season 2

Photo credit: YouTube/Bravo

When else has a Real Housewives tagline been so bad that it came back to bite them in a court case? In case youve been living under a rock, no, Jen Shah did not plead guilty of just being Shahmazing. And during her trial, prosecutors used this quote to argue that Jen mocked the charges against her. Yikes! That might make it the worst Real Housewives tagline of all.

TELL US  WHATS YOUR PICK FOR THE WORST REAL HOUSEWIVES TAGLINE OF ALL TIME?

The post The Worst Real Housewives Taglines Ever appeared first on Reality Tea.
Jonathan Glazer shocked audiences when he used his Oscars acceptance speech to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, comparing todays Israel to Nazi Germany. But not all of his colleagues from the award-winning film The Zone of Interest agree with him.

In an appearance on the Unholy podcast last week, Zone of Interest executive producer Danny Cohen said that he wholeheartedly disagreed with Glazers statements at the awards ceremony.

I just fundamentally disagree with Jonathan on this, Cohen told hosts Yonit Levi and Jonathan Freedland. He agreed that the war is tragic and awful and blamed Hamas for the loss of civilian life in Gaza.

The war and the continuation of the war is the responsibility of Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization which continues to hold and abuse the hostages, which doesnt use its tunnels to protect the innocent civilians of Gaza but uses it to hide themselves and allow Palestinians to die.

By contrast, Glazer, in his acceptance speech after winning Best International Feature, criticized Israel for hijacking the memory of the Holocaust to dehumanize Palestinians in Gaza.

Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people, he said. Whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization, how do we resist?

Jonathan Glazers Oscar Speech Reflected the Best of Jewish Values

Glazers speech drew uproarious applause from the Oscars theater, where many celebrities appeared with red pins on their lapels as a symbol of their support for a ceasefire. But Glazer, who is Jewish, was also accused of antisemitism for comparing Israel to the Nazi Germany which his film depictsThe Zone of Interest is about the willful complicity of a Nazi officer and his family while he participates in the horrors of the Holocaust at work.

To Cohen, it was regrettable that Glazers speech seemed to take space from the substance of the film itself.

John spent 10 years making the film and has made something remarkable, but people are talking more this week about what he said for 30 seconds, he added.

And I think thats regrettable because Id love just the conversation that he focused on, on the film itself.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Nespresso has been a major player in the coffee industry for over 30 years. The first machine was created in 1986, and since then, the company has expanded and now offers many different machines at various price points and two styles of coffee pods to accommodate them. Nespresso currently offers 30 original coffee varieties, 35 coffees compatible with the Vertuo design, and limited edition coffees made for both styles. It's easy to see how overwhelming it can be to choose one.

Nespresso sells its pods in boxes of ten of each variety, so finding out it isn't to your liking after one pod and realizing you still have nine more can be frustrating. We tasted and ranked some of the top varieties to sort the best from the rest. The list was determined by taste, aroma, and how well these aspects match the description of the coffee.

Read more: 26 Coffee Hacks You Need To Know For A Better Cup

13. Firenze Arpeggio

Firenze Arpeggio box and pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Firenze Arpeggio is one of the varieties in the Ispirazione Italiana collection. The coffee was named after and inspired by the flavors of Florence. It is a dark roast coffee with an aroma to match. The brewed espresso has gentle hints of unsweetened cocoa, but nothing else is easily identifiable.

Nespresso rates this variety as having low acidity, but that does not accurately describe the bite that follows the first sip. What makes this coffee unique among all others in the tasting is that the flavor is extremely bold, with both sour and bitter notes. But as quickly as it registers, it dissipates. However, this does not come to the coffee's advantage, as our tastebuds are too overwhelmed initially to register much except the loudest flavors. Without the bridge between upfront and lingering tastes, Firenze Arpeggio becomes one-note in an unpleasant way. Ultimately, it drinks too aggressively to rank higher, with other coffees offering more balanced and pleasant-tasting brews.

12. Nicaragua

Master Origins Nicaragua Pod - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Understanding details about Nespresso's Nicaragua coffee takes some research and careful reading. Nicaragua is part of the Master Crafted Single Origin collection, which features a handful of coffees from specific places worldwide. Nespresso uses the word "honey" frequently to capture the coffee's texture, aroma, and taste. It also notes that the coffee has undergone black honey processing, which has nothing to do with honey being used as a sweetener. Instead, honey-processed coffee refers to a fermenting practice that occurs before roasting. It is a unique process, and Nicaragua is the only one in this ranking to feature it.

Some sharp, fruity notes in this light roast are more pervasive than in other dark coffees we sampled. Many of the coffees Nespresso highlights as fruity tend to be acidic, which is also true of Nicaragua. Despite only having an acidity level of two out of five, the coffee starts very sharp on the tongue and stays as bitterness builds. Both tastes linger significantly after each sip and cause a tannic dryness on the tongue. While there is a coffee for every set of tastebuds, this variety ranked low for us because it is hard to drink and far from the smooth brew it claims to be.

11. Volluto

Volluto pods on counter - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Volluto is proof that Nespresso has something for every taste. The light roast coffee is an offering in the Espresso collection and can be purchased in both regular or decaffeinated varieties. With a level four out of 14 intensity, it is the mildest we tasted in this ranking. The aroma was different from the other coffees we sampled. It was lighter with bready notes, whereas others were dominated by roasted overtones.

The espresso was hard to drink because it was mouth-puckeringly acidic. There is no development of other flavors to soften the tartness or offer relief, so the sourness is the first and last thing you taste. It does not have a thick body either, so the combination of flavor and consistency makes the coffee taste a bit watery and more like weak, old office-pantry drip coffee than freshly brewed espresso. While this flavor may appeal to some, the lack of balance and underdeveloped flavors landed it towards the end of the ranking.

10. Roma

Box and pods Roma coffee - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Another coffee in the Ispirazione Italiana collection, Roma is a moderately-intense, medium roast variety. Nespresso describes it as having a heavy bitterness and acidity. The aroma of a freshly brewed pod isn't unique. It smells mostly of, well, coffee. There are no specific indicators to foreshadow what is coming in regard to the flavor.

The espresso has a medium body, which is neither watery nor thick. The first sip packs a big punch of sharpness and it's hard to taste much else for the first few seconds until that flavor softens. Mild herbal and spicy notes can be detected on the finish, but they are not easy to highlight. Moreover, Nespresso describes this variety as having a woody undertone, and it may be that flavor, combined with the sour taste, that becomes reminiscent of fresh ginger. The combined effect isn't the worst of the ones we sampled, but it also doesn't give the coffee broad appeal. Since it is overall harsh and not a taste for everyone, it dropped into the bottom third of the ranking.

9. Shanghai Lungo

Three Shanghai Lungo pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Shanghai Lungo is a light roast coffee and part of the World Explorations collection. Nespresso recommends brewing this pod as a lungo, otherwise called a long pull espresso. The coffee in a lungo pod is more coarsely ground than an espresso pod and will brew a cup yielding 3.7 ounces versus an espresso shot, which makes 1.35 ounces of coffee. We brewed it as both an espresso and a lungo to compare the differing strengths of the extractions.

Shanghai is described as having moderate intensity, low bitterness, and fruity notes. With that description, the bold, astringent aroma of the coffee was unexpected. As an espresso shot, the first sip starts silky and smooth before the acidity registers and spikes it into a pungent drink that is far from light. When we brewed it as the recommended lungo, we founthat d the additional watesoftenedns the sharpness but alsimpactedts other aspects of the coffee. The body is no longer silky and instead leans watery. It may be a good choice for someone looking for a cup that drinks more like coffee than espresso, but overall, it lacks the balance to rank higher.

8. Corto

Nespresso Corto pods on counter - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Corto is a dark roast, Spanish-inspired coffee blend in the Barista Creations collection. The photo of Corto on the Nespresso site includes a milk bottle, and the tasting notes encourage the pairing, stating that the milk will soften some of the espresso's intensity. No level of acidity is noted, but it does offer the highest roast level possible.

A bitter grassy smell wafts from the freshly brewed espresso, which is not inviting. Tasted black, it is dark and inky, but there are no other remarkable flavor notes that come through. It is a middle-of-the-pack coffee, as it is not overly bitter or sharp but also not weak or watery.

Adding the recommended milk was not a transformative experience. While the coffee can hold its own against some dairy richness, the milk enhances the mild acidity while diluting the more appealing, rich coffee flavor notes. Corto is an average choice and is tastier black than lightened with milk. While it would not be hard to drink through a sleeve of it, it is not remarkable enough to become a repeat order.

7. Vaniglia

Vaniglia box and two pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Vaniglia is a best-selling Barista Creation coffee infused with vanilla flavor. Nespresso recommends brewing this medium roast coffee as a lungo or pairing it with steamed or frothed milk like a cappuccino or latte macchiato. We sampled it black to discern the undiluted taste of the coffee and then sampled it with steamed milk.

The first flavor you detect from the hot, fresh coffee is vanilla. This is mild, though, as the coffee flavor dominates over it. The vanilla in this variety tastes similar to caramelized butterscotch, but it is not a heavy artificial taste, which is appreciated. The vanilla gets lost in the steamed milk and becomes hard to detect. On its own, it's a smooth, easy-to-drink, lightly-flavored coffee, but the subtle vanilla flavor falls short as a composed drink and would not satisfy a craving for a vanilla-infused drink from a big chain coffee shop. The pros and cons land this variety in the middle of the pack.

6. Paris Espresso

Box and pods Paris Espresso - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

The most stunningly designed pod in this ranking, Paris Espresso, is chic, modern, and eye-catching. The intent, as part of the World Explorations collection, is for your coffee cup to transport you to France. However, the confusing description of the coffee stands in sharp contrast to the colorful pods. The website notes that it uses lightly roasted beans and that flavor note labels range from fruit to baked goods -- but it gives it a high intensity rating. It is hard to know if the coffee will be heavy or mild and what tastes will come through the beans, as some of these descriptors listed seem at odds with each other.

The flavor starts out soft and builds in intensity as you drink it. It skews more bitter than sharp, and the bitterness stays on your tastebuds longer before fading. While the flavor notes did not seem particularly accurate (as there was no fruit or cookie to speak of), Paris Espresso is easy to drink and improves with each subsequent sip as the different tastes layer on top of each other. This espresso, which was worth reordering for both the taste and look of the pods, nudged ahead of others in the rankings to grab a solid spot.

5. Palermo Kazaar

Three pods Palermo Kazaar - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Palermo Kazaar is not for the faint of heart or someone with weak tastebuds. Nespresso gives this a 12 for intensity, and it is easy to understand why. The freshly brewed espresso is very bold and evokes deep, dark flavors and elements like black licorice and wet soil. You know it will be strong before even trying it.

The first taste will shoot your eyebrows straight up as the flavor fills your mouth and does not relent. The dark roast is the main taste of the coffee and is too encompassing for more subtle notes to poke through. Despite the intensity, the beverage is very smooth and inviting. Truly, this brew will put a pep in anyone's step and is an ideal choice for someone who likes a very dark coffee. The formidable strength is both a pro and a con, depending on what someone can handle, but Palermo Kazaar crept up in the ranking because it is true to the description of the coffee and, ultimately, makes for a delicious cup.

4. Stockholm Fortissio Lungo

Stockholm Lungo pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

Stockholm Fortissio Lungo is a part of the World Explorations collection and a nod to Sweden. The dark roast is best brewed as a lungo and consists only of Arabica beans rather than a blend. Nespresso suggests skipping adding any cream or milk and instead drinking this variety black.

There is a bready and toasty aroma from the coffee that aligns with the malt reference in the tasting notes. It is the same, whether brewed as an espresso or lungo, but the lungo is dialed back a few notches in intensity and offers a lighter scent. The same goes for the taste. Stockholm is very smooth on the palate but still carries a hefty dose of bitterness. The lungo extraction softens the bitterness and allows some of the wheaty flavors to break through. Both experiences are delicious, full-flavored, and similar to one another. The taste and versatility of this variety gave Stockholm one of our top spots.

3. Nocciola

Nocciola box and pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

This hazelnut-flavored coffee is part of the Barista Creations line. Nespresso recommends brewing Nocciola as a lungo or enjoying it as part of a cappuccino or latte. We tasted it black and with steamed milk to experience both. The coffee itself is a medium roast and at the mid-range for body, acidity, and bitterness.

This coffee smells like freshly toasted, buttery hazelnuts. A quick peek at the ingredients and allergens shows that the coffee contains artificial hazelnut flavors, yet the smell is very pure and reminiscent of real nuts. The hazelnut is upfront when we tasted it black before softening into a dark roast coffee. Hazelnut and coffee, in general, work so well together, and this pod is a perfect example of how to successfully marry the two. The flavor starts and ends with hazelnut, with smooth coffee popping into the middle. Adding milk enhances the nutty flavor and brings the hazelnut forward, but also reduces some of the potency of the coffee. Flavored coffee isn't everyone's cup of tea -- or joe -- but this variety delivers on exactly what it sets out to do, and for that, it ranks highly on our list.

2. Ristretto Italiano

Box and pods Ristretto Italiano - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

It is easy to understand why this coffee is a best-seller. Ristretto Italiano has a well-rounded, classic taste that is super easy to drink. Based on the description alone from Nespresso, which notes that the coffee has medium to high ratings on the bitterness, acidity, body, and roast level indicators, you might expect a heavy, over-roasted coffee. But it goes to show that sometimes a coffee is more about how all the elements work together than just each individual aspect.

This coffee has a toasty, slightly earthy aroma without any unexpected undertones. Some bitterness hits with each sip and lingers, but it does not dominate the palate. The coffee almost tastes like fresh dirt  but in a good way  that suggests vibrancy and depth rather than murkiness. It drinks smoothly, and while not thick, it is not watery. It is still a strong coffee, but it is the best option for a dark roast that straddles the line between just enough and too much.

1. Napoli

Three pods Napoli coffee - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

The most intense coffee in this tasting, Napoli, is rated 13 out of 13 by Nespresso on its intensity scale. The dark roast has high bitterness but is very low in acidity. You know something strong is coming by just the first whiff. There is a deep chocolaty aroma mingled with the java that is very inviting.

This espresso is thick, and each sip coats your entire mouth with its smooth, velvety texture. It's like a cup of European-style hot chocolate, except it's not sweet or milky. Despite the high bitterness indicated in the tasting notes, it is not overwhelming at all. The silky texture tricks the tastebuds into thinking the espresso is milder than it is. This makes the beverage easier to drink, despite its potency. It is a delicious, dark, well-balanced coffee that is a pleasure to sip on without any added sugar or milk, and ultimately, that is why it grabbed the top spot in the ranking.

Our Methodology

Brewing espresso into a mug - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table

I selected some of the best-selling pods on the Nespresso website to test and also added others from different categories to create a balanced sampling of coffees with different intensity levels and tasting notes. The ranking was determined by the overall taste and aroma of the coffee, in addition to how well it matched the description.

I tried the coffees over two days to avoid palate fatigue and caffeine overload. Before tasting any of the coffees, I cleaned my Nespresso machine, which uses the original pods, and reviewed tips for making the coffee taste its best. Each pod was tasted black within a few minutes of brewing, and if it was recommended by Nespresso, I also tested it with steamed milk.

I did my best to judge each variety on its own merit rather than letting my preferences get in the way. My ability to do so stems from my long and varied history as a coffee drinker. I developed a taste for coffee over 25 years ago during a brief love affair with instant hazelnut-flavored coffee. In the years since, my love of all things java has expanded, and I have enjoyed everything from inexpensive New York City street cart cups to pour-over single-origin coffee. At home, I have used a French press, drip coffee machine, moka pot, pour-over set-up, and, of course, a Nespresso machine.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
What's better than sipping a cold glass of Sancerre on the sidewalk of a corner bistro in buzzy Paris? Honestly, not much. Paris has a dream of a wine scene offering a treasure trove of options, from unexpected appellations to trending bottles that are hard to get your hands on. Whether you're just looking for a glass at a pre-dinner res, interested in small plates to pair with a bottle, or hoping to stand and sip while talking volatile acidity with the shop owner, Paris has it all.

After numerous trips to Paris spent sipping glasses across arrondissements and chatting with other sommeliers, I've compiled this list as a jumping-off point for any curious visitor; check the end of the article for more information on my methodology. From casual bars to trendy joints to classic bistros, these are some of the best spots to drink wine in Paris.

Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

Giclette

Giclette wine glass under light - giclettekeller / Instagram

Giclette is a sweet and casual little nook in the 11th with a smart selection of bottles, glass pours, and bistro snacks. A creation of Guillaume Dupre, the vibe is fun and friendly with a hot list of wines to choose from, including some real gems that rotate through the tap, like Brand Bros., Judith Beck, and more. You can grab a glass of effervescent bubbles on tap for as little as 6, or look to the surprisingly extensive bottle collection, where you'll find names like L'Anglore, Anne Paillet, and Sylvain Bock. For a small corkage fee, sip your bottle of choice on-site.

Consider ordering some tip-top snacks from duo Karori Endo and Mika Inaba while you're here. Their refreshing little set includes inari, maki, oysters, a selection of cheeses, and luxurious charcuterie. While Giclette doesn't take reservations, its generous hours seven days a week allow you to walk in before, after, or in between your visits to L'Orangerie and Palais de Tokyo. I highly recommend you wander by during the lunch hour and grab a glass of wine with the set menu. Good vibes, good wine, good food.

instagram.com/giclettekeller

+33 1 43 38 20 52

13 Rue Keller, 75011 Paris, France

Septime La Cave

wine bottle selection with prices - septimeparis / Instagram

If you didn't make your res for Septime the restaurant six months in advance, don't fret. Turn the corner and find yourself in the delightful Septime la Cave, where you can enjoy a glass or two. Open every day starting at four until late, it's a crammed, candlelit spot where you'll find some of the best bottles around.

The staff is friendly and helpful, and can direct you to the current skin-contact wine by the glass, or help you zone in on a trousseau from a Jura producer you've never heard of. If you're looking to snag a bottle for your dinner party, this is a great selection to peruse. You'll find a lot of classic names here like Ganevat, Mosse, and Radikon, along with ample opportunities to discover new producers or dabble in lesser-known appellations. Need some snacks with your vin? The spot's perfectly simple list of offerings includes a plate of saucisson, cornichons, and beurre. When someone comes around to refill your glass, you may also be asked if you want to put in a pizza order with the rest of the mingling wine drinkers from Louie Louie around the corner. Do.

septime-lacave.fr

+33 1 43 67 14 87

3 Rue Basfroi, 75011 Paris, France

Chambre Noire

three wine bottles on bar - chambrenoireparis / Instagram

Chambre Noire has been front and center of the hip natural wine scene for a few years now. Found in an airy yet warm space in Menilmontant, it's full of bottles from floor to ceiling, cozy tables, and a tiny, bustling open kitchen. It's a younger crowd, so if you want to fit in, wear those new '90s jeans you just bought, or something along those lines. Regardless of what you're wearing, though, you'll enjoy the fun vibe. The energy and people overflow onto the sidewalk well into the night.

Oliver Lomeli curates a dreamy selection of bottles for purchase here. You can choose from household names or have them pour you something new and curious from Marto, Kindeli, or whatever they're splashing from the fridge. Wondering why you should drink natural wine, that current darling of the scene? You'll get your answer here. Guest chefs rotate in and out of the kitchen, making a handful of signature dishes from their home restaurants to pair with the wine. Get in on this and order a few things for dinner or late-night bites. It's closed Sunday through Monday, though, so plan accordingly. Take note: A little sister concept, Centre Culturel, recently opened up on Bd de la Villette.

instagram.com/chambrenoireparis/?hl=en

+33 1 47 00 00 00

4 Bd Jules Ferry, 75011 Paris, France

Aux Deux Amis

Aux Deux Amis red awning - auxdeuxamis / Instagram

If you haven't explored much of the Paris natural wine scene and are wondering where to start, head over to Aux Deux Amis and become quickly smitten. This iconic Paris bistro is buzzing with energy pretty much perpetually. Casual, but with an extensive wine list and a playful, ever-evolving menu, this lively gathering place is the vision of David Loyola. It's the type of place where you really feel like you've dived head-first into that Parisian life, glass in hand.

Between glass pours and bottles, you'll find names like Brutal, Matassa, Foillard, and many more. This is a fun place to have the staff pour you something they love right now; you might just find you love it too, and will likely discover some other new gems along the way. When it comes to the food menu, the casual theme continues in the best of ways. A la carte morsels like tuna tartare, bone marrow, croquettes, and jambon and beurre will keep you fed and happy.

instagram.com/auxdeuxamis

+33 1 58 30 38 13

45 Rue Oberkampf, 75011 Paris, France

Jones

wine bottles and seasonal produce - jonesrestaurantparis / Instagram

Jones has been around for a while. The space is hip and cheery without being overdone, and its personality and menu change every few years when new chefs take hold of the kitchen. The wine list, compiled by Damien Lacour, has also evolved into a fun and classic selection that will excite any wine enthusiast. With Alsatian and Rhone numbers for as little as 6 a glass, you can generously explore appellations and grapes throughout the evening. Need a little direction? Ask and you will receive.

We highly recommend you book a table for one of the two dinner seatings and dive into both the wine and food menu, currently under Italian influence thanks to chef Riccardo Ferrante. Expect to find items like arancini, radicchio and citrus salads, handmade pasta in innovative sauces, and a series of glorious anchovies. Open Monday through Saturday, you can also visit Jones at lunch.

jonescaferestaurant.com

+33 9 80 75 32 08

43 Rue Godefroy Cavaignac, 75011 Paris, France

Early June

sunny window with wine bottles - earlyjuneparis / Instagram

Early June is a new sweetheart of the 10th and a must-visit. The space is just tight enough to feel intimate, with an open kitchen at the center of the main room. Rotating guest chefs -- the spot's main premise -- bring vastly different menus to guests over the year. Genius? We think so. Its natural wine list isn't overly ambitious, but it offers just enough variety whether you're looking for a glass pour or a bottle. An ice bucket sits on top of the chef's counter, with the evening's bottles chilled and floating within it. I recommended starting with bubbles, because why not? Proceed to work your way through the glass pours throughout the rest of the evening.

The food menu changes dramatically, depending on who's cooking. Guest chefs who have come through include Susan Kim and Adam Purcell. You can be sure that whatever comes out of the kitchen, there will always be a good wine to pair it with. The one tough thing about Early June is that everyone wants in, so expect a wait unless you're going with a crowd and can make a reservation in advance. Get your name on the list -- the food and wine are some of the best in Paris.

early-june.fr

+33 1 42 85 40 74

19 Rue Jean Poulmarch, 75010 Paris, France

Le Comptoir Des Caves Legrand

wine bottle window display - caveslegrand / Instagram

Something of a Paris institution, Le Comptoir des Caves Legrand is a place for a formal tasting, a source of beautifully plated meals, and a bottle shop, all under one roof. This is where to go if you're looking for some really classic names, including those spendy and hard-to-find types of champagne. It's also a great spot for beginners who are curious about French wine. What's more, it's in the grand setting of the Galerie Vivienne in the 2nd arrondissement, and it wears the 19th century architecture like a glove.

Arnaud Tronche heads the prestigious wine program, curating a list that will impress the wine connoisseur and wow the novice. If you're bottle shopping, take advantage of one of the sommeliers on staff and ask them to direct you. They're very helpful, and if you have time to do a deep dive into the collection, they'll engage in conversations about terroir, vintages, and more. We believe stopping in for a cold glass of Sancerre or a Burgundy post-museum visit caps a day off perfectly.

caves-legrand.com

+33 1 42 60 07 12

1 Rue de la Banque, 75002 Paris, France

La Cave Du Daron

wine bottle window display - lecavedudaron / Instagram

The quaint creation of Frederic Malpart, Le Cave du Daron is an unassuming bottle shop stuffed to the brim with an array of wines that will make you swoon. The little bar feels perfectly Parisian with bottles up to the ceiling and full cases to navigate on the floor. This is a natural wine mecca where you're sure to find something you've never seen before that will rocket to the top of your to-drink list. Expect names like Yann Bertrand, Domaine Rostaing Tayard, and Celler Frisach. You'll also find an abundant selection of bottles in the 20 price range.

This isn't just a bottle shop, though. Grab a stool at the bar and chat with the owner or bartender of the night while you nibble a selection of cheeses and charcuterie. Take advantage of both sides of this spot by lingering amongst the boxes while you sip your gamay and pick the brain of whoever is on that evening. You'll inevitably soak up new wine knowledge in this setting, even without trying.

instagram.com/lacavedudaron

+33 1 48 06 26 81

140 Ave Parmentier, 75011 Paris, France

Le Bistrot Paul Bert

waiter holding two vegetarian plates - bistrotpaulbert / Instagram

Is there a more classic bistro than Le Bistrot Paul Bert? I think not. The short, cute street it calls home features a handful of great eateries and shops, but this spot takes the cake. If you're new to Paris or just really want to experience the city at its most magical, this is the place to go. You'll find white-draped tablecloths for dinner, mirrors and sconces on the wall, and a glossy bar that becomes quaintly cluttered with more and more glassware as the night goes on. Even before you open the wine list, you'll be charmed.

Said wine list is exclusively French, with everything from bubbles by Pierre Gerbais to trendy glou glou bottles. Ideally, your company will throw down for a bottle or two, as this ensures you'll have a broader selection to choose from. Whatever you choose, you'll get to pair it with the kind of French dishes everyone needs to try at least once, like tartare, scallops, and frites. Le Bistrot Paul Bert is closed on Sunday and Monday and guaranteed to be busy every other day, so reservations are a must. Whether you go for a long lunch or a bustling dinner, you're sure to bookmark this spot for a repeat visit.

bistrotpaulbert.fr

+33 1 43 72 24 01

18 Rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris, France

Au Petit Rozey

sausage links and wine bottles - aupetitrozey / Instagram

Nestled on the edge of the Montmartre neighborhood, Au Petit Rozey is a young wine bar with an old soul. The space really takes you back in time with its stone walls, aged wooden beams, and collection of saucisson hanging from the ceiling. Stephane Rozey has curated a large selection of French wines to choose from, many of which are natural wines. There's also a handful of additional wines in the mix from neighboring Italy and other countries. If something catches your eye right off the bat, by all means, taste away. But, if you're unsure what to order and need a little direction, this is one of the best wine bars to ask for recommendations within. You're sure to be guided to something that tickles your palate.

Feeling snacky? Au Petit Rozey delivers on this front as well. Charcuterie boards with pate, seemingly every variety of saucisson you can imagine, salami, and a series of artisanal cheeses are available, along with vegetable-forward shared plates. Come for the wine, dabble in the charcuterie, and stay for the beats pumping out of the record player. Au Petit Rozey has it all, making it one of the best places to drink wine in Paris.

instagram.com/aupetitrozey

+33 1 42 46 44 45

43 Rue Lemercier, 75017 Paris, France

Stereo

DJ inside dimly lit bar - stereoparis / Instagram

If vinyl and wine is your recipe for a perfect night out, Stereo is a must. Notably, it has more of a polished, upscale vibe than many other vinyl-spinning bars. If you're looking to order some of the small plates and wine, it's best to book a seat. The wine list is expansive, containing numerous renditions of chardonnay, Jura gems, and funky foreign pet-nats. It also includes short descriptions, encouraging the curious drinker. If you're not sure which direction to take, the staff is eager to help.

A showy menu of shared plates features Italian capocollo, unique Comte cheese, a glorified croque monsieur, seasonal vegetable creations, and a handful of other dishes that come and go. This is a place you can stay within well into the dinner hour, happily filling up on small plates and sampling different wines. You'll likely do just that, in fact -- the candlelit, music-filled ambiance has a way of sucking you in.

stereoparis.com

+33 1 42 81 13 87

43 Rue Notre Dame de Lorette, 75009 Paris, France

Bar Etna

Bar Etna interior - etna_baravin / Instagram

Located just across the river in the 6th, Bar Etna is a cute and casual ode to 1950s Sicily nestled in the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. While the warm-toned wood and corduroy upholstery definitely feel of the era, the wine list branches far beyond it. Etna is a great pre or post-dinner stop; you're sure to find a quality glass for 10. Explore the nightly pours, of which there's always a generous amount. If you find yourself staying late -- sucked in by the visiting DJ, perhaps -- get a whole bottle.

You'll find things like Mariotti's Smarazen, juicy gamays, gems from Slovenia and the Czech Republic, and fizzy Loire renditions from Sebastien Bobinet, Emeline Calvez, and Bruno Richard. The food menu is just as good, but with slightly more allegiance to Italy. Small plates of burrata and tomatoes, shiny anchovies, and loose piles of prosciutto are on offer. Vinergons occasionally stop in to chat and pour their wines, which adds another dimension to the bar.

instagram.com/etna_barvin

+33 1 46 34 84 52

33 Rue Mazarine, 75006 Paris, France

Bar Principal

Bar Principal outdoor seating - barprincipalparis / Instagram

A lively and beloved bar in the 11th, Bar Principal is a dream on a warm summer night when the crowds spill onto the sidewalk and everyone has a wine glass in hand. This bar sits next door to its successful Brazilian steakhouse counterpart, Brutos, which it plays well off of as the more casual, come-and-go spot. The wine list is French-heavy, starring multiple must-drink natural wine producers from Loire and Beaujolais. You'll also find clutch bottles from northeastern Italy and northern Spain. Despite having a smaller selection than other spots across the city, Bar Principal still boasts an impressive diversity of options. You're sure to find something you're into, whether it's yeasty bubbles, glou glou gamay, or a heady skin-maceration wine.

The food menu is unmistakably influenced by Brutos, with a bit of French flair interjected here and there. It will more than satisfy all your snacking needs with shareable plates like tapioca cheese balls, seasonal gnocchi dishes, crispy fried polenta, and burnished carnivore options. If your group is in search of craft cocktails in addition to wine, this is also a great spot.

instagram.com/barprincipalparis

+33 1 48 06 98 97

5 Rue du General Renault, 75011 Paris, France

Methodology

wine pouring into glass - barmalini/Shutterstock

To compile this list, I chatted with local food and wine professionals and visited a handful of wine bars, caves, and restaurants across Paris. While at these spots, I sampled glasses of wine, browsed their lists, and sampled many small plates. I also made sure to consider and incorporate a wide range of options into this list, encompassing daytime and late night places and multiple price points. After careful consideration of these many factors, I assembled what I believe to be a great introduction to the Paris wine scene.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
In Swedish culture, candy is more than just a vehicle for sugar; it's a dedicated weekly cultural ritual that brings people together. It's so woven into Swedish life that, according to Scandinavia Standard, the average Swede consumes over 37 pounds of sweets per year.

In Sweden, Friday afternoons and evenings are set aside from the rest of the week as Fredagsmys, or "cozy Fridays." This ritual is about slowing down, enjoying a meal, and heading to the losviktsgodist, a pick 'n' mix candy shop. Saturdays are when adults and children enjoy the lordagsgodis, which translates to "Saturday sweets." Though there are no set restrictions on eating sweets during the week, this structure is largely adhered to because of the Swedish government's initiative in the 1950s to reduce tooth decay.

Recently, Swedish candy has seen a considerable uptick in the United States, thanks to TikTok, which brought this Swedish ritual to an entirely new audience. Here are some of my thoughts on the flavor and consistency of the country's most popular sweets, which I researched through various media outlets. The selection included both pre-packaged sweets and pick 'n' mix selections of sweet, sour, and licorice candies. I also sought the help of my two children for this taste test -- since who couldn't resist lordagsgodis to break up the weekly routine?

Read more: 25 Chocolate Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

21. Haribo Nappar

blue Haribo nappar bag with sweet - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

These pacifier-shaped candies, known in Swedish as "nappar," are popular in Sweden's candy culture. Haribo first created the now-popular shape and explicitly launched it in the Swedish market in 1961. Nappars come in various flavors, including licorice, cola, marshmallow, and various fruits. The shape makes it fun to hold since you can string your finger through the ring and treat the end like a pacifier. Unfortunately, this slightly salty licorice flavor and teeth-sticking texture couldn't win me over, especially when I was dreaming of all the other possible flavors I could have had instead.

After just one nappar, my palate was tapped out of flavor. While this makes the purchase economical, since I didn't have the urge to devour the entire packet in one sitting (which I likely would with the fruit flavors, especially if it was a bit sour), it does take away from the enjoyment that comes with the treat-like qualities of a packet of sweets.

20. Djungelvral Original

Djungelvral bag with sweets - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Djungelvral by Malaco are unassuming little monkey-shaped black licorice candies coated in salt. Swedes have been feasting on these in-your-face candies since they were first released in 1982. These candies pack a punch of both salt and licorice. However, for those unaccustomed to this traditionally Swedish flavor pairing, this candy could be incredibly overwhelming with its extra helping of salt.

I did like the additional texture the salty coating provided, but the taste was just not for me; it was too much salt followed by too much licorice. No wonder the monkey on the packet looks a bit menacing, laughing at whoever took the bait of a salt lick-punch in the mouth, disguised as a cute little sweet. However, I acknowledge that this is not a flavor combination I'm used to. Others love it, which is why the candy flavor has been going strong for over 40 years.

19. Sockerbitar

five stacked marshmallows - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

These are marshmallows, but not as Americans know them. Rather than the overstuffed and fluffed cloud-like marshmallows Americans toast over a campfire, Swedish marshmallows, or sockerbitar, are all about chewiness. Think about what would happen if the pull and chew of salt water taffy were combined with the vanilla flavor of a marshmallow, with almost a dehydrated texture. The result is as close as I can describe to the sockerbitar experience. It's fun, almost foam-like, and delivers on sweetness.

Just like the puffed-up American version, pairing these with a piece of dark chocolate would be a match made in heaven, and they tick all of the texture boxes, too. While these were completely inoffensive, my children and I preferred the fluffy American marshmallow to its stretchier Swedish cousin.

18. Ahlgrens Bilar Original

Ahlgrens bilar bag with sweets - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Bilar, meaning "cars" in Swedish, is a popular candy in the country. It is so popular that the product's tagline, which is probably also true, states that it is the most purchased car in all of Sweden. Bilar is one of many vehicle-related sweets, as the country has quite a few (including cars, boats, and Ferraris). These fruity, floral, marshmallowy cars are pleasingly chewy, if not overly flavored, for such a compact little car. The car's flavor and shape have remained virtually untouched since the product's original creation in the 1950s. While the original recipe remains the same, the brand has brought new products to market, including sour and salted licorice. While I wasn't a massive fan of the flavor, my children begged to eat them by the handful, which says something about the brand's success over 70 years later.

17. Polly Bilar

Polly bilar bag with sweets - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Thanks to the Finnish company Cloetta, a wide variety of Polly candies are circulating in the Swedish market. Cloetta certainly has a strong foothold in the Scandinavian candy market, with products across Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. Cloetta also manufactures other popular confections like Gott & Blandat. This Polly Bilar is probably a crossover that combines two of the country's most popular candies, Polly and Ahlgrens Bilar, creating one milk chocolate-coated candy with a fruity, foamy center.

Unfortunately, I was just lukewarm about this collaboration. While I like the glossy, chocolaty, hard coating, I wasn't a fan of the overly perfumed center. I much prefer the other flavors of Polly eaten in the name of research for this piece, but in principle, I can see its appeal to customers who love the original Ahlgrens Bilar.

16. Lakridsfiskar

swedish fish in a circle - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Thank goodness actual Swedish fish, or Lakridsfiskar, taste much better than the red version found in the U.S. Lakridsfiskar comes in a wide variety of flavors rather than being limited to the so-called lingonberry flavor. Though the salted licorice variety is probably more of an acquired taste, it is prevalent among the candy-buying consumers of Sweden. There are other flavors, like orange, pineapple, and lemon, as well as sour and fizzy versions, too. Unlike than the lingonberry flavor of the ubiquitous red fish, which is undistinguishable unless you've been made aware of the flavor, the green-hued pineapple fish clearly tastes like pineapple while the lemon one tastes like lemon.

Lakridsfiskar is considered a wine gum rather than a gummy because it lacks gelatine. Therefore, no matter which flavor you choose, eating one will require good tooth brushing or flossing afterward. While the pineapple stood out as a top flavor, overall, we found these slightly unmemorable compared to other candies we sampled.

15. Polly Licorice

polly licorice and candies - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

This candy is perfect for anyone looking to get their start in the salted licorice world. Polly licorice candy is a chocolate-coated, lightly salted variety that comes in three flavors: licorice (black), milk chocolate (brown), and white chocolate (white). The combination worked a treat and left me casually reaching my hand back into the bag for more.

While all three flavors appealed to my palate, I liked the white chocolate and salted licorice candies the most. This is unusual for me because I don't consider myself a fan of white chocolate. However, the salt balanced out the white chocolate's sickly sweetness while giving it an earthy flavor.

Thankfully, the licorice was also subtle. The foam-like texture of the filling and the glossy coating were also appealing. While I'm unsure if I would purchase an entire bag again, I wouldn't turn down a few if someone offered me a few, especially as part of lordagsgodis.

14. Gott & Blandat

blue Gott & Blandat bag with candies - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Gott & Blandat are squishy candies bursting with fruity flavor. The fruits still taste artificial, but there's no mistaking the lemon or the raspberry for any other kind of berry. Rather than salty, the licorice is sweet. After all, the name means "good and mixed," which reflects the variety in each bag. While this selection was from the original flavor collection, Gott & Blandat also comes in other varieties, including soured and salted candies.

The only real downside to these sweets, other than the fact I only had two pineapples in our bag (which was arguably the best flavor in the original pack), was the candy's keen ability to get stuck in the teeth, to the point of needing a toothpick to excavate the gummy sweet from its new home inside my molar.

13. Gelehallon

nine pink gumdrops - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

A top pick 'n' mix option is these gelehallon (gumdrops). The most popular gelehallon flavor in Sweden seems to be raspberry. These sweet, squidgy, satisfyingly sugar-coated gumdrops have a vibrant color and flavor to match. You can scoop them into a sweet pick 'n' mix or buy them by the dedicated bagful. The appeal of these sweets is most assuredly their texture, featuring a soft inside and a crystalized sugar coating, which makes them incredibly satisfying to suck until smooth.

Unfortunately, the sweet flavor also had a slightly medicinal-like aftertaste, which made me wish it came in a different flavor, like green apple or watermelon. Despite this, these cheerful sweets were a pleasure to eat, and I can see why they are a popular item amongst children and grownups alike.

12. Bilar Sursockrade

yellow bag of Ahlgrens bilar - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Wow, these little foamy cars are sour and pack a punch! If you are considering buying a pack of these sweets to give to a young child, you might want to inquire about their penchant for sour things first. Otherwise, these might have the same effect as watching a child eat a lemon wedge.

The overly floral and fruity flavor of the original bilar is overpowered to the point of undetection because of the sour coating. While some might disagree, I consider this to be a good thing. While my children were convinced the three different colors were separate flavors, my tastebuds didn't agree. Though, if you like sour, foam-like candy, this one is for you. The punchy burst of sour flavor is what gave these sweets their appeal, which is why this variety has made it higher up on the list than the brand's original offering.

11. Skalle

four red and black skulls - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Skalle (skulls) are a popular candy shape in Sweden and come in various sizes, from miniature to the large ones we sampled. Flavor combinations can vary from sweet to sour to salty and can often be found as a pick 'n' mix choice, as were these. Inside our licorice pick 'n' mix bag were four large, red and black gummy skulls from Swedish candymaker Bubs Godis.

I proceeded with caution when I realized the black would most assuredly be licorice-flavored. However, the combination of the raspberry and slightly salty licorice worked well together and neither became overpowering. Though the texture was a bit tough, the licorice offset by the raspberry, cemented this gummy as the best salted licorice I tried, which is why they are ranked so high.

10. Licorice PimPim

three liquorice candies - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Here stands the gentlest of licorice candies. According to Vogue Scandinavia, Nordic countries, including Sweden, consume between 80 and 90% of all the world's licorice. Of course, the most popular form is salted rather than sweetened, a link that, though unproven, may be associated with other salt-preserved foods of the region, like pickled fish and cabbage.

Unlike many other licorice candies on this list, licorice PimPims are surprisingly sweet rather than salty. The candies are delightful in taste and texture, with a pleasant, chewy, smooth surface and a more jelly-like inside. For a non-Nordic consumer, these would probably be the easiest way to dip a toe into the wide world of licorice. While these lacked the salt component of the popular Nordic flavor, my non-licorice-liking children enjoyed them.

8. Polly Original

blue Polly bag with sweets - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

I expected these chewy marshmallow treats would have a fluffy center, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Nevertheless, these little chewy nuggets were quite satisfying once I recalibrated my thinking and assumptions.

The original Polly by Cloetta is a bit of a pick 'n' mix all on its own. It has two different coatings of dark and milk chocolate plus three marshmallow flavors, including toffee, vanilla, and arrack -- a flavor that mimics South Asian rum but without alcohol. However, it's hard to tell the difference in the marshmallow flavors, especially once you've tried a few in a row. The combination of sweet flavors and hard, glossy, and chewy textures makes them interesting and enjoyable to eat. These would make a nice snack at the movies or during a long car ride.

9. Kryptonite Bubblegum

four black and green candies - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

One of the exciting things about the Swedish pick 'n' mix tradition is the detective work that goes with it. After careful consideration and research, I've determined these candies are Kryptonite bubblegum. They are an appealing mix of sweet and sour, paired with the salty taste of licorice. The "bubblegum" descriptor refers to the sweetness rather than actual chewing gum. Kryptonite is just one of the sweet-meets-sour candies produced by a Swedish candy maker, Konfekta. Other flavors include cola and strawberry.

Once I finally figured out what it was, I was delighted and curious to try it. I was eager to reach for more, even if only to try and figure out the sweet, salty, and sour flavors in every bite.

6. Ferraribilar

three red Ferraribilar - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Out of all the wine gum or gummy-like candies on this list, Ferraribilar is by far the toughest in texture. It gives your teeth and jaws quite a workout! These candies, made by the Danish company Toms, came inside our sweet-flavored pick 'n' mix. Ferraribilar comes in two flavors: raspberry and cola.

The raspberry flavor, coupled with the toothsome texture, is very similar to a Red Vine, which I love. Unfortunately, because of its thickness, the effort it takes to consume just one Ferraribilar and unstick the various pieces from your teeth takes away from the overall pleasure of eating it. These candies would have scored even higher on the list if they were thinner and if I was not as worried about keeping my teeth intact.

7. Original PimPims

two pink PimPims - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

PimPims, by Malaco, are an incredibly straightforward candy. These vibrant pink sweets take the shape of a sailboat  minus the sail. They have a hard exterior texture that results in a satisfying bite of the back molars or rips with the canines to reveal a softer center. The outside almost has a flour-like coating, similar to a dusting of icing sugar, but without any chalkiness present. Unlike other red candies on this list, these do not taste medicinal.It's no wonder these gummies are considered a popular Swedish candy  they're sweet, fruity, and easy to eat without any mess. Many different Swedish candy companies sell this classic shape in a range of fruity flavors, including licorice. Some can also come individually wrapped, making them a popular addition to children's parties. Ours came from a classic Swedish pick 'n' mix packet, so it is unclear what brand makes this particular variety.

5. Marianne

white and red striped bag with candy - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Technically, this candy falls under the "popular in Sweden" category rather than being Swedish. Still, Marianne mints have made it onto numerous Swedish candy recommendations, so they deserve a place on our own tried-and-tested list. These minty, chocolaty delights were initially created in Finland in 1949, as each old-fashioned-looking packet clearly states in the top right corner. Marianne is also a product of the Finnish brand Fazer, which is responsible for several much-loved candies, including Dumle.

I imagine tucking this little pick-me-up into your purse instead of mints. Yes, it first functions as a hard candy with a minty flavor, but it has some secret magic tucked into the center. The chocolate center melts a bit in your mouth (if you can resist the temptation to crunch into it), creating a secondary chocolatey reward for your efforts. While Marianne comes in other flavors, too, like mint with caramel, I think the chocolate and mint combination is a classic that shouldn't be messed with.

4. Kex Choklad

yellow wrapper with chocolate wafer - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Think of the flakiest, crunchiest wafer bar in a petite, red-and-yellow package. That's basically what Kex is; it has light layers of sweet chocolate and alternating wafers perfectly stacked to form this restrained but still satisfying treat. While I opted for this smaller size bar, Kex also comes in a larger option. Now that I know it's delicious, I plan to seek out the even more of the fun-sized version. Kex is described as the perfect pick-me-up or accompaniment to a number of outdoor activities. We could also see this candy as the perfect pairing for fika, an afternoon coffee break, especially when shared with friends. Though it is one of only a few chocolate-flavored sweets we sampled, it was a stand-out favorite, even more so than many other gummy treats, in turn boosting its ranking.

3. Fruksoda

hand holding blue sour candy - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

These fruity and mouth-puckeringly sour blue bottles came from a Swedish import shop in London as part of the sour pick 'n' mix collection. After some research, they have been deciphered as Fruksodas (fruit sodas). These wonderfully fruity-meets-sour candies were so sour that my mouth was watering just looking at a photo of them. The texture was a bit chewy, and the sour coating made them feel extra fizzy upon the first bite.

While Sweden is best known for its salty licorice flavor, its sour candies stand out from the crowd. My children and I would have eaten more of these if they were included in the pre-selected pick 'n' mix. Though slightly different in color, these are likely similar to pink and blue Fizzypop by Malaco, which can be purchased by the bagful rather than individual pieces.

2. Sour Bolts

three lightning candies - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

These vibrantly-colored pink sour lightning bolts from longstanding Swedish candy maker Bubs Godis are like lightning straight to your tongue. Bubs is known for various pick 'n' mix favorites, including lightning bolts, giant sour skulls, octopus sours, and many more.

What's lovely about these particular candies is not just the taste -- though I'd happily eat many more until my tongue burned from the sour acidity. Rather, these bolts do not contain any gelatin, which makes them a fantastic vegan-friendly product. All of Bubs Godis' products are now gelatin-free, and all of the company's packaged candy products and foam sweets are vegan-friendly, too. Its range of sweets and products is impressive and likely to bring out the kid in all of us.

1. Dumle Original

Dumle bag with candy - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

Dumle has been delighting Swedes in various forms and shapes since 1945 when the Swedish confectionary brand Mazetti first introduced it as a lollipop. In fact, it wasn't until the 1980s that Fazer produced its current popular form of individually wrapped, chocolate-coated caramels.

After popping the first chocolate-coated sweet into my mouth, it was hard to stop myself from reaching back into the bag for more. The ratio of chocolate to caramel is just right, creating the perfect melt-in-your-mouth experience that leaves you thinking, "Maybe just one more." My interest has now been piqued, and I wonder how to get my hands on a Dumle in its original lollipop form. After surveying the two littlest taste testers, and without any prompting from me, Dumle was ranked in the number one position by them both.

Methodology

lots of Swedish candies - Adrienne Katz Kennedy/Tasting Table

I selected each item based on several roundups of popular Swedish candies. Then, I ordered them through a reputable Swedish import shop, Totally Swedish, in London, as I am familiar with the shop and have been buying some of its products for years.

My aim was to showcase a range of flavors and types of sweets, including popular pick 'n' mix items, which were pre-selected for us, as well as dedicated pre-packaged purchases. Choices were ranked based on enjoyment of texture and flavor, which is, of course, subjective, as well as the uniqueness of the product and its ability to deliver on promised tastes. In order words, were the sour candies really sour? And did the raspberry actually taste like raspberry? My daughters, ages 10 and 12, were on the tasting panel for the candies, both as a fun activity and to limit my own candy bias.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
If you want more variety in your roster of fruits for salads and smoothies, consider buying kiwis more often. Edible from its skin to its flesh, this palm-sized fruit is a fantastic option because it's packed with nutrients, specifically vitamins C and K. Its peel even has a higher vitamin C content and is 50% more fibrous than its flesh, so if you don't mind biting into its slightly fuzzy skin, there's no danger at all in eating kiwi peel. Throw it whole into a blender as well to make a smoothie and enjoy its complete health benefits without generating extra kitchen waste.

Strawberries, bananas, and pineapples are usually mentioned when describing the flavor of a ripe kiwi. Native to China, kiwis are sweet and tangy, making them great additions to dishes where the other mentioned fruits are also used, from salads to salsa and compotes. Just like pineapple, kiwi juice can be used to marinate chicken since it contains the meat-tenderizing enzyme actinidin. However, it's not advisable to add kiwi to milk-based drinks and desserts other than as a garnish since that same enzyme can cause the dairy to form clots and give the food an unappetizing texture.

There are as many as 40 known varieties of this fruit, all of which differ in taste and appearance. You should get to know the differences between the most popular ones. That way, the next time you spot any of them in the market, you'll know which ones you want to stock up on. Here are the four most common types of kiwis, explained.

Read more: 13 Simple Tricks To Pick The Best Fresh Fruit Every Time

Green Kiwis

A stack of whole and sliced green kiwis - Nata_vkusidey/Getty Images

Green kiwis (Actinidia deliciosa var. Hayward) are the most recognizable variant of this fruit. They're oval-shaped and come with a fuzzy brown peel and flesh that's bright green in color, with plenty of tiny black seeds surrounding their core. Green kiwis also have that sweet and mildly tart flavor that the fruit is known for.

This type of kiwi is a great source of vitamin C, with every 100 grams of green kiwi containing 92.7 milligrams of ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C), according to a 2018 article published in the European Journal of Nutrition  that's even higher than the amount offered by oranges, strawberries, and papayas. Next to bananas and gold kiwis, it also has a higher potassium content than most other frequently consumed fruits. It's a great choice, too, for people who want to reduce their sugar intake while still enjoying something sweet since green kiwis only have 9 grams of sugar per 100 grams of fruit.

Green kiwis sport a brown, hairy peel whether they're mature or immature. That means you must examine them closely so you can select the ripest ones in a grocery display and enjoy each fruit at its tastiest. Choose those that are plump-looking and gently feel them. A ripe kiwi shouldn't feel mushy  that's a sign that it is overripe  but it shouldn't feel too firm, either. Exert a light pressure on it with your fingertips and look for a slight give in its flesh. Sniff the fruit as well since ripe green kiwis give off a light, sweet scent.

Gold Kiwis

Close-up of whole and sliced gold kiwis - HannaTor/Shutterstock

When you hear "gold kiwi," it's probably the brand Zespri's SunGold kiwi that comes to mind. This fruit is a more recently developed variety: After a bacterial disease threatened New Zealand's kiwi industry in 2010, scientist Russell Lowe took charge in the cultivation of a more resistant kiwifruit, and the result is the Gold 3, which is now known as SunGold. Zespri owns the intellectual property rights to it.

Not only is it globally distributed, but SunGold kiwi is at the center of Zespri's years-long legal battle with Chinese growers. Since the brand discovered in 2016 that a Chinese entrepreneur had smuggled SunGold kiwi budwood to Sichuan, China (where most of the world's kiwis are grown), Zespri now estimates that there are around 7,850 hectares of unauthorized plantings of this kiwi variety in the Asian country as of 2023  an area that is close in size to the SunGold farm in New Zealand.

Regardless of where the gold kiwi in your local grocery store came from, it features a smooth peel that feels thinner than the green kiwi's. Its flesh is also softer, with a golden hue that fits its name. It has a higher sugar content as well and its sweetness has been compared to the flavorful intensity of ripe mangoes. Between green and gold kiwis, eating the latter like an apple, complete with the peel, may feel and taste more pleasant, but adding them together to your fruit salad allows their subtle taste differences to give the dish a more complex sweetness.

Kiwi Berries

Whole and sliced kiwi berries with leaves - Pavlina Klosova/Shutterstock

Something you may not see as frequently are kiwi berries (Actinidia arguta), which are also referred to as mini kiwis, baby kiwis, hardy kiwis, and even cocktail kiwis. Kiwi berries are native to East Asia but thrive in the temperate climate of the U.S. Northwest region. They are autumnal crops that have delicate flesh, which makes storing and transporting them over long distances difficult. Because of their much shorter shelf life, you don't see kiwi berries in stores when they're not in season.

These fruits' characteristics draw comparisons to grapes, starting from their petite size and how they grow on vines in small clusters to their smooth, thin, and hairless peel that comes in different tints of green and is sometimes mottled with purple and brown. But when you slice a mini kiwi open, you will see how its small seeds form the same pattern around a cream-colored center that you'd also spot when you halve a larger kiwifruit. Its aromatic lime-green flesh is also much sweeter than that of regular kiwis, which makes it an excellent choice for making wines and jams.

In terms of nutritional content, kiwi berries are great sources of vitamins A, C, and E. They also have higher amounts of antioxidant phenolics and ascorbate than the larger varieties, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Functional Foods. These bioactive compounds are more concentrated in the fruit's peel, giving you another great reason to pop them into your mouth whole.

Arctic Kiwis

Several whole Arctic kiwis growing on the vine - Nick Pecker/Shutterstock

Even smaller and more delicate than kiwi berries are the Arctic kiwis (Actinidia kolomikta). Also known as super-hardy kiwis, they can survive wintry temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Like other kiwi varieties, you can eat them whole and unpeeled since their thin, green skin is edible, but compared to the kiwi berries' tropical sweetness, Arctic kiwis have more floral notes in their flavor. A 2022 study published in Plants also reported that they are similarly rich in ascorbic acid and bioactive compounds with antioxidative properties, specifically flavan-3-ols, phenolic acids, flavones, and flavonols.

This kiwi species has a low overall yield compared to others, so finding its fruits in the market is even rarer than finding kiwi berries. The good news is you can cultivate this plant in your backyard, provided that it's placed where it won't be exposed to the sun and the soil is properly drained. It doesn't require much space, either. In exchange for your care, it grows vines that feature beautiful foliage, with its ornamental leaves displaying white and flamingo-pink coloration.

When it comes to growing fruits, this plant can produce crops earlier than the kiwi berry. However, Arctic kiwis also tend to fall to the ground once they've ripened, which is a reason why growing them commercially is difficult. Depending on the variety you get, the Arctic kiwi plant can yield mature fruits anytime between the beginning of August and the end of the month.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Planning a once-in-a-lifetime getaway? Here's how to save money by using credit card points.

Joshua Dalsimer/Getty Images

If youre dreaming of first-class flights halfway across the world, bungalows above crystal-clear water, fine dining at Michelin-rated restaurants, and world-class cocktails, youre not alone. These trips can come with a hefty price tag, into the tens of thousands of dollars when booking with cash. But if youre a points and miles enthusiast, you know there are ways to get a fantastic deal on a flight or five-star resort  thanks to your credit card perks.









I spoke with Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma, and Dave Grossman, CEO and founder of Your Best Credit Cards, to compile a guide on booking a once-in-a-lifetime vacation using credit card points.







Using credit card points to offset travel costs is nothing new. According to a recent Credit Karma survey, over half of Gen Z respondents (54 percent) rely on credit card points and rewards to pay for travel expenses. Additionally, nearly half of Gen Z respondents (49 percent) use credit card hacks to maximize their points and rewards. Its clear that Gen Z  along with frequent travelers across all demographics  has a strong desire to see the world but is looking for creative ways to save money.

Personally, Ive flown Emirates and Etihad first class (both have an onboard shower), Singapore Airlines first class, Japan Airlines first class, Qantas first class, Air France first class, Lufthansa first class (they have a lounge in Frankfurt for first-class customers in its own terminal with private security), and Qatars famous QSuites (business class), says Grossman. Every single one of these flights has been with points and miles, paying only taxes and fees.

Inspired? Heres how to book your dream vacation using points.

Maria Korneeva/Getty Images

Understanding Points Programs

There are three main categories of points and miles: hotel loyalty program points, airline frequent flier miles, and credit card points. Theres a lot of overlap between these categories, so knowing what you want from a rewards program is important.

Hotel points and airline miles work in similar ways. You earn a certain number of points per hotel stay or flight. Most hotels and airlines also have co-branded credit cards, and when you use these credit cards, you will earn points or miles toward that loyalty program.

In contrast, general travel rewards credit cards offer points or miles that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners. Some of the leading issuers are Capital One, Chase, American Express, and Citi. You can redeem your points through each programs respective travel portals or transfer them to get a better value out of your points.

Grossman is a big fan of transferring points and miles for luxury experiences that would be unaffordable otherwise. In the air, international business class and especially first class will provide the best value for points, explains Grossman. I recently booked a one-way flight on ANA to Japan in first class using 85,000 Virgin Atlantic miles + $290. The cash price was $11,400 [giving a value of] 13 cents per point. He has dozens of stories like this, showing that there are plenty of ways to get valuable redemption opportunities once you have a firm understanding of the various loyalty programs available.

Setting Your Travel Goals

To start, you need to know what your dream vacation actually is. Maybe its a stay at a five-star ski resort in the French Alps or a first-class seat to anywhere. The more time you give yourself to plan, the more time youll have to earn and optimize your rewards points, explains Alev. That may even mean delaying travel plans until you have enough points to subsidize the cost of your trip.

Once you know where you want to go and what you want to do, you need to start thinking about a points strategy that will fit your travel goals. You should be thinking about your rewards card strategy from the start of the trip planning process, shares Alev. Look into the rewards that your current cards offer, which may lead you to realize that you need another card in your wallet that helps you earn more points.

Ideally, every purchase you make will be on a credit card that allows you to earn points or miles. This rule has a few exceptions, like withdrawing cash at an ATM. Whether its the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, the IHG One Rewards Premier, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, or another popular travel credit card, each point you earn will help you reach your travel goals.

Grossman explains, The number one thing to remember if you really want to maximize how you strategize for your dream vacation is to collect transferable bank points (think Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One), since you will have a range of options when it comes time to book.

Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Earning Points

Before applying for a travel rewards credit card, you must review your spending habits. Make sure you understand which categories youre spending the most money in, like groceries or restaurants, says Alev. Some cards will give you more points for certain categories, and you want to be able to maximize the number of points youre earning on everyday spending. Grossman echoes this sentiment, saying, The first thing to do in setting your miles and points goals is to be realistic about how much you can spend on a credit card per month.

For example, lets say you have the American Express Gold Card and the Capital One Venture X. The Gold Card earns four points per dollar on dining purchases and purchases at U.S. grocery stores and one point per dollar on all other purchases. The Venture X earns 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, five points per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and two points per dollar on all other purchases.

In this scenario, you would want to use your Gold Card when youre out to eat or buying groceries, but youd use your Venture X when booking a hotel room. This way, youre earning the most points per dollar on your spending.

If youre getting a new card, do some research on welcome offers. If the card you want to apply for has had a higher sign-up bonus in the past, you might want to wait to apply until you see a similar offer. Welcome offers typically have a spending requirement that needs to be met within a certain time period.

The current welcome offer on the Capital One Venture X is 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on your card in the first three months of account opening. In comparison, the Platinum Card by American Express has a welcome offer of 150,000 membership rewards points after spending $8,000 on your card within the first six months of account opening. Another great way to earn points is to refer your friends to cards you love. Cards will often give you upwards of 25,000 miles per referral.

Booking Your Dream Vacation

You work hard to earn your credit card points, so you want to maximize their value. When you have a trip in mind, do research to understand the cost of the basics  things like flights and hotels  and the value in points, explains Alev. That way, youll have a general understanding of how many points you need to save to feel comfortable traveling without breaking the bank.

If youre booking a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you dont want to rush into anything. These kinds of trips take a lot of planning and should be thoroughly researched well before clicking purchase. When researching, use your credit cards to your advantage.

If you are new to this, I would figure out where you want to go and do some practice searches to feel out how many points youll need, says Grossman. If your dream trip is Cancun, youll need a lot less points than if its the Maldives (and I highly recommend the Maldives!).

If you have a co-branded credit card, you should be searching for flights or hotel stays with the branded partner. If you have a general rewards card, you should be looking for travel with transfer partners. Its not helpful if you find a great deal on a flight but dont have a card that earns points for that airline. On occasion, cards will offer incentives for transferring to various partners, so you can potentially get bonus points if you keep an eye on your travel portal.

Once you have enough for that first trip, go ahead and book it, Grossman encourages. Miles and points depreciate over time (programs increase how many points you need for awards) so they are not something to save for retirement.

Alistair Berg/Getty Images

Example Scenario

Lets say you have always dreamed of staying in an over-the-water bungalow in the Maldives. This June, you can fly from Paris, France (CDG) to Male, Maldives (MLE), in business class on Emirates for 168,750 points, plus 1,409 in taxes and fees. You can transfer points from Capital One, American Express, Chase, and Citi to Emirates Skywards to book your flight.

On either end of your trip, you could enjoy baguettes and espresso in Paris. Fly from New York City to Paris round-trip in Delta One for as little as 182,700 SkyMiles when you use a Delta SkyMiles credit card. This same flight would cost around $2,900 when booked with cash.

Additionally, lets say you are a cardholder of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, which gives you automatic Platinum Elite status. You decide to stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Male. Your suite is a one-bedroom villa with a private pool over the turquoise water. As a Bonvoy member, you get your fifth night free for every four you book. You stay from June 9 through June 14, soaking in the sun and living in luxury. This would cost you 364,000 points per stay. In cash, this same room would cost you $13,249, including taxes and fees. This gives you a fantastic valuation of more than 3.6 cents per point.

Covering your major expenses with credit card points is a fantastic way to take a dream vacation. Alev adds, Your goal should be to offset as many costs as possible with travel points so youre paying as little cash as you can on your trip. In this scenario, we are using points from multiple credit cards, which helps if youre worried about accruing hundreds of thousands of miles on one card.



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The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. For instance the Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) share price is 123% higher than it was three years ago. Most would be happy with that. In the last week the share price is up 3.0%.

The past week has proven to be lucrative for Occidental Petroleum investors, so let's see if fundamentals drove the company's three-year performance.

Check out our latest analysis for Occidental Petroleum

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During three years of share price growth, Occidental Petroleum moved from a loss to profitability. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It is of course excellent to see how Occidental Petroleum has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Occidental Petroleum's TSR for the last 3 years was 129%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Occidental Petroleum shareholders gained a total return of 8.5% during the year. But that return falls short of the market. The silver lining is that the gain was actually better than the average annual return of 1.4% per year over five year. This suggests the company might be improving over time. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Occidental Petroleum .

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Activists across six countries have co-ordinated climate protests against new North Sea oil and gas extraction.

Protesters in Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are demonstrating as part of the North Sea Fossil Free campaign, according to a statement by Extinction Rebellion (XR) Scotland.

In Aberdeen, protesters displayed banners outside the offices of oil and gas companies Equinor and Ithaca which read North Sea Fossil Free, Stop Rosebank and Sea Knows No Borders.

Activists also unfurled banners at Lerwick Harbour in Shetland and, at a location on the Moray Firth inlet, XR Forres organised performances from the oil slicks performance troupe.

In the Netherlands, XR and Scientists Rebellion blocked main access roads to Shells Pernis refinery near Rotterdam.

Activists from civil disobedience movement Ende Gelande blocked access to the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in the industrial port of Brunsbuttel, in northern Germany, demanding an immediate stop to imports of LNG.

XR Norway blocked the main entrance on land to the Rafnes Petroleum Refinery, with more activists said to be making their way into the security zone with a boat.

In Sweden, XR protesters blocked the road to the oil harbour in Gothenburg.

XR Scotland said: These countries are interconnected through the exploitation of their shared waters, while the effects of these harmful initiatives are affecting the climate far beyond this northern corner of the world.

The North Sea countries are branding themselves as leading countries within the green transition, all the while allowing global companies like Equinor, Shell and Total Energies to open new oil and gas fields.

Northern Europes oil and gas addiction is not only creating an ecological crisis in our own backyards, we are also fuelling and profiting from the global climate crisis with no regard for people in the most affected areas, the group added.

XR UK thanked protesters who took action on Saturday.

A spokesperson said: Going full steam ahead with New North Sea oil and gas is a sure fire route to the worst climate scenarios.

For too long, the UK, Norway and other North Sea countries have avoided scrutiny for their oil drilling plans as the emissions are not included in their national inventories.

All countries should align their drilling plans with the Paris Agreement now. We thank everyone who has taken action today in defence of a liveable planet.
On this day in history, March 17, 1776, British troops flee Boston after dramatic 11-month siege by militia

British troops and loyalists fled Boston by ship for Canada in "disgrace" after nearly a decade of occupation that incited protest, bloodshed and then revolution, on this day in history, March 17, 1776.

"Surely it is the Lord's doings and it is marvelous in our eyes," patriot and future first lady Abigail Adams wrote of the incredible victory by the pugnacious little city over the mighty British crown.

The humiliating flight of King George III's forces in the face of his disloyal subjects is still celebrated each year as Evacuation Day, a civic holiday, in Boston.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, MARCH 16, 1802, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY ESTABLISHED AT WEST POINT

"It was a spectacle such as could only have been imagined until that morning," David McCullough wrote in his "1776" epic of the most heroic year in American history.

"There were 120 ships departing with more than 11,000 people packed on board  8,906 King's troops, 667 women and 553 children, and in addition, waiting down the harbor, were 1,100 Loyalists."

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American Revolutionary War. Siege of Boston (April 19, 1775-March 17, 1776). Departure of the British fleet. On March 17, 1776, British forces were forced to evacuate the city of Boston following Gen. George Washington's successful placement of fortifications and artillery on Dorchester Heights, which overlooks Boston from the south. Engraving by Petit. Panorama Universal. History of the United States of America, from 1st edition of Jean B.G. Roux de Rochelle's Etats-Unis d'Amerique in 1837. Spanish edition, printed in Barcelona, 1850.

The Massachusetts Minutemen famously routed the Redcoats at the Battles of Lexington & Concord on April 19, 1775  the "shot heard 'round the world" and the start of open hostilities between colony and crown  and chased them all the way back to Boston.

The Siege of Boston followed.

Thousands of militiamen from around New England left their farms, descended on Boston and launched an 11-month siege of their own port city. It was an unplanned display of resolve that shocked the British.

The British took Breed's Hill, north of Boston, in the Battle of Bunker Hill, in June 1775, but at shocking cost. They did not make an attempt on Dorchester Heights, south of Boston.

In a line, the Lexington Minutemen and a group of the Massachusetts Sons of American Revolution stand atop Dorchester Heights in Boston on March 17, 2022. The annual commemoration of Evacuation Day at Dorchester Heights in South Boston on Thursday, March 17, is hosted by the National Parks of Boston and South Boston Citizens Association.

The Brits were trapped inside the city.

Gen. George Washington of Virginia arrived in Boston on July 3 to forge the militia  16,000 men strong  into a legitimate fighting force.

"The siege of Boston from June 1775 to March 1776 marked Washingtons debut as commander in chief," writes Smithsonian Magazine.

TEXAS MOM SUFFERS QUADRUPLE AMPUTATION, CREDITS HER FAITH AND A LITTLE DOG FOR PULLING HER THROUGH

"He met many of the men who would comprise his general staff for the duration."

One of those men was Boston bookseller Henry Knox.

Col. Henry Knox, Washington's chief of artillery, brings guns and mortars from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. Hand-colored engraving by Van Ingen.

"Knox impressed Washington with his energy, ingenuity, determination and knowledge of artillery," writes MassMoments.org, a repository of Massachusetts history.

Knox proposed an audacious plan to end the stalemate: Trek more than 200 miles each way through a New England winter to Fort Ticonderoga, New York, and haul its bounty of artillery back to Boston.

"In less than two months' time, Knox and his men moved 60 tons of artillery across lakes and rivers, through ice and snow to Boston," writes MassMoments.org.

MEET THE AMERICAN WHO ROWED WASHINGTON ACROSS THE DELAWARE ON CHRISTMAS: SAILOR-SOLDIER JOHN GLOVER

It's gone down in American lore as the Noble Train of Artillery. Villagers cheered as the expedition of American patriots passed through their towns.

Knox arrived without losing a single piece of equipment. Continental troops mounted the guns on Dorchester Heights under the cover of darkness the night of March 4 and 5  six years to the day of the Boston Massacre.

Engraved portrait of former U.S. Secretary of War Henry Knox standing next to a cannon, circa 1780-1800. Engraved from the original by Chappel.

"My God, these fellows have done more in one night than I could make my army do in three months," British commander General William Howe reportedly exclaimed amid his shock at seeing the guns.

The British garrison, and the loyalists inside Boston, had been reduced to near starvation during the siege.

Howe realized his situation was hopeless. He shipped out March 17.

"The British were completely disgraced," enthused the New York Constitutional Gazette.

"The first cheers from the American lines had been heard as early as nine that morning, when the men on Prospect Hill and Dorchester Heights saw clearly what was happening," McCullough writes.

"In no time small boys came running across the Neck from Boston to deliver the news that the lobsterbacks were gone at last."

The American Revolution moved elsewhere: next to New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and eventually southern colonies, before the British were finally defeated at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781.

View of residences near Dorchester Heights Monument on April 2, 2015.

The American Revolution was over in Boston, the city where it began and where 11-year-old Bostonian Christopher Seider was the first colonist to give his life in the cause of independence in 1770.

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Boston has not been occupied by a foreign soldier since.

The victory renewed faith in American independence across the colonies.

Spurred by leading Boston rebels John Hancock and John Adams, the Second Continental Congress declared independence four months later.

Washington deferred the honor of marching into the newly liberated city on March 17 to the New England officer who led the colonial militia in its siege before his arrival.

"In the early afternoon the first troops from Roxbury crossed the Neck and marched into Boston," writes McCullough. "Drums beating, flags flying and led by Artemus Ward on horseback."

The general from Virginia soon followed.

The same road into downtown Boston is known today as Washington Street.

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Original article source: On this day in history, March 17, 1776, British troops flee Boston after dramatic 11-month siege by militia
Southern accents have nuances to them. Here, a linguist explains how they came to be and what the key differences are.

Beth Gwinn/Getty Images

There isn't one thing that makes a Southern accent. The regions' iconic sounds go back hundreds of years.

According to Margaret E.L. Renwick, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Georgia, it was inevitable that speech would evolve. Language change is going to happen, theres no stopping it, she says. Its natural, and it changes from generation to generation. Even today, despite there being evidence that the Southern accent is on the decline, people are influenced in their language choices. For example, children are influenced by their caregivers, teachers, parents, and grandparents and might therefore pick up words like pocketbook instead of purse.

Language communicates more than just words. Language is aspirational. Younger kids and teenagers will form ways of talking that are unique to their groups. If they dont want to be a part of a particular group, they might signal that with their speech, she says. A lot of how we talk is social.







Meet The Expert

Margaret E.L. Renwick Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Georgia,







Predominant Southern Accent Features

The first English speakers in the South included the English, the Irish, the Scottish, and enslaved Africans, all contributing to grammar and pronunciation changes over time. The result of the mingling of language has produced one of the country's most recognizable accents. The Southern accent has been shown in studies to be the most perceptually salient regional U.S. accent, says Renwick.

There are a few key giveaways to a Southern accent, with some pronunciations older than others. One of the oldest sounds we know about is the i sound, like ride, why, white, and fire, she says, noting that historians have traced these sound changes as far back as the Civil War. She calls the way that Southern accents pronounce ride as one of the most characteristic aspects of a Southern accent. That change in the i is classic, an original Southern characteristic and recognizable across regional accents. Another sound change is pen and pin. Some Southerners pronounce the two words with the same vowel. In linguistics, its called a merger, when two distinct pronunciations become indistinguishable. A third classic example that has been around for a long time is called fronting, or where people pronounce a vowel sound with their tongue farther forward in their mouths, instead of at the back. U fronting in particular is commonly seen in Southern pronunciations of words like boot and goose, which is why it sounds different than someone who is from Wisconsin saying it, explains Renwick.

Differences In Southern Accents

Renwick stresses that Southern accents, which stretch from Maryland to Texas, cannot be put into boxes or necessarily separated by state lines, as immigration, urbanization and migration patterns have all contributed to how we talk. But there are two significant buckets of accents: inland and coastal.

Classic Southern pronunciations like mergers and fronting can be found in inland Southern accents, as can long vowels or the breaking of vowels, where Southerners shift words to become almost two syllables. Some of these characteristics stretch all the way to Texas thanks to migration. Regions like North Alabama, East Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky, far North Georgia, western North Carolina, and western South Carolina may have the highest concentration of classic Southern accent characteristics, with nuances in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The Appalachian Mountain region has some of the most recognizable of these characteristics.

The coastal Southern accent sounds slightly different. Prominent in former plantation areas like Tidewater Virginia and the Lowcountry, this accent can also stretch further West. The accent features the dropping of the r, so words like car sound like cah. You might also hear variations on words in areas like the Delmarva Peninsula, which covers the eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia, and the Pamlico Sound area of North Carolina. For example, Renwick says that the vowel in the word prize doesnt have an ay pronunciation; instead it has an oy sound. Its why residents of the Outer Banks are called Hoi Toiders instead of High Tiders,  she explains.

Like many Southern states, Louisiana has many accent variations that derive from several influences. The more rural Cajun accent has a historical explanation, according to Katie Carmichael, Ph.D., an associate professor of English at Virginia Tech and an expert on the subject. Cajun accents feature evidence of the French heritage in Louisiana. French was maintained longer in the rural areas of the state, since many residents of the bayous and prairies didnt need to speak English for traditionally common occupations in these regions as trappers, trawlers, and farmers, she says. Many French pronunciations and words are still heard in these regions as a result.

The New Orleans accent, on the other hand, can sound like its straight out of New York. Carmichael says the real answer as to why is an unsatisfying one: We dont know for sure, she says. However, there were direct lines between New York and New Orleans, potentially from the cotton trade, albeit its tricky to nail down the historical specifics of migration between the two cities. The two locales also had similar working class populations from Germany, Ireland, and Italy settle there prior to the 1900s, likely having similar linguistic and cultural influence. Despite there being empirical evidence, theres enough linguistic evidence for the connection to be made. Its not just superficial; linguistic evidence points to deep structural similarities between the two accents, she says. Shes quick to point out, though, that like all Southern accents, theres not one dominating influence. New Orleanians can also sound Southern, she says. Just like with other Southern accents, theres fronting, vowel changes and other distinguishing features. Whats fascinating is that when people hear a New Orleans accent, they ignore [Southern] features and default to the stronger New York-sounding features, she says.

What It Means To Have A Modern Southern Accent

Accents hold a lot of power in telling people about yourself, says Renwick. We take language for granted all the time, but we are good at cueing into details and transmitting our identity through language.

As popular TikToker Landon Bryant has shown, while people might be losing their accents, theyre finding other ways to hold on to their Southernness. Says Renwick,

What it means to be Southern is changing for people, and that might mean that the way they project their Southerness is through speech change. Just because someone doesnt have a traditional Southern accent doesnt mean theyre going to sound like someone from Ohio. They just might choose different aspects of their pronunciation to transmit their Southernness, she says.

Related: What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll?

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
The narrative every summer is of tourists overwhelming Spain. But most of its 85 million annual visitors head to a handful of places: Majorca, Ibiza, the Canary Islands, Barcelona... Its easy to get off the beaten track and explore the undiscovered Spain. Ive travelled all over that vast country these last 30 years, and theres one region I enjoy visiting more than any other. If youre looking for adventure, La Mancha is the place to go.

On the face of it, La Mancha seems an unlikely holiday destination. The terrain is mainly flat and featureless. Landmarks are few and far between. Its a long way from the sea, and the weather is extreme  baking hot in summer, bitterly cold in winter. Yet theres something about the place that pulls you in. Its villages are rugged and authentic, virtually untouched by tourism. In La Mancha, you feel youre really travelling. This is the real Spain.

I first came here 20 years ago, on the trail of Don Quixote. It was the 400th anniversary of Cervantes pioneering novel, and the Spanish tourist board had devised a Ruta de Don Quixote, to lure more visitors to La Mancha. Of course, the whole concept was absurd. Nobody knows why Cervantes set his saga here, but he was probably taking the mickey. Then as now, La Mancha was the back of beyond, the middle of nowhere. Don Quixote is a mad old man who kids himself hes a knight in shining armour. Calling him Don Quixote de la Mancha is like calling him the Lord of No Mans Land.

As I traipsed around this obscure backwater, getting lost and tired and lonely, I began to feel a lot like Don Quixote, a deluded madman chasing shadows. Don Quixote is a pathetic fantasist. His odyssey is a wild goose chase. Would my trek along this road to nowhere turn out to be fools errand, too?

The spectacular city of Toledo - Getty

There are few specific locations in the novel and so the Ruta de Don Quixote, like the book, is pretty fanciful. But once you give up trying to follow in Don Quixotes footsteps (a quixotic quest, if ever there was one) and just enjoy the journey and the scenery, La Mancha comes alive. This harsh landscape has a barren, forbidding beauty, and strewn around this arid hinterland are some stunning historic towns. Its thrilling to find somewhere so close to home where you feel like a traveller rather than a sightseer  a place where British visitors are rare. Ive been back several times since then and I like it more each time I go there. A road trip is the best way to see La Mancha. Ten days should cover it. Heres how to go about it, and what to do along the way.

Finding good hotels in La Mancha can be a bit hit and miss. Before you set off, Id recommend you book rooms at the Paradors in Toledo, Almagro, Alarcon and Cuenca  in that order. Id suggest you stay two nights in each. Paradors are smart, state-run hotels, often located in antique buildings. Theyre popular with Spanish travellers, and these four are particularly atmospheric.

Getting there is easy. Fly to Madrid and pick up a hire car at the airport. From there its 60 miles to Toledo, the medieval capital of Spain and the gateway to La Mancha. Squeezed onto a steep hill that towers over the sunburnt plain, its a wonderful place to wander. The biggest treat is seeing the mesmeric paintings of El Greco, who made many of his greatest artworks here. His pictures are in numerous mansions, churches and museums around Toledo. A walking tour of these locations is a great way to get to know the city.

A painting by El Greco in the Iglesia de Santo Tome - Getty

After two nights in Toledo, youll be ready to hit the road again. After a late, leisurely breakfast, drive to Consuegra, 40 miles due south. Its row of 11 white windmills, looming high above the town, is one of the most iconic sights in Spain, the defining image of La Mancha. The sleepy town below is pleasant and unpretentious. The Plaza Mayor is a decent spot for lunch.

After lunch, drive on, another 55 miles south, to Almagro. During the 16th century, Almagro was a wealthy and important place, but not a lot has happened here since then, and so much of its Renaissance architecture has survived. Almagros crowning glory is the Coral de las Comedias, a perfectly preserved 16th-century theatre, an ornate relic of Spains Golden Age.

Half-timbered buildings in Almagro - Getty

Almagro is a handy base for a day trip to Valdepenas, about 25 miles away. This handsome town is the centre of La Manchas booming wine trade. There are plenty of bodegas around town where you can do tastings, and buy a few bottles to take away. If youre here in September, dont miss the towns annual wine festival (the Museo del Vino is also worth a visit, at any time of year). The local Tempranillo used to be regarded as a cheap and cheerful table wine, but the quality has increased considerably in recent years.

After two nights in Almagro, its time to head east, 120 miles, all the way to Alarcon  a little citadel perched on a narrow promontory, protected by the deep gorge of the Rio Jucar. Its wild, remote and windswept, like a scene from El Cid. Its a peaceful place today, but it has a long and violent history. It was inhabited by the Celts, and then the Romans, and then the Moors, who built the ancient castle at its core, way back in the 8th century. The castle was taken by the Christians in 1085, retaken by the Moors, then retaken by the Christians, for good this time, in 1184. Today, its a cosy Parador. The fortified town is tiny, but there are plenty of nice places to eat and drink.

The final destination is Cuenca, 50 miles north of Alarcon. Its a spectacular city, huddled on a clifftop, surrounded by vertiginous ravines. The Parador, housed in a converted convent, boasts some of the best views. An even more dramatic viewpoint is the Museo de Arte Abstracto, located in one of the hanging houses that cling to the cliff edge. Under Francos fascist tyranny figurative painting was a risky business, and so abstraction became a refuge for dissident artists. This museum displays a fine selection of their work.

Final stop: Cuenca - Getty

From Cuenca its 100 miles due west to Madrid airport. It was my last night in La Mancha and I was in no hurry to go home. I strolled around town without a plan, with no idea where I was going, and then the rain came down, the first rain here for weeks. It felt divine. Drenched and contented, I ducked into a cerveceria. There was a bullfight on the television. Standing room only. The place was packed. I squeezed through to the bar and ordered a beer and tried to pay for it, but the barman smiled and shook his head. He could see Id come a long way. I was welcome here. This one was on the house.

Well, thats La Mancha  at least, what Ive seen of it. If you go, youll make your own discoveries. Youll probably have a few mishaps too  its that sort of place. There are lots of dead ends, one horse towns youd never want to revisit, but the special stuff is really special, stuff youll remember for a lifetime. Ive had more comfortable holidays in other parts of Spain, but La Mancha is where Ive had the best adventures. I cant wait to go again.

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Megan Troutwine taking a selfie with one eye partially drooped due to a brain tumor, captured near Times Square in New York City.

It was a life-changing selfie.

Eight years ago, Megan Troutwine traveled to New York City to see her late cousin, Tony Martinez, who was living in Harlem.

We had so much fun, just taking pictures and seeing the sites, the good-spirited 33-year-old from Hudson, Florida, told The Post. When you have family living there, your heart hits those streets differently.

Megan Troutwine realized something was wrong after taking this selfie outside of Rockefeller Center. Courtesy of Megan Troutwine

While in Midtown, the pair visited Rockefeller Center, and Troutwine stopped to take a selfie next to the nearby reflecting pool and fountains on Sixth Avenue.

I looked at the picture, and my eyelid was drooping, Troutwine recalled. I thought it was odd, so when I returned home, I mentioned it to my neurologist.

The doctor ordered an MRI, and on her way home from the scan, she got a call: They had found a benign mass inside her brain that was growing at an aggressive rate.

I found out I had a meningioma, which is the most common form of brain cancer, explained Troutwine. This diagnosis, it is hard.

Troutwine began treatment immediately at Tampas Moffitt Cancer Center. First, surgery was performed to remove the tumor. Then a follow-up procedure revealed the presence of another primary brain tumor  this one, a glioma.

After mentioning her drooping eye to her neurologist, she found she had brain cancer. Megan Troutwine/Facebook

Doctors informed Troutwine  now working as a health unit coordinator at Moffitt  that the tumor would continue to slowly grow, and that shed likely require lifelong monitoring for her condition.

On top of that, doctors also discovered she carries the PTEN gene mutation, putting her at greater risk for developing other cancers.

Troutwines ordeal only recently came to light in a recent report on her local Fox station.

Since 2017, when she underwent a craniotomy, Troutwine was diagnosed with and treated for both breast and uterine cancer, she told The Post.

Throughout her tough treatments, Troutwine said shes been fortunate enough to meet some of the most genuine and inspiring people shes ever known.

Doctors then discovered Troutwine carries the PTEN gene mutation, putting her at greater risk for developing other cancers. Megan Troutwine/Facebook

Cancer was not my first choice, but I wouldnt trade where I am or what I have gone through for anything, she said. She added that through her work now, shes able to help people in the most difficult time in their lives. So many people going through this dont have that support system through it, so to be a vessel for that is a blessing.

The church ministry student said she plans on pursuing a second degree  in public health.

I have a heart for people and trying to help people in any way that I can, Troutwine said.

Since her initial NYC visit, Troutwine lost her cousin to pancreatic cancer. Shes been back to the city only once  to pay homage to the memories I shared with him.
This product, among other cinnamon products, need to be avoided. (Photo/Food & Drug Administration)

This past week the National Indian Health Board released a health advisory on the heightened levels of lead in specific cinnamon products.

Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notable alert regarding specific cinnamon products due to the discovery of heightened levels of lead, a heavy metal known for its toxic properties.

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The announcement sent ripples through both consumer and regulatory circles, emphasizing the critical importance of monitoring food safety standards.

Why It Matters

Elevated lead levels in food products pose a significant health risk, especially for vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women, who are more susceptible to its adverse effects.

The FDA's alert underscores the necessity for stringent quality control measures within the food industry, particularly for spices like cinnamon, which are ubiquitous in various culinary traditions worldwide. Cinnamon, prized for its distinct flavor and aroma, is a staple ingredient in numerous cuisines and food products, making the presence of lead in certain batches all the more concerning.

Lead contamination in spices can occur through various avenues, including soil contamination, processing methods, and storage conditions, highlighting the complexity of ensuring food safety from farm to table.

Take Action

The ground cinnamon products that were sold at these locations below, contained elevated levels of lead and that prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe.

Consumers and manufacturers alike are urged to exercise caution and vigilance when sourcing and utilizing cinnamon products, paying close attention to FDA advisories and product recalls. Additionally, the FDA's alert serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for robust regulatory oversight and collaboration between industry stakeholders to safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of the food supply chain.

Efforts to mitigate lead exposure in food products must remain a top priority, with a focus on implementing preventive measures and fostering transparency and accountability across all levels of production and distribution.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

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Eye health is often overlooked. Tons of Americans skip their annual eye exams: Of those who are considered to be at high risk for vision loss, which is roughly 4 in 10 Americans, 40% didnt get their eyes checked out in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Its not until you have [a] problem with your eyes that you really become grateful for your vision, said Dr. Michelle Holmes, an optometrist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Theres a lot you can do to protect your eye health. You can keep up with your annual eye exams, wear sunglasses to shield your eyes from the suns harmful ultraviolet rays, and avoid wearing contacts to bed or in the pool, to name a few.

But is there one habit you should never do, even though it may seem like eye care: Dont use eye-whitening, or red-eye relieving, drops.

My concern with those types of eye drops is that eye-whitening drops can be used by someone to mask redness, and, oftentimes, that redness is a symptom of some more serious underlying condition, Holmes told HuffPost.

Heres why you may want to steer clear of redness relief eye drops.

Karl Tapales / Getty Images

When your eye is irritated, as it may be with pink eye or certain allergies, the blood vessels located in the front of the eye will dilate and engorge. Thats what causes the white part of the eye to look red and angry, Holmes explained.

Those blood vessels serve an important purpose  when inflamed, they indicate something is wrong, Holmes said. This could be due to a mild problem, such as a cold or dust in the eye, or it may be a symptom of a more serious health condition like an infection, glaucoma or a corneal abrasion.

Its not normal to have a red, angry-looking eye, Holmes said.

Red-eye relieving drops target these blood vessels to constrict and minimize their appearance. Temporarily, this makes the eyes white again, however, these drops could mask the problem at hand.

It may make you think everything is OK with your eyes when really the can be something quite serious going on, Holmes said. Its a bandaid, not a fix, she added.

That redness can help your eye doctor detect eye diseases. With certain eye conditions, time is of the essence. Left untreated, they can worsen and lead to complications, including infections, and, in serious cases, vision loss.

Not to mention, these drops may cause a rebound effect. As the eye drops wear off and nutrients and oxygen start to flow back through those blood vessels, they actually will dilate and engorge more than initially, Holmes said.

People can then get trapped in a cycle: their eyes appear red and irritated, they use redness-relieving drops that provide temporary relief, but then the redness comes back  this time, even worse  and they use the drops again. In some cases, people become dependent on red-eye relieving drops and the underlying health issue is never addressed, Holmes said.

There are other remedies you can use instead.

Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images

Whenever a patient tells Holmes they use eye-whitening drops, she recommends they opt for lubricating artificial tears instead. Her advice: use preservative-free drops  theyre gentler on the eyes, she explained. These products are generally thought to be the safest type of preservative-free eye drops.

The Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning against 26 over-the-counter eye drop products due to the risk of eye infections that may cause partial vision loss or blindness.

Finally, if your eye is red and irritated, talk to an eye care provider. Even if you give your local eye clinic a call, the front desk should be able to triage the redness  and determine if you need follow-up care or testing  and recommend safe, effective eye drops.

Oftentimes, the cause of the redness can be determined and more effectively addressed when the reason why is known, Holmes said.This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
It's difficult to picture the scene in which ciabatta bread was invented. Only a few decades ago, four-time rally racing champion Arnaldo Cavallari developed a new bread recipe that eventually became ciabatta. Cavallari labored over the proofing time and hydration for weeks, fueled by a singular bone of contention: He'd had it with his fellow Italians going gaga for the French baguette.

The son of miller parents, Cavallari was wrapping up an illustrious racing career in the early 1980s. He returned to his hometown of Adria in northern Italy, where his family owned a flour mill. By this time, the French baguette had long gained in popularity during its century-plus lifespan, winning over bread lovers with a simple yeast, flour, water, and salt recipe. In 1982, Cavallari enlisted two flour expert bakers to join him in developing a staple Italian loaf that would give the French baguette a run for its money.

His team knew the capabilities of what flour could handle in terms of hydration, which was imperative since Cavallari's ciabatta was going to push the limits of using a very wet dough. Cavallari used olive oil to keep the dough elastic enough to stretch without tearing while delivering a chewy, open-crumb loaf of bread that immediately caught on with local restaurants and bakeries. Everyone loved it. By 1985, ciabatta loaves were selling in Marks & Spencer, and within about a decade, Ciabatta Italiana was licensed and produced in 11 countries.

Read more: 16 Little-Known Facts About Salt

What's The Difference Between Italian Ciabatta And The French Baguette

fresh bagged bakery French baguettes - LuckyStep/Shutterstock

The difference between the French baguette and Italian ciabatta starts with the simple ingredients each has at its core. Both use flour, water, yeast, and salt, but ciabatta uses a much higher hydration dough and olive oil to ensure elasticity. The breads look completely different in shape and are named after the appearance of their loaves. Baguette is French for "wand" or "baton," and ciabatta is Italian for "slipper."

"Ciabatta is not an elegant slipper, but the kind of old slipper you slouch around in," Italian cookbook author Jean Salvadore told The New York Times in 1992, around the time that ciabatta bread was making its New York debut. That underscores a major difference between the breads.

Ciabatta does present like a rustic, historic bread nonetheless, and its inventor planned it that way. "It reminds people of the older breads," Arnaldo Cavallari told The Guardian, describing his loaf as the "taste of an old-fashioned bread." The texture of ciabatta is chewy yet light and fluffy, with all its extra open-crumb air holes. By contrast, a French baguette, while airy, has small holes and a crisp crust.

Read the original article on Mashed.
When it comes to delicious dishes, few regions are as highly regarded as France. The country is famous for its cuisine, and this reputation is well deserved, as France has been at the forefront of food for hundreds of years. The European nation's culinary achievements have stood the test of time, and in a similar fashion, when you're cooking French food, time is of the essence.

The simple dish that may best exemplify that is a showcase of the benefits of careful cooking. It might also be the food with the most recognizable name. French egg dishes require a delicate touch, and frying up the perfect French omelette (or omelet, if you're American) is merely a matter of patience. Once you put your eggs in a pan, the time clock is set, and you'll embark on an egg-cooking journey that involves several time-consuming steps but results in a scrumptious and surprisingly soft omelet.

Read more: French Cooking Tricks You Need In Your Life

French Omelets Are A Labor Of Love

French omelet gently cooking - Lynnebeclu/Getty Images

The influence of French food has echoed throughout the world, and, as such, American cuisine has heavily adopted its flavors. However, there is unquestionably a difference between the two countries concerning the act of cooking eggs. Even French and American scrambled eggs are considered different. Americans cook their eggs for longer, with the scramble often winding up dense and dehydrated, while the French take the time to allow the eggs to curdle and cook over time, which results in an incredibly smooth scramble.

A similarly painstaking process is required when you're cooking up a French omelet. After you've introduced the eggs to a low-heat skillet, you need to continuously stir the eggs as they heat through, making sure to move the bits of egg that are at risk of overcooking back into the egg bath. Once you've begun rolling your French omelet, you'll once again need to use a delicate touch and only loosely wrap the eggs up so that the omelet doesn't become overcooked.

Other Tips For A Perfect French Omelet

Adding cheese to omelet base - Grandriver/Getty Images

All in all, though there are myriad components that go into making the perfect French omelet, every strategy centers around the descriptors low and slow. Every recipe calls for an abundance of butter, which gives the omelet its signature smooth texture, and butter begins to smoke at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that a French omelet must necessarily be cooked on low if you're going to avoid a smoke-filled kitchen.

After you've finished your French omelet, another few exercises in careful cooking still stand between you and enjoying these delicious eggs. Allow your omelet to sit in the skillet with the heat off, which allows the eggs to keep cooking without drying out. You'll also want to finish it off with a spread of the aforementioned butter, which will give your omelet an aesthetically appealing shine. The perfect French omelet can only be achieved if you take your time.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.
Rep. Ro Khanna said on Sunday that the TikTok bill the House of Representatives passed last week wouldn't actually protect Americans, instead pushing for other legislation that he says would better prevent foreign countries from obtaining private information.

The bill in the House would force China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok or face having the wildly popular app banned outright in the U.S. It was sparked by concerns that ByteDance could share (or be forced to share) Americans' data with the Chinese government, claims the company calls unfounded as it vigorously advocates against the new legislation.

Khanna, a Democrat who represents Silicon Valley in California, voted against the bill, citing First Amendment concerns, though the legislation was approved by a broad, bipartisan majority.

"There are two national security issues that proponents of the bill have cited. Both are legitimate. One, will the data get to a foreign government, in this case the Chinese Communist Party? Two, will the Chinese Communist Party have an influence on algorithms? We can deal with both with a narrowly tailored law," Khanna told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz.

"Let's ban any data going to a foreign country and protect American data. Second, let's ban any foreign interference in a social media app, whether that's TikTok or another app. And by the way, those laws would also cover data brokers, which are selling data to Chinese companies," Khanna said. "So this bill is not actually addressing the issue."

Debate over the popular app raged on Capitol Hill last week, culminating in the House's vote to send the forced-sale bill to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hasn't committed to putting it up for a floor vote.

It's also unclear if 60 senators would back the proposal, as would be needed. The White House supports the legislation.

In the House, the bill transcended traditional political alliances, with China hawks in both parties uniting behind it and free speech absolutists opposing it, arguing, like Khanna, that it went too far and was too focused on TikTok.

On "This Week," Khanna said a more effective solution would be multi-step.

PHOTO: Rep. Ro Khanna waits to address a group in Dearborn, Mich., on Feb. 22, 2024. (Carlos Osorio/AP, FILE)

"Pass a law, one, to prevent these apps, whether it's TikTok or Facebook or YouTube, from collecting data. That bill has been sitting in the House Commerce Committee for years, and it doesn't move. Second, pass a law that if there's any evidence that the data goes to China, then [server company] Oracle and TikTok would be held liable, civilly or criminally," Khanna said.

"Third, pass a law that if Chinese nationals are involved in the algorithms -- people are claiming these algorithms are manipulating Americans -- if there's any information, insight, evidence that a Chinese national or any foreign national is manipulating algorithms, that would be illegal," he said.

When pressed by Raddatz on how conceivable it is to craft and enact such legislation, Khanna insisted it would be "easier" to pass than the current bill.

"If we passed a law saying you can't transfer data, you can't collect data, that would actually solve the problem," he said.

He also pointed to the concerns of many of the app's users that a potential ban threatens not just their platform but their businesses. He dismissed the idea that these people could simply migrate to another app.

"The audience is very different .... I think it would be hard," he said.

More broadly, Khanna chafed at the spotlight on TikTok versus what he called larger issues.

"The frustration is that we haven't been able to pass these data privacy laws. ... We haven't passed the laws to ban foreign interference," he said.

Khanna, a prominent surrogate for President Joe Biden's reelection bid, separately defended the president's handling of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, saying that the U.S. has an obligation to help Israel protect itself but that the administration is listening to critics of Israel's response to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and its allies.

A protest movement to have Democratic primary voters cast "uncommitted" ballots against Biden has gained some traction in a few states, including the key battleground of Michigan.

"President Biden, now, and his team, are shifting and understanding that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's policies have not been in the interests of protecting civilian life, that too many innocent civilians have died, and he has finally called for a cease-fire with the release of hostages, and they're being heard," Khanna said. (Israel insists it takes steps to curb civilian casualties.)

"Now, it's obvious that I have had disagreements with President Biden on this," said Khanna, who has called for a permanent cease-fire. "But here's what I know: At least he's listening. Donald Trump wouldn't listen."

Rep. Khanna says potential TikTok ban won't solve the problem, calls for 'narrowly tailored law' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, THG's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 8 shareholders own 50% of the company

Insider ownership in THG is 24%

A look at the shareholders of THG Plc (LON:THG) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 38% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of THG, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for THG

LSE:THG Ownership Breakdown March 17th 2024

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About THG?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that THG does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see THG's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

LSE:THG Earnings and Revenue Growth March 17th 2024

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in THG. The company's CEO Matthew Moulding is the largest shareholder with 15% of shares outstanding. With 8.9% and 7.5% of the shares outstanding respectively, Sofina Societe Anonyme and Balderton Capital (UK) LLP are the second and third largest shareholders.

Story continues

We did some more digging and found that 8 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of THG

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of THG Plc. Insiders own UK183m worth of shares in the UK754m company. We would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 11% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over THG. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Private Equity Ownership

With an ownership of 24%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 3.4%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for THG you should be aware of.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Even if you're not a long-time Food Network fan, you likely know and can recognize Rachael Ray. The seemingly plucky, down-to-earth cook who makes you feel like she's just like you, got her start at Food Network in 2001 with the launch of her first Food Network show "30 Minute Meals." Since then, she's amassed a food empire that encompasses an array of other shows on the Food Network, as well as her own daytime talk show, "Rachael Ray," which launched in 2007 and ended in 2023. She's written dozens of cookbooks. She started a magazine in 2005 called "Every Day with Rachael Ray." Walk into a big-box store and you'll see a range of products bearing Ray's image, from cookware to dog food. By all accounts, Ray is an absolute success, an example of how hard work (Ray is no professionally trained chef, working at grocery stores and managing restaurants until a local CBS station discovered her) can add up to a wealth of possibilities.

However, is Ray's life really as perfect as it may seem if you've just glimpsed her face on magazine covers or in commercials on television? While working her way to the top of the food celebrity pyramid, Ray has encountered her fair share of tragedies.

Read more: The Biggest Scandals To Ever Hit The Food Network

Ray's Iconic Voice Is Due To An Illness

Rachael Ray wearing glasses and blue suit in front of black background - Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Just as many throughout America  foodie or Food Network fan or not  can recognize Ray on sight, so can many recognize her iconic voice. As she tells you how she's going to put dinner on the table in half an hour or less, you'll pick up on a certain grave quality that's difficult to replicate and that stands apart from a lineup of interchangeable television personalities. However, these qualities in Ray's voice could be traced back to childhood illnesses.

In previous interviews, Ray has told publications that she's had issues with her voice since she was a child and that she never had strong vocal cords to begin with. She specifically mentioned multiple instances of croup, which is a type of infection most popular in children that tightens the upper airway and causes coughing and difficulty breathing. Ray has also mentioned repeated instances of losing her voice, and after doctor visits for the above issues, told her to do throat exercises and avoid irritants like caffeine.

Ray Needed Surgery On Her Vocal Cords

Rachael Ray wearing gold scarf - Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

In 2008, rumors began flying that Ray had throat cancer. The National Enquirer had put out an article spreading the news, saying that Ray would need surgery to remove the cancer, something that would take her out of the limelight for a couple of months. The publication followed up with another article saying that a source told The National Enquirer that Ray had a vocal cord growth that may also require radiation treatment, and the source specifically mentioned cancer cells being present. However, luckily, the cancer rumors turned out to be false. That said, it doesn't mean that Ray was completely fine.

A representative for Ray spoke to People following The National Enquirer story and said Ray did indeed need surgery on her vocal cords, but the surgery was just to remove a benign cyst. Otherwise, the spokesman said Ray was "the picture of health," not feeling poorly at all, and that the out-patient surgery would not affect her work schedule other than requiring a short, week-long break. The surgery took place in December 2008 and Ray's tapings for Food Network and "Rachael Ray" went on as planned.

Ray's Been Mugged Multiple Times

Rachael Ray cooking on stage at event - Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

Mugging is seen as hardly uncommon in New York City. However, according to the New York City Police Department, there were 1,417 instances of robbery in January 2024 (mugging is classified as robbery, as it's taking property from a person through threats, separating it from burglary, which requires a break-in). That means, since New York City has a population of over 8 million people, you only have about a 0.01% chance of being mugged in New York City  which makes it feel a little less common than you might've assumed. However, this only makes it even more tragic that Ray has been mugged in New York City, not just once, but twice.

Ray told People that, when she was working in Manhattan and living in Queens in the late 1990s, she was mugged by the same person twice in one week. The first time, he assaulted her in her apartment's foyer, prompting Ray to pull out her mace. The second time, the assailant was more forceful and possibly even retaliatory, as Ray told People, "He dragged me down the alley and beat the crap out of me with his gun." As a result, Ray moved back to the Adirondacks of New York, where she then began to work managing restaurants within the luxury Sagamore Resort on Lake George.

Ray's Aunt Died Outside Ray's Home, Sparking A Family Feud

Rachael Ray with husband John at bar - John Lamparski/Getty Images

Spend enough time reading about or watching Rachael Ray, and you'll quickly realize just how important family is to the celebrity chef, especially her mother. Her mother accompanied her to her first appearance on TODAY, which led to Ray being noticed by Food Network. She's also described her mother as her favorite cook and person.

However, that doesn't mean that the Ray family is perfect. In fact, the entire family experienced a tragedy in 2013 when Ray's aunt died outside Ray's home, sparking a family feud. The 77-year-old Geraldine Dominica Scuderi was house-sitting for Ray in late November when she went outside to feed the birds and locked herself out of the home. After trying to break a window to get back inside, Scuderi collapsed in the frigid temperatures and was discovered the next day. Ray's cousin blamed Ray for the death and negligence and reported that Scuderi had not been given her own key for the housesitting, then likely collapsed due to lung issues. The tension increased when Ray did not attend the funeral, as she was taping a show at the time. Later, Ray's brother came to her defense and said no one else was upset that Ray did not attend the funeral.

Ray's Husband Has Been Accused Of Cheating

Rachael Ray and John Cusimano - Alex Wong/Getty Images

Rachael Ray's husband John Cusimano gets nearly as much attention as she does, as the actor, lawyer, producer, and musician shows up frequently alongside Ray at media appearances, on her shows, on her social media accounts, and beyond. Looking at the two together, they might seem like a perfect pairing. They've been married for nearly 20 years, holding their wedding in a Tuscan castle in 2005 and renewing their vows in the same venue in 2015. They have also returned to the castle every year with family and (many famous) friends to celebrate their anniversary.

That said, this romantic relationship hasn't been without its share of tragedies, like rumors of infidelity (even though those rumors have not been justified). One rumor claimed that a Florida woman met Cusimano in New York in 2000 and continued an affair with him for years, with Cusimano paying her for her services and engaging in drug use with her. Other publications have said that Cusimano has cheated at least twice, and maybe as much six times, but Ray said these accusations are unfounded when she told People, "I've known where he is every night since we've been married."

Ray's Dog Food Brand Was Sued

Rachael Ray feeding a dog a piece of a burger - Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Rachael Ray has often been a very vocal dog-lover, bringing attention to her dog Isaboo on her shows and in her magazine. It's not surprising that she decided to launch a dog food brand, Rachael Ray Nutrish among her various projects. Not only does the brand aim to offer nutritional, high-quality products to your favorite pooch, but it also helps fund The Rachael Ray Foundation, as portions from the food's sales go to help animals in need.

Unfortunately, though, Rachael Ray Nutrish has been sued not once, but multiple times. In 2018, a complaint was filed that the dog food brand contained weed killer and should not be promoted as natural. The claim was dismissed at first due to lack of specificity, but then amended and refiled, before being dismissed yet again. Then in 2020, a lawsuit was filed against the brand stating that DNA test results on some of the food showed that there was dog DNA as one of the ingredients. Furthermore, the case noted that the food, which claimed to only contain six ingredients, contained far, far more than advertised. Another lawsuit claimed the foods were potentially harmful to dogs due to false advertising that presented the foods as healthier than they were; this lawsuit was also dismissed.

Ray Received Backlash For Standing Up For Mario Batali

Rachael Ray standing next to and pointing at Mario Batali - Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Many celebrity chefs have fallen out of the limelight due to accusations of sexual misconduct, but perhaps none have done so quite so famously as Mario Batali. One of the food world's most famous celebrity chefs, several women accused Batali of sexual harassment in 2017. While in 2022, Batali settled two of the cases and was found not guilty in one case, he was still the subject of a documentary on the accusations, "Batali: The Fall of a Superstar Chef"  and he hasn't really rebounded since.

So, when Ray stood up for her friend, it was nearly guaranteed to come with some backlash. According to a 2019 interview with NPR, which acknowledged that Ray has "controversially remained loyal" to Batali, Ray said she still spoke with her fellow Food Network star at the time but also said she hadn't asked him about the accusations. She also called the attention unfair and mentioned that both men and women tend to speak inappropriately while working in kitchens, and that she's always been treated fairly in the industry.

Ray Has Received A Large Amount Of Public Criticism Online

Rachael Ray standing between Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse - Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

For all of her hard work and success, Ray has received quite a lot of criticism from those who can't stand her. She knows that there's a website out there, or at least there once was, called "I Hate Rachael Ray." (The website has since been changed to Rachael Ray Sucks.) She's also aware that there have been a fair number of her colleagues who've publicly and negatively commented on her.

Among the people who have publicly dissed Rachael Ray, you'll find Martha Stewart, who said in a 2009 ABC interview that Ray told her she couldn't bake. Stewart also criticized Ray's most recent cookbook at the time. Along these lines, most industry vitriol seems to stem from Ray's fast and easy approach to cooking, which is arguably what made her famous in the first place. Other similar complaints have come from Giada De Laurentiis, Emeril Lagasse, and Anthony Bourdain  though it's worth noting that some of the beef has been put aside. Now, Lagasse and Rachael Ray seem to be pretty good friends, with Lagasse making frequent appearances on "Rachael Ray."

Ray's Been Accused Of Not Writing Her Own Cookbooks

Rachael Ray posing with a copy of her cookbook - Jim Spellman/Getty Images

With more than 20 cookbooks to her name, Ray has published hundreds of recipes. Add onto that, the recipes that are published online in places like the Food Network website or Rachael Ray website, or ones that have appeared in her magazines, and you have possibly thousands of recipes accredited to her name. While you might not expect that all of the recipes on Ray's shows or in her magazine are her own, most do expect that Ray writes all the recipes and content in her cookbooks  so it was a bit of a surprise when some industry insiders accused her of not doing so at all.

In 2012, The New York Times published a story called "I Was a Cookbook Ghostwriter," which claimed that many celebrity chefs aren't writing their own recipes or cookbooks, Ray among them. Afterward, Ray mentioned on an episode of "Rachael Ray" that she writes her cookbooks in "the little time at home" that she has with her family, but does still admit she has help from those who organize the book and put on the finishing touches, like the glossary. Bobby Flay also told TODAY that he fully believes Ray writes her own cookbooks, saying he's seen her do so between filming her shows.

Ray's Been Accused Of Being A Poor Show Host

Rachael Ray pushing hair back - Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images

While not a lot of food-focused shows are filmed in front of a live audience, when Ray launched "Rachael Ray" as part of the daytime TV lineup, a live audience was a crucial component. However, some claim that despite Ray's hard work and endless hours devoted to her shows, she's not all that great of a host when the cameras stop rolling.

Tripadvisor reviews of the show's taping experience are a mixed bag, with some thoroughly enjoying their time at the taping, and others saying "don't get your hopes up" or that they thought the experience was "so very disappointing." One unhappy audience member from 2019 even said she felt sorry for Ray's colleagues as "she acted like someone who did not want to be there and seemed in a foul mood," prompting the reviewer to ask why Ray even continued with the show if she disliked filming it so much. Regardless of the poor reviews, though, it's not a problem Ray has to worry about at the present moment; "Rachael Ray" has wrapped up its final season, and Ray has gone on to focus on other television projects, such as her latest series on Hulu, "Rachael Ray's Rebuild."

Ray's Home Burnt Down Completely In 2020

Rachael and husband John on construction site at home - Facebook/Rachael Ray

Speaking of Ray rebuilding, the new "Rachael Ray's Rebuild" show focuses on those who've experienced a tragedy similar to one that Ray has also experienced. This is also the tragedy in Ray's life that's likely been the most publicized to date  the destruction of her Adirondack home in 2020 from a house fire. Ray helped design and build the home in Lake Luzerne more than a decade ago before it succumbed to a chimney fire that necessitated immediate evacuation. The house burned well into the night until it was completely gone.

Ray lost many sentimental items in the fire, so when she set out to rebuild she tried to make the new home, including its furnishings, as much like the old home as possible. However, she also made some changes that would help safeguard the new home from a potential future fire, such as adding a tin roof. In addition to rebuilding her Adirondack home following the 2020 fire, Ray also purchased a home in Tuscany, Italy in 2021, with the remodeling of the villa documented in a short series called Rachael Ray's Italian Dream Home, available on Hulu.

Ray's Apartment Flooded During Hurricane Ida

Rachael Ray and husband John on stage at event - Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

If a massive house fire isn't enough tragedy in a single person's life (and in the midst of a global pandemic, no less), Ray had more tragedy arrive on her doorstep in September 2021, when Hurricane Ida struck New York City. According to New York City CDGB Disaster Recovery, while Hurricane Ida wasn't quite a technical hurricane when it struck the city, the post-tropical cyclone still broke rainfall records in NYC, causing millions in damage and more than a dozen fatalities. It also damaged more than 3% of the city's buildings  Ray's apartment among them.

Ray told People that Hurricane Ida completely wiped out the recently renovated apartment, destroying "every speaker in the ceiling, the fireplace, every seam in the wall," making it look "like the apartment just literally melted." Then, when a remediation team attempted to assess the issue, they broke a water pipe which flooded the apartment anew, along with the entire building down to the ground level. However, by the 2021 holiday season, Ray was back in the apartment for Christmas, showing off her decor on "Rachael Ray."

Read the original article on Mashed.
As self-proclaimed food people, we have our celebrity chefs we love to follow for recipe inspiration: Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay  the usual suspects. And then there are the celebs who take you by surprise, like Jennifer Aniston. Jens favorite salad to eat on the set of Friends blew up on TikTok last year, so when we stumbled across her recipe for carbonara, we couldnt help but give this hidden gem a try. Is her pasta recipe just as good? Is Jen a secret culinary star who has yet to truly be discovered and appreciated? Lets find out.



Get the recipe: Jennifer Anistons Carbonara

Credit: Kiersten Hickman Credit: Kiersten Hickman

How to Make Jennifer Annistons Carbonara

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. While you wait, cook slices of turkey bacon and a small red onion (both diced small) in a large skillet. Cook until the bacon and onions are crispy and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes. Add in minced garlic cloves and stir, cooking until the garlic is fragrant  another 1 to 2 minutes.

While you cook, whisk together a large egg, low-fat milk, and grated Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Set aside.

When the water is boiling, cook 1 pound (16 ounces) of spaghetti. Boil according to the package instructions. Once cooked, reserve 3/4 cup of the pasta water before draining.

Pour 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water slowly into the bowl with the egg mixture, whisking continuously so you dont scramble the egg.

Toss the hot pasta in the skillet with the cooked bacon and onion. Pour in the egg mixture, then turn the heat on low and toss the pasta until the sauce has thickened. If it seems too dry, add in the other 1/4 cup of pasta water.



Season with salt, pepper, and extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Credit: Kiersten Hickman Credit: Kiersten Hickman

My Honest Review

So is Jen a culinary star? For the average working adult who needs a quick, delicious pasta on a weeknight, I say yes. All in all, I did enjoy this recipe. Carbonara isnt the easiest dish to make; it requires a careful hand and a lot of patience to get the sauce just right. Jens recipe turns a complicated dish into an easy weeknight meal, which I do appreciate.

However, its also clear from the ingredients that this recipe was meant to be a lighter version of the classic carbonara by using turkey bacon instead of guanciale, and lightening up the amount of egg yolk and cheese by adding in low-fat milk. While these swaps did work for this recipe, I knew instantly that this recipe was missing a key ingredient for the cooking process: olive oil.

Typically a fatty pork like guanciale, prosciutto, or bacon is used for a carbonara, so meat cooks in its own fat. However, turkey bacon doesnt have as much fat to cook in, so cooking it by itself in the skillet without some kind of fat was not going to work. Plus, the onions need something to cook in, too! So I went ahead and added a tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet when cooking the bacon and the onion, which helped immensely.



After that small tweak, cooking this recipe was an absolute breeze, and I absolutely plan on making it again for dinner soon. Maybe tonight!

3 Tips for Making Jennifer Anistons Carbonara

Use half the amount of pasta  or double the meat. Personally, I think the ratio of meat to pasta does not work for this recipe. Instead, I used half the amount of spaghetti (1/2 pound, or 8 ounces) and proceeded with the recipe as-is. (As in, do not half the rest of the ingredients, follow the same portions listed.) I think the consistency of the pasta and the amount of meat with each bite works when halving the amount of spaghetti. If you need to cook more pasta for more people, then simply double everything else. Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. I find that freshly grated Parmesan cheese makes for a creamier, consistent texture for a carbonara compared to the pre-grated stuff in the container. Its an extra step that takes a little more time, but the payoff is absolutely worth it. Turn off the heat when mixing in the sauce. The cheesy egg mixture can quickly turn into scrambled eggs if you overcook the carbonara, so I highly recommend turning off the heat when its time to mix everything together. The pasta, the meat, and the skillet are still hot enough for the sauce to thicken without overcooking, and will give you that creamy carbonara texture without the unflattering chunks of cheesy egg.

Get the recipe: Jennifer Anistons Carbonara
Among the branches of berry bushes and brambles, two gems stand out among the foliage -- huckleberries and blueberries. At first glance, these tiny fruits may seem remarkably similar, with their juicy appearance and vibrant hues. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that huckleberries and blueberries possess distinct characteristics that set them apart from one another.

Both fruits offer good nutritional qualities, and are high in antioxidants, vitamin C, iron and potassium. And while both huckleberries and blueberries share a similar shape and size, though blueberries tend to be slightly smaller, one notable difference lies in their color. Huckleberries come in two main varieties -- red and blue. In contrast, blueberries are typically a consistent shade of blue except for unripe fruit, which tend to be pale green or white. However, the exterior color is not the only discrepancy in their appearance. Huckleberries and blueberries are also different colors on the inside. To understand these berries better, let's dive into the different varietals more closely. You will likely find that these berries are not as interchangeable as you might think.

Read more: 13 Simple Tricks To Pick The Best Fresh Fruit Every Time

What Are Huckleberries?

huckleberry bunch on bush - Wirestock/Getty Images

Let's start our journey with huckleberries. Belonging to the Vaccinium genus, huckleberries are members of the Ericaceae family, which includes other favorites like cranberries and lingonberries. Huckleberries are native to North America, with species found in regions ranging from the Pacific Northwest to the Rocky Mountains and beyond. Some of the best huckleberries in the United States can be found in northern Idaho thanks to its volcanic soil.

Huckleberries are prized for their intense flavor, which some describe as somewhere between a raspberry and a blueberry. They also have a unique texture, with a slightly chewy skin and small, hard bitter seeds that add crunch to each bite. Red huckleberries are known for their tartness, which pairs beautifully with sweeter dishes like pies and preserves. Blue huckleberries, on the other hand, offer a mellower flavor profile, with a hint of sweetness that makes them perfect for snacking straight from the bush. And once a batch is collected, a huckleberry cobbler makes good use of their fruity flavor. While both have their own uses, it is blue huckleberries that are more similar to blueberries.

What Are Blueberries?

blueberries on branch - Andrei Dubadzel/Shutterstock

Next up, we have blueberries, which are frequently found in self-pick berry patches and a staple in kitchens. Scientifically known as Vaccinium cyanococcus, blueberries belong to the same genus as huckleberries but are part of the Cyanococcus section within the Vaccinium family. Blueberries are native to North America, with species found throughout the United States and Canada.

Blueberries are prized for their sweet, juicy flesh and rich flavor, which can vary depending on the type and growing conditions. While wild blueberries, which tend to grow on low-branch bushes, have an intense flavor with more sweetness, cultivated blueberries, which grow higher on taller bushes, often have a more mellow flavor. Blueberries are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed fresh, frozen, or in a variety of culinary applications, from pancakes and muffins to smoothies and salads. Or used to make an ever-popular blueberry pie filling. With many more underrated ways to use blueberries, you can never have too many stashed away in your fridge and freezer.

Huckleberries Come In Two Shades

red and dark blue huckleberries - Mariia Boiko/Shutterstock

While huckleberries and blueberries share a similar appearance and growing habitat, the two types of berries differ in color on the inside as well as the outside. While huckleberries can have red or blue skin, these berries tend to have blue or purple flesh on the inside. Blueberries, however, are a light green or even white when split open.

In addition to the differences in their coloration, huckleberries and blueberries also vary in texture. Huckleberries have ten seeds which are noticeably harder than those of blueberries. Blueberries' soft seeds are barely noticeable when eaten, allowing their juicy flesh to take center stage. This is the key factor in blueberries being the more popular fruit.

So, whether you find yourself foraging for wild huckleberries in the mountains or picking plump blueberries at a local farm, take a moment to savor the flavor and appreciate the distinct qualities of these beloved berries. With their vibrant colors, rich flavors, and endless culinary possibilities, huckleberries and blueberries are truly a treasure worth celebrating in every season.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Following its debut in 2018, Yellowstone took the world by storm and became the most popular show on television. Not only did it launch a successful franchise, but the neo-Western series also made ratings history, thanks to its stellar cast, compelling plot and gorgeous backdrop.

Throughout the series, countless fans followed the Dutton family as they fought to protect their Montana rancha piece of land that's been owned by the Duttons for seven generations. And with the second half of the show's fifth (and final) season premiering in November 2024, we'll get to reunite with the powerful family and see what becomes of their coveted property. But for now, we're curious to know: Where is Yellowstone filmed? Do those sprawling fields and picturesque mountains look the same in real life? And more importantly, is the Dutton Ranch real?

We did some digging and learned quite a bit about the show's filming locationsincluding the fact that it inspired Yellowstone star Luke Grimes (who plays Kayce Dutton) to move to Montana. He told Cowboys & Indians Magazine, "I'm less than an hour from the ranch we shoot on and just as close to Missoula, where some of our sound stages are. That kind of drive here is a pleasure. First season, I never would've thought I would've ended up living here, but man, I'm in heaven."

Keep reading for all the details on the shooting locations for the Paramount Network series.

1. Where is Yellowstone filmed?

Paramount Network

Get this: The first three seasons of Yellowstone were not filmed in Montana. According to Deseret News, about 75 percent of these scenes were filmed in the state of Utah. The scenery was also filmed in multiple locations, including Heber City, Oakley, Kamas, Grantsville and Logan.

In 2021, Marshall Moore (vice president of operations at Utah Film Studios) told Deseret, "[Yellowstone] was the largest show that has ever come to the state of Utah."

However, eagle-eyed fans may have noticed a shift in the scenery in season four. This is because production moved exclusively to Montana. Although there were shoots in different Montana cities, Helenathe state's capitalbecame a prominent filming location for seasons four and five.

2. Why Did Yellowstone Move Filming to Montana?

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the show's production location was changed due to Utahs limited tax incentive program. In 2020, Moore explained to the outlet, Weve been hearing that they were canceling all their vendors here in Utah and pulling up stakes and moving completely to Montana. It turned out to be true, but they dont want to leave. They feel like theyre forced to because of Montanas shiny new $10 million incentive that they just passed last year. That and the fact that our film commission and the Governors Office of Economic Development cant offer them anything at the moment.

Several scenes were shot in spaces that are open to the public. For instance, the interior of Beths office was shot at the State Capitol Building in Helena, Montana.

3. Is the Dutton Ranch Real?

Paramount Network

It sure is. The Dutton family's home is actually located at Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, which features a 6,000-square-foot lodge. Per the official website, it was formerly known as the Ford-Hollister Ranch, and the mansion was originally designed by Bates & Gamble. A family currently resides and works at the cattle ranch. And yes, it's just as gorgeous in real life.

As for how their ranch was selected for Yellowstone, the owners said on their website, "It was a cold call. We did not have the ranch listed as a film location. We are humbled and honored that Paramount chose our ranch as the setting of this amazing series."

Several locations are used for filming at Chief Joseph Ranch, including the lodge great room, kitchen, back porch, front porch, helipad and yard. Rip, Lee and Trapper's cabins are also located on the property.

4. Can Fans Stay at the Real Dutton Ranch?

Paramount Network

Fortunately for Yellowstone enthusiasts, you can spend a few nights at the infamous ranch. Per the official website, guests can stay for a minimum of three nights in one of the cabins at Chief Joseph Ranch, as long as the show isnt filming.

Options include Lee Dutton's Cabin, which can accommodate up to four guests and costs $1,400 per night, and Rip's Cabin, which holds up to eight people for $1,700 per night. Each additional guest costs an extra $50, and all reservations include a tour of the ranch.

5. Was Yellowstone Filmed Anywhere Else?

In addition to Utah and Montana, the Yellowstone cast and crew also paid a surprise visit to Texas in season four. They shot a scene at a local cafe called Mary's Brazos Cafe in Parker County, and the owner, Mary Anderson, couldn't be more thrilled.

She told Outsider, "I couldnt believe it was actually happening. The street on the other side [of the cafe] was lined up with my customers watching and trying to see what was going on. It was awesome."

Anderson also shared behind-the-scenes photos on Facebook and wrote, "Sooo...This happened today. Yellowstone was at the cafe for a scene shoot. They were a very hard-working and very sweet crew."

Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here.

Yellowstone Season 5: Details on the Plot, Cast & Newly Announced Release Date
Banned books may make for attention-grabbing headlines, but what about banned beers? Illegal in 15 states, Samuel Adams Utopias is one of the strangest beer ventures currently running and easily one of the rarest and most sought-after experiences that beer lovers have their eyes on. Utopias come in at an eye-popping 28% alcohol, which stretches the definition of what beer can be to its extremes. First released in 2001, Utopias comes out every other year in small batches. The latest release was in 2023, so we can expect the next edition to come in 2025. The beer is uncarbonated, barrel-aged, and easily mistaken for a port at first glance but it is, in fact, a beer since it isn't distilled.

There are several different ways we could account for Utopias' rarity. Saying that its limited release every other year keeps the supply limited is technically true but it doesn't convey how economically unfeasible this project should be; it's a brewer's mad dream, to put it mildly. The beer is first brewed at Samuel Adams' Cincinnati brewery, aged in Buffalo Trace barrels at the Pennsylvania brewery, and blended at the Boston brewery before finally being bottled at the Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware. The idea is to have Utopias fully embrace the team spirit at Samuel Adams, with every part of the team contributing to the passion project. The time and energy put into the making of Utopias makes the stunning $240 asking price slightly more palatable.

Read more: 15 Popular Hard Seltzer Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

An Impossible Beer

Samuel Adams Utopias - Samuel Adams

With so many moving parts, it can be difficult to keep track of just how a particular batch was made. Each release is slightly different, but they're all blends of previous years with new innovations thrown into the mix. All Utopias are aged using Buffalo Trace barrels, but 2023's release finished aging in Pineau des Charentes casks as well as Scotch and peated whisky casks. Pineau des Charentes is a fortified French wine that goes great in cocktails and, when combined with the smoky notes of peat, gave the 2023 release a complex but balanced finish.

While it may seem like we are just describing the beer, what we're trying to convey is just how mad the lads and lasses are over at Samuel Adams who came up with this stuff. It's so rare because it shouldn't exist at all. It uses multiple aging casks, travels across most of the Northeastern United States, and blends several different iterations of the Utopias project together  some of which have been aging for over 30 years.

Utopias was the pioneering effort that gave barrel-aged beer its start. The fact that the project has lasted for the past 20 years is a testament to just how in-demand these beer oddities are. As of this writing, last year's batch is still available, so if you're looking for something unique and have a little extra cash on hand, a bottle of Utopias is within your grasp despite its rarity.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department said one person was killed in a crash hear High Street and Colfax Avenue Saturday evening.

DPD told FOX31 the call came in at 6:55 p.m.

Police said one person was pronounced dead on the scene.

It was unknown whether speed or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Westbound Colfax Avenue was closed as of 9 p.m. and police were asking drivers to find an alternate route.

No further details were immediately available.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A Wyoming woman was killed in an early Sunday morning hit-and-run crash in Grand Rapids.

Around 2:10 a.m., officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department were sent to the area of 28th Street SE and Eastern Avenue SE after receiving reports that a person had been hit by a vehicle.

GRPD said a 55-year-old Wyoming woman had been hit and died at the scene.

The westbound vehicle that hit her before taking off is described as a dark-colored mid-size SUV. GRPD said that the initial investigation shows that it is likely a Ford with significant front-end damage.

The intersection was closed while crews investigated. It has since been reopened.

Anyone with information is asked to call GRPD Officer Kohl at 616.456.4531, GRPD Officer Ewald at 616.456.4282 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The crash remains under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
2 bodies recovered from popular waterfall in Washington state after hikers went missing

The search for two missing hikers in Washington state turned into a recovery effort after the men fell into Eagle Falls on Saturday and did not resurface, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said.

"SAR and Divers are continuing their search this morning for the two missing subjects at Eagle Falls in Index. This has turned into a recovery effort," the Sheriff's Office posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday morning.

Just after 12 p.m., the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office reported that two male bodies had been recovered. However, it has not been determined if these bodies belong to the two missing hikers as investigators will be working with the Medical Examiner's Office to determine their identities.

The Sheriff's Office posted on social media that they received a call around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday for reports of two men who fell into the falls and vanished.

CALIFORNIA WOMAN ON HIKE GOES MISSING AFTER BEING SWEPT AWAY BY RIVER

Sheriff's deputies and firefighters were searching for two people who reportedly fell into the water near Eagle Falls and did not resurface on Saturday.

Rescue teams searched the area for several hours, but were unable to locate the men, officials reported.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The sheriff's office told Fox 13 that the two men were with two other people when they fell.

MISSING NEW HAMPSHIRE HIKER'S BODY RECOVERED FROM WHITE MOUNTAINS AFTER HE WAS STRANDED IN COLD

South Fork Skykomish River below Eagle Falls, Cascade Mountains, Washington.

Due to the swift currents in Snohomish County rivers and cold water temperatures, the Sheriff's Office is urging the public to stay out of the water and steer clear of the falls.

The identity of the missing hikers has not yet been released.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office for more information but has not yet heard back.





Original article source: 2 bodies recovered from popular waterfall in Washington state after hikers went missing
Police are still searching Sunday for a suspect in a Washington, D.C., mass shooting that left two people dead and five others wounded in the early morning, police said.

The mass shooting happened around the intersection of 7th and P Streets in the northwestern part of the city, which is near downtown, said Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department at a brief news conference held at the scene. When at least four people are hurt or killed in a shooting, not including the shooter, it is considered a mass shooting, according to the Gun Violence Archive's criteria.

Details about the injuries of the five wounded were not publicly available as of Sunday night.

#Update Shooting Investigation: Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll provides an update on the seven people shot early Sunday morning near the intersection of 7th and P St, NW.



Have info? Call 202-727-9099 or text 50411 pic.twitter.com/JbOK6cGDkF  DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 17, 2024

Police responded to the shooting at around 3 a.m. ET, Carroll said. Both people killed in the shooting, identified as 32-year-old Anthony Brown and 32-year-old Jay Lucks, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said Sunday night. The five wounded victims were not identified, but police said three of them were men and two were women. All five are adults.

Police said they were looking for a man who was seen running south on 7th Street, away from the area where the shooting took place, according to WUSA. Carroll has asked anyone who may know something or who may have witnessed the shooting to report tips to the police department by calling 202-727-9099 or texting 50411.

Jim Gaffigan raises a glass to bourbon

"Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings

Israel continuing plans to invade Rafah despite U.S. warning of civilian toll
Two people were killed in separate homicide cases in Charlotte Sunday morning, police said.

Both happened shortly after 5 a.m. and were about 5 miles apart.

ALSO READ: CMPD: Man arrested in California for killings of mom, 2 kids in Charlotte

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, officers found a male victim who had been shot multiple times on Bradford Drive. The street connects to Freedom Drive near Interstate 85.

MEDIC said the victim died at the scene.

Around the same time, officers were called to Sunset Road near a Cook Out restaurant. There, they found a victim, a female, who had also been shot multiple times. She died at the scene, CMPD said.

Two people were killed in separate homicide cases in Charlotte Sunday morning, police said.

Its not clear what led up to either shooting or if police are looking for suspects.

Neither of the victims identities have been released.

Police said as they are investigating, they are looking for anyone with information to come forward. Call 704-432-TIPS or leave information anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

(WATCH BELOW: Man to face murder charge after allegedly killing woman, reports say)




martin-dm / iStock.com

For stock market investors, the great thing about consumer staples is that they include essential household items (food, beverages, personal care, etc.) that stay in demand regardless of how the economy is doing. This means consumer staples stocks are less vulnerable to volatility  but they arent likely to skyrocket in value, either.

Trending Now: Im a Financial Advisor: These 5 Index Funds Are All You Really Need

For You: One Smart Way To Grow Your Retirement Savings in 2024

The best consumer staples stocks are those whose brands are established market leaders, generate consistent profits and are not susceptible to sudden drops in revenue based on market or economic forces. You should also seek out stocks that pay regular dividends. What youre likely to find are global household names that have been around for a century or more.

Heres a look at the five best consumer staple stocks to invest in right now, along with their ticker symbols.

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Coca-Cola Co. (KO)

The iconic soft drink company has been around for more than 130 years and remains a dominant international force with brands that include its namesake beverages along with a couple hundred more. With a market cap of about $258 billion, Coca-Cola ranks as the largest beverage company in the world outside of China, according to Insider Monkey. Coke itself is the worlds biggest soft drink brand, has been for decades, and is likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future. Coca-Cola has a 3.2% dividend yield and 10-year average trailing return of 7.9%, Forbes reported.

Procter & Gamble (PG)

Chances are you have a P&G product somewhere in your house because its brands include Tide, Gillette, Crest and other marquee names. As Motley Fool reported, P&G is nearly 200 years old and many of its large brands rank first or second in market share in categories such as paper products, laundry detergent, diapers and beauty products. P&G continues to innovate and has been deemed a dividend aristocrat with a yield of 2.4% and a 10-year average annualized return of 10.5%.

Story continues

PepsiCo (PEP)

PepsiCo is another soft drink giant that dates to the 19th century. Its flagship product, Pepsi Cola, is the worlds second-biggest soft drink brand by sales behind Coke. Other major PepsiCo brands include Gatorade, Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, Mountain Dew and Quaker Foods. Like other companies on this list, PepsiCo continues to use buyouts to grow its market footprint. It boasts a dividend yield of 3.1% and a 10-year average annualized return of 10.5%.

Unilever (UL)

This London-based consumer goods company ranks as the largest producer of soap in the world, according to Forbes, and is also well known globally for brands such as Lipton teas and Ben & Jerrys ice creams. Motley Fool categorizes Unilever as a turnaround story because of some issues it has had to work out, and the company has been making decent progress in that regard. Unilever boasts a 3.8% dividend yield and a 10-year average annualized return of 5.3%.

Nestle SA (NSRGY)

Switzerland-based Nestle is best known for its chocolate, though it got its start in 1866 as a condensed milk company. As Forbes noted, today Nestle operates in nearly 200 countries, employs more than 330,000 people and operates over 400 factories. In addition to its chocolates and candies, other Nestle brands include Nescafe, Gerber, Purina, Perrier, DiGiorno and Cheerios, so it has a hand in a wide range of markets. For investors, Nestle pays a 3.3% dividend yield and has produced an average 10-year annualized return of 6.2%.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Best Consumer Staples Stocks To Invest In
*The above video shows the 10 most dangerous highways in Ohio, acccording to officials*

(WJW)  The Ohio State Highway Patrol said its investigtaing two seperate fatal crashes and that one of the crashes is suspected of involving alcohol.

I-TEAM: CPD sorting through extensive crime scene

Troopers said a passenger, a 46-year-old Sherrodsville woman was killed in the accident when the man driving the car she was riding with went off the road, hitting a guardrail, striking a ditch, and then overturned.

The crash happened just before 3 a.m. Sunday on State Route 39 in Union Township near New Philadelphia.

Alcohol is a suspected factor in the crash and none of the occupants were wearing seatbelts, troopers said.

Euclid police: We need the publics help: Shooting spree, 5 victims

Meanwhile, in a separate crash, the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving an SUV on Vanderbilt Road in Richland Countys Washington Township Saturday just after 11 p.m.

Troopers said a 48-year-old man from Bellville was driving eastbound on Vanderbilt Road when his vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a tree.

Troopers said the man was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
More than a dozen legislative districts that cover Marion and Polk counties are up for election in 2024.

Tuesday was the last day for candidates to file for the May 21 primary election in Oregon. In partisan races, voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote for members of their party, with the party member earning the most votes advancing to the November general election.

Who is running in Marion County House districts?

House District 11: Rep. Jami Cate, R-Lebanon, is running for reelection in House District 11. She will face Nina Brenner, who ran in the Democratic primary in 2022 but did not make the general election ballot. She was a Linn County Precinct Committee member and also worked as a database analyst and software engineer.

House District 15: Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, is seeking reelection. She's being challenged by Terrence Virnig, a retired engineer who has served on the Albany Transportation Safety Commission and Budget Committee.

House District 17: David W. Beem, an activist who's received more than 90 awards for his civic work, is challenging Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Stayton, for his seat.

House District 18: Rep. Rick Lewis, R-Silverton, is running unopposed for reelection.

House District 19: Rep. Tom Andersen, D-Salem, is running for reelection. David Brown, a U.S. Navy veteran and insurance agent, has filed as the Republican candidate.

House District 20: Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, has filed to run for another term in the House. Kevin S. Chambers has filed as the Republican hoping to unseat Evans. Chambers owns a water well drilling business and currently sits on the Monmouth Budget and Planning Committee.

House District 21: Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Keizer, is running in the Republican primary for reelection. Two candidates will run in the Democratic primary for the opportunity to challenge Mannix: Keth Haxton, a former legislative aide and current community organizer, will face Salem City Council President Virginia Stapleton.

House District 22: Rep. Tracy Cramer, R-Gervais, is running for reelection. Lesly M. Munoz, a consultant for the Oregon Education Association, is running in the Democratic primary for the district.

House District 57: Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, is running for reelection. Raymond Akers, an operating engineer, has filed in the Republican primary to challenge Smith.

Who is running for Marion County Senate districts?

Senate District 9: Sen. Fred Girod is running unopposed for reelection in Senate District 9. Girod is a dentist and was first appointed to the Oregon Legislature in 2008. No one else filed to run in the primary.

Senate District 29: After 40 years in Oregon politics, state Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, announced his retirement a year ago. Four Republicans have filed to fill the House District 29 seat, which encompasses Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties and parts of Clackamas, Marion, and Jefferson counties.

Candidates include Jim E. Doherty, a business owner and former Morrow County Commissioner; Dave Drotzmann, an optometrist and Hermiston Mayor; Andy B. Huwe, a former district liaison for Rep. Bobby Levy and secretary of Young Republicans of Oregon; and Todd Nash, current Wallowa County Commissioner and former President of Oregon Cattlemens Association.

Who is running for Polk County House positions?

House District 23: Rep. Anna Scharf, R-Amity, is running for reelection. Democrat Kriss Wright has filed to run again after facing Scharf in the 2022 election.

House District 24: Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, is running unopposed for reelection.

Who is running for Polk County Senate positions?

Senate District 12: With Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, disqualified for unexcused absences during the 2023 GOP walkout, two candidates have filed to fill his Senate seat. Republican Bruce W. Starr, is looking to return to the Senate after serving from 2003 to 2015. He'll face Democrat Scott Hooper, a rancher and attorney.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Who's running for legislative seats in Marion, Polk counties
The Salem City Council meets to discuss agenda items in 2023 at City Hall in Salem.

Updated March 17 at 2 p.m.

With the filing deadline now past, the results are in on who is officially running for the Salem City Council and Salem mayor this May.

Seven candidates qualified for the four open City Council seats by the March 12 filing deadline. After first looking to be a three-way race, one mayoral candidate failed to garner enough valid signatures. Sitting Mayor Chris Hoy will now face off against Ward 6 Councilor Julie Hoy in a Hoy versus Hoy showdown.

Three councilors opted out of running for reelection, opening up spots for newcomers in three wards.

Council and mayoral races are typically decided in the primary election unless a candidate fails to garner the 50%-plus-one votes needed to secure a victory. In 2022, a six-vote difference in the May primary led to a rare run-off election.

This is who's in and who's out this election season:

Salem mayor

Unlike the four-year term City Council seats, Salem has a mayoral race every two years. This year, Mayor Chris Hoy is running for a second term after serving on the city council from 2017 to 2022.

Ward 6 Councilor Julie Hoy announced her decision to run for mayor last year. Both Hoys live in Ward 6 but are not related.

Julie Hoy, who owns Geppetto's Italian Restaurant with her husband, was elected as Ward 6 councilor, the position previously held by Chris Hoy before he was elected mayor.

Chris Hoy faced a well-funded opponent in the 2022 mayoral race but ultimately won the race by a comfortable margin.

Chris Hoy, a retired undersheriff with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, also served as a state representative. When appointed to the state Legislature, he said he did not intend to seek reelection for that position.

Sitting councilor seeks legislative office, leaving 2 to vie for Ward 1 seat

In a last-minute switch, Councilor Virginia Stapleton opted to withdraw from the council election and filed to run for House District 21 held by Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, who is running for reelection.

Stapleton's departure means Celine Coleman and Paul Tigan will run for Ward 1, which represents downtown, parts of West Salem and north-central Salem.

Coleman works as an epidemiologist for Marion County Public Health. She previously worked for a public health agency in Arizona before moving to Salem in 2022 and listed experience with the Salem NAACP, grant allocations as a United Way Committee member and being elected to her homeowners association.

Tigan is the vice president of environment and sustainability with the Metropolitan Group and previously worked as a field manager with the Bureau of Land Management. He has served on the Salem Planning Commission, Salem Budget Committee and Grant Neighborhood Association.

South Salem to get new councilor in Ward 3

Another departing councilor opened up the race in Ward 3.

Citing the demands of his full-time job as an emergency room doctor, Trevor Phillips announced his decision to not seek another term representing south and southeast Salem.

Nathan Soltz and Shane Matthews are vying for the seat.

Soltz, a law student at the Lewis & Clark Law School, listed his present occupation as the chief of staff for the Oregon Legislative Assembly. His governmental experience includes serving as a board member and secretary for the Morningside Neighborhood Association, 2020 presidential elector and precinct committeeperson.

Matthews, a realtor, has served on the Citizen Review Board for the Oregon Department of Justice. He studied criminal justice at Western Oregon University and got an MBA from Western Governors University.

2 run in northeast Salem Ward 5

After first stating he was undecided on whether to seek reelection, Councilor Jose Gonzalez did not file to run in the May primary.

Gonzalez, a principal broker and president of Tu Casa Real Estate and co-founder of La Familia Cider, was elected in 2020.

Michael Hoselton is running against Dr. Irvin Brown for the Ward 5 spot.

Hoselton is a litigation paralegal and board member with the Northgate Neighborhood Association.

Brown is a policy advisor for the Oregon Department of Human Services. His governmental experience includes being a Marion County Sheriff's Community Advisory Committee member, chair of the Salem Citizen Budget Committee, city Equity Round Table Committee member, Chemeketa Community College Criminal Justice Advisory Committee member, Chemeketa Community College President's Circle and Salem-Keizer School District Superintendent's Transition Committee.

1 candidate qualifies in Ward 7

Councilor Vanessa Nordyke is the only candidate who qualified for the election to represent Salem's southwestern ward.

Nordyke was appointed to the City Council in 2019 following Sally Cook's resignation due to a loss in her family. She was elected to the position the following year.

A longtime Salem resident and former assistant attorney general with the Oregon Department of Justice, Nordyke now serves as the executive director of CASA of Marion County, a nonprofit organization that advocates for abused and neglected children in foster care.

According to the city recorder's office, Iman Al-Baqsami, a private contractor, filed to run for the Ward 7 seat but did not qualify for the ballot.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Election 2024: Salem City Council, mayor primary candidates
A lieutenant with the Fort Worth Fire Department died Saturday after being in a motorcycle accident while off-duty, fire officials announced in post on social media.

Lieutenant Garey Pugh, 56, served the city of Fort Worth for 34 years, according to the fire department.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this incredibly difficult time, said the department in the post.

Details on the memorial and funeral services will be shared when made available.
Russia is holding a so-called presidential election on March 15-17. However, it is not entirely fair to call this an "election." The Kyiv Independent's Oleg Sukhov explains why.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to state and federal charges stemming from the torture and abuse last year of two Black men, one of whom was shot in the mouth, are set to be sentenced in federal court this week.

The former officers, some of whom federal prosecutors said called themselves The Goon Squad, pleaded guilty in August to charges of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice, according to federal court records. They also pleaded guilty the same month to state charges related to the same incident.

The five former Rankin County Sheriffs deputies, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, Jeffrey Middleton, as well as former Richland Police Department officer Joshua Hartfield, will be sentenced in Jackson before Southern District of Mississippi US District Court Judge Tom Lee. The proceedings will take place over the course of three days, beginning on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on January 24, 2023, in Braxton, Mississippi, just southeast of Jackson. It came to light after the two victims, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, filed a $400 million federal lawsuit. Many of the claims in the lawsuit were reflected in the federal charging document.

The two men said six White law enforcement officers entered the home they were in and tortured them for nearly two hours, culminating with Jenkins being shot in the mouth.

Heres what we know about the federal sentencing proceedings this week:

Federal prosecutors are seeking maximum sentences

Elward and Middleton will be sentenced on Tuesday; Dedmon and Opdyke on Wednesday; and Hartfield and McAlpin on Thursday.

Michael Corey Jenkins, center, and Eddie Terrell Parker, right, listen as one of six former Mississippi law officers pleads guilty to state charges at the Rankin County Circuit Court in Brandon, Mississippi, August 14, 2023. - Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Jenkins and Parker, along with their lead attorney Malik Shabazz, will speak at a news conference on Monday ahead of the sentencing proceedings. Both men are expected to testify during the proceedings.

The six officers were charged with a combined 13 felonies in connection with the torture and physical abuse of the two men, according to the Justice Department.

Some of the officers called themselves The Goon Squad because of their willingness to use excessive force and not report it, according to a federal charging document.

Shabazz told CNN his team met with the Justice Department on Friday ahead of the sentencing proceedings.

We will break down each defendants possibilities and expectations for criminal Sentencing next week, Shabazz said in a statement.

Kristen Clarke, US Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, has just reached out to Michael Jenkins, Eddie Parker and their families, Shabazz said. AAG Clark expressed her commitment to civil rights and to eliminating racial intimidation under the color of law in Mississippi. We are deeply appreciative of her departments historic legal efforts.

CNN reached out to the attorneys for all six of the former officers for comment but did not receive a response.

Elward faces the most serious of federal charges stemming from the January incident  discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. He faces up to 30 years in prison, the federal charging document shows.

McAlpin, Middleton, Dedmon, Opdyke and Hartfield each face up to 20 years in prison, according to federal prosecutors.

He takes responsibility for his part in the horrific harms perpetrated on Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Parker, the victims, and is prepared to face the consequences of his misconduct, Opdykes attorney, Jeffery Reynolds, previously told CNN.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentences for the six officers. Details about what the defense attorneys for the six men are seeking in their sentencing proceedings were not immediately available.

3 of the officers face additional charges in separate incident

Three of the officers, Dedmon, Elward and Opdyke, also pleaded guilty in federal court to additional felonies related to a separate incident in December 2022, according to the Justice Department. They will also be sentenced on those charges this week.

All three officers pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under the color of law. Dedmon also pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to court documents.

The Justice Department said in an August news release the charges arise out of an incident on Dec. 4, 2022, in which Dedmon beat and tased a white man and fired a gun near his head to coerce a confession.

Dedmon is accused of assaulting a man, identified as A.S., by punching, kicking, and tasing him, according to court documents. Hes also accused of discharging a firearm in close proximity to A.S. for the purpose of scaring A.S. and coercing a confession, the brief filing said.

Prosecutors say the other two deputies at the scene refrained from intervening.

If convicted, all three men could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the deprivation of rights charges. Dedmon faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the weapons charge, according to court documents.

Officers also pleaded guilty to state charges in the same incident

The six former officers also pleaded guilty to state charges against them stemming from the same January 2023 incident, which the victims have claimed was motivated by their race. They await sentencing on the state charges.

Each of the officers were charged with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, according to a news release from the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office.

Additionally, Dedmon is charged with home invasion and Elward is charged with home invasion and aggravated assault.

McAlpin, Middleton, Opdyke and Hartfield each face an additional charge of first-degree obstruction of justice, the news release says.

How the abuse and shooting unfolded

Jenkins and Parker alleged the officers illegally entered their home and handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded and tased them and attempted to sexually assault them over nearly two hours, before one of the deputies put a gun in Jenkins mouth and shot him, according to their lawsuit.

The deputies, in their repeated use of racial slurs in the course of their violent acts, were oppressive and hateful against their African-American victims, the lawsuit says. Defendants were motivated on the basis of race and the color of the skin of the persons they assaulted.

Activists march towards the Rankin County Sheriff's Office in Brandon, Mississippi on July 5, 2023, calling for the termination and prosecution of Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey. - Rogelio V. Solis/AP

According to a federal charging document, Dedmon texted Elward, Middleton and Opdyke on January 24 about going to the property in Braxton to resolve a complaint received by McAlpin. McAlpins White neighbor told him several Black men were staying at a White womans home and reported seeing suspicious behavior.

Dedmon warned the deputies there might be surveillance cameras on the property, telling them to knock on the door instead of kicking it down if they saw any, the document stated. Otherwise, they could barge in without a warrant, the document continued.

No bad mug shots, he said, meaning, prosecutors said, the defendants could use excessive force on parts of the body not visible in a mug shot, according to the charging document. Dedmon told the others Hartfield would accompany them.

Avoiding a surveillance camera above the front door, Dedmon, Opdyke and Elward broke open the carport door while Hartfield kicked open the back door, the document stated. They encountered Parker, who was living there to help take care of the woman who owned the property, and his friend Jenkins, who was staying there temporarily.

They were repeatedly tased and called racial slurs, and the officers poured milk, alcohol and chocolate syrup in their mouths. Elward threw eggs at the men, and Dedmon poured grease on Parkers head, according to the document.

Eventually, Elward removed a bullet from his gun, forced Jenkins onto his knees and put the gun into his mouth. Elward fired the gun, which did not discharge. He racked the slide, put the gun back in Jenkins mouth and pulled the trigger again, the document said.

The bullet lacerated Jenkins tongue, broke his jaw and went out through his neck.

Jenkins lay bleeding on the floor as the officers convened on the back porch to devise a cover story, the federal charging document said.

The cover story

The officers began to destroy the evidence, according to the charging document. Middleton offered to plant a throw-down gun he had in his patrol car on Jenkins, the document said. Elward instead planted the BB gun, all while Jenkins was still bleeding and not receiving medical attention.

They discarded one shell casing, and Hartfield threw the mens soiled clothes into a wooded area and then stole the hard drive from the homes surveillance system before throwing it into a creek, the document said.

McAlpin and Middleton threatened to kill the four other officers if they ever told the truth about what happened, according to the charging document.

When emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, Jenkins was taken to a hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. He has suffered permanent physical injuries and cognitive damage, including disfigurement and impairment, according to the lawsuit. Parker also sought medical attention for injuries suffered during the incident, it said.

Each of the six officers filed false reports to corroborate their cover story and continued to abide by the false script in interviews with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which initially investigated the incident as an officer-involved shooting, according to a January 25 news release from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

The news release gave no hint of what the victims would later detail. At the time, local officials said the officers were at the home for drug enforcement activities.

The five Rankin County officers were under the purview of Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who is among the named defendants in the lawsuit filed in June. Bailey has filed for qualified immunity in the lawsuit.

Bailey announced in June deputies had been fired, though he did not say how many or their names. The false charges filed against Jenkins and Parker were dropped at the time of the officers firing. In July, the Richland Police Department announced Hartfield  who was off-duty at the time of the alleged assault  had resigned.

The sheriff, who does not face any charges, has said he will not resign. In a statement in August, he said he hoped the guilty pleas bring some sense of justice to Parker and Jenkins.

Bailey is running unopposed for reelection in November.

During an interview with CNN in June, Jenkins and Parker said they had tried to tell their story in the months leading up to the lawsuit but were often not believed.

As he spoke to CNN inside the house where the incident took place, Parker said, Its hard to stand right here, knowing what happened right here.  Justice is what it all boils down to. Im just like them, you know, whether they are in uniform or not.

CNNs Ryan Young, Jade Gordon and Dakin Andone contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Newly released 911 calls detail the moments after shots were reportedly fired in the Oregon District Saturday night.

Dayton police were called to respond to the area of Newcoms on E 5th Street around 11:45 p.m., according to initial emergency scanner traffic.

Im over here in downtown Dayton in the Oregon District, there was just gunfire outside of Newcoms, one 911 caller told dispatchers. Theres a couple of shots fired. People are just running everywhere now.

>> Shots fired near UD, no injuries reported; shelter in place lifted

Another caller reported hearing two or three gunshots.

[The] Oregon District near Ned Peppers, where the shooting was before, theres something happening. Like gunfire. Fireworks, another caller told dispatchers.

News Center 7 has reached out to Dayton police to learn if anyone was injured or if anyone was taken into custody.

We will continue updating this story as we learn more.




Adam Schiff blames the Justice Department  at least partially  for the possibility that former President Donald Trump may not face trial in his federal cases before the 2024 election.

The Justice Department did wait at least a year to look beyond the foot soldiers  those that broke into the Capitol that day  and refrained from looking at those who were the inciters of the attack on the Capitol, the California representative said of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday.

I think that delay has contributed to a situation where none of these trials may go forward.

The cases against Trump have been experiencing a series of delays in recent weeks. The federal election interference case is on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court decides his immunity claims, and the timing for the classified documents trial remains unclear. On Friday, the judge overseeing his New York criminal case pushed back Trump's expected first trial until at least mid-April so that new records could be reviewed.



The recent delays have been elevating fears among Trumps critics that he wont face trial in his federal cases before the 2024 election  and perhaps not at all.

There is a chance that he could evade justice by delaying justice. This is a tried-and-true tactic of Trump throughout his career, Schiff said Sunday.

Part of Trumps legal strategy throughout all of his cases has been for his lawyers to attempt to push back trial dates. Schiff said that they are the most at fault for the delays.

Schiff, a long-time Biden ally, is running for the Senate seat formerly held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein against Republican Steve Garvey.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Employees at multiple hospitals in Middle Tennessee are gushing over their youngest patients, who have hearts of gold, pinch-proof cheeks, and the potential to be their families lucky charms!

Maps: How Irish is Tennessee?

Two days before St. Patricks Day, employees in the NICU at TriStar Centennial Childrens Hospital in Nashville were already geared up for the holiday, sending News 2 photos of three little leprechauns  Theo, along with twins Clara and Lainey  in their special costumes.

Baby Theo (Courtesy: TriStar Centennial Childrens Hospital)

Baby Clara (Courtesy: TriStar Centennial Childrens Hospital)

Baby Lainey (Courtesy: TriStar Centennial Childrens Hospital)

Over in Sumner County, TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center is also celebrating St. Patricks Day by dressing up the wee ones at the Birth Center in festive garb:

(Courtesy: TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center)

(Courtesy: TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center)

(Courtesy: TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center)

(Courtesy: TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center)

(Courtesy: TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center)

Feeling lucky in green! These adorable little shamrocks are stealing hearts and spreading Irish cheer everywhere they go! Tori Daughrity, the director of marketing and public relations for TriStar Hendersonville, said in a statement. We are blessed to have these little pinch protectors here to save the day! Happy St. Patricks Day from our pint-sized Irish blessings!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The BBC should stop rewriting the plots of Agatha Christie novels and come up with original ideas instead, an expert on her work has said.

Christie was precious about her work and objected during her lifetime to TV adaptations which departed from her storylines, said Andrew Wilson, an author who has spent years researching the crime writer.

Recent BBC adaptations of Christies mysteries have committed multiple crimes against the original text, going so far as to change the identity of the murderer in Ordeal by Innocence.

In The Pale Horse, the protagonist was turned into a murderer, despite killing no one in the book.

Both were written by Sarah Phelps whose third adaptation, The ABC Murders, gave Hercule Poirot a backstory as a Catholic priest.

Agatha Christie sold the rights to several of her novels but was horrified by the screen adaptations, Andrew Wilson said - Popperfoto/via Getty Images

The most recent BBC One adaptation, Murder Is Easy, switched the investigator from a retired British policeman returning from the Far East to a young Nigerian man coming to England to take up a job in Whitehall. It was adapted by writer Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, who said the change was in homage to her family.

Wilson said that Christie was horrified by the 1960s films starring Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple because the stories did not resemble those in her novels.

Asked if she was precious about her plots, Wilson said: She was, actually. Agatha did a deal with MGM in her lifetime and sold the rights to a number of novels, and was appalled with what shed done because, as she watched those Margaret Rutherford films, for all their joy and humour theyve got nothing to do with any of Agathas plots, he told the Oxford Literary Festival.

She was ashamed that shed done that for money, and it took her and her relatives such a long time before they trusted anyone. Thats why there is quite a big gap before the big films like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express in the 1970s.

And the last seven years on the BBC  some of them have been faithful, And Then There Were None was a brilliant production  but some of them are less faithful. Im thinking of Ordeal by Innocence, in which the murderer was changed and the way they killed was changed.

And I just think if you want to do that, dont adapt an Agatha Christie. Write your own novel. Because one thing about Agatha Christie that makes her so brilliant, and what makes her so enduring, is that shes such an extraordinarily good plotter.

He went on: Screenplays, really, are all plot. Its all about story, how character and story interact, and I think some of the adaptations, particularly the BBC ones, havent been as good as they could be.

The BBC's Murder is Easy switched the investigator from a retired British policeman to a young Nigerian man - Anne Binckebanck/BBC

Mathew Baynton and David Jonsson in Murder is Easy. Writer Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, said the change was in homage to her family - Anne Binckebanck/BBC

Wilson has written four books featuring Christie as a character including A Talent for Murder, which reimagines her 1926 disappearance as a crime story.

When The Pale Horse was broadcast in 2020, Phelps responded to criticism of her plot changes. Of course Ive taken liberties. Have I changed loads of stuff? Yeah, of course I have. Loads and loads and loads of stuff, otherwise youd have 30 hours of TV and would you want to watch it? No.

But I always go for the beating heart of what shes getting at and she always throws you little clues, little quantum details.

Agatha Christie's Murder Is Easy - Mark Mainz

The Pale Horse, starring Rufus Sewell, the protagonist was turned into a murderer despite killing no one in the book - Ben Blackall/BBC

The Christie estate is run by her great-grandson, James Prichard, who has said that allowing Phelps to change the ending of Ordeal by Innocence was one of the hardest decisions of his working life.

He previously told The Telegraph: I think sometimes you do have to make hard and radical decisions. Yes, we will upset a lot of my great-grandmothers fans and to some extent I apologise to them and to some extent I dont.

This is not a decision we take lightly. We do set out to use the Agatha Christie story. If we werent doing that, why would anyone even bother to attach us to the project and pay us for the privilege? But sometimes you just have to take those decisions.

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Ramit Sethi

Have you ever been on a vacation you thought you budgeted for only to return home and realize you spent way more than you anticipated? Or felt frustrated when an unexpected cost  like a parking ticket-cropped up and threw your spending plan off for the month?

Check Out: Frugal People Love the 6 to 1 Grocery Shopping Method: Heres Why It Works

Read Next: 5 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

You arent alone. Personal finance guru, host of Netflixs How To Get Rich, and New York Times bestselling author Ramit Sethi says hes made similar mistakes and more which is why he encourages those following his conscious spending plan (also known as a budget to the rest of us) to be conservative with their cost estimates and factor in a buffer.

Here are six areas where he says you need to set aside more money in your estimation costs just in case:

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

1. General Expenditures/Fixed Costs

When creating your monthly Conscious Spending Plan or budget that includes all of your expenses, give yourself a little padding, Sethi suggests in his I Will Teach You to Be Rich book. Tack on another 15% to your general expenditures category to account for things like car repairs, stupid mistakes, medical emergencies and unexpected expenses like traffic tickets. By putting a little more money into this area, youll be glad you have some savings set aside should something crop up.

2. Travel

Sethi says that when he travels he often estimates that itll cost him on average double what he spends on the hotel as a daily estimation of his expenses. So if hes renting a room for $200 a night, he knows that by the time hes done paying hotel fees and taxes, renting a car and/or paying for transportation, eating, and maybe even a spa service, he should plan for his trip to cost at least $400 a day.

He also suggested on X (formerly Twitter) that when trying to account for how much youll spend on a vacation, Identify the big three (airfare, hotel, daily spend on food), then adding 15% to account for things you didnt factor in.

Story continues

3. Timeshares

They might have been sold to you as an investment and a great deal that youd be foolish not to take advantage of but in most cases, Sethi believes timeshares are a scam. The fees on timeshares which often arent drilled into your mind during these presentations-include nightly fees, annual fees, and maintenance fees. Any of these fees can be raised without you having a say in it and whether or now youve used the timeshare, according to some sources. If you decide to try to get out of your timeshare, you might also need to pay a lawyer to do so. Were betting that you didnt add in a buffer for that aspect of the timeshare buying experience.

4. Cars

Perhaps you bought one of the safest cars of 2024 because you calculated that you could afford the monthly payments and it seemed like a financially-savvy move at the time. But then you found yourself putting in more gas than you anticipated, or finding that the car required maintenance you werent accounting for, or your insurance plan increased. Sethi suggests you take your car payment and double it to have a healthy buffer of how much you might need to spend on your car each month. Put $500 in the account to pay the $250 car payment, for gas and tolls, to account for insurance, car registration, inspections, tickets or traffic violations, maintenance and possible repairs.

5. Buying a House

There have been quite a few times on Sethis I Will Teach You to Be Rich podcast that he asks couples why they bought a house or why they think they should be saving for a house even when it seems that they cant afford it. Thats because first-time home buyers arent always factoring in all the costs that go into owning a home, like repairs, maintaining the property, tax increases, heating and cooling that home, furnishing the house, oh and did we mention repairs?

When buying a home, Sethis advice is again to be conservative. He suggests you put down 20 percent to avoid PMI (private mortgage insurance), a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, and a monthly payment thats 30 percent of your household incomes gross pay.

6. Freelance Taxes

Learn More: How Much Money You Should Have in Your 401(k), According to Expert Humphrey Yang

In Sethis book he also addresses the concern many first-time freelancers or independent contractors have in the beginning, How much should I set aside for taxes? While Sethi acknowledges that many experts suggest putting 30 percent of your gross earnings aside for taxes, he divulges that 40 percent is even better. Remember, youll have to pay self-employment tax and might get hit with unexpected local taxes as well.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Things Ramit Sethi Says You Arent Setting Enough Money Aside For
Heartsick Giants fan

In 2010 I was too sick to do anything but lie down and watch television. I started watching San Francisco Giants games, and as they fought their way to the World Series I fought my way back to health. Ive been a fan ever since.

It breaks my heart to see players who forged the teams success and built deep expertise discarded, instead of being given a chance to contribute in new roles. Seeing Brandon Crawford pushed out was the last straw for me. How can I feel loyal to a team that has no loyalty?

To add insult to injury, NBC has chosen to avoid covering any of the Giants spring training games despite covering other teams. I believe its time for fans to step back and re-evaluate. I do not plan to attend any of this years games, and am deleting the NBC app from my phone.

Mona Lemon, Madera

Social Security solution

It is becoming increasingly apparent that we need to do something about Social Security. The Republicans all want to cut it, including their nominee for president.

I have given this issue a lot of thought over the years and I have a simple but effective solution. Currently, working people pay roughly 6% of their income up to a maximum income of $160,000. Most working people do not reach that threshold, so they pay 6% of their income to Social Security.

Opinion

By contrast, someone who makes $1 million dollars a year pays 6% up to $160,000, then nothing. In this example they pay less than 1% of their income. There are a lot of people in this category.

The solution is simple: lower the Social Security tax to 5% (which benefits the middle class) but with no income limit. That way, everyone pays 5% of their income. This is not only inherently fair, but completely solves the issue of solvency of the program and gives working folks a break at the same time.

I think this would have broad appeal, and offer a concrete solution at little cost. Anyone making a ton of money can afford a 5% tax.

Randy Sacks, Coarsegold

On federal agencies power

Erwin Chemerinskys op-ed titled Amazon, Trader Joes attempt to nullify government (The Bee, March 11) is an attack on these companies contention that the National Labor Relations Board is unconstitutional. Here is his reasoning:

1. If the contention is accepted, it will make virtually every federal administrative agency unconstitutional.

2. It is an attempt to fundamentally change the nature of the federal government.

3. It would be extraordinary for courts to declare unconstitutional a federal agency that has existed since 1935 and whose constitutionality was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1937.

This is remarkably weak reasoning. It says nothing about why it would be bad or wrong to rule every federal administrative agency unconstitutional. It says nothing about why it would be bad or wrong to fundamentally change the nature of the federal government. That something is extraordinary, assuming this is or would be, doesnt make it wrong; and that one U.S. Supreme Court many decades ago ruled one way on the issue doesnt make it right, as we can plainly see from the horrible decision of the Supreme Court in Plessy v Ferguson (1896) and, as abortion foes contend, the horrible decision of Roe v. Wade (1973) since overturned by the current court.

Wendell Stephenson, Fresno

Fresnans against gun violence

When I was 9, my childhood friend, Paul, was accidentally shot to death by a friend using an improperly stored firearm. The loss that I felt was rubbed raw again and again with each school shooting thereafter.

After the 2022 tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, I joined Enough Gun Violence/Brady Greater Fresno, whose members have dedicated themselves to the complex, multifaceted challenge of gun violence prevention. EGV/BGF is not anti-gun, but is devoted to reducing gun violence and accidental deaths.

Having guns in the house can increase the risk of suicide by 300%, so we wanted to actually help citizens secure their personal firearms. I reached out to the Fresno Police Department, and Chief Paco Balderrama agreed to assist us in increasing gun safety by providing us with more than 400 gun locks. We distribute these during public events, and provide educational material about gun violence prevention.

We want to publicly thank you, Chief Balderrama. For more information about our group activities, including our upcoming membership meeting on April 9, please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/fresnobrady or email us atbradygreaterfresno@bradyunited.org.

Tess Johnson, Fresno

Conservative hogwash

I dont know why the editorial board of The Bee keeps publishing opinion pieces that are promoting falsehoods about important issues. There have been two recently from writers at the Heritage Foundation that are so far away from truth, that publishing them does nothing more that muddy the waters and defeats honest dialogue.

The first one was authored by some senior policy analyst claiming San Francisco receives over $1 billion each year from the government to waste on the citys liberal agenda. San Francisco is one of many cities that receive block grants from the federal government that total $1. billion cumulatively each year.

The other example comes from Steven Moore, who claims to be a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. His remarks are about Joe Bidens open border immigration policy, which is currently finding favor among Trump Republicans. Nobody has ever had an open border immigration policy, except in their own minds. Moore fails to mention the recent bipartisan border deal that addressed much of the Republican concerns that was put together, and then rejected by the same Republican caucus, which contained the very provisions that he claims is needed in his opinion piece.

It is said that there are none so blind as those who will not see. That is a recurring theme at the Heritage Foundation. In this critical time in our nations history, where we face the destruction of a democracy for which millions have sacrificed their lives, the Heritage Foundation seems intent on making sure that the country goes down in a blizzard of half-truths and political innuendo.

Timothy McKeever, Fresno
The Russians attacked Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts with five S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles, Chernihiv Oblast with two Kh-59 guided missiles, and used 16 Shahed-type attack UAVs on the night of 16-17 March.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force in Telegram

Details: As a result of combat operations, 14 Shaheds were shot down within Odesa Oblast.

Anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, as well as mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, were involved in repelling the air attack.

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Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

The death of a bill in the Florida Legislature that would have made the Orlando region a hub for air taxis has not compromised the technologys future in the region.

House Bill 981 would have designated the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority as the states testing hub for advanced air mobility, and would have set out initial regulations tied to establishing vertiports in Florida. The bill passed in the House, but did not pass in the Senate, as the two chambers could not agree on its final language before the end of the 2024 session.

Despite this, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority  whose conceptual plans include a vertiport and a research and development center on Orlando International Airport property  still will take steps toward having the technology on its property even though the bill did not pass this time.

Read: OIA in line to become Florida test hub for air taxis and other advanced air mobility

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




In an era when mounting disasters made worse by the warming climate raise fears for the Earths future, Al Gore could simply say I told you so.

Instead, the silver-haired grandfather regrets not pushing even harder to raise awareness during his more than four decades of trying to warn the world about the dangers of climate change. I guess I could have done more, wish I had done more I guess, Gore told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview last week.

Derided by climate change skeptics and pundits for decades, and subjected to memes making light of his concern about global warming, Gore soldiers on.

On April 12, the founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project will launch his 55th Climate Reality Leadership Training in New York City. The trainings have taken place around the world, aiming to help advocates acquire the skills to advance climate solutions in their communities.

The workshops are for anyone who wants to become more skilled at communicating, better connected to networks of like-minded advocates and equip themselves with the latest and best science on the causes and the solutions to the climate crisis, Gore says.

The application period for the April 12-14 training in New York is open until March 24. More than half those who attend the trainings are women and some 47% are under the age of 40.

Gore remains hopeful, and encouraged by the worlds progress toward reversing the upward trend in warming temperatures that are shrinking sea ice, melting glaciers and increasingly flooding coastal communities around the globe.

Former Vice President Al Gore, founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project.

Gore held the first subcommittee hearing on man-made climate change in the U.S. House of Representatives as a young congressman representing Tennessee in 1981. I naively thought that my colleagues on the dais would have the same epiphany that I had and of course that didnt happen, Gore says now, with wry laughter.

He went on to serve eight years in the House, eight years in the U.S. Senate and eight years as vice president with President Bill Clinton. In 2000, he narrowly lost his bid for the White House to George W. Bush. He won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College.

Gore founded the climate project in 2006, the same year his Oscar-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" was released. The film featured dramatic footage of a submarine breaking through a thinning layer of ice in the Arctic. Gore, narrating, said scientists projected the Arctic sea ice could be "completely gone" in the summertime within 50 to 70 years.

The latest study, published by a group of scientists in early March, projects the Arctic could be ice-free in the summer within just a decade.

Gore talked with USA TODAY about his work on climate change over more than 43 years. His answers, edited for brevity, are below:

What do you see as the greatest need at this moment in time to address the public perception about climate change?

Answer: I would say the greatest need is for more grassroots advocates because the most persuasive advocates are those in your own community, people who you know, people whose reputation you can vouch for when they arm themselves with the facts. And you know, if they have the passion connected to advocacy, that's really the most important thing.

Of course Mother Nature is the most powerful advocate. I often say that every night on the TV news is like a nature ride through the Book of Revelation and indeed almost every day now we see these extreme climate-related events all around the world.

Visualizing climate change: Global warming's dire impact on Earth explored

What do you see as the biggest success of The Climate Reality Project?

We have had 55 trainings all around the world and we have had a lot of people go through this training who have gone on to make a big difference in the world. I could cite a number of examples. Christiana Figueres (a Costa Rican diplomat) went through one of the early trainings and went on to run the Paris Conference, which got the most important international agreement.

One of our graduates, Steven Miles, was just elected premier of Queensland in Australia. We had a 13-year-old named Taylor Francis in California go through the training years ago.  Now he started a business that focuses on helping to solve the climate crisis. (Francis completed the training in 2006 and now heads Watershed, a platform to help companies measure, report and reduce their carbon emissions.)

There were more than 300 graduates who were parts of their respective national delegations at COP 28 in Dubai, and they're often the most vigorous and vocal and active members of their respective delegations.

Was there one person or one event that turned you on to climate change?

Yes indeed. First of all, when I was a young child growing up my parents took time to educate me. I remember my mother reading Silent Spring at the dinner table to me and my sister. But the real turning point on climate came when I was an undergraduate in college (at Harvard).

I walked into a course.  It was taught by a man named Roger Revelle who was one of the  I didn't know it at the time  one of the greatest climate scientists in history. (Revelle worked with colleagues at Scripps Institution for Oceanography to develop the project that started measuring CO2 in the Earths atmosphere on top of Mauna Loa, Hawaiis largest active volcano.)

He presented to our small class, the first few years worth of results from that Keeling Curve. He was a genius, a legend. ... Thats what really opened my eyes to this. He was a masterful teacher.

What's your biggest frustration?

Well, that we haven't made more progress, and that some of the fossil fuel companies have been shameless in providing, continuing to provide lavish funding for disinformation and misinformation.

Whats at stake is so incredible. You know on our watch we are seeing so much damage being done and so many reckless risks being taken for the future. I mean they could shut down the Gulf Stream for goodness sake, and that sounds like a science fiction movie, in fact it was a science fiction movie. ("Day After Tomorrow," May 2004.)

But now the scientists are really, seriously concerned about that and many other negative tipping point risks that are out there but I like to put the emphasis on the good news.

Were going to solve this. We definitely are, but the remaining question is whether we'll do it soon enough, whether we'll do it in time to avoid crossing some of these negative tipping points the scientists are warning us about.

The toe of Exit Glacier taken from the 2005 sign on September 10th, 2019.

Do you have any regrets?

You know, I sleep well at night knowing that I have put every ounce of energy that I have into this. I'm sure there are things I could have done better, could have done sooner, but I've really gone all out on this.

I was pretty slow to recognize how important the massive funding of anti-climate messaging was going on. I underestimated the power of greed in the fossil fuel industry, the shamelessness in putting out the lies.  They are continuing to do similar things today to try to fool people and pull the wool over people's eyes just in the name of greed. You know anger is not a great emotion to feel, and I try to get around it and get past it and just focus on getting the right message out.

I am heartened by how many people have joined this movement. I think that worldwide if you look at all of the different groups, not only Climate Reality, but all of the ones around the world, it's probably the biggest grassroots movement in the history of the world, and it is beginning to get real results.

The warning signs of climate change What humanity knew and when.

Whats your hope for your grandchildren?

My hope is that they will grow up in a world where they are able to look back on this dangerous passage through this narrows of history and say "Wow, humanity really did step up and meet this challenge in time," and I hope they'll feel great about it.

Weve got all the solutions we need right now to cut emissions in half before the end of this decade. We've got a clear line of sight to how we can cut the other 50% of emissions by mid century. We know how to do this. It's better in every single way. ... We are gaining on this, were gaining momentum and soon we'll be gaining on the crisis itself.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Al Gore speaks with USA TODAY about 'Climate Reality,' regrets
Angela Rayner is the subject of a new book by Lord Ashcroft titled Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner - PA/Maria Unger

Angela Rayner was opposed to the all-women shortlist that led to her election, a new book has revealed.

The deputy Labour leader, who entered the Commons in 2015 as the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, said she would have preferred to compete against both male and female contenders for the Labour nomination.

But despite her local party having unanimously voted for an open list for both male and female candidates, it was overruled by Labours National Executive Committee in London.

A new biography of the 43-year-old by Lord Ashcroft, the Tory peer and author, recalled her criticising the all-women shortlist system in 2019 during a talk at Oldham Sixth Form College.

Ms Rayner is said to have told students: When I was going to be a Member of Parliament, I didnt want to stand in an all-women shortlist. I wanted to stand on an open list.

Im as good as any bloke, and Ive proved that since... I should have been selected years before I was selected. I had to get selected on an all-women shortlist.

Im more successful than a majority of the men that are in Parliament, but I had to prove I was even better than them, like miles ahead of them. Thats not fair. Thats not equality.

Labour have reportedly dropped all-female candidate lists

Ms Rayner was one of 31 Labour MPs elected from all-women shortlists at the 2015 general election, when a further 46 all-women shortlists were drawn up.

Twenty-eight Labour MPs from all-women shortlists were elected in 2010, while 35 out of 38 candidates from all-women shortlists became MPs as part of Sir Tony Blairs 1997 landslide.

A majority of the Labour parliamentary party is now female, which has led Sir Keir Starmers team to reportedly drop female-only candidate lists for the next general election.

Speaking at Labours annual party conference in 2016, Ms Rayner said it took just 183 years and an all-womens shortlist for her to become the first female elected as the MP for Ashton-under-Lyme.

We have more work to do right across the country to get more female Labour MPs, more female Labour councillors and even more female Labour Mayors, she told activists at the time.

Lord Ashcrofts book about Ms Rayner, titled Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner, sparked a row in recent weeks about whether she should have been liable for capital gains after selling her home in Stockport in 2015, leading to accusations of providing false information about her living circumstances.

The frontbencher, who is also Labours shadow housing secretary and shadow deputy prime minister, has denied wrongdoing and insisted she lived there, paid the bills there and was registered to vote there right up until she sold the property.

Speaking at a press gallery lunch in Westminster, she insisted there was no capital gains tax to pay and revealed that she spent eight months in intensive care with her baby son.

It was slightly OTT, but it was just Angela

Lord Ashcrofts book collates a number of interviews with Ms Rayner in which she admitted she honestly didnt know what a trade union was when she became a Unison shop steward in the early 2000s.

It also reveals she shared a Facebook post in 2015 to mark the 10th anniversary of the ban on hunting with dogs which showed a fox running past Downing Street with a speech bubble coming out of its mouth that read cull the Tories!

The biography goes on to recall the furore in September 2021 when Ms Rayner described senior Tories as scum during a fringe event at the Labour conference in Brighton. She apologised the following month and said she would be more careful in the language she chose to use.

Andrew Mitchell, a Foreign Office minister, is quoted as saying the comment was slightly OTT, but it was just Angela.

It wasnt in my view an offensive comment, which it could easily have been coming from someone else, he said. You might say thats patronising, but what little I knew of her at the time suggested that any such comment, in spite of the word used, was not meant to be venomous.

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Anger rises over South Africa making millions in US benefits while cozying up to Iran, Russia and Hamas

JOHANNESBURG  South Africa is under fire for spending millions of dollars talking to terror group Hamas and sending delegations for cozy negotiations with U.S. adversaries Russia and Iran. Some critics say the money would be better spent tackling the "chaos" back home.

South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the world, rampant crime and widespread corruption, which has led to large parts of Johannesburg having no water for 12 out of the past 13 days, and, nationally, power blackouts between four and 11 hours a day.

The U.S. helps South Africa gain billions of dollars a year in trade benefits through the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA. Orde Kittrie, law professor at Arizona State University and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital its time for South Africa to be thrown out of the program.

FETTERMAN BLASTS SOUTH AFRICA 'GENOCIDE' CASE AGAINST ISRAEL AMID UNREST, CRIME: 'SIT THIS ONE OUT'

"The ANC-led South African government has, in its relations with both Russia and Hamas, violated the requirement that AGOA beneficiaries not undermine U.S. national security and foreign policy and, with regard to Hamas, violated the requirement that AGOA beneficiaries not "provide support for acts of international terrorism," said Kittrie, who also served as a State Department attorney and policy officiaL

"The AGOA laws requirements really leave the Biden administration no choice but to terminate South Africas AGOA benefits unless such activities cease."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

South Africa continually makes controversial diplomatic moves, including allowing Russian ships to play war games just off the coast and permitting a Russian arms ship, the Lady R, to dock at a South African military base. This has attracted the attention of Sen. Tim Scott, the ranking Republican member of the Senate subcommittee on Africa and a member of the Senate subcommittee on banking.

"South Africa has harbored sanctioned Russian ships, expanded relations with Iran and issued statements against Israels right to defend itself following Hamas recent terror attacks," Scott said in a recent statement.

U.S. NATIONAL DEBT TRACKER: SEE WHAT AMERICAN TAXPAYERS (YOU) OWE IN REAL TIME

Also, according to the USAID dashboard, Washington gave South Africa $660 million in aid in 2023.

Herman Mashaba, president of the relatively new political party ActionSA, told Fox News Digital, "The ruling party prioritizes Cold War-era alliances above the interests of the South African people. Our close relationship with Russia has jeopardized investment into the country, which cost jobs which South Africa cannot risk losing."

Public hearings in South Africa's genocide case against Israel begins at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan. 11, 2024.

"At the same time, 86 people are killed in South Africa per day," Mashaba continued. "Every 11 minutes, a woman is raped in this country. The ruling party has in 30 years been unable to address these crises and instead pays attention to everything except finding solutions to these issues."

The State Department weighed in, telling Fox News Digital. "Russia is waging a brutal war against the people of Ukraine, and we are constantly working to cut off support and funding for Putins war machine and to undercut Russias ability to carry out this conflict," a department spokesperson said. "We have strongly urged countries not to support Russias war."

EXTRADITIONS SOUGHT IN THEFT OF $600K FROM SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT

On Tehran, the State Department spokesperson noted, "Iran is an adversary and the leading state sponsor of terrorism. It seeks to sow instability in the Middle East and around the world.

"We call on all countries to condemn Hamas, as Hamas is a designated terrorist organization and deserves condemnation," the spokesperson said.

J. Brooks Spector, a former U.S. diplomat and associate editor of The Daily Maverick, spoke of his concerns to Fox News Digital:

"South Africa has rarely supported America internationally in grave crises such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Beyond AGOA eligibility, South Africa might find itself at risk of seeing the major American contributions of PEPFAR funds combating HIV/AIDS begin to lessen or even end, as funds are shifted to other nations."

This would be disastrous. Even with support from the U.S., South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"Part of the challenge for South Africa, going forward, is its desire for a foreign policy strategy that seeks to be a visible player in resolving international disputes far afield from its home continent such as Ukraine and Gaza, while largely ignoring equally urgent issues nearer to home," Spector said.

WORLD, PROTESTERS SILENT ON SUDAN MASSACRES: 'NO MOB OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE'

The South African flag flies against an overcast ski in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sept. 15, 2015.

South Africa has "a completely chaotic approach to foreign policy in recent years," Emma Louise Powell told Fox News Digital. Powell is shadow minister for international relations for the countrys main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, or DA.

Powell criticized the government for getting involved in talks on the Israel-Hamas war, "given the bloodbath unfolding in South Africas backyard, on the African continent, in countries such as Sudan, the DRC and across West Africa. This is not to mention the political and economic crisis in neighboring Zimbabwe.

"South Africa has not even condemned Russias illegal invasion. This is intellectually dishonest, given the funding the ANC is receiving from Russian-linked oligarchs and companies, and we see that this position is leading to South Africas increasing isolation."

US TAKES AIM AT KREMLIN OVER RUSSIA-AFRICA SUMMIT: 'NO MEANINGFUL COMMITMENTS'

Senator Tim Scott has criticized the South African government over its dealings with US adversaries, and the country's corruption problems. (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Spector added, "Such a mix of behaviors means South Africa risks becoming increasingly irrelevant internationally, both as a country with real political heft and as a valuable investment and trade partner with anyone besides China."

Then theres the systemic corruption. Two years ago, hundreds of senior politicians and businessmen, mostly linked to the ruling African National Congress, or ANC, were accused in the 5,000-page State Capture report for links to corruption, yet very few have been prosecuted.

"Many Washington foreign policy insiders are now for the first time seeing the ANC for what it has, sadly, become since (President Nelson) Mandela's retirement, a party whose rampant financial corruption has impoverished South Africas people and led it to ally itself with Americas enemies including Russia, Iran and Hamas," FDDs Kittrie warned.

Earlier this week, Sen. Tim Scott tweeted, "The U.S. cannot continue to simply look the other way when it comes to corruption in South Africa. As we consider AGOA reauthorization, its important that we take steps to ensure the programs eligibility requirements are actually enforced."

The State Department is so concerned about corruption in South Africa it sent Fox News Digital an additional statement that some analysts say contains a veiled threat.

"The fight against corruption is a core U.S. national security interest," the statement said. "The United States considers the use of several foreign policy tools for countering corruption, including but not limited to financial sanctions. Beyond this, it is the policy of the United States to not comment on internal deliberations regarding the use of sanctions or to preview potential actions."

Kittrie added, "U.S. officials are noticing that the ANC is not itself holding its corrupt officials accountable, with the ANC-led South African government reportedly making no significant progress in prosecuting South African officials who were bribed and, most recently, the ANC placing several corruption-tainted officials on its list for re-election."

Pinkie Sebitlo cooks using a coal stove during frequent power outages caused by South African utility Eskom's aging coal-fired plants in Soweto, South Africa, June 23, 2022.

Action SAs Mashaba added "it is unacceptable that two years after the State Capture Report was submitted, not a single high-profile individual has successfully been prosecuted"

Last week, the South African Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, announced any South Africans with dual nationality who are fighting for Israel in Gaza will be arrested when they return.

"We are ready. When you come home, we will arrest you," the minister said, referencing a long-standing law that South Africans may not fight in wars for other countries. Yet, when the Iraqi ambassador here claimed as many as 300 South Africans had left to take up arms for the terror group Islamic State in Syria in 2015, there were no such public threats of arrests for returning fighters.

Analysts predict Foreign Minister Pandor could face some tough questions during her visit to Washington, scheduled for this week.

The ANC government is likely to lose sole and majority power of South Africa in elections coming in May. Last weeks latest poll by the Brenthurst Foundation predicts the ANC will only get 39% of the vote. The party is likely to go into coalition, with analysts predicting this probably will be with the "revolutionary" EFF, the Economic Freedom Fighters.

A man brandishes a toy gun during a pro-Palestinian demonstration organized by the South African opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters in front of the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria Oct. 23, 2023.

The EFF wants to grab White-owned farmland with no compensation, according to its election manifesto.

"As the EFF, we have never promised [White people] that we will not take the land. We dont owe them anything," EFF leader Julius Malema told cheering crowds at the manifestos launch.

And the China-leaning EFF warned the 600 U.S. companies operating in South Africa that if the Americans working for them dont like the EFFs policies, "they can leave with immediate effect."

Fox News Digital reached out to both the South African Foreign Ministry and the ANC but did not receive a response.





Original article source: Anger rises over South Africa making millions in US benefits while cozying up to Iran, Russia and Hamas
RALEIGH, N.C.  Ex-Republican Phebe Roberson, 75, said she cant stand former President Donald Trump and voted against him in North Carolinas GOP primary earlier this month.

She also cast a ballot against Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the incendiary Republican gubernatorial candidate who received Trumps endorsement ahead of the primary.

I feel like the far right has just stolen my Republican party, and I cant identify with it anymore, said Roberson, now an independent and resident of the state capital for about 40 years.

Robinson has ignited intense backlash for his history of comments ranging from support of antisemitic conspiracy theories to lambasting school shooting victims.

Robinson previously made remarks calling calling homosexuality and transgenderism filth" and claiming that so many freedoms were lost during the Civil Rights Movement.

North Carolina stands to play a pivotal role in 2024 and potentially decide the presidency for either party. Trump carried the state in the last two presidential elections by slim margins. And voters and political analysts USA TODAY spoke with said Robinson's inflammatory persona could stand to isolate even more voters, like Roberson, from voting red.

Southern Democrat vs. MAGA Republican: Why NC governor race is a defining contest for 2024

North Carolinians sour on Robinson's rhetoric

Justin Bradford, 47, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, said he used to be a straight-ticket voter for the GOP.

A self-described unaffiliated, fiscally conservative moderate who prefers limited government, Bradford became more of a mixed voter around the time of former President George Bushs second campaign. He said he switched his party registration to unaffiliated and voted for former President Barack Obama in 2012.

Still, he said the Republican party hadn't really turned the corner yet.

I really feel like 2016 was the year that the mask came off, Bradford said.

North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson speaks during a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on March 2, 2024. Robinson won the party's nomination for North Carolina Governor on Super Tuesday.

Bradford, like Roberson, voted in the state primary for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has since suspended her campaign. He said he sees only an escalation of violence since Trump took office and politicians like Robinson rose to prominence.

That corner was turned, and it's like a Pandora's box now.

To many, Robinsons remarks and demeanor are reminiscent of the former president, according to research by Progress NC Action, a liberal-leaning advocacy organization working with other progressive coalitions in the state.

"Spoiled, angry, know it all CHILDREN are trying to tell law abiding ADULTS that we must give up our Constitutional RIGHT to own certain weapons," Robinson wrote in a 2018 Facebook post about student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida that year.

"For voters who are anti-Trump, they listen to the things that Robinson says, and the connection was immediate to them. They're like, Oh, this is another Trump, said Pia Nargundkar, messaging director for the research and communications group.

Robinson first gained attention with his fervent defense of gun rights at a Greensboro City Council meeting in 2018. He was elected North Carolinas first Black lieutenant governor in 2020.

Mike Lonergan, communications director for Robinson's gubernatorial campaign, said the lieutenant governor and his comments are being taken out of context.

"There is no low to which the Democrats will not stoop to smear Mark Robinson," Lonergan said in a statement to USA TODAY.

But Bradford said Robinson is stoking hate in a state grappling with its Confederate history and pockets of deep-seated bigotry.

When you have these ideologues like Mark Robinson, like Trump, and they're saying, We're going to go down to the Capitol and fight like hell, or you're calling people filth, Bradford said, some people are going to get the idea that you can now commit an act against another person, and it's sanctioned by this leader, so to speak.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters in Greensboro, North Carolina on March 2, 2024.

'Road to the presidency': Why eyes are on North Carolina

Robinson easily secured his spot on Novembers ballot, defeating two challengers in the Republican primary, including runner-up and state Treasurer Dale Folwell by more than 40 points.

In the general election, Robinson faces Stein, North Carolina's attorney general, who likewise sailed to victory in the Democratic primary.

Their race is expected to be one of the countrys most competitive gubernatorial races this year.

The stakes are also high at the top of the ballot in North Carolina.

Democrats have eyed the Tar Heel State since Obama won there in 2008 and shifting demographics hinted at the possibility of a tide turning blue.

Trump-Biden battleground: Can Democrats flip North Carolina in 2024? What Super Tuesday showed us

But minus Obama's one exception, Republican presidential candidates have kept a firm hold on North Carolina for almost 50 years.

Still, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper told USA TODAY that he believes the road to the presidency goes through his state.

And I believe that we can win this state for (President) Joe Biden when you look at the momentum thats occurring right now, and you look at how outrageous Donald Trump has become, even more so since his presidency, Cooper said.

Democratic North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein, right, is introduced by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper at a primary election night party in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Trump won North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020, though his margin of victory was much narrower, just over one percentage point, in the latter. This has some on the left suggesting his popularity may be slipping with the Tar Heel constituency.

"He's narcissistic, bombastic, Roberson, the Raleigh moderate, said of the former president. I voted for him the first time, but he proved his way along between 2016 and 2020. Nope, I changed my party affiliation.

While her feelings about the lieutenant governor are less intense, she said she also cannot agree with Robinsons positions, particularly about the LGBTQ community.

I consider myself to be conservative and a Christian, Roberson said. Jesus said show love and when you make remarks like he has about fellow Americans, I dont agree with it.

Abortion rights protesters are removed after becoming vocal, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Raleigh, N.C., after North Carolina House members voted to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that would change the state's ban on nearly all abortions from those after 20 weeks of pregnancy to those after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Both the Senate and House had to complete successful override votes for the measure to be enacted into law. The Senate voted to override the veto earlier, and the House also voted to override. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) ORG XMIT: NCCS114

Abortion concerns cross demographics

One issue pulling voters, including more moderate conservatives, out of Robinson and Trumps corner is abortion, Nargundkar said.

This is an issue that is concerning to independent voters, it's concerning to Republican women, it's concerning to Black voters, she said.

National bellwether: Abortion access in North Carolina may hinge on tight governor's race

North Carolina lawmakers passed a new 12-week abortion limit, with some exceptions, last summer. A Meredith College poll in September found North Carolinians nearly split on the change, with 47% approving the law and 45% disapproving.

A January survey by Public Policy Polling, affiliated with the Democratic party, found a greater share of North Carolinians, 52%, would prefer a governor that protects abortion rights, versus 35% who prefer their governor restrict access to the procedure.

Robinson has in the past signaled that he would support a total ban on abortion.

For me, there is no compromise on abortion, he told a Baptist church congregation during his 2020 lieutenant governor campaign. It makes no difference to me why or how that child ended up in that womb.

As a gubernatorial candidate, Robinson has attempted to soften language around his stance.

His campaign said that as governor Robinson would support legislation limiting abortion after a heartbeat is detected, often six weeks, with some exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother.

Bradford said hes thinking about his 18-year-old daughter in both the gubernatorial and presidential election.

I have some genuine concerns for my daughter for the kind of world, you know, she's going to operate in now as an adult, Bradford said.

I don't want to be super dire about things. But I'm a little bit freaked out right now.

USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Carolina governor candidate Mark Robinson pushes away GOP voters
Archaeologists are asking the public for help in finding out more about a former Elizabethan manor house.

Whitecross Manor, in Lydney, was built in the 1570s for Admiral Sir William Wyntour, and stood in what is now the Dean Academy's playing fields.

It was burned down and demolished in 1645 during the English Civil War.

It is hoped that local people and former Whitecross School students can assist the architects from the Royal Agricultural University.

The investigation is being led by Prof Mark Horton, who hopes local people may have photographs that could help with the team's research.

Prof Horton said: "This site was originally investigated in the 1970s and mid-1980s, as well as briefly in 2003, but many of the early finds were sold or dispersed before the Dean Heritage Centre opened and there are few records of the previous archaeological investigations."To help us reconstruct what was there as best we can, we are very keen to track down any objects that may have been found all those years ago.

"Perhaps people have photographs they took at the time which they might be able to share with us?"

Prof Horton added that a number of Whitecross School - the former name of the Dean Academy - students took part in previous site digs, and they may have information and artefacts.

"We have already met some who were very helpful and had a pipe from the 1660s, but we would be really pleased to hear from anyone who has anything connected to this site," he said. Among the missing finds is a near complete Elizabethan rapier, which was sold at auction in 1958, as well as numerous potsherds and pipe fragments. The project aims to combine new and old evidence to give a complete view of the house and also its relationship to the old Lydney quay, which came close to St Mary's Church. Richard Brand, headteacher of the Dean Academy, welcomed the new investigations.

"It will be a great opportunity for our pupils to learn more about the history under their own playing fields and for the opportunity to work with academics from one of Gloucestershire's universities in solving these historical mysteries," he said.

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Rosenwald Schools have served as living legacies of Black history in the South for a century. Over the years, the schools have been gradually declining or abandoned, leaving the historic school buildings as shells of the past.

Now, a Mississippi architectural firm is helping to restore the legacy, starting with three Rosenwald Schools throughout Mississippi.

In late February 2024, Belinda Stewart Architecture launched the Rosenwald Schools Preservation Project that will restore three school buildings  one each in Madison, Quitman and Sunflower counties.

The Rosenwald Schools Preservation Project is partially funded by a Community Heritage Preservation Grant through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

More: Mississippi left off 'Best Southern Cities' list. Here are 3 cities we wish made the cut

Built in 1927, the former Nichols School in Canton, Miss., seen Thursday, March 14, 2024, is one of only 17 remaining Rosenwald Schools in Mississippi. Originally, 557 Rosenwald schools were built in the state to advance the education of Black children. Communities were expected to match the Rosenwald money with cash or in-kind contributions of labor and materials. Belinda Stewart Architecture is restoring the building and two other Rosenwald Schools in Mississippi.

The history of Rosenwald Schools

The 1896 U.S. Supreme Court case "Plessy v. Ferguson" created the "separate but equal" doctrine, legalizing segregation between Black citizens and white citizens in separate public facilities.

After the ruling, schools for white children received a significantly higher amount of attention and funding from state governments. Black students, especially those is rural areas, were often forced to attend school in abandoned, dilapidated churches and tenant buildings with a fraction of the resources available to white schools.

The Rosenwald Fund was created to help fill in those gaps. Julius Rosenwald, CEO of Sears, and Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute, partnered to create the fund.

Schools aided by the Rosenwald Fund were called Rosenwald Schools. Local communities were expected to match the Rosenwald funding for each school.

"A lot of these were actually built by the local community," said Jennifer Baughn, chief architectural historian at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. "It really shows how African Americans in the early 20th century were still so serious about making sure their children were educated, and even in very difficult times of racial segregation, they wanted to make sure they were getting a good education and could potentially progress to another level economically and culturally."

The architecture of Rosenwald Schools had a lasting impact on school design nationally. The buildings were designed carefully with optimized learning at the forefront. They often included one-story designs to combat the fire hazards that come with multiple stories and large windows so they didn't rely on electricity, a resource many of the rural areas lacked.

"They look like simple buildings, but actually they were groundbreaking for their time," Baughn said.

More on MS education: Is the Mississippi Miracle real despite the state continuing to rank low in education?

By the time the Rosenwald Fund dissolved during the Great Depression in the 1930s, more than 5,000 Rosenwald Schools had been built throughout the South.

Mississippi alone had more than 500 Rosenwald Schools.

Today, only a handful of Mississippi's Rosenwald Schools remain. Many of the buildings have been repurposed, and several others sit vacant.

Preserving the past

Vacant Rosenwald Schools can still play a significant role in today's society, some architects say.

Belinda Stewart Architects, located in Eupora, focuses on the restoration and preservation of existing historic buildings. Belinda Stewart, principal of the firm, said Rosenwald Schools have always been on the radar of her partners and her.

Stewart and her partners have worked on Rosenwald Schools in the past, relocating one in Tennessee.

Nichols Elementary School currently sits empty on a street corner in Canton, waiting for a new life. Restoration efforts on that building will begin soon.

The purpose of the revamped Nichols Elementary School is not yet finalized. Other Rosenwald Schools in the South have been repurposed into community centers or retirement homes. Some are used by adjacent churches.

"The goal is to bring (the Nichols Elementary building) back, help tell the story and bring it back to be an active part of that community," Stewart said.

Marks Rosenwald School resides in Quitman County on the campus of an active school. Stewart and her team have been working to revive the Marks building for the past seven years.

The building's structure was ruined by termites. Once restored, the building will include several new classrooms that the neighboring school can use once more.

The Drew Rosenwald School in Sunflower County, once restored, will serve as a museum and help support the Emmett Till trail. The museum will tell the story of Willie Reed, a witness in the Emmett Till trial and a graduate of the Drew Rosenwald School.

The Rosenwald Schools Preservation Project will not end with those three schools. Stewart and her team hope to continue restoring Mississippi Rosenwald Schools for years to come.

Even if they are no longer used as schools, the preserved Rosenwald Schools will remain vital assets to their communities.

"I think Julius Rosenwald would've been very pleased to see that the change in function is still a community function," Baughn said.

Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Architecture firm breathes new life into three MS Rosenwald Schools
On 17 March, Russian volunteer soldiers took control of the village of Gorkovskii in Belgorod Oblast.

Source: Freedom of Russia Legion; Sibir (Siberian) Battalion

Quote: "Excellent cooperation between the ROS (Russian Liberation Forces  ed.) and Ichkeri volunteers! (Ichkeria was the proper name of the Chechen state before it was occupied and annexed by Russia; Chechen nationalists who wish to restore the sovereignty of their country refer to themselves as Ichkeri  ed.)

Specifically for Putin's propagandists, we provide a brief explanation:

We built a village in Chornobyl on the orders of the curators of the West, using the taxpayers money, which looks identical to the village of Gorkovskii in Belgorod Oblast."

Details: It is noted that the units entered the village and seized the local administration building.

           https://t.co/4HHAu0Mm6L pic.twitter.com/UemXaZa2TT     (@ukrpravda_news) March 17, 2024

Background:

On 12 March, soldiers of the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Sibir (Siberian) Battalion reported that they crossed the Russian border. The military volunteer groups posted an address online, and a video appeared on Telegram channels purporting to show military personnel firing their weapons on the Russian territory. Military volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion claimed they had taken full control of the Russian town of Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast.

The founder of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) said that fighters of the RVC will make efforts to ensure that no sham elections of Russian president Vladimir Putin take place on the territories bordering Ukraine.

On the morning of 14 March, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, said that Russian air defence assets and personnel had shot down eight aerial targets over the city of Belgorod and the surrounding district. At the same time, Russian Telegram news outlets reported an alleged attempt by a "Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group" to enter the territory of the oblast, but Russian volunteer soldiers who are fighting on Ukraine's side said that it was them attacking military targets in Russia. They explained that they were forced to open fire because Russia continues to hit peaceful settlements in Ukraine.

Later, the Freedom of Russia Legion posted a video featuring burning buildings and reported that they had destroyed two Russian army ammunition storage points in the village of Tyotkino, in Russia's Kursk Oblast. At the same time, the governor of Kursk Oblast said that "Ukrainian terrorists" were supposedly breaking into the oblast, while Rosgvardia claimed that it was "repelling an attack by Ukrainian saboteurs".

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Planning your 2024 vacation? If your wanderlust has you eager to go where youve never been, consider one of these new and affordable destinations for 2024.

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Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Most safari vacations offer rustic accommodations, and a stay at Angama Amboseli does mean youll be sleeping in a tent. But youll also be able to gaze on the majesty of African elephants in the shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro. The resort celebrates the local indigenous community in its architecture and its culinary offerings.

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Busan, South Korea

While the K-pop stars BTS may have put Busan on the map, an influx of new resorts keeps it there. A new Windham property joins many beachfront resorts on the Sea of Japan. Foodies will want to consider Busan as it will welcome a new Michelin guide this year.

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Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ocean views and a thriving maritime economy have long been associated with Nova Scotia, but this seaport now boasts an emerging technology industry. The newly redeveloped waterfront area features the Queens Marque, with restaurants, art galleries and a five-star hotel.

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Kangaroo Island, Australia

This Australian destination has rebuilt much of its lost in bushfires in 2020, and several new resorts will open this year. Cabn X is an affordable option, with small homes with a modern feel, and Southern Ocean Lodge, destroyed in the fires, has been rebuilt and is now open.

majaiva / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The DR has long been known as an affordable Caribbean destination, but it is now being recognized for luxury as well. Several new resorts in Punta Cana will open this year, including the St. Regis Cap Cana, the Sanctuary Cap Cana, and a new W hotel. Many resorts are all-inclusive, and some only welcome adults.

Story continues

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Quito, Ecuador

Most travelers visit Quito on their way to the Galapagos Islands, but the Ecuadorian capital has undergone a recent renaissance that makes it a destination in and of itself. An expanded subway has reduced traffic congestion and made it easier for non-locals to get around. New shops, galleries and restaurants have much to offer visitors, and its weather is mild year-round.

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Transylvania, Romania

Beautiful castles and a rich history will prove that Transylvania is known for more than just vampires. Try Bethlen Estates near many historical sites, including Draculas Bran Castle, for luxury. For a retreat experience, Matca offers walking safaris and praying with monks, all with views of the Carpathian Mountains.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The 7 Best New and Affordable Places To Travel in 2024
Sometime last fall my life was upended, in circumstances that can only be described as improbable for someone born and raised in Fresno. In a windswept valley where Armenia meets Iran and Azerbaijan, amid desperate refugees, I found myself at home.

Until then, my life had unfolded within the familiar embrace of the United States. I have Armenian roots  but everyone in America has roots. It took a profound experience in Armenia, at a time of personal loss for me back home, for my epiphany to arrive: Armenia is now my home. It seems strange, I know; let me explain.

I am an only child and have no children. My divorce was finalized in March 2023 after eight years of marriage. My father was killed when I was 3. My grandfather passed when I was only 5. I lost my mom, my best friend, in 2013. My 92-year-old grandmother, our matriarch, died in 2020.

Last August, I decided to volunteer with the Armenian Volunteer Corp, an organization dedicated to internships and volunteer placements of all kinds. It was only my second-ever trip to the country, the first being less than a year before; my intention was to spend a month there and return home.

Yet I immediately found myself immersed in meaningful work, stemming from the ongoing conflict over Artsakh (widely known as Nagorno-Karabakh)  a self-governing ethnic Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan, which had been under blockade at the hands of Azerbaijan since December 2022.

I helped care for disabled children at the Kharberd Specialized Orphanage; helped and participated in an nongovernment organization dedicated to preparing individuals for surviving war; and organized parties for the children of Artsakh. As I did all this, a profound sense of belonging washed over me. I decided to extend my stay, changing my return ticket to Oct. 31st. Little did I know that history was knocking on the door.

Stacey Terterian with one of the Armenian children she helped.

Azerbaijan attacked Artsakh on Sept. 19, 2023, at a point at which its 120,000 Armenians were exhausted by the blockade, which made the basic necessities unimaginably scarce. When Artsakh fell under Azerbaijani control, the entire population fled to nearby Armenia proper. Within days, a massive exodus which Armenians see as a modern-day genocide and ethnic cleansing was happening.

In September 2020, during a previous war in which Azerbaijan seized the outer areas of the enclave, including its major towns of Shushi and Hadrut, I had watched helplessly from afar, yearning to contribute. Now I was nearby as the call came for volunteers in Goris, the first border town where Artsakh citizens sought refuge. This time I rushed to the town, in southern Armenia, the crossroads of so many empires and trade routes of the past  and the scene of a modern calamity.

Arriving in the chaotic main square of Goris, I joined forces with All for Armenia, an aid group. The urgency was palpable as we set up tents, the first on the scene. Over the next 36 hours, we worked tirelessly with other groups providing food, coffee, clothes and other support to tens of thousands of displaced refugees. The sheer volume of aid provided over the five days, assisting tens of thousands, was a collective effort unlike what I had ever seen.

I encountered stories of tragic loss and pain, juxtaposed with moments of hope and resilience. Families torn apart during evacuation were reunited. In the face of grave uncertainty, a sense of unity prevailed. Amid chaos I tried to offer solace, through gestures or comforting words.

I met a couple with their nine young children, the oldest 13 years old and the youngest 11 months. Their mom told me they dont know where they would be going or how they would begin to rebuild their lives. I held her hand and told her God is with us, and He will find a way; she nodded hesitantly and said ayo balles (which means Yes, my sweet child). Rosa, the oldest, took my hand and just held on. I brushed her hair back from her eyes and said, Vonces, im sirun axjik (How are you, my sweet girl); her response was a single nod, and she would not leave my side. Some of her siblings approached, and I handed them all a Snickers bar and we laughed and played a little.

One young lady sat alone with her sweet 2-month-old son, Alexander. She told me she was waiting for her husband who was a soldier and was still in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh. She said he stayed behind and refused to leave until the last person had left Artsakh safely.

Over five days, I heard countless stories of loss and pain, but also hope and resilience. Returning to Yerevan, the magnitude of the experience hit me. In the darkest times, strangers became neighbors, and neighbors became family. I began to sob, overwhelmed.

Stacey Terterian, a Fresno native, with the mountains of Armenia in the background.

I was reminded of a cliche: Everything happens for a reason. Theres a reason this phrase exists as well. My journey, marked by loss and challenges, had led me to this point. I realized with amazement that what had been a void came to become my profound love for Armenia. In those weeks it had become my anchor. I knew for certain I was home.

I thought back to my childhood, to stories shared by my grandmother about her own hardship, hope, and survival, fueled by a connection to the land, mountains, and people of Armenia. The writer William Saroyan, born in Fresno like me, had felt it once as well. Go ahead, destroy this race, he wrote. See if they will not live again. See if they will not laugh again.

For centuries, Armenians have been fighting Turkey and Azerbaijan for the right to live peacefully in their ancestral land. A picturesque land, rich in both beauty and history. Armenians know despair; they know resilience as well. My journey embodies that spirit.

Armenia, my love, with its mountains and history and people, now truly has become my home. I will help it find resilience, and I too will laugh again.
A man holds a Russian flag out of the window of a car drives past the Russian Consulate General during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

Dozens of people queuing to cast their ballots at midday as part of a protest mounted on the last day of the Russian presidential elections have been arrested, human rights activists reported.

The OVD-Info human rights media project counted around 50 arrests up to early afternoon, half of them in Kazan, a city on the Volga River some 700 kilometres east of Moscow. Arrests were also reported in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Many of those arrested turned up to vote precisely at noon as part of a "Noon against Putin" protest aimed at signalling opposition to the way the elections have been conducted. Backers of the protest include supporters of Alexei Navalny, the activist who died in a penal colony in the Polar Circle last month.

Some of the arrests did not take place at the voting locations. One activist was detained as she left her home in St. Petersburg, the reports said. Some of those arrested were released soon afterwards.

Russian citizens stand in a long queue outside the Russian Consulate General to vote during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

Demonstrators stand across the street from the Russian Consulate General and protest against President Putin during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
The drinks are flowing on East Broadway just in time for St Patricks Day.

South Bostons The Playwright Bar welcomed its first weekend visitors Saturday since closing for renovations in 2022.

 WERE SO BACK. Set your alarms, were shipping off at 9 AM, Saturday & Sunday, to close, the bar wrote on Instagram Saturday.

The neighborhood bar was a Southie watering hole for nearly two decades before temporarily shutting its doors for an overhaul.

You all love us so much we had no other choice but to double in size (but dont worry, well never lose our charm ), the bar wrote on Facebook when it announced its closure.

Luxury apartments will soon be able to rent over the beloved bar.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has stated at the Forum of Russian Volunteers that a real "ballot box rebellion" started during the so-called presidential elections in Russia  nowhere else in the world could you find so many spoiled ballot papers and wrecked ballot boxes.

Source: Budanov in a speech at the Forum of Russian Volunteers, as reported by the DIU

Quote: "Putin realises that in the eyes of world leaders, mainly China, he is becoming an unstable ruler who is unable to guarantee order at the elections in his country. He is revealing himself as a weakling to his people and the elite. Weakness is what he fears most. What is going on in Russia right now is weakening his regime in general and Putin personally. We must use this weakness and make it into an additional weapon."

Details: Budanov stressed that Putins so-called elections are illegitimate.

"Whatever result the Russian Central Election Commission reports, it is fake, because the election failed, and not only in the border regions. [Electoral committees at] many polling stations will not be able to count the ballots because Russian activists, realising the illegitimacy of these elections, are spoiling them," Budanov noted.

In his address, Budanov also remarked that the limited military operation by armed formations of the Russian opposition in Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts is only the beginning of their fight for their country.

"Russian citizens have decided to liberate their country from its long-time dictator and his accomplices who usurped power, unlawfully changed the Constitution and now live in an alternate reality. The war against Putins regime is citizens [exercising their] lawful right to demand justice," Budanov said.

Background: The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation predicted a record-breaking "election" victory for Vladimir Putin with 87.5% of the vote.

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Public discourse isnt what it used to be.

In more civilized days, a states decision to craft laws and defend them in court  all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court  would have gained headlines, to be sure. But those stories would have universally focused on the issues, discussing the public policy enacted and the underlying legal arguments for nationally consequential rulings.

It looks like those days are gone. Now, instead of carefully considering laws and court decisions, and debating different viewpoints in the public square, far too many would-be legal commentators settle for distraction through baseless character assassinations. Sadly, thats what readers of the Idaho Statesman encountered in a recent commentary that former candidate for state attorney general Tom Arkoosh penned.

The U.S. Supreme Court docket currently includes two cases where Idaho is defending state laws duly enacted by the people and their elected representatives. In Idaho v. United States, the state seeks to guard against the Biden administrations overt attempt to override Idahos Defense of Life Act, which protects women and unborn children by preventing doctors from performing abortions unless necessary to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.

And in Labrador v. Poe, the state is defending its Vulnerable Child Protection Act, which protects children from so-called transition drugs and procedures. The law supports childrens natural biological development by limiting procedures  like puberty-blocking drugs and body-altering surgeries  that harm children diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Activists have sued the state, which is now asking the nations high court to narrow a lower courts order to cover only the challengers and allow Idaho to otherwise enforce its law and protect children while the case continues. Even the activists concede that some of the procedures the court order allows are inappropriate for kids.

Idahos position in both of these cases enjoys broad support from a wide range of respected authorities in the legal, policy and medical fields. That they are being contested by those who hold opposing ideological views should surprise no one. Likewise, that a state attorney generals office would defend the peoples laws isnt exactly shocking; after all, thats the attorney generals job.

Yet, to Arkoosh, these mundane facts are scandalous. In his world, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labradors decision to defend his states laws  and specifically, to enlist the help of two successful Supreme Court legal organizations  is somehow harming Idahoans.

Rather than debating the legislatures policy choices or the legal arguments Labrador is making, Arkoosh levels the wildly untethered assertion that Idaho has somehow yielded its sovereignty by partnering with respected Supreme Court advocate Alliance Defending Freedom  my employer  to help defend Idahos laws. For those who are even remotely familiar with the workings of attorney general offices, that assertion is laughable.

As the former solicitor general for the state of Michigan, I can say from experience that its common practice for attorneys general to hire outside legal experts for litigation on all manner of cases. And if that expertise costs taxpayers little or no money, so much the better.

In fact, when Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison faced a legislative attempt to deny his office the ability to retain outside counsel two years ago, he opposed the effort by pointing to the millions of dollars his state saves through pro-bono attorneys. That Alliance Defending Freedom does not charge for the services it provides is something most taxpayers would celebrate.

This brings us to the real crux of Arkooshs complaints. Rather than debating the wisdom of Idahos laws or the legal arguments the state advances, he launches an ad hominem attack on Alliance Defending Freedom. Relying entirely on the highly discredited, deeply partisan Southern Poverty Law Center, Arkoosh mimics a recent MSNBC news segment by demeaning mainstream American views on the dignity of life and God-given freedoms as Christian Nationalism. Thats ridiculous.

Even those who generally support the SPLCs work publicly disagree with its inclusion of ADF on the so-called hate map. That includes former American Civil Liberties Union President Nadine Strossen, who refers to ADF as a valuable ally on important issues of public concern.

Others are more blunt, including Elon Musk, who recently called the SPLC a scam  the same word former SPLC staffer Bob Moser used to describe the organization in a lengthy New Yorker piece in 2019.

In fact, ADF has won 15 victories at the Supreme Court since just 2011. These wins, in addition to the hundreds of legal successes ADF has achieved in lower courts over the years, protect foundational freedoms like free speech and religious liberty for every American, regardless of their beliefs  including Arkoosh.

We can do better than resorting to baseless attacks and smear tactics. Lets get back to debating the merits of important public issues rather than mudslinging. And lets be thankful that, as Americans, we can see these matters through to their proper conclusion in our court system, including at the Supreme Court itself.

John Bursch is senior counsel and vice president of appellate advocacy with Alliance Defending Freedom and was the solicitor general in the Michigan Attorney Generals Office from 2011 to 2013. He has argued 12 U.S. Supreme Court cases and litigated many more.
The BBC will investigate staff social media use after a journalist who reported claims that Israeli soldiers beat medics in Gaza liked pro-Hamas posts.

The BBC Arabic reporter Soha Ibrahim helped on a story relating to allegations that Palestinian medical staff were blindfolded, beaten and stripped by Israeli security personnel.

It has now been reported that the journalist liked social media posts claiming that Israel was genocidal and that Hamas are freedom fighters.

The BBC has said it treats breach of its social media guidelines extremely seriously, and will investigate each case in detail.

The corporation has, however, stated that it stands by the report about alleged Israeli abuses of Palestinian medical staff that Ms Ibrahim worked on in her role as a senior journalist for Digital Daily Output.

Comparing Hamas to freedom fighters

Ms Ibrahim liked a string of posts on X, formerly Twitter, relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict, including a post immediately after the October 7 attacks which likened Hamas terrorists to freedom fighters.

She liked a video explaining Marxist thinker Frantz Fanons justification for people to use violence to oppose oppression, and another claiming that Israel was aiming to carry out massacres.

The London-based journalist also liked several posts claiming the Israel was carrying out a genocide, and one which criticised her own employer, the BBC, for not properly covering the bombing of Gaza.

Ms Ibrahim liked a post from Jeremy Corbyn defending pro-Palestine marches taking place across the UK, in which the former Labour leader stated: Protesting against the mass slaughter of civilians is not a threat to democracy.

She also liked a post about a Queer March for Palestine in Cardiff which insisted there would be No Genocide Under Our Rainbow, and added: Protesters strongly reject Israels pink washing of its onslaught in Gaza.

The BBC has said it is looking into claims of a potential breach of social media guidelines which require strict impartiality from staff.

A spokesman for the broadcaster said: As we have said previously, we take allegations of breaches of our social media guidance very seriously and we took urgent action to investigate each case in detail.

We do not comment on individual staff matters, however, if we find breaches we take the appropriate action.

We stand by our journalism

Camera, an organisation which seeks to monitor media coverage of Israel, has raised concerns about BBC staffing.

A spokesman for the group claimed that there are BBC staff members who cover the war for the corporation while their personal social media accounts clearly indicate that they are not impartial observers.

A statement from the group added that it was time to ask what happened to quality journalism the BBC purports to produce in exchange for the British publics licence fee payments.

While concerns have been raised about staffing, the BBC has insisted on the accuracy of the story Ms Ibrahim helped with, which was headlined Gaza medics tell BBC that Israeli troops beat and humiliated them after hospital raid.

A BBC spokesman said: We stand by our journalism. Those who have read our story will know the BBC has been transparent in telling audiences where and how information is corroborated and attributed, and where this has not been possible.

We have provided multiple first-hand accounts, named independent sources, shared visual evidence, and included rights of reply throughout, working to the highest standards of journalism.

Ms Ibrahim has been contacted for comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Environment Ministry officials in Slovakia are considering asking for fewer protections for bears after a series of attacks on humans. Photo by Luong Thai Linh/EPA

March 17 (UPI) -- Two people were hospitalized after being attacked by a bear in Slovakia, officials reported Sunday. The Environment Ministry may propose making the animals easier to hunt to reduce their population.

A 49-year-old woman suffered a wound to her shoulder and a 72-year-old man was treated for a gash on his hand from the bear in the town of Liptovsky Mikulas, emergency services said.

Police drove the bear out of town, they reported.

Videos posted on social media showed the bear bounding along a road, and in one, lunging at a man on the pavement.

A day prior to the latest attack, a 31-year-old Belarussian woman apparently fell to her death trying to escape a brown bear in the nearby Low Tatra mountains.

She and a male companion had been walking in the thickly forested area when the bear approached them.

The man and woman fled in different directions. A rescue dog found the victim's body shortly after the male hiker called authorities for help.

There have been several relatively recent bear attacks in Slovakia including a fatal one in 2021. The country had not reported a lethal bear attack in more than a century.

Improved protections in Central and Eastern Europe have meant bears have returned to their natural habitats across the Carpathian mountain range, which stretches from Romania through western Ukraine and to Slovakia and Poland.

The uptick in human-bear interactions has prompted the Environment Ministry to consider calling on the European Union to loosen protections for bears, making it easier to hunt them in an attempt to reduce their numbers and lower the threat of such encounters.

The ministry has said it may revisit the bears' status on the protected species list, arguing their increasing numbers mean they are no longer endangered and can be selectively hunted, culling the herds.

Researchers have argued there has been no sharp increase in Slovakia's bear population, which they say remains stable at around 1,275.
As spring breaks beckon and better weather is on the horizon, many thoughts turn to vacation destinations. With a focus on the creme de la creme  vital, accessible and unforgettable voyages that every central Ohio resident should put on his or her bucket list  we offer suggestions that will appeal to most everyone.

From a circle tour of our Great Lake to the architectural wonders of a modernist sister city three hours away, these four extraordinary adventures are wonderful ways to widen your horizons in 2024.

Today's installment is Part 1 of 4 destination packages from Columbus Monthly's annual travel guide. We hope you enjoy.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

With a combination of stunning views, maritime and geological history and a variety of outdoor activities, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore  the first National Lakeshore in the United States  is a long weekend retreat for outdoors enthusiasts. The eight-and-a-half-hour drive to Pictured Rocks may seem daunting, but it goes quickly, especially with the 75 mph speed limit on I-75, Michigans superhighway to the north. The journey provides glimpses of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, a drive over the nearly 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge, and many roadside places along the way to purchase whitefish, fudge and pasties (root vegetables and beef folded into a pastry shell).

At Pictured Rocks, the waves and winds of Lake Superior have sculpted sandstone cliffs over millions of years, providing many stunning geological scenes. Visitors can experience sea caves, arches, turrets, spires and Chapel Rock, an iconic sandstone structure topped with a lone white pine, whose roots bridge it to the mainland.

Twelvemile Beach on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

And day hiking opportunities are plenty, with 42 miles of hiking trails. You can explore sand dunes, streams and rivers feeding Lake Superior. Hardwood forests of hemlock, American beech, maple and white pine and wetlands and cedar glades provide a rich assortment of terrain for serious hikers and backpackers.

There are a multitude of ways to experience the area, with perspectives (and colors) changing dramatically based on mode of transit.

Explore Pictured Rocks by sea

While the forests and some of the sculpted elements of Pictured Rocks can be appreciated by foot, the intricate layers of color staining the sandstone are best viewed from frigid Lake Superior. The Upper Peninsula is rich in minerals (which is why Michiganders claim they won the Toledo War in 1835-36, when their state gained the peninsula and Ohio retained Toledo). Iron, copper, manganese and limonite in the groundwater that spills through the cliffs provide deep reds and oranges, blue and green, brown and black, and white tints, respectively.

An official concessionaire of the National Park Service, Pictured Rocks Cruises offers several two-and-a-half-hour trips a day, as well as a sunset cruise. An open upper-deck and congregation area on the back of the vessel allows for plenty of picture taking, though at some point, its good to put aside the phone and just take in the scenes. Tours include a jaunt to one of the boat-size sea caves, which invariably includes a dad joke about not knowing how to back out.

A kayaker along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising, Michigan

Kayaking tours, which allow for a closer perspective of the cliffs, are also available through Pictured Rocks Kayaking. If the lake is choppy or its particularly windy (usually accompanied by a small craft advisory warning issued by the National Weather Service), the tour will be canceled and refunds will be issued.

Finally, water-top views of the nearby Alger Underwater Preserve are offered through Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tours, based out of Munising, just west of Pictured Rocks. Boat tours include shipwreck sites, rock cliffs and caves, a historic lighthouse and views of Grand Island and Munising Bay. And be on the lookout for bald eagles that nest along the shoreline.

See the sights of Pictured Rocks by land

Backpacking Pictured Rocks takes considerably more planning and requires backcountry camping permits and campsite reservations, which go on sale for the year on Jan. 1. The trail runs along Lake Superior  sometimes on the beach and sometimes on cliffs, 50 to 200 feet above the water.

Miners Falls at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising, Michigan

Exploring on foot provides opportunities not easily available otherwise. Stops along the way include Miners Beach and Miners Castle, Sevenmile Creek, Au Sable Light Station (completed in 1874), views of fish jumping upstream to spawn in Hurricane River, an opportunity to sit atop the 70-foot Spray Falls, and access to Grand Sable Dunes. And Lake Superior, with its Caribbean-esque color, is always a guide. (Its difficult to get lost on this trek.)

Driving logistics  which include securing a parking pass and booking a shuttle for the return to the car  should be sorted out in advance, as there is no cellphone service. And from May to October, bug spray (with DEET) and netting is essential to avoid the incessant mosquitos, stable flies and biting black flies of the area.

Where to stay at Pictured Rocks

Pictured Rocks Inn and Suites wont be the star of your Instagram posts, but the Munising hotel is clean, centrally located and boasts a friendly staff. For outdoor stays, Munising Tourist Park Campground is an expansive lakeside field (think: rows of tents and RVs) with car camping amenities such as showers, electricity and potable water. In addition to backcountry camping, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers three drive-in campgrounds at Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River. picturedrocksinn.com, munisingtouristpark.com, nps.gov/piro

An abandoned iron ore dock on the Marquette waterfront along Lake Superior

Side trip to Marquette

About 45 miles away from Pictured Rocks is charming Marquette, the home of Northern Michigan University. Visit Lakenenland Sculpture Park, a free roadside attraction about 14 miles east of Marquette, with more than 100 whimsical sculptures created by iron welder Tom Lakenen. The park is never closed and can accommodate snowmobiles, vehicles and pedestrians. In Marquette proper, check out Blackrocks at Presque Isle Park, where (if you can summon the courage) you can join the college students in cliff jumping during the summer. Close the day with a stroll of downtown Marquettes shops and a whitefish dinner at the historic Vierling Restaurant. travelmarquette.com

This story is from the Best Driving Vacations package in the February 2024 issue of Columbus Monthly.

This article originally appeared on Columbus Monthly: Gorgeous Views and Activities Abound on Michigans Upper Peninsula
ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/ KUSI) A man was found dead along an Encinitas roadway Sunday, authorities said.

According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, deputies responded to a call reporting that a bicyclist was down in the 2700 block of S. Coast Highway 101 shortly after midnight.

Two killed in crash involving three vehicles on I-15

Upon their arrival, deputies found a 48-year-old man and a bicycle in the northbound bike lane area of the road. Paramedics attempted life saving measures but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, SDSO confirmed.

The mans name is being withheld at this time pending notification of family. The San Diego County Medical Examiners Office will release those details at a later date. According to authorities, however, hes believed to be a resident of Encinitas.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. SDSO said its unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs was a factor in this incident. There was no apparent indication or evidence of a collision with a vehicle located at the scene, authorities explained further.

Anyone who may have additional information related to the collision is encouraged to call the North Coastal Sheriffs Station Traffic Division at (760) 966-3500.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
In February, President Joe Biden faced the most significant doubts to date about his advanced age and mental acuity. His donors were undeterred. Niall Carson/Getty Images

Even as President Joe Biden has tried to fend off growing questions about his age and electability, he continued to inspire donations from supporters last month, bringing in $53 million, according to his reelection campaign.

The February haul  the combined total raised by Bidens campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and authorized joint fundraising committees  is an increase from the $42 million that Biden raised in January. The campaigns consistently strong fundraising has enabled Biden to amass $155 million in cash on hand, the largest amount any Democratic presidential candidate has ever raised at this point in the election cycle, his campaign said Sunday.

President Biden continues to see record-breaking grassroots enthusiasm around a historic and winning agenda, while Donald Trump is poised to enter the general election broke, saddled by his unwavering support for the extremism Americans repeatedly reject at the ballot box, Biden deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty said in a statement.

The campaign is not relying on big checks alone, suggesting that grassroots enthusiasm for the president still runs deep. In February, Biden received 562,000 contributions from 469,000 unique donors, according to the campaign. And since he began running for reelection, 97% of all individual donations were under $200.

Biden and Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, both clinched their respective party nominations on Tuesday, after primary wins enabled them to lock up a majority of convention delegates.

Neither candidates hold on the nomination was ever seriously in doubt, but Trumps nearest rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, gave him a run for his money in some key states, and won Vermont and the District of Columbia. And unlike Biden, Trump has only just begun fully coordinating with the Republican National Committee.

As a result of his preoccupation with the primary, mounting legal costs and overall management failures, Trump is seriously behind Biden in fundraising. In January, he raised $8.9 million and spent more than $11 million, ending the month with just over $30 million in cash on hand.

The RNC has also struggled to raise money, bringing in less in 2023 than in any year since 2015. Trump retook control of the RNC earlier this month, appointing ally Michael Whatley as chair and daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.

Trumps campaign has insisted that he will not use the money from coordinated fundraising with the RNC to coverlegal bills. But through the authorized Save America PAC and the Make America Great Again PAC  a super PAC that is technically barred from coordinating with Trump  Trump spent more than $54 million of donors money on legal bills in 2023.

For his part, Biden has been trying to capitalize on momentum generated by his aggressive State of the Union speech earlier this month. He has been hitting the road more, and is funding a $30 million ad blitz contrasting himself with Trump in seven battleground states.

Related...
ABN AMRO Bank (AMS:ABN) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: 8.78b (up 13% from FY 2022).

Net income: 2.61b (up 47% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 30% (up from 23% in FY 2022). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue.

EPS: 2.99 (up from 1.96 in FY 2022).

ABN Banking Performance Indicators

Net interest margin (NIM): 1.57% (up from 1.29% in FY 2022).

Cost-to-income ratio: 60.7% (down from 69.2% in FY 2022).

Non-performing loans: 1.83% (down from 2.00% in FY 2022).

ENXTAM:ABN Revenue and Expenses Breakdown March 17th 2024

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

ABN AMRO Bank EPS Beats Expectations

Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) surpassed analyst estimates by 7.9%.

The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the Personal & Business Banking segment contributing a total revenue of 4.04b (46% of total revenue). The largest operating expense was General & Administrative costs, amounting to 5.06b (82% of total expenses). Explore how ABN's revenue and expenses shape its earnings.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to stay flat during the next 3 years compared to a 3.2% growth forecast for the Banks industry in Europe.

Performance of the market in the Netherlands.

The company's shares are up 2.3% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for ABN AMRO Bank (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

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.
Joe Bidens campaign has accused his rival Donald Trump of wanting another January 6 after the former president warned there would be an economic bloodbath if he loses the election.

Speaking in Ohio on Saturday to endorse GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, Mr Trump told the crowd: Now, if I dont get elected ... its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

In response, the Biden-Harris campaign issued a statement, stating that Mr Trump wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge.

Biden-Harris campaign statement on Trump tonight promising a bloodbath if he loses pic.twitter.com/8mBYh4QKnf  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 17, 2024

This is who Donald Trump is: a loser who gets beat by over 7 million votes and then, instead of appealing to a wider mainstream audience, doubles down on his threats of political violence, the Biden team added.

The former presidents comment came in the context of promising a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made cars. Youre not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected, Mr Trump said at the rally.

Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. Thatll be the least of it.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed that the bloodbath comment was related to violence, clarifying to the Washington Post that the 2024 GOP frontrunner was referring to cars made outside of the US. If you actually watch and listen to the section, he was talking about the auto industry and tariffs, Mr Cheung told the outlet. Bidens policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and auto workers, he said.

Senior Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller said on X, emphasising that Mr Trump was talking about the auto industry. He added, Crooked Joe Bidens Insane EV Mandate will slaughter the American auto industry. So many jobs killed! Thats why we have to elect President Trump.

For the auto industry, correct.



Crooked Joe Bidens Insane EV Mandate will slaughter the American auto industry.



So many jobs killed!



Thats why we have to elect President Trump. https://t.co/sLsp6mCUtP  Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) March 16, 2024

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, questioned what Mr Trump meant by his bloodbath remark. She told CNN on Sunday, We just have to win this election because hes even predicting a bloodbath. What does that mean? Hes going to exact a bloodbath? Theres something wrong here.

The California Democrat said: How respectful I am of the American people and their goodness. But how much more do they have to see from him to understand that this isnt what our country is about.

Meanwhile, members of Mr Trumps party flocked to his defence. South Dakota Republican senator Mike Rounds told CNN on Sunday: With regard to the autoworkers that he was talking to, he is showing them or hes telling them what has been an economic downturn for them.

Louisiana Republican senator Bill Cassidy told NBC News: You could also look at the definition of bloodbath and it could be an economic disaster. And so if hes speaking about the auto industry, in particular in Ohio, [that gives it] a little bit more context.

But Mr Trumps speech as a whole, Mr Cassidy said, begged another question: The general tone of the speech is why many Americans continue to wonder, Should President Trump be president? That kind of rhetoric, its always on the edge. Maybe doesnt cross, maybe does, depending upon your perspective.

At the rally, Mr Trump also escalated his attack against undocumented immigrants. I dont know if you call them people, he said. In some cases, theyre not people, in my opinion. But Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say.

The former president has not been shy about his anti-immigrant agenda. During his 2016 presidential run, he described Mexican migrants who entered the US as rapists and murderers.

More recently, at a December rally, he told the crowd: Theyre poisoning the blood of the country. Thats what theyve done. After that attack, the Biden campaign condemned his dehumanising language and accused him of channeling his role models and parroted Adolf Hitler.

Mr Trump also mentioned Laken Riley  the Georgia nursing student who was murdered last month. Her murder suspect is an undocumented migrant. In the immediate aftermath of her death, Mr Trump took to Truth Social to label the suspect as a monster and to blame Crooked Joe Bidens Border INVASION for destroying our country and killing our citizens!

He repeated the same language on Saturday, when he told the crowd, The Republican party, we believe that Lakens killer is an illegal alien criminal. Mr Trump added, Never ever would he have been in our country if the election werent rigged, adding another familiar phrase.

At his State of the Union address, Mr Biden said: Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, a description for which he later apologised, saying he should instead have said undocumented.

Mr Biden added: But how many thousands of people, being killed by legals? Mr Biden then turned the tables on Mr Trump, blaming him for the collapse of a border bill compromise. Politics [has] derailed this bill so far. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill, Mr Biden said of Mr Trump, whose name he would not say.

I would respectfully suggest to my Republican friends ... to the American people  get this bill done. We need to act now, he added.

Republicans shied away from the border deal last month at the urging of Mr Trump who did not want Mr Biden to have a victory on the issue ahead of the election.

Meanwhile the former vice president Mike Pence announced on Saturday that he refused to endorse Mr Trump and added that he wouldnt be voting for Mr Biden either.

Mr Pence, a former 2024 presidential hopeful, said on Saturday: It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year.

But that being said, during my presidential campaign, I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues and not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised on January 6, he said on Fox News.

He added, Im going to keep my vote to myself. I would never vote for Joe Biden. How I vote when that curtain closes, thatll be for me.

In its fiery statement after the Ohio rally, the Biden-Harris team mentioned the minor defeat for Mr Trump, attributing the former presidents decision to praise dictators, promise to pardon political violence, and launch racist attacks against Black and brown Americans to why Mr Pence came out against Mr Trump.
US President Joe Biden has made a joke about his opponent in the presidential election, Donald Trump, during a speech at the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington, DC.

Source: Reuters, citing Biden, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Biden spoke to over 650 guests, including Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, and TikTok CEO Zi Chew.

"One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other one is me," Biden said.

Biden emphasised the press's vital role, saying it is not the "enemy of the people", a sharp contrast to Trump's previous remarks about the media.

He also mentioned Russia's war against Ukraine: "We will not bow down, they (Ukrainians) will not bow down and I will not bow down," the US president stressed.

Background:

Earlier, Biden and Trump won enough delegates to secure the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, respectively.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed a slight advantage for Biden over Trump.

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US President Joe Biden joked about Donald Trump and his own age at an annual media dinner on Saturday -- before unloading deadly serious criticisms of his rival in November's election.

"One candidate's too old and mentally unfit to be president," the 81-year-old Democrat quipped at the Gridiron Club in Washington. "The other guy's me."

Democrat Biden was making his first speech as president at the annual white tie gala for the US media and political elite, an event that Republican former president Trump addressed in 2018.

Biden is trailing in a number of polls and faces voters concerns about his age, which he has tried to address by highlighting 77-year-old Trump's recent verbal slip-ups.

In his remarks, Biden took a swipe at Republicans in Congress who have launched an impeachment inquiry into his son's business dealings, saying they would "rather fail at impeachment than succeed at anything else."

He added that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, sitting at the head table with Biden on the eve of St. Patrick's Day "took one look at Congress and he asked for another Guinness."

Varadkar and Biden both pushed during a meeting at the White House on Friday for Republicans in Congress to stop blocking military aid for Ukraine to fight Russia's invasion.

But Biden then returned to Trump, saying that the Democrats' election campaign would show how they rebuilt the US economy after the Covid-19 pandemic "without encouraging the American people to inject bleach."

He was referring to an incident when Trump, as president, asked a top medical advisor whether virus victims could be injected with disinfectant to cure them.

"Look, I wish these were jokes, but they're not," added Biden.

"Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin's on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says, 'Do whatever the hell you want.'"

Noting that Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a strong critic of Russia, was also at his table, he added "We will not bow down, they will not bow down and I will not bow down."

Biden added that Trump's false claims to have won the 2020 election, and the January 6 2021 Capitol assault by pro-Trump rioters, showed there was "poison coursing through the veins of our democracy."

He also backed journalists whom Trump has repeatedly attacked, adding: "You are not the enemy of the people. You are a pillar of any free society."

In his own appearance at the Gridiron Club six years ago, Trump did trade unusually playful digs with the Washington press corps and also joked about North Korea and his own leadership style.

The Gridiron dinner -- held behind closed doors with no photos allowed -- sees Washington's elite unwind for a night of self-deprecatory humor which includes costumed members performing a song.

dk/sn
The Biden administrations legal battle over social media content moderation will reach the Supreme Court on Monday, when the justices are set to hear arguments over whether federal officials violated the First Amendment by urging platforms to remove posts they deemed false or misleading.

Two Republican attorneys general brought the case in a challenge to the administrations efforts to curb misinformation online  an effort they described as a government campaign of censorship. They purported federal officials coordinated and colluded with social media platforms to identify disfavored speakers, viewpoints, and content.

At the heart of the case were attempts by the Biden administration to police online misinformation about the legitimacy of the 2020 election and COVID-19, when doubts about vaccines ran rampant.

The question is how you draw the line between government speech that is permissible and government speech that imposes coercive power on the platforms  or excessive entanglement, excessive cooperation between private speakers and the government, said Bob Corn-Revere, chief counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

And thats the difficult line that the court is going to try and draw, he said.

A Louisiana-based federal judge sided with the attorneys general last summer and barred Biden administration officials from contacting social media companies relating to any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.

But court watchers criticized the district court judges decision as overbroad, and in September, a three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals narrowed the judges order.

However, the 5th Circuit panel agreed with the lower court that Biden administration officials likely did violate the First Amendment by urging social media companies to take down specific content, ruling that federal agencies cannot coerce social media platforms to remove posts countering the governments stance.

At first, the 5th Circuit judges found that the White House, FBI and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention crossed the line into coercion, while the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and State Department did not. After rehearing the case, the panel ruled that CISA did overstep.

After the Supreme Court took up the case, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey  one of the two GOP attorneys general who brought the case  said his team looks forward to dismantling Joe Bidens vast censorship enterprise at the nations highest court.

The Biden administration has argued that barring talk between federal officials and social media companies limits the governments ability to address matters of public concern, prevent national security threats and relay information.

Of course, the government cannot punish people for expressing different views, and it cannot accomplish the same thing indirectly by threatening to punish private actors for disseminating those views, the Justice Department wrote in its brief to the Supreme Court.

But so long as the government seeks to inform and persuade rather than to compel, its speech poses no First Amendment concern  even if government officials state their views in strong terms, and even if private actors change their speech or conduct in response, the brief continued.

Tech groups have vigorously asserted their positions in amicus briefs to the Supreme Court, many arguing that the justices should steer clear of labeling them state actors because of their communication with the government.

They are private platforms. They have their own First Amendment rights. And just because they have been pushed into a corner by an administration and basically strong-armed into playing ball, they dont want to have that be the factor that converts them into state actors, Corn-Revere said.

David Greene, director of civil liberties at the digital rights advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in a statement that there are times when communication between government officials and social media platforms is permissible, appropriate and even good public policy. But when the government crosses the line into co-option of content moderation, it becomes a serious threat to freedom of speech.

The Supreme Court must independently review the record and make the searching distinctions that the lower courts did not, Greene said.

The case adds to a Supreme Court term dominated by critical social media issues that could have resounding implications for online speech.

Earlier this term, the justices heard cases probing whether public officials can block critical constituents from their personal social media accounts and whether the U.S. Constitution allows states to stop social media companies from removing posts over their viewpoints.

Later Monday, the justices will consider whether a New York state official infringed on the National Rifle Associations speech by discouraging banks and insurers from working with it  a case that draws parallels to the Biden administrations social media case.

If the justices questioning follows current trends, the Biden administration could face sharp criticism on and some alarm about the governments relationship with social media companies.

During arguments last month over the two state social media laws, Justice Samuel Alito quipped that deeming what he called censorship as content moderation verges into an Orwellian temptation to recategorize offensive conduct in seemingly bland terms.

Justice Elena Kagan drew attention to the fine line between First Amendment-protected action and state action by citing former President Trumps account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in arguments for the social media blocking case.

The high court issued a stay of the 5th Circuits injunction until after it decides the case on its merits, meaning administrative officials could continue contacting social media companies while the justices consider the case.

Alito, along with fellow conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, forcefully dissented.

At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news, Alito wrote in his dissenting opinion. That is most unfortunate.

But Corn-Revere warned that the issue before the court is not a partisan one; federal and state officials across party lines could be equally restricted by a ruling to curb the bullying of social media platforms into doing the governments bidding.

It is an effort by the Court, I believe, to lay down rules for what the limits are of the government being able to put its thumb on the scale, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee youth biking group is gearing up for their upcoming season, and the city's largest bike swap is making that possible.

"Its so much easier than it looks, always," said Paddy Joyce, a mountain biker and youth participant in MKE MTB.

Joyce said there's nothing better than the adrenaline rush of maneuvering trails on two wheels.

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"Im going to try to get a lot better times, I think I can do it," he added.

Joyce and 20 other kids make up Milwaukee Mountain Bike  or MKE MTB. It's a program that Milwaukee Recreation offers to kids from grades six through 12.

Milwaukee Bike Bazaar 2024

"Mountain biking is truly going into the woods and riding on trails, and so we give them a different experience through the mountain bike program," said Andrew Rossa, recreation coordinator for Milwaukee Recreation.

Rossa said fundraising keeps the program going, and the Bike Bazaar was back on Saturday for its 15th year at Riverside University High School. New, used and vintage bikes were on sale. Thirty-nine vendors were selling everything from helmets, to shoes, to clothing.

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Milwaukee Bike Bazaar 2024

Milwaukee Mountain Bike said the sport can be quite expensive because of all the gear needed, in addition to the bike itself. They said the event's proceeds would go a long way to help the kids out.

"Its pretty nice, and its definitely helping and supporting us as an organization," added Joyce, who also said events like Saturday's will take the sport to new heights. "I hope that I just build my skills in general."

MKE MTB said they hope to add more kids to their roster. They are always looking for volunteers as well.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour also including the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with two key regional allies.

Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which Seoul is hosting this week.

Before arriving in Seoul, Blinken made a brief stop in Bahrain, where he spoke to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa about efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

The summit, which runs from March 18-20 will bring together government officials, NGOs and civil society members.

Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South, to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North.

Seoul's conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang's threats.

Blinken will meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho tae-yul, the ministry said, for discussions that will cover how to boost the alliance, as Washington and Seoul explore how to improve their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea.

The democracy summit has attracted some criticism due to its selective invitation list, which excludes countries that consider themselves democratic, such as Thailand and Turkey.

After Seoul, Blinken heads to Manila, a trip that will reaffirm "our unwavering commitment to the Philippine ally", according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

He will talk with local officials including President Ferdinand Marcos, with issues with China including over the South China Sea likely to top the agenda.

The US is redoubling efforts to improve longstanding ties with regional allies such as Manila, in an effort to counterbalance China.

Beijing recently accused Washington of using the Philippines as a "pawn" in the dispute over the South China Sea, after a series of clashes around bitterly-contested islets in the waters.

China claims almost the entire waterway, brushing aside competing claims from a host of Southeast Asian nations and an international ruling that has declared its stance baseless.

The South China Sea is strategically vital for several countries -- including China -- providing a key route for the import and export of essential fuel, food and other goods.

China has rapidly grown its naval forces in recent years, and snatched vast tracts of maritime territory, hoping to project its military and political power well beyond the country's shores.

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Bob Heil: he played the Wurlitzer organ from his teens into old age - UPI/Alamy

Bob Heil, who has died aged 83, was an audio engineer with two claims to fame. He was the godfather of the modern sound system used by touring rock bands, beginning with the Grateful Dead; and he invented the Talk Box, a voice-bending gizmo made famous by Peter Frampton in the 1970s.

The guitarist Joe Walsh, a friend and collaborator, was first to use the Talk Box, and when Heils death was announced he hailed him as An amazing musician... a mad scientist, a ham radio aficionado and evangelist, a tireless problem solver, a mentor to me and guide on my guitar journey.

Robert Heil was born in Marissa, a small farming and coal-mining town in Illinois, on October 5 1940. He learnt the organ as a boy, and by the age of 14 he was playing for six or eight hours a day in restaurants, he recalled.

Heil in 2006 with a speaker, and a sign from his original music shop - Derik Holtmann/Belleville News-Democrat/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

He became a protege of the great Wurlitzer organist Stan Kann, who let him loose on the instrument that dominated the Fox Theater in nearby St Louis. He received a thorough grounding in the organs electronics, which set him on his eventual career path. At home, he developed a passion for ham radio, building and maintaining his own systems.

In his early twenties he began designing and constructing amplifiers, as well as working on sound systems at concert venues, which at that time were primitive, weak affairs.

In 1966 he opened Ye Olde Music Shop (later renamed Heil Sound). Local musicians such as Michael McDonald (later of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers) and the band REO Speedwagon began bringing him their amplifiers to fix, and he started developing large-scale sound systems.

In 1970 the Grateful Dead were scheduled to play the Fox Theater, but had a big problem: their sound man Owsley Acid King Stanley  who alongside his audio talents was a chemist with a sideline in manufacturing LSD  had been detained by the police, along with the bands sound gear.

Accordingly, the bands frontman Jerry Garcia rang Heil, telling him, Hey man, I heard you have a really big PA. Heil began listing the equipment he used in his system, and Garcia interjected: Well, get it over here!

The Dead loved Heils work so much they took him on tour with them, and he created the template for the sound set-ups that bands now take round with them. The Who read about him in Billboard magazine and recruited him for their Whos Next tour.

Besides his work helping the monsters of rock roar, Heil came up with the Talk Box. There had been other devices that created a way to meld the guitar and the human voice, but Heil developed the first version that could be used reliably on stage.

Joe Walsh (like Heil, a radio ham), was the first to use the Box, while Peter Frampton recalled that he had first heard it when he was sitting in the sessions for George Harrisons All Things Must Pass album, and he bought a model from Heil soon after.

A Heil Talk Box signed by Peter Frampton and another exponent, Joe Walsh - Derik Holtmann/Belleville News-Democrat/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

He locked himself away for a fortnight to master the technique of using his voice  through a plastic tube linked to the guitar via an interface box  to modify the instruments sound and notes. He used it extensively on his albums Frampton and Frampton Comes Alive!, most notably on Show Me the Way, a Top Ten hit around the world in 1976. Other high-profile Talk-Boxers were Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Jeff Beck.

In 1978 Heil published the sound mans bible, The Practical Guide for Concert Sound, and later moved into designing and setting up high-end home-cinema systems, as well as lecturing, establishing a successful satellite-TV dealership and making microphones for radio hams and broadcaster.

He continued to play the Wurlitzer at the Fox Theater in St Louis, and amassed a collection of classic cars, notably 1950s Thunderbirds.

Bob Heil was married to Sarah, with whom he had two daughters and a stepson.

Bob Heil, born October 5 1940, died February 28 2024

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The Star requested body camera footage from all 47 fatal police shootings in Kansas from 2019 to 2023 under the Kansas Open Records Act.

Where recordings existed, officials denied releasing them to the public 67% of the time.

Officers were cleared of criminal wrongdoing in all of the cases.

Videos that officials released from other cities across Kansas varied: Some were heavily blurred, while others edited out either the beginning of the interaction or what transpired in the immediate aftermath of a shooting. Two agencies declined to release recordings, but allowed a reporter to watch the footage in their offices.

These are among the videos The Star obtained.
(KRON)  A person was found dead in Antioch, the Antioch Police Department announced.

Antioch police officers responded to the rear of the 2900 block of Melon Court for a reported fire at the request of ConFire at 6:51 p.m. on Saturday.

Man charged with DUI after allegedly crashing into roundabout in Petaluma

Responding officers located a deceased person who was severely burned. According to police, the cause of death is unknown. The autopsy is pending from the Contra Costa Sheriffs Coroners Office.

The Violet Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation.

This is an ongoing investigation. No further information has been released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A body believed to be that of a New Hampshire woman who went missing months ago has been found less than a mile away from her car, according to officials.

The remains, likely those of Barnstead resident Ashley Turcotte, were discovered in a wooded area on March 16, officials told WBZ.

Turcotte, who was in her early 30s, was last seen on Jan. 4 while shopping at a grocery store in town, according to the Barnstead Police Department. Her vehicle was found parked outside of town hall the next day, but there was no sign of her, police said.

More than two months after her disappearance, the state Fish and Game Department initiated a large scale land search in Barnstead, the department said in a March 16 news release. A group of 70 people set out looking for clues, the department said, but after about two hours of searching, they found a body.

The remains were located roughly half a mile from where Turcottes car had been parked when she was first reported missing, according to officials.

Snowy conditions at the time of Turcottes disappearance made it difficult to search for her, authorities told WMUR.

Additionally, there were no cameras installed at town hall, which could have recorded Turcotte, police told the Laconia Daily Sun in February, adding that cameras have since been put up.

Confirmation that the body is Turcottes is still pending, but the Fish and Game Department says it is believed to be hers.

Multiple local and state agencies, including the New Hampshire National Guard, assisted in the search, the department said.

Barnstead is about a 30-mile drive northeast of Manchester.

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(Bloomberg) -- Abu Dhabi officials are quietly orchestrating a fresh package of perks they hope will help propel the city up the ranks of the worlds biggest financial centers, from helping traders obtain coveted school admissions for their children to assisting them with securing memberships at country clubs.

Most Read from Bloomberg

While the citys $1.5 trillion in sovereign wealth capital will continue to be the main draw for hedge fund managers making a beeline for Abu Dhabi, officials are formalizing a program that will offer incentives, including lifestyle support and visas, as part of its overall package for finance professionals moving to the region.

The bet is that these perks, along with the citys tax-free status, sunny weather and a time zone that allows workers to trade across Asian, European and US hours, will help it continue to lure hedge fund titans from New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

We are positioning ourselves globally by benchmarking against the likes of Hong Kong and Singapore right now, said Arvind Ramamurthy, who leads market development at the Abu Dhabi Global Market, the emirates financial free-zone. In the long-term, we want to be compared with London and New York.

There are already signs that some of the citys early moves are working: Brevan Howard Asset Management now manages more money from the emirate than it does anywhere else on the planet. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Rothschild & Co. and Morgan Stanley are among the global financial firms opening up offices in Abu Dhabi.

The financial center had 1,825 operational entities as of the end of last year, up by a third from 2022. ADGM has said its been the fastest-growing financial center in the region for two consecutive years.

Story continues

Were connecting people to not just a pool of capital but are providing them a place to call their home, Ramamurthy said. We have quality capital.

Neighboring Dubai  long considered the Middle Easts de facto business and finance hub  offers similar advantages. Like Abu Dhabi, Dubais financial free-zone managed to draw in the hedge fund crowd through incentives including reduced licensing fees.

Izzy Englanders Millennium Management set up there recently and now has a staff of more than 70, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing non-public information.

Over the next year, Balyasny Asset Management aims to double its 12-person workforce in Dubai, another person familiar with the matter said. The fund already has big name hires making the move to the city, including consumer-focused equities portfolio manager Marco Minoli.

Lengthy Waiting Lists

But Dubais success has come at a cost. Waiting lists for schools and social clubs in the city run long; reservations at some restaurants can take weeks and key roads are routinely jammed. One executive recently complained it can take an hour during rush hour to exit the parking lots in the financial district. Thats likely to get worse  policymakers predict Dubais population will surge to 5.8 million in 2040 from over 3.5 million currently.

In contrast, streets and malls in Abu Dhabi are relatively less busy. Restaurants are starting to fill up, though reservations are easier to come by  for now. Thats why city officials are looking to seize this moment to offer up a fresh package of lifestyle perks in the hopes of luring more financiers to their ranks.

Brevan Howards decision to turn Abu Dhabi into its biggest risk-taking center is one of the clearest signs yet of the citys growing heft. The macro-trading investment firm now runs about $10 billion from the emirates international financial free-zone and it has grown its local team to more than 80 staffers.

The firms co-founder, billionaire Alan Howard, has predicted Abu Dhabi could become a global financial center.

You can see the BOJ beginning of the day and at the end of the day you can see the Fed, Howard said in a rare public appearance late last year. So that is an incredible advantage of Abu Dhabi and because of that we also need an execution desk here.

Welcoming the Rich

In addition to the favorable time zone and year-round sunshine that have drawn a plethora of traders to the region, the UAE is also one of few countries around the world that welcomes the rich. Thats a change of pace from other nations, where billionaires often find themselves under scrutiny.

Case in point: Britain is overhauling its system of preferential tax treatment for wealthy foreigners, a move aimed at multibillionaires but one that could potentially ensnare mid-level bankers too. That could well pave the way for a further influx into the United Arab Emirates, which doesnt tax personal income or capital gains.

Hedge fund managers resent the vilification of capitalism, reckless government spending and rising taxes in New York and London, said Andrew Beer, managing member of DBi, a New York-based investment firm. By comparison, Dubai and Abu Dhabi look like giant, sunny welcome mats.

Another element the city likes to promote is a relatively low rate of crime. One recent arrival, an executive who helps raise capital for clients including hedge funds, said he never locks his home. Fans of high-end watches can wear their Rolexes and walk through the city without fear of getting mugged, said another.

Policy Tweak

A key policy tweak is also helping both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

During the pandemic, the UAE started to break away from a decades-old economic model that linked residency to employment. In the past, expatriates  who make up 90% of the UAEs population  have had to leave when their jobs ended.

At the height of the global financial crisis, for instance, reports abounded of residents abandoning their luxury cars at Dubais airport to head home. A decade later, Dubai reported the steepest population decline in the Gulf as expatriates were forced to leave amid the economic upheaval wrought by the pandemic.

Officials wanted the country to shed this reputation of transience, and started to widen the eligibility net for 10-year golden visas, which can now be obtained by means including property purchases. That is prompting residents to consider staying longer.

Read more: Dubais Golden Visas Are Helping City Defy Global Office Slump

Take Mitesh Parikh: In 2018 he became one of first hedge fund traders to move to Dubai when he launched his own firm. He later merged the company with Schonfeld Strategic Advisors.

He had always planned to move back to London in a few years, but Parikh is now planning to stay in Dubai. Meanwhile, Schonfeld  where he co-heads the macro and fixed income trading business  has expanded to 28 people in the city.

The opportunity set is too good to miss, according to Austen Smart, whos managing director at Tighe international, which helps financial firms recruit executives in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. Singapore and Hong Kongs loss is the GCCs gain.

Read more: What Does the UAE Get for Its $35 Billion Investment in Egypt?

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January's mid-air blowout involved an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, such as this one

"It's as if I'm watching a troubled child" is how Captain Dennis Tajer describes flying a Boeing 737 Max.

The lead spokesman of the Allied Pilots Association, the pilots union for American Airlines, insists he would never board an aircraft if it were not safe.

But he says he can no longer take the quality of the plane he's flying for granted.

"I'm at an alert status that I've never had to be in on a Boeing airplane," he says.

"Because I don't trust that they've followed the processes that have previously kept me safe on Boeing airplanes for over three decades."

Executives at the aerospace giant's shiny new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia could be forgiven for feeling like they are under siege.

Every day seems to bring more bad headlines for the company, which is coming under pressure from regulators and airlines, and has seen its reputation badly damaged.

The trouble began in January, when a disused emergency exit door blew off a brand new Boeing 737 Max shortly after take-off from Portland International Airport.

An initial report from the US National Transportation Safety Board concluded that four bolts meant to attach the door securely to the aircraft had not been fitted.

Boeing is reportedly facing a criminal investigation into the incident itself, as well as legal action from passengers aboard the plane.

But although no-one was seriously hurt, the affair had much wider repercussions. It cast a harsh spotlight on the aerospace giant's corporate culture and attitude to safety.

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Five years ago Boeing faced one of the biggest scandals in its history, after two brand new 737 Max planes were lost in almost identical accidents that cost 346 lives.

The cause was flawed flight control software, details of which it was accused of deliberately concealing from regulators.

The company agreed to pay $2.5bn (1.8bn) to settle fraud charges, and admitted deception, though in later court hearings it formally pleaded not guilty. It subsequently faced widespread accusations that it had put profits ahead of passengers' lives.

It reaffirmed its commitment to safety, and in early 2020 its newly appointed chief executive Dave Calhoun promised it could "do better. Much better."

Yet the scrutiny that followed the incident in January this year has called that commitment into question.

Addressing those concerns, Mr Calhoun said: "We will go slow, we will not rush the system and we will take our time to do it right."

Earlier this month the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, said that a six-week audit of the 737 Max production process at Boeing and its supplier Spirit Aerosystems had found "multiple instances where the companies failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements".

The findings came shortly after another report into Boeing's safety culture by an expert panel found a "disconnect" between senior management and regular staff, as well as signs that staff were hesitant about reporting problems for fear of retaliation.

Adam Dickson, a former senior manager at Boeing who once worked on the 737 Max programme, agrees there is a gulf between executives and workers on the factory floor.

"The culture at Boeing has been toxic to trust for over a decade now," he says.

"You can add safety steps, you can add procedures. But the fundamental issue of distrust makes those changes almost ineffective", he claims.

Meanwhile, further evidence of how production problems could endanger safety emerged this week.

The FAA warned that improperly installed wiring bundles on 737 Max planes could become damaged, leading to controls on the wings deploying unexpectedly, and making the aircraft start to roll.

If not addressed, it said, this "could result in loss of control of the airplane". Hundreds of planes already in service will have to be checked as a result.

Boeing said based on the FAA audit it was continuing "to implement immediate changes and develop a comprehensive action plan to strengthen safety and quality, and build the confidence of our customers and their passengers."

A recent report found a "disconnect" between Boeing senior management and regular staff

But concerns about Boeing's production standards are far from new.

Whistleblower John Barnett, who was found dead last weekend, had worked at Boeing's factory in South Carolina from 2010 until his retirement in 2017.

A quality manager on the 787 Dreamliner programme, he had claimed the rush to build planes as quickly as possible in order to maximise profits had led to unsafe practices.

Among a number of allegations, he told the BBC that in some cases under-pressure workers had deliberately fitted substandard parts to planes on the production line.

Boeing denied his claims. But his untimely death, which occurred between legal hearings in a lawsuit against the company, has focused new attention on them.

The crisis at the aerospace giant is now causing problems for airlines.

Ryanair has warned that delays to new aircraft deliveries will push up prices for passengers in Europe this summer. US carrier Southwest plans to cut its capacity this year because it can't get hold of the planes it needs.

Some carriers may try to obtain Airbus models to replace the lost Boeings. But a wholesale transfer of orders from the American manufacturer to the European is simply impractical.

Both have very full order books. Airbus has a backlog of more than 8,000 planes and Boeing more than 6,000.

Airlines are already having to wait longer than they would like for new aircraft. Airbus has had its own supply chain problems, leading to late deliveries.

There is a potential third player. The Chinese manufacturer Comac has developed the C919, a plane designed to compete with the 737 Max and the A320 neo.

But that programme is still in its infancy. By 2028 it will be producing only 150 aircraft a year.

In other words, the market needs Boeing to be healthy, and to overcome its current problems quickly. So can that happen?

According to Ed Pierson, executive director at the Foundation for Aviation Safety, the issues involved are complex, but fixable.

Himself a former Boeing whistleblower, he has spent years lobbying regulators to take a firm approach to the company.

"Boeing, their suppliers, airlines, and government agencies are capable of overcoming these challenges, but the first step in fixing these problems is being honest," he says

"They need to admit these problems exist and stop trying to spin the truth. The more they spin, the longer it takes to solve the problems and the greater the risk."

Boeing says that over the last several years, it has "never hesitated to slow down, to halt production, or to stop deliveries to take the time we need to get things right".

It added that it has launched a "Speak Up" programme encouraging staff to raise issues that need to be addressed.
On January 5 a fuselage safety plug came loose and flew off mid-flight forcing the Boeing 737-9 Max plane into an emergency landing - Reuters

Boeing has won for 100 years because of innovation, and were going to continue to win in our second century with innovation, said Dennis Muilenburg at the corporations centenary celebration in 2016.

We cant stand still. We have to drive forward. Were currently building the rocket with Nasa that will take the first human to Mars.

Surrounded by current and former employees on Boeing Field, Seattle, the companys then chief executive had every reason to be optimistic.

Decades of aerospace innovation had given Boeing a reputation as one of the most dynamic companies in the world, and one of the USs top firms.

The airliner giant was about to embark on a 20-month stock run that would see its share price rise to an all-time high. It was consistently delivering more commercial planes than its old rival, Airbus.

Donald Trump, then running for his first term in the White House, would go on to strike a deal for the company to deliver a new model of Air Force One.

Door plug falls off at 16,000 feet

Eight years on, Boeing is facing its worst crisis in history, and has plummeted from its status as an archetypal American manufacturing leviathan to a national embarrassment.

On January 5, the company made headlines when the door plug of a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines fell off at 16,000 feet.

Terrified passengers saw their bags, clothes and mobile phones sucked out of the plane as it rapidly depressurised and, for minutes, most on board feared for their lives.

Some on the Alaska Airlines flight say they are so traumatised by their experience that the sound of a commercial jet overhead is enough to trigger panicked memories. Three have filed a lawsuit for $1 billion in damages.

Passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight say they are so traumatised by their experience that the sound of a commercial jet overhead is enough to trigger panicked memories - Via AP/Kelly Bartlett

The launch of an investigation by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) was not the worst of the companys worries, nor the first time that it had been probed over the same model of plane.

In March 2019, the 737 Max was grounded for 20 months after 346 people died in two similar crashes that investigators later discovered were linked to a new flight stabilisation feature Boeing had installed.

The ill-fated model went on to be certified again by the US transport authorities, with Boeing paying billions in damages to the airlines involved and the families of victims, and a further $243 million in criminal penalties.

Since the January 5 incident, the company has been suffering from a hellish version of the BaaderMeinhof Phenomenon: once one report of a failure at the company surfaced, they began to appear everywhere.

The following week, a 737 flying between the Japanese cities of Sapporo and Toyama was forced to land after a crack was discovered on a cockpit window. The week after that, a 747-8 was forced to make an emergency landing in Miami after it was reported to be on fire in mid-air.

In just the past three weeks, there were reports of a 737 Max that slid off a runway while landing in Houston, a 737-900 that was forced to land after flames were spotted spewing from its engine, a tyre that fell off a 777 in San Francisco and a cargo hold left ajar in Portland.

To compound the sense of crisis at Boeing a 737 Max skidded off the runway at Houston - Caters News /Mike Allard

Last weekend, a safety whistleblower at a Boeing factory in South Carolina was discovered dead in his car from an apparent suicide, while last Monday, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner nosedived during a flight from Sydney to Auckland, injuring dozens of passengers.

You know in The Exorcist, when the girl flies from the bed and hits the ceiling? Its exactly that scene, Brian Jokat, who was woken from sleep by the nosedive and slammed into the roof of the cabin, told the Wall Street Journal.

This week ended with reports of a 737-800 that arrived at Portland International Airport with part of an underside panel missing.

Boeings share price has plummeted 27 per cent this year

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, would not confirm to reporters that it was safe for Americans to fly on Boeing planes.

The incidents have seen Boeings share price plummet by 27 per cent since the start of the year, becoming the second-worst performer in the S&P 500, behind Tesla.

Economists have warned that as the USs biggest exporter, a collapse in enthusiasm for Boeing could affect Americas balance of trade. A national 6.1 per cent drop in orders for durable goods in the latest bulletin from the US Department of Commerce last month was largely due to a fall in demand for the companys planes.

Boeings woes even made it into the televised rant of John Oliver on HBOs Last Week Tonight, where the host blamed the companys focus on sales over safety for the series of problems.

Its beginning to feel like this might be a much broader issue within Boeing, because it comes on the heels of a years-long string of alarming incidents, he said.

The door that became detached from the plane at a frightening 16,000 feet - Reuters

Boeing managers in crisis mode

The problems at Boeing have been blamed on a corporate culture that dates back to its merger with McDonnell Douglas, another aeroplane manufacturer, in 1997. Since then, the company has focused on its share price, buying back its own stock to inflate the price while cutting manufacturing costs by outsourcing many of its planes components.

The safety and production problems have seen Airbus, Boeings European rival, overtake it in orders. At $2.4 billion, the size gap between the two companies is now at its largest ever, and it is likely that the full effects of this years problems are yet to be seen.

The lag in airliner orders means it is not easy for commercial operators to shift their purchases from Boeing to Airbus  and pilots are generally trained on the stock of one manufacturer or the other.

At Boeings headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, managers are now in crisis mode. On March 7, Boeing announced its annual employee bonuses for white collar workers would be directly linked to safety and quality, rather than financial performance, in a nod to the companys recent issues.

But with resignations currently limited to the executive in charge of the 737 Max programme, some have called for the departure of the top brass. Dave Calhoun, who has led the company since 2020, remains in his job alongside the rest of the firms top employees.

If you ask me, the first thing that needs to happen for Boeing to gain trust is to basically fire the entire C suite, Gad Allon, a professor at the Wharton School of Business told CNN.

I know that will not happen, butthere is not a single person that has a C in front of their title that is not responsible for what were seeing now.

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An award-winning businessman, who is set to be in charge of 20m to regenerate an "overlooked" town centre, has set out his vision for the future.

Bomb disposal expert turned entrepreneur Richie Nicoll said he was "surprised" after being chosen - unanimously - to become the first chairperson of the Dumfries Town Board.

The army veteran is "looking forward to the challenge" of turning around the fortunes of south-west Scotland's regional capital.

Backed by the UK government's levelling-up fund, the town board has been created solely to oversee the investment, aimed at improving Dumfries town centre.

Dumfries was one of a number of towns to secure the funding

Mr Nicoll, a father-of-two, is hoping to draw on his military background as he looks to "breathe new life" into the area.

His role will be to provide a non-political, independent voice to develop a long-term investment plan for Dumfries.

The 46-year-old said: "It's going to be challenge, but I'm happy with that.

"I've got a good idea of what people want, and I'm looking forward to cracking on with it.

"I'm a proud and passionate Doonhamer, born and bred in Dumfries, and always champion the town, as I think it's got a lot to offer."

Mr Nicoll was chosen by councillors from a shortlist of four during Dumfries and Galloway Council's Nithsdale area committee on Wednesday.

Having served with the Royal Signals in Bosnia and Ireland, and spending time working in the Middle East, he is hoping his international experiences will help make the role a success.

He said: "100% there are transferable skills I've picked up from my time abroad, and team work is the biggest one.

"What we can get done won't just be my vision, it will be everyone's vision.

"I am a big believer in a joint purpose. The first big job is putting the rest of the board in place, and having the right people with the same thinking around what we are doing and why."

Dumfries is one of a number of Scottish towns to receive a share of the UK-wide funding pot, which is aimed at supporting areas which have been "overlooked and taken for granted".

Opponents have described the move as a political ploy and "barely more than shiny headlines".

While the managing director of EcoClean Solutions accepts 20m "isn't enough on its own" to fully change the town, he insists it can be "used smartly to pull in other investment opportunities".

Mr Nicoll added: "Dumfries has changed massively.

"But when speaking to people it's clear most towns of a similar size in the UK have also struggled with online shopping and retail parks.

"It's sad to see how things have gone, a dominance of betting shops and closed buildings make it look tired.

"Dumfries is the Queen of the South, it needs to be brought back to life, and that's why we're very lucky in managing to secure these funds."

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Journalist and podcaster Kara Swisher has penned a memoir, "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" (Simon & Schuster), about her journey as a reporter chronicling the Silicon Valley shenanigans of arrogant Internet billionaires and their reckless empires.

Read an excerpt below.

"Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher

Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now.

I've always hated the phrase "speak truth to power," because it assumes all power is bad. It should really be "speak truth to power when the power is false or damaging or even just plain bizarre."

In the bizarre camp was when I found myself staring at an ice sculpture of a woman whose breast was oozing White Russians, a Kahlua and cream concoction. I was a guest at the baby shower party for Google founder Sergey Brin and his wife, Anne Wojcicki, who were expecting their first child in 2008. Naturally, they decided to celebrate with a huge party in the factory district of San Francisco. Before you could lift a glass to the icy nipple to get a sip, guests had to brave a jungle of dangling baby photos of Sergey and Anne at the door. The club's entrance was manned by the kind of preternaturally ebullient and hyper-organized women that always seemed to surround the rich of Silicon Valley.

"Would you like a diaper? Or a onesie?" asked a young woman with amazingly swingy blonde hair and a very sincere smile, as if the question were not even slightly f****d up. But we were in San Francisco, after all, where such happenings were apparently popular among its citizens. I try not to judge, even when I am absolutely judging.

To be clear: I was judging hard.

But this was worse than a simple case of sexual preferences. This young woman was asking my baby-wear preference, because that was the "fun" part of the night. Guests either got to wear a diaper with an oversized comical pin, a ruffled baby hat that came with a rattle, or adult-sized footy pajamas accessorized with a teddy bear and a sucker. I declined it all immediately, which made the swingy hair stop swinging and the smile shift to a frown. "Everyone has to wear one," she insisted. "Everyone is wearing one!"

Not me! I ran into the party before she could lay a talcum-powdered hand on me and found some of the most powerful people in tech and media all decked out as newborns. Brin wore a onesie as he roller-skated around the room. Wendi Deng, then the wife of News Corp titan Rupert Murdoch (whom I had taken to referring to as "Uncle Satan"), had chosen a diaper and sucker combo. Deng quickly asked me how she looked, which was disturbing since she was wearing some kind of leather pants and stiletto boots under the giant Pampers, and that was a freaky disconnect I preferred not to be experiencing at that moment (or, frankly, ever). Thankfully, Uncle Satan was not in attendance, so

I got to miss that particular visual. And, just as thankfully, over in a corner, then Mayor Gavin Newsom, who had grown close to the Google founders, was wearing a normal suit.

Excerpted from "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher. Copyright  2024 by Kara Swisher. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Get the book here:

"Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher

Buy locally from Bookshop.org

For more info:

"Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher (Simon & Schuster), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats

Home buying might be cheaper for millions soon as realtor association settles lawsuits

Proposed California bill would ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos in schools

Nature: Driftwood on a Florida beach
Boris Johnsons secret trip to meet Venezuelas autocratic president Nicolas Maduro last month was paid for by a hedge fund that stands to gain from improved relations between the West and the Latin American republic, it has been claimed.

The former prime minister was accompanied on the visit by Maarten Petermann, the founder of Merlyn Advisors, for which he works as a paid consultant.

Mr Johnson took time out from a holiday in the Caribbean to travel by private jet for the talks, and Mr Peterman sat in on discussions with the president, The Sunday Times reported.

Boris Johnsons spokesman said the visit was to emphasise the need for Venezuela to embrace a proper democratic process (Getty)

He has said the talks were to emphasise the need for Venezuela to embrace a proper democratic process.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson also said he set out the case for the cause of Ukrainian victory to the government of Venezuela.

And they said the ex-PM repeatedly made clear there can be no hope of normalisation in relations until Venezuela fully embraces democracy and respects the territorial integrity of its neighbours.

The UK does not accept the legitimacy of Mr Maduros administration, with the president having been in power for 11 years.

But Mr Johnson did not mention that the trip was funded by Merlyn and that he has been paid for consultancy work and speeches by the firm, or that Mr Petermann had accompanies him.

But The Sunday Times reported that Mr Petermann, a former senior banker at the investment bank JP Morgan, sat in on his talks with the Venezuelan president.

Mr Petermann has privately expressed frustration at the state of relations with Venezuela, warning that it would drive Mr Maduro into the hands of hostile countries such as Russia.

Sources told The Sunday Times Mr Petermann has repeatedly raised his inability to trade the countrys sovereign debt, the buying and selling of which was banned under Trump-era US sanctions designed to force Mr Maduro from office.

And, describing the exchange between Mr Johnson and Mr Maduro, one told the paper: It was a robust exchange which focused entirely on democracy and human rights and Ukraine. The Chavistas have banned their principal opponent Maria Corina Machado from appearing on the ballot paper. Boris Johnson told Maduro that in a democracy the people, not politicians, decide who should be elected.

He said there was no hope of normalisation with the West as long as she was off the ballot paper. Maduro said she was a traitor who sided with the United States. Boris said it should be up to the people to judge.

Mr Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but only after judges banned his main opponents from taking part, a move which plunged the country into a severe political and economic crisis.

Nicolas Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but only after judges banned his main opponents from taking part (AP)

Since then, Venezuela has come under intense international pressure to hold a free and fair election.

Tensions were also inflamed last year when the country claimed sovereignty over a disputed oil-and-mineral-rich area of neighbouring Guyana.

The UK minister for the Americas and Caribbean, David Rutley, met with Guyanese president Irfaan Ali in December to stress the governments backing for the former British colony.

Foreign secretary Lord Cameron was told of the summit via text message when Mr Johnson was already en route.

Boris Johnson and Merlyn Advisors have been contacted for comment.
Bradenton animal rescue takes in dogs after deputies rescue more than 200 in hoarding case

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA)  A Bradenton animal rescue shelter assisted Florida deputies who rescued more than 200 dogs from a hoarding case.

Honor Animal Rescue in Bradenton took 50 of those dogs that needed medical help, as they began their search for foster homes for the animals.

500-pound ball of pythons found in Florida marsh

Our team immediately sprung into action, loading up our vans with supplies for them and empty crates to bring back animals, the organization said.

On Wednesday, the Putnam County Sheriffs Office rescued 208 dogs, including pregnant and elusive outside dogs. 70 of those dogs were placed with rescues.

Putnam County Sheriffs Office

Putnam County Sheriffs Office

Putnam County Sheriffs Office

Putnam County Sheriffs Office

There are so many unsung heroes who stepped up with supplies and assistance. Thank you! the sheriffs office said.

Anyone interested in taking in a dog to foster can complete a new foster home application, or simply donate at NatesHonorAnimalRescue.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Read the full story on The Auto Wire

When Brake Checking A Cop Backfires Badly

Someone with what appears to be a new Chevy Silverado thought they could push an Arkansas trooper around. Instead, when this person leveraged the weight and size of the pickup, the trooper taught the suspect an important lesson in why you shouldnt brake check people and also why you should just pull over when youre caught speeding.

Thieves beat up a boy and stole a familys Porsche.

The incident, which went down on August 23 at about 8:30 pm, started with the trooper clocking the Silverado going above the speed limit while in the left lane. This is the kind of situation so many of us have faced and one cops deal with all the time.

Instead of being a mature adult and just pulling over, taking the ticket, then either fighting it in court or paying the fine/doing traffic school this driver decided to teach the trooper a lesson. Maybe it was the illusion of the impervious nature of the new truck (it had temporary tags) or this guy is a hothead, we dont know. Whatever it was, the situation ended badly for the Silverado driver.

At the beginning of the video, we see the trooper was driving in the right lane with a semi in the center lane, so the Silverado driver likely didnt notice a cop was anywhere nearby. After a slower SUV exits the left lane into the center, the Chevy goes for it and the trooper notices, trailing him at about 90 mph before flipping on her lights.

It looks like the Silverado driver considered pulling over for a moment, then decided running would be better. What a dumb decision.

For a while the guy leaves his right signal on, then he flips on his hazard lights. Why do so many people who run from cops do this? Do they think with their hazards on police will just leave them alone? Its weird.

After exiting the highway, the truck slows down and thats when the suspect seems to think if he cant outrun the trooper, hell make her crash by brake checking her. She tries to get into position for a PIT a few times and the suspect crowds her out.

From the ride height of the ASP vehicle it appears to be an SUV, so the Silverado might have a slight weight advantage, but the trooper has more training and thus better driving skills. When the troopers vehicle hits the truck, its the suspect who loses control and ends up careening into a field.

Next time, just pull over and take the ticket.

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Brazil is more than just sun, sea and sand: Where to go for wildlife, hiking and diving

Famous for its world-class carnivals, glorious beaches, towering Christ the Redeemer statue and hearty cuisine, Brazil is a country of staggering proportions and diverse landscapes.

The country is also home to a wealth of natural wonders and outdoor activities, making it a top holiday choice for outdoor lovers and thrill seekers looking for an adrenaline rush.

Among its most renowned treasures is the Amazon rainforest, which spans over 6.7 million square kilometres and represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests. Its fragile biodiversity is unmatched and is home to millions of species of plants, animals, and insects, many of which have yet to be discovered.

The best natural wonders in Brazil

The Amazon River, flowing through the heart of the rainforest, is the largest river by discharge volume globally. It plays a vital role in sustaining the ecosystem and surrounding communities.

In the southern region of Brazil lies the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland area.

During the rainy season, the Pantanal transforms into a vast flooded plain, teeming with wildlife such as jaguars, caimans, capybaras, and many bird species. Its diverse habitats support a rich ecosystem, drawing nature enthusiasts and researchers from across the globe.

Along the border with Argentina, Iguazu Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls globally. It comprises a series of over 275 individual falls cascading over cliffs amidst lush rainforests.

Along the border with Argentina, Iguazu Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls globally - Canva

Demand for nature is growing in Brazil

Brazil has seen tourism rise to pre-pandemic levels and many travellers go for national parks and outdoor adventures.

"Demand for nature is growing," says Marcelo Freixo, CEO of the Brazilian Tourism Board. For a long time, Brazil has promoted itself for its carnival and sunny beaches, but Freixo explains that it is now focusing on nature tourism and restoration work.

Beyond culture and carnivals, Brazil's beautiful natural landscapes are a growing draw for tourists, and the tourism board is keen to capitalise on this interest.

Whether diving into crystal-clear waters, hiking through lush forests, or marvelling at cascading waterfalls, Brazils varied landscapes offer curious explorers no shortage of adventures.

Here are some of the best activities and natural wonders in Brazil.

Diving in Brazil

Brazil has several dive sites with fragile corals for those eager to explore life beneath the waves.

Head to Fernando de Noronha, a pristine archipelago off the northeastern coast, where crystal-clear waters teem with vibrant marine life.

With visibility often surpassing 40 metres, divers can marvel at diverse marine life, including whales, reef sharks and clownfish.

Book a dive trip to Recife, in the north-east of Brazil, for eerie shipwrecks, where 100 doomed vessels lay on the ocean floor.

Wildlife spotting in the Amazon Rainforest

The Brazilian side of the Amazon rainforest promises a journey into one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems.

Join guided expeditions from Manaus or Belem to venture deep into the jungle, where you'll encounter towering trees, exotic wildlife, and Indigenous communities.

Ask your guide to point out jaguars, sloths, black spider monkeys, and poison dart frogs as you carefully navigate the dense forest terrains.

Explore the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes, tributaries of the mighty Amazon River, by boat or kayak and try and spot pink river dolphins.

The Brazilian side of the Amazon rainforest promises a journey into one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. - Portia Jones

Hiking adventures in Brazil

Go on a hiking expedition through the lush landscapes of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.

Located in the heart of Brazil, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a haven for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

Lace up your hiking boots and traverse rugged trails that wind through ancient rock formations, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls.

Watch for elusive wildlife, from colourful birds to jaguars, as you discover pristine wilderness in this remarkable park.

Mountain biking in Brazil

For adrenaline junkies seeking an exhilarating challenge, Brazil's diverse terrain offers endless opportunities for mountain biking adventures.

Explore the rugged terrain of Serra da Canastra National Park, where winding trails lead you through dramatic landscapes and panoramic vistas.

Test your skills on steep descents, navigate rocky paths, and soak in the raw beauty of Brazil's countryside.

With its diverse landscapes and thrilling trails, Brazil promises extreme bikers an unforgettable mountain biking adventure.

Brazil's diverse terrain offers endless opportunities for mountain biking adventures. - Canva

Chasing waterfalls at Iguazu Falls

Prepare to be awe-struck by the sheer majesty of Iguazu Falls, one of the most spectacular natural wonders on the planet.

Spanning the border between Brazil and Argentina, this UNESCO World Heritage site has over 270 individual waterfalls cascading into a mist-shrouded abyss.

Explore the network of trails that wind through verdant rainforests, offering panoramic views of the thundering cascades from various vantage points.

Feel the power of nature as you stand in awe of the mighty Devil's Throat, the largest and most impressive waterfall in the park.

White-water rafting thrills

For an adrenaline-pumping adventure, head to the mighty rivers of Brazil for an unforgettable white-water rafting experience.

Navigate the rapids of the Rio Parana, where swirling currents and towering waves provide an exhilarating challenge for thrill-seekers.

Alternatively, venture to the Rio Jacare Pepira in Sao Paulo state, renowned for its adrenaline-fuelled rapids and impressive scenery.
Helen Sharman spent eight days in space when she was 27

Children at a school in Bradford have been left "inspired" by a visit from the first Briton in space, who originally hails from Yorkshire.

In 1991, Sheffield-born Helen Sharman was the first woman to visit the Russian Mir Space station.

On Friday, the astronaut, now 60, visited Iqra Primary Academy in Bradford, after accepting an invitation from pupils as part of British Science Week.

Maria Mehrin, the school's lead for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, said one of the classes had now been named after Ms Sharman.

"One of the things we've done in our school is to name every class after a scientist or an engineer and one of our classes is named Sharman," she said.

A class has been named after Helen Sharman at Iqra Primary Academy

When Ms Sharman was 27, she spent a total of eight days in space, taking part in the Anglo-Russian Juno Project.

She told the children at Iqra Primary Academy in Manningham that she was working for confectioners Mars when she heard of "this amazing new opportunity to be the first British astronaut".

"A new space mission had been created and they were looking for applicants and I almost didn't apply, because I didn't think they'd choose me," she said.

"Then I thought, 'I've got to have a go at that. What an amazing opportunity'."

As the successful candidate, she spent over a week on the Mir space station, having been blasted there in a rocket with two others after training in Star City, Moscow.

'So inspiring'

Helen Sharman now tours schools promoting the sciences to young people.

Ms Mehrin said the prospect of the astronaut's visit had left the school's pupils very excited.

"The children were like, 'please miss, she's so inspiring, we really want to meet her, she's from Sheffield so she's quite local'.

"It was really the children who pushed this idea," she added.

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Helen Sharman tours schools promoting the sciences young people
GRAVESEND, Brooklyn (PIX11) A proposed homeless shelter in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn has sparked widespread outcry among residents who are citing several safety concerns and quality of life issues.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets Saturday to push back against the shelter that could house 150 adult men.

Man in wheelchair goes on stabbing spree in Queens: NYPD

Theres a school right here, said longtime Gravesend resident Izzy Wu. Theres a lot of stuff right here. That [shelter] will increase the crime rate so that will make the whole thing get worse and worse. So we had to come here to support a no homeless [shelter].

Izzy Wu joined the droves of protestors marching down 86th Street in a massive demonstration.

Vivien Tran also lives in the area and said she fears that she wont feel safe coming home from work at night if the shelter plans move forward.

I can work late and come home at seven, eight, nine  I feel ok, said Tran. But now with the homeless shelter, I dont think I can take the train anymore. Especially the wintertime when it gets dark quick. I dont know how Im going to do it.

The proposed shelter would be at the site of 2501 86th Street where the developer 86th Street NY LLC plans to build a 32-room hotel. Elected officials said the city then plans to use that hotel to house the adult men, many of whom struggle with addiction and mental health issues.

The officials tell PIX11 News they feel the citys Department of Social Services should instead invest in creating more affordable housing and focus on addressing the root causes of homelessness, like accessible mental health services and creating more job opportunities.

It doesnt help the core problem with these addiction problems, mental health problems, said New York State Assemblyman Lester Chang. What they need is long-term treatment and we can repurpose Rikers Island. Thats one one-step solution.

A spokesperson with the citys Department of Social Services responded to those concerns saying in part:

This will be the first shelter in this community district offering New Yorkers experiencing homelessness the critical opportunity to receive quality care as they get back on their feet. As part of our equitable shelter siting approach, we are ensuring that every community has the safety net resources to help their vulnerable neighbors 

Still, residents are hoping to stop that site from becoming a shelter with a petition that has already garnered more than 20,000 signatures.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Social media has always peddled a fantasy, from lavish vacations to perfectly plated entrees to airbrushed selfies.

But some entrepreneurs are using social media to sell a more literal fairytale, promising a night of wish fulfillment for anyone who ever dreamed of living in another world.

Over the past two years, a wave of new companies has started hosting fantasy-themed balls, masquerades and similar immersive events for adults, benefitting from a combination of post-pandemic Millennial and Gen Z consumers eager to spend money on experiences and the popularity of romance and fantasy books on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Some events expect participants to fully commit to a fictional character and follow a specific storyline. At others, attendees dress up in fantasy-themed costumes and mingle with character actors. Tickets range from $60 for one night to thousands of dollars for multi-day group getaways.

Seizing a niche of the global events industry, which Allied Market Research projects will grow to $2 billion by 2032, these companies are promoting their events almost entirely on social media and reporting a windfall in sales numbers mostly from people in their 20s and 30s.

Disney kids, now with discretionary income

Immersive fantasy experiences arent new. Disney and Universal offer families a foray into fantastical worlds to the tune of billions of dollars in revenue. Dungeons & Dragons has been a tabletop classic for five decades. Conventions like San Diego Comic Con and Dragon Con draw legions of science fiction and fantasy fans. And every year some 200 Renaissance fairs are held across dozens of US states and Canada, where participants come dressed as knights, jesters, damsels, pirates or even goblins, wizards, witches and fairies.

But the widespread proliferation of adult-oriented extravagance is a more recent development.

Its that demographic that escaped to the books of Narnia and to Harry Potter, and to Treasure Planet and Atlantis, said Katherine Stinson, who started Houston-based Eudantria Events in 2022. This is where we escaped to as kids. And now, as adults, because we have adult money, we can do all the things that we wanted to do as kids.

Story continues

A guest in costume at a Eudantria Events' fantasy ball on Feb. 10, 2024 in Houston, Texas. - Eric Atticus Photography

Eudantria Events promises highly immersive fictional storylines for guests to follow, and its website offers an original world-building guide complete with unique lore and character archetypes. Potential attendees can even take a short personality quiz to discover their fantasy realm of origin.

Stinson said she posted a video on TikTok in June 2022 explaining her concept for a fantasy-themed ball. Two months later, tickets went on sale for $175 each and sold out the same day, with 420 people confirming their attendance.

One of them was 24-year-old Dana John from Texas.

I was already really into dressing up and taking part in like this fantasy immersion kind of stuff, she told CNN. And then I was recommended this video on TikTok back in 2022, so I checked out that company and saw that they had all these different events. So I was like, Of course Im gonna go, thats awesome! I love knowing that this kind of magic gets to exist in our world and that theres community around it.

Since then, Stinson says shes seen an explosive demand for upscale experiences. She projects her 2025 ball, a villain era celebration in New York City, will reach between $800,000 and $1.2 million in production costs.

The most basic tickets for Eudantria events sell for $750, but customers are more drawn to tickets priced at $2,500 and higher, according to Stinson. These premium tickets include private transportation, accommodations, and access to a lounge equipped with makeup and prosthetics, where assistants stand at the ready to transform attendees into the magical being of their choosing.

Social media has increasingly allowed companies to more easily scope out and target niche groups of consumers in an increasingly fragmented market, said Alexander Chernev, a professor of marketing at Northwesterns Kellogg School of Management.

(With more technology) its logistically easier to design events like this and cheaper to promote them, he said. If I know there is a group of people who are interested in a particular topic and I can see that from online forums, its cheaper and easier to reach them.

Book Tok drives demand

Other emerging organizers sell tickets at between $100 to $425.

Instead of marketing to fantasy lovers who have roots in role playing spaces like Renaissance fairs and comic cons, these organizers advertise their events as book balls. They target users on Book Tok, the immensely popular TikTok subcommunity dedicated to reading and discussing books, typically romance and fantasy novels. Some events are themed after specific books, others after romance tropes like enemies to lovers.

Costumed participants can dress up and rub elbows with characters from their favorite novels or enjoy the fantasy setting as observers. Sometimes events are simply fantasy themed, without reference to specific books or fantasy worlds.

This somewhat democratizes the events, lowering the knowledge barrier to entry that often exists in more diehard circles, said Matt Harris, the creative director at Hushfable, a UK-based fantasy company that is holding its first ball this month.

The event is themed after Sarah J. Maas bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses book series. After tickets went on sale last summer, the event quickly sold out at more than 1,000 participants, each paying between $230 and $320.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers on Fifth Avenue in New York City has a large selection of books, USA 2022 - Patti McConville/Alamy Stock Photo

Fantasy content creator Juliette Sureau was recently hired to play a main character at the event.

Before dipping her toes into more mainstream balls and dances, Sureau belonged to a bubble of what she calls ultra nerds  fantasy lovers who attend conventions, role play and play Dungeons & Dragons. When Sureau was 12 years old, her goal was to become a knight. I learned fencing, horseback riding and archery, she said. And then I got really sad when I found out (the) Medieval Times (restaurant chain) doesnt hire female knights. Dreams shattered.

She attributes the growing demand for fantasy events to the commercial success of fantasy romance books, especially among Millennial women. According to event organizers, a majority of attendees are women, sometimes with a male partner. Single men are rare. In fact, Hushfable founder Sophie Valfroy estimates about 90% of her guests are women.

The past year has also seen a spike in the popularity of romantasy, or romance fantasy books. The hashtag has nearly a billion views on TikTok, and online searches for romantasy skyrocketed in 2023 and continue to surge this year, according to Google Trends.

These types of books brought all of these romance readers and maybe even some erotica readers over to this fantasy genre, said Sureau. Theyre busy working 9 to 5, and all they want to do is curl up with a romantasy book and go to a ball for a night.

Juliette Sureau and Shaun Wada portraying characters from "A Court of Thrones and Roses" at the For The Dreamers Starfall Ball on March 10, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. - Ariana Smoak

Holly Simone, a 26-year-old living in London, found out about fantasy-themed balls through Book Tok.

Simone formed online friendships with other Book Tok users and said that she eventually saw a Tik Tok video promoting a ball themed after the Court of Thorns and Roses series in London in February.

Everyone I went with I had met online, and its full of people who met through these niches, she said. The atmosphere was incredible, girls were just complimenting each other. Its just incredible to be a part of a community that is full of positivity, not just online, but also in person.

After the event, Simone and her newfound friends immediately began looking for other fantasy-themed balls in the area , and decided to attend Hushfables ball at the end of March.

As a bookish girl, you know, I dont like going out. Club nights are not really my thing, she said. And we keep making a joke saying, We dont go to clubs, we go to book balls.

An escape from Millennial malaise

While there was an appetite for immersive fantasy events long before 2020, organizers say the upheaval of the pandemic invigorated popular demand for these experiences.

It let us all know that we missed the human connection, said Shawn Strider, a 26-year veteran of the fantasy event scene who has directed the annual Labyrinth Masquerade Ball in Los Angeles since 1997 and has seen it grow several times over. People were scared and needed something like this in their hearts.

Stinson was inspired to start her company after seeing the political and social divisions rife on social media at the height of the pandemic. I was fighting with people on the internet every day, and I was miserable, she said I realized I couldnt fix the worlds division, but I could start doing things that were mending that pain.

Attendees pose for a group photo at Eudantria Events' fantasy ball on Feb. 10, 2024 in Houston, Texas. - Eric Atticus Photography

Organizers envision their events as spaces for escapism and community.

You know, work dredges on for a lot of people, said Brittany Proctor, a Michigan-based entrepreneur whos been hosting fantasy balls in the Midwest since 2022. And theyre looking for those outlets to find escapism and joy in.

Maja Djikic, an associate professor of organizational behavior at the University of Toronto who researches adult development, said these events are important psychologically because they allow people to flex emotional or mental muscles that they may not otherwise.

Lets say that in your everyday life, youre not very assertive. But then you enter this imaginary world in which you get to play (an assertive) sort of character. So you get to try to develop this aspect of yourself in rather safe confines of an imaginative world, Djikic told CNN.

Will the magic spell ever be broken?

Organizers say demand is growing, and with it the number of these events being offered. In fact, Proctor is considering scaling back some of her events due to the sheer number of these fantasy balls that have been cropping up in recent years.

Ive already been asked when I would start selling tickets for next year when Im not even done for this year, said Valfroy of Hushfable. So people are just asking more and more. And I think its going to be like this for a long time.

Although he argues that there will always be an appetite for immersive fantasy experiences, Strider is slightly more skeptical about how the market will bear a possible glut of events and warns of the potential to overpromise and underdeliver.

He worries about a Fyre Festival scenario, referring to the 2017 fiasco where customers who shelled out more than $12,000 on a purported luxury festival in the Bahamas arrived to find half-built tents and limp cheese sandwiches.

Some of these events feel very boutique, and that can burn peoples pocketbooks, but I like to believe that all of these people are putting their hands to create something magical, he said.

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(Bloomberg) -- Investors in TikToks Chinese parent company stand to benefit if it sold the app because divestment would remove a source of uncertainty, a Republican lawmaker said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

It would be in the financial interest of ByteDances investors to effectuate a forced sale, Representative Mike Gallagher, who spearheaded a House-passed bill aimed at making the company divest TikTok to allow its continued operation in the US, said on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday.

Efforts to remove Chinese corporate influence over the popular social-media platform is back on the political agenda in an election year. At least two US senators voiced support in principle for the bill on Sunday, though it faces a slower process in the chamber after winning bipartisan backing in the House last week on concern over Chinese government influence on the American public.

Key senators have expressed constitutional reservations about banning the platform. Gallagher, who chairs a House committee looking into the US-China strategic competition, argued on Face the Nation that a forced sale absolutely could happen before the November elections.

I think the user experience on the app would improve and you wouldnt have this concern over being propagandized, the opaque algorithm influencing the information you see, he said. That would go away, so I imagine it would actually increase in value.

Read more: Jeff Yass $15 Billion TikTok Fortune Shines Light on His GOP Clout

While President Joe Biden has said hed sign the House bill on TikTok, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Sunday we dont want to see it banned.

We do want to see ByteDance no longer in control of that application, he said on ABCs This Week.

Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, said the best solution would be for ByteDance to allow for American ownership of TikTok.

If not, then were probably going to have to eliminate it from the platforms, he said on CNNs State of the Union.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, gave the House bill a qualified endorsement.

Id like to see the final language, but Im certainly predisposed to vote for it, he said NBCs Meet the Press.

Read more: Why TikTok Faces a US Ban Over National Security: QuickTake

Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday hes targeting a purchase of TikTok from its parent, telling CNBC he has spoken to potential co-investors about acquiring the app.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A food truck owner in California was hospitalized after he confronted a thief who allegedly assaulted and robbed an elderly woman, according to FOX 11 LA.

Bryan Tecun, the owner of Bryans Birrieria food truck in Long Beach, California, was driving home when he witnessed a woman being robbed and assaulted, the outlet reported.

Acting on instinct, the good Samaritan jumped out of his car and ran to help the elderly woman.

US MARSHALS ARREST FUGITIVE MOTHER ACCUSED OF KILLING 5-YEAR-OLD SON, STUFFING BODY INTO A SUITCASE IN 2022

Authorities said he chased the suspect to a nearby park and tackled him down. Tecun was stabbed once in his rib cage and once between his neck and shoulder during the confrontation, police told FOX 11.

Tecun said that he first dismissed the need for any medical attention, but he began feeling dizzy.

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NEW MEXICO COP KILLER WAS DRIVING CAR BELONG TO SOUTH CAROLINA PARAMEDIC FOUND DEAD: POLICE

"Police arrived, and they asked me to stay for medical aid, but I didn't think it was anything too severe," he told FOX 11. "I started sweating a lot, started feeling dizzy as I was driving."

The Long Beach Police Department said that Bryan Tecun was stabbed after he stopped a robbery.

Despite sustaining major injuries and ending up in the hospital with a collapsed lung and internal bleeding, Tecum is expected to make a full recovery.

"I wouldn't ever like for something like that to happen to one of my relatives or to my mom. I would hope somebody would step in," he said.





Original article source: California good Samaritan food truck owner stabbed after stopping robbery of elderly woman
Some time ago, when I was working as a chaplain at a secular university, I had an article published condemning the hypocrisy of evangelical leadership. I was asked to stop writing things like that, or face the potential of losing my job. My answer to that was easy: I'll keep writing what I write, and they can keep firing me. It is not my business to keep my job by sacrificing my integrity. My calling as a Christian and a minister is for something bigger, something better, something honest and true. As I continue to write for Salon and whoever else will publish my work, I know full well that it's likely to hurt my professional career and even some personal and family relationships.

The question that was posed to me when I held that post was an important one. Why speak out against the evangelical leaders, for virtually no financial or professional gain, if it damages my professional and personal life? Why put my divisive voice (according to some) out into the public square? It's a fair question, one I have often asked myself and one I would like to answer.

There is a time in every life when a decision must be made. One option is to buy into the structure that is in place, have a decent career, buy that home and then  if things go reasonably well  do whatever you want in retirement. The other is to blow it all up and hold onto the ideals you believe to be true. I choose to engage in my favorite type of battle: a losing battle to serve "the least of these," because that is the true calling of every minister of Jesus Christ. As we know, it's a calling that can lead to persecution, even to death on the cross. I write, I fight and I accept loss and defeat because my savior Jesus Christ showed me how.

My work can indeed be called divisive, and I don't run away from that. In Luke 12:51, Jesus tells Peter, "Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." In a sense, that's the calling of a true minister of the Christian faith. Even the evangelicals have laid claim to that perspective. Many evangelical ministers preach messages of division, speaking against homosexuality, feminism, abortion, immigration and countless other things. The difference between me and those kinds of evangelical minister is not in the approach but in our understanding of the faith. In other words, the difference is that the evangelical leaders are wrong, and I am not.

That's not mere arrogance on my part. The profound errors of evangelical teaching can be clearly defined in at least three areas. It's like a trinity of stupidity, preached by ministers who are more interested in power and wealth than in standing up for Christ.

1. How in the hell did the Christian political voice become anti-immigrant?

The language of Donald Trump and his allies preaches hatred and fear of immigrants. That is clear enough. Some on the political right will protest that they are in favor of legal immigration. That is what I'd like to call bull***t. There has not been one single piece of legislation presented by Republicans that shows any consideration for the working-class migrants, immigrants and refugees who come to America from all over the world. Trump's language on immigration is shameful and disgusting, which should be enough for any branch of the Christian church to reject him. Yet every major evangelical leader in America is fighting each other to stand on that stage with Trump. The Bible is clear on this: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." (Leviticus 19:34).

2. How in the hell did the Christian political voice become opposed to health care for all?

Every Christian knows that healing the sick was a huge part of the ministry of Jesus. I do not remember Jesus asking the sick whether they were employed or had any pre-existing conditions. He healed them because they were sick, and because of the love and mercy in his heart. Why should the supposed followers of Christ reject the concept of providing health insurance for all? There is not one argument that can be made to support that that comes from the teachings of Christ or from any verse in the Bible. "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them" (Matthew 4:23-24).

3. How in the hell did the Christian political voice become a celebration of the wealthy?

This is a bizarre and obviously wrong way of thinking that we encounter widely within the evangelical community. I get that American society is built on wealth and greed, but that's not what the Christian faith teaches. Jesus was a man of the poor, the meek, the oppressed and the rejected, and now suddenly the evangelical church is run by multimillionaires with private jets, designer suits and luxurious mansions who rest easy in the power of a blatantly evil man like Donald Trump. That is not the path of a follower of Christ still less a minister of Christ. But don't listen to me. Read the words of James, describing the ministry of Jesus:

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves on the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

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That speaks to the true calling of the Christian ministry: to stand up for what is right, regardless of the effect on your personal, professional or financial life. There is a greater calling than buying a home, having a 401(k) or being granted a tenured position. In the end, we are all heading for the grave. As a man who claims to be a minister for Jesus Christ, my choice is obvious, no matter what happens to me personally or professionally. This is why I continue this testimony, and why I will never stop. I have held a lot of jobs in my life. I have done stand-up comedy, been a church pastor, led mission trips to Haiti, served as a career counselor, delivered newspapers and dug ditches. But in the end, I am a minister of Jesus. That's who I am, and that's who I will be when I die. Christ welcomes me despite my failings, my shortcomings and my lack of talent. He provided me a voice anyway. I am grateful for this passion in my heart, and even more grateful that God qualifies who is called instead of calling only who is qualified.
A demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion rallied in support of continuing U.S. aid to Ukraine. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)

Speaker Mike Johnson in just months has all but cemented his place among the weakest House leaders in its history. Alas, the Louisianan nonetheless holds enough power that hes single-handedly blocking one of the most crucial matters of our time: bipartisan U.S. aid to Ukraine for its defense against Vladimir Putins murderous expansionism.

Its not like Johnson is making a stand on principle by not scheduling a House vote. Oh, no. To hear him talk, hes all for our Ukrainian allies and wants some kind of aid. But Donald Trump does not  hes with Putin, as usual  and Johnson generally stands wherever the former president directs. Not for nothing is the novice speaker called MAGA Mike.

And no issue illustrates better than Ukraine the dithering and subservience to Trump that have become Johnsons hallmarks since October, when House Republicans ousted his predecessor, rejected several higher-ranking aspirants and then, exhausted by the impasse, settled on him.

Also, no issue holds more dire consequences if Johnson doesnt change course  for Ukraine, peace in Europe and the United States security and international standing.

Johnson continues to straddle the question, saying all the right, supportive things  Ukraine is the victim here. They were invaded, he told reporters Wednesday  and yet doing nothing. President Bidens aid request has languished for as long as Johnson has been speaker. Its now been a month since the Senate overwhelmingly voted , 70 to 29, for the $95-billion foreign aid package  $60 billion for Ukraine and the rest for Israel, Taiwan and Palestinians in Gaza.

Read more: Opinion: Republicans blocking Ukraine aid should consider this hero  and hang their heads in shame

Give Johnson this much: He can take a lot of pressure, at least when hes safely in Trump's corner. Lately hes been getting hit from all sides about Ukraine  from the president and congressional Democrats, sure, but also from pro-Ukraine Republicans and even from foreign leaders.

Members of both parties began trying in recent days to collect signatures from a majority of the House on two separate discharge petitions that would force a vote on Ukraine aid. The discharge strategy is rarely used , and its even more rarely successful because, by definition, the action is a slap at the party leaders who bottled up the legislation. But this could be one of the rare times.

Read more: Editorial: House Speaker Mike Johnson must stop dithering on Ukraine aid and hold a vote

Most Democrats already have signed the petition that would simply require a vote on the Senate bill, sending it to Biden. (The other petition is for a scaled-back bill that would require separate Senate approval and more time.) The Ukraine backers must get enough Republicans to buck their party leaders and sign to make a majority. Thats hard, but doable: The Ukraine issue is powerful, and Johnson is not. Republicans dont fear him. To fend off the challenge, Johnson has suggested he's trying to draft an alternative to the Senate bill.

In the Senate, meanwhile, Republican leader Mitch McConnell is fed up with Johnson's pussyfooting. McConnell has almost never publicly criticized House Republicans or told them how to run their chamber. So it was a measure of his exasperation that he vented to reporters Tuesday: We don't have time for all of this. We've got a bill that got 70 votes in the Senate. Give members of the House of Representatives an opportunity to vote on it.

Visiting leaders from Poland, Ukraines neighbor and our NATO ally, on that same day publicly singled out Johnson for some less-than-diplomatic kvetching. Mr. Johnsons failure to make a positive decision will cost thousands of lives and affect the fate of millions of people, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

Read more: Pentagon to give Ukraine $300 million in weapons

After Johnson met privately with Polish President Andrzej Duda, he issued the kind of have-it-all-ways remarks hes now known for. The statement was silent on the Ukraine aid bill yet proclaimed, "America must remain united with our friends against those who threaten our security.

What do those words mean if theyre not an argument for more aid to Ukraine?

The remain united with our friends part is particularly rich. Contrary to what Trump and his America First Republicans would have us believe, nearly all European and NATO allies have given more assistance to Ukraine than the United States, measured as a percentage of the size of the nations economies. Theyre panicky at the prospect of a U.S. retreat from the bloodiest combat in Europe since World War II.

As for those who threaten our security, certainly Russia looms large among those threats, at least for everyone but Trump and his sycophants.

Of which Johnson is one. And thats the problem.

Read more: Ukrainian drone strikes hit targets deep inside Russia, officials say

Johnson, stalling, insists that the Senate and the House first must finish the long-overdue work of funding the government. But the annual spending bills wont be completed before Friday, and then Congress skedaddles for a 17-day recess. The Republican chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Alabama Rep. Mike D. Rogers, had a word for Johnsons timetable: reckless.

As Johnson waffles, Ukrainian troops are rationing ammunition and giving ground to Russians that they could hold if they had a reliable pipeline of U.S.-made weaponry. CIA Director William Burns and other U.S. intelligence officials recently warned Congress that Ukraines losses would only mount without U.S. aid. For this country to abandon Ukraine after pledges to the contrary would not only embolden revanchist Russia, it would encourage the Chinese in their global ambitions.

As Biden said in his State of the Union address , the necessary lifeline for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world.

Johnson would deny thats what he wants. Lets see him prove it. In the words of McConnell: Let the House speak.

And if it does  with a bipartisan vote for Ukraine  that will echo the support of a majority of Americans . But first Johnson must get out of the way. Or be pushed.

@jackiekcalmes

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
One person was killed Sunday in an early morning crash in the Columbia area, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Syreeta J. Johnson, a 44-year-old Elgin resident, was identified as crash victim, Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said Monday.

The single-vehicle collision happened in Richland County at about 4:45 a.m., said Master Trooper William Bennett of the Highway Patrol.

Johnson was driving a 2017 Hyundai sedan east on Parklane Road in the Dentsville area, according to Bennett. Near the intersection with Old Legrand Road, in the area between Farrow Road and Interstate 77, the car ran off the right side of Parklane Road, Bennett said.

The car then hit a curb and flipped over before crashing into a power pole, according to Bennett.

Bennett said Johnson was the only person in the car, and no other injuries were reported.

There was no word if Johnson was wearing a seat belt.

Information about what caused the car to veer off the road was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.

Through Wednesday, 157 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 999 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least seven people have died in Richland County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 61 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS reported.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) defended Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) speech on Israel, saying the public should listen to his complete remarks rather than just focusing on his comments about leadership in Israel.

I think people should listen to his entire speech. Senator Schumers speech came from his heart, what he believes is necessary for peace, Cardin said in an interview on NBC Newss Meet the Press.

Hes very clear about, Hamas needs to be eliminated, that there can be no peace in the Middle East for either the Palestinians or the Israelis with Hamas. The responsibility for what is happening there is clearly on Hamas. Israel has the total right to defend itself.

Cardin said that Schumers remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being an obstacle to peace in the region were referring to how the country can move on after the war.

Hes talking about how do we move after the war? How do we get peace in the region? And he was very clear about the fact that you need security, you need an authority for the Palestinians that will provide security for the Palestinians and the Israelis, but you also need to have a pathway to two states living together in peace.

And I think he was very clear that its the Israelis, their system, need to give clear direction as to who they want to be their leaders, Cardin added, about Schumer.

Asked whether he would call Netanyahu an obstacle to peace, Cardin said, I think its up to the Israelis to determine their own leaders.

I recognize that we had challenges with the Netanyahu coalition prior to October 7. Real concerns that cause major division within Israel before October 7. Theres unity now because of the war. Lets see what happens after the war, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) signaled he was open to supporting the House-passed bill that could ban TikTok but that it still must undergo the Senate process and might see some changes included.

Im certainly sympathetic to it. Lets see how it goes through the Senate process. But yes, I think we need to put guardrails in regards to the ownership of TikTok, Cardin said in an interview on NBC Newss Meet the Press.

The House passed a bill that would force TikToks parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app within 165 days or face a ban in the United States. The bill passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority and now heads to the Senate, where its fate is unclear.

Cardin acknowledged the national security concerns, but he said there are other issues  like childrens safety on social media platforms in general  that might be added to the bill.

I think well see how the Senate wants to take this up and consider it there, as I said, there are issues concerning safety for our children, Cardin said. So theres some other issues that may get combined with this.

Ill be working with my colleagues, but Id like to see us get to the finish line and provide the guardrails that are necessary, he said.

Cardin outlined some of his chief concerns.

We are concerned about what TikTok does with this information, whether they could use it against Americans and use vague privacy and compromise our national security. Our concern is on the ownership of TikTok. Its not on those that are using it. Its not on freedom of speech or content. Its solely on ownership, he said.

We have concerns on all the social media platforms as to safety, particularly for our children. So theres some broader issues, but TikToks concern is whether the Chinese will be using it against our national security interest, he continued.

Cardins interview follows Sen. Bill Cassidys (R-La.) appearance on the show, where Cassidy similarly signaled an openness to supporting the legislation.

Id like to see the final language, but Im certainly predisposed to vote for it. Anyone that doesnt think that the Chinese Communist Party would like to influence how we think and our country just doesnt understand what they do, Cassidy said.

I think this is consistent with what weve done in the past, and, by and large, I support it, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in a Sunday interview that former President Trumps remarks on immigrants and about the possibility of a blood bath if he is not reelected is what makes some voters concerned about a second Trump administration.

He added, however, that the media goes just a little bit too far in covering the remarks, saying Trump could have been warning of an economic blood bath, rather than invoking political violence in his remarks.

The general tone of the speech is why, is why many Americans continue to wonder: Should President Trump be president? That kind of rhetoric, its always on the edge  maybe doesnt cross, maybe does, depending upon your perspective, Cassidy said in an interview on NBC Newss Meet the Press.

I also think though, that the mainstream media contributes to it. If you take the one about the blood bath, which arguably could be about an economic blood bath, not about kind of street violence related to the election, then it gives his defenders something to focus on, something which was distorted. So, yes, he always walks up to the edge on that rhetoric. And again, thats why people are concerned. But sometimes the mainstream media, whether they want to or not, cant resist, and they go just a little bit too far, which distracts from what could be the impact, Cassidy said.

Cassidys comments come after Trump made headlines Saturday night when he said, I dont know if you can call them people, referring to some undocumented immigrants accused of crimes.

In some cases theyre not people, in my opinion. But Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say, Trump added.

He also warned of potential consequences if he loses the November election, saying President Biden would tank the economy.

If I dont get elected, its going to be a blood bath for the whole  thats going to be the least of it. Its going to be a blood bath for the country, Trump said while discussing his proposal for steep tariffs on vehicle imports.

Cassidy distanced himself from the position of the Biden campaign, which denounced the comments as part of Trumps threats of political violence.

Thats their perspective. Theyve got a candidate who also doesnt seem fit for office. But you could also look up the definition of blood bath, and it could be an economic disaster. And so if hes speaking about the auto industry, in particular in Ohio, then you can take it with a little bit more context, Cassidy said. Thats why I say you walk up to the line, depending upon the perspective somebody is going to interpret it.

Hes running against Biden, so Bidens gonna say its about political violence. His defenders want to defend them. And so theyre gonna say its about economic disaster. Theres always just that little bit of tension there. Which allows the dispute about the interpretation, as opposed to the kind of general sort of is this the person we want to have an office, Cassidy said.

Trumps campaign has denounced efforts to link Trumps blood bath remarks with calls for political violence.

Crooked Joe Biden and his campaign are engaging in deceptively, out-of-context editing that puts Roman Polanski to shame. They are the ones engaging in leveraging judicial lawfare to go after their main political opponent President Trump because he is crushing Joe in the polls, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote in a statement.

There isnt any amount of special medicine they can inject him with to make him look alive, behave normally, or stop him from falling on his ass all the time, he added.

Updated at 5:47 pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, which announced in December that it planned to file for bankruptcy protection because of a crush of sexual abuse lawsuits, will file with the bankruptcy court on April 1.

The faithful of the diocese are being notified of the filing date at this weekends Masses, diocese spokesman Frank Lienert wrote Saturday in an email to The Bee.

Bishop Jaime Soto announced in December that the diocese would follow the same path as some other ecclesiastical districts in California, including the Diocese of San Francisco, Diocese of Oakland, Diocese of Stockton and Diocese of Santa Rosa.

Soto said in a statement in December that it is now clear to me that this is the only way available to me to resolve these claims as fairly as possible.

There are many victim-survivors awaiting compensation for the reprehensible sins committed against them, the bishop wrote in the statement.

The diocese faces more than 250 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by clergy or other church staff. The reorganization process will allow me to equitably respond to the large number of those who are victim-survivors of abuse.

Bishop Jaime Soto, center, marches in a procession to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the patron saints of the Sacramento diocese, toward the T Street church that bears her name on Dec. 10, 2023, the day after the diocese announced that it would file for bankruptcy protection in the wake of hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits.

The diocese originally said it expected to file in March, but has now pinpointed April 1 as the date court papers will be filed.

The crush of lawsuits stems from a measure signed into law in California in 2019 that extended the statute of limitations for such cases. Other states have passed similar laws.

The Sacramento diocese has published a list of 46 credibly accused clergy who served in the Diocese of Sacramento from 1933 through 2018. Many of them are now deceased, and some are listed as being fugitives from justice.

The diocese has said a bankruptcy filing would not change the churchs duty, but would allow for a financial reorganization and to work toward a settlement of the cases.

Critics of such moves have said a bankruptcy filing could reduce the amount of money plaintiffs might receive if their cases continued in court, and have charged that such a move could allow for the names of some abusers to remain secret.
A suspect is on the run after robbing two convenience store clerks at gunpoint in the Loop last December.

CHICAGO - A suspect is on the run after robbing two convenience store clerks at gunpoint in the Loop last December.

Chicago police are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect and locating him.

The robberies happened at these times and locations:

Dec. 4, 2023 at 12:28 a.m. in the 0-100 block of North Wells Street

Dec. 10, 2023 at 11:27 p.m. in the 100 block of West Madison Street

Police say the suspect went into the convenience stores and ordered the clerks to remove cash from the register while armed with a gun.

The suspect also took tobacco products and other "consumable goods" before leaving the area, according to CPD.

(Surveillance video of one of the robberies is shared below. Viewer discretion is advised):

The suspect is between 21-30 years old and was wearing a black puffy jacket, blue-hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and white gym shoes at the time of the robberies.

Businesses in those areas are urged to be on alert and to have a working video surveillance system and alarm.

Anyone with more information on the suspect is urged to contact Chicago PD's Bureau of Detectives Area 3 Detective Division at 312-744-8263.
China-based shippers moved 117,000 twenty-foot equivalent units to Mexico during January, compared to 73,000 TEUs in January 2023. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Container shipments from China to Mexico skyrocketed in January; construction set for border logistics park in West Texas; Nippon Steel set to build $71M plant in Mexico; and China-based auto supplier announces $178M investment in Mexico.

Container shipments from China to Mexico skyrocketed in January

Chinas container exports to Mexico surged nearly 60% year over year (y/y) in January, according to global freight rate intelligence platform Xeneta.

China-based shippers moved 117,000 twenty-foot equivalent units during the month compared to 73,000 TEUs in January 2023.





This is probably the strongest growing trade in the world right now, Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand wrote in a blog post published Thursday.

Sand highlighted that China could be using Mexico as a way to skirt tariffs because some of the goods could be trucked into the U.S.

With a sizable portion of these goods likely being trucked into the U.S., it gives rise to the possibility that Chinas increase in trade with Mexico is being used to circumvent tariffs placed on imports from China to the U.S. as part of the ongoing trade war, Sand wrote.

Xenetas cargo volume data is backed up by recent reports from Mexicos naval ministry, which showed that the freight flows into the countrys West Coast ports surged in January.





Mexicos major ports handled 728,116 TEUs in January 2023, a 20% y/y increase in total container volume for the countrys 18 ports. The countrys nine Pacific Coast ports  which receive containers from China  handled the bulk of container movements in January, totaling 532,534 TEUs for the month.

Mexicos two largest Pacific Coast ports  Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas  reported record container movements for the month of January.

Trade between China and Mexico also expanded in 2023. The annual trade growth rate between the two countries in 2023 was 34.8%, compared to 3.5% in 2022, according to Sand.

Story continues

This growth saw Mexico leapfrog China in Q1 2023 to become the No. 1 trading partner for imports into the U.S. measured by value, Sand wrote.

Last year, Mexico ranked as the top trade partner of the U.S., with Canada ranked No. 2, followed by China at No. 3.

In 2023, Mexicos trade with the U.S. rose 2.5% y/y to $798 billion, boosted by exports of gasoline and other fuels and imports of passenger vehicles.

Sand noted that while China to the U.S. West Coast trade lane was nine times bigger than China to Mexico in January 2024, it was 11 times bigger compared to the same month in 2023.

The difference in the scale of imports on these trades must not be ignored, but the growth rates suggest a shift is occurring, Sand wrote.





Construction set for border logistics park in West Texas

Development has begun on the 3.7 million-square-foot Rancho Del Rey Logistics Park in El Paso, Texas.

The property is about 3 miles from the Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge, a port of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border. The port of entry handles more than 80% of El Pasos northbound cargo truck crossings.

Rancho Del Rey will be built in three phases, with several warehouse and distribution buildings. The first building will have 1.38 million square feet of space and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.The total project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

German technology giant Bosch has already leased 414,000 square feet of space inside what will be the first building in Rancho Del Rey, according to the El Paso Times.

The project is being built by the Sansone Group, Raith Capital Partners, Catamount Construction and Colliers International Group Inc.

Nippon Steel to build $71M plant in Mexico

Nippon Steel, the largest steel manufacturer in Japan, recently announced it is investing $71.3 million to build a plant in Apaseo El Grande, Mexico.

The plant will produce 120,000 tons of steel sheets per year to be used in the production of electric vehicles.

The facility will be the companys second plant in the state of Guanajuato. In 2014, Nippon Steel opened a $30 million plant in the city of Silao, where it produces 24,000 tons of steel pipes annually for the automotive sector.

Nippon Steel is based in Tokyo. The company has manufacturing facilities in 15 countries and employs more than 100,000 people globally.

China-based auto supplier announces $178M investment in Mexico

IKD Co. announced it will invest $178 million to expand a facility in the Mexican city of Irapuato.

The company said the expansion will generate up to 1,000 jobs.

IKD is based in Ningbo, China, and produces aluminum auto parts for steering, air conditioning and windshield wiper systems. Customers include Bosch, Valeo, Mitsubishi, Mubea and Seg Automotive.

IKD Co. did not provide a timeline for the facilitys expansion.

More articles by Noi Mahoney

Texas court sides with Union Pacific over 1872 jobs pact with town

US-Mexico trade totaled $64.5B in January

Texas-based customs broker expands cross-border footprint

The post Borderlands Mexico: Container shipments from China to Mexico skyrocketed in January appeared first on FreightWaves.
There have been plenty of hypocritical statements by foreign ministry spokesmen over the years. Russias protestations that it wants peace in Ukraine ring hollow, and Irans claims that it has nothing to do with unrest in the Middle East dont sound convincing.

And yet, even by the low standards of the genre, Chinas official mouthpiece hit a fresh low last week with its complaints that the forced sale of the social media app Tik Tok violated free and fair competition between open markets. From the country that has banned Facebook, X, YouTube and many others, the hypocrisy was stunning.

The US would be quite right to demand it be sold. If the bill passes the Senate, China will be forced to either open up its own markets, or else accept that its multinationals wont be able to expand globally  and either would be an improvement on the blatantly rigged market we have right now.

If it happens, it is going to be a huge sale, and one that will reshape the social media industry. With 1.7 billion users globally, Byte Dances TikTok is by far the most successful new internet product of the last decade. Last week, the US House of Representatives decided on national security grounds that the company could no longer be allowed to operate in the country while it was controlled from China.

With a value estimated at $40bn to $50bn (30bn-40bn), and potentially much more given that digital properties of its value dont come along very often, a forced divestment will be the biggest deal of the year.

A consortium of investors might take control  Donald Trumps former treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin is reported to already be putting together an investor group  or if the regulators will allow it, Amazon, Apple or Facebooks owner Meta would be keen to buy it. Whatever happens, it will reshape the global web industry, with TikToks new American-approved owner joining the tech big league.

The Chinese government is complaining angrily about that. This kind of bullying behaviour that cannot win in fair competition disrupts companies normal business activity, damages the confidence of international investors in the investment environment, and damages the normal international economic and trade order, according to its spokesman Wang Wenbin. In the end, this will inevitably come back to bite the United States itself.

Former US treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin is reportedly pulling investors together for a TikTok bid - AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Well, perhaps. And yet the Chinese government is hardly in a position to accuse anyone else of unfair competition. This is a country where X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Google and Instagram are all blocked from operating.

If it genuinely had a problem with bullying behaviour, not to mention the economic and trade order, then China could make a start by taking down the firewalls that prevent American websites and apps from operating in the country.

It could follow that up by making Mastercard and Visa acceptable forms of payment, allowing global banks to open up branches, and letting Western media companies and streaming services operate within the country. That would be a lot more effective than just issuing a few angry denunciations.

The US move to force the restructuring, or indeed the sale, of Tik Tok may be the start. But surely it doesnt end there. As Chinas giant companies, all emerging from the countrys 30 years of modernisation, move into Western markets, they can expect similar challenges and restrictions.

The fast-fashion retailer Shein is already a huge presence in Western markets, but there is no reason why that should be allowed if European and American rivals are not offered the same access to Chinas market. The same applies to the rapidly expanding web retailer Temu, a kind of Chinese Amazon, which is already one of the most ubiquitous advertisers on the web.

The automakers, led by BYD, with a slick range of competitively priced electric vehicles, are already starting a big push West, and while the likes of Volkswagen are big players in China, other manufacturers have not been able to secure the same kind of slice of the market.

With the Comac-C919 plane now on sale, China may well start to close down access to the aviation market for Boeing and Airbus in favour of its own national champion, but that is surely unfair, and if it happens Comac should be shut out of Western markets before the worlds two dominant plane-makers are destroyed.

China's homegrown passenger jet Comac-C919 could mean future market restrictions for Boeing and Airbus - REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

The list goes on and on. There are lots of industries where China may well have excellent products, but it has also benefited from domestic protectionism.

The TikTok decision is going to force China to make a historic choice, and one that is surely long overdue. Does it believe in free and open markets, based on respecting World Trade Organisation rules, or not? For a long time, it has shielded its domestic markets from competition, while rapidly building up its own industrial muscle. It could get away with that so long as it was mostly a supplier to Western companies.

As its conglomerates start aggressively expanding into the rest of the word, as they are right now, that is not going to work any more. Either it opens up its own markets to fairer competition, starting with the internet, and moving on rapidly to finance, media and pharmaceuticals.

Or else it will have to accept that its giant conglomerates will be prevented from conquering Western markets, and will have to divest themselves of overseas units when they grow too big, or else face punishing tariffs and quotas.

Either outcome will be far healthier than the one-sided global economy we have right now, and a lot fairer as well. And the Chinese government will have to make up its mind over the next few months if the TikTok legislation comes into force  because farcical condemnations that it is unfair are not going to work.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify which board voted on SXSWs city venues use.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Local musicians unions say the effort to get higher pay for SXSW artists is ongoing and that city-lead support has dwindled after a big push last year. That push included recommendations from the citys Parks and Recreation Department that would change the fests access to city-owned venues.

This week, the Austin for Palestine Coalition partnered with United Musicians and Allied Workers for a rally demanding fair wages for SXSW performers and criticizing event sponsors with ties to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

SXSW drop-out bands perform at pro-Palestine rally instead

Last June, members of the Austin Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously to start charging the festival to use city venues if wages were not increased.

At a meeting of Austins Downtown Commission, Special Events Program Manager Bill Manna was asked to provide the total amount of fees waived for SXSW.

I dont have the numbers with me, although I was looking at him earlier. To include all the city departments, the amount of fees waived  this includes the police overtime. Its just its over a million, probably a million a half, Manna said.

Music advisers and unions say city support has faded

According to the SXSW website, artists not compensated with a festival badge can choose to be paid instead. Bands will be paid $350, solo artists will be paid $150.

The Music Commission, people appointed by Austin city council members to advise on music-related matters, considered backing those changes with their support last July.

A member of the commission we spoke to declined an on-camera interview, but said things have stalled since the big push for change last year.

Aaron Lack, president of the Austin Federation of Musicians, said his union has continued advocating for better artist pay alongside the previously mentioned organizations. He agrees that city-lead support has stalled.

Not much has changed since last year, Lack said.

Lack said members of his union and other have been using their time this week to connect with musicians attending or performing at the festival. He said while these powerful messages have struck a chord with the public, Lack said hes unsure if theyre reaching city or festival management.

We dont have a structure right now to have meaningful conversation with them [SXSW]. And thats, thats what we want to create, Lack said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  St. Patricks Day falls on Sunday this year.

Originally considered a solemn day, it took on a life of its own in the United States. According to Historian Michael Francis, the first record of a St. Patricks Day celebration in the United States was in Spains national archives, and thats because it happened in the 1600s in St. Augustin, Florida, which was a Spanish colony at the time.

The holiday became popular among the Irish Diaspora in America. According to the Census Bureau, there are over 30 million people of Irish descent living in the U.S.

St. Patricks Day has moved beyond being only an Irish  or even a Catholic  celebration. Its become part of American culture, but what do we know about the person behind the holiday?

Paddy Day Parade is on Saturday, some streets will close

St. Patrick is just one of several Irish saints who played an important role in the history of Catholicism in Ireland. However, we know very little about him, and there are questions on whether he actually existed.

St. Patrick was reportedly born sometime at the end of Roman rule of Britain. He might have been born in Cumbria, in the northern part of England, or possibly even Scotland.

According to the Catholic Encylopedia, he originally came to Ireland as a slave, and it was during his captivity on the then-pagan island that he converted to Christianity. He would eventually escape but would return years later as a missionary.

He was never officially canonized by the Catholic Church, though sainthood during that period was determined on a more local level.

The one feat most often associated with St. Patrick is his driving all the snakes out of Ireland. Today, we know he didnt do that, but more to the point, that legend may have developed from misinterpretation.

The confusion lies in the word. St. Patrick drove out the serpents, something a bit different from snakes.

Serpent is a broader term, especially when referring to creatures in antiquity. It could also refer to dragons and all manner of similar legendary beasts.

St. Patricks parade will be Kansas Citys first big event since the deadly Super Bowl celebration

According to reporter Tom Prendiville, who wrote in the Irish Independent, the legend of St. Patrick and the serpent was probably a misreading of ancient text. St. Patrick likely led a group of armed missionaries against a pagan cult that used serpent symbology in their worship.

While there will likely never be a definitive answer as to what is fact or fiction regarding St. Patrick, its hard to deny the significance of his influence on Ireland and Catholicism. That influence has also impacted American culture, giving way to celebrations  many involving parades  to iconography like shamrocks and leprechauns.

To learn more about St. Patrick, both in legend and the context of Catholicism, visit Catholic Online.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The suspect accused of killing a missing Charlotte woman and her two children has been arrested in California.

PREVIOUS STORIES:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives charged 35-year-old Benjamin Joseph Taylor with three counts of murder and one count of concealment of death.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD officers discovered human remains at the Orchard Trace apartments on March 15, 2024.

CMPD sent out an alert on March 8 saying 22-year-old Markayla Johnson and her two children, 4-year-old Miracle and 7-month-old Messiah, were missing. Police said Johnson hadnt contacted any known family members and they were concerned about her welfare.

Then on Friday, police found the familys supposed remains at an apartment complex where they were reported missing. Its part of the Orchard Trace apartments off North Tryon Street.

Channel 9s Glenn Counts talked to Johnsons sister, Tabby Holiday.

Did you think you would hear something this quick? We did not but we were very relieved knowing that he was caught and he wont be doing this to anyone elses family, she said. We dont really know exactly what happened, we just know the text messages started getting weird around February.

The remains are being sent to the medical examiners office for confirmation.

Two days later, police confirmed Benjamin Taylors arrest. Taylor, who was in Imperial County, California, was arrested Saturday due to the efforts of several law enforcement agencies. Hes being held in jail there while he awaits extradition to North Carolina.

Warrant reveals timeline

On Monday, Channel 9 uncovered search warrants detailing a new timeline in the case, and they answered some of the questions weve had since first learning of Johnsons disappearance.

The warrants state that Johnson left her home in Myrtle Beach last fall to be with a new man she met online. After returning to Myrtle Beach late last year, she left again to go to Charlotte with both of her children in late January 2024.

On March 3, Johnson and the children were reported missing to CMPD. Warrants state that her phone was turned off in the area of the apartment complex and hadnt been back on since then.

On March 5, family members went back to the Orchard Trace Apartments but got no answer.

On March 6, someone from Orchard Trace Apartments did a wellness check but didnt see anyone in the apartment. They also didnt see any necessary items to care for a child or baby, including food, bedding, toys, and diapers. No car seats were found in a Chevy Camaron that belonged to the same person leasing that apartment.

Johnson and her children were found dead on March 15.

Taylor appeared in court for the first time Monday and was arraigned on a fugitive complaint from North Carolina alleging he is wanted for three counts of first-degree murder in Mecklenburg County, said the district attorney of Imperial County.

Taylor waived extradition in open court.

He will remain in custody in Imperial County until he is picked up by authorities from North Carolina.

A review hearing to determine if Taylor has been picked up is set for April 12.

(PREVIOUS: Charlotte police ask for help finding missing mother and her 2 children)




After Russia claimed on March 16 that it killed up to 300 Ukrainian soldiers using a so-called "vacuum bomb," a spokesperson for the military intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) told CNN that the claims were "absolute nonsense and propaganda."

The claim was made by the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces during a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on battlefield updates, according to CNN. The location of the claimed strike was not disclosed.

The Kyiv Independent is not able to verify the incident.

Vacuum bombs, also known as thermobaric weapons, are filled with fuel and chemicals. They are significantly more destructive than traditional explosives of similar weight.

The HUR spokesperson, Andrii Yusov, also dismissed Russian claims that it recently killed 1,500 Ukrainian troops in Kursk and Belgorod regions in Russia.

On the morning of March 12, several anti-Kremlin armed groups, including the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion, crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine to conduct combat operations.

According to the spokesperson of Ukraines military intelligence, Andrii Yusov, the units are comprised of Russian citizens acting as part of Ukraines "security and defense forces."

Read also: Explainer: What we do and dont know about the number of Ukrainian troops killed

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FILE - The sun sets through smoky air behind the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, Wash., on Aug. 19, 2018. A coroner's investigation into the death of a man in Los Angeles in February 2024 revealed that he was a suspect in a 2008 Washington state child rape who was believed to have jumped to his death from a bridge on Puget Sound years ago, authorities said. A witness reported seeing the man jump from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on March 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  A coroners investigation into the death of a man in Los Angeles last month revealed that he was a suspect in a 2008 Washington state child rape who was believed to have jumped to his death from a bridge on Puget Sound years ago, authorities said.

Christian Robert Basham was living under the alias Mark Clemens when he died Feb. 26 at age 56, police in Bremerton, Washington, said in a press release Thursday.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office discovered his true identity and informed the Bremerton Police Department on March 13.

Basham was arrested in 2008, charged with second-degree child rape and released on $350,000 bail, police said.

On March 29, 2009, a witness reported seeing Basham jump from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, police said. Searches using boats and an airplane failed to locate a body but his car and a suicide note were later found.

In Los Angeles, Basham was known as Clemens, a longtime maintenance man at a downtown apartment building where he lived.

His next-door neighbor, Tommy Cuellar, told KABC-TV that Clemens was already the building's handyman when Cuellar moved in about a decade ago.

Very shocking, Cuellar said of the news about his neighbor's real identity. This was our maintenance guy. This was the guy who had keys to our apartments. It was troubling to say the least, as you could imagine.

Cuellar told the station their interactions were always positive.

He was just like a normal person, a little rough sometimes but it was his personality," Cuellar said. "No other clue that he was this person he was accused of being.

The medical examiner's online case information available Friday listed the cause of Basham's death as deferred, meaning it requires additional investigation.

Though the criminal case against Basham will be closed Bremerton detectives will be doing follow-up regarding Basham's movement and actions since his supposed death in 2009, the police statement said.
Georgia state senators voted unanimously to create a study committee aimed at researching and finding solutions to safety problems in state prisons.

Lawmakers have spent years looking at how to improve conditions in state prisons. Even going county-by-county, more changes are needed.

According to Senate Resolution 570, the Senate is moving to create the Senate Supporting Safety and Welfare of All Individuals in Department of Corrections Facilities Study Committee.

The legislation cites concerns of lawmakers surrounding prison populations compared to a large reduction in staff in recent years, and how an understaffed prison is a more dangerous prison both for staff and those in custody.

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

In Fulton County, as has been reported on numerous occasions by Channel 2 Action News, county officials and Fulton Sheriff Pat Labat have been looking for ways to improve safety conditions and the overall prison environment.

Concerns over staffing are just one issue, but the parties involved in overseeing the prison and solutions to correct issues dont always see eye to eye. Labat recently requested an approval to increase the wages for staff overtime to double, rather than time-and-a-half, but the county commissioners tabled the plan. Labat cited recruitment and retention issues as reason to request the pay increases for staff.

In the same vein, the statistics mentioned in the resolution say that on average, Georgia prisons had more than 50,000 people in custody every day in 2023.

TRENDING STORIES:

As of March 15, the Georgia Department of Corrections reported there were 49,255 inmates in department custody. Of those, 34,936 were inmates housed in state prisons.

Additionally, from the 2020 fiscal year to the 2022 fiscal year, which ended in July 2023, the Georgia Department of Corrections number of employees shrank from 8,158 to 6,169. In the facilities division, which GDC said directly supervises offenders, staff had fallen from 7,527 to 5,546 by the end of FY2022. The overall staffing levels shrank 24.4%, while the facilities division staffing shrank by 26.4%.

More recent data shows some recruitment levels have improved.

The latest fiscal year annual report showed overall full-time staff had increased to 6,397, while the facilities division staffing had increased to 5,767. GDC said facilities division employees make up roughly 90% of all full-time staff. However, turnover remains a problem for the department, as well as at municipal facilities like the Fulton County Jail.

Recruitment and retention of Correctional Officers (COs) continues to challenge the GDC. Although CO hirings were 74% of GDC recruitments during FY 2023, 62% of separations also came from these positions, GDCs report said.

Recently, a Channel 2 Action News photographer was given a tour of the Clayton County Jail as community leaders pushed for reforms to improve the conditions inside for inmates serving time there or waiting to head to court to face justice.

As reported by Channel 2 Action News, Georgias U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff has also appealed to U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Clayton County Jail.

The USDOJ has also initiated multiple investigations of Georgia prisons, including one at the Fulton County Jail, based on concerns over the inmates civil liberties being violated due to what its like inside.

While federal officials are now investigating conditions at the Fulton County Jail, Georgia lawmakers have opened their own investigation.

In the past four years, USDOJ has opened investigations into the Fulton County Jail in 2023, an investigation of the South Fulton County Jail in 2019 and three other issues involving GDOC in full from 2021 to 2024.

Addressing the needs of Georgia prisons, the new committee would be charged with studying prison conditions, needs, issues and problems for jail staff and inmates and must make a report with recommendations on their findings by Dec. 1.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
(NEXSTAR)  Kiss your moderately-priced hot dogs goodbye, non-members.

Costco, in its latest effort to crack down on non-members accessing members-only services, is limiting access to its food courts to Costco cardholders only, according to store representatives who spoke with Nexstar.

The policy itself isnt exactly new  Costcos food court is intended for paying members  though it hasnt always been enforced at Costco locations where the food courts can be accessed via walk-up outdoor windows.

It now appears that Costco has decided to more strictly enforce the policy.

Customers have some complaints after buying silver coins from Costco

Many Costco customers (both members and non-members alike) first caught wind of Costcos latest efforts earlier this month, via a Reddit post containing an image of a sign reportedly posted outside a Costco food court in the Orlando area.

Effective April 8, 2024, an active Costco membership card will be required to purchase items from our food court, reads the sign in the image. You can join today. Please see our membership counter for details.

Representatives from several Costco locations have since confirmed plans to more strictly enforce the policy moving forward, with multiple confirming the use of new signage at the food courts. One of the representatives claimed that all 18 Costco locations with outdoor food courts, specifically, had been instructed to ask food-court customers to verify their membership status.

Customers wait in line to order from the food court outside a Costco store on June 14, 2022, in Hawthorne, California. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Somewhat less clear is whether non-members with Shop Cards (Costco gift cards that can be used by non-members) will still be able to make purchases at the food court. The sign in the aforementioned Reddit post appears to indicate that anyone without an active Costco membership card would be turned away, though one Costco administrator in California said Shop Cards are still welcome for all Costco purchases, including food court items.

Another, in Florida, said Shop Cards would not be accepted at that locations food courts, though he claimed the policy was subject to change.

A representative for Costcos corporate headquarters did not return multiple requests to clarify the current policy.

3 home buying tips you can ignore, according to real estate experts

Costcos new food-court signage is part of the retailers latest attempt keep non-members from accessing services intended for paying members. In June 2023, Costco had also announced its intentions to more strictly enforce its membership policy, which stipulates that only Costco members are allowed to make purchases at checkout  and not just anyone who happens to be carrying a valid membership card borrowed from a family member or friend.

Costco employees were soon observed checking for membership cards at the self-checkout areas. Some shoppers had also reported that they were asked to scan their Costco cards at a kiosk near the front of the store before they were allowed to shop.

Costco has previously explained that these and similar measures are necessary to provide value to paying members.

Costco is able to keep our prices as low as possible because our membership fees help offset our operational expenses, making our membership fee and structure important to us, a spokesperson for Costco told Nexstar.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Editors Note: This article was published by the blog The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak on March 17, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here.

Theres a low rumbling that never quite stops below Kharkivs iconic Independence Square. This morning, the sound is a metro train thundering into Universytet Station, just underneath the school children learning the basics of the four seasons and the seven days of the week.

But the vibrations and sounds can be anxiety-inducing considering that, within just a block or so, this area has been attacked by Russian missiles multiple times. And, being less than 32 kilometers (20 miles) from the Russian border, it is within range of Russian artillery.

It is here that psychologist Roman Cherkaskiy oversees dozens of children learning underground, in a school purpose-built to keep them safe from attacks.

Ukraines children have been devastated by the outbreak of war  endangering the next generation and the countrys future potential. There have been more than 500 children killed and 1,250 wounded due to the Russian invasion, according to the Ukrainian government.

But the damage doesnt stop merely at physical harm. Childrens learning has been deeply disturbed by the violence: the constant disruptions of air alarms, growing student anxiety, and a shortage of teaching equipment and reliable internet have contributed to a massive backslide in academic performance: 63% of Ukrainian teachers in one survey said that performance has declined.

These are all effects that these schools in Kharkiv are trying to combat  and, in particular, prevent the frequent disruption of classes by holding them underground.

Schoolchildren leave the Universytet metro station, where they attended their classes, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 4, 2023. (Ashley Chan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

In normal schools, when there (is) an air alert, children constantly have to break their educational process in order to go down to the basement, explained a school district administrator. Here we actually have a different situation, because the moment we manage to put them here and start their class, they don't have to disrupt their studying process for anything.

In fall 2023, the local education administrators picked five underground locations that could be used for schools. With funds from the municipal budget, as well as aid from the European Union and UNICEF, they converted this former passageway connecting two metro stations into a series of classrooms. The process took about a month.

Roman always wanted to be a psychologist, but he never expected to be working his dream job here. Among the rumblings and the long pipes filled with ventilated air, parents bring their students to school here each day.

Aside from being one of Kharkivs first underground schools, the "Metroshkola," or Metro-school in English, is also trying new educational approaches. Each classroom here has both a teacher and a psychologist present at all times.

Standing in front of the sound-proofed classroom window that dampens the sounds of the metro below, Roman explains how he tries to dampen the stresses of war, too.

Read also: The Counteroffensive: Crimean Tatars are observing this Ramadan in exile

We talk about everything connected to the war. We explain how to deal with stress independently, who to turn to when you are having a panic attack or if you are stressed or scared, he said.

But fundamentally, children in Kharkiv are like children from anywhere else.

(Most people) think 'Oh, they must have troubles related to the war, but no. They have usual kid problems, Roman told The Counteroffensive. Like one of them was telling me that they are really concerned that their rabbit is sick. You know, for us, that may sound like something even silly but they take it really, really seriously. And for them it is an actual problem.

Despite this not being an ordinary school or an ordinary city, the children are still very much ordinary children. In fact, these children face problems that any child might struggle with:

We work on how to say no, or how to come up to the blackboard a lot of kids get very stressed when they are being examined by a teacher.

Having in-person school serves the purpose of getting these young students the necessary socialization they need for healthy development.

Children in first grade attend a lesson in a classroom set up in a metro station amid Russia's war against Ukraine in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 4, 2023. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images)

Due to a lack of space, students rotate on a daily basis: every other day, they show up for in-person classes; on the other days, they will learn online. And even though theyve built up some capacity, only about 3% of the citys children  the lucky 2,190  will be able to use the underground schools.

But the Russian invasion has still robbed them of the fresh air and outdoor playtime that children in safer places get. Being underground, there is no hopskotch, nor ball courts; no place for tag or hide and seek.

"This is still a city, where, if it's not a missile, then an air alert every 10 minutes or something," said Valeriy Shepel, who works for the Kharkiv Department of Education. "Theres no way for the children to go outside and play. Because of the proximity to the (Russian) border here, we don't have time to react."

As we speak, children are constantly coming to and fro, escorted by teachers to the bathroom at the end of the hall  the former metro bathrooms. The children seem somewhat oblivious to the circumstances: this war has now become deeply embedded into their lives now.

Just before we depart, we see a teacher start a song and start to dance. The kids jump to their feet and move back and forth excitedly. They wave at the strange journalists who are nearby, perhaps uncertain about why they have such interest in their classes. Other children eagerly eat sandwiches for lunch and laugh with one another.

With all the violence outside, they are very much the definition of innocent kids. Russia's war against Ukraine isnt merely about soldiers defending their homeland. These kids are what those soldiers are fighting to defend.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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West Midlands Police said a Toyota Yaris failed to stop for officers on Fountain Road in Edgbaston

A woman is in a critical condition in hospital after a crash in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police said a Toyota Yaris had failed to stop for officers in Fountain Road, Edgbaston, on Saturday night before colliding with another car which then hit the front of a house.

The 53-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the second car, sustained life-threatening injuries, while the 45-year-old female driver was also seriously hurt.

The 21-year-old male driver of the Yaris and a 17-year-old boy were arrested by officers before being taken to hospital.

The force said both suspects remained in hospital.

They were arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle.

The Yaris driver was also arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop.

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Cambium Networks (NASDAQ:CMBM) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$220.2m (down 26% from FY 2022).

Net loss: US$63.6m (down by 415% from US$20.2m profit in FY 2022).

US$2.31 loss per share (down from US$0.75 profit in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Cambium Networks EPS Misses Expectations

Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 63%.

The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the North America segment contributing a total revenue of US$131.9m (60% of total revenue). Notably, cost of sales worth US$148.8m amounted to 68% of total revenue thereby underscoring the impact on earnings. The largest operating expense was Research & Development (R&D) costs, amounting to US$51.4m (38% of total expenses). Explore how CMBM's revenue and expenses shape its earnings.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 11% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 3.5% growth forecast for the Communications industry in the US.

Performance of the American Communications industry.

The company's shares are down 1.6% from a week ago.

Balance Sheet Analysis

While earnings are important, another area to consider is the balance sheet. We have a graphic representation of Cambium Networks' balance sheet and an in-depth analysis of the company's financial position.

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.
Czechia is expected to propose a European-wide ban on Russian and Belarusian grain crop imports during a European Council meeting next week.

Source: Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny on Czech television, as reported by Novinky

Details: "We will insist that grain and oil crops be included in [the list of] sanctions and not imported into Europe," Vyborny said.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala will outline Czechias position during the European Council meeting next week.

Eurostat data indicates that the EU imported 1.5 million tonnes of grain from Russia last year  more than before the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Spain in particular imported a lot more Russian grain than before in light of a bad growing season.

"There is no single reason why we have to support the aggressor by buying Russian grain in Europe," Vyborny said.

He added that there is no danger that food prices will rise dramatically in the wake of the possible ban of Russian grain imports: "Czechia has excess grain that can be exported, as do many other countries around the world."

Margita Balastikova, member of the Czech parliamentary committee on agriculture and a representative of the ANO opposition movement, said she would support the ban, but added that it will be difficult to enforce it. "We will need to conduct customs checks and train cars will have to be sealed, otherwise traders will be able to circumvent [the ban]," Balastikova said.

Background:

On 14 March, Lithuania's Seimas (the parliament) passed a resolution calling for a European-wide ban on Russian and Belarusian grain crop imports.

Earlier, media reported that the European Commission is expected to submit a proposal next week for quantitative restrictions on grain imports from Russia and Belarus.

In February, the Latvian parliament adopted a temporary import ban on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus until at least July 2025. The Polish Sejm also adopted a resolution calling for sanctions to be imposed on imports of Russian and Belarusian food products.

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Sorted gravel pile from Pleistocene glacial outwash at St. Louisville gravel pits, Licking County, Ohio. (Photo by James St. John via Flickr | CC-BY-SA 2.0)

The State of Montana, through the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality, approved the Elbow Lake Gravel Pit and Asphalt Plant in 2023. The 20-acre site of the pit on Highway 83 is part of the critical wildlife corridor to and from the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area. The rationale for the decision by the State to approve the pit was that it needed funding to support education. The decision was made despite overwhelming opposition to the gravel pit from the citizens of Montana, as documented by letters submitted to DNRC and DEQ.

The approval by DNRC and DEQ to use this land for a gravel pit is completely contradictory and undermines a monumental decision made by the State of Montana in 2009, through the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Montana Department of Transportation to preserve 53 acres of land directly north and adjacent to the 20-acre parcel approved for the gravel pit.

In the 2009 Draft Environmental Assessment prepared by FWP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service titledMitigation Plan for MT Highway 83 Right of Way Conveyance on the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area, the 53 acres was described as follows: This parcel consists of native fescue prairie and ponderosa pine parklandhigh quality ungulate winter range. In addition it included 1,800 feet of Clearwater River frontage at the point of most migrating elk and deer to use to travel between summer ranges to the west and the main unit of the wildlife management area. If the parcel sold on the private market, it would have almost certainly have been developed for residential use, causing long term and significant impact to the function of the adjacent WMA.

This 53 acres was purchased by the state from a private owner and had an appraised value of $1.6 million in 2009. It should also be noted the FWP worked with the private developers of the River Watch subdivision, just north of this 53 acres, to preserve acreage for the same purpose. A press release in 2009 lauded the efforts of FWP and DOT to preserve the critical wildlife habitat. In part, it stated: The property was being actively marketed as a residential subdivision and this project ensures it will be protected forever. Its a great example of two agencies working together to both benefit wildlife and increase public safety, said Jay Kolbe, FWPs area wildlife biologist.

It is important to note that this land acquisition and preservation was intended to extend the wildlife corridor from the adjacent 20 acres approved for the pit, which is also critical wildlife habitat and crucial for the migration of animals to and from BCWMA.

The state has the obligation of protecting the value of our land. What would be the appraised value of this parcel now with a gravel pit and asphalt plant next to it? Would a private developer be interested in creating a subdivision on those 53 acres now?

In contrast to the laudable and historical efforts of FWP and DOT in 2009 to increase critical wildlife habitat, extend the wildlife corridor next the BCWMA and improve public safety, the decisions made by DNRC and DEQ have resulted in contradictory and illogical decisions. These decisions have decreased critical wildlife habitat, narrowed the pathway of migration while causing long term and significant impact to the function of the adjacent wildlife area, and increased public safety issues.

As mentioned, the rationale from DNRC to approve the pit was to secure monies for public education at the expense of the loss of critical wildlife habitat. This decision is completely contrary to the 2009 decision of FWP and DOT. If the 53 acres had been developed into a subdivision, the revenues generated for public education from taxation on the properties would have far exceeded any revenue to the state generated by the gravel pit. Folks from the FWP and DOT realized that any monetary compensation to the state for example, property tax revenue from the subdivision to fund public education or for any other purpose paled in comparison to the lifetime preservation of critical wildlife habitat. People involved in that 2009 decision must be commended.

Unlike those individuals from the DNRC and DEQ who made the illogical decision to approve the gravel pit, the people who made the decision to protect that critical habitat in 2009 had the foresight, conviction and perseverance to preserve this landour land for future generationsforever.

Another example of flawed decision making from DNRC relates to the justification of approving the gravel pit based on wind patterns. In their environmental assessment to address concerns about the dust that would be generated from the operation of the pit, the report included this statement, By utilizing the wind rose, it can be determined that most of the fugitive dust, asphalt plant emissions (smell) and equipment emissions would be blowing away from Elbow Lake and the cabin sites. Within the first two weeks of the operation of the gravel pit before it was shut down, dust covered cabin sites, and was found in Elbow Lake and the Clearwater River.

Fortunately, Judge Larson granted a preliminary injunction stopping all operations of the Elbow Lake Gravel Pit based on the finding that DEQ had granted a dryland opencut permit without confirming whether surface and groundwater could be polluted or how many residents could be affected within half-mile of the area.

This decision is currently under appeal to the Montana Supreme Court. Protect the Clearwater, a nonprofit organization, has been at the forefront of the legal effort to protect our land and preserve it for future generations.

Giuliani lives in Missoula.

The post Decisions by the State of Montana defy logic in case of gravel pit appeared first on Daily Montanan.
The debate over ideological diversity on campus wont end with Senate Bill 202. Also, the heart of the issue isnt what most people think. It doesnt fit easily into ideological labels of conservative or liberal, and it isnt about political party.

The issue is not about gender, race or ethnicity, or the mix of ideas discussed on campus. It isnt about acknowledging lingering discrimination, recognizing the ugly parts of American history, or even choosing the right tactics to promote equality.

Many folks would like to make these claims, but the issues are far more fundamental, and far different, than weve seen in any American institution for a very long time.

Michael Hicks

The central fight over ideological bias on campus involves two competing visions of the world.

One view reflects the founding principles of the Constitution; the second is wholly different and incompatible with the Constitution.

In the first view, the individual is at the center of morality and law. In this view, we are each unique beings, created equal and responsible for our individual actions. That still-radical idea came to us from the Enlightenment, though some of us find it in our faith tradition. It took political form in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the bodies of laws that built upon them.

In the second view, classes of people, not the individual, are at the center of morality and law. In this view, individuals are irrelevant unless they are mobilized by class interests in a struggle for political and economic power. The goal of that struggle is to dismantle the structures of oppression, colonization and exclusion. This view comes to us through an early 20th century branch of German Marxism and has today become known as Critical Theory.

Many readers will have heard of Critical Race Theory or CRT as part of the culture wars.

Critical Theory is a much broader ideology.

Marxism focused on economic classes such as the proletariat and bourgeoisie. Critical theory adds to them intersections of race, ethnicity, and an expanding list to include queerness, body weight, trauma experience and the like. Critical Theory claims that the more a class is oppressed, the more merit it must possess and the greater its moral vision. As individuals, we are irrelevant and disposable. Only our intersectional class matters.

The debates on campus speech and ideology are really a struggle between these two wholly incompatible worldviews. Conflict is not only certain, but necessary.

Speech rules on public university campuses are derived from the first view because the Constitution offers no alternative. In contrast, admissions, hiring, promotion and tenure are heavily controlled by the use of Critical Theory. In many campuses you cannot be admitted, hired, tenured or promoted without pledging commitment to Critical Theory.

To be clear, Im not talking about classroom teaching. The same freedom of expression required by our Constitution permits professors to teach Marxist and Critical Theory in classrooms. That is where ideas are challenged and succeed or fail on their merits. In contrast, Critical Theory explicitly views freedom of speech as a tool of the oppressors. As intended, this closes debate on campus.

Our culture wars are the direct result of this longstanding divide on campus. I also think much of the current political chasms stem from the use of Critical Theory as campus policy on admissions, hiring, funding, programming, tenure and promotion. Let me provide a concrete example.

In the late 1970s, as I grew into adulthood, women faced considerable discrimination.

In higher education, to their credit, universities not only preached equality, but also practiced it. By the time I entered college in 1980, Americas colleges were evenly split by gender. Occupations once closed to women began to open, first begrudgingly, then quickly. Facts and experience changed minds. It was a huge national achievement.

Todays college students inhabit a wholly different world.

At Ball State, two out of every three students are women, and women earn almost seven out of 10 degrees. This is roughly the national average.

As institutions, universities rarely preach equality.

Worse still, they dont even attempt to practice equality. For example, men dont just attend to Ball State at lower rates, they are also accepted by the university at much lower rates.

Yes, it is likely that young men applying to Ball State are less qualified. After all, the use of Critical Theory in K-12 schools is downstream from the colleges that train teachers. But men are now under-represented minorities, much in the way women were in the 1950s. Any discussion of this is off limits. One consequence is that Ball State, like other Hoosier schools, discriminates against men.

There are many small examples, or microaggressions, in the language of Critical Theory. One obvious example are several scholarships available only to women in that bastion of male supremacynursing. This continues because campus diversity efforts arent aimed at diversity. They exist to indoctrinate Critical Theory. Young men are the wrong class of students.

The campus message young men receive today is drastically different from the message of equality I received 40 years ago. Many find themselves being told that to be part of a campus community, they must reject outdated visions of masculinity. They are told that an objection to this is simply nostalgia for a time when their class had power. These bizarre examples are drawn directly from training offered to young men at my campus.

I write this firmly believing Ball State is better than most schools on these issues, but that is far from sufficient.

After my last column on SB 202, one young man offered me this eloquent view of graduate school in Indiana: ... (I)t was an incredibly stifling environment for anyone exploring alternative viewpoints, or even just expressing honestly held beliefs that didn't quite vibe with the consensus. At the time, as a privileged White man, I felt this was justified (because) ... quite frankly, didn't we deserve to be humbled into adherence? But in retrospect, NO, that's absolutely not okay, nor conducive to the mission of higher education, and although I believe the program truly opened my eyes to other viewpoints, I also believe that my own creative pursuits suffered as a result of the stifling environment.

This testimony should embarrass and humble every faculty member in the state.

The reluctance of universities and faculty to even admit a problem is why we see the legislatures addressing these issues in Indiana and nationwide. While many faculty members fear these laws as an attack by conservative legislators, they are mistaken.

The actual challenge to the use of Critical Theory as a guide to university admissions, hiring, promotions and tenure doesnt come from some right-wing conspiracy. It comes from the timeless words of Thomas Jefferson, and the Constitution.

Michael Hicks is the George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics and the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: SB 202's challenge to 'Critical Theory' doesn't come from right-wing conspiracy
The Russian Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, travelled to the command center of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in occupied Sevastopol, the Ministry reported in a press release on the morning of March 17.

The purpose of his visit is to address the defense of Russian vessels near Crimea from ongoing naval drone attacks.

The press release says that Shoigu ordered constant training, day and night, to repel enemy attacks, as well as to increase the survivability of ships and vessels and the security of infrastructure facilities."

"It is necessary to conduct daily training with all personnel," Shoigu said.

Training to repel air attacks and attacks by unmanned boats. We need to conduct them day and night so that all our crews are ready.

Read also: ATESH guerrillas claim responsibility for Ukrainian strike, destroying Russian oil pipeline in occupied Feodosia

He also emphasized the need to install additional weapons and large-caliber machine gun systems to defeat drones.

Shoigu also inspected the construction of a new Russian military infirmary in occupied Sevastopol.

According to media estimates, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukraine has managed to sink or damage 20-30% of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Read also: Russian ballistic missile attack on Mykolaiv: many private houses damaged, five wounded reported

Russia has lost 26 ships and boats as of March 17, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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Admission to Oxford, Cambridge and the other members of the Russell Group usually requires a slew of straight As - benedek

Almost half of UK adults think todays exams are easier than they were when they were sitting them. A-level grade distributions, for their part, dont support this claim  26.8pc of students received an A or A* in 2013, compared to 28.1pc in 2023.

Bs and Cs have consistently remained the most common results, making up just under half (48.8pc) of the total in last summers sitting. This means that for many, the top universities slip out of reach.

Oxford, Cambridge and the other 22 members of the distinguished Russell Group are incredibly selective, with academic requirements usually a slew of straight As.

Yet that doesnt imply their graduates are always the most successful.

The latest outcomes data from the Department for Education (DfE) show that a number of far more accessible degrees have average future earnings that are sometimes thousands of pounds greater.

Never mind the exam, the choice of university could be far more important. Here are some of the institutions whose graduates make more money after five years than those who went to more selective universities.

Economics at the University of Birkbeck

The Oxbridge premium  the extra pay due to studying at Oxford or Cambridge relative to the national average  tends to be around 15,000. But graduate pay at these institutions can be beaten  even by non-Russell Group universities.

The highest-profile case is that of Birkbeck, University of Londons Economics (BSc) course. With median earnings of 55,000 five years after graduation in the 2020/21 tax year, its alumni are among the highest paid in the country. They are also the same as their Oxford counterparts.

The difference is that while Birkbeck stipulates minimum A-level grades of CCC to be considered  as well as welcoming applicants without traditional entry qualifications  the barrier to Oxfords Economics and Management (BSc) course is A*AA.

Oxfords website shows just 5pc of applicants tend to make their cut. In 2023/24, 86pc of applicants to Birkbecks wider range of economics-related programmes received either conditional or unconditional offers.

Dr Kenjiro Hori, head of economics at the university, said: Birkbeck specialises in university education for students who have additional commitments such as work or caring responsibilities outside of their studies. This makes them particularly committed to succeeding and it reflects in their earning potential.

Architecture at Anglia Ruskin University

Among architecture, building and planning courses offered by UK institutions, none match Anglia Ruskin University for graduate earnings.

Not a member of the Russell Group, it was named University of the Year 2023 by Times Higher Education. Its Chelmsford-based Architecture BA requires the equivalent of a BBC at A-level. After five years, its graduates are paid an average of 49,300.

The University of Cambridges Architecture (BA)  which has entry requirements of A*AA  promises a relatively lean 36,900.

A spokesman for Anglia Ruskin said their graduates were taught to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-life situations and are therefore highly valued.

They added: Salaries available in the surveying and construction management sectors are particularly high as there is significant demand for these roles in London and the South East, and across the East of England.

Engineering at The Open University

By design, the majority of The Open Universitys degrees are accessible to those without formal academic qualifications.

To apply for its Bachelor of Engineering course, only some knowledge of mathematics, an interest in technology and basic English skills are needed.

Telegraph analysis of the DfEs data show its graduates went on to make 47,100 a year within five years, second only to Cambridge (50,000), level with UCL and ahead of the Oxford cohort on 46,700.

Pharmacy at the University of Brighton

With the expectation of making 42,300 five years after graduation, the pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy alumni from the University of Brighton beat all other competitors in the earnings race.

The A-level requirement is a BBB. Kings College London and UCL are both more stringent, yet lead to salaries averaging 42,000 and 40,500 respectively.

Computing at Aston University

Coders are some of the most in-demand and handsomely rewarded workers in the jobs market. They make 37,500 five years after leaving university  topped only by economics graduates (41,400) and those studying medicine (52,800).

Aston University in Birmingham may be the most grade-efficient place to pursue programming, comfortably beating the average five-year pay at 43,100. The institution asks for a BBB, while Queen Mary University of London, for example, pushes for AAA despite outcomes of 41,100.

These are just a sample of the highest-paying Russell Group alternatives. Many more are out there, and you can use our interactive tool to see how graduate salaries compare.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) said the legislation hes sponsored is meant to protect contraceptive access during a time of legal uncertainty. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Abortion-related bills continue to be introduced and debated in 40 legislatures across the country, especially in states where the procedure is already banned. It can be hard to monitor them all, so States Newsrooms Reproductive Rights Today team tracks certain bills that could become law in their respective states in a biweekly legislative roundup. Depending on the partisan makeup of a states legislature and other state government officials, some bills have a higher chance of passing and becoming law than others.

Alabama

Following outcry over loss of access to in vitro fertilization services after the Alabama Supreme Court declared frozen embryos to have the same legal standing as human beings, state legislators quickly passed a bill extending civil and criminal immunity to IVF clinics. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed it the same night, though questions still remain about whether the measure is sufficient protection for providers, Alabama Reflector reported.

Now House Democrats are trying to protect access to birth control in the state where nearly all abortions are banned at any stage of pregnancy.

House Bill 279: The bill establishes the right for individuals to use contraception and for health care providers to distribute it and offer guidance as to how it should be used, according to Alabama Reflector. Democrats expressed concern that birth control is next on the list for being banned or restricted, and said the law would provide protection, particularly for people with low incomes or those who dont have health insurance and face limited options for affordable birth control. The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has not indicated whether the bill will receive a hearing.

Status: Referred to House Judiciary Committee, awaiting hearing

Sponsor: Democratic Rep. Anthony Daniels

Idaho

Idaho has a near-total abortion ban at any stage of pregnancy, with exceptions to save the pregnant patients life, and in cases of rape and incest during the first trimester.

Senate Bill 1234: By one vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill requiring insurance companies to cover up to six months of contraceptives instead of the standard one- to three-month supplies, reports Idaho Capital Sun. The bill was sponsored by one of few Democrats in the state legislature, and Planned Parenthood Great Northwest advocated for its passage.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting signature from Republican Gov. Brad Little

Sponsor: Democratic Sen. Melissa Wintrow

Iowa

According to the states legislative session timeline, March 15 was the final date for bills to be reported out of House and Senate committees, and for the rest of the session, the chambers will only consider outstanding legislation. New bills, with exceptions for those related to taxes, budget and other standard government functions, wont come forward after that date. So far, only one abortion-related bill has advanced through the process, although amendments related to abortion policy could be added to measures still under consideration.

Abortion is legal in Iowa after a court blocked a six-week abortion ban from going into effect in July 2023.

House File 2617: On Thursday, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported the Senate Education Committee passed an amended version of this bill, which requires students in grades 7-12 to be shown videos and graphics about fetal development from fertilization to birth in health classes. Unlike previous versions, the committee removed a reference stating the video should be comparable to the Meet Baby Olivia video, which is produced by Live Action, a national anti-abortion rights organization. Critics of the bill, including medical organizations, told legislators the video includes inaccurate medical information and pushed anti-abortion messages.

Status: Passed by Senate Education Committee, awaiting full vote in the Senate. The bill has already passed the House.

Sponsor: Republican Sen. Jeff Taylor

Kansas

Republican legislators in Kansas continue to introduce bills related to abortion, despite Kansas voters overwhelming rejection of abortion bans in a referendum shortly after the Dobbs decision in 2022. Abortion is legal in Kansas, and six clinics provide in-clinic services.

House Bill 2813: This bill makes the act of abortion coercion a felony. According to reporting from Kansas Reflector, sponsor Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, a Republican, said she was pressured by a doctor to terminate her pregnancy over concerns that giving birth was risking her life. Proponents of the bill said coercion can also come from parents, boyfriends or traffickers. The charge would come with a jail sentence of 30 days to one year and a fine of between $500 and $5,000, unless the person charged is the father, in which case the penalties would be 90 days to one year in jail and a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Status: House hearing held, awaiting committee vote

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Rebecca Schmoe

House Bill 2814: This bill would require an ultrasound to be performed before an abortion, but would allow the patient to avert her eyes from such images, according to Kansas Reflector.

Status: Awaiting hearing in Committee on Federal and State Affairs

Sponsor: Requested on behalf of Kansans for Life and Kansas Family Voice by Republican Rep. Leah Howell

House Bill 2749: Kansas Reflector reported the House of Representatives passed this bill, which requires abortion providers to ask patients why they are terminating their pregnancies, on March 6. An amended version of the bill removed a list of questions about whether the patient felt the pregnancy interfered with a career or prevented people from knowing they had been sexually active, replaced by questions around age, marital status, domestic violence considerations and the method of abortion. Amendments proposed by Democrats that would survey men to ask why they were undergoing a vasectomy or seeking care for erectile dysfunction were rejected.

The bill was requested by Kansans for Life, the main group that pushed the failed 2022 referendum to allow abortion bans. It would also apply to minors.

Status: Passed by House, scheduled for a hearing in the Senate on Tuesday, March 19

Sponsor: Requested on behalf of Kansans for Life by Republican Rep. Ron Bryce

Missouri

Nearly all abortions are banned in Missouri, but lawmakers have continued to try to deny Planned Parenthood from receiving reimbursements under the states Medicaid program.

House Bill 2634/Senate Bill 1168: This legislation prohibits the spending of any public funds on an abortion facility or its affiliates or associates, including Medicaid through the MO HealthNet program. Missouri Independent reports the bill is targeting Planned Parenthood clinics, which do not provide abortions in Missouri but may provide referrals to clinics in other states for abortion care. The clinics do provide contraceptives, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and cancer, and general wellness visits. The identical bills are advancing in their respective chambers.

Status: Passed by the House, awaiting approval in the Senate

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Cody Smith and Republican Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a near-total abortion ban, but many of the abortion-related bills have not advanced past committee so far this session, which began in early February.

House Bill 3013: The act of trafficking abortion pills would become a felony, punishable by a $100,000 fine, 10 years in prison or both. It does not apply to pharmacists or manufacturers lawfully distributing abortion medication.

Status: Passed by the House of Representatives 77-18, to be referred to the Senate

Sponsor: Republican Reps. Kevin McDugle and Cody Maynard

South Dakota

While activists continue to gather signatures for a ballot initiative to add abortion rights to the state constitution, the South Dakota Legislature passed House Bill 1244, which allows people to withdraw their signatures from petitions for ballot measures, referendums and constitutional amendment questions. South Dakota Searchlight reported the bill sponsor said people have been misled, or frankly, fraudulently induced into signing the petitions, and the bill gives them a choice.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting signature from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Jon Hansen

House Bill 1224: Searchlight reported this bill mandates that the South Dakota Health Department create an informational video describing the states abortion law, including what actions do and do not qualify as an abortion, the most common medical conditions that can threaten a pregnant persons life, and standards of care around treatment of pregnant patients, among other provisions.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting signature from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, 27 other Republicans and one Democrat

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The post Democrats push bills related to contraception access following Alabama IVF ruling appeared first on Colorado Newsline.
Deputy arrested over St. Patricks Day weekend for boating under the influence: HCSO

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Hillsborough County deputy was put behind bars over St. Patricks Day weekend for boating under the influence, authorities announced Sunday.

The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said shortly before 10 p.m. on March 15, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officer witnessed a vessel operating without displaying its navigational lights.

The FWC officer initiated a vessel stop and found the operator, Deputy Clinton Ormsbee, 52, impaired.

Youre gonna get shot! Bodycam video shows moment Pasco deputy shot suspect while dangling from SUV

HCSO said Ormsbee refused to provide a breath sample. He was taken into custody and booked into Orient Jail, where he was charged with boating under the influence, according to the sheriffs office.

I am extremely disappointed by the actions of this deputy. Driving or boating under the influence is unacceptable, especially for someone entrusted with upholding the law, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. His reckless behavior not only endangered his own life but also posed a severe threat to the safety of innocent individuals.

Ormsbee has been an HCSO employee for 15 years. He is assigned to the Court Operations Division.

The 52-year-old was placed on administrative leave without pay, pending the results of an internal affairs investigation, the sheriffs office said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Derek Thompson bowed out of BBC One drama Casualty on Saturday night after 38 years in the role of Charlie Fairhead.

The Belfast-born actor, 75, is the medical drama's longest-serving cast member and was part of the first episode in 1986.

In last Saturday's episode, Charlie was stabbed by a patient and left fighting for his life.

Fans were left waiting on tenterhooks to find out whether he survived.

Thompson, who has acted in nearly 900 episodes of Casualty, announced he was leaving the show last May, saying: "The time has come for me to hang up Charlie's scrubs."

Charlie experienced his fair share of drama over the years

He added that his time on the show, as the senior charge nurse, had been "wonderful".

Casualty is set in the fictional Holby City Hospital and tells the stories of the staff and patients of the hospital's A&E Department.

In scenes aired on Saturday, a team was seen frantically starting treatment to save Charlie's life after the attack.

He slipped in and out of consciousness, and had a flashback to the start of his career at the hospital.

In the flashback, a young version of Charlie - played by Jack Franklin - was seen arriving to work hungover, only to find a nail bomb had exploded and the emergency department was filling up with serious casualties.

Fans breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the episode, when it became clear that Charlie had survived the stabbing, with his colleagues applauding him out of the hospital following his treatment.

The episode ended with him leaving in the passenger seat of a yellow car, which had a sign saying "Just retired" displayed on the back.

Thompson described his exit storyline as "some of the best episodes of my career".

"How [Casualty writer] Michelle Lipton wrote these episodes comes across like she's written eight plays, taken from so many points of view," he added. "I don't think there's another writer who could have done it."

Charlie and his beloved fellow nurse Duffy

Viewers have watched Charlie experience plenty of drama over the years, including being shot in the chest with a handgun by a schizophrenic man and held hostage by an armed man and run over by an ambulance on his wedding day.

He also had a will-they-won't-they relationship with fellow nurse Duffy, played by Cathy Shipton, which spanned 30 years.

The original cast of Casualty included Bernard Gallagher, George Harris, Brenda Fricker and Julia Watson, alongside Thompson.

Thompson is the only actor who has remained a constant presence throughout the series' history.

Fans will not have to wait too long to see him back on screen, however.

The BBC recently announced that Thompson is to appear in a guest role in the second series of the Belfast-based drama Blue Lights, playing retired police officer Robin Graham.

Casualty was broadcast at 21.25 GMT on Saturday on BBC One and is available on the BBC iPlayer.
After speaking behind a placard that said stop illegal immigration, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed three bills that proponents argue will be deterrents to undocumented immigrants coming to the state.

The measures, approved during the legislative session that ended last week, seek to crack down on the use of what are known as community identification cards, strengthen criminal penalties for people who previously have been deported and stiffen punishments for repeatedly driving without licenses.

We really appreciate what people are doing who are wearing the (law enforcement) uniform to help keep our communities safe. So I think these bills will go a long way to helping make their job easier and make them even more effective, DeSantis said during a news conference at the Polk County sheriffs office.

Perhaps the highest-profile bill (HB 1451) is designed to further curb community identification cards. The bill will prevent counties and municipalities from accepting community IDs if the cards were issued by groups that have provided such identification to people who are in the country illegally.

Read: 20-year-old man airlifted to hospital after shooting in Bunnell, police say

The cards, which typically are issued by non-profit organizations or other non-governmental groups, cannot be used for purposes such as driving or voting but are intended to serve as an alternative form of identification.

Broward County, for example, authorized the use of community ID cards in 2021. Legal Aid Service of Broward County runs the Broward Community ID Project, providing cards to people who can prove they reside in the county.

Any resident of Broward County can apply for a community ID card. This ID is especially useful to formerly incarcerated persons, foster youth, transgender persons, the homeless, new immigrants, refugees, or anyone who might face difficulties obtaining a state-issued ID. Immigration status will not be asked, the organizations website says.

Read: 15-year-old fatally stabs 16-year-old girl, deputies say

Before signing the bill, DeSantis referred to community IDs as rogue identifications.

But during legislative debate last week, Democrats defended the use of community IDs.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said law-enforcement officials have backed the use of community IDs. Eskamani said the cards can help residents who are experiencing homelessness and can help link some of our most-vulnerable residents to resources.

Read: Suspect arrested after barricading inside home in The Villages

Rep. Johanna Lopez, D-Orlando, said restricting access to valid identification jeopardizes public safety.

The bill builds on a measure approved last year that prohibited local governments from providing money for issuing identification cards to undocumented immigrants.

During the appearance Friday in Polk County, DeSantis also signed a bill (SB 1036) that will increase criminal penalties for immigrants who are arrested for felonies after illegally re-entering the U.S. following deportation for earlier crimes. Also, he signed a measure (HB 1589) that will increase penalties for driving without a valid license more than once.

Read: Orlando scores 41 out of 100 for walkability, city says improvements are coming

In the state of Florida, if you have been deported and you come to this state, and enter our state and youre here illegally, and you commit crimes, we are throwing the book at you, DeSantis said about the bill dealing with previously deported people.

DeSantis also said the drivers license measure is a deterrent for illegal immigrants to travel to Florida.

We dont recognize drivers licenses from other states that have been issued to illegal aliens. So, thats smart, DeSantis said. But you still have people that come and drive without a license. One of the big cures we can do for illegal immigration is to make sure people that are doing that are facing serious consequences.

SEE: Orange County reduces fees for St. Patricks Day pet adoption event

The ACLU of Florida, however, has argued that the drivers license measure disproportionately impacts and targets undocumented immigrants who the state refuses to allow to obtain a valid Florida driver license, and thus forces them to subject themselves to criminal penalties for the simple act of driving their children to after-school activities or doctor appointments.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) declined to explicitly endorse former President Trump for 2024 on Sunday, instead saying that he would vote for the Republican at the ballot box.

DeWine, who has butted heads with Trump in Ohios GOP Senate primary where they have each endorsed dueling candidates, said his effort wont be focused on the White House this year.

Ive always said that I will support the Republican nominee. Im a Republican, DeWine told CNNs Dana Bash in a State of the Union interview. But my focus this year is going to be on a lot of local races. And its going to be particularly focused on the United States Senate.

This is going to be a very close race in the fall, he continued. And, you know, were really going to focus on that. I mean, the polling clearly shows Trump is way ahead in the general election. So, I think the focus in Ohio is going to be on the Senate race.

Trump endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno for the Buckeye State race, while DeWine backed state Sen. Matt Dolan. The two candidates are neck-and-neck in polling for the primary, which will be held Tuesday.

DeWine said he believes Dolan would be a stronger candidate against Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).

Ive had the opportunity to work with him in the state legislature. He knows how a legislative body works, he said. And you know, I think its important, we have to remember, we may be sending this person out of the Republican primary, who may serve six years or may serve 30 years in the United States Senate. I just think Matt Dolan is the right person.

DeWines comments come after two GOP Senators, Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), similarly declined to endorse Trump earlier Sunday.

At this point, all I will say is that I plan to vote for a Republican for the presidency of the United States, Cassidy said Sunday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.2875 per share on the 17th of April. This payment means the dividend yield will be 0.9%, which is below the average for the industry.

View our latest analysis for Choice Hotels International

Choice Hotels International's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. Before making this announcement, Choice Hotels International was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 51.4%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 15% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.74 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of $1.15. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 4.5% over that duration. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited.

We Could See Choice Hotels International's Dividend Growing

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. Choice Hotels International has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 6.4% per annum. Choice Hotels International definitely has the potential to grow its dividend in the future with earnings on an uptrend and a low payout ratio.

In Summary

Overall, we think Choice Hotels International is a solid choice as a dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't raised this year. The payout ratio looks good, but unfortunately the company's dividend track record isn't stellar. The dividend looks okay, but there have been some issues in the past, so we would be a little bit cautious.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Choice Hotels International that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

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.
Four hundred and forty-four days prior to the 2024 presidential election, millions of Americans tuned into the first Republican primary debate. If this seems like a long time to contemplate the candidates, it is.

By comparison, Canadian election campaigns average just 50 days. In France, candidates have just two weeks to campaign, while Japanese law restricts campaigns to a meager 12 days.

Those countries all give more power than the United States does to the legislative branch, which might explain the limited attention to the selection of the chief executive. But Mexico  which, like the US, has a presidential system  only allows 90 days for its presidential campaigns, with a 60-day pre-season, the equivalent of the US nomination campaign.

So by all accounts, the United States has exceptionally long elections  and they just keep getting longer. As a political scientist living in Iowa, Im acutely aware of how long the modern American presidential campaign has become.

It wasnt always this way. The seemingly interminable presidential campaign is a modern phenomenon. It originated out of widespread frustration with the control that national parties used to wield over the selection of candidates. But changes to election procedures, along with media coverage that started to depict the election as a horse race, have also contributed to the trend.

Wresting power from party elites

For most of American history, party elites determined who would be best suited to compete in the general election. It was a process that took little time and required virtually no public campaigning by candidates.

But beginning in the early 20th century, populists and progressives fought for greater public control over the selection of their partys candidates. They introduced the modern presidential primary and advocated for a more inclusive selection process of convention delegates. As candidates sought support from a wider range of people, they began to employ modern campaign tactics, like advertising.

Nonetheless, becoming the nominee didnt require a protracted campaign.

Consider 1952, when Dwight Eisenhower publicly announced that he was a Republican just 10 months before the general election and indicated that he was willing to run for president. Even then, he remained overseas as NATO commander until June, when he resigned to campaign full time.

President Harry S. Truman points to Adlai E. Stevenson, as he introduces him at the 1952 Democratic convention in Chicago. AP Photo

On the Democratic side, despite encouragement from President Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson repeatedly rejected efforts to draft him for the nomination, until his welcoming address at the national convention in July 1952  just a few months before the general election. His speech excited the delegates so much that they put his name in the running, and he became the nominee.

And in 1960, even though John F. Kennedy appeared on the ballot in only 10 of the partys 16 state primaries, he was still able to use his win in heavily Protestant West Virginia to convince party leaders that he could attract support, despite his Catholicism.

A shift to primaries

The contentious 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, however, led to a series of reforms.

That convention had pitted young anti-war activists supporting Eugene McCarthy against older establishment supporters of Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Thousands of protesters rioted in the streets as Humphrey was nominated. It revealed deep divisions within the party, with many members convinced that party elites had operated against their wishes.

The resulting changes to the nomination process  dubbed the McGovern-Fraser reforms  were explicitly designed to allow rank-and-file party voters to participate in the nomination of a presidential candidate.

States increasingly shifted to public primaries rather than party caucuses. In a party caucus system  like that used in Iowa  voters meet at a designated time and place to discuss candidates and issues in person. By design, a caucus tends to attract activists deeply engaged in party politics.

Primaries, on the other hand, are conducted by the state government and require only that a voter show up for a few moments to cast their ballot.

As political scientist Elaine Kamarck has noted, in 1968, only 15 states held primaries; by 1980, 37 states held primaries. For the 2024 election, only Iowa, Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, Utah and Hawaii have confirmed that theyll hold caucuses; the remaining U.S. states and territories will likely hold primaries.

The growing number of primaries meant that candidates were encouraged to use any tool at their disposal to reach as many voters as possible. Candidates became more entrepreneurial, name recognition and media attention became more important, and campaigns became more media savvy  and expensive.

This shift marked the beginning of what political scientists call the candidate-centered campaign.

The early bird gets the worm

In 1974, as he concluded his term as Governor of Georgia, just 2% of voters recognized the name of Democrat Jimmy Carter. He had virtually no money.

But Carter theorized that he could build momentum by proving himself in states that held early primaries and caucuses. So on Dec. 12, 1974  691 days before the general election  Carter announced his presidential campaign. Over the course of 1975, he spent much of his time in Iowa, talking to voters and building a campaign operation in the state.

Jimmy Carter speaks to a crowd of supporters at a farm in Des Moines, Iowa. AP Photo

By October 1975, The New York Times was heralding Carters popularity in Iowa, pointing to his folksy style, agricultural roots and political prowess. Carter came in second in that caucus  uncommitted won  but he yielded more votes than any other named candidate. Carters campaign was widely accepted as the runaway victor, boosting his prominence, name recognition and fundraising.

Carter would go on to win the nomination and the election.

His successful campaign became the stuff of political legend. Generations of political candidates and organizers have since adopted the early start, hoping that a better-than-expected showing in Iowa or New Hampshire will similarly propel them to the White House.

Other states crave the spotlight

As candidates tried to repeat Carters success, other states tried to steal some of Iowas political prominence by pushing their contests earlier and earlier in the nomination process, a trend called frontloading.

In 1976, when Carter ran, just 10% of national convention delegates were selected by March 2. By 2008, 70% of delegates were selected by March 2.

When state primaries and caucuses were spread out in the calendar, candidates could compete in one state, then move their campaign operation to the next state, raise some money and spend time getting to know the activists, issues and voters before the next primary or caucus. A frontloaded system, in contrast, requires candidates to run a campaign in dozens of states at the same time.

To be competitive in so many states at the same time, campaigns rely on extensive paid and earned media exposure and a robust campaign staff, all of which require substantial name recognition and campaign cash before the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

The parties exacerbated these trends in 2016 and 2020, using the number of donors and public polls to determine who is eligible for early debates. For example, to earn a place on the stage of the first Republican debate in August 2023, candidates had to accumulate at least 40,000 donors and at least 1% support in three national polls.

So thats how the U.S. got to where it is today.

A century ago, Warren Harding announced his successful candidacy 321 days before the 1920 election.

In the 2020 race, Democratic Congressman John Delaney announced his White House bid a record 1,194 days before election.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on July 30, 2019.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Rachel Paine Caufield, Drake University

Read more:



Rachel Paine Caufield 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.
Disappointing photos show what it's like to spend St. Patrick's Day in New York City

I attended the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City last year.

It was an entertaining, if a bit underwhelming, experience.

This year, I'll stick to just sitting at a bar and sipping a Guinness.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade is held every year on New York City's Fifth Avenue.

A marching band participates in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade along Fifth Avenue on March 17, 2018. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

The St. Patrick's Day Parade has been held in New York City almost every year since 1762, making it the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world. According to the organizers, around 150,000 people march every year, and the parade attracts 2 million spectators.

It's held on March 17 every year unless that date falls on a Sunday; in that case, it's held on Saturday, March 16, which it does in 2024.

According to WalletHub, more than 31.3 million Americans claim they're at least a little bit Irish, and people across the US are projected to spend $7.2 billion to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in 2024. New York City is a particularly good place to celebrate  it has the most Irish pubs and restaurants per capita, according to the report.

I've spent many St. Patrick's Days in New York City, but I have never attended the parade, so in 2023, I decided to head to Manhattan and check it out.

The other celebrators. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I've lived in New York City for the last five years, but I grew up on Long Island, and I happened to be visiting my family on St. Patrick's Day last year.

So I dragged my mom and younger brother with me, and we headed to the Long Island Rail Road to catch a train to the city.

I was all ready for the train to be packed full of revelers, but it was actually almost empty. There were just two green-clad people on the platform.

Once we arrived at Grand Central Terminal, I began spotting more people who were festively dressed, including some holding beers.

Drinking beers at Grand Central. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

When I arrived, I saw more people dressed in green, including more than a few people with beers and other drinks. One group of guys had a case of Miller all ready to go.

The station was also lit up in green for the day.

Grand Central was festively decorated. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This is the (relatively) new LIRR terminal at Grand Central, known as Grand Central Madison. It cost the city $11.1 billion to construct. It opened in February 2023.

But once I hit the 2023 parade route, things started to go downhill. I started from the end of the parade route at Fifth Avenue and 78th Street, and it was already crowded.

The crowds at the end of the parade. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

At least, our side of the street was. The other side, the park side, could be a little deserted at times, but there was no easy way to get across as far as I could see.

The parade goes up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street. Since I live on the Upper East Side, I figured we'd start by my apartment and work our way down. I'm unsure if that was the best plan  the end of the parade route was significantly less crowded.

As I walked, I couldn't help noticing all the road closures and no parking signs. It must be a nightmare to live by the parade route.

No parking. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

There were over two dozen road closures along the parade route, which can make getting around in the city a total nightmare.

While I enjoyed watching the pipe-and-drum bands, sometimes the bagpipes would start playing after they'd already passed by.

It was a good spot for selfies, though. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

We missed a few bands just because of where we were standing.

This was partially our fault since we picked the spot, but at least three bands silently walked by us only to start playing a block or two up. It was annoying, so we kept moving to try and time our stops better.

There was also a lot of waiting around and staring at the empty street.

The empty streets. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I went to college in New Orleans, so I've attended dozens of Mardi Gras parades in my time. In my experience, there would never be this amount of blank space during one of those parades between the floats, dancers, and marching bands.

Since this parade doesn't have floats and is instead more of a celebration of the Irish-American community, I found there was quite a lot of downtime between bands.

As we continued downtown, I thought some of the groups of people marching in the parade looked like crowds who just happened to get on the route.

Marchers. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My family and I were perplexed by some of the groups who were marching in the parade.

Members of the New York City Police Department and New York City Fire Department were all dressed in their best; the marching bands and dancers wore eye-catching costumes, and most of the organizations had matching sashes or hats.

But every so often, a group would come along looking like they'd snuck their way onto the parade route.

I also had to dodge tourists, souvenir sellers, and college students drinking BORGs.

A souvenir seller. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

BORGs were the latest drink craze last year: The name stands for "blackout rage gallon," and, as Business Insider reported, they caused trouble on college campuses.

On my journey, I walked past a group of three girls each holding giant water jugs that were filled with an unidentifiable green liquid. They'd written "BORG" on the side.

I was also dodging tourists, people trying to sell items to those tourists, and some people who seemed drunk.

I also didn't expect it to get political, but between a group at Trump Tower, multiple signs calling for England to get out of Ireland, and a few fliers criticizing the police union president, it could get a little tense.

The scene outside Trump Tower. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

During my visit to last year's parade, there was a crowd of supporters waving flags and banners with "Trump 2024" on them outside Trump Tower's Fifth Avenue entrance. I could sense a bit of unease around the supporters as they were yelling loudly at both paradegoers and marchers, but nothing ever came of it, as far as I witnessed.

There were also multiple signs with the phrase "England Get Out of Ireland," which, according to Irish Central, is the only political sign allowed in the parade proper. I hadn't realized it's been part of the parade for decades.

Also posted throughout the parade were fliers criticizing Patrick Lynch, the then-police union president and an aide to the Parade Grand Marshal. Fliers said he should not be involved in the event. Lynch retired in June 2023.

The union (the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York) did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider by the time of publication. Neither did the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade Organization.

As we got closer to Midtown, where the parade started, it got increasingly crowded. It also got more and more inconvenient to keep walking down Fifth Avenue thanks to detours.

Detours. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

We had to keep walking halfway down the block just to cross the street, which got old really fast.

Or we had to wait on increasingly long lines.

One of the lines. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This was one of the lines to cross the street, which became increasingly long as the crowd grew. It took up to 10 minutes just to cross.

March in New York City isn't the most picturesque time, either.

Scaffolding and bare trees. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This obviously isn't the fault of the parade or its organizers, and luckily, it was relatively warm out last year, and it was warm again during the parade this year. But March in New York City can be brutal.

After walking 28 blocks, we made it to St. Patrick's Cathedral. At that point, people were also starting to get a bit more belligerent.

St. Patrick's Cathedral. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

St. Patrick's Cathedral is one of New York City's most famous landmarks. It opened its doors in 1879 and has been open for anyone to visit since then. I couldn't get close to it because of where I was on the parade route, but it was still powerful to be close by.

Unfortunately, it seemed like some of the parade attendees were getting into the spirit a little too much. I saw people drinking, yelling, and swaying at this point in the route.

While I was entertained by the day out, I did find the parade underwhelming  in my opinion, I don't think it compares to Chicago's green river or the raucous celebrations in Boston.

The parade. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

To me, the St. Patrick's Day Parade was decently entertaining, but not worth the hype.

I'd recommend finding your local Irish pub and celebrating there, instead. That's what I plan on doing this year.

This story was originally published on March 17, 2023, and most recently updated on March 16, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider
May 31, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Metropolitan Library staff member Aaron O'Donovan helps move the black-and-white photo archive to the Main Library on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Gannett, the parent company of the Dispatch, is moving the newsroom from 62 E. Broad St. to 605 S. Front St. Mandatory Credit: Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch

The Columbus Metropolitan Library will unveil a trove of Columbus history this month, gathered for more than 150 years by Columbus Dispatch journalists.

Library CEO Patrick Losinski and Dispatch Executive Editor Michael Shearer will host a special event at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Main Library to discuss the new partnership and digital resources that will be free to the public. The event will allow the community to share what types of content are most important to them.

The library's local history & genealogy department has been archiving the 152-year-old newspaper's collection of newspaper clippings, newsroom artifacts, microfilm and microfiche, digital images, photo prints and negatives for several years. More than 6,000 already-scanned images will initially be available. The collection is the largest donation of archival material in the history of the 23-branch library system.

This physical archive alone comprises about 750 boxes, the bulk of them photographs, that the library took ownership of in June.

The Graf Zeppelin flies over The Dispatch building Oct. 24, 1933, on its way from Miami to the Chicago World's Fair. Dispatch operations moved to 34 S. Third St. in 1925.

"The earlier stuff, for me, is the most valuable," said Angela O'Neal, manager of the history and genealogy department. "If this doesn't get saved by us, it won't be available for future generations, to help people have a sense of place and understand how they got here as a community."

The growing database will be accessible through the library's My History collection. Online searchers should look under Browse by Collection and then select Columbus Dispatch Collection.

In 2018, the library paid NewsBank Media Services $932,970 for lifetime digital archive rights to content from 1871 to 1985. This offered cardholders free access to:

A keyword-searchable archive of full-page scans of central Ohios daily newspaper from its 1871 launch through 1985.

A keyword-searchable, HTML-only archive of the newspapers editions from 1985 to the present day.

Columbus Dispatch Digital can be accessed at columbuslibrary.org/research-tools.

In 2020, The Dispatch donated its physical newspaper archive to the library. Bound print editions dating from 1871-2010 became available to browse upon request at the library's Main Library downtown.

The library continues to maintain its physical collection of Dispatch microfilm, which also spans the entire history of the publication, at its Main Library downtown.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Dispatch shares 152 years of photos, stories with library
The band Bi-2 left Russia in protest over the offensive and has been touring ever since in countries with large Russian-speaking communities (Sergei GAPON)

A Russian-Belarusian rock band that denounces Moscow's Ukraine invasion returned to the stage this week, voicing defiance after being detained in Thailand in January and threatened with deportation to Russia.

The band, Bi-2, formed in the 1980s in Belarus when it was part of the Soviet Union, left Russia in protest over the offensive and has been touring ever since in countries with large Russian-speaking communities.

Ahead of a concert in Vilnius on Thursday, band members met with exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and supporters of late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny who died in an Arctic prison last month.

"We have become hostages to Russian history," Egor Bortnik, one of the well-known band's two founders, told AFP ahead of another concert in Warsaw on Saturday.

But 51-year-old Bortnik, who is better known by his stage name "Lyova", said he was "not against the war".

"On the contrary, I'm for the war. I just want Ukraine to liberate its own territory.

"Putin has to gather his orcs and get out of Ukraine," Bortnik said, using a disparaging term for Russian soldiers frequently used by Ukrainians.

The band was held in Phuket, Thailand in January on immigration charges in a case that has alarmed Russians critical of President Vladimir Putin living abroad.

The organisers of their concerts said all the necessary permits had been obtained, but the band was issued with tourist visas in error and they accused the Russian consulate of waging a campaign to cancel the concerts.

After a week in detention, the band were released and travelled to Israel, where they met with Foreign Minister Israel Katz who said in a statement that the episode showed that "music will win".

Several of their concerts in Russia were cancelled in 2022 after they refused to play at a venue with banners supporting the war in Ukraine, after which they left the country.

"I put my prosperity on the line when the war began and I had to leave Russia. It was unexpected, it was not a process we had prepared for," Bortnik said.

Bortnik said he was more used to emigration than some of his peers who have left in the wake of the war since he moved to Israel while still a teenager.

"I understand how difficult it is," he said.

Bortnik said he was no "geopolitician" and does not write explicitly "political songs" although their lyrics can "hit a nerve that is constantly vibrating".

He said Putin's demise could be sudden and violent and would also bring down Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for three decades.

"If something happens to Putin then there could be a civil war -- the finale for any tyranny," he said.

bur/aph
A Dixon man is dead after investigators say he was involved in a motorcycle crash yesterday morning, according to a news release from the Whileside County Sheriffs Office.

The Whiteside County Sheriffs Office was called to a single vehicle motorcycle crash on Dixon Avenue west of Stacie Lane on Saturday, March 16 at about 7:05 a.m. The Crash Reconstruction Unit determined that the motorcycle, driven by Shawn Keane, 46 of Dixon, was traveling eastbound on Dixon Avenue at a high rate of speed, left the roadway and partially impacted a utility pole, the release said. Keane was pronounced dead on the scene.

The Whiteside County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Whiteside County Coroners Office, Illinois Conservation Police, Rock Falls Police, CGH EMS, Rock Falls Fire Department and Slim N Hanks.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Kennedys push for more sprawl

Sacramento region has glut of proposed greenfield housing, (sacbee.com, March 7)

Thank you to Bee opinion columnist Tom Philp for explaining the word greenfields to the reading public. The definition sure sounds like sprawl to me. Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedys realistic plan is to fully turn the six-county region into Orange County North. Is this his vision for our future?

Utopian is what he calls the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) policy for breathable air, roads that arent further choked with even more cars and rangeland without strip malls. Call me pie in the sky. but Ill vote for SACOGs ideas for the future of the greater Sacramento region over Kennedy and the developers 100% of the time.

David Kuchera

Sacramento

Health impacts

Sacramento region has glut of proposed greenfield housing, (sacbee.com, March 7)

This excellent reporting explains the conflict between sprawl, the housing industry, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and the possible loss of half a billion dollars worth of federal transportation funds if plans for the Cordova Hills development project proceed. As reported, this project is the worst in the county, from a climate change perspective.

Missing from the discussion is the fact that this and other greenfield development will worsen air pollution in the Sacramento area, which already ranks consistently among the worst regions in the U.S. for fine particulates and ozone. These pollutants are among the causes of asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and premature births. Additional air pollution will add to the human suffering in our community as well as the associated economic and family burdens of poor health.

Ruth McDonald, MD

Sacramento

Opinion

Childcare needed in Newsoms campaign

California program developed to inform women on emergency preparedness, natural disasters, (sacbee.com, March 5)

The governors recently announced Listas Campaign rightly acknowledges that women  particularly women of color  often are responsible for leading their families and communities to safety in the face of disasters. Informing this group about what to do in a disaster is an important but insufficient strategy.

Parents tell us that what they need when disaster strikes is childcare so that kids have a nurturing environment and parents can go back to work, navigate services and process their experience. However, under this campaign, there is no requirement that childcare is included in city, county or state emergency response plans.

Every government agency and community organization should plan to have childcare in place when disasters strike. Parents already have to spend countless hours piecing their lives back together while children are traumatized and out of school.

If we want women to lead the charge in disaster preparedness and response, lets give them the real tools to do so.

Mikey Latner

Los Angeles

Reducing stigmas in AAPI community

Sac State AAPI panel breaks down mental health stigmas, (sacbee.com, Feb. 9)

Though millions suffer from mental illness, its a particularly sensitive issue in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Increasing mental health awareness through panels is great, but IT might not be enough to change the stigma among AAPI groups.

Asian parents often believe that seeking help is a sign of weakness and can diminish their childrens mental health complaints in comparison to their own hardships. Because of this, Asian youth might not disclose their mental health struggles. Intergenerational conversations facilitated by mental health professionals could address the lack of understanding and communication between Asian parents and children.

Advocates and researchers should explore the use of intergenerational conversations and other interventions in anti-stigma programs for AAPI groups to increase mental health care utilization and reduce harm.

Hannah Yonamine

New York, NY

Livid with Schiff

Porter continues to claim CA primary election was rigged, (sacbee.com, March 7)

Katie Porter is livid and so am I! I voted for her, and for Adam Schiff and his cronies to have contributed to ads that supported Steve Garvey is shifty and sleazy.

Porter is no-nonsense and a straight-shooter, which clearly intimidated Schiff. For that, Im not voting for either Schiff or Garvey.

Bridget Whitted

Folsom

Senator Schiffty

Porter continues to claim CA primary election was rigged, (sacbee.com, March 7)

I agree that the funding of Steve Garveys campaign by the Democratic party and candidate was lacking in integrity. Did some of Donald Trumps narcissism rub off on Adam Schiff during the impeachment hearings?

After this, I will always think of him as Senator Schiffty, who put his career before what may be best for California and its citizens. I will likely write in Katie Porter in November.

Muriel Strand

Sacramento
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A dog is dead and two adults and two children were displaced after a south Las Vegas valley home fire.

On Saturday around 7:20 p.m., the Clark County Fire Department responded to a home in the 3300 block of Palio Avenue near Starr Avenue and Dean Martin Drive.

When fire crews arrived, they found heavy fire showing from the garage and the front door of the house.

During a search of the home, firefighters found a dog dead on the second floor, CCFD said.

Clark County Fire Department responds to a fire in the 3300 block o f Palio Avenue on March 17, 2024. (CCFD)

The fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes and no injuries to firefighters or the residents were reported, according to CCFD.

The American Red Cross was requested to provide assistance to 2 adults and 2 children who were displaced.

A total of 32 personnel responded to the fire including five engines, one ladder truck, two rescues, two battalion chiefs, and two fire investigators.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Former President Donald Trump visited Ohio on Saturday to tout his chosen Senate candidate as the bruising Republican primary in the pivotal swing state nears its end.

Trump called on the crowd to back businessman Bernie Moreno, who is running for the GOP nomination against Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan. The winner of Tuesday's primary will take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a costly, nationally-watched race that could determine which party controls the Senate.

While Ohio's Senate race was the onus for his visit, Trump also used the occasion to rally supporters in a state he won by 8 points in 2016 and 2020. He bemoaned his docket of court cases, railed against President Joe Biden and called for one-day elections  even as Ohio Republicans promote early voting for 2024.

"If I get elected  now if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath," Trump said as he pledged to impose tariffs on foreign-made cars. "That's going to be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country."

The former president also repeated unfounded attacks against immigrants, saying some who are accused of crimes are "not people."

Trump endorsed Moreno back in December, which many observers thought would make Moreno the clear front-runner. Instead, the candidates are locked in a tight battle as the race nears its end, with many Republicans still unsure who to support. That left allies of Moreno and Trump  who brags about the power of his endorsements  scrambling to push Moreno across the finish line.

Bernie is a political outsider whos spent his entire life building up Ohio communities, Trump said. Hes highly respected all over the country, and hes going to be a warrior in Washington.

March 16, 2024; Dayton, Ohio, USA; Former President Donald Trump made an appearance outside Wright Bros. Aero Inc. to campaign at the Dayton International Airport for U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno on Saturday.

Ahead of Trump's remarks, Moreno blasted his opponents as he called for deporting all undocumented immigrants and eliminating the Department of Education. Other speakers, including Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, cast Moreno as an ally of the former president who will advocate for his interests in Washington.

"This is the last gasp of breath of the swamp-RINO establishment in Ohio," Moreno told the crowd. "I need you on Tuesday to stab it right in the heart and make it clear that in Ohio, we put America first."

Ohio Senate race heats up as Trump visits Ohio

Trump's visit added gasoline to a primary contest that's heated up in recent weeks.

Independent polling has been limited, but two surveys released this week showed Moreno and Dolan fighting for the lead with a plurality of voters undecided. While LaRose boasts the highest name recognition, his campaign appears to be languishing as Dolan enjoys late momentum. Dolan also secured key endorsements from Gov. Mike DeWine and former Sen. Rob Portman.

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Bernie Moreno campaigns outside Wright Bros. Aero Inc. at the Dayton International Airport on Saturday.

Dolan was the focus of Trump's attacks on Saturday. Trump never mentioned LaRose, whom he endorsed for secretary of state in 2022.

The former president criticized Dolan's support of certain gun reforms and argued he would be "weak on borders, weak on crime." Dolan's father owns the Cleveland Guardians, and Trump went after Dolan for the team's decision to change the Indians mascot. (Dolan says he doesn't have a day-to-day role with the Guardians.)

"Bernie's running against a weak RINO named Matt Dolan," Trump said. "He's trying to become the next Mitt Romney. I think Mitt Romney is his hero."

Unlike Moreno and LaRose, Dolan didn't endorse Trump in the presidential primary. Dolan has said he supports the former president's policies but doesn't necessarily click with his personality.

"If that person supports Trump because that person liked the policies that were put in place  that we were stronger in the world, that we had less taxes, that we had a secure border  then look at me because these are a lot of the things I was able to accomplish in my time in Ohio," Dolan told reporters Wednesday.

Who is running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio?

Click or tap the links to learn more about the Republican primary candidates:

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Donald Trump talks about 'bloodbath,' attacks immigrants at Ohio rally
Supporters of Donald Trump went on the defensive Sunday over his latest inflammatory comments, in which he said at a campaign rally there would be a bloodbath if he loses the November presidential election.

The remarks came as he was talking about threats to domestic car production but drew condemnation from Dems for their violent tone.

Were gonna put a 100% tariff on every single (foreign-made) car that comes across the line and youre not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected, Trump told supporters gathered near Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, Ohio.

Now if I dont get elected, its gonna be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it  its gonna be a bloodbath for the country, thatll be the least of it, he added.

Supporters of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee insisted he was talking just about the U.S. auto industry, though they voiced some qualms about his choice of words  the latest in a series of ominous statements from Trump.

The general tone of the speech is why many Americans continue to wonder, Should President Trump be president? That kind of rhetoric  its always on the edge, maybe doesnt cross, maybe does depending upon your perspective, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said on NBCs Meet the Press.

He also took exception with the flurry of news coverage prompted by the bloodshed quote.

Sometimes the mainstream media, whether they want to or not, cant resist and they go just a little bit too far, which distracts from what could be the impact, the lawmaker said.

Rep. Michael Turner, a Republican whose district was the site of the rally, took a similar stance.

The presidents statements concerning bloodbath were about what would happen in the auto industry, he said on ABCs This Week.

Certainly, there are statements that he makes that, you know, many Americans would not agree with and many Americans would agree with it, he added.

For months, Trump has warned of dire consequences if he loses the contest, saying the reelection of President Biden would mark the end of democracy.

Hes also returned to a key theme of his successful 2016 run, the demonization of immigrants.

Trump continued the harsh rhetoric Saturday.

I dont know if you call them people, he said, prefacing the comment with a ramble about members of the MS-13 gang.

In some cases theyre not people, in my opinion. But Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say, Trump continued, repeating promises of a massive deportation effort if he returns to the White House.

Turner offered subdued criticism of the not-human remarks, saying, I, of course, have disagreed with those in the past.

The bloodbath comments  and Trumps praise during the same speech of people imprisoned over the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S. Capitol  didnt nudge Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) from his support of Trump.

I talk in a different format than what the former president does, he said on CNNs State of the Union.

Im endorsing the Republican nominee for the presidency. And if thats Mr. Trump, then thats the best choice of the two choices that we have got.

Trumps trademark outlandish rhetoric has spawned endless analysis of what he really means.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the latest instance is cause for alarm.

What does that mean  hes going to exact a bloodbath? Theres something wrong here, she said on State of the Union.

How much more do they have to see from him to understand this isnt what our country is about? Pelosi said of voters.

_____
A story about a remarkable AFC Bournemouth comeback was among our most read stories this week in Dorset.

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Solent and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

'Unreal' - the best Premier League comeback win in 20 years

Antoine Semenyo scored his seventh goal of the season as he fired in Bournemouth's winner against Luton

On a night when all eyes were on the Champions League, the Premier League witnessed its biggest comeback win in more than 20 years.

Away from the television cameras and the drama in Madrid and Dortmund, Bournemouth and Luton played out one of the most extraordinary Premier League matches of this or any recent season.

Bournemouth won 4-3, having been three goals down at the break.

Postman spots endangered eel swimming in puddle

An endangered eel that was spotted swimming in a puddle in a road is thought to have been stranded by a flood, according to a nature group.

The creature, believed to be a European eel, was caught on camera by a postman on Ringwood Road in Verwood, Dorset, on 23 February.

Richard Holgate snapped the photos while on his post round.

Police chief apologises to LGBT community

Dorset Police has become the 13th force in the country to apologise for its past treatment of the LGBT community.

In a letter, Chief Constable Amanda Pearson said sorry "for any physical and mental harm and trauma" caused by the way "previous laws were enforced".

It was sent to the Peter Tatchell Foundation in response to the charity's #ApologiseNow campaign.

Delivery driver praised for repainting street signs

A supermarket delivery driver has been restoring scruffy street signs that he spots on his rounds.

Bobby Burden Brewer, who is also an artist, has switched from painting canvasses to sprucing up signs near his home in north Dorset.

He began his unusual hobby in 2022 while living in north Devon, before moving to Dorset last year.

Taxi-driving Elvis raising money for Comic Relief

A taxi driver has been performing as Elvis Presley while in his cab to raise money for charity.

Tony Mclennan, from Poole, has been driving for Ferndown Taxis for five years and last year he also began performing as an Elvis tribute artist.

Inspired by his childhood in care and the war in Ukraine, he decided to raise money for Comic Relief by combining his passions.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.
Key Insights

The considerable ownership by retail investors in Delta Lithium indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

55% of the business is held by the top 4 shareholders

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

Every investor in Delta Lithium Limited (ASX:DLI) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 35% stake, retail investors possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And public companies on the other hand have a 23% ownership in the company.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Delta Lithium, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Delta Lithium

ASX:DLI Ownership Breakdown March 17th 2024

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Delta Lithium?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Delta Lithium already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Delta Lithium's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

ASX:DLI Earnings and Revenue Growth March 17th 2024

Our data indicates that hedge funds own 10% of Delta Lithium. That catches my attention because hedge funds sometimes try to influence management, or bring about changes that will create near term value for shareholders. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Mineral Resources Limited with 23% of shares outstanding. With 11% and 11% of the shares outstanding respectively, Idemitsu Mt Ida Pty Ltd and Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd are the second and third largest shareholders.

Story continues

To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 4 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Delta Lithium

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

We can see that insiders own shares in Delta Lithium Limited. As individuals, the insiders collectively own AU$3.2m worth of the AU$228m company. This shows at least some alignment, but we usually like to see larger insider holdings. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 35% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Delta Lithium. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 22%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Public Company Ownership

It appears to us that public companies own 23% of Delta Lithium. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Delta Lithium better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Delta Lithium (of which 3 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
FIRST ON FOX  Fox News Digital obtained a dossier that the Israeli government is said to have used to explain its concerns to the U.S. and other nations about its actions toward a controversial United Nations agency and its relationship with Hamas.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (known simply as UNRWA) lost hundreds of millions of dollars from donors after allegations surfaced that at least a dozen employees had ties to and assisted Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The United States and several allies in January froze funding to UNRWA, and the agency fired the 12 employees named in the allegations. Since those initial allegations, the number has risen to potentially hundreds of employees with ties to Hamas.

ISRAEL'S SWORN ENEMY HEZBOLLAH TELLS IRAN IT WOULD FIGHT ALONE IF CONFLICT ESCALATES

The dossier reviewed by Fox News Digital includes an updated claim that the number of UNRWA employees directly involved in the Oct. 7 attack has risen to at least 15, with at least three suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of the hostages. This information, presented to ally nations by the Israeli government, allegedly prompted the countries to cut funding to the agency  an act that the majority have not reversed as of this week.

The information includes allegations that around 17% of UNRWA teachers (out of a total 8,300) and around 20% of UNRWA school principals and deputy principals (out of a total 500) are members of Hamas. Ties to the group extend to UNRWA workers in positions related to relief and humanitarian aid, with about 10% of the 151 relief workers, and members of UNRWAs health services.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

From 2009 to 2024, a little under $4 billion in taxpayer dollars was given to the humanitarian relief organization, according to a Fox News Digital review.

The most serious allegations claim that Hamas has representatives in the UNRWA staff union and influences it, and lines of communication exist at the district level between UNRWAs district managers and Hamas. According to the information, "due to the scope of UNRWA's activity in the [Gaza Strip]," Hamas prioritizes its connection with UNRWA, stressing that "in steady state and in contingency state, the Hamas regime coordinates activities with UNRWA."

Satellite images reviewed by Fox News Digital show two boys' schools  the Maghazi Prep B Boys School and the Zaitun Prep A Boys School  that allegedly have Hamas tunnels underneath them. Both cases had resulted in UNRWA condemning potential violations of neutrality, but as of 2023 the tunnels remained open. Israel also identified several schools that stood next to rocket and mortar launch sites throughout the Gaza Strip.

GAZA STRIP RECEIVES NEARLY 200 TONS OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES, UN DESRIBES HUGE OBSTACLES TO GETTING RELIEF

Israel has alleged logistical support and exploitation of UNRWAs immunity, support through supplies and aid, sale of equipment that UNRWA imported to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) weapons manufacturing units.

"Furthermore, Hamas assists UNRWA in securing the humanitarian aid that is introduced to the [Gaza Strip]," the dossier explains. "Hamas operatives coordinate the aid transfer for UNRWA via Hamas tactical network, and have operatives of the Military Wing escort and secure the convoys. UNRWA complies with Hamas demands in other areas, as well, such as transferring fuel and additional equipment."

United Nations headquarters and flag juxtaposed with a picture of an Israeli woman kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

The dossier also included excerpts from textbooks used in the agencys school curriculum that allegedly include glorification of martyrdom and antisemitic tropes. Maps provided to children in their textbooks show a singular land where Israel and the Palestinian territories exist but labeled as a singular Palestine.

Israel has argued that such content violates UNRWAs neutrality policy, which the agency on its website describes as an understanding that "humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature."

VIOLENCE IN SYRIA RISES, AID DRIES UP AS CIVIL WAR BEGINS 14TH YEAR

One excerpt included a math problem which used "the number of martyrs" in the first and second intifadas (meaning rebellion or uprising) and decrees on Allahs wishes for "hypocrites in fighting against infidels" and honoring martyrs "from among the believers."

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed, more than 6,900 civilians are estimated to have been injured, and hundreds more were taken hostage when Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

"UNRWA, and the United Nations writ-large, have acted swiftly and decisively in the matter of the allegations brought against UNRWA employees, fully cooperating with Israeli authorities, issuing a public disclosure of the allegations and immediately terminating the named employees," William Deere, senior congressional adviser to the Washington, D.C., office of UNRWA told Fox News Digital.

An UNRWA tent camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on Nov. 27, 2023.

Deere also claimed that the Israeli government had provided no information beyond the names of the dozen employees and that UNRWA only learned of further accusations of greater numbers of agency employees with ties to Hamas from international media reports and later from a press briefing by an Israeli official.

U.S. intelligence in February said it was likely some employees of UNRWA participated in the attack, but it also said it could not verify Israeli allegations of wider links between the agency and UNRWA, according to The Wall Street Journal. Citing the assessment, Deere noted "the reality of Hamas' control in Gaza means that while UNRWA may have to interact at a technical level with the group to deliver humanitarian relief, but that that doesn't mean that the agency is collaborating with the militant group."

Unlike the U.S. and several other countries, the United Nations has yet to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization.

NETANYAHU APPROVES RAFAH GROUND INVASION, DESPITE BIDEN OPPOSITION

A plane drops humanitarian aid around to Al-Shati refugee camp and Jamal Abdel Nasser Street in Gaza City on March 9, 2024.

"Another section of [the] report notes what it says is Israel's long-standing dislike of UNRWA and how Israeli bias serves to mischaracterize much of their assessments on UNRWA, resulting in distortions," Deere said.

"Israeli intelligence agencies said they concluded that 10% of all UNRWA workers had some kind of affiliation, usually political, with Hamas," the Wall Street Journal reported. "A far smaller number had ties to the militant wings of Hamas and another group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. UNRWA employs around 12,000 people in Gaza."

Deere said the investigation team from the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) had commenced an investigation into the employees and potential ties, but insisted that the Israeli government must assist the investigation. An interim report provided to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres provided information that led to Canada reversing its decision to cut funding to the agency.

Another, independent review carried out by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna commenced following the allegations against the UNRWA employees, specifically citing concerns that UNRWA was not maintaining its neutrality policy. The group will issue an interim report on March 20, 2024, with a completed report expected exactly one month later.

HAMAS PROPOSES CEASE-FIRE PLAN THAT INCLUDES 10-TO-1 EXCHANGE OF HOSTAGES, PRISONERS: REPORT

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the department is focused on the U.N.'s investigation "to make sure that this is fully and thoroughly investigated, that theres clear accountability, and that as necessary, measures are put in place so that this doesnt happen again, assuming the allegations are fully borne out."

"We welcome the decision by the U.N. to conduct an investigation and a comprehensive and independent review of UNRWA, as well as Secretary General Guterres pledge to take decisive action to respond, should the allegations prove accurate," the spokesperson added.

A man walks in front of the UNRWA building in Gaza City on Jan. 30, 2023.

Australia, the European Commission and Sweden also resumed funding for UNRWA in recent weeks: Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong told reporters "the best available current advice from agencies and the Australian government lawyers is that UNRWA is not a terrorist organization," arguing that it remains paramount to ensure "the integrity of UNRWAs operations," rebuild confidence in the organization and ensure aid flows to Gaza.

Wong also pledged an additional $2.6 million to UNICEF to provide urgent services in Gaza, and a C17 Globemaster plane will also deliver defense force parachutes to help with the U.S.-led airdropping of humanitarian supplies into the enclave, which is on the brink of famine, according to the United Nations.

Survivors and family members of slain victims of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack have initiated a lawsuit against UNRWA USA and UNRWA this week, arguing the two groups are "[i]nextricably [l]inked" in supporting Hamas."

"501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations generally do good work. They feed the hungry, help the poor, and house the homeless. But on some very rare occasions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization finances an international terrorist plot that kills over 1,200 innocent people," the lawsuit says. "This case involves one of those rare occasions."

Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace, Lawrence Richardson, Brianna Herlihy and The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Dossier reveals information used to explain UN agency's deep ties to Hamas in Gaza
KENSINGTON - A double shooting on a Kensington street has killed one man and injured a woman.

Someone opened fire on the pair on the 1800 block of East Lippincott Street Saturday afternoon, around 3:30, officials said.

A 25-year-old was shot in the chest, while a 23-year-old woman was hit in the arm.

Police rushed the man to Temple University Hospital, while medics took the woman. The man died at the hospital shortly after arrival. The woman was listed as stable.

Police are actively searching for the shooter and have not found any weapons.

___

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Click here to find resources for victims of violence in Philadelphia.
More than 74 people have been detained in 17 cities across Russia for taking part in Noon against Putin protests, the human rights group OVD-info reported.

The protest movement, supported by Alexei Navalny, encouraged people to turn up to vote en masse at 12pm today, the last day of the elections, and destroy their ballots.

Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnys widow, was cheered as she joined a protest in Berlin, where thousands of people took to the streets to voice their opposition to Vladimir Putins regime. Meanwhile, in London, thousands queued in near silence to vote at the Russian embassy.

Record numbers of Russians turned out to vote in the election, with more than 70 per cent of the population going to the polls, Ella Pamfilova, the head of Russias Central Election Commission, reported.



The first results are expected to emerge at 6pm (GMT) this evening when the final polling stations close in Kaliningrad, Russias most western region.

04:17 PM GMT

Thats all for today

Thank you for tuning in to todays live blog. Well be back tomorrow to bring you all the latest from the Russia-Ukraine war, including the aftermath of todays presidential election.

Key moments from today:

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was cheered as she arrived at a Noon against Putin protest in Berlin.

Pro-Russian separatists in Trasnistria have blamed Ukraine for an explosion at a military base.

Kyiv may only be able to shoot down one in five Russian missiles targeting Ukrainian cities because of ammunition shortages, Western officials told the Washington Post.

Russia is attempting to exploit the relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) to incite domestic discontent in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.

Britain has advised Ukraine to abandon plans for a frontline offensive and instead, focus on taking out Russias Black Sea Fleet off Crimea, the Sunday Times reported.

Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine have seized the settlement of Gorkovsky in Belgorod, the Freedom of Russia Legion posted on Telegram.

Ukraine launched a massive wave of drone strikes overnight that forced the Crimean Bridge to close and grounded flights from Moscow.

Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, abandoned a trip to Odesa earlier this month because of a Russian missile threat, the defence ministry said.

A man has thrown a petrol bomb at the Russian embassy in Moldova as protestors take to the streets in former Soviet republics in opposition to Vladimir Putin.

Russia has ordered the installation of large-calibre machine guns on its Black Sea war ships to counter the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes.

04:06 PM GMT

Yulia Navalnaya joins Noon against Putin protest against sham election

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was cheered as she arrived at a Noon against Putin protest in Berlin.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalnys former spokeswoman, posted pictures on Twitter of Ms Navalnaya standing in line in Berlin where Russians queued up to vote. Activists said that some people chanted Yulia, Yulia, and clapped.

Footage posted on social media shows Ms Navalnaya, dressed in a long grey coat, smiling and taking photos with fellow protestors, as German media reported thousands of people have lined up in front of the polling station at the Russian embassy in Berlin.

The aim of the movement, supported by Navalny before his death in an arctic penal colony last month, is for protesters to arrive at polling stations en masse at 12 midday to show their dissent towards the Russian president.

04:05 PM GMT

Pictured: Anti-Putin protesters across Europe

Officers detain a man (C) who threw a Molotov cocktail towards the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, Moldova - DUMITRU DORU/EPA-EFE

Ukrainians take part in a rally to call the authorities to return their relatives from Russian captivity - EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

A woman with the words "Free Azov" written on her face attends a rally aiming to raise awareness on the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Kyiv - Vadim Ghirda/AP

03:35 PM GMT

Transnistria blames military blast on Ukrainian drone strike

Pro-Russian separatists in Trasnistria have blamed Ukraine for an explosion at a military base.

A Russian military unit in the Moldovan breakaway enclave came under attack from a Ukrainian kamikaze drone, local government claimed.

Today a fire occurred on the territory of a military base in Tiraspol as a result of an explosion. It was preliminarily established that the explosion was caused by a kamikaze drone attack, Trasnistrian authorities said on social media, claiming the drone was launched from the Odesa region of Ukraine.

Footage of the alleged incident posted on social media shows the burnt out metal wreckage of what appears to be a military helicopter at an airfield in Tiraspol, the largest city in Trasnistria.

The incident comes amid heightened tension between Moldova and Russia, as the Kremlin attempts to stir up discontent among pro-Moscow citizens of the former Soviet Republic in order to prevent it acceding to the European Union.

Kremlin officials last month warned Moldova that any attempt to resolve the Transnistria issue by force will be be considered an attack on Russia.

#BREAKING #Ukraine #Moldova JUST IN: Footage of an attack on a Mi-8MT transport helicopter in Transnistria



The drones that carried out the attack on the military unit in Transnistria came from the direction of the Odesa region in Ukraine, the media reports. pic.twitter.com/tZzBs5PZDP  The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) March 17, 2024

03:20 PM GMT

Kyiv to let through 80 per cent of Russian missiles targeting Ukrainian cities

Kyiv may only be able to shoot down one in five Russian missiles targeting Ukrainian cities because of ammunition shortages, Western officials told the Washington Post.

Ukraine has so far tried to shoot down four out of five missiles aimed at its cities, but air defence munitions shortages may soon force the country to lower its target to just one out of five, one of the officials said.

The officials, who were not named, had met with Ukrainians at the Munich Security Conference last month, the paper reported.

A senior adviser to President Zelensky added that there is a high likelihood of significant Russian territorial gains against Ukraine by the summer in the absence of new US aid, which remains blocked in Congress.

People dont understand how bad the front is right now, the adviser said. The morale is low; the momentum is low. Young men are afraid they will be mobilized to die because of a lack of weapons.

03:03 PM GMT

Moscow calls families of PoWs in order to stir up discontent, says leading think tank

Russia is attempting to exploit the relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) to incite domestic discontent in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian parliaments human rights commissioner, said that Russian actors are calling the relatives of Ukrainian POWs on the telephone, claiming that Russia is ready to return their loved ones and that Ukrainian leadership is preventing them doing so.

The Russian actors reportedly encourage the relatives to protest about this issue, despite Ukraine never having restricted POW exchanges, Mr Lubinets said.

These Russian information operations are likely part of the Maidan-3 information campaign, which Ukraines Security Service (SBU) previously reported intends to sow domestic discontent in Ukraine and drive a wedge between civilians and military and political leadership, the ISW said.

02:45 PM GMT

Ukrainian strike kills one and injures 11, Russia claims

A strike on the Russian border-region of Belgorod killed one person and injured 11, local administration reported.

One man died of his wounds on the spot before an ambulance crew arrived. Eleven people were injured to varying degrees of severity, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, said in a post on Telegram.

Mr Gladkov reported earlier today that a 16-year-old girl had been killed in the border region after a Ukrainian shell caused her house to catch on fire.

02:26 PM GMT

Thousands join flash mob protests against Putin on final election day

Thousands of Russians have defied Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, by turning up at polling stations in a flash mob protest that has wrongfooted the Kremlin, writes James Kilner.

Photographs from across Russia showed queues snaking out of polling stations in possibly the biggest opposition demonstration in Russia since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.

People smiled as they stood in queues for the midday demonstration called by exiled opposition leaders. Some secretly carried photos of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a Russian prison last month.

One flash mob participant described his relief at seeing thousands of people standing up to the Kremlin. Another said he had been moved to tears by the silent protests.

Read Jamess full report here.

02:08 PM GMT

UK advises Ukraine to go on the defensive and continue targeting Crimea

Britain has advised Ukraine to abandon plans for a frontline offensive and instead, focus on taking out Russias Black Sea Fleet off Crimea, the Sunday Times reported.

During a meeting in Kyiv, Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, and Adml Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the UK armed forces, advised abandoning plans for a frontline offensive in favour of maintaining defence on the northern and eastern fronts and, if necessary, retreating to more advantageous positions to hold off Russian forces.

According to the publication, Sir Tony was concerned that General Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraines new army chief, would become overly focused on land battles. Instead, he advised looking towards an Iranian-style fleet, which consists of lighter, more agile ships and drones capable of restraining Russia in the Black Sea while also protecting vital shipping lanes for Ukrainian exports.

The UK officials hope that this will allow the Ukrainians to concentrate their efforts on the Black Sea and Crimea, where they have inflicted significant blows with the help of Western long-range missiles over the last six months, it is reported.

Sir Tony is convinced that Ukraine focusing its attacks on Crimea and the destruction of Russian warships  submarines in particular  go to the heart of the Russian psyche, sources told the newspaper.

01:45 PM GMT

Watch: Huge lines in London for Noon against Putin protests

The line for Noon Against Putin in London stretches at least 10 blocks & growing pic.twitter.com/HT1j6IOx7j  Alec Luhn (@AlecLuhn) March 17, 2024

01:24 PM GMT

Pro-Kyiv soldiers seize Russian border village

Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine have seized the settlement of Gorkovsky in Belgorod, the Freedom of Russia Legion posted on Telegram.

The group, which is part of a coalition of pro-Ukrainian Russian militias who have launched cross-border raids inside Russia over the past week, said the village had been captured by the Siberian Batallion - one of its partners organisations.

The Kyiv loyalists earlier posted a photo on Telegram of them holding up the sign of the regional administration while standing on a Russian flag.

In its initial attack, the group claimed to have occupied a small frontier village, Tyotkino, 140 miles to the north in the Kurk region. Then, in recent days, it claimed to have advanced several dozen kilometres inside Russian territory.

The news of Gorkovskys capture comes as footage has emerged on social media of explosions ringing out across Belgorod as the Legion continued its barrage of the city in an attempt to destabilise the Russian elections.

Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines military intelligence chief, said yesterday that the anti-Kremlin militias were becoming a force, rather than merely a grouping, and that Ukraine would support them in their operations on Russian territory.

01:02 PM GMT

Russians cast their votes

Voters pose with a frame reading 'I voted for the president' during the Russian presidential elections in Makeevka, Donetsk - ALESSANDRO GUERRA/EPA-EFE

Russian policeman check personal belongings of voters arriving to cast their ballots in Makeevka, Donetsk - ALESSANDRO GUERRA/EPA-EFE

12:34 PM GMT

Ukraine faces ammunition crisis as air defence missiles dwindle

Ukraine is running so low on ammunition that it will run out of air defence missiles to defend its cities by the end of the month, according to reports, writes James Kilner

Supplies of missiles defending cities such as Odesa  where 20 people were killed on Friday  are dwindling fast, according to Ukrainian sources quoted by The Washington Post.

That means that instead of trying to shoot down four out of five Russian missiles as it does now, Ukraine will soon have to ration its air defence systems to shooting down just one in five.

This will have a significant effect on Ukraines urban centres, The Washington Post quoted two Ukrainian officials as telling US officials at a security conference this year.

Read the full report here.

12:10 PM GMT

Crimean bridge closed and Moscow flights grounded by mass Ukrainian drone attack

Ukraine launched a massive wave of drone strikes overnight that forced the Crimean Bridge to close and grounded flights from Moscow.

Car traffic was suspended over the bridge connecting Crimea with mainland Russia for half an hour, Russian authorities announced, without explaining why.



Three airports in Moscow were forced to impose flight restrictions after five Ukrainian drones were shot down near the Russian capital, Russias state aviation watchdog reported.

Elsewhere, a fireball erupted at an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai, south western Russia, in what is believed to be Ukraines sixth drone strike on a Russian oil facility in a week.



The wave of strikes comes on the final day of Russias sham presidential election, with Vladimir Putin poised to extend his near-quarter-century rule for six more years.

11:48 AM GMT

Watch: Alexei Navalnys widow at anti-Putin protest

A huge queue at midday in Berlin outside the Russian embassy as people line up to vote. @yulia_navalnaya arrives to applause and cheering pic.twitter.com/YSxvePQaRU  Polina Ivanova (@polinaivanovva) March 17, 2024

Yulia Navalnaya embraces a woman as she arrives at a rally next to the Russian embassy in Berlin - TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP

Noon against Putin: Yulia Navalnaya has arrived at the protest in Berlin. Thousands have gathered in the centre of Berlin to demonstrate their opposition to the Russian presidential election.



Navalnaya was met with ovations, people are hugging and thanking her.



: TV Rain pic.twitter.com/NwNhX1hMnW  Novaya Gazeta Europe (@novayagazeta_en) March 17, 2024

11:22 AM GMT

Grants Shapps cancelled Odesa travel plans over Russian missile threat

Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, abandoned a trip to Odesa earlier this month because of a Russian missile threat, the defence ministry said.

The Sunday Times reported that Mr Shapps, who visited Kyiv on March 7, had been warned by British intelligence that Russia had become aware of his travel plans.

The news comes after Russia earlier this month jammed the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal of Mr Shapps official jet on a round trip to Poland.

10:54 AM GMT

Watch: Protesters gather in former Soviet states

A man has thrown a petrol bomb at the Russian embassy in Moldova as protestors take to the streets in former Soviet republics in opposition to Vladimir Putin.

Footage emerged online of a commotion in Moldovas capital Chisinau after a man allegedly through two Molotov cocktails into the courtyard of the Russian embassy. No one was injured in the attack, Tass, a Russian state-owned news agency, reported.

In #Chisinau, Moldova, a man threw a Molotov cocktail at the Russian Embassy. He was detained by the police



The access of people to the site was temporarily stopped, there were no injuries. pic.twitter.com/3bXDdqqB7I  NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 17, 2024

Elsewhere, long lines have gathered outside polling stations in Armenia as part of the Noon against Putin protest movement, reports suggest.

Similar queues have been reported in the city centre of Tbilisi, Georgias capital. Although there is no Russian consulate in Georgia, locals have seeming turned out in solidarity with the protests against Putins regime.

A Carabinieri officer (R) stands guard, unaware that a man (L) wearing a mask is throwing a handmade Molotov cocktail towards the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, Moldova - DUMITRU DORU/EPA-EFE

10:29 AM GMT

Look at Odesa, Tusk tells US House Speaker on stalled Ukraine aid

Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, has urged US Congress to take a decision on unblocking Ukraine aid after a Russian missile strike on Odesa killed 21 people.

In a strikingly direct address to Mike Johnson, the House of Representatives speaker, Mr Tusk implored the US to pass a bill that provides $60 billion in aid to Ukraine as the country faces acute ammunition shortages.

Look at Odesa. How many more arguments do you need to take a decision? Mr Tusk yesterday wrote on Twitter, tagging Mr Johnson.

Twenty-one people were killed and at least 73 injured after the Russian missile attack on March 13.

Some House Republicans are reportedly working on another version of the bill that would treat the non-military portion of the package as a loan in hopes of winning support from more hesitant lawmakers.

10:04 AM GMT

Watch: Noon against Putin protests begin

Supporters of the late Alexei Navalny have called on Russians to come out at a Noon against Putin protest to show their dissent against a leader they cast as a corrupt autocrat.

The idea of the movement is for protesters to arrive at polling stations en masse at 12 midday and either vote against the president or spoil their ballot.

Today we want to say to all of us - noon is the very beginning, the Noon Against Putin initiative wrote on their Telegram early Sunday.

Yes, some of us are scared. Yes, the choice is not easy. But we are the people. And we will cope with both the choice and the responsibility.

Over the previous two days, there were scattered incidents of protest as some Russians set fire to voting booths and poured dye into ballot boxes, drawing a strong rebuke from Russian officials who called the protesters scumbags and traitors.

09:44 AM GMT

Watch: Ukraine drone strike damages Moscow airport, reports suggest

09:40 AM GMT

Russia to boost Black Sea Fleet firepower

Russia has ordered the installation of large-calibre machine guns on its Black Sea war ships to counter the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes.

There must be training for personnel every day. Training on how to repel attacks from the air and by uncrewed boats, Sergei Shoigu, Russias defence minister, said during a visit to the Black Sea fleet in southern Russia.

Shoigu ordered the installation of additional firepower, large-calibre machine gun systems to defeat enemy drones, the defence ministry statement said.

The Kremlin last week sacked its top naval commander after a series of humiliating setbacks in the Black Sea, replacing Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, the Russian navys commander-in-chief since May 2019, with Admiral Alexander Moiseev.

This came after Ukrainian intelligence said that one of its drones had hit and sunk a $65 million Russian patrol ship, killing seven sailors.

09:20 AM GMT

The full extent of Ukraines mass drone attack

Russia downed 36 Ukrainian drones overnight, including five in the Moscow region, its defence ministry reported.

Sergei Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow, said there were no casualties or damage in the capital.

Another two drones were shot over the Kaluga region just south of the Russian capital and the Yaroslavl region northeast of Moscow, according to the Defence Ministry.

The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is about 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, were some of the farthest launched by Ukraine so far.

More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions that border Ukraine and the southern Krasnodar region, the Defence Ministry said.

A drone fell on a refinery in the Krasnodar region, sparking a blaze that was extinguished a few hours later, according to regional authorities. A worker at the refinery died of a heart attack, officials said.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky did not address the reported attacks in his nightly video address on Saturday, but he thanked his military forces and intelligence for the new Ukrainian long-range capabilities, adding: the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons.

09:15 AM GMT

The real reasons Macron turned from dove to hawk on Ukraine

We are united on this day, Emmanuel Macron said after meeting Olaf Scholz in Berlin, and determined never to let Russia win the war in Ukraine.

The studied show of togetherness came after months of all-too public tensions between the two leaders, epitomised by the French president apparently blindsiding the German chancellor by declaring the West had not ruled out putting boots on the ground.

Also present at Fridays meeting was Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister. Some joked that he was there to keep the peace.

This is a serious moment. A new era is dawning, and well be there, Mr Macron said after the three men locked hands for the cameras. To support the Ukrainian people to the end is a strength for us, our peoples, our security and our Europe.

Read the full story here.

09:13 AM GMT

Watch: Ukraine strikes sixth Russia oil refinery in a week, reports suggest

Daily attacks on Russia's oil industry continue: currently, an oil refinery in southern Russia's Krasnodar Krai has reportedly been under a drone attack.



More Ukrainian drones are in the air and more attacks may occur before morning.

https://t.co/huycqnHqGX pic.twitter.com/4YmO6cu5og  Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 17, 2024

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Dozens of people walked a mile loop around Camp North End Saturday to raise awareness about impoverished children and children who are victims of human trafficking.

Students at JT Williams Secondary Montessori School in north Charlotte walked to raise money for Joy International.

9 Investigates The Rescued: Teen saved from human trafficking

The global nonprofit dedicates its resources to preventing child trafficking and empowering teens, children, and young adults whove been trafficked worldwide.

One student told Channel 9 the goal of the event from her perspective.

Promote education and awareness for the community on human trafficking because its not really a very known subject, said Madison Higley, with JT Williams Secondary Montessori School.

Students aimed to raise $10,000 this year and theyve met that goal but theyre still taking donations.

Helpful links:

Channel 9s Hannah Goetz got exclusive access to an undercover operation in Rowan County where detectives rescued a teenage girl in Charlotte from human trafficking.

At 10 p.m. on Wednesday on Channel 9 and TV64, youll see our exclusive video of the arrest of the suspect in that case along with resources, and ways you can spot and stop trafficking.

VIDEO: 9 Investigates The Rescued: Teen saved from human trafficking
A drone hit a military base in Transnistria, in the Russian-controlled region of Moldova, local Telegram channel "Pervyi Prydnestrovskyi" claimed on March 17.

"Today, a fire broke out on the territory of one of the military bases in Tiraspol, as a result of an explosion," it claimed, adding that preliminary data suggested the kamikaze drone had attacked the base.

The Telegram channel also claimed the drone's flight was "detected" north of Tiraspol, near the Ukrainian border.

The Telegram channel also published a video allegedly showing a helicopter being hit by a drone. The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify the claim.

Read also: What danger does Transnistria pose to Ukraine, Moldova?

Transnistria borders Ukraine's Odesa Oblast and is internationally recognized as part of Moldova. Russian troops have occupied Transnistria since the early 1990s when Russia invaded the region under the pretext of protecting ethnic Russians.

Concerns around Transnistria arose earlier in February after news emerged that local authorities asked Russia for "protection."

Russias Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would "consider with attention" the appeal of authorities from the Moscow-controlled Moldovan region of Transnistria for "protection."

Read also: Media: 12 Russian oil refineries successfully hit in recent attacks by Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is projected to win Russias election in a record post-Soviet landslide on Sunday, extending his rule for at least another six years, according to exit polls.

Putin clinched 87.8 percent of the vote, according to an exit poll as the polls closed Sunday from the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM). This is the highest voting percentage in Russias post-Soviet history, and the first official results suggest FOMs early polls are accurate, Reuters reported Sunday.

A preliminary statement from Russias Central Election Commission said Putin received about 87 percent of the votes, deeming him the winner of the election, according to multiple media outlets. The commission also reportedly said voter turnout was about 75 percent nationwide.

The results are poised to hand Putin his fifth term since first being elected as Russias president more than 20 years ago in late 1999. The win will make Putin Russias longest-serving leader since Catherine the Great in 1796, surpassing the record held by former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin, Reuters reported.

Prior to Putins rule, the Russian Constitution allowed for presidents to serve just two successive terms of four years, but amendments made in 2008 under Putins rule lengthened the presidential term to six years. Amendments in 2020 removed the rule that presidents could not serve more than two terms, per Reuters.

FOMs exit polls showed communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov followed in second with a little under 5 percent of the vote, while Vladislav Davankov of the New People party came in third with more than 3 percent of the vote. Leonid Slutsky, an ultra-nationalist, came in fourth, per the exit polls.

Putins win comes as no surprise, with two other official opponents previously barred from the ballots due to opposition against the Ukraine invasion.

The election drew a massive protest on Sunday from thousands who attempted to cast ballots against Putin.

Putin has faced increasing opposition since the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in a remote Arctic penal colony last month. Navalny endorsed the scheduled protest days before he died.

The Kremlin has rejected accusations from other Russian opposition leaders and Western governments that Putin is to blame for Navalnys death.

Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, participated in Sundays protest and vowed to continue fighting against Putin.

Thank you very much to the wonderful, best people who stood with me today from 12 noon for a whole six hours, side by side in line at the polling station. Thank you for coming, crying, laughing. Thank you for endlessly shouting Yulia, we are with you and Navalny and telling me that I gave you back hope, she wrote in a post on social media.

In fact, of course, its the other way around  its you who give me hope that everything is not in vain, that we will fight on. Thank you to all of you who came out in every city around the world. You are my support and buttress. I love you all very much, she added.

A spokesperson with the White House National Security Council called the results unsurprising.

The elections were obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him, the spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Hill.

 Updated March 18 at 4:28 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
EAST LANSING  Months after citing attorney-client privilege as the reason for not releasing an investigation into allegations of widespread misconduct by city officials, East Lansing quietly posted the investigative report on its website.

That investigation contradicts a statement by the city in November that the inquiry found complaints submitted anonymously "were without merit."

The complaint claimed that now former Mayor Ron Bacon, other members of City Council and city staff including Elaine Hardy, the citys director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, engaged in unethical behavior and city charter violations. It further claimed that that behavior and breaches played a key role in numerous resignations in the months prior. Many city staffers have departed, including longtime City Manager George Lahanas, and numerous department heads or assistant department heads.

The 46-page document did identify a violation of the city charter by elected officials, for meddling in the city's Public Art Gallery management, which is under the supervisor of the city manager, according to the report. City officials redacted the names of current and former city employees and elected officials.

Royal Oak-based attorney Randall Secontine, who was paid $30,000 to conduct the investigation, found council members did not violate the charter in replacing both the city attorney and city manager, and said allegations of an "unusually close friendship" between Bacon and Hardy among other complaints did not violate the charter.

Hardy did not return messages sent on Saturday seeking comment.

The city last year denied a State Journal public records request for the report, and also denied the newspaper's appeal of that denial, which by city policy was sent to Mayor George Brookover.

East Lansing Mayor Ron Bacon listens as a person talks during a public forum during the City of East Lansing's "listening session," Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing.

Brookover did not return messages seeking comment for this story.

It's unclear what changed since last year for East Lansing to no longer consider the report protected by attorney-client privilege, although the top of each page still has that designation. Only one of five council members who were the subject of the complaint are still in office.

Bacon, who was in office when the complaint was filed, said the report was more "sprawling" and "maybe outside the scope" of what the city had intended, but added that that can happen with an independent investigation.

Bacon said he felt Secontine did a good job compiling information for the report and acknowledged it came at a difficult time for the city.

"I just want it to be out there that some of these claims were overblown," he said. "And let the community heal."

Secontine found Bacon and one other council member were too involved in the public art gallery. A volunteer who was running the city's public art gallery in 2022 raised concerns to several city officials about changes that impacted the gallery or their volunteer work. In the discussions that followed, which included emails, meetings and at least one memo, Secontine wrote that Bacon and another council member, whose name is redacted, believed that they supervised city volunteers, rather than city staff.

Secontine found that to be contrary to city policies and wrote that "authorization and/or encouragement of the intentional avoidance of supervisory authority" of a city department director "interferes and obviates" the authority and violates the charter.

Investigator surprised at lack of policies

Secontine also said the city lacks many of the basic policies common for local governments, including anti-discrimination rules. He said it was "surprising to learn that most City Officials and employees" did not know whether the city had a formal complaint process.

That discovery led to him asking about additional city policies and determining that 11 were either outdated or had just the legal bare minimum.

"It appears that the City of East Lansing has some policies that are either outdated, or state the bare minimum needed in order to be in legal compliance with certain federal regulations," Secontine wrote. "It appears that Michigan law has not been included or cited in any of the policies, included, but not limited to, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, and the Whistleblowers Protection Act (MCL 15.361 et seq.) Effective policy and procedure management are critical for municipal entities."

East Lansing City Councilmember George Brookover speaks during a meeting on March 22, 2022.

More: Anonymous complaint accuses East Lansing mayor, DEI director of unethical behavior

Among the 11 policies that Secontine wrote needed revision are ones that relate to employee complaints, sexual harassment, discrimination for pregnancy and other reasons, email and record retention, the Freedom of Information Act and a whistleblower policy.

When it launched the investigation, the city agreed to pay Secontine $285 an hour for up to $30,000. His invoice, dated Nov. 7, shows $39,530 was billed for 134 hours, but there was a $9,530 reduction to bring the total to $30,000.

Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at 517-377-1026 or mjmencarini@lsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Misconduct investigation into East Lansing City Council finds violation
Sir Ed Davey described Britain's relationship with Europe as something 'we can't afford not to tackle head on' - Getty/Christopher Furlong

Sir Ed Davey has pledged to set the UK on the path back to the Single Market and back at the heart of Europe.

The Liberal Democrat leader told members that being at the centre of Europe was where we belong, as he pledged to rebuild the countrys relationship with the European Union.

Speaking at the close of the Liberal Democrat conference in York, he told members: Only Liberal Democrats have a clear plan to rebuild this relationship with a better deal for Britain.

To renew the ties of trust and friendship, to set us on the path back to the Single Market  our plan to repair the damage the Conservatives have done. And, in time, to restore Britains place at the heart of Europe, where we belong.

Sir Ed described Britains relationship with Europe as something we cant afford not to tackle head on even if the other parties think its too difficult or too politically uncomfortable.

Ed Davey, Helen Morgan MP and other Lib Dems walk the York city walls - Christopher Furlong/Getty

The party has not put a date on when it would wish to seek to rejoin the Single Market, nor on its aim to restore Britains place at the heart of Europe.

But Sir Ed told members: We know it wont be easy. We know it wont be quick. The ties that have been so badly severed can only be stitched back together gradually over time.

This will take great care and determined effort over years. But if we are to transform Britains economic future, we must start today.

In an early version of the partys manifesto document, the Liberal Democrats set out a roadmap to closer ties, which includes joining the Erasmus Plus scheme for students studying abroad and putting in place a veterinary agreement.

At the 2019 general election, the party pledged to stop Brexit and build a brighter future, promising to cancel Britains departure from the bloc without putting it to a public vote.

But after receiving fewer than four million votes and returning just 11 MPs, the party replaced Jo Swinson, their then-leader, and focused less on Europe.

Sir Ed also used his address to attack Rishi Sunak for not yet calling a general election, accusing him of outrageously running down the clock.

He attacked both Labour and the Conservatives for offering tinkering around the edges on political issues while both trying to cloak themselves in the costume of change.

Advertising the Liberal Democrats as the party of radical change, he pledged to transform the NHS, the environment, and also to scrap the first past the post electoral system.

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Having been mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois, Edward F. Dunne went to France in 1919 to bug President Woodrow Wilson about Ireland.

Wilson was attending the Paris Peace Conference that was drafting a treaty to end World War I. In an address to Congress the previous year, Wilson stressed 14 Points for a just and lasting peace. One theme was self-determination for minority populations.

Dunne was there to argue that the Irish were among those so entitled, and he was getting the runaround. Mr. Walsh and Mr. Dunne practically are hopeless of getting a hearing for the Irish republic before peace is signed, the Tribune reported on June 9. Frank P. Walsh was an Irish nationalist who was co-chairman of the National War Labor Board under Wilson.

This provision applies only to small states, not the Great Powers, the leaders of the post-World War I Big Four countries  the U.S., Italy, Great Britain and France  had said.

Dunne, the American-born son of an Irish nationalist and the only person to serve as both Chicagos mayor and Illinois governor, had taken up the cause championed by his father. He was a founder of the Irish Fellowship Club along with several regular lunch mates at Vogelsangs Restaurant in Chicago.

The club endures to this day and continues to host a St. Patricks Day dinner. It was quite a coup when President William Howard Taft accepted an invitation to the clubs 1910 St. Patricks Day banquet at the La Salle Hotel.

The President, shamrock in lapel, sat in a huge tapestried chair which had been made especially for the occasion, the Tribune recalled in a 1951 retrospective.

Tributes by Taft to the Irish people, tributes by officers of the Fellowship Club to Taft, and performance of Irish music and the recitation of Irish poems sped the time so pleasantly that he could not leave the city at 10:30 as he had planned.

The president was supposed to address the gathering while standing on Irish sod. It was the brainchild of James Cleary, a Tribune reporter.

Cleary had just returned from Ireland and knew a man who would be happy to ship some sod, complete with grass and shamrocks, his newspaper noted.

The sod arrived on March 15 and was displayed in a side room just off the banquet hall. Police officers guarded it, and thousands filed solemnly past. Many a man brushed back a tear at the sight, according to the Tribunes retrospective.

Then someone remembered that by tradition an American president never set foot on foreign soil. Were they thoughtlessly tempting Taft to break some law?

Previously police had chased off souvenir hunters, now they were told to look away. In short order not a blade of grass, a shamrock or a cubic inch of sod remained. Taft spoke standing on a sparkling clean, non-Irish floor.

To expats, those bits of dirt bore familiar scents of their old country. That was smell of air and rain and turf and corduroy, James Joyce recalled in Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. For him, it was a holy smell. Like so many other Irishmen, Joyce, a pioneer of modern literature, had left Ireland of his own accord, but still felt nostalgia for his homeland.

But Irish Americans also had painful memories of British colonialism. During the Great Famine of the 19th century, potato crops failed. A million Irish peasants died of starvation, and another million became refugees. Instead of sharing their harvest, the islands English aristocrats exported it.

Others left with a price on their heads for trying to win independence by force of arms.

Dunnes father immigrated to America in the late 1840s after a failed uprising. He and Dunnes mother made it clear to their son which side they were on. They sent Edward Dunne to public school in Peoria because the Catholic church frowned on the Irish nationalists. For similar reasons, Edward went to Trinity College in Dublin.

My father believed because Robert Emmett was a student there when he was executed and because they had statues of Oliver Goldsmith and Edmund Burke in front of it, that it must be a good school, so I was sent there, Edward Dunne recalled years later.

Emmett was a nationalist leader at the turn of the 19th century. Goldsmith and Burke were literary luminaries. Dunne didnt finish college in Dublin. His father was broke. By the time he died in 1921, he had given about $100,000 to the Irish nationalist movement.

Dunnes family moved to Chicago and Edward Dunne graduated from Union Law School in Chicago. He subsequently emerged as the rarest of Chicago species: an honest politician.

His issue of choice was public transportation. Chicago was expanding so rapidly that there were always streetcar tracks to be laid. Permits had to be granted, and politicians traded their approval for money.

After vainly battling that entrenched system, Dunne dropped out of electoral politics.

But he couldnt refuse his fellow reformers request to deliver to the White House The Report of the American Commission on Conditions in Ireland.

Headed by Jane Addams, the commission documented the horrors that followed the British refusal to grant home rule to Ireland. Marital law was enforced by the Black and Tans, as the soldiers were dubbed because of the color of their uniforms.

Irish guerrilla tactics made some British solders trigger-happy, as one example in the record shows: Mr. Broderick of Chicago was in Abbeyfeale when a passing Black and Tan killed two boys leading their cows to pasture.

The commission noted that the Irish objection to the British was long-standing: The Irish people from age to age, almost from generation to generation, have contested Englands right to Ireland.

Didnt that require a response, given President Wilsons embrace of self-determination? Walsh and Dunne couldnt get a meeting with Wilson, but his top aide arranged passports for them.

When they caught up with Wilson in France, the president admitted that Ireland was experiencing a great metaphysical tragedy.

But he had assured the British ambassador he wouldnt embarrass the U.S. ally by getting involved in the Irish issue.

They went on to Ireland, and met with the Irish Parliament. Their request to meet with imprisoned Sinn Fein members was denied by the British. But they bluffed their way into the notorious Mountjoy Gaol, a prison in Dublin.

Upon their return to New York, they were greeted by a huge crowd. Dunne spoke to a crowd of more than 25,000 at a Chicago rally.

The British press was furious with Prime Minister David Lloyd George for allowing Walsh and Dunne to visit Ireland. King George V made a rare intervention in a political issue. He questioned the wisdom of Lloyd Georges decision to let the Americans tramp around Ireland.

To recoup, Lloyd George said he would have nothing more to do with the American delegation.

Wilson followed suit by refusing any further help to American peaceniks. When the report was published, the Times of London derided it as grotesque.

Nonetheless, Britain began negotiating with the Irish nationalists. Their differences were echoed by debates in the Irish diaspora. In Chicagos Medinah Temple, Dunne confronted a speaker opposed to giving the Irish loans to jump-start an economy drained by colonial exploitation.

Every nation on Earth and every suffering people not in possession of nationhood can come to this country without protest to float loans to further their ambitions, he thundered in 1920. The Irish alone shall not be allowed to solicit funds for the building up of their destroyed industries and commerce.

On Dec. 6, 1922, his parents dream came true. The parties agreed that some counties would remain in the kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

But the rest of the island would be the Irish Free State for which his fathers hero Emmet fought. The leader of a secret society at Oxford, Emmet refused to repent or explain himself to the court that sentenced him to death in September 1803. He asked that others, too, be silent.

Let no man write my epitaph, he said. When my country takes her place among the nations of the Earth, then and not until then let my epitaph be written.
An audit revealed that a statewide council may be necessary to provide a coordinated response to the 4.4% growth in Georgias homeless population from 2020. J.D. Pooley/Getty Images

Thousands gather each year in Georgia and nationwide during the last 10 days of January to conduct the annual homelessness census that guides legislative, funding and support efforts. The Point-in-Time headcount is the most comprehensive census for sheltered and unsheltered individuals.

Last years report revealed a 12% increase in the national homeless population from 2022, making it the largest population since the first count in 2007 at just over 653,000 unhoused individuals. Despite a national record high, Georgias 2023 headcount report shows that homelessness is down 37% since 2007.

Last March, Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 62 into effect, which requires cities and counties to enforce public camping bans and to audit local spending on homelessness.

The audit revealed that a statewide council may be necessary to provide a coordinated response to the 4.4% growth in Georgias homeless population from 2020. An estimated $549 million in federal funding was spent in Georgia between 2018-2022. If implemented, Georgia would join 33 other states and Washington, D.C. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs currently acts as the states housing agency but mainly administers federal and state funding, including strategy development and targeting best intervention practices.

Kemp announced $9 million for new housing and necessary infrastructure across four communities as part of the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative. The Development Authority of Donalsonville and Seminole County and the cities of Alma and Vidalia each received an estimated $2.5 million, while $1.5 million was awarded to the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority. The project is expected to produce 400 additional housing units.

Efforts to coordinate a cohesive response to homelessness emerged out of Macon as part of its initiative to end homelessness through the United Way of Central Georgia. Executive Director Jake Hall said the recently developed smartphone app, Show the Way, will act as a decentralized case management tool as users are prompted to ask person-centered questions regarding health and accessibility to services.

The only way that we can address [homelessness is] if we have proper local data, Hall said. And that were working to deploy federal funding at the local level, in ways that help move the needle.

The app also allows first responders to pinpoint encampment locations, though its unclear if such information will be affected by reinforced public camping bans. Show the Way is also expected to simplify future headcounts.

Shortly before this years count at the end of January, the city of Atlanta and Athens-Clarke County each announced budgets of about $5 million, to fund assistance programs after the 2023 headcounts revealed a 1.3% increase in unsheltered and sheltered homeless populations in those areas. People are considered sheltered homeless if they lack access to a steady place to live at night.

Of that $5 million, Athens-Clarke County allocated $2.83 million to fund proposals from organizations for homeless supportive services, unsheltered homeless activities and construction for low-barrier shelters, which will be accepted through March 8. The proposals mark the first phase of the countys strategic plan to reduce and prevent homelessness.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens office confirmed two initiatives on February 22 that seek to reduce ongoing safety concerns. One will implement the statewide public camping ban as the city will clear 10 to 20 bridges where unhoused individuals seeking shelter set fires for warmth. Authorities believe these encampments are responsible for fires at Cheshire Bridge Road, totaling two multi-week road shutdowns in the last two years. The other initiative will enact the Atlanta City Councils plan to limit access to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as unhoused people seek shelter in the airports atrium.

The mayors office said Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center in Midtown Atlanta will be a temporary emergency shelter for at least 180 days. Similar initiatives in the past have failed to provide an alternative to cleared encampments, which creates a bigger problem, according to Hall.

Some communities dont admit that they have a problem serving people who are housing insecure, or they dont want to deeply invest in homelessness services, sometimes out of fear that it will have a magnetic effect or draw people to those services, Hall said. And I think all of those are misguided responses to the human needs in our midst.

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For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else investors will move on and the company will wither away.

In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like APG|SGA (VTX:APGN), which has not only revenues, but also profits. 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.

See our latest analysis for APG|SGA

APG|SGA's Earnings Per Share Are Growing

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. Impressively, APG|SGA has grown EPS by 27% per year, compound, in the last three years. As a general rule, we'd say that if a company can keep up that sort of growth, shareholders will be beaming.

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. EBIT margins for APG|SGA remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 4.8% to CHF327m. That's encouraging news for the company!

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

SWX:APGN Earnings and Revenue History March 17th 2024

Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of APG|SGA's future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting.

Story continues

Are APG|SGA Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Prior to investment, it's always a good idea to check that the management team is paid reasonably. Pay levels around or below the median, can be a sign that shareholder interests are well considered. For companies with market capitalisations between CHF353m and CHF1.4b, like APG|SGA, the median CEO pay is around CHF1.2m.

APG|SGA's CEO took home a total compensation package worth CHF1.0m in the year leading up to December 2022. That is actually below the median for CEO's of similarly sized companies. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making.

Should You Add APG|SGA To Your Watchlist?

You can't deny that APG|SGA has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. The fast growth bodes well while the very reasonable CEO pay assists builds some confidence in the board. Based on these factors, this stock may well deserve a spot on your watchlist, or even a little further research. Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for APG|SGA that you should be aware of.

Although APG|SGA 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 Swiss 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.
Remains of the Al-Ahram Studio in Giza, Cairo - Shokry Hussien/Reuters

An iconic Egyptian film studio known as Hollywood on the Nile was destroyed in a fire over the weekend.

The Al-Ahram Studio in Giza, Cairo was a major force in Arab cinema and at the centre of its golden age in the mid-20th century.

On Saturday the 80-year-old facility was razed in a blaze that broke out hours after filming concluded for a Ramadan television series, Al-Moalem, local media reported.

It took firefighters six hours to bring the fire under control while several buildings had to be evacuated and people treated for smoke inhalation.

There were no reported fatalities and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Founded in 1944, the huge 290,000sq ft studio contained three production stages, a screening room and editing suite.

It took firefighters six hours to bring the blaze under control - Momen Samir/AFP via Getty Images

Firefighters cool the area still smouldering - Momen Samir/AFP via Getty Images

Al Ahram media reported that the studio was destroyed including decorations, areas designated for photography and corridors.

Photos show a great fire roaring out of the complex and a block of buildings blackened in the aftermath.

In one image, firefighters surround a large black patch of scorched earth with palm trees stand among them like symbols of its glamorous past.

Neighbour Yusif Mohammed told AFP that flames reached the surrounding buildings before fire trucks arrived.

He said: No one knows what really happened.

Third-biggest film producer in world

The New Arab website reported on Sunday that Mostafa Madbouly, the prime minister, had announced compensation of 15,000 Egyptian pounds (246) for the affected families. He visited the area with officials. The Egyptian prosecutor generals office has also opened an investigation into the incident.

In the 1950s Egypt was the third-biggest film producer in the world, with countless Egyptian films and television series produced at Al-Ahram.

Today, mired in the worst economic crisis of its history, Egypt accounts for three quarters of the Arab worlds cinematic production.

The fire at Al-Ahram is expected to hit TV audiences hard over Ramadan when viewing figures peak in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world.

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With the presidential nominations of Democratic incumbent Joe Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump already assured, the focus of Tuesdays primary election in Illinois moves to down-ballot contests that could represent a defining moment in the steady advance of the Chicago areas progressive movement.

Slotted across the ballot are races and issues that will provide an indication of where the movement stands nearly a year after its most significant gain, the election of Brandon Johnson as Chicagos mayor, and after one of its most prominent leaders, criminal justice reform-seeking Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, announced she would not seek reelection.

Though neither is on the ballot, Johnsons early unsteady tenure at City Hall and the aftermath of Foxxs embattled time as top prosecutor provide the backdrop for a Democratic primary asking voters whether progressivism has gone too far or not far enough amid continued concern about crime and the complex issue of dealing with migrants primarily sent from the Texas border.

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Its been kind of a tumultuous time with the migrant issue and, as weve seen in cities across the country, push back on some of the more progressive ideas about prosecution, said David Axelrod, political strategist for former President Barack Obama. It will be interesting to see where public sentiment is right now and if it has changed a little bit to the right of where it stood.

Across the country there have been shifts in once-progressive conclaves. Dissatisfaction with rising crime in San Francisco found voters there recalling their local prosecutor, Chesa Boudin, in 2022, three years after hed run on an aggressively progressive platform. Other conservative efforts to rein in progressive prosecutors have centered on suspensions or state legislation to weaken their authority.

Last April, Mike Johnston, who portrayed himself as a moderate, was elected mayor of Denver and Cherelle Parker defeated progressive opponents to become Philadelphias mayor earlier this year. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where Pittsburgh is located, continued its streak in November of electing progressives for county executive, but Sara Innamoratos margin of victory was a scant 2.6%.

In Chicago, concerns about crime have blended with immigration in some voters minds. That is creating a tumultuous mix that makes the Democratic primary contest for the open-seat states attorneys office between Clayton Harris III and Eileen ONeill Burke a pretty good gauge of voter attitudes, Axelrod said.

ONeill Burke, a retired appellate judge, has suggested that Harris, the endorsed candidate of the Cook County Democratic Party, represents politics as usual and will follow Foxxs lead by continuing policies that she says fail to stem crime that surged during the pandemic and has still not fully abated.

Foxx aggressively sought to overturn the offices past wrongful convictions, implemented a higher threshold for prosecutors to pursue felony charges for retail theft and gave her full-throated support for statewide elimination of cash bail. She has not endorsed Harris. But her political mentor  Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who also heads the county Democratic Party  has. And Foxx recently rebuked ONeill Burke for inflating vacancy numbers and caseloads at her office.

Though Foxxs national counterparts have been under attack from conservatives, in heavily Democratic Cook County, the fight is intraparty. ONeill Burke has pledged to maintain Foxxs conviction integrity unit and restorative justice initiatives for those suffering from mental illness or addiction. She also was a supporter of the SAFE-T Act eliminating cash bail.

But ONeill Burke gives Foxx failing marks, pledging to unwind her retail theft policies and asking for detention each and every time someone is found with an assault weapon, threatens anyone with a weapon, or is involved in a violent crime, especially on the CTA.

We can change criminal behavior by enforcing the law, she told the Tribune on Thursday.

Personal story vs. tougher-on-crime message

Alongside that tough-on-crime message, ONeill Burke is framing herself as the pro-abortion rights and pro-union candidate while blasting Harris time working in the corporate world and for convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Harris has reasserted his support of abortion rights and defended his time at Lyft, where he served as a lobbyist and head of a group that pushed to keep drivers classified as independent contractors. Hes pointed to endorsements from staunch champions of worker and abortion rights, such as state Reps. Will Guzzardi and Kelly Cassidy. Harris has said he was not close to Blagojevich and didnt work on his campaigns or donate to him, and that he went public at the time with ethical complaints against Blagojevich.

Harris has leaned on his personal story  grappling as a young assistant states attorney with prosecuting Black men; raising a family in Washington Park, where he says they face gunfire and gang violence; and risking being the victim of profiling by Chicago police. Several of Foxxs biggest campaign contributors are backing Harris.

His counterattacks against ONeill Burke have centered on the issue of wrongful convictions, which has been a key Foxx initiative. Citing in part a story last year by the Tribune, Harris leading TV ad faults ONeill Burke for being the lead prosecutor in the case of a Black youth charged more than 30 years ago. Accused of the brutal murder of his elderly neighbor, the boy  identified in court documents only by the initials A.M. because he was a juvenile  confessed under questioning but a judge later overturned the conviction after private attorneys successfully argued the boys confession was coerced by police.

ONeill Burkes decision to go forward with the case against the boy despite physical evidence that conflicted with the confession only confirms that she represents old-guard interests focused more on convictions than justice, Harris has said. Whats more, hes said, ONeill Burke has shown a lack of contrition for the impact the case had on the boys life. A.M. cycled through the criminal justice system and was later in life shot and killed.

Its a charge ONeill Burke denies. The defense that A.M.s attorneys put up in the case was insufficient, a federal judge later found, and there were no legal motions alleging his confession was coerced. Had she known the confession was coerced, she would not have proceeded the same way, shes said.

Her war chest, meanwhile, has dwarfed Harris  upward of $4.2 million has poured into the primary, with ONeill Burke raking in more than $3 million, according to state campaign records.

There, too, Harris has pointed out a contrast. Several of ONeill Burkes biggest donors have supported conservative Republicans. On Friday, Harris and a group of faith leaders demanded ONeill Burke return a $5,000 donation she received from Steve Patton, the citys corporation counsel who fought against the public release of the Laquan McDonald police shooting video. McDonalds murder at the hands of a Chicago police officer helped galvanize reformers to get behind Foxx in the 2016 election.

ONeill Burke also has the support of John Catanzara, the Trump-supporting head of the citys largest police union. She rejected the endorsement as professionally improper.

A lot is riding on these turnouts

For the mayor, the fate of the Bring Chicago Home ballot initiative seeking to grant the City Council authority to raise the real estate transfer tax on the sale of all $1 million-plus properties represents a test of populist progressivism as well as an early referendum on Johnson and support for the former Chicago Teachers Union organizer.

Surviving late court challenges, the complicated, multiparagraph referendum question pits politically active unions against business, real estate and Republican-aligned, anti-tax interests. Bring Chicago Home supporters for years have pushed to have the question put to voters but those efforts had generally stalled until Johnson campaigned on a promise to take it up.

With the help of a City Council populated by many allies, Johnson secured the referendum questions placement on the March primary ballot. The CTU has taken a lead in hitting the streets and phone lines to drum up voter support.

Progressive advocates say changing the structure of the tax  a one-time charge at the point of a real estate sale  will raise, on average, an additional $100 million annually. Commercial real estate interests are expected to bear a much greater share of the tax burden, while the vast majority of home sellers will get a slight reduction in their rate  from 0.75% to 0.6%. In return, Chicago will have sequestered funds to pay for housing and wraparound services for the homeless, though details of how much will be spent on what have yet to be decided.

But real estate interests warn the extra costs will threaten Chicagos recovery from the pandemic, exacerbate office vacancies and impede fresh development.

Those opponents  which includes a trio of outside spending groups  also are tying the referendums credibility to trust in Johnson as a leader.

Mayor Johnson wants you to vote for his big new tax. Nows a good time to ask: Is Chicago on the right track? Hows the mayor doing on crime? Do you feel safe? Happy with how the mayors handling the migrant crisis? Now he wants a big new tax, blared a digital ad from the group Keep Chicago Affordable. Trust Mayor Johnson with more taxes? Just vote no.

Keep Chicago Affordables largest funder, at $800,000, is Chicago Forward, a dark money group run by Greg Goldner, a longtime Chicago political operative who once had close ties to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Regardless of the pros and cons of the policy itself, its success or failure will reflect on Johnson, said Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

To the degree he fails or stumbles and cant move these things forward, it will rightly or wrongly open up a critique about efficiency and capacity, Bruno said.

The pushback from the business community, which has traditionally wielded significant power in the city, suggests the stakes are high for them too.

Sometimes you can measure the viability and meaningfulness of what youre doing  particularly if youre a progressive  on the basis of how the more commercial or centrist or establishment forces line up against it, because they know something significant can change, Bruno said. And, if so, that further empowers that agenda and those candidates. It seems like a lot is riding on these turnouts.

Cook County races

For Democrats, progressive moves also are in play in several Cook County races, including a race to fill Johnsons seat on the Cook County Board for the next two years, and a state Supreme Court contest that also shows internal divisions between the partys important constituencies of Black and brown voters.

In Johnsons old half-city, half-suburban County Board seat, the mayors onetime mentor is seeking to finish out his term. Tara Stamps was appointed in June by party officials to fill Johnsons vacant 1st District spot on an interim basis and shes running to hold the seat through 2026. Stamps, administrator of new teacher development at CTU, is the daughter of the late legendary affordable housing activist Marion Stamps. Preckwinkle, Johnson and the countys major progressive unions have lined up behind her.

She is up against Zerlina Smith-Members, a perennial candidate and proponent of school choice and critic of CTU who also opposes Bring Chicago Home.

Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham was appointed to fill the vacancy of Justice Anne Burke, the wife of convicted longtime powerbroker former Ald. Ed Burke. Shes seeking to be elected to a full term against Jesse Reyes, an appellate court judge who finished second in the 2020 race for a seat on the states highest court.

Cunningham, one of three Black justices on the seven-member court, is backed by the Cook County Democrats, CTU and Personal PAC, an abortion rights political action committee. But Reyes said hes a progressive candidate with a desire to consider the societal effects of judgments. He has the backing of several Latino groups who argue that Democrats for years have neglected to recognize the growing Latino population in slating candidates for the states high court.

The lone countywide-elected Latina in Cook County, first-term Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez, did not get slated for reelection by the Cook County Democrats, a reflection of her supporting candidates in 2022 who werent party-endorsed.

Martinez is being challenged by Mariyana Spyropoulos, a commissioner on the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Spyropoulos was slated by county Democrats and also has the support of progressive public employees unions as well as the Teamsters, who represent most of the offices employees.

Martinez had pledged to clean up and modernize the office she took over from embattled Clerk Dorothy Brown, but progress has been slow in an office renowned for its antiquated operations. And Martinez has faced ethical questions over her acceptance of political help and campaign contributions from employees.

Reflecting the political infighting, Martinez earlier this month contended Preckwinkle had for a second consecutive year disrespected the circuit clerks accomplishments and heritage by omitting her from a lobby exhibit on International Womens Day.

This act disregards not only my legacy as the first Hispanic / Latina female in the Illinois Senate and currently the only Hispanic Constitutional Officer in Cook County but also diminishes the contributions of Latina women and women of color at large, Martinez said in a statement. A Preckwinkle spokesman said Martinezs omission was an unintended oversight by a former employee. New banners have been created, he said.

Longtime congressmen targeted

Progressives also are seeking to make inroads through insurgent challenges to Democratic U.S. Reps. Danny Davis of Chicago and Bill Foster of Naperville.

For the third consecutive primary election, Davis is facing opposition from progressive activist Kina Collins. But unlike two years ago, when Collins lost by 6 percentage points in what was largely a two-person race, the dynamics have changed.

Davis, seeking his 15th term, now faces Collins as well as Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin along with two others, Kouri Marshall and Nikhil Batia. But Collins has not received the same level of progressive support and Conyears-Ervins entry into the race risks splitting votes to Davis benefit, even though the treasurer has faced ethical issues involving her employees that led to a taxpayer-paid settlement.

Collins outspoken pro-Palestinian stance has drawn attention and some negative feedback, including a pro-Israel PAC spending nearly $482,000 against her, federal campaign records show.

At a Friday candidate forum, Collins, wearing a black and white kaffiyeh scarf as a sign of solidarity with Palestinians, likened tactics used by the Israel Defense Forces to those used by the Chicago Police Department and faulted Davis for not standing up against continued U.S. aid to its Middle East ally.

Davis noted he has called for an immediate cease-fire.

In the suburbs, Foster, who has served 14 years in the U.S. House, faces progressive challenger Qasim Rashid in the 11th Congressional District, which runs from McHenry through western Kane County and southern portions of DuPage County.

Rashid, who has made two unsuccessful bids for public office in Virginia, has sought to make the Israeli battles against Hamas a focal point of his campaign. Hes called for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack and an end to Israel occupation and settlements. Foster has said Israel has a right to defend itself but must follow international humanitarian law. Three Republicans also are vying for the right to challenge the winner.

In the heavily Latino 4th Congressional District, it is the progressive incumbent facing a challenge. U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia is seeking a fourth term in the House against Chicago Ald. Ray Lopez, 15th. Garcia is a leading House progressive while Lopez has contended the district isnt as extreme as its congressman.

An icon of the progressive movement has even dipped into a state legislative race, where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont backed CTU organizer Graciela Guzman over appointed incumbent state Sen. Natalie Toro in a four-way Democratic contest on the citys North and Northwest sides.

Guzman has the backing of liberal Democratic and Democratic socialists in the legislature and City Council, while Toro is backed by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and more moderate Democrats in the chamber. But Toros appointment to the Senate was engineered in part by Martinez, the court clerk, and the senators reelection has become enmeshed in the enmity between Preckwinkle and Martinez. Also seeking the Democratic nomination in the 20th Senate District are Dave Nayak, a doctor, and community organizer Geary Yonker.

Tribune reporter Dan Petrella contributed.
CHICAGO  With the presidential nominations of Democratic incumbent Joe Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump already assured, the focus of Tuesdays primary election in Illinois moves to down-ballot contests that could represent a defining moment in the steady advance of the Chicago areas progressive movement.

Slotted across the ballot are races and issues that will provide an indication of where the movement stands nearly a year after its most significant gain, the election of Brandon Johnson as Chicagos mayor, and after one of its most prominent leaders, criminal justice reform-seeking Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, announced she would not seek reelection.

Though neither is on the ballot, Johnsons early unsteady tenure at City Hall and the aftermath of Foxxs embattled time as top prosecutor provide the backdrop for a Democratic primary asking voters whether progressivism has gone too far or not far enough amid continued concern about crime and the complex issue of dealing with migrants primarily sent from the Texas border.

Its been kind of a tumultuous time with the migrant issue and, as weve seen in cities across the country, (there's been) pushback on some of the more progressive ideas about prosecution, said David Axelrod, political strategist for former President Barack Obama. It will be interesting to see where public sentiment is right now and if it has changed a little bit to the right of where it stood.

Across the country there have been shifts in once-progressive conclaves. Dissatisfaction with rising crime in San Francisco found voters there recalling their local prosecutor, Chesa Boudin, in 2022, three years after hed run on an aggressively progressive platform. Other conservative efforts to rein in progressive prosecutors have centered on suspensions or state legislation to weaken their authority.

Last April, Mike Johnston, who portrayed himself as a moderate, was elected mayor of Denver and Cherelle Parker defeated progressive opponents to become Philadelphias mayor earlier this year. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where Pittsburgh is located, continued its streak in November of electing progressives for county executive, but Sara Innamoratos margin of victory was a scant 2.6%.

In Chicago, concerns about crime have blended with immigration in some voters minds. That is creating a tumultuous mix that makes the Democratic primary contest for the open-seat states attorneys office between Clayton Harris III and Eileen ONeill Burke a pretty good gauge of voter attitudes, Axelrod said.

ONeill Burke, a retired appellate judge, has suggested that Harris, the endorsed candidate of the Cook County Democratic Party, represents politics as usual and will follow Foxxs lead by continuing policies that she says fail to stem crime that surged during the pandemic and has still not fully abated.

Foxx aggressively sought to overturn the offices past wrongful convictions, implemented a higher threshold for prosecutors to pursue felony charges for retail theft and gave her full-throated support for statewide elimination of cash bail. She has not endorsed Harris. But her political mentor  Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who also heads the county Democratic Party  has. And Foxx recently rebuked ONeill Burke for inflating vacancy numbers and caseloads at her office.

Though Foxxs national counterparts have been under attack from conservatives, in heavily Democratic Cook County, the fight is intraparty. ONeill Burke has pledged to maintain Foxxs conviction integrity unit and restorative justice initiatives for those suffering from mental illness or addiction. She also was a supporter of the SAFE-T Act eliminating cash bail.

But ONeill Burke gives Foxx failing marks, pledging to unwind her retail theft policies and asking for detention each and every time someone is found with an assault weapon, threatens anyone with a weapon, or is involved in a violent crime, especially on the CTA.

We can change criminal behavior by enforcing the law, she told the Chicago Tribune on Thursday.

Personal story vs. tougher-on-crime message

Alongside that tough-on-crime message, ONeill Burke is framing herself as the pro-abortion rights and pro-union candidate while blasting Harris time working in the corporate world and for convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Harris has reasserted his support of abortion rights and defended his time at Lyft, where he served as a lobbyist and head of a group that pushed to keep drivers classified as independent contractors. Hes pointed to endorsements from staunch champions of worker and abortion rights, such as state Reps. Will Guzzardi and Kelly Cassidy. Harris has said he was not close to Blagojevich and didnt work on his campaigns or donate to him, and that he went public at the time with ethical complaints against Blagojevich.

Harris has leaned on his personal story  grappling as a young assistant states attorney with prosecuting Black men; raising a family in Washington Park, where he says they face gunfire and gang violence; and risking being the victim of profiling by Chicago police. Several of Foxxs biggest campaign contributors are backing Harris.

His counterattacks against ONeill Burke have centered on the issue of wrongful convictions, which has been a key Foxx initiative. Citing in part a story last year by the Tribune, Harris leading TV ad faults ONeill Burke for being the lead prosecutor in the case of a Black youth charged more than 30 years ago. Accused of the brutal murder of his elderly neighbor, the boy  identified in court documents only by the initials A.M. because he was a juvenile  confessed under questioning but a judge later overturned the conviction after private attorneys successfully argued the boys confession was coerced by police.

ONeill Burkes decision to go forward with the case against the boy despite physical evidence that conflicted with the confession only confirms that she represents old-guard interests focused more on convictions than justice, Harris has said. Whats more, hes said, ONeill Burke has shown a lack of contrition for the impact the case had on the boys life. A.M. cycled through the criminal justice system and was later in life shot and killed.

Its a charge ONeill Burke denies. The defense that A.M.s attorneys put up in the case was insufficient, a federal judge later found, and there were no legal motions alleging his confession was coerced. Had she known the confession was coerced, she would not have proceeded the same way, shes said.

Her war chest, meanwhile, has dwarfed Harris  upward of $4.2 million has poured into the primary, with ONeill Burke raking in more than $3 million, according to state campaign records.

There, too, Harris has pointed out a contrast. Several of ONeill Burkes biggest donors have supported conservative Republicans. On Friday, Harris and a group of faith leaders demanded ONeill Burke return a $5,000 donation she received from Steve Patton, the citys corporation counsel who fought against the public release of the Laquan McDonald police shooting video. McDonalds murder at the hands of a Chicago police officer helped galvanize reformers to get behind Foxx in the 2016 election.

ONeill Burke also has the support of John Catanzara, the Trump-supporting head of the citys largest police union. She rejected the endorsement as professionally improper.

A lot is riding on these turnouts

For the mayor, the fate of the Bring Chicago Home ballot initiative seeking to grant the City Council authority to raise the real estate transfer tax on the sale of all $1 million-plus properties represents a test of populist progressivism as well as an early referendum on Johnson and support for the former Chicago Teachers Union organizer.

Surviving late court challenges, the complicated, multiparagraph referendum question pits politically active unions against business, real estate and Republican-aligned, anti-tax interests. Bring Chicago Home supporters for years have pushed to have the question put to voters but those efforts had generally stalled until Johnson campaigned on a promise to take it up.

With the help of a City Council populated by many allies, Johnson secured the referendum questions placement on the March primary ballot. The CTU has taken a lead in hitting the streets and phone lines to drum up voter support.

Progressive advocates say changing the structure of the tax  a one-time charge at the point of a real estate sale  will raise, on average, an additional $100 million annually. Commercial real estate interests are expected to bear a much greater share of the tax burden, while the vast majority of home sellers will get a slight reduction in their rate  from 0.75% to 0.6%. In return, Chicago will have sequestered funds to pay for housing and wraparound services for the homeless, though details of how much will be spent on what have yet to be decided.

But real estate interests warn the extra costs will threaten Chicagos recovery from the pandemic, exacerbate office vacancies and impede fresh development.

Those opponents  which includes a trio of outside spending groups  also are tying the referendums credibility to trust in Johnson as a leader.

Mayor Johnson wants you to vote for his big new tax. Nows a good time to ask: Is Chicago on the right track? Hows the mayor doing on crime? Do you feel safe? Happy with how the mayors handling the migrant crisis? Now he wants a big new tax, blared a digital ad from the group Keep Chicago Affordable. Trust Mayor Johnson with more taxes? Just vote no.

Keep Chicago Affordables largest funder, at $800,000, is Chicago Forward, a dark money group run by Greg Goldner, a longtime Chicago political operative who once had close ties to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Regardless of the pros and cons of the policy itself, its success or failure will reflect on Johnson, said Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

To the degree he fails or stumbles and cant move these things forward, it will rightly or wrongly open up a critique about efficiency and capacity, Bruno said.

The pushback from the business community, which has traditionally wielded significant power in the city, suggests the stakes are high for them too.

Sometimes you can measure the viability and meaningfulness of what youre doing  particularly if youre a progressive  on the basis of how the more commercial or centrist or establishment forces line up against it, because they know something significant can change, Bruno said. And, if so, that further empowers that agenda and those candidates. It seems like a lot is riding on these turnouts.

Cook County races

For Democrats, progressive moves also are in play in several Cook County races, including a race to fill Johnsons seat on the Cook County Board for the next two years, and a state Supreme Court contest that also shows internal divisions between the partys important constituencies of Black and brown voters.

In Johnsons old half-city, half-suburban County Board seat, the mayors onetime mentor is seeking to finish out his term. Tara Stamps was appointed in June by party officials to fill Johnsons vacant 1st District spot on an interim basis and shes running to hold the seat through 2026. Stamps, administrator of new teacher development at the Chicago Teachers Union, is the daughter of the late legendary affordable housing activist Marion Stamps. Preckwinkle, Johnson and the countys major progressive unions have lined up behind her.

She is up against Zerlina Smith-Members, a perennial candidate and proponent of school choice and critic of CTU who also opposes Bring Chicago Home.

Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham was appointed to fill the vacancy of Justice Anne Burke, the wife of convicted longtime powerbroker former Ald. Ed Burke. Shes seeking to be elected to a full term against Jesse Reyes, an appellate court judge who finished second in the 2020 race for a seat on the states highest court.

Cunningham, one of three Black justices on the seven-member court, is backed by the Cook County Democrats, CTU and Personal PAC, an abortion rights political action committee. But Reyes said hes a progressive candidate with a desire to consider the societal effects of judgments. He has the backing of several Latino groups who argue that Democrats for years have neglected to recognize the growing Latino population in slating candidates for the states high court.

The lone countywide-elected Latina in Cook County, first-term Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez, did not get slated for reelection by the Cook County Democrats, a reflection of her supporting candidates in 2022 who werent party-endorsed.

Martinez is being challenged by Mariyana Spyropoulos, a commissioner on the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Spyropoulos was slated by county Democrats and also has the support of progressive public employees unions as well as the Teamsters, who represent most of the offices employees.

Martinez had pledged to clean up and modernize the office she took over from embattled Clerk Dorothy Brown, but progress has been slow in an office renowned for its antiquated operations. And Martinez has faced ethical questions over her acceptance of political help and campaign contributions from employees.

Reflecting the political infighting, Martinez earlier this month contended Preckwinkle had for a second consecutive year disrespected the circuit clerks accomplishments and heritage by omitting her from a lobby exhibit on International Womens Day.

This act disregards not only my legacy as the first Hispanic/Latina female in the Illinois Senate and currently the only Hispanic Constitutional Officer in Cook County but also diminishes the contributions of Latina women and women of color at large, Martinez said in a statement. A Preckwinkle spokesman said Martinezs omission was an unintended oversight by a former employee. New banners have been created, he said.

Longtime congressmen targeted

Progressives also are seeking to make inroads through insurgent challenges to Democratic U.S. Reps. Danny Davis of Chicago and Bill Foster of Naperville.

For the third consecutive primary election, Davis is facing opposition from progressive activist Kina Collins. But unlike two years ago, when Collins lost by 6 percentage points in what was largely a two-person race, the dynamics have changed.

Davis, seeking his 15th term, now faces Collins as well as Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin along with two others, Kouri Marshall and Nikhil Batia. But Collins has not received the same level of progressive support and Conyears-Ervins entry into the race risks splitting votes to Davis benefit, even though the treasurer has faced ethical issues involving her employees that led to a taxpayer-paid settlement.

Collins outspoken pro-Palestinian stance has drawn attention and some negative feedback, including a pro-Israel PAC spending nearly $482,000 against her, federal campaign records show.

At a Friday candidate forum, Collins, wearing a black-and-white kaffiyeh scarf as a sign of solidarity with Palestinians, likened tactics used by the Israel Defense Forces to those used by the Chicago Police Department and faulted Davis for not standing up against continued U.S. aid to its Middle East ally.

Davis noted he has called for an immediate cease-fire.

In the suburbs, Foster, who has served 14 years in the U.S. House, faces progressive challenger Qasim Rashid in the 11th Congressional District, which runs from McHenry through western Kane County and southern portions of DuPage County.

Rashid, who has made two unsuccessful bids for public office in Virginia, has sought to make the Israeli battles against Hamas a focal point of his campaign. Hes called for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack and an end to Israel occupation and settlements. Foster has said Israel has a right to defend itself but must follow international humanitarian law. Three Republicans also are vying for the right to challenge the winner.

In the heavily Latino 4th Congressional District, it is the progressive incumbent facing a challenge. U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia is seeking a fourth term in the House against Chicago Ald. Ray Lopez, 15th. Garcia is a leading House progressive while Lopez has contended the district isnt as extreme as its congressman.

An icon of the progressive movement has even dipped into a state legislative race, where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont backed CTU organizer Graciela Guzman over appointed incumbent state Sen. Natalie Toro in a four-way Democratic contest on the citys North and Northwest sides.

Guzman has the backing of liberal Democratic and Democratic socialists in the legislature and City Council, while Toro is backed by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and more moderate Democrats in the chamber. But Toros appointment to the Senate was engineered in part by Martinez, the court clerk, and the senators reelection has become enmeshed in the enmity between Preckwinkle and Martinez. Also seeking the Democratic nomination in the 20th Senate District are Dave Nayak, a doctor, and community organizer Geary Yonker.

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(Tribune reporter Dan Petrella contributed.)

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TWO RIVERS  Stay positive and bring him home.

Those were the overriding sentiments March 16 as family, friends, public officials and community members gathered for a vigil for missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue at Walsh Field.

People lit candles, spoke of the communitys resolve in searching for Elijah, and blew bubbles on a windy evening.

Among the speakers was spiritual coach Paula Petri.

We are all feeling this tragic event that has been unfolding for the last month and we are all feeling a lot of emotions, Petri said. And I get that. I feel it, too.

Spiritual coach Paula Petri urged people to use positive energy as a way to help during a vigil held for three-year-old Elijah Vue at Walsh Field, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Two Rivers, Wis.

So, what I would ask of you is could you set an intention with me tonight, she continued. Could you intend, in this moment, to reach deep in your hearts and latch on to the emotions of love of support and of hope  because no matter what the circumstances are and no matter what the truth is and no matter where he is, he needs us. He needs our strength, and he needs our love.

Where we begin is we need to, first of all, unify, Petri said. Unify as one to stand together for him. And the most effective way to do that is through our hearts.

Two Rivers City Council President Adam Wachowski also spoke of the communitys efforts in searching for Elijah, which have been ongoing daily since the boy was reported missing Feb. 20.

Two Rivers City Council President Adam Wachowski speaks on the efforts the entire community has brought forth in the search for three-year-old Elijah Vue at a vigil held for Vue at Walsh Field, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Two Rivers, Wis.

There is power in numbers, Wachowski said. We live in a great community that cares so deeply about one another. When someone is in need of help, you dont just get someone to help. Instead, you get the whole community. Thats Two Rivers, thats who we are, thats what we represent and thats our love for one another.

Wachowski said police are doing everything possible to bring Elijah home to his family and community.

He also spoke directly to Elijah, stating: We hope you can feel all the love pouring out for you right now. May it comfort you as we search for you daily. We will find you.

Family and friends of missing three-year-old Elijah Vue pause in hope for positive news for him during a vigil at Walsh Field, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Two Rivers, Wis.

As for anyone who may have information about Elijah or his whereabouts, Wachowski stated, Law enforcement will find you and you will be held responsible from the criminal justice system from what this little boy has endured.

Anyone who finds something they suspect may be related to the disappearance or location of Elijah should contact the tip line at 844-267-6648 or submit information using the Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers P3 app.

Luminaries spell out Elijah at the vigil held for three-year-old Elijah Vue at Walsh Field, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Two Rivers, Wis.

The total reward for information leading to the discovery of Elijah or the arrest and charging of anyone responsible for Elijah's disappearance has grown to $40,000 after the FBI offered $15,000, Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers offered $10,000 and the city of Two Rivers offered an additional $15,000.

People can donate to the City of Two Rivers reward fund at the police department or online at https://www.two-rivers.org/police/page/donate-elijah-vue or to the Crime Stoppers reward fund at the police department or by mail to Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers, Inc., 1025 S. Ninth St., Manitowoc, WI 54220.

Search for Elijah Vue: Elijah Vue latest: Police search farm waste container as vigil planned for missing 3-year-old in Two Rivers

Elijah Vue was reported missing from a Two Rivers apartment on Feb. 20.

An apartment complex in the 3900 block of Mishicot Road in Two Rivers was where 3-year-old Elijah Vue disappeared from, as seen Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Two Rivers, Wis.

Elijah was reported missing from an apartment in the 3900 block of Mishicot Road in Two Rivers at 10:59 a.m. Feb. 20. Daily search efforts since that day by local, state and federal law enforcement have included canvassing of urban and rural neighborhoods; searches of rivers, shores and a landfill in Calumet County; and K-9 teams checking and rechecking various areas.

Two Rivers Police Department also sent a Wisconsin Amber Alert, which is an emergency child abduction alert, for Elijah a few hours after he was reported missing, and that alert is still active.

Elijah is also listed as missing on the Wisconsin Department of Justices Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults.

Missing Wisconsin children: Elijah Vue is one of more than 30 missing children in Wisconsin

Elijah Vues mother Katrina Baur and her boyfriend Jesse Vang are facing neglect charges.

As part of their investigation, police arrested Elijahs mother, 31-year-old Katrina B. Baur of Wisconsin Dells, and her boyfriend, 39-year-old Jesse Vang of Two Rivers. Both Baur and Vang are being held at Manitowoc County Jail on child neglect charges.

Baur was bound over for trial after appearing in Manitowoc County Circuit Court March 14. Her next court date is an arraignment scheduled for 4 p.m. March 22. She faces one felony charge of chronic child neglect, a felony charge of child neglect involving a 6-year-old child, and two misdemeanor charges of obstructing an officer.

Vang also made a brief appearance in court March 14 via Zoom from the county jail. However, he has not yet been assigned an attorney from the Office of the State Public Defender, so his preliminary hearing is rescheduled for 10:30 a.m. March 21.

Vang faces one charge of felony child neglect. According to the criminal complaint, Elijah was staying at Vangs Two Rivers residence at an apartment in the 3900 block of Mishicot Road for more than a week before he was reported missing at 10:59 a.m. Feb. 20.

Jesse Vang: What to know about Jesse Vang, the Two Rivers man charged with neglecting missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue

Do you have information about Elijah Vue?

Police describe Elijah as being of Hmong and white ethnicity with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He is approximately 3 feet tall and has a birthmark on his left knee. He was last seen wearing gray pants, a dark-colored, long-sleeve shirt and a pair of red-and-green dinosaur slip-on shoes. He may also be carrying a red-and-white plaid blanket.

If you have information that could help the Two Rivers Police Department find Vue, contact their tipline at 844-267-6648 or submit information via the Crime Stoppers app P3.

Photographer Gary C. Klein contributed to this report. Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com. Brandon Reid is editor of the Herald Times Reporter. He can be contacted at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com, or follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Elijah Vue vigil held in Two Rivers for missing 3-year-old Wisconsin boy
When Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft jumped into the states gubernatorial race last year, the Republican vowed to tackle a slew of culture war issues, promising to fight the woke politics of left-wing banks and touting how he used his position to enact a regulation targeting those financial firms.

Ashcroft also said candidates shouldnt focus on issues that let the one percent force their beliefs on 99 percent of the population.

While Ashcroft positioned himself as a champion for working class voters, emails obtained by CNN and the progressive watchdog group Documented show that he was steered toward adopting his anti-woke investment regulation by a little-known, right-wing think tank with deep ties to conservative billionaires. The communications show that officials with the Foundation for Government Accountability suggested regulatory language to Ashcroft and even wrote an op-ed article that Ashcroft published in a national conservative magazine under his own name.

The emails not only reveal FGAs influence over Ashcroft, they offer a snapshot of the groups growing influence across the country, particularly in red states. And that influence can carry a high cost for workers and taxpayers.

The anti-woke investment measures have cost states hundreds of millions of dollars in additional investment fees and can lead to smaller returns for public employee retirement plans. One study estimated a 2021 Texas law would cost taxpayers up to $500 million in higher interest rates just on bonds sold in the first eight months after the law passed. Another study calculated that the law cost local governments $270 million a year in added fees, resulting in an annual $668 million in lost economic activity and thousands of full-time jobs.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft speaks with reporters on Jan. 23 in Jefferson City, Missouri. - Kacen Bayless/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

Along with attacking woke investing, FGA has worked with legislators and elected officials to push for laws to deregulate child labor, stop Medicaid expansion and slash food stamps, among other initiatives. Since the 2020 presidential election, the group also has played a key role in the push to advance voting restrictions and other legislation pitched as promoting election integrity in Republican states  claiming more than 70 such policy wins across the country in 2022 alone.

In Wyoming, a GOP state senator forwarded an FGA draft bill to Secretary of State Chuck Gray that would prohibit sending out unsolicited absentee ballot request forms. This is great! Gray enthusiastically replied. It sailed through the legislature before the states Republican governor scuttled the measure, angering Gray. The Governor just vetoed the absentee ballot request form bill. Very troubling, he wrote to an FGA contact in an email.

The groups communications with Ashcroft and Gray give a rare glimpse into how billionaire megadonors use think tanks like FGA to advance their causes out of public view. Federal tax laws allow such donors to channel millions of dollars anonymously, through nonprofit foundations, to activist organizations that lobby for and work behind the scenes to enact legislation that reflects partisan political goals.

Ashcroft didnt respond to queries from CNN. Gray emailed a statement that didnt respond to specific questions but read, in part, I routinely ask for feedback from individuals and organizations to explore common-sense solutions to problems facing our state. He said that includes solutions aimed at election integrity measures.

FGA enjoys tax-exempt status as a charitable organization. It received more than $44 million from six conservative foundations tied to billionaire donors from 2013 through 2022, the most recent year for which tax records are available. Those foundations also have financed much of the push to tighten voting laws and spread election disinformation across the country since the 2020 election.

But even though FGAs tax-exempt status requires it not to engage in substantial lobbying, the group has closely coordinated with a variety of state officials and legislators to advance their causes.

Its push in Missouri shows how that approach works.

Give this a 30-second glance over

Last spring, before Missouri legislators considered bills to curb woke investing, FGA officials were already in frequent contact on the issue with at least two of the states top officials  including Ashcroft.

Emails show the group strategized with the secretary of states office for weeks leading up to Ashcroft proposing his own such rule last January. FGA later cited Missouris rule as a model in a draft memo titled, What Secretaries of State Can Do to Challenge the Threat of ESG.

ESG refers to a financial strategy that considers the environmental, social and governance effects of an investment, rather than solely the potential profit. Dubbed woke investing by its critics on the right, it has become a wedge issue in modern culture wars. Conservative activist groups have gotten lawmakers and officials in 17 states to pass investment laws to protect fossil fuel companies and gun manufacturers who might be hurt by ESG considerations. FGA has characterized the fight to stop ESG in existential terms, calling it a far-left plot to advance a climate and social justice agenda outside the ballot box.

Ashcrofts rule in Missouri required financial advisers and institutions to obtain written consent from clients to purchase or sell investments based on social or non-financial objectives, such as combating or considering the impact of climate change. Ashcroft said the rule was intended to serve as a template for the state legislature, where Republicans held large majorities in both chambers.

But at the legislature, business interests like the Missouri Chamber of Commerce pushed back hard, and lawmakers failed to pass any anti-ESG bills. Meanwhile, Ashcrofts collaboration with FGA carried on. The group even drafted and sent an op-ed to his staff. It criticized President Joe Bidens veto of a GOP bill in Congress that would have prevented pension fund managers from considering factors like climate change in investment decisions, emails to Ashcrofts office show. That op-ed was submitted nearly verbatim to the National Review, a leading conservative magazine.

Heres the full edited version National Review sent to me, if Jay wants to give this a 30-second glance over, an FGA official wrote to an Ashcroft staffer. The piece was published under Ashcrofts byline the next day. He then promoted the article as part of his efforts to fight what he called woke politics.

A week later, he announced his candidacy for governor and has made fighting woke politics a major theme of his campaign.

Ashcroft said his rule is intended to protect investors, and that ESG policies can threaten peoples retirement money. However, nonpartisan studies have concluded that anti-ESG policies adopted in Texas drove up the cost to taxpayers of bond issuances by up to $500 million in less than a year. In Kansas, Indiana and elsewhere, anti-ESG bills were gutted after studies suggested they could cost state pension plans billions of dollars by restricting investment options.

Paying more for bonds can force governments to seek revenue elsewhere  such as raising taxes or cutting public services, said Daniel Garrett, a University of Pennsylvania finance professor who co-authored a Brookings Institution study that looked at Texas. Similarly, lower returns for state pension funds can pose risks for workers and retirees.

If the returns fall, that money comes from somewhere, said Garrett. Its not just magic.

Heritage fellow says ESG worse than communism

In late 2022, Missouris then-treasurer, Scott Fitzpatrick, pulled $500 million in state pension funds from BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager. He accused BlackRock of forcing Exxon to cut oil and gas production by helping elect climate radicals onto its board. Florida pulled $2 billion from BlackRock two months after Missouri.

Kneecapping domestic energy production is a disaster waiting to happen, Fitzpatrick, who is now the state auditor, told CNN in an interview. Any policy that essentially seeks to drive up the cost of energy is going to affect the people of Missouri and its going to hit the poor people hardest.

But theres little, if any, evidence of such kneecapping. The three radicals BlackRock voted to put on Exxons board consisted of two former oil company executives and a former US assistant Secretary of Energy. And while Exxon did cut production in 2021, it did so for the same reason as other oil companies worldwide  because of huge drops in consumer demand during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ExxonMobil Baytown refinery in Baytown, Texas on March 2, 2023. - Mark Felix/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Fitzpatrick told CNN that he, too, met with FGA officials to discuss the issue  and engaged with FGA allies such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Heritage Foundation. Both groups have produced model anti-ESG bills and held events to persuade lawmakers to take up the anti-woke corporate fight. Fitzpatrick said he heard from Heritage fellow Andy Puzder, the former Carls Jr. CEO, who speaks very well about the issue and whose message I agree with.

Puzder has promoted fighting these investment policies in various venues, including at a December 2022 legislative exchange council meeting in Washington. He told lawmakers that ESG investing is socialism in sheeps clothing, according to a recording first reported by the Boston public-radio station WBUR. The challenge of your generation is ESG investing, and its more insidious than communism or the Nazis.

Wisconsin state Rep. Kristina Shelton, a Democrat, remembers that meeting well, because none of the lawmakers seemed to know what ESG was or what Puzder was talking about.

You could see all the attendees pull out their phones to Google what it was, she said. You could see in real time them being spoon-fed issues.

An ALEC spokesperson confirmed that a model bill aimed at preventing state pension funds from considering environmental, social, political or other non-pecuniary considerations is official ALEC model policy. A Heritage Foundation spokesperson, in an email, said we are extremely proud of our anti-ESG work and we are grateful to Mr. Puzder and everyone in the conservative movement who is standing firm in this fight.

Missouris legislature considered more than a dozen anti-ESG bills last year, including drafts along the lines of models promoted by FGA, Heritage and ALEC.

When none passed, Ashcroft was ready.

His industry-wide written-consent rule took effect in June, placing Missouri squarely at the forefront of one of several burgeoning campaigns on the right where FGA has been instrumental.

While FGA accomplished its policy goal in Missouri, the backlash was swift. A Wall Street trade group sued to block Ashcrofts regulation and taxpayers are footing the bill for his defense at the tune of an estimated $1.2 million.

FGA notches wins with weakened child labor laws

FGAs lobbying group, The Opportunity Solutions Project, spearheads its efforts at the state level. Together, they have at least 65 registered lobbyists who advocate and testify on behalf of FGAs policies in 25 states, according to a 2023 tally compiled by Documented.

One policy theyve promoted with surprising success is in rolling back child labor laws. On its website, FGA dismisses protections put in place to protect teenage workers from night shifts, excessive hours or dangerous environments as undermining parents rights. FGA founder Tarren Bragdon has defended his organizations work by saying, we believe parents should decide whats best for their children.

The group drafted a far-reaching bill in Arkansas, which eliminated work permits and age verification for workers younger than 16 years old, the bills sponsor, GOP state Rep. Rebecca Burkes, said in a Senate hearing. Burkes represents a district in northwestern Arkansas where Tyson Foods Inc. and Georges Inc., two of the countrys largest chicken processors, are headquartered. Its also where US Department of Labor investigators, as part of a multi-state probe, found children as young as 13 working night shifts for a sanitation contractor at plants run by Tyson and Georges Inc., and other meat or poultry companies. Georges Inc. did not respond to queries from CNN. A Tyson representative declined comment.

In Missouri, FGA drafted legislation to strip child workplace protections, according to an April 2023 Washington Post report, citing emails exchanged between an Opportunity Solutions Project lobbyist and a state senators chief of staff.

FGA also worked to loosen child labor laws in Iowa, which passed a bill last spring allowing minors as young as 14 years old to work night shifts. The US Department of Labor has said Iowas new law violates federal law by allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to operate dangerous power-driven machines, engage in heavy manufacturing, and work in demolition.

Our primary audience is those policymakers

In a podcast interview last summer, Bragdon was open about who his organization targets.

Our primary audience is those policymakers rather than activists or students or members of the general public, said Bragdon, who started the Florida-based organization in 2011.

He made those comments on The Daily Signal, a conservative news site run by The Heritage Foundation. FGA, as Bragdon described, was not fighting culture wars at the grassroots level  its work was more discreet. That low public profile has served the group well.

FGA hosts Republican lawmakers at social events and at conferences, where it organizes panels around its priority issues. For instance, the opening day itinerary from FGAs September 2022 Western Alliance conference in Park City, Utah, featured panels on election security, ESG and combating unemployment insurance fraud.

Its the type of influence peddling that has become part of a well-worn playbook for dark money organizations with deep pockets, said Sarah Bryner, research director at the nonpartisan campaign finance group OpenSecrets.

Strategically, its a lot easier  to engage your policy plan this way because you dont need to try and get real people to sign on, said Bryner. You just need a few well-funded people. And is that problematic for democracy? Absolutely.

In an email, an FGA spokesperson did not address questions submitted by CNN but provided links to the organizations website highlighting its policy platform on ESG, election integrity and child labor.

FGA joins groups prepping for potential Trump return

FGAs growing stature within Republican politics was evident on-stage recently at an event with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis barely a week after he dropped his 2024 presidential bid.

Bragdon, the groups founder, joined DeSantis and Florida House Speaker Paul Renner to call for four constitutional amendments, including requiring a federal balanced budget and term limits for members of Congress.

Our nations heartbeat is not in the halls of federal power, but its in the spirit of our people and the legacy of our states, said Bragdon, standing behind a podium with a Hold Washington Accountable placard.

FGA is part of a constellation of conservative groups that have laid out a roadmap for a more aggressive Trump White House, should he return to power next year. Project 2025, published by The Heritage Foundation, is a massive 900-page policy book that calls for removing tens of thousands of civil servants; gutting the FBI; weaponizing the Justice Department; breaking up the Department of Education; and vastly expanding detention camps for undocumented immigrants, amid myriad other moves.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the Forum River Center on March 9 in Rome, Georgia. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

FGA also continues its push at the state level across the country to enact its policy priorities.

Take the ongoing efforts to stop ESG. Legislatures in 24 states will consider at least 118 Republican anti-ESG bills this year, according to an analysis by Pleaides Strategy; many of those bills are based on models from FGA or its allies.

Such measures, said Wisconsins Rep. Shelton, are disconnected from the average voters concerns.

They are funded by very wealthy donors who are interested in perpetuating the culture war for their own benefit, Shelton told CNN. They are creating the crises they want to address through legislation, not the crises that everyday people want them to address.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to include comments from Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray.

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(KRON)  A lawsuit has been filed against the Emery Unified School District alleging sexual abuse of a 16-year-old by her schools security guard. The victim reached out to a school employee after concerns about being pregnant from the alleged sexual abuse, the complaint filed on Thursday said.

How Oakland is cracking down on parking violations

According to the lawsuit, Daniel Parham, 21, allegedly began isolating the 16-year-old victim at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year behind closed doors. The abuse allegedly occurred on school grounds three times in three different rooms from October to November 2023.

There has also been alleged sexual misconduct with other students. According to the complaint, Parham was seen inappropriately touching one or more female students and frequently groping them on school grounds.

According to the complaint, the employee the victim reached out to told the plaintiff that another female student had previously notified him of Parham sexually abusing them as well.

emeryville-ComplaintDownload

The lawsuit said that employees at Emery High School in Emeryville are accused of having failed to discipline or supervise Parham despite being aware of his previous alleged sexual misconduct with other students.

Parham, a 21-year-old Oakland resident, is also listed as a former aquatics instructor in the district. Parham was arrested in November of 2023 by the Alameda Police Department and charged with the statutory rape and sexual assault of the 16-year-old girl on school grounds.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
The wait to be diagnosed with endometriosis has increased to almost ten years, a "devastating" milestone say women with the condition.

It now takes almost a year more than before 2020 to be diagnosed, according to research published by Endometriosis UK, which is setting up new volunteer-led support groups in Wales.

The wait in Wales is also the longest in the UK, the research found.

The Welsh government said it knew there was "room for improvement".

"Nobody listened to me, and to feel like women are still going through that 20 years after my diagnosis is horrific," said Michelle Bates.

The 48-year old from Cardiff was diagnosed aged 25 after suffering with "harrowing" pain from age 13 onwards, a 12-year wait.

"I went back and forth to the GP with my mum, who was the only one who believed in my pain," she said.

Ms Bates said she "knew there was something wrong" but explained her diagnosis was "accidental".

"I remember passing out at work one day. I was in so much pain," recalled Ms Bates, who works in finance.

An ultrasound for suspected appendicitis revealed three very large cysts, including one hanging from her ovary that was 12cm (4.7 inch) in diameter.

She had just got married, and was told by her surgeon she had the worst case of endometriosis they had ever seen.

In her early 30s and going through IVF, another doctor told her she was menopausal.

"My chances of having a child were dashed," Ms Bates said.

What is endometriosis?

The disease causes tissue similar to the lining of the womb to build up in other organs, such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes.

Tissue builds up every month, and then breaks down and bleeds.

A graphic showing endometriosis

Unlike cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood can't escape and can result in inflammation and scar tissue.

It can cause severe, chronic pain and fatigue and can make it difficult to get pregnant.

Some of the main hormone-based treatments for endometriosis include oral contraceptive pills and the intrauterine system (IUS), or coil.

Other treatment options include surgically removing endometriosis tissue.

There is no cure.

Source: NHS/Endometriosis UK

'Massively gaslighted'

The study by Endometriosis UK, which is based on a survey of 4,371 people who received a diagnosis of endometriosis, showed almost half of all respondents (47%) had visited their GP 10 or more times with symptoms prior to receiving a diagnosis, and 70% had visited five times or more.

It also found 78% of people who later went on to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis - up from 69% in 2020 - were told by doctors they were making a "fuss about nothing", or comments to that effect.

"We are massively gaslighted and invalidated by healthcare professionals," said Charl Davies from Blaenavon, Torfaen.

The 31-year-old was told the pain she was experiencing from the age of 10 onwards, when her periods started, was "just normal period pain" and "a normal part of being a woman".

"I was blacking out and fainting," Ms Davies, a tattoo artist, said. "We're taught to believe agonising period pain is normal pain."

She said receiving her diagnosis was a "very bittersweet feeling", adding she was sick of hearing she had "a low pain threshold".

Lowri Shepstone, from Brecon, Powys, also had to wait 17 years for a diagnosis and said she was also told her symptoms were not abnormal.

"Have a hot water bottle, and we'll put you on the pill," was her GP's response when she was a teenager, she said.

"The day I actually got a diagnosis, I nearly burst into tears."

The realisation something was seriously wrong was almost a relief, the 38-year-old said.

'Real suffering'

"There's real suffering behind endometriosis," Ms Bates said. "You kind of look OK but it robs you of enjoyment."

She said colleagues showed little understanding and she was left feeling isolated and low.

"When you are having intercourse, you find yourself crying afterwards and thinking: 'this is not normal'," she said.

Ms Shepstone also pointed out women suffering from endometriosis suffer from "endo belly", caused by bloating.

"You can look eight months pregnant but not be pregnant and potentially not be able to have children," she said.

"It's like a cruel trick."

Ms Davies is due to undergo a third laparoscopy next month to remove tissue - a procedure she says she has waited 70 weeks for.

She said daily pain made every day a struggle, even leaving her feeling suicidal.

"I've got a body clock that is ticking. I can't start a family until I've had the surgery and then there is a small window of opportunity," she said.

"As a woman, it makes you feel completely inadequate."

Three new Endometriosis UK volunteer groups will offer help for people with the condition in the Swansea area, in west Wales and in and around Wrexham.

'Woefully inadequate'

Female health charity Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales said patients who had access to an endometriosis nurse had "nothing but praise and gratitude for the care they offer".

"However, one endometriosis nurse per health board is woefully inadequate," said Debbie Shaffer, policy and research director at the charity.

"Some of the endometriosis nurses have told us that they have a patient list of over 1,000 at any one time."

The Welsh government said it had funded dedicated endometriosis nurses within each health board across NHS Wales.

"Patient feedback suggests they feel supported, listened to, and have a better understanding of their condition," the spokesman said.

"But we know there is room for improvement, and we are working with the endometriosis nurses to identify areas for improvement."
The European Union is to provide Egypt with financial assistance in the form of loans and subsidies to the amount of 7.4 billion ($8.1 billion) up to the end of 2027, the EU Commission announced in Brussels on Sunday.

The new strategic partnership was announced as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other top EU officials were to meet Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi in Cairo. The partnership is to include further collaboration on stemming irregular migration, as well as economic and political cooperation.

Of the 7.4 billion, 5 billion will be in the form of loans and 1.8 billion in investment in food security and digitalization. The remaining 600 million will be in the form of subsidies, with 200 of it for managing migration.

Apart from von der Leyen, the EU delegation includes Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (R) receives President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Dati Bendo/European Commission/dpa
The European Union is to provide Egypt with financial assistance in the form of loans and grants to the amount of 7.4 billion ($8.1 billion) up to the end of 2027, the European Commission announced on Sunday in Cairo.

The partnership is to include further collaboration on stemming irregular migration, as well as economic and political cooperation, it said at a top-level meeting of EU representatives with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi.

In addition to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, several other EU officials were expected to attend the meeting in Cairo.

Of the 7.4 billion, 5 billion is earmarked for loans and 1.8 billion for investment in food security and digitalization.

The remaining 600 million will be in the form of subsidies, with 200 million going to manage migration.

Von der Leyen has long called for closer cooperation with Egypt, noting in October last year that the country is taking in a growing number of refugees and that the EU has a responsibility to assist.

Egypt had a key role in the region's security and stability, and setting up a strategic and mutually beneficial partnership, should be a priority, she told EU heads of state and government.

Apart from von der Leyen, the EU delegation includes Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Greece has expressed concern over increasing arrivals in its waters of Egyptian migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Crete from Tobruk in Libya.

UN authorities have recorded more than 1,000 people arriving in Crete and the nearby island of Gavdos, most of them from Egypt.

EU diplomats emphasize that curbing migration is just one of several aspects in the partnership. Diplomatic sources refer to the need to limit Russian and Chinese influence in Egypt.

They point to the construction of a nuclear power plant at El Dabaa to the west of Alexandria by Russia and large investments by China, which ships most of its exports to Europe through the Suez Canal.
It's hard to overstate just how successful the expansions of new diabetes treatments into the weight management arena have been for the companies that sell them. In one striking example, the market capitalization of Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), formerly a relatively obscure drugmaker that until recently mostly sold diabetes treatments, recently exceeded the market cap of Tesla.

Eli Lilly's (NYSE: LLY) newest weight management drug, Zepbound, is already on pace to outperform Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. And a new distribution partnership with Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) may accelerate sales of Zepbound even faster.

Could this Amazon Pharmacy partnership make Eli Lilly a smarter stock to buy now?

Zepbound is going places

Eli Lilly launched tirzepatide under the brand name Mounjaro in 2022 as a type 2 diabetes treatment. Tirzepatide acts on the same GLP-1 receptors as its main rival in the marketplace, Novo Nordisk's semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic), and also acts on GIP receptors. In 2023, tirzepatide was given the green light to be marketed for weight loss under the brand name Zepbound.

You don't need to be an endocrinologist to grasp that dual action is an advantage for tirzepatide. Semaglutide has a five-year market lead on tirzepatide, but sales of Lilly's drug are catching up fast.

Brand Name Generic Name Year of FDA Approval Mode(s) of Action Main Indication 2023 Sales Ozempic semaglutide 2017 GLP-1 agonist Diabetes $14.0 billion Wegovy semaglutide 2021 GLP-1 agonist Weight management $1.4 billion Mounjaro tirzepatide 2022 GLP-1 agonist and GIP agonist Diabetes $5.2 billion Zepbound tirzepatide 2023 GLP-1 agonist and GIP agonist Weight management $176 million

Data sources: Food and Drug Administration, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly.

Zepbound's better efficacy profile has Wall Street analysts bullish about the drug. In a study with roughly 1,961 obese or overweight patients, after 68 weeks of treatment with Wegovy, participants averaged a 12.4% placebo-adjusted weight reduction. In a similar study with 2,539 patients, those taking Zepbound averaged a 17.8% placebo-adjusted weight reduction.

Story continues

Zepbound launched in November, but it's already expected to become a megablockbuster for Lilly. Wall Street analysts who follow the pharmaceutical industry closely think total tirzepatide sales could exceed $50 billion annually at their peak. In a particularly bullish forecast, Evan Seigerman from BMO Capital predicted $69 billion in peak annual sales.

When it comes to selling treatments for conditions that affect millions of Americans, Eli Lilly is thinking way outside the box. In January, it launched LillyDirect to simplify the management of obesity, diabetes, and migraine headaches. The tool gives patients access to independent telehealth providers who can help patients get consistent access to Zepbound and other treatments.

The LillyDirect initiative got a big visibility boost recently when it partnered with Amazon Pharmacy. Now, Prime members can receive free two-day shipping for their weight-management treatment from the fulfillment service.

Image source: Getty Images.

More than just weight management

Eli Lilly does a lot more than just develop drugs for diabetes and weight management. Mounjaro is one of six Lilly products that generated over $1 billion in revenue last year.

In recent years, Lilly's success in oncology treatments has been remarkable. For example, Verzenio is a targeted breast cancer treatment that launched in 2017. Annual sales of the blockbuster surged by 56% last year to $3.9 billion. Altogether, Lilly's sales rose 20% in 2023, and a successful Zepbound launch could allow its top line to continue rising by more than 20% annually for several more years.

A buy now?

I'm not the first investor to notice Lilly's potential for growth. The stock has risen by about 134% over the past year and currently trades for about 63 times the midpoint of management's 2024 earnings estimate. It has risen so far that Eli Lilly's dividend offers a dismal 0.7% yield even though the company has more than doubled its quarterly payouts since 2017.

The patents that protect market exclusivity for Mounjaro and Zepbound won't expire until 2036 at the earliest. That gives Lilly a pretty good chance to grow into its lofty valuation.

As such, there is a chance that an Eli Lilly investment now could lead to market-beating gains over the long run. That said, investors need to realize they could suffer heavy losses if any unexpected challenges prevent Zepbound from becoming the highest-selling drug in history.

Dividend-paying pharmaceutical stocks often make appropriate investments for most investors -- but not in this case. Given its high valuation, buying Eli Lilly stock right now is only appropriate for investors with a high tolerance for risk.

Should you invest $1,000 in Eli Lilly right now?

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Eli Lilly Taps Amazon to Deliver Its Weight Management Blockbuster. Is It Time to Buy the Pharma Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool
European Union signs 7.4B euro aid package for Egypt to address migration concerns and more

The European Union announced a 7.4-billion-euro aid package for Egypt, or about $8 billion, amid concerns of migrants flooding the country from Israel and making the voyage across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Egyptian Abdel Fattah el-sissi signed the deal on Sunday in Cairo, though the agreement was criticized because of Egypts human rights record, the Associated Press reported.

"Your visit today represented a very important milestone in the relations between Egypt and the European Union," El-sissi told visiting European leaders, including those from Belgium, Italy, Austria, Cyprus and Greece, who attended the signing.

El-sissi added that the deal helps achieve a "paradigm shift in our partnership."

EGYPT'S EL-SISSI CRUISES TO REELECTION AMID DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL TURMOIL

The 7.4-billion-euro deal consists of grants and loans for the next three years, and about 5 billion euros of the funds are considered macro-financial assistance.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Both sides agreed to a "strategic and comprehensive partnership," which could lead to an expansion of the Egypt-EU cooperation that benefits both non-economic and economic areas.

"The European Union recognizes Egypt as a reliable partner and its unique and vital geostrategic role as a pillar of security, moderation and peace in the Mediterranean, Near East and African region," the two parties said in a joint statement after the summit.

RIGHTS GROUP SLAMS EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT FOR CONVICTING EL-SISI CHALLENGER: 'CLEAR MESSAGE'

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi listens during the 5th mid-year coordination meeting of the African Union, at the United Nations (UN) offices in Gigiri, Nairobi, on July 16, 2023.

The deal between the EU and Egypt is called the Joint Declaration, and is intended to promote "democracy, fundamental freedoms, human rights and gender equality," the EU said.

But also included is a cooperation to take on the challenges of migration and terrorism.

The funds are intended to help Egypt bolster its borders next to places like Libya, where migrants pass through as they flee conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.

Egypt has taken in over 460,000 Sudanese since April 2023, as military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, continues to fight.

EGYPT STRENGTHENS ITS BORDER WITH GAZA AS ISRAEL CONTINUES ATTACKS

The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could also lead to hundreds of thousands of people flooding into Egypts Sinai Peninsula as the southernmost town of Gaza, Rafah, has taken in over 1 million people, the AP reported.

Currently, Egypt is reporting about 9 million migrants in the country, which includes about 480,000 who are registered with the U.N. refugee agency as refugees and asylum seekers.

The Egyptian coast has not been a major launching pad for human traffickers to send overcrowded boats to Europe by way of the Mediterranean Sea, though concerns about the matter are building as Egypt faces the pressures of migrants coming into the country.

BLINKEN LANDS IN EGYPT FOR HELP MEDIATING AN ISRAEL-HAMAS DEAL

The deal follows the template of other deals recently signed with Tunisia and Mauritania, which pledged funds in return for fortifying borders. Tunisia and Mauritania are both locations where migrants leave to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of freedom in Italy and Spain.

Still, the package was criticized by international groups over Egypts history of human rights violations.

One group, Amnesty International, reportedly urged the EU not to take Egypts violations lightly.

"EU leaders must ensure that Egyptian authorities adopt clear benchmarks for human rights," Eve Geddie, Amnesty Internationals head of European institutions office said. She specifically pointed at the countrys restrictions on media and freedom of expression, as well as its crackdown on civil society.

The European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer acknowledged to reporters that there were issues with human rights violations, though he defended the partnership.

"Yes, we know the criticism related to human rights in those countries, and it is obvious that this is an issue," he said. "Does that mean we should break off all relations? Would that lead to an improvement in the situation? Or should we try to find a way to work with those countries to improve the situation on the ground both for local populations and for migrants coming to those countries?"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: European Union signs 7.4B euro aid package for Egypt to address migration concerns and more
CAIRO (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that Gaza was facing famine and there had to be a rapid ceasefire agreement in the war between Israel and Hamas.

"Gaza is facing famine and we cannot accept this," von der Leyen told reporters, speaking in Cairo after signing a strategic partnership agreement with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

"It is critical to achieve an agreement on a ceasefire rapidly now that frees the hostages and allows more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza."

Sisi said that Egypt and European leaders have agreed to reject an Israeli military operation in Rafah.

"(An operation) would double the humanitarian catastrophe that civilians in the Gaza Strip are suffering from, in addition to the effects of that operation on liquidating the Palestinian cause, which Egypt outright rejects," Sisi said.

Their comments follow the announcement of a 7.4 billion euro ($8.1 billion) funding package from the EU for Egypt, as well as an upgrade in relations with the North African nation, part of a push - criticised by rights groups - to stem migrant flows to Europe.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by Frances Kerry and Hugh Lawson)
Jeremy Cummings, 38, is charged with first-degree murder and was arrested on March 14.

CHICAGO - An Evanston man is charged with first-degree murder after fatally striking a woman with his vehicle in Chatham earlier this week.

Jeremy Cummings, 38, was arrested March 14 for the crime.

His charge stems from an incident that happened a day earlier just before 6 p.m. in the 100 block of W. 79th Street.

RELATED: Driver hits, kills woman in Chatham parking lot

Cummings was arguing with someone when he got back into his vehicle and drove into a 30-year-old woman in a parking lot, according to Chicago police.

The woman suffered blunt force trauma injuries and was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital, where she later died.

Her identity hasn't been released.

Cummings will appear in court on March 17 for a detention hearing.
A Black former adviser to Boris Johnson has accused Rishi Sunak of using his diverse cabinet as a get out of jail free card against allegations of racism, as the fallout over Tory donor Frank Hester continues.

Author and member of the Tory party Samuel Kasumu said some of the most divisive politicians are non-white, including former home secretary Suella Braverman, and it is not the colour of your skin that matters.

It has to be the content of your character and your willingness to lead, and that is not what we are seeing today, he said.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said the Conservatives do not have a race problem, citing Rishi Sunak as the first British Asian prime minister (Peter Nicholls/PA Wire)

In a damning assessment of Mr Sunaks handling of the racism row over Mr Hester, Mr Kasumu said: I just do not know what they are playing at.

And, addressing Mr Sunaks initial reluctance to describe Mr Hesters comments as racist, Mr Kasumu said: There is absolutely no way that any minister would have been told to come out and not condemn these remarks as racist and misogynist if I was in Downing Street.

Author and ex-political adviser Samuel Kasumu has spoken out as the fallout from Tory donor Frank Hesters remarks continues

An investigation by The Guardian alleged that businessman Mr Hester, the Conservative Partys biggest donor, said looking at Diane Abbott makes you want to hate all black women and that she should be shot.

Transport secretary Mark Harper was grilled on Sunday about whether the Conservatives have accepted an additional 5m from Mr Hester, on top of 10m over the past year, and if the party would accept any further cash from him.

And, asked by the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg whether the Conservative Party has a problem with race, Mr Harper said absolutely not.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said Rishi Sunaks cabinet is the most ethnically diverse cabinet there has ever been (PA Wire)

He added: As the prime minister himself said this week, were a party proudly led by the first British Asian prime minister, with the most ethnically diverse cabinet there has ever been, and were a party which welcomes people from across the United Kingdom, whatever their background, whatever their race.

But, asked about the comments, Mr Kasumu said it was frustrating when ministers say that we have the most diverse cabinet in history and that is somehow to get out of jail free card.

He said when he worked in Downing Street it was not Black and brown MPs who reached out when George Floyd was killed, but Mr Johnson who wanted to bring communities together.

And now, of course, some of our most divisive politicians are people like Suella Braverman, he added.

Samuel Kasumu said Suella Braverman is one of Britains most divisive politicians (PA Wire)

He told the BBC: I know that we can do better but that is not what we are seeing.

There is absolutely no way that any minister would have been told to come out and not condemn these remarks as racist and misogynist if I was in Downing Street.

So the problem is not just the prime minister, it is also his advisers, people who were my former colleagues, I just do not know what theyre playing at. We have to do better.

Mr Kasumu has previously said an apology from Mr Hester was not enough and that he must use his time and resources to show he was sorry for his comments about Ms Abbott.
A former Idaho State Police Trooper currently on trial for the alleged murder of his wife was arrested on Friday night at Spokane International Airport in Washington.

Daniel Howard, who is accused of faking his wifes suicide after he allegedly choked her to death, was booked into the Spokane County Jail around 10:40 p.m. on Friday. He was later transferred to the Kootenai County Jail on Saturday, where he remained as of Sunday morning.

Disgraced Ex-Trooper Charged With Murdering Wife Who Wanted Divorce

Its unclear what Howard was doing at the airport, but his bond conditions included an 11 p.m. curfew and a requirement to stay two miles away from an airport, according to KHQ.

Howard has been on trial since earlier this month, with prosecutors alleging he attempted to frame his wife Kendy Howards death as a suicide by shooting her in the mouth after he fatally choked her. Her death came years after shady behavior by Howard, who was suspended from the Idaho State Police after he was accused of stealing ammunition, using a fake name for a motorcycle title application, and having an untagged deer.

Howards defense attorneys have claimed Kendy Howard died by suicide, though multiple experts have testified that trauma marks across her body indicated her death represented a homicide. A blood spatter expert also testified last week that, due to the trails of blood on her body, it appeared as though the body had been moved after her death.

Howard is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning. The jury in his case was scheduled to begin deliberations this week, according to The Spokesman-Review. If convicted, Howard faces life in prison.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Three explosions rang out in Okhtyrka (Sumy Oblast) on the morning of 17 March, media reports say.

Source: Suspilne, Air Force

Details: Journalists report that there is a power outage in the city.

An air-raid warning has been in effect in Sumy Oblast since 07:13.

The military has warned the public of the threat of ballistic missile attacks.

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Consequences of the shelling of Russian Belgorod

A missile threat was announced and explosions heard in the Russian city of Belgorod on the last day of the so-called presidential "elections" on March 17.

Photos and videos of the aftermath of the attack were posted online.

A local Telegram news channel claims that one of the munitions struck the roadway, and the shrapnel hit passing cars.

Another munition reportedly hit an apartment building.

The Baza Telegram channel reported that a local was killed in the attack on Belgorod, and more people were injured. So far, two women have allegedly sought medical attention. However, according to the channel, the number of casualties is likely to increase.

Local authorities have not yet commented on the attack.

The governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed on March 17 that a 16-year-old girl was killed in an attack.

Russian volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), and the Siberian Battalion announced a new operation in Russias Belgorod Oblast on March 12.

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The RDK claimed to have advanced several dozens of kilometers and taken prisoners. Moscow reported casualties among the Russian army.

Russian rebels reportedly attacked the FSB building in Belgorod on March 13.

Governor Gladkov said on March 16 that shopping centers would be closed in Belgorod and nearby settlements for several days, and schooling would be suspended.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
CHICAGO  A woman was nearly killed after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash while riding her bike on the citys North Side. Now, her family members are speaking out and thanking the good Samaritans who rushed to help.

This quiet North Center neighborhood was shaken by the callous actions of an unknown driver.

The crash, which left 27-year-old Monika Weimer badly injured, unfolded in the 2600 block of West Belle Plaine Avenue.

I see a bike sitting right there crumbled up and a car down the street with both doors open, Ian Burns, who lives in the area, said. I ran down assuming it was just a fender bender or something and it was a woman pinned under the car.

Burns was the one who called 911 after the crash.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headline

She was making some noise and moving a little bit, which was a great sign, Burns said.

Weimer was riding her bike home when she was hit from behind and dragged for nearly a block.

When she was stuck under the car she blacked out, Weimers sister, Erika Hofmann said.

According to Hofmann, Weimer suffered serious injuries in the crash.

She has a lot of second and third-degree burns all over her body. She has a broken neck, collar bone, a couple broken ribs, small damage to her lung. A lot of injuries all across her body, Hofmann said.

Chicago police say a Hyundai sedan was traveling along West Belle Plaine Avenue when it struck Weimer.

I wish I could have been in her shoes for her, she didnt deserve that, Hofmann said.

Hofmann said medical staff credited the use of a helmet for saving Weimers life.

She wanted to share the message. How important it is to wear your helmet, Hofmann said.

Hofmann has started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help her sister pay for medical expenses and it has already surpassed its goal.

While the search continues for the person responsible, Weimers family members say they are grateful for all the neighbors who ran to help.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

I know one of the neighbors even brought their own car jack out and lifted the car up so Monika could be released while waiting for firefighters they were giving her words of encouragement while she was under there, Hofmann said.

Hofmann said police informed her that the car that was left behind had been reported stolen.

The victims family is now asking anyone who lives near the area to check their security footage from Tuesday night and report any information that could help police.

Weimers family members say she is in positive spirits, all things considered.

No arrests have been made in connection with the crash.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The planning application for the caravans at Rook Row Farm, Mathon, was submitted retrospectively

A council is yet to make a decision on the fate of 33 static caravans in Herefordshire - 12 months after a verdict was due.

Herefordshire Council gave itself until the end of March 2023 to decide whether or not to restrospectively allow the accommodation for seasonal workers at Rook Row Farm, Mathon.

During a consultation period, the bid drew more than 40 objections and about 20 letters of support.

The caravans sit close to the boundary of the Malvern Hills National Landscape.

Karen Humphries, of the Malvern Hills National Landscape, said the caravans went against national planning policy for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But the NFU West Midlands horticulture board said accommodation for seasonal workers was needed.

The farm, run by A S Green and Co, said the site was used for general industrial, storage or distribution purposes rather than agricultural use.

Its main building was used to process, pack and distribute significant amounts of produce not grown on A S Greens agricultural holding, bosses said.

The issue is set to be discussed by Mathon Parish Council on Tuesday.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram, Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

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The personal is political! is a well-known rallying cry, originally used by left-leaning activists, including feminists, to emphasize the role of government in personal lives and systemic oppression.

It seems that now, it could be equally popular among right-wing politicians and their followers to communicate the idea that everything is political.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of former President Donald Trumps recent indictment by the Department of Justice. Trump supporters say that the decision to charge Trump was political. If the department hadnt charged Trump, that decision would likely have been seen by others as political.

In both cases, the critics would have meant that the prosecutors decision was influenced by partisan bias, based on whether the decision was good or bad for the Republican or Democratic party. U.S. Supreme Court decisions are often criticized as political. So are actions taken by election officials, scientific findings, and even topics taught in school.

As a professor of political philosophy, I worry that when both elected officials and citizens use the word political to accuse others of partisan bias, it means people no longer understand the distinctions between political and partisan, or public and private, which are vital to liberal democracy.

The preservation of such distinctions is crucial to rejecting less democratic and more authoritarian forms of government  including fascism.

When partisanship gains momentum, people begin to advocate for legislation defining marriage, reproductive rights - as these anti-abortion protestors are doing - and other issues in ways that reflect narrow private and religious values. Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

What is liberal democracy?

In political philosophy terms, the United States is a liberal democracy.

Liberal democracy comes in multiple forms ranging from constitutional monarchies  such as the United Kingdom  to republics, such as the United States.

Although no democracy achieves the ideals of liberalism perfectly, under liberal democratic governments, citizens have rights and private lives protected from the actions of government. For example, in the U.S. it is inappropriate for legislation to be crafted based on a religious belief, even if some particular belief or sect is privately endorsed by a majority of citizens.

One way to view the purpose of a liberal democracy is to preserve and nurture the right of every citizen to have a private life independent of the government. In that private life, citizens pursue their own goals and develop connections, associations and activities that are of personal value.

Separate from that private life is the public arena, in which citizens come together to discuss and decide issues of common concern, such as national defense, economic policy and other issues that affect everyone. This is the world of elections, of legislatures, courts and officials.

People with divergent, or even very similar, personal lives could have different views on how to handle matters of public concern. But they can work together to rise above their differences to arrive at solutions to collective problems that benefit society as a whole.

A good example of this is the institution and funding of public educational systems, civil services and public parks, to help ensure every citizen has at least a minimum level of access to goods and services necessary for a healthy private and civic life.

The rise of politics

The philosopher Aristotle described humans as political animals, meaning that we depend upon the formation of cooperative political structures in order to flourish as human beings.

This human need for support networks that allow for mutual cooperation over time is the genesis of politics. In this sense, the concept of politics transcends more narrow partisan affiliations.

Political parties are just one aspect of political development  one, in fact, that George Washington warned against in his farewell address  that begins to blur the line between the public good of politics and narrower group interests.

George Washington warned about the potentially malign influence of political parties on democracy. Constable-Hamilton, NY Public Library, Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Some of my own work pertains to how peoples commitments to partisan identity undermine their ability to understand scientific issues of public concern, such as human-caused climate change, and influence the spread of disinformation.

Lurking fascism

As partisanship gains momentum, citizens and elected representatives alike become less likely to constructively engage with those they disagree with. People who differ on issues come to see each other as threats to their own private values.

Government power begins to be used not in service to the citizenry at large, but as a tool of narrow interest groups. This is where people begin to advocate for legislation defining marriage, reproductive rights and other issues in ways that reflect narrow private and religious values.

Whereas the personal is the political was originally meant to flag ways in which government decisions unfairly affect and define personal lives, the mindset that everything is political creates a situation of perpetual conflict between divergent groups.

Thats the opposite of what politics is for and what a liberal democracy does: A liberal democracy specifically guards against using government power to further the agendas of distinctive groups. It seeks to prevent government encroachment into the private lives of individuals, and vice versa, in order to constrain the worst impulses of politicians and citizens alike.

Fascism, by contrast, seeks to make government power an aspect of every dimension of its citizens lives. Nazi apologist Carl Schmitt conceptualized politics as an all-consuming and literal life and death struggle between friends and enemies.

Partisan dysfunction

The current state of polarization in the U.S. highlights the problems that arise when liberal democracys division between private and public realms disappears.

Trump has posed many challenges for the United States constitutional democracy  not least the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. His current situation is another. There is no constitutional obstacle preventing him from running, or serving, as president even if he is found guilty of some of the charges against him, not even if he is sentenced to prison.

Nevertheless, the practical obstacles to serving as president while in a prison are obvious. Even someone who agrees with Trumps views on key issues can recognize the challenges an incarcerated president would face.

If the nation were less polarized, less focused on winning or losing the power to impose regulations on Americans private lives, lawmakers and the public might equally prioritize avoiding such an obvious problem. Theyd seek to preserve the rule of law in a way that would benefit the nation as a whole.

But they havent. Instead, Trump supporters will dismiss his indictments as political maneuvers intended to influence the balance of power in the U.S. government, rather than as necessary checks on abuses of that power.

And if Trump is eventually cleared of the charges, or avoids a prison term if convicted, I believe his critics will view those developments as a product of politics, of the struggle for power, rather than the operation of a deliberative justice system.

Shifting perspectives

As political partisanship takes hold, citizens come to trust only those institutions that are run by members of their favored party. They no longer engage in the work of democracy and do not seek to ensure that independent, democracy-wide systems and institutions are protected from partisanship.

Rather than a means to living together peacefully, politics is treated as a contest between combatants. Government institutions meant to serve all are treated as if they are inevitably capable of only serving a particular few  and the struggle begins over which few they are to serve.

I dont know what the full solution to this problem is, but I believe one step in the right direction is for people to identify themselves more as supporters of liberal democracy itself than as members of, or backers of, any particular partisan political party.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Lawrence Torcello, Rochester Institute of Technology

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Lawrence Torcello 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.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) logo is seen while people attend the opening of the TSMC global R&D center in Hsinchu

By Sam Nussey, Fanny Potkin and Miho Uranaka

TOKYO (Reuters) -Taiwan's TSMC is looking at building advanced packaging capacity in Japan, according to two sources familiar with the matter, a move that would add momentum to Japan's efforts to reboot its semiconductor industry.

The deliberations are at an early stage, they added, declining to be identified as the information was not public.

One option the chipmaking giant is considering is bringing its chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology to Japan, according to one of the sources who was briefed on the matter.

CoWoS is a high-precision technology that involves stacking chips on top of each other, boosting processing power while saving space and reducing power consumption.

Currently, all of TSMC's CoWoS capacity is in Taiwan.

No decisions on the scale of or the timeline for a potential investment have been made, the source said.

TSMC, formally known as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, declined to comment.

Demand for advanced semiconductor packaging has surged globally in tandem with the artificial intelligence boom, spurring chipmakers including TSMC, Samsung Electronics and Intel, to boost capacity.

TSMC Chief Executive C.C. Wei said in January that the company plans to double CoWos output this year with further increases slated in 2025.

On Monday, TSMC said it was planning additional advanced packaging capacity in Chiayi in southern Taiwan to respond to strong market demand, without giving details.

Construction of a new Chiayi CoWoS plant is due to start in early May, the island's official Central News Agency quoted Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan as saying.

GROWING JAPAN FOOTPRINT

Building capacity for advanced packaging would extend TSMC's growing operations in Japan where it has just built one plant and announced another - both on the southern island of Kyushu, a chipmaking hub.

TSMC is partnering with companies including Sony and Toyota with total investment in the Japan venture expected to run to more than $20 billion.

Story continues

The chipmaker also established an advanced packaging research and development centre in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo in 2021.

Japan is seen as well positioned to take a larger role in advanced packaging given that it has leading semiconductor materials and equipment makers, growing investment in chip fabrication capacity and a solid customer base.

Advanced packaging would be welcomed in Japan which can offer the ecosystem to support it, a senior official at Japan's industry ministry said.

TrendForce analyst Joanne Chiao said, however, that if TSMC were to build advanced packaging capacity in Japan, she expected it would be limited in scale.

It was not yet clear how much demand there would be for CoWoS packaging within Japan and most of TSMC's current CoWoS customers are in the United States, she added.

TSMC's plans in Japan thus far have been supported by generous subsidies from the Japanese government which - after losing ground to South Korea and Taiwan - sees semiconductors as vital to its economic security.

That's spurred an influx of investment from a range of chip firms from Taiwan and elsewhere.

Intel is also looking at establishing an advanced packaging research facility in Japan to deepen ties with local chip supply chain companies, two separate sources familiar with the matter said.

Intel declined to comment.

Samsung is setting up an advanced packaging research facility in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, with government support.

The South Korean chipmaker is also talking to companies in Japan and elsewhere about procuring materials as it prepares to introduce a packaging technology used by its rival SK Hynix to catch up in high bandwidth memory chips, Reuters has reported.

(Reporting by Sam Nussey, Fanny Potkin and Miho Uranaka; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh was heckled at the citys annual St. Patricks Day Parade after her department vowed to go after Trump-supporting FDNY members who booed New York Attorney General Letitia James at a promotion ceremony, video shows.

You suck, one protester yelled at Kavanaugh as she marched past Trump Tower on 5th Avenue on Saturday, according to video obtained by Fox News.

Firefighters are the hunters, he screamed.

After she passed, city service members were seen waving and giving thumbs up to the loud group as they repeatedly chanted former President Donald Trumps name. Some even stopped to shake their hands, video shows.

Protesters jeered NYC Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh as she marched by Trump Tower on Saturday. FNTV

Some service members waved to the protesters as they walked by. FNTV

The Post has reached out to FDNY for comment on the demonstrators.

The angry outburst from the protesters comes after a chorus of smoke-eaters mercilessly hailed James with boos and cheered for the ex-president when she took the stage at a department promotion ceremony at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn on March 7.

In response, FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens sent an email to agency heads warning that the departments Bureau of Investigation and Trials [BITS] planned to hunt down those involved.

BITS is investigating this, so they will figure out who the members are, Hodgens said in the email, obtained by The Post. I recommend they come forward. I have been told by the Commissioner it will be better for them if they come forward, and we dont have to hunt them down.

One protester told NYCs fire commissioner You suck as she passed. AP

The protests come after FDNY heads said they would go after members who heckled AG Letitia James last week. FNTV

Elected officials, union leaders and civil rights lawyers blasted the directive as being authoritarian, claiming it would be unconstitutional and violate free-speech laws.

Hodgens later walked back on his comments in an email to battalion chiefs on Tuesday, admitting that using hunt was a poor choice of words.

It was not meant to be taken literally and was never uttered by anyone on the executive staff, he wrote. Specifically, there was not, and is not, an investigation into members booing.

New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh and Joseph Pfeifer, First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department, walk in the St. Patricks Day parade in New York, Saturday, March 16, 2024. AP

Hodgens also said in the email that it was not the booing that was the issue, but allegations of other violations of department regulations, without explaining further.

FDNY on Friday declined to explain what those violations were. The department also refused to say how many firefighters or others at the ceremony, if any, had come forward voluntarily or been disciplined in any way.

James was invited to speak at the event to honor her friend, The Rev. Pamela Holmes, who was being sworn in as the departments second female chaplain, and the first Black woman to hold that title.

The attorney general has drawn the ire of Trump supporters since bringing a civil fraud case against the 45th president.

Last month, her office won a $454 million civil fraud judgment against Trump, who was found guilty of inflating his wealth by billions in order to secure favorable loans from banks and investors to grow his real estate empire.

An appeals court has allowed Trump to stay at the helm of the family company and apply for loans from Empire State banks to help post the bond.
The New York City Fire Department's fire commissioner was booed and jeered at by protesters during a lively St. Patrick's Day parade in the Big Apple.

"You suck," one protester yelled at New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire commissioner Laura Kavanaugh as she paraded by Trump Tower. "Firefighters are the hunters."

The outburst against Kavanaugh came after the city official promised to "hunt" down the protesters who booed Attorney General Letitia James when she took the stage at a ceremony last week.

One protester held a protester with Kavanaugh face on the body of a donkey.

FDNY REVERSES COURSE ON HUNT FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO BOOED LETITIA JAMES, CHEERED DONALD TRUMP

James spoke at the promotion ceremony, which saw 65 uniformed members from Fire Operations, EMS Operations and Bureau of Fire Investigation, along with 29 members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and 34 civilian employees sworn in to their new roles.

"Pin the tail on the jacka--," the poster said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Later in the video, FDNY members were seen stopping to wave and shake hands with the protesters.

"Trump, Trump, Trump," the protesters yelled.

WATCH: New York Attorney General Letitia James booed at FDNY ceremony

The controversy began after booing erupted as James walked up to the podium to honor the swearing-in of the first Black female chaplain of the FDNY, the Rev. Pamela Holmes, as well as other first responders at a promotion ceremony on Thursday at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn.

"Oh, cmon, were in a house of God. Simmer down," James told the rowdy crowd. "Thank you for getting it out of your system."

FDNY LOOKING INTO STAFF WHO BOOED NY AG LETITIA JAMES, CHEERED FOR TRUMP AT CEREMONY

As James continued her remarks, the crowd repeatedly chanted "Trump!"

Following the interruption, Hodgen's wrote that the Bureau of Investigation and Trials (BITS) would "hunt" down the firefighters who were there.

"BITS is investigating this, so they will figure out who the members are," Hodgens was said to have warned in an email to high-ranking FDNY officials Friday. "I recommend they come forward. I have been told by the Commissioner it will be better for them if they come forward, and we don't have to hunt them down."

New York Attorney General Letitia James telling the crowd to "simmer down."

The FDNY downplayed reports it was hunting anyone to begin with following an eruption from firefighters.

"Nobody is hunting anyone down," FDNY spokesman Jim Long told Fox News Digital in an email. "Were looking into those who clearly broke department regulations. It has nothing to do with politics. Its about professionalism at an official event held in a house of worship."

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The department further softened its language, saying that leadership is having a "conversation" about "decorum."

"FDNY leadership is having ongoing conversations with our members about decorum during department events to ensure we are upholding the core values that make the FDNY the greatest fire department in the world," a spokesperson told Fox News. "Being a NYC firefighter is an honor, and we will continue to impress upon our members that their actions impact everyone who wears the uniform."

Fox News has reached out to FDNY for comment on the protesters.

Fox News' Stephen Sorace and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.





Original article source: FDNY fire commissioner jeered during parade after promising to 'hunt' booing firefighters: 'You suck'
A good old game of one-upmanship could break out between the House and Senate over which chamber is going to commit to more education funding. That would be welcome news for educators, who, like everyone else, have been beset with inflation and higher costs for their schools.

The House wants to rewrite the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, which is the objective formula that determines the amount of state funds needed to provide the basics to operate an adequate school district. The House plan has many features supported by public education advocates but many of those advocates are concerned that the rewrite does not include an objective formula, but instead depends on a committee of education professionals to make recommendations to the Legislature on the amount of money needed.

The House has passed an appropriations bill to pump an additional $250 million into K-12 education  perhaps in an effort to garner support for the rewrite.

The Senate wants to make changes to the Adequate Education Program, but maintain the objective formula. With the Senate changes to MAEP, it will take about $210 million more than appropriated by the 2023 Legislature to fully fund the formula, and Senate leaders have committed to doing that.

Mississippi State Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona, consults a funding graph as she monitors a floor debate on making changes to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) in the Senate chamber, Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

If MAEP is fully funded this session, it would be the first time since 2007 and only the second time since it was fully enacted in 2003.

The bottom line is that under the worst case scenario, K-12 education should receive an additional $210 million under the early Senate plan. It should be pointed out that the Senate has not actually taken up its budget for education like the House has. So presumably, the Senate could opt to make additional tweaks to the MAEP and increase the amount of money needed to fully fund it.

Actually, there is a scenario that could be worse for education. Many members of the House leadership are so opposed to continuing the MAEP that there could be a scenario where they would refuse to put any additional money into education if the Senate does not agree to scrap the current school funding formula.

The House and Senate have a history of trying to outdo the other in terms of education funding. In 2000, newly-elected Gov. Ronnie Musgrove was advocating increasing teacher pay to the Southeastern average over a multi-year period. It looked as though Musgroves key campaign promise was going down in flames during his opening legislative session as governor.

Mississippi State Sen. Angela Hill, R-Picayune, asks a question during a floor debate on legislation that makes changes to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) in the Senate chamber, Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Both presiding officers, Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck in the Senate and House Speaker Tim Ford, said the state could not afford the massive pay increase. But late in the process, Tuck held a news conference without informing Ford and announced her support for a teacher pay raise.

Ford, who was traveling back from Alabama, was blindsided by Tucks reversal. But not to be outdone by Tuck, Ford met with the media upon returning to the Capitol to announce that moving teacher pay to the Southeastern average might not be enough. He said it was time to consider reaching the national average.

The pay raise passed that session did not reach Fords stated goal, but it remains the states largest percentage increase in teacher pay.

In 2000, as that pay raise was being considered and ultimately passed, revenue was tight because of a national recession. It was difficult to make that commitment.

This year, the states fiscal condition is much stronger thanks to a number of factors, primarily the unprecedented amount of federal funds that were pumped into the state to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mississippi State Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, asks a question during a floor debate on legislation that makes changes to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) in the Senate chamber, Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Still, in recent months, state revenue has significantly slowed. That slowdown continued during the most recent revenue report for the month of February.

But the states fiscal condition still appears strong enough to achieve the stated goals of legislators to increase education funding  and perhaps even to try to outdo each other.

But there are some other headwinds. Besides the continuing slowdown in collections, many legislators, including Lt. Gov. Hosemann, have indicated that the Legislature might need to pump additional funds into the Public Employees Retirement System that provides a pension or retirement benefits to about 350,000 current and former state and local government workers and school employees. The governing board of PERS has said the additional funds are needed from the Legislature to ensure the financial stability of the pension program.

There have been estimates that an additional $350 million on an annual basis is needed.

Additional funds for PERS could make it difficult to provide more money for education.

Plus, if Gov. Tate Reeves prevails on eliminating the income tax, which accounts for about one-third of state general fund revenue, increasing funding for education would get much tougher.

This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter.
An afternoon apartment fire at the Shallowford Arms apartment complex has displaced the families living in four of its units.

The DeKalb County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Jaeson Daniels told Channel 2 Action News that there were no injuries, but one apartment was fully damaged by fire, while the other three units were damaged by water and smoke.

According to DCFR, the residents were all displaced from those units.

A Channel 2 Action News photographer was at the complex and saw members of the American Red Cross there as fire crews checked out the damage.

DeKalb County Fire said the Red Cross was assisting two families, with 10 people, impacted by the fire.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the American Red Cross for more details on those efforts.

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A firefighter was taken to the hospital and nine people were displaced after a blaze broke out at a restaurant in Bostons Chinatown section early Sunday morning.

Crews responding to a report of a fire at Great Barbecue at 15 Hudson Street in Chinatown around midnight found flames on the first floor, according to the Boston Fire Department.

The fire ultimately traveled up to the roof in the rear of the building, leading to a major overhaul of multiple roof layers, officials said.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries in the emergency response and was transported by Boston EMS to a local hospital.

The Red Cross is assisting six adults and three children who were forced out of their homes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Companies working at the fire at 15 Hudson st. Chinatown. The fire started around midnight in restaurant on the 1st floor and traveled to the roof in the rear of the building. Major overhauling of the multiple layers of the roof. pic.twitter.com/PxiCi7Y8cv  Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) March 17, 2024

Detail companies are remaining on scene to monitor any hot spots. 1 Firefighter suffered minor injuries transported by @BOSTON_EMS . 6 adults and 3 children were displaced @RedCrossMA to help with housing. The cause of the fire is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/ZrRs3tjAst  Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) March 17, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Police in South Florida arrested a man they say intentionally set fire to a rabbi's car Saturday morning.



Fort Lauderdale police responded to the scene at the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center around 7:21 a.m., the department told Fox News Digital.

The center's rabbi, Chaim Slavaticki, told WTVJ he got a knock on his door alerting him to what was happening.

"Screaming fire at the center, fire at the center and I rushed over," Slavaticki told the TV station. "Everything is still fresh, a lot of emotions."

WATCH: SHARKS DEVOUR 44-FOOT WHALE CARCASS TOWED OUT TO SEA AFTER FLORIDA BEACHING

The Rabbi says security cameras showed the man lighting his van on fire and unsuccessfully attempting to light the building on fire, before the fire eventually spread from the vehicle to the building itself.

Along with losing the van, the Jewish center's kitchen was damaged, and smoke and soot impacted the building. Sabbath services had to be held outside on Saturday as a result of the fire damage.



TEEN SENDS FLORIDA SPRING BREAK INTO CHAOS AFTER PULLING GUN ON BEACH: BODYCAM VIDEO

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Fort Lauderdale Police Department does not believe the fire to the rabbi's car was a hate crime.

"We have to look at the positive, and it's a time to reflect on unity and coming together and continuing to be a light to the community," Slavaticki told WTVJ.

Police identified Scott Hannaford, 50, as the suspect, and arrested him on suspicion of two counts of arson, criminal mischief and possession of cocaine.

"The suspect  appears to suffer mental illness and has been trespassed from this property before," a police spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Based on the information we have at this time, this incident is believed to be an isolated incident by a known individual and is NOT considered a hate crime."

The fire happened at the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Hannaford, described by police as a transient resident of Fort Lauderdale, was booked into the Broward Sheriff's Office Main Jail. Online arrest records show no bond has been set, and his charges are pending trial.





Original article source: Florida man sets fire to rabbi's van outside Fort Lauderdale Jewish Center: police
TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  There are only a few days left to register for the Christian County Health Departments Second Annual Food Safety Workshop on March 27.

The workshop will feature speakers from several county health departments, as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health, talking about topics related to food safety. It is open to anyone, including current food establishments or those interested in opening one.

There will be two sessions: 9 a.m.  12 p.m., and 1 p.m.  4 p.m. It will take place at the University of Illinois Extension Office at 1120 North Webster Street in Taylorville.

Taylorville Fire Dept. rehearses grain bin rescues

High-risk establishments that attend this workshop will be able to waive their last inspection of the year, so long as they are in good standing from previous inspections.

It is always important to continually learn how to best protect the public from food borne illness, Christian County Public Health Administrator Dr. Chad Anderson said. This workshop is a great way for food establishments to learn methods to protect the public, learn new and updated policies and ways to strive to be better. The Christian County Health Department is committed to helping our food establishments grow their knowledge and be an educational resource.

To register, call the Christian County Health Department at 217-824-4113 by March 22.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Rep. Mike Gallagher thinks a forced TikTok sale absolutely could  and should  happen before the 2024 election.

The closer we get to an election, the risk just gets greater and greater, the Wisconsin Republican said Sunday of TikTok on CBS Face The Nation.

Gallahgers comments come as the fate of TikTok hangs in the Senate. On Wednesday, the House passed a bill, 352-65, that would force parent company ByteDance to divest TikTok within 165 days or risk the app being banned in the U.S.

The Senate is now expected to take up the bill, but its passage there is expected to be much more shaky. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the bill if it gets to his desk.



Gallagher cited a threat assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which states that China may attempt to influence the 2024 elections, and that some accounts on TikTok which were operated by a Peoples Republic of China propaganda arm reportedly targeted specific candidates  on both sides of the aisle  during the 2022 midterm cycle.

Every single intelligence community official that testified before the Intelligence Committee last week suggested that under its current ownership structure, TikTok is a threat to national security, Gallagher said, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), the ranking Democrat on the hearing, appeared with Gallagher for the interview, something the two of them often do when the topic is threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

"Essentially, ByteDance is the 100% owner of Tiktok. ByteDance basically has its Editor-in-Chief, who's also the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party cell embedded at the highest echelons of the company, to control all of its products," Krishnamoorthi said.

Gallagher was asked about another factor that could complicated the bills passage in the Senate: a last-minute change of opinion from presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump  who said Monday that, while he believes TikTok poses a national security threat, he opposes banning the app because he believes it would benefit Facebook, his current Silicon Valley bete noire.

Gallagher didnt criticize Trump directly, but took aim at the lobbying campaign, which has heavily featured former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway.

They're really weaponizing the swamp against legislative action, Gallagher said. Over half a million dollars spent last quarter alone on seven different lobbying firms. It's disgusting.
In the end, it was about how the gun was stored  at least for the jury foreman.

Two days after announcing the historic guilty verdict, the jury foreman in the James Crumbley involuntary manslaughter trial spoke to the Free Press about the painstaking work in deciding the fate of the Oxford school shooter's father, saying what drove him to convict more than anything else was how the gun was secured.

According to trial testimony, James Crumbley told police that he had hidden the gun  which his son would use to commit the 2021 massacre  in his bedroom armoire, unloaded in a case; and that the bullets were stored in a separate drawer under some jeans.

James Crumbley bows his head after being found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter as he sits with his attorney Mariell Lehman in the Oakland County Courtroom of Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, March, 14, 2024. Crumbley was tried on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the four students killed in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting perpetrated by his son Ethan Crumbley.

That wasn't good enough for the 65-year-old jury foreman, a grandfather of three who grew up with guns in the Upper Peninsula, and works for a residential trash company. The jurors have not been named publicly, and the foreman spoke on condition of anonymity to protect his privacy.

Foreman: Jury had 'no rah-rah-rah moments'

"Securing the gun is the whole thing," the foreman told the Free Press in an interview Saturday, stressing that James Crumbley could have used any one of the following methods to secure the gun, which the 15-year-old sneaked into his backpack and out of his house before his rampage on Nov. 30, 2021.

"It could have been a safe, a cable lock, a trigger lock," the man said. "It all could have been used at some point."

But it wasn't, he said.

And somehow, though never explained at trial, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley managed to get a hold of the 9mm semiautomatic handgun. He murdered four of his classmates with it, and wounded seven others, including a teacher. The teen is serving life without parole, and both of his parents have now been convicted of involuntary manslaughter for failing to take steps to prevent the violence.

"The lack of securing the gun ... I mean, that's what caused all this," said the foreman, who led deliberations for 10 hours over two days before a unanimous decision was reached.

"It wasn't easy for anybody," the foreman said of the deliberation process. "There were no rah-rah-rah moments. We just had to work through it."

Prosecutors connected the dots to convict James Crumbley

The grandfather was among six men and six women who convicted James Crumbley one month after his wife, Jennifer, was convicted of the same crimes. Prosecutors say James Crumbley ignored a troubled son, bought him a gun instead of getting him help, failed to properly secure the weapon, and never informed the school about it when he had the chance.

The foreman noted that not all jurors had the same views about how the gun should have been stored, and that the reason for convicting was different from juror to juror. He said the group was divided during most of the deliberations, but had no spats.

In the end, he said, it wasn't one particular piece of evidence that did it for the whole group, but that the prosecution managed to connect all the dots.

"It all kind of pieced together," he said of the evidence.

After the issue of gun storage, second highest in the foreman's mind was the father's reluctance to get his son help for his mental health struggles, he said, noting that the shooter's journal, in which the teen claimed his parents ignored his pleas for help, had an impact on him and other jurors.

The parents leaving their son at school on the morning of the shooting after seeing a disturbing drawing he had made of a gun and the words, "The thoughts won't stop, help me," also came up during deliberations.

"That weighed on some people, too," he said of the parents leaving their son at school.

As for the school shooting video, which brought multiple jurors to tears, he said: "It was gruesome."

And though it was silent, with most of the graphic scenes not easily seen, "you knew what was happening," he said.

Multiple jurors wiped their eyes while some held their hands over their mouths as they watched the school shooting video, which showed the teenage gunman emerge from a bathroom and blast gunshots down the hallway as students ran for cover.

'Let's just get this stuff rolling'

The defense argued that James Crumbley never saw any signs that his son was mentally ill or would ever hurt anyone, and had no idea he was planning to shoot up his school.

The jury foreman said Crumbley's lawyer, Mariell Lehman, had her hands full, but did a good job.

"Her job sucks," he said. "There must be firms all over the country knocking on her door. That wasn't easy for her."

The foreman, who during jury selection told the court he hunted as a kid  he didnt want to be a "buck-less Yooper," he said  explained how he became the foreman. He said when jurors started deliberations, nobody wanted the job. So he volunteered.

"I said, 'Let's just get this stuff rolling.' We had to get to work," he recalled.

Sighing on his front porch during the interview Saturday, the no-nonsense juror reflected on the verdict.

"It's not gonna fix nothing  it's not gonna bring back their kids," he said.

But, he added, "It's just a start  it's a start of things."

He was referring to the verdict sending a message about parental responsibility, and how parents will hopefully be more careful in how they store their weapons.

"I just hope there was justice for the families," he said. "It was hard on everybody."

James Crumbley faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 9. His wife, Jennifer Crumbley, will be sentenced on the same day and also faces 15 years maximum. The Crumbleys are the first parents in America to be held criminally responsible in a mass school shooting committed by their child.

Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jury foreman in James Crumbley trial: It came down gun storage
German authorities have been tracking down the former members of the Red Army Faction (RAF), a now-defunct Cold War-era militant group, who have been on the run for nearly 30 years.

Dubbed the RAF pensioners by German media and among Europes most wanted people, the female member of a fugitive trio was arrested last month in a Berlin neighborhood where she had been living an apparently normal life for years.

Now, police say they are closing the net on her two alleged male accomplices, hoping to finally bring an end to one of the most notorious chapters in Germanys post-war history.

Also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group, the RAF emerged from a radicalized left-wing student protest movement in West Germany in the late 1960s.

The group  which was supported in part by East Germanys Stasi secret police force  wreaked havoc throughout the 1970s and 1980s with deadly bombings, kidnappings and shootings. West German politicians as well as high-profile figures in the banking, military and business world were targets, and 34 people were killed, including Dresdner Bank head Jurgen Ponto and federal prosecutor Siegfried Buback. A further 200 people were injured.

While some members were arrested, others went underground when the RAF disbanded in 1998, where they have remained undetected  until now.

Daniela Klette, 65, was arrested in the German capital last month and authorities say they are closing in on two of her alleged accomplices, Burkhard Garweg, 55, and Ernst-Volker Staub, 69.

The trio were on the run from armed robbery and attempted murder charges.

Klette was tracked down in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg on February 26, following a police tip-off. It is thought she had been living in the neighborhood for around 20 years, under the assumed name Claudia Ivone.

She is facing two separate legal cases. One relates to charges of involvement in six armed robberies and at least one attempted murder, in crimes allegedly committed between 1999 and 2016, after the RAF was disbanded, according to a press release from Germanys Public Prosecutors Office.

The other relates to her suspected RAF crimes. While still in the RAF, Klette is accused of involvement in a gun attack on the US embassy in Bonn in 1991, and an explosive attack in Weiterstadt in 1993, the statement says.

According to the public prosecutors office, Klette has not yet provided any information about her past but has admitted that she is Daniela Klette.

Despite being the only woman tagged as dangerous on Europols most-wanted list, she successfully evaded detection from authorities for almost half her life. And in many respects, it appears she was hiding in plain sight.

Neighbors have described how Klette would give maths and German tutoring to local school children in Kreuzberg, German tabloid Bild reported.

She was also often seen in the local area walking her dog, Malaika. One neighbor described her as a very quiet person, according to local media reports.

The risk posed by RAF fugitives was underlined after police found a grenade in Klettes flat, prompting authorities to evacuate the apartment block. Police later confirmed on X that the grenade was safely defused. Meanwhile, authorities have warned that Garweg and Staub are considered dangerous and should not be approached as they may be armed.

It later emerged that investigative journalists were able to track down Klettes location prior to police pouncing on her Kreuzberg apartment, using artificial-intelligence tools.

By running the picture from her wanted notice through image search tool PimEyes, the journalists from an ARD television podcast generated search results of an older woman named Claudia Ivone, Reuters reported.

According to their findings, Ivone was a regular participant in Berlins Afro-Brazilian scene, until the Covid-19 pandemic struck. It is unclear if the journalists findings were the original source of the police tip-off.

Klettes arrest has been hailed as a milestone in the fight against domestic terrorism. However, Garweg and Staub remain on the run.

Police have searched several premises in Berlin in recent weeks as part of their efforts and announced the arrests of two men earlier this month, before later confirming they were not the suspects sought.

A week after Klettes arrest, an unconfirmed report from Bild claimed that Garweg had been sighted by locals begging for money at Berlins Oberbaum Bridge.

The pair may also have escaped abroad, police say.

Cold War crossroads

Wolfgang Kraushaar, a German historian and political scientist who has studied the RAF, says the group was borne out of opposition to capitalism and imperialism.

Speaking to CNN, Kraushaar compared the RAF to the Red Brigades in Italy, the Nihon Sekigun in Japan and the Weathermen or Weather Underground in the US  all radical-left groups which emerged from student protests movements of 1969-1970.

The RAF, he said, emerged in what was then West Berlin, at the crossroads of the Cold War.

Because of the Vietnam War, their political goals were primarily to combat US military installations. In addition, there was also the fight against the justice system and the [Axel] Springer press.

The Baader-Meinhof Group  named after its founding members Andreas Baader and Ukrike Meinhof  is often divided into three generations. The first, and most prominent period from 1970-1977, saw the group murder public officials and US soldiers and take many hostages.

Images believed to be of ex-Baader-Meinhof Group members Burkhard Garweg, left, Ernst-Volker Staub and Daniela Klette, released by the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office in 2016. - Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office

The second generation ran from 1974-1982 and, according to Kraushaar, was largely concerned with taking hostages in order to exchange them with imprisoned members of the organization. In April 1975, six RAF members seized the West German Embassy in Stockholm in a hostage standoff with the goal of forcing the release of imprisoned RAF members.

The third generation, from 1982-1998, is the one Klette and her accomplices are suspected of belonging to. The goal of that generation was to murder representatives of various power elites in order to throw the system they hated into question, Kraushaar said.

He believes that the RAF posed the most significant danger to individuals who represented certain power elites, including former Chancellor of West Germany Helmut Schmidt, Bavarian opposition politician Franz Josef Strauss and press mogul Axel Springer.

Springer was a German media publisher who, by the early 1960s, owned and controlled much of the countrys conservative print titles including mass-circulation tabloids. He was intrinsically opposed to student radicalism.

The Baader-Meinhof Group officially disbanded in 1998, sending an anonymous letter to Reuters office in Cologne in which the remaining members declared that the urban guerrilla group in the form of the RAF is now history.

Yet Kraushaar believes the RAF had already long since ended. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the implosion of the GDR [German Democratic Republic] and German reunification, the framework conditions were lost.

But high-profile murders carried out by Baader-Meinhof members remain partly unsolved, including the 1989 killing of Deutsche Bank head Alfred Herrhausen. The Red Army Faction claimed responsibility for the assassination, but the perpetrators were never brought to justice.

This is why the capture of an ex-RAF member like Daniela Klette in Berlin is so electrifying for authorities as well as for politicians and parts of the public: people hope that the murder cases that are painfully remembered will finally be solved, said Kraushaar.

There is a chance that Klette may break her long-held silence in exchange for leniency, he adds.

For Kraushaar, the Baader-Meinhof Group represents a wound in Germanys collective memory that has not yet healed.

The fact that there was a small but determined group that declared war on the [West German] state at a time when the future Nobel Peace Prize winner Willy Brandt had become Chancellor is still a sore point.

This is a wound that will continue to ache as long as there is no satisfactory investigation into the RAFs crimes.

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(Bloomberg)  After coming under attack from both environmentalists and investors in the first half of his seven-year tenure at the helm of Exxon Mobil Corp., Darren Woods is on the offensive.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Already this year, Woods filed an arbitration case against Chevron Corp. for attempting to buy into Exxons massive offshore oil project in Guyana and a lawsuit against investors demanding that his company cut emissions. Just months earlier, he agreed to a $60 billion takeover that would make Exxon the biggest US shale producer.

Woods is also becoming much more strident about climate goals in speeches and interviews, arguing that fossil fuels will still be needed for years to come to meet energy demand and the world is not on a path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 because people are unwilling to pay for cleaner alternatives.

The message may be controversial, but its resonating on Wall Street, where ESG is fast becoming a loathed moniker as ambitious environmental, social and governance pledges are rubbing against the need for secure and affordable energy. Exxon is up 89%, more than four times that of the S&P 500, since losing a climate-fueled proxy battle with Engine No. 1. in 2021.

Its a remarkable turnaround from the pandemic era, when Exxon posted its biggest-ever loss, employees were leaving in droves and the shareholder rebellion forced Woods to replace a quarter of his board. Exxons revival is emblematic of a resurgent American oil industry, which is now pumping 40% more crude each day than Saudi Arabia, forcing OPEC and its allies to retreat.

It wasnt that long ago it looked like taking the green approach was what the industry needed to attract capital, said Jeff Wyll, a senior analyst at Neuberger Berman, which manages about $440 billion. But Russias invasion of Ukraine flipped the switch and energy security became more important. Exxon benefited because they never stepped back from their traditional business.

Story continues

When Woods takes center stage at the CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference in Houston this week, hes likely to double down on his long-held view that fossil fuels will be in demand for decades to come and that governments and consumers  rather than just Big Oil  will need to pay for any meaningful transition to greener energy.

For those who see Exxon and Big Oil as responsible for decades of delay and misinformation about climate change, its an unpopular argument. But its one made from a position of increasing financial strength.

Exxon paid out $32 billion in dividends and buybacks in 2023, the fourth-highest in the S&P 500, and is pledging more this year. Its pending $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. will make it the countrys dominant producer of shale oil, putting it at the top of the industry largely responsible for OPEC+ losing market share to the US.

Exxon also operates one of the worlds fastest-growing major oil developments in Guyana, the biggest crude discovery in a decade, and recently completed a raft of refinery and petrochemical expansions.

Its supermajor rivals are now racing to catch up.

Chevron agreed to buy Hess Corp. for $53 billion, in large part to gain a 30% stake in Exxons Guyana project. But Exxon claims the deal attempted to circumvent a contract that gives it right of first refusal over the stake, and is taking the dispute to arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris.

Shell Plc and BP Plc, meanwhile, are now switching more of their investment dollars back toward oil and gas under new CEOs after their stocks slumped following a pivot toward renewables.

The European supermajors struggles demonstrate the perils of replacing high, steady cash flows from fossil fuels with low-margin renewables, according to Greg Buckley, a portfolio manager at Adams Funds who helps manage about $3.5 billion including Exxon shares.

ESG was popular but I think that return on capital is more popular at the end of the day, he said. Shell and BP found out the hard way.

The shift away from ESG terminology is a recognition that the energy transition will be complex and won't unfold the same way in every part of the globe, Dan Yergin, the vice chairman of S&P Global, which organizes the CERAWeek conference, said in an interview. Conflicts around the world, including in the Middle East and Ukraine, have underscored the need for reliable energy supply, while investors remain focused on returns, he said.

The energy companies have demonstrated a discipline in their capital investment and have been responsive to investors, Yergin said. You can see that in their spending and that's refurbished the social contract between the companies and investors.

Woods is also learning from his own experience with activist shareholders. In January, the company filed a lawsuit against US and Dutch climate investors who buy stock to push for lower emissions. The process by which they get votes on the ballot at company meetings has become ripe for abuse by activists with minimal shares and no interest in growing long-term shareholder value, Exxon said in the suit.

Woods is also being more vocal about his views on a lower-carbon future. The dirty secret nobody talks about is how much all this is going to cost and whos willing to pay for it, he said in a recent Fortune podcast. The world waited too long to consider all the solutions needed to reduce emissions.

The comments invoked ire from environmentalists.

It is an infuriating bit of rhetoric, especially from Exxon because they are the most associated with the effort to slow progress on climate change, said Andrew Logan, oil and gas senior director at CERES, a coalition of environmentally-minded investors with $65 trillion under management. They have a long history of over-promising and under delivering on low carbon.

Emily Mir, a spokeswoman for Exxon, pushed back at Logans comments in a statement. The company has said its pursuing more than $20 billion in lower-emission investments from 2022 through 2027, in addition to its $4.9 billion acquisition of Denbury Inc., a deal that gave the oil giant the largest network of carbon dioxide pipelines in the US. Those pipes will be key to capturing carbon from heavily polluting facilities like refineries and chemical plants.

Facts that dont align with ill-informed prejudice are often infuriating, Mir said. That doesnt make them wrong. Someone needs to tell the truth about what its going to take to get to a net-zero future.

In November, Woods tried to flip the script on a slogan from the long-running ExxonKnew environmental campaign, which claims that company executives downplayed warnings from their own scientists since the 1970s that carbon dioxide causes climate change. Exxon has denied deliberately misleading the public on global warming.

Weve got the tools, the skills, the size  and the intellectual and financial resources  to bend the curve on emissions, he said at the APEC CEO Summit 2023 in San Francisco. Thats what Exxon Mobil knows.

But the energy transition still looms large. Fears that oil demand will peak as soon as 2030 have led investors to discount the ability of Exxon and its peers to sustain dividends and buybacks as the transition takes hold. The S&P 500 is now dominated by tech stocks, whose earnings are seen as more resilient for decades into the future.

Even after its rally over the past few years, Exxon is only the S&P 500s 17th largest company, trading at 12.2 times earnings, 42% below the indexs average. Energy stocks make up less than 4% of the index despite the US becoming the worlds biggest oil producer.

Exxon and the industry has yet to make a case of how they will generate cash in a carbon-constrained future, Logan said.

With assistance from Naureen S Malik.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Sixteen years after he was convicted and sent to prison, Maurice King III is still trying to clear his name.

In December 2008, King was convicted at the end of a second trial on seven counts, including four felonies. A jury said he tried to buy reportedly stolen guns from two felons. The first trial ended in a hung jury.

Maurice King III

King, a former Bellville police officer, served 22 months in prison.

Through Columbus attorney Eric Allen, King is seeking an evidentiary hearing with retired FBI agent Brad Hoffert testifying about his investigation. King is bidding for a new trial.

King questions testimony of informants

At issue is the testimony of two informants who were key witnesses in gaining conviction. For a 2015 story, Hoffert told the News Journal that both informants later told him they lied on the stand.

The investigation was conducted by former Mansfield police Detective Eric Bosko, who had one of the informants make two phone calls to King. Hoffert told the News Journal that those calls were not recorded, adding such a recording is standard police procedure.

In the summer of 2013, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced in a letter that it would not take any more cases from Bosko, saying he could be deliberately untruthful and evasive.

Defense attorney Cassandra Mayer, who represented King in both of his trials, previously confirmed the case in question was King's.

Bosko retired as a captain with the Richland County Sheriff's Office in 2014. A criminal investigation as to whether King's civil rights were violated resulted in no charges against Bosko.

In his memorandum in support of his motion, Allen cited a criminal rule that says "a new trial may be granted when the prosecuting attorney or witnesses for the state engaged in misconduct that materially affected the defendant's substantial rights."

Allen referenced a state case that misconduct would not be grounds for reversal unless the misconduct was "so pervasive as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial."

Allen maintains that filings in federal court showed Bosko lied to get search warrants.

"This makes it more likely than not that he engaged in misconduct in this investigation and in his conduct during the trial," Allen wrote in his motion.

Attorney cites investigation by FBI to back motion

Allen also noted Hoffert's investigation for the FBI.

"Agent Hoffert also found that the investigation into King was shoddy at best," the attorney wrote. "Bosko helped a key witness pick King out of a lineup. He failed to record interviews and phone calls.

"In sum, he failed to conduct a professional, competent investigation into King's alleged criminal activity."

Allen cited two federal cases in making his point.

"A conviction obtained by the knowing use of perjured testimony is fundamentally unfair and must be set aside if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury," he wrote.

The motion maintains Bosko presented false testimony to the prosecutor and the jury regarding King's culpability.

"Without these two compromised informants, this conviction would unravel. There would be no information the jury could rely upon to justify a conviction," Allen wrote.

In his conclusion, Allen wrote, "Two lying informants and a corrupt police officer changed the trajectory of (King's) life. He spent two years in prison.

"He lost his purpose when he could no longer be a police officer. This injustice has become his new purpose."

King agreed.

"I just want the right thing to be done," he said. "I know who I am; I know who I was at the time. I just want the truth to come out, finally."

Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher sent an email to the News Journal about King's case.

"I am in the process of reviewing the matter and deciding an appropriate response," she said.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

X: @MarkCau32059251

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Former Bellville cop who spent 2 years in prison trying to clear name
Fentanyl opiate in plastic bag. Photo illustration by Getty Images.

The United States is knee-deep in what some experts call the opioid epidemics fourth wave, which is not only placing drug users at greater risk but is also complicating efforts to address the nations drug problem.

These waves, according to a report from Millennium Health, began with the crisis in prescription opioid use, followed by a significant jump in heroin use, then an increase in the use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

The latest wave involves using multiple substances at the same time, combining fentanyl mainly with either methamphetamine or cocaine, the report found.

And Ive yet to see a peak, said one of the co-authors, Eric Dawson, vice president of clinical affairs at Millennium Health, a specialty laboratory that provides drug testing services to monitor use of prescription medications and illicit drugs.

The report, which takes a deep dive into the nations drug trends and breaks usage patterns down by region, is based on 4.1 million urine samples collected from January 2013 to December 2023 from people receiving some kind of drug addiction care.

Its findings offer staggering statistics and insights. Its major finding: How common polysubstance use has become. According to the report, an overwhelming majority of fentanyl-positive urine samples  nearly 93%  contained additional substances.

And that is huge, said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health.

The most concerning, she and other addiction experts said, is the dramatic increase in the combination of meth and fentanyl use. Methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug often in powder form that poses several serious cardiovascular and psychiatric risks, was found in 60% of fentanyl-positive tests last year. That is an 875% increase since 2015.

I never, ever would have thought this, Volkow said.

Among the reports other key findings:

The nationwide spike in methamphetamine use alongside fentanyl marks a change in drug use patterns.

Polydrug use trends complicate overdose treatments. For instance, though naloxone, an opioid-overdose reversal medication, is widely available, there isnt an FDA-approved medication for stimulant overdose.

Both heroin and prescribed opioid use alongside fentanyl have dipped. Heroin detected in fentanyl-positive tests dropped by 75% since peaking in 2016. Prescription opioids were found at historic low rates in fentanyl-positive tests in 2023, down 89% since 2013.

But Jarratt Pytell, an addiction medicine specialist and assistant professor at the University of Colorados School of Medicine, warned these declines shouldnt be interpreted as a silver lining.

A lower level of heroin use just says that fentanyl is everywhere, Pytell said, and that we have officially been pushed by our drug supply to the most dangerous opioids that we have available right now.

Whenever a drug network is destabilizing and the product changes, it puts the people who use the drugs at the greatest risk, he said. That same bag or pill that they have been buying for the last several months now is coming from a different place, a different supplier, and is possibly a different potency.

In the illicit drug industry, suppliers are the controllers. It may not be that people are seeking out methamphetamine and fentanyl but rather that theyre what drug suppliers have found to be the easiest and most lucrative product to sell.

I think drug cartels are kind of realizing that its a lot easier to have a 500-square-foot lab than it is to have 500 acres of whatever it takes to grow cocaine, Pytell said.

Dawson said the reports drug use data, unlike that of some other studies, is based on sample analysis with a quick turnaround  a day or two.

Sometimes researchers face a months-long wait to receive death reports from coroners. Under those circumstances, you are often staring at today but relying on data sources that are a year or more in the past, said Dawson.

Self-reported surveys of drug users, another method often used to track drug use, also have long lag times and often miss people who are active for substance use disorders, said Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Heinz College. Urine tests are based on a biology standard and are good at detecting when someone has been using two or more drugs, he said.

But using data from urine samples also comes with limitations.

For starters, the tests dont reveal users intent.

You dont know whether or not there was one bag of powder that had both fentanyl and meth in it, or whether there were two bags of powder, one with fentanyl in it and one with meth and they took both, Caulkins said. It can also be unclear, he said, if people intentionally combined the two drugs for an extra high or if they thought they were using only one, not knowing it contained the other.

Volkow said she is interested in learning more about the demographics of polysubstance drug users: Is this pattern the same for men and women, and is this pattern the same for middle-age or younger people? Because again, having a better understanding of the characteristics allows you to tailor and personalize interventions.

All the while, the nations crisis continues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 107,000 people died in the U.S. in 2021 from drug overdoses, most because of fentanyl.

Caulkins said hes hesitant to view drug use patterns as waves because that would imply people are transitioning from one to the next.

Are we looking at people whose first substance use disorder was an opioid use disorder, who have now gotten to the point where theyre polydrug users? he said. Or, are people now starting substance use disorders with methamphetamine and fentanyl, he asked.

One point was clear, Dawson said: Were just losing too many lives.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

The post Fourth wave of opioid epidemic crashes ashore, propelled by fentanyl and meth appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Has a company treated you unfairly? Our Consumer Champion is available to help. For how to contact her click here.

Dear Katie,

On January 8, I was called by someone claiming to be from the fraud department of Tymit, through which I have a credit card, wanting to check if I made a payment at Booking.com.

I said that no, I hadnt. The advice was to re-install my Tymit app, which I did.

I did not share any passwords with this person, yet when I deleted my app and reinstalled it, I was horrified to see that someone had been on a frenzied shopping trip in Argos and Morrisons using my Tymit Visa credit card. It was fraudulently used nine times within the space of 20 minutes. The fraudster spent a total of 4,946 of my money in that time.

I reported it immediately to Tymit, but it refuses to reimburse my money, despite the fraud being plain obvious. At the time I was on holiday in Vietnam, which I can prove through flight receipts, stamps in my passport and purchases I made while there.

It says Im liable for the fraud, but I believe Tymit should be, as it has acted negligently by ignoring, what were with hindsight, several red flags.

First, it allowed my credit card to be set up on an alien android mobile wallet without my knowledge, consent or approval on January 3. According to Tymit, I have approved this in my own app, but I have no recollection of this whatsoever. I have also had my card in my wallet at all times, which is always in my pocket.

Second, Tymit allowed unauthorised payments totalling 4,946 within a timeframe of 20 minutes, without phoning me to check I was making these payments which were coming from a new device. Two of these transactions were identical (for 1,598.30) and took place within seven minutes of each other. Seven were for 250 and were made within six minutes of each other.

Ive been told Im required to pay my credit card bill within eight days, but I dont have the money to do this. As a result Im unable to sleep, and am having panic attacks given the large amount of money lost.

I feel completely hopeless, please help.

 MD, via email

Dear reader,

I was so sorry to hear that this fraud, and Tymits demands that you pay your credit card bill within the week, had left you so distraught. You ended up having to borrow the money from your partner so you could settle without the case escalating.

I was keen to get this sorted quickly for you, but even for me, a national newspaper journalist, getting through to Tymit was a nightmare. This might be because it no longer offers credit cards to individuals anymore, and is focusing on the corporate side of its business instead.

The press contact on its website bounced, as did other email addresses I found for it. No phone numbers were available to call. In the end, I resorted to messaging its chief executive on LinkedIn, which eventually elicited a response to your complaint.

A Tymit spokesman said: The industry in general is seeing increasing examples of mobile wallet and device fraud occurring following unintentional disclosure of passwords and other security details to bad actors.

Disclosing security details can leave customers exposed to losses that occur as a result of fraud, therefore we urge customers not to share or disclose passcodes or other security details relating to their accounts to anyone, not even those claiming to be from Tymit. We will never ask for them.

This seemed to push the blame back onto you for revealing your security details to a fraudster, however, you are still adamant you did not do this. You work in financial services and think you know how to protect yourself online. You are incredibly surprised and embarrassed that this has happened to you, which I can understand.

You cant understand why you received no fraud checks when these rogue payments were made, but it seems the fraudsters who hijacked your account had set things up so any checks that were done went via them.

Tymit added: Unfortunately, once these details are disclosed, it is extremely difficult to stop fraudsters from gaining access and spending freely, as they are using their own biometrics to authorise the transactions and bypass other security controls.

However, the good news is that following my involvement, Tymit has decided you are not liable for the fraudulent transactions, and the full amount of 4,946 has been refunded to your account. You have also received 150 compensation for the distress this has caused you.

Youre hugely relieved and Im pleased for you, because this was the right result in the end. When even people in the know like you are falling victim to this type of fraud, it just goes to show how cunning and sophisticated these criminals are getting.

I dont know whether you did share your sensitive information or not, but its possible the criminals already had some of your data and have extracted the missing pieces they needed from you at various points before the fraud occurred.

Lets hope the police, who are actively investigating, are able to track these lowlives down.

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The inscription on the shell: "I vote for the Legion." The raid of Russian volunteers on the territory of the Russian Federation during the "elections" of the President of Russia continues

Alexey Baranovsky, a volunteer from the Freedom of Russia Legion, commented on the raid that continues in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts against the backdrop of the sham Presidential elections in Russia during a Radio NV broadcast on March 17.

"We still have enough surprises," Baranovsky said.

At the moment, the military leadership has not decided when this special liberation operation will be completed and whether it will be completed at all. Now, we are working according to the schedule. The last election day is in full swing. It's hard to announce yet, but the fighting is on, and we are not going to stop there.

Read also: Russian ballistic missile attack on Mykolaiv: many private houses damaged, five wounded reported

He also said that the soldiers are fighting with the understanding "if not us, then who?"

"Someone has to do the dirty work  to destroy Putin and his regime. It will not be Ukrainian soldiers. Ukraine will liberate its territory  return Crimea, Donbas, and all the occupied territories within the 1991 borders. But for us, the war will not end. We will have to go on and finish off this bastard in its heart, in its lair."

Read also: Soldiers of Siberian Battalion claim to have entered the village of Gorkovsky near Belgorod

Asked whether Putin was afraid of them, the Freedom of Russia Legion fighter said:

"If they used to ignore all our raids, in any case, this is the first time Putin has commented twice, which means that it at least causes him some discomfort below the back. I don't know if this burning sensation will turn into fear (sooner or later, it will). But the very fact that Putin is commenting is a sign that we are on the right track. Vladimir Vladimirovich, wait!"

Russian volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), and the Siberian Battalion announced a new operation in Russias Belgorod Oblast on March 12.

The RDK claimed to have advanced several dozens of kilometers and taken prisoners. Moscow reported casualties among the Russian army.

Russia's unlawfully staged "Presidential elections" have been held over three days in occupied Ukrainian territories, where occupation authorities have employed various tactics to prop up voter turnout.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, on Sunday called the lobbying campaign against legislation that could ban TikTok disgusting, pointing specifically to the involvement of former members of Congress.

There is an unprecedented lobbying campaign. Theyre really weaponizing the swamp against legislative action, Gallagher said in an interview on CBS Newss Face the Nation, referring to efforts by TikToks China-based parent company, ByteDance.

Over half a million dollars spent last quarter alone on seven different lobbying firms. Its disgusting. Former members of Congress lobbying on behalf of TikTok. By the way, that should be illegal. Members of Congress should not be allowed to lobby in general, let alone on behalf of foreign adversaries.

In a 352-65 vote last Wednesday, the House passed a bill that would force ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok within 165 days or risk the app being banned in the United States. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain.

The bills passage in the House comes after a rise in concerns about Chinas influence over TikTok. Supporters of the bill say it aims to curb national security threats posed by ByteDance, which they say could share sensitive data from American users with the Chinese government. They also express concerns about the Chinese governments ability to control what content viewers consume, and how it therefore might have an outsize influence on their political views.

The bill also passed despite an intense lobbying campaign, which included former members of Congress. It passed with strong bipartisan support, even though there was vocal opposition on both sides of the aisle.

Former President Trump, the presumptive GOP 2024 presidential nominee, was the strongest force from the right who opposed the bill. He cited concerns that a ban might benefit rival social media company Facebook.

Trumps opposition to a possible TikTok ban came after he met with Jeff Yass, a major GOP donor and investor in TikTok. Trump said Yass did not bring up TikTok during the conversation.

TikTok has also been pushing users hard to contact their members of Congress to pressure them into opposing the legislation.

Gallagher remained optimistic Sunday about the likelihood of the bill passing, pointing to his bipartisan work with the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.). They worked together to pass the legislation.

I do think the fact that we got a vote, really a huge vote in the House, bipartisan, 352, makes it impossible to ignore, Gallagher said. And thats a testament to Rajas leadership, the fact that we were able to come together at a time when the parties dont trust each other on anything. Far better for Congress to step up and legislate a solution, so that were not bouncing back and forth between different presidents, different executive orders. Thats a recipe for chaos.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
One of the UKs most senior military figures in Afghanistan was sent home in disgrace after drinking champagne with colleagues, The Telegraph can reveal.

Maj Gen Charlie Herbert took up a post in June 2017 in Kabul as deputy adviser to the ministry of the interior, the government department responsible for law enforcement, civil order and fighting crime.

He was responsible for training and mentoring senior Afghan officials and the role included conducting meetings with Afghan government figures, as well as tribal leaders and forging links between the ministry of the interior and other government departments.

The post was meant to last for 12 months, but Maj Gen Herbert came back three months early following a complaint that was submitted about his conduct.

The complaint was about his alleged inappropriate language and behaviour in the workplace, throwing parties at the British embassy and drinking alcohol openly with Afghan colleagues.

He told The Telegraph that he shared a bottle of champagne with work colleagues and was short-toured because of this, meaning he was removed from his post ahead of the official end of his assignment. He said the other complaints about him were investigated but thrown out.

Once back in the UK, Maj Gen Herbert took up a new position at the defence academy in Swindon before retiring from the Army altogether the following year.

Since retiring in 2019, he has become an outspoken commentator on military affairs, most recently about the Israel-Gaza war.

When Maj Gen Herbert was in Afghanistan, Western efforts to stabilise the country were led by the US which had overall control of military operations. It was hoped that by training the Afghan army, police and civilian officials, the country could eventually operate without Nato assistance.

The Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021, two decades after being removed from power by a US-led military coalition.

The hard-line Islamist group advanced rapidly across the country, seizing province after province before taking the capital, Kabul, as the Afghan military collapsed.

The group had struck a deal with the Americans in 2020 for US troops to withdraw, following a bloody but ultimately successful guerrilla campaign.

Maj Gen Herbert said: After investigation by the British Army, the allegations referred to were found to be unproven and vexatious with the exception of a single one that I shared a bottle of champagne with some work colleagues, in breach of a US rule on the consumption of alcohol.

He said he was cleared of the other allegations and continued to serve with the Army for another 18 months before leaving voluntarily to take up a new role supporting the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in Somalia.

An Army spokesman said: Soldiers at all levels of the British Army are held to the highest standards. If any individual fails to meet these standards, appropriate action is taken.

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For the first time in Georgetown Laws history, two of its law professors will go head-to-head before the Supreme Court, when it hears the National Rifle Associations (NRA) fight against a former New York regulator on Monday.

The case has created some unusual battle lines. For one, it implicates free speech, not the Second Amendment. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has taken on the case  but for the first time, its representing the NRA.

And, the faceoff is set to put the ACLUs David Cole against his Georgetown colleague, Neal Katyal, an Obama-era acting U.S. solicitor general who is also a partner at Hogan Lovells.

In interviews, both professors delivered high praise for each other and expressed little hesitation at their rare match-up.

I just could not have more respect for someone than I do for David, said Katyal. Hes not just an extraordinary advocate and scholar, hes just like the nicest person, so that makes us different than the usual Supreme Court argument, to be sure.

Im also pretty used to David being on the right side of things, so thats an unusual thing for me, Katyal joked.

Cole represents the NRA in its First Amendment lawsuit against Maria Vullo, whom then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) appointed to lead New Yorks Department of Financial Services. Katyal represents Vullo.

The NRA sued Vullo, who is no longer in office, after she investigated the gun rights group starting in fall 2017. At first, her investigation led companies that administered NRA-endorsed insurance programs to acknowledge their programs were unlawful.

At issue before the justices is what happened next. Vullo sent guidance letters urging banks and insurers regulated by her department to sever ties with the NRA, warning of reputational risks in the wake of the Parkland school shooting that had recently taken place, killing 17 students and staff.

The NRA claims Vullos actions amounted to coercion in violation of the First Amendment.

Cole defended the ACLUs decision to represent the NRA, despite acknowledging the ACLU differs deeply with the gun rights group in most of what it advocates for. Just this term, theyve filed friend of the court briefs on opposite sides in a major Second Amendment case at the Supreme Court.

It is part of our DNA, Cole said. Its part of who we are. We believe that rights are universal, and that First Amendment rights, in particular, must extend to our enemies if we want them to protect our friends.

Perhaps just as rare as the ACLUs alliance with the NRA is Coles faceoff with his longtime colleague.

It wasnt planned. Once the Supreme Court in November agreed to hear the case, Cole and Katyal both signed on to argue it after the NRA and Vullo, respectively, asked them. It wasnt until shortly afterward that it became clear the colleagues were opponents.

I got a call out of the blue from Maria Vullo, asking if I would argue her case, Katyal recalled. And I, at first, said I didnt know there was a case.

Its a twist for the duo that has long worked together, including in their fight against President Trumps travel ban policies. Although their lawsuits were technically separate, Cole said he and Katyal effectively became co-counsel.

But their relationship stretches back into the 1990s, when each arrived at Georgetown.

As Cole put it, we go way back.

When Katyal prepared for his first Supreme Court argument in March 2006  a major case involving Guantanamo Bay  Cole sat in for a mock argument, called a moot. Cole peppered his fellow professor with questions to anticipate the nonstop hypotheticals and concerns the justices might raise. For that case, Katyal held more than a dozen sessions.

At the time, I thought that seems excessive, Cole said. But it did make me think, actually, theres some benefit to doing more, more rather than fewer moots.

The two attorneys later reversed roles, with Katyal prepping Cole in one of his own Supreme Court moots.

This round, however, theyre assembling separate teams.

Katyal, who now has 50 arguments under his belt, conducted six moots. Cole said his magic number is four.

Although Monday is the first time Georgetowns law professors will face off at the Supreme Court, academics at the school have before appeared on the same side.

Twenty-one years ago, then-Georgetown professor Nina Pillard, Coles wife, appeared before the high court to represent a Nevada government employee who was suing the state under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Viet Dinh, a fellow Georgetown Law professor who was on leave for a stint at the Justice Department, defended the law on behalf of the federal government.

Both no longer work at Georgetown. In 2013, Pillard became a federal appeals court judge, and she recently gained national attention for hearing Trumps appeal of a gag order imposed in one of his criminal cases. Dinh became Fox Corp.s chief legal and policy officer, a post he served in until last year.

Cole and Katyal both suggested the pattern of Georgetown professors at the high court together is no coincidence. The school is rare in its support of professors to be both scholars and active lawyers, they said.

William Treanor, the dean of Georgetowns law school, said Cole and Katyal are representative of the schools faculty, pointing to how 21 professors filed briefs at the Supreme Court last year while five testified before Congress.

Its something that we encourage, and I think it really produces people who are better scholars, said Treanor. Because they know what the real issues are that were facing today, and so they have the insight of both academics and practitioners.

Even as Cole heads to the Supreme Court and works for the ACLU, he teaches constitutional law and last semester held a First Amendment class.

The fact that youve got Georgetown professors on both sides in the past, weve had Georgetown professors on the same side, I think there are very few law schools that could actually make that claim, said Cole.

Katyal said, Im pretty sure it hasnt happened anywhere else.

Beyond his Hogan Lovells role, Katyal is also an MSNBC legal analyst, where he has become a prominent commentator on the Supreme Court and Trumps legal battles.

Katyal also serves as faculty adviser at Georgetown University Law Centers Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. The institute joined forces with Hogan Lovells to be part of Vullos legal team at the Supreme Court.

Its not just Georgetown versus Georgetown, Katyal said. We also have  its Georgetown professor versus Georgetown institute.

Updated at 6:10 pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a press conference after a meeting with the Jordanian King ahead of his visit to Israel. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for an urgent ceasefire in the Gaza War after meeting Jordan's King Abdullah in the southern Jordanian port of Aqaba on Sunday.

"It is absolutely clear that we now have to do everything to prevent the situation becoming worse than it already is," Scholz said.

On his second visit to the region since the war started, the German chancellor came out against an Israeli ground offensive into Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

"I believe that a large number of casualties from an offensive of this kind would make all peaceful development extremely difficult," he said. "Many people in Israel as well know this."

Scholz repeated the German government position that Israel had every right to defend itself against attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, but said this should not result in the many people in Gaza who had fled to Rafah being directly threatened by military action.

"For that reason, I have made very clear, exactly the way the US president has done, that we find that this is something where one has to do everything very, very, very carefully so as to avoid further high casualty figures," Scholz said.

Referring to a planned resumption of indirect talks on a provisional ceasefire, Scholz said that the possibility of a longer ceasefire needed to be firmed up.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a press conference after a meeting with the Jordanian King ahead of his visit to Israel. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) speaks with Jordan's King Abdullah II (R) during their meeting. Sandra Steins/BPA/dpa
The German Foreign Ministry has stated that Russian "elections" in Ukraine's occupied territories are invalid and violate the international law.

Source: German Foreign Ministry on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

The pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The "election in the occupied territories of #Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law.  GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 17, 2024

Quote: "The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The "election" in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law," the statement said.

The UK previously stated that Russia's organisation of "presidential elections" in Ukraine's occupied territories is illegal.

On Friday, the United States condemned Russia's organisation of sham elections in occupied territories.

Almost 60 UN countries also expressed their condemnation in a joint statement.

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(Bloomberg) -- Germany and France joined 12 other European Union countries in calling for the European Investment Bank to enhance its financing for defense as a means to boost the blocs security in light of Russian aggression.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The countries sent a letter dated March 17 to EIB President Nadia Calvino, European Council President Charles Michel and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo calling for a new financing strategy, according to a copy of the letter seen by Bloomberg. EU leaders will meet March 21-22 to discuss security, including the EIBs role in defense readiness.

The letter comes as Ukraine is struggling to acquire more ammunition and convince allies to give more aid. Bloomberg reported this month that the EIB was considering ways to expand its support for the defense industry.

We need to explore different possibilities that would enable the EIB to invest in defense related activities beyond existing dual-use projects, the letter said. This would mean discussing and re-evaluating current definitions of dual-use projects and the list of excluded activities as well as reconsidering its defense industry lending policy and other restrictive elements.

Leaders from Finland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden signed the letter.

The EUs lending arm is in talks with the blocs executive and other stakeholders to begin investing in military companies that produce defensive products, Bloomberg reported.

The leaders said in the letter that a new EIB policy could have a signaling effect that would promote further private investments and make this type of lending more acceptable for financial markets and banks.

As it stands, the EIBs financing for security and defense is, however, limited to dual-use projects, according to the letter. The EIBs Strategic European Security Initiative and the recent EIF Defense Equity Fund are welcomed initiatives but these form only a very small share of the EIBs current activities.

--With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss.

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Grant Cardone

During President Joe Bidens State of the Union address, he noted that the economy created a record 15 million jobs in the first three years of his term. Despite these numbers, Grant Cardone, private equity fund manager and real estate investor, believes that Biden has been bad for the job market.

Explore More: 6 Ways To Build Wealth in Your 60s

Find Out: 7 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

Mr. Biden seemed to disregard the fact that weve had 10 out of 12 employment revisions downward, including January, he told GOBankingRates. So clearly somethings happening with the job numbers. Its not good for the U.S. economy. And Im predicting that its going to escalate.

Cardone, who will be hosting the 10X Growth Conference 2024 in April, believes the job numbers are misleading.

Most of the jobs are government jobs  theyre not public jobs, he said. The reality is probably 40%, maybe 50%, of all the jobs right now are government jobs. [And many of the] new jobs are part-time jobs. The total job hours worked weekly is going down, meaning I might hire people, but Im only going to give them 25 hours, not 40. The overtime number is also shrinking.

Given the tough job market, Cardone offered the following advice for current job seekers.

Also see what the job market reset is like.

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

Get Great

In a competitive job market, you need to stand out from the pack. This might mean learning new skills or taking the initiative to become a leading voice in your given industry.

You need to learn how to hustle, Cardone said. Youve got to get great. You need to put your best game face on because the employment market is extremely competitive.

Learn More: Mark Cubans 5 Best Passive Income Ideas

Be Willing To Work in an Office

Cardone believes the remote work trend is coming to an end, so current job seekers need to be willing to work in an office.

Story continues

The job market from COVID is over, he said. You will be forced to go back to an office. Otherwise, youre going to be out of luck. The remote thing is killing companies. Companies are going to get in a position to start forcing [employees] back to work.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Grant Cardone: Why Biden Is Bad for Jobs  and What This Means for Job Seekers
By Sarah Marsh

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz questioned the "terribly high costs" of Israel's offensive on Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza on Sunday, saying the world could not simply stand by and watch as Palestinians risk starvation in the enclave.

Speaking after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Scholz said he had shared his concerns about the high number of civilian casualties and insufficient aid reaching Gaza where aid agencies say famine is looming.

While many countries have expressed similar concerns, the warning was unusually stark for the German leader, who has continuously underscored Israel's right to defend itself after Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on the country that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

Germany has been one of Israel's staunchest allies alongside the United States, underlining its duty to stand by the country's side in atonement for its perpetration of the Nazi Holocaust in which 6 million Jews died.

"The more desperate the situation of the people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?" Scholz said in English at a joint appearance with Netanyahu.

Scholz's trip on Sunday to Jordan and Israel came after Israel on Friday approved a plan to attack the city of Rafah on the southern edge of the shattered Palestinian enclave where more than half of its 2.3 million residents are sheltering after five months of war.

Global allies and critics have urged Netanyahu to hold off attacking Rafah, fearing mass civilian casualties. But Israel says it is one of the last strongholds of Hamas whom it has pledged to eliminate and that residents will be evacuated.

"How should more than 1.5 million people be protected? Where should they go?" Scholz asked. The large number of civilian casualties that would result from a Rafah assault would make regional peace "very difficult", Scholz said earlier in the day after talks with Jordanian King Abdullah in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.

Scholz added that he had spoken with Netanyahu about the need for conditions for the distribution of aid to be "urgently and massively improved".

"We cannot stand by and watch Palestinians risk starvation," he said. "That's not us. That is not what we stand for."

TWO-STATE SOLUTION

Sustainable security will not come from "higher walls and deeper ditches" but from a positive perspective for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, meaning a two-state solution, said Scholz.

For this the Palestinian Authority needs to be reformed and strengthened, both in terms of personnel and structures, he said.

"Lasting security for future generations of Israeli people lies in a solution with the Palestinians, not against them," he said. "Terror cannot be defeated with military means alone."

Netanyahu responded by saying that an agreement that made Israel look weak would create an unsustainable peace.

Speaking with reporters earlier in the day in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba, Scholz said it was "very clear we must do everything so the situation does not get worse than it already is."

Scholz did not directly answer a question about whether Germany would react to a large-scale Rafah offensive, for example by restricting German weapons exports to Israel.

Germany is facing growing accusations - including from prominent Jewish residents in Germany - of allowing guilt to blinker its response to Israel's retaliation.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim accused Europe during a visit to Berlin last week of being "hypocritical" and selective in its concern for different peoples, overlooking decades of widespread Palestinian suffering.

Israel's air and ground campaign in the enclave has killed more than 31,600 people, say health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza, driven most of the population from their homes and brought them to the brink of famine, according to aid agencies.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh in Jerusalem; Additional Reporting by Riham Alkousaa in Berlin; Editing by Hugh Lawson and David Holmes)
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks to media representatives. Steinmeier said he won't be congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, his spokeswoman told the Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel. Britta Pedersen/dpa

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he won't be congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, his spokeswoman told the Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel.

"There will be no letter to Putin," the publication quoted spokeswoman Cerstin Gammelin as saying.

"Today I am thinking of the people in Russia who are fighting for freedom and democracy and who live in constant danger from Putin's regime. We will not forget these courageous people," Steinmeier said in a Sunday post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

The German Foreign Office earlier had said on X: "The pseudo elections in #Russia are neither free nor fair, the result surprises no one. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression and violence."

In the previous presidential election in Russia in 2018, Steinmeier had congratulated Putin.
A World War Two refugee who fled to Scotland from Germany via the Kindertransport child safety mission, has died.

Henry Wuga celebrated his 100th birthday in February.

He escaped Germany in May 1939, at the age of 15 as pre-war tensions were rising in his home country of Germany, and made Glasgow his home.

Mr Wuga and his wife Ingrid spent decades educating people about the Holocaust.

The Holocaust Memorial Trust said he had made an immense impact by sharing his testimony.

Reflecting on his life in February he said: "I may be 100 but I don't feel 100. To be 100 is quite an idea."

Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Trust, said: "We are heartbroken at the passing of Henry Wuga MBE.

"Henry was a gentleman: charming, dapper and above all, a force for good.

"The work that he, and his late wife Ingrid did, in sharing their testimonies, made an immense impact on thousands of people across Scotland.

"Thank you for everything Henry. We will miss you."

First Minister Humza Yousaf said Mr Wuga's loss would be felt by communities across Scotland.

"I'm devastated to hear of Henry's passing," he said.

"He worked over decades to remind us of the horrors of the Holocaust, which must never be forgotten.

"My thoughts with Henry's family, friends & the many who loved him."

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described Mr Wuga as "warm, charming and compassionate", adding: "We owe it to his generation to share their stories and always strive for peace."

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Henry was an extraordinary human being. While the world is a poorer place for his passing, there is no doubt that his life made it better.

"Alongside his beloved wife, Ingrid, Henry educated thousands about the horrors of the Holocaust and the lessons from it that we must never forget.

"With quiet dignity, he reminded us of the power of love and humanity. He was also full of stories and fun."

She added: "He will be so enormously missed - but his legacy will endure."

Ahead of Mr Wuga's 100th birthday in February, his local MSP Jackson Carlaw paid a tribute in Holyrood during First Minister's Questions.

Mr Carlaw posted on X: "How joyful it was just last month for us all to celebrate with Henry the reaching of his centenary.

"Today we mourn his passing & send much love to Hilary, Gillian & the family. In his own quiet way, Henry was a Statesman. May his memory be a blessing."
Gov. Kathy Hochul says her plan to flood NYC's public transit system with National Guardsmen is working "as we had expected" - despite an incident two days earlier where a Brooklyn straphanger shot a berserk man attacking him on a rush-hour A train.

Gov. Kathy Hochul defended her controversial initiative to flood the citys public transit system with National Guardsmen, saying its going as planned  even as terrified straphangers vowed to avoid the rails after this weeks shooting on a packed A-train.

My objective was to make sure [the National Guard is] in our main transit hubs  you see them at Grand Central [Station] and other places, so they can free up [NYPD cops], Hochul told reporters at the St. Patricks Day Parade in Midtown Saturday. So the plan is working as we had expected.

Under Hochuls order, 750 National Guardsmen and 250 state and MTA cops were sent to patrol subway stations, a decision she staunchly defended as a crime deterrent that would calm commuters anxiety.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says her plan to flood NYCs public transit system with National Guardsmen is working as we had expected. Robert Miller

Gov. Hochul deployed 750 National Guardsmen (some pictured) and 250 state and MTA cops earlier this month in NYCs subway system to help target rising subway crime. REUTERS

After the deployment began earlier this month, straphangers entering the subway were greeted by camouflaged and gun-toting soldiers at bag-search checkpoints in a sight reminiscent of the city after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Following outcry, Hochul revised the tactics days later, leaving some guardsmen still armed with assault weapons at certain postings  but none armed at the actual bag checkpoints.

NYC Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) told The Post he finds Hochuls remarks about her subway safety initiative going as expected both scary and head-scratching.

We had a week of shootings and attacks on the subway, so how can this be going to plan? he said.

Borelli also quipped that the governor lives in two worlds: one where the subway is safe and her congestion toll plan for cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street is viable, and another where the subway system is so dangerous that she felt it necessary to send in the National Guard.

Neither of those worlds can be the same, but in the governors opinion they are, he said.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said Hochuls cavalier attitude shows just how disconnected she and other Democrats are from the reality of what New Yorkers are facing each and every day both in the subways and above ground.

She also said New York would be better served having the National Guardsmen protecting our northern border and instead flood the subway system with more police officers.

Theres no replacement for the NYPD, she said. We need more police officers in our subways.

Hochuls critics also include former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who slammed his successors decision to deploy the National Guard, arguing instead for more police officers to patrol underground.

Cuomo on Thursday claimed Hochuls directive is useless, saying it cannot serve as a viable long-term solution to combat crime.

Hochul skirted questions about how truly effective the National Guard can be if theyre not armed and patrolling the subways like cops.

Hochul said the National Guard is part of a larger plan to improve subway safety, but critics like ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo say NYC is better off with more cops in the subway. AP

Instead, she said the National Guard is just part of her larger plan to improve subway safety, adding their presence should also free up more NYPD cops to patrol the subway system.

She said the plan also includes targeting repeat offenders of subway crime and getting people with severe mental illness off our subways.

Earlier Saturday, Mayor Eric Adams also downplayed Thursdays A-train shooting by declaring the Big Apple is still the safest big city in America.

The scene of fearful straphangers riding the A train Thursday while a fight broke out between two men that led to gunshots. @JoyceMeetsWorld/X-ABC

Ranting rider Dajuan Robinson, 36, was shot through the eye with his own gun on Thursday after suddenly going berserk on 32-year-old dad of two Younece Obuad on an evening A train as it pulled into the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street station in Brooklyn, cops and law-enforcement sources said.

He apparently targeted his victim because he wrongly thought the straphanger was a recent migrant.

Robinson remained hospitalized in critical condition Saturday, sources said.
(NEXSTAR)  The organization that dupes people into handing over their money and personal information isnt a fake IRS or imposter Social Security Administration. It isnt a private company either  though one recent Amazon scam did trick a financial advice columnist into handing over $50,000 in a shoe box.

More than any other organization, scammers find success impersonating the U.S. Postal Service, according to a report released by the Better Business Bureau.

How do these scams work? The majority are phishing schemes, sent by text or email, explains Melanie McGovern, director of public relations for BBB.

One example reads: The USPS package has arrived at the warehouse and cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link within 12 hours.

These 10 costly scams are most rampant. Here are the red flags to look for

But if you click the link, and fill out the form to claim your package, youve been tricked into handing over personal information.

Legitimate delivery services, like the USPS, FedEx and UPS, usually leave a missed delivery note on your door instead of reaching you by text. To avoid this scam, keep track of what you order online and use the sellers websites to track deliveries. Dont click on links that are sent to you unsolicited.

You can also sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, a free service that sends you a picture of the mail coming your way before it arrives.

Scammers like to impersonate brands and organizations that people trust to catch their victims off guard.

Why being on the Do Not Call list doesnt actually stop spam calls, texts

The top 10 impersonated organizations in 2023, according to the BBB, were:

U.S. Postal Service Amazon Publishers Clearing House Geek Squad Norton PayPal Microsoft Walmart Facebook McAfee

Surprisingly, the most vulnerable age group last year wasnt the elderly, according to BBBs Risk Report. Young people, ages 18 to 24, reported the highest median loss from scams at $155.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has declared a state of emergency for multiple counties that were impacted by tornadoes Thursday evening.

DeWine issued the order for 11 counties after the National Weather Service ruled that eight tornadoes touched down. The counties under a state of emergency include:

Auglaize

Crawford

Delaware

Hancock

Licking

Logan

Mercer

Miami

Richland

Union

Under the order, all relevant state departments will lend services, equipment, supplies, and personnel for recovery efforts. Additionally, DeWine activated the Ohio National Guard for Logan County to assist in clean up efforts after three people were killed following an EF-3 tornado.

Biggest tornadoes in Ohio of the past decade

The first tornado warnings on Thursday were issued at about 8:30 p.m. and continued through 10:15, connected to storms with strong winds and unconfirmed tornadoes.

Crews in Logan County confirmed a EF-3 tornado caused damage near Orchard Island after initially categorizing it as an EF-2.

Crews visited Licking and Mercer counties, where they determined an EF-1 tornado occurred near Johnstown and another EF-1 touched down in western Mercer County. Licking County was the site of a tornado near Jersey in late February. That means tornadoes have struck north and south of the Intel construction site in recent weeks.

In Orange Township in southwestern Hancock County, an EF-1 tornado reached estimated winds of 100 mph and traveled for more than 3 miles at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. A 250-yard-wide EF-2 tornado traveled for more than 10 miles in Crawford and Richland counties shortly before 8 p.m.

Storm damage in photos and video

Olentangy Berlin athletic fields sustained extensive damage after violent storms ripped through Delaware and Logan Counties, March 14, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn)

Delaware County residents experienced extensive damage to their homes and property in the aftermath of violent storms, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn)

Delaware County residents experienced extensive damage to their homes and property in the aftermath of violent storms, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn)

Delaware County residents experienced extensive damage to their homes and property in the aftermath of violent storms, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn)

Olentangy Berlin athletic fields sustained extensive damage after violent storms ripped through Delaware and Logan Counties, March 14, 2024. (NBC4/Mark Feuerborn)

Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (NBC4)

Houses and businesses in the village of Lakeview have been damaged by a violent storm, and possible tornado, that moved through Logan County overnight on March 14, 2024. (NBC4 Photo/Eric Halperin)

Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce)

A doorbell camera captures a possible funnel cloud forming in Delaware County, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Jason Cox)

Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce)

Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce)

Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce)

Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce)

A power tower is down after storms ripped through Delaware County, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy)

Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy)

Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy)

Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy)

Storm damage caused several roads to close and damaged homes in Galena, March 15, 2024. (NBC4/Kyle Beachy)

Storm damage in Mercer County north of Dayton (Photo Courtesy: Grace Hewitt, WDTN)

Storm damage in Mercer County north of Dayton (Photo Courtesy: Grace Hewitt, WDTN)

Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (NBC4)

Multiple homes and businesses have been damaged in the village of Lakeview on Indian Lake. (NBC4 Photo/Eric Halperin)

NBC4 and the American Red Cross are partnering to raise funds for the victims of tornados and storms in Ohio and the Midwest. Anyone wishing to donate to 4s Army Tornado Relief can now donate at this link.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Ensure your donation helps people affected by recent tornadoes and storms go to https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Russian forces attacked the southern city of Mykolaiv twice with missiles, wounding at least five people, regional governor Vitalii Kim reported on March 17.

While there is not much information about the attack yet, including the strike's targets, Kim said that the injuries of the victims are not critical. The air raid alert went off for about 40 minutes in Mykolaiv. The missiles hit the city one after another at around 2 p.m. local time.

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych said "many" houses and cars have suffered damages, and windows of apartments have been blown off.

According to the governor, Russia carried out the attack from the same place as its previous strike against the major city of Odesa just 150 kilometers westward on March 15, where 21 were killed and more than 70 were wounded. Russian forces had launched the March 15 strike using Iskander-M ballistic missiles from occupied Crimea, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces said.

Over the past few weeks, Russia has ramped up its deadly attacks against civilians, especially in the south of Ukraine. On March 6, Russia also struck Odesa during President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's visit to the city, killing five people.

Russia's attack against Mykolaiv on March 17 also comes after with what appears to be a Ukrainian overnight attack on March 17 on an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai. According to Ukrainian online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda's report citing a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the overnight attack was the latest in Ukraine's recent series of successful attacks on 12 oil refineries in Russia.

Western and Ukrainian officials have condemned Russia's attacks against civilians.

Read also: The Invisible War: Inside the electronic warfare arms race that could shape course of war in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
It took two missed Sunday phone calls for Reeves K. Johnson IIIs family to worry about him.

The 31-year-old had recently moved to Kittery, Maine, where he got a welding job and rented a cabin. An art lover with long brown hair who enjoyed reading and playing his guitar, Johnson was known in his family as someone who didnt waste his words, especially about his private life. But he rarely missed a Sunday phone call to his family and wrote short letters every two weeks.

My parents tried Reeves after they got home from their Bermuda trip in February of 1983, his sister Sally Swartz told The Daily Beast this week. But we couldnt get a hold of him. He was not the type of person to just go off and vanish. He wouldnt go off the grid.

Johnsons parents called the police to check the cabin, but officers found no sign of Johnson or his belongings. Weeks later, an unknown stranger picked up his last paycheck from a post office box.

That was our only clue, Swartz said.

A clue that led nowhere.

For four decades, Johnsons disappearance has remained as vexing a mystery as it was in 1983. There is no body, much less a suspect. Police have no idea where he went after finishing his last morning shift at Donnelly Manufacturing on Feb. 3, 1983.

But thanks to a reinvigorated investigation and a true-crime podcast series, there is finally new information in the Kittery Police Departments only missing persons case. Only time will tell if it will lead Johnsons family to the answers that have eluded them for so long.

A stranger picked up Reeves Johnsons last paycheck. His mother snapped this photo. Photo Courtesy of Kittery Police Department/Murder, She Told

Kittery Detective Brian Cummer first came upon Johnsons thin file during an uneventful night shift over 15 years ago.

Back then, he was a patrol officer who would sometimes go back to the records room to read old cases. The lack of information in Johnsons folder nagged at him, and he would thumb through it every few months.

I couldnt wrap my brain around what happened, Cummer told The Daily Beast. I dont think officers at the time thought this case would even last that long.

The case file has some photocopied pictures, handwritten notes, the official missing persons report, and a brief overview of the case.

It recounted how after Johnson left work around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 3, he purchased guitar strings that were later found in his cabin. A neighbor told police he saw a mustachioed man in a black leather jacket make a brief visit to the cabin a few days later.

The neighbor did not have a lot of information; Ive spoken to him since, Cummer said. I have no information that indicates that the police then figured out who that person was. That didnt lead anywhere.

The first Sunday call that her younger brother missed was on Feb. 6. I just assumed he was doing something with friends, Swartz said. I had spoken to him the week prior and he sounded fine. He wasnt a chatty guy so the conversation was short. Also, it was expensive to call back then.

Four days after that, someone who looked like Johnson went into Ocean National Bank and withdrew most of his savings account, police said. And then on Feb. 13, Johnson missed the Sunday call again.

Then I started to get worried. And I started calling every day, like 50 times a day, Swartz said. When my parents got home, I told them, I havent heard from Reeves and I have been calling and calling and calling. They said they would take it over from there.

Johnson and his mother Barbara Photo Courtesy of Kittery Police Department/Murder, She Told

Around that time, Cummer said, Johnsons checks were being used to make large purchases around town, including groceries, two sets of thermal underwear that were not his size, and Radio Shack speakers and a car radio. The purchases totaled around $580about $1,800 in todays dollarsand overdrew his bank account.

On Feb. 14, Johnsons father called the Kittery Police Department to report him missing. An officer who went to the cabin found Johnsons contact lenses, cardboard boxes, and the guitar strings. A day later, his 1973 red Volkswagen was found at a local gas station after being towed from an unknown location.

At some point, someone that looked like Reeves went to the mechanic there and said he wanted a quick repair on the car because he wanted to go south, Cummer said. We also dont know where the car was towed from or who that person who posed to be Reeves was.

The plot was about to thicken. The detective who was then on the case asked Donnelly Manufacturing to hold the welders final paycheck so someone would have to pick it up in person.

I dont know where the miscommunication was or if the person was really convincing, but someone called Reeves and said he was moving on and asked to mail his check to his P.O. box, Cummer said.

By then, Johnsons parents had come up from Philadelphia to help authorities in the search. They offered to stake out the Kittery Post Office, pretending to be tourists with a camera, Swartz said. On Feb. 24, Johnsons mother was alone inside the post office when a man wearing green overalls and a red hat opened her sons box, flipped through the mail, threw away everything except for the check, and went to walk out.

My mom took a photo of the man, Swartz said. He covered his face, so we dont know who he is but I looked at that photo all of the time.

Her mother asked where Reeves wasand the man said he was at a nearby apartment and she could go there with him. But as they walked out of the post office, the man took off and was never seen again.

That was someone who was trying to get away and outside, Cummer said. Reeves mom was not going to be able to stop this person. He seemed young, maybe Reeves age, and bigger than her. 

The case went cold. Johnsons check was never cashed, there was no more financial activity, and nobody showed up to his cabin.

All this stuff, when you put it all together, leaves me to believe that this involves someone local. I think it was someone who knew him well enough to know where he lived, where he worked, and some basic facts about him, Cummer said. Its not a random person.

The original missing person flyer Photo Courtesy of Kittery Police Department/Murder, She Told

Questions about what happened to Johnson tormented his family as the years passed. He was legally declared dead in the early 2000s and his mother later provided her DNA to the police in the hopes that one day unidentified remains could be matched.

Cummer said he couldnt shake the feeling that there had to be more evidence out there and in October 2021, he reached out to Johnsons siblings and re-opened the case. Not long after, he got a call from Kristen Seavey, the New England true crime podcaster behind Murder, She Told, who had learned about the new investigation from a local newspaper article.

She wanted in. Seavey offered to produce a special episode about Reeves, and the Kittery Police Department offered up rare access.

We spent two days digitizing the case file and going through every piece of evidence the police department had. Letters, timelines, old reports, Seavey said. The very last piece of evidence was a 1978 letter from Reeves and he mentions Cheryl.

The letter from Reeves Johnson that mentions the mysterious Cheryl. Photo Courtesy of Kittery Police Department/Murder, She Told

I immediately knew Cheryl must be a girlfriend, she added. It felt like a huge moment and a piece of the puzzle that we had been searching for.

Seaveys hunch was confirmed by Swartz, who remembered that Cheryl lived near her brother and may have had a young child. I remember asking for them both to come visit but I never got to meet her, Swartz said. She would have been a lovely girl. Id love to meet her.

Seavey and Cummer acknowledge that finding Cherylwho they believe was in her late twenties or early thirties at the timemight not yield answers to Johsonss disappearance. But they say she might have insight into the welder's life in Kittery. Cummer said that since reopening the case, he has not found anyone in Kittery who seems to remember Johnson. He and Swartz are offering a $6,000 reward for information that breaks the case.

Swartz said that she is sure her brother is no longer alive, but still holds out hope that the day will come when she no longer has to wonder what happened to him.

He was never the kind of person to just vanish, Swartz said. And Ive been waiting for so long for answers.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

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Grant Shapps made his second visit to Ukraine as defence secretary last week

Grant Shapps aborted a trip to southern Ukraine last week for "security reasons", the UK defence ministry said.

The defence secretary had to scrap his visit to Odesa last week after UK intelligence reportedly warned Russia had become aware of his travel plans.

Mr Shapps was due to travel to Odesa a day after a missile hit the city while the Ukrainian president and the Greek prime minister were visiting.

Five people were killed in the strike, Ukrainian authorities said.

Mr Shapps had travelled on an overnight train from Poland to Ukraine, accompanied by chief of the defence staff, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, and a small team of British officials. The aim of their journey was to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and senior members of his wartime administration.

But having arrived in Kyiv on 7 March, Mr Shapps's onward journey to Odesa was cancelled abruptly at the last minute, following fears surrounding his safety.

According to the Sunday Times, which had a reporter travelling with his delegation, the trip was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlin's knowledge of it.

It added that the strike in Odesa the previous day raised the threat level to Mr Shapps's safety from substantial to critical.

"Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless and careless," Mr Shapps told the newspaper.

"The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two western leaders, it doesn't matter whether that is deliberate or accidental.

"What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing?"

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "On a recent trip to Ukraine, the defence secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons.

"The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the defence secretary's visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putin's aggression."

Earlier this week it emerged that an RAF plane carrying Mr Shapps between the UK and Poland had its GPS signal jammed while flying close to Russian territory.
Why not vouchers for more?





Government uses our taxes to provide libraries, transportation, public hospitals, water and sewer services and recreational facilities in parks. If we choose not to use them, should government give us money to buy books, buy gas for our cars, go to a private hospital, dig a well and install a septic tank or join a country club?

No. And Id bet that Gov. Greg Abbott agrees.

Government uses our taxes to provide public schools. If we choose not to use them, should government give us money for private schools?

Why is Abbotts answer not the same? Because private-school interests give his campaign money? Or because he thinks religious education will make students more likely to vote conservative? There must be some reason.

- George Michael Sherry, Fort Worth

Social Security cant go on like this

Politicians are lying if they claim they will not touch Social Security. They must, and heres why: At birth, my life expectancy was 60.8 years. I had less than a 50-50 chance of ever collecting Social Security. If you live to be 65, in average or better health, the odds of living to 85 are high. The fastest growing segment of our population is those older than 65.

Only about 2 1/2 workers contribute to Social Security for every recipient. That number is projected to drop to two workers for every recipient in the near future. This is not sustainable. The age for future retirees must be raised, or the whole system will collapse.

- Lorin R. Wilson, Colleyville

Texas women misdirected

Bud Kennedys Sunday commentary Few gains, big losses for Republican women in Texas primary (1C) lays it on the line: The real losers in the March 5 election were Texas women. Politically and socially, the current Texas leadership (dominated by Republican men) is moving us backward.

Keep blindly voting for male GOP leadership, and were going to set Texas women back 100 years.

- Owen Daniel, Fort Worth

The health care fix is obvious

As a retired certified public accountant with a bachelors degree in economics, Im a numbers guy. From this perspective, I propose that like-minded citizens should advocate for a more cost-effective way to pay for the medical needs of Americas most vulnerable. They correctly seek hospital emergency departments when they are sick or injured, because other providers refuse to care for them and risk not getting paid.

The solution is obvious: a single-payer system.

- Brent Neuenfeldt, Fort Worth

Massive hypocrisy on IVF

The Alabama Supreme Court ruling that asserts that human embryos are equivalent to human life will stifle in vitro fertilization efforts for couples who are struggling to conceive. Other conservative courts may also rule this way.

Even a large majority of pro-life proponents favor IVF. If state laws are passed that defend IVF, these decisions will ultimately be decided by the same U.S. Supreme Court that ruled against individual reproductive rights with the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

I am a Christian. But the rectitude and hypocrisy of some Christians who oppose reproductive rights, including IVF, is stunning.

- Mike Lee Estes, Fort Worth

No more need to set aside a time

Since COVID-19 struck in 2020, an appointment has been required to obtain or renew a Texas drivers license. That was fine before vaccines. But when Gov. Greg Abbott lifted many restrictions, he failed to end the appointment requirement.

Its time to stop requiring appointments, and if the governor wont do it himself, the Legislature should in 2025.

- Joseph Anderson, Fort Worth
(Bloomberg) -- A veteran of alternative investment management has started pitching a new type of securitization he says would allow banks to cut the carbon footprint of their balance sheets.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Andrew Hohns, a former managing director at hedge fund Mariner Investment Group who now runs Newmarket Capital, says hes currently in talks with a number of banks to construct such novel transfers.

For banks, repackaging and transferring the credit risk from their loan books to less-regulated private fund managers is nothing new. The appeal for investors on the other side of such deals is they can get double-digit returns, while banks get capital relief, freeing them up to do more business.

Newmarket, a Philadelphia-based alternative asset manager that specializes in structured credit, is now pitching a similar mechanism for banks to repackage and transfer their so-called financed emissions, which represent the greenhouse gas pollution linked to their lending and investment activities. Banks that channel a lot of capital into the fossil-fuel industry, for example, would have big financed emissions.

The idea is to transfer the credit risk, but at the same time transfer the so-called emissions risk to a third-party investor outside of the banking system, such as ourselves, Hohns said.

Such structured products would be the latest in a string of innovations that includes everything from debt-for-nature swaps to novel use of carbon offsets, as the wizards of high finance experiment with new instruments to tackle climate risk. Applying a risk-transfer model to carbon emissions remains experimental, in large part because its hard to assign monetary values to such risk and because no rules exist to guide such a construction.

Story continues

Meanwhile, banks face growing pressure from regulators to slash their financed emissions. In Europe, where ESG regulations are more advanced than in other jurisdictions, the main industry watchdog has already put lenders on notice.

The European Banking Authority said in October its revising the framework that sets industry-wide capital requirements  known as Pillar 1  to incorporate environmental and social risks. The EBA says the change means that banks will need to review the ESG default and loss probabilities in their portfolios, as well as the risk weights that go into determining how much capital they set aside for each client account.

Read More: Banks Told to Review Clients in Historic ESG Crackdown in EU

Read More: Wall Street Makes Zero Progress in Energy Finance Transition

With so-called emissions-weighted risk transfers, banks can use the same kind of mental models that have been built up on the regulatory capital side to reasonably state that theyve reduced the emissions intensity of their portfolio, Hohns said.

The global standard-setter for financed emissions reporting, the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials, doesnt offer guidance for such securitizations. CDP, a nonprofit that advises public and private entities on how to measure and report their carbon footprint, said such transfers dont address the wider challenge of reducing emissions in absolute terms.

An emissions-weighted risk transfer isnt innovation, this is engineering, said Amir Sokolowski, director of climate at CDP. The purpose of this financial engineering instrument seems to be to cut the link between emissions and risk, but the result may threaten both direct action and the steer of sustainable finance, he said.

Wolfgang Kuhn, chief executive of Kuhn Advisory & Research and a member of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group, also voiced skepticism. The original sin of the global financial crisis was separating origination from risk-taking, he said. With emissions-weighted risk transfers, the question is whether we are going to repeat the exact same concept.

The financial appeal of such instruments, however, has attracted the attention of other structured credit specialists besides Newmarket Capital. Ryan Dunfield, chief executive of SAF Group, a Canadian private credit investor, says hes also had talks with banks about taking on their emissions risk. Like Hohns, he declined to name the banks because those talks remain private.

Dunfield said demand for such instruments rests primarily on the regulatory landscape. Ultimately its going to be regulators saying were going to increase your capital density, and the economics will actually drive [banks] to start hitting those transactions, he said.

Structures that SAF has discussed with banks include a so-called black carbon pool, Dunfield said. The idea is to create a vehicle into which banks can move all their emissions-intensive financings, he said. SAF would then seek to match those with carbon offsets, he added.

Read More: BlackRock Manager Predicts 40% Jump in Bank Risk Transfer Deals

Appetite for transferring credit risk, meanwhile, is growing among banks. Deals for synthetic risk transfers reached about $20 billion last year, as banks lowered their exposure on roughly $200 billion of loans. Thats roughly double the level transferred to third parties a decade ago, Hohns estimates.

While European banks like Banco Santander SA, Barclays Plc and Societe Generale SA, as well as Canadian lenders including Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada and The Bank of Nova Scotia have been the biggest users of synthetic risk transfers in previous years, Wall Street is fast catching up.

BlackRock Inc. has said the market has the potential to grow at about 35% a year, as the instruments gain acceptance and tougher capital rules take hold. Meanwhile, investing giants including Ares Management Corp., KKR & Co. and Blackstone Inc. also are devoting resources to exploring such deals.

Read More: Hot Credit Trade for 2024 Risks Getting Caught in Basel Backlash

As an add-on, the capital relief achieved through emissions-weighted risk transfers would free up banks to channel more funds into green projects, Hohns said.

Newmarket Capital already classifies two types of synthetic risk transfer as impact deals. The first is structured around a green underlying asset, such as a renewable energy project. The other is structured around an underlying asset thats not green, but for which the bank has pledged to put the freed-up capital toward environmental or social projects.

Conventional forms of energy are likely going to continue to require financing for the better part of the next century, they represent good credit risk and are important tools for human flourishing, Hohns said. Well continue to invest.

--With assistance from Laura Benitez, Esteban Duarte and Frances Schwartzkopff.

(Adds comment from critic of SRTs in 12th paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Rachael Wright-Turner developed PTSD while working as a "humanitarian assistance lead" in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy

A former council boss has won a 4.6 million payout after suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) working with bereaved families in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Rachael Wright-Turner, 52, developed the condition while working as a humanitarian assistance lead at Kensington and Chelsea council with people affected by the tragedy in which 72 people died.

She then moved to the neighbouring Hammersmith and Fulham council to take up a 125,000-a-year role as director of public service reform, but was sacked in 2018 while on sick leave.

The Labour-run authority has been ordered to pay 4.6 million  equating to 25 per resident of the London borough  after an employment tribunal ruled she had suffered disability discrimination and harassment.

Ms Wright-Turner was signed off work after a meeting with senior staff in May 2018 at a pub triggered her PTSD, as the Grenfell inferno had left a movie playing in her head.

She had a panic attack and was taken to hospital but senior council officers made the untrue claim to colleagues that she had been drunk before being taken to A&E, the tribunal heard.

She had separately been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), after which the councils former chief executive Kim Smith questioned if she had disclosed this when she was recruited, the tribunal was told.

She was dismissed while on sick leave and the letter informing her of this did not mention PTSD or ADHD to avoid any inference that this decision was in any way connected with the claimants mental health or related sickness absence, the tribunal panel said.

The deadly 2017 fire at Grenfell Tower in west London claimed 72 lives - Jonathan Brady/PA

The panel said that Ms Smith and the councils former HR director had falsely told the tribunal that Ms Wright-Turner was handed an extended probation period on the morning she went to hospital, when in fact it was taken a day later when it emerged she was taking sick leave.

Ms Wright-Turner told the Mail on Sunday: This case has cost us everything. Before this started, I was married with two children in private school.

Now my marriage has collapsed, Im fighting to stop my house from being repossessed and my children have been left devastated after being forced to leave their schools.

A Hammersmith and Fulham council spokesman said: We are very sorry for the ordeal suffered by Ms Wright-Turner, who joined Hammersmith and Fulham council in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy in 2017.

However, we have always considered Ms Wright-Turners claim for compensation to be vastly excessive, disputed and highly unprecedented.

While we are grateful to the tribunal panel for dismissing many of the exceptional claims that her lawyers have made, we still believe this award is excessive and will be looking to appeal.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A long-simmering debate over cities' ability to regulate group homes has landed at the State Capitol, as housing providers claim rental licenses have become a "backdoor tool to discriminate" against Minnesotans with disabilities.

State lawmakers are considering an exemption from local rental licensing regulations for assisted living facilities and residential programs for people with disabilities that have six or fewer residents. Municipalities are pushing back on the idea, saying it would remove an important mechanism to quickly respond to bad actors.

"This type of city authority is intended to ensure that any health and safety needs can be addressed effectively and promptly," said Patricia Nauman, who leads Metro Cities, an association representing metro area municipalities. She noted group home residents are potentially most affected by issues at a property.

Thousands of Minnesotans live in group homes operated by various organizations. The small residential facilities house people who need a wide range of supports to live, including people with developmental or physical disabilities, mental illness or traumatic brain injuries.

Local oversight of group homes has been in the spotlight in recent years after New Hope revoked the rental permits of two assisted living facilities that served people with disabilities, including tenants who had mental health and substance use disorders.

The housing providers sued, claiming the city had violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Their lawsuit highlighted a controversial comment from New Hope City Council Member Jonathan London, who said in a meeting that, "They need to realize that not everyone can live next door in a residential setting." A judge dismissed the case.

London said last week that he stands by his comment, and while he isn't advocating for a return to institutionalization he believes some people need to be in a hospital. There has been an "exploding" number of group homes in New Hope, London said, and a facility the council shut down in his community did not have staff with sufficient training to meet clients' needs, putting both group home residents and neighbors in danger.

State officials are slow to respond to reported problems, London said, and he contended cities are closer to the daily operations of providers and should retain power over the rental licenses.

Instances of cities revoking a group home rental license are rare in Minnesota. But providers said they are worried cities are also wielding the licenses to keep people out of their communities.

Cities are getting aggressive in punishing rental properties where there are a lot of police calls, said Josh Berg, an Elko New Market City Council member who works at Accessible Space, which houses people with disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.

"In their opinion it's a drain on the police and the fire and the resources of the community," he said, noting cities would not penalize a homeowner who needed to make a lot of emergency calls.

Assisted living facilities and group homes for people with disabilities already undergo a robust licensing and inspection process, and the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center is the appropriate entity to handle concerns, not cities, Berg said.

Glenn Berland has lived in a four-person group home operated by Accessible Space for more than 30 years. Before that, his sister Gloria Hoffman said he was in a larger institution and would often ask to move out, wishing for a place where he could feel more independent.

Berland, 70, was in a car accident when he was 17 that limited his mobility and ability to communicate. But he taps his feet and will occasionally join in on a Beatles song when his brother-in-law strums the guitar on the back patio of the group home, which sits at the end of a residential block in Coon Rapids.

His small room brims with Packers and Beatles decor. A big window by his bed looks out at bird feeders his sister placed in the front yard.

"It's really a home environment," Hoffman said during a visit with her brother Friday. "I think anybody would want that for their family or for their loved one, or for themselves."

Minnesota decided decades ago to shift people out of institutions with the goal of having people live in home-like settings in the community of their choice, said Barb Turner, with Beacon Specialized Living. Support for that philosophy seemingly has shifted, she said, as group homes are housing people with more serious behavioral challenges.

Some communities are very welcoming to group homes, she said, but if providers just gravitate toward those places it would limit where people can live and unfairly burden some cities.

"To me it's the slippery slope," Turner said. "If every city acted like New Hope, then where would we go?"

Many cities already do not require rental licensing for group homes and lawmakers should make that consistent across the state, said Rep. Brion Curran, DFL-Vadnais Heights, who is the carrying the bill to exempt certain providers from local rental licensing regulations.

"Our neighbors with disabilities, like all of us, deserve to live in a friendly neighborhood free from discrimination and scrutiny," said Curran, who previously worked for a nonprofit that provides group homes.

The League of Minnesota Cities opposes the bill. But Daniel Lightfoot, with the League, suggested the legislation could be tweaked so that it doesn't completely remove municipalities' ability to impose the licenses on group homes, but makes it clear that "rental licensing shall not have the effect of prohibiting group homes."

Trevor Turner, with the Minnesota Council on Disability, echoed that message and suggested the bill could add a clause saying those housing providers are exempt  if they meet certain requirements. He said he doesn't want to see discrimination, but noted city licensure can provide an important additional layer of housing oversight, particularly in greater Minnesota.
A Guatemalan illegal immigrant accused of killing a police officer last year has been released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, 19, was charged with aggravated manslaughter of an officer after a scuffle involving several law enforcement officers in Florida in May 2023.

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Kunovich died as a result of the incident, but charges against Mendez were dropped last month.

On Friday, Aguilar Mendez's lawyer, Phillip Arroyo, shared a TikTok video showing the moment Mendez was released for the first time since May 2023. The video shows the teen smiling and nodding while speaking with Arroyo as they walk toward a camera.

MIGRANT INITIALLY ACCUSED IN GANG ATTACK ON NYPD OFFICERS HAS CHARGES DROPPED AFTER BEING EXONERATED: DA

Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, 19, walks out of detention Friday with his lawyer.

"Virgilio Aguilar finally FREE! God is great," Arroyo wrote in a caption in Spanish.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The release comes 10 months after Kunovich, 52, collapsed from "medical distress" during the encounter with Aguilar Mendez, who was 18 at the time. The officer later died.

According to the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office, Kunovich initially approached Aguilar Mendez about 9 p.m. on May 19, suspecting him of a crime. Aguilar Mendez then continued walking away from the deputy.

NEW MEXICO POLICE OFFICER FATALLY SHOT, 'ARMED AND DANGEROUS' SUSPECT ON THE LOOSE

"Aguilar Mendez was walking on a public sidewalk and speaking with his mother, which is not a crime," a lawsuit states. "When Sgt. Kunovich seized Aguilar Mendez, he stopped and did not try to flee."

The officer pursued Aguilar Mendez, who apologized in English, before continuing to resist the arrest.

The migrant was allegedly confused and told the deputy, "I'm sorry, no speak, no speak English."

Other deputies, including those who spoke Spanish, responded, and officers tased the migrant and tackled him to the ground, Sheriff Robert Hardwick said at the time.

Defense attorney Jose Baez has joined Aguilar Mendez's defense.

The sheriffs office said the deputies attempted to restrain Aguilar Mendez, who they claim was resisting arrest.

The deputies then handcuffed the migrant , but he managed to acquire a small pocketknife. The office did not say if the migrant attempted to use the weapon.

The scuffle was recorded by the officers bodycams, and the lawyers point to the video as evidence of the migrants inability to understand or speak English.

Aguilar Mendez's attorney, Jose Baez, argued his client was confused and did not understand the purpose or reason for the officers to pile on him, to physically strike him multiple times and the repeated use of a Taser by Sgt. Kunovich.

A lawsuit filed by Baez claimed Lt. Jose Jimenez, another responding deputy, did not make Aguilar Mendez aware of his Miranda rights or attempt to obtain an interpreter for him.

The 7th District State Attorney's Office agreed and issued a statement.

"Recent expert testimony regarding the defendants inability to comprehend the English language, his cultural background and concerns about his intellectual capacity have raised significant issues to consider in the case," the state attorney's office said.

Sgt. Michael Kunovich was a 25-year veteran of the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

"Furthermore, based on the courts recent ruling that the defendant is incompetent to proceed based on that expert testimony, dismissal of the charges is appropriate. Arrest and time served is sufficient."

Kunovich was a 25-year veteran of the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, and Sheriff Hardwick described him as a "valued member of the St. Johns County Office who passionately dedicated his career to keeping our community safe."

Fox News' Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.





Original article source: Guatemalan illegal migrant accused in police sergeant's death is released
Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and the German Naval Signals HQ will open to the public from Wednesday

Three heritage sites across Guernsey are set to reopen for the spring.

Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and the German Naval Signals HQ will reopen to the public from Wednesday.

The Lieutenant-Governor Lt-General Richard Cripwell will fire the first noon-day gun of the year.

Helen Glencross, head of Heritage Services, said members of the public could attend to mark the start of "what will hopefully be a successful summer".

She said: "We have seen a very positive start to the year at Guernsey Museum and we hope that we see that trend continue at our other sites through the summer.

"We are excited to have a wonderful programme of exhibitions, displays and special events across our four sites in 2024."

The States said the sites would stay open until 3 November.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
Eliantes Jean Jacques, a Haitian immigrant who has lived in Florida for more than three decades, is long familiar with the political instability, economic turmoil, and natural disasters that have left his homeland teetering on the precipice of collapse.

But Haitis recent descent into gang-fueled lawlessness and chaos, Jean Jacques said, seems more ominous. The gangs appear to have more guns than the police, who have all but disappeared. Armed groups control ports and major roads. Inmates have been freed from jails. Gangs have shut down the airport. They run rampant as kidnappings and murders spread rapidly beyond the capital of Port-au-Prince.

Jean Jacques, 66, said in a phone interview that since February his 55-year-old brother and a 36-year-old cousin have been killed by the armed groups. He has not heard from his brothers children or two cousins in Haiti since last week.

Im afraid gangs will kill them. They dont care, said Jean Jacques, a cook in North Miami. I cry and cry. I dont know whats going to happen.

In Florida, home to more than 270,000 people born in Haiti, residents with ties to the impoverished nation spend hours checking on friends and loved ones coping with homelessness, dwindling food supplies, violence and uncertainty. Community leaders and some elected officials question the decision of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, to deploy more than 250 law enforcement officers and soldiers to the Florida Keys to protect our state and stop a possible surge of Haitian migrants fleeing the violence.

Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition and a native of Haiti, criticized the states attempt to respond to the long evolving Haiti crisis with more violence and militarization.

I have family members who have had to leave Haiti and moved to the Dominican Republic, said Petit, whose coalition is part of a vast network of organizations providing services to the Floridas Haitian community. It gets worse day after a day. People are dying. More and more businesses are being burned to the ground. Whatever was left is being completely destroyed.

No increase in Haitian migrants seen

A migrant surge has yet to materialize, though previous crises have forced Haitians to risk their lives by taking to the sea in hopes of reaching Florida.

We have always been on high alert knowing that the way Haiti has been that people will take to the sea, Petit said. We do know that when a country is closed, the borders are closed, the airports are closed, and people are trying to flee to safety, then theyre going to do whatever they can. To think that people would rather risk dying in high seas than staying home is just a confirmation of how dangerous Haiti is.

On Wednesday, DeSantis announced that he was sending additional personnel  including more than 130 soldiers  to the Keys, along with more than a dozen aircraft and boats, to stop what his office called the possibility of invasion by Haitian migrants. The deployment includes officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, and members of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard.

The US Coast Guard said Tuesday that it had repatriated 65 migrants to Haiti after they were picked up on a boat near the Bahamas. Since October 1, the Coast Guard said, it has repatriated 131 migrants to Haiti.

The Coast Guard said it has not seen an increase in migrants from Haiti in recent weeks.

DeSantis office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Weve sort of been there before, said Gepsie Metellus, executive director of the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center in North Miami, referring to previous crisis-fueled surges in migration from Haiti.

And we always in the end harness the community resources to be able to to assist with any influx. So, are we expecting more people? Well, you know, people have been trickling in before things erupted to where we are today. Are there more people coming? Its very likely.

Its hard to live with so much stress

A public van passes burning tires left on a road Tuesday during a demonstration in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. - Guerinault Louis/Anadolu/Getty Images

The situation in Haiti deteriorates by the day. Beleaguered Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his decision to step aside, but it is not clear who will fill the void or when. A transitional government has yet to materialize, and plans for a Kenyan-led stabilization force have stalled.

Residents leave their homes only rarely in Port-au-Prince as daily gun battles between police and gangs break out in the streets. The United Nations is planning an air bridge between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo, in the neighboring Dominican Republic, in an effort to bring vital supplies to the city.

Eighty percent of Port-au-Prince is now controlled by gangs, according to UN estimates. Haiti was thrown into crisis at the start of March, as gangs called for the resignation of Henry and his government.

The country is facing its most crippling security crisis in years, with some 5.5 million people  about half the population  in need of humanitarian assistance.

Henry came to power unelected in 2021 after the assassination of Haitis then-President Jovenel Moise. Henrys tenure has been marred by spiraling gang violence, which intensified after he failed to hold elections last month, saying the countrys insecurity would compromise the vote. On Monday, amid enormous pressure to staunch the violence, Henry stepped down.

Everybody who has friends or family in Haiti, we wake up every day, and we check our phones to make sure whether or not we hear the news of a friend or family member whos been attacked, whose house has been completely destroyed, who has died, Petit said. Its hard to live with so much stress on a daily basis.

Haitian community leaders and elected officials in Florida accuse DeSantis of playing politics with the plight of vulnerable refugees.

Rather than harass refugees who are literally fleeing for their lives, to make it look like hes doing something with a show of force at the southern end of the state, we can focus state law enforcement resources on working with federal partners to make sure shipments from Florida are throughly screened for illegal arms and munitions, said Florida state Rep. Dotie Joseph, a Democrat who represents North Miami and was born in Haiti.

We need to treat those fleeing violence with dignity and compassion, rather than manipulating the situation for political gain.

CNNs Caitlin Stephen Hu, David Culver, Evelio Contreras, Tara John, Carlos Suarez and Denise Royal contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A New Hampshire man has been indicted on murder charges in connection with the deaths of a woman and her unborn child.

William Kelly, 38, was indicted by a Carroll County grand jury on one count of second-degree murder for recklessly causing the December 2023 death of Christine Falzone under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life through multiple blunt force injuries, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall, and Ossipee Police Chief Donald Babbin announced Friday.

Kelly was also indicted on a charge of second-degree murder for recklessly causing the death of Falzones unborn child, authorities said.

Falzone was said to be about 35-37 weeks pregnant when she was found beaten to death in Ossipee.

Kelly is slated to be arraigned Monday morning on the charges in Carroll County Superior Court.

He is currently being held without bail.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Ms Jobson, who works as a carer for children with disabilities, plans to go on holidays and buy her own home

A carer from Hartlepool has scooped a top lottery prize of 10,000 a month for 30 years.

Joanne Jobson, 51, said she woke from a night shift and "jumped out of bed" after learning she had won the National Lottery's Set For Life jackpot.

Ms Jobson, who cares for children with disabilities, described it as a "life-changing" moment.

She said it had been "so emotional" and added that she was planning to buy a home and book some holiday trips.

Ms Jobson, who lives with her mother and is saving to buy a house, said she was "reluctant to believe" she had won the draw on 22 February.

"I logged onto my account and couldn't believe what I was reading," she said.

"I had to re-read the message several times as I thought it was telling me what I could win, not what I had actually won."

Ms Jobson says she now has financial "peace of mind" for her and her family

Ms Jobson, who has been a carer for 17 years, continued: "I jumped out of bed and went to tell my mum.

"I remember just saying to mum, 'I think I might have won a lot of money' and showing her my phone - mum was convinced it was a scam."

She plans to take her family on holidays to locations including Barbados, the Maldives and "may even go on a world cruise".

She said she had "peace of mind" knowing she was financially secure.

"I'm going from working nights and saving hard to being able to buy things when I want and plan holidays I could only have dreamt of before," she explained.

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What was making news in our area during this week in years past? The History Museum offers these newspaper excerpts to give you an idea.

March 17, 1905:  It is a singular fact, says A. Roy Knabenshue, that when one is going as much as 15 or 20 miles an hour in an airship one has no sensation of moving whatever. The air beats in your face as you move along, but it only creates the impression that one is standing still in a strong breeze. There are no objects flying past you as when you are traveling on the surface of the earth, and as you must keep your eyes looking ahead of you you observe only distant objects, so distant because of your high point of view that you approach them apparently so slowly youdo not seem to move at all.   The South Bend Tribune

March 18, 1913: Artists and designers in South Bend and elsewhere have an opportunity of winning cash and fame in a competition instituted by the National Highways association in its desire to secure a satisfactory design for its membership certificates.  The South Bend Tribune

March 19, 1927: Speaking from WSBT, The Tribunes broadcasting station, Friday evening R. C. Stephenson, president of the St. Joseph Loan & Trust company, told his radio audience of the advantages of South Bend and the great St. Joseph valley for residence and business. He was the ninth speaker in the series of talks on South Bend being broadcast from WSBT at the suggestion of The Tribune for the purpose of advertising South Bend and the St. Joseph valley to the American people.  The South Bend Tribune

March 20, 1932: Sentenced by Federal Judge Thomas W. Slick Saturday to serve a year and a day in the federalpenitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., for violation of the prohibition act, Joseph Gordon, one of the larger wholesalers of alcohol in South Bend, was enroute to prison to-day. He was one of 10 prisoners being taken there under heavy guard by Deputy Marshals William Cordier and Homer Atkins. With Gordon was another prisoner who was sentenced Saturday by Judge Slick. He is James DeGarzio, Melrose Park, Ill., alcohol runner and alleged Capone henchmen. He was given a year and a day for violating the prohibition act.  The South Bend Tribune

March 21, 1948: Riley High school is preparing to share its books with a teachers seminary at Coburg, Germany. The project, sponsored by the student council, is the result of a pleading letter from a student in the German school. The letter was addressed to The Headmaster of a high school in South Bend, Ind., and found its way to Riley because of its previous projects of sharing with European schools.  The South Bend Tribune

March 22, 1954: A demonstration in the use of foam pumped through section hose in extinguishing a fire was given Sunday afternoon on the grounds of Fulmer School by the South Side division of the Penn Township volunteer fire department.  The South Bend Tribune

March 23, 1969: Art class isnt just a way of getting a grade at Washington High School. To those students involved it is practically a way of life. Some 30 students devote 10 hours a week to art classes, virtually every minute of which is spent in intense concentration. Discipline is no problem. Teachers know that when they leave the room the same work pace will continue uninterrupted.  The South Bend Tribune

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: 1932: Year term at Leavenworth given to bootlegger, Joseph Gordon
HOUGHTON COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN)  When you think of Irish immigrants coming to the United States, you might think of big cities like Boston and New York, but Michigan is part of that history.

Actually, Michigan was an attractive destination for many Irish immigrants, especially after the 1830s when the Erie Canal was constructed, said Lindsay Hiltunen, University Archivist, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections. Detroit was already known as a Catholic enclave at that point, so many Irish were coming up and shipping up over toward Detroit. Then once they were in the state, it really opened up a lot of opportunities for them to explore different types of industry, adventure and exploration in the state of Michigan.

That includes the Upper Peninsula.

The iron district and the copper district were popular destinations, said Hiltunen. Many Irish immigrants were coming from the three major copper mining districts in Ireland, so this is county Wiclow, county Waterford, and county Cork. So they were coming with these industrial hard rock mining skills that they could bring to the U.P. industrial zones. At the earliest opening up of industrialization for the copper districts, were seeing roughly about 30% Irish make up within the different ethnic populations that were coming to work in the mines. This did dwindle as were getting into the early 20th century, but in the mid 1800s and late 1800s, it was roughly 1/3 of the population was Irish.

It wasnt just in the mining industry. Irish immigrants also thrived in retail, agriculture, commercial fishing and lumbering.

He was named James Sinclair Stringer, said Hiltunen. He was born of Irish parents downstate, and he moved up to the Upper Peninsula. I n 1894 he purchased the Sturgeon River Lumber Company, which was located in Chassell, right on Chassell Bay. Its near the location where Centennial Park is now. He was a well-respected businessman, and he at one point operated on the only planning mill in Houghton County, which was so important for the lumber industry up here to have that type of an industrial planning mill. Its still recognized and celebrated in Chassells history today. Even though the company shut down in 1928, its history is celebrated through a Chassell historic walking trail by Centennial Park.

Hiltunen says these Irish immigrants made a sense of community, that can still be felt in the Copper Country today.

One thing that we do know for sure is that the Irish did have a very strong community outlook, said Hiltunen. There was definitely evidence of them operating benevolent societies in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. So these are essentially fraternal organizations that people would belong to. They would pay dues, and then when dues were collected, they would create insurance to help a neighbor that maybe fell on some hardship, or if there was someone that had an accident in the mine or maybe a fatality within the mine, there would be some funds to assist families and to assist individuals going through difficult times. Then there is also this really strong commitment to the Catholic Church. We see evidence of this on the landscape now with the beautiful architecture. We have wonderful sandstone and stone churches that dot our landscape in Hancock and Calumet. I think of Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick Church at one point and then also Sacred Heart in Calumet have that strong Irish connection. Having something to rally around, whether it was a fraternal organization or a religious one, we know that there was a strong sensibility about having a strong community. So even if there were hardships that were faced, the Irish folk that migrated to this part of the state were very hearty and they cared about their neighbor. That evidence, that spirit of charity and helpfulness, I think thats part of the Yooper spirit. I think the Irish had a really strong hand in helping to craft that.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.
A murder investigation has been launched after a man was hit by a Land Rover in Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of an unresponsive male on Olympic Street, Beswick, at just before 11am on Saturday.

Despite the efforts of members of the public and emergency services at the scene, the victim, a 57-year-old man, was pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made but a full investigation is under way, with officers believing the man was hit by a black Land Rover.

Detective Inspector Rachel Smith said: I would like to thank the brave members of public who immediately came to assist the victim as emergency services arrived at the scene.

This is a tragic incident where a man has lost his life and our priority at this time is supporting his family and getting them the answers they deserve. Our thoughts remain with them at this devastating time.

I understand and share the shock that this incident will cause the community.

She called for anyone who saw anything suspicious or who witnessed the incident to come forward.

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A bamboo wall at Commune by the Great Wall in the Yangqing District of Beijing, and belonging to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand. Source: Hyatt.

Hyatt has bet big on developing hotels in China despite recent turmoil in the commercial real estate market. Hyatt executives acknowledged the risks Thursday, but explained reasons for optimism.

What we hear from our team on the ground is that the government is doing things to help companies because there have been some challenges in the property market, said Joan Bottarini, Hyatts CFO. The government is helping property developers because this is the way to continue to stimulate the economy in certain markets. Theyre helping them to get these hotels advanced and financed.

About 40% of Hyatts pipeline of 127,000 rooms worldwide is in China.

Yet Chinas commercial real estate market is struggling, and theres been a potential spillover effect in delaying hotel development, as cash-strapped partners might not be able to work with Hyatt as quickly as in the past.

Distressed sales comprised more than 20% of Chinese commercial real estate deals last year, MSCI Real Assets said this week. Sales of all types of property were down by a third year-over-year.

We have a significant portion of our hotels there that are state-owned, Bottarini said. So that support comes directly into those ownership groups and then some of the private enterprises are getting some support from the government. We see that in the future, openings should be accelerating.

A majority of Chinas hotels are independently run on a small scale. Hyatt, other international hotel groups, and Chinese home-grown groups like Jinjiang and H World all believe more owners will sign up to become franchises of global brands.

Hyatt goes downmarket in China

Hyatt is known in the U.S. and Europe for its luxury and upscale properties. But in a departure from that image, over 90% of Hyatts properties in China are in the economy and midscale segments.

The hotel operator also wants to expand its limited-service offering in Chinas second-tier and third-tier cities. Hyatt has six regional offices in China, which aim to find well-located, independently run hotels with good buildings and without brands.

Story continues

Hyatt seeks local hotel partners

In 2019, Hyatt and BTG Homeinns Hotels Group co-created UrCove by Hyatt, an upper-midscale brand pitched to Chinas business travelers.

Hyatt executives said Thursday that about 40 of them are now open as hotels converted from independent ownership, and up to 100 are in the pipeline.

Hyatts 2018 acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality brought it a wellness brand, Alila, and Hyatt has expanded its resorts in Chinese cities.

Hyatt continues to work with local partners to grow. Last month, it added to its set of local partners in China by signing deals with Hangzhou Trade and Tourism Group and The Dragon Group to add independent and select-service hotels to its network.

HTTG is a developer of upscale hotels in China. The Dragon Group oversees hotels on behalf of investors and has named Hyatt a new third-party management company for 60 franchised hotels within China the companies plan to develop over the coming decade. The first will be a Hyatt Place hotel in Hangzhou.

Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Though the role of Americas first lady has evolved over the years, the fine line they are forced to walk and the impact that they leave on the nation has not.

Whether it is serving as a hostess to foreign leaders or as a ceremonial representative of the ideal American spouse, every first lady has handled the job in their own way.

Betty Ford certainly did. She wasnt exactly a fashion icon like Jackie Kennedy and didnt serve as a dignitary quite like Eleanor Roosevelt, but Fords style and personality connected with the American public. You can see how her West Michigan roots shaped that persona.

A 1936 photo shows Betty Ford, left, and fellow dancer Mary Snapp perform in Scenes from Scaramouche at the Calla Travis School of Dance in Grand Rapids. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

A 1937 photo shows Betty Ford practicing in a class at the Bennington College Summer School of Dance in Bennington, Vermont. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

A 1942 photo shows Betty Ford in a sensuous pose in a benefit performance of Fantasy. At this time, Betty had returned to Grand Rapids and was an instructor at the Call Travis School of Dance. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

Gerald and Betty Ford walk out of Grace Episcopal Church after getting married on Oct. 15, 1948. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

A 1949 photo shows Betty Ford and her mother-in-law, Dorothy Gardner Ford, attending a luncheon at Herpolsheimers department store where Betty once worked as a fashion coordinator. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

WHO WAS BETTY FORD?

The basics about Betty Ford are well known. She was raised in Grand Rapids and graduated from Central High School. She eventually married a young lawyer and worked alongside him as he climbed his way up the legislative ladder, culminating in an abbreviated term in the White House.

New stamp commemorates former first lady Betty Ford

But Betty Fords impact cant be boiled down to one sentence or even one paragraph. And the story cant be told without learning about her early years.

Elizabeth Anne Bloomer was born on April 8, 1918, the third child and only daughter to her parents, William and Hortense Bloomer.

A posed photograph Elizabeth Ann Betty Bloomer in 1932. She was 14 years old. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

The future first ladys first passion was dance. She studied several styles at the Calla Travis Dance Studio and even briefly opened her own while she was still in high school.

Betty spent two summers studying modern dance at Bennington College before moving to New York City and working as a dancer and a model there, before returning home to Grand Rapids at her mothers urging.

While also teaching dance classes at the Canna Travis studio, Betty worked several other jobs, primarily at Herpolsheimers, a popular department store in downtown Grand Rapids. She started as a model and ended up working as the stores fashion coordinator and clothing buyer.

During that time, she got married. She was 24 years old when she married William Warren. Though the relationship didnt last, like everything else in her life, Betty found that those experiences shaped the person she became.

CANDOR AND HONESTY

If Betty Fords legacy as first lady could be boiled down into a few words, they would be candid, honest and forthcoming.

Perhaps more than anything else, Ford is known for sharing her struggles and standing up for her personal beliefs, even when they conflicted with the formal positions of her husband, the president of the United States, or the party and voters who support him.

Womens History Month: Anna Bissell broke barriers as Americas first female CEO

Just like dance, Betty Ford was expressive and wasnt always bound to cultural norms. Unlike some first ladies before her, she publicly expressed her own beliefs that were separate from her husbands, and Gerald Ford supported her ability to have a difference in opinion.

Brooke Clement, the director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, says Betty Ford made life a little harder on the West Wing staff, but she wasnt going to sit on the sidelines and the president wasnt going to stop her from speaking her mind.

She never shied away from being as open and candid with the American public as she possibly could, Clement told News 8. There were times I think that President Fords staff may have been a little bit shocked by some of the things that she was saying, but President Ford himself said he was not going to tell her to stop.

A 1975 photo shows first lady Betty Ford sporting a button expressing her support for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

Former first lady Betty Ford poses alongside first lady Rosalynn Carter at a 1977 rally in Houston, Texas, to support the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment. (Getty Images)

A 1975 photo shows first lady Betty Ford working at her desk. It is adorned with a flag that reads Dont Tread on Me and E.R.A. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

Betty Ford hosts her first press conference as first lady on Sept. 4, 1974. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

Betty Ford was a champion for the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equal rights for a person regardless of sex. President Ford supported the ERA, but a faction of conservative Republicans mobilized against the amendment, saying it would put some women, notably housewives, at a disadvantage.

The biographers at the National First Ladies Library believe her time as a working woman, along with her mothers time supporting their family after her fathers death, helped form her opinions on women in the workplace and income inequalities.

Betty Ford appeared to be more progressive than even her husband, who himself was considered a moderate Republican. Historian Susan Hartmann called her the most visible Republican feminist.

Betty Ford made headlines for her frank discussions on hot-button topics, including sexual freedom, reproductive rights and marijuana use, including one prolific interview with CBS News Morley Safer on 60 Minutes.

When asked about her position on abortion, Ford said, Well, if you are asked a question, you have to be honest, say exactly how you feel. And I feel very strongly that it was the best thing in the world when the Supreme Court voted to legalize abortion and, in my words, bring it out of the back woods and put it into the hospital where it belongs.

Womens History Month: Learn about Grand Rapids women legends through walking tour

On rising marijuana use, she likened it to an experience of a teen having their first beer, even going as far to say that if she were a teen now, she may have experimented with the drug.

The 60 Minutes piece started with a soundbite that served as an easy summary of the first ladys attitude.

I told my husband if we have to go to the White House, OK, I will go, but I am going as myself. Its too late to change my pattern, and if they dont like it then they will just have to throw me out, she said.

Plenty of conservatives soured on the Fords, writing angry letters, protesting outside the White House and voting against Ford in the 1976 Republican primaries. But the majority of the public bought in to her honest, down-to-Earth vibe.

Polling following the controversial interview saw Betty Fords approval numbers reach 75%  far higher than her husbands. Fords 1976 campaign used her popularity to their advantage, fashion pins and signs that read Keep Betty in the White House.

USING HER PLATFORM

More than anything, if she was going to be thrust into the spotlight, she was going to use that spotlight to do good.

Just weeks into the Ford presidency  and while facing backlash following the presidents pardon of his predecessor, Richard Nixon  Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer.

At a time when health complications were kept quiet and trust in politicians was low, the Fords made a point of being open and honest about their journey together. Whether she wanted to or not, Betty Ford knew it was the right thing to do for the country.

It was unusual to be public about (a cancer diagnosis), Ford said in a 2009 PBS NewsHour documentary. But because my husband, when he was sworn in, had made it very clear that there would be no coverup.

Earlier this month, her daughter, Susan Ford Bales, recalled what her mom told her the day of her diagnosis.

She said, The time for women hiding this disease in shame and behind closed doors has to stop. And who better to make that happen than the first lady of the United States? Ford Bales said.

A 1974 photo shows President Gerald R. Ford holding hands with the first lady while she recovers from breast cancer surgery at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. (Getty Images)

President and Mrs. Ford read a petition signed by all 100 members of the United States Senate following the First Ladys surgery for breast cancer on Oct. 2, 1974, at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

First lady Betty Ford takes questions from the press prior to a tour at the Guttman Institute for Early Detection of Breast Cancer on Nov. 7, 1975, in New York City. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

Her willingness to talk openly about her diagnosis and to encourage other women to get checked sparked a surge in breast exams and mammograms. It was so notable that experts refer to it as the Betty Ford Blip.

It became almost commonplace to say the word breast when it hadnt been before. She definitely changed the landscape there for the future of women in America, Clement said.

BEYOND THE WHITE HOUSE

Betty Ford continued to use her platform to call for progress even after her time in the White House was over. She was one of the first prominent Republicans to call attention to the AIDS epidemic and was even vocal about her disagreements over policy with future administrations. But it was another health challenge that gave Ford her legacy project: addiction treatment.

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One thing that wasnt made public during her time in the White House was Bettys undiagnosed addiction to alcohol and prescription painkillers.

The historians with the National First Ladies Library believe her role as a mother and a lawmakers wife helped keep them in check for years. But with a lighter schedule, things got out of hand.

In large part, the ongoing obligations to her children and public appearances factored into her control of the addiction, their biography states. All of it would be exacerbated by what she viewed at the time was normal alcohol consumption, routine among the cocktail parties which congressional couples were then expected to frequent.

A 1965 photo shows then-Congressman Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford posing in front of a Pan American jet at an unidentified airport. Betty Ford is wearing a neck brace, possibly from the same injury that ultimately led to her addiction to painkillers. (Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum)

By the time of her familys intervention in 1978, Ford had also been dependent on prescription painkillers for more than a decade. While not directly confirmed, most historians believe it stems from a pinched nerve in her neck that she suffered in 1965. Ford was hospitalized for two weeks and was prescribed Valium to deal with her chronic physical pain. She was also diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition that flared up while dealing with the rigors of the 1976 campaign trail.

At her familys behest, Betty Ford enrolled in a rehabilitation program at the Long Beach Naval Hospital. It was a humbling experience for the former first lady, sharing quarters with other addicts, performing chores around the facility and participating in emotionally revelatory therapy sessions alongside other patients.

The legacy of Eva McCall Hamilton, Michigans 1st woman in state legislature

Afterward, she chose not to hide or lie, but to be honest about her hospitalization and go public with her addictions to use her platform to encourage others to seek help.

She changed the trajectory of how people look at that kind of background  abuse and substance abuse and alcoholism. She definitely made it less of a stigma and more of a health issue, Clement said.

Betty Ford, the chairman and co-founder of the Betty Ford Center, poses for a photo in front of the facility in 1990. Ford maintained a hands-on role at the nonprofit until 2004, when she became chairman emeritus and her daughter, Susan Ford Bales, assumed the role. (Courtesy: Betty Ford Center)

Betty Ford speaks at a 1984 benefit for the American Cancer Research Center. (Getty Images)

After her treatment, Ford, along with a couple of other key supporters, founded the Betty Ford Center to provide more resources for people with substance abuse disorders, specifically women.

To provide more resources for women, the Betty Ford Center separated their patients by gender, and inadvertently found a path to greater success.

What we also discovered in studying these patients, is that women who were in women-only halls, and men who were only in men-only halls, were doing better, Ford Bales told PBS NewsHour. Women wouldnt discuss certain issues with men in the room, and men kind of felt like they had to be pumped-up and macho.

Carolyn Cassin, the CEO of Michigan Women Forward, praises Ford for her strength, saying the idea of going public with that confession gives her shivers.

The wife of the President of the United States admitted that she was an alcoholic and admitted that she had become addicted to painkillers, Cassin told News 8. She opened the Betty Ford Clinic and said, Heres a safe place, go get treated, go talk about this, go figure out why this is occurring in your life and what to do about it.

Meijer features local female artists for Womens History Month

Betty Ford died in 2011. She was 93 years old. Reflecting on her life, Cassin wonders how the conversations that drive our community would be shaped today if Betty were still alive, everything from mental health to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Cassin, Fords impact and legacy come down to her relatability. It wasnt just that she was candid, open, honest and trustworthy. Its that she was down-to-earth, with a Michiganders sensibility.

People would listen to her because she experienced it, Cassin said. I think thats what made it so powerful.

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Christine Blasey Ford  the psychology professor who testified at Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaughs confirmation hearing alleging he assaulted her when they were both teenagers  is speaking out again nearly six years later. In a new memoir, Ford insists that Kavanaugh must know what he did the night of the alleged assault and discusses in depth the consequences she faced, including many death threats, for coming forward.

The fact is, he was there in the room with me that night in 1982, Ford writes in the book, One Way Back. And I believe he knows what happened. Even if its hazy from the alcohol, I believe he must know.

https://twitter.com/CBSSunday/status/1769106366784848092?s=20

For survivors out there, you know it happened to you, Ford said in an interview with Tracy Smith that aired this weekend on CBS Sunday Morning. Even if no one believed you or no one thought it happened or no one saw it. There are people that are assaulted all the time where no one else was even there, and that doesnt mean it didnt happen.

I thought [Kavanaugh] might inadvertently kill me, Ford said when describing the assault to The Washington Post in 2018. He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.

In the CBS interview, Ford detailed some of the most common threats she received after coming forward. I want to see you six feet under. I want to see you 12 feet under  a lot of those. I hope you get cancer. I hope you die. I give you a year. Glad you have two kids because we have two opportunities. And all of the letters like that, they would have such similarity to them that it felt like, do these people know each other? Because how could the wording be that similar?

In 2018, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assault during high school. Her testimony sparked controversy and threats to her family. Now, Ford shares her story in the memoir "One Way Back." https://t.co/lqggzMptyu pic.twitter.com/xXlJ8KSTut  CBS Sunday Morning  (@CBSSunday) March 17, 2024

And they were threatening your family, your kids? Smith asked.

Yeah. Especially the first born, Ford said. That seemed to be a thing: Well take your first born.'

Immediately after she testified publicly, Ford said she had to hire 24/7 security for her and her family members. Even today, she still uses security guards during some of her public speaking appearances, which can cost her as much as five or ten thousand dollars per night, she said.

After she testified, Ford became a target for Republicans. Members of the GOP denied her very credible testimony. Donald Trump mocked her and called her evil. When asked if she was naive to the ramifications that would follow her testifying at Kavanaughs confirmation hearing, Ford replied, I like to use the word idealistic. Maybe I was naive for sure about the consequences and how bad it would be after I testified.

Some of Fords darkest times came when Sen. Chuck Grassley released an FBI background check report on Kavanaugh after just four days of investigation and without interviewing Ford or Kavanaugh. Through her attorneys, Ford said at the time that the report was a stain on the bureau. Years later, information from the FBI requested by members of Congress revealed that the agency failed to pursue more than 4,500 tips that came into the FBI about Kavanaugh via a tip line. Instead, they handed the information over to the Trump administrations Office of White House Counsel.

I was devastated when that report came out, Ford told CBS. I was really, really upset. That was a really difficult period that, I think, was the beginning of sort of the darkest times for me.

Ford said that many women have written to her sharing their own experiences of being sexually assaulted, and those letter writers inspired her to write her memoir. Ford now stores boxes full of those letters in her dining room.

We have made it through 30,000 [letters] so far, and all I know is there is more than that left to go, she said.

Ford said that even with the consequences that followed her coming forward, she does not regret her decision  not at all.

I grew up in D.C. I revered all of those institutions, she said. To me, the Supreme Court was sort of the ultimate. Thats where our very best people are, and I felt like the choice of saying nothing was more uncomfortable, that I would have to live with not saying anything about it.

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A hospital's ceiling caved in above a patient in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it was reported.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, in Harlow, declared a major incident after medical equipment detached from its fitting and fell to the ground on Thursday.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Services said crews worked to make the scene safe.

The Sunday Times said the ceiling collapsed onto a patient on life-support. The trust said the patient was intubated and had not been harmed, according to the publication.

Following the incident, Sharon McNally, chief nurse and deputy chief executive at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said: We can confirm that an incident took place in our ICU on 14 March, where medical equipment detached from its fitting. No-one was harmed as a result of the incident.

As a precautionary measure, we have declared a major incident as we have vacated our ICU while we fully assess and check the fittings for other medical equipment in the area.

"We are continuing to manage patients who require intensive care safely within our hospital and we are also grateful to our healthcare partners for their continued support. We are continuing our investigation of this incident to ensure patient safety.

Our emergency department and wider hospital facilities remain open as usual.

Sewage leak

Last year the hospital faced building issues of a different kind.

Worsening sewage leak problems prompted calls for an urgent decision on funding to build a new hospital.

More than 40 leaks across the hospital estate were recorded in 2022 with around half classed as unsafe.

The Department for Health and Social Care said it was working with the trust on plans for a new hospital.

What is the situation at other hospitals?

The Sunday Times also reported that Meg Hillier, the chair of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, said on weekends a matron has to check with the property manager that the floor could take the additional weight of new patients.

In an interview with the BBC, Dame Hillier said on a recent trip to Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire the committee's "jaws were really hitting the ground".

"Rather shockingly the man responsible for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete [Raac] issues is a tall man... [and] because of his height he couldn't even go on the roof because of that weight.

"[Hinchingbrooke Hospital] has to look and assess every time they send someone up on the roof at how many tools they can carry."

Despite praising the staff's resilience, she said that having to assess patients on whether or not they can be admitted in this way "is not how people working tirelessly in our NHS are expected to work".

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830

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BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB)  Hundreds of family, friends and those who never even met Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello gathered Saturday to pay their respects at his funeral Saturday. Law enforcement from around the region could be seen, with officers coming together to grieve and support one another during this hard time.

There are some individuals when you hire that you say they are going somewhere, Tommy was one of them. He was extremely reliable, knowledgeable, competent and well respected among all law enforcement agencies across New York. These are comments that arent only coming from me, but theyre coming from people he worked with, said Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron, Jr.

Sergeant Sanfratello was only 54 years old when he died in the line of duty after suffering a medical event during an altercation at Batavia Downs.

Those that knew the 32-year veteran of the Genesee County Sheriffs Office best say he died doing what came natural to him, protecting the citizens of Genesee County.

Tom passed doing what he loved to do. No greater love can a man show than that. That he would lay his life down for his friends, said the pastor at the funeral.

The funeral procession began at Genesee Community College, with the hearse carrying Sanfratello traveling to St. Josephs cemetery where he was laid to rest.

Sanfratello earned numerous recognitions for his service and dedication to his work including being awarded deputy of the year twice. While his career speaks volumes it was his family that spoke at the memorial who called him a superhero.

In life he guarded the roads and streets of this county, now in death, he guards the heavenly gates. Rest easy Pop, know the line is held, your job is done. Rest easy, rest in peace, concluded son Ian Sanfratello.

Sergeant Sanfratello is survived by his son, two daughters, mother, sisters, along with countless other family members. However, if the turn out today was any indication his memory and impact on many individuals will live on for years to come.

Latest Local News

Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Hundreds of people have gathered at a popular park estate to protest against a new charging system.

Local people will have to pay a 10 deposit to use Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire and non-residents will be charged 30 annually.

The move is the first time in 326 years an entry pass has been introduced for the Grade I park in the Cotswolds.

Lord Bathurst, who owns the historic 3,000 acre park, said the money would fund maintenance works.

He added that more than 4,000 people signed up for the passes on Wednesday.

The new system, which launched on Friday, has divided locals and visitors and a mass walk against the changes took place on Sunday.

The mass walk in Cirencester Park

Jamie Campbell said the charge is 'appalling'

Some local residents argue the entry passes restricts their freedom to walk in the countryside.

'Outrageous'

Jamie Campbell, who lives and works in Cirencester, told the BBC he uses the park regularly.

He said: "We have this gateway into the countryside in Cirencester.

"Yes the estate own the land, but to block off and charge people to use the countryside is appalling."

Councillor Naomi Bloomer says 10 is a lot of money for some people

Cirencester town councillor Naomi Bloomer, 33, said: "The fact they are claiming they are using this money for conservation purposes, for rewilding purposes, is ridiculous.

"10 for me can be meals for four or five days. I have two kids and my husband, we have got to feed ourselves somehow - 10 to them it is nothing but to me is quite a value."

Molly Fletcher, from Wokingham in Berkshire, said: "We need people to have more access to green spaces, not less.

"We need people to be more connected with nature and with the natural world so they can realise that we are part of that natural world, and we can act to protect it."

'10 isn't much'

Lord Bathurst said the costs for maintenance of the estate has risen

Lord Bathurst told the BBC: "Our point is that the park remains open to the people of Cirencester for a 10 deposit for the foreseeable future. They will still be able to get access into the park.

"10 is not a lot of money by any standards and it is refundable. If you don't want to use the park, fine."

Lord Bathurst previously said that the costs of maintenance have risen, and the restoration work that they are doing for conservation "all builds up".

What are the charges?

Residents in GL7 postcodes will pay a 10 deposit per household - up to six people can use that pass either as a family, or that pass can be used by an individual.

The community passes will also work in the villages of Edgworth, Frampton Mansell, Ashton Keynes and Latton.

Lord Bathurst said that if residents move away from the area, their deposit will be returned.

If you are from outside that area it is 4 for an adult, 2 for a child or between 6 and 10 for a family. Annual passes ranging in cost for 10 for a student up to 50 for a household are also available.

The passes can be used to gain access to Cirencester Park at four automated pedestrian gates: Cecily Hill, Windsor Walk, Barton Lane and by Cirencester Park Caravan and Motorhome Club.

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Budapest will not support the appointment of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO Secretary General because he "called for bringing Hungary to its knees," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reiterated on March 15, according to Romanian outlet Agerpres.

"We are certainly not going to support Mark Rutte's candidacy," Szijjarto said.

We will not support him! How can we support a man who has previously stated that Hungary should be brought to its knees? In an alliance like NATO, where nothing is more important than mutual trust because if someone is attacked, others must defend them, in an alliance based on trust, we cannot support a person who wants to bring us to our knees.

Read also: Ukraine may run out of air defense missiles by end of March

Budapest will, however, support the candidacy of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Hungarys top diplomat said.

"We are glad that we finally have a candidate from Central Europe," said Szijjarto.

NATO has never had a candidate from Central Europe before, and now we have a candidate, and this is good news. We do not know what will come of it, what the result will be.

Read also: NATO support work in Ukraine possible, in line with international rules, says Czech President Pavel

Klaus Johannis announced on March 12 that he will run for NATO chief.

Politico reported in early November 2023 that Rutte was the favorite for the post. Rutte declared his interest in the post in late October.

Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins also announced his readiness to run for the post of NATO chief, and shortly therafter, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas made a similar statement.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Hungary's Orban rails against the EU and 'the Western world' in speech on national holiday

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sought to mobilise support ahead of the European Union elections this summer, and urged his spectators to help him occupy Brussels.

Orbans speech on Friday, coinciding with a national holiday commemorating Hungarys failed 1848 revolution against Habsburg rule, railed against the EU and compared the bloc to imperial occupiers that have dominated Hungary throughout history.

The nationalist leader drew a sharp contrast between his country and the Western world, accusing the latter of being a source of rootlessness and destruction.

"They start wars, destroy worlds, redraw countries' borders and graze on everything like locusts," Orban said. We Hungarians live differently and want to live differently.

Orban's address comes less than three months before EU elections that are expected to show a surge for far-right parties across the continent. Opposition to immigration and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as a commitment to national pride and sovereignty, were some of the topics Orban addressed in his speech.

New opposition party that promotes dialogue with EU emerges

Hungary's government also faces a challenge from an unexpected source at home. Former insider of Orban's Fidesz party, Peter Magyar, announced his intentions to form a political party on Friday to challenge Fidesz's 14-year grip on power and act as an alternative to Hungary's fragmented opposition.

If Hungarian voters finally see a real political force that cannot be bribed or blackmailed, that is honest, straight, open and free of extremes, then more and more people will believe that there is hope for change after decades in a political swamp, Magyar said addressing a crowd of around 10,000 people in Budapest.
March 17 (UPI) -- A 61-year-old man who was illegally parked outside a Shell gas station in New York City was allegedly killed by the 30-year-old operator of a tow truck after a dispute, police said Sunday.

Officers with the NYPD responded to a 911 call of an assault in progress inside the gas station on Clarkson Avenue in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn around 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, a police spokesperson said in a news release.

"The dispute became physical and the 61-year-old male was punched in the face by the 30-year-old male causing the 61-year-old to fall and hit the pavement," police said.

An ambulance responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 30-year-old male was taken into custody with charges pending amid an investigation.

The identities of both men have not been revealed. The New York Daily News was the first to report that the victim was illegally parked and in a confrontation with a tow truck driver, details not included in the police press release.

The newspaper noted that the same Shell station parking lot was also the location of a screwdriver stabbing on July 24, 2022.
LAKE COUNTY, Ill. - Authorities in Illinois arrested a 16-year-old Kenosha boy as part of an undercover gun trafficking sting on Friday, March 15.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said the 16-year-old was one of two people serving as a lookout for another teen, who ultimately robbed an undercover detective during the operation.

An undercover detective initially met with a 17-year-old Illinois boy who was suspected of trafficking guns. As they were talking, the sheriff's office said the 17-year-old pulled out a semi-automatic pistol, racked it and pointed it at the detective's face  saying he'd "blow his brains out." The teen demanded money, which the detective handed over.

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The sheriff's office said the 17-year-old then ran off, but additional detectives who were monitoring the situation moved in and arrested him. The gun was recovered.

According to the sheriff's office, the 16-year-old from Kenosha was one of two lookouts. Authorities said he had a semi-automatic pistol that had been converted into a fully-automatic weapon with an extended magazine. He was taken to a juvenile detention center for unlawful use of a weapon.

The second lookout was a 22-year-old Illinois man, who the sheriff's office said also had a semi-automatic pistol that had been converted into a fully-automatic weapon with an extended magazine. The 22-year-old and 17-year-old were each detained on multiple pending charges.

Sheriff's detectives got a search warrant for the 17-year-old's home and found another gun as well as ammunition, extended magazines and a drum magazine.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives coordinated the undercover operation.
I was surprised by my experience at McSorley's Old Ale House. James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

Ahead of St. Patrick's Day, I visited McSorley's Old Ale House, which was established in 1854.

I was surprised by the inexpensive prices and the quality of the food.

I was also surprised by how it made me feel pride as an Irish American.

I've lived in New York City for almost four years, but I have never been to McSorley's, the oldest Irish pub in the city.

Not only is McSorley's the most historic Irish tavern in New York, but it's also often called the oldest Irish tavern in America that's still in operation. Established in 1854, McSorley's is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year, and it is certainly the place to go around St. Patrick's Day.

Though famous, McSorley's hasn't always been on the right side of history. According to The New York Times, women have only been allowed inside the bar since 1970, when two members of the National Organization for Women sued the bar for violating the equal-protection ordinance of the 14th Amendment. There were also no female bartenders until the mid-'90s, according to Bedford + Bowery.

Ahead of St. Patrick's Day 2023, I wanted to visit the bar given its rich history and connection to my heritage. My grandparents were first-generation Irish immigrants who later moved to England. That fact, in combination with my very Irish name, makes me proud of the close connection to my heritage.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my experience at McSorley's during my visit last year. Here are some things that might surprise you about the oldest Irish bar in the country if you choose to visit yourself.

I was surprised by McSorley's location in a very modern section of the East Village.

The outside of McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While I expected to find McSorley's on a quaint cobblestone street given its history, it's located in a built-up section of the East Village on East 7th Street, by Astor Place.

I actually lived around the corner for a semester in college, and, in my opinion, this part of the East Village has very little old-world charm thanks to its high-rise buildings, businesses, and chain restaurants, despite being just a stone's throw away from one of the most historic establishments in the city.

However, when the ale house was founded by Irish immigrant John McSorley in the 1850s, this was a prime location, close to a transportation hub for horse carriages and a busy market, Business Insider previously reported.

McSorley's is cash-only, which I learned when I arrived. However, you'll find an ATM right out front.

The ATM outside McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It's pretty standard at any cash-only bar or restaurant in New York City to find an ATM either inside or just outside the door.

I was pleased that they had an ATM available so close by, but I couldn't spy any signs inside that made it immediately apparent it was cash-only  I didn't suss it out until I saw everyone else paying in cash.

I expected to find a lot of Irish pub food, and I did, but McSorley's also had distinctly American foods like hot dogs and hamburgers.

The menu at McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The menu at McSorley's is limited, but they had quite a few fan-favorite menu items, from burgers and a fried-chicken sandwich to more traditional items like corned-beef hash and chili.

I was also surprised by how low the prices were at McSorley's compared to what I usually pay in New York City. I ordered a hamburger and fries for $10, and two beers for $8.

I was overall pleasantly surprised by the burger at McSorley's, but I wish the cheese had been more melted.

The cheeseburger at McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

When I visited McSorley's, the bar was teeming with people and there were very few places to sit. I'm always a little hesitant about ordering bar food  you just never know what you're going to get, especially from places popular with tourists  but I was surprised by how much I liked the burger.

The beef patty was juicy and decently large, while the onions and tomatoes tasted very fresh. The fries were also piping hot when I received them and deliciously crispy. The only downside in my opinion was that the cheese on the cheeseburger wasn't melted on the patty.

However, for $10, I was pleased with my dinner.

McSorley's has only two options for alcoholic drinks  light or dark beer  and they serve two at a time per person, which definitely surprised me.

The beer at McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I paid $8 for two beers, a light and a dark ale, which I was surprised by. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but even that seemed pretty inexpensive to me.

The beer prices have crept up over the years, of course. When Business Insider's Sarah Jacobs visited in 2017, the beer cost $5.50. She noted that the beer cost only a dime per mug in 1940, and in 1966, two of the half-pints cost 35 cents.

Other guests also appeared to be surprised by their orders. When one guest ordered a light and a dark beer for himself and someone else, they seemed surprised when they were each handed two beers. The bartender then explained that they always give people two beers each. The beers are much smaller than your average pint. According to Eater, each mug holds roughly 6 ounces per glass  a US pint holds 16 ounces  which makes each drink easier to finish and carry around the bar.

I enjoyed both the light and the dark ale, though I preferred the light, and thought they went down smoothly. I could see why someone would want two at a time.

Part of the charm of McSorley's, in addition to the low prices, is the lack of choice. In a city like New York, I'm accustomed to lengthy drink menus with steep prices. I actually enjoyed the lack of choice, which made ordering fast and simple.

I was also surprised by just how much history was crammed onto every inch of the walls.

Pictures hanging on the walls inside McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Almost every inch of the walls was adorned with old photos, newspaper clippings, pictures of Irish American presidents, and festive St. Patrick's Day decorations. A large flag hung behind the bar with the number 169 on it  the number of years the bar has been open.

The bar is also home to a few other historical mementos like Houdini's handcuffs and World War I-era wishbones dangling from a gas lamp above the bar. US Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt also reportedly stopped by McSorley's, according to NBC New York, adding to the joint's historic reputation.

I could have spent hours looking at every piece of art and history, and it made me feel a sense of pride in my Irish heritage. It felt as if I were in a living time capsule, surrounded by people who were there for a great time in one of the most historic spots in the city.

The bartender who served me was Irish, making for an even more authentic experience.

Behind the bar at McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Despite how busy the bar was, I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and fast service I received from the bar staff and bouncer. If you're looking for an immersive experience, you can't feel much closer to Ireland anywhere other than McSorley's.

If you're unable to grab a spot inside, the restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating.

The outdoor seating at McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I wasn't surprised that a few days before St. Patrick's Day, finding a spot to sit inside the restaurant at prime time was a little difficult. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that as the night went on and it turned 8 o'clock, tables started to open up.

There was also a large outdoor dining area set up on the street outside, so finding a place to sit on busy days like St. Patrick's Day shouldn't be completely out of the question.

Overall, I was most surprised by how visiting McSorley's made me feel connected to my Irish roots.

The window outside McSorley's. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Before going to McSorley's myself, I half-expected to find a rowdy group of drunk people dressed up for St. Patrick's Day and drinking overpriced beer. What I experienced couldn't have been more different than my expectations.

There was a strong sense of pride and camaraderie in the bar, with customers happy to let others through to the bar, introduce themselves, or tip their Irish bartenders. I felt more connected to my own Irish heritage than I have in years, and proud of the role Irish people have played throughout history in this country and in New York City.

As I made my way home, I thought to myself that I hope McSorley's will be open for another 170 years. All I know is that they've made a returning customer out of me.

Correction: March 20, 2023  An earlier version of this story misstated the size of beers served at McSorley's. The beers are roughly 6 ounces each, served two at a time; they aren't pints.

This story was originally published in March 2023, and most recently updated on March 17, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider
There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com?

So should Indiana Resources (ASX:IDA) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

Check out our latest analysis for Indiana Resources

Does Indiana Resources Have A Long Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. When Indiana Resources last reported its December 2023 balance sheet in March 2024, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$2.7m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$3.6m. Therefore, from December 2023 it had roughly 9 months of cash runway. To be frank, this kind of short runway puts us on edge, as it indicates the company must reduce its cash burn significantly, or else raise cash imminently. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

ASX:IDA Debt to Equity History March 16th 2024

How Is Indiana Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

While Indiana Resources did record statutory revenue of AU$4.0k over the last year, it didn't have any revenue from operations. That means we consider it a pre-revenue business, and we will focus our growth analysis on cash burn, for now. It's possible that the 7.5% reduction in cash burn over the last year is evidence of management tightening their belts as cash reserves deplete. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Indiana Resources due to its lack of significant operating revenues. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow.

Story continues

How Hard Would It Be For Indiana Resources To Raise More Cash For Growth?

Even though it has reduced its cash burn recently, shareholders should still consider how easy it would be for Indiana Resources to raise more cash in the future. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Indiana Resources has a market capitalisation of AU$49m and burnt through AU$3.6m last year, which is 7.2% of the company's market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money.

Is Indiana Resources' Cash Burn A Worry?

On this analysis of Indiana Resources' cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its cash runway has us a bit worried. Even though we don't think it has a problem with its cash burn, the analysis we've done in this article does suggest that shareholders should give some careful thought to the potential cost of raising more money in the future. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 4 warning signs for Indiana Resources (of which 2 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

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 tornado that touched down near Indian Lake in Logan County on Thursday night tore through communities where many people live in mobile homes, which are especially vulnerable to storm damage.

Mobile homes, also known as manufactured homes, are at high risk of being rolled or thrown in hurricanes and tornadoes if they are not properly anchored, experts say.

Nationwide, about 53% of all people killed at home by a tornado between 1996 and 2023 were killed in mobile or manufactured homes, according to an AP analysis of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data.

Mobile homes are damaged from tornadoes that ripped through the Indian Lake area of Logan County, Ohio late Thursday, March 14, 2024.

"This is a common theme that we see in tornado deaths, is if you're inside of a mobile home that gets lofted, there's no wall to protect you, you are subject to debris, and you're subject to, potentially, the house coming down on top of you as it flies through the air," said Stephen Strader, a tornado expert at Villanova University.

Less than 4% of Ohio homes are manufactured housing, according to the Census Bureau, and in urban areas, that number is even lower.

But in rural areas, mobile homes are an essential form of affordable housing. In Logan County, where some of Thursday's tornadoes hit, more than 10% of housing units are mobile homes.

Properly anchoring a mobile home can be an extra expense for homeowners who are often short on cash, according to Strader.

"Most people don't want to live in a manufactured home  they're living there because they're already probably financially strapped for the most part," he said.

Morning light reveals damage from tornadoes that ripped through the Indian Lake area of Logan County, Ohio late Thursday, March 14, 2024. This photo taken Friday, March 15, 2024 about 8 AM.

Ohio law requires mobile homes to be anchored

Strader said that manufactured homes need to be built to certain quality standards and properly anchored for better safety during a tornado  but all too often, this is not the case.

Ohio law requires mobile homes to be secured against the wind by anchoring them to the ground, but Strader said that nationwide, such laws are often too lax or improperly enforced.

It is not yet clear whether the mobile homes affected by Thursday's tornadoes were properly anchored.

"Some people will get straps and have their (mobile) homes tied down. But those straps are made of steel, and (if) they had the home put there 20 years ago ... (straps) rust and break. ... And unfortunately, the oversight on this is not great," he said.

Jonathan Gaddy, a former Alabama emergency official who now teaches at Idaho State University, said that manufactured homes are "necessary components of affordable housing."

"(But) it's important for individuals who are living in that kind of housing stock to know and understand whether the structure is securely anchored," he said.

Damage from tornadoes that ripped through a mobile home park in the Indian Lake area of Logan County, Ohio late Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Safe rooms and other options are essential, say experts

Strader and Gaddy both said that mobile home residents need alternative sheltering options in case of severe weather.

"That could be a friend's permanent house, it could be a designated purpose-built shelter, it could be a county-designated shelter, like a school, where they can flee the home," Strader said.

As the number of tornadoes in Ohio have increased in recent years, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency has funded the construction of four "community safe rooms" around the state  including at Delaware State Park, at Gasper Township in Preble County, in Lucas County and in Licking County. An additional community safe room is under construction in Walnut Township in Fairfield County, according to the Ohio EMA.

Strader said it's essential for authorities  usually at the county level  to communicate to the public about where they can find shelter.

"There is no really good hub that is nationwide, or even statewide, that tells you where shelters are. ... People that need these shelters, they're already in chaos because a tornado (is) coming. ... You don't want them to have to think  you want them just to be able to act," he said.

The recent tornadoes were "a very tragic event," Gaddy said. "Recovery takes a really long time. And it's important for individuals, as they're working through the recovery process, to look at building codes and zoning ordinances around how mobile homes and manufactured homes are anchored, as well as providing education and options for individuals to be able to get information about severe weather."

Peter Gill covers immigration, New American communities and religion for the Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America at: bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.

pgill@dispatch.com

@pitaarji

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Indian Lake tornadoes expose vulnerability of mobile homes
A man casts his vote at a polling station during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Following a presidential election accompanied by allegations of manipulation, Russia's Election Commission has awarded Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin a record-breaking result of just under 88% of the votes.

Chair of the commission, Ella Pamfilova, announced this on Sunday evening after counting nearly a quarter of the ballots.

Russian state television declared Putin, 71, the winner on Sunday on the basis of several voter surveys. Forecasts after polling stations closed on Sunday spoke of 87%, state media reported Sunday.

The 88% being posited would be a record for Putin, who received 76.7% of the vote in the last presidential election in 2018.

No genuine opposition candidates were allowed to stand in the three-day vote.

International observers did not monitor the election across the vast country which reaches across 11 time zones. The vote was accompanied by numerous protests by thousands of his opponents.

The first meaningful results should be available on Monday. In past elections, the forecasts have been in line with the final result.

Despite attempts at intimidation by the authorities, voting on Sunday was marked in part by anti-Putin protesters, who turned out to voting locations at exactly noon as a sign of opposition to the Kremlin strongman, who has dominated Russian politics for almost a quarter of a century.

On Sunday afternoon, the electoral commission put turnout at above 70% of the electorate of 114 million. This would represent a record. However, independent observers pointed to systematic fraud behind this high figure.

In Berlin, Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny, entered the Russian embassy on Unter den Linden Sunday to cast her vote.

"Of course I wrote Navalny" on the ballot paper, she told supporters when she left the building a few minutes later.

According to the police, around 2,000 voters and 500 to 800 demonstrators gathered at the Russian mission on the last day of the election.

In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "this election fraud has no legitimacy and cannot have any."

"This figure (Putin) must end up in the dock in The Hague - we must see to that, everyone in the world who values life and decency," Zelensky said in his evening video address on Sunday.

"Putin has faked another election these days," he added.

"Everyone in the world realises that this figure, as so often in history, is simply obsessed with power and will do anything to rule for life," Zelensky charged. "There is no evil he would not commit in order to prolong his personal power."

Electoral law experts in Russia and abroad have said the conditions for the vote are neither free nor fair: The opposition is excluded and the three authorized opposing candidates are considered loyal to the Kremlin.

Leading opposition politicians were removed from the ballot, have been driven into exile abroad, or are imprisoned in Russia.I'll blame i

The Kremlin organized the election in such a way as to demonstrate the population's supposedly high level of trust in Putin and support for his war against Ukraine.

Police in Russia arrested dozens of people who joined the midday protests, with the OVD-Info human rights media project counting around 70 arrests, most of them in Kazan, a city on the Volga River some 700 kilometres east of Moscow.

Arrests were also reported in Moscow and St Petersburg. Russian authorities had warned against joining the campaign, which they say would show "signs of extremist activity."

Backers of the "Noon against Putin" protest include supporters of Alexei Navalny, The opposition figure, who survived a poisoning attack in 2020, died in a penal colony in the Polar Circle last month.

Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who was barred from challenging Putin, was received with applause from students as he entered the Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology, which also served as a polling station.

"I think you will still have the opportunity to vote for me," he said.

Navalny's supporters gathered at his grave in the south-east of Moscow Sunday to lay flowers on the final day of the elections.

The circumstances of his death remain unclear, with many Putin critics and Western countries blaming the Kremlin.

Another Kremlin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who lives in exile in Britain, also joined the protest in Berlin. Anti-Putin Russian activists living abroad staged further demonstrations around the world.

Within Russia, numerous reports show that pressure is being exerted on citizens to take part in the election.

Internationally, the fact that the sham election is also being held in the occupied Ukrainian territories has been particularly criticized. Russia has annexed these territories in violation of international law.

Polling officials wait for voters at the polling station during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

People queue outside a polling station in Moscow to express their dissatisfaction at the "Noon against Putin" protest, during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Hannah Wagner/dpa
Khalid Javid, says "we - collectively as UK, collectively as Londoners - should be able to support anyone and everyone who comes here"

The head of an international charity that helps refugees around the world with free meals to break their fasts during Ramadan says he never thought it would have to help people in London.

Muslim Aid's campaign primarily offers meals to refugees who "have nothing to eat" during the Muslim holy month.

This year it says it is giving 60,000 meals to anyone in need in the city.

CEO Khalid Javid said with the cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone, "this is where we're coming in".

He added the charity was trying to "bridge that gap".

The food parcels are given out mainly via mosques across the capital.

Mr Javid added that helping people in the UK was now one of its "strategic priorities" and the food parcels were for anyone in need "with faith and with no faith".

Meals have started to be sent out around Tower Hamlets, east London, where the local authority reports some of the highest levels of poverty in London.

The End Child Poverty charity also found Tower Hamlets had the highest child poverty rate of any local authority in 2021/22, at 47.5% compared to the rest of the region at 33%.

Food parcels being distributed from the East London Mosque

Mr Javid said the cost-of-living crisis and Covid had "escalated things a lot worse" in the capital.

He told the BBC: "Tower Hamlets is one of the most poorest boroughs in London.

'Humanise this whole situation'

"There is complexity as well around everything, you have the language difficulties, you have the influx of migrants here as well.

"But, putting all that to one side, we have to humanise this whole situation - and the basic needs of food, water, shelter, we - collectively as UK, collectively as Londoners - should be able to support anyone and everyone who comes here."

Xanda came to London from Iraq three years ago and thanked the charity for its help

Refugees at East London Mosque told the BBC they were "grateful" for the donations.

David is an asylum seeker from the Caribbean who came to the UK last year.

"It's a good thing, because a lot of asylum seekers - the funds that they'll get are like 10 a week - sometimes they need something extra to eat," he said.

"A lot of people is not getting the support they need so they come here and they reach out to charity because a lot of people say they get more help from charity than they do get from the government."

The End Child Poverty charity found Tower Hamlets topped the list of local authorities with the highest child poverty rates in 2021/22

Xanda arrived as a refugee from northern Iraq with her family three years ago and thanked the charity for the food parcels they were distributing.

"I would like to say thank you so much for all of them," she said.

Muslim Aid has been in operation for 38 years, and says it helps people in 72 countries around the world.

Tower Hamlets Council has been approached for comment.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
The people had been camping outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street for months - BRIAN LAWLESS/PA

Police cleared hundreds of migrants from a makeshift campsite in the centre of Dublin on Sunday.

Around 200 people were moved from the camp, outside a government office, to another tent site in south-west County Dublin, according to local media reports.

The asylum seekers had been camping outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street for months, awaiting their applications for international protection to be processed.

On Saturday morning, buses came and took them to Saggart, about 10 miles away, where they were given tents to pitch, the Irish Mirror reported.

Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, told RTE News that the migrants had been moved for health and safety reasons.

He said the new site in Crooksling was cleaner than the Mount Street site and had showers, which the Mount Street site lacked. The original site had been criticised for becoming squalid, with rubbish strewn around.

Reports had described an overwhelming stench of urine and excrement and men being forced to wash in the street.

Offered alternative shelter

The Irish Refugee Council welcomed the move, saying it hoped the people had been taken to appropriate accommodation where they can recuperate.

Others, however, dismissed the move as a cynical ploy, with Jennifer Whitmore, of the Social Democrats, saying: Men being moved from one tent to another just this time, its in the country and away from Dublins St Patricks Day parade.

A statement from the Department of Integration said: This morning, the department has offered alternative shelter to all international protection applicants camped on Mount Street.

All those who accepted the offer will be provided tented accommodation at a site in Crooksling, where food, personal toiletries, toilet and shower facilities are also available. The department will engage with the Health and Safety Executive and healthcare providers in order to ensure the wellbeing of those on site.

Migration has become a thorny issue in Ireland, with anti-immigration sentiment rising. Police have expressed concerns over arson attacks on properties that were due to house asylum seekers.

A former nursing home in Crooksling that was intended to be converted to house migrants went up in flames last month.

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Responding to the Governments new definition of extremism, the Muslim Association of Britain called the move cynical Orwellian and an erosion of civil liberties.

The response was a case study in how Islamists use the language of liberalism to pursue illiberal objectives. For the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) is one of several organisations declared extremist by Michael Gove in Parliament last week. Previously, an expert government report called it the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK.

Its concern for civil liberties does not apply to those who criticise Islamism, comment on Islam in ways it dislikes, or depict Mohammed in ways it finds offensive. It demands action against those who blaspheme  even if the blasphemers are not Muslim. It is among the organisations pushing for an official definition of Islamophobia, a one-religion blasphemy law that would be used to limit scrutiny of Islamists.

British politicians and those with responsibility in wider society urgently need to understand who these extremists are, which organisations speak for them, and where their ideas come from. If they fail to do so, not only violence but political subjugation awaits us.

Extremists insist, and sincerely believe, that they act in the name of Islam. Sermons by some imams  held in British mosques, often broadcast online for all to see  quote the Koran and sayings of Mohammed recorded in hadiths to justify hatred and violence. One hadith claims Mohammed said, The hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say, O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.

Many Muslims reject this, citing passages of the Koran that say, let there be no compulsion in religion, and, O mankind! We created you from a single [pair] of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. There is, as many moderates and reformers like to argue, a scriptural justification for pluralism and tolerance within Islam.

Thinkers such as Ed Husain have long promoted medieval Islamic scholars including Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Rushd, known in the West as Averroes. Ibn Khaldun opposed the idea of a caliphate and incorporated the knowledge of the ancient Greeks  borrowed from the jahiliyyah, the period of supposed ignorance and barbarism before Mohammed  into his work. Ibn Rushd opposed literalist accounts of the Koran, arguing that reason improves the understanding of faith, and the pursuit of knowledge is a religious duty.

Yet the MAB  and other Islamist organisations operating in Britain today, such as Mend, Cage, 5Pillars and the Muslim Council of Britain  take their inspiration from elsewhere.

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded by Hassan al-Banna in Egypt in 1928, who demanded strict religiosity from Muslims, the moral purification of the Islamic world and the unification of Muslim countries through a new caliphate governed by Sharia law. From the start, the Brotherhood was anti-Western, anti-nation and anti-secular.

The two thinkers who influenced Brotherhood ideology most were Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian executed in 1966 for plotting the assassination of President Nasser, and Abul al-Ala al-Mawdudi, the Indian Muslim who in 1941 founded Jamaat-i Islami, the movement that was first to develop a revolutionary Islamist ideology.

The result was takfirism  the concept that allows hardliners to dismiss other Muslims as infidels and apostates, to reject existing governments as un-Islamic, and to use extreme violence to achieve their objectives. Legions of extremists willingly placed themselves in the vanguard of supposedly true Muslims striving to build a supposedly true Islamic state. The terrorists among them  and their supporters  willingly accepted that jihad should be aggressive not just defensive, and violent not just spiritual.

There is a complex network of different strands of belief, sometimes overlapping and often reinforcing a core extremist ideology: Deobandis in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan; Salafists in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East; the Muslim Brotherhood  now headquartered in Qatar  operating around the world; radicalising organisations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir; and terror groups such as Al Qaeda, Isis, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram.

This is the context in which some Muslims  not necessarily ideological followers of these movements  still absorb a generalised culture of intolerance: towards homosexuals, women, Jews, and apostates.

Through this complexity runs a starkly consistent takfirist ideology. While the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt formally renounced violence in return for the freedom to organise in the 1970s, its relationship with violence since has been ambiguous, with senior figures supporting and financing Hamas and justifying attacks on Western troops. Its takfirism survives through the dismissal of those who do not accept Islamism as unbelievers, and governments of Muslim countries as illegitimate. This is the intellectual justification for the murder of Arabs and Muslims alongside Jews in Israel on October 7.

The Brotherhoods reach endures through a secretive and obfuscatory structure of individuals and organisations. According to the expert government review, the Brotherhood shaped the Islamic Society of Britain, dominated the Muslim Association of Britain and played an important role in establishing and then running the Muslim Council of Britain. Yet the public sector, including the NHS, police and military, partners with these organisations and others like them. The media allows news content to be policed by entities created by them. Many receive direct public funding, and the tax advantages of charitable status.

This is why it is vital that the Government defines extremism, identifies extremist organisations and shuns, punishes and proscribes them accordingly. Whatever the concerns about Goves definition  and complaints are mostly worries about its misuse by a civil service and public sector in dire need of reform  he is the one minister who has sought to understand the threat we face. Now, others must follow his lead.

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FILE - A woman and her children walk past a wall with photographs of hostages who were kidnapped during the Oct. 7 Hamas cross-border attack in Israel in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Hamas unprecedented raid on southern Israel has prompted a legal predicament: How does a country scarred by the deadliest attack in its history bring the perpetrators to justice?

Israel is holding hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza accused of taking part in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked its war with Hamas. It is grappling with how to prosecute suspects and offer closure to Israelis, including victims' families.

None of the available legal options seem to fit.

Mass criminal trials could overwhelm Israel's already sluggish courts. An ad hoc war crimes tribunal established under Israel's far-right government could lack credibility. Freeing the suspects as part of a deal to release hostages held in Gaza would trouble many traumatized Israelis.

They slaughtered, raped, looted and were caught red-handed, said Yuval Kaplinsky, a former senior official in the Israeli Justice Ministry. There is no silver bullet here for how to try them.

Rights groups say the longer Israel takes to decide the right legal path, the longer suspected perpetrators languish in poor conditions and with no known contact with the outside world. At least 27 Palestinians from Gaza have died in Israeli custody since the war began, according to Israeli figures.

HOW DOES ISRAEL HANDLE PALESTINIAN SUSPECTS?

Israel has long contended with legal issues surrounding Palestinian suspects  and has long been criticized for its approach. It regularly uses a measure called administrative detention to hold Palestinians without charge or trial.

Palestinian suspects from the West Bank are tried in Israeli military courts that have been a longtime fixture of its open-ended occupation of the territory. Palestinians and human rights groups say the system almost always renders guilty verdicts. Israel says it provides due process and imprisons those who threaten its security.

Shawan Jabarin, who heads the Palestinian rights group Al-Haq, said any trial held by Israel would not be credible.

This is the system that Israelis have: Inhuman. Unfair. No due process, he said.

In the Oct. 7 attack, thousands of Palestinians crossed the border from Gaza into Israel, breaking down the countrys defenses and rampaging through sleepy communities. They killed entire families, hunted down revelers at an outdoor music festival and committed sexual violence.

Hamas took roughly 250 hostages, including women, children and older adults, and is believed to still be holding 100 of them.

Israels subsequent invasion has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians and led to widespread hunger.

WHAT ABOUT THE CRIMINAL COURTS?

Israels criminal courts are distinct from the military courts and are widely seen as independent of political influence.

But Barak Medina, a law professor at Jerusalems Hebrew University, said trying the hundreds of suspects there would overwhelm the backlogged system and could take years.

Israels public defenders office has said it will not provide a state-funded attorney for the suspects, seeing Israeli lawyers also scarred by Hamas attack as unsuitable and unwilling to do so.

According to Israel's public broadcaster Kan, the office has suggested foreign lawyers be enlisted, like in Israels 1961 criminal trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of Nazi Germanys main organizers of the Holocaust.

Some experts have pointed to that trial as a possible precedent because it was high profile, dealt with a traumatic event and challenged Israel's existing legal framework. In publicly airing the Nazis heinous crimes, the trial offered some catharsis for Holocaust survivors.

Eichmann, who was captured by Mossad agents in Argentina, was represented by a German lawyer and was found guilty of crimes against humanity, crimes against the Jewish people and war crimes. He was executed in 1962, the only time Israel has carried out a death sentence.

A similarly public trial for Hamas' crimes might offer Israelis some sense of justice. But Eichmann's trial focused on just one defendant.

Kaplinsky, the former Justice Ministry official, said the narratives presented at criminal trials could also work against Israel by providing fodder for its opponents.

For example, if prosecutors fail to include rape charges in any indictment because the evidence they have doesn't meet the legal threshold, that could fuel arguments about whether sexual violence occurred at all. Defense attorneys might use friendly fire shootings to whip up suspicions about the death toll from the attack.

WHAT ABOUT A TRIBUNAL?

Kaplinsky presented a plan to an Israeli parliamentary committee that suggests creating a tribunal that takes the events of Oct. 7 as established fact. The tribunal would not call witnesses but would be based on documents from Israel's security forces as well as the suspects' interrogations. Suspects would fund their own defense.

It was not clear if his plan was being considered.

Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst who wrote a book about Israel's democracy, said any tribunal created under Israel's current far-right government would be politically tainted.

It will look like the laws are tailored according to the political whim of the current government," she said.

Medina, the law professor, said it appeared the state was holding off on making any decisions on how to try the suspects because it was expecting them to be released as part of a deal to free hostages.

The Israeli Justice Ministry declined to comment.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO SUSPECTS NOW?

For now, many of the suspects are said to be considered unlawful combatants, meaning Israel can extend their detention indefinitely, delay their access to a lawyer and keep legal proceedings classified. Rights groups say that lack of transparency can enable abuse.

Israel's predicament is similar to the one the U.S. faced after the 9/11 attacks as it sought to capture al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. The U.S. sent hundreds of suspects to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The detention center became the focus of international outrage because of the torture of prisoners and the U.S. insistence that it could hold men indefinitely without charge.

Avi Kalo, who heads the international law program at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Israel's Reichman University and is a former legal advisor to the Israeli military's intelligence corps, said this situation is different because the Oct. 7 detainees are being held in Israeli territory and are subject to Israeli law. That includes judicial oversight on their cases, though rights groups say that oversight is flawed.

Tal Steiner, executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, said that accounts from freed prisoners indicate detainees are receiving little food and experiencing inhumane treatment that could amount to torture.

The Israel Prison Service, which holds some of the suspects, said prisoners are granted their basic rights.

Steiner said the committee hasn't taken a position on the best way to bring the attackers to justice.

"Its a complicated legal question," she said. But the alternative of holding them in lengthy detention, incommunicado, in such harsh conditions is also not a normal legal option.

___

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
More than a million Palestinians have fled to Rafah from other parts of Gaza

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his determination to launch an offensive in Rafah, defying international criticism.

The city is crammed with some 1.5 million Palestinians from other parts of Gaza seeking refuge.

His comments come as the German chancellor, on a Middle East trip, restated his opposition to the plan.

But Mr Netanyahu said "no international pressure will stop Israel" from achieving all of its war aims.

"If we stop the war now before achieving all of its goals, the meaning is that Israel had lost the war and we will not allow this," Mr Netanyahu told a meeting of his cabinet.

He said Israel must be able to continue its war, with the aims of eliminating Hamas, releasing all hostages and ensuring Gaza "no longer poses a threat".

"To do this, we will also operate in Rafah."

Mr Netanyahu said the offensive in city at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip "will happen" and will take "several weeks".

He also lashed out at his critics, saying to them: "Is your memory so short?

"So quickly you forgot about [7 October], the worst massacre committed against Jews since the Holocaust."

Those attacks, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage from Israel, sparked the current war.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 31,400 have been killed.

The Israeli leader met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in a joint news conference Mr Scholz said he spoke to Mr Netanyahu about the need to provide those in Gaza with "comprehensive humanitarian aid supplies". He stressed that conditions for aid distribution "must be urgently and massively improved".

He said a hostage deal for Israelis taken by Hamas on 7 October was necessary alongside a longer-lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

The German leader said he told his Israeli counterpart a "humanitarian logic" should be considered ahead of a ground offensive in Rafah.

To which Mr Netanyahu said: "[Israel's] goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand in hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah".

"It's not something that we will do, while keeping the population locked in place," the Israeli leader added.

Israel's plans have been heavily criticised by the international community, with the UN and US also warning that a full-scale assault in Rafah could be disastrous.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the UN's World Health Organization, on Friday appealed to Israel "in the name of humanity" not to launch such an attack on Gaza's southern-most city.

The US says it has not yet seen a detailed Israeli plan for Rafah, and President Joe Biden has warned Israel against expanding its invasion in the city, calling it a "red line".

The relationship between Israel and the US is becoming ever more fractious.

President Biden has now backed the extraordinary denunciation by Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, who in effect called for Mr Netanyahu's replacement.

Israel's prime minister believes he still has the pro-Israel American lobby behind him.

The risk, though, is that as the US election draws closer, the Biden administration could decide to placate Americans frustrated by its support for Israel, and begin to limit military aid.

Nevertheless, Mr Netanyahu's office approved plans for a military operation in Rafah on Friday, adding that the army was preparing for the evacuation of civilians.

Map of the Gaza Strip showing Israeli ground operations and evacuation zones

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it planned to move displaced Palestinians in Gaza to what it called "humanitarian islands" in the middle of the strip. It is not clear what the "islands" will look like, or how they will operate.

Moving an estimated 1.4 million Gazans from Rafah would take time - and troops, and Israel's military is already stretched in combat and aid distribution.

Doing so would require finding places of safety in the wasteland of Gaza, and providing food and water, so it could still take time for an offensive there to start - if it does at all.

Speaking in Jordan earlier, Mr Scholz referenced the need for a truce "that lasts longer".

Ceasefire talks were expected to resume in Qatar in the coming days. Israel had planned to send a delegation to join the negotiations, but ministers were yet to agree on its mandate.

Israel has faced mounting criticism for the number of civilian casualties in Gaza, as well as shortages of aid that have fuelled fears of famine.

On Thursday, US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer called for Israel to hold elections to replace Mr Netanyahu.

The prime minister slammed the comments as "totally inappropriate", and said they should be working instead to bring down the "Hamas tyranny".

This appears to be vintage Benjamin Netanyahu: hitting back at critics and digging in amidst mounting pressure at home and abroad.

He is increasingly hemmed in: Chided by members of his own government; increasingly reviled by families of the hostages; and excoriated by western allies who have run out of patience.

The Israeli prime minister appears determined to pursue the war, pushed by his more bellicose far-right ministers, and believes that despite all the criticism here, a traumatised Israel still backs the offensive in Gaza.

Most Israelis do still support an offensive to crush Hamas, albeit while also getting the hostages back.

But it's also possible that he's talking tough on Rafah to up the pressure on Hamas before the new ceasefire talks in Doha, to which Israel will send a delegation.

And he knows that when eventually the war ends, so could his political career.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stood by his controversial plan for a military ground offensive into the Gaza city of Rafah to oust remaining Hamas units (RONEN ZVULUN)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israeli troops would pursue a planned ground offensive in southern Gaza's Rafah that has spurred fears of mass civilian casualties.

"No amount of international pressure will stop us from realising all the goals of the war: eliminating Hamas, releasing all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting in a video released by his office.

"To do this, we will also operate in Rafah."

His comments came as talks were expected to resume in Doha towards a truce in Gaza, where Israel has pursued a campaign against Hamas militants for more than five months.

Israeli cabinet members were set to discuss the "mandate" of the negotiations team later Sunday, Netanyahu's office has said.

He was also due to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was expected to reiterate his warning against a Rafah ground offensive.

Most of Gaza's 2.4 million people have sought refuge from relentless Israeli bombardment in the southern city.

US President Joe Biden, who has backed Israel during the war, has said an invasion of Rafah would be a "red line" unless credible civilian protection plans are in place.

The head of the UN's World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, appealed to Israel Friday "in the name of humanity" not to launch the assault.

Netanyahu's office said Friday he had approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah, though no timeline was given.

- Elections would 'paralyse' Israel -

Rafah is the last major population centre in Gaza yet to be subjected to a ground assault in the war, which was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel.

The attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli figures.

Hamas took about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages on October 7, and Israel believes about 130 of those remain in Gaza including 32 presumed dead.

Israel's military campaign has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Netanyahu on Sunday also criticised "those in the international community who are trying to stop the war now" by "making false accusations" against Israel and its military.

Israel has faced consistent criticism for civilian casualties in Gaza as well as stark aid shortages that have fuelled fears of famine.

On Thursday, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Israel to hold new elections, sparking angry pushback from Netanyahu's Likud party, which said Israel "is not a banana republic".

Netanyahu on Sunday said new elections would "stop the war, and paralyse the country for at least six months".

"If we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, it means that Israel has lost the war, and we will not allow that."

In his first public response against Schumer, Netanyahu branded the lawmaker's remarks "totally inappropriate" and insisted most Israelis back the war.

"If Senator Schumer opposes these policies, he's not opposing me; he's opposing the people of Israel," Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday.

Meanwhile, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned of "concerns" about Israel's looming Rafah operation.

"We will not support, cannot support, an operation in Rafah that doesn't have an executable, verifiable, achievable plan to take care of the 1.5 million people that are trying to find refuge in Rafah," Kirby told Fox News Sunday.

Biden's administration "would certainly welcome" an opportunity to study the Rafah plan before the operation, Kirby added.

"We haven't seen it yet."

mod-rcb/mlm/bbk
BEIRUT (AP)  Israeli airstrikes hit several sites in southern Syria early Sunday wounding a soldier, Syrian state media reported.

State news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military official, said air defenses shot down some of the missiles, which came from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights at around 12:42 a.m. local time. The strikes led to material losses and the wounding of a soldier, the statement said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Israeli strikes also hit two military sites in the Qalamoun mountains northeast of Damascus, an area where the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has operations. One of the targets was a weapons shipment, the observatory said.

The observatory said the strikes represented the 24th time Israel has struck inside Syria since the beginning of 2024. They have killed 43 fighters with various groups  including Hezbollah and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard  and nine civilians.

There was no immediate statement from Israeli officials on the strikes. Israel frequently launches strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria but rarely acknowledges them. The strikes have escalated over the past five months against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border.

Last week, the Israeli army said it has carried out 4,500 strikes against Hezbollah targets over the past five months, most of which were in Lebanon, while a few were in Syria.

The army said in a statement that it will not allow for any attempted actions which could lead to the entrenchment of Hezbollah on the Syrian front.
The Russians are attempting to use relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war to foment internal discontent in Ukraine.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Military analysts suggest that it is likely that the Russians are doing this as part of the Maidan-3 information campaign.

On 16 March, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, said that unidentified Russian individuals were calling relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war and claiming that Russia was ready to return them, but that the Ukrainian leadership was preventing this.

The Russian figures are reportedly calling on relatives to protest against this. Lubinets stated that Ukraine has never stopped exchanging prisoners of war.

These Russian information operations are likely part of the Maidan-3 information campaign previously reported by Ukraine's Security Service.

The Russians are aiming to sow internal discontent in Ukraine and drive a wedge between the civilian population and the military and political leadership.

ISW noted that Russia has successfully used information operations in the past, including direct correspondence via mobile phones with Ukrainian civilians, to incite violent protests in Ukraine.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 16 March:

The Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU) reportedly conducted a series of successful drone strikes against three Russian oil refineries in Samara Oblast on 16 March.

All-Russian pro-Ukrainian volunteers continue limited cross-border raids into Belgorod and Kursk oblasts.

Russian authorities appointed Boris Kovalchuk, the son of Russian President Vladimir Putins reported "personal banker" Yuri Kovalchuk, to a position within the Russian Presidential Administration.

Russian authorities threatened Russian election disruptors and some Russian citizens continued attempts to disrupt voting in the Russian presidential election on 16 March.

Group of Seven (G7) countries issued a joint statement on 15 March warning Iran against transferring ballistic missiles or related technology to Russia.

Russian forces made confirmed advances near Avdiivka and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area.

A Russian insider source claimed on 16 March that Rosgvardia Director Viktor Zolotov revoked a reported agreement allowing former Wagner Group units to operate independently within Rosgvardia.

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Insiders who bought AU$1.35m worth of Orexplore Technologies Limited's (ASX:OXT) stock at an average buy price of AU$0.045 over the last year may be disappointed by the recent 12% decrease in the stock. Insiders buy with the expectation to see their investments rise in value over a period of time. However, recent losses have rendered their above investment worth AU$658.1k which is not ideal.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

Check out our latest analysis for Orexplore Technologies

Orexplore Technologies Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Non-Executive Director Kent Swick made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$648k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.045 each. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.022. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

In the last twelve months Orexplore Technologies insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

ASX:OXT Insider Trading Volume March 16th 2024

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Does Orexplore Technologies Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 30% of Orexplore Technologies shares, worth about AU$1.3m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

Story continues

What Might The Insider Transactions At Orexplore Technologies Tell Us?

The fact that there have been no Orexplore Technologies insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders do have a stake in Orexplore Technologies and their transactions don't cause us concern. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. For instance, we've identified 6 warning signs for Orexplore Technologies (5 are concerning) you should be aware of.

But note: Orexplore Technologies 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.
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.  Police in Jacksonville say two people were injured and one person is in custody after an early morning shooting on Sunday.

Officials with the Jacksonville Police Department said 31-year-old Reginald Dwayne Kelly is facing two counts of attempted capital murder in connection to the shooting incident at the Wingate Square apartments.

Reginald Dwayne Kelly booking photo (Image courtesy Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility)

Officers were called to the scene at the apartments just after 3 a.m. Sunday on reports of gunfire and said they found two victims when they arrived.

Little Rock police investigating deadly overnight shooting on Lancaster Road

The victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Investigators said they developed Kelly as their suspect and made the arrest.

Jacksonville police investigating after man shot at apartment complex

Kelly was booked into the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility where he is being held without bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
The Supreme Court (herein the court) has agreed to hear former President Trumps claim of absolute immunity with the question: Whether and if so to what extent does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.

The basic precedent involves civil liability: Nixon v. Fitzgerald (1982). That case held that petitioner, as a former president of the United States, is entitled to absolute immunity from damages liability predicated on his official acts. The court emphasized the presidents unique office, rooted in the constitutional tradition of separation of powers and supported by our history. The court cited Justice Joseph Storys Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1833): The president cannot, therefore, be liable to arrest, imprisonment, or detention, while he is in the discharge of the duties of the office; and for this purpose his person must be deemed, in civil cases at least, to possess an official inviolability.

James W. Pfister

The court noted that some officials have only qualified immunity, meaning allowing lawsuits only when the official violated a clearly established legal right with intent or incompetence, the president should, however, have absolute immunity. The court noted the presidents unique position in the constitutional scheme requires the utmost discretion and sensitivity  on information properly held secret  This distinguished him from other executive officials. He must be able to do his job fearlessly and impartially without worrying about future lawsuits: Cognizance of this personal vulnerability frequently could distract a president from his public duties, to the detriment of not only the president and his office but also the nation that the presidency was designed to serve.

The court observed that absolute immunity for the president will not leave the Nation without sufficient protection against misconduct on the part of the chief executive. There is the constitutional procedure of impeachment and removal from office. Thus, absolute immunity will not place the president above the law. Also, Congress can check the president. And, the president is subject to constant press and media scrutiny.

Chief Justice Warren Burgers concurrence emphasized separation of powers. He distinguished United States v. Nixon (1974) and United States v. Aaron Burr (1807) as dealing with a subpoena to produce evidence for a criminal trial. Also, he stated the presidents absolute immunity would not place the him above the law: the courts holding places presidents on essentially the same footing with judges and other officials whose absolute immunity we have recognized.

The reasons the court articulated in Nixon v. Fitzgerald for absolute civil immunity seem to me to apply to criminal liability, as well. It is a very fine line between tort (personal injury) liability and criminal liability. Both recognize intent as a mental state as well as various degrees of negligence. Tort law allows ordinary negligence for liability, whereas criminal liability normally requires gross negligence as the minimum level of fault. This difference between ordinary and gross negligence should not be the basis for denying absolute immunity for criminal liability in comparison to civil liability. If the president is immune from civil liability, he should also be immune from criminal liability. The reasons are the same.

There is a real danger of using criminal prosecution to defeat political opponents and, thus, endanger our democracy. We see what is happening today to former President Trump. David B. Rivkin, Jr. and Elizabeth Price Foley write: Aggressive prosecutors motivated by ideology or partisanship could use capaciously worded statutes  to challenge almost any presidential action, including those related to national security activities.  The mere possibility of personal prosecution for official actions would chill future presidential decisions. (The Wall Street Journal, March 1). Separation of powers should protect the president from both civil and criminal liability for official acts.

The presidency is sui generis, a unique position at the top of our government. He alone holds the codes that could launch nuclear weapons and destroy much of mankind. He must be trusted to act in the nations best interests. He should not be impeded by the fear of future partisan prosecution. As Steven Calabresi writes: One of the key causes of the death of democracy is the criminalization of political disagreements. (The Volokh Conspiracy, March 9). We must truncate evil political prosecutions.

 James W. Pfister, J.D. University of Toledo, Ph.D. University of Michigan (political science), retired after 46 years in the Political Science Department at Eastern Michigan University. He lives at Devils Lake and can be reached at jpfister@emich.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: James Pfister: Presidential immunity for criminal acts
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkins office said in legal filings Sunday that state laws that create the so-called party line are unconstitutional and that his office will not defend them in Rep. Andy Kims lawsuit seeking to eliminate the controversial ballot design.

The bombshell legal filing comes the day before a federal judge is scheduled to have a hearing in Kims lawsuit against the line  the short-hand in New Jersey for preferential ballot positioning for candidates. Kim is running for U.S. Senate against first lady Tammy Murphy, who has amassed county party support that gives her favorable primary ballot positioning in a majority of the state. They both seek to replace indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, a fellow Democrat who is charged with corruption.

County-endorsed candidates who get "the line" often win elections, according to multiple studies. That is key in a Democratic primary, since New Jersey hasn't sent a Republican to the Senate in 50 years.

Kim is seeking a preliminary injunction from federal judge Zahid Quraishi to eliminate the party line from ballots ahead of the June primary.



In light of the evidentiary record, the Attorney General has concluded that the challenged statutes are unconstitutional and therefore will not be defending them, the legal filing said.

The decision to not defend the state laws that enable the party line puts Platkin at odds with the first lady's husband, Gov. Phil Murphy. Platkin has long been in Murphys inner orbit, serving on his 2017 gubernatorial campaign and as his chief counsel throughout Murphys first term in office.

A spokesperson for Phil Murphy said Sunday that the Attorney General should have defended the law.

"Outside the context of any campaign, Governor Murphy has consistently and accurately noted that the bracketing of candidates is permitted by duly enacted laws that have been on the books for decades, Murphys communications director, Mahen Gunaratna, said in a statement. It is well-established that Attorneys General have a general obligation to defend the constitutionality of statutes, regardless of their own personal views. The Governor believes that a legal defense of the statute permitting bracketing would have been appropriate and consistent with the actions of prior Attorneys General."

The New Jersey Globe first reported the incoming legal filing.

The decision is highly unusual, although Platkins office said it was warranted given the unique nature of New Jerseys primary ballot design. The party line allows for candidates endorsed by county political parties to appear in a single column or row on primary ballots, making them appear more prominently to voters. New Jersey is the only state in the nation to use the line structure in its ballot design; 19 of 21 New Jersey counties use the party line.

Sundays legal filing from the Attorney Generals office said that the line provides for an electoral advantage for candidates who bracket and a corresponding disadvantage for candidates who do not. Platkins office also said that the party line ballot structure creates confusion for voters compared to an office-block ballot.

First, a central reason for the Attorney Generals defense of state statutes is to implement the will of the democratic process that enacted them, but as explained above, subsequent court decisions and practices on the ground have overtaken the Legislatures original intent in enacting the challenged state statutes, the filing said. Second, the traditional need for the Attorney General to defend the results of the democratic process does not apply neatly to a case where the plaintiffs produced substantial record evidence to challenge the statutes as undermining the democratic process.

The existence of the line has dominated the conversation around New Jerseys Senate race and eliminating it would be a watershed moment in state politics. Each county party differs in how it is awarded. In some counties, hundreds of low-level party officials vote on which candidate they want to award the so-called line. In others, a single party boss can award the preferred ballot positioning.

Murphy has the endorsement of Democratic counties that are top-down in their endorsement process, giving her the preferred ballot positioning in a majority of the state. Kim has won the line in more counties where it is democratically awarded.

Kim supported ending the party line before he entered the Senate race. In a statement Sunday, Murphy said she will follow whatever the courts say.

I am running for the U.S. Senate, and as Ive stated repeatedly in this race, will comply with whatever the courts decide the process of the race to be, she said in a statement. If it remains up to the county parties to determine the process, I will complete those conventions and screenings. Should the courts determine a different path, I will follow those rules as well.
Leaders from the Muslim and Jewish communities in London are trying to build bridges between their faiths after a rise in both Islamophobia and antisemitism.

Imam Sabah Ahmedi will visit a synagogue to open his fast.

In return, the head of London's JW3 Jewish community centre, Raymond Simonson, will speak at an Iftar - the meal eaten after a day of fasting.

It comes after the government allocated funding to increase security.

Muslim spaces have had 170m made available for the purpose - and last month 70m was dedicated to protect Jewish-specific spaces. The amounts are proportionate to the size of each community.

Aged 30, Sabah Ahmedi is one of Britain's youngest imams. He said the current situation of intolerance was "unprecedented" in his experience. They already have round-the-clock security at his mosque.

"I know people who wear the headscarf who are scared to go out now because they know Islamophobia has increased.

"Some of our mosques have been vandalised. We've had windows smashed. I have been subject to some of that abuse online and it's not nice to face."

Imam Ahmadi uses his social media to help people better understand Islam

Imam Ahmadi, who uses his social media to help people to better understand Islam, says online abuse has also increased dramatically.

"The comments that you'll see here are shocking.

"I say 'shocking', but I'm actually used to it. Some people say Islam doesn't belong in Europe. One-third of Britons feel Islam threatens the British way of life.

"The only way forward is by bringing people from different faiths together to have open conversation and dialogue.

"It is the only way we can remove misconceptions."

Raymond Simonson is the CEO of the JW3 Jewish community centre in north London

The number of recorded incidents of Islamophobia and antisemitism in London has increased dramatically since 7 October.

Raymond Simonson, the CEO of a Jewish cultural centre in north London, says the money for enhanced security is welcome but "unfortunately it doesn't go far enough. We still have to find another 450,000 a year."

He added: "In my lifetime there has never been anything like this. People went from feeling shocked when they woke up to the news on 7 October, through to feeling scared.

"The level of reported incidents of antisemitism is higher than it's ever been.

"It has an effect on people: 'Shall I take that journey? Should my child take off their blazer if they go to a Jewish school? Should I take off my star of David, my Magen David?'"

Mr Simonson says now is "absolutely" the time to repair any divisions between Jews and Muslims.

"Especially at a time of economic crisis, it's always people of colour, Jews and Muslims who suffer the most; the most racism, the most attacks.

"So I'm really honoured to be invited to an Iftar this week."

Jessica Ure's report can be seen on Politics London on Sunday, and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Joe Biden is in a strong position financially as the election approaches - Pool/ABACA/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

Joe Bidens re-election campaign raised more than $53 million (42 million) in February and has $155 million cash on hand after pulling in the most grassroots fundraising since the campaigns launch.

Februarys fundraising came just before Mr Biden clinched the Democratic Partys nomination in March and before he raised $10 million in the 24 hours following his fiery State of the Union address.

About 1.3 million donors have made nearly 3.4 million contributions, and 97 per cent of donations have been under $200, according to a statement from Bidens campaign, which released the figures on Sunday.

Mr Bidens cash on hand total is the highest amassed by any Democratic candidate in history during this point in the campaign, his representatives said.

The US president went on a fundraising trip to California in February and attended fundraisers in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.

Opposition to Donald Trump, who clinched the Republican Partys nomination, and to the GOP have motivated donors.

Mr Bidens campaign generated $1.6 million in grassroots revenue in the 48 hours following the GOP primary in South Carolina, while Trump-focused emails have also driven donations, Mr Bidens campaign said.

The stakes of this election couldnt be higher for the future of this country, and our historic fundraising operation is making sure every voter knows these stakes come November, said Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Mr Bidens campaign manager.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Mr Biden had a marginal one percentage point lead over Trump ahead of Novembers election.

Some 39 per cent of registered voters in the one-week poll said they would vote for Biden, if the election were held today, compared with 38 per cent who picked Republican former president Trump.

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MELBOURNE  John Farrell, the longtime executive director of the Daily Bread soup kitchen who called attention to the plight of Brevard Countys growing homeless population, died Thursday after a medical procedure.

Farrell, who survived a diagnosis of terminal cancer for several years to oversee the building of affordable housing for families in need, was 80.

John Farrell, at right, died Thursday. He led the Daily Bread soup kitchen in Melbourne for 10 years.

The Daily Bread opened its doors in January 1988 to the homeless, not far from downtown Melbourne. Farrell was its executive director for 10 years, making phone calls, standing before the city council and visiting churches to talk about the mission of serving those without shelter, family and friends pointed out.

John Farrells commitment to help those in need in our community through the Daily Bread and St. Stephens Way will be sorely missed, Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey said, referring to the affordable housing program.

John never took no for an answer and I thank him for that.

Farrell was also vice chair of a 15-member Brevard County Emergency Shelter Task Force, started by the Brevard County Commission to address what was becoming a burgeoning problem of sheltering the homeless.

"He was very driven," said Leanna Farrell, his wife of 42 years. "He wouldn't give up when it came to the homeless. He was really following the Lord's direction."

More: Brevard remembers the homeless who died in 2023

At Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Indialantic, where Farrell served as a deaconm, the Rev. Scott Circe announced Farrells passing to the congregation.

Please keep his wife Leanna and his family in prayer during this challenging time, Circe said in an email sent out Friday.

Farrell, who loved to play hockey as a child, grew up in Longmeadow, Mass., and attended Western New England University, where he studied accounting. Farrell later worked in the corporate world and became president of United Software Associates.

He stepped down as director of the Daily Bread in 2017 after the cancer diagnosis. He was succeeded by Jeff Njus.

Despite the diagnosis, Farrell continued to contribute to his community.

"God wasn't finished with him and soon he was asked to help work with St. Stephen's Way," Leanna Farrell said of her husband's work with the nonprofit organization. Farrell later served as St. Stephen's Way executive director, a role he maintained until his passing.

"He had an incredible spirit," she said.

Farrell is survived by his wife Leanna, six children and 26 grandchildren. Funeral announcements will be finalized later.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: John Farrell, who headed Melbourne's Daily Bread, dies at 80
King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday warned of the tragic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip at a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Jordanian royal court said.

At their talks held at Jordans port city of Aqaba, the monarch underlined the importance of intensified efforts to protect civilians and provide adequate and sustainable aid to people in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

The king stressed the necessity of the international community to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the strip, the court added in a statement.

It said both sides warned that a potential Israeli offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah would worsen the humanitarian crisis in the strip.

More than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the strip,

The Jordanian king called for standing firm against what he called extremist settlers violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and violations against Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem.

Jordan is the official custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C) arrievs for a press conference after a meeting with the Jordanian King ahead of his visit to Israel. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
A large TV was among the items the group found when litter picking in Peterborough

A litter-picking group that took part in the Great British Spring Clean said one event would not be enough to make a difference.

The Great British Spring Clean, which encourages people to join together to pick up litter in their local area, is taking place between 15-31 March.

In Peterborough, a joint effort between voluntary group Peterborough Litter Wombles and the city council saw more than 100 volunteers collect 200 bags of litter from across the city on 16 March.

Yet Harry Machin, from Peterborough Litter Wombles Association, said that although the event was important, it did not do enough to "address the litter issue.

Harry Machin (left) has appealed for more volunteers to join the city's litter-picking groups

Volunteers picked up litter across Dogsthorpe, Bretton, Parnwell and Hampton. They collected shopping trolleys, drug needles, Nitrogen Oxide canisters, cans and bottles. Peterborough and District Angling Association even found a large TV.

The event has been sponsored by Keep Britain Tidy, who donated garbage bags, and the city council provided litter-picking kits.

This is the third year that the voluntary group Peterborough Litter Wombles Association, which has 1,100 members of Facebook, took part in the initiative.

Its getting bigger each year, the litter-picking group said.

Mr Machin, who founded the group, said more needs to be done.

It is an important event to educate people and get them involved. And we had a lot of families this time who we didnt see before.

But its not nearly enough to address the problems.

We have been talking about deposit return scheme - where you pay a little extra for a can or bottle and when you return it back to the shop you are refunded. That has not been implemented, despite being talked about for year.

We think more could be done to enforce the law, which can act as a deterrent.

Another big reason we see so much litter in Peterborough is a lack of bins. There are footways and cycleways that just dont have bins. If we put plastic bags along lamp posts people have used them so it shows the bins could work.

Volunteers spent more than 180 hours picking up litter across Peterborough

Appeal for more volunteers

Over the next two weeks, several events have been planned including a city centre litter pick organised by Peterborough Positive and a city-wide litter pick by RSA insurance firm.

We need more volunteers to join our campaign. Its a great activity to do which gets you out and helps socialise and you make a difference to your community, Mr Machin said.

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Christian Kelley has a question for Topeka police: What are you hiding?

Her brother Christopher Kelley was in the midst of a mental health crisis when Topeka Police Department officers shot and killed him in June 2022.

Though a family representative viewed the body camera video, the city has not publicly released the recordings.

If you state that something went a certain way, then there should be no problem releasing the tape to the public, Christian Kelley said.

But in Kansas, just because body cameras are widely used doesnt mean the public gets to see that footage.

Body camera recordings are considered criminal investigation records. Under Kansas law, that classification gives police departments or other public officials like district attorneys broad discretion in deciding whether the recordings get released or stay shielded from public view, even after a case is closed. According to an analysis by The Star, that discretion has created a muddled patchwork of transparency  or in many cases, a lack of it  when it comes to body camera footage across the state.

In the five years from 2019 to 2023, police officers fatally shot 47 people in Kansas. Officers were cleared of criminal charges in all of the cases. The Star requested videos from all of the shootings under the Kansas Open Records Act.

Where recordings existed, officials denied releasing them to the public 67% of the time. Agencies cited a number of reasons. In Christopher Kelleys case, Topeka officials said the footage was not in the publics interest. City Attorney Amanda Stanley also wrote in her denial letter that the video was disturbing and that its release would be a clearly unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of the officers.

In a denial letter regarding another fatal shooting by Topeka police in 2022, Stanley wrote, This Officer has been through enough.

Videos that officials released from other cities across Kansas varied: Some were heavily blurred, while others edited out either the beginning of the interaction or what transpired in the immediate aftermath of a shooting. Two agencies declined to release recordings, but allowed a reporter to watch the videos in their offices.

Experts and advocates say transparency is critical  particularly when someone dies  to the relationship between police and the communities they serve. When introduced, body cameras were pitched as a tool to enhance transparency.

When you limit the publics access to what public officials do, police officers and law enforcement, I think you diminish the public trust in these institutions, said attorney Tom Porto.

If Christopher Kelley had been killed by police in Missouri, the investigation file, including footage, would become an open record once the case is closed. But thats not the way the law works in Kansas.

In Portos words: The statutes in Kansas do more to limit trust than ensure it.

Marine Corps veteran

Christopher Kelley was born in Kansas City and moved to Topeka around age 5 when he was adopted along with his sister and a niece.

He was curious, kind and a very, very vibrant little boy with chubby cheeks like a chipmunk, Christian Kelley said.

As a teenager, he became a cheerleader, ran cross country and was active in his church.

After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. While he was in Iraq, he signed up for a mission but a friend ended up going in his place, Christian Kelley said, and his friend was killed.

That traumatized him quite a bit, she said. The joy he normally had was lost.

Christopher DeVon Kelley, 38, was killed by Topeka police in 2022. The city of Topeka has not released body camera footage from the fatal shooting.

When Christopher Kelley returned home, his family noticed changes. He was closed off, shut down. They urged him to seek help at the Veterans Affairs Hospital. He was hesitant, unsure if the mental health services there were a good fit for him, his sister said.

He got a job at a nursing home where he was a cook. Christian Kelley said he was a great chef who could make a mean pot of oxtails. And he was a dedicated father who stressed the importance of getting a good education to his four children, now ranging in age from 4 to 18.

On June 24, 2022, Topeka police were called to 4th and Holliday streets, near railroad property. Prosecutors alleged Christopher Kelley threatened a railroad employee with a knife. Officers negotiated with him for about an hour and deployed bean bag rounds and rubber bullets, weapons police deem less lethal and are not intended to kill someone.

Those methods had no impact on Kelley and he continued to disobey commands and on occasion continued inflicting injuries to himself with the knife, the Shawnee County District Attorneys Office wrote in a news release.

Then he charged at officers with the knife extended over his head, the DAs office said.

Multiple officers fired, killing the 38-year-old.

LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, a family representative for the Kelleys who is also an attorney, viewed the footage. She thinks officers escalated the situation and that the department should release the recording.

Youre serving the public and theres a shooting or killing, theres a taking of someones life. You dont get privacy on that. You need to be very transparent at that point, Saunders said.

Family members by state law are allowed to view body camera footage. Most of Kelleys family opted not to watch it.

We did not want to experience that type of trauma, Christian Kelley said.

But she still thinks the public should be able to see it, especially since taxpayers usually foot the bill for equipment like body cameras.

Can we see our return on investment? Christian Kelley said.

A need for transparency is appropriate.

Patrol vehicles for the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriffs Office are seen parked within a taped off portion of railroad tracks just north of the Amtrak Station after officers shot and killed Christopher Kelley in June 2022.

Footage and findings

The Star submitted more than 50 requests for footage to 28 law enforcement agencies  some shootings involved multiple departments, and some departments had multiple shootings. Five shootings did not have footage at all. Agencies denied public release for 32, or two-thirds of the existing recordings.

In two of those cases, a reporter viewed footage with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in Topeka and the Cowley County Sheriffs Office in south central Kansas.

Footage from KDWP had not been viewed by the media previously, according to current staff at the agency. Officers from four departments including KDWP responded in March 2021 to a welfare check where they found a man standing outside a car near the border between Clark and Meade counties, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said.

Within two seconds of the eight-minute recording, a barrage of gunfire begins and the man falls to the ground. Its unclear why existing footage from the preceding interaction was not included in what the agency showed.

Officers killed Jim Wright, 67, of Fowler, Kansas. Authorities said he was armed.

The reporter also viewed recordings at the Cowley County Sheriffs Office in Winfield. In April 2022, three deputies confronted a woman who was stopped on a rural road. Footage from the three deputies indicated she did not know what state she was in.

The recording showed the interaction escalated and she reached her right hand toward the center console of the Jeep. As a deputy shocked her with a Taser, she began firing a gun. All three deputies were struck and returned fire.

The deputies killed Andrea Barrow, 32, of Arkansas City, Kansas. They found her in possession of a stolen license plate.

Undersheriff Christina McDonald said the sheriffs office was fine with providing the videos for viewing at the office, but that it also wanted to protect the public, the deputies and their families, and Barrows family.

McDonald said it was a delicate line and they walk that as well as possible.

The officers were cleared in both homicides.

The Star obtained videos in 11 other police shootings, including fatal encounters in Baxter Springs, Chanute, Goddard, Ness County, Olathe, Sedgwick County, Wellington and Wichita. Some raised questions about the justification for the shootings, if policies were followed and if statements made by officials were accurate.

Over five hours of footage showed negotiations in a standoff after someone reported a domestic disturbance in March 2022 at a trailer home in Baxter Springs. Joplin, Missouri, police responded to assist the local department, and one of their snipers fired into the trailer, striking and killing 2-year-old Clessie Lynn Jane Crawford.

In August 2023, Ness County Sheriffs Office deputies pleaded with Jesse Nicholls, 46, outside a home where someone had reported a domestic disturbance.

During a 66-minute video, one of the deputies said, Think about me and everybody else cause you know how this ends and you know how bad thats going to mess me up. Im begging with you, man.

It doesnt matter anymore, Nicholls replied.

Nicholls fired into the ground and a deputy shot him.

County Attorney Jacob Gayer characterized the encounter differently. In a news release, he wrote, The subject charged towards Deputies before discharging, towards officers, a single round.

Gayer declined on March 12 to comment when asked about the wording he used.

Videos from four other fatal shootings had been previously publicized.

The Star also requested the body-worn camera policies from 28 agencies. The policies varied from two to 12 pages. Chetopa, a small town in southeast Kansas, said they were in the process of implementing a policy.

Only policies from Topeka and Chanute make no mention of how requests for disclosure are to be handled. City of Topeka spokeswoman Rosie Nichols said there was no reason for that to be included in a policy on how body cameras are used by officers. However, a December report from the Police Executive Research Forum, a policing think tank that recommends best practices, said every agency should have a clear (body worn camera) release policy.

Agencies that included information about body camera disclosure requests were fairly similar, citing the Kansas Open Records Act or referring the decision to police chiefs.

Videos kept from public

The public may never know exactly what happened to Christopher Kelley. Or 25-year-old Amareeya Henderson in Kansas City, Kansas. Or Nicole Dechant, 29, in western Kansas. They are among 26 fatal police shootings where agencies denied public release of the footage.

Nichols, Topekas spokeswoman, said the city manager coordinates the review of body camera requests. Interim City Manager Richard Nienstedt was not available for an interview on this topic.

She went on to say that these types of KORA requests are carefully considered and that several factors are weighed when footage is requested. That includes whether a criminal case is still open, if footage reveals confidential sources and if its in the public interest, among others.

Video recordings often show an individuals (including victims, alleged offenders, witnesses or officers) worst day in extraordinary detail, Nichols said. As such, the city holds requests for these records to the highest scrutiny and protection.

According to the Fraternal Order of Police contract with Topeka, the city manager can release footage to the public after communication with the officer(s) whose actions appear in the video.

Eight people have died in fatal police shootings in Kansas City, Kansas, in the past five years. The department released one video in 2022. It showed a struggle between officers and Lionel Womack, a former police officer who was killed in the encounter. Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Chief Karl Oakman said it was that specific case that led to the videos release.

The department recently denied releasing footage from the other seven fatal shootings.

If its something that we feel is in the best interest of the public, then we would release it, Oakman said.

Von Kliem, director of the consulting division for Force Science, which consults and trains police, said if the average citizen was asked to review a shooting case, they would likely say they are not qualified. Releasing videos, Kliem said, is asking the public to do just that in the name of transparency.

He said the public needs to be educated on the legalities of using force and how watching footage differs from what the officer was experiencing and perceiving during the encounter.

The decision to release videos should be made on a case-by-case basis, Kliem said, depending on the status of the investigation, the political climate and whether the shooting was a close call. In those instances, Kliem would want to know if the public was ready to view it in a non-bias way.

Clearly the answers no in most cases, he said.

Right to know

Agencies need to be open to public scrutiny, said Lora McDonald, executive director of the social justice organization MORE2. And in some cases, footage would show an officers actions were justified.

Let the public have the discourse, she said. But youre basically saying, The public cant be involved, we know what were doing and everythings fine. But you work for us.

Christopher Bush, a criminal justice professor at Allen County Community College who has researched the impact of releasing body camera recordings, said a 67% denial rate for recordings was high.

The longer disclosure takes, he said, the more suspicious people get. And that can drive a wedge between police and the community.

Some Kansas agencies make a point of releasing footage for this reason. Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe generally releases clips from body camera footage when he announces charging decisions.

In a statement, his office said doing so helps explain my decisions on officer involved shootings.

This transparency helps maintain the publics trust in the criminal justice system and the decisions made, Howe said. It also requires us to balance transparency with the privacy rights of all individuals involved. We also must be mindful of the graphic nature of some of the content. That is why we redact or pixelate portions of some videos.

Recordings from four of the five last fatal police shootings in Johnson County have been released. Footage from an August 2023 shooting has not yet been released. Fairway Police Department Officer Jonah Oswald and suspect Shannon Wayne Marshall were killed in the encounter at a QuikTrip in Mission. Prosecution of another suspect, Andrea Cothran, remains ongoing.

Even when footage is released, it can provoke additional questions.

Howe released some clips from the 2018 shooting of 17-year-old John Albers in Overland Park. But it took years and multiple lawsuits, including one filed by The Star, to get a more complete picture of what happened. In 2021, the city released additional videos and reports.

Evidence concluded that each of the bullets fired at the teen entered through the side of the minivan, answering some questions about the officers positioning and whether he was in the vehicles path.

An evidence photo from the 2018 police shooting of John Albers in Overland Park shows a rear view mirror on the van Albers was driving shattered by a bullet fired by Overland Park police officer Clayton Jenison.

Sheila Albers, John Albers mom, said releasing footage wont solve everything, but disclosure is a valuable step.

The reason why footage is important, and its not just Johns case, this is nationally, is that it then prevents false narratives from being put out to the public, she said. The person or the entity that controls the footage controls the story. And if we dont have disclosure of footage, then the governmental entity can tell whatever story they want.

Trust is built through accountability and transparency, said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas.

The public absolutely has the right to know what happened, has the right to know whether police officers acted in a manner that is consistent with their training, that is consistent with the law, that is consistent with good common sense, he said.

Future of footage

A measure in 2018 proposed public access to body camera footage in Kansas. But that language was stripped from the bill. The law that passed was watered down, said Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City, Kansas, Democrat.

Haley said he supports the release of footage when someone dies as long as its release would not interfere with an investigation. He also said there should be continuity across the state. He compared Johnson Countys decision to release recordings with Wyandotte Countys denials, which he called unacceptable.

Rep. John Resman, an Olathe Republican who was in law enforcement for 28 years, said a patchwork of other laws already exists.

In terms of disclosure, he said other information in criminal cases is not released.

So I think it should be up to the DAs office or the district attorney to decide whats going to be released or when, he said of body camera recordings.

In fatal police shootings where there is no prosecution, Resman said he generally supports the release of videos.

No body camera legislation is on the table this year in Kansas.

In California, agencies must release footage in critical incidents within 45 days. Footage may be released in other states like Ohio, which provides an exemption in its open records law when someone is killed by police.

Cities can also pass their own ordinances, or individual police departments can implement disclosure policies. Agencies from Seattle to New Orleans and Baltimore may release footage within two to nine days, according to the Police Executive Research Forum.

Max Kautsch, an attorney who focuses on open government law, said he thinks its more likely change will come from the courts. In 1987, the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed records in a Johnson County triple homicide could be withheld because their release was not in the public interest, which must go beyond curiosity. Kautsch said that has created an accountability disaster.

But more recent decisions, including in the Albers case, have emphasized what public interest means. In 2021, The Wichita Eagle won a years-long court battle for body camera recordings in two separate incidents.

This is a matter of public interest because the community at large has an expectation that police investigations will be conducted fairly and appropriately, especially when a police officer is implicated, Sedgwick County District Court Judge Jeffrey Goering wrote in the decision.

In cases of potential misconduct or police shootings, Kautsch said, theres an expectation by the community at large that the law enforcement agency acted reasonably in taking the action that it took, and the only way to challenge or verify whether the conduct by law enforcement was reasonable is disclosure of the records.

Christian Kelley said she does not think the City of Topeka has met the publics expectations when it comes to transparency.

The sudden loss of Christopher Kelley has been difficult for her, his children and other loved ones.

But she said she hopes something good can come from her brothers death. She wants city officials or state lawmakers to change the disclosure laws.

Theres an opportunity here, she said. I wish they would take it.
In a video announcement, the Princess of Wales announced she is undergoing preventive chemotherapy on March 22.

After weeks of speculation and conspiracies about her health and whereabouts, she shared with the public that shes been receiving treatment.

In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non cancerous, Kate, 42, said in a video statement released by Kensington Palace.

The surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy and Im now in the early stages of that treatment, she said.

Preventive chemotherapy, also called adjuvant, generally refers to a treatment conducted after initial interventions that aims to prevent cancer from returning, Dr. Ben Ho Park, director of precision oncology at Vanderbilt School of Medicine, told TODAY.com on March 22.

The news, Kate said, came as huge shock, and so, shes chosen to deal with it in private. Her priority, she said is to protect her children. William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family, she added.

In January, the Palace announced that Kate would be undergoing abdominal surgery which it writes was planned and that she wouldnt be making appearances or attending to her duties until April, specifically after Easter. Kate was last seen the month before at a Christmas service.

While people guessed about what was keeping her away, this is the first time Kate has address her absence and her health herself.

What type of cancer does Kate Middleton have?

Kate did not specify what type of cancer she has and the Palace hasn't given an update since her video address. She shared that cancer was discovered through tests conducted after her abdominal surgery.

Park told TODAY.com the most common types of cancer discovered through abdominal surgery are gastrointestinal, such as colon or stomach, or genital or urinary. He stressed, however, that it could be anything.

Until now, many royal sleuths were questioning where Kate has been, why she was not joining her husband at speaking engagements and when she might return.

Ahead, find the timeline detailing Kates health.

What is preventive chemotherapy?

Clinical trials have found that chemotherapy after initial treatment, such as surgery, which Kate had, can reduce the risk of the cancer recurring, Park said.

Even though the surgeons have removed everything they can see, there could still be cancer cells floating around in the body that, if left untreated, may come back later (and) is then incurable, Park added.

Park said the purpose of preventive chemotherapy is trying to maximize the treatment a patient has already received to eliminate all of the cancer cells.

The palace has not confirmed what kind of cancer Kates doctors found following her surgery, but preventive or adjuvant chemotherapy is typically used for breast, colon, ovarian or lung cancer, Dr. Tara Narula, NBC medical contributor, explained during a TODAY segment on March 25. And treatment typically lasts between three and six months, she added.

Whether her chemotherapy treatments are administered via IV or pill, Narula said Kates preventive treatment is the same kind that would be given to someone with an advanced cancer though the duration and intensity might be shorter.

The side effects will likely be the same too: Fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, bruising, infections, Narula said. And long term, the princess might experience cardiovascular complications, fertility issues and any number of effects to her organs like anyone else.

This is not a walk in the park, said Narula. Kates age might help her better tolerate treatment but thats not a sure thing. When we say the term preventive, it sounds light and fluffy, but she may be going through a lot this time, Narula notes.

December 2023

The princesss most recent public appearance with husband Prince William and their three children  George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5  came in late 2023 during their annual Christmas church outing at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, near one of the kings royal estates.

January 2024

Kensington Palace announced that Kate had undergone "planned abdominal surgery" on Jan. 16.

In the statement, released the following day, Kensington Palace wrote: "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 statement went on to say that it would only provide updates that were "significant."

Its likely, however, that doctors had to cut through her abdominal wall muscles, which can be very painful, gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj explained in a Jan. 18 segment on TODAY.

It does take a while for those muscles to heal, for you to be back to your fighting function, being able to lift heavy things or walk a long period of time, she explained. We often tell people after abdominal surgery, youre not going to be 100% for probably three months.

You have to manage pain afterward, theres the possibility of wound infection, and theres weakness and fatigue, Raj added.

William was by his wifes bedside in a visit to the hospital on Jan. 18. Kate was discharged from London Clinic, a private hospital, on Jan. 29, 13 days after the procedure took place.

The palace said in a Jan. 29 statement: The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.

The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided, the statement continued. The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.

Kate is expected to be recuperating for two to three months following the surgery, a palace source told NBC News at the time.

When revealing that Kate needed abdominal surgery, the palace said: The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes 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 palaces message added that Kate wishes to apologize for having to postpone her upcoming engagements.

She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible, the statement said.

A Kensington Palace source told NBC News in mid-January that William would be postponing appearances in the coming months and not conduct any official duties while his wife was in the hospital or immediately after she returned home.

Because they royals had to postpone engagements due to Kates surgery, Raj wondered about the extent to which the procedure was planned: If I had a patient who I said needs surgery in two days, thats a pretty urgent situation. I dont consider that truly elective, Raj said.

Catherine previously experienced health complications during each of her three pregnancies. She had to be treated in the hospital for hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe type of morning sickness, when she was pregnant with the couples oldest child, George, and also had the condition with Charlotte and Louis.

February 2024

William pulled out of attending his godfathers memorial service due to a personal matter. In a statement to NBC News on Feb. 27, the palace wouldnt elaborate on the reason for Williams absence but said Kate continues to be doing well.

After releasing Kate's video, Kensington Palace confirmed that the prince did not attend the service due to his wife's diagnosis.

In late February, the palace issued another statement about her recovery, explaining that her absence from the public eye shouldnt be unexpected.

Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the Princess recovery and wed only be providing significant updates, a spokesperson for the princess said in a statement to NBC News on Feb. 29. That guidance stands.

March 2024

The first photo of Kate since the surgery was from March 5. Grainy images showed her in the passenger seat of a black SUV that appeared to be driven by her mother near Windsor Castle. The palace declined to comment on these photos.

On March 6, Gary Goldsmith, the princess uncle, commented on her condition in an episode of Celebrity Big Brother (UK).

Housemate Ekin-Su Culculoglu asked Goldsmith about Kates whereabouts. Goldsmith acknowledged Kates request for privacy, but went on to say, If its announced, Ill give an opinion.

He also mentioned having spoken to his sister, Kates mother, and said, Shes getting the best care in the world. And all the familys done is put the wagons round and look after family first before anything else.

In his introduction for the show, Goldsmith described himself as the uncle to the future queen of our country, Catherine Middleton, the current princess of Wales before describing Kate as simply perfect.

A photo, posted on social media in honor of U.K. Mothers Day on March 10, was the first official one released of Catherine since the surgery. According to the palace, it was taken by William the week prior.

It showed Kate with her three children. Alongside it, she also shared her first message since the procedure: Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day.

But within several hours of the photo being shared, it was retracted by major news agencies, including the Associated Press and Reuters, due to manipulation.

Kate addressed the controversy in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mothers Day. C.

The AP explained its decision to retract the photo in a statement to NBC News: The Associated Press initially published the photo, which was issued by Kensington Palace. The AP later retracted the image because at closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet APs photo standards. The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlottes left hand.

Reuters issued a similar editors note, withdrawing the image after a post publication review.

Recently, some social media users speculated a March 11 photograph of Kate and William leaving their Windsor Castle residence was photoshopped. (A royal spokesperson confirmed at the time that they were attending a private appointment.)

But the agency that distributed it, Goff Photos, told TODAY.com in a statement that it was only cropped and lightened, nothing has been doctored!

When William attended memorial event on March 14 that honored the legacy of his mother, the late Princess Diana, Kate was not with him. He mentioned his wife once, briefly.

(My mother) taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back, that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life, the future king said. That legacy is something that both Catherine and I saw to focus on in our work.

The princess also missed a yearly tradition on Sunday of celebrating St. Patricks Day with the Irish Guards. Despite her absence, the guards celebrated her by giving three cheers to the colonel, a title Kate has held since 2022.

The next day, on March 18, a video reportedly of Kate and William at a market in Windsor taken over the weekend began to circulate online. Kensington Palace declined to comment on the footage.

The latest former Kate Middleton news came two days later, on March 20. U.K. newspaper The Mirror reported that at least one member on staff at The London Clinic, the hospital where Kate underwent surgery, allegedly tried to access her medical records. In response, Kensington Palace told NBC News, This is a matter for The London Clinic.

While The London Clinic did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment from NBC News, it told The Mirror: We firmly believe that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information.

On March 22, in a video statement, the Princess of Wales announced she was undergoing treatment for cancer. Following the abdominal surgery she had in January, doctors found that "cancer had been present," Kate said.

As a "preventative" measure, she said she is receiving chemotherapy.

Preventive or adjuvant chemotherapy is given to someone whose already received treatment for cancer, such as surgery. It's the same chemotherapy someone might have to treat cancer that is knowingly present somewhere in their bodies. In this case, doctors are trying to reduce the likelihood of the disease returning.

It's been a trying time, but as Kate said she's told her children, "I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits."

She added: "Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both."

As she continues to recover, she asked for privacy and space during this time.

"My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I'm able. But for now, I must focus on making a full recovery," Kate went on before addressing anyone who's been affected by cancer.

"For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone."

The news about Kate's treatment comes soon after King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis. On day Kate filmed and released her video announcement she and the king had lunch.

This new experience for them both will really cement what has long been a very affectionate bond between the king and his beloved daughter-in-law, Hello magazine royal editor Emily Nash said on March 25 on TODAY.

CLARIFICATION: (March 10, 2024, 8:02 p.m.): An earlier version of this article included the image shared by Kensington Palace of Kate Middleton and her children. The photo was later removed from this article due to claims it was manipulated.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
President Biden discussed some of his plans for the country in his recent State of the Union address. He now wants to put taxpayers' money where his mouth is.

Last week, Biden released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, which begins on Oct. 1. In his $7.3 trillion budget, he addressed all major areas of federal spending. The president wants to make big changes to Social Security. Will Americans support what he wants to do?

Image source: Official White House photo by Adam Schultz.

More money for Social Security in fiscal 2025

Biden wants to increase the discretionary budget for the Social Security Administration (SSA) by $1.3 billion from the 2023 level. That would bring the total budget for the agency to $15.4 billion.

Note, however, that this amount doesn't include any benefits payments. Social Security dished out more than $1.3 trillion in benefits last year. Most of the funding for the benefits comes from payroll taxes.

The president's budget proposal relates only to SSA's administrative functions. He wants more money for the agency primarily to improve service to Social Security recipients.

Biden's bigger plans for Social Security

Biden has bigger plans for Social Security than just administrative improvements, though. His proposed budget also addresses his desire to work with Congress to strengthen the federal program. The president listed several guiding principles for any Social Security reforms.

Most importantly, Biden remains adamant that no benefit cuts be made to Social Security. He has mentioned in previous public statements that he views an increase to the full retirement age as a benefit cut. The proposed budget also specifically noted that the president opposes any "proposals to privatize Social Security."

Another cornerstone in Biden's plan is to extend Social Security's solvency by "asking the highest-income Americans to pay their fair share." Although the budget didn't provide details on what that would mean, Biden has in the past proposed making all income above $400,000 subject to the payroll tax that helps fund Social Security.

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The president also wants to collaborate with Congress on "improving financial security for seniors and people with disabilities." Again, no details were provided in the budget on how Biden wants to accomplish this goal.

Popular ideas

What do Americans think about Biden's proposed Social Security changes? The president's plans will probably be popular.

The University of Maryland's Program for Public Consultation (PPC) surveyed 2,545 people in 2022 to gauge their views on potential changes to Social Security. An overwhelming majority of respondents, fully 80%, supported making all earnings above $400,000 subject to the payroll tax. This proposal received strong bipartisan support, with 77% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats favoring it.

Roughly two-thirds of survey respondents were OK with increasing the Social Security payroll tax rate, something the president has not publicly called for. Again, there was significant support across party lines, with 62% of Republicans and 74% of Democrats favoring the proposal.

Are Americans in alignment with Biden on opposing raising the full retirement age? Not quite. However, a smaller majority of 53% liked the proposal, with 47% not favoring it.

While the president's budget didn't specify how he'd like to improve the financial security for seniors and people with disabilities, PPC found that 78% of Americans supported raising the minimum benefit. Eighty-five percent of Democrats favored the proposal, compared with 73% of Republicans.

Dead on arrival?

However, regardless of how much public support they have, Biden's plans to reform Social Security and his overall budget will almost certainly be dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. House Republican leaders issued a statement last week that they "reject Biden's misguided budget proposal."

Any changes to bolster Social Security will probably have to wait until the next presidential term and a new Congress. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking until the federal program's trust funds run out of money. Unless something is done, across-the-board cuts will be required by 2034.

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Joe Biden Wants to Make Big Changes to Social Security. Will Americans Support What He Wants to Do? was originally published by The Motley Fool
A new Kings High School would be constructed with proceeds from a 5.91-mill bond issue voters will decide March 19.

DEERFIELD TWP.  A new high school would be constructed for students in the Kings Local School District with proceeds from a 5.91-mill bond issue voters will decide March 19.

Building a new school for grades 9-12 would trigger a reconfiguration of the grades at the other buildings and address a district-wide capacity issue.

This solution that the community advisory team came up with is a comprehensive K-12 solution that addresses capacity in all our buildings for the long term, said Superintendent Greg Sears. Currently our high school sits at 134 percent capacityif you just move our seventh grade up to their senior yearour high school will be at 145 percent capacity  thats without any additional growth.

All schools in the district except for Kings Mills Elementary and the early childhood center have more students than the classroom capacity, per a study done by Cropper GIS last May.

We need to address the needs of the students now, the ones who are already here, said Dawn Gould, district spokeswoman. There are more students in grades K-6 than there are in 7-12. Its (overcapacity) just going to get greater.

Gould pointed out that the senior class is just over 300 students while many of the lower grades have 400 students. The study shows enrollment will go from 5,003 this school year to 5,422 by the 2032-2033 school year.

Adding to the increase, Gould said, is confirmation from county and township planners that 250 new homes and 639 multi-family units will be built in the district.

The new high school will be built for 1,800 students for $101 million. There are about 1,415 enrolled now.

If voters approve the bond issue, a study will be done to determine its location. Two spots for the new high school are being considered: a 30-acre site purchased last summer from Kings Island, south of the bus garage on Columbia Road; or at the north end of the high school campus.

That extra land gives up options to make the best fiscal decisions we can, Gould said.

With a new high school, the current high school would become a junior high for grades 6-8. J.F. Burns, Kings Mills and South Lebanon elementary schools would house students in grades K-3. Third and fourth graders would attend an expanded Columbia Intermediate School. The cost to add eight classrooms at Columbia is $6 million.

The $142 million plan also calls for improvements and renovations at J.F. Burns, $10 million; and the high school, $13 million.

Although the cost of the bond issue as it appears on the ballot would increase taxes by $209 annually on a $100,000 house, that wont happen, said district Treasurer Mike Morrow.

He said a financing plan for the district developed by Bradley Paine Municipal Advisors and RBC Capital Market, will allow for paying down past bond issues while phasing in bonds for the new high school and related projects.

Weve worked with our finance team to develop a 3.5-mill plan. Residents will never pay more than $123 more than theyre currently paying for a $100,000 home, Morrow said.

Legally, though, the levy has to be certified at 5.9 mills  the cost of the project.

Other school districts also have levies on the March 19 primary ballot.

Franklin City School District

What: 6.301-mill, five-year emergency levy.Raises: $3.615 million each of the next five years with collections beginning in January.Cost: $221 for a $100,000 house.Purpose: New operating money. The district has not asked voters for new money since 2014. The district passed a bond issue for new buildings in 2020. Bond issue funds may not be used for operating expenses. If it fails: The district would close Anthony Wayne and Pennyroyal elementary schools, redistrict boundaries for elementary schools; cut seven certified staff members, one administrator and five non-teaching positions; increase the pay-to-play cost. Construction proceeds regardless of operating expense cuts. Failure to pass the levy will not affect staff and students moving into the new high school or the middle school renovations. Information: Visit the district website.

Wayne Local School District

What: 1.65-mill, 5-year, permanent improvement levy.Raises: $662,000 each of the next five years with collections beginning in January. Purpose: Capital improvement projects, maintenance, heating/air conditioning systems, technology, bus/van/truck purchases.Cost: $58 per year for a $100,000 house. No increase in taxes due to 1988 expiring bond issue used to build high school.Information: Visit the district website.

Warren County Career Center

What: 0.618-mill bond issue and state-required 0.2-mill permanent improvement levyRaises: $67.3 million, bond issue over 30 years; and $1,345,717 annually permanent improvement levyPurpose: Money to pay the districts share of a $88,952,908 project to construct a new campus for high school students on the main campus, allowing more high school students to attend; Ohio Facilities Construction Commission would pay $21,652,908; adult programming would be expanded and held at the existing and Atrium campuses.Cost: $28.63 annually for a $100,000 house.Information: Check the website for more information.

Goshen Local School District

What: 2.0-mill bond issue.Raises: $2.6 million. Cost: District says $102 for the owner of a home with an appraised value of $100,000. Purpose: to pay for 14 classrooms, 6,900 multi-use space, and cafeteria upgrade at high school; 10 classroom additions at each the middle and Spaulding Elementary schools; 16,250 square feet of small group space at Marr/Cook, Spaulding and middle schools; improvements to traffic and safety.More information: Check the website.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Voters in several districts to decide school bonds and levies March 19
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby brushed off questioning Sunday regarding whether President Biden believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an "impediment to peace," saying the two world leaders have "known each other a long time" and have an open line of communication.

"Does the president think that Benjamin Netanyahu is a bigot? That he's an impediment to peace? That he should be lumped in with Hamas?" Fox News Shannon Bream asked Kirby on "Fox News Sunday."

Kirby did not explicitly answer, instead highlighting that the two world leaders have long known each other and that the U.S. respects Israels sovereignty.

"These are two men, leaders that have known each other a long time, Shannon, and they don't agree on everything  haven't over 40 years. And there are certain aspects to the prosecution of operations in Gaza, where we obviously don't agree with everything that Israel has done. But they have a relationship where they can talk to one another, and they do, and they will again. He is the prime minister of Israel. We respect the sovereignty of the Israeli people," he responded.

WHITE HOUSE REPEATEDLY DODGES ON IF BIDEN THINKS NETANYAHU IS AN 'OBSTACLE FOR PEACE:' 'NOT ANSWERED 3 TIMES'

John Kirby speaks with Fox News' Shannon Bream.

The question comes after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, delivered a speech last week calling for Netanyahus ouster and labeling him an "obstacle to peace" as war rages in Israel and Gaza since October.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Along with Netanyahu, Schumer added that "Hamas and the Palestinians who support and tolerate their evil ways; the radical right-wing Israelis in government and society; [and] Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas" are the other obstacles preventing peace.

SCHUMER CALLS FOR NEW ISRAELI LEADER TO REPLACE NETANYAHU IN SENATE FLOOR SPEECH

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last week delivered a speech calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden later described Schumers remarks as a "good speech."

"He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans," Biden said Friday.

Bream pressed Kirby on whether Biden agrees with Schumer that there needs to be an election in Israel and that Netanyahu should no longer serve as prime minister.

President Biden said Senate Majority Leader Schumer "expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans."

"The president believes it's up to the Israeli people and the Israeli government to determine if and when there's going to be new elections. But he does, as he said shortly after Leader Schumer's very passionate speech, he recognizes that the leader was speaking for a lot of Americans who feel the same way about the way the war is going. We also have concerns about some of the operations and how they're being conducted. We need to make sure that civilians are protected and secure, that civilian casualties come down, that more trucks and assistance get in and, of course, we're still working on that temporary cease-fire to get all those hostages out," Kirby responded.

SCHUMER SPEECH ON ISRAEL SLAMMED BY REPUBLICANS, EXPERTS AS 'UNPRECEDENTED' AND 'RIDICULOUS'

Kirbys remarks follow another interview last week on MSNBC, where host Andrea Mitchell repeatedly asked the White House official if Biden believes Netanyahu is an "obstacle to peace." Kirby dodged the question three times, which Mitchell pointed out on air before moving on with the interview.

John Kirby during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Jan. 29, 2024.

"The president knows that the Israeli people get to determine who their elected government representatives are. That's what democracy is all about, and he respects that," Kirby responded after one of Mitchells questions regarding if Netanyahu is an "obstacle to peace." "And he has been nothing but candid and forthright with the prime minister about ways in which we think things can be done differently, things can be done better, things can be done a little bit more stridently to get more assistance into the people of Gaza to and to reduce the number of civilian casualties. I mean, my goodness, these are two guys that have no problem being honest with one another, and I can assure you that the president has done that."

SCHUMERS ANTI-NETANYAHU SPEECH STRENGTHENS BIBI IN ISRAEL'S WAR TO DEFEAT HAMAS

"Let me just say that answer  that question was not answered three times. That's all right. That was your answer," Mitchell ultimately said.

NETANYAHU APPROVES RAFAH GROUND INVASION, DESPITE BIDEN OPPOSITION

Netanyahu responded to Schumers speech this weekend, calling it "inappropriate" and detailing that a potential election is up to Israel and its voters.

"I think what he said is totally inappropriate. It's inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there," Netanyahu said in a CNN interview.





Original article source: Kirby dodges answering point-blank if Biden believes Netanyahu impedes peace: 'Known each other a long time'
White House national security adviser John Kirby sidestepped questions Sunday about whether President Biden believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is impeding peace amid the war in Gaza.

Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream pressed Kirby on the speech Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) delivered last week in which he called for Israel to hold new elections and said Netanyahu has lost his way. His speech was met with backlash from Republicans, with some saying Schumer was trying to meddle with Israels elections.

Bream noted Biden later said Schumer gave a good speech before asking Kirby if the president believes Netanyahu is a bigot, that hes an impediment to peace, that he should be lumped in with Hamas.

These are two men  leaders that have known each other a long time, Shannon, and they dont agree on everything, havent over 40 years. And there are certain aspects to the prosecution of operations in Gaza where we obviously dont agree with everything that Israel has done, Kirby responded.

But they have a relationship where they can talk to one another. And they do, and they will again. He is the prime minister of Israel, and we respect the sovereignty of the Israeli people, he added.

When asked further if Biden believes that a new prime minister should replace Netanyahu, Kirby said the matter is up to the Israeli people.

The president believes its up to the Israeli people and the Israeli government to determine if and when theres going to be new elections. But he does  as he said shortly after leader Schumers very passionate speech  he recognizes that the leader was speaking for a lot of Americans who feel the same way about the way the war is going, he said.

We also have concerns about some of the operations and how theyre being conducted. We need to make sure that civilians are protected and secured, that civilian casualties come down, that more trucks and assistance get in and, of course, were still working on that temporary cease-fire to get all those hostages out, he added.

While Biden has maintained that the U.S. supports Israels right to defend itself, he has been more vocal in recent weeks and months about his concerns with Israel as it continues to wage its war against the militant group Hamas. In an interview last week with MSNBC, Biden said he believed Netanyahu was hurting Israel more than helping.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said on Sunday the United States havent seen Israels plan to evacuate civilians in Rafah amidst reports of heightened military activities.

In an interview on Fox News Sunday, host Shannon Bream asked Kirby if he expects to get a plan before the offensive starts.

We would certainly welcome the opportunity to get a look at what their plans are before they move into Rafah. And I think its important for your viewers to understand they have not done that yet. They have not moved into Rafah, Kirby said.

Bream then played Kirby a clip of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), where he questioned the efficacy of aid efforts.

So in essence, can they guarantee that were going to go through all this trouble, put American lives on the line just so aid can be distributed to Hamas, Rubio said in the clip.

Responding to Rubios comments, Kirby underscored that Hamas is not the sole entity involved in aid distribution in the region.

Well, in all fairness and with respect to the senator, Hamas isnt the only group distributing aid. There are many aid organizations on the ground that  that are helping with the distribution of food, water, medicine, he said.

Bream further pressed Kirby on U.S. troops involvement and ensuring Hamas does not seize aid.

We have been watching this very closely and we havent seen evidence that Hamas has pilfered off a lot of the humanitarian assistance in a nefarious way. Nobodys making excuses for them or what theyve done to Gaza and the Gazan people and how they put the Gazan people at risk, or how they certainly put the Israeli people at risk. Not at all. But there are other organizations that are doing that, Kirby said.

Last week, Israel said it planned to direct Palestinians out of Rafah toward humanitarian islands in the center of the territory ahead of the offensive.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hear more on House Republican primary races on Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju at 8 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. ET.

House Republicans, who have seen their time in the majority devolve into a seemingly endless series of internal party feuds, now have a new problem: GOP lawmakers targeting other sitting members in their primaries.

In at least four primaries  in South Carolina, Illinois, Texas and Virginia  Republican members are actively campaigning against one of their own, inflaming tensions in a conference where emotions are still raw in the aftermath of Kevin McCarthys unprecedented ouster atop the House.

Speaker Mike Johnson has had enough.

Ive asked them all to cool it, Johnson told CNN at the House GOP retreat in West Virginia last week. I am vehemently opposed to member-on-member action in primaries because its not productive. And it causes division for obvious reasons, and we should not be engaging in that.

So Im telling everyone whos doing that to knock it off, Johnson added. And both sides, theyll say, Well, we didnt start it, they started it.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz  the Florida firebrand who is spearheading the effort against two of the GOP incumbents, Reps. Mike Bost of Illinois and Tony Gonzales of Texas  is unmoved.

I would love nothing more than to just go after Democrats, Gaetz, who led the charge to oust McCarthy, told CNN. But if Republicans are going to dress up like Democrats in drag, Im going to go after them too. Because at the end of the day, were not judged by how many Republicans we have in Congress. Were judged on whether or not we save the country.

The feud underscores how the razor-thin House majority has proven to be almost ungovernable, leading to a state of gridlock and internal GOP warfare that has defined the 118th Congress. The battle has often pitted hardliners who advocate a no-compromise approach and want to go toe-to-toe with Democrats  against many Republicans who believe they should aim for incremental victories at a time of divided government.

Yet as they struggle to hang onto their two-seat majority, Republicans have been distracted for months by internal party feuds over tactics, which many fear will only make it harder to stay in power. The primary battles are only adding to the tension.

Rep. Don Bacon, a swing-district Nebraska Republican, said the mood within the House GOP is depressing and that his party needs to do some soul-searching.

It is depressing when you have your own team turning on each other because you dont win when that happens. Teams win, Bacon said. Weve undermined the norms of what weve had going back, really, a couple centuries, frankly.  And now were campaigning in each others districts. It undermines the team. So, I think its wrong.

Rep. William Timmons, a Republican from South Carolina, speaks at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on September 30, 2021 in Washington, DC. - Al Drago/Pool/Getty Images

The primary attacks go both ways

Rep. William Timmons of South Carolina is one of the embattled incumbents trying to hang on, as several members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus are trying to boot him from the seat in favor of his right-wing opponent.

Rep. Ralph Norman, a fellow South Carolina Republican and member of the House Freedom Caucus, said he and about a dozen other House GOP hardliners are working on holding a big event for Timmons challenger, Adam Morgan, who is the leader of South Carolinas Freedom Caucus.

Norman brushed off the criticism from his colleagues and said Morgan will be one of us.

We have to make some drastic changes, Norman told CNN. Were losing our country. Were going bankrupt. He just had to take a leadership role in my opinion. And weve got a man now thats heading the Freedom Caucus in South Carolina. He will fight for freedom. And he will be one of us.

Timmons, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, defended his conservative voting record and aired his frustrations during a closed-door meeting last week, according to sources in the room.

I dont think its about me, I think theyre fighting over other things. But you know, at the end of day, if youre not friends with somebody that votes with you 94% of the time, youre not going to have a lot of friends, Timmons told CNN.

But its not just hardliners who are making moves against their colleagues. Half a dozen House Republicans who are normally allied with leadership, including House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers, are slated to attend an upcoming fundraiser for the Republican candidate challenging Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good, according to multiple sources.

Good was one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy and has created his share of enemies inside the conference with his brash style  including fellow Virginia Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans, who is among those boosting Goods primary opponent, Navy SEAL John McGuire.

Rep. Eli Crane, an Arizona Republican who also voted to oust McCarthy, says he too is being targeted in his primary because of his vote.

You know how this town works, Crane told CNN. You cant come up here and just start making waves and not pay for it, right? So the way I see it is good. It just reaffirms that Im doing what I came here to do.

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz raises Brandon Herrara's hand after both speak at a rally for Herrara at the Angry Elephant in San Antonio, Texas, on March 13. - Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express-News/Getty Images

GOP split screen

The member-on-member primary fights have become such a headache that Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise both took time during a closed-door presentation at their annual retreat last week to discourage members from supporting primary challenges against each other, according to sources in the room.

Yet across the country on that same day: Gaetz was rallying in Texas for Brandon Herrera in his bid to defeat Gonzales ahead of the May 28 runoff.

Gaetz was embracing the split-screen moment.

While the rest of my colleagues on Thursday will be on retreat, Im going to be on the advance, he said last week.

Gaetzs beef with Gonzales: His vote in 2022 for a gun safety law that was enacted in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which is part of Gonzales district. Herrera, a gun-rights activist, has seized on that vote in his campaign to oust Gonzales in the runoff.

CNN has reached out to Herrera for comment on this story.

Gonzales, who represents a border district, also tangled with GOP hardliners  including fellow Texan Chip Roy  as they were negotiating the House Republicans immigration proposal, even as he voted for the final product, known as HR 2. And in 2022, the Texas Republican voted with a minority of his conference to codify same-sex marriage.

Gonzales says he stands by his votes.

Of course, Gonzales said. Look what happened in Uvalde should have never happened. Not because he was 18 years old. Not because it was an AR, because he was batsh*t crazy, right? So crazy people should not have access to kill innocent people.

Gonzales added: On same-sex marriage, look Im a father of six. Whatever a gay is, Im about as further away as far away from that as possible. But Ive served with all different kinds of people in the military. You name it and I look at  the merit of an individual.

When asked for his reaction about Gaetzs move against him, Gonzales said: Who?

I dont pay attention to other members, Gonzales added. Ive got enough going on in my district. We got our hands full.

Tensions on the rise

Bost, the southern Illinois Republican, won Trumps endorsement after Johnson and Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, the House GOPs campaign chief, went to Mar-a-Lago to seek the former presidents backing. Still, Gaetz campaigned for Bosts opponent, Darren Bailey, ahead of Tuesdays primary.

Gaetz is on a vanity tour, Bost said.

Well, thats because its about Matt Gaetz, Bost said. Its not about what is best for the future of this United States.

In interviews with scores of GOP members, the anger within the conference was palpable.

I find that unacceptable behavior. Ive never worked against another Republican, even ones I had profound disagreement with, veteran GOP Rep. Tom Cole, a member of the leadership team, told CNN. They need to remember its a very small town, youre gonna see them again, and theyre gonna be here. And its just a very unprofessional way to act.

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales is seen outside of the US Capitol Building on November 14, 2023, in Washington, DC. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

And party leaders said they would rally behind Gonzales, even as they expressed concerns about his race.

Im concerned anytime one of our incumbents are in a runoff, Hudson told CNN. Asked what he thought about Gaetzs efforts, Hudson said: I dont think much about it. I dont think itll have a factor.

But Gaetz didnt rule out intervening in other members districts.

I will go to any place in this country where we can pick up seats, where we have Republicans who are not acting in adherence with our values and our principles, Gaetz said. Let the battle begin.

The fight is exposing divisions in the Texas delegation as well. Roy, who battled behind the scenes with Gonzales last year before they ultimately settled on a GOP immigration plan that passed the House, wouldnt say if hed back Gonzales.

Look, I havent gotten into any of that at this point, Roy said.

Gonzales downplayed any support his opponent might get from other lawmakers, dismissing Herrera, who has a successful Youtube channel with millions of subscribers, as a YouTuber.

I dont even know what a YouTuber does. I mean, I know what I did to become a (Navy) Master Chief: I busted my ass, I fought in two wars, Gonzales told CNN. So Im not worried about it. Let them all pop their heads out. Anyone who wants to come against me, pop their heads out.

CNNs Sheden Tesfaldet, Christine Park, Morgan Rimmer and Haley Talbot contributed to this report.

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Aerial view of the scene in City Terrace where a man was fatally shot by a deputy, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. (KCAL News)

A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy shot and killed a man in East L.A. on Saturday night, the Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

Deputies were dispatched to a person with a gun report in the City Terrace neighborhood around 9:30 p.m. When the responding deputies arrived on scene, the suspect produced a handgun and a deputy-involved shooting occurred, the department said. A replica firearm was recovered at the scene.

A description of the replica was not provided. The Sheriff's Department declined a request to provide more detail.

The L.A. County medical examiner's office identified the man Monday as 28-year-old Martin Sebastian.

The incident, described as a business disturbance, occurred in the 3600 block of Pomeroy Street, a residential neighborhood dotted with small storefront businesses. After the shooting, the county Fire Department pronounced Sebastian dead at the scene.

The California Department of Justice will investigate the shooting.

Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 or leave an anonymous tip by calling (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

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.
A deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department shot and killed a man in East L.A. on Saturday night, authorities have confirmed.

Deputies responded to a call reporting a person with a gun causing a disturbance at a business around 9:30 p.m. on the 3600 block of Pomeroy Street.

According to the sheriffs department, the suspect produced a handgun when deputies arrived.

Deputies then opened fire, killing the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man was only identified as a Hispanic man, law enforcement officials confirmed.

The sheriffs department said a replica gun was recovered. No other details, including the events that led up to the deadly shooting, were immediately made available.

Per protocol for fatal shootings involving law-enforcement, the California Department of Justice will handle the ensuing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Lake Countys financial director described the countys record-keeping  both before and after the transition to the new accounting platform Oracle  as a dumpster fire.

The discourse took place Tuesday after Councilman Pete Lindemulder, R-Schererville, asked for an update on the work of Baker Tilly in correcting problems with the 2022 audit of county records by the Indiana State Board of Accounts. The council authorized an appropriation of up to $3 million for the commissioners to execute a contract with the accounting firm to finish work on the transition and further optimize the software.

Baker Tilly has worked to reduce what was originally a $600 million variance to a little under $2 million. That number is expected to continue shrinking as the auditors office begins the process of uploading the corrected information into Indianas Gateway system and Baker Tilly roots out any additional mistakes.

Scott Schmal, the councils financial director, said the problem with the record keeping is not isolated to the variance issues. He said the office is lacking in the skills necessary to do the work.

We need to address the roots of the problem, Schmal said. He said the skillset was lacking in the auditors office when the system went live and that has caused problems that will need to be addressed.

At the end of the day, it is a dumpster fire. Thats what it is  a dumpster fire, Schmal said.

He said a step in the right direction is the hiring of a comptroller by the auditors office. The council approved the new position earlier this year. Lake County Auditor Peggy Katona said she has hired an MBA with an accounting background to work in the spot.

If everybody was so highly skilled, we wouldnt be in the spot we are in, Schmal said.

The situation with the 2022 audit prompted SBOA to list the county on its website as an Unauditable Entity for Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022. Lake County is the only entity listed as such on the SBOA website. The county was added to the website as unauditable for the 2022 year on Jan. 29, according to Kendra Leatherman, general counsel for the State Board of Accounts.

A unit can be declared unauditable when an audit is unable to be performed because the entitys accounts, records, files or reports are not properly maintained or reconciled, according to the SBOA website.

Leatherman said the posting is to comply with the statutory requirement in Indiana Code. The SBOA is required to publish a list of unauditable entities on our website once we have declared an entity unauditable, she wrote via email.

They are required to get their records, accounts, etc., in an auditable condition in 90 days per statute, Leatherman said, adding the county also is required by statute to hire or contract with a certified public accountant to assist in the work.

The Lake County Commissioners hired Baker Tilly to remediate the problems that arose with the 2022 audit.

SBOA is no longer in the process of auditing the county for 2022.

We have disengaged while they otherwise try to remedy their issues, Leatherman wrote in the email.

The SBOA will resume auditing Lake County once it have determined their accounts, records, files or reports are in a position where we could otherwise resume our work.

According to the statute, if the county auditor is unable to perform the fiscal responsibilities of the office, the county must hire or contract with a certified public accountant to provide guidance to the auditor regarding the performance of the county auditors responsibilities or to perform the county auditors fiscal responsibilities. The county auditor is considered to be unable to perform the fiscal requirements of the countys auditors position if the county is declared unauditable by statute.

County officials say they are on their way to meeting the 90-day deadline set by SBOA to get their 2022 finances on order.

Commission President Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said the $2.8 million contract with Baker Tilly is multi-faceted. Fixing the problems with the 2022 audit will cost about $75,000 Repay said. The remainder of the contract will be aimed at optimizing Oracle.

I wouldnt characterize this as a true financial or finance issue, though some professionals may dispute that. We dont have issues with cash. We have issues with reporting. They are significant issues, no doubt, Repay said.

Repay said a lot of arguments can be made as to who screwed up the transition and why, and they are all probably true. The full-time staff does not have the capability and capacity to get what was needed done, and the consultant, HTC, was not readily available to the extent that they should have been on the countys behalf, he said.

It is coming a long way. We are not excited about the position we are in. We are not happy at all. At least we understand why we are here and we understand what needs to be done to get it corrected, he said.

The bulk of the contract is with Baker Tillys software implementation side. The contract will provide work on optimizing Oracle and will also fix changes made to the programming that were attempts to force the software to conform with the former processes.

HTC took a great piece of software and with the input our staff created some reporting applications inside of this software that are not so great, Repay said.

Katona said staff has been working on the transition to Oracle, which was already underway, when she took office in January 2023 from now Treasurer John Petalas. Since 2006, Petalas and Katona have successfully run for each others office whenever term limits have limited holding the office for more than two consecutive terms.

My biggest thing was it should never have gone live when it did, Katona said. She said her office was never asked about the implementation. The transition to the new software was complicated by the transition to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which was occurring simultaneously.

She defended her staffs work and said they have many responsibilities within the office. Like other county officials, Katona pointed the finger at HTC, the company hired to implement the transition.

They did a horrible job during the changeover. The fault lies on their shoulders, Katona said.

Katona said officials from the county and Baker Tilly met this week with SBOA to update the agency on the countys progress in rectifying the problems with the 2022 audit. She expects the problems to be resolved in the coming weeks and SBOA to return to complete its 2022 audit.

cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com
This story was originally posted on April 29, 2023.

Lamar Johnson, a St. Louis, Missouri man, had spent almost three decades in prison before he was finally set free in February 2023. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty takes an in-depth look at the case and for the first time talks to the witness who helped put him away  a witness who says he was pressured by law enforcement to identify Johnson as one of the killers.

Convicted at 21, and still locked up at 49, Lamar Johnson has spent most of his life in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Erin Moriarty (July 2021): How do you keep up hope?

Lamar Johnson: I don't have a choice.  I  I know the truth. I know that I didn't kill Markus.

Lamar Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder in 1995 for shooting 25-year-old Markus Boyd on his front porch. Johnson was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Erin Moriarty: What have you lost?

Lamar Johnson: Time and uh  there's a closeness between  especially with a father and his daughters. And I  (emotional) I missed being able to  to be a part of their life.

Erin Moriarty: You want your dad to come home.

Brittany Johnson: Yeah, I definitely do.

Brittany Johnson was just one year old when her dad was sent away.

Brittany Johnson (wiping tears): It was definitely hard, but I learned to live without my dad.

Kiera Barrow was just an infant then.

Kiera Barrow (in tears): We're still waiting. There is still an innocent man in prison.

Kiera's mother, Erika Barrow.

Erin Moriarty: Did you think you'd marry him?

Erika Barrow: Yes, I did. I mean, he was my first love.

Lamar Johnson grew up in St. Louis  consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the country. His South Side neighborhood in 1994 was battered by high crime and homicide rates. Johnson had steered clear of serious trouble.

Erika Barrow: He wanted to better himself.  He wanted to be the man that he needed to be for his, his children.

So, Johnson, the 20-year-old father of two, worked at Jiffy Lube while attending community college. But he also had a dangerous side hustle  selling small amounts of crack cocaine for extra cash.

Lamar Johnson: Yes, I was makin' some poor choices then. And  I  I  I take responsibility for that. But that wasn't the sum of who I was.

Erika Barrow: Selling drugs wasn't his life. It was just something to help him manage  until he could do better.



Markus Boyd, 25, was shot to death by two gunmen on his St. Louis porch on Oct. 30, 1994. / Credit: Normandy High School

Johnson's good friend, Markus Boyd, five years older, had also started a family, and was holding down a solid job at a printing company. And he, too, sold drugs on the side.

Erika Barrow: Markus was  like the preppy type.  You know, he wasn't very street.

Greg Elking: He was a really, really good guy.

Greg Elking, then 30, had worked briefly with Boyd at the printing company. And, Elking admits, he was an occasional customer. On the evening of Oct. 30, 1994, he wanted to get high, but Boyd said, "No."

Greg Elking: And he was like  "We're going to go to work tomorrow." So, we actually  sat down on the front porch, up on the stairs.

Markus Boyd's street, Louisiana Avenue, was empty. His girlfriend and their baby were upstairs.

Greg Elking: All he talked about all the time, you know, was about his baby and about his girlfriend.

Greg Elking: He's making me laugh, we're kind of laughing at each other.  But all of a sudden, he went serious.  He was like, "Oh, no."

From the narrow pathway next to Boyd's apartment, two men came out of nowhere, barely visible in the dim light.

Greg Elking: These guys, they had  completely dark clothing and they had masks on.

Elking says the men wore black masks that covered their face except for their eyes. And they had guns. The men flew up the porch steps, says Elking. One attacked Markus Boyd.

Greg Elking: And he's wrestling  with Markus.

The second gunman grabbed Elking.

Greg Elking: And he says, "Get the f*** up."  I remember looking at him, right in  the guy's eyes.

Greg Elking: The other guy  I seen him put the gun right up to Markus' like neck area.

Greg Elking: And when he pulled the trigger, I seen the flash

Greg Elking: Boom.

Greg Elking: The third shot, I kind of seen Markus' soul just go. And I knew, I knew he was dead.

To Elking's horror, both men continued to shoot Boyd, then vanished the same way they had appeared, sprinting down the dark pathway. Surprisingly, the shooters spared the only eyewitness.

Greg Elking was the lone eyewitness to Markus Boyd's murder. / Credit: CBS News

Erin Moriarty: You say you looked into one shooter's eyes.

Greg Elking: All I seen was the eyes.

Erin Moriarty: Could you tell whether he was White or Black?

Greg Elking: Um, I knew he was Black.

When the gunmen were gone, Greg Elking took off in the opposite direction. As he ran away, Elking says he could hear Markus Boyd's girlfriend screaming.

Erin Moriarty: It's still hard to talk about it, isn't it?

Greg Elking: (Emotional, doesn't respond.)

Erin Moriarty (July 2021): And where were you when this happened?

Lamar Johnson: I was about three miles away.

Lamar Johnson says he was with his girlfriend, Erika Barrow, and their 5-month-old daughter, Kiera, visiting friends at the time of the shooting. / Credit: Kiera Barrow

Johnson says he was with his girlfriend, Erika Barrow, and their 5-month-old daughter, Kiera, visiting friends. Erika says that entire evening, Lamar Johnson was out of her sight just once.

Erika Barrow: So, we were there because he was making a transaction. Someone was coming.  And so, he was just, like, I'll be right back.

Johnson left the house, Erika says, just as she began changing Kiera's diaper.

Lamar Johnson (2019): And um, I went out to meet somebody that I was dealing with.

His customer picked him up at the corner of 39th and Lafayette, Johnson says. They completed a quick transaction while driving around the block.

Erika Barrow: By the time I've finished changing her diaper and cleaned everything up  he's coming back up the steps.

Erin Moriarty: And how long does that take?

Erika Barrow: Three to five minutes.  And he's talking, you know, nothing out of the ordinary.  It, he was just normal.

Minutes later, Johnson got a call that Markus Boyd had been shot. The next day, he learned that Boyd had died. Johnson's own life began to unravel. According to investigators, when they asked Boyd's girlfriend who she suspected, only one name came to mind: Lamar Johnson. She thought the longtime friends might have had a falling out.

Lamar Johnson (Oct. 24, 2022): Markus and I have never had an argument or a fight.

Lamar Johnson: I loved him. I had no reason to want to hurt him.

Erin Moriarty: You agreed to talk to the cops without a lawyer. That was risky, wasn't it?

Lamar Johnson: Well, now, I didn't have anything to hide.

THE EYEWITNESS

Four days after Markus Boyd was shot to death on his front porch, St. Louis police tracked down the only eyewitness to the murder, Greg Elking.

Erin Moriarty: How would you describe what you went through that night?

Greg Elking: It was the most horrifying thing I ever seen in my life.

Shaken and scared, Elking says he was initially reluctant to talk until he met lead investigator Joe Nickerson.

Greg Elking: I thought he was this amazing dude.  I thought he was like Nick Nolte from "48 Hours"  out of a movie  he was awesome.  I mean, it was, it was somebody that I just immediately admired.

Elking says even though the shooters were wearing masks, he could tell they were dark skinned black men, but he only saw the eyes of one of them. Still, Nickerson, he says, insisted on showing him several photos. One, says Elking, stood out.

Even though Greg Elking said he didn't get a good look at the suspects, he says Det. Nickerson insisted on showing him an array of several photos. Elking said one of them stood out because of the eyes. The photo was of Lamar Johnson. / Credit: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Greg Elking: I said, "these eyes  there's something about these eyes." And that's all I said.

It was a photo of Lamar Johnson.

Greg Elking: And immediately he said, "Would you sign the back of it?" And I said, "No, I don't want to sign the back of it."

Erin Moriarty: Why not?

Greg Elking: Because I didn't want nothing to do with this, because I couldn't pick out no murderer. And I don't even think he's the murderer, I didn't say he was a murderer.

Nickerson, Elking says, warned him his life could be at risk, telling him that Lamar Johnson was a dangerous man who may have been involved in as many as six murders. Attorney Lindsay Runnels says none of that was true.

Lindsay Runnels | Lamar Johnson's attorney: If they had any evidence, whatsoever, then or now, Lamar Johnson would be charged with a crime.

Runnels began working on Johnson's case when she was in law school.

Erin Moriarty: Does he have a record at all for violence?

Lindsay Runnels: No, his record is  and was minor. It's a possession charge, possession of cocaine, and then a tampering with a license plate.

She says Johnson received probation for those offenses. Still, she says, cops, aware of his criminal record, kept him and young men like him on their radar.

Lindsay Runnels: It's just the usual suspects type of round them up and everybody is guilty by association.

But after the murder on Louisiana Avenue, police had a new reason to focus on Lamar Johnson. The victim's girlfriend had given them his name and now, they had what they said was a photo identification.

On the evening of Nov. 3, 1994, four days after the murder, they arrested Johnson along with his friend Phillip Campbell.

Erika Barrow: I couldn't even understand why. Why would they arrest you?

Johnson's girlfriend at the time and his alibi for the night of the murder: Erika Barrow.

Erika Barrow: I begged him to get a lawyer  and all he kept saying is, "I don't want my mom and stepfather paying all the money, all this money for a lawyer. I didn't do it."

Lamar Johnson (Oct. 24, 2022): I didn't have anything to hide. So uh, you know, I believed in the system. I believed that if I explained to them what I knew and, and where I was that that would sort itself out.

At the police station, Johnson agreed to a live lineup.

Lamar Johnson (Oct. 24, 2022): I wanted to try to be as cooperative as I could. I wanted them to  to, to investigate and talk to  the people whose house I was at that night.  You know I would expect that they would reach the conclusion that I didn't have anything to do with it.

At the police station, Lamar Johnson agreed to do a photo lineup. He is in the third position, wearing the white pants. Det. Nickerson brought Greg Elking in to try and make an identification. Elking viewed the lineup twice and didn't make an identification. / Credit: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

But investigators never spoke to anyone who had been with Johnson on the night of the shooting, not even Erika Barrow. They put him in that lineup  he's the third man in the photo above  and brought in Elking to view it.

Erin Moriarty: Could you identify anybody?

Greg Elking: No.

Altogether Elking viewed that lineup three times and never picked Johnson.

Greg Elking was then asked to view a different lineup. Lamar Johnson was not in this one but the other suspect, Phillip Campbell, is in the fourth position. Elking was unable to make an identification. / Credit: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Elking was then asked to view a different live lineup. Lamar Johnson wasn't there, but the man arrested with him, Philip Campbell, is number 4 in the photo above. Elking still couldn't identify anyone and says he feared he'd let down the detective he admired and trusted.

Greg Elking: I felt so bad. I could see it in his eyes like I  I hurt this guy, like this whole time, you know, I just wasted his time.

Then, according to Elking, he asked Detective Joe Nickerson how he could help.

Greg Elking: All that came out of my mouth was like, all right, Joe, it  you tell me what the numbers were, and I'll tell you if they were correct.

Erin Moriarty: What does he say to you?

Greg Elking: He says three and four. And I was like, you're right, three and four.

Lamar Johnson was number three in that first lineup. Philip Campbell was the fourth man in the other lineup.

Greg Elking: If Joe Nickerson is telling me that three and four is it, it's got to be Lamar and whoever, Phillip.  because he wouldn't lie to me. Joe wouldn't lie to me.

Erin Moriarty: So, you pick three and four because Nickerson told you?

Greg Elking: Yeah.

"48 Hours" asked Joe Nickerson for an interview. He declined our request but sent us a text saying in part, "I went where the facts, evidence and circumstances took me."

Elking claims he told no one that Nickerson had allegedly given him the suspects' numbers in the lineups. Instead, he told the other detectives that he was able to identify Lamar Johnson because of his distinctive eye.

Greg Elking: They had asked me, what do you mean about the eye when you say that you could pick, you know, these eyes?

Greg Elking: And I  and I said, I don't know, like  like a lazy eye or something, like it's different from the other.

Dwight Warren, the prosecutor, says he pressed Elking on his identification of Johnson.

Dwight Warren: I believed Mr. Elking, because I looked him straight in the eye and said, you know  I want to know if he did it  Tell me you're sure of your identification.  Please tell me the truth because I don't want to go and charge somebody who's not guilty.

Erin Moriarty: What did Greg Elking say to you when you said that to him?

Dwight Warren: Well quote end quote I couldn't tell you, but he told me he was telling the truth that he, he knew who did the shooting  and it was Lamar Johnson and Philip Campbell, so I charged them both.

In July 1995, Lamar Johnson went on trial with Elking as the star witness.

Dwight Warren: If he had backed off of that, I would have never issued the case.  That, he was absolutely essential.

To bolster the case, one of the witnesses the prosecution called was William Mock, a jail house informant with a lengthy criminal history, who claimed that he overheard Johnson and Campbell in a holding cell talking about the murder. But attorney Lindsay Runnels says Mock wasn't credible and that his cell wasn't close enough to hear anything.

Lindsay Runnels: Lamar wasn't ever celled with Campbell, and Campbell nor Lamar were ever in the same cell as William Mock, so how could you hear this, if it happened at all, which it didn't.

Erin Moriarty: Don't you want to make sure that jailhouse snitch is telling the truth?

Dwight Warren: How am I going to do that?

Erin Moriarty: Well, you wouldn't put somebody on the stand unless you could check out their story, right?

Dwight Warren: Unless I  I did check it out. He was in two jail cells away. He was in a position that, to be able to hear that.

Johnson didn't take the stand at his trial. The defense relied on his girlfriend Erika Barrow who told the jury he was with her at the time of the murder. It took less than two hours for the jurors to reach a verdict. Guilty.

Johnson's life had been changed forever by Greg Elking, who says that as he was pointing at Johnson at trial, he knew he had identified the wrong man.

Greg Elking: This isn't the dude I seen at all.  Because to me, Lamar is not dark and not what I seen.

Erin Moriarty: You had doubts right afterwards. Why didn't you tell somebody? Why didn't you say I think 

Greg Elking: Because nobody talks to me, nobody.  who am I going to tell? I don't know who I could have told.

Erin Moriarty: Did it occur to you at that moment that you might have put an innocent man 

Greg Elking: Yes.

Erin Moriarty:  behind bars?

Greg Elking: Without a doubt  Because I lied on the testimony. I lied because I thought I was doing the right thing.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CASE

Lamar Johnson was just 21 years old when he was convicted of murder.

Lamar Johnson (July 2021): At my trial they did not even present a motive. They never explained why I supposedly did this.

Between Lamar Johnson's trial and sentencing, he exchanged letters with the other suspect, Phillip Campbell. It was in those letters that Campbell admitted that Johnson was not involved. In another letter, he even named the other shooter  James

And then, before his sentencing, Johnson received surprising new information that he believed would prove his innocence: handwritten letters from his friend, the other suspected killer, Phillip Campbell. One said " you didn't do a thing ..."

Lamar Johnson: He said, "I'm sorry you got convicted for somethin' you didn't do"  He said he wanted to come forth, but his attorney wouldn't let him because he thought he could beat his case.

Erin Moriarty: And Phillip Campbell was actually one of the shooters.

Lamar Johnson: He was.

Campbell even named the other shooter who was with him on the night of the murder a man named James B.A. Howard.

Johnson now had the names of both shooters. He wrote the judge and asked for a hearing, but his request was denied. In September 1995, Lamar Johnson was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Girlfriend Erika Barrow blames law enforcement.

Erika Barrow: You didn't care to check his alibi. You wanted to blame someone, and you did exactly that.  You just flat out didn't care. You didn't care.



Lamar Johnson didn't give up. He became his own jailhouse lawyer, sifting through police reports, trial transcripts and gathering new evidence. Johnson, with legal help, filed a petition asking for a new trial in 1996. Again, he was denied. Then, two years later, he would meet another inmate with a similar story.

Ricky Kidd: We were both assigned to Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri  Our friendship was almost instant.

Ricky Kidd, who was also serving a life sentence for murder, remembers when he first learned about Johnson's case.

Ricky Kidd: He said  "I have to go to the  law library." I said, "What are you working on?" And he turned to me. He said, "Well, I know everybody says this, but I'm innocent."  and a big old smile appeared across my face, kind of like you're seeing right now. And I said, "Well, I know everybody say this, but I'm innocent, too."

Ricky Kidd and Lamar Johnson / Credit: Ricky Kidd

The two men made a pact in prison.

Ricky Kidd: He said, let's make a promise that whoever makes it out will come back for the other. And we shook on it.

The Midwest Innocence Project had already been working on Kidd's case before he himself was exonerated. Kidd says he convinced lawyers there to take a closer look at Johnson's case.

When that team of lawyers began their research, they discovered that the star witness, Greg Elking, in prison himself for bank robbery, had written a letter to a clergyman admitting he had lied at Johnson's trial.

Erin Moriarty: What did you think would happen?

Lamar Johnson: Again, I thought that I would be heard  So, it made me even more hopeful  that I would, that the court would at least listen.

In the letter to the clergyman, Elking also revealed that law enforcement said they could help him financially and relocate his family. Detective Nickerson and the prosecutor's office had put him in the witness protection program. Elking's debts were paid, and his outstanding traffic warrants were cleared. / Credit: Evidence photo

Elking's letter would reveal another reason why he agreed to testify against Johnson. At the time of the murder, Elking had been in serious financial straits. Detective Nickerson and the prosecutor's office put him in a witness protection program. Elkings' debts were paid, and his outstanding traffic warrants cleared  and that's not all.

Erin Moriarty: Whose idea was to give you money? To move you? To give you cash?

Greg Elking: Oh, that was Joe Nickerson  They paid my first month and last month's rent for  for a house.

Altogether, Elking had received more than $4,000. None of that was disclosed to Johnson and his lawyer at trial. Johnson repeatedly asked for a hearing, he was denied, and his case stalled.

Lamar Johnson: I mean, what else is needed? The only thing that, that I haven't been able to present is DNA, and God, I wish there was some DNA (gets emotional)

Why are wrongly convicted people still imprisoned in Missouri?

Then, in 2018, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner agreed to look at his case. She had created a Conviction Integrity Unit to look at cases of possible wrongful conviction.

Kimberly Gardner: And I started seeing some red flags. And I consulted my team, and I said, I think we have a problem here.

One of the many flags for Gardner was the timeline for the murder. Could Johnson have had time to kill his friend Markus Boyd? Erika Barrow said Johnson had only left their friend's apartment for around five minutes.

Lamar Johnson: And you cannot drive that distance. You'd have to be speeding through St. Louis to even get there  and then you'd have to speed all the way back. There's no way you could do that.

But Prosecutor Dwight Warren says Erika could have lost track of time  that Johnson could have been gone as long as 15 minutes.

Dwight Warren: She didn't have a stopwatch.  Lamar got into a car  and took off.

At Johnson's trial, Detective Joe Nickerson testified that it only took him 5 minutes to go from the alibi location to the crime scene. We asked Chief Investigator Robert Ogilvie from the Circuit Attorney's Office to take us on that same drive. We timed the drive using a cellphone.

Detective Nickerson testified at Johnson's trial that Lamar Johnson could've driven from his alibi's house to Markus Boyd's apartment in five minutes, even though it was about three miles away.

Investigator Ogilvie: Here we are.

Erin Moriarty: Yep. 12:55. Thirteen minutes.

Thirteen minutes one way  that's more than double the time detective Nickerson said it took. In 2019, Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner's team released a detailed report listing numerous errors that undermined Johnson's conviction.

Erin Moriarty: As a prosecutor, you put people in prison, you don't try to get them out.

Kimberly Gardner: As a prosecutor, no prosecutor, I believe, wants to secure a conviction wrongfully using wrong tactics That's just not what we want to do. We want to get it right.

Jurors never learned that jailhouse informant William Mock was a racist who had a hatred for black people, nor did they hear the majority of his criminal record. And they were never told Greg Elking had been paid thousands of dollars. Gardner was convinced Johnson was innocent, but when she tried to get his conviction overturned, court after court, including the Missouri Supreme Court, said she didn't have the power.

Kimberly Gardner: And when you try to abide by your oath and you're stopped every way, it weighs on you.

In 2021, the Missouri Legislature passed a law that gave Gardner and other prosecutors the power to bring cases of innocence to court. A year later, Johnson got the news he had been praying for. After nearly three decades in prison, he would finally get a hearing to present new evidence in his case.

LAST CHANCE AT FREEDOM

On Dec. 12, 2022, Lamar Johnson and his legal team gathered in a St. Louis courtroom for a week-long hearing. His daughters Brittany and Kiera were in the courtroom nearly every day.

Kiera Barrow: I think we're all trying to be  hopeful  that my dad gets justice.

One man, Judge David Mason, will decide Johnson's future. He has three options: Overturn the conviction and grant a new trial, overturn the conviction and declare Johnson innocent, or he could uphold the jury's verdict.

Erin Moriarty: What is at stake here with this judge's decision?

Kimberly Gardner: Justice and the integrity of the whole criminal justice system.

Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner sat by Johnson, instead of her usual seat at the prosecution table. Gardner appointed two lawyers to handle Johnson's case, Charlie Weiss and Jonathan Potts.

Jonathan Potts: I took this case because I believe that Lamar Johnson's innocent. I didn't take it because I think he might be innocent.

Charlie Weiss: There was no physical evidence at all connecting Lamar Johnson with the murder of Marcus Boyd, period.

CHARLIE WEISS (in court): Thank you, Your Honor, may it please the court. This is a rather historic moment in this court. This is the first time  where the court is hearing an actual innocence claim filed by a prosecuting attorney.

The Missouri Attorney General's office sent a team of their own to argue that Johnson's conviction should stand. In response to "48 Hours"' request for an interview, they provided us with this written statement, that read in part, "the Attorney General's Office has fought to keep a convicted murderer in prison."

Attorney Miranda Loesch told the judge not to trust the witnesses who were about to vouch for Johnson's innocence.

MIRANDA LOESCH (in court): They're going to ask you to believe convicted murderers and gang members.  Their evidence is  not credible.

Johnson's team calls their first witness. James Howard takes the stand and admits that he's one of the men who murdered Markus Boyd.

While on the stand, James Howard, who is serving a life sentence for a different murder, admitted he was one of the men who shot Markus Boyd. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

JONATHAN POTTS (in court): How did Markus die?

JAMES HOWARD: Me and Phillip Campbell killed him at  on his front porch.

Remember, Phillip Campbell had written Lamar Johnson saying he and Howard were the real shooters. Campbell, who was later convicted of the murder, took a deal and served only five years. He has since died. Howard was never charged with Boyd's death. He's currently in prison for life for unrelated crimes, including murdering another man.

JAMES HOWARD (in court): I killed him the exact same way. I fired two shots in the back his head.

But attorneys Jonathan Potts and Charlie Weiss can't rely on Howard's word alone. They must now tear apart the original case against Lamar Johnson. They call Greg Elking, the state's former star witness.

GREG ELKING (in court): Law enforcement was wanting me to help, and I trusted them.  I wanted to help.

Elking told the court that he felt pressured by Detective Joe Nickerson to identify Johnson in the lineup.

Greg Elking testified that he felt pressured by Det. Nickerson to identify Lamar Johnson in the lineup.

GREG ELKING: He goes, I know you know who it is and you're just not saying.

GREG ELKING: And this is the part I hate the most.  I just remember saying to him, "you tell me the numbers and I'll tell you if you're right." And he did.  And I was like, that was it, that was the numbers.

GREG ELKINS: And I've been living with it  25, 28 years and I'm telling you, I just wish, I just wish I could change time.

On day three, Judge Mason questioned the original prosecutor in the case, Dwight Warren, about the reliability of Greg Elking's identification of Lamar Johnson.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: He told you and the officers that it was based upon him looking at the eyes, because that was all he could see. Isn't that correct?

DWIGHT WARREN: I believe so.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: And did he or did he not tell you that all of this happened  within seconds?

DWIGHT WARREN: Yes. Yes.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: And that's what you decided was sufficiently reliable to seek a murder conviction?

DWIGHT WARREN: To take it to a jury. Yes, sir.

Warren admitted to Johnson's lawyers that without an eyewitness, he would never have filed charges in the first place.

DWIGHT WARREN: Oh, absolutely not.  I didn't have any evidence.

On day four of the hearing, Lamar Johnson finally got to defend himself and assert his innocence in front of the judge. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On day four, Lamar Johnson finally got the chance to defend himself in his own words.

MIRANDA LOESCH: So, you talked to Detective Nickerson that night, correct?

LAMAR JOHNSON: Yes ma'am.

Attorney Miranda Loesch asked him about his conversation with Detective Nickerson a few days after the murder.

LAMAR JOHNSON: I said, man, "that boy is my friend. I didn't shoot him."  I said, "OK. I  I will voluntarily participate in the lineup."

MIRANDA LOESCH: You had every little thing to lose at that point, didn't you?

LAMAR JOHNSON: I didn't think so.

MIRANDA LOESCH: You didn't think so? You were arrested for a homicide.

LAMAR JOHNSON: I didn't commit the homicide. So why would I be concerned that I had everything to lose?

As the hearing week neared the end, Detective Nickerson takes the stand  the man Elking claims pressured him into falsely identifying Johnson.

On the stand, Det. Joe Nickerson denied pressuring Greg Elking to identify Lamar Johnson in the lineup. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: Mr. Elking goes "Hey,  I know who it is, it's number three in the first lineup and it's number four in the second lineup."

MIRANDA LOESCH: And did you tell him to say that?

DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: I didn't tell him to say anything.

But Judge Mason had some questions of his own for Nickerson.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: Are you aware that all the evidence  suggests that your witness could only recognize some aspect of the eyes?

DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: I'm aware of that.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: Please stand up, Mr. Johnson.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: I am just curious.  because I don't know, what in the world is distinctive about this man's eyes?

JOSEPH NICKERSON: Well, you can tell his eyes are different 

JUDGE DAVID MASON: I could  tell me, what do you see?

DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: I can tell that his right eye is different from his left.  One is lower or higher than the other.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: OK.

Judge David Mason listened intently each day of the hearing. He even took over the questioning from the lawyers at points, making it clear when he believed something and when he didn't. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Erin Moriarty: How would you describe the involvement of Judge Mason in this case?

Tony Messenger: Well, that was one of the most unique things I've seen in any trial I've ever covered.

Columnist Tony Messenger covered the case for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Tony Messenger: He didn't just ask questions; he took over the questioning at times  and made it very clear  when he was believing something and when he wasn't.

After five days of witnesses, court adjourned. With his freedom on the line, Johnson was taken to a St. Louis jail to wait for Judge Mason's decision.

Lamar Johnson: I don't know how to not fight for my innocence  to fight for what's right  what was wrongfully taken from me.

THE JUDGE DECIDES

Lamar Johnson's daughter Kiera Barrow has finally heard what happened to her father so many years ago.

Kiera Barrow: It's been really hard  we heard everything in court.  the misconduct and the negligence  that occurred.

Brittany Johnson: The hardest thing, was just  that Greg lied  knowing his testimony did put him in jail.

Lamar Johnson with daughters Brittany Johnson, left, and Kiera Barrow.

Brittany Johnson believes that Greg Elking's lies robbed her of time with her dad.

Brittany Johnson: I'm very angry.

Erin Moriarty: This is hard.

Brittany Johnson: Yes, is very hard. I hate that I'm crying right now  a dad is  is the most important role.

But their wait isn't over. Two months pass with no decision from the judge. Keira is hoping it happens soon.

Kiera Barrow: We've been robbed of so many opportunities and milestones, I'm getting married in April of this year. (Crying) It would just mean so much to me and I know to my father to have him there with me and for him to be able to give me away.

Finally, on a Tuesday afternoon in February, Johnson's family and friends return to the courtroom.

Lawyers with the Missouri Attorney General's office, fighting Johnson's release, are at one table. At the other, the team trying to win Johnson's freedom. Seated next to Johnson, his attorney Lindsay Runnels.

Erin Moriarty: What should Judge Mason do in this case?

Lindsay Runnels: Judge Mason should vacate these convictions and Lamar Johnson should walk out of that courtroom today.

After both legal teams were given copies of his final opinion, Judge David Mason announced his decision on Feb. 14, 2023.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: After reviewing both the underlying trial as well as the entirety of the hearing, for the reasons stated above, it is hereby ordered that the motion of the Circuit Attorney of the 22nd Judicial Circuit filed herein for the benefit of Lamar Johnson is granted.

JUDGE DAVID MASON: The conviction of Lamar Johnson in State v. Lamar Johnson, Cause 2294-3706A is hereby set aside and held for naught.

Johnson's murder conviction was overturned. The judge also found that there was clear and convincing evidence of Johnson's innocence. After more than 28 years behind bars, he was more than a free man  49-year-old Lamar Johnson had finally been exonerated.

This time he would leave the courthouse not in a prison van, but in a black sedan.

Erin Moriarty: When I first met you, I asked you to identify yourself.

Lamar Johnson (2021): My name's Lamar Johnson. I've been in prison for 26 years now.

Erin Moriarty: And If I asked you to identify Lamar Johnson right now, what would you say?

Lamar Johnson (2023): I am a freed man, an exonerated man and a blessed man.

Erin Moriarty: How important was it to have Greg Elking take the stand and  and tell the judge what he had done at trial?

Lamar Johnson: That was very important.  He intentionally, you know, falsely identified me. But  not only did he acknowledge that he made a mistake, he took steps to try to correct it. And I am extremely grateful to him for that.

And during that time he spent in prison, he says he never forgot about his friend Markus Boyd who died that night.

Lamar Johnson: I didn't want Markus's family thinking that I did this to him, 'cause I genuinely cared about Markus.  Markus was a good guy.

In the meantime, Johnson is starting over. His friend Ricky Kidd knows it won't be easy.

Ricky Kidd: It's going to be tough. but  Lamar has the ability to adapt and adjust and  see new opportunities.

Lamar Johnson: Worked 30 years for the Department of Corrections for pennies. I don't have anything. ...  I hope somebody is willing to  give me a shot.  I want to work.

Erin Moriarty: You have a date coming up, an important date.

Lamar Johnson: My youngest daughter is getting married. And, you know, it'd be nice if I could do something special and nice for them  but presence matters more than presents. And I'm going to make the best of what life I have.

Under current law, Johnson is not entitled to compensation from the state of Missouri.

Produced by Marcelena Spencer and Emily Wichick. Mead Stone is the producer-editor. Stephen A. McCain is the development producer. Chelsea Narvaez is the associate producer. Atticus Brady and Joan Adelman are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer

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The independent company contracted by the City of Las Cruces to audit the police department presented its fifth report during a council work session last week.

OIR reviews the outcomes of investigations by the department's Internal Affairs Office into police misconduct, and determines the accuracy and completeness of the final reports on each matter. The company reviews closed investigation files from formal citizen complaints, internal investigations, and complaints with allegations against LCPD that are reported to the City of Las Cruces Ethics Hotline. OIR doesn't review use of force cases unless they receive a complaint that involves allegations of excessive force.

There was an uptick of cases reviewed by the OIR Group and it included a critical incident for the first time since the City hired the OIR Group in 2021.

Overall, the audit found that Las Cruces Police has improved over time in terms of developing internal processes to review both internal and external complaints.

Las Cruces Police Department Chief Jeremy Story

OIR reviews officer involved shooting from 2020

The most recent report from OIR included a review of LCPD's investigation into a 2020 officer involved shooting that resulted in the death of a 81-year-old man who a neighbor reported was suicidal and exchanged gun fire with SWAT officers.

OIR investigator Teresa Magula explained the review process, which was completed in 2023 - a time frame she said was excessive.

When an officer involved shooting occurs, it triggers an investigation by the Officer Involved Task Force into the potential criminal charges. The Task Force is comprised of LCPD, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico State University Police and the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department. The Task Force submits its findings to the District Attorney.

At the same time, LCPD initiates an internal administrative investigation that includes a debrief and review of the incident for potential violations of policy.

After the DA's findings, the administrative review resumes and the involved officer will be held accountable from a department administrative perspective.

In the case of the 2020 shooting, the three officers involved were not criminally charged and were exonerated by the department.

"We were able to review the total package and found the task force and department investigations to be thorough," Magula said. "The administration investigation was only looking at the use of force and we felt it should look at a broader view.

"At the end of the day, the findings would have been the same, but like to see that critical analysis happen, in house. The department is doing that kind of critical analysis now and we are looking at the time lag that is a little frustrating."

Latest OIR report reviewed a total of 98 allegations

The most recent OIR report reviewed cases that were investigated and closed between June 1 and Dec. 31 of 2023. There were seven internal investigations by LCPD and 12 external cases that were initiated by citizen complaints.

In all, there were 98 total allegations reviewed, which was a high number according to OIR's Connolly, who presented the report with Magula. There were 44 allegations that were sustained, 37 allegations where the employee was exonerated, 10 unfounded allegations and seven that were not sustained.

LCPD Chief Jeremy Story said the high number was due to, in part, a cluster of cases toward the end of the year that helped create a backlog of incomplete investigations.

Magula said most of the cases were related to code of conduct violations, but that four instances caused concern due to an improper release of information used for personal use.

"It was something of concern and was a concern to the department," Magula said. "They involved employees who used their status as a peace officer to gain access to information that otherwise was not available to the public. The department has put safeguards around information and access. We look forward to not seeing these allegations in the future."

OIR's review also included completed litigation that involved eight employees. One case involved individuals suffering from a mental health crisis that resulted in a settlement. One case involved the execution of an arrest warrant ended with a summary judgement in favor of LCPD. And one settlement resulted after a pedestrian versus vehicle incident caused by a non-sworn in crossing guard.

The Las Cruces City Council approved a resolution in February to amend its contract with OIR Group, a firm based in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles. As a result, OIR will hold up to four community outreach meetings in Las Cruces. The public meetings will be in addition to the two semi-annual presentations OIR gives to City Council, where it presents findings and recommendations.

"I've seen some of these reports come and I see the progress and the work," Mayor Eric Enriquez said during last week's work session. "The collaboration and partnership looks good."

A one-year contract with OIR Group was signed March 2021 and contained an option for the contract to be renewed for up to four one-year terms. The contract stipulates the City will not pay more than $75,000 a year for the company's services. The contract is in its third one-year term and the amended contract will not increase how much OIR is paid.

"I think if you zoom out for this entire period, I think you will see a lot of positive changes as a result of the relationship with OIR that might not have happened otherwise," Story said.

Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on X @jpgroves.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces Police auditor presents latest report to Council
Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad's (KLSE:KENANGA) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to MYR0.07 on 16th of April. This will take the annual payment to 6.1% of the stock price, which is above what most companies in the industry pay.

View our latest analysis for Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad

Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

We like to see robust dividend yields, but that doesn't matter if the payment isn't sustainable. Based on the last payment, Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business.

Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 43.0% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 57% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

KLSE:KENANGA Historic Dividend March 17th 2024

Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad's Dividend Has Lacked Consistency

It's comforting to see that Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad has been paying a dividend for a number of years now, however it has been cut at least once in that time. If the company cuts once, it definitely isn't argument against the possibility of it cutting in the future. The annual payment during the last 7 years was MYR0.0225 in 2017, and the most recent fiscal year payment was MYR0.07. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 18% a year over that time. Dividends have grown rapidly over this time, but with cuts in the past we are not certain that this stock will be a reliable source of income in the future.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 43% per annum. Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad is clearly able to grow rapidly while still returning cash to shareholders, positioning it to become a strong dividend payer in the future.

Story continues

We Really Like Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad's Dividend

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 1 warning sign for Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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.
Lawmakers largely muddied the waters in seeking to capitalize on special counsel Robert Hurs report on President Bidens classified records investigation, offering incorrect conclusions about why the president skirted any charges.

National security law experts say members on both sides ignored clear nuances in Hurs decision not to recommend any charges for Biden, wrongly suggesting charges were declined due only to memory issues or that the report cleared the president entirely.

The feigned ignorance of these folks is overwhelming and undermines their own credibility, Mark Zaid, a national security law expert, told The Hill, arguing both sides acted to bolster their ideological and political agenda.

He said Democrats didnt acknowledge harmful assessments of Bidens actions, while, in comparing Trumps matter to that of the presidents, there was a failure of the Republicans to reconcile the two and recognize a distinction between the two.

The majority of them are experienced lawyers. This interpretation does not require rocket science, he said.

During the five-hour hearing this week, Republicans zeroed in on language in the law that targets those who willfully retain national defense information, suggesting the phrase was a get out of jail free card for Biden.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) dubbed it the senile cooperator theory while Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) suggested, All I have to do when taking home classified materials is say, I am sorry. I am getting old. My memory is not so great.

Meanwhile, numerous Democrats borrowed a phrase from former President Trump in calling the report a total exoneration for Biden  a characterization Hur would later forcefully dispute.

More than Congresss other panels, the House Judiciary Committee is filled with longtime lawyers, former prosecutors, and even constitutional scholars, though members are not required to hold a law degree.

But those experts appeared to be tripped up by portions of the Espionage Act the same law being used to prosecute Trump  in how it addresses whether a person willfully retained records.

While intent matters little in most of the criminal code, it plays a greater role in some statutes, particularly those involving speech.

And in the case of intelligence community and military workers who regularly handle national defense information, the law accounts for mistakes, even in the handling of highly classified records.

The best way to think about why willfulness matters is to think about what would happen if it wasnt there, said Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors, a nonprofit law firm specializing in national security law.

Zaid said whether its accidentally taking home their work or discovering documents years after theyve retired, misplacement of classified records is not uncommon.

The reality is there is mishandling of classified information that occurs on a daily basis. Routinely people mistakenly take documents home, he said, noting that typically, only the most egregious cases are prosecuted, while others risk revocation of their security clearance or other forms of adverse action.

But for Biden, the case was much more complex than whether he simply forgot he was in possession of the documents.

Hur notes in his report its not clear how the documents likely packed up and moved by White House staff made it to Bidens office at the Penn Biden Center and his home. He noted their storage in the garage among household detritus as a likely indication the president was unaware they were there.

While serving as vice president, Biden was permitted to take classified records to his home at the time  another factor that may have played a role in the records being improperly transferred.

Similarly, Trump is not charged with retaining any documents taken during the transition but returned following a subpoena. He does face charges for keeping documents and not complying with a demand to return them.

Biden kept notebooks reflecting on his time in office the referenced classified documents  a gray area of the law which he viewed as akin to former President Reagan keeping his diaries from his time in office. Reagans retention of his diaries, which contained references to classified information, was widely known at the time and never investigated.

Though Biden also seemingly acknowledged having classified information in discussions with his ghostwriter, its not clear what he was referencing when he said he just found all the classified stuff downstairs.

Prosecutor to prosecutor, I certainly agree with you that the evidence in the form of the audio recorded statement where the president said to his ghostwriter, I just found all the classified stuff downstairs  that is evidence that any prosecutor would present as significant evidence in a case if this went to trial, Hur said in response to a question from Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who served as a prosecutor himself.

But Hur said he may have been noting a second folder that did not clearly contain national defense information and that it would be difficult for the government to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he possessed the one that did.

As a prosecutor, you need to assess with a very cold eye the strengths of your case and the weaknesses of your case and try to anticipate arguments that defense counsel might well present at trial, Hur said.

Proving Biden knew he had the documents is a fundamental weakness for any potential case.

You cant prove that he [willfully] retained them, no matter how long theyre in his house, if he doesnt know theyre there, McClanahan said.

If I slip something into your box, as youre walking out of the office, and you stick it in your garage for two years, but you never unpacked the box, you dont know that Ive slipped the classified CD in there; you havent done anything wrong.

Zaid called the admission to the ghostwriter a potential vulnerability for Biden but said many other factors in the case play to his favor.

Other than the notebook, there is no evidence he knew or planned in his taking them to the Biden Penn center and to his Delaware home, etc., he said.

They were the ones who found the records first, and notified proper authorities, timely returned them, cooperated every step of the way  all the distinctions with the Trump case. And then you get into the memory aspect, where that further undermines or weakens the intentionality and willfulness as to what took place.

Hur also noted Bidens cooperation in the report, something he said will likely convince some jurors that he made an innocent mistake, rather than acting willfully  that is, with intent to break the law  as the statute requires.

But many of those same details also underlie that the classified records were not handled with the care required  something Hur said made clear his report was not an exoneration of Biden.

Hur stressed any case against Biden would face an uphill battle in convincing a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, but the report was clearly critical, stating at the top that he uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials.

And Hur also notes there were at least three instances in which Biden read from classified entries aloud to his ghostwriter nearly verbatim from his notebooks, despite having otherwise skipped over presumptively classified material.

Hur became irritated during the hearing as Democrats suggested his report exonerated Biden, pointedly noting the word does not appear in his report.

That is a deliberate mischaracterization of a report and a blatant misrepresentation of the wrongdoing that President Biden committed regardless of not being prosecuted, Zaid said.

They undermine their own credibility by taking that type of position. And as experienced lawyers, they should absolutely know better.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Muscatine County residents are invited to learn about energy-efficient HVAC and heat pump applications at the March Energy Champion Lunch & Learn, according to a news release.

Andrew Snyder, residential project manager for the HVAC Division at Crawford Company, is the featured presenter at the event hosted by the Muscatine County Energy District. The Lunch & Learn seminar will be held from noon until 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at Muscatine Community College (MCC) in Larson Hall, Room 77, 152 Colorado St., Muscatine.

Snyders 21-plus years of customer-service experience help him deliver efficient, affordable, and sustainable HVAC and Heat Pump system solutions for residential applications,the release says.

He earned a bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and has been with

Crawford Company for more than three years.

The event is open to the public. This is a bring-your-own-lunch (in sustainable packaging)

meeting, the release says. Seating is limited. Register online here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
The "trailblazing" contributions of Muslims living and working in the north of England are being celebrated in a new museum display.

Muslims of the North features stories of "pioneering work" by the Islamic community in the fields of commerce, healthcare, law and research.

The display has been put together by Leeds academic Maria Hussain.

Ms Hussain said she wanted to "showcase the value of cultural diversity and intercultural working" in the region.

Among the people to feature in the exhibition at Leeds City Museum are Nazir Afzal, the former Chief Crown Prosecutor of North West England, and Dr Mumtaz Patel, a consultant nephrologist and vice president for Education and Training at the Royal College of Physicians.

Mohsin and Zubair Issa, the joint owners of Leeds-based supermarket Asda, also feature alongside Prof Ghazala Mir, who is chair in Health Equity and Inclusion at the University of Leeds.

"This new display is an inspiring addition to the Voices of Asia Gallery and highlights just some of the unique and positive contributions Muslims have made to life in the north of England," Adam Jaffer, Leeds Museums and Galleries' Curator of World Cultures, said.

The museum's wider Voices of Asia Gallery explores Asian culture and Leeds' links with the world's largest continent.

The council said diversity was one of the "cornerstones of Leeds".

Deputy leader Jonathan Pryor added: "Celebrating some of the remarkable achievements and stories of the local Muslim community is a fantastic way to inspire visitors and encourage them to learn more about some of the many people who have helped make the city we love."

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
New arts facility will benefit all

State College is a culture-rich destination for Centre Countys performing arts. There is a strong need to expand the capacity and availability of our performance venues to accommodate the large number of performing artists and organizations. The board of directors of the Nittany Performing Arts is working with the State College Redevelopment Authority to grow this capacity by providing a full-sized theater, a studio theater, facilities for community meetings and celebrations, and the convenience of a large, attached parking garage in downtown State College.

Such a facility will not only benefit our artists and audiences, but it will benefit local businesses and attractions as well. According to a report from Americans for the Arts titled The Arts and Economic Prosperity, 2023, When people attend a cultural event, they often make an outing of it  dining at a restaurant, paying for parking or public transportation, enjoying dessert after the show, and returning home to pay for child or pet care. Based on the 224,677 audience surveys conducted for this study, the typical attendee spends $38.46 per person per event, in addition to the cost of event admission.

It was found that one-third of attendees traveled from outside the county in which the event took place. They spent twice that of their local counterparts ($60.57 vs. $29.77). When asked, 77% of those nonlocal respondents said the primary purpose of their visit was to attend that cultural event. For more information about how The Arts Mean Business please visit nittanypac.org.

Douglas Meyer, State College. The author is the executive director of the Nittany Performing Arts Centre.

Donald Trumps legal debts are a danger to national security. He has demonstrated clearly that he will not use his own checkbook to pay for them. Instead, he solicits money from his supporters and others. This leaves him open to leverage from any billionaire, government, oligarch or deep-pocketed special interest.

Most recently, he secured a $91.6 million bond from Swiss-based insurer Chubb to appeal the verdict against him in the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault case. What terms were given for this bond? The Washington Post says its  not clear from court records what collateral Trump presented to obtain the bond from Chubb.

We do know that Chubbs CEO, Evan Greenberg, was appointed by then-President Trump to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations and served on that committee from 2018 to 2022. And we know that Chubb operates in 54 countries including Russia.

Trumps world view is entirely transactional. You give him something and he gives you something. Quid pro quo. This is a terribly vulnerable position for a highly leveraged candidate for president to be in. And should he win, he places the United States squarely in that zone of vulnerability.

Next up, Trump must find about $450 million to pay the fine for the real estate fraud judgment against him in New York. He will get that money from somewhere. Who will give it to him? And what will they want in return?

Karen Stoehr, State College
Joe Hayse was angry. It was 1979, and hed been trying to do some research at the Lexington Public Library, which at the time had its main branch near Gratz Park, in the building that is now the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.

But instead of being able to access the materials he needed on the second floor, the former University of Kentucky Honors Program professor was told it was too dangerous. The upper level had been closed because of concerns that the beams in the floor couldnt support the weight of patrons and might collapse. The building was suffering from a leaking roof, bad wiring, peeling paint and a cramped interior, a later Herald-Leader article stated.

So Hayse marched himself over to the office of his childhood friend, local attorney William C. Jacobs, and set in motion a lawsuit that resulted in nearly doubling the funding the library system received from the city.

That influx of money spurred the construction of what is now the main branch of the Lexington Public Library on Main Street and allowed the library to open other new branches too.

Hayse, 87, died Tuesday, according to an obituary.

With all the taxes we pay, it sure looks like the city ought to put more money into the library, Hayse told his lawyer friend Jacobs that day in 1979, as he later recounted to a Herald-Leader reporter.

Jacobs did some digging and found that, under state law, the city should have been giving the library 5 cents for every $100 of property valuation, but instead, under an agreement with the library board, the city had for years been giving the library about half that.

The class-action lawsuit, filed without the help of the library board, forced the city not only to begin providing the library system the correct amount but also to make some back payments.

The city fought it ... and lost every time, said Larry Smith, who spent about 20 years on the Board of Trustees of the Lexington Public Library and now serves on its foundations board of directors.

He said the Lexington library system would not look like it does today if it had not been for Hayse taking action.

Then-Mayor Scotty Baesler, who had opposed the lawsuit because of its impact on the city budget, even gave kudos to Hayse when the new Central Library opened on Main Street in 1989, saying without that lawsuit, you dont have this library. I give Mr. Hayse a lot of credit for helping us along with the funding.

Baesler said after the state appeals court ruled against the city, he decided to stop fuming and set up a long-range plan for library improvements.

Since that time, Smith said, weve replaced every branch and built a few new ones.

He was just a patron of the library and saw a problem and figured out a way to address it and right a wrong, Smith said. We now have one of the better libraries for cities our size in the country.

Hayse, a graduate of DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, was an Army veteran. He met and married his wife of 64 years, Heidi Mueller Hayse, while serving in the Army as a translator in Europe, according to his obituary.

He held a PhD in comparative literature.

Hayse moved to Lexington in 1971 to teach in the UK Honors Program, a position he left after being denied tenure, which resulted in a decades-long lawsuit against the university.

He went on to a long career with the Kentucky Department of Transportation, where he led the mapping division, his son Mike Hayse said Saturday.

Mike Hayse said his dad was a civic-minded guy.

He really believed in the library and the importance of education, he said.

Ten years after Hayse filed his suit against the city, he walked into the newly-opened Central Library on Main Street and asked for a library card.

He said at the time that he felt good about giving the city the push it needed to make a positive change, and he didnt care anything about having his name on a plaque inside the building or anything of that sort.

He said in another Herald-Leader story in 1986 that he was just an everyday ordinary citizen who got a wild hair.

Its nice to win one against city hall every once in a while, he said.

Though he never met Hayse, Smith will speak at his funeral Tuesday.

I hope I dont get too emotional, he said. Its a good story to tell.

In addition to his wife, Hayse is survived by their four children, John, Mike, Paul and Patricia.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Raphaels Episcopal Church at 1891 Parkers Mill Road. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Milward Funeral Directors Southland Drive location.
Sir Ed Davey called on the Liberal Democrats to "bring the blue wall tumbling down"

Sir Ed Davey has urged Liberal Democrats to "make this a once-in-a-generation election" in his speech at the party's spring conference.

He argued his is the only party to offer transformational change at the general election, calling on members to "bring the blue wall tumbling down".

The party leader focused on the NHS in his speech in York on Sunday setting out reforms so people can see a GP, dentist or pharmacist.

No date has been set for the election.

It has to be held by January next year with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week ruling out holding an election on 2 May, having previously indicated it would be in the second half of the year.

Sir Ed urged Mr Sunak to "go to the palace" immediately and call for a general election.

He accused Labour and the Conservatives of "trying to cloak themselves in the costume of change, but they're both really saying keep things the same".

The Liberal Democrats, he claimed, "will deliver a fair deal" and want to change the whole system.

The party won 11 seats at the last general election in 2019, and has since gained four formerly Conservative constituencies in southern England after by-elections. These are Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, Frome in Somerset, Tiverton and Honiton in Devon, and North Shropshire.

Emphasising his focus on the NHS, Sir Ed called for a health service where community and primary healthcare services are the priority.

He said there needed to be investment in community services, "to save lives and save money in the long run".

"Instead of throwing cash at crisis after crisis, with nothing to show for it," he added. "Better for the NHS. Better for taxpayers. Better for patients."

The Lib Dems are using the conference to prepare to push into areas traditionally held by Conservatives, including more seats in the south and south-west of England.

"In so many parts of the country, only we can beat the Conservatives," Sir Ed said. "And we must."

He called on members to "knock on five million doors" and "send more Liberal Democrats to Parliament".

While polls suggest Labour is on course to win the election, Sir Ed has refused to be drawn on discussions of a power-sharing pact, if there was a hung Parliament.

"I don't believe in pacts or deals before an election," he said earlier this week.

The spring conference comes to an end on Sunday.
During the month of March, the 54th Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber - Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of LT Richard Frost Tasker, of New Bedford, who was killed in action at the age of 24, during a mid-air crash while piloting a B-17 Bomber in WWII.

Tasker was born in New Bedford on October 31, 1920. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) on December 15, 1942, and was commissioned to 2nd Lieutenant on March 12, 1944, in Stuttgart, AK. On October 26, 1944, he departed Dow Field in Bangor, ME aboard a B-17, bound for the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) in England. Tasker trained to become a pilot, eventually flying the B-17 Flying Fortress, assigned to the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303 Bomb Group, based in Molesworth, England during WWII.

LT Richard E. Tasker who was KIA in 1945.

LT Tasker flew his first mission abroad on November 23, 1944, and continued to fly 18 successful missions. On January 21, 1945, Tasker and his crew took off on a mission to bomb the Marshalling Yards in Aschaffenburg, Germany. This was to be his 19th mission and was supposed to be a milk run, meaning that no serious German opposition was expected. However, Mission #305 was reported to have a mid-air collision between two B-17 Bombers. The two aircraft crashed near the German city of Lossburg. It was reported that the left wing of the Squadron lead aircraft, piloted by LT Richard Duffel, caught the wing of another B-17 piloted by LT Richard Tasker, the lead aircraft of the 2nd flight. The wing of Taskers aircraft came off and the aircraft rolled over on its back and went down. The first aircraft lost its wing and went down as well. No parachutes were spotted by other 303rd Bomber Group crews. The aircraft crashed near Rottweil, Germany. A total of 18 airmen died that day, all of which were buried in a common grave, until years later when they were identified and buried according to their familys wishes.

Lt Tasker and crew of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group based in England, pose in front of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

LT Richard F. Tasker was 24 years of age when he was killed in action. He was unmarried at the time of death. His father died before the war so his mother, Estella was notified of his death. He is buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford. Robert Bromley, Chairman of the New Bedford Veterans Advisory Board, places a flag at Taskers grave every Memorial Day to honor his great sacrifice to our country.

The 303 Bombardment Group was known as the Hells Angels with the motto Might in Flight. A total of 9,000 men served in the 303rd BG, which was an Eighth Air Force B-17 Bomber Group stationed at Molesworth, England from 1942 to 1945, according to 303rdbg.com. Their place in history and the legacy they left behind will live forever.

Linda Ferreira, of Empire Ford, researches the life histories of area residents. American flags are provided by Empire Ford. Flags are raised by the staff at Fort Taber - Fort Rodman Military Museum. Those who would like to honor a local veteran in the future can contact Ferreira at lferreira@empirefordinc.com.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: LT Richard Frost Tasker who was KIA in WWII honored by flag
The University of Montana will present honorary doctorates this spring to Lily Gladstone and Carol Tatsey-Murray, two outstanding Native leaders with strong ties to the Blackfeet Nation.

On March 15 the state Board of Regents approved UMs request to present the doctorates during Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11. Schedules permitting, both Gladstone and Murray will serve as UM Commencement speakers.

Gladstone is a Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee for her portrayal of Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon. Murray is a renowned educator, tribal elder and former college president working to protect and enhance Blackfeet culture.

Both women are UM graduates. Gladstone earned an undergraduate degree in acting and directing with a minor in Native American studies in 2008. Murray earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education in 1982.

Lily and Carol serve as shining examples to Montana students of how a UM education can propel you toward future success, UM President Seth Bodnar said. These two women are making real change in the world, and we are extremely proud to present both of them with one of UMs highest honors, an honorary doctorate.

Gladstone will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, and Murray will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Education.

Lily Gladstone

Gladstone was raised in Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. She has Blackfeet, Nez Perce, Dutch and Cajun ancestry. Her first acting gig was as an evil stepsister in a traveling Missoula Childrens Theatre production of Cinderella, and she recalls ballet lessons in the basement of a Browning church. Her family later moved to the Seattle area, where she finished high school.

Gladstone returned to Montana as the first Native student to earn a Presidential Leadership Scholarship from UMs Davidson Honors College  the Universitys most prestigious recognition for incoming students. She became deeply engaged with UMs School of Theatre and Dance, performing in plays and student films.

After graduation she toured with UM Montana Repertory Theatre productions of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Miracle Worker. She also wrote a play, directed childrens theater in Seattle and worked on a project that allowed her to perform one-woman plays about Native American boarding schools, Japanese internment camps and migrant farmworkers.

Then in 2012, she launched her film career in Winter in the Blood, a film based on a book by Blackfeet author and former UM faculty member James Welch. The film crew had many ties to UM and Missoula.

My whole career was launched in Montana, Gladstone said. Its going to be something that Im endlessly proud of.

Other film roles followed, including her breakthrough in 2016s Certain Women that earned wide critical acclaim. She also appeared in First Cow, The Unknown Country and Hulus Reservation Dogs.

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She landed the lead role in 2023s Killers of the Flower Moon, which was directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the book by David Grann that explores mass murders of Osage tribal members in 1920s Oklahoma. Besides the Golden Globe win, the role won her best actress awards from the Screen Actors Guild, New York Film Critics Circle, Satellite Awards and Gotham Awards. She became the first Indigenous person nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

In the process of learning about the horrific Reign of Terror, remember that the Osage remain, Gladstone said. Native people remain. And this story is a lot to take in. Be kind, and please be gentle with each other. There is much to process, and much to heal.

Carol Tatsey-Murray

Murray is from Badger Creek, Montana near Browning and now lives along the Two Medicine River on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. According to her nominators, she is an educator who has dedicated her life to the preservation, promotion and revitalization of Native American culture, particularly for her people of the Amskapii Piikanii (Blackfeet Nation).

Murray earned an associates degree from Blackfeet Community College in 1982. Then after attending UM, she earned a masters degree in adult higher education from Montana State University. She went on to work 36 years for Blackfeet Community College, where she was president for eight years, interim president for six years and vice president for six years. She also served in other essential roles such as registrar. She became the first tribal college graduate to become a tribal college president.

During her time at the college, Murray secured more than $20 million in faculty development projects and helped launch construction of the Beaver Painted Lodge building on the BCC campus.

Carol Tatsey-Murray (Photo/Tommy Martino)

Karla Bird, UMs tribal outreach coordinator, said Murray established Blackfeet Studies at the tribal college, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting Native American Heritage through education.

Murray also has worked tirelessly for repatriation of Blackfeet cultural and ceremonial items, and many of these sacred items now have been returned to the Blackfoot Confederacy.

This work goes beyond the mere act of repatriation, said Melissa Little Plume-Weatherwax, a BCC official. It represents the restoration of the spiritual identity of the Blackfoot people, allowing future generations to connect with ancestral knowledge systems.

Murray also has energized various traditional tribal societies, such as the Blackfoot Woman Headdress Society, Beaver Bundle Society, Horn Society, Crazy Dog Society and Thunder Pipe Society.

In addition, she championed cultural events that celebrate the rich history of the Blackfeet Nation.

Events such as the Days of the Piikani and the Bear River Massacre Commemoration, founded by Carol, serve as platforms for the community to come together, honor their history and ensure their stories are passed down through the generations, said Helen Augare Carlson, a BCC administrator.

Murrays impact is felt far beyond the reservation, including at UM, where she has contributed to the research and advancement of Blackfeet studies. Additionally, she is a sought-after guest speaker on various historical and traditional topics.

She now serves as tribal adviser for the Blackfoot Gallery at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Canada. She previously served as a co-curator of Our Peoples Gallery at the National Museum of the American Indian, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that in the context of the war in Ukraine, the short range of strikes landed by Ukraine's Defence Forces is due to"the obvious short-sightedness of some partners".

Source: the President's evening video address

Quote: "Canada  I am grateful for joining our drone coalition. This is a weapon that has proven to be extremely effective. And in such difficult war conditions, the short range of our army's capabilities is an obvious short-sightedness of some partners."

Details: Zelenskyy thanked Ukraine's partners who provided or approved support packages this week.

"The United States  thank you for the aid package. It is very important that stability is restored in providing support for our defence. Right now, it is our defence in this war that is determining whether Putin will succeed in expanding the zone of ruins in Europe and in the world. Stopping him now is in everyone's best interest," the President said.

He also thanked Denmark for another defence aid package and Germany for "weekly steps to support our country and people", as well as all the countries that joined the Czech initiative to purchase munitions for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also praised Greece for its "clear understanding of the threats facing everyone in Europe".

"I would also like to recognize French leadership in Europe today  we appreciate the way President Macron is developing a strategic perspective for Europe, a perspective of real, lasting security that is only possible through Putin's defeat in this war," Zelenskyy said.

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Russia saw protests at polling stations on Sunday on the final day of voting in an election set to extend Russian President Vladmir Putins long hold on power.

Lines at some polling stations in Russia grew suddenly at around 12pm local time Sunday, the hour at which supporters of the deceased opposition leader Alexey Navalny called on people to turn out collectively as a show of opposition support.

A CNN team at a polling station in Moscow said the line grew rapidly over a five- to ten-minute spell at around noon, and estimated 150 people had arrived.

The CNN team said that police were letting people in batches through the gates to pass through security, with metal detectors and bags being checked inside the building.

One 39-year old voter said he had come at noon to see other people, and they have come too.

A woman told the CNN team, This is the first time in my life I have ever seen a queue for elections. Asked why she had come at that hour, she simply replied: You know why. I think everybody in this queue knows why.

Voters queue at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, at noon local time on Sunday. - AP

Its unclear how many polling stations across the country saw an increase in people waiting at around noon. The Reuters and AFP news agencies also reported protests taking place.

Social media channels set up by supporters of Navalny showed video clips of lines in several places, including Moscow neighborhoods such as Nekrasovka and at Tverskaya Street and locations in St Petersburg. The Navalny team also posted an image from the city of Novosibirsk with the caption: Today is #noon. The protest has already taken place in the first cities of Siberia. We are looking forward to seeing you.

More supporters of the Kremlin critic gathered around his grave to pay their respects on Sunday. Video shows dozens of people gathered around the grave at the Borisovsky Cemetery in Moscow, with some laying flowers while others stand in silence or take pictures.

Russians overseas also responded to the calls by Navalnys supporters to protest at polling stations, forming long lines outside the Russian embassies in Berlin and London.

Navalnys widow Yulia Navalnaya, meanwhile, was pictured out in Berlin on Sunday, greeting supporters who were rallying against Putin.

Earlier this month, Yulia called for an all-Russian protest action, adding, Alexey called for participation in this noon action against Putin and thats why its so important to me.

She called on supporters to register their protest by showing up simultaneously at polling booths, and then making their own choice to vote against Putin, write in Navalny, invalidate their ballot or simply leave in silent protest.

Speaking on YouTube, Navalnaya said that the protests will take place not just in every city, but in every district of every city, millions of Russians can take part and tens of millions more will see it.

Navalny, Putins most formidable opponent, died aged 47 in an Arctic prison on February 16, sparking condemnation from world leaders and accusations from his aides that he had been murdered. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in his death.

Voting in the presidential election has seen some acts of civil disobedience, with Russia filing at least 15 criminal cases after people poured dye in ballot boxes, started fires or lobbed Molotov cocktails.

More than 60 Russians have been detained across 16 Russian cities Sunday, according to independent human rights group OVD-Info.

Dissent has effectively been outlawed in Russia since it launched its invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

Sunday marks the third and final day of voting, with Russian President Vladimir Putin almost certain to win a fifth term in office.

Voting has been taking place across the countrys 11 time zones  from the far eastern regions near Alaska to the western exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Coast  and its 88 federal subjects, including parts of occupied Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia.

Polling stations in all but the most western regions of Russia have closed with the first election results expected after 9 p.m. Moscow time (2 p.m. ET) Sunday.

The turnout in the election surpassed 70% of eligible voters, according to the Election Commission, with the percentage of people voting in the final hours exceeding the final turnout in 2018, according to official figures.

Putins reelection would extend his rule until at least 2030. Following constitutional changes in 2020, he would then be able to run again and potentially stay in power until 2036, which would see him secure his place as Russias longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs Seb Shukla and Fred Pleitgen in Berlin contributed reporting.

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Key Insights

Novartis' significant individual investors ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

29% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders

Institutions own 36% of Novartis

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Novartis AG (VTX:NOVN), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are individual investors with 54% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Meanwhile, institutions make up 36% of the companys shareholders. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Novartis, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for Novartis

SWX:NOVN Ownership Breakdown March 17th 2024

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Novartis?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Novartis does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Novartis' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

SWX:NOVN Earnings and Revenue Growth March 17th 2024

Novartis is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Sandoz Family Office SA with 4.4% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 4.0% and 3.1%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest.

Story continues

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Novartis

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Novartis AG. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own CHF182m worth of shares. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a substantial 54% stake in Novartis, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. This level of ownership gives investors from the wider public some power to sway key policy decisions such as board composition, executive compensation, and the dividend payout ratio.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 4.1%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Novartis that you should be aware of.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Russian forces struck Sumy twice, attacking undisclosed infrastructure sites in the northern city, the regional military administration reported on March 17.

Rescue workers are already working at the attack site, according to the local administration. The extent of the damage isn't yet clear.

No casualties have been reported yet.

The northern Ukrainian region of Sumy borders Russia's Belgorod and Kursk oblasts. Due to its proximity to Russia, Sumy Oblast suffers almost daily from Russian shelling, often resulting in civilian casualties, predominantly in the villages close to Russia.

Recently, an overnight Russian drone attack on a five-story apartment building in Sumy killed two people and injured at least eight, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said on March 13.

The series of attacks on northern Ukraine comes as Russian troops ramp up their strikes against civilians across the country, especially in the south  particularly in Odesa.

Also on March 17, Russian forces attacked the southern city of Mykolaiv twice with missiles, wounding at least five people, regional governor Vitalii Kim reported.

Read also: Media: 12 Russian oil refineries successfully hit in recent attacks by Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A United States senator from California visited the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant Saturday and held a roundtable with EPA, International Boundary and Water Commission and San Diego officials to find out more about the impacts the cross-border pollution has had on local communities.

U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) toured the South Bay Wastewater Plant Saturday alongside Maria Elena Giner, Commissioner for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), Hector Aguirre, Assistant Director for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9, and Yana Garcia, Secretary for Environmental Protection for the California EPA, Butlers office announced.

Release of roughly 12M gallons of raw sewage from Mexico into U.S. postponed

Local officials Toni Atkins, California Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus, Paloma Aguirre, Mayor of Imperial Beach, Nora Vargas, Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, and Richard Bailey, Mayor of Coronado, were also in attendance.

During her visit, Senator Butler and local officials discussed the impacts the Tijuana River Valley sewage pollution has had on local communities and what federal actions are needed to address the issue.

California aiming to rein in polluters adding to the South Bay sewage crisis

I needed to see the reality of what is happening at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant and the impact it is having on Californians, said Senator Butler. During the visit, it became clear to me that if we dont act soon, San Diego and the whole region will continue to experience catastrophic impacts. I am committed to doing the work in Washington to secure the funding needed to ensure clean water for current and future generations in California.

Serge Dedina, Executive Director of WILDCOAST, and representatives from the offices of Governor Gavin Newsom, Congressman Juan Vargas and Congressman Scott Peters were also in attendance at the roundtable.

CA lawmakers up pressure on federal government to address South Bay sewage

Were grateful for Senator Butlers engagement and interest in this existential threat to the people of Imperial Beach and south San Diego, said Mayor Aguirre. Our coastline has been closed for 820 consecutive days. These beach closures are devastating our local economy, and harming our communitys health and well-being. We look forward to working with the Senator to secure the $310 million requested by President Biden and the additional funding needed for diversion and treatment of the Tijuana River.

Just last week a pair of new state bills were introduced by state Sen. Steve Padilla in an effort to crackdown on some of the polluters fueling the cross-border sewage crisis.

14.5 billion gallons of raw sewage from Mexico entered US during storm

State leaders have been emphasizing health concerns and other impacts from the pollution that has forced the closure of the South Bay coastline for over 800 consecutive days.

For decades, the beauty of the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park has been reduced to the transboundary pollution crisis and I want to express my gratitude to Senator Butler for creating conversation and elevating our regional efforts to solve the cross-border sewage pollution and mitigate its impact on ocean waters, said Chairwoman Nora Vargas of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. It is essential that we continue taking action at every level of government to achieve our collective mission to protect our environment, communities, and the future of San Diego County.

Historic day as ground is broken on sewage treatment facility south of the border

Senator Butler had previously signed onto a letter led by California Governor Gavin Newsom expressing support for $310 million requested by President Biden that would go towards the rehabilitation and expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The work needed to the plant would increase treatment capacity from 25 million gallons per day to 50 million gallons per day, cutting down the amount of pollution and sewage that flows down the Tijuana River and into the waters of Imperial Beach, Coronado and San Diego.

For too long, communities on both sides of the border have suffered from raw sewage polluting their waterways, their air, and their beaches, said Yana Garcia, California Secretary for Environmental Protection. Federal funds are needed to repair long-neglected infrastructure at the South Bay International Wastewater Plant. Im grateful to Governor Newsom, Senator Butler and all our local, state, and federal partners who are working diligently with to secure this federal funding for a durable, long-term solution to this crisis.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  A local yoga studio owner is raising money to support a clients need for a wheelchair. Melanie Chavez of Ren Yoga Studio in Pueblo shaved her head this week to kick off a fundraising project for her client, Isabella (Bella) Gaughan, who needs a special kind of wheelchair that she and her family are unable to afford.

Melanie created a GoFundMe page for Bella, whose severe Endometriosis and Fibromyalgia, among other conditions, cause her to suffer from frequent fainting, chronic fatigue, chest pain, frequent nausea, and vertigo.

Melanie was thinking about donating money to a national cause and then became inspired when she saw Isabellas artistic talent. Isabella did this beautiful mural in the studio, and she was talking about how she needs a wheelchair and insurance makes this preventative, Melanie said. And I was like, why dont I give back to somebody whos in my community? So I decided to shave my head and hopefully raise money to get her a wheelchair.

Im kind of in shock, said Bella. If Im being completely honest, I wasnt expecting it. It was after class one night, and she was like, Hey, what if I shaved my head for you? And I was just like, I cant even, like, imagine that someone would do something like that for me. And it was just really magical.

Bellas biological mother took methamphetamines and methadone while she was in the womb, and she was removed from her first family just before she turned two, as a result of severe neglect, and put into foster care. Bella praised her foster family as a safe and healthy environment to grow in but began manifesting health issues in her teen years.

Swollen joints, irregular fainting, and inability to stand for long periods of time make a wheelchair a necessity for living an independent life, Bella said. My family and I cannot afford a wheelchair, because unfortunately, insurance wont cover one for me. They see it as preventative. I see it as a necessity to live a full life.

Since she shaved her head on March 10, 2024, Melanie has raised nearly $1000 toward her goal. Bella is also raising money with a small business venture which she promotes on Instagram.

I am indebted to Melanie Chavez for offering to help me raise funds, Bella said, and I understand how money may be tight right now. If you would feel better making a purchase rather than donating, I have started a line of service dog (and regular dog) gearcustom collars and custom-designed vests. They can be purchased from me directly.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The streets of London were full of people decked out in green along the parade route

Tens of thousands of people have lined the streets to celebrate St Patrick's Day in London.

More than 50,000 people were expected to join the annual procession of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry.

The parade, organised by the mayor of London and the London Irish Centre, started in Hyde Park before travelling through Piccadilly to Whitehall.

It culminated in a festival of live performances at Trafalgar Square.

Trafalgar Square was full of people celebrating St Patrick's Day

About 50,000 people were expected to turn out across the capital

The parade's grand marshal, drag queen Panti Bliss, previously said she was "honoured and excited" to be chosen

Irish drag queen and activist Panti Bliss was grand marshal of this year's parade.

She previously said she was "honoured and excited" to be chosen.

Last month, chief executive officer of the London Irish Centre, Seamus MacCormaic, said the festival would be "celebrating the creativity of the Irish community in London and of Irish artists from the island of Ireland".

Chief executive officer of the London Irish Centre, Seamus MacCormaic, said the event would celebrate "the creativity and vibrancy of the Irish community in London"

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Four years ago, the world went into lockdown as cases of a novel virus named SARS-CoV-2 began to climb. In the early days, this meant people barely left their homes as cities and states implemented stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures which inevitably placed limits on peoples social lives.

Instead of gathering in person after work, we turned to Zoom happy hours. Universities across the country went from teaching in classrooms to offering full-time curriculums online. Traveling to see long-distance families was no longer a safe option leaving many to go without a hug or seeing a familiar face for years. While this process saved many lives, it did come as a cost for many people's mental health: it worsened their feelings of loneliness.

Since then, the U.S. government has declared that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, a move that many have interpreted as life going back to normal. Yet poll after poll shows that many Americans are still struggling with loneliness. According to a recent American Psychiatric Association monthly poll, 1 in 3 Americans cited they have felt lonely at least once a week over the past year.

Younger people are more likely to report these feelings than other age groups. United States surgeon general Vivek Murthy has said that the epidemic of loneliness is still a "public health crisis on the scale of the opioid epidemic or obesity." Its true that COVID-19 led to an increase in loneliness around the world, but it was also a problem before the pandemic, too.

During the height of the pandemic, I interviewed Cat Moore, the director of belonging at the University of Southern California, who teaches a class on how to create meaningful relationships. At the time, we spoke about what loneliness meant in the coronavirus age, how people could connect meaningfully virtually, and what advice she had for those feeling extra lonely. Four years later, I caught up with Moore to see how the state of loneliness has changed after lockdowns, whats working in terms of solutions  and whats not.

This conversation has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

The last time we spoke was during the pandemic. Im curious in your opinion, how has loneliness in America improved or worsened since then?

The pandemic, not surprisingly, was correlated with increased levels of loneliness. I remember distinctly the first semester that students came back in person. The whole university was trying to gear up and to anticipate: what will students be like when they come back? I think workplaces were in the same situation. People thought, "Oh, its going to be another roaring '20s where people are like we can finally do all the things and see each other and hug each other." Or will people be in a frozen state?

At least experientially, what we found is that it was a complete mixed bag. I think that one of the hardest things to work with is when there isn't one or two standard responses to a catastrophe like COVID. How do you then support students who are all experiencing different things, with their loneliness and how they want to re-engage with their social skills? Its been an exercise in lying down old approaches to a problem, and having to sort of pick up a completely different framing of there is not just one solid state problem that we then create a new tool for. COVID-19 almost gave rise to an almost infinite variety of forms of loneliness.

I actually think that that's kind of the nature of loneliness anyway, but it's always experienced in hyper-particular complex ways. But I think certainly post-pandemic, whatever was left of our social norms and social landscape was more or less flattened and liquefied.

So we're kind of working with a radically new context that I just refer to as a social frontier. No one knows what they're doing, really. We still have simple basic principles of human interaction, but the structures of society are so changed. Not everyone in positions of authority and education and leadership have the skill set to empower pioneers. There's a really big problem with trying to deal with loneliness post-pandemic.

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Can you elaborate a little more on how you've seen loneliness on a college campus evolve from before, during and after the pandemic?

There was a fundamental change in the social structures and people's habits and patterns, expectations and capacities. With this new social frontier, I think it also really did change for a lot of people on a very deep kind of existential level around their values. I think before the pandemic, loneliness was just not as much a part of social consciousness. The students might have been experiencing it a lot but didnt have the language to communicate what it was. It seemed to be more to be located in what you would expect as a transition from your home base to a brand new college.

Any transition can be filled with loneliness. I think during the pandemic, that not only ratcheted those things up, but it introduced just the communal experience of isolation at a level that no one who's currently alive has ever experienced before. I think that people's social energy shrunk, like their capacity to hang out as much or with as many people, kind of shrunk. And I don't think that's a bad thing. I think that's part of the process of having more agency and wisdom around them.

Last year, Vivek Murthy released the U.S. Surgeon Generals Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. One year later, what are your thoughts on whats been implemented and what hasnt yet? What is working in our society and what isn't?

I think anytime someone who is that big of a microphone is trying to spotlight an issue, its a good thing in that it's raising public awareness. I know one big win that policymakers were able to get a bill passed that allows doctors to do social prescribing. At the same time, loneliness, belonging, these are extraordinarily complex, multifaceted, multi-layered experiences that are going to require everyone and everyone everywhere to be doing something.

Its the human desire that when there's a big problem, there will be just the big solution that takes care of it. And really, my only concern with these big public health dominated conversations. Loneliness is not inherently a medical problem or a mental health problem. It has effects downstream. The goal is not to get rid of loneliness. Its not a problem any more than saying anger or sadness is a problem.

I think we have to sort of slow down and be like, what is the nature of loneliness? And it's an experience, and that some of the most important leaders and saints and movement heads in history have experienced lifelong profound loneliness. I think it's really important to me to normalize loneliness within the context of the human experience and empower people to befriend it.

As long as we're thinking that its presence is a problem, that it needs to be thought of as a condition or disease, we're shortchanging the power that loneliness can have when we know what to do with it. I think we need to really start thinking of people as the generators have solutions in their own lives and to trust them that if theyre given the space and the support, they can not only learn what to do when they inevitably experience loneliness, but also to let them know that they have the power to generate solutions.

What have you seen works in helping Gen Z cope with loneliness?

Ive never been able to see if someone has crossed the threshold without asking them: How bad is it? Are you shutting down? Are you able to function? Are you able to reach out to anybody? Or are you sliding into the existential problem of I'm alone and therefore there's something wrong with me therefore I stuck there? Because that's a dangerous slide. But you really don't know until you ask someone because people have different thresholds, and tolerances.

What helps on an individual level is literally sitting down with someone in a neutral environment, whether that's outside or in a coffee shop, somewhere where there's not a power dynamic and there are no expectations. And literally, you're slowing down. You give it at least 30 minutes. Set the time aside and make space to listen to them. And ask them some basic questions that just start with: tell me what you're experiencing. If we don't know how to slow down, to create that space and ask that question, we will never know what else needs to be done.

In that context, you're just helping students even articulate what theyre feeling and what they are willing to try. Youre helping them re-see places theyre already in, class and walking places, which helps them re-see opportunities in their routines to make micro-gestures of friendliness. Youre shrinking their world and helping them focus so they dont get overwhelmed. In this, youre also validating their most basic need for belonging. Your presence matters.

More broadly, at USC, weve had success with programming like an open mic night, a storytelling night or game night, where kids are meeting people.

It seems like its been a struggle for you to do what youve wanted to do to ease the loneliness crisis on campus because of bureaucracy. Can you share more of what barriers you have faced?

There is a known need that our institutions need to be rebalanced. Research institutions are literally designed to ask and answer research questions. Theyre not designed to cultivate conditions of belonging for all the students. There are efforts that professors make, there are efforts that the staff make, but as an institution, it's organized and incentivized to do research. So what happens is that most of the funding and resourcing goes towards research.

We get so much research on loneliness, and all of the ancillary constructs around it  mattering, social isolation, hope, purpose  like these things are all, at root, interrelated. And yet, we still don't even have an agreed construct of what belonging even is. I think there's a massive disconnect between people experiencing loneliness, what they need, and where research leads off.

Other groups trying to be part of the solution dont have the right resources. And honestly, I think a lot of it is I think it's also a bias towards feminine approaches of relationship building. The relational laborers are predominantly women  [though] not always, in every society. Theres a lot of bias against this approach that wants you to justify everything from stuff that's already come before or existed. But Im like were in a social frontier, and this is requiring radically different relational embodied ways of being and imagination and the system can't process that.

There is a lot of talk about scaling relationships, but I think the most you can do is scale conditions. Like creating enough time and space and money in the system for relational laborers to be able to do what they do.
Longtime New York City broadcast news anchor Bill Jorgensen, known for coining the tagline, "It's 10 o'clock -- do you know where your children are?" died on Wednesday at age 96.

Longtime New York City broadcast news anchor Bill Jorgensen, known for coining the tagline, Its 10 p.m.  do you know where your children are? died on Wednesday at age 96.

Jorgensen was recruited from Cleveland in 1967 to be the founding anchor of the Ten OClock News on WNEW, now Fox 5 New York, which he hosted for over 12 years, always signing off with his signature, Thanking you for your time this time, until next time.

His never-give-up spirit lasted until his end of life, and I just hope to be able to follow his example as long as possible, his daughter, Rebekah Jorgensen, wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday.

She did not share his cause of death.

Bill Jorgensen was recruited from Cleveland in 1967 to anchor the Ten OClock News on Channel 5 in New York, and then went on to co-anchor at PIX11. (Photo by New York Post Archives /(c) NYP Holdings, Inc. via Getty Images)

I grew up knowing him, behind the scenes, as a man deeply committed to finding the story that put people and their rights in danger, intent on finding innovative ways of telling it, she said.

His daughter recalled his coverage of environmental stories including Cleveland pollution, as well as the story of Robert Manry, a copy editor from Ohio who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1965 in a 13-foot sailboat.

He also reported on the famous case of Dr. Sam Sheppard, who was accused and then acquitted of his pregnant wifes 1954 murder.

The Sheppard case is said to have inspired the television series and later movie, The Fugitive.

He also reported on the famous case of Dr. Sam Sheppard, who was accused and then acquitted of his pregnant wifes 1954 murder. (Photo by New York Post Archives /(c) NYP Holdings, Inc. via Getty Images)

Rebekah recalled her dad letting her stay up late to attend nighttime broadcasts at just 5 years old, and his role in what she called the Golden Age of News Broadcasting.

An old newspaper clipping from his time as a radio host in Ohio called him a busy newscaster and a busy husband in a photo alongside wife, Kit, and daughters Jill, Rebekah and Wendy.

Jorgensen was recruited to New York City from Clevelands KYW-TV.

Jorgensen seen with wife, Kit, and their three daughters in a news clipping from his time as a newscaster in Cleveland, Ohio. FaceBook rebekah.jorgensen.3

The Ten Oclock News was must see each night, one former radio anchor commented on Rebekehs post. Reportage done well and right  His kind will not be seen again.

The New York Times television critic Jack Gould in 1967 described the newscast as a thoroughly professional news summary thanks to Mr. Jorgensens durably pleasing style and demeanor.

He suggests authority without affectation, Gould wrote.

We loved his serious style of delivery, as well as the line he used to end his newscasts, a PIX11 archive page wrote in a post in 2016.

(l-r) Bill Jorgensen, Pat Harper and Steve Bosh anchor Independent Network News, a half-hour national and international news program. (Photo by New York Post Archives /(c) NYP Holdings, Inc. via Getty Images)

The news anchor was remembered for his serious and authoritative style of delivery. FaceBook rebekah.jorgensen.3

Jorgensens show also coined the well-known public service announcement tagline, Its ten oclock  do you know where your children are?

Read by the late Tom Gregory, it aired from the late 1960s through the 1980s.

Jorgensen moved from WNEW to WPIX-TV in 1979, where he anchored national and local segments, and was one of the co-founders and first anchors of the Independent Network News, which was produced at WPIX.

The nightly broadcast was helmed by Jorgensen, Pat Harper Steve Bosh.

Jorgensen was succeeded at WNEW by John Roland, who died last year. Bill Jorgensen played a major role in establishing Channel 5s 10 oclock news as the most successful primetime news in America, the station said when he left.

Jorgensen retired in 1987 and settled in North Carolina.
MOBILE, Ala.  The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Softball team recorded a Sun Belt Conference series sweep over South Alabama on Saturday, March 16 at Jaguar Field in Mobile, Alabama by closing out the halted series opener and taking both ends of the doubleheader that followed.

Louisiana (18-12, 3-0 SBC) extended its season winning streak to nine games and captured its 82nd consecutive Sun Belt series victory dating back to March 2013.

The Cajuns fended off a bottom of the seventh rally from South Alabama (14-11-1, 0-3 SBC) in the resumption of game one of the series that was suspended on Friday evening to win 3-2. The Jaguars loaded the bases with no outs, but Chloe Riassetto induced a pair of sacrifice fly outs and a ground ball out to preserve ULs lead.

Louisiana entered Saturdays play with a 3-0 lead on the strength of Sam Roes two-run home run and Brooke Ellestads RBI single in the third inning and six shutout innings pitched by Sam Landry during play in the series opener on Friday.

UL jumped on the board in its first at bat in the opening game of the doubleheader and never relinquished the lead in clinching the series victory with a 6-2 triumph. Mihyia Davis and Maddie Hayden singled to lead off and later scored on two-out RBI singles from Alexa Langeliers and Ellestad for a 2-0 lead.

The teams traded runs in the third and it remained 3-1 in the Cajuns favor until a two-run single from Sam Roe in the sixth widened the gap.

Landry and Riassetto each limited the Jags to a single run and three hits, both working three-plus innings. The duo combined to coax 15 ground ball outs from the USA lineup.

In the series finale the Jags broke a scoreless tie with a two-run third inning and starting pitcher Olivia Lackie was one out shy of tossing a shutout. The Cajuns got new life when Jourdyn Campbell delivered one of her renowned pinch-hit home runs, the two-run launch to right center evening the score at 2-all.

Landry, who took over in the fourth and kept USA scoreless, stranded a Jaguars runner who had reached third base with one out in the bottom of the seventh to set up extra innings.

Louisiana took the momentum and ran immediately in extra innings, sending 17 batters to the plate and pushing across 13 runs in the top of the eighth run away with the 15-3 win.

The Cajuns wound up with 18 base hits off of USA pitching  11 hits totaled against starting pitcher Olivia Lackie  with Davis (3-for-5, RBI) and Laney Credeur (3-for-4, RBI) leading a group of five players with multiple-hit efforts.

The final relief pitching line for Landrys four shutout innings included five strikeouts and just two hits allowed to the 18 batters she faced while holding the Jags in check until Campbells heroics arrived.

With the series sweep Louisiana stretched its winning streak over South Alabama to 26 games dating back to the 2016 season and increased its all-time series lead to 48-11.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA

The Ragin Cajuns travel to Ruston, Louisiana on Wednesday, March 20 for a midweek game at Louisiana Tech thats scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. from Dr. Billy Bundrick Field live on ESPN+.

The Cajuns and Bulldogs are completing a midweek home-and-home series. UL captured a 9-3 win over LA Tech in the first matchup back on February 20 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.

The Sun Belt Conference home opener at Lamson Park follows the trip to Ruston, with the Cajuns hosting Coastal Carolina from Friday-Sunday, March 22-24.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
Councils that ignore local opposition to low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and 20mph zones could be stripped of their powers to issue penalties under a new Government plan for drivers that could also see them lose funding.

Draft guidance due to be published on Sunday will state that authorities must gain support from local residents, businesses and emergency services before introducing new LTNs.

The guidance, which will also require councils to regularly review existing schemes to monitor levels of local support, says: Schemes should be adjusted if this reveals issues with performance and removed if they are shown to have failed to deliver as expected, including a failure to demonstrate local support.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has also said new guidance will address concerns over bus lanes that cause delays, making sure that they only operate when that makes sense, such as when traffic is heavy enough to delay buses.

The statutory guidance on LTNs, due to come into force in the summer, is part of the plan for drivers drawn up after Rishi Sunak used an interview with The Telegraph last summer to launch a review of road policies and promise drivers that he was on their side.

His intervention came amid fears that motorists were being punished by schemes such as LTNs, which have become increasingly prevalent since the Covid pandemic. The schemes aim to reduce traffic in residential areas and cut carbon emissions.

Separately, the Government said it was strengthening guidance on applying new 20mph speed limits to make it clear that such restrictions should be reserved for sensible and appropriate areas only, such as roads outside schools, with safety and local support at the heart of the decision.

Ministers will make it clear that failing to adhere to the separate guidance on both LTNs and 20mph limits could lead to future Government funding being withdrawn.

The Government is planning to launch a consultation on further measures that could be taken against councils flouting guidance on the issue, including removing their access to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data used to enforce LTNs via camera footage.

Under powers in the Traffic Management Act, the Government could also take control of local roads where they are deemed to be mismanaged.

Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, said: We want local people to have their voices heard, and any traffic schemes to have the consent of those they impact. Well thought-out schemes, like 20mph limits outside schools, can make our roads safer  but we are raising the bar to help ensure all traffic schemes work for everyone in the community.

Were on the side of drivers, and these latest measures show were getting on with delivering what we promised in our plan for drivers  making their lives better, fairer and cheaper, and helping people travel in the way that works best for them.

Louise Haigh, Labours shadow transport secretary, criticised the Government for attempting to dictate to local communities how to run their streets.

But the Government said the reforms were supported by the review ordered by Mr Sunak last summer, which found that only 13 per cent of residents have responded to councils planning consultations on LTNs, and just 18 per cent feel that their views have influenced council decisions.

Residents in Streatham, south London, protest against an LTN scheme that was later scrapped - SMP News/Alamy

The report found that local authorities operating LTNs issued an average of 36,459 penalty charge notices per scheme, with the highest number of notices issued for a single LTN scheme exceeding 170,000.

The review showed that only a quarter of people understood the benefits of LTNs. It also flagged concerns over the impact on disabled residents, high numbers of penalty charge notices, the cost of LTNs and emergency services concerns that delays to crews caused by the schemes could potentially risk lives.

As well as tightening the rules on LTNs, the DfT has announced a package of further measures, which it said would put people back in the driving seat.

Traffic lights will be upgraded across the country through a 50 million funding injection. Of this, the DfT said 30 million would be used to replace outdated equipment, with 20 million being spent to reduce poor traffic light performance through technology that responds to live traffic conditions.

Consultations will also be launched, focusing on stopping councils from turning drivers into cash cows by profiting from enforcing traffic restrictions, such as fines for drivers going into yellow box junctions or parking restrictions. An eight-week call for evidence will quiz local authorities on how money from fines is reinvested.

Fresh guidance has been published to make it easier for councils to charge utility companies that slow down drivers with street works, while the Government has pledged to pursue nuisance boy racers who illegally modify their exhausts using noise cameras.

But Ms Haigh said the announcements were a blatant and desperate attempt to distract people from a government that has run out of road.

All this ongoing Conservative chaos has a real cost for working people and our public services, she said. Labour will act on the real priorities of drivers by tackling soaring car insurance costs and the traffic clogging up our roads. And we will leave decisions over local roads where they belong  in the hands of local communities.

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A new gantry was installed over the M25 and the plans are on schedule - DAN KITWOOD/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

The weekend closure of part of the M25 left a Surrey golf club a ghost town, amid warnings of further disruption from future planned shutdowns of the motorway.

A five-mile stretch of Londons orbital motorway between junctions 10 and 11 was closed in both directions between Friday night and Monday morning while a bridge was demolished and a new gantry installed.

It was the first daytime closure of the M25 since it was opened in 1986.

There were tailbacks of up to two miles, while businesses suffered as thousands of motorists heeded official advice and stayed at home.

Silvermere Golf Club, a plush 18-hole course near Cobham just off the M25, lost an estimated 50,000 over the weekend as its normally bustling complex was left largely empty.

It was a ghost down today, said Terry Sims, 52, the managing director of Silvermere. It seems that a lot of people stayed away - we were 45 per cent down in the restaurant and 43 per cent down in retail... There was a period of time where basically nobody came in.

He added that with four more daytime closures of the M25 planned up to September, it will be between 250,000 to 300,000 turnover off our line if its a ghost town.

A bridge was demolished and a new gantry installed - Chris Gorman / Big Ladder/Chris Gorman / Big Ladder

Mr Sims said that traffic issues in the area have been a growing issue over the last five to eight years around junction 10 and a major conference provider had already pulled out of hosting events at Silvermere as a result, leading to a loss of 3,500 a month in income.

The point where the M25 intersects with the A3 is one of Britains busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions, with one of the highest rates of traffic accidents across the National Highways network.

The Telegraph understands that other nearby businesses along the diversion route also suffered as a result of the weekend shutdown.

Mark Pollak, owner of Billy Tong, which caters for events and sells biltong at markets, told the PA news agency that he expects to see 50 per cent of the firms turnover for the weekend go down the drain.

Meanwhile, the Royal Horticultural Societys flagship Wisley Gardens had advised would-be visitors to allow a little extra time to complete your journey, adding that a local bus service used by patrons would not be stopping at the gardens during the closure.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade association UK Hospitality, said she hoped National Highways would work with local businesses to try to manage diversions better and minimise disruptions to trade.

Hundreds of local hospitality and tourism businesses have seen a disrupted start to the crucial Easter period, with visitors to pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions caught up in a weekend of chaotic disruption, she said.

We urge local councils to use discretionary powers to reduce business rates liabilities for businesses who are seeing revenues reduced by between a third and a half.

The M25 was a lot quieter than usual - Dan Kitwood/Getty

The M25 normally carries up to 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour at weekends between junctions nine and 11, including between Britains two busiest airports at Heathrow and Gatwick.

Amanda Boote, of Woking Borough Council, said that traffic along the new route through the towns of Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw was not as bad as feared.

National Highways South-East said the estimated average journey time through the diversion route was 25 minutes and that its work remained on schedule ahead of the Monday morning rush hour.

Despite the relatively smooth weekend, business leaders are cautioning that the four planned future shutdowns will cause even more losses of trade.

Four more closures of the M25s south west quadrant are set to take place later this year, with the next being scheduled for the weekend of 1922 April.

National Highways has not confirmed future closure dates, although it indicated that the following shutdown will take place at some point in May.

Disruption to local businesses around the M25 closures is set to get worse as the year progresses, with official statistics from the Department for Transport showing that road traffic is at its highest in summer and lowest in winter.

06:33 PM GMT

Thats all

Our live coverage is now ending.

05:07 PM GMT

Reports of a broken down vehicle at Junction 9

A vehicle has broken down on the exit of Junction 9 clockwise at Leatherhead and Epsom on the M25 causing congestion.

#M25 J9 clockwise exit (Leatherhead / Epsom) - Broken down vehicle - Full details at https://t.co/2AELbmYuvo (Updated every 5 minutes)  Live Traffic - M25 (@Traffic_M25) March 17, 2024

04:33 PM GMT

National Highways renews call to avoid M25

Reminder: works are ongoing on the #M25 in #Surrey and the road remains closed in both directions between J10 (#A3) and J11 (#Chertsey).



We continue to urge you only to use the #M25 and diversions if your journey is necessary.



This will help us to prevent congestion. pic.twitter.com/5VAo73WFFZ  National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) March 17, 2024

04:07 PM GMT

M25 reopening set for 5.30am

National Highways South East has confirmed Junctions 10 and 11 will reopen at 5.30am on Monday morning and not 6am as previously listed.

Replying to concerns on X, formally Twitter, a spokesman said: I can confirm it is 0530. The static signs were put together when the original plan was for it to reopen at 0600 but a last minute change to the work plan allowed us to move the planned end time back to 0530.

03:50 PM GMT

Environmental works taking place on M25 and A3

The M25 and A3 Wisley interchange is located among rare habitats such as the heathlands at Wisley and Ockham commons.

Part of the ongoing engineering works, which have resulted in the first daytime closure of the M25 since it was opened in 1986, is an environmental initiative to restore these heathlands to their former glory.

The heathland encompassing the motorway has declined by 85 per cent in the last 200 years.

Wisley & Ockham Common Forest

Wisley & Ockham Common Forest

Part of the conservation plan is to remove the trees on the heathland to restore the native wildlife including birds such as the Dartford Warbler, Nightjar and Woodlark.

In other areas new trees will be planted and existing woodlands will be enhanced.

Structurally, the A3 will be surfaced with a low noise material and environmental barriers along the M25 will be replaced.

01:29 PM GMT

Motorists urged to avoid A245 as traffic builds

Surrey Highways has urged motorists to avoid the main diversion route along the A245 as traffic begins to build.

It said on X, formally Twitter: Surreys roads are generally coping with the impact of the M25 closure between J10 at Wisley and J11 at Chertsey. But were seeing ongoing delays between Byfleet and Painshill.

Thank you to the drivers who are avoiding the area, and please continue to check travel updates.

#M25 closure update: traffic is beginning to build along the main M25 diversion route on the A245 coming up to #Byfleet



Please avoid the area if you can, check for updates before leaving and leave plenty of time for your journeys. pic.twitter.com/bIs0fSudOJ  Surrey Highways (@HighwaysSurrey) March 17, 2024

01:19 PM GMT

Traffic at standstill on M20

Traffic is currently being held on the M20 between Junction 7 at Maidstone and Junction 8 at Hollingbourne in both directions.

The cause of the standstill is unknown but Kent police are at the scene.

National Highways South East have said there is a 45-minute delay and are advising people to check their route.

Jct 7 M20

12:51 PM GMT

M25 to have four more daytime closures this year

Between mid-May and the end of the year the M25 will be closed during the day four times as work continues to increase the number of lanes at Junction 10.

The junction, where the M25 meets the A3 to Guildford and Portsmouth, is one of Britains busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions, holding one of the highest collision rates across the National Highways network.

Work is currently underway to expand Junction 10 to reduce congestion and improve safety. It is set to be completed in summer 2025.

The M25 on average sees 300,000 vehicles pass through daily. On weekends 4,000 to 6,000 motorists travel between Junction 9 and 11 every hour from 10am to 9pm.

National Highways said the exact dates of these closures were yet to be confirmed.

12:10 PM GMT

Traffic update

Congestion is building on the M25 clockwise between Junctions 9 and 10.

Anticlockwise on the M24 at Junction 11 there are reports of traffic at a standstill according to Inrix near Chertsey for about 2km.

The A3 northbound is experiencing delays of at least 10 minutes at the Wesley interchange.

There is slow traffic on the A245 Byfleet Road Eastbound before A3 (Painshill).

The A245 has one lane closed westbound between Painshill and Seven Hills Road.

11:24 AM GMT

Traffic chaos has been utterly underwhelming

Congestion during the motorway closure has been lighter than feared. Motorists and residents alike had been preparing for carmegeddon as the stretch that usually sees more than 300,000 vehicles was rerouted onto residential, often single lane, routes.

But it seems advance warnings for motorists to avoid the area have worked.

Lisa Townsend, the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, said predictions of traffic chaos had been utterly underwhelming so far.

I was out yesterday and Ill be honest, Ive not seen the M25 that quiet since Covid, she told The Telegraph on Sunday morning.

We know that stretch, particularly junction 10 to 11 , is the busiest and most dangerous stretch of highway in Europe. And from a policing perspective, its, you know, its definitely one of our busier ones.

I suppose my concern is obviously weve got a further four of these closures between now and September, she said, adding that she hopes motorists will continue easing off on travelling through the closure and diversion areas.

Debbie Curtis, 38, a Chertsey resident, said local traffic at her part of the diversion route had been quieter than usual.

All roads around Chertsey area were quieter than usual all day Saturday  I made 4 journeys to and from Bisley, she said.

Seems like people stayed away or at home for fear of diversion jams.

10:43 AM GMT

Other travel disruptions:

Morning travellers have faced disruptions due to overrunning engineering works.

Routes between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington faced cancellations or delays of up to 30 minutes, with disruption expected until 11am

London St Pancras International and London Charing Cross headed towards Dover Priory and Ashford International are on bus replacement service until 2pm because of an electrical fault between Dover Priory and Folkestone Central.

Engineers are reportedly on site.

Heathrow express has 15 mins delays on its service after overrunning engineering works, which resulted in early morning cancellations.

Services are delayed by up to 15 minutes or subject to cancellations due to congestion #hexupdates  Heathrow Express (@HeathrowExpress) March 17, 2024

10:31 AM GMT

Picture: New gantry installed overnight

A new gantry has been installed overnight and works remain on schedule, according to National Highways South East.

A new gantry has been installed overnight and works "remain on schedule", according to National Highways South East.

A new gantry has been installed overnight and works "remain on schedule", according to National Highways South East.

10:11 AM GMT

Traffic not as bad as feared

Amanda Boote, of Woking borough council, told the PA news agency that traffic along the diversion through the towns of Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw was not as bad as feared.

Concerns had been raised that thousands of drivers would be stuck in gridlocked traffic over the weekend during the unprecedented closure on the south west of the orbital route, with one councillor calling it a nightmare.

But CCTV from Junction 9 shows traffic is busy but moving at the start of the diversion at Leatherhead and Epsom.

09:50 AM GMT

M25 diversion route

Diversions are in place around Junction 9-11 rerouting traffic through some residential areas with single lanes in each direction.

South East Coast Ambulance Service, which covers Surrey, urged drivers to clear the way for ambulances.

A spokesman said: We ask for the publics support and advise motorists to avoid the area unless their journey is essential.

We also ask that, as ever, they are aware of any emergency vehicles looking to progress through any heavier traffic.

09:46 AM GMT

M25 closures

A five-mile stretch of the M25 between Junctions 10 and 11 has been closed since 9pm on Friday March 15 and will reopen 6am on Monday March 18.

The M25 meets the A3 to Guildford and Portsmouth at Junction 10 and Junction 11 links the A320 between Staines and Woking, as well as the A317 to Weybridge.

09:41 AM GMT

Good morning

Welcome to day two of our coverage on the planned closure of the M25 between Junction 10 and 11

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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press statement with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Not Pictured) after the so-called Weimar Triangle meeting. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Despite recent differences over Ukraine policy, French President Emmanuel Macron does not see himself in conflict with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, but admits the two have different styles.

"There has never been any trouble between the chancellor and myself. We have a lot in common in terms of objectives and the situation," Macron told the newspaper Le Parisien for a story in its Sunday edition.

"Only the way in which they are translated is different because the strategic cultures of our countries are different," Macron said.

Macron, along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, met Scholz in Berlin on Friday to discuss Ukraine. Friday's meeting came after Macron's comments three weeks ago, in which he said that Ukraine's supporters should not publicly rule out the deployment of ground troops in Ukraine in the future.

Scholz contradicted him several times in the days that followed and said that he would not send German soldiers to Ukraine. Macron then suggested they meet.

"I wanted to come to Germany very quickly so that there would be no debate about alleged strategic divergences: they don't exist," he told the paper.

Even after the meeting with Scholz, Macron continued to insist that ground troops might be necessary.

"Perhaps at some point - I don't wish it, I won't initiate it - it will be necessary to have operations on the ground, whatever they may be, to counter Russian forces. France's strength is that we can do that," he said.

"Our duty is to prepare for all scenarios,"he said. "I am convinced, by the way, that in some of these scenarios, anyone who is able to do so with their model would assume their responsibilities."

Macron added: "Putin cultivates a discourse of fear. We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated, because we are not dealing with a superpower."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron speak during a press statement with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Not Pictured) after the so-called Weimar Triangle meeting. Christoph Soeder/dpa
The "Magnificent Seven" are helping lift major U.S. indexes to record highs. This group of highly acclaimed stocks -- among the heaviest-weighted equities in the S&P 500 -- is comprised of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. There are good reasons to invest in all seven of these corporations, and that's why they've performed so well in recent years.

However, some companies outside this clique are just as impressive and deserve to be considered on par with the Magnificent Seven. One of these corporations is Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), a Denmark-based pharmaceutical giant. Here's why this drugmaker has earned consideration for inclusion in what would be called the Magnificent Eight.

A longtime leader in diabetes care

Novo Nordisk has been around for several decades. Throughout its entire history, the company has been a leader in one key therapeutic area: diabetes care.

Through the development of various novel insulin products and other medicines aimed at diabetics, Novo Nordisk has helped contain this severe global health crisis. The company's ability to maintain a lead in this market, despite stiff competition from various other players, is impressive.

As of November 2023, Novo Nordisk had a 33.8% share of the worldwide diabetes market, up almost 2% year over year. The company is still innovating in this area, too. Last year, it submitted regulatory applications for icodec, a potential once-weekly insulin product, in the U.S., Europe, and China.

Here's why this matters: Diabetes patients who need insulin typically take it daily. A once-weekly option is more convenient, and eligible patients will be thrilled to make the switch.

Icodec should earn approval sometime this year if everything goes according to plan. Novo Nordisk's dominance in diabetes care has generally yielded solid financial results.

The performance of the company's stock has also been strong, with returns in the past decade that have been far better than that of the broader market. The Magnificent Seven are so named partly because of their ability to deliver outsized returns, clearly a point in Novo Nordisk's favor.

Story continues

Expect more of the same

Novo Nordisk is making noise in another related therapeutic area -- obesity care. The company's weight loss medicine Wegovy became so popular that the demand outpaced the supply. The company is dealing with the issue of shortages as the anti-obesity drug market is projected to soar through the end of the decade.

The pharmaceutical giant has plenty of competition, including from its longtime rival in the diabetes market, Eli Lilly. And Amgen, Pfizer, and Viking Therapeutics are among the drugmakers looking to launch their own weight loss medicines.

Investors shouldn't be worried, though. As Novo Nordisk has shown before, it can handle the competition. The company's Wegovy should remain one of the top-selling obesity therapies for some time.

It's also working on newer targets. Novo Nordisk recently reported highly encouraging phase 1 results for a potential oral diabetes medicine called amycretin.

The company has created a culture centered around innovation, particularly within its core areas of expertise. That's a key reason why leaders in certain therapeutic areas generally remain near the top of their fields.

Novo Nordisk is also looking to diversify its lineup. Its pipeline features medicines across rare diseases, cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders, etc.

Novo Nordisk checks all the same boxes as the existing Magnificent Seven. These corporations are all innovative leaders in their respective industries and have delivered strong financial performance and stock market returns for a while -- and they'll likely continue to do so. The shoe fits -- and that's why Novo Nordisk has earned its spot here.

It doesn't matter if someone creates a new Magnificent Eight that includes Novo Nordisk. Investors should consider adding the company's shares to their portfolios.

Should you invest $1,000 in Novo Nordisk right now?

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Amazon and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Pfizer, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Amgen and Novo Nordisk and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that there is no conflict between him and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, despite recent disagreements over their views on the situation with Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Macron in an interview with Le Parisien, cited by dpa; European Pravda reports

Nevertheless, the French president admitted that he and Scholz have different styles.

Quote: "I have never had any problems with the chancellor. We have a lot in common in terms of goals and situation. The only difference is in the way they are implemented, because the strategic cultures of our countries are different," Macron said.

Information about the disagreement between the leaders emerged after Macron's statements about the possible deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine in the future.

In the following days, Scholz objected several times and stated that he would not send German soldiers to Ukraine.

In response, Macron offered to hold a meeting.

"I wanted to come to Germany very quickly so that there would be no discussions about alleged strategic disagreements: there are none," he said.

At the same time, Macron continues to insist that foreign troops may be needed.

"Perhaps at some point  I do not wish for this, I will not initiate it  it will be necessary to conduct operations on the ground, whatever they may be, to counter Russian forces. France's strength allows us to do so," the French president added.

The tensions in German-French relations are causing concern among Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, who believe that it is damaging their support for Ukraine in the war.

However, Stephane Sejourne, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, believes that there is no split between France and Germany, despite evident differences between President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholzs stances on issues concerning Ukraine.



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French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that he will definitely pay a visit to Ukraine.

Source: Macron in an interview with Ukrainian media, European Pravda reports

Details: Macron noted that his visit will take place when "specific proposals and specific solutions" are ready.

Quote: "I will tell you absolutely sincerely  I will definitely come. I have a rule: to make my visit as useful as possible for Ukraine... I will come to Ukraine with specific proposals and specific solutions," he said.

The French president added that his visit would mean "a strong message and new directions in terms of cooperation".

Background:

On Monday, the Elysee Palace announced that French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Ukraine in the coming weeks.

The French president had announced his intention to visit Ukraine in February to finalise an agreement on security guarantees. No specific date was given at the time. Later, the visit was postponed for "security reasons".

On 16 February, during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Paris, Macron said that he had not abandoned his intention to visit Ukraine and would do so in the near future.

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French President Emmanuel Macron will announce concrete solutions and proposals to help Ukraine in its war with Russia during his upcoming visit to Kyiv, he said in an interview with Ukrainian media for the national telethon United News on March 16.

The French leader wanted concrete progress, and therefore initiated an international conference on assistance to Ukraine in Paris on Feb. 26. The meeting made decisions in several areas, and he will have concrete proposals during his visit to Ukraine.

"When I physically arrive, it will mean that there will be a strong message and new areas of cooperation in the direction we outlined at the beginning of the year," Macron said.

Read also: Ukrainian Embassy protests Russian claim on Paradzhanov's flm in French festival

Before his trip to Ukraine, Macron will meet in Germany with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

"I have a rule that my visit should be as useful as possible for Ukraine," the French President said.

This is exactly what we have always agreed and done with President Zelenskyy. I will go to Berlin and talk to Chancellor Scholz and the Polish Prime Minister [Tusk]. I am confident that we will be able to allocate additional funds.

Read also: Paris to supply Kyiv with up to 50 precision-guided bombs per month and increase supply of artillery ammunitio

The Office of the President of Ukraine reported on the same day that Macron would arrive in Ukraine in the near future, a visit that "will be important."

Reuters reported earlier that Macron's visit to Ukraine had been postponed for the third time. Initially, the French president was expected to come to Ukraine in mid-February to sign a bilateral security agreement. Later, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to Paris to sign the agreement himself.

The second date, according to French diplomats, was set for early March, but then it was also postponed. Macron is expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks.

Western troops in Ukraine  what is known

After a conference in support of Ukraine held in Paris on Feb. 26, Macron said that Ukraine's Western allies would form a coalition to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with long-range weapons and that sending Western troops to Ukraine in the future should not be ruled out.

Read also: NVs source in official circles explains why the French president postponed his visit to Kyiv once again

In response to Macron's statements, a number of NATO countries publicly rejected the idea of sending troops to Ukraine. Among them are Poland, the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

General Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of Defense of the Dutch Army, said that NATO countries should consider all options to help Kyiv. However, he noted that Ukraine has not asked the Netherlands to send troops, and there is no point in discussing this now.

The AFP news agency quoted a source as saying that European NATO member states had been studying the possibility of sending NATO troops to Ukraine for weeks.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Feb. 28 that French troops could be sent to Ukraine to protect certain frontiers and participate in exercises or ground air defense.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on March 3 that she could not guarantee that her country's military would not be sent to Ukraine in the future.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also said that Western countries should discuss the idea of sending troops to Ukraine and stop drawing "red lines" in terms of assistance to Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 11 that Ukraine does not need Western troops on its territory but is ready to accept "instructors" and "technical personnel" from NATO allies.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron promised to come to Kyiv and bring "specific solutions" for the war, in an interview published on March 16.

"I will definitely come. I have a rule that my visit should be as useful as possible for Ukraine," Macron said in the interview with Ukrainian journalist Nataliia Moseichuk.

Macron made headlines in February when he said that deploying Western troops to Ukraine has not been ruled out. He again refused to rule out the possibility in a March 14 interview, though said today's situation does not call for it.

In the interview with Moseichuk, Macron said that he is confident that the European Union will allocate additional funding to Ukraine, and that "I will be able to come to Ukraine with specific proposals, with specific solutions."

"When I physically arrive, it will mean that there will be a strong message and new directions of cooperation."

Macron did not give a timeline for a visit during the interview. On March 11, media reports said that Macron would visit Ukraine in the coming weeks. An earlier visit scheduled in February was postponed due to reported security concerns.

On March 15, Macron met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin and announced a series of initiatives to support Ukraine including weapons purchases.

Read also: Scholz, Macron, Tusk vow more arms purchases, new initiatives for Ukraine

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I made a traditional Irish breakfast for St. Patrick's Day and the hearty meal took me back to my roots

When I was young, my first-generation Irish grandparents often served me a full Irish breakfast.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I decided to make a traditional Irish breakfast for myself.

I enjoyed the sausages, white pudding, and beans on toast, but I would skip the tomatoes next time.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I decided to tap into my Irish roots and prepare a traditional Irish breakfast for the first time.

My grandparents were first-generation Irish immigrants who later moved to England.

I also grew up in England and would often eat a traditional Irish breakfast when I would go to their house. After I moved to the United States when I was 7, I would always have a full Irish or English breakfast when I went to visit them each year.

An Irish breakfast differs slightly from a "full English" in that traditional Irish breakfasts always include black or white pudding and are often served with soda bread in addition to regular toast.

Some of the products I used in this breakfast came from the specialty British food shop Myers of Keswick in New York City, founded in 1985. While British and Irish shops can be rare finds, even in major cities like New York, they offer international visitors an authentic taste of home, and I couldn't have come close to making a traditional Irish breakfast without this store.

Here's how I made a traditional Irish breakfast, and how you can, too, this St. Patrick's Day.

I was able to snag some real Irish bacon and bangers from a specialty food shop in Manhattan.

I visited Myers of Keswick, a specialty food store in the West Village. Rob Kim/Getty Images

I knew I could have stuck with American breakfast sausages and bacon, and nixed the white or black pudding altogether, but I wanted my breakfast to be as traditional as possible.

Myers of Keswick in the West Village had everything I needed for my breakfast: sausages, Irish bacon, white pudding, and even HP sauce, which is technically a British favorite, but I decided to add it anyway.

If you don't live in New York City, you can also order many types of British and Irish meat online at retailers like Jolly Posh Foods.

I was also able to pick up some white pudding, which was even made in Ireland.

Irish white pudding sausage. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

White pudding usually consists of oats, pork meat, fat, and bread, as well as seasonings, while black pudding also contains pork or beef blood and is known as blood sausage.

While this may not sound appetizing to some Americans, I grew up eating and loving the stuff. It's perfectly salty, fatty, and is often hard to find anywhere in the US.

I also bought some Irish soda bread.

Irish soda bread. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It's usually difficult to find soda bread in stores. However, since I prepared my breakfast around St. Patrick's Day, I was able to find some Irish-style soda bread in my local Wegmans grocery store.

Back in my kitchen, I started by chopping mushrooms and tomatoes.

Chopped mushrooms and tomatoes. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I quartered the tomatoes and thinly sliced the mushrooms before adding them to a skillet.

I added about a tablespoon of Irish butter to the skillet and let the mushrooms cook slightly down before adding the tomatoes.

Mushrooms in a pan. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

You can also use olive oil or any butter you have on hand, but using Irish butter like Kerry Gold will add a lot of flavor to the dish.

I then added the tomatoes and cooked them together until the tomatoes were slightly roasted on the outside.

Cooked mushrooms and tomatoes. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

There was a lot of water in the pan from the mushrooms, tomatoes, and the butter I added. I poured a little bit out then set the tomatoes and mushrooms aside while I began cooking the other ingredients.

I placed my bangers and sliced white pudding in a glass casserole dish with a drizzle of olive oil.

White pudding and sausages in a glass baking pan. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I was glad I bought the bangers, since they're much thicker than American breakfast sausages. I cooked the sausages and the white pudding in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.

While the sausages and white pudding were cooking, I started frying the bacon.

Irish bacon in a skillet. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Bacon in the British Isles looks noticeably different compared to most standard bacon you'll find in the United States. In Ireland, bacon typically comes from the back, or the loin, of the pig, rather than the belly. It more closely resembles what we know as Canadian bacon or "country ham" in the South.

Next up, I made the baked beans, which I expected to be my least favorite part of the breakfast.

Baked beans. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While baked beans are super easy to make  all you have to do is pour the can into a bowl or saucepan and heat them up  I was ready to eat by this point and was dreading making yet another ingredient.

I also remembered not being a huge fan of baked beans when I ate this meal as a child. Still, I decided to give them a fair shot.

After about 30 minutes of cooking, my sausages were crispy and ready to eat.

Cooked sausages and white pudding. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I realized immediately that I had made way too much food, but thankfully I had two roommates who were also dying to partake in the traditional breakfast.

This meal admittedly took quite a while and four different pans to make. I usually stick to yogurt and honey for breakfast, so this felt like a lot of work.

I decided brown sauce was a necessity for my plate.

HP Sauce. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

HP Sauce, which tastes tangy and vinegary, is typically added to English breakfasts, but I grew up always adding it to the breakfasts at my grandparents' house, so I figured it would be alright. In Ireland, a similar brown sauce by Chef is also used for breakfasts.

When I assembled everything on my plate, I was shocked at how delicious and authentic my breakfast looked.

My finished Irish breakfast. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It looked just like the Irish breakfast recipe by Happy Foods Tube that I was following.

The sausages had the perfect amount of snap and the white pudding was unlike anything I've tasted in years.

My finished Irish breakfast. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The white pudding was perfectly crumbly and tasted super authentic  it honestly tasted like I was back in my grandparents' home. The bacon slices, or rashers as they're sometimes called, were perfectly browned without being too crispy.

The bacon definitely wasn't as greasy as most American bacon I've had, which I greatly preferred. I also enjoyed the beans on toast and the mushrooms  the savory flavors really complemented all three kinds of meat.

I also tried soda bread for the first time. I toasted it and spread a little bit of the Irish butter on top.

Irish soda bread with butter. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It was slightly sweet and I enjoyed the taste of the dried fruit inside. However, I think I preferred the regular toast, which I dipped in the sunny-side-up eggs as I always do.

The only ingredient on my plate I really didn't like was the grilled tomato.

The cooked tomato. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I didn't like the texture and thought the tomato slices were mushy and unappetizing. Something about a warm tomato just didn't sit right with me.

Overall, I was blown away by the Irish breakfast and found that it made me really nostalgic for my childhood.

My finished Irish breakfast. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The scents that wafted through my kitchen combined with the actual taste of the food instantly brought me back to my grandparents' house when I was younger. I haven't seen my grandparents in many years, but this meal really made me feel like I was 8 years old again.

While I definitely wouldn't go to the trouble of making this meal every weekend, I would make the effort for a special occasion, especially now that I know I can find authentic sausages, bacon, and white pudding here in New York City.

This story was originally published in March 2022, and most recently updated on March 17, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Law enforcement had probable cause to take gunman Robert Card into custody a month prior to the devastating mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, an independent commission claims.

The Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston, which probed the circumstances that led up to the Oct. 25 mass murder, claims law enforcement had all the information necessary to act but failed to do so.

"The Commission is unanimous in finding that in September 2023, the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office (hereinafter SCSO) had sufficient probable cause to take Robert Card Jr. into protective custody under Maines Yellow Flag law and to remove his firearms and that the SCSO had probable cause to believe that Mr. Card posed a likelihood of serious harm."

LEWISTON, MAIN MASS SHOOTINGS LEAVE 18 DEAD AS MANHUNT UNDERWAY FOR SUSPECT ROBERT CARD

The commission determined Card was visited on multiple occasions by the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office and sufficient evidence was found to utilize the state's "yellow flag" law.

In addition to his mental health issues, U.S. Army officials and law enforcement were aware of several concerning factors in Card's behavior by September 2023.

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It was known that Card was in possession of at least ten guns, had threatened his direct superiors, assaulted a friend and had threatened to shoot up a military armory in Saco, Maine.

Maine's unique "yellow flag" law allows individuals close to a person suspected of violent machinations to report their concerns to law enforcement. Police are then able to take the individual into protective custody and request a mental health check.

VICTIMS OF LEWISTON, MAINE MASS SHOOTING SPEAK OUT AFTER DOZENS SHOT: 'I JUST FEEL NUMB'

Robert Card, the perpetrator of last year's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.

If the individual is found to be mentally unstable, his license and guns can be confiscated until circumstances change.

The commission's report claims multiple individuals close to Card expressed concern to authorities that the Army reservist, who had severe mental health issues, was becoming dangerous.

"The Commission recognizes that, to take Mr. Card into protective custody, an officer would have had to make 'face-to-face' contact with him," the report states. "We also recognize that that process might not have been without difficulty and potential risk. Taking Mr. Card into protective custody, however, was warranted by the information known [] , and a plan to intervene and take Mr. Card into protective custody should have been undertaken."

Card opened fire at two locations in Lewiston  a bowling alley and a bar  killing 18 people and injuring 13 others.

After a two-day manhunt, the shooter was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"The Commission will continue to pursue the facts in this case and will conduct additional public hearings to gather additional testimony, materials, and reports to gather all the necessary information to determine what happened before, during and after the tragic shootings on October 25, 2023," the commission announced in its report.

"Upon completion of that investigation, a final comprehensive report, together with recommendations, will be issued and published on the Commissions website. More work needs to be done and it will be done  the victims, their families and the people of Maine deserve no less."





Original article source: Maine sheriff had probable cause to detain Maine gunman before mass shooting, independent report claims
Andre Gordon is accused of killing his 13-year-old sister Kera, his stepmother, 52, and Taylor Gordon, 25, his ex-partner

A gunman accused of killing three of his family members in Pennsylvania has been captured after barricading himself in a house under siege by police.

Andre Gordon, 26, is accused of killing three of his relatives, including a 13-year-old girl, at two locations in Levittown, Pennsylvania on Saturday morning.

Jennifer Schorn, the district attorney of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said Mr Gordon drove a stolen vehicle to his 52-year-old stepmothers home in Levittown and shot both her and his teenage sister Kera shortly after 8am.

Three others in the house were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them, she added.

Ms Schorn alleged that Mr Gordon then travelled to another house in Levittown and killed 25-year-old Taylor Gordon, with whom he shares two children. She was allegedly bludgeoned to death with a weapon.

The suspect locked himself in a New Jersey house - AP

After leaving the scene, the suspect allegedly carjacked a 44-year-old man at gunpoint outside a Dollar General store in Morrisville, around six miles away, before fleeing to a house in Trenton where he had family ties.

A SWAT team was deployed to hold a property in Trenton, New Jersey, on Saturday night and officers ordered Mr Gordon to come out with his hands up. He surrendered peacefully and was arrested.

Nelson Whitney, the police chief in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, said that the suspect was armed with an AR-15 style assault rifle.

He added that police would investigate every aspect of how he came into possession of these weapons.

Survivors later climbed out a window once the gunman had left - AFP

Police lifted a stay-at-home order imposed on Falls Township, an area of the Philadelphia suburbs, on Saturday morning.

Sesame Place, a nearby theme park, and local shops were closed as a precaution after initial reports of the shooting.

Statistics from the Gun Violence Archive show there were 656 mass shootings in the US in 2023, down from a record 689 in 2021.

The incidents caused an average of 118 deaths per day last year, with a total of 42,987 fatalities recorded.

Joe Biden, the US president, has described gun violence as a superstorm and established the first ever federal Gun Violence Prevention office.

In his State of the Union address on March 7, Mr Biden called for Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

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A 69-year-old Rabun County man was arrested in Alabama for child molestation on Friday.

According to the Fultondale Police Department in Alabama, Danny Ray Lowery was wanted in Rabun County, Ga. for child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Fultondale police got a tip that Lowery may have been in Fultondale. An officer noticed Lowerys truck outside of a local business while out on patrol.

Officers said Lowery tried to hide from police in the business restroom.

He was arrested and Alabama officers obtained an arrest warrant for Lowery.

Lowery is now awaiting extradition back to Georgia, according to police.

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A man faces murder charges in Pennsylvania and carjacking and weapons charges in New Jersey after allegedly killing three family members.

The man evaded law enforcement for hours, the Associated Press reports.

Court documents say Andre Gordon Jr., 26, was charged in Bucks County with three counts of first- and second-degree murder, aggravated assault and robbery. In New Jersey, Gordon is charged with first-degree carjacking and weapons offenses, according to officials.

The shootings caused the cancellation of a St. Patricks Day parade on Saturday and shut down an amusement park, the Associated Press reports.

Gordon carjacked a vehicle in New Jersey Saturday before driving to Falls Township, Pennsylvania, and killing his stepmother and sister, authorities said. He then drove to another location and killed the mother of his children, the AP reports.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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3-year-old girl hit by police motorcycle after St. Patricks Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh Woman dead after vehicle is rear-ended, catches on fire on I-70 in Westmoreland County 3 injured after sedan, bus crash in Pittsburgh VIDEO:3-year-old girl hit by police motorcycle after St. Patricks Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
A man has been charged with threats to kill and controlling or coercive behaviour after a woman died.

The victim, in her 30s, was found unconscious at a property on Elsenham Crescent, Basildon. She was taken to hospital on Sunday but later died on Thursday.

Essex Police launched a murder investigation.

Joshua Robinson, 32, is set to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday and remains in custody.

Det Ch Insp Louise Metcalfe said: "We know that this will shock the Basildon Community.

"We will be carrying out enquiries to help us establish the events that took place before the woman was taken to hospital and I'd ask anyone who holds information that could help our investigation to contact us."

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830
Joel Carillet / Getty Images

If youve ever shied away from taking a cruise because of the cost, youre not alone. According to CruiseBooking.com, the average cost of a seven-night cruise to the Caribbean is between $400 and $4,000. And thats not even paying the premium prices youd find with Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and similar high-end cruise lines.

Find Out: 8 Tips to Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy

Try This: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

If you want to take a cruise without breaking the bank, consider going during the off-season. This could lead to some serious savings and still let you enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience. Heres how to save money through off-season cruising, according to experts.

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Off-Season Cruises Come With Lower Fares

You can often find lower fares during the off-season since theres less demand during this time and cruise lines are trying to drum up more business.

Like many vacation destinations, cruise fares drop significantly once the off-season hits (upwards of 50% for some sailings), said Colleen McDaniel, cruise expert at Cruise Critic. Looking to the Caribbean as an example. The average starting cost of a 5-night cruise this September  considered the regions off-season  is $382 less per guest than the average starting cost in the high-season month of June.

Book Through Discount Travel Services for Cheaper Prices

Where you book your tickets has a major impact on what you pay, even during the off-season.

Travelers should consider booking through discount travel sources like Costco or Undercover Tourist who may offer good deals on a variety of cruise lines, including Disney, said Keri Baugh, owner of Bon Voyage With Kids. Be sure to use a reputable site like this to book a discount cruise to make sure you are getting what you are paying for.

Be Aware: Dave Ramsey: 7 Vacation Splurges That are a Waste of Money

Dont Forget About Gift Cards

Did you know you can buy gift cards for some of the major cruise lines? Not only that but you can actually score some deals on these gift cards for more savings.

Story continues

Consider purchasing gift cards at places like Costco or Target for Disney or cruise lines like Carnival, where you may be able to get the full amount of the gift card at a discounted price, said Baugh. You CAN use Disney Gift Cards to pay for your Disney Cruise and if you are a Target Red Card holder, you will get 5% off the gift card purchase price but you will receive the full amount of the card. If you purchase enough cards, this can be a lot of savings.

And if you dont want to buy your own gift cards, you can always put them on your holiday wish list.

Take Advantage of Bundles and Last-Minute Deals

If youre looking for an all-inclusive experience, ask your cruise line of choice about any bundles.

To help entice travelers to book in slower seasons, many cruise lines will offer special deal packages to help sweeten the offer (think cabin upgrades, onboard credit and free beverage packages), said McDaniel.

And dont forget about those last-minute deals.

Check the cruise company websites themselves, Baugh added. Sometimes, there are discounted offers for cruises in the off-season or last-minute offers if they have room on an upcoming cruise and want to sell those cabins.

Be Flexible With Timing

An off-season voyage can be less expensive than any other time, but the more flexible you are, the more potential savings you can get.

Even as cruise fares drop for off-season cruises, you can still save a bunch if you time your cruise appropriately and have the flexibility to shop multiple sail dates, said McDaniel. Fares can fluctuate significantly from week to week, as cruise lines adjust fares to fill capacity on individual sailings.

For example, if you book a week earlier for a September Royal Caribbeans Independence of the Seas voyage, you could save up to $222 per guest.

Choose a Port You Can Drive To

Airfare is expensive, so if you choose a port you can drive to, you could save a lot of money.

Travelers can save thousands on the cost of airfare and pre-cruise hotels by selecting a cruise port theyre able to drive to, said McDaniel. With plenty of cruise ports sprinkled all across the U.S.  from Boston, New York City and Baltimore, to Galveston, New Orleans and Los Angeles  its easy for many travelers to skip on those added travel costs and drive straight to port.

Plus, you get to skip security and the overall hassle of being at the airport.

Go With an Indoor Cabin

Cruise ships tend to have several different types of accommodations, meaning prices vary widely from the lowest to the highest tier. If saving money is the goal, and you dont plan to spend much time in your room anyway, go with the cheapest option.

While it doesnt have a great view, an indoor cabin or one without a verandah will be less expensive, said Baugh. If you dont mind an indoor stateroom and plan to enjoy all of the options of the cruise outside of your room, an indoor cabin can save you a lot of money.

Book a Shorter Voyage

Looking to save even more? Book a shorter trip.

If you want the cruise experience but dont have a big budget, consider a three-day or four-day cruise, said Baugh. You get all of the fun of a cruise but just over a shorter period of time.

Focus on Indoor Activities

Taking a cruise during the off-season might come with less than ideal weather conditions, but that doesnt mean you cant still enjoy yourself.

Traveling in the off-season, like the winter, for a Caribbean cruise will be much more affordable. The weather might be variable but you can still enjoy the pools and all of the indoor activities, said Baugh. I often tell people  remember when you are cruising, the cruise ship IS the destination. Enjoy all that it offers!

Plus, since the cruise ship might be less crowded during the off-season, youll have amply room to move around and get that prime spot without much competition. The ports are also likely to be less busy.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Off-Season Cruising: The Secret to Saving Big on Your Next Voyage
(FOX40.COM)  A man who engaged in a standoff with Sacramento County deputies on Friday in Fair Oaks has been arrested and identified, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

Eric Smith, 36, was booked into a Sacramento County jail on Friday night and faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, for his role in a shooting that began earlier that day around 10 a.m. near the intersection of Winding Way and Hazel Avenue.

Video Above: Coverage of this incident before Smiths arrest

On Friday morning, Sacramento County deputies were called to an apartment complex in Fair Oaks on reports of shots being fired. When they arrived, they discovered a bullet in a window.

Three people involved in fatal Yuba City shooting

Sheriffs officials said that a shooting involving deputies followed their discovery, which prompted them to ask residents of the apartment complex to either evacuate the premises or shelter-in-place.

A standoff lasting over seven hours began as deputies used a phone to communicate with Smith, who was barricaded in an apartment, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

Around 5:30 p.m., deputies said the man exited the building and eventually surrendered.

Smith has been deemed ineligible for bail and faces the following charges: Discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner, possession of a firearm by a felon, attempted murder, and assault with a firearm upon a peace officer.

He will face these charges in court on Tuesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Maserati's sporty Grecale Folgore two-row SUV goes all-electric, making it the third such drivetrain available in the SUV along with gas and hybrid powertrains.

It's part of Maserati's march to all-electric power by 2028.

The Grecale Folgore arrives in July priced over $100,000.

Lightning has struck in Modena.

Maserati has said that by 2025, all its models will be available in a full-electric version, and the entire Maserati range will run on electricity alone by 2028. First with the Gran Turismo Folgore, and now with the new, sporty and efficient Grecale Folgore SUV you see here, it is making good progress toward that goal.

Folgore means lightning in Italian, or, more precisely, thunderbolt, a good name for an electric performance SUV.

Grecale, meanwhile, is the name for the wind that blows in from the northeast, or it just means Greece in Italian, a country which is sort of northeast of Italy if you start in Syracuse down on the Italian island of Sicily and aim up and to the right. Maserati likes to use wind names for its models: consider the Ghibli, Bora, Karif, Khamsin, and Shamal.

Maserati

In this case, the thunderbolt comes from a 105-kWh battery (96.7 useable) riding under the floor of the Grecale, powering one electric motor on the front axle and another on the rear. Together the motors make 550 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque, enough to zap you to 62 mph in 4.1 seconds, and to a top speed of 137 mph, Maserati says.

With a few efficiencies over the gasoline- and hybrid-powered Grecales, the five-passenger Folgore has an all-electric range of 311 miles. Perhaps if it had more efficient tires it would go farther, but Maserati wants it to be a performance SUV, not some sort of gigantic Fiat 500e.

So the sleek beast rides on meat-eating Pirelli P-Zeros, 255/40s in front and 295/35s rear, mounted on 21-inch rims. The exact model of P-Zero is ELECT, where the C in ELECT is shaped like an electric plug. So the delicate balance between performance and efficiency is maintained.

Likewise, while an electric drivetrain can be downright quiet, Maserati wants their electric SUV to sound like a performance vehicle, so you not only get sounds pumped inside the cabin, but three speakers send sounds to the outside, and you cant turn any of them off. True, the exterior sounds are required by law, to a point, but Maserati felt it was important to have some sounds accompanying the driving experience at all times.

This was a discussion inside Maserati, there was a discussion, said engineering vehicle line executive Andrea Zizak.

I was not a believer in the beginning, but then after driving a lot I became a believer in this sound, said Maserati E-Mobility Expert Carlo Lazzaroni. We want every Maserati to make a sound, which is the Folgore sound. We even think it could be a signature sound for the Maserati of the future. Like they used to be in the past.

Maserati

Lazzaroni said the mandatory sound could be changed in the future so customers could turn it off. The tones werent intrusive, but sometimes you just want the sound of silence.

The Grecale Folgore rides on a modified version of the gas- and hybrid-powered models, but a look at a chassis laid bare in front of us sure looked like a bespoke platform. The main part of the platform consists of a big rectangular aluminum frame surrounding the big battery, with separate subframes attached front and rear holding the big motors.

Air shocks are positioned at all four corners and can be adjusted to four different drive modes: GT, which is the normal mode for everyday driving, Sport, Offroad, and Max Range.

Over a few hundred miles of Italian two-lanes down around the heel of the boot, the Grecale did feel fun to drive. Given more curves than we were able to find that day it would probably feel pretty sporty for a largish SUV.

Its sportier than the Q8 e-tron and BMW iX, for instance, though only a little more, and definitely sportier on a curvy road than the Mercedes EQS SUV and Tesla Model X, though all of those hold their own in those environments.

And yes, this might actually go off-road, though most owners probably wont take them very far. I got to try it off-road for a short stretch, just a flat dirt road down around the heel of the boot, and it did fine. Offroad mode raises the ride height 1.4 inches from the default GT mode, the latter which is the most comfortable. Sport lowers it a little more than a half-inch from GT.

Maserati

But this is still a Maserati, so even in the softest GT mode the ride is firm, maybe just a little too firm for the average buyer. For them there are plenty of other choices available in luxury SUVs: the BMW iX, Rivian R1S, Audi Q8 e-tron, Mercedes EQS SUV, and Tesla Model X, just to name a few around this price range and approximate size. If comfort and price are priorities, the Cadillac Lyriq and Lexus RZ are similar-sized luxury crossover EVs.



Prices for the Maserati Grecale Folgore werent released at the time of our drive, but I was told itll be over $100,000 when it arrives in showrooms in July. Its a good compromise that leans more into the sporty category than its competitors.

Mine did have a few hiccups. The navigation system took a bit too long to respond most of the day, then crashed during my drive. The screen went black, took a minute to reboot, then the tom tom brand name appeared for a while.

Engineers went to work on it and it operated just fine the rest of the day, but be sure to hire a couple full-time Maserati engineers to ride with you if you need NAV (itll be funthe ones I spoke with were charming conversationalists).

Yes, I could do without the performance sound, subtle as it was. The electric power steering could have been a bit more communicative. And then theres the six-figure price, but this is a brand that has competed directly with Ferrari for a half-century or more.

When I get a chance to drive a Ferrari Purosangue, Ill tell you how it stacks up against the Grecale Folgore. But remember, the Purosangue costs four times as much.

For now, this is a molto bene, very sporty entry in a field that keeps growing.

Are you in the market for a six-figure electric SUV? Would this do it?
Oversexed, overpaid, and over here was a common refrain that underscored the tension between stationed U.S. troops and British locals during World War II. It is a phrase uttered in the Apple TV+ historical epic Masters of the Air when American Major Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle) ventures out of East Anglia to Oxfords hallowed academic grounds as part of an allied conference. However, the interactions between the U.S. airmen and the locals in Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, were far from prickly, and close bonds remain more than 80 years later.

When Major John Bucky Egan (Callum Turner) and his best friend, Major Gale Buck Cleven (Austin Butler), depart Thorpe Abbotts at the end of the series (and in real life), locals turned out in their Sunday best to wave farewell to the 100th Bomb Group, who had called this slice of rural East Anglia home for the last two years. Cows graze beside the burned-out wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress, offering a reminder of the losses that inspired the Bloody Hundredth nicknameas well as what was here before the war came.

Lying about 100 miles north of London, Thorpe Abbotts is Masters of the Airs beating heart, and the control tower from that historic time still stands today. In fact, if you venture to the East of England, you can still climb to the same viewing platform as Crosby and the shows characters did in 1943.

Nate Mann in 'Masters of the Air' Robert Viglasky/Apple TV+

That was the big thing, the way that the Americans embraced the community, and of course, the community let them in, Masters of the Air production designer Chris Seagers tells The Daily Beast Obsessed. Seagers grew up in this part of England and has first-hand knowledge of the landscape and the farmland that became a vital hub for the United States Air Force in the early 1940s. You knew of the history because there are so many airfields around here, and as kids, we grew up on those airfields because they were just great places to mess about on, Seagers says.

With 350,000 Americans descending on East Anglia and up to 3,500 billeted to each base, the flat, lush green landscape was quickly transformed into concrete runways and barracks. Evidence of the Friendly Invasion, as this is known, remains across the region. Around 150 miles away, RAF Abingdon and Newland Park in Oxfordshire doubled as the airfield in the series. Still, Thorpe Abbotts was pivotal in the pre-production stage. Visitors can explore the real location and the indelible legacy that informs much of the nine-part series from executive producers Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman.

Nearly a decade ago, show creator John Orloff first visited eastern England as part of an unbelievably invaluable research trip with Masters of the Air author Donald L. Miller and producer Kirk Saduski. It wasnt just going to Thorpe Abbotts. It was going to Diss, Norwich, Cambridge, and seeing all the different placesit wasnt just the 100thand soaking it all in, Orloff says.

I traveled to some of the same spots over the last few weeks. Even though I have lived in Norwich since 2001, my knowledge of the regions role in World War II was minimal. I got to put this right with local experts and the Masters of the Air creative team, who told me how they used historical locations to bring the series to life. As well as visiting the Thorpe Abbotts Memorial Museum, I headed to the Cambridge American Cemetary, IWM Duxford, and several drinking establishments frequented by airmen in the 1940s. Obviously, the pubs got used immensely, Seagers says.

Masters of the Air Is Making the Next Generation of Hollywood Stars

When I first read the scripts, I gotta be honest, I sat down and thought, How the hell do we do this? Because it was so complicated. Thankfully, the Masters of the Air team found a way.

Emma Fraser

Thorpe Abbotts: The Real Place

Going to Thorpe Abbotts, its a lot of things actually because firstly, its the emotional hepart of it, Orloff says. By the time Orloff came to research Masters of the Air, the men at the center of their story had died. By contrast, on 2001s acclaimed Band of Brothers, the previous World War II epic series produced by the Hanks and Spielberg dream team, some of the real people were still alive. Still, the commitment to getting it right doesnt change.

The volunteer-run Thorpe Abbotts Memorial Museum provides a tangible connection to the real people who are dramatized in the series through the original control tower and the personal artifacts in its vast collection. Egan and Clevens flying school graduation rings (on temporary loan) highlight a deep bond that isnt just a Hollywood invention, and Robert Rosie Rosenthals (played by Nate Mann) uniform sits alongside the decorated airmans medals, and a photograph of the lawyer at Nuremberg. To see the actual physical things that these people held, touched, and wore is very emotional, Orloff says.

The showrunner spent hours studying the treasure trove of materials. Some of the more obscure books on sale in the gift shop proved invaluable (Orloff used 30 different sources to create a show bible). So was talking to the people who maintain this museum. Theres the whole other level of these volunteers who have made it their passion and hobby and devoted so much time and effort to keep it alive, Orloff says.

I visited in March, as the Memorial Museum opened for the 2024 season, and the Masters of the Air impactthe series had already premiered at that pointwas already in full effect.

A double rainbow graced the gray Norfolk skies on the opening Saturday, which felt rather poetic amid the rain and bluster. The following day, I spoke to Thorpe Abbotts trustee, Debra Hubbard, whose father, Mike Harvey, spearheaded the volunteers project to restore the control tower nearly 50 years ago: after four years work, it re-opened to the public in 1981.

Theres a lot more movie buffs who dont necessarily know too much about the 100th, she says. But hopefully, by the time theyve been around here and spoken to our volunteers, they go away with a better understanding. Were here as a memorial to the men. Or, as I call them, Our boys.

Talking to Hubbard, curator Ron Batley, and other volunteers underscored the deep bond that still exists between the 100th Bomb Group and the local Norfolk community. Still, Hubbard is keen to point out that Thorpe Abbotts is not the only spot with World War II ties to American servicemen in the region: We hope that when people are here for us, they visit the other bases and get an interest in them because everybody who lost their lives or even just came to this country to protect us deserves recognition.

The Daily Beast/visiteastofengland.com/AppleTV+

Thorpe Abbotts: Building the Set

In the Thorpe Abbotts Control Tower, a model of how the airfield appeared during the war offers an eye-opening visual of the enormous operation. It covered over 500 acres of land with three runaways, three-and-a-half miles of perimeter track, and 50 hardstands (each one for an aircraft). Only the perimeter track remains, but this model indicates how massive the site was at its peak, and the challenge the Masters of the Air team faced in recreating its size.

The ability to capture a continuous shot between interiors and exteriors aided this goal, adding to the immersive experience for actors and the audience alike. We were trying to create so you could do it all on this one set, so you felt you were going by truck from the airfield to a barracks hut. You got a sense of the journey because it was an enormous site, acres, and acres of it, Seagers says.

The main set comprised about a dozen buildings, underscoring the authentic design. Normally, in film, you wouldnt build something like this. You would build three buildings and then just redress those three buildings, Orloff says. Each set was entirely propped out, so stepping into any of those buildings was like entering a timewarp.

Raff Law Breaks Down That Devastating Episode of Masters of the Air

When Hubbard visited the set with curator Batley, the pair were overwhelmed by the experience. We walked into the operations room, and I looked at Ron, and Ron looked at me, and we both cried, she says. Suddenly, we were in a place wed known for 40-odd years, and every photo wed seen came to life. Filing cabinets were filled with paperwork detailing actual missions no matter where it sat in the stack. Orloff mentions that having this level of prop accuracy also helps if an actor wants to improvise in a scene, as it doesnt pull them out of the past. He [Seagers] said hed never worked on a production where theyve had access to so much original information that they felt they couldnt do anything but a good job, Hubbard recalls.

Seagers used original RAF drawings and photographs from Thorpe Abbotts to bring the base to life. You could literally walk around it. It was almost like the people just walked up and left. It was very eerie, especially late in the afternoon when the sun was going down, Seagers says.

The Daily Beast/Emma Fraser

Memorials

Some men never did leave the region. In happier cases, they met their future wife in a Norfolk pub, or in more tragic circumstances, they were one of the approximately 30,000 U.S. airmen and women who died in World War II. The rows of white marble headstones at the Cambridge American Cemetry and Memorial are a sobering reminder of the losses. The cemetery contains the remains of 3,812 U.S. personnel, and an additional 5,127 names are etched into the Wall of the Missing (including Joseph Kennedy Jr. and Glenn Miller).

When I got to the American Cemetery, the February skies had shifted from murky to bright blue, and only the sound of traffic from a nearby road broke the solemn spell. Within the memorial building that was dedicated in 1956, a map of Europe shows how wide-ranging the air operation was, and a stunning mosaic on the ceiling honors the dead.

Shining like a beacon on the horizon is Ely Cathedral, which World War II pilots used as a navigation landmark. From a distance, it looks majestic, and a trip there offers a slice of recent movie and TV history. Ely Cathedral doubled for Westminster Abbey in Season 1 of The Crown, and in The Kings Speech, and it plays itself during a climatic concert scene in the Oscar-nominated Maestro. Even if you havent seen the movie, you probably have seen the sequence in which Bradley Cooper recreates Leonard Bernsteins 1973 concert.

Several pubs pay homage to the men who drank in them back in the 1940s. Periods of intense warfare contrasted with the relative comfort in the surrounding English countryside, which is an element that sets Masters of the Air apart from this creative teams other World War II series. They come back and are thrust into civilization and in a world thats not in combat as directly, Orloff says. We see them going off to London on a weekend pass or the local pub for a few pints to shake off what they witnessed.

It was a challenge, however, to find a pub in the 2020s that could double for a 1940s boozer. It was a little tricky because the Suffolk pubs are quite unique, Seager says. While many bars have had makeovers over the years, some local choices still feel like theyre from another age. The Airmens Bar at The Swan at Lavenham, Suffolk, celebrates the men, with signatures from the 487th Bomb Group in 1943 on display, complete with some New Jersey and New York City addresses. If ale isnt your thing, an American servicemen-themed afternoon tea might whet your appetite. Pop culture aficionados will also get a kick out of the Dolly Parton telegram on the wall dating back to her stay at The Swan in the 1980s.

The Daily Beast/Emma Fraser

Building Planes From Scratch

While the men we see in Masters of the Air took in the local hot spots, they also spent a lot of time in the Flying Fortresses. Less than 10 miles from Cambridge, at IWM Duxford, you can get a feel for the aircraft these men flew in 1943. It is home to the Sally B, the only airworthy B-17 in Europe (and appeared in the 1990 movie Memphis Belle), and a second B-17 is part of the American Air Museum collection.

IWM Duxford proved significant to the Masters of the Air team as their main source of B-17 research. We had aspirations of having a proper aerial plane, but it became clear very quickly they were not going to allow us to fly one for insurance purposes, Seagers says. They wouldnt allow actors on them because theyre too dangerous. While they couldnt fly an actual B-17, this didnt mean they couldnt build one from scratch.

Masters of the Air Is Good Enough to Be the Next Band of Brothers

Orloff explains that the aluminum wings would droop without the Boeing-specific ribbed pattern design. We got the drawings from Boeing and built the planes as they had built them because thats the only way to do it, Seagers says. This part of the process also brought home how little protection the men had. They were essentially Coca-Cola cans. When you could touch the walls, and the walls were bendy. I dont know how they did it.

Time and time again in Masters of the Air, we see men like Rosie (literally) swinging back onto the plane and making this trip, further highlighting the enduring legacy in eastern England, and why the Masters of the Air team was so dedicated to historical accuracy.

It needs to look like it was. We obviously will use artistic license, and there will be times when we have to bend the rulesbecause were making a storybut wherever we can, its got to feel real, Seagers says. Thats why we put so much effort [into it]; it was not only the aircraft, but also the whole base.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) drones have recently successfully attacked 12 oil refineries in Russia, a source told Ukrainska Pravda, including an overnight attack on March 17 of an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai.

The SBU carried out the most recent attack together with Special Operations Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces, according to the source.

Residents of Slavyansk-on-Kuban reported hearing explosions in the town and said that a local factory was on fire, according to the Russian Telegram news channel Baza.

At least one refinery worker was killed, Baza and Russian news outlets claimed.

Russian media reported that the fire was most likely caused by a Ukrainian drone strike. Locals told the news channel Ostorozhno that a group of over five drones hit the facility.

In the past weeks, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry. Ukraine has hit oil refineries in Samara, Ryazan, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts.

The targeted facilities account for about 12% of Russia's oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported on March 14.

Read also: Russian media: Oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai hit by drones

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps was forced to cancel a planned trip to Odesa during his recent visit to Ukraine after Russia learned of his travel plans, the Sunday Times reported on March 15, citing sources close to Shapps.

Shapps visited Kyiv on March 7 to announce a new military assistance package for Ukraine allocating 325 million pounds ($416 million) for the purchase of drones. The day before his arrival, a Russian missile struck Odesa during a joint visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The attack killed five people.

Shapps' scheduled visit to Odesa was canceled after U.K. intelligence officials told the defense secretary that Moscow was aware of his travel plans. Shapps instead returned to the U.K. via Poland. During his return flight, Russia reportedly jammed the satellite signal of Shapps' aircraft when it flew near the Russian exclave Kaliningrad.

"Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless, and careless," Shapps told the Sunday Times.

"The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two Western leaders, it doesn't matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing?"

The report of Shapps' cancellation comes as Odesa observes a day of mourning for the victims of a devastating March 15 missile attack. Russian forces launched two Iskander-M missiles at the city, killing 21 people and injuring at least 73 others.

Victims of the attack included first responders and city officials.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 21, injures over 70

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) speaks during a rally on Capitol Hill, in Washington on Jan. 17, 2024. (Michael A. McCoy/The New York Times)

The letter came from the state department of human services in July 2021. It expressed condolences for the loss of the recipients mother, who had died a few weeks earlier at 88.

Then it explained that the deceased had incurred a Medicaid debt of more than $77,000 and provided instructions on how to repay the money.

I was stunned, the womans 62-year-old daughter said.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

At first she thought the letter might be some sort of scam. It wasnt.

She asked not to be identified, because the case is unresolved and she doesnt want to jeopardize her chances of getting the bill reduced. The New York Times has reviewed documentation substantiating her account.

The daughter had moved into the familys Midwestern home years earlier, when her widowed mother, who had vascular dementia, began to need assistance.

Her mother was well insured, with Medicare, a private supplemental Medigap policy and long-term care insurance. The only reason she enrolled in Medicaid was that she had signed up for a state program that allowed her daughter to receive modest payments for caregiving.

But that triggered additional monthly charges through a Medicaid managed care organization, and now the state wants that money back.

The practice dates to 1993, when Congress mandated that when Medicaid beneficiaries over age 55 have used long-term services, such as nursing homes or home care, states must try to recover those expenses from the beneficiaries estates after their deaths.

Medicaid requires beneficiaries to spend down almost all their assets to qualify for benefits, explained Eric Carlson, a directing attorney at Justice in Aging.

Most states allow those eligible for Medicaid to retain assets worth only $2,000. But if a beneficiary owns a home, it can be exempt. Still, if Medicaid has paid for long-term care and theres money to be had after death, state agencies will come for the assets.

If theres going to be tens of thousands of dollars available for recovery, in most cases, its the house, Carlson said. Surviving family members may have to sell the house to repay Medicaid, as the Midwestern daughter may be forced to do, or the state may seize the property.

Medicaid is the only public benefit program from the United States of America that requires states to seek to get money back, said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. This month she reintroduced a bill, the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act, to end the practice.

Her staff has calculated that 17,000 families in Illinois alone have lost homes to Medicaid recovery since 2021. Comparable national figures arent available, but an independent agency that advises the federal government and states on Medicaid issues reported in 2021 that states collected $733 million through estate recovery in fiscal year 2019.

That amounts to only about one-half of 1% of Medicaids long-term care expenditures, according to the agency, MACPAC, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. Only eight states collected more than 1% of expenditures.

This is a really harmful and cruel program, Schakowsky said. And its not working. The cost of actually trying to get the money could exceed any money that would be returned.

When Congress established the mandate, proponents argued that estate recovery would save money and promote fairness, since some higher-income seniors hired lawyers to help shield their assets so that Medicaid would pay their nursing home bills.

But for the most part, the states pursue claims against low-income families, many of them Black and Hispanic. Critics argue that the policy perpetuates poverty. The average wealth of deceased Medicaid recipients over age 65 is less than $45,000, the MACPAC report noted, and the average home equity is $27,364.

For a lot of these people, the home is a product of a lifetimes worth of working and scrimping, Carlson said. It could be a foundation for their children and grandchildren. Thats pulled away from the family under these claims. It imposes recovery against the families and communities least able to pay it.

Every state offers hardship waivers that reduce claims, but the process tends to be difficult or futile, Carlson said. Depending on the state, the request is almost always unsuccessful.

I dont think estate recovery was a policy created primarily to impact low-income families, but thats the impact its having, said Natalie Kean, another directing attorney at Justice in Aging.

Estate recovery can also affect middle-class families, however. Many turn to Medicaid because, given the cost of nursing homes (the median price last year was $8,669 a month), your savings can disappear in a hurry, Carlson said.

Brian Snell, an elder law attorney in Marblehead, Massachusetts, represents a family whose 93-year-old mother, who had dementia, died in 2022 at her condo in North Andover. Her daughter had cut back on her hours as a beautician to care for her at home, wanting to keep her out of a nursing home because that was her mothers wish, Snell said.

When the mother qualified for MassHealth, the state Medicaid program, it enrolled her in a state home care program that provided home health aides (though only sporadically, because the pandemic made workers and agencies hesitant to enter homes).

After her death, MassHealth sought to recover $292,000 for the cost of home care and the program premiums. Because two of her children were low income, including the caregiving daughter, a state waiver would allow those two to receive $50,000 each from the sale of the mothers condo. But more than half of the $335,000 sales price will go to the state and federal governments.

The prospect of such clawbacks prevents some low-income older adults from receiving necessary care, even if theyre eligible.

Its not uncommon for people to simply decline to apply for Medicaid services once they learn about the recovery program, Matthew Portwood, an intake supervisor at the Atlanta Regional Commission, which serves as the local agency on aging, said in an email. Our counselors encounter this almost daily.

Some states are working to reduce the financial hit on low-income families. Massachusetts, Georgia, South Carolina and Illinois, for instance, will not pursue recovery against estates valued below $25,000. Some states now provide applicants with fuller explanations of the consequences of signing up.

California allows hardship waivers for a homestead of modest value, defined as a market value of up to half the average price of homes in the county.

MACPAC recommended amending federal law to allow states to make recovery optional. Schakowskys bill goes beyond that to prohibit Medicaid estate recovery altogether.

Its just a terrible idea, she said.

Her bill faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House  all its 13 co-sponsors to date are Democrats  and it went nowhere when she introduced it last session. But the congresswoman remains optimistic: People in red states need long-term care, too.

Back in the Midwest, the daughter who was billed $77,000 still hopes to remain in the two-story house where she grew up, where her mother lived for more than 60 years and where theres a memory in every corner. Now she is looking for a lawyer.

I have to fight this, she said.

c.2024 The New York Times Company
Molly Wobbecke Shaw is a program manager at Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio in the Canton location. She worked for 20 years in the developmental disabilities field before coming to work at Junior Achievement just over a year ago.

Molly Wobbecke Shaw is a program manager at Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio in the Canton location. She worked for 20 years in the developmental disabilities field in various leadership roles at the county and state levels before coming to work at Junior Achievement just over a year ago.

Junior Achievement's purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

The organization offers programming in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship. Its programs have time and again shown a positive impact the lives of young people.

Programs and lessons align with national and state educational standards and are delivered to millions of students across the country with the help of education partners and volunteers from the local community. Research shows that Junior Achievement alumni are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started a business as an adult.

Wobbecke Shaw graduated from Danville High School before going on to earn a bachelor's degree at Muskingum University and a master of business administration from Ashland University. She lives in Jackson Township with her three children, Kenan, Zander and Maryn.

5 questions with Alicia Pieper: An assistant professor at Kent State University at Stark

Molly Wobbecke Shaw is a program manager at Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio in the Canton location. She worked for 20 years in the developmental disabilities field before coming to work at Junior Achievement just over a year ago.

What are the tasks and responsibilities of a program manager at Junior Achievement?

I coordinate Junior Achievement programs with local schools and volunteers for K-12 students.

Would you share some of the programs Junior Achievement offers in Stark County?

One of our programs, Inspire, which is an annual career exploration event for high school students, hosted more than 3,000 students from around Stark County at the Hall of Fame Village this month. JA also provides financial literacy curriculum, entrepreneurship education and work readiness skills to thousands of Stark County K-12 students.

Our Stark County Company Program teams (entrepreneurship-focused) continually excel and represent JA at the national level. Among 15 teams selected to compete in JAs national competition, Stark County has produced at least two of those 15 teams over the past three years. Not only that, but a Stark County Company Program team has also been the national winner four out of the last six years!

How did you decide to work with the age groups you work with through Junior Achievement?

I love working with students and helping prepare them for lifelong success. Its so rewarding to know that Im making a positive impact on a student. When their face lights up because theyve learned something new, theres just nothing better!

Do you like to be surprised and why or why not?

I do! I like (fun) surprises because they keep life interesting and put a smile on my face.

In your spare time, would you prefer to vacation in Alaska or Hawaii, and why?

I went to Alaska years ago on a cruise and absolutely loved it. The landscape was breathtaking, and the people were so hospitable.

I would love to return and spend more time there but since Ive never been to Hawaii, Ill say Id choose Hawaii over Alaska at this point.

Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 questions with Molly Wobbecke Shaw of Junior Achievement in Canton
New Mexico State Police have vowed to apprehend a man wanted for the killing of a fellow officer, and police have revealed the suspect was driving a stolen BMW belonging to a woman who was found dead.

Jaremy Smith, 32, of South Carolina, shot Officer Justin Hare on Interstate 40 near mile marker 318 at around 5:30 a.m. Friday after Smith pulled over to the side of the road with a flat tire, police say.

Smith was trying to flag down passing motorists, and Hare arrived and parked behind the suspect, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said during a press briefing Saturday.

Phonesia Machado-Fore, left, Jaremy Smith, center, and Officer Justin Hare, right.

SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER SHOOTING NEW MEXICO POLICE OFFICER IN THE FACE

Smith approached the police car at the passenger side door and, after a short conversation about fixing the tire, pulled out a gun and shot Hare, Weisler said.

The suspect then walked to the drivers side door and shot Hare again before pushing him into the passenger seat, according to Weisler.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Smith then drove away in the police vehicle, which was abandoned a short time later. Smith is still at large and considered armed and dangerous.

"Officer Hare died serving his state and his community. On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need," Weisler said, fighting back tears.

A police officer was fatally shot near the city of Tucumcari in New Mexico Friday morning, and police say the suspect is still at large and is considered armed and dangerous.

INTERNAL REVIEW SHOWS AGGRAVATING FACTORS IN NEW MEXICO OFFICER'S DEADLY SHOOTING

"That person killed him in cold blood. The last words Officer Hare uttered on this earth was to offer help to a man who was about to kill him.

"Jaremy Smith, we are coming for you."

Hare is survived by his girlfriend and two young children, Weisler said.

Police say Smith was driving a BMW belonging to a Phonesia Machado-Fore, a paramedic found dead in Dillon County, South Carolina, Friday evening. An autopsy to determine her cause of death is scheduled for Monday.

Weisler said Smith has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina over at least a decade for property crime and violent crimes.

Police escort fallen Officer Justin Hare's casket Friday.

Weisler said the state went 30 years without an officer being shot and killed, but three have now been lost in the last nine months.

"In that time, weve lost Officer Ferguson, Officer Hernandez and, now, Officer Hare, all violently murdered in cold blood," Weisler said.

"This has got to stop."





Original article source: New Mexico cop killer was driving car belonging to South Carolina paramedic found dead: police
MEXICO CITY  Russian messaging and media are growing in Mexico, which is holding federal elections in June and whose proximity to the United States makes it an invaluable intelligence target.

Russias diplomatic footprint in Mexico is also disproportionately large compared to Mexicos representation in Moscow, a disparity thats raising concerns about potential Kremlin espionage and cyber activity in North America.

According to official data from the Mexican Foreign Ministry, 72 Russian diplomats are currently accredited at the Russian Embassy in Mexico City, compared to 46 accredited diplomats at the U.S. Embassy, 38 at the Chinese Embassy and only 10 diplomats accredited at the Mexican Embassy in Moscow.

The Russian Embassy in Mexico is very active, much more active than it used to be, and in a sometimes surprising activism, to say the least, because its critical of some positions and to an extent taking [political] sides, intervening, said Martha Barcena, who served as Mexican ambassador to the United States from 2018 to 2021.

I would not attribute to the Russian Embassy or to Russian intelligence services a master plan. I simply think this is framed in the traditional anti-Americanism of a sector of the Mexican population, added Barcena.

Though the Russian presence in Mexico is more palpable now than in previous years, a key sector of Mexican civil society and political structures has historically sought closer relations to the Soviet Union, and now to Russia.

Theres a solid base of the Mexican Communist Party that comes from 1919  their floor is 5 percent of the electorate, and that 5 percent has grown as that base has allied with larger groups, said Roberta Lajous, a fellow at the Wilson Centers Mexico Institute and former diplomat who represented Mexico as ambassador to four countries, including Cuba from 2002 to 2005.

That early Communist Party base has survived through different political eras  though always marked by a strong anti-American stance  and ultimately found a home as part of the coalition behind Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The communist base has largely maintained its affinity for Russia, even as that country fully abandoned communism.

Lopez Obradors coalition is broad, ranging from the remnants of that base to Mexicos right-wing green party, and swathes of the hegemonic party of the second half of the 20th century, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which is now officially a member of the opposition coalition.

Lopez Obrador, a former member of the PRI, has kept a neutral stance on geopolitical issues broadly, and specifically those that involve Russia. He has refused to take sides in the invasion of Ukraine, and has yet to condemn the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Geopolitically, what the Russians want with Mexico is to drive a wedge between Mexico and the United States, its principal trading partner, friend and ally, said Dolia Estevez, a Washington-based Mexican journalist who first reported on the growing Russian diplomatic footprint in Mexico.

The strategy is not for the governments of Latin America like Mexico, beyond the three dictatorships [Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela], to support the war or the invasion [of Ukraine], thats not what [the Russians] want, they want them to remain neutral, because a neutrality benefits Russia. Thats the objective. They dont want, for example, for Lopez Obrador to support Russia, to attack the United States and NATO.

But Russias investment in the country is not only tangible for people researching the Foreign Ministrys diplomatic rolls, its ubiquitous for Mexicans riding public transportation.

Russian media network RT  banned in Europe and generally decried as propaganda in the West  advertises on billboards throughout Mexico City and is broadcast on screens in the citys Metro system, which carries about a billion individual rides per year.

Faced with closure in Europe, where their transmission is prohibited, in the United States, Canada, channels like Russia Today  now just RT  Sputnik and so on have reinforced their presence in those countries where theyre not banned, and thats Latin America in general, said Barcena.

In a January interview with Nacho El Chapucero Rodriguez, an online influencer who supports Lopez Obrador, Russian Ambassador Nikolay Sofinskiy said he received RT. Since the advertising started, our audience grew immensely.

The direct appeal to Mexican consumers is a new approach for Russia, which has for decades maintained a presence in Mexico City, like other world powers.

Mexico has been, like Vienna, like Istanbul, always a city where there has been a lot of intelligence, a lot of intelligence interaction, said Barcena.

Many secret agents from different countries. And obviously, for Russia its very attractive because its so close to the United States. So now, since their access to the United States is so restricted by sanctions, well, following the U.S. situation from Mexico can be easier than following it from other parts.

Still, during a long stretch of the Cold War, Russia largely farmed out its Latin American intelligence operations to Cuba.

After the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the promotion of communism in Latin America was largely left to Cuba and its guerrilla model, according to Lajous.

Communist parties become subordinate to guerrilla strategy and the Soviet Union externalizes to Cuba the bulk of its relations with Latin America, she said.

The Mexican political system under the PRI, a broad ideological umbrella that included fervent anti-communist sectors  including its internal security apparatus  cut a deal with Cuba, embracing some left-leaning rhetoric.

It was a rhetorical left, precisely to appease the communists. It was a left that defended the Cuban Revolution, and also defended the Cuban Revolution in the OAS, but with limits and with an agreement: OK, I recognize your government, but you dont sponsor guerrillas in Mexico,' said Lajous.

On the flip side, the PRI was officially neutral but anti-communist at a global scale, and sided with the United States where it mattered.

Mexico supported the United States fundamentally during the Cold War in exchange for U.S. support for the industrialization of Mexico, and thats especially relevant because the U.S. project for the Americas after the war was free trade, said Lajous.

That ambiguous priista stance dominated Lopez Obradors public rhetoric throughout his career and into the beginning of his presidency

Lopez Obrador had behaved like a priista until recently, when he invited the Cuban president to give the speech on Independence Day and had Russian troops parade on the main square of Mexico City amid the invasion of Ukraine. There has been a qualitative change that to me is fundamental, said Lajous.

Lopez Obrador sparked controversy this week, voicing complaints after an electoral tribunal ordered him to remove from certain social networks an interview with former-RT reporter Inna Afinogenova, who published the interview on Canal Red, a Spanish social media channel.

Canal Red is operated by Pablo Iglesias, a Spanish politician who has called for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine.

Lopez Obrador was ordered to take down the video from YouTube and Facebook because the court deemed it promotion of Claudia Sheinbaum, the former Mexico City mayor running for president under Lopez Obradors political umbrella.

They gave [Afinogenova] two hours, more than two hours in an interview. A complete softball. If you think that Tucker Carlsons [Vladimir Putin] interview was a softball, this was worse, said Estevez.

Lopez Obrador first announced the interview the same day Navalnys death in prison was made public by the Kremlin.

Lopez Obradors increasingly brazen flirtations with geopolitical fire are an indication that his partys populist, anti-Yankee base holds some sway over the president.

The populism that has derived from the Mexican left has always played the pro-communist card, pro-Cuba, pro-Soviet, because they are very anti-Yankee, profoundly anti-Yankee, they detest the United States, said Estevez.

The growth of that ideological branch should attract U.S. attention, according to Barcena.

I think the United States should be worried. I think for Mexico there is no destabilization objective on the part of Russia. More likely what they want to ensure is that Mexico continues with this position of supposed neutrality with respect to the war in Ukraine, which in reality ends up favoring Russia, said Barcena.

Updated March 18 at 9:46 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.  Jane Gilbert was relishing the mild temperatures and gentle breeze of early March as she hurried between meetings.

She knows the heat will be here soon enough.

Here at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Gilbert and hundreds of scientists, policymakers, activists and business leaders have gathered for the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, a three-day event to discuss solutions and adaptations to global warming.

Gilbert is the chief heat officer for Miami-Dade County, which counts more than 2.6 million people on Florida's southeastern tip. In 2021, she became the first person in the world with that title, and she has since been joined by a handful of others in cities around the globe that are coping with the realities of extreme heat in a warming world.

Gilbert said the chief heat officers stay in touch through a group chat on WhatsApp, sharing tips with one another and advocating for changes in policy.

I speak to the chief heat officers in Phoenix and L.A. the most, but Ive learned from Melbourne, Australia, Ive learned from Santiago, Chile, and from Athens, Greece, she said. That type of resource-sharing is one of the greatest strengths and satisfactory aspects of my job.

In South Florida, a place known for tropical conditions, its Gilberts job to help protect residents from soaring heat and humidity and make the county more resilient to extreme heat worsened by climate change.

@worldeconomicforum #UTS22, "As Chief Heat Officer, I am charged with accelerating action through improved coordination to address the increasing health and economic risks of extreme heat in the city."#urbantransformation #sustainability #extremeheat pic.twitter.com/cpDlvV4MUf  Jane Gilbert (@ResilientJane) October 17, 2022

Of particular concern are those who are most vulnerable when temperatures spike: children, the elderly, homeless populations, people who work outside and lower-income communities.

If you live and work in air conditioning and can afford a car with an air conditioner, youre probably fine. Were not really worried about you, Gilbert said. Its that outdoor worker, its that person who cant stay cool at home, its that person who has to wait at a bus stop for an hour that is not safe.

Her work to reach those most at risk was critical last year, when Miami experienced its hottest summer on record.

In the 14 years prior to 2023, we had an average of six days out of the year that reached at or above a heat index of 105 degrees, Gilbert said. Last summer, we had over 42 days, so it was seven times higher than the average.

Many projections suggest things are only going to get worse.

The planet, as a whole, notched its warmest year in recorded history in 2023. Climate scientists have said this year could be just as hot  if not hotter.

Gilbert recalled the kind of pushback she faced when she was appointed from people who saw heat as a way of life in this part of the country. Why, of all places, would South Florida need someone focused solely on heat?

It has always been hot here, but weve had 77 more days with a temperature over 90 degrees than we did 50 years ago, she said. Thats a different level of hot.

Heat is often called the silent killer, and it kills more people in the U.S. every year than any other weather event, according to the National Weather Service. Gilbert said that last summer when temperatures peaked, emergency room visits related to heat also spiked.

Studies have shown that by midcentury, this part of Florida could experience 88 days of the year, or roughly three months, with heat index temperatures at or over 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat index values represent what a temperature feels like to the human body when humidity and air temperature are combined.

For Gilbert, the projections show there is no time to waste.

As one #heatseason cools down the other HEAT season ramps up! Looking forward to watching your @MiamiHEAT scorch their opponents! pic.twitter.com/RuFNiDYMBK  Jane Gilbert (@ResilientJane) October 20, 2021

This month, ahead of the heat season, her team is reaching out to renters and owners about affordable ways to cool their homes. As was the case last year, there will also be training programs for health care practitioners, homeless outreach workers and summer camp providers.

Gilbert said the biggest priority is reaching those who are most vulnerable and tailoring the message for different communities. Thats why efforts to build awareness about the dangers of extreme heat and how people can prepare are disseminated on the radio, over social media and through community channels in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole, she said.

Next month, her teams outreach will zero in on what employers can do to keep their workers safe. The efforts have taken on new importance after Floridas Senate last week approved a bill that would ban cities and counties from adopting requirements for mandatory water breaks and other workplace protections against extreme heat beyond what is required by federal law.

Labor organizations have said prohibiting local governments from setting workplace heat standards risks the health and safety of people who work in construction, agriculture and other industries that require workers to be outside.

Gilbert said the legislation is a major concern because construction workers are up to 11 times more likely to suffer heat-related illnesses during extreme heat events compared to the average person, and farmworkers are 35 times more likely. Educating those workers about their rights even without local heat ordinances will be a priority in the coming months, she said.

Despite the challenges, Gilbert said, she and her colleagues can still make headway in pushing for employers to follow general rules set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Part of that will involve educating employers about how a heat safety plan would improve productivity during the warmest months, boost employee retention, result in fewer workers compensation claims and have other positive economic benefits.

Thats really where we have to double down, she said. Were building our relationship with our OSHA office to highlight the good actors and maybe call out the bad actors.

Navigating the legislative challenges is familiar to Gilbert, who previously was the chief resilience officer for the city of Miami. It's also not lost on her that this week's climate change conference is being hosted in a city that is often referred to as "ground zero" for the climate crisis in the country.

Florida is kind of a political hot potato, and Im used to climate being a political issue, she said. But we do what we can, right?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
We may be living in the digital age, but the world remains physical  and that truth underlies the long-term resilience of industrial stocks. As a group, these shares are prone to cycles of boom and bust, but several positive factors appear to be lining up.

For starters, the inventory destocking cycle prompted by the COVID shutdowns appears to have finally run its course. With stock shelves finally free of the goods that piled up during the pandemic, we should expect some companies to increase their stock orders  a plus for manufacturing and industry. In addition, the slowing rate of inflation has increased the chances that the Federal Reserve will start cutting back interest rates this year  and lower rates are positive for spending and demand.

These factors have informed Truists industrial expert Jamie Cook, a 5-star analyst rated in the top 2% of the Streets stock pros, who sees plenty of potential upside in industrials.

We are constructive on the group as we believe broad-based industrial growth could surprise on the upside in the second half of 2024, Cook opined. We believe the group is in a unique situation as earnings are proving more resilient despite channel destocking and softening demand trends, helped by backlogs near record levels although recently moderating. Furthermore, the group is benefiting from aggressive price actions taken over the past several years to offset inflation, and the markets fear of industrial companies giving price back is not playing out. In fact, industrial companies are increasing prices again in 2024 albeit back to more normalized levels.

Being constructive on the group, Cook has tapped several industrial stocks as winners moving toward the second half of 2024, believing theres an opportunity brewing in these names. Are other analysts equally optimistic? We used the TipRanks database to find out.

Deere & Company (DE)

The first stock on our list is one of the best-known companies in the world of agricultural and construction machinery. Even if you dont work in the farming or building sectors, youll probably recognize John Deeres green and yellow livery and the companys old ad slogan, Nothing runs like a Deere. The company has ridden a proven combination of quality products and solid marketing to a market-leading position, and a $106.7 billion market cap.

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The companys product lines are wide and varied. Deere is best known for its heavy agricultural equipment, the lines of harvesters, planters, spreaders and sprayers, loaders, utility vehicles, and tractors of all sizes relied on by farmers around the world. The company also produces both heavy and compact construction equipment, such as bulldozers, backhoes, excavators, and articulated dump trucks. For smaller scale uses, the company is known for its compact tractors and landscaping equipment, including riding mowers in various sizes.

Deere hasnt built this niche overnight; the company was established in the first half of the 19th century and has been in operation for 187 years. It has its headquarters, logically enough, in Illinois, at the heart of the US prairie farm belt.

On the financial side, Deere reported $12.19 billion in its last quarterly release, for fiscal 1Q24 (January quarter). This was down 3.6% from the prior year, but it was $1.86 billion better than had been expected. At the bottom line, Deere reported a net income of $1.75 billion for the first quarter, supporting a GAAP earnings-per-share of $6.23, beating the forecast by $1.02 per share.

Deere caught analyst Jamie Cooks attention, for its combination of strong products and good management. Cook wrote of the company, In our view, Deere is among the best-run industrial machinery companies with a growing technology story and earnings stream. Deere continues to improve through-cycle margins, returns, and cash flow and there is more opportunity ahead to outpace peers, in our view. We expect DEs performance in the 2024 farm equipment downturn to demonstrate that the companys earnings and margins are structurally higher and more resilient relative to its history.

Tracking forward from this, Cook gives the stock a Buy rating, with a $494 price target that points toward a 12-month upside of 29%. (To watch Cooks track record, click here)

Overall, Deere gets a Moderate Buy rating from the Street consensus, based on 19 reviews that include 11 Buys to 8 Holds. The shares are priced at $383.39 and their $425 average target price suggests a gain of 11% on the one-year horizon. (See Deeres stock forecast)

CNH Industrial (CNHI)

For the second stock on our list, well stick with heavy machinery. CNH Industrial works in the same space as Deere, above, manufacturing lines of equipment for the construction and agribusiness sectors. CNH is another old name in the business, tracing its origins to 1842. The company has a solid reputation among its customer base of working farmers and builders, who appreciate the firms high-quality tractors, combines, tillers, and other high-end niche equipment.

CNH operates on a multinational level, with its incorporation in the Netherlands, its global headquarters in the UK, industrial and financial ops in 32 countries, and sales and marketing in 170 countries. The company markets and distributes its machinery lines through several well-known brands, including New Holland, Case IH, and Steyr. These brands can be found in CNHs four large geographic regions, North America, South America, Asia Pacifica, and Europe-Middle East-Africa.

We saw CNHs 4Q23 results last month, when the company reported $6.79 billion in consolidated revenues. This missed the forecast by $60 million, and was down 2.2% year-over-year. The company reported a steeper decline, of 5% year-over-year, in its net sales of industrial activities, which made up $6.02 billion of the total top line. Net income in the quarter came to $617 million, and the non-GAAP EPS of 46 cents was in-line with expectations.

Despite the slip in revenues, the company showed strong cash generation for the quarter. Industrial free cash flow came to $1.63 billion, and net cash from operating activities was listed as $1.51 billion.

In an interesting announcement last month, CNH revealed that its investment arm had taken a minority stake in the Brazilian startup firm Bem Agro. This company is an existing supplier to CNH, and is known for its AI imaging capabilities, which are designed to enable better optimization of agricultural field use.

Cooks note on CNH is an initiation-of-coverage report, and she points out the companys forward opportunities, its ability to conduct M&As, and its potential for capital returns, writing of the firm, We believe there are opportunities for the company to structurally improve through-cycle margins through simplification and self-help initiatives (including existing COGS and SG&A cost reduction programs), investment in higher return products, and as precision agriculture adoption grows. CNHI has a strong balance sheet with ample capacity to return cash back to shareholders and further augment the portfolio through strategic M&A. Last, while we remain constructive on the medium-term outlook for farm and construction equipment, we believe CNHI can continue to improve margins in a muted topline environment.

These comments back up Cooks Buy rating on CNHI, while her $18 price target implies a one-year gain of 46% for the stock.

The Moderate Buy consensus rating on these shares is derived from 13 recent analyst reviews, with a breakdown of 6 Buys to 7 Holds. The average price target of $15.91 suggests the stock will appreciate by 29% over the coming year. (See CNHI stock forecast)

AGCO Corporation (AGCO)

Last on the list is AGCO Corp, a Georgia-based agricultural equipment producer. Like CNH, AGCO operates through several brands, and its machinery lines, featuring combine harvesters, seeding and tillagers, protein systems, engines, silos, and tractors of all sizes, are sold under such recognized nameplates as Challenger, Fendt, Valtra, and Massey Ferguson. AGCO is a full-service agribusiness machinery company, providing the tools and gear that farmers of all scales need, for everything from working their land to shipping out their produce.

AGCO is intent on keeping its products at the cutting edge of industrial tech, and to that end the company in 2022 acquired JCA Industries, a developer of autonomous software for use in agricultural machinery, as well as implementation controls and electronic systems. AGCO followed up this acquisition with its move, in September of last year, to enter a joint venture with the technology company Trimble. The joint venture move, which will give AGCO access to Trimbles modeling, connectivity and data analytics technologies, will give AGCO an 85% interest in Trimble, for which it will pay $2 billion and bring JCAs technologies to the table.

Closing out 2023, AGCO finished the year with $14.4 billion in total revenues, for a company record, and a 13.9% increase from the previous year. Drilling down, we find the company reporting $3.8 billion in the 4Q23 top line, a result that was down 2.5% year-over-year and came in $230 million less than had been anticipated. At the bottom line, AGCOs non-GAAP earnings-per-share came in at $3.78, missing the forecast by 25 cents.

Despite the Q4 misses, analyst Cook thinks highly of this stock. She opens her Truist coverage of AGCO shares by noting the stocks potential for solid margins and its ability to improve its product lines with new technologies. As she writes, AGCO is extremely attractive, in our view, trading at 8x forward earnings and 5x forward EBITDA, on 2024 earnings estimates that assume a 15% earnings decline y/y as farm equipment demand is expected to decline 10-15% this year. We believe the market is not giving AGCO credit for the growing margin story associated with precision agriculture and actions to improve the earnings power including portfolio changes and operational initiatives.

Quantifying her stance, Cook starts her coverage with a Buy rating and a $142 price target that show her confidence in a 22% potential upside for the coming year.

Once again, were looking at a stock with a Moderate Buy consensus rating from the Street. The 11 reviews on this stock include 6 Buys over 5 Holds, and the $140.55 average price target suggests an upside of 21% from the current trading price of $116.43. (See AGCO stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
Protesters want the federal government to regularize the status of migrants, end deportations and immigration detention. (Sharon Yonan-Renold/CBC - image credit)

Demonstrators gathered in Montreal's Parc-Extension neighbourhood Saturday to demand the federal government grant permanent residency status for all undocumented people living in Canada.

Similar protests took place across the country as part of what's been called the "Migrant Spring."

Protesters called on Immigration Minister Marc Miller to create a program to regularize the status of migrants, end deportations and immigration detention.

In December Miller said he was preparing a program that would allow many undocumented people to apply for permanent residency  but the protesters say they don't want anyone left out.

One of Saturday's protesters, Shahista Hussein, says many in Parc-Extension are struggling.

Undocumented people fear going outside, being seen by the police and getting deported, said Hussein, who works as a councillor at Bureau d'information de Parc-Extension, an organization that connects residents with resources and professional development based in the community.

The goal of the protest, she said, is to put pressure on the government.

Shahista Hussein, councillor at Bureau d'information de Parc-Extension, says people without status have nowhere to go.

Shahista Hussein, councillor at Bureau d'information de Parc-Extension, says people without status have nowhere to go. (Sharon Yonan-Renold/CBC)

Quebec Premier Francois Legault has said the province has surpassed its ability to take in more asylum seekers, saying the arrival of more migrants also "poses a real problem for the future of French in Quebec."

Legault has asked Ottawa for full control over immigration to the province, a request that was turned down yesterday.

But Hussein said leaders need to be chipping in to help and working together, instead of turning people away.

"Where will they go? They're already here. They have nothing. We receive clients every day who have no food, no papers, no housing. They are sleeping in the street," she said.

Gaurav Sharma, a community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre, appealed to Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to give all undocumented people what he called a chance to contribute to Canadian society,

While he understands taking in people from other countries is expensive, and that it takes time for newcomers to learn the French language, Sharma said it's an investment worth making.

"We are requesting the government [to] give us a chance," he said.

'Everything is difficult in this country without status,' says Yonnel Destin, who works with Solidarity Across Borders.

'Everything is difficult in this country without status,' says Yonnel Destin, who works with Solidarity Across Borders. (Sharon Yonan-Renold/CBC)

'Open the door for everybody'

Originally from Congo, Yonnel Destin came to Canada via Roxham Road  the irregular border crossing that the federal government closed in March 2023.

Now a permanent resident through his wife's sponsorship, Destin said he knows the hardship of being a refugee and fleeing one's home country.

"If you don't have status here, you can't work, you can't go to the hospital," said Destin, who works with the group Solidarity Across Borders.

"Everything is difficult in this country without status."

Destin said it took him four years to get status, and he wants other migrants like him to become regularized so they can stay in Canada.

"They have to open the door for everybody," he said.

CBC has reached out to both Canada and Quebec's immigration ministers for comment, but neither has responded.

Protests took place across Canada on Saturday as part of the Migrant Spring.

Protests took place across Canada on Saturday as part of what's being called the Migrant Spring. (Sharon Yonan-Renold/CBC)
I became executive director of St. Patrick's Haven, a shelter for homeless men in Erie, in February 2023. Since then, I've thought a lot about what drew me to this position. I've always had a deep desire to help others, a desire I couldn't ignore. I realize now that it stems from my own life experiences. A few years ago, while in college in another city, I found myself homeless. It was only briefly, but I felt lost and alone with no friends or family nearby. I didn't know where to turn for help. I slept in my car or in dorm rooms and apartments of anyone who would have me. I even stayed in a house without heat. It wasn't long before I stopped attending classes and dropped out of college.

Once back home, I was determined to turn my life around. Fortunately, with a reliable support system including help from my family, hard work, and some luck, I graduated and landed this position with St. Patrick's Haven. It didn't seem like a coincidence that less than a decade after being homeless myself, I was now working for a homeless shelter. I feel fortunate that I can help others who are going through similar struggles.

When I welcome a guest to the Haven and I see a weak smile and averted gaze, I am reminded of how ashamed and depressed I felt having to rely on others to meet my basic needs. Seeing these men arrive, anxious and unsure, takes me back to those feelings of being alone and scared. Now, I see the impact St. Patrick's Haven has on the lives of the men who come through our doors. They find more than just a safe and warm place to sleep; they find unconditional acceptance and a sense of belonging. They realize, even if just for a moment, that they are not alone. The mission of St. Patrick's Haven is to provide a ministry of presence and a place of welcome, nightly refuge, food, comfort, and friendship for homeless men. The managers, all who experienced homelessness themselves, provide guidance and resources and treat each man with dignity and respect. Volunteers who come to visit as a ministry of presence, build trust with the guests and acknowledge them beyond their hardships.

St. Patrick's Haven was founded in 1984 as a small, grassroots homeless shelter that began in response to a need. A parishioner of St. Patrick's parish became aware of men sleeping on benches near the rectory and on sidewalk grates outside then-Hamot Hospital. The parishioner contacted Sister Mary Fromknecht, SSJ, and planted the seed that would grow to become St. Patrick's Haven, a homeless shelter for men. The original location at 4th and Peach Streets provided men with warm coffee and a safe place to sleep. In 1986, as the need grew, St. Patrick's Haven moved to East 12th Street. Thanks in large part to the funds generated as the result of being a designated charity by Erie's Roar on the Shore, St. Patrick's Haven opened a brand-new facility, still on East 12th Street, in 2017 where it continues today.

More: 'Looking out for us:' yearly Erie-area count sheds light on scope of homelessness

Along the way, the Haven experienced several setbacks and challenges, including the original space being deemed uninhabitable, and a more recent devastating fire in its new building. The 2022 fire rendered St. Patrick's Haven uninhabitable once again. Fortunately, all guests and the Haven's cat, Princess, were safely evacuated, and alternative shelter arrangements were found until the reconstruction was complete. The Erie community responded generously which allowed us to reopen our doors less than a year later in July 2023.

Fire damage on the northwest corner of St. Patrick's Haven is shown in Erie in this file photo taken on Nov. 18, 2022. A September fire damaged the men's shelter, temporarily forcing the relocation of 23 beds used by area homeless individuals. The shelter was repaired and is now marking its 40th year sheltering homeless men in Erie.

Today, as a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwest Pennsylvania, St. Patrick's Haven continues to provide as many as 22 men each night with a place of welcome, nightly refuge, food, comfort, and friendship. In keeping with the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, we welcome the dear neighbor without distinction. We do not refuse shelter to anyone based on race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, or age. Unlike other shelters, we welcome men who are intoxicated or under the influence if they do not bring alcohol or drugs into the shelter.

Life has come full circle for me and this past year has been transformative. Though being without a home is not something any of us would hope for, my brief experience of homelessness has blessed me with insight and empathy that I can bring to my work with St. Patrick's Haven. It is an honor and a privilege to serve our guests.

Melted siding from fire damage is shown at St. Patrick's Haven is shown in Erie in this file photo taken on Nov. 18, 2022. The restored shelter is now marking its 40th year of service.

St. Patrick's Haven is funded entirely through donations and grants and has provided shelter for homeless men in Erie for 40 years only because of the generosity of so many people who believe in our mission. May God continue to bless the work of so many hands and hearts as St. Patrick's Haven moves into its future. Visit www.stpatrickshaven.org.

Shelby Folga is the executive director of St. Patricks Haven. She is a graduate of PennWest Edinboro University where she earned a bachelors degree in psychology and where she is working on a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: St. Patrick Haven offers more than shelter, Shelby Folga explains
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  More than a week after University of Missouri student Riley Strain disappeared while on a fraternity trip in Nashville, his bank card was discovered on an embankment by the Cumberland River.

On Friday, March 8, the Mizzou senior was asked to leave Lukes 32 Bridge, Luke Bryans bar on Broadway, after only being served one alcoholic drink and two waters, according to TC Restaurant Group.

At 9:35 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs, the company said in a statement released one week after the incident.

TIMELINE: The disappearance of Missouri student Riley Strain, what we know so far

Surveillance video from Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street caught Strain stumbling and falling in a parking lot at 3rd Avenue and Church Street around 9:45 p.m. Then, at 9:47 p.m., surveillance footage caught Strain crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street.

Strains last phone ping was near James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street between 9:55 p.m. and 10 p.m. Detectives said the last phone conversation Strain had with one of his friends was also during that same time period, but the ping covered about a two-mile radius and didnt give them a direction of travel or any more details about where Strain might have gone.

A friend of the 22-year-old called 911 on Saturday, March 9 after saying he went to the Central Police Precinct and called the sheriffs office to file a missing persons report.

Homeless encampments, river remain primary focus in Riley Strain search, family friend says

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said its Urban Search and Rescue team has been searching the area around Strains last known location near the Cumberland River.

On Thursday, March 14, investigators said there had been no indication of foul play or of Strain being involved in any type of fight or argument.

Then, on Sunday, March 17, police announced Strains bank card was found on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River amid the ongoing search effort for the missing college student.

Riley Strains family still searching 1 week after he was reported missing in Nashville

News 2 spoke with the two TikTokers who have been searching for signs of Strain in Nashville, one since Tuesday, March 12 and the other since Sunday morning. These women have been looking around a wooded area that goes down to the Cumberland River, which is where they said they found Strains bank card.

News 2 spoke with the women who said they found Riley Strains bank card in a wooded area by the Cumberland River. (Photo: WKRN)

Strains family was also at the scene, along with detectives, to talk to the women who made the discovery. Strains relatives told News 2 that police said members of the Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM) were on the way to check the area with boats again, but they wrapped up their efforts for the day by Sunday evening.

The women who found the bank card encourage others to come out and help with the search for the missing Mizzou student. They both put themselves in Strains family members shoes, saying they dont want the case to go cold.

Missing Missouri student: Retracing Riley Strains steps in downtown Nashville

I lived 20 minutes away from this, and so once I heard it was happening and nothing was happening, Tuesday night, I came down here with my boyfriend and we were like, Lets go, lets go walk it, lets go walk it,' explained Brandy Baenen, one of the TikTokers who discovered the card.

Baenen has been searching along the Cumberland River since Tuesday. Anna Clendening joined her Sunday and was the one to initially spot Strains debit card.

My stomach dropped, Clendening said. And then my innate reaction was to be like, Lets keep looking, like I didnt know what to do. She was like, Well lets call somebody, and I was like, Well lets keep looking.'

Who is Riley Strain? Family shares more details about missing Missouri student

Late Sunday afternoon, Strains parents told News 2 they were on their way to meet with police and review surveillance footage, which was originally supposed to happen on Monday, March 18.

Their faces and Rileys face, Im seeing every time I close my eyes. I havent been able to sleep the last few days because I know his mom is not sleeping, Baenen said, adding that she wants Strains family to know there are people out there who care a lot about Strain, as well as his relatives.

This news comes just hours after crews were called out to the Cumberland River to recover a body seen floating down the river ahead of the Martin Luther King Bridge, but the Nashville Fire Department said the individual surfaced from the water wearing a maroon colored shirt and does not fit the description of the missing student.

Riley Strain Continuing Coverage | The latest in the search for the missing Missouri student

Meanwhile, the Uvalde Foundation For Kids  a national nonprofit formed after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas and dedicated to ending school violence  announced Sunday morning that a special team of volunteers from its STOPNOW school community patrol teams Nashville chapter has been assembled to help with the search for Strain.

Foundation officials said more than a dozen volunteers are currently planned in rotation search patrols, set to support first responders and other volunteer search teams, as well as distribute fliers throughout areas of interest, like downtown Nashville, and online.

Strain is 6-feet, 5-inches tall, with a slender build, blonde hair, and blue eyes, according to his family. If you see Strain or have any information about where he may be, you are asked to call the MNPD at 615-862-8600.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.  A Missouri man accused of throwing a puppy from a third story window, which led to its death, now faces criminal charges.

The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged Michael Lott, 44, of Pevely, Missouri, with animal abuse, harassment, and property damage in connection with the puppys death.

Charges stem from an incident reported on Oct. 7, 2023, at an Arnold hotel, according to court documents obtained by FOX 2.

Court documents allege that Lott removed a three-month old Pit Bull puppy from one persons lap inside the hotel room. While the puppy was sleeping, he allegedly threw it out the window. The puppy landed in the parking lot and died from its injuries.

Attorney identifies victim of assault near Hazelwood East High School

Two witnesses, including the person who had the puppy in their lap and one passerby in the parking lot, offered details to law enforcement of the incident.

Lott reportedly threw the dog out the window after an argument with the witness in the room with the intention of causing emotional distress, per court documents.

Lott was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on a $25,000 bond, per Missouri court records. Documents claim that Lott has several felony convictions and a criminal history dating back to 1997.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
As Britain faces months more of pre-election infighting, the growing number of threats against politicians on both sides of the political divide is becoming alarming. Our democratic system relies on open and robust debate. Extremists cannot be permitted to close down discussion or drive people out of public life with threats and intimidation.

Yet the attempts to do just that continue to grow. The latest evidence is a dossier compiling threats against dozens of MPs, many of which came from pro-Palestinian activists. The dossier arrives in the wake of the incident in which Parliament itself broke with its established rules out of fear of violence. The Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is widely believed to have felt compelled to select a Labour amendment on a Gaza ceasefire on the grounds of protecting the security of MPs and their families.

In recent weeks, we have also seen a demonstration outside an MPs family home, and a minister announcing that he will not stand for re-election after facing death threats. This cannot be allowed to continue. The Prime Minister was right to declare, in a rare speech outside No 10, that he would attempt to take on the forces seeking to tear our country apart.

Similarly, the new initiative by the Communities Secretary Michael Gove to rewrite the definition of extremism is an important step forward. His work will make it harder for anti-British extremists to spread their poison in this country. However, it is clear that there is institutional resistance to more robust measures, and Mr Gove and other ministers should be given full support by the Prime Minister and the rest of the Government to go further.

There is a great deal more that needs to be done. Foreign hate preachers should not be allowed to come to the UK to spread incendiary and divisive messages. There are other groups which seek to destroy the British system of liberal democracy that should be banned altogether. The appalling anti-Israel hate marches that continue to plague the centres of our cities have become intolerable. The mob must not be allowed to win.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The voters of Fresno Countys most progressive supervisorial district have spoken.

Fewer than 20% of them, but that still counts.

Fresnos most progressive, outspoken city councilman wont advance to the general election in November. Leaving Miguel Arias future in politics in doubt.

With 19.8% of the vote in the March 5 primary, Arias finished a distant third to the two moderate Democrats in the District 3 race: incumbent supervisor Sal Quintero (37.2%) and fellow council member Luis Chavez (26.1%).

Arias vote percentage is, in fact, nearer to fourth-place finisher and political newcomer EJ Hinojosa (16.7%) than to Quintero and Chavez, who will continue to duke it out over the next eight months.

Opinion

Its disappointing professionally, but my kids celebrated the fact that Im not moving on, Arias said. I think its a signal that after nearly 20 years of public service its time for me to spend more time at home than on the campaign trail.

District 3, which includes most south Fresno neighborhoods east of 99, is the most progressive seat on the conservative-leaning Fresno County Board of Supervisors. The districts registered Republicans (15,347) are not only dwarfed by Democrats (39,647), according to the California Secretary of States latest data, theyre also outnumbered by No Party Preference voters (19,692).

Yet Republicans and independents seem to have played an outsized role in this outcome. Quintero, whose biggest advantage is familiarity, rolled out an endorsement list filled with prominent local Republicans, including state Assemblymember Jim Patterson, District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and former Sheriff Margaret Mims.

That strategy probably doesnt fly in November. But it paid off beautifully in March thanks to the exceedingly low voter turnout. Only 19.2% of registered voters in District 3 returned their ballots, compared to 37.2% in the District 2 primary (north Fresno) and 34.2% in District 5 (Clovis and the foothills).

Progressive vote split

Besides the low turnout, the other fly in Arias ointment was the presence of Hinojosa, a fellow progressive and Tower District resident.

If EJ wouldnt have been part of the equation, I think we would have received 30% of the vote and gotten into the runoff, Arias said. But thats the reality that you deal with when you have multiple candidates representing a certain part of the district.

A teacher making his first run for public office, Hinojosa agreed while emphasizing it wasnt the intention.

Certainly my bid in this race was a foil for Miguel Arias given that we both promote progressive platforms, Hinojosa said. That wasnt the purpose of my campaign, only a consequence of it, and I wonder if Miguel hadnt run in the primary how many of his votes would have gone to me, Luis Chavez or Sal Quintero.

Something tells me we havent heard the last of Hinojosa in local politics.

But what about Arias, whose second (and final) term on the Fresno City Council runs through 2026?

I dont know if there is going to be one, Arias replied when asked about his political future. I served on my first local school board at the age of 22. Im 45 now. I have a new son coming in June and a daughter who will be off to college in June. This is a time of transition for me. I want to spend some time assessing what to do professionally for the rest of my lifes journey.

Arias said he will devote the remainder of his council term to finishing all the housing and neighborhood infrastructure projects that he initiated during his tenure. Those include the Armenian row houses and Hotel Fresno, both of which are nearly complete after years of delays, as well as the construction of new parks in southwest Fresno and South Tower.

Fresno County Supervisor Sal Quintero, left, swore in his former chief of staff Luis Chavez in a 2019 ceremony to launch Chavez second term on the Fresno City Council. Chavez and Quintero will now square off in November for Quinteros seat representning south Fresno.

No endorsement, yet

What Arias wont do, at least for the time being, is throw his support behind either Quintero or Chavez. Two moderate Democrats who now need to convince progressives who supported Arias or Hinojosa in the primary to vote for them in November.

Before deciding whether to endorse a candidate in the general election, Arias will be looking at two main issues: Do Quintero and Chavez support the proposed 3,000-acre industrial park just south of the Fresno city limits? And do they support the current boards cave-in to developers bent on bringing suburbs to the foothills?

Those two questions are going to determine the future of this district for generations to come, Arias said.

If the future supervisor for this district continues to pursue the board majoritys interest to build new towns at the edges of the county instead of investing into existing neighborhoods and building industrial parks and not holding anyone accountable for the pollution they generate, then I think well be worse off than we have been in the past.

South Fresno progressives may not see their most-favored candidate on the November ballot for county supervisor. But they might yet determine the winner.
Moldovan Bureau of Reintegration has responded to the reports about a drone attacking a military base in Tiraspol.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Newsmaker

Details: The Bureau of Reintegration said that it could not confirm the incident, calling it an "attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region".

The bureau also said that they have contacted other government institutions and studied the photos and footage from the site in Tiraspol where the incident allegedly took place. "After studying the footage and obtaining more information we can report that this incident is an attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region. The military equipment that can be seen in the footage has been decommissioned for the past several years," the bureau said.

"The Moldovan government, which maintains contact with Ukraine, cannot confirm any attacks on the Transnistrian region," Moldovan Bureau of Reintegration said.

Background:

Earlier on 17 March, the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria (Moldova) reported an explosion and fire on the premises of a military unit in the city of Tiraspol as a result of a kamikaze drone attack. The fire after the strike could have destroyed a helicopter.

In January, unrecognised Transnistria claimed that "special strike teams" were being created in Moldova for murders and sabotage operations in the Transnistrian territories. The Transnistrian authorities provided no proof or evidence for these claims.

Transnistria, where Russian troops have been illegally present for over 30 years, violating the sovereignty of Moldova, is the source of regional tensions.

In 2022, unrecognised local authorities similarly reported a series of explosions at military facilities, which led to speculations about possible preparation for the invasion by the Russian forces from the Transnistrian territory.

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K.A. began to socially transition in the beginning of 2019 after shaving his head. He initially asked his friends to address him using they/them pronouns, then they/he pronouns, while also asking to be called by a different name. Eventually he realized that he preferred he/him pronouns and his birth name. Coming out as transgender is not as easy as saying I want to be a boy, its a whole process of looking at yourself and figuring out who you want to be, K.A. said. (Photo by Nance Beston | Byline Magazine)

K.A.walks into the bathroom at his dads house, flicks off the overhead light and closes the door. He plugs in a dim disco ball that speckles the bathroom walls with blue, purple, green and pink. More than a year ago, K.A. began showering in the dark like this, dreading this part of his morning routine.

He carefully avoids eye contact in the mirror, but if he catches a glimpse of himself, he presses his breasts down to see what it would be like if he had a flat chest. He finally steps in the shower.

Warm water streams down his skin as K.A. begins his hygiene regimen: face care, shampooing and conditioning his hair. Then, K.A. starts to wash his body. He aims to finish this task swiftly to avoid discomfort, especially surrounding his chest. Sometimes, if hes not quick enough, tears stream down his face.

He turns the water off and wraps his towel snugly around his chest. He then darts to his adjacent bedroom.

After closing his bedroom door, he squirms into his binder, a black compression tank top, with beads of water still dotting his skin. He faces his full-length mirror, adjusting his chest until it appears as flat as possible.

Now content with how he has hidden his breasts, he gets dressed, swapping clothes until he feels like he looks masculine. Before leaving his room, he checks the mirror one last time.

The binder would already cause me to start slouching, K.A. said. But at least nobody could see I still had breasts.

K.A., a transgender Montana teen, had been planning to get top surgery before his high school graduation this spring. But after the Montana Legislature passed a bill threatening his ability to do so, K.A. and his family were left scrambling.

Grappling with dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and is defined as when someones gender doesnt align with their body  breasts or lack thereof, body and facial hair, voice pitch, face shape and genitalia are some examples of specific characteristics that can cause gender dysphoria.

The Williams Institute of University of California, Los Angeles Law reports 0.5% of adults in the U.S. identify as trans, or around 1.3 million people. Its estimated there are 500 trans teenagers in Montana, which is 0.78% of minors.

Trans people in the United States are four times more likely than their cisgender counterparts to be the targets of violent crime, according to Williams Institute. K.A. is a pseudonym, as he asked to be anonymous for safety reasons and his friends and family will only be referred to by first name.

During February and March, the Daily Montanan is collaborating with students at the University of Montana to present the School of Journalisms work on the topic of mental health in Montana. Each Sunday, the Daily Montanan will spotlight one of the stories that was featured in Byline magazine, which showcases the work of UM journalists and photojournalists. The entire series with complete photos can be found here. Students in the University of Montana School of Journalism produce a magazine every other year as part of their capstone experience. Please note that several of the stories contain potentially triggering material. Dont be reluctant to seek help if you or someone you know is in danger. Call or text the mental health crisis line at 988 or reach out to local resources to get the help you need.

About this series

Two years ago, at age 15, K.A. found himself grappling with serious anxiety, depression, self-harming and discomfort in his own body. To cope with his mental health struggles, K.A. was prescribed Prozac and attended weekly therapy sessions.

K.A.s parents tried to work with a mental health facility when he shared he had suicidal ideations, but because they were just ideations and not attempts, the facilities were unable to help.

I wanted to take the pain away, K.A.s mom Kerstin said. I wanted to make it better. I wanted there to be a quick and easy answer. I know the self-loathing involved when you self-harm from experience. So knowing that K.A. was feeling that horrible pain was really, really hard.

On an especially difficult day, K.A. decided he needed a significant change, so he shaved his hair down to a buzzcut. He realized the more masculine look brought him comfort. Then, he began to socially transition, asking his friends to start using he and him pronouns. Socially transitioning is when an individual starts to live according to their gender identity by changing forms of gender expression such as name, pronouns, clothing and hair.

In April 2019, K.A. publicly announced his trans identity during a school walkout. At that point, only a few friends knew about his gender identity. I honestly think I may be a trans-man, K.A. said during his speech. That is like the first time I have said that.

His sister recorded the moment and, with K.A.s permission, showed it to both parents.

I want to say that it caught me off guard, but it kind of didnt. Like we kind of also saw it coming. It did kind of get heavy on my mind, Kerstin said. Because I know what happens to some people in some states and cities and how awful the hate can be. So, I was afraid for K.A.

K.A. called his dad, Jerry, and told him over the phone. Jerry said he loved K.A. and nothing would change that.

I wish you would have been born in the body that you want it to be in, Jerry told K.A. But you know, either way, God loves you.

Where it all began

K.A. began attending sessions with a gender-affirming therapist in August 2021. After months of therapy and a series of discussions, his therapist, K.A. and his parents decided it was appropriate for him to start hormone replacement therapy.

K.A.s mental health was declining quickly, and I didnt want to lose (him), Kerstin said. Id rather have him as a him than not at all and I want him to be happy. Theres no point in being in this world and being unhappy.

K.A. prepares for his HRT shot. He usually takes it before school on Friday. It gives me a little boost to get through the last day of the week, K.A. said. (Photo by Nance Beston | Byline Magazine)

His inaugural testosterone dose was Dec. 10, 2021.

It was a really exciting day, because I was at school the whole day and I was just anxiously waiting to get out of school, go pick up my prescription and shove a needle in my leg, K.A. said. Which isnt my favorite part, fun fact. I kind of hate that part. But I liked the testosterone part.

The following injections were self-administered every Friday before school. A few months later, K.A. noticed biological changes  his menstrual cycle stopped, his voice deepened and facial and body hair emerged. These transformations boosted his overall well-being, leading him to decide to stop taking Prozac.

If I had gone this long knowing my identity, but not being able to have the changes that Ive had, I would not be as happy, K.A. said.

K.A. said he began to feel more comfortable in public places after starting testosterone treatments. His circle of friends expanded and he discovered a love for school, particularly choir, orchestra and drama, prompting him to plan for a career as a music teacher.

My confidence had a big impact, especially before I started testosterone because I had a squeaky voice like I was a soprano one. I knew that I wasnt passing and I just didnt feel confident to talk to anybody besides my, at that point, small group of friends, K.A. said. But once I started being on testosterone, my voice lowered. I was passing more, my confidence just immediately went off. I used to have really bad social anxiety, but its basically ultimately gone at this point.

Weekly testosterone injections steadily improved his well-being, yet one barrier remained  a longing for top surgery. Desire for a flatter chest was driven by daily discomfort from wearing a binder and constant dysphoria surrounding his breasts.

The binder increased K.A.s neck problems, resulting in migraines that would drive him into a dark, quiet room for relief. He wished to stroll down the school hallway, his mind on classes instead of the anxiety he felt over whether others were fixating on his chest.

I look at my face and I know that Im a boy, I feel like Ive looked like a boy. But then I see my chest and it just does not match with what I know I am and what I feel like I look like otherwise, K.A. said. Its like my body was mixed up.

Plans derailed

K.A. planned to undergo top surgery, the process of removing breasts for a more masculine chest, prior to graduating high school. However, the passing of Senate Bill 99 derailed his plans.

SB99 was introduced to the Montana Legislature on Jan. 3, 2023. The bill called for banning access to any gender-affirming care for minors, including hormone replacement therapy, surgeries and hormone blockers in cases that treat gender dysphoria.

Under the bill, any doctor who performs a banned procedure can be sued, fined and could result in a year-long suspension of their authority to practice. Twenty-two states had similar bills introduced in 2023.

Democrat Zooey Zephyr was the first trans woman elected to the Montana Legislature. The 2023 session was her first. When SB99 went to the House, Zephyr spoke out against it.

When you pass these laws you get trans people killed. When you bring these laws, trans people get killed, Zephyr said.

Montana legislators received a letter from an ER physician during the session, who said they were seeing an increase in suicidality among trans youth.

Representatives later voted to ban Zephyr from the House Chamber after she said, I hope the next time theres an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands. The House Speaker justified the ban, saying Zephyr had violated the rules of decorum. Zephyr said she doesnt regret her statement and stands by it to this day.

SB99 passed and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. It was scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2023.

Top-surgery was always part of his plan

K.A. found a doctor who specializes in cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery last September. K.A. and his parents rushed to schedule top surgery before SB 99 took effect. Payment for the surgery required out-of-pocket funds, totaling $11,200. With an eight-day window between finding the right doctor and the laws implementation date, the family needed to secure the funds and pay the entire surgery cost.

I was given the quote and then went home to my mom. I was in tears when I got the quote. I was in tears when I was talking to my mom. Like, surgery was always part of the plan, K.A. said. But the state, they cut off everybody who was already in the process of getting this done. Including somebody who has already been taking testosterone for a couple of years and they just, like, stopped (gender-affirming care), just like, no consideration for anything.

The family did not have the funds to pay for his surgery. Jerry, K.A.s father, said that given a couple more months, he would have sold his new motorcycle and other things around the house to ensure K.A. could get his surgery. They discussed loans, but approvals would take too long. Kerstin proposed a different strategy  launch a GoFundMe campaign on social media to help pay for the medical bill.

This was, like, our last chance, I was like, holy crap, theyre going to win. The state is going to tell me what medical care my kid can have, Kerstin said. That wasnt a good feeling. We had to fight that.

On the GoFundMe post on Sept. 20, 2023, K.A. wrote, Having this surgery now would save me from another year of constant dysphoria, distress and discomfort. I cant imagine spending so much more time suffering like this.

After it went live, K.A. obsessively checked his GoFundMe campaign. One day before they needed the funds, K.A. was still $2,275 short of his goal and he went to sleep not knowing if he would be able to get the surgery. But the next morning, K.A. discovered an anonymous donor paid the remaining sum.

People they didnt even know donated money to my kid so he can have medical freedom, Kerstin said. It was just an overwhelming sense of love and support from the community.

Happy no more boobs

On Sept. 26, K.A. awoke at 4:30 a.m., after a restless night with little sleep. It was the day of his surgery. A day filled with nerves, but also immense excitement. K.A. arrived at the hospital at 5:45 a.m., scheduled for the days first operation. Accompanied by his anxious parents, K.A. prepared for the transformative procedure.

After a 30-minute wait, K.A. was brought into the back. The nurse had him put on a yellow gown before he went under anesthesia. As the nurse wheeled him to the surgery room, K.A. said he remembers being very happy, giggling and saying hi to every passerby. He fell asleep before entering the room.

K.A. woke up three-and-a-half hours later, fairly high on the anesthesia drugs, his chest wrapped with a bandage and drainage tubes sitting on his lap.

Drainage tubes are removed from K.A. The tubes helped drain any excess liquids from his chest after top surgery. It just feels really weird to have something moving in your body. Its like a snake moving through, K.A. said. I like snakes, I have a snake, but I dont like them in my chest. (Photo by Nance Beston | Byline Magazine)

I dont remember much after the surgery, but the first thing I remember was I looked down and I could kind of see under my bandages and I started crying seeing my chest becausemy chest, it was flat, K.A. said. For the first time ever, it was just flat.

Jerry said there were a lot of emotions in the room, but those emotions and K.A.s reaction convinced him and Kerstin that they had made the right decision.

People can say that it was a choice and that I shouldnt have allowed (the top surgery) to happen, Jerry said. But whats a year difference gonna make? Why make this person suffer for another year?

The World Professional Association of Transgender Health showed few people regretted their decision to receive gender-affirming treatment. The study showed that getting early medical help, as part of a complete plan focusing on feelings about gender and wellness, can help many trans people who want to seek gender-affirming treatment.

K.A. went home to his dads apartment that afternoon and both of his parents helped him get comfortable in the recliner. His mom left for the night but sent him messages. Before K.A. fell asleep, tired from the big day, his friends sent him a video singing a parody of Happy Birthday with a chocolate ice cream cake that read Happy no more boobs in blue frosting.

The very next day, a district court temporarily blocked SB99 from becoming law. Three families with trans children, two medical providers who work with trans youth and three organizations including LAMBDA Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Montana sued the state.

Missoula County District Court Judge Jason Marks sided with the plaintiffs, saying SB99 appeared unconstitutional, would infringe on fundamental rights and fail to protect minor children from harm.

Living in the unknown

Jerry assisted in cleaning K.A.s post-top surgery wounds for the following weeks, taking special care to prevent any infection in the cuts and his re-positioned nipples. His older sister sent him daily texts asking him how his nipples were. His friends remained supportive throughout, flooding his phone with motivational messages and calls.

He is more himself than I have ever seen him be, and I have known him for ten years, Ashley, K.A.s best friend, said. I think having that care has helped him through all of it. I cant imagine where he would be today if he didnt have that care. He would still be K.A., but he wouldnt be fully himself because he would still be struggling with a lot of that dysphoria along with the mental health impacts of not getting that care.

After his surgery, K.A. was out of school for three weeks. He took the time to admire his chest, work on homework and relax. He was given the OK to return after his surgeon removed his drainage tubes.

When he returned to school that Friday, all of his teachers and friends were very excited to see him again. He was glad to be back in classes, especially choir class. He said he loved talking to his friends over the phone, but he really missed singing with them. For the first time in his high school career, he was able to wear a button-up with nothing underneath it.

Now, the only worry K.A. has about his care is the future of his testosterone treatments. He said he has anxiety about the possibility that SB99 could go into effect any time and what he and his parents will have to do to ensure he still gets testosterone.

K.A. said that its frustrating that the Legislature tried to ban his care instead of applying restrictions on who can access the care. K.A. was in therapy for multiple months before starting hormone replacement therapy. Then, he spent almost two years doing HRT before he got top surgery.

If SB99 goes into effect, both parents agree they will figure it out. They wont allow K.A. to lose that part of his health care, but it would be incredibly stressful. As SB99 remains temporarily blocked, there is not much they can do but wait.

A light in the dark

Showering has now become one of K.A.s favorite things to do. He enters the bathroom, undresses and plays his favorite indie music. He has retired the disco ball, keeping the overhead light on. Before he even turns on the water, he admires himself in front of the mirror  flexing and checking out his chest. He flips between full-front view and sidelong looks, admiring his flat chest, healing nipples and a developing six-pack.

He steps into the shower. The warm water runs down his skin, like it did before, only now he can appreciate his body. He says during the shower he carefully traces his scars multiple times.

I love it so much, K.A. said. Getting in the shower like I have no worries. Im just singing along with my little songs because its fun now and not as a distraction. I can actually look at myself and feel good about myself when Im in the shower.

After he finishes his shower, he ties a towel around his waist. He returns to the mirror, water droplets still dotting his chest. He struts to his bedroom with his towel still casually draped around his waist.

Then he picks out what pants he wants to wear for the day. Before he finishes dressing, he massages his scars in front of the mirror, part of his post-surgery care. He puts antibiotic ointment on his finger and gently rubs it in circles on his scars and nipples for about 10 minutes. His discarded binder lays crumpled on the floor, never to be worn again.

Eventually he picks out a shirt, appreciating how the fabric feels against his bare skin.

Before he leaves his bedroom, he gives himself one last glance in the mirror. Then, he walks out of his bedroom with his head held high.

The post A Montana transgender teenagers journey for gender affirmation appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Ukraine launched a massive wave of drone strikes against Russia on Saturday night, forcing the Crimean bridge to close and grounding flights from Moscow.

Car traffic over the bridge connecting Crimea with mainland Russia was suspended for half an hour on Sunday morning, Russian authorities announced, without explaining why.

Moscows Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports were forced to impose flight restrictions for almost three hours after four Ukrainian drones were shot down near the Russian capital, Russias state aviation watchdog reported.

Sergei Sobyanin, Moscows mayor, said a fifth drone, close to Domodedovo airport, was later downed, with no casualties or damage reported.

However, footage and images circulating on social media appeared to show a hole in the roof of a building at the airport following a drone strike.

Images circulating on social media appeared to show a hole in the roof of a building at Domodedovo airport following a drone strike

Elsewhere, a fireball erupted at an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai, south western Russia, after Ukraines sixth drone strike on a Russian oil facility in a week.

The Russian defence ministry said it downed all 17 drones attacking Krasnodar, but local Russian military intelligence said on Telegram that a fire broke out as a result of the fall of one of the devices.

The blaze at the refinery was extinguished a few hours later, and preliminary information indicated a worker had died from a heart attack, officials said.

Ukrainian military intelligence was behind the strike, a security service source told Ukrainska Pravda.

Another two drones were shot over the Kaluga region, just south of the Russian capital, and the Yaroslavl region, north-east of Moscow, according to the defence ministry.

The latter, around 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, were some of the longest-range launched by Ukraine so far.

More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions, which border Ukraine. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, reported damage to electricity and gas supplies in the area.

Flames and smoke rise following a drone strike in Belgorod - Reuters

In the front line region of Zaporizhzhia, a fire broke out at a polling station after it was hit by a Ukrainian drone, Tass, the Russian state-owned agency, reported.

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, did not address the reported attacks in his nightly video address on Saturday, but he thanked his military forces and intelligence for the new Ukrainian long-range capabilities.

Mr Zelensky said: The Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons.

The wave of strikes came on the final day of Russias sham presidential election, with Vladimir Putin poised to extend his near-quarter-century rule for six more years.

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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported a drone attack on Moscow on the night of 16-17 March. Local authorities said UAVs had attacked Belgorod, Rostov, Kaluga and Yaroslavl oblasts.

Source: Baza

Details: Sobyanin claimed that the drones that were flying towards Moscow had been destroyed.

Quote: "Air defence forces of the Russian Defence Ministry in the Domodedovo district of the city repelled an attack by two drones flying towards Moscow. Preliminary reports indicate there was no damage or casualties at the site of the crash.

Emergency services are currently working at the scene."

Updated: Sobyanin later added that one drone had been shot down in Ramenskoe and one in Stupinoe city districts. There were no casualties.

In Belgorod Oblast, four drones dropped explosive devices on the village of Oktyabrskoye in Belgorod district, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram. The explosions caused no casualties but damaged electricity and gas supply lines.

In Rostov Oblast, according to Governor Vasily Golubev, air defence forces repelled an attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle on the approach to Kamensk at night.

In Kaluga Oblast, air defence systems shot down three aircraft-type drones that were attempting to attack infrastructure facilities in the Kirovo district, said Governor Vladislav Shapsha.

In addition, he said that on Sunday morning, air defences had destroyed another drone on the outskirts of Kaluga.

According to local authorities, four UAVs were shot down in Yaroslavl Oblast.

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that air defences shot down 35 UAVs over Russian territory overnight.

The drones were allegedly intercepted over the territories of Moscow (4 UAVs), Belgorod (3 UAVs), Kaluga (2 UAVs), Oryol (1 UAV), Rostov (1 UAV), Yaroslavl (4 UAVs), Krasnodar (17 UAVs), and Kursk (3 UAVs) oblasts.

Background:

On the night of 16-17 March, drones attacked the Slavyansk-on-Kuban oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Oblast.

A fire broke out, and one person died of a heart attack.



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(Bloomberg) -- A defiant Vladimir Putin said Russia wont be stopped from pursuing its goals after a presidential election whose outcome was pre-determined and which handed him a record level of support.

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No matter how much anybody wanted to suppress us, our will, our consciousness, nobody in history has ever succeeded, they have not succeeded now and they will never succeed, Putin told supporters in Moscow late Sunday. All the major and in some areas grandiose plans that he set out before the election will certainly be achieved, he said.

Putin got 87.3% with almost all votes counted in the election that ended Sunday, giving him another six years as president to step up his war in Ukraine and conflict with the West. The outcome far exceeded his previous record of 77% in 2018 elections.

Russias longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, Putin, 71, is extending his nearly quarter-century rule into a fifth term at a time when his troops are on the offensive in Ukraine. Russia is pressing its advantage in the third year of the invasion, which has become Europes biggest conflict since World War II as Ukraine struggles to supply its forces with munitions amid delays in military aid from its US and European allies.

Any direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO alliance would be one step away from a full-scale third world war, Putin said Sunday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Putin in a message Monday, saying Beijing attached great importance to the development of bilateral relations.

European nations panned the vote. Once again, the conditions for free, pluralist and democratic elections were not met, Frances Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Story continues

Long lines formed at noon on Sunday outside some polling stations, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after allies of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison camp, called on people to protest Putins election by turning up at that time. Their presence represented a sign of defiance amid the harshest Kremlin crackdown on dissent in decades.

Putin is addicted to power and is doing everything he can to rule forever, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address. There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power. And there is no one in the world who is safe from this.

Turnout from three days of voting was 77.4%, Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said in televised comments Monday, the highest in Russias post-Soviet history and up from 67.5% in 2018.

Three other candidates from parties loyal to the Kremlin offered no serious competition in the tightly controlled election. Communist Nikolai Kharitonov took 4.3%, Vladislav Davankov from the New People, a party created in 2020, gained 3.8% and Leonid Slutsky, leader of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, trailed with 3.2%, according to the election commission.

Putin said the election protests had no effect and people who spoiled ballot papers should face investigation and criminal punishment.

He confirmed to reporters at a news conference that hed agreed to swap Navalny for unidentified people held in Western jails days before the anti-Kremlin critics death, on condition that he never returned to Russia.

Thats life, Putin said, calling Navalnys death a sad event and referring to him by name for the first time in years.

The election outcome gives Putin every chance to implement any, even the toughest, scenarios in Ukraine, said Pavel Danilin, head of the Moscow-based Center for Political Analysis, which advises the Kremlin. The historically high result is a guarantee that the majority of the population supports Putin, he said.

Read more: Putin Eyes New World Order After Crushing Opposition in Russia

The Kremlin secured the result through electoral manipulation and fraud, said Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. The goal was to show Russian society is united behind Putins long-term fight against not just Ukraine but the West and the liberal international order more broadly.

An emboldened Putin is preparing for a long confrontation with the West, according to five people with knowledge of the situation, asking not to be identified because the matter is sensitive.

The Kremlin is putting the squeeze on countries such as Moldova, the Baltic states and those in the Caucasus region in the name of protecting Russian minorities. European leaders have warned openly about the risks of a Russian attack on a NATO member state, and fear the US may abandon them if Donald Trump regains the presidency in November.

Russias economy has largely weathered the shock of unprecedented international sanctions since Putin began the February 2022 invasion, thanks to a continuing flow of energy revenue and a massive injection of government spending to support the defense industry and shield domestic businesses. Trade with China is booming as Russia reorients its economy away from markets in Europe.

How Putin Engineers Longest Russia Rule Since Stalin: QuickTake

The election allowed the Kremlin to demonstrate Putins support in the country to Russias elites, according to Nikolay Petrov, a visiting fellow at the Berlin-based SWP think tank. The most important thing for the Kremlin is that Putin is left with the feeling of a beautiful image and a real victory, however deceptive, he said.

Russia organized voting in occupied areas of Ukraine and claimed turnout far exceeded 80%, even as millions of people have fled the regions since the invasion. The foreign ministry in Kyiv said the pseudo-elections were illegal.

Ukraine waged an intensified campaign of drone attacks aimed at key Russian infrastructure including oil refineries in the weeks leading up to the election that continued over the weekend. Authorities briefly restricted operations at three of Moscows airports on Sunday after a drone was downed near the Domodedovo area of the capital.

Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine including Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Putin in 2022 declared four regions of eastern and southern Ukraine to be forever part of Russia, even as his forces dont fully control them.

Putin dismissed prospects for a halt to the war in a televised interview last week, saying hes not interested in a pause that would allow Ukraine to rearm. Russia wants written security guarantees to end the fighting and the realities on the ground should be the basis for any negotiations, he said.

In the last two years, the Putin regime has rebuilt every element of itself to adapt to a permanent state of war, said Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

(Updates with China in sixth paragraph, French Foreign Ministry in seventh)

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An explosion at a plant in the Moscow Oblast, August 9, 2023

Two drones that were flying towards Moscow were repelled by air defense in the Domodedovo urban district, said Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin in Telegram on March 17.

According to preliminary data, there is no damage or casualties at the crash site, Sobyanin said, and emergency services are working at the scene.

Read also: Ukraine attacks Moscow, five other regions of Russia in mass overnight drone attack

Over the next hour, he reported two further attacks  in the Ramensky and Stupinsky city districts. In both cases, the mayor claims that the attacks were repelled, and there were no casualties or damage.

Read also: Within the next 48 hours: Potential terror attacks in Moscow warned by U.S. Embassy

Meanwhile, another oil refinery in the Krasnodar Oblast is on fire as a result of a drone attack.

Read also: Ukraine carries out massive drone attack on multiple oil refineries in at least 6 Russian oblasts

Over the past week, several Russian refineries in different regions have been attacked by drones. Ukrainian intelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed their involvement in some of these attacks in comments to NV.

On March 16, a fire broke out at three oil refineries in Samara Oblast of the Russian Federation, Russian media reported that it was a drone attack.

On March 13, drones attacked Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Lipetsk oblasts of Russia, as well as an oil refinery in Ryazan, where a serious fire broke out.

On March 12, drones attacked Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Orel oblasts, as well as Moscow. In the city of Orel, explosions were heard near an oil depot where a fire broke out. A Lukoil oil depot in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was also on fire.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
DENVER (KDVR)  A motorcyclist died after a crash with a semitruck Sunday morning, according to the Denver Police Department.

The crash happened at around 11:44 a.m. in the 5100 block of North Quebec Street.

2 found dead in Denver hotel, police investigating homicide

The motorcyclist was declared dead on the scene.

The crash was under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 19-year-old motorcyclist was sent to the hospital Saturday after a collision involving a vehicle in University City, authorities said.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the male rider was traveling northbound on Regents Road around 1:25 p.m. on a 2016 Kawasaki motorcycle.

One killed in collision on northbound I-5 connecter to SR-163

At that same time, police said a 32-year-old man driving a 2010 Toyota Corolla reportedly pulled out onto Regents Road, directly in front of the motorcycle. The rider and driver collided.

The motorcyclist sustained open fractures to his left thigh and leg. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. His injuries are not considered life threatening.

The driver of the Corolla was not injured during the incident.

Police said alcohol was not a factor in this collision. SDPDs Traffic Division responded and is handling the investigation.

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 & KUSI News.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two people died following a Sunday morning crash that involved a motorcycle and a vehicle in Clarksville, officials said.

According to the Clarksville Police Department, the crash occurred at approximately 9:07 a.m. on Sunday, March 17 at the intersection of Madison Street and Richview Road.

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Less than 45 minutes after the wreck, authorities reported the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Several hours later, police announced the passenger in the front seat of the vehicle hit by the motorcycle died because of his injuries.

The victims were later identified as 25-year-old Brian Thompson of Clarksville, who was the motorcyclist and 79-year-old Gwendel Conner, of Clarksville.

There is no word on the condition of the vehicles driver at this time.

The westbound lanes of Madison Street at Richview Road were shut down until crews could clear the scene. As of 2 p.m., the roadway is back open, according to authorities.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Clarksville and Montgomery County

No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding this deadly crash.

If you have any information about or video footage of the incident, you are asked to call FACT Investigator Harrington at 931-648-0656, ext. 5227.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
In our Reality Check stories, Modesto Bee journalists deliver fast facts about the issues that matter to local residents to hold officials and institutions accountable. Read more. Story idea? Tips@modbee.com.

Its essentially a full-time job that pays $24,000 a year and includes work on weekends and nights, as well as lots of meetings.

Thats what the six Modesto City Council members are paid. Mayor Sue Zwahlen earns $43,200 a year for working what she says is a minimum of 60 hours a week representing a city of about 218,000 residents. And the jobs dont come with health insurance.

The compensation has not changed since 2008, when it was increased from $9,600 a year for council members and the mayor to what it is now.

But the citys Citizens Salary Setting Commission is studying what the council and mayor make and is expected to issue recommendations to the City Council at its April 23 meeting. The commission can meet every two years. It last met in 2014.

The commissions next meeting is March 22, at 11 a.m. in conference room 2001 on the second floor of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St. The meeting is open to the public. The commission also is scheduled to meet March 25 at the same time and location. It will hold two public hearings. They are tentatively scheduled during the day on April 5 and the evening on April 11.

Hundreds spent on fundraiser tickets

The average number of hours council members say they devote to the job ranges from about 30 hours a week for David Wright and Rosa Escutia-Braaton, a minimum of 32 hours for Eric Alvarez, 32 to 34 hours for Nick Bavaro, 20 to 40 hours for Chris Ricci, and typically at least 40 hours for Jeremiah Williams.

I dont even have my Sundays anymore since Ive gotten elected, Alvarez said, adding he spends about six hours on Sundays before Tuesday council meetings studying the meeting agenda. The council meets twice, occasionally three times, a month.

Council members also attend monthly and quarterly committee meetings. They go to conferences, meet with elected officials in Sacramento, respond to concerns from constituents and attend community events and fundraisers for nonprofits to ensure they are in touch with the community.

I think Ive been to eight different crab feeds this year, Wright said. Its just part of the job. He said he spends $1,000 to $1,500 annually on tickets to fundraisers for himself and his wife.

Council members can do this because they are retirees (Zwahlen), business owners (Bavaro, Williams and Wright), are financially secure (Escutia-Braaton is married to an orthopedic surgeon) or have flexible jobs (Ricci is a partner with a digital marketing firm and Alvarez has a hybrid job with some of his work done over Zoom). Alvarez, 32, also can serve on the council because he is not yet married or has started a family.

It seems wrong to make the job exclusive to a very select class of people, Ricci said.

Council members are considered the same as the citys part-time employees in terms of compensation and benefits, according to the city. There is no defined expectation but to prepare for and attend council and committee meetings as well as the meetings of the boards and commissions they sit on.

Pay varies widely among cities

The City Charter states council members cant be paid more than half of the median family income for the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the mayor cant be paid more than half of the salary of a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge.

Judges earn $229,296 annually so half would be $114,648. The median family income is $73,375, so half would be $36,687.50, according to information provided by the city.

The Citizens Salary Setting Commission is expected to issue its recommendations at the City Councils April 23 meeting, according to a timeline provided by the city. The council cannot set the compensation for the mayor and council at an amount higher than what the commission recommends, but it can set it at a lower amount, according to the city charter.

Ricci said that while paying council members $36,687.50 is an improvement, it is not enough to draw a broader pool of candidates. Other council members said they want to hear the commissions recommendations before commenting.

The City Council would have to ask voters to amend the city charter to increase council compensation, which Ricci believes would be politically difficult. But even if serving on the Modesto Council paid a living wage, term limits prevent anyone from becoming a career politician.

The compensation for mayors and council members ranges widely among comparable Central Valley municipalities, according to a city survey.

For example, in a comparison of charter cities, Stocktons mayor is paid $90,480 to represent a city of about 320,000 residents, Sacramentos $146,749 (about 525,000 residents), Rosevilles $7,200 (about 155,000 residents), Fresnos $141,520 (about 546,000 residents) and Bakersfields $32,112 and (about 411,000 residents).

The council salaries are $29,363 for Stockton, $100,378 for Sacramento, $7,200 for Roseville, $85,100 for Fresno and $9,504 for Bakersfield.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two teens were arrested after 22 vehicles were broken into at an apartment complex in Lakeland.

Reports say the burglaries took place in the area of the Lakeland Town Square Apartments Friday night. SCSO detectives with the Burglary, Robbery, and Auto Theft unit identified Jevon Jones,18, and a 16-year-old teen as the suspects responsible.

The pair was taken into custody while occupying a stolen vehicle.

3 shot, 2 critically injured in Midtown shooting

Jones is charged with 15 counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, theft of property $10,000-$60,000, and possession of burglary tools.

The 16-year-old is charged with theft of property $10,000-$60,000.

A 15-year-old present during the arrest was reportedly transported on a warrant out of Millington concerning the stolen vehicle.

Burglary and theft from motor vehicles are persistent problems in our community, said Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr. I am encouraged that our detectives were quickly able to make arrests and hopefully bring some comfort to the victims of these crimes.

Austin Swindles 2023 Nissan was one of the reported stolen vehicles.

I gotta fix the window, patches to my paint, got water damage from the rain Friday, Swindle said. I was in shock. I was more pissed off than anything.

The Shelby County Sheriffs Department says vehicles were rummaged through, but very little was taken.

Witness: 52-year-old killed over spilled drink on Beale

You have to ask yourself, what do you think they were looking for? Well, we believe that they were looking for guns, and so if there is a silver lining to this story is the fact that they didnt find any guns, said Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner, with the Shelby County Sheriffs Office.

Detectives looked at surveillance video from the apartments and say they saw a red Dodge car with a white rear bumper that may have been used in the break-ins. They traced the car and found it had been stolen 2 days earlier in Millington.

They specialize in this type of crime, and they go out. And they just really do a deep canvas of the communities, Buckner said. Try to figure out what videos may have captured who would be responsible for auto burglaries speaking to witnesses.

Memphis Police and Bartlett Police Crime Suppression also went undercover to locate the suspected vehicle. They found it in an Overton Manor Apartment complex.

They followed the car to a store and that is when they found Jones, the 16-year-old, and the 15-year-old inside.

They say Jones had a backpack that was stolen from one of the 22 vehicles and a window punch tool was inside the backpack.

These auto burglaries occurred at 4 a.m. Now, here it is. A 15-year-old child is out at 4 a.m. committing auto burglaries, and I think you guys start your newscast off every night with, Hey, its 10 oclock, do you know where your children are, Buckner said. And so the question becomes at 4 a.m. in the morning. Did the parent of this 15-year-old know where he was?

Officers say 18-year-old Jones lives at this gated Frayser Apartment complex. His bond is set at $60,000.

For them to get them so quick makes me feel a little better, but at the end of the day, I still gotta pay to fix this thing, Swindle said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Police have launched a murder investigation after a man died on a street in Manchester.

Officers believe the man, 57, was hit by a vehicle in Olympic Street in Beswick, just before 11:00 GMT on Saturday.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said he was "unresponsive" and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force said it believed the vehicle to be a black Land Rover and no arrests have been made.

GMP has appealed for any CCTV or dashcam footage and also praised local residents who tried to help the man.

Det Insp Rachel Smith said: "I would like to thank the brave members of public who immediately came to assist the victim as emergency services arrived at the scene.

"This is a tragic incident where a man has lost his life and our priority at this time is supporting his family and getting them the answers they deserve.

"Our thoughts remain with them at this devastating time. I understand and share the shock that this incident will cause the community."

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an obligatory act of giving and among several distinct forms of Islamic charity. The Quran and hadiths, the words and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, prescribe what kind of charitable causes are eligible to receive these funds.

Although Muslims are expected to give away 2.5% of their wealth every year, there is no time of year officially designated for Zakat. Yet, many Muslim Americans fulfill this mandatory charitable obligation during Ramadan, a monthlong period of fasting and spiritual growth.

Muslim Americans gave US$1.8 billion in Zakat funds in 2021, we found in new research regarding how and where Muslim Americans give Zakat. We  three scholars of philanthropy  surveyed a representative sample of 1,005 Muslim Americans.

We estimate that Zakat accounts for around 40% of total U.S. Muslim giving, based on the results of an earlier related study completed in 2021. Here are three key findings from our latest research about how Muslim Americans approach this charitable tradition today.

1. Zakat is both formal and informal

Muslims primarily support formal charities and government entities, but they also give informally. This generally happens either by dispatching money to loved ones in other countries, in payments known as remittances, or giving money directly to people in need.

Some 25.3% of the money U.S. Muslims give as Zakat goes to international organizations, 21.7% supports governments and 18.3% flows to domestic-focused U.S. nonprofits. In addition, 14.7% of the money is given informally to individual people, often relatives, while 12.7% is sent abroad as remittances. The rest, about 7%, supports miscellaneous other kinds of causes.

Finding that more than 1 in 4 Zakat dollars are given informally surprised us. Thats because prior research had suggested that after 9/11, Muslims faced legal pressure to only fund certified charitable organizations.

The U.S. government claimed for years that some Muslim charities and funding networks were financially supporting extremist organizations. This presumption cultivated a climate of fear and suspicion and stoked heightened U.S. surveillance, as well as waves of fear-mongering toward Muslim charities. Yet, despite these pressures to formalize charitable giving, we find that Zakat giving continues to operate significantly through informal means.

2. Zakat reflects the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of US Muslims

The nearly 3.5 million Muslim Americans comprise only 1.1% of the nations population but are demographically diverse  including African Americans, Latinos, Arabs, Asians and whites, with no one ethnic group comprising a majority. Some 58% of U.S. Muslims were born in other countries.

Despite having the same level of education as the general population, U.S. Muslims are nevertheless disproportionately poor.

We found that white Muslims gave the most to charity as Zakat: a mean of $3,732. Asian Muslims were next, giving an average of $1,089. Arabs averaged $569 in gifts, and African Americans gave an average of $420. People of mixed ethnicity averaged $336.

U.S. Muslims in their 40s gave an average of $2,560 in Zakat annually, followed by $2,298 for those between the ages of 18 and 29. Muslim Americans who were in their 30s gave $1,799, those 65 and older $1,074. Interestingly, we found that those who were 50-64 years old gave the least: $474 on average.

3. Muslim philanthropy consists of a wide range of acts

We also found that Muslims consider philanthropy to consist of a wide range of acts that go beyond giving money.

In addition to volunteering or in-kind donations, these other forms of philanthropy include actions such as smiling, doing something for others out of good intentions, helping relatives, encouraging proper behavior, furthering good causes, abstaining from harmful acts and advocating on behalf of the oppressed. The Prophet Muhammad reportedly said that smiling in the face of your brother is an of act of charity.

Many Muslims see this broad understanding of philanthropy as essential to their social and civic participation. This model comes from the Prophet Muhammad, who espoused giving to charity  known as Sadaqa in Arabic.

The next phase of this research will analyze how race, gender and Islamic theological traditions impact Muslim American giving practices.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Shariq Siddiqui, Indiana University; Micah A. Hughes, Indiana University, and Rafeel Wasif, Portland State University

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Shariq Siddiqui and his team have received funding from Islamic Relief USA and the Mirza Family Foundation for this research.

Micah A. Hughes has received funding from Islamic Relief USA and the Mirza Family Foundation for this research.

Rafeel Wasif has received funding from Islamic Relief USA and the Mirza Family Foundation for this research.
Russian citizens stand in a long queue outside the Russian Consulate General to vote during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

The team around the deceased Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny reported a number of protests against the expected re-election of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, the final day of voting.

In the far-east of Russia in Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Irkutsk and other Siberian cities, people took part in the "Noon against Putin" campaign at lunchtime, as the Navalny team showed in a live stream on YouTube.

Hundreds of people also lined up at a polling station in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains.

Other Putin opponents, such as exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who lives in the United Kingdom, also called on people not to be afraid and to take part in the campaign.

In Russia, the last polling stations in the exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea opened in the morning.

The first election results are expected to be released after the final polling stations in Kaliningrad close at around 7 pm (1700 GMT).

Russian citizens stand in a long queue outside the Russian Consulate General to vote during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, attends a rally next to the Russian embassy in Berlin (AFP via Getty Images)

The wife of the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny joined thousands of protesters at voting stations on Sunday as they vowed to stand up against Vladimir Putin, who declared victory in the rigged presidential elections.

Yulia Navalnaya, who had endorsed her late husbands call to flock to the polling stations for the Noon Against Putin campaign, waited in line for six hours outside the Russian embassy in Berlin before casting her vote.

She told crowds after she left the building that she had written her husbands name on the ballot, having waited in a line more than a kilometre long and which snaked through multiple streets.

Asked whether she had a message for Mr Putin, Ms Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

But Mr Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest. There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then ... I praise this, he said at a news conference after polls closed.

Unusually, Mr Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time in years at the news conference. And he said he was informed of an idea to release the opposition leader from prison, days before his death. Mr Putin said that he agreed to the idea, on condition that Navalny didnt return to Russia.

However, thousands appeared to heed the call both inside and out of Russia, as opposition figures claimed they had made their voices heard in the face of elections without independent observers or any legitimate opponents to Mr Putin.

The real winner of Russias election today  Yulia Navalnaya, said Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Russia under Barack Obama. Tens of thousands answered her call and came to the polls today at noon to express their opposition to Putin.

Vladimir Putin was up against three candidates from parties who have not criticised his rule nor his invasion of Ukraine (AP)

Russian authorities, meanwhile, arrested more than 80 people across 17 cities for taking part in the campaign, independent human rights organisation OVD-Info reported, despite it involving no obvious illegal behaviour.

In Ufa, southern Russia, one man said he was detained for attempting to throw a photo of Navalny into a ballot box. He told OVD-Info that the authorities then threatened to charge him with obstructing the work of election commissions.

It came as Mr Putin declared his victory after the first exit polls suggested, predictably, that he had won a landslide victory in the presidential elections.

Speaking at his campaign headquarters, Mr Putin thanked those who voted for him and expressed special gratitude to our warriors on the line of contact, referring to the soldiers fighting in the war in Ukraine.

He also claimed that the result showed that Russia was building a common will of the people.

Before the results were finalised, Russian politicians also began to congratulate Mr Putin on his victory.

Congratulations to all Russias enemies on Vladimir Putins brilliant victory in the election of the President of the Russian Federation! wrote former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on social media. And a thank you to friends for the support.

With more than 70 per cent of regions counted, the Russian Central Election Commision claimed Mr Putin had received more than 87 per cent of the vote. The government also claimed the turnout was the highest in history at 74 per cent. In 2018, the turnout was 67.5 per cent.

In occupied Ukraine, where armed Russian soldiers were seen looming over Ukrainian civilians in the polling stations, the commission claimed more than 90 per cent of voters had signed for Mr Putin.

It was widely expected that Mr Putin would not only win these rigged elections but that he would improve on his previous victory in 2018, in which he received more than 76 per cent of the vote. In 2012, he received 63.6 per cent of the vote.

David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, wrote on X: "The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like."

Russian opposition politician Lyubov Sobol said: The difference between these elections and previous ones: this time they decided not to even count. Previously, they somehow still calculated and adjusted.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has not spoken to his Russian counterpart since Mr Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, said the autocrat had become sick with power.

These days, the Russian dictator imitates another elections, he said. Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever.

Everything Russia does in Ukraines occupied territories is a crime. This imitation of elections has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up on the dock in The Hague.
Over the past year, many Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. Knowing whether insiders are buying is usually more helpful when evaluating insider transactions, as insider selling can have various explanations. However, if numerous insiders are selling, shareholders should investigate more.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Executive VP and GM of Industrial Operations & Product Supply, Daniel Van Plew, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$9.8m worth of shares at a price of US$952 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to take some cash off the table, even slightly below the current price of US$964. As a general rule we consider it to be discouraging when insiders are selling below the current price, because it suggests they were happy with a lower valuation. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. This single sale was just 24% of Daniel Van Plew's stake.

Insiders in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals didn't buy any shares in the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

I will like Regeneron Pharmaceuticals better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Insiders At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Have Sold Stock Recently

The last quarter saw substantial insider selling of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals shares. In total, insiders dumped US$26m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. Overall this makes us a bit cautious, but it's not the be all and end all.

Story continues

Does Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It's great to see that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals insiders own 4.2% of the company, worth about US$4.4b. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Tell Us?

Insiders sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesn't show any insider buying. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals that deserve your attention before buying any shares.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions 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.
Yulia Navalnaya (C), widow of Alexey Navalny, stands in a queue outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin to vote during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Carsten Koall/dpa

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of dead Kremlin critic and opposition politician Alexei Navalny, joined protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin near his country's embassy in Berlin on Sunday.

Navalny's team published footage on Telegram in the afternoon showing Navalnaya, accompanied by spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, in the middle of a crowd outside the Russian embassy in Berlin.

The video shows Navalnaya being embraced by a woman at the protest, which comes on the third and final day of voting in Russia's presidential election.

According to the Berlin police, around 800 people took part in the demonstration. The demonstrators chanted "Victory for Ukraine! Freedom for Russia!", "Navalny is a hero of Russia" and "Putin is illegitimate."

Numerous people waved flags in white-blue-white, which some participants said should be the new colours of a free Russia.

Around 2,000 people queued in front of the Russian embassy to vote, including both Navalnaya and fellow Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom.

One woman said that she had been queuing to vote for two hours by midday.

Yulia Navalnaya (R), widow of Alexey Navalny, stands in a queue outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin to vote during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Weronika Peneshko/dpa
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again rejected calls for an end to the Gaza War for as long as Israel's objectives remain unmet.

"If we end the war now, before our goals have been achieved, this will mean that Israel has lost the war," Netanyahu said in Jerusalem at the start of the regular Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday. He added that he would not permit this.

Israel would not submit to international pressure on the issue, Netanyahu said, making clear that he was sticking to plans for the Israeli military to enter Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas units sheltering there.

"To our friends in the international community, I say: Is your memory so short? Have you forgotten October 7 so quickly, the worst massacre of Jews since the Shoah (Holocaust)?"

Netanyahu called on the international community rather to exert pressure on Hamas and its backer, Iran. "They are the ones that pose a threat to the region and the entire world," he said.

The Israeli prime minister was to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz later in the day. Speaking after talks with Jordan's King Abdullah, Scholz called for an urgent ceasefire and warned against an Israeli assault on Rafah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a visit to the base of the IDF Yahalom Unit Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/dpa

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again rejected calls for an end to the war in Gaza, at the start of the regular Israeli cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday.

"If we end the war now, before our goals have been achieved, this will mean that Israel has lost the war," Netanyahu said. He added that he would not permit this for as long as Israel's objectives remained unmet.

Israel would not submit to international pressure on the issue, Netanyahu said, making clear that he was sticking to plans for the Israeli military to enter Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas units sheltering there.

"To our friends in the international community, I say: Is your memory so short? Have you forgotten October 7 so quickly, the worst massacre of Jews since the Shoah (Holocaust)?"

Netanyahu called on the international community rather to exert pressure on the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and its chief backer, Iran. "They are the ones that pose a threat to the region and the entire world," he said.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had killed more than a dozen Palestinian fighters in the Gaza strip in the last 24 hours.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that "approximately 18 terrorists were killed by sniper, shell and aerial fire" over the past 24 hours during military operations in central Gaza.

Gaza's health authority announced that 92 bodies had been brought to hospitals within 24 hours and 130 other people had been injured. The authority, which is controlled by Hamas, accused Israel of having committed "nine massacres of families."

This brings the number of people killed in the Palestinian territory to 31,645 since the beginning of the Gaza war more than five months ago, according to the health authority. Around 73,680 others had suffered injuries.

Numerous dead and injured are still believed to be under the rubble, Palestinian officials said. Rescue workers are not always able to reach them due to the fierce fighting.

Dpa is unable to independently confirm figures from either the Hamas-controlled health authority or the IDF.

Israel has come under growing international criticism for the conduct of its military operations, given the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the large numbers of civilian casualties.

According to the IDF, it is still operating in the centre of the Gaza Strip and in the city of Khan Younis in the south.

The IDF said that several "terrorists have been eliminated" and weapons caches were found there. The Israeli air force struck a compound from which an anti-tank missile had been fired at troops, the IDF said.

Airdrops of aid supplies on Gaza continued, with the German Air Force announcing on Sunday that German C-130 Hercules aircraft flying out of Jordan had dropped 4.4 tons of material by parachute on four pallets. Several other countries also deployed transport aircraft as part of the mission.

Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas led unprecedented and brutal attacks on Israel on October 7, which included massacres of civilians that left more than 1,200 people dead.

Palestinian militants also abducted about 250 people from Israel as hostages held in Gaza. The Israeli military believes about 100 of the hostages may still be alive in captivity there.

Israeli leaders have said that the goal of the military operations is to destroy Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since seizing power there in 2007.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference. Scholz is scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz as well as relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza alongside Netanyahu. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in agreement that Hamas must be eliminated, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated following a meeting with Scholz in Jerusalem.

While Israel agreed with Scholz that humanitarian aid had to be increased by land, sea and air, and Israel would do whatever it could to minimize casualties, "we also agreed that Hamas has to be eliminated," Netanyahu said on Sunday.

"We cannot have a future for Gaza, a future for peace, a future for Israel if Hamas, a terrorist organization committed to our genocide, remains intact," he said. "If it remains intact, it will regroup and reconquer the Gaza Strip and repeat the massacre again and again and again."

Scholz responded that the victims of the October 7 attack would not be forgotten. "Our message has been clear: Israel has a right to defend itself against the terrorism of Hamas, and all hostages must be released. This cruel crime must end now," he said.

But the German chancellor also noted the "extremely high cost in human lives" and said he had shared his concerns with Netanyahu.

While Israel was pursing a legitimate goal of never again October 7, the question had to be asked whether, no matter how important the goal, could it justify such terribly high costs.

"We cannot stand by and watch Palestinians risk starvation  That is not what we stand for," Scholz said. He called for a deal on releasing the hostages "with a longer lasting ceasefire."

In the five months or so of the Gaza war, the number of civilian casualties "is extremely high, many would argue, much too high," Scholz asserted.

Turning to the situation in Lebanon, Scholz said that Hezbollah had to withdraw from the border with Israel and that military escalation there would have "unforeseeable consequences."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after a joint press conference. Scholz is scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz as well as relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza alongside Netanyahu. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday, labeling his floor speech criticizing Netanyahus government as totally inappropriate.

Schumer, the most senior Jewish politician in the country and an ardent supporter of Israel, called for new elections in Israel in an address on Thursday. Schumer said Netanyahu has lost his way, adding that the prime minister has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows.

It is totally inappropriate, Netanyahu told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union about Schumers criticism. Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. Thats something the Israeli public does on its own.

Were not a banana republic, he continued. I think the only government that we should be working on to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza.

Schumers criticism is the latest example of rising pressure from Democrats against Netanyahus government, as the Biden administration continues to push Israel to slow its military operation in Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid into the region.

Netanyahu rejected Schumers claims, saying that his policies and government are popular among most Israelis.

The majority of Israelis support the policies of my government. Its not a fringe government, he said. It represents the policies supported by the majority of the people. If Sen. Schumer opposes these policies, he is not opposing me. He is opposing the people of Israel.

The prime minister also dodged Schumers specific request for new elections. Netanyahu said holding elections is for the Israeli people to decide, and twice avoided answering a yes-or-no on the topic.

If we were to have elections now, before the war is won, resoundingly won, we would have at least six months of national paralysis, which means we would lose the war, Netanyahu said.

Thats something for the Israeli people to decide, the prime minister said when Bash asked a second time. I think its ridiculous to talk about it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shot back Sunday at comments by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who last week called for elections in Israel to remove the current government.

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What he said is totally inappropriate, Netanyahu said on CNNs State of the Union, in his first public comments to the Senate floor speech by Schumer, the highest-ranking elected Jewish American in history. Its inappropriate for a  to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there.

Were not a banana republic.

The majority of Israelis support our government and oppose ramming a Palestinian state down our throat, Netanyahu said on CNN. The majority of Israelis support the policies that were leading.

Netanyahu vowed in a cabinet meeting on Sunday to press on with Israels campaign against Hamas by sending troops into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite mounting global pressure for a cease-fire.

If we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, this means that Israel will have lost the war, and this we will not allow, he said.

Israels leader made an indirect reference in those remarks to Schumer and the call for elections, saying that holding a new ballot would paralyze the country for at least six months.

Israels war cabinet on Friday approved an assault on Rafah after the civilians there have been moved out. Netanyahus office said the Israel Defense Forces are taking steps to relocate the estimated 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in the city toward central Gaza.

We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen, Netanyahu said on Sunday.

Public Rebuke

In Thursdays 44-minute speech, Schumer, a New York Democrat and a decades-long supporter of Israel in Congress, said Netanyahu had become an obstacle to peace.

It was an extraordinary public rebuke as concerns grow worldwide about the civilian toll of Israels war on Hamas in Gaza, now into its sixth month.

President Joe Biden praised the remarks, saying that Schumer had made a good speech while stopping short of endorsing the call for Israeli elections and Netanyahus ouster. On Sunday, John Kirby, spokesman for the White Houses National Security Council, said on ABCs This Week that the US has to respect the sovereignty of a democratic country.

Read more: US Sanctions Israel West Bank Settlers as Gaza Tensions Grow

Israel Readies Rafah Assault While Reviving Cease-Fire Talks

Israels war against Hamas, designated as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, started after Hamas fighters invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 men, women and children and taking some 250 hostage. More than 130 of the hostages are still being held in Gaza.

Netanyahu said going into Rafah is the only way to eliminate Hamas remaining brigades and create the military pressure necessary to free all of the hostages. He called on the global community to apply pressure instead on Hamas and on its sponsor, Iran.

To our friends in the international community I say: Is your memory so short? So quickly did you forget October 7, the most terrible massacre committed against Jews since the Holocaust? Netanyahu said at the cabinet meeting. Did you lose your moral conscience so quickly?

Read more: Biden-Netanyahu Spat Spills Into View as Gaza Deaths Rise

Israel will send a delegation to Qatar to resume negotiations this week on a deal for the return of hostages, according to a statement on Friday, after a cease-fire proposal submitted earlier by Hamas was said to include unreasonable demands.

The Hamas-run health ministry says that more than 31,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7. Its estimates dont differentiate between combatants and civilians.

With the Rafah offensive looming and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza from insufficient provision of food and medical aid, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Saturday warned Israel against using hunger as a weapon of war.

Israel says it is doing all it can to facilitate the flow of food and medical supplies into Gaza and is putting no limits on the amount of aid. Bottlenecks are due to lack of sufficient capacity by the UN organizations to distribute the aid inside Gaza, Israel has said.

The large number of civilian casualties that would result from an assault on Rafah would make regional peace very difficult, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday after talks with Jordans King Abdullah.

Scholz met with Netanyahu on Sunday as well in a bid to push for a long-lasting cease-fire.

--With assistance from Sonja Wind and Victoria Cavaliere.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not take kindly to Sen. Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) speech on the Senate floor last week where he called for Israel to hold elections once the current assault on Gaza winds down.

What he said is totally inappropriate. Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there, the Israeli prime minister said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union that aired Sunday.

Thats for the Israeli people to decide. I think its ridiculous.@IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu wont commit to holding early elections in Israel once the war in Gaza winds down. pic.twitter.com/29fOpMvSC7  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) March 17, 2024

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. and a longtime ally to Israel, called Netanyahu an obstacle to peace. He said that a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel at a time when so many Israelis have lost their confidence in the vision and direction of their government.

I think what he said is totally inappropriate, Netanyahu told host Dana Bash of Schumers comments. Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. Thats something that Israel, the Israeli public does on its own, and were not a banana republic.

Netanyahu went on to claim that the majority of Israelis and overwhelming majority of the Knesset oppose the idea of ramming down a Palestinian state down our throats.

Bash referenced a report from the Director of National Intelligence that said, Distrust of Netanyahus ability to rule has deepened and broadened across the public. Bash also pointed out that polls conducted in Israel show its citizens support early elections.

Channel 12 says 64 percent of Israelis support early elections, she said. But Netanyahu still refused to commit.

I think thats something for the Israeli public to decide. I think its ridiculous to talk about it, Netanyahu said, comparing the idea of discussing elections now to calling for an election in America after 9/11.

Bash questioned Netanyahu about Israels throttle on humanitarian aid and tried to get the prime minister to commit to a significant increase in the amount of aid allowed into Gaza. Organizations call what they are seeing near-famine in Gaza, she said. So why wont you allow more food trucks to drive through the border crossings in to Gaza to feed starving civilians while you continue to take out the terrorists in Hamas?

Well, our policy is to do exactly that, Netanyahu said. Our policy is to not have famine, but to have the entry of humanitarian support as needed and as much as is needed.

But, as Bash noted, the humanitarian aid coming in currently amounts to a trickle. World Food Program leader Cindy McCain, a longtime Israel supporter and widow of Sen. John McCain, said a significant increase of aid is needed now to prevent a famine.

In recent weeks, Palestinians have accused Israeli troops of opening fire on people seeking food in various locations in Gaza. In late February, the Israeli military fired into a crowd lining up to collect food from an aid envoy. This past Thursday, at least 20 people died and another 155 were wounded while waiting for food, Gazas health ministry said, attributing the deaths to Israeli shelling. An Israel Defense Forces preliminary review said it was not Israeli forces but Palestinians who opened fire.

We were sitting there, and there was nothing, man identifying himself as Ibrahim Al-Najar told CNN. Suddenly, they bombarded us with shells. There are a lot of martyrs and injuries. We were there to bring food for our children.

At least 15 children have already starved to death  and this is only the data from one hospital, said Hiba Tibi, West Bank and Gaza country director for poverty charity Care, according to an article published on Mar. 12 in The BMJ.

In the Sunday interview, Netanyahu repeated his desire to invade Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge from fighting in the north. Biden called Rafah a red line and urged Israel not to invade, but Netanyahu has held firm. Well go there. Were not going to leave, he said last week.

To Bash, Netanyahu claimed that Israelis overwhelmingly support the position that we have to go in [to Rafah], although he did not provide evidence of this.

The Biden administration has called for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Gaza. Representatives from the Israeli government are traveling to Qatar to attempt to negotiate a deal for Hamas to free hostages in exchange for a six-week pause in fighting. In prior negotiations, Hamas has asked for Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons  many who are held without charges  to be released as well.

At the end of last month, the Palestinian death toll since Oct. 7 climbed to above 30,000, according to Gazas ministry of health. Two-thirds of those deaths have been women and children. The number of dead is likely an undercount, as many people are missing and an unknown number of bodies remain under rubble from Israeli airstrikes.

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By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's speech in which he urged new elections in Israel was "totally inappropriate."

In a speech on the Senate floor on Thursday, Schumer, a longtime supporter of Israel and the highest-ranking Jewish U.S. elected official, called for new elections in Israel and said Netanyahu was an obstacle to peace.

"I think what he said is totally inappropriate. It's inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there," Netanyahu said in the CNN interview.

The speech reflected growing frustration in Washington with Netanyahu, his management of the war in Gaza and failure to do more to protect Palestinian civilians and allow more aid deliveries into the enclave. International criticism of U.S. support for Israel has mounted due to the death toll and starvation crisis in Gaza.

Schumer said it would be a "grave mistake" for Israel to reject a two-state solution and urged negotiators in the Israel-Gaza conflict to do everything possible to secure a ceasefire, free hostages and get aid into Gaza.

Netanyahu stood firm on Sunday, saying a Palestinian state would be "the greatest reward for terrorism in history."

"Hamas had a de facto Palestinian state in Gaza. And what did they use it for? To massacre Israelis and the worst savagery that was meted on Jews since the Holocaust," he said on Fox News.

President Joe Biden on Friday said Schumer's comments echoed the concerns of many Americans, describing the remarks as a "good speech."

Still, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Sunday that Biden believed it was up to Israel to make its own decisions about internal politics.

"We respect the sovereignty of the Israeli people," Kirby told Fox News Sunday. "The president believes it's up to the Israeli people and the Israeli government to determine if and when there's going to be new elections."

Schumer, in a statement released by his office in response to Netanyahu's CNN interview, said: "It's a good thing that a serious discussion has now begun about how to ensure Israel's future security and prosperity once Hamas has been defeated,"

In Israel, Netanyahu dismissed international pressure on Sunday and said Israel's military would push into Rafah, the last relatively safe place in the tiny, crowded Gaza enclave after more than five months of war.

Israel's allies have repeatedly urged Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, where more than a million displaced people from other parts of the devastated enclave have sought shelter, without a plan to protect civilians.

Republican congressman Michael McCaul, who leads the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, criticized Schumer's Thursday speech on Netanyahu.

"You don't talk about toppling a government in a democracy," McCaul told Fox News Sunday, calling Schumer's remarks "very inappropriate" and "embarrassing."

Schumer also criticized Palestinians who support Islamist group Hamas, and said Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas also should step aside.

Schumer raised the possibility of Washington using its leverage if Israel does not change course. Still, he did not go as far as suggesting a step some Democrats advocate: introducing legislation to make easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza a condition for the U.S. providing more weapons to Israel.

Israel's military assault on Gaza has displaced nearly its entire 2.3 million population, caused a starvation crisis, flattened most of the enclave, killed over 31,000 people, according to Gaza's health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide being probed in the World Court.

Israel denies the genocide charges and says it is acting in self defense after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel from Hamas that killed some 1,200, according to Israeli tallies, and took scores of hostages.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; additional reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Heather Timmons and Bill Berkrot)
Nigers military government announced that it has ended an accord with the US that allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defense to operate in Niger  days after holding high-level talks with US diplomatic and military officials this week.

The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense in the territory of the Republic of Niger, Niger military spokesman Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane said in a statement on national television announcing the change.

Abdramane added that the agreement between the two countries  signed in 2012, was imposed on Niger and had been in violation of the constitutional and democratic rules of the West African nations sovereignty.

This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its substance but it also does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people, he said.

Niger was once a key regional partner for the US, but relations have deteriorated since the military junta claimed power in July 2023 in what the US formally designated as a coup.

Since then, the US has withdrawn many of its 1,100 troops who were stationed in Niger.

Senior Pentagon officials believe that keeping a presence in Niger is vital to efforts to tackle terrorism in the region. In October, the Pentagon said it was still assessing how the change would impact approximately 1,000 US forces stationed in the country.

In a letter sent to Congress in December 2023, President Joe Biden noted that approximately 648 US military personnel remain deployed to Niger.

Condescending attitude

The announcement comes after a senior US delegations three-day visit to Niger this week.

Abdramane said that the US delegation was received out of courtesy and did not respect diplomatic practices by not providing information regarding the date of its arrival, the composition of the delegation and the purpose of the visit.

During meetings, Nigerien and American officials discussed the military transition in Niger and military cooperation between the two countries, Abdramane said.

The government of Niger regrets the desire of the American delegation to deny the Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships capable of helping them truly fight against terrorists, Abdramane said.

Abdramane said Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude of the US.

This attitude is likely to undermine the quality of our centuries-old relations and undermine the trust between our two governments, he said.

He also rejected what he said were allegations of a secret deal made between Niger, Russia, and Iran.

CNN has reached out to the US Department of Defense for comment.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
FILE - In this image taken from video provided by ORTN, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, front center, makes a statement late Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Niamey, Niger, as a delegation of military officers appeared on Niger State TV to read out a series of communiques announcing their coup d'etat. Niger's junta said Saturday, March 16, 2024, the U.S. military presence in the country is no longer justified, making the announcement on state television after holding high-level talks with U.S. diplomatic and military officials during the week. (ORTN via AP, File)

NIAMEY, Niger (AP)  Niger's junta said Saturday the U.S. military presence in the country is no longer justified, making the announcement on state television after holding high-level talks with U.S. diplomatic and military officials this week.

Niger plays a central role in the U.S. militarys operations in Africa's Sahel region and is home to a major airbase. The U.S. is concerned about the spread of jihadist violence in the region, where local groups have pledged allegiance to al-Qaida and the Islamic State extremist groups.

In reading the statement, the junta's spokesman, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, stopped short of saying U.S. forces should leave. He said Niger was suspending military cooperation with Washington and added that U.S. flights over the countrys territory in recent weeks were illegal.

The U.S. military in recent years began operating a major airbase in the Niger city of Agadez, some 920 kilometers (550 miles) from the capital of Niamey, using it for manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations.

The U.S. has also invested years and hundreds of millions of dollars in training Niger's military. Some of those forces were involved in the July overthrow of Niger's democratically elected president, Mohammed Bazoum.

In October, Washington officially designated the military takeover as a coup, which triggered U.S. laws restricting the military support and aid that it can provide to Niger. But in December, the top U.S. envoy for Africa, Molly Phee, said the U.S. was willing to restore aid and security ties if Niger met certain conditions.

The Niger junta spokesman said the U.S. tone was condescending and threatened Niger's sovereignty. Since the July coup, the country has ended its security partnership with the European Union and France has withdrawn its troops from the country.

Phee and Marine Gen. Michael Langley, head of the U.S. military's African Command, were in Niamey this week to meet with senior Niger government officials. Phee did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

The U.S. military had some 650 personnel working in Niger in December, according to a White House report to Congress.

___

Associated Press writer Jessica Donati in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.
Sea Limited (NYSE: SE) reached a milestone in 2023 as it delivered its first-ever profitable year. Revenue grew 5% to $13.1 billion, while net income reached $163 million, compared to a net loss of $1.7 billion in 2022.

However, there is a lot happening beneath the surface of these headline figures. After an incredible few years of growth at any cost, mounting losses sent Sea stock plummeting more than 80% from their all-time high in 2022.

Sea's e-commerce segment, Shopee, remains the company's biggest business, and last year, Shopee entered a new chapter of its growth story.

Shopee stepped on the brakes of its growth machine

Shopee was one of the fastest-growing e-commerce companies in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Riding the tailwind of global lockdowns, Shopee invested heavily in existing markets in Southeast Asia while also entering new markets like Brazil. Revenue jumped 160% in 2020 and another 136% in 2021.

Key to its growth was the enormous cash flow from its gaming company, Garena, and cheap external funding for its e-commerce venture. Shopee's growth-at-all-costs strategy, which helped it gain enormous market share, ended up proving too costly. For instance, Shopee's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) loss in 2021 nearly doubled to $2.6 billion on $5.1 billion in revenue.

Sea hit several roadblocks in 2022 -- Garena's business contracted massively after economies reopened from pandemic restrictions and external financing became limited. Without its cash cow, Shopee had to change course fast. It exited loss-making markets, reduced subsidies, cut costs, and raised merchant fees. As a result, the e-commerce company reported EBITDA of $196 million in Q4 2022, reversing the year-ago period's $878 million loss.

Shopee's strategic pivot was vital as it demonstrated to investors the validity of its business model -- it could be profitable at scale. However, it came with its own cost as Shopee's growth slowed to just 16% in Q3 2023.

Story continues

Shopee is accelerating its growth but at a more sustainable pace

Just a few quarters after pivoting to a greater focus on profitability, Shopee is again investing in its growth, and for good reasons.

First, Shopee operates in regions with low e-commerce penetration, so it makes sense for the company to capture as much growth as possible. If it doesn't do that, competitors will happily fill the void, and Shopee is already in first or second place in most of its markets.

Besides, e-commerce marketplaces like Shopee only become more dominant with increasing scale thanks to network effects. That scale will also help Shopee reduce its unit costs over time, making it cheaper to serve each user as it grows.

This time around, however, Shopee aims to grow within its means, and there are signs this new strategy is gaining traction. In Q4 2023, revenue was up 23% year over year to $2.6 billion due to a 29% surge in gross merchandise value (GMV). Gross orders performed even better, up 46% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA dipped back into negative territory at $225 million due to Shopee's growth spending. But earnings from Sea's other segments allowed the company to report groupwide adjusted EBITDA of $127 million for the quarter.

After a few years of instability, Shopee seems to have found a growth pace it can sustain over time.

What it means for investors

Management has guided for Shopee to grow GMV in "the high-teens range" in full-year 2024, and its adjusted EBITDA will turn positive again in the second half of this year.

It's still early days for Shopee's new direction, and investors must continue to monitor its performance in the coming quarters.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Firefighters were called to an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Springmont Lane on Saturday morning, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

This is off Todville Road, near Freedom Drive. Officials say 30 firefighters controlled the blaze in about 11 minutes. No one was injured. However, one person was displaced from the home and the Red Cross is assisting them.

Authorities believe the fire was caused by unattended cooking on the stove. There were no smoke detectors in the home. The fire caused approximately $65,000 in damage.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his preordained electoral victory Sunday as a sign of the country's "trust" and "hope" in him, and after stifling any real attempt at unseating him, felt confident enough to refer to late opposition leader Alexei Navalny by name.

Despite several opposition protests across Russia, Putin easily claimed another six-year term by getting 87% of the vote with 80% of the precincts counted, election officials said. Other candidates languished below 5%.

Putin has been in power since 1999, and the predetermined victory will allow him to surpass Josef Stalin's 29-year tenure, making the former KGB agent the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years even though the country has been engaged in a costly war in Ukraine for more than two years. The turnout of 74.22% was higher than the 67.5% recorded in 2018.

In a post-election news conference, Putin surprisingly acknowledged being presented an offer of a prisoner swap that would free Navalny  his most prominent critic  from an Arctic prison days before he mysteriously died last month. Putin claimed he was in favor of the deal as long as Navalny did not return to Russia, and called his death an "unfortunate incident."

Navalny's legacy was alive as long lines formed at some polling places at noon in apparent support of the "Noon Against Putin" protest called for by the opposition. Some Russians living abroad also joined the demonstration by lining up outside Russian embassies around the world.

"The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him," the White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

Putin, 71, brushed aside suggestions the election was not democratic and said he would prioritize bolstering the military. "We have many tasks ahead," he said, according to Reuters. "But when we are consolidated  no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us  nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future."

Putin faced token challenges from three politicians who declined to criticize the man who has ruled with an iron fist for a quarter century. Two antiwar candidates, Boris Nadezhdin and Yekaterina Duntsova, were barred from running due to "irregularities" purportedly found in the candidate petitions and other documents.

"There isn't any real choice," the Free Russia Foundation said in a statement. "Observers are absent, repression is rampant, candidates face inadmissibility, and there's strict control over the information space."

Three days of voting concluded Sunday at polling stations across Russia and regions of Ukraine that Moscow claims to have "annexed" over the objections of the international community.

In a social media post, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron alluded to "the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent ... monitoring," before adding, "This is not what free and fair elections look like."

Voters line up at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, at noon local time on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The Russian opposition called on people to head to polling stations at noon on Sunday in protest during votin on the last day of a presidential election.

Developments:

 More than 85 people were arrested in 21 Russian cities for protesting the election, the independent Russian human rights group OVD-Info reported Sunday. Occasional demonstrations of defiance included setting fire to voting booths and spoiling cast ballots by pouring dye on them.

 Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, joined the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin as the crowd applauded and chanted her name. Navalnaya said she wrote in her late husband's name on the ballot and called Putin "a killer, a gangster."

 In Tallinn, Estonia, hundreds stood in a line snaking around the citys cobbled streets leading to the Russian Embassy. Estonia, a nation of less than 1.5 million people that borders Russia, declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

With Russian presidential election, Vladimir Putin may cement longest reign since Stalin

Putin foes dismiss 'sham' election

Exiled businessman and opposition activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky said some dissenters were protesting by scrawling Navalny's name across their ballots. Khodorkovsky said Putin "craves international legitimacy" and markets himself as a global player to Russians. Western democracies must not recognize the election, he said.

"There can be no illusion of universal support for Putin in Russia," Khodorkovsky, who lives in London, said in a social media post. "The election is fraudulent, his inevitable victory is a sham, and must be recognized as such by the democratic world."

Ukraine drones target Moscow amid elections

Putin spoke confidently of military gains in the Ukraine war in the weeks leading up to the election. But early Sunday, armed Ukrainian drones attacked at least eight Russian regions, with some reaching as far as the Moscow area, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said four drones were shot down across the city, with no injuries or damage reported. More than 800 miles south of Moscow, "several" drones attacked the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar Region, according to the regional anti-crisis center. A fire that broke out was promptly extinguished, authorities said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russian election updates: Putin claims another term despite protests
Thousands of Russians on March 17 demonstrated their protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin by showing up at the polling stations at the pre-agreed time, at noon.

This "peaceful protest," promoted by late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was meant to demonstrate how many Russians were ready to vote against Putin. After showing up at the same time, those opposing Putin were supposed to proceed to vote for any other candidate  or to ruin the ballot.

Russia's presidential election entered its third and last day on March 17, with the state-controlled news agency Interfax reporting over 70% voter turnout as of 3 p.m. local time in Moscow.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, called on Russians to vote midday on March 17 in what she described as a symbolic protest against Putin.

There are many people around you who are anti-Putin and anti-war, and if we come at the same time, our anti-Putin voice will be much louder," Navalnaya, who lined up in queues at the Russian Embassy in Berlin to vote, said in a video published on March 13.

Photos and videos of Russians lining up in long queues to attend a local polling station were published by Russian independent media outlet Meduza. It reported that the first actions took place in the Far East and then in Siberia and the Urals.

In the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, the mayor's office claimed it "strengthened security measures" due to what it claimed as "provocative actions aimed at destabilizing the work of election commissions."

But the protest ended without achieving results or even a reaction from the Kremlin. According to OVD-Info human rights monitoring group, over 75 people protesting were arrested across 17 Russian cities at 4:21 p.m. local time.

Over the course of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Moscow intensified its crackdown on anti-war dissidents in Russia, effectively killing any hopes for a revolution that would overthrow the leadership. Multiple polls, such as the recent one conducted by the Russian independent polling organization, the Levada Center, also suggested that many Russians support the war in Ukraine.

Putin, who has ruled Russia since 2000, is seeking a fifth term as president. The win will put him in power until 2030.

In the presidential election, Putin is up against three other contenders who all stand no realistic chance of winning.

Any credible political rivals such as Boris Nadezhdin have been prevented from standing or, in the case of Alexei Navalny, imprisoned before dying while in detention.

Russia held a rigged vote in 2020 to approve constitutional amendments allowing Putin to run for two more presidential terms after his current one expires in 2024.

The vote effectively made Putin, who has been in power since 1999, a dictator for life.

Freedom House, a nonprofit advocating for international democracy, gave Russia a 0 out of 4 score in its 2023 report card on political freedoms in the country.

Russia has never experienced a democratic transfer of power between rival groups, said Freedom House.

Although unlikely enough to derail his chances of election, the ongoing raids by multiple pro-Ukrainian military units from Ukrainian territory into Russian border regions, have caused a headache for the Kremlin as voting gets underway.

In response to the raids, Putin and his defense chiefs may have to choose between paying a cost in resources or in reputation, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed in its daily report on March 14.

Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Thousands of people turned up at polling stations in Russia and capitals across the world on Sunday to take part in what the anti-Kremlin opposition said was a peaceful but symbolic protest against the re-election of President Vladimir Putin.

In an action called "noon against Putin", Russians who oppose the veteran Kremlin leader went to their local polling station at midday to either spoil their ballot paper or to vote for one of the three candidates standing against Putin, who is widely expected to win by a landslide.

Others had vowed to write the name of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison, on their voting slip and some visited Navalny's grave in Moscow to symbolically cast their vote for him.

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.

Navalny had endorsed the "Noon against Putin" plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action "Navalny's political testament".

"There is very little hope but if you can do something (like this) you should do it. There is nothing left of democracy," one young woman, who did not give her name and whose face was blurred out by Navalny's team, said at one polling station.

Another young woman at a different polling station, whose identity had been disguised in the same way, said she had voted for the "least dubious" of the three candidates running against Putin.

A male student voting in Moscow told Navalny's channel that people like him who disagreed with the current system needed to go on living their lives regardless.

"History has shown that changes occur at the most unexpected of times," he said.

Despite the protesters - who represent a small fraction of Russia's 114 million voters - Putin is poised to tighten his grip on power in the election that is certain to deliver him a big victory.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned if all those voting at foreign embassies were opponents of Putin and accused Western media of disseminating propaganda about the events.

"Russian citizens did not come to the rallies and performances that unfriendly regimes and their paid information services are trying to present," Zakharova said.

"They came to cast their vote. Who they voted for and how they voted is their free choice. But the fact that they rejected the appeals of the marginalised is obvious to everyone."

PROTEST

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West. It says Putin enjoys overwhelming support among ordinary Russians, pointing to opinion polls which put his approval rating above 80%.

With Russia's vast landmass stretching across 11 time zones, protest voters were scattered rather than concentrated into a single mass, making it hard to estimate how many people turned up for the protest event.

The size of the queues at each polling station shown on Navalny's channel ranged from a few dozen people to what looked like several hundred people.

Reuters journalists saw a slight increase in the flow of voters, especially younger people, at noon at some polling stations in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, with queues of several hundred people, and in some places even thousands.

Some said they were protesting though there were few outward signs to distinguish them from ordinary voters.

Leonid Volkov, an exiled Navalny aide who was attacked with a hammer last week in Vilnius, estimated hundreds of thousands of people had come out to polling stations in Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and other cities.

Reuters could not independently verify that estimate.

At polling stations at Russian diplomatic missions in Australia, Japan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Britain, hundreds of Russians stood in line at noon.

In Berlin, Yulia, Navalny's widow, showed up at the Russian embassy to take part in the protest event there along with Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokesperson. Other Russians present clapped and chanted her name.

Not all of the Russians who came to vote appeared to be opponents. In London, one man queuing to vote was wearing a top that read 'Jesus is my saviour. Putin is my president'.

Others were registering a protest.

"We haven't been heard for past 30 years. Nobody listened to us. We moved, we emigrated, and even here, far away from Russia, we feel the consequences of not us not being heard," voter Natalia Cherednikova said in London.

"This year is so important just to be there for ourselves, even though we all (are) ...fatalistic in terms of the meaning of it and that nobody really cares. It's just for ourselves that we've been here. We have voted. We showed up."

(Reporting by Reuters; Additional reporting by Yann Tessier and William James in London; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Peter Graff, Ros Russell and Alexander Smith)
North Little Rock truck stop rededicated to honor Arkansas womans more than 50-year-long trucking career

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  An Arkansas woman who has been a trucker for more than 50 years is receiving permanent recognition in North Little Rock.

The TA Petro Truck Stop on Galloway near Interstate 40 was rededicated on Saturday as the Idella M Hansen Stopping Center in honor of Hansens more than half-a-century-long trucking career.

First female commander at Little Rock Air Force Base looks back on time of service in central Arkansas

Hansen began her trucking career in Camden in the late 1960s and paved the way for other women to enter the previously male-dominated field.

Mostly I stayed local, my girls were in school, she said. So I hauled chips, lumber, in a regional area, pulled a flatbed then I was home two or three nights a week and every weekend.

Trucking company using video game billboards to recruit drivers

Saturdays ceremony was part of a stop on the Sisters of the Road traveling museum tour crossing the country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
York cheese shop owner Jordan Thomson said three burglaries in two weeks had left him "shocked and scared"

Criminals who target businesses are being targeted in a four-day campaign by North Yorkshire Police.

Extra police resources will be used to tackle those who steal from shops and other businesses in Scarborough, Northallerton and York from Monday.

The operation follows a spate of burglaries on businesses including a cheese shop in York, which was broken into three times in two weeks.

Police said it would "deter, disrupt and detain persistent offenders".

Det Insp Ryan Chapman, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "The fact that these days are being held across York and North Yorkshire shows how seriously we take this type of crime.

"They also give us an opportunity to highlight the work we are doing to tackle the issue."

He said the campaign days would not be "one-offs" and would be followed by local police teams continuing to work closely with businesses to "reduce the impact of this type of crime".

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams discusses her State of the City address, which touched on the citys migrant crisis, 3-K funding and mayoral oversight.

Watch the video player for the full interview.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Despite the terrifying subway shooting which sent Brooklyn straphangers scrambling this week, Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday declared the Big Apple is still the safest big city in America.

I  want to say to New Yorkers: listen, people want to give the energy of because of isolated incidents that happen in our city that our city is a place of disorder , Adams told Q104.3 FMs Jim Kerr before marching in the St. Patricks Day Parade through Midtown.

That is just a just a lot of BS. The city is resilient.

Hizzoner then touted stats showing shootings and homicides are down citywide while the the city has more private sector jobs that any time in its history.

The people in this city are strong, he said.

Dont let anybody give you all that BS about New York City is not resilient.

Before marching in the annual St. Patricks Day parade through Midtown, NYC Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday insisted the Big Apple is still the safest big city in America  despite its subway system being plagued by yet another shooting. Luiz Rampelotto/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com

This is the safest big city in America. We are the best city on the globe, period. None of all that other stuff. Its just maddening.

Statistics show subway crime is up 13.2% as of March 10.

The apparent disconnect comes as ranting rider Dajuan Robinson, 36, clings to life after he was shot four times, including through the eye after suddenly going beserk on a fellow rider.

Mayor Adams said NYC has more private sector jobs than ever. TTstudio  stock.adobe.com

As Robinson, 36, harangued and brawled with Younece Obuad, 32, Obuads apparent girlfriend was caught on video stabbing Robinson in the back, sources said.

Robinson then got out his gun, which Obuad wrestled away from him and fired as the express A-train pulled into the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street station, cops and law-enforcement sources said.

Robinson remained hospitalized Saturday in critical condition, authorities said.

The Brooklyn DAs office on Friday said its investigation into the shooting is ongoing but at this stage, evidence of self-defense precludes us from filing any criminal charges against the shooter Obuad.
A Queens neighborhood in New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortezs congressional district was likened by locals to a third world country with people selling goods on the sidewalks and prostitutes openly soliciting sex.

The widely vibrant and diverse communities of Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in northwestern Queens appear to have descended into an open flea market, according to video obtained by Fox News.

Local resident Ramses Frias, a Democrat-turned-Republican who is running for the Assembly District 39 seat to clean up his communitys streets, filmed blocks and blocks of illegal vendors selling clothes, sneakers, toys and snacks.

Residents say that illegal migrants without permits to work have been left to hit the streets to make a living. Instagram

Like most of my like-minded residents, we see this as a third-world market, Frias, 43, told Fox News Digital. Basically, you just see clothes thrown across the floor  the items are stolen from donation bins or stolen from stores, and they just set up shop outside brick-and-mortar businesses. They take away trade from these businesses and dont pay taxes.

There are no repercussions; they get a free pass, says Frias, who says the streets have become overrun by illegal street vendors while crime has been steadily increasing in the neighborhood.

On Wednesday, what appeared to be sex workers were filmed outside of businesses soliciting sex from men, who residents say then go back to makeshift brothels for sex, according to Frias.

They do whatever they please, they are open about it and not discreet, Frias told the outlet. They line up all along 90th street in front of a pizzeria, a 99-cent store and just try to pull men. Youll see multiple women in scantily clad clothing. Now its cold, they are a bit covered up, but it will get worse in the summer.

Only licensed vendors are permitted to sell food or goods in public spaces in New York  and prostitution is illegal in the Empire State.

The neighborhood is run by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project

Local resident Ramses Frias filmed blocks and blocks of illegal vendors selling clothes, sneakers, toys, and snacks. Instagram

Residents say that illegal migrants without permits to work have been left to hit the streets to make a living.

In January, NYPD busted a dozen brothels posing as massage parlors that were operating in inhumane conditions in a weeklong takedown.

Mayor Eric Adams blamed the rise of prostitution in the neighborhood on an influx of female Venezuelan migrants who are struggling to find other work in the Big Apple.

Only licensed vendors are permitted to sell food or goods in public spaces in New York Instagram

Adams said the surge in illegal activity taking place on street corners in Corona is just one example of how the nations ongoing migrant crisis is crippling the city.

This is what happens when you create an atmosphere that people cant provide for themselves  you cant work, you cant provide for your job and have to turn to illegal activities to do so, the mayor told reporters following Januarys brothel crackdown.
A straphanger said being caught up in this weeks horrifying shooting on a packed A-train was every New Yorkers worst fear.

Alanie Aucoin-Jackson, 30, was sitting at the end of the train car Thursday when the deadly fight between DaJuan Robinson and Younce Obuad erupted.

It was terrifying just because I didnt know if this was going to be my final moments. I didnt know when it was going to stop honestly. With all the chaos with all these people, you just never know, Aucoin-Jackson told The Post through tears during an interview in her Brooklyn apartment.

Alanie Aucoin-Jackson said the situation was her worst fear. Paul Martinka

The nanny said the harrowing experience, which left Robinson clinging to life after being shot through the head with his own gun, has left her traumatized and afraid of the city she calls home.

Extremely anxious. My ears are ringing. It stopped today. I havent been able to eat honestly, Aucoin-Jackson said.

Its hard to move forward when its a real possibility that it can happen any day to anyone.

Aucoin-Jackson first recounted the nightmare experience to NewsNations Ashleigh Banfield, stating As a New Yorker, its your worst fear that this can happen.

Thursdays shooting occurred as a crowded A train pulled into Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets station, sending riders like Aucoin-Jackson scurrying for cover. @JoyceMeetsWorld/X

Aucoin-Jackson was riding the northbound A-train to work when she witnessed Robinson begin harassing Obuad, who police sources said the crazed man likely took for an illegal immigrant.

The Brooklynite moved to another train car before the altercation turned physical and plugged in her headphones in an attempt to channel out the chaos  until a frenzy of other commuters pushed through the small connecting door into her car as the train was pulling into the A/C HoytSchermerhorn Streets station.

After a few moments, even more people rushed in.

Aucoin-Jackson, 30, was heading to work when she overheard a loud argument inside the subway car. Paul Martinka

I was like, whats going on? and I hear pop, pop, pop!  People started running and stampeding and talking about how he has a gun, she continued.

I immediately dropped and then hid under the seats.

Aucoin-Jackson, who captured video of the disturbing rush-hour scuffle, assumed the gunman was an active shooter who was coming for blood.

Aucoin-Jackson opened up about her ordeal. Paul Martinka

The nanny and her entire train car feared for their lives, thinking they were next.

The train was packed. Everyone was trying to hide. There were people behind me trying to get under too. People were just on top of each other, huddled up and hugging each other, she said.

I didnt want to look because I didnt want to be his next victim. I didnt want him to see me. At that moment, I didnt want to exist. I just wanted it to be over  It was terrifying honestly.

Aucoin-Jackson cowered beneath her seat as gunshots erupted. Paul Martinka

Fortunately, police swarmed the bloody train car within seconds of the gunfire and arrested Obuad, a 32-year-old father of two.

He had managed to wrestle the gun away from Robinson, 36, and fired four shots at the apparent agitator: twice in the right side of his face including through his eye  once in the neck and another time in the chest.

Aucoin-Jackson said she saw Obuad being detained after the ordeal and that he looked stressed out but didnt say a word while cuffed.

Aucoin-Jackson filmed the violent incident. Paul Martinka

Robinson is still in critical condition from the injuries, but prosecutors declined to charge Obuad with the shooting, stating he had acted in self-defense.

Investigators said Robinson began verbally attacking the father-of-two when he boarded the train at Nostrand Avenue, which quickly escalated into a physical altercation.

At one point a woman stabbed Robinson in the back, enraging him, video shows.

Thursdays shooter, identified by law-enforcement sources and a relative as Younece Obuad, was freed after questioning by authorities.

Thats when Robinson pulled out the .380 Ruger and charged at Obuad, who grabbed the weapon as frantic straphangers fled for their lives.

Robinson remains hospitalized in critical condition  and prosecutors are mulling criminal charges against him.

He wanted a fight the day he wanted to use his gun because why else would he have it and pick a fight with a random person, said Aucoin-Jackson.

Dajuan Robinson, 36, allegedly attacked another rider before being shot in the head with his own gun, law enforcement officials said.

I just felt like he wanted to pick a fight and unfortunately he met his own demise.

Obuad was not charged, with the Brooklyn DAs office saying it found evidence of self-defense in the case.

The terrifying incident has put Aucoin-Jackson on high alert  she has not set foot on a train in the three days since and has kept her headphones out of her ears.

Im just very aware of the people around me and the ones coming on the car and who is already on the car. If people act shifty, I just try to distance myself and maintain my calmness, she said.

Gov. Hochuls deployment of the National Guard in the Big Apple subway system has also done little to quell her concerns  only NYPD officers responded to the shooting.

The new policy  which was put into place days before the shooting  calls for hundreds of National Guardsmen to conduct bag checks on commuters before they are able to enter transit hubs.

I think it could be helpful yes but he didnt even have a bag. It was in his coat. If you dont have a bag, theyre not checking you. How would you know? And clearly he was able to do what he did, Aucoin-Jackson said.
It's been a good week for Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRO) shareholders, because the company has just released its latest annual results, and the shares gained 7.8% to US$1.79. In addition to smashing expectations with revenues of US$104m, Spero Therapeutics delivered a surprise statutory profit of US$0.43 per share, a notable improvement compared to analyst expectations of a loss. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

Check out our latest analysis for Spero Therapeutics

After the latest results, the consensus from Spero Therapeutics' twin analysts is for revenues of US$47.8m in 2024, which would reflect a painful 54% decline in revenue compared to the last year of performance. The company is forecast to report a statutory loss of US$0.95 in 2024, a sharp decline from a profit over the last year. Before this latest report, the consensus had been expecting revenues of US$50.0m and US$0.76 per share in losses. So it's pretty clear the analysts have mixed opinions on Spero Therapeutics after this update; revenues were downgraded and per-share losses expected to increase.

The average price target lifted 18% to US$7.50, clearly signalling that the weaker revenue and EPS outlook are not expected to weigh on the stock over the longer term.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. These estimates imply that revenue is expected to slow, with a forecast annualised decline of 54% by the end of 2024. This indicates a significant reduction from annual growth of 48% over the last five years. Compare this with our data, which suggests that other companies in the same industry are, in aggregate, expected to see their revenue grow 18% per year. It's pretty clear that Spero Therapeutics' revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry.

Story continues

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts increased their loss per share estimates for next year. Unfortunately, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and our data indicates underperformance compared to the wider industry. Even so, earnings per share are more important to the intrinsic value of the business. We note an upgrade to the price target, suggesting that the analysts believes the intrinsic value of the business is likely to improve over time.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. At least one analyst has provided forecasts out to 2026, which can be seen for free on our platform here.

It is also worth noting that we have found 3 warning signs for Spero Therapeutics that you need to take into consideration.

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.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Alexander Nylander, center, celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks with teammates forward Johnny Gaudreau, left, and forward Boone Jenner during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, March 16, 2024. The Blue Jackets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Alex Nylander scored twice and added an assist, Daniil Tarasov stopped 39 shots, and the Columbus Blue Jackets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.

Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and two assists, and Boone Jenner added a goal and an assist as Columbus beat the Sharks for the fourth straight time in a game between the two teams in last place in their respective conferences.

Weve played much better than tonight, and we didnt win those games, Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. Tonight we needed Tarasov, and he played really well.

Fabian Zetterlund and Henry Thrun scored goals and Magnus Chrona stopped 16 shots for the Sharks, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games and have the NHLs worst record with just 39 points. They have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

Jenner got Columbus on the board with 2:19 left in the first period, shoveling the puck under Chronas pads after a feed from Gaudreau.

Nylanders score from the right circle made it 2-0 Columbus 49 seconds into the second period. He became the first Blue Jacket to score seven goals in his first 11 games with the team.

Zetterlund pulled San Jose within a goal, slipping the puck between Tarasovs pads at 11:48 of the second period for his seventh points in the past six games. Gaudreaus poke from the right side put Columbus back up by a pair at 15:03.

Thrun pulled the Sharks within a goal once again at 11:42 of the third before Nylander padded the lead with an empty-netter at 18:55.

We dug ourselves a bit of a hole in the first, Sharks coach David Quinn said. Our start certainly wasnt what we wanted it to be. I thought we gradually got better as the game went on and made a great push in the third period.

Nylanders three-point game gave him 11 points since coming to Columbus from Toronto on Feb. 23.

Its been a really big opportunity, and Im really happy that they took a chance on me, Nylander said. Its been going great, so weve just got to keep it up.

UP NEXT

Sharks: Visit Chicago Sunday night

Blue Jackets: Host Winnipeg Sunday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
On Friday in Lewistown, surrounded by community donations, Gov. Mike DeWine spoke to media inside the Indian Lake High School gym after a tornado struck the area the night before.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Sunday declared a state of emergency in 11 counties battered by severe storms and tornadoes just a few days ago.

DeWine issued a proclamation Sunday, which requires state agencies to lend services and supplies to help the counties. The 11 counties in the governor's proclamation include:

Auglaize County

Crawford County

Darke County

Delaware County

Hancock County

Licking County

Logan County

Mercer County

Miami County

Richland County

Union County

Read More: Is tornado alley shifting into Ohio, greater Columbus area? Here's what you need to know

DeWine also activated the Ohio National Guard to help Logan County officials with the clean up on public property. A team was deployed to the county this morning, according to the governors office.

At least three people died when an EF3 tornado decimated areas around Indian Lake in Logan County, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). As of 2 p.m. Sunday, officials in Logan County had not yet released the names of the three victims.

Eight confirmed tornadoes touched down in Ohio on Thursday, including one in Licking County, NWS investigators have found. The most damage was reported in Logan County, where authorities say more than 20 people were injured.

An aerial view on March 17 shows damage from the March 14 storms that hit a trailer park and other buildings in and around Lakeview, Ohio, on the southern shore of Indian Lake in Logan County.

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: After Ohio tornadoes, DeWine declares emergency in 11 counties
A Fresno In-N-Out Burger restaurant known for long drive-thru lines and sometimes causing traffic has reopened after being closed for nearly two months.

And at least for the time being, it appears that the lines at the In-N-Out on Shaw Avenue near Highway 99 in northwest Fresno are shorter than before.

The restaurant had been closed since mid January to expand its parking lot and modify its drive-thru.

Its unclear at the moment if the renovations fixed the congestion problems in the parking lot that spilled onto the roadway.

The In-N-Out Burger restaurant near Highway 99 on Shaw Avenue in northwest Fresno reopened after being closed for nearly two months to expand its drive-thru and parking lot. Anthony Galaviz/ The Fresno Bee

One reason the drive-thru line hasnt been that long lately is possibly because people might not have realized the restaurant is back open, In-N-Out employees said.

Several In-N-Out Burger drive-thru lines in Fresno and Clovis are notorious for backing up and disrupting traffic.

The West Shaw location was ranked one of the most problematic drive-thrus in town in a Fresno Bee reader poll in 2021.

The restaurant itself was not remodeled.
OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) Authorities responded to shots fired Saturday and discovered a victim who had been injured, according to the Opelousas Police Department.

Police were sent the 1700 block of West Blanchard Street after getting after they got a distress call, and once they arrived at the location, they found one victim who sustained a non-life-threatening injury to the hand.

One dies in early morning Lafayette shooting

The victim was given medical treatment and is in stable condition, according to OPD.

The area surrounding the location of the incident has been closed off. This is an ongoing investigation, and more information will be shared when made available.

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Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact OPD at 337-948-2500.

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Editors Note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radios daily program The Dean Obeidallah Show. Follow him on Threads. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.

Former Vice President Mike Pences announcement last week that he would not endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024 was truly a bombshell.

Dean Obeidallah - CNN

Pence  who during the first GOP presidential debate last year pledged to endorse Trump even if the former president was convicted of a crime  has now reached the conclusion that he can no longer in good conscience support the person who was once his running mate.

However, the reasons Pence offered for his decision were little more than a bland litany of policy issues. Pence said, for example, that he disagreed with Trump for walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt.

Pence went on to say, Ive seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life. And this last week, his reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations efforts to force a sale of ByteDances TikTok.

This is a far cry from Pences own words when he repeatedly rang the alarm bells about Trumps character and the danger he poses to our republic. Given that Pence has already done the hard part  publicly breaking from Trump and speaking out against the former president  he needs to go further, hammering home his experience instead of watering down his message with policy differences.

Pence has repeatedly slammed Trumps efforts to pressure him to wrongly block the certification of Joe Bidens election victory on January 6, 2021. (Trump has been charged with conspiracy and obstruction in the election interference case as a result of his efforts to remain in the White House following his 2020 loss. Trump, of course, denies wrongdoing.)

When Pence announced his run for president in June 2023, for example, he told voters about what happened on January 6 with a great deal of passion. The American people deserve to know, on that day, President Trump also demanded I choose between him and the Constitution. Pence continued, I chose the Constitution, and I always will.

Pence made the point even more bluntly in August, stating on Fox News that, The American people deserve to know that President Trump and his advisers didnt just ask me to pause. They asked me to reject votes  essentially to overturn the [2020] election.

These comments offer far more compelling reasons to take a stand against Trump than the policy disagreements Pence listed on Friday.

And then theres the fact that Trumps actions leading up to the January 6 attack put Pence and his familys life at risk. Indeed, Pence told us that point blank at the annual Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington, DC last year. He said, Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election. Pence then added the bone-chilling line that Trumps reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day.

Pence was not being hyperbolic. As we know from the evidence gathered by the House committee investigating the January 6 attack, Trump had a heated phone call with Pence the morning of the attack on the US Capitol. Shortly after, Trump added lines to the speech he delivered at the Ellipse that explicitly called on Pence to join his effort to overturn the election.

And after the crowd began flooding into the Capitol building, Trump took to social media to slam Pence yet again, writing, Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution. Many rioters reacted to that tweet just before there was a new push to storm the building in various locations  as documented by the Jan 6 committee. And when Trump heard that his supporters were chanting Hang Mike Pence, the then-president responded that his vice president deserves it, a former White House aide testified.

Pence has spoken candidly about his break from Trump, often citing the events of January 6. And this is what Pence should be reiterating now to ensure that voters fully understand just how dangerous Trump is to our republic.

As a long-time Republican, Pence can speak to those mainstream patriotic conservatives who were thinking of holding their noses and voting for Trump  and make the case that to do so would be a grave mistake.

Pence already has the perfect message for past and present Trump supporters, as well as anyone undecided about Trump.

Its what he shared when he announced his 2024 presidential run: Anyone who puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States. And anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again. Amen.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A recent Sutherland Institute survey on priorities among likely voters in Utah for 2024 showed that education funding was among the highest priorities. Curriculum transparency was among the top priorities for Republicans and those over the age of 65 and among the middle tier of importance for all likely voters. It seems that Utahns care about advancing public education and a more robust parent-driven education vision at the same time.

Luckily, what emerged from the 2024 Utah Legislative session was a balanced advancement of both private and public education.

Legislators refined existing choice policy by fixing issues in scholarship programs, adding funding to its new education savings account and preparing for potential hiccups with private choice.

Simultaneously, the Republican-dominated Legislature heavily prioritized public school educators in several bills.

Pursuing the interests of both private and public education with less acrimony and greater consensus is becoming a hallmark in Utah  and one to be commended.

Refining education choice in Utah

In 2023, the Legislature passed a landmark bill  a universal education savings account called Utah Fits All Scholarship. The program was given a year before launching so wrinkles could be ironed out as much as possible. The approach paid off.

To help meet the programs high demand, the new programs funding for scholarships was doubled in the 2024 legislative session  a policy decision supported by Sutherland Institute. Initial funding would have allowed about 5,000 families to receive a scholarship; new funding from this session increased that cap to 10,000. Still, overall interest in the program far exceeds that. With more than a month left to go in the application window, the number of applications has already surpassed the available scholarships.

Knowing the launch of the new scholarship would enable more parents to pay microschool tuition, the Legislature enacted SB13  a prudent, forward-looking approach to this innovative academic approach that Sutherland also supported. The bill defined microschools in the law and helped cities and towns know how to address issues like traffic, parking and safety through local ordinances, while also protecting microschools from excessive local regulation. Its a boon for existing microschools and for people whod like to open one, giving them knowable and predictable expectations.

Public school educator priorities

On the public education side, lawmakers this year spent $211.7 million to increase public school funding through its funding mechanism, the weighted pupil unit, by 5% (up to $4,443 next year). In 2019, the Legislature spent $127.9 million to raise the weighted pupil unit by 4%, bringing it up to $3,532 the following year. This means that in the last five years, state lawmakers have increased the weighted pupil unit by over 25%.

They also reformed a broad swath of policies to benefit public school teachers. One new law reforms teacher evaluations to not punish educators for chronically absent students. Another set of new policies improves teacher pay in various ways, including a law allowing excellent teachers to make up to $100,000. Public school teachers who have a new child will now have three weeks of paid maternity leave. Finally, expenses for instructional materials that teachers have typically paid for out of pocket will now be covered by taxpayers.

The passage of such a swath of teacher-related bills from a predominantly Republican lawmaking body ought to signal that public school teachers are highly esteemed in the state. Contradicting political or activist narratives that seek to pit Utah policymakers against one form of education or another, lawmakers have expressed through the policy decisions a desire to support all student learning, regardless of where Utah families decide to educate their children.

Education should be seen as a broad objective of student learning and achievement. Utahs education system ought to reflect  as it did in the 2024 legislative session  a commitment to support parent-driven education and student learning that brings together the best of public and private options.

Utah has shown a willingness to do just that. According to the data on voter priorities, that is precisely what Utahns want their elected representatives to do.

Christine Cooke Fairbanks is the education policy fellow for Sutherland Institute, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance principled public policy and promote the constitutional values of faith, family and freedom.
Yahoo Sports

Jason Fitz is joined by Senior NFL Reporters Charles Robinson and Jori Epstein to go behind the scenes on the latest rumors and news around the NFL. The trio start with takeaways from the NFL owner's meetings as Jori was on the ground in Orlando. The hosts discuss the fallout of the new kickoff rule (are rosters going to change because of it?), the two Christmas Day games and what the heck Jerry Jones was doodling in his notebook. Next, it's time to pull out the crystal ball as the hosts attempt to look into the future for some key quarterbacks, starting with Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy's draft stock has been skyrocketing lately as some rumors emerged that he could go as high as second overall. Charles gives his thoughts and what he's hearing from GMs around the league before moving onto Brock Purdy and whether San Francisco will be willing to pay him when the time comes. Charles dives deeper into the 2024 quarterback class and why every prospect has a massive red flag, and Jori gives us the latest on the Dak Prescott contract negotiations, which seem to be heading in the wrong direction. All signs are pointing towards Dak hitting free agency next offseason. Finally, Fitz wraps things up by asking about Deion Sanders' comments about choosing where his sons get drafted and whether or not player empowerment could be ascending to a new level with the emergence of NIL.
Lt. Gen. David Bellon has commanded Marine Forces Reserve since 2019.

The 35-year Marine veteran first served on active-duty until 1997 when he joined the Reserve and returned to active duty for four combat tours supporting both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

He will relinquish command on March 21 to Lt. Gen. Leonard F. Andreson IV.

Bellon spoke with Marine Corps Times recently about changes in the Reserve over the nearly five years of his tenure.

Editors Note: This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: What was going on in the Marine Corps Reserve when you took over in 2019?

A: We had reached our final confirmation of size and unit orientation post-OEF and post-OIF. OEF was still going on, we still had reservists there but we were no longer sending battalions or squadrons on a regular basis. But the Reserve had finished its large-scale mobilization and support.

I was in the Reserve before 9/11 and I can tell you as a reservist how it changed the landscape.

After 9/11 we emptied the cupboard, there were about 25,000 Marines that got put on orders to deploy. Over the next decade we averaged thousands of Marines forward deployed. It was sustained contribution at an exceptionally high rate.

The hardest thing we do in the Reserve is to make senior officers and staff NCOs legitimate in their rank. How are they able to jump into a time of crisis or contingency and function legitimately at that rank? By the end of that sustained commitment of the Reserve for over 10 years you had an entire generation of leaders that went back two-three-four-five times or more into combat and now youve got senior leaders in the Reserve component just like on the active component who are very seasoned and credible in their rank.

Q: Only two months before you took over, former Commandant Gen. David Berger had taken office and released his planning guidance, which foreshadowed Force Design 2030 and major change to the Corps. How did that affect the Reserve?

A: The whole thing was heavily pointed at countering China. And so, the early days of force design were immediately relevant to III Marine Expeditionary Force and very relevant to I MEF but there wasnt a lot of narrative committed to the service retained force, which is II MEF and the Reserves. So, II MEF and the Reserve are kind of left out, so to speak, not intentionally, but only because the problem set was so wicked when it came to what we were going to have to do. There wasnt much bandwidth to do a lot of advanced thinking about the service-retained force.

Initially, the thought about the Reserve was that there was a lot of excess capacity that wasnt going to be relevant. Because one of the thoughts was when a conflict starts in the Pacific how would you get all these forces into the Pacific? And that was proven incorrect because we werent thinking globally, and we were only thinking in terms of conflict and not in competition.

So, we began to think about our role around the globe as a contingency and crisis response force and that really informs the future of the Reserve.

Q: What have been some changes to recruiting and retaining Marine reservists?

A: It used to be if you had a Marine for 10 years the assumption was you would have them for 20. But with blended retirement its like a 401(k), so just as likely to leave you at year 14 as at year four. So, were competing with companies like Ford Motor Company and Google, they all want the same talent. And we were unintentionally messaging within the active component that the only real way to serve as a Marine was on active-duty. So, if you decided to get out, you were treated like a less than. And there wasnt a seamless way to go from the active to the Reserve and retain that talent. There also wasnt an easy way to go from Reserve back to active. We looked at the data and saw that once Marines were in the Individual Ready Reserve status, they were much less likely to consider Reserve service. So, weve used our direct affiliation program, which links Marines leaving active-duty with Reserve slots and weve seen in just a couple of years much higher rates of Marines going directly to the Reserve and staying longer.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Bellon, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South, participates in a panel discussion on partnerships in littoral operations during Modern Day Marine 2022. (Sgt. Karis Mattingly/Marine Corps)

Q: How did the innovation unit in the Reserve come about?

A: For most of the time in the Reserve we thought very traditionally, say a reservist was a master mechanic as a civilian then that Marine should be in the motor pool. But what we learned was many of our reservists had developed mastery in other fields, particularly emerging fields. So, we developed the concept of the Marine Innovation Unit, which uses reservists with emerging or difficult-to-find skills such as cyber, automation, machine learning to address Marine Corps problems working with the Marine Warfighting Lab.

We thought that if it went really well, wed get 100 applicants for the 300 positions. Well, there were thousands of applicants. And hundreds of highly qualified applicants. One of the solutions they produced was the Marine Corps decided to cut two Reserve amphibious assault companies. The conclusion was that what the Corps was lacking was maritime mobility in the littorals. So, they came up with a plan using the existing companies and funding from Congress that didnt affect the Marine Corps budget for these two companies to help develop doctrine inside this littoral space for finding and holding targets at risk and sustaining those Marines.

Q: You initially commanded both the Reserve and Marine Forces North. But the Corps moved MARFORNORTH to another command and replaced it with MARFORSOUTH, which you previously commanded. How has that changed things for the Reserve?

A: When I was at MARFORSOUTH for the first time in 2017 it was obvious that MARFORSOUTH and the Reserve were natural partners. The nation needed more Marine Corps presence in U.S. Southern Command as our pacing threats, China and Russia, were very active in the region. Without the sustained mission of the Global War on Terror how were we going to keep our best and brightest talent and retain it and then develop it for the next step? The sustained mission in Latin America was the perfect way to do that.

Marines will perform well at events such as the Integrated Training Exercise in Twentynine Palms, California. But if thats all they do every year theyre probably going to lose interest. But if they get to do a deployment to Paraguay, Argentina, Chile or Honduras, theyre much more likely to stay.

And we get a firsthand look at how adaptable they are. It allows us to locate and evaluate them. If they excel, the reward is enhanced training and better missions going forward. And thats where your battalion commanders and sergeants major come from. It helps us with talent management.
With the shooter and his parents now convicted, the families of the Oxford High School shooting victims say a fourth culprit still must be held accountable for the deaths of their children: the school.

As one grieving parent put it within an hour of James Crumbley being convicted of involuntary manslaugter: "It's time for the school to pony up." Another said: "We need to start focusing on the school  the school and its failures. The things they dont want to admit to."

But no school officials will ever be held criminally responsible for the 2021 mass shooting that killed four students and injured seven others, including a teacher.

That's partly because Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald gave multiple school employees who drew scrutiny over their decisions involving the shooter assurances that she would not prosecute them. Those assurances came during interviews held early on as she built her historic case against James and Jennifer Crumbley, according to multiple sources who spoke to the Free Press on condition of anonymity to preserve professional relationships.

Unlike formal immunity agreements, which must be disclosed, the assurances did not have to be revealed to the Crumbleys' defense attorneys.

The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office on Saturday vehemently denied the assertions. "Any suggestion that any school employee was offered immunity or protection from prosecution based on anything other than the facts is completely false, and we will take issue with any suggestion otherwise," said a statement from Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald speaks to the media on Thursday, March, 14, 2024 as Nicole Beausoleil, mother of Madisyn Baldwin; Steve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. Juliana; and Craig Shilling, father of Justin Shilling; look on after James Crumbley was found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths caused in 2021 by Crumbley's son after he perpetrated a mass shooting at Oxford High School.

Two of these school employees, the sources said, signed what's known as Kastigar or proffer letters  which protect witnesses who talk to the government during investigations from having what they say during those talks used against them.

These two employees are school counselor Shawn Hopkins and former dean of students Nicholas Ejak, who talked with the shooter and his parents during a pivotal meeting on the morning of the shooting, when they allowed the teenager to remain in school despite receiving multiple alerts about his behavior in the 24 hours before the massacre.

The most troubling warning, which prompted the meeting with the parents, involved the teen's drawing of a picture that included a gun, a human being bleeding and the words, "The thoughts won't stop. Help me." The dean and counselor concluded he was no threat to anyone, never searched his backpack  which contained the murder weapon  never asked his parents whether he had access to a gun and never ordered them to take him home.

No one was formally granted immunity

The parents, who said they had to get back to work and agreed to get their son help within 48 hours, returned to their jobs. Their son returned to class. Two hours later, he fired his first shot.

On Friday, more than two years after the shooting, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office released a statement to the Free Press saying no charges will be filed against any school employees.

"Our office has reviewed all of the evidence in the case. We did not find sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against any school district employee," Williams said in Friday's statement. He also said that "no one was granted immunity."

The statement came one day after the third and final Crumbley family member was convicted for his role in the 2021 massacre: James Crumbley, who bought his son a gun as an early Christmas present  the gun the teen would use four days later to shoot up his school. On Thursday, an Oakland County jury found the father guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, concluding he was responsible for the deaths of four students murdered by his son: Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.

Oxford High School students Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16, at top, and Justin Shilling, 17, and Hana St. Juliana, 14, were killed in a school shooting on Nov. 30.

Williams' statement Saturday, denying any assurance to school officials that they wouldn't be prosecuted, said that McDonald "has said from the very beginning that she has reviewed all available evidence and has not seen any evidence that would support criminal charges for anyone at the school or district."

"Her decision not to charge is based solely on the facts," the statement said.

A month earlier, his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was convicted of the same charges. They are the first parents in America to be held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting involving their child. Their son Ethan, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to all his crimes and is serving life without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors argued that the Crumbleys, more than anyone else, could have prevented the shooting had they disclosed to school officials that they had bought their son a gun. They also accused the Crumbleys of ignoring a troubled son who was spiraling downward, and instead of getting him help, they bought him a gun.

Parents face hurdles to hold school accountable

Locking up the Crumbleys, however, isn't enough for the parents who lost their children. They also want the school to be held accountable, though that effort is proving difficult thus far. Criminal liability is officially off the table. Separate federal and state civil suits have been filed against the district and school officials, but they are hung up in appeals.

The lawsuits allege the school district and various employees put their children in harm's way through a series of missteps, including failing to properly respond to the shooter's concerning behavior in the day and a half before the shooting. He was researching bullets in class, watching a video of a gunman shooting down people and drawing the picture of a gun with messages of desperation.

Ejak and Hopkins, who are defendants in those lawsuits, had retained prominent criminal defense attorneys Steve Fishman and Mitchell Ribitwer shortly after the shooting and before testifying at the preliminary exam for the parents, during which they helped the prosecution convince a judge that there was probable cause to charge the Crumbley parents with involuntary manslaughter. Fishman and Ribitwer declined comment for this article. Hopkins and Ejak did not respond to requests for comment.

Hopkins and Ejak were key prosecution witnesses, providing damning testimony that the couple chose to leave their child in school that day after seeing his troubling note that read: "Help me."

If they had had formal immunity agreements, the prosecution would have been required to share that with the defense, which could have challenged their credibility at trial. The jury would have learned that Ejak and Hopkins had been promised immunity in exchange for their testimony, which might make them less believable.

But that didn't happen.

Defense expert: 'It shouldnt be selective prosecution'

Legal experts in both the criminal defense and civil litigation world are crying foul. If school employees made mistakes that cost children their lives, they argue, then why shouldn't they be held accountable?

"Theyre not entitled to a free pass, and it shouldnt be selective prosecution," said veteran criminal defense attorney Art Weiss, who closely followed the Crumbleys' cases and believed the charges against the parents were overreaching and set a dangerous precedent for parents everywhere.

At issue for Weiss is the prosecution maintaining the parents ignored red flags and failed to take small steps that could have prevented the shooting, when the same thing could be said about the school.

"If youre going to create a scenario where your office is going to take a very hard position on these types of offenses, then everyone should come down," Weiss said. "I dont know for the life of me why they get a pass and the parents dont."

Michael Bullotta, a former federal prosecutor in Detroit and Los Angeles, echoed similar concerns, arguing the same theory that was used to prosecute the parents could have been used against school employees: that their failure to act led to the shooting.

Though Bullotta said he disagreed with the decision to charge the parents over what they didn't do, he argued that the same failure-to-act philosophy could be applied to the school employees who saw the same disturbing drawing of the gun, a bullet-riddled body and the words "Help me," yet allowed the teen to return to class.

"There is an argument that the school officials had an even greater duty to act because their main obligation is ensuring the safety of all students," Bullotta said.

Weiss argued that the school employees "should have forced" the parents to take their son home.

"When I went to high school 50 years ago, it took less to get us thrown out. They didnt give us the option. It was 'Out!' " Weiss said, adding uncooperative parents were also warned, "'If you dont take them, were calling the police.'"

McDonald: 'I'm not going to say' the school did everything right

McDonald herself took issue with how Ejak and Hopkins handled the shooter, if her closing arguments in Jennifer Crumbley's trial are any indication.

"Im going to tell you right now that this is not an argument that the school did everything they should have done. Im not going to say that to you, McDonald said. Im not going to tell you that I like everything they testified to. Im not going to tell you that I think it was OK they didnt look in the backpack. I dont think it was.'

But this case, she stressed, was about Jennifer Crumbley's actions, not "what these two individuals did or didnt do."

The prosecution has argued that Crumbleys knew one crucial detail that the counselor and dean of students did not: That their son had access to a gun.

Ven Johnson, representing families in litigation against the school, argues the counselor and dean could have and should have been sure the shooter left the school after they saw his troubling drawing, and learned that he was sad and depressed about his only friend moving away, his grandma dying and his dog dying  details the teen shared with the counselor. His disturbing drawing also should have prompted action, he said.

"This kid was clearly in a mental health crisis," Johnson said of Ethan Crumbley.

"And if his parents were not going to take him away from the school, then he needed to be removed from the school," Johnson said. "Or you call 911. You tell them, 'I think hes suicidal. I asked the parents to pick him up, and they said they had to go back to work.' "

Johnson argues the school officials also should have called Child Protective Services, especially given the counselor's statement in a deposition that the student was exhibiting suicidal ideation, and his testimony at trial that he worried about the student being left home alone, so he decided it would be best to keep him in school.

'Hopkins and Ejak absolutely should have been charged'

At James and Jennifer Crumbley's trials, both Ejak and Hopkins testified that they had hoped the Crumbleys would take their son home that day. Ejak said he concluded the teenager posed no threat to anyone, and that he lacked probable cause to search his backpack or discipline him, so he allowed him to return to class.

Johnson is suing the Oxford school district on behalf of the parents of Tate Myre and Justin Shilling, who died in the shooting, and Keegan Gregory, who hid in a bathroom with Justin before the gunman barged in and killed Justin. Keegan managed to escape.

"Hopkins and Ejak absolutely should have been charged," Johnson said, making arguments similar to what prosecutors said at the parents' trials: "Remember what they could have done."

Johnson said the counselor and dean of students could have been charged with failure to report, a misdemeanor that applies to mandatory reporters who have reason to believe that someone is hurt or at risk of being harmed or harming others.

Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow, however, said that charging the school employees with a crime would be a tough sell to a jury.

We entrust school authorities with a lot of responsibility for the safekeeping of children, but to put them behind bars if a student, who isnt their child, commits a crime in the school  a jury likely would be looking for an exceptional degree of awareness of the risks that student posed to others, Chutkow said.

While the Crumbley parents and school officials have been accused of similar wrongdoing  specifically failing to take steps that could have prevented the shooting  Chutkow said the charges of involuntary manslaughter would be especially tough to bring against the school employees.

Theres a reason involuntary manslaughter prosecutions of parents for their childrens crimes are rare. Its so hard to show they could reasonably foresee their child would inflict violence on others, Chutkow said. It would be even harder to show that a school official  whos spent a lot less time with a child  could reasonably foresee the child could do such horrible things.

Thats why, Chutkow explained, absent government immunity the school district and officials are claiming, negligent supervision claims are brought in civil suits, not criminal actions.

Report found officials 'failed to provide a safe' environment

In October 2023, an independent investigation by Guidepost Solutions concluded that the 2021 Oxford High School mass shooting was avoidable had the district followed a threat assessment policy.

"While we did not find intention, or callousness, or wanton indifference, we did find failure and responsibility by omission," the investigators concluded in a 572-page report, noting: "In certain critical areas, individuals at every level of the district  failed to provide a safe and secure environment."

The report zeroed in on the shooters graphic drawing and concluded Hopkins and Ejak should have elevated the concern to the principal, that suicide intervention protocols should have been activated and that the teen should have been sent home that day.

According to Guidepost, Ejak and Hopkins refused to cooperate with the investigation.

The two people with the most information about the decision to allow the shooter to go back to class with his backpack refused to cooperate with our investigation, the staff said in the report.

The shooter, however, would deceive everyone.

Before his parents arrived at the school, he told the counselor and the dean that the images on his math worksheet were part of a video game he was working to create, and reflected his interest in becoming a graphic designer and video game designer after college.

I can see why this looks bad, the shooter said of his drawing, Im not going to do anything.

Ejak believed him.

At no point in time was I aware that there could be a threat. I dont think there was any reason to believe that, Ejak said in a deposition. What he had to say  made perfect sense.

At 12:51 p.m. that day, at the same time his dad received a DoorDash delivery request from Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Ethan Crumbley emerged from a bathroom and opened fire.

Tresa Baldas is an award-winning courts and legal issues reporter who received a 2023 Wade H. McCree Advancement of Justice Award by the Michigan Press Association and was named the 2020 Richard Milliman "Michigan" Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association. Contact her at tbaldas@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oxford High officials were assured they wouldn't be prosecuted
UPDATE 3/18/24

The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced on Monday that the two men they say hit their a wardens vehicle with a UTV have been identified. They say charges will be filed. Stay tuned with Channel 11 for more updates on this story.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking for two men they say crashed into a wardens vehicle while fleeing a traffic stop.

Authorities say the men were driving the UTV in an area where motorized vehicles are not allowed to operate in Cross Creek Country Park in Washington County.

Wardens saw the UTV in the area at around 12:39 p.m. on March 2. They tried to stop the drivers but said the UTV fled and hit a wardens vehicle as it was taking off.

The UTV is believed to be a Polaris RZR Pro XP Sport.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission shared the photos of the men on March 14.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001, the Pennsylvania Game Commissions Southwest Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT, or file a report online.

Click here to file a report.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery

SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery, a pioneering eye surgery clinic based in Houston, Texas, proudly celebrates its one-year anniversary of providing exceptional eye care services.

Houston, Texas, March 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery, a pioneering eye surgery clinic, Cataract and LASIK based in Houston, Texas, proudly celebrates its one-year anniversary of providing exceptional eye care services. In a year marked by remarkable achievements, SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery has stood out for its unwavering commitment to safety, innovation, and personalized patient care.

"From the outset, our focus has been on ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients," said Dr Sura, founder at SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery. "We believe that the foundation of excellent care lies in a safety-first approach, which has guided everything from our surgical procedures to our patient interactions."

SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery was founded with the vision of offering an alternative to the traditional assembly-line model of eye care. By emphasizing personalized care, the clinic has set a new standard in the field where patients feel genuinely heard, valued, and cared for. This patient-centric approach has not only resulted in high patient satisfaction but has also significantly contributed to the clinic's success.

In its first year, SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery has introduced several innovative practices to enhance patient outcomes and safety. These include the use of state-of-the-art technology in eye surgery, a rigorous checklist system to ensure the highest safety standard, and a continuous focus on staff training and development.

Looking ahead, SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery is committed to furthering its mission of delivering top-notch eye care. Plans for the coming year include expanding its range of services, continuing to invest in the latest eye care technology, and furthering its community outreach initiatives to educate the public on eye health and safety.

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"As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded of the trust our patients place in us and the responsibility we have to uphold the highest standards of care," Dr. Sura concluded. "We are excited for the future and look forward to serving our community for many years to come."

Suravision invites the community to join in celebrating its one-year anniversary and to learn more about its commitment to excellence in eye care.

About Suravision

SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery is a leading eye surgery clinic located in Houston, Texas, dedicated to providing advanced and personalized eye care solutions. With a focus on safety, innovation, and patient satisfaction, Suravision is committed to improving the vision and lives of its patients.

Media Contact:

Company Name: SuraVision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery

Contact Person: Jacqueline Uriarte

Phone: (713) 730-2020

Address: 2800 Kirby Dr C200

City: Houston

State: Texas

Postal Code: 77098

Country: US

Website: https://suravision.com/




Jared Crowell, right, holds onto a four-leaf clover balloon as part of the Bridge & Held float during the 42nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Indianapolis.

Look around everything is green from donuts and clothing to the Chicago River, which can only mean one thing. St. Patrick's Day is upon us.

Irish pubs will be packed on Sunday as Americans gather to drink green beer. While people have already agreed on what color to wear they can't seem to agree on the holiday's proper abbreviation.

Much like the pronunciation of Nevada there has long been confusion on whether it's St. Paddy's Day or St. Patty's Day. You don't need look for the answer at the end of the rainbow we got you covered.

NYC St. Patrick's Day parade 2024: Date, time, route, how to watch live

It's St. Paddy's, not St. Patty's

St. Paddy's Day is the correct abbreviation of the holiday, not St. Patty's. This is largely due the holiday commemorating the Christian saint who brought Christianity to Ireland and is believed to have died on March 17, 461.

The saint's Irish Gaelic name is Padraig, which is Patrick in English. The proper nickname for Padraig is Paddy.

When did St. Patricks Day become a holiday?

Saint Patrick's became an official holiday in Ireland in 1903 after Irish MP James O'Mara's Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act passed in the United Kingdom, according to History.com. The Irish have celebrated St. Paddy's for over a thousand years.

"On St. Patricks Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage," the history site wrote.

Who Was St. Patrick?

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland who lived in the fifth century and was born in Roman Britain.

When he was 16 he was kidnapped brought to Ireland as a slave but eventually escaped and brought Christianity to Ireland, according to History.com. He is also believed to have explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a shamrock, a native Irish clover.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: St. Patty's or St. Paddy's Day: The correct nickname starts in 400 AD
The party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is now blaming Hamas for the "catastrophe" unfolding in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the terrorist groups Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The criticism from Fatah, which also includes swipes at Hamas leadership living lavishly in Qatar and the groups ties to Iran, comes after Hamas denounced the appointment of new Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, according to the Jerusalem Post.

"Did Hamas consult the Palestinian leadership or any Palestinian national party when it made its decision to carry out the adventure of last October 7, which led to a catastrophe more horrific and crueler than the Nakba of 1948?" the West Bank-based political party was quoted as saying.

Fatah reportedly added that Mustafa is "is armed with the national agenda and not with false agendas that have brought nothing but woes to the Palestinian people and have not achieved anything for them," and asked if Hamas would rather "appoint a prime minister from Iran, or let Tehran appoint a prime minister for the Palestinians."

DOSSIER REVEALS INFORMATION USED TO EXPLAIN UN AGENCYS DEEP TIES TO HAMAS IN GAZA

Hamas leaders, from left, Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Mashaal and Abu Marzuk

Fatah also said, "[I]t seems that the comfortable life that this [Hamas] leadership lives in seven-star hotels has blinded it from what is right," and questioned why they would reside outside of the Gaza Strip while Palestinians face a "brutal war of extermination."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Hamas, following the appointment of Mustafa on Thursday, argued it was an "individual decision" that creates a "deepening of division at a pivotal historic moment," the Post reported.

Hamas reportedly called for a unified leadership and "free, democratic elections."

SCHUMERS ANTI-NETANYAHU SPEECH STRENGTHENS BIBI IN ISRAELS WAR TO DEFEAT HAMAS

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appoints Mohammad Mustafa as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on March 14.

In a statement announcing the appointment, Abbas asked Mustafa  his longtime economic adviser  to put together plans to re-unify administration in the West Bank and Gaza, lead reforms in the government, security services and economy, and fight corruption.

"The United States will be looking for this new government to deliver on policies and implementation of credible and far-reaching reforms. A reformed Palestinian Authority is essential to delivering results for the Palestinian people and establishing the conditions for stability in both the West Bank and Gaza," National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on a private jet.

Mustafa was born in the West Bank town of Tulkarem in 1954 and earned a doctorate in business administration and economics from George Washington University. He has held senior positions at the World Bank and previously served as deputy prime minister and economy minister. He is currently the chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Palestinian officials blame Hamas for war with Israel, call out terror leaders' lavish lifestyle, ties to Iran
The parents of University of Missouri student Riley Strain said they will continue to search after more than a week has passed since the college senior vanished.

Mr Strain was last seen on 8 March when he went to Lukes 32 Bridge Food + Drink bar in Nashville as part of a fraternity trip but was asked to leave the nightspot.

Were still, you know, actively planning to bring Riley home with us, Chris Whiteid, Mr Strains stepfather told NBC News on 16 March.

This case has been taxing due to them not getting more updates of whats going on, Mr Whiteid said. Still, we continue to search, added Mr Whiteid.

Were very hopeful and were moving forward as, you know, hes coming home and were graduating in May and life goes on just as normal, he continued.

The college senior is 67 tall and weighs 155 to 160 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. He stands out in a crowd, Mr Whiteid said.

The stepfather spoke about Mr Strains character: Riley was the guy that knew no strangers. The 22-year-old would walk up to people, talk to them, full of life, and is energetic, had charisma.

Everybody loved Riley just because he didnt care who you were, what group you were with. He was Riley, and you were whoever you were, Mr Whiteid added.

The parents told NBC News that they have had some amazing support from volunteer organisations that have tried to help find their son. Locals have been handing out fliers and doing anything they can to help find Riley, Mr Whiteid said.

The parents said that all of the help has restored our faith in people.

Michelle and Chris Whiteid arrived in Nashville on 9 March. Its hard to be away from home, but we wouldnt be anywhere else, Michelle Whiteid told the outlet.

Being in Nashville  where the college senior was last seen  is as comforting as it can be, Mr Whiteid said.

Although the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission said on 13 March that it was investigating whether the college senior had been overserved, on 15 March, the bar owners announced that Mr Strain had just had one alcoholic drink and two waters.

Security then asked the 22-year-old to leave the bar, the owners said.

His friends reportedly spent nine hours looking for him before filing a missing person report with the police.

Nashville police have been on the hunt, using boats and helicopters to scour the waters and banks of the Cumberland River after surveillance footage captured the college student leaving the bar, walking in the opposite direction of the hotel, and toward the river.

In the footage, he appears to be stumbling and holding his head. He had apparently called his friends and told them he would meet them at the Tempo Hotel, where the group was staying.

There has been no evidence so far to suggest that Mr Strain fell into the river. Investigators have also said there are no signs of foul play.
Cotham loss

Regarding Did Tricia Cotham party switch sink Pat Cothams campaign? How incumbent lost primary, (March 11):

Of all the races in the March 5 primary, the most disappointing was the at-large Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners race. Voter turnout was low  18.7%  which means a very small percentage of registered voters cast ballots ousting Commissioner Pat Cotham. All because they didnt agree with a decision made by her daughter?

Pat and I are on different sides of the political fence, and we certainly dont agree on a lot of things. But she has served us with distinction and integrity and no one has done it better. Her passion and service to Mecklenburg is unparalleled.

Shame on the vast majority of registered voters who sat this one out. Cotham deserved better. Well done, kind and faithful servant.

Ken May, Charlotte

NC taxes

It is hard to believe that N.C. leaders have chosen to make the corporate income tax zero by 2029 instead of using our resources to pay for the necessary items that make our state a great place to live, learn and work. This will cause a revenue loss of more than $2 billion annually  a loss that, among other things, will gravely affect funds needed to pay for a quality public education.

I live in Mecklenburg County and volunteer in a local public school. Eliminating the proposed corporate income tax couldnt come at a worse time, with the states existing failure to comply with the Leandro funding plan which would support a sound, basic education for all N.C. students.

Corporate income taxes should not be eliminated.

Linda Levy, Matthews

NC legislature

Regarding NC Supreme Court could let lawmakers decide elections, (March 13 Opinion):

Of course, the Republican-controlled legislature will get its wish. What they are doing is a threat to our democracy. As soon as the N.C. Supreme Court reverses the just-decided election control case, the legislatures plot will be realized. Patience is advised while the court first wipes the Leandro case from the books. All to make the illegitimate appear legitimate.

Harry Taylor, Charlotte

GOP rebuttal

Did I miss something with the connection in the Republican response to the State of the Union, which mentioned the woman who was sexually trafficked by the cartels. Cartels are in Mexico, not the United States, and Donald Trump wanted (and still wants) all asylum seekers to remain in Mexico, with these cartels. Is this really the case Republicans want to be making?

Jeff S. Bassett, Charlotte

Biden and Israel

Whether hes putting U.S. taxpayers on the hook for student debt or waging war against U.S. fossil fuels, Joe Biden will always burden this country with horrible policies if he thinks it will benefit him politically.

Now, our president has knifed Israel in the back by criticizing Israels war strategy and pushing for an outcome that would mainly benefit Hamas  a ceasefire. The reason? Biden was told that his base in Dearborn, Mich. demands it. We must not reelect Biden.

Keith Brittain, Pineville

Time changes

The time shift twice a year has outlived its usefulness. The shift last weekend should be the last one. The problems citizens have with each shift of the clock are well known. No more shifts! Change the law.

Francis A. Dostie, Matthews

Big government

Its true that agencies have always existed in our federal government. It is also true the Founders envisioned a federal government of enumerated and limited powers. Todays administrative state would be unrecognizable to them. Hopefully the litigation Erwin Chemerinsky describes in Amazon, Trader Joes and SpaceX are attempting to fundamentally change the government (March 9 Opinion), as well as the Chevron reversal, will be the first steps to returning the federal government to its prescribed size and duties. Margaret Thatcher reminded us: when the state does everything for you, it will soon take everything from you. Lets hope Amazon, Trader Joes, SpaceX and the U.S Supreme Court arent too late.

Bill Girone, Charlotte
A man was killedSaturday night after he was struck by a vehicle in Sacramentos College/Glen neighborhood, police said.

About 9:20 p.m., officers were called to Folsom Boulevard near Julliard Drive for a reports of a vehicle that had struck a pedestrian, said Officer Cody Tapley, a Sacramento Police Department spokesman.

Officers arrived and found medics from the Sacramento Fire Department personnel performing life-saving measures on the man who had suffered significant injuries, Tapley said. The medics pronounced the man dead at the scene.

The police spokesman said the driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian remained on scene.

Since the incident resulted in a fatality, the police departments Major Collision Investigation Unit took over the investigation. Detectives and crime scene investigators arrived to canvass of the area for evidence, witnesses and any additional information.

The Sacramento County Coroners Officer will release the mans name after his family has been notified.

Investigators asked any witnesses with any relevant information to call the Police Department at 916-808-5471.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) defended Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) from criticism of his remarks calling for a new election in Israel, calling his speech an act of courage.

Schumer, the most senior Jewish politician in the country and an ardent supporter of Israel, called for new elections in an address on Thursday. Schumer said Netanyahu has lost his way, adding that the prime minister has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went after Schumer for the speech on Sunday, calling it totally inappropriate.

The prime ministers presentation proved the necessity of Chuck Schumers speech, Pelosi said of Netanyahus reaction on CNNs State of the Union with Dana Bash on Sunday. Chuck Schumers speech was an act of courage, an act of love for Israel.

The fact that he made this statement should be listened to because Israels reputation is at risk because of what is happening in Gaza, she continued.

Netanyahu also compared Schumers comments to meddling in the countrys democracy.

Were not a banana republic, he said. I think the only government that we should be working on to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza.

Pelosi added that the Israeli government must allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, adding to similar remarks from the Biden administration and other Democrats.

Major aid organizations have described a crisis in Gaza bordering on famine, with hundreds of thousands of people at risk of going without adequate food and water.

Either Prime Minister Netanyahu is unaware or ill-informed, she said about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. There is famine, there is dehydration, because it has not. Israel has not allowed the food and the humanitarian assistance to go right in.

President Biden announced this month that the U.S. will construct a temporary port facility in Gaza to transport aid into the region, working around Israeli limits on ground transportation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On Sunday, Sen. Bill Cassidy and Mike Pence slammed Donald Trumps vow to pardon Jan. 6 rioters  and his depiction of them as patriots and hostages.

Its very unfortunate in a time when there are American hostages being held in Gaza, that the President or any other leaders would refer to people that are moving through our justice system as hostages  its just unacceptable, the former vice president said on CBS Face the Nation. Pence was presiding over the election certification on Jan. 6, 2021, when it was disrupted by pro-Trump forces.

I do not think it's appropriate. We're a nation of laws and those folks were convicted, Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said on NBCs Meet The Press. If you plead guilty, i.e., obviously, you're not a patriot. You're somebody who committed a criminal act.

Trump opened a rally on Saturday with a recording of Jan. 6 prisoners singing the national anthem, and followed it up by pledging to issue pardons for Jan. 6 rioters on his first day in office.



You see the spirit from the hostages. And thats what they are  hostages, Trump said at the Ohio rally. Some of his supporters have adopted that terminology in recent weeks.

The Jan. 6 riot has played a prominent role in both President Joe Bidens and Trumps campaigns so far. Biden has repeatedly cited the violence as an example of the possible dangers of a second Trump term.

Trumps vow to pardon the rioters has also quickly become a talking point for Democrats who aim to paint the presumptive GOP nominee as snubbing the law and disrespecting law enforcement. Hundreds of rioters have been convicted since Jan. 6, 2021, many of them members of far-right extremist groups  like the Proud Boys.

Cassidy has been a long-time Trump skeptic and was one of only seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial for inciting the Jan. 6 riot. Neither Cassidy or Pence have endorsed Trump, though Cassidy's remarks Sunday suggest it is only a matter of time.

"I've been very explicit in what my answer is and I've answered this in greater detail in times past. And so I'm just going to say what I just said, I plan to vote for a Republican for the presidency of the United States," he said on "Meet the Press."
Former Vice President Mike Pence (R) said Sunday that his decision not to endorse former President Trumps reelection campaign is as much about Trumps actions on Jan. 6, 2021, as it is about his walking away from conservative principles.

The issue of fealty to the Constitution is not a small matter, but its not just that, Pence told CBS Newss Margaret Brennan in an interview on Face the Nation.

The reason that I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump this year also has to do with the fact that he is walking away. Not just from keeping faith with the Constitution on that day. But also, Margaret, with a commitment to fiscal responsibility, a commitment to the sanctity of life, a commitment to American leadership in the world, Pence told Brennan.

Pence pointed to Trumps recent reversal on the issue of a potential TikTok ban.

I mean, the presidents reversal just last week on TikTok  following an administration where we literally changed the national consensus on China  is the reason why, after a lot of reflection, I just concluded I cannot endorse the agenda that Donald Trump is carrying into this national debate.

Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee, went to great lengths in 2020 to stay in office after losing the presidential election. Some of his actions were public, and others allegedly took place in private.

Trumps campaign to pressure then-Vice President Pence to reject certain states slates of electors when carrying out his ceremonial duty to count them played out in the public arena. Pence faced a wave of backlash, and on Jan. 6, 2021, some people in the angry mob outside the Capitol erected a gallows and chanted, Hang Mike Pence!

Pence, in the Sunday interview, insisted that he has forgiven Trump for the pressure campaign and for his role in the events that transpired that day, but he still takes seriously his commitment to upholding the Constitution.

The president and I have profound differences. Many people think its just over January 6  and frankly, the fact that the president continues to insist that I had the right to overturn the election that day is a fundamental difference. But I want to be clear that, you know, Ive forgiven the president in my heart for what happened that day. As a Christian, Im required to do that. Ive prayed for him in that regard, Pence said.

Pence was pressed more than once on whether he would vote for Trump  even if hes not endorsing the former president  and Pence would not answer directly.

I wont be endorsing Donald Trump this year, he answered instead.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 26-year-old man is facing murder and other criminal charges after allegedly killing three people, including his 13-year-old sister, at two different homes in Pennsylvania before carjacking a driver and fleeing to New Jersey.

In Pennsylvania, Andre Gordon is facing murder, burglary, and assault charges, along with multiple other criminal charges related to the shootings, court documents show.

Gordon is accused of killing the three people in Falls Township on Saturday morning, according to authorities, before crossing state lines where he was eventually arrested. He carried out the attacks with an AR-15 style assault rifle, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said.

Gordon has not requested a public defender, according to Pennsylvania court documents, and New Jersey officials said earlier Sunday his defense attorney is unknown at this time.

The crime spree triggered temporary shelter-in-place orders for residents in Falls Township as authorities searched for the suspect, with police eventually converging on a home miles away in Trenton, New Jersey, where Gordon now faces carjacking and firearm possession charges.

Gordon was taken into custody without incident, Wilson said. Authorities in Trenton, New Jersey, who were looking to apprehend Gordon, initially believed he was barricaded inside a home, prompting a perimeter of the area to be set up, he said.

Apparently, before the perimeter was completed, the suspect was able to get out of the location unseen. However, our information was that he was still in there, Wilson said.

Gordon was arrested two blocks away from the home in which police thought he was barricaded, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said, adding the suspect did not have any weapons when he was arrested and cooperated with police. Gusciora said he felt really grateful after Gordons arrest.

In addition to the Pennsylvania charges, Gordon faces seven charges in New Jersey, according to a news release from the office of state Attorney General Matthew Platkin, including first-degree carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, among others.

Gordon is believed to have used a ghost gun in the carjackings and killings, a probable cause affidavit obtained by CNN shows. Ghost guns  which are untraceable, self-assembled firearms often put together using parts purchased online  have been illegal in New Jersey since 2018.

The string of violent acts that took place yesterday, allegedly at the hands of a single armed individual, alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties, Platkin said. It is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor to do immense damage and leave a trail of tragedies in their wake.

Heres what we know about the killings and the investigation so far:

Timeline of crime spree

Just before 9 a.m., Falls Township Police said officers were called to investigate a reported shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

Gordon, who was driving a stolen vehicle from Trenton, fatally shot his 52-year-old stepmother Karen Gordon and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon in their home, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said at a Saturday afternoon news conference. Three other family members who were in the home, including one minor, successfully hid from Gordon during the attack, according to Schorn.

The three family members were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them, Schorn said during a news conference.

Gordons father told police that he was awakened that morning by his wife, Karen Gordon, because his son was at the front door, according to an affidavit filed in Pennsylvania district court. The father confronted Gordon at the door and the the pair had a verbal exchange before the father closed the door and went inside to get dressed, it said.

Gordon appeared to use a rifle to break the glass of the front door, point the gun into the house and fire into the residence, the affidavit said, citing video doorbell footage and evidence from the scene.

Minutes after the shooting, Gordon drove to Edgewood Lane, where he broke into a home and fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, with whom he has two children, Schorn said. Four other people were inside the home, including children and Daniels mother, who was injured by Gordon with the assault rifle and is being treated at a hospital, Schorn said.

Daniels mother, Nancy, told police she exited her bedroom when she heard gunshots and began to hit Gordon with a wooden ax handle, according to the affidavit. Gordon then struck her with his rifle, causing a laceration on her head, she told investigators.

After the shootings, police say Gordon at about 9:13 a.m. then carjacked a 44-year-old driver at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville. The driver was not injured, according to police.

Around 11:38 a.m., the carjacked Honda CRV was found abandoned in Trenton, according to Falls Township Police.

Then around 12:20 p.m., Pennsylvania authorities were notified Gordon was barricaded inside a Trenton home. But the citys police director said the suspect had actually managed to leave the house at some point before they had established a perimeter. The perimeter had been set up between approximately 10:30 to 11 a.m., according to police.

Police surround a home in Trenton, New Jersey, where they believed the man suspected of killing three people was on Saturday. - Matt Rourke/AP

The people who were inside the house, they went upstairs. They still felt that he was still in the house. So when they got out of the house on the upstairs window, they told police that he was still downstairs. We couldnt take any chances, and it was still a great resolution by the area law enforcement, Gusciora told CNNs Polo Sandoval at the scene.

They evacuated the houses residents through an upstairs window, believing him to still be inside. After hours surrounding the house and calling out to the suspect, however, officers say they spotted him walking down a street nearby and took him into custody.

Falls Township Police had earlier said the suspect was believed to be in possession of an assault rifle which he used to commit these crimes, and possibly additional weapons.

A shelter-in-place order for Falls Township was lifted after police determined Gordon was in New Jersey. Falls Township is approximately 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The town is close to the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border.

Falls Township Police released a photo of 26 year-old Andre Gordon. - Falls Township Police

Police now looking for more information

The investigation is ongoing, authorities said. The suspect will remain in custody in New Jersey before being extradited to Pennsylvania, the Trenton mayor said.

Officers executed a search warrant at the home where Gordon was thought to have been barricaded and found the rifle they believed was used the killings, the probable cause affidavit said. Authorities said they would investigate every aspect of how he came into possession of the weapon.

Gordon is believed to currently be homeless and has ties to the Trenton area, Schorn said. Police have had minor contacts with Gordon in the past, authorities said at the Saturday news conference, without providing further details.

The FBI office in Philadelphia told CNN they are aware and tracking the incident and are working closely with our local partners.

The Pennsylvania State Police also said they are assisting with the investigation.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in an X post on Saturday morning he had been briefed on the developing incident.

Gusciora said neighbors are relieved, and the city is working with residents who lived in surrounding duplexes to make sure they have a place to stay after police used tear gas in the area.

Trentonians stick together. Its one big family here. Theres a lot of camaraderie and they cooperated fully with the police, and were just really grateful for a safe and peaceful outcome, the mayor said.

CNNs Polo Sandoval, Zenebou Sylla, Jeff Winter, Sarah Dewberry, Michelle Watson, Braden Walker, Adrienne Vogt, Matt Meyer, Danny Freeman, and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.

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Most people dont care who knew what when in the Post Office scandal, Sir Ed Daveys Liberal Democrat deputy has claimed.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats has faced intense criticism since the beginning of the year for his role in the Horizon scandal as postal affairs minister between 2010 and 2012.

It emerged that Sir Ed originally turned down a request to meet campaigning sub-postmaster Alan Bates in 2010, before accepting a meeting five months later.

But Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, has played down the impact of the Horizon scandal on Sir Eds reputation and that of the party, claiming that most people do not care about who knew what about the scandal and when.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday, she said: I think the vast majority of people, when they engage with this issue of the Post Office, they want to see justice for the sub-postmasters. Most people arent bothered about who knew what, when.

When challenged on the assertion, Ms Cooper said: Ed was one of 16 Post Office ministers over the course of 20 years. He was the only one, as I believe, the first one to meet with Alan Bates.

She added: But lets be really clear about this, what matters now is that the financial redress is sorted out very, very quickly, that those who have had charges made against them who have been found guilty of crimes can have their slate wiped clean, and then its for the inquiry to get on and do their job to work out who knew what and when.

Financial redress

And Ed and the Liberal Democrats were supporters in calling that inquiry, we also supported calls for it to be put on an independent footing as well.

In her defence of the Lib Dem leader, she said that it was 11 days into the job that Sir Ed was first asked to meet Mr Bates, adding: Then five months in, against the advice of his officials who said he shouldnt meet Alan Bates, Ed decided that he absolutely should and thats why he did.

Sir Ed, the only serving Liberal Democrat MP to have been part of the coalition, faced calls to quit earlier in the year as a result of his role in the scandal.

During a Q&A with party members at the Liberal Democrat conference in York on Saturday, the party leader addressed the media coverage of his part in events surrounding Horizon.

Asked by one activist about his message to those who attack [him] and the party over the Horizon scandal, Sir Ed said: Youre right, the Right-wing press and Tory MPs are trying to weaponise it. Nothing changes does it?

He added: But you know when I see people like Kelvin MacKenzie attacking me and the Liberal Democrats about it, I think: They think were a threat. I think theyre worried about us.

When asked last week by The Telegraph whether he believed he had done everything he could to help the sub-postmasters while in post, he indicated he would not have done anything differently.

Im sure everyone has tried to think Could I have done anything else? Could I have found that? But the truth was it was just a conspiracy of lies.

A party spokesman said: Ed is clear the focus must be on justice for the sub-postmasters that means compensation, exoneration and systemic change so that this kind of miscarriage of justice can never happen again.

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This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels saw an explosive detonate near a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the vessel's crew saw the blast as it passed off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.

No damage to the vessel has been reported and the crew are reported safe, UKMTO said.

The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden.

The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though it typically takes the Houthis several hours before acknowledging their assaults.

Separately, the U.S. military's Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Houthis. It said it destroyed five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday. It was an unusually high number of drone boats to be destroyed.

Separately, the U.S. military shot down one Houthi drone over the Red Sea, while another was presumed to have crashed.

There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity, Central Command said.

The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.

The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islams minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.

A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now have a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Story continues

Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.

Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.

Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertilizer that later sank after drifting for several days.
We have all the ingredients to become a great city.

Tallahassee is the capital of the third largest populated state in the US. We have three major institutions of higher learning. These institutions also bring us arts, culture, and nationally recognized sporting events.

The Mag Lab brings in researchers from all over the world. This is the largest and highest-powered Mag Lab in the world. This jewel of our community performs magnetic field research in physics, biology, bioengineering, chemistry, geochemistry, biochemistry.

TLH lettering at Cascades Park in Tallahassee, Florida.

Leon County is also home to a world-class environment with acres of parks and nearly 700 miles of trails and greenways. Not to mention, we have rivers and the Gulf beaches a short distance from our community.

The Mission of Choose Tallahassee is To enhance our regions innovation and vitality by attracting and retaining a diverse population of young professionals, entrepreneurs, creative talent, retirees, and students.

Our Vision is To be a positive window to the world for Tallahassee and Leon County.

Thanks to our current partners, Choose Tallahassee has delivered over and beyond all expectations. We believe this is good news for you. For example:

Since 2020, with an annual budget under $150,000, Choose Tallahassee has:

Generated over $7 million in GDP economic impact for our community.

Over 7,500 families have downloaded one of our relocation guides. This is a great indicator that they are planning to move here.

Facebook followers are now over 10,000.

Annual website users have grown to over 100,000.

We believe these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.

Mark Wilson, CEO of the Florida Chamber, recently presented at the Annual Economic Forecast hosted by the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. The data he presented was a huge wakeup call for me (and many others in the room).

His demographic data projects 31,000+ new people will move to Leon County by 2030. This can be a great benefit, or not. This can be a good thing if our city leaders prepare us for this day. But will they?

Wilson also pointed out the following challenges. We can shift our thinking to look at these as opportunities to improve the lives in our community.

Affordable housing,

49% of our kindergarten students are ready for kindergarten.

52% of our third graders can read at the 3 rd grade reading level.

In Leon County, the labor force declines are in the 30-34 age group and in the 50-65 age group. This is a lot of wealth and talent leaving us.

Income disparity.

Rather than focusing just on the challenges, we must focus on solutions. The local chambers and several other organizations are already focusing on providing support to the students in the K-12 grades. Improving their education will enhance their lives and expand opportunities for good paying careers. This can have a huge impact on reducing income disparity. Opportunity and hope also reduces crime.

Community members gather at City Hall to celebrate the Tallahassee bicentennial on Monday, March 4, 2024.

The time is now. We need the city, county, school board, chambers of commerce, and citizens to come together to create a great vision for our community.

With the projected growth in population, are we planning for infrastructure that will be needed; or are we going to wait and try to catch up when it is too late? One good example is Mahan Drive and Capital Circle. There are multiple huge developments located out on this gateway that will add lots of traffic and potential bottlenecks. Traffic creates NIMBYs.

Will we be like other (anywhere USA) communities that wrestle with growth after it happens?

At Choose Tallahassee we do not want to promote growth that lessens the quality of life for our citizens. We believe we can leverage the assets of our community, find solutions to our challenges, and become the great community we all believe is possible.

I believe we can do this. If you also believe, join us. Or call or email your elected officials and community leaders today.

Check us out at www.choosetallahassee.com

Are you in?

Gregg Patterson

Gregg Patterson is executive director of Choose Tallahassee. He can be reached at gregg@choosetallahassee.com.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: People are moving here. Are we ready? | Choose Tallahassee
LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  A Los Angeles area home belonging to model and actress Cara Delevingne was found engulfed in flames early Friday morning, leaving two people injured.

The fire was reported at around 4 a.m. at a two-story, 6,650-square-foot home in the Studio City neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Arriving fire crews discovered heavy flames in the back of the home that had engulfed a room and spread into a nearby attic.

The roof eventually collapsed as crews worked to extinguish the fire. Only a housesitter was inside the home at the time and was uninjured, authorities said.

Neighbors who spotted the massive fire captured cell phone footage of the blaze, concerned the embers would threaten other nearby homes.

It was the craziest thing, Jeff Christian, a neighbor, told Nexstars KTLA. This is close enough that we can smell the smoke.

The slideshow below offers an aerial view of the damage left behind.

An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Delevingne, 31, was out of the country at the time, performing in Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre in London, but was thankful that fire crews were able to act quickly.

She posted her reaction to the fire on Instagram stories, initially believing her two cats had passed away saying, My heart is broken today. I cannot believe it. Life can change in a blink of an eye so cherish what you have, she captioned a photo of the two cats, along with a broken heart emoji.

FILE  Cara Delevingne appears at the 29th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2023. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

She later posted an update confirming the cats had been rescued saying, Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the firefighters and people that have showed up to help. They are alive!! Thank you to the firefighters.

KTLA crews captured the moment the two felines were carried safely out of the burning home.

Nearly 100 firefighters arrived to battle the blaze. The flames were extinguished within roughly two hours. Two firefighters were injured: one was transported to the hospital in fair condition after an incident with a ladder, while the other suffered minor smoke inhalation.

Some of the challenges were the very large driveway and getting all of our hoses up there, explained LAFD Captain Adam VanGerpen.

Neighbors said it appeared the fire started near the back patio area before quickly spreading to the main home.

Man suspected of killing Charlotte mother, 2 kids arrested in California

At first it seemed like small-ish fire, said a neighbor who did not wish to be identified. But very quickly, maybe 15 to 20 minutes, the flames were probably 20 feet high, 30 feet high. It was massive.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

All we know is that it started towards the back of the home, but we have our arson investigators on the scene so theyre going to make that cause of determination, VanGerpen said.

The home, valued at around $8 million, was last sold in 2019, according to Zillow.

In 2021, Delevingne gave Architectural Digest a tour of the home, which featured an array of eclectic rooms and custom renovations.

Delevigne is a supermodel and actress known for her roles in Paper Towns, Suicide Squad, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Most recently, she stars opposite Orlando Bloom on the Amazon Prime Video series, Carnival Row.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
UPDATE (8:00 PM) - Pittsburgh Police say a 13-year-old girl who was reported missing on Sunday has been found. She has been returned home safely.

ORIGINAL STORY - Pittsburgh police are searching for a missing 13-year-old girl.

Cemonne Hanna is 4 feet, 9 inches tall, and weighs 100 pounds. She has long pink and blond braids and a purple cast on her left leg.

She was last seen leaving her house in the 3400 block of Massachusetts Avenue wearing a white shirt and grey shorts at 5 p.m. on March 16. She was in a wheelchair due to ankle surgery and is without her medication.

Cemonne is known to spend time in Market Square, Marmaduke Park and the South Side.

Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7141 or 911.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

65-mile detour suggested as Pennsylvania Turnpike sees lane closure for emergency road repairs Pittsburgh police station found closed during the day raises concern among residents State police search for tractor-trailer involved in fatal hit-and-run crash in Mercer County VIDEO: Solar eclipse will be visible in Pittsburgh region next month DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth police believe they've caught the person who stabbed a woman to death back in June 2022.

Detectives arrested Breanna Williams this week.

They said an argument inside an apartment ended with Williams grabbing a knife and stabbing her sister, Porsche Smith.

Witnesses said Williams left the apartment while another sister tried to help Smith.

Williams is charged with murder.

Police have not said why it took nearly two years to make an arrest.
A Chelsea man was arrested Saturday morning after being found with thousands of photos and videos of child pornography, authorities said.

Timothy Brown, 38, was arrested at his Chelsea apartment after a forensic analysis revealed thousands of photos and videos consisting of child sexual assault material, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The arrest comes days after state police arrested Kenneth Higgins, 45, of Revere for allegedly storing hundreds of pictures and videos of child sex abuse material on his phone. Police say during that investigation, they found evidence that Brown and Higgins are friends.

Authorities obtained evidence that led them to obtain a search warrant for Browns Hawthorne Street apartment.

Police say the warrant was executed on Wednesday, March 13, and a memory card was found that included more than 700 videos and more than 2,700 photos, the majority of which were found to contain child sexual abuse material.

Police say the earlier arrest of Higgins resulted in the revocation of his probation for a prior child pornography conviction to be revoked, and he is being held in custody.

Brown is being held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail and will be arraigned next week in Chelsea District Court, police say.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Police work a crime scene at Newport on the Levee in Newport, Ky., on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Editor's note: Newport police released additional information about the shooting early Sunday morning. Go here for the latest updates.

Police officers were at Newport on the Levee on Saturday night after reports of a shooting.

People at the Levee who ran and sheltered at the Beeline said the commotion started just before 7:30 p.m. By around 8 p.m., police from at least four different agencies had part of the Levee closed off by the Bistro Italia restaurant. At the time, Campbell County police dispatchers said it was an active situation and did not provide any other details.

Officers from Newport, Southgate, Campbell County and Kentucky State Police were at the Levee. A crime scene unit van was also on the premises.

While a witness reported seeing an injured person being taken away on a stretcher, police have not said that a shooting occurred or that there are any victims or suspects.

Police work a crime scene at Newport on the Levee in Newport, Ky., on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

By 10:30 p.m., Newport police officers and a city spokesman said no information would be released Saturday night.

Britni Johnson, spokeswoman for the operator of Newport on the Levee, said that the shooting under investigation was an isolated incident and that there was no ongoing threat at the Levee. She said Newport police would be providing an update on Sunday.

Gavin Vires was with his parents and sister watching a band play near the Newport Aquarium when a flood of people ran into the area from the direction of the Cold Stone Creamery. His sister and mother said they heard gunshots.

He said they didnt wait to see what was going on  they just joined the group and rushed to the walkway near the Ohio River, where Brothers Bar & Grill and the Beeline cocktail bar have outdoor seating. There they met another group of people running, about 50-100, and funneled into the bar.

Police work a crime scene at Newport on the Levee in Newport, Ky., on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

They had bouncers at the door just hoarding people inside, he said. The bouncers locked the doors and rolled down a garage door-style window opening.

He lost track of his parents and sister Chelsea Vires, 28, so he joined a group in the corner. People were piled and leaning down together, he said. Others peeked out windows to find out what was happening. Slowly, word started to spread that it was safe to come out.

"Honestly, the scariest part to me was just seeing the crowd  almost trampling each other, he said.

A shooting was reported on Saturday evening at Newport on the Levee.

Sarah Dickerson, 25, of Oakley, was eating dinner outside at Beeline around 7:20 p.m. when people started running past the restaurant, first in one direction and then both directions.

Then the bouncers at Beeline came out of the restaurant and said: Active shooter. Everyone inside.

Dickerson and her friend were rushed into a utility closet with about 10 other people. They focused on comforting a child who, they quickly learned, had been separated from his grandparents. He was sobbing, she said. He had just gotten his face painted.

A shooting was reported on Saturday evening at Newport on the Levee.

Other people in the closet were texting people on the outside. About six or seven minutes later, a knock came at the door. All clear, the voice said.

Dickerson said she saw one male bleeding near Tom and Chee and that he was later taken away on a stretcher. She said two other people appeared to be wounded but were able to walk away.

Dickerson and her friend helped the child find his grandparents. It was an emotional reunion filled with tears and hugs, she said.

At 8:30 p.m., she said the scene was still taped off. White sheets were lying on the ground, which she said appeared to be covering blood, and multiple police officers were present.

A sign on the door of Brothers Bar & Grill at Newport on the Levee states the restaurant was closed for "unforeseen circumstances" on Saturday night.

By 9:40 p.m., the scene around the Beeline was what one would expect on a warm Saturday night with people laughing and talking. A sign on the door of Brothers Bar & Grill stated the restaurant was closed due to "Unforeseen circumstances."

This breaking news report will be updated.

Police work a crime scene at Newport on the Levee in Newport, Ky., on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Newport on the Levee shooting under investigation
The man who allegedly killed three people and sent his Pennsylvania town into lockdown has been charged with multiple offenses in New Jersey, where authorities say he stole a car before driving across state lines to shoot and murder his relatives.

Andre Gordon, 26, was charged by New Jersey authorities with first-degree carjacking and multiple counts related to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to the criminal complaint, Gordon had an unregistered semi-automatic ghost gun rifle which had no serial number and an unknown make and model.

Charges in Pennsylvania, where the murders occurred, are still pending.

Three Killed in Philly Township Shooting, Suspect in Custody After Standoff

In a statement, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and state police said that Gordon allegedly carjacked a Nissan Altima from a parking lot in Trenton on Saturday morning, then drove to Levittown, Pennsylvania to commit three fatal shootings, killing his mother, his 13-year-old sister, and the mother of his children. He then allegedly stole a second vehicle, a Honda CRV with a Namaste bumper sticker, and drove back to New Jersey to hide out in a home.

His flight triggered a manhunt coordinated by authorities across the two states, who issued a shelter-in-place order for residents in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, and canceled the towns St. Patricks Day parade.

Authorities located the Honda CRV around 11:40 a.m. Saturday in New Jersey, according to Bucks County police reports and the New Jersey affidavit. Less than an hour later, Bucks County police learned that Gordon was barricaded inside a Trenton home with multiple hostages, all of whom emerged alive. Bucks County and New Jersey authorities declined to further comment on the hostages.

Gordon was apprehended around 5 p.m. Saturday after a standoff with responding officers. He was taken into custody on a street near the house he was hiding in, though its unclear if he was caught while trying to evade officers.

The New Jersey AGs office said it was not clear whether Gordon had hired an attorney.

Manuel Gamiz, spokesman for the Bucks County district attorneys office, said that Gordon will remain in custody in New Jersey for some time before he could be extradited back to Pennsylvania.

An arrest warrant shows that he will face a whopping 32 charges in Bucks County, beginning with multiple counts of first-degree murder and including charges for burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment of another person.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(Bloomberg) -- Polish farmers started blocking a key highway near the German border to protest against food imports from Ukraine and the European Unions climate initiatives regarding agriculture.

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The police are diverting traffic away from the A2 highway, which links Warsaw and Berlin, according to broadcaster Radio Zet. The protest is set to run until Wednesday, organizers said.

Farmers have for months held periodic protests against both EU and national government policies, creating a headache for Prime Minister Donald Tusks new cabinet. Ministers from the EU have urged the bloc to speed up a review of its policies to ease unrest among farmers.

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Alexandra Smith is the new executive director of the Port of Olympia and her tenure guiding an organization with a marine terminal, marina properties, a real estate division and Olympia Regional Airport begins Monday.

Smith, 61, used to work for the port as its environmental programs director before she departed in 2016. Prior to being named executive director, Smith worked for the state Department of Natural Resources as its deputy supervisor for forest resilience, regulation and aquatic resources.

Smith was born and raised in San Francisco. She earned an undergraduate degree at Brown University in Rhode Island and a law degree at the University of Washington.

Smith has worked in both the private sector, practicing environmental law, as well as the public sector, making stops at the state Attorney Generals Office, Port of Seattle and later DNR. She also worked as a nuclear waste program manager at Hanford in the Tri Cities for four years.

Smith met with The Olympian last week to answer some questions about her new job. But before she did, she dropped in at a port staff meeting.

They have been through a lot of change and I wanted them to know that Im not into change for the sake of change, she said about the meeting. If there needs to be change, we do change with them, not to them.

Question: What went through your mind before you applied for this job?

Answer: Back when I worked for the port, I felt it could be such a bigger asset than it was, and it felt like there was more the port could do in terms of engaging with other jurisdictions and the community. So a seed was planted in my brain, and when (former executive director) Ed Galligan left, I applied for the job but did not get an interview because the commission at that time wanted someone with direct executive director experience. But when it came up this time, I definitely wanted to apply and it all worked out. I have to admit I was a little surprised after my prior experience, but pleasantly so.

Q: Whats your first order of business as executive director?

A: Meeting the staff and getting to know the staff.

Q: Why is it so important to begin there?

A: They really are the backbone of the port and they do the hard work at the port. My priority is to support them. I really want it to be a working environment that is fun for them, not one that they dread, but one that is fun and supportive. I want them to feel free to weigh in on what they think the port is doing right, needs to do differently, or to do more of or less of. I want to make sure I anchor myself in the staff and what theyre doing.

Q: At the public reception for executive director finalists, what kinds of questions were you asked?

A: A lot of it was: Why do you want this job? And then there were some who had questions about Budd Inlet, and some who have watched the port environmentally for a long time and had questions about things that happened when I was there like with the stormwater treatment plant. I tried to answer those questions as best I could and some of those constituents want more time to ask questions, so were going to have a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 27. People can ask whatever they want.

Q: The port has a new union that is still negotiating its first contract. Whats your assessment of the situation and how would you like to address it?

A: Its very clear there is frustration on both sides because of the pace of negotiations. What I would love to do is meet with the union without any other port staff and say, Im here to listen and want to engage in good faith negotiations and do right by you guys and get the contract done soon. They also have a schedule for mediated sessions, so I want to respect the process our port staff and union have been going through so far. But I definitely want to lean in and be helpful and add value to the extent I can.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  All 6 Portland mayoral candidates took part in a forum Saturday afternoon to discuss Oregons ongoing addiction crisis.

The forum, moderated by Mike Marshall of Oregon Recovers, showed the candidates a study showing the states need for 3,000 more mental health beds  at a cost of $500 million  to meet surging demand.

Body of missing hiker found at Horsetail Falls

Before the forum began, City Commissioners (and mayoral candidates) Mingus Mapps and Rene Gonzalez boiled down their approach to the issue.

These are the experts in this space, Mapps told KOIN 6 News. Im here to learn and to listen and figure out how we can collaborate.

Part of it is we have to clarify the role of the city in all this, Gonzalez said. We are the first responders, saving peoples lives when theyre overdosing.

Candidates agreed on the need for more collaboration between Portland and Multnomah County.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly.

So should Saturn Metals (ASX:STN) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway.

See our latest analysis for Saturn Metals

Does Saturn Metals Have A Long Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. As at December 2023, Saturn Metals had cash of AU$7.8m and no debt. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$8.2m. That means it had a cash runway of around 11 months as of December 2023. To be frank, this kind of short runway puts us on edge, as it indicates the company must reduce its cash burn significantly, or else raise cash imminently. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

ASX:STN Debt to Equity History March 16th 2024

How Is Saturn Metals' Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Although Saturn Metals reported revenue of AU$7.1k last year, it didn't actually have any revenue from operations. That means we consider it a pre-revenue business, and we will focus our growth analysis on cash burn, for now. With the cash burn rate up 3.4% in the last year, it seems that the company is ratcheting up investment in the business over time. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but investors should be mindful of the fact that will shorten the cash runway. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

Story continues

How Easily Can Saturn Metals Raise Cash?

Since its cash burn is increasing (albeit only slightly), Saturn Metals shareholders should still be mindful of the possibility it will require more cash in the future. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$38m, Saturn Metals' AU$8.2m in cash burn equates to about 21% of its market value. That's not insignificant, and if the company had to sell enough shares to fund another year's growth at the current share price, you'd likely witness fairly costly dilution.

Is Saturn Metals' Cash Burn A Worry?

We must admit that we don't think Saturn Metals is in a very strong position, when it comes to its cash burn. While its increasing cash burn wasn't too bad, its cash runway does leave us rather nervous. Looking at the factors mentioned in this short report, we do think that its cash burn is a bit risky, and it does make us slightly nervous about the stock. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 6 warning signs for Saturn Metals (of which 2 are significant!) you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The widespread destruction brought by wild weather across Southern California this week has left many residents displaced and picking up the pieces.

Blustery, hurricane-style winds, which hit up to 75 miles per hour in some areas, toppled many large trees that smashed into homes, damaged vehicles, blocked roads and knocked out power for thousands of residents.

Ongoing rains continued oversaturating soils and exacerbating landslide dangers threatening neighborhoods in San Fernando Valley, Torrance, Rancho Palos Verdes, and more.

Later in the week, a sudden, quick-moving thunderstorm activated warnings across the Southland, bringing a hailstorm, dangerous lightning and even threats of a tornado in some areas.

In mountain communities across San Bernardino and Riverside counties, heavy snowfall blanketed towns, creating dangerous, icy road conditions.

A Beverly Glen resident whose home was severely damaged by a mudslide is working to pick up the pieces while being forced to live without water, gas or general utilities in his home.

A tree came down onto a home after roaring winds swept through parts of Southern California. Crews assessed the damage on March 15, 2024. (KTLA)

A tree came down onto a home after roaring winds swept through parts of Southern California. Crews assessed the damage on March 15, 2024. (KTLA)

A semi-truck toppled over due to the Santa Ana winds in the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway in Fontana. The truck is seen on March 15, 2024. (On Scene.TV)

A fire station in Covina had several cars damaged by a fallen tree on March 15, 2024. (LAFD)

A home in La Crescenta-Montrose suffered significant damage after a tree fell onto in. No one was injured in the home. The house was yellow-tagged by officials on March 15, 2024. (KTLA)

The Santa Ana winds brought down trees across parts of Southern California, including in Altadena on March 15, 2024. (KTLA)

SoCal food truck owner stabbed while confronting thief who robbed elderly woman

Residents on Caribou Lane are still dealing with the muddy mess surrounding their homes. As heavy mud flows cascaded onto properties, many were left with severe damage including homes being pushed off their foundations, water and gas pipes that were burst and an uncontrollable amount of debris burying roads and doorways.

In February, a collapsing hillside washed a home completely off its foundation, sending it crashing into a neighbors home across the street. The force of the mudflow quickly destroyed the homes structure, sending furniture and debris downhill, while burying and damaging several parked cars in its path.

One neighbor, David Christensen, remembered that night as he was suddenly awoken by the commotion around 2 a.m.

Five houses were affected, six cars were totaled, but not a scratch on any human so it was pretty miraculous, Christensen said.

Several cars are encased in mud after a debris flow in Beverly Crest on Feb. 5, 2024. (KTLA)

A mudslide hit a Sherman Oaks neighborhood on Feb. 5, 2024. (KTLA)

A car is crushed by a retaining wall amid heavy rain in La Habra on Feb. 4, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

The bedroom of a Baldwin Hills resident is seen after a mudslide crashed through her glass door on Feb. 5, 2024. (KTLA)

At least one home was destroyed by a mudslide in Beverly Glen, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. Feb. 5, 2024. (KTLA)

Damage is seen from a mudslide in Studio City on Feb. 4, 2024. (KeyNews.TV)

A home is red tagged after a mudslide in Sherman Oaks on March 13, 2024. (KTLA)

A home is red tagged after a mudslide in Sherman Oaks on March 13, 2024. (KTLA)

A home is red tagged after a mudslide in Sherman Oaks on March 13, 2024. (KTLA)

A home is red tagged after a mudslide in Sherman Oaks on March 13, 2024. (KTLA)

Damage to the ground seen in a Rancho Palos Verdes neighborhood as the ground continues to shift. (KTLA)

Damage seen to a Rancho Palos Verdes home as the ground on the peninsula continues to shift. (KTLA)

Following a destructive rainstorm that pummeled Southern California, a massive landslide is threatening a neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes on Feb. 8, 2024. (KTLA)

Following a destructive rainstorm that pummeled Southern California, a massive landslide is threatening a neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes on Feb. 8, 2024. (KTLA)

Following a destructive rainstorm that pummeled Southern California, a massive landslide is threatening a neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes on Feb. 8, 2024. (KTLA)

Following a destructive rainstorm that pummeled Southern California, a massive landslide is threatening a neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes on Feb. 8, 2024. (KTLA)

Following a destructive rainstorm that pummeled Southern California, a massive landslide is threatening a neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes on Feb. 8, 2024. (KTLA)

Following a destructive rainstorm that pummeled Southern California, a massive landslide is threatening a neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes on Feb. 8, 2024. (KTLA)

A Sky5 view of road damage in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. on Feb. 29, 2024. (KTLA)

Man devoted to eliminating squatters taking over Southern California homes

Since the destruction, however, neighbors said the cleanup and rebuilding efforts have been painfully slow.

The cleanup effort has been really slow, Christensen said. It took about four-and-a-half weeks just to get crews out here to start the work so theyre digging it out, but then they hit a water main and now the LADWP has to come out. SoCal Gas is saying they need three to eight weeks of planning so its been an arduous process, to say the least.

On Saturday, volunteer crews from Team Rubicon, an L.A.-based humanitarian relief organization, have been working to rebuild homes and repair damages for residents who are elderly or struggling with insurance problems.

Its been brutal and its been hard because people are displaced and people are trying to get back into their homes and we dont have gas, Christensen said.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for SoCal areas above 5,500 feet in elevation. The warning will last through Sunday, March 17 for mountain communities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Periods of heavy snow will cover the area. Snowfall of 1-3 inches is expected at elevations between 5,500-7,000 feet and around 4-7 inches in communities above 7,000 feet.

Travel could be very difficult, NWS said. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. There may be breaks in the snow at times, but more consistent snow showers are expected tonight into early Saturday and again Saturday afternoon into Sunday night. Cold overnight lows on Sunday morning may create icy road conditions.

Anyone planning to travel to higher elevations is advised to keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
He was an outgoing guy. He introduced himself as Tony Jones.

But Detroit police found him suspicious, with his fancy cameras, British accent and habit of jumping out of a rented orange car to shoot close-up photos of cops arresting suspected criminals. He had no current ID.

It was January 1974. Crime was a big problem in Detroit. Cops were jumpy. So they hauled him off to the old 1st (Central) Precinct, and there they discovered the truth.

His full name was Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, the Right Honourable 1st Earl of Snowdon. He was a global celebrity, the husband of Princess Margaret, the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth.

His address? Kensington Palace.

Legendary as the first commoner to marry a kings daughter in four centuries, Tony wed Margaret in 1960. The archbishop of Canterbury officiated in a majestic ceremony before 2,000 guests in Westminster Abbey and a worldwide television audience.

Tony was also a player in Swinging London, fabled for his charm, smarts, skill, energy, philanthropic causes, good looks, gift of gab, circle of hip friends and extramarital love affairs. When he died, in 2017, one sassy London paper described him as a photographer and husband of Princess Margaret for whom a day without work or sex was a day wasted.

Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon, aka Snowdon, aka Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, in 1960 at Kingston Palace.

When word leaked that Detroit cops had taken Queen Elizabeths brother-in-law into custody, calls from news organizations around the world flooded the switchboard at police headquarters.

Luckily for the DPD, it was custody lite. The cops loved him.

Usually, when we arrest someone, we put on cuffs. But he was cooperative and so friendly that we didnt, Officer George Aubrey explained at the time.

En route to the station, their prisoner asked the officers to stop so he could shoot another photo  and they agreed to stop.

Once at 1300 Beaubien, Tony cleared up everything. His brief visit ended happily with a chat with Police Chief Philip Tannian.

Still, the royal hullabaloo was not what two young cops expected when they showed up for work that day. Speaking to a reporter later, Officer Aubrey ruefully reflected on how an ordinary encounter on a Detroit street had become an international incident.

Out of 3 million people, we had to pick him up? he asked.

What was an earl doing in Detroit?

In 1974, the Sunday Times of London was one of the worlds most prestigious and ambitious newspapers.

So it was no surprise its magazine would dispatch a reporter and photographer to Detroit to report on Americas urban crisis and the citys first Black mayor, Coleman Young.

The reporter was Stephen Aris, an accomplished journalist and author. The photographer was Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones.

Recognized as a leading portrait paparazzo, Armstrong-Jones also freelanced in the dog-eat-dog world of Fleet Street newspapers. The credit line that accompanied his photos said simply, Snowdon.

Snowdon was 43 when he visited Detroit. He and Aris kept a low profile at first, asking people who figured out Snowdons real identity to keep it quiet because, Aris told the Free Press, it interferes with the work.

The Earl of Snowdon, aka Snowdon, aka Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, spent a lot of time with a camera in his hand. He's shown here in 1973, shortly before he visited Detroit.

Snowdon went unrecognized at the funeral of Officer Edward Pakula, a Detroit cop shot and killed in the line of duty. He got a compelling shot of a grim-faced Young, in office for only three weeks, walking in a street procession with other officials. Youngs office earlier had turned down a request for a formal interview, unaware one of the journalists from the London paper was a dashing earl.

Before his cover was blown, a Free Press police reporter noticed Snowdon downtown and was intrigued by his cameras, apparel and unforgettable face.

He had two good Nikons around his neck and his clothes looked expensive, she told a colleague. Green suede pants and a black shirt, and freckles through the suntan and very, very blue eyes.

For their story, Aris and Snowdon covered a lot of ground, from the Hunters Ridge apartment complex in Farmington Hills to the east-side turf along Mack Avenue of Frank Ditto, a controversial community organizer.

In 1974, the Sunday Times of London was one of the worlds most prestigious and ambitious newspapers, and it assigned a story on Detroit as an example of the "urban crisis." This is part of the extensive spread. The photographer was Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, who worked under the name Snowdon. He was the husband of Princess Margaret, the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth.

Their story called Detroit the largest center of black power in America, but they caught the metro area as polarization was peaking, and their overall take was bleak.

Aris described high-security Hunters Ridge as looking for all the world like a medieval walled city, which fed into the storys theme, the deepening estrangement between the downward-spiraling city and the white, paranoid, prosperous suburbs.

Fear of crime in Detroit, the Sunday Times told its vast audience, is the main talking point at cocktail parties and Sunday morning brunches in suburban Grosse Pointe and Bloomfield Hills. Tales of robberies, muggings, rapes and murders have become the small change of polite conversation. A well-dressed housewife, the mother of three children, confesses that she has not been downtown in five years.

Snowdons aggressive tactics in capturing the sights of Detroit were typical for members of the feisty British press. And The Sunday Times gave his black-and-white pictures the full-page display that newspaper photographers today would die for.

In 1974, the Sunday Times of London was one of the worlds most prestigious and ambitious newspapers, and it assigned a story on Detroit as an example of the "urban crisis." This is part of the extensive spread. The photographer was Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, who worked under the name Snowdon. He was the husband of Princess Margaret, the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth.

On the scene of an apartment fire in the Cass Corridor, Snowdon captured firefighters on a ladder pulling an unconscious woman out of the blaze. She survived, but a 12-year-old boy did not. The magazine carried a close-up photo of his lifeless upper body, the kind of cinema verite that American papers largely avoid.

Snowdon does Detroit

Snowdon had fun off the clock, too.

The Free Press saw an opportunity. It assigned a young female reporter, Detroiter Toni Jones, to take Londoner Tony Jones out for a night on the town. Toni Jones brought a friend, and Aris came along, too. Jones, err, Snowdon, was a good sport. Toni Jones described him in her story as modest, easygoing and witty.

They hit several long-gone night spots. At Lafayette Orleans in Lafayette Park, Snowdon met Kenneth Cockrel, the famous attorney, and appeared not to notice when a patron began heckling the band. At Watts Club Mozambique on Fenkell, Snowdon was introduced to Pistons forward Don Adams.

It was front page news in the Detroit Free Press in January 1974 when Queen Elizabeth's brother-in-law, Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, was arrested in Detroit.

At the bar on Livernois Avenue, formerly owned by Mayor Young, the party was greeted warmly by the mayors brother, Charles, and given a slab of ribs.

Livernois sounds like something that ought to be sold in a pharmacy, Snowdon said.

Word about the run-in with Detroit police was not public, but Snowdon told Toni Jones about it  off the record, he hoped. Back at the paper, though, after Jones mentioned it to an editor, the Free Press published a story.

In a recent interview from her home in New Jersey, Jones, 76, recalled Snowdon as very personable, easy to talk to. He was lovely. He was really a nice guy.

A native Detroiter who attended Cass Tech and Wayne State University, Jones said her evening with Snowdon and Aris was a mind-blowing experience.

Thats why she still feels bad she let the cat out of the bag about his encounter with the DPD, as innocent as it turned out to be.

I blabbed, she said. I felt really, really, bad about it. The story blew up. Im hoping he wasnt too upset.

Bill McGraw is the editor of Free Press Flashback

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones was in custody of Detroit police
The Princess of Wales's last official outing was on Christmas Day when she attended a church service with her family - Mark Cuthbert/UK Press

The Princess of Wales has not ruled out making a return to the public eye on Easter Sunday, when she could join her family for the traditional walk to church.

Kensington Palace said when the Princess underwent abdominal surgery on Jan 17 that she would recuperate in private, at home, until after Easter.

She is not expected to return to public engagements until the week beginning April 15 at the earliest, as the family takes a three-week break for the Easter holidays from March 22. The children return to school on April 17.

However, the Princess has made no final decision about whether she might join her family at the annual Easter Matins service at St Georges Chapel, Windsor.

A palace source noted there had been no confirmation either way and that anything else was speculation.

If she is well enough, an appearance on Easter Sunday, when the Princess would be photographed walking through the grounds of Windsor Castle, might be considered a gentle means of returning to the public eye after a tumultuous few weeks.

The mother-of-three is aware of the pressure she will be under when she returns to work, not least following her admission that she edited a family photograph before it was released.

The Mothers Day photograph had been intended to reassure the public that she was fit and well, putting to bed scurrilous internet rumours that suggested otherwise.

The Princess of Wales admitted to editing her Mother's Day photo before it was released - Getty Images Europe

However, when it emerged that the image had been manipulated, it created the opposite effect, only fuelling further wild conspiracy theories.

The Princesss first public appearance will therefore be particularly significant, marking her first official outing since Christmas Day.

Kensington Palace acknowledged from the outset that when she is ready, the Princess may choose to disclose further details about her surgery and recovery.

But aides have also stressed that it is her own private medical information and will therefore be a matter entirely for her.

Princess might discuss recovery

Reports this weekend suggested nothing had changed in this regard.

One source told The Sunday Times: They are at their most open when out interacting with members of the public, and I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it.

A friend added: They will want to be clear and more open, but theyll do it when they feel ready. I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. Theyre not going to be rushed.

One of the first decisions that the Princess will face on her eventual return to work will be which photographer is given the responsibility of capturing Prince Louis to mark his sixth birthday on April 23, an image which will now face enhanced scrutiny.

Kensington Palace insists that no decision has been made.

The Princess, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, would normally have joined St Patricks Day celebrations on Sunday to present the traditional sprig of shamrock.

Irish Guardsmen give three cheers for their absent colonel - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP

Irish Guards mascot, 3-year-old Irish Wolfhound, Seamus, jumps up at his handler Drummer Ashley Dean - Yui Mok/PA

In her absence, 250 Irish Guardsmen gave three cheers for their absent colonel during a parade at Mons Barracks in Hampshire.

The guards were led by their mascot, a three-year-old Irish Wolfhound Turlough Mor, also known as Seamus, as they marched onto the parade square at the Aldershot barracks.

Since Christmas, the Princess has been photographed just twice, both times when out and about in a car.

On the first occasion, the Princess was photographed by paparazzi being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, near Windsor Castle at around 9am on Monday March 4. It is thought they were on the school run.

The image of the Princess, wearing sunglasses, was not used by the UK media but was published on a US gossip website.

A second sighting came just hours after the Princess issued the unprecedented statement on March 11 in which she apologised for editing her family photograph.

She broke cover to be photographed next to the Prince of Wales in the back seat of a car as it drove down Datchet High Street, despite the fact that they were headed to different destinations.

The Princess travels with her husband, the Prince of Wales - Bruce Bennett

Curiously, the Princess was en route to London for a private appointment but had apparently decided to travel with her husband, leaving her own vehicle to follow behind.

Last Easter, it was Prince Louis, then four, who captured the headlines, as he joined his family at church for the first time.

The outing marked one of the first large public gatherings of the Royal family since the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022 and they were out in force.

Prince Louis joined his family at church for the first time last Easter - Samir Hussein/WireImage

The King and Queen were followed by the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and the then Earl and Countess of Wessex with their son. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were there with their husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, as were Mike and Zara Tindall with their two daughters, Mia and Lena.

This year, one notable absentee will be the King, as he continues his cancer treatment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A pro-Ukraine political campaign committee has launched to boost lawmakers who are supportive of the country as it attempts to fend off Russias invasion.

The new group, dubbed American Ukraine PAC, is headed by Jed Sunden, the founder of Kyiv Post, the oldest English-language newspaper in Ukraine, which he owned from 1995 to 2009.

We want to raise money in support of congressmen who support Ukraine, Sunden told The Hill. The PAC aims to raise money for their campaigns.

Over the next few months, the group aims to have 20 fundraisers for lawmakers in Congress from both sides of the aisle. For many of the fundraisers, the PAC will be partnering with local Ukrainian communities.

The Ukrainian community has a lot of allies in Congress who support us and support Ukraine. It is incumbent on us to support them in their re-election campaigns Sunden said.

One of the keys for the group will be backing members of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of over 90 lawmakers on Capitol Hill that supports the embattled country.

The PAC will work to build deep ties with candidates for the US House and Senate who advance the vital alliance between the United States and Ukraine, according to its website.

The American Ukraine PAC said it launched with a successful fundraiser for Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus.

Rep Boyle has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine from the day he was elected to office, Sunden said. We are proud to support Rep Boyle in his reelection campaign.

The formation of the group comes as Congress struggles to pass aid to Ukraine.

President Biden has urged the House to pass it, including during his recent appearance at the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon to mark St. Patricks Day on Friday, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in attendance.

The national security supplemental, which includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, passed the Senate last month. But Johnson has yet to bring the legislation to the floor. The bill also includes funding for Israel and humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza.

Johnson signaled this week that he plans to move on the aid, but has not shared details on how the package would turn out. At the House GOP retreat in West Virginia this week, he said the House is processing through all the various options right now, cautioning the supplemental may not look exactly like the Senate supplemental. Ukraine aid faces growing opposition in Johnsons conference.

The Hill has reached out to Boyles office for a request for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Dejuan Robinson and Younece Obuad fought on the subway in Brooklyn.



Prosecutors are eyeing criminal charges against accused subway maniac Dajuan Robinson, but are waiting to see if he survives being shot four times with his own gun, sources told The Post Saturday.

Robinson pulled out his pistol on the A train in Brooklyn while fighting with dad-of-two Younece Obuad and an unknown woman on Thursday during the evening rush hour Thursday, sending straphangers scurrying.

Prosecutors decided not to charge Obuad, 32, with shooting Robinson, 36, who was transferred to New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center and remained in critical condition Saturday, officials said.

Dejuan Robinson was shot after a man he was attacking grabbed his gun.

Dejuan Robinson and Younece Obuad fought on the A train in Brooklyn.

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said Robinson, 36, could be charged with criminal possession of a firearm, fare evasion, menacing and reckless endangerment.

I guess theyre figuring out if hes going to survive and what kind of condition hes going to be in, he said.

The gunshots sent riders scrambling for cover on the Brooklyn subway. @JoyceMeetsWorld/X-ABC

It just goes to show you that you can prevent this kind of behavior just by enforcing one simple rule. All subway crime starts with fare evasion.

The NYPD issued roughly 120,000 civil summonses for farebeating last year, a record-high since it started publishing records on its website in 2018.

Even Robinsons mother struggled to deal with him, The Post has learned.

The bullets flew on a packed train at evening rush hour. @JoyceMeetsWorld/X-ABC

Robinsons mom kicked him out of her home last year while she was dying of cancer after he moved in for a few months to help her, her roommate said.

His mother had him leave because they had a falling out, the roommate, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

He was drinking and stuff.

Younece Obuad struggled with Robinson before getting the gun and shooting him. NO CREDIT

He said he was taking care of her but he really wasnt doing what he was supposed to do, she recalled. He was just being here. She basically came from chemo and stuff she was basically waiting on him and I didnt agree with that.

Robinson had fights with his mother, the roommate said.

Robinson has three prior arrests, including a domestic criminal mischief in 2022 on Staten Island: a robbery in 2012: and a grand larceny auto in 2011, both in Queens, cops said.

Robinson brought the pistol onto the train in a bag and pulled it out during the fight.

In the robbery, Robinson waved down a white Lincoln Town car with two accomplices around 2 a.m. on October 12, 2012, at Jamaica Avenue and 179th Street, authorities said in a criminal complaint.

At one point, he placed in hands around the drivers neck and started strangling him from the backseat, while demanding the driver hand over all his money, prosecutors said in the document.

Just shoot him already, another one of the robbers barked, according to the complaint.

One of the robbers punched the driver in the head and put a razor blade against his neck while trying to take the keys out of the ignition.

The trio took his ring, cell phone and money, officials said.

Robinson served five years at Orleans Correctional Facility before he was put on parole, which ended in 2022.
A figure depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin in a blood bathtub stands at a rally entitled "Stop Putin, war, lies and repression" organized by the alliance "Democracy - Yes" against President Putin's policies one month after the death of Kremlin critic Navalny. Monika Skolimowska/dpa

The presidential election in Russia entered its third and final day on Sunday and was accompanied by a wave of protests by thousands of opponents of President Vladimir Putin who is widely expected to easily seal another six-year term in office.

Despite attempts at intimidation by the authorities, voting on Sunday was marked in part by anti-Putin protesters, who turned out to voting locations at exactly noon as a sign of opposition to the 71-year-old Kremlin strongman, who has dominated Russian politics for almost a quarter of a century.

On Sunday afternoon, the electoral commission put turnout at above 70% of the 114 million electorate. This would represent a record. However, independent observers pointed to systematic fraud behind this high figure.

Electoral law experts in Russia and abroad have said the conditions for the vote are neither free nor fair: The opposition is excluded and the three authorized opposing candidates are considered loyal to the Kremlin.

Leading opposition politicians were removed from the ballot, have been driven into exile abroad, or are imprisoned in Russia.

The tension was palpable at the Ukrainski Boulevard polling station in central Moscow, where the steadily lengthening midday queue reached beyond a fence guarded by police.

Asked why she had come to vote, a visibly nervous elderly woman whispered: "To vote," her eyes filling with tears.

A 64-year-old woman said: "We want to express our protest  against the war, against the regime, against all of that."

More than 50 people appeared suddenly at noon at polling station 31 in Moscow's Basmanny district. "We are here like cowboys gathering for a duel at 12 noon," a young man who gave his name as Alexander said.

The Kremlin has organized the vote in such a way as to demonstrate the population's supposedly high level of trust in Putin and support for his war against Ukraine.

Police in Russia arrested dozens of people who joined the midday protests, with the OVD-Info human rights media project counting around 70 arrests, most of them in Kazan, a city on the Volga River some 700 kilometres east of Moscow.

Arrests were also reported in Moscow and St Petersburg. Russian authorities had warned against joining the campaign, which they say would show "signs of extremist activity."

Backers of the "Noon against Putin" protest include supporters of Alexei Navalny, the activist who died in a penal colony in the Polar Circle last month.

Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who was barred from challenging Putin, was received with applause from students as he entered the Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology, which also served as a polling station.

"I think you will still have the opportunity to vote for me," he said.

Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, helped call for the noon protests and joined a demonstration outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, where more than 2,000 Russians living in Germany queued to vote at noon.

Navalny's supporters gathered at his grave in the south-east of Moscow to lay flowers on the final day of the elections.

The circumstances of his death remain unclear, with many Putin critics and Western countries blaming the Kremlin.

Another Kremlin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who lives in exile in Britain, also joined the protest in Berlin. Anti-Putin Russian activists living abroad staged further demonstrations around the world.

Within Russia, numerous reports show that pressure is being exerted on citizens to take part in the election.

The elections are taking place across 11 time zones in the world's largest country by area.

The first polling stations opened in the easternmost regions of Chukotka and the Kamchatka Peninsula at 2000 GMT on Saturday; the last ones in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad are due to close on Sunday evening at 1800 GMT, after which exit polls and initial counts are to be released.

The final count is expected to be completed by Monday morning. Official pollsters have noted that Putin is aiming at a majority of 80%, the highest level since he first became president.

Internationally, the fact that the sham election is also being held in the occupied Ukrainian territories has been particularly criticized. Russia has annexed these territories in violation of international law.

According to local Russian authorities, a Ukrainian drone struck a polling place in the Russian-occupied region of Zaporizhzhya in south-eastern Ukraine on Sunday. There were no reported injuries.

A demonstrator dressed as Russian President Vladimir Putin in prison garb and handcuffs stands in front of the Russian embassy as Russian citizens queue to cast their votes for the presidential election. Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Counter-demonstrators stand across the street from the Russian Consulate General as expatriate Russians head to cast their ballots for the 2024 presidential election. Russians are voting in the presidential election with President Vladimir Putin widely expected to easily seal another six-year term in office. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

People hold a banner reads "#freenavalny" and "Russia without Putin" during a protest against President Vladimir Putin's policies in front of the Russian Embassy one month after the death of Kremlin critic Navalny. Carsten Koall/dpa
Vladimir Putin excoriated U.S. democracy on Sunday in a speech claiming victory in the Russian presidential election that, despite a war aboard and protests at home, only ever had one possible outcome: extending his political reign for another six years.

Out of every voice, we are building a common will of the people of [the] Russian Federation, he said from his campaign headquarters in Moscow, according to the BBC.

He shrugged off international criticismincluding from the United States, where a White House National Security Council spokesperson decried the elections as obviously not free nor fair.

What did you want, for them to applaud us? Putin asked, The Guardian reported. Their goal is to contain our development. Of course theyre ready to say anything.

He went on to suggest the entire world is laughing at the U.S., saying it was a disaster, not a democracy, according to a translation by Sputnik, a state-owned news agency.

I have every reason to believe that no democracy, at least in the presidential election campaigns in certain countries of the West, including the United States, does not exist, he continued.

 Putin called the political situation in the US "a catastrophe, not a democracy" pic.twitter.com/gm1ollrN0w  Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 17, 2024

Putin, 71, faced little real opposition in the fight. The three other candidates on the ballot have refrained from criticizing him and are widely viewed as toothless, having been rubber-stamped by the Kremlin. The second-place candidate, Communist Nikolai Kharitonov, earned just under 4 percent of the vote on Sunday.

Early returns reported by Russias Central Election Commission showed Putin had amassed nearly 88 percent of the vote with roughly 60 percent of precincts counted, according to the Associated Press. Turnout was measured at an historic 74 percent, surpassing the 2018 elections 67 percent, officials said. It marks the largest share of the vote the septuagenarian has collected in any of his five election wins.

His fiercest opponent and biggest threat, Alexei Navalny, died in a remote Arctic penal colony almost exactly a month ago, having been sentenced to more than three decades behind bars on charges internationally condemned as bogus and politically motivated.

His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, had urged Russians to turn out at noon on Sunday to quietly protest Putin, with multiple outlets reporting that lines at polling stations and Russian embassies around the world appeared to grow around midday.

You can ruin the ballot, you can write Navalny on it in bold letters, and even if you dont see the point in voting at all, you can just come and stand at the polling station and then turn around and go home, she encouraged them, according to Axios.

Some voters posted photos of their spoiled ballots, bearing slogans like Navalny is my president, No to war, no to Putin, and Putin is a murderer, according to The Washington Post.

The protests had been more pronounced earlier in the course of the three-day election, with Russia filing more than a dozen criminal cases against demonstrators who set voting booths on fire, poured dye into ballot boxes, and lobbed Molotov cocktails at polling stations.

This is the first time in my life I have ever seen a queue for elections, a woman in Moscow told CNN on Sunday. Asked why she had turned up around noon, she replied: You know why. I think everybody in this queue knows why.

More than 65 people were detained across Russia on Sunday for offenses such as trying to slip a photo of Navalny into the ballot box, according to independent rights monitor OVD-Info.

Putin Win Is First Step in Horrifying New Axis of Weasels With Trump, Orban and Le Pen

Navalnaya herself was present in the line outside Russias embassy in Berlin for Noon Against Putin. She told reporters that she had written her husbands name on her ballot after waiting more than five hours to cast it. Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin, she said when prompted at one point, according to the AP.

There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

In an unprecedented moment, Putin publicly addressed Navalnys deathusing his name, a rarityon Sunday night. Putin claimed that he had agreed to a deal to swap Navalny in a prisoner exchange a few days before he left this life.

But unfortunately, what happened happened. I agreed under one condition: we swap him, and he doesnt come back, Putin said, according to The Financial Times. But such is life.

Putin also extended a special thank-you to the warriors on the line of contact, a reference to Russian soldiers fighting the war in Ukraine, or what he and other state leaders refer to euphemistically as the special military operation.

Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago last month. These days, the Russian dictator is simulating another election, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday. It is clear to everyone in the world that this figure, as it has already often happened in the course of history, is simply sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever.

Asked by Reuters about tensions escalating between western powers and Russia over the situation in Ukraine, Putin remarked placidly that everything is possible in the modern world. He invoked the specter of a full-scale World War III, however, should countries like France follow through on recent thinly veiled threats to put troops on the ground there.

I think hardly anyone is interested in this, he said.

Putin, a former KGB agent, won presidential office in 2000 and a second term in 2004. He then served as prime minister for four years in an effort to get around a pesky constitutional limitation on serving more than two consecutive terms as president. In 2012, he won a third presidential term, followed by a fourth in 2018.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Demonstrators stand across the street from the Russian Consulate General and protest against President Putin during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

A large crowd of Russian citizens living in Germany, including anti-regime protesters, gathered outside the Russian consulate in Bonn on Sunday during the final day of voting in Russia's presidential election.

Two demonstrations began at midday near the Consulate General to denounce Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is almost certain to win the election amid allegations of fraud and manipulation.

The organizers of the "Noon against Putin" demonstration told officials that they expected around 300 participants. According to the police, organizers of a rival pro-Putin rally were expecting 50 participants.

Queues of would-be voters stretched for several hundred metres outside the consulate, which has enacted extra security measures during the three-day election.

The consulate in Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, is one of two places in Germany where Russians can vote in the election. The other voting place is the Russian embassy in Berlin.

Putin has no serious challengers in the election, as leading opposition politicians have been barred from the ballot, driven into exile abroad or locked up in prison camps.

A demonstrator with a picture of the deceased opponent of the regime Alexei Navalny over his shoulders stands in front of the Russian Consulate General and protest against President Putin during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

Russian citizens stand in a long queue outside the Russian Consulate General to vote during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

A woman holds a ribbon in the colors of the Russian flag in front of the Consulate General during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
An exit poll published on Sunday night showed Putin had won 88 per cent of the vote - Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Vladimir Putin is behaving like a modern-day Stalin, Grant Shapps has said after the Russian president won a fifth term in office.

Writing for The Telegraph (read the article below), the Defence Secretary accused Putin of having stolen the Russian election after having opponents such as Alexei Navalny imprisoned or murdered.

Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalnys widow, joined a queue of voters outside the Russian embassy in Berlin at midday on Sunday in a protest against Putins rule.

An exit poll published on Sunday night showed that Putin had won 88 per cent of the vote on a turnout of 73.3 per cent.

Mr Shapps writes: He of course is going nowhere after stealing Sundays so-called election, where political opponents are either imprisoned or murdered.

Shockingly, at the end of his next five-year term he will have been in power almost exactly as long as the dictator Joseph Stalin. Putin is behaving like a modern-day Stalin.

Thousands of people turned up at polling stations in Russia and cities across the world on Sunday to participate in the Noon Against Putin protest over his re-election.

Protesters were told to either spoil their ballot paper or vote for one of the three token candidates standing against him. The Kremlin responded by promising to imprison anyone taking part for up to five years.

Putin, 71, served as president from 2000 to 2008 before returning to the role in 2012 after a term as prime minister. He is now set to rule until at least 2030. Stalin, who succeeded Lenin in 1924, was leader of the Soviet Union for 29 years.

Mr Shapps wrote: This is a tyrant the West must stand up to  we have the means but, as I said standing in front of Saint Michaels Golden-Domed Monastery [in Kyiv], we need to show we have the collective will to win.

In recent days Mr Shapps has called on Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, to increase defence spending to three per cent of GDP to reflect a more dangerous world.

On a recent visit to Ukraine, Mr Shapps said he was forced to abandon part of his trip to the port city of Odesa because of a credible threat that he could be the target of a missile attack.

Although his calls for an increase in defence spending were not met in the Budget, Mr Shapps insisted the Prime Minister was committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Putin.

The UK currently spends 2.27 per cent of GDP on defence, meeting the Nato expectation of two per cent, and has pledged another 2.5 billion this year for Ukraine.

Mr Shapps added that, when he was last in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelesnky, the president, embraced him and said he was massively thankful for the UKs support.

A tyrant the West must stand up to

Life in Kyiv is in some ways remarkably normal  bustling streets and a cafe society that is thriving in the city centre, writes Grant Shapps.

But dont let that fool you into thinking this is like any other European city. The pretence of normality is entirely down to the strength, spirit and resilience of the remarkable Ukrainian people.

As I stood in Kyivs St Michaels Square last week, with bombed-out tanks sprawled across the square, it was hard not to feel a chill run down your back. Shortly afterwards, an air raid siren was blaring.

Even on my third trip to the city since Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine, the dark shadow of Vladimir Putin is never far away.

I had my own brush with the violence of his evil regime when I was forced to abandon part of my trip to the city of Odesa because, we discovered, there was a credible threat that I could be targeted by a missile attack.

It was just a day after Volodymyr Zelensky and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, were involved in a near miss in the port city. This gave me an insight into how our Ukrainian friends live every day.

There is no escaping the fact that the war to defend Ukraine remains difficult. Putin has diverted the Russian economy onto a war footing. He does not give a damn about the intolerable death toll his people are suffering on the front line.

Blower cartoon

And he of course is going nowhere after stealing Sundays so-called election, where political opponents are either imprisoned or murdered.

Shockingly, at the end of his next five-year term he will have been in power almost exactly as long as the dictator Joseph Stalin. Putin is behaving like a modern-day Stalin.

This is a tyrant the West must stand up to  we have the means, but as I said standing in front of Saint Michaels Golden-Domed Monastery, we need to show we have the collective will to win.

That is why Rishi Sunak is committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Putin. And it is why every day Ukrainians are incredibly grateful to our Prime Minister and the British public.

The UK wont let the West forget how vital it is that we stand together. Because the cost of losing this war to Russia will be far greater than the cost of fighting and winning.

And while the going is tough on the front line in the east, in the past six months our Ukrainian friends have transformed the battle around Crimea, sinking a large proportion of Putins Black Sea Fleet.

So much so that the Russian fleet, which has operated there for more than 200 years, has now practically left Crimea and barely goes out to the Black Sea. It has allowed grain to once again be exported at levels not seen since before Russias main invasion in 2022.

Britain is using every lever to back Ukraine, and last week I chaired a session of the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a military partnership of go-ahead northern European countries, where we discussed how we can do even more to support Ukraine, including Ukraine to take on observer status to that partnership.

Since the outset, the UK has led by example. This has included a record 2.5 billion commitment in 2024.When I met President Zelensky last week he embraced me, saying how massively thankful he was to Mr Sunak and the British people for our continued support in Ukraines time of need.

I told him that we are committed to Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Putin and to our newly agreed 100 Year Partnership between our two countries.

In the future, I hope visitors to Kyiv will simply be there to admire the beautiful city and its cafe culture. But for now, we must focus on ensuring that our brave Ukrainian friends win a battle of freedom and civilisation that they are fighting on our behalf.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue the war against Ukraine and strengthen the Russian Armed Forces during his new presidential term. He has also threatened to treat "traitors" from volunteer formations "as if they were in a war zone".

Source: Putin speaking at his campaign headquarters, as quoted by Russian Kremlin-aligned news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS

Details: Putin said the allegedly high turnout in the elections was due to the "dramatic events that the country is experiencing".

"We are being forced to literally defend the interests of our citizens with weapons in our hands," he said cynically, referring to the armed aggression against Ukraine.

Speaking about the challenges of his new term, the Russian president said that it was necessary to "address the tasks of the special military operation [as the Russians call the war in Ukraine  ed.] and strengthen defence capabilities and the armed forces".

He also said that all law enforcement agencies would be instructed to expose anyone fighting against Russia with arms.

According to Putin, representatives of the Russian Volunteer Corps are being "thrown like cannon fodder into meat-grinder assaults on the state border". He compared the RVC to Vlasov's army [Russians who fought for the Germans in the Second World War] and claimed that out of 1,500 volunteers, "about 800 people have been killed".

Russian President said that Russia does not have the death penalty, but "we will treat traitors as if they were in a war zone".

Putin also said that Russia "is for peace talks, but only if it is not because the enemy is running out of ammunition".

Putin also stated that Russia may at some point create a "sanitary zone" (a buffer zone) on the territory of Ukraine. He claimed it would be so deep that it would be difficult for "means of destruction, primarily foreign-made," to get over it.

Background:

The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation predicted a record-breaking "election" victory for Vladimir Putin with 87.5% of the vote.

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Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) has been an epic investment, and not just for those shareholders who have gotten more acquainted with the business in the last year of artificial intelligence (AI) hype. Broadcom's share prices soared more than 2,500% in the last 10-year period, obliterating average semiconductor industry returns for longtime shareholders (of which I'm a very happy one).

AVGO Total Return Level Chart

CEO Hock Tan has done a mind-bogglingly good job at acquiring tech assets that address growth markets for the semiconductor and software industries, all the while squeezing best-in-class profit margins from them. However, after an epic run-up the last couple of years, is it time to sell some Broadcom stock?

Broadcom sails through the semiconductor industry downturn

If you haven't heard, the semiconductor industry -- with the exception of data center AI chips, led by Nvidia -- has been in a brutal downturn. It all started with smartphone and PC chips in late 2022, extended to cloud and network computing equipment last year, and has now even hit the automotive (including electric vehicles) and industrial automation markets this year.

Broadcom is a hybrid semiconductor designer. It retains a little bit of manufacturing in-house (though Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing handles the majority of its chipmaking work), as well as a growing enterprise software lineup now led by the VMware acquisition. Its "broad" (as its name implies) tech know-how helped Broadcom stay in growth mode over the last few years.

AVGO Revenue (TTM) Chart

Q1 fiscal 2024 (the three months ended in January 2024) got the year started on a strong foot. Semiconductor segment sales were up 4% year over year. And even backing out the inclusion of VMware, which was acquired late in calendar year 2023, Broadcom's software segment is heating up again too (due to existing customer upsells using the VMware assets). Management appears to be sitting on yet another run of positive financial gains.

Story continues

Broadcom Sales by Segment Q1 Fiscal 2024 Change (YOY) Fiscal 2024 Guidance Networking (including AI and computing offload) $3.3 billion 46% 35% Wireless (mostly Apple) $2 billion (4%) Flat Storage connectivity $887 million (29%) Down mid-20% range Broadband $940 million (23%) Down 30% Industrial $215 million (6%) Down high-single-digit % Total semiconductor sales $7.4 billion 4% Up mid- to high-single-digit % Infrastructure software $4.6 billion ($2.1 billion from VMware) 156% (39% when excluding VMware) $20 billion Total Broadcom revenue $12 billion 34% (11% when excluding VMware) $50 billion (including VMware)



Data source: Broadcom. YOY = year over year.

This is of course saying nothing of the AI chip sales, which is what has the "networking" segment (in the table above) in high-growth mode right now. Again, that's with a big helping hand from TSMC. Broadcom is, nevertheless, an absolute beast. There's seemingly nothing slowing down its gradual rise.

It's all about the free cash flow

Over the years, shareholders have grown accustomed to huge free-cash-flow (FCF) paydays from Broadcom, with FCF profit margins approaching or exceeding an incredible 50% rate. Due to the purchase and integration of VMware, the FCF margin in the last quarter dipped to "only" 39%.

Expect that figure to steadily tick higher this coming year and beyond, as Tan and his management team are motivated to unlock not just growth synergies with VMware, but also higher profit from the big cloud software provider. Higher FCF will be important to pay down the debt Broadcom took on to make the purchase. At the end of January, Broadcom had $11.9 billion in cash and short-term investments, but $73.5 billion in debt -- although it did pay down an additional $2 billion in debt subsequent to the end of the quarter.

That said, shares do trade for 30 times trailing-12-month free cash flow, which is a premium for a business with this much debt that needs to be paid off. However, if Broadcom's overall revenue keeps chugging higher, and profit margins expand, it will be in good shape. I don't think this is the most timely semiconductor stock buy right now, but it certainly isn't a sell either. This remains a top company to hold for long-term investors.

Should you invest $1,000 in Broadcom right now?

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Is It Time to Sell Broadcom Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool
(Bloomberg) -- A defiant Vladimir Putin said Russia wont be stopped from pursuing its goals after a presidential election whose outcome was pre-determined and which handed him a record level of support.

Most Read from Bloomberg

No matter how much anybody wanted to suppress us, our will, our consciousness, nobody in history has ever succeeded, they have not succeeded now and they will never succeed, Putin told supporters in Moscow late Sunday. All the major and in some areas grandiose plans that he set out before the election will certainly be achieved, he said.

Putin got 87.3% with almost all votes counted in the election that ended Sunday, giving him another six years as president to step up his war in Ukraine and conflict with the West. The outcome far exceeded his previous record of 77% in 2018 elections.

Russias longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, Putin, 71, is extending his nearly quarter-century rule into a fifth term at a time when his troops are on the offensive in Ukraine. Russia is pressing its advantage in the third year of the invasion, which has become Europes biggest conflict since World War II as Ukraine struggles to supply its forces with munitions amid delays in military aid from its US and European allies.

Any direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO alliance would be one step away from a full-scale third world war, Putin said Sunday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Putin in a message Monday, saying Beijing attached great importance to the development of bilateral relations.

European nations panned the vote. Once again, the conditions for free, pluralist and democratic elections were not met, Frances Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Long lines formed at noon on Sunday outside some polling stations, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after allies of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison camp, called on people to protest Putins election by turning up at that time. Their presence represented a sign of defiance amid the harshest Kremlin crackdown on dissent in decades.

Putin is addicted to power and is doing everything he can to rule forever, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address. There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power. And there is no one in the world who is safe from this.

Turnout from three days of voting was 77.4%, Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said in televised comments Monday, the highest in Russias post-Soviet history and up from 67.5% in 2018.

Three other candidates from parties loyal to the Kremlin offered no serious competition in the tightly controlled election. Communist Nikolai Kharitonov took 4.3%, Vladislav Davankov from the New People, a party created in 2020, gained 3.8% and Leonid Slutsky, leader of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, trailed with 3.2%, according to the election commission.

Putin said the election protests had no effect and people who spoiled ballot papers should face investigation and criminal punishment.

He confirmed to reporters at a news conference that hed agreed to swap Navalny for unidentified people held in Western jails days before the anti-Kremlin critics death, on condition that he never returned to Russia.

Thats life, Putin said, calling Navalnys death a sad event and referring to him by name for the first time in years.

The election outcome gives Putin every chance to implement any, even the toughest, scenarios in Ukraine, said Pavel Danilin, head of the Moscow-based Center for Political Analysis, which advises the Kremlin. The historically high result is a guarantee that the majority of the population supports Putin, he said.

Read more: Putin Eyes New World Order After Crushing Opposition in Russia

The Kremlin secured the result through electoral manipulation and fraud, said Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. The goal was to show Russian society is united behind Putins long-term fight against not just Ukraine but the West and the liberal international order more broadly.

An emboldened Putin is preparing for a long confrontation with the West, according to five people with knowledge of the situation, asking not to be identified because the matter is sensitive.

The Kremlin is putting the squeeze on countries such as Moldova, the Baltic states and those in the Caucasus region in the name of protecting Russian minorities. European leaders have warned openly about the risks of a Russian attack on a NATO member state, and fear the US may abandon them if Donald Trump regains the presidency in November.

Russias economy has largely weathered the shock of unprecedented international sanctions since Putin began the February 2022 invasion, thanks to a continuing flow of energy revenue and a massive injection of government spending to support the defense industry and shield domestic businesses. Trade with China is booming as Russia reorients its economy away from markets in Europe.

How Putin Engineers Longest Russia Rule Since Stalin: QuickTake

The election allowed the Kremlin to demonstrate Putins support in the country to Russias elites, according to Nikolay Petrov, a visiting fellow at the Berlin-based SWP think tank. The most important thing for the Kremlin is that Putin is left with the feeling of a beautiful image and a real victory, however deceptive, he said.

Russia organized voting in occupied areas of Ukraine and claimed turnout far exceeded 80%, even as millions of people have fled the regions since the invasion. The foreign ministry in Kyiv said the pseudo-elections were illegal.

Ukraine waged an intensified campaign of drone attacks aimed at key Russian infrastructure including oil refineries in the weeks leading up to the election that continued over the weekend. Authorities briefly restricted operations at three of Moscows airports on Sunday after a drone was downed near the Domodedovo area of the capital.

Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine including Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Putin in 2022 declared four regions of eastern and southern Ukraine to be forever part of Russia, even as his forces dont fully control them.

Putin dismissed prospects for a halt to the war in a televised interview last week, saying hes not interested in a pause that would allow Ukraine to rearm. Russia wants written security guarantees to end the fighting and the realities on the ground should be the basis for any negotiations, he said.

In the last two years, the Putin regime has rebuilt every element of itself to adapt to a permanent state of war, said Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

(Updates with China in sixth paragraph, French Foreign Ministry in seventh)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Vladimir Putin will be re-elected today as Russian President. Though the result is a foregone conclusion, he hopes it will prove to the world that his bloody invasion of Ukraine is endorsed by the Russian people.

Having already led Russia for 24 years, he is poised to prolong his grip on power for a further six years, after a three-day election in which the voters effectively have only one choice.

Talk of Putins popularity in the West is worse than meaningless: it gives legitimacy to a cynical charade that makes a mockery of democracy. The constitution, which permits only two consecutive presidential terms, has already been amended to allow Putin to remain in power until 2036.

By then, he would be 83 and would have surpassed Catherine the Great, who reigned for 34 years (1762-1796) as Russias longest-serving head of state. Already, the Putin era has coincided with five US presidents and seven UK prime ministers.

The best comparison is with Joseph Stalin, who dominated the Soviet Union from the death of Lenin in 1924 to his own death in 1953. But Stalin only wielded sole authority after eliminating his Politburo rivals; his dictatorship really began in 1929 and lasted 24 years.

Arguably, then, Putin has already equalled Stalins record as an autocrat. But he took a break from the presidency from 2008 to 2012, serving a term as prime minister, while his loyal acolyte Dmitry Medvedev kept the seat in the Kremlin warm for him.

In a quarter of a century, Putin has never debated with a genuine opposition candidate or allowed free and fair elections by international standards. The only serious anti-war candidate, Boris Nadezhdin, was banned last month by the Kremlin-controlled electoral commission, after his campaign gained unexpected momentum. The commissions head, Ella Pamfilova, has dismissed Western-style democracy as inferior to Russias version.

Even Putins three nominal opponents in practice subscribe to the ruling United Russia party slogan: If not Putin, then who? They have barely campaigned at all and most Russians know nothing about them.

Ostensibly, Leonard Slutsky of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democrats, Vladislav Davankov of the New People party and the Communist Nikolai Kharitonov vary in their politics. But they are all handpicked by Putin to play their part in a sinister simulacrum of democracy. When the BBCs Steve Rosenberg interviewed Kharitonov, he expressed support for Putin.

In order to prove their loyalty, voters in the occupied regions of Ukraine have been visited at home. A video circulated by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the ex-oligarch and exiled opposition leader, shows a 98-year-old woman casting her vote. Behind her, a guard is brandishing his Kalashnikov.

The atmosphere of menace that surrounds the Russian election is shown by a bizarre propaganda TV advert designed to encourage voters to go to the polls. It shows a pregnant woman quizzing her husband about his day while chopping vegetables. When he admits that he hasnt bothered to vote, the advert abruptly turns into a horror film, with flickering lights and sinister music, as she approaches him with a kitchen knife.

Then she harangues him: Do you want to leave our child without maternity payments? And leave us without a family mortgage? And where were you intending to get money for your business? Youll get by without a subsidised loan, will you?

The advert ends with the man rushing out to cast his ballot, just before the polls close. Russians watching it would know that Putin has increased subsidies for loans and mortgages as well as maternity pay. The subliminal message, however, is: vote for Putin, or youll come to a sticky end.

Digital voting, introduced for the first time, has made it easier to rig the results and harder for observers to detect fraud. Public sector workers and employees of large corporations, for example, are urged to vote online, but these votes will be closely monitored. Typically, Putin is using technology to consign the secret ballot to the dustbin of history.

Thanks to online voting and other tactics, Putin is expected to win at least 80 per cent of the vote. In 2018 he received 77.5 per cent.

A murdered opposition

The man whose name should have been on the ballot paper is, of course, dead. There is widespread belief that Alexei Navalny was almost certainly murdered on Putins orders at the Polar Wolf penal colony last month.

Murdered opposition leader Alexei Navalny with his wife Yulia Navalnya, here in 2013 - Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

His wife, Yulia Navalnya, lives in exile, like many of the opposition. She has called on Western governments to refuse to recognise Putins reelection. Navalnya risks her husbands fate if she ever returns to Russia  and is threatened even abroad. To reinforce the message, Navalnys anti-corruption expert, Leonid Volkov, was assaulted in Vilnius by an unknown assailant with a hammer last week.

The death and destruction now being visited upon the country by the war have only rendered the regime more despotic. The Tsars all-seeing eye is more ubiquitous than ever. And the murder of Navalny has reminded all Russians of the price of integrity.

As well as the knout, or stick, Putin can offer a financial carrot. In the short term, Russias switch to a war economy has provided a stimulus. A recent IMF report claimed that Russias GDP growth in 2023 was 1.1 per cent and in 2024 will be more than 2.5 per cent, surpassing any other G7 nation.

Thanks to huge state subsidies, the domestic mortgage market has roared ahead, with a 34.5 per cent increase in loans. Sanctions are being evaded wholesale by channelling imports through Russias neighbours such as Belarus, Turkey, China and Central Asia.

As long as living standards are propped up and Russians are insulated from the full impact of war and Western sanctions, Putin can keep up a facade of normality. Putins Russia has become a gigantic Potemkin village.

This election also serves the purpose of a secularised coronation. Putin apparently believes that, like the Tsars, he rules by divine right.

Last week, he quoted a military hero of the 17th century who served the Empress Anna: Field Marshal Munnich said that Russia is a country that is directly ruled by God. Because if it is not, it is hard to understand how it exists at all.

Empire dreams

What lies behind Putins cryptic maunderings is a nostalgia for empire which still resonates in the Russian national consciousness. He yearns to restore the empire built by Peter and Catherine the Great in the 18th century, that was extended across Asia in the 19th, and reinvented under Stalin in the 20th.

That, ultimately, is why he lays claim to Kyiv, as the original seat of Kyivan (or Kievan) Rus, the ninth-century state seen as their ancestral homeland by both Russians and Ukrainians.

In Stalins favourite film, Sergei Eisensteins cinematic masterpiece Ivan the Terrible, after the first autocrat of Russia is crowned he informs the assembled boyars that he will reclaim the erstwhile lands that once belonged to his ancestors. This is a reference to the Kyivan Rus.

But Ivans Muscovy had never ruled over what we now call Ukraine. The conflation of the two nations, of Kyiv and Moscow, has bedevilled the history of both ever since. In our time, Putin has adopted this imperial narrative, with catastrophic results.

The statue of St Volodymyr (or Vladimir: both Zelensky and Putin are named after him) the Great in Londons Holland Park, half a mile from the Russian embassy in Notting Hill, is a defiant symbol of Ukraine. This statue of the sainted Grand Duke, whose conversion to Christianity in 987 changed the course of European history, reminds us that although Ukraine has only been an independent state since 1991, its roots go back more than a millennium.

For Putin, such historical facts are inconvenient and are therefore denied. The restoration of the Russian Empire requires the wholesale destruction of Ukrainian identity, no matter how much bloodshed and cruelty that costs.

The shadow of Uncle Joe

In this respect, of course, Putins record has a long way to go before it matches that of Stalin. Josif Vissarionovich Djugashvili (his original Georgian name) was responsible for the deaths of at least 20 million Soviet citizens.

The Soviet collectivisation and the Ukrainian terror-famine of 1930-33, now known as the Holodomor, alone cost more lives than the First World War. Stalins purge of 1936-38 remains the model for all subsequent totalitarian regimes. Many more millions suffered and died in the gulag; the terror continued until his death in 1953, aged 74.

The late Robert Conquest, a British historian, was the first to tell the full story of these crimes in his books The Great Terror (1968) and The Harvest of Sorrow (1986). Until Conquest provided chapter and verse, many intellectuals in the West, especially on the Left, still made excuses for Stalin.

Stalin is believed to have been responsible for the death of 20 million Russians - Mondadori Portfolio/Getty

Putin has always had an admiration for Stalin and under his rule, statues of the tyrant have been reappearing at a gathering pace. There are now more than a hundred of them across Russia. Although Stalingrad, now Volgograd, has yet to revert to its wartime name, last year a statue was erected to commemorate the Soviet victory there in 1943  and to mark the visit of President Putin.

The truth is that Russia has never entirely recovered from the trauma of Stalinism. Putin, the former KGB officer, is the living embodiment of that trauma. His mission, whether he acknowledges it or not, is to return Russians and their neighbours to the unfinished business of the Stalin era.

Putin has now been in office, either as president or as prime minister, for twice as long as the 12 years of Hitlers Thousand Year Reich. Only Stalin changed the course of the 20th century as much, or even more, than Hitler  largely due to his longevity in power.

Putin, now 71, looks likely to outlive Stalin and his legacy may be at least as enduring. Yet Vladimir Vladimirovich cannot escape the impression that he is merely a poor imitation of the original.

Perhaps the most vivid description of what Stalin was like comes from the greatest novelist of the era, Alexander Solzhenitsyn. In The First Circle, first published in the West in 1968 but set in 1949, he depicts the elderly Generalissimo in his night office, plotting his latest purge with Abukamov, his venal, ruthless minister of state security.

Stalin, Solzhenitsyn writes, mistrusted everyone, starting with his mother and God (he was a failed priest). He had trusted one person, one only That man was Adolf Hitler. Ignoring all the warnings, he had believed Hitler. It had almost  but not quite  cost him his neck.

Sure enough, when the minister begs him to reinstate the death penalty so that executions could be processed more efficiently, Stalin asks him: Arent you afraid youll be the first one we shoot? At the end of this deeply sinister conversation, Stalin tells his by-now terrified minister: You will have a great deal of work soon, Abakumov. We are going to carry out the same measures as in 1937. Before a big war a big purge is necessary.

Alone again, Stalin noticed in himself a predisposition not only towards Orthodoxy but towards other elements and words associated with the old world  that world from which he had come and which, as a matter of duty, he had been destroying for 40 years.

For Stalin had come to like the Russian people very much  this people which never betrayed him, which went hungry for so many years, for as long as it was necessary, which had calmly gone forth to war, to the camps, into all kinds of hardship, and had never rebelled.

Solzhenitsyn might have been describing Putin here, from the use of the Orthodox Church and the old pre-Soviet world for propaganda, to the chilling connection between war and purges. Like Ivan the Terrible and Stalin, the epitaph of Putin, too, could be: Mistrust was his world view.

Exploiting Western divisions

Stalin had assumed that he would sooner or later have to fight the West, but died before he could turn the Cold War into a hot one. Putin, too, has a habit of making scarcely veiled threats about nuclear war, but it is clear that he is encouraged to do so by signs of weakness and disunity in the free world.

One such sign is the interview given by Viktor Orban, the Hungarian PM, after speaking to Donald Trump last week at Mar-a-Lago: [Trump] says he will not give a penny for the Russo-Ukrainian war. Thats why the war will end, because its obvious that Ukraine cannot stand on its own two feet.

Hungary's pro-Putin prime minister Victor Orban was assured by Donald Trump that a Republican administration would "not give a penny" to help Ukraine against Russia - Markus Schreiber/AP

Orban added that if the Americans dont give money, then the Europeans wont be able to fund this war alone. And then the war will end.

It is a scandalous fact that Trump, though not the elected President, is in effect exercising a veto in the US Congress over the $60 billion military aid package that was promised to Ukraine last year. Although there is probably a majority for the measure in both houses, pro-Trump Republican House Speaker, Mike Johnson, is refusing to allow a vote.

The deadlock may yet be broken. A majority of representatives could overrule the Speaker and force a vote. But nobody in Washington is holding their breath. As the historian Timothy Snyder puts it, Putin sees Capitol Hill as the shortest route to Kyiv.

Putin is clearly relying on the scenario described by Orban coming to pass by next year, but he is hedging his bets, given that Biden will still be President at least until next January. In a pre-election interview on Russian TV, he played down the risk of nuclear war, because Biden was a politician of the old school of realpolitik: For us, [Ukraine] is a matter of life and death, whereas for them its a question of improving their tactical position.

Putin again makes it clear that he is not interested in genuine negotiations, only in a Ukrainian surrender. Unfortunately, when he claims that Kyiv is running out of ammunition, he is not entirely wrong.

The US has sent very little for the past six months and the results are beginning to show on the battlefield. The new Ukrainian commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Syrskii, warned last week: There is a threat of enemy units advancing deep into our battle formations.

Putin and Trump at the G20 summit in 2017. Putin could benefit greatly from the presence of Trump in the White House again - Evan Vucci/AP

The general did not elaborate, but experts warn that the Ukrainian front line is more fragile than it looks. The Czechs have raised money for 300,000 shells to resupply Kyivs artillery and hope to find another 500,000, while the British are spending 160 million on another 10,000 drones.

But the present war of attrition favours Russia. Not only is Moscow receiving more munitions from North Korea and Iran than from the whole of Nato, but the most powerful countries in Europe are dragging their feet.

In Berlin, Olaf Scholz appears to have ruled out the Taurus long-range missile system, having dithered for months. Even an offer from the UK to swap missiles in order to keep German troops out of Ukraine has failed to budge an increasingly dysfunctional coalition in Berlin. The German Chancellors indecision is final.

As for France: the hyperactive Emmanuel Macron, having initiated a discussion about sending Nato forces to Ukraine, is still doing little of a practical nature to meet Kyivs urgent needs.

Nuclear threats

Rather than loose talk about troops on the ground, it would be more useful for the two European nuclear powers to make it clear to Putin that Natos security guarantees do not only depend on who occupies the White House. If Trump and isolationism win over Biden and Atlanticism in November, the UK and France may perforce have to offer such reassurance to our allies.

This is why Putin keeps talking about the nuclear triad: the ability to deliver nuclear weapons by land, sea and air. Because only Russia and the US have this capability, he is dismissive of the British and French deterrents.

On paper the economic comparison between Europe and Russia is almost absurdly unequal. Europe has a GDP of some $20 trillion, compared to Russias $2 trillion. Natos European members will this year spend $380 billion on defence, compared to Russias $140 billion.

Admittedly, the Russian defence budget has grown by 29 per cent since 2023 and is now at its highest since the Cold War. Putin is now spending more on the military than on health and social services. Among Nato members, only Poland and the Baltic states are stepping up their defence in a comparable way.

Here, this months Budget ignored defence, despite urgent appeals from the British top brass and former defence secretaries to raise spending to 2.5 per cent immediately.

What could persuade the European members of Nato, many of whom are far from the minimum 2 per cent, to take the Russian threat seriously? Boris Pistorius, Berlins redoubtable Defence Minister, says that Germany will finally reach that threshold this year. But is it too little, too late?

Ukraine itself has taken a battering, not just from Russian drones and missiles, but from critics abroad. This month Pope Francis even called on Kyiv to hoist the white flag  thereby turning his back on a millennium and a half of Catholic doctrine on the just war.

Volodymyr Zelensky has seen worse. He gave the lie last week to idle speculation about a military coup led by General Zaluzhny, the sacked army chief, by announcing that Zaluzhny would be his new ambassador to Britain at the Court of St James.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will find combating Putin's invasion difficult without Western assistance - Mads Claus Rasmussen/Shutterstock

In reality, Ukrainian morale has held up remarkably well, helped by spectacular military successes. In the past few weeks alone, their forces have crippled several oil refineries, sunk more warships of the Black Sea Fleet and inflicted heavy losses on the Russian air force.

Even more remarkable has been the ability of Russian democratic volunteers to launch a major cross-border incursion into the Belgorod and Kursk regions of Russia. This operation was carefully planned to coincide with the election, demonstrating to Russians both that Putin was not capable of protecting them and that armed opposition to his regime does exist.

Meanwhile, Russian casualties in Ukraine are estimated by British intelligence to have risen to almost 1,000 men a day last month. Over the past two years, Putins war of conquest has cost Russia more than 350,000 killed and wounded.

Even if the West fails to support Zelensky, the Ukrainians will never surrender. For them, this is a question of survival. The prospect is, rather, for an apocalyptic conflict of unlimited duration, in which both countries are devastated and the old Russian strategy of scorched earth, which was so successful against Napoleon, is turned against Putins occupiers.

Today is a red-letter day for Vladimir Putin, but not just because of his grotesque pretence of a free election. It is red in honour of the Stalinist past that looms over the present, but also because every day he continues in office, the nation he leads is steeped in blood.

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On paper, at least, it must have looked so straightforward. Vladimir Putin wanted to fix a presidential election to show the world that ordinary Russians love and admire him and support his war in Ukraine.

With total domination of the media, which pumps out hardcore pro-Kremlin propaganda, complete control of the central election committee, which cancels Putins opponents, and a well-oiled vote-rigging machine, surely nothing could go wrong.

Except it did, spectacularly.

Putin was humiliated and outfoxed by his opponents in an empowering and subtle nationwide protest that reminded suppressed Russians opposed to his authoritarian rule that they are not alone.

It was just wonderful, one person in Russia who attended one of the Noon Against Putin protests told me.

Putins opponents turned his election against him by calling for silent flash mobs at midday on Sunday at polling stations across the country  the very places where the Kremlin wanted people to show their fealty by voting for the regime.

Silent flash mobs descended on polling stations at midday on Sunday in 'Noon Against Putin' protests - Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP

Protests are banned in Russia, and demonstrators cannot stand in a square and shout anti-Kremlin slogans because they are easy prey for the Kremlins police.

It is far more complicated for police to arrest thousands of people who suddenly turn up en masse at polling stations, the ground zero of Putins biggest propaganda project.

The plan was daring and ingenious, but nobody was quite sure how well it would work out, especially as the Kremlin had threatened people with lengthy prison sentences for protesting at the election.

We now have our answer. It appears to have been supported by thousands of Russians, mainly in urban centres, in a widespread and deep-rooted show of opposition that far exceeded expectations.

Thousands of people suddenly turned up en masse at polling stations around Russia - Dmitir Lovetsky/AP

The protesters smiled and posed for photos before spoiling their ballots with scrawls taunting Putin, glorifying his opponents and calling for peace with Ukraine.

Human rights defenders said police detained dozens of protesters at polling stations but, essentially, officers appear to have looked the other way.

The flash mob plan was signed off by Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader, only a few days before his death in a prison in the Russian Arctic and, in many ways, Sundays protests were his revenge.

Yulia Navalnaya, his widow and successor as Russias main opposition leader, was cheered and applauded when she joined a queue outside the Russian embassy in Berlin at midday.

And even before the flash mobs, ordinary Russians appeared to have been infused with Navalnys spirit of defiance, pouring green ink into ballot boxes and setting fire to polling booths during the first two days of voting.

Of course, the Kremlins vote-fixing machine ensured an emphatic victory for Putin, which his slavish propaganda machine will use as justification for his invasion of Ukraine  but the world now knows for certain that thousands of ordinary Russians hate him.

The sight of his enemies celebrating and ordinary Russians smiling as they joined flash mob protests will infuriate the Russian president. His post-election victory shampanskoye no doubt tasted less sweet on Sunday.

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Russian authorities on March 15-17 held a presidential election in two countries  Russia and the regions of Ukraine brutally occupied by the Kremlin.

The voting was neither free nor fair, with the result known in advance.

In the occupied areas, voting was held illegally at gunpoint. In Russia, the elections were no less of a farce.

The Kremlin's monopoly on television and print ensured that Putin's critics would have no say in the election.

Opposition politicians were not allowed to run, being either denied registration or killed in jail. Those permitted to run alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin could hardly be considered real competitors. In fact, they themselves hardly wanted to be such.

According to preliminary data, Putin gained his 87% of the vote, a number that came hardly as a surprise.

A general view of the Russia's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Headquarters in Moscow, Russia on March 17, 2024. Putin wins Russian presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, first official results show. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody," Germany's Foreign Ministry said on X on March 17.

"Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression and violence. The 'elections' in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void and another breach of international law."

Voting in occupied territories

Russia's so-called 2024 presidential elections are the second such "election-style event" conducted while the Kremlin occupies large swathes of Ukraine.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were forced to take part in such "elections"  in Crimea, illegally annexed in 2014, as well as regions annexed in 2022, including parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts.

Russia controls these regions only partially, and the capitals of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are under Ukrainian control.

Sources in the occupied territories told the Kyiv Independent that Russian troops forced voters en masse to vote in the election. Specifically, they caught locals in the streets and forced them to vote outside polling stations, according to the sources.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals from the occupying Russian troops.

Videos and photos published on social media also show Russian troops surveilling voters at polling stations, visiting people's homes, and forcing them to vote.

Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy

The alleged number of voters that the Russian authorities have reported in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts exceeds the regions' population.

According to the IStories investigative journalism project, the regions' population amounts to around 3 million people, including 2.5 million adults. Around half of the occupied areas' pre-war population has fled.

Yet, 4.5 million voters were registered in the regions, according to the Russian Central Election Commission.

The Central Election Commission has also decided to hide the numbers of voters at individual polling stations and election commissions in the occupied regions.

A man registers to vote in Russia's presidential election at a polling station in occupied Donetsk, Russian occupied part of Ukraine, on March 16, 2024. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

Even Ukrainian citizens who lived in the occupied territories and had been able to avoid receiving Russian passports were forced to vote in the Russian election.

Election in Russia

The Russian opposition used the election as an opportunity to protest against Putin's regime and the war in Ukraine.

Since there are no genuine opposition candidates who have criticized Putin or opposed the war, the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny's team called on voters to either vote for any candidate other than Putin or spoil the ballot.

Read also: Alexei Navalnys life and death as main opponent to Putin regime

Opposition supporters came to polling stations en masse simultaneously at 12 p.m. as part of a coordinated protest.

Lines formed at many polling stations at 12 p.m., and independent Russian media reported that some of the lines at polling stations abroad stretched for hundreds of meters.

OVD-Info, a site that monitors arrests at protests, reported that 75 people had been arrested during the election on March 17. OVD-Info also reported that one resident of Kazan had been arrested after trying to go to a polling station at 12 p.m.

Meanwhile, Russian media outlet Groza reported that in Kazan, the police had banned voters from visiting polling stations at around 12 p.m. and threatened to arrest them.

Voting was also disrupted by numerous incidents of people throwing green dye into ballot boxes, setting ballot boxes on fire, and throwing petrol bombs on March 15-17.

Voting fraud

Evidence of vote rigging emerged even before the votes were counted.

On March 15, all 136 polling stations in the town of Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, claimed that the turnout at each station was identical and amounted to 47%, Russian independent publication Mediazona reported.

The Russian authorities have also installed many tools that make vote rigging easier.

Specifically, for the first time in Russia's modern history, they extended a presidential election for three days, making it harder for the few election observers to monitor voting.

Few independent observers were permitted to take part in the elections, and some of them were removed from polling stations.

The Russian authorities have also promoted early voting and voting at home, which are almost impossible to control.

Another tool used for vote rigging is electronic voting, which was used in 29 regions  for the first time on such a scale.

Over the past elections, independent observers published overwhelming evidence that electronic voting was heavily rigged.

People queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Saint Petersburg on March 17, 2024. Russian opposition has called on people to head to the polls on March 17, 2024, at noon, in large numbers to overwhelm polling stations, in a protest which they hope will be a legal show of strength against President Vladimir Putin. (Photo by Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images)

In contrast with the traditional voting system, the results of electronic voting are virtually impossible to verify or recount. Independent observers said before that they had been prevented from accessing the e-voting results by the Federal Security Service, Russia's main intelligence agency and the successor of the Soviet KGB.

Apart from electronic voting, watchdogs have also published numerous reports and videos containing evidence of traditional vote rigging in recent elections.

The amount of vote rigging has gradually increased in Russia since 2000, according to Russian electoral statistician Sergei Shpilkin and Alexander Kireyev, a Russian-born election expert based in the U.S.

Based on an analysis of mathematical data, Shpilkin estimated vote rigging in the 2018 presidential election at 8.6 million votes.

A group of independent election observers cited by Russian independent media outlet Meduza has analyzed video footage from cameras installed at polling stations in the 2018 election.

They found massive evidence of voting fraud and concluded that votes were rigged at polling stations representing more than 25% of the voters.

Meanwhile, Kireyev said that the 2020 vote on constitutional amendments was the most falsified one in Russia's modern history. Based on a mathematical analysis of official data, he estimated the number of rigged votes to be 20 million.

Russia's 2021 parliamentary election was not far behind. According to Shpilkin, around 14 million votes were rigged.

Read also: Short-lived rise of Boris Nadezhdin, Putins anti-war opponent

Eliminating competitors

Apart from rigging votes, Putin has ensured that he has no genuine competitors in the election.

Russia's Central Election Commission handpicked lackluster and unpopular candidates who were convenient for Putin.

The election commission also bans candidates who have even a remote chance of competing with Putin.

On Feb. 8, the Central Election Commission rejected Boris Nadezhdin, the only anti-war candidate. The commission claimed that more than 15% of the signatures that he collected were invalid.

Flowers and candles are left at a memorial on Feb. 16, 2024, in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin, after the announcement that the Kremlin's most prominent critic Alexei Navalny had died in an Arctic prison. (John Macdougall/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Putin's critics, the real reason for the rejection is that Nadezhdin mobilized the anti-war and anti-Kremlin opposition, and lines formed all over Russia and abroad to support his candidacy.

Another potential competitor, Alexei Navalny, was Russia's main opposition leader before he died in jail on Feb. 16.

He was sentenced in several fabricated criminal cases and banned from running in elections.

Independent experts and Western politicians say that Putin is personally responsible for Navalny's death. The only unresolved question is whether Navalny was killed intentionally or died due to harsh conditions, torture, and lack of medical treatment.

Many other critics and opponents of Putin have been exiled, jailed, or killed.

Unsurprisingly victorious

Putin won with 87.34% of the vote, while Nikolai Kharitonov from the Communist Party was the runner-up with 4.11%, according to data published by Russia's Central Election Commission after 50% of the ballots had been counted.

Vladislav Davankov from the New People, a Kremlin-friendly new political project, received 4%, and Leonid Slutsky from LDPR, a hardline nationalist party, got 3.11%.

Western, Ukrainian and Russian opposition observers lambasted the results of the election.

"The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring," U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on X.

Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, called on the West not to recognize the results of the election in a March 13 op-ed for the Washington Post.

Read also: Russias descent into totalitarianism: How it happened

"Why do democratic countries continue to recognize his criminal authority as legitimate?" she wrote. "Why do fairly elected world leaders put themselves on the same level as a criminal who has for decades falsified elections, killed, imprisoned, or forced out of the country all his critics, and now has unleashed a bloody war in Europe by attacking Ukraine?"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 17 that "this imitation of 'elections' has no legitimacy and cannot have any."

"(Putin) should end up in The Hague. This is exactly what we must ensure, everyone in the world who values life and decency."

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Reuters) -Western nations decried on Monday the outcome of Russia's presidential election after the first official results showed a landslide win for Vladimir Putin and another six-year term in office, but China welcomed them.

Here are reactions from foreign governments and officials:

CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING, QUOTED BY XINHUA NEWS AGENCY:

"Your re-election is a full demonstration of the support of the Russian people for you. I believe that under your leadership, Russia will certainly be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction.

"China attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia relations and stands ready to maintain close communication with Russia to promote the sustained, healthy, stable and in-depth development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership."

EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JOSEP BORRELL:

Elections in Russia have not been free and fair and were based on repression and intimidation, Borrell said.

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT:

On vote in Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia: "France does not recognise, and will never recognise, the holding and the results of these so-called elections and reaffims its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

It condemned the "so-called elections" held in Ukrainian regions as "a new breach of international law and of the United Nations Charter", and praised the many Russians who had peacefully protested against the election.

LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER GABRIELIUS LANDSBERGIS:

"In this atmosphere of non-freedom definitely there can be no elections."

WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON:

"The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him."

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY:

"These days, the Russian dictator is simulating another election. It is clear to everyone in the world that this figure, as it has already often happened in the course of history, is simply sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever."

"There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be. This person should be on trial in The Hague. That's what we have to ensure."

GERMANY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X:

"The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The "election" in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void and another breach of international law."

BRITAIN'S FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID CAMERON ON X:

"The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like."

POLISH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT:

"From March 15-17, 2024, so-called presidential elections took place in Russia. The voting took place in conditions of extreme repression against society, making it impossible to make a free, democratic choice."

(Reporting by Reuters bureausCompiled by Global News DeskEditing by Frances Kerry, Ros Russell and Toby Chopra)
This is a developing story. Stay tuned as ABC4 will update this article as more information becomes available.

UPDATE SUNDAY, 3/17  Sgt. Sandoval reported the suspect is now in stable condition and the chance of recovery appears to be favorable.

ORIGINAL STORY: PAYSON, Utah (ABC4)  An alleged shoplifting suspect has been taken to a local hospital after officers shot him in Payson this evening.

N. Main remains closed to traffic as police investigate the scene. Police said there is no longer any threat to the public.

Sgt. Noemi Sandoval told ABC4.com that officers responded to an alleged shoplifting at an area grocery store shortly before 5:45 p.m.

By this point, said Sandoval, the suspect had left the store and was headed south on Main Street.

Payson Police said the suspect, whose name has not yet been made available, pulled a knife when confronted. Sandoval said one of the two officers reportedly attempted to taze the suspect but was unable to subdue him. When the suspect continued toward the police, Sandoval said the second officer fired on the suspect.



Neither officer was injured. The Utah County Officer-Involved Critical Incident Team is on-scene investigating, said Sandoval. It is currently unknown why the Taser failed. Sandoval said it could have been from a number of issues including a failure of the electrodes to both make contact with the suspect.



Police said the suspect had been flown to a Provo hospital. The extent of his wounds is not known.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
HOLLAND  A recent report shows that West Michigan, including Holland, has become a hub for advanced energy storage production  such as batteries for electric vehicles  with potential for additional future growth.

The West Michigan Advanced Energy Storage Ecosystem Report was compiled by Lakeshore Advantage, The Right Place and Greater Muskegon Economic Development. It shows potential for growth in the cell and pack assembly stages of the AES supply chain.

Volta Power Systems is one of West Michigan's producers of advanced energy storage (AES) and material manufacturing production  a sector that continues to grow locally.

A recent announcement by Governor Gretchen Whitmer that LT Precision Michigan, LLC was establishing its North American headquarters in Holland was the latest indicator of local growth in the sector.

Michigan is a pivotal location in the automotive industry within the U.S, said LT Precision Michigan President Wonseok Yang. As one of LGs partners and a provider for many different companies, we want to ensure that we provide stable supply and satisfaction to our clients by choosing Holland.

More: EV supplier to establish North American headquarters in Holland

AES end-use products include EV batteries, grid and stationary energy storage and national defense applications. The recent report shows West Michigan now boasts nearly two dozen businesses providing solutions or products across the supply chain.

According to the report, a third of all U.S. battery manufacturing takes place in Michigan, and the state is ranked sixth in the nation for EV battery manufacturing employment.

Amanda Murray, vice president of business solutions for Lakeshore Advantage, said the report is already generating buzz in the industry, which she hopes will continue to attract companies to the area.

We met recently with a West Michigan chemical producer that was looking at entering the AES market and was considering locations outside the region, Murray said. When we shared the report, they saw the possibilities here. Its a tool we can use to our businesses that West Michigan is a smart investment.

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Local leaders in the AES industry include Jolt Energy, LG Energy Solution Michigan, Volta Power Systems, ATC Drivetrain, Natron Energy and Gotion.

Another factor helping attract businesses is an emphasis by Michigan higher education institutions on workforce development within the sector. Several state universities and two community colleges offer training and research opportunities in energy storage and related technology.

To view the full report, visit lakeshoreadvantage.com.

 Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Report shows West Michigan is a hub for this growing industry
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., warned on Saturday that America could continue to see violent crime sprees like Saturdays Pennsylvania shooting and New Jersey standoff, where a lone gunman killed three people before being taken into custody hours later.

During a segment on "Fox News Live," Fitzpatrick discussed the tense situation and said lawmakers need to prioritize addressing mental health problems, or they would continue to see violence permeate communities across the country.

"The reality is, in America, its stigmatized when we talk about healthcare from the neck up," Fitzpatrick said. "We focus on healthcare from the neck down and that needs to change. Mental health is an absolute crisis in America. It was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its being spiked due to expanded social media usage, increased drug use. A lot of these are interconnected issues."

He added: "Until we start treating mental health issues like we do physical health in America, unfortunately, we are going to keep seeing crises like this. We have to fix it."

3 SHOT DEAD IN PENNSYLVANIA; SUSPECTED GUNMAN ARRESTED

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., called mental health "an absolute crisis" in America.

The comments came as police said 26-year-old Andre Gordon allegedly shot and killed three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, which falls inside the district that Fitzpatrick represents, before he fled across state lines into New Jersey, where he had a five-hour standoff with law enforcement at a residence.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

During Saturdays multi-state rampage, Gordon is accused of killing his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, inside a Falls Township home.

SWAT team members at a residence in Trenton, New Jersey, where the suspected shooter barricaded himself, according to police.

Authorities ultimately took Gordon into custody in Trenton, New Jersey, after he surrendered to law enforcement.

"The suspect has been located at another location in Trenton, and he surrendered peacefully," Detective Lt. Lisette Rios of the Trenton Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Fitzpatrick shared that Gordon was taken into custody on the social media site X.

Andre Gordon, 26, was arrested Saturday after allegedly gunning down three people in Falls Township, Pa.

"Moments ago, Andre Gordon was apprehended after a manhunt that lasted all morning and into the late afternoon. On a day where our Lower Bucks community celebrates our proud Irish heritage, Andre shocked our region by selfishly and abhorrently taking the lives of 3 individuals who have been confirmed to be his very own family," he wrote.

PHILADELPHIA DUO FACE CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING MAN AND WOMAN EXECUTION STYLE: POLICE

Fitzpatrick applauded the efforts of the various law enforcement entities involved.

"From the onset, we had federal law enforcement, first responders from all over Bucks County, and units from Philadelphia and New Jersey answer the call to track down this perpetrator. We are incredibly grateful for their swift response in ensuring that all parade participants were safely evacuated, residents remained sheltered in place, and we are grateful for their swift pursuit," Fitzpatrick wrote.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., applauded the efforts of the various law enforcement entities that helped get the suspected shooter to surrender.

"These individuals displayed heroic courage by stepping up instantly and for putting our safety before theirs. As we continue to investigate what happened today, let us pray for the 3 Bucks County residents we lost today and pray for all of those impacted by this tragedy," he continued.

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Three other people, including a minor, were inside the home at the time.

He then fled to another home, where he is accused of shooting and killing 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, who was the mother of their two kids, at another home in the area. Four others inside the home survived.





Original article source: Republican has message for every lawmaker after Falls Township shooter kills 3: 'That needs to change'
Iowa lawmakers have shelved high-profile bills on fetal homicide, immigration, gender identity, birth control, the state auditors office, diversity, equity and inclusion programs and social studies education.

The Iowa Legislatures second funnel deadline on Friday saw a flurry of Republican-backed bills fail to advance, including some priorities of Gov. Kim Reynolds, such as defining man and woman in state law and expanding birth control access.

To survive the funnel, bills generally have to pass a full chamber and through a committee in the opposite chamber.

There are exceptions. Tax and spending-related bills are exempt from the funnel. And legislative leaders can designate a bill as unfinished business, allowing them to continue to consider the policy.

Thats what happened to two of the highest profile bills this year: House and Senate Republicans plans to overhaul how Iowas Area Education Agencies provide special education and other services to school districts.

Each chamber has rewritten Reynolds original proposal, but theyve so far failed to find agreement.

More: As Reynolds pushes big changes to Iowa special education, most like AEAs, Iowa Poll finds

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, said hes hopeful lawmakers will pass some changes to the AEAs this year, although he noted that the House and Senate plans differ from each other and from the governors bill.

Weve got to get our own bill off the floor hopefully soon to really start that conversation to see where it ends, he said. But weve had good conversations with both the House and the governor so Im optimistic.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, agreed Republicans are having productive conversations on AEAs and on increasing starting teacher pay and setting next years school funding level.

It looks like theres a willingness to want to increase beginning teacher pay. It looks like theres a willingness to want to have some level of reform when it comes to AEAs.  Its just obviously what are the details and the final products going to look like? he said.

Democrats oppose wholesale changes to the AEAs. They say the issue has distracted Republicans from more pressing issues, like setting education funding levels for the upcoming school year.

The AEA bill is playing into why everything has slowed down and theres been no action on school funding and other school issues, said Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque.

Supporters of Iowa's Area Education Agencies wait in the hallway as legislators leave a public hearing in which Iowans gave their thoughts on the House version of a bill to overhaul the AEAs on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

House lawmakers have been far more active than their Senate counterparts this session. The House has passed 150 bills this year, while the Senate has passed 51.

With so many bills falling by the wayside, House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said Republicans have failed to govern effectively.

They have both chambers majorities and they have the governors office, so why are they unable to agree on so many pieces of legislation? she said. Great question. I think its because theyre not communicating, and theyre in disarray. They have different priorities.

Whitver said the bills he believes are the most important for the state are still alive for consideration.

I think Iowas in a really good spot, and we dont need that many bills, in my opinion, to make Iowa strong and to keep Iowa strong, he said.

Heres a look at where major pieces of Iowa legislation stand after the second funnel.

Jump to what matters to you:

Education | Health Care | State Government | Business | Law enforcement and courts | Immigration

EDUCATION

Bills still alive

House and Senate Republicans have each proposed their own rewrite of Reynolds controversial bill to overhaul the states Area Education Agencies and change the way students receive special education services. Both bills would establish a Division of Special Education within the Iowa Department of Education to oversee services.

House File 2612 would leave the AEAs as the sole provider of K-12 special education services, while allowing school districts to contract with other providers for media services in 2025 and general education services in 2026. The plan would continue sending federal special education money directly to the AEAs, while state aid and property tax dollars that currently go to AEAs would be sent to school districts.

Senate File 2386 would send 90% of funding dedicated to special education to individual school districts, while 10% would remain with the AEAs. Districts would receive 60% of the money AEAs currently receive for media and general education services, while AEAs would get the other 40%. School districts would not have to continue using AEAs for special education services, media services or general education services and could decide to contract with another provider. The bill also includes a pay increase for teachers.

Educators, parents and other groups voiced their thoughts on HSB 542 regarding an overhaul to the state's Area Education Agencies and an increase for teacher pay Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol.

Teachers and other school staff could carry guns on school grounds if they obtain a professional permit and complete training, under this bill that passed the Iowa House.

School districts with 8,000 or more students would be required to have at least one security officer or school resource officer in schools where ninth through 12th-grade students regularly attend classes, unless that districts school board votes against it.

Private schools and public schools with fewer than 8,000 students would be encouraged to contract with or employ a security guard or school resource officer. House File 2586.

This House bill would commission a full review of Iowas K-12 curriculum, graduation requirements and academic standards. The Department of Education would issue policy recommendations, including a statewide literacy plan and opportunities for civics learning. House File 2545.

Schools that choose to arm staff members could receive grant money to help pay for training and other costs associated with arming staff  including paying for guns  under this bill that passed the House.

The bill would also require schools to complete safety reviews, create a task force to make recommendations for new building code standards for school safety and create a pilot grant program for schools that want to integrate gun detection software with their security cameras. House File 2652.

March for Our Lives organizers conduct a vigil and observe a moment of silence at the Iowa Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Des Moines. They stand near photos of gun violence victims, including Ahmir Jolliff and Dan Marburger, who died at Perry High School.

Parents whose students are not proficient in reading at the end of third grade would be given the option to have their student repeat the grade under a bill proposed by Reynolds. The measure would also require teachers to be trained in evidence-based instruction on the science of reading and would provide personalized lesson plans to students in third through sixth grade who are not proficient in reading.

A separate Senate bill would implement a reading curriculum more focused on phonics, or sounding out letters as a way to teach reading. House File 2618/Senate File 2195.

Bills that are dead

Iowas three public universities would have been required to eliminate all staff positions focused on diversity, equity and inclusion that are not necessary for the schools' accreditation or to comply with state or federal law.

The bill would have codified directives adopted by the Iowa Board of Regents last fall. It would also have required two Iowa lawmakers to serve as nonvoting members of the Board of Regents and capped in-state tuition increases at 3% per year for the three public universities.

It passed through the House but did not receive approval from a Senate committee. House File 2558.

House lawmakers passed a bill to raise starting teacher pay to $50,000 per year, as Reynolds has proposed. The House bill would have first raised minimum teacher pay to $47,500 for the coming school year, then to $50,000 the next year.

The House proposal also includes $14 million for schools to raise nonsalaried school staff pay to $15 per hour and another $22 million to raise experienced teachers salaries. It does not include language in Reynolds bill that would provide teachers with at least 12 years of experience with a minimum salary of $62,000. House File 2630.

North Polk High School teacher Bruce Bennett drives his bus route after school on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Alleman.

Social studies curriculum would have been required to include such topics as the "history and meaning of the United States flag and national anthem," the "culture heritage of western civilization, the United States and the state of Iowa," and "the study of and devotion to the United States' exceptional and praiseworthy history."

The bill would have also required age-appropriate and grade-appropriate education on the Holocaust for middle and high-schoolers.

It passed the House but did not make it through a committee in the Senate. House File 2544.

HEALTH CARE

Bills still alive

The state of Iowa would not have to hire a third-party administrator to oversee the More Options for Maternal Support, or MOMS, program, under a bill that passed the Senate.

Instead, the Department of Health and Human Services could directly oversee the program, which was established to provide state dollars to pregnancy resource centers that counsel women against abortion and offer items like cribs and baby clothes to pregnant women and new moms. House File 2267/Senate File 2252.

A patient room at Women's Choice Center, a pregnancy resource center in Bettendorf that would qualify for state dollars under the MOMS program.

Reynolds bill would reshape mental health and substance use treatment services in Iowa by merging the states 13 Mental Health and Disability Service regions and 19 Integrated Provider Networks that manage substance use and problem gambling services into seven behavioral health districts.

The Department of Health and Human Services would take over management of disability services. House File 2509/Senate File 2354.

A bill from Reynolds would make low-income mothers eligible for a full year of Medicaid coverage after giving birth, up from 60 days under current law. Coverage would be available only to those whose family income is up to 215% of the federal poverty level ($64,500 annually for a family of four).

Thats down from a maximum family income of 375% of the federal poverty level (about $117,000 for a family of four) under current law. The Senate passed the bill in February. House File 2583/Senate File 2251.

Iowas human growth and development classes from grades 7-12 would be required to show students a computer-generated video detailing the stages of pregnancy under this bill that passed the House.

Senate Republicans removed a specific reference to the Meet Baby Olivia video developed by an anti-abortion group. House File 2617.

Bills that are dead

Ban on closing places of worship

The governor could not have closed or placed mandates or requirements on any place of worship for any reason, including for a public health emergency, under this House bill. House File 2532.

Iowans 18 and older could have gotten birth control, including pills, birth control patches and vaginal rings, from a pharmacist without first seeing a doctor, under a bill from Reynolds that would have expanded access to contraceptives.

The bill, which Reynolds proposed last year without success, would have allowed pharmacists to dispense an initial three-month supply of birth control, and a 12-month supply after that. Patients would have had to see a doctor within 27 months after a pharmacist dispensed the birth control. House File 2584.

A one-month dosage of hormonal birth control pills.

This bill would have allowed patients to broadly request blood donations from themselves or specific individuals, with blood banks being permitted to deny the request only on the basis of an imminent risk to the patients life.

It passed the Senate and died in the House after the American Red Cross and medical experts said it could disrupt blood banks and pose risks to patients and families. Senate File 2369.

Iowans would have faced more prison time for terminating a pregnancy without of the consent of the pregnant person under a bill that passed the House but did not receive a Senate hearing. The bill also changed the language in the law from someone who terminates a human pregnancy to someone who causes the death of an unborn person.

The bill would have defined unborn person as an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization to live birth. It would not have applied to abortions performed with the consent of the pregnant person. House File 2575.

More: IVF fears scuttle Iowa bill raising penalty for ending pregnancy without consent

The room where in vitro fertilization, or IVF, is done at Mid-Iowa Fertility.

Iowa nursing home staff would have had to train twice a year with the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing to go over at least three of the 10 most frequent complaints from the preceding calendar year, under a bill that passed the Iowa House but failed to advance in the Senate. House File 2585.

Paid parental leave for state employees

State employees who give birth would have received up to four weeks of paid leave under a bill proposed by Reynolds. A state employee who did not give birth would have gotten one week of paid parental leave.

State employees who adopt would have gotten four weeks of paid leave. House File 2557.

Iowans under age 18 would have no longer been able to receive a vaccine for HPV or other sexually transmitted diseases and infections without their parent's consent. The bill did not pass in either chamber. Senate File 2064.

Health care providers and workers would have been allowed to opt out of services that violate their personal or religious beliefs. The bill would have also protected them from legal action or termination due to their refusal.

It did not come up for floor debate in the Senate. Senate File 2286.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Bills awaiting the governors signature

The government could not substantially burden someones exercise of religion except in furtherance of a compelling government interest under a bill that passed the House and Senate.

A person whose exercise of religion has been burdened would have the power to go to court to seek damages or other means of redressing the harm against them. Senate File 2095.

Iowa would no longer mandate a balance of men and women serving on state and local boards and commissions, under House and Senate bills that would eliminate a decades-old requirement.

The push comes as part of Reynolds effort to shrink state government by eliminating more than 100 boards and commissions. Senate File 2096.

Bills still alive

Programs that provide guaranteed income payments, like the pilot program UpLift operating in Polk County, would be banned under this bill that passed the House and remains alive in the Senate. Existing programs could remain in effect until 2025.

The attorney general would be granted the power to sue cities or counties to halt any new program. House File 2319.

The UpLift program offers $500 a month to selected central Iowans for two years. Materials promoting UpLift, the Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, were on display in different languages at a launch event Feb. 15, 2023, at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center.

House and Senate Republicans are taking two different approaches to Reynolds goal of reducing the number of boards and commissions in Iowa. The Senate bill matches Reynolds proposal, which would cut 111 boards and commissions.

The House has a narrower bill that would cut 49 boards and commissions, largely those that one lawmaker described as defunct or duplicative. House File 2574/Senate File 2385.

Iowans could buy custom yellow Gadsden Flag license plates with the slogan Dont Tread on Me under this bill that passed the House. The fees from purchasing the special license plates would be given out as grants to nonprofits to provide training on the right to keep and bear arms.

First preference for the grants would go to the Iowa Firearms Coalition, the state-recognized association of the National Rifle Organization. House File 2639.

Leslie Corp holds up an American flag and the Gadsden flag while waiting outside of Roseburg Municipal Airport for President Barack Obama's arrival in Roseburg, Oregon, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015.

Iowans would face an earlier deadline to return mail-in ballots, and ballot drop boxes would be banned under a bill that passed the House.

The measure would also ban ranked choice voting, allow federal candidates convicted of felonies to run for office in Iowa and restrict challenges to presidential candidates place on Iowas ballot. House File 2610/Senate File 2380.

The ballot drop box outside the Polk County Election Office, on Tuesday, May 24, in Des Moines.

Bills that are dead

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources would have been forbidden from bidding on land at auction under this bill that passed the Senate but failed to advance in the House.

The DNR would have been allowed to buy or acquire land only from a willing donor or seller. And the department would not have been allowed to acquire property from a nonprofit that purchased the land at auction. Senate File 2324.

Reynolds bill, which passed the House Education Committee, would have added new definitions of man, woman and sex in state law, as well as required new birth certificates for transgender Iowans that reflect their sex assigned at birth as well as their current identity.

It advanced through committee in the House but never saw floor debate. House File 2389.

Protesters gather in opposition to HF2389 as lawmakers hold a hearing for the bill that would set legal definitions for the words "man" and "women" Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol.

State agencies would have been allowed to hire a certified CPA to perform their annual audit, rather than the state auditors office, under a bill that passed the Senate but failed to advance in the House.

Auditor Rob Sands office called the proposal a political ploy to undermine Iowas only statewide elected Democrat. House Republicans said they had concerns over the cost of hiring outside firms to conduct the audits. Senate File 2311.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand holds a news conference after the Iowa House passed a bill limiting his office's powers on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Public employers would have been required to provide the state with a list of employees in a public union within 10 days of receiving notice that the union was seeking to hold a recertification election.

If the employer failed to provide the list, the Public Employee Relations Board would have issued a written notification of the failure. If the employer did not provide the list within another five days, PERB would have had to immediately decertify the union. Senate File 2374.

BUSINESS

Bills awaiting the governors signature

This proposal from Reynolds would grant Iowa's attorney general more power when investigating foreign owners of Iowa farmland. The attorney general would have subpoena power for financial information, purchase agreements and other documents.

The bill would also raise penalties for foreign companies or individuals who fail to register their purchases or holdings and require the secretary of state to compile an annual report of foreign land ownership. Senate File 2204.

Bills still alive

This bill would replace a 2020 law that relates to competitive bidding requirements for electric transmission lines, giving the "right of first refusal" for new projects to companies with existing infrastructure.

The 2020 law is tied up in court, and Republicans see the Iowa Supreme Courts ruling as overreaching into legislative branch business. House File 2551/Senate File 2372.

Holidays and weekends would no longer be included in the three-day notice period a landlord is required to observe before beginning eviction proceedings. Current law requires a notice period of three business days.

The bill would allow landlords to include illegal provisions in their leases, as long as they do not enforce them. Current law bans landlords from knowingly using leases that include illegal provisions. House File 669/Senate Study Bill 3102.

Consumable hemp products would be limited to four milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving and 10mg per container, under this bill.

It would also ramp up regulations and penalties for violating Iowas existing laws and imposes a 21-year-old age minimum to purchase products. House File 2605.

"Enjoy Hemp" brand gummies are seen at the Despensary, 221 4th St., on Friday, September 29, 2023 in Des Moines.

Lab-grown meat and plant-based meat alternatives could not be labeled as meat without including qualifying phrases like "meatless" or "imitation" on their labels under this bill that passed the Iowa Senate.

The bill would apply only to food processing facilities, not grocery stores. Senate File 2391.

Iowa's watershed management authorities would add soil health to their missions under this House bill, which would also make changes to some water quality and flood control programs. House File 2642.

Jerry Hatfield, a retired U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist, and Ken Wacha, a research hydrologist at the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, show the difference in soil between a field that has been maintained to reduce carbon loss vs. one that has not, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. The darker soil on the right is healthier soil that has retained more carbon.

Bills that are dead

Banning bots for online ticket purchases

Creating a bot, or automated software program, to purchase excessive online tickets would have been banned under this Senate bill, which would have allowed the attorney general to sue to block further violations or seek up to $10,000 in penalties. Senate File 2322.

Minors could not have created social media accounts unless their parent provided the social media company with permission, under this House bill that did not receive a Senate hearing. The Iowa attorney general could have sued companies to enforce the law. House File 2523.

This combination of file photos shows the logos of the following online services and platforms: (Top, L-R) TikTok; Facebook; Instagram; X; (bottom L-R) Google; YouTube; Snapchat and Bing.

Pornographic site age verification

Pornographic websites would have had to verify the ages of their users to ensure children werent accessing pornography under this House bill that did not advance.

The measure would also have required schools to teach students in sixth through 12th grades about healthy social media habits and the negative effects of social media on mental health and privacy. House File 2546.

LAW ENFORCEMENT & COURTS

Bills awaiting the governors signature

Filing false reports to law enforcement, known as swatting, would be subject to increased penalties under a bill on Reynolds desk.

The new penalties are a response to an increase in swatting calls at school buildings, prompting lockdowns, canceled classes and large law enforcement responses. Senate File 2161.

The Clinton Police Department and neighboring agencies responded to the Clinton High School swatting call March 21, 2023.

Bills still alive

Two bills would criminalize pornography using someones likeness that is created or altered using artificial intelligence.

House File 2240 would criminalize the distribution of pornographic images of adults that are created or altered using artificial intelligence or other means.

Senate File 2243 would make clear that using the likeness of an identifiable minor to create an altered pornographic image is covered by Iowa's current law prohibiting the sexual exploitation of a minor, including the possession or purchase of pornographic images of children. The bill awaits Reynolds signature.

Five cities would have to disband their citizen police review boards if this Senate bill becomes law.

The bill would ban cities from having civilian boards to review their police departments and would specify that the only avenue for addressing police misconduct is through a citys civil service commission. The bill also makes several changes to the procedures that civil service commissions must follow. Senate File 2325.

Banning traffic cameras, handheld devices while driving

Traffic enforcement cameras would be banned, and Iowans would be barred from using electronic devices while driving, except to answer the phone, under a bill combining two long-standing issues in the Legislature. House File 2595/Senate File 2337.

Landowners who would be subjected to eminent domain and companies seeking to exercise eminent domain powers would be able to go to court more quickly to seek review of whether eminent domain is proper under a bill in the Iowa House.

Lawmakers removed a provision from an earlier version of the bill that would have allowed one-fifth of House or Senate members to halt eminent domain proceedings on a project. House File 2522.

A sign reading "No CO2, no eminent domain" stands along a rural road east of Bismarck, North Dakota, in opposition to Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed $5.5 billion, 2,000-mile pipeline network to carry carbon dioxide emissions from dozens of ethanol plants in five states, including Iowa, to central North Dakota for permanent storage deep underground.

This bill would create first-degree murder charges for unlawfully delivering, dispensing or otherwise providing fentanyl or fentanyl-related substance to another person that leads to a persons death. House File 2576.

IMMIGRATION

Bills still alive

Any person who has been previously deported or denied entry to the U.S. would be barred from entering, attempting to enter or being in Iowa under this bill that passed the Senate.

The crime would be an aggravated misdemeanor in most cases but could become a felony charge under certain circumstances, including if the person was arrested for allegedly committing another felony. The bill is modeled after a Texas law that has been blocked by the courts. House File 2567/Senate File 2340.

Bills that are dead

Iowa businesses would have been required to use the federal E-Verify system to determine whether their employees are legally in the country under a bill that passed the Senate but did not receive a hearing in the House.

Companies that are found to have hired undocumented immigrants in violation of the law would have faced the suspension or revocation of their business licenses. Senate File 108.

Iowa's public universities and community colleges would have had to adopt rules specifying that students must be either U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country to receive in-state tuition, under a bill that failed to advance in the House. House File 2320.

Hector Salamanca Arroyo testifies Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at the Iowa Capitol against a bill that would prevent undocumented students at Iowa's state universities and community colleges from receiving in-state tuition.

A House bill would have created a new crime of smuggling for people who knowingly transport undocumented immigrants for gain or with the intent to conceal them from law enforcement. The bill would also require state agencies to ensure that people receiving public assistance benefits are legally in the country and are Iowa residents, something that is already done by the state and required under federal law.

U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 18 undocumented migrants who were being smuggled inside a tractor-trailer near Las Cruces, New Mexico, in early 2024.

The bill failed to receive a hearing in the Senate. House File 2608.

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.

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: Which bills advanced past the Iowa Legislature's 2nd funnel deadline?
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A day after a hiker fell to her death in the Gorge, two more hikers became stranded overnight on a cliff near Multnomah Falls, but successfully made their way out of the woods late Sunday morning, authorities said.

Crews with the Corbett Fire Department and deputies with the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office began conducting the search for the two women as soon as they were reported missing Saturday night.

Searchers located 2 hikers stranded on a waterfall at the Columbia River Gorge, March 17, 2024 (Clackamas County Sheriffs Office Search & Rescue)

Searchers located 2 hikers stranded on a waterfall at the Columbia River Gorge, March 17, 2024 (Clackamas County Sheriffs Office Search & Rescue)

Officials are working to rescue two stranded hikers in the Columbia Gorge on Mar. 17, 2024. (Courtesy: Corbett Fire Dept.)

People I dont think realize that these trails up here are hardcore hiking trails and the weather can be volatile, Deputy John Plock with the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said. You can start a hike and its a really nice day and then the weather can turn and it can get really bad. So people need to be prepared. People need to plan for the worst case scenario.

MCSO said their rescue teams spent several hours hiking through difficult terrain and bramble bushes in an attempt to physically reach the hikers Sunday morning.

They ended up on a cliff and they said they couldnt find a way up or down or out, Plock said.

There was way too much vegatation, all briars and thorns, so we were never able to deploy the ropes, said Clackamas County Rope Team Leader Carl Worth. We were slipping and sliding down loose dirt and holding on to thorny vines to hold ourselves up.

The hikers, whose names have not been released, were able to call for help and crews found their location using a cell tower. A drone from the Corbett Fire Department was also used during the search.

Spring Whale Watch Week returning to the Oregon Coast

The drone spotted the hikers at around 9 a.m. on a cliff and rope rescue crews were brought in to assist.

If you are planning on going hiking, you can find safety tips here.

Once the sun came up, they were able to walk out of the woods on their own.

One of them were in shorts and her legs are a little bit scratched up and bruised, Plock said. The other one I think was in leggings. They were both just wearing running shoes.

He said people dont think theyre going to get stuck on a hike but it happens all the time.

We want people to be prepared and to dress appropriately, appropriate footwear, warm clothing, layers for the worst case scenario, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The latest analyst coverage could presage a bad day for Robert Walters plc (LON:RWA), with the analysts making across-the-board cuts to their statutory estimates that might leave shareholders a little shell-shocked. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analysts have soured majorly on the business.

After the downgrade, the consensus from Robert Walters' four analysts is for revenues of UK971m in 2024, which would reflect a not inconsiderable 8.7% decline in sales compared to the last year of performance. Per-share earnings are expected to step up 15% to UK0.24. Prior to this update, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of UK1.1b and earnings per share (EPS) of UK0.33 in 2024. Indeed, we can see that the analysts are a lot more bearish about Robert Walters' prospects, administering a measurable cut to revenue estimates and slashing their EPS estimates to boot.

Check out our latest analysis for Robert Walters

LSE:RWA Earnings and Revenue Growth March 17th 2024

Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. Over the past five years, revenues have declined around 3.0% annually. Worse, forecasts are essentially predicting the decline to accelerate, with the estimate for an annualised 8.7% decline in revenue until the end of 2024. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 5.8% per year. So it's pretty clear that, while it does have declining revenues, the analysts also expect Robert Walters to suffer worse than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that analysts cut their earnings per share estimates, expecting a clear decline in business conditions. Unfortunately analysts also downgraded their revenue estimates, and industry data suggests that Robert Walters' revenues are expected to grow slower than the wider market. After a cut like that, investors could be forgiven for thinking analysts are a lot more bearish on Robert Walters, and a few readers might choose to steer clear of the stock.

Story continues

Even so, the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for the value creation of shareholders. We have estimates - from multiple Robert Walters analysts - going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The Government is proposing that councils in England must consider the views of local residents before introducing new road schemes like low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and 20mph speed limits.

That it is even necessary to release such guidance to town halls is emblematic of the gulf between those who make these decisions and those whose lives are affected by them.

It is hardly a revolutionary concept to take account of community opinion if significant changes are to be made that will inconvenience and potentially penalise road users. Yet Labour criticised the new approach as dictating to local communities how they use their streets.

The dictating, surely, is being done by council committees often conducting their meetings in secret with local people unaware of what is being planned until it is too late. The decline of regional newspapers, which in the past would alert readers to such decisions and lead campaigns against them, has tipped the balance of power away from voters.

LTNs have sprung up in towns and cities around the country with barely any debate. The same goes for 20mph zones which are routinely introduced on main roads that can be monitored yet are not enforced in residential streets where such a limit is justified but where there are no cameras.

The draft statutory guidance issued by the Transport Department says councils should be confident such a scheme has the support of most of the community. It recommends councils carry out leaflet drops, run online surveys and hold in-person meetings when considering introducing LTNs.

How is this a controversial proposition? The reason the councils do not like it is that they know local residents will probably oppose them. Such schemes cause traffic congestion and are a tick-box exercise to meet unrealistic green targets. They are designed to force people from their cars and on to local transport, yet that gets held up as well. One scheme in London has been scrapped after a three-mile bus journey took two hours.

They are, additionally, a great money-spinner for local authorities. Councils operating LTNs issue an average of 36,459 Penalty Charge Notices per scheme, with one exceeding 170,000 fines.

Supporters say these schemes are beneficial and environmentally friendly. In that case they should make their case to the local people and not foist them on communities without so much as a by-your-leave.

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Restrictions were imposed on the arrival and departure of aircraft at Moscow's Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports due to a drone attack, the Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti reported on March 17.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin earlier reported a UAV attack in three city districts of the Russian capital.

All drones were allegedly shot down.

Read also:

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on March 17 that overnight drones attacked eight Russian regions.

The Russian authorities claim that their air defense intercepted and destroyed 35 drones: 17 in Krasnodar Krai, four in Moscow and Yaroslavl oblasts, three in Kursk and Belgorod oblasts, two in Kaluga Oblast, one in Oryol and Rostov oblasts.

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 01: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, left and prosecutor Daysha Young, right, speak to each other during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on March 1, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. - Photo: Alex Slitz-Pool (Getty Images)

The anticipation is over, theres finally a ruling in the motion to dismiss Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants. On Friday, a Georgia Judge ruled that Willis could remain on the case  but theres a catch.  Jessica Washington

Read More

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 4: Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks in the library at Mar-a-Lago on March 4, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. - Photo: Alon Skuy (Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump managed to combine three of his favorite pastimes into one speech on Saturday  making crass sexual comments, belittling his perceived political enemies, and attacking the prosecutors at the helm of his four felony cases.  Jessica Washington

Read More

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 14: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a news conference at the Fulton County Government building on August 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. A grand jury today handed up an indictment naming former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies over an alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. - Photo: Joe Raedle (Getty Images)

A major revelation from Georgias Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week led to upheaval in one of the most important cases of the last decade.  Jessica Washington

Read More

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 01: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on March 1, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. The hearing is to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. - Photo: Alex Slitz-Pool (Getty Images)

Closing arguments wrapped in Georgia on Friday, in one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in the nation. The stakes could not be any higher for Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis who is fighting not only to remain on the Georgia Election interference case, but for her reputation and legal career.  Jessica Washington

Read More

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, center, arrives to the Fulton county courthouse, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Atlanta. A grand jury being seated Tuesday in Atlanta will likely consider whether criminal charges are appropriate for former President Donald Trump or his Republican allies for their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. - Photo: Brynn Anderson (AP)

New charges appear to be around the corner for former President Donald Trump in Georgia. Over the weekend, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reaffirmed that she will announce charges in her investigation into election interference by September 1st.  Jessica Washington

Read More

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPT. 20: Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia inside her office chambers in the Fulton County Justice Center Tower in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 - Photo: David Walter Banks (Getty Images)

All eyes might be focused on Donald Trumps New York legal drama, but another Black District Attorney has the former Presidents number. Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis is leading an investigation into election interference in Georgiaand she appears to be closing in on him.  Jessica Washington

Read More

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(The Hill)  The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Wednesday to get the state to review its voter registration rolls.

The committee alleges the state has failed to live up to the National Voter Registration Acts (NVRA) requirement that voter registration rolls must be clean.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that of Michigans 83 counties, at least 53 have more registered voters than adults of legal voting age. An additional 23 counties have active voter registration rates that exceed 90 percent of adult citizens over the age of 18, the lawsuit said.

This is not the first time Michigan has failed to abide by the NVRAs requirements, the lawsuit said, citing a 2020 lawsuit against Michigan election officials who violated the acts requirements, which was later dismissed.

The RNCs lawsuit comes just days after allies of former President Trump took leadership positions and hours after the party confirmed that Trump was the GOP nominee for the 2024 election.

Michigan, a key swing state, voted for President Biden in the 2020 election. Biden won by 154,000 votes despite Trumps attempt to urge officials not to certify the results.

Under the NVRA, states are required to conduct a general voter registration list maintenance program that makes a reasonable effort to remove people who are ineligible from voter rolls, by death or a move out of state or jurisdiction. It also protects voters from being removed if they may not have voted in years.

The maintenance program must be uniform, nondiscriminatory and in compliance with the Voting Rights Act, the Department of Justice said.

Benson said in an emailed statement that Michigan has done more in the last five years than in the previous two decades to accurately remove people from the list.

More than 700,000 people have been removed since she took office and more will be if they dont vote in the general election this fall. Benson said that according to federal data, Michigan is the fifth most active state in the country for removing deceased voters from its roll.

Lets call this what it is: a PR campaign masquerading as a meritless lawsuit filled with baseless accusations that seek to diminish peoples faith in the security of our elections, Bensons statement to NBC News said. Shame on anyone who abuses the legal process to sow seeds of doubt in our democracy.

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Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said the TikTok bill passed by the House last week is not actually addressing the issue.

Khanna, who voted against the bill, argued on ABCs This Week that while the two national security issues cited in the bill are legitimate, the legislation still does not address them. He said the two issues at hand are whether the data can get to a foreign government and whether the Chinese Communist Party has an influence on algorithms.

Lets ban any data going to a foreign country and protect American data. Second, lets ban any foreign interference in a social media app, whether thats TikTok or another app, he told co-host Martha Raddatz.

And, by the way, those laws would also cover data brokers, which are selling data to a Chinese company. So this bill is not actually addressing the issue. Seventy-one percent of Americans want to protect data privacy. Only 31 percent want a ban on TikTok. Congress, A, doesnt understand, in my view, all of the social media and how its working, and, B, is out of touch with what the American people want, he added.

The bill would require ByteDance  the China-based parent company of TikTok  to divest itself of the video app or face a ban on the platform in the U.S. Its not clear if the Senate will pass the legislation yet, but President Biden has said he will sign it if it makes it to his desk.

Khanna said Sunday that Congress should look to consider other legislation that will address the root of the issue. He said Congress should pass a law holding TikTok and Oracle, which manages the platforms data, accountable if the data is sent to China.

So, pass a law, one, to prevent these apps, whether its TikTok or Facebook or YouTube, for collecting data. That bill has been sitting in the House Commerce Committee for years, and it doesnt move, he said. Second, pass a law that if theres evidence that the data goes to China, then Oracle and TikTok would be held liable, civilly or criminally.

Third, pass a law that if Chinese nationals are involved in the algorithms, people are claiming these algorithms are manipulating Americans. If theres any information  insight evidence that a Chinese national or any foreign national is manipulating algorithms, that would be illegal, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sir Robert Buckland has indicated that he may vote against the Government - Liam McBurney/PA

Sir Robert Buckland is considering rebelling over Rishi Sunaks Rwanda Bill as the Prime Minister attempts this week to drive the legislation through Parliament to get deportation flights off in the spring.

On Sunday, the former justice secretary said he was considering backing House of Lords amendments requiring the Government to prove that Rwanda is safe for migrants before flights deporting them to the central African state are allowed to start.

I think the Government needs to explain how much progress Rwanda has made in implementing its treaty obligations. I hope we will get assurances that that is happening  otherwise the legislation is a legal fiction, which I dont think is a great place to be, said Sir Robert.

The Bill is central to Mr Sunaks pledge to stop the boats by getting the first deportation flights off to Rwanda in the spring following nearly two years of delay to the scheme from legal challenges.

The challenges culminated in the Supreme Court ruling Rwanda unsafe, which the Bill and accompanying treaty seek to answer by putting in place legal infrastructure and safeguards to protect deported migrants from being repatriated to countries where they could face persecution or torture.

The amendments  proposed by Lord Hope, Scotlands former most senior judge, and Lord Anderson, a former adviser to ministers on counter-terrorism legislation  sought cast-iron guarantees on the implementation of the measures before the flights took off.

They are among 10 amendments backed by peers including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, in a series of heavy defeats for the Government in the Upper House earlier this month.

On Monday, James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, will seek to reverse all 10 before sending the Bill back to the Lords for crunch votes on Wednesday, when peers will decide whether to reinstate any rejected by MPs.

The Government is expected to comfortably win all 10 votes on Monday to overturn the amendments as the centrist One Nation group of MPs, the biggest backbench grouping, said it would not unpick its deal with the Government to support the Bill provided it was not toughened up.

Rebel Right-wing MPs who backed amendments to toughen up the Bill before Christmas will not support the Lords changes because they believe they water down the legislation. It is understood some may abstain or have been slipped by the whips, allowing them to be absent.

The crunch votes are expected on Wednesday in the Lords, when the Government aims to marshall its peers to defeat attempts by Labour, the Lib Dems and crossbench peers to reinstate the amendments.

The Hope-Anderson amendments are expected to garner most support, along with proposals by Lord Browne, an ex-defence secretary, to prevent Afghan nationals who served alongside UK forces from being sent to Rwanda and by Baroness Butler-Sloss, the first female Lord Justice of Appeal, to give added protection to modern slavery victims.

On Sunday night, a senior peer predicted that the Government was likely to be defeated on three motions on Wednesday: Lord Hopes amendment, and extra protections for children and victims of modern slavery.

Lord Carlile, a former independent adviser on terror laws, forecast that this would force a second round of ping-pong where the Bill returned to the Commons.

If it clears the Lords to get Royal Assent, it will be a major fillip for Mr Sunak, although the first flights are unlikely much before the end of May because of the six to 10-week appeal process required for migrants under the legislation.

Internal Home Office documents also show that officials have identified several critical risks that could delay the first deportation flights, including few or no migrants being ready for removal because of significant attrition because of legal challenges and people absconding.

Other risks included difficulties transferring migrants to the airfield, protests from asylum campaigners and commercial airlines or escort providers withdrawing their services.

It came as Labour unveiled plans for a new 1,000-staffed returns and enforcement unit to secure agreements to be able to deport migrants back to their home countries and crack down on black market working by asylum seekers.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: The Tories have broken the immigration and asylum system. Tory ministers have completely lost control of the system and that has led to chaos, collapsing confidence and calamitous costs. Instead of all the gimmicks, they need to get a grip.

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Air defense units intercepted 35 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions overnight on March 17, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.

According to the ministry, Russian air defense shot down four drones over Moscow Oblast, three over Belgorod Oblast, two over Kaluga Oblast, one over Oryol Oblast, one over Rostov Oblast, four over Yaroslavl Oblast, three over Kursk Oblast, and 17 in Krasnodar Krai.

Earlier in the night, Russian media reported that Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, causing a fire and killing one worker.

Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the alleged attacks. The Kyiv Independent could not independently confirm Russia's claims.

While Kyiv seldom comments on reports of drone strikes in Russia, Ukrainian forces have claimed responsibility for the recent wave of attacks on Russia's oil refineries.

"These weeks have demonstrated to many that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on March 16.

Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy

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Russian troops launched an attack against several Ukrainian regions, including Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, on the evening of March 17, local authorities reported.

The mayor of Konotop in Sumy Oblast, Artem Semenikhin, reported the attack on the town at around 9 p.m. local time. According to him, Russian troops struck Konotop twice, hitting some infrastructure there. Semenikhi did not provide details on the attack.

Earlier in the day, Russia had already hit Sumy, attacking undisclosed infrastructure sites in the northern city. There were no casualties, local authorities said.

Russia also attacked Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast with aerial bombs, injuring at least one person, the State Emergency Service reported at around 8 p.m. local time.

The attack hit a residential area of the town, resulting in a fire of over 200 square meters. Several buildings and cars were damaged following the attack, the State Emergency Service said.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast on March 17. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)

Border regions of Kharkiv Oblast suffer daily attacks by Russian forces: On March 16, Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast injured two men, aged 45 and 38, and damaged critical infrastructure, reported Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

The series of attacks on northern Ukraine comes as Russian troops ramp up their strikes against civilians across the country, especially in the south  particularly in Odesa.

On March 17, Russian troops also attacked the southern city of Mykolaiv twice with missiles.

At around 8:30 p.m. local time, regional Governor Vitalii Kim reported that the number of people injured in the attack rose to eight people, including a nine-year-old child. A 50-year-old man died in the hospital following the attack, he said.

Kim said Russia carried out the attack from the same place as its previous strike against the major city of Odesa just 150 kilometers westward on March 15, where 21 were killed and more than 70 were wounded.

Read also: The Counteroffensive: Inside Kharkivs underground metro schools

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Russian forces have lost 1,160 soldiers, 28 artillery systems, 24 armoured combat vehicles and 11 tanks over the past 24 hours.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 17 March 2024 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

430,740 (+1,160) military personnel;

6,790 (+11) tanks;

12,997 (+24) armoured combat vehicles;

10,634 (+28) artillery systems;

1,017 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems;

720 (+1) air defence systems;

347 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

325 (+0) helicopters;

8,272 (+4) strategic and tactical UAVs;

1,922 (+0) cruise missiles;

26 (+0) ships and boats;

1 (+0) submarines;

14,073 (+49) vehicles and tankers;

1,723 (+11) special vehicles and other equipment.

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Consequences of the shelling of the border village of Velyka Pysarivka

The Russian army has bombed the center of the border village Velyka Pysarivka in Sumy Oblast, reported the head of the Velyka Pysarivka community, Lyudmyla Biryukova on Facebook on March 17.

"Today the enemy destroyed the center of Velyka Pysarivka, Biryukova said.

I hope that everybody will conclude that life is the most valuable thing and decide to evacuate."

She also added that information about evacuation will be provided by phone and online.

"I ask you to evacuate from the territory the enemy is ruthlessly destroying," she urged.

Read also:

Russian troops have been shelling the settlements of Sumy Oblast with various types of weapons on a daily basis.

On March 14, the head of the Joint MIlitary Administration, Volodymyr Artyukh, reported that, in the previous two days alone, Russians had fired 800 times at Sumy Oblast, the same number of times as last year in six months.

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As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. We regret to report that long term TransAlta Corporation (TSE:TA) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 23% in three years, versus a market return of about 24%. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 22% in the last year. Furthermore, it's down 20% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders. We note that the company has reported results fairly recently; and the market is hardly delighted. You can check out the latest numbers in our company report.

After losing 8.8% this past week, it's worth investigating the company's fundamentals to see what we can infer from past performance.

See our latest analysis for TransAlta

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During five years of share price growth, TransAlta moved from a loss to profitability. We would usually expect to see the share price rise as a result. So it's worth looking at other metrics to try to understand the share price move.

Revenue is actually up 17% over the three years, so the share price drop doesn't seem to hinge on revenue, either. This analysis is just perfunctory, but it might be worth researching TransAlta more closely, as sometimes stocks fall unfairly. This could present an opportunity.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

TSX:TA Earnings and Revenue Growth March 17th 2024

It is of course excellent to see how TransAlta has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

Story continues

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for TransAlta the TSR over the last 3 years was -19%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

TransAlta shareholders are down 20% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 14%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 0.5%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with TransAlta (including 1 which is significant) .

But note: TransAlta may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Russian forces attacked the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrosk Oblast with drones and artillery on March 16, injuring two residents, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

The injured victims are a 77-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man.

The Russian military targeted the town of Nikopol and the Chervonohryhorivka community in a series of attacks throughout the day, damaging homes, property, and infrastructure.

More than 30 homes were damaged, and a fire broke out at one of the houses. Emergency workers extinguished the fire.

The attacks also struck an infrastructure facility. Power lines and a gas pipeline were hit, Lysak said.

Garages, cars, a forklift, and a greenhouse were also damaged. The attacks destroyed six outbuildings and damaged six others.

Nikopol, situated on the banks of the dried-up Kakhovka Reservoir, just across from Russian-occupied Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is a regular target of Russian attacks.

Strikes on Nikopol on March 15 injured six residents and damaged multiple buildings, including homes, schools, and businesses.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 21, injures over 70

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The house was damaged as a result of the Russian missile attack on Mykolaiv

Explosions were heard in Mykolaiv after reports of ballistic missile launches from temporarily occupied Crimea, according to the Telegram channel Novosti N, which published photos of the aftermath of the attack on March 17.

One missile hit near a road, causing damage to two cars that were on the street at the time. One of the vehicles was almost completely burned.

Read also: At least 20 buildings lost their roofs as Mykolaiv hit hard in Russias latest mass missile attack

Several houses along the street were also heavily damaged: some were partially damaged, while others saw their roofs completely or partially destroyed and windows shattered.

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The head of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vitaliy Kim clarified on national television that five people have been injured, including one currently in intensive care. Another is in moderate condition, while three others are under examination.

"There are no deaths at the moment," he added.

According to Kim, three cars were damaged, and the windows and roofs of more than 10 houses were damaged.

The OVA head said that patrol police quickly blocked traffic two blocks after the first hit.

Read also: Ukraine destroys Russian MLRS targeting civilians in Mykolaiv Oblast  video

There would have been more casualties if the patrol police had not blocked the traffic in time," Kim noted.

"I believe this was the same kind of Iskander weapon that hit Odesa the other day," he said.

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych confirmed the explosion in the city.

Previously, the Ukrainian Air Force warned of the threat of ballistic missile attacks from the south.

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Sergei Shoigu. Screenshot: video by Ministry of Defene of the Russian Federation on Telegram

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited occupied Crimea, where he received reports from the Black Sea Fleet command and offered advice on how to defend against Ukrainian attacks.

Source: Ministry of Defene of the Russian Federation on Telegram

Details: Shoigu made it a priority "both in the daytime and at night to conduct constant training to repel enemy terrorist attacks" as well as "to increase the survivability of ships and vessels, and the security of infrastructure in the zone of responsibility of the fleet."

He also ordered the installation of additional fire weapons, including heavy machine gun rifle systems, to destroy assault drones.

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The city of Sumy in northern Ukraine. Photo: Google Maps

Russian forces carried out two attacks on civilian infrastructure in the city of Sumy (Ukraine's north) on Sunday, 17 March.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration; Suspilne

Quote from the Sumy Oblast Military Administration: "Today, on 17 March, enemy forces carried out two attacks on civilian infrastructure in the city of Sumy.

All relevant services have been deployed to the sites of the attacks.

The aftermath of the enemy attacks is being determined."

Details: Suspilne reported that explosions rocked Sumy around 16:00 Kyiv time.

Another three explosions occurred in Okhtyrka in Sumy Oblast on the morning of 17 March, causing a power cut.

Suspilne also reported that Russian forces bombed the centre of the village of Velyka Pysarivka and shelled the city of Vorozhba, both in Sumy Oblast, on Sunday.

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The aftermath of the Russian bombardment of the town of Myrnohrad. Photo: Ukraine's National Police

Russian troops attacked the town of Myrnohrad (Donetsk Oblast) with three missiles on the night of 16-17 March, injuring an 86-year-old woman.

Source: National Police of Ukraine (NPU)

Details: At least eight apartment buildings, an educational institution, a utility company facility, two shops, two retail units and three civilian cars have been damaged in Myrnohrad.

Russian fire affected a total of seven populated areas over the past 24 hours, namely the towns of Krasnohorivka, Selydove and Toretsk, the settlements of Velyka Novosilka and Kurakhivka, and the villages of Novoselivka Persha and Novoukrainka.

A total of 22 civilian targets have been damaged, namely 15 residential buildings, a music school, a lyceum [specialised secondary school], student accommodation, two administrative buildings and a garage for agricultural machinery.

Novoselivka Persha suffered four bombardments. The Russian attacks claimed the life of one person and injured another.

The Russians hit Selydove with an aerial bomb, injuring a woman and damaging eight apartment buildings, an educational institution, and office buildings.

Russian troops shelled Krasnohorivka with artillery, injuring a man, 72, and damaging a private residential building.

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A fire broke out at an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, amid reports of explosions and a possible drone attack overnight on March 17.

Residents of Slavyansk-on-Kuban reported hearing explosions in the town and said that a local factory was on fire, according to the Russian Telegram news channel Baza.

At least one refinery worker was killed, Baza and other Russian news outlets claimed. Emergency personnel are at work on the site.

Russian media said the fire was most likely caused by a Ukrainian drone strike. Locals told the news channel Ostorozhno that a group of over five drones hit the facility.

In the past week, Ukrainian forces have carried out a series of drone strikes targeting Russia's oil industry. Ukraine has hit oil refineries in Samara, Ryazan, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts.

The targeted facilities account for about 12% of Russia's oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported on March 14.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on reports of the strike.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his March 16 address that Ukraine's drone operations in Russia show that Kyiv is capable of striking long-range targets.

"What our own drones are capable of is a true Ukrainian long-range capability. Ukraine will now always have a strike force in the sky," he said.

Read also: Opinion: How many planes does Russia have?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian forces have hit Chernihiv Oblast with missiles, destroying at least one house.

Source: Viacheslav Chaus, Head of Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration (OMA)

Details: Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russian troops had fired two Kh-59 guided missiles on Chernihiv Oblast.

Ukrainian authorities believe they were targeting facilities in Chernihiv Oblast's south.

The Russian missile hit a house in a village in Chernihiv district, leaving a family without a home.

No casualties were reported in the oblast, Chernihiv OMA added.

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The aftermath of the Russian attack on Mykolaiv on 17 March. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

A civilian died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the Russian missile strike on Mykolaiv on the afternoon of Sunday, 17 March. The number of casualties has grown to eight, with one child among them.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine; Vitalii Kim, the head of Mykolaiv Oblast State Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "One person was killed as a result of the missile strikes on Mykolaiv (he died in hospital).

Six people sustained injuries, including one child."

Updated: Later, Kim reported that as of 20:00, a 50-year-old man has died in the hospital and eight people, including an 11-year-old girl, have been injured in the attacks on Mykolaiv.

Previously: Russia launched two ballistic missiles on the city of Mykolaiv in Ukraine's south on the afternoon of Sunday, 17 March. Earlier reports said there were five casualties.

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This photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows broken and burned cars after shelling from the Ukrainian side, in Belgorod, Russia. A Russian regional governor says two people have been killed in Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine. Three others were wounded. (Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov telegram channel via AP)

Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod killed two people, officials said Saturday, while Russia claimed to have thwarted a new attempt by saboteurs to cross the border.

Saturdays attacks occurred as Russians entered the second day of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putins rule by another six years after he crushed dissent.

A man and a woman died in the attack and three other people were wounded, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on the Telegram messaging app. It was the latest in exchanges of long-range missile and rocket fire in Russias war on Ukraine.

Five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, some 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the Ukrainian border, Gladkov said.

Russias Defense Ministry also said Saturday that it had thwarted attempts by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to enter the country from Ukraine's Sumy region. That followed an armed incursion claimed by Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin on Tuesday in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

Russia's Defense Ministry said that Moscows military and security forces killed 30 fighters while thwarting the latest incursion.

The Russian Volunteer Corps  one of the groups who claimed to have crossed the border on Tuesday, who say they are fighting for the freedom of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples  released a video on social media Saturday claiming to have captured 25 Russian soldiers.

Another of the groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion, warned of a massive strike on military bases in Belgorod late afternoon Saturday and urged residents to take shelter. Shortly afterward, Russias Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian air defenses had shot down 15 rockets over the Belgorod region. Videos appeared on local news sites, appearing to show smoke rising from buildings and falling shrapnel. The authenticity of the videos couldnt be independently verified.

Cross-border attacks in the area have taken place sporadically since the war began and have been the subject of claims and counterclaims, as well as disinformation and propaganda.

Also on Saturday, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, some 450 miles (725 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border, regional Gov. Dmitry Azarov said. He said an attack on another refinery was thwarted. No casualties were reported.

In a statement posted Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the country's military for its new long-range capability.

What our own drones are capable of is a true Ukrainian long-range capability. Ukraine will now always have a strike force in the sky, he said on social media.

A Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive close to a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Russian state news agency Tass said. No injuries or damage were reported.

The attacks come a day after a Russian assault on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed at least 21 people. The ballistic missile attack blasted homes in the southern city Friday, followed by a second missile that targeted first responders who arrived at the scene, officials said.

More than 50 people are still in the hospital following the attacks, Odesa Deputy Mayor Svitlana Bedreha said Saturday, according to Ukrainian state media.
"Putin" in Berlin near the polling station. Stock photo: Meduza

The Russian opposition held a Noon Against Putin rally, with people voting in protest simultaneously at 12:00 on 17 March.

Source: Medusa; OVD-info; Current Time

Details: In Russia, the final day of voting in the Russian presidential election continues. According to the Russian Federation's Central Election Commission, turnout allegedly reached 60% at the start of the third day, excluding electronic voting.

The opposition is holding a Noon Against Putin action, in which participants gather at noon to vote against the current president or spoil their ballots.

The stated goal is to demonstrate that there are opponents of Putin among the voters, who "can safely gather in one place."

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny supported the action, which was planned shortly before his death.

Meanwhile, the Moscow Prosecutor's Office stated that the queues on Sunday at noon could be considered an obstruction to the work of election commissions, punishable by up to five years in prison.

At noon, more people had gathered near polling stations in Russian cities and abroad than the previous two days.

Navalny's widow, Yulia, as well as new opposition leader Mikhail Khodorkovsky both visited the polling station in Berlin.

More than 60 people have already been detained in Russia, with Kazan having the highest number  26 people.



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A week ago, VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:EGY) came out with a strong set of yearly numbers that could potentially lead to a re-rate of the stock. It was overall a positive result, with revenues beating expectations by 5.0% to hit US$455m. VAALCO Energy also reported a statutory profit of US$0.56, which was an impressive 35% above what the analysts had forecast. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. We thought readers would find it interesting to see the analysts latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year.

See our latest analysis for VAALCO Energy

Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus, from the four analysts covering VAALCO Energy, is for revenues of US$417.3m in 2024. This implies a not inconsiderable 8.3% reduction in VAALCO Energy's revenue over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to surge 55% to US$0.90. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$410.8m and earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.81 in 2024. There was no real change to the revenue estimates, but the analysts do seem more bullish on earnings, given the nice increase in earnings per share expectations following these results.

The consensus price target was unchanged at US$8.75, implying that the improved earnings outlook is not expected to have a long term impact on value creation for shareholders. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic VAALCO Energy analyst has a price target of US$10.00 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$7.25. As you can see, analysts are not all in agreement on the stock's future, but the range of estimates is still reasonably narrow, which could suggest that the outcome is not totally unpredictable.

Story continues

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. We would highlight that revenue is expected to reverse, with a forecast 8.3% annualised decline to the end of 2024. That is a notable change from historical growth of 39% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 1.7% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that VAALCO Energy's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards VAALCO Energy following these results. Fortunately, the analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Although our data does suggest that VAALCO Energy's revenue is expected to perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$8.75, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on VAALCO Energy. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have estimates - from multiple VAALCO Energy analysts - going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Plus, you should also learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with VAALCO Energy .

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.
Polling staff await for voters where the voting for the 2024 Russian presidential election began from 1517 March 2024. Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The presidential election in Russia entered its third and final day on Sunday.

The vote is intended to secure President Vladimir Putin, 71, who has dominated Russian politics for almost a quarter of a century, another six-year term in office until 2030.

The Kremlin has organized the vote in such a way as to demonstrate the population's supposedly high level of trust in Putin and support for his war against Ukraine.

According to independent electoral law experts in Russia and abroad, the conditions for the vote are neither free nor fair: The opposition is excluded and the three authorized opposing candidates are considered loyal to the Kremlin.

Numerous reports show that pressure is being exerted on Russians to take part in the election.

As early as Saturday afternoon, the central election administration reported that more than half of the approximately 114 million eligible voters had voted in polling stations or online.

Various opposition forces have called for people to go to the polls at exactly noon in their time zone on Sunday. The queues forming in front of the polling stations should give an impression of the fact that many people do not agree with Putin and his policies.

It is feared that the protest could lead to arrests. The authorities have warned voters not to take part in the campaign, which they say would show "signs of extremist activity."

The elections are taking place across 11 time zones in the world's largest country.

The first polling stations opened in the easternmost regions of Chukotka and the Kamchatka Peninsula at 2000 GMT on Saturday; the last ones in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad are due to close on Sunday evening at 1800 GMT, after which exit polls and initial counts are to be released.

The final count is expected to be completed by Monday morning.

Internationally, the fact that the sham election is also being held in the occupied Ukrainian territories has been particularly criticized. Russia has annexed these territories in violation of international law.
Paramilitary groups made up of anti-Putin dissidents have launched incursions into southern Russia.

The fighters say they intend to disrupt Russia's election and demonstrate opposition to Putin.

Putin said there would be payback for the attacks in a speech to Security Council of Russia on Friday.

Several pro-Ukrainian paramilitary groups made up of Russian rebel fighters have launched incursions into southern Russia this week, ahead of the election that is widely seen as a sham to reelect Vladimir Putin.

The Freedom for Russia Legion, which consists of Russian dissidents, said it was carrying out operations into Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions  the largest cross-border attacks since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Two other groups  the Siberian Battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK)  also said they were involved in the assaults.

Aleksey Baranovsky, who is part of the Freedom for Russia Legion, said the group's goal was to disrupt the election and show opposition to Putin.

"We are sending a message to those inside Russia, who are demoralized and lost since [Alexey] Navalny's murder, that we are still here, willing to fight the regime," he said, per The Telegraph.

He said that they also wanted to show Western governments that "the election is not legal and that, of course Putin will win, but he is not a legitimate leader."

Putin acknowledged the attacks in a speech to the Security Council of Russia on Friday and said they aimed to "disrupt the voting process and intimidate people."

He blamed Ukraine for the assaults, and vowed: "These enemy strikes will not remain unpunished."

He said that the attackers consisted of 2,500 troops, 35 tanks, and about 40 armored vehicles.

Jade McGlynn, a research fellow in the War Studies Department at King's College London, told Business Insider that the rebels play an important role in maintaining a visible face of Russia's opposition, which the Kremlin has largely oppressed.

The main opposition voice, Alexey Navalny, died in a Russian penal colony this month, which many Western leaders have blamed on Putin.

Voting is taking place in Russia over three days until Sunday. The election result is not in doubt as there is no viable opponent to Putin, and it is widely regarded as a rubber stamp exercise.

It will be Putin's fifth term as president. He has been in the role for 24 years, apart from 2008-12, when he was prime minister.

He generated controversy in 2021 when he signed into law a change to the country's constitution that would allow him to run for two more six-year terms.

'We are coming to liberate you'

A journalist wearing a flak jacket works at a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Belgorod on March 15, 2024. STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images

The rebel groups seeking to disrupt the electoral coronation of Putin operate in close cooperation with Ukraine's military.

Ukrainian drone strikes and shelling accompanied the skirmishes, CNN reported, with local officials saying that at least two people have been killed and more injured.

Videos circulating on social media appear to show a road in the city of Belgorod, a regional capital with a population of over 300,000, strewn with burning and overturned cars and explosions ringing out. A polling station in Belgorod also appeared to be rocked by explosions, with locals ducking for cover while casting their votes.

BI could not independently verify the videos.

The three resistance groups released a joint statement on March 15 calling on residents of Belgorod and Kursk to remain in shelters and said there would be a humanitarian corridor facilitated overnight to allow residents to leave.

"We are not coming to kill, erase, destroy, or to punish. We are coming to liberate you from poverty, misery, and fear. To liberate you from the dictatorship of a terrorist organization that seized power," one fighter from the Freedom for Russia Legion said in a video.

Russian authorities have also acknowledged the attacks.

On Thursday, the Russian National Guard said it was involved in repelling an attack on the village of Tyotkino in Kursk.

Russia's defense ministry also told state-owned media outlet Tass on Tuesday that they had repelled attacks in Belgorod, in which the attackers were equipped with tanks and armored vehicles.

McGlynn, who met with leaders of Russia's Freedom Legion in Kyiv in December, said that the group comprises a wide range of Russian citizens.

"In terms of political views, there are liberals, nationalists, guys who went to rallies for Navalny, and also some who are just absolutely apolitical," she said.

"They see their fight as not against Russia but against the dictatorship of Putin and his entourage who are wrecking Russia's future."

A view of the site after Ukrainian shelling that damaged buildings and vehicles in Belgorod, Russia on March 14, 2024. Emil Leegunov/Anadolu via Getty Images

It is unlikely that these attacks will have a major impact on the election or the war in Ukraine, but they could serve to embarrass Putin.

Their actions also serve to remind Russians of the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

"We know that Russians are less likely to support the war when they feel the effects coming home," McGlynn said.

McGlynn said it was also likely demoralizing if Russian soldiers who are already in their third year into the war in Ukraine were transferred to southern Russia to repel the attacks.

Read the original article on Business Insider
In recent weeks, Ukraine has shown Russia's vulnerabilities with using home-made weapons, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address on March 16.

He mentioned the latest Russian attack on Odesa, where 21 people were killed, and promised that Russia would receive a military response to this crime.

Read also: Burning oil products leak at oil depot in Russian Orel after UAV attack

"In these weeks, many have already seen that the Russian system of war has vulnerabilities and that we can exploit these vulnerabilities with our weapons," Zelenskyy said.

He thanked the Armed Forces, SBU, HUR and Ukrainian defense industry for "new Ukrainian long-range capability" including "our own drones."

"Ukraine will now always have its own striking force in the sky," the President added.

Over the past week, several Russian refineries in different regions of Russia have been attacked by drones. Ukrainian intelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed their involvement in some of these attacks in comments to NV.

Read also:

On March 16, a fire broke out at two oil refineries in Samara Oblast of Russian Federation, and Russian media reported that it was because of a drone attack.

On March 13, drones attacked Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Lipetsk oblasts of Russia, as well as an oil refinery in Ryazan, where a serious fire broke out.

On March 12, drones attacked Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, Orel oblasts, as well as Moscow. In the city of Orel, explosions were heard near an oil depot where a fire broke out. A Lukoil oil depot in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was also on fire.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The aftermath of the Russian attack on Sumy on 17 March. Photo: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

A local resident has died and another one has been injured in Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast.

Source: the Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: The Russians dropped unguided bombs from tactical aircraft (9 explosions); gliding bombs from tactical aircraft (14 explosions); they also launched mortar attacks (24 explosions), attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems (20 explosions) and artillery attacks (20 explosions).

As a result of an airstrike with an unguided bomb on the village of Velyka Pysarivka, a non-residential building, a shop, a branch of a cultural centre, a library, a cultural services centre, a hospital department, a kindergarten, 15 private households, a residential building and a gas pipeline have been damaged.

One resident of the hromada (a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories) was killed, and another one was injured.

In total, during the day, the Russians launched 60 attacks on the border territories and the settlements of Sumy Oblast where 341 explosions were documented. The attacks were launched on the Myropillia, Yunakivka, Khotin, Bilopillia, Vorozhba, Krasnopillia, Trostianets, Velyka Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Shalyhyne, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Svesa and Znob-Novhorodske hromadas.

Civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged in the city of Konotop, which was struck with missiles. Early reports say there have been no casualties.

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Demonstration in front of the Russian embassy in Copenhagen

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dozens of Russians flocked to Alexei Navalny's grave in Moscow on Sunday to symbolically cast their vote for the late opposition politician on the last day of Russia's presidential election, TV footage showed.

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's fiercest domestic critic, died last month in an Arctic prison. His allies accuse Putin of having him murdered, something the Kremlin denies. Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, said Navalny had died of natural causes.

Navalny was buried at the Borisovo cemetery in southern Moscow on March 1, two weeks before the start of a presdential election widely expected to easily hand Putin another six years in power.

On Sunday, video footage posted on social media by the Novaya Gazeta Europe news outlet and other media, showed dozens of Navalny supporters at his grave on which they had placed various tributes.

"We choose you," said one tribute. Official voting slips which had been amended to include Navalny's name on the list of candidates with a tick next to it were also visible.

Supporters were shown placing flowers on Navalny's grave, which was already piled high with flowers.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
(Reuters) - Russian citizens in Latvia cast ballots in their home country's presidential election on Sunday, while opponents of President Vladimir Putin rallied in front of the embassy in Riga in a peaceful "noon against Putin" protest.

While a sizeable number of people who arrived recently in the country were likely to cast a vote against Putin or take part in the protest, more longtime Russian residents were more reticent about expressing their views.

At the beginning of 2023, there were some 37,906 Russian citizens in Latvia, a country of only 1.88 million that borders Russia and is strongly opposed to Putin since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Organizers of the protest in Riga said around 100 campaigners against Moscow's war and supporters of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gathered in front of the embassy by noon (1000 GMT). The gathering echoed similar "noon against Putin" protests that took place in some parts of Russia and in foreign capitals.

"We already know results of the election but it is a big hope those are the last such elections," said one of the organizers, Marina Fomina.

Some elderly voters interviewed by Reuters outside the polling station in Riga, at Russia's embassy in the city, said it was their civic duty to vote, but did not reveal which candidate they would support.

Putin, 71 and in power for more than two decades, is certain to win another six-year term in the election, where voting was drawing to a close on Sunday evening.

Vladimir, a permanent resident in Latvia who gave only his first name, said he came to came to cast a blank ballot. "I don't want war, I don't want things like in Ukraine," he added.

Andrei, 28, voting in the Russian election for the first time, said he would vote against Putin even though the results is "probably obvious" as this might be the only way to oppose the war.

Kirill Martynov, editor in chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe, an independent Russian media outlet founded in Riga in April 2022 after the introduction of wartime censorship in Russia, said he planned to oppose this elections by spoiling the ballot.

Latvian police and border guards were checking voters' documents outside the polling station. The Latvian State Police chief, Armands Ruks, said the controls were to ensure Russian citizens taking part in the voting did not break the law.

By noon, 351 people were checked at the entrance of the Russian embassy in Riga and 14 were found with expired residency permits, the State Police told local media.

One voter said she was afraid to speak to the media or give her name for fear her residence permit in Latvia might not be extended.

The Russian embassy condemned cases of confiscation of Latvian identity documents from Russian voters, with some citizens now required to appear at the migration service to receive an order to leave.

(Reporting by Dagmarah Mackos in Riga and Lina Golovnya in Gdansk; Editing by Frances Kerry)
The Russians launched two strikes on the infrastructure of the city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast on the evening of 17 March.

Source: Artem Semenikhin, mayor of Konotop, on Facebook; Ukraine's Air Force

Quote: "Two strikes! [They were launched on] the infrastructure!"

Details: The mayor did not disclose any other details.

Earlier, Ukraine's Air Force warned the public about the activity of Russian tactical aircraft on the northeastern front and the threat of the Russians using air-launched projectiles. There were also reports about two air-launched missiles, likely Kh-59s, in the direction of Chernihiv Oblast through Sumy Oblast.

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Thousands of Russians went to the polls on Sunday in protest, organizing an effort to cast ballots at the same time against President Vladimir Putin.

Days before he died last month, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny endorsed the noontime protest, coming on the final day of the countrys three-day election. Opposition to Putin has skyrocketed since Navalny died in a Russian prison, which Western governments have denounced as an assassination.

We want this dark time to end. We want a clear, normal future, the protest campaigns website reads. But we, citizens of our country, with our pain and our hope, are not noticeable either to the authorities or to each other.

AT NOON on Sunday, March 17, the last day of voting, when we come to the polling stations, we will show others and see for ourselves that there are many of us, it continues. We can become a force that cannot be hidden behind drawn percentages.

The election results are a foregone conclusion, with Putin expected to win another six-year presidential term by massive margins. Between stints as prime minister and president, Putin has ruled Russia since 1999, making him the countrys longest-serving ruler since Joseph Stalin. If he completes the term, his rule would be the longest since Catherine the Great in 1796.

Putin is running effectively unopposed, with two official opponents barred from the ballot due to opposition against the Ukraine invasion, and Navalny jailed, leading to his death.

Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who has taken up her husbands mantle as the face of Putins opposition, endorsed the protest movement this month.

I want to do what [Alexei] thought was right, and I urge everyone to come to his memory, she said in a video. This will be your personal contribution to the common cause. There are probably many people close to you who are against Putin and against the war.

Protests and violence have marred the election as Ukrainian drone attacks pepper the country. The Russian defense ministry said it shot down 35 Ukrainian drones over Russia on Sunday morning.

On Tuesday, a group of Russian citizens fighting against Putins government invaded the country from Ukraine, armed with tanks and heavy weapons. The Russian defense ministry said the rebel incursion was quickly suppressed and over 230 of the fighters were killed.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has slowed to a standstill, as Ukrainian forces struggle to keep their lines as supplies dwindle. Ukrainian leaders have continued to urge Congress to send more military aid, though the efforts have faced GOP opposition.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Russians are trying to use relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war to foment internal discontent in Ukraine, according to the latest report by the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War released on March 16.

The Russian agencies are likely to be acting as part of the Maidan-3 information campaign.

Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said on March 16 that unknown Russian citizens were calling relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war, claiming that Moscow was ready to return the captives but that the Ukrainian government was allegedly preventing this.

Read also: Montenegrin official attends Russian presidential election as observer, sees no controversy

The Russians are also calling on relatives to protest in this regard. Lubinets noted that Ukraine has never stopped exchanging prisoners of war.

The ISW suggests that these Russian information operations are likely part of the Maidan-3 information campaign, which was previously reported by Ukraines SBU security service.

Read also: Ukraine debunks Russian claim of killing hundreds of soldiers with vacuum bomb

The analysts believe that the Russians want to stir up enmity between the civilian population and the military and political leadership of Ukraine.

Russia has experience in successfully using such operations. Earlier, Russians corresponded via cell phones with the Ukrainian population to incite violent protests in Ukraine, ISW writes.

The last prisoner exchange took place on Feb. 8. Ukraine returned 49 soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine, 25 border guards, 26 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including 11 territorial defense fighters.

Lubinets reported earlier that 2,800 bodies and fragments of Ukrainian soldiers had been identified in Ukraine.

The SBU reported that the Russian special operation "Maidan-3" would culminate in March-May 2024.

A representative of Ukraines Defense Intelligence (HUR), Andriy Chernyak, told the media on Nov. 28, 2023, that, according to Ukrainian intel, Russia had allocated approximately $250,000 for the Maidan-3 information operation aimed at inciting hatred, exacerbating contradictions in Ukraine, and spreading fear and panic.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
In bowling, 300 is the highest score. If you play golf, the best you can do is 54 (making a hole-in-one on all 18 holes). But what's the "perfect score" for Social Security recipients -- the highest level of benefits possible?

Currently, the greatest monthly benefit payable to retired workers is $4,873. Want to get that maximum benefit? Here's the salary you'll need.

Image source: Getty Images.

The magic number(s)

To even have a shot at receiving the maximum Social Security benefit when you retire, you'll need to earn $168,600 this year. So is this the magic number to make? Yes and no.

It is the earnings threshold you must achieve in 2024. However, the maximum changes nearly every year. Because of how Social Security retirement benefits are calculated, you must make the maximum salary for 35 years.

Instead of a magic number for getting the maximum Social Security benefit, there are multiple magic numbers. The following table shows the maximum earnings thresholds by year since 1973:

Year Earnings Year Earnings 1973 $10,800 1999 $72,600 1974 $13,200 2000 $76,200 1975 $14,100 2001 $80,400 1976 $15,300 2002 $84,900 1977 $16,500 2003 $87,000 1978 $17,700 2004 $87,900 1979 $22,900 2005 $90,000 1980 $25,900 2006 $94,200 1981 $29,700 2007 $97,500 1982 $32,400 2008 $102,000 1983 $35,700 2009 $106,800 1984 $37,800 2010 $106,800 1985 $39,600 2011 $106,800 1986 $42,000 2012 $110,100 1987 $43,800 2013 $113,700 1988 $45,000 2014 $117,000 1989 $48,000 2015 $118,500 1990 $51,300 2016 $118,500 1991 $53,400 2017 $127,200 1992 $55,500 2018 $128,400 1993 $57,600 2019 $132,900 1994 $60,600 2020 $137,700 1995 $61,200 2021 $142,800 1996 $62,700 2022 $147,000 1997 $65,400 2023 $160,200 1998 $68,400 2024 $168,600

Data source: Social Security Administration.

It's important to know that you must work in a job in which you contribute to Social Security. Some state, county, and municipal employees are covered by state-funded pension plans and not by Social Security. Federal employees hired before 1984 were under the old Civil Service Retirement System. Railroad employees are also covered under a different pension system.

Story continues

Hitting the earnings thresholds won't be enough

So if you earn the "magic amount" for 35 years, will you be guaranteed to receive the maximum Social Security benefit when you retire? No. Hitting the earnings thresholds isn't enough by itself.

The maximum $4,873 monthly benefit in 2024 is only paid to individuals who wait until age 70 to retire. If you retire at your full retirement age (FRA) this year, your maximum monthly benefit would be $3,822. If you retire at 62, the earliest age possible to collect Social Security, your maximum monthly benefit would only be $2,710.

Social Security imposes an early retirement penalty for anyone who begins receiving benefits before reaching FRA. The federal program also rewards those who hold off on claiming benefits until after their FRA with delayed retirement credits. Those credits apply only through age 70, though.

A steep challenge

As you've likely figured out, getting the maximum Social Security retirement benefit is a steep challenge. Few Americans will achieve the goal.

However, there are things you can do to come as close to reaching the max as possible. Work at least 35 years. Make as much money as possible during those years. Delay collecting Social Security benefits until age 70. Even if you can't receive the maximum benefit, you can still increase how much your benefit will be.

The $22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook

If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

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Want the Max $4,873 Social Security Benefit? Here's the Salary You Need was originally published by The Motley Fool
By Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin won a record post-Soviet landslide in Russia's election on Sunday, cementing his already tight grip on power in a victory he said showed Moscow had been right to stand up to the West and send its troops into Ukraine.

Putin, a former KGB lieutenant colonel who first rose to power in 1999, made it clear that the result should send a message to the West that its leaders will have to reckon with an emboldened Russia, whether in war or in peace, for many more years to come.

The outcome means Putin, 71, is set to embark on a new six-year term that will see him overtake Josef Stalin and become Russia's longest-serving leader for more than 200 years if he completes it.

Putin won 87.8% of the vote, the highest ever result in Russia's post-Soviet history, according to an exit poll by pollster the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM). The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) put Putin on 87%. First official results indicated the polls were accurate. The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations have said the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship.

Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov finished second with just under 4%, newcomer Vladislav Davankov third, and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth, partial results suggested.

Putin told supporters in a victory speech in Moscow that he would prioritise resolving tasks associated with what he called Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine and would strengthen the Russian military.

"We have many tasks ahead. But when we are consolidated - no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us - nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future," said Putin.

Supporters chanted "Putin, Putin, Putin" when he appeared on stage and "Russia, Russia, Russia" after he had delivered his acceptance speech.

Inspired by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison last month, thousands of opponents protested at noon against Putin at polling stations inside Russia and abroad.

Putin told reporters he regarded Russia's election as democratic and said the Navalny-inspired protest against him had had no effect on the election's outcome.

In his first comments on his death, he also said that Navalny's passing had been a "sad event" and confirmed that he had been ready to do a prisoner swap involving the opposition politician.

When asked by a NBC, a U.S. TV network, whether his re-election was democratic, Putin criticised the U.S. political and judicial systems.

"The whole world is laughing at what is happening (in the United States)," he said. "This is just a disaster, not a democracy."

"...Is it democratic to use administrative resources to attack one of the candidates for the presidency of the United States, using the judiciary among other things?" he asked, making an apparent reference to four criminal cases against Republican candidate Donald Trump.

The Russian election comes just over two years since Putin triggered the deadliest European conflict since World War Two by ordering the invasion of Ukraine.

War has hung over the three-day election: Ukraine has repeatedly attacked oil refineries in Russia, shelled Russian regions and sought to pierce Russian borders with proxy forces - a move Putin said would not be left unpunished.

Putin said Russia might need to create a buffer zone inside Ukraine to prevent such attacks in future.

While Putin's re-election was not in doubt given his control over Russia and the absence of any real challengers, the former KGB spy had wanted to show he had the overwhelming support of Russians.

Nationwide turnout was 74.22% at 1800 GMT when polls closed, election officials said, surpassing 2018 levels of 67.5%.

There was no independent tally of how many of Russia's 114 million voters took part in the opposition demonstrations, amid tight security involving tens of thousands of police and security officials.

Reuters journalists saw an increase in the flow of voters, especially younger people, at noon at polling stations in Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, with queues of several hundred people and even thousands.

Some said they were protesting, though there were few outward signs to distinguish them from ordinary voters.

At least 74 people were arrested on Sunday across Russia, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors crackdowns on dissent.

Over the previous two days, there were scattered incidents of protest as some Russians set fire to voting booths or poured green dye into ballot boxes. Opponents posted some pictures of ballots spoiled with slogans insulting Putin.

But Navalny's death has left the opposition deprived of its most formidable leader, and other major opposition figures are abroad, in jail or dead.

The West casts Putin as an autocrat and a killer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Putin wanted to rule forever and that the vote had been illegitimate.

Putin portrays the war as part of a centuries-old battle with a declining West that he says humiliated Russia after the Cold War by encroaching on Moscow's sphere of influence.

Russia's election comes at what Western spy chiefs say is a crossroads for the Ukraine war and the wider West.

Support for Ukraine is tangled in U.S. domestic politics ahead of the November presidential election.

Though Kyiv recaptured territory after the invasion in 2022, Russian forces have made gains after a failed Ukrainian counter-offensive last year.

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow, Andrew Osborn in London and Lidia Kelly in MelbourneEditing by Frances Kerry, Peter Graff, Ros Russell and Lisa Shumaker)
Sacramentos first cherry blossom park on track to open during summer 2024, officials say

(FOX40.COM)  Although its now referred to as Americas Farm-to-Fork capital, Sacramento was once known as the City of Trees, and rightfully so.

However, Sacramento may want to consider reverting to its original nickname once summer rolls around because the citys first cherry blossom park is expected to open around that time, officials say.

Laura Garcia, the director of development for the Sacramento Tree Foundation, said the organization expects to open the Hanami Line Park to the public in either June or July of 2024.

Wildflower super bloom likely in California: heres where to see it

We were shooting for a spring open date, but because of a couple of unplanned and unavoidable construction delays last fall, and the series of storms weve had over the last few months, we anticipate the park will be open to the public in late June/early July, she said.

Garcia adds that the cherry trees should be planted by mid-April, but the timeline could be adjusted based on the weather.

If we experience more storms, it may be delayed by another week or so, she said.

The Hanami Line Park broke ground on June 29 and promises to connect Sacramentos love of trees with the rich cultural heritage of the region along the Sacramento River.

The Hanami Line at Robert T. Matsui Park rendering

The Hanami Line at Robert T. Matsui Park rendering

The Hanami Line at Robert T. Matsui Park watercolor rendering

The parks website says Hanami Line will be around 1.5 acres and will be easily seen from Interstate 5. The park will also be within walking distance of The Railyards and the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity.

Upon its opening in 2024, visitors will see the many one-of-a-kind features displayed among the parks abundance of cherry trees. These features include:

The Matsuyama Dori walkway will lead visitors from the foot of an iconic lighted sculpture along seigaiha, wave-patterned pavers, and art-infused inlays, on a path pointing directly toward Sacramentos Japanese sister city, Matsuyama.

Varying in design from urban to organic, four separate bosques, or mini forests will be present. Seating elements are scattered throughout and placed to accommodate a myriad of events from small family picnics to large outdoor concerts. The park will also include nearby benches created from local fallen trees milled by the Tree Foundations Urban Wood Rescue program.

Japanese parasol-inspired shade structures will provide visitors with protective seating options throughout the park, so visitors will have a place to sit during the changing seasons.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
California is transferring everyone on death row at San Quentin prison to other places, as it tries to reinvent the state's most notorious facility as a rehabilitation centre.

Many in this group will now have new freedoms. But they are also asking why they've been excluded from the reform - and whether they'll be safe in new prisons.

Short presentational grey line

Keith Doolin still remembers the day in 2019 when workers came to dismantle one of the United States' most infamous death chambers.

He was in his cell at San Quentin prison on the north side of San Francisco Bay, watching live footage on television showing an execution chair - where 194 people had been put to death - carried away after more than 80 years of use. The green gas chamber being taken apart was just several hundred feet from where he sat.

A former long-distance truck driver convicted of murder, Doolin has spent nearly 23 hours a day for the last 28 years in a tiny cell. He long worried he would one day be shackled to a mint-green chair and executed.

But in the last few years, California has been moving fast with some plans for prison reform. Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to deconstruct the death chamber - and also place a moratorium on the death penalty in the state - was a watershed moment for Doolin.

"He [Newsom] was sending the message: 'Look, it might take a while, but things are going to change'."

Mr Newsom is now seeking more changes at San Quentin, which currently has the nation's largest death row. The governor announced last year that he planned to transform the state's oldest prison into a rehabilitation centre.

He will close the prison's death row unit and move Doolin and the other 532 death row inhabitants to standard prisons across the state in the coming months (70 have been moved already).

Doolin and his neighbours will still have death sentences - meaning they will spend the rest of their lives in prison. For some, the threat of execution still looms large, as a future governor could reinstate the state's death penalty.

Six people on death row who spoke to the BBC over the phone shared mixed feelings about their move. Some were elated by the opportunity to live closer to family and step outside their cells without handcuffs, while others were terrified at the prospect of starting over after decades living alone in a cell.

Keith Doolin, who was convicted of murder in 1996, says he is worried about his transfer to another California prison

Rats, birds and handcuffs: Life on death row

Built in 1852, San Quentin is California's oldest prison and the state's only facility for incarcerated males who have been sentenced to death. Since 1893, 422 people have been executed there, including by gas, hanging or lethal injection.

Family members walk by the entrance to the prison's execution chamber every time they visit their loved ones, said Doolin's mother, Donna Larsen, who drives a nine-hour round trip once a month to visit her son.

The execution chamber would emit a green light that turned red as a person was being executed, a sight visible to Californians driving by on the highway, she said. This green room of death - and infamous incarcerated people such as cult leader Charles Manson - have brought international notoriety to San Quentin, featured in podcasts, television shows and films.

When Ramon Rogers arrived at the prison in 1996, rain leaked through the ceiling of the death row unit, and mice and rats would run rampant. But the biggest pests, he said, were the birds.

"They started defecating all over the place - all over the railings," he said. "It was a gross environment."

Since then, life on death row has remained restrictive and, at times, hazardous.

An outbreak of Covid-19 during the height of the pandemic killed at least 12 people on death row - part of a wider coronavirus surge at the prison that infected 75% of the population.

Ms Larsen - Doolin's mother - said she was shocked by how dirty the prison was the first time she visited.

"It had a stench to it," she said. "Sometimes Keith's clothing smells mouldy when we visit. To know that your loved one is living in that made me sick."

Those imprisoned in San Quentin's death row spend nearly all of the day in their cells

People housed in San Quentin's death row are kept alone for most of the day in a roughly four foot (1.2m) by nine foot (2.7m) cell, a space that Doolin said feels like a "sardine can".

The 51-year-old was sentenced to death in 1996 for murdering two sex workers, Inez Espinoza and Peggy Tucker, and shooting four others. In 2009, the California Supreme Court upheld Doolin's death sentence based on testimony from the surviving victims, who identified him as their attacker.

He has maintained his innocence, and a California attorney has alleged that he has information - learned during another case - that could potentially support his defence. But the lawyer, David Mugridge, told the BBC that he could not share the details due to attorney-client privilege.

Doolin and others living on death row are required to wear handcuffs at all times when outside their cells, which officers have to unlock with metal keys after strip-searching them.

"Our daily life confinement is based on going from one box to another," said another death row inhabitant, Tony, who declined to share his last name for privacy reasons.

People on death row are offered little access to rehabilitative programmes except for some college courses and jobs such as cleaning showers.

Ending death row

In March 2019, Governor Newsom issued an executive order that halted the death penalty in the state and ordered the dismantling of the gas chamber in San Quentin.

Mr Newsom's move did not alter any incarcerated individuals' sentences, though he said that he might later consider commuting death row sentences.

While the state had not actually performed an execution since 2006, Mr Newsom argued the death penalty system had been "by all measures, a failure" that was unfairly applied to people of colour and people with mental illness.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, black people comprise 34% of California's death row, but only 6% of the state's population.

Since 1973, seven people on death row in the state have been exonerated.

Preparing for bigger changes, Mr Newsom announced a two-year pilot programme in 2020 to transfer around 100 volunteers from San Quentin's death row to other prisons, the first move in his bigger plan to eventually move all the death row inhabitants out, to more than 20 other prisons that meet security requirements.

Correll Thomas left San Quentin with the pilot programme in 2021 after being on death row since 1999.

But at Centinela prison, in Imperial, California, settling in was a struggle. "They didn't want to give us [rehabilitation] programs," he said. "We had to pretty much fight for everything."

Correll Thomas was happy to have the chance to leave San Quentin death row

Other prisoners and staff appeared frightened of his death row status, said Thomas, who added that with time, some at the prison grew to accept him.

Ramon Rogers, the incarcerated person who first arrived at San Quentin in 1986 when birds and rats had overrun the facility, said the move was welcome.

"I didn't care where they sent me, I just knew anywhere else would be better," he said.

Now at the Richard Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, Rogers, 64, has been able to enrol not just in rehabilitation programmes but also college.

The greatest relief, he said, came from not having to wear handcuffs around the clock outside his cell for the first time in decades.

"Sometimes, I'm amazed at what I'm allowed to do here that I would never be able to do on death row."

Starting over

But some advocates say not enough support is being offered as these people on death row make a drastic transition. There is a "huge difference" between the people on death row who chose to leave and those being forced to move now, said Gavrilah Wells, a volunteer with human rights group Amnesty International.

"I'm so worried about the safety and the human rights of so many people being involuntarily transferred," she said. "The massive endeavour of rapidly moving 550 people to unknown prisons, with unknown cultures specific to each facility, raises serious concerns."

Ms Wells and other advocates say moving the death row population, which includes many who are sick and elderly, poses great challenges. The oldest person in San Quentin's death row is 93.

"It's not the same as just transferring any person in prison," said Natasha Minsker, a policy adviser for non-profit Smart Justice California.

Advocates worry about those being moved far away from their lawyers and family members, and how they will adjust after decades living alone in a cell.

"These guys have never lived with anyone but themselves," Tony said. "They're going to have to learn how to do things all over again."

Doolin is anxious about avoiding conflict as he interacts with more people than ever before, including prison guards.

"It's extremely stressful," he said. "I'm forced to start all over again like my first day in prison."

Ms Larsen, Doolin's mother, said she and others suggested programmes to offer support to their incarcerated loved ones as they made the transition, but the prison turned them down.

'We still have humanity'

For several death row inhabitants, the anxieties of a new environment are outweighed by the prospect of breaking free from a dismal life in San Quentin.

"For some people, it's a godsend," Tony said. "They want to leave this oppression."

But for others, the departure from San Quentin before its estimated $360m (282m) upgrade has served as a reminder of how those on death row are treated differently to other prisoners. Mr Newsom has said the goal is to transform the prison into a college campus-like setting, modelled on Scandinavian correctional facilities that focus on rehabilitation.

In response to a question from the BBC on how people on death row fit into the state's larger plans for prison reform, Mr Newsom's office said he was committed to "addressing failings in our criminal justice system - including the discriminatory nature of the death penalty system".

Mr Newsom's office did not elaborate on why people on death row could not participate in the San Quentin project, but touted the closure of death row and his moratorium on the death penalty.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said all who were incarcerated on death row had to be moved because San Quentin did not have the "required lethal electrified fence". It did not respond when asked why that had been okay up to this point. It also did not respond to questions about support being offered to transfers.

Darrell Lomax, one of the men in San Quentin, said: "It's not what they're doing. It's the way they're doing it... Why are we being moved so they can make room for a rehabilitation program that doesn't even serve us?"

The arrangement sends the "unfortunate" message that one of the biggest prison reform projects in the US can't include people sentenced to death, Ms Minsker said.

Tony believes some in California are still not ready to reckon with the status - and future - of those sentenced to death, even in a state that is not executing people.

"There's a notion that because we're here, it's the end of the road," he said. "But we still have humanity in this place. I don't think our humanity has been seen enough."
Anastasiia Lezhania, before her first day of school in 2022 at North Port High School, after fleeing Ukraine. Lezhania is a recipient of a STRIVE Award.

Im the person who has a backup plan for the backup plan, said Anastasiia Lezhania.

Ahead of Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as she noticed people leaving her hometown of Kyiv, the 14-year-old collected passports and other papers that would help her family in case they needed to flee.

On the morning of February 24, 2022, the unthinkable happened: Russian missiles began to slam into Kyiv. After a missile hit the apartment building across the street, the family  with their dog, two cats, and what they could carry in bags and backpacks  left the city where Anastasiia had lived all her life.

The noise of the rockets, Anastasiia recalled, was terrible.

For two days, they stayed with friends in a village outside Kyiv before Anastasiias dad drove them to Lviv, near Poland. He dropped them near the border, but the family, with the pets, had to walk the last few kilometers, trudging through the bitter cold toward safety.

At a refugee camp in Poland, they were processed and then taken in by a Polish family Anastasiia had found on Facebook as they fled. Seeing the need to help, during the day Anastasiia would return to the refugee camp to help incoming Ukrainians. Every day, the facility became stretched as more tired and anxious families arrived.

You dont really think about how hard it is," she said. "You just go because you have to.

While Anastasiia was helping fellow refugees, her mom, who got a lead from her own mom in Ukraine, reached out to a connection in Canada, who texted a pastor friend in North Port, Florida, who texted Anastasiias mom in Poland. The pastor offered to host the family, and a few days later they used the last of their money for plane tickets to Miami.

Anastasiia arrived in North Port the Friday before spring break, affording her a week to acclimate before beginning classes at North Port High School on her fifteenth birthday. She knew almost no English but excelled at math. To learn English, she watched YouTube videos and downloaded free trials of learning apps. It was hard, but Anastasiia persisted, passed her Florida Standards Assessment in English on the second attempt, and applied for the AICE program to take advanced coursework.

Of her early days starting over in America, Anastasiia said, I did not fully understand where I was and what was happening. I just followed the road. I just knew that there were new tasks that needed to be done.

Two years on, her resolve has not abated. In the apartment where her mom and brothers moved after they could afford a place of their own, she cooks for the family. Through her persistence, she got a job at Publix and walks 15 minutes to work in the bakery. She is looking for ways to help the family cover legal expenses for the immigration process.

Anastasiia has also found ways to connect to her home. In Kyiv, she loved to sing, dance, act, and play drums. When the band at her church in North Port needed a new drummer and learned that she played, they asked her to join. Playing drums again, Anastasiia said, Helps me get back my past life. With a smile, she added, And I love to control the tempo.

Anastasiia Lezhania, before her first day of school in 2022 at North Port High School, after fleeing Ukraine. Lezhania is a recipient of a STRIVE Award.

In February, Anastassia learned she was a 2024 recipient of a STRIVE Award, which recognizes high school juniors and seniors who have overcome challenges to succeed. For a young woman who knew almost no English two years ago, she is on track to earn her AICE diploma. While uncertain how she will pay for college, she has applied to many and already received acceptance letters. She plans to study film production at a four-year school but is developing backup plans.

Through all the uncertainty and after losing almost everything that felt familiar, Anastasiia has been buoyed by the generous people who have helped every step of the way. The Polish family who took them in, the North Port pastors family who hosted them for months, the people who donated to a GoFundMe page that enabled the family to buy a car, the woman who had heard of the Lezhanias story and paid to have their dog reunited with them in Floridathese people and so many others serve as reminders of the best impulses in humans. They help Anastasiia keep moving forward.

So do her two brothers and her mom, who works three jobs and who borrowed money and, with the help of the pastor and his son, purchased an electric drum kit so Anastasiia can practice in their apartment. She finds support in her friends from Ukraine who also left their homes with so little and now live elsewherein Germany and Austria. While they are all starting over, they take solace in having each other and in being far from that war that came crashing into their city.

Anastasiias advice for students experiencing challenges: Dont miss out on an opportunityeverything thats around you can help you develop yourself if you use it.

About the Education Foundation of Sarasota County & STRIVE Awards

For 35 years, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County (EdFoundationSRQ.org) has supported students and teachers because education transforms lives. As a champion for life readiness, the Education Foundation provides personalized, comprehensive resources and relationships so that students can find their purpose and progress intentionally through their K  12 schooling. Its mission is to enhance the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching, and inspire innovation in education, guided by strategic philanthropy.

The STRIVE Awards were born out of H. Jack Hunkeles vision to recognize students who have overcome tremendous challenges to succeed in life. Learn more about the STRIVE Awards and this years remarkable recipients at EdFoundationSRQ.org/STRIVE.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota student: 'Dont miss out on an opportunity'
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Sunday argued that while he wouldnt go as far as Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) recent call for new elections in Israel, he believes the remarks should serve as an earthquake in Israel.

And while I wouldnt go as far as the leader in setting out the timing of elections, the fact that Israels most staunch defender in the U.S. Congress, Chuck Schumer, should be making these remarks should be an earthquake in Israel, Schiff said in an interview with CNNs State of the Union. We are Israels most important ally. We recognize Israels right to defend itself.

Schumer last week argued it is time for new elections, claiming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost his way. The remarks drew a rebuke from Republicans, who argued Schumer was attempting to meddle with Israels elections.

In what he called a major address on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Schumer argued Netanyahu is in a coalition with far-right extremists and has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, sided with President Bidens call for a temporary pause in fighting and pushed for a two-state solution in the region.

I want to highlight that Chuck Schumer laid the responsibility for this war exactly where it lies, and that is with Hamas terrorists that attacked and murdered and raped and tortured Israelis on October 7, and continues to hold hostages, continues in a cowardly way to use the Palestinian people as human shields, Hamas terrorists hiding behind women and children in Gaza, Schiff said Sunday. So, the responsibility lies with Hamas. But I also agree with Leader Schumers comments regarding the necessity of reducing civilian casualties in Gaza.

The Palestinian militant group Hamass Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while about 250 others were taken hostage. Israels retaliatory bombardment of Gaza has left more than 31,000 Palestinians dead in the enclave, according to The Associated Press. Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Schiff said the U.S. is holding Israel to a high standard and recognizes the need for a two-state solution.

That ultimately is the way to not only resolve this conflict but prevent future conflicts from taking place. So, I think these remarks are incredibly important, he said. And, as I would not go as far as them, I also recognize the significance of them coming from this incredible champion.

Schiff, the Democratic nominee for Californias Senate race, is vying for the seat vacated by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), which is currently being filled by appointee Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.). Butler opted against a primary bid.

Netanyahu called Schumers remarks totally inappropriate in a separate interview on State of the Union.

Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. Thats something the Israeli public does on its own, he said.

Were not a banana republic, he continued. I think the only government that we should be working on to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) shared concern about delays in legal cases against former President Trump on Sunday, noting that a delay in the Supreme Court case concerning Trumps claim of presidential immunity would be a terrible decision.

Delays in Trumps legal cases have slimmed the odds that he will stand trial before the November election. Schiff said he sees Trumps federal Jan. 6 case as the most important and emphasized that it is critical the Supreme Court move quickly on Trumps claim that he cannot be prosecuted because he was working as the president.

The Supreme Court moved with great speed when it came to ruling that Trump could appear on the ballot, Schiff said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union with Dana Bash. The question is, will it also move at great speed in rejecting this bogus immunity claim?

If it doesnt, its making a deliberate decision essentially to push the trial past the election, and I think that would be a terrible decision  for the interest of justice, he continued. Itll be a terrible decision in depriving American voters of the information they would learn during the course of that trial, but it would also just further discredit this partisan and reactionary court.

Schiff added that Trumps legal team has intentionally sought delays in each of his legal cases, with the intention of tossing them out if he gets elected president in November.

There is a chance that he could evade justice by delaying justice, Schiff said. This is a tried-and-true tactic of Trump throughout his career, and I hope that the courts are aware of exactly what hes doing and his incentive in trying to prolong this.

The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for the immunity case for late April, setting up a decision by the end of June or sooner. If the court rules that Trump is not immune and the case continues, the timeline leaves a slim window for a trial before November.

Trumps first criminal trial on charges that he illegally covered up hush money payments in New York was delayed by 30 days on Friday after a request from prosecutors. The trial was initially scheduled to start next week.

The former president also faces criminal charges related to the 2020 election in Georgia  sidetracked by questions concerning a prosecutors conflicts of interest  and federal charges alleging he mishandled classified documents in Florida.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference. Scholz is scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz as well as relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza alongside Netanyahu. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, openly questioned Israel's military actions during the Gaza war in light of the high number of casualties during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At a joint press conference, Scholz stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group but suggested that Netanyahu reconsider his strategy in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu, however, insisted that he and his German guest agreed that "Hamas must be eliminated." He argued that there would be no peace as long as Hamas remained in Gaza.

"We cannot have a future for Gaza, a future for peace, a future for Israel if Hamas, a terrorist organization committed to our genocide, remains intact," Netanyahu said. "If it remains intact, it will regroup and reconquer the Gaza Strip and repeat the massacre again and again and again."

Scholz responded that the victims of the October 7 attack would not be forgotten. "Our message has been clear: Israel has a right to defend itself against the terrorism of Hamas, and all hostages must be released. This cruel crime must end now," he said.

But the German chancellor also noted the "extremely high cost in human lives" and said he had shared his concerns with Netanyahu.

While Israel was pursuing a legitimate goal of never again October 7, the question had to be asked whether, no matter how important the goal, could it justify such terribly high costs.

"We cannot stand by and watch Palestinians risk starvation  That is not what we stand for," Scholz said. He called for a deal on releasing the hostages "with a longer-lasting ceasefire."

In the five months or so of the Gaza war, the number of civilian casualties "is extremely high, many would argue, much too high," Scholz added.

Turning to the situation in Lebanon, Scholz said that Hezbollah had to withdraw from the border with Israel and that military escalation there would have "unforeseeable consequences."

After talks in Jordan earlier on Sunday, Scholz had called for an urgent ceasefire. He met with Jordan's King Abdullah in the southern Jordanian port of Aqaba.

Scholz also came out against an Israeli ground offensive into Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

"It is absolutely clear that we now have to do everything to prevent the situation becoming worse than it already is," Scholz said.

"I believe that a large number of casualties from an offensive of this kind would make all peaceful development extremely difficult," he said. "Many people in Israel as well know this."

Netanyahu again defiantly rejected international calls for an end to the Gaza War and stuck by plans for a ground attack on Rafah.

Scholz's meeting with Netanyahu centred in part on Israeli preparations to attack Rafah, which is crammed with more than 1 million Palestinians who had fled attacks elsewhere in Gaza, and the German chancellor's urgent warning against such an attack.

In addition to meeting with Netanyahu, Scholz planned to meet with President Isaac Herzog, Minister Benny Gantz, and relatives of hostages in Jerusalem.

Rafah lies directly on the border with Egypt, and many of the people now living there are sheltering in tents and other provisional accommodations.

King Abdullah warned of the "tragic" humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip during his meeting with Scholz, the Jordanian royal court said, and underlined the importance of intensified efforts to protect civilians and provide "adequate and sustainable" aid to people in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

The king "stressed the necessity of the international community to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the strip," the court added in a statement.

Referring to a planned resumption of indirect talks on a provisional ceasefire, Scholz said that the possibility of a longer ceasefire needed to be firmed up.

The Jordanian king also called for standing firm against what he called extremist Jewish settlers' violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and violations against Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem.

Jordan is the official custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7 by a bloody terrorist attack on Israel led by Hamas militants and other extremist groups.

Although Germany supports the Israeli military operation against Hamas in principle, it has criticized the conduct of the war, which has already claimed the lives of many thousands of civilians.

A ceasefire that lasts "for the foreseeable future" is needed, Scholz said before his departure on Saturday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference. Scholz is scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz as well as relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza alongside Netanyahu. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to Benjamin Netanyahu (R) Prime Minister of Israel during a meeting. Scholz is scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz as well as relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza alongside Netanyahu. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Sunday on his second visit to Israel since the start of the Gaza war just over five months ago.

The focus is expected to be Israeli preparations for a ground offensive in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, against which Scholz plans to issue an urgent warning: The German chancellor is calling for a ceasefire to enable the release of hostages and more humanitarian aid for the suffering population in the Palestinian territory.

The Gaza war was triggered on October 7 by a terrorist attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement.

Although Germany supports the Israeli military operation against Hamas in principle, it has criticized the conduct of the war, which has already claimed the lives of many thousands of civilians. A ceasefire that lasts "for the foreseeable future" is needed, Scholz said before his departure on Saturday.

Scholz was on Saturday evening expected to arrive in the Jordanian city of Aqaba on the Red Sea, where he is scheduled to meet Jordanian King Abdullah on Sunday.

In the afternoon, he is due to fly on to Israel, where he plans to meet President Isaac Herzog and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz as well as relatives of hostages alongside Netanyahu.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for an urgent ceasefire in the Gaza War on Sunday after meeting Jordan's King Abdullah in the southern Jordanian port of Aqaba.

On his second visit to the region since the war started, the German chancellor came out against an Israeli ground offensive into Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

"It is absolutely clear that we now have to do everything to prevent the situation becoming worse than it already is," Scholz said.

"I believe that a large number of casualties from an offensive of this kind would make all peaceful development extremely difficult," he said. "Many people in Israel as well know this."

Scholz's comments came just hours ahead of a scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who again defiantly rejected international calls for an end to the Gaza War and stuck by plans for a ground attack on Rafah.

The focus of Scholz's meeting with Netanyahu is expected to focus on Israeli preparations to attack Rafah, which is crammed with more than 1 million Palestinians who had fled attacks elsewhere in Gaza, and the German chancellor's urgent warning against such an attack.

Rafah lies directly on the border with Egypt, and many of the people now living there are sheltering in tents and other provisional accommodations.

King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday warned of the "tragic" humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip during his meeting with Scholz, the Jordanian royal court said, and underlined the importance of intensified efforts to protect civilians and provide "adequate and sustainable" aid to people in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

The king "stressed the necessity of the international community to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the strip," the court added in a statement.

Scholz repeated the German government position that Israel had every right to defend itself against attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, but said this should not result in the many people in Gaza who had fled to Rafah being directly threatened by military action.

"For that reason, I have made very clear, exactly the way the US president has done, that we find that this is something where one has to do everything very, very, very carefully so as to avoid further high casualty figures," Scholz said.

Referring to a planned resumption of indirect talks on a provisional ceasefire, Scholz said that the possibility of a longer ceasefire needed to be firmed up.

The Jordanian king called for standing firm against what he called extremist Jewish settlers' violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and violations against Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem.

Jordan is the official custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7 by a bloody terrorist attack on Israel led by Hamas militants and other extremist groups.

Although Germany supports the Israeli military operation against Hamas in principle, it has criticized the conduct of the war, which has already claimed the lives of many thousands of civilians.

A ceasefire that lasts "for the foreseeable future" is needed, Scholz said before his departure on Saturday.

Scholz is scheduled to meet President Isaac Herzog and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz as well as relatives of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza alongside Netanyahu.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz looks over a hotel parapet at Aqaba after a meeting with the Jordanian King ahead of his visit to Israel. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C) comes out of the hotel in Aqaba for the onward journey to Isreal. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C) comes out of the hotel in Aqaba for the onward journey to Isreal. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Check here for the latest information: Body of missing 18-year-old Carson Hughes found in lake at Indiana state park

The search for 18-year-old Carson Hughes resumes Sunday at 7 a.m.

Multiple agencies from Indiana and Ohio suspended search efforts for the Osgood, Indiana, resident Saturday night due to darkness and potentially unsafe search conditions and planned to resume in the morning,

Law enforcement officials with the Indiana Division of Natural Resources said Saturday night there was no new information and urged the public to remain clear of the search area at Versailles Lake.

Carson Hughes

Hughes was reported missing on March 15 around 1:30 p.m. at the 230-acre lake in Versailles State Park.

His vehicle was found unlocked with the keys still inside near the boat ramp. His kayak was on the water nearby, officials said.

Searchers used thermal and side-scan sonar technologies on the land and water near where Hughes' vehicle was found.

The Ripley County Indiana Emergency Management Agency said over 150 volunteers joined the search Saturday.

Versailles State Park in Ripley County is Indianas second-largest state park. The park has a 230-acre lake and offers seasonal rentals of canoes and kayaks.

Carsons family says he often goes to the park to capture photos.

There were things located that would suggest he was doing what he loved to do most days which was photographing wildlife and being outdoors, Indiana Conservation Officer Josh Thomas said.

Steven John told Enquirer media partner Fox 19 that he and Carson work on photography projects together for Johns company Indiana Thermal Recovery.

Hes one of the youngest, most talented photographers Ive ever known. I looked up to his work and it was very inspirational, John said.

If you have information about Hughes' whereabouts, call the Indiana Conservation Office Dispatch Center at 812-340-8323.

Enquirer Media Partner Fox 19 reporter Brenda Ordonez contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Search for Carson Hughes continues Sunday at Versailles State Park
The board of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend by 26% on the 24th of May to $1.13, up from last year's comparable payment of $0.90. Despite this raise, the dividend yield of 1.3% is only a modest boost to shareholder returns.

While the dividend yield is important for income investors, it is also important to consider any large share price moves, as this will generally outweigh any gains from distributions. Investors will be pleased to see that Williams-Sonoma's stock price has increased by 42% in the last 3 months, which is good for shareholders and can also explain a decrease in the dividend yield.

Check out our latest analysis for Williams-Sonoma

Williams-Sonoma's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. However, Williams-Sonoma's earnings easily cover the dividend. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.

Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 13.8% over the next year. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 25%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

Williams-Sonoma Has A Solid Track Record

The company has been paying a dividend for a long time, and it has been quite stable which gives us confidence in the future dividend potential. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from $1.24 total annually to $3.60. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 11% per annum over that time. We can see that payments have shown some very nice upward momentum without faltering, which provides some reassurance that future payments will also be reliable.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. It's encouraging to see that Williams-Sonoma has been growing its earnings per share at 29% a year over the past five years. A low payout ratio gives the company a lot of flexibility, and growing earnings also make it very easy for it to grow the dividend.

Story continues

We Really Like Williams-Sonoma's Dividend

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Williams-Sonoma is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Distributions are quite easily covered by earnings, which are also being converted to cash flows. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 23 analysts we track are forecasting for Williams-Sonoma for free with public analyst estimates for the company. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

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.
Senegal's charismatic opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and his coalition's presidential candidate flew to the south of the country Saturday, pressing on with their election campaign less than two weeks before the vote.

Sonko and his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye were greeted by hundreds of supporters after they flew into the coastal resort of Cap Skiring in the Casamance region.

Sonko has endorsed Faye as his coalition's candidate for the 24 March election after he was barred from running himself.

The two political allies travelled from the airport in a black 4x4 vehicle with tinted windows, as the crowd shouted: "Diomaye, president!"

Faye wearing a traditional white boubou, or flowing wide-sleeved robe, was the first to appeared, followed by Sonko in a pale green shirt and cap.

Both raised their hands to salute the crowd of mainly young people.

Sonko will 'bring change'

"We are going to win in the first round, I'm sure of it," one supporter, 26-year-old Malang Sane told AFP, echoing the prediction made by Sonko the previous night in Dakar.

"We have come to welcome our leader (Sonko) who has just got out of prison and is going to bring change," 29-year-old teacher Ibou Diatta told AFP.

"Senegal is like a new car that hasn't been used, and Ousmane Sonko is going to get it running," he added.

Faye sat up front and Sonko behind him as their convoy headed to the Casamance regional capital of Ziguinchor, some 80 kilometres away.

Sonko served as mayor there and this region is his political stronghold.

Ba stepped down from his post to campaign for the presidency under the banner of Macky Sall's party.



Read more on RFI English



Read also:

Senegal's opposition hopes promise of new national currency will win votes

Young Senegalese forced abroad by dual economic and political crises

Senegal kicks off shortened election campaign after poll delays
Grant Shapps has abandoned a trip to Ukraines southern city of Odesa, reportedly because of a Russian missile threat.

The UK Defence Secretary had to abort the visit earlier this month after he was warned by British intelligence that the Russians had become aware of his travel plans, according to a Sunday Times report confirmed by a source close to Mr Shapps.

The Daily Telegraph reported last week that Russia jammed the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal of Mr Shapps official jet on a round trip to Poland.

Mr Shapps was travelling on the RAFs Envoy, a Dassault 900LX, to visit troops in Mazury, a military base near the Belarus border, when the aircrafts pilots lost access to the GPS.

According to the Sunday Times, as he flew to Poland from RAF Northolt, he was notified that an armoured convoy carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis narrowly avoided a Russian missile strike while visiting the port city on March 6.

Five people were killed in the explosions, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Grant Shapps speaks during a joint press conference with the Polish Defence Minister after their meeting at a military training compound near Orzysz in Poland on March 13 - Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Image

The news raised the threat level to Mr Shapps safety from substantial to critical, according to the newspaper, which had access to the delegation.

Mr Shapps, travelling with chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and a small team of British officials, took an overnight train from Poland, arriving in Kyiv on March 7 for talks with Mr Zelensky and senior members of his wartime administration.

But the planned onward journey to Odesa was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlins knowledge of it.

Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless and careless, Mr Shapps, who instead travelled back to the UK via Poland, told the Sunday Times.

The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two Western leaders, it doesnt matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing?

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: On a recent trip to Ukraine, the Defence Secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons.

The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the Defence Secretarys visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putins aggression.

Mr Shapps said he hoped his visit would serve as a wake-up call to push, persuade and even embarrass the rest of the world into action to help Ukraine.

When asked whether the Prime Minister should set a date for increasing defence spending before or at the election, the Defence Secretary told the paper: Yes.

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A resident is evacuated from a home in Trenton, N.J. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. A suspect has barricaded himself in the home after allegedly shooting three people to death in suburban Philadelphia on Saturday, authorities said. The Trenton Police Department said the suspect is believed to be hiding in the house and that the residents were successfully evacuated with no injuries. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  A man suspected of fatally shooting three family members in their Philadelphia-area homes Saturday was arrested in New Jersey after evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilized across two states, shutting down a parade and an amusement park and ordering some residents to stay in their homes.

Steve Wilson, police director for the city of Trenton, New Jersey, said the man was arrested near a house where officers had believed he was barricaded inside. He apparently left the home before the police cordon was erected, Wilson said.

Wilson added that he did not believe the suspect was armed at the time.

The suspect was identified earlier as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. Authorities said they believe he killed his stepmother, his teenage sister and the mother of his children in shootings at two homes in eastern Pennsylvanias Falls Township in the morning, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. His children's grandmother was injured when she was bludgeoned with a rifle.

Officials said they couldn't yet speak to a motive for the attacks. While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference.

Police said Gordon was believed to be homeless. It was unclear whether he had an attorney or anyone else who could comment on his behalf.

The mayhem forced the cancellation of a St. Patricks Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park. Authorities in Pennsylvanias Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours.

After fleeing in a stolen car, then taking another in a carjacking in a store parking lot, Gordon went to the home in nearby Trenton, authorities said. By midafternoon, officers surrounded the house on a taped-off block, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker and trying to persuade him to come out.

Andre, get away from the windows. If you would like to surrender, dial 911 now, one message went.

Neighbors gathered by the barricade to watch what was happening. The home's residents had been taken to safety with no injuries, the Trenton Police Department said.

Schorn said police believe Gordon first broke into a home in the Falls Township community of Levittown and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Three other occupants, including a 14-year-old, hid as the suspect went through the house, searching for them, the district attorney said.

She said police believe Gordon then drove to another home in Levittown and fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were also there. Daniel's mother, who was bludgeoned, was expected to recover.

Shaun Murphy, who lives in Levittown, said he was headed to the local St. Patrick's Day parade when he saw that the road had been blocked.

All the neighbors were outside wondering what was going on, and then we got the notice about shelter in place, Murphy said, recalling that he and his neighbors had just been talking the night before about how great of a town and how great of a neighborhood it is.

Schorn said officers believe that after the shootings, Gordon carjacked a vehicle in a parking lot in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, from a 44-year-old man who wasn't harmed. From there, officials said, he drove to the home in Trenton.

Police in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, said the suspect has ties to addresses in Bucks County and Trenton and stays in Trenton primarily.

___

Todt reported from Philadelphia. Associated Press journalists Matt Rourke in Trenton, New Jersey, Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered increased training and more weapons to repel Ukraine's attacks on the Black Sea Fleet, according to a statement by Russia's Defense Ministry on March 17.

"It is necessary to conduct training every day with personnel. Training to repel air attacks and attacks by unmanned boats," Shoigu said, according to the statement on Telegram. He also ordered the installation of additional fire weapons, large-caliber machine-gun rifle systems to destroy Ukrainian drones.

The comments were made during a visit to speak with troops at a Black Sea command post, presumably in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The statement noted that Shoigu also visited Sevastopol in Crimea to inspect the progress of a new military hospital under construction there.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet, whose headquarters is located in Crimea, has been repeatedly struck by Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Attacks include the sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022 and a devastating missile attack on the fleet's headquarters in occupied Crimea that reportedly killed more than 30 officers.

Around 30% of Russias Black Sea fleet has been disabled as of early February 2024, according to the Ukrainian military.

Most recently, on March 5, Ukraine's military intelligence reported destroying the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence, the Project 22160 patrol ship suffered damage to its stern and on its left and right sides. Sergey Kotov was reportedly located near the Kerch Strait when it was attacked by domestically-produced Magura V5 naval drones.

"The cost of the sunken ship is about $65 million," the agency wrote.

On March 10, Russian news outlets reported that the commander of the Russian Navy had been replaced.

Read also: These are the most important Russian ships destroyed by Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Students and mourners gathered at a makeshift memorial outside Oxford High School one day after a mass shooting at the school, in Oxford, Mich. on Dec. 1, 2021. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)

When prosecutor Karen McDonald decided to press criminal charges against the parents of the teenager who carried out the deadliest school shooting in Michigans history, even some members of her own staff expressed doubts, fearing the case was too ambitious to win.

It seemed a huge reach to try to hold the parents responsible, said Linda Fentiman, a professor emerita at Pace University who is an expert in health law and criminal law. This was new legal territory.

But in the end, prosecutors were able to convince two separate juries that they had met their burden of proof. The parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, were both found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter  one for each of the students who had been shot to death by their son at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021.

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Now the question is whether the cases will affect the legal terrain around criminal law, parental responsibility and gun legislation.

Mark Chutkow, a lawyer and former federal prosecutor in Michigan, said the unique circumstances in this trial made it unlikely that the country would see a barrage of similar cases in which parents are tried for crimes committed by their children.

Still, he added, more prosecutors might be likely to try McDonalds approach. Theyve got a playbook to look at, he said. And they can try to apply it, even in cases with maybe less compelling factors.

James Crumbley, 47, was found guilty Thursday, and Jennifer Crumbley, 45, was convicted last month. Sentencing for both is scheduled for April, and each parent faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Their son, Ethan, pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder, and was sentenced last year to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the trials of both parents, prosecutors focused in part on the Crumbleys failure to take Ethan out of school after he made a violent drawing on the morning of the shooting that included a written plea for help. Prosecutors also emphasized Ethans access to a handgun that his father had purchased.

At the time of the shooting, Michigan had not passed legislation requiring that firearms stored in the presence of minors be unloaded and locked up. (Michigan lawmakers passed legislation requiring that last year.) In order to hold a shooters parents criminally responsible, prosecutors in Oakland County had to find another way.

They landed on involuntary manslaughter charges, which made the Crumbleys cases extremely daunting for prosecutors: They had to draw a line of causation all the way from the parents actions  or inaction  to the deaths of four high school students.

Until this time, theres been hesitancy to use that type of statute on a shooting case like this, said Matthew Schneider, a former U.S. attorney who is a partner at the law firm Honigman LLP in Michigan. But now people will be more willing to use it.

The verdicts against the Crumbleys can still be appealed, and the lasting ramifications of the trial could hinge on what happens. If the verdicts are overturned, the cases could be seen as less consequential or even become a tool for defense lawyers.

But if the verdicts are upheld, they could serve as a blueprint for prosecutors, especially in states without gun storage safety laws. According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 26 states have laws calling for guns to be safely secured in storage, either at all times or wherever a minor is likely to be present.

The trials could also have a psychological effect on families across the country.

Because of the outsize publicity, Fentiman said, it should put lots of parents on notice that they can be held criminally responsible if they give their child access to firearms.

To some extent, the impact of the Crumbleys cases may depend on how courts and the public read the behavior of the parents  a harried couple doing their best or egregiously negligent?

Defense lawyers for both parents argued that they had no idea their son was capable of such violence.

We have maintained since Nov. 30, 2021, that James did not know that his son could or would harm anyone or that he had obtained the means to do so, Mariell Lehman, James Crumbleys lawyer, said in a statement after the trial.

But according to some experts, the parents seemed to miss so many red flags that the prosecutors success could be hard to replicate in other cases.

I dont see this as revolutionary, practically or legally, said Steve Dulan, a lawyer and professor who is on the board of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners. It really is just a sad, strange case.

To Erin Davis, director of litigation at the gun control group Brady United, a minors easy access to a gun was critical in this case.

I think prevention is a really important message that comes out of it this, she said. Safe storage is the pillar of responsible gun ownership.

That message is likely to reverberate with parents, regardless of what happens with an appeal, Schneider said.

I have guns in my house, he said. And Ive always kept them locked. But now Im absolutely certain theyre locked. Theres no room for error anymore.

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GARLAND, Texas - Garland police are working to find the shooter who opened fire at a party overnight Saturday, resulting in the death of a 20-year-old Dallas man.

The shooting happened just after 2 a.m., in the 4900 block of Captains Place.

Responding officers found Drevon Bowman with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Investigators said there was a "disturbance" at a party, which led to the shooting.

Police are still investigating to find out who opened fire.

No further details have been released as police continue their investigation.
The Russian volunteer group Sibir (Siberian) Battalion has claimed to have raised flags in the village of Kozinka, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, together with the Russian Volunteer Corps.

Source: Sibir (Siberian) Battalion

Quote: "The limited special operation of volunteer forces on the territory of the Russian Federation continues.

The flags of the Sibir (Siberian) Battalion and the RVC [are hoisted] in the village of Kozinka in the Russian Federation".

Details: The battalion posted a photo of the flags against a private sector backdrop, but it is difficult to clarify where the photo was taken.

Previously: On 17 March, Russian volunteer soldiers claimed to have taken control of the village of Gorkovskii in Belgorod Oblast.

Afterwards, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that a Verba MANPADS crew had shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter near Lukashivka in Sumy Oblast which was flying towards the village of Kozinka in Belgorod Oblast. Ukrainian intelligence denied Russian propagandists claims that it was a Black Hawk helicopter.



Background:

On 12 March, soldiers of the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Sibir (Siberian) Battalion reported that they crossed the Russian border. The military volunteer groups posted an address online, and a video appeared on Telegram channels purporting to show military personnel firing their weapons on the Russian territory. Military volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion claimed they had taken full control of the Russian town of Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast.

The founder of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) said that fighters of the RVC will make efforts to ensure that no sham elections of Russian president Vladimir Putin take place on the territories bordering Ukraine.

On the morning of 14 March, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, said that Russian air defence assets and personnel had shot down eight aerial targets over the city of Belgorod and the surrounding district. At the same time, Russian Telegram news outlets reported an alleged attempt by a "Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group" to enter the territory of the oblast, but Russian volunteer soldiers who are fighting on Ukraine's side said that it was them attacking military targets in Russia. They explained that they were forced to open fire because Russia continues to hit peaceful settlements in Ukraine.

Later, the Freedom of Russia Legion posted a video featuring burning buildings and reported that they had destroyed two Russian army ammunition storage points in the village of Tyotkino, in Russia's Kursk Oblast. At the same time, the governor of Kursk Oblast said that "Ukrainian terrorists" were supposedly breaking into the oblast, while Rosgvardia claimed that it was "repelling an attack by Ukrainian saboteurs".

The Russian Volunteer Corps, which is conducting a military operation in Russias Belgorod and Kursk oblasts, has shown a new batch of Russian prisoners of war and is ready to exchange them at a meeting with the oblasts governor.

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Russian volunteer fighters claim to have entered the village of Gorkovsky in Belgorod Oblast and seized the local administration building, the Siberian Battalion reported on Telegram on March 17.

"Units of the Russian Liberation Forces, together with volunteers from the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, entered the village of Gorkovsky in the Russian Federation and seized the local administration building," the post reads.

Read also: Ukraine's SBU responsible for latest drone attacks on 3 Russian oil refineries near Samara  source

Siberian Battalion soldiers also posted a photo with a Russian flag and a sign of the local administration.

Siberian Battalion/Telegram

Raid of Russian volunteers in Russia  what is known

Russian volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), and the Siberian Battalion announced on March 12 a new operation in Belgorod Oblast of the Russian Federation.

Read also: Freedom of Russia Legion claims full control of village in Kursk Oblast

The RDK claimed to have advanced several dozens of kilometers and taken prisoners. Moscow reported casualties among the Russian army.

Russian rebels also attacked the FSB building in Belgorod on March 13.

Russian volunteers claimed to be in control of the village of Tiotkino in Kursk Oblast. Later they said that the village was in a gray zone. On March 14, the Freedom of Russia Legion said it had destroyed two ammunition depots in Tiotkino.

The Freedom of Russia Legion called its main mission to reach Moscow.

Russian volunteers recorded a joint appeal to dictator Vladimir Putin on March 16, calling on him to get in touch with them.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
FILE - People stand by their houses in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 5, 2023. South Sudans government is closing down all schools starting Monday as the country prepares for a wave of extreme heat expected to last two weeks. The health and education ministries advised parents to keep all children indoors as temperatures are expected to soar to 113 Fahrenheit, in a statement late Saturday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

JUBA, South Sudan (AP)  South Sudan is closing all schools starting Monday in preparation for an extreme heat wave expected to last two weeks.

The health and education ministries advised parents to keep all children indoors as temperatures are expected to soar to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

They warned that any school found open during the warning period would have its registration withdrawn, but the statement issued late Saturday didn't specify how long schools would remain shuttered.

The ministries said they will continue to monitor the situation and inform the public accordingly.

Resident Peter Garang, who lives in the capital, Juba, welcomed the decision. He said schools should be connected to the electricity grid" to enable the installation of air conditioners.

South Sudan, one of the worlds youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change with heat waves common but rarely exceeding 40 C (104 F). Civil conflict has plagued the east African country which also suffered from drought and flooding, making living conditions difficult for residents.

The World Food Program in its latest country brief said South Sudan continues to face a dire humanitarian crisis due to violence, economic instability, climate change and an influx of people fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan. It also stated that 818,000 vulnerable people were given food and cash-based transfers in January.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles has addressed Spanish people in light of Russian President Vladimir Putins threat to deploy nuclear weapons.

Source: Margarita Robles in an interview with La Vanguardia, as reported by El Mundo

Details: "A Russian ballistic attack today can absolutely reach Spain," Robles said.

"I would like to address Spanish people with a call, because sometimes I feel that we arent aware of the enormous danger that exists at present. Not just in Ukraine, but also in Gaza and the Sahel, where I have a very pessimistic view of the situation," she said.

In a comment about European leaders calling for the rearmament of the European Union, Robles said that "the threat is total and absolute". "Its enough to just listen to Putins latest statements in which he talks about nuclear aggression," she said.

"Europe has to acknowledge that danger is very near, its not hypothetical, its a reality. The countries bordering Russia understand this very well. Maybe those of us who live in the south dont quite understand that," Robles said.

"We have to fully acknowledge that our democratic values and peace in Europe are under threat," she added.

She also said that Spain will continue doing everything it can to help Ukraine.

"Supporting Ukraine means not only defending its territorial integrity, but something much more important as well, namely peace and the values that characterise democratic coexistence in Europe that Putin is clearly threatening," Robles said.

Background: Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to intimidate Western countries to deter their actions, while in fact being afraid of a possible war with NATO.

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It looks like Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (SGX:J36) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 3 days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date, which is the cut-off date for shareholders to be present on the company's books to be eligible for a dividend payment. The ex-dividend date is important as the process of settlement involves two full business days. So if you miss that date, you would not show up on the company's books on the record date. Accordingly, Jardine Matheson Holdings investors that purchase the stock on or after the 21st of March will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 15th of May.

The company's upcoming dividend is US$1.65 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$2.25 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Jardine Matheson Holdings stock has a trailing yield of around 5.7% on the current share price of US$39.79. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Jardine Matheson Holdings

Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. Last year, Jardine Matheson Holdings paid out 95% of its income as dividends, which is above a level that we're comfortable with, especially if the company needs to reinvest in its business. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. Luckily it paid out just 16% of its free cash flow last year.

It's good to see that while Jardine Matheson Holdings's dividends were not well covered by profits, at least they are affordable from a cash perspective. Still, if this were to happen repeatedly, we'd be concerned about whether the dividend is sustainable in a downturn.

Story continues

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

SGX:J36 Historic Dividend March 17th 2024

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies with falling earnings are riskier for dividend shareholders. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. With that in mind, we're discomforted by Jardine Matheson Holdings's 12% per annum decline in earnings in the past five years. Such a sharp decline casts doubt on the future sustainability of the dividend.

The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. In the last 10 years, Jardine Matheson Holdings has lifted its dividend by approximately 5.2% a year on average. That's intriguing, but the combination of growing dividends despite declining earnings can typically only be achieved by paying out a larger percentage of profits. Jardine Matheson Holdings is already paying out 95% of its profits, and with shrinking earnings we think it's unlikely that this dividend will grow quickly in the future.

The Bottom Line

Has Jardine Matheson Holdings got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? It's not a great combination to see a company with earnings in decline and paying out 95% of its profits, which could imply the dividend may be at risk of being cut in the future. Yet cashflow was much stronger, which makes us wonder if there are some large timing issues in Jardine Matheson Holdings's cash flows, or perhaps the company has written down some assets aggressively, reducing its income. It's not an attractive combination from a dividend perspective, and we're inclined to pass on this one for the time being.

With that in mind though, if the poor dividend characteristics of Jardine Matheson Holdings don't faze you, it's worth being mindful of the risks involved with this business. For example, we've found 2 warning signs for Jardine Matheson Holdings that we recommend you consider before investing in the business.

A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield dividend stocks.

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.
Speaker Johnson tells Republicans campaigning against each other in primaries to cool it: report

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is telling Republicans who are going after sitting GOP lawmakers in contentious primaries to "knock it off," in order to tamp down on divisions within the party, according to a report.

Johnson, R-La., attended the House Republicans annual member retreat at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, last week to unify the often-fractious conference as at least four sitting Republicans in South Carolina, Illinois, Texas and Virginia are going to battle against Republican challengers.

"Ive asked them all to cool it," Johnson told CNN during the retreat. "I am vehemently opposed to member-on-member action in primaries because its not productive. And it causes division for obvious reasons, and we should not be engaging in that."

Johnson is trying to figure out how to guide his razor-thin majority through a series of legislative hurdles that divide Republicans, including how to provide military aid for Ukraine, finish government funding and reauthorize a federal surveillance program  all while trying to make a case that voters should re-elect a GOP House majority.

SPEAKER JOHNSON AIMS TO STAY LEADER OF HOUSE GOP IN 2025, VOWS VERY AGGRESSIVE FIRST 100 DAYS

"So Im telling everyone whos doing that to knock it off," Johnson told the outlet, referring to challenging incumbents within the GOP. "And both sides, theyll say, Well, we didnt start it, they started it."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Johnson took the speaker's gavel late last year after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from office in a historic move that left Republicans deeply divided and mired in dysfunction.

Johnson attended an annual House Republican retreat in West Virginia last week.

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHNSON SAYS WHITE HOUSE DOESN'T 'CALL THE SHOTS' ON WHEN IMPEACHMENT IS OVER

Johnson told Fox News Digital last week that he is aiming to stay at the helm of the House GOP next year regardless of whether they keep the House majority.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I have not given a lot of thought about the next Congress, because I'm so busy with my responsibility right now," Johnson said. "My intention is to stay as speaker, stay in leadership, because we're laying a lot of important groundwork right now for the big work that we'll be doing."

Fox News Elizabeth Elkind and The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Speaker Johnson tells Republicans campaigning against each other in primaries to cool it: report
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  It has been four years since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the office, but now workers are back  and work spouses are too.

WHAT WILL REPLACE THE MOBILE CIVIC CENTER

According to a survey from the Wealth of Geeks, the platonic partnership is making a comeback since the pandemic, with almost a fifth of employees who have returned to the office full-time reporting having found a new work wife/work husband

Work spouses, platonic partners at the office, are making a comeback. (Photo by MoMo Productions, via Getty Images)

In a Psychology Today article, Dawn O. Braithwaite Ph.D, a professor of Communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, explained several factors that increase the number of work spouses.

The number of work spouses has increased due to: (a) active organizational efforts to encourage employee camaraderie, (b) longer hours spent working, in person or remotely, and (c) cultural tendencies to name and define relationships.

During the pandemic, many work-spouse relationships were put on pause, never to be repaired, according to a press release from the Wealth of Geeks. Now that people are returning to work, they are finding new (so-called) work husbands and wives.

In Florida, the survey found that 1-in-5 (20%) full-time office workers have found a new work spouse since returning to the office. This equates to a whopping 4,376,700 workers in the Sunshine State.

Pensacola heroin and meth dealer gets 44 years in federal prison: USDJ

To see how other states fare, check out this interactive map, courtesy of Wealth of Geeks.

Created by Wealth-of-Geeks  Viewlarger version

Further, the survey also found that 43% of workers do not plan on letting anything disrupt their new work-spouse relationships as it did during the pandemic.

No, a tiger is not roaming at Langan Park in Mobile

It appears many workers do not want to make the same mistake again, learning from the disconnected experiences of the pandemic.

To read the full survey, visit the Wealth of Geeks website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
On March 17, the world celebrates the feast day of St. Patrick, a zealous British bishop of the fifth century who became famous for spreading Christianity in Ireland. Patrick is Irelands main patron saint.

But as a medieval historian, I suggest that we also pause to remember another of Irelands patron saints, the nurturing, compassionate St. Brigid.

In 2022, following a three-year campaign by a feminist organization, herstory.ie, the Irish government finally acknowledged Brigids importance by declaring a new national holiday on her feast day of Feb. 1. Until then, Ireland counted her among their official three patrons, along with St. Patrick and St. Columcille, or Columba, but gave workers a day off only on St. Patricks Day.

So who is St. Brigid?

Unlike Patrick, who came from Britain, Brigid was born in Ireland, sometime around A.D. 450, the child of a slave and a king in the province of Leinster.

Unfortunately, Brigid left no historical record of her missionary work. Patrick wrote two letters that still exist: one a defense of his missionary career and the other a rebuke to a slave-raiding British king. All information about Brigid comes from biographies of saints written long after she lived. A churchman named Cogitosus was the first to write about Brigid, in about A.D. 650, or approximately 200 years after her birth.

St. Brigid of Kildare. junak/ iStock via Getty images

Cogitosus recounted Brigids many purported miracles: As a girl, she gave away the households butter and bacon to hungry beggars and dogs, then miraculously replaced the food for her family. Later in life, she turned a wooden column into a living tree with one touch and hung her cloak on a sunbeam. After she founded her monastic community at Kildare and became its abbess, she also traveled, preached and was said to have cured Christians of serious debilities such as blindness and muteness, all in imitation of Christ. While many early female saints have miracles attributed to them, few of them actively proselytized.

Cogitosus tells us that Brigid worked some other unique marvels. She miraculously ended the unwanted pregnancy of one of her fellow sisters, causing the foetus to disappear without coming to birth and without pain, as Cogitosus put it. She tamed both domestic and wild animals, which was handy when her cows went astray. She could also, according to Cogitosus, manipulate the landscape. Once when her kinsmen were building a plank trackway through the bogs, Brigid moved a river to make it easier for them.

Instead of battling wrongdoers, she found peaceful resolutions to violent situations. Once, for example, she deterred a band of bloodthirsty murderers by making it appear as if they had committed a killing that never even happened.

Even after her death, miracles supposedly continued to occur at her shrine. In fact, Brigids intervention from beyond the grave helped builders gather materials to build a new and magnificent shrine for her at Kildare, or so wrote Cogitosus. She guided an immovable boulder down a hill to her community for their new millstone. She caused a problematic door to hang correctly. These were minor but useful miracles  typical, I would argue, of the sensible saint.

Royal patronage for Patrick

By comparison, Patricks earliest hagiographers, writing only decades after Cogitosus, depicted their saint in constant conflict with the heathens he tried to convert to Christianity.

When Patrick arrived in Ireland in the mid-fifth century, he seems to have bullied Irelands most powerful king into baptism, but only after dueling and then miraculously killing the kings chief druids. In hagiography, druids were the Irish and British version of pagan wizards. After watching the druids perish, King Loegaire Mac Neill decided It is better to believe than die, wrote Patricks hagiographer, Muirchu around A.D. 700.

Also according to Muirchu, Patrick routinely cursed unbelievers. When one evildoer tried to lure Patrick into an ambush by pretending to be ill, Patrick supposedly caused the patient to drop dead. Patrick was always larger than life in these early accounts, baptizing hundreds of souls at a time.

Around the same time that these hagiographers worked, Brigids cult center at Kildare became one of the wealthiest and most powerful religious communities in Ireland. Cogitosus wrote that Kildare was the head of virtually all the Irish churches and occupies the first place, excelling all the monasteries of the Irish. Its jurisdiction extends over the whole land of Ireland from sea to sea.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Leinster elites continued to donate land and goods to Kildare. They vied to place their female kinfolk as abbess of Kildare until the community closed during the 16th-century dissolution, when the occupying English Protestant government of Ireland shut down all monasteries.

Kildare, however, could never match the status of Armagh, Patricks chief church, which had the advantage of even greater royal patronage and grander donations by mightier kings.

Similarly, within the church hierarchy of medieval Europe, as in Catholicism today, Brigid could never outrank Patrick, because she was not a priest. Only priests could baptize, ordain, perform the sacrament of the Eucharist and give last rites. Women were not, and still are not, allowed to become ordained priests in Roman Catholicism.

In the 19th century, when Irish nationalists sought a symbol of their Catholicism and country in the budding fight for independence, they chose the missionary bishop and founder of Armagh. A national holiday was declared in 1903 to honor St. Patrick.

Brigids church falls to ruin

St. Brigids Cathedral in Ireland. MJPinkstone/ Collections iStock via Getty Images

In the meantime, Brigids church at Kildare had fallen into ruin. It was only in 1875 that it was rebuilt by the Protestant Church of Ireland.

Brigids devotees resigned themselves to Kildares secondary status as one of the two pillars of the Kingdom, along with Patrick the pre-eminent, as one medieval hymnist put it.

This is despite a tale, circulated by a ninth-century hagiographer, that Brigid was accidentally ordained as a bishop  apparently, Bishop Mel was so intoxicated with the grace of God as he prepared to veil Brigid that he read the wrong prayers over her. This virgin alone in Ireland  will hold the episcopal ordination, Mel declared, and a column of fire shot from the saints head. Unfortunately, other clerics refused to take the story seriously.

Brigid was venerated as Mary of the Gael, a saint for women, shepherds, beggars, refugees and those in childbirth. Her feast day, Feb. 1, is the same day as Imbolc, an ancient holiday celebrating the start of spring, season of fertility. Indeed, her associations with Imbolc have long raised suspicions about the possible pre-Christian origins of her cult at Kildare.

Today, some people keep St. Brigids Day by weaving a special reed cross or visiting a holy well whose waters, blessed by Brigid, are believed to heal illness. The Brigidine Sisters of Kildare attend their ever-burning flame for Brigid, as nuns did in the Middle Ages. These seem like modest observances compared with the massive parades that flood the main streets of towns around the globe in annual celebration of Patrick.

This year on March 17, when youre wearing the green and singing Dirty Ol Town, take a moment to whisper thanks to St. Brigid, the compassionate, sensible, native-born patron saint of Ireland, and ask if Irelands premier patron saint should be a woman.

[The most interesting religion stories from three major news organizations. Get This Week in Religion.]

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Lisa Bitel, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Read more:



Lisa Bitel 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.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  The grandly colonnaded old city hall was designed by an Irish architect. A neighborhood near the wharves is still known as the Irish Channel. Landmark towers and spires of Catholic churches built for Irish immigrants dot the skyline.

New Orleans is well known for a culture that evolved from early French and Spanish colonization, Caribbean commerce and the legacies of enslaved Africans. But immigrants from a variety of countries also influenced New Orleans art, architecture, food and music. March brings an annual focus on the Irish, with St. Patricks Day celebrations that include shamrock-themed block parties and neighborhood parades.

Nearly 10K tickets sold for Irish on Ionia

If you look back on the Irish history in New Orleans or the Irish politics in New Orleans, a lot of our mayors and representatives and council people were from Irish descent, said Ronnie Burke, the grand marshal of this weekends Irish Channel parade.

He grasped a string of rosary beads made of marble from Connemara in Irelands County Galway. His family emigrated from there five generations ago to escape the Great Hunger, which set off a wave of Irish migration in the 19th century.

He was among scores of green-clad New Orleans residents gathered at a park near the Mississippi River on Thursday during an Irish-themed block party and fundraiser for St. Michael, a school serving students with learning disabilities. The event also served as something of a reunion for former Irish Channel residents who attended a Catholic school in the area. And it was a prelude to this weekends parades in and around New Orleans.

Irish lore abounds in the city, especially this time of year.

A lot of it centers on the work of Irish immigrants in the digging of the New Basin Canal in the early 1800s, part of a national wave of infrastructure improvements that drew Irish immigrant workers. The hardships the New Basin laborers faced  aside from backbreaking work, there was a deadly cholera outbreak  are points of pride among the citys Irish.

The canal eventually was outmoded and filled in decades ago, but a park on a tract of the reclaimed land, marked by a 7-foot (2.1-meter) marble Celtic cross, honors the memory of the laborers.

The hardscrabble lives of Irish laborers gave rise to a St. Patricks Day tradition unique to New Orleans: Float riders in the annual Irish Channel parade toss cabbages and potatoes to the people on the street, an Irish American twist on the Mardi Gras practice of throwing strings of beads and other favors to revelers.

Its unique to New Orleans, and its unique within New Orleans, said Laura Kelley, an adjunct professor in Tulane Universitys history department and author of the book The Irish in New Orleans. The tradition dates to the 1940s, she said.

The Irish Channel was a real working, working-class neighborhood. And there were tough times  were coming out of the Great Depression, she said. Its a way that you can give food to the people in your neighborhood and give it freely and equally and, well, its a face-saving measure.

Irish immigration to New Orleans had been happening since the citys early days as a French and later a Spanish colony, Kelley said. Infrastructure improvements and the famine brought new waves of immigrants bolstering the Irish presence. By 1850, roughly a quarter of the citys population was Irish, she said.

Per capita, the Irish population of New Orleans was higher than Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Boston, Kelley said. It was higher than any other place but New York City.

Still, even the Irish are sometimes surprised at the strength of Irish American culture in New Orleans. Sean Kennedy, an accountant by trade, arrived from Ireland in 1991. He hadnt planned to stay but has been in New Orleans ever since. He owns an Irish bar now.

Kelley, who has Irish roots, had no inkling of the citys Irish heritage when she arrived in the city to work on a doctorate about 30 years ago. She struck up a conversation with a cab driver and, because of his accent, mistook him for a New Yorker, not realizing that the port citys patois  influenced by Irish, Italian and German immigrants, among others  often sounds more akin to the Northeast than the Old South.

I was completely confounded because he sounded like he was straight out of New York City, Kelley said. And here hes telling me that he has never left New Orleans. And it was the first time I heard about the Irish Channel.

But the Irish influence has long been cherished by Bethany Brinkman. At Thursdays block party for St. Michael, she said her great-grandparents had immigrated to New Orleans from Ireland. And she recalled her grandfather singing Irish lullabies.

Hed put on an Irish brogue, she said, that he kind of adopted from his grandparents.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
St. Patricks Day: Seven things you didn't know about the patron saint of Ireland

For more than 1000 years, St. Patricks Day has been celebrated in Ireland every year on 17 March.

Over the years, the religious holiday commemorating the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, has metamorphosed into a day of celebrating Irish culture through parades, music, special foods, dances and a lot of green - the colour commonly associated with the saint.

Many symbols and legends associated with Ireland such as leprechauns and shamrocks come from Saint Patrick. Credited for bringing Christianity to the then-pagan Ireland, Saint Patrick used Celtic symbols such as leprechauns, believed to be meddlesome fairies, to connect the country to Christianity. Legend has it that he chose Shamrocks (three-leaved clovers) as a symbol of the Church and used its three leaves to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to his followers.

Today, Saint Patricks Day is celebrated worldwide in more than 200 countries. It is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British overseas territory, Montserrat - both of which have inhabitants with Irish descent.

In the US, the Chicago river is dyed green annually on Saint Patricks Day using 40 pounds of dye (down from the original 100 to minimize environmental damage) and the river stays green for a few hours - down from the original duration of a week.

St. Patricks Day is also celebrated by the likes of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Argentina, especially by the Irish diaspora.

But who was Saint Patrick and why is he so famous?

Here are seven facts about St. Patrick you may not know:

1. Saint Patrick was not Irish

Kilbennan St.Benins Church Window - St.Patrick - Public Domain

St. Patrick was born in Britain - not Ireland - in the late 4th century.

At age 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders who sold him as a slave to tend sheep. He escaped, went back to Britain, and took refuge at a monastery. Years later, he became a priest and travelled across Europe, studying Christianity for 16 years.

Eventually, he returned to Ireland to convert the then-pagan country to Christianity.

2. Saint Patricks colour was blue - NOT green

Badge of the Order of St Patrick - Public Domain

While today we associate St. Patrick  and everything Irish  with the colour green, the saint was originally depicted wearing blue robes. In fact, that particular shade of blue (known today as azure blue) was originally called St. Patricks blue.

Green became popular in the 18th century when discontent with English rule grew and the Irish independence movement started using the Shamrock (linked to St. Patrick) as a symbol of unity and resistance. The colour green became a symbol of sympathy with Irish independence.

However, today, azure blue - or rather, St. Patricks blue - remains Ireland's official heraldic colour.

3. His real name was not Patrick

St. Patricks original name was Maewyn Succat and he was born to Christian parents in Roman Britain.

His father was a deacon and his grandfather, a priest. But St. Patrick (according to his own account) was not religious as a child. He was renamed Patricus after becoming a priest which he then changed to Patrick upon his return to Ireland.

4. Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland

Depictions of St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland - Public Domain

Popular legend has it that St. Patrick stood on a hilltop, Croagh Patrick (now an important site of pilgrimage in Ireland), and banished all the snakes from Ireland using a wooden staff. Over 100,000 people climb the holy mountain every year.

However, scientists say that the island nation was never home to any snakes.

The banishing of the snakes, however, could be true on a metaphorical level in the eradication of paganism from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity.

5. Saint Patrick's Day was originally a religious holiday, not a day to party

Today, St. Patrick's Day is frequently used as an excuse to party and to drink pints of Guinness - AP

In 1903, Irish law declared St. Patricks Day as a day of religious observance.

Up until the 1970s, pubs were closed on 17 March as per Irish law.

In 1995, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patricks Day to drive tourism into the country and display Irish culture to the world.

Today, it is celebrated as a day of drinking, feasting, and parades where many dress up as leprechauns.

6. St Patricks Day parades began in America - not Ireland

St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Dublin, Ireland - AP

Although Saint Patricks Day has been celebrated for over a millennia in Ireland, the famous parades which have now become the heartbeat of the holiday festivities originally began in America in the 18th century by Irish immigrants.

The first definite St Patricks Day parade took place in 1737, in Boston, Massachusetts, but the modern-day parades we see today have their roots in a 1762 parade celebration in New York.

For disadvantaged Irish immigrants in America - forced to escape Ireland because of famine and unable to find jobs in America upon their arrival - Saint Patrick's Day became a source of pride and celebration, a way to connect to their Irish roots.

7. Nobody knows exactly where St. Patrick is buried

Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity  known as Down Cathedral - Down Cathedral

Although several sites identify themselves as St. Patricks burial place, no one knows exactly where the saint is buried.

Popularly-accepted locations include Down Cathedral in the town of Downpatrick in Northern Ireland, which is also the burial place for Irelands other saints, Brigid and Columba, as well as Saul. However, some state that St. Patrick may be buried in Glastonbury Abbey in England.
Dallas Stars goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) defends the goal against Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar during the first period an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

DALLAS (AP)  Scott Wedgewood made 27 saves to win a matchup of backup goaltenders and defenseman Thomas Harley had a goal and an assist to help lead the Dallas Stars past the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Saturday night.

Wedgewood outdueled David Rittich in net to beat the Kings for the second time in eight days. Craig Smith, Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn also scored for the Stars, who took a 3-0 first-period lead and avoided losing a third consecutive game in regulation for the first time since April 2022.

The victory followed a 6-2 home loss to New Jersey on Thursday night and came on the night that Dallas unveiled a statue of Mike Modano, the franchise leader in goals and points, during the first intermission.

Great energy in the building. I think that fed our first period, Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. A good response game after the last one. We were just really solid.

Wedgewood got the start after first-year All-Star Jake Oettinger was pulled early in the second period of Thursdays defeat after allowing four goals on 10 shots. Two nights earlier, Oettinger gave up three third-period goals in a 4-3 home loss to Florida.

Dallas swept the three-game season series against Los Angeles by a combined 13-3.

We havent played good against that team at all, the Kings Phillip Danault said. We havent shown what weve got. Maybe its mentally and have to be more ready.

Rittich stopped 25 shots for the Kings, who split a road back-to-back after winning 5-0 at Chicago on Friday night. Rittich entered with a career-best 2.19 goals-against average.

Kevin Fiala had the Kings only goal against Wedgewood for the second straight meeting.

Harleys goal 2:28 in came on a high wrist shot that caromed off the glass behind the net, sailed back over the net and off the back of Rittichs left arm and in for the score. Harley, who leads Dallas defensemen with 15 goals, snapped a 13-game goal drought.

Smith gave Dallas a 2-0 lead with a 50-foot wrist shot from just inside the blue line at 8:49 of the first period. Smith has scored in consecutive games for the first time since March 2022.

Johnston carried into the offensive zone on a 3-on-2 break, kept possession and beat Rittich to the glove side for a 3-0 lead at 15:15 of the opening period. Johnston has scored in a season-best four consecutive games and is tied with Roope Hintz for the team lead with 26 goals.

Benns goal at 2:30 of the second period came 22 seconds into a power play against the leagues best penalty killing unit.

Fiala broke up the shutout bid at 1:11 of the third period, giving him goals in nine of his last 14 games.

The Kings are 11-7-1 under interim coach Jim Hiller, who replaced Todd McLellan during the All-Star break.

UP NEXT

Kings: Begin a three-game homestand Tuesday against Chicago.

Stars: Host Arizona on Wednesday.

___

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As much as he tries to avoid it, Trevor Rogers can feel the pressure ticking up a little bit.

He has watched as several of his fellow Miami Marlins starting pitchers have been sidelined or slowed down by injuries. First Braxton Garrett with shoulder soreness. Then Edward Cabrera with a shoulder impingement. And now Eury Perez with a broken fingernail and a sore elbow. And thats not to mention Sandy Alcantara being out for the year while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Rogers, who is coming off an injury-riddled 2023 season of his own that limited him to just 18 innings last year, knows he will be relied on to handle a larger role than maybe anticipated as recently as a week ago as Miamis starting pitching depth gets tested early in the season.

I would definitely say theres a little bit [of pressure] to that, Rogers said. Its tough. You dont want to see any of your guys go down, but if theyre gonna go down rather it happened in camp before the season starts. Im confident all of our guys will be back, but it kinda gives me a little bit extra motivation to really keep my mind in a good spot and help this team win.

The Marlins rotation to begin the season, to put it nicely, is in a state of flux.

The uncertainty doesnt necessarily come from a talent perspective.

But outside of Opening Day starter Jesus Luzardo, the pitchers projected to round out the five-man group are either about to embark on being a starting pitcher for the first time in a full season, are returning from an injury or are unproven at the MLB level.

It is frustrating, Marlins pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said about the rash of injuries to Miamis starting pitchers. I know other clubs are going through a lot of the same things, [but] youre talking about some really important rotation pieces, and that part hurts.

Its a long season, Stottlemyre added. Weve got to remind ourselves of that. ... Its not a time to panic and push. We have to be smart on the front end.

Feb 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ryan Weathers (60) throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Projecting the Miami Marlins rotation

So while the Marlins wait for Garrett, Cabrera and Perez to return, what might the rotation look like behind Luzardo?

The first three names are obvious: A.J. Puk, Ryan Weathers and Rogers.

Puk, who was one of Miamis high-leverage relievers last season, is transitioning to being a starter for the first time at the MLB level. The 28-year-old lefty has impressed while adding a splitter, cutter and two-seam fastball to his arsenal that already included a four-seam fastball and sweeper. His pure stuff is tantalizing, but the main question is if he will be durable enough to pitch the whole season.

Weathers, acquired at the trade deadline last season from the San Diego Padres for first baseman Garrett Cooper and pitcher prospect Sean Reynolds, spent the offseason diving into analytics and using TrackMan to help him better understand how to best utilize his pitches.

The results, and his confidence, have been noticeable during spring training. Weathers gave up just two runs across 13 2/3 innings through his first four Grapefruit League outings before one rough inning spoiled his fifth outing on Friday (four earned runs over 4 1/3 innings)

Rogers, who is trying to return to his 2021 form when he was runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year, has held his own throughout spring as well, striking out 10 over 8 2/3 innings and allowing just three runs in his first three spring outings.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Bryan Hoeing (78) pitches in the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at loanDepot park in Miami on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

As for the fifth spot? Thats where things get interesting.

Miami could bump up one of their swingmen  most likely Bryan Hoeing but also potentially George Soriano  from a multi-inning bullpen role to being a spot starter. Max Meyer, the teams No. 3 prospect who missed all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and has already been optioned to the minor leagues, could factor in as well. Or the Marlins could add one of their non-roster invitees like Yonny Chirinos, Vladimir Gutierrez or Devin Smeltzer to temporarily round out the rotation.

I think everyones on the table, manager Skip Schumaker said.

Mar 8, 2024; Jupiter, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez (39) looks on against the New York Mets during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

How are the injured starters doing?

As of Sunday, the Marlins still had no true update on Perez, who informed the team of his elbow soreness on Thursday. He visited surgeon Keith Meister, who performed Alcantaras Tommy John surgery, and the team is awaiting results to have a better idea of how to move forward.

Things seem a little more promising for the other two pitchers.

Garrett threw a live batting practice session on Sunday, facing center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and third baseman Jake Burger and said the next step is to start his five-day starting program (which will include a bullpen before facing hitters again, either in live batting practice or an intrasquad game).

Cabrera has played catch each of the past three days and could ramp up his intensity in the next few days if things continue to go well.

We feel really good about where Brax is at, Schumaker said. I dont feel like hes going to miss more than a couple of weeks of the regular season the way hes trending. Cabrera is throwing. We dont have guys that are shut down the whole year, which is nice. Theyve had some injuries early in spring where weve figured it out. We still are relying on our depth right now.
Wording that would have blocked a project to store spent nuclear fuel rods near Carlsbad and Hobbs was stripped from the U.S. Senate version of the appropriations bill being considered by Congress, despite its inclusion in the House of Representatives' legislation.

Holtec International proposed the project to hold up to 100,000 metric tons of the used fuel at the surface on a 1,000-acre property near the Eddy-Lea County line and received a license to build and operate last year from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That license was challenged during an ongoing lawsuit by environmental groups against the NRC, and oral arguments were held earlier this month by the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia which will rule at a later date.

Opponents of the project, concerned with the impacts the nuclear facility would have on nearby oil and gas and agriculture industries, lobbied for language in the budget bill to block any federal funds from going to such projects and require states provide expressed consent before a facility can be sited.

More: Holtec's New Mexico nuclear waste proposal questioned during federal court hearing

Along with Holtec, Interim Storage Partners received a license from the NRC in 2022 to build waste storage capabilities at an existing nuclear facility in Andrews, Texas. That license was vacated last year by a federal court. If passed into law, the language could restrict both nuclear fuel storage projects as bills were recently passed expressing opposition in both New Mexico's and Texas' state legislatures.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) who frequently opposed the concept of consolidated interim storage in southeast New Mexico and West Texas and sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee said a deal could not be struck during this session to include the language related to state consent. He said he planned to work on additional legislation to address the issue.

In this years appropriations bills, I fought to advance a consent-based siting process for consolidated interim storage, Heinrich said in an emailed statement. Although we did not reach a deal in this bill, I remain committed to passing a durable legislative solution that ensures we are appropriately managing our nations spent nuclear fuel.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) chats with attendees at a dinner to honor the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, April 23, 2019 at the Pecos River Village Conference Center.

More: Renewable energy at nuclear waste site near Carlsbad? Here's how you can comment

John Heaton, co-chair of the Eddy Lea Energy Alliance (ELEA) applauded the removal of the language, arguing it could have stymied a national solution to nuclear reactor waste and thus impact the proliferation of nuclear power throughout the U.S. ELEA is a group of local government and business leaders from southeast New Mexico that provided the land and recruited Holtec to build the project.

Heaton said the Holtec facility is essential to expanded use of atomic power as a means of reducing carbon emissions from energy in New Mexico and the U.S. He said the energy source is critical to the states goal of 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2045, as outlined in the 2019 Energy Transition Act.

Without nuclear power, its really hard to lower carbon emissions, Heaton said. To have language to actively stifle nuclear power by not being able to address the back end of the fuel cycle makes no sense. Whether its a public or private entity, that kind of legislation that prevents the public sector from getting involved makes no sense.

John Heaton discusses nuclear waste storage during a meeting of the Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee, Oct. 10, 2023 at Southeast New Mexico College`

More: Aging infrastructure could pose risks at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant nuclear waste site

Oil and gas representatives worry nuclear project could risk fossil fuel development

Monica Perales, an attorney for Fasken Oil and Ranch, a Permian-basin oil company opposed to the project and which testified against it during the recent court hearing, said concerns are for the incompatible land uses posed by a nuclear waste facility alongside the oilfields of the basin.

The Permian Basin is the most active in the U.S., generating about 6 million barrels of oil per day in southeast New Mexico and West Texas. That industry also provides almost half of New Mexicos state revenue, which could be at risk should a facility like Holtecs go into operation, Perales said.

We make up about half of New Mexicos budget. We dont want to jeopardize that. We have competing land uses here, she said. They want to bring in spent nuclear fuel and we think that puts the oil and gas industry at risk.

More: US Senate OKs funding bill for New Mexicans impacted by Trinity Site

Perales said Fasken and the Permian Basin Coalition, a consortium of oil and gas companies and landowners in the region, felt defeated and betrayed by Heinrichs apparent inability to see the language included. She said opposition to the storage Holtec proposed was bipartisan and roundly rejected by officials in both New Mexico and Texas.

We collaborated on the draft and want the Senate Appropriations to be similar to the House Appropriations language so they can meet in the middle, Perales said. By no means are we backing down. We feel very disappointed and let down, but were not going to give up.

Would Holtec's site be the final resting place for nuclear waste?

Like many other critics of the proposal, Perales argued that a permanent repository does not exist for disposal of the spent fuel, meaning the Holtec site could by default become the final resting place for the waste. Its designed as a temporary storage site at the surface, and she said if the waste stays there long-term it could pose increased risks to the area, its people and businesses.

More: It's been a decade since the radiological release at WIPP. Here's what has happened since then.

Were opposing it as a state and local community that didnt benefit from this waste and are now being forced to take the burden of storing it for God knows how long, Perales said. We have sufficient data to show the site does not qualify for the storage of spent nuclear fuel. Its got to be single-use land. You cant have storage of spent nuclear fuel within the proximity of mineral extraction. Im just shocked that the NRC is working in a vacuum.

But Heaton argued against viewing the used fuel rods as waste. He said the rods could be retrieved in the future from Holtecs site and reprocessed for use in advanced nuclear reactors. Such a processing or reuse facility, Heaton said, could also be brought to southeast New Mexico to diversity its oil-dependent economy.

There are many other options for that fuel, Heaton said. Burying spent fuel might not be the best option. Everybody recognizes used fuel is not absent of power that could be reused. Its another economic development project that could come to our area. Those are job creators.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: No state consent on nuclear in new Senate appropriation bill
The U.S. government is arranging a charter flight to help U.S. citizens evacuate Haiti, where armed groups have once more breached the main seaport in Port-au-Prince and police on Saturday were carrying out an operation in the stronghold of a well-known gang leader who has been threatening civil war amid a wave of violent attacks.

The arrangement for the charter flight comes amid increased panic and fear after the private residence of the countrys police chief was set ablaze just hours after armed groups fired shots across the runway at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the direction of the polices headquarters.

The voluntary evacuations, which are not being done by the U.S. embassy, will occur out of Cap-Haitiens Hugo Chavez International Airport. Unlike Haitis gang-ridden capital, the northern port has been relatively calm. Still, like Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the capital, Cap-Haitiens runway has not seen any commercial air traffic since major U.S. carriers and other international airlines suspended service to the Caribbean country on March 4, citing the ongoing civil unrest. Domestic service was also suspended in Haiti after armed gangs breached the perimeter of both the national and international airports.

At least one flight, on a plane with 166 seats, is scheduled to leave Sunday, a source in Haiti confirmed to the Miami Herald.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the State Department said the flight is for U.S. citizens with valid U.S. passports. Americans are also warned that travel to Cap-Haitien is conducted at your own risk.

But getting to Cap-Haitien is no easy matter, leaving some Americans trapped on the island.

From Port-au-Prince, there is no way that you can safely travel to Cap-Haitien, said Andy Faller, who has been stuck in Haiti with his wife and their 6-year-old and 7-year-old adoptive children. We are stuck here.

Faller said that even though theyre done with their adoption after seven years, they cannot safely get to the U.S. embassy to process the paperwork. Located in Tabarre, the embassy is in the crosshairs of several violent gangs that have been looting nearby businesses.

All of the roads heading north out of the capital are under the control of armed groups. Taking such a risk could lead to getting kidnapped and held for ransom  or worse, being killed.

Haiti: We are arranging a charter flight for U.S. citizens with valid U.S. passports from Cap-Haitien to the U.S. Travel to Cap-Haitien is conducted at your own risk. If you are interested in this flight, fill out our intake form (https://t.co/bRo87JkOsI). https://t.co/qzBjoYDrM8 pic.twitter.com/ItUfaVaeAD  Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) March 16, 2024

Faced with few options, Haitians have been forced to shelter in place. Those living near the border with the Dominican Republic have attempted to cross, but the neighboring government is not accepting anyone with Haitian passports, several people who have attempted to flee said.

Others with deep pockets are attempting to leave by helicopters, but even that isnt guaranteed. Though several companies offering the service told the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald that charter prices range from $10,000 to $15,000, operators also acknowledge that costs could run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Several people in Haiti said theyve been quoted prices as high as $80,000.

READ MORE: Haitis airports are closed. For those with money and connections there is a hard way out

It is not unusual for the State Department to coordinate flights for stranded U.S. citizens in countries where conflict or war has made it difficult or impossible for people to get out. How many Americans will avail themselves of the flight remains unclear.

On its travel.gov website, the State Department said the flight is available for U.S. citizens and their extended families. Americans are asked to fill out a crisis intake form at travel.state.gov

Haiti has had a Level 4 Do Not Travelwarning from the State Department for quite some time. Still, there are a number of U.S. citizens in the country, some of whom have been stuck waiting for the completion of adoptions, for example. Unlike after the 2010 earthquake, when both the Haitian government and the State Department made exceptions for those families, this has not been the case, leaving families to decide whether to stay with their children or leave them behind.

Faller, who is from Texas, recently contacted his congressional representative, Rep. Jake Ellzey, after calls to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, he said, didnt really answer his questions, other than asking if he filed Form N-600K.

Where we live, its fine, we havent had issues yet. The gangs arent here. But its more the unknown of what is going to happen, how far is it going to go, he said. Are we going to be able to find the supplies we need? Not being able to just leave. We dont have any options unless the United States is willing to do something as far as processing emergency visas in helping us get out. Were here.

The charter flight not only doesnt help those trapped in Port-au-Prince but also specifically mention that travelers have to have U.S. passports, which Faller said, appears to leave out those with U.S. resident cards. There is no option for residency or green cards on the intake form individuals are asked to fill out.

What about those with spousal visas or adopted Haitian children, even if you manage to get a visa? Where are they supposed to go if they cant get on this plane? Faller said. We are worried about us who cant get out, but the average Haitian is having a very hard time surviving right now.

Plans for the voluntary evacuations come as those in Haiti continue to find themselves faced with a rapidly deteriorating crisis. The coordinated violence by armed gangs has led to the escape of thousands of prisoners after two massive jailbreaks. Theyve also targeted the airport, seaport and National Palace.

READ MORE: Haitis National Penitentiary, already the target of mass prison break by gangs, catches fire

On Saturday, Haiti National Police said specialized units were carrying out an operation in the lower Delmas neighborhood of the capital, which began on Friday.

Several bandits were mortally injured, firearms were sized and roads were unblocked by law enforcement officers, the police said in a statement.

Not initially planned, the operation began as an attempt by the police to unblock a road and regain control of one of the bases belonging to a specialized unit.

During the operation, however, police found themselves in a shootout with armed gang members, including Jimmy Cherizer, the former policeman turned gang chief known as Barbecue, who considers the area his fiefdom.

In a brief statement confirming the death of armed gang members, some also reportedly from an explosion in the area, the Haiti National Police did not provide details on the fate of Cherizer. It would only say that the operation remains ongoing and they were asking the population to cooperate.

As the police operation was unfolding, armed gangs attacked several businesses in lower Delmas and La Saline. A Toyota car dealership was looted and vehicles were stolen and set on fire. At another business, there was also reportedly an explosion that killed an unknown number of individuals. The bandits also returned to the seaport, which had been under the control of the police and army following several attacks days earlier.

Drone images showed dozens of people running in and out of containers at the port. The crowds are part of the gangs changing strategy where they send the population in first to pillage, and then follow.

Currently, over 260 humanitarian-owned containers are controlled by armed groups at the port, the United Nations lead child welfare agency said Saturday, announcing that 17 of its containers were looted.

Depriving children of vital health supplies amidst a collapsing healthcare system is a violation of their rights. This incident occurs at a critical moment when children need them the most, Bruno Maes, UNICEFs representative in Haiti, said. Looting of supplies that are essential for life-saving support for children must end immediately and humanitarian access must remain safe.

Maes, the UNICEF chief, said the violence is fanning a deeper humanitarian crisis that is bound to not just affect the capital, but other areas of Haiti as people struggle to find food and other essentials.

For example, he said, six out of ten hospitals are not functional due to the lack of electricity, fuel and medical supply shortages, which has a severe impact on children who need emergency medical attention, especially in Port-au-Prince. A critical shortage of blood products is also hindering surgeries, including those for individuals wounded in the crossfire.

McClatchy Chief Washington Correspondent Michael Wilner contributed reporting.
Three times in two weeks late last year, a Spotsylvania County child hovered near the brink of death after being exposed to drugs.

Twice, the encounters were fatal: a 9-month-old girl tested positive for fentanyl poisoning and a 2-year-old boy was unresponsive in a motel room where police later found cocaine all over the place, including on the floor and countertops.

Another child suffered serious injuries as the result of being exposed to drugs used by adults.

All three children were under age 4.

The incidents happened back-to-back-to-back and caused officials with Social Services and law enforcement to stop in their tracks, said Capt. Murdock Woodard, commander of the criminal investigations division of the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office.

Were standing there going, what the hell is going on? he said. This is not anything like were accustomed to. When its a small child, you start wondering, whats the change in dynamics, whats the change in patterns?

As Woodard and Amy Swift, director of Spotsylvania County Social Services, processed the cases, they agreed to bring the matter to the publics attention  and raise the alarm about the dangers.

They say the ever-growing rate of drug use among Fredericksburg-area residents, as well as across the state and nation, is putting the youngest and most vulnerable at risk.

Children are dying unnecessarily and part of it is because of unsafe sleeping decisions and choices and conditions, but the other part is this rising opioid overdose, Swift said, who like Woodard, fears the overdose problem among children could worsen. And it doesnt have to. All of it is avoidable.

Unsafe sleep is when adults put a baby in bed with them or fall asleep with an infant on a couch or recliner. When drugs or alcohol are part of the mix, the adult may pass out, roll over and smother the baby, either with a pillow or body part.

Unsafe sleep is the leading cause of unnatural infant death in Virginia. Between 50 and 60 babies died each year between 2020 and 2022, according to Department of Social Services statistics.

Officials stress that babies should be put alone in a crib or bassinet, on their backs and apart from other people, toys, pillows, blankets, smoke and substances.

Safe sleep has always been a problem and continues to be a problem, Swift said. The opioid problem has just 

Enhanced it, Woodard said.

Yes, Swift agreed.

Gummies and goldfish crackers

There are many dangers to children in households where adults are using drugs. And its not always their parents who put them at risk. Sometimes, its caregivers in the home or operators of licensed day care facilities.

Youngsters see gummy bears and eat them, thinking theyre candy. A 4-year-old Spotsylvania boy died after doing that in May 2022 and was found to have a large amount of THC in his system. Thats the primary compound in cannabis that produces a high sensation.

Goldfish crackers containing the same compound caused parents of three 1-year-olds to take their babies to the hospital after theyd been at a licensed day care in Stafford County.

That was in March 2022, and cracker crumbs found on the day cares highchairs were tested at the state lab and shown to contain THC. The snacks looked like the popular crackers that practically every toddler has eaten.

Its a dangerous thing for them to even be marketed like that, in my opinion, said Michael Muse, director of Stafford County Social Services. Having them be accessible to children is totally inexcusable.

The day-care owner surrendered her license, was charged with three felony counts and ended up serving one day in jail after the judge suspended the rest of her five-year sentence.

The children, who ranged in age from 13 months to 17 months at the time of the incident, were evaluated in a Richmond hospital but had no lasting effects.

Dont have a chance

Woodard recalled an infant who wasnt as fortunate. After cooking methamphetamine, or meth, an adult used the same spoon to scoop out formula for the baby. The infant was only a few weeks old and died of methamphetamine toxicity.

It doesnt take much of a drug to be lethal to a child, the captain said. Thats especially true with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. If 2 milligrams of fentanyl, equal to about 10 grains of table salt, can kill an adult, a trace amount of that can cause a child to stop breathing.

And, minuscule amounts can be transferred from adults to children, from their clothes or hands when parents hold their infants or touch the same toys or bottles. Drugs also can be transferred through breastmilk.

Swift said theres the perception that because THC is so widely accepted as natural, that its not harmful to children, but they fail to recognize that children have much smaller bodies, especially babies.

Ingesting it will make it difficult for them to breathe, and as Spotsylvania cases demonstrate, result in fatalities.

These types of stories are indicative, not of a parent who intentionally abused or neglected their child, Swift said. Theyre not intentionally exposing their child, but they are exposing them, and because the child is so small, they dont have a chance.

Harm from other drugs

Other localities in the Fredericksburg region have experienced issues with child overdoses, but not fatalities to the degree Spotsylvania has had. Stafford experiences about one a month, but, knock on wood, Muse said, there havent been any deaths.

I just shudder to think that its a matter of time before it happens in Stafford, he said.

Muse said the departments Child Protective Services most often gets involved with families when parents are using drugs. Christen Gallik, director of Fredericksburg Social Services, said the same, that up to 90% of cases involving child welfare involve substance abuse or mental health issues among the adults.

Drugs that send children to the hospital arent limited to those laced with fentanyl or derivatives of marijuana.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs also are putting youngsters in the emergency room, and at even higher rates than other drugs, said Allison BalmesJohn, population health manager with the Rappahannock Area Health District.

She participated in the interview between Spotsylvania officials and The Free LanceStar. She shared data on emergency department visits for drug overdoses for the entire health district, which includes Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford.

In the age group of 9 and under, there were eight accidental overdoses in 2018 involving opioids and unspecified drugs, which the state health department lumps together. That was for the whole health district. Last year, there were nine, so not a dramatic change.

However, six of the nine overdoses happened to Spotsylvania children.

In that same age group in 2018, there were 47 accidental overdoses involving all types of drugs, throughout the health district. Last year, there were 80 accidental overdoses.

That means for 2023, almost 90% of the drugs that caused accidental overdoses in young children came from a pharmacy or store shelf. And, more than half of the total overdoses from all drugs, or 42 of the 80 cases, happened to Spotsylvania children, according to the data.

The range of drugs included prescriptions for high blood pressure and depression, over-the-counter medicines like pain relievers and fever reducers and other substances like cannabis and THC.

Our community is not doing a good job of keeping drugs that can harm children away from children, BalmesJohn said, stressing the need to keep all types of drugs out of reach. That overall precaution for any kind of drug, whether its Tylenol, which everybody has in their house, is just going that extra mile to make sure those are not in the hands of children where they could be ingested.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with Dmitry Kiselev. -/Kremlin/dpa

Vladimir Putin has won the Russian presidential election with at least 87% of the vote, according to forecasts after polling stations closed on Sunday, state media reported Sunday.

Russian state television declared Putin, 71, the winner on Sunday on the basis of several voter surveys.

No genuine opposition candidates were allowed to stand in the three-day vote.

International observers did not monitor the election across the vast country which reaches across 11 time zones.

The vote on Putin's fifth term in office was accompanied by numerous protests.

Initial results were expected Sunday evening. The first meaningful results should be available on Monday.

In past elections, the forecasts have been in line with the final result.

It would be a record for Putin, who received 76.7% of the vote in the last presidential election in 2018.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  The Texas Medical Board is scheduled to discuss clarifying what counts as medical exceptions to the states abortion restrictions. The board plans to take up the issue at a meeting on March 21 and 22.

The move comes after two high profile lawsuits highlighted stories of Texas women who had life-threatening pregnancy complications, but were denied emergency exceptions to the states ban on abortion.

The story of Kate Cox drew nationwide attention. The Dallas mother was 20 weeks pregnant with her third child when doctors delivered devastating news, a fetal diagnosis called trisomy 18. A 2012 study found that most babies born with the genetic condition die within one year of birth.

Coxs doctors said her baby would likely die within a few days. They also told her that her own health and future fertility would be at risk if she gave birth.

A Travis County court ruled Cox could receive an abortion under the medical exceptions in the states abortion law, which bans nearly all abortions after six weeks. Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an emergency appeal to the Texas Supreme Court, which put the lower courts ruling on pause.

While the state Supreme Court evaluated the merits of the case, attorneys for Cox said her condition worsened  saying she visited the emergency room four times and experienced elevated vitals and risked a uterine rupture, which could impact her ability to have children in the future.

Cox ended up traveling out of state to terminate her pregnancy. Later that same day, Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion blocking the lower courts ruling that gave Cox permission to get an abortion in Texas.

After the Texas Supreme Court rejected Coxs appeal, lobbyist couple Amy and Steve Bresnen felt compelled to act on their own accord. The Bresnens, who are attorneys, filed a petition earlier this year that asked the medical board to issue clear guidance about when exceptions are allowed to the states abortion ban.

We did not want the circularity thats created by one branch of government asking the other branch of government to do its job, Steve Bresnen explained. Meanwhile, the flesh and blood human beings and physicians and their patients are caught in the circle.

The author of the law banning abortions in Texas has voiced similar concerns. Republican State Senator Bryan Hughes said he wrote the board almost two years ago asking for guidance on exceptions.

Every medical provider should know if a woman has a life-threatening condition she must be treated. Texas law does not stand in the way of that, Hughes said.

Under Texas law, the abortion prohibition does not apply when a pregnant woman has a life threatening physical condition that places her at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

But physicians in Texas have voiced fear of performing an abortion under the laws exceptions for conditions that could cause harm to the mother. While Coxs case was playing out in court, Paxton warned her doctors that they could face penalties if they performed an abortion. Paxton sent a notice saying state law allows for punishment, including prison time, regardless of a temporary order from a judge.

Ive always tried to practice within the standards of care, said Coxs physician, Dr. Damala Karsan, last July. I dont want to risk my freedom, my livelihood.

Coxs case aligns closely with Zurawski v. Texas, another challenge to Texas abortion ban seeking clarification to the laws medical exceptions. In that case, 20 women, many of whom nearly died due to pregnancy complications, argued in front of the Texas Supreme Court that the law does not give proper deference to a doctors good-faith medical judgment.

The Bresnens hope guidance from the Texas Medical Board will help women like Cox and Zurawaski moving forward.

This is, in my opinion, a very pro-life move. Its one thing to be anti-abortion, and its another thing to be anti-mother, Amy Bresnen said. If you want families to have babies in Texas, you have to make expectant mothers and women feel comfortable that if theyre in a situation where their life is on the line that they will be properly treated.

The medical board will meet Friday, and consider drafting language to clarify exceptions. Once they approve that language, there is a 30-day period of public comments where the board invites the public to weigh in before the guidance becomes final.

Districts take different approaches to meet school safety standards

A sweeping school safety law took effect last September, dramatically expanding security requirements on campuses across Texas. But some districts are still having trouble meeting those standards.

Among other requirements, the new law mandates every school district to placed armed security officers on every campus every school day and provide silent panic alert buttons in every classroom.

On Monday, the Paxton issued additional guidance on how districts can comply with the law, as some struggle to find money in their budgets.

House Bill 3 bumped the school safety allotment by 28 cents per student and $15,000 per campus. But thats not enough to cover the requirement for armed officers. Paying an officer can cost between $60,000 to $100,000.

Districts are taking different approaches to meet the requirements, depending on their finances.

Eanes ISD in the suburbs of Austin was able to establish its own campus police force. Meanwhile, in Harlingen, schools are partnering with parents. They created a district-wide program called Dads of Great Students, also known as Watch D.O.G.S. The dads are not armed, but help provide an extra layer of security on campus.

Districts without the money or staffing to hire officers can instead train and arm school employees. The Texas Education Agency told us they do not track how many districts have decided to take that approach.

Tutors arrest reveals gaps in background check system

An Austin Independent School District email on Dec. 8 for parents with children at Akins High School had a startling subject line: Arrest of former Akins Tutor.

Earlier that day, Austin ISD police arrested Isaiah Xavier Smith, a man hired by the local nonprofit Austin Partners in Education to tutor at Austin ISD schools. The district told parents Smith had been arrested on a felony charge of indecency with a child by contact tied to a report out of Akins.

But parents did not know that, at the same time, a state investigation was ongoing into Smith over a similar allegation in nearby Lee County. A KXAN investigation found that Smith, a former juvenile corrections officer at the Texas Juvenile Justice Departments Giddings State School, got a job at Austin Partners in Education, all while being investigated by the agency.

In late February, sparked by KXANs investigation, Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, sent a letter to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and Texas Education Agency requesting an explanation of how Smith could move from one juvenile education setting to another. Bettencourt is now promising to file new legislation after the head of the Texas Education Agency revealed another gap in the laws meant to prevent individuals who have harmed minors from having access to students.

Smith started his assignment with Austin Partners in Education at Akins in September 2023. By October, Austin ISD said its police department was investigating the tutor. According to an Austin ISD police investigator, one of the high school students reported Smith touched him inappropriately in a computer lab. Police arrested him on Dec. 8 related to the Akins students outcry.

Former Austin ISD tutor was banned from working in state juvenile detention centers

The Investigation Timeline

Aug. 15, 2022 Smith starts as a Juvenile Corrections Officer(JCO) at Giddings State School

Sept. 26, 2022- Smith is terminated as a JCO at Giddings State School.

Sept. 27, 2022 TJJD Office of Inspector General begins investigating Smith for sexual misconduct. Days later, TJJD flags Smith in the agencys database.

July 2023 TJJDs OIG confirms an administrative violation of abuse had occurred and that Smith had had an inappropriate relationship with a youth as defined by the Texas Family Code (Chapter 261.405). OIG also referred the case for further review to the Special Prosecution Unit (SPU), which led to criminal charges.

September 2023 Smith begins tutoring for Austin Partners at Education on the Akins campus.

Oct. 25, 2023 Austin ISD student makes a report of sexual misconduct by Smith. AISD terminates Smiths access to the districts campuses.

Dec. 8, 2023 Austin ISD Police arrest Smith

Dec. 2023 Smith is formally made ineligible for juvenile corrections or probation professional certification.

Jan. 10, 2023 Smith is indicted for Improper Sexual Activity with a Person in Custody and Indecency with a Child related to the outcry at Giddings State School.

More than a year before, in August 2022, Smith started work as a juvenile corrections officer at Giddings State School. According to officials with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, or TJJD, Smith was fired not even two months into his job.

Smith was dismissed from his job for turning off his body-worn camera, which, according to TJJD, was a fireable offense. The body-camera violation was discovered after TJJD began reviewing video footage as a part of a sexual misconduct investigation that began into Smith in September 2022.

Agency officials said one of the minors at Giddings made a report that Smith touched his private parts.

In July 2023, TJJDs Office of Inspector General concluded Smith had an inappropriate relationship with a youth and that abuse occurred. The OIG also referred the case for further review to the Special Prosecution Unit, which led to Smith being indicted in January 2024.

The agency said despite the ongoing investigation, it put a flag on Smith in its database, ICIS, within days of the allegation of sexual misconduct being made in September 2022. The flag alerted anyone in the juvenile justice system to contact TJJD before hiring him.

Former Austin ISD tutor and juvenile corrections officer faces more charges of indecency with children

The flag had been on Smiths record in TJJDs database for nearly a year when he began working as a tutor at Akins High School. However, according to agency officials, the database where TJJD flagged Smith is only accessible to other juvenile justice facilities in the state. The Texas Education Agency, public and private schools, and educational non-profits do not have access.

Austin Partners in Education has yet to clarify to KXAN whether Smith disclosed his previous work history at TJJD or the allegations he faced before being hired as a tutor. TJJD officials told KXAN the nonprofit would not have known about the ongoing investigation through a routine background check.

Although Smith was flagged in the TJJDs database days after allegations of misconduct were made at Giddings, agency officials told KXAN he was not formally made ineligible for certification as a juvenile corrections or probation officer until December 2023, after he was already under investigation for a sexual misconduct allegation at Akins.

Smiths court-appointed attorneys in Lee and Travis counties did not respond to KXANs request for comment. Smith, who is currently in Travis County jail, sent a letter to KXAN addressing some of the allegations against him. KXAN is working to verify the claims in Smiths letter.

In the letter, Smith told KXAN, I am in a legally binding settlement agreement with TJJD that has wiped any disciplinary record that I have, and that listed me as ineligible for rehire after I appealed a disciplinary decision.

According to TJJD officials, the agency and Smith went to mediation after his termination, allowing him to resign for personal reasons in October 2022. The agency said Smith was still flagged in its database, alerting other juvenile detention facilities to call TJJD before hiring.

The mediation did not stop the independent OIG investigation of the alleged sexual misconduct. Once that OIG investigation was completed and had an affirmative finding of an [abuse, neglect, and exploitation] violation, TJJD was able to change Smiths status to ineligible to rehire,' agency officials told KXAN.

Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, interviews with KXAN Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley. (KXAN Photo/Chris Nelson)

When I saw the story, I said, I had to act, and I had to act by asking the two agencies what happened here, Bettencourt said.

In last years regular session at the Capitol, lawmakers, including the Houston senator, passed Senate Bill 1849. The bill, introduced by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, required the Department of Information Resources to create one giant search engine combining the data about neglect findings from all child-serving state agencies  including Texas Education Agency, The Department of Family Protective Services, Health and Human Services and TJJD.

In a letter sparked by KXANs reporting, Bettencourt asked the leaders of TEA and TJJD, What exactly went wrong in the protections we established that allowed Xavier Smith to be passed from one juvenile education setting to another?

TJJD-TEA-Letter_Download

In response, Education Commissioner Mike Morath and TJJD Executive Director Shandra Carter told the lawmaker Smith was hired as a tutor at Akins before the law became effective. SB 1849 went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023, the same month Smith was assigned to Akins High School as a tutor.

Morath and Carter shared that the search engine SB 1849 requires is still being designed and developed, more than six months after the bill requiring it became law. The bill did not specify a deadline for creating the search engine.

The Texas Department of Information Resources, which is building the database, told KXAN its now in the assessment and design phases. The agency said it does not expect to complete the project until the end of 2024 and added it is difficult to determine a precise end date.

As bureaucratic as that is, that is the way state government works, Bettencourt said. Theres a failure here, no question, and this person should have never been around young people ever again in their life.

Man accused of molesting child while tutoring at Austin ISD

TJJD said that since the fall of 2023, its reviewed previous employees who were terminated with cause to flag them as not eligible for certification retroactively. The agency told KXAN school districts and other agencies could call the agency for a reference check to ask about a persons status while the larger search engine is developed.

Despite the abuse report at Akins, Smith is not listed on the TEAs Do Not Hire database. Bettencourt asked about this in his letter to the agency head.

According to Morath, Smiths name is not in the database because state law does not require school districts to report alleged misconduct to TEA if the allegations are against a contractor like Smith. The law also does not give TEA the authority to investigate contractors and put them on its Do Not Hire registry, even if reported, according to TEA officials.

By including contractors in statute, it would strengthen TEAs authority to require school districts to report to the agency abuse and inappropriate incidents between students and contractors that occur and the placement of those contractors on the Do Not Hire registry, Morath wrote in a letter back to Bettencourt.

TEA officials confirmed it did not receive a report from Austin ISD about Smiths alleged misconduct at Akins.

In the last decade, multiple state laws have addressed how people with documented sexual misconduct allegations jump from one child education setting to another. That includes House Bill 3 in 2019, which created TEAs Do Not Hire registry, and Senate Bill 7, requiring school superintendents to report misconduct to the State Board of Education Certification.

Bettencourt, who authored SB 7, said he would introduce a bill in the next legislative session to require school districts to report contractor misconduct and give the TEA the authority to investigate and put contractors on its Do Not Hire registry when the allegations are substantiated.

The school districts should be reporting it anyway. Texas State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston

Its really infuriating to me to see this type of problem, but I am determined, and I know my colleagues  Senator Kolkhorst  [are] determined to stamp it out, and well do it again in the next legislative session, Bettencourt said. This problem will be fixed one way or the other by the next legislative session.

Texas medical cannabis distributor calls for hemp market regulations

The CEO of Texas largest medical cannabis distributor is urging leaders to regulate the states CBD market, citing concerns over health issues related to hemp-derived products such as delta-8 and delta-9 THC.

Delta-8 and delta-9 THC are compounds closely related to the psychoactive compound in marijuana that gets users high. Its legal in most states after Congress passed the 2018 farm bill, which had an unintended loophole due to how lawmakers defined hemp while legalizing it.

Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original, points to increasing reports of young patients experiencing adverse effects and growing drug-related offenses in schools as reasons for more regulation of hemp-derived products.

He is one of the three marijuana distributors in Texas able to operate under the states limited medical cannabis program, also known as the Compassionate Use Program, which is regulated heavily by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Qualifying patients can get a low-level prescription from a limited group of approved doctors in the state. Currently, patients with conditions like cancer, PTSD, ALS and epilepsy can get prescribed THC.

While Richardsons company would benefit from a more regulated CBD market, he said there are health and safety concerns that every parent should worry about, since there are no age restrictions on products like delta-8.

If we want to have an open recreational market in Texas, I think we should legalize that in the appropriate way and have the appropriate testing measures and appropriate age gating. So that were not willy-nilly distributing highly intoxicating products to school kids, which is unfortunately what is happening right now in Texas, he said.

A new study published Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows 1 in 10 high school seniors report using delta-8 THC. Richardson says the easy access, as it is sold in gas stations and CBD smoke shops across the state, is what is concerning to him as a parent.

This is a complex issue. This is not a simple issue, Richardson said. But we dont know what the long-term health effects of this are going to be. Especially on underage kids.

Lisa Pittman, a cannabis attorney in Austin, said there are vast complexities in the laws and regulations of CBD products across the country, after the U.S. Farm Bill redefined hemp, making various derivatives of hemp legal.

The 2018 farm bill defines hemp as cannabis and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers.

Delta-8 is outlawed in 17 different states, according to the National Cannabis Industry Association. While it is legal in Texas, pending litigation could impact its ability to be sold and consumed in the Lone Star State. Pittman said the patchwork of regulations on a state-by-state basis has made oversight of CBD products more difficult.

The state health departments have had to come up with their own rules for these types of products, and while there is regulation on the books, the products are supposed to meet certain testing thresholds, she said. The oversight, the inspection of this is pretty loose, theres just way too much volume for the regulators to keep up with and the stuff is coming from all over the country.

Delta-8 THC products come in a variety of forms  including gummies, or edible treats like chocolate, as well as vaping cartridges and infused drinks. Some manufacturers market it as a treatment for medical conditions similar to the usage of medical cannabis, but the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated or approved delta-8 for medical ailments.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings regarding the possible use of unsafe chemicals in the conversion of CBD into delta-8 and delta-9.

Sometimes it can come from a sketchy source thats just pumping out a high volume of something popular, and they dont care whats in it. And who knows what kind of solvents and other types of chemicals are in these products, who knows if [or] how theyre tested, Pittman said.

While Texas lawmakers cannot enact changes until 2025, discussions in Congress  particularly regarding the Farm Bills definitions currently up for renegotiation  could impact regulations sooner.

There is some bathtub gin out there and its gonna be a while until we get to the Coors and Budweiser of cannabis, Pittman said. That is where it is eventually heading on much the same regulatory pathway.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A Stormy Daniels documentary comes out Monday, and Trump's hush-money lawyers are already raging. Here's why.

Bombshells in Peacock's "Stormy," out Monday, include that she owes Trump $600,000 in legal fees.

She says Trump "cornered" her into sex and that she signed an NDA so "he could not have me killed."

Trump's hush-money lawyers are now crying foul over the "extraordinarily prejudicial" documentary.

Adult film actor Stormy Daniels drops so many bombshells in the smart, surprisingly moving documentary, "Stormy," that it's no wonder former President Donald Trump's "hush money" case lawyers are now raging against it.

Trump "cornered" her into sex in his Lake Tahoe hotel suite, she says in the Peacock film, in perhaps her most controversial description yet of the night they met in 2006.

Trump has repeatedly and consistently denied having sex with Stormy.

"I don't remember how I got on the bed, and then the next thing I know, he was humping away and telling me how great I was," Daniels says in the film.

"It was awful. But I didn't say 'No.'"

Daniels signed an NDA  the 2016 "hush money" agreement at the center of Trump's upcoming Manhattan criminal trial  to create a paper trail linking their names, she also says in the film, "so that he could not have me killed."

And in its most surprising bombshell, the film reveals that the $293,000 in legal fees she was ordered to pay Trump five years ago  unfairly, she contends  has grown to more than $600,000 thanks to accumulated interest.

She says she'd go to prison before paying him a dime.

"I don't know if I'm so much a warrior, or " she tells the camera. She pauses before adding, "Out of fucks. I'm out of fucks."

'Unacceptable'

"Extraordinarily prejudicial," Trump's lawyers called the film in defense filings made public this week.

"Unacceptable," they said of its Peacock premiere date, which is Monday, Daniels' 45th birthday.

Trump's lawyers cite the premiere date as one of the strongest arguments for delaying the hush money trial, which was originally set to begin Monday, March 25  exactly one week after the Peacock premiere.

Earlier this month, Trump's lawyers had asked the judge to push the trial back at least 90 days, in part because the premiere "would cause extraordinarily prejudicial  and unacceptable  pretrial publicity on the current schedule."

(On Friday, the judge agreed to a far shorter delay, telling both sides that he will likely set a mid-April trial start date.)

There is also their client to consider, Trump's lawyers said, in the delay request made public Thursday.

Trump needs to take his own look at "Stormy," they said.

"President Trump requires additional time to review" the documentary, the filing said. "And the Court must allow additional time for the prejudice from its release to abate prior to commencing jury selection."

Trump's lawyers are meanwhile asking that Daniels  given name Stephanie Clifford  be barred from testifying at the hush-money trial. The judge has yet to rule on that request.

"She seeks to tell contrived stories with salacious details of events she claimed occurred nearly 20 years ago," Trump's lawyers complained in court papers last month, "which have no place at a trial involving the types of charges at issue."

Prosecutors said this week that they agree to a brief trial delay due to more than 80,000 pages of potential evidence being turned over only this month by federal prosecutors. The evidence concerns the feds' 2018 prosecution of key hush-money witness Michael Cohen.

Under New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan's newly updated schedule, the trial could now last through Memorial Day week.

Coincidental timing

The filmmakers behind "Stormy" say the Peacock premiere was never intentionally planned with that original March 25 trial date in mind.

They did push to premiere the film at South by Southwest on March 8. Premiering it on Peacock 10 days later just made sense, said producer Erin Lee Carr.

A still from the Peacock documentary, "Stormy." Peacock

"We in no way wanted to inform any jury member," Carr told Business Insider.

"It's really about the American public watching what happened to this woman and the consequences that she bears as a result of this."

Daniels had no editorial control over the documentary and was not paid for her time on camera, Carr said.

Throughout the film, Seth Rogen, Jimmy Kimmel, several journalists, and many of Daniels' friends and family members offer sympathetic takes on her life story and on the ongoing aftermath of her public accusations against Trump.

No one was paid for their interviews, Carr said, though the filmmakers did pay to option Daniels' 2018 memoir, "Full Disclosure."

'I was 9 years old again'

Daniels reveals in the film, quite poignantly and for the first time, that while growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she was repeatedly abused by a much-older neighbor. She was nine years old.

"It wasn't rape in any sense," she says in the documentary about her brief encounter with Trump two decades later, when she was 27, and he was 60  and married to Melania Trump, who had given birth to their son, Barron, just four months prior.

"I didn't say no," she says of Trump's advance, "because I was 9 years old again."

Daniels also tells on camera a story she's told before, including to 20 million viewers on "60 Minutes" in 2018. It's her story about what happened the first time she considered spilling her Trump tea publicly, in 2011, to In Touch magazine.

Shortly after Michael Cohen, Trump's then-attorney and "fixer," threatened the magazine with legal action  and the story was spiked  Daniels was threatened by a man in the parking lot of her gym, she has said.

"It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom," the stranger said, gesturing toward her then-infant daughter. "Leave Trump alone. Forget the story," she says the man warned.

'Horseface' versus 'Tiny'

Five years would pass before she again shopped her salacious story around, offering it to the National Enquirer in 2016, when, to her surprise, she saw he was running for president.

But she was also "terrified" of what would happen to herself and her family, she says in the film.

She signed the NDA Cohen gave her in part because she saw it as a paper trail linking her to Trump "so that he could not have me killed," she says in the documentary.

Daniels says she was inundated with death threats when the Wall Street Journal revealed the existence of the NDA two years later, in 2018, just a year into Trump's presidency.

In the six years that have followed, she's braved an online onslaught of vile, sadistic death threats and survived ribald public Twitter battles with Trump, in which he'd call her "Horseface" and she'd call him "Tiny."

Recently, one of her horses was shot with a rubber bullet, she reveals in the documentary.

Daniels has weathered "Really scary threats, and also people attacking her daughter recently" on social media, the documentary's director, Sarah Gibson, told Business Insider.

Then why the TV appearances? Why write a memoir? Why embark on a "Make America Horny Again" tour of strip club appearances? Even on Monday, when the documentary hits the small screen, Daniels is charging between $25 and $100 a ticket for a watch party she's hosting at a Brooklyn nightclub.

NYC! Come celebrate the release of my documentary STORMY (and my bday) with a special screening of the film and Q&A this Monday at 3DollarBill! Very limited seats! https://t.co/QFwGx6X2cP #stormydaniels pic.twitter.com/6E8XFrd5YP  Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) March 15, 2024

Threats aside, she still has a mortgage to pay and a daughter to support, Daniels explains in the film. "If you drive an ice cream truck, and you don't drive your ice cream truck the week of the heat wave, you're an idiot," she says.

Daniels has lost much more  financially and emotionally  than she could ever easily recoup, the filmmakers told BI.

"She's a true American, and she wants to support her family," Gibson told BI.

"And to me, that was so powerful. Say whatever you will about her going on tour and dancing in the wake of the Trump news breaking" in 2018, Gibson added.

"But she lost a lot of her other work at that point," the director said of Daniels, who had been directing a dozen or more adult films a year.

"A lot of her directing gigs went away," Gibson said. "That strip club tour really helped save her economic situation."

More than $900,000 in losses

Daniels' former lawyer, Michael Avenatti  currently serving a 14-year prison sentence  never paid her back for the $300,000 he stole from her, the filmmakers said.

Avenatti also left Daniels on the hook for what's now grown, with interest, to $600,000 in legal fees she still owes Trump after losing a defamation lawsuit against him, they said. Daniels says in the film that Avenatti filed the lawsuit on her behalf but without her permission.

"It's a complete tragedy," said Carr. "She's not some insanely rich person that got wealthy from doing this. She is somebody that has fought this system and lost, and is bearing the consequences."

Daniels' story, which is still unfolding, is "not about sex anymore, it's about power," Carr added. "It's about control, and it's about how Donald Trump still has Stormy Daniels under control because of this financial penalty, and the American justice system is aiding and abetting that."

Read the original article on Business Insider
He graduated from a nursing program in South Florida and passed a national exam but Jasiel Vilarinos hope of working as a nurse has turned into a frustrating yearlong ordeal.

Like dozens of other students in a region with an acute nursing shortage, hes been left in limbo awaiting a critical nursing license or at least clear answers from health bureaucracies in two states. The delay cost him a job at Mercy Hospital and hes been forced to work as a part-time DJ while struggling to manage $50,000 in student loans.

Its been a year like this, fighting back and forth, Vilarino said.

A Herald investigation in January found that the careers of Vilarino, and hundreds of other aspiring nurses, have been put on indefinite hold over a standoff between Florida, where they trained, and New York, which administered the online tests but has refused to issue licenses because of questions about the checkered records and accreditation of some for-profit nursing schools in South Florida.

Now, the Herald has found, a work-around process intended to allow Florida to issue licenses based on the New York test scores has also been the subject of complaints, with students reporting confusing information and long delays. Vilarino, after nearly a year, finally got his official passing score transferred last week. Now, hes waiting on Florida to take action.

THE WAITING GAME

Vilarino is in a group chat of over 100 similarly situated people. Among them is Danys Rivera, 37, who graduated from Future Tech Institute in 2021, a Miami for-profit school that is now closed.

She passed the national nursing exam, known as the NCLEX, through the New York online portal in July 2023 and waited seven months to receive her license with no results. So, she retook the exam  this time, using Floridas portal.

New York is a popular option, especially for test takers for whom English is not their first language. It offers unlimited chances to pass. Florida only offers three. Either way, a New York license would have allowed her to practice in Florida because of the Florida Board of Nursings licensure by endorsement process.

While Florida enforces a three-tries-and-youre out, policy, an applicant can earn another chance at the test by successfully completing a Florida Board of Nursing approved remedial course.

A sign still lists the number for the Future Tech Institute, a Miami for-profit school that is now closed.

Unlike Vilarino, Rivera was able to keep her position at QPS Miami Research Center while she waited for her license. Still, even though Florida eventually issued her license, retaking the exam took an emotional and financial toll. Between application fees and test preparation, she spent upwards of $500. After working an eight-hour shift as a medical assistant, she came home and studied for hours at night. It was an exhausting experience, which only adds to her frustration over the uncertainty now surrounding her license.

They took my money, she said. They took my time.

Adding to the stress, she said, is the lack of information from the New York State Education Department. According to Rivera, the department never sent her any written communication explaining the reason for the delay.

Lack of oversight

These students and dozens of others have been swept in the questions now surrounding South Floridas for-profit nursing school industry, where some outlets have been hit with charges of rampant fraud. In one recent example, three South Florida men were tried for allegedly running a nursing-school diploma mill. According to prosecutors, over 3,500 students paid between $10,000 and $20,000 for fake academic credentials from the now-defunct Palm Beach School of Nursing. The three were found guilty in December.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, told the Herald that there needs to be more accountability and oversight of for-profit institutions, which she says are often marketed towards communities of color and low economic means.

They try to market themselves as something you can go through quickly and have a job right away so you can pay back whatever loans you have and essentially scale up and find economic mobility, she said.

Though not every school was issuing bogus credentials, the scandals and lack of oversight from Florida health regulators, has put many aspiring nurses under additional scrutiny. They spent years pursuing nursing degrees, shelled out thousands of dollars for training, and passed the key test to become a nurse.

But rather than finding themselves in better-paying careers, theyve been left with big bills and uncertain futures in a healthcare industry with a growing need for nurses.

I feel stuck in my life because I see people moving forward, Vilarino said. I feel like I went to school for a year for nothing.

The former location of Universal Career School in Sweetwater, now defunct.

Dashed dreams

A Miami native, Vilarinos longtime dream of becoming a nurse nearly came to fruition when Mercy Hospital accepted him into a residency program for recent grads. The training program afforded Vilarino, now 31, four months to secure his license while he learned hospital procedures and protocol.

Six weeks after passing his exam, those dreams were dashed when he couldnt produce his license because the New York State Education Department was investigating his school, the now defunct Sweetwater-based for-profit Universal Career School. The New York investigation could take a year or two, a customer service representative told him.

He spent the next eight months going back and forth with the department. Since they would not issue his license, he pleaded with them to at least release his passing score so he could seek his license from Florida. They refused.

I was going crazy because at this point in my life I didnt know what to do. I lost my job, he says.

He considered working in a restaurant but eventually found work as a part-time DJ.

Vilarino decided to retake the exam in Florida but changed his mind when a member of his group chat, Romelia Farinas, informed the group that, after 10 months of back and forth, the New York State Education Department agreed to send her score to Florida.

When asked how long this score transfer process had been an option, the department would not say but told the Herald that this is not a typical certification request and provided the following statement: A handful of applicants have requested to have NCLEX scores certified in Florida and we have processed those requests.

Vilarino, and several others who spoke to the Herald, said the department never informed them that transferring the score to Florida was an option and that they only found out by word of mouth.

Both Vilarino and Farinas graduated from Universal Career School in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The Herald obtained a letter that the New York State Education Department sent Farinas saying that the Florida Department of Health and Florida State Board of Nursing terminated her schools nursing program in June 2021. It noted that her transcripts indicated that she completed coursework at the supposedly terminated program in the fall of 2021 and graduated on Feb. 28, 2022.

Since your education has not been approved, you should not have been eligible for the NCLEX examination, the letter read.

Eligible or not, Farinas passed on her second try.

The letter to Farinas from the New York State Department of Education.

No straight answers

Another graduate of the shuttered Universal Career School is Vilarinos cousin, Miguel Menendez, 30, who studied medicine in Cuba before moving to Miami 10 years ago.

While both cousins struggled the last year to get their licenses, Menendez feels guilty about encouraging his cousin to attend the closed nursing program particularly since he, unlike Vilarino, was able to find work in the healthcare field, working as a behavioral therapist while he waits for his nursing license.

Still, the delay cost him time and money as he struggled to support his growing family. His wife was pregnant during most of this ordeal.

They stopped me for a year with no license, no getting paid, no continuing my education, he said.

He submitted the application to have his score transferred to Florida and is still waiting for his license.

The students also have struggled to get clear answers about the process of license review from health departments in both states.

Vilarino and others say New York State Education Department representatives have often been dismissive and provided contradicting information. According to Vilarino, one week, an employee told him that they sent his score the previous day. The next week, a different employee said they were not sending his score because of an accreditation issue with his school.

His cousin, Menendez, said he experienced similar frustration dealing both New York and Florida, with Florida employees changing their story on whether or not they received his score from New York.

Even students who have managed to cut through the red tape and confusion to secure their licenses, described the overall experience as dehumanizing.

I felt like I was living in Cuba where I used to live with no rights like I wasnt a human being, Menendez said.

This story was produced with financial support from the Esserman Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.

The site of defunct Future Tech, a defunct for-profit nursing school, is now up for lease again. Some students that trained there have struggled to obtain their licenses despite passing tests because of questions about the schools accreditation.
The Chelsea Police Department on Saturday announced the sudden and tragic passing of an active-duty detective who played a major role in assisting with the dismantling of the violent MS-13 gang, among other notable accolades.

It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we announce the sudden and tragic passing of our Brother-in-Blue, Chelsea Police Detective Scott Conley, Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton wrote in a Facebook post.

Houghton said that Conleys death came after a lengthy battle with illness.

Conley joined the Chelsea Police Department in February 1996 after serving in the United States Army from 1991-2000. During his time with the department, Conley was assigned to the critical response team, receiving specialized training in tactical and urban operations with a focus on gang operations. He was also part of the FBIs Violent Gang Task Force, operating out of the Boston Field Office in Chelsea.

We are heartbroken by the loss, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement. Detective Conley provided tremendous assistance to MSP on many cases, including the dismantling of the violent MS-13 gang. He made the streets of Chelsea safer for everyone who lived, worked, and raised families there.

Houghton noted that Conley traveled on many occasions to Central America, most notably El Salvador, as a consultant for the United States Department of State. In 2017, Conley was asked to testify in front of Congress as an expert on border insecurity and the rise of transnational gangs in America.

We sincerely feel this tragic loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with Detective Conleys family and loved ones during this difficult time, Houghton added. Detective Conleys presence will surely be missed. As we grieve his loss, remember Scotts ardent dedication to our community and service to our nation as a United States Army veteran.

Houghton said that funeral arrangements for Conley had not yet been announced.

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WASHINGTON  After Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested without evidence that baseball legend Hank Aarons death in 2021 was caused by a COVID-19 vaccine, the Biden administration pounced.

Wanted to flag the below tweet and am wondering if we can get moving on the process for having it removed ASAP, the digital director for the White Houses COVID response team wrote in an email to an official at Twitter.

What the White House viewed as an effort to correct misinformation about a life-saving vaccine during a pandemic, critics called an example of a broad pressure campaign by the federal government to quash views it doesnt like.

Now the Supreme Court is being asked what boundaries to set.

This combination of file photos made on March 14, 2024, shows the logos of various online services and platforms.

If the justices place too many restrictions on how the government can work with private social media companies in areas such as public health, election integrity and foreign interference, it could impede efforts to stop harmful misinformation, experts say.

But if there arent enough guardrails, the government  whether a Democratic or Republican administration  could have too much power to influence debate in a public square dominated by social media.

I think we need to figure out how to draw these lines more carefully in ways that protect legitimate speech from government suppression, said Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth College who studies misperceptions about politics and health care. But I'm concerned people are using that idea to try to shut down any kind of government information exchange with social media platforms, which I think could be harmful.

Could the Supreme Court `destroy the internet'?

The Supreme Court takes up the issue Monday, three weeks after it heard challenges to laws passed by Florida and Texas to limit the ability of social media giants to regulate user content.

This is the second major case in the last month in which the Supreme Court could destroy the internet, if it's not careful, said James Grimmelmann, a professor of digital and information law at Cornell University. They're unlikely to do that. But it's still a case in which they have to be very precise about what they say.

Both cases grew out of concern from conservatives that their views were being suppressed about claims of 2020 election fraud, the origin of and treatments for COVID-19 and other issues, complaints that congressional Republicans have amplified with multiple hearings.

Federal officials complained to Twitter in 2021 after anti-vaccine activist and current presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. falsely linked the death of baseball legend Hank Aaron to the Covid-19 vaccine.

The GOP-controlled House last year passed legislation to prohibit federal employees from advocating for censorship of viewpoints. The bill, which has not advanced in the Democrat-controlled Senate, was a response to Twitter briefly blocking links to a New York Post story about Hunter Bidens laptop in 2020.

Former Twitter executives denied last year that they were pressured by Democrats and law enforcement to suppress the story. Yoel Roth, Twitter's former head of trust and safety, who regularly communicated with the FBI about election security issues, testified at a congressional hearing that the agency was always careful not to cross the line into advocating for Twitter to take any particular action.

Lower courts sided with challengers

In the case before the Supreme Court Monday, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and numerous other federal officials are being sued by the Republican attorney generals in Missouri and Louisiana and by five social media users who said their posts or accounts were removed or downgraded.

Kennedy, who is running for president as an independent and contends in a filing there may be no more individual in the country more heavily targeted for social media censorship by the federal government, has a separate suit still working its way through the court system.

One of the challengers being represented on Monday, Jill Hines, co-director of the conservative Health Freedom Louisiana group, said the warnings she received from Facebook included one for sharing a screenshot of a Kennedy tweet and one for her post of a Daily Mail story headlined, Face masks may raise risk of stillbirths, testicular dysfunction and cognitive decline due to build-up of carbon dioxide, study warns.

The study referenced included no evidence that masks cause serious health problems, according to PolitiFact, a nonpartisan factchecking site.

From left, Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Amy Coney Barrett, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan.

A district court in Louisiana sided with Hines and other challengers, imposing sweeping restrictions on the governments interaction with social media platforms.

The New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit narrowed the restraints but the Justice Department said they would still place unprecedented limits on how government officials can speak about matters of public concern, address national security threats or relay public health information.

The restrictions are on hold while the Supreme Court reviews the case.

Three justices have already criticized `government censorship'

Three of the courts six conservative justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch  wanted to reject the federal governments appeal.

"Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government, and therefore todays decision is highly disturbing," Alito wrote when the court agreed to take the case.

The Justice Department argues public officials interaction with social media platforms was not coercive, nor did it involve significant encouragement. Government agencies largely provided the platforms with information, leaving it up to the platforms to decide what action to take, if any, the governments lawyers wrote in a filing.

More: Mask mandates? Supreme Court rejects appeal from Marjorie Taylor Greene, GOP lawmakers

Lawyers for some of the challengers say that unless whats being shared is illegal  such as child pornography  the First Amendment doesnt allow the government to mediate between true speech and false speech.

It's not the government's role, and never has been the government's role, to be the truth police, said Mark Chenoweth, president and chief legal officer of the New Civil Liberties Alliance. The group represents the infectious disease experts who co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which advocated lifting COVID-19 restrictions on lower-risk groups to promote "herd immunity."

Persuasion or coercion?

The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University said the Supreme Court needs to clarify the line between permissible persuasion and impermissible coercion  and must emphasize that applying that standard should include a full examination of the facts and context.

In Monday's case, for example, President Joe Bidens public statement that social media companies were killing people by not sufficiently combatting misinformation about vaccines may have exerted public pressure but did not carry a retaliatory threat even if the word choice was provocative, according to the institute, which reviewed some of the charges.

The challengers objection to an internal email sent from a Biden COVID adviser to a Facebook official is trickier. Complaining that 100% of the questions I asked have never been answered and weeks have gone by, the official wrote: Internally we have been considering our options on what to do about it.

President Joe Biden addressed the nation about the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2021. Biden has accused social media companies of "killing people" by failing to screen out pandemic misinformation.

The email sounded accusatory and demanding and could be read as an implicit threat of regulatory retaliation, according to the institute.

However the Supreme Court comes down in this case  and in its pending ruling on the Texas and Florida social media laws  the ramifications could be far-reaching.

Olivier Sylvain, an expert on communications law at Fordham University and a research fellow at the Knight First Amendment Institute, called it a special, maybe even once in a generation, opportunity to define how far governments may go to protect against the online distribution of lawful and unlawful harmful content.

Contributing: Bart Jansen, Jessica Guynn, John Kennedy of USA TODAY.

More: Supreme Court sounds skeptical of Texas and Florida laws to regulate social media

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court social media case pits disinformation against censorship
The suspect wanted for the killing of a New Mexico State Police officer has been captured following a "pursuit and officer-involved shooting," authorities say.

Police say Jaremy Smith, 32, of South Carolina, shot Officer Justin Hare on Interstate 40 near mile marker 318 at around 5:30 a.m. Friday after Smith pulled over to the side of the road with a flat tire.

"Yesterday we said that we would bring Jaremy Smith to justice. There was nowhere that he could run, that there is nowhere that he could hide. And today, thanks to our community, to our fellow law enforcement partners, we were able to do that," New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said Sunday at a news briefing.

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said authorities managed to track down Smith earlier this morning following a tip from a gas station employee in Alburquerque. As police moved in, a foot pursuit ensued during which shots were fired, he added.

NEW MEXICO COP KILLER WAS DRIVING CAR BELONGING TO SOUTH CAROLINA PARAMEDIC FOUND DEAD, POLICE SAY

Phonesia Machado-Fore, left, Jaremy Smith, center, and Officer Justin Hare, right. Smith is accused of killing Hare and driving a BMW belonging to Machado-Fore, who was found dead in South Carolina on Friday.

Smith was struck by the gunfire and is now recovering at a local hospital, according to Allen, noting that no deputies were hurt. An investigation is ongoing.

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On Friday, Smith was trying to flag down passing motorists, and Hare arrived and parked behind the suspect, Weisler said.

Weisler said that Smith approached the police car at the passenger side door and, after a short conversation about fixing the tire, pulled out a gun and shot Hare.

The suspect then walked to the drivers side door and shot Hare again before pushing him into the passenger seat, according to Weisler.

FLASHBACK: SUSPECT IN NEW MEXICO POLICE OFFICER SHOOTING CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS

Police escort fallen Officer Justin Hare's casket on Friday

Smith allegedly then drove away in the police vehicle, which was abandoned a short time later.

"Officer Hare died serving his state and his community. On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need," Weisler said Saturday, fighting back tears.

"That person killed him in cold blood. The last words Officer Hare uttered on this earth was to offer help to a man who was about to kill him," he added.

Hare is survived by his girlfriend and two young children, Weisler said.

A police officer was fatally shot near the city of Tucumcari in New Mexico on Friday morning. Suspect Jaremy Smith was arrested on Sunday.

Police say Smith was driving a BMW belonging to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a paramedic found dead in Dillon County, South Carolina, on Friday evening. An autopsy to determine her cause of death is scheduled for Monday.





Original article source: Suspect Jaremy Smith captured following fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officer
Leader of Austria's Identitarian Movement Martin Sellner speaks during a protest against a police raid at his house, outside the Justice Ministry in Vienna

ZURICH (Reuters) - A far-right Austrian politician was stopped by the police from speaking at an event in the Swiss canton of Aargau on Saturday after the organisers didn't comply with a police request for the event to be cancelled.

Martin Sellner, leader of the Identitarian Movement - classified in 2019 by Germany's domestic intelligence service as an extreme right-wing group in a sign of official concern about radicals with anti-Islamic and racist views - had travelled to Tegerfelden to present at the event organized by a Swiss group called "Junge Tat" (Young Deed).

Sellner had planned to speak on "remigration", a concept whereby some immigrants could be forced to leave - even if they have citizenship.

"The police in the Kanton of Aargau, Switzerland stormed a speech, turned off the electricity, handcuffed me and performed a push back," Sellner wrote on social media platform X. "I am not allowed to enter Aargau for 2 months."

Aargau police confirmed they had shut down the event after organises failed to comply with a request to do so.

"To ensure public safety and prevent confrontations with people from the opposing side, the speaker at the event was stopped and ordered to leave the cantonal territory," Aargau police said in a statement.

(Reporting by Noele Illien; Editing by David Holmes)
I recently heard someone dismiss microschools as insignificant in the education space due to their size. Its true that microschools are intentionally small, typically below 100 students, but they are steadily growing nationwide. Small things sometimes make the biggest impact. For example, the 33 million small businesses in the U.S. form the backbone of the economy, comprising 99.9 percent of all companies and employing more than 61 million people.

Small is scalable.

In addition to their small size, microschools are also usually low-cost, highly personalized learning programs, often with a creative curriculum and supple scheduling. They were gaining momentum pre-pandemic and took off following COVID school closures and prolonged remote learning. As someone who has been following alternative education trends for years, I suspected microschooling  and its cousin, homeschooling  would remain above pre-pandemic levels even after schools returned to normal. But I have been pleasantly surprised to see a continued acceleration of these programs in many areas of the country.

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Tennessee is a case in point. I recently visited five microschools and related learning models around Nashville and Chattanooga. All of them have launched in the past four years and most opened within the past two years. Their enrollment is quickly rising, and some have already hit capacity with long waitlists. Demand for these start-up schools shows no signs of slowing.

The oldest of the programs I visited opened in August 2020. Located on an organic farm in Smyrna, Tennessee, about 20 miles outside of Nashville, Bloomsbury Farm School began with one teacher and five homeschooled children, including farmer Lauren Palmers own five-year-old. By January 2021, the program had 30 children and two teachers. Today, it is a Reggio Emilia-inspired K-5 farm school, with additional parent-child programming for littler ones, that serves 86 children.

Lauren Palmer and Kaiti Dewhirst at Bloomsbury Farm School (Kerry McDonald)

Blending core academics and interest-driven learning, along with abundant outside time and opportunities to help with farm duties, the farm school is currently at maximum enrollment, with dozens of children on a waitlist. All of the children are recognized homeschoolers, with most attending two to three days a week. The full-time, five-day option costs $900/month. For the majority of our families, COVID was the catalyst to them beginning their homeschooling journey, said Kaiti Dewhirst, Bloomsbury Farms Director of Education. She says now these families dont want their children in a conventional classroom. They see the farm school as an opportunity to preserve childhood wonder. Dewhirst and her team are in the planning stages of determining how to extend their program to middle school and beyond, as well as serve more families on the waitlist.

In Franklin, another Nashville suburb, Harpeth Montessori opened its doors as a recognized private school in fall 2021 with over 40 learners, including toddlers to fifth graders. Today, it has nearly 100 students and 16 staff members. Founders Greg and Jennifer Biorkman never expected to own a school. Both have backgrounds in business and sales and were working full-time jobs when COVID hit and disrupted the education of their two young boys. They decided to create their ideal learning environment with trained Montessori teachers and a focus on child-centered learning.

Related

In Los Angeles, a Tiny School Lets Young People Direct Their Own Education

We truly could not find a school we wanted to send our children to, said Jennifer. It was simple supply and demand. Last year, Greg left his corporate job to oversee Harpeth Montessori full time, and is planning to expand the program to middle schoolers in the fall while managing a growing waitlist.

This community is very open to alternatives to conventional education but there are not a lot of options, he said, acknowledging that there is a lot of opportunity for other entrepreneurial parents and teachers to launch small schools.

Further south, the Chattanooga area has some of the newest microschools and related learning models in the state. In fall 2022, Rebecca Ellis opened Canyon Creek Christian Academy in Chattanooga with 32 K-6 students. A Charlotte Mason-inspired hybrid homeschool program, Canyon Creek learners attend full-time classes three days a week focused on core academics and deep nature study, while working through curriculum at home on the remaining two days. Today, Canyon Creek Christian Academy has more than 50 learners with five full-time teachers and additional part-time instructors.

The Academy recently leased additional church space next door to continue to accommodate its growing enrollment. We are getting more kids trying to pull out of the public school system, said Ellis, who says her programs low-stress, child-focused environment is appealing to parents  especially those whose children are growing anxious in test-heavy conventional schools. Canyon Creeks low annual tuition, currently set at $3,750, is also attractive, costing significantly less than other local private schools.

Just a few miles down the road in Chattanooga, Discovery Learners Academy also opened in fall 2022. Founded by Rachel Good, who worked as a public school teacher in Washington and Tennessee for over eight years, Discovery Learners Academy, is a state-recognized private school with a personalized educational approach that opened with 21 learners and today has 50  about 15 of whom attend part-time as homeschoolers. Half of all the schools students are neurodiverse, a population that Good caters to as a former special education teacher. Indeed, her inability to fully serve special needs students in the conventional school system was one of the reasons she left the public schools. I was always trying to advocate for these kids and was always hitting a brick wall, said Good.

At $7,000 a year, Discovery Learners Academy is about half the cost of most traditional private schools in the area, and less than the $10,850 a year that the local Hamilton County public schools spend per student. Even so, tuition is still financially out-of-reach for many families, and the school currently doesnt qualify for the states small education choice program. Its so heartbreaking when a parent asks if they can use their voucher here and I have to say no, said Good, who is supportive of current efforts by Tennessee lawmakers to expand school choice policies.

The newest microschool I visited in the Volunteer State opened in August in Cleveland, just outside of Chattanooga. Triumph Acton Academy is a home-based learning pod for homeschoolers that is part of the fast-growing Acton Academy network that includes more than 300 independently-operated, learner-driven microschools, serving thousands of students.

In spring 2023, Alexis and JT Rubatsky listened to a podcast with Acton Academy co-founder, Jeff Sandefer, explaining the philosophy of learner-driven education where young people are empowered to pursue their passions while mastering core curriculum content. They were hooked, and knew immediately that it was the type of education they wanted for their two boys, ages six and 11. Our kids werent thriving in school, and as a teacher, I saw that there was so much focus on the tests, on shoving information down their throats, said Alexis, who quit her job teaching high school biology in the local public schools to open Triumph. The year started with five learners, including the Rubatskys two boys. Half-way through their first year, enrollment has more than doubled to 11 learners and the founders know it wont be long before they outgrow their home-based classroom for a larger space.

I would love for there to be lots of options, said Alexis, who is encouraged by the growth of microschools and related models in Tennessee and across the U.S. She is already connecting with local founders like Rachel Good, who is working to build community among the entrepreneurial parents and teachers who are creating these new options. Working collaboratively, these small schools can have an even greater impact.

I want to support these innovative educators, said Good. We need to have that variety of options.
The Texas Tech University (TTU) School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo will honor 62 students this Sunday, March 17 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. as they host their first-ever White Coat Ceremony for this school. The event marks when students enter their educational progression from pre-clinical training to delivering veterinary care during their clinical rotations starting in May.

The ceremony symbolizes a sacred rite of passage while conveying the professional responsibilities society expects from veterinarians. During the event, guest speakers including TTU School of Veterinary Medicine dean and professor, Guy H. Loneragan, Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley, Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec, and other school leaders will congratulate the students as they step into the next chapter of their education. Following this, each student will be donned with a white coat.

Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo will honor 62 students with their first-ever White Coat Ceremony, this Sunday, March 17 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo will honor 62 students with their first-ever White Coat Ceremony, this Sunday, March 17 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Dr. John Dascanio, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs / professor of theriogenology at TTU, said that for other veterinary schools, this ceremony is held in their first year whereas others host it in their third. For this location, the students are accepting the ceremony as a part of their third year.

"This ceremony signifies their transition from their preclinical program into their clinical program, with them actually going out from the school and participating in clinical rotations with private practitioners. This is their step into leaving the laboratory and moving into a veterinary hospital to do actual clinical work," Dascanio said.

"During the ceremony, someone who means something to them, their wife, child, veterinarian, someone who is important to them and they have gone through this journey in veterinary medicine, will place the coat on them on stage as a part of the ceremony, which adds an extra layer," Dascanio said.

During the ceremony, each student will also receive a coin including the seal of the vet school on one face and an impression of a windmill on the other, representing "grit, endurance, and the center on community".

Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo will honor 62 students with their first-ever White Coat Ceremony, this Sunday, March 17 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo will honor 62 students with their first-ever White Coat Ceremony, this Sunday, March 17 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m.

A reception for the students and their families will follow the event. Dascanio spoke about what this group of students participating in the White Coat Ceremony will mean for the future of the school and to the area.

"This is a milestone for us; it is an exciting event in the development of our program. We will have the White Coat Ceremony for the first time this year. Next year, the same class will graduate in May of 2025 for the first year at our school. So, this is a milestone to signify how much closer we are to having that first class graduate to serve Texas and beyond," Dascanio said.

For more information about the TTU School of Veterinary Medicine, visit them online at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/vetschool/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: TTU veterinary school's first class to be in White Coat Ceremony
New Mexico authorities say a suspect in the shooting death of a state police officer has been captured in the Albuquerque area by sheriff's deputies
A Texas man was found dead Friday after authorities say a woman called 911 for help, saying that she had shot her kidnapper.

The woman, identified as a 45-year-old resident of Montgomery, had called 911 around 12:40 p.m. and said she had shot someone after being kidnapped and drugged, the Gillespie County Sheriffs Office said.

While the womans whereabouts were initially unknown, deputies eventually found her near a winery in the 10800 block of East U.S. Highway 290.

The woman then spoke with deputies, describing the vehicle and the weapon used.

TEXAS POLICE HUNT KILLER AFTER TEEN FOUND DEAD IN DITCH LIKE AN ANIMAL

Deputies responded to a call from a woman who said she had shot someone after being kidnapped and drugged.

A deputy located the vehicle sitting in the outside lane of westbound traffic and found a man in the front seat-area who appeared dead, the sheriffs office said. Officials later confirmed the man was dead.

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The woman's name was not immediately released publicly, though authorities said she was 45 years old and resided in Montgomery.

The man was identified as 49-year-old Lance Damon Reid, who had been residing in the Houston area, according to the sheriffs office. No further details about Reid or his death were immediately provided.

TEXAS SUSPECTED SERIAL RAPIST WITH HIV ARRESTED IN NORTH DALLAS SUBURB; COULD BE MORE VICTIMS: POLICE

Meanwhile, the woman was taken to a local hospital, where she was interviewed by an investigator. Authorities did not immediately provide an update on the woman's condition.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The sheriffs office said the investigation remains ongoing and that no further information would be released at this time.





Original article source: Texas woman tells deputies she shot, killed man who allegedly drugged, kidnapped her
The Florida Polytechnic University community is grateful for the strong support we received from the Polk County Legislative Delegation during the 2024 Session.

Sens. Colleen Burton and Ben Albritton and Reps. Josie Tomkow, Jennifer Canady, Melony Bell and Sam Killebrew have been staunch advocates for our university, and I want to thank them for believing in our mission and for their service to our community.

As a result of this support, and that of the legislative leadership, we can continue our growth efforts by expanding our in-demand academic programs, our talented student body, top faculty and essential campus facilities.

I also offer special thanks to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Speaker Paul Renner and Appropriations Chairs Doug Broxson and Tom Leek. Your investment in Florida Poly will support the universitys transformational growth and help solidify its rising reputation as a premier core STEM institution.

The increased funding for program enhancements will be key to helping us continue recruiting some of the highest performing students in the state. Florida Poly has the second-best SAT scores among public universities in Florida, which shows we are attracting some of the brightest minds as our campus and academic offerings grow year after year. With the additional resources, well be able to strengthen our recruitment and retention efforts over the next fiscal year, making a great difference in our ability to not only attract, but also keep top talent here in Florida.

The Student Achievement Center received funding for the preliminary design stage. This critical facility will substantially enhance our student experience by providing important resources needed to accomplish even greater academic and professional success.

Our graduates earn the highest salaries among all state universities one year after graduation, which is a testament to our excellent engineering education. However, with only two academic buildings on our campus so far, the SAC will fill a crucial gap by offering spaces fully dedicated to student success, career services and collaborative learning.

The new facility will also house offices for faculty and staff focused on supporting students as they work to complete their degrees and transition into the workforce.

Our university is growing, and as we grow, so does our impact on the state. Despite being just a decade old, Florida Poly is already making vital contributions to the state as a powerful economic driver.

The university is producing a much-needed pipeline of STEM professionals, delivering outstanding career outcomes for its graduates, and attracting high-tech industry. The establishment of the new Global Citrus Innovation Center by Fortune 500 company IFF on our campus exemplifies the magnetic pull that technical universities like ours have on industry development, with companies seeking proximity to our pool of talented students and graduates.

From lean start-ups to multinational corporate giants, professionals in engineering and applied sciences are in high demand, but in low supply throughout the state and the nation. Florida Poly was created to help meet this need by producing exceptional talent educated in STEM fields and prepared with real-world work experience.

WalletHubs latest rankings placed Florida Poly No. 30 in the nation for best career outcomes, ahead of Stanford. This indicates that our sought-after alumni are demonstrating great success in industry, excelling in high-wage positions all over the state and beyond.

As our state leadership and community continue watching Florida Polys progress and growth, our campus will transform into a national leader in core STEM education while our students evolve from freshmen filled with promise to professionals ready to put their rigorous high-tech degree to good use.

Florida Polytechnic University President Randy Avent.

We appreciate that the Florida Legislature is recognizing the value of Florida Poly. We cant wait to take the big, bold steps needed to propel our growth and expand our academic reach and economic impact in Florida. Our remarkable students, faculty and staff are working hard every day to ensure the state sees a tangible return on their continuing investments in Florida Poly.

Our graduates will be the architects of the future, leading the vanguard for progress and success in Florida. We truly are grateful for your support.

Randy K. Avent is the founding president of Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, the states only all-STEM university.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida Polytechnic gives the state a tangible return on investment
Abdinzak Ahmed holds the door for Ali Dini as they leave through the early voting entrance at the Franklin County Board of Elections. Dini, who is 90 years old, was voting for the first time.

The state's primary election is on Tuesday but Ohioans can still vote early for a few hours between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday afternoon offers the last chance to vote before Election Day as there is no early voting on Monday.

Early voting takes place at county boards of elections. In Franklin County, the board is located at 1700 Morse Road in Columbus.

Here's what you need to know as early voting ends and the primary Election Day approaches:

What time are polls open for the Ohio primary?

Ohioans who can't make it to the board of elections between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday can vote at their local polling place on Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A list of polling locations is available on the Ohio Secretary of State's website.

Make sure to bring a valid photo ID as a new state law no longer allows voters to use bills and other documents as identification.

How do I vote by mail?

The deadline to request an absentee ballot has passed. But Ohioans who already requested an absentee ballot to vote by mail can still cast their ballot that way so long as the envelope is postmarked by Monday.

Ohioans can also turn in absentee ballots in-person to their county board of elections before polls close on Tuesday.

What's on the ballot this primary?

Although presidential candidates will still appear on the Democrat and Republican ballots, both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have already secured each of their party's nominations.

The Dispatch's complete guide: See our voter guide on contested races, issues in Columbus region

Aside from the presidential race, central Ohio voters will still cast ballots in contested races for Congress, the Ohio legislature and some county elections.

The biggest statewide Republican race is among three candidates seeking to take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November.

Meanwhile, Democrats will pick between two candidates running in a primary race for the Ohio Supreme Court.

The most heated Franklin County election is among three Democratic attorneys running in a primary for the chance to be the next Franklin County prosecutor.

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How much time is left to vote early in Ohio's March primary election?
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  If at first, you dont succeed  try, try and try again.

MrBeast keeps expanding his empire, will have new video on Saturday

MrBeasts newest video, Train Vs Lamborghini, is already another big hit on YouTube and social media, seen more than 21 million times as of 8 p.m. after its release at noon on Saturday. This one follows some similar videos where he has a contestant take home a prize only if they can protect it.

What are the keys to MrBeasts success? He tells Forbes in new interview

In this case, it is a guy named Blake  who has become a familiar face in trying to win and losing thousands of dollars. This time, Blake has to protect a $250,000 Lamborgini from four seemingly impossible challenges: Thousands of rounds of ammunition, a drop of over 100 feet, 10 flaming vehicles thrown at it and dodging a speeding train set on destroying it.

Heres why its been hard to find MrBeasts new candy bars

Blake is a familiar face because hes tried twice to win thousands of dollars through MrBeasts challenges. He lost $250,000 in one challenge, Worlds Deadliest Laser Maze!, back in October. He followed that up by doubling the misery in losing $500,000 in Protect $500,000 Keep It! in January. In the second challenge, Blake came up short in protecting a huge pile of cash from several obstacles, including tanks that MrBeast put in front of him.

MrBeast gets advice from Jack Black on how to skadoosh for Kung Fu Panda 4

Saturdays video follows the same format. In the first challenge, Blake has to build a fortress to protect the vehicle as four members of the military shoot 1,000 rounds. Blake has shipping containers, old vehicles, cement blocks and other barricades put up to protect the car.

Fire crews stay on alert during recent MrBeast filming

Of course, he accomplishes that feat. Otherwise, it would be a short video. But what happens next when MrBeast drops the Lamborgini from 100 feet via crane? And what about the other two challenges to make sure Blake can take the car (and $100,000 inside) home in victory?

YouTube gives MrBeast surprise gift for hitting 200 million subscribers

Does Blake finally make it?! Click and watch to see if the third time is a charm.

=====

Note: We are spotlighting events, videos and other social posts that revolve around MrBeast, who lives in Greenville, and all the great work he does online, in the community, around the country and world. To follow MrBeast, click here:

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Twitch | Kick | WNCTs MrBeast page

MrBeast Philanthropy | Philanthropy Instagram | Philanthropy Twitter

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip block a road and set fire to the street during a rally calling for the release of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas and against Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Cindy Riechau/dpa

Thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday in favour of the release of hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and in opposition to the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Relatives of the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip demanded a new hostage deal and called on the government to act quickly. Several demonstrations spread across Tel Aviv and blocked central traffic arteries in the coastal metropolis.

Chaotic scenes broke out between the police and demonstrators at some of the rallies.

Relatives of the hostages abducted to the Gaza Strip accuse Netanyahu and his government of not doing enough to secure their release. "Our prime minister has forgotten that he is also the prime minister of 134 hostages," said a relative at a rally. "They have no more time, we have no more time. Do something now, we need you!"

Elsewhere, several thousand people demonstrated against the Netanyahu government and called for early elections. On a large screen, they played a video excerpt from a speech by US Senator Chuck Schumer, who said that he believed early elections were in Israel's interests. In front of the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, a group of war veterans set up a dummy tank.

Hundreds of people also gathered outside the residence of President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. Dozens of demonstrators blocked roads there and, according to media reports, were dragged off the streets by the police.

The Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by the Islamist Hamas movement and other extremist Palestinian organizations in Israel on October 7.

More than 1,200 people were killed on the Israeli side and some 240 were taken hostage. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza.

According to the Hamas-controlled health authority there, more than 31,100 people have been killed on the Palestinian side since the start of the war.

Israeli soldiers have reportedly killed an armed Palestinian after shots were fired near the West Bank city of Hebron.

The attacker opened fire not far from an Israeli settlement neighbourhood on Saturday, the army said. Soldiers in the vicinity then "neutralized" the man, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

There were initially no reports of other casualties. The armed wing of the Islamist militant group Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Video footage circulated on social media showing the man opening fire from a cemetery before being shot dead by the soldiers. According to media reports, sirens sounded in the neighbourhood.

The military said it was continuing to search the area around Hebron.

Israel is engaged in a war on multiple fronts, Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi has said.

Any event or incident on one of the fronts could affect other regions and provoke a reaction there, Halevi said during a visit to border police officers in the West Bank on Friday. The Israeli army only published the military chief's words on Saturday.

In view of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, all security forces are particularly vigilant, he emphasized.

In this context, Halevi mentioned Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Gaza and "even further afield." The attention of the army and all other forces should be focused on the entire Ramadan period and all fronts.

Germany delivered its first aid supplies for Gaza by parachute on Saturday after joining other countries in a humanitarian mission to the embattled Palestinian territory.

Four tons of rice, flour and other food were dropped from a military C-130 Hercules transport aircraft over the north of the Gaza Strip. The next delivery is scheduled for Sunday.

Germany deployed two C-130 aircraft stationed in France to the region. Each can transport up to 18 tons of cargo and will operate out of Jordan, which initiated the airdrops. The United States and France are also taking part in the initiative.

A week ago, a pallet whose parachute failed to open killed five people. In another instance, dropped goods reportedly fell in an active combat zone with Israeli soldiers in the immediate vicinity.

Authorities in Gaza have called the airdrops "futile" due to the relatively small volumes of food delivered. Many residents are also simply unable to access the areas where the supplies land.

One aircraft load, which is brought to its destination at great expense, is roughly equivalent to the amount that a truck can transport.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called for a swift ceasefire in the Gaza war ahead of a two-day trip to Jordan and Israel.

The German airdrops on Saturday coincided with the completion of the unloading of a first seaborne consignment of almost 200 tons of food for Gaza.

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip block a road and set fire to the street during a rally calling for the release of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas and against Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Cindy Riechau/dpa
Vladimir Putin won another six years as Russian president on Sunday in an election in which he faced no competition, and which was overshadowed by widespread protests against his rule.

Exit poll results released shortly after voting closed on Sunday evening showed that Putin had won 88 per cent of the vote on a turnout of 73.3 per cent. In occupied parts of Ukraines Donbas region, he reportedly scored 95 per cent of the vote.

Speaking at the headquarters of United Russia, his political party, Putin praised Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and said that his election win represented the the unified will of the Russian people.

Were all one team, he said.

I want to thank all of you and all citizens of the country for your support and this trust.

Putin also addressed the death of rival Alexei Navalny as he claimed we have had other cases where people died in prison. Doesnt that ever happen in the USA?

Earlier on Sunday, thousands of Russians answered a call by Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Mr Navalny who died in an Arctic prison last month, to throng polling stations at midday to vote against Putin.

The flash mob protests, seen at polling stations across Russia and at its embassies around the world, revealed the depth of opposition to the Kremlin. Photographs showed queues of people, many of them smiling, snaking out of polling stations.

Its important to know you are not alone, a person in Russia who attended a flash mob at a polling station said. There are a lot of people who dont blindly believe the propaganda.

Telegram, the social messaging channel, showed photographs of dozens of ballot papers defaced by protesters, who had scrawled pro-Ukraine and anti-war slogans on them. Dont steal my voice, dont steal our future, said one spoiled paper.

A portrait of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, at a polling station near the Russian embassy in Berlin - Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

Mrs Navalnaya received a rapturous round of applause when she joined a queue of voters outside the Russian embassy in Berlin. She revealed that she had cast her ballot in the name of her dead husband.

The 88 per cent win was a record for Putin. Analysts said the Kremlin used its vote manipulation machine to force up the vote in one of its biggest propaganda projects.

Genuine opponents who were still living were all either jailed or disqualified, pressure was applied to state workers to vote for Putin and electronic voting numbers were fiddled.

Boris Nadezhdin, an anti-war candidate who was disqualified by the Kremlin, votes in Moscow on Sunday - MAXIM SHIPENKOV/Shutterstock

Golos, an independent Russian vote-monitoring NGO, said the election should be considered fixed, often using basic techniques that included offering voters free shots of vodka and faking data.

In several regions, unnaturally similar turnout results were observed in dozens of neighbouring polling stations, which is usually a consequence of data falsification, it said.

Video from one polling station in Donbas showed an armed and masked man standing over voters to ensure they ticked the box for Putin.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, dismissed the result of the vote. This is not what free and fair elections look like, he said, noting that voting had been held illegally on occupied Ukrainian territory and there had been a lack of choice for voters.

Voters queue at a polling station in St Petersburg for the midday demonstration, called by exiled opposition leaders - AP

The White House National Security Council spokesman said: The elections are obviously not free nor fair, given how Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said: There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be. He added that Putin should be on trial in The Hague. Thats what we have to ensure.

The election win means that, by 2030, Putin will have ruled Russia for 30 years, longer than Joseph Stalin, who ruled for 29 years.

A woman holding a placard depicting Adolf Hitler, Putin and Joseph Stalin protests in front of the Russian embassy in Moldova - Dumitru Doru/Shutterstock

Putins victory was intended to showcase support for the war in Ukraine, and analysts believe he will now double down on building his legacy, which includes trying to subvert Ukraine to Kremlin rule.

Announcing the result, presenters on Russian TV said it proved that Russians were consolidating around the president at a time of war.

OVD-Info, a Russian human rights group, said police had arrested 74 people at polling stations in Russia on Sunday. Anti-Kremlin protests had also dominated the two previous days of voting, with demonstrators pouring green ink into ballot boxes and setting fire to polling booths.

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Three people were killed in a pair of shootings in Pennsylvania Saturday, according to authorities.

Andre Gordon Jr., 26, drove a stolen vehicle from Trenton, N.J., broke into a residence in Falls Township, Pa., and killed his stepmother and 13-year-old sister Saturday morning, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said at a press conference. Schorn said he then drove to a different residence, where he shot and killed another person with which he had two children.

He then fled the scene, according to Schorn, and carjacked a 44-year-old man at a parking lot of a Dollar General in Morrisville, Pa. The man was not injured, per Schorn. Following the incident, the carjacking victims vehicle was located without anyone in it in Trenton, N.J. Schorn said that authorities had received information that Gordon is currently barricaded in New Jersey with hostages at 12:22 pm at a residence in Trenton.

Gordon is believed to be homeless and has ties to the Trenton area, according to Schorn.

A spokesperson for the Trenton Police Department, Lisette Rios, confirmed to The Hill that people in the residence of a suspect were evacuated and that that suspect did manage to flee the home prior to [t]he police establishing a perimeter.

At that time, the police believed that the suspect was in the residence alone, Rios continued. The suspect was later observed on a nearby street. Trenton police officers responded and took the suspect into custody.

Earlier in the day, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said he had been briefed on a developing incident in Falls Township.

Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground, he said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to law enforcements direction.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
When drag queen Titti Von Tramp jumped on a police land rover in Belfast in March 1999 she didn't realise she was about to be part of history.

The Kremlin bar was having its opening night party but was evacuated following a bomb scare.

As the anxious revellers piled out onto the street the drag queen decided this was not going to ruin the fun.

This is the story of the drag queen, the police land rover, the bomb scare and a photo that travelled the world.

It was a mild evening back in March 1999 and Robert McCready, then 27 from Ballywalter in County Down, was getting ready to go out with friends for the opening of a new gay bar in Belfast called the Kremlin.

He was going out dressed as his drag persona the Baroness Titti Von Tramp.

Murder of Darren Bradshaw

Belfast already had a gay bar called The Parliament, which opened in 1994.

It was the scene of the murder of an off-duty police officer Darren Bradshaw.

The community was excited about their second venue opening, but the celebrations did not last long as shortly after the doors opened a bomb scare was phoned in and the Kremlin had to be evacuated.

Bomb scares were pretty common in Northern Ireland during the period known as the The Troubles, usually an alert would be phoned in saying a device was in the area.

'I thought I was going to get arrested'

"I was barely in the door when the bomb scare happened," Titti said.

"We thought, this can't be right, what's going on, it was manic," she said.

"Darren Bradshaw had only been killed 18 months beforehand so that was in everyone's mind."

Titti Von Tramp at Belfast Pride in 2021

Police Land Rovers arrived at the venue and it was secured while the security services screened the area for any devices.

"The atmosphere was electric, the tensions around the bomb scare fizzled away and the party just went on," Titti said.

"People kept telling me to get on the police van, I just thought, to hell with it, you only live once.

"I thought I'll just sit on it initially as I was in eight inch heels but then I climbed up, I just kept thinking that I was going to get arrested."

'It's a bum scare'

Press photographers outside the bar captured the moment and photo travelled around the world appearing in newspapers as far afield as the United States and New Zealand.

Headlines included "it's a bum scare" and the "lady is a tramp".

The photo became symbolic for Northern Ireland's gay community,

Even though Titti said she didn't realise the significance of it at the time it was a very "powerful moment".

"There was a drag queen from Belfast in the newspapers, having fun, being visible and not letting a bomb scare spoil the fun," she said.

Titti Von Tramp became a staple of Belfast nightlife working across different bars and clubs and was a regular at the Belfast Pride parade.

She also appeared on a drag queen special of The Weakest Link with Anne Robinson and was first to be voted off.

Von Tramp is still working across the city regularly hosting brunches and drag bingo.

The doors to the Kremlin nightclub are still open and it recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

To mark the occasion Titti Von Tramp was back working the door and the club hired a replica police vehicle so they could recreate the iconic photograph.

Allen Gordon, the manager at the bar, said the anniversary was a chance to look back at how far the community has come.

"We have to take a minute and reflect on those brave people who came before us and started this venture off in the face of great adversity," he said.

"There are so many iconic moments in our story but one that stands out in everyone's mind is the night Titti Von Tramp decided to hop on top of a police Land Rover.

"It was one we were very keen to recreate for old times sake."

There is now a discussion about the original photo being turned into a mural in Belfast city centre.

"I'd absolutely love that," she said. "Imagine me being plastered all over a wall."

Titti Von Tramp will feature in an hour-long Spotlight: Blood on the Dance Floor on Tuesday 19 March on BBC One Northern Ireland.

Jordan Dunbar tells the story of Darren Bradshaw, the police officer shot dead in a ground-breaking gay bar in Belfast in 1997, and investigates how DJs, drag queens and dancers fought back against hate.
Last week, NHS England announced that puberty blockers would no longer be given to children at its gender identity clinics. Its been a long journey to get to this point.

Almost exactly five years ago, the Telegraph broke the news that eventually led to the closure of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trusts Gender Identity Development Service. The Tavistock started an experiment giving puberty blockers to adolescents as young as 12 in 2011. In 2018, when I started looking for outcomes, nothing had been published. This absence raised my suspicions because I know that favourable results are speedily published. I searched for evidence using Freedom of Information requests and I made a formal complaint to the Health Research Authority.

What I discovered was disturbing: conference presentations where the Director of GIDS admitted that the results were not as they hoped; data from 30 of the patients after a year on puberty blockers showing more negative changes than positive ones.

Submitting my findings to an academic journal would have been an uphill battle. The prevailing wisdom was that puberty blockers were lifesaving medication for transgender kids. Instead, I announced my findings on Transgender Trend, a blog run by Stephanie Davies-Arai, a critic of the medicalisation of gender-nonconforming children, whose writing had helped to shift my views.

This blog led to that first Telegraph article, my full-length paper on the experiment, and my appearance on BBC Newsnight. I was an expert witness in the judicial review brought by Keira Bell. Eventually I did publish the outcomes of the experiment in a psychology journal, six months before their belated publication by the Tavistocks clinicians. Would they have published without my discoveries?

My extensive research was possible only because the University of Oxford paid my salary and the Department of Sociology let me pursue my curiosity without hindrance. Few academics in Britain enjoy such privilege, as bureaucratic managers exhort their underlings to maximise their consumption of external grant funding and their mass production of outputs. Naturally these managers punish any line of research that strays from what is deemed orthodox by activist scholars and students, because dissenting research will not receive grants or achieve publication and will alienate fee-paying customers.

Pursuing this research on puberty blockers entailed personal costs. Many colleagues warned me that I was being very courageous, a message familiar to viewers of Yes Minister. I have surely made myself unappointable to any other post; I have lost students, invitations to seminars, and friends. But there is no need for another victim narrative. If you express unpopular views, then you can hardly complain about being unpopular.

As I pursued my investigation, the University of Oxfords Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care was given a grant of 700,000 to interview young people who identified as transgender, their parents, and gender clinicians. The projects advisory board included a clinical psychologist at the Tavistock along with the co-founder of Gendered Intelligence, a transgender campaign group. Interviewees were recruited through organisations promoting endocrinological and surgical interventions. One was Mermaids. Another was GenderGP, a Singapore-based firm led by two British doctors; one has been struck off from the medical registrar for dishonesty, while the other has a criminal conviction for running an unlicensed clinic.

This project produced a website featuring videos of young people praising puberty blockers. These included testimonials recommending named private providers, including GenderGP. After complaints from me, these providers names disappeared from the website. Today it still claims that hormone blockers are a reversible intervention and it is more harmful to withhold this intervention that [sic] to provide it. This project exemplifies what happens when universities and the NHS are yoked to campaigning organisations.

It is fortunate that my university also provides space to lone academics to pursue lines of research that dissent from the prevailing orthodoxy  even beyond the confines of their discipline. Academic freedom comes at a price, of course. It enables scholars to pursue research which might seem frivolous. It protects weird cranks as well as truth-seekers. Only in retrospect, however, can they be distinguished. Academic freedom bestows a grave responsibility on those who enjoy its privilege: to pursue truth, even  or especially  when it offends our peers.

Michael Biggs is associate professor of sociology at the University of Oxford

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Olaf Scholz, right, has repeatedly refused to send Taurus cruise missiles to Volodymyr Zelensky - Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/Alamy

One of Olaf Scholzs top allies in the German parliament has urged him to ask how to freeze the Ukraine war in the latest sign of a party split over standing up to Russia.

Speaking during a debate on sending weapons to Ukraine, Rolf Mutzenich, the head of Mr Scholzs Social Democrat parliamentary party, asked: Instead of asking how to wage war, isnt it time to ask how we can freeze a war and end it later?

His comments were immediately condemned by the SPDs coalition partners, with Ricarda Lang, the Green party head, describing the comments as the old Russia policy and saying that would clearly lead to incredible suffering for the many people in the occupied territories.

Andriy Melnyk, a former Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, described Mr Mutzenich as the most nauseating German politician.

Rolf Mutzenich said: 'Isn't it time to ask how we can freeze a war and end it later?' - Michael Kappeler/dpa/Alamy

Mr Scholzs SPD has long been criticised for being soft on Russia.

Gerhard Schroder, the former chancellor, is a friend of Vladimir Putin and now works for Gazprom, while Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president, once defended the Nordstream gas pipeline with Russia, citing Germanys historical responsibility for the Second World War.

The comments were the latest sign of a growing rift within Mr Scholzs party over how far Germany should go in challenging Russias aggression.

Mr Mutzenich is a stalwart of the SPDs Left wing, on which Mr Scholz is known to rely to maintain power within the party.

Roderick Kiesewetter, a former Bundeswehr officer and opposition CDU politician, accused Mr Mutzenich of testing the waters to see how much sympathy the statement got within the party.

Mr Mutzenichs statement was defended by Ralf Stegner, a fellow SPD Left-winger, who said a temporary and regionally limited ceasefire was needed.

European politicians and security experts have signed an open letter warning that Mr Scholzs current policy seriously risks defeat in Ukraine, which would embolden Moscow and raise the likelihood of a wider war with Russia in which the missiles could be falling on Cologne rather than Kyiv.

Mr Scholz has repeatedly refused to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, despite pressure from his coalition partners, including Annalena Baerbock, foreign minister from the Greens, as well as his international allies.

The letter was signed by a Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a former president of Estonia, a former Ukrainian foreign minister and the president of the German Council of Foreign Relations.

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A quarter of Tory voters no longer believe that the Conservatives are the party of law and order, a new poll suggests.

More than four in ten people said they do not think that the Tories can be trusted on law and order, an issue historically considered central to the Conservative Party brand.

Even among those who voted for them at the last election in 2019, 26 per cent said they do not believe that the Tories are the party of law and order.

The survey of 2,256 people, conducted at the beginning of March by Savanta for the Liberal Democrats, comes as police forces struggle to crack down on petty crime such as burglary and shoplifting.

The Telegraph revealed earlier this month that police have failed to solve a single burglary in nearly half of all neighbourhoods in England and Wales in the last three years.

Shoplifting has also risen to a record high of 1,300 cases a day last year  with only one in seven being solved.

Jeremy Hunt announced a 230 million cash injection to boost the use of advanced technology among police forces  including using more drones as first responders  as part of his Spring Budget.

But the Liberal Democrats said the announcement showed the Government had the wrong priorities on policing  pointing to the cut of 4,500 frontline Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) since 2015.

Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: The decision to spend nearly a quarter of a billion pounds on facial recognition and drones while community officer numbers are decimated tells you everything you need to know about the Conservatives priorities.

He added that wide-scale reform in the Home Office is the only way to deliver the change the British public deserves.

Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said the Government had the wrong priorities on policing - DAVID CHESKIN/PA

The Conservatives were consistently considered the party to be trusted on law and order, well above Labour.

According to monthly polling by YouGov, between August 2019 and September 2022, when Liz Truss entered Number 10, the Tories were judged to be the best party on handling the issue.

But since then the party has polled neck and neck with, and then behind, Labour on law and order, as the Opposition set out its pledges to fix the broken criminal justice system.

Sir Keir Starmer has promised to boost the number of PCSOs and neighbourhood police, increase patrols and clamp down on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

Meanwhile, the Government is also struggling with criminals once theyre caught, with Alex Chalk, the Secretary of State for Justice, last week indicating prisons could be full by Easter.

Prisoners on sentences of less than four years, including burglars and shoplifters, will be freed over a month early to ease the pressures on jails.

Chris Philp, the policing minister, said: The Conservatives have already cut crime excluding fraud by over half since 2010 and are sticking with the plan to keep our streets safe by delivering 20,000 more police officers since 2019, passing new laws to toughen sentences for the worst offenders, and boosting police funding to over 18 billion next year.

Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives are sticking to the plan to build safer communities across the country by being tough on law and order.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday gave a sharp response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's call for a new government and "course corrections" by Israel.

I think what he said is totally inappropriate, Netanyahu said on CNNs State of the Union. It's inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. That's something the Israeli public does on its own.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., has long been a top advocate for Israel in Congress  making his floor remarks seeking new elections especially head-turning. "The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7," Schumer said Thursday. "The world has changed  radically  since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past."

President Joe Biden called Schumer's remarks "a good speech." Netanyahu responded to Bidens reaction by claiming that the majority of Israelis support Netanyahus plan to go into Rafah and destroy the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions  though he stopped short of directly addressing the presidents comment.



Netanyahu, who went to high school in Pennsylvania and college in Massachusetts, compared the idea of an American calling for new leadership in Israel during wartime to Israelis calling for President George W. Bush to step down during the wars that followed the Sept. 11 attacks. "You don't do that," he said.

Last week, Netanyahu authorized plans for a Rafah offensive, days after Biden said that an Israeli invasion in Rafah would be a red line  though Biden quickly clarified that he would not cut off all weapons to Israel. Senior U.S. officials have told their Israeli counterparts the Biden administration would support Israel going after high-value Hamas targets in and underneath Rafah  as long as Israel avoids a large-scale invasion.

Schumers speech won praise from much of the Democratic caucus, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said on State of the Union that Netanyahus presentation proved the necessity of Chuck Schumers speech.

"Chuck Schumer's speech was an act of courage, an act of love for Israel," Pelosi said. "And I wish the Prime Minister would read the whole speech because he speaks with great vehemence about the need to defeat Hamas."

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas were expected to resume in Qatar as soon as Sunday. Last month, Gazas death toll surpassed 30,000 in the Israeli invasion that followed Hamas' incursion into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. More than 100 Israelis continue to be held hostage by Hamas.
Russias defence minister has ordered commanders of the Black Sea Fleet to train day and night to fend off Ukrainian drone attacks that have sunk more than a dozen warships.

On a trip to the Black Sea Fleets headquarters in occupied Crimea, Sergei Shoigu admonished his naval officers for being beaten back by Ukraines far smaller navy and embarrassing the Kremlin.

There must be training for personnel every day. Training on how to repel attacks from the air and by uncrewed boats, he said in a video of the visit released by the Russian ministry of defence.

The ministry of defence also said that Mr Shoigu ordered high-calibre machine guns to be installed on warships to destroy approaching enemy drones.

Vladimir Putin regularly dispatches Mr Shoigu to visit front-line units with messages and threats if he feels commanders are underperforming.

Sergei Shoigu visits a military hospital under construction in Sevastopol, Crimea during trip to the Black Sea Fleet's HQ - Russian Defence Ministry/via REUTERS

In the Russian ministry of defence video, Mr Shoigu sat next to Admiral Alexander Moiseev, the new overall commander of the Russian navy, as he listened to a briefing from Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk.

He also later toured the construction site of a new military hospital in Sevastopol, Crimea.

Russias Black Sea Fleet has suffered several humiliating blows during the war with Ukraine, including losing its flagship, the Moskva, and control of the strategically important Snake Island.

According to Novaya Gazeta, an independent-minded Russian newspaper, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks have destroyed 15 Black Sea Fleet warships and submarines, mainly when they were docked at ports in Crimea.

This has angered Putin, who reorganised his top naval command this year.

He promoted Admiral Moiseev to overall commander of the Russian navy this month. Vice Admiral Pinchuk was promoted to lead the Black Sea Fleet last month, the fleets third commander since the start of the war in February 2022.

Last year, Russias ministry of defence admitted that it had started to build a new base for its Black Sea Fleet in a rebel region of Georgia that lies 380 miles from Ukraine, a retreat that Western analysts described as a humiliation for the Kremlins once-vaunted Black Sea Fleet.

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Sherri Paul, a witness to this week's bloody mayhem aboard an A-train -- who recorded the incident on her phone - vowed to "never again" ride the NYC rails.

The woman who filmed this weeks bloody mayhem aboard an A-train vowed to never again ride the NYC rails.

Im not feeling good. Im still traumatized. I cant even step outside. Sherri Paul told The Post from her Brooklyn residence on Saturday.

My body keeps on shakingIm in pain. I got trampled.

Sherri Paul is looking to move out of New York City in the aftermath of this weeks shocking subway episode. Peter Gerber

Im looking into moving out of New York. Its extremely not safe for me as a single mother, she said.

The medical assistant was aboard a northbound A train Thursday around 4:45 p.m. when DaJuan Robinson began randomly acting aggressively towards fellow straphangerYounece Obuad.

Robinson, 36, had entered the subway system illegally in Brooklyn before the evening rush and targeted Obuad, 32,, taunting the stranger, displaying a knife and finally pulling a handgun as chaos ensued, according to cops and video.

As the train approached the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, Obaud did not pay any attention Robinson, Paul said.

However, Robinson would not let up.

A NYC journalist who also witnessed the shocking episode posted a video on X. @JoyceMeetsWorld/X

Im still traumatized. I cant even step outside. My body keeps on shakingIm in pain. I got trampled, Sherri Paul told The Post from her Brooklyn residence on Saturday. Peter Gerber

Paul does not believe Obaud should be charged with a crime, but she does not feel he is a hero either. He was defending himself, but is killing [shooting someone] a good thing? she asked

Law-enforcement sources told The Post Robinson appeared to have been harassing the stranger because he wrongly thought Obuad was a recent migrant.

As the pair scuffled, Obuad ended up shooting Robinson four times with his own gun, including through the eye, leaving him in critical condition.

The Posts front page details the shooting csuarez

The agitator had told his victim that he only likes black people, adding,

Fk your kind as the confrontation became physical.

Im looking into moving out of New York. Its extremely

not safe for me as a single mother, Sherri Paul said.

Paul was able to record most of the incident on her phone.

Paul said the city needs to either add more security cameras or more police officers.

There was no police. It [the incident] was like thirty seconds before the train stopped. Imagine if it was two minutes or three minutes, she said.

Joyce Philippe, a journalist with ABC News, who also witnessed the chaos on the train and posted a video to X, said Saturday that she was still shaken and traumatized, but better.
Crowds have gathered at the site of an artwork in north London thought to be by street artist Banksy.

The mural - a mass of green paint sprayed on a wall behind a cut-back tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose next to it - appeared on Sunday.

It has not yet been confirmed by the artist as one of his own.

One local, who lives in Finsbury Park, said they were "proud and delighted" their street had been chosen.

"It feels like a personal message to us residents, we just feel so proud", said Wanja Sellers, who lives just a few doors down from the mural.

It appeared on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park, north London, on Sunday morning.

One person who rushed to see the work was James Peak, who created the BBC Radio 4 series The Banksy Story.

"To my mind it looks like a dead cert," he said.

"But as ever with Banksy - you never quite know, until he fesses up by posting it on his website."

The elusive artist officially confirms his work by posting pictures on his website and social media - which has not yet been done for the Finsbury tree. The BBC has contacted Banksy's team for comment.

But documentary maker Mr Peak said the artwork "certainly bears all of the hallmarks" of a Banksy.

"It has got the right techniques, it certainly has an easy-to-understand message, a very clever location, and it really resonates the second you see it".

"The message is clear," he said. "Nature's struggling and it is up to us to help it grow back."

Mr Peak said: "If you go way back to the beginning of his work, he is always looking for something he can do with minimum effort to make something look really cool."

He added that the mural - a "great arterial spray of green paint" up a white wall, accompanied by a "classic Banksy-style stencil" - would probably have been created using a pressure hose or fire extinguisher.

The colour of the green paint used matches that used by Islington Council for signs in the local area, which Mr Peak said showed the Banksy eye for detail.

"When you step back it looks like the tree is bursting to life, but in a noticeably fake and synthetic way.

"It's spring now, and this tree should be bursting forth with leaves, but Banksy must have cycled past and thought how miserable it looks," he said.

"So, on St Patrick's Day, he has taken exactly the same shade of green Islington Council use for their street signs and used a pressure hose or a fire extinguisher to spray the leaves back in, onto the rather dilapidated wall behind."

And, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Peak said, by incorporating a tree into the artwork, the artist has "solved an emerging problem" of people trying to steal Banksy's work.

In December, a piece of Banksy artwork was removed in broad daylight from Peckham in London. Police are still trying to track it down.

"I don't think anyone is going to be able to nick this... how are you going to steal a tree?"

The mural generated a lot of intrigue over the weekend, with "lots of people milling about" on Sunday afternoon, Mr Peak said. "Everyone's very excited".

While he was viewing the art, he met Islington councillor Flora Williamson while she was out canvassing.

Ms Williamson said it was "incredible" to potentially have a Banksy artwork "right in the middle of social housing and one of the poorest parts of the borough".

"I think it adds intrigue and culture and brings the area to life", she said.

Mr Peak said there was often a "Banksy effect" which had been seen in places like Port Talbot and Norfolk when artworks had appeared there, with people rushing to take pictures of the murals.

It was still "causing a real stir" on Monday morning, according to BBC Radio London reporter Anna O'Neill, with at least 30 people there to see the artwork at any one time.

One of them was Finsbury Park resident Aileen, who said when she first walked past the mural on Sunday, she immediately thought "that must be a Banksy".

Another, Lidia Guerra, who lives on Hornsey Road, said she feels "so proud he chose our street".

"It's just great... we knew we had to come and see it as soon as possible".

Meanwhile podcast presenter Sally Flatman said she came down to view the artwork after hearing about it on the radio.

"To me, it speaks about how precious green spaces are, and how we need more of them in our urban areas".

Locals have also taken to social media following the artwork's appearance.

One said: "Banksy came overnight and now my rent will skyrocket."

While another said: "Proud new caretakers of an apparent new Banksy piece in Finsbury Park... Woke up this morning to it on the side of the flat."
Benton County residents voting in the Nov. 5 presidential election will find more than just their ballot when they get their ballot in the mailbox.

The countys 126,000 registered voters also will be greeted by a hand-designed I Voted sticker courtesy of River View High School sophomore Neydin Padilla.

That is pretty exciting. I know my familys excited to get one when they vote. Its just cool that everyones going to see what I did, she told the Tri-City Herald.

Padillas design was named the winner of the Benton County Auditors Offices inaugural I Voted sticker contest. County commissioners chose the winner.

Auditor Brenda Chilton and Commissioner Jerome Delvin will present Padilla with a certificate for her accomplishment on Tuesday at her school.

The contest is a chance to get future voters excited and engaged in the election process.

Neydin is a great kid. Shes very involved, always happy, comes from a big family, said River View Principal Chris Davis. Shes involved in everything, whether it be ASB (Associated Student Body), sports or student government  shes just a great, positive kid to have around the building.

Padilla, 15, is timid and soft spoken as she describes how her family encouraged her to pursue her drawing passion and how school staff helped her get involved in opportunities where her work could be recognized.

River View High School sophomore Neydin Padilla shows off the sticker design that won Benton County Auditors Offices I Voted contest. Eric Rosane/erosane@tricityherald.com

She began drawing when she was 8, under the tutelage of her uncle.

Hes a mechanic who has a love for sketching in his spare time, and taught Padilla the basics of how to draw heads and eyes. Shortly after that, Padilla was finding sketches online to study and imitate.

She continued drawing as she entered high school, and even began submitting her pieces into school district art contests. Her piece, La Reynade Mexico, won the Superintendents Choice Award at the 2024 ESD 123 High School Art Exhibit this month.

Davis asked Danielle Helvie-Juarezs art class about submitting an original piece to the auditors sticker contest.

Using markers, pens and pencils, Padilla drew her contest-winning piece in just 20 minutes.

I feel like I do better with colored pencils and markers rather than digital stuff. I feel like thats easier for me, she said. Thats just what we had there, and so I decided to make something out of it.

Using just markers, pens and pencils, 15-year-old Neydin Padilla took just 20 minutes to draw the design that won Benton County Auditors Offices inaugural I Voted sticker contest. I feel like I do better with colored pencils and markers rather than digital stuff. I feel like thats easier for me, she said. Eric Rosane/erosane@tricityherald.com

Padillas design is simple but bold. It shows three hands raised, each belonging to people from different races, with an American Flag in the background and the words I Voted sketched in the narrow margins of the flags white stripes.

I wanted that sticker to be for everyone, Padilla said.

Padilla hopes that as voters submit their ballots this fall and put on her sticker, that theyll be encouraged to continue being civically engaged citizens.

They should keep voting, she said.
CASCO, Wis. (WFRV)  A group in Kewaunee County is fighting to bring services to animals in need in the area.

Started by the veterinary technicians at 4 Legged Friends in Luxemburg, A Cause for Paws is a group determined to help strays in the area.

One of the team members, Mary Fields, says, Its not just the strays here and there. There is a true problem in this community. Theres no real program in Kewaunee County to save these animals, or to give them adequate shelter until they can find a home.

Because resources for abandoned pets and strays are limited in the county, the group is trying to get people to sign its petition online and in person. They hope having enough signatures will the county board to work on a contract with one of the nearby humane societies, or perhaps build one of their own.

Unknown illness at school district in northern Wisconsin tied to mechanical issue with furnace

Suzie Leist with the group says, We try to help as much as we can with rescues, but because theyre from Kewaunee County, a lot of places wont take them.

Not only has team member Khia Massey seen firsthand as a vet tech the struggles strays go through but she also worked at a humane society for several years.

The wild is a nasty place to be, and us as humans, the least we can do for our local animals is give them a second chance, Massey says.

The Kewaunee County Board is still waiting to learn more about the groups efforts. County Administrator Jeremy Kral says in a statement, Kewaunee County officials have not been contacted on this issue. If we are approached in the future, the issue will be addressed appropriately through our regular processes. 

So far, a Cause for Paws has more than 1,000 signatures total on their petitions. To learn more about the group, visit their Facebook page.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.

Donald Trumps unfounded new claim that Hillary Clinton used acid to delete her emails shows the former president doesnt quite grasp how the BleachBit software program works.

They released Hillary Clinton. She hammered her phones, she used all sorts of acid testing and everything else. They call it BleachBit, but its essentially acid that will destroy everything within 10 miles, he told Newsmax. I mean, what she did was unbelievable. Nothing happens to her.

Now, when he says acid, what is he on exactly? The New Abnormals co-host Danielle Moodie asked.

BleachBit is software just so were clear on this, fellow co-host Andy Levy explained. BleachBit is a software program to delete emails. It is not acid. It is not acid, its not bleach.

Its not even a great program. Its the kind of program that a person would download to just wipe out some old emails to save up storage space and stuff like that, Levy said. There are much stronger deletion programs like if youre really trying to just wipe shit clean so it cant be recovered. The whole thing is so stupid and hes so stupid and Im sick of his stupidity.

Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast.

He says this and people nod and I will bet you money the majority of people in America think that Hillary Clinton personally took out a jug of acid and poured it on the servers, Levy went on to say. By the way, Im not defending what Clinton did because I think what she did was wrong but get the facts right. Stop saying its acid and now its acid that could take out a 10-block radius.

I dont know if you remember but Donald Trump is also a doctor as well as a tech wizard because he told us about the bleach and COVID and look how well that turned out, Moodie quipped.

Plus! Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman join The New Abnormal to talk about their New York Times best-selling book, White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy.

Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.

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Former President Trump said Sunday that he has sizable support from Democratic voters who back him in secret, predicting a massive victory in 2024 as President Bidens supporters lack enthusiasm.

In a Fox News MediaBuzz interview with Howard Kurtz, Trump said that hope sets him apart from Biden.

There must be an appeal because you ride down the streets of Florida, the streets of Alabama, and they have Trump signs all over the place, Trump said. Theyre looking for hope. They want hope. Theres no hope with Biden. Hes a deadhead.

The Biden campaign has struggled to raise voter enthusiasm, primarily appealing to voters by painting Trump as a danger to the countrys future.

I think Democrats vote for me a lot more than you think, Trump continued, predicting that as many as 10 to 12 percent of registered Democrats will back him.

I have a theory. People in Beverly Hills vote for me, but they dont talk about it, Trump said. A lot of people vote for me.

The former presidents theory, he said, is seeded in 2016 election exit polls.

You didnt win big [in exit polls] because theres a group of people that say, Dont ask me. Dont ask me that question, Trump said. Anybody that says essentially, Dont ask me, that is a Trump voter. And it was the largest number of Dont ask me that voters ever.

Public opinion polls show that very few Democrats are expected to vote for Trump. An Ipsos poll released last week found that just 0.9 percent of voters who backed Biden in 2020 will vote for Trump in November. Similarly, just 0.5 percent of former Trump voters said they would vote for Biden.

The two candidates are locked neck and neck in national polls, with Trump only holding a 1-point lead over Biden, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling averages. With third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. included, that lead expands to just over 2 points, according to the average.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
One day after former president Donald Trump called some migrants not people, he doubled down on a previous claim: that undocumented immigrants poisoned the United States.

In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Media Buzz host Howard Kurtz asked Mr Trump, Why do you use words like vermin and poisoning of the blood? The press, as you know, immediately reacts to that by saying, Well, thats the kind of language that Hitler and Mussolini use.

The 2024 frontrunner retorted, Thats what they say. I didnt know that, but thats what they say. However, he then said that he uses these terms because our country is being poisoned.

We can talk about, oh, I want to be politically correct, Mr Trump continued. But we have people coming in from prisons and jails, long-term murderers, people with sentences that the rest are of their lives theyre going to spend in some jail in some country that many people have never even heard of.Theyre all being released into our country.

This is far from the first time the former president has used disparaging language to refer to undocumented migrants.

Donald Trump warns of a bloodbath in US if he isnt elected as president again. (Associated Press)

On Saturday at a rally in Ohio  that repeatedly veered off script  Mr Trump told the crowd: I dont know if you call them peopleIn some cases, theyre not people, in my opinion. But Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say.

He later referred to migrants as animals.

Months before the Ohio rally, in December, he told a New Hampshire crowd: Theyre poisoning the blood of the country. Thats what theyve done. After that attack, the Biden campaign claimed he waschanneling his role models and parroted Adolf Hitler.

Days later, after many accused Mr Trump of echoing lines in Hitlers manifesto Mein Kampf, he denied ever reading it. He then repeated the inflammatory phrase, this time to an Iowa audience: Its crazy, whats going on. Theyre ruining our country. And its true. They are destroying the blood of our country. Thats what theyre doing. They are destroying our country.
Former President Trump criticized President Biden for his Israel policy in an interview set to air Sunday.

And all of a sudden, he dumped Israel, thats what hes doing, he dumped Israel, Trump said in reference to Biden on Fox News MediaBuzz with host Howard Kurtz. He just said, essentially, that Bibi Netanyahu should take a walk.

Biden, who has been facing pressure from the left wing of his party to support a permanent cease-fire in the war in Gaza, said he has called on Israel to do its part to let more aid into the territory and allow additional border openings in his recent State of the Union address.

Biden was caught on a hot mic following the recent address telling Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting.

Biden also recently suggested that Netanyahus policies in relation to the war in Gaza have been hurting Israel more than helping Israel.

Whats happening is he has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas, Biden said to MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart. But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.

In my view, hes hurting Israel more than helping Israel, Biden added. Its contrary to what Israel stands for. And I think its a big mistake.

In the interview with Kurtz, Trump also reacted negatively to comments recently made by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) in which he called for new elections in Israel and said that Netanyahu has lost his way.

The Democrats are very bad for Israel, Trump said.

In his comments, Schumer also said that [a]s a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7.

The world has changed  radically  since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past, Schumer continued.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Trump continued to question the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Sunday, after being criticized for not explicitly blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for what many Western leaders believe was an assassination.

Navalny died in a Russian prison last month, with little being known about his death until days later. President Biden and other Western leaders have said Putin is responsible, though Trump has so far avoided saying the same.

The former president spoke about Navalnys death in a Fox News MediaBuzz interview with Howard Kurtz, which aired Sunday.

I dont know, Trump answered when asked if Putin was responsible. Perhaps. I mean, possibly, I could say probably. I dont know. Hes a young man, so statistically, hed be alive for a long time. You go by the insurance numbers, hed be alive for another 40 years.

Something happened that was unusual, Trump said.

When pressed by Kurtz on Navalnys prior attempted assassination by poisoning, Trump again declined to be definitive.

I dont know. You certainly cant say for sure, he said. But certainly that would look like something very bad happened.

After Navalny died last month, Trumps first comments compared the jailed opposition leaders experience to his own legal situation, calling a civil suit against him a form of Navalny.

Those comments were thoroughly criticized by both Democrats and Republicans, with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) calling them beneath the dignity of a human being.

You wonder, what does Putin have on Donald Trump that he always has to be beholden to him, his buddy in vileness? Pelosi said.

It is so horrible you think, No, somebody must have made this up. Not even Donald Trump could go this far, she continued. This statement should disqualify him from running for anything, much less president of the United States.

Trumps interview on Sunday comes on the last day of voting in Russian elections, where Putin is expected to be elected to another six-year term in a noncompetitive vote. At noon Sunday, thousands of Russians flocked to polls at the same time in a protest effort against his regime.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump told a rally in Ohio on Saturday that November's presidential election will be the "most important date" in US history, painting his campaign for the White House as a turning point for the country.

Days after securing his position as the presumptive Republican nominee, the former president also warned of a "bloodbath" if he is not elected -- though it was not clear what he was referring to, with the remark coming in the middle of comments about threats to the US auto industry.

"The date -- remember this, November 5 -- I believe it's going to be the most important date in the history of our country," the 77-year-old told rally-goers in Vandalia, Ohio, repeating well-worn criticisms that his rival, President Joe Biden, is the "worst" president.

Criticizing what he said were Chinese plans to build cars in Mexico and sell them to Americans, he stated: "We're going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you're not going to be able to sell those cars if I get elected."

"Now if I don't get elected it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole -- that's going to be the least of it, it's going to be a bloodbath for the country. That'll be the least of it. But they're not going to sell those cars."

As Trump's comment gained traction on social media, Biden's campaign released a statement calling the Republican a "loser" at the ballot box in 2020 who then "doubles down on his threats of political violence."

"He wants another January 6 but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge," the campaign said, referring to the deadly attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters in 2021.

Later, Biden spoke at a dinner in Washington, where he also warned of "an unprecedented moment in history."

"Freedom is under assault... The lies about the 2020 election, the plot to overturn it, to embrace the Jan. 6 insurrection pose the greatest threat to our democracy since the American Civil War," he said.

"In 2020, they failed, but ... the threat remains."

The 81-year-old, who has waved off concerns that he is too old for a second term, leavened his rhetoric with humor.

"One candidate's too old and mentally unfit to be president," he said of the presidential race. "The other guy's me."

- Border issues -

Earlier this month Trump and Biden each won enough delegates to clinch their party nominations in the 2024 presidential race, all but assuring a rematch and setting up one of the longest election campaigns in US history.

Among the issues Trump is campaigning on is sweeping reform of what he calls Biden's "horror show" immigration policies, despite the ex-president successfully pressuring Republicans to block a bill in Congress that included the toughest border security measures in decades.

On Saturday he invoked the border again as he reached out to minorities who have traditionally voted Democrat.

He said Biden had "repeatedly stabbed African-American voters in the back" by granting work permits to "millions" of immigrants, warning that they and Hispanic Americans "are going to be the ones that suffer the most."

For decades Ohio had been seen as a bellwether battleground state, though it has trended more strongly Republican since Trump's White House win in 2016.

The rally came a day after Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, said he would not endorse his old boss for a second White House term.

bur-acb/st/sn/smw
Donald Trump appeared at a rally hosted by super PAC Buckeye Values in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday supporting Bernie Moreno, the Senate candidate vying for the GOP primary who Trump endorsed.

Moreno is competing with state Senator Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose in the Republican primary, the winner of which will go head-to-head against Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown. Brown is one of the two Democrats (the other is Montana Democrat Jon Tester) running for reelection in red states. The two races will be pivotal in determining which party controls the Senate.

Trumps endorsement of Moreno is not a slam dunk. Dolan has the recent backing of former Senator Rob Portman and Governor Mike DeWine, two leading Ohio Republicans, which gives Moreno a major challenge in the short stretch to the Ohio primary on Tuesday.

Trumps speech was made partially without the aid of a teleprompter (apparently it was not working for him to refer to as he mentioned several times), and he meandered, riffed, made blunders, and mispronounced several words. Though, to be fair to the apparent failing teleprompter, these gaffes have become typical during Trumps rally speeches.

Along with giving props to Moreno, Trump also drove home his rote stories about being the most persecuted president in history; lodged put-downs of President Biden; called special counsel Jack Smith deranged over leading two federal probes against him; and touted his unfounded perception of the migrants coming to the United States all being hardened criminals that are destroying our country, among his other top tropes.

Trump, serving up an epic word salad as he struggles to see the teleprompter, has a hard time saying "the Rolling Stones" pic.twitter.com/ag3TcxwDNW  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 16, 2024

Of course, it would not be a Trump rally without him spouting off about the election he lost being rigged and talking in near-apocalyptic terms should he not be reelected this year. Now if I dont get elected, its gonna be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country, that will be the least of it, he warned. Later, he went as far as ominously implying that voting as we know it wont exist if he loses: I dont think youre going to have another election in this country if we dont win this election, he said.

Trump: Now, If I don't get elected, it's gonna be a bloodbath. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country. pic.twitter.com/qDEPTtl4Bu  Acyn (@Acyn) March 16, 2024

Colombian-born Moreno, a wealthy businessman who formerly owned car dealerships, also briefly addressed the audience during Trumps speech, calling him a great American. The anti-LGBTQ rights candidate was recently embroiled in controversy after the Associated Press reported on the existence of a 2008 profile, which was created by someone who had access to Morenos email, seeking Men for 1-on-1 sex on a website called Adult Friend Finder. Morenos lawyer told the AP that Morenos then intern, Dan Ricci, made the account as part of a juvenile prank.

Other Trump political advocates also took turns at the podium to give praise to Trump and Moreno, including J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

Trump won Ohio in 2016 and 2020, and the GOP currently controls top offices statewide.

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Donald Trump said Sunday he favors a national abortion ban after a certain number of weeks, with exceptions -- but did not confirm how many weeks, leaving his stance on a top US election issue murky.

The former president said that he would "soon" issue a proposal on the number of weeks at which a ban should be implemented, as he spoke to "MediaBuzz" on Fox News days after becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for November's White House race.

Trump was asked about a New York Times article from February that said he had told advisers he liked the idea of a 16-week national abortion ban -- with exceptions for rape, incest or the mother's health -- but was hesitant to address it publicly lest he alienate socially conservative supporters.

He did not specify to Fox at what point in a pregnancy he believed abortions should be banned, saying that "in a number of weeks I'll be coming out with a recommendation."

"I think the recommendation will be accepted," Trump said, adding he was proud that his three Supreme Court nominations had shifted the court's balance rightward, allowing it in 2022 to end federally guaranteed abortion rights.

The Supreme Court's shock ruling left it to states to establish their own abortion laws. Some have enacted near-total bans; others, like Maryland, passed laws to enshrine abortion rights. Many conservatives hope a national ban could override laws like Maryland's.

Biden and Democrats have been leaning strongly into the issue -- regularly pointing out that polls show most Americans oppose a federal ban -- and Trump indicated Sunday that he was aware of the political risks involved.

"I think you have to have the three exceptions," he said.

"You have to go with your heart. But beyond that, you also have to get elected, okay. And if you don't have the three exceptions, I think it's very, very hard to get elected."

He noted that in the 2022 midterm elections in the state of Pennsylvania, where exit polls showed abortion to be the leading issue, a Republican candidate for governor who strongly opposed abortion rights was defeated.

Republican losses in other off-year elections, even in normally conservative states like Kansas, have been linked to the abortion issue.

Trump noted bans on abortion after a certain number of weeks do exist elsewhere, notably in France and other European countries.

His former vice president Mike Pence said Sunday that he thought Trump had erred in not taking a firmer anti-abortion position during the 2020 presidential campaign.

Pence, an evangelical Christian who said Friday that he will not endorse his ex-boss, told CBS that he would like to see the Republican candidate support a ban from at least 15 weeks.

sst/rle/bbk/st/caw
Former President Donald Trump said that the members of the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection should be jailed.

Trumps remarks come less than a week after a new report from the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight revealed that a Secret Service agent gave testimony that contradicted previous testimony from former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson.

In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump linked an article from the right-leaning website, Just The News, which claimed that the Jan. 6 committee withheld crucial evidence from the public. The article also said former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) interviewed the Secret Service agent whose testimony was just released as part of the report.

[Cheney] should go to Jail along with the rest of the Unselect Committee! Trump wrote.

Trump is facing numerous legal challenges, including one examining his role in the 2021 Capitol attack.

Hutchinson, the Jan. 6 committees star witness, previously said that during the attack, Trump was in a car with others when reportedly tried to grab the steering wheel to head towards the Capitol.

The driver of the car, a secret service agent, disputed Hutchinsons account.

I did not see [Trump] reach. He never grabbed the steering wheel. I didnt see him, you know, lunge to try to get into the front seat at all, the Secret Service agent previously said, according to the new report, per The Hill.

Liz Cheney, vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 committee, responded on X.

Hi Donald: you know these are lies. You have had all the grand jury & J6 transcripts for many months, she wrote. Youre trying to halt your 1/6 trial because your VP, WH counsel, WH aides, campaign & DOJ officials etc will testify against you. Youre afraid of the truth and you should be.

Hi Donald: you know these are lies. You have had all the grand jury & J6 transcripts for many months. Youre trying to halt your 1/6 trial because your VP, WH counsel, WH aides, campaign & DOJ officials etc will testify against you. Youre afraid of the truth and you should be. https://t.co/6L3N61OJw1  Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) March 17, 2024

Trump said earlier this month that he would free convicted Jan. 6 rioters in one of his first acts as president if reelected this fall.

Related...
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine hosted their 2024 Match Day ceremony on Friday morning at 11 a.m. at Hodgetown.

During the event, fourth-year medical students, along with their families, friends and mentors, learned where they would be for the next three to seven years for their residencies as each student anxiously opened their sealed envelope and revealed, simultaneously, their matching medical school.

Although the day holds many heartfelt feelings for every student, one couple held an extra layer of excitement as they waited to find out the results of their couple's matches. The Globe-News spoke to them prior to the unveiling of the Match Day results.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine graduates Alex Collins and Julie Chugh smile after receiving their match to the same hospital at Match Day Friday at Hodgetown.

"Matching in general is a really difficult process, and the couple's match just adds a whole other complexity to it. And I feel we have been really supported by our Amarillo community. ... I definitely never felt like we had to navigate this alone because the School of Medicine faculty up in Amarillo is really great," said 2024 Match Day student Julie Chugh.

Julie Chugh and Alex Collins applied for their residencies as a couple, hoping to learn that they will be continuing their study somewhere within a close distance from one another. Chugh, a fourth-year TTUHSC School of Medicine program student, applied for a residency position in obstetrics and gynecology; meanwhile Collins, also a fourth-year TTUHSC School of Medicine program student, applied for a residency position in psychiatry.

A Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine graduate expresses excitement with his family at Match Day Friday at Hodgetown in Amarillo.

According to the couple, they met while attending medical school at TTUHSC School of Medicine in Lubbock during their first year. The couple then came to the Amarillo campus for their third and fourth years. Now, they are finding out where they will match for their residencies during the nationwide ceremony.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine graduates give high fives after receiving their next assignment at Match Day Friday at Hodgetown.

"We know no matter where our envelopes say on Friday, we are going to be an OB/GYN and a psychiatrist, and that is something we've dreamed about and worked towards really hard for many years. So, even if we don't make number one but we make number 199 on our list on Friday, the important thing is that we are going to be doctors in fields that we are passionate about and looking forward to contributing to for years to come," Chugh added ahead of Friday's event.

The couple said that through the process, they applied to positions that corresponded in areas, then participated in interviews. They were set to learn the results of those interviews at the ceremony as they opened the envelope to anywhere from one to 10 offers, which the two will then decide on and attend for residency.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine graduates read over their assignments at Match Day Friday at Hodgetown.

"As far as the programs go, I think we have a very good list. When it comes to matching in different cities, obviously its not ideal, but I truly believe that we went through the rigors of medical school to get here and no matter what, we will manage," Collins said.

The couple said that although matching as a couple has its own set of unique challenges, they encourage others who wish to match together to not be deterred by the process.

Around 165 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine students participated in Match Day on Friday at Hodgetown in Amarillo.

"For anyone considering couple's match, don't be afraid; don't let people tell you 'you can't.' It is possible. There are pros to the process like being able to advocate for one another, and don't be afraid to reach to other people, to reach out to us, and others who have successfully matched for advice, because it's what we did and it has been extremely valuable," Collins added.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine graduates Alex Collins and Julie Chugh embrace after receiving their match to the same hospital at Match Day Friday at Hodgetown.

As announced during the Friday morning ceremony, the couple did receive a match. Collins accepted his match for residence in psychiatry, while Chugh also accepted her match in obstetrician and gynecology. The couple will attend their residency together at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

During the ceremony, Chugh was also announced and awarded the Overall Outstanding Student, and the Outstanding Student in OB/GYN, and Collins was awarded the Outstanding Student in Psychiatry.

In total, 49 students from the Amarillo campus of the TTUHSC School of Medicine matched into residency programs Friday, according to a news release, and 12 students will continue their residencies with TTUHSC.

Around 165 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine students participated in Match Day on Friday at Hodgetown in Amarillo.

Lauren Baker, a TTUHSC medical student from Hereford, learned she is staying in Amarillo at TTUHSC for her residency in family medicine. She said she is happy to continue to serve the people of the Panhandle. Witnessing the need for health care, especially for those without private insurance has been very eye opening, Baker said in the release. The need in these areas just solidifies the reasoning to go into health care even more. Seeing how physicians care for such an underserved population and have a true impact has confirmed my choice to enter medicine even more.

For more information about TTUHSC, visit them online at https://www.ttuhsc.edu/ .

A Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine graduate celebrates with his family at Match Day Friday at Hodgetown in Amarillo.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: TTUHSC hosts 2024 Match Day and couple makes perfect match
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) spoke out against former President Trumps comments regarding migrants on Sunday, saying he and the American public disagrees.

Turner appeared on ABCs This Week, where Martha Raddatz asked him about Trumps comments in Ohio on Saturday while campaigning for Senate candidate Bernie Moreno. Trump denounced some undocumented immigrants as not people and warned of a bloodbath if he is not reelected.

While Turner said he disagreed with Trumps comments he placed blame on President Biden for the situation at the border.

I think the American public disagrees with those, but I do think that people see that Donald Trump is the only candidate in this race thats going to be able to fix this crisis. Joe Biden created the crisis at the border, he said.

Turner noted that he was not present at the Saturday rally in Ohio.

Raddatz also asked Turner if he supported the bipartisan border package, which he said he did not.

It would have codified Joe Bidens policies allowing millions of illegal aliens to come in across the border every year. This process is a result of Bidens executive orders, he opened the border and he has created the crisis, Turner said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said he disagreed with former President Trumps characterization of the Jan. 6, 2021, rioters at the Capitol, saying that he believes in the U.S. judicial system.

I dont believe theyre hostages. I believe in our judicial system, and I believe, though, Martha, as youve seen because you reported them, some of these cases have been overturned. Some of the  even the legal construct of the basis of a number of these cases have been overturned, Turner told co-host Martha Raddatz on ABCs This Week.

This is going to be, you know, a continuing legal process, and  this president obviously has very strong personal views on this, he added.

Trump said last week that his first act if elected to the White House would be to free the imprisoned Jan. 6 rioters, whom he called hostages. He has previously expressed sympathy for those charged in connection to the attacks on the Capitol and has described them as hostages in the past.

My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned! Trump wrote on Truth Social last week.

He also spoke at a fundraiser for Jan. 6 defendants last year.

While Turner, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, would not describe the defendants as hostages, he said that Trump did not call on rioters to attack the Capitol that day.

Well, as you know, he did not call for the storming of the Capitol, and we have had a number of these cases, that there has been questions concerning how those cases have been prosecuted, and the individuals, where there have been cases even overturned, he said.

You would think, of course, that Donald Trump would have very strong emotional feelings about the individuals who have  whove been in jail and have gone to prison over these, he added.

According to the Justice Department, more than 1,358 defendants have been charged in nearly every state in connection to the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol. Approximately 497 have been sentenced to periods of incarceration, according to the Justice Department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
I used to teach the children of Russian oligarchs and politicians.

Our classrooms were penthouse apartments, yachts, and mansions in exclusive Moscow suburbs.

The outbreak of war in Ukraine revealed just how isolated the kids were.

This essay is based on the recollections of Cameron Manley, 24, a news fellow at Business Insider who previously worked as a private tutor in Moscow and, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Monaco. The names of students have been changed to protect their identity.

In late 2021, I started working for an international tutoring agency in Moscow.

The agency counted some of Russia's elite among its clientele  so I was quickly thrust into a world of private jets, guarded estates, and personal chauffeurs.

I worked in Moscow until Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when I was relocated to Monaco.

We charged $150 per hour minimum for classes, but more experienced tutors and specific packages for private-school assessments or English-language testing would cost more.

Tutoring does not require any kind of formal qualification, but parents were still often happy to part with their cash as long as the tutors had a native-English accent and some connection to either the British private school system or some of the UK's top universities.

$150 was also small change for many of these families, which was reflected in the various classroom settings  Monaco penthouses, Moscow mansions, and yachts.

Monaco Yacht show Mandoga Media/picture alliance via Getty Images

The money the Russian elite were willing to throw at young, inexperienced tutors was unbelievable  and frankly quite frightening.

I had acquaintances who worked as governors or nannies who were earning well into six figures.

Others were offered similarly extortionate salaries to spend their summers teaching on yachts in places like St. Barts in the Caribbean or sailing around the world.

I taught in luxurious villas and penthouse apartments

Often the children we taught, who were from four to around 18 years old, had private drivers who hurried them about in tinted Range Rovers or Mercedes-Benz cars.

In Moscow, many of our classes took place in Rublevka, an elite guarded estate in the west of the capital, where Russian President Vladimir Putin owns a home.

Many of the kids we taught lived in a world entirely different from any we had known.

A colleague of mine did after-school classes there with an eight-year-old boy called Ivan.

One week his family had been planning a weekend trip to get away from the capital: "I hope the weather isn't too bad so we can take the helicopter and don't have to drive," he said.

We also homeschooled two pupils: Alexei, 13, and his younger sister, Elena, 11.

The first time I met Alexei, he walked into our office sporting $1,000 Balenciaga trainers and a watch worth at least five times as much.

He was nevertheless a pleasant child but, like Ivan, appeared somewhat disconnected from reality.

In one class, he was shocked to hear that we didn't receive regular pampering from staff at home: "It's been seven months since you had a massage? I have a massage every day, I have my own massage therapist," he told us.

Elena was less communicative and didn't seem to enjoy the lavish lifestyle she had.

"What have I done to deserve this? I hate my life," she would often say.

My colleagues and I became increasingly concerned about her well-being as time went on.

She didn't enjoy classes alone and wanted to be with friends in a normal school.

But her parents insisted.

She seem tied to the life into which she had been born.

The job constantly surprised me

I met two types of parents in the job: Those who spent thousands of dollars on their children because they cared about them, and those who spent the money so that they didn't have to think about them.

I felt that many of the parents fell into the latter category.

Frequently, we had little, if any, contact with the parents, and we would usually deal with nannies or drivers instead.

It felt like many of the parents found you to be an eye-sore in their luxurious lives.

Once, I had to teach a lesson at a seaside villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, an exclusive area between Nice in the south of France and Monaco.

The home was on a private road, and I entered through a large automatic gate that was littered with security cameras.

The house was spread out over two floors, with a swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym, a sauna, and a steam room.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Philippe Jacquemart/EyeEm/Getty Images

When I arrived, they told me that the kids, aged four and six, had not finished their personal training session and that I would have to wait outside in the street.

Eventually the nanny said she would find me somewhere to sit "out of sight," so I was hurried into a large store cupboard in the furthest corner of the house. The kids strolled in about an hour later.

Some tried to get their children out of Russia after the invasion began

When the war in Ukraine broke out, a number of families came to us looking to find school placements for their children either in the West or in the United Arab Emirates, where many wealthy Russians fled at the outbreak of the war.

Dubai. Jorg Greuel/Getty Images

There was one family with three young children who were looking to find schools in Dubai.

Speaking to us in perfect English on Zoom with a background that boasted enormous paintings and palatial pillars, they seemed polite, well-mannered, and bright.

We later discovered that the kids were the grandchildren of a senior Russian politician who had played a major role in starting the war in Ukraine.

The irony was not lost on us that some of those who had played a key part in helping Putin initiate his brutal, unprovoked invasion were now trying to help their children escape Russia.

The children often brought up politics and the war

Russian President Vladimir Putin poses with students during a meeting for Russia's Teacher of the Year Competition at the Sirius education center for children on October 8, 2015 in Sochi, Russia. Sasha Mordovets?getty

The company we worked for had explicitly told us to avoid discussing politics with the pupils, as the government was cracking down on protestors, and it could have put us and our pupils in danger.

But the children often brought the topic up themselves, their comments ringing with the ideology they had likely absorbed at home.

"Ukraine is ours, after all," Alexei told me in one class just after the invasion began in February.

Ivan, referring to a picture of Putin, once said, "Oh, he's amazing! Don't you think he's amazing?"

"You should open an office in Kyiv. It's beautiful there," one parent also wryly said to me.

There were occasional breakthroughs

We taught many different pupils but only one really seemed to appreciate just how lucky they were.

Elizaveta, 15, frequently expressed her discontent with Putin's Russia.

"We're killing thousands of innocent Ukrainians. It's awful," she once said.

That week, she had been kicked out of school for dyeing her hair and had asked her parents to book some additional classes so that she didn't fall behind.

Her parents were looking to send her to an English private school that September.

"The best thing I can do now is leave Russia," she told me. "That's the last option I have. Perhaps from abroad, I might be able to do some good."

Elizaveta was an anomaly, and most of the time, you had to settle for smaller victories.

I distinctly remember telling our homeschooled pupils that my colleagues and I had decided to leave Russia.

Elena seemed like she could not have cared less.

But Alexei looked genuinely upset.

It was as though the prism through which he saw the world had been, if not broken, then at the very least a little scratched.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian loitering munitions damaged two mothballed agricultural companies in Odesa district on the night of 16-17 March. The attacks resulted in fires and severe damage to industrial buildings.

Source: Defence Forces of Ukraine's South on Telegram

Details: The fires were quickly extinguished. No people were injured.

Russia persists in its vicious drone terror. Russian forces once again launched a large-scale drone attack on Odesa Oblast overnight.

The intense combat response lasted for about three hours.

Ukrainian air defence units repelled waves of Russian Shahed loitering munitions launched from temporarily occupied Crimea, coming in from the Black Sea and manoeuvring between residential buildings and in industrial areas of Odesa.

A total of 13 Shahed-type uncrewed aerial vehicles were shot down in the skies of Odesa Oblast and one on approach to Mykolaiv Oblast.

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Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary wasnt much of a surprise to anyone following politics in North Carolina. But it seems like more of a surprise to everyone else, because it has garnered significant attention in the national media and late night TV.

Headlines such as Hitler-quoting candidate wins North Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary, Offensive comments by N.C. Republican stand out even in Trumps party and The most important governors race of 2024 is about to have its own version of Trump are featured in prominent news outlets like The Washington Post and POLITICO.

Due to the increased focus on Robinson, these national outlets are also uncovering newly bizarre and troubling comments from his past, including the assertion that the Affordable Care Act would enslave everybody and his stated desire to go back to before the 19th Amendment was passed just so Republicans could fight for women to have the right to vote all over again.

Robinson has become such a lightning rod for nationwide scrutiny that even John Oliver talked about him on a recent episode of his show, Last Week Tonight. It was a pretty brutal takedown  Oliver spent 10 minutes at the outset of the show tearing into Robinson and highlighting his extreme views on everything from the LGBTQ+ community to abortion.

Again and again, Robinson has gone out of his way to say the worst things in the most provocative way, Oliver said.

Oliver wasnt the only one ripping Robinson The Daily Show had its own segment titled Meet Mark Robinson: The GOPs Next Top Lunatic.

Great publicity for our state, right?

Clearly, it hasnt taken long for the rest of the country to come around to what many North Carolinians have already known: Robinson says some pretty awful stuff. Its not too hard to understand why its garnered so much attention  it is pretty absurd that someone who calls school shooting survivors silly little immature media prosti-tots and says Beyonces songs sound like Satanic chants could be a leading candidate for governor in one of the countrys largest states.

As all of this is happening, some of Robinsons fellow Republicans are showcasing their best mental and verbal gymnastics to defend him. Dallas Woodhouse, former executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, recently told WUNCs Colin Campbell that, like with Trump, people simply shouldnt take what Robinson says literally.

What Republicans who want to defend Mark  and what Marks got to do  is say, you know, take me just like Trump  take me seriously, but not literally, Woodhouse said.

How else are we supposed to take it when Robinson calls LGBTQ+ people filth and suggests that women are called to be led by men? Just as a silly joke? Even on the off chance that Robinson is simply making an ill-advised attempt at being facetious, North Carolina deserves better than a leader who makes national headlines every 36 hours.

Senate leader Phil Berger, perhaps the most powerful Republican in North Carolina, has said that philosophically, [Robinson is] generally in the right place. Not exactly a confidence-inspiring endorsement.

But headlines and jokes aside, is this who we want representing us to the rest of the country and world?

No, its not. North Carolina is better than Mark Robinson. He is not an accurate representation of the people who live here or the kind of state that we are. We have so much more to offer than a man who provides seemingly limitless fodder for news stories and late-night jokes, but if Robinson becomes governor, it will deliver a blow to our states reputation that has real consequences  business, population growth and so much more.

Heres how Oliver summed it up at the end of his show: It is all pretty bleak, but hopefully, if the people of North Carolina do the right thing this November, the number of years this particular troll serves as governor wont be two plus two  itll be (bleeping) zero.

Lets hope so.
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), in Sunday interviews, would not say whether they would endorse former President Trumps bid for the White House.

Rounds, in an interview on CNNs State of the Union, avoided explicitly endorsing former President Trump but did commit to supporting the eventual nominee  who, at this point, is presumed to be Trump.

Well, what I have said is Tim Scott was my first choice. I thought hed make a great president. Tim Scott has since endorsed the former president. What I said is, I will support the Republican nominee, Rounds said.

It becomes a binary choice. Either you want to continue with economic policies that weve got today, or you move back into a position where we actually dont have the world on fire and where our economy is moving forward, he continued.

When CNNs Dana Bash pressed whether he is explicitly endorsing the former president, Rounds said, Im endorsing the Republican nominee for the presidency. And if thats Mr. Trump, then thats the best choice of the two choices that weve got.

Cassidy, on the other hand, would not say whether he would vote for Trump. Cassidy is one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump in the impeachment trial following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

At this point, all I will say is that I plan to vote for a Republican for the presidency of the United States, Cassidy said in an interview on NBC Newss Meet the Press when asked about a potential endorsement.

Cassidy repeated this sentiment when pressed two more times.

The answer Im going to give, and the answer Ive given consistently whenever asked on this on Meet the Press, is that I plan to vote for a Republican for the presidency of the United States, Cassidy said, before repeating this sentiment once more when asked.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Police say two teenagers are in custody in connection with a Sunday morning shootout in the parking lot of a St. Paul grocery store.

St. Paul police Sgt. Mike Ernster gave the following details:

About 10:45 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to calls of a shooting in the Cub Foods parking lot at 1177 Clarence Street in St. Paul.

When officers arrived they found shell casings and gunshot damage to vehicles, but they did not find anyone who had been wounded. During their investigation, officers learned that two males had exchanged gunfire with a third male.

A 16-year-old girl arrived later at a hospital with a minor graze wound, according to police.

Their investigation led detectives to a 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man in the 500 block of Minnehaha Avenue East. Both were arrested in connection with the shooting. During a follow-up search warrant, officers recovered two handguns along with other evidence at the residence.

The third shooter has not yet been found.

Police also arrested a 20-year-old man who was with the two teens at the time of the shooting. He was being held on an unrelated weapons-related warrant out of Texas, police said.

Police ask anyone with information on the shooting to call 651-291-1111.

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JACKSON TWP.  Logan Cox of Claymont Junior High School in Tuscarawas County took the title Saturday in The Canton Repository's 78th Regional Final Spelling Bee.

Cox's victory came after eight rounds of spelling in about 2 1/2 hours at Kent State University at Stark's Conference Center. The victory gives Cox a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill, Maryland, over Memorial Day week.

Cox's winning word in the eighth round was "pendulous."

Logan Cox of Claymont Junior High School in Uhrichsville holds his trophy after winning The Canton Repository's 78th Regional Final Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Kent State University at Stark.

Cox was calm and collected throughout the competition, and quietly contemplated the spelling of his final winning word. Pendulous, an adjective derived from Latin, means suspended so as to swing freely. It was not a word familiar to the winner, but he quickly and confidently spelled it correctly.

Cox will join more than 200 spellers in the 97th Scripps bee.

Placing second was Henry Dixon of Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School. Dixon pulled ahead of Breanna Dillon of Jackson Memorial Middle School when he correctly spelled the word "trice" in a spelloff. Dillon took third.

Henry Dixon of Tuscarawas Valley Middle High School placed second in The Canton Repository's 78th Regional Final Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Kent State University at Stark.

Thirty-four students from Carroll, Holmes, Stark and Tuscarawas counties participated in Saturday's bee. They each won their schools spelling bee to earn a place in the competition.

Julianne Liliestedt of Canton Country Day School spells a word during the practice round of The Canton Repository's Regional Final Spelling Bee. Liliestedt won the bee in 2022 and went on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Judges for the spelling bee were Charita Goshay, columnist and reporter at The Canton Repository; and Dean Denise Seachrist of Kent State University at Stark. Dr. Stephen Neaderhiser, associate professor of English at Kent State University at Stark, served as pronouncer.

Joining spellers friends and family in the audience Saturday was 2023 Canton Repository Regional Final Spelling Bee champion Bryce Beckley. He took part in the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Also on hand Saturday, but in the competition, was 2022 Canton Repository Regional Final Spelling Bee champion Julianne Liliestedt. She was a competitor in the event, and was among the final six spellers before bowing out. Liliestedt attends Canton Country Day School in Plain Township.

As Saturday's rounds progressed, words increased in difficulty. As in the national bee event, spellers asked for words to be repeated, requested definitions and inquired about the words' origins.

Breanna Dillon of Jackson Memorial Middle School placed third Saturday, March 16, 2024, in The Canton Repository's Regional Final Spelling Bee at Kent State University at Stark.

One of the event's more amusing moments occurred when Karissa Endlich of St. Mary Elementary School in Massillon received her word from pronouncer Neaderhiser  UNIVERSITY. Seachrist alerted the assistant English professor that he should move to another word, because the KSU at Stark's seal was hanging on the front of his lectern, with university spelled out.

The laughter helped to relieve some of the tension spellers were feeling.

Logan Cox said he's excited to go on to the Scripps bee. His family, which sat throughout the competition and silently cheered him on, said Logan is much like he appeared in the bee  soft-spoken and quiet.

We are so proud of him. He worked hard for this, said Jeff Cox, Logans dad.

Logan Cox, seated, is surrounded by his family after winning The Canton Repository Regional Final Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Kent State University at Stark's Conference Center. Standing from left are Logan's mom Dawn Cox, brother Dawson Cox, dad Jeff Cox and stepmom Melanie Cox.

Logan Cox said he prepared for Saturday the old fashioned way. By reading, mostly. I tried using an app but didnt really like it, he said.

Logan Cox, left, winner of the 2024 Canton Repository Regional Final Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Kent State University's Conference Center, got a chance to chat with Bryce Beckley, right, who won the 2023 regional bee. Beckley went on to compete in May 2023 in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Reach Bev at bshaffer@gannett.com or 330-580-8318.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Logan Cox of Claymont Junior High wins Repository spelling bee
During a visit to Ukraine, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and Army Commander Antony Radakin advised Ukraines senior leadership and military commanders on war strategy against the Russian Federation.

Source: Sunday Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Shapps and Radakin met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, and the new commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

According to the publication, Radakin was concerned that Syrskyi would become overly focused on ground battles, while the UK commander spent two years attempting to develop a Ukrainian strategy based on Western military doctrine and the need to advance on land, in the air, and at sea.

Radakin, in particular, is actively involved in the development of a new Ukrainian Navy that meets NATO standards. He advised paying attention to the Iranian-style fleet, which consists of lighter, more manoeuvrable ships and drones capable of restraining Russia in the Black Sea while also protecting vital shipping routes for Ukrainian exports.

According to the article, during a meeting at the Mariinsky Palace, Shapps and Radakin advised abandoning plans for a frontline offensive in favour of maintaining defence on the northern and eastern fronts and, if necessary, retreating to more advantageous positions to hold off the Russian invaders.

The UK officials hope that this will allow the Ukrainians to concentrate their efforts on the Black Sea and Crimea, where they have inflicted significant blows with the help of Western long-range missiles over the last six months.

According to the publication's sources, Zelenskyy was enthusiastic and upbeat. According to the newspaper, he was also willing to consider their proposals.

According to the article, Ukraine recently achieved significant results against the Russian Federation's Black Sea Fleet, destroying several ships. If Russia once dominated the Black Sea, now its influence has waned. The UK Ministry of Defense believes that for the first time since the Crimean War, Russia cannot operate freely in the Black Sea region.

According to sources, Radakin believes that the key to Ukraine's success in 2024 lies in attacks on Crimea and the Russian fleet, and that attacks on Crimea and the destruction of Russian warships, particularly submarines, hit at the very core of the "Russian mentality".

Shapps emphasised the importance of Putin understanding that he is losing Crimea and the Black Sea. He stated that for nearly 200 years, the Black Sea Fleet had the opportunity to conduct exercises in the Black Sea. However, following a series of successful attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, there are currently no warships in the Black Sea. Shapps believes that this demonstrates the scale of Ukrainian success in Crimea.

According to the article, Grant Shapps was forced to cancel a visit to Odesa due to intelligence warnings about the present missile threat from Russia.

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UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps cancelled his trip to the city of Odesa during his visit to Ukraine on 7 March due to the threat posed by Russia.

Source: The Sunday Times

Details: Grant Shapps had to cancel his trip to Odesa due to the missile threat from Russia.

The defence secretary cut the visit short after being warned by UK intelligence that the Russians had become aware of his travel plans.

Background:

On 7 March, Shapps visited Kyiv to announce the allocation of 325 million to purchase over 10,000 drones for Ukraine's Armed Forces.

The day before his arrival, a Russian missile struck Odesa during a joint visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The attack killed five people.

Reports also emerged that during Shapps' return flight, Russia jammed the satellite signal of the plane carrying him as it flew near the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

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UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps noted Germany's significant contribution to helping Ukraine, but would like Berlin to decide on the transfer of Taurus long-range missiles.

Source: Sunday Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Shapps commented on the leak of the conversation of German generals about the possible provision of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

He believes that the Russians made this conversation public "to embarrass the Germans to not send their Taurus missiles to Ukraine".

Quote: "I also want to help assist Germany to provide the long-range Taurus missiles  Of course it makes absolute sense to have those available, in a war going on in mainland Europe now, against a dictator who has taken democratic land. What are we waiting for, folks?" said Shapps.

He also stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the UK delegation that he "had pushed Scholz on the issue of Taurus missiles, but was given a 'flat no'."

According to media reports, the key reason why German hancellor Olaf Scholz is actively opposing the supply of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine may be connected with special features of the targeting system missiles.



Earlier, Scholz publicly gave different reasons for why Germany refused to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles  from avoiding a possible escalation and involvement in the war with Russia to being concerned that the missiles would be used to strike Moscow.

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Russia is facing a major drop in arms exports, the U.K. Defense Ministry said on March 17.

The drop is explained by two factors: Russia's own costly demand to keep replenishing the weapons and equipment destroyed in its war against Ukraine; and sanction-related customer demand decline.

In its daily intelligence bulletin published on X, the ministry cited research conducted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which revealed that Russia's arms exports fell by 53% between 2019-2023 compared to the previous four-year period.

"As a result, Russia dropped from second to third place in the global arms export rankings," the ministry said, citing the report published on March 11. "Russian arms export volumes were 52% lower in 2023 than in 2022, while only 12 countries received major Russian arms in 2023, compared to 31 in 2019."

Spearheading what many Ukrainian soldiers describe as a self-destructive but effective offensive on multiple axes of the front line across Ukraine, the replenishing demand of the Russian army is huge. Artillery, FPV drones, and seemingly never-ending human resources are the driving forces of Russian combat operations.

While Ukraine has destroyed equipment such as tanks and armored infantry vehicles in huge numbers over the past two years of the full-scale war, Russia is still able to keep deploying its offensive tools as if it is not suffering any losses, according to the Ukrainian soldiers on the ground.

On top of its own demands that likely prevent Russia from exporting more arms, "reduced customer demand due to the risk of associated sanctions and global condemnation of Russia's responsibility for the war" is likely another factor, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry.

International companies still conducting business with Russia have been condemned for supporting the country in waging a brutal war against Ukraine. The West has issued rounds of sanctions to disrupt Russia's economic war machine.

Surpassing Russia for the first time, France ranked second in the largest arms exporters ranking issued by the SIPRI research. The U.S. is in the first place.

Russia's arms exports include engines, aircraft, missiles, armored vehicles, and air defense systems.

Roughly 68% of Russia's arms exports over the past four years were from countries in Asia and Oceania, including India, whose arms imports from Russia amounted to 34%.

But despite the decline in arms exports, Russia's economy appears to be resilient, with the International monetary Fund (IMF) forecasting a 2.6% gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024.

Citing Russian state-controlled news agency Interfax, Reuters reported in February 2023 that Russia's annual arms exports are roughly $14 to 15 billion.

Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy

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UK Defence Intelligence has analysed the latest research by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which shows a significant drop in Russian arms exports worldwide.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 17 March on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The data indicates that Russian arms exports decreased by 53% between 2013-2018 and 2019-2023.

Russia has slipped from second to third position in the global arms export rankings.

The volume of Russian arms exports in 2023 was 52% lower than in 2022, with only 12 countries receiving major Russian weapons in 2023, compared to 31 countries in 2019.

The UK MoD noted that a range of factors contributed to the decline.

"The decline is likely due to several factors including Russia prioritising equipment for operations in Ukraine due to continuous battlefield losses, and reduced customer demand due to the risk of associated sanctions and global condemnation of Russias responsibility for the war," the review said.

Background:

On 15 March, UK intelligence gave an analysis of the appointment of the new commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Alexander Moiseyev, replacing Nikolai Yevmenov, and the tasks he faces after a series of losses of Russian ships due to attacks by Ukraine.

On 14 March, UK Defence Intelligence assessed the situation on the front line in Donetsk Oblast, where the advance of the Russian occupying forces has slowed down.

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Scottish Government plans call for the removal of Trident, Britain's nuclear deterrent based at Faslane and Coulport - JEFF J MITCHELL/GETTY IMAGES

Britains Armed Forces would remain in an independent Scotland for at least 20 years after it left the United Kingdom, new analysis suggests.

Prof Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute, said the Scottish National Party (SNP) would be forced to rely on the British Armed Forces for decades if it ever secures independence.

The Scottish Government last week unveiled plans for defence in an independent Scotland that included the creation of a separate Scottish military.

But Prof Chalmers said such a force would have to grow under the protection of and remain very closely integrated with the British Armed Forces.

Theres no suggestion (in the paper) that all UK forces will ever withdraw, he said. They say our most enduring security partnership will be with the UK.

So to me that suggests that after 20 years of independence, there will still  if theres a need to do so  therell still be UK conventional forces on Scottish soil.

Lossiemouth Pipes and Drums take part in the the formal naming of the P8 Strategic Facility - JEFF J MITCHELL/GETTY IMAGES

The new Scottish Government blueprint, entitled An Independent Scotlands Place in the World, admits there would have to be a transitional period in which Scotland would not have the level of capability enjoyed by other small countries.

It does not disclose any estimates for the cost or timescale of setting up a new military, or details of what it would involve beyond a land component, a maritime component and an air component.

Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Conservatives shadow constitution secretary, said: Another wafer-thin prospectus for independence is the last thing the people of Scotland need or want.

But it really shows the SNP have no credible plan for defence.

They cant have it every way  Nato membership but no deterrent. Spending money on Armed Forces when they cant even launch a couple of ferries.

The SNP-Green government should prioritise the job they actually have, rather than waste taxpayers money on their fixation with division.

Removal of Trident

The document also calls for the removal of Trident, Britains nuclear deterrent which is currently based at Faslane and Coulport on the Firth of Clyde, in the safest and most expeditious manner possible.

But Prof Chalmers said rapid expulsion of Trident would be tantamount to the forcible denuclearisation of the UK and would scupper Scottish nationalists ambitions to join Nato and the European Union.

I cannot imagine amicable divorce which involves the forcible denuclearisation of the UK, which rapid expulsion would be, he said.

In those circumstances, you would get a very strong reaction from the UK which would hold the whole process hostage.

Faslane and Coulport are the only nuclear-capable naval facilities in Britain, meaning a new home would have to be built in England which Prof Chalmers said would take at least a decade.

Angus Robertson, the SNP minister who unveiled the report, denied that removing the deterrent would embolden Vladimir Putin.

This is despite Nato being a nuclear-tipped alliance and Trident forming part of its supreme guarantee of its members security.

Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 aircraft from No.1(F) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth - 614 Squadron Royal Air Force

Prof Chalmers added that it would also be in Britains interest to preserve the Royal Air Forces quick reaction base at Lossiemouth, west of Inverness in north-western Scotland.

That would require a separate basing agreement much like those which the United States has for its 13 bases in southern England, further complicating any independence negotiations.

The Scottish Government report also proposed the creation of a single Scottish Security and Intelligence Agency to replace MI5, MI6, GCHQ and Defence Intelligence.

The document provoked ridicule when revealed last week for claiming that espionage would be conducted in line with Scottish values, support Scotlands role as a good global citizen and improve national security whilst promoting and protecting human rights.

The document also proposes Nato membership and spending two per cent of GDP on defence in line with the alliances recommendation.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: As proposed in the paper, upon securing a vote for independence, this Scottish Government would pursue negotiations with the UK Government for the removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland as quickly as possible, but just as critically, done safely.

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Ukraine has denied Russian claims of killing 300 Ukrainian soldiers with a vacuum bomb, calling it absolute nonsense and propaganda

Russia claimed to have killed 300 Ukrainian soldiers with an "accurate strike by an aerial munition," but Ukraines Defense Intelligence (HUR) called this information "absolute nonsense and propaganda," CNN reported on March 16.

The information about the alleged liquidation of the Ukrainian troops was reported to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a meeting at the headquarters of the Joint Group of Forces by Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Alexei Kim. According to him, the Russian military dropped a 1.5-ton bomb on the deployment point of the Kraken special forces. He claimed that a "volumetric detonation bomb" was used during the air attack.

Read also: Ukraine hit Kursk and Belgorod oblasts with drones, Tochka-U missiles and Vampire MLRS, Russian Defense Minist

In a comment to CNN, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Andriy Yusov, said that this statement by the Russians is "absolute nonsense and propaganda," as well as Russian information about killing 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk and Belgorod oblasts on March 15.

Read also: Russian occupiers deploying substantial reserves to try to capture Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast

Earlier, the spokesperson for the Tavria Defense Forces, Dmytro Lykhoviy, denied the Russian statement about the alleged "strike on the training ground" in Selydove, Donetsk Oblast, and the "fatalities" among the 3rd Separate Mechanized Brigade soldiers.

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Ukraines Defense Intelligence agency (HUR) has denied Russian propagandists' claims that a Ukrainian Black Hawk helicopter was shot down on March 17.

All of its Black Hawk helicopters are in excellent working order, and their crews continue to perform combat and special missions, HUR said on Telegram.

HUR also gave advice to Russian "military bloggers" who reported the downing of the helicopter: "The black-mouthed propagandists and their slave masters from the Kremlin, who are spreading fakes about the alleged downing of a helicopter of the military intelligence of Ukraine, should drink less alcohol."

Read also: Freedom of Russia Legion volunteers vow to end Putin's reign in last election raid

Russian media spread reports of the alleged destruction of a Ukrainian Black Hawk helicopter earlier on March 17. They also published a video of the allegedly downed aircraft.

The Russian war correspondents claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopter with troops on board was shot down near the village of Lukashivka, Sumy Oblast, and the landing troops were allegedly heading towards Kozinka, Belgorod Oblast.

Read also: Air Force shows air defense downing Russian Shahed drones in southern Ukraine

Some Russian pro-war Telegram channels later alleged that it was not a Black Hawk, but a Mi-24, and there were no troops aboard.

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Ukraine's armed forces are facing a serious shortage of ammunition for air defense systems to protect cities, and Russian air attacks will cause increasing losses, The Washington Post reports, citing Western officials on March 15.

Ammunition for some missile defense systems could be almost exhausted by the end of March, according to two Western officials who met with Ukrainian counterparts at a security conference last month.

Read also: Ukraine faces unequal ammunition resources amid Russian invasion  UA officer

Currently, Ukraine tries to shoot down four out of every five missiles fired at its cities. However, soon it will only be possible to try to down only one out of five, one official said.

Read also: Ukraine faces catastrophic shortage of ammunition and air defense by spring  report

"This will have a significant impact on life in Ukraine's cities, many of which have returned to relative normalcy over the past year as missile defenses have generally proved effective," said the Post.

On March 15, Russia launched a missile attack on Odesa. Two explosions were reported killing 21 people, including a medic and two rescuers who came to help after first explosion.

On March 13, Russia launched a series of strikes  high-rise buildings were destroyed in Sumy, Kryvyi Rih, and Myrnohrad, leaving at least 8 dead and more than 50 wounded.

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KYIV (Reuters) -A man was killed and at least eight people were wounded in a Russian missile attack on the Black Sea port city of Mykolaiv on Sunday, Ukrainian officials said, after an overnight strike on Odesa on the last day of Russia's presidential election.

Mykolaiv's regional governor, Vitaliy Kim, said on Telegram that said there had been two strikes on Mykolaiv from the same direction as the strike on Odesa, adding that a man born in 1974 died in hospital and the injured included a girl born in 2013.

Ukraine's ministry of internal affairs shared images of damaged houses, wrecked or burnt-out cars, including one with a pair of abandoned shoes and other damaged items strewn on the ground alongside its open driver's door, and rescue workers helping people leave the scene and dousing a blackened car.

"Police found an injured girl with shrapnel wounds who was given first aid on the spot and taken to hospital," the ministry said on its Telegram channel of the aftermath in Mykolaiv.

Separately, the Ukrainian military said Russian air attacks had damaged agricultural enterprises and destroyed several industrial buildings in the port city of Odesa.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 16 drones and seven missiles and 14 drones were destroyed over the Odesa region.

Moscow has accused Kyiv of election sabotage with days of strikes on Russian infrastructure, one of the most sweeping air operations on Russian territory since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

(Reporting and writing by Elaine Monaghan in Washington; Editing by Frances Kerry and Alexander Smith)
In Sumy Oblast, three Russian DRGs tried to break through the border

In Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian border guards and military units have stopped three attempts by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups (SRGs) to break through the border of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) reported on Telegram on March 17.

In one case, border guards detected several people from an enemy SRG attempting to infiltrate from the territory of the Russian Federation. They opened fire on the saboteurs, and a firefight ensued. In two other cases, border guards, together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, detected Russian SRGs in before they entered Ukraine and opened fire on them.

According to the SBGS, in all three cases, the occupants were forced to retreat.

Read also:

According to the agency, reserves of the SBGS, NGU, and AFU units were deployed to reinforce the areas of the subversive reconnaissance groups. Artillery and mortar crews were also deployed.

Earlier, the former commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhii Naiev, reported that Russian SRGs typically consists of 10-12 well-trained saboteurs. All SRGs are officer groups from Russia's special operations forces and the GRU of the Russian General Staff.

In December 2023, SBGS stated that Russian troops had intensified their sabotage and reconnaissance operations in Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts.

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Key developments on March 17:

Media: 12 Russian oil refineries successfully hit in recent attacks by Ukraine

Putin wins rigged Russian election, preliminary results show

1 killed, 6 injured, including child, in Russian attack on Mykolaiv

Shoigu calls for better Navy defense in visit to Black Sea Fleet, Russian Defense Ministry says

Drone reportedly hits military base in Russian-controlled Transnistria.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) drones have recently successfully attacked 12 oil refineries in Russia, a source told Ukrainska Pravda, including an overnight attack on March 17 of an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai.

The SBU carried out the most recent attack together with Special Operations Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces, according to the source.

Residents of Slavyansk-on-Kuban reported hearing explosions in the town and said that a local factory was on fire, according to the Russian Telegram news channel Baza.

At least one refinery worker was killed, Baza and Russian news outlets claimed.

Russian media reported that the fire was most likely caused by a Ukrainian drone strike. Locals told the news channel Ostorozhno that a group of over five drones hit the facility.

In the past weeks, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry. Ukraine has hit oil refineries in Samara, Ryazan, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts.

The targeted facilities account for about 12% of Russia's oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported on March 14.

Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy

Putin wins rigged Russian election, preliminary results show

Russian authorities on March 15-17 held a presidential election in two countries  Russia and the regions of Ukraine occupied by the Kremlin. The voting was neither free nor fair, with the result known in advance.

According to preliminary data, Vladimir Putin gained his 87% of the vote, a number that came hardly as a surprise.

Russia's presidential election ended on March 17, with the state-controlled news agency Interfax reporting over 70% voter turnout as of 3 p.m. local time in Moscow.

In what the Russian opposition called a symbolic protest against Putin, thousands of Russians showed up at the polling stations at the pre-agreed time, at noon on March 17.

This "peaceful protest," promoted by late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was meant to demonstrate how many Russians were ready to vote against Putin. After showing up at the same time, those opposing Putin were supposed to proceed to vote for any other candidate  or to ruin the ballot.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, called on Russians to vote midday on March 17 in what she described as a symbolic protest against Putin.

There are many people around you who are anti-Putin and anti-war, and if we come at the same time, our anti-Putin voice will be much louder," Navalnaya, who lined up in queues at the Russian Embassy in Berlin to vote, said in a video published on March 13.

Photos and videos of Russians lining up in long queues to attend a local polling station were published by Russian independent media outlet Meduza. It reported that the first actions took place in the Far East and then in Siberia and the Urals.

In the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, the mayor's office claimed it "strengthened security measures" due to what it claimed as "provocative actions aimed at destabilizing the work of election commissions."

But the protest ended without achieving results or even a reaction from the Kremlin. According to OVD-Info human rights monitoring group, over 75 people protesting were arrested across 17 Russian cities at 4:21 p.m. local time.

Over the course of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Moscow intensified its crackdown on anti-war dissidents in Russia, effectively killing any hopes for a revolution that would overthrow the leadership. Multiple polls, such as the recent one conducted by the Russian independent polling organization, the Levada Center, also suggested that many Russians support the war in Ukraine.

Putin, who has ruled Russia since 2000, is seeking a fifth term as president. The win will put him in power until 2030.

In the presidential election, Putin is up against three other contenders who all stood no realistic chance of winning.

Any credible political rivals such as Boris Nadezhdin have been prevented from standing or, in the case of Navalny, imprisoned before dying while in detention.

Russia held a rigged vote in 2020 to approve constitutional amendments allowing Putin to run for two more presidential terms after his current one expires in 2024.

The vote effectively made Putin, who has been in power since 1999, a dictator for life.

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

1 killed, 6 injured, including child, in Russian attack on Mykolaiv

One person was killed and six were injured, including a child, in a Russian missile attack on Mykolaiv on March 17, according to the Interior Ministry.

Russian forces attacked the southern city of Mykolaiv twice with missiles earlier in the day. Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych said over 10 multistory buildings and 50 private houses suffered damages, as well as many cars.

The Interior Ministry did not provide details on the attack, only reporting that a person had died in the hospital and that the number of wounded had increased.

Following the attack, regional governor Vitalii Kim said Russia carried out the attack from the same place as its previous strike against the major city of Odesa just 150 kilometers westward on March 15, where 21 were killed and more than 70 were wounded.

Russian forces had launched the March 15 strike using Iskander-M ballistic missiles from occupied Crimea, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces said.

Over the past few weeks, Russia has ramped up its deadly attacks against civilians, especially in the south, east, and north of Ukraine.

Read also: 5 children killed in single attack: We should never forget what Russia did

Drone reportedly hits military base in Russian-controlled Transnistria

A drone hit a military base in Transnistria, the Russian-controlled region of Moldova, local Telegram channel "Pervyi Prydnestrovskyi" claimed on March 17.

"Today, a fire broke out on the territory of one of the military bases in Tiraspol, as a result of an explosion," it claimed, adding that preliminary data suggested the kamikaze drone had attacked the base.

The Telegram channel also claimed the drone's flight was "detected" north of Tiraspol, near the Ukrainian border.

The Telegram channel also published a video allegedly showing a helicopter being hit by a drone. The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify the claim.

Transnistria borders Ukraine's Odesa Oblast and is internationally recognized as part of Moldova. Russian troops have occupied Transnistria since the early 1990s when Russia invaded the region under the pretext of protecting ethnic Russians.

Concerns around Transnistria arose earlier in February after news emerged that local authorities asked Russia for "protection."

Russias Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would "consider with attention" the appeal of authorities from the Moscow-controlled Moldovan region of Transnistria for "protection."

Read also: What danger does Transnistria pose to Ukraine, Moldova?

Shoigu calls for better Navy defense in visit to Black Sea Fleet, Russian Defense Ministry says

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered increased training and more weapons to repel Ukraine's attacks on the Black Sea Fleet, according to a statement by Russia's Defense Ministry on March 17.

"It is necessary to conduct training every day with personnel. Training to repel air attacks and attacks by unmanned boats," Shoigu said, according to the statement on Telegram. He also ordered the installation of additional fire weapons, large-caliber machine-gun rifle systems to destroy Ukrainian drones.

The comments were made during a visit to speak with troops at a Black Sea command post, presumably in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The statement noted that Shoigu also visited Sevastopol in Crimea to inspect the progress of a new military hospital under construction there.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet, whose headquarters is located in Crimea, has been repeatedly struck by Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Attacks include the sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022 and a devastating missile attack on the fleet's headquarters in occupied Crimea that reportedly killed more than 30 officers.

Around 30% of Russias Black Sea fleet has been disabled as of early February 2024, according to the Ukrainian military.

Most recently, on March 5, Ukraine's military intelligence reported destroying the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence, the Project 22160 patrol ship suffered damage to its stern and on its left and right sides. Sergey Kotov was reportedly located near the Kerch Strait when it was attacked by domestically-produced Magura V5 naval drones.

"The cost of the sunken ship is about $65 million," the agency wrote.

On March 10, Russian news outlets reported that the commander of the Russian Navy had been replaced.

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Slavyansk-on-Kuban in southern Russia was targeted in one of the drone attacks (file image)

Russia's defence ministry says its forces have destroyed dozens of drones in several regions across the country, including Moscow.

The biggest attack happened in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar, where an oil refinery was targeted.

The attacks come as Russia holds a general election in which President Vladimir Putin is guaranteed to win.

In Ukraine, officials reported an overnight barrage of Russian drones and missiles on the port city of Odesa.

The Ukrainian governor of the north-eastern city of Kharkiv said 15 settlements had been shelled by Russia over the past 24 hours.

In Russia, authorities said 17 drones had been launched against an oil refinery and had been neutralised, but one sparked a fire as it fell.

No deaths were reported as a result of the fire, which has been extinguished.

One person is thought to have died of a heart attack during the strike. It is the sixth oil refinery attacked in Russia over the past week.

A source has confirmed to the BBC that Ukrainian forces targeted the Slovyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia. The security source referred to a "successful result", and a "large fire".

It said again that Ukraine's aim was to undermine the Russian economy and its oil exports.

The Krasnodar attack is the latest in a number of similar drone attacks, with 12 oil refineries targeted in recent times.

Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram that five drones were downed in different areas while flying towards the capital early on Sunday.

And two Moscow airports have imposed flight restrictions for security reasons, state media report.

Another area of Russia - the Belgorod region, near northern Ukraine - has also come under attack, according to its governor. In the early hours of Sunday, he said a teenage girl had died when a shell hit a residential building.

Vyacheslav Gladkov said drones dropped explosive devices in the village of Oktyabrsky - damaging electricity and gas supply lines.

Later on Sunday, Mr Gladkov said a man died "before an ambulance crew arrived" after air strikes hit a car park in Belgorod. Eleven others were injured, the governor added.

It is the second time Belgorod has been targeted this weekend.

On Saturday, at least two people were killed in a bombardment the authorities blamed on Ukraine. Shops and schools were closed afterwards as a safety precaution.

According to Ukraine's southern defence forces, 13 Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down.

No injuries were reported, but the attack caused fires at two agricultural sites and destroyed buildings. The fires have since been put out.

Another drone was shot down in the Mykolaiv region.

While Russia claims that Ukraine is attempting to disrupt the presidential election that is certain to give President Putin another six years in power, it also launched a wave of drones against Ukrainian cities overnight - as it has done since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukrainian forces managed to intercept most of them, but two struck sites in the port city of Odesa - days after a double missile attack killed at least 20 people and left dozens more wounded.

In his evening address on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to the success of Ukraine's long-range drones in recent weeks exposing what he called "vulnerabilities" in Russia's "war system".

"Ukraine will now always have its own strike force in the sky," he said.
Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of Ukraine's Air Force, has posted footage of mobile fire groups downing Russian Shahed drones in the country's south.

Source: Oleshchuk on Telegram

Quote: "17 March 2024. Southern direction.

And that is happening every night...

I thank the defenders of the sky for their successful combat work. Together towards victory!"

Previously:

Recently, Russian forces have been attacking Ukraines south with kamikaze drones nightly. Odesa Oblast suffers the most.

On the night of 17 March, Russian forces launched 16 Shahed assault drones in Ukraine. According to the Air Force, 14 Shahed UAVs were shot down during combat operations in Odesa Oblast.

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Ukrainian defenders have thwarted attempts by three Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups (SRGs) to infiltrate Ukraine

Source: Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS)

Details: In the first case, Ukrainian border guards detected several individuals of a Russian SRG moving from the Russian territory. The SRG was fired upon, and a shoot-out ensued.

In the other two cases, border guards, acting together with the soldiers of Ukraine's Armed Forces, timely detected Russian SRGs and engaged them.

To reinforce the areas through which Russian SRGs approach Ukraine, reserves of Ukraine's SBGS, National Guard and Armed Forces were deployed, and artillery and mortar units were engaged.

In all three cases, the Russians retreated, border guards explained.

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An explosion at a plant in the Krasnodar Oblast of the Russian Federation, March 17, 2024

Ukraines SBU security service, together with the Special Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces, attacked the Slaviansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar Krai of Russian Federation, an informed source told NV on March 17.

"We can already say the attack was successful. A large fire was recorded in the area of the main target," the source told NV.

Read also:

According to him, this is a continuation of the strategy to undermine the economic potential of Russian Federation and reduce the flow of "oil dollars" that the enemy is sending to war against Ukraine.

The source added that SBU drones have recently successfully attacked 12 oil refineries in Russia.

Earlier, Russian media reported that a fire broke out at a refinery in the city of Sloviansk-on-Kuban in the Krasnodar Krai of Russian Federation as a result of a drone attack.

Read also: Russia reports drone attack on oil depot in Kursk

The operational headquarters of the Krasnodar Krai confirmed that the Slaviansk refinery was attacked and that an employee was injured in the attack.

Over the past week, several Russian refineries in different regions have been attacked by drones. Ukrainian intelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed their involvement in some of these attacks in comments to NV.

On March 16, a fire broke out at two oil refineries in Samara Oblast of Russian Federation, and Russian media reported that it was a drone attack.

On March 13, drones attacked Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Lipetsk oblast of Russia, as well as an oil refinery in Ryazan, where a serious fire broke out.

On March 12, drones attacked Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Orel oblasts of Russia, as well as Moscow. In the city of Orel, explosions were heard near an oil depot where a fire broke out. A Lukoil oil depot in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was also on fire.

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Border guards and Ukrainian troops in Sumy Oblast stopped three groups of Russian saboteurs from advancing, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service reported on March 17.

The Ukrainian forces opened fire on the groups, and "in all three cases, the enemy's plans were foiled, the enemy retreated," the State Border Guard Service said on Telegram.

Sumy Oblast borders the Russian oblasts of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod. Russian forces retreated from Sumy Oblast in April 2022 but Russia continues to attack the region on a daily basis.

The attacks on Sumy Oblast have recently intensified, with Russian forces firing 66 times at the region on March 16 alone, according to the local authorities. Russian forces use aviation, drones, artillery, mortars, and drones to attack.

Additional reserve forces were moved forward to strengthen the direction where Russian forces were approaching, the border service said.

Russia's Kursk and Belgorod oblasts have recently experienced attacks from anti-Kremlin militia. On the morning of March 12, several anti-Kremlin armed groups crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine to conduct combat operations, according to the groups.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov, the units are comprised of Russian citizens acting as part of Ukraines "security and defense forces."

The Russian Volunteer Corps claimed to have captured 25 Russian soldiers during their incursions into Kursk and Belgorod oblasts.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it thwarted Kyivs attempt to make a breakthrough into the Russian border territory in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts, adding that the incursion took place simultaneously in three directions.

The border guard earlier reported repelling a saboteur group in Sumy Oblast on March 7.

Read also: Update: 1 person remains missing as rescue operations concluded after March 13 strike on Sumy

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The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), together with the Special Operations Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, attacked the Slavyansk-on-Kuban oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai with drones on the night of 16-17 March.

Source: a Ukrainska Pravda source in the SSU

Details: The source indicated that the attack was successful, as a large-scale fire was reported near the atmospheric distillation towers, which were the primary targets.

The source noted that the SSU drones have recently successfully struck 12 oil refineries in Russia.

Quote: "Thanks to the SSU, the [Russian] acronym for 'refinery', NPZ, now stands for 'New Plant Zapped."

Background:

On the night of 16-17 March, residents of Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Russia's Krasnodar Krai reported explosions and a fire at the city's oil refinery.

Russian propagandists confirmed the drone attack but claimed that "the drones had been destroyed", although the video posted online revealed UAV strikes.

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The place where the body of the woman was founded; her mother and daughter. Collage: Bild

A couple detained on suspicion of murdering a 27-year-old Ukrainian citizen in Germany and kidnapping her child may have planned their actions in advance.

Source: German media, in particular Focus; European Pravda reports

The couple, 43 and 44, were detained in the Rhine-Neckar district on Wednesday evening. Initially, reports indicated that two men had been detained, but later they were identified as a man and a woman. According to Bild, the 44-year-old man is German, while the woman is reportedly from Russia.

On Thursday, they appeared before a judge and were then taken to a correctional facility. The mother of the murdered Ukrainian woman has not yet been found.

During the arrest, a five-week-old girl was placed under guardianship unharmed and taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. After a DNA comparison, she was identified as the daughter of the murdered woman.

The child is now under the care of the child protection services.

The detainees are suspected of having planned the murder and abduction. The 44-year-old man, who works as a butcher, is said to have been talking about his newborn child, who is currently in the intensive care unit.

His neighbour told Bild: "The couple has three sons, and the man told me in December that they were having a girl in January. He proudly showed me a pink baby cap for the child. This seemed strange to me because his wife didn't look pregnant at all. But I never expected such a crime. This couple was always very polite and seemed nice."

Background:

Earlier this week, reports emerged that a Ukrainian citizen under temporary protection, who lived in a refugee shelter, was found dead in the west of Germany.

Later, reports said that her several-week-old daughter was found alive, while her 51-year-old mother was still missing.

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'We should continue to meet in Geneva and develop the constitutional committee and the work of the committee in the manner that could give hope to the Syrian people,' Pedersen said (Louai BESHARA)

Visiting United Nations special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen urged Damascus Sunday to rejoin talks to revise the country's constitution, warning that political dialogue was going "in the wrong direction".

Syria's war, which began 13 years ago with the repression of pro-democracy protests, has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and ravaged the country's economy, infrastructure and industry.

Pedersen has been trying to make progress with a so-called constitutional committee for Syria to rewrite or amend the war-torn country's constitution since October 2019, with little success.

The Geneva talks halted in 2022 after Damascus ally Moscow had objected to the meeting being held in Switzerland, questioning its neutrality after it imposed sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

"The situation in Syria now is extremely difficult, and I think all indicators are pointing in the wrong direction when it comes to security, when it comes to the economy and when it comes to the political process," Pedersen told reporters in Damascus.

"We should continue to meet in Geneva and develop the constitutional committee and the work of the committee in the manner that could give hope to the Syrian people," Pedersen said after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

Pedersen said last month that Moscow and Damascus had rejected holding a ninth round of talks in Geneva, the established location for the talks, and that the parties had failed to agree on an alternate venue.

He had said he was issuing invitations for the meeting to be held in the Swiss city in late April, warning that "an indefinite hiatus can only undermine the constitutional committee's credibility and work".

On Sunday, the UN envoy said he had repeated the proposal during his meeting with Mekdad.

"We need progress on the political front," said Pedersen, who mediates the discussions between representatives from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, the opposition, and civil society.

While the opposition had sought to negotiate for a transitional phase envisioning Assad's departure, UN-facilitated talks are now limited to revising the constitution.

Endless rounds of UN-backed peace talks failed to stop the Syrian conflict and in recent years have been largely overtaken by parallel discussions involving rebel-backer Turkey and Damascus allies Russia and Iran.

bur-lg-lar/srk/ami
Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Sunday that allegations the United Nations Relief and Works Agency collaborated with Hamas was "a flat-out lie."

Speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," the Maryland Democrat said the demonization of the UNRWA in connection with the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel was an attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to get rid of the agency.

"There's no doubt that the claim that Prime Minister Netanyahu and others are making, that somehow UNRWA is a proxy for Hamas, are just flat-out lies," he told host Margaret Brennan. "That's a flat-out lie. If you look at the person who's in charge of operations on the ground in Gaza for UNRWA, it's about a 20-year U.S. Army veteran. You can be sure he is not in cahoots with Hamas. Netanyahu has wanted to get rid of UNRWA since at least 2017."

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have called for defunding the agency. But Van Hollen said the work of the UNRWA remains essential at a time when many Gazans are in dire straits due to the ongoing war.



He also said if there were specific members of the UNRWA who collaborated with Hamas in the cross-border account that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, they should be held accountable.

"There have been allegations made by the Netanyahu government that up to 14 of those 13,000 people were involved in the horrific October 7 attacks," Van Hollen said. "We should investigate it, we should hold all those people accountable. But for goodness' sakes, let's not hold 2 million innocent Palestinian civilians who are dying of starvation, let's not hold them, essentially, accountable for the bad acts of 14 people."

Van Hollen met last week with families of some of those still being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.

"They were very clear, we need to focus on getting the hostages back and a ceasefire. And this is why I'm for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages," he said.
A satellite image shows shipping containers used to block access to heavy cranes, in Port-au-Prince

By Harold Isaac

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - The U.N. children's agency said on Saturday one of its aid containers at Haiti's main port, stocked with "essential items for maternal, neonatal and child survival," was looted, as gangs increasingly control the capital.

Haiti is struggling to resolve a long-running political and humanitarian crisis that the children's agency, UNICEF, has warned is causing record hunger and life-threatening malnutrition in parts of the capital Port-au-Prince.

The unelected prime minister, Ariel Henry, said this week he would step down once a transitional council was in place. Heavily armed gangs have taken over much of the city, and rights groups have reported widespread killings, kidnappings and sexual violence.

UNICEF said one of its 17 containers had been looted at the Port-au-Prince port, where it said 260 humanitarian-owned containers were controlled by armed groups.

"Looting of supplies that are essential for life saving support for children must end immediately," said Bruno Maes, UNICEF's Haiti representative, in a statement.

"This incident occurs at a critical moment when children need them the most."

The supplies in the looted container included resuscitators and related equipment, UNICEF said. The agency warned that three out of four women in the Port-au-Prince area do not have access to basic healthcare and nutrition.

Also in Port-au-Prince, some hospitals have been forced to close over safety concerns, and only two surgical operating facilities are operational, according to UNICEF.

Shortages of electricity, fuel and medical supplies have affected hospitals nationwide, with six out of ten facilities not able to function, UNICEF added.

(Reporting by Harold Isaac; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by William Mallard)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.N. children's agency said on Sunday over 13,000 children have been killed in Gaza in Israel's offensive, adding many kids were suffering from severe malnutrition and did not "even have the energy to cry."

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell did not provide a source for the child fatality figure during an interview with CBS News.

When asked if Russell was referring to the agency's own estimate or was basing the figure on reporting from authorities in Hamas-governed Gaza, a UNICEF spokesperson pointed to a press statement by the U.N. children's agency that attributed the figure to Gaza's health ministry.

"Thousands more have been injured or we can't even determine where they are. They may be stuck under rubble ... We haven't seen that rate of death among children in almost any other conflict in the world," Russell told CBS News' "Face the Nation" program.

"I've been in wards of children who are suffering from severe anemia malnutrition, the whole ward is absolutely quiet. Because the children, the babies ... don't even have the energy to cry."

Russell said there were "very great bureaucratic challenges" moving trucks into Gaza for aid and assistance.

A March 14 infographic from OCHA, the U.N. humanitarian office, cites the Gaza government media office as saying that over 13,000 children and at least 9,000 women have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7. U.N. agencies have relied on Gaza authorities for casualty information during the war.

International criticism has mounted on Israel due to the death toll of the war, the starvation crisis in Gaza, and allegations of blocking aid deliveries into the enclave.

A U.N. expert said earlier this month that Israel was destroying Gaza's food system as part of a broader "starvation campaign." Israel rejected the accusation.

Israel's military assault on Gaza has displaced nearly its entire 2.3 million-person population, caused a starvation crisis, flattened most of the enclave, and killed over 31,000 people, according to Gaza's health ministry. It has also led to accusations of genocide being probed in the World Court.

Israel denies the genocide charges and says it is acting in self defense after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel from Hamas that killed some 1,200, according to Israeli tallies, and took scores of hostages.

One in three children under age 2 in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished and famine is looming, the main U.N. agency operating in the Palestinian enclave said on Saturday.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese, Rami Ayyub and Deepa Babington)
Even if you are not Irish, St. Patricks Day seems like a fun holiday! Everyone seems to take on a little Irish luck for St. Patricks Day. Or at least it appears they do! The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.

Laura Schultz Pipis, executive director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties

Here are a few fun facts about St. Patricks Day:

St. Patricks Day is the observance of the death of St. Patrick (probably in 461) who is the patron saint of Ireland. Since the ninth or 10th century, the Irish have been observing March 17 as St. Patricks feast day.

St. Patrick is not Irish. He was born in the fifth century Roman Britain, kidnapped by Irish raiders at age 16 and taken as a slave to Ireland. He escaped back to Britain and later returned to Ireland to bring Christianity to its people.

He explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, called the shamrock. Traditionally, shamrock or seamroy symbolized the rebirth of spring.

Originally St. Patrick was affiliated with the color blue. In the 18th century, green was Introduced to St. Patrick's Day festivities and the (green) shamrock became a national symbol.

By the 17th century, the Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

The first St. Patricks Day parade took place in America and not Ireland. History records a St.

Patricks Day parade was held on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. In 1772, homesick soldiers in the English military marched in New York City to honor their patron saint. More than 100 St. Patrick's Day parades are now held across the United States.

The traditional meal of Irish Americans is corned beef and cabbage. Cabbage is a popular food in Ireland. However, corned beef became popular on St. Patricks Day at the turn of the 20th century when it was cheaper to use corned beef rather than Irish bacon.

Even though Ireland was never home to any snakes, St. Patrick is credited for banishing of the snakes. This myth was really a metaphor for the eradication of paganism from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within 200 years of Patricks arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.

Another icon of the Irish holiday is the Leprechaun. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is lobaircin, meaning small-bodied fellow. Celtics folklore included belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil.

Leprechauns are believed to be good luck, especially if you could capture their guarded pots of gold. Folklore also believes if you catch a leprechaun, he will give you three wishes in exchange for his freedom.

The rare four-leaf clover is also a symbol of Irish good luck. Overall, the luck of the Irish means that Irish people are inherently lucky and fortunate. I hope so!

In the season and spirit of good luck, think about sharing your good fortune (pot of gold!) by donating to the United Way or another favorite nonprofit organization. Funding is a year-round struggle, and all nonprofits could benefit from a little good luck this St. Patricks Day!

We currently fund a total of 25 local agency programs in Monroe County. See our website (unitedwayMLC.org) for a list of those agencies. We appreciate your support to help fight poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health and substance use disorders, domestic violence, and other important community needs! Additional direct programs and services provided by our local United Way include the 2-1-1 Health and Human Services Hotline, Project Ramp, Health Check, and the 21-Week Equity Challenge.

For more information about GIVING AND LIVING UNITED, please call 734-242-1331, email lpipis@unitedwaymlc.org, mail a contribution or visit us at 216 N. Monroe St., Monroe, MI 48162 or visit unitedwaymlc.org. Visit our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok social media platforms, too!

 Laura Schultz Pipis is the executive director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee counties.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: United Way: Luck of the Irish!
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A protest was held Saturday in response to the University of Arkansas considering outsourcing its facility management jobs to a private company.

Its maddening. I give my all to for this place to be thrown aside, said Curt Groce.

Groce is a custodial supervisor for the university. He has worked for the university for six years.

I wanted to work for the university because I heard so much about it from family and friends that do live down here, said Groce.

Groce says he still wants to be apart of U of A.

The work that I do here. For the students. I take that to heart, said Groce.

UA economist breaks down Arkansas unemployment rate

Groce says he works to keep the university safe for students, especially during the winter season.

Im here during the winter time. When they got snow and ice on the ground. I remove that so that they will be safe so they wont have to slip and fall, said Groce.

April Reisma is the president of the Arkansas Education Association. She says she wants everyone who works in education to know they should be valued.

Every single person that works with education in the state of Arkansas contributes equally to the education of our students, said Reisma.

Reisma says she was proud to see so many people come to support the U of A workers.

Today was a shining example of being able to stand up together in unity not only with members but also community members, said Reisma.

If the university does decide to outsource, current employees will still keep their salary. However, they could lose some benefits. If employees are moved from a public sector to a private one they can be fired at will.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
The unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria (Moldova) has reported an explosion and fire on the premises of a military unit in the city of Tiraspol as a result of a kamikaze drone attack. The fire after the strike could have destroyed a helicopter.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Transnistrian state channel Pervii Pridnestrovskii, which spread photos and videos from the site of the attack

Quote: "Today a fire broke out as a result of an explosion on the territory of a military unit in Tiraspol."

Details: Reportedly, the explosion supposedly occurred as a result of a kamikaze drone, the flight of which was documented from the side of the Clover Bridge. The so-called Clover Bridge is located to the north from Tiraspol near the Ukrainian border.

"There are no victims. Law enforcement agencies are working on site. A criminal proceeding was initiated," Pervii Pridnestrovskii reported.

Judging from the video, published by the channel, fire from the alleged drone attack could have destroyed a helicopter.

The Pridnestrovets Telegram channel specified that the explosion occurred at 12:10 local time.

Background:

In January, unrecognised Transnistria claimed that "special strike teams" were allegedly being prepared in Moldova for murders and sabotage operations in the Transnistrian territories. The Transnistrian authorities provided no proof or at least some evidence for these claims.

Transnistria, where Russian troops have been illegally present for over 30 years, violating the sovereignty of Moldova, is the source of regional tensions.

In 2022, local "authorities" similarly reported about the series of explosions at the facilities, which led to speculations about possible preparation for the invasion by the Russian forces from the Transnistrian territory.

Recently, the Transnistrian "Ministry of State Security" also spread rumours about "the incident with the use of firearms", which was refuted by both Kyiv and Kishinev.

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The U.S. State Department this week will convene the first meeting of signatories to an artificial intelligence (AI) agreement, focusing on military applications as the first item of international interest.

"It is commendable that the State Department is continuing to push forward on the discussions concerning ethical use of AI in military applications," Mark Montgomery, senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

"I do not try to read too much into this, as it is basically a voluntary grouping of a hodgepodge of nations. This is about information sharing not policymaking. Most clearly, the countries whose military applications of AI should worry us the most are not present."

The U.S. got 53 nations to sign the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy last year, with several notable nations missing  China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Israel and India, among others.

US-LED RESOLUTION SEEKS INTERNATIONAL AI POLICY TO END POVERTY AND HUNGER

The Air Force showcases how artificial intelligence will help the military dominate airspace.

Of those signatories, 42 will attend this week's conference. Over 100 participants from diplomatic and military backgrounds will discuss every military application of AI that has surfaced over the past few years.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"We really want to have a system to keep states focused on the issue of responsible AI and really focused on building practical capacity," a senior State Department official told Breaking Defense.

The State Department wants this weeks conference to serve as the first in a series that will continue as long as needed, with signatories returning each year to discuss the newest developments.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Between those meetings, the department encourages signatories to meet and discuss new ideas or practice war games of new AI technology, "anything to build awareness of the issue and take concrete steps" toward implementing the declarations goals.

Officers utilize a range of information and artificial intelligence to process it and identify and locate targets.

"We value a range of perspectives, a range of experiences, and the list of countries endorsing the declaration reflects that," the official said. "Weve been very gratified by the breadth and depth of the support weve received for the Political Declaration."

The use of AI in warfare and international security remains the chief concern, ahead of disinformation concerns or job displacement. Bonnie Jenkins, the undersecretary of state for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, discussed the topic during a recent address at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

OPINION: HERE'S HOW AI WILL EMPOWER CITIZENS AND ENHANCE LIBERTY

"Championing the safe, secure and trustworthy development and use of AI has been a driving cause for the Biden administration, and for good reason," Jenkins said.

The U.S. Air Force is testing jets that can fly with artificial intelligence.

"While AI has the potential to do profound good  to help transform modern medicine, to improve agricultural practices, to address global food insecurity and to stymie the effects of climate change  it also has the potential to cause profound harm.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Even in the hands of a well-meaning actor, without the appropriate guardrails, AI can compound threats, intensify conflict and disrupt the global security environment," Jenkins warned. "We cannot predict how AI will evolve or what AI might be capable of in five years.

"However, we do know that there are steps we can take in the meantime to implement necessary policies and to build the technical capacities to enable responsible development and use, no matter the technological advancements."





Original article source:US holds conference on military AI use with dozens of allies to determine 'responsible' use
US Marshals arrest fugitive mother accused of killing 5-year-old son, stuffing body into a suitcase in 2022

U.S. Marshals on Thursday arrested a woman accused of killing her 5-year-old son in 2022, and stuffing his body in a suitcase, officials said.

Dejaune Anderson was arrested in Arcadia, California, in Los Angeles County, on a warrant issued out of Indiana, as she was attempting to board a train, Indiana State Police said in a release.

She faces charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, all felonies.

Anderson was found after investigators received a tip from a "concerned citizen" that she was in California.

CHICAGO SUITCASE KILLER WHO MURDERED MOM ON 5-STAR VACATION TO PARADISE WANTS CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED OVERSEAS

"Its a somber moment," Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls said. "We did know that this day was going to come, but to have it come at this time and to have her in custody, Im just excited (for the detectives).

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Were all very excited, lifted up and buoyed by the fact that shes behind bars and can be brought back to Indiana, so we can continue this trail for justice for Cairo."

The body of Cairo Jordan, 5, was found inside a suitcase in rural southern Indiana, around 35 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky, in April 2022. Authorities believe he was killed in Kentucky and his body was dumped in Indiana.

An autopsy found that Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, state police said.

Another woman, Dawn Coleman, was arrested in October 2022. She is accused of helping Anderson dispose of Jordans body.

FUGITIVE WANTED IN KILLING OF MASSACHUSETTS MOTHER, DAUGHTER TO BE EXTRADITED

Coleman pleaded guilty to aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison with five years suspended on probation last year.

A local resident found Cairos body in April 2022, a week after he was allegedly killed, while mushroom hunting in the heavily-wooded area.

"A probable cause affidavit states that Coleman admitted to walking into a bedroom of the home where she witnessed Anderson lying on top of the child, who was face down on the bed with his face into the mattress," Washington County Sheriffs officials previously said in a statement. "She said Anderson asked her to help put Cairo in a trash bag and then into the suitcase."

Anderson will be taken back to Indiana.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: US Marshals arrest fugitive mother accused of killing 5-year-old son, stuffing body into a suitcase in 2022
The U.S. military shot down a Houthi drone over the Red Sea and destroyed another one on Yemeni soil.

U.S. Central Command says the Iranian-backed group "launched two unmanned Aerial vehicles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea" on Saturday morning before its forces "successfully engaged and destroyed one UAV," while the other is "presumed to have crashed into the Red Sea."

"There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity," CENTCOM said, adding that it also "destroyed five unmanned surface vessels and one UAV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense" later Saturday night.

"It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region," according to CENTCOM. "These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels."

TANKER CREW REPORTEDLY UNHARMED AFTER ATTACK BY YEMENS HOUTHI REBELS IN THE RED SEA

The strikes come as the Houthis launched a suspected attack Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, with an explosive detonating near a ship, the Associated Press reported.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said the vessel's crew saw the blast as it passed off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government. UKMTO said there were no reports of damage to the ship or injuries.

YEMENS HOUTHIS HAVE A HYPERSONIC MISSILE, REPORT CLAIMS

Protesters, predominantly Houthi supporters, rally on the first Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan, to show continued support to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 15.

U.S. Central Command said on Friday that the Houthis also "fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea."

Those launches came a day after Russian state media reported that the Houthis have a new, hypersonic missile in their arsenal.

The British-registered cargo ship Rubymar is seen sinking on March 3 after it was targeted by Yemen's Houthi forces while traveling in the Red Sea.

"The groups missile forces have successfully tested a missile that is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and runs on solid fuel," a military official close to the Houthis claimed, according to a report from the RIA Novosti news agency.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: US military shoots down Houthi drone over the Red Sea
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Joe Biden wearing shamrock posies, and a man in a priest's collar alongside them

The US president has met Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers at the White House.

President Joe Biden held a private conversation with Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little Pengelly for around 15 minutes. Special envoy Joe Kennedy was also present.

It was the first joint visit by Executive Office ministers since Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness met the then-US President Barack Obama in 2016.

Afterwards both the first and deputy first ministers hailed the visit as a huge success and hoped it would play a positive role in helping to secure fresh investment in Northern Ireland.

Publicly, President Biden has again welcomed the return of power sharing in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the annual St Patrick's day shamrock ceremony he said it was 'great' to have a fully functioning government in Northern Ireland again.

After leading a round of applause for the First and Deputy First Ministers, President Biden said that the Good Friday agreement provided for " an entire generation whose hearts have been shaped not by grievances of the past but by confidence in a better future"

Also present in the audience at the White House were Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, Education minister Paul Givan and NI Secretary of State, Chris Heaton Harris.

Speaking after the meeting, Michelle ONeill said: Both Emma and I have had a very positive experience, meeting business leaders from a wide range of sectors who were left with a clear understanding of why they should invest in the north.

Over the coming months we will continue to build on the connections we have made in the United States in order to grow our economy for the betterment of our citizens.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: We had a really positive meeting with President Biden and discussed the importance of our relationship and U.S. investment when it comes to securing a thriving, brighter future for everyone.

We are a global leader in sectors such as cyber security, RegTech, FinTech, advanced manufacturing and health sciences with a young, skilled and dedicated workforce. I am confident those influential decision makers we have met with have been very impressed by what they have heard."

'Change of tone' in Washington on Middle East - Varadkar

There has been a change of tone in Washington on the issue of the conflict in the Middle East according to the taoiseach (Irish prime minister).

Speaking after the annual St Patrick's day brunch, Leo Varadkar said he felt reassured that the Irish position on Gaza should "not be toned down".

"There are different perspectives between Ireland and the US," he said.

"They're different aspects within the US as well.

But I have to say, nobody I've encountered said to me that we should tone down our position or that they feel that that we've gone too far in comments we've made on the position and that's reassuring."

The taoiseach, who several days ago urged President Joe Biden to work towards an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza, said the president was working hard to secure that.

The restoration of the Northern Ireland executive was also praised by the taoiseach in Washington DC.

Leo Varadkar said that the visit to the White House this year is different because of the functioning of the power sharing government.

"There would have (previously) been a conversation about what could have been done to get it working and it's just been great to see the fact that it is operating," he added.

Why is the US President given a bowl of shamrock?

Derived from the Gaelic seamrog (young clover), the three-leaf plant has had a symbolic purpose since the 18th Century, decorating coins, medals and coat lapels of the great and good at home and abroad.

Traditionally the plant was said to have been used by St Patrick to illustrate the Christian Holy Trinity.

But how did the US president ending up being presented with a bowl of them?

Every year the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) makes a trip to the US and has an audience with the president at the White House.

The plant first made its way into the White House in 1952 with the Irish Ambassador to the US John Hearne delivering a box for President Harry Truman.

The ceremony grew the next year with the introduction of a cut-glass bowl supplied by Waterford Crystal, presented to the new President Dwight D Eisenhower.

The tradition has continued in one form or another ever since, giving the Republic of Ireland enviable access to the US president every March.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The Virginia Branch of the NAACP has released a statement denouncing the alleged wrongful arrest of a Navy wife.

Previous Coverage: Virginia Beach NAACP meets with VBPD chief following Navy wife wrongful arrest, VB Sherriff meeting Tues.

10 On Your Side has requested an interview with the Virginia Beach Police Chief, Paul Neudigate several times and was told the chief was unavailable each time.

Jacqueline Smith was pulled over during a traffic stop on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in mid-February. Navy officials have not confirmed the circumstances of the initial traffic stop to WAVY.com.

WAVY obtained court documents which state that Smith was arrested by Virginia Beach Police and booked under the wrong name  Jacqueline Renee Smith.

A press release from VBPD said the two women have the same birth date and birth month. But they are different ages.

Smith told 10 On Your Side she believes the Navy and VBPD blurred the two identities during the intake process. She has hired an attorney.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Simon Pickard is confident that his collection will one day provide a windfall for his sons - Dale Cherry

Hidden under thousands of beds across Britain or collecting dust in the loft, will be an assortment of long-forgotten Lego.

But one attic is different. In a house on the outskirts of a market town in Devon, lies close to 1,000 sealed Lego sets in mint condition.

Its owner, Simon Pickard, has no intention of opening them, let alone playing with them. The 44-year-old says he has spent hundreds of thousands over the last 10 years, collecting around two million pieces  and has no plans of stopping anytime soon, or selling up.

Simons love of Lego started from an early age. My dad was in the Army so he used to bring us back Lego sets for me and my brother, he says. Hed be away training for six months with the Royal Signals and hed always come back with some Lego.

But Im quite rare in the adult world, I never had a dark age  a period where you stopped playing with Lego and took it up again in later life  Ive always had Lego.

Pickard puts this down to the brand growing alongside him. Lego began releasing more complex sets throughout the 1990s to appeal to an older audience and, while he was at university, it launched its most successful franchise to date, Lego Star Wars.

They released things at the right time for me to keep catching my interest, he says. There were quite a lot of things which appealed to me. There was the creative side, and it was also the small world side and the historical side, and the fact you could buy sets from the past.

Lego's popularity shows no sign of waning, and it has never been easier to buy and sell second-hand sets - Dale Cherry

But it was the creative possibilities that really hooked Pickard. While each individual set gives users a step-by-step guide on how to build a specific model, all Lego pieces are designed to fit together, providing builders with never-ending combinations for designing their own unique models.

Having kept all his childhood Lego, bought out his brothers collection and also been gifted his parents Lego, Pickards designs became more intricate and complex.

I didnt want to just build cars or build birds, which people do to a very good standard, he says. I like to challenge myself to build things which are different the whole time.

One of those builds involved recreating the Battle of Thermopylae, an ancient Greek battle between the Spartans and Persians. However, as the bounds of his imagination were pushed, he came up against two major obstacles: the increasing space he needed and the rising costs.

In the case of the Battle of Thermopylae, Pickard built a five-foot long, three-foot high and two-and-a-half-foot deep model which cost him 2,500.

Pickard, who uploaded his creations online, was growing his reputation as a builder. He worked with DK Books, the publisher for official Lego books, building models for publication. He says: Its not a lot of money but its certainly more than nothing and Im doing something I love. He made 60 models for around 40 to 80 each.

He has also worked for fan magazine, Blocks, for the past nine years. I take photographs of things I build and show how they are done. For example, I did one on doors and I showed five different ways you can approach making a door, so the emphasis is on developing the ideas rather than just saying copy thisits trying to show them the different ways you can approach it.

Pickard can't bring himself to part with any of his collection - Dale Cherry

Pickard now earns up to 5,000 each year from his published work in print, but adds this is considerably less than what he was earning prior to the pandemic when companies would approach him to build Lego models.

I dont get so much commission work now. I used to make things for businesses such as creating their logo out of Lego. It was almost a living before lockdown but people arent so interested in bespoke models at the moment. With the financial pressures, artistic type things go out of the window.

His collection has swelled to the point that he now has a working stock of about two million pieces which are stored in a 12-foot by 18-foot shed built by his father. This is one of five sheds his dad has built to store his models.

Pickard cant bring himself to part with any of his collection. I know a lot of collectors will sell something and move on with their collection but with Lego, because the pieces never stop interacting with each other, you dont generally want to sell what youve got because youll never know when you might need those sourced parts to help.

The other reason Pickard feels no reason to sell is because of its consistently strong value. A study by a Russian university in 2021 found that second-hand Lego rose in value by an average of 11pc annually, producing a better return than gold.

Pickard laughs off this comparison. Achieving this 11pc increase would be heavily reliant on buying the right sets, he adds, citing Lego Star Wars as the most consistent category for quick turnover.

Such price rises would value his collection in the hundreds of thousands, giving him a nest egg that is rising in value faster than most peoples pensions.

Its difficult to know the true value of what weve spent, certainly hundreds of thousands [of pounds] over the last 10 years or so but it doesnt really lose its value. If I wanted to, I could sell it all on and theres a very high chance Id make money out of it.

This is one of five 12-foot by 18-foot sheds Pickard's dad built to store his models - Dale Cherry

Legos popularity shows no sign of waning, and it has never been easier to buy and sell second-hand sets. The Lego Group took over resale platform Bricklink in 2019 so that it now has control of the first and second-hand markets. Bricklink has 1.6 million registered users with more than 18,000 individuals selling complete sets and individual parts on the site.

It means within a few clicks, anyone can see the value of their own collection or choose to sell what they have.

And according to Pickard, there will always be a buyer for your Lego parts. I used to have people come up to me and say Oh you like Lego, heres a bin bag full of Lego, whereas now Ill have people come up to me and say Oh you like Lego, how much is it worth?.

If you are tempted to tackle the pile of Lego in your loft and see what the value is, Pickard recommends focusing on minifigures for the best returns, particularly if youve opened it up.

He adds: Star Wars sets you can often make more money selling the figures off individually rather than selling the opened set. Some minifigures regularly go for hundreds of pounds, with the rarest being worth thousands.

Pickard concedes that while Lego collecting is expensive, he has no regrets. The father of five gave up his job as a nursery manager to spend more time looking after his children, who have complex medical needs.

Its a balancing act; we arent going to earn as much but I need to be at home to look after them, and you just keep an eye on the income as you go along, he says.

Ultimately, the value of the collection is secondary to Pickards love of Lego. Although he knows one day his collection will provide a windfall for his sons, for now, he is perfectly happy to stand in his attic and smile at all of his Lego.

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By Francesco Guarascio

HANOI (Reuters) -Vietnam's parliament is set to meet on Thursday to discuss unspecified "personnel issues", according to a letter sent to legislators seen by Reuters, amid speculation of a reshuffle of the Communist-ruled country's top leadership.

Multiple Vietnamese officials and diplomats said the possible resignation of the country's president Vo Van Thuong may be one of the personnel matters the parliament will discuss.

A Vietnamese official informed about the matter confirmed the meeting, but press offices for Vietnam's foreign affairs ministry and the parliament did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

The letter signed by the general secretary of the national assembly Bui Van Cuong and sent to members of the parliament, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, said: "The National Assembly Standing Committee decided to convene the 6th extraordinary session of the 15th National Assembly to consider and decide on personnel issues."

It was unclear what decisions would be made at the special session, which comes after a state visit to Vietnam by the Dutch royal family slated for next week was on Thursday postponed "due to domestic circumstances," according to a statement from the Dutch Royal House.

The National Assembly had last year convened a special meeting in January to accept the sudden resignation of the then president Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who quit amid a wide and long-running campaign against corruption, which critics said could be used for political infighting.

Thuong, 53, was elected president in March 2023 and is regarded as being close to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party and Vietnam's most powerful figure.

The president holds a largely ceremonial role but is one of the top four political positions in the Southeast Asian nation.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by David Holmes)
Its hard to flip through animal videos on social media without coming across the hexagonal buttons made by FluentPet, a start-up determined to help animals talk to humans. The companys patented product allows animals to talk by pressing individual buttons, each of which produces the sound of a single word or phrase, like play or outside.

The result, at least in the context of TikTok and Instagram, has been an endless stream of videos in which animals string together several words in a similar cadence to Apples Siri, assuming shed been dropped in water first. The platforms are now heavily saturated with videos of dogs having existential crises, cats engaging in emotional blackmail, and even the occasional horse attempting interspecies communication.

Such videos have helped FluentPet to sell more than 2 million buttons since its launch in June 2020. But dominating social media is not the only goal of the pet-focused startup, which outlined plans to power a dog-based economy in a patent granted to the company in 2022. Dogs already make excellent aids in a security context, in helping with patrols, the patent reads. With rudimentary language abilities, dogs could potentially even replace humans in this roleor at least operate with a higher ratio of dogs to human handlers.

FluentPet CEO Leo Trottier, a cognitive scientist, entrepreneur, product designer, and software engineer based in San Diego, California, is excited about that very possibility. I would love it if there was a dog that hung out at the front [of my apartment building], greeted people and said hi to peoplemaybe even let in the Amazon delivery guy, Trottier told The Daily Beast.

He believes most consumers would readily accept doggy doormen, assuming that costs were kept low. I strongly suspect that the people who want a doorman are not going to be like Mmmm, Im not going to accept this dog downgrade, I want someone to tip their hat at me!, yknow?

Of course, the rise of a dog-based labor market would not come without economic consequences. Goldman Sachs has predicted that artificial intelligencewhich has seen huge investment in recent years from companies looking to cut costscould replace the equivalent of 300 million jobs through automation. Although its hard to say whether or not those same companies would adopt four-legged employees with as much gumption, such developments may not bode well for security guards or doormen judging from FluentPets patent.

However, Trottier is adamant that the threat of canine competition in the workplace cannot be compared to AI. Communication with dogs would enable what I think far outclasses and exceeds the kinds of labor replacement that we see software accomplishing, he said.

Trottier explained that animals differ from software through their physical needs: They require shelter, food, cuddles in the evening, and general care. He asserts that their participation in the labor market would in fact create more jobs for humans that most people would enjoy. The jobs in the military and in the police force that everyone wants are the ones that involve interacting with dogs, he added, because dogs are so fun to work with.

Some experts say that the animals are simply learning to associate FluentPet buttons with specific actions like walk or fetch. FluentPet

His statements echo those made by tech giants like Open AI CEO Sam Altman, who claimed in September last year that AI would help people to do their jobs in a more efficient way, eventually resulting in new and better jobs for humans once AI could fully replace them. But those new jobs seem far and few between, as the tech industry has spent the last few months laying off hordes of its human workers while simultaneously pouring billions of dollars into AI.

Trottier wants to be clear that mass displacement of workers is not part of FluentPets business model, despite the promotion of cost-saving dog-ployees in its patent. Its not part of our vision to make that possible, he said. These are just some of the possibilities that we describe in that document.

The patent is certainly full of possibilities. It contains all kinds of suggestions about a world revolutionized by FluentPet: dogs that are able to alert humans about impending earthquakes, drug dogs that can tell police officers exactly which drug theyve picked up the scent of, increased spending on pet products from dogs that can verbally demand new toys, and even a form of FluentPet-enabled dog telepathy. It raises questions about the aims of the company, its plans for the 8 million points of data collated by its dedicated user base of pet owners and animals, and what those things could mean for the future of automation.

Old Dogs, New Tricks

One of the more fantastical ideas in FluentPets patent is its potential future plans for its button-based technology. The document outlines a process in which AI would be trained to track the brain activity of dogs while they use FluentPet buttons, eventually resulting in a system which would predict which button a dog was thinking about pressing before it pressed it. These dogs would have AI-enabled abilities akin to telepathy, allowing them to communicateor even operate smart home systems attached to doors and food dispensersjust by thinking.

When asked, Trottier did not clarify whether or not dog telepathy was an accurate depiction of what the patent suggests. I will say that it would be very valuable if it was possible for dogs to be able to use the buttons without needing to touch them physically, he said, because then they could use them anywhere.

It may not be the only hidden value in FluentPets patent. The company has partnered with UC San Diegos comparative cognitive science department since 2021, in a collaboration led by cognitive scientist Federico Rossano. The partnership largely involves the study of FluentPets data, which is voluntarily recorded through an app by thousands of users worldwide, to better understand the animals button pressing.

In general, AI is closely linked to cognitive science as the models which inform things like neural networks and reinforcement learning are based on animal brains. Rossano has published studies on both animal cognition and AI, including a paper on a possible model that would help robots and humans develop shared goals.

The pet-focused startup FluentPet outlined plans to power a dog-based economy in a patent granted to the company in 2022. FluentPet

Trottier is a graduate of University of Torontos Cognitive Science and AI program, where he studied alongside Dr. Timothy Lillicrap, a top researcher at DeepMind and investor in FluentPet; Lillicrap has developed algorithms based on animal cognition that help AI to produce images from prompts, play games, and recognize images.

Could the real value of FluentPets data and brain mapping plans be in the development of robots and more advanced AI? Rossano certainly thinks so. He told The Daily Beast that using data collected from animals can act as a building block for creating more advanced AI.

You dont start by trying to understand how people can build a rocket ship. You start by trying to understand how simpler creatures do a limited range of activities, so that the range of behaviors to identify are smaller and more manageable, Rossano explained. Much like a puppy being taught new tricks, AI-in-training has to start off with smaller, less complex information before graduating to human-based datasets. You start from something simpler, Rossano said, and then you can scale it up.

Rossanowho is leading a range of independent and FluentPet-linked research on AI and animal behavioralso explained how valuable dog-like AI could be. A lot of these models, we dont really know what theyre doing. We see the outcomes, but we dont know if theyre also simultaneously deciding to eliminate us from the face of the Earth, he said.

Dogs, on the other hand, are predictable, understandable, and trusted by humans in a way machines currently arent. This research is another way of trying to understand if you could model this type of relationship, would that be a potentially safer type of AI than other people are currently working on?

Eventually, all of this could lead to a monumental outcome: AI that has overcome the black box problem, or the inability for humans to see how a deep learning model makes decisions, or comes to certain predictions and outcomes. Were trying to figure out whats going on, what it is that theyre doing, so that we could potentially get to some mutual understanding and a value alignment, Rossano said.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Of course, making some of these scientific strides requires precise and accurate data. Trottier admitted that even FluentPet cant be certain that people arent faking their talking pets. We cant be 100 percent sure who is touching the button. Maybe they have a baby touching the button. Maybe [the owner is] pressing the button. Maybe they have a Roomba that's riding over the button. No one really knows, he said.

He hopes to one day overcome this issue with the use of cameras, and believes that both FluentPet itself and the community that exists around it have got better at identifying inauthentic communication from dogs. Such dogs can apparently be spotted because they are watching the human who is filming them for signals and commands, rather than thinking for themselves.

The thinking, according to Trottier, often looks like spinning, or a thinking circle that dogs use engage in when considering which button to press, as performed here by Bunny the Dog. Frankly, I think its probably a small fraction of [button presses] that are done by humans now.

Whether the true button presses are accurate to begin with is another thing entirely. Last year, TikTok user Yuval Ben-Hayun claimed to have examined more than 70 videos of Bunny The Dog, FluentPets most famous user, who has amassed more than 10 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. In the video, Ben-Hayun criticized Bunnys owner for her interpretation of button pressessuch as translating the combination of tug and water to mean high tidefor being too generous.

FluentPet is gathering data from thousands of app users worldwide, to better understand animals button pressing. FluentPet

Bunny is not just communicating. She is just pressing completely random buttons, Ben-Hayun said in the video, and the parts that are not random are nowhere near anything that you should call language.

Bunny the Dog is officially associated with FluentPet as a guide: animals successfully using buttons to communicate that sign agreements with FluentPet and act as models to the rest of the talking pet community. According to Trottier, they are held to high standards and monitored for signs of trickery.

The button users that at least FluentPet associates with are assuredly not faking it, Trottier wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. All Guides agree to a set of Guide guidelines that emphasize honesty in the presentation of button pressing behaviors. If we were ever to catch wind of a guide engaging in trickery or scripting to produce a deceptive video, we would immediately terminate our association with them.

Bunny the Dogs owner, Alexis Devine, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Ben-Hayuns video.

But experts still arent completely sold on FluentPets accuracy. Irene Pepperberg, an adjunct research professor at Boston University who has devoted her career to studying animal cognition and communication in grey parrots, views FluentPet as an excellent source of enrichment for companion animals.

But Pepperberg explained in an email to The Daily Beast that pets like Bunny were simply learning to associate FluentPet buttons with particular actions like walk or fetch to achieve a very basic level of communication with their owners. Is it anything more? I doubt it, she said.

Trottier conceded that the science needed to back up things like Bunny the Dogs existential crises isnt quite there yet. Scientifically proving meaningful symbol-based communication between humans and other animals is an exceptionally high bar, and if this kind of communication is possible, it will take time to clear this high bar, Trottier wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. Trottier also wrote that such an achievement would be paradigm shifting and perhaps as impactful as humans landing on Mars.

He went on to argue that the potential for animals to learn language has been well-documented, citing dogs like Rico, a border collie dog that learned the sounds corresponding with 200 unique objects. Such research has been historically fraught because of the small numbers of research subjects previously involved, he explained.

We believe that an alternative approach that brings to bear hundreds, or even thousands, of participants might have a chance of shedding new light on [talking animals], Trottier wrote.

Rossano, meanwhile, stressed the importance of not communicating anything until the publication of peer-reviewed scientific papers. Those papers are under review, and Im not going to tell people what weve found until the papers are approved by the scientific community, he said. We're trying to be careful about what kind of claims we make, because putting forward strong claims based on insufficient evidence could be dangerous.

How AI Can Help Treat (and Cure) Your Dogs Cancer

This means we could be a long way from some of the more grandiose possibilities outlined in FluentPets patent, which rely on dogs being able to communicate accurately. Some of the most outlandish plans include the development of scent-capture buttons which can allow dogs to successfully diagnose diseases by smell. There are even suggestions about the ability of dogs to testify in court in the context of animal abuse cases.

While it is anticipated that the various tests for admissibility of evidence may take a long time to accept dog testimony in court, it may be treated in the same way as a lie detector test, the patent reads. That is, it may help investigators to rule in or rule out possible suspects.Trottier had little to say about the development of such technology by FluentPet, although he did admit that the idea of dogs diagnosing conditions or illnesses through scent was very exciting. However, he was far more interested in focusing on what the power of talking dogs could do for society.

I think we believe that no one goes beyond their potential, as though we have some idea what human potential is, Trottier said. In my ideal scenario, accomplishing this [mission of teaching pets to speak] with non-human animals multiplies our ideas of what human potential might be by a hundred times.

Besides, wouldnt the world simply be a better place if our pets could really talk? In fantasy novels, youve got dogs and cats, and theyre not humansthey have a distinct role in society, but they also kind of talk to you, Trottier said. We fantasize about this, and I think that would be great.

If most or every dog or cat was almost like a little familiar, that could be your buddy, how much less lonely would we be? he continued. Its just such a rich and exciting future. Thats what I would love to see happen.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Sarm Heslop was last seen on her boyfriend's sailboat moored off St John in the US Virgin Islands in 2021

US Virgin Islands police have been accused of trying to take the heat off themselves after handing the case of British woman Sarm Heslop to the Caribbean territorys Attorney General three years after her disappearance.

The move has raised doubts over whether detectives are any nearer to being able to explain how the former flight attendant vanished from her boyfriends catamaran, prompting claims police have washed their hands of the investigation.

A spokesman for the US Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) told local news website Loop News earlier this week: There is no further development in this investigation and [it] has been referred to the Attorney Generals Office.

Sarms family and friends reacted with anger after VIPD failed to inform them of the move or even consult them over their next step. They have now accused officers of bungling the investigation from the start.

Appalling

Find Sarm, the campaign group set up by her friends, said: Its appalling that the VIPD would share this kind of information with a local news outlet instead of properly updating Sarms family.

Once again, it shows a total lack of respect for her grieving family and friends.

We have been living in this agony for so long now that we hardly allow ourselves to hope for a breakthrough that will lead to a conclusion of this nightmare, so for the VIPD to callously allude to progress without explaining to the family exactly what is happening leads us to believe they arent really doing anything. Its likely theyre just trying to take some of the heat off themselves.

David Johnston, a former Scotland Yard homicide and serious crime commander, appointed by Sarms family as their official liaison, said: We have, of course, written to the VIPD to ask for an update following this reference to Sarms case being referred to the Attorney General.

We have received no response. We seek clarification on exactly what this means for the investigation.

Ryan Bane was photographed at a gym in his native Michigan in February. He has kept a low profile since Sarm Heslop's disappearance

Sarms parents, Brenda Street and Peter Heslop, urged police earlier this month to question her boyfriend Ryan Bane after photographs of him living in the US came to light.

Mr Bane was the last person to see Ms Helsop before she vanished, leaving all her possessions including her phone, wallet and passport on board.

He was spotted last month using a gym in his native Michigan, where he has reappeared after maintaining a low profile since Sarm vanished.

Jail sentence

Mr Bane  who served 21 days in jail on a 60-day sentence for assault and battery on his then wife, Cori Stephenson, in 2011  was photographed at Planet Fitness in Lake Orion, by one of Ms Stephensons relatives.

Sarm went missing from Mr Banes yacht Siren Song in the early hours of 8 March 2021, while it was anchored off St John.

The 41-year-old from Southampton disappeared after the couple had dinner on the island and returned to the boat to sleep.

He reported her missing to police at 2.30am local time, but did not inform the coastguard about her disappearance until around noon the same day.

Coastguard officials said that when they visited his boat during a search and rescue operation that afternoon, they found him drunk and unco-operative.

Find Sarm, the campaign group set up by friends, said the police's decision to refer the case on showed 'a total lack of respect for her grieving family'

Mr Bane refused to answer questions and physically prevented them from searching his boat, leading to him receiving a citation for impeding officers.

But police took no steps to search the yacht for clues in the days and weeks after her disappearance and have never formally questioned him.

Mr Bane, now 46, put the Siren Song up for sale for $229,000 (181,000) in October 2021, after leaving the islands and sailing to Grenada before travelling on to Barbados. While in Grenada Mr Bane replaced the boats freezer, according to Mr Johnston.

I want justice

Mrs Street, 67, from Ongar in Essex, said earlier this month: There are too many things that dont make sense and dont add up. I dont believe Sarm just went missing. I believe she was murdered. I want justice for her. I want to bring her home so I know where she is  she deserves that.

Speaking through his lawyer, Mr Bane has always denied knowing what happened to Sarm.

A spokeswoman for the US Virgin Islands Attorney General told The Telegraph: Throughout VIPDs investigation, the Attorney Generals Office has, on multiple occasions, assisted the major crimes division.

At the present time, the Attorney Generals Office does not have any information to suggest that VIPD has closed its investigation. But the Attorney Generals Office has not yet been presented with enough evidence to charge this matter criminally.

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GRINDAVIK, Iceland  Scientists in Iceland said that a volcanic eruption that began over the weekend has finally started to stabilize, but lava is continuing to flow from two areas of a nearly 2-mile-long fissure that opened up just outside the evacuated seaside town of Grindavik.

Saturdays eruption began with little warning just before 8:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. EDT) and was the fourth reported in the area since December. The region has been rocked by volcanic eruptions several times since 2021, and officials say Saturdays eruption was likely the largest that has occurred over the past three years.

Emergency services are seen near to the site of the volcanic eruption on March 17, 2024 in Grindavik, Iceland. The Icelandic Meteorological Office confirmed a volcanic eruption started between Stora Skogfell and Hagafell on Saturday evening, the fourth time since December. A state of emergency has been declared in and around the town of Grindavik and hundreds of holidaymakers have been evacuated from the popular Blue Lagoon spa, which lies a short distance northwest of the site of the volcano.

The Iceland Meteorological Office (IMO) said in an update Monday that volcanic activity was located mostly in the southern parts of the fissure that opened during the eruptions onset, while activity in the northernmost vents appears to have subsided.

Lava continues to flow from those vents, but the IMO said those lava flows seemed to be moving very slowly as observations showed there wasnt much movement since Sunday.

However, the lava that did flow when the eruption began has covered a large area of the landscape.

The IMO said that the area of the lava was estimated to be about 2.25 square miles based on satellite observations Sunday.

"The area estimate has greater uncertainty than measurements based on aerial photographs," the IMO said.

This is because the weather in the area continues to be less than ideal. Scientists were hopeful that flights over the eruption for more accurate estimates could occur Monday if the weather improved.

The skyline of Reykjavik is against the backdrop of orange coloured sky due to molten lava flowing out from a fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula north of the evacuated town of Grindavik, western Iceland on March 16, 2024. Lava spewed Saturday from a new volcanic fissure on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula, the fourth eruption to hit the area since December, authorities said. (Photo by Halldor KOLBEINS / AFP) (Photo by HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP via Getty Images)

Videos and photos from the area after the eruption began showed lava flowing in all directions from the fissure.

Another dramatic photo showed the sky above Icelands capital city of Reykjavik glowing an eerie orange color with thick clouds of smoke billowing in the background.

4 CLASSIC TYPES OF VOLCANOES

What had been a peaceful night at Icelands Blue Lagoon resort quickly transformed into feelings of uneasiness when the eruption began on Saturday evening.

Video recorded by tourists at the Blue Lagoon the moment the eruption began showed the sky beginning to turn orange from the lava that was flowing from the volcano as sirens wailed, warning people to flee the area.

FILE - Molten lava is seen overflowing the road leading to the famous tourist destination "Blue Lagoon" near Grindavik, western Iceland on February 8, 2023. A volcanic eruption started on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland on Thursday, the third to hit the area since December, authorities said. (Photo by Kristinn Magnusson / AFP) / Iceland OUT (Photo by KRISTINN MAGNUSSON/AFP via Getty Images)

As it had done so since the first eruption at the end of 2023, Blue Lagoon quickly and safely closed the facility and evacuated guests and staff from the area.

While the eruption site is "at a safe distance from Blue Lagoon," officials said that it will remain closed through at least Tuesday.

"We will continue to closely follow the guidelines and recommendations of the authorities, working collaboratively with them to monitor the progression of events," Blue Lagoon said in a statement on its website. "This commitment aligns with our unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our valued guests and staff."

Before the initial eruption in December, work was started to construct defensive barriers around Grindavik, as well as near Blue Lagoon, to protect homes and critical infrastructure from potential lava flows.

While some homes were destroyed by lava during a previous eruption, it appears as though the fortifications this time around are holding strong.

The IMO said lava flows have been running alongside the protective barriers east of Grindavik and toward a main road in the area.

According to national public broadcaster RUV, the fortifications are doing what they were built to do  protect the seaside town of Grindavik.

Emergency services are seen near to the site of the volcanic eruption on March 17, 2024 in Grindavik, Iceland. The Icelandic Meteorological Office confirmed a volcanic eruption started between Stora Skogfell and Hagafell on Saturday evening, the fourth time since December. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)

"It is quite clear that if the defensive wall was not there, this lava would flow in a different and more unfortunate direction," the police chief told RUV.

DRONE VIDEO SHOWS LARGE CRACKS SPLITTING ICELANDIC TOWN'S STREET AMID VOLCANIC THREAT

With lava still flowing, the IMO said "the scenario of lava reaching the ocean needs to be considered."

Kristin Jonsdottir, of the IMO, told RUV that lava reaching the ocean could have many consequences.

"The main examples we look at are from Hawaii," she told RUV. "We know that if lava, which is alkaline, comes into contact with the seawater, chlorine fumes can be produced. So, there will be a local danger as lava flows into the sea."

Its not only toxic fumes that pose a threat.

"Another thing that could happen is that lava can become unstable where it meets the sea, and there can be minor explosions," she continued. "Therefore, the place where the sea and lava meet will always be dangerous."

The IMO and Civil Protection offices have been discussing contingency plans if the lava were to reach the sea. At its current rate, the lava would take about two days to reach the ocean, according to Iceland Civil Defense.

The volcano that erupted Saturday night has exploded several times since 2023, with four eruptions being reported since the end of last year alone.

The first occurred on Dec. 18, 2023, and the second was reported less than a month later on Jan. 14.

The third eruption occurred on Feb. 8, and the fourth occurred Saturday night.

Officials said Saturdays eruption is probably the largest that has occurred since 2021.

Some information was translated via Google Translate.





Original article source: Iceland volcano continues to spew lava but eruption has stabilized, scientists say
Voters will head to the polls Tuesday for Primary Election Day. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

While the candidates for U.S. president have already been decided, central Ohio voters will still help determine contested candidate races for the U.S. Senate and House, Ohio House, as well as some county officeholders and local municipal and school issues in Tuesday's primary election.

The biggest race statewide is the battle among three candidates seeking the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in the Nov. 5 general election  a race that could help determine which party controls that chamber in 2025. For Democrats, the biggest statewide race involves choosing which of two candidates should be the party nominee to fight for one of three contested Ohio Supreme Court justice seats in November.

The Dispatch 2024 Primary Voter Guide is here with information to help voters make their decisions at the polls, which will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. You can find your polling place at voteohio.gov.

After the polls close, come to Dispatch.com for the results on all the U.S., state and county contested candidate races (except party committees) and on municipal and school issues across central Ohio.

U.S. Senate

Three Republicans are battling for their party's nomination: Matt Dolan; Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, whose office oversees the state's elections; and Bernie Moreno, who has the endorsement of former President Trump. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown in November.

Ohio Senate Race 2024: Who's running in the March 19 Ohio primary?

Ohio GOP Senate debate: Where primary candidates stand on abortion, immigration, Trump

Ohio Supreme Court

In the only contested primary battle for three seats up for election this year on the state's highest court, Democrats will decide between two appeals court judges for their party's nominee. Tenth District Appeals Judge Terri Jamison, who lost her bid for the high court in 2022, and 8th District Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes are battling to see who will face unopposed Republican Dan Hawkins, a Franklin County Common Pleas judge, in the Nov. 5 general election.

President of the United States

Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump have already won enough other states to secure their respective parties' nominations for what is expected to be another raucous battle in November based on the sniping during and after Biden's recent State of the Union address. However, Ohio voters will still find party challengers listed on their primary ballots even though all GOP challengers have suspended their campaigns.

Franklin County prosecutor

In a historic race and the only one among Franklin County officeholders, three Black attorneys are vying for the Democratic nomination to replace current Prosecutor Gary Tyack, a Democrat who is retiring. They are: Delaware City Attorney Natalia Harris, who lives in Columbus; Columbus City Council member Shayla Favor, a former assistant city attorney; and Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel in Tyack's office who has Tyack's support.

At the request of the Columbus NAACP and others, the Franklin County Democratic Party Executive Committee chose not to endorse from among the three candidates. The Democratic winner will face the lone Republican on the primary ballot, Columbus defense attorney John P.M. Rutan, in November.

Three Democrats are running for Franklin County prosecutor. Here's who they are, their views

More: Franklin County prosecutor candidates debate over handling of officer cases, murder backlog

Ohio House contested races in Franklin County

U.S. House contested races in central Ohio

School issues across central Ohio

Several school districts in central Ohio have levy requests on the primary ballot to fund construction of new buildings and/or renovations to existing buildings  all due to growth in their districts. Voters in two districts, Madison Local and North Fork Local, rejected their levy requests in November, but district officials remind that growth has not stopped.

Olentangy Local Schools

Olentangy Local Schools, located mostly in Delaware County with a small portion in Franklin County, is the fourth-largest school district in the state and the largest suburban district  and continues growing. The 4.25-mill levy package sought by the district is actually two issues: The first, a 3-mill operating levy, would bring in $19 million a year and go toward operating costs such as staff salaries. The second part, a 1.25-mill permanent improvement levy, would generate about $7.9 million a year toward maintenance, repair and upkeep of facilities. If approved by voters, it will cost homeowners an additional $148.75 per $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

Heath City Schools

Heath City Schools in Licking County is asking voters to approve a 5.3-mill bond issue and a 4.75-mill levy to build a new elementary school on the current Stevenson Elementary School property on Cynthia Street and to renovate, improve, and expand current schools. If approved by voters, that would cost an additional $166 for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised value.

Fairbanks Local Schools

The Fairbanks Local School District in Union and Madison counties is asking voters to approve a 0.25% income tax hike and a 1.85-mill property tax to raise $23 million to complete renovating the shared middle and high school building, adding 19,000 square feet to the front of the building, a 12,000-square-foot gymnasium and other work.

Madison-Plains Local Schools

Madison Plains Local Schools, located largely in Madison County but partially in Franklin County, is seeking approval of a 5.4-mill bond issue that would raise $55.36 million to build a pre-K though grade 12 building on the current campus. If approved, it would cost homeowners an additional $189 in property taxes for each $100,000 of county appraised value.

North Fork Local Schools

The 7.1-mill bond issue proposed by North Fork would raise $58 million for a new middle school building, as well as funds for renovating, improving and expanding existing schools in the district, which is located in Licking and Knox counties. If approved by voters, the issue would cost property owners an additional $249 per $100,000 of their county auditor's appraised value in the first year and $185 per $100,000 starting in the second year.

Teays Valley Local Schools

The Teays Valley Local School District, centered in northeast Pickaway County but which includes parts of Franklin and Fairfield counties, is asking voters to approve a 5.3-mill bond issue to raise more than $96.5 million to construct new intermediate schools and make improvements to others. If approved by voters, the measure would cost property owners $187 for each $100,000 of their county auditor's appraised value.

Key candidate races and municipal issues by central Ohio county

Editor's note: Does not include party committee races or local alcohol issues by neighborhood or precinct.

Franklin County

There are no contested primary races for county commissioner or row offices in the county. Besides the county prosecutor race mentioned above, the only other contested race is for one of nine Franklin County Common Pleas judgeships up for election this year. Two Democrats are competing for a seat on the court's Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division being vacated by Republican Judge Dan Hawkins, who is running for Ohio Supreme Court justice. They are: state Rep. Richard Brown, who is not seeking reelection to his Ohio 5th House District seat, and Stephanie Hanna, a staff attorney in Common Pleas Court.

City of Grandview Heights: Proposed renewal of a property tax levy of 7.5 mills for four years beginning in 2024. If approved by voters, property owners will pay $142 for each $100,000 of the county auditors appraised value.

Village of Valleyview: Proposed additional property tax levy of 5 mills for current expenses, which will begin in 2024 and run for five years. If approved by voters, property owners will pay $175 for each $100,000 of county appraised value.

Clinton Township : Proposed additional continuing police levy of 6 mills beginning in 2024. If approved by voters, property owners will pay $210 for each $100,000 of the county auditors appraised value,

Mifflin Township: Proposed continuing replacement levy of 8.8 mills for expenses for the police district beginning in 2024. If approved by voters, property owners will pay $308 for each $100,000 of the county auditors appraised value.

What else is on the ballot in Franklin County?

Delaware County

Republicans John OBrien and Ken OBrien, both of Delaware, are challenging incumbent Don Rankey, of Powell, for their party's nomination for county treasurer. There are no Democratic candidates.

City of Delaware: There are two municipal income tax questions on the ballot. A 0.35% levy for five years beginning in 2025 to pay for general municipal services, capital improvements and payment of bonds for those purposes, as well as a continuation of an existing 0.15% levy for a continuing period of time to fund municipal parks and recreation.

BST&G Joint Fire District (which serves Berkshire Township, Sunbury city, Trenton Township and Galena village) is asking for a 0.78-mill property tax for 15 years to cover a $9 million bond issue for acquiring land and constructing and equipping fire facilities. If approved, the levy would cost property owners $27 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

What else is on the ballot in Delaware County?

Licking County

There is only one contested race in the primary among all Licking County offices. Democrats Bryn Byrd, of Granville, and Daniel Crawford, of Newark, will compete for their party's nomination for a seat on the board of county commissioners. The winner will face Republican incumbent Duane Flowers, of Newark, in the general election.

County Line Joint Fire District (serves Utica Village and Washington Township in Licking County and Morgan Township in Knox County): Proposed additional tax of 6.5 mills for five years to fund fire protection and emergency medical services. A current tax of more than 4 mills would be eliminated, the district's chief recently explained.

Village of Hartford: Additional property tax of 2.9 mills for a period of five years for police department operating expenses that would generate an estimated $30,000 annually. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $102 for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised value.

Hanover Township: 1-mill replacement property tax for five years for fire and EMS that would generate an estimated $125,000 annually. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $35 for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised value.

Hartford Township: Additional property tax of 2.5 mills for five years for fire and EMS that would generate an estimated $200,231 annually. If approved by voters, property owners would pay $88 for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised value.

Jersey Township: Proposed resolution allow sale of beer and alcohol on all days of the week, including Sunday, at the Jersey Township Revitalization District, community facility.

St. Albans Township: Additional, continuing property tax of 10 mills for fire and EMS that would generate an estimated $1.423 million annually. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $350 for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised value.

Fairfield County

All candidates for Fairfield County offices are unopposed, and barring a write-in challenge, will be reelected.

Basil Joint Fire District: A 4.5-mill continuing, additional tax levy for the fire district in Baltimore and Liberty Township that would raise $1.55 million annually. If approved by voters, property owners will pay $157.50 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appriased valuation.

Carroll: A zoning referendum from a citizens' petition on whether the village council's decision to rezone nearly 73 acres of property owned by Carroll Property Partners Ltd. from agricultural vacant/rural residential to planned unit development for a proposed residential development should be repealed.

Clearcreek Township (unincorporated territory): A five-year, 0.5-mill replacement levy for roads and bridges that would generate an estimated $56,000 annually. If approved by voters, the levy woul cost property owners $17.50 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

Violet Township: A 3.6-mill continuing, additional levy for fire and EMS that would raise more than $6.55 million annually. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $126 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

Walnut Township: A 2.6-mill continuing, additional levy for fire department and EMS that would generate an estimated $913,166 annually. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $91 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

What else is on the ballot in Fairfield County?

Madison County

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Mark Forrest is being challenged in his reelection bid by Cory Coburn, Jim King and Brendan Shea for a four-year term that begins Jan. 2, 2025. The county Board of Elections declared King's petition invalid because it was not under his registered name of "Banca King," but King's name is on the ballot.

City of London: A proposed 0.25% increase of the city's municipal income tax is being sought to fund the fire department and EMS. The city currently collects a 0.5% income tax levy for fire and EMS services, but that was intended for one fire station and its staff. It is now two stations, fire & EMS personnel for both and all associated services.

What else is on the ballot in Madison County?

Pickaway County

There are contested races for five Pickaway County positions: sheriff, recorder, treasurer, Common Pleas judge and clerk of courts. All involve Republicans, as there are no Democrats on the ballot. Neither party fielded a valid candidate for coroner.

Sheriff: Incumbent Matthew Hafey is being challenged for reelection by Dale Thomas, who was a deputy with the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office for 28 years before retiring.

Recorder: Three candidates seek the GOP nomination to replace current Recorder Joyce Gifford, who is retiring. They are: Sarah Turner, chief deputy recorder; Travis Ricketts, a policy adviser to the Republican Caucus of the Ohio House of Representatives' and Laura Schweitzer, a signage industry consultant and political volunteer.

Treasurer: Tammy Deck, a member of the support staff at the county prosecutor's office, is running against John Howley, who was deputy director of the Pickaway County Board of Elections but had to step down to run for office. They are seeking the party nomination to replace incumbent Ellery Elick, who is retiring.

Common Pleas Court: Matt Chafin, of Walnut Township, is competing against Judy C. Wolford, of Madison Township, to be judge. Chafin has been an assistant prosecuting attorney in Franklin County, an attorney examiner at the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, and chief legal counsel and deputy director of audits and criminal investigations for the Ohio Department of Taxation. Wofford has been the Pickaway County prosecuting attorney since 2006 and has been with the office since 1994.

Clerk of Common Pleas Court: Grant Davis is seeking election to the post he was appointed to in January 2023, but is being challenged by Tracey Garrett, fiscal officer for the Village of Williamsport.

City of Circleville is seeking a 0.4% income tax levy for five years to operate and maintain public safety forces.

Perry Township (excluding the village of New Holland) is seeking a five-year replacement levy of 2.5 mills for general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges that would generate an estimated $58,000 annually. If approved by voters, property owners will pay $88 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

Walnut Township is seeking a 0.63-mill property tax levy to pay for a $1.2-million bond issue that would be used to acquire land and construct and furnish a new township building, including a large meeting room for trustee meetings that could also be rented out, along with a kitchenette to serve food. The bonds would be repaid over 12 years. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $22 for each $100,000 of county auditor's appraised value. Trustees say the existing township house is too small and does not allow for many citizens to attend meetings.

Union County

In the only contested race for a county office, Mike Justice, a former captain with the Union County Sheriff's Office who retired in December after 33 years, is running against incumbent Sheriff Malcum J. "Jamie" Patton on the Republican ballot.

Marysville Public Library District is seeking a 1.5-mill replacement levy for five years to cover current expenses that would generate an estimated $1,636,000 annually. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $53 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

Richwood Village is asking voters to renew a 3.2-mill property tax levy for five years that covers current operating expenses and generates an estimated $81,000 annually. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $63 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

Claibourne Township, including Richwood Village, is seeking a 1.15-mill replacement property tax levy for five years  which represents a decrease of 0.05-mill from the current levy  to maintain and operate cemeteries. If approved by voters, the levy would cost property owners $40 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value.

What else is on the ballot in Union County?

How can I see a sample of my ballot?

Go to the Ohio Secretary of State website at www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/sample-ballot, click on your county either on the Ohio map or on the alphabetical list of counties, enter your name and then select your sample ballot to see the issues and candidates you can vote on this election. In some cases, you may be redirected to your county board of elections website to re-enter your name and selection. Ohio primaries require voters to choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot to vote on candidates and local municipal and school ssues. Voters can choose an independent ballot, but will only be able to vote on local issues in the municipality or school district where they reside.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio voter guide: What's on the Tuesday ballot
People hold a banner reads "#freenavalny" and "Russia without Putin" during a protest against President Vladimir Putin's policies in front of the Russian Embassy one month after the death of Kremlin critic Navalny. Carsten Koall/dpa

The presidential election in Russia entered its third and final day on Sunday, with President Vladimir Putin widely expected to easily seal another six-year term in office.

Voting on Sunday was marked in part by anti-Putin protesters, who turned out to voting locations at exactly noon as a sign of opposition to the 71-year-old Kremlin strongman, who has dominated Russian politics for almost a quarter of a century.

The Kremlin has organized the vote in such a way as to demonstrate the population's supposedly high level of trust in Putin and support for his war against Ukraine.

According to independent electoral law experts in Russia and abroad, the conditions for the vote are neither free nor fair: The opposition is excluded and the three authorized opposing candidates are considered loyal to the Kremlin.

Leading opposition politicians were removed from the ballot, have been driven into exile abroad, or are imprisoned in Russia.

Police in Russia arrested dozens of people who joined the midday protests, with the OVD-Info human rights media project counting around 50 arrests up to early afternoon, half of them in Kazan, a city on the Volga River some 700 kilometres east of Moscow.

Arrests were also reported in Moscow and St Petersburg. Russian authorities had warned against joining the campaign, which they say would show "signs of extremist activity."

Backers of the "Noon against Putin" protest include supporters of Alexei Navalny, the activist who died in a penal colony in the Polar Circle last month.

Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, helped call for the noon protests and joined a demonstration outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, where more than 2,000 Russians living in Germany queued to vote at noon.

The circumstances of Navalny's death remain unclear, with many Putin critics and Western countries blaming the Kremlin.

Another Kremlin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, also joined the protest in Berlin.

Anti-Putin Russian activists living abroad staged further demonstrations around the world.

Within Russia, numerous reports show that pressure is being exerted on citizens to take part in the election.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported on Sunday morning that turnout had already surpassed the previous presidential election in 2018 with more than 67% of the approximately 114 million eligible voters casting ballots either in person or online.

The elections are taking place across 11 time zones in the world's largest country by area.

The first polling stations opened in the easternmost regions of Chukotka and the Kamchatka Peninsula at 2000 GMT on Saturday; the last ones in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad are due to close on Sunday evening at 1800 GMT, after which exit polls and initial counts are to be released.

The final count is expected to be completed by Monday morning.

Internationally, the fact that the sham election is also being held in the occupied Ukrainian territories has been particularly criticized. Russia has annexed these territories in violation of international law.

According to local Russian authorities, a Ukrainian drone struck a polling place in the Russian-occupied region of Zaporizhzhya in south-eastern Ukraine on Sunday. There were no reported injuries.

People queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election. Andre Ballin/dpa

People take part in a protest against President Vladimir Putin's policies in front of the Russian Embassy one month after the death of Kremlin critic Navalny. Carsten Koall/dpa
Vaughan Gething poses for a photo, in a lecture hall at Cardiff University, after being elected as the next Welsh Labour leader and First Minister of Wales, in Cardiff, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Gething has won the Welsh Labour Party leadership contest and is set to become the first Black leader of Wales semi-autonomous government. Gething, who is currently Welsh economy minister, beat Education Minister Jeremy Miles in a race to replace First Minister Mark Drakeford. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP)  Vaughan Gething's election as the next leader of Wales marks a milestone: For the first time, none of the U.K.s four main governments is led by a white man.

Its a striking moment in a country still grappling with racism and the legacy of empire.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has Indian heritage and is Britains first Hindu leader. Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf  who, like Gething, heads a semi-autonomous government -- comes from a Pakistani Muslim family. Northern Irelands regional administration is jointly led by two women, Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly.

Gething, son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, said his election on Saturday as the first Black leader of the governing Welsh Labour Party marked a moment when we turn the page in the book of our nations history, a history that we write together.

DIVERSITY AT THE TOP

Theres no denying British politics has changed, and quickly.

Before 2002, the country had never had a non-white Cabinet minister. Sunak likes to point out that his Cabinet is one of the most diverse in British history. It includes Home Secretary James Cleverly and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who are Black, and Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, whose parents immigrated from India.

Sunak told last years Conservative Party conference that he is proud to be the first British Asian prime minister, but even prouder that its just not a big deal.

The governments diversity reflects years of work by the center-right party to shake its pale, male and stale image and encourage people of color to run for Parliament.

Sunder Katwala, who heads equality think-tank British Future, wrote in The Guardian that ethnic diversity right at the top has become the new normal.

But critics say an increase in diversity in high office hasn't been accompanied by government policies to reduce wider social inequalities.

Some also accuse Sunaks administration of deliberately politicizing race as a wedge issue during an election year in which the Conservatives trail far behind Labour in opinion polls.

They point to politicians like former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who claims multiculturalism has failed and says Britain faces an invasion of asylum-seekers. Braverman, whose Indian parents moved to Britain from Kenya and Mauritius, was fired by Sunak in November but remains a powerful and ambitious Conservative lawmaker.

Some of our most divisive politicians are people like Suella Braverman, former government adviser Samuel Kasumu told the BBC on Sunday.

It is not the color of your skin that matters when it comes to tackling racism, discrimination and bringing communities -- it has to be the content of your character and your willingness to lead. And that is not happening now.

CONSERVATIVE RACISM CLAIMS

Claims of racism within the Conservative Party have made headlines in recent weeks.

Last month, Sunak suspended a senior Conservative lawmaker for saying Londons Muslim mayor is controlled by Islamists. Lee Anderson, who has since defected to the right-wing party Reform U.K., said Islamists had got control of Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had given our capital city away to his mates.

Sunak said the comments werent acceptable, though he denied they showed the Conservatives have an Islamophobia problem.

Sunak also has denounced comments by a party donor about a Black female politician. Software entrepreneur Frank Hester, who has given the Conservatives at least 10 million pounds ($12.8 million) in the past year, said Labour lawmaker Diane Abbott made him want to hate all Black women and that she should be shot.

Sunak called the comments racist, but has ignored calls to return Hesters money.

Sayeeda Warsi, a former chairwoman of the Conservative Party, said she felt there was more overt racism now than in 2010, when she was the only person of color in the then-Prime Minister David Camerons Cabinet.

Warsi told Times Radio that while she had celebrated Sunaks appointment as prime minister, I think, tragically, his tenure will be remembered as him presiding over a terribly racist period within the party.

Opponents also accuse the Conservatives of deliberately raising tensions over pro-Palestinian protests that have drawn hundreds of thousands of demonstrators since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

Sunak claimed last month there has been a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality. In response, his government has drawn up a new definition of extremism. Critics say it could disproportionately target Muslims and limit free speech.

A CONTESTED HISTORY

Britains diversity, and its divisions, are rooted in the countrys imperial past. About 18% of the population is non-white, and many people have roots in countries the British Empire once ruled, including India, Pakistan and Caribbean nations such as Jamaica.

How to remember and reconcile with that legacy is a hotly contested issue. It erupted into headlines in 2020, when Black Lives Matter protesters toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston in the city of Bristol.

Since then, several major institutions have begun to address their ties to slavery. The Church of England aims to raise 1 billion pounds ($1.27 billion) to address its historic complicity in the trans-Atlantic slave trade by investing in disadvantaged Black communities.

Not everyone thinks that is the right approach. Sunak opposes removing contentious statues, and has said that trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward.

Black academic Tony Sewell, who produced a contentious 2021 report on racism in the U.K., said church leaders were using the race element as a mechanism to solve their own uncertainty in the world.

Sewell led the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, set up by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the 2020 protests. It concluded that there is racism in Britain, but its not a systematically racist country that is deliberately rigged against non-white people.

Critics said the report downplayed racism, noting that Black and other ethnic-minority Britons still have more poverty and worse health than their white compatriots, a gap bleakly exposed by higher death rates in the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Sewell told the Times of London that race is no longer the defining factor in whether people succeed or fail in Britain.

Class, geography, family structure, how you speak, is more defining here, he said.
Spring Breakers were determined to keep the party going Saturday night, despite a midnight curfew and more than 600 police officers patrolling the area.

People are still going to come out here, said Sniper Kit, a 29-year-old visiting from New Jersey. Nothing is going to stop people from coming out here. They might as well just let us do what we want to do.

A group of spring breakers take selfies as they dance around in the sidewalk on Ocean Drives, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

As the sun set, crowds continued to grow on Ocean Drive, but they were still closer to the average Miami Beach weekend than what would be expected for the peak weekend of spring break in the city.

Thanks to a judges ruling on Saturday evening, Miami Beachs newly enacted midnight curfew, which began Friday, is set to remain in place over the weekend. Three South Beach nightclubs  M2, Mynt Lounge, and Exchange  filed a lawsuit Friday to try to overturn the curfew, as they claimed their businesses were being negatively affected, but a judge upheld the citys curfew.

READ MORE: Miami Beachs spring break curfew stands, despite lawsuit from clubs. Heres why

A group of spring breakers from Georgia take selfies as they walk by a police post on Ocean Drives, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

The curfew appeared to have quieted the party this weekend, although an uneasy tension remained.

A throng of about four dozen police swarmed Collins Avenue and 6th Street shortly before 7 p.m. Law enforcement at the scene told the Miami Herald an alleged suspect had run away from an officer who stopped him.

A small, short-lived stampede cropped up during the confusion. Police detained at least one person, but the details of the inciting incident were not clear.

Nearly an hour later, officers detained three people on Seventh Street across from the Avalon Hotel Miami; its unclear if the two incidents are related.

Miami Beach police officers detain men on Ocean Drive across from the Avalon Hotel during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Since March 1, 225 city-wide arrests have occurred, which includes spring break and curfew-related incidents, Miami Beach spokesperson Christopher Bess said.

An Akron, Ohio resident who called himself Boss said the restrictions wont stop the party.

Its going harder than what it usually goes because of that, the 26-year-old said of the restrictions. ... Theyre going to stop people from getting some money. Thats all theyre gonna stop.

However, he said the heavy police presence made him feel safer: I dont got to look over my shoulder anymore.

Miami Beach police officers escort a man to an awaiting police transport vehicle on Ocean Drive across from the Avalon Hotel during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

During the first night of curfew Friday, Bess said there were no noteworthy incidents.

We really do believe the curfew was effective. Just seeing how the crowds last night at midnight complied and went elsewhere was a testament to and showed how important it was to keep the community safe, he said.

Another factor kept crowds at bay Saturday night: rain.

A downpour started around 11 p.m., dispersing crowds one hour before the curfew went into effect. It was at least the second time it rained that evening, putting a damper on what is typically one of the busiest nights of spring break.

A downpour dampens spring break party along Ocean Drive before midnight curfew on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

When midnight struck, further downpours had done most of the work for officers. The streets were relatively cleared and the stragglers were being told to move along.

At least one person was detained on Ocean Drive during the curfew enforcement.

Miami Beach Police officers detained a man after midnight curfew began on Ocean Drive, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Sunday March 17, 2024.

Despite several detainments, a heavy police presence and curfews, spring breakers said it wont stop them from having a good time.

Kit, the tourist, said many Spring Breakers slept in until the afternoon after partying late Friday, meaning the midnight curfew leaves them with only a few hours to catch a vibe.

We want to party 24 hours, he said.

...a JanSport full of snakes

Kyhrre Harris, 23, who was visiting from New Jersey, said people are definitely still having fun despite the restrictions.

Look at everybody: dancing, singing, partying, Harris said. People are making money. The restaurants are making money.

Gabi Henry, 20, was swept up by Fridays curfew, and while it wasnt an ideal way to spend her first spring break in Miami Beach from West Palm Beach, she was back on Ocean Drive ready to have more fun.

Its been great. Its been random as hell, Henry said.

Three woman dance to the beat of music being played on South Beach during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The women refused to provide their names.

Shes heard from others who have returned for spring break that crowds are smaller, but she doesnt mind it.

I mean, if this is slow, quote-unquote, I wouldnt mind it because this is a good, decent pace, she said.

With Lia the ball python draped around his neck, Anthony Sanders, a 32-year-old from Broward, returned to Miami Beach for yet another spring break to spread the word of his online snake business, Black Python Party.

Walking the streets with 16-year-old Lia and Roxy, a 4-year-old ivory pastel ball python, he said his snakes are always a big hit with spring breakers.

I just walk down the strip with a JanSport full of snakes, he said. Everybody loves the snakes, and its an experience for them, so once they fall in love, they are ready to jump off the cliff.

He has noticed crowds are a lot slower than in previous years, and restrictions are working.

It wouldve been streets packed, people in the middle...partying.... Sanders said. During this time last year, it was way crazier.

Andira Fullnz, of Virginia, with friends drinking from a tropical pineapple while walking along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Spring break restrictions cause downturn in business

Among the businesses lining Ocean Drive, Palace is a landmark for locals and visitors alike  especially during spring break. The lively open-air drag show the restaurant hosts during brunches and dinners is normally a magnet for sidewalk crowds to amass in the hundreds.

But with the citys forced removal of sidewalk seating and other restrictions diminishing crowd sizes, the popular spot saw a drop in business in March, General Manager AJ Brasaguet told the Miami Herald.

Without the sidewalk cafe, we lose about an extra 125 seats, he said. There is definitely a little bit of a decline.

A performer dances at the Palace Bar & Restaurant on Ocean Drive in South Beach during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

While March has seen a larger decline in revenue and guests than most months, Brasaguet said the hit is worth it to ensure safety.

We definitely feel it, but we understand what we have to do for two weeks out of the year to ensure that everybodys safe, he said.

Palace is also closing early due to the citys curfew, as the restaurant is open until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Miami Beach units rush to a call along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

But Brasaguet says it has no real effect as their drag shows end around 11 p.m., and gives ample time to close up shop.

Palace was the site of one of the two fatal shootings during last years spring break weekends.

It was a little scary last year when a shooting was right out front of us, Brasaguet said. To see people running through your restaurant, jumping over tables.

READ MORE: As Miami Beach struggles to control spring break, still few answers on weekend shootings

Miami Beach plans to uphold the curfew until Monday, and Brasaguet said Palace is prepared to follow the law.

If the city has to do what they have to do by enforcing a curfew, thats what we all have to adhere to, he said.

Miami-Dade police bicycle unit on patrol on Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Keep our beaches clean

Jonathan Delisma, a 15-year-old, spent his weekend differently than the average high schooler on Saturday. The best use of his time on Miami Beachs sandy shores was to be surrounded by trash, he told the Miami Herald.

Delisma, who attends TERRA Environmental Research Institute, spearheaded his own small grassroots movement to clean up garbage along the beach during the citys peak spring break weekend.

We just want to have some fun and clean up the beach because its getting crazy out here, he said. People just leave their trash in the water on the shoreline.

Standing alongside a little over a dozen students from several Miami-Dade high schools, the group picked up over 200 pounds of trash in the few hours since they started their mission.

Students from different Miami-Dade County schools who organized by themselves to voluntarily clean up the beach display all trash theyve collected along South Beach, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

We went all the way to South Beach because they told us its the dirtiest over there, he said. We just want to...keep our beaches clean.

Delisma got in touch with the City of Miami Beach to make sure he and his friends could pick up trash and not be affected by the citys strict restrictions. With a green light from city hall and parking exemptions, he spread the word to fellow students using social media.

Students from different Miami-Dade County schools including Madeline Sahdala (left) and Luana Yovine, from the Terra Environmental Research Institute, organized by themselves to voluntarily pick trash along South Beach, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

What was originally supposed to be a handful of students from TERRA turned into a showing of nearly a dozen students from other schools, including Coral Reef High School, John A. Ferguson High School and Florida International University.

It spread like wildfire, he said.

When his school could not coordinate his impromptu clean-up project due to safety concerns, Delismas mother stepped in.

Students from different Miami-Dade County schools including Aisar Hernandez, from the Terra Environmental Research Institute, organized by themselves to voluntarily pick trash along South Beach, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

Its a positive thing if you see a youth with so much positive energy. You have to support it, his mother Genevieve Pierre Delisma said.

Jonathan had a message for incoming spring breakers looking to have fun in Miami Beach:

Obviously have a fun time, but make sure you have your garbage in check if youre ever going to the beach, he said. It really shouldnt be a problem. Take it upon your person to do your part and keep the beach clean.

A downpour dampens spring break party before midnight curfew on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Spring breakers walk under the rain as it downpours on Ocean Drive, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

A woman is detained by Miami Beach police during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 17, 2024.

A downpour dampens spring break party as a Miami-Dade police bicycle unit patrols along Ocean Drive on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Raheem Joseph of New York dances for a music video along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Artist Cole Myers, a South Beach resident works on a piece in the sand, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

Beachgoers enjoy the beautiful weather during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

Footvolley players goes after the ball during a match in the sand, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

Miami Beach police officers detain a man on Collins Avenue and Sixth Street Saturday.

Miami Beach police officer C. Olloqui stands watch on Ocean Drive and 10th Street during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Miami Beach police officers load a detainee into a police transport vehicle on Ocean Drive across during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Beachgoers enjoy the beautiful weather during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

Miami Beach police patrol Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

MIami Beach police officer White and officer Cuarezma walk the beat along 10th street between Collins and Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Beach attendants pack away lounge chairs and umbrellas as the beach closes to the public at 6 PM in South Beach, during spring break in Miami Beach, on Saturday March 16, 2024.

A police officer stands watch at a road closure along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and a slew of other local high-ranking officials are required to disclose information every year intended to deter misconduct and engender public trust.

But before now, if Detroiters wanted to see these disclosure documents, theyd need to wait. And pay.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and roughly 150 other high-ranking administrators or appointees must file annual conflict of interest disclosures. We're publishing hundreds of them.

After months of wrangling by the Free Press, the city recently released hundreds of these records. We're providing many of them here as a resource for readers, coinciding with the end of Sunshine Week, an initiative that aims to enhance governmental transparency.

The records Detroit released for 2021 and 2022 were the actual forms employees filled out. The city did not provide the original records for 2020 and 2023, instead opting to provide some of the contents from these documents in a complicated format. This creates records that are less digestible and at times missing information.

These disclosures are required annually for roughly 150 top Duggan officials under an executive order he issued in 2015. The deadline to file these disclosures for 2023 is today.

City officials must disclose their job title, sources of income, any issues of personal interest pending before a city body, property ownership, family members employed by the city, financial transactions between a family member and the city and any gifts valued at or above $250 received from someone who is or wants to do business with the city.

While many of the documents provide scant details and city lawyers blacked out address and contact information on many, citing privacy concerns, it's still one of the largest known releases and publications of these disclosures by the city.

The Free Press filed a request for the records in November under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Initially, city officials asked for more than $525 to release conflict of interest disclosure forms filed since 2020. That included fees for lawyers to review and potentially redact the documents for private details, like home addresses or phone numbers.

But to do that it required paying other employees for an estimated 20 hours of work printing thousands of the pages and rescanning them into a format lawyers could use for those redactions, according to a Jan. 12 response to the Free Press.

No one could explain why the department had to print and subsequently rescan this information in order to provide it to the public.

"Once the mayor became aware of the potential cost associated with producing these records, he instructed (the Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department) to work with the IT department to develop a new and simpler process that is able to produce a master list without the need for a FOIA charge," said John Roach, Duggan spokesman, in a March 7 email.

The $525 price, though waived, and redactions create barriers to a basic level of government record created for the public to see, experts said.

Its wild that an ostensibly public financial disclosure program has all those barriers to the public actually accessing it, said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, a government transparency expert with the Project on Government Oversight, a national nonprofit specializing in public ethics.

Weve seen plenty of scandals at all levels of government over the years around people not acting in the interest of the public, but rather acting in their own personal interest, their own financial interest, the interest of their friends and cronies.

The disclosures

We've included disclosures filed for 2021 and 2022. While some information is redacted, additional information is available.

See anything that stands out to you? Or doesn't make sense? Let us know: email dboucher@freepress.com with any tips or ideas.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Having trouble seeing the disclosures? Click here.

Detroit still a leader in disclosures

Despite these hurdles, Detroit still outpaces peer Michigan cities in terms of requiring officials to disclose possible conflicts, according to a Free Press review.

The Free Press found a scattershot approach to local conflict of interest disclosure policies across Michigan. While some metro Detroit counties publicly post disclosures, only Detroit and Lansing among the state's largest cities require local leaders to file any documents.

"The Mayors order is far more extensive than the new disclosure requirements for the executive branch at the state, which applies only to the four statewide elected officials. We are unaware of any government in Michigan that requires disclosure by the top 150 management staff," Roach said.

Four other large cities  Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Sterling Heights and Warren  have conflict of interest policies and broad ethical guidelines for officials. But they lack the required disclosures found in Detroit and Lansing.

Heres where Lansing and Detroit differ: Lansing posts disclosures online, at no cost to residents. While they are not exactly easy to find on the citys website, they are on the internet and free to access.

We take our ethics ordinance pretty seriously here in the city of Lansing. We want our elected and appointed leadership to show high standards, said City Clerk Chris Swope. We think that transparency is of value to our residents.

Representatives from the other cities pointed to ethics rules, largely guided by state law, that ban obvious conflicts. But they acknowledged local officials do not need to publicly disclose real or perceived conflicts regularly.

Wayne and Macomb county governments also require public servants file disclosures. According to local law, the governments must post the documents to the countys website. In Wayne, officials file them annually. In Macomb, the form is required when someone is hired and must be updated within 30 days of any change.

State lawmakers are not required to file any disclosure, but that's changing soon  as part of a constitutional amendment pushed by Duggan.

Duggan championed a constitutional amendment in 2022 that, in part, would require disclosures from the governor and other state leaders. Proposal 1, easily adopted by voters, also led to law changes that mandate making these filings available for free on the internet later this year.

The same year, Axios reported Duggan failed to file his required disclosure for 2021. Roach at the time said it just got overlooked during the pandemic and that the mayor had no conflicts.

While Detroit argued it needed to redact addresses associated with employees, in theory, property ownership could be the source of a conflict. Top Detroit city attorney Conrad Mallett, through a spokesperson, did not say how residents could determine whether such a conflict existed if this information was redacted.

Hedtler-Gaudette, the ethics expert, acknowledged there are times when hyperpersonal information can be redacted and understands elected officials face threats. But to include, then redact, such information on a form created to help local residents trust their government is bizarre.

Detroit elected leaders, high-ranking city employees, board members and others also need to file separate disclosures with the city Board of Ethics. But Board Executive Director Christal Phillips confirmed disclosures are filed as needed, determined at the discretion of the person who may have a conflict, not on any annual or other regular basis. These are also not available without filing a records request.

Why disclosures are needed?

Where rules do exist at the local level, they have at times flagged broader problems: Recently, months after a local Board of Ethics realized former Eastpointe Mayor Monique Owens failed to file multiple disclosures, she was indicted on fraud charges stemming from a separate ethics-related issue.

And in 2011, then-Wayne County Airport Authority Chairperson Renee Axt resigned days after amending mandatory disclosure forms, where she ultimately revealed lobbying for a client who received thousands of dollars in contracts approved by the same board.

In 2023, the Free Press found the Detroit board that decides on the pay for Duggan and other elected leaders was stacked with allies of the mayor. Ultimately, the city acknowledged reforms were needed; they now require members of this board and other appointees file the same conflict disclosures required of high-ranking city officials.

Michigan Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, is leading the charge for transparency reform at the state level. While he did not commit to legislation that would eliminate the patchwork standard for municipal disclosures, he said he hoped local leaders would see changes at the Legislature as inspiration to enact comparable reforms.

Certainly, at the state level, we set the tone, and for too long, its been a bad tone, Moss, a former Southfield city council member, said in a recent interview.

Its about trust. When you dont allow people to see the routine things, like conflict of interest disclosures, which should just be a standard practice, it leads to questions on: Are there other things of more consequence that government actors might be hiding?

Lisa McGraw, public affairs manager for the Michigan Press Association, spoke with the Free Press before Detroit ultimately decided to release the records.

She said any fees and redactions felt inconsistent with the purpose of disclosures. There should be a way to craft these forms in a manner that both prevents disclosing deeply personal information and helps residents, she said.

Id say it goes against the spirit of what theyre purportedly trying to do, McGraw said, after reviewing the facts of the Free Press request.

Transparency is a wonderful issue when youre running for office  its become an issue that politicians tout when theyre running. But once they get elected it seems to be a monkey on their back.

Moss said, as a former city official, he understands that mandates from the state typically are not very popular for local leaders. However, anything that can be done to encourage public trust in government must be considered.

The more information you put out there, the less lingering questions there are. The more information you volunteer, the less youre creating doubts in peoples minds that youre trying to hide something, Moss said.

Free Press staff writer Christina Hall and Free Press columnist M.L. Elrick contributed to this report.

Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com and on X, previously called Twitter, @Dave_Boucher1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Want to see Detroit ethics disclosures? We got them  it wasn't easy
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  As lawsuits by area wineries gain traction against Pacific Power related to smoke-damaged grapes from the 2020 Labor Day fires, experiments are underway at Oregon State University to protect the crops from being damaged in the first place.

2020 was a very impactful year. While there had been small amounts of research happening, the industry as a whole recognized that we had a significant problem, said Elizabeth Tomasino, an associate professor of enology  the study of wine  at OSU.

Following 2020, many Oregon wineries in the Willamette Valley lost their crops because the grapes were tainted by lingering wildfire smoke, giving the resulting wine a bad flavor.

Jim Bernau, founder and winegrower of Willamette Valley Vineyards, speaks at his winery blanketed in smoke from wildfires on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Turner, Ore. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky)

It will cause the wine that results from the clusters to taste like like an ashtray, Willamette Valley Vineyards CEO Jim Bernau told KOIN 6 News. Now let me tell you, youre not going to delight any wine enthusiast with wine that tastes like an ashtray, but thats the effect of it.

Body of missing hiker, 61, found at Horsetail Falls

For years, researchers at OSU have worked on solutions, including developing a protective coating for the grapes.

In what theyre calling their third round of formulation as they develop the right formula that works, theyve successfully blocked more than half of the seven smoke compounds.

Four of them, weve been able to show that when you apply these coating for a smoke event, you get very decreased levels, Tomasino said.

Beyond Oregon, this could benefit areas known for their wine-making that also battle frequent wildfires, like California and Australia. As for whats in the groundbreaking spray, OSU cant reveal, but said the base of it has gone through FDA-approval as a food ingredient.

We are also looking at if we need to wash it off or not, but the original formulation is based off something very safe for humans to consume, Tomasino said.

Winemakers like Bernau say that while they hope fires such as those in 2020 wont happen again, this spray coating can protect and prepare Oregons wine economy and local businesses in the future.

An OSU researcher works to protect grapes from wildfire smoke (Undated, OSU)

This is about a 50-year event that affected us in 2020. So it helps us because it gets us prepared, Bernau said. These scientists at Oregon State University will save the industry and eventually the consumer billions of dollars over the life of this innovation.

OSU said theres still more testing and research to be done, but if successful, they could see this being cleared for use in 3-5 years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
We are so tired of running. If they want to come, they can slaughter us on the spot. It is a Wednesday in early February, and the M23 rebel military group is approaching rapidly, but Fatuma Mahamba is weary; she has already spent a decade on the move.

Mahamba is part of the leadership committee of a displacement site in North Kivu province. Thousands of families live in camps like these  white honeycombs of tents and tarpaulins which cover the green hills of eastern Congo.

We had to flee gunfire at 4am, she explains. I lost five of my eight children in the chaos, and only found them days later. She left her village 18 months ago; it was the third time in her life shed had to run to safety.

Behind her, orange flashes tear the sky as the Congolese army fires rocket artillery at the rebels. The arc of the weapons is steep; the targets are close. The region has not known peace for 30 years.

In the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, as Tutsi forces who survived the furious killings by Hutu militias gained the upper hand, two million people, mostly from the Hutu ethnic group, took refuge in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Hutu civilians and soldiers sought shelter in vast refugee camps, reorganising their forces. For the new Tutsi-led Rwandan government, this was an unacceptable threat.

The first time Rwanda created a rebel movement, armed it, picked leaders and sent it into Congo was 1996, says Michela Wrong, author of Do Not Disturb, a book about human rights abuses by the Rwandan regime. The M23 is the latest iteration of Rwandan intervention, the latest generation of rebel groups that have laid waste to eastern Congo.

The M23 claims to be fighting for the rights of the Congolese Tutsis. The group has been on a renewed offensive since 2022. Over a million civilians have been forced from their homes by fighting in North Kivu province alone. Each time the front lines shift, they have to move.

Rwanda is widely believed to be supporting the M23, though this has been denied. But the United Nations says there is evidence that shows Rwandan troops fighting alongside the rebels, having provided them with weapons.

In February 2022, I spoke to forlorn Congolese troops. They said M23 rebels were determined and well-equipped, armed with night-vision and reconnaissance drones. The position of the Rwandan government is that Congo has been working in concert with the FDLR, or Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda, one of the last militias aligned to Hutu genocidal ideology.

Congolese army units pictured after M23 attempted to seize the town of Sake - Hugh Kinsella Cunningham

The presence of UN peacekeepers has been no deterrent to M23, and the conflict has spiralled out of control, with large offensives and the seizure of dozens of towns.

The Congolese army, weakened by corruption and years of war, has forgiven and mobilised former enemies in the hopes of slowing the advance of the rebels. Groups known as Mai-Mai, bands of locally recruited Congolese militias, have been rallied and rearmed.

Mai Mai militia troops pictured after recapturing the town Burungu during an offensive against M23 rebels - Hugh Kinsella Cunningham

I accompanied some as they went on the offensive in October last year. They go into battle believing magic spells will protect them from bullets.

During their offensive, the Mai-Mai razed and looted the villages of Congolese Tutsis  the group the M23 purports to defend  as they advanced. If peace ever comes, many civilians will have no homes to return to.

Lost in this haze of armies and militias are civilians with decades of horror stories. Long columns of panicked families can be seen walking miles to safety, carrying their children on their shoulders, and their possessions in brightly coloured fabric wraps. People like Moises and Rosette, a young married couple who escaped an M23 massacre in the town of Kishishe, and walked for days to safety in November 2022. Rosette was heavily pregnant. Over 170 of their neighbours who decided not to leave were killed.

Or Rugamba, a 31-year-old farmer who fled a 4am surprise attack in the town of Malehe. He witnessed soldiers changing out of their uniforms to escape with the community, only for them to be stopped by military police and forced back to the front.

There are few places left to hide. Last month, in the town of Sake, I arrived to see the aftermath of an M23 mortar attack. Two small lifeless bodies had been hidden under a sheet. Specks of blood had soaked through the cloth. The children were seven and eight years old, killed by an exploding shell. Their mother Mokili was also killed.

Family members mourn the death of Mokili Mianjo and her two children - Hugh Kinsella Cunningham

Congos is a story of loss and abandonment, where each battle leaves resentments for the next generation. For Justine Masika Bihamba, one of Congos foremost womens rights activists, this has gone on far too long. Soldiers and militias commit atrocities against their brothers in the name of peace, she says. Congolese people need to become aware that it is us who have to become actors of change and find the solution.

But working for change is daunting. Eastern Congo is under military rule, civilian voices for peace are overlooked and silenced, and foreign diplomatic pressure on Rwanda to end its involvement with M23 has so far failed.

The conflict threatens to upend the entire region. Troops from Tanzania and South Africa have recently been deployed to fight alongside the Congolese military. North Kivu is again a bloody canvas on which power and grievance are expressed.

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center

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FOX4s St. Patricks Day Parade coverage concluded just before 2 p.m. A replay is available in the video player at the top of the page.



KANSAS CITY, Mo.  FOX4 was proud to present the Kansas City St. Patricks Day Parade as it celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday.

Dozens of floats made their way down Broadway from 33rd Street through Midtown, ending near Westport at 43rd Street.

Everything to know for the 2024 Kansas City St. Patricks Day Parade

FOX4 will keep a replay of our coverage available on this page for anyone who wants to relive the fun and fanfare of the event.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A wave of Ukrainian drones has targeted Russia on the third and final day of voting in Russias presidential election.

Ukraine launched a total of 36 drones overnight over Russia, aimed at various parts of the country, including the capital Moscow, Russias Ministry of Defense said on Sunday.

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed four drones over Moscow and Yaroslavl respectively, three each over Belgorod and Kursk, two over Kaluga, single drones over Rostov, Oryol and Bryansk, and 17 in Krasnodar Krai, according to a statements posted on Telegram by the Ministry of Defense and regional officials on Sunday.

In Krasnodar Krai, a fire at an oil refinery in Slavyansk district resulted in the death of one person, according to the districts Dispatch Service. The cause of death was a heart attack.

In Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, a 16-year-old girl was killed due to shelling, the governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, posted on Telegram. Her father was injured, suffering from a head injury, burns and carbon monoxide poisoning after the home they were in caught on fire.

Ukraine has been stepping up its attacks on Belgorod, forcing the authorities to close schools and malls.

A polling station in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region was also attacked by two Ukrainian drones on Sunday, according to Vladimir Rogov, member of the Russian-installed Zaporizhzhia administration. No casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces shot down 14 drones over the Odesa region on Sunday after they were launched by Russia overnight, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. At least 20 people were killed on Friday in a double Russian missile strike on the city of Odesa.

Vladimir Putin - who is near-certain to win a fifth term in power - has said that Ukrainian border attacks will not remain unpunished.

Voting started on Friday and will continue until Sunday across the countrys 11 time zones  from the far eastern regions near Alaska to the western exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Coast  and its 88 federal subjects, including parts of occupied Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia after it launched its full-scale invasion more than two years ago.

With most opposition candidates either dead, jailed, exiled, barred from running or simply token figures, a victory for Putin, who has in effect been Russias head of state since before the turn of the century, is all but guaranteed.

Putins reelection would extend his rule until at least 2030. Following constitutional changes in 2020, he would then be able to run again and potentially stay in power until 2036, which would see him secure his place as Russias longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

CNNs Christian Edwards contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
CHICAGO  Across the street from Millennium Park, on Michigan Avenue, youll find The Gage.

Youll also find a perfect place to eat and drink on St. Patricks Day.

Although The Gage, located at 24 South Michigan Avenue, isnt specifically an Irish pub, the restaurant gladly embraces its Irish heritage.

St. Patricks Day 2024: Chicago River dying, parade and more

Especially during one day each year.

Were very proud to be Irish, Irish-owned, but were actually a European gastro pub, explained Billy Lawless, owner of The Gage, on Sunday.  Today, though, we really embrace our Irish heritage, so we have an array of Irish offerings.

 Its going to be a fun day.

All week, in fact, the establishment has been serving up authentic dishes that have allowed patrons to engage in Irish culture, with an emphasis on Sunday, being that its St. Patricks Day.

St. Patricks Day festivities roll on with 2 big parades Sunday, on South and Northwest sides

Our staff is super excited, Lawless said Sunday morning as it prepared for a busy day. Its one of the most fun days here. Most people come back year after year and just want to enjoy the atmosphere, have a few drinks.

Its just a really nice afternoon.

And, as Lawless says, the Irish fare at The Gage isnt like your grandmothers Irish cooking.

We have fresh corned beef sandwiches. We have a seafood chowder thats scented. We have a wonderful (Guinness) shepherds pie, Lawless said.

All paired with the perfect Guinness pour, or another libation.

The Gage is known for having one of the citys most extensive collections of whiskeys, featuring some rare and hard-to-find offerings.

We have an array of great whiskeys, all from Ireland, obviously, Lawless said.  Just wonderful curated whiskeys. Theyre all single-malts. Theyre triple-distilled, so theyre a little smoother. And a touch of caramelization.

Live music

St. Patricks Day festivities at The Gage also feature live music from noon to 6 p.m.

That includes bagpipes, of course.

David Danaher has been playing the one-of-a-kind instrument, which has been heard loud and strong around Chicago all weekend, at The Gage since 2012.

This is the best place in Chicago to celebrate St. Patricks Day, Danaher says. I love coming back. I love the regulars I get to see year after year.  Its always a pleasure. Great food here, fresh Guinness, great music.

 You cant beat it.

Also performing Sunday will be the Fiddlin Finnegans.

Theyre here every year, Lawless said. Loads of fun.

Even after the live music ends at 6 p.m., The Gage will serve food until 11 p.m. Sunday, and the bar will open late.

As Lawless says, Come on in, stay in here and have a bit of crack, which is kind of an Irish term for, Have a bit of fun.'

Guinness Open Gate Brewery talks beers and brunch on St. Patricks Day

Its something The Gage has been providing since it opened in 2007.

Its very humbling the people that come back year over year, Lawless says. Its a real testament to the team that makes it happen.

Visit thegagechicago.com for more information on the restaurant.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Thoughts from a Principled Conservative Outpost  fifth in a series on the aspects of Panhandle conservativism.

Whiteface, Texas, is a small community located in Cochran County (sharing a border with New Mexico). Its neighbor, Sundown, Texas, is located in Hockley County. They lie at the intersection of ranching, oil production and cotton. In both, I found a sincere commitment to teaching the small number of students who attend high school as Whiteface Antelopes or Sundown Roughnecks. Students in these smaller schools have a special view of personal responsibility that must be lived out daily between self and community. While these maturing young folks depend on the schools to help produce skills, abilities and insights, the schools depend on students to be both individuals in the schools and citizens of the communities. These gifted students provide sustenance to the community through the exercise of personal responsibility. Would a player take off their football pads, don a band uniform and march in the halftime show as a member of the band (a telephone booth-like imitation of Clark Kent's transition to Superman)? Yes, they would.

In a free society, individuals are accountable for their own actions and decisions, including the consequences these actions and decisions have on themselves and others. This concept is fundamental. Freedom requires the burden and the responsibility to make choices that are not only beneficial to the individual but also considerate of the community. In both Whiteface and Sundown, the concept is realized.

Dr. Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University

Individuals have the freedom to make their own choices without undue interference; thus, allowing people to pursue their goals and lives according to their values and beliefs. Emotionally healthy individuals recognize when personal actions lead to positive community consequences. Moral and ethical foundations are built on the bedrock of respect for others' rights and well-being. A free society depends on individuals being self-reliant and respectful of others simultaneously, the essence of healthy civic life, a precondition for health in the individual and the community and the nucleus of personal responsibility. Personal freedoms are bordered where they infringe upon the freedoms and rights of others. The concepts of personal responsibility and freedom often intersect and interact in complex ways, but need not cancel each other out: rather they are complementary aspects of a well-functioning society.

Freedom, in a broad sense, refers to the ability to think, act and make choices independently without undue constraint or coercion, what I believe to be a fundamental human right. Responsibility, on the other hand, involves acknowledging and accepting the consequences of individual actions and decisions and being accountable to others in the community. Freedom and personal responsibility are interdependent and mutually supportive. Freedom without personal responsibility can lead to actions that harm others and the community, undermining the very basis of freedom. Conversely, personal responsibility without freedom can lead to injustice and resentment. In many philosophical, ethical and legal frameworks, the balance between personal responsibility and freedom is essential. This balance ensures individuals have the freedom to make choices while also ensuring they are held accountable for the consequences of those choices in a way that respects the rights and well-being of others.

Walter E. Williams, the late economist and commentator, frequently emphasized the importance of personal responsibility as a cornerstone of both economic success and social harmony. He believed individuals are primarily responsible for the outcomes of their actions and societal problems which often stem from the abandonment of personal responsibility. Williams argued that government policies promoting dependency undermine individual initiative and accountability, leading to negative consequences for society as a whole. According to Williams, economic prosperity and social cohesion are dependent upon a culture where individuals are responsible for their actions, work ethic and the consequences of their decisions. He was critical of policies he perceived as encouraging a victim mentality or dependency on government assistance, arguing such policies stifle personal growth, innovation and economic freedom.

Often considered the father of liberalism, John Locke's theories of government, expressed in his work Two Treatises of Government, laid the groundwork for the emphasis on individual rights and responsibilities. He believed in the idea of a social contract where individuals consent to form a government that protects their natural rights, implying a personal responsibility to participate in and uphold this social contract.

James Madison expressed concerns regarding the intersection of personal and civic responsibility. Federalist No. 10, an essay written by Madison as the tenth of The Federalist Papers, addresses the issue of an individuals right that appears to conflict with the rights of others or even the whole community. This challenge has been alive for nearly three hundred years and will likely never dissipate. It leads to factionalisms in every society and every human group. Factions being neither good or bad inherently, might end in the polarization of various groups that infringe upon the rights of others. Such categorizations can only be mediated by accepting personal responsibility for decisions, and the results thereof.

But such factions should not descend to destructive identity politics which undermine a free society. In a letter to W.T. Barry on August 4, 1822, Madison wrote, Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." Madison believed, as do we at West Texas A&M University, that an informed citizenry is essential to sustain freedom.

Walter V. Wendler is President of West Texas A&M University. His weekly columns are available at https://walterwendler.com/.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Wendler commentary: Personal responsibility realized
Profound thanks to Kennewick

On Jan. 29, my wife and I traveled to Kennewick to bring our sons body home to North Dakota.

We can attest this is an experience no parent should ever have to endure. However, along this arduous journey, there was some good we experienced.

Thanks to the people we had to work with to accomplish our task, we learned there is still some good in the world.

There were the sergeant and administrative assistant at the Kennewick Police Department (we apologize we cannot remember your names), Dennis and Reyna at the Benton County Coroners Office, and Joe McFadden and Kylie Howell at Muellers Funeral Home. The community of Kennewick is truly fortunate to have these people at your service.

My wife and I thank each of them from the bottom of our hearts for helping us navigate this situation. Their caring and compassionate demeanor and words helped to ease our suffering.

They are each not only a credit to their professions, they are a credit to the human race.

Douglas and Donna Sullivan

Is this stereotype right on target?

The stereotypical Trump supporter has been described as a white, rural, Christian nationalist. The stereotype resides in an economically depressed area. He lacks the education for a high-paying job. He resents immigrants and minorities. He believes they have been given unfair advantages and have replaced him.

He remains convinced the 2020 presidential election was stolen. He believes civil disorder may be warranted to restore America to greatness. Yet he has hope  Trump has promised revenge. He supports Trumps America-First nationalism, believing it will remedy his grievances.

Trumps initiative includes firing 50,000 federal employees, deporting immigrants en masse, merging Christian and government interests, accommodating white supremacy, withdrawing from NATO, eliminating aid to Ukraine, applying tariffs on foreign goods, and pursuing autocracy.

The stereotype seems unaware that similar actions have had chaotic and dangerous consequences. Global trade, its associated high-paying jobs and tax revenues could plummet.

The national debt, the cost of living and overall unemployment could soar, as could the prospects for sectarian strife and world war. Menial jobs formerly held by migrants would be unattractive to the stereotype.

America First is not the solution, nor is Trumps recent hint of cutting  entitlement programs, e.g., Social Security and Medicare.

Russ Treat, Richland

Thanks for pay gap coverage

Thank you for covering the gender pay gap in articles on March 12, Equal Pay Day.

The American Association of University Women of Washington looked at gender pay gap data by legislative district this year, and found it ranges from 59 cents to 92 cents a woman was paid for every dollar a man was paid.

Why such a big difference?

As your articles noted, there are many factors that contribute to the gender pay gap and many potential solutions.

Claudia Goldin won the Noble Prize in economics this year for her work on the gender pay gap. She and others conclude that closing the pay gap will not be possible until we have a flexible workspace, paid leave and subsidized childcare, and policies that prevent discrimination in the workplace.

In 2024, the legislature took a big step forward in supporting flexible workplaces by passing SB 5424 flexible work for peace officers. A big shout-out to all our state legislators for passing this bill unanimously. Lets continue to ask our legislators and employers to support policies to help close the pay gap.

Sandra Ripley Distelhorst, Edmonds
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo (KDVR)  After overcoming several obstacles, including a fire and an attempted break-in, a restaurant in Wheat Ridge is finally open.

Kallen Marques, the owner of Little Brazil, said the inspiration for the restaurant comes from her mother.

My mother was a chef and she died very young, 49, Marques said. She always wanted to have a restaurant and I took that as a passion after she died and I love to cook and thats how Little Brazil was born.

3 Colorado beer employees receive Best in Brew Award at gala in Washington, D.C.

Serving authentic Brazilian cuisine for more than a decade, Marques said they wanted to expand the restaurant after the pandemic and relocated along 38th Avenue in Wheat Ridge, but things took a turn when a fire broke out in December 2023.

There were a lot of fires at construction sites in Denver at the time, so we got a little spooked because we thought, Oh my gosh someone set fire to our location, Marques said. It ended up being an accident in our location.

Wheat-Ridge-fire-2

Wheat-Ridge-fire-1

West Metro Fire Rescue said the blaze was accidental and was caused by spontaneous combustion due to rags that had been used for staining.

Marques said the damage set their opening date back about six weeks.

We lost a lot of our lights, and it took a while to get them in and our mural, but we finally were able to replace everything and now we are here, Marques said. Very happy to serve the community again.

Customers living in the area, like Matt Phillips, tell FOX31 theyve been anxiously awaiting for the grand opening.

Im excited to be here and Im excited for some good food in the area, Phillips said. I love being able to walk to close good places.

Finally, open for business after a long journey, Marques said it was well worth the wait.

It really means a lot to see this come to fruition, Marques said. Ive just been lucky to get through these things and be open today in the city here to serve our community.

Little Brazil is located at 7333 W 38th Ave in Wheat Ridge.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A map of the proposed Row River fire district posted in front of Harris Hall, the meeting room of the Lane County Board of Commissioners

Voters in the Row River area will decide in May whether to create a new fire district. Voters also will pick five people who will direct the district, if it's created. Tuesday was the last day for candidates to file for the May 2024 elections. Ten people filed:

Alan Ades , self-employed farmer

Diane Braun , self-employed, previously worked in firefighting and emergency medicine for the Forest Service

Sue Brown , retired Costco employee

Herbert Jaeger , retired physics professor at Miami University

John Kirk , retired IT manager, community business owner, Row River Valley Water District Commissioner and Navy veteran

Timothy Lowrey , attorney

Kirk Reinecke , retired general contractor

Darin Rhodes , sales specialist at Pacific Yurts and army veteran

Buck Rudicel , manager of shipping/receiving for MGA West

Marilyn Vann, retired social services worker, postal worker and hospital clerk

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Election 2024: proposed Row River Fire District candidates
Tuesday was the last day for candidates to file for the May 21 primary elections in Oregon. This year, the Lane County offices of district attorney and both of Eugene's county commission seats will feature two-way races.

The May elections are officially considered primaries, but if a candidate wins a majority in Lane County's nonpartisan primaries, they run uncontested in the November general election. Since the county commissioner and district attorney races are two-way, voters will effectively pick their officials this May barring a tie or write-in campaign.

Lane County commissioner

Both Eugene Lane County commissioners are up for re-election and face one challenger each.

In the "South Eugene" county District 3, Commissioner Laurie Trieger is running for a second term while being challenged by Grace Widdicombe.

Trieger is the current chair of the Board of Commissioners and was previously a nonprofit professional. On her campaign website, Trieger says in her first term and nonprofit experience she's expanded access to healthcare, affordable groceries and paid leave, while combatting predatory lending and racial profiling and organized women and caregivers. "While I was able to accomplish a lot during my first term, there is more to be done," she says.

Widdicombe is the owner of local house flipping business Grateful Nuts Homes. On the Grateful Nuts website, Widdicombe says she founded it to protect homeowners from foreclosure and highlights leadership roles with the Oregon and Northwest Real Estate Investors Associations, Eugene Southtowne Rotary, Eugene Opera and Eugene Chamber of Commerce. On her blog, Widdicombe's advocated for expanding the Eugene Urban Growth Boundary.

In the "North Eugene" county District 4, last year's Board of Commissioner's chair Pat Farr is being challenged by Zach Mulholland.

Farr has sat on the Lane County Board of Commissioners since 2013 and also has experience as a Eugene City councilor, state representative, and business and nonprofit manager. Farr's campaign website highlights local endorsements and his campaign Facebook page highlights examples of these relationships, such as his and Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold's work passing levies and his and Peter Ruffier's work on wastewater management.

Mulholland is a policy researcher and advocate for Beyond Toxics who serves on the Lane Community College Board and Eugene budget committee, and previously the Eugene Sustainability Commission and Bethel neighborhood board. On his campaign website, Mulholland says if elected to the county commission he "will fight for good jobs, affordable housing, clean air and water, and a compassionate and effective response to homelessness."

Lane County district attorney

Two candidates have filed to replace Lane County District Attorney Patty Perlow who has chosen to retire.

James Cleavenger is an attorney, Oakridge City administrator, and reserve Oakridge police officer who previously challenged Perlow for the DA job. On his campaign website, Cleavenger describes himself as a progressive running "to improve the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system in Lane County, by creating a more transparent and data-driven system of prosecution, while promoting alternatives to mass incarceration and increased mental health & addiction treatment services."

Christopher Parosa is Lane County's current chief deputy District Attorney. On his campaign website Parosa describes himself "as an experienced prosecutor that has handled everything from petty theft to aggravated murder," who will use that experience to prosecute. "We live in trying times, with violent crime rates and societal concerns rising, I am committed to prosecuting those that do you harm and threaten your sense of security."

Lane County sheriff

Incumbent Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold is running for re-election unopposed.

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Election 2024: Lane County commissioner, DA, sheriff candidates
The secretary of state, treasurer, and attorney general are up for grabs in Oregon in 2024.

More than 325 candidates had filed to run in the 2024 primary election in Oregon by the 5 p.m. March 12 deadline. They had until Friday to withdraw.

The secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general offices will be up for grabs. Here is who has filed to run in the May primary:

Who is running for Oregon secretary of state?

LaVonne Griffin-Valade replaced former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan last year after Fagan resigned from her position. Fagans resignation came after it was revealed she had accepted a $10,000-a-month consulting contract with La Mota, a cannabis company, at the same time her office oversaw an audit of the marijuana industry.

Griffin-Valade has been serving the remaining 18 months of Fagans term and is not running for election.

Eight have filed for the position.

Sen. James Manning Jr., D-Eugene, announced his bid in September.

Treasurer Tobias Read also is running as a Democratic candidate.

Others who have filed for the Democratic primary include retired attorney James A. Crary, who previously ran for Congress in 2016 and 2018; Paul Damian Wells, a retired electrical engineer; and Dave Stauffer, a retired attorney who has previously run for governor and secretary of state.

In the Republican primary, Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, announced his campaign on the last day to file. Linthicum is one of 10 lawmakers who participated in the 2023 legislative walkout and is not eligible to run for another Senate term. Linthicum joined the Senate in 2017.

Brent Barker, a real estate broker, and Tim McCloud, a markets analyst and researcher who ran for governor in 2022, will face off with Linthicum.

Who is running for state treasurer in Oregon?

With Read running for secretary of state, Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, is looking to be the states first female treasurer. Steiner is a physician and a co-chair of the Legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee. She joined the Oregon Senate after being appointed in 2011 and elected in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Steiner will face Jeff Gudman, the other Democrat in the race. Gudman sat on the Lake Oswego City Council from 2011 to 2018. He ran unsuccessfully in 2016 and 2020 as a Republican against Read.

Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, has no challengers in the Republican primary. Boquist also unable to run for reelection after participating in the 2023 legislative walkout. He announced his bid for treasurer on March 12. He previously served in the Oregon House before being elected to the Senate in 2008.

Who is running for Oregon attorney general?

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced last year she would be ending her tenure as the state's first female attorney general.

Rep. Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, stepped down as speaker of the Oregon House on the last day of the 2024 session to campaign for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. On the last day for candidate filings, Shaina Pomerantz, formerly with the Bureau of Labor and Industries, also filed for the Democratic nomination. Pomerantz in December settled with the bureau in a racial discrimination lawsuit.

Will Lathrop, a former deputy district attorney in Marion and Yamhill Counties, and Michael Cross, a U.S. Air Force veteran, are vying for the Republican nomination.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Election 2024: Oregon secretary of state, treasurer candidates
Gov. Kevin Stitt approaches the podium Feb. 20 at the Governor's Prayer Breakfast, coordinated by the nonprofit Capitol Culture, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

For the past couple of weeks, Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond have waged a battle of rhetoric.

The governor has complained that Drummond "weaponized" the AG's office after he issued an opinion that Stitt saw as an attack on his ability to choose who he wants to serve on his Cabinet. Drummond countered the governor doesn't understand the issue and that he is only enforcing existing law.

While the debate has continued, Stitt lost two Cabinet secretaries, vetoed a bill that would have protected two more and filed a lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Court for "clarification."

So what, exactly, going on?

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond applauds Feb. 6, 2023, during the start of the Legislature and Gov. Kevin Stitt's State of the State speech.

From the 30,000-foot level, the answer is simple: The governor is pushing back against limits on his power while the AG looks to his political future and Cleveland County residents and their state senator were unhappy with a turnpike plan.

What's behind the debate between the governor and the attorney general?

A few years back, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, state lawmakers granted the governor extraordinary authority that previous Oklahoma governors didn't have. Keep in mind the Oklahoma Constitution is, at its heart, a populist document that makes the 149-member Legislature the most powerful branch of state government.

During the pandemic, some of that power was shifted to Stitt. However, as concern over the pandemic faded, lawmakers took some of that power back.

At the same time, a controversy involving a turnpike expansion plan exploded. With Drummond watching from the sidelines  and planning his political future  Sen. Mary Boren, a Democrat from Norman, raised questions about the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority's ACCESS plan on behalf of her constituents.

More: War of words: Stitt and Drummond at odds over state officials holding dual positions

The turnpike authority played political hardball so Boren availed herself to a rule that allows lawmakers to request opinions from the attorney general. Boren requested an opinion from Drummond about Tim Gatz's role as the head of the turnpike authority, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and a member of the governor's Cabinet.

Remember: In Oklahoma, the law states that public officials are required to act in accordance with an attorney general's opinion unless or until the opinion is set aside by a court. In addition, AG opinions that address the constitutionality of a statute are considered advisory. So Drummond's official opinion could have punch.

It did.

During a news conference, Stitt attempted to question Boren's reasoning for seeking an attorney general's opinion, implying that Boren was attacking Gatz, now at ground zero of the controversy. The governor's question also criticized Boren's vote against confirming Gatz: "The only person that voted against him was a lady named Mary Boren and apparently, she supposedly requested this opinion, so maybe she has an ax to grind, I don't know," the governor said.

What the governor didn't say, though, was Boren was well within her rights as a state lawmaker to request an AG's opinion. Members of the Legislature regularly request opinions from the AG's office. In addition, Boren has, for more than a year, raised questions about the ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike expansion plan and its effect on residents in her district. The issue wasn't necessarily an ax to grind, it was a lawmaker responding to her constituents.

Still, if the objective was to remove Gatz as head of the turnpike authority, that goal was successful. Gatz stepped down from that post but remains as the head of the Transportation Department and as an adviser to the governor.

Opinions, rhetoric and 'unnecessary' legislation

With the attorney general and the governor now deep in a war of words, state lawmakers attempted to solve the problem by passing Senate Bill 1196, which would have carved out two more exemptions for members of the governor's Cabinet. That measure, which carried House Majority Leader Jon Echols' name, passed both the House and Senate by large margins this week.

But the governor vetoed the bill late Tuesday, issuing a media statement that called the measure "unnecessary."

And, to be fair, the governor may have a point. All governors seek advice. And each governor should have wide latitude in who he or she can get that advice from. Since Oklahoma law allows the governor to name Cabinet secretaries  which can be paid or unpaid advisers  Stitt has the authority to name who he wants to his Cabinet, with the "advice and consent" of the state Senate. The salaries for those advisers are part of the governor's budget.

Stitt is also correct in pointing out that other Oklahoma governors have had Cabinet secretaries who also headed state agencies. During the term of then-Gov. Henry Bellmon, Sandy Garrett, who also held the elected post of state schools superintendent, was Bellmon's Cabinet secretary for education. Garrett was a Democrat; Bellmon was a Republican.

Still, while Stitt has some valid arguments, so does Drummond. The attorney general focused on the statute that limits dual service, particularly with Gatz, who served not only in the governor's Cabinet but also as head of both the Transportation Department and the turnpike authority. Since there wasn't a specific exemption for Gatz, Drummond's opinion stood and Gatz was forced to resign.

So what happens next?

For his part, the governor has turned to Oklahoma County District Court, asking the court to "clarify" his appointment authority. Drummond, a skilled attorney, replied that he looks forward to making his case in court.

In the meantime, lawmakers could attempt to override the governor's veto of SB 1196 (remember it passed by large margins in both houses), but it's also March, and the Legislature's priority isn't a fight between the governor and the attorney general. The Legislature's priority is to craft a budget and get it done before the May 31 deadline.

As for Stitt and Drummond, it looks like their fight won't be decided by media statements but could, instead, be decided by District Court Judge Richard Ogden  at least for now.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why are Oklahoma Gov. Stitt, AG Drummond fighting over Cabinet positions?
Slowly, but inexorably, Israel is losing the leaders of the Democratic Party over its brutal war in Gaza. Kamala Harris, getting ahead of her boss much like Vice President Joe Biden did with gay rights in 2011, called for a temporary cease-fire early this month. In his State of the Union Address, Biden described the civilian carnage in Gaza as heartbreaking. The president then followed up in an MSNBC interview by suggesting that Israel would cross a red line if it continued with its plans to invade the refugee-filled city of Rafah. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the nation, went much further in a dramatic Senate speech on Thursday in which he called for new elections to replace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

For some Democrats, enraged by the estimated 30,000 civilian deaths in Gaza, all this is too little too late. A new USA Today/Suffolk University poll found that 69 percent of Democrats believe that Biden should do more to pressure Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This fits with a February survey by Gallup that found that more Democrats (43 percent) are sympathetic to the Palestinians than to the Israelis (35 percent).



Despite these polls and the passions raised by the war with Hamas, it is easy to exaggerate the power of Gaza as a motivating issue for voters eight months from now in November. History suggests that foreign policy issues end up as a minor motif in presidential politics unless American soldiers are dying in combat as they were in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004.



Many in the press overhyped the significance of Democrats voting uncommitted in primaries to protest Bidens slow reaction to the carnage in Gaza. Voting uncommitted is a risk-free way to send a message since Bidens renomination is assured. Even then, uncommitted only exceeded the 20 percent mark in last Tuesdays Hawaii caucuses, which were attended by just 1,600 Democrats. More tellingly, in the Washington State Democratic primary that same day, in which turnout was about 950,000, uncommitted is running at just 9.9 percent. The Michigan primary in late Februaryin which uncommitted won 13 percent of the votewas regarded as the epicenter of the protest. But a new Quinnipiac poll surprisingly found that Michigan Democrats, by a margin of 48 percent to 38 percent, approve of Bidens handling of the Israeli-Hamas war.



What is rare amid this pileup of polls is a survey that zeroes in on voters who say they would abandon their party because of their passions over a particular issue. That is why a Wall Street Journal survey, conducted before the State of the Union, is so fascinating. The poll found that only 2 percent of voters said they were single-issue voters on Israel/Gaza/Palestine. Even then, it is impossible to tell from the poll whether this small group of voters were all Democrats fuming over Gaza or whether that 2 percent also included Israel-right-or-wrong hawks who fervently support Netanyahu. This 2 percent figure fits with the conclusion of Dartmouth College professor of government Jeffrey A. Friedman in his 2023 book, The Commander-in-Chief Test: Public Opinion and the Politics of Image-Making in US Foreign Policy. As Friedman writes, The quantitative evidence  suggests that presidential candidates foreign policy positions might explain just one or two percentage points of presidential voting, at the margin.



In 2020, Biden carried four swing states by less than 2 percent: Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. If the 2024 election were again agonizingly close, would-be Biden voters infuriated by Israels conduct in Gaza could make a difference by staying home or opting for a third-party candidate. But the same is true for other issues that arouse passions like guns, immigration, and abortion. In Florida in 2000, where the presidency hinged on hanging chads, a case can be made that devotees of any number of issues say with some justice that their votes made the difference between George W. Bush and Al Gore.



The closest recent historical analog to the ongoing crisis in Gaza was probably the Bosnian war that raged during much of Bill Clintons first term, leaving 250,000 people dead and about two million homeless. In the face of ethnic cleansing, Clinton dithered until more than 7,000 Bosnians were executed in Srebrenica in a 1995 massacre reminiscent of World War II. Only then did Clinton lend his support to the aggressive NATO bombing campaign that led to the Dayton Accords, which ended the war.



Bosnia had faded from the headlines by the time that Clinton handily won reelection over Bob Dole in 1996. A preelection NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll in mid-October 1996 found that more Americans judged Clintons policies in Bosnia to be unsuccessful (44 percent) than successful (38 percent). But Bosnia was never a voting issue: When an October Harris poll asked likely voters to name their two leading issues, Bosnia came in at asterisk levels. And the 1996 exit polls found that only 4 percent of the electorate named foreign policy as their top concern. (A continuing problem with polling is that popular, but vague, questions about foreign policy can refer to virtually any spot on the globe.)



The parallels between Bosnia and Gaza do have their limitations. America had never armed the Bosnian Serbs, who were aggressors, so the United States had no moral or practical responsibility for the grisly events in the heart of Europe. It was also a different media environment: Only 26 percent of the voters, according to the 1996 exit polls, were using the newfangled internet. But the deaths and suffering from the siege of Sarajavo, in particular, were highlighted on the network newscasts and in the newspaper coverage, much as Gaza is today.



Perhaps younger voters, absorbing much of their news on social media, will defy historical patterns and elevate the importance of Gaza as a voting issue. But much depends on whether there will be an uneasy cease-fire in place on November 5. In belatedly changing his tone on Gaza, Biden is probably reflecting both intense personal frustration with Netanyahu and an awareness of the deep cleavages in the Democratic Party. The president also appears to be taking triangulation lessons from Clinton, struggling to find a middle ground between the Democratic left and Republican cheerleaders uncritically backing Netanyahu.



In the months ahead, Trump is virtually certain to find new ways to demonize Muslims. The oft-indicted would-be autocrat probably does not even understand the concept of humanitarian aidand the only way he would ever acknowledge the suffering in Gaza would be to mock it. Indeed, Trump implored Netanyahu to finish the problem in Gaza on March 5, after months of near silence on the waras the election gets closer, he will be unable to duck questions about Israels aggressive bombing of civilians as he has for most of the last five months.



In The Commander-in-Chief Test, Friedman stresses the counterintuitive point that voters do use foreign policy to assess a candidates ability to display strong leadership and good judgment. The problem for Democratic presidents, as Friedman theorizes, is that voters will find it easier to associate hawkishness with leadership strength than to associate dovishness with good judgment.



The real political problem for Biden is that Netanyahus refusal to acknowledge the civilian tragedy in Gaza makes the president look weak. If Biden cannot use the billions in American aid as a lever to change Israels behavior, then both Bidens leadership and judgment can be questioned. The true test may come soon if Netanyahu crosses Bidens red line in Rafah. The hope in both political and humanitarian terms is that the president has put together detailed plans to handle the day after in Rafah. A feckless response may have fatal consequences in both Gaza and at the ballot box for Biden.
The Star requested body camera policies and footage from dozens of law enforcement agencies in Kansas to learn how this tool for transparency is working in practice. We received varying responses, some of which made information difficult to obtain.

These were some of the responses we received after asking for police department policies:

The Lenexa Police Department charged a fee for their policy on body worn cameras. It was the only department out of 28 contacted by The Star to do so. On the other hand, six agencies post their policies online for anyone to see.

When asked for Labette Countys policy, Sheriff Darren Eichinger asked, Im curious, why do you want to know if we have body cameras, and why would you want a copy of our policy?

Meade County Sheriff Doug Ritter said he had never received a public request for any policy before.

Records requests by the numbers

From 2019 through 2023, police officers in Kansas fatally shot 47 people across the state. Where recordings existed, officials denied public disclosure 67% of the time. The Star obtained recordings from 11 shootings. In several cases, the request was narrowed because there were multiple videos spanning several hours.

Chanute, Joplin, Olathe and Sedgwick County did not charge for the videos.

Recordings from Wichita cost $14 to $54. Goddard charged $30, Ness County charged $15, and Wellington charged $55.94.

Clips ranged from nine seconds to over 90 minutes.

By releasing the videos, the agencies that have done so understand that there is a community expectation involved in how police investigations are conducted, particularly when someone dies as a result of state action and those agencies should be commended for their commitment to transparency, said Max Kautsch, an attorney who focuses on open government.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in Topeka and the Cowley County Sheriffs Office in Winfield did not publicly release footage, but allowed a reporter to view the recordings in their offices.

Three agencies suggested asking the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which is called in to investigate police shootings. On one of the three cases, the hard copy was stored offsite with the investigatory case file. The KBI charged $28 to retrieve the box.

All three requests were denied. In its Feb. 28 letter, the agency said, The KBI does not normally release criminal investigation records, except to other criminal justice agencies or by subpoena or court order.

It also said the agency had concerns that the videos release could reveal confidential investigative techniques or endanger the safety of a person.

Challenges for families of police shooting victims

By law in Kansas, footage is available to subjects of videos. In fatal shootings, family members, heirs and their attorneys can view recordings in person.

After Taylor Lowery, 33, was killed by five Topeka police officers on Oct. 13, 2022, some of his family members viewed recordings at the police department.

LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, an attorney for Lowerys family, accompanied the mother of Lowerys daughter to view the footage in late November 2022. At the time, the department told Saunders there could be more footage.

In January 2023, Saunders requested to re-review the videos as well as any new recordings. Topeka police Lt. John Sturgeon informed her it would cost $50 an hour.

Saunders emailed him back, saying she had concerns about the fee. While the statute allows a reasonable cost, she said she did not think most people would find $50 an hour reasonable. She also said it puts low-income citizens at a disadvantage.

They were allowed to view the footage again.

When asked about the cost, City of Topeka spokeswoman Rosie Nichols said, There may be certain incidents where the city has the discretion to waive this fee due to the sensitivity of the situation for an initial viewing. This is fact specific. The city does not waive the fee for subsequent viewings of footage.

The officers were cleared of criminal charges. The Shawnee County District Attorneys 15-page report included screenshots from body camera recordings and surveillance videos, but body camera footage has not been publicly released.

Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, said requiring $50 an hour to view footage, charging for the retrieval of footage an agency already knows is a criminal investigation record and requiring in-office viewing adds barriers that can erode community trust.

Different understandings of transparency

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department has had eight fatal police shootings in the past five years. One video was released in 2022. The department denied recent requests for the other seven.

That included the Feb. 3, 2023, shooting of John Anderton, 50. The department also declined to remotely play footage for an immediate family member of his who lives in California. Other family members drove from Iowa and Nebraska to view it, Bonds said.

John Anderton, 50, shown here with his daughter, was shot and killed by Kansas City, Kansas, police. Justice for Wyandotte said he was unarmed during the Feb. 3, 2023 encounter.

Bonds said KCKPD scandals, including the wrongful conviction of Lamonte McIntyre and the federal indictment of former detective Roger Golubski for rape and sex trafficking, have really undermined the communitys trust.

Theres just so many issues with this particular police department, youd think they would be doing everything that they could in order to rebuild that trust and be transparent themselves, Bonds said.

The Star wanted to learn more about how the police department determines which videos to release and emailed KCKPD spokeswoman Nancy Chartrand to arrange an interview with Police Chief Karl Oakman. After the March 1 interview, Chartrand in an email accused the reporter of not being transparent about what the interview was about and stressed the importance of transparency.
Lloyds, which owns Scottish Widows, said it had no plans to change the insurance firm's name - Fiona Hanson

Staff at the bank that owns Scottish Widows have been urged not to say widows because it can trigger upsetting memories.

Lloyds, which owns the insurance company, has produced new guidance on inclusive language for its 57,000 employees that raises concern about several traditional words and phrases.

It says the term widow, to describe a partner of someone who has died, is unnecessarily vivid and may trigger unwarranted personal memories of trauma and upsetting situations, so staff should say separated instead.

Critics pointed out that Lloyds owns Scottish Widows  a life insurance and pensions firm that manages almost 200 billion in assets  yet there are no plans to change its name.

The guide, first reported by the Mail on Sunday, lists words that have strong negative associations and can create barriers based on... social mobility, education, religion, accessibility, race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation if used.

The words in the non-compulsory guide were submitted voluntarily by Lloyds staff in a whiteboard-like interactive document after the banks inclusion team came up with the idea for a discussion about language, The Telegraph understands.

You dont have to adopt alternatives

Other phrases that staff are advised against using include guinea pigs because this may not be inclusive of vegan colleagues by evoking images of cruel laboratory experiments.

Guinea pigs are sometimes used in conversations to describe someone being the first to test out a new idea, but it is unclear whether the advice also applies to staff mentioning their pets.

Another phrase included in the document is saying something is like a headless chicken, as it is linked to a slaughter method where farmers behead a chicken and it continues running around for a moment.

The guide also lists the phrase sold down the river, given its historical connections to slavery in the US, and penetration testing, a cyber security term for testing IT systems, that may conjure up an unwarranted and intrusive bodily image or may be triggering.

Staff are advised that you may agree with some terms and disagree with others  thats OK! You dont have to adopt alternatives, though do explore why we recommend doing so and the urgency with which they are suggested.

Some are better than others

Mark Brown, the general secretary of the BTU trade union, which represents bank workers, said that if Lloyds really believed in the use of inclusive language, then it would change the Scottish Widows brand name immediately.

He told the Mail that much-needed progress in diversity and inclusion in the workplace was being drowned out by half-baked schemes which are ineffective and create resentment and diversity washing, where employers words do not match their actions.

Scottish Widows was founded in 1815 to take care of women and children who lost their fathers, brothers and husbands in the Napoleonic Wars, and has six million customers. It was launched with an aim to be a general fund for securing provisions to widows, sisters and other females.

A Lloyds Banking Group spokesman said: We continually look for ways to enable our colleagues to engage, debate and be collaborative.

The voluntary inclusivity tool is designed to be a self-moderated way for colleagues to explore how people may feel about different words and phrases. As is par for the course when crowdsourcing for ideas, some are better than others.

The bank said it had no plans to change the name of Scottish Widows. A source said: We are reviewing the tool to ensure that the phrases and words included are helpful to our colleagues.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
WINCHESTER, Ind.  Just three days after a tornado destroyed their building, about 120 members of Freedom Life Church's congregation gathered Sunday morning for an at-times emotional service in the Towne Square Community Centre, about a mile away from the now-vacant lot that once served as their home. Congregants sat on folding chairs and watched video boards that displayed lyrics of songs performed during Sunday's service. In the three days since Thursday when the tornado ravaged the church's home of three decades at 992 E. Greenville Pike, church leaders have resolved to keep the church alive as they begin the long and arduous process of rebuilding.But despite the physical loss of the structure, lead pastor Matthew Holladay told church members they had much for which to be grateful.

Matthew Holladay, lead pastor at Winchester's Freedom Life Church, leads his congregation in a song at a Sunday morning service held at the Town Square Community Centre. Thursday night's tornado demolished Freedom Life Church's longtime home along Greenville Pike.

"We have lost a lot materially," Holladay said at the outset of the service. "Even if it hits us emotionally, we're thankful.

"We're simple this morning but we don't need anything but us and our praise of the Lord."

More: Possible tornadoes in Selma, Winchester leave nearly 40 injured, 100+ buildings damaged

In an interview before the service  and again when addressing church members  Holladay said he was especially thankful the five people in the church at the time the storm tore the building apart all had survived.

"We're so thankful God's hands have been upon us," he said. "We had five people in the church and every one of them's alive."

In the church at the time were worship pastor Peter Eric Hanlin and his wife, Thesa, who does volunteer accounting work there, along with their daughter, Whitney; her husband, Skylar Smith; and the Smiths' young son, Memphis.In an interview before the service, Skylar Smith described the scene.

"It sounded like a train," Skylar Smith said. "I thought it was a train coming by, and my wife yelled, 'That's not a train!' and grabbed our son and took off running."

Smith said his father-in-law was in the process of closing a door when the church began to come apart.

"To be truthfully honest, we don't even know how he's not carried away," said Smith, who attended Sunday's service.

Because local medical personnel feared that Hanlin might be suffering from a brain bleed, he was transported to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, Holladay said. There, doctors determined he had no such injury.

Members of Freedom Life Church's congregation participate in a Sunday service held at the Towne Square Community Centre in downtown Winchester. The church's longtime home along Greenville Pike was destroyed Thursday by a tornado.

"We saw miracles even in that," the pastor said. "In spite of all the destruction, we have seen God's hand on it."

Hanlin continues to be treated in a Dayton hospital for injuries that include a broken leg, Smith said, but he is doing well and could be released later this week.

Freedom Life plans to rebuild

Longtime church member Tony Bosworth said the church's first location about 34 years ago was in downtown Winchester before it moved to Greenville Pike a year later.

Holladay said the church would be rebuilt at the Greenville Pike location and told the congregation the rebuilding could take about a year.

Sunday's attendance at the downtown center was about the same as on most Sundays, Bosworth said. Those attending the church come largely from the Winchester area, he said, although a few travel from western Ohio.

"We're going to continue on," Holladay told those at Sunday's service. "The church isn't gone. Our building is gone, but understand, our church is still here.

"We're not hitting pause on the ministry of God."

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Winchester church hit by tornado will rise again, pastor tells members
A man walks down a flight of steps with a dog on the beach of the East Frisian island of Wangerooge. The storm surge season so far has caused significant damage to the beaches on some North Sea islands. -/dpa

Germany's popular North Sea beach resorts, including the high-end resort of Sylt, are coming into the beachgoing season with a big problem: not enough sand.

The turbulent storm surge season has almost completely washed away the main beach on Wangerooge.

"It's quite a disaster," said Rieka Beewen, a representative for the town's mayor's said. Almost 80,000 cubic metres of sand were missing.

The islands of Norderney and Baltrum also reported significant sand losses. As a result, fewer beach chairs than usual could be set up on Baltrum for the time being. The beaches are to be replenished with sand from the eastern parts of the islands, delivered by pickup lorries.

The East Frisian Islands off the coast of Lower Saxony recorded more sand losses than the North Frisian Islands in Schleswig-Holstein, according to a survey of the island municipalities conducted by dpa.

Storm "Zoltan" in particular caused damage around Christmas. Lower Saxony's state government promised the island communities financial help to rebuild the tourist infrastructure.

On Sylt, frequent and long-lasting storms during the winter season caused visible damage to the beaches, said Grietje Stover from the island's tourist service.

"Years like this happen occasionally," she said.

The State Agency for Coastal Protection assesses how badly Sylt's beaches are actually affected and what measures need to be taken for coastal protection every spring during its beach inspection - which is due to take place shortly. Minor damage on the islands of Amrum and Fohr should be repaired by the start of the beach season.

A man walks along the beach below the break-off edge of the last storm surge. Winter storms leave the beaches of Germany's North Sea island without sand. Peter Kuchenbuch-Hanken/dpa
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/ KUSI)  A woman was killed after being hit by a vehicle while walking on State Route 905 Saturday, authorities confirmed.

According to California Highway Patrol, San Diego area units were dispatched around 12:05 a.m. after a caller reported a pedestrian had been hit on eastbound SR-905.

Based on their preliminary investigation, CHP said a pedestrian was believed to be walking within the traffic lanes of SR-905 westbound, east of Interstate 5.

Heres how long it will take singles, couples to buy home in San Diego

For reasons still under investigation, the woman was struck by an unknown vehicle, which reportedly continued westbound on SR-905, authorities explained.

The pedestrian, whos identity was not immediately released, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A toxicology report is pending through the San Diego County Medical Examiners office to determine if alcohol/and or drugs were a factor in the incident.

All lanes of SR-905 westbound, east of Beyer Boulevard, were temporarily closed while authorities conducted an investigation. All traffic was diverted off to Beyer Boulevard during that time.

The cause and sequence of events leading up to the fatal collision remains under investigation by CHP.

Anyone who may have witnessed this crash or has information is encouraged to contact the CHP San Diego Area Office at (858) 293-6000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A Texas woman is accused of chasing down and hitting her boyfriend with a car while he was trying to run away, San Antonio police say.

Officers responded to a call about a vehicle crash at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, March 17, police said in a news release. When they arrived at the scene, on San Antonios west side, police found a 38-year-old man injured and lying unconscious next to a wrecked Ford Focus.

Investigators say video from the scene shows a woman driving the Ford at a high rate of speed while the man is running on foot. Then, she hits him and crashes into another car parked nearby, according to police.

The woman then gets out of the car and runs away, investigators said. Police are searching for her.

Officials have not publicly identified the woman but said she is 38 years old.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim and the suspect driver are in a dating relationship and the crash appeared intentional, police said.

When found, she will be arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, officials said.

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A woman who officials said shot and killed a man told deputies she had been kidnapped and drugged in Texas, according to authorities.

The woman called 911 around 12:42 p.m. on March 15, according to a Facebook post from the Gillespie County Sheriffs Office.

The woman said she was drugged and kidnapped and that she shot someone, according to officials.

Authorities said they found the woman near a winery and she described a vehicle and the weapon she used.

Deputies found the vehicle in a traffic lane. Inside they found a man dead in the front seat, officials said.

The woman was taken to a hospital and questioned further by authorities. The investigation is ongoing.

Gillespie County is about a an 80-mile drive west of Austin.

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Munitions for some of Ukraine's air defense systems may be nearly used up by the end of March, the Washington Post reported on March 15, citing unnamed Western officials.

Ukraine has tried to shoot down four of every five missiles aimed at its cities, but the shortage in munitions for its defenses may soon force Ukraine to aim for only one of every five, one of the officials told the Washington Post. The officials cited by the outlet had met with Ukrainians at the Munich Security Conference last month, the paper reported.

Ukraine is coming under increasing pressure as its munitions stocks run low, and a foreign U.S. aid bill has been blocked in Congress due to political fighting. The bill would allocate $60 billion for Ukraine and has remained stalled for months, despite pressure from the White House and other members of Congress.

A senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Washington Post that there was a high likelihood of significant Russian territorial gains against Ukraine by the summer in the absence of new U.S. aid.

"People dont understand how bad the front is right now," the adviser said, as cited by the Washington Post. "The morale is low; the momentum is low. Young men are afraid they will be mobilized to die because of a lack of weapons."

In February, Russia made its first major territorial gain in nine months when Ukraine withdrew from the small industrial city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. Since then, Russia has pushed forward and captured several neighboring villages.

Both Ukrainian and Western officials have attributed the recent military setbacks in part to the ongoing impasse in Congress over U.S. aid to Ukraine.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on March 13 that Ukraines ammunition shortage caused by the delays could soon lead to a Russian breakthrough on the front lines.

As Ukraine faces shortages in munitions, Russia continues to target Ukraine's cities with deadly missile strikes. A missile strike in Odesa killed 21 people and injured at least 73 on March 15. Rescuers immediately reached the scene of the strike and were hit during rescue operations after Russia struck the site again.

More than 10,500 civilians have been killed since 2022, and an average of 163 civilians were killed each month in 2023, according to UN estimates released last month. At least 587 children are among the dead. The U.N. stressed that this number includes deaths verified by UN methodology and that actual figures are likely to be much higher.

Read also: Our reserves will run out: Ukrainian artillery sounds alarm on Western shell shortage

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
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 Can you talk about your creative process with writing? I think thats there is a moment when Im about to write a novel. Not only do I not have the topic, I havent even thought about it. Then it could be like Im listening to an old song from Franco or even from Fela Kuti, and it reminds me of my childhood. I need the music to create a moment. Then I try to think about what Im going to write.

 So it sounds like your approach depends on your project? Its a bit like just roaming about the market for food, buying ingredients and now I have to cook. You can have as many methods as you have writers. Some writers are very methodical. They need a plan. They need to calculate what theyre going to say in chapter ten or they dont know whats gonna happen. I dont use a technique. I use my feelings. I use my reaction. I use, maybe, my mood in order to advance in a project.

 How have the prospects for Black and African writers evolved since youve been doing this professionally? Ive been living in both the Anglophone and Francophone world so there are big differences. In France, for instance, in the Francophone world, It was very, very difficult for African literature; it was just considered exotic. The promotion was never the same but that started to change when some of the main literature awards were won by non-French writers from around 2006. More recently, we have seen more Francophone writers with higher profiles on TV and elsewhere. But we are still not at the level of the Nigerian writers, for example like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or the veterans like Wole Soyinka.

 Youve been very vocal about the state of Francophone Africas current politics. Where would you say things are now? We thought that in the 60s we had earned our independence. But we didnt. In fact, France is still controlling African politicians. France still gets involved in our elections. France is always involved in our economy. So, as a matter of fact, it means that each time we are having an election France knows already whos going to win. Francafrique is a kind of politics used by France to keep controlling its former territories.

If you are France, you are supposed to be the leading nation in democracy. Why are you dealing with Africas dictators in Cameroon and Congo? Why dont you hear the noise of the African population who are fighting? Because they dont have jobs, they dont go to school, and so on. And thats why in my interview I was saying that maybe the time is now to destroy this kind of behavior. Its time to expose Francafrique and let people know how Europe is still leading our continent instead of what theyre trying to explain to us that its China, its the Russians. I prefer dealing with Russia and China than dealing with France when it comes to economy and politics.

 Last year in that interview you talked about the inevitable upheaval in the Congo Basin, is that still the case? These countries are known for having the longest tenured presidents So in this case, the revolution needs to take care of the situation. Because I dont think that in Cameroon or in Congo, were going to have a real democracy if were still dealing with the same family for decades.

 Are you still confident it can happen?I was more optimistic back then. I think theres a lack of determination from people who have to face these dictators who are supported by the power of France.

 Whats your next project? Ive been doing a lot of documentaries for TV in France. I did one called a Noirs en France, a documentary discussing the blackness issue in France. It was a big success seen by 7 million people. Im now thinking about something which is going to deal with Africans and African Americans in the United States. I think when you dig inside, youre gonna see a lot of issues around how African Americans consider Africans and how Africans perceive African Americans. Thats a topic I want to do as a documentary or maybe a novel dealing with this.

 What reminds you of Congo? When I think about Congo, what comes to mind is the Atlantic Ocean because that was my childhood. So I can see fishes, I think about the fishermen and the women selling a type of cake on the street. And the main meal I would eat back then is called pondu or saka saka. Its cassava leaves made with peanut butter and palm oil and a lot of spices. You eat it with fufu. Its excellent.
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) It is the original St. Patricks Day Parade and the worlds largest.

With that kind of legacy, the onus is on New York City to make each years parade more memorable than those that preceded it. This years event did not disappoint.

Starbucks is changing the way it serves coffee

It was the 262nd running of the parade, and even though one parade goer, Isabella Crianza, has missed about 250 of them, she said that in addition to the tuneful bagpipe bands, brigades of cloggers, as well as banners and flags up and down the Fifth Avenue parade route, one other thing left a strong impression.

Its certainly the most crowded Ive ever seen it, she said.

Organizers said over 2 million people were there.

Mayor Eric Adams commented on the big turnout during a quick stop along the route. He said that so many people feeling that it was safe to attend flew in the face of a perception of danger in the city in the wake of a fatal subway shooting two days before.

Lets stop this belief that this is a city out of control, he said in the press gaggle along the side of the route, near St. Patricks Cathedral. This is the safest big city in America, he added. It is a point he makes in most public gatherings.

The mayor was one of the many elected officials marching. Also traversing the route from 44th Street to 79th Street on Fifth Avenue was Governor Kathy Hochul. She pointed out that she is the first Irish American New York governor in 40 years. By her side was New York Attorney General Letitia James.

James told PIX11 News that everyone is Irish at the St. Patricks Day Parade.

Today my name is Letitia Jameson, she joked.

Leading them all was the grand marshal, Maggie Timoney, the first woman CEO of a beer company, Heineken USA.

Like all the VIPs along the route, she stopped in front of the cathedral, where Archbishop Timothy Dolan stood under a canopy, greeting and blessing parade participants.

2 innocent bystanders shot in Tompkins Square Park: NYPD

When she arrived at the cardinals location, he put his arm around her and joked to the assembled media, Only in New York does a Dutch brewery sponsor the Irish parade!

The most important attendees were the many paradegoers from all over the world.

A random sampling of people in the six-deep crowd in about a 15-square-foot area showed visitors from Italy, Brazil and, of course, Ireland.

The route was populated by many spectators from the Emerald Isle, including the Gregory family, the mother of whom described the event as the biggest and the oldest in the world. To experience it, it is the best, she said.

Nobody, though, does the New York Citys St. Patricks Day Parade like locals.

Nicole Castaneda, a first-year student at Fordham University, was with her friends Anna Brown and Caitlin Thomas behind a barricade between 47th and 48th Streets.

The three were screaming with joy at each group that passed by in the hours-long procession.

I just love parades! Brown exclaimed.

It is St. Patricks Day! This is fun! her friend Castaneda added. I love parades.

Another parade goer, Jim Kain, who said that he comes every year from Central Jersey, sported a glued-on, neon green mustache, a leprechaun hat, and all-green clothing and jewelry.

He said the parade is a gratifying event for him because it unifies many people for joyful reasons.

For everybody to get together and have a good time, Kain said, It works.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Murthy v. Missouri, which raises the question of when government efforts to suppress "misinformation" on social media violate the First Amendment. Neglecting that central question, The New York Times portrays the case as part of a conspiracy by Donald Trump's supporters to undermine democracy by promoting false claims that mislead voters and threaten the peaceful transfer of power.

"In a world of unlimited online communications" where "anyone can reach huge numbers of people with unverified and false information," Times reporters Jim Rutenberg and Steven Lee Myers ask, "where is the line between protecting democracy and trampling on the right to free speech?" This is not the first time that Myers has described freedom of speech as a threat to democracy. Last year, he worried that "the First Amendment has become, for better or worse, a barrier to virtually any government efforts to stifle a problem that, in the case of a pandemic, threatens public health and, in the case of the integrity of elections, even democracy itself." The purported conflict between free speech and democracy is a bizarre and highly misleading way to frame the issues raised by Murthy.

When Biden administration officials persistently pressured social media platforms to curtail speech those officials viewed as dangerous, Rutenberg and Myers say, they were trying to "balance free speech with democratic rights" and "seeking a delicate balance between the First Amendment and social media's rising power over public opinion." The implication is that government officials have the authority to weigh freedom of speech against competing values on a case-by-case basis. But that is not the way the First Amendment works.

The First Amendment bars the government from "abridging the freedom of speech," full stop. As interpreted by the Supreme Court, that command applies to all sorts of speech, no matter how inaccurate, misleading, controversial, offensive, or hateful it might be, unless it fits into one of several narrowly defined exceptions, such as defamation, true threats, fraud, obscenity, and incitement to "imminent lawless action."

The speech that worries Rutenberg and Myers, such as false claims about COVID-19 vaccines and fraud in the 2020 presidential election, does not fit into any of those exceptions. It is therefore constitutionally protected, precluding any ad hoc attempt to balance the value of allowing it against the risks that might entail.

The Biden administration concedes as much. "No one disputes that the government would have violated the First Amendment if it had used threats of adverse government action to coerce private social-media platforms into moderating content," it says. "But no such threats occurred here."

The dispute in Murthy centers on whether federal officials' interactions with Facebook et al. amounted to "significant encouragement" of censorship and/or crossed the line between persuasion and coercion. While civil liberties groups disagree about the answer to that question, they agree that it needs to be addressed.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is urging the Supreme Court to uphold the 5th Circuit's conclusion that "executive branch agencies violated the First Amendment by interfering with private moderation decisions." Those agencies, FIRE says, "used both carrot and stick tactics to achieve indirectly what the Constitution prohibits [when it is done] directly: governmental control over social media moderation decisions."

FIRE sees "substantial evidence" that the White House, the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security

Agency "engaged in unlawful 'significant encouragement' by placing persistent pressure on platforms to change their moderation policies." Some federal officials, it says, "became so entangled with social media platform moderation policies that they were able to effectively rewrite the platforms' policies from the inside."

FIRE also agrees with the 5th Circuit that some of these communications qualified as coercive. "White House officials issued 'urgent, uncompromising demands to moderate

content' and used 'foreboding, inflammatory, and hyper-critical phraseology' when social media companies failed to moderate content in the way they requested or as quickly as officials desired," it says. "Demands to remove specific posts 'ASAP,' the use of words and phrases like 'you are hiding the ball,' and officials warning they are 'gravely concerned' made clear the threats to social media companies were 'phrased virtually as orders.' And officials repeatedly 'refuse[d] to take "no" for an answer and pester[ed]' the social media companies until they 'succumb[ed].' More ominously, they 'threatenedboth expressly and implicitlyto retaliate against inaction.'"

The record "contains copious evidence that the social media platforms understood communications from the White House and FBI agents to be threats and acted accordingly," FIRE says. "For example, a social media platform expressly agreed to 'adjust [its] policies' to reflect the changes sought by officials. And several social media platforms 't[ook] down content, including posts and accounts that originated from the United States, in direct compliance with' a request from the FBI that they delete 'misinformation' on the eve of the 2022 congressional election. When the White House and FBI 'requested' the platforms to jump, they ultimately, if reluctantly, asked how high."

FIRE adds that the White House and the FBI "threatened 'adverse consequences' to social media platforms if they failed to comply." When the platforms' content moderation "was too slow for the White House's liking, officials publicly accused them of 'killing people'" and "privately threatened them with antitrust enforcement, repeal of Section 230 immunities, and other 'fundamental reforms' to make sure the platforms were 'held accountable.'"

In addition to those "express threats," FIRE says, "both White House and FBI officials' statements contained implied threatened consequences because those officials are backed by the 'awesome power' wielded by the federal executive branch. For example, White House officials frequently alluded to the President's potential involvement should social media platforms not moderate content to their satisfaction." And "as a federal enforcement agency that conducts various internet investigations," the FBI "has tools at its disposal to force a platform to take down content."

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which filed a Murthy brief in support of neither side, sees the situation somewhat differently. It worries that too broad an injunction against government interaction with social media platforms could preclude useful and constitutionally permissible contacts that inform Facebook et al. of misinformation threats they might want to counter by applying their own rules. But even EFF thinks some of these contacts can plausibly be viewed as coercive. EFF mentions Deputy Assistant to the President Rob Flaherty's "communications to Facebook regarding specific Tucker Carlson and Tomi Lahren posts expressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy," which it describes as "at least a close case that should likely be resolved against the government."

Rutenberg and Myers' article, by contrast, barely acknowledges that Murthy raises any legitimate First Amendment concerns at all. Instead they worry that the Supreme Court's decision "could curtail the government's latitude in monitoring content online." To be clear: Rutenberg and Myers think that would be bad.

As they see it, Trump's stolen-election fantasy poses a clear and present danger to democracy, as evidenced by the Capitol riot that interrupted congressional ratification of Joe Biden's victory. They note that Trump, after being banished from social media in the wake of the riot, is now back on those platforms, free to promote his phony grievance as he tries to unseat Biden in this year's election. Worse, "Facebook and YouTube announced that they would reverse their restrictions on content claiming that the 2020 election was stolen." As a result, "the torrent of disinformation that the previous efforts had slowed, though not stopped, has resumed with even greater force."

Trump's banishment, of course, was the result of private decisions by private companies, as was his restoration. The decisions at issue in Murthy, by contrast, were made in the context of unrelenting government pressure that the Biden administration argues was constitutionally permissible. Rutenberg and Myers clearly agree.

When social media platforms crack down on controversial speech at the government's behest, users are apt to think twice before expressing opinions that might offend the authorities. But Rutenberg and Myers are not worried about such self-censorship. Instead they worry that constitutional objections to the government's social media meddling have had a "chilling effect" on efforts to curtail online speech.

To emphasize the need for such intervention, Rutenberg and Myers quote Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. "We're in the business of critical infrastructure, and the most critical infrastructure is our cognitive infrastructure," Easterly said at a 2021 conference, "so building that resilience to misinformation and disinformation, I think, is incredibly important." She promised to "work with our partners in the private sector and throughout the rest of the government and at the [Department of Homeland Security] to continue to ensure that the American people have the facts that they need to help protect our critical infrastructure."

Ensuring that Americans "have the facts" is one thing. It involves responding to "misinformation and disinformation" by citing countervailing evidence. But when fighting "misinformation and disinformation" entails government-encouraged censorship of controversial speech, it raises obvious First Amendment concerns. The very idea of a government agency charged with guarding "our cognitive infrastructure" should set off alarm bells for anyone who values freedom of thought and freedom of speech.

The fact that Rutenberg and Myers do not hear those bells suggests they assume that Orwellian mission can only affect speech they do not like, because the government will inerrantly distinguish between "misinformation" and worthwhile content. That is a pretty shortsighted view for people whose work depends on a constitutional provision that bars the government from enforcing such judgments.

The post <i>The New York Times</i> Again Worries That Free Speech Endangers Democracy appeared first on Reason.com.
Few details are known about what led to a spree of violent attacks Saturday morning in Falls Township that left two women and a teenage girl dead, and another woman beaten and hospitalized.

While police continue to investigate the crimes they say were carried out by 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr., here's everything we know about the victims of his alleged attacks.

Kera Gordon: Youngest victim is Levittown shooting spree

Andre Gordon's 13-year-old sister, Kera, and his stepmother, Karen Murphy-Gordon, 52, were his first victims early Saturday, after Gordon broke into their home on Viewpoint Lane, authorities said.

Falls police and other departments from lower bucks stage near Pennsbury High School after a report to shelter in place was sent to to township residents Saturday morning.

Kera Gordon was an 8th-grader at Charles Boehm Middle School in the Pennsbury School District. It is believed she lived at home with her parents and a sister.

Pennsbury officials said counselors would be avaialble between 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sunday at Charles Boehm Middle School to provide support to any students, families, and staff members.

Karen Murphy-Gordon: Stepmother killed in Levittown

Karen Murphy-Gordon was Kera's mother. She was also Andre Gordon Jr.'s stepmother, authorities said.

She ran a tax preperation business out of the home she and her family lived at since 2008 in Levittown's Vermillion Hills section.

Neighbors said the family was Jamacian, and always seemed friendly, exchanging hellos in the quiet neighborhood. Other family members were in the home at the time of the shooting, but authorities did not identify how they were related to Karen or Kera.

More on Falls shooting: 3 dead in Levittown shooting; suspect Andre Gordon Jr. now in custody

Taylor Daniel: A mom to two young daughters in Levittown

Taylor Daniel, 25, was allegedly shot and killed by Gordon at her home on Edgewood Lane after the violence on Viewpoint. The couple had two daughters together, who were home but left unharmed Saturday, according to police.

Daniel and Gordon both graduated from Pennsbury High School in 2016. Daniel then attended Bucks County Community College to study criminal justice in August that same year, according to her Facebook page.

Daniel's Facebook page, which made its last public post in August 2022, is filled with photos of her with her two daughters, the oldest born in 2018.

It's unclear if Gordon and Daniel were still in a relationship since niether hers nor Gordon's Facebook accounts seemed to include photos of either one of them together. Gordon and Daniel did formerly share an apartment together, according to public records.

Nancy Daniel: Survived Levittown shooting attack

The only real indication that the two had children together was a family photo posted by Taylor's mother, Nancy Daniel, whom Gordon is said to have bludgeoned with the AR 15 rifle he had with him. She was hospitalized but expected to survive.

The photo on Nancy Daniel's Facebook page appears to be from a party celebrating the recent birth of Taylor's youngest daughter. Gordon and Taylor Daniel are seen sitting beside each other, surrounded by Nancy and Taylor's brother and her father  both named John.

The older John Daniel, Nancy's husband and Taylor's father, died of lung cancer in January 2022.

Check back for more details as we learn more about the victim's of the Levittown shootings.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Levittown shooting victims all knew Andre Gordon. Who are they
Father Steve Brandow (center) stands between owners Chris and Tiffany Lindsey behind the bar at the Fighting Hand Brewing Company in Pineville as he blesses their beers on Saturday, the day before St. Patrick's Day.

A cheer went up from the crowd gathered around the Tasting Room of Louisiana's bar Saturday as Father Steve Brandow drank the beer he had just blessed, officially starting the flow for patrons waiting with tickets in their hands.

It was one of two blessings of the beers Brandow performed in the area on Saturday, the day before St. Patricks Day.

The blessing has been a tradition at the Tasting Room in downtown Alexandria pub long before it was owned by whiskey sommelier and owner Melissa Scarborough. Once known as Finnegans Wake, the pub began the blessings in the mid-2000s.

Brandow said beer is blessed because beers a food item thats an essential food group for those of us who enjoy beer. And, as some people do with all things in their lives, they thank God for it.

Its a social event, he said. Catholics have always been social people.

'A sign of our community': Blessing of the Beer kicks off St. Patrick's Day celebration at The Tasting Room of Louisiana

'Big ol nerds': Fighting Hand Brewing Company pays homage to Dr. Who

Over at a table, Jerry Liberty and Betty Chavez, both sporting green shirts and green and white beads that had been left on tables, snapped cellphone photos of Jody Skeltoe, who was wearing a green hat and multi-color glasses. The women hail from New Mexico, visiting friends who live here.

They said they were enjoying themselves and were looking forward to a "crawdad" boil later Saturday.

Bob Pulaski is the guy in charge of preparing that crawfish boil. Standing over by the bar, Pulaski stood out in his leprechaun hat, green shirt and red kilt.

(From left) Jerry Liberty, Betty Chavez and Jody Skeltoe enjoy the Blessing of the Beer event at the Tasting Room of Louisiana in downtown Alexandria. The women are visiting the area from New Mexico.

He said his wife is the one behind the annual boil, "a long, long tradition," he said.

"I get to drink beer, but then I have to start cooking."

Hours later, Brandow made his way over to Pineville's Fighting Hand Brewing Company for the second blessing of the day. Although the brewery has been open for three years, this is the second time they've hosted a blessing of the beers.

Standing behind the bar between owners Chris and Tiffany Lindsey, Brandow invited the crowd to join him and told them about the first people to brew beer.

But it wasn't what everyone today knows as beer. It was just wild grain and water.

"They hadn't domesticated grain yet. That would come very soon thereafter, though after they enjoyed the first beer, they said we got to do that again, whatever that was," he said to laughter.

And he gave them a brief history about St. Patrick and named them honorary Irish.

"Welcome to my family. If you're not Irish yet, you should be."

Tiffany Lindsey said the blessing is a fun community event and, since Brandow is a regular, it made sense to ask him to perform the blessing.

"We heard of other places doing it, and I'm like, we make beer," she said. "Let's do this."

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: St. Patrick's comes to Rapides with blessings of beers at pub, brewery
Port Huron City Councilwoman Teri Lamb, far right, and fellow registered nurse and volunteer Kathy Romig, head a training session for CPR and AEDs on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Municipal Office Center. Lamb recently got recertified to teach training to city employees after council agreed to put AEDs in all police vehicles.

Groups of Port Huron city staffers rotated performing CPR and carefully sticking small automated external defibrillator panels on the chest and side of manikins on Tuesday.

Nearby, on a conference room floor, a voice from a tiny red AED device reminded them of each step to revive their model victims.

They first got a rundown on just the CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an hour earlier, guiding their models heads back to simulate breaths in between 30-count bouts of chest compressions  the success of each move at two inches deep measured by a small light emanating green.

After several rounds, it was harder than some said they anticipated.

If youre not breaking a sweat, youre not doing it right, City Councilwoman Teri Lamb told them with a laugh.

It was one of eight, 12-person sessions held over the last couple of weeks for city employees training them in CPR and AED use.

Inspections clerk Keshia-ann Evans, left, simulates steps in CPR on manikin while Maddy O'Farrell, an administrative assistant, prepares to place AED panels on the model on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, as blight inspector Don Egypt watches on nearby.

On Tuesday, the atmosphere was light, and occasionally laughter broke out as the group roleplayed checking the scene, approaching a subject, and voicing the commands to bystanders and fellow responders theyd seen in a demonstration video.

Lamb, a registered nurse, volunteered to head the trainings, getting a helping hand from fellow nurse and volunteer Kathy Romig. The informal setting could be silly and fun, Romig said, admitting the camaraderie helped them teach.

But she said, Youve got to learn. So, you see (someone else) doing CPR and approach a scene anywhere youre at  it doesnt have to be at work  you want to say, Hey, Im trained in CPR and AEDs, let me help you. The more people you get out there, we wont have a situation like we had.

In January, Port Huron councilmembers agreed to install AEDs in all 19 of the city police departments vehicles and train officers in how to use them  a suggestion that came from the father of Joshua Conant, the 26-year-old who died outside the Roche Bar Nov. 4.

Those devices were slated to be in place and the citys police officers trained by the start of this month.

Port Huron City Clerk Cyndee Jonseck practices performing CPR on a manikin on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Municipal Office Center. She was one of 12 city employees in a training session.

By the end of February, Lamb said she realized how many other people across the city werent trained in how to use AEDs, announcing she got recertified to lead a training effort among city staff outside the police department.

Police have said Conant died after several bouncers at the Roche pinned him down outside the bars entrance on Quay Street. Although loved ones and officials have acknowledged that CPR was later performed on him while he was handcuffed, full details surrounding the incident have not been publicly released.

One councilmember later said putting AEDs in patrol cars to aid in future life-saving efforts was a no-brainer.

Obviously, I cant do anything about that situation, Lamb said late last month, referencing Conants death. But if I can do something to prevent it from happening again. So, I reached out and went and recertified.  It took us probably a month to get the equipment, the little pieces of equipment you need to have to train. Back when COVID hit, everything was online. Well, you cant learn how to do that online. You physically have to do this.

John Harnish, who was appointed the citys health and safety director last September, said the CPR and AED training available to employees is nothing new, but rather, a pre-existing program. Seventeen AEDs had also already long been kept across city facilities before City Council moved to put devices in patrol cars.

Still, Harnish said they likely had more people sign up for training this year because of Conants death.

I think thats probably a fair statement, he said. Weve always had people (volunteer) but not as many. Its every two years we go and do a blitz of AED, CPR training.

This is a medical emergency response, Harnish added. We also have regular, just general emergency trainings and events, such as building evacuation, fire, tornado, all those other types of general emergencies that you would find in any industrial setting. I guess the real focus for us is more on prevention than it is response, although response is important.

Sandy Schultz greets Joshua Conant's friends at Port Huron Lanes on Feb. 10. From left to right: David Hart, Austin Smith, Adam Shier.

How do Conant's loved ones feel about the city's response?

At nearly every City Council meeting since mid-November, at least a few people have approached the podium during public comment with concerns about the response and investigation surrounding Conants death.

Whether the Michigan Liquor Control Commission will renew the Roches expiring liquor license this spring remains unclear, and news of any potential charges from the state attorney generals office against subjects involved have yet to emerge several months after local law enforcement referred the investigation of the case to state agencies.

And on Monday, friends and family members of Conants said they remained dissatisfied with the response from the citys elected officials  even if they considered patrol car AEDs and the training, in part inspired by their loss, a positive step.

Its nice that they have AEDs in the cars now, but its not really solving any of our issues.  Were worried about Josh, said Conants friend David Hart. Were looking for other solutions to other issues  like Justice for Josh.' We just wanted charges filed, and we dont want that bar opening back up.

City Councilwoman Teri Lamb, left, assists Wendy Adams, who works in Port Huron's finance department, with placing a mask over manikin as part of CPR and AED training on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Multiple people have asked council to recommend the MLCC revoke the Roches licensing.

Conants uncle, Mark Sanderson, is among them. During last Mondays meeting, he said he felt they shouldve responded as the city did when steps were taken to successfully stymie license renewal for the former Military Street Music Cafe.

I think it was 2016. And the City Council got together, you had a public hearing, Sanderson said. You couldve done the same thing with the Roche Bar. Have a public hearing, let all the residents come in, actually have the (business owners) come in (and) speak to the residents, and they can plead their case why they should stay open.

Previously, City Manager James Freed told Justice for Josh supporters and council members he didnt think the Roche would escape the Nov. 4 tragedy without something happening to their liquor license.

However, since then, officials have said they too are waiting for the investigative and legal processes to be carried out, and MLCC representatives have said the agency does not comment on any existing or potential license investigations.

However, on Monday, Freed said the city had been advised not to take any action in objecting to the Roches license renewal.

Mark Sanderson talks about his late nephew, Joshua Conant, during a vigil for the 26-year-old on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

We would have to hold a quasi-trial here, he said. You would jeopardize the jury pool, compromising evidence. We talk about justice for Josh  I know this is hard  but we want to protect whatever prosecution the AGs office brings out.

On Friday, Freed released a legal memo delving further into the issue.

PH legal memo. by Jackie Smith on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Ahead of any attorney general decision, the Michigan State Police reported completing its investigation last month.

Adam Shier, also a friend of Conants, said, Obviously I dont feel like the city of Port Huron promoted violence, but when you leave a place like that open  youre not making it any easier.

With Pub Crawl slated for downtown this weekend, Shier and others have raised concerns over speculation whether the Roche would reopen in time, and Shier said he thought the potentiality was irresponsible. Owners have not been reachable or have not responded to attempts to seek comment.

There could be better steps to take that could prevent something like this from happening again," Shier said.

In addition to the Roche, loved ones and supporters have brought up other questions. Sanderson said he thought the police department should change its policy in investigating performance of its own officers. Another came from Kenockee Township resident Ron Medere.

Id like to have a better understanding of what is the handcuffing policy and the discretion in using it, Medere said Monday. As a former police officer myself, Im familiar with this. The two main factors usually are the circumstances of the arrest and the attitude and behavior of the person involved.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: 'You've got to learn': Inside the city's renewed focus on AED training
Russian President Vladimir Putin is "afraid of justice" and "must end up" at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his evening address on March 17.

"He is afraid of only one thing  justice, Zelensky said. "(Putin) must end up in The Hague. That is what we must ensure, everyone in the world who values life and integrity."

Zelensky's address comes as Russia held its third and last day of presidential elections, with the voting being far from free and fair. According to preliminary data, Putin gained 87% of the vote.

Putin, who has ruled Russia since 2000, is seeking a fifth term as president. The win will put him in power until 2030.

In 2020, however, Russia held a rigged vote to approve constitutional amendments allowing Putin to run for two more presidential terms after his current one expires in 2024.

The vote effectively made Putin a dictator for life.

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

Zelensky said Putin is "addicted to power and does everything he can to rule forever."

"There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections, and there can not be," Zelensky said.

"There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power. And there is no one in the world who is safe from this," he said.

"Everything Russia does in the occupied territory of Ukraine is a crime. There must be just retribution for everything the Russian murderers have done in this war and for the sake of Putin's lifelong power."

Earlier on March 16, several countries, including the U.K., the U.S., and Canada, issued public statements denouncing Russia for holding an illegal vote in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

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Recent successful Ukrainian drone strikes on targets in the Russian Federation demonstrate Russia's vulnerabilities and Ukraine's long-range capabilities, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on March 16.

Ukrainian forces struck multiple oil refineries in Russia this week, reaching targets in Samara, Ryazan, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts. The strikes follow recent successes downing Russian war planes and hitting the Black Sea Fleet.

"These weeks have demonstrated to many that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons," Zelensky said.

Zelensky has long said that improving Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities is critical. At the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17, Zelensky urged allies not to give Russia the upper hand by allowing Ukraine's "deficit" of long-range weapons grow.

While Kyiv continues to lobby Western allies for long-range missile systems, including German-made Taurus missiles and U.S. ATACMS, Ukraine has also been developing its own long-range weapons.

Ukraine's Beaver drone, an attack drone that can fly up to 800 kilometers, has reportedly struck numerous critical targets, including Russian missile storage facilities.

Zelensky thanked the Ukrainian military and defense-industrial complex for their achievements.

"What our own drones are capable of is a true Ukrainian long-range capability. Ukraine will now always have a strike force in the sky," he said.

The facilities hit by Ukrainian drones in the past days account for about 12% of Russias oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported. Profits from Russian oil continue to fund Russia's war against Ukraine.

Read also: Opinion: How many planes does Russia have?

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Colorado lawmakers have a bipartisan bill set to reintroduce North American wolverines to alpine areas.

The wolverine hasnt been seen living wild in the Colorado since the early 1900s, thanks to humans trapping and poisoning the animals.

Conservationists say bringing the wolverine back to the alpine habitat of Colorado will give the animals the best opportunity for long-term survival.

One hundred years ago, the North American wolverine was considered a nuisance to those trying to make their homes in the American West. The trapping, poisoning, and outright killing of the animal nearly wiped it from the United States altogetherthe efforts certainly erased the wolverine from Colorado.

Now, lawmakers and conservationists hope to bring it back to the state.

A bipartisan bill now under consideration by the Colorado legislature would authorize the reintroduction of the North American wolverine to the state under the direction of the parks and wildlife division.

Wolverines are one of the last species that historically called Colorado home that have yet to be restored, said Megan Mueller, conservation biologist for Rocky Mountain Wild, according to 9 News. Bringing wolverines back to Colorado is the best way to give them a chance to survive as the climate changes.

Under the proposal, the threatened speciesas listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in November under the Endangered Species Actwould be reintroduced to the high alpine habitats of Colorado, as the cold and snowy climate of the area could help the animal survive longer. With seven million suitable acres and the largest unoccupied habitat for wolverines in the lower 48 states, according to Rocky Mountain Wild, Colorado could give the animal a long-term home.

As the wolverine continues to risk depopulation in the U.S.having dropped to an estimated 400 total animals in the contiguous 48 statesproponents of the Colorado plan believe the state offers the opportunity to support approximately 100 animals, which would be a healthy boost for the population.

The last confirmed record of a Colorado-based wolverine is from 1919. The most recently confirmed wolverine in Colorado at all was a passerby in 2009. The male was believed to have traveled from the Tetons in Wyoming through central Colorado on his way to North Dakota. He was shot there.

Seeing a male wander across states isnt uncommonthe reintroduced populations in Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming have led to sightings of the animal in Oregon, Utah, and California. But proponents of the reintroduction plan say they need to relocate female wolverines into Colorado as well, because research shows that females tend not to travel far from their home area, especially if it requires crossing a highway.

But getting the wolverine back into Colorado still requires jumping over some hurdlesboth logistical and legal ones. For example, to make the reintroduction happen, crews would need to trap animals in Alaska and bring them to Colorado. And on the legal side, the proposed bill needed to have provisions that ensure ski areas, for example, can continue operating even if wolverines return, and that the parks and wildlife commission must adopt compensation rules for livestock loss caused by a wolverine. Making this all happen requires Colorado to classify the wolverine as a non-essential, experimental population.

Even if the bill passes the legislature, there could be years of haggling over the particulars of the plan before the wolverine makes an official return to Colorado. For now, though, the wolverine efforts are moving forward.

I think, Jake Ivan, a wildlife research scientist with Colorado parks and wildlife, told The Guardian, it gives us the best chance of restoring the population to Colorado.

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Today

A widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible this evening. Then cloudy skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Tonight

A widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible this evening. Then cloudy skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Tomorrow

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 71F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
New Delhi: The Noida police on Sunday arrested YouTuber Elvish Yadav. The Big Boss OTT 2 winner will be presented in the Court today. According to the latest reports, the Uttar Pradesh police arrested Yadav after not getting any satisfactory answers from him during the interrogation.

Snake Venom Found In Samples From Rave Party

Earlier last month, the presence of snake venom in the samples of Elvish's party created big trouble for the YouTuber. The samples collected from the rave party held in Noida and sent to the lab in Jaipur for testing. After that, the FSL report of the sample arrived and confirmed the presence of snake venom of the Cobra Krait species. He was summoned and called for questioning.

According to reports, Yadav was reportedly taken into custody following a brief interrogation. In a sting operation last year by Maneka Gandhi's People for Animals in Noida's Sector 51, six peopleincluding YouTuber Elvish Yadavwere accused of supplying snake venom for a party. They were charged under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and Section 120A of the Indian Penal Code (criminal conspiracy).
New Delhi: Ahmedabad police on Sunday arrested two accused in connection with the Gujarat University Hostel incident. An FIR was registered on Saturday after students hailing from different foreign countries were assaulted allegedly by a group of persons in the Gujarat University hostel in Ahmedabad for offering namaz there.

Speaking to ANI, Zone 7 DCP Tarun Duggal said that the FIR was registered against a group of 20-25 people and 9 teams were formed to nab the accused. Two of the accused who have been arrested by the Ahmedabad crime branch are Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel.

"In the incident that took place in the Gujarat University yesterday at 10.30 pm, an FIR was registered against a group of 20-25 people. Nine teams were formed to nab the accused... Two of those accused have been arrested, Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel... Search operations to arrest the remaining accused are underway," said DCP Duggal.

On Saturday, a group of unidentified 20-25 people allegedly attacked a group of foreign students, pelted stones and vandalised hostel rooms in the hostel premises of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad while they were offering Namaz.

Describing details of the incident, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police, GS Malik, said that around 300 foreign students study at Gujarat University and around 75 foreign students stay in A Block of Hostel.

"Yesterday, at around 10:30 pm a group of students were offering Namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz here & should instead read it in the Masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside," he said.

Two students  one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan  were hospitalised after the incident which took place in the A-block hostel on Saturday night, the police said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)said is in touch with the Gujarat government over the incident of an alleged mob attack on some foreign students of Gujarat University when they were offering Namaz in the university hostel.

The state government is taking strict action against the perpetrators and two foreign students were injured in the clash, MEA said in a post on X.

"An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. The state government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. MEA is in touch with the Gujarat Government," MEA official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
The Election Commission of India has announced the Lok Sabha poll dates for 2024. The voting for the 543 constituencies will be held in seven phases starting April 19. In Phase-I on April 19, 102 Parliamentary seats will go to the polls while in Phase-2 on April 26, 89 constituencies will go to the polls. The third phase of General elections will be held on May 7 for 94 constituencies. A total of 96 Lok Sabha seats will go for polling in Phase 4 on May 13 while in the phase-5 on May 20, a total of 49 Lok Sabha seats will go to the polls. The sixth phase will be held on May 25 which will see polling on 57 constituencies. The seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on June 1 which will witness polling on 57 constituencies. The counting will be held on June 4.

However, when the ECI released a full schedule, a Zee News reporter found out that instead of 543 constituencies, the Election Commission's list had 544 constituencies. When the same question was asked to the CEC Rajiv Kumar, he said that one constituency in Manipur will go to the polls in two phases and thus due to the repetition of the name, the total added up to 544 instead of 543.

Manipur Lok Sabha Seats

Manipur is divided into two Lok Sabha constituencies: the Inner Manipur constituency, primarily encompassing the Meitei-majority valley areas, and the Outer Manipur constituency, designated for Scheduled Tribes and historically represented by alternating Naga and Kuki-Zomi candidates. Thus, accounting for the violence and displaced people, the ECI decided to hold the polls in the Outer Manipur constituencies in two phases.

"The Commission has reviewed the ground situation of Manipur and has noted that a large number of electors registered in different constituencies of Manipur were displaced from their native places during recent conflicts. They are now residing in Relief Camps in various districts of Manipur. The Commission, after due consultation with various stakeholders, has decided that special polling stations shall be set up at/near the camps where such electors, who opt for such facility, will be able to register their votes in EVMs. In this regard, a detailed scheme for internally displaced persons of Manipur to vote in relief camps has been issued by the Commission on 29th February 2024.

Assembly-Wise Voting For Outer Manipur

Assembly segments Heirok, Wangjing Tentha, Khangabok, Wabgai, Kakching, Hiyanglam, Sugnoo, Chandel (ST), Saikul (ST), Kangpokpi, Saitu (ST), Henglep (ST), Churachandpur (ST), Saikot (ST) and Singhat (ST), falling in the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seats, will vote in the first phase on April 19 while Jiribam, Tengnoupal (ST), Phungyar (ST), Ukhrul (ST), Chingai (ST), Karong (ST), Mao (ST), Tadubi (ST), Tamei (ST), Tamenglong (ST), Nungba (ST), Tipaimukh (ST) and Thanlon (ST) will vote in the second phase on April 26.

Manipur Violence Shadows Polls

As per an Indian Express report, informal estimates suggest that approximately 23,000-25,000 voters have been displaced within the state. The overall voter population in Manipur stands at 20.26 lakh. Following the ethnic clashes that erupted in the state on May 3 of the previous year, clear divisions have emerged between regions predominantly inhabited by the Kuki-Zomi and Meitei communities. Meiteis residing in areas dominated by the Kuki-Zomi have relocated to Meitei-majority regions in the valley districts of the state, while a reverse migration trend has been observed among Kuki-Zomis in Meitei-majority areas.
The Election Commission of India has announced the Lok Sabha poll dates for 2024 and the same will be held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting will be held on June 4. Lok Sabha polls for 25 seats and Assembly elections for 175 seats will be held simultaneously on May 13 while the counting of votes will take place on June 4. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP, which had bagged 151 Assembly and 22 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, is locked in a direct tough fight with the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance this time.

PM Modi In Andhra Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a five-day visit to South India, will attend a massive rally in the state being held by the NDA allies Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena. This will be the first time that the three leaders will share the stage together and appeal to the voters to choose NDA in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The TDP has already finalised a seat-sharing deal with the BJP and Jana Sena. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP will contest six, TDP 17 and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena two seats. Of the 175 assembly seats, TDP will contest 144 seats, the BJP 10 and the JSP 21 seats. Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Naidu said that today's Praja Galam public meeting near Chilakaluripet will be a big event as it will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Naidu's Dig At Ruling YSR Congress

After the poll date announcement, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu said that with the announcement of the poll schedule, the countdown has started for the YSR Congress Party government in Andhra Pradesh. He said May 13 would be a historic day and added that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy would be dethroned in 57 days. "Election will be held on May 13. In 57 days, we are sending the psycho home. The Election Commission announced dates and code of conduct will also apply. You people can celebrate and inform everyone about TDP. So many will come out now. People were afraid and did not come out before as YSRCP may cut pensions and may file cases against them. But now he cannot do anything. I welcome everyone to come and save the state," said Naidu.

Boost For BJP In Andhra

Ahead of the polls, a boost came for the BJP after former Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Kapu Ramachandra Reddy joined the saffron party in the presence of Andhra Pradesh BJP Chief Daggubati Purandeswari and General Secretary Vinodh Tawde. In January this year, Kapu Ramachandra Reddy announced quitting YSRCP after being denied a ticket to contest the next elections. While Tawde termed it his homecoming, state BJP chief Purandeswari said that people are inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principles and vision. She also said that the BJP will announce its candidate list for the state soon.

YSRCP Releases Candidate List

The YSR Congress Party has announced candidates for all 175 Assembly seats and 24 out of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. The ruling party has kept the announcement pending for only the Anakapalli Lok Sabha seat. YSRCP had bagged 151 Assembly and 22 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. Jagan Mohan Reddy will be seeking re-election from the Pulivendula Assembly constituency. Out of 200 seats (MLA plus MP), 50 per cent of seats (84 MLA, 16 MP) have been given to BC/SC/ST/Minority communities, the party said.
New Delhi: In the projection of India's growing maritime power, the Indian Navy executed a dramatic mid-sea operation ending a three-month hijacking of a bulk carrier with deployment of its warship INS Kolkata, long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, P-8I surveillance aircraft and airdropping of elite MARCOS commandos from a C-17 plane.

The Navy seized the former Maltese-flagged vessel, rescued 17 hostages and captured 35 armed pirates in the nearly 40-hour operation around 2,600 km from the Indian coast that experts say was the first such successful takeover of a cargo ship from the Somali pirates in the last around seven years.

The Navy said after it confirmed the presence of armed pirates onboard the vessel MV Ruen through a ship-launched drone, the drone was shot down by the pirates on March 15.

As the well-coordinated operation came amid rising concerns over safety of critical sea lanes, the Navy on Sunday asserted that it is resolved to "reinforce" peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and to thwart resurgence of piracy in the region.

It is learnt that Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar minutely monitored the operation.

"I congratulate the Indian Navy and the brave crew onboard the ships and aircraft, including MARCOs, for their determined & decisive actions," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on 'X'.

The @indiannavy continues to ensure safety and security of the Mariners in the Indian Ocean Region.



I congratulate the Indian Navy and the brave crew onboard the ships and aircraft, including MARCOs, for their determined & decisive actions. https://t.co/gDBFzISZVu  Rajnath Singh (  ) (@rajnathsingh) March 17, 2024

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy for the successful operation to rescue the hijacked vessel and crew members, including seven nationals of her country.

Responding to Gabriel's post on 'X', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, "That's what friends are for."

The merchant vessel Ruen was seized by the Somali pirates on December 14 off the coast of Somalia.

A brief video of the anti-piracy operation 'Sankalp' showed the pirates trying to use the hostages as human shields.

In a statement, the Navy said the seaworthiness of MV Ruen is being assessed and the vessel carrying approximately 37,800 tonnes of cargo worth around USD 1 million will be brought safely to India.

"The culmination of the ongoing anti-piracy operation involving pirate ship Ruen in the Southern Indian Ocean Region highlights the commitment of the Indian Navy towards reinforcing peace and stability, and also to thwart the resurgence of piracy in the region," it said.

The Navy deployed over 10 warships to keep a vigil over the strategic waterways following increasing attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi militants.

In the midst of rising global concerns over the Houthi attacks, the Indian Ocean saw rising incidents of piracy triggering concerns in many countries.

"INS Kolkata, mission-deployed in the Arabian Sea, through the sustained high tempo of operations lasting over 40 hours, has thwarted the designs of the Somali pirates to hijack ships transiting through the region by intercepting the pirate ship MV Ruen on March 16," the Navy said.

Sharing some aspects of the operation, the Navy said its warship INS Kolkata intercepted Ruen on Wednesday morning and confirmed the presence of armed pirates through a ship-launched drone.

"In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the drone and fired at the Indian Naval warship," it said, adding INS Kolkata disabled the vessel's steering system and navigational aids, forcing it to stop sailing.

Following this, the MARCOS commandos seized the vessel, captured the pirates and rescued the crew members of Ruen.

"INS Kolkata undertook precisely measured actions while maintaining her position close to the pirate ship and also engaged in forceful negotiations, which resulted in the pirates surrendering and releasing the pirate ship MV Ruen and its original crew present onboard," the Navy said.

"The efforts of the Indian Navy in the ongoing anti-piracy operation 1400 nautical miles (2600 km) from mainland India were augmented by the deployment of INS Subhadra in the area (on Saturday), and also by air-dropping of the marine commandos by C-17 aircraft in the same afternoon," it added.

It said the pirate vessel was kept under surveillance by high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

"Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over the last 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered," it said.

"All 17 original crew members of MV Ruen were also safely evacuated from the pirate vessel without any injury. The vessel has also been sanitised," it said.

Separately, the Indian Air Force described the airdropping of the Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and the MARCOS commandos as a "remarkable display" of "jointness" between the two forces.

"In a remarkable display of #Jointness & #Integration, an IAF C-17 aircraft executed a precision Airborne Drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats, along with Indian Navy MARCOS in Arabian Sea in support of ongoing anti piracy Op Sankalp," the IAF posted on 'X'.

"Flying for almost 10 hrs to an area 2600 kms off the Indian Coast, the Op was carried out to rescue crew of bulk carrier vessel MV Ruen. The ship was hijacked by Somali pirates near Yemeni island of Socotra recently," it said.

The Navy said it remains steadfast in performing its role as the 'First Responder' in the Indian Ocean Region.
New Delhi: Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan on Sunday said that NDA will come to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will assume his post again for the third time. Addressing a massive rally at Palnadu in the state of Andhra Pradesh Kalyan hailed PM Modi's leadership and said that the country is growing under his government.

"In 2024, with the blessings of Vijayawada's goddess Kanaka Durga Devi, the NDA will form the government. Under PM Modi's leadership, the country is growing," said Pawan Kalyan.

Actor-turned-politician slammed the YSRCP and said that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is not interested in digitalization and has made the state the new drug capital of the country.

"Modi has introduced digital payments. However, YSRCP is not interested in digital payments. Jagan is a businessman who has looted sand and earned money through liquor. Once again, PM Modi will assume power thrice. Andhra Pradesh has become the capital of ganja in the country. Andhrapradesh turned into the new drug capital of the country," added JSP leader.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a five-day visit to southern India attended the massive rally in the state being held by the NDA allies Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena.

This is the first time that the three leaders are sharing the stage and appealing to the voters to choose NDA in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The TDP has already finalised a seat-sharing deal with the BJP and Jana Sena. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP will contest six, TDP 17 and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena two seats. Of the 175 assembly seats, TDP will contest 144 seats, the BJP 10 and the JSP 21 seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a cabinet session on Sunday to develop plans outlining the objectives for the initial 100-days and the subsequent five years of the new government. He urged the Union Ministers to engage with secretaries and other officials within their ministries to enhance the execution of these agendas. The meeting took place a day after the Election Commission has announced the dates for the Lok Sabha Elections. The Cabinet began the process of notifying the dates for the seven-phase parliamentary elections by forwarding the Election Commission's recommendation to President Droupadi Murmu.

PM Modi and his council of ministers had also assembled on March 3 to deliberate on the intricate plan for India's progression into a developed nation by 2047. The comprehensive strategy was titled "Viksit Bharat 2047" and was formulated through a holistic approach involving all ministries. Five ministers from the Modi-led government delivered presentations during the meeting. The planning engaged in thorough discussions with state governments, academia, industry associations, civil society, scientific institutions, and involved active involvement of young people. This comprehensive process comprised over 2,700 meetings held over two years, along with workshops and seminars conducted at different levels, gathering input from over 2 million youths.

The plan sets objectives across various domains such as economic expansion, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enhancing quality of life, facilitating business operations, bolstering infrastructure, and promoting social welfare. Reports indicate that Viksit Bharat endeavors to establish India as a leading global economic entity, emphasizing sustainable development and enhancing citizens' overall well-being. The roadmap delineates precise tactics to tackle major hurdles and capitalize on opportunities across diverse sectors.
New Delhi: Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded on Sunday. The Yatra which began in Manipur ended in Mumbai with Rahul Gandhi addressing a huge rally and the INDIA bloc posing for a show of strength.

During his address in Mumbai, the Waynad MP launched a scathing attack on the ruling party and said that the BJP cannot win the elections without EVM and central agencies like ED, CBI and the Income Tax department.

Addressing the rally at Mumbais Shivaji Park Congress leader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wont be able to win the Lok Sabha elections without "EVMs, ED, CBI and Income Tax".

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: At the conclusion ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "There is a word 'Shakti' in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti. The soul of the King is in the EVM. This pic.twitter.com/lL9h9W0sRf March 17, 2024

Rahul claimed Modi cant win elections "without EVMs (electronic voting machines)". We asked the Election Commission of India to count the VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) also. But our demand hasn't been accepted," he added.

He further alleged that several leaders including those from Congress are joining BJP because they do not have the strength to fight its "Shakti" (power) and are frightened.

He said that a senior Congress leader from Maharashtra who recently joined BJP cried in front of Sonia Gandhi and said that he could not the "Shakti."

"He cried in front of my mother Sonia Gandhi, saying he felt ashamed that he could not fight this power any more and didnt want to go to jail," said Rahul Gandhi.

Our fight against Modi is not on a personal level. Modi is a mask who works for a shakti (power). He is a shallow man who doesnt have a 56-inch chest, Gandhi said further attacking PM Modi.
Israeli troops continued operations in the central Gaza Strip, where over the past day approximately 18 terrorists were killed by sniper, shell, and aerial fire, the Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday morning.

ITYIn addition, ground forces identified three terrorists entering a Hamas compound. Israeli aircraft eliminated the threat and struck the terrorist cell as they exited. Within a couple of minutes, a terrorist exiting another Hamas compound near the troops was hit by an airstrike.

In Khan Yunis, soldiers identified two terrorists loading military equipment on a motorcycle. Israeli aircraft eliminated the terrorists and two others who were advancing toward the troops

In a joint ground and Air Force activity, a military compound from which an anti-tank missile was fired at IDF troops was struck, as well as a terrorist operating adjacent to the forces.

Soldiers also seized weapons in Khan Yunis.

Khan Yunis is Gaza's second largest city and regarded as a personal stronghold of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.



On the northern front, Israeli fighter jets struck a Hezbollah observation post in the Southern Lebanon area of Kfarkela on Saturday night. Also overnight, several launches were identified from Lebanon toward the areas of Ghajar and Har Dov. The IDF struck the sources of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli artillery struck an unspecified threat near the Southern Lebanese village of Maisat, on the border of the Golan Heights.

Earlier on Saturday, Israeli fighter jets struck a Hezbollah military compound in Southern Lebanon in the area of Khiam in response to rocket fire towards the Israeli city of Akko.

At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the remaining 134 hostages, Israel recently declared 31 of them dead.
Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP); co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group, and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies, and is featured on the podcast, Never Again.
The new approach to poetry that emerged between 1900 and 1920 sought to put aside the sentimentality and strict obedience to established forms that had characterized the Victorian poets of preceding decades. Many poets in both the United States and Europe had begun to experiment with free verse  poetry that does not adhere to set standards of rhyme or rhythm  and several magazines were founded in order to publish this new poetry. It was not until 1912, however, that the first real school of new poetry emerged from the chaos of experimentation .



With only a handful of adherents, but access to the editorial department of a key American literary magazine, Ezra Pound created and sustained Imagism by mere declaration. Pound, an American poet living in London, had at first open lines of communication with a small group of English poets who combined deep appreciation for Japanese verse forms, such as haiku, with experiments in free verse.



Although Pound was briefly aligned with this group, he soon found greater artistic affinity with Richard Aldington, a fledgling English poet, and Hilda Doolittle, who signed her poems H.D. One of H.D.s first poems, Hermes of the Ways, so delighted Pound with its crystal clear images and lack of ornamentation that he assigned her the penname H.D., Imagist and sent the poem immediately to the U.S. for publication in the magazine Poetry, for which he was serving as foreign editor.



In a later issue of Poetry, Pound articulated the guiding principles of Imagism, stressing that poets should treat objects directly, use no words that do not contribute to the presentation, and write according to the rhythm of the words rather than an accepted poetic form. In addition to his work with literary periodicals, Pound also edited an anthology of Imagist poems in 1914. Ironically, however, his insistence that no explanation of the Imagist movement be offered in the anthology backfired; readers did not understand that Pound and his Imagists were experimenting with a new form of poetry, and many of the anthologies were returned to the publisher.





(a) convince the reader of the significance of a literary figure

(b) explain the failure of an experimental type of poetry

(c) trace the development of a literary movement

(d) debate the merits of traditional forms of poetry

(e) introduce important contributors to a literary movement

Show Spoiler C



2. EACH of the following is cited in the passage as a goal of Imagism EXCEPT



(a) Challenge accepted standards for poetry

(b) Promote new and talented poets

(c) Concentrate on objects over ornate speech

(d) Experiment with free verse

(e) Praise Japanese verse forms

Show Spoiler E



3. The bolded passage most clearly implies which of the following about new poetry movements before 1912?



(a) Although many poets had begun to experiment independently with free verse, there were no clearly defined movements before Imagism.

(b) Movements adhered strictly to the established forms that had characterized Victorian poets.

(c) Although many poets had begun to experiment with free verse, none was successful enough to achieve lasting recognition.

(d) The sheer number of new poetry movements in the United States and Europe created chaos.

(e) Many movements founded magazines in which to publish their experiments with free verse.

Show Spoiler A



4. Which of the following, if added to the end of the last paragraph, forms the best conclusion to the passage?



(a) Because of this misunderstanding, Imagism failed to gain the recognition as a valid literary movement that it needed to survive.

(b) Despite this setback, however, Pounds articulation of the principles of Imagism had succeeded in presenting a viable alternative to traditional forms, and modern poetry set off in a new direction.

(c) Angered by this rejection, Pound adjusted his ambitions for Imagism and began encouraging fellow poets to write according to the rhythm of words, rather than accepted forms.

(d) On the other hand, even though most of the public did not understand the goals of Imagism, Pounds anthology sold several thousand copies.

(e) Additionally, several readers wrote letters to the editors of the magazine criticizing Pound and the Imagists for slavishly imitating traditional poetic forms.

Show Spoiler B



5. Which of the following is cited in the passage as a historical reason that Ezra Pound could play such a decisive role in the development of Imagism?



(a) He clearly defined the principles of Imagism in the pages of an influential literary magazine.

(b) He himself was a successful poet and was able to help others follow his lead.

(c) He was delighted by HDs use of images and lack of ornamentation.

(d) He was the foreign editor for an important American poetry magazine.

(e) He capitalized on an emerging taste for free verse in the United States and Europe.

Show Spoiler D 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to(a) convince the reader of the significance of a literary figure(b) explain the failure of an experimental type of poetry(c) trace the development of a literary movement(d) debate the merits of traditional forms of poetry(e) introduce important contributors to a literary movement2. EACH of the following is cited in the passage as a goal of Imagism EXCEPT(a) Challenge accepted standards for poetry(b) Promote new and talented poets(c) Concentrate on objects over ornate speech(d) Experiment with free verse(e) Praise Japanese verse forms3. The bolded passage most clearly implies which of the following about new poetry movements before 1912?(a) Although many poets had begun to experiment independently with free verse, there were no clearly defined movements before Imagism.(b) Movements adhered strictly to the established forms that had characterized Victorian poets.(c) Although many poets had begun to experiment with free verse, none was successful enough to achieve lasting recognition.(d) The sheer number of new poetry movements in the United States and Europe created chaos.(e) Many movements founded magazines in which to publish their experiments with free verse.4. Which of the following, if added to the end of the last paragraph, forms the best conclusion to the passage?(a) Because of this misunderstanding, Imagism failed to gain the recognition as a valid literary movement that it needed to survive.(b) Despite this setback, however, Pounds articulation of the principles of Imagism had succeeded in presenting a viable alternative to traditional forms, and modern poetry set off in a new direction.(c) Angered by this rejection, Pound adjusted his ambitions for Imagism and began encouraging fellow poets to write according to the rhythm of words, rather than accepted forms.(d) On the other hand, even though most of the public did not understand the goals of Imagism, Pounds anthology sold several thousand copies.(e) Additionally, several readers wrote letters to the editors of the magazine criticizing Pound and the Imagists for slavishly imitating traditional poetic forms.5. Which of the following is cited in the passage as a historical reason that Ezra Pound could play such a decisive role in the development of Imagism?(a) He clearly defined the principles of Imagism in the pages of an influential literary magazine.(b) He himself was a successful poet and was able to help others follow his lead.(c) He was delighted by HDs use of images and lack of ornamentation.(d) He was the foreign editor for an important American poetry magazine.(e) He capitalized on an emerging taste for free verse in the United States and Europe.
souvik101990 wrote:

Official Solution:



The existence of West Berlin, a conspicuously capitalist city deep within communist East Germany, "stuck like a bone in the Soviet throat," as Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev put it. The Russians began maneuvering to drive the United States, Britain and France out of the city for good. In 1948, a Soviet blockade of West Berlin aimed to starve the western Allies out of the city. Instead of retreating, however, the United States and its allies supplied their sectors of the city from the air. This effort, known as the Berlin Airlift, lasted for more than a year and delivered more than 2.3 million tons of food, fuel and other goods to West Berlin. The Soviets called off the blockade in 1949. After a decade of relative calm, tensions flared again in 1958. For the next three years, the Soviets emboldened by the successful launch of the Sputnik satellite the year before and embarrassed by the seemingly endless flow of refugees from east to west (nearly 3 million in the decade since the end of the blockade, many of them young skilled workers such as doctors, teachers and engineers) blustered and made threats, while the Allies resisted. Summits, conferences and other negotiations came and went without resolution. Meanwhile, the flood of refugees continued. In June 1961, some 19,000 people left the GDR through Berlin. The following month, 30,000 fled. In the first 11 days of August, 16,000 East Germans crossed the border into West Berlin, and on August 12 some 2,400 followed the largest number of defectors ever to leave East Germany in a single day.



The author would most likely agree with which of the following?



A. The Berlin Airlift ensured a decade of relative calm from 1949 to 1958

B. The Soviets were embarrassed because despite their technological successes, people were fleeting in large numbers

C. East Germans were emboldened to leave for the West in large numbers because there were no significant blockades

D. The decade following the blockade was calm because of technological innovations by the Soviets

E. The majority of defectors who left East Germany in the decade after the blockade were young skilled workers



For the next three years, the Soviets-emboldened by the successful launch of the Sputnik satellite the year before and embarrassed by the seemingly endless flow of refugees from east to west (nearly 3 million in the decade since the end of the blockade, many of them young skilled workers such as doctors, teachers and engineers)-blustered and made threats, while the Allies resisted The passage infers that the numbers in which people were fleeing were embarrassing to the Soviets despite their continuous innovation in science and technology.



Answer: B

Can anyone explain the causal relationship between technological success and people fleeing in large numbers? It is difficult to infer the causal relationship. However it can be correctly inferred that both these events happened and had an effect on the Soviets.
CHICAGO  Prosecutors in Chicago have accused a man of stabbing his ex-girlfriend's 11-year-old son to death.

Prosecutors announced on Friday that the 37-year-old man had been charged with murder, attempted murder, home invasion and armed robbery in connection with the attack, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Prosecutors alleged during a court hearing that the man forced his way into his ex-girlfriend's apartment Wednesday morning and stabbed her and her 11-year-old son Jaydone Perkins before fleeing. The boy was pronounced dead at a hospital. The Chicago Tribune reported that the woman, who is four months pregnant, is expected to survive. Her unborn child also is expected to survive.

The man had been released from prison on parole Tuesday. He had been sentenced to 16 years in connection with a 2015 attack on another ex-girlfriend.

He had been paroled in October. He allegedly texted a threat to Perkins' mother in January and later showed up at her apartment. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board sent him back to prison but he was released Tuesday after determining there wasn't sufficient evidence to support the allegations, according to a statement from the board.

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said prosecutors were still investigating whether a protection order that Perkins' mother took out against the man was in effect the day of the attack.
Sunday, March 17

A Griefshare program will be hosted by Cold Springs Global Methodist Sundays through April 21 from 3:30-5 p.m. for those dealing with life stresses following the loss of a loved one. For more information and to register go to griefshare.org/findagroup or call the church office at 704-782-1811.

The Piedmont Community Band will perform "Seasons of Love" at 4 p.m. at the Hickory Ridge High School Auditorium. Admission is free. Donations are graciously accepted. The concert includes songs about love including, Besame Mucho, Tango Corazon, Seasons of Love, along with a few surprises. Also, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day the band will perform A Longford Legend, a collection of Irish Street Ballades.

Monday, March 18

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner.

Tuesday, March 19

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Wednesday, March 20

The Sportscenter weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Drive, NE, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye.

Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or call the church office at 704-782-6923.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave., SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome.

Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church will be holding a Hot Dog Sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury Concord Road, Kannapolis. For more information, call 704-933-0155.

Thursday, March 21

Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is at 1030 Burrage Road, NE, Concord. Credit cards accepted. For deliveries, call 704-786-5500.

Pancake Day at the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County will be held at the club on Spring Street in Concord from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p..m. Tickets are $9 and can be purchased online at www.bgclubcab.org, at the club weekedays or at the door.

Friday, March 22

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

18th Annual BBQ at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., eat-in or takeout, $12 a plate or three sandwiches for $12. David Childers entertaining at noon and 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 23

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St., S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785.

A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763.

The United Methodist Men and the United Women in Faith will be sponsoring a hot dog sale at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Delicious homemade desserts will also be available for $2 a slice.The church is located at 301 Mt. Olivet Road, Concord.

Sunday, March 24

A Griefshare program will be hosted by Cold Springs Global Methodist Sundays through April 21 from 3:30-5 p.m. for those dealing with life stresses following the loss of a loved one. For more information and to register go to griefshare.org/findagroup or call the church office at 704-782-1811.

Palm Sunday Worship at Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church will be at 11 a.m. A covered dish meal and Easter Egg Hunt will follow. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Monday, March 25

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner.

Tuesday, March 26

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Wednesday, March 27

The Sportscenter weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Drive, NE, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye.

Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or call the church office at 704-782-6923.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Thursday, March 28

Maundy Thursday Service observed at 7 p.m. at Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church. Good Friday Service will be held on March 29 at 7 p.m. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Maundy Thursday Worship at Calvary Lutheran Church will be at 7 p.m. The church is located at 950 Bradley St., Concord.

Grace Church of Concord - A Global Methodist Community will have Maundy Thursday Service at 6 p.m. at the Grace Church Worship Center. Maundy Thursday Service  Upper Room Communion will be served to tables of twelve. The church is located at 28-B Branchview Dr. NE, Concord.

Friday, March 29

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Good Friday Prayer Vigil for quiet prayer in the sanctuary will be from noon  5 p.m. Devotionals provided. Calvary Lutheran Church is at 950 Bradley St., Concord.

Good Friday Tenebrae Worship at Calvary Lutheran Church will be held at 7:45 p.m. All are welcome to join us for this powerful service. Calvary Lutheran Church is at 950 Bradley St., Concord.

Grace Church of Concord - A Global Methodist Community will observe Good Friday at 6 p.m. Good Friday Service will be held at the barn at Green Leaf Farms. Pastor Mikes message will be The Old Rugged Cross based on Luke 23:32-49.

Saturday, March 30

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St., S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785.

A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763.

Sunday, March 31

Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church Sunrise Service will be observed at 7 a.m. Breakfast will be provided following the Sunrise Service. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Monday, April 1

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner.

Tuesday, April 2

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Wednesday, April 3

The Sportscenter weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Drive, NE, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye.

Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or call the church office at 704-782-6923.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave., SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome.

Thursday, April 4

Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is at 1030 Burrage Road, NE, Concord. Credit cards accepted. For deliveries, call 704-786-5500.

Friday, April 5

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 6

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St., S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785.

A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763.

Sunday, April 7

A Griefshare program will be hosted by Cold Springs Global Methodist Sundays through April 21 from 3:30-5 p.m. for those dealing with life stresses following the loss of a loved one. For more information and to register go to griefshare.org/findagroup or call the church office at 704-782-1811.

Does your community group or nonprofit agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to the public? Email it to mplemmons@independenttribune.com.
NASHVILLE, TN  The following students achieved the Deans List at Belmont University for the Fall 2023 semester. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours (exclusive of audit and pass/fail courses this semester) and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C (inclusive of audit, pass/fail courses and zero-credit courses).
About a quarter of Americans  85 million of us  are bracing for seasonal allergies. And the results can be exhausting and debilitating. Constant sneezing, hacking coughs, watery, itchy eyes and interrupted sleep.

Kevin Smallman, advanced practice provider at Novant Health-GoHealth Urgent Care says early-season spring allergies are often caused by pollen from trees, such as oak, elm, birch, poplar or maple. Summer may also bring new reactions to grasses and other plants.

Smallman says there are plenty of ways to mitigate your allergies  even before symptoms show up:

1) Fighting symptoms before they start: Allergies are caused when your body mistakes pollen for a threat. A mass of immune cells come to the rescue, causing an inflammatory response. You can keep inflammation at bay by starting some medicines before allergy season. Corticosteroid nasal sprays and antihistamines can be found over the counter or may be prescribed by your health care provider. Some medications can take several weeks or a month to reach their full effectiveness, so someone who often suffers from allergies to tree pollen in mid-April might start taking preventive allergy medicine in March.

Decongestants can offer some relief, but some decongestant pills can be a bad choice for people with high blood pressure or heart problems. Likewise, decongestant sprays such as oxymetazoline may help for a few days but could make congestion worse with longer use.

Talk to your health care provider about the most effective medicines and pretreatment strategies for your specific situation.

2) Managing your exposure outside: Keep an eye on an air quality indicator to check on daily pollen loads in our area. Minimize outdoor time early in the morning and on windy days when pollen counts tend to peak. In the car, keep windows up and air conditioning set to recirculate filtered air, rather than bringing in pollen from the outdoors. If youre doing yard work, wear a face mask. This is not a good time to dry laundry outdoors, as windblown pollen can settle on your clothes.

3) Controlling the environment inside: At home, keep windows shut and use the air conditioner, making sure filters and vents are clean. Indoor air filters and vacuum cleaners with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters can remove pollen particles that sneak inside. Take off shoes at the front door to avoid tracking pollen inside and wipe down your pets paws and coats. Consider taking a shower before bed to wash away pollen and avoid contaminating your pillow. And what if pollen has you sneezing? A saline rinse with a nasal irrigation device such as a neti pot can help rinse your nose out.

4) Going further with a formal diagnosis: If allergies are affecting your quality of life, a health care provider can advise you on pretreatment strategies and medication, as well as initiate testing to help you pinpoint your allergy triggers. A diagnosis can help patients pursue long-term strategies such as allergy shots or sublingual (under the tongue) allergy tablets, which desensitize the immune system by exposing it to very small amounts of the allergen. Typically, patients receive weekly shots for several months, followed by a maintenance phase of monthly shots that can last for three to five years. About 85% of patients experience relief.

While there is no permanent cure for allergies, a health care provider can help you find effective strategies to cut suffering. Novant Health-GoHealth Urgent Care providers are available to help without an appointment.
Here are some upcoming events at Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church.

Hot Dog Sale

Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church will be holding a Hot Dog Sale on Wednesday, March 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury Concord Road, Kannapolis. For more information, call 704-933-0155.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday Worship at Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church will be March 24 at 11 a.m. A covered dish meal and Easter Egg Hunt will follow. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Services to be held

Maundy Thursday Service observed on March 28 at 7 p.m. at Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church. Good Friday Service will be held on March 29 at 7 p.m. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Easter Sunrise Service

Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church Sunrise Service will be observed March 31st at 7 a.m. Breakfast will be provided following the Sunrise Service. The church is located at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.
Many farmers have been looking to plant soybeans earlier in recent years.

Iowa State University Extension cropping systems specialist Mark Licht said they are looking to capture maximum yield potential, or in some cases experimenting to see what works best.

Research has shown soybeans can be planted earlier than previously thought  in mid-April  although planting early has its risks, he said. The key is evaluating soil conditions and temperatures, as well as the forecast, rather than getting caught up on any one date.

Some farmers are even testing March planting on a small-scale basis.

"In some respects, farmers are moving up planting dates maybe a little bit before the science would support it, planting soybeans in March," Licht said. "We know that farmers are experimenting with earlier planting dates. Those March planting dates just arent supported by the science.

"We know theyre going to sit in the ground for 30 to 60 days, and thats just not good."

But for many farmers, earlier soybean planting means moving from early May to mid-April or late April, as conditions allow. Licht noted that, ahead of last growing season, the USDA adjusted crop insurance dates for when farmers could plant soybeans and remain eligible for replant coverage.

"Planting early  Ill call that in the April 10-15 range  can work," he said.

In Illinois, the earliest planting dates are April 5 and April 15 for the southern and northern parts of the state, respectively, and April 10 for the central region that includes McLean, Livingston and Woodford counties.

University of Illinois ag economist Scott Irwin said there has been a trend toward earlier planting of soybeans in the U.S., particularly in the South.

Some studies in recent decades have illustrated that soybeans can be planted earlier and still have strong yield potential, he said.

The hopes for early soybean planting are faster canopy, more plant nodes, high pod retention, and of course higher yields. Licht said this is possible, although soybeans are just as susceptible to cold injury as corn, so farmers should be cautious about putting soybean seeds in cold, wet soils.

The arrival of spring and warm conditions could encompass a wide range of possibilities. "Im not really a proponent of focusing on a planting date just because it varies from year to year," he said.

Instead, Licht said he looks for soil temperatures at 2 inches to reach at least 50 degrees and ideally be rising when soybeans are planted.

Looking at the weather forecast for the next 24 to 72 hours is important as well, he said. Farmers should try to have good soil moisture levels  enough moisture to germinate but not so much that planting a field can cause compaction issues.

Likewise, Irwin said the ideal planting date varies by location.

"There is not complete agreement on the optimum planting window for maximizing soybean yields or the date when late planting begins to impose a substantial yield penalty," he said. "Both the optimum window and the cutoff date for a significant late planting penalty certainly varies by geographic location."

Licht said in his area, yield potential stays fairly good through mid-May before it begins to decline.

"May 15-20 is kind of that cutoff for both corn and soybeans," he said. "After that 15th to 20th (range) you tend to lose yield potential."

He said planting in late April and early May usually works well, then the drop-offs when planting gets delayed into June "tend to be significant." Many farmers have no doubt raised good soybean crops planted in June, and later-planted crops can be better than early depending on the year, but Licht said the overall data points to timely planting producing the best results most often.

Irwin said the general data shows late soybean planting has a small negative impact on yield potential, but other factors are typically more important in explaining deviations from the yield trend.

There are years when soybean planting is delayed and yields end up very good, he said, but other years with early and timely planting that saw poor yields, such as 2012 when crops faced severe drought.

"This does not mean late planting should be ignored when projecting soybean yield, but rather, other factors, in particular summer weather, are typically more important in explaining deviations from trend yield," Irwin said.

If all crops can be planted by May 20, Licht said, the timing of planting corn or soybeans first is not significant.

But if things get tight, it can be a good idea to prioritize corn, he said. The crop is hurt more by late planting than soybeans. "Corn yield potential drops off pretty quickly, and it drops off faster than soybeans."

Irwin said soybeans do have a fairly wide window to be planted with an expectation of "normal" yields, with early April through early May generally representing the peak of that window. He said the yield penalty on average increases sharply for planting past mid-May, with expected yield reductions as large as 20 to 30%.

While more farmers have been looking at planting soybeans earlier, growing seasons have gotten slightly longer in recent decades based on dates of the last frost in the spring and the first frost in the fall.

Despite having more time, Licht said farmers still look to get crops planted as early as possible to get the crops up and growing, and also try to avoid the threat of prevent plant acres.

Prevented planting is a provision of crop insurance that compensates farmers for pre-planting costs associated with a crop that the farmer did not plant with the proper equipment by the final planting date designated in the insurance policy.

Some farmers have adjusted to longer growing seasons in other ways, however, such as selecting different soybean varieties to "take advantage of the late falls that weve seen," Licht said.
Kathryn Jordan waited five long years to lay eyes on the man who ran over her husband Robert and left him for dead in the middle of Reynolda Road.

And when it finally arrived and she was afforded an opportunity to speak to the judge who would sentence Gregory Lucas Jr. for felony hit and run causing serious injury and three separate felony counts of failure to appear, she did not mince words.

Its so hard to be here and see the man who did this to our family, Jordan told Judge Alyson Grine. Robert taught himself to read Greek and Latin so he could read the original text of the Bible. I change his diaper now. 

There is no penalty strict enough for what he has done to our family.

No theres not.

Robert Jordan suffered a traumatic brain injury and requires around the clock care. He had to close his small business, and medical bills running to tens of thousands of dollars continue to accumulate.

Grine sentenced Lucas to 20 to 33 months in prison, the most she could for the hit and run charge.

But thanks to an outrageous shortcoming in state statutes, hell likely not serve a single minute for ducking the law while living his life in plain sight and showcasing it on social media.

For what has happened here, the law is insufficient, prosecutor James Dornfried told the judge. But I know the courts hands are tied.

A long nightmare

The familys worst nightmare started March 25, 2019, when Robert, a cyclist who often rode his bike back and forth to the dance studio he owned, was struck by a car.

The driver, identified as Lucas the very next morning by Winston-Salem police, fled the scene.

At the time, Lucas was free on bond for a pending DWI charge in Wake County; only he and his God know whether he bothered to see if Jordan was alive.

A warrant charging Lucas with felony hit-and-run was authorized. But before it could be served, he skipped town.

By sheer dumb luck, Lucas was arrested five months later in Raleigh. He spent three days in jail in July 2019 before walking out on a $10,000 bond that was set despite a small mountain of evidence which shows him to be a flight risk.

According to records in Wake County, Lucas failed to show three times after being charged in an unrelated case with DWI, resisting arrest and marijuana charges.

(His blood-alcohol level, for anyone keeping score, clocked in at three times the legal limit.)

So when he failed to show for court in the fall of 2019, no one  neither police who made the case nor prosecutors tasked with shepherding it through the system  could truthfully say they were surprised.

Nor could they have been shocked when he did it again in January 2020. He was arrested in Wake County, and once again, given a laughably low bond that enabled him to hit the street the same day he was picked up.

And when the hit-and-run case was called in Forsyth County, he was nowhere to be found.

No wonder Kathryn Jordan was angry.

Lucas was arrested once more in June 2023. That time a judge set an unattainable $100,000 bond which guaranteed his appearance.

After a few more delays  routine this time Lucas came to court Wednesday to plead guilty, face punishment and be forced to hear from Robert Jordans family.

We have been in prison ourselves for five years  people stop for a frog. People stop for a squirrel, Kathryn Jordan said. He sped off and left my husband to die.

Sentence is inadequate

Though Dornfried had explained the legal shortcomings, it was nonetheless difficult to hear it discussed in open court.

Lucas, despite pleading guilty, was eligible only for community punishment  probation and parole  and automatically suspended sentences that carry 6 months to 17 months in prison only enforceable if he screws up after his release.

And the Jordan family heard defense attorney Chris Ward emphasize that fact in his presentation as he noted that Lucas was accepting responsibility and had a good record working at the jail canteen.

Thats not Wards fault. Hes required to represent his client as best he can. Defending the inexcusable isnt easy  even if it is your job.

He sounded almost apologetic when offering Lucas stated (and lame) story about an incorrect address on his court paperwork  a logistical issue.

I say that as an explanation (not an excuse,) Ward said.

The Jordans also had to listen to Lucas apologize. Sort of.

I take full responsibility. I do, he said. I cant take anything back. I wish I could.

But instead of stopping there, he mentioned more than once that he and his family had suffered, too.

Not suffering in the sense that anyone required around-the-clock medical care for a traumatic brain injury.

Rather, his pain was caused because he had to do brake jobs in the yard of the place where he was hiding from the law to earn money.

Hearing that prompted a reaction from the Jordan family and earned them a stern rebuke from the judge about not speaking directly to Lucas.

And that was after having to hear he wouldnt do active time for skipping court. All suffering is not created equal

It has been a nightmare, Kathryn Jordan said. I can never forgive Mr. Lucas. A real human being would have stopped.

In the hallway outside court once it had ended, the normally even-keeled Dornfried showed a flash of anger while speaking for the family and sharing in their frustration.

(The sentence) is inadequate, he said. Maybe the Legislature needs to look at this. Its not just the victims; its their families, too. The punishment doesnt fit the crime.
Sunday is St. Patrick's Day, so here's a little history of the holiday.

St. Patrick's Day has been observed for more than 1,000 years, according to History.com. Patrick was born in Britain in the fifth century, when it was under Roman rule. When he was 16 years old, he was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave.

He escaped but returned in 432 A.D. to bring Christianity to Ireland, according to Britannica.com. He started churches, schools and monasteries. There are also many legends associated with Patrick. One of the best known is that he drove the snakes out of Ireland.

According to the legend, Patrick was preaching a sermon that caused the snakes to slither into the sea, said History.com. But scholars say that the snakes in the legend are actually a metaphor for pagan rituals.

St. Patrick's Day commemorates Patrick's death, believed to be March 17, 461. The Irish began observing the Feast Day of St. Patrick on March 17 in about the ninth or 10th century.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade wasn't held in Ireland, but in the Spanish colony of St. Augustine in present day Florida. The colony had an Irish priest.

In 1772, Irish troops serving in the British army in New York City had a parade to honor St. Patrick, and the tradition began to grow among Americans in New York, Boston and other American cities.

The St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City was formed in 1848 when several Irish groups pulled together to have one parade. It's the largest parade in the world, with more than 150,000 people taking part. More than 3 million people line the parade route. It is also "the world's oldest civilian parade," according to History.com.

In addition to New York City, St. Patrick Day parades are also held in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah, Georgia. In Chicago green dye is used to turn the Chicago River green. In the early 1960s, Savannah tried to dye the Savannah River green, but the color didn't work well because the river moves too fast. The city decided not to try again, but it does dye the water in the landmark Forsyth Park Fountain.

St. Patrick's Day traditions

For many in the United States, the day has become a time celebrate all things Irish. Many people will have corned beef and cabbage, while wearing a green shirt and listening to Irish music. After they eat, they may work off the calories by doing some Irish dancing.

While cabbage was eaten in Ireland, corned beef was not traditionally an Irish meat. In the early 20th century, Irish immigrants living in New York City substituted corned beef for the more expensive Irish bacon, which with cabbage, was a traditional Irish meal. The Irish learned about corned beef from their Jewish neighbors.

The shamrock became associated with the day when, as legend has it, St. Patrick used the leaves of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.

Although blue was originally associated with St. Patrick, green has become the color most people associate with the day. It began with Irish Catholics wearing a shamrock in their lapel on St. Patrick's Day. Later they wore green clothing to identify as a Catholic after the Irish uprising against British rule in the late 1700s. In the United States, many people wear green on March 17 to show support for the Irish.
President Joe Biden released a budget proposal Monday aimed at getting voters' attention: It would offer tax breaks for families, lower health care costs, smaller deficits and higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

Unlikely to pass the House and Senate to become law, the proposal for fiscal 2025 is an election-year blueprint about what the future could hold if Biden and enough of his fellow Democrats win in November.

If the Biden budget became law, it would cut deficits by $3 trillion over a decade. It would raise tax revenues by $4.9 trillion over that period and use about $1.9 trillion to fund various programs.

NUCLEAR THREAT: President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty is threatened, issuing another warning to the West just days before an election in which he's all but certain to secure another six-year term.

GAZA WAR: Palestinians began fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Monday with hunger worsening across the Gaza Strip and no end in sight to the war between Israel and Hamas. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he believes Israel should hold elections because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "lost his way."

TIKTOK: The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the video app TikTok if its China-based owner doesn't sell its stake. On Thursday, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he plans to put together an investor group to buy TikTok.
A German pub in the Haymarket is serving up beer and community.

Co-owner Cody Schmick opened Bierhaus Maisschaler, 151 N. Eighth St., in September 2022. The bar scene isnt a new concept to Schmick, who also co-owns Kinkaider Brewing Co. and Sideshow Spirits, but as a German descendant, he knew he was ready to open an authentic German pub.

You cant throw a rock around here without hitting somebody that is German or Czech, Schmick said.

Local and imported German beer

Schmicks desire to sell traditional German beer gave birth to Bierhaus Maisschaler.

We really just wanted to make some good German-inspired beers, which is really what started the whole inspiration behind this, Schmick said.

The beerhouse uses the German brewing guidelines, called Reinheitsgebot, when creating their Old World German recipes. The laws were created in the 1500s and limit brewers to four ingredients: malted barley, yeast, hops and water.

We really wanted to get back to the basics for this location and really focus on those core ingredient beers and figure out how many different styles of beer that we can make that fits within those four ingredients, Schmick said.

And with those few ingredients, they are currently serving 20 beers on tap. About half of them are made locally and the other half are imported from breweries that are rotated to bring in new flavors. Currently, one of Schmicks favorite breweries that makes a German lager comes from Scratchtown Brewing Co. in Ord. Another imported beer comes from Schells Brewery from New Ulm, Minnesota.

The locally brewed beers are named after animals and provide a large range of light to dark beers. Schmick said the most popular beer is The Stag, a German Pilsner, which is a crisp and light, true-to-style beer thats easy to drink.

Small yet sufficient menu

There are only two items on the beerhouses menu  pretzels and sausage.

The enormous pretzels can be ordered with mustard and beer cheese and come from a bakehouse in Texas.

These guys make phenomenal pretzels, Schmick said. We get told all the time that theyre the best pretzels anybodys had around here.

The sausages, on the other hand, are made locally by Schmicks dad and brother. His dad has been a butcher for 50 years and used to own a local butcher shop called Schmicks Market. Now in retirement, he makes fresh sausages each week for the beerhouse.

The sausage is made from pork and beef with a family recipe dating back more than 100 years. There are three flavors available, which are served with kettle chips and mustard. Sauerkraut is available for an additional cost.

German community seating

Unlike most restaurants and bars in Lincoln, Bierhaus Maisschaler has 16-foot tables that are similar to those in beerhouses in Germany. Schmick said the seating is very common in Germany for events such as Oktoberfest where the long tables seem to go on forever.

Beer brings people together. You can sit next to somebody you dont know with a beer in your hand and usually find some common ground, Schmick said. We didnt know if Lincoln would be down with community seating, but most people are pretty cool with it.

For those who prefer private group seating, there are smaller tables available along with patio seating. In April, a rooftop bar will be added as well, which will be able to hold about 180 people.

This place is a mix of a German beerhouse and an American pub, and Im OK with that, but I did want there to be that authenticity of it, Schmick said.

Membership club

Schmick owes much of the business's success to his favorite part of the beerhouse, the Maisschaler Bier Klub.

For $150 a year, members get one of 300 lockers, where their name is displayed along with a personal beer stein inside. Members get drink specials, can attend monthly meetings and travel with other members for road trips to other breweries. The meetings vary from German bingo nights to mead tasting to a polka-dance class.

Were building this community that loves German beer, loves what were doing here, and theyre very supportive, Schmick said.

German events

It wouldnt be a German beerhouse without some well-known German events and music. Each week there is some sort of live music component, and while it shocked Schmick, he said the monthly polka band packs the place every time.

The beer house also holds Oktoberfest in mid-October and Bockfest in mid-February where thousands of participants line the street for polka dances, beer and games. The events play a large role in creating an authentic German experience for guests.

I think that it struck a chord with people because it almost feels like nostalgia for a lot of people, Schmick said. If you grew up with any kind of German or Czech influence in your family, theres going to be things in here that will feel familiar.

BIERHAUS MAISSCHALER

WHAT: German beerhouse with American pub influences.

WHERE: 151 N. Eighth St.

HOURS: 4-11 p.m., Monday-Thursday; noon-midnight, Friday-Saturday; noon-8 p.m., Sunday.

2023's best cities for rooftop bars and lounges 2023's best cities for rooftop bars and lounges Top 20 cities with highest overall scores for rooftop bars and lounges Panoramic insights Behind the ranking
Last September, while on a trade trip to South Korea and Japan, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen presented a small wooden box to the chairman of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

The shadow box  an item that is hard to explain but harder to forget, especially as it retracts light through its stained-glass panels  was made by Studio Trouvaille, owned and operated by Nebraskans Shane and Ann Walsh.

"It's something they don't talk about very much," said Stephanie Dinger, Union Bank & Trust's vice president of small business, who runs the pop-up program that has been providing space for Studio Trouvaille inside Union Bank Place since January. "But they should."

There is a western Nebraska humility to the Walshes. They moved to Lincoln from North Platte two years ago and have been slow to shake off their humble roots. They let their product speak for itself, no matter its inanimate nature.

That said, it's made for a pretty quiet splash in Lincoln. Then again, the name of their business  Studio Trouvaille  when taken literally centers around a lucky find.

"Trouvaille means a chance encounter with something wonderful," Ann Walsh said.

Each shadow box is cut by laser and has its own theme, be it the holiday season or a yoga pose. They present a unique gift  something that would fit into virtually any interior design  that usually isn't considered until it is noticed.

"They're kind of their own thing," said Shane Walsh, whose wife provides much of the creativity for the shadow boxes. "... They're almost like a collage, a very nice decorative piece."

It's a product people want to buy once they lay eyes on it. The dilemma is that their product isn't one that people are generally seeking out.

Customers are finding the shadow boxes, but it's more by happenstance than a concerted effort to do so.

So the challenge is in how best to showcase their wares.

When they decided to make the move from North Platte two years ago  the nest was empty and they wanted to make a go of their business  they had visions of a downtown shop with an apartment above.

That might have been more feasible in North Platte than Lincoln, where higher rental prices  especially downtown  quickly blurred that vision.

That probably wasn't a bad thing.

Union Bank's pop-up program  four months of rent-free retail space inside the bank's newly refurbished lobby  has provided answers to what might work best for them going forward.

What they've learned in their time inside the refurbished bank lobby is that their perfect fit  the type of retail space  still remains to be seen.

For years, Shane and Ann have had their share of success setting up a table at local craft fairs. With folks walking past, they're able to make sales.

Being inside Gateway Mall two years ago when it hosted pop-up businesses was the chance for Shane and Ann to gauge how people viewed their business.

"We wanted to have an inside because we really wanted to test it," Shane Walsh said. "Does anyone even bother to stop in and look? It's kind of a test as far as people walking past."

What they learned is that window shoppers, the kind of consumers that make the rounds in a downtown area, might not be inspired to go inside a brick-and-mortar version of Studio Trouvaille.

A kiosk  what they have now in Union Bank Plaza and what they eventually settled on at Gateway Mall  might be a better option.

"We did end up getting quite a few customers that weren't expecting to find something," Shane Walsh said.

Walk-by traffic is the best way, they are finding, to get eyes on their product. Unfortunately, they also are in need of a workspace  a back room of sorts  to make their shadow boxes.

It's a tricky predicament, not so different than most retail startups, which face the challenge of selling their wares while maintaining inventory.

It's all part of the process, one of the benefits of the Union Bank popup program, Dinger said.

"I believe it's been very successful in that they've learned some things through it," she said.

Maybe a brick-and-mortar shop isn't the perfect fit for Studio Trouvaille, but with the Walshes' success at craft fairs, there has been some thought to buying an RV and traveling the country to sell their shadow boxes.

"I think it's really neat to see them just expand and kind of home in on what they really feel they may do," Dinger said.

While they search for answers about their next step, Ann Walsh said several others have been confirmed.

"This has validated a lot of things for us," she said. "We know we have a product we can sell."

Top Journal Star photos for March 2024
Three people were arrested Friday after a three-county law enforcement chase and a manhunt near Gothenburg, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

Friday evening, the Furnas County Sheriff's Office contacted the State Patrol saying they were attempting to locate a vehicle believed to be driven by someone with an active warrant.

At about 7:15 p.m., a trooper located the vehicle, a Chevrolet Equinox, as it was traveling north on Nebraska Highway 283 near Elwood. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver immediately turned onto a county road and fled west. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

The vehicle continued on county roads for about 30 minutes. During the pursuit, the occupants threw several items out of the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle eventually drove into a pasture in Lincoln County, southwest of Gothenburg and came to a stop. All three occupants fled on foot.

Troopers used a thermal drone to locate the subjects, the State Patrol said.

Brian Titman, 45, of Kearney; David Griffitt, 37, of Trenton; and Madison Arledge, 26, of McCook, were arrested on suspicion of various charges, including possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, tampering with physical evidence, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving and obstructing a peace officer, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a Saturday news release.

Titman and Arledge each had active warrants as well, the State Patrol said.

Top Journal Star photos for March 2024
A Nebraska bill that seeks to hold negligent state agencies accountable for harm caused by third parties stalled in committee Friday.

But a different avenue remains to advance the measure.

The Nebraska Legislatures Judiciary Committee failed to advance LB325 out to floor debates in a 4-3 vote, with one member not voting. In the eight member committee, bills need at least five votes to advance.

LB325, introduced by Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would allow civil lawsuits against a state agency if the agency fails to prevent harm caused by a third party when the agency is in custody or control of that third party. Dungan said his aim is to hold state government accountable for negligence.

Before the committee meeting, the bill was mentioned during floor debate by Judiciary Chair Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. Wayne was looking to slow the progress of debate to hold off a vote on a separate bill, but multiple senators also got involved and expressed their displeasure that LB325 had not progressed.

Proponents of the measure claimed opponents were protecting government agencies at the expense of victims. During the debate, Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar announced she filed a pull motion to advance the bill to the floor regardless of the committees vote. That motion hasnt been debated yet and requires 25 votes to accomplish.

Critics of LB325 argue that the bill is too open-ended and that it would allow for frivolous lawsuits. The issue split opinions of the Judiciary Committee, with Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue saying the bill fails to hold the true perpetrators accountable. But Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue countered that not holding agencies accountable would only further victimize the victims.

Dungan gave examples of when LB325 may be needed, including when state prison officials fail to intervene after they learn that an inmate has threatened harm to another inmate, and then follows through on that threat.

But Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, another committee member, said the bill could also hold the state liable if a foster child assaults another child within their home.

Wayne noted that if LB325 passes, plaintiffs in the resulting lawsuits would still have the burden to prove state agencies were negligent in these instances.

This is not an automatic win, he said.

Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2024
Nebraska's new law restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth took effect on March 17.

The regulations, which were required by the passage of LB574 in the 2023 legislative session, were finalized by Gov. Jim Pillen on Tuesday and closely mirror the temporary regulations adopted last October.

The regulations approved by Pillen were those recommended by Nebraska Chief Medical Officer Timothy Tesmer after the Legislature voted 33-15 to pass LB574 in May, banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors and turning the power to regulate the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy in youth patients over to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The recommendation and approval came despite dozens of transgender Nebraskans, LGBTQ+ rights advocates, parents of trans youths, medical professionals, religious leaders and concerned residents at large lodging opposition to the state's proposed gender-affirming care restrictions for minors at a 12-hour public hearing at the Lancaster Event Center in late November.

Here's what to know about Nebraska's gender-affirming care regulations.

What does the law require?

For minors in Nebraska to be eligible to receive puberty blockers and hormone therapy, HHS requires the following:

* A minimum of 40 hours of therapy before transgender youths can be prescribed medications.

* After 40 hours of therapy, transgender youths have to wait seven days before they can receive medication.

* Patients must have lived six consecutive months as their preferred gender.

* Transgender youths must continue to receive at least one hour of therapy every 90 days while they are on the therapeutic drugs.

* Providers must receive a signed document of informed consent from a parent or guardian, or from patients if they are emancipated minors.

* Practitioners must complete three hours of continuing education before they can prescribe gender-affirming medications.

Are there any exemptions?

Yes, there are a few exemptions to the new law.

* Patients are exempt if they started on cross-sex hormones prior to Oct. 1.

* The patient's medication is not being prescribed for the treatment of gender nonconformity or gender dysphoria.

* The patient has reached the age of 19.

What about gender-affirming surgeries?

The new regulations only pertain to nonsurgical pharmaceutical gender-affirming treatments.

Under LB574, which took effect Oct. 1, no one under the age of 19 in Nebraska can receive gender-affirming surgery. Gender-affirming surgery includes "top" surgery, "bottom" surgery and facial feminization or other procedures.

Photos and video: Scene at Nebraska Capitol as lawmakers pass LB574
1. Yes. The area is still in a drought, and long-range forecasts are predicting a hot, dry summer .

2. Yes. Despite modest rainfall, area lake levels are far below normal. Restrictions are likely.

3. No. Frequent rainfall has helped this spring. Unless summer is unusually dry, it should be OK.

4. No. The area was very hot last summer, but water restrictions never reached Stage 3.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how much rain the area gets in April and May.

Vote

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There are a lot of ins and outs in party politics during an election year.

Whos in the race and whos out? All eyes have been on the Legislature where the big surprise came from Republican Julie Slama  rhymes with drama  who announced she wouldnt seek a second term representing southeast Nebraskas District 1 because she was going to take her recently earned law degree another direction.

But before the appointee of then Gov. Pete Ricketts could relish the attention one more time, the venerable Ernie Chambers of Omaha threw his hat in the ring for Omahas District 11 seat which he held for 46 years before being term limited a second time. That means hell run against incumbent Terrell McKinney whom he endorsed four years ago.

I can be aware of what other people are doing, but the obligation I have is to my own conscience, he told the Lincoln Journal Star. And I tell people, always, Im not running against somebody. Im running because of things that I think need to be handled differently.

I couldnt agree more. There are things about the nations only one-house Legislature that would benefit from a fresh dose of Ernie, but well get back to that.

Ricketts appointed Slama, who most recently lists Sterling as home after stints in Peru and Dunbar, in 2018. She ran for election in 2020 in a race tainted by smear tactics against her opponent, fellow Republican Janet Palmtag of Nebraska City.

Slama, the state Republican Party and some unknown resources mounted personal attacks on Palmtag in baseless mailings painting her as a failed real estate businesswoman and, horrors, as being friends with non- Republicans or non- conservative Republicans. Palmtag chose not to run for the seat this time.

Dennis Schaardt of Steinauer, a Republican who owns Dens Country Meats in Table Rock, filed shortly after Slama made her announcement that she planned to step down. Schaardt is a former county commissioner, city council member and volunteer fire chief.

There are three other hopefuls in the May primary. Syracuse attorney Bob Hallstrom, a registered Republican whose law firm does government relations at the Legislature in addition to other legal work. Bob Holman of Auburn, a Republican, and Glenda Willnerd of Unadilla, a registered Democrat, also filed for the seat. District 1 includes Otoe, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee and Richardson counties.

Meanwhile, the Chambers race could make an otherwise predictable election year something to be excited about. Chambers, Nebraskas longest-serving state senator, plays the Legislatures rulebook like a piano. The 86-year-old (hell be 87 in July) said he has no reservations over his decision to challenge incumbent McKinney for the North Omaha seat. Chambers, who has long listed his occupation as defender of the downtrodden faces the 33-year-old McKinney who has emerged as a champion of Omaha and the most vocal critic of mass incarceration.

Chambers says the race shouldnt be about age in a time when many Americans are doubting the age and acuity of President Joe Biden, 81.

I agree that Chambers is a better physical specimen than a lot of guys half his age. He was the only senator I ever knew who lifted weights in his office during the lunch break when most of his colleagues were headed off to meals provided offsite by lobbyists.

His institutional memory alone is worth the price of admission. His understanding of the rules, daily reading of the agenda and strategizing are worthy of awe. Dont even mention filibustering, he has a masters degree in that.

People either love him or hate him. I have long respected him and his status as a truly politically independent individual in a Legislature that is technically nonpartisan but has played along party lines for years.

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said she worries that if Chambers couldnt finish his term a replacement would be appointed by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen and the appointee would be a Republican in a district that has 63.6% registered Democrats.

Party Executive Director Precious McKesson of Omaha said its time to pass the torch and let the younger generation lead. Imagine Democrats being ageist.

Chambers acknowledges the concerns but told the Journal Star that he hasnt had any of the kind of ailments that would give me a warning that the grim reaper is right around the corner or knocking at my door.

And I do believe there are things that I could do in the Legislature to diminish the negative impact that will be felt in the kind of things that are being introduced  and I look at the governor  somebody needs to be there who can kind of be a check or a brake on that wheel on this runaway train.

I rest my case.
Wisconsin Reps. Tip McGuire and Amanda Nedweski have been presented Friend of the Wisconsin Child Support Program awards, which were bestowed during a recent event at the Kenosha County Job Center.

Kenosha County Division of Workforce Development Director Dustin Feeney, who is the current president of the Wisconsin Child Support Enforcement Association, presented the honors on March 4, highlighting the prolific work and the efficient nature of the system, locally and statewide.

For every $1 spent on child support enforcement in Wisconsin, we collected nearly $6 in support for families, Feeney said. So, it is one of the most cost-effective, anti-poverty programs in the country.

During the event, which also included County Executive Samantha Kerkman, Feeney called upon several members of his staff to highlight the offices functions and accomplishments, including Child Support Manager Laura Ervin, Lead Child Support Attorney Lori Thoennes, and Child Support Supervisor Shalonda Black.

Also, Child Support Attorney Catherine Lambrechts shared her perspective as a relatively new member of the team, while veteran Child Support Enforcement Specialist Donna Adams spoke of her experiences over 30-plus years on the job. (McGuire, Nedweski and Kerkman then took turns congratulating Adams on her retirement, which begins this month.)

During the most recent fiscal year, more than $32 million in child support payments were collected in Kenosha County. Statewide, in fiscal year 2022, that total was $864 million.

To realize these collections, the child support program oversees a variety of functions, including the establishment of paternity and court orders, collection of current and past-due support, and referrals to employment and training programs and other services.

Thoennes said she and her colleagues attended 3,575 court hearings in 2023, laying the groundwork for the payment of millions of dollars in support.

These numbers signify rent paid, electricity paid, and food in the refrigerator, Thoennes said, noting a recent instance in which she arranged for a $10,000 lump sum payment and an additional $250 per month in future payments from a parent who owed $45,000 in past due child support but had received a workers compensation settlement.

When I was speaking to the mother, she began crying and indicated that she does not know how fortunate this call was for her and her children, Thoennes said. She stated that just the day before, she was wondering how she was going to buy groceries this week despite working full time. This money will ensure that she and her children will not have to deal with food insecurity for quite some time to come.

Other programs highlighted during the event included ELEVATE (Empowering Lives through Education, Vocational Assessment, Training and Employment), which works with noncustodial parents to address barriers to employment and provides training and skill assessments.

Kenosha County is also one of three pilot counties in Wisconsin participating in a federally funded grant that focuses on removing barriers and enabling survivors of domestic violence to access child support benefits safely.

As to the support of the state Legislature, Feeney noted that the current state budget increases funding for local child support programming to $11.8 million in 2023-24 and to $15.7 million in 2024-25. The state receives a 66 percent federal match for these investments, as well as incentive payments based on how well Wisconsin performs compared with other states.

With the support of the Legislature, the statewide child support system is now making upgrades to a decades-old computer system, to the great delight of the county staff who use it every day.

McGuire, a Kenosha Democrat, said child support is critical in ensuring children in the community have the resources to be healthy and thrive.

Our state investment into IT and staffing at county child support agencies not only made our agencies more competitive for federal performance funds, but it also helped enable our counties ensure that every child has access to the resources and services that they need to succeed, McGuire said.

Nedweski, a Pleasant Prairie Republican who also serves on the County Board, praised the county staff members for their work.

Thank you so much for all the time and dedication that you put into your job every single day  you really truly do make a difference, and were just here to help you in that, Nedweski said. You do the real work, and Tip and I, and the county executive are here to be your partner and help you get that done.
Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Driving is a way of life for most Americans. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that there are more than 120 million vehicles used for commuting, and research conducted by Gallup found that 83 percent of adults drive at least several times per week. Even though driving is one of the most popular modes of transportation, its not without risk.

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that in 2017, driving was responsible for 37,133 fatalities. Adjusted for population, thats 11.4 driving fatalities for every 100,000 people in the U.S.

Driving has long been a leading cause of death among teensyoung drivers have less experience and are more likely to engage in risky driving behavior. There has been a slight rise in traffic fatalities over the past five years, but the longer term trend shows that fewer people are dying as a result of car accidents.

Despite safety improvements over the past 25 years, certain times of the day and week are still more dangerous than others for drivers. Car accidents can occur at any time, but data from the NHTSA shows that fatal accidents are more likely to occur on nights and weekends. In 2017, there were 70 percent more fatal accidents between 6-9 PM than between 6-9 AM. Likewise, compared to Monday-Thursday, Friday-Sunday saw 25 percent more fatal crashes per day.

Timing is not the only factor that influences traffic fatalities; location matters too. The likelihood of getting into any car accident is higher in urban areas, but the likelihood of being involved in a fatal accident is higher in rural areas. According to the IIHS, only 19 percent of Americans live in rural areas and 30 percent of the miles traveled by vehicles occur in rural areas, but almost half of traffic fatalities happen in these locations. Within rural areas, crash deaths are also more likely to occur on local and collector roads rather than on interstates.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, rural collector roads and local roads may not be fully paved or have clearly delineated directions of travel, increasing the likelihood of collision. In addition, the speed limit on rural roads is usually higher than on urban roads, and crashes that occur at higher speeds can be more severe. These factors are compounded by limited (or delayed) access to health care services in many rural areas.

Collisions arent the only danger for drivers. Cars are also subject to thefta crime that cost Americans about $6 billion in 2017. The good news is that vehicle thefts have also been trending down over the past two decades. In 2017, the number of vehicle thefts nationwide was about a third lower than what it was in 1998 and the rate of vehicle thefts per 100,000 people was nearly halved.

Similar to motor vehicle accidents and fatalities, location is a big determinant in the likelihood of having a car stolen. Most car thefts occur in Western states, such as New Mexico, Nevada, and California. By contrast, states in the Northeast, such as Vermont, Maine, and New York, tend to have lower rates of motor vehicle theft.

When considering the likelihood of collision, traffic fatalities, motor vehicle thefts, and inclement weather, some cities are more dangerous for drivers than others. To identify the most dangerous cities for drivers, researchers at CarInsuranceCompanies.com used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Allstates Americas Best Drivers Report, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the National Centers for Environmental Information Comparative Climatic Data to create a composite score for each of the largest U.S. cities based on the following factors:

Motor vehicle fatality rate (50%)

Relative collision likelihood (30%)

Motor vehicle theft rate (10%)

Annual days with precipitation (10%)

Only the 183 most populous cities in the U.S. with available data from all of the sources were included. Heres what the study found:
Dr. Lillie Rosa Minoka-Hill was born on the St. Regis Reservation in New York to a Mohawk mother and a father who was a Quaker doctor in Philadelphia. After high school, Minoka-Hill wanted to be a nurse, but her father encouraged her to become a doctor. At the time, indigenous people were prohibited from access to hospitals, and as a result, the child mortality rate was three times the national average.

In 1899, Minoka-Hill became the second indigenous female doctor in the United States after graduating from the Womans Medical College of Pennsylvania. Minoka-Hill met and married a farmer, Charles Hill, and they moved to Oneida, WI. Since she did not have a license to practice medicine in Wisconsin, she treated patients informally in her kitchen. When her husband died of appendicitis in 1916, Minoka-Hill was left with six small children, the farm, and her patients. Additionally, and the only doctor on the Oneida Reservation left to serve in WWI.
A growing number of students from India are studying at foreign universities as a generation of young people prepare for jobs they cannot find at home.

India estimates 1.5 million students are studying at foreign universities. That is eight times more than in 2012. And no country is attracting more Indian students than the U.S.

Many Indian students think studying at foreign universities is a way to find jobs in other countries. American schools gain from the increase. At the same time, enrollment by students from China has decreased. U.S. universities have turned to India as a new source of students who pay full price for education.

Indias economy is growing. But many young people with university degrees are jobless. Jobs are being created in fields such as construction and agriculture, but they do not meet the demands of a newly educated workforce, said Rosa Abraham. She is an economist at Azim Premji University.

Reports say Indias own higher education system is not big enough to deal with demand. As the population increases, competition for entrance to Indias top universities has increased too. Acceptance rates at some top Indian universities have fallen to as low as 0.2 percent, compared to three percent at Harvard University and four percent at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Universities in Canada, Australia, and Britain also are seeing increasing interest. But interest is highest in U.S. universities which enroll nearly 269,000 students from India. And that number is increasing. There was a 35 percent increase in the 2022-2023 school year. India is getting closer to replacing China as the largest international student body in U.S. universities.

The majority of Indian students are coming for graduate programs in science, math, and engineering. Those fields face shortages in the U.S. But undergraduate numbers also are rising as Indias middle class grows. Studying in the U.S. offers the chance to work in the country for up to three years after graduation. The U.S. government program is known as optional practical training.

Accepting more foreign students increases income for American universities because international students pay higher tuition. However, the number of students coming from China has been decreasing possibly because of political tensions and a slowing Chinese economy.

In India, American universities have become a common sight at university fairs aimed at getting students to apply to schools. Many U.S. schools are spending a lot of money to gain name recognition in India. American universities are spreading their efforts farther across the country to find students in smaller cities and towns, where demand for foreign study has been rising.

But for the majority of Indias young people, an overseas education remains out of reach. The cost of a U.S. education is too high for most. In addition, Indian banks have decreased the number of student loans they give because a large number of borrowers fail to repay them.

For those who can pay, the high tuition costs, the student visa process also can create barriers. At the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, those asking for student visas are often turned down.

Recently, Daisy Cheemas visa was rejected. She spent weeks preparing for a visa meeting after getting accepted to Westcliff University, a for-profit university in California. She paid for an agency to help with the process, but her visa was rejected with no reason provided. She just received a piece of paper saying she could reapply.

Cheema is 22. She hoped to gain work experience in the U.S. before returning to India to support her family. Her parents, who own a gas station in the northern state of Punjab, were going to pay with their savings.

I feel terrible right now, said Cheema, holding back tears. But I will prepare more and try again. Im not giving up.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Collin Binkley and Krutika Pathi reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - Record Numbers of Indian Students Study at US Universities Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

attract v. to influence someone to join an organization or pay for a service or product

enroll  v. to enter (someone) as a member of or participant in something

construction  n. the act or process of building something (such as a house or road)

graduate  adj. of or relating to a course of studies taken at a college or university after earning a bachelor's degree or other first degree

tuition  n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there

recognition  n. the act of knowing who or what someone or something is because of previous knowledge or experience

tears  n. a drop of liquid that comes from your eyes especially when you cry
Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The election is April 2.

Bill Brosius

Age: 65

Hometown: Cross Plains

Family: Married for 40 years; proud parent of two adult children; awaiting the arrival of a third grandchild in June

Job: Manager at Deliver Health

Prior elected office: Cross Plains village trustee (seven years)

Other public service: Cross Plains Parks Committee (two years); Planning Committee (two years); Library Board (one year)

Education: Secondary education in science, Eastern Illinois University; masters in business administration at Cardinal Stritch College

Michele Doolan

Age: 49

Hometown: Cross Plains

Family: Husband Tom; daughters Faith, 28, and Sydney, 21; son Connor, 15; granddaughter Violet, 1

Job: Licensing program associate, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Prior elected office: Dane County Board of Supervisors, District 28 (in my fourth year)

Other public service: Sunday School teacher at Good Shephard Lutheran Church in Verona, six years; canvased for President Obamas first political campaign; cooked large meals for Stone Soup; helped plan the UniteWomenWI.Org rally at the Capitol; former classroom mom and officer on the Park Elementary School PTO; current member of the Middleton High School Band Boosters; served on numerous County Board committees, work groups and commissions including the Broad Band Work Group, City-County Homeless Issues Committee, City-County liaison Commission, Specialized Transportation Commission, EMS Commission, Fish Chrystal and Mud Lake Recovery District Board and currently Chair the Zoning and Land Regulation Committee and serve on the Executive Committee

Education: Middleton High School Graduate; Capri College of Cosmetology (licensed barber/cosmetologist); Excelsior College (three years political science and economics)

Q&A

What unique expertise or experience would you bring to this office?

Brosius: Successfully balanced budgets, ensuring minimal tax increases for residents. Demonstrated commitment to the community through long-term leadership and volunteering. Dedicated 11 years to leadership roles in Cub and Boy Scouts. Contributed several years teaching religious education.

Doolan: As a hairdresser Id made a career of communicating with people and building relationships. With my MS diagnosis I was forced to start over. Ive had to navigate the countys systems to provide for myself and my family during that time. Having lived in Madison and Cross Plains, I see the difference in how that works depending on where you live.

What issue do you think has not received enough funding and attention in the county?

Brosius: Reducing the severe burden on the taxpayers. Over the past four years, my opponents leadership has seen a 32.94% increase in operating expenditures, reaching $789.3 million in 2024. Simultaneously, public debt has risen to $667 million, and the tax burden by 32.19% in the last four years. I aim to serve as an authentic advocate fostering inclusive development through active engagement with residents.

Doolan: Most services for people with disabilities assume that youre retired and dont work and wont need transportation to a job.

What can or should the county do to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system?

Brosius: Implementing unbiased policing, promoting community engagement, and providing cultural competency training for law enforcement would greatly contribute to addressing racial disparities. Additionally, investing in social programs that target the root causes of crime and fostering transparency in the criminal justice system are essential steps for the county to consider taking.
Anybody worried about the security of Wisconsins elections should talk to their local municipal clerk.

That goes for ordinary citizens as well as state and federal lawmakers  especially those spreading lies about fraud.

Local clerks, some of whom have run polling places for decades, say theyre happy to walk anyone through all of the precautions and procedures they painstakingly implement to ensure our elections are fair and transparent.

In fact, two of Wisconsins finest and most respected municipal clerks  Cindi Gamb and Elena Hilby, president and vice president of the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association  give Wisconsins elections a 10 for security.

Gamb has been the deputy clerk-treasurer for the conservative-leaning village of Kohler for 29 years. Hilby has served as clerk of the liberal-leaning suburb of Sun Prairie since 2017 and previously for more moderate Milton.

When asked to rank Wisconsins elections on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being as secure as possible, neither hesitated.

I would say theyre 10s, Hilby said.

I agree, Gamb said.

As a clerk, as somebody who is in here, Hilby continued, I cannot figure out a way I would be able to even fake one ballot return.

Everything is done, and its checked and rechecked, Gamb added. There is no way anybody could do something.

Like their colleagues, Gamb and Hilby have been working for weeks to prepare for the April 2 election. Voting equipment is stored at all times in a locked closet with security seals when not being used, Gamb said. The equipment is carefully tested before elections. After every test, the equipment is sealed again.

Then on Election Day, those seals are checked. If anything has to be opened, it must be documented.

Poll workers are trained to process ballots under the direction of a chief election inspector. Sadly, many poll workers these days have to receive training on how to handle threats and unruly people. That kind of intimidation never occurred until recent years, Gamb and Hilby said.

Voters must show a photo ID at the polls, which is checked against a poll book, and everyone must sign their name. Increasingly, polling places scan IDs electronically to speed and improve the process. The machines quickly confirm if a voter is in the right polling place and eligible.

Gamb stressed that voting machines are not connected to the internet, so they cant be hacked.

After the polls close, the ballots are put in locked storage. Then theyre taken to the county clerk, where they are locked again.

So why are some people suspicious?

Influential people are calling it into question, Hilby said.

Neither she nor Gamb singled out Donald Trump. But we will. The former president continues to pretend he didnt lose, ignoring the 60-plus court cases, multiple recounts, election audits and reviews that showed President Joe Biden won Wisconsin and the Electoral College count in 2020.

A contributing factor to suspicion about elections could be absentee ballots. Their use soared during the pandemic, when many voters didnt want to risk catching COVID-19 at the polls.

Gamb and Hilby said the process of requesting and receiving absentee ballots works well. Most people who complain about it have received a request form for an absentee ballot in the mail  not from a clerks office, but from a third-party group. And sometimes those groups use outdated voter lists, adding to confusion.

Hilby said she wishes those private mailings would stop because they can look fishy. But theyre not a risk for fraud.

Allowing local clerks to process  but not count  absentee ballots the day before the election would help speed results to the public on Election Night, the clerks agreed. It also would make it possible for Milwaukee to avoid tallying tens of thousands of absentee ballots late into the night.

The Republican-run Assembly easily approved a bipartisan bill in November allowing clerks to begin processing absentee ballots the Monday before elections. Unfortunately, a handful of stubborn state senators, all Republicans, have blocked this commonsense improvement.

A big priority of municipal clerks across the state has been early voting, as long as it is voluntary for communities. Letting people vote early for convenience could improve turnout. It also would let voters fix any mistake  such as voting in more than one primary  if a voting machine rejects their ballot.

This spring, thank your local clerk and poll workers for their service on behalf of our democracy.

I want elections to be fair, to be safe, to be secure, Gamb said. Thats why I keep doing what Im doing. I just feel its very important for everyone to be able to vote.

Amen.

Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JAMES L. HOWARD JENNY PRICE
Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The election is April 2.

Loreen Gage

Age: 48

Hometown: Cottage Grove

Family: I have three daughters: Jasmine, Kennedy and Leah

Job: English language arts, middle school teacher

Prior elected office: Monona Grove School Board, five years; three years as board president (2019-present)

Other public service: Chair, Core Committee (Homeless Services Consortium), six months

Education: Bachelors degree in communication from UW-Parkside; masters degree in human services from Springfield College

David Peterson

Age: 40

Hometown: Cottage Grove

Family: Married to Dawn (14 years); three sons, Jack (14), Cole (12) and Shane (9)

Job: Azure specialist at Microsoft

Prior elected office: Village of Cottage Grove trustee, two terms

Other public service: ADRC Governing Board chair, 1 years; Library Planning Committee member, 1 years; Autism Society of South Central WI Education Committee, five years

Education: Bachelors degree in English studies, Illinois State University; masters degree in technical writing, Illinois State University

Q&A

What unique expertise or experience would you bring to this office?

Gage: I am highly skilled and possess extensive experience in several key areas, including affordable housing, working with the homeless, management, leadership, education and community advocacy.

Peterson: I offer local expertise from two terms on the Cottage Grove Village Board. My commitment to restorative justice through the Peer Court Steering Committee and my mission to connect the Glacial Drumlin to Cottage Grove demonstrate my dedication to enhancing bike and pedestrian infrastructure. My role as a parent of special-needs sons strengthens my commitment to equitable accommodations for all.

What is the most pressing problem facing the community, and how would you fix it?

Gage: The county can reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system by advocating for policies that tackle systemic inequalities, promote equity and uplift marginalized communities. Also, allocate funds to programs addressing root causes of inequality, such as affordable housing, job training, education and health care for marginalized communities.

Peterson: The county should continue to promote restorative justice, maintain collaborations with nonprofits like Briarpatch and seek additional partnerships. Further strengthening relationships with law enforcement and supporting initiatives like CARES, while expanding how we engage with diverse community voices, will enhance our efforts to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

What do you most want for your community?

Gage: It is of utmost importance that the county place additional attention to assist the homeless and allocate supplementary funding to organizations that provide support, in order to effectively tackle the housing crises.
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A war monitor said Israeli strikes on Syria early Sunday targeted at least two sites in Damascus province including a weapons depot, while state media said a soldier was wounded in the attack.

Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on targets in Syria since civil war broke out in 2011, mainly targeting Iran-backed forces including militants from Lebanons Hezbollah movement as well as Syrian army positions.

The strikes have increased since Israels war with Palestinian militant group Hamas, a Hezbollah ally, began on October 7.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israeli missiles targeted a weapons depot belonging to the Syrian military and used by Hezbollah in Damascus provinces Qalamun mountains.

Another site near an army battalion in the same area was also targeted, added the Britain-based Observatory, reporting a fire at one of the sites.

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State news agency SANA, carrying a statement from a military source, said that the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack targeting a number of points in the southern region, without specifying where.

It said a soldier was wounded in the attack and reported material losses, adding that air defence systems shot down some of the missiles.

Earlier this month, an Israeli strike killed an Iranian Revolutionary Guard and two other people in Banias on Syrias Mediterranean coast, reports said, in the third consecutive day of Israeli attacks on the country.

This week, the Israeli army said it had hit about 4,500 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Syria over the past five months.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in Syria.
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Ukraine attacked an oil refinery in Russias southern Krasnodar region with drones on Sunday, sparking a fire and leaving one person dead of a heart attack, regional authorities said.

Russia said Sunday its air defences had intercepted a barrage of 35 Ukrainian drones overnight into March 17, the final day of voting in the countrys presidential elections.

At night around 3 am (0000 GMT), several unmanned aerial vehicles attempted to attack the Slavyansk oil refinery, the Krasnodar region operational headquarters said on Telegram.

Air defences intercepted the drones but a fire broke out after one of them fell on the refinery, it said.

One person died at the time of the drone attack, the preliminary cause of death being a heart attack, it added.

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There were no casualties as a direct result of the fire, which was later extinguished, it said.

The Slavyansk-on-Kuban refinery is located in the Krasnodar region, east of the Sea of Azov.

Drone attacks on refineries and energy sites in Russia have increased this week in the run-up to a presidential election guaranteed to cement President Vladimir Putins hardline rule.

Air defences intercepted and destroyed 35 unmanned aerial vehicles over eight different regions, including four over Moscow, the defence ministry said Sunday.

A fire broke out at a refinery in Samara, around 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the Ukrainian border, following drone attacks on Saturday.

An oil refinery was also targeted by a drone strike in Ryazan on Wednesday, causing casualties, while another refinery was targeted outside the city of Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday.

Two people died following drone strikes in the Russian city of Belgorod on Saturday.

Putin has vowed that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory will not go unpunished.
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New Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya expressed his readiness to immediately `roll up the sleeves and buckle down to work to further enhance the Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership as he begins his tour of duty in Manila.

The newly-appointed envoy arrived in Manila last Thursday, March 14, to take over the responsibilities of former Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko, who ended his term last March 5.



Mabuhay! Ive just touched down in the Philippines. Ready to dive in, collaborate with the dynamic Filipino community, and elevate our relations. Im committed to building even stronger ties between our nations. Maraming salamat po! the new Japanese envoy posted on X (formerly Twitter).

To better endear him towards the Filipino community, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines encourages the public to address their new ambassador as kuya (older brother in Tagalog), placing the #KuyaKazuya in his official X account.

Endo shared his goal of expanding diplomatic ties between Tokyo and Manila. He also expressed good impressions about the Philippines, having visited the country during his term as director-general of the International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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The Japanese diplomat was part of the delegation of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio when he visited the Philippines last November 2023. During this trip, Endo said he witnessed firsthand the dynamic and vibrant nature of Japan-Philippine relations.



The robust ties binding our nations have set the stage for the golden age of the Strategic Partnership. Our relations are expanding in various areas, from the economy and security to cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Endo said.

His fellow diplomats from the United States and United Kingdom also extended their warm welcome to the new Japanese ambassador by replying to his post.

Welcome to the Philippines! Youre going to love it here! US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson said.



Welcome to the (Philippines), ambassador. Im your (UK) next door neighbor and look forward to meeting you very soon!!, British Ambassador to Manila Laura Beaufils commented.
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The Philippine National Police on Sunday said it will deploy 34,000 police officers nationwide to secure safety and order during the Lenten and summer breaks.

In an interview with DZBB, PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said cops will be stationed in various tourist spots, churches, and major transport hubs in the country.

Our Oplan SUMVAC (summer vacation) traditionally starts from April 1 to May 31. But since our Holy Week falls outside of the summer vacation, we are making an advance deployment. Beginning Palm Sunday, we will deploy our police officers to churches, Fajardo said mostly in Filipino.

Fajardo added PNP will place assistance desks in the said places to aid travelers. Law enforcement authorities will also be on heightened alert during the Holy Week, which is scheduled from March 24 (Palm Sunday) to March 30 (Black Saturday) this year.

As a matter of practice, during Holy Week observance, we are already on heightened alert. But regional directors are given the discretion to decide in their respective areas if theres a need to raise it to full alert level. They have the authority and discretion to do so, she explained.

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Holy Week in the Philippines is a significant period for Catholics. It starts on Palm Sunday, marking Jesus entry into Jerusalem, and ends on Easter Sunday, celebrating Jesus resurrection.

Filipinos engage in religious practices and traditions, reflecting on Jesus sacrifice. Many seek spiritual renewal through prayer and contemplation.

Earlier this week, the Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) announced its planned initiatives in anticipation of the forthcoming Holy Week.

Collaborating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology-Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (DICT-CICC) and Scam Watch Pilipinas, DOTr_SAICT is gearing up for the anticipated surge in travelers.

According to their official statement, the joint effort seeks to cater to the publics requirements at terminals, ports, and airports.

Their primary objectives include facilitating seamless traffic management and ensuring the safety of passengers throughout their journey.
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President Marcos signed Republic Act No 11985, also known as Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, aimed at fortifying and rejuvenating the salt industry in the country.

The signing of the law aligns with the administrations overarching agenda to foster rural development and bolster rural incomes.



Spanning 23 pages, the law, officially signed on March 11, underscores the commitment to provide essential support to salt farmers.

This backing encompasses appropriate technology, research, financial assistance, as well as support services in production and marketing to breathe new life into the salt industry, ramp up production, attain self-sufficiency in salt, and position the Philippines as a notable salt exporter.

Embedded within the law is a resolute dedication to environmental preservation and rehabilitation, in tandem with developmental pursuits.

To achieve these goals, a detailed plan for the Philippine Salt Industry must be created. This blueprint will help achieve the objectives of the law and align with Republic Act No. 8172, also known as An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide or ASIN.

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Central to the salt roadmap is the Salt Council chaired by the Department of Agriculture, which will drive the modernization of the Philippine salt industry.

Under the councils leadership, the Department of Trade and Industry Secretary is tasked as the vice-chair. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will pick nominees from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the Salt Council representatives.

Senator Cynthia Villar thanked the President for signing the law, which she said will save countrys dying salt industry.

Villar was speaking as chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food committee, who served as principal sponsor of the bill when it was deliberated in the upper chamber.

She said this is also a prayer heard from the sectors workers and stakeholders who have been appealing to revitalize the salt industry.

With this development, she said all coastal communities will once again be able to produce salt. Villar also noted that the law will address the expansion of the current salt farms concentrated in the provinces of Pangasinan and Occidental Mindoro.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and BFAR are mandated to map out, identify, and designate public lands, including portions of municipal waters, as salt production areas within 60 days from the passage of this Act, said Villar.
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday cited the just-concluded visit of President Marcos to Germany and the Czech Republic for securing immense benefits for the country and the people.

Romualdez noted the solid support expressed by leaders of the two countries for the protection of the Philippine sovereignty and rights in the West Philippine Sea, as well as the billions of dollars worth of investment deals and agreements forged that would create thousands of jobs for Filipinos.

The immensely beneficial outcomes of President Marcos trip to Germany and the Czech Republic starkly demonstrates the crucial rule of personal interaction between leaders of nations in enhancing bilateral relations and advancing national interest, the Speaker said.

Face-to-face interactions allow leaders to develop personal relationships and build trust with each other. Trust is a fundamental component of international relations, and personal interactions can help leaders understand each others perspectives, intentions, and concerns better, he added.

Both German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Czech Republic President Petr Pavel emphasized their countrys support for the Philippines stance on the observance of rules-based order, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the West Philippine Sea.

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Aside from the official statements issued, these personal meetings between leaders serve as powerful symbols of cooperation and goodwill, sending a strong and unmistakable signal to domestic audiences and the international community alike their solid commitment to advance the common interests of their countries, Romualdez said.

In statecraft, as well as in business, successful personal interactions between leaders can create momentum for further engagement and cooperation between their respective countries, leading to sustained progress in bilateral relations, he noted.

In a meeting with Chancellor Scholz, the Chief Executive discussed matters on enhancing cooperation in peace and development, maritime, climate change, labor, trade and investmentespecially in green energy initiativesand the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the European country.

During his three-day working visit to Germany alone, the President bagged at least $4 billion or P220 billion worth of investment deals from eight different types of agreements.

Apart from Pavel, he also met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala Senate President Milos Vystrcil, and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marketa Pekarova Adamova while at the Czech Republic.

In statecraft, as well as in business, successful personal interactions between leaders can create momentum for further engagement and cooperation between their respective countries, leading to sustained progress in bilateral relations, he noted.
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Globe has made history as it becomes the first publicly listed company in the Philippines to get the Science Based Targets initiatives (SBTi) validation and approval of its near-term and net-zero science-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.

This milestone underscores Globes commitment to climate action by aligning its operational strategies with the global imperative to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign.

The validation of Globes targets by the SBTi is part of the companys strategic integration of sustainability into its core operations.

In June 2021, Globe positioned itself at the forefront of corporate environmental responsibility by committing to the SBTis Business Ambition for 1.5C, becoming the first Philippine company to make such a pledge.

Globe aims for a 42% reduction in absolute Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030, based on a 2021 baseline, and a 25% reduction in absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions within the same period. For the long term, it has set an even more ambitious target of reducing absolute Scopes 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions by 90% by 2050 from a 2021 baseline.

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By acquiring this validation for our targets, were not just adhering to our core values of responsible business conduct, were also carving out a path for other companies in the Philippines to follow. We hope that we can inspire and catalyze a broader shift towards sustainable practices across industries, fostering an inclusive future where the countrys business community thrives in harmony with the planet, said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

Globes comprehensive strategy to meet its science-based targets involves a shift towards renewable energy, with 27 sites already powered by renewable sources and the exploration of alternative energy solutions such as solar hybrid gensets and onsite solar panels.

The companys deployment of over 9,000 green network solutions further exemplifies its commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint. These technological advancements are complemented by Globes initiatives to engage its supply chain in its sustainability efforts, including the implementation of a Supplier Code of Ethics and the integration of sustainability criteria into supplier assessments.

Globes sustainability journey emphasizes not only the establishment of ambitious targets but also the critical importance of transparency and accountability. The company commits to regular public disclosures on its progress towards emissions reduction, adhering to the SBTis criteria and recommendations, ensuring its path towards sustainability is characterized by integrity and exemplary corporate leadership.

Globes dedication to embedding sustainability into its business exemplifies how corporate achievements and environmental stewardship can coexist, establishing a standard for ethical corporate practices in the face of worldwide environmental challenges.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.
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Recognizing the opportunities in growing infrastructure and development projects in the Philippines, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the national trade promotion agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia is spearheading the Market Immersion Mission to the Philippines from 12 to 15 March 2024 covering two cities, namely Davao and Manila.

The Head of Delegation from MATRADE for the mission, Ms Noor Ezwanee Ahmad said that the mission is participated by five (5) Malaysian mid-tier level companies from various sectors including building materials, construction services and renewable energy. These companies are Gading Kencana Sdn Bhd, Shorefield Sdn Bhd, Konsortium URW Sdn Bhd, CMC Engineering Sdn Bhd, Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd and Wei Dat Steel Wire Sdn Bhd.

According to MATRADE Trade Commissioner in Manila, Intan Zalani, This mission will provide an enormous opportunity for Malaysian companies to establish their presence in the Philippines market and expand key business relationships. With emerging infrastructure projects with focus on smart cities and sustainability initiatives as well as booming construction industry in the Philippines, this mission will offer valuable prospects for Malaysian-made products and services that are synonymous with quality and compliance with international standards.

MATRADE through its Manila office coordinated 30 one-to-one business meetings and engagements with leading importers and potential partners.

Complementing this programme that have been arranged for the Malaysian companies include Seminar on Doing Business with Malaysia which will be held in Davao, site visit to National Government Administrative Centre in New Clark City, and other engagements.

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As partner at the Philippine World Building and Construction Expo (WORLDBEX) 2024 Manila, the delegates had a networking sessions with relevant authorities, associations and industry players. This is part of MATRADEs efforts to familiarize the Malaysian companies with rules and regulations on doing business in the Philippines.

During the networking dinner in conjunction with the event held at the Embassy of Malaysia in Manila, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines, Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino said that the Embassy is committed in facilitating Malaysian businesses to access the Philippines market, as part of the effort to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation with the Philippines.

Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines, Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, MATRADE Trade Commissioner in Manila, Ms. Intan Zalani and Market Immersion Mission Delagates

He added that, Together, we can create more opportunities for development and growth for both of our countries, as we as a region march forth in our pursuit for economic and social betterment of our people.

From January  December 2023, total trade between Malaysia and the Philippines were valued at USD7.91 billion ranking the Philippines as the 16th largest trading partner of Malaysia. The Philippines was also ranked as Malaysias 15th largest exports destination with exports valued at USD5.79 billion. Meanwhile for imports, the Philippines was Malaysias 16th largest source of imports valued at USD2.12 billion. For the past 5 years, total exports for both countries showed a positive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from USD4.49 billion to USD5.79 billion. Among the top 5 main exports from Malaysia to the Philippines were petroleum products, electrical & electronic products, chemical & chemical products, palm oil & palm oil based agricultural products, and processed food.

Philippines companies who are looking to source for Malaysian products and services can connect with MATRADE Manila at manila@matrade.gov.my to receive the latest market updates and information on business opportunities.
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Rep. Lianda Bolilia blazes a trail in Congress

The Fourth District of Batangas, nestled on the southeastern coast of the Philippines, brims with potential and hurdles. On the bright side, its fertile lands and proximity to the sea offer opportunities for robust agriculture and fisheries, while its stunning natural beauty positions it for sustainable tourism development. Additionally, ongoing infrastructure projects promise improved connectivity and economic growth.

Balancing tourism with environmental protection will be paramount, and mitigating the risks posed by natural disasters, particularly typhoons, requires proactive measures. Upgrading education and healthcare infrastructure is essential to empower residents and unlock the districts full potential.

Championing the districts welfare in the 19th Congress of the House of Representatives is Rep. Lianda Bolilia, fondly known as Siling Labuyo to her constituents for her firecracker personality that takes on challenges with steadfast and burning passion to herald change.

Bolilia, a native of Batangas herself, is no stranger to the struggles and aspirations of her constituents. Since taking office, Bolilia has become a force to be reckoned with. She is known for her bold stances and unwavering commitment to her district. Her focus is laser-sharp, tackling issues like poverty, infrastructure development, and agricultural revitalization with the same intensity as the famed Batangas chilies.

Yet dont be misled. Although Rep. Bolilia is the Siling Labuyo of Batangas, she is a softhearted and warm individual, showing that gentleness and strength can go hand-in-hand for effective public service.

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Rep. Lianda B. Bolilia is a long-time public servant. With years of extensive experience under her belt, she maintains a commendable public service record.

She obtained her undergraduate degree in BS Journalism from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and pursued her Masters degree in Public Administration at the Philippine Womens University. In April 2023, she finished the Executive Course on Leading Successful Programs at Harvard Kennedy School in Boston, Massachusetts. The esteemed district representative is currently taking up another Executive Course, also at Harvard Kennedy School, this time online, entitled Promoting Racial Equality in the Workplace.

Her demeanor as a matriarch of Batangas Fourth District draws inspiration from her personal life as a mother to her two children, Karen and Justin, and husband Amado Carlos Bolilia IV, a former three-term Board Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Treading the path of politics

Her first step into politics was in 1998 when she served as a Provincial Board Member of Batangas until 2007. Shes now serving her third term as the Representative of the Fourth District of the Province of Batangas in the House of Representatives.

In addition to this primary role, she became the Deputy Majority Leader in the 18th and 19th Congress, concurrently making her an ex-officio member of all House Committees.

As District Representative, she advocates for the welfare of her local constituency. She also ensures the approval of legislation and a sufficient budget for the programs and projects that will bring development to the district.

She earned the moniker Siling Labuyo, referencing her unrelenting passion and tenacity despite her size. Under the banner Serbisyong May Puso, Alagang Siling Labuyo, Rep. Bolilia led the promotion of infrastructure development and access to quality health care, education, and sustainable livelihood, as seen in her commitment to bringing fundamental government services to far-flung communities.

Rep. Bolilia made significant developments across various sectors. For Alagang Kalusugan, it includes the Basta Ikaw ay Healthy Ako ay Happy projects (medical and dental missions, free pap smears, and free laboratory and diagnostics for senior citizens).

Meanwhile, for Alagang Edukasyon, there is the distribution of educational assistance, the Bisita Eskwela project, and the Byaheng Galing mobile library that visits barangays and public elementary schools, where Rep. Bolilia reads stories and distributes books and other school materials to encourage children to read. For Alagang Pangkabuhayan, she implemented Bigasang Bayan, Nego-Kart, Kasiling Labuyo microfinance, livelihood training/assistance in partnership with TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa ating Displaced Workers (TUPAD) with DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment), and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) with DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development).

She also has projects for Alagang Pangkaunlaran, which include various infrastructure projects like school buildings, multipurpose buildings, roads, bridges, water supply systems, and other developments.

As for Alagang Pangmamamayan, there is the Passport on Wheels, the Kagawad Fest, and Binyagang Bayan.

In the meantime, Rep. Bolilia also took the initiative to empower the local agriculture industry through various efforts across her district. Recently, Rep. Bolilia led the Turnover Ceremony of the Multiplier Farm for Goat Project and distributed BANCNET EMV cards and vegetable seeds to Farmers at the Pick and Go Farm in Padre Garcia.

Other than making a notable change in Batangas Fourth District, Rep. Bolilia also uses her voice in the House of Representatives.

Her legislative achievements from the 17th to 18th Congress include authoring bills enacted into law, such as RA 11032, which establishes a national policy on ease of doing business; RA 10931, which provides free tuition and other school fees in SUCs and state-owned Tech-Voc institutions; RA 11641, which led to the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers; and RA 10928, which extends the validity of the Philippine passport. In the present Congress, she is one of the principal authors of the House Bill institutionalizing the community-driven approach as a national strategy for inclusive growth and social protection (HB 1910) and creating the Virology Institute of the Philippines (HB 6452).She also focused on critical legislation to promote disaster resilience nationwide, including creating the Department of Disaster Resilience (HB 1749) and protecting the service sector, especially freelance workers (HB 0615).

Rep. Bolilia also authored and co-authored 454 house bills in the 17th and 18th Congress, with 76 signed into law. So far, in this 19th Congress, she has written and co-written 192 House Bills.

Her constituents are beyond grateful for her tireless efforts in ensuring their well-being and advocating for their future.

From championing agricultural initiatives to fostering sustainable tourism practices, Bolilia has tackled challenges head-on. Her tireless efforts in securing infrastructure improvements have paved the way for better connectivity and economic opportunities. But her contributions extend far beyond bricks and mortar. By prioritizing education and healthcare, she has invested in the districts most valuable resource  its people.

Yet Rep. Bolilias legacy transcends individual projects. She has instilled a sense of empowerment within the community, encouraging residents to actively participate in shaping their future. Her commitment to transparency and open communication has fostered trust and collaboration.

Batangas Fourth District may be a peaceful yet bustling area brimming with potential, but its people like Rep. Bolilia, with that unwavering fire for growth, that empowers the public to embrace their strengths and fight for what they believe is right.
You could drive right on past the site of the Battle of Powder River and not even know it.

It was 148 years ago, on March 17, 1876, that members Northern Cheyenne tribe, along with a handful of Oglala Lakota, clashed with United States cavalrymen along the banks of the Powder River, about 35 miles southwest of Broadus.

Today the spot feels nearly anonymous, a cow pasture in a sea of cow pastures. But its achingly beautiful, the type of lonely desolateness you can only find in the American West. The namesake Powder River burbles and meanders through the battlefield site, and wide plains rise from the river banks. Those prairies are open and enticing. It feels like the adjacent hillsides even want in on the action, as they slowly erode  revealing layers of brightly colored sediments  back into the valley below.

The battlefield is accessible via Montana Secondary Highway 391, a glorified name for a dirt road. Its a good dirt road, made of the dark red clay thats so prominent down in southeastern Montana. But its a dirt road. You connect with the road in Broadus, where street signs call it Moorehead Road, named after the unincorporated community a few miles south of the battlefield.

Last Wednesday afternoon, a cadre of Northern Cheyenne tribal members visited the battlefield. Tribal Vice President Ernest Littlemouth, Sr., Executive Assistant to the Vice President Eugene Little Coyote and Chairman of the Northern Cheyenne Culture Commission Vincent Whitecrane made the long trek from Lame Deer to the battle site. They were joined by Sharon Small, the museum curator at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

No one in the group, comprised of people who have myriad ties to this battle, had ever been here before. They wanted to come out here because of how important this place is, not only to the Northern Cheyenne, but to American history. Without this battle, its possible that the history of the West unfolds in a very different way.

This battle is not well known, said Little Coyote. But it should be.

To learn it, stop by the Powder River Historical Museum in Broadus. Its closed during the winters, but call and theyll usually let you in. In the back, in a room that also holds a collection of 20,000 seashells (the museum swears its the biggest west of the Mississippi River), theyve got a display on the battle. There are newspaper clippings and other things to read for context, but the real showstopper is the artifacts gathered from the battlefield. Theres a fist-sized revolver cylinder and a belt buckle and other items that belonged to Private Lorenzo E. Ayers, who died in the battle.

Heres the short version: In 1874, an expedition led by Colonel George Custer found gold in the Black Hills. Thousands of white people started pouring into the area, living in frontier netherworlds like Deadwood and Hill City. But the Black Hills, which have been sacred to the Lakota, Cheyenne and other tribes since well before Europeans showed up on this continent, were not open for the taking. Per the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, they were part of the Great Sioux Reservation. From the moment gold was found, violence was seemingly inevitable. In a way, Custer signed his own death warrant when he set out from Fort Abraham Lincoln.

The fight over the Black Hills simmered for a few years, and when groups of Lakota and Cheyenne refused to negotiate a sale of the lands, they were ordered back to their reservations by Jan. 31, 1876. When that deadline passed, General George Crook, along with over 800 soldiers, set out from Wyoming to force the tribes back.

The Big Horn Expedition, as it was called, was searching for Lakota leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Instead, after a bitterly cold march through blizzards that literally froze the armys thermometers, they found a group of Northern Cheyenne in winter camp along the Powder River.

The battle, which began on the morning of March 17, was a disaster from the beginning. Crook split his men, sending Colonel Joseph Jones Reynolds to attack the village with around 300 men. Echoing mistakes Custer would make later that summer, Reynolds didnt properly scout before advancing. His attack plan failed spectacularly when his men got bogged down in difficult terrain. The Cheyenne were able to mount a defense and eventually escape.

Reynolds was able to capture most of the Native Americans horses, and ordered their camp destroyed, along with all the food and supplies in it. By the time it was all over, three Native Americans had been killed, along with four cavalry men.

Except it wasn't really over. For one, several Cheyenne warriors snuck back the next morning and recaptured over half of their horses. And for failing to properly deploy his men, burning all the supplies that could have been useful to the starving, freezing cavalrymen, and allowing the horses to be recaptured, Reynolds was court-martialed and stripped of his command.

But The Battle of Powder River echoes through history not because of what happened during the fighting, but what happened after. The Cheyenne, left destitute after Reynolds destroyed everything they owned, were taken in by Crazy Horses Oglala Lakota village. That group then joined a Hunkpapa Lakota band led by Sitting Bull.

Now together and united against the encroachment of the United States, the Cheyenne and Lakota became the massive village that repelled Crooks forces at the Battle of the Rosebud, and which Custer tried  and failed  to attack at Little Bighorn later that summer. The Battle of Powder River started the Great Sioux War of 1876. The seeds of the destruction of the 7th Cavalry  one of the most mythic events in American history  were first planted at Powder River.

Yet, most people, even around Montana, havent heard of it. Even fewer have been to the site.

Maybe its the low causality rate thats allowed this fight to slip through the historical cracks. Or maybe its just the remoteness  you barely have to exit the highway to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield.

But thats actually the exact thing that makes the Powder River Battlefield worth the trip. You can drive for miles and miles after leaving the highway, and never see another car. Even the homesteads out here are spaced so far apart youll feel like youre the last person on Earth. When youre at the battle site, theres no noise, nothing but the river and the cattle.

The battlefield is on private land, but there are two memorials on either side of the dirt road. One, a pyramid made of stones and built atop sandstone boulders, commemorates the four cavalrymen who died in the battle. Their headstones, which werent placed on the site until 1934, are embedded into each side of the pyramid.

Across the road, theres a Northern Cheyenne memorial, which features the tribes flag painted onto a large sandstone boulder. The only interpretive work at the site is a laminated copy of Lorna Thackerays Billings Gazette article Prelude to Little Bighorn.

Little Coyote, who is a former Northern Cheyenne Tribal President, has another theory on why the battle is so little known.

Our culture, our history, our identity were actively discouraged for generations of boarding school, he said. We dont know about these things, but were trying to rediscover them. For a long time, it wasnt a very nice thing to be tribal and take pride in your history.

Now he envisions a future where Indigenous people struggling with addiction and other issues could come to places like this and reconnect with their own history. This is one of those places where history isnt an abstract idea. Its baked into the land around you, the very dirt you stand on. Its unavoidable.

The attention is really focused on the Little Bighorn, Little Coyote noted, overlooking the battlefield. Within the last 20 years, weve started paying attention to the Battle of the Rosebud. And now as we rediscover our own history, which has been actively discouraged, you find out what a special place this is.
Taste of Yountville, like other Napa Valley events that showcase the regions world-class wines, has had to pivot through the years.

From large-scale street fairs that welcomed around 2,000 people to the V. Marketplace on Washington Street to smaller food and wine hall tastings with specific themes that brought in around 1,200, Taste of Yountville has adapted. And 2024 will see yet another iteration.

The world changed and evolved, so did the event, the Yountville Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Whitney Diver McEvoy said by telephone. In 2020, we were all ready to go. but we had to cancel it. COVID started six days before the event. It was devastating.

Since this 2020 letdown and the numerous pandemic-related ups and downs of the food and wine industry, Taste of Yountville has been on hold, McEvoy explained. This was a change for a Yountville Chamber event with over 25 years of history. But with the help of some local partners and a change in venue, Taste of Yountville is scheduled to return on Sunday, April 21.

In partnership with Chandon and other tasting rooms and wineries of Yountville, this years Taste of Yountville will be held at Chandon. This will be the first Taste of Yountville since 2019, with a new, more intimate format, according to a news release.

The 2024 event will take place at the newly renovated Chandon, offering the finest wines and vintages from several of Yountvilles renowned wineries and tasting rooms, perfectly paired with farm-to-table bites created by the Chandon culinary team, the announcement stated.

We were fortunate this year, McEvoy said. The tasting rooms in Yountville worked with the chamber to bring the event back. Were a very small team, and we all put our heads together as a team. Chandon has been very generous to host and showcase the event.

With this change of venue comes a change in scale. While previous versions could accommodate over 1,000 people flowing in and out of the event, Aprils return will be a much more intimate affair.

This year, because we are such a small team, we are limiting it to 250 tickets, McEvoy said, noting there are tickets still available. The event will feature 14 different tasting rooms.

Participating wineries include Bell Wine Cellars, Chandon, Cornerstone Cellars, Elyse Winery, Goosecross Cellars, Handwritten Wines, Hill Family Estate, Hoopes Vineyard, Hope & Grace Wines, JCB Yountville, Jessup Cellars, Priest Ranch Winery, Silver Trident Winery and Stewart Cellars.

General admission passes are $150 and include wine from 14 wineries along with bites prepared by the Chandon culinary team. VIP passes are $225 and include a Meet the Makers reception featuring additional library wines. Only 50 VIP passes will be available. Chandon is located at 1 California Drive in Yountville.

It is a good event to bring back; it was really popular before, McEvoy said. We want to scale it in the future, but this year we wanted to execute it well and build on the success to have it better and bigger for 2025.

Asked whether the change in format was an effort to differentiate Taste of Yountville from the Yountville Art, Sip & Stroll scheduled for May, McEvoy said the stroll stands on its own.

Were not worried about competing with that all, she added. The price point is dramatically different.

Where Taste of Yountville is a higher-end tasting experience, the Yountville Art, Sip & Stroll is free admission with an optional tasting package for $40. One could just attend to view the art. That event is Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington St.

For more information, visit yountville.com/tasteofyountville. For more on the Yountville Art, Sip & Stroll, visit artsipstroll.com.

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Agartala: A suspected smuggler allegedly belonging to Bangladesh was killed while another sustained bullet injuries after they attacked Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Unakoti district in Tripura.

The incident took place as a BSF team thwarted an alleged smuggling attempt on Sunday in Magroli village, located in Unakoti District.

BSF sources stated that while on duty ahead of the border fence at BOP Magroli, troops noticed a group of 15-20 individuals approaching from the Indian side, carrying loads on their heads, while another group of 25-30 individuals approached from the Bangladeshi side with a bamboo ladder.

Also Read: Assam: Congress leader Paban Singh Ghatowar praises Sarbananda Sonowal

Despite warnings from BSF personnel to halt, the group became aggressive, encircling the BSF Jawan on duty. Sensing imminent danger to life and government property, the Jawan fired a PAG round, hitting one of the smugglers, who was subsequently apprehended, the source added.

However, around 10-15 others allegedly turned hostile, assaulting the BSF Jawan, and further attempting to seize his weapon.

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The source claimed that the men also attempted to take him into Bangladeshi territory.

In response, the BSF Jawan fired again, forcing the Bangladeshi smugglers to retreat across the border, said the source.

During the altercation, one BSF Jawan sustained serious injuries to his forehead and was evacuated to a nearby district hospital for treatment, where his condition is reported as stable.

The source further added, In the exchange, a Bangladeshi national identified as Saddam Hussein (approximately 23 years old), from Dastaki village, Moulovibazar District, was hit by a PAG round and pronounced dead upon arrival at the district hospital.

Additionally, its reported that one other individual sustained injuries in the firing and was taken back into Bangladeshi territory by the alleged smugglers.
Niger stops military cooperation with US

The declaration came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger. Image: Shutterstock

Niger's government announced on Saturday that it was breaking off "with immediate effect" its military cooperation agreement with the United States.



The declaration came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military junta that ousted the president and moved closer to Russia.



The statement said the government had decided to "denounce with immediate effect" the agreement relating to US military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defence inside Niger.



It was read out Saturday evening on national television.



US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington was aware of the statement, and that it came after "frank discussions ... about our concerns" with the junta's "trajectory."



Miller said on X that the US was still in touch with the junta and would provide updates "as warranted."



The Pentagon provided AFP with an identical statement.



The United States still stations some 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base built at a cost of US$100 million.



Movements there have been limited since the July 2023 coup and Washington has curbed assistance to the government.



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a rare visit to Niger a year ago in hopes of shoring up president Mohamed Bazoum, a stalwart ally in Western security efforts against jihadists.



Just four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest.



The junta took a hard line against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade.



Niger's military had in the past worked closely with the United States.



But the junta has sought cooperation with Russia, while stopping short of the full-fledged embrace of Moscow by military-run neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso. (AFP)
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the producer of the film Manish Malhotra shared pictures from the sets along with a note.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4ltZwALyh9/?img_index=1

The note read, "It's a WRAP @stage5production production no3 #uljaloolishq. Thank You everyone for all your hard work, love and passion @vibhupuri @naseeruddin49 sir @itsvijayvarma @fatimasanashaikh @mrfilmistaani @manushnandandop @resulpookutty @malhotra_dinesh @om_sunny_bhambhani @tanaymalhotra01 @rachitabisht @vishalrbhardwaj @gulzar.official Sir and to each and every technician, actor and crew member a huge thank you for sharing the love and passion we have had for our film. #UlJaloolIshq #memoriesforlife."

As soon as the news was shared, fans chimed in the comment section.

One of the users wrote, "Looking forward to seeing the film."

Another user commented, "Lovelyyyy congrats."

Few months back, Manish Malhotra shared a string of pictures from the first day shoot of the film on his Instagram.

He captioned the post, "The Begining of our emotional and love journey .. #UlJaloolIshq Shooting begins today .."

In the post, Malhotra shared a picture of the film's clapboard from the film's mahurat.

In the other two posts, he shared pictures of a monitor from the sets of the film.

Helmed by Vibhu Puri, the film also stars veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi in the lead roles.

The release date is yet to be disclosed. (ANI)
Taking to Instagram stories, Varun updated his fans that he is back on sets of 'Baby John'.

The image captured Varun facing his back towards the camera. He flaunted his muscular physique.

Sharing the photo, he wrote, "Back to work #babyjohn."

Recently, Varun took to Instagram to announce the release date.

He shared the poster that he captioned, "Hold on tight, the ride is about to get wild. #BabyJohn coming to your nearest theaters on May 31st!"

The poster features Varun donning a black vest, with long hair and holding a knife in his hand.

Text written on the poster reads, "No beast is more savage than a man when possessed with power answerable to his rage."

'Baby John' is the title of the film, which is directed by A. Kaleeswaran. Atlee is presenting the film in association with Jio Studios and Cine1 Studios.

Makers unveiled the intriguing teaser of the film which received massive responses from the fans.

Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff and Rajpal Yadav are also a part of 'Baby John', which will hit the theatres on May 31, 2024. The film is produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee and Jyoti Deshpande.

In the coming months, Varun will be seen in the Indian adaptation of the Hollywood series 'Citadel' opposite actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

It is an Indian adaptation of the Russo Brothers' series of the same name. Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden headlined the international version. The release date of the Indian version of Citadel is awaited. Raj and DK have created the Indian version. (ANI)
A few days ago, Sidharth Malhotra's action-packed thriller movie 'Yodha' hit the theatres.Not only are fans and movie enthusiasts praising the film, but even Sid's wife Kiara Advani is raving about his performance in the film. The actress took to her Instagram stories to share a video where a female can be seen cheering loudly and showing support as the actor appeared on the big screen. In the clip, the fan wrote, "Don't go with my voice please. Main tab bohot emotional ho chuki thi." Resharing the fan video on her social media, Kiara penned, "Haha same babe same." Earlier, taking to her official Instagram handle, Kiara wrote, "@sidmalhotra you've made us all SO proud! Your BEST. One of the best in this genre, #Sagar #Pushkar I can't believe this is your first. @dishapatani, @raashiikhanna Watch out for these two Lady Yodhas. To the entire cast and crew of the film, Take a bow!" Directed by debutant duo, Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha, the high-octane action thriller film follows Arun Katyal, the commanding officer of an elite unit, the Yodha Task Force, on a thrilling rescue operation. Recently, Sidharth visited Delhi to promote the film. At the event, he spoke highly of the movie. He said, "Yodha is a completely fictitious story. We have created a new task force - Yodha. So when you create something from zero, then you can take a lot of liberties. We have done many variations in the film and also the action I got to perform is very different from 'Shershaah'. Here I am more energetic, and lean, and use different sorts of weapons. It is a far more commercial and entertaining film. I think it has got my best of action sequences that I have done in the last decade or so." The film is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan. Disha Patani and Raashii Khanna are also a part of it. (ANI)
The 'Oppenheimer' star Robert Downey Jr, who will next play four characters in HBO's spy drama The Sympathiser (coming April 14), spoke about his journey from uninsurable actor to Oscar winner, reported People. Accepting the Best Supporting Actor award, Downey peppered his deadpan speech with emotional moments, addressing the years he spent in the grip of drug addiction in the late '90s and early 2000s. He thanked his wife for "loving me back to life," along with his longtime lawyer, joking that the attorney had spent half of their 40 years together "trying to get me insured and bailing me out." "I think if you develop a moral psychology, things are a lot easier," Downey, 58, told People in this week's cover story. "And I think it's hard to explain away certain behaviours when there are ways to heal. So I have a lot of empathy for them, and I also am a little bit sceptical about anyone who doesn't lean into what they can do to improve the state of their compass. That's all." Standing next to him, Downey's wife Susan added, "I feel like anyone's journey, no matter how fraught or positive, whatever it is, it is your journey. There's nothing we would do differently." Away from the spotlight, people close to Downey say he has retained a low-key emphasis on helping others. "His ways are heartwarming," said fellow 'Avengers' star Jeremy Renner, who was in the ICU last January following his horrific snowplow accident. He noted that Downey checked in on him constantly. "We ended up having great chats on FaceTime like we were dating or something," recalled Renner. The couple, who have been married for 18 years and work together at their producing company Team Downey, have built a strong foundation at home. As a rule, they don't go two weeks without seeing each other, and family dinners are both joyful and punctual. "We all love his playfulness," says Susan, sharing how Downey often leads word or improv games with his kids at the table. "Here's the interesting thing," she says. "I came from an incredibly stable household and Robert's was, let's say, less than that. And yet he's the one who brings the real kind of homey-ness to it, and I just make sure everything's working and running well." From equipping the home with pancake art tools to singing loudly at jam sessions with kids Exton (12), Avri (9), and Indio (30), Downey leans in. "He really cares about whatever they care about," said Susan. "I think that he craves and therefore wants to provide the stability that probably he didn't necessarily have." Downey told People his home life provides him with focus. "It just gives me, honestly, something to attach my neurosis to that's positive," he says. "And I love when I can ask [Susan] if she thinks we should paint the kitchen a different color or if maybe a new rug in her office, whatever. I'm not saying that I'm like a fledgling interior designer. But there's two kinds of people and I'm the kind that cares about the drapes." The Academy Awards provided another full-circle experience for Downey when Oppenheimer won Best Picture with a familiar face at the microphone. "It's crazy that Al Pacino, one of my favorite human beings on earth, presented Best Picture," Downey told People. "And it's also crazy that, I think, deservedly he won the first time I was nominated [in 1993 for Chaplin], for Scent of a Woman," he said, reported People. (ANI)
Days after the Supreme Court rapped the State Bank of India (SBI) for not furnishing the data on political funding through electoral bonds with unique alphanumeric numbers, which could help identify the bond, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday said though it was in favour of transparency in matters of political funding, the country needs an institutional mechanism to protect the donor's privacy. "The Commission has always been in favour of transparency, right from the time we articulated our stand before the honourable Supreme Court. In a democray, there is no place for hiding things. Democracy is all about making everybody know, being aware, ensuring transparency and requisite information. It (electoral bond data) must be shared. We are all for it," Kumar said at a press conference in the national capital on Saturday, where he announced the full schedule or roster for the Lok Sabha elections. The CEC, however, pointed out that protecting the privacy of donors also needs to be considered and an institutional mechanism needs to be found to ensure the same. "The country now also has to ask and find a solution by way of an institutional mechanism where the donor's privacy is not compromised," the CEC stated. Listing out the efforts taken by the Election Commission to check the involvement of black money by political parties during elections, Kumar said, "We have made it compulsory for all political parties to declare the donations they are receiving. Every political party is required to make declarations to us on the contributions they receive." "Also, they have to state in the annual accounts how much they have collected (through donations) and how much have they spent. Also, after every election, they have to give us an account of what they spent in that particular election. We publish it on our website for everybody to know what's happening," he added. The CEC highlighted that though the poll body takes steps to control black money during elections, it has to find a way to control donations in "unaccounted form". "The unaccounted money that is used in the elections is something we are very particular about controlling. But, at the same time, how we also control donations in unaccounted form is something that the entire nation has to work together on," Kumar said. "How the donor's privacy is also protected, he is not harassed, how it is channeled, how it is more and more white," he added. The CEC also pointed out that in the digital age, the economy should be less cash-based and, therefore, a "better system" needs to be devised to facilitate political donations in which the privacy of donors is maintained. "In the digital age, it must be a less cash economy and therefore, one has to think of it. I am sure a better system will evolve," Kumar said. The Supreme Court, in a ruling in February, struck down the Centre's Electoral Bond Scheme, which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties, and ordered the SBI to stop issuing Electoral Bonds immediately. It had asked SBI to furnish details of each electoral bond encashed by parties, including the date of encashment and the denomination of the bond. On Monday, the top court dismissed an application of SBI seeking extension of time till June 30 to submit details of electoral bonds to the Election Commission, asking the bank to disclose the details by March 12. The apex court also directed the poll panel to compile the information to be furnished by the SBI and publish the details on its official website no later than March 15, 2024, by 5 pm. The chairman of State Bank of India filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Wednesday apprising that in compliance with the court's order, the date of purchase of each electoral bond, the name of the purchaser and the denomination of the electoral bond purchased have been furnished to the Election Commission. The Commission said on Thursday that it had, in compliance with the Supreme Court's direction, uploaded the data on electoral bonds on its website as received from SBI on "as is where is basis". An Electoral Bond is an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond, which can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person or body is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. The bonds are issued specifically for the purpose of contributing funds to political parties. (ANI)
Hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the dates for the Lok Sabha elections, BJP national president JP Nadda arrived at the Nagpur airport on Saturday late at night to attend the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha being organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Visuals from the airport showed Nadda greeting his supporters, who had gathered at the spot. The BJP chief soon got into his car and left the airport. The annual meeting of the RSS in Nagpur kicked off on March 15 and will continue till Sunday. Taking to the microblogging site X, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Sunil Ambekar, posted, "Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS): This year RSS's Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (Annual General Meeting) will be on 15, 16 and 17th March 2024 at Nagpur." The entire year's programme and agenda of the Sangh is decided in Pratinidhi Sabha, which is the most significant meeting of the RSS. Last year, the annual meeting of the RSS was held on March 12, 13 and 14, at Samalkha, Haryana. During the 'Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha' last year, various issues, including the 'population explosion' in the country and 'social harmony' were discussed, the Sangh sources informed. Further, according to Sangh sources, emphasis was given to topics like spreading social harmony among the masses. Discussion on ways to control the population was also held during the event. "India is batting a population explosion. The solution to this problem and ways to control it were discussed in the meeting. Along with this, issues leading to population explosion were also identified," a Sangh source said. "The imbalance of population in some parts of the country, especially in states like Bengal, Assam, and Bihar, bordering Bangladesh, is also a major cause of concern," the source added. (ANI)
On a day when the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday expressed confidence that the Congress would win 20 constituencies in the state. Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, Shivakumar said, "This is a festival of democracy. We need to enjoy and celebrate this festival and fight it (elections) out as well. We are very confident of winning 20 seats in the state." The deputy chief minister shared that the ruling party in the state has almost finalised their candidates and the Congress Election Committee will hold a meeting on March 19. "We have almost finalised our list of candidates. The Congress Election Committee meeting has been postponed due to Bharat Jodo Yatra's valedictory celebrations and the INDIA bloc meeting. The list will be finalised in the Committee meeting on March 19," Shivakumar said. To a question on CN Manjunath fighting on a BJP ticket, he said, "It is pity that Manjunath is contesting from another party. JDS workers are very disappointed and upset and are ready to join the Congress." Asked about the poll expenses limit of Rs 80 lakh set by the Election Commission, he said, "Elections require spending a certain amount of money. We don't have election bonds like the BJP." On Karnataka going to polls in two phases, he said, "We have faced two-phased elections in the past and will plan accordingly. The BJP will announce the dates according to its convenience, there is no point debating it. We are prepared to face the elections." Asked about the long poll process, Shivakumar said, "We can't take any political decisions when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in place but we will continue with our development work." Asked if there would be a last-minute 'operation' by the BJP to prise out members of the ruling party in the state, he said, "We can't rule anything out. No one is going away from our party though." On concerns over EVM tampering, he said, "It calls the entire system of holding elections into question. The informed people of Madhya Pradesh had given 75 per cent of votes to the Congress but the BJP members, themselves, were surprised by the results." Asked if PM Modi would have any impact on the elections in Karnataka, he said, "We have all seen the impact he had in the Assembly elections. He will have a similar impact this time too." (ANI)
Tripura Governor N Indrasena Reddy took part in the National Immunization Day celebration at the Governor's bungalow on Saturday. The Governor was seen giving polio drops to infants. Several women got vaccinated at the special event as well. "National Vaccination or Immunisation Day has played a crucial role in raising awareness among people who suffer from incurable diseases. Vaccination has helped prevent and eventually eradicate incurable diseases," the Governor told ANI on Saturday. Speaking about the importance of vaccination, Reddy said vaccinations help improve life expectancy, leading to better health outcomes. "We are trying to eradicate incurable diseases. The spread has become a lot more controlled now. Several precautionary measures are being taken. Through these vaccinations, cases of illness are dropping and life expectancy is improving," the Governor said. Requesting citizens to get themselves immunised, Reddy said, "I would like to request the citizens to take advantage of this immunization program. I would like to request them to vaccinate their children without missing any date, till the stipulated age." On the importance of the event at the Governor's place, he said, "We are conducting this program for the first time at the Governor's bungalow so that the common people of Tripura are informed." Every year in India, five lakh children die due to vaccine-preventable diseases and another 89 lakh children remain at risk, because they are either unimmunized or partially immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases, a press release from the Union Health Ministry stated. Partially immunized and unimmunised children are most susceptible to childhood diseases and are at a much higher risk of dying as compared to fully immunised children, it added. (ANI) To accelerate vaccination coverage, Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 to rapidly increase full immunization coverage to 90 per cent. Mission Indradhanush aims to reduce child mortality and accelerate the process of full immunization coverage for children at a rapid pace, ensuring that all children under the age of two years and pregnant women are fully immunized with all available vaccines. (ANI)
Welcoming the announcement of dates for the Lok Sabha polls 2024, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Shah urged people across the country to vote in record numbers and contribute to strengthening the foundation of the world's largest democracy. Earlier, on Saturday, the Election Commission (EC) announced that the general elections would be held across seven phases, with the first on April 19. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar informed. https://x.com/DrManikSaha2/status/1768990459165024703?s=20 In a post on X in Hindi, CM Saha said, "Elections are the biggest festival of democracy. I welcome the announcement of Lok Sabha Elections, 2024 today by the Election Commission." "I urge people across the country to vote in record numbers and contribute to strengthening the foundation of the world's largest democracy," he said. "On this great festival, I would urge all of you to make BJP win with a huge majority for the third time under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and take India forward rapidly #ViksitBharat," CM Saha said. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Shah also addressed an exchange meeting in support of Biplab Kumar, the candidate for the West Tripura Constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In a separate post on X, CM Saha said, "I encourage all the delegates present to work collectively inspired by the spirit of patriotism towards building Modi ji's 'Developed India'." The last date for filing nominations for the first phase of polling is March 27, the Election Commission informed, adding that voting for the Lower House of Parliament in Phase 1 would be conducted across 21 states and Union Territories. Phase 2 of the elections will be held on April 26, with the last date for filing nominations scheduled for April 4. The second phase will cover 12 states as well as UTs. The third phase of polling will be held on May 7, the election watchdog said, adding that nominations could be filed till April 19. The third phase of voting will cover 12 states as well as UTs. Phase 4 of the elections will be held on May 13, with the last date for candidates to file nominations scheduled for April 25. Polling in the fourth phase will be held across 10 states and UTs. The fifth phase has been scheduled for May 20 and the last date for candidates to file their nomination papers is May 3. Polling in this phase will cover 8 states and UTs. The last two phases of the elections have been scheduled for May 25 and June 1 respectively, the poll panel stated, adding that the last date for filing nominations for these phases is May 6 and May 14. The sixth phase will cover 7 states and UTs while the final phase will see polling across 8 states and UTs. (ANI)
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the implementation of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In his petition, Owaisi sought directions to the central government not to entertain or process the applications seeking grant of citizenship status under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (as it stands amended by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019) during the pendency of the proceedings. Advocate Nizam Pasha, Asaduddin Owaisi's attorney, told ANI that they filed an application in 2019 when the act was passed in Parliament. "We had filed a petition in 2019 when CAA was passed, challenging its constitutional validity in Articles 21 and 25. At that time, the application for interim stay was not argued because the lawyers for the central government had said that they had no intention of immediately operationalising the act. Now, after four years, the government has notified rules to operationalise the act and therefore we are filing an interim application asking for a stay of implementation of the act and the rules," he said. The Union Home Ministry notified the rules for implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on March 11. Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the fate of 1.5 lakh Muslims, who were allegedly left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list in Assam after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was implemented in the state. Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad on Friday, days after the BJP-led Centre published the rules for implementing CAA across the country, Owaisi said, "Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 12 lakh Hindus not listed in the NRC that was conducted in the state will be given Indian citizenship under the CAA. But what about the 1.5 lakh Muslims?" The CAA rules, introduced by the Centre and passed by the Parliament in 2019, aim to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. (ANI)
After the Election Commission announced the dates for the Lok Sabha 2024 Elections, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) national spokesperson Santrupt Misra said that the party was already well prepared for the polls, and now that the dates of the elections have been announced, the preparations will be enhanched further. "The Chief Election Commissioner of India has announced the poll schedule for the whole of India and Odisha. Every state Chief Electoral Officer has been asked to brief all the political parties. We were also invited, along with other political parties, to be briefed about the plans for the election. He told us about new things and what was expected of us. They also briefed us about the Model Code of Conduct and sort of the whole process so that elections can be conducted smoothly," he said. The BJD party is well prepared for the elections, he reiterated. "Now that the dates have been announced, our speed will increase too," he added. Meanwhile, along with announcing Lok Sabha elections that will be held in seven phases beginning on April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar also announced the schedule of Assembly polls in four states: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha. The Assembly polls in Odisha will be held in four phases, which are May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The results for all four states will be announced on June 4. The Assembly in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will be held on April 19, the day when phase 1 elections for the Lok Sabha will take place. The Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh will be held on May 13. Nearly 96.8 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming polls at over 12 lakh polling stations. A total of 10.5 lakh polling stations and 1.5 crore polling officials and security staff will be deployed in the poll exercise. 55 lakh EVMs will be deployed. There are a total of 412 General category seats, SC-84 seats, ST- 47 seats. The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4. (ANI)
The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 21 fishermen and seized two of their boats, said the president of the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, N Devadass. Yesterday, more than 480 boats went to sea from Rameswaram to catch fish. At night, while they were engaged in fishing in the Palkbay sea area between Appadeevu and Nedundeevu, the Sri Lankan navy came and apprehended all the 21 fishermen and confiscated their boats, Devadass said. Fishermen claimed that they had come to fish from across the border, and the Sri Lankan Navy took them to the Kangesanturai naval base for investigation. "This is causing turmoil among the Rameswaram fishermen," he said. In another incident, family members of four arrested fishermen staged a protest in Ramanathapuram on Friday, demanding their release after they were jailed in Kuwait last year. The family members alleged that they were falsely implicated in a case of drug smuggling that was filed in December 2023. Four fishermen, Sesu and Karthik, fishermen from Tiruppalaikudi, Ramanathapuram district, Santhuru, a fisherman from the Morpannai area, and Vinodkumar, a fisherman from the Pasipattanam area, were arrested on December 5, 2023. Ramanathapuram District Maritime Workers' Union held a demonstration in front of the district collector's office to demand their immediate release as prisoners of trial in the Kuwaiti jail. A person who was smuggling drugs in a boat was caught there. Four fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were not connected to the case have been included in the case of wrongful smuggling of drugs, the union members said. More than 500 people from Tirupalaikudi, Morpannai, and Pasipattinam fishing villages came together with their families and raised slogans to emphasize their demands. (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and actor Swara Bhaskar on Sunday hold the 'Jan Nyay Padyatra' from Mani Bhavan Sangrahalaya in Mumbai. The yatra covered the distance from Mani Bhavan to August Kranti Maidan. Rahul Gandhi also paid floral tribute at the Gandhi Smarak Stambh upon reaching the Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. Actor Swara Bhasker lauded the two Bharat Jodo Yatras conducted by Rahul Gandhi. "The two Bharat Jodo Yatras led by him are commendable. I do not know any politician who has traversed through the country to listen to what people have in their hearts. Rahul Gandhi wants to meet people and connect with them. We are living in a time where there is disappointment and frustration but such efforts give hope," she said. Further, Swara slammed the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said that to cover up the reality that came out of electoral bonds, they released notification and rules of CAA. "They have been using this tactic to fool the public for 10 years," she added. Yesterday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Rahul Gandhi organized the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to reveal the true state of the nation to the people. She further added that Rahul Gandhi's 6,700 km Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded on Saturday. Underscoring the importance of understanding the reality of the country, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "It is crucial to comprehend the truth about our nation. There is a deliberate assault on public awareness, and Rahul Gandhi initiated the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' to make you all aware of the true picture of the nation." Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi announced that Saturday marks the culmination of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, adding to which, he said, "But this is not the end, it is the beginning of the fight for justice!" "During the journey, I came to know and understand very closely the terrible injustice and oppression being faced by every class. I am taking with me the small dreams hidden in the hopeful eyes of the countrymen," he posted on X. (ANI)
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction leader Sanjay Raut claimed that without the leadership of the Congress, the country would not have achieved independence and made progress in science and technology. Giving credit to the Congress for keeping the country united, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "If there was no Congress, the country would not have gotten independence, the country would not have gotten leadership, & we would not have made progress in science and technology...There are a lot of such things that the BJP will never understand because they do not think for the country. They only think about the businessmen." He was responding to queries about the BJP releasing a book, "Congress Nahi Hoti Tou Kya Hota," on the completion of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai's Dharavi on Saturday. The remarks came during an interaction with the media in Mumbai on a day when the INDIA Alliance is scheduled to hold a mega rally today at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, scheduled at 5 pm. "Without the Congress, Pakistan would not have been disintegrated into two parts. The country would not have remained united," he said. Lashing out at the BJP, Raut said, "Those who have a king, their subjects suffer from diseases. The BJP is making the country poor," Raut alleged. "If there had been no BJP, there would not have been other things. There would have been no riots in the country, the rupee of the country would have been strong, and the debt would have been less. There would have been no scams from Rafale to the electoral bond," Raut alleged. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the party's general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and actor Swara Bhaskar held the 'Jan Nyay Padyatra' from Mani Bhavan Sangrahalaya in Mumbai on Sunday. The yatra covered the distance from Mani Bhavan to August Kranti Maidan. Rahul Gandhi also paid floral tribute at the Gandhi Smarak Stambh upon reaching the Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha rushed to the GB Pant hospital on Saturday to assess the health condition of MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury, who met with an accident on Saturday. MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury of Kalyanpur Assembly Constituency met with an accident while coming to attend a party programme in Agartala. He received injuries and was rushed to GB Pant Hospital. Soon after CM Saha heard the news, he rushed to GB Pant to inquire about the health condition and speak with doctors. Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is also the Health Minister of Tripura, said, "I was scared to see the condition of his vehicle. However, he didn't sustain major injuries. There are no head injuries, but there is a chance of a fracture in his hand. Otherwise, he is stable. His driver and one PG also injured. They are stable. I personally spoke with doctors. Whatever is needed, we will ensure the best treatment. By the grace of God, he is well now." Saha said while speaking to media. Wishing for the speedy recovery of the BJP MLA, Chief Minister Saha, in a post on X wrote, "Honorable Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Kalyanpur Assembly Constituency Mr. Pinaki Das Chowdhury, his personal bodyguard and car driver, who met with an accident some time ago and are currently undergoing treatment at GBP Hospital. I went to the hospital and spoke to the doctor on duty about their treatment. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured including Shri Chowdhury". (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Tarun Chugh said on Sunday that the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will happen according to the Supreme Court's direction. "Everybody has faith in the Election Commission. According to the Supreme Court's direction, the elections will happen in Jammu and Kashmir in September," he said. Earlier today, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said that it was shocking but was expected. "Shocking, but that is expected. They will have no polls in J&K, and what is even more shocking is that Sonam Wangchuk, who is on fast, wants to have 'district hill status' and they are not even providing that," he said. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday that the J-K Assembly polls will be held after the Lok Sabha elections. In an interview with ANI, CEC Kumar said, "We are yet to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. I mentioned in the press conference earlier today that the way for conducting legal elections has opened since December 23. This is March, and there is snowfall in the region, hence the question of holding elections does not arise at this point." "We (ECI) went to Jammu and Kashmir and were asked by all the political parties there to hold the state assembly elections with the Lok Sabha polls. After that, we held administrative meetings wherein it was discussed that a lot of security forces would be required to conduct state assembly election with Lok Sabha election in J-K," he said. The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4. Nearly 97 crore voters will be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country. With the announcement of dates, the moral code of conduct comes into force immediately. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the National Democratic Alliance rally 'Prajagalam,' (the voice of the public), the first joint public meeting of NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu district, on Sunday evening. Taking to his social media handle, Prime Minister Modi posted on X, "On the way to Andhra Pradesh, where I will be addressing an NDA rally at Palnadu along with @ncbnJi and @PawanKalyan Ji this evening. The NDA is seeking AP's blessings to bring a positive change in people's lives and take the state to new heights of progress." Prime Minister Modi will be joined by TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan in the public meeting, and this is the first time all three leaders will share the stage in a rally for the 2024 polls. The meeting, named "Prajagalam," will mark the first NDA election meeting in Andhra Pradesh in the run-up to the simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled for May 13. Along with announcing Lok Sabha elections that will be held in seven phases beginning on April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday announced the schedule of Assembly polls in four states - Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha. A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to cast their vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said. Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) released the list of election candidates for the 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha on Saturday. Party leaders Dharmana Prasada Rao and Nandigam Suresh read out the list of candidates here on Saturday in the presence of Chief Minister and party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Before releasing the list, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and other party leaders offered prayers at the Samadhi of Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy and sought blessings. The party has affected changes in 81 assembly constituencies and 18 Lok Sabha constituencies, he clarified. The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held on May 13. The election for Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held on the same day. (ANI)
In a setback to the Congress ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Uttarakhand MLA and a prominent leader of the grand old party Rajendra Singh Bhandari joined the BJP here on Sunday. The 60-year-old MLA from the Badrinath assembly seat in Uttarakhand joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi. Bhandari, a three-term Congress legislator who was also a minister in the state in the past, joined the BJP hours after his resignation from the Congress. Bhandari after joining the ruling party, lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he has full faith in the BJP's policies. "I have expressed my faith in the leadership of PM Modi, the way he has been working to lead the nation forward has inspired me... I have full faith in the policies of the BJP," he said. Welcoming Bhandari to the BJP, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that the former Congress leader got inspired by the work of PM Modi. "We welcome Rajendra Bhandari. He has worked in the service of the people of Badrinath... The way PM Modi has worked across the country to eliminate corruption, protect the heritage and develop the nation has inspired Rajendra Bhandari to join the BJP. I hope he will continue to work with the same determination and with a sense of service," Goyal said. Uttarakhand CM Dhami who was also present at the event said that the induction of Bhandari into the BJP will add positive energy to the party. "He (Rajendra Bhandari) has a long political career. He has joined the BJP because of the developmental work that we have done, and he is impressed by that. BJP was already in the position to win all five Lok Sabha seats of Uttarakhand but his addition to our family will add a positive energy. We welcome him to the world's largest political party," Dhami said. The polling on all five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand will take place on April 19 in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. The Gazette notification will be issued on March 20, with nominations ending on March 27 while the last date of withdrawal of nominations is March 30. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. Since 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has held all five seats in the state -- Almora (SC reserved), Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suryabanshi Suraj has hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for skipping the last eight summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. Speaking to ANI, Suraj said that Kejriwal who was served with the fresh summon by the ED on Sunday is "setting the wrong precedent" to skip the past summons. "Every time Arvind Kejriwal has given an excuse and did not present himself before the ED. He is disobeying the law, it doesn't send a good message to the people. I hope that he'll present himself before the ED, this time, and will tell the people that he hasn't done any wrong thing. He is setting the wrong precedent..." he said. The ED on Sunday issued a ninth summons to Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 case asking him to join the investigation on March 21. The fresh summons to the Delhi Chief Minister followed the eighth summons which he had skipped on March 4. ED's move comes a day after Kejriwal first time appeared before the city's Rouse Avenue Court physically on Saturday in connection with the case as the agency earlier filed two complaints against him in the court complaining for disobeying their summons to join the probe in the Delhi excise policy case. The court later granted him bail in the case filed by the agency for skipping its summons. Kejriwal got bail on a bail bond of Rs 15,000 in the case of complaints filed by ED. He is on bail and has been asked by the court to respond to the ED summons and obey the law. The court directed the Delhi Chief Minister that following the law is appropriate for a person who has taken the oath of the Constitution. Kejriwal has so far skipped eight previous summons issued by the ED on March 4, February 26, February 19, February 2, January 18, January 3, November 2 and on December 22, calling them "illegal and politically motivated". The ED wants to record Kejriwal's statement in the case on issues like the formulation of policy, meetings held before it was finalised, and allegations of bribery. While skipping the eighth summons issued by the ED, AAP, in a statement, termed it "illegal", saying that the ED should stop sending a summons and wait for the court's decision as the probe agency has already approached the court on the matter. A day after Kejriwal skipped the fifth summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate, the agency on February 3 approached a Delhi court against him for the first time for "non-compliance with the summons". The case against the AAP supremo is based on a First Information Report (FIR) alleging multiple irregularities in the formation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy (2021-22) by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The policy was withdrawn after allegations of corruption. In its sixth charge sheet filed in the case on December 2, 2023, naming AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his aide Sarvesh Mishra, the ED has claimed that the AAP used kickbacks worth Rs 45 crore generated via the policy as part of its assembly elections campaign in Goa in 2022. Two senior AAP leaders -- Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh -- are already under judicial custody in the case. Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning and on October 5, the ED arrested Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member. (ANI)
Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for his visit to the state of Andhra Pradesh, drawing a parallel between Modi's arrival and the mythological tale of King Bhagiratha bringing the River Ganga to Earth for his ancestors' salvation. A day after the Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi reached Andhra Pradesh and addressed a public rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan at Chilakaluripet town in Palnadu district. The NDA rally, named "Prajagalam," marks the first NDA election meeting in Andhra Pradesh in the run-up to the simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled for May 13. "PM Narendra Modi's arrival in Andhra Pradesh resembles how Bhagiratha brought Ganga to Earth. Modi has come here to support us and save us from undemocratic rule," Pawan Kalyan said while addressing the rally. "In 2014, with the blessings of Tirumala Sri Venkateswara, the NDA saw victory. In 2024, with the blessings of Vijayawada's goddess Kanaka Durga Devi, the NDA will form the government. Under PM Modi's leadership, the country is growing. Modi has introduced digital payments. However, YSRCP is not interested in digital payments," he said. "CM Jagan is a businessman who has looted sand and earned money through liquor. Once again, PM Modi will assume power thrice," he added. Labelling a serious allegation on the ruling government, the JSP Chief said, "Andhra Pradesh has become the capital of Ganja in the country. Andhra Pradesh turned into the new drug capital of the country." BJP has allied with TDP and Jana Sena Party to contest the Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh jointly. As per their seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP will contest six Lok Sabha and 10 assembly seats, while the TDP will fight for 17 parliamentary and 144 state seats. Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena has been given two Lok Sabha seats and 21 assembly seats. (ANI)
Collaborating with the forest department and state administration, the IAF helicopter discharged over 16,000 litres of water to control the spread of the fire.

Taking to its social media handle, IAF posted on X, "Continuing its firefighting efforts to douse the raging forest fire in the Nilgiris, the IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter undertook multiple Bambi Bucket Operations."

"Operating since the first light, the helicopter discharged over 16,000 litres of water to control the spread of the fire, in collaboration with the forest department and state administration," read the post.

Air Force station Sulur, located near Coimbatore, was assigned the task, after which the Mi-17 V5 helicopter equipped with a Bambi Bucket was dispatched from there.

The Bambi Bucket, a specialised apparatus utilised by the Mi-17 V5 helicopter, facilitates the transport of a large volume of water underneath the aircraft, enabling effective dispersal over the affected areas. (ANI)
Former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a scathing attack on the Congress party on Sunday, stating that the party is neither left with an army nor a leader. Chouhan asserted that the Congress, once a formidable force in Indian politics, now resembles a 'sinking ship without direction and vision.' Addressing a press conference in state capital Bhopal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "On one hand, the BJP is a shining star, and on the other hand, the Congress is a sinking ship. Neither does the party have a way nor a vision, that is why their condition is depleting." Exuding confidence in the BJP's victory in the upcoming elections, Chouhan stated, "Ab ki baar 400 paar" is not a BJP slogan, but rather an announcement of the public." Taking a dig at Congress' leadership, Chouhan said, "Rahul Gandhi is such a captain who doesn't know what needs to be done in the party. When election preparations need to be done, he goes for a yatra. When a yatra needs to be done, he goes for a vacation outside the country, and after losing the elections, he keeps on blaming the EVM." "After witnessing this state of the Congress party, wise leaders are quitting the Congress one by one. The confidence of the supreme leader of the party, Sonia Gandhi, has been completely shattered. She is not contesting the elections and has rather made a backdoor entry through the Rajya Sabha," Chouhan said. "If we look at history, the Congress has almost lost fifty elections after 2014," Chouhan said. Taking a dig at the INDIA alliance, Chouhan quoted a Shayari, "Hum to doobe hain sanam, tumko bhi le dubenge." "Leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav, who have joined the Congress, won't be spared too," he added. (ANI)
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer Dr BVRCC Purushottam on Sunday said that the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in the state, given which expenditure monitoring of all political parties has also been started. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttarakhand came into force after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the election date on Saturday. He said that as per the guidelines of the Election Commission, all parties should conduct the nomination process of their candidates, election rallies and other activities. Chief Electoral Officer Dr BVRCC Purushottam held a meeting with the representatives of all the recognized political parties of the state at the Secretariat. On this occasion, he appealed to all the parties to conduct safe polling in the state. Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Dr BVRCC Purushottam held a meeting with District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of all districts in the Secretariat on Sunday regarding preparations for the elections through video conferencing. In the meeting, Chief Electoral Officer Dr Purushottam gave detailed guidelines for conducting safe polling in all districts. The Chief Electoral Officer said that since polling is to be held in the first phase in the state, awareness programmes including sweep activities up to the booth level should be run on a wider scale. The Chief Electoral Officer said that surveillance should be increased more effectively at the checkposts of those districts of the state that are adjacent to interstate and international borders. The CEO directed that all agencies in the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) should fill out the seizure report, and intercept report responsibly so that there is no scope for any kind of error. On this occasion, Additional Director General of Police AP Anshuman informed that a force deployment plan has been prepared in all the districts of the state. SSP/SP of the districts has been directed to streamline the communication system in the shadow areas in the remote areas of the state. ADG AP Anshuman assured that monitoring will be done through drone cameras in remote areas of the state. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday said that the Rahul Gandhi's 63-day-old Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was the journey to restore India that was destroyed by the Bharatiya Janata Party. "We have entered politics to work for people. Rahul Gandhi has visited all over India to understand the heart of India. It is a journey to restore India that is destroyed by the BJP. This journey from Kanyakumari reached Mumbai and now it will reach Delhi soon. He faced a lot of problems from the BJP government, but despite this Rahul continued the yatra," Stalin said while addressing the rally of the INDIA bloc at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Tamil Nadu CM said that the former did only two things including fake propaganda. "India needs unity. PM Modi did only two things in the last 10 years, fake propaganda and divided rule. PM Modi calls the INDIA alliance corrupt but the Electrol bond proved that BJP is corrupt. Who collects 8 crore bonds in the name of elections, Modi accused us but people know who he is corrupt," he said. The INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties formed to take on the Modi-led BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, held a rally today at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Mumbai. The rally was the biggest-ever show of strength of the INDIA bloc, in the presence of the entire Gandhi family, to launch the campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This comes after Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded on Saturday in Mumbai. Earlier on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi announced that today (Saturday) marks the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, adding, "But this is not the end, it is the beginning of the fight for justice!" "During the journey, I came to know and understand very closely the terrible injustice and oppression being faced by every class. I am taking with me the small dreams hidden in the hopeful eyes of the countrymen," he posted on X. He further added that the journey further strengthened his belief that the first need of the country is justice and the 5 justices of the Congress dedicated to every section are the lifeline of India going through the crisis. "Today the election bugle has sounded. All the brave lion workers of Congress, now sit in peace only when this government, which has become synonymous with injustice, is uprooted and thrown out," he lashed out at the Modi government. He highlighted that the Congress will contest elections on grassroots issues related to people's lives. "Our election campaign will also be dedicated to guaranteeing employment to the youth, rights to women, fair prices to farmers, respect for workers and share to the deprived," he added. "So pick up the torches of justice and send this message to every village, every street - the country has to be saved, INDIA has to win," Rahul Gandhi posted on X. "India will join, India will win!" he added. Voting for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning April 19 and ending June 1. The counting of polls will be held on June 4. (ANI)
Deviating from the official line of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Janata Dal (United) leader Khalid Anwar on Sunday said the law, guaranteeing permanent residency to members of persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, will not be implemented in Bihar. The remark assumes significance as the JD(U) partners with the BJP and other allies in the ruling NDA coalition in the state. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Anwar claimed that JD(U) chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ruled out the implementation of the CAA in Bihar. "The CAA will not be implemented in Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already made it clear that all 13 crore residents in the state are Biharis and there is no need for the CAA, NRC (National Register of Citizens) or NPR (National Population Register) here. As long as Nitish-ji remains in power, no one needs to worry about the CAA," Anwar told reporters at a press conference in Motihari on Sunday. Amid the Opposition furore over the notification of rules for the implementation of the CAA last week, the JD(U) leader sought to dispel fears of loss of citizenship, saying that the law merely intended to give permanent residentship to religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who are living in the country as refugees, and not take away anyone's citizenship. "Those instilling fear among people that their citizenship will be taken away are spreading falsehoods," he added. Supporting his argument that there was no need for the CAA to be rolled out in Bihar, the minority leader said the previous Nitish Kumar-led government passed a resolution in the Assembly that neither the NRC nor the NPR would be implemented in the state. "I would like to reiterate that as long as Nitish Kumar is in power, no one from Bihar, irrespective of their religion, will be deprived of their citizenship. During the previous government, we passed a resolution in the Assembly that there is no need for NPR or NRC in Bihar and such laws will not be implemented here," Anwar said. His statement could ruffle feathers in the ruling NDA, as it pointed to a clear dissonance between CM Nitish and his coalition partners, especially the BJP, on implementing a crucial piece of legislation. Last week, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified rules for implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), days ahead of the announcement of the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections. The act aims to provide citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. "I spoke on CAA at least 41 times on different platforms, clarifying that the minorities of the country need not be afraid because it has no provision to take back the rights of any citizen. The CAA aims to confer Indian citizenship on persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. This law aims at ending the sufferings that they have endured for long," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in an interview with ANI earlier. (ANI)
Seven soldiers, including two officers, were killed in a terror attack on a security forces post in the Mir Ali area of Pakistan's North Waziristan district, Dawn reported, citing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Six terrorists were killed in the subsequent clearance operation. According to the military's media affairs wing, a group of six terrorists attacked a security forces' post in the general area of North Waziristan's Mir Ali in the early hours of Saturday. In an official statement, the ISPR said the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the post followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks after the Pakistani troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion. Further, according to the ISPR, five soldiers lost their lives in the subsequent gunfight with the forces and a portion of a building collapsed. The soldiers killed in the initial attack were identified as Havildar Sabir, Naik Khurshid, Sepoy Nasir, Sepoy Raja and Sepoy Sajjad, Dawn reported. "During the conduct of the ensuing clearance operation, own troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Kashif, effectively engaged and killed all six terrorists," the ISPR said. It added that Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali (39) and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar (23) were killed during the exchange of fire. Further, according to ISPR, a sanitisation operation was carried out to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack. Condemning the terror attack in Mir Ali, Zardari also offered condolences to the bereaved families. He expressed Pakistan's commitment to eradicate terrorism, Dawn reported. Calling the attack a 'cowardly move' by the terrorists, PM Sharif said in a release by his office, "The security forces have foiled the sinister designs of the terrorists." He prayed for the departed souls while offering condolences to the families of the victims. Pakistan witnessed a rise in terrorist activities in 2023, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after the ceasefire ended between outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Pakistan government in November 2022. The country has witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023, Dawn reported, citing annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were the primary centres of violence, reporting over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84 per cent of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and operations by security forces. Earlier this month, 10 terrorists were killed by Pakistani security forces in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan district, Dawn reported, quoting the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The operations took place over two days--March 8-9, according to the media wing of the Pakistan army. On March 10, the ISPR, in a press release, stated that four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO). Later, four more terrorists were 'successfully neutralised' during the follow-up sanitisation operation by the security forces, Dawn reported, citing the release. Meanwhile, in a separate operation in the district, the ISPR said it identified five terrorists, who were trying to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. "After an intense fire exchange, two terrorists--Hazrat Umer and Rehman Niaz--were also sent to hell while three others were injured," it added. (ANI)
Lava appeared to be flowing rapidly towards the north of Grindavik, just like it did during the volcanic eruption on February 8, according to the Icelandic Met Office, CNN reported, citing RUV report.

Icelandic Met Office said, "The fissure is about three kilometres long, and runs from Stora-Skogfell towards Hagafell."

The Blue Lagoon, located just an hour''s drive from Iceland''s capital Reykjavik, is one of the country''s most popular tourist destination.

The site is part of southwest Iceland''s Reykjanes Peninsula, which is also home to the country''s main airport, Keflavik International.

Iceland is one of the most active volcanic areas on the planet. Instead of having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones, CNN reported.

Earlier, in March, the lagoon was evacuated due to seismic activity, the report said. Earlier, in November, the lagoon was closed for a week after 1400 earthquakes were recorded in 24 hours. (ANI)
A man accused of killing three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, on Saturday morning was finally taken into custody, CNN reported, citing police. Andre Gordon, the 26-year-old suspect, allegedly killed three people at two different homes in Pennsylvania before carjacking a driver and heading for New Jersey. Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said, "He's in custody. No one else was injured." Wilson added that the authorities in Trenton, who were looking to arrest Gordon, initially believed he was barricaded inside a home, which led to the setting up of a perimeter of the area. "Apparently, before the perimeter was completed, the suspect was able to get out of the location unseen. However, our information was that he was still in there," he said, adding that Gordon was taken into custody without any incident, CNN reported. "The suspect was actually walking on New York Avenue." He further said, "He was stopped, identified and taken into custody," Wilson informed further. Falls Township Police said officers were called just before 9 am (local time) to conduct an investigation into the reported shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown. Addressing a news conference on Saturday afternoon (local time), Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Gordon, who was driving a stolen vehicle, shot his 52-year-old stepmother Karen Gordon and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon in their home. Schorn said that three other people who were present in the home successfully hid from Gordon during the attack. After the shooting, Gordon visited Edgewood Lane and shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, with whom he has two children. According to Schorn, four other people were present inside the home, including Daniel's mother, who was injured by Gordon and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Police said Gordon after the shooter carjacked a 44-year-old driver at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville. The police said the driver was not injured in the incident. According to Falls Township Police, the carjacked Honda CRV was found abandoned in Trenton at around 11:38 am (local time), CNN reported. Falls Township Police said they believe Gordon knew all the victims except for the driver. In the statement, the police said he is "believed to be currently homeless and has ties to the Trenton, New Jersey, area." In the news conference on Saturday, police said it had "minimal contact" with Gordon in the past. The FBI office in Philadelphia said they are "aware and tracking the incident" and are "working closely with our local partners," CNN reported. A shelter-in-place order for Falls Township was lifted after police found that Gordon was in New Jersey. The Pennsylvania State Police, meanwhile, said they were assisting with the probe. In a post on X, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated that he had been "briefed on the developing incident." Falls Township lies approximately 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia and is close to the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border. (ANI)
Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has dissociated itself with the ongoing protests by Pakistanis in the United States outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) headquarters, Geo News reported. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that these demonstrations are the individual decision of those involved and party has not played any part in it. "If overseas Pakistanis are making up something, then it would be their own decision," Gohar said while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail. Notably, several PTI workers from overseas chapter staged protests outside the IMF and WB headquarters in Washington against alleged irregularities in the 2024 general elections in Pakistan, as reported by Geo News. The Saturday protest in US was attended by Imran Khan's ex-chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill and PTI spokesperson in the United States, Sajjad Burki. The demonstration -- organised by "First Pakistan Global" -- alleged that the PTI's National Assembly seats were "reduced" to 90 from 180 in the general elections, The News reported. The protests drew severe criticism from the Pakistani government at the time when the country was seeking another bailout package from the global lender to address its economic woes. Responding to this criticism, the PTI chairman said that the party did not ask the IMF to stop disbursing financial aid to Pakistan; however, it admitted that the party urged the global lender's recall its commitments for free and fair elections and transparent allocations of its funds. Speaking further, Gohar said that his party's merger with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) was "serious and best decision" in the circumstances prevailing at the time when PTI lost its "bat" symbol and was looking for options to secure its reserved seats. Gohar added that the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) decision upholding the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) ruling to deny reserved seats to PTI would be challenged in the apex court. (ANI)
Mahrang Baloch, the representative of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, urged the United Nations and the international community to intervene in Balochistan and put an end to the grave human rights violations in the region. During the 55th session of the UN's Human Rights Council, she urged the international community to investigate human rights abuses in Balochistan and hold the perpetrators accountable. "Today at the 55th session of the UN's Human Rights Council, I urged the international community to take a stand for Balochistan. The human rights abuses in Balochistan need to be investigated, and the perpetrators need to be held accountable. A UN fact-finding mission can independently assess and understand the situation in Balochistan," Mahrang Baloch said in a post shared on X. https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1768972023110492397?s=20 The Baloch Yakjehti Committee is a campaign group that advocates for the rights and well-being of the Baloch people. Mahrang Baloch, at the UNHRC, highlighted that her father and brother were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani intelligence agencies. "My father was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani intelligence agencies and extrajudicially killed in custody. My younger brother also became a victim of enforced disappearances and suffered torture for months. But today, I'm not here to represent my case, but to address you as a representative of the Baloch people who have endured unimaginable suffering so far for too long," she said. She further pleaded with the international community to intervene in Balochistan. "I'm here to plead with the international community to intervene in Balochistan and put an end to the grave human rights violations in Balochistan," she said. Baloch stressed that the people of Balochistan have faced systemic oppression, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, fake encounters, and a blatant disregard for their basic human rights. "A slow, calculated genocide underway in Balochistan has made our communities live in constant fear," she added. For decades, the Baloch people have continuously protested against the human rights violations committed by Pakistani state forces. "However, so far, our cries for justice have often fallen on deaf ears. The time has come for the international community, represented here as the United Nations, to take a stand for Balochistan," she expressed. Mahrang implored the UN to investigate the human rights abuses in Balochistan, hold appropriators accountable, and bring justice to the victims. "We request the United Nations to send a fact-finding mission to Balochistan to independently assess the challenges faced by the Balochistan people. We seek your support in ensuring that our children can grow up in a world free from fear and oppression," she urged. I urge each one of you to unite in the name of justice and take action in Balochistan, Mahrang added. (ANI)
The Indian Navy thwarted the piracy attempt on MV Ruen, which was under the control of Somalian pirates since last December, by safely evacuating 17 crew members and coercing 35 pirates to surrender. The Indian Navy informed in a statement that the mission was carried out by INS Kolkata on Saturday. "INS Kolkata, a mission deployed in the Arabian Sea, through the sustained high tempo of operations, has thwarted the designs of the Somali pirates to hijack ships transiting through the region by intercepting the pirate ship MV Ruen, on March 16. The merchant vessel had been hijacked in December 2023 and was under the control of the Somalian Pirates till now," the statement read. Earlier, the navy informed that the Indian warship INS Kolkata successfully cornered and coerced all 35 pirates to surrender, ensuring the safe evacuation of 17 crew members from the pirate vessel without any injury. In the rescue operation, which lasted for the last 40 hours, INS Kolkata intercepted the under-attack pirate ship Ruen, sailing almost 2600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions. In the action to safely rescue the crew members and take full control of the distressed vessel, the operation was supported by the Indian warship INS Subhadra, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones, P8I maritime patrol aircraft, and MARCOS PRAHARs airdropped by C-17 aircraft. Later, the vessel was also sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband. Earlier, navy officials informed that the Indian Navy Marine Commandos have launched a major operation to rescue crew members on board a merchant vessel MV Ruen. The Indian Navy reiterated its unwavering commitment to maintaining maritime security and ensuring the safety of seafarers navigating through these perilous waters. This action by the Indian Navy serves as a testament to India's resolve to combat piracy and uphold international maritime laws, the Indian Navy stated. (ANI)
EAM Jaishankar expressed confidence that this 75th year of India-Ireland diplomatic ties will further strengthen the longstanding partnership.

"Warm Greetings to FM @MichealMartinTD and the Government and people of Ireland on St.Patrick's Day. Confident that this 75th year of our diplomatic ties will further strengthen our longstanding partnership," Jaishankar posted on social media X.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1769238665623175234?s=20

St. Patrick's Day is seen as a public holiday in Ireland, and the day is widely celebrated as an official Christian feast day also by other countries like UK, Canada, the US, Argentina and Brazil.

Moreover, EAM also shared a video on X, showing a glimpse of visits and meetings held between the two countries.

It showed the high-level interactions with the ministers and leaders of both nations in 2023.

As per the video, bilateral trade between India and Ireland touched USD 4.21 billion in FY 2022-2023.

The video also highlighted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland and the National Thermal Power Corporation of India for bilateral collaboration on energy and R&D initiatives in January 2024.

The video showed that about 6,000 Indian students in Irish higher education institutions.

Moreover, it mentioned that around 44,000 Irish tourists visit India annually.

Notably, Ireland has a strong Indian community of 75,000. (ANI)
The Ukrainian government has appealed to the citizens living in those territories that are under Russian control, after the start of conflict two years ago, to turn their backs on Moscow's "pseudo-elections," CNN reported. The Russian presidential elections, held over three days, will culminate on Sunday and are widely assumed to see Vladimir Putin return as president for six more years. "Ukrainian citizens should avoid participating in this farce in every way possible," Ukraine minister Iryna Vereshchuk said - which meant no one should be helping to organize the polling, campaigning, voting, or acting as an observer of the elections, the government said in a statement. "Do not engage in collaboration, do not help the occupiers to hold fake elections," Vereshchuk added, warning that those who did so willingly were breaking Ukrainian law, though forced participation was not unlawful, CNN reported. Meanwhile, in-person voting has been underway since Friday, but Sunday is expected to see the largest number of polling stations open in Crimea, as well as those parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are under Russian control. CNN cited a Russian state-run news agency, RIA Novosti, which purportedly showed a mobile election team setting up in Avdiivka, a town captured by Russian forces last month in an important territorial gain. "Our team is mobile to give the residents of Avdiivka the opportunity to vote in the presidential election. We have everything that is necessary for voting - ballots, a ballot box, a screen," a man called Danil, described as an election commission head, says, a scarf around his face hiding his identity. As several people are shown casting their votes, a woman, who says she is an Orthodox Christian of the Russian Church, expresses her gratitude. "We've been waiting for this. I'm very glad. Thank you very much for coming to us," she says. For Ukraine and its international allies, the voting exercise is seen as a Russian attempt to give 'legitimacy' to its control over the Ukrainian territory it holds, according to CNN. Russian Telegram channels have showed other mobile election teams across the territories under Moscow control, including some which show Russian soldiers accompanying election officials as they go house to house. Ukrainian officials say intimidation tactics like that are commonplace and are aimed at forcing people to give their vote to Putin. Russia's election officials have been posting updates on what they say is turnout in the various regions. In Kherson, the figure by 5:30 pm (local time) on Saturday was put at 77.7 per cent, while in occupied Donetsk the figure just after 9 pm Saturday stood at 86.5 per cent, as reported by CNN. Ukraine claims that Moscow will "fabricate" the final results and insists that the majority of people living under Russian occupation are choosing not to take part in the poll. (ANI)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took his first ride in the luxury car that was gifted to him by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al Jazeera reported. Notably, Pyongyang and Moscow have forged closer ties since Kim met Putin in Russia last September, their first summit in four years. Putin also invited Kim to try out his high-end Aurus Senat limousine, and the vehicle arrived in Pyongyang in February. Kim used the car for the first time on Friday, according to his sister and prominent government official Kim Yo Jong. The journey was "clear proof of the DPRK-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage", Kim Yo Jong was reported as saying by state-run KCNA. According to Russian state media, Aurus is Russia's first luxury car brand and has been used in motorcades of top officials since Putin first used an Aurus limousine during his inauguration ceremony in 2018. Kim Jong Un, 40, has a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into the country. During his Russia visit, he travelled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine that he brought with him on his special train. Other limousines Kim has reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62. A 2021 United Nations report highlighted an attempted shipment of luxury vehicles worth more than USD 1 million allegedly from the United Arab Emirates to Ningbo, China, for onward delivery to North Korea. Notably, North Korea and Russia have become increasingly close over the past year as Pyongyang advances its weapons and nuclear programmes and Moscow continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The United States and South Korea have raised concerns that North Korea is supplying Russia with weapons to use in its war in Ukraine in return for technological expertise. Russia and China, North Korea's oldest ally, have repeatedly blocked attempts to impose new UN sanctions on North Korea over its banned ballistic missile tests, according to Al Jazeera. South Korea's Ministry of Unification said it had assessed that the gift of the Aurus was also a "violation of UN sanctions." "We condemn North Korea for its brazen attitude of publicly disclosing violations of the UN sanctions," a ministry official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Russia should also be aware of its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and stop an act that undermines international norms," the official added. State media said that Kim also monitored paratroop drills on Friday that were aimed at showing his soldiers' ability to occupy an "enemy region at a stroke". He was accompanied by his daughter, as reported by Al Jazeera. (ANI)
Highlighting Pakistan's heinous crimes, prominent Baloch rights activist Hakeem Baloch has urged the Unitied Nations to recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Balochistan people for self-determination. In his address at the 31st meeting of the ongoing 55th United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session on Saturday, the leader underscored that the people in Balochistan have been experiencing oppression, exploitation and denial of fundamental rights under the Pakistani regime. "For over seven decades, the people of Balochistan have experienced oppression, exploitation, and denial of their fundamental rights under Pakistani rule. Since its forcible annexation in 1948, Balochistan has been subjected to systematic injustices, including political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and cultural suppression. To add to this, Pakistan is committing heinous crimes in the region, such as genocide. Today I stand before you to urge the United Nations to recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Baloch people for self-determination," he said. "The right to self-determination is a right enshrined in the UN Charter. Granting all people, the right to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development. The Baloch people have long sought to exercise this right, peacefully advocating independence from Pakistan. However, their voices are met with violence, intimidation and repression," he added. He also claimed that the Pakistani government has banned the political parties of Balochistan and denied their right of assembly to the Baloch people. Baloch also sought the intervention of the international community to address the calls of Baloch people to secure their future. "Political parties like the Baloch National Movement and student organisation, Baloch National Student Organisation Azad, have been banned, denying their right of assembly to the Baloch people. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests have become common. As the Pakistani state seeks to silence dissent and crush Baloch resistance,. It is time for the international community to heed the calls of the Baloch people. The UN must intervene to determine that the people of Balochistan can decide their future," he said. (ANI)
"The result will not be good if a party will cross the limit," the defence minister said.

"Nothing is cheaper than humiliating the martyrs," he added by talking to the media in Sialkot.

He claimed that during the PTI's previous administration, thousands of terrorists entered Pakistan.

Khawaja Asif denounced the terrorist attack in Mir Ali and stated that the people who enabled the catastrophe had been identified. He emphasised cooperation in the fight against terrorism and mentioned that there had been significant advancements on the incident.

He claimed there were ties between the people making dehumanising remarks about martyrs and terrorists. "We are aware that terrorists have shelters in Afghanistan, ARY News reported.

According to Khawaja Asif, the nation has been experiencing a resurgence of terrorism in recent months, and only a united government could win this war.

"Any division and chaos will spread this war to streets and neighborhoods," he said. (ANI)
Responding to Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Mariya Gabriel for thanking the Indian Navy for rescuing seven Bulgarian nationals in a successful anti-piracy operation in the Arabian Sea, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that it is exactly what friends are for. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "That's what friends are for," alongside Gabriel's post. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1769371268586103003?s=20 Notably, Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Mariya Gabriel on Sunday expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy for successfully carrying out a rescue operation to take back control of a hijacked merchant vessel and its 17 crew members including seven Bulgarian nationals in the Arabian Sea. She thanked the Indian Navy for the support and reaffirmed cooperation to protect the lives of the crew. Taking to X, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said, "I express my gratitude to the Indian navy for the successful operation to rescue the hijacked vessel Ruen &its crew members, including 7 BG nationals Thank you for support &great effort. We continue to work together to protect lives of the crew." On Saturday, the C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force executed a precision air-born drop of two boats along with Indian Navy MARCOS in the Arabian Sea in support of ongoing anti-piracy 'Operation Sankalp'. The operation was carried out to rescue the crew of the bulk carrier vessel MV Ruen which was hijacked by Somali pirates near the Yemeni island of Socotra recently. The Indian Navy thwarted the piracy attempt on MV Ruen, which had been under the control of Somalian pirates since last December, by safely evacuating 17 crew members and coercing 35 pirates to surrender. The Indian Navy informed in a statement that the mission was carried out by INS Kolkata on Saturday. "INS Kolkata, a mission deployed in the Arabian Sea, through the sustained high tempo of operations, has thwarted the designs of the Somali pirates to hijack ships transiting through the region by intercepting the pirate ship MV Ruen, on March 16. The merchant vessel had been hijacked in December 2023 and was under the control of the Somalian Pirates till now," the statement read. Earlier, the navy informed that the Indian warship INS Kolkata successfully cornered and coerced all 35 pirates to surrender, ensuring the safe evacuation of 17 crew members from the pirate vessel without any injury. In the rescue operation, which lasted for the last 40 hours, INS Kolkata intercepted the under-attack pirate ship, MV Ruen, sailing almost 2600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions. (ANI)
Two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting in Washington, DC, early Sunday morning, CNN reported, citing the police. The shooting was reported near the intersection of 7th and P Street Northwest, near the Kennedy Recreation Center at around 3 am (local time), according to the Metropolitan Police Department, according to CNN. Addressing a media briefing, Metropolitan Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll said all the victims were described as adults and had been taken to local hospitals, CNN reported, adding that no information was available regarding their condition. It is not clear who opened fire or what caused the shooting, which took place about a dozen blocks northeast of the White House. The police have not issued a statement on any arrests or named any suspects in the case. "We're asking anyone who may have any information related to this incident or may have witnessed it to contact the Metropolitan Police Department," Carroll said. Earlier, on Saturday, a man accused of killing three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, was finally taken into custody, CNN reported, citing police. Andre Gordon, the 26-year-old suspect, allegedly killed three people at two different homes in Pennsylvania before carjacking a driver and heading for New Jersey. Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said, "He's in custody. No one else was injured." Addressing a news conference on Saturday afternoon (local time), Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Gordon, who was driving a stolen vehicle, shot his 52-year-old stepmother Karen Gordon and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon in their home. Schorn said that three other people who were present in the home successfully hid from Gordon during the attack. After the shooting, Gordon visited Edgewood Lane and shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, with whom he has two children. According to Schorn, four other people were present inside the home, including Daniel's mother, who was injured by Gordon and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Police said Gordon after the shooter carjacked a driver at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville. The police said the driver was not injured in the incident. (ANI)
President Joe Biden spoke at the 2024 Gridiron dinner, along with Gov. Spencer Cox, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Gridiron President Dan Balz. The dinner, hosted by The Gridiron Club is a tradition that started in the 1880s  where politicians and journalists roast themselves and one another, the Deseret News reported.

Biden began his speech by poking fun at his age, and then at the length of his State of the Union address. He said, So, Ill keep my remarks just a few minutes less than my State of the Union. Kamala will stand up 83 times, because even the press has to admit: I crushed it. Granted, your expectations were so low, I just had to show up and remember who the president is.

He also addressed his administrations progress: ... Kamala and I and the members of the administration here tonight are proud  proud of our accomplishments on behalf of the American people: record job growth, wages rising, rigging the Super Bowl for Taylor Swift.

Bidens remarks on Trump

After making fun of his own age, Biden aimed at Trump.

He said, The big news this week is two candidates clinched their parties nomination for president. One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other is me.

He continued, Look, Im running against the same guy that I beat in 2020. But dont tell him. He thinks hes running against Barack Obama. Thats what he said.

Biden also mentioned Trumps financial situation, saying, Our big plan to cancel student debt doesnt apply to everyone. Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up to me and said, Im being crushed by debt. Im completely wiped out. I said, Sorry, Donald, I cant help you.

Recalling one of Trumps pandemic blunders, Biden joked, In the coming months, Kamala and I will be making the case how Americans are better off than four years ago, how we got so much through the pandemic, turned around the economy, reestablished Americas leadership in the world. All without encouraging the American people to inject bleach.

Biden aims at Republicans

Poking fun at Republicans, Biden said, And the biggest joke of the night: an impeachment inquiry. Imagine believing something so baseless that has a zero chance of succeeding. But Republicans would rather fail at impeachment than succeed at anything else.

He added, They take credit for one of the biggest infrastructure laws, but voted against it. And Im the one confused?

He also joked, I heard House Republicans were going to do a skit tonight, but they couldnt get a speaker.

Biden briefly named Gov. Ron DeSantis in his speech. He said, We know not everyone is feeling the progress were making. Were committed to helping the little guy. Ron DeSantis, though, wont take our calls.

On a more serious note

Ditching the jokes, Biden took his speech in a more serious direction.

He said, Look, I wish these were jokes, but theyre not. As I said in my State of the Union Address, we live in an unprecedented moment in democracy, and an unprecedented moment for history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack.

He praised the media, and called on them to educate the public. He said, This is not hyperbole: We need you. We need you. Democracy is at risk, and the American people need to know. In fractured times, they need a context and a perspective. They need substance to match the enormity of the task.
Candidates for Brown County Board Districts 5 and 24 participated in a forum Saturday, from left, Gloria Eastman, Dan Theno, Ross Toellner and Vanya Koepke.

GREEN BAY  The four candidates running for Brown County Board in District 5 and 24 shared their views on the role of the board and other key issues Saturday in a candidate forum at Franklin Middle School.

All 12 candidates were invited to participate in the event, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Green Bay, ahead of the April 2 election. Six districts have a contested race.

Candidates from two districts agreed to participate. Incumbent Dan Theno and Gloria Jane Eastman are running in District 5, while Vanya Koepke and Ross Toellner are running in District 24.

The candidates answered questions and had time to give opening and closing remarks in the forum. Residents were able to submit questions to the candidates.

Here are the main takeaways from the forum.

Brown County's biggest issues: Mental health, opioids, court backlog and equity

The candidates were asked what they saw as the most important issues facing the county.

Toellner said it is important to manage the tax levy and have a focus on mental health services since opioid and drug abuse and crime are all related to mental health. Koepke had a similar priority, continuing to address the abuse of opioid-based drugs.

Meanwhile in District 5, Theno said the current backlog of cases going through Brown County is an underemphasized issue supervisors need to work with the state to address. He pointed to hiring more public defenders and assistant district attorneys by the state to reduce the backlog.

"There are people on streets of Brown County that should be in jail and people in jail that are not getting justice and getting back to their families and jobs," Theno said.

On all issues the county addresses, accessibility of the services should always be the focus, Eastman said. There's an "equity issue" in the county, making some resources hard to access for people in such marginalized groups as LGBTQ and those with disabilities, Eastman said. One of the first steps Eastman wants to implement is livestreaming County Board meetings on YouTube.

Environmental protections and energy conservation are priorities for the four county board candidates

Each candidate said they wanted to prioritize various environmental issues.

Theno said he wants the county to make all of its buildings energy efficient and reduce levels of phosphorus going into the Fox River and East River.

Eastman pointed to working to use green energy more uniformly around the county. Toellner said it will be important to work with experts to preserve current protections. Koepke said preserving parks and the environment area important because "natural resource care is health care."

Each candidate highlighted the National Estuarine Research Reserve designation for the bay of Green Bay would be an important opportunity to protect the area's water.

County taxes: too high, low, or just right?

Theno, Toellner, and Koepke agreed that the tax rate just right.

Eastman said the county should raise the rate by a couple of dollars to help pay county employees a livable wage and said there is a turnover of staff due to pay.

"We are not breaking even if we are not paying our county employees a livable wage," Eastman said.

All four candidates agree on expansion of housing, child care, and BadgerCare

The candidates all support expanding BadgerCare Plus, the Medicaid program that provides health coverage to low-income Wisconsinites, though they noted the county does not a direct role in such a decision.

They also agreed on the need for more child care options for families. Eastman said it's important to protect Wisconsin SHARES, the child care subsidy program in the state. Toellner said the county needs to create more incentives for child care worker retention. Theno highlighted the work of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Brown County to provide services to families and people with disabilities.

Each candidate in the forum also agreed on working with local municipalities to build more housing that is affordable.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Brown County Board candidates speak ahead of April 2 election
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Egypt's Al-Ahram Studio, which is one of the oldest in the world, has been destroyed in a fire.

It took hours for firefighters to get the blaze under control and several buildings near the studio in Cairo's Giza district had to be evacuated.

Emergency services treated people at the scene for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The studio was founded in 1944. Several films and TV series were produced there and broadcast across the world.

The studio contains three production stages, a screening room and an editing suite.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited the site alongside other officials to assess the damage.

According to local media reports, the fire broke out 24 hours after the production company had finished filming its Ramadan TV series.

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire at bulding near Al-Ahram Studio in Giza, Egypt, 16 March 2024.

AFP reports that residents in neighbouring buildings were still sleeping on the ground in nearby streets at dawn on Saturday.

The fire damaged the facades of seven buildings. In a statement reported by Arab News, the prime minister announced compensation for affected families.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has postponed his annual State of the State address from Monday to an unknown date as the fate of his hallmark mental health proposition hangs in the balance.

The governor has staked a large part of his years-long strategy to overhaul homelessness and mental health care on the success of Proposition 1, which was on the March 5 ballot. The measure would outlay $6.4 billion of additional funding  through new bonds and restructuring existing legislation for more treatment beds and housing. Its failure would be a huge setback for Newsom, whos facing yet another recall push and has only two more years in office to deliver on his promises to voters.

Although Prop. 1s opponents have conceded that the measure is likely to pass, the 0.01% margin is not exactly the resounding victory that the governor undoubtedly hoped to tout in his State of the State speech. As of Saturday morning, fewer than 20,000 votes separated the Yes from the No votes, according to the Secretary of States Office.

No news agencies, including the Associated Press, have called the measure, which requires a simple majority.

We are coordinating with the Legislature to set a new date for the Governors delivery of the State of the State, wrote spokeswoman Izzy Gardon in an email Saturday. Will keep you posted once a date is confirmed.
How could Haiti even get to the point that its capital, Port-au-Prince, is paralyzed by armed gangs? For at least part of the answer, take a look at its history. You may find it hard to believe.

The island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic was visited by Columbus in 1492; he called it Hispaniola, claiming it for Spain. But Haiti eventually became a fabulously rich French colony, its plantations producing much of the world's coffee and sugar.

In 1791, the enslaved Africans who worked those plantations revolted. What followed was a 13-year bloodbath. Then, on January 1, 1804, Haiti traded the French flag for its own. It became the first Black republic, and abolished slavery.

But in 1825, the French came back, with gunboats, and an outrageous demand: reparations. Haiti had to borrow the money, with interest, from  yes!  France.

In today's currency, that would equal about $20 billion, according to Jake Johnston, the author of "Aid State," an analysis of the effects of foreign intervention in Haiti. "They wanted to be paid to recognize Haiti," said Johnston, "paid for their lost property, the enslaved population that had become an independent nation."

/ Credit: St. Martin's Press

The reparations that Haiti had to pay France had a huge impact on the country, said Haitian journalist and activist Monique Clesca. "Knowing that you gain your freedom but you had to pay the ones who were holding you as a slave. ... It is a collective scar that we carry. So, it has a major impact, because we could've been better."

Instead of building roads and schools and hospitals, Haiti was paying off that debt until 1947.

And how important a factor was the United States' presence, and involvement? "I think it's hard to overstate," said Johnston.

In 1915, the U.S. sent in the Marines, took control of Haiti's finances, and occupied the country for 19 years. It has continued to play political puppeteer ever since.

Just one example: The U.S. backed the Duvalier dictatorship. Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier seized power in 1956. Declaring himself "president for life," Papa Doc eliminated opposition with the help of his murderous goon squad, called the Tonton Macoute.

Johnston said, "One reason why the United States ended up being a big, early supporter of the Duvalier dictatorship was because they were a bulwark against communism in the hemisphere."

When Papa Doc died in 1971, his 19-year-old son, Jean-Claude (known as "Baby Doc"), declared himself president for life, but was forced into exile in 1986. He took with him, by some estimates, as much as $800 million, stolen from the people of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Haiti actually held free and peaceful elections in 1991. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former priest, was elected president  and was overthrown just a year later. So much for stability.

Then, in January 2010 Haiti's worst earthquake in 200 years destroyed much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and killed, according to Haitian officials, more than 200,000 people.

The lost children of Haiti ("60 Minutes")

In the chaotic aftermath, dozens of gangs emerged. "They were working hand-in-hand with politicians," said Monique Clesca.

"So, you can't separate the gang situation from the political situation?" asked Teichner.

"No. Not at all," replied Clesca. "The gangs became empowered, the gangs were validated, armed, et cetera, by the economic and the political elite."

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, Ariel Henry has served as the country's unpopular, unelected prime minister. His resignation hinges on the establishment of a transitional council.

Meanwhile, the gangs united under Jimmy Cherizier (a.k.a. Barbecue) are making political demands.

Gangs in Haiti try to seize control of main airport as thousands escape prisons: "Massacring people indiscriminately"Haiti capital Port-au-Prince gripped by chaos as armed gangs kill police, vow to oust prime ministerChaos unfolds in Haiti as Caribbean leaders call an emergency meetingHaitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agrees to resign, bowing to international and internal pressure

So, what now? With the United States and other regional players trying to broker the transition, Clesca acknowledges that Haiti has rarely been in the hands of Haitians. "And it is a battle that we are waging to confirm, to affirm our sovereignty."

Haiti's history has been described as "a series of crises, with brief periods of hope and peace." Will this be one of those periods? Or the same-old story, doomed to failure?

"My heart tells me that it is 50/50," said Clesca. "But my head tells me it may be 80% might fail. But what I know is, we gotta take the chance, because we're dying every day."

U.S. government charter flight to evacuate Americans from Haiti, as hunger soars: "There are a lot of desperate people"What is happening in Haiti? Here's what to know



For more info:

"Aid State: Elite Panic, Disaster Capitalism, and the Battle to Control Haiti" by Jake Johnston (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover and eBook formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgHaitian journalist-activist Monique Clesca



Story produced by Kay Lim. Editor: Emanuele Secci.



See also:

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Home buying might be cheaper for millions soon as realtor association settles lawsuits

Proposed California bill would ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos in schools

Face The Nation: Krishnamoorthi, Gallagher, Swisher
Update: Police said Amira Bills was found and is safe. The investigation continues and the suspect, Aerian Bills, is not in custody.

Kansas City police issued an Amber Alert early Sunday for a 4-year-old girl allegedly kidnapped by her father.

Aerian Bills, 33, allegedly assaulted the childs mother inside a white Chevy Malibu around 9 p.m. Saturday and fled with their daughter, Amira Bills, in the vehicle.

The car, which has Missouri tags 077RUE, was last seen traveling westbound near Meyer Boulevard and Olive Street. Bills allegedly threatened to kill himself and the child if police became involved.

Police said Sunday morning that the vehicle had been located, but Amira is still missing and considered in danger.

Bills is 6 feet tall, weighs around 260 pounds and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Amira was last seen wearing a pink unicorn shirt, pink jacket, blue jeans and black shoes with two ponytails.

Anyone who sees them or knows of their whereabouts should call the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
No Labels founding Chair and former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) slammed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for a speech he made earlier this week in which he called for new elections in Israel.

For a U.S. Senator, let alone a majority leader, let alone the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in Washington, to tell Israelis that its time to get rid of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], thats outrageous, Lieberman said in a Sunday interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on The Cats Roundtable on WABC 770 AM.

The former Connecticut senator also referred to the speech as a mistake and said that he cant ever remember anything like it.

On Thursday, Schumer gave what he called a major address in which he said that Netanyahus highest priority is the security of Israel, but that he has lost his way.

However, I also believe Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take the precedence over the best interests of Israel, Schumer said.

Schumer also said that the Israeli prime minister is in a coalition with far-right extremists and has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows.

As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7, Schumer said. The world has changed  radically  since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.

Lieberman pushed back on Schumers comments by proposing a scenario in which Schumer or someone else in the U.S. government told the United Kingdom to get rid of their prime minister.

Oh my God, thered be outrage all around, Lieberman said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FORT DODGE  A police officer shot and killed a male subject armed with two knives after he ran at officers who had responded to a distress call Saturday morning at a home in the city, according to a police department news release.

At about 8:40 a.m., the officers responded to the distress call at a home on Fourth Avenue South, the release said. Officers were told an individual inside "was exhibiting out of control behavior which allegedly included the injuring of a dog," the release said, but dispatchers had no information on whether the individual was armed.

According to the release: While at the scene, officers were informed there was an active warrant out for the subject for violation of probation and the original charge was domestic abuse. They then entered the home, and the subject, armed with the two knives, ran at them. That's when "an officer on scene discharged his firearm resulting in the death of the individual."

The home where a male subject was shot and killed by a Fort Dodge police officer is shown on Sunday, March 17, 2024. Officers responded to a distress call at the home Saturday. The individual, armed with two knives, was shot after he ran at officers, police said.

The names of the person who was killed and the officers involved have not been released. Police said no additional information would be released on Sunday.

The shooting happened at a large brick home with large windows near the center of Fort Dodge, right off the main road of Fifth Avenue South. It's in a neighborhood of large houses that have been converted into multiunit apartment buildings.

People in the neighborhood who were interviewed by the Register on Sunday said they did not know the person who was killed or his family.

The Webster County Sheriff's Office, the county attorney's office, the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were notified and responded, the release said. As is standard protocol when law enforcement officers are involved in a shooting, the DCI will lead the investigation.

"The Fort Dodge Police Department acknowledges the gravity of this incident and recognizes its impact on the community," the release said. "We extend our deepest sympathies to all affected parties during this difficult time. We reaffirm our commitment to transparency and accountability in all of our actions."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Male subject allegedly armed with 2 knives is killed by Iowa officer
BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- As two major Asia-Pacific countries critical to global economic growth, enhancing the ties between China and Australia is mutually beneficial and echoes the expectations of neighboring nations.

There is no historical grievance or contemporary hostility between China and Australia, and their common interests vastly outweigh any differences. Both sides must ensure that cooperation continues as the cornerstone of the bilateral ties.

Since taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has remedied its predecessor's irrational anti-China policies, prompting a positive response from China. As a result, China-Australia ties have gradually bottomed out, recovered and stabilized.

Albanese's visit to China last year was highly successful, with leaders of both nations agreeing to advance the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. During the visit, the Statement on Joint Outcomes of the China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting was issued, outlining a blueprint for the future development of bilateral relations in the next stage.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is slated soon to hold the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue during his visit to Australia with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

The visit comes as the two countries mark the 10th anniversary of establishing the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides should seize this moment to review their past relationship and extract valuable insights and lessons to foster a stable and enduring bilateral relationship moving forward.

China has long stood as Australia's most important trading partner, with bilateral trade comprising nearly one-third of Australia's total foreign trade.

The two economies are highly complementary: China boasts an enormous market in demand, an extensive industrial supply chain, and a large number of high-caliber workers and entrepreneurial talent, while Australia is home to rich and high-quality mineral resources, world-leading specialized expertise, a highly developed service industry and a well-established legal system.

There is no justification for such economically interdependent nations to fall victim to unfounded notions of "decoupling" or an imagined "new Cold War."

Instead, the two sides should fully exploit the potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and bolster ties in emerging areas such as climate change and green economy.

As the world's most dynamic region, the Asia-Pacific relies on close China-Australia relations. Together, they play a crucial role in fostering regional stability, driving economic growth, and tackling shared challenges like climate change and maritime security.

China and Australia can leverage their strengths through their joint efforts to build a more prosperous and secure future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. 
Rep. Mike Gallagher leaves a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 6, 2024 in Washington. The House failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by a vote of 216-214, with three Republicans including Gallagher voting with all of the Democrats to block the resolution.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, who is not running for reelection to his northeastern Wisconsin seat in Congress, did not commit to attending the four-day Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this July.

"I don't know. There's a lot of things I need to do this summer. We'll see," Gallagher told WISN-TV's 'Upfront' on Sunday. "I got this legislation I'm passing ... we'll see what happens."

If he doesn't attend, Gallagher would join a few Republicans who could sit out the convention, where former President Donald Trump is all but certain to secure the official nomination. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan from Wisconsin has said he won't attend if Trump is the nominee.

Gallagher said he didn't know if he had been invited to attend or speak at his party's convention, though many high-ranking politicians and party officials typically go to the RNC.

"I'm a has-been at this point. No one cares what I think. I'm old news, now that I'm not running again anymore," Gallagher said.

More: Who is U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, Wisconsin Republican not seeking reelection?

In February, Gallagher made the surprise announcement that he would not run again for Congress, instead planning to enter the private sector and spend more time with his young family.

Republicans will have a primary for the GOP-leaning seat, with former state Sen. Roger Roth and current state Sen. Andre Jacque announcing runs. And after failing to field a challenger last time, Democrats are now eyeing the seat.

On 'Upfront,' Gallagher also discussed the latest developments on a bill he's leading that would require TikToks Chinese parent company to sell the app or face a ban in the United States.

The House passed the bill on a 352-65-1 bipartisan vote last week, though its future in the Senate is uncertain. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill if it reaches his desk, but Trump opposes the legislation.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mike Gallagher says he doesn't know if he will attend RNC in Milwaukee
The National Weather Service is warning of elevated fire weather concerns in parts of Connecticut on Monday afternoon.

The weather service issued a special weather statement on Sunday, advising Connecticut residents that as temperatures rise into the low to mid 50s Monday afternoon, concerns for fire weather could increase as well.

On Sunday, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection placed the forest fire danger at high. The agency said the danger was moderate in eastern New London and castern Windham counties and high in all other areas.

According to the NWS, Fire Weather Watches are issued anytime an area has been dry for long period amount of time, or for a shorter period during spring green-up, the National Fire Danger Rating System is high to extreme, and critical weather conditions are expected within 48 hours.

In the statement issued Sunday, the NWS said a dry air mass for late March will be over the Connecticut region Monday and minimum relative humidities will drop near or below 30 percent.

Combined with increasing west winds of 20 to 25 mph, fire weather concerns will be elevated for Hartford, Windsor Locks, Union, Vernon, Putnam and Willimantic, the NWS said.
Another former top official at New Mexico State University reached a settlement after undergoing a two-year court proceeding in the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces.

Carol Parker, former provost and chief academic officer for NMSU from 2019 to 2022, signed off on a $445,000 settlement on Feb. 14, 2024, agreeing to not move forward in her lawsuit that alleged former university officials Dan Arvizu and John Flores had retaliated against her, according to the settlement document published on the New Mexico Sunshine Portal.

In Parkers original complaint, she stated that Arvizu, chancellor of the university, and then-president of the university Floros had allegedly used her as a scapegoat for unpopular administrative decisions regarding the investigation of faculty pay disparities, especially involving gender and race, and the restructuring of departments such as the merger of the former Colleges of Education and Health and Social Services, a move faculty opposed.

Students march through New Mexico State campus in Las Cruces demanding the university fire President John Floros and Provost Carol Parker on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.

Despite the serious nature of the allegations against Plaintiff [Carol Parker], and despite ongoing media coverage of the accusations, Chancellor Arvizu, a male superior, instructed Plaintiff to not respond in any way to the [faculty no confidence] resolution's allegations against her and demanded she stay silent, the complaint states.

Plaintiff believed that she was being blamed by faculty for actions that were not her decision, but rather decisions of her male supervisors that she was charged with implementing, the complaint further stated.

Parker allegedly when she brought those concerns to Arvizu, during the same time as the no confidence resolution, she was publicly placed on administrative leave, a process usually handled as a private personnel issue. Floros, who also received a vote of no confidence from the faculty, had not been put on leave or given the same treatment as Parker, according to the complaint.

Before Parker could take her concerns to the universitys Office of Institutional Equity, she was terminated. She filed her complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau and Third Judicial District Court as a result.

The Sun-News reached out to Kate Ferlic, Parkers attorney, to learn settlement details. Ferlic did not provide that information but rather reiterated her comments in previous reporting by the Albuquerque Journal.

[Parker] looks forward to consulting with other universities on issues related to equal pay, implementing quality education for students and elevating women in higher education administration, Ferlic told the Journal. Carol was an outstanding administrator who cared deeply about education in New Mexico.

New Mexico State University Provost Carol Parker

Parker will be paid $445,000, administered in two payments where 10% ($49,500) would be issued as a payroll check. The remaining 90% ($445,500) would be issued through her attorneys, holding responsibility for taxes. However, Ferlic told the Sun-News the total amount would be $495,000, despite the New Mexico Sunshine Portal not reflecting that number.

How did the university respond to the settlement? As written in the settlement document, it denied the allegations stating, NMSU and its former and current employees, denied, and continue to deny any and all allegations that they have acted improperly or illegally in any manner with respect to Releasor [Carol Parker] or her employment.

Parker isnt the only former top official to have recently settled a lawsuit with the university. Former NMSU Title IX Coordinator Laura Castille, who also alleged retaliation in the workplace after a whistleblower complaint, settled her lawsuit for $60,000 last month.

Ernesto Cisneros is a reporting fellow with the UNM/NM Local News Fund program. He covers education for the Sun-News and can be reached at ECisneros@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter at @_ernestcisneros.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU ends 2-year lawsuit with Carol Parker with settlement
This stream in western Licking County was one of many surveyed for water quality in 2022  before construction began on the Intel computer-chip manufacturing campus and before the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency proposed allowing small, privately operated wastewater-treatment facilities to dump effluent into such streams. After backlash, the Ohio EPA has withdrawn the proposal.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency heard the message loud and clear.

It has withdrawn a controversial proposal to allow small, privately operated sewage-treatment plants to aid rapid development in rural Delaware and Licking counties, which had raised concerns among local officials about potential pollution of waterways.

"Ohio EPA has canceled the public meeting scheduled for March 20, 2024, at the Licking County Library," the EPA said in a brief statement in a news release dated Thursday and posted on its website. "Based on comments and stakeholder feedback from municipalities, county sewer districts, and residents, Ohio EPA is choosing to withdraw the draft permit."

By Friday afternoon, a notice of the proposal and public meeting had been removed from the EPA's website. The EPA said in its news release that it "will continue to work with local stakeholders on alternative ways to manage the issue."

One of those ways is by updating a water-quality management plan for Licking and Delaware counties, according to an EPA statement Friday. The plan outlines service areas for municipal and county sewage-treatment utilities.

Withdrawal of the proposal was welcome news to local officials who werent waiting for the public meeting that had been scheduled for Wednesday at the Mary E. Babcock Library in Johnstown to share their thoughts, which ranged from concerns about water pollution and human health to the "terrifying" long-term implications of unplanned growth and environmental degradation.

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb said Friday he wasnt surprised that the EPA withdrew the proposal.

"It was a flawed approach that was overreactive," he said. "It was almost a Hail Mary thing that was done without thinking about the long-term implications."

Bubb said he was pleased the EPA listened to the "many thoughtful responses from local officials," and he hopes EPA officials take a step back and "that they are thoughtful going forward."

The EPA statement said the agencys intention with the proposal was "to manage anticipated growth in central Ohio in areas where local publicly owned wastewater treatment infrastructure was not available."

Licking County officials said previously that state officials told them the proposal to allow small, privately operated wastewater treatment facilities was driven by the need for housing for construction workers and employees of Intel and related companies coming to the New Albany International Business Park in western Licking County. Intel is building what it says will be the largest computer-chip manufacturing complex in the world  a $20 billion factory covering nearly 1,000 acres of former farmland in New Albany, just south of Johnstown.

The EPA said in its proposal that it was considering fast-tracking small treatment plants, which are sometimes called "package plants," as an interim measure "to ensure treatment capacity can meet the increasing wastewater demand."

The proposal would have allowed developers to build the small sewage-treatment plants and turn them over to homeowners associations to operate them until water and sewer lines are extended to the development. Kristy Hawthorne, program administrator for Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District, said it was a recipe for failure, given the shortage of treatment-plant operators and because homeowners associations know nothing about operating such facilities.

Licking County residents roundly criticized Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel on social media for saying in an introduction to the proposal that she "determined that a lowering of water quality in water of the state in central Ohio is necessary."

That did not sit well with people who depend on that resource for drinking water.

The small treatment plants could each handle up to 75,000 gallons of sewage a day, which Licking County authorities say could accommodate subdivisions of up to 60 houses or a hotel-restaurant complex.

Licking County commissioners and the Licking County Health Department sent letters to the EPA during the past two weeks, expressing concerns about unplanned growth, pollution and taxpayer expenses to clean up the mess when small wastewater-treatment plants fail, saying the facilities would increase the likelihood of untreated wastewater being discharged to waterways across Licking County.

Licking County Health Commissioner Chad Brown said Friday he was pleased with the EPAs decision.

"Thats good news," he said. "Obviously, with the letter we sent, thats a positive development."

Brown said the Health Department is not against development, and it is "willing to work with the EPA and anyone" to see that it is done in a thoughtful way that does not endanger public health.

County commissioners letter to the EPA called the agencys proposal "woefully insufficient to address long-term maintenance of these facilities. It is simply unrealistic to expect developers or homeowners associations to be accountable for long-term maintenance of these facilities, which, of course, means taxpayers will ultimately have to foot the bill."

Commissioners also said the proposal did not grant sufficient local regulatory control or enforcement authority  or funding for either  to assure that the facilities would be properly monitored and inspected to assure they are operated properly.

Bubb and Brown said a better path forward would be to expand the capacity of existing publicly owned wastewater-treatment plants and to build more of them.

Hawthorne said her agency is happy to hear that the EPA is listening to the communities the proposal would have affected.

"We are not anti-development," she said. "We are pro-proper development. Our environment should not be degraded in order to appease developers who do not have ties to our communities or our natural resources."

Alan Miller writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison Universitys Journalism program, which is funded by the Mellon Foundation and donations from readers.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Ohio EPA pulls plan for small sewage-treatment plants after backlash
Sometimes getting impeached, getting indicted, being the target of a federal investigation and sundry civil litigations  and having allegations of marital infidelity aired on the public square  can be good for a politician's career.

We're not talking about former President Donald Trump here, although we could be. We're talking about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who in the recent Republican primaries came out as well as or better than Gov. Greg Abbott.

Recall that Abbott spent millions of dollars, and an untold amount of his political capital, in the March 5 GOP primaries to help pull eight candidates for the Texas House who support his push to pass school voucher legislation across the finish line. And in the process he waged war with no fewer than 10 anti-voucher Republican incumbents, toppling five of them and sending three others into runoffs that will be decided May 28.

Paxton, who like Abbott is in his third four-year term, also launched primary offensives against Republican incumbents, and not only against members of the Texas House who voted to impeach him on 20 charges, including bribery and obstruction of justice. Three of the attorney general's targets were longtime judges who were elected in statewide races, and all were sent packing by voters.

Attorney General Ken Paxton opposed three longtime judges in statewide races, and all were sent packing by voters. Eight Paxton-backed House candidates won their GOP primaries, and House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Paxton nemesis, was forced into a runoff.

'Paxton revenge tour'

Paxton launched what has come to be known in numerous media accounts as his "revenge tour" soon after he was acquitted by the Texas Senate, largely along party lines, of his impeachment charges. His chief targets were the Republican House impeachment managers and several rank-and-file GOP members who voted to recommend his removal from office.

More: Will Ted Cruz 'crawl over broken glass' to win support of Democrats in reelection effort?

Some of the intended targets, including lead manager Rep. Andrew Murr of Kerrville, opted not to seek reelection. But Paxton's "white whale" was, and remains, Speaker Dade Phelan, who was adamant that Paxton's actions that prompted several of his one-time top aides to file a whistleblower lawsuit against the attorney general made him unfit for office. The impeachment effort gained steam when Paxton would not answer a House committee's questions about the lawsuit at the same time as he was asking lawmakers to fund the $3.3 million settlement agreement that would have made the litigation go away.

House Speaker Dade Phelan faces a May 28 runoff against a challenger backed by the attorney general.

Eight Paxton-backed House candidates won their GOP primaries. Another one, David Covey, forced Phelan into a runoff for his Beaumont House district. If Phelan is ousted by his own primary voters, it would probably be seen as Paxton's biggest coup, perhaps even larger than the toppling of the three GOP judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Expanding attorney general power

With the primaries in the rearview mirror, Paxton has been flexing the muscles of his office in different ways. He's filed civil lawsuits against several school districts that accuse officials of improperly trying to influence employees to vote against pro-voucher candidates. And he's seeking to assert authority over local district attorneys around the state, proposing a rule to require prosecutors to submit quarterly and annual reports that contain information about aspects of criminal cases within their jurisdictions.

More: AG Paxtons proposal may bolster state Republican efforts to rein in Democratic DAs

The Texas attorney general's office by law is largely a civil litigating entity and has only limited authority to engage in criminal prosecution. Paxton's proposed rule could raise his profile on the criminal prosecution front.

Paxton's success in the recent primaries came during an election cycle in which his name did not appear on the ballot but did appear on more than a couple of court documents. The whistleblowers, whose case remains alive because the settlement was not funded, less than a week before the primary asked for the Texas Supreme Court's go-ahead to force Paxton to submit to a sworn deposition responding to their allegations.

About two weeks before that, a state district judge declined to dismiss Paxton's criminal case, in which he is charged with securities fraud. The case dates back to the early days of his first term.

What's next in Paxton's political future?

The attorney general is openly feuding with Texas' senior U.S. senator, John Cornyn, who had the job Paxton now holds before going to Washington in 2003. Cornyn, citing the ongoing legal difficulties, has called Paxton "a source of embarrassment" for the Republican Party.

Paxton, 61, has signaled an interest in challenging Cornyn in the the 2026 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, even though Cornyn might be the Senate's Republican leader by then after Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced he will step down from the top post later this year.

Of course, that assumes Paxton's state criminal case is off the table by then, and that nothing comes of the ongoing federal investigation that is examining many of the elements that led to his impeachment charges.

Still, even if those matters are put to rest in Paxton's favor, he would be carrying substantial political baggage in his next campaign, be it against Cornyn or for a fourth term as attorney general.

But Paxton has been carrying heavy baggage ever since he arrived on the statewide political scene in 2014, and it hasn't managed to weigh him down in the past decade.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Impeachment charges made Texas AG Ken Paxton stronger politically
The release of the special counsels report on President Bidens keeping and handling of classified documents has ignited a firestorm. The reports conclusion is good news for Biden and was widely expected. However, the special counsel engages in a circuitous track of supposition and projection to justify not charging Biden.

Kevin Igoe

The report cites multiple incidences of Biden either not being able to remember milestones in his own life or being confused about events. It uses Bidens age and likely future mental decline as the reason not to bring charges. Basically, the special counsel says Biden does not have the mental abilities to defend himself in a court of law. The obvious question must be So, then how could he possibly be able to complete another four years and eleven months as commander-in-chief? Does anyone seriously think that Joe Biden, at the average of 86, could carry out the duties of the presidency?

What does Jill Biden think? As the loving spouse of 46 years she becomes, however reluctantly, the decider in this huge political question of should her husband seek to serve four more long years in the White House. This is a smart woman who holds a PhD in education and has a long professional career in the education field while under scrutiny as the wife of United States senator, vice president of the United States and now president. We are told she was on board with the re-election decision when it was made last spring.

Surely she sees what the world sees as the president slows physically and mentally. The mental flubs in public are becoming more frequent. The Oval Office takes a physical toll on every one of its occupants. Combined, those two factors dramatically affect the quality of remaining life for an elderly loving couple. At some point, it would seem to be to the benefit of the First Lady and her husband to slow the pace.

For many married men, the loving life partner is the anchor who prioritizes family relationships, long term planning and who brings common sense values to all the couples undertakings in later life. No doubt Jill Biden is protective of her husband.

She must now be questioning how much more her husband should  can  give to the nation. When is enough enough?

In 1974, with the Watergate scandal boiling over, Republican congressional leadership of Senator Hugh Scott (R, PA) and Representative John Rhodes (R, AZ) joined with GOP elder statesman and 1964 presidential nominee Senator Barry Goldwater (R, AZ) in a pilgrimage to the White House to tell President Richard Nixon it was time to resign.

It is very difficult today to see Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY), House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ( D, NY) and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) making a similar trip down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Biden White House. Unless, of course, the First Lady asks them to do so.

A retired 67-year-old nurse and grandmother, watching Biden on TV, recently said to me Where the hell is Jill Biden? The answer is she is in the living quarters in the White House every evening and sees what is happening.

With each passing week the beach house at Rehoboth has got to look more attractive.

The best interest of the nation and the Biden family are merging together.

It is time for the First Lady to take charge.

Kevin Igoe is the former chief of staff of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management and deputy chief of staff of the Republican National Committee. He served on the Washington staff of then Representative Connie Mack III and was a Reagan White House appointee. He is in Bonita Springs for the season awaiting hurricane reconstruction to his place on Bonita Beach.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: It's time for the First Lady to take charge
If you are reading this column, it is likely you are a human being. Very likely. As I learned from Bill Brysons books, A Short History of Nearly Everything and The Body, you are a collection of ten thousand trillion cells. Little is known about how these cells came together to be you. You are unique among all human beings. There is no other exactly like you. In all human history that is behind or in front of us, no other human being has been or will be you.

Every part of your body is intricately woven together to result in a perfectly well-organized entity that allows you to know and do all the things you know and do. You experience physical life through five sensestouch, hearing, taste, smell, and sight. You experience the fullness of life through human emotionsgrief and joy; foreboding and security; enmity and love; longing and fulfillment.

Pastor Jason and Jessica Dampier hold their daughter, Lillian Faith.

This brings me to faith, or rather to Lillian Faith, the child in the nearby picture who is cradled in the arms of her parents, Pastor Jason and Jessica Dampier. Lillian is a miracle resulting from years of prayer, expensive medical treatment, extreme patience, persistence, and diligence. The last three years have been especially challenging for Jessica and her faithful husband. A caring nurse in the parish they serve administered Jessicas frequent in vitro shots as the couple that longed for a child never gave up in the face of cruel disappointment. The baby who was never to have been was baptized recently in front of hundreds of worshippers including dozens of young children sitting near the baptismal font.

Jason served five years in Gastonia as an Associate Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Garrison Boulevard before accepting a call as Senior Pastor to Word of God Lutheran Church in Sharpsburg, Georgia. In their time in Gastonia, Jessica and my wife, Carla, became close friends. Carla encouraged Jessica as she struggled in her difficult quest to be a mother. Joy unimaginable filled our hearts when we learned that Lillian Faith was born in November. We thus traveled to Georgia recently to attend Lillians baptism. Our traveling companion was Seminarian Cody Carpenter who worked alongside Jason in his ministry at Holy Trinity. Cody, who will one day baptize babies like Lillian, delivered a sermon before the baptism challenging Jason and Jessica and the entire congregation to faithfully teach Lillian the commandments and the tenants of the Christian faith, to bring her to and join her in worship, and to guide her in her daily life. Cody also reminded us that we are all children of God, made in his image and endowed with blessings upon blessings.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has been in the news lately as the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling that frozen embryos are human beings, thus rendering IVF unlawful in the state. Essentially the court ruled that frozen embryos cannot be destroyed as they often are in intricate medical procedures. The governor and state legislature are working actively to pass a law that will override the courts ruling and permit this important therapy once again in Alabama.

Human beings are complicated creatures. We know more about them now than before, but we will never know all there is to know. When we hold a baby in our arms and cradle them to our chests, our hearts warm because we understand why we are here: to bring new life into being; to know and love a child, this child; to teach and guide them; to be there when they fall; and to watch with pride as they grow and learn and mature.

Jessica and Jason, their families and friends, and two congregations prayed for many years for a miracle. Faith brought them a child. They named her Lillian Faith.

Michael K. McMahan is a resident of Gastonia.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: YOUR TURN: Sharing a story of Faith
COLUMBUS  Ohio trade unions put their money behind incumbent Kevin Miller, while out-of-state contributors and loans help finance Daniel Kalmbach's campaign in the 69th Ohio House District Republican primary.

Kalmbach, 29, of Buckeye Lake, received more campaign contributions from out-of-state donors than from within Ohio, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's pre-primary campaign finance reports.

Miller, 49, of Franklin Township, almost tripled Kalmbach's contributions during the reporting period, with donations from numerous trade unions and political action committees.

Incumbent Kevin Miller collects $85,800, garnering support from Realtors, tradespeople

Miller reported $85,800 in contributions from 84 donors, with the largest a $10,000 contribution from Realtors Political Action Committee and $5,000 from Friends of Tom Patton, a Republican state representative from Strongsville. Miller received 33 donations of at least $1,000, with 31 of them from Ohio.

"I'm supported by numerous groups and organizations, including the trade unions," Miller said. "He clearly does not have that. I'm a huge supporter of the trades, and I think they see that. I support countless hardworking trade union members."

Miller's support includes contractors, bricklayers, iron workers, pipefitters, plumbers, truckers, firefighters and electrical workers. Miller said he has more than 400 donors, including previous campaign finance reports, with "a significant portion from the district."

Miller acknowledged he's been attacked for supporting House Bill 205, the Enact the High Hazard Training Certification Act, which is described in the legislation for the purpose of enacting the Protect Ohio Workers Act regarding construction services performed under contract at a stationary source.

"Nowhere in that language does it mention unions," Miller said. "The workers in these facilities must have minimum safety standards, speak English and must have passed or been through an apprenticeship program. That's why I supported that bill.

"They tried to say that was a big union bill. They say you're bought and paid for by the unions. That's garbage."

Challenger Daniel Kalmbach brings in nearly $30,000, much from outside Ohio

Kalmbachs campaign received $29,603 from 27 donors, with 11 coming from outside Ohio. Nine of his 12 donations of at least $1,000 donations were from out of state. He also has $150,000 in outstanding loans.

Kalmbach did not respond to questions about his out-of-state contributions or the loans but did attack Miller.

Daniel Kalmbach

"Kevin Miller has run over $400,000 in negative ads against me funded by Columbus insiders, plus another $100,000 from a Washington super PAC," Kalmach said. "He has received $600,000 from unions this cycle.

"Kevin can't run on his record, so he's letting the teachers' unions and liberal outside groups do the work."

A combined $12,704 in Kalmbach donations came from Dale Martin, Leonard Martin, Josh Martin and Jeremy Martin, co-owners and employees of Farmer Boy, an agricultural supply and construction company based in Myerstown, Pennsylvania.

Farmer Boy has five locations, one in Morral, Ohio, in the northern part of the state. Leonard Martin, who donated $5,000, is the companys Ohio operations manager, according to his Linked-In profile. Leonard and Dale Martin are also co-owners of Farmer Boy, according to its website.

Kalmbach also received donations from: Greenville, Wisconsin; Richmond Hill, Georgia; Fargo, North Dakota; Neosho, Missouri; Bloomfield Hills and West Bloomfield, Michigan; and Little Rock, Arkansas.

"His family is very wealthy and a lot of his donors are from out of state," Miller said. "Only a handful in the district. The voters of the district won't be fooled by someone that moved in to the district to run against me."

Miller, appointed in 2021 to complete the term of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, faced no primary opposition in 2022 and easily defeated Democrat Charlotte Owens in the general election.

Republicans picked Miller from 19 candidates to replace Householder, convicted of racketeering in orchestrating a $60 million bribery scheme and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Kalmbach, who grew up in Findlay and moved to Licking County last year, said he was encouraged to run for the Ohio House by conservative leaders around the state. He has never run for office before.

The winner of the Kalmbach-Miller race will face Democrat Jamie Hough, 37, of Heath, in the general election.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-973-4539

Twitter: @kmallett1958

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: 69th Ohio House: Unions back Miller; out-of-state funds aid Kalmbach
NEW DELHI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Indian navy seized a cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates and rescued 17 crew members after forcing 35 pirates to surrender, the navy said Sunday.

Using coordinated tactical maneuvers and aerial support from HALE RPA, P8I, and MARCOS PRAHARs, the Indian navy forced the 35 pirates to surrender without resistance on Friday, a navy spokesman said, adding that the vessel was subsequently sanitized for any potential illegal arms, ammunition, or contraband.

The armed Somali pirates hijacked the vessel in December last year and then used it to hijack ships on the high seas off the east coast of Somalia. 
Vaughan Gething has been announced as the next First Minister of Wales, becoming the first black politician to lead a European country.

His victory in the Welsh Labour leadership election means that, for the first time since devolution began in the late 1990s, none of the UK nations will be led by a white male.

Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister, is the son of first-generation immigrants from Pakistan, while Northern Ireland is led by a female first minister and deputy first minister, Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly.

Mr Gething, currently minister for the economy, beat Jeremy Miles, the education minister, winning 51.7 per cent of the vote.

In his acceptance speech on Saturday, he said: Today we turn a page in the book of our nations history  not just because I have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any European country, but because a generational dial has jumped too.

Devolution is not something I have had to get used to or adapt to, or apologise for. Devolution, Welsh solutions to Welsh problems and opportunities, is in my blood  its what I have always known through my adult political life.

Vaughan Gething celebrates with his wife Michelle and son Isaac as he is announced as the fifth First Minister of Wales on Saturday - Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Mr Gething was born in Zambia in 1974, where his father, a Welsh vet from Ogmore-by-Sea in Glamorgan, met his mother, a chicken farmer. He has spoken about his experiences of racism, saying in his campaign that he did not want anyone in Wales to suffer prejudice.

When he was two, his family moved to Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, where his father had been due to start a new job, but the offer was withdrawn when he arrived with a black family.

The family moved to Dorset, and Mr Gething later returned to Wales to study law at Aberystwyth University, becoming a solicitor. He has been a member of the Senedd since 2011.

Congratulating Mr Gething on his appointment, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, said: I am committed to working together constructively, with a relentless focus on growing the Welsh economy and levelling up communities.

Mr Yousaf said: What an incredible achievement to become the first black leader of a European country.

Mr Gething, who was health minister during the Covid pandemic, paid tribute to Mark Drakeford, the departing First Minister, describing him as the right leader at the right time in the pandemic and adding: We will be forever in his debt.

Mr Drakeford said his successor would provide the next generation of leadership for the party.

Mark Drakeford will formally resign as First Minister on Tuesday, March 19 - Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Turning his attention to the general election, due later this year, Mr Gething said: I know that we can win. We can win if we stand together, linking arms to defeat the narrow forces of division that seek to make a warm nation turn cold. That only happens if we sweep the Tories out of office and send Sir Keir Starmer into Number 10.

Labour has been in power in Cardiff since the creation of the Welsh Assembly in 1999, but is facing difficulties on a number of fronts, including criticism of a 20mph speed limit policy, long waits for NHS treatment and protests by farmers against green subsidy plans.

Mr Gething said last month that the Welsh Government had got some of the communication side wrong on the 20mph default speed limit in built-up areas.

Sir Keir said: Huge congratulations to Vaughan Gething on his election as leader of the Welsh Labour Party. His appointment as First Minister of Wales, the first black leader in the UK, will be an historic moment that speaks to the progress and values of modern-day Wales.

With his many years of experience in the Senedd, I know he will lead a hopeful, ambitious Welsh Labour government in the face of a tired and failed Tory government in Westminster.

Mr Drakeford will formally resign as First Minister on Tuesday, March 19, and the Senedd will elect its new First Minister on Wednesday, March 20.

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When General of the Army Douglas MacArthur retired after 52 years in the military, he was invited by the U.S. Congress to address its members. He concluded his address with a quote that quickly became wildly popular  Old soldiers never die; they just fade away. During the 1950s, the quote was so popular that it was even lyricized and became a musical bestseller.

A decade later, at the height of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, popular African American comedian Nipsey Russell took a little poetic license with the generals quote asserting that Old soldiers never die because its the young ones who do all the fighting.

Although General MacArthur may have produced a little head scratching from a public trying to understand how soldiers fade away, there is no ambivalence about Nipsy Russells assertion that young soldiers do all the fighting in war and, therefore, the most dying as well. The data from the Vietnam War supports Russells contention that the average age of those killed was only approximately 22-23, a data point very close to WWII and the Korean War data as well.

Army Vietnam veteran Tommy Trott salutes after placing a wreath at the Vietnam monument on the Hyannis Village Green as part a Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2023.

The Vietnam War devastated the young men and women of that generation. In addition to the 58,000 plus killed, over 75,000 were severely disabled, meaning that they had been incapacitated, facing their future from a wheelchair, without limbs, or perhaps blind, deaf or badly disfigured. These totals do not include those returning home who turned to alcohol, drugs and even suicide to resolve the torment from post-traumatic stress (PTS), which had yet to be recognized.

The legacy of the Vietnam War is complicated, and it is unfortunate that the sacrifice of Vietnam veterans has been obscured by an unpopular war.

To recognize the unsung sacrifice of Vietnam veterans, several states, including Massachusetts, began designating March 29 as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day. As the number of states recognizing this date expanded, it eventually led to the enactment of the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act in 2017, federally mandating March 29 as the day that belongs to the nations Vietnam veterans. However, it is not a national holiday and I doubt many Americans know what Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day is about, although at least the idea has been around for 50 years.

It started in 1974 when President Nixon expressed concern about the poor reception many veterans received when they returned home from Vietnam duty. Nixon saw a link between 2 significant events that occurred on March 29 the previous year: In 1973, the last American combat troops left Vietnam, and American POWs came home. In March 1974, he declared that March 29 should be recognized as Vietnam Veterans Day, eventually leading to federal recognition in 2017.

Cape Cod has a large veteran population. In fact, Barnstable County has the largest veteran population of all 14 Massachusetts counties. Of this total, there are almost 7,000 Vietnam veterans living on Cape Cod. Please let me extend a special salute to all of you and recognize you for your Service, Sacrifice, and Valor, the words inscribed on the Vietnam Veteran 50th anniversary commemorative pin. The words fittingly describe the character of the brave men and women who fought there.

And, of course, I would also like to extend a special recognition in memory of the 58,000 plus men and women who returned home in a flag-draped casket or who remain missing. Their names etched on the Vietnam Memorial Wall provide a constant reminder of their sacrifice. Although not here, we will never forget them.

Ralph Negron, a resident of Sandwich, is a Marine Vietnam Veteran and an adjunct history professor at Cape Cod Community College.

For information about how to submit a Letter to the Editor or Your Turn column visit Cape Cod Times letter and Your Turn submission guidelines.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Vietnam Veterans Day on March 29 a day to remember those who served
Vladimir Putin has thanked the Russian citizens after early election results showed him winning his country's presidency in a landslide.

In his victory speech, delivered after results showed him winning with 87% of the vote, Putin called his win an example of the trust of Russian citizens.

Among the tasks he said his administration would tackle in the coming term are strengthening the Russian Federation's defense capabilities and issues of special operations. He went on in his speech to call the election results a manifestation of trust on the part of citizens.

PHOTO: Russian presidential candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin visits his election campaign headquarters, after polling stations closed on the final day of the presidential election in Moscow, March 17, 2024. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

He also said Russians in border areas -- a reference to Ukraine -- are showing courage and no one has intimidated them and will not be able to do so. Law enforcement officers, he said, will identify and take measures against those who are fighting against Russia.

Putin went on to thank all Russian citizens for their support and trust.

While taking reporters' questions following his victory speech, Putin claimed a deal to release imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, prior to his death, had been proposed.

"A few days before Navalny passed away, I was told that there was an idea to exchange him for people in prison in Western countries," Putin said.

The Russian President said he agreed, with one condition -- "so that he does not return," he said.

Reflecting on the incident, Putin said, Unfortunately, what happened had happened."

Voting in the Russian presidential election ended Sunday. Putin faced no real challengers in the election.

Voter turnout for the election across Russia was 74.22%, according to the commission. Huge lines of voters appeared at embassies throughout Russia and abroad in the hours before the polling stations closed.

MORE: As Russia holds elections, Putin opposition fights to survive and adjust to life after Navalny

The final day of voting came amid protests by thousands of Russians who took part in "Noon against Putin" demonstrations in Russia and abroad. Many protesters held signs demanding the war in Ukraine be stopped.

More than 75 people in 17 Russian cities were detained on the last day of voting in the presidential election, officials said.

PHOTO: In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference centre in central Moscow on Feb. 29, 2024. (Sergey Guneyev/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a Russian prison last month, supported the protests and cast her vote at the Russian embassy in Berlin.

"Putin is not a politician, he's a gangster. Alexei Navalny became famous in Russia and hated by Putin precisely because, from the beginning of his fight, he openly described Putin and his allies as gangsters who had seized and used power only for their own enrichment and to fulfill their personal ambitions," Navalnaya wrote in an opinion piece published Wednesday in the Washington Post.

PHOTO: Natalia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, addresses a statement after exiting the Embassy of Russia in Germany where she voted for the presidential election in Berlin, on March 17, 2024. (Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images)

She claimed her husband was "murdered in prison on Vladimir Putin's direct order."

An independent election monitor, Golos, received 1,580 reports of possible violations at the polling stations.

PHOTO: People take part in an anti Putin rally as voters queue outside the Russian embassy in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2024. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

By the end of the third day of voting, the number of Russians detained for arson at polling stations and spoiling ballots with paint had reached at least 35 people. The most notorious case occurred in Perm, where a 64-year-old woman detonated a powerful firecracker, investigators said. According to preliminary data, her arm was torn off.

MORE: As Russia holds elections, Putin opposition fights to survive and adjust to life after Navalny

Putin won the elections in 2018 with 76.69% of the votes from those who took part in the election. Voter turnout of the 2018 presidential elections was about 68%.

MORE: Video Russians head to the polls to vote, but Putin expected to easily remain in power

Before the voting ended Sunday, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, told the state news agency TASS that Moscow does not attach importance to Washington's opinion on the results of the current presidential elections in Russia.

Antonov stressed that Russia has already rejected the position of the United States, which has stated that it does not intend to recognize the results of the vote in new Russian regions.

"We don't give a damn about you a hundred times," Antonov said.

Putin clinches Russian presidency, says there was proposed agreement to free Navalny before death originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. (Download it here.)

Hosted by Jane Pauley

WATCH THE FULL MARCH 17 BROADCAST!



COVER STORY: Haiti's long history of crises, and its present unrest | Watch Video

The Caribbean nation currently roiling under fire from armed gangs and without a functioning government was born as a rich French colony that gained independence in 1804, founded by the formerly enslaved. Since then, Haiti has been mired in poverty, crushing debt, violence and political upheaval, subjugated by dictators and foreign powers. Correspondent Martha Teichner looks at Haiti's history, and talks with author Jake Johnston and journalist-activist Monique Clesca about the country's current turmoil and what the future bodes for Haitians.

For more info:

"Aid State: Elite Panic, Disaster Capitalism, and the Battle to Control Haiti" by Jake Johnston (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover and eBook formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgHaitian journalist-activist Monique Clesca



ALMANAC: March 17 (Video)

"Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date.

Conor Knighton's ancestors emigrated from Ireland. / Credit: CBS News

HISTORY: The history of Irish emigration, and the pride of the Emerald Isle | Watch Video

The story of Ireland has been a history of emigration, with millions having left the island to escape famine or to search for opportunity. EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, traces the contributions that Irish descendants continue to make across the globe in a wide range of fields. As we mark St. Patrick's Day, correspondent Conor Knighton celebrates the Irish diaspora, and explores his own ancestors with a genealogist at the Irish Family History Centre.

For more info:

EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, DublinIrish Family History CentreThanks to Little Gem Tours

Oscar the Bird King, a troll sculpture by recycle artist Thomas Dambo. / Credit: Thomas Dambo

ARTS: Thomas Dambo's magical troll art (Video)

The Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo uses reclaimed wood and scraps from landfills to create giant works of art depicting trolls  magical creatures that he has installed in 17 countries. Correspondent Lee Cowan talks with Dambo about his creation depicting Oscar the Bird King, hidden in the woods of Vashon Island near Seattle, and how his sculptures blend in with the natural world.

For more info:

Recycle artist Thomas DamboDambo's "Way of the Bird King" Project

A scene from the Broadway musical

STAGE: "The Notebook": Turning the bestselling romance into a Broadway musical | Watch Video

In 1996 Nicholas Sparks' romantic novel "The Notebook" became a bestseller. Eight years later it was adapted to a classic movie starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. And the love story that was "a song, a dream, a whisper," is now a Broadway musical. Correspondent David Pogue talks with Sparks and with members of the creative team that turned his book into a show that is already causing considerable audience joy and weeping.

For more info:

"The Notebook: The Musical," at the Schoenfeld Theatre, New York City | Ticket infoNicholas SparksIngrid MichaelsonBekah BrunstetterMichael Greif (Internet Broadway Database)

Schele Williams







PASSAGE: In memoriam (Video)

"Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week, including pioneering mountain climber and documentary filmmaker David Breashears, who brought an Imax camera to the summit of Mount Everest.

Christine Blasey Ford talks about her memoir,

BOOKS: "One Way Back": Christine Blasey Ford on speaking out, death threats, and life after the Kavanaugh hearings | Watch Video

In 2018, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a university professor and mother of two, accused then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a party while both were in high school. After her televised testimony, the allegations stirred a hornet's nest of controversy, and brought death threats to Ford and her family. Now, Ford has written a memoir, "One Way Back," about her experience speaking out. She talks with correspondent Tracy Smith about the costs of going public; the responses she received from survivors of sexual assault; and how she has no regrets for her decision.

READ A BOOK EXCERPT: "One Way Back" by Christine Blasey Ford

For more info:

"One Way Back: A Memoir" by Christine Blasey Ford (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available March 19 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org



HARTMAN: A third-grade fashion trendsetter (Video)

At first, when eight-year-old James Ramage started wearing a suit to class at Chelsea Elementary School in the small rural town of Chelsea, Maine, the other kids didn't know what to think. Now the students join in, and once a week put on their finest for what is known as "Dapper Wednesday." Correspondent Steve Hartman reports.

On the set of

TV: Posing questions to "Jeopardy!" champion-turned-host Ken Jennings | Watch Video

He was an all-time "Jeopardy!" champion who is now host of the venerable game show that is marking its 60th year on the air. Correspondent Luke Burbank puts the answers  no, the questions to Ken Jennings about how he trained as a contestant, and what it means to him to succeed the late Alex Trebek.

For more info:

"Jeopardy!" (Official site)

Koi carp are bred to create their distinctive markings. / Credit: CBS News

WORLD: Koi: "Swimming jewels" (Video)

Koi carp are loved and admired for their size and bright markings and not just in Japan; breeders exported nearly $50 million worth of koi last year, with America the second-largest importer of koi in the world. Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer visits a fish beauty pageant of sorts at the All Japan Koi Show in Tokyo, and talks with fish breeders and aficionados about the charisma of koi.

For more info:

Laguna Koi Ponds, Laguna Beach, Calif.53rd All Japan Koi Show, Tokyo (In Japanese)

Artwork at the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery, Alabama. / Credit: CBS News

ARTS: An Alabama sculpture park evokes the painful history of slavery | Watch Video

In Montgomery, Alabama, a long-neglected plot of land, wedged between a maze of train tracks and the river, has been transformed into the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park  17 acres filled with nearly 50 sculptures by world-famous artists like Kehinde Wiley, Hank Willis Thomas, Simone Leigh and Rose B. Simpson. It's the latest installation by the Equal Justice Initiative to evoke the history and repercussions of slavery in America. Correspondent Mark Whitaker reports.

For more info:

Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, Montgomery, Ala. Equal Justice InitiativeNational Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, Ala.Hank Willis Thomas



COMMENTARY: Jim Gaffigan on being a bourbon aficionado | Watch Video

The comedian, a longtime beer guy, is new to the enjoyment of liquor, and finds it helps him forget his five kids.

For more info:

jimgaffigan.com | "Barely Alive" tour dates





NATURE: Driftwood on a Florida beach (Extended Video)

We leave you this Sunday among driftwood along the shoreline at Little Talbot State Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Videographer: Charles Schultz.

For more info:

Little Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville, FloridaWEB EXCLUSIVES:

THE BOOK REPORT: Washington Post critic Ron Charles (March 17) | Watch Video

This month's fiction and non-fiction titles take us from pre-Civil War America to modern-day politics, the rise of Silicon Valley, and the future of the planet.

READ AN EXCERPT: "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher

The journalist and podcaster pens a memoir about her journey as a reporter chronicling the Silicon Valley shenanigans of arrogant Internet billionaires and their reckless empires.

READ AN EXCERPT: "James" by Percival Everett

The author of "Erasure" (the basis of the Oscar-winning film "American Fiction") returns with a comic novel that retells Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" through the eyes of an enslaved boy.

READ AN EXCERPT: "Great Expectations" by Vinson Cunningham

The New Yorker essayist's debut novel tells the story of a young man transformed by working for the presidential campaign of an aspirational Black senator from Illinois.

READ AN EXCERPT: "The Morningside" by Tea Obreht

The latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of "The Tiger's Wife" and "Inland" is set in a future metropolis ravaged by climate change.

GALLERY: Notable deaths in 2024

A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.

The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Executive producer is Rand Morrison.

DVR Alert! Find out when "Sunday Morning" airs in your city

"Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. (Download it here.)

Full episodes of "Sunday Morning" are now available to watch on demand on CBSNews.com, CBS.com and Paramount+, including via Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV/FireTV stick and Xbox.

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You can also download the free "Sunday Morning" audio podcast at iTunes and at Play.it. Now you'll never miss the trumpet!

Home buying might be cheaper for millions soon as realtor association settles lawsuits

Jim Gaffigan raises a glass to bourbon

"Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings
Pampa native wins inaugural Eric Barry Vocal Competition at WT

CANYON  A West Texas A&M Univesity graduate student won a $1,000 scholarship in a first-of-its-kind competition at the university. Taylor Lindley, a graduate student in music from Pampa, was named the winner of the first Eric Barry Vocal Competition, named for a WT alum and opera performer.

Thirteen WT music students entered and were judged by a panel consisting of Barry; Melody Rich, a member of Amarillo Colleges voice faculty; and George Jackson, music director and conductor of the Amarillo Symphony.

I feel so honored to be the grand prize winner, Lindley said. I am so thankful to Eric Barry for making this competition a possibility for WT vocalists, and I cant wait to see how it grows from here.

Taylor Lindley, center, a graduate student in music from Pampa, was named the winner of the first Eric Barry Vocal Competition on March 7. Also pictured are, from left, Sarah Beckham-Turner, assistant professor of voice and WT Opera director; George Jackson, music director and conductor of the Amarillo Symphony; Barry; and Melody Rich, a member of Amarillo Colleges voice faculty. Jackson, Barry and Rich were the contest's judges.

During the March 7 competition, the panel whittled the full slate down to five finalists: Lindley; Justin Williamson, graduate student in music from Amarillo; Brooklynn King, a junior music major from Pearland; Erin Hinds, a senior music major from Amarillo; and Sarah Estes, a sophomore music major from Turpin, Oklahoma. Estes earned a $200 encouragement award. Williamson was invited to perform with the Amarillo Symphony in its 2024-25 season.

Barry graduated from WT in 2004 after studying both music and business. He earned a masters degree and an artist diploma from Yale University, and in his professional career, he has performed with many of the top opera houses and symphonies in the world. He and his wife, Judge Ana Estevez, established the competition through a $25,000 endowment of an opera scholarship.

The Amarillo Symphony is delighted to announce Marlies Ballengee as the 2024 Beethoven Society Award recipient.

Amarillo Symphony announces 2024 Beethoven Society Award winner

The Amarillo Symphony is delighted to announce Marlies Ballengee as the 2024 Beethoven Society Award recipient. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who exemplify outstanding service, leadership, and dedication to the Symphony's mission.

Ballengee will be formally presented with the award during the Beethoven Society Award Dinner on April 21. This annual event celebrates the Society's members, whose generous contributions are vital to the Symphony's artistic, educational, and community outreach efforts. The Beethoven Society Award recognizes members who demonstrate exemplary commitment through their time, talent, and financial support. Ballengee truly embodies this spirit.

Marlies Ballengee's contributions to the Amarillo Symphony cannot be overstated. She and a few friends established the Beethoven Society in the 1990's and in a few short years they raised $100,000 to retire the Symphony's debt, said Terry White, Symphony Board President. Marlies' contributions have been large and small, from being the Symphony's main fundraiser to creating the centerpieces for the annual Beethoven Society dinners. The impact Marlies has had on the Amarillo Symphony will continue for years to come.

"I am incredibly humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award," shared Ms. Ballengee. "Being recognized is truly meaningful to me. As the Development Chair alongside then-President Coney Burgess, I was proud to be part of launching the Beethoven Society. Witnessing their incredible achievements and remaining involved for the past 30 years has been a privilege."

The Amarillo Symphony extends its deepest gratitude to Ballengee and all Beethoven Society members for their invaluable contributions. Their ongoing support ensures that the power and beauty of music continue to enrich the lives of countless individuals throughout the Texas Panhandle.

Amarillo Panhandle Humane Society raising funds through Easter egg initiatives

The Amarillo Panhandle Humane Society is offering two fun Easter related items on its website to help raise funds to support its program and costs for its animals. The deadline to order both options online is March 23.

For Egg My Yard, (from $25), people can order a desired amount of prefilled eggs to be hidden/scattered in their yards at night so that they can wake up to a fun Easter surprise and a special note from the Easter bunny. There are even options for "fur babies to use their sniffers to hunt for some goodies," as well.

With an Egg My Yard Sponsorship ($20), citizens can sponsor an egg hunt for one of the animals in its program. "The animals in our program want to get in on the Easter fun, too!" Any overages in sponsorships will go toward extra food/treats for the organization's animals.

For more information, visit their website, www.amarillo-panhandle-hs.org/shop/holiday and scroll down for links to the Easter options.

Amarillo MPO policy committee to meet March 21

The Amarillo Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee will meet on March 21 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in room 275 of the Simms Bldg.

The public will be permitted to offer public comments as provided by the agenda and as permitted by the presiding officer during the meeting. Agenda items include discuss and consider resolution to support City of Amarillo as recipient of FTA Funds, discuss and consider future meeting times for MPO Policy Committee meetings, consider logo for MPO, discuss summary of UPWP Funds, consider additional planner for MPO, consider Cat 7 & 9 projects, and receive a draft of the 2025-2028 TIP.

The City of Canyon is proud to announce the promotion of Chris Enriquez to Director of Public Works.

City of Canyon announces changes in Public Works leadership team

CANYON  The City of Canyon is proud to announce the promotion of Chris Enriquez to Director of Public Works and the hiring of Tanner Devenney as the new Assistant Director of Public Works. This comes after the retirement of Dan Reese as the Director of Public Works since 2004.

Reeses last day as director was March 8, totaling nearly 20 years of service to the City of Canyon. During his time at the city, Reese oversaw millions of dollars in Capital Improvement Projects and worked under three city managers.

Dans selfless leadership over the past 19 plus years has been a true blessing to the community of Canyon and to help provide exemplary service to our customers, said Canyon City Manager Joe Price. Under his leadership, we have continued to take our utilities to the next level. His wisdom and desire to help others will be dearly missed.

Enriquez, who has held the title of Assistant Director of Public Works since 2021, has worked for the City of Canyon for a total of 13 years. Enriquez is a Certified Public Manager and Certified Floodplain Manager and earned his Bachelors from WTAMU in Civil Engineering. Following the announcement of Enriquezs promotion last fall, the city conducted an open search for a new Assistant Director of Public Works. Devenney was chosen as the ideal candidate and will start this March.

The City of Canyon is proud to announce the hiring of Tanner Devenney as the new Assistant Director of Public Works.

Devenney, an Engineer In Training, graduated from WTAMU with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. He has worked for the last seven years at the City of Amarillo as an engineer and project manager.

More information on the public works department can be found at www.CanyonTX.gov/692/Public-Works.

RCSO: Construction to close portion of Rockwell Road through April

The Randall County Sheriffs Office noted this week that due to major road construction, Rockwell Road between Soncy Road/FM 2590 and Turtle Dove Lane will be closed for about six weeks due to construction.

The project was set to begin on March 14 and will last until the end of April. During this time, construction willbe done to repair drainage structure installation in Spring Draw.

The entire portion of the road surface will have to be removed in order to adequately install the new drainage structures, the sheriff's office said.

From left, Lawana Pulliam, Jamie Copley, Breanna Freeman, Stephanie Schilling, Angela James, LaDonna Parks, Debbie Davis, Haylee Monden, and Amanda Cothrin. Plemons Stinnett Phillips Consolidated Independent School District (PSP CISD) is excited to announce the launch of an Early Learning Academy, in partnership with Region 16 Education Service Center, starting August 2024.

Early Learning Academy launching August 2024 in Stinnett

STINNETT  Plemons Stinnett Phillips Consolidated Independent School District (PSP CISD) is excited to announce the launch of an Early Learning Academy, in partnership with Region 16 Education Service Center, starting August 2024.

This groundbreaking initiative represents a significant milestone in addressing the critical need for early childhood education in our community, said Jamie Copley, PSP CISD superintendent. We are set to bring the best in early education to PSP CISD through this collaboration with Region 16 and provide children ages birth to four years old with tools to give them every advantage for success. We are looking forward to welcoming new students and families to the PSP CISD Early Learning Academy in the 2024-25 school year.

This initiative came about after PCP CISD engaged in a strategic planning process to identify key priorities within the community and school district. With no existing early childhood centers available in the community, recruiting and retaining quality staff with young children has been a challenge for PCP CISD. Additionally, families expressed a desire for a trusted program that would support the overall development of their children.

Informational meetings for parents will be held after spring break. The meeting dates will be announced on the PSP CISD website and district Facebook page. Enrollment information will be shared at the meetings.

AFD recognizes city employees for help fighting fires

The Amarillo Fire Department recognized five City of Amarillo Street Department employees for their help during the recent fires. According to a social media post, "These amazing individuals played a crucial role in reloading water into the fire trucks and skillfully running the blades. Their hands-on commitment ensured our firefighters had the tools they needed."

AFD saluted the dedication and teamwork of Frank Shaw, Equipment Operator III Motorgrader; Alberto Trevino, Equipment Operator IV Motorgrader; Anthony OConnor, Equipment Operator III Motorgrader; Tylor Genn, Equipment Operator IV Motorgrader; and Don Fincher, Equipment I Truck Driver.

Nominations open for National Golden Spur and Working Cowboy Awards

Nominations are now open for the National Golden Spur Award and the Ranching Heritage Association (RHA) Working Cowboy Award.

Nominations can be submitted at goldenspurhonors.com or paper forms can be downloaded from the site and mailed. Nominations for 2024 recipients will be open through May 1.

The National Golden Spur Award is the most prestigious national honor given to one person by the ranching and livestock industries, explained Jim Bret Campbell, executive director of the Ranching Heritage Association and National Ranching Heritage Center. The addition of the RHA Working Cowboy Award has allowed the industry to recognize those folks who take care of livestock on a daily basis.

Presentation of the National Golden Spur Award is a joint annual recognition given by six of the leading national and state ranching and livestock organizations: American Quarter Horse Association, National Cattlemens Foundation, Ranching Heritage Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas Farm Bureau, and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. The winner is recognized at the National Golden Spur Award Honors event in Lubbock and honored with the The Rancher bronze-sculpture presentation piece.

The RHA Working Cowboy Award recipient is selected by a committee of ranching peers from nominations received. The winner is recognized at the National Golden Spur Award Honors event in Lubbock and presented with a pair of custom spurs and a $5,000 cash award.

For additional information about the awards, past recipients, and 2024 event, visit goldenspurhonors.com.

WT expands tuition discount to part-time employees, families

CANYON  Many part-time employees of West Texas A&M University and their families may now be eligible for half-off tuition and mandatory fees.

In a March 13 memo, WT President Walter V. Wendler announced that, beginning with this years Summer 1 session, the Universitys Employee and Family Tuition and Fees Reduction program also would apply to employees who work 50 percent or more of the hours of a full-time employee. Their spouses and dependent children also are eligible.

The waiver was inspired, in part, by the collaborative spirit across the campus community and is an expression of appreciation and support for faculty and staff, Wendler wrote. Thank you to the WT Staff Council and Faculty Senate for their leadership in seeking better educational benefits for employees and their extended families.

About 150 employees or their dependents have taken advantage of the waiver since its launch in May 2022. The discount applies to both baccalaureate or graduate degrees, but not to certificate programs, non-degree applicable courses or second bachelors degrees. It also does not cover course materials, housing or meal costs.

Other conditions, including financial aid benefits, may apply, as well. The waiver is considered a taxable benefit only for dependent graduate students, per IRS guidelines. Students must remain in good academic standing to continue qualifying for the waiver..

TxDOT Amarillo: Safety upgrades coming to Hwys. 136, 152 in region

According to the Texas Department of Transportation Amarillo, crews are set to begin work soon on multiple projects on highways 136 and 152 in Carson and Hutchinson counties. The roads will undergo several safety improvements such as pavement re-surfacing and repair, ADA improvements, and passing lanes.

From the North Borger Traffic Circle to Jefferson Street, crews will make several improvements to ADA infrastructure. The project includes the construction of curb ramps, sidewalks, and other pedestrian elements. The project is expected to begin next Monday, March 18 with an expected completion in December 2024.

Beginning at the the Spur 246 intersection in Borger and ending at the Carson County line, crews will resurface Hwy. 152. This project is expected to start next Wednesday, March 20 with an expected completion in August 2024.

Starting just south of Stinnett and ending at the North Borger Traffic Circle, Hwy. 136 will undergo various improvements such as pavement repair, signing and striping, and overlay work. The expected start date is Thursday, April 4 with an expected completion in August 2024.

From the Hutchinson County line to the Gray County line, crews will construct periodic passing lanes, make pavement repairs as well as laying down new overlay. The expected start date for paving operations is early April 2024 with an expected completion in April 2025.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs for March 17, 2024
AICHI, Mar 17 (News On Japan) - Ghibli Park has unveiled its new area 'Valley of Witches' on Saturday, drawing in hordes of fans eager to experience the magic.

The fifth area of Ghibli Park, 'Valley of Witches,' was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Goro Miyazaki, director at Studio Ghibli, among others, on the morning of the 16th.

'Valley of Witches' is themed around films like 'Kiki's Delivery Service' and 'Howl's Moving Castle,' featuring a European-style townscape. It also introduces the park's first attractions, including a merry-go-round.

With the opening of 'Valley of Witches,' Ghibli Park, located in Aichi Prefecture, is now fully operational. The park opened at 10 a.m., bustling with Ghibli fans dressed as characters from the studio's films.

Director Goro Miyazaki expressed, "I am filled with the hope that people will continue to love the entire Ghibli Park, including the newly completed Valley of Witches, for a long time."

Ghibli Park Website

Source: FNN
FUKUSHIMA, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The final release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, which began in August last year, was completed around noon today. This marks the end of the planned discharge of 31,200 tons for this fiscal year.

The government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) have been analyzing the concentration of tritium in the surrounding marine area, and all results have been below the standard, indicating no issues.

Next fiscal year, the plan is to release approximately 1.7 times more than this fiscal year, totaling 54,600 tons.

Source: TBS
FUKUI, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The Hokuriku Shinkansen's Kanazawa-Tsuruga section, which opened on March 16, connects all three Hokuriku prefectures by bullet train for the first time in over half a century since the project's conception.

Fukui Prefecture eagerly anticipates the economic spillover effect that was once dubbed "Kanazawa's solo victory" when the Tokyo-Kanazawa section opened. However, there are concerns about the "cost-effectiveness" of the further extension plan from Tsuruga to Osaka.

From Tokyo to Tsuruga in just over 3 hours...

The new section stops at Kaga Onsen in Ishikawa Prefecture, Awara Onsen, and Fukui in Fukui Prefecture. The journey from Tokyo to Tsuruga is now possible without transfers, reducing travel time by approximately 50 minutes. This long-awaited opening is a significant milestone for Fukui Prefecture, which had no bullet train service until now.

Fukui: A Crossroads of History and Culture

Fukui Prefecture is known for its stunning cliffs at Tojinbo, Echizen crab, and the Soto Zen Buddhism head temple, Eiheiji. It was also selected as one of the "12 Off-the-Beaten-Path Spots to Visit in the World This Year" by The Washington Post. The Wakasa Bay area in Fukui flourished as a hub for transporting marine products from the bay to Kyoto during the Sengoku period. The most common marine product was mackerel, hence the name "Mackerel Highway." Fukui, once a cultural crossroads with Kyoto, is now part of the plan to extend the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga through Kyoto to Shin-Osaka.

A Potential "Catalyst" for the Regional Economy

Fukui, once hailed as the gateway to the Sea of Japan, has been experiencing a population decline since its peak of 830,000 in 1999. The opening of the Tokyo-Kanazawa section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in 2015 saw a 20% increase in tourists to Kanazawa. With direct access to the capital region, an economic boost of approximately 30.9 billion yen annually is expected.

The Cost-Effectiveness of the Extension Plan

The construction cost for extending the line from Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka is estimated at 2.1 trillion yen. The national government will cover two-thirds of the cost, excluding loans to JR, while local governments will bear one-third. The cost-effectiveness ratio, which is the total benefits divided by the total costs, is considered profitable if it exceeds 1.0. However, the value for the Tsuruga-Shin-Osaka section was barely profitable at 1.05 eight years ago. Aomori University's Professor Sumio Kushibiki (regional studies) points out, "The cost-effectiveness ratio may worsen from the initial forecast considering the recent surge in material and labor costs."

Will Japan's Main Transportation Axis Change?

While there are opinions that the extension is necessary as a detour route in case of major disasters, the Tokyo-Osaka corridor already includes the existing Tokaido Shinkansen and the upcoming Linear Chuo Shinkansen, slated for completion in 2046. The question arises: what kind of infrastructure development is truly necessary for Japan, which faces population decline?

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - Emperor Naruhito visited his alma mater, Gakushuin University, to attend an "International Mountaineering Report Meeting" on Saturday.

Inside the campus, the "International Mountaineering Report Meeting" was held, co-hosted by the Japan Mountaineering Association and Gakushuin University's mountaineering club, among others. The event featured reports from university students and climbers, including an account of an attempt by members of the Doshisha University mountaineering club to make the world's first ascent of the unclimbed peak "Rama" in Nepal last August. Emperor Naruhito listened to presentations from four teams for about four hours.

Emperor Naruhito, who has a personal interest in mountaineering, is a member of the Japan Mountaineering Association. He has attended annual dinners and other events in the past, but this is the first time he has participated in an international mountaineering report meeting since the beginning of the Reiwa era.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - At the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) convention held amidst the political funding scandal, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that the party would take strict measures against the involved members.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida: "The LDP must change. We need to regain the trust of the public and move forward with our policies."

The disciplinary actions will be determined based on factors such as the unreported amounts in financial statements, previous positions held, and the extent to which individuals have fulfilled their duty to explain.

LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi: "Not everyone will be treated the same. We cannot be an organization that is lenient at the top and strict at the bottom."

Secretary-General Motegi emphasized that the party would take prompt and strict action and aims to reach a conclusion quickly.

Meanwhile, some members of the Abe faction are calling for individuals to take responsibility themselves.

LDP Member of the House of Councillors Masatoshi Nishida: "Rather than being disciplined by the party, showing responsibility for one's own actions and decisions is the best way to restore trust among the public."

Source: ANN
TRIPOLI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Vice President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Abdullah Al-Lafi, on Sunday stressed the council's support for the efforts by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to push forward the holding of national elections.

Al-Lafi made his remarks during a meeting with Abdoulaye Bathily, the special representative of the UN secretary-general for Libya and head of the UNSMIL, in the capital Tripoli, said a statement issued by the council.

"The meeting discussed the current political stalemate... and efforts to convene an inclusive national conference with the participation of all parties in the political process," the statement said.

For his part, Bathily reiterated his support for the Presidential Council to achieve national reconciliation in the country, the statement said.

Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 as previously scheduled, due to disagreements among the Libyan parties over election laws.

Ever since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid escalating violence and unrest. 
FUKUI, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - Coinciding with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Fukui, known as the "Dinosaur Kingdom," local shrines have introduced new goshuin (red stamps) featuring dinosaur designs.

At Asuwa Shrine in Fukui City, visitors can receive a goshuin modeled after the "Archaeopteryx," known as the "first bird." According to shrine officials, over 20 people visit daily to collect this unique goshuin, with some having already collected similar stamps from multiple shrines.

A tourist from Shiga Prefecture commented, "It encourages us to revisit various shrines, not just for this trip but in the future as well."

The "goryuin" stamps are available from March 16th at 34 shrines across Fukui Prefecture.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The teaser trailer, teaser art, and stills for the Netflix movie "City Hunter," starring Ryohei Suzuki, have been released.

This film is the first live-action adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo's manga "City Hunter" in Japan. Suzuki plays the role of Ryo Saeba, a womanizing yet top-notch sweeper, with Mochi Morita as Ryo's new partner, Kaori, Masanobu Ando as Ryo's supporting partner, Hideyuki Makimura, and Fumino Kimura as Saeko Nogami, a skilled detective from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

The teaser trailer, available on YouTube, showcases Ryo's silly side as he repeatedly sings "mokkori," along with dynamic action scenes.

In this film, "Get Wild" by TM NETWORK, well-known as the ending theme for the anime "City Hunter," has been newly created and reborn as "Get Wild Continual." Tetsuya Komuro of TM NETWORK expressed his joy, stating, "The long-awaited global release of the live-action adaptation! I'm grateful that 'Get Wild' by TM NETWORK can accompany this ending. Thank you to everyone who has continued to nurture this song, helping us take another step forward." "Get Wild Continual" will also be included in TM NETWORK's album, set to release on April 21.

The Netflix movie "City Hunter" will start streaming worldwide on April 25. The film is directed by Yuichi Sato, known for the "Strawberry Night" series, with a screenplay by Ryuro Mishima.

Source: Natalie
OSAKA, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The Osaka Prefectural Police announced that they had arrested a teenager for possessing plant material suspected of being marijuana under the Cannabis Control Law, but later released him after no cannabis components were detected in the plant material.

On March 13, the Osaka Prefectural Police arrested a teenager residing in the prefecture for allegedly possessing plant material resembling marijuana in his backpack. During the police investigation, the teenager explained that the material was not marijuana. According to the police, officers at the scene conducted a preliminary test on the plant material, which showed a reaction similar to that of marijuana, leading to the teenager's arrest. However, subsequent testing by the Scientific Research Institute did not detect any cannabis components, and the teenager was released.

The Osaka Prefectural Police admitted to the wrongful arrest, stating, "We apologize to the individual who was arrested. We will strive to prevent such incidents from happening again."

Source: ABCTVnews
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The Africa investment forum, which mobilized so far investments totaling 180 billion dollars, will hold its flagship event in Rabat on December 4-6, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said.

Dubbed Market Days, the event will bring together investors, private sector firms on the continent together with government officials and international financial institutions.

Since its creation in 2018, the forum has advanced investment-ready deals toward market close focusing on transformative energy, infrastructure, and agriculture projects, cementing its standing as Africas pre-eminent investment platform for global investors.

Market Days 2024 will feature transactions in a range of sectors that have been sourced from the investment pipelines of the Africa Investment Forums partners, the AfDB said in a statement.

The partners include the African Development Bank, Africa50, Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and Trade and Development Bank.
Moroccos efforts in combating trafficking of psychotropic and psychoactive substances were highlighted at a high-level side-event held in Vienna , as part of the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).

The meeting, held under the theme Protecting global health and safety: mounting a unified international response to synthetic drugs and their precursors and organized by the United States in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted Moroccos balanced and integrated approach to addressing the harmful effects of illicit synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances.

Moroccos Permanent Representative in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, underlined the significant challenges facing up the Kingdom in matters of trafficking in these substances, and revealed that Moroccan authorities seized over 8 million tablets, including ecstasy and psychoactive substances, from 2019 to 2023.

The diplomat highlighted Moroccos efforts to prevent and counter the illicit use of synthetic drugs, and surveyed the national strategy for preventing and managing addictive disorders, developed by the Ministry of Health.

Farhane also highlighted the efforts made by Moroccan authorities to detect, seize, and prevent trafficking in synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances, praising the fruitful cooperation between Morocco and its partners in the fight against drug trafficking.

I would like to mention in particular the seizure of 490,000 synthetic opioid tablets in Tangiers in the course of 2021, thanks to information provided by the US Drug Enforcement Agency, he told participants at the meeting, which was opened by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Executive Director of the UNODC, Ghada Waly.

Farhane underscored the significance of the side-event amidst an unprecedented rise in production, trafficking, and use of synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances globally, which he described as great concern to the international community. This unique moment gives us the opportunity to discuss and share best practices and experiences in our common daily fight against the harmful effects of synthetic drugs, said Farhane, welcoming the launch of the Global Coalition to Combat Synthetic Drug Threats, last July.

As a member of this global coalition, Morocco is convinced that together with the other members, we can meet the challenges posed by synthetic drugs, for the well-being of our populations and the prosperity of our societies, noted the diplomat, who described the coalition as a significant platform for sharing best practices and experiences in managing the threats posed by synthetic drugs and other psychoactive substances.

The growing threats posed by synthetic drugs call on us to coordinate our actions, build our capacities and put in place a working plan to meet the new challenges posed by synthetic drugs as a global health problem, he said. The diplomat stressed in this connection the need to create synergy, momentum and complementarity between the Coalition and the CND, as well as with other relevant UN bodies, and to strengthen regular exchanges and dialogue with the multilateral processes in Vienna, Geneva, and New York.

In addition to Farhane, the only African ambassador to take part in this side-event, the meeting was attended by the President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Jallal Toufiq, ambassadors, permanent representatives, diplomats, UN experts, representatives of international organizations and government officials.

Created at the initiative of the United States, the Global Coalition to Combat Synthetic Drug Threats aims to bring together key international players, governments, intergovernmental organizations, specialized agencies, civil society, and the private sector for concerted action to address the challenges posed by synthetic drugs on a global scale.

The Moroccan diplomat who also participated in a debate on the global drug problem called for a renewed collective action to address all aspects of this problem and stressed the importance of adopting science and evidence-based approaches to guide this action, while emphasizing the necessity of revitalizing the international consensus on drug-related issues.

He called for a comprehensive approach to tackling drugs as both a social and technical problem, urging that it should transcend narrow political agendas. Farhane underscored the importance of enhancing technical cooperation and national capacities, particularly in developing countries and Africa, through bilateral or triangular frameworks.

Morocco, committed to supporting the effective implementation of international commitments in drug prevention and combat, intends to strengthen cooperation with African nations, mainly through sharing the expertise Morocco gained thanks to its National Strategy for Combating Drugs.

Morocco has implemented a holistic strategy to combat drug trafficking and the distribution of psychotropic substances, aligning with its international obligations. This comprehensive approach, aimed at early prevention of addictive behaviors, addresses both the supply and demand sides of drug and psychotropic substance abuse, explained Farhan.

It is based on a clear vision that takes into account the Sustainable Development Goals and the human rights dimension, while involving civil society and other stakeholders in its implementation, he added.

The diplomat also highlighted that following the Commissions endorsement of the WHO recommendation to reclassify cannabis for medical and scientific utilization, Morocco enacted Law 13-21 in 2021, regulating the legal employment of cannabis. This law established a national agency tasked with overseeing and steering all lawful cannabis activities.

Operated through a stringent control and tracking system, this agency is striving to fulfill the objectives outlined in the law governing activities pertaining to the lawful utilization of cannabis. These objectives include curtailing the illicit supply of cannabis by transitioning illegal cultivation into legal channels, fostering the development of cannabis-based products and medications within the pharmaceutical sector, and involving the populace in the developmental process.

Regarding Moroccos involvement in global endeavors to combat criminal networks engaged in the trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances, Farhane highlighted the Moroccan authorities efforts, resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of illicit substances from 2019 to 2023. These seizures include 1,753.26 tons of cannabis resin, 1,406.02 tons of cannabis herb, 5,439.09 kg of cocaine, 28.78 kg of heroin, and over 8 million psychotropic tablets.
At least eight United Nations peacekeepers serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were wounded in an assault that took place on Saturday in the eastern region of the country, according to reports from the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

One of the injured eight peacekeepers is sustaining serious injury.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in a strongly-worded statement issued by his spokesperson, emphasizing that it could amount to a war crime under international law.

Expressing his wishes for a swift recovery for the injured peacekeepers, he reiterated calls for all armed groups, Congolese and foreign fighters alike, to immediately cease hostilities and engage in the disarmament process.

Furthermore, the UN chief emphasized the necessity for M23 to withdraw entirely from the territory it has occupied and conform to the agreements outlined in the Luanda communique of November 2022, to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC.

In a similar statement, Bintou Keita, the head of MONUSCO, denounced the attack, expressing deep concern over the safety of peacekeepers in the area.

The incident occurred amidst ongoing efforts by MONUSCO and the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) to tackle armed groups in the North Kivu region under Operation Springbok. This joint operation aims to combat various militant factions, including the M23 rebel movement.

Keita reiterated MONUSCOs steadfast commitment to collaborate closely with Congolese defense and security forces to enhance both joint and independent patrols. These efforts are designed to safeguard civilian populations in the conflict-affected areas.

The UN Secretary-General and his Special Representative reaffirmed MONUSCOs resolve to further implement its protection of civilians mandate from the Security Council and work alongside Congolese defense and security forces to reinforce joint and unilateral patrols to protect civilians.
As part of the humanitarian operation ordered by King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, for the benefit of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the Holy City, Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency handed over complete equipment to the emergency monitoring unit at the Red Crescent hospital in Al-Quds on Sunday.

A statement from the Rabat-based Agency indicates that this batch of equipment includes office stationary, computers, centralized internet units, large display screens, electronic tablets, mobile communication equipment, oxygen bottles, and other materials.

This operation, which took place in the presence of representatives from the Association of Hospitals in East Al-Quds, also involved the distribution of 50 ambulance kits containing 42 pieces of equipment and emergency medicines.

During this operation, a batch of medicines and medical supplies was also handed over to the pharmacy of the Red Crescent hospital and others to the Al Makassed Charitable Association hospital, demonstrating the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agencys commitment to fulfilling its obligations and providing constant support to the main hospitals in Al-Quds, essential partners of the Agency in the Holy City.

Morocco, at the instructions of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, dispatched a humanitarian aid destined to the Palestinian population in Gaza and the Holy City of Al Quds.

The humanitarian assistance, which coincides with the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, aims to alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian population, notably the most vulnerable layers of the society.

Besides the institutional aid, deployed notably through the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, the King has personally funded a large part of the dispatched aid, particularly the aid delivered to babies and young children.

The assistance was conveyed, in an unprecedented move by a land route, a fact that shows that the King has achieved what great powers have not been able to obtain, as the land route was opened to King Mohammed VI thanks to his weight and position on the international scene, his aura, his moral authority, and his credibility.

Moreover, King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, has instructed Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency to provide a humanitarian aid to the populations of this Holy City. Thus, 2,000 food baskets were distributed to 2,000 households in Al Quds, and 1,000 meals are being served daily for Palestinians in the City. The aid also provides for setting up an emergency coordination room in the Jerusalem Hospital.

This large-scale humanitarian operation for the Palestinian population confirms the effective commitment and continued solicitude of King Mohammed VI for the Palestinian cause and is part of Moroccos long tradition of active and concrete solidarity with Palestine. It confirms that Moroccan solidarity is not dictated by circumstances or conjuncture, but is steady and continuous, and evidences, if need be, that the Kingdoms positions towards the Palestinian cause are clear, unshakable, and irreversible.
Authorities in Agadir have successfully intercepted this Sunday a fishing boat that was used for smuggling purposes, and seized a substantial quantity of narcotics totaling 10 metric tons and 542 kilograms of Chira, a potent form of cannabis resin.

According to statements from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) and the General Directorate of National Territory Surveillance (DGST), a joint operation involving local police, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Gendarmerie led to the apprehension of thirteen suspects allegedly involved in the illicit activity.

Following the interception of the boat and the arrest of the suspects, further investigations will be carried out to uncover the international and national networks associated with the drug trafficking ring and identify potential connections to other global criminal syndicates.

In Northern Morocco, national security forces and customs services at the Tanger-Med port foiled a drug trafficking attempt in the early hours of Saturday.

A staggering 1.2 ton of Chira were discovered on board an international goods transport truck registered in Morocco. The vigilant security operations at the port led to the detection of the substance, meticulously concealed within the metal chassis of the truck. The driver, identified as a 28-year-old Moroccan citizen, was apprehended and is currently under investigation by judicial authorities.

Also on Saturday, two individuals were apprehended in Agadir on Saturday for their suspected involvement in a criminal network operating in drug and psychotropic trafficking.

According to a security source, the suspects were intercepted at the Amskroud toll station shortly after arriving in a light vehicle from a northern city of the Kingdom. Subsequent searches led to the discovery of 72 kg of cannabis resin and 2,850 Ecstasy psychotropic pills in their possession.

Further investigation into the National Security database unveiled that one of the arrested individuals is the subject of two national search warrants issued by the judicial police services of Casablanca. These warrants are related to his alleged involvement in cases concerning the issuance of rubber cheques.

These successful operations underscore the ongoing efforts of security services to combat the scourge of international drug trafficking. Such endeavors are crucial in safeguarding communities against the harmful effects of narcotics and narcotics-related crimes.
Photo: Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images

Last week, Don Lemon announced that hed been X-ed by Elon Musk. Shortly after the former CNN host conducted an interview with the billionaire for the first episode of his new talk show, which launches on March 18, Musk abruptly canceled the promotion deal X had worked out with Lemon  apparently because Musk had a tantrum after disliking the questions Lemon asked about his ketamine use. In the latest episode of the Pivot podcast, Lemon shared his account of the aborted partnership with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway. In the below excerpt, Lemon explains how much X seemed to want him and his (non-right-wing) content to pitch to advertisers, how alleged X CEO Linda Yaccarino handled the mess, and why he still expects to get paid.

Kara Swisher: So tell us what happened.

Don Lemon: You mean how this deal came about?

Swisher: Yeah.

Lemon: So, as you know, Elon Musk very publicly tweeted, saying, inviting me to the platform. And then, Tucker [Carlson] eventually started a show and he said, This is what everyone should be doing. Don Lemon should be doing this. And then I got a phone call from someone  I told you, I dont know if you want to mention the name, but you said that they were acting on behalf, obviously they were acting on behalf of Elon, someone who is in a very high-profile position, bold name  who said, You should do this, its great for you, blah, blah, blah. And so that was very early on and I said no. And then Linda Yaccarino was signed on as CEO. And she knows a lot of people that you and I know, very respected people.

Kara Swisher: She was at NBC.

Lemon: She was at NBC, and they said wait till Linda gets onboard. And we did. And then they reached out again. They kept reaching out and they kept pursuing me  And they kept sweetening the deal. And I said, Of course.

And so we started working  I said, I will only do this if I can be myself on your platform. The only reason Im coming to your platform is because I think Twitter  I think it was Twitter at the time or maybe it was changing into X; whatever, thats interchangeable  I think its the biggest platform for news, besides being on a network and for people who are speaking out and who are commenting on news and people want to know about news. If theres a breaking story, the first thing they do is they pick up their phone, they go to Twitter, they go to X, and they want to see whats trending or what have you. And I said, I want to be myself, and Im going to have to criticize the person who owns this platform.

And they said, Thats completely fine. Thats what we want. We want you to be you. And were all about free speech. Elons a free-speech absolutist. He would text me, we text each other, and we would talk about these things. He said, I want you on the platform. This is what you should be doing. And everyone said, Youre going to be free to be yourself. And thats how it came about, right?

Swisher: Can you give specifics? They gave you a lot of money to be not exclusive. I think people were confused by this. You could be anywhere, right? You can put your stuff, your new show, on YouTube or Instagram or wherever you feel like, correct?

Lemon: Yeah. Im not going to  look, Im not going to go into specifics about the money and thats not what youre asking me. But was there a financial part of it? Absolutely. Was it, you know, enticing? Absolutely.

Swisher: What did they get? For an extra ten minutes?

Lemon: Yeah. So heres the thing. Everyone thinks it was an X show. It was not an X show. It was my show produced by my production company, which is called Lemon or Lemon Media Network. Produced by my company. They had no editorial control over it at first. We wanted to do five days a week and then I said, you know, everyone in this business said, Thats too much. Do three days a week. You even told me that, like, Dont get crazy. And so we decided to do three days a week and three shows a week.

What X wanted was some exclusive material. So I think I had to give them like ten videos, or something like that, per week. And I think they had to be like ten minutes long or what have you. That was extra things on top of the episodes. My episodes were already going to air everywhere, and theyre going to be on YouTube, theyre going to be on iHeart  wherever you get streaming or podcasts. And so they just wanted to add extra material on top of that. And that material had to be exclusive to them for 24 hours. And then it went everywhere.

Thats all they got. And so I said, If youre going to pay me this money and Im going to be posting on your platform, if I didnt get this for free, its a no-brainer. Youre giving me money to post on X. So it was a no-brainer to me because people promote their material and their content on X anyway. Even people who dont like it, theyre still on X. And I asked a lot of people, You dont like X; why are you still on it? They said, Because theres nothing else better. So that was a deal.

Swisher: Let me ask you one more quick question on that. Scott can jump in. So they were they selling your advertising?

Lemon: Were they selling my advertising? Yes. They were selling advertising around me.

Swisher: Around you on X.

Lemon: And I think what they wanted was someone who was not an extremist, someone who wasnt a right-wing conspiracy theorist that they could sell to the advertisers.

Swisher: And they took you to CES and showed you off. Linda likes to do that  had a dinner and showed you off to advertisers, correct?

Lemon: Yes. And do you know this? I want to say something, but I dont know if I should say it.

Scott Galloway: Oh, you should.

Lemon: I should.

Swisher: Go ahead. Yeah.

Lemon: Why not? They said to my representatives: If I didnt get on a plane and go to CES, the deal was off.

Swisher: Okay? So they needed your face.

Lemon: They needed me there and then they trotted me out to their clients and their potential advertisers and what have you. Look: Don Lemon! and I was always either the marquee person right at the top of the thing or the person that theyre like, And finally, Don Lemon  yeah!

You know what I mean.

Swisher: Yeah, weve been at those dinners. All right, Scott?

Galloway: Yeah. Don, good to see you. So I dont want to speak specifically to working with Elon Musk, but whats it like to work with a malignant narcissist who is abusing a dissociative narcotic? Just generally speaking.

Swisher: God.

Lemon: Well, Ive never worked with you, Scott, so I dont know.

Galloway: Don, bring the fire.

Lemon: Listen, your question is moot, I think, because I never really worked with him. I didnt have that much contact with Elon Musk. The contact I had with him is he called me. I think he was in Paris. We had a long conversation for about 45 minutes in the summer. After I spoke to him, I spoke with Kara and I said, I dont want to do this. Because he was very nice on the phone. I think it was his mom who was sitting there next to him and we were talking about it. Hes very kind, very friendly. I have nothing against Elon Musk. As a matter of fact, during the interview, I felt some empathy for him because I was just like, This is someone who is a brilliant man in some aspects, but hes emotionally immature. And I could pick that up in the interview  and a bit insecure.

But I have nothing against Elon Musk. Ive never really worked with him. I have never met him in person, had never met him in person until I did that interview. We shared some texts. You know, Im going to call you, or When are you free? And then, around DealBook, I texted him and I think I said something like, Wow, surprising you said that, but heres what I like that you said. And he said, Free speech is for, is when people you dont like say things you dont like. And I said, You know what? I agree with you on that. Thats probably one of the only things that we agree on. I may not agree with you, but Im going to fight like hell for your right to be able to say it.

Swisher: I just want to tell people who dont know that Musk kind of had a meltdown onstage with Andrew Ross Sorkin and said, essentially said, Fuck you to Bob Iger. But go ahead.

Galloway: Thats exactly what he said. Go fuck yourself. Thats what he said. Okay, so Mr. Free Speech consistently says its important that people say what they want to say, but people dont like it. What did you say that he didnt like that he then fired you unceremoniously for.

Lemon: Uh, youll have to ask him, Scott.

Galloway: But you were in the room, Don.

Swisher: Whats your sense?

Galloway: What do you think upset him enough to  like literally, my understanding was within 24 hours 

Lemon: Facts, Scott.

Galloway: Right.

Lemon: When presented with facts about things that he tweets about, and Ill still call it tweeting, about his posts. He didnt like that. When I asked him about his, you know, his alleged drug use thats been reported in The Wall Street Journal, very credible organizations. When I asked him about his ketamine use that he himself had tweeted about, he himself put out there, he bristled at that and I said, I wouldnt talk about these things, Elon. I wouldnt talk about your ketamine use if you had not publicly said that  how would I even know about it?

And he actually had a very good answer. He said, The reason I talked about it is because I thought it would help people. And if youre on SSRIs, maybe you should consider taking ketamine. And I think hes absolutely right. I myself have suffered from depression. He talked about depression and, you know, his use of ketamine. And I said, I have suffered from depression, and I agree with you. You should try different things. I used to do talk therapy, and my doctor actually tried drug therapy on me. Ive done stories about people with PTSD who have done ketamine and other drugs, and it has actually helped them. So we agreed on that. But that went over his head. I dont think he even heard it because I just dont think that he liked sitting there taking questions from me, someone that he has a history with, and just being held accountable, and just being held to facts.

When I talked about DEI and about what he tweeted about  you remember the Alaska Airlines pilot who, when the door blew off and she landed the plane successfully. He said, somehow, that it was a DEI thing. I said, But this is a woman whos landed a plane successfully. That means that she is actually qualified to do a job. So I dont understand why youre tweeting the things that youre tweeting. Theres no evidence of what youre putting out there.

And he said, Well, it would just be awful it were lowering the standards on air safety and if were lowering the standards for medical school because of DEI. And I said, Yes, that would be awful, but there is no actual evidence that it is happening. So why are you doing it? It is hypothetical.

He said. All Im saying is that it would be terrible and we shouldnt do it.

I said, Yes, everyone agrees with that, but why would I say it, because its not happening!

Swisher: Right. And what did he say? He didnt like pushback.

Lemon: He didnt. He didnt like pushback. But I am raising my voice now, louder than I did in that interview because I did not want that to happen. So I was very calm. And I asked him, if you see, its just straightforward questions with follow-ups and thats it.

Swisher: Right. So he called your approach basically just CNN, but on social media. And it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don. Who you worked with  Jeff Zucker  at CNN. How did you react to this?

Lemon: Um, it was stupid. I mean, that was read to me secondhand and I think he tweeted about it. Or at least it was in his response to the press, after this happened. I mean, I think its silly. I think he thinks by putting Jeffs name that its somehow going to get more attention. And hes being a provocateur because people may look at Jeff as a person, well not may look at Jeff  they obviously know he ran CNN. And so that is sort of, that adds to the, you know, Hes a liberal, a lefty, CNN person. And so that adds to that. And I think it gives him credibility in that right-wing conspiracy world, or that right-wing sort of bro-podcast world, where people dont like the mainstream media but they watch Fox News all the time, which is part of the mainstream media.

Swisher: Yeah. Which he also is making up.

Lemon: Ever Wonder Studios is producing my show. And I was approached by Ian, who formerly worked for Time Inc., for Ever Wonder Studios. Its a coincidence, but Im proud to work with Ever Wonder Studios, and Im proud to work with Jeff Zucker. And I think Jeff Zucker is one of the most talented media executives to ever live. And so to have him as a personal friend and as a mentor and someone who counsels me occasionally, I am not ashamed of that at all. Im actually very proud of that. Im lucky to have that, in my mind.

Swisher: Right, because you shouldnt be [ashamed]. Let me ask, when you left the interview  you know, when I do interviews, I sort of know how they feel, essentially. Did you have any idea how he felt?

Lemon: I did. I did.

Swisher: I kept texting you. I was like, Oh, youre going to get fired tomorrow no matter what you did.

Lemon: Yeah I did  I think I said it wasnt comfy at times. I think its what I texted you, and it wasnt. It was tense.

Swisher: So when you left, you werent thinking there was an issue. Did anyone else there from X think it was an issue? Did you hear from Linda or anybody else?

Lemon: Heres the thing. I didnt think it was an issue because Ive had tense interviews before, and it wasnt quite a walk-off, but it was  at the end, he was like, Choose your questions carefully because I have to go, and I dont like  basically saying I dont like the direction of your question.

Swisher: Yeah. But thats his move. He did that. Hes like, Im gonna leave, Im going to leave. Its very Norma Desmond of him.

Lemon: I stayed very calm and that was my reaction whenever he threatened to leave or whatever, it was just like, I think this is really good. This discourse is really good. And I think you should continue.

Swisher: Yeah, you have to do that. But its really ridiculous that you have to baby a billionaire.

Lemon: But at the end, he did say they  they said at least an hour. They didnt say it had to be one hour. They said at least an hour. And he said, you know, Ive been here for an hour, and I have people waiting for me, and I have to go. But he grew, measurably, I think, more uncomfortable toward the end of the interview. And he said, Choose your questions wisely because I gotta go. Youve been there.

Swisher: Yes. Oh, he does the stupid, threatening Im walking off  and never does  bullshit. Its one of his moves. Its ridiculous.

Lemon: But I knew he was upset when he left. I knew he wasnt happy. But I thought, you know, hes done this before. I thought he had done this before  and hell be fine. It was just him not being used to answering questions. And when I looked over the interviews that he did, most of them are from a friendly crowd, from people who had basically the same similar worldviews as his. And for someone like me, who looks completely different than him, who has a completely different background and a completely different worldview, to be held accountable, and to question him, I thought was just 

Swisher: Just hes not been in that world. Hes been steeped in people who agree with him violently for a long time.

Lemon: I just think it was, for him, it was just like, Why am I doing this?

Swisher: Yeah, exactly. So fast-forward. You did it. And then you heard this thing. Did you hear from Linda  ever, did she write you  who has been slavishly trying to land your deal?

Lemon: Fast-forward to when?

Swisher: When they heard about it.

Lemon: Yeah. So, that interview happened on Friday. So we spent the next afternoon in Austin, and I was trying to  remember I was trying to hook up with you just to say hi or to do something, but I had to leave. And so I land at Newark airport on Saturday evening, very rainy Saturday evening. And my agent called and said, Hey, I need you to step out. Where are you? Ive got to talk to you  He said, Well, I just got a text from Elon. I said, Okay, what did he say? He was very upset. He read me the text. It was kind of, I dont know if I would say vulgar. But 

Swisher: Yes, Ive gotten that text from him.

Lemon: You would say vulgar?

Swisher: Probably.

Lemon: It was very insulting. And then he said, Deal canceled or Contract canceled. And so I was sitting next to my executive producer, Jonathan Walden. I said, Im on with Jay, and he said that Elon said the contract was canceled. We looked at each other like: What? Why? And I dont know, in that moment, I was just like, Good. Good. Im tired.

I went into this with my eyes open, but I was so tired of the pushback that I was getting from people who really loved me, from people who really supported me. And although I thought I was doing the right thing, I knew I was doing the right thing because I wanted my work to be presented and amplified to the biggest, to the largest number of people who could receive it. And I do believe, as you know, in free speech, and I do believe that we should have better discourse in this country with people we dont agree with. My mom and I have disagreements all the time. I still go to visit her for Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever. Shes coming to my wedding or whatever, I mean, but we still love each other. We dont do that in this country.

Swisher: She doesnt say sonship canceled.

Lemon: She doesnt say that.

Galloway: I mean, my sense is, Don  Youre probably still processing this, but if you were going to try and launch a show, the biggest get would be to get Elon Musk to do your initial show. The even bigger get is to get him and then have him freak out and fire you. I mean, isnt this out of central casting for how to launch a show? Isnt this a great thing? Because I mean a couple things. My understanding is the way youve depicted it is you have a show, and Twitter, which is going to be one of many distribution outlets. One, does that mean the show is going to air? And two, I just cant imagine this playing out any better for Don Lemon. Your thoughts?

Lemon: Yeah, youre right. So the moment I got the call, thats what I said. I was like, Well, if he is going to cancel this contract  because at first I thought, Well, hes just being petulant and, you know, cooler heads will prevail and whatever, but if he does  do it before the show airs. Because as you said, Scott, that would be the best thing to happen to me. Do it before the show airs and tweet about it, if youre going to do it. And so I could not have asked for a bigger promotion for the show than this.

But, you know, I think that in the long term, having X onboard, and if I could have done some work with them, I think it would have been helpful in the long term to the growth of the business promotion because, you know, they use the algorithm. And I told you I was using their analytics; basically, I was going to use them as a newsroom, as my newsroom. Since I dont have that big newsroom behind me.

Galloway: Let me just ask a crass question  do you get paid out?

Lemon: That is something that youll have to ask my representatives. Were still in the middle of that. I have an agreement with them, and I expect them to abide by that agreement. And if they dont, theyre in breach.

Galloway: Well, you werent terminated for cause, so why wouldnt you be paid out?

Swisher: Well, let me  because apparently he didnt sign this contract. Is that correct? Even though he said Contract canceled and therefore is acknowledging theres a contract. Correct?

Lemon: Again, to my understanding  again, I would prefer my representatives to discuss this  that there was an agreement, that we have an agreement. And again, they said if I did not go to CES, that the deal was off. They announced it to the world.

Swisher: Yes, they did do a press release.

Lemon: They trotted me out.

Swisher: They touted it quite a bit that you were going to be there.

Lemon: Yeah. To trot to me out to advertisers, I went to several events, at X, to entice advertisers and to meet all of their employees. We had a deal, and I expect them to abide by it, and I will, we will go to court if we have to.

Swisher: But you didnt sign; is that correct? Just because theres been lots of different reporting.

Lemon: Um, I dont know what the representatives  I did not, but I dont know what 

Swisher: Okay. All right. Ive been in those contracts. So in any case, have you spoken to Yaccarino at all? Did you hear from her at all?

Lemon: I heard from Linda the next morning. On Sunday morning.

Galloway: Did she know what had happened?

Lemon: Thats a great question.

Galloway: Did the CEO know?

Lemon: No. The CEO got a text from Elon. She never  she had not, when I spoke to her, she had not spoken to him. She called me to say, you know, to try to smooth it over and to find out what happened. And, I just want to know what was going on because, you know, I havent even spoken to him, and Im waiting to get in touch with him and what have you. But I think it took a while for her to get in touch with him.

Galloway: Well look, he fired the wrong person, Don.

Lemon: Let me tell you. Look, if there was ever any question about who is running X, there isnt one now. Its Elon Musk. Thats whos running X.

Swisher: Did she apologize? She never  she makes so many excuses for him.

Lemon: I dont remember if she apologized, but she was very apologetic, if that makes sense.

Swisher: Right. Yes.

Lemon: It was sort of very contrite and saying, you know, I want to smooth this over. You know, I think that youre great for the platform. We love having you on the platform. Youve been a team player, blah, blah, blah. And, I think that I want to get Elon to understand  

And quite frankly, I said, I think that he was just uncomfortable in the moment. And what will actually turn out in the interview is hes going to look better than he thought, right? Because this wasnt a gotcha interview. This is just a Q&A. I was just having a conversation with him. Questions and answers. And I think just because he was so uncomfortable for some reason, for my mere presence and questions, I just think that was the discomfort. When you see the interview, there are nuggets in there. He does make news in there. I dont attack him. And there are no gotcha questions. I think people are going to walk away from this interview and say, theyre going to say, What did he fire him  well, he didnt fire me because I didnt work for him  but Why did he cancel the contract? I think people are going to, I think even his own people will wonder, What the hell?

Swisher: They will say nothing to him. They will say nothing.

And so if he called you and said, Oh God, I really flew off the handle. Would you come back? What would you say to him?

Lemon: I would say, Pay me what you owe me. And it was great, that I really enjoyed this learning experience. And the best of luck to you and everyone at your organization.

This interview has been edited and lightly condensed for clarity.
A float from a Chinese performing group parades during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

CAPE TOWN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event.

Under the theme of "Lekker" -- an Afrikaans word that means nice, pleasant or enjoyable -- this year's carnival saw over 1,000 performers from various communities across the city taking part in a parade to celebrate diversity, creativity and cultural understanding.

The event featured massive floats, colorful costumes, and vibrant choreographed dance routines, attracting tens of thousands of locals and visitors.

The Chinese performing group was the star of the evening. The dancing dragons, lions and pandas attracted strong applause and cheers from the audience wherever they went.

"China's performance was amazing!" said Nicolas Johnson and Val Andries, a local couple who had come to watch the parade.

"Yeah, the lights and the colors, and the dragon ... all those are amazing. Very good," said Johnson.

"I especially enjoyed all the lights. The costumes are amazing, the performers are doing a great job, and it was so awesome," Andries added.

Rachel Jafta, chairperson of the Cape Town Carnival, also expressed enthusiasm.

"The Chinese contribution to the Cape Town Carnival has been really central from the beginning. It brings an incredible skill and flaring beauty to the carnival," Jafta told Xinhua.

"The Chinese groups dance with the dragon and the fire ... it is always very popular. You just see the spectators' faces light up and the little kids get very excited when the dragon comes," she said. "So we're very proud to have the Chinese community as part of the Cape Town Carnival."

The Chinese community was instrumental in helping other groups in the city during the pandemic, she said, adding that "we are very grateful for that."

Dong Gang, the head of the Chinese performing group, told Xinhua at the scene that this was the sixth time the Chinese community had taken part in the carnival.

"As a major festival in the local cultural life of South Africa, the Cape Town Carnival provides us with a large platform to showcase our excellent traditional Chinese culture," said Dong.

"Especially since this year is the Year of the Dragon, we brought our 50-meter-long dragon to celebrate our culture with a confident feeling," he said. "At the same time, we can also feel that we have added our own colors to the local multiculturalism."

As noted by Jafta, the idea of the Cape Town Carnival was to create a platform for people from different backgrounds to come together, have fun and get to know each other better, so that the city can not only build more social cohesion but also create jobs and stimulate the economy. 

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

A performer in a lion costume interacts with the audience during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Members of a Chinese performing group parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

A performer in a panda costume interacts with the audience during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)
Chris Duncan, whose mother Constance died from COVID, photographs a COVID Memorial Project installation of 20,000 American flags on the National Mall on September 22, 2020. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

So what was the worst year of your life?

The answer will obviously vary, but its a good bet the year 2020 will rank pretty high in any list of wretched years. After all, its when COVID-19 arrived. The pandemic eventually took over a million lives just in America. Our economy collapsed. Schools and businesses closed, unemployment sky-rocketed, most people were isolated and terrified. As scientists struggled to figure out how the virus spread, how to keep from contracting it, and how to treat it, most Americans were hoarding hand sanitizer, paper towels, and toilet paper; avoiding door knobs, hand rails, and other shared surfaces; and obsessively cleaning their groceries and their mail.

It was indeed a time most of us would prefer to forget. And it seems the Republican Party is counting on that. As Noah Berlatsky of Public Notice points out, Republicans are now regularly trotting out Ronald Reagans famous 1980 debate question, Are you better off than you were four years ago?, as though its a slam-dunk winner for them:

Are you better off today than you were four years ago? Rep. Elise Stefanik asked during a news conference last week. She answered her own question by saying the answer is a resounding no. Lara Trump, the new co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said virtually the same thing to Sean Hannity on Tuesday. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott echoed that sentiment on Fox News as well, saying, We have to go back to that future, 2017-2020. We want those four years one more time.

Seriously? All of the Trump years?

Despite the many problems with her weird, mendacious response to the State of the Union Address, Republican senator Katie Britt was smart enough not to claim 2020 as the joyous climax of four great years. Instead she asked viewers if they were better off than they were three years ago, dating back to Joe Bidens first address to Congress in 2021. Ah, but that comparison, while it lends itself to the negative case against Biden, does not make the comparative case for Donald Trumps alleged superiority. So throwing caution to the wind, Republicans will grit their teeth and ask persuadable voters to misremember 2020 as a monument to American greatness that we have sadly lost.

Now its true that everything bad about 2020 was not attributable to Trump, and that voters may not necessarily put responsibility on him for the failure to manage a pandemic that baffled us all (though his tardiness in taking it seriously definitely cost lives and should never be forgotten). But nor is Biden responsible for all the ills of the world right now (including some maladies left to him by the Trump administration, like economic volatility and supply-chain problems). Rightly or wrongly, presidents are held responsible for nearly everything that happens on their watch; thats the big downside to the job of being leader of the free world, with all its cool perks like Air Force One and Camp David. If Republicans are going to attack Biden over discontents ranging from gasoline prices to the horrors of war in Ukraine and Gaza, theyll have to accept that the final year of that magical Trump presidency was quite the bummer. As a matter of fact, 2017 through 2019 werent exactly a golden era of good government, but for most Americans conditions of life were better than they became four years ago.

The GOP really needs to rethink its talking points. It takes a special kind of amnesia or insensitivity to look back at 2020 with great fondness. For most of us, the answer to the question Are you better off than you were four years ago is Hell yes.
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Donald Trump says a lot of things. And now that hes once again the presumptive GOP nominee for president, theres understandably been renewed attention on what those things actually are. So when, at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday, the former president warned that there would be a bloodbath if he didnt win the presidential election this fall, a lot of people noticed, particularly in light of Trumps repeated celebration of the attempted insurrection in his name on January 6, 2021. In this case, however, Trumps rhetoric may not have been a threat of some orgy of postelection violence  at least this time. Below is a quick look at what he did and didnt say.

What did Trump say?

Speaking at a rally in support of Ohio Republican Bernie Morenos Senate campaign on Saturday, Trump seemed to offer an aside while speaking about the auto industry and how he would be a better president than Joe Biden when it came to dealing with trade and China: Now, if I dont get elected, its gonna be a bloodbath. Thats going to be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

Trump: Now, If I don't get elected, it's gonna be a bloodbath. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country. pic.twitter.com/qDEPTtl4Bu  Acyn (@Acyn) March 16, 2024

It didnt take long for the comment to light a fire across social media. The Biden campaign soon responded, too, framing Trumps remark as a call for violence. He wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge, a Biden-campaign spokesperson said on Saturday.

A Trump-campaign spokesperson, meanwhile, quickly posited that the former president was actually saying that Bidens policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and autoworkers.

Trump himself posted on Truth Social that the Fake News Media, and their Democrat Partners in the destruction of our Nation, pretended to be shocked at my use of the word BLOODBATH, even though they fully understood that I was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry.

Obviously, inserting economic in front of bloodbath  which Trump did not do on Saturday  changes the meaning significantly. But regarding the context, the Trump team probably has a point.

Heres that section of Trumps speech, with the bloodbath comment highlighted:

If youre listening, President Xi  and you and I are friends  but he understands the way I deal. Those big monster car manufacturing plants that youre building in Mexico right now  youre going to not hire Americans and youre going to sell the cars to us, no. Were going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and youre not going to be able to sell those cars if I get elected. Now if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it. But theyre not going to sell those cars. Theyre building massive factories.

Now, its certainly possible that Trump  who is not exactly known for carefully speaking about anything, ever  was predicting both an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and a violent bloodbath for the country if he loses the election. Dark, apocalyptic rhetoric about the looming destruction of America, and the retribution he will personally enact on his enemies, has been central to Trumps stump speech for a long time, and hes been more than clear about all the extreme stuff he intends to do if reelected. But hes usually more explicit about all that, and he usually doesnt feature it in the middle of some rant about tariffs.

Trump also had all kinds of teleprompter issues and memory issues on Saturday, for what its worth.

Even if Trump didnt threaten a violent postelection bloodbath  he wasnt hiding his pro-insurrection views.

Trump is a January 6 fan, and hes been making that clear for a very long time. He made it clear, again, at the same rally on Saturday (when he wasnt talking about the auto industry).

As he has for the past year, Trump once again stood at attention and saluted while loudspeakers played a recording of the national anthem sung by the J6 Choir  which is composed of imprisoned members of the January 6 mob who stormed the U.S. Capitol.

"Please rise for the horribly and unfairly treated January 6 hostages" pic.twitter.com/YLVTrOg1hQ  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 16, 2024

And he then again vowed to release the January 6 hostages as soon as he gets back in the White House:

Trump: Well thank you very much, and you see the spirit from the hostages, and that's what they are. Hostages. Were going to work with the people to treat those unbelievable patriots, and they were unbelievable patriots pic.twitter.com/zMAjknv3xc  Acyn (@Acyn) March 16, 2024

He suggested the election had life-or-death stakes in other ways, too. He repeated his statements dehumanizing migrants, claiming that in some cases, theyre not people and referring to them as animals he would turn back as president. He also predicted the end of American democracy if he lost, telling the crowd, I dont think youre going to have another election, or certainly not an election thats meaningful, if he didnt win.

And he said he has been more persecuted than assassination victim Abraham Lincoln.

This post has been updated.

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Opelika police need your help gathering information in the 2001 Opelika shooting on Third Street that left 50-year-old Steve Edward Whitlow dead.

It's been more than 23 years since authorities were called to the 300 Block of South Third Street on Jan. 3, 2001, to investigate a vehicle crash. They found the father in a 1994 Ford Aerostar suffering from a gunshot wound.

"I feel that someone knows what happened and who did this. I am praying for justice, so that way I can have closure," said Tina Whitlow, the victim's daughter.

At the time of his death, Steve Whitlow was a security guard at Char-Broil on Williamson Avenue in Opelika. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy who served in the Vietnam War.

Tina Whitlow recalled what she described as one of the hardest day of her life.

She said her father was shot and killed at the corner of of Third Street and Avenue B. His van went into someones yard and rested in a tree.

I had to lay my father to rest 23 years ago, Tina Whitlow said. I was only 20 years old, which was the hardest day of my life."

Anyone with any information regarding this case has been asked to call the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at (334) 705-5220 or the OPD's Secret Witness Hotline at (334)745-8665. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Department's mobile app.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers has offered a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and tips can be submitted by calling (334) 215-STOP(7867), toll free at 1-833-AL1-STOP, or via their website: www.215STOP.com.
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I have no idea what power and influence this venue and its owners/stockholders/whatever may have but given the price people have paid for supporting Palestine, it's always going to warm my heart whenever more come out in support loudly and proudly.

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good. this contest is usually so fun to follow and i have for a while but this year they've completely fucked it

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I think Im working that weekend, so Im tempted to book off Sunday, so I dont have to get up early.

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good for them! I will absolutely not be watching



FUCK that

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Good. I love the Eurovision but hard pass this year.

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Im disappointed to learn Bashar Murad didnt win to represent Iceland. AND Eurovision allowed Israel to enter with their song when it seems like they only made them change the title? Im not 100% on that part but either way, fuck them and fuck the hypocrisy. I usually do enjoy watching Eurovision but I definitely will not be now.

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they only made them change the title and a few lyrics lines but it's still so obviously propaganda and sympathy vote bait. they filmed the mv before the lyric/title change and you can still see the artist sing the original words

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And yet they are whining saying that they are being unfairly targeted by antisemitism.

I just can't with them.



Also why do they get to compete? Explain this to me, how are they able to be a part of Europe if they're in the middle east? Granted I'm an American who only knows about Eurovision from the controversies. I thought they are all claiming they are indigenous to the land. Lol

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if bashar had won the icelandic nf israel definitely would have pulled out like they threatened to but now that he's out of the way they conveniently had a change of heart (like almost immediately after) and it's so transparent lol

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I wonder if it's the same cinema that refused to host (?) Kevin Spacey? Or maybe there's more than one London cinema with morals. In any case, good for them.

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I'll watch, but I'm muting and leaving the room during Israel's song



I'm sure it's awful

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I was thinking of actually closing the streaming page during Israel (so it will show the number dropping).

The songs are all 3 minutes long so it shouldn't be hard to reopen it before the next song starts.

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oh good point



I'm gonna watch on peacock, so I'll just turn the tv off



I'm curious (and hopeful) if there will be a demonstration tho I can just see that on twitter if it happens



Edited at 2024-03-17 01:55 pm (UTC)

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What about the jurys ? Are you going to turn off the stream everytime they get points or the camera pans to them? Sounds like selective boycott...

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i listened to the song (on a twitter leak so i wouldn't give them the views) and it's genuinely such a dreadful excuse for an entry that israel weebs are working overtime to convince people is good and a potential winner lmfao

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Tbh idk if they care about you watching the actual performances. They care about you watching the ads.

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I only actually watched one year. I was in Copenhagen & watched at the hotel. For sone reason I've never watched it really at home.

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Tbh I never watch, but I will be not watching especially hard this year

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I am a recent convert to Eurovision and I am totally obsessed. I will be sad to miss it because it truly brings me so much joy.



Unfortunately, BDS is calling for a boycott from viewers so I will be boycotting.



I really hope all of the pressure campaigns work and they change their mind and remove Israel from the show. It's absurd that Russia is excluded and Israel isn't. (They should both be out.)

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if it makes you feel any better there's nothing stopping you from at least checking out the songs and national final performances because the ebu don't "own" the songs themselves and it helps the artists more than anything else

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that totally does make me feel better and hadn't occurred to me! so thank you :)

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This is a great step to take. It's honestly horrific that countries aren't imposing sanctions on Israel. Like...how are we all just doing business with them like everything is normal? We need more boycotts like they did with South Africa in the 80s.

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Good. I've already been gradually tuning out of it/watching replays instead of live acts as I've got older, but I'm not watching any of it this year.

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International oil and gas majors and the Middle Easts national oil companies are expected to give the green light this year to up to 30 projects, worth a total investment of $125 billion and holding an estimated 14 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of resources.

Thats the estimate in Wood Mackenzies latest analysis of upstream oil and gas projects expected to reach final investment decisions (FIDs) in 2024.

The consultancy expects more projects to take FID this year compared to last years 22 sanctioned upstream developments as several projects slated for 2023 approval were delayed.

With many projects delayed or postponed, we expect operators to commit to more projects in 2024 than last year, said Ross McGavin, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

National Oil Companies (NOCs) in the Middle East will control the most projects, but the Majors will be busy as well, particularly as they prioritise advantaged deepwater resources, McGavin noted.

The most advantaged deepwater projects continue to deliver in terms of economic returns and low emission intensity, and these will be the focus of FIDs for Big Oil, according to WoodMac.

Related: The No.1 Energy Stock for 2024

The FID class of 2024 is expected to have much lower average emissions intensity compared to the global upstream average, per the consultancys estimates. The projects expected to be sanctioned this year will have an average emissions intensity of 13.6 kg of CO2e per boe, well below the global upstream average of 21 kg CO2e/boe, including liquefaction emissions.

Project economics are also improving, as the share of liquids compared to natural gas is set to grow in the class of 2024 sanctioned projects, WoodMac noted.

The weighted average internal rate of return (IRR)  the estimate of the profitability of potential investments  for the class of 2024 is 23%. To reach just 15% IRR, this years project would need an average price of $47 a barrel oil, compared to project breakevens at $49 per barrel for the projects sanctioned last year, according to WoodMacs analysis.

The higher liquids weighting and higher long-term price assumptions will improve IRRs for this years projects, McGavin said.

Most payback periods are less than eight years from FID, as operators focus on rapid execution, lower unproductive capital, and higher returns.

This year was off to a slow start but FID activity is expected to pick up as the year progresses, Wood Mackenzie said in a report earlier this month.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will be the Middle Easts leader in expansion plans in terms of reserve volumes, with its offshore expansion plans to sanction the Upper Zakum, Lower Zakum, and Umm Shaif gas cap projects.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Turkish national oil company TPAO is expected to approve the largest phase of its giant Sakarya gas project in the Black Sea, WoodMac says.

Not only NOCs will be busy sanctioning projects this year. Big Oil is also set to approve large multi-billion upstream developments.

Out of the expected $125 billion capex on this years projects, TotalEnergies is the operator of two of the top five largest projects by capital expenditure. The French supermajor looks to reach FID on projects that would have a combined capex of nearly $30 billion, per Wood Mackenzies estimates.

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U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil is set to sanction its sixth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) project at the prolific Stabroek block in Guyana. In the South American countrys offshore, operational Exxon projects are currently producing more than 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and are expected to reach more than 600,000 bpd in output later this year.

Out of the 30 projects set for FID this year, many will be deepwater resource developments, Ian Thom, Director of Upstream Research at WoodMac, said earlier this year.

Many of these will be deepwater discoveries, with the 10 biggest deepwater oil projects requiring US$52 billion of investment for recoverable resources of 5 billion barrels of oil, Thom noted.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Tidal energy is a renewable energy source produced using the natural tidal current of the ocean. Since the 20th century, tidal currents have been used worldwide to produce electricity. There are three ways to produce tidal energy: tidal streams, barrages, and tidal lagoons. Typically, turbines are positioned in tidal streams  fast-flowing bodies of water, to produce a reliable flow of electricity. As tides are predictable, it makes the generation of electricity safe and reliable. To date, tidal energy is in its infancy, with only a fraction of the worlds potential tidal power being used to generate clean electricity. Yet, tidal energy can be produced anywhere that the tides are strong enough and the terrain is suitable for the installation of generators and other necessary equipment.

Despite the potential to produce vast amounts of clean energy, many countries are still showing little interest in tidal power, with no projects in the United States, for example. The U.S. is concerned about the legal rights to underwater land, as well as the potential environmental impact of operations. Further, experts believe the technology needs to be improved to increase the amount of energy that tides can produce while also avoiding the negative impact on the environment. Technological innovations would likely attract higher levels of funding from investors looking to make a profit from alternative renewable energy sources.

While tidal energy projects could provide large amounts of clean energy, some experts worry about the impact of the operations on the environment. Large machines must be installed to use the strength of the tides to produce energy. However, these machines may disrupt the tide they are attempting to harness. Barrage systems, which rely on a large dam structure to power turbines by storing and releasing water, can change the water level in an area, harming the land and therefore the flora and fauna. It can also change the salinity of the water, which has a negative impact on marine life.

Despite environmental concerns, many believe that tidal energy could support a green transition by providing vast amounts of carbon-free energy. Further, greater innovation could improve the methods used to produce tidal energy, ensuring they have a less severe impact on the environment. Some countries have more potential for the development of tidal projects than others, including China, France, England, Canada, and Russia.

Although tidal energy is in its infancy, some governments are investing in new technology and pilot projects to see if tidal energy can be used to generate clean electricity on a commercial scale. In February, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) announced it would be providing $6 million in investment for two marine energy projects. The funding will be divided between Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO), based in Eastsound, Washington, and a team led by the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), in Portland, Maine.

OPALCO plans to install a tidal energy turbine in the Rosario Strait of the San Juan Islands to produce around 2 MW of power, with a pilot project expected to provide electricity to the islanders. ORPC will install two tidal energy devices in the Cook Inlet in Alaska, to explore the potential for energy generation in the region. The Cook Inlet is thought to be the largest tidal energy resource in the U.S. The U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm stated, With marine energy we can sustainably harness the power of the ocean and rivers, providing rural and remote communities with clean reliable power The projects announced today are part of the largest investment by the federal government to advance the technology to capture energy from ocean tides and river currents while helping decarbonize hard-to-reach coastal communities across the country and increasing their energy independence and resilience by increasing use of locally generated energy.

Meanwhile, a report from LUT University in Finland assessed the ways in which the U.K. may develop a 100 percent clean energy system by 2050. In the report, the researchers found that a successful transition would require the development of at least 27 GW of wave and tidal energy capacity by the mid-century. This would need to be supported by the rollout of more battery storage capacity. The report suggests that increasing the U.K.s tidal energy capacity, alongside other renewable energy sources, could help it move away from the high costs of fossil and nuclear-based energy.

The costs associated with producing tidal energy have nearly halved since 2018 thanks to technological innovations, and they are expected to fall further as commercial-scale tidal energy projects become more common. Tidal projects have been included in U.K. clean energy auctions in recent years, although the government has announced no clear strategy for tidal power. The U.K.s tidal power installed capacity is expected to increase from around 10.4 MW at present to over 50 MW by 2027.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Kazakhstan Railways is bolstering its presence in both China and Russia to cement the Central Asian states role as a hub for both Europe- and Russia-bound freight rail traffic originating in East Asia.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaking via video link, inaugurated a Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) logistics and innovation center in the central Chinese city of Xian in late February. The facility has the capacity to handle roughly 66,000 standard intermodal containers, as measured in 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), per year.

A KTZ statement noted that roughly 40 percent of all Europe-bound freight trains originating in China are assembled in Xian. This will infuse momentum into the growth of not just the transport-logistics sector, but [Kazakhstans] economy as a whole, the presidential press service quoted Tokayev as saying, referring to the KTZ presence in Xian.

The state railway company reported that the volume of freight rail traffic between China and Kazakhstan increased by 22 percent during the month of January this year, compared to the same month in 2023, totaling 2.4 million tons. A KTZ subsidiary, meanwhile, announced in early March an agreement with a Chinese logistics firm based in the central city of Chongqing to facilitate the transit via Kazakhstan of at least 200 container trains with a total cargo volume of 20,000 TEU. KTZ is projecting that 3,500 container trains will transit Kazakhstan in 2024 with an expected volume of 350,000 TEU.

KTZ is also cooperating with a Russian firm on the expansion of transport and warehousing capacity for Russia-bound freight, an initiative that can abet sanctions-busting trade. In late February, KTZ signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese firm and Russias JVC Slavtrans-Service covering the construction of facilities in Selyatino, a town near Moscow. The memo also outlines plans to strengthen transit links between Xian and Moscow.

By Eurasianet.org

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Ooh De Lally opened last Tuesday in the former location of Marks Bistro, 4916 Underwood Ave.

The nonprofit restaurant works with the 180 Re-Entry Assistance Program at Metropolitan Community College, which offers former prison inmates an opportunity to train for food industry jobs.

Three program participants are working alongside professionals each month at the restaurant. They can enroll in the Metro Institute for Culinary Arts if they decide theyre interested in a food-service career.

A nonprofit organization, also named Ooh De Lally, is operating the eatery and has applied for 501C3 tax-free status.

The menu at the restaurant includes favorites from Marks, including smoked chicken lasagna, bread pudding and mac and cheese. Other menu offerings include Brussels sprouts with lemon, garlic and pecorino cheese; crab and corn croquettes; tarragon mushroom soup; short rib with fried parsnip puree and peppercorn gravy; and dark chocolate creme brulee.

Marks closed in June 2020 during the pandemic. It reopened shortly after that as a specialty wine and food shop, which closed Aug. 27, 2022.

Tim Steinbach is the executive director of Ooh De Lally, and Doug Case is the executive chef.

When plans for Ooh De Lally were announced last year, Steinbach said it would not only help former inmates re-enter the workforce but would address the food industry labor shortage.

Reservations are available at 402-698-8333. The restaurant is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

A complete menu and more information is available at oohdelally.org

Gretna Hawaiian Bros. opens Monday

Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill in Gretna officially launches at 11 a.m. Monday, and its offering some grand-opening specials for diners who come early.

The first 100 people in line will get a free T-shirt and gift card, and one of them will win free Hawaiian Bros. food for a year.

The franchise fast-food restaurant is known for its plate lunch, a staple on the islands. It includes a variety of chicken or pork glazed with sweet, savory or spicy sauces; macaroni salad; white rice and Dole Whip for dessert.

Food at Hawaiian Bros. is never frozen, fried or microwaved, according to a press release.

Hawaiian Bros. has 50 locations scattered throughout the country.

The Gretna outlet  the companys first in Nebraska  is operated by Hodges Enterprises. Its at 16171 Steven Pointe Circle. It has been having soft openings leading up to Mondays events.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Go to hawaiianbros.com for a menu and more information.

Iron Chef Eggstravaganza

Deviled Egg Co. is hosting a cooking competition Tuesday night.

Patrons are invited to create their own version of deviled eggs and a cocktail to pair with them in the restaurants first Iron Chef Eggstravaganza.

The cost to compete is $70 per person, which includes a custom-made apron and a beverage of your choice. Bar service will be available throughout the evening.

The winning creation and cocktail will be featured at Deviled Egg Co. through the end of March.

Radio personality Crash Davis will be the judge and master of ceremonies for the event, which will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Deviled Egg Co. is at 18111 Q St., Suite 102. For more information, go to the companys Facebook page.
Chris Bell Appointed President of Bishop Business

Bishop Business proudly announces the appointment of Chris Bell as President, effective immediately. Having served as a partner and owner since January 2023, Bell's elevation to this leadership position marks a significant milestone in the company's trajectory.

In his new capacity, Chris Bell will spearhead the strategic direction of Bishop Business together with Dave Bishop, the CEO of the company. Dave Bishop expressed his confidence in Bell's capabilities, stating, "Chris is not only an invaluable member of our team, but his appointment to this role is a testament to his exceptional leadership qualities, deep industry knowledge, and unwavering commitment to our company's vision and values."

A native of Grand Island, Chris Bell's journey from Grand Island Northwest High School to assuming the presidency of Bishop Business showcases his dedication and expertise. Graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2000 with a degree in finance, Bell initially harbored ambitions of a career on Wall Street. However, his decision to gain practical sales experience led him to Bishop Business, where he ascended through the ranks over 24 years, from sales representative to Vice President of Sales, culminating in his current role as President and Owner/Partner.

In his new role, Chris Bell aims to leverage his extensive experience and strategic acumen to drive innovation and growth within Bishop Business. His collaborative approach and proven track record will be pivotal in shaping the company's future endeavors.

Dave Bishop, as CEO, expressed optimism about the company's future under their combined leadership, stating, "Together, we will achieve new levels of success and make significant strides in our industry. This is a pivotal moment for our company, and I am enthusiastic about what the future holds under Chris's presidency."

Chris Bell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collective efforts of the Bishop Business team in driving the company's success. He affirmed, "Bishop Business continues to bring unique value to the area as a strong locally owned, independent dealer, wowing our customers with great service and value to help their workplaces work better."

The appointment of Chris Bell as President signifies a new chapter in the journey of Bishop Business, characterized by innovation, growth, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

For media inquiries, please contact: Ashley Bell, HR Director, ashley.bell@bbec.com
Three teenagers were injured by gunfire late Saturday at a large gathering of juveniles near St. Marys Cemetery in South Omaha.

Officers were called to the area of 36th and Q Streets about 10:30 p.m. for a report of shots fired, according to an Omaha police spokesman. Officers located Danielle Miller, 16, and Kamren Sykes, 14, who were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center by ambulance with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

Another person, Kebba Janneh, 18, later arrived at the Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy by a private vehicle with a gunshot wound. His injuries also were not thought to be life-threatening.
LUANDA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- In the bustling streets of Luanda, Angola's capital, a wave of enthusiasm for learning the Chinese language is sweeping through the young population.

Inside the Agostinho Neto University (UAN), one of Angola's most prestigious higher education institutions, an entry-level Mandarin course is underway at the university's Confucius Institute.

"What's on the table? A bottle is on the table," Sun Yun said in Chinese, repeating and using body language to make it easier for her Angolan students to understand.

"They have only studied for three months, but they can already practice dialogues in pairs based on the textbook content," said Sun, a teacher at the Confucius Institute. She oversees three classes with more than 100 students, including university students from the UAN, other institutions, and high school students.

"Their passion for learning is strong, and they practice on their own after class. On the one hand, they have a passion for the language and the country; on the other hand, they believe that mastering the language could open the doors to Chinese companies in Angola, a career path they have dreamed of," she said.

Raul Carvalho, who studied Chinese at the institute a few years ago, now returns whenever he has time to help with teaching. For him, his initial interest in learning Chinese led to his professional success.

"In Angola, it's not easy to find a good job. But the Mandarin I have learned paves the way for a promising career," Carvalho said.

He began his journey of learning Mandarin in 2017, signing up for classes immediately after seeing the Confucius Institute's post online.

The first step is always the most difficult. Pronunciation, grammar and even sentence logic confused him. However, with perseverance, the young man got a scholarship in 2018 to study at Harbin Normal University in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the cooperating institution of the Confucius Institute at the UAN.

"I would go out of class and chat with people I met, from street chess players to restaurant owners. Even though I spoke slowly, they were all very patient and taught me authentic Chinese expressions," he recalled.

He took high-speed trains, wandered the night market and became a regular online shopper. With recommendations from Chinese friends, he delved into the diverse offerings of Chinese cuisine, quickly becoming an enthusiastic aficionado.

In 2022, Carvalho nailed the interviews and got a project assistant and translator job at China Energy Engineering Corporation's Angola office, where he could use his professionalism while improving his Chinese at work.

He now teaches his 18-year-old sister Chinese, hoping to give her a bright future like his.

Carvalho's experience mirrors that of thousands of Chinese language learners in Angola. As the number of Chinese enterprises in Angola has exceeded 400, many Angolan youths believe that proficiency in Chinese is becoming an increasingly important skill in the southwestern African country's labor market.

According to Zhao Yufeng, co-director of the UAN Confucius Institute, China-Angola cooperation has deepened under the Belt and Road Initiative, and the interaction of language and culture is important.

"We are working with various government departments and academic institutions on language training projects to build a platform to advance cooperation between the two countries," said Zhao.

Since its establishment in 2015, more than 2,000 students have enrolled in the UAN Confucius Institute. Pedro Magalhaes, rector of the UAN, said Angola's development "cannot be separated from China" and hoped that exchanges between the two countries' higher education institutions will promote friendship. 
LINCOLN  The University of Nebraska State Museum and Mueller Planetarium reopened to the public Friday.

The 97-year-old Morrill Hall had been closed since Oct. 2 for renovations to improve accessibility and better protect its exhibits.

The museum received $9.3 million from a building renewal fund made possible by Legislative Bill 384, which addressed a backlog of improvements and maintenance to University of Nebraska-Lincoln facilities.

It was the largest renovation project ever at Morrill Hall.

Were very thankful for the Legislature for these funds, said Adam Eakin, assistant director of the University of Nebraska State Museum. We in the museum had a wish list of the things wed like to have done.

A lot of the renovations had to do with making the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, something Eakin noted Morrill Hall definitely needed.

Its a 97-year-old building, he said. It wasnt built with accessibility in mind.

Accessibility improvements include widened doorways, better and safer layout and spacing, a new admissions desk installed at the recommended height, and a sink and water supply in the lactation room.

Other renovations include a new HVAC system, LED lighting installed throughout the facility, dual-flush toilets and new windows, although some of the renovations wont be fully completed until a few months after the museum reopens.

The museum also renovated and updated its classrooms. Eakin said that before the renovations, there was only one classroom available, and that really limited staff on what they could provide.

The education team is a lot more flexible now with what they can offer, he said.

The expansion and improvements of Morrill Hall classrooms will allow longer summer camps and a brand-new spring break camp for children on Thursday and Friday.

Previously, summer camps were half-day camps for a three- to four-week period during the summer. Eakin said now the museum is able to run full-day, two-day and five-day camps through all of June and July centering on space, art and science, insects, elephants, rhinos, dinosaurs and other areas.

Its an opportunity to learn and experience and have fun while doing it, Eakin said. Were hoping thatll get them excited and spark that lifelong interest in science and learning.

The renovated facility also includes new exhibits, along with updates to existing ones.

The Science of Saving Species exhibit will focus on why animals and other life become endangered and the science behind preventing extinction.

Elizabeth H. Dolan: Rediscovering a Nebraska Artist will highlight a famous mural artist with a lifetime connection to Morrill Hall, who was commissioned to do a series of murals for the museum in 1926 and whose work remains in the building today.

A third exhibit featuring the David Easterla collection of ice age mammals is positioned on the second floor.

One of the exhibits Eakin and the rest of the team at Morrill Hall are especially excited for is the National Geographic Photo Ark, featuring the work of Nebraska wildlife photographer Joel Sartore, which is coming to the building later this spring.

The Photo Ark includes portraits of more than 15,000 species taken by Sartore in his goal of documenting the approximately 20,000 species living in zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries across the world. Sartore hopes his photo collection will inspire people to save some of the planets most endangered animals.

Its a fascinating exhibit and his work is just incredible and were incredibly fortunate, Eakin said. Lots of changes, lots of exhibits, its an exciting time.

The final exhibit addition will see Morrill Halls third floor reopen this summer to showcase TreeHouses: Look Whos Living in the Trees, centering around the abundant wildlife in trees.

Eakin said the original plan was to open Morrill Hall mid-January, but supply-chain issues and other minor problems didnt allow that to happen.

Overall, the project has been great, he said. But as with any construction project, we reached hurdles, he said.

While a lot is changing about Morrill Hall, Eakin said theyre not taking anything away from what made the building so special to visitors over the years.

Weve tried to find a balance between providing updates and refreshing the building, but at the same time holding onto those elements that people find enjoyable and important, he said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024
Governor Aminu Tambuwal

Sokoto state government has donated two million Naira to the families of policemen that were killed by armed bandits while on election duty.

The deceased were ASP Abubakar Maisaje and Sergeant Usman Ibrahim who were killed on Friday while on their way to Isa local government for election duty.

The states Commissioner of Police, Aminu Koji, said the officers were ambushed and killed by the bandits while serving their fatherland.

We are with you because we feel the same pain. My happiness is that they died while serving their fatherland, he said.

He promised to fish out the bandits and bring them to justice.

According to Koji, the state government had sent its condolences to the families and the Command, adding that the money was meant to cushion the effect of the losses.

Responding, the wife of the deceased ASP, Maryam Abubakar thanked the state government for the support and prayed Allah to continue to protect their colleagues still on duty.

The mother of nine children, including five female, said her husbands death was a great loss to the family but we take solace in God who is the Giver and Taker of life.
The photoshopped picture

Curvy and brief actress, Moyo Lawal is back again in the news for a controversial act.

She posted some pictures on social media and in a bid to look sexy, she decided to edit one of the full pictures to make her hips and bum bigger.

Unfortunately for her, her amateur multi-media skills affected the surrounding of the picture with the gate at the background bent.

This attracted the attention of her fans who have been mocking her since the picture emerged. The single actress has refused to be bullied as she quickly joined in the fun.
By Chioma Obinagwam

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has warned that the country might slide back to recession except urgent measures are taken to address the high rate of unemployment.

Emefiele disclosed while delivering a lecture titled: Beyond the Global Financial Crisis: Monetary Policy under Global Uncertainty, at the University of Benin, Benin, Edo State recently.

He noted that although the country had made progress in the year under review, more efforts must be made to reduce the countrys unemployment rate.

He added that urgent measures are required to avert looming economic crisis and in particular Nigeria must get prepared for the next global economic crisis.

Emefiele stated, From some of my concluding remarks, you may have observed, whether you like it or not, there is global uncertainty that will, unfortunately, most certainly lead to another crisis.

The question could be, how are we as Nigerians, particularly our leaders, I am talking of monetary and fiscal policy authorities, how are we preparing our country for the next crisis?

We have luckily exited recession; we have seen recession pending downward to about 18.72 per cent in 2017 to about 11. 37 per cent today.

We have seen the reserve moving up but unfortunately we still have issues and those issues border on the unemployment rate and those issues border on how we prepare our country, he said.

While enumerating efforts being made by the apex bank (CBN) to stabilise the nations economy, Emefiele said the introduction of the investors and exporters window had helped in shoring up the countrys external reserves.

He said the turnover in the I&E FX Window had reached over $48 billion since the inception of the window and that the nations foreign exchange (Forex) reserve had risen to $45 billion in April 2019 from $23 billion in October 2016.

The CBN governor added that Nigerias current stock of external reserves was able to finance nine months of current import commitments.

He said with the improved availability of Forex, the exchange rate at I&E FX Window had remained stable over the past 24 months at an average of N360/$, and the parallel market exchange rate had appreciated from N525/$ in February 2017 to N360/$ today.

After five consecutive quarters of negative growth beginning in the 1st quarter of 2016, a coordinated approach by the fiscal and monetary authorities supported a rebound in the nations economy during the second quarter of 2017.

The recovery has been driven largely by improved non-oil activities especially the agriculture sector which expanded consistently by about 3.5 per cent to 4.3 per cent reflecting governments efforts at diversifying the economy, he added.

In the same vein, Emefiele was quoted in a statement from the CBN as seeking economic patriotism and urging stakeholders in the public and private sectors to look inwards in developing the Nigerian economy.

Emefiele charged Nigerians to think of what they could do to improve the fortunes of the economy, rather than what they could benefit from the economy.

The CBN governor noted that there was huge potential within the Nigerian economy to make it as developed as other countries, which were its peers at independence but had gone ahead to become more developed.

He added that the lecture was part of the banks efforts at promoting research and collaboration with universities, towards developing policies and programmes that would enhance the economic well-being of all Nigerians.

He highlighted how the crisis had helped to reshape monetary policy tools used by Central Banks to address dips in their economies.

He said, The 60 per cent drop in crude oil prices between 2014  2016 along with normalisation of monetary policy by the United States Federal Reserve Bank in 2014, imposed severe constraints on the Nigerian economy, given our reliance on crude oil for over 90 per cent of our export earnings and 60 per cent of government revenue.

Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Nigerias unemployment rate rose to 23.1 percent as at third quarter (Q3) 2018 from the 18.8 percent where it stood in Q3, 2017.

More so, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, at a workshop in Abuja, recently stated Nigerias unemployment rate is expected to raise to 33.5 percent in the year 2020 (next year).

Nevertheless, as a way of tackling the rising unemployment rate, the CBN, under the aegis of the Bankers Committee had recently announced its intervention in the creative industry which is expected to create about 300,000 jobs over the next five years.
It was gathered that the incident occurred shortly after Aziegbemis meeting with Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in Benin City.

The Edo PDP chairman was said to be abducted around 11 pm on Friday in the presence of his driver who was attempting to climb a speed breaker.

The driver who narrated how his boss was kidnapped said, When we left the Government House heading home at about 11 pm, I noticed a car trailing us so I decided to take another diversion. We never knew they were kidnappers.

A few minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a speed breaker and blocked our car in the front and also behind as they prevented us from going back.

Immediately the gunmen pointed guns at us and ordered our chairman to enter their car and took him away, while also driving his jeep with him.

Although the Edo State Police Command has yet to officially comment on the matter, the Edo State Government has confirmed the abduction.

Hon. Chris Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, assured that the government is actively working with security agencies to secure Aziegbemis safe release.

Nehikhare emphasized the governments commitment to intensifying security measures across the state and urged residents to report any suspicious activities.

The Government is working closely with security agencies to ensure his safe release and return to his family, the statement read.

We have also increased surveillance and beefed-up security measures across the State to ensure that these criminal activities are quelled and culprits are brought to justice.

The commissioner called on residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the State emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs.

He also reassured them of the commitment of the Edo State Government to protecting the lives and property of residents, adding that no resources will be spared in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Commands spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, said that an official statement regarding the incident would be issued.

However, he did not provide immediate confirmation or denial of the abduction.

KanyiDaily had also reported how Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers attacked the Nasarawa State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning in Lafia and stole N100 million meant for payment of workers in the state.
The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi over his revelation of alleged padding of the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.7 trillion by the Senate.

News Direct recalls that Senator Ningi, in an earlier interview, made the allegation that culminated in his three-month suspension for what the Senate labelled an unfounded allegation.

But the political and cultural association of leaders from Northern noted on Saturday that rather than suspending the senator representing Bauchi North, the Red Chamber should have allowed an independent investigation into the matter.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur-Baba, said in a statement in Kaduna that the process that culminated in Ningis suspension appeared rushed, and was like a case of looking more on the messenger than his message.

According to the forum, with the suspension of Ningi, who had served as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum, the interests of many communities in the region are at stake.

It said that rather than taking a rushed suspension of Ningi, it preferred a thorough investigation of the allegation by a statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.

The statement, titled ACF Regrets Suspension of Senator Ningi from 10th Senate, Calls for More Open Debates on Issues, noted that ACF has watched with keen interest the series of rather dramatic events in the Nigerian 10th Senate, which culminated in the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi from the Red Chamber for three months.

ACF acknowledges the 10th Senates constitutional privilege to determine how it operates or conducts its affairs, it said.

According to the statement, ACF does not wish to engage in debate with the Senate, noting that on the whole, the process appeared rushed.

ACF notes that the allegation has since been denied by the 10th Senate as lacking in veracity. However, the interests of many communities in Northern Nigeria are at stake.

Rather than the route of a rushed suspension of Senator Ningi, ACF prefers a thorough investigation of the allegation by some statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate, it said.

The statement regrets that Bauchi Central will be without representation in the 10th Senate for the next three months and stands with Senator Ningi and his supporters in whatever constitutional means they seek to respond with a satisfactory denouement to this sad development.

ACF called on the 10th Senate to act with more circumspection and sensitivity in processing criticism of its operations, stressing that robust debates on public policy issues undoubtedly strengthen the development of the democratic project.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has ordered a probe into the tragic killing of four senior officers and 12 soldiers in Delta State .

It was gathered that the slain military personnel responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities, both in Delta State, before they were killed on Thursday, March 14.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said the victims were surrounded by some community youths when troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion were on a peace mission in the Bomadi Local Government Area of the state.

The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State, the statement read.

The reinforcement team led by the commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the deaths of the commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers.

UPDATE

The defence spokesman said the incident has been reported to the Delta State Government, adding that the CDS has also directed that the culprits be unmasked.

According to him, some suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

He also reiterated the commitment of the military to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in various parts of the country.

The Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Government.

However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps in place to unravel the motive behind the attack.
MPH Rail Development Ltd., a United Kingdom-based private company with no history of rail construction and owned by Adeyemi Sabitun Ikuforiji, is on the verge of securing a rail construction contract from the federal government.

Ikuforiji was the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2005 to 2015. His legislative leadership partly coincided with the last two years of Bola Tinubu as Lagos governor from 1999 to 2007.

He co-owns the company with Gbadamosi Mudashiru Oriyomi, Jason Andrew, Osinowo Dacosta Rotimi, Osinowo Olubode Sayeed and Smith David Neil, according to the UKs Companies House. Apart from Andrew, Rotimi and Neil with UK addresses, others used their Lagos addresses on the companys profile.

Said Ahmed Alkali and a representative of MPH Rail Development Limited Source: Ministrys X handle

On Friday, Said Ahmed Alkali, the minister of transportation, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the company to enable it to carry out the design, construction, commissioning, operation and transfer of the Port-HarcourtEnuguCalabarAbuja Standard Gauge Rail Line on PublicPrivate Partnership basis.

The MoU is a prelude to the final award of the contract that may run into billions of naira by the Federal Executive Council, constitutionally chaired by the president.

This development will enable the company to concentrate on preparing relevant documents to support a request for approval of the Federal Executive Council to execute the project, the March 13 statement, signed by Olujimi Oyetomi, the director, press and public relations at the ministry, read in part.

MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY

Andrew registered the company in 2019 as Mordecai JB Ltd., with him as the only director.

On December 12, 2020, Neil was appointed as a director and person with significant control at the company. On February 16, 2021, the companys name was changed to MPH Rail Development Ltd.

With evidence of dormancy and a compulsory strike-off notice by the authorities, the company first co-opted Ikuforiji and Rotimi as directors on October 30, 2023, in an approach that shows its entry into Nigeria.

The company further brought Sayeed and Oriyomi on board as directors on January 16. This increased its Nigerian ownership. However, there is no evidence of its previous project handling in Nigeria or in the UK.

IKUFORIJIS ONGOING MONEY LAUNDERING TRIAL

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) believes Ikuforiji used his former position for conspiracy and money laundering alongside Oyebode Atoyebi, who was his aide.

The EFCC has been prosecuting them in court since 2012 on a 54-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N338.8 million.

They allegedly obtained N4.5 million to renovate the speakers residence, N1.5 million for the speakers guest house and N13.5 million for honorariums for six months in a row.

Both suspects have denied the allegations, with Ikuforiji describing his trial as political. He claimed the foundation of his trial was a petition by an unknown person accusing him of stealing public funds to the tune of N7 billion from the legislature.

Before now, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos Federal High Court pronounced that the anti-corruption office had no case against them. The EFCC, however, appealed the judgement, and the appellate court ordered a retrial in 2016.

Now before Justice Mohammed Liman, the trial has been stalled several times. A letter by the defence team seeking an adjournment stalled the hearing on November 20, 2023.

SOURCE: Fij.ng
MANILA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Four soldiers were killed on Sunday in an ambush in Maguindanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines, the military said.

Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Almorato, spokesperson for the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division in the area, said at least 10 militants, using M16 and M14 rifles, peppered a civilian vehicle used by the troops to buy food and other supplies around 10 a.m. local time on Sunday in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town.

The soldiers were heading back to their patrol base after buying supplies when the ambush occurred near a residential area, he added.

Almorato said the victims, clad in civilian clothes and using a civilian car, succumbed to their wounds and died at a local hospital.

Almorato blamed the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) armed group for the attack, which broke out during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The DI is behind several atrocities in Mindanao, including the bombing at Mindanao State University in Marawi city in Lanao del Sur province in December last year, which left four people dead and 50 others injured. 
A 37-year-old man, Crosetti Brand, has been charged with kiling an 11-year-old child and attacking his 8-month-pregnant mother in a domestic violence attack in Chicagos Edgewater neighborhood.

Police on Friday revealed disturbing details on what happened as they announced that Crosetti Brand now faces charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, home invasion with a dangerous weapon, aggravated domestic battery and violation of an order of protection, among others.

According to Chicago police, he was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon. He made his initial court appearance on Friday. In the courtroom, family members charged at Brand  trying to get through the court barriers to get to him. They had to be escorted out of the courtroom.

A judge ordered Brand to be held behind bars. CBS 2 reported that Brand has a violent history of domestic battery. He had just been released from jail on Tuesday, March 12.
An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has again claimed that there is no military solution to end the insecurity problems Nigeria is currently facing.

The scholar who said this during an interview session with AriseNews TV, insisted that persistent military attacks on the terrorists were responsible for their latest lack of sympathy on Nigerians they abducted.

He added that the Nigerian government should emulate how the United States government negotiated with the Taliban terrorists by also having a dialogue with the bandits to prevent the insurgence in the country.

He said, This thing (banditry) is turning into something else. We are turning them into m+nsters, more monsters as what they are. They are ignorant, they dont have direction, they dont leadership, they dont have empathy now because of the way we treat them too, we dont care when we burn them.
Fourteen lifeless bodies of soldiers killed in Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State , were on Saturday recovered by the Nigerian Army joint task force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 division, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.

Some of the recovered corpses were said to have been beheaded, while the stomachs and hearts of others were ripped off.

At the NDDC jetty in the coastal Delta community, the bodies of the commanding officer and the two killed majors were seen floating by the river bank as others were separated on land.

Meanwhile, the entire communities in Bomadi and Ughelli south local government areas of Delta State have been cordoned off by operatives of the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, who also oversees the 63 brigade in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has ordered a probe into the tragic killing of the four senior officers and 12 soldiers.
A major fire disaster was narrowly avoided on Saturday in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, when a petrol tanker overturned on the highway, causing a spill of its contents.

The incident occurred at about 1:10 pm and involved a petrol tanker carrying 50,000 litres of petrol.

The spokesman of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said in a statement in Ilorin on Saturday: The fire service control room received a distress call regarding a fallen petrol tanker with registration number UDD 155 SA near Eucharistic Secondary School, opposite Coca-Cola junction, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, which posed a significant threat to road users and pedestrians.

The courageous fire officers responded promptly to mitigate the potential danger. Upon arrival, they immediately commenced efforts to drench the tanker and its surroundings extensively, thereby reducing the risk of a fire outbreak. Additionally, the road was temporarily closed to ensure public safety.

Adekunle disclosed that the collaborative efforts of various agencies, including the Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Police, and Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority, greatly facilitated the safety measures deployed.



During the investigation, it was revealed that the driver noticed a parked truck suddenly, prompting him to apply the brakes abruptly while in motion. This sudden friction caused the detachment of the tankers contents, resulting in its spillage on the road, Adekunle explained.
Lagos State Police have verified the passing of Seun Sahola, 33, a motorist who died while protesting against another driver who reportedly collided with and damaged his vehicle on the Jakande-Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to NAN on Saturday.

Hundeyin said the Ilasan Police Division got information on Monday at about 2.30 pm of a hit-and-run fatal motor accident along Jakande-Lekki-Epe Expressway, involving a Lexus car with an unknown registration number.

He said the information revealed that the late motorist drove the car, while a Honda Accord car driven by yet to be known person damaged his car.

The image maker said the report further revealed that the Honda Accord car driver allegedly hit the Lexus car, where it was parked along the expressway.

Hundeyin said the owner of the Lexus car, now late, came out from his car and demanded that the Honda Accord car driver come down and see the damage his car had done on him.



The report says instead of the Honda Accord car driver coming down to check, he refused, rather, he allegedly used his Honda Accord car to knock down the Lexus car motorist and drove off.

The driver of the Honda Accord car, in an attempt to flee the scene of the accident, lost control of his car and ran into an electric pole at Igbo Efon and abandoned his accident car in the middle of the road and ran away.

The traffic personnel of the police division immediately went to the scene. One Seun Sahola was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment, where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,  he said.

Hundeyin further said that the corpse was deposited at the mortuary for autopsy while the abandoned car was taken to the police station for custody.

He said that an investigation was in progress, as the police were on the trail of the fleeing driver.
Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command have rescued at least 50 foreigners, from neighbouring African countries, some of them children, from a duplex on Omola Road, in the Edemola area of Epe, Lagos.

It was gathered that the rescued persons, all foreigners, were kept in the building by a gang of job scammers

Findings at the Okeoyibo Police Division where the rescued persons were taken, revealed that they were from Cameroon and Gabon.

Investigations, according to the police, indicated that they were deceived by the ring leaders of a Cameroonian job scam gang that there were job opportunities in Nigeria.

The victims, as gathered, were discovered to have paid an unspecified amount to the fraudsters. Some of them reportedly told policemen that they sold their valuables, including houses, back home, to raise money for the journey to Nigeria, for the promised jobs.

On arrival, they were reportedly kept in the duplex with a stern warning not to step outside, until they got the promised jobs.

Some of them were discovered to have been in the building for six months.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hudenyin, said the main suspect had fled to Cameroon, noting that 34 persons were rescued.



They are not kidnapped victims, they were deceived by some Cameroonians that there were jobs in Nigeria, only to be stranded because they have expended all their money. All of them have been taken to the police station.

The ring leader is on the run. He gave all of them the same arrival date and when they arrived, he collected their money from them, asked them to stay in that room and left with a promise to be back, only to abandon them and go back to Cameroon, he stated.
Egba Onisowurun Nduoma, a 300-level Accounting student of the University of Port Harcourt, has died under mysterious circumstances.

It was gathered that Egba, who stayed in Mandela Hostel, Block B, room 201, was found dead at the Delta bus/taxi park on Friday, March 15, 2024.

The cause of the students death is unknown at the time of filing this report.

His remains have been deposited in the morgue.

It was further learnt that the school management and the Nigeria police have commenced an investigation into the incident.
Agents from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have apprehended a 20-year-old hair stylist named Josephine Odunu and a 30-year-old dispatch rider named Edesemi Ikporo.

They were caught selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and at social gatherings in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The development was revealed by the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, detailing the weekly arrests of suspects and drugs seized by the anti-narcotics agency.

Babafemi noted, NDLEA officers on patrol around the Opolo area of Yenagoa had on Sunday, March 10, 2024, intercepted the motorcycle dispatch rider, Edesemi, and recovered 200 grammes of chin-chin produced with Cannabis Sativa, which he was on a mission to deliver to a buyer.

A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the hairdresser, Josephine, who distributes the drugged chin-chin from the salon where she works in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa.

A search of the salon also led to the recovery of 3.00kg, bringing the total weight of the illicit substance seized from the duo to 3.2kg.

Investigations reveal that they distribute the chin-chin often laced with cannabis and tramadol to students and at birthday parties. While Edesemi handles the delivery to buyers, Josephine is a major distributor to a wanted suspect who produces the drugged chin-chin.

The statement further revealed that NDLEA operatives in Adamawa State on Wednesday, March 13, arrested two wanted suspects  Ajim Samuel (aka Boss), 30, and Davidson Joshua (aka Dantala), 36, while on their way from Onitsha, Anambra State where they had gone to buy a consignment of tramadol containing 14, 428 pills of the opioid which they tucked in the body compartments of their black Honda Civic car marked YLA 623 SL.

They were nabbed along the Numan-Jalingo road. Also recovered from them were 21 grammes of cannabis and monetary exhibits totalling N19,280.

The spokesperson for the anti-narcotics agency added that in Osun State, a 49-year-old commercial bus driver, Ogunleye Adegoke, was arrested along Gbongan-Ibadan road after NDLEA operatives discovered 2,000 capsules of tramadol, 60 tablets of Rohypnol and 10 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in the spare tyre compartment of his vehicle.

Meanwhile, a total of 343,000 pills of opioids were seized by NDLEA officers from a suspect, Lawan Abubakar, 33, in Azare town, Katagum, Bauchi State on Friday, March 15, as the Nigerian Army transferred a suspect, Muhammadu Rabiu, 37, with 64,000 pills of tramadol recovered from him to the Bauchi State command of the NDLEA on the same day.

Babafemi added that at least, 24kg of cannabis was seized from the driver of a transport company, Ikechukwu Obialo, at Sagamu Interchange, Ogun state by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, March 13, while in Kano, two suspects: Ali Amadu, 27, and Adamu Hassan, 33, were nabbed with a total of 125.3kg cannabis; 3,400 pills of tramadol; and 30 bottles of codeine syrup.

They were arrested on Monday, March 11, at Gadar Tamburawa area, and Friday, March 15, at Tsamiya Babba, Hotoro, respectively.

While 118 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from a warehouse in Masaka area of Nasarawa state on Saturday, March 16, NDLEA operatives in Edo state on Thursday, March 14, arrested a suspect, Kole Samuel, 50, with 75kg of same psychoactive substance at market area, Otuo, Owan East LGA. Same day, operatives raided the Oloma-Okpe forest in Akoko Edo LGA, where they destroyed 3,944.2075 kilograms of cannabis on 1.577683 hectares of farmland, the statement read.
The Rivers State Police continues to gain ground in its clamp down on cultism in the state with the arrest of the primary suspect in the violent cult clash that rocked the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt early in 2024.

Recall that on January 30, 2024, the Gambia/Ayama area of Diobu, Port Harcourt, witnessed a series of destructive clashes between rival cult groups. So violent were the clashes that they left several wounded and millions of Naira lost in damage to property.

Several vehicles had their windshields smashed, and shops in the area were damaged and looted as the melee gained momentum, but the men of the Mile 1 Police Division intervened to curb the growing exchanges. Several suspected cultists were arrested, and the case was transferred to the Anti-Cultism unit, where further investigations were carried out.

As a fallout of the investigations, seven arrested were charged to court and remanded in the correctional center, Port Harcourt. The investigations also revealed that the leading cause of the clashes was one Ejike Samuel, a former leader in the Castle (Dey-Bam) cult group.

On February 14, 2024, Ejike, a 32-year-old native of Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and resident at Okonkwo in Gambia, Diobu, was arrested alongside his accomplice, Victor Kokoriko, 29, from Sampo, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA in Bayelsa.

READ ALSO: Police arrest kidnapper posing as lunatic

Ejike confessed to being a leader in the Castle cult group but decided to call it quits after he was restricted from interacting with his pals from a rival cult group, JVC (Junior Vikings Confraternity).

He was an armourer of Castle and was in possession of a locally made revolver that had been placed in his care by his superior leader in Castle, one Jamil, who he said operates as a meat seller in the local abattoir but coordinates all the activities of the cult group. The gun was handed over to him in October 2022. He also intimated to the Police that on several occasions, he had been badly beaten and drilled for associating with friends from JVC, so he decided to cross-carpet to the JVC once and for all.

After he decided to quit and join JVC, he switched lanes with the revolver still in his possession and refused to return it. This provoked the Castle group, and they launched attacks of gathering spots of the JVCs to recover the revolver, which culminated in the violent confrontations of January 2024.

The duo was arrested on their way back from demanding royalties on behalf of JVC from dealers in scrap materials inside an area in Gambia they referred to as bribabo. According to Victor, they usually collect these royalties and pay to the Doff-man (treasurer) of the cult, who then gives them a cut for their troubles.

He also spoke of how they were accosted by the Police in collaboration with the local Diobu vigilante. Victor, who was incarcerated at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre between 2020 and 2021 for cult-related violence that led to grievous bodily harm to a victim, stated that Ejike received a phone call from a certain Effiong, who was a Senior man (a former cultist). While he was on the call and distracted, He was apprehended by the Police accompanied by the vigilante. They were searched, and the locally made revolver was recovered from them on the spot.

They have been cooperative with the Police in the investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu, has expressed optimism that synergy between the Police and Community-Based Security outfits can yield the desired result of addressing the menace of cultism. He also commended the Men of the Mile 1 Police Division and the Anti-Cultism Unit for their ingenuity in forging collaborations to achieve results.

He warned cultists and other criminals in the state to steer off crime as the hand of the law was closer to them than they realised.
The Police in Ogun State have arrested one Mutiu Sonola for allegedly beating his wife, Zainab shotayo to death. DAILY POST learnt that Mutiu, 37, started beating his wife in the morning on Christmas Day, over minor disagreement. He was said to have persisted in hitting her despite being told by neighbours to desist from further assaulting his wife, until the 34-year-old woman slumped and slipped into coma. He, allegedly, fled home quickly when it dawned on him that his wife was not likely to survive the beating. It was learnt that neighbours notified the father of the woman, who rushed to the scene and took his daughter to the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, for treatment but doctors confirmed she was brought in dead. The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a release stated that the suspect was arrested by detectives from Ibara Division of the Ogun state Police Command. Oyeyemi stated further that investigation had revealed that Mutiu habitually beat his wife at any slightest provocation and that the latest assault leading to the womans death was triggered by a minor disagreement. According to him, the remains of the woman had been deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital, Ijaiye for autopsy, while her husband would be transferred to the homicide section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and prosecution. The suspect was arrested on Wednesday 25th of December 2019 following a report by the father of the deceased who complained at Ibara division that he was called on phone that his daughter was having a misunderstanding with her husband and that she has been beaten to comma by the husband. He said that he quickly rushed to the scene and took her daughter to the General hospital, Ijaye where the doctor confirmed her dead. As soon as the suspect realised that the victim is dead, he took to his heels and on the strength of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ibara division, Dada Olusegun mobilized his detectives and went after the suspect. His hiding place was eventually located and he was promptly arrested, he said.
CANBERRA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Authorities have warned people seeking work in Australia about an increase in worker exploitation and forced labor.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Sunday urged domestic and overseas workers who are seeking employment in Australia to be aware of being coerced, threatened or deceived into working against their will.

According to the AFP, there have been 178 reports of forced labor or worker exploitation, which are forms of human trafficking, in Australia since 2018 to 2019.

It identified acts of physical and psychological abuse, poor working conditions and debt bondage - when a victim is led to believe they have a large debt to their employer they must work to pay off - as signs of forced labor and exploitation.

AFP Commander Helen Schneider said migrant workers looking for temporary work were particularly vulnerable due to their visa status, cultural barriers, social isolation and limited understanding of Australian worker rights.

"Criminals may use deceptive methods to target vulnerable individuals looking for seasonal or temporary work in Australia before exploiting them into forced labour," she said in a statement.

Seasonal workers are widely used in Australia's agriculture industry as fruit pickers and packers, farmhands and vineyard workers, Schneider said.

"Unfortunately, criminals do take advantage and exploit workers looking for temporary work," she said.

In one recent investigation, the AFP charged a man who is alleged to have recruited workers via online advertisements and threatened to have them deported if they sought help from authorities.

In a separate case, a man was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in January for coercing a victim to work 14 hours seven days a week in his business for two consecutive years. 
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved $2 million in emergency assistance for the World Health Organization (WHO) to reinforce its capacity to help African countries contain the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its impacts.

In a statement by the Bank, the measure is one of the its interventions to help member countries address the pandemic which, while slow to arrive in Africa, is spreading quickly and is straining already fragile health systems.

The grant, which is in response to an international appeal by the WHO, will be used by the world body to equip Regional Member Countries to prevent, rapidly detect, investigate, contain and manage detected cases of COVID-19.

Specifically, the WHO Africa region will use the funds to bolster the capacity of 41 African countries on infection prevention, testing and case management. WHO Africa will also boost surveillance systems, procure and distribute laboratory test kits and reagents, and support coordination mechanisms at national and regional levels.

This grant will enable Regional Member Countries to put in place robust containment measures within 48 hours of COVID-19 case confirmation and also support the WHO Africa Region to disseminate information and increase public awareness in communities, said the Banks Human Capital Youth and Skills Development Department.

The grant will contribute toward a $50 million WHO Preparedness and Response Plan, which other partners including the United Nations system, are also supporting.

It is estimated that Africa will require billions of dollars to cushion the impact of the disease as many countries scramble together contingency measures, including commercial lockdowns, in desperate efforts to contain it. Globally, factories have been closed and workers sent home, disrupting supply chains, trade, travel, and driving many economies toward recession.

The Bank Group is expected to unveil a financial assistance package that will enable governments and businesses to undertake flexible responses to lessen the economic and social impact of this pandemic.

Last Thursday, the Bank raised an exceptional $3 billion in a three-year social bond, the proceeds from which will go to help alleviate the economic and social effects of the pandemic. It is the largest dollar-denominated social bond launched in international capital markets to date.
Each week, Flying Horse features dozens of Central Illinois childrens thoughts and drawings on various topics. This week: St. Patrick's Day

Fun activities: What I like about St. Patricks Day is that there are always fun things to do. Its not my favorite holiday but we like to see the gold, rainbows, and four-leaf clovers.

Lucy Lowry

Grade 5, Calvary

Lots of green: St. Patricks Day is a day with lots of green. There are also leprechauns and clovers. Mostly, clovers have three leaves. If you find a four-leaf clover, you are very lucky.

Isabella Damon Garcia

Grade 3, Cedar Ridge

Shamrock shakes: For me, every year the leprechaun comes. He might bring you chocolate coins. During the week, I usually get a McDonalds Shamrock Shake. Well also set up a leprechaun trap.

Patrick OKelley

Grade 3, Epiphany

St. Patrick's Day: I like St. Patricks Day because I like green. Next there are four-leaf clovers. Last, leprechauns are crazy.

Edison Bart

Grade 4, Fairview

Popular holiday: St. Patricks Day is a really popular holiday thats about a saint and someone made it a holiday.

Jay Hawkins

Grade 1, Grove

Special: St. Paddys Day is very special to me because my mom and my dads grandma and grandpas are both Irish, so that makes me quarter Irish. There is a myth that there are little, red-headed people called leprechauns. They love gold and money. I always set up a trap to catch one, but it never works. For dinner we have corned beef and cabbage.

Lyla Rossiter

Grade 4, Grove

St. Patrick: I love St. Patricks Day. His first name was Maewyn Succat. On this day if you dont wear green you will get pinched. In the country of Ireland, he taught them about God.

Michael Mocilan

Grade 2, Jefferson Park

Traps: Do you know what St. Patricks Day is because if you dont, youre crazy! Im setting up a trap this year, so I can get his gold.

Charlee McGrew

Grade 2, Northpoint

Leprechauns: I celebrate St. Patricks Day by wearing a green shirt. I like leprechauns. Leprechauns are good.

Hemakesh Adala

Grade 3, Northpoint

Pot of gold: I am not from Ireland. And I'm still going to celebrate! Im going to look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Ismael Abreu Arias

Grade 5, Northpoint

Colorful: St. Patricks is colorful. All the rainbows make the sky pretty and colorful. The rainbows have red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple in them.

Parker Roberge

Grade 2, Parkside

Wear green: St. Patricks Day is where you wear green and if you dont, you get pinched by a leprechaun. On the holiday, you can try to catch and find a leprechaun.

Tommy Norton

Grade 1, Prairieland

Clovers: Once I found a six-leaf clover. I was walking on an empty outdoor track, and I saw a ginormous patch of clover. I stopped to look at it and I saw a four-leaf clover in it. I picked it up and scanned for more. I found a bunch of clovers, even some five-leaf and six-leaf clovers. One day I hope to find a seven-leaf clover.

Levi Brawner

Grade 5, Prairieland

Parades: I love St. Patricks Day because theres candies and fun colors which are green. I love hearing the saying no green, one pinch! There are parades for St. Patricks Day, which is why I love St. Patricks Day.

Maximus Rojas-Rivera

Grade 4, St. Marys

Pranks: My color is green on St. Patricks Day. On St. Patricks Day I will prank people. I will go on a field trip. I will go to the store on St. Patricks Day.

Jordin Caldwell

Grade 3, Sheridan

Lucky: One day I was looking for a four-leaf clover and an hour later I found one and I put two pieces of tape on it.

Lilly Fogarty

Grade 2, Stevenson

About St. Patrick's Day: St. Patrick's Day has leprechauns. St. Patricks Day has food. St. Patricks Day has dancing. St. Patrick has candy. St. Patricks Day has gold.

Tristan Northrop

Grade 3, Stevenson

Irish heritage: St. Patrick's Day celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish. People wearing green clothes and they dance.

Axel Ziane

Grade 1, Sugar Creek

Four-leaf clovers: I love St. Patricks Day. I get to try to find four-leaf clovers. My sister likes to trap the leprechaun (she never can).

Emma Hughes

Grade 3, Towanda

Grant a wish: I like St. Patricks Day because I like leprechauns. I want to catch a leprechaun this year. I would ask him to grant me a wish.

Quiller Hanna

Grade 1, Washington

I like it: I like St. Patricks Day because it's my teacher's birthday. My family and I sadly have not caught a leprechaun.

Tristan Gottschall

Grade 2, Washington

Green and gold: I love St. Patricks Day! You can make a trap. The leprechaun came in my house last year. It was cool. I love making a trap. You can make a leprechaun trap however you want. Make sure to use green and gold.

Kate Nickel

Grade 3, Washington

Festive: On St. Patricks Day I like wearing green because its fun and festive. St. Patricks Day is a fun day.

Skye Holderby

Grade 5, Calvary

Yummy food: St. Patricks is cool, and you get to wear green. You get gold when you give the leprechaun coins. You can eat yummy food.

Annakyn Wherry

Grade 3, Cedar Ridge

In my name: I like St. Patrick's day because Patrick is my middle name. I also like it because there's a parade every year and my family sometimes goes to the parade, but not every year.

Quinn Casper

Grade 3, Epiphany

Favorite holiday: My favorite holiday is St. Pats Day. Its an Irish holiday. If you do not wear green, youll get pinched. There are a lot of parades.

Ryker Crackel

Grade 4, Fairview

March 17: St. Patricks Day is March 17th, also known as my moms birthday. We have an awesome time figuring out what the leprechaun does like turning our milk and toilet water green. Last year, he put kitchen chairs on the dining table. For us St. Patricks Day is awesome.

Kate Maurer

Grade 1, Grove

Irish holiday: Happy St. Patricks Day, everyone! St. Patricks Day was made to be a holiday to celebrate the Irish and then it reached the U.S. to be a holiday of fun and joy.

Leo Williams

Grade 4, Grove

Rainbows: St. Patricks Day is fun. Rainbows are pretty. I like to celebrate St. Patricks Day. I like to spend time with my family on St. Patricks Day.

River Fowler

Grade 2, Jefferson Park

How I celebrate: We celebrate St. Patrick's Day. My family goes to the parade. I'm wearing a Luigi costume. He wears a green hat with an "L" on it.

Marcos Abreu Arias

Grade 5, Northpoint

Can be messy: On St. Patricks Day the leprechaun comes to your house. He does sneaky stuff that sometimes makes messes. He wears green and likes gold.

Corrigan Wright

Grade 2, Parkside

Ireland: St. Patricks Day is about leprechauns. Leprechauns were thought to wear red, but the leprechauns turned green. St. Patricks Day originated from Ireland. Leprechauns give away money.

Reyansh Rawat

Grade 1, Prairieland

Exciting: I like St. Patricks Day because I get to try and catch the leprechaun and because my brother is so excited.

Gray Holzhauer

Grade 4, St. Marys

Favorite day: I have a fun day. St. Patricks is my favorite day.

Janalia London

Grade 3, Sheridan

See a rainbow: I love St. Patrick's Day. You see a rainbow.

Jhaylon Cheistder

Grade 2, Stevenson

National color: St. Patricks Day and leprechauns. You make green slime. You make cookies on the day. If you find a four-leaf clover you are lucky. The old national color was blue. The old national color was changed to green in 1726.

Michael Cary

Grade 3, Stevenson

Where to find gold: I like leprechaun gold. It is found at the end of the rainbow.

Orion Smith-Coutney

Grade 1, Sugar creek

Friend's birthday: St. Patricks Day is so fun. My friend Lexis birthday is on St. Patricks Day and I love dressing up.

Isabelle Hill

Grade 3, Towanda

A great color: St. Patricks Day is my favorite. Green is a great color. I dont want to wear red.

Asher Upholz

Grade 1, Washington

Family and friends: I like St. Patricks Day. I see some family and friends. St. Patricks Day is fun.

Emerson Messer

Grade 2, Washington

Why I like it: I like St. Patricks Day because my brother was born close to St. Patricks Day.

Cameron Adams

Grade 5, Calvary

Festive socks: I have a pair of St. Patricks socks I like to wear.

Scarlett Sweeney

Grade 3, Cedar Ridge

Epic: St. Patricks Day is really epic and fun. When we are at school sometimes there are gold coins on the floor from the leprechaun. I love hunting for four-leaf clovers.

Hannah Kinate

Grade 3, Epiphany
BLOOMINGTON  Nearly 30 community members and 10 local leaders came together Saturday afternoon to discuss the importance of electric vehicles.

The event was held at the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington and organized by the Electrifiers Team from the 2023-24 class of the Multicultural Leadership Program and the EVTown Steering Committee.

"It's to promote and provide educational information about electric vehicles and eliminate some of the myths that people have," program coordinator Willie Holton Halbert said in an interview with The Pantagraph. "So, there's some excitement in the community about this, and we're just happy to be a part of this and provide some education and adoption of EVs."

Halbert is part of the Electrifiers Team and, in collaboration with the EVTown Steering Committee, they hope to establish Bloomington-Normal as a leading community for electric vehicles, perhaps even becoming the "EV capital of the Midwest," as they continue to educate the community about the benefits of EVs.

Halbert admitted that she didn't know much about EVs before putting the event together, but said she's now considering making the switch herself after learning more about them and even driving one.

"Our community, we strive towards equity for all people, and often this is something you're not at the table when decisions are being made," she said. "Here's an opportunity for the community to be engaged and get their feedback. We want your feedback. We want to educate and inform, but we also want to listen."

The event included a panel discussion with David Braun, general manager of Connect Transit; Maura Freeman, public policy lead at Rivian, which employs more than 8,000 people at its manufacturing plant in Normal; Michael Brown, executive director of the Ecology Action Center; Raymond Lai, executive director of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission; Ashley Krull, general manager of Tesla  Bloomington; Bill Kemp, librarian at the McLean County Museum of History; Joshua Crockett from State Sen. David Koehler's office; Gary Hurley, director of marketing and VP utility for Corn Belt Energy; Tessa Ferraro, associate planner for the Town of Normal; and Tricia Fazzini, co-organizer from the EVTown Steering Committee.

Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe also made an appearance and gave mid-meeting remarks.

Each panelist spoke for a few minutes on topics including local and state sustainability efforts, background on the EVTown Steering Committee, history of EVs in McLean County, recent innovations by Rivian and Tesla, zero-emission buses, and environmental impacts. There also was time for attendees to ask questions.

Kemp focused on Bloomington-Normal as one of the leading areas in EVs, dating back to 1959, when the Henney Kilowatt battery-powered car was engineered and assembled at the Eureka Williams Corp. plant in Bloomington. Two-hundred cars were made, but only 46 or 47 were sold, and they could only drive about 60 miles per charge. EVs today can drive around 300 miles per charge.

Braun announced during the meeting that Connect Transit plans to purchase 10 electric vans to add to its fleet for Connect Flex services. He added that 12 of Connect Transit's 44 buses are now electric, and the company plans to build its own microgrid, which is a local electric grid with defined boundaries, to serve those buses and charge them. Braun also mentioned Connect Transit upcoming partnership with Heartland Community College.

"What we recognized industry-wide is that there aren't a lot of heavy-duty vehicle mechanics that know anything about heave-duty electric; smaller electric vehicle is a little different than the heavy-use electric," Braun said, during the meeting.

He continued, "So, we're working in partnership right now to establish a training academy on our site that will then be available to try to train those heavy duty candidates, then we'll be working in the trucking industry and in the ag industry as those two areas also become electrified."

Ferraro said the Town of Normal recently received a $105,000 grant through the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to build a Level 3 EV fueling station that is expected to be complete by the end of June. She added there are 1,440 electric vehicles in McLean County and over 90,000 throughout Illinois.

Hurley said Corn Belt Energy, which held an EV car show in September at State Farm, plans to bring the event back again this year.

The meeting was followed by an EV exhibit featuring seven vehicles, including a Rivian R1S and Rivian R1T, a Tesla model, a Connect Transit electric bus and more. Attendees were even invited to take the Rivian vehicles for a test drive on site.

Attendee Alex Fazzini, originally from the Bloomington area, came all the way from Chicago to support his mom, who was one of the panelists. He said she has done a lot of work, along with her father, Rob Fazzini, to bring more EV focus to Bloomington-Normal and make it a "center of excellence" for electric vehicles.

"One of the biggest takeaways I'm seeing is, in the past, we've really worried about bills and lobbying and whatnot, and then infrastructure, but I'm really seeing a turn, and more so that people are actually interested in EVs and trying to better come to grip (with) the benefits," Alex Fazzini said.

Halbert added that increasingly in today's world, electric vehicles are becoming more of a need than a want.

A video of Saturday's EV meeting will be available on EV Town's Facebook page for those who were unable to attend the event but want to learn more about the topic.

These are the 10 most popular electric cars in America, according to Edmunds 10 of the most popular EVs available today 1. Tesla Model 3: EPA-estimated 358 miles of maximum range 2. Chevrolet Bolt EV: EPA-estimated 259 miles of maximum range 3. Ford Mustang Mach-E: EPA-estimated 312 miles of maximum range 4. Hyundai Ioniq 5: EPA-estimated 303 miles of maximum range 5. Genesis G80 Electrified: EPA-estimated 282 miles of maximum range 6. BMW iX: EPA-estimated 324 miles of maximum range 7. Ford F-150 Lightning: EPA-estimated 320 miles of maximum range 8. Kia Niro EV: EPA-estimated 253 miles of maximum range 9. Polestar 2: EPA-estimated 270 miles of maximum range 10. Porsche Taycan: EPA-estimated 203 miles of maximum range

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this version stated Rob Fazzini is the father of Alex Fazzini. Rob is the father of panelist Tricia Fazzini.
SPRINGFIELD  The race for one of the seven Illinois Supreme Court seats pits an appointed incumbent against a second-time candidate as the two Democrats vie for their partys nomination next week.

Because no Republican has filed to run for the Cook County-based seat, its more than likely that Tuesdays contest determines the ultimate winner of Novembers election too.

The matchup between Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham and 1st District Appellate Justice Jesse Reyes has turned up the volume on a conversation about diversity on the state Supreme Court, as Reyes has made a push for Latino representation a cornerstone of his campaign. Cunningham, meanwhile, is the states second Black woman justice, and one of five women on the court.

Ahead of the March 19 primary election, Reyes sat down with Capitol News Illinois for an interview. Cunningham declined, citing timing issues with the court in session, but agreed to respond to written questions.

Cunningham and Reyes, who both earned their law degrees from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1982, have spent comparable amounts of time on the bench. They overlapped as 1st District Appellate Court justices from 2012 until Cunningham was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2022.

Both have pegged themselves as progressive jurists who maintain judges have a responsibility in creating access to justice. Both have also emphasized a commitment to ruling in the public interest and with impartiality.

But there is daylight between the candidates  much of which has been created by Reyes positioning himself as challenger to Cunninghams incumbent status. In the final countdown before Election Day, for example, Reyes criticized the Illinois Supreme Courts inability to decide on whether to revoke the law license of now-convicted Chicago Ald. Ed Burke. He is the husband of former chief justice Anne Burke, whose seat the court appointed Cunningham to fill when Burke retired in 2022.

Reyes has made the appointment process a major issue in his campaign, as Illinois is the only state whose supreme court itself appoints a long-term replacement in the event of a vacancy.

But Cunningham leads in both campaign contributions and endorsements from political heavy hitters  including the backing of the Cook County Democratic Party  and recent history in the states high court elections has been mostly favorable to incumbents.

Career trajectories

Cunningham was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in late 2022 after spending 16 years as an appellate judge. She had run for a seat on the high court in 2012 but finished a distant second in a four-way Democratic primary that was ultimately won by now-Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis.

Her appellate court win in 2006 was her first for elected office, although she served as an appointed associate judge for civil trials in Cook County from 1996 to 2000. Both before and after that four-year period on the bench, Cunningham was a top lawyer for two major Chicago-based hospitals.

That experience echoes her prior life in the health care field, where Cunningham was a critical care nurse. Responding to a CNI questionnaire, she wrote that her time as an ER nurse instilled a deep understanding of the human condition and the real-life consequences of legal decisions on individuals and families.

Cunningham, who volunteered at Planned Parenthood decades ago when still employed as a nurse, hasnt shied away from that experience. She wrote that she had the privilege of advocating for reproductive rights and women's health issues at the clinics.

This experience has reinforced my commitment to protecting individual liberties, promoting equality, and defending fundamental rights, she wrote. I bring this dedication to justice and equity to every case that comes before me, ensuring that all parties are treated fairly and impartially under the law.

In 2004, Cunningham became the first Black woman elected to serve as president of the Chicago Bar Association.

After Reyes graduated law school the same year as Cunningham, he briefly worked in private practice as a personal injury and workers compensation attorney before jumping to a career as legal counsel for the city of Chicago.

For a decade beginning in 1985, Reyes worked as a senior attorney in the citys law department. After that, he served a few years as counsel for the Chicago Board of Education before his appointment as Cook County associate judge in 1997.

In an interview with CNI, Reyes touted decisions he made during his time with the citys board of education, where he said he oversaw policy and reform. Reyes said he discovered individual principals throughout the Chicago Public Schools system were making ad hoc decisions about whether to expel students. Some principals were making those determinations individually, while others had set up committees.

Keep in mind that someone gets expelled from school, this is a mark that they carry for the rest of their life, right? Reyes said. It could have hindered them getting into good colleges or grad schools. My team decided we're going to provide a system where the students get their day in court, basically, and there are due process rights.

Reyes recalled setting up a hearing process with an objective, independent hearing officer who would make a recommendation after giving both school officials and the student the right to present evidence and have legal representation. That decision would then be passed on to the board of education, which would make the final determination.

That system is still in place now, Reyes said. They've tweaked it a little bit, but it's still in place. I saw and I felt that we needed to provide access to justice, in this case, to young school students who would potentially be expelled.

Racial representation and judicial philosophies

Reyes, who is of Mexican American descent, is a Chicago native raised in the citys Pilsen and Bridgeport neighborhoods. After his appointment as an associate judge in 1997, he went on to win a circuit court judgeship in 2008 and an appellate court seat in 2012.

In early 2019, Reyes launched his first bid for Illinois Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by retired Justice Charles Freeman  the first Black justice on the states high court. By then, the court had appointed P. Scott Neville, who is also Black, to replace Freeman. At the time, the rest of the justices were white.

Reyes announced his candidacy a few months before Latino and Black politicians publicly decried Justice Anne Burkes appointment of white judges to represent predominantly Latino and Black areas in the Cook County judicial system.

Reyes came in second to Neville in a seven-way primary contest in which Reyes pushed for Latino representation on the court. Four years later, Reyes message is the same.

We need to have diversity at all levels of the court, and in particular, at the highest court, Reyes said. I think we need to have a perspective and a voice that hasn't been heard before.

The 2020 U.S. census saw the number of Illinoisans who identified as Hispanic or Latino increase from not quite 16% in 2010 to more than 18%. In Chicago, those identifying as Hispanic or Latino overtook African Americans as the second-largest racial or ethnic group, according to census data.

Reyes framed lack of Latino representation on the bench in Illinois as a barrier for access.

I think it's important to have a lived experiencein terms of those issues and those concerns that people have with regards to our justice system, Reyes said.

As an associate judge in Cook Countys traffic court division, Reyes said he worked to ease language barriers after noticing that some defendants didn't really understand what they were doing in terms of pleading guilty to DUIs and things like that.

Reyes also said hed push for the Illinois Supreme Court to change current rules from merely permitting circuit court judges to offer brief training on implicit bias to potential jurors to requiring the practice.

The Reyes campaign and its backers have been sharply critical of Cunninghams answers about diversity on the court in the final months of the campaign. At a candidate forum in January, Cunningham said it was distracting to inject race into the race, no pun intended.

And interviews with the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and The Daily Line last month, Cunningham said it makes no sense to suggest the court is not diverse because it does not have a Latino on it.

I think when the court was completely male and completely white, then you could call it a non-diverse court, she told The Daily Line. But now it has five women; it has three Black people. Justice Reyes argument taken to its logical extreme would mean that every single ethnic group in Illinois should have a representative on the court. And of course thats impossible.

Cunningham, who grew up in New York City as the daughter of immigrants from Panama and the Cayman Islands, is one of three Black justices on the court. Justice Lisa Holder White became the first Black Republican on the court when she was appointed in the summer of 2022.

Responding to CNIs questionnaire, Cunningham wrote at length about her judicial philosophy mirroring the blindfold of Lady Justice, the centuries-old symbol that evolved from depictions of Greek and Roman goddesses.

The blindfold serves as a powerful visual metaphor, conveying the idea that justice should be blind to the identities, appearances, and statuses of the individuals who seek it, Cunningham wrote. And by the same theory should be blind as to who are the justices that administer it.

Appointments and the power of incumbency

Illinois is the only state in which the Supreme Court picks its own new long-term replacements when a judicial vacancy occurs. An appointed justice serves until the next general or judicial election if it is scheduled more than 60 days from the appointment, at which point they must face voters to retain the seat. Cunningham was appointed in December 2022, giving her a two-year runway to her first electoral test on the high court.

In most other states, the governor appoints a new justice in the event of a vacancy on the court, in some cases from a list of nominees put together by a commission. In two states  Virginia and Georgia  a justice is selected via the state legislature. Louisianas high court appoints its own replacements, but they serve only temporarily and are barred from running for a full term when the state holds a special election within a year of the vacancy. Not all state supreme courts are elected in the first place.

Reyes is eager to change the way vacancies are filled, not just on the states high court, but across Illinois courts. In an interview with CNI, he proposed establishing committees made up of retired judges, lawyers and community members who could give recommendations for potential replacements.

He said picking new judges by committee could only help the judiciary, because, you know as we all know, we're constantly being criticized by the media and by the public for lack of transparency, for lack of openness.

A coalition of Latino advocacy groups criticized Cunninghams appointment in 2022, with Sylvia Puente, the leader of the Latino Policy Forum saying she was dismayed that her community continues to be excluded by the states highest court.

Cunningham declined to answer a question about the fairness of the appointment process in her candidate survey, citing her position on the court.

But if the recent past is an indicator, Cunninghams incumbency will be an advantage come election night.

In 2020, Justice Thomas Kilbride became the first-ever Illinois Supreme Court justice to fail to reach the 60% vote threshold for retention. A 2014 campaign to unseat Justice Lloyd Karmeier came close. Both campaigns were extremely expensive efforts.

The Cunningham-Reyes race isnt a retention race, but other high court contests in recent history also bode well for incumbents in non-retention partisan races for a 10-year term.

Both Reyes and Cunningham have fallen to incumbents in their separate past races for the court. Nevilles 2020 primary race to retain his seat after being appointed was a decisive nearly 49,000-vote victory over Reyes, while Cunningham received only 23% of the vote to Theis 48% in the 2012 primary.

Republican Justice Michael Burke lost his race to a Democrat in 2022 after Democrats in the legislature redrew the courts districts in 2021 following Kilbrides retention race loss, further cementing the partys control of the court.

The only other time in recent history an appointed incumbent lost to a challenger was 2000, when Republican Justice Bob Thomas, a former Chicago Bears kicker, beat Justice S. Louis Rathje.

Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair
At a time when women had few rights and privileges (like voting, property ownership, and the ability to choose their own work) one Bloomington woman stands out as an example of a strong individual who did not let society dictate her role based on accepted gender norms. That woman was Georgina Trotter.

Georgina was a dynamo of energy and a force to be reckoned with. She was a shrewd businesswoman and her talents and expertise were sought out by other local businessmen who came to her for advice.

She not only ran a successful business on her own (J.W. & G Trotter Lumber & Grain Merchants), but also she put those talents to good use during her 15 years as a member of the Bloomington Board of Education, during which time she improved the quality of education the children in Bloomington received.

Georgina was born on Aug. 13, 1836, in Drogheda, Ireland to John and Ann Trotter. The Trotter family was Irish Protestant and belonged to an aristocratic clan of agriculturists. In 1850 Georgina, her mother, and the rest of her siblings then came to America where her father and two siblings had already settled the year before.

Although the Trotter family was well off, they too were affected by the Irish Potato Famine which plagued the whole of Ireland. As their tenants starved and their crops failed, the Trotter family packed up and moved to the United States for better economic opportunities. The family first settled outside Kappa in 1850, but eventually moved to Bloomington by 1855 because the country was quite wild and rough.

Before joining her brothers in their lumber business, Georgina enlisted as a nurse in the Union Army upon the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. As a nurse, Georgina escorted wounded Union soldiers from the South to the North on riverboats up and down the Mississippi River.

After the war ended in 1865, she returned home and joined her brother John in his lumber, grain and coal business, which he opened in 1866. Their lumber and coal yard, J.W. & G. Trotter Lumber & Grain Merchants, was located at 1302 W. Market St.

Georgina had a sharp aptitude for business and proved a successful asset for the company. She seemed to never tire; she was a veritable steam engine of energy, and nothing could tire or affright her in the way of bodily exertions in the pursuit of many plans for the good of the city.

In fact, when her brother John passed away in February 1892, he left the entire business to Georgina over their brother James. Under her leadership, the company continued to thrive.

Georginas talents for business were sought out by other local businessmen who came to her for advice, establishing her ability as a woman capable of running a profitable company on her own.

In April 1874, Georgina became the first woman elected to the Bloomington Board of Education even though, as a woman, she did not have the right to vote. According to The Pantagraph, no election for members of the Board of Education that has ever been held in Bloomington has excited so much interest  the cause of this was doubtless not that issues more important than common involved or that party or clique had entered into the struggle, but that a woman, Miss Georgina Trotter, had entered the lists as a candidate.

Though she did not have a desire to be in public service, she could not refuse the position on the Board of Education. Georgina said in her letter of acceptance that a conviction of duty and a high appreciation of your substantial and practical recognition of the rights of women compel me to accept the invitation which you have generously extended.

She served on the board for 15 years, right alongside Sarah Raymond, a close friend who was the superintendent of public schools in Bloomington.

As a member of the school board, Georgina implemented many changes that improved the education of the children of Bloomington. During her time on the board, more classrooms were added, the course of study in high school was shortened, and more courses were assigned to the earlier grades. Corporal punishment (a form punishment in which a rod, cane, or paddle was used to hit a student) was also eliminated.

Overall, Miss Trotter witnessed 1,637 graduates and 40,000 pupils during her 15 years on the school board.

She also saved the school district a good deal of money in the construction of new buildings and the renovation of others due to her business savvy. Her business sense helped keep the school district out of debt during her tenure in office. She retired from office in 1889 due to ill health.

Georgina and Sarah worked side by side to improve the lives of others in the community through their social and professional lives. One way they helped better the community was by helping develop Bloomingtons public library, known as Withers Public Library (named after Sarah Withers, who donated the land on which the library was situated).

Georgina contributed money to help construct the building and lent her business sense to its administration. The library opened in 1887 on the corner of East and Washington streets and remained there for 89 years. In 1977 a new public library opened on Olive Street in Bloomington.

Additionally, Georgina helped organize the Bloomington Benevolent Association in 1884. The BBA formed to call upon benevolent members of the community to contribute either money, clothing, fuel, or provisions to help the poor and destitute of the community.

Georgina once again lent her business savvy and served as treasurer of the organization that first year. Meetings were sometimes held in the offices of her friend and colleague, Sarah Raymond.

After she retired from the school board, Georgina devoted her attention to her lumber and coal business. Upon her death in 1904, The Pantagraph called her one of the most remarkable women Bloomington has ever claimed as a citizen.

In honor of Womens History Month, the museum is highlighting the stories of 30 influential women from McLean County's past (including Trotters). Spanning multiple generations and hailing from various backgrounds, these women have transformed our community, leaving an indelible mark on our history. Visit the museum to see this awe-inspiring display and visit mchistory.org to read more about the stories of Trotter and the other featured women.

Small businesses in these industries have massive potential for women entrepreneurs in 2024 Small businesses in these industries have massive potential for women entrepreneurs in 2024
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At a U-Haul Moving & Storage facility along North Main Street in Bloomington, near the Illinois Wesleyan University campus, the S is no longer visible on the sign, so it instead reads, ELF STORAGE.

Or, as one puts it, So thats where they keep them until December!

Latest greatest meeting

Almost everyone in the B-N area has at one point sat down with Abe at the McLean County Museum of History to strike up a chat and spawn a photo.

So it was the other day, at the invitation of B-N labor leader and civic enthusiast Mike Matejka, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker came to town to enjoy the museum, a first-class local institution, as Matejka broaches it.

There, as with all the rest of us, the governor took a load off to converse with the 16th U.S president.

Newest business with a clever name

In Peru, the LaSalle/Bureau County town, is a bar that opened a few months ago:

Pour Judgement

Latest greatest obituary

From the recent announcement of Gary William Scott, 74, an obviously popular guy, a military veteran, longtime area resident and worker who in retirement also became an Uber driver in B-N, completing, it says, 10,000 rides:

Due to Redbird Arena not being available, his funeral will be at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington.

Coolest tribute to their love at first sight

Crawford Jean Fisher, of Normal, turned age 1 on March 13.

That first name of hers?

She gained it after the place where her parents, Chad and Aimee, went on their first date and had a grand time together  Crawfords Corner Pub, along West Chestnut Street in Bloomington.

Obviously, the night stuck.

More Fun Places To Visit, If Only For Their Names

(As offered by the readers)

 Lick Skillet, Ohio

 Nameless, Texas

 Coosawhatchie, South Carolina

 McCool Junction, Nebraska

Best example yet of hard-work-equals-big-success

As a 22-year-old founder in 1978 of Jets Pizza, a deep-dish, eight-corner pizza, John Jetts has seen the company grow in popularity from to more than 400 locations, across 22 states, including now Bloomington-Normal.

It has, no doubt, made millions for John Jetts.

Still fully devoted?

When Larry Carius, of the popular Bloomington-Normal Restaurant Scene page on Facebook and foodie column in this paper, recently called Jetts for a comment on his newest location in B-N, Jetts apologized that he might be intermittently interrupted during their phone chat.

The now 67-year-old multi-millionaire was out delivering pizzas.

Latest double-take

While traveling recently through North Carolina, Becky Mentzer and her husband, Rob, couldn't help but notice the highway exit sign. It read:

"CLIMAX,

HIGH POINT

EXIT 89"

Most humored sign observation

As Barry Weaver recently passed a Jiffy Lube in B-N and noted the message on its sign  FREE DIGITAL INSPECTIONS  he came to a thought:

I'm accustomed to scheduling an appointment with my doctor for a digital inspection and paying for it, but this will be a lot more convenient, and it will be FREE! proclaims Barry, tongue burrowed in cheek.

Best Name Club

 Tony Spring. New CEO of Macys, trying to spring Macys department store back to profitability.

 John Judge. Hes the judge in the trial of Bryan Kohlberger, accused of killing four students on the campus of Idaho State University.

 Breon Peace. One of those convicted of gunning down Run-D.M.C. rap star Jam Master Jay.

Latest greatest American warrior to live on in peace

Marvin Hamilton was a patriot, countryman, a spirit, an undying soldier. First he served in World War II. Then he went on to Korea. Then to Vietnam. For 32 years, he was a pilot and a commander whose line of work was defending America.

In 2009, at age 84, among a dwindling corps of WWII veterans, he became one of the first war heroes to fly on what became an Honor Flight, to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II Memorial.

And so, 99 years after his birth, the undying soldier in Marvin soldiers on, in his case now eternally, having passed the other day, celebrating the heavenly freedoms he helped preserve for us back on Earth.

Godspeed, Marvin.

Live on!

Got an item for Lite? Send to: bflick@pantagraph.com, or the Bill Flick page on Facebook.

Our March board of contributors: Steve Hamilton, Mike Matejka, Becky Mentzer, Neil Gridley, Lori Rusher, Barry Weaver, Robyn Skaggs, Larry Carius, Ruthie Cobb and Ken Anderson, Bloomington; Jack Secord, Roger Hughes and Kendall Sinclair, Normal; Lee Templeton, Palmview, Texas; Kerry Kidwell, Heyworth; Jere Best, Sherman.

Who was brunching? Photos from the Soulful Gospel Brunch Charter members of the Alumnae Chapter Beverly Gay, Debra T. Thomas, Cheryl Fluker Chapter President Goline Lawrence, 1st Vice President Takesha Stokes Renee Thompson, Soror of the Year Beverly Gay, Cheryl Fluker, Renee Thompson, Brigette Gibson Dr. Krystal Shelvin, Dr. Tasha Jones Faye Freeman-Smith, Beverly Gay, Debra T. Thomas, Cheryl Fluker, Linda Foster Lakita Scott, Danielle Beasley Ursula Crooks, Tonya Webb Candace Crooks, Belinda Brock Renee Thompson, Romeldie Rogers Takesha Stokes, Jocelyn Nelson Monique Hall, Janessa Williams Jaunita Smith Daphne Gay, Joann Evans Aagiyah Miller, Shyvonne Cole Veleda Harvey, Russell Savage Davenport chapter members Andrea Gilchrist, President Dr. Stephanie Long, Karen Roebuck with Linda Rudolph from Rock Island Meta Mickens-Baker, Brigette Gibson, Monique Hall Takesha Stokes, River Stokes-Dorsey Paula Collins, Fallon Carruthers Jaelyn, Ron and Jocelyn Fluker Dr. Carla Campbell-Jackson, Cynthia Ashby, Lorraine Muhammad
Kwaku Kwarteng, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, and Member of parliament for Obuasi West in the Ashanti region, has disagreed with government communicators that Ghanas economic challenges are largely to blame on global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.



The Obuasi West MP lawmaker attributed Ghanas economic quagmire to the reckless public spending and economic mismanagement of previous and present governments.



The Civil engineer, economist and politician dismissed the excuse that without these global crises, Ghana would have been spared the financial downturn it is currently experiencing.



He said, I am not with the school of thought that we were not going to experience a financial crisis but for COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War.



The country was always going to have some financial crisis. It might have been delayed a little bit if COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war had not happened but the fact remains that with the path we were walking, we were definitely going to get here.



Mr. Kwarteng, therefore, highlighted the urgent need for a shift in mindset towards fiscal responsibility to avoid Ghana from descending into further economic catastrophe.



He added that the ineffectiveness of existing laws and institutions in addressing economic mismanagement, emphasizing that without a collective commitment to change, these measures alone are insufficient to make an impact toward recovery.



We have the laws and weve set up institutions that should help us deal with these, but no amount of legislation, no amount of institutional arrangements can stop a people determined to destroy themselves.





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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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Heavy is, indeed, the head that wears the crown and recent publications alleging wrongdoing against Mr. Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah, CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is yet another unsuccessful attempt to instigate his sack according to Abdulai Mutawakil, leader of an NPP youth group.



He asserts that, since he assumed office, the GNPC boss has had to surf through sustained, unprovoked, and unfounded attacks backed by unclear motives. These latest salvos of accusations, however, prove without further doubt that they are all a part of a concerted effort to undermine Mr. Danquahs leadership, tarnish his reputation and ultimately get him fired but these schemes have thankfully hit rocks, he said.



The group, addressing the latest accusations, said Mr Danquahs serial accusers failed to offer any substance with their deliberate omission of the full context and explained how crucial it is to recognize that GNPC operates in a competitive global market where attracting and retaining top talent is paramount. Offering competitive compensation service conditions, including allowances and salaries commensurate with industry standards, is essential to ensure the corporations continued success and ability to deliver on its mandate for the benefit of all Ghanaians.



Since assuming office, Mr Danquah has spearheaded GNPCs efforts to achieve its objectives of enhancing Ghanas oil reserves and managing them for national development. Under his guidance, GNPC has made significant strides towards its goal of becoming a commercially viable Exploration and Production (E&P) company with its steadfast commitment to the exploration of the Voltaian Basin in hopes of expanding the countrys current reserves and contributing to the economic growth and prosperity.



It is strange, therefore, that anyone would instigate such a broad campaign to discredit his leadership and distract GNPC from its mission, the group maintains. Adding that the unwavering support of the companys stakeholders shows that the GNPC boss enjoys widespread trust and confidence in his ability to lead the national oil company towards greater heights of success.



As contained in recent statements from both the Board and staff union of GNPC, the corporation remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible corporate governance.



It is imperative, therefore, for all well-meaning Ghanaians to reject these baseless accusations and focus on supporting initiatives that drive national development and prosperity, Mr Mutawakil further stated.



According to him, the group firmly believes that O-A Danquah deserves commendation for his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing the oil and gas sector and rather than succumbing to sensationalism and smear campaigns, let us rally behind competent industry leaders like Mr. O-A Danquah who are dedicated to advancing Ghanas interests and securing a brighter future for all citizens.



Simply put, the allegations against him should be viewed with scepticism and dismissed as part of a malicious attempt to undermine his achievements and derail GNPCs focus. We need to unite in support of excellence and integrity in leadership and stand firm against baseless attacks that seek to undermine our collective aspirations for a prosperous Ghana, he concluded.

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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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Thirty-four (34) out of the Forty-seven (47) Ashanti Regional chairmen have shown massive love to their colleague chairman who has been invited to appear before the regional Disciplinary Committee (DC) over allegations of misconduct.



The Manhyia South Constituency Chairman, Mr Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta popularly known as Tom Tom will appear before the regional disciplinary committee after a media banter with his regional chairman Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi.



The regional chairmen caucus in a statement of solidarity cautioned party leadership to ensure that the outcome of the meeting must promote unity rather than division.



We detest any matter that will disturb the peace of the party and break the front of the party in our stronghold of Ashanti Region ahead of the December 7 elections, which we have sworn to work very hard to ensure that our flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia wins heavily while our parliamentary candidates grab all the seats. A portion of their statement read.



Read below the full statement.



STATEMENT BY ASHANTI REGIONAL CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMEN OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY IN SOLIDARITY WITH MANHYIA SOUTH CHAIRMAN



The Ashanti Regional Caucus of Constituency Chairmen of the NPP, at its last meeting held at the Lancaster Kumasi City Hotel on Sunday, 17th March 2024 and attended by Thirty-Four (34) of the Forty-Seven (47) members of the caucus, deliberated on a letter inviting the Manhyia South Constituency Chairman, Mr Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta popularly known as Tom Tom to appear before the Regional Disciplinary Committee over allegations of misconduct.



The letter of invitation said to have come from the Regional Executive Committee and signed by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Kwame Adom Appiah, was premised on a petition the Regional Communications Director, Paul Kwabena Yandoh made against the Manhyia South Constituency Chairman in a matter involving the Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi.



Having taken time to thoroughly discuss the contents of the allegations contained in the petition of the Regional Communications Director and the subsequent letter of invitation extended to the Manhyia South Constituency Chairman by the Regional Executive Committee, the Caucus wish to state the following in solidarity with our colleague Tom Tom.



1. That the party believes in due process and the same must be followed even if our member is to be summoned.



2. That we detest any matter that will disturb the peace of the party and break the front of the party in our stronghold of Ashanti Region ahead of the December 7 elections, which we have sworn to work very hard to ensure that our flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia wins heavily while our parliamentary candidates grab all the seats.



3. That there has not been a Regional Executive Council meeting at which any issue involving the Manhyia South Constituency chairman was discussed.



4. That we dont know the existence of a Disciplinary Committee and who constitutes the membership.



5. That we are concerned that a matter that has not been discussed at the Regional Executive Committee, could be referred to a non-existent Disciplinary Committee.



6. That we fully back our colleague Manhyia South Constituency Chairman in any move to defend his position in the matter at stake.



7. We emphasize that the process used in inviting our colleague is not proper, for which reason we urge that the right channel be followed if he is to be invited.



8. Our statement is a proactive measure because if those behind the fake letter or invitation succeed in their move, all constituency chairmen in the region are at risk of facing similar circumstances.



9. We strongly believe that our regional party chairman is not aware of the letter of invitation because this is not how he does his work. We know that our regional party chairman knows the law and will not in any way disobey the established laws of our party.



10. We hereby call on our regional party chairman to call to order, all those persons trying to soil his reputation and that of the party in the region.



Fiifi Mensah



Chairman, Ashanti Regional Constituency Chairmen Association - NPP

0208472526

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MOSCOW, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Several Ukrainian drones attacked the Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Territory, causing a fire and a fatality, a local official said on Sunday.

The drones were neutralized, but the falling debris caused a fire, said Roman Sinyagovsky, head of the Slavyansk district where the oil refinery is located, quoting the Slavyansk Emergency Dispatch and Disaster Services (EDDS).

"At night, around 3 o'clock in the morning, several drones tried to attack the Slavyansk oil refinery. The drones were neutralized, but a fire broke out as a result of the fall of one of the devices," EDDS said.

One employee died as a consequence of the attack.

Local authorities said the fire has been put out. 
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ATLANTIC CITY  The Atlantic City Housing Authority will now hold a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, rather than earlier dates and times announced previously.

It will now happen after U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew's visit to Stanley Holmes Village, where about 130 residents are suing the authority over unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Van Drew will be at Stanley Holmes Village's community room at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

The housing authority has posted one agenda item for the meeting  a resolution to award a contract for professional architectural and engineering services.

Superior Court Judge John C. Porto has ordered the authority to install a system to provide reliable heat and hot water to Stanley Holmes Village off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard by Oct. 1, but the board has yet to decide what type of heating system it will use.

The board also is facing a March 31 deadline with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to show it has improved specific aspects of its performance to HUD standards.

In December, the authority passed a recovery and action plan that was negotiated with HUD, after a federal review found the authority has not followed federal rules for years in most of its operations, including how public housing residents are chosen, how their rent is calculated and collected, and how public health and security issues are handled.

By March 31, the authority must show HUD accurate information about the number of households on its waiting list, review inspection results and address cited deficiencies, adhere to federal procurement regulations, update payment standards and more.

The vast majority of action items are due June 30, including developing an operating budget, submitting all overdue audit info to HUD and establishing a bank reconciliation procedure.

Housing authority Executive Director Tom Sahlin has not responded to questions about whether the agenda will also include a new contract for Jerry Volpe's Governance & Fiscal Affairs LLC, which has been handling procurement for the agency for more than a year.

The firm has been paid more than $500,000, and during its tenure HUD found the agency was improperly using emergency procurement methods.

Protect residents' rights as you redevelop Stanley, lawyer tells Atlantic City Housing Authority The attorney representing about 130 residents of Stanley Holmes Village in a lawsuit over unsafe and unhealthy conditions there is asking the Atlantic City Housing Authority to protect residents' rights as they redevelop the troubled complex.

The board tabled a new contract for Volpe at its February meeting, after Councilman Kaleem Shabazz expressed concern about reports of workers not being able to get the supplies they need to make needed repairs through the purchasing and procurement process.

On Thursday Shabazz sent the authority a letter asking it to instead hire a full-time staff procurement professional.

The tabled resolution was to award a one-year contract to Volpe's Governance & Fiscal Affairs with "an initial not-to-exceed amount of $150,000."

Volpe also is the interim executive director of the Linden Housing Authority in Union County, where he spends much of his time.

The Linden Housing Authority's Section 8 program was recently designated "troubled" by HUD, according to a department spokesperson.

"The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program in Linden was declared SEMAP Troubled, not the public housing program," the spokesperson said in an email.

According to the HUD website, SEMAP stands for Section Eight Management Assessment Program. It measures the performance of the public housing agencies that administer the Housing Choice Voucher program in 14 key areas, and helps HUD target monitoring and assistance to programs that need the most improvement.

The Atlantic City Housing Authority was designated "troubled" by HUD last year after missing deadlines for submitting financial audits.

Atlantic City Housing Authority opens Section 8 list, grapples with security deposit needs The Atlantic City Housing Authority board opened its Section 8 housing voucher wait list, certified its 2022 financial audit and created a new meal reimbursement policy for tenants temporarily displaced from their apartments at its meeting Thursday night.

The special meeting of the authority will held via Zoom. A link to join the meeting will be posted at atlanticcityha.org, according to the authority.
The doors at Mac's Tavern in Davenport first opened in 1934. And they've stayed open for the past 90 years.

The Irish bar at 316 W. Third Street in downtown Davenport is known for its old-school charm, which starts before customers get in the door. The neon sign outside proudly displays the bar's name and and the door has the date it was established before customers enter into the building.

The long narrow building  measuring 20 feet wide by 100 feet long  is part of what was Globe/Davenport Plow Works in the late 1800s. The company occupied what is Mac's, the Carriage Haus bar and a building demolished when the Kahl Building was built, according to previous reporting.

The floors inside Mac's are lined with the original terrazzo tiles and the ceiling has the original tin tiles. In between is the original 40-foot bar built by the original owner Bill "Mac" McLaughlin.

Macs Tavern was established in 1934, at a time where bartenders wore black pants, white shirts and ties with white aprons, according to the bar's website. The business was later sold to Dick and Bert Jensen, who had it from 1948-1980. Rocky Eddleman and Wally Planner purchased the tavern in 1980, and two years later Eddleman sold his interest to Planner.

In 1984, Beverly and Buzzy Oake and their son Greg bought it then sold it to Bill Collins in 1990. Mike Lonergan purchased it in 2003 before passing the beloved bar along to its current owners, Gary and Sasha Rowland.

Gary has worked numerous jobs over the last several decades, he said, but when he started bartending at Mac's in 2001, he knew he had to stay.

"This just fits me," he said, motioning to bar in front of him where patrons sat on Thursday afternoon.

With just a few days to go until St. Patrick's Day patrons were already filing into the bar ahead of its opening. The smell of fried foods were in the air as the chef worked diligently in the kitchen.

Rowland likes to boast he has "the best Reuben in town," complete with home-made Thousand Island dressing and all the fixings. Technically, Mac's has celebrated 89 St. Patrick's Days, considering it opened on June 19, 1934. Still, Rowland plans for this one to be just as good as the past few.

"We're gonna open the doors and hope the walls are still standing," he said.

The walls inside Mac's are covered in local flyers for everything from the Quad-City Times Bix 7, to beer signs and advertisements for the various St. Patrick's Day parades over the years. Booths line the side of the room directly across from the bar, when Rowland was already pouring beers days ahead of the big celebration.

"You got any Guinness?" one customer asked.

"Everyday," Rowland responded.
A Clinton man who shot his father to death in December has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Marquis Denyae Winston, 33, was arrested Dec. 31 and admitted that he unintentionally caused the death of his father, 50-year-old James McKinley Douglas Jr., according to Clinton County District Court documents.

Winston said he accidentally discharged a gun that he illegally had in his possession. The bullet struck Douglas in the chest. Douglas was taken to MercyOne Clinton Medical Center where he died of his wound.

Clinton County prosecutors initially charged Winston with first-degree murder. That charge was dropped after Winston pleaded guilty to the lesser included charge of involuntary manslaughter as a habitual offender and possession of a firearm by a felon as a habitual offender during a hearing Feb. 3 in district court. Each of the charges carry a maximum of 15 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of three years on each count.

During a sentencing hearing Thursday, Clinton County District Court Judge Patrick McElyea sentenced Winston to the maximum of 15 years in prison on each count with the sentences running consecutively, or back-to-back. Winston will have to serve a mandatory minimum of three years on each count, or six years total, before he will be eligible for parole.

At the time of the shooting Winston was on parole in Clinton County until Sept. 18, 2027, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections website. He was given a 10-year sentence in 2017 on a burglary charge and a 10-year sentence in 2020 on a charge of possession with the intent to deliver less than 5 grams of meth.

He was released from prison and placed on work release on March 9, 2022. He was placed on parole on Aug. 1, 2022.
A 1974 fire station has met its useful life in Andalusia.

The Andalusia Fire Protection District is in need of new station, which is projected to cost about six million dollars, district officials said.

The current station, located at 212 1st St., is a three bay garage with limited space. It also is located in a floodplain, Chief Justin Hicks said, and in need of multiple upgrades to meet flood regulations. When the area does flood, trucks have to be moved from the station.

"We know we were running out of room," Hicks said.

To help pay for the new station, a referendum will be on the March 19 primary ballot. If voters are to approve the referendum, a 20-year bond worth $5.2 million will go towards the fire station. Stan Brillhart, trustee for the Andalusia Fire Protection District, said they have never borrowed money in the past for new trucks or to update buildings.

The district currently has $800,000 saved for the new station.

Fire protection districts are volunteer-based and are separate taxing bodies. Any additional funds needed tend to come from grants, borrowing money and fundraisers.

Andalusia FPD has around 25 active volunteers, Hicks said.

The new station

They started to look at their options around 2016 and ended up doing a fire station study with FGMArchitects  which is also the firm that has been working with the Moline Fire Department for their new central fire station.

The biggest question AFPD kept asking themselves, Hicks said, was "what does the future look like?" and how can they determine what is needed to last five to seven decades or longer.

The new fire station would be five bays, 9,000 square-feet, located outside of the floodplain and along the main road making it easier and more accessible to get in and out of the station to emergencies, Hicks said. With the fire station being in a more residential area of town, Hicks said it can be difficult to navigate around cars on the smaller streets. He also said that the intersection near Casey's at 1st Street and 108 St. W is dangerous to turn onto because of reduced sight line.

Moving along the main road, Hicks said, is safer for the first responders and cars trying to move over and make room. During the study, Hicks said some property became available for sale along Andalusia Road near Midwest Bank.

"The property is very well suit for us and (provides) us a lot of options," Hicks said.

It is about two acres, providing room to expand when needed, Hicks said. There are two vehicles currently at the Edgington fire station, Hicks said, that would be able to move to the Andalusia station if the new station is built. The Edgington Fire Department is part of the Andalusia Fire Protection District.

A new station also would provide additional storage space, Hicks said, for equipment rather than have it hanging on coat-like racks directly behind the fire trucks. Fire gear and equipment should be kept in a separate space due to carcinogens, Hicks said. Carcinogens, which are substances known to cause cancer, can stay on gear and transfer to the skin.

The new station also would have a more modern look and be more up-to-date with the latest requirements.

Brillhart said a lot rural fire stations are "old machine sheds" which worked back in the day but now can be difficult to work for what they need. The station has gone through major updates to keep up with requirements and the demand but it can be difficult to "grandfather" certain things in, Brillhart said.

It also would be a taller station, providing much needed extra space above the trucks, Hicks said. When firefighters have to grab something from the top of the truck, a lot of the times they have to pull the truck out in order to get to it, Hicks said.

If the referendum isn't approved, they would go back to the drawing board and try again. When they held a community informational meeting about the referendum and new station, a lot left with good feedback for the new station. Many asked if they truly need a new station, Hicks said, and they explained it is a necessity to meet the ever growing demands of the job and requirements that have to follow.

They do not want to max out taxes forever to help pay for the station, Hicks said, but are asking the community for support so they can continue to provide the best services they can.

A question and answer session is being held Monday, March 18 at 5 p.m. for any last minute questions regarding the referendum. The session will be at the Andalusia Station.

There are two referendums for the district on the ballot.

One asks for permission to levy a tax of 0.4% of the equalized assessed value of property in order to provide ambulance service. In Illinois, EAV is one third of the market value for residential properties. Assessments for farmland are more complex, based on the income potential of the property.

The second question on the ballot asks for permission to issue the bonds to build the new fire station.

Sample ballots are available on the Rock Island County website on the County Clerk's elections page. Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m

Photos: Andalusia Fire Station
The yearly Irish Feast at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Andalusia has been around as long as the building itself.

Since the church was built in 1974, the only year that they've missed an Irish Feast, organizers believe, was in 2020.

On Saturday, the Irish Feast is coming back for yet another year. Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. after a 4 p.m. mass, with a live band playing music from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees do not need to be a member of the church.

Irish Feast co-chairs Julie Seaba and Theresa Frere  sisters born and raised in the area  said they've been going every year for as long as they can remember.

They remember their late father getting out on the dance floor and dancing each year to the event's live band. They remember, once, a priest dressing up as a leprechaun to entertain the kids.

People have come and gone, but when St. Patrick's Day weekend comes around, the energy is still the same.

"It's always packed," Seaba said.

Seaba and Frere, alongside their husbands Gary and Dan, have co-chaired the event for five years now.

Dinner is served on a pay-what-you-can basis, with a suggested donation of $15 to cover costs. Almost all of the food is donated, they said.

The biggest donor of all is Luli's Restaurant and Bar in Milan, which has been contributing since 2021. This year, the restaurant has chipped in over 200 pounds of corned beef, all cooked voluntarily in advance by the restaurant.

Also on the menu: Irish roast beef, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, a variety of breads, hot dogs for kids and a range of homemade desserts. They also have alcoholic beverages available, with a range of beers and wines.

The Irish Feast is one of two major fundraisers that St. Patrick's holds each year, alongside an ice cream social in the summer.

This year, they're hoping to raise enough money for a newly paved parking lot.

In the building's entry foyer, there's a bulletin board with printed photos of all of the parking lot's potholes and hazards, assembled to read "Paving our paradise and putting up a parking lot," a nod to the Joni Mitchell song "Big Yellow Taxi."

"I don't know if it's ever been redone," Seaba said. "It's a major undertaking trying to come up with the cost of a blacktop."

It takes three days to prepare for the event. On Friday, Seaba, Frere, Parish Secretary Marietta Dziadyk and many more chipped in. In the back, a crew of men sliced up the corned beef. In the immense dining area, the ladies decorated the long, green tableclothed event tables.

The crew insisted on Friday that it would be a light prep day compared to Saturday morning, when they'll be getting started preparing at 8:30 a.m. to finish cooking everything before the start of mass.

For those feeling the luck of the Irish, they'll also have 50-50 raffle tickets available at the feast this weekend, with half of the proceeds going toward the church and the other half going to the winner.

Dziadyk said the yearly feast has long been a staple of the community in Andalusia. Even in 2020, when the phone call came to cancel the event just days before, they did what they could for the town. With almost all the food already made, they served to-go meals instead.

"People rallied and helped us out," Dziadyk said. "Even that year, when the COVID was around, people were looking forward to this."

Despite the expected turnout and storied history, the St. Patrick's feast organizers are nonchalant about the event, speaking on it with a reassured confidence. After all, it's just something that happens. It's always been around, and it seemingly always will be. Even after Seaba and Frere someday give up the reins.

"I don't know how long we'll be doing it, as long as I guess I can," Seaba said. "And then somebody else will do it."

The St. Patrick's Catholic Church is located southwest of Andalusia, at 9619 140th St W., Taylor Ridge.
The city of Davenport was supposed to abide by a subpoena filed by Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand to turn over information regarding settlement agreements with three city employees.

Sand is reviewing those agreements from 2023, which were not initially voted on in public session.

Instead of complying, the city filed a lawsuit to limit the information it will provide. Specifically, it doesn't want Sand to hear the recordings of closed sessions during council meetings leading up to the nearly $1.9 million in separation agreements. Then city attorney Thomas Warner signed those agreements without a public vote by the council. Months later the council ratified the agreements, from what we gather, as a protective measure. Initially, Warner said a public vote was not required.

The city of Davenport decided it is better to buck a state official  who has oversight authority and a legal right to those records  than it is to let the auditor hear what was said in those meetings.

What must be on those recordings?

Iowa code is clear that the auditor is to have access to those records. If the records are confidential, because they deal with issues that are exempt under the open meetings law, then the auditor is to keep them confidential.

That means the parts of the discussion that are legally confidential would not be made public. So, apparently, it's not the public listening to the recordings that the city fears, it's the auditor.

Again, what was said during those private meetings?

The city was taking advice from outside counsel, attorneys from Lane & Waterman, in trying to keep the recordings secret. Other records were provided to Sand.

A letter from Lane & Waterman argued the discussions during closed session are covered by attorney/client privileges.

Auditor Sand argues: "The public interest in providing the records to the auditor outweighs the assertion of privilege in this case."

The only clues to what might have been discussed in the closed discussions are found in the Lane & Waterman letter explaining the city's reasoning for wanting to keep the auditor from hearing those discussions.

"The city is currently engrossed in numerous pending and threatened lawsuits. These pending and threatened lawsuits, including the city's entire defense strategies, have been discussed with its attorneys at its closed session meetings," the attorneys' letter states. "As I'm sure you would agree, a waiver of the city's privileges with regard to these closed sessions would be disastrous and irreparably harm the city in its ability to defend itself in these lawsuits."

If the attorneys' reference to "pending" means "existing" lawsuits, there are many. The city is facing nine lawsuits over the May 28, 2023, building collapse that killed three people, caused an amputation and destroyed the homes of dozens of residents. It's possible the committee was discussing defense strategies. But Sand wouldn't make those discussions public, so why sue to keep them private?

Beyond that, the city is being sued by citizen Allen Diercks regarding how the separation agreements were approved. And the city is suing citizen Ezra Sidran for requesting access to the separation demand letter from former city administrator Corri Spiegel. Neither of those cases existed when these meetings were held, so they were not part of the discussion.

Maybe it's "threatened" lawsuits that council members discussed. One of the arguments given for paying Spiegel $1.6 million, along with covering suffered damages, was to prevent a lawsuit. The same could be said for the other administrative staff, Tiffany Thorndike and Samantha Torres, who received payouts totaling $297,500 due to allegations of harassment. The payouts were also to prevent lawsuits. Did the council members, mayor or city attorney say something about any of those city employees in closed session that they don't want revealed? Again, it seems that discussion would be heard only by Sand and not the public, therefore preventing any possible public defamation.

Maybe the city has good reasons to fight the subpoena, but the optics of this are horrible. And the public is left to conjecture, as we have done in this editorial. In the meantime, the gulf between the city and the public widens. People want answers. During Wednesday's city council meeting, the public comment portion of the meeting lasted about two hours.

Communication is the way to bridge this gap.

We call on the city leadership to host a series of forums for the public to ask questions. We know not all of the answers can be made public, but perhaps the reasoning could be explained. It's time for Davenport leadership to face the music.
HELSINKI (AP)  Latvias state security service has started criminal proceedings against an European Parliament lawmaker and a citizen of the Baltic country who is suspected of cooperating with Russian intelligence and security services, according to Latvian media reports Saturday.





Latvian media outlets reported that the security service, known by the abbreviation VDD, has been investigating the activities of Tatjana Zdanoka, 73, and her alleged Russia ties over the past several weeks since reports were published in January by Russian, Nordic and Baltic news sites saying that she has been an agent for the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB, since at least 2004.





According to news agency LETA, the Latvian security service decided to start a criminal process against Zdanoka on Feb. 22. The security service couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Zdanoka has denied all the allegations against her.





The European Parliament said late January that it had opened an investigation into news reports that a Latvian member of the assembly  Zdanoka  has been working as a Russian agent for several years. The European Unions legislative body, based in Strasbourg, France, said it was taking the allegations very seriously.





Following a joint investigation, the independent Russian investigative journalism site The Insider, its Latvian equivalent Re:Baltica, news portal Delfi Estonia, and Swedish newspaper Expressen published on Jan. 29 a number of emails that they said were leaked and showed Zdanoka's interactions with her handler.





Expressen claimed that Zdanoka has been spreading propaganda about alleged violations of the rights of Russians living in Baltic countries and arguing for a pro-Kremlin policy, among other things. She has also refused to condemn Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the paper said.





Latvia, a Baltic nation of 1.9 million people, and neighboring Estonia, are both home to a sizable ethnic Russian minority of about 25% of the population. Both countries are ex-Soviet republics.





Over the past few years, Moscow has routinely accused Latvia and Estonia of discriminating against their Russian-speaking populations.




The Church Hill Irish Festival is a two-day street party and fundraiser, the proceeds of which support more than 20 church, educational and community groups, many of them based in Church Hill, a neighborhood just east of downtown Richmond.
Seas of green and all-things Irish continued Sunday to celebrate St. Patricks Day in Richmond.

Sunday, March 17, commemorated the anniversary of St. Patricks death, according to legends. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.

OTooles Pub celebrated their Irish roots by hosting a party on Saturday and Sunday. There was live music, bagpipes, traditional food and, of course, Guinness.

The OToole family has been operating Central Virginias oldest Irish pub since 1966. James OToole, the pubs founder, started the St. Patricks Day party at his pub in 1967, and it has become a tradition, his son John OToole said. John is now a co-owner of the pub.

OTooles Pub also hosts an Irish wake the day before the St. Patricks Day party to honor the sanctity of Lent, which occurs during St. Patricks Day.

The day before (St. Patricks Day) we do an Irish wake, which is because Lent is during St. Patricks Day, and all of the Catholics wouldnt drink unless it was a wake, John said. So we do a fake wake on the 16th every year.

Such a big event for OTooles takes a long time to set up, John said. As a team, the pub staff spent about five to six days getting everything ready. John emphasized how hard the kitchen staff, specifically, has been working to cook all of the classic Irish staples to share with customers.

People think its all drinking, but we sell more food than we do drinks, he said. Between the two stores, we are cooking 120 briskets, and shepherds pie and bangers and mash ... we hope to run out of all that stuff.

The pub also sells some classic Irish beers on draft, as well as some local brews, for $6 a glass.

With outside seating and warm sunshine, OTooles Pub rang in the spring season with classic St. Patricks Day festivities.

More St. Patricks Day Celebrations

Rosie Connollys Pub in Shockoe Bottom started the St. Patricks Day celebration with a Liverpool FC watch party Sunday. Rosie Connollys, self-described as a proud, true Irish pub, opened in Richmond in 2004 by Rosie Connollys grandson Tommy. According to their website, Tommy made his grandmothers dream a reality by opening a pub that sells Irish comfort food and beers.

Outside of the city, Rare Olde Times celebrated their 30th anniversary on March 1st and extended that celebration to St. Patricks Day. For their festival-style party, Rare Olde Times collected $5 at the door to donate to Reach Out For Life and Junior Achievement charities.

Gallery: 2024 Irish Festival in Church Hill
Sam Bixler, a sheriffs deputy in Winchester, was in uniform Saturday  but not the kind you think.

Bixler was wearing a kilt, paired with a black T-shirt on which was printed, KILT. Its what happened to the last person who called it a skirt.

Bixler was appropriately turned out, given the occasion: the Church Hill Irish Festival.

Its a two-day street party and fundraiser, the proceeds of which support more than 20 church, educational and community groups, many of them based in Church Hill, a neighborhood just east of downtown Richmond.

The festival concludes Sunday, St. Patricks Day, the annual observance of the death of Irelands patron saint, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Erin. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of all things Irish.

That includes beer and whiskey, both of which were available for consumption only within two blocks of East Broad Street cordoned off between 24th and 26th streets.

City police and sheriffs deputies kept watch under a brilliant blue sky that was complemented by hundreds of people wearin the green.

Stokes McCune, a police officer-turned-bail bondsman-turned-real estate agent from Varina who has helped organize the festival for more than 30 years, said the weekend-long event attracts between 5,000 and 10,000 people.

For McCune  and hes not alone  the festival is a family affair.

His wife, Kristi, assists with the business side of the event. On Saturday, she was among 15 blood relations working at the festival. Their ranks included cops and volunteers selling tickets for beer and checking IDs to determine whether the thirsty were of legal age.

Sue Mann Riccio of Ashland, working a beer concession, and Kristi McCune have known each other since they were in kindergarten at the school affiliated with the 165-year-old St. Patricks Catholic Church, which the womens families have attended since the late 1800s.

Irish immigrants arrived in Richmond in significant numbers in the mid-19th century, fleeing poverty and famine. They were often disparaged, facing discrimination that recalled the treatment of enslaved Blacks.

Church Hill, which would become home to Irish and Black Richmonders, is now one of the citys more fashionable neighborhoods  a lot more residential, a lot less industrial.

Riccio recalled schoolgirl outings with the nuns who ran her school, the Daughters of Charity. Walking through Church Hill, she said, We could smell Noldes bread on Wednesday, tobacco on Thursday. The nuns would take us on what they called pollution walks.

Pat Clarke and Evelyn Welch, both of Richmond, were among those working an information stand for the Legion of Mary, a Catholic charitable and evangelical group founded in 1921 by a Dubliner, Frank Duff.

We do all the spiritual works of mercy, said Welch, who  born a Baptist  converted to Catholicism at age 10 because her parents sent her to a Catholic school.

But that being the segregation era  and Welch being Black  enrollment at the school was restricted to people of color. With the fall of segregation, the school  Van de Vyver  and its affiliated St. Josephs Catholic Church closed.

Bixler, who said he made the trip from Winchester with buddies, was asked about the continuing debate over who should be credited for the kilt  the Irish or the Scots.

It doesnt really matter, Bixler said. Were all Celtic.

Perhaps such thinking drove the musical selections of the Greater Richmond Pipes and Drums. Among the pieces the troupe performed: Scotland the Brave.

Gallery: 2024 Irish Festival in Church Hill
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is concerned that several Virginia school divisions  including three of the states largest  are using a Chinese-owned tutoring platform associated with TikToks parent company.

The online service tutor.com is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China, according to its website.

The governor is concerned about the company having access to Virginians data unknowingly and has asked the Virginia Department of Education for information regarding the use of Tutor.com in Virginia school divisions, said Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez.

Fairfax, Loudoun and Virginia Beach are three of the states four largest school systems.

Tutor.com said in a statement: No personal information of students or families is shared with Primavera, and Primavera does not have  and may not obtain  access to our IT systems.

Tutor.com is an American company, and we abide by U.S. state and federal laws. We were incorporated in 2000 in the state of Delaware. Our principal place of business is New York City, and all student data is housed in the United States. As an American company, Tutor.com cannot be compelled to release personal data of U.S. students and families to China or any foreign government.

Tutor.com was acquired by Primavera Capital Group, a Chinese-owned corporation associated with TikToks parent company, ByteDance in January 2022.

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation on Wednesday that would lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok if ByteDance does not sell, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the companys current ownership structure is a national security threat. The legislation now heads to the Senate, wheres its future is uncertain.

U.S. lawmakers contend that ByteDance is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikToks U.S. consumers anytime it wants.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has taken a strong stance on apps developed by companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, including TikTok.

Martinez said: Since the beginning of the administration, the governor has voiced his concern of the impact of Chinese Communist Party-affiliated TikTok on our childrens mental health, which has proven to be detrimental.

He took action two years ago by banning TikTok on state employee devices. Last year he supported and signed into law a bill from Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, banning apps developed by ByteDance and Tencent holdings, including TikTok and WeChat, on any government issued device, which includes all Virginia School divisions.

Tutor.com is owned by Primavera, which is an investor in ByteDance, but tutor.com was not developed by ByteDance.

Last year, a Virginia bill to ban state agencies from contracting with firms controlled by hostile foreign interests  originally aimed at Chinese Communist Party affiliates  died in the state Senate Finance Committee.

In January 2023, Youngkin said he had taken Virginia out of the running for a Ford electric battery plant, expressing concerns that the joint venture between Ford and a Chinese company would be a front for the Chinese Communist Party.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, wrote a letter last month warning the U.S. Department of Defense, which contracts with tutor.com to tutor American service members and their children.

This business relationship is ill-advised, reckless, and a danger to U.S. national security, and the Department should immediately end that relationship, Cotton wrote.

While providing educational services, Tutor.com collects personal data on users, such as location, internet protocol addresses, and contents of the tutoring sessions, Cotton added. As Chinese national security laws require companies to release confidential business and customer data to the Chinese government, we are paying to expose our military and their childrens private information to the Chinese Communist Party.

From the Archives: The James River
The roach poison was as fine as flour, and it looked like it, too.

Dale Gilbert would come home caked in the stuff. So would Thurman Dykes, Frank Arrigo and the other 135 workers who baked up Kepone for Life Science Products, beginning in March 1974.

Many had been lured to Hopewell by the promise of a good paycheck. But in 1975, they sat before a hearing of Congress. Gilberts hands shook as he said he never knew that Kepone, a neurotoxin, could be harmful. Not even the bosses took precautions.

Like a dust storm most of the time was how Gilbert described work conditions before a congressional oversight hearing.

March marks the 50th anniversary of Virginias Kepone disaster: a 16-month spell during which workers for a small Hopewell chemical company dumped the harmful pesticide into Hopewells waterways. The viscous, discolored run-off first jammed up the citys sewer system and then ultimately led to the yearslong closure of the entire James River to commercial fishing.

The company primarily held responsible was Allied Chemical, a major nationwide chemical corporation. Allied was made to pay more than $13 million in a one-of-a-kind legal settlement that birthed the Virginia Environmental Endowment. The endowment has funded many times that in conservation efforts since its inception.

Still, environmentalists and scientists today worry that another Kepone crisis isnt hard to imagine, given the weakening of monitoring programs that protect the James.

Hopewell production began in 1974

The chemicals true name was chlordecone.

Virgil Hundtofte and William Moore had set up their own operation to produce the tan, cakey powder. Their newly formed company was called Life Science Products. Chlordecone would be its only product, and Allied Chemical would be its only client.

Both were former employees with Allied Chemical at the companys sprawling plant in Hopewell, which is now owned by plastics producer AdvanSix.

With international sales of Kepone growing, Allied was pivoting away from making it in-house. The outsourcing deal would simplify operations.

Production at Life Science began in March 1974. The process involved adding five chemicals in vats, then drying the product until Kepone powder remained. It was then sold to Allied, which shipped it north to Baltimore and then internationally to such placess as Ecuador, Venezuela, Australia and Guadeloupe.

Kepone had shown promising results at staving off pests. Its main use was against the banana root bore, a black beetle that eats the roots of banana trees.

Whistleblower suit shows Richmond routinely stonewalls record seekers A whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former worker alleges that Richmond city officials routinely violate the Freedom of Information Act by denying, delaying, or charging exorbitant amounts for public records. The problems extend beyond city hall, with the Richmond Police Department and Richmond Public Schools also facing criticism for their lack of transparency.

Within a month of production beginning, problems arose. First came the surprise shutdown of Hopewells wastewater treatment plant, which cleans the runoff from the city before it joins the James.

Something that smelled odd was killing the bacteria the digester normally uses to break down waste materials, said William R. Havens, the plants manager. He traced the smell back to Life Science.

The plant closed in July 1975 after a cardiologist for one of the workers sounded the alarm. Workers at Life Science Products were trembling. Gilbert, who later testified before Congress, was referenced to a local cardiologist, who took his blood and sent it to doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Until then, workers had just shrugged off their health concerns as the Kepone shakes. But as the picture became clearer, so too did the harm to workers. Some had been made temporarily sterile, and others suffered memory loss. The risk of cancer seemed obvious to Edward Isaacs, one of the first neurologists to treat exposed workers at the Medical College of Virginia.

These four gentlemen come in with horrible movement disorders, twisting and shaking, said Isaacs, who described how the pesticide became trapped in the workers bodies. From the moment of absorption, it was being recycled  from the liver to the circulatory system, from the blood to the nervous system, and then back again through the intestines and into the liver.

It was never getting out of the body, Isaacs said. They were repeatedly getting poisoned by the same stuff.

In congressional oversight hearings, documents emerged that showed Allied knew the insecticide was very toxic if ingested, according to a report the company had commissioned in 1963.

Among the first to respond to the threat to the river was David Paylor, then an aquatic biologist with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Paylor described the panic that struck the agency. Would thousands of Virginians become as sick as these workers?

- Some individuals have questioned if another Kepone-like event could occur in Virginias future. The answer is an unequivocal yes.  Mike Unger and George Vadas, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

We were seeing concentrations that were three, four, five times higher than what the health department was suggesting could be safe, said Paylor, who went on to run the department from 2006 through 2022.

A gubernatorial order shut down the James to commercial fishing. The ban lasted 13 years, with the river fully reopening in 1988.

It was pretty catastrophic for commercial fishers for quite a few years, Paylor said.

Allied ordered to pay $13.2 million

Kepone production has since been banned worldwide. The workers found some relief in a drug called cholestyramine, which was able to do what doctors so far had not been able to: absorb Kepone so that it could pass out of the body.

Isaacs recalled radio host Paul Harvey announcing the drugs discovery during a national broadcast: Good news America, they found the cure to Kepone, Harvey told listeners.

In the James, scientists realized that the most efficient solution was to do nothing. The chemical was slowly sinking deeper into the riverbed, trapped by layers of sediment.

Its still there, Paylor said. It would have been basically impossible to remove it.

Most of the punishment handed down to Allied came by way of Federal District Judge Robert R. Merhige Jr., a U.S. Air Force veteran with a reputation for straight talk.

It seems that everyone was sitting around on their couches. It sounds like a bunch of politics, everybody being nice to everybody else, Merhige commented from the bench.

Ultimately, the company pleaded no contest to 940 criminal violations of the Refuse Act and the Clean Water Act. Merhige said the company took shortcuts and ordered Allied to pay $13.2 million, the equivalent of about $75 million today.

Then, Merhige took an unusual step. Rather than route the money to the government, he ruled that $8 million from the settlement would go toward an organization he felt would be more directly concerned with conservation in Virginia.

That organization became known as the Virginia Environmental Endowment. Born out of the initial fine tugged out of Allied Chemical, it has since distributed several times that sum in its 47-year history.

In 1986, the endowment gave a lifeline grant to the Southern Environmental Law Center, which has since spread to five other Southern states since its inception. The endowment also gave similar seed grants to the James River Association, the Elizabeth River Project and the Virginia arm of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

The endowment has really proven to be the silver lining in an otherwise dark period of environmental history here in Virginia, said Joe Maroon, the endowments current director.

Could it happen again?

In 2017, scientists with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science expressed concern at protections in place around the James River.

Some individuals have questioned if another Kepone-like event could occur in Virginias future, wrote marine scientists Mike Unger and George Vadas. The answer is an unequivocal yes.

Unger and Vadas described a withering of monitoring efforts that track the health of Virginias main artery. The DEQ had to develop rigorous testing of the river to make sure it could once again be fishable and that Kepone levels were receding. The testing, mostly done for the department by VIMS and the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, was described by study author Unger as being broad and capable of looking for unknowns. It helped VIMS find new hotspots for polychlorinated biphenyls, for example.

Over time, the department deprioritized the unknowns, Unger said, in favor of more pinpoint measuring ability around known chemicals like PCBs, Kepone, mercury and nitrogen.

Its geared towards the regulatory community, said Unger, referring to the businesses that have state-sanctioned permits to release chemicals into the James. Thats where the money and effort went.

At the same time, threats seem to be multiplying in the form of new chemicals, plastics and even pharmaceuticals like birth control, which has been linked with fish mutations in the James. Among those threats are PFAS, the forever chemicals linked with cancer that have been found in drinking wells in several Virginia towns, as well as in a Roanoke reservoir. The chemicals come in thousands of different varieties.

Irina Calos, a spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Quality, said it would be highly unlikely that Virginia would experience another prolonged pollution incident without notice.

There are many safeguards in place today that did not exist in the 1970s, which contribute to significantly reducing this risk, Calos said.

Calos said the organization felt some budget-tightening during the 2008 recession, but that funding for monitoring has since been restored. In 2022, the agency actually had more water-monitoring stations than it did in 2008, Calos said.

This year, the agency will sample water at 1,500 locations. with tests that can ferret out which water bodies are endangered, even if they do not zero in on all the individual possible pollutants, Calos said. The agency is testing for PFAS in fish at roughly 100 locations.

We recognize that there are thousands of chemicals which may enter the environment, and it is not practicable, or even possible in some cases, to individually measure each chemical, Calos said.

Bills in the legislature have targeted some of these, like tar sealants used to pave streets. But scientists liken one-off efforts to a game of Whac-A-Mole.

As certain chemicals come along, theres always something to replace them, Unger said.

Maroon celebrated Virginias recovery, but lamented cutbacks that he says have left the river vulnerable.

Is the James River healthier today than it was in 1975? Yes. But would we have caught Kepone with the monitoring systems we have in place now? asked Maroon. Probably not.
IN THE NEWS

Va. congressional delegation presses USPS on mail issues

Amid ongoing problems with mail delivery in Virginia, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. and seven other members of Virginias congressional delegation have written to the United States Postal Services Inspector General to press their concerns.

The letter follows delays and disruptions in local mail service and a recent court case that involved theft of mail by a former mail carrier. Kaines office has requested a tour of the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Sandston, which is currently being audited by the Inspector Generals office.

The letters signers are Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Reps. Rob Wittman, R-1st, Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, Bobby Scott, D-3rd, Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, Bob Good, R-5th and Abigail Spanberger, D-7th.

FAILED DEVELOPMENT: Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney rebuffed a call from Virginia legislators for VCU Health to terminate its $56 million contract with the city stemming from a collapsed deal.

The agreement to redevelop the downtown Public Safety Building was signed in 2021, but it failed a few months later because of soaring construction costs and souring demand for downtown office space. VCU Health paid $73 million to back out of the project that would have cost more than $300 million.

As part of the agreement, VCU Health committed to a PILOT costing almost $56 million, said Karah Gunther, VCUs vice president for external affairs and health policy. VCU Health, as part of a state authority, does not pay real estate taxes for its buildings. The city asked for the PILOT in exchange for essentially giving away a profitable plot of land.

In the General Assemblys budget proposal, legislators called for VCU Health to terminate the deal.

THEY SAID IT

"This budget that has been presented to me takes Virginia backwards."

 Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, describing the state budget the Democrat-controlled General Assembly approved. He claims it amounts to a $2.6 billion tax increase after legislators rejected his proposal of across-the-board cuts in income taxes.

It was like the biggest challenge of my life. But you get up there and youre looking down at the clouds. Its the most breathtaking thing. When it hits you that you just did this, its unlike any feeling that Ive ever had.

 Jennifer Scherer, owner of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio, on the group of 12 she was part of who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last month. Eight were from the Fredericksburg area, and half were at least 60 years old. They scaled the 19,340-foot, snow-covered volcano during a roundtrip hike of 47.5 miles.

BY THE NUMBERS

6 billion

Oysters added to the Chesapeake Bay since 2017 by the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance. The alliance has brought together more than 100 partner organizations in Virginia and Maryland, and its goal is to introduce 10 billion oysters through efforts in restoration and aquaculture. According to the alliance, a single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day.

1,000

The approximate number of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores that Chesapeake-based Dollar Tree will close. The company announced it would close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year and 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next several years.

ODDS AND ENDS

JUDGESHIP: Charlottesville attorney Jasmine Yoon received Senate confirmation Tuesday to become U.S. District judge for the Western District of Virginia. She will be the first Asian American jurist in the state and the first person of color to be a judge in the district. Yoon will fill the position when Chief Judge Michael Urbanski assumes senior status in July 2024. Yoon, the vice president of corporate integrity, ethics and investigations at Capital One Financial Corporation, previously served as counsel to the University of Virginia and as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

IN THE NEWS

Va. legislation would add new rules to vape sales

The General Assembly is cracking down on vaping, with bills imposing stiff penalties for underage sales and a registry system aimed at barring sales of e-cigarettes that are avoiding U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversight.

The legislature also revised tax treatment of another alternative to cigarettes  heated tobacco sticks. Philip Morris International argued that move will delay introduction of its product planned for this spring and put it at a competitive disadvantage as it and Henrico County-based Altria Group move into reduced risk tobacco products.

Senate Bill 582 and House Bill 790 would add nicotine vapor products to the list of tobacco products that cant be sold to people under 21. They impose stiff new penalties for the sales, including a $10,000 fine and revocation of a distributors license or retailers tax registration for a fourth offense.

Spotsylvania fires schools superintendent

The Spotsylvania County School Board fired Superintendent Mark Taylor during a special meeting Tuesday night by a 5-0 vote.

Taylor, who had been hired by a previous board, began serving in the position in September 2022. But he created a firestorm after removing more than 30 book titles from the countys school libraries last year.

This past November, voters ousted three members who supported Taylor, which changed the majority of the board.

Kelly Guempel, deputy superintendent and chief academic officer, was chosen as acting superintendent and has been present at school board meetings in that capacity.

From the Archives: The Virginia state Capitol building
The 50th anniversary of Virginia's Kepone disaster is being marked, where workers for a small chemical company dumped the harmful pesticide into Hopewell's waterways. The run-off caused severe harm to workers and led to the closure of the James River to commercial fishing. The company responsible, Allied Chemical, was ordered to pay $13.2 million in a legal settlement, which created the Virginia Environmental Endowment. However, environmentalists and scientists worry about the possibility of another Kepone crisis due to the weakening of monitoring programs for the James River.
Richmond may have 99 million problems with its tax collections. Overcharging Virginia Commonwealth University, however, isnt one of them.

State lawmakers have directed VCU Health to stop payments on a 25-year, $56 million agreement with the city for taking valuable downtown real estate off the tax rolls. Part of the bottomless saga surrounding what has to be the costliest lease termination in university history  if you havent heard, VCU Health paid $73 million to back out of an office-tower project on Clay Street  the General Assembly has given the health system authority until Oct. 1 to tear up the contract.

Its all in the name of good fiscal stewardship, state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, told the Richmond Times-Dispatchs Eric Kolenich last week. Amid the fallout from the failed Clay Street project, he said lawmakers want to ensure that future tax dollars are spent prudently.

The payments to the city  averaging $2.5 million a year  are intended to offset the lost tax revenue from handing the property over to a tax-exempt public university. After three decades of standing idly by while VCU gobbled up real estate to accommodate its growth, the city, for once, was looking out for Richmond taxpayers.

For good reason. The state controls roughly $3.7 billion worth of real estate in the city, according to a recent analysis by the finance department. If taxed at the going rate  $1.20 per $100 of assessed value  all that property would generate nearly $45 million a year in real estate taxes. While state law allows the city to collect a service charge on some of that property  otherwise known as payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOT  the restrictions are numerous. Over the past five years, City Hall, on average, has received just $3.8 million in annual state PILOT payments.

All told, more than 20% of the citys real estate is tax-exempt. Including federal property, churches, city government buildings, schools and other nonprofits, Richmond is shorted $99.6 million a year in lost taxes, according to IRS data from 2021. Only three jurisdictions in Virginia  Fairfax County, Norfolk and Virginia Beach  lose more.

Because of the high proportion of state government buildings and VCU Health System buildings, the city is unable to collect a sizable amount of real estate taxes  the largest source of revenue for the city, Mayor Levar Stoney said in a statement on Wednesday. This means that although VCU Health Systems leadership, students, and staff rely on city services, like well-maintained roads, Fire and EMS, and world-class parks, the institution does not contribute to the cost of those services the way other property owners do.

Stoney, of course, is putting it gently. The state not only takes land and pays almost nothing in return, but it has a history of making only partial PILOT payments. And since 2014, the number of state-owned parcels subjected to PILOT decreased by more than half, from 71 to 32, according to the city analysis. In other words, as VCU and the state take more, Richmond gets less.

Somewhat inexplicably, educational institutions, which take full advantage of city services, are completely exempt. If the city were able to collect PILOT payments on state-owned educational and university properties (i.e., VCU), it would generate an additional $6 million to $7 million a year. Instead, VCU and the health system pay virtually nothing on more than $2.5 billion worth of real estate (based on 2022 tax data).

But lets give Virginias part-time legislators the benefit of the doubt. In a vacuum, nixing VCU Healths payments to the city in the bungled Clay Street project makes fiscal sense.

The $325 million, 17-story office tower  if developed privately  would have generated $3.9 million in yearly real estate taxes to the city. But why should VCU Health continue to pay the discounted $2.5 million if the property isnt redeveloped? The health system authority, which is still reeling financially from the pandemic, is already out $73 million.

We have to get to the bottom of this situation, Deeds told The Times-Dispatch. Its about trying to get some answers and make sure it doesnt happen in the future.

Its admirable that Deeds and his fellow lawmakers are guarding the public kitty with such vigor. But this is VCUs mistake. City Hall was careful to negotiate a deal that protected taxpayers, ensuring that Richmond was compensated if the deal fell through. Directing the health system to renege on a legally binding contract only hurts city taxpayers.

The city was perfectly correct that it needed to ensure that further development downtown would provide tax revenue to the citys coffers, said political analyst Bob Holsworth, former dean of VCUs College of Humanities and Sciences and a former member of the board of visitors. Its hard to question that.

The better question, Holsworth said in an interview on Thursday, is, Whose fault is it that VCU entered into a contract thats now cost them $130 million for a property that its never owned?

Hint: Its not Richmond. For a capital city that gets stiffed out of at least $41 million a year by a state government that routinely takes whatever it wants  and refuses to pay the bill  $2.5 million is a pittance.

Just because VCU Health System has had limited responsibility for paying real estate taxes historically, does not mean thats the way it should always be, Stoney said. The VCU Health System community makes many contributions to our city and were glad to partner with them on a myriad of projects. But VCU Health System should not be looking for ways to get around paying their fair share and the state should not be in the business of negating legally-binding contracts.

The General Assembly should indeed get to the bottom of VCU Healths $130 million mistake on Clay Street. But before terminating the deal with Richmond, state lawmakers should take a long look at the states nasty habit of depleting the citys economic resources.

When it comes to lost tax dollars, Richmond has 99 million problems. The state shouldnt be one.
Two teens arrested in abduction of Colombian woman from Cancun parking lot

Cancun, Q.R.  Two teens have been arrested in the abduction of a Colombian woman that happened Friday morning. The two youths were taken into custody after the woman escaped from the criminal safe house where she was being kept.

She managed a successful escape Saturday, a day after she was abducted at gunpoint from behind the wheel of her vehicle in a parking lot in SM 509 of Cancun.

The two suspects, both in their teens, were captured by Cancun police from the El Milagro neighborhood. They have been named as Miguel Daniel R and Victor A, 17 and 19.

Cancun police reported that patrolling officers were alerted to the 9-1-1 report of a Colombian woman who was at a home in El Milagro asking for help after escaping from a building where she was being held.

Responding officers learned it was the Colombian woman who was abducted the day before. She was able to locate the criminal safe house where she was being held. At the safe house police located two youths who were identified by the woman as her guards.

The woman lead police back to the criminal safe house where she was being held.

Photo: March 16, 2024.

Both remain in custody. Police have not said if the two teens were those responsible for the armed abduction or if they were simply safe house guards. Cancun Police have not provided a possible motive for the womans abduction.

Two teens were arrested from the criminal safe house Saturday. Photos: March 16, 2024.

In a brief note, Policia Cancun reported elements of the Municipal Secretariat of Citizen Security of Benito Juarez report that the location of a woman who had been reported missing Friday in superblock 509 was achieved thanks to a report through the emergency number 911. The coordinated operation was implemented with the state security authorities and two people were detained.
Glencoe Mansions new art show will feature the art of students from Radford City Public Schools.

The show is open March 16 through April 28, and there is an opening reception March 23 from noon to 2 p.m.

The show features the artworks of students from 7th to 12th grade, representing John Dalton Intermediate School and Radford High School, according to a news release about the exhibit.

The artists are showcasing work that was created in the classroom where they diligently learned about a variety of art movements, styles, and mediums.

Works from Dalton Intermediate were created under the direction of Kristy Bryant; and Radford High School, under the instruction of Savannah Leeman, according to the release.

The student artists of RHS have gained various honors for their art including exhibition at the Radford University Tyler Gallery as well as awards in the Regional Scholastic Art competition, according to the release.

Glencoe Mansion is free to visit and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Roanoke Times
Internships and work-based learning experiences can be essential for students entering the workforce, giving them a boost into their career.

In fact, 50% of students reported their internship helped them obtain a job offer after graduation, according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Internships are also key to retaining talent in Virginia and increased awareness of the career opportunities in the region is needed. The Region 2 Internship Collaborative will host an Internships with Impact event to bring together employers and students.

It is set for Tuesday, March 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bridge Sanctuary in the CrossPointe Foursquare Conference Center, 890 Life Drive, Christiansburg, according to a news release about the event.

The event is open to Virginia students but especially those at local schools, including: New River Community College, Radford University and Virginia Tech, according to the release.

It is planned collaboratively by: Blacksburg Young Professionals, New River Community College, Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Pulaski Countys Empower and Engage, Radford University, Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council, Virginias New River Valley, Virginia Tech and Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership.

The focus of this event is to show students what the region has to offer and that there are great career opportunities for them right here, said Brenna Valle, program coordinator for the Region 2 Internship Collaborative. Through this event, students will be able to build connections with employers and peers, learn about the diverse range of industries in our region, and have fun while doing so.

The event will begin with a welcome from the Region 2 Internship Collaborative, followed by networking with employers and a raffle, according to the release.

The Region 2 Internship Collaborative is an initiative of the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP). In Region 2, the collaborative is staffed by the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement. This event is part of V-TOPs work to increase the opportunity and visibility of high-quality internships, facilitate pathways to professions, and encourage graduates to live and work in Virginia by creating more high-quality opportunities.

To Learn more about the internship event and to register, see https://www.newrivervalleyva.org/internships-with-impact.

The Roanoke Times
EDUCATION

The Roanoke County School Board has announced the following administrative appointments:

Travis Anderson is the new principal at William Byrd High School, effective July 1. Anderson will replace Tammy Newcomb, who recently was named the new executive director of administration for RCPS.

Anderson first joined RCPS in 2012 as a math teacher at Cave Spring High School. In 2020, he was named an assistant principal at William Byrd High School.

Anderson holds a bachelors degree and a masters degree in curriculum and administration from Virginia Tech.

Sheree Anderson is the new principal at Green Valley Elementary School, beginning July 1. Anderson will replace Kim Bradshaw, who recently was named the executive director of elementary instruction for RCPS.

Anderson first joined RCPS in 2006 as a teacher at W.E. Cundiff Elementary School. She was named an assistant principal at Back Creek and Clearbrook elementary schools in 2019 and was selected as the assistant principal at Green Valley Elementary in 2022.

Anderson holds a bachelors degree and a masters degree from Hollins University. She also earned a certification in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia.

Laura Bell is the new principal at Clearbrook Elementary School, starting July 1. Bell will replace Julie Noell, who will become the assistant principal at Penn Forest Elementary School.

Bell first joined RCPS in 2005 as a teacher at Green Valley Elementary School. She became the assistant principal at Glenvar Elementary School in 2022.

Bell holds a bachelors degree from Radford University and a masters degree in educational leadership from James Madison University.

Philip Martin is the new supervisor of social studies for RCPS.

Martin joined RCPS in 2020 as a dean at William Byrd High School, following nine years of teaching experience in Roanoke City Public Schools. In 2022, Martin was named an assistant principal at WBHS.

Martin holds a bachelors degree and a masters degree in educational leadership from Radford University.

FINANCIAL

Wells Fargo Advisors has announced the following promotions: Jonathan E. Mitchell Degenhardt, first vice president  investment officer; and Louis E. Ellis, managing director  investments. Both are from the Roanoke office in the Wells Fargo Tower.

Christine A. Smith, a financial adviser with Ameriprise Financial Inc. in Blacksburg, has been named one of the Best-in-State Women Wealth Advisors by Forbes.

The list recognizes financial advisers who have demonstrated high levels of ethical standards, professionalism, and success in the business.

Smith was selected based on assets under management, industry experience, compliance record and best practices in her practice and approach to working with clients.

She is part of Smith & Associates, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services LLC.

Smith graduated from Penn State and has 26 years of experience with Ameriprise Financial.

Valley Wealth Group has announced the promotion of George Wootten IV to chief financial officer.

Since joining VWG in 2015, Wootten has served primarily as an investment analyst. In addition to this role, Wootten has also taken on other responsibilities including managing the internal financials of the firm, employee benefits and compensation, practice management and acquisition, and overall strategic planning.

Prior to VWG, Wootten served as an intern in the wealth management division of Valley Bank while earning his bachelors degree in finance at James Madison University.

Wootten is also an accredited investment fiduciary.

HEALTH

Maggie Cox has been appointed director of Family Centered Treatment by HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services.

Cox is responsible for growing the FCT program and its reach across Virginia through collaborative work with the different departments of Social Services, CSA localities, and referring organizations.

FCT is an in-home trauma-focused family therapy model designed to find simple, practical, and holistic solutions for families faced with disruption or dissolution of their family.

Cox has nearly 10 years of experience in the child welfare system in the public and private sectors.

A graduate of Liberty University, she earned a masters degree in human services counseling. She has worked for Pulaski County Department of Social Services as well as most recently at Intercept Health as a Treatment Foster Care supervisor.

Cox also has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

OTHER

Chris Smith has been named vice chair of the National Postdoctoral Associations board of directors.

Smith, who leads Virginia Techs Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, will serve on the board for a one-year term.

Smith also serves on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicines Roundtable for Mentorship, Well-being, and Professional Development.

He has helped launch the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship program, the Research and Innovation Postdoctoral Scholar program, the Postdoctoral Associate Travel Award program, and numerous workshops and events.

The Ferrum College Board of Trustees has three new members: Carl Cline, Greg Craddock and Glynn Loope.

Cline, vice president and hospital administrator for Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, entered health care as a registered nurse before earning his bachelors and masters degrees from the Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

Cline serves on the board of directors for the Free Clinic of Franklin County, Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing, Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Virginia Governors Advisory Board for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

A member of the Rocky Mount Rotary, Cline and his wife, Sharon, reside in Rocky Mount.

Craddock is the CEO of Patriot Group International. An alumnus of Ferrum College, he graduated with a bachelors degree in 1992 and earned his masters degree in organizational leadership from Liberty University in 2015.

He and his wife reside in Warrenton.

Loope, president of Commonwealth Advance LLC, has worked with organizations, communities and companies to advance agendas at the state and federal level for more than 22 years.

He also serves as legislative liaison for Prince William County; director of State Advocacy for Premium Cigar Association; and is a member of the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics, Immigration Reform Task Force for the National Association of Counties as well as board of directors for the Botetourt County Historical Society.

Loope is a 1986 Bachelor of Arts in International Studies graduate of Ferrum College, currently serves as president of the Alumni Association and is the associations ex-officio representative on the board of trustees.

He and his wife, Jill, reside in Blue Ridge.
Apologies are difficult.

Especially while Roanoke is drafting a city apology to families uprooted by racist policies of years past, every word matters.

So too matters every vote of current elected leaders. Recent city council decisions have left some citizen members of the Roanoke Equity and Empowerment Advisory Board questioning the timing of apologizing.

Now decades removed from city policies enacted between 1955 and 1980, the generational pain caused to Black residents by urban renewal remains acute in Roanoke. Most families and businesses never recovered, according to The Roanoke Higher Education Centers Gainsboro History Project.

In Gainsboro and Northeast Roanoke, City Urban Renewal efforts destroyed over 1600 homes, several schools, 24 churches, and over 200 businesses for redevelopment, the history reads. Black residents and businesses were displaced and many properties acquired by eminent domain.

In the Gainsboro neighborhood, Henry Street was home to dozens of Black-owned businesses, before much of it was razed by urban renewal in the 50s and 60s, scorned as blight by city officials of the day.

Today, only a few buildings from that cultural and commercial center remain on Henry Street, the Dumas Center and old Strand Theatre among them.

Among its duties, the equity board has spent the past year wording an urban renewal apology for the city council to consider adopting. Its one way the city is trying rebuild trust between the local government and its residents.

Although the equity board is nearing consensus on publishing a draft of that apology, Chairwoman Angela Penn said recent plans for Evans Spring have led some board members to question the timing.

We do have quite a bit of feedback from the committees, Penn said during an equity board meeting March 7. There is concern about moving it forward.

At more than 100 acres of privately-owned wooded wetland bordering predominantly Black neighborhoods in northwest Roanoke, residents opposed the citys mixed-use development vision for Evans Spring from its introduction.

City council was divided on its vote to approve the Evans Spring plans earlier this month, despite ongoing citizen calls to try preserving the land instead.

Throughout the course of public hearings regarding Evans Spring, citizens said they saw comparisons to those old urban renewal policies.

City leaders pushed back against such characterizations, but it shows how current  and likely future  city plans can inadvertently rub raw the long-lasting wounds incurred during urban renewal.

The trauma experienced by the community was so pervasive that it continues to reverberate in subsequent generations, said Stephen Niamke, founder of Friends of Evans Spring, while urging city council members to vote no on the plans March 4.

A written apology is not enough, Niamke said. You must take action.

After the Evans Spring plan passed, the equity board is now questioning whether or not the community would be amenable or even accepting toward that apology its been working on, Penn said.

Equity board member Phazhon Nash said the group had previously discussed how this apology is going to be like a smack in the face, if the city council passed its Evans Spring plan. Nash, who is currently running for city council, said the board should discuss its concerns directly with council members at a future meeting.

The group during its March meeting still maintained discussions about wording and content of the draft apology. Flipping through pages of feedback from fellow equity board members, Peter Wonson said the apology has come a long way from the first drafts too-formal wording.

For the most part what we have here is very reasonable, Wonson said. But there are some really good suggestions in here that we can incorporate.

It remains uncertain when the public will see a draft of that apology. There will be a time for community input and public hearing on the draft apology before city council would vote on it, Penn said.

Vice Mayor Joe Cobb, who voted against the Evans Spring plan, said the situation represented the re-opening of a wound. Conversations about a city apology for urban renewal date back to at least 2019, he said this week.

There was a lot of conversation taking place about Gainsboro and the Dumas Center, Henry Street, Cobb said of that time. A lot of that history was emerging, and more people were becoming aware of it.

City officials convened talks with older generations of Black residents who had firsthand memories of urban renewal, as well as the Black business community. They recalled the history and talked about persisting pain points the story so far has created, said Cobb, who is running for mayor this year.

It became clear early on, and appropriately so, that while an apology was welcomed, it would need to be accompanied with some actions, Cobb said. We have to create a collective healing pathway for our city.

Those talks about an apology regained momentum last year, with the creation of the equity board, he said. That board soon picked up the duties of writing an apology, first drafted by the city attorneys office.

There are a number of things weve done as a council, Cobb said. Some really tangible steps that were taken, that I think were important steps leading to and accompanying an apology.

The city courthouse was renamed in 2019 to honor Oliver Hill, whose work as an attorney made significant contributions to the civil rights movement.

A walkway at the Roanoke Higher Education Center was dedicated in 2022 with markers detailing the history of Gainsboro, including acknowledgement of urban renewals impact on the neighborhood.

Last year, the city replaced and renamed the downtown plaza where a Confederate obelisk once stood, instead honoring the name and likeness of Henrietta Lacks, a Black Roanoke native, for her posthumous, non-consenting contributions to medical research.

Those are some physical examples of changes made in recent years to address and acknowledge the citys history, Cobb said. There are other initiatives at work, from the city government and local community, and more still needs doing, he said.

Until we have fully engaged in that healing work, were going to feel frustrated about our growth potential, Cobb said. But as we do it, were going to get more excited about our growth as a city.
The New River Water Watchers program has been selected as a recipient of a $4,450 Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Citizens Water Quality Monitoring Grant.

It is a competitive process that provides funding for groups and individuals to monitor the quality of Virginias waters, according to a news release from the Water Watchers umbrella organization the New River Conservancy.

The program helps to guide and support citizen water quality monitoring and stewardship activities throughout Virginia.

The conservancys water quality manager, John Copeland says: The telling thing is that we are the only group with this grant in far Southwest Virginia, which is newsworthy. The nearest group to us is the Smith Mountain Lake Association, which is doing reservoir work.

According to the release, the two primary purposes of the citizen water quality monitoring grant program are: To generate citizen-collected water quality data that can be used by the agency for water quality assessment, improvement, or preservation; and to educate citizens on water quality monitoring and the environment.

Funded projects must, at least in part, provide equipment, supplies, or training to volunteer monitors who do not receive payment for their work on the project.

The conservancys Water Watchers program relies on volunteers who are trained and recertified annually to observe, collect, and report water quality data.

It operates under state-approved quality control and assurance plans approved in both North Carolina and Virginia.

The grant will allow volunteers in Floyd, Montgomery and Pulaski Counties in Virginia to be recertified without having to fund their own work, according to conservancy Executive Director, Elizabeth Underwood.

To date, the program has trained over 100 volunteer monitors and collected data from 80 sites throughout the watershed, according to the release.

The Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program was established by a budget amendment in the 1999 Virginia General Assembly Session.

In a typical fiscal year, the General Assembly will appropriate up to $88,000 in grant funds for eligible activities by citizen monitoring organizations in Virginia. From 2015-20, monitoring partner data was used to assess 3,174 miles of streams/rivers, 64 square miles of estuary, and 33,347 acres of lakes, according to the release.

The New River Conservancy is a 501(3) nonprofit organization. For more information on the New River Water Watchers, go to newriverconservancy.org.
The former elections director for a rural Arizona county who resigned last year because a flap over the hand-counting of ballots has been elevated to a top electoral post for the state
Man suspected of killing 3 people in Philadelphia area arrested in New Jersey, police say

Police say a man suspected of fatally shooting three family members in the Philadelphia area has been arrested in New Jersey after evading law enforcement for hours
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M.  A Marion man accused in the shooting death of a New Mexico State Police officer and driving the car of a missing Marion woman found dead in Lake View was arrested Sunday morning during a foot pursuit with Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputies.

Jaremy Smith, 32, of Marion was taken into custody after Bernalillo County deputies shot him during a foot pursuit.

Sheriff John Allen said deputies responded to reports from a gas station clerk in Albuquerque, describing a person that matched Smiths description. Deputies located Smith walking and immediately established a perimeter, he said. A foot pursuit ensued and shots were fired with some shots striking Smith.

Arrest warrants were issued for Smith in connection to the murder of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare Friday morning.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said around 5 a.m. Friday, Officer Hare was dispatched to help a motorist with a flat tire on I-40 near mile marker 320, west of Tucumcari. Officer Hare parked behind the vehicle. Smith then approached the officers passenger side window.

Officer Hare offered to give the suspect a ride to town, then, without warning, the suspect pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare. The suspect then walked to the drivers side and shot Officer Hare again, Weisler said.

Smith is also wanted in connection to the death of Florence County Paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52, last seen at her home on Wildwood Loop in Marion on Tuesday. Machado-Fores body was recovered outside of Lake View in Dillon County around 6:15 p.m. on Friday, according to Marion County Sheriffs Office Public Information Officer Tammy Erwin.

The New Mexico State Police contacted Marion County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division Friday morning to alert that Machado-Fores BMW DX7C was involved in the murder of one of their officers, Erwin said. New Mexico State Police identified Smith as the driver of Machado-Fores car.

Yesterday we said that we would bring Jaremy Smith to justice, Weisler said. There was nowhere that he could run and there was nowhere he could hide.

Smith said thanks to the community and fellow law enforcement partners they were able to do that.
The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning on a key highway that sees traffic between the western city of Herat through southern provinces to the capital Kabul (-)

At least 21 people were killed and 38 injured on Sunday when a bus collided with a fuel tanker truck and burst into flames in southern Afghanistan.

Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving on highways and a lack of regulation.

"Twenty-one people were killed... in a traffic accident between a passenger bus, a tanker and a motorbike" on a main highway through Grishk district in southern Helmand province, Mohammad Qasim Riyaz, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.

Of the 38 people injured, 11 were seriously hurt, according to the provincial information department.

The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning on a key highway that sees traffic between the western city of Herat through southern provinces to the capital Kabul, provincial officials said.

The passenger bus was travelling from Herat to Kabul when it first collided with a motorbike carrying two people, killing both riders, Helmand traffic management officials said, according to the information department.

The bus driver lost control and crashed with a tanker truck travelling in the opposite direction, sparking a fire.

The accident killed three people on the tanker and 16 bus passengers.

"When the bus hit the tanker, it pierced the tank, which burst into flames," said one of the survivors, Ghulam Sarwar, speaking to AFP at a hospital in provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

"The flames got bigger and bigger and all the passengers in the front were burned. But at the back a window was broken and people were able to escape by jumping out," he added.

"If the window hadn't been broken, every passenger would have been killed."

- 'A horrible moment' -

Images shared by the information department showed charred, twisted metal scattered across the highway and the crushed cabin of the tanker.

Clean-up crews arrived on site quickly to remove the debris, according to officials.

Story continues

Sarwar said the bus was full of people recently deported from Iran, with many Afghans sent back across the border through the Islam Qala crossing near Herat.

"Among them were children and women," said Sarwar, who hurt his foot leaping from the bus.

"They were screaming when they were burning. It was a horrible moment, my heart is broken."

Another survivor, Mohammad Reza, said many of the passengers had been asleep when the accident happened around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Saturday).

"There were screams and cries when the bus caught fire," he said, adding that some passengers in the last seven or eight rows were able to jump out the window, some injuring themselves.

"Everyone was trying to escape and save themselves," he added.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid expressed regret over the accident and wished the injured a quick recovery, in a post on X.

"We seriously ask drivers to be careful while driving and to follow traffic rules," he said.

Another serious accident involving an fuel tanker took place in December 2022, when the vehicle overturned and caught fire in Afghanistan's high-altitude Salang pass, killing 31 people and leaving dozens more with burn injuries.

str-abh-sw/tym
When Olivia Munn revealed this week that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy, she urged people to ask their doctors to figure out their score on a breast cancer risk calculator.

Munn said her score prompted further tests and the discovery of an aggressive form of the disease.

Im lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options, the 43-year-old actor posted on Instagram. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day.

A look at the calculator, the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool:

What is the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool?

It's a questionnaire on the National Cancer Institutes website that is designed for health care providers to use with patients. The tool received a dramatic increase in visits since Munns post, according to an NCI spokesperson.

First developed in 1989, it was originally based on data from only white women. Updates have made it more accurate for Black, Hispanic and Asian and Pacific Islander women.

It doesn't take everything into account and can't actually predict whether any one person will get breast cancer.

It asks about age, age at first menstrual period, age when the womans first child was born or if the woman has not given birth, family history of breast cancer, past breast biopsies, results of past biopsies, race and ethnicity.

The result is a lifetime risk and a five-year risk based on factors that have been tied to a higher risk of breast cancer. For comparison, it also gives an average risk for U.S. women of the same age, race and ethnicity.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen, who treats breast cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, said women should do the assessment with their doctors, not by themselves.

Its very important to talk to your doctor about doing that together, and then making decisions about what imaging techniques are appropriate based on the results, Comen said. Munn's high score prompted additional imaging tests that aren't recommended for women of average risk.

Should everyone use the tool?

It's not the best risk calculator for some women. If you have a certain gene mutation or a previous history of breast cancer, it's not for you. It also doesn't take into account dense breast tissue, which can make cancer harder to spot.

The National Cancer Institute says the tool may underestimate risk in Black women with previous biopsies and Hispanic women born outside the U.S.

"The model needs further validation for Hispanic women and other subgroups, the institutes website says. Researchers are conducting additional studies to gather more data to test and improve the model.

There are dozens of similar tools, said Ashley Johnson, a nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who has studied them. Many health groups recommend that women over age 25 have such an assessment, she said, but there's not enough evidence to say which tool is best.

What do the scores mean?

A five-year risk score of 2%, for example, means a woman's estimated risk of developing breast cancer over the next five years is 2%.

A lifetime risk score of 7% means a woman's estimated risk of developing breast cancer through age 90 is 7%.

Mammogram guidelines are for women at average risk, said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. Guidelines vary but the society says women can choose to start annual mammograms at age 40.

Knowing your risk starts even before the age of 40, Kamal said. That's where a risk calculator can help.

How can I lower my risk of breast cancer?

Everyone has some risk of cancer, Comen said, but some lifestyle changes can reduce the chances.

She suggests avoiding processed foods, adding exercise and strength training to your routine, limiting alcohol and not smoking.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

___

States with the highest rates of breast and cervical cancer screenings States with the highest rates of breast and cervical cancer screenings Ten states are meeting mammography screening goals No states meet Pap test screening goals Mammogram screening rates among women 50-74 grew 143.8% between 1987 and 2018 Fear of costs may prevent uninsured patients from seeking mammograms and Pap smear tests
SIOUX CITY  Only one Northwest Iowa House race will feature two first-time candidates competing against each other on the June 4 primary ballot.

Republicans Travis Sitzmann, Le Mars, and Noah Wieseler, Sioux City, are each looking to succeed Iowa House District 13 Rep. Ken Carlson, R-Onawa, who made the decision to retire, after just one term, in January. District 13 encompasses all of Monona County, most of central and northern Woodbury County, southern and eastern Plymouth County and portions of western Cherokee County.

Wieseler, who works in construction and property maintenance, announced his candidacy in early March and said he was running because "Iowa at its core is rooted in conservatism and limited government. I want to protect this identity despite government overreach and confusion all around us," he said.

Sitzmann, a risk control technical consultant for Travelers Insurance, declared his campaign on March 15, the day of the candidate filing deadline in Iowa for state and federal elections. The former reserve deputy for the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department said on Facebook he wants to "bring common sense back to politics."

The other competitive House primary in Northwest Iowa is in District 7 where incumbent Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City, is being challenged by Wendy Lou Larson of Odebolt.
The 40-hour workweek has been standard in the U.S. for more than eight decades. Now some members of Congress want to give hourly workers an extra day off.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the far-left independent from Vermont, this week introduced a bill that would shorten to 32 hours the amount of time many Americans can work each week before they're owed overtime.

Given advances in automation, robotics and artificial intelligence, Sanders says U.S. companies can afford to give employees more time off without cutting their pay and benefits.

Critics say a mandated shorter week would force many companies to hire additional workers or lose productivity.

Here's what to know about the issue:

What would Sanders' proposal do?

The bill Sanders introduced Wednesday in the Senate would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours. Employers would be prohibited from reducing their workers' pay and benefits to match their lost hours.

That means people who currently work Monday through Friday, eight hours per day, would get to add an extra day to their weekend. Workers eligible for overtime would get paid extra for exceeding 32 hours in a week.

Sanders says the worktime reductions would be phased in over four years. He held a hearing on the proposal Thursday in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, of which Sanders is the chairman.

How would a shorter workweek affect employees and productivity?

One recent study of British companies that agreed to adopt a 32-hour workweek concluded that employees came to work less stressed and more focused while revenues remained steady or increased.

In 2022, a team of university researchers and the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global enlisted 61 companies to reduce working hours for six months without cutting wages. Afterward, 71% of the 2,900 workers said they were less burned out and nearly half reported being more satisfied with their jobs.

Meanwhile, 24 of the participating companies reported revenue growth of more than 34% over the prior six months. Nearly two dozen others saw a smaller increase.

"The majority of employees register an increase in their productivity over the trial. They are more energized, focused and capable," Juliet Shor, a Boston College sociology professor and a lead researcher on the UK study, told Sanders' Senate committee.

Critics say a 32-hour workweek might work for companies where employees spend most of their time at computers or in meetings, but could be disastrous for production at manufacturing plants that need hands-on workers to keep assembly lines running.

"These are concepts that have consequences," Roger King, of the HR Policy Association, which represents corporate human resource officers, told the Senate committee. "It just doesn't work in many industries."

What's the response in Washington?

With considerable opposition from Republicans, and potentially some Democrats, don't expect Sanders' proposal to get very far in the Senate. A companion bill by Democratic Rep. Mark Takano of California is likely doomed in the GOP-controlled House.

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said paying workers the same wages for fewer hours would force employers to pass the cost of hiring more workers along to consumers.

"It would threaten millions of small businesses operating on a razor-thin margin because they're unable to find enough workers," said Cassidy, the ranking Republican on the committee. "Now they've got the same workers, but only for three-quarters of the time. And they have to hire more."

Sanders has used his platform as the committee's chairman to showcase legislation aimed at holding big corporations more accountable to workers. He blamed greedy executives for pocketing extra profits as technology has boosted worker productivity.

"Do we continue the trend that technology only benefits the people on top, or do we demand that these transformational changes benefit working people?" Sanders said. "And one of the benefits must be a lower workweek, a 32-hour workweek."

How did we decide a 40-hour workweek was the standard?

The Fair Labor Standards Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, restricted child labor and imposed other workplace protections that included limiting the workweek to 44 hours. The law was amended two years later to make it a 40-hour week.

The landmark law followed a century of labor-union efforts seeking protections for the many overworked people in the U.S., said Tejasvi Nagaraja, a labor historian at Cornell University's School of Industry and Labor Relations.

"The issue of time was always as important, or more important, than money for labor unions and labor advocates," Nagaraja said.

In the 1830s, coal miners and textile workers began pushing back against workdays of up to 14 hours. After the Civil War, the abolition of slavery caused those in the U.S. to take a fresh look at workers' rights. Unions rallied around the slogan: "Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what you will."

The federal government took tentative steps toward limiting working time. In 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant ordered an eight-hour workday for government employees. In 1916, Congress mandated the same for railroad workers.

Other reforms came from private industry. In 1926, Henry Ford adopted a 40-hour week for his automobile assembly workers more than a decade before Congress mandated it.

Ford wrote: "It is high time to rid ourselves of the notion that leisure for workmen is either lost time or a class privilege."

___

Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed.

___

Workers suffer the most injuries in these 25 jobs Workers suffer the most injuries in these 25 jobs #25. Physical therapist assistants #24. Registered nurses #23. Medical and health services managers #22. Recreational therapists #21. Pest control workers #20. Respiratory therapists #19. Animal caretakers #18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners #17. Occupational therapy assistants #16. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors #15. Refuse and recyclable material collectors #14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers #13. Bus drivers, transit and intercity #12. Firefighters #11. Health information technologists, medical registrars, surgical assistants, and health care practitioners and technical workers, all other #10. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses #9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers #8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers #7. Correctional officers and jailers #6. Orderlies #5. Occupational therapy aides #4. Psychiatric technicians #3. Nursing assistants #2. Psychiatric aides #1. Dietetic technicians
A 33-foot Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement boat crew from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island surveys a Mexican lancha off the southern Texas coast, March 5, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Station South Padre Island) U.S. Coast Guard District 8 A 33-foot Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement boat crew from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island surveys a Mexican lancha offshore the southern Texas coast, March 7, 2024. Coast Guard Station South Padre Island crews interdicted a lancha and seized 220 pounds of red snapper. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Station South Padre Island) Petty Officer 3rd Class Alejandr/U.S. Coast Guard District 8 A 33-foot Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement boat crew from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island surveys a Mexican lancha offshore the southern Texas coast, March 7, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Station South Padre Island) Petty Officer 3rd Class Alejandr/U.S. Coast Guard District 8

Federal and state officials intercepted four Mexican boat crews and seized over 1,250 pounds of illegally caught red snapper off the South Texas coast.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Coast Guard air crews, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department located 19 Mexican fishermen aboard lanchas in waters subject to U.S. law enforcement, according to news releases from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Texas state agency.

A lancha is a fishing boat used by Mexican fisherman capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 30 mph. The boats are frequently used to transport illegal narcotics to the U.S. and illegally caught fish, according to the Coast Guard.

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The Coast Guard seized the red snapper, in addition to fishing gear and high flyers on board. Texas game wardens who were assisting, intercepted a lancha with 185 red snapper weighing about 1,000 pounds, TPWD said in a news release sent Friday.

State code states that no unlicensed foreign vessel can take, attempt to take or possess any natural resource of the coastal water of Texas. The crews also were in U.S. waters without permission and evaded game wardens, TPWD said.

The fisherman were detained, brought to shore and given to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for further processing, according to the Coast Guard.

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Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slates Political Gabfest podcast. Recently, Emily Bazelon talked with Tana French about how the Western genre inspired her latest crime thriller, The Hunter.

This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Emily Bazelon: You live in Dublin, and you are best known for several books you wrote about the citys murder squad. Why did you decide to move your setting and your action to, this village of Ardnakelty, a very different setting than Dublin.

Tana French: What happened was, I suddenly discovered the Western genre a few years back. Somehow, Id never read them anywhere. They just didnt sound like my kind of thing. And then someone whose taste I trust said to me, you have got to read Lonesome Dove. So, Im like, okay. And I did, and I loved it. Its an amazing book. And I read others. I read, you know, True Grit, on a more modern note, The Sisters Brothers. I thought they were amazing and they had so many tropes in them, but I thought it would fit really well onto the west of Ireland. Like, theres a lot in common between the settings. They both got that sort of harsh beauty that is going to demand both physical and mental toughness from anyone whos trying to make a living out of it. And theyve got that sense of somewhere thats really far removed from the centers of power, not just geographically, but culturally as well, so that the people who are living there feel like the power brokers dont really care about them and dont understand them. And if they want a society thats going to be cohesive and functional, theyre going to have to make their own rules and enforce them themselves. And I thought, thats the Westernbut it also shows up a lot in drama about the west of Ireland.

And I started thinking about how certain Western tropes would map onto the west of Ireland. And in the search, I was going for, you know, the stranger who rolls into town, and maybe hes got a bit of a past, maybe he doesnt. But either way, hes going to turn into a catalyst. Hes going to catalyze change in the small town, whether he wants to or not. But in The Hunter, I was thinking about a different set of tropes. I just felt like there were more things in that genre crossover that I hadnt played with yet, and that I wanted to. I was thinking about like, Treys absent father, who, in The Searcher just has vanished off to London or somewhere like that. I thought, what would it do to Kyle and Treys budding relationship that hasnt really solidified yet, if he came back, if he showed upand he seemed like the type of guy who would only come home if he had a get-rich-quick schemeif he had something to bring that would make him the hero and that would make him money?

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I started thinking about the gold rush trope that shows up in so many Westerns. You know, theres gold in them there hills, and weirdly enough, it doesnt sound like Ireland would be the kind of place where a gold rush would fit in. But it sort of does, because when Johnny says there are all these ancient gold artifacts that have been found in Ireland, there really are. There really are just huge numbers of them in the National Museum. And there have been little gold rushes over the centuries. Right up until now, you still get companies finding a seam of gold somewhere in the mountains and try to capitalize on it. So, I thought, well, what if Johnny comes home with a plan to find gold in them there hills, and took it from there?

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You know, one of the things that I love about the gold rush part of the story, is that it makes the book feel old and new at the same time. Like, there are a lot of cultural references to right now, to the internet, to Instagram. We know that its now, but because theyre looking for goldwhich, yes, evokes the 19th century in California and people panning in the river; you even have them out there in a river in one sceneit feels sort of timeless. And I wonder if that is also one of the appeals of this village setting, that its in the modern world, but its also kind of apart in some way as well.

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Well, its one of the things I like about the west of Ireland, where it is modernthese are not old-fashioned people stuck driving horses and carriagesbut its very deeply rooted. You know, you get people on land that their ancestors have farmed for as far back as anyone can remember. You have reminders of the past everywhere. You have little farm and cottages popping up all over the landscape that were abandoned in the 1860s during the Great Famine, and theyve just been left to tumble down and have nature take them back. So, there are reminders of the past. Its very much present. The divide isnt as solid and final as it can sometimes feel in cities. Its layers are very intertwined and very present at the same time.
Read a companion piece from Slates science editor on this investigation.

On a sunny autumn day three years ago, when Kesia Lyng was 30, she had a visit from her youngest sister, Eva. The two were close, and as they sat at the kitchen table in Lyngs apartment, Eva confronted her chronically ill sibling with a painful fact: You almost cant take care of your own kids, she told her. You cant keep pushing yourself so hard.

Lyng, who was living with her husband and their two children in a lusterless part of Copenhagen, Denmark, had been struggling for years with inexplicable health problems: joint and muscle pains that came and left, powerful headaches, and a crushing exhaustion that even copious amounts of sleep could not cure. She was working part-time in the kitchen of her daughters kindergarten, the latest in a string of odd jobs. But her sick days had begun to multiply again. Often she would call her husband at work, sobbing from weariness, and ask to be picked up. At home, she was drained, with no energy to clean or cook or tuck the kids in bed. In her medical records, which she shared with me, her doctor noted that she was having a very difficult time and that she worried about losing her job if she asked for a sick leave.

On bad days, Lyngs symptoms were incapacitating. Your body is so tired you almost cant move. Everything hurts. It hurts just to stretch, it hurts to get up. Your feet feel like big blocks. Theres this burning sensation in your body and the feeling that your muscles are about to cramp. Even small things, like having to go and buy milk, can be completely overwhelming, she told me recently. Ive been incredibly frustrated at my body, because its so limiting.

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The trouble began in late 2002, just before Lyng turned 19. At first it felt like the flu, but there was no improvement. In the mornings, her body was stiff and achy and she found it increasingly hard to rise. When she was able to get up and go to school, she often fell asleep during class. If she ventured more than a few minutes away from home, she would nap on park benches or in cafes to summon the energy to get back. Eventually, she dropped out of school.

The abrupt transformation baffled people around the teenager. They saw a gregarious tomboy turn into someone who kept breaking dates, spent much of her time in bed, and used painkillers nonstop. We thought it was a depression, her friend Nanna Voltolina recalled. She couldnt do the same things as the rest of us. It was difficult for me to understand.

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Just before Lyng got sick, she had signed up to participate in a clinical trial of a then-experimental vaccine: Mercks Gardasil was supposed to prevent infection from human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted disease. The virus causes no harm in the vast majority of people. But some HPV types can lead to genital warts, and others have been found to play a role in nearly all cases of cervical cancer, a malignancy that will affect 6 in 1,000 U.S. women at some point during their life. Lyngs grandmother had died of cervical cancer the year before, so when a letter arrived offering her $500 to take part in a crucial international test of Gardasil, the decision was easy. She got her first shot of the vaccine at Hvidovre Hospital in Copenhagen on Sept. 19, 2002.

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The symptoms snuck up on her shortly after her second shot on Nov. 14. They never abated. It wasnt until 2016 that she received her diagnosischronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The little-understood condition was once dismissed by many as a psychological problem, but is now recognized as a serious long-term illness that may have its roots in abnormal immune responses. There is no established treatment.

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In recent years, Lyng has become suspicious that there is a connection between her disease and her Gardasil immunization. Her ailments evoke descriptions found in hundreds of news stories from women who also received the vaccine, as well as several medical case reports from around the world. As these stories began to make headlines, HPV-vaccination rates in Denmark and elsewhere have tumbled and controversy has erupted. Many pointed out, rightly, that the accounts amounted to no more than anecdotal evidence, and that none of them cited data proving that the vaccine had actually caused any harm. The women might have gotten sick anyway, as Lyng might have; indeed, one recent epidemiological study found no increased risk of CFS in Norwegian girls following Gardasil vaccination.

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As these stories began to make headlines, HPV -vaccination rates in Denmark and elsewhere have tumbled and controversy has erupted.

Its also true that more than 80 million girls and women have been vaccinated against HPV, and the vast majority have suffered no more than temporary discomfort at the injection site. In an emailed statement, Merck said it was confident in Gardasils safety profile, which was established in clinical trials involving more than 25,000 females and males and examined further in several surveillance studies. It also pointed out that regulators had found no scientific support for some of the most heavily publicized concerns, which focused on a couple of serious neurological disorders seen in vaccinated girls. Twice, the firm emphasized to me that according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the benefits of HPV vaccines continue to outweigh their risks. Health authorities across the globe share this view. Repeatedly, they have issued reassurances about the thorough randomized trials the vaccines were subjected to before approval. Such studies have long been researchers best yardstick to judge if something is a real risk or just a fluke. As the NIHs National Cancer Institute notes on its website, all three HPV vaccines on the market today have been tested in tens of thousands of people in the United States and many other countries. Thus far, no serious side effects have been shown to be caused by the vaccines.

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An eight-month investigation by Slate found the major Gardasil trials were flawed from the outset, however, and that regulators allowed unreliable methods to be used to test the vaccines safety. While these flaws do not mean Gardasil caused the rare crippling illnesses reported by the media, they are troubling. Public health officials use trials like these both to determine safety and, as evidenced by Mercks statement above, to reassure the public when concerns like the ones about Gardasil arise. A flawed study design can complicate both tasks.

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What is special about Lyngs case is that she got sick during a clinical testindeed, the largest-ever randomized placebo-controlled trial of Gardasilyears before the vaccine was approved (which it was, in 2006, in both Europe and the U.S.). Drug regulators tend to look much more seriously at potential side effects that surface during a pre-licensure study, which is what Lyng participated in, rather than after a product has already been found to be safe and been put on the market. But regulators never learned of Lyngs plight. In fact, her repeated complaints of debilitating symptoms were not even registered in the study as potential side effects (adverse events, in medical parlance).

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This study design put the cart before the horse, asking investigators to decide which symptoms might be side effects, rather than tracking everything in the same way.

Lyngs experience was not unique. Interviews with five study participants and more than 2,300 pages of documents obtained through freedom-of-information requests from hospitals and health authorities suggest inadequacies built into Mercks major clinical tests of Gardasil. To track the safety of its product, the drugmaker used a convoluted method that made objective evaluation and reporting of potential side effects impossible during all but a few weeks of its yearslong trials. At all other times, individual trial investigators used their personal judgment to decide whether or not to report any medical problem as an adverse eventessentially, as a potential side effect worth evaluating further. Other health issues went on a worksheet for new medical history, reserved for conditions that bore no relation to the vaccine. This study design put the cart before the horse, asking investigators to decide which symptoms might be side effects, rather than tracking everything in the same way. While the company now says otherwise, there is no indication in the confidential study protocol that it submitted to regulators for approval that it would use new medical history as a safety metric. And it hardly would have qualified as such: The worksheet allotted just one line per entry, with no measurement of symptom severity, duration, outcome, or overall seriousness. Even if the company then used the data in subsequent safety assessments, the lack of detail would have hampered meaningful analysis.

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European health regulators worried about Mercks methods during a review of the companys marketing application for Gardasil 9, the latest version of the vaccine, but have not made their concerns public. In an internal 2014 EMA report about Gardasil 9 obtained through a freedom-of-information request, senior experts called the companys approach unconventional and suboptimal and said it left some uncertainty about the safety results. EMA trial inspectors made similar observations in another report, noting that Mercks procedure was not an optimal method of collecting safety data, especially not systemic side effects that could appear long after the vaccinations were given.

If I were a research subject, I would feel betrayed, Trudo Lemmens, a bioethicist and professor of health law and policy at the University of Toronto, told me. If the purpose of a clinical trial is to establish the safety and efficacy of a new product, whether its a vaccine or something else, I would expect that they gathered all relevant data, including whether it had side effects or not.

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Merck, which is known as Merck Sharp & Dohme outside the U.S. and Canada, did not address the EMAs safety concerns. But it said its clinical trials follow laws, regulations and guidelines wherever they take place, and proceed only after approval by regulators and ethics committees. The company also stressed that collection of New Medical History occurred at each study visit and was mandatory for all study subjects. New Medical History includes the collection of non-serious adverse events.

When I asked the EMA to expand on its confidential observations, I was told by email that the concerned inspectors had, after all, considered the trial data to be usable. The company had successfully mollified the agency during preapproval discussions. The clarification from the applicant that collection of new medical history data was mandatory for all subjects, and did not appear to be passively collected, but for at each study visit [sic], was found to be reassuring, the EMA informed me. Therefore, it appeared that the safety surveillance in the studies captured all medically relevant events. The agency did not comment on the limitations of relying on new medical history instead of straightforward reporting of adverse events.

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Underreporting of adverse events, to the extent that it occurred here, is nothing new to medicine. Trial investigators often miss participants symptoms, researchers say, and the data they do collect may not always see the light of day. A review out in 2016 found strong evidence that much of the information on adverse events remains unpublished and that the number and range of adverse events is higher in unpublished than in published versions of the same study. In 2009, Dr. John Ioannidis of Stanford University put the problem succinctly in an Archives of Internal Medicine editorial titled Adverse Events in Randomized Trials: Neglected, Restricted, Distorted, and Silenced.

Much less clear is how adverse events are handled during the actual conduct of clinical trials, and what the impact is. Are symptoms recorded as separate entities when they are really part of a larger constellation of health problems? Do they appear as innocuous one-time occurrences when in fact they are, or may become, chronic? And how many safety problems are simply missed because of short follow-up?

Lyngs was no isolated case: At least five other Danish women say they developed chronic health problems during the trial. Future 2, as it is known, enrolled more than 12,000 young women from 13 countries, including the U.S. It was the larger of the two major randomized, placebo-controlled Gardasil trialstechnically known as pivotal trialsthat Merck conducted to support its marketing application for the vaccine. (The other study, less than half the size, was called Future 1.) Together, the two trials account for a large portion of the data that drug regulators in both the U.S. and Europe used to judge Gardasils safety before it was approved.

At Aalborg University Hospital, one of the Future 2 trial sites in Denmark, Miam Donslund began to experience persistent flu-like symptoms as well as two infections, one of which required hospitalization, shortly after immunization. These incidents were recorded, but again only as new medical history, meaning they were not processed as adverse events.

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Donslund, now 38, told me she became so tired during the trial that at one point she was accused of being a drug addict. The year after she was vaccinated, she developed severe pains that forced her to use a wheelchair for a while; today she regularly uses crutches. Doctors have told her she might have psoriatic arthritis, but she never received a definite diagnosis. More than a dozen years later, I work two days a week and the rest of the time Im at home in bed and I cant do the most basic things, she said.

Stine Srensen, 34, got her first shot of Gardasil a few months after Lyng, also at Hvidovre Hospital. Around this time, she began to experience general discomfort, headaches, and a profound fatigue that often made her miss school. My mom and dad asked me, Stine, are you on drugs? And I clearly remember that I got so angry, she told me. Srensen, who is currently employed under a special agreement for people with chronic illness, says she told study personnel about her problems during the trial; her records mention none of them. (All three women received the vaccine in the trial.)

The trial investigator who dealt with both Lyng and Srensen, Dr. Anette Kjrbye-Thygesen, an OB-GYN at Hvidovre, declined to be interviewed for this story. In an email, a hospital press officer told me, Regarding registration of various symptoms and health data, the doctor states that she has followed the trial protocol. The hospital also declined to address my questions.

But this is a false dichotomy that belies the complexity of medicine. Safety is not an absolute.

Imagining a link between HPV vaccination and CFS is not all that far-fetched, according to Dr. Jose Montoya, a professor of medicine at Stanford University and a CFS expert. The condition usually starts with an insult to the immune systema severe infection, a car crash, a pregnancy. The first symptoms are flu-like, but months go by and the patient realizes she isnt getting better. In a few genetically predisposed individuals, Montoya told me, it is biologically plausible that the vaccine, which mimics a natural infection, could also trigger an immune response powerful enough to lead to CFS. To find out if that is the case, trial investigators would need to carefully track participants symptoms for at least one year, he said.

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Montoya was also quick to tell me that he is pro-vaccine, and he doesnt think people should stop getting them. His eagerness to make that point underscores a larger issue with unpacking the shortcomings of Mercks research: Acknowledging any uncertainty around the safety of vaccination can be a difficult exercise for health authorities, not least because of the debunked autism scare that continues to stoke anti-vax sentiments among parents. In todays polarized conversation, either you believe vaccines are categorically safe, or you think they are so dangerous that you avoid them at significant personal risk.

But this is a false dichotomy that belies the complexity of medicine. Safety is not an absolute. Like drugs, vaccines are a varied lot, each with its own set of risks and benefits that relate to its particular use in particular individuals. And unfortunately, our knowledge about side effects is often woefully incomplete. To Lemmens, the University of Toronto bioethicist, the reluctance to have a frank discussion about the safety of Gardasil is counterproductive. We do a disservice to science, and we play into the hand of the anti-vaxxers, if were not publicly discussing potential problems, he told me.

Before I sent them to her, Lyng had never seen her trial records, which are owned by Merck. As we looked through them together, on a balmy day in August, she grew visibly upset. Whats the use of testing a vaccine if you dont register everything properly? said Lyng, a pale and reedy woman with light-blue eyes. It had enormous consequences for my life.

We were sitting outside the house that she and her husband had recently bought on the outskirts of a small town near Copenhagen. There are fields at the end of their street, and a school just opposite their house that the children now attend. Lyng had been fired from her job as a kitchen helper in late 2014, but her sickness benefits and her husbands salary kept the family afloat. The extra time to herself and her CFS diagnosis also gave her some peace of mind. Over the years, she had been diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder, depression, even soft bipolar.

None of these diagnoses fully explained her problems, she felt. Why would she get sudden fevers and rashes that would disappear again just as suddenly? Why would her body hurt on some days and not others? Why would she need to rest for two weeks if she had volunteered to plan the menu for her churchs New Years Eve party? The diagnosis gave her at least one answer.

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In Lyngs records from Future 2, we discovered, there was no mention of fatigue, one of her most debilitating symptoms. Meanwhile, her family doctor began documenting the problem on March 20, 2003, nine days after she got her third and final shot of Gardasil. In 2004, after several lab tests and specialist consultations had come up empty, he noted that Lyng continued to have periods of headache, fatigue, pain in large and small joints, poor concentration and sleep problems. Her mood is fluctuating. There has been no suspicion of depression.

Lyng told me she brought up her symptoms with study personnel at every visit during the four-year trial. (Trial subjects met with investigators regularly over four years, but the later visits were meant to monitor the vaccines efficacyin this case, whether it prevented HPV-linked cell changes.) She even told them her illness had forced her to quit school. But no one seemed to take her seriously: They keep saying, This is not the kind of side effects we see with this vaccine. 

Kjrbye-Thygesen, the trial investigator who saw Lyng, and a staffer with the initials BW, presumably a nurse, did report the headache and the joint pain, and also gastroenteritis and influenza, but not as adverse events. Instead, they used the worksheet for medical history, which directed investigators to list Any new background or concomitant conditions, drug allergies and surgeries/procedures. A note in the records, initialed by Kjrbye-Thygesen, said the vaccine was hardly to blame for Lyngs joint pains, offering no further explanation.

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Despite the oxymoronic instruction to list new conditions as history, this was no mistake. Mercks study protocol shows that for participants outside the U.S. and the U.K., who made up the majority of the trial, only adverse events that investigators considered serious were to be reported. Other health complaints would be registered in much less detail as new medical history. (In the U.S. and the U.K., both serious and nonserious events were reportable.)

In all the trial locations, Merck also chose to restrict the reporting of adverse eventswhat the study protocol calls the clinical follow-up for safetyto just 14 days following each of the three Gardasil injections in the trial. Illness occurring outside these narrow time slots again was relegated to a single line on the medical-history worksheet, whereas for each adverse event, several assessments would need to be carried out and reported. There was an exception: Deaths or serious adverse events brought to the investigators attention and felt to be related to the vaccine or a study procedure were to be reported at any time. This design put individual investigators in charge of deciding, for most of the trials duration, what would be assessed and reported as a potential side effect.

(Future 1 did report nonserious adverse events for all, but it relied on the same short follow-up as Future 2 and also labeled many adverse events as new medical history.)

This design put individual investigators in charge of deciding, for most of the trials duration, what would be assessed and reported as a potential side effect.

Experts I talked to were baffled by the way Merck handled safety data in its trials. According to Dr. Yoon Loke, a professor at the University of East Anglia who studies side effects, letting investigators judge whether adverse events should be reported is not a very safe method of doing things, because it allows bias to creep in. In essence, this feature meant that if you started out thinking the vaccine was safe, you would be less likely to find potential side effects. Of the short follow-up, Loke told me, Its not going to pick up serious long-term issues, which is a pity. Presumably, the regulators believe that the vaccine is so safe that they dont need to worry beyond 14 days.

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A drug-safety adviser at a multinational pharmaceutical company told me, Everything from the first injection to the last plus a follow-up period is what we call treatment-emergent adverse events. She puzzled over the brief, interrupted follow-up periods in the Gardasil trials, as well as Mercks choice not to report nonserious adverse events for all participants and its dismissal of many events as medical history. This is completely bonkers, she said, requesting not to be named for fear of compromising her position in the industry. Theyve set up a protocol that seems very poorly thought through from a medical and safety perspective.

According to the EMAs emailed statement, The scope of adverse experience collection in the clinical program for Gardasil reflected the standard across vaccine programs of this company. It added, The standard follow-up for a non-replicating vaccine [such as Gardasil] has been 14 days (Days 1 to 15) following each vaccination.

There are no rules dictating the exact duration of adverse-event reporting in vaccine trials. For some studies, it can be measured in days; for others, it runs from start to finish, with all events recorded the same way regardless of their possible link to the vaccine. Indeed, reviews from 2005 and 2013 found striking variation in how vaccine researchers collected, analyzed, and presented safety data. The field has since seen efforts toward standardization, and health authorities are increasingly recognizing that some side effects may occur late. In guidelines published this year, the World Health Organization noted that while most vaccine side effects occur within two weeks, there may be reasons to suspect that illnesses with onset many months after the last dose could be related to prior vaccination.

Lyng and I also read the definition of serious adverse experience on the worksheets that investigators had to fill out at each visit following a vaccination. It included events resulting in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, meaning a substantial disruption of a persons ability to conduct normal life functions. On all the forms, the only checked box was the one that said None. Was this an error? Arguably not, because Lyngs symptoms, as recorded by the study personnel, began three to four weeks after her second shotoutside the protocols mandatory follow-up for safety.

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A press officer from the Danish Medicines Agency, which approved Future 2 in 2002, pointed out that Mercks study protocol contained no mention of new medical history or new medical conditions. In an email, she wrote, We are also not aware of whether this category has been used in other clinical trials with drugs, as these are not terms that are used according to guidelines.

She added that there had been no concerns at her agency over the safety testing in Future 2. The safety measurements complied with applicable guidelines for vaccines, she told me, adding that the 14-day follow-up is in accordance with EMAs scientific guidelines for vaccines.

It was a description of a 15-year-old Colombian girl with neurological problems that first caught the attention of Dr. Rebecca Chandler, an American expat working at Lakemedelsverket, the Swedish Medical Products Agency.

Sweden is an EMA rapporteur for Gardasil and Gardasil 9, meaning that it was tasked with evaluating the marketing applications for the two vaccines on behalf of the European Union. As a clinical safety assessor at Lakemedelsverket, Chandler had been looking into post-marketing reports from Denmark and Japan about two serious, little-known neurological disorders in girls and young women vaccinated with Gardasil. In both countries, these cases had ignited vitriolic national debates that sent vaccination rates plummeting. When the application for Gardasil 9 arrived, Chandler decided to scrutinize the trial data to see if she found any references to the two conditions, known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The syndromes overlap to some extent, and also share a number of features with CFS.

At first, she found nothingno instance of either disease was listed in the companys application. But the Colombian teenagers symptoms, as described in the clinical trial data, made her suspect POTS, and she asked the drugmaker to comb through its database for similar cases. Three girls vaccinated with Gardasil 9 had been diagnosed with POTS, it turned out, and one with CRPS. There were also several cases of neurological disorders of interest, Chandler wrote in her 2014 assessment. But none of them had been reported by the company as adverse events; rather, they were all labeled as new medical history in accordance with Mercks study protocols.

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Chandler, who now works at the Uppsala Monitoring Centre, a leading drug-safety research institution in Sweden, told me she argued quite much about her findings at the agency, because I was very concerned that the study design was not appropriate to pick up these things. Her regulatory colleagues apparently shared her apprehension, laying out their misgivings in a series of confidential EMA reports leading up to the approval of Gardasil 9. (I obtained these reports from Lakemedelsverket through several freedom-of-information requests.) One confidential EMA report from 2014 called Mercks approach to safety an unconventional and suboptimal study procedure; another observed that the design brings some degree of uncertainty into the overall safety assessment.

Chandler found Mercks data bolstered concerns about an association between the vaccine and POTS, but she was overridden by her agency colleagues. Later, a contested EMA review from 2015 and a U.S. study based on post-marketing data also found no support for a link.

Officials inspecting a Gardasil 9 trial for the EMA also felt compelled to spotlight how Merck dealt with safety, despite considering it a systemic issue related to study design and as such not an inspection finding. The unorthodox design complicated the reporting of adverse events, the inspectors wrote, in part because the information on new medical events was limited, as only symptoms were collected and no further medical assessments were made and no outcome was recorded.

In their final report recommending conditional approval of Gardasil 9, the EMA rapporteurs asked the drugmaker to discuss the impact of [its] unconventional and potentially suboptimal method of reporting adverse events and provide reassurance on the overall completeness and accuracy of safety data provided in the application. Lakemedelsverket refused to share the companys response. In the EMAs public assessment of Gardasil 9, all mention of the safety concerns has been scrubbed.

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In response to my questions, the EMA pointed out that its experts, in a public assessment of the original Gardasil vaccine from 2006, found Mercks way of evaluating safety established and appropriate. But the agency failed to explain how that opinion squares with its unpublicized reservations about the Gardasil 9 research, which handled safety essentially the same way.

Dr. Susanne Kruger Kjr, a professor of gynecological cancer epidemiology at the University of Copenhagen who oversaw the Danish part of Future 2, declined to address the safety concerns. I cant answer any of those questions because I didnt design the trial, she told me. She is one of the authors on the main scientific publication from the trial, which appeared in 2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine and contains no mention of new medical history.

In its statement, Merck said that using the new medical history category allowed broad collection of potential safety events including new conditions, symptoms, and laboratory or imaging tests thereby allowing comprehensive safety assessment. It cited a study from 2010 that analyzed new medical history and found comparable rates in trial participants given vaccine and placebo, respectively.

On a rainy day in September, I flew with Lyng to Berlin to visit Gerd Wallukat, a scientist at the biotech startup Berlin Cures. Wallukat, a heavyset man in his mid-70s, has pioneered research into a special class of autoantibodiesproteins made by the immune system that attack the bodys own cells instead of foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria. Researchers have been finding these agonistic autoantibodies in people with different diseases, including CFS, POTS, and CRPS, but their role is not fully understood. Berlin Cures is in the middle of early-stage trials to see if neutralizing them could have a therapeutic effect.

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One of Lyngs doctors in Denmark had been working with Wallukat to look for autoantibodies in girls and women who fell ill following Gardasil vaccination. Their preliminary, unpublished findings suggested that nearly all of these women harbor one or more agonistic autoantibodies, and Wallukat had offered to test Lyng, too. On the plane, she was nervous and chatty. She didnt want to be sick, she explained, but it was taxing having to convince people around herher caseworker, her family, even her husbandthat she was physically sick while one test after another came up empty. She dreaded the thought of receiving yet another negative result.

She didnt. You have beta-2, nociceptin, muscarinic, Wallukat told her, referring to three types of autoantibodies, the classical pattern Ive seen in patients after vaccination. From a coffee shop, Lyng called her husband. Im completely overwhelmed. Its the first time Ive had a positive result, she told him. This means its not just in my headall those doctors whove asked if it could be psychological.

But Lyngs positive test triggers more questions than it answers: What induced those autoantibodies, and how? Did they cause her symptoms, as her doctor speculated? And would neutralizing them bring about improvement, as Berlin Cures wagered? The test brought another piece to the puzzle that is Lyngs case; but as so often happens in science, it did not bring certainty, and it proved nothing in the way of causality. Should it turn out that Gardasil does have serious side effects, its apparent that they must be rare. Whats more, the vaccine might still be worth that hypothetical riskcervical cancer, though uncommon, is a terrible disease.

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The test brought another piece to the puzzle that is Lyngs case; but as so often happens in science, it did not bring certainty.

If theres one clear lesson from Lyngs experience, its that science is a work in progress. To borrow the words of the American psychologist Brian Nosek, Science isnt about truth and falsity, its about reducing uncertainty. Not owning up to that uncertainty, when it is legitimate, likely will only slow scientific progress. In the controversial realm of vaccines, it will also create fodder for conspiracy theorists spreading overblown or unfounded fears among an already distrustful public.

One way to respond to public concerns is to acknowledge the limits of our current body of research and to welcome discussion about what we know and dont know, according to Lemmens, the bioethicist.

Transparency and open debate around side effects are essential to safeguard trust in the provision of medication and public-health planning, he told me. Instead, as confidence in Gardasil nosedived in Denmark, regulators doubled down on the simplistic message that the vaccine has been thoroughly tested and is unquestionably safe.

At a press conference in May, Dr. Sren Brostrm, the director general of the Danish Health Authority and an OB-GYN, told journalists that for us, as authorities, there is no doubt about this vaccines efficacy and safety. This seems to contradict the EMAs own deliberations about the way Merck reported safety data in its trials. As Dr. Christian Gluud, who heads the Copenhagen Trial Unit, a research center at Copenhagen University Hospital, told me recently, If we had tested our vaccines properly, we wouldnt be having the discussion were having now.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/macron-says-will-propose-ceasefire-in-ukraine-conflict-for-duration-of-paris-olympics-1117374283.html

Macron to Propose Ceasefire in Ukraine Conflict for Duration of Paris Olympics

Macron to Propose Ceasefire in Ukraine Conflict for Duration of Paris Olympics

Sputnik International

France will propose a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict for the duration of the Olympic Games in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron said, adding that Paris is ready to react if the conflict escalates, but will not initiate aggression.

2024-03-16T23:10+0000

2024-03-16T23:10+0000

2024-03-17T05:16+0000

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"We will ask for it," Macron said in an interview with Ukrainian TV channels when asked if he would offer Russia a ceasefire for the duration of the Olympics. The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11.He also said he was ready to discuss proposals to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Macron added that Paris was ready to react in case of escalation in Ukraine, but will not be the initiator of aggression. Following a Paris-hosted conference on Ukraine in late February, Macron said Western leaders had discussed the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine and, although no consensus had been reached in this regard, nothing could be ruled out. The statement received widespread criticism with most EU members, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland rejecting the idea of deploying Western troops to Ukraine.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that "there will be no soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there" by European states or NATO members.Commenting on Macrons statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that NATO troops potential boots on the ground in Ukraine will lead to an inevitable conflict between Russia and the alliance. Russia has repeatedly warned NATO countries that arms supplies to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets. Moscow has accused NATO countries of "playing with fire" by arming Ukraine, emphasizing that such actions hinder the possibility of Russia-Ukraine negotiations.Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev, director general of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group, that he is ready for peace talks with Ukraine, but stressed that he trusts no one and will seek guarantees.During his interview, President Putin responded to Dmitry Kiselevs theory that French President Macrons recent anti-Russian rhetoric could be explained by the desire to avenge the loss of French influence in Africa. It was an apparent nod to the events of 2021 to 2023, when pro-French governments were overthrown in Mali and Guinea (2021), Burkina-Faso (2022), Niger (July 2023), and Gabon (August 2023). French troops had to leave Mali and Niger.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240310/france-just-cant-calm-down-itching-to-start-world-war-iii-1117236645.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/10th-anniversary-of-crimea-and-sevastopol-joining-russia-1117384137.html

10th Anniversary of Crimea and Sevastopol Joining Russia

10th Anniversary of Crimea and Sevastopol Joining Russia

Sputnik International

The Crimean Peninsula and the federal city of Sevastopol became part of Russia after a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which the majority of residents voted to become part of the count.

2024-03-17T11:31+0000

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On that day, the Supreme Council of Crimea appealed to President Vladimir Putin to incorporate the republic into the Russian Federation. On March 11, the Supreme Council of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council had adopted the Declaration of Independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, which further led to the process of reunification of the peninsula with Russia. March 18, 2024, will mark 10 years since the Crimean Peninsula was reunited with Russia. On this day in 2014, President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty between Russia and the Republic of Crimea on the entry of the peninsula into the Russian Federation as an equal subject. This important historical event changed the lives of Crimeans, who voted in favor of the joining by a majority. Check out Sputnik's infographic to learn more!

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/10th-anniversary-of-crimeas-reunification-with-russia-1117380325.html

10th Anniversary of Crimea's Reunification With Russia

10th Anniversary of Crimea's Reunification With Russia

Sputnik International

March 16 marked the 10th anniversary of the day when a referendum on Crimea's reunification with Russia was held in 2014 following a coup in Ukraine.

2024-03-17T08:30+0000

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On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with officials from Crimea, signed a treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation and the creation of new entities within the Russian Federation. According to the treaty, Crimea was officially admitted to the Russian Federation on March 18, becoming a constituent part.According to the treaty, the Republic of Crimea was considered to be admitted to the Russian Federation from the date of its signing - March 18.The Republic of Crimea is located on the Crimean Peninsula, with Simferopol as its capital. It borders Sevastopol, the Kherson region, and the Krasnodar region.Explore images of Crimea's reunification with Russia in 2014 in Sputnik's gallery:

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/burden-to-democratic-ticket-kamala-harris-urged-to-step-down-ahead-of-2024-election--1117389568.html

'Burden to Democratic Ticket': Kamala Harris Urged to Step Down Ahead of 2024 Election

'Burden to Democratic Ticket': Kamala Harris Urged to Step Down Ahead of 2024 Election

Sputnik International

A Washington Post editorial called on the US vice president to step aside as she has become a "burden" to the Democratic ticket.

2024-03-17T16:28+0000

2024-03-17T16:28+0000

2024-03-17T16:28+0000

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Pulitzer Prize-winning WaPo politics columnist Kathleen Parker subjected Vice President Harris to sharp criticism this week.Despite Harris having an impressive resume, "pizzazz", and a reputation for being a tough prosecutor, she has failed to meet the public's expectations, according to the journalist. "Her performance as second in command has been disappointing, to say the least," Parker highlighted.According to FiveThirtyEight poll aggregator, just 37.2 percent of Americans approve of the incumbent vice president while 52.3 percent disapprove.Parker pointed out that Harris "was a colossal failure as border czar" and used to "embarrass her boss with her sometimes inane, rambling remarks and a laugh that erupts from nowhere about nothing obvious to others."The Democratic Partys "indulgence of identity politics" is not allowing President Joe Biden to fire Kamala, a Black woman of Asian descent, at the time when she has become a "burden to the Democratic ticket," continued Parker.What's more, one should bear in mind that Harris could take the reins of US politics if something happens to Biden:"The seriousness of this situation cant be overstated," the journalist warned. "Bidens diminishing faculties, notwithstanding his relatively successful State of the Union address, and his increasing physical frailty are concerning. Every honest person knows hes not in top form."The reporter insisted that Biden could tap "someone else with executive experience", who "would be ready to take the reins should events require it."The op-ed came on the heels of ex-Special Counsel Robert Hur testimony before American lawmakers about his investigation into Biden's mishandling of classified records. Hur stressed that Biden willfully retained classified records when he was a private citizen, which was illegal.The former special counsel also underscored that despite not bringing charges against Biden he did not exonerate the president. Hur in his report described the president as a "sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory". The description cast doubt on Biden's mental capacity and his 2024 reelection campaign, according to the press.Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying in February 2023 that Harris wouldn't be able to win the Democratic primaries due to the lack of "political instincts." The former Democratic presidential hopeful is known for her own political ambitions with some observers suggesting that she may try to return to politics if Biden and Harris completely lose steam.In his previous interviews with Sputnik, Wall Street analyst and investigative journalist Charles Ortel agreed that the Clintons "seem to be showcasing their talents just as Democrats need to find viable candidates to replace Biden and his inept Vice President [Kamala Harris]," adding, however, that the Democratic Party would be much more comfortable with ex-First Lady Michelle Obama at the helm.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230628/kamala-harris-worst-vp-in-polling-history-us-broadcaster-reveals-1111517992.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230207/why-hillary-clinton-doubts-kamala-harris-can-make-it-to-the-white-house-in-2024-1107052689.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/european-peace-fund-stoking-war-in-ukraine-as-scheming-eu-governments-take-advantage-1117385528.html

European Peace Fund Stoking War in Ukraine as Scheming EU Governments Take Advantage

European Peace Fund Stoking War in Ukraine as Scheming EU Governments Take Advantage

Sputnik International

European taxpayers money spent on Ukraine goes to a scheme called the European Peace Facility, which since its inception has been promoting war instead of peace and enriched shady operators.

2024-03-17T12:53+0000

2024-03-17T12:53+0000

2024-03-17T12:53+0000

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A new era is dawning, claimed Macron, while Polands Tusk lauded: We want to spend our money on Ukraine. But a closer look shows that European taxpayers money spent on Ukraine will go to a scheme called the European Peace Facility, which since its inception has been promoting war instead of peace and enriched shady operators.The problems bothering the three European leaders in Berlin seem clear. A $60 billion bill aimed at supporting Ukraines war effort has got stuck in the US Congress and $300 million worth batch of arms that the US recently sent to Kiev is obviously not enough to stop the gradual retreat of Zelenskys troops.So, Scholz, Macron and Tusk felt an urgent need to create the impression that Europeans are ready to step in and compensate for the military-industrial complex of the United States, with the EU sending deadly gifts to Ukrainians. This reimbursement is supposed to be done through the grossly misnamed and off-budget scheme European Peace Facility (EPF).The Fund Worth BillionsThe EPF fund was established in 2021 and was initially used to reimburse European producers of arms that were sent to EU-friendly dictators in Africa - an expression used by the funds critics in Western media. But from February 2022, the EPF started operating with billions and devoted itself entirely to arming Russias adversaries in Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries.On the surface, the EPFs operations make an impression: The EU agrees to 5 billion in Ukraine military aid, EU cash for Ukraine  such headlines were omnipresent in the Western media last week. The EU member countries envoys in Brussels recently indeed agreed to increase the EPFs assets to 17 billion, of which 11 billion are meant for Ukraine. (So far, the EPF has already spent 6.1 billion of taxpayers money on supplying Zelenskys regime with arms.)However, the European Conservative, a Budapest-based media outlet, reports that it is theoretically possible that no actual money reaches the EPF under the agreement.Why? The EU has become a victim of its own hypocrisy. According to the EUs legislation, the European Union is a peaceful organization that cannot legally finance any war effort directly, despite member countries fighting in just about all the major wars since 1991  from Iraq and Afghanistan to Libya and Yugoslavia. Hence the need for this peace fund, which uses European money, but legally is not a part of the EU budget system with its strict regulations, the outlet writes.Obligations  In Money Or WeaponsSo, all 27 countries of the European Union are supposed to make contributions to the EPF, depending on the relative size of each countrys economy. However, there is a provision that makes it possible for every country to replace its share in the obligatory payment of 5 billion by an in-kind donation.This means that instead of donating money, Estonia or Germany could just donate weapons (including old ones) to this venerable peace fund. This opens the door to schemes.The fine print specifies that for every $2 worth of military equipment donation member states can deduct $1 from their required money donation to EPF  with no limit on deductions, The European Conservative writes.So, if we read the fine print, the news about the 5 billion sacrifice of EU member states for the Ukrainian Army is not quite accurate: Germany, for example, may not pay an additional cent to the fund. Here is why.As Politico reports, Germany has been the largest donor for the Ukrainian military, having given 17.7 billion in military supplies. Now Germany is supposed to pay 1.2 billion a year into the EPF, but as long as it gives at least 2.4 billion in weapons to Ukraine in a year, Germany is free of any obligation to pay money to the fund.Showing Them The Money, Getting Arms For OneselfHowever, if Germany is the biggest donor, then Estonia is the smartest schemer.Earlier this year, Politico accused Estonia of using a loophole in the rules that the European Council adopted for the EPF. The bureaucrats in Brussels forgot to specify how EU members should calculate the procurement price of the weaponry they send to Ukraines war machine via the European Peace Facility.So, Estonia (followed by Latvia and Lithuania) vastly overestimated the value of the old Soviet weapons that it provided. However the EPF still gave Estonia the money, which the officials later used to satisfy their countrys defense and consumer needs.They [Estonians and other EU members] are sending their scraps to Ukraine and later buying brand new war materials for themselves, using EU money, Politico writes.All in all, this is an unseemly story  Western countries pride themselves on their supposedly selfless military aid to Ukraine, just like they boasted of their aid to the insurgents in Syria. As a result, Syria and Ukraine were badly damaged largely by Western-made weapons, commented Sonja van den Ende, a Moscow-based international affairs analyst with experience covering the wars in the Middle East. But in reality this military aid is not selfless. We see at the example of the EPF how this aid actually helps to fill the pockets of big arms producing companies and of Western government officials.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240313/ukraine-sees-little-hope-of-mobilizing-500k-fresh-troops-as-western-arms-aid-stalls-1117311502.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/feeling-strain-of-war-israel-considers-conscripting-ultra-orthodox-population-1117376659.html

Feeling Strain of War, Israel Considers Conscripting Ultra-Orthodox Population

Feeling Strain of War, Israel Considers Conscripting Ultra-Orthodox Population

Sputnik International

Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel have long been exempted from military service. That policy may change as Israeli society is increasingly strained by a months-long operation in Gaza.

2024-03-17T04:23+0000

2024-03-17T04:23+0000

2024-03-17T04:23+0000

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With each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear that we will need a new reality in Israel, declared the Israel Democracy Institute in a recent report. It is time for a new, more just social contract.The remedy proposed by the think tank was not to extend rights to the five million Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, naturally, but to require military service from the countrys ultra-Orthodox population.Ultra-Orthodox Jews, known in Israel as Haredim, pride themselves on living what they view as a traditional lifestyle. Isolated in tight-knit communities, they follow a strict interpretation of Judaism and dress in a conservative style contemporaneous with the movements emergence in 19th century Europe. Young haredim often devote themselves to the study of the Torah at special schools known as yeshivas, sometimes foregoing participation in the workforce as they pursue religious education full-time.Yeshiva students are legally excused from required military service in Israel, an accommodation that dates back to the founding of the country. At that time the ruling only applied to a few hundred military-age men. But the number has ballooned to around 66,000 amid the rapid growth of the religiously conservative community.The military exemption has emerged as a major source of tension between ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis and other sectors of society.They see the army as a secular place, as part of the Jewish Zionist state that they dont fully identify with, he said.That division sometimes leads to physical confrontations between the ultra-Orthodox and more secular Israelis as Haradim protest military service, or even public advertising featuring women and vehicle traffic through their neighborhoods on the Sabbath. On Thursday, thousands of Israelis protested Haredis military exemption at a large rally in Tel Aviv.The issue is a conundrum for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli courts have ruled the Haredis military exemption is discriminatory in recent years, ordering conscription from the community. Netanyahu, who counts many conservative and ultra-Orthodox Jews among his political coalition, has hesitated to comply.But polling shows most Israelis oppose the communitys military exemption, and Netanyahus political opposition has hammered him over the issue. There are not enough soldiers, said former Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the Thursday rally in Tel Aviv. And at the same time there are 66,000 young and healthy members of the Haredi community, at enlistment age, who are not joining.Israels economy has been battered in recent months as a portion of the workforce has been called up to fight in Gaza. The prospect of war against Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens to place even more strain on the IDF. Additionally, some half a million Israelis have reportedly fled the country since last Octobers Hamas attack.Netanyahu may soon face no choice but to conscript new troops from the ultra-Orthodox community. But in doing so he risks a major social explosion that might further fracture an already intensely-divided Israeli society.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/thousands-of-people-protesting-once-again-in-tel-aviv-against-netanyahus-judicial-reform-1111900448.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/israelis-flood-tel-aviv-in-renewed-protest-against-pm-netanyahu-1116855107.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240310/netanyahu-rejects-bidens-criticism-of-israeli-war-strategy-1117245662.html

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Russians Line Up in Long Queues Near Embassies Abroad to Vote in Presidential Election

Hundreds of Russian citizens in various cities across the globe, including Athens, Paris, Berlin, Budapest, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Tokyo, Almaty, Warsaw, Yerevan and The Hague, queued up in front of Russian embassies and consulate generals on Sunday to cast their votes in the presidential election.

The queue in front of a polling station in the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv has reached 3,280 feet in length and continues to grow, a Sputnik correspondent reported. The police are on duty at the site. The voting is taking place without any provocations.

In Istanbul, at least 350 Russian citizens are standing in the queue, which stretched for 1,640 feet, Russian Consul General in Istanbul Andrey Buravov said. People are waiting in line for at least an hour. As of 11:00 GMT, 890 Russians voted in the election at the consular department in Istanbul, Buravov said, adding that a total of about 2,000 people had applied for the voting.

In addition, hundreds of Russian citizens in Armenia's Yerevan and thousands in the Kazakh city of Almaty are also waiting for their turn to cast the votes.

Moreover, over 80 Russian nationals queued up at the polling station in Tokyo this morning, where the voting has already been completed.

Dozens of Russians have also queued up in front of various polling stations across Greece, 400 people have lined up in Warsaw and over 1,000 have gathered in The Hague. As of 09:00 GMT, more than 200 people voted in the Russian Embassy in Brussels, and about 500 Russians voted in the United Kingdom in four hours. Over 1,200 Russians also voted in Paris as of 13:00 GMT, the Russian embassy said.

Russian nationals have also been actively voting in Lithuania, Egypt, Argentina, Thailand, Belgium, and other countries, the Russian diplomatic missions said.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/native-american-lawsuit-in-new-york-sheds-light-on-dark-aspect-of-us-history-1117375262.html

Native American Lawsuit in New York Sheds Light on Dark Aspect of US History

Native American Lawsuit in New York Sheds Light on Dark Aspect of US History

Sputnik International

What is the legacy from which the United States draws its certainty in the righteousness of American exceptionalism?

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The doctrine of discovery refers to a principle in public international law under which, when a nation discovers land, it directly acquires rights on that land, according to a definition offered by Cornell Law Schools Legal Information Institute. This doctrine arose when the European nations discovered non-European lands, and therefore acquired special rights.Its a theory thats offensive to most modern ears  suggesting settlers have a right to violently confiscate territory in the name of religion  and it was acknowledged as such last year when the Catholic Church officially repudiated it. But the doctrine of discovery was cited by the United States highest legal authority as recently as 2005, when the US Supreme Court ruled against the indigenous Oneida Nation in a majority opinion authored by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.The Oneida people, the justice claimed, had no special rights in land they had inhabited for thousands of years before descendents of Europeans like Ginsberg crossed the Atlantic.New York States Onondaga Nation had filed a similar lawsuit just days before seeking compensation for territory they claimed their ancestors had been forced to sell against their will. The Onondaga have since reconsidered their strategy, taking their claim to the supranational Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. US media examined their story this week as the commission is expected to rule on the Onondagas claim in the coming months.Heaths observation raises a thorny issue. The US, for a time considered the worlds lone superpower after the Cold War drew to a close, has increasingly fashioned itself as a global arbiter and enforcer of morality. Ending genocide, toppling dictators, spreading democracy, and defeating communism are just some of the reasons offered by the United States to justify bloody interventions around the globe.But academics often dispute the validity of Americas self-perception as an authority on human rights, noting the country is unique among others as an historic settler colonial regime.Settler colonialism is a form of colonization where a settler society entirely or partially replaces an indigenous people on their land, explains the website Visualizing Palestine. Many countries trace their history back centuries or even millenia, recognizing a legacy of many historical inhabitants. Others continue a process of deliberately stamping out native influence, appropriating indigenous lands and killing their inhabitants.The United States, Australia, Northern Ireland, and Israel are considered some of the most prominent modern-day settler colonial territories.Some countries have made efforts to rectify the injustices of historical settler colonialism. Europe has abandoned its holdings on the African continent since the mid-twentieth century, and South Africa has restored the rights of its native population since the fall of apartheid. In Bolivia, a cabinet-level Ministry of Decolonization examines how to protect and preserve indigenous art, lifestyles, and culture.The United States has resisted calls to view its lands pre-colonial inhabitants as equals.For most of its citizens, American history begins with the arrival of European explorers on the continent in 1492. Indigenous people have little to no influence over the countrys modern-day legal, political, and social systems. Their decimation, fueled by massacres, enslavement, and forced removals, represents one of the most obvious historical examples of genocide according to Raphael Lemkin, the man who coined the term.Settler colonialism, scholars stress, is a process. Its not a single act of violence or subjugation, but an ongoing event in which indigenous people are continually suppressed.The [New] York people have got almost all of our Country and for a very trifle, observed Onondaga chiefs in 1794, already recognizing the process they were being subjected to. One can trace the animating principle behind the theft of Onondagan land right up to the present day, with Ginsbergs opinion demonstrating the United States contempt for the rights and legacy of indigenous people.Now, Onondagan land is reduced to a tract of just 11 square miles. Their historical territory is despoiled by some 24 Superfund sites where the US federal government still works to address large-scale industrial pollution. The contamination is such that the Onondaga can no longer fish in their rivers and streams.Defending American exceptionalism should always be above politics, declared then presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton in 2016. And so it has been. From the legacy of African slavery, Manifest Destiny, Jim Crow and the Monroe Doctrine right up to American exceptionalism and the dictates of foreign policy neoconservatives, the United States has always insisted on enforcing its will on others.Should a country with such history be allowed to lecture the world? Should their junior partners in the former European colonial empires be seen as much better? The modern struggle for a multipolar world promises to finally answer that question in favor of the oppressed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220809/indigenous-peoples-day-american-first-nations-continue-to-struggle-against-racism-poverty-1099398343.html

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Elena Moreno, 47, was arrested Saturday. She is accused of selling headstones to families and not delivering them. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

Bexar County sheriffs deputies have arrested a San Antonio woman accused of selling headstones to families and failing to deliver them after they paid in full.

Elena Moreno, 47, was arrested Saturday and charged with theft between $2,500 and $30,000. Bail was set at $5,000. She was released after posting bond.

Moreno, who is the owner of Angelic Monuments, is accused of taking money from a family who paid for headstones they never received.

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In an arrest affidavit supporting Morenos arrest, investigators say one of the families wrote a check to Moreno for $8,500 in May 2022 for a headstone.

Moreno told the family there would be a nine- to 12-month delay because of COVID-related issues, according to the affidavit.

Over a year later, the family attempted to reach out to Moreno but she rarely responded, and never provided a refund, according to the affidavit.

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The sheriffs office said Moreno is believed to be involved in the same theft scheme with multiple families.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/on-thin-ice-us-falling-behind-russia-in-mobility-in-arctic-region-1117374753.html

On Thin Ice: US Falling Behind Russia in Mobility in Arctic Region

On Thin Ice: US Falling Behind Russia in Mobility in Arctic Region

Sputnik International

A yawning gap has opened up between Russia and the United States capability to operate north of the Arctic Circle.

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As the United States armed forces restructure to wage large-scale combat against adversaries like Russia and China, US lawmakers are pressing for renewed attention to an often-overlooked region of the world.Air Force General Gregory Guillot, who heads up the US armed forces Northern Command, warned the United States is falling perilously behind Russia in its number of icebreaker ships required to ensure mobility in frozen waters at northern latitudes.Only one heavy icebreaker ship remains available for the US to use in the Arctic, noted Guillot, while Russia has about 40. Guillot made the revelation at a congressional hearing of the US Committee on Armed Services this week.Focus has shifted to the Arctic as tensions escalate with Russia amid the US-backed Ukraine proxy war. Russia has the longest Arctic coastline of any country in the world, but the United States also shares a significant border with the Arctic Ocean in the state of Alaska.About 2 million Russian citizens live north of the Arctic Circle, and the country has pursued shipping and fishing in the region for centuries. In recent years Russia has expanded its security presence in the Arctic as climate change has led to a melting of sea ice, exposing the countrys northern coastline.Speculation has emerged the Arctic could represent a major theater of war in future conflicts. But the US would need to significantly expand its fleet of icebreaker ships to compete in the frigid region.Icebreaker ships are designed with a special reinforced shape and increased power to enable them to pierce through polar sea ice, opening up routes for more traditional vessels. The US lone heavy icebreaker ship, the Coast Guards 13,000-ton Polar Star, was commissioned nearly 50 years ago.The Coast Guard relies on the Polar Star and the USCGC Healy, a medium icebreaker, to open up routes in the Arctic. The Polar Stars sister ship, dubbed the Polar Sea, has been out of commission since 2010 due to the failure of five of its six diesel engines.Meanwhile, Russia operates nearly a dozen heavy nuclear-powered icebreaker ships. Russia is so far the only country to operate nuclear-powered icebreakers. The Arktika and Sibir, which both run on nuclear power, are classified as the most powerful icebreaker ships in the world which ensure the safety of navigation in the Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean and along the Northern Sea Route.The Northern Sea Route falls inside Russia's exclusive economic zone and is set to factor into Russia's economic plans in the future. The Northern Sea Route enables shipments to reach their destination quicker than if they traveled through the Suez Canal Route.The US Coast Guard has requested increased funds to focus on the Arctic region for over 20 years but Congressional action has been repeatedly delayed.Although Western countries feared an invasion by the Soviet Union for decades during the Cold War, it was actually the United States that landed troops on Russian soil. The American Expeditionary Force, North Russia, popularly known as the Polar Bear Expedition, sent thousands of US Army soldiers to the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk to fight the Red Army in 1918. Troops were also sent to Vladivostok as part of the Siberian intervention.Allied forces remained in Russia to offer support to the White Army until its collapse in 1925.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/russian-air-defense-destroys-35-ukrainian-drones---mod-1117377530.html

Russian Air Defense Destroys 35 Ukrainian Drones - MoD

Russian Air Defense Destroys 35 Ukrainian Drones - MoD

Sputnik International

The Russian air defense intercepted and destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow, Belgorod, Kaluga, Oryol, Rostov, Yaroslavl and Kursk regions, as well as Krasnodar Territory, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

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"During the past night and the morning of March 17, attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks using fixed-wing drones against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation were prevented," the ministry said, adding that 35 drones were intercepted and destroyed.Earlier, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian territory, emphasized that Kiev continues terrorist activities, but that the Russian military is on alert and doing everything necessary.Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since it launched its counteroffensive in early June 2023. The United Nations said in August last year, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/uk-maritime-trade-authority-says-vessel-attacked-off-coast-of-yemens-aden-1117383109.html

UK Maritime Trade Authority Says Vessel Attacked Off Coast of Yemen's Aden

UK Maritime Trade Authority Says Vessel Attacked Off Coast of Yemen's Aden

Sputnik International

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday it received information about an attack on a ship 85 nautical miles east of the Yemeni port city of Aden.

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"UKMTO has received a report of an incident 85NM east of Aden, Yemen. The Master of a merchant vessel has reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel. No damage to the vessel has been reported and the crew are reported safe  Authorities are investigating," UKMTO said on its website. The maritime authority also advised ships to pass through the area with caution and report any suspicious activity. The Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led the United States to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. US and UK forces later launched major strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade the rebels' ability to target commercial vessels.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/us-working-on-response-to-possible-israels-military-operation-in-rafah---reports-1117383237.html

US Working on Response to Possible Israel's Military Operation in Rafah - Reports

US Working on Response to Possible Israel's Military Operation in Rafah - Reports

Sputnik International

The US administration is exploring response options if Israel launches a military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah contrary to Washington's warnings and without a credible plan to protect civilians, NBC News reported, citing US officials.

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On Friday, media reported, citing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, that the war cabinet had approved the start of a military operation in Rafah and the Israel Defense Forces was preparing to evacuate local civilians. Such discussions are taking place in an atmosphere of growing concern on the part of the US administration and disappointment of Democrats in Congress due to the fact that calls from US President Joe Biden were ignored by the Israeli government, the report said. Washington recommended that Israel avoid conducting a full-scale military operation in Rafah and instead carry out smaller and targeted counterterrorism actions, the report added. On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 31,500 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/watch-ukrainian-mi-8-helicopter-being-shot-down-en-route-to-belgorod-1117388138.html

Watch Ukrainian Mi-8 Helicopter Being Shot Down En Route to Belgorod

Watch Ukrainian Mi-8 Helicopter Being Shot Down En Route to Belgorod

Sputnik International

The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing the destruction of a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter with a 9K333 Verba portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile.

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The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing the destruction of a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter with a 9K333 Verba portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile. Russian forces shot down the helicopter flying over Ukrainian territory towards Kozinka in the Belgorod region, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "On March 17, near the village of Lukashovka in the Sumy region, units of the group of troops guarding the state border of the Russian Federation shot down an Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force flying in the direction of the village of Kozinka in the Belgorod region," the Defense Ministry said.

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The Russian armed forces have shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter flying over the Ukrainian territory Sputnik International The Russian armed forces have shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter flying over the Ukrainian territory 2024-03-17T14:26+0000 true PT0M15S

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It was an action-packed Saturday at Freehold Raceway on March 16.

The day started with a tour of the paddock for Monmouth Countys Equine Science 4-H group who got to learn about harness racing. They saw the behind the scenes of the paddock and ate lunch in the paddock kitchen. Then they went over to the grandstand to see the action up close and join in a winners circle photo. Finally, they went up to the judges booth to learn about that aspect of the industry.

Assisting with the tour and answering questions about racing from the group was Jessica Paquette, the announcer at Parx Racing. Paquette was able to offer her insights from the Thoroughbred world to the 4-H members. Paquette received the call to visit Freehold Raceway on Saturday to guest-announce and conduct interviews for the International Womens Day festivities taking place later on the card. It was a perfect day to show the 4-H group (which happened to be composed entirely of girls) around and highlight the wonderful women in the racing industry.

Paquette took over the mic for her first Standardbred race calls starting in race seven, which was the Irish Heritage Race sponsored by Peter and Mary Grandich, in honour of Irish Joe Hanney. The drivers in this race were all of Irish heritage and randomly assigned to their mounts.

It was pacer Gold Star Yoder and driver Jim Marohn Jr. who went wire-to-wire in 1:58.1 in this race just in time for St. Patricks Day. Peter Grandich, Irish Joe and all of the Irish drivers joined Marohn in the winners circle, along with New York Jets greats Joe Klecko and Marty Lyons, who were in attendance for a meet-and-greet with fans.

They werent the only ones celebrating this win, though. Gold Star Yoder was formerly trained by Dennis Watson, a longtime trainer and driver at Freehold Raceway (among other tracks) who recently passed away on March 4, 2024 at the age of 74. When Watson's health declined, the horse was transferred to the Joe Gulotta stable. Watson's family, including many of his grandchildren, came out to the track following Watson's service this morning to cheer 'Yoder' on. It was all too perfect that Gold Star Yoder would pick up his first win of the year on this day, with his former trainers beloved family there to root for him.

To make things even more exciting for the Watson family, another former Watson trainee, Lyons Steel (now trained by Jose Ramos), won the following race, the feature Preferred Handicap Pace, in 1:53. On an emotional day for the Watson family, the horses seemed to know that they were winning in honour of Dennis and stood patiently as they were surrounded by his family for win photos.

The following race was the International Womens Day race. Madeliene Young, an accomplished driver from Australia, made her first start in the United States in this race. She left from post five with 9-2 shot Matters Most on a mission to take the lead, which she did by the time they exited the first turn. From there, she never looked back and opened up on the field. Though the other female competitors made up some ground in the stretch, it wasnt enough to catch Young and Matters Most in 1:58.1. The 29-year-old Aussie import put an exclamation mark on her first drive in America. She was joined in the winners circle by the other drivers along with another great woman in harness racing, Freeholds director of racing, Karen Fagliarone. In an interview before the race, Young encouraged any young women looking to get into the sport to go for it. It is clear that Young herself is a go-getter and it will be exciting to see how her driving career progresses in the States.

The American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) was also in action on Saturday when favourite La Magic and Tony Beltrami led for every step and withstood late pushes from rivals in the closing strides to win by a neck in 2:01 over Turbochargedpete and Joe Faraldo. Edwin Quevedo trains La Magic, an eight-year-old gelding by Kadabra, for owners David Dobbelmann and Triple Q Stables LLC. AHDC action resumes at Freehold next Saturday.

It was a successful day with a nice crowd, beautiful weather and exciting races. Freehold Raceway returns with more racing on Friday and Saturday, starting at 12:30 p.m.

(With files from Freehold Raceway & AHDC)
Angel of Mercy describes Quaker nurse Cornelia Hancock on a new Civil War Trails marker recently installed in Brandy Station, the first of its kind in Culpeper County to acknowledge a woman.

Museum of Culpeper History associate Karen Quaintance, a registered nurse from Culpeper, researched and developed original text for the marker, subsequently reviewed by Civil War Trails, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, noted Culpeper and Civil War historians and travelers of all ages and interest levels.

The response to Hancocks story was singular, according to a release from Visit Culpeper, the Town of Culpeper Economic Development and Tourism Office.

What a tough young woman, said Civil War Trails Executive Director Drew Gruber. She was inspiring not only here in Culpeper but her entire life is one inspirational story which resonated with our review committee.

The marker puts guests in the footsteps of the young trailblazing pioneer of medical care, according to the release.

It sits near historic Shiloh Baptist Church, whose structure is located at the base of the ridge where Hancock camped and was photographed alongside the Army of the Potomac. She was there for the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864, in nearby Orange County, and treated many wounded.

Shiloh Baptist partnered with Civil War Trails and Visit Culpeper to provide the new Hancock marker location in Brandy Station, at 15055 Stevensburg Road.

We at Shiloh are honored to offer a place of remembrance and history, said pastor Reese Washington.

This is the ninth Civil War Trails marker in Culpeper and the first dedicated to telling the story of a courageous woman, according to the release.

At the age of 24, Hancock (1840-1927), of New Jersey, defied socio-political norms of the era and a lack of support from superiors to join the war effort and nurse the wounded. Undeterred by the active military operations, she made a noticeable impact in service of her nation, according to the release.

Cornelias story reminds us the Civil War wasnt just limited to men in uniforms, said Paige Read, Director of Tourism and Town Economic Development. No spoilers, but alongside Cornelia, we are developing a second story which we are also confident will help bring new audiences to Culpeper who will want to stand in the footsteps of tenacious women.

Hancock was a celebrated volunteer nurse who dedicated her life to serving others during the Civil War. She was also as a teacher, author and co-founder of the Childrens Aid Society of Pennsylvania and Society for Organizing Charity.

Research by Quaintance and Civil War Trails also uncovered the story of Hancocks experiments during the war with hops and yeast for medicinal purposes. At Old Trade Brewery & Cidery in Brandy Station, owner Sara Thayer, event coordinator Amanda Hook and assistant manager Jessica Sheets recently announced a new brew inspired by the historic nurse  Hancocks Blueberry Hefeweizen. A portion of proceeds from the beer will go to Services for Abused Families (SAFE).

Celebrating local historic connections, each Civil War Trails site is marketed internationally by state tourism offices, regional destination marketing organizations and municipal partners, according to the release.

This means the educational product is part of a much larger economic development mission. According to the Civil War Trails organization, the average visitor is growing younger, spending about $1,100 per trip with a specific focus on locally owned eats, drinks, lodgings and especially outdoor activities.

Adding new stories like this one will help continue to attract this audience to places like Culpeper, the release stated.

Telling these stories is important to understanding Virginias history, added Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation.

Having these stories widely available will attract new visitors to the area and allow them to gain new travel experiences, she said.

Hancocks story is included at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, Gettysburg National Military Park and Petersburg National Battlefield.

The young nurse overcame many obstacles.

Upon Cornelia Hancocks arrival in Philadelphia on July 5, 1863  along with a group of women seeking to become volunteer nurses  she was the only one Dorothea Dix turned away.

The 23-year-old Hancock ... did not let Dixs rejection of her as too young and attractive for nursing get in her way, though. Instead, she boarded the train to Gettysburg and went on to become one of the most respected nurses of her day, according to nps.gov/people/cornelia-hancock.htm.

Her attention to the soldiers and her positive attitude soon made her a welcome presence to the Union Army. A dance tune, The Hancock Gallop, was even named after her, according to the National Park Service.

In 1864, she cared for the wounded from Wilderness, Fredericksburg, Port Royal, White House Landing, City Point and Petersburg and was one of the first Union nurses to arrive in Richmond after its capture.

Hancock documented the horrific war experience in letters to her sister and others.

The groans from wounded soldiers on the amputating table haunted Hancock at Gettysburg, a place which literally ran blood for seven days, according to Senses Were Benumbed: How a Civil War Nurse Handled Trauma, an article by the Clara Barton Museum.

The hot sun provided no respite for the soldiers, and the air was rent with petitions to deliver them from their suffering. Only the Battle of the Wilderness could compare to Gettysburg in her recollections. It was there Hancock spent two weeks in the scorching sun nursing soldiers whose wounds had not been opened for 36 hours, according to clarabartonmuseum.org.

Inspired by her story? Snap a #signselfie when you visit the new site and post it with #womenshistorymonth, #civilwartrails and @visitculpeperva.
Gering Police arrested a 32-year-old Gering man Wednesday on suspicion of child abuse after a 1-year-old child suffered life-threatening injuries while in his care.

Tyler Green has been charged with committing child abuse with intent resulting in injury to a child, a Class II felony, in Scotts Bluff County Court. He was arraigned on charges Wednesday and bond has been set at $1 million.

According to an arrest affidavit, Gering Police and medical personnel were called to a Gering home where a 1-year-old child had been reported to be vomiting blood. A caller told dispatchers that the child, a boy, had a lot of blood coming out of his mouth and had gone limp. The caller described the boy as not responsive, but was breathing.

At the scene, a Scotts Bluff County Sheriff 's deputy spoke to the caller, who was identified as Green. Green told the deputy that the child had diarrhea and "had made a mess on the floor and the walls." He said he had given the child a bath to clean him, and he had begun vomiting blood. The man told the deputy he had called for the child's mother, who was downstairs, to bring him his phone to call 911.

However, according to the arrest affidavit, the deputy found Green's story to be inconsistent as he didn't observe any mess from the child having suffered from diarrhea or water in the bathtub. He did observe a drop of blood in the bathroom. The deputy also told an investigating officer that the child had a lot of blood around his mouth and a contusion on the left side of his head.

Medical personnel treating the child at Regional West Medical Center's Emergency Room told police that he suffered bruising and lacerations to his genital area. He also had a lowered body temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The child had to be given a blood transfusion and after a CT scan, he was transported to Children's Hospital in Colorado for additional treatment.

Police interviewed a Regional West doctor who told police that the boy had suffered a crushing injury to his genital area and lacerations. He suffered several contusions and hematomas to his face, lower back and chest. The doctor said he had also observed bruising on the child's buttocks and legs. The boy suffered internal injuries with bruising to the lungs, as well as blood in his lungs. A CT scan showed that the child had suffered a hypoxic brain injury, which would be caused by the the child's brain not getting enough oxygen, police said in the arrest affidavit.

According to the arrest affidavit, the doctor told police "the mechanism of injury appeared intentional" and "that the amount of bruising ... would be on par to having the child put in a clothes dryer and turned on."

Police arrested Green at his home and interviewed him at the Gering Police Department. They also interviewed the child's mother, who told police that Green and she had been drinking earlier in the evening and he had an altercation with his former wife. The woman told police she had gone to bed when she was awakened to Green screaming and observed him holding the child, wrapped in a towel. She said she and Green then called 911.

Green also allegedly told police that the had been the one caring for the child and that the child's mother had been downstairs when the injuries would have occurred.

Two other children who were in the home were placed into the care of a relative.

Green is scheduled to next appear in court on March 28, 10 a.m., for a preliminary hearing and bond review. He is being represented by Scottsbluff attorney Stacy Bach.

Contact Maunette Loeks: maunette. loeks@starherald.com, 308-632-9054.
A child hospitalized Wednesday died Saturday of injuries he suffered that lead to the arrest of a 32-year-old Gering man.

According to a social media post by a family member, the child, Gideon Lockwood, died at a Colorado hospital, where he had been transported after initially being treated at Regional West Medical Center.

Police arrested a Gering man, Tyler Green, Wednesday on charges, accusing him in court documents of injuring the child. Green was arraigned in Scotts Bluff County Court later Wednesday on charges of committing child abuse with intent resulting in injury to a child, a Class II felony, in Scotts Bluff County Court. He remains jailed on a bond set at $1 million.

Details of the allegations were included in an arrest affidavit. The affidavit outlines that Gering Police and medical personnel were called to a Gering home where a 1-year-old child had been reported to be vomiting blood. A caller told dispatchers that the child, a boy, had a lot of blood coming out of his mouth and had gone limp. The caller described the boy as not responsive, but was breathing.

At the scene, a Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs deputy spoke to the caller, who was identified as Green. Green told the deputy that the child had diarrhea and had made a mess on the floor and the walls. He said he had given the child a bath to clean him, and he had begun vomiting blood. The man told the deputy he had called for the childs mother, who was downstairs, to bring him his phone to call 911.

However, according to the arrest affidavit, the deputy found Greens story to be inconsistent as he didnt observe any mess from the child having suffered from diarrhea or water in the bathtub. He did observe a drop of blood in the bathroom. The deputy also told an investigating officer that the child had a lot of blood around his mouth and a contusion on the left side of his head.

Medical personnel treating the child at Regional West Medical Centers Emergency Room told police that he suffered bruising and lacerations to his genital area. He also had a lowered body temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The child had to be given a blood transfusion and after a CT scan, he was transported to Childrens Hospital in Colorado for additional treatment.

Police interviewed a Regional West doctor who told police that the boy had suffered a crushing injury to his genital area and lacerations. He suffered several contusions and hematomas to his face, lower back and chest. The doctor said he had also observed bruising on the childs buttocks and legs. The boy suffered internal injuries with bruising to the lungs, as well as blood in his lungs. A CT scan showed that the child had suffered a hypoxic brain injury, which would be caused by the the childs brain not getting enough oxygen, police said in the arrest affidavit.

According to the arrest affidavit, the doctor told police the mechanism of injury appeared intentional and that the amount of bruising ... would be on par to having the child put in a clothes dryer and turned on.

Police arrested Green at his home and interviewed him at the Gering Police Department. They also interviewed the childs mother, who told police that Green and she had been drinking earlier in the evening and he had an altercation with his former wife. The woman told police she had gone to bed when she was awakened to Green screaming and observed him holding the child, wrapped in a towel. She said she and Green then called 911.

Green also allegedly told police that the had been the one caring for the child and that the childs mother had been downstairs when the injuries would have occurred.

The Star-Herald has reached out to Scotts Bluff County Attorney Dave Eubanks to see if the county attorney's office will amend its charges after the death of the boy.

Green is scheduled to next appear in court on March 28, 10 a.m., for a preliminary hearing and bond review. He is being represented by Scottsbluff attorney Stacy Bach.
The boys were taken from their homes on the northeast Nebraska reservation in early September 1895, part of a small group on a three-day train bound for Pennsylvania.

They were heading for a five-year term at the first government-run Native American boarding school, General Richard Henry Pratts experiment to kill the Indian, save the man.

At Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the boys would have their hair cut and traditional clothing taken. They would follow militaristic routines and speak only English. They would join tens of thousands of Native American children, educated in the European-American style, stripped of their cultures and forced to assimilate.

Of the five Winnebago students who boarded that train, only two would make it home.

William Pinegar, 19, ran away from the school just 38 days after he arrived. His student card was marked across the top in slanted red cursive: Dead.

Samuel Gilbert, 19, also known as La-coo-hoo-he-kaw, made it to day 47 before succumbing to pneumonia. Before fall gave way to winter, his life was reduced to a series of pencil marks in the death record section of Carlisles Register of Pupils.

Edward Hensley, 17 when he arrived, lived four more years. He played in the school band and learned to be a tinsmith. He worked for four different white American families through the schools outings system. He was a most excellent young man, beloved by all.

Pneumonia killed him on June 29, 1899.

Samuel and Edward were, and still are, buried on the school grounds. Historians havent found any record of any attempt to contact the Winnebago Tribe about either boys illness or death.

Theyre two of many, many, many students that didnt ever return home, said Sunshine Thomas-Bear, tribal historic preservation officer for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

Now the boys, dead for more than a century, are at the center of a lawsuit the Winnebago Tribe has filed against the United States Army.

To bring Samuel and Edwards remains home, the Army says the tribe must find the boys closest living relatives to work through its process.

The Winnebago Tribe wants the Army to follow the federal policy that already lets tribes repatriate lost and stolen remains from federal institutions and places like museums.

This court battle could have an impact far beyond Carlisle and the two boys.

Carlisle was one of 408 Native American boarding schools run by the federal government. So far, 53 burial sites have been identified at those schools in an initial investigative report by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Researchers expect more grave sites to be discovered. Samuel and Edward are two of many lost children that tribes will want to bring home.

Square peg, round hole

Samuel and Edward rest under misspelled headstones in the Carlisle Barracks Main Post Cemetery.

Their tribal affiliations are still carved into the markers as Winnebaloo and Winnchaga.

The Winnebago Tribe sees the headstones as a symbol of historic disrespect and the governments lack of care toward the children buried there.

Our beliefs are that their spirits have not continued on their journey that they take to the afterlife  they remain lost, Thomas-Bear said.

The Office of Army Cemeteries manages Carlisles gravesites, and fields tribes requests for the children to be disinterred, using an adapted version of its own process for returning the bodies of soldiers.

Under that process, the closest living relative of a person buried at Carlisle can file two documents to request the return of their remains. The Army conducts disinterments once per year and pays all expenses.

Since 2017, the Army has returned the remains of 32 children, an OAC spokeswoman said in an email. Currently there are 11 disinterments scheduled for September 2024 and 18 for the following year.

The Office of Army Cemeteries is committed to conducting dignified and safe disinterment and transfer custody to families who have established they are the closest family link between the decedent and requestor, the spokeswoman said.

But finding that family member isnt always realistic, and sometimes like with Samuel and Edward  borders on impossible, tribal leaders say.

Many Carlisle students didnt have living parents. Some 48% of the students were missing at least one parent when they arrived, said Jim Gerencser, archivist for the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center. The school didnt record the names of students deceased parents in their files, further complicating efforts to trace direct family ties now.

And students buried at Carlisle died too young to marry and have children.

Edward Hensley had no living parents. Samuel Gilbert had a living mother, but her name wasnt recorded. The name of his deceased father, White Gull, was written in the address section of his information card.

Trying to force the tribes into that construct is obviously illegal and disrespectful. Its particularly tone deaf when youre talking about the closest living relative, and were talking about children, said Greg Werkheiser, attorney for Cultural Heritage Partners, which is representing the Winnebago in the lawsuit.

The Winnebago Tribe wants the Army to return the bodies of Samuel and Edward to the tribe under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Then, tribes only need to show that remains were culturally affiliated with the tribe, not directly related to a descendant, said Beth Wright, attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, another group representing the Winnebago.

The law was designed by Congress to ensure that both tribes and Native American remains and burial sites are treated with respect.

Under their process, they dont have to care what the Winnebagos burial traditions are, the same way theyve been disregarded for 100 years, Werkheiser said. Under NAGPRA thats supposed to be central, so that this process is healing, instead of just the shifting of remains from one location to another.

The Army has repeatedly denied that NAGPRA, which has mainly been used to repatriate remains from museums and universities, applies to the children buried at Carlisle, because the cemetery is not a holding or collection of remains.

At least two other tribes have tried to repatriate their children from Carlisle under the law, but this is the first lawsuit filed to challenge the U.S. Armys claim that the law doesnt apply.

Before the Northern Arapaho requested to repatriate three of their children under NAGPRA in 2015, the Army had no process for repatriating Carlisle students and had refused requests to return their remains.

In a letter denying the first 2007 request from the Northern Arapaho tribe, Lt. Col. Thomas G. Kane wrote that the Army would hate to disrupt such a tranquil site, if it can be avoided and the cemetery represents one of the most beautiful tributes to the Native American people.

Small, orderly and historical

Visitors to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, can still take a self-guided tour of the remaining school grounds, including the gymnasium, the band stand and the cemetery.

Small, orderly and historical, the Carlisle Cemetery offers visitors a glimpse into the unique past of the United States and Native American history, the OAC website describes the cemetery.

The Winnebago Tribe doesnt want the remains of its children being used to tell a history of the boarding school process that was bad and dehumanizing for the students, Thomas-Bear said.

How would you feel if that was your family there? Thomas-Bear said. And then they make it seem like, Oh, this was all just this greatest thing. If you tell a history, tell it truthfully.

Edwards headstone lists his name, Edward Hensley, and the misspelled tribal affiliation Winnebaloo. Underneath that, where youd expect a birth and death date, his gravestone is blank.

Samuel Gilberts headstone has his tribal affiliation as Winnchaga and a death date thats different from the one recorded in his student file.

Part of NAGPRA is to ensure that tribes and ancestors and all of these things are handled with the utmost care and in a dignified manner, Thomas-Bear said. And that definitely hasnt happened with the Army at Carlisle.

During previous disinterments, the Army has found remains that dont match the name on the grave. For some students, only partial remains were found and returned. At least 14 headstones at Carlisle read only unknown.

When the U.S. Army started to relocate the original burial site for construction in 1927, the actual process of moving graves went mostly undocumented, Gerencser said.

Workers may have had multiple graves open at the same time, Gerencser said, which couldve caused the partial and mixed remains found during recent disinterments.

Ground penetrating radar was used to survey both the current and old cemetery sites before the first disinterments in 2016, Gerencser said.

Some tribal members consider the surveying process to be invasive  a further disturbance to the remains, they think, and more proof that the students buried at Carlisle have long been mistreated.

If you were looking for your grandparent, and you found out this museum had them and were studying them and they were on display or whatnot, how would you feel about that? Thomas-Bear said.

The loss of Edward and Samuel is part of a series of historical traumas the government inflicted upon the Winnebago, Thomas-Bear said, intended to break their people.

In 1863, the tribe itself was forcibly moved off its traditional land near Minnesota to the Dakota Territories and then, eventually, to northeast Nebraska.

Then, less than 10 years before Edward and Samuel boarded the train bound for Carlisle, the government passed the Dawes Act, forcing tribes into individual property ownership and fundamentally disrupting life for the Winnebago yet again.

At boarding schools like Carlisle, students faced documented physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as disease, malnourishment and overcrowding.

In its initial analysis, the government recorded more than 500 child deaths at boarding schools, a number expected to soar. At Carlisle alone, roughly 230 students died on campus.

Like Edward and Samuel, many of those children have been lost to tribes for decades.

I cant even fathom what they were feeling, Thomas-Bear said. Not only are you not home, but then they take your ways of how you fed yourself and how you take care of yourself and your culture and religion. And then at the end, take your children. I dont think Id survive that.
Texas State Board of Education Chairman Keven Ellis, (Lufkin), left, and member Pam Little, (Fairview), listen to public testimony on the proposed changes to the states social studies curriculum in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer Patricia Hardy, Texas State Board Of Education. Robert E Daemmrich/State of Texas Brandon Hall, candidate for Texas State Board Of Education. Courtesy of the Hall campaign

For more than 20 years, Fort Worth Republican Pat Hardy has been a reliably conservative voice on the State Board of Education.

Hardy has fought for Moses to be included in social studies standards, advocated for presenting creationism alongside evolution in science textbooks and said she was an early voice to call for the banning of critical race theory from the states public schools.

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But in 2024, Hardy is not conservative enough for Republican voters: She lost her primary election earlier this month against Brandon Hall, a former youth pastor who has pitched himself as a fighter for Christian conservative values.

In addition to Hardys outright loss, two other Republicans on the board  Pam Little and Tom Maynard  were forced into runoff elections against opponents pitching themselves as stronger conservatives. All three challengers received heavy financial support from Texans for Educational Freedom, a right-wing advocacy group that cut its teeth trying to sway local school board elections but has turned its attention to overhauling the state board, spending more than $300,000 this year.

Hall and the others are poised to have a big impact right away, as the board is scheduled to revise the states social studies curriculum standards next year for the first time in more than a decade. The boards decisions will influence what children will learn about government, Texas history and American history, among other topics.

Despite getting contributions from three times as many donors, Hardys campaign only raised about a third as much as Hall, who brought in $146,623. Of that, $145,758 came from Texans for Educational Freedom  99.4%.

Hall said he was proud to receive TEFs support, which he said he earned because of his positions on the issues.

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We ran our campaign on parental rights, reforming our schools and giving our kids an excellent education, and thats really what drove the support for our campaign, he said.

MORE ELECTION COVERAGE: Gov. Greg Abbotts fight for Texas school vouchers poised for victory after GOP primary

The district, including parts of Fort Worth and its western suburbs, is bright red, meaning Halls election in November is all but assured. He said he attended Bible college near Chicago, where the college ran a private, Christian school for inner-city kids, sparking his passion for education policy.

On the board, Hall said he would support new charter schools, oppose any kind of underlying agenda in school curriculum and avoid villainizing the oil and gas industry in teachings about climate change. He also said he wanted to take advantage of the boards new authority in setting state library standards to remove inappropriate or indoctrinating material from schools.

In recent weeks, TEF flooded the district with mailers, text messages and advertising that accused Hardy of being a false conservative and said she promoted diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

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My opponent just sent out lies, one right after the other, Hardy said. I had no money to counter them. I tried by media and so forth, but it just wasnt good enough.

Hardys loss mirrors those of other longtime Republican incumbents in recent years on the 15-member state board, who have been replaced by younger, more confrontational conservative activists. Its part of a larger rightward shift in the states Republican Party. Earlier this month, several conservative primary challengers ousted Texas House members and pushed others into runoffs, including House Speaker Dade Phelan.

Although the Republican-majority state board has long been dominated by conservatives, newer members have been less willing to compromise with the few Democratic members and more willing to reject the advice of education or academic experts who are viewed as liberal-minded.

Although the board, which vets school textbooks, sets curriculum standards and approves new charter schools, has been the setting of many heated political battles over the years, the elections traditionally have been lower-dollar for the unpaid positions.

With its splashy spending in recent years  fueled mostly by large-dollar donations from conservative megadonors  Texans for Education Freedom has emerged as the preeminent power broker for the state board. It spent $300,000 this year, including on negative ads attacking the incumbents as weak conservatives.

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The group was founded in 2021 and is dedicated to fighting communism in the classroom. Its website includes a tip line where parents can report indoctrination, radicalization, and politicization in the classroom.

The group helped to oust two Republicans in 2022 who had voted against a charter school plan using money donated by the rejected schools executive.

Christopher Zook, a political consultant employed by TEF, said the group boosts candidates who support educational freedom and seek to provide quality education to students in every district of Texas.

We need a board that works tirelessly to improve student outcomes and empowering parents, he said. Quality education is not just about academic performance; its about creating a supportive framework that recognizes the diverse needs of each student and equips them with the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

In addition to his work for the group, Zook also is employed by two of the challengers, Hall and Jamie Kohlmann, who received funding from TEF this year.

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TEFs top donor is Monty Bennett, a real estate executive, Republican donor and publisher of the Dallas Express. Hes given $235,000 this year. Other top donors in 2024 include an energy company chairman, Alex Cranberg; Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston; and Charter Schools Now, the political arm of the Texas Charter Schools Association.

The charter group donated about $73,000 to TEF, while the group also gave more than $30,000 to Maynard  placing them on both sides of the race.

In a written statement, PAC board member Starlee Coleman said the group supported Maynard, describing him as a proven champion for tens of thousands of families who want access to high-quality public schools.

Little questioned why she, Maynard and Hardy had been targeted.

Were some of the most conservative people on the board, but it seems like in the Republican Party youre never conservative enough, said Little, who represents Fairview in the North Dallas suburbs. I dont know. Its sort of frustrating that you can be conservative and still be labeled as not conservative enough.

Little and Maynard led their challengers in the March GOP primary election but failed to secure enough votes to avoid a runoff. The second round of voting will be held May 28, one day after the Memorial Day weekend, which could further depress turnout in what is already a low-voter election.

Mary Bone, Maynards challenger, is a trustee at Round Rock Independent School District, elected in 2020. Shes supported by the right-wing group Moms for Liberty and previously received donations from Defend Texas Liberty, whose leader hosted prominent white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

She trailed Maynard in the initial election by about 9 percentage points. On the Round Rock board, she once forced a snap vote requesting the resignation of one of her colleagues.

Kohlmann, who is challenging Little, said shes running because she believes the state board is not functioning as efficiently as it should with a two-thirds Republican majority. Members are not doing enough to ensure instructional materials are on grade level, she said. An education policy analyst and former Miss Texas, Kohlmann is endorsed by Sen. Ted Cruz.

On election night, Little received 36% of the vote to Kohlmanns 27%.

I think in general, (Little) has not been a consistent conservative on the board, or just a consistent voter on the board, Kohlmann said in a phone interview.
The Kalama School Board has selected three finalists for the position of superintendent, the district announced Friday, extending an invitation to the community to meet them.

Jennifer McCallum, Michele Suiter and Wesley Benjamin will be available at a series of public forums Tuesday and Wednesday.

Along with attending the forums, each finalist will spend a day in the district to meet with students, staff and city leaders and interview with the school board.

All forums will be held in the Kalama Middle School Commons. Attendees can submit questions to the board in advance using a Google Form found on the district website. Zoom links for remote viewing will be available soon.

Candidate Forum Schedule Jennifer McCallum: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday Michele Suiter: 6 p.m. Wednesday Wesley Benjamin: 7:15 p.m. Wednesday

Kalama has been looking for a replacement since former Superintendent Eric Nerison resigned in April 2023.

McCallum is Kalamas current interim superintendent, and previously served as principal of Kalama Middle School. She has been with the district since 2018 and has 12 years of administrative experience in education.

Suiter is the principal of Gig Harbor High School in Peninsula School District. She has held the position for four years. Prior to that, she spent 12 years at Cascade Christian Schools in Puyallup, including four years as a principal.

Benjamin has been the executive principal of Forney High School in Forney Independent School District, located east of Dallas, Texas, since 2022. He has 11 years of administrative experience, including two years as the schools associate principal and two years as the assistant principal.

The board plans to offer the position to one of the finalists by the end of March.
Berry Global Group (NYSE:BERY  Get Free Report)s stock had its sector perform rating reaffirmed by research analysts at Royal Bank of Canada in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a $62.00 target price on the industrial products companys stock, down from their previous target price of $72.00. Royal Bank of Canadas price target points to a potential upside of 3.84% from the companys current price.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on BERY. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Berry Global Group from $74.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. TheStreet cut shares of Berry Global Group from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Berry Global Group from $67.00 to $64.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Berry Global Group in a research report on Friday, March 1st. They issued a peer perform rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Berry Global Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Berry Global Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $74.33.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BERY

Berry Global Group Stock Performance

NYSE:BERY opened at $59.71 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.62, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.67. The company has a fifty day moving average of $62.08 and a two-hundred day moving average of $62.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.92 billion, a PE ratio of 12.84, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.25. Berry Global Group has a fifty-two week low of $53.83 and a fifty-two week high of $69.93.

Berry Global Group (NYSE:BERY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The industrial products company reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $2.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.99 billion. Berry Global Group had a return on equity of 26.79% and a net margin of 4.51%. The businesss revenue was down 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.30 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Berry Global Group will post 7.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Peter T. Thomas bought 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $56.00 per share, with a total value of $112,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $112,000. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Berry Global Group news, Director Peter T. Thomas acquired 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $56.00 per share, with a total value of $112,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $112,000. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jonathan F. Foster acquired 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $58.49 per share, with a total value of $58,490.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 5,728 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $335,030.72. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 4.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Berry Global Group

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. TD Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in Berry Global Group by 3.4% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 25,474 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,639,000 after acquiring an additional 832 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Berry Global Group by 2.3% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,005,173 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $62,230,000 after purchasing an additional 22,137 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in Berry Global Group by 67.0% during the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 97,700 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,049,000 after purchasing an additional 39,200 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in Berry Global Group by 60.1% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 621,408 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $38,471,000 after purchasing an additional 233,368 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP raised its holdings in Berry Global Group by 16.7% during the third quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP now owns 70,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,334,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.25% of the companys stock.

About Berry Global Group

(Get Free Report)

Berry Global Group, Inc manufactures and supplies non-woven, flexible, and rigid products in consumer and industrial end markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Consumer Packaging International; Consumer Packaging North America; Engineered Materials; and Health, Hygiene & Specialties segments.

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Blue Zone Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL  Free Report) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,203 shares of the insurance providers stock after buying an additional 64 shares during the quarter. Blue Zone Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Markel Group were worth $3,128,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MKL. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in Markel Group by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 662,183 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $845,879,000 after purchasing an additional 5,003 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in Markel Group by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 539,207 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $793,979,000 after purchasing an additional 16,597 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Markel Group by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 303,717 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $329,296,000 after purchasing an additional 5,183 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Markel Group by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 180,873 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $249,753,000 after purchasing an additional 2,081 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $182,438,000. 76.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Markel Group

In other Markel Group news, Director A. Lynne Puckett purchased 72 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, for a total transaction of $101,468.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 960 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,352,908.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director A. Lynne Puckett purchased 72 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, with a total value of $101,468.16. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,352,908.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 1.75% of the companys stock.

Markel Group Stock Performance

NYSE:MKL traded up $16.85 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $1,523.04. 64,658 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 53,436. Markel Group Inc. has a twelve month low of $1,186.56 and a twelve month high of $1,560.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.36 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1,459.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $1,446.50.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $23.58 by $32.90. Markel Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 12.63%. The business had revenue of $3.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.75 billion. On average, analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 80.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MKL has been the topic of several analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Markel Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a report on Monday, February 5th. Citigroup started coverage on Markel Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. They issued a sell rating and a $1,275.00 target price for the company. Janney Montgomery Scott reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $1,600.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $1,475.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,450.00.

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Markel Group Profile

(Free Report)

Markel Group Inc, a diverse holding company, engages in marketing and underwriting specialty insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The company offers general and professional liability, personal lines, marine and energy, specialty programs, and workers' compensation insurance products; and property coverages that include fire, allied lines, and other specialized property coverages, including catastrophe-exposed property risks, such as earthquake and wind.

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Bath Savings Trust Co raised its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Free Report) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 113,801 shares of the business services providers stock after buying an additional 1,273 shares during the quarter. Broadridge Financial Solutions comprises 2.6% of Bath Savings Trust Cos portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Bath Savings Trust Cos holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $23,415,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Gotham Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 176.1% in the 3rd quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 21,357 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $3,824,000 after purchasing an additional 13,621 shares during the period. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 13.5% in the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 59,407 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $10,637,000 after purchasing an additional 7,088 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $414,000. Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 303.5% in the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 230 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the period. Finally, Graham Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,715,000. 89.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock opened at $200.20 on Friday. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 12-month low of $134.81 and a 12-month high of $210.24. The stock has a market cap of $23.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.88 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77. The businesss 50 day moving average is $201.68 and its 200-day moving average is $191.30.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Dividend Announcement

Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.03. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 10.82%. The company had revenue of $1.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.91 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio is currently 55.75%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BR has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com raised Broadridge Financial Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Raymond James upped their price target on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $205.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $212.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $226.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $203.17.

View Our Latest Report on BR

Insider Transactions at Broadridge Financial Solutions

In related news, Director Robert N. Duelks sold 830 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.58, for a total value of $167,311.40. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,445 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,097,603.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Robert N. Duelks sold 830 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.58, for a total value of $167,311.40. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,445 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,097,603.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Thomas P. Carey sold 12,731 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.02, for a total value of $2,559,185.62. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 13,303 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,674,169.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 62,917 shares of company stock worth $12,660,561 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Detected lightning activity, shown as colored pixels, is combined with this weather satellite image of Texas taken around 12:20 p.m. Saturday. Thunderstorms are likely to continue Sunday but only until a stalled cold front sweeps the atmospheric moisture eastward. NOAA/National Weather Service

Expecting a soggy St. Patricks Day in San Antonio? As luck would have it, the series of strong to severe storms that have whipped through South Texas since Friday should start to settle down by Sunday night.

The storms, which have produced large hail, damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall across the southern third of the state this weekend, could erupt one more time Sunday morning in South Texas. But by 6 p.m., with the exit of a weak cold front from the state, the rain threat for San Antonio subsides, according to the National Weather Service.

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Sundays temperatures start off in the low to mid 60s with the highest rain chances of day, around 60% to 70%, and a dose of patchy fog, forecasters said. After the fog dissipates mid-morning, temperatures should creep up, but only as high as 70 degrees in the afternoon. Any storms developing Sunday could produce between a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain, along with gusty north-northeast winds of 10 mph to 15 mph.

At night, look for mostly cloudy skies over San Antonio, and prepare for temperatures behind the cold front to slip to as low as 53 degrees by Monday morning, the weather service said.

What does the week look like?

A mid-level system of high atmospheric pressure will build in South and Central Texas along with drier air, according to forecasters.

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Any lingering precipitation will diminish, except right along the Rio Grande overnight (Sunday) and through the day on Monday, weather service meteorologist Keith White wrote in a forecast bulletin Saturday. Even there, chances are only in the 15% to 40% range mostly.

The National Weather Services extended forecast for San Antonio calls for cooler temperatures in the coming days. National Weather Service

Mondays forecast for San Antonio calls for partly sunny skies, but cooler temperatures prevail along with blustery northeast winds of 15 mph to 20 mph that include gusts as strong as 35 mph.

Morning temperatures around dawn will start in the mid-50s but they wont make it any higher than 67 degrees that afternoon. At night, skies turn mostly cloudy amid persistent gusty northeast winds, but temperatures sink to as low as the upper 40s by daybreak Tuesday, the weather service said.

San Antonio on Tuesday is shaping up to be mostly cloudy as winds in the afternoon become southeast and draw more atmospheric moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Temperatures climb only to around 62 degrees but, thanks partly to the return of warmer tropical air, overnight temperatures stay above 50.

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Continued seasonally cool temperatures will top out again in the 60s with some upper 50s likely in portions of the Hill Country, the weather services White wrote. But southerly flow will redevelop on Wednesday, and well begin a quick warm-up back into the upper 70s and 80s by

Thursday and Friday.

Low rain chances return

Another rain-friendly system of low atmospheric pressure is expected to cross the region Wednesday night and Thursday, bringing our next chances for widespread showers and storms, according to White.

San Antonio on Wednesday has a 20% chance of showers that could ramp up to 40% at night. East-southeast winds of 5 mph to 10 mph will help push temperatures as high as 67 degrees. Overnight, temperatures will stay above 57 degrees.

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Thursday has a 30% chance of showers under otherwise mostly sunny skies. This time, afternoon temperatures could soar to 80 degrees.
Shares of Brookfield Business Partners LP (TSE:BBU.UN  Get Free Report) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$29.00 and traded as low as C$27.94. Brookfield Business Partners shares last traded at C$28.05, with a volume of 56,913 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from C$29.00 to C$33.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th.

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Brookfield Business Partners Stock Down 0.8 %

Brookfield Business Partners Dividend Announcement

The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.41. The businesss 50-day moving average is C$29.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$24.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 245.64.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a dividend of $0.0625 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. Brookfield Business Partnerss payout ratio is presently 3.89%.

Brookfield Business Partners Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializes in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments. Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

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Enterprise Bank & Trust Co decreased its position in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 10,263 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 116 shares during the quarter. Enterprise Bank & Trust Cos holdings in Danaher were worth $2,374,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Danaher by 344.8% during the second quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 129 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of Danaher during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in Danaher in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in Danaher in the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Institutional investors own 76.71% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DHR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays lowered shares of Danaher from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $240.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Danaher from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $215.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Danaher from $255.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Danaher from $250.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $266.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Danaher news, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 23,757 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $5,986,764.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,601,704. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 23,757 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $5,986,764.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,601,704. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total transaction of $636,280.74. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,244 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,029,891.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 32,957 shares of company stock valued at $8,265,802 in the last quarter. Insiders own 11.10% of the companys stock.

Danaher Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of DHR stock traded down $3.82 on Friday, hitting $249.40. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,793,330 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,783,907. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.37. Danaher Co. has a fifty-two week low of $182.09 and a fifty-two week high of $259.00. The firms fifty day moving average price is $243.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $231.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $184.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.03, a P/E/G ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.84.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The conglomerate reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $6.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.10 billion. Danaher had a net margin of 17.26% and a return on equity of 12.25%. Danahers quarterly revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.87 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Danaher Co. will post 7.63 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a dividend of $0.27 per share. This is a positive change from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Danahers payout ratio is currently 16.90%.

About Danaher

(Free Report)

Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services that advance, accelerate, and integrate the development and manufacture of therapeutics; cell line and cell culture media development services; cell culture media, process liquids and buffers for manufacturing, chromatography resins, filtration technologies, aseptic fill finish; single-use hardware and consumables and services, such as the design and installation of full manufacturing suites; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes, and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.

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IFP Advisors Inc reduced its stake in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 13.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 46,433 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,029 shares during the quarter. IFP Advisors Incs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $6,804,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 103,104,467 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,645,072,000 after buying an additional 817,674 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 46,754,131 shares of the companys stock worth $6,936,343,000 after purchasing an additional 510,559 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 44,320,700 shares of the companys stock worth $6,717,246,000 after purchasing an additional 4,959,527 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 96,526.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 38,535,557 shares of the companys stock worth $5,840,449,000 after purchasing an additional 38,495,676 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 9.4% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 35,608,913 shares of the companys stock worth $5,193,916,000 after purchasing an additional 3,047,557 shares during the last quarter. 63.43% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Procter & Gamble

In other news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 776 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.11, for a total value of $122,693.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 4,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $768,256.49. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 776 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.11, for a total transaction of $122,693.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 4,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $768,256.49. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 22,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.32, for a total value of $3,549,040.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 36,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,943,835.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 279,063 shares of company stock valued at $43,187,745. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PG has been the topic of several analyst reports. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Procter & Gamble from $169.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Procter & Gamble from $156.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research report on Friday, March 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $168.00 price target on the stock. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $168.41.

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Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of PG opened at $161.38 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $379.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.03, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.44. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $156.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $151.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 12 month low of $141.45 and a 12 month high of $162.73.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.14. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 34.04% and a net margin of 17.60%. The company had revenue of $21.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.59 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 19th were paid a $0.9407 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.33%. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is 62.98%.

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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Klaviyos (NYSE:KVYO  Get Free Report) lock-up period will expire on Monday, March 18th. Klaviyo had issued 19,200,000 shares in its IPO on September 20th. The total size of the offering was $576,000,000 based on an initial share price of $30.00. After the end of the companys lock-up period, company insiders and major shareholders will be able to sell their shares of the company.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. William Blair reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Klaviyo in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $38.00 price objective on shares of Klaviyo in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Barclays reduced their target price on Klaviyo from $37.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 12th. Loop Capital began coverage on Klaviyo in a research report on Friday, December 8th. They set a buy rating and a $40.00 price target for the company. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Klaviyo in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Klaviyo has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $38.38.

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Klaviyo Stock Down 0.7 %

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Shares of Klaviyo stock opened at $23.73 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.91. Klaviyo has a fifty-two week low of $22.82 and a fifty-two week high of $39.47.

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Summit Partners L P purchased a new position in shares of Klaviyo during the third quarter worth $1,708,162,000. FMR LLC purchased a new stake in Klaviyo during the third quarter worth about $34,203,000. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Klaviyo during the third quarter worth about $5,111,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec purchased a new position in shares of Klaviyo in the third quarter valued at approximately $3,450,000. Finally, Brown Advisory Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Klaviyo in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,381,000.

Klaviyo Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Klaviyo, Inc, a technology company that provides a software-as-a-service platform to enable its customers to send the right messages at the right time across email, short message service (SMS), and push notifications. The company offers Klaviyo, a marketing automation platform that sends personalized and targeted messages.

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Kumba Iron Ore Limited (OTCMKTS:KIROY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 5,400 shares, a drop of 14.3% from the February 14th total of 6,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 9,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days.

Kumba Iron Ore Stock Down 12.4 %

KIROY stock traded down $1.07 during trading on Friday, reaching $7.53. 1,636 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,088. Kumba Iron Ore has a twelve month low of $6.92 and a twelve month high of $11.16. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.29.

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Kumba Iron Ore Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.316 per share. This is an increase from Kumba Iron Ores previous dividend of $0.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th.

Kumba Iron Ore Company Profile

Kumba Iron Ore Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, extraction, beneficiation, marketing, sale, and shipping of iron ore primarily in South Africa, China, rest of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Americas. The company produces iron ore at Sishen and Kolomela mines in the Northern Cape Province.

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OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE:KAR  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,880,000 shares, a growth of 11.8% from the February 14th total of 3,470,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 788,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.9 days. Approximately 3.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

OPENLANE Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of KAR traded up $0.37 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $15.99. The stock had a trading volume of 1,544,954 shares, compared to its average volume of 727,464. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The businesss fifty day moving average is $14.70 and its 200 day moving average is $14.74. OPENLANE has a 52-week low of $12.19 and a 52-week high of $16.49. The firm has a market cap of $1.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.45.

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OPENLANE (NYSE:KAR  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.03. OPENLANE had a negative net margin of 9.37% and a positive return on equity of 7.49%. The company had revenue of $391.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $392.56 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.33 earnings per share. OPENLANEs revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that OPENLANE will post 0.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at OPENLANE

Institutional Trading of OPENLANE

In other news, insider James E. Money II sold 14,822 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.83, for a total transaction of $234,632.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 44,604 shares in the company, valued at $706,081.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . In other news, insider James E. Money II sold 14,822 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.83, for a total value of $234,632.26. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 44,604 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $706,081.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CEO Peter J. Kelly bought 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $14.87 per share, with a total value of $148,700.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 323,355 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,808,288.85. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders own 2.74% of the companys stock.

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KAR. TFO Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of OPENLANE by 16,018.2% during the 4th quarter. TFO Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,773 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,762 shares during the period. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main purchased a new position in shares of OPENLANE during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of OPENLANE by 2,046.1% in the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,910 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,821 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in OPENLANE by 165.8% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,703 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,686 shares during the period. Finally, Castleview Partners LLC acquired a new stake in OPENLANE during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.76% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $13.00 target price on shares of OPENLANE in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Barrington Research reiterated an outperform rating and set a $25.00 price target on shares of OPENLANE in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $18.75.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on KAR

OPENLANE Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

OPENLANE, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital marketplace for used vehicles, which connects sellers and buyers in North America, Europe, the Philippines, and Uruguay. The company operates through two segments, Marketplace and Finance. The Marketplace segment offers digital marketplace services for buying and selling used vehicles.

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Orser Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 56.5% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,703 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 4,811 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific comprises approximately 2.2% of Orser Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Orser Capital Management LLCs holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $1,966,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TMO. Halpern Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 307.7% during the 3rd quarter. Halpern Financial Inc. now owns 53 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.06% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. Barclays lowered shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $475.00 to $555.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $515.00 to $605.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $575.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Thermo Fisher Scientific currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $596.00.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE TMO traded down $0.76 on Friday, hitting $584.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,920,147 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,682,461. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $559.33 and a 200-day moving average of $518.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.39. The company has a market capitalization of $222.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.80. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 12-month low of $415.60 and a 12-month high of $603.82.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The medical research company reported $5.67 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.64 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $10.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.73 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.99% and a return on equity of 18.78%. The companys revenue was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $5.40 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.52 EPS for the current year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.39 per share. This is a positive change from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.27%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio is 10.10%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $555.63, for a total transaction of $5,556,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 49,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,311,992.65. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Debora L. Spar sold 164 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $546.97, for a total value of $89,703.08. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at $660,192.79. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $555.63, for a total transaction of $5,556,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 49,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,311,992.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 50,277 shares of company stock valued at $28,513,384. Insiders own 0.32% of the companys stock.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Company Profile

(Free Report)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, and bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report).

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Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,740,000 shares, a drop of 9.8% from the February 14th total of 1,930,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,140,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Currently, 0.7% of the companys shares are sold short.

Lockheed Martin Stock Performance

LMT traded up $0.05 on Friday, hitting $435.82. 5,151,336 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,214,198. The company has a 50 day moving average of $435.77 and a 200-day moving average of $438.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $105.31 billion, a PE ratio of 15.82, a PEG ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 0.48. Lockheed Martin has a 12-month low of $393.77 and a 12-month high of $508.10.

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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The aerospace company reported $7.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.26 by $0.64. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 79.91% and a net margin of 10.24%. The business had revenue of $18.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.96 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $7.79 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin will post 26.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $3.15 per share. This represents a $12.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.89%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.74%.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup dropped their price target on Lockheed Martin from $540.00 to $508.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $438.00 to $472.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. UBS Group reduced their target price on Lockheed Martin from $488.00 to $475.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $513.00 to $503.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Lockheed Martin from $475.00 to $470.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lockheed Martin has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $491.92.

Read Our Latest Report on Lockheed Martin

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Lockheed Martin news, insider Gregory M. Ulmer sold 6,204 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $431.19, for a total value of $2,675,102.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 12,604 shares in the company, valued at $5,434,718.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Gregory M. Ulmer sold 6,204 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $431.19, for a total value of $2,675,102.76. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 12,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,434,718.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Maryanne Lavan sold 4,022 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $434.39, for a total value of $1,747,116.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 16,874 shares of company stock valued at $7,249,946 over the last quarter. 0.17% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lockheed Martin

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. State Street Corp grew its stake in Lockheed Martin by 0.5% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 37,972,543 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $17,950,761,000 after purchasing an additional 176,739 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Lockheed Martin by 1.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,302,719 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $9,120,920,000 after purchasing an additional 279,162 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Lockheed Martin by 1.8% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,686,937 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,302,388,000 after purchasing an additional 97,916 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Lockheed Martin by 2.5% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,451,163 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $2,045,055,000 after acquiring an additional 106,461 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in Lockheed Martin by 4.0% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,158,783 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,291,816,000 after acquiring an additional 121,358 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.26% of the companys stock.

About Lockheed Martin

(Get Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments.

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LINCOLN  Farmers are known to be some of the most pioneering, innovative and driven individuals in the world. This National Ag Day, the Nebraska Corn Board is celebrating those who work day in and day out to feed, clothe and fuel the world.

Agriculture plays a vital role in our state, the board noted in a press release. From white corn to irrigated acres to livestock and ethanol production, Nebraska ranks at the top. In 2023, Nebraska farmers produced more than 1.7 billion bushels of corn, ranking third in the nation, a testament to their time, efforts and determination in the midst of adversity in weather and climate.

At the Nebraska Corn Board, we understand the vitality of farmers and ranchers and know the impacts they make for the world each day, said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. Programs funded and partnered on by the Nebraska Corn Board ensure the future is in good hands whether that be research to help farmers expand their knowledge for innovation, finding new markets globally or promoting the industry.

National Ag Day, observed on Tuesday, March 19, celebrates all aspects of the agriculture industry. Whether it be an agronomist, engineer, salesman, scientist, economist or anyone in-between, the Nebraska Corn Board is appreciative of their efforts today to be ready for tomorrows future.

Teachers invited to Summer Soybean Institute

LINCOLN  The Nebraska Soybean Board has announced its funding support for the upcoming 2024 Summer Soybean Institute, inviting middle school and high school educators to delve into the world of soybeans.

Hosted by the University of NebraskaLincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in collaboration with local teacher leader collaboratives, this institute is scheduled for May 29-30 and July 16-18.

SSI aims to equip teachers with the necessary tools to instill a passion for soybeans in their students by delving into the intricacies of the Nebraska Soybean Story, the board noted in a press release.  acilitated by content experts from CASNR, the Nebraska Soybean Board and local teacher leader collaboratives, participants will engage in sessions designed to cultivate systematic thinking and foster a comprehensive understanding of soybeans as a system.

Participants will have the option to attend sessions at either the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte or the FEWS2 Hub on East Campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Teachers who complete all five days of the institute will receive a stipend of $1,050 along with a $250 lesson plan implementation bonus and up to $1,000 supply budget to further enrich their classrooms.

Registration deadline in March 18 and priority will be given to cross-curricular teams of teachers. For more information and details, interested parties are encouraged to visit go.unl.edu/2024ssi or email k12partners@unl.edu.

Farmers Market Handbook available in English and Spanish

LYONS  With spring comes thoughts of planting, followed by a summer of farmers markets.

In addition to selling fruits, vegetables, meat,and other farm products, farmers markets often include prepared food, arts and crafts, cut flowers, baked goods and handcrafted items. They also provide a gathering place for the community.

For those looking to start a market or considering vending, a new resource is available: the Nebraska Rural Farmers Market Handbook in both English and Spanish.

This handbook brings together ideas, inspiration, and insight from farmers markets across Nebraska, said Deborah Solie, project associate with the Center for Rural Affairs. It is the culmination of research, hands-on experience, and interviews with market managers, vendors, and professionals.

Included in the toolkit are resources such as market manager best practices, how to plan a farmers market, how to prepare for the market season, and improving and measuring market performance. Also of note are handouts for vendors on marketing, booth set-up, licensing, and more.

Markets began as a way to do business, but have evolved into a way to connect people with their communities, food producers, and the land that surrounds them, Solie said.

The toolkit can be found at cfra.org/ne-farmers-market-handbook.

Partners on this project include the Center for Rural Affairs, Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska, Nebraska Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Northeast Iowa RC&D.

Register now for Nebraska Ranch Practicum

LINCOLN  Ranchers and cattle producers interested in learning about the latest research in range livestock production from the University of NebraskaLincoln are encouraged to register for the 2024 Nebraska Ranch Practicum offered by Nebraska Extension.

The practicum will meet in eight sessions over the course of three seasons to cover the production cycle of livestock and forage resources. Participants will learn about a variety of topics, including the effective use of decision support tools to evaluate management and marketing alternatives, plant identification, range condition and grazing strategies, wildlife management, evaluation of cow body condition scores, and beef cattle production systems.

The practicum is set for June 4 and 5, July 10, Sept. 4 and 5, and Nov. 7, and Jan. 7 and 8, 2025. Classroom activities will open and close the practicum in North Platte with the remainder of the classes conducted at the University of Nebraskas Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, a working ranch with education and research facilities, near Whitman.

Registration fee is $675. The fee for a spouse is an additional $350. Registration covers educational materials, noon meals and breaks. Participants are responsible for travel and lodging expenses. The practicum can count for college or continuing education credit.

To register, submit a completed application and registration fee by May 3. Applications will not be accepted after that date. Enrollment is limited to 35 participants. Applicants will be notified of their status no later than May 20. Refunds will be issued if space is not available.

To learn more or register, visit https://nebraskaranchpracticum.unl.edu/ or contact Troy Walz at 308-872-6831 or troy.walz@unl.edu.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party responded to criticism by Hamas and other Palestinian political factions over his appointment of Mohammed Mustafa as the new prime minister.

The appointment was made after Mohammed Shtayyeh and his cabinet resigned en masse, which at the time signaled a willingness by the Western-recognized Palestinian leadership to accept a revamp that could initiate necessary political reforms to revitalize the Palestinian Authority.

Mustafa, a long-time economic adviser for the Palestinian Authority, was appointed prime minister on Thursday, March 14. According to Agence France Presse, Abbas tasked him with forming a new government with limited powers in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Hamas: Fatah Makes 'Individual Decisions'

However, other Palestinian factions said in a statement on Friday (March 15) that accusing Fatah of "making individual decisions and engaging in formal steps that are devoid of substance, like forming a new government without national consensus, reinforces a policy of exclusion and the deepening of division."

The Hamas-led statement added that Fatah's actions created a "huge gap between the [Palestinian] Authority and the people, their concerns and their aspirations."

Aside from Hamas, other signatories included the Palestinian Islamic Jihad-which has been fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza-as well as the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Palestinian National Initiative, a political party seeking to be a third option between Fatah and Hamas.

Shtayyeh resigned less than three weeks ago, citing the need for change after the Hamas attack of October 7 triggered war with Israel in Gaza.

Read Also: Ship Delivers 200 Tons of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza via Newly Opened Sea Route: Israeli Military

Fatah Response: Hamas Made Catastrophe Worse than 'Nakba'

Fatah responded to Hamas late Friday, accusing the Islamist movement in a statement of "having caused the return of the Israeli occupation of Gaza" by "undertaking the October 7 adventure," and causing a "catastrophe even more horrible and cruel than that of 1948," referring to the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 and its aftermath of displacement and expulsion, which Palestinians and their supporters call "The Nakba."

"The real disconnection from reality and the Palestinian people is that of the Hamas leadership," the Fatah statement read, further accusing Hamas of not having "consulted" the other Palestinian leaders before launching its attack on Israel.

Control of the Palestinian territories was split in 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza, and Fatah retained the West Bank, which Israeli authorities call Judea and Samaria.

Analysts have said Mustafa's closeness to Abbas would limit chances for major reform of the Palestinian Authority.

The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the war ends. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has rejected post-war plans for Palestinian sovereignty.

Related Article: Palestinian President Abbas Names Mohammed Mustafa as New Prime Minister Amid Reform Push

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Alcoholism

Note: For a schedule of meetings that address addictions in central Nebraska, call the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addictions at 308-385-5520.

PRIME FOR LIFE! an eight-hour alcohol education class for adults ages 21 and older and/or youth ages 20 and younger, sponsored by the Central Nebraska Council on Alcohol and Addictions, 3402 College St. (in Main Street Station) (class times vary). The goal of this program is to reduce the incidence of alcohol- and other drug-related problems in adults and youth, and focuses on personal risk-reduction (choices) and self-assessment specifically related to alcohol. Class also offered in Spanish. Fee charged; registration required; 308-385-5520; www.cncaa.net.

For a complete schedule of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meetings, call 877-226-3632; www.area41.org

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Back to Basics, noon, Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. Saturday; 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday; Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.

FREEDOM GROUP, 10 a.m. and 5:30 and 8:15 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 388 N. Broadwell.

Monday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Alano Group open meeting, 6:45 a.m., and Mens Stag Group, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Freely Given Womens group, 7 p.m., Blessed Sacrament, 518 W. State St.; Mustard Seed, 7:30 p.m., G.I. Free Church, 2609 S. Blaine; Young Procrastinators, 8:15 p.m., St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 422 W. Second.

ALATEEN and AL-ANON, 7:30 p.m., G.I. Free Church, 2609 S. Blaine.

Tuesday

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Afternoon Discussion, 5:30 p.m., St. Leos Catholic Church, 2410 S. Blaine; Better Sober Group, 7 p.m., Blessed Sacrament, 518 W. State (Sacrament Annex); Speakers Workshop, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.

AL-ANON, 7 p.m., Blessed Sacrament, 518 W. State (use north doors).

Wednesday

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Big Book Study, 10:30 a.m. and Alano Group Womens, 6:30 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Fellowship Group, 8 p.m., Go Figure, 707 W. First; Young Procrastinators, 8:15 p.m., St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 422 W. Second (Speakers meeting last Wednesday of month).

AL-ANON, 9:30 a.m., Alano Club, Fifth and Broadwell

Thursday

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Big Book Study, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Solutions Group, 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 202 E. Pine in Alda; Never Too Late Group, 7 p.m., United Congregational Church, 405 E. Bismark.

AL-ANON, noon, CHI Health St. Francis Alcohol/Drug Treatment Center, 2116 W. Faidley; 8:15 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.

Friday

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Alano Group open meeting, 5:30 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Young Procrastinators, 8:15 p.m., St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 422 W. Second; Step Study, 8:15 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.

AL-ANON, 10 a.m., St. Leos Catholic Church, 2410 S. Blaine; 8:15 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.

Saturday

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Resurrected Group, 8:30 a.m., Resurrection Catholic Church, 4130 Cannon Road.

AL-ANON, 10 a.m., CHI Health St. Francis Medical Plaza treatment center, Conference Room C, 2116 W. Faidley; 10 a.m., Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 518 W. State (use north doors).

Sunday

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Speakers meeting, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.

Drug addiction

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, noon and 8 p.m. daily, Unity Hall, 210 N. Wheeler. Meetings also at 6 p.m. Thursday, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, south door, 2201 N. Broadwell; 9:30 p.m. Friday, St. Pauls Lutheran Church, north door, 1515 S. Harrison; and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Messiah Lutheran Church, 122 W. Seventh.

MARIJUANA EDUCATION CLASS, a four-hour class for youth and adults ages 12 and older sponsored by the Central Nebraska Council on Alcohol and Addictions, 3402 College St. (in Main Street Station). Class aims to help participants understand the dangers of the use and addictive nature of marijuana, legal and health risks associated with the use of marijuana, reduce the incidence of alcohol- and other drug-related problems, and assist them in seeking further help if needed. Fee charged; registration required; 308-385-5520; www.cncaa.net.

Other addictions

SEX AND LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, 8 p.m. Tuesday, conference room B (lower level by elevators, enter through southwest entrance), CHI Health St. Francis Medical Plaza, 2116 W. Faidley. Information: John, 402-469-5056.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY, a 12-step, faith-based support group, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, New Life Community Church, 301 W. Second, 308-384-5369; and 7 p.m. Thursday, Third City Christian Church, 4100 W. 13th St., free childcare; 308-384-5038.

FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, classes offered by the American Lung Association at CHI Health St. Francis, available to anyone interested in quitting tobacco products. The program consists of classes over seven weeks three time a year at no cost; 308-398-5442.

YOUTH TOBACCO EDUCATION CLASS, a four-hour class sponsored by the Central Nebraska Council on Alcohol and Addictions, 3204 College St. (class times vary). This class will assist youth ages 18 and younger in learning about the legal and health risks associated with tobacco use, addiction, and offer assistance in helping them move towards quitting. Fee charged; registration required; 308-385-5520; www.cncaa.net.

Weight control, eating disorders TOPS NE 7, weigh-in, 5:15 to 6 p.m.; meeting at 6:15 p.m. Monday, First Christian Church, 2400 W. 14th. Information: Eunice Alexander, 308 384-7032. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a support group for people who want to lose weight.

TOPS NE 605, 8:30 to 9 a.m. weigh-in, meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison St. Information: Connie, 308-379-0094.

Mental health; depression

FAMILIES CARE YOUTH GROUPS  Kearney Youth Support Group ages 12-15 and ages 16-23; Grand Island Youth Support Group ages 13-23. These groups provide support to youth struggling with emotional, mental or behavioral health challenges. Open to anyone in the community in these age ranges. We will provide food, good conversation, wellness planning and strategies, games and activities. Contact Families CARE, 308-237-1102, or Karla S. Bennetts, 308-991-6099, for time, date and location.

Pregnancy, parenting and families

WATCH ME GROW, new parent and breastfeeding support, 10 a.m. to noon Monday, and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Grand Island Regional Medical Center third floor waiting room; free. Information: Tina Vettel, 308-675-4550.

BREASTFEEDING BASICS 101, 6:30 to 8 p.m., third Thursday, Grand Island Regional Medical Center, first floor conference room; fee charged. Information/registration: Tina Vettel, 308-675-4550.

HYPNOBIRTHING, alternative to traditional childbirth classes; five-week course offered two or three times a year. Information (including class times and fees): Lana McCoy, 308-390-0968 or realmccoy@charter.net

PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASSES, for expectant parents, four-week sessions offered several times a year; fee charged. Information: Sylvia, 308-850-7005.

DOULA LABOR SUPPORT, for more information or to set up an appointment, call Sarah Rose, 308-218-9533, or Jaydon Stuart, 308-850-8956.

HYPNOBIRTHING, alternative to traditional childbirth classes; five-week course offered two or three times a year. Information (including class times and fees): Lana McCoy, 308-390-0968 or realmccoy@charter.net

BABYCARE BASICS, a one-time class for expectant parents to learn about caring for their newborn, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September and November, CHI Health St. Francis conference room, 2620 W. Faidley. Information/registration: 308-398-5888.

PREPARING FOR BREASTFEEDING, a one-time class for mothers-to-be, meets every other month at CHI Health St. Francis, 2620 W. Faidley. Both expectant parents and/or support people are encouraged to attend.

EAT AT MOMS (Breastfeeding Support Group), a free open-house breastfeeding support group that meets at CHI Health St. Francis. Receive hands-on breastfeeding assistance from the hospitals lactation nurses and learn from and network with other mothers. Information: 308-398-6595.

INFANT MASSAGE CLASS, a one-time class offered one Saturday a month (call for times and dates), R&R Therapeutic Massage Clinic, 2343 N. Webb Road. Designed to benefit a child by increasing circulation, digestion, elimination and enhances sleep. Classes are for parents or any family member of newborns, ideally between 2 and 6 weeks of age. Taught by licensed massage therapists. Fee charged; information: 308-389-9177.

CHOICE FAMILY HEALTH CARE, Pap tests, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, pregnancy testing and emergency contraception provided, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, 217 E. Stolley Park Road, Suite E. Information and appointments: 308-384-7625 or www.choicefamilyhealthcare.org.

Cancer

MULTIPLE MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP, for those diagnosed with multiple myeloma, 10 a.m., third Wednesday, G.I. Free Church, 2609 S. Blaine. Group provides support, education and caring for those diagnosed and their family members. Information: Arlene Preisendorf, 308-380-8526; or Dave Scharff, 402-649-7545.

CANCER SURVIVORSHIP 101, a small, supportive group setting, helps individuals regain their physical, emotional and spiritual health after cancer treatment. Offered yearly by CHI Health St. Francis, starting the second week in March, the free nine-week holistic rehabilitation program is taught by specially trained nurses and mental health practitioners. Cancer Treatment Center, 308-398-5442.

Other illnesses

DOING DIABETES TOGETHER, meets every other month at CHI Health St. Francis, and offers support for people living with diabetes and their families. Call 308-398-5899 for dates and times.

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP, meets every other month at CHI Health St. Francis (next meeting is in July), and provides support, education and networking opportunities. Anyone affected by stroke or brain injury, including family, friends, and caregivers are welcome to attend. Contact Jennifer Niedfelt, jennifer.niedfelt@commonspirit.org, or Jessica Renee McCord, jessica.mccord@commonspirit.org, to be added to the email list and updates about the next meeting.

Alzheimers disease

ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT GROUP, 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday, the Heritage at Sagewood, 1920 Sagewood Ave. Group is designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for caregivers of people with Alzheimers or another form of dementia; Erica Long, 308-398-8005 or elong@heritage-communities.com

ALZHEIMERS AND DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP, a support group for friends and family members who care for those with Alzheimers disease or dementia, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. first Wednesday, Grand Generation Center, 304 E. Third St. Information: Brenda, 308-384-1080.

ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT GROUP, 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday, Faith United Methodist Church, 1623 Central Ave., Kearney; information, Gwen, 308-234-5600. Sponsored by the Nebraska chapter of the Alzheimers Association, the group is designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for caregivers of people with Alzheimers or another form of dementia. Local professionals will lead the sessions.

Grief

GRIEF SHARE, help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Trinity Lutheran Church, 212 W. 12th St. New 13-week sessions start several times a year (next series starts Jan. 12). Information: Eunice McCarty, GriefShare facilitator, 308-382-0753 or emccarty1955@gmail.com; griefshare.org

PAWS FOR PEACE, a bereavement group for those dealing with the loss of a beloved pet, 1 p.m. Sundays, Meeting Room A, Grand Island Public Library, 1124 W. Second St. Information: Diane Best, 308-390-6598.

Miscellaneous

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT GROUP, a group for those looking for empowerment and skill-building. This is a confidential and closed group. For meeting times and location, call 308-382-8250.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEMORY CARE, an informal support group for friends and family members of those with dementia, fourth Tuesday, CountryHouse Residences, 833 Alpha St. (next to Regency Retirement). Two times available: 1 to 2 p.m. (in person) or 5 to 6 p.m. (via Zoom). Learn tips and techniques, along with helpful resources, to help your loved one from the team at CountryHouse. Information: Brenda Wiltfong, 308-381-1988 or bwiltfong@countryhouse.net.

GRAND ISLAND PFLAG, 7 p.m. second Tuesday, YWCA, 211 E. Fonner Park Road. Group is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their families and friends, through support, education and advocacy. PFLAG is not affiliated with any ethnic, religious or political group. Information: 308-390-6560.

HASTINGS/SOUTH CENTRAL PFLAG, 7:30 p.m. second Monday, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Seventh and Marion Road, Hastings (check the Facebook page for event posting and meeting details); in person and Zoom hybrid. Informal coffee and conversation, 11 a.m. first Saturday, Blue Moon Coffee Co., 635 W. Second St., Hastings.

MEN XCEL TOGETHER (MXT), a group of men gathering in a safe and non-judgmental place, mentoring other men to be become they best they can be, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Resurrection Catholic Church, 4110 Cannon Road. Information: email menxceltogether@gmail.com or check the website at menxceltogether.com
Vietnam third largest market for Hong Kong-based Coca-Cola bottler

By Tri Duc Sun, March 17, 2024 | 2:00 pm GMT+7

Hong Kong-based Swire Pacific, a Coca-Cola bottler, says Vietnam sales of 155 million unit cases in 2023 made the country the companys third largest market in the world.

The first two were China (1,394 million unit cases) and the U.S. (336 million). One unit case consists of 24 eight-ounce servings.

Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Swire Coca-Cola, completed acquisition of the Coca-Cola franchise in Vietnam last year, Swire Pacific said.

Coca-Cola products. Photo courtesy of the company.

In terms of per capita consumption, Vietnams figure was 37 unit cases, the lowest of all six markets managed by Swire Coca-Cola. The U.S. topped per capita consumption with 260 unit cases, followed by Hong Kong with 199, Taiwan with 70, mainland China with 48 and Cambodia with 40.

Swire Coca-Cola said Vietnams performance was strong regardless of slower economic growth.

The company said it anticipated the franchise business in Vietnam to deliver steady profits. It also expected the strategic acquisition of the bottling operations in Thailand and Laos to have positive impacts soon.
Vietnam's data center infrastructure still in its infancy: Cushman & Wakefield

By Cushman & Wakefield Sun, March 17, 2024 | 7:59 pm GMT+7

Despite possessing many advantages, Vietnam is the place with the biggest shortage of data center infrastructure globally in terms of population, write Cushman & Wakefield analysts.

Cushman & Wakefield's data shows that Vietnam is the place with the biggest shortage of data center infrastructure globally in terms of population. Photo courtesy of oneSME.

Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, the data center sector continues to attract strong interest from investors. The growth rate in 2022-2023 is very strong with load capacity across the Asia Pacific region reaching more than 10 GW.

Cushman & Wakefield forecasts this growth momentum to continue in 2024, with 3.4 GW of capacity under construction and 8.8 GW of capacity in planning.

Over the past two years, we have also seen a sudden increase in storage and processing demand from the AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning) industry, driving a sharp increase in power consumption of data centers.

Specifically, the average load capacity per rack has increased to 30-60 kW and is expected to reach 100-125 kW to meet the needs of AI. The total capacity of a center has increased from 25-50 MW to 100-300 MW. The rise of AI and ML has convinced investors to quickly pour money into this sector.

Mature markets such as Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, Beijing and Shanghai are attracting the most interest, followed by Hong Kong, Mumbai and Seoul. Demand mainly comes from providing cloud services to customers from the banking, finance, insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce and government services.

Emerging markets are equally attractive with growing domestic demand. Specifically, global cloud service providers have planned to enter Auckland, Bangkok, Busan, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Pune and Taipei. Interest from operators, developers and colocation operators to invest in these emerging markets will open up many opportunities for rapid growth in the coming years.

Compared to the above-mentioned markets, Vietnam is still in its infancy. While major international cloud service providers have not yet established their presence here, several international carriers are present through cooperation with local telecommunications companies.

Projects are deployed by domestic companies on a small and medium scale in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with current total capacity of 45 MW, a growth rate of 6.63% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in the period 2022 - 2027, according to Cushman & Wakefields latest data.

"Vietnam has a rapid population growth rate with a rising middle class that accounts for more than 80% of Internet users and is still actively adopting digital banking and business activities. Despite possessing many advantages, Cushman & Wakefield's data shows that Vietnam is the place with the biggest shortage of data center infrastructure globally in terms of population," said Trang Bui, country head of the consulting company.

Table comparing population and load capacity of Vietnam and Singapore. Source: Cushman & Wakefield.

With this rapid growth, AI is likely to reshape the data center market in the coming years. However, unlike traditional data centers that always prioritize the most favorable locations, AI and ML data centers can be built within a radius of 450 km to 1,000 km from big cities that are capable of providing uninterrupted power supply.

With these requirements, the southern provinces of Vietnam could be a popular destination thanks to their abundant land fund, available power sources in industrial parks, and the country's largest cable docking stations with the country's largest bandwidth in Quy Nhon, Da Nang and Vung Tau. In addition, renewable energy accounts for 1/4 of the national energy structure, with many different energy sources, of which the wind and solar power sectors are quite developed.

For foreign investors, "data center service business" is a conditional investment and business industry in the Investment Law 2020. However, up to now, there is still no normative document providing detailed guidance on business conditions and requirements for this industry.

We predict that investors will continue to be interested in getting a piece of this pie, but the main interest will lie in a larger project scale instead of building many small facilities. The potential that the data center industry offers is clear with the explosion of AI and ML and this type of asset will also serve as a key component in supporting digital transformation across the country.

Therefore, although it is still in its early stages, we expect the data center industry will soon have effective investment attraction policies to serve investment needs in the near future.
MUSC Health announced its role as the presenting sponsor for the 59th running of the Elloree Trials on March 23. As part of its commitment to community well-being, MUSC Health also will serve as the official health care provider for the event.

Stubborn Kinda Fella Jockey Lamont Smalls raises his whip as Stubbornkindafella crosses the finish line to win the 2022 Elloree Cup. The Elloree Trials returned Sa

We are proud to partner with the Elloree Trials and play a role in promoting community wellness, said Rachel Berry, marketing and communications manager for MUSC Health Orangeburg. By supporting events like the Trials, we are able to extend our reach and provide essential health care services to every corner of our region.

As part of the sponsorship, MUSC Healths team members will be on-site, managing a hydration station and offering first-aid services to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants and attendees. This commitment to providing quality health care extends MUSC Healths mission of serving communities across South Carolina.

We are delighted to bring this cherished tradition back to our community. MUSC Healths support underscores the importance of community partnerships in making the Elloree Trials a success, and we look forward to a complementary partnership and a fantastic event, said Rhonda Shuler Adams, Elloree Trials board member.

For more information about the Elloree Trials, visit elloreetrials.com.
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Academic Engagement Network is partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to bring Black and Jewish communities together to combat rising antisemitism.

As Jewish scholars fled Nazi Germany, they unfortunately found many barriers in the U.S. academy, stated Miriam Elman, AENs executive director. But an exception were HBCUs that provided visas and employment to 50 German Jewish scholars, saving their lives. Black and Jewish communities in the U.S. forged a unique bond as a result of these experiences. This initiative will draw on this inspiring history by empowering HBCUs to help combat contemporary antisemitism and disturbing efforts by extremists to create divisions between Black and Jewish communities.

The pilot project will launch at South Carolina State University and Voorhees University this year. It will then be expanded to five to seven additional HBCUs in South Carolina in 2025-2026. Each school will provide seminars to educate and train faculty and students about the shared history of Black-Jewish solidarity, provide a deeper understanding of Jewish identity and Israel, and prepare participants to confront antisemitism.

"This grant may mark a new beginning, but the bond between our communities is not new; it is steeped in history. Our students are poised to become the future leaders of various fields, including industry, business, science and law. It is imperative that they are equipped to combat all forms of hatred, including antisemitism, said Voorhees University President Dr. Ronnie Hopkins.

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Some of the topics that will be covered in professional development seminars and student-focused sessions include:

SC States SSC partners with USC scholars to educate University 101 students on antisemitism The South Carolina State University Student Success Center (SSC) has partnered with esteemed scholars from the University of South Carolina (USC) to educate University 101 students on the historic connections and relationships between Black and Jewish communities.

The alliance in the United States between Jewish and Black communities beginning with the 1909 formation of the NAACP through 2023 efforts of solidarity. Some historic and modern-day examples include Holocaust coverage provided by Black newspapers, civil rights leaders who promoted Zionism, modern-day Black leaders who protested and continue to protest antisemitism, Jewish leadership in the founding of the NAACP, Jewish activists who fought for the Civil Rights Act and marched for equality, the Rosenwald Schools, and Jewish modern solidarity with Black Lives Matter;

A history of antisemitism, the diversity of Jewish identity, a better understanding of Israel and the role Zionism plays in Judaism, as well as ways to identify the current manifestations of antisemitism; and

Ways that communities can unite to counter prejudice and hate facing Blacks and Jews.

Top Democrat Schumer calls for new elections in Israel, saying Netanyahu is an obstacle to peace Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Israel to hold new elections, saying Thursday he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "lost his way" and is an obstacle to peace in the region amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Selected students from each campus will receive additional training and serve as ambassadors for the project as it expands to other campuses. Each HBCU also will establish incident response teams to address antisemitism swiftly and effectively and to establish best practices.

Two University of South Carolina professors, Dr. Devin Randolph and Dr. Meir Muller, will lead the effort.

Randolph said, At the heart of this approach is the emphasis on creating inclusive and diverse spaces. I see this endeavor as something truly invaluable, drawing from a legacy of resilience and aspirations for a future marked by understanding and progress.

Muller, an ordained rabbi with a PhD in education, said, We acknowledge that we are in a time when the alliance between our communities is strained, yet we believe that the foundation for solidarity is present and can be revitalized through educational endeavors.

Supported by AENs Antisemitism Education Initiative, Randolph and Muller join faculty at seven other schools of higher education who have recently received AEN grants to launch anti-semitism awareness programs and resources on their campuses and beyond. Grant recipients are eligible for up to $75,000 in support of their projects. The funding is designed to create mechanisms to educate and train campus stakeholders  including administrators, faculty and students  about the diversity of Jewish experience, historic and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism, and strategies to improve inclusivity.

AENs ICCI director, Naomi Greenspan, shared, At a time of increased antisemitism across the U.S., we are pleased to support such an important initiative to bring allies into our work against antisemitism. The work with HBCUs in South Carolina will provide an important model for similar initiatives nationwide.
Orangeburg farmer Russ Jameson earned a first-place state award in the 2023 National Corn Growers Association National Corn Yield Contest with a yield of 305.22 bushels per acre.

Jameson won with DeKalb DKC68-35 brand in the Strip-Till, Minimum-Till, Mulch-Till, Ridge-Till Irrigated Class and is one of the top corn growers in the nation.

We congratulate Russ on this outstanding achievement, said Jamie Horton, DeKalb brand manager. In todays volatile economy, its never been more important to optimize input performance with products and people you trust. We thank our farmer customers for choosing to plant DeKalb brand corn to help push yield boundaries with exclusive genetics not found with any other seed brand and a portfolio of consistent product solutions.

Farmers who planted DeKalb corn captured the most national placement awards (18 of 27), as well as 246 state level awards, 138 of which yielded 300 bushels per acre or higher. Indiana farmer Kevin Kalb achieved a record yield for his farm and the overall highest non-irrigated yield with 425 bushels per acre in the NCGA 2023 National Corn Yield Contest with DeKalb DKC68-35RIB Brand Blend.

Agriculture Jamesons place in state corn yield contest

The 58th NCGA National Corn Yield Contest continues to challenge farmers to achieve record-setting yields and improve agricultural management practices.

For a complete list of winners, visit DEKALB.com/YieldContest.
Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed construction works on the internal roads at Margham, Lehbab, Al Lesaili, and Hatta regions spanning 35 km as well as its streetlighting project.

This comes close on the heels of RTA's recent completion of the construction of internal roads at three residential districts - Al Quoz 2, Nad Al Sheba 2 and Al Barsha South 3 - extending 37 km in the three districts, which are inhabited by 12,000 persons.

RTA said it had already started additional road works at both the Lehbab and Al Lesaili to serve the needs of residents.

The Margham project covers roads extending 5 km in an area along Dubai-Al Ain Road, near Skydive Dubai. The work includes road pavements, rainwater drainage networks and streetlights. The project will serve more than 1,100 residents of the neighbourhood.

The Lehbab project scope includes paving roads extending 4 km along with infrastructure works of rainwater drainage and streetlights. It also covers lighting works of the existing streets extending 2 km at the Dubai-Hatta Road beside Lehbab Camels Racetrack. The project will serves more than 3,000 residents.

The Al Lesaili project will cover street lighting works for the existing roads at Saih Assalam near the Last Exit and Al Qudra Lakes over 7 km. The project, which serves about 2,900 residents, will focus on improving the entry/exit points of the area.

Announcing the project completion, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, said: "The project reflects RTAs commitment to upgrading the infrastructure of roads, streetlights, and rainwater drainage systems in residential communities."

"The project covers the construction of roads extending 2 km at Suhaila in Hatta in addition to infrastructure works that include rainwater drainage and streetlights," stated Al Tayer.

"It serves about 6,000 residents and improves the entry/exit points as well as the connection of the newly developed residential community with the road network," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
(Photo : LAKPA SHERPA/AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on May 31, 2021 shows mountaineers lined up as they climb a slope during their ascend to summit Mount Everest, in Nepal.

Legendary mountaineer and filmmaker David Breashears has died. He was 68.

He was found dead in his Marblehead, Massachusetts home of natural causes, his manager told the Associated Press.

"He combined his passion for climbing and photography to become one of the world's most admired adventure filmmakers," his family said in a written statement.

Breashears summited Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, five times and was the first American to reach the top of the mountain twice.

Breashears shot the IMAX documentary "Everest" during 1996's deadly climbing season. Eight people died in a blizzard that climbing season. The incident later became the basis for author Jon Krakauer's book "Into Thin Air."

In May of 1997, Breashears performed the first live audio WebCast from the summit of Mount Everest for the PBS science documentary series NOVA, according to his website.

Breashears was awarded four Emmy awards for achievement in filmmaking.

He also worked on Hollywood films such as "Cliffhanger" and "Seven Years in Tibet", according to his IMBD page.

Breashears' best-selling memoir "High Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places" documented his life as a mountaineer and filmmaker.

Toward the end of his life, Breashears turned his attention to the impacts of climate change on the Himalayas, Outside magazine reported. He founded GlacierWorks, which documented glacial retreat across the region.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(TBTCO) - Ngay 1/4/2024, Kho bac Nha nuoc buoc sang nam thu 34 truong thanh va phat trien. Trong hon 30 nam qua, tu mot Kho bac truyen thong voi 4 nghiep vu chinh (ke toan thong ke, kho quy, giao dich va ke toan tong hop), Kho bac Nha nuoc a tro thanh kho bac ien tu, tao nhieu thuan loi cho khach hang trong giao dich. Trong tien trinh chuyen oi so hien nay, Kho bac Nha nuoc ang tiep tuc thuc hien nhieu cai cach, hien ai hoa e huong toi kho bac so vao nam 2030.
Kadeem Charles should be a dead man.

On February 3, 2019, Charles, then just 20 years old, found himself looking down the wrong end of the barrel of an assault rifle, held by a masked assailant.

Already shot in the back and unable to move his legs, the frightened Sea Lots-born youngster closed his eyes and silently called out for Jesus Christ.
An elderly man visiting Trinidad from Canada has been murdered in his familys home by intruders.

The body of Hilton Smith, 75, was found on Friday on a bed. His mouth was gagged, and his feet and hands tied.
Last Tuesday, 17 prison officers and six inmates were injured at the Port of Spain prison.

Social media had described the incident as a riot, but when contacted by the Express, Commissioner of Prisons Deopersad Ramoutar downplayed the event, stating in a media release later that it was all in a days work for the prison officers who are at times, undervalued, and unappreciated. Everyones injuries were said to be minor, although all the officers involved were still sent on sick leave.
(Photo : Federal Bureau of Investigations)

Priceless ceramics were among the artifacts a Massachusetts family discovered while cleaning out their late father's attic.

Nearly two dozen stolen artifacts were recently returned to Japan after a Massachusetts family discovered the looted art while cleaning out their late father's attic.

The family - which was not identified publicly - found 22 artifacts, dating back to the 18th century and originally from Okinawa. The pieces included pottery, painted scrolls and a hand-drawn map of Okinawa, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Art Crime team.

"When taken together, they really represent a substantial piece of Okinawan history," said Special Agent Geoffrey J. Kelly of the FBI Boston Field Office.

The artifacts were accompanied by a letter confirming that they were taken from Okinawa in the final days of World War II. The family's father had served in World War II but not in the Pacific Theatre.

"They came across some of what appeared to be very valuable Asian art," Kelly said.

"They looked old and valuable. And because of this, they did a little research and they determined that at least the scrolls had been entered about 20 years ago in the FBI's National Stolen Art File."

The FBI worked with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., to prepare the art pieces for travel back to Japan. The pieces were officially handed over to Okinawa officials on March 15, but there will be a formal repatriation ceremony at a later date.

"A nation's cultural identity is really summed up in the artifacts and the history," said Kelly, explaining the significance of the repatriation.

"And without it, you're taking away their history. And the surest way to eliminate a culture is to eliminate their past. And so, it's really important for us as stewards of artifacts and cultural patrimony to make every effort that we can to see that these go back to the civilizations and the cultures in the countries where they belong."

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Eighty-one percent of current and potential students say gun policies influence their enrollment in college, which could cause trouble for Arizonas public universities as a new bill allowing concealed carry makes its way through the state House.

The bill, which is known as SB 1198, states that the governing board of any university, college or community college shall not enact of enforce any policy or rule that prohibits the possession of a concealed weapon by someone who carries a valid permit.

That bill wont be too popular among university students, however.

Most students prefer schools that restrict guns on campus, and one in three students worry at least a fair amount about gun violence, according to a new poll by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation.

That means that if SB 1198 becomes law, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University could see a hit on enrollment.

Courtney Brown, the vice president of impact and planning at the Lumina Foundation, said that was one of the reasons that the findings were so important.

Were seeing an enrollment decrease over the last 10 years, so its important to understand what barriers (students) are facing, she told the Arizona Daily Star.

The feeling of security and safety on campus is causing students not to enroll or to enroll in certain places, Brown said.

And the issue isnt partisan, according to the findings. More than three-quarters of current and prospective Republican students say campus gun policies are important to their enrollment decisions.

Additionally, students prefer more restrictive gun policies by a 5-to-1 margin. That includes 91% of Democrats, 85% of Independents and 71% of Republicans surveyed.

It was shocking, Brown said, that across age, gender, race, ethnicity and party affiliation, the data were relatively cohesive.

I think it is counter to what we tell ourselves, she noted. It shows why its so important to get these data from students.

One in three current in-person students worry about gun violence on campus, as well. Ninety-two percent of those students say that gun policies are at least somewhat important in their enrollment decisions.

Policymakers need to pay attention because if there are things that they are putting into place that are turning students away, either forcing them to leave the state to go somewhere else or making them not go at all, its going to create a problem for some of these states, Brown said.

There are plenty of students, she noted, that would rather go to school in a state that has stricter gun laws.

And if SB1198 were to become law, then public universities like the UA would need to consider further beefing up security measures. That could be especially hard in Tucson, as the UA is currently facing a $177 million deficit.

There are things that universities can do to attract students and make sure that they have a sense of security, Brown noted. How do we make sure they feel secure? How do we bulk up the security on our campuses?
In 1900, seven-year-old Clara Osborne and her father, who was mining near the Colorado River, sailed down the waterway from Topaz, California, to Toprock, Arizona, on a raft manned by Mohave Indians.

I remember on our trip from Topaz, a few miles downstream from Needles, California, Clara recalled in a 1978 interview. we came through great cliffs on both sides of the river, and great whirlpools, sandbars, and very treacherous waters for a short distance. At that time, being young, I wasnt aware of the great danger, but numerous boats and people had gone down in these whirlpools.

She may have seen a handful of houses and a trading post along the undeveloped shoreline but little else. Yet something must have attracted the young girl to the area as she eventually made her home in this sparsely populated part of the desert and helped develop it into the viable, prosperous town now called Parker, Arizona.

Born April 11, 1894, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Clara was still a child when her family moved to Pasadena, California, where she attended school. She married in 1920 but the union only lasted a few years. She headed to Parker where her family still had mining interests.

Founded in 1908, the name of the town is attributed to several individuals such as Ely Parker, who was the first Native American to hold the post of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and Earl Parker, who surveyed the area for the Santa Fe Railroad. Regardless of its namesake, Parker lies on Colorado River Indian Reservation land that is home to Mohave, Navajo, Hopi and Chemehuevi (a branch of the Paiute) peoples.

By 1930, Clara was working as executive secretary for the Northern Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and had great interest in building a bridge across the Colorado River to expand business possibilities in her adopted town. She had the support of politicians such as Nellie Bush, who was serving in the Arizona House of Representatives, along with Arizona Congresswoman Isabella Greenway.

In 1932, she was given unlimited authority to create a plan that would bring the bridge project to fruition.

Because the bridge was to be located on the Indian reservation, Clara had to gain approval from the Colorado River Tribal Council as well as the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Bureau of Public Roads, U.S. Bureau of Army Engineers, as well as both the California and Arizona Highway Departments.

The bridge project was a success and in September 1937, as more than 10,000 people cheered her on, Clara cut a copper and gold ribbon dedicating Parker Bridge that spanned the sometimes turbulent waters of the Colorado River.

Clara realized she enjoyed her brush with politics during the bridge campaign. From 1942 until 1950, she served as representative for Yuma County in the Arizona House of Representatives, and served again from 1958-62.

Inheriting her fathers interest in mining, she chaired the Mines and Mining Committee, the first woman to do so, earning the title The Mining Lady. She also served on committees such as Agriculture and Irrigation, Highways and Bridges, Fish and Game, Ways and Means, Livestock, and Public Lands.

Parker was still a sleepy desert community with little industry to keep the population growing. The town had not had a local bank since the 1920s, so Clara convinced a banker to start a new one.

During World War II, she persuaded federal officials to mine strategic war metals found in the area. She worked with the Civilians Conservation Corps to establish a camp at Lake Havasu to develop wildlife and recreational facilities. As the driving force to make Parker, and the surrounding regions, a sustainable and progressive part of Arizona, Clara was instrumental in bringing electricity to the rural parts of northern Yuma County.

When she retired from the legislature in 1962, Clara said she hoped to expand the mining interests that she still held. Back in 1938, her Lion Hill Mine was said to have yielded the highest gold content ever found in Arizona.

By the late 1970s, the people of Parker realized how much Clara had done to improve their town. To show their appreciation, on Jan. 4, 1979, they renamed Parker Bridge the Clara Osborne Botzum Bridge.

Eighty-five-year-old Clara was driven across the bridge in an old but shinning 1925 Model T automobile, although Clara would adamantly argue, Nobody ever does something of great moment alone. It takes people working together.

With Yuma so far from Parker, Clara had always wanted to see the northern part of Yuma County become a separate district. Her dream came to fruition in 1983 when La Paz County became Arizonas 15th county, the only county established after statehood. Parker is the county seat.

That same year, the Arizona Senate honored Clara with the Spirit of Arizona Award for her spirit of independence, strength of character, sense of accomplishment and a special quality of caring for others.

On a trip to San Diego in 1986, 91-year-old Clara died.

Her obituary called her the epitome of a pioneer. She was very forward-thinking. She wanted to be at the forefront of things, She sought change. She had worked for over 50 years to improve the lives of the citizens of Parker.

By 2012, the Clara Osborne Botzum Bridge was showing signs of age and deterioration and a new bridge was constructed to keep the flow of traffic coming into the town of Parker. Years before, a sign had been erected near the old bridge that read, In tribute to the honorable Clara Osborne Botzum of Parker, pioneer citizen of Arizona whose untiring advocacy of this vital link between two states culminated in its opening in September 1937. She went on to serve 12 years in the Arizona House of Representatives in the highest tradition of public service. So designated this 5th day of January, 1979 by the Arizona Transportation Board.

As Arizonas former Governor Rose Mofford once said of the energetic and dedicated Clara Botzum, She was one in a million.
A Tucson-based nonprofit working to build a village of tiny houses for unsheltered people had its homes delivered earlier this month.

The Homing Project, which was founded in 2021 by a former El Rio doctor and her son, has been working to bring an affordable housing project to Tucson.

And on March 1, a big step towards that goal was made when The Homing Project received 15 tiny homes that eventually will be placed on an empty lot near North Stone Avenue and East Glenn Street.

Dr. J. Kristin Olson-Garewal and her son, Raj Garewal, formed The Homing Project based on a Pallet shelter model thats been used in cities across the country, but mostly in southern California.

Pallet, a social purpose company, originally built disaster shelters, but communities across the country have used the tiny homes to quickly get people off streets and into stable housing.

Features and amenities

The organization is keeping the exact location under wraps due to advice received from other tiny-home villages in California, said Olson-Garewal, a doctor for 45 years who also served as medical director for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state Medicaid program.

Were not actually giving the location because the experience of people who establish these villages (is) you end up having encampments outside of them, for people who were expecting to apply there, Garewal-Olson said. We wont be having an application process there. Or owning our own application process, they will be going through the citys continuing care.

While there is still work to be done with the city, regular meetings with Tucsons Planning and Development Services department have helped to work out any bugs before an official application is submitted to the city, Olson-Garewel says.

And then, hopefully thatll be by May at the most, well be finished and ready to start work on the site, she said.

The Homing Project bought 15 of the 64 square-foot pallet houses, which can be deconstructed and assembled in about 45 minutes, Olson-Garewal said. The beds fold up, to help maximize space, and each unit includes electricity, heating and air conditioning.

The homes have better insulation than what they originally came with to help lower electricity costs, she said.

We set one up in the Ward 3 parking lot during a week in July and ran the air conditioner, Olson-Garewal said. We could only get it down to 80 (degrees) during the day, and it was going constantly. So, we realized we have quite an electric bill.

The village will be for unhoused people who have behavioral health issues or are domestic violence victims, conditions commonly affecting the population, Olson-Garewal said. And it will be limited to those 25 years or younger, as well as 50 years and older.

This is for two reasons: a grant The Homing Project had received that had those restrictions, but also to help the most vulnerable.

(Those under 25) in a way, are the newest, particularly the aging-out of foster care, Olson-Garewal said. They leave foster care, and they dont have a home.

The Homing Project teamed up with Catalytic Health Partners, an Arizona company that works with people who tend to overutilize traditional medical services  primarily due to homelessness  to provide services for residents. Its also amassed a team of volunteers to help with fundraising, community outreach, planning, development and more.

The village will have 24/7 security, a double fence and scheduled volunteers and support staff will visit regularly, Olson-Garewal said. The homes themselves are secure, she says, with locking doors, and will offer on-site social services, food, restrooms, showers and laundry.

The hope, Olson-Garewal said, is for tenants to stay for two to four years, until they find a more stable housing situation; but theres no time limit. This is because, when The Homing Project visited similar villages in California, a common issue there was too quick of expectations on rehousing their tenants.

At the end of six months, nobody had moved. And they realized that housing was the problem. There was nowhere to send them, she said of the villages they visited. They said, so dont open this with the idea that youre going to, you know, just having this great flow through. You may help people for two to four years... Were living with that expectation.

There is no plan currently to charge rent, Olson-Garewal said. The village will offer services to guests like 12-step programs, a life curriculum, budget-balancing training, rental contract education and housekeeping, but tenants will be responsible for their chores while they live there, including helping cook communal meals.

Most of (the other villages) have meals delivered from some kind of soup kitchen, whereas were going to actually have our residents doing their own cooking, Olson-Garewal said. But cooking group meals, communal meals, with initially a chef, teaching them. Not doing the cooking, but just being there to teach them.

Neighbors feel powerless

Jane Evans, a neighbor of the soon-to-be village who, in the past, has been involved in her Keeling Neighborhoods homeowners association, said she is cautiously optimistic about the prospect of the village moving in nearby.

This is not a sentiment that other neighbors share, however, Evans recently told the Star.

I mean, (the neighbors) understand The Homing Project, and they dont think its a bad project. But its like, hey, wait a minute. Why are you inundating our neighborhood with all these homeless people? Evans said. Its not this feel-good, yippie, we get to have it in our neighborhood kind of thing... When I talk to people, nine times out of 10, if not 10 out of 10 say well, I wouldnt want to live next door to it.

This inundating feeling is due to a day shelter for homeless men that the city recently began operating nearby, Evans said, the Poverello House of Tucson, which moved to a new location within Evanss neighborhood.

In addition to fears of a similar situation to the Poverello House unfolding, Evans says her neighbors top-of-the-list concerns surround neighborhood home values, safety and the potential attraction of more homeless to the area.

If the people that are going to be living in these tiny homes leave to go to the (gas station), I can guarantee you that at least once on that three-block strip theyre going to be confronted by someone wanting to sell them drugs. Its normal and happens all the time, Evans said. If those people walked down through and they buy drugs, then thats negating all of the good stuff that The Homing Projects trying to do.

Weve been told by an appraiser and two realtors, that with the properties in our neighborhood, either one of them are considered a nuisance property, and our property values will drop by 10 to 15 percent. Thats just a given, Evans said. And this is a low-income neighborhood... (People) dont want to move, and where are they going to move to?

Despite this, Evans still hopes people take advantage of The Homing Projects village because it seems like a great opportunity.

(The neighbors) are, in theory, powerless to do anything about it. So all we can do is hold The Housing Project accountable to what they say they do, Evans said. They need to do more than just say, isnt this great? Look what were doing, and then go home to their happy neighborhood and say, look, everything is perfect.

I want to be supportive on this because as a good human being, I think I should be, but... I think its extremely important for The Homing Project and all of their volunteers to understand, that they are putting a burden on us the neighbors, Evans said.
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

When choreographer Edwaard Liang was first offered the chance to create a new version of Romeo & Juliet for Tulsa Ballet, he did not quite know the magnitude of what he was about to do.

For one thing, it was the first time I had ever created a full-length story ballet, Liang said, and I really didnt have a grasp of what an epic undertaking, and what an incredible opportunity, that is. Its something of a rare thing to get the chance to create a new Romeo & Juliet, and I didnt really know that at the time.

Thats why I am so grateful for the belief that Marcello (Angelini, Tulsa Ballets artistic director) had in me, and for the guidance I received from him and Daniela (Buson, the companys assistant artistic director) in tackling something like this, he said.

Liangs Romeo & Juliet debuted in 2012 and created a stir in the dance world that brought some of the worlds leading dance critics as well as fellow choreographers to Tulsa to see it.

The Tulsa Worlds review praised it as a masterful work of dance theater, one that tells the story of Shakespeares star-crossed lovers with an economy and artistry that delivers all the thrilling beauty of ballet and all the emotional power of drama.

Tulsa Ballet revived the work once before, in 2016, and presented a filmed version of that production during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when live performances were curtailed.

The company will present Liangs Romeo & Juliet this coming weekend, with four performances at the Tulsa PAC.

Based on William Shakespeares tragic tale, the ballet will feature sword-fighting scenes created by award-winning fight choreographer J. Steven White that give this aspect of the story a true sense of danger.

Liang also set the ballet to Sergei Prokofievs 1940 score, which for him was one of the reasons why he wanted to create this work.

Prokofievs Romeo & Juliet is without a doubt my favorite ballet score, he said. I grew up listening to it, and I cant imagine anyone who wouldnt jump at the chance to be able to create movement to this masterpiece of music.

The title roles will be danced by principal dancers Jun Masuda and Nao Ota at some performances, and by principal dancer Jaimi Cullen and Aubin Le Marchand at others.

Im fairly certain that this is the first time any of the lead dancers have been in this ballet, Liang said. But I was very happy to see how beautiful both couples are in their process, and Im very excited to hear how the performances will go, because they both look incredible, and they were so open and hungry and yearning to really just take a bite into this juicy story and these roles.

Liang, whose choreographic career has seen him work with such companies as Bolshoi Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Kirov Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, said he always enjoys working with Tulsa Ballet.

It really is a jewel of a company, he said. The repertoire it has is pretty amazing, and that in turn attracts world-class, bold and fearless talent. When the company performs on tour, audiences are always shocked at how good it is. But that is what Tulsa audiences see all the time.

Liang has not been able to come to Tulsa to oversee rehearsals for this production. He is finishing up his 11th season as artistic director of Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio, while at the same time preparing for his new job as artistic director of the Washington Ballet in Washington, D.C.

So Im kind of working three jobs simultaneously, he said, laughing. I have Romeo & Juliet going in Tulsa, were getting ready to open a triple bill with Ballet Met here in Columbus, and then Im going to Washington for a week of meetings.

Ive had to limit all my working with Tulsa Ballet to Zoom sessions, Liang said. Since the pandemic, we have all adapted to making use of this technology as effectively as we can, but it will never replace working with dancers in the room. Dance is an art form that has to be taught person-to-person, because nothing can replicate the energy, the communication you have when youre dealing with people face-to-face.

The main reason why Im comfortable working remotely this time is that everyone involved in staging the ballet there in Tulsa either worked with me when it was originally created or actually danced the roles, he said.

That includes Arman Zazyan, who was the companys principal male dancer for more than a decade, and who performed as Romeo in the 2016 production. He will officially retire from performing at the end of this years Romeo & Juliet, where he will be performing the role of Tybalt, Juliets hot-tempered cousin whose actions set the storys tragic outcome into motion.

Since creating Romeo & Juliet, Liang has gone on to choreograph a number of other full-length ballets, including Dorothy and the Prince of Oz, which Tulsa Ballet premiered in 2019, as well as new productions of such classic stories as Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle.

And while those subsequent works gave him more experience in storytelling through movement and realizing large-scale productions, Liang said he is proud of his Romeo & Juliet.

Ive tweaked a few things over the years, but ultimately Im very pleased with it, he said. I think I accomplished what I set out to do, which was to create a universally recognizable version of this classic story that could stand the test of time, and yet still contain little glimpses of how I wanted to reimagine this story.

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Many years ago, I was approached about a job opportunity that sounded exciting. While I loved my job, I thought it was worth pursuing and even got to the point of salary negotiation.

I was ultimately told they wouldnt meet my salary requirements because it would cost more to have me on staff due to my being a woman and being susceptible to pregnancy.

Suddenly, I saw the job for everything it was.

Long hours, lack of flexibility and sacrificing a key part of my identity were not worth any salary increase they could give me.

Hard stop.

While Id love to say that companys response was an anomaly, the reality is I know a lot of business owners have a similar perspective.

This company just had the poor judgment to say it out loud.

Yet, companies nationwide continue to struggle to fill open positions and retain star employees.

Employers think they cant offer flexibility, part-time options or creative ways to meet the needs of women in the workforce.

They are wrong.

My company has been in business for 10 years, and we have always had an all-woman staff.

We offer an incredible amount of flexibility with unlimited PTO, a hybrid work environment and competitive benefits. It took several years for us to fine-tune the formula, but weve never faltered on demanding excellence for our clients.

Caregiving is not just for children

In Resolute PRs recent study of Oklahoma workers, we found that women continue to be less likely to be employed, in part because of caregiving roles.

The study can be found at www.resolutepr.com/workforce-research-download/.

Raising children and caring for aging parents are just a few of the demands that statistically fall to women, both of which can be unpredictable and taxing.

However, this is not just a womens issue.

According to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, 22% of the 2019 U.S. labor force was serving as a caregiver  and that was 5 years ago.

So even if they arent saying it, a fifth of your employees are likely struggling to balance work with the need to care for others.

Look for options to provide flexibility in work schedules or remote work to ease the burden for these employees.

If nothing else, fix the basics

Our survey also asked women about important factors they consider when applying to traditionally male jobs, like manufacturing roles.

Fair pay, training and opportunities for advancement were at top of the list, followed by workplace harassment-related policies.

However, 49% felt they needed to call out thoughtful amenities like a dedicated womens restroom rather than the shop bathroom.

All of these factors are hallmarks of a strong employer and basic policies employees expect, regardless of gender. Yet companies have been slow to adapt and prioritize these basic issues.

Invest in their future

Particularly for Millennials and Gen Z workers, employees are more likely to stay with companies where they dont feel like just another number.

The attitude of everyone is replaceable may be true in theory, but it also means you are willing to let go of a strong employee simply because of life circumstances.

Ask yourself, who are you replacing them with? What knowledge and skills will our team be losing?

Fully covering an employees maternity leave for 10 weeks may seem excessive, but consider that Oklahoma is the fifth-worst state for paid family leave.

In fact, 73% of Americans do not have access to paid family leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which means they have two options:

Figure out how to survive on less income and decide if returning to work is necessary, especially with the cost of childcare. Or, women are forced to return to work early, risking their mental and physical health.

With every generation of working women, we leave the landscape a little better than how we found it.

This demand for flexibility and reminder that employees are humans first feels like the greatest contribution yet.

We are seeing companies implement bold and purposeful strategies that dont just benefit women, but benefit society as a whole.

Lets celebrate that innovation and change in workforce culture through Womens History Month.

 Nicole Morgan is CEO of Tulsa-based Resolute PR.



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The fact that Oklahoma has an ongoing shortage of nurses was not really a motivating factor in Diane Mbetsis decision to become one.

Nurses have this hands-on experience with patients that doctors dont really get. Thats what solidified the choice, said the Broken Arrow High School graduate, who considered different options for entering the medical field.

At the same time for Mbetsi, a Rogers State University nursing student, its a good feeling knowing that she wont lack for job opportunities.

In fact, theres a strong chance she already knows where her first nursing job will be.

Mbetsi is one of the first students to take advantage of a new extended campus partnership between Claremore-based RSU and Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, which officially launched last fall.

Among the many benefits for both partners, the hospital will have a ready pool of nurses like Mbetsi on hand from which to hire.

Mbetsi is among 32 students currently taking classes on site at the hospital, including a cohort of 16 that just started this spring semester.

The RSU Saint Francis campus is located at Saint Francis main hospital, where it features the only hospital-based simulation center in the region.

As part of the partnership, Saint Francis hired five full-time faculty members.

Part of a Saint Francis strategic initiative to recruit registered nurses through academic partnerships, the program is being underwritten for the first three years by a grant from The William K. Warren Foundation.

To account for retirements and future growth, the health system needs to hire over 600 nurses a year.

Saint Francis goal is to hire 80% of the graduates from its partnerships, including with RSU.

Carla Lynch, director of health sciences at RSU, said the partnership allows RSUs nursing program to take on more qualified applicants, helping overcome the need for space and faculty.

Its allowed us to expand our capacity so less students who are qualified are out there just waiting to get in, she said. Every admission cycle, we have had to turn away qualified applicants.

The high fidelity simulation center, also available for use by hospital doctors and staff, is state of the art and provides students with real world medical scenarios.

It includes various patient mannequins, along with four suites that simulate inpatient rooms in medical/surgical nursing, critical care, labor and delivery, trauma and pediatrics settings.

Another student taking advantage of the partnership, Michael Lamont, wants to be a pediatric nurse.

The hope was that I will get my foot in the door and I would be a little more familiar with a unit so when its time to get a job, I can come on and its not new to me, he said.

A Bakersville, California, native, Lamont moved to Tulsa, where his mother lives, to attend nursing school.

Like Mbetsi, he wanted a medical career, and chose nursing because of the personal interaction with patients.

Mbetsi is a native of Cameroon who lived several years in Spain before moving to Oklahoma. She would like to be an intensive care or ER nurse, she said.

In addition to her classes, she works as a medical assistant at Saint Francis.

The option to attend the Saint Francis campus is available to juniors and seniors working toward a bachelors of science degree in nursing at RSU.

The ultimate plan is to serve 64 nursing students  32 juniors and 32 seniors  at Saint Francis annually.

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Beginning with a 5 a.m. wake-up call and ending at 9 p.m., when all lights had to be off, a typical day at the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls was always full.

Classes started after breakfast, with the students learning the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. Typing, stenography and more workplace-oriented subjects were also taught.

Time was even allotted to develop special interests and talents, which were encouraged.

The student I was researching last semester  she loved to play piano, and so she had piano recitals, Cecilia Gutierrez said. So they were able to explore their interests in music if they felt that desire.

A University of Tulsa senior who graduates this May, Gutierrez has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about students at the former boarding school, which was located in pre-statehood Muskogee.

Its part of an ongoing research project at TU thats delving into a less well-known chapter of university history.

Before TU was TU

The University of Tulsa actually traces its origins to the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls.

The small boarding school, which opened in 1882, operated for 12 years in Muskogee before closing and transitioning into Henry Kendall College. The college relocated to Tulsa after statehood in 1907, and its name was eventually changed to the University of Tulsa.

Organizers behind the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls Project  a partnership between TU and the Muscogee Nation Historic and Cultural Preservation Department  are hoping to shed more light on this largely forgotten piece of TUs past.

The goal is to identify students

of the boarding school while examining its impact on their lives.

And what project participants have learned so far, they say, has them excited about the possibilities for further research.

These student lives have been erased

It had been on my mind for years that we didnt know who the students at the school were or what their experiences at the school were like, said Laura Stevens, TUs Chapman professor of English, who helped start the effort in 2020.

Beyond the fact that most were from the Muscogee Nation, almost nothing was known about the students themselves.

However, since the project began, more than 80 names have been collected of people who might have attended the school.

Project team members, including several TU graduate and undergraduate students, are working to find living descendants to help fill in their stories.

Biographies compiled of a few students were recently posted on the project website, and more will be added as the research continues.

Midge Dellinger, a Muscogee Nation oral historian, is co-investigator on the project alongside Stevens and TU English professor Sara Beam.

Its a history that just really has been erased, Dellinger said. These students lives have been erased. For me thats really at the core of this project  bringing these lives to the forefront for the TU faculty and students, the Tulsa community and the Muskogee community.

Troubling legacy

Residential schools for Native children were common throughout North America from the early 1800s through the 1970s.

Today, they are recognized more than anything for their troubling legacy. Instruments of assimilating Natives into white culture, they are blamed for contributing to the widespread loss of tribal languages, land and culture, the harmful effects of which are still being felt.

However, while the Muskogee school fits within that misguided tradition, it was not part of the federal Indian boarding school system, which was the main driver of a national assimilation policy, project organizers said.

Dellinger said: We know that great trauma was inflicted on our Indigenous ancestors through this system. But each school has its own story, and each individual has their own story. Thats how were approaching it.

Dellinger said a regular question asked about the project is whether the researchers have found evidence of abuse at the school, as has been reported at other Indian boarding schools.

They havent, she said.

But if we do, we will report that, Dellinger said.

A director who cared

Based on whats been learned so far, including from letters and other sources, the students experiences at the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls seem to have been overwhelmingly positive.

And much of the credit for that has to go to the schools director, Alice Mary Robertson.

A daughter of Presbyterian missionaries who later became the first Oklahoma woman elected to Congress, Robertson, known to students as Miss Alice, had close family ties to several tribes and was an advocate for Native rights.

Robertsons family papers, which fill more than 66 boxes in TUs McFarlin Library Special Collections, have been the focus of the first research stage.

Further setting the school apart from others was that the tribe was given a say in it.

The Muscogees were progressive about education and had established their own educational system by then.

Robertson had to be certified by the tribe before she was allowed to teach in the school.

But for all the positives, the school still mirrored some of the thinking of the times.

Its clear the curriculum was in English, Stevens said. The project of the school was to make sure the students were fluent in English and to help them individually flourish in this world. But the bigger picture is that we did a lot of damage to Indigenous cultures and communities.

Breaking gender norms

Gutierrezs efforts this semester have focused on learning about teaching and learning practices at the school.

The Presbyterian School for Indian Girls reflected the gender norms of the period, with a chief goal being to help the girls become good wives and mothers, she said. But it wasnt limited to that.

They taught the girls clerical work like typewriting and stenography, Gutierrez said. That was unique, because in most boarding schools and gender education, girls were taught how to clean and cook and stuff like that. They were taught that at PSIG, but they were also equipped to take on roles in like office spaces.

From my research, its stuck out that PSIG was intentional about providing those kinds of opportunities, as well, she said.

For providing the funding to allow students such as Gutierrez to join in the research opportunity, project organizers are thankful to the university, Stevens said.

Student researchers also include Abby Rush, along with sisters Abby and Hannah Ridley.

Rush, a graduate student at TU and member of the Hidatsa tribe, said her great-grandparents were products of a boarding school and that she was interested in learning what life was like for others.

Rushs research subject this semester is the late Susanne Barnett Strouvelle, a former PSIG student.

Highlighting the effort for Rush was getting to meet Strouvelles great-grandson from New York and pair what shes learned with details provided by the family.

Susanne was just a really interesting woman, Rush said. She lived a full life. She was a socialite and attended a lot of social events. There are scholarships that are a major part of her legacy.

Most critical to the projects successful start has been the participation of the tribe, Stevens said.

And the tribe appreciates the invitation to partner.

The fact that it is a collaborative project  that doesnt happen very often. So this is significant and welcomed, Dellinger said.

Too often, Indigenous peoples dont get to be part of the writing of their own history.

PSIG Project Project researchers are hoping to contact descendants of students who attended the former Presbyterian School for Indian Girls in Muskogee. Learn more about the project at psigproject.org.

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Ginnie Graham Tulsa World Editorials Editor Follow Ginnie Graham 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

Twelve years ago, Jim McCarthy was asked by a local philanthropic foundation to look at the operations at the Community Health Connection to determine if its business plan was sustainable. He didnt have good news.

It was clear there was no business model, but there were a lot of people with good intentions, McCarthy said. There wasnt a business plan or structure. Providers came and went with no set business hours, which made scheduling impossible.

CHC started as a volunteer organization and nonprofit in 2003; that was its history. As it became a Federally Qualified Health Center and business, it still had that volunteer mentality. It was nothing anyone was doing wrong. They just didnt make that transition.

The health clinics board asked him to take on the CEO role for a year. Then, the unexpected happened.

I really got the bug. It was so different than anything Id done in my career, and Ive done diplomatic and international work, he said. Ive watched as someone comes into the clinic not well, with their head hanging down and expecting to be treated like a second-class person. Seeing that person head out of the clinic with their head held high with a solution to their problem after someone listened and helped them, well, it still swells me up.

There are little miracles happening at our clinics every day. People want to be good, productive, happy and valued members of a community. But they cant do that if they are not well.

Since becoming CEO, McCarthy has grown the Tulsa health care clinic from a budget of about $3 million with 30 employees to a budget of $14 million and 150 employees. Unique patients went from about 2,000 a year to 15,000 last year and expanded from only offering family medicine into an array of services including pediatrics, dental, OB/GYN, family planning and behavioral health.

At the end of March, the 73-year-old is retiring. Kate Neary from Tulsa CARES will be taking over as CEO.

I have put my heart and soul and blood, sweat and tears into this organization. Im thrilled to say it will be in good hands, he said.

Neary says she is dedicated to working with marginalized and underserved communities to advocate and elevate their voices.

Its such a privilege to come into an organization that has grown so much and is in a really strong place, Neary said. I want to continue the momentum and make sure CHC a premiere health care system in Tulsa.

McCarthy came into the position with no experience in the health care industry. An attorney, he worked for CITGO for 25 years as vice president of government and public affairs followed by time as a vice president at SemGroup. He became a consultant with a reputation as a strong organizational manager with community relations expertise.

In 2010, he was asked by former Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard to consult on an initiative that became Project Schoolhouse. It ultimately closed 14 school buildings and the converted nine others for grade reconfigurations. This marked the first time McCarthy applied his skills to a public entity.

I learned the philosophy of a for-profit organization is very different, the drive is very different, McCarthy said. In a for-profit organization, you have a strategic plan based on your people, finances and business environment in which you operate. Thats certainly not the case in public education.

Its a stagnant environment  with a constant churning of new kids each year. Also, public education has been given the task of being the social network for kids. That is never going to happen in a for-profit organization. You are not going to see companies doing the laundry of their employees because there might be a high number of spouses out of work. But that happens in public schools.

Within months of finishing Project Schoolhouse, McCarthy was asked to look at the Community Health Connection.

His first actions were to set business hours and a budget for supplies. He closed a deteriorating east Tulsa location to build up services at the Kendall-Whittier site, 2321 E. Third St. Partnerships were formed with the University of Oklahoma to develop the OB/GYN and pediatric services, which are now fully operated by the clinic.

In 2016, the clinic was awarded the federal Title X grant that provides funding for family planning, contributing to Tulsa Countys improvement in the drop of teen and unintended births.

Expansion of services happened with the opening of clinics located near Union Public Schools Rosa Parks Elementary, 13702 E. 46th Place South, and Ellen Ochoa Elementary, 12020 E. 31st St.

On the 16 metrics measured by the federal government on FQHCs, the clinic exceeds the state average in 14 measures and the national average in 12 categories.

All this expansion and change is difficult for an organization to absorb. This organization has met the challenges over and over again, McCarthy said.

McCarthy says his professional career has informed on what it takes for a community to attract businesses.

Ive worked for big corporations and brought big players to the state. They want to know about education, health care and quality of life, he said. If you want to make big things happen, youve got to fix those three things.

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More than 3,000 foreigners bought residential properties in Vietnam from 2015 to the end of the third quarter of 2023, with 90 percent of them purchasing condominiums.

Up to 60 percent of these buyers are buy-to-gain investors, according to a report by realty consultancy firm CBRE Vietnam.

Buying homes and holding them for capital appreciation remain the most popular strategy for foreigners purchasing residential real estate in Vietnam.

Very few non-Vietnamese, mainly long-term residents, purchase residential real estate for self-use and a few of them are renting out their apartments.

CBRE Vietnams report revealed that 75 percent of foreign buyers of residential properties in Vietnam were from developed Asian markets.

Starting in 2015, the Vietnamese government began removing barriers to foreigners acquisition of real estate in the country.

Since the relaxation of restrictions on foreign property ownership, buyers from Asian markets, such as China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, have emerged as the biggest investors in Vietnamese residential property.

Reasons for this include their proximity to Vietnam, the pre-existing presence in Vietnam of large real estate developers from these markets, and the Southeast Asian countrys potential for price growth relative to their home market.

Foreigners have shown significant interest in condominiums, particularly high-end ones boasting prime locations, competitive pricing, and potential for appreciation in value, both in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, an expert in commercial real estate in Ho Chi Minh City, said it is normal to allow foreigners to buy homes in Vietnam.

The new policy has helped stimulate foreign investment in the country, specifically in high-end apartments in large cities and tourist areas, Tuan added.

The 2014 Housing Law, which took effect in 2015, permits any foreigner allowed to enter Vietnam to purchase residential properties in the country.

While there is no limit on the number of units a foreigner can buy in Vietnam, there is a cap on the percentage of foreign ownership in a project.

This is set at a maximum of 30 percent per residential building or no more than 250 landed properties in an administrative unit.

Leasehold tenures are set at 50 years and are extendable subject to applicable laws but they cannot exceed an additional 49 years or be converted to freehold tenures should the foreign owner have a Vietnamese spouse.

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Facing stiff competition to attract tech giants, Vietnam's Prime Minister has instructed government agencies to develop creative solutions to convince major companies like Intel, Foxconn, and Samsung, which already have significant investments in the Southeast Asian country, to stay on board.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's conversation with an expert shed light on recommendations for the government, spanning short-term and long-term objectives to retain and attract major players in the tech industry.

Nguyen Van Toan, vice-chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, proposed that the central government not only improve the investment environment but also devise strategies to offset the impact of the global minimum tax (GMT) for investors.

This, he suggested, is essential not only for retaining existing technology groups but also for enticing new companies in the future.

Global technology groups play a pivotal role in leveraging Vietnam's human resources and rare-earth reserves, fostering the gradual development of the local semiconductor industry over the coming years, Toan remarked.

The GMT, a regulation imposing a 15-percent effective minimum tax rate on all multinational enterprises with revenues exceeding 750 million (US$817 million), has been in effect in Vietnam since January 2024.

Toan contended that this application of GMT diminishes Vietnam's historical tax advantage, posing challenges to its attractiveness as an investment destination.

He revealed that the government has tasked relevant agencies with finding solutions to apply the global minimum tax in a way that retains existing foreign investors.

However, the main obstacle lies in the slow adaptability of Vietnam's legal system, which cannot be amended swiftly enough to accommodate the new GMT regulations, requiring thorough review in multiple parliamentary meeting sections.

Toan emphasized the urgency for the government to quickly develop compensation solutions for investors grappling with the increased tax burden.

Prior to the GMT implementation, major foreign direct investment (FDI) players in Vietnam paid corporate tax rates ranging from seven to ten percent annually.

With the GMT in effect, they now face a substantial increase in the amount they are obligated to pay.

If these investors opt not to pay in Vietnam, they would be required to fulfill their tax obligations in their home country, Toan said, citing GMT rules.

To encourage these investors to maintain their commitments in Vietnam, Toan suggested that the government provide solutions for offsetting the additional tax burden.

In a recent trend, major semiconductor companies are diversifying their investments across different countries and regions.

This approach aims to minimize risks associated with economic fluctuations, political instability, and natural crises.

Presently, these groups primarily concentrate their efforts in markets such as Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

Vietnam stands out as an attractive destination for major semiconductor investors due to several key advantages, Toan said.

Firstly, the country boasts a stable political environment and an abundant workforce.

Vietnam is well-positioned to meet the stable and clean energy requirements essential for the semiconductor industry.

He underscored Vietnam's potential to emerge as a global semiconductor hub, citing the strategies of multinational semiconductor groups such as 'Taiwan plus 1' and 'South Korea plus 1.'

Many of these groups have recently committed to significant investments in Vietnam.

In Toan's perspective, maintaining the operations of major tech companies in Vietnam yields multiple benefits.

These companies bring substantial capital, create employment opportunities in well-compensated high-tech sectors, and contribute significantly to government revenues through corporate taxes.

Furthermore, their presence facilitates rapid integration into the global economy.

A crucial long-term benefit, according to Toan, is the role played by major tech companies in helping Vietnam develop a skilled workforce capable of operating advanced manufacturing facilities within the country.

The influx of multinational technology groups also brings professional administrative skills and experience, inspiring local enterprises to enhance their administrative capabilities.

Highlighting the achievements of Vietnamese technology groups like Viettel and FPT, Toan noted their success in producing semiconductor chips used in various consumer electronics.

With a high-quality workforce, Vietnam could potentially participate in designing semiconductor chips at various phases.

Moreover, collaboration with foreign partners in exploring and refining rare earth materials could further bolster Vietnam's role in the chip manufacturing industry.

In conclusion, Toan underlined the symbiotic relationship between Vietnam and major tech firms, envisioning a future where the country not only benefits from their investments but also actively contributes to the global semiconductor landscape.

Standing prominently in Bac Giang Province, the Foxconn Hong Hai plant, a global partner of Apple, symbolizes Vietnam's burgeoning role in the semiconductor industry. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre.

Building foreign investor confidence

As per the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the total registered FDI in Vietnam stands at an impressive $438.7 billion, with $274 billion successfully disbursed.

Major international players such as Samsung ($20 billion), LG ($8.24 billion), Foxconn ($3.2 billion), and Amkor Technology Vietnam ($1.6 billion) have significantly contributed to these figures.

In 2021 alone, for example, FDI enterprises contributed $9.6 billion to the Vietnamese state coffers.

Despite limited advantages in tax, land, or workforce, experts argue that Vietnam should prioritize long-term solutions to enhance the investment environment and retain major foreign investors.

The focus, they suggest, should be on simplifying and streamlining processes to create a more comfortable and attractive investment landscape.

Toan proposed a strategic approach to utilize the income generated from the GMT.

He recommended establishing a foundation to support investments, outlining its potential applications.

This foundation could play a pivotal role in aiding FDI enterprises, facilitating workforce training for domestic companies, promoting technology upgrades, and fostering collaborations between local businesses and FDI investors.

Toan asserted that leveraging the GMT income to establish such a foundation could serve as a sustainable solution, ensuring that the fund is strategically allocated to support various aspects of the business ecosystem.

This, he believed, would not only secure the confidence of existing foreign investors but also appeal to new companies by demonstrating Vietnam's commitment to creating a conducive and supportive investment climate.

The expert mentioned the necessity of establishing a straightforward process for distributing the foundation, ensuring compliance with both international conventions and Vietnamese laws.

He recommended that the foundation's funds be strategically used to drive administrative improvements, facilitate digital transitions, and create an environment conducive to increased investment and business activities.

"In reality, the U.S. invests a staggering $200-300 billion globally, yet their direct investment in Vietnam is only around $1 billion annually, despite our prominent position in attracting FDI in the [Southeast Asian] region," noted Toan.

He pointed out that the European Union and Vietnam signed a freen trade agreement and an investment protection in 2019, but approval from the European Parliament is still pending.

Toan suggested that the disparity in investment figures could be attributed to certain aspects of Vietnam's investment environment that may not align with the preferences of European and American investors.

Investors with original intellectual property and high technologies may still be uncomfortable with Vietnam's intellectual property rights.

In addition to addressing these concerns, the expert insisted that the government take decisive action against 'petty' corruption when implementing policies.

It is seen as crucial to building trust and confidence among investors from the U.S. and Europe, reinforcing Vietnam's commitment to a transparent and corruption-free business environment.

Capitalizing on opportunities: Vietnam's path to semiconductor success

Toan underscored the unprecedented opportunity for Vietnam to excel in the semiconductor industry, stating, The opportunity for us to develop the semiconductor industry is the best of all time; the important thing now is seizing the historical chance.

He commended the government for its strategic foresight and detailed planning in developing the country's semiconductor industry.

Toan identified two key challenges currently facing Vietnam's semiconductor sector.

The first hurdle is the shortage of a high-quality workforce, a concern that the government is actively addressing through a forward-thinking initiative.

To overcome this, a government-backed project aims to train 50,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030, ensuring a skilled workforce ready to contribute to the industry's growth.

The second challenge involves the critical need for substantial investments in power sources to ensure a reliable energy supply for chip manufacturing.

Toan singled out the substantial capital required for chip manufacturing plants, averaging between $10-20 billion. A

Each of these plants necessitates a power source with a capacity of 100MW to provide continuous energy 24/7 for manufacturing.

By acknowledging these challenges and proactively tackling them, Vietnam can position itself to seize the historical opportunity in the semiconductor industry.

With a skilled workforce and robust energy infrastructure, the country can attract significant investments, foster innovation, and emerge as a key player in the global semiconductor landscape.

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In Ho Chi Minh City, a church on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 1 has caught people's eye with a special corner that offers free filtered water and iced tea from tanks to help people beat the heat.

According to the parish priest of Saint Martin church, the decorative water tank corner has been in place for over a year.

Two tanks are prepared, with one containing filtered water and the other filled with refreshing iced tea.

To prevent the ice from melting quickly, a roof is installed above the iced tea tank.

Recently, a miniature display was added, both for decoration and to maintain the ice longer.

A motorbike ride-hailing drivers drinks from vine-shaded charity water tanks outside a church on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hien Anh / Tuoi Tre

After the Lunar New Year holiday last month, the water tanks received further embellishment with the roof adorned with winter melon vines.

Reusable cups have replaced single-use plastic glasses, promoting environmental sustainability.

Typically, the church provides 30-40 cups, sorted into two baskets, with one for clean cups and the other for used ones, ensuring there are always enough for everyone.

Each morning, the two tanks are prepared for gig workers, street vendors, students, and anyone else passing by.

In the evening, the tanks and cups are taken inside the church to be washed thoroughly for the next day.

Cups are sorted into two baskets, with one for clean cups and the other for used ones. Photo: Hien Anh / Tuoi Tre

The priest expressed satisfaction in seeing people enjoy the refreshments and find respite from the heat.

Observing numerous individuals enjoying refreshing beverages and finding additional shade from the sun not only warms my heart but also inspires me and many others to mull over more community initiatives, he said.

Bui Duc Vu, a 34-year-old resident of Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, praised the delicious tea and appreciated the cost-saving aspect of having access to free water.

A motorbike ride-hailing drivers drinks from vine-shaded charity water tanks outside a church on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hien Anh / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Hoang Ha Nam, 25, from District 6, admired the recent redecoration of the water tank corner.

This water offering has been here for quite a while, but its recently been spruced up, said Nam.

Thanks to the makeover, it looks much more appealing and attractive.

As you can see, many people have been drawn here to quench their thirst.

The generosity of the people of Saigon [an old name of Ho Chi Minh City] is truly remarkable.

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A country draped in the vibrant tapestry of nature, steeped in the wisdom of ages, and alive with a chorus of cultures, Vietnam enchants storytellers from across the globe who like to capture its essence and share its magic with their audiences.

'A country that holds irresistible charm'

For the past months, Shevelle and Devan have broadcast their journey throughout northern Vietnam to followers on their YouTube channel Shev and Dev.

A country that holds irresistible charm, the world's friendliest people, and absolutely mouth-watering cuisine, and a country that I probably think is the easiest to live in, Shevelle explained in the pairs February video titled 'This is WHY we love Vietnam! First day back in Hanoi.'

In the video, which has so far reached 97,000 views, Shevelle and Devan discussed their first trip to the Southeast Asian country over a year ago.

During that trip, the South African couple joined a bike food tour in Ho Chi Minh City, took a 20-hour train from Da Nang to Hanoi, and traveled by boat through Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province.

This year, they returned in excitement.

Why do you love it so much? Whats the big deal? Well, have you tried pho? Have you tried the egg coffee? Shevelle said while wandering through Hanois Old Quarter.

Egg coffee is served at Giang Cafe, one of the most famous places for the drink in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Quynh Chi / Tuoi Tre

During their time in Hanoi, the couple also took a 'xich lo' (cycle rickshaw) trip around the Old Quarter.

Devan even asked the driver to let him ride the vehicle for a bit.

In his video, Devan dives into the heart of Hanoi, highlighting the city's unique charm: the organized chaos of its bustling streets.

The video struck a chord with viewers, sparking a wave of comments sharing their own experiences of Hanoi.

We miss Hanoi so much! one commented. We lived there for a full year, and it's one of our favorite cities in the world. Great food, great people. We can't wait to go back next year.

The couple shared that during their trip, they are gonna see and do probably a bucket-list crazy adventure they have always wanted to try.

Other Vietnam-based videos on their channel include a cruise on Ha Long Bay, trekking through the green terraced fields of Sa Pa in the north, visiting relics and landscapes in Ninh Binh Province in the central part, and riding a motorbike in Ha Giang Province in the northern region.

A screenshot from a video shows Shevelle and Devan riding a motorbike in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam.

Food retreats in central Vietnam

Meanwhile, the Malaysian couple behind the YouTube channel Puri and Sue have had more than 21,000 people watch the video of their 5-day, 4-night dining journey in Da Nang and Hoi An, both on the central coast of Vietnam.

The video, entitled '15 Vietnamese Street Food in Hoi An and Da Nang, Vietnam | What to Eat in Hoi An and Da Nang in 5D4N,' was posted in December last year.

Hoi An and Da Nang are two popular travel destinations located in central Vietnam, they wrote in the video's description.

One of the highlights of our trip was immersing ourselves in the local cuisines and trying out some of the best eats these cities had to offer.

Puri and Sues 25-minute video meticulously captured the delicious dishes the couple sampled in each of the two cities, including cao lau noodles, chicken rice, and banh mi in Hoi An, alongside Quang noodles and pork rolls in Da Nang.

A bowl of Quang noodles is served at a restaurant in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Cong Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Interspersed with the meals were highlights of the places they visited and activities they tried, including a basket boat ride in Hoi An, drinking a cup of coffee on a rooftop cafe, checking out Hoi An Ancient Town from above, watching the famous Dragon Bridge fire show in Da Nang, and visiting Ba Na Hills in the same city.

Thank you guys! Very informative, simple and humble, dynamic and pleasant video to watch. I will be moving to Da Nang in 10 days and you gave me some great insight. Keep the good vibe, well done! one viewer commented on the video.

My mouth was watering with every dish. Our next holiday is in May, Da Nang! Thank you, really good video, another added.

A screenshot from a video shows Puri and Sue visiting Hoi An Ancient Town in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam.

Exploring the delta life

The family of Kasper, Kylie, and Ella Johansen narrated their trip to the Mekong Delta in a video posted to their YouTube channel Living the Jo Life in June last year.

In the video 'We Explored the MEKONG RIVER Delta - VIETNAM,' which has garnered more than 68,000 views, the family took a day tour to the Mekong Delta where they cycled through beautiful coconut and banana groves, taking a boat ride through small canals, sitting on a horse wagon, drinking fresh coconut water, watching locals making candies from coconut, and enjoying local delicacies at a restaurant.

They also visited a local market where they tried 'strange' fruits like jackfruits, rambutans, and star apples.

We had such an amazing time in the Mekong Delta here today," they concluded.

A screenshot from a video shows the Johansens family during their trip to the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

In other videos, the Johansens also introduced street food in Ho Chi Minh City, a motorbike tour to explore Hanoi, and a luxury cruise in Ha Long Bay.

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Russian voters in Vietnam flocked to polling sites in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province on Sunday to cast their ballots in the 2024 Russian presidential election.

Russia held a presidential election from March 15 to 17. Overseas voting took place at 281 polling stations in 144 countries, including Vietnam.

On Sunday, up to 2,000 Russian nationals in Vietnam voted at four places, including the Russian Embassy in Hanoi, the Consulates General of Russia in Da Nang, central Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, and the headquarters of Vietnam-Russia oil and gas joint venture Vietsovpetro in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, located in the southern region.

Russian voters check their personal information before casting their ballots in Hanoi, March 17, 2024. Photo: Thanh Hien / Tuoi Tre

Nearly 80 Russian voters were present at the Hanoi-based polling station at 10:00 am to cast their ballots.

Anna, a secretary at a Russian school under the Russian Embassy in Hanoi, said that she voted for incumbent President and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin as she trusts him.

In Ho Chi Minh City, some Russian voters arrived at the Consulate General at 8:00 am to cast a ballot.

According to the observation of a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporter, some 30 Russian citizens and Vietnamese holding a Russian passport exercised the right to vote in the Russian presidential election on Sunday morning.

Elena, 38, who came to the Ho Chi Minh City-based polling place with her husband and two-year-old son at 9:00 am, said that she was excited about the election.

She assessed how well the election ran in the southern metropolis.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko said that Russia received much support from Vietnamese agencies and units to hold such an important election in Vietnam.

The cooperation between the [Russian] Embassy and Hanoi authorities on the organization of the election is effective. We are grateful to the Vietnamese side for creating favorable conditions for the Russian presidential election, Bezdetko said.

A board of information about four presidential candidates for the 2024 Russian presidential election. Photo: Thanh Hien / Tuoi Tre

Elena (R) is pictured in a polling room at the Consulate General of Russia in Ho Chi Minh City, March 17, 2024. Photo: Uyen Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Speaking of the Russia - Vietnam partnership, he highlighted some achievements in the oil, hi-tech, transport, and military technology aspects.

Bezdetko affirmed that the Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership does not depend on the election results.

This was the first time a remote online voting system had been available in a Russian presidential election.

As many as 4.76 million Russian voters registered to cast a ballot online.

There are 112.3 million people with the right to vote in the election. Another 1.9 million people abroad have the right to vote, including 12,000 in Baikonur, a cosmodrome which Russia rents in Kazakhstan, Reuters reported.

Putin is running against Nikolai Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky, leader of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, and Vladislav Davankov of the New People party.

The results of the election will be revealed after 9:00 pm on Sunday (Moscow time) after voting in Kaliningrad wraps up.

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Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of Vietnams law-making National Assembly (NA), recently suggested making the most of social media platforms to promote legal awareness among local people while addressing an NA session held on Thursday last week.

Chairman Hue hailed the increasingly active contribution of social networks in the popularization of laws, particularly the Land Law.

He recounted his instances of watching TikTok live-streaming sessions dedicated to promoting knowledge of the Land Law, with each session attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers.

In such live streams, TikTokers analyzed Article 4 of the Land Law, including clarifying what is meant by overseas Vietnamese and foreign citizens of Vietnamese origin, or pointing out the new aspects of this law, the top legislator said.

He also highlighted the important role of social networks in promoting several state-produced movies, citing an example of the recent Vietnamese movie Dao, Pho, and Piano,' which garnered much public attention thanks to social media.

Therefore, the NA chairman asked the minister of justice and the head of the NA Law Committee to take into account campaigns which utilize the power of social networks to enhance public awareness of the countrys laws and policies.

The legislature at the session passed nine important laws and 11 resolutions that are expected to leave a significantly positive impact on society and Vietnams macroeconomic policy.

The NA Standing Committee also ordered relevant agencies to beef up efforts to promptly disseminate the outcomes of NA sessions and laws approved by the legislature to the public.

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What you need to know in Vietnam today:

Society

-- The southern province of Binh Duong has planned to develop 10 more industrial parks in the 2023-30 period, the Vietnam News Agency reported, quoting head of the provincial Industrial Park Management Board Nguyen Trung Tin.

-- Dak Nong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands will launch five tours and prepare nearly 200 lodging facilities which can accommodate over 7,100 tourists per day to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the provinces establishment, a local official said on Saturday.

-- The Ministry of Transport has proposed spending VND7 trillion (US$283.2 million) expanding the Cam Lo - La Son Expressway connecting Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Tri Provinces in central Vietnam to four lanes. Most of the expressway currently has two lanes only. If the proposal is approved, the project is expected to be commenced late this year and completed next year, said Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy.

-- Authorities in Dak Nong have suggested the government identify the cause and work out solutions to severe landslides along a local river, which has caused over 122 hectares of farmland to fall into the river since 2010.

-- Many drivers passing through a Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway section near the Long Thanh International Airport project in the namesake district of Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam have recently complained about dust from the construction site. During the same period last year, dust also blanketed thousands of houses, projects, factories, and schools in Long Thanh District and neighboring districts.

-- More than 90 percent of Vietnamese residents suffer from dental diseases, which affect their health and quality of life, chairman of the Vietnam Odonto - Stomatology Association Tran Cao Binh reported.

-- A fire caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a middle school in Hanoi on Saturday afternoon. There was no report on human loss in the incident.

-- As of Saturday afternoon, 170 patients were still under treatment in hospitals due to suspected food poisoning after consuming chicken rice earlier this week at a restaurant in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. A total of 358 cases of suspected food poisoning related to the incident have been recorded, according to a report by the provincial Department of Health.

Business

-- More than 3,000 foreigners bought houses in Vietnam from 2015 to the end of the third quarter of 2023, with 90 percent of them purchasing apartments. Up to 60 percent of these foreigners buying apartments for investment, according to a report by realty consultancy firm CBRE Vietnam.

World News

-- SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company and national security agencies, Reuters cited five sources familiar with the program as saying.

-- A volcano in Iceland erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, spewing smoke and bright orange lava into the air in sharp contrast against the dark night sky, Reuters reported, citing the country's meteorological office.

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Authorities in Dak Nong Province have suggested the government identify the cause and work out solutions to severe land collapse along a local river, which has caused over 122 hectares of farmland to fall into the waterway since 2010.

Since late December last year, dozens of meters of a road section collapsed into the Krong No River in the namesake district.

Do Son Lam, a local resident, said his family reclaimed over four hectares of land in the area in 2001 but the land subsidence ravaged over 2.5 hectares.

His family has relocated their house five times but many new cracks have appeared, Lam added.

A section of farmland falls into the Krong No River in Dak Nong Province, Vietnam. Photo: Trung Tan / Tuoi Tre

According to the Krong No District administration, 18 instances of land collapse with a total length of some 10 kilometers were reported along the Krong No River since 2010.

The situation has been increasingly complicated and showed no signs of cessation.

In 2020, the province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands, spent VND62 billion (US$2.5 million) on an embankment project to halt land subsidence in Nam NDir and Dak Nang Communes, Krong No District, but it is like a drop in the ocean as the eroded area is large.

The administration in Krong No District has coordinated with Buon Kuop Hydropower Company to approve six schemes to support land subsidence-hit households since 2010, as the operation of the Buon Kuop hydropower project in the district was supposed to be a cause of the land collapse.

Director of the company Tran Van Khanh said besides the hydropower project, sand exploitation units must also take responsibility for the land erosion.

The Dak Nong Province administration has spent VND62 billion (US$2.5 million) on an embankment project to halt land collapse along the Krong No River. Photo: Trung Tan / Tuoi Tre

The Krong No River is 189 kilometers long and runs through the three Central Highlands provinces of Lam Dong, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong.

The section in Dak Nong alone has a length of 53.3 kilometers, said Le Trong Yen, vice-chairman of the province.

He added that the province had proposed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment instruct the adjustment of licenses for sand exploitation on the Krong No River.

More than 122 hectares of farmland has fallen into the Krong No River in Dak Nong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, since 2010. Photo: Trung Tan / Tuoi Tre

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Dak Nong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands has launched five tours and prepared nearly 200 lodging facilities which can accommodate over 7,100 tourists per day to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the provinces establishment, a local official said on Saturday.

Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh, vice-chairwoman of the provincial administration, said that the province had done preparations for the celebration slated for this weekend.

The five tours focus on the provinces most popular and impressive tourist destinations, including Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark and Ta Dung Lake, which is described as the Central Highlands Ha Long Bay.

Tourists loving imposing landscapes should not miss Southeast Asias longest volcanic cave system in Krong No District, Dak Nong Province or magnificent waterfalls along the Serepok River.

Dak Nong will introduce 44 destinations in the UNESCO Global Geopark to travelers through social media.

Visiting waterfalls and experiencing boat trips on the Serepok River are top choices of travelers to Dak Nong. Photo: Trung Tan / Tuoi Tre

Tourists can experience the daily life and coffee, durian, and pepper farming activities of local residents.

The province has introduced a tour along the border for the first time. During the tour, tourists can admire roads in primeval and romantic forests and mingle with nature, Hanh said.

Dak Nong expects a surge in the number of visitors on this occasion, according to Le Thi Truc Linh, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Tourists row a boat in Dak Nong Logde Resort in Gia Nghia District, Dak Nong Province. Photo: Trung Tan / Tuoi Tre

The department has asked local lodging facilities to revitalize items to better serve customers.

Travelers can also stay in community-based tourist sites to experience the life, culture, and cuisine of ethnic minority groups in Dak Nong, Linh added.

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The Visit Vietnam Year-Dien Bien 2024 and the Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival have officially kicked off in Dien Bien Phu City, located in the northern province of Dien Bien, with a light show of 200 drones highlighting the events.

The launching ceremony for the events was conducted at the citys May 7 Park on Saturday evening, with the themes of Glorious Dien Bien - Infinite Experiences and Returning to the Land of Ban Flowers, attracting thousands of locals and visitors.

These events are among a series of key activities having been planned to welcome the 70th anniversary of the globe-shaking victory of the Vietnamese revolutionary army over French colonialists on May 7, 1954.

Actually, some initial activities of the Ban Flower Festival were carried out three days before the official launch ceremony was held for both events.

Addressing the opening ceremony, secretary of the provincial Party Committee Tran Quoc Cuong said that 70 years ago the Vietnamese revolutionary army defeated French colonial troops in a 56-day military campaign in Muong Thanh Valley, Lai Chau Province, which is now Dien Bien Province.

The victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending war and restoring peace in Indochina, he added.

Dien Bien has since become a friendly and attractive destination that always leaves good impressions in the hearts of visitors from around the world, the local Party leader said.

Cuong believed that the Visit Vietnam Year-Dien Bien 2024 would showcase Dien Bien's landscapes and its people to travelers from both within the country and abroad, which would in turn attract more tourists to the province.

One of the standout events during the opening night was a captivating drone light show that utilized 200 colorful devices to depict scenes commemorating the Dien Bien Phu victory, along with showcasing renowned destinations in Dien Bien and other areas across Vietnam.

Among the great impressive drone light performances was the one depicting a Vietnamese soldier raising the Vietnamese national flag on the roof of the bunker of French General Christian de Castries, the commander of the French forces in Muong Thanh Valley, marking the victory of the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

Another attractive image was the Pieu brocade, a traditional scarf of the Thai ethnic group in the northwestern mountainous region of Vietnam.

Festival attendees were impressed by the image of the ban flower, symbolizing everlasting love and eternal happiness for the Thai ethnic minority in the area.

In the language of the Thai ethnic minority, 'ban' translates to 'sweet.' This flower, typically blooming in March, is revered as 'the king of flowers' by Thai ethnic residents in the northwestern mountainous region of Vietnam.

According to local authorities, the commencement of Visit Vietnam Year has initiated hundreds of events, cultural celebrations, and tourist activities scheduled to occur throughout the year in Dien Bien and other locations nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Ban Flower Festival will continue with the Highland Cultural Space program and the Thai Traditional Dance and Hmong Panpipe Festival scheduled for March 16-18, among other activities, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The festival, running Wednesday through Saturday, featured live shows portraying legends, history, and traditional dances highlighting the unique folklore and cultural heritage of the Thai ethnic group, representing 38.4 percent of the province's population.

Saturday also saw an incense offering ceremony at the Martyrs Temple on the former battlefield of Dien Bien Phu, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed that the theme of the National Tourism Year 2024 is built on the heroic spirit of the Dien Bien Phu victory, along with the image of ban flowers expressing the unique beauty of Dien Bien and the desire for perpetual peace.

Coming to Dien Bien today, visitors can experience the magnificence of overlapping mountains and forests, seas of clouds on mountaintops, stilt houses, terraced fields, and traditional festivals, local authorities said.

Thousands of people are seen watching the opening ceremony for the Visit Vietnam Year-Dien Bien 2024 and the Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival in Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam, March 16, 2024. Photo: Tran Dung / Tuoi Tre

A dance show at the opening ceremony for the Visit Vietnam Year-Dien Bien 2024 and the Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival held in Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam, March 16, 2024. Photo: Tran Dung / Tuoi Tre

A dance performance features the unification of Vietnam's ethnic groups at the opening ceremony for the Visit Vietnam Year-Dien Bien 2024 and the Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival in Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam, March 16, 2024. Photo: Tran Dung / Tuoi Tre

A drone light performance depicts the image of a Vietnamese soldier raising the Vietnamese national flag on the roof of the bunker of French General Christian de Castries on May 7, 1954, and the shape of a ban (bauhinia) flower in the night sky of Dien Bien Phu City of Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam, March 16, 2024. Photo: Tien Dung / Tuoi Tre

Drones are seen forming the shape of a ban (bauhinia) flower in the night sky of Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam, March 16, 2024. Photo: Tien Dung / Tuoi Tre

The logo featuring 70 years of the Dien Bien Phu victory is formed in the drone light show in Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam, March 16, 2024. Photo: Tien Dung / Tuoi Tre

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In this article, we will discuss the 20 countries that spend the most on welfare. If you want to skip our analysis, you can proceed to the section highlighting the 5 Countries that Spend the Most on Welfare.

Welfare programs assist in areas such as healthcare, food, housing, education, transportation, child care, and monetary help for everyday living. The specific services offered by a welfare program can depend on the countrys social security approach and the requirements of its citizens. The United States spends the most on welfare in terms of total expenditure.

U.S. Welfare Expenditures Surge

According to a report by The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States spent $2.47 trillion on social welfare in 2021, an increase of almost 17.5% from the previous year. Healthcare has been one of the largest social welfare expenditures for the United States. As of February 7, 2024, the United States Congressional Budget Office has projected a total budget of $1.42 trillion for the three major healthcare programs in the fiscal year 2024.

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Some of the welfare programs in the United States include Medicaid, Medicare, Supplementary Security Income (SSI), Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Transient Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Housing Choice Voucher Program (HUD), and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Several corporations, including Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC), Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV), and CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS), flourished substantially by participating in welfare initiatives like Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP.

Top Companies Providing Healthcare Services

Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) is one of the largest healthcare companies dedicated to providing healthcare products and services primarily through government welfare programs as well as its other offerings. On February 6, 2024, Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) reported a revenue of $153.99 billion for the financial year 2023, up 6.5% from 2022. About $109.11 billion of the revenue came through government welfare programs. On January 18, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services extended a 5-year contract to Centene Corporations (NYSE:CNC) subsidiary NH Healthy Families to continue providing physical health, behavioral health, and drugstore services to approximately 178,000 Medicaid Managed Care beneficiaries. Here are some comments from Centene Corporation's (NYSE:CNC) Q4 2023 earnings call:

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We are solidifying our Medicare Advantage footprint thanks to an annual enrolment period that largely hit the mark with respect to our target membership, including sales, retention and dis-enrollments, and we are capturing a powerful growth opportunity and marketplace, demonstrated by the increased revenue guidance we issued this morning. We recognize that amid these opportunities, we still have valuable bottom line work to do, and we are approaching that work with the same focus and disciplined execution that has defined the first two years of this management teams tenure. In fact, Centene wasted no time setting the tone for 2024 by successfully delivering what we believe to be the largest ever PBM platform migration and improving our pharmacy cost structure on behalf of our customers and members.

CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) offers Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement plans, and Medicaid health care management services. On January 25, 2024, CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) reported its collaboration with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to form a new accountable care organization (ACO) named CVS ACO, LLC in central Ohio. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) aims to enhance the quality of Medicare to meet each patients unique needs and emphasizes preventive wellness and treatment of chronic conditions. The number of new seniors eligible for Medicare coverage is soaring. On January 5, Reuters reported that CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS), is forecasted to add at least 800,000 members to its Medicare Advantage plans in 2024.

Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a leading health company dedicated to improving lives and communities by simplifying healthcare. The company's offerings include insurance products and services, government healthcare programs, pharmacy services, and health services focused on quality care delivery models. On March 11, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) announced the acquisition of Paragon Healthcare, a company specialising in life-saving and life-giving infusible and injectable therapies. This acquisition will complement Elevance Health, Inc.s (NYSE:ELV) existing pharmacy services, further strengthening its position in the healthcare industry.

As countries around the world increase their welfare expenditure, the demand for services and products of healthcare companies continues to rise. With that said, here is the list of 20 countries that spend the most on welfare.

20 Countries that Spend the Most on Welfare

Copyright: ultimagaina / 123RF Stock Photo

Our Methodology

To make our list of the 20 countries that spend the most on welfare, we utilized the latest data provided by The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in their Social Expenditure Database which covers 38 OECD countries. We then compiled a list of the countries that spend the most on welfare. Here are the 20 countries that spend the most on welfare ranked in ascending order of their social expenditure as a percentage of their GDP, as reported in their latest available years.

Note: We have also included the GDP and GDP per capita for each country for 2023, sourced from the International Monetary Fund.

20 Countries that Spend the Most on Welfare

20. New Zealand

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2021: 20.80%

GDP in 2023: $249.42 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $48,070

New Zealand's welfare system strives to promote wellness for its citizens through universal healthcare, education access, and social services. The government's commitment to social spending fosters equality, social inclusion, and individual well-being.

19. Luxembourg

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 21.90%

GDP in 2023: $89.1 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $135,610

Luxembourg has long invested extensively in social programs to protect residents and foster social cohesion. The government offers comprehensive healthcare, education, and social security benefits.

18. Czechia

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 22.00%

GDP in 2023: $335.24 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $32,350

The Czech social system delivers universal healthcare, education, and support to cope with difficult times. Despite a robust economy and low joblessness, one in five Czechs remain at risk of monetary hardship and isolation. Overloaded caseworkers struggle to protect the expanding population of elderly citizens living alone. Generous spending on child allowances and retraining leaves few incentives for some to seek employment. Officials admit more targeted assistance and personal responsibility could improve lives at a lower cost to taxpayers.

17. United Kingdom

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2021: 22.10%

GDP in 2023: $3.33 Trillion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $48,910

While the United Kingdom ensures all residents receive medical care, and aid through taxation, some argue the sprawling bureaucracy has become inefficient and costs have ballooned out of control. In remote highlands villages and crowded cities alike, conditions have deteriorated in hospitals and classrooms due to chronic underfunding and mismanagement from Whitehall. Meanwhile, lavish pensions and unemployment benefits foster a culture of dependency for some.

16. United States

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2021: 22.70%

GDP in 2023: $26.95 Trillion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $80,410

The United States provides an abundance of social welfare initiatives spanning healthcare, education, and other social welfare programs. In terms of total expenditure, the United States spends the most on welfare compared to other nations.

15. Poland

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 22.70%

GDP in 2023: $842.17 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $22,390

Poland's diverse social welfare programs aim to support all members of society through both prosperous and challenging economic periods. Healthcare, education, and financial assistance are among the services provided to foster the welfare of citizens and promote social cohesion.

14. Slovenia

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 22.80%

GDP in 2023: $68.39 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $32,350

Slovenia's healthcare system offers universal access to medical services, ensuring citizens receive necessary treatment regardless of economic circumstances. To promote social equity and population well-being, the government funds programs that ease healthcare costs, subsidize education and provide living assistance.

13. Sweden

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 23.70%

GDP in 2023: $597.11 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $55,220

Sweden is known for its focus on citizens' welfare through a variety of services. Universal healthcare and education are the most focused. Personal freedom is also a key concern in fostering a society where everyone can thrive.

12. Greece

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 24.10%

GDP in 2023: $242.39 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $23,170

In Greece, social programs contribute to national welfare through healthcare provisions, educational opportunities, and retirement security benefits. By investing in initiatives that deliver medical care, knowledge, and financial support, leaders aim to alleviate disadvantages, foster involvement, and safeguard those requiring help. Vulnerable communities receive focused consideration in budget allocations targeting poverty reduction and inclusion progress.

11. Portugal

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 24.60%

GDP in 2023: $276.43 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $26,880

Portugal ensures all citizens have access to necessary social services regardless of financial situation or employment status. The government strives through progressive policies to promote the welfare of all individuals through its national healthcare system, free university education, unemployment benefits, and vocational training for the unemployed.

10. Canada

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2020: 24.90%

GDP in 2023: $2.12 Trillion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $53,250

Canada ensures that all residents can access necessities through comprehensive social programs. The nation prioritizes investing in healthcare, education, and assistance to uplift vulnerable groups. The quality of life for every resident ranks highest among the highest in the world.

9. Japan

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2020: 24.90%

GDP in 2023: $4.23 Trillion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $33,950

Japan's social welfare system strives to uplift all citizens, although challenges persist. Japan offers universal healthcare, university education, and retirement support to its citizens. Japan has one the highest life expectancy in the world, The government accommodates diverse needs through assistance that protects basic human dignity for every individual.

8. Denmark

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 26.20%

GDP in 2023: $420.8 Billion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $71,400

Denmark spends a substantial portion of its national budget to fully fund healthcare, education, childcare, unemployment benefits, paid parental leave, and support for the elderly. Denmark promotes income redistribution through progressive income taxes and social welfare schemes.

7. Germany

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 26.70%

GDP in 2023: $4.43 Trillion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $52,820

The German social welfare state encompasses extensive social welfare, from healthcare to education to unemployment benefits. Social spending promotes economic stabilization, social cohesion, and the welfare of individuals under the governing administration.

6. Spain

Social Expenditure as a Percentage of GDP in 2022: 28.10%

GDP in 2023: $1.58 Trillion

GDP per Capita in 2023: $33,090

Spain offers universal access to education, healthcare, social security, and unemployment benefits for the welfare of its people. The government continuously evaluates and adjusts its social spending priorities to address emerging needs and challenges.

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Disclosure: None. 20 Countries that Spend the Most on Welfare was originally published on Insider Monkey.
Blinken landed Sunday afternoon in South Korea (Jung Yeon-je)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour also including the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with two key regional allies.

Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which Seoul is hosting this week.

Before arriving in Seoul, Blinken made a brief stop in Bahrain, where he spoke to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa about efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

The summit, which runs from March 18-20 will bring together government officials, NGOs and civil society members.

Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South, to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North.

Seoul's conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang's threats.

Blinken will meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho tae-yul, the ministry said, for discussions that will cover how to boost the alliance, as Washington and Seoul explore how to improve their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea.

The democracy summit has attracted some criticism due to its selective invitation list, which excludes countries that consider themselves democratic, such as Thailand and Turkey.

After Seoul, Blinken heads to Manila, a trip that will reaffirm "our unwavering commitment to the Philippine ally", according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

He will talk with local officials including President Ferdinand Marcos, with issues with China including over the South China Sea likely to top the agenda.

The US is redoubling efforts to improve longstanding ties with regional allies such as Manila, in an effort to counterbalance China.

Beijing recently accused Washington of using the Philippines as a "pawn" in the dispute over the South China Sea, after a series of clashes around bitterly-contested islets in the waters.

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China claims almost the entire waterway, brushing aside competing claims from a host of Southeast Asian nations and an international ruling that has declared its stance baseless.

The South China Sea is strategically vital for several countries -- including China -- providing a key route for the import and export of essential fuel, food and other goods.

China has rapidly grown its naval forces in recent years, and snatched vast tracts of maritime territory, hoping to project its military and political power well beyond the country's shores.

lb-kjk/ceb/mca
Jane Freres Nakbah Project  Return Of The Soul is an art installation of hundreds of wax figures to depict the idea of people frozen in place after having their land taken from them

WE were starving trapped in the lower part of the camp for days, with snipers and bombing all around. I had no choice I made a run for it in search of food. Sorry to tell you this bit, Jane! But I found bread on the ground, bread soaked in blood, I picked away at the bits without the blood and ate it.

These words came back to haunt me as reports emerged of the Flour Massacre in Gaza on February 29, leaving 118 dead and 760 or more injured when Israeli troops fired on the starving masses rushing to food aid trucks.

Bassam, a young Palestinian, recalled his story when  as part of my research for my art project marking the 60th year of the Nakba  I interviewed him with his mother in a garage, the makeshift shelter that was their home after the total destruction of UNRWAs Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in North Lebanon in 2007.

The National: Exhibition entitled Return of the Soul by Scottish artist Jane Frere at the Patriothall Gallery in Edinburgh. (Photo by robbie jack/Corbis via Getty Images).

Caught in the crossfire between an Islamist group Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army, they were among 30,000 Palestinian refugees forced yet again to flee. In 1948, his parents had fled from their village near Akka (now known as Acre) after hearing horror stories of the Jewish Irgun and Lehi terrorist atrocities  men murdered en masse, rape and abuse of women  that caused widespread panic.

They ended up in Shatila camp in Beirut where Bassam was born in 1979. He was just three when his father, sister and two brothers were killed in the notorious Sabra and Shatila massacre. The survivors fled to Nahr al-Bared. Now he was in yet another camp.

At that moment, I felt my research into the Nakba  mostly confined to studying books, documentaries and gathering oral testimonies  had come full circle. In the Bedawi camp in February 2008, I witnessed for myself the reality of the havoc, chaos and despair wreaked by repeated displacement.

READ MORE: National readers help raise 100,000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians

With British Council and UNRWA support, I lived in refugee camps in the occupied Palestinian Territories of Jordan and Lebanon as a crucial part of The Nakba Project  Return Of The Soul which I created to commemorate 60 years of what the Palestinians called the Nakba or catastrophe of 1948 when thousands were killed and more than 700,000 were forced to leave their homeland.

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I worked with small teams in each camp, gave a series of educational workshops and was able to gather hundreds of testimonies using both my camcorder as a notebook in addition to handwritten questionnaires catching the last fragments of memory from an ageing displaced population.

These valuable first-hand accounts answered my mundane questions  why did they leave? How? By foot or another means of transport? What were they wearing and carrying etc. The responses gave authenticity to the individual wax figurine made by a younger generation of Palestinians, reminding them of what their parents and grandparents had endured during what historians now agree was a programme of ethnic cleansing.

Alongside my sculptural installation of hanging wax figures, hung scrolls of handwritten testimonies and a sound sculpture of voices echoing Arabic names was an oral record of hundreds of villages now wiped off the map of Palestine.

The National:

As a research-led artist, Im drawn to themes relating to the darker side of the human condition, violence, vulnerability and death, and the subject of the mass expulsion and dispossession of Palestinians became the focus of my attention over a number of years.

In 2009, I designed the play Go To Gaza  Drink The Sea, written and created by Justin Butcher and the distinguished Palestinian writer Ahmed Masoud, who grew up in Jabalia camp in North Gaza. The production had its debut in London before coming to Edinburgh and was prompted by Israels Operation Cast Lead. It explored the disproportionate extent of human suffering  brought home poignantly by the killing of 48 members of the Samouni family in a single attack.

After 22 days, a ceasefire timed just before the inauguration of US President Barack Obama, and left 1400 mostly civilians dead in Gaza, including 300 children. More than 20,000 were made homeless. Israel counted 13 dead, including three civilians. FAST forward through the whirling vortex of violence and revenge to the post-October 7 apocalyptic level of death and destruction; in a terrible, tragic irony, the Gazan playwright Ahmed Masouds brother Khalid was killed by an Israeli drone as he was trying to help others. He was left bleeding to death on the ground for over three days.

Jabalia camp once had a lively market, schools, a library, and other facilities. It was the place his family called home and shared with a further 100,000 fellow citizens. Ahmed grew up in the camp, but is now based in the UK. He has a PhD, plays, a novel and there is much more to his name. How many more Ahmeds in Gaza have had their future stolen as US bombs raining from the skies turned Jabalia and many other parts of Gaza into a hellscape of cement, glass, steel, textiles blended with pulverised corpses still crushed rotting under the rubble?

READ MORE: BBC Question Time: Melanie Phillips deranged Gaza rant slammed

Theres a danger of becoming hardened to reports of the bloody reality of what two-tonne bombs do to human bodies, but stories of a man chasing a stray dog with a tiny babys arm in its mouth or of children writing their names on their hands and arms so part of their body can be identified in the relentless Israeli airstrikes were beyond imagination.

Whatever the extent of the barbaric Hamas attacks on October 7  and we must not forget that in war, truth is the first casualty  Israels plausible genocide has not only claimed the lives of so many, but has systematically erased millennia-old religious structures, museums with ancient collections, mosques, schools, libraries with rare books, universities as well as hospitals and essential civic buildings.

I regret never having been able to go to Gaza; it was an important destination for my Nakba project, but my entry into the open-air prison was denied by the Israelis who controlled everything and everyone going in and coming out.

Still one of my closest friends, the late artist Laila Shawa, was able to paint a proud picture of Gazas rich 5000-year-old heritage. She co-founded the landmark Rashad Shawa Cultural Centre  named after her father who had been mayor for 11 years  and designed delicate stained glass panels to complement its modern architectural style. Im glad she was spared seeing it reduced to rubble by Israels bombardment.

During my project, I sometimes saw my role as a tear collector gathering testimonies from sobbing refugees. Gaza would have been rich with stories from refugees, many of whom could still see their former homes and farmland so close on the other side of the Gaza barrier. In the weeks after Cast Lead, preparing my designs for the play, I met Abdel Bari Atwan, the renowned veteran journalist and editor, who was born in the refugee camp Deir al-Balah in Gaza. He told me as a child he loved listening to his mothers stories of a simple yet idyllic life she and his father enjoyed on their farm handed down through many generations in a village of Isdud. Its ruins remain alongside the Israeli town of Ashdod.

Once again, fear tactics used by the Zionist militias worked in the aftermath of the notorious Deir Yassin massacre. Rumours of killing, rape, mutilation, and torture including even the beheading of children were rife. Atwan documented his mothers account in his book A Country Of Words, describing how when the Zionists came into the village square with loudhailers ordering: Leave your houses and go to Gaza where you will be safe. If you dont leave, we will kill you.

The family turned the key in the door, imagining it would not be for long, but like other Palestinians, little did they realise it would be for the last time, their right of return under the United Nations Resolution 194 rendered meaningless.

Israel seized Gaza from Egyptian governance in 1967, and ended its direct occupation, withdrawing its settlements in 2005, but instigating a blockade that intensified into a siege in 2007 after Hamas was elected and took power.

The creation of what some call an open-air prison resulted in a pressure cooker environment of resentment and bitterness against a grotesque, injustice compounded by serial wars which some Israelis cynically call mowing the grass.

I am often asked why an artist who hails from the Highlands of Scotland has been so captivated by this particular subject  British-mandate Palestine and the birth of modern-day Israel.

The most pressing historical connection however has to be that of Lord Arthur Balfour (below), born in Scotland, whose infamous Balfour Declaration of 1917 laid the foundation for one of the most intractable issues of modern history.

The National: In the 1917 declaration which bears his name as then foreign secretary, former PM Arthur James Balfour wrote: 'His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endea

The promise of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for Jewish people was made at a time when an ancestral home inhabited by generations of one people could be carved up by strangers and given away to outsiders regardless of the consequences for the majority of the indigenous inhabitants.

If the British mandate authority had not betrayed the second part of the Balfour promise that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country, history might have taken a different course After 75 years, the longest unresolved refugee crisis in the world has resulted in the mass displacement of 5.9 million Palestinians trapped in a suspended state of perpetual misery, violence and precariousness, for many, their reality within an apathetic world is a purgatory on earth.

I ventured into their world as a witness to their existence, removing myself from my comfort zone of insularity that so many of us by the mere lottery of birth are privileged to enjoy.

The purpose of my work has been to look beyond the myths and hopefully to highlight the truth giving context to such injustice which has led to unspeakable tragedy of both sides locked into seemingly permanent conflict.

When I was invited to contribute a chapter to the recently published book Becoming Pro-Palestinian  Testimonies From The Global Solidarity Movement, I had some misgivings about the title. Since writing the chapter, long before that catastrophic date for humanity October 7, I have an even greater doubt about labelling myself as pro-Palestinian  not because of the demonising of those who are critical of Israels collective punishment and terrifying revenge, but because being pro one ethnicity over another lies at the core of the schism in all conflicts.

If we are to survive as a species already on a self-inflicted broken earth, we have no option but to reconcile our differences. I prefer the label Pro-Humanitarian or, as someone who has been on a quest for the sincerity, Pro-Truth.

Becoming Pro-Palestinian  Testimonies from the Global Solidarity Movement, edited by Rosemary Sayigh. (IB Tauris, Bloomsbury Publishing)

The National: Jane Frere - sew their names ,work in progress.

SEW THEIR NAMES

SewTheirNames is a community project I started in collaboration with Highland Palestine with the support of Circus Artspace in Inverness, ensuring that the slaughtered victims in Gaza are not just numbers, but their names are known and recorded by 80 people across the Highlands and beyond, who have sewn hand-written names of many of those who have been slaughtered since October 7 on to banners as a simple act of compassion and humanity. The first banner will be shown as part of the alternative Palestine exhibition at the Palazzo Mora during the Venice Biennale opening next month
After 14 years together, editor Nela Marki and cinematographer-producer Martin Rattini locate a kernel of sadness in a shared life they describe as happy: they have not been able to have children. Grief and love inform the couples first featurethey share directors creditswith the title Why the F*** Am I So Sad?, which documents their changing relationship to childlessness.

Their documentary project was pitched earlier this week at Thessalonikis Pitching Forum and has since received the Mediterranean Film Institute Doc Award, which consists of free participation in the 2024 edition of the MFI Doc Lab, a script development program dedicated to documentaries. Films that Marki has edited have screened at Locarno, CPH:DOX and IDFA, but Why the F*** Am I So Sad? will be a debut feature for both of them as directors. Rattini, who is also a cinematographer, produces with Italys Helios Sustainable Films.

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Speaking with Variety, Marki says shed noticed nuanced depictions of childless couples were lacking in cinema, while the existent ones were mostly negatively tinted, particularly the women. Then, she understood the best way forward was to make a film about her and Martins story, and to do it together. We thought, Were filmmakers, lets document this!, says Rattini regarding the way the couple dealt with an ongoing cycle of IVF treatments, procedures invasive to the female body often billed as an easy fix and a quick thing. After a decade of trying to build a nuclear family, the two embarked on a journey to make a film about what comes after you realize nothing works, Marki says, suggesting that maybe there is something else to cherish in that situation, living a happy life without children.

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Marki was open about her ambivalence on the topic of motherhood, being both open and pressured by societal expectations. In the titular question, they consider the pitfalls of identity as defined against a rigid idea of the normal nuclear family: If we werent able to do this normal thing, are we not part of the normal people?, she asks. In the process of researching childlessness, she noticed how strong the recurring narrative is, and how one-sided: if you dont have kids, you lack something fundamental.

After the age of 40, as Westerners, they noticed that exclusion and isolation happen almost naturally when youre the only childless couple in a friend group. This aspect of the social rules made them consider Why the F*** Am I So Sad? also a project where they can question belonging. Almost a quarter of the population of Western Europe and Japan never have children, so what about them? Nobody talks about them, at least not in a very positive light, Marki says.

Developing this documentary project has allowed the couple to turn the camera on themselves and each other for the first time in such an intense way. Why the F*** Am I So Sad? mixes an archive of holiday memories, filmed on Super 8 with an underwater camera, with digital, 4K or smartphone footage of their daily life now, as it unfolds. These are our so-called happy moments, Rattini says, poking fun at the idea of a perfectand perfectly documentedcouple, because when you film each other on analogue film for 10 years, on every vacation, you end up with a representation of the perfect couple.

Additionally, Marki and Rattini will digitalize and incorporate archive materials from their own families to complement the structure. An important part they have also mapped out is a part where they reflect on the dreams and aspirations theyve had, and also things we cannot tell each other, like our fears, Marki says. The two have slightly different attitudes toward childlessness depending on their individual backgrounds, so to tell their different stories, she says, they plan to involve therapists as facilitator figures. Contrasting with the imagery of a perfect couple is raw honesty in their shared search for ways to free yourself from internalized social narratives and stereotypes, she says.

The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival runs March 7  17.

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2024 Elections: BJP Chances in South India

South India comprises 5 states with Tamil Nadu having 39 seats, Kerala 20 seats, Karnataka 28, Telengana 27 seats, and Andhra Pradesh 25 seats. The total seats from South India are 139 seats out of the 543 seats of the Lok Sabha. Read More

Sunday March 17, 2024 11:37 AM , Syed Ali Mujtaba

South India comprises 5 states with Tamil Nadu having 39 seats, Kerala 20 seats, Karnataka 28, Telengana 27 seats, and Andhra Pradesh 25 seats. The total seats from South India are 139 seats out of the 543 seats of the Lok Sabha.

The News18 Mega Opinion Poll has given 58 seats to the BJP-led alliance, and 53 seats to the Congress-led INDIA alliance. In contrast as a poll observer, my prediction is Congress-led INDIA alliance may bag 74 seats while the BJP-led alliance will get a maximum of 30 seats.

Tamil Nadu

The Mega Opinion Poll conducted by Network18 has predicted that the DMK will lead the INDIA bloc to an impressive haul of 30 seats. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) may get 5 seats, while the AIADMK and allies will pick up 4.

But, the prediction of 5 seats given to the BJP seems questionable. The real picture is the BJP has a contest on only two seats in Tamil Nadu that is Kanyakumari and Vellore. It is likely it can win these two seats, may be one, even go blank. In such a case, Congress-led India front may get 37 seats and the BJP just 2 seats.

Kerala

The southern state of Kerala has 20 seats. The News18 Mega Opinion Poll gives the Congress-led INDIA bloc 14 seats, the BJP-led NDA 2 seats, and the LDF 4 seats.

The projection of the BJP winning 2 seats in Kerala is doubtful. This is because historically the saffron party has not won a single seat from Kerala. So in the final analysis, 16 seats will go to the Congress-led INDIA block and 4 seats to LDF.

Karnataka

The third southern state is Karnataka which has 28 seats. According to Network18, the BJP-led NDA coalition is likely to win 25 seats, while the Congress-led INDIA alliance will get only 3 seats.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 25 seats while the Congress 3 seats. In the 2014 polls, BJP won 17, Congress 9 and JD(S) 2 seats. In November 2018, by-poll, the Congress won Bellary seat from the BJP.

We all know that since May 2023 Assembly elections, the political scenario in Karnataka has significantly changed. The fortunes of Congress are on ascendance now and its in a stronger position in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In such a case, Network18 poll prediction for 2024, cannot be a repeat of 2019. In such a situation, the probability the Congress-led INDIA is likely to improve its tally while the BJPs share may drop.

In the given situation, if we take a mean of 2014 and 2019 results, then the tally of BJP may come down to 18 seats, JDS may retain 2 seats giving them 20 seats in Karnataka. The Congress-led INDIA alliance will get 8 seats. In the final analysis, the BJP alliance will get 20 seats and the Congress 8 seats in Karnataka.

Telengana

The next southern state is Telengana which has 27 seats. The News18 Mega Opinion Poll suggests that the BJP-led NDA is going to win 17 seats, while the Congress-led INDIA bloc is expected to win 6 seats, TRS/ BRS to secure 2 and AIMIM 1 seat.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, TRS got 9 seats, BJP 4, Congress 3, and AIMIM 1 seat, as elections were held for 17 Lok Sabha constituencies.

In the 2014 election TRS got 11, the Congress 2, the TDP 1, the BJP 1, YSRCP 1, and the AIMIM 1 for 19 Lok Sabha constituencies.

We all know that since the 2023 Assembly elections, the political scenario has changed significantly in Telangana. The fortune of Congress is on ascendance as it has wrested the state from the TRS/BRS party in the Assembly election 2023.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress is in a much stronger position than it was in 2019 or 2014. So the tally of Congress is likely to improve from its previous performances. In such a situation, the prediction is Congress INDIA alliance may get 18 seats, BJP 4 seats, BRS 4 and AIAM 1 seat. The TDP and YSRCP may go blank in the 2024 polls.

In the final analysis, the Congress-led alliance may get 18 seats and the BJP-led NDA may get 4 seats in Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh

There are 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh. The TDP, BJP, and the Jana Sena are alliance partners in the 2024 polls. According to the arrangement, the BJP will run for 6 parliamentary seats, the TDP will contest for 17, and the JSP for 2 seats.

The News18's Mega Opinion Poll has predicted 18 seats for the BJP-led alliance and 7 seats to YSRCP in the 2024 election. The ruling party in Andhra Pradesh is YSRCP. In the 2019 LS poll, YSRCP got 22 seats and the TDP 3 seats. In the 2014 general elections, TDP got 15 seats YSRCP 8, and BJP 2 seats.

In the year 2024, the political situation in Andhra Pradesh changed after YS Sharmila, sister of Jagan Mohan Reddy joined the Congress. The presence of YS Sharmila may revive the Congress fortunes in Andhra Pradesh. In such a case, the Congress may open its account, in its traditional bastion.

The prediction of the opinion poll in favor of the BJP alliance is unpalatable. The main parties in Andhra Pradesh are the YSRCP and the TDP. The TDP had only 3 seats in the 2019 election and that is the reason it has allied with the BJP and the JSP. The pollster has given 18 seats and the YSRCP that had won 22 seats is predicted to win 7 seats in 2024. Can this be acceptable? This clearly shows the opinion poll is fudged in favor of BJP-led political alliance.

What looks apparent is that the YSRCP tally may decrease from its 22 seats performance in 2019 but it will certainly not reduce to 7 seats in 2024 as predicted by the opinion poll. The most likely result in 2024 may be that YSRCP may get 18 seats, the BJP alliance may get 5 seats and the Congress-led alliance may get 2 seats in Andhra Pradesh.

So in the final analysis the YSRCP with 18 seats holds the trump card and in the most likely scenario, it will go with the INC and not to the BJP because it will not sign its death warrant in the state politics by joining the TDP, BJP alliance.

Summary

The view from South India in the 2024 poll, out of 139 seats the BJP in Tamil Nadu may get 1 seat out of 39 seats. In Kerala, out of 20 seats, it may not get a single seat. In Karnataka, out of 28 seats, it may get 20 seats. In Telengana out of 27 seats, it may get 4 seats and in Andhra Pradesh, out of 25 seats it may get 5 seats.

In contrast, the Congress out of 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will get 38 seats. In Kerala, out of 20 seats will get all 20 seats. In Karnataka out of 28 seats, Congress will get 8 seats. In Telengana out of 27 seats, Congress will get 18 seats. In Andhra Pradesh out of 25 seats, Congress will get 2 seats plus 17 seats of YSRCP.

In the final analysis, the BJP-led alliance will get 30 seats, the Congress alliance will get 87 seats out of the total 139 seats from South India for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

[The writer, Syed Ali Mujtaba, is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com]



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2024 Polls: BJP's 400 seats target should ring alarm bells

Justifying this char sau par, the Karnataka BJP MP of long standing, Anantkumar Hegde, explained the need for such a figure. As per him, the BJP intends to change the Constitution for which 2/3rd majority is needed. Read More

Sunday March 17, 2024 10:54 AM , Ram Puniyani

The leaders of the BJP, the ruling dispensation have been claiming to be winning more that 400 (370 BJP +30 Allies) seats in the forthcoming parliamentary elections (Char sau paar) of 2024. This is not based on any psephological analysis but purely propagated for political reasons.

Justifying this char sau par, the Karnataka BJP MP of long standing, Anantkumar Hegde, explained the need for such a figure. As per him, the BJP intends to change the Constitution for which 2/3rd majority is needed. In a public meeting he stated, that the party needs 400 seats to change the Constitution:

If the Constitution has to be amended -- the Congress fundamentally distorted the Constitution by forcefully filling unnecessary things in it (added, secularism, socialism), especially by bringing in laws that were aimed at suppressing the Hindu society -- if all of this has to be changed, it is not possible with this (current) majority,"

BJP distanced itself from this statement of its sitting MP, as if the party does not really approve of such a statement. There are some news items saying that due to this statement he may be denied a party ticket. Whether he is denied a ticket on this ground or not; one thing is sure that the BJP has no aversion to such statements. This MP had said the same thing in 2017, when he was a Central Minister in the BJP government. He was duly given the ticket from this party in 2019 General elections by BJP.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, and many others feel that what Hegde is saying is precisely what explains the figure of 400.

The statement of the BJP MP that he needs 400 seats to change the Constitution is a public declaration of the hidden agenda of Narendra Modi and his 'Sangh Parivar'. The ultimate goal of Narendra Modi and the BJP is to destroy Baba Saheb's Constitution. They hate justice, equality, civil rights and democracy, Rahul Gandhi wrote in Hindi on X (formally Twitter).

The former Congress President also alleged that by dividing the society, guarding the freedom of expression and crippling independent institutions, they want to turn India's great democracy into a narrow dictatorship by conspiring to eliminate the opposition.



The BJP has a twin track strategy to undermine the democratic values, the values of equality of our Constitution. Its parent organization RSS opposed the Constitution right from the beginning. After the Indian Constitution came into being RSS unofficial mouthpiece Organiser wrote:

In Our Constitution, There Is No Mention of That Unique Constitutional Development in Ancient Bharat. To This Day His Laws As Enunciated In The Manusmriti Excite The Admiration Of The World And Elicit Spontaneous Obedience And Conformity. But To Our Constitutional Pundits That Means Nothing.

When the BJP came to power as NDA in 1998 one of the first things it did was to appoint a commission to review the Constitution. This Commissions, (Venkatchaliah Commission), report could not be undertaken for implementation as there was a severe opposition to any tampering with our Constitution. From 2014, when BJP has been in power; times and over again it has used the preamble of our Constitution by deleting the words Secular and Socialist.

Prior to this when K.Sudarshan became the Chief of RSS in 2000, he frankly stated that the Indian Constitution is based on Western values so should be replaced by one based on Indian holy books.

Sudarshan said the constitution was of no use for the people of the country as it was based on the Government of India Act of 1935, We need not fight shy of altering the constitution completely,"

Not too long ago, Chief of PMs Economic Advisory Council, Dr. Vivek Debroy had also called for a change of the Constitution in a lead article in Livemint on August 15, 2023. So voices of major stature from within the BJP organization and state officials do keep raising such voices while officially the BJP or BJP led Government makes the show of distancing itself from such utterances.

On another track, since the BJP has been in power for the last one decade, what has it done to the core value of the Indian Constitution: Democracy and equality? As far as democracy is concerned, all the pillars of democratic state, Constitutional institutions ED, CBI, IT, EC all are being controlled by the executive and the executive itself is restricted to one person. The Judiciary at various levels has been weakened by various mechanisms. There are numerous examples of this; one such being the detention of Umar Khaild and refusal to hear his bail plea from the last three years.

Freedom of expression is down in the dumps. With the mainstream media under the belt of pro Government Corporate, it is the Voice of Ruling Government which is broadcast through major TV channels and newspapers. The independent voices have limited space available to articulate their opinions. Freedom of Expression; the major pillar of a democratic society has gone for a toss.

Freedom of Religion has been declining with many International indices. India as a country of particular concern, is the label for India as per US freedom of religion watchdog. As per V-Dem India ranked 104 on democracy Index, between Niger and Ivory Coast! This is what has happened during the last ten years, to practically denigrate the democratic freedoms through executive actions leading to such a drastic fall in democratic index.

Not long ago it was Lal Krishna Advani, who had said that India is living through an undeclared emergency. All the components of freedom have been stifled through the foot soldiers of Hindu nationalists apart from state officials, while the ruling Governments merrily looks the other way around, a clear signal to these elements that this regime grants full impunity to violations of democratic rights of minorities and weaker sections of society.

As such if we look around every religious nationalist outfit is averse to democratic freedoms. They do resort to tuning their constitutions in such a direction, also their ground level workers resort to the actions promoting divisive and oppressive politics. India is joining this club of Democracy Suppressors like Pakistan or Sri Lanka. BJP is resorting to twin track politics, aiming for changing the Constitution on one hand and practically undermining it, on the other!





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Electoral Bonds Scheme: A Failed Promise of Transparency

Introduced in 2018 with promises of enhancing transparency in political financing, electoral bonds have failed to deliver on their intended purpose. Read More

Sunday March 17, 2024 6:10 PM , Mohd Ziyauallah Khan

The recent disclosure by the Election Commission of India sheds light on the intricate web of financial transactions underlying political funding in the country. Two crucial PDF documents uploaded by the Election Commission present a datewise breakdown of bond purchases by companies and individuals, as well as a corresponding list of bonds redeemed by political parties. While matching these lists is essential, the disclosed information unveils significant insights into the flaws within Indias democratic framework.

Revelation of Top Donors: An Eye-Opening Analysis

Examining the top 50 donors, categorised by holding company/promoter and their respective sectors, reveals startling revelations. The top 20 donors, predominantly companies, collectively contribute to nearly half of the bonds purchased. Of notable mention is Future Gaming, a relatively unknown company, emerging as the single largest donor with a contribution of Rs 1,368 crore. This revelation raises concerns regarding the influence of obscure entities in political financing, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability.

Introduced in 2018 with promises of enhancing transparency in political financing, electoral bonds have failed to deliver on their intended purpose. Criticised by various stakeholders, including the Reserve Bank of India and the Election Commission, the delayed recognition of the schemes illegality by the Supreme Court underscores the magnitude of the issue. The lack of clarity regarding the source of funds sloshing through electoral bonds further exacerbates concerns surrounding the integrity of Indias electoral process.

Sectoral Analysis: Unveiling the Power Dynamics

A closer examination of the list reveals a significant presence of companies operating in sectors such as infrastructure, mining, real estate, and gaming. These sectors, characterised by extensive government discretion, indicate a correlation between political contributions and favourable policies. Prime Minister Modis policy alterations to accommodate businesses in these sectors raise questions about the influence of corporate entities on government decisions, at the expense of the marginalised.

Regional Dynamics: Quid Pro Quo in Political Landscape

The revelation that corporate donations extend beyond the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to other regional parties highlights the prevalence of quid pro quo politics. The significant contributions to parties governing states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh underscore the widespread influence of corporate entities on regional political dynamics.

Investigative Concerns: Electoral Bonds and Commercial Contracts

Emerging evidence suggests a nexus between electoral bond purchases and the procurement of lucrative commercial contracts. However, comprehensive investigations into these allegations remain elusive, necessitating cooperation from financial institutions such as the State Bank of India (SBI) to uncover the intricate linkages between companies and political parties.

Call for Transparency: Demands for Investigation

The revelation of electoral bond data has triggered widespread calls for transparency and accountability in political funding. Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded a special investigation into the electoral bonds scheme, advocating for stringent measures to hold political parties accountable for their financial transactions.

International Scrutiny: Global Attention on Indian Electoral Funding

The international medias coverage of the electoral bond controversy has brought Indias political financing dynamics under global scrutiny. The Financial Times highlights the involvement of dubious entities, such as Future Gaming, in significant political donations, signalling broader concerns regarding transparency and integrity in Indias electoral process.

Conclusion: A Call for Transparency and Accountability

The disclosure of electoral bond data underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in political funding. As stakeholders demand thorough investigations and stringent measures to curb illicit financial transactions, the controversy surrounding electoral bonds serves as a wake-up call for reforming Indias electoral financing mechanisms. Only through concerted efforts to foster transparency and accountability can India uphold the principles of a robust and democratic electoral system.

[The writer, Mohd Ziyauallah Khan, is a freelance content writer based in Nagpur. He is also an activist and social entrepreneur, co-founder of the group TruthScape, a team of digital activists fighting disinformation on social media.]

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Watch: Foreign students offering Taraweeh attacked in Gujarat University Hostel

Foreign students, who were offering Taraweeh  Special Night Prayers performed during Ramadan, in Gujarat University Hostel were attacked allegedly by Hindutva extremists Saturday March 16, 2024. Read More

Sunday March 17, 2024 6:15 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

[Gujarat University Campus (File photo)]

Ahmedabad: Foreign students, who were offering Taraweeh  Special Night Prayers performed during Ramadan, in Gujarat University Hostel were attacked allegedly by Hindutva extremists Saturday March 16, 2024.

The students from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and some African countries said they gathered in the hostel to perform Taraweeh Namaz as there is no mosque on the campus. It was then that the hostel was stormed by the Hindutva extermists.

The students also alleged that after the incident the police came in but did not take any action and let them go away.

Police let them go. Police let them go! They are going. They are running away! They broke everything. They are running away. The police aren't arresting them, a student is heard saying in a video shared on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

Watch Video

In this video, A goon in saffron shawl can be seen abusing International Students of Gujarat University while chanting religious slogans. https://t.co/ziD4AiwC3m pic.twitter.com/Oc2tZV901U  Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 16, 2024

At least six students - one each from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Turkmenistan and two from African countries, have been injured in the incident.

Talking to Gujarat First, one of the students said they have been offering Namaz in the hostel for the past few years after getting permission from the Gujarat University officials.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik talking to reporters confirmed the incident. He said there are around 300 International students in the university. Around 75 of them are staying in A Block of the Hostel.

Yesterday at around 10:30 PM, 20 to 25 people stormed the hostel and objected to the students offering Namaz. They asked them not to offer Namaz on the campus. This led to a heated argument between them. Later they pelted stones on the hostel room, he said.

VHP takes responsibility of the attack

In a video posted on social media platform X, VHP leader, Dharmendra Bhavani, said the attackers were from the right wing outfit and justified the attack on the international students.

He said offering namaz at the hostel and writing in Urdu hurt sentiments of Hindus. "Our cadre went to the University Campus to teach them a lesson", he said.

Meanwhile, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi spoke to Gujarat's top police officers and directed them to arrest the accused as soon as possible and ensure a fair probe, according to NDTV.

Following the minister's order, the police registered an FIR and are investigating the incident.

The attacks on the Muslim students offering Namaz in Gujarat University Hostel comes over a week after a Police Officer kicked Muslims busy in Friday prayers by a roadside of the packed mosque in Delhi.

Islamophobic attacks and hate crimes against Muslims are on the rise in India ever since the Modi government came to power in 2014. The right wing government however ignores and refuses to acknowledge these attacks as serious.

The latest attack comes a day after India abstained from voting on a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which called for a united action against Islamophobia.

The resolution was ultimately passed with an overwhelming support of 115 members, 44 abstentions and none voting against it.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Kayleigh Hicks in 'Rides and Hides' Courtesy Isaac Yowman

Today is the day when Houston's world-famous rodeo packs up and turns off the lights, while Women's History Month comes to a close in another two weeks. But what both events celebrate will continue to survive long after March is a memory.

Case in point is the new short film from Houston filmmaker Isaac Yowman, "Rides & Hides: Honoring Black Excellence," a four-minute celebration of Black cowboys and, more specifically, Black women in the western scene. It drops at 10 a.m. today on Yowman's Instagram page, Chillvibes, and YouTube page, IYO Visuals.

The women of the Prairie View Trail Ride Association in the film 'Rides and Hides' Courtesy Isaac Yowman Myunique Dightman in 'Rides and Hides' Courtesy Isaac Yowman Sherylle Fuller in 'Rides and Hides' Courtesy Isaac Yowman Exceletria Wallace in 'Rides and Hides' Courtesy Isaac Yowman Jasmine Lewis in 'Rides and Hides' Courtesy Isaac Yowman Houston director Isaac Yowman and rodeo rider Myrtis Dightman Sr. Edward Burgess

TUBI OR NOT TUBI: Black filmmakers in Houston are finding wider audiences on the Tubi streaming platform.

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The film, which runs just over four minutes and was made as part of Adidas' Honoring Black Excellence national campaign in conjunction with Premium Goods, is a tip of the cowboy hat to the Black pioneers in the field, especially Myrtis Dightman Sr. (who broke barriers in 1966 by becoming the first Black cowboy to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo), his granddaughter Adia Dightman, the Prairie View Trail Riders and the women who were and are part of the movement.

Houston filmmaker Isaac Yowman who directed 'Rides and Hides' Fred Agho

"My team and I met Myrtis Dightman Sr. and his immediate family on their 150 acre ranch out in Crockett," says Yowman in a release. "It was all orchestrated by his granddaughter, Adia Dightman, whos now stepped up to coordinate these types of things to be sure siblings and their children carry on the legacy her 'paw paw' started. Beyonce's country music release has folks shocked in a frenzy, but when youre from Texas, cowboys, horses, pickup trucks and country music are second nature."

Yowman says he would like to be involved in a more in-depth project about the family.

"I absolutely love the story of Myrtis Dightman Sr. and the legacy he has stamped," Yowman says via email. "Ive been in communication with Javier Chapa (Mucho Mas), who is producing a feature length scripted film about Myrtis, which is very exciting, and I hope to be a resource on that project."

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Yowman says that he felt he was a natural fit for the project.

"I feel like, as a native Houstonian, the culture is naturally ingrained in you," Yowman says. "Since a young kid, I attended RodeoHouston. Zydeco music and outdoor cook-offs  its just naturally a country Texas thing. Everything synonymous with livestock is literally around you everywhere you go, 365. Residing in both LA and NYC for extended amounts of time, I realized how cows, horses, hay and open flat land simply wasnt really a thing you encounter frequent. In HTX, you could see a full field of cattle on the way to the grocery store. So, though itd be a stretch to say that Im a certified cowboy, I definitely feel like I was born into the culture."
HCM CITY  The tourism sector in HCM City in the early months of 2024 has seen many positive signals, serving as one of the driving forces to achieve the city's goals for the year and the following years.

According to statistics for the first two months of 2024, revenue from accommodation and dining in the city reached nearly VN19.8 trillion (803.2 million), a 13.6 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.

The number of international visitors to HCM City in February 2024 was over 486,000 for a total of more than 903,000 for the first two months of 2024, achieving 15 per cent of the target for 2024.

Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Tourism, shared that the city was recently honored as the "Leading MICE Tourism Destination in Asia" at the World MICE Awards in 2023, marking the fourth consecutive year of receiving this prestigious title.

The award is a testament to the city's attraction as a top destination for the conference, convention and exhibition industry, reinforcing its position on the international stage.

Hieu further stated that the award is an important milestone reflecting the international community's confidence in the potential of HCM City's tourism industry.

This is also an annual, reputable award that honours destinations, hotels, airlines, venues and specialised MICE tourism service providers, part of a series of awards developed from the World Travel Awards.

According to Graham Cooke, President of the World Travel Awards, HCM City is a special destination, rich in history, culture, vibrancy, and colors.

Being honoured as the "Leading MICE Tourism Destination in Asia" serves as a motivation to attract high-class tourism corporations and brands, as well as to increase opportunities to realise the vision of becoming a regional and global MICE tourism centre.

By 2030, HCM City aims to become a leading destination in Asia with the image of a city that is "open, youthful, vibrant, exciting, and forward-looking."

Series of events

The HCM City Department of Tourism continues to commit to improving infrastructure and services to attract more international events, solidifying its leading position on the regional and global tourism map.

HCM City has been hosting numerous activities to stimulate tourism and attract visitors from both domestic and international markets.

For example, the 10th HCM City Ao Dai Festival in 2024, taking place from March 7 to 17, includes events such as ao dai exhibitions and interactive spaces, while the 9th Viet Nam - Japan Festival in 2024 in March 9-10 offered a series of cultural, sports, trade and tourism events that strongly represent the national cultures of Viet Nam and Japan.

Also in March, Saigontourist Travel Services Company continues to welcome numerous international cruise ships to Viet Nam.

According to Nguyen Thanh Luu, General Director of Saigontourist, the international cruise tourism sector is recovering and growing rapidly in the 2023 - 2024 cruise tourism season.

This is a positive result from efforts to adjust visa policies, improve infrastructure, establish new accommodation and sightseeing networks, and meeting international standards while leveraging the tourism strengths of each locality.

Along with this, the tourism industry and travel businesses are continuously enhancing the quality of services and professionalism to retain international guests with the most distinctive and professional tourism products.

It is expected that in 2024, the number of cruise ship passengers will increase by 10 - 15 per cent compared to 2023.

Many international cruise lines are increasing their voyages to Asia-Pacific, including destinations in Viet Nam.

In Viet Nam, tourists prefer long voyages across Viet Nam, stopping at multiple ports in HCM City, Ha Long, Hue, a Nang and Nha Trang, among others.  VNS
HA NOI  A delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly Nguyen uc Hai inspected the North-South Expressway Project in Quang Binh Province on Saturday.

Hai listened to reports about the projects status and conducted an on-site inspection of the project's section passing through Bo Trach District.

According to the report 90 per cent of the land needed for the section has been made ready for construction. Re-settlement has been carried out without delay to create a sense of security for local people.

A representative of the Project Management Board 6 said the North-South Expressway Project in Quang Binh was proceeding on schedule, with land clearance reaching 95 per cent.

He said the disbursement of the fund allocated to the project was carried out as planned in 2023 and in the first three months of 2024. However, some obstacles remained, notably in land compensation.

In response, the Vice Chairman praised the projects progress and urged continued public engagement and attention to resettlement to accelerate land clearance.

He also stressed the importance of drainage capacity, on which the board must focus to prevent the expressway from becoming a "flood barrier" that could have adverse effects on local people's lives.

Hai and other delegates also gave gifts to the workers and officials involved in the project.

The North-South Expressway Project in Quang Binh comprises three component projects, stretching more than 126km. The local authorities have had over one million hectares of land cleared, compensating about 3,100 families affected.  VNS
IEN BIEN  The northwestern province of ien Bien is set to become a tourism and service hub of the northern midlands and mountainous region by 2030, according to the provinces master plan for the 2021-2030 period with a vision towards 2050.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha handed over the master plans approval decision to local authorities at a ceremony on Sunday.

The plan states that by 2030, ien Bien wants to be a province with a medium level of development, focusing on high-tech, high-quality forestry and agriculture as well as processing and tourism.

The provincial master plan is expected to place a significant emphasis on the digital economy.

To achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions, ien Bien looks to develop thoroughly in all economic, social, and environmental areas by 2050.

The area will rise to prominence internationally and serve as a hub for historical, cultural and ecological tourism in the country, according to the plan.

A number of objectives are also outlined, including exceeding 10.51 per cent of the annual economic growth rate for the 202130 period. By 2030, the GRDP per person on average is expected to surpass VN113 million.

Over 2.65 million tourists are expected to visit the province in 2030.

ien Bien has chosen three innovations: refining rules and regulations to boost productivity; completing the socioeconomic infrastructure system in a timely and contemporary manner, emphasising transportation infrastructure investments to spur innovation and development; and applying science and technology, strengthening innovation for human resource development.

The driving economic axis along Highway 279, the ien Bien  Son La  Ha Noi Expressway, associated with ien Bien Airport, is considered the main and important axis of the entire region.

Deputy PM Ha asked the local authorities to prioritise resources to invest in infrastructure projects for regional and global connection, creating a connection axis between Viet Nam and other Southeast Asian countries and China.

The province must concentrate on developing traffic connection systems, connecting energy infrastructure, digital infrastructure, health care, and education, especially on critical projects, he said.

He urged the province to implement mechanisms and regulations to attract large investors, citing ien Bien's numerous advantages in tourism development. This will allow the province to create unique, elegant, and classy tourism products.

In order to produce distinctive, high-value agricultural goods, the province must continue to highlight its agricultural strengths and soil advantages, but it also needs sound planning and connections.

At the same time, he added, the province must focus on the forestry industry and expand afforestation associated with multi-purpose exploitation of forests in an effective and appropriate way.

According to him, ien Bien also benefits from hydropower, solar energy, and wind energyrenewable energy sources that require consideration, funding, and utilisation.

After the master plan was announced, he urged the province to step up investment promotion activities and ask for help of reputable and experienced scientists and investors to ensure the area develops diversely and sustainably.

He said the province needed to promote the digital economy, IT application and administrative procedure reforms in all fields.  VNS
QUANG NINH  Hospital quality management, patient safety and medical human resources were the main topics of discussion at the annual conference of the Northern Hospital Directors Club Meeting taking place in Ha Long City on March 16.

Minister of Health ao Hong Lan said that the annual meeting was an opportunity for hospital managers and health experts to discuss and jointly solve pressing issues related to bidding, procurement of drugs, machinery and equipment, medical equipment and health insurance settlement.

Lan said: Hospital management is expected to continue to face many difficulties and challenges, including issues of financial management, procurement of drugs and medical equipment supply, human resource management and hospital quality management, requiring safe and flexible adaptation in new situations and a stronger and more positive transformation from the health sector to take better care of the people.

The health minister also asked the entire hospital system to prioritise human resources, promote the application of information technology to implement the National Digital Transformation Programme, improve hospital management capacity and efficiency and create favourable conditions for people to access medical services.

Lan also suggested the entire industry focus on promoting and applying information technology and digital transformation in reforming administrative procedures to reduce inconvenience for patients and businesses, adding that the health sector has cut 92 administrative procedures in the past years.

Priorities should be focused on improving the quality of medical examination and treatment and hospital operation management, especially prioritising the issue of improving quality and patient safety, added the minister.

The 2024 Northern Province Hospital Directors Club Meeting was attended by leaders of more than 100 member hospitals in the North. With the patient-centred principle, the meeting aims to bring satisfaction, safety and the best quality of medical services to patients, meeting the people's medical examination and treatment needs.

At the event, participants heard that the forum contributed to promoting the development of health sector policies and strengthened the hospital system effectively following the law.

They also discussed new points in the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the Law on Bidding in the health sector, the new Decree on health insurance and the Resolution on digital transformation to 2025 and orientation to 2030.

Associate Professor, Dr. ao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai General Hospital and chairman of the Northern Hospital Directors Club, said that the forum will be a forum for hospital managers to discuss and share experiences in many important areas of hospital management.

Prof. Co said that IT applications will improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, bringing satisfaction to the patient.

He said: "The simplest thing that everyone can see about the effectiveness of IT application in the reception and payment of hospital fees because it reduces waiting time for patients.

"Instead of having to count money and prepare money retail returns, the application of IT with cashless payment makes this convenient, fast, accurate and especially transparent.

By cutting down on cumbersome financial procedures, doctors and medical staff will only focus on medical examination and treatment, thereby improving the quality of medical examination and treatment and patients will be more satisfied.

"Therefore, hospitals need to drastically implement it. And as hospital directors, we are certainly determined to do it, because only digital transformation can elevate the hospital, from management to openness and transparency.

Every year Bach Mai Hospital has to spend tens of billions of ong to buy film and print diagnostic scan results. If the digital transformation is successful, we will save tens of billions ong, because there is no need to print the resulting film and at the same time it also protects the environment."  VNS
HA TINH - A woman is being prosecuted for alleged people trafficking, after charging thousands of dollars to smuggle a person into South Korea.

Truong Thi Mai Ca, 39, from Cuong Gian Commune, Nghi Xuan District, is accused of "organising, brokering illegal emigration, immigration."

The Immigration Department of the Ha Tinh Provincial Police discovered signs of "organising, brokering illegal emigration, immigration" by the suspect in Nghi Xuan District. Subsequently, the Immigration Department transferred the entire dossier and evidence to the Security Investigation Agency for investigation within their jurisdiction.

According to the police records, Nguyen Van Vuong, 38, from My Loc Commune, Can Loc District, contacted and negotiated with Truong Thi Mai Ca through Facebook to prepare documents for Vuong to travel to South Korea on a tourist visa.

In August 2023, Truong Thi Mai Ca agreed to handle the procedures for Nguyen Van Vuong to go to South Korea, with a total cost of US$17,000. Vuong paid an advance of VN50 million (US$2,116) and paid the remaining amount when completing the emigration procedures.

After completing the documentation and paying in full, Nguyen Van Vuong went through the emigration procedures to South Korea with a tourist visa. However, upon arrival in South Korea, Vuong was detected by the Korean authorities, denied entry, and deported back to Viet Nam.

Based on the collected investigation documents and evidence, the Security Investigation Agency issued a decision to prosecute, issued a travel ban for Truong Thi Mai Ca, and completed the dossier to process the suspect according to the provisions of the law for the crime of "organising, brokering illegal emigration, immigration". VNS
Joyce Armstrong Carroll, a writing teacher and author, talks about drawing inspiration from a Victorian era fashion book Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Spring. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Shirlene Obuobi is a College Park graduate, cardiologist and romance author who will return to her hometown for The Woodlands' second Books on the Green festival. Linda Liu Joyce Armstrong Carroll, a writing teacher and author, is shown Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Spring. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Michael Gaulden (pictured) and Woodlands illustrator Rod Flower created children's book 'Hello, Neighbor!" to address misconceptions about homelessness. Michael Gaulden As a cardiologist, cartoonist and author College Park graduate Shirlene Obuobi deals with matters of the heart. Pavitra Reddy Joyce Armstrong Carroll, a writing teacher and author, is shown Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Spring. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer A selection of mystery books written by Joyce Armstrong Carroll, a writing teacher and author, are shown Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Spring. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

As a cardiologist, cartoonist and romance novelist, Shirlene Obuobi knows matters of the heart.

Obuobi, who graduated from College Park's Academy of Science and Technology and is now based in Chicago, is one of 13 authors attending The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival's literary offshoot, Books on The Green, at Town Green Park April 12-14.

Put on by Village Books founder Teresa Kenney, the second annual festival will feature local and nationally-based authors, including Obuobi, former Fort Worth Star-Telegram journalist and thriller writer Julia Heaberlin, and Kirk Weddle, who photographed Nirvana's Nevermind album cover.

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Various genres and experiences

Like Books on The Green, The Woodlands hosts authors and illustrators with work that spans across genres, presenting unique perspectives that often draw from personal experience.

Obuobi pairs serious issues with romance, warmth and wit in her work. Her debut novel, On Rotation, addresses challenges faced by Black women in medicine, the pressures of embodying the "Perfect Immigrant Daughter" ideal and quarter-life crises.

The book draws from experience  both Obuobi and her main character, Angie, were Ghanian-American medical students at the time of writing  but it's not to be confused for autobiography, Obuobi said.

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"Most of the time when people see you're a physician, they're expecting you to write some hard-hitting non-fiction, and I unabashedly write love stories," Obuobi said. "You have to get people in their seats to read about two normal people with normal jobs just working through their own stuff to finally get to each other."

Like Obuobi, Woodlands-based writer and former writing teacher Joyce Armstrong Carroll sees inspiration in reality. She turns small artifacts displayed throughout her art-adorned home  Victorian women's fashion books, luxury Judith Leiber polar bear purses and Agatha Christie fountain pens  and transforms them into key plot points in her new mystery series.

At 86, Carroll could have retired years ago. Instead, she swapped her role as co-founder of Abydos Learning and her academic name for a new pen name and writing style.

'The one thing I can do is write'

When the pandemic came, a family member mysteriously died, and her husband suffered a stroke all at once, Armstrong decided to follow the advice she gave her students and write it out.

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"I walked in (my house) and said, 'What can I do?'" Armstrong said. "The one thing I can do is write."

She wrote "Love Enough to Murder," a family drama-turned-mystery, in early 2023. Her mind and her pen haven't stopped moving since.

Each of the three published novels is like a puzzle that both Armstrong and the audience must unravel as amateur sleuth Grand Aunty and her genius sidekick, Aladar, encounter mind-bending mysteries and, at times, their own steamy romance.

"That whole part of my life just prepared me to be the mystery writer that I am," Armstrong said. "I honestly cannot wait to get to the computer every day."

Author Michael Gaulden also drew from trauma when writing his first children's book. From ages 7 to 17, Gaulden experienced homelessness across the country before eventually graduating from UCLA and writing a memoir.

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Gaulden collaborated with Woodlands-based illustrator Rod Flower to create "Hello, Neighbor," a children's book tackling misconceptions about homelessness. By focusing on drug use and violence within the homeless community, thousands of other stories like his own are erased, Gaulden said.

"There were lots of children. Kindergartners living in tents, women running from domestic violence, so many military vets missing limbs who were just needing health care," Gaulden said. "All of their stories were getting lost under the term 'homeless.'"

'Resilience and perseverance'

Through writing and Flower's colorful illustrations, Gaulden gives children a close-up view of main character "Harry" the cat's world.

"It's symbolic of resilience and perseverance as you walk through this community of homelessness and these people that you might not have access to," Gaulden said. "It just shows a different perspective."

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Gaulden's advocacy continues through his memoir and work in San Diego, where he works in workforce development.

Carroll continues to speak at literacy conferences. She will soon publish her fourth Grand Aunty book, Jealous Enough to Murder, and has plans for at least two more books in the series.

"They say that you should write one book before you die. I'm 86 and I'm hoping to write about 10," Carroll said. "The thing about writing that's so exciting is it's never over, it's abandoned...I wouldn't trade my writing life for anything."

Obuobi's second book, Between Friends & Lovers, is a romance borne from burnout and trauma suffered by medical workers during COVID and will publish in July.

In the meantime, Obuobi will visit The Woodlands professionally for the first time at the Books on the Green festival.
After spending more than 20 years working at several Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, Remi Van Peteghem has decided to move into management. Being appointed to be Culinary Director at the iconic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, he has set the target of winning a Michelin star for the establishment. He speaks with Thuy Hang about his ambition and the new career path.

Inner Sanctum: This is the first time you have experienced Tet in Viet Nam. Did you enjoy it?

I arrived in Ha Noi just three days before Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. It is a lively city full of life, but suddenly, three days after my arrival, the city was completely different. All the shops closed and streets were almost empty  a complete contrast to the bustling scene a few days before. I was astonished at the change. However, at the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, all our restaurants were very busy and staff were working restlessly when people came to celebrate the holiday with their families. I definitely could feel the festive atmosphere, although I havent discovered yet all the features of this significant festival. I will wait until next year when I get more involved with this country and to be closer to the Vietnamese culture. I think I will enjoy the next Tet with a better understanding of it.

Inner Sanctum: Before working in management, you were a chef. How do these jobs contrast?

The similarity is that basically I am still a chef. However, there are different approaches to the two positions.

When I was a Chef de Cuisine, whatever I had to care about was guest satisfaction, how to give pleasure through the food creations, to create my own identity through the cuisine. I was dedicated to only one place [kitchen] and I worked with a smaller team.

On the management side, I have to concern myself with a broader range of responsibilities, overseeing multiple kitchens and outlets, managing budgets and developing menus. I don't have to cook, but I will be the chef in the shadows  a title that I identify myself with. I take this position to guide my team and to make Chef de Cuisine shine. When you perform in a management position, its not about you, it's about the other. For me, it's another approach to cuisine.

Inner Sanctum: What lead you to management?

I am a curious person who always wants to go beyond whatever I have done.

When I decided to become a chef, a Michelin star was what I dreamed about, and I tried my best to gain this prestigious recognition. After gaining the Michelin star, I thought it was time for me to discover something different and I wanted to see something new. So I decided to leave Paris to move to the Peninsula Hong Kong, where I also took the role of Chef de Cuisine. Although the geographic change gave me a different environment and different target, after two years, once again, I was struggling with several questions Do I just want to be head of the kitchen only? Is it what I really want to do in the future?

At that time, I felt that managing the kitchen didn't give me enough pleasure. So I decided to switch to the management work by being an Executive Sous Chef of Peninsula New York. In 2016, I became Executive Chef of the Royal Monceau Paris, then InterContinental Doha the City, and Director of Culinary at Resort World Sentosa in Singapore before being Assistant Vice President F&B Culinary at Resort World Sentosa.

For me, experiencing different positions is a big change of mentality. I love this approach to cuisine. I put aside my cooking pleasure because I love to connect more with other people, to guide them and to lead them.

Inner Sanctum: The Metropole Hanoi is a legendary landmark with a long history. What are your priorities as Culinary Director?

I'm not here to change the restaurants or completely redesign the food that we have been offering. I just want to bring a bit of modernity while preserving the historical features of the establishment that's the DNA of the place.

I always keep in mind the historical values of Sofitel Metropole, so we will continue to promote this. For instance, Le Beaulieu will launch a new lunch concept dedicated to classic French dishes, which will bring connoisseurs back to the past with authentic flavours and cooking style.

Ive worked with our chef to replicate Tete de Veau  a traditional dish cooked from veal head. Even in France, it isnt easy to find this dish because it's very old and most people do not remember its recipe, except for a few very old chefs who learned the recipe from their parents' generations

Its my pleasure and my responsibility to show my chef how to cook it. Its important that we can preserve the tradition, especially that we don't keep it for ourselves but hand it over to the younger generation. Otherwise, it will get lost.

Inner Sanctum: Do you have the ambition to gain a Michelin star for any outlet of the Sofitel Metropole? What will you do to achieve this?

Yes, at Sofitel Metropole, we have this ambition. I think gaining the Michelin title is a good target. If you don't have any target, you don't grow and you don't devote yourself.

The recognition will also prove that our Chef de Cuisine at Le Beaulieu, Charles Degrendele, is a talented chef. And the target will be good for the whole team to get motivated.

To achieve this target, I will share all my knowledge with chef Degrendele and my experience to make sure that he has all the information and the tools to make it happen.

We dont know when the anonymous inspectors of Michelin Guide will come, but we need to be ready. It's a daily routine, it's big work every day on the quality of the ingredients, cooking techniques, the expression of the chefs personality in the cuisine; and consistency both over time and across the entire menu. It's a process to reach the target.

Since my first day at Sofitel Metropole, I have had this objective, and so does chef Degrendele. It gives us good motivation and requires a lot of dedication.

Inner Sanctum: Do you have any celebrated figure who has influenced you?

Each famous chef I had the chance to work with has his own personality, but I dont want to be a copy of anyone.

I like most the 'Creator of flavours and a composer of tastes'  Chef Christian Le Squer, who I had the chance to work with at the 3-Michelin star restaurant Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris. From 2001 to 2004, he showed me a lot and I also learned a lot from him. I like his cuisine style, which presents tradition and a little twist. He also gave me many opportunities to be creative. I put him in the top list of favourite chefs, but I also take the best from others.

I also have lots of respect for Alain Passard  the owner of the 3-Michelin star restaurant L'Arpege in Paris, not only because of his food, but also because of the way he presents himself.

When I joined his team, it was Passard who personally showed me how to cook. He is one of the most famous chefs in the world and he came to cook with me and to show me how to. I was stunned. Like is not enough to present my interest in his cuisine. I love it and I love the way he behaves towards others.

I spend a lot of time with Guy Martin, one of the most accomplished chefs and restaurateurs in Paris. He offered me the opportunity to become a Chef de Cuisine of his restaurant and let me do freely whatever I wanted.

He told me It's your style, it's your identity, it's your restaurant. Me, I'm just the owner. My name is nowhere, it's yours. I really appreciate the opportunity and the trust he gave me. VNS
by Nguyen My Ha

It's spring again when the weather becomes as moody as a young girl, cold early in the morning, hot by midday and cold again in late afternoon, not to mention wind or drizzle at any time during the day. To warm up and dry our souls from the damp air, getting out for a gathering of friends boosts your mood and natural wellbeing.

We've been to Kao Niew before and loved it. From the quiet and discrete street of Lien Tri, one of Ha Noi's most beautiful small lanes, until the moment we walked into the Lao restaurant, it was pleasant and graceful, the welcome of the owner made us feel special.

In the Lao language, Kao means rice and Niew stands for sticky. There's nothing more Laotian than the steamed sticky rice the Lao people have every day.

Vietnamese love everything Laotian, from the food and people to the culture as a whole. There are only a handful of restaurants catering with Laotian food in Ha Noi, but each has its niche.

Our table was comfy facing a large window. The restaurant's framed black and white photos of ancient people gave the place a distant nostalgic feel.

For starters, we had the Glass noodle seafood salad, something similar to a Thai seafood salad, but Kao Niew didn't add ground pork to the dish, which we liked. The shrimps were plump, and the thick squid pieces were large and tender enough not to have us juggling for smaller bites.

Next came the Larp, with the roasted chicken and dipping sauce. Larp is usually consumed as a main dish with steamed sticky rice, but they send it together with the chicken, so hot with crispy skin. The larp with its sourness has been turned into a sort of salad to quench the palate, as the chicken is so buttery.

Next up, came the sticky rice. Though we had run out of meat to accompany it, so had it with roasted sesame and peanuts, which were excellent.

The rice was so delicious we wanted to have more, but some diners before us had already ordered all the house's rice to take home. So, we were not so lucky with the kao niew at Kao Niew restaurant.

Then we had the pork sausage, it was supposed to be a starter with rice, but it tasted good nevertheless.

Next was a sour soup with seaweed and extra fine tofu to aid digestion. Unlike other cultures where they like to open the palate and digestive system with a hot soup, the Vietnamese way is to have it served last, which is what we did.

Like Viet Nam and Thailand, Laos also has many delicious sweet soups for dessert, which left us all content to get ready to go back and face our not-so-bright reality.

The gathering had got us philosophical and chatty, and we opened up about life. It seemed many of us had ageing parents who were struggling with depression and ill health. It is a difficult situation. People who have gone to geriatric hospitals say that they hear children shouting at their parents all the time. They can easily lose their temper with their parents, now behaving like children, and not listening to them.

A popular Vietnamese saying goes, "Tears only run down" meaning only parents love and care for their children unconditionally, and it's hard the other way around. Living day to day with an ageing parent or two is a hard task that not everyone can be prepared to fulfil, let alone accomplish it well.

"We need to meet more often to exchange our ways to treat our parents better," one of my senior colleagues said. "But remember, you're so lucky to still be able to call out 'Me oi!' (Mummy)."

Replenished by a good meal, her words put everything in context and gave us the energy to be strong and to keep trying. VNS

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PHNOM PENH A small village in Kampong Chhnang province is celebrating the return of international tourists, with as many as 100 guests a day enjoying its unique service.

The residents of Kampong Tralach Leu village  in Kampong Tralach commune and district  offer an authentic rural experience, mixed with a chance to admire Cambodias rich cultural heritage, with relaxing rides on traditional ox carts.

Guests not only get the pleasure of a slow paced journey through tranquil green rice fields, but are treated the chance to explore a fascinating 300-year-old temple, just 5km from the village.

Many local people feared the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic would bring an end to the income opportunities their traditional mode of transport and their proximity to the Wat Po Rukkharam pagoda  with its beguiling paintings  have brought them since the ox cart association was established in 2007.

Now, they say they are welcoming more and more visitors, giving them not only the chance to support their families, but also preserve their prize oxen and customary carts.

A drivers perspective Khieu Sopheap is one of 48 members of the Kampong Tralach Leu Village Ox Cart Association, and owns his own cart and pair of oxen.

The proud ox cart driver notes that in addition to his fellow villagers, their association contributes to the well-being of the residents of Tahang village, the home of the 300-year-old Wat Po Rukkharam pagoda, also known locally as Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda.

The 52-year-old says his cart can carry two passengers at a time, and generally makes two or three trips per day.

Sopheap adds that most of his guests arrive from far away locations like the US, France or Japan, and marvel at the lush green fields, the traditional way of life of the local residents and of course the wonders of the Wat Po Rukkharam.

Each of them pays just $7 for a relaxing ride on his cart, and he can earn between 30,000 and 50,000 riel ($7.50 and $12.50) from the association.

He explains that in 2019 and 2020, the effects of the global pandemic had a huge impact on the number of visitors. The dwindling amount of business forced the association to close down in 2020, with many members having no option but to sell their oxen.

Fortunately, the reopening of the Kingdom saw the return of tourists, and Sopheap is once again able to support his family.

Personally, I enjoy the work of driving an ox cart. It is not tiring and we do not use much of our strength. We dont have to spend anything on the oxen, as long as we can find grass for them to graze on. Im always happy to speak with my passengers, and I think we learn a lot from each other, he said.

It sometimes occurs to me how strange it must be for people who live in modern, fast-paced cities to find themselves rattling along in a low-moving cart pulled by oxen, surrounded by the sights and sounds  and smells  of nature, he jokes.

Sopheap says that while he does not earn a fortune, he makes enough to provide for his wife and children. He is also pleased to work with his animals.

I think its important to remember that although there is very little demand for oxen or buffalo in the agriculture sector nowadays, they have provided us humans with centuries of service, so we should celebrate them, he adds.

The association reborn

Tek Kreung, chairman of the ox cart association, says that when it was established in 2007, there was very little demand, but it gradually grew into a viable business for the villagers. Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit, the association ceased operations and sold off almost all of its animals.

He tells The Post that after the disease tapered off, the association began to regroup its members. Each member owns his or her own cart and oxen.

At present, he estimates that the association sees from 50 to 100 passengers travelling on its carts most days, noting that the vast majority are international tourists travelling with a tour guide, with very few Cambodian guests.

The association charges $7, which includes the drivers fee. He said many of the tourists arrive via boat from Siem Reap, while some arrive by bus from Phnom Penh. The villagers are more than happy to meet new arrivals at the port and carry them to the pagoda.

He explains that aside from the simple pleasure of being carried along by the simple rhythm of an ox, the guests are usually fascinated by their glimpses into the daily lives of the villagers, and also astonished by the ancient pagoda, with its thrilling paintings which appear to come alive to the viewer.

Once the foreign visitors have admired the pagoda and its paintings, many of them make offerings to the Buddhist monks, receiving blessings  and a red thread tied around their wrists  in return. This way, the association makes money, while the pagoda also has an income.

I and my fellow villagers are trying very hard to preserve our way of life, because we are afraid of losing our traditional Khmer identity. Nowadays, most people use machines instead of cattle, but we do not want to abandon our culture, says Kreung.

The association has been singled out for praise by the Kampong Chhnang provincial tourism department.

Provincial pride

The province is home to 24 registered tourist sites, 14 of them natural attractions and 10 others cultural or historic. Wat Po Rukkharam is one of the most popular, says Seng Saly, director of the department.

He explains that along with the pagoda, most international tourists want to admire the provincial pottery community in Andong Russey village in Rolea Baier districts Sre Thmei commune.

Saly notes that domestic tourists seem to prefer the provinces natural attractions, like the waterfalls at Thmor Kral or Sre Ampil.

I believe that every one of our tourist destinations have the potential to attract more and more domestic and foreign tourists, and will continue to grow steadily. These areas have increased the living standards of the locals, and also reduced poverty to some extent. International guests also get the opportunity to learn more about our traditional culture, he says.

Sok Thuok, director of the provincial Department of Culture and Fine Arts, explains that aside from being popular with foreigners, Wat Po Rukkharam is the oldest pagoda in the province, being built in the 17th century.

I believe that providing our guests with the chance to ride in an ox cart is an excellent idea, as it demonstrates a Khmer tradition which dates back to ancient times. We commend the ox cart association for maintaining this tradition, and hope that many more tourists will enjoy this unique form of transport, he said. THE PHNOM PENH POST/ANN
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John Gordeuk sets up a telescope to view the eclipse during the Space Center Houston Annular Eclipse Celebration and viewing event at NASAs John Space Center Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

A celestial show will dazzle Texans on April 8, when the sun darkens and the midday sky feels like dawn or dusk.

This total solar eclipse is a rarity, and it will cross much of the Lone Star State  starting at the Mexican border and taking a northeastern path toward Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Nearly 12.8 million Texans live along this path of totality, and the state is bracing for hundreds of thousands of visitors.

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They're coming to witness a perfect alignment that will delight observers and scientists alike.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. For those in the path of totality, the moon will completely block the face of the sun.

This is the only time it's safe to look directly at the sun without special eclipse glasses.

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Observers will see the sun's outermost atmosphere (called the corona) that is usually hidden by the bright light of the sun's surface. The viewing experience, however, is dependent on clear skies.

How rare is a total solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses generally occur twice a year during the so-called eclipse season, when the moon, sun and Earth are properly aligned. But they arent always total solar eclipses.

Total eclipses occur about every 18 months, said Alex Young, NASA's associate director of Heliophysics (the study of the sun and how it influences space).

That's somewhere on Earth, Young said. The Earth is a big place, and they happen all over.

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That means any one location on the planet is likely to see a total solar eclipse roughly every 350 years.

Some places, like Carbondale, Ill., defy the odds. It was in the path of totality in 2017 and is again in the path of totality for April 8.

When was the last time Texas saw a total solar eclipse?

Texas last saw a total solar eclipse on May 28, 1900, said Michael Zeiler with the website Great American Eclipse.

But that path of totality just nibbled at South Texas. The total solar eclipse on April 8 will cross a broader swath of the state.

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Texans only got a partial solar eclipse in 2017 when many other states were treated to dark skies.

What makes this eclipse special?

The April 8 eclipse is notable because the path of totality will cross over more cities and densely populated areas than the 2017 eclipse.

In Texas, the eclipse will pass over a part of San Antonio, Austin and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It will continue moving across the U.S., casting a shadow over Indianapolis, Ind., and Cleveland, Ohio, before hitting Buffalo and Rochester in New York.

Roughly 31.6 million people live in this years path of totality in the U.S, compared to about 12 million in 2017, according to NASA.

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This years eclipse will also offer longer periods of totality. An area about 25 minutes northwest of Torreon, Mexico, will get 4 minutes and 28 seconds. The longest reported period of totality in 2017 was 2 minutes and 42 seconds.

And the sun is more active this year  with solar activity at or near the peak of its 11-year cycle  meaning observers might glimpse bursts of plasma and magnetic field erupting from the suns corona.

Young said people have drawn images of those eruptions, known as coronal mass ejections, during historical eclipses, so its possible to see.

I would be totally thrilled, beyond belief, if I saw that with my own eyes, Young said.

When will there be another total solar eclipse in the U.S.?

Another total solar eclipse wont hit the contiguous U.S. for 20 years.

Even then, in 2044, it will only be visible in northern Montana and North Dakota, Rice University astronomer Pat Hartigan previously told the Chronicle.

A year later, a total eclipse will go from California to Florida  but it will just barely touch the Texas panhandle.
HONOLULU (AP)  Maui's mayor says he is prioritizing housing, evaluating evacuation routes and hiring more firefighters as his Hawaii community recovers from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

Mayor Richard Bissen outlined the steps in emotional remarks more than seven months after the Aug. 8 wildfire killed 101 people in the historic town of Lahaina.

He kicked off his address by saying the state of the county is heartbroken" and then paused several times throughout his 45-minute speech to collect himself as he spoke of those who died and of the heroism and sacrifices of residents and county employees. He recounted stories of those who rescued people from the flames and opened evacuation centers and food distribution hubs for survivors.

It will take strength, courage and faith to keep moving forward. But the foundations of that will be in how we care for one another, always leading with aloha, Bissen said in his Friday night address, which was delivered in Kahului and streamed online.

Maui had a housing shortage and some of the nation's most expensive housing even before the fire. The island's housing crisis only intensified after the blaze destroyed more than 2,000 buildings and displaced 4,500 residents. About 87% of those who lost their homes were renters.

Thousands of people are still staying in hotels while they look for places to rent and wait for longer-term housing options. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state and private charities have been paying for the hotel rooms.

To boost housing options, Bissen said his legal team would review an exemption to county laws that allows owners of selected properties to turn their condos into vacation rentals and lease them to visitors for less than 30 days at a time.

Activists say there are 2,500 such properties in West Maui alone that could be used to house displaced residents. Since November, activists have been camping on the beach facing waterfront hotels in a Fishing for Housing protest to demand that the county revoke the exemption.

Bissen said his administration would boost enforcement against illegal vacation rentals by investigating anonymous tips in addition to those submitted by a named source. He said it would also prepare for both interim and long-term housing development, but he didn't mention specifics.

The mayor said he would submit rent-stabilization legislation to the county council with the aim of bringing relief to residents while fairly balancing the needs of property owners.

Some of those who died in the fire were caught in traffic jams trying to leave Lahaina. Like many Hawaii towns, it sits sandwiched between the ocean and the mountains and has limited roads in and out. Bissen said county planning, emergency management, fire and police departments were examining evacuation routes in Lahaina and elsewhere.

Bissen said he has approved the addition of 29 positions for the Department of Fire and Public Safety.

These expansion positions will undoubtedly increase overall firefighting capability across our county and enhance the fire departments capacity to respond to future large-scale emergencies," Bissen said.

This story corrects the location where Mayor Richard Bissen gave his speech. He gave the speech in Kahului.
A long line of Waco High students stretches from the schools main entrance to the Colcord Avenue curb most mornings before classes begin.

They inch forward, many toting clear backpacks crammed with books and daily school gear, as they walk through the schools prohibited items detector, which uses artificial intelligence to scan for weapons and suspiciously shaped objects. The detector, created by Evolv Technology, is used at public schools across the country, including Killeen Independent School District.

Staff members and teachers, some with electronic wands, help move students forward through the security check while others walk outside, chatting good naturedly with students in line and welcoming others as they arrive by car and school bus.

It is the new normal at Waco High and district schools, a year after new security measures were implemented to address incidents of weapon possession and student fights. Prohibited-item and metal detectors are in place at Waco ISD secondary schools, and clear backpack requirements have expanded beyond the high schools. The prohibited-item detectors do not require students to remove metal items as traditional metal detectors would, but still result in lines.

The last year also has seen significant upgrades in facility security required by state law, such as perimeter fencing, armed personnel at every school, window film designed to slow entry through a broken pane, and external door locks. State grants totaling more than $2.1 million paid for the fencing, security film and door locks.

The district was already addressing issues of perimeter fencing and entrance access before the state security requirements, said Suzanne Hamilton, the districts safety coordinator and executive director of student services. Regardless of physical upgrades, a crucial part of school security is simply paying attention, she said.

All of this depends on people being aware: paying attention, being aware and asking questions, Hamilton said.

In terms of reported incidents, a school safety and student behavior report presented to Waco ISD trustees last month found no weapons reported during the first two grading periods of the fall and fewer student assaults of district employees. Fights, however, continued to be high at some campuses, particularly G.W. Carver Middle School and Waco High, and vaping incidents, including possession and use, jumped, largely because of a new and more restrictive state law.

Waco High senior Xiara Berry, 18, said the changes have been palpable and desired, even if they complicate her typical school day. The move to transparent backpacks was a concern initially. Berry and other female students were not thrilled at the prospect of having personal hygiene items and the like viewable by classmates, but raising those privacy concerns helped resolve the issue.

It (a see-through backpack) was necessary and needed  and should have been done way before high school, Berry said. It makes me feel safe, obviously.

The introduction of a prohibited items detector to the daily routine was not much of a surprise. As a volleyball player, she saw detectors at other high schools on road trips.

She also said the increased fencing around Waco High and the limiting of students to a single entry made a noticeable difference.

We had people not even in Waco High on campus last year, Berry said.

Having to switch to transparent backpacks, longer waits to get into school, more frequent reminders about proper display of student ID tags, restricted access to campus: those are hassles, she admits, but shrugs.

Its just how my day is, Berry said, counting the days to graduation and the next phase of life as a student at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin.

There, she plans to play volleyball and earn a social work degree.

A Waco High student since ninth grade, she said she gets a little irritated that her school gets attention for problems, shared by University High School and other high schools, while Waco High achievements in extracurricular activities, volunteer efforts and academics go overlooked.

The media puts out so much bad things, Berry said. They dont see the good at all.

Waco High Principal Sterlin McGruder, in his second year as the schools head, certainly feels a change.

What a difference a year makes, McGruder said. Its so much more peaceful this year.

It has been a group effort, he is quick to say, from staff and teachers to the schools 1,900 students, and still a work in progress.

The changes have required creative thinking at times. To get students delayed by security screening or late buses to classes sooner, the school sets up grab-and-go breakfasts on a table to cut out detours to the cafeteria.

Student and community buy-in also has been crucial. While technology and hardware have a place in school security, it takes people to handle issues of student behavior. Waco High has added behavioral management personnel to work with students on issues such as conflict resolution and anger management, part of a districtwide emphasis on social-emotional instruction.

Yelling wont change behavior, but relationships will, McGruder said.

He and his staff determined that rivalry and distrust between some student groups were behind some of the schools biggest fights last year. Engaging with those students rather than expelling them has kept them in class and earning credits while lowering the flashpoint for fighting.

Waco ISD Trustee Jeremy Davis said that is the approach he supports.

Over the last two years, Davis frequently called for attention to the human element of school safety in the boards public discussions of it, particularly at Waco High and the then plans-in-progress for the new Carver Middle School.

You have to have a strong behavior system and strong behavior teams, he said, adding that social-emotional instruction is a part of that.

A years worth of districtwide security improvements has made a difference, he said.

I feel families feel more secure, but its definitely a work in progress, Davis said.

Waco ISD Board President Stephanie Korteweg agreed the past year has seen improvements.

She has heard fewer concerns about school safety from parents and teachers over the last year, she said.

As a board member, you always hear the problems  but I think theres a sense of relief and security, Korteweg said.

In implementing systems such as the Evolv Technology detectors, the district is employing current technology to address issues of security and safety. Waco ISD Superintendent Susan Kincannon, in fact, recently participated in a Texas School Safety Center podcast to share what Waco ISD is doing for security. She also spoke to the use of artificial intelligence in schools in a South by Southwest panel discussion on Generative AI in Class: Female Leadership Perspectives.

Waco ISD is leading the pack in using technology in troubleshooting and finding what areas should be shored up, Korteweg said. Technology is not cheap, but this administrations top priority is to ensure each campus is safe.

She said Kincannon and her administration also provide the human capital to campuses and school leaders to help them address concerns raised by parents and students.

At-large Trustee Keith Guillory said a year of security improvements has him feeling the district is moving forward in the right direction. Like Davis, he had raised questions at board meetings about student safety and school design about two years ago.

I feel were in a much better place than we were a few years ago, Guillory said. We on the school board are all on the same page on keeping students safe. We just want to be intentional about keeping everyone safe.
WATERLOO  Artificial intelligence is having a moment.

OpenAI launched the chatbot ChatGPT on Nov. 30, 2022, sparking a discussion about AI that has permeated the media for the last year.

Inside today's Courier, our 2024 Progress Edition explores many of the ways artificial intelligence is being utilized in the Cedar Valley.

AI has been around since 1950, when British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing in his paper Computer Machinery and Intelligence posed the question, "Can machines think?"

And AI has "had a moment" several times in the 74 years since.

In 1952, a computer scientist named Arthur Samuel developed a program to play checkers.

In 1955, John McCarthy first used the term artificial intelligence at a workshop at Dartmouth, introducing it into popular usage.

In 1997, Deep Blue, a chess computer developed by IBM, defeated chess world champion and grand master Garry Kasparov.

In the years since, millions of people have said, "Hey, Siri," or asked Amazon's electronic personal assistant Alexa for help with everyday tasks, usually never stopping to consider that they are interfacing with forms of artificial intelligence.

To many, artificial intelligence is a menacing notion. Long before HAL 9000 refused to open the pod bay doors for astronaut Dave Bowman in "2001: A Space Odyssey," or Skynet became self-aware in "The Terminator," Americans have had a love-hate relationship with AI.

But businesses, schools and hospitals across the Cedar Valley are already implementing AI in their operations on a daily basis.

Banks and financial advisers are using machine learning models for cybersecurity and to protect customers from fraud. Real estate firms are using AI for data mining, to virtually stage homes and to develop marketing tools. AI is cutting diagnostic turnaround times at hospitals and reducing waits at clinical reception desks. It could augment pharmacists and physicians oversight of prescriptions. Artificial intelligence has the potential to ease loneliness and social isolation experienced by many older adults.

At a recent Grow Cedar Valley Lunch and Learn program, a panel of local experts discussed opportunities AI presents for small businesses, the risks associated with AI projects and practical applications of AI tools already available.

Brian Haase, executive director of enterprise imaging services for UnityPoint Health, discussed how artificial intelligence helps radiologists recognize critical findings, examining images and a patient's chart before the doctors to prioritize and triage, so the most important images are viewed right away.

Joe Zuniga, director of operations at United Equipment Accessories Inc. in Waverly, said his company uses machine learning to monitor computer numerical control machines, among other things.

"We have a lot of expensive CNC machines. When you crash one of those or have an accident with one of those it's very expensive. There's the downtime, and you also lose all that production when it's down. So right now we're using machine monitoring equipment that's basically AI based," Zuniga said.

Amy Igou, Halverson associate professor at the University of Northern Iowa and director of the Master of Accounting program, said most of us use AI every day, whether it's letting Spotify pick a music playlist or for navigation when we're driving.

She said AI is only as good as the prompts you feed it. You have to know what problem you are trying to solve if AI is going to help you solve it.

That problem might be as simple as creating a presentation on artificial intelligence to share with a roomful of people at a Lunch and Learn. Igou used ChatGPT to help her organize her Feb. 29 talk.

"Would I ever take those slides as done, put them in a flash drive and talk in front of you without looking at them? Absolutely not. ... But when you're staring at a blank sheet of paper, this is a great way to get you unstuck," she said.

Scott Hagberg, application and automation architect with VGM Group, said his company is injecting Microsoft Copilot into everything from everyday office operations to risk assessment in the insurance division.

"My advice is embrace it, understand it, know the value. It's going to be impactful. But make it part of the conversation in every department, because every department will be impacted," Hagberg said.

He gave an example of how generative AI could "sit in" on a meeting and generate a complete transcript as well as a summary of action items. He could also, based on the company's marketing plan, ask AI to take the summary and draft a marketing plan.

"It's going to. Maybe it's going to be 80%, something at the level of an intern. Then I'm going to look at it, and I'm going to tweak it."

From there, the program can be directed to create a PowerPoint, complete with images and presenter notes.

"Take the company utilizing that, and put it into competition with a company that's not, that has to have a full staff to do all that work. To me, you have to be part of the AI transition to be successful," Hagberg said.

Where companies have adopted AIand where they are planning to do so in the near future Where companies have adopted AIand where they are planning to do so in the near future Top adopters Getting on the bandwagon
WATERLOO  The city is starting the process of rebuilding one of Waterloos main roads.

The City Council will hold a public hearing for the reconstruction of Broadway Street when it meets at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at City Hall.

This year, the area on Broadway Street from Donald Street to U.S. Highway 218 will be fully reconstructed. The engineers estimate for the project is $6.7 million. Four bids were received ranging from $4.6 to $5.2 million.

The council will also be discussing the reconstruction of Kingsley Avenue which is located between Orange Grove and Kimball avenues. The engineers estimate is $900,000 and five bids were received ranging from $631,000 to $765,000.

Multiple development agreements for infill housing will also be considered.

The city could sell 216 Sunnyside Ave. to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity for $1 with a $5,000 infill grant upon completion for the construction of a single family-home.

It could also sell 215 Locust St. to Marcelino Balion Perez for $5,000 for rehabilitation of the home. Once completed, Perez would be refunded $5,000 and receive a $5,000 infill grant.

Net Worth Investment LLC is planning to build a 10-unit residential building on an infill lot near 2557 W.Third St. The corporation would receive a $50,000 infill incentive upon completion.

The council will also consider approving:

A 14-lot commercial subdivision between Logan Avenue and East Fourth Street as part of the North Crossing addition.

Termination of a development and minimum assessment agreement with GMJ2 Industries for failing to complete a project at 2330 GT Drive, which was originally approved in 2015.

These are the cities where $250K goes the furthest These are the cities where $250K goes the furthest Where a $250K income goes furthest (and the least)
By Cillian Sherlock, PA in Washington DC

President Joe Biden has urged a gathering of representatives from the US, Ireland and Northern Ireland to march forward together.

Politicians from across Ireland are visiting the US this week ahead of St Patricks Day, including the Stormont First and deputy First Ministers in office attending together for the first time in eight years.

It comes following the resurrection of powersharing government in Northern Ireland in January.

During the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon hosted by Speaker Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, Mr Biden invited Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly to stand up for applause throughout the room.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon in Washington (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Biden commented: Who would have thunk it  thankfully youre here.

Thanks to both of you for reminding us what possibilities there are as we work across the aisle and rise above longstanding disagreements, he said.

I think we stand at an inflection point, not only in American history but in world history where the decisions we make now are going to determine what the next three, four, five, six decades are going to look like, and I believe history is watching.

Today let us resolve to march forward with each other and all those who seek a better future. Like our ancestors remember, no barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland and the United States to get through, there is nothing our nations cant do together when we work together.

US President Joe Biden speaks during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon (Niall Carson/PA)

My prayer today is that we continue and increase our working together.

In his speech to the event, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also praised the return of devolved government in Northern Ireland.

Its hugely significant that were joined here today by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly, two women from different political traditions who are showing what can be achieved working together, holding jointly a co-equal office as heads of government of Northern Ireland, he said.

He added: Its so good that both of you are here today, to applause.

Mr Varadkar went on: Throughout the entirety of the peace process the Friends of Ireland Caucus have been our resolute friends and on behalf of the Irish people, thank you for your commitment to Ireland.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during the event on Friday (Niall Carson/PA)

He also extended an invitation to Mr Johnson to visit Ireland.

Mr Johnson described the annual lunch as a special event, a time to come together and look past our political differences for this moment in time and remember the importance of peacemaking.

The guests included Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, MPs, TDs from the Irish Parliament and both Democrat and Republican members of the US Congress.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA in Washington, DC

The US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar is meeting US president Joe Biden at the White House on Sunday, at the end of a week of engagements which involved an earlier bilateral between the two leaders.

Mr Biden said he agreed with the Taoiseachs calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

However, speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Mr Varadkar said there were areas in which the two administrations remain at odds.

He said he made it very clear to Mr Briden that Israels continued military actions in Gaza were not self-defence.

United by history, heritage, and hope  there's not a thing the United States and Ireland can't do together. pic.twitter.com/eQaZkyqPDQ  President Biden (@POTUS) March 16, 2024

Asked about the US continuing to supply Israel with weapons, Mr Varadkar said: Thats something we dont agree with, but the American government is a sovereign government that makes its own decisions.

The Taoiseach said the US was working very hard towards a ceasefire, but Mr Biden has stopped short of calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

Asked what he wanted to see happen in Gaza, Mr Varadkar said: The most important and most urgent thing is the need for a ceasefire so that the killing can stop, so that the hostages can go home, so that food and medicine can get into the people that need it in Gaza.

Once that happens, we would hope that it becomes possible to build a more permanent ceasefire.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, US president Joe Biden, and speaker Mike Johnson leave after the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on Capitol Hill (Niall Carson/PA)

I think everyone agrees that Hamas cant be part of the governing of any Palestinian territory given whats happened on October 7th, but we dont believe that it should be occupied by Israel.

We certainly dont believe it should be resettled by Israel. We believe it should be handed back over to Palestinian civilian control and unlike was the case since 2005, it shouldnt be blocked by Israel.

Mr Varadkar rejected an assertion that Ireland was seen as weak on both Israels right to defend itself as well as support for Ukraine.

He said: What Ive been encouraged by both here and then also in meeting recently in Europe is  if anything  people kind of encouraging us to stick by our stance and take the position that were taking.

Today, as we celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland, we also look forward.



Heres to another century defined by shared values and strong friendships.  President Biden (@POTUS) March 15, 2024

And I do think that a lot of people in America and across Europe agree with the position that were taking.

Certainly on Ukraine, I think its recognised that Ireland has been a very strong supporter of Ukraine.

We dont provide military aid, but we help them in every other way imaginable, whether its accepting refugees, whether its financial support, non-lethal military aid, loans.

On Sunday, Mr Varadkar will officially gift Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock as part of a long-running tradition for St Patricks Day.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon (Niall Carson/PA)

On Friday, the Taoiseach met the US president for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

The two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Asked afterwards if he believed Mr Biden was fit for an election campaign, Mr Varadkar said: I do and hes in very good form, very engaged and very sharp.

The Taoiseach said he did not believe that he would be attending a mass with the president on Sunday which had been proposed in early discussions of the itinerary for the week.

However, he added that he would have been happy to attend if there was such an invite.
All scoundrels who commit crimes at or near polling stations (arson, vandalism, etc.) must remember that they can be held accountable not under Art. 141 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation Obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights or the work of election commissions. They are traitors, and their actions can be classified much more strictly: according to Art. 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation  high treason in the form of providing any assistance to a foreign state during a war. If their actions constitute elements of other crimes provided for in Ch. 29 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (crimes against the foundations of the constitutional order and security of the state), and under other articles of the criminal law.

This is not a childs game of matches or an innocent prank with greenery. This is direct assistance to those degenerates who are shelling our cities today. Criminal activists at polling stations must realize that their actions could result in twenty years of special treatment

Medvedev
A person shows a poster with a face covered by a "Z", which used as a symbol by Russian forces, during a protest near the polling station at the Russian embassy in Berlin, after noon local time, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The Russian opposition has called on people to head to polling stations at noon on Sunday in protest as voting takes place on the last day of a presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule after he clamped down on dissent. AP can't confirm that all the voters seen at the polling station at noon were taking part in the opposition protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
The Jonas Brothers perform during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer The Jonas Brothers perform during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Jonas Brothers fans cheer as the group performs during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

A student at Texas Tech University unwittingly went viral on TikTok this weekend when a fellow Jonas Brothers concertgoer filmed him as he held up his phone, FaceTiming a mystery woman throughout the entire concert. And he'd do it again, he says.

Joe Diaz, 23, originally from Katy, was captured singing, dancing and yes, FaceTiming, in a reel from TikTok user and stranger @therealkennedi, with the caption to the man who facetimed his girlfriend the entire jonas brothers rodeo performance  you make me believe in love.

Not only did @therealkennedi not know who the woman on the screen was (Diaz's big sister, not girlfriend) but she didn't even catch Diaz's name at first. Ultimately, comments asking for help identifying Diaz began to circulate.

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We need more men like mister row K seat 3, the user also wrote. Her video, with 275,000 views, was then circulated on Secret Houstons Instagram reels, where it was viewed by thousands more.

When reached Sunday driving back to campus, Diaz said he was at the concert with a group of 19 friends who all go to school at Texas Tech in Lubbock and are part of a social business organization.

He didnt know that he was being recorded during the concert, and although the caption mislabeled the woman on the other end of the call, it was otherwise accurate: Diaz did FaceTime her the entirety of the show.

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VISUAL ESSAY: Photos from the Jonas Brothers RodeoHouston concert

She saw the whole concert for free, he said of his 25-year-old sister, who is a diehard Jonas Brothers fan.

Diaz said his sister is the reason he got into the Jonas Brothers and that their fandom began in the early 2000s when the Jonas Brothers were part of the Disney Channel Original movie series Camp Rock and had their own reality shows and sitcoms after that. With some hesitation, Diaz said his favorite band member is Nick Jonas, but his sister didn't miss a beat before declaring her favorite is Definitely Nick, 100% Nick.

Many comments on Instagram and TikTok thought Diaz was in the wrong for not just giving his sister the ticket but there was a reason for that, Diaz said.

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She was in San Antonio watching a different concert, she was watching Drake, actually, Diaz said.

The moment the Drake concert ended, the Jonas Brothers concert began in Houston, he said, and thats when Diaz called his sister, so she could experience both concerts in one night without having to pick between her favorite artists.

The Jonas Brothers perform during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

The video was taken during the song The Year 3000, which is one of the bands earlier songs, and his sister's favorite, but they also played music from the Camp Rock movies, starring Demi Lovato.

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It was a pleasant surprise for much of the audience, the largest in Rodeo Houston history, who seemed to know all the words. Diaz's favorite song is "Introducing Me" from "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," which Nick Jonas performed Friday.

I was surprised, but I was kind of like I was wanting them to, so I was very happy that they did, he said of the "Camp Rock" music.
Downtown Houston skyline is photographed on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 at the Thompson Hotel in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Texas State Demographer Lloyd Potter said it wasn't surprising to see the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the Houston metro area topping the list for population growth between July 1, 2022. and July 1, 2023.

The Dallas area grew by 152,598 people while the Houston metro area added 139,789 people. No other county came relatively close; Atlanta was in third with 68,585 new residents.

Harris County led the way with a growth of 53,788 residents during that time, the most of any county. No other county comes within 17,000 people of Harris County, which is the nation's third-largest county by population.

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Potter said two main reasons drove Harris County's significant population gains during that time frame: international migration and natural growth.

"Harris County's very strong immigration and natural increase are resulting in it just continuing to dominate population growth in the country," Potter said.

UP AND UP: Houston metro population grows by 140,000, but not enough to beat Dallas

Harris County was second in the country in international migration behind Miami-Dade County in Florida. Harris County saw 41,665 new residents arrive internationally.

Potter said there's a theory for international migration that when people from one country move to another, that tends to start a pipeline between the two areas. He said there's research to support the theory, and said there are many examples of this in Texas through the immigration of people from places such as Mexico and Vietnam.

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"Harris County has been pretty international for some time," Potter said. "If you look historically, there's been a lot of immigrants coming into Harris County or in the Houston area. Those flows essentially get established and continue."

Harris County led the country in natural change with a natural increase of 34,695. Natural change is the number of babies born minus the number of people who die.

ETHNIC DIVERSITY: Harris County is the most ethnically diverse county in Texas

Potter said Harris County has a high ratio of young people to old people, meaning births are much more likely to be greater than deaths.

"In urban areas like Harris County, the population tends to be young ... in childbearing years," Potter said. "There's also a fairly diverse population in Harris County and persons of Hispanic descent and African Americans tend to have higher birth rates than the non-Hispanic white and Asian population. Having fewer people at the older ages, meaning fewer deaths, and a lot of people in the reproductive years results in a very significant natural increase."

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Potter said what makes Harris County's situation unique is that despite being in the top two in international migration and natural change is that domestic migration didn't factor in at all.

As for the rest of the metro area, domestic migration played a major role in fueling their gains. Five of the top 10 counties in the U.S. in domestic migration came from Texas, with Montgomery County coming in at No. 2 and Fort Bend County coming in at No. 5.

Potter said it would be hard to see Harris County not continuing to grow as it recently has going forward, barring any major policy changes.

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With some animals, the coat looks different in summer and winter, says Taylor Millett, who is carrying out the research. A snowshoe hare turns white in winter and brown in summer, for instance. But in the animals were studying, weve found that it's not just the outer coloring of the hair that's changing. The inner microscopic details are also changing to allow these animals to continue surviving in their environment.



Millett, an undergraduate student in the mechanical engineering program at Utah Tech University, is being mentored by Wendy Schatzberg, an associate chemistry professor, and Samuel Tobler, a physics professor. Cristina De La Vieja Medina is another undergraduate working on the project.



Schatzberg and Tobler teach undergraduate students to use a scanning electron microscope (SEM), which bombards a sample with electrons to produce an image that clearly reveals microscopic details. Once the students learn how to use the SEM to investigate small particles, we give them the freedom to study other samples that interest them, Schatzberg says. Taylor decided to pick animal hair. I never was particularly interested in animal hair until she brought it to our attention, but its fascinating.

Millett, who describes herself as outdoorsy, had heard that the hair of pronghorn antelope is hollow, but nobody knew much more about it than that. So I decided to cut it open and use the SEM to see what was going on, she recalls. For context, the dimensions of a pronghorn antelopes hair range from 5 to 15 centimeters (less than six inches) in length, depending on its location on the animal. The average diameter of the antelope hair is 440 micrometers.

She then asked her mentors if she could do additional studies. She chose big game animals, because previous research at other institutions had focused on domesticated animals such as sheep or llamas. Nobody had branched out to wild animals because it's harder to get their hair, Millett says.

In addition to pronghorn antelope, she selected mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk  prey animals that can be found close to campus. She obtained winter and summer animal hair samples from a local wildlife taxidermist and from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, which picks up animals that have been hit by cars. Millett and De La Vieja Medina sliced the hairs open, gold plated them to improve the SEM image resolution, and then examined and measured the spongy interior structures. These structures, consisting of a random collection of tiny hollow cavities, or air pockets, resemble messy honeycombs.
Those who believe in manifestation know that envisioning a desired outcome with great emotion and optimism is a key step in the process of attraction. Imagining the lucky circumstance is happening now and feeling grateful and celebratory is in there, too. The solar conjunction to dreamy Neptune lends augmented powers of vision to this St. Patricks Day.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). A fiery spirit within you ignites. The redness of passion fuels your ambitions. In other words, just another day in the life of an Aries. The one who tempers this fire with a cool, collected demeanor will be of particular interest to you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The right way to leave things is usually not decided on impulse. It may take time and planning to end a thing. There will likely be stages to it. Expect a process, and give yourself grace along every moment of it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are some people who like you, and yet they just dont really get who you are. Being appreciated for your image is still being appreciated. Its not ideal, but this is power nonetheless, and you can use it to get closer to what you really want.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Youll embrace a spirit of camaraderie by volunteering for community activities or joining clubs and organizations that resonate with your passions. In these collaborative efforts, theres a tapestry of friendships waiting to be woven.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Is there anything less relaxing than someone telling you to relax? It always seems to come from the wrong person at the wrong time. Youll relax when youre good and ready, after the situation is handled.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The situation will bear the weight you give to it. It will take the amount of space in your psyche and life that you allow it to. Imagine youre creating the container, and make it the right size and strength to hold the situation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Its a big yes from the universe today. Youll mostly feel it in the way people respond to you. They pick up what youre putting down, buy what youre selling and return the serve.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Learning people is a way of respecting them and maybe even loving them. As you stay aware to how a person behaves, pay attention to what they dont do as well. The latter focus will give you the most information.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are determined to do whatever it takes to defend, encourage and uplift someone. Because of this, something inside you wakes up -- an intuition activates. Youll know just what to do.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You know your purpose and you recognize it as worthy. Not everything youre moved to do is entirely logical, and yet you can trust yourself to act in a way that will serve your purpose.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Youre not the most objective person when it comes to you. A little introspection will go a long way. Too much will thwart your productivity. Connect with others today. They will show you a different side of yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Humor helps you hook into reality. It gives the lightness and flexibility of mind you need to be fully present. In fact, you will gauge your level of awareness by your ability to find whats funny about your surroundings.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (March 17). Your work will exceed expectation and then defy it completely, taking you to places you wouldnt have dreamed youd go. Youll find bridges that transcend boundaries, connecting you with souls from all walks of life. More highlights: Youll be lavished in sweet affection. Personal growth aids finances. Youll experience stylish transportation. Gemini and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 20, 1, 44, 38 and 17.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: In the television series Unstable, Rob Lowe plays the eccentric father to a character played by John Owen Lowe, his actual son. The actor and activist is among a select group of celebrities who seem able to defy time itself and remain perennially ageless. Maybe its his youthful Mercury and Jupiter in Aries! Lowe is an artistic Pisces with Mars also in this psychic and sensitive sign.

Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Montgomerys Freedom Monument Sculpture Park has garnered national attention amid debates about diversity and inclusion efforts.

The upcoming sculpture park has been mentioned in Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, Travel + Leisure and The Art Newspaper.

As they say, the truth can set us free, Bryan Stevenson, founder and director of the Equal Justice Initiative, told CBS News.

I genuinely believe that there is something that feels more like freedom, more like equality, more like justice waiting for us in America. But I dont think well get there if we dont find the courage to talk honestly about our past.

However, as the parks opening draws near, controversial Alabama bills threaten to slash diversity programs across the state.

SB129 would prohibit government institutions, including state agencies, public schools and colleges, from funding a diversity, equity and inclusion office and from sponsoring DEI programs or any program that advocates for a divisive concept.

The EJI, a non-profit advocacy and public interest organization, provides countless educational opportunities to learn about the history and legacy of slavery in America.

EJI members say the park is set to open this year as the third component in the initiatives Legacy Sites in Montgomery alongside the Legacy Museum, which examines the history of slavery and its aftermath, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, an outdoor memorial to victims of lynching.

The 17-acre sculpture park is located along the river where tens of thousands of enslaved people were trafficked, honors the lives and memories of the 10 million Black people who were enslaved in America and celebrates their courage and resilience.

The park will feature interactive exhibits and newly commissioned pieces by artists of color such as Alison Saar, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, Wangechi Mutu, Rose B. Simpson, Theaster Gates and Kehinde Wiley.

At the heart of the park stands a 43-foot-tall, 150-foot long National Monument to Freedom. The monument will feature 122,000 surnames of former slaves documented at the time.
A man was gunned down in east Birmingham Saturday night, the citys second deadly shooting of the day.

Birmingham police about 11:15 p.m. started receiving calls of shots fired of 8200 block of Vassar Avenue. As they were en route, officer received information that someone had been shot.

When East Precinct officers got on the scene, they found the victim dead in the roadway.

Investigators marked roughly a dozen shell cases in the road.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said the victim was a male, but they had not determined his age or identity.

Details are limited in the investigation, he said. Community members did call in about the shots fired, but little is known about the victim.

We are thankful for the community calling in, he said.

The deadly shooting marked the seventh homicide in nine days.

We just have to echo the words of Chief (Scott) Thurmond when he says. stop and think,' Fitzgerald said. Were seeing a lot of these homicides begin with very small motives and were choosing violence to resolve those conflicts.

This is our second homicide of the day and St. Patricks Day weekend, he said. Every time this weekend comes around, two families are going to remember this is the weekend they lost their loved ones.

The victim is Birminghams 26th homicide so far this year. Of those, three have been ruled justifiable and therefore are not deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County there have been 33 homicides, including the 26 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A Louisiana public official is amazed people still talk about a viral St. Patricks Day sensation that catapulted him to YouTube fame in 2006.

A news station in Mobile, attracted millions of views in 2006 after filming the devoted search for a neighborhood leprechaun. The video shows an array of emotions  excitement, happiness, worry  with residents holding up their flip phones and pulling out their binoculars to capture a seemingly non-existent sight.

One resident even did an amateur sketch of the Crichton Leprechaun, displaying its oval head, round eyes and button nose on a piece of lined paper. The creature has not been proven to be real.

Scott Walker, a Jefferson Parish councilman and former TV news anchor, introduced the story to viewers then as a news anchor for a Mobile television station.

Walker told the Times-Picayune that the camera crews and reporters were originally sent out to the neighborhood to cover other issues residents were facing, which he thought could have been questionable news decision at the time.

Once Walker and other journalists arrived, however, residents opened up about their worry about the alleged leprechaun lurking in their neighborhood.

The television stations staff posted the story to YouTube the night before it was actually aired. As Walker made his way to the studio the next day, he had no idea what he was about to report until he was on live television reading the script.

I was like, What am I reading? the councilman said.

Walker never expected the video to go viral.

You never know what could stick, Walker said. If youd have told me in 2006 wed still be talking about this in 2024, I would have said you were crazy.

To this day, Walker continues to embrace the viral story like many others, as seen by the subtle reference he made to it in an Instagram post Friday.

He included a tiny version of the amateur sketch at the bottom of the post, celebrating the St. Patricks Day weekend ahead and the video that remains remembered nearly two decades later.

I could be immortalized on YouTube for something far worse, Walker said.

___

(c)2024 The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

Visit The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate at www.nola.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain was served a single alcoholic beverage before he was booted from country music star Luke Bryans Nashville bar, one of the last places he was seen before he disappeared last week.

During Rileys visit to Lukes 32 Bridge, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters, TC Restaurant Group, the bars owner and operator, said in a statement following allegations Strain had been overserved.

At 9:35 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit, at the front of the building, it continued. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.

The restaurant group also said it was cooperating with the Nashville Metro Police Department, providing them with security camera footage, photos taken of Strain at the bar, transaction records and staff accounts.

Our prayers continue to be with Rileys friends and family during this difficult time, the group said.

Strain, 22, disappeared during a trip to Tennessee with his fraternity brothers for spring formal. He was last seen on security video just before 10 p.m. on March 8.

After getting kicked out of Lukes, Strain told his friends he planned on returning to Tempo Hotel, where theyd been staying. But his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, in an interview on Top Story with Tom Llamas on Tuesday, said Strain never made it back to the hotel.

Surveillance video subsequently released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department shows Strain crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street at 9:47 p.m., nearly a mile from Lukes 32 Bridge and in the opposite direction of his hotel.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about Rileys disappearance to contact 615-862-8600.

2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Shots rang out in a west Birmingham neighborhood Saturday afternoon, leaving one man dead.

Birmingham police identified the victim as Keenetheen Royall. He was 24 and lived in Birmingham.

West Precinct officers were dispatched shortly after 2 p.m. to the 1200 block of Fourth Avenue West in Birminghams Bush Hills community.

They arrived to find Royall unresponsive in the roadway close to the intersection of 12th Street and Fourth Avenue West. Birmingham firefighters pronounced the victim dead on the scene.

The citys gunfire detection system - Shot Spotter - registered 15 to 20 rounds in the 1200 block. Calls started coming of shots being heard,' said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Witnesses reported hearing the gunfire and said it appears a Glock switch was used, which police said is consistent with what they heard.

Fitzgerald said Shot Spotter picked up shots fired along a couple of blocks.

No arrests have been made. Fitzgerald said investigators believe the victim was targeted.

Royall is Birminghams 25th homicide so far this year. Of those, three have been ruled justifiable and therefore are not deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County there have been 32 homicides, including the 25 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A mobile phone with the logo of Pornhub on its screen. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Pornhub disabled Texans from accessing its content last week to object to a Texas law that requires websites showing pornographic content to conduct age verification.

Texas is the latest state to have Pornhub disabled, according to PC Magazine, after Arkansas, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Virginia and Utah.

House Bill 1181, which was passed in June and went into effect in September, says that any entity publishing pornographic material must require a visitor to provide digital identification or use a commercial age verification system that uses a government ID or public or private transactional data to verify the age of an individual.

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"Texas is not alone in this. In fact, there were 144 pieces of state legislation last year across the United States requiring age verification for one reason or another," said Iain Corby, executive director of the Age Verification Providers Association.

THE OBJECTION: Pornhub disables website in Texas over objection to age verification law

The Age Verification Providers Association is "a not-for-profit global trade body representing 26 (organizations) who provide age assurance solutions," according to its website.

Corby provided examples of ways people can verify their ages online, such as uploading your driver's license.

As for using transactional data, Corby said the most common way is by verifying your age through your bank by giving it consent to share your age with the website. He added credit reference agencies and reports as the other common ways for Americans to confirm their ages using transactional data.

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He said in Europe people are working on a system where users can recycle their age verification check from one site to access others.

"The whole process is very privacy-preserving," Corby said. "Obviously people are sometimes a little bit nervous about sharing their identity when they're looking at that sort of site so the essence of our industry is proving your age without disclosing your identity."

Lauren Hendry Parsons, a privacy advocate for the VPN service ExpressVPN, said in a statement the Texas law is "misguided and under-informed."

She said the legislation "foisted a new, complex commercial burden" in the form of data storage and collection that companies like Pornhub are not ready to handle.

"Combined with the data profiling social media companies create about their users, this treasure trove of personal information is a perfect target for bad actors," Parsons said. "Take the Ashley Madison data breach in 2015 as an example of what can happen if personal data is badly handled, misused, accessed, or leaked."

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Denise Tayloe is the CEO and co-founder of PRIVO, which is "leading global industry expert in minors online privacy, identity and consent management" according to its website.

Tayloe has been in the industry for over two decades, and she said the law is going to provide a false sense of security and not be as effective as legislators hope.

"I think it's just gonna send people underground," Tayloe said. "It'll help some. Some people won't consume as much porn."

THE NEW LAW: What is House Bill 1181 and why did Pornhub disable services in Texas

Pornhub said in a statement the state is "employing the least effective and yet also most restrictive means of accomplishing Texass stated purpose of allegedly protecting minors." The company also said device manufacturers and operating system providers should be the ones responsible for age verification.

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Corby pushed back on this claim, noting Pornhub and its parent company Aylo are the ones reaping the profits from the site's content.

"There are multiple different methods and they are effective and we operate a certification scheme where providers are audited against international standards," Corby said. "They can be demonstrably proven to be effective, as well as maintaining high levels of data security and privacy protection."

However, Tayloe disagreed. She said that while services like Pornhub need to do more, device-level registration is the best way to go.

"Age verification of the adults is not the only piece of the puzzle," Tayloe said. "Kids are crafty and creative, and if you don't get to the device level, they'll just go around it."
Can youuuuu guess what the subject line of the email was when someone submitted this home?



Currently listed for only $500k in Melbourne, FL pic.twitter.com/tQ9Juouwhl  Zillow Gone Wild  (@zillowgonewild) March 12, 2024

A practical house is nabbing some attention on social media thanks to both its shape and the fact that it can withstand some of natures harshest conditions.

Its a spacious dome home that has a garage thats nearly identical on the exterior to its live-in twin. Located in Melbourne, Florida, the house  which is listed for $500,000  has quite the reputation, according to those who live near it, according to Zillow Gone Wild, a Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter) that highlights unique properties for sale.

Its even popular in print.

Stand out from the crowd in this futuristic home  the ultimate in unique architecture, the listing on Zillow.com says. Featured in Popular Science magazine, this amazing award winning geodesic dome sets the standard for innovative design and sustainable living.

But the biggie, of course, is the fact that the three-bedroom, three-bathroom is hurricane proof.

Built to withstand natures fury, you can rest easy knowing the structure is capable of withstanding a (Category 5) hurricane and most of the doors and windows are impact resistant! the listing points out.

Other features include:

Balcony

Large closet space

Built-in storage

Loft space

Unfinished bonus room above garage

People on Zillow Gone Wild were both intrigued by the 1,907-square-foot home, and some brought their A-game when it came to the jokes.

This home is in the Indian River. I used to drive by it often. Cool place!! one person said on Facebook.

Its hilarious but I love it. 10/10 would live there. And survive every hurricane that came by, another expressed.

A beautiful potato igloo! someone joked.

I love this house every time I drive past it, one person said.

Glamping with the Jetsons? another asked.

Say what you want but dome houses are the only 100% hurricane proof dwellings in Florida, someone posted on X.

What if we kiss in front of the boob house? one person joked.

The matching dog house is what really sold if for me! another posted.

Melbourne is about a 70-mile southeast drive from Orlando.

2024 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
During an Ohio campaign rally on Saturday, former President Donald Trump voiced his support for Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britts State of the Union response despite it being widely mocked on social media and late night shows.

Who liked the job she did the other night? I thought she did a very nice job. Liberals didnt like it very much, I guess, Trump said during the rally.

Its not the first time he praised the speech.

Katie Britt was a GREAT contrast to an Angry, and obviously very Disturbed, President, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social after her SOTU response. She was compassionate and caring, especially concerning Women and Womens Issues. Her conversation on Migrant Crime was powerful and insightful. Great job Katie!

However, Britt faced national backlash after her Republican rebuttal to President Joe Bidens 2024 State of the Union address after she blamed Bidens border policies for an assault that happened in Mexico during the Bush administration.

The victim Britt was referring to was Karla Jacinta Romero, who was sexually assaulted in 2004 in Mexico, not in recent years in the United States, as Britt implied in her State of the Union response.

"Who liked the job she did the other night? I thought she did a very nice job. Liberals didn't like it very much, I guess," Trump said of @SenKatieBritt at a campaign rally in Ohio yesterday. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/Z6nS4FrPt4  Grayson Everett (@Grayson270) March 17, 2024

Dayton rally attendees nodded and cheered as Trump discussed his love for Alabama and stood fast in his belief that the 2021 election was crooked and that mainstream media is fake news.

There is no evidence that President Joe Biden did not win the election.

Trump also brought up comments by former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks during the former presidents appearance in Cullman in 2021.

There are some people who are despondent about the voter fraud election theft of 2020, Brooks said at the August 2021 rally. Folks, put that behind you.

Trump said he was backstage being interviewed by ABC fake News at the time.

CULLMAN, ALABAMA - AUGUST 21: Former U.S. President Donald Trump (R) welcomes candidate for U.S. Senate and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) to the stage during a "Save America" rally at York Family Farms on August 21, 2021 in Cullman, Alabama. With the number of coronavirus cases rising rapidly and no more ICU beds available in Alabama, the host city of Cullman declared a COVID-19-related state of emergency two days before the Trump rally. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, 67.5% of the state's population has not been fully vaccinated. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Getty Images

Mo Brooks gets up and he says, Lets forget about the election, the election was fine ... we have to get on to the future. He got booed, Trump said.

As a result, Trump said, Brooks lost a significant lead in the GOP primary runoff to Britt.

I endorsed (Britt) the following morning, Trump said. We have another senator now because people dont want to hear bullshit.

However, nearly 10 months passed between the rally and when Trump endorsed Britt.

He withdrew his endorsement of Brooks in March 2022 and endorsed Britt in June 2022. She won the runoff less than two weeks after his endorsement.

Its quite clear that Donald Trump has no loyalty to anyone or anything but himself, Brooks said after the Britt endorsement. He looked at who he thought had the best chance of winning and thats who he endorsed. It had nothing to do with philosophy of government other than that, he abandoned the conservative movement and the MAGA agenda in order to try to improve the reputation of his brand.
Assuming that Kate Middleton is in fact recovering well from surgery and returns to the public eye around Easter, the royal familys latest PR crisis should pass and the world should move on from speculating about her health and feeling outrage over last Sundays release of a digitally manipulated photo of her and her children.

This optimistic view of Kate and Prince Williams ability to rebound from her Mothers Day photo controversy comes from Eric Schiffer, a Los Angeles-based crisis public relations and reputation crisis expert.

Schiffer noted that the royal family, guided by the late Queen Elizabeth II, has became adept at playing the long game when it comes to public relations, knowing that its not worth getting mired in responding to every controversy, including those sparked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. As other PR experts have said, the long game recognizes that the publics attention span is limited and tumultuous news cycles tend to quickly wear themselves out.

They know its going to pass, Schiffer said in an interview with this news organization. People will forget about it.

What Britains future queen and king have going for them is that they are popular in the U.K., Schiffer said. Kate and William have worked really hard to build a trusted brand, he said, adding: I work with a lot of journalists in Britain. (Kate) is beloved. They really respect and like her.

Beyond Kate issuing a statement on Monday, apologizing for her amateur editing job on the Mothers Day photo  a move that Schiffer praised  Kensington Palace is not likely to say anything more in response to the controversy, even after revelations about the doctored image prompted unprecedented warnings from major international news organizations.

Schiffer said he would also advise Kate, William and the rest of the royal family to cool their heels and let things settle. He said, Kate has already owned it, which was wise. Now its time to leave it be.

Still, the Wales could make one more attempt to reassure the public that Kate isnt in a coma, hasnt left the marriage or hasnt been disappeared by the royal family  as some of the conspiracy theories have alleged. Schiffer said there could be another sighting of the princess in the next week or two. But whatever photos emerge from this sighting should be raw, meaning they shouldnt be a heavily manipulated overcorrection like the Mothers Day day photo, Schiffer said.

Of course, whether this crisis ultimately passes depends entirely upon whether Kate is in fact recovering from the mysterious planned abdominal surgery she had in January, Schiffer said.

To the extent that she heals and recaptures her health, theyll be able to correct this and get back to issues that matter, Schiffer said. Then again, he added: We dont know what Kate is dealing with. We dont know the ultimate challenges she is managing.

If the 42-year-old mother of three is in fact suffering from a bigger condition related to her health than has been suggested by Kensington Palace, that becomes another matter, Schiffer said.

A report from the Daily Beast Friday quoted friends of the princess who said shes been dealing with intense stress, some of which comes from the various dramas involving the estranged, California-based Harry and Meghan. Those dramas have included allegations that Kate made Meghan cry before her 2018 wedding and that Kate is one of the so-called royal racists who talked about what their son, Archie, would look like when he was born. This stress, the friends told the Daily Beast, is partly responsible for Kates absence from public life.

On Jan. 17, Kensington Palace issued a statement announcing Kates surgery, which it said was planned. But the palace would not explain the nature of her condition, while it also said she had to cancel upcoming engagements and was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter. A subsequent statement said that the palace would only provide updates on her recovery when something was significant.

This lack of clarity around Kates surgery and condition has created a vacuum thats been filled with conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts, some more outlandish than others.

The statement about her not returning to public duties until after Easter also has left people wondering whether shell make her first post-procedure appearance on Easter itself, which falls on March 31, by joining the royal family for their traditional church outing on that day, People reported.

If Kate doesnt join the Easter celebration, it may be a few more weeks until she makes a public appearance, People said. Thats because her and Williams children  Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5  go on school vacation in early April, and the couple usually take time off to be with their kids during school breaks. That means she possibly wont undertake a royal duty until mid-April, People said.

The conspiracy theories about Kates condition became amplified this week after Kensington Palace released the disputed photo of Kate, George, Charlotte and Louis last Sunday, which was Mothers Day in the UK.

Even though the Wales have shared Mothers Day greetings in past years, Schiffer said releasing this particular photo came across as forced and over-the-top. He said it was a misguided attempt to allay concerns about Kates health, especially after she looked burdened in a paparazzi photo published the week before in U.S. publications, showing her being driven in a car by mother near Windsor Castle.

Even after Kate took responsibility for the poor editing job on the Mothers Day photo, the royal family continued to deal this week with a global fall-out from the controversy. Even pro-royal journalists in the U.K. chastised the palace, and William himself, for letting Kate take the fall for what was also their responsibility. The crisis so dominated the news cycle that it prompted American late-night host Stephen Colbert to turn it into a comedy bit, humorously leaning into an old unsubstantiated rumor that Prince William cheated on his wife with a socialite friend.

She, William and the rest of the monarchy have since been inundated with questions about secrecy and a lack of transparency, especially after four international news agencies told clients that the photo should be killed from distribution because it appeared to have been manipulated.

Phil Chetwynd, global news director of Agence France-Presse (AFP), also told the BBC that Kensington Palace was no longer a trusted source and that it would rigorously inspect future picture handouts from the royals.

Still, Schiffer referred back to the careful work Kate and William have done over the years to build their brand. Youve seen over the last couple of years, a shift to leverage social media more and trying to be involved in issues that matter to young people, including mental health and the environment. He said this work should go along way towards helping them get past this crisis, so that they can continue to highlight issues that matter to future generations.

____________

2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This is an opinion column

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Todays guest columnist is Dr, Thomas Reidy.

A blackjack split open Joe Gelderss head before three men shoved him into a nearby sedan. It was late in the evening on the 26th day of September 1936.

The kidnappers drove an hour and half from Birmingham to a wooded area near Maplesville, where the tormentors stripped Gelders naked but for his underwear, then beat him nearly to death.

When he woke, they were gone. A local sheriff picked up Gelders on the side of the road and drove him to a hospital in Clanton.

Gelders survived the beating, but the story made headlines across the country.

Joe Gelders was white, Jewish, and former assistant physics professor at the University of Alabama. The university had forced to him resign a few years earlier due to several public appearances supporting of the communist movement in the south, along with his vocal defense of the Scottsboro Boys.

He had recently moved back to Alabama to head the southern chapter of the communist-backed National Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners.

During the 1930s, stories involving communists, violence, secretive and not-so-secretive meetings were common. In 1932, the Birmingham Post devoted an entire two-page special spread to discuss the communist problem in the community.

Communism thrived in Birmingham

Under the shadow of the massive industrial concerns, such as Tennessee Coal and Iron, Republic Steel, and Sloss Furnaces, communism thrived in ways that made its presence in Birmingham unique, not just in Alabama, but unique to the entire south.

Planting communism in Birmingham, Alabama was intentional. Moscow initiated its strategy after it was largely unsuccessful recruiting Blacks from northern industrial cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago, to the Communist Party (CPUSA) throughout the1920s

The 1928 Sixth World Congress of the Communist International, which was held in Moscow, for the first-time prioritized efforts to bring southern Blacks into the fold.

COMINTERN, an international organization that advocated for world communism, defined Blacks as a subjugated people, with every right to self-determination.

In 1930, the CPUSA established Birmingham as one of its two headquarters in the south, tasked with overseeing the growth of membership in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

Birmingham wasnt just a good choice; it was the perfect choice.

No other location in the south provided the abundant opportunities to attract fellow travelers. By enlisting support among laborers in the heavy industries, communists were able to infiltrate trade unions that were either embryonic and weak, or community run.

Plus, headquartering in Birmingham put the communist party on the doorsteps of a multitude of starving and dissatisfied sharecroppers.

Negro and white workers suffer hunger and unemployment

When teenaged African American Angelo Herndon moved to Birmingham to stay with his cousins, he immediately saw the inequities of Jim Crow. He tried and failed to get good jobs, and when he did, he was paid at a lower rate than whites doing the same job.

The union jobs, especially, roused his emotions: The whole thing smacked of a stage farce. What made matters even more ridiculous was the fact that Negroes fell under the Jim Crow ban and were prevented from joining.

Then one evening as he was walking home, he found a crumpled handbill on the side of the road. The flyer discussed, hunger, unemployment, and suffering of both Negro and white workers in Birmingham, and called for a meeting that afternoon under the auspices of the communist-backed Unemployment Council. Herndon attended the meeting and became a fixture in Birminghams communist leadership structure.

In Chattanooga, CPUSA launched its first edition of The Southern Worker on August 16, 1930, with a masthead reading published in Birmingham to throw off authorities. The first edition featured a cartoon of a Black man and white man shaking hands under the caption, Black and White WorkersUnite!, and carried a story about how TCI Hounds Birmingham Workers.

Dispiriting reports of a U.S. economy in freefall in the early 1930s, with high unemployment rates and lowering wages, affirmed the endemic evils within a capitalist society for party members and sympathizers.

All signs pointed to the fact that communism was making inroads in the south. Public anxiety over increased communist activity was reflected in local papers. The major Birmingham newspapers printed the word communists 10,308 times in the decade of the 30s, nearly three times as many mentions as in the 1920s, a decade that featured the Palmer raids and the Sacco and Vanzetti trials and executions. In 1932, the Birmingham Post devoted an entire two-page spread tilted, Workings of Communist Revealed.

Then came Scottsboro

On March 25, 1931, authorities in Jackson County, Alabama, arrested nine young African Americans and charged them with raping two white women aboard a freight train traveling from Chattanooga to Memphis. They were tried two weeks later in Scottsboro, convicted of capital crimes, and eight of the nine were given death sentences. Though the charges were false, the verdicts were never in doubt.

Normally, a case of this nature would not have drawn attention outside its immediate area. Yet because groundwork had been laid by southern communists, Scottsboro represented a too-good-to-be-true story of capitalist exploitation and provided an unparalleled opportunity for the communist membership drive.

The Southern Worker sent reporters to cover the trial. Through its network of communist and left wing affiliates, word about the case traveled quickly.

Outrage ensued. On April 25 in Harlem, police broke up a Scottsboro Boys rally of several hundred, badly beating five, and arresting four others. One month later, over 5,000 marched down Harlems Lennox Avenue in protest. Scenes of protesters holding They Shall Not Die signs occurred throughout the United States.

By June the rest of the world had joined in.

Demonstrations and letter writing pressure campaigns accelerated across Europe first, then to the left-leaning democracies across the continents. Over 50,000 protesters marched in Munich, with marchers smashing rocks through the windows of the U.S. Embassy carrying messages to Free the Scottsboro Boys.

A similar incident occurred at the U.S embassy in Beirut. In Edinburgh, Johannesburg, Havana, Mexico City and countless other cities, activists rallied and sent postcards to Alabamas governor to free the Scottsboro Boys.

The case of the Scottsboro negroes, a savvy Birmingham journalist wrote, was looked upon as invaluable material for speeches to vilify capitalist manufacturers.

Protest loudest in Birmingham

The protest was loudest in Birmingham where organizers arranged large rallies and speaking engagements to raise funds for the defense of the Scottsboro nine. Ada Wright, mother of two defendants, spoke at two separate rallies in Birmingham. These fundraisers continued through the 1930s under the auspices of communist and communist-backed groups.

Yet, in the end, communism more than met its match with Jim Crow. May Day speeches were broken up and white communists were arrested for publicly intermingling with Blacks. The communist-sponsored Scottsboro lawyers, who were northern and Jewish, were pilloried by southern courts.

Although CPUSA and Moscow may not have reached their goals of creating a voting block of Black workers sympathetic to the party, their reach into labor had significant impact on the speed with which many New Deal programs passed.

Angelo Herndon, the young man who found the crumpled handbill on the street on his way home from work, became another party cause celebre. After he fled Birmingham to avoid jail in 1932, Herndon landed in Atlanta and helped organize an employment rally.

He was arrested and charged under a civil war era law that had been enacted to stave off slave rebellions. Rallies supporting Herndon appeared alongside those demanding freedom for the Scottsboro Boys.

And as for Joe Gelders, he recovered from the injuries he sustained during his kidnapping and was able to positively identify three of his four assailants. The men were employees of TCI. As they drove him to the wooded area, the leader of the group warned that if he did not leave Birmingham immediately, they would fill him with lead.

Despite Gelders sworn affidavit, a Jefferson County grand jury failed to indict, and the case was closed.

Summing up what no doubt represented the view of a significant number of Birmingham citizens and its industrial leaders, county prosecutor called Gelders nothing more than a Jew, a Communist, and a supporter of the Scottsboro Boys.

Dr. Thomas Reidy, PhD, serves as the executive director for the Scottsboro Boys Museum, where he is credited with designing and writing the content for its exhibits. He played a pivotal role lobbying for and writing the Scottsboro Boys Act (AL 2013), a law which allows the state to posthumously pardon convicted felons. He received his PhD in History from the University of Alabama and was a popular lecturer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Dr. Reidy recently edited and wrote the Introduction to The Founding of Alabama: Background and Formative Period in the Great Bend and Madison County (UA PRESS, 2019), which is available in bookstores today.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Click here to sign up for our newsletter.

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@amsher.com
This is a guest opinion column

The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation and other organizations like ours provide support for the women undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer, helping meet their financial, emotional and medical needs. We also support research so that one day there might be a cure for this deadly disease that kills roughly 13,000 women every year. Until there is a cure, we need to rely on our next best defense: early detection.

New advances in cancer screening technology hold tremendous progress for detecting ovarian cancer early  but well only be able to realize that progress if Congress follows the lead of Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who is fighting to ensure these tests are widely accessible through Medicare.

There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is a particularly insidious and lethal disease because it is so difficult to detect, and once it is discovered, it is often too late for treatment to be effective. The American Cancer Society reports that only one of every five ovarian cancers is detected at an early stage.

The next generation of screening technologies offers new hope. With just a single draw of a patients blood, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests may be able to help detect dozens of types of cancer at earlier stages. Several large-scale clinical trials show promising results on the accuracy of these tests. Its an opportunity to find and treat cancers at an earlier stage that, today, are being detected too late.

We must ensure these tests are accessible to those who need them most  which is why a pathway to Medicare coverage of these tests is absolutely essential. Statistics show that women in their mid-60s are the population subset most vulnerable to ovarian cancer. Their ability to access these tools is critical, but without action from Congress, they could face significant delay.

Currently, Medicare cannot offer timely coverage for new breakthroughs. Representative Sewell is working to change this and has championed the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act. Named for the Congresswomans mother who died three years ago from pancreatic cancer  another type of cancer without an early screening test  this bill would create a rapid pathway for Medicare coverage of MCED tests once the FDA gives them the green light. Its not an overstatement to say this has the potential to revolutionize cancer detection by detecting more cancers at an early treatable stage, saving countless lives.

Congress needs to act on Congresswoman Sewells bill  and quickly. It has overwhelming bipartisan support in both the U.S. House and Senate and is endorsed by hundreds of health care and patient advocacy organizations throughout the country. In an age of intense partisan disagreement on so many issues, coming together to fight cancer is one goal on which we can all agree.

Weve witnessed too many women who weve come to see as our sisters lose their lives to ovarian cancer that grew undetected and undiagnosed. We have the opportunity to see more of these women beat cancer and live longer, fulfilling lives. Congress needs to pass this bill to put a new weapon in the war against cancer in our hands.

Ashley Thompson is the executive director of the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation. For more information, visit https://cureovariancancer.org.
West Points superintendent created a firestorm among the American public with his announcement that the words DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY have been deleted from the military academys mission statement. The outrage goes far beyond West Point graduates; it includes veterans of all the services as well as civilians.

Those three hallowed words not only are West Points motto, but also serve as moral guideposts for leading ones life. The superintendents new mission statement substitutes the vague term Army Values for the simple and unequivocal DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.

Let me tell you about amorphous Army Values. During my first assignment to a tank company at Ft. Carson, Colorado, I was promoted from platoon leader, a job I truly loved, to executive officer (XO), or second in command of my unit. Among my duties was officer-in-charge of the Arms Room, where all the companys weapons were secured. As such, my first order of business was to conduct an inventory. What I found was surprising, to say the least: our company was missing a .50 caliber machine gun! Not just any machine gun, but an M2 Browning Ma Deuce, the tank commanders cupola-mounted weapon, capable of penetrating armored personnel carriers, trucks, and other equipment and turning enemy troops into mincemeat.

When I reported the missing machine gun to the company commander (CO), he was not at all surprised...or pleased. Its been missing for years, probably lost in maintenance, he said. Just sign the inventory as all present and accounted for, or youll create a monumental problem for us. Everybody signs.

But, Sir, that would be a felony, falsifying an official document. I just cant do that, I replied. Besides, its not like were missing an empty magazine; its a .50 caliber machine gun!

Just sign the inventory. Thats an order, the CO insisted.

Thats an illegal order, and I wont do it, I said. You can sign it yourself.

That was the end of my military career.

Army Values call for following orders. I knew I could not continue to work for that company commander, so I found a job at 4th Infantry Division Headquarters. Months later, I learned that I had been utterly and unfairly trashed on my Officers Efficiency Report. These OERs are generally inflated, so receiving even one bad report effectively terminates your career. Youll never make general  probably not even full colonel. I wasnt even sure I would make captain.

But I stood firm, without hesitation, because of...HONOR. Strangely enough, this exact situation was a scenario presented in my DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY class at West Point in the summer of 1967 during Beast Barracks, or new cadet basic training. A key facet of HONOR is always to take the harder, right path rather than the easier wrong one.

I grew up an Army brat. My father, a World War II 9th Army Air Corps veteran, was commissioned through ROTC in 1949, just a couple of months after I was born. He soon left Mom and me to serve as an infantry platoon leader in the Korean War. Thereafter, we traveled the world  from Germany to Hawaii  as an Army family, living on military bases where, at reveille and retreat, everyone stopped to salute the flag. By the time I graduated high school, Id attended 13 different schools, but I loved the life and looked up to the adults in uniform all around me as the heroes they were. All I ever wanted to do was serve as an Army officer. But now that dream was over.

I couldnt just let it go. My personal sense of DUTY required me to pursue the matter further, so I went to my COs boss, the battalion commander. He apparently knew about the missing machine gun and blew me off. So I went further up the chain of command to his boss, the brigade commander. He listened and took me seriously. I never found out what transpired as a result, but I also never looked back on my decision to ensure that the truth would win out in the end.

I left the Army as soon as my five-year West Point commitment was up. Several times in my civilian career, I was asked to do something that I knew was wrong. Each time, I refused, the last with millions of dollars of stock options on the line. But I had to live with myself. Thankfully, I kept my job each time.

DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY are absolutes. Values, be they Army or civilian, are transitory. There is a reason why those three words were omitted from West Points mission statement, and it is not good.

In recent years, the United States Military Academy, the other service academies, and our armed forces in general  like much of Western Society  have all gone woke. Divisive Marxist concepts, such as Critical Race Theory; transgender indoctrination; advancement based on race and sex over merit; and Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, have undermined unit cohesion and morale, destroyed attainment of military recruiting goals, and severely hampered our ability to fight and win wars.

While it is true that West Points motto was incorporated into the mission statement only in 1998, the recent decision to drop those words, substituting imprecise and open-to-interpretation Army Values, only weakens and occludes what ought to be clear and unequivocal  especially in todays dangerous and divisive world, when we are flirting with global thermonuclear war. It is imperative that we get back on track now. A first step is to enshrine DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY in the West Point mission statement. Change it back, then get back to basics.

Tony Lentini is a 1971 West Point graduate who attained the rank of captain in the U.S. Army before departing the service in 1976. Thereafter, he pursued a career in the energy industry, eventually becoming vice president of public and international affairs for two independent oil and gas companies. He is a founder and board member of the MacArthur Society of West Point Graduates, which seeks to restore honor, fairness, merit-based advancement, and battlefield-relevant curricula to the United States Military Academy.

Image via Picryl.
Something is seriously wrong with American law schools and the disciplinary outfits that are supposed to monitor corrupt conduct of practitioners. You can see the effects of this degradation in the outrageous behavior of government prosecutors and in the judiciary, which ignores its responsibility to decide fairly and without bias. We are churning out dishonest, corrupt lawyers and judges who are more than willing to look the other way at such behavior, condoning the most obvious selective partisan prosecutions. As the awareness of the failure of the judicial system grows, the consequences will be enormous -- respect for the traditional way of resolving disputes and obeying the law are fundamental aspects of a civilized, prosperous nation. Once that is lost, other less tenable means will be employed.

The focus this week was on the absurd case in Georgia, where D.A. Fani Willis is criminalizing Donald Trumps challenge to the integrity of Georgias presidential election in 2020.

In the hearings, we learned of the prosecutors illicit affair with someone she then hired for almost three-quarters of a million dollars, a man whom evidence indicated committed perjury in his divorce case. Worse, both Willis and her lover and deputy, Nathan Wade, appeared to commit perjury about when their affair began. (Something the judge elided in a too-facile stroke.) The defense argued that the prosecutors must be removed for conflict of interest. Judge Scott F. McAfee, who is hearing the case, once worked for Willis, and both he and his wife contributed to her campaign for the office of district attorney. On Friday he issued his decision in the case (days after his own previously uncontested reelection bid suddenly was opposed).

In relevant part he ordered:

An outsider could reasonably think that the District Attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences. As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist. The testimony introduced, including that of the District Attorney and Wade, did not put these concerns to rest. During argument, the Defendants focus largely pivoted from the financial concerns to disproving the testimony of the District Attorney, namely that her romantic relationship actually predated the November 2021 hiring of Wade. On that front, the Court makes a few brief observations. First, the Court finds itself unable to place any stock in the testimony of Terrance Bradley. His inconsistencies, demeanor, and generally non-responsive answers left far too brittle a foundation upon which to build any conclusions. While prior inconsistent statements can be considered as substantive evidence under Georgia law, Bradleys impeachment by text message did not establish the basis for which he claimed such sweeping knowledge of Wades personal affairs. In addition, while the testimony of Robin Yearti raised doubts about the States assertions, it ultimately lacked context and detail. Even after considering the proffered cellphone testimony from Defendant Trump, along with the entirety of the other evidence, neither side was able to conclusively establish by a preponderance of the evidence when the relationship evolved into a romantic one. However, an odor of mendacity remains. The Court is not under an obligation to ferret out every instance of potential dishonesty from each witness or defendant ever presented in open. For that reason, the Court finds it unnecessary to reopen the evidence to consider the testimony of Cindi Yeager or Manny Arora, as proffered by Defendants Shafer and Latham respectively. (Shafer Doc. 106, 3/4/24); (Latham Doc. 83, 3/4/24). p. 17 Page 17 23SC188947 court. Such an expectation would mean an end to the efficient disposition of criminal and civil proceedings. Yet reasonable questions about whether the District Attorney and her hand-selected lead SADA testified untruthfully about the timing of their relationship further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it. Ultimately, dismissal of the indictment is not the appropriate remedy to adequately dissipate the financial cloud of impropriety and potential untruthfulness found here. See Olsen v. State, 302 Ga. 288, 294 (2017) (Dismissal of an indictment is an extreme sanction, used only sparingly as a remedy for unlawful government conduct.) (quoting State v. Lampl, 296 Ga. 892, 896 (2015)). There has not been a showing that the Defendants due process rights have been violated or that the issues involved prejudiced the Defendants in any way. Nor is disqualification of a constitutional officer necessary when a less drastic and sufficiently remedial option is available. The Court therefore concludes that the prosecution of this case cannot proceed until the State selects one of two options. The District Attorney may choose to step aside, along with the whole of her office, and refer the prosecution to the Prosecuting Attorneys Council for reassignment. See O.C.G.A.  15-18-5. Alternatively, SADA Wade can withdraw, allowing the District Attorney, the Defendants, and the public to move forward without his presence or remuneration distracting from and potentially compromising the merits of this case.

Will Chamberlain takes issue with this resolution as do I, because it defies logic:

He found, factually, that the "District Attorney's prosecution is encumbered by an appearance of impropriety" and that it came about as result of "specific conduct, and impacts more than a 'nebulous' public interest because it concerns a public prosecutor." He also found that "an odor of mendacity remains" and that "reasonable questions about whether the District Attorney and her hand-selected lead SADA testified untruthfully... further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety." McAfee also held that an appearance of impropriety can warrant disqualification of individual prosecutors, BUT not the prosecutor's office as a whole, and further held that removing Wade would "cure" the appearance of impropriety. I just don't think this last legal holding can survive appellate scrutiny. The appearance of impropriety implicates BOTH Willis and Wade. There are reasonable questions about whether Willis testified truthfully and about whether she financially gained from the prosecution. Those questions don't just go away if Wade withdraws. Further, the cases Judge McAfee cites for the proposition that an appearance of impropriety doesn't require the whole office to be [disqualified] are cases where it was the line prosecutor who had the conflict issues, not the elected district attorney. When it's a line prosecutor, sure, it's easy enough to just replace that specific prosecutor and cure the issue. But when it's the elected DA who has the conflict -- well, every prosecutor in the office reports to the elected DA. There's no way to remove the "odor of mendacity" without removing the entire office.

Professor Jonathan Turley sees in the Georgia case a broader, nationwide problem, the odor of selective prosecution.

Turley discusses a number of cases in support of his view that the selective prosecution of persons and views on the right has become intolerable.

Theres the contrast in Special Counsel Robert Hurs decision not to prosecute Joe Biden who for four decades serially violat[ed] laws governing classified documents including reading from one of them to his non-cleared ghostwriter with Special Counsel Jack Smiths prosecution of Donald Trump for retaining classified documents in a locked room at Mar-a-Lago, a facility under watch by the Secret Service.

Then theres Letitia James in New York, who ran on a pledge to prosecute Trump for something never named, Ultimately, James used a law in an unprecedented way to secure an absurd penalty of half a billion dollars, even though no one lost a dime because of the Trump loans. James is not alone in this nonsense. Another prosecutor, Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg:

has also come up with an unprecedented way of using a state law to effectively prosecute Trump for a federal offense that the Justice Department has already rejected. The same odor has been lingering in the Hunter Biden cases. The Justice Department had reached a ridiculous plea agreement with Hunter Biden that would have allowed for no jail time and a sweeping immunity agreement that would have protected him from all his other alleged crimes. As the plea agreement fell apart in court, the prosecutor admitted that he had never seen a defendant given such a deal over his long career. This came after the Justice Department had allowed the statute of limitations to run out on major felonies and scuttled efforts to conduct searches and interviews. Even after that embarrassing hearing, the Justice Department was still trying to preserve the agreement.

He gives even more examples of the odor of mendacity in our courtrooms and offers only one hopeful sign -- a California judge, Cormac J. Carney, issued a rare opinion slamming demonstrable selective prosecution of conservative groups.

With almost every law professor in the country supporting the Left and hiring of new law school faculty controlled by the existing pro-Democrat faculty, with bar disciplinary groups largely drawn from the same tranche of leftists and their sympathizers at the moment, only rare courage by the judiciary can change this. Of course, if you think Trumps tweets are too bothersome to vote for him, you can be sure this mendacious infestation of justice will only get worse.
Pope Francis recent scandal regarding blessings of gay marriages has spawned a serious regression in the Western Catholic Churchs decades-long efforts to merge with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Already many bishops in America, and far more in Africa, have objected to the presumptuous move of Pope Francis in his December 2023 Vatican press release regarding the permission of blessings for gay couples within the Catholic Church.

The split between the Eastern and Western branches of the Catholic Church dates back to the 11th Century, with the Great Schism, of Christianity:

On July 16, 1054, Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Cerularius was excommunicated from the Christian church based in Rome, Italy. Cerulariuss excommunication was a breaking point in long-rising tensions between the Roman church based in Rome and the Byzantine church based in Constantinople (now called Istanbul). The resulting split divided the European Christian church into two major branches: the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This split is known as the Great Schism, or sometimes the East-West Schism or the Schism of 1054.

While many of the differences between these two branches of Catholicism remain, in one form or another -- liturgical, theological, and political -- the central Christian tenets of both branches are agreed, and much Catholic practical and theological cooperation and practice has been demonstrated by both.

For this enduring communion and other practical and political influences, negotiations aimed at settling (or compromising on within reason) all differences and reuniting entirely. To reunite these two mighty branches of the Catholic faith, both Popes John Paul and Benedict made great diplomatic and practical progress, over their modern papacies, towards the restoration of the two branches to complete comity.

Then, enter Pope Francis in December of 2023 with his statement on same-sex blessings. Following what would seem to be this entirely politically woke impulse by the current pope, the talks between Roman and Coptic Orthodox Churches have, as of this past week, publicly and sensationally broken down. It may be two more decades, or never, before progress is restored:

The Coptic Orthodox Church has confirmed that its decision last week to suspend dialogue with the Catholic Church was due to Romes change of position on homosexuality. In a video released on Friday, Coptic Orthodox spokesman Father Moussa Ibrahim said the most notable of nine decrees emanating from the churchs annual Holy Synod, which took place last week in Wadi El-Natrun in Egypt, was to suspend theological dialogue with the Catholic Church after its change of position on the issue of homosexuality.

The video message followed the conclusion of the Holy Synod the day before and an accompanying statement in which Coptic Orthodox leaders had said they were suspending dialogue with Rome.

After consulting with the sister churches of the Eastern Orthodox family, they wrote, it was decided to suspend the theological dialogue with the Catholic Church, reevaluate the results achieved by the dialogue from its beginning 20 years ago, and establish new standards and mechanisms for the dialogue to proceed in the future."

Pope Francis December 2023 salvo on same-sex blessings has spawned this serious breach with the Coptic Orthodox Church. Francis highly ambiguous recommendation of the blessing of gay couples within the Catholic Church is, predictably enough, in continued and fierce debate among Western Catholics.

Above and beyond the Western response, Eastern or Orthodox Catholics are indicating to the Vatican -- by their institutional dismissal of the hopeful negotiations -- a solidarity of unanimous moral rebuke not allowed any more in the West:

After consulting with the sister churches of the Eastern Orthodox family, they wrote, it was decided to suspend the theological dialogue with the Catholic Church, reevaluate the results achieved by the dialogue from its beginning 20 years ago, and establish new standards and mechanisms for the dialogue to proceed in the future."

The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western (Roman or Latin) Church have been in association for centuries, but with a rugged history, beginning long before the Protestants and an ever more fractured and vulnerably divided Christianity began:

Eastern Catholics -- in contrast to Western, or Latin, Catholics -- trace their origins largely to the failure of the ecclesiastical authorities at the Council of Ferrara-Florence in 1439 to unite Christians of the East and West. Stimulated by this unsuccessful beginning, however, and encouraged also by the later missionary activities of such monastic orders as the Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, and Capuchins, the proponents of the goal of the eventual reunion of Eastern and Western Christians began to achieve some elements of success.

As the Coptic Orthodox Church is rooted in Egypt, the implications for Catholicism in Africa -- largely due to Pope Francis leftist ideology made public and integrated most unfortunately into the frequent political opinions and attitudes of his Papacy -- the Coptic Orthodox disinclination to continue serious talks with its Western brothers and sisters -- in perceived moral freefall -- may soon be seen to snowball to more consequential reaction and disappointment from African Catholics at large, and their bishops. And this is progress?

Image: Pious Shy Boi
Amideast/UAE and Boeing have celebrated the graduation of 46 students from the STEM Club, a key component of the STEM for Sustainability programme.

The students, in grades seven to nine from various Dubai schools, learned practical ways to build sustainability in their everyday life, including water and electricity conservation.

They also learned about sustainable aviation fuels and advanced technologies like hydrogen and electric propulsion systems. Additionally, they acquired digital skills such as computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing, using them to develop environmentally-friendly vehicle, windmill, and farmhouse designs, all with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

STEM education

Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Turkiye, Africa, and Central Asia, said: The STEM for Sustainability programme with Amideast is a powerful initiative that aligns STEM education with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It empowers the next generation to contribute to decarbonisation efforts, and we are excited to see this endeavor coming to fruition."

During the graduation ceremony that took place on March 1 at Dubai Knowledge Park, Amideast/UAE and Boeing organised a panel entitled 360 Collaboration in Sustainability Efforts. The panel, moderated by Sara El-Dallal, Amideast/UAE Country Director, featured speakers, including Meghan Gregonis, the US Consul General in Dubai; Kuljit Ghata-Aura; and Greta Holtz, President and CEO of Amideast, Ambassador (ret).

Their discussion emphasised the importance of education and partnerships between public, private, non-profit organisations, and academia in engaging the younger generation to develop solutions for a more sustainable future.

Inspiring example

Holtz said: Amideast is honoured to be working towards the UAEs Sustainable Development Goals through focused collaboration on sustainability and STEM education. Witnessing the growth of the STEM for Sustainability programme has been truly remarkable. This programme, in partnership with Boeing, is an inspiring example of how meaningful partnerships that bring together the private sector, and training organisations can impact different stakeholders such as students, parents and teachers.

Jay Treloar, spokesperson of the US Mission to the UAE, added: The US Mission to the UAE is proud to continue our support of the STEM for Sustainability programme in collaboration with Amideast and Boeing. We celebrate the 46 students graduating from the programme today and look forward to seeing their contributions to the UAEs Sustainable Development goals.

STEM for Sustainability programme

Amideast and Boeing are working together to align STEM education with sustainability roadmaps in the UAE and North Africa.

In the UAE, the programme was launched in May 2023, in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 28). The three-year programme in the UAE offers various activities, including STEM roundtables, STEM podcasts, a STEM fair, and a STEM Club, designed to promote eco-friendly behaviours and values among students.--TradeArabia News Service
The Art Institute of Houston Google Earth

Houston Community College has offered help to former Art Institute of Houston students after Fridays sudden closure of the for-profit institute.

The community college wrote on its website that it could offer assistance with financial aid and transcript evaluations to former art institute students. The website also said students can take credits at HCC to eventually transfer into a separate bachelors degree program.

HCC highlighted its similarities to the art institute.

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We offer high-quality degrees and certificates in a range of programs, including fashion design and merchandising, interior design, studio art, digital communication, filmmaking, culinary arts, digital gaming and simulation, according to the HCC website. In addition, the colleges pitch says, we are in the process of developing curriculum alignments of all Art Institute degree plans to HCC degree plans for those who wish to continue their education at HCC.

An email announcement about the closure was posted Friday, letting students know how they will receive transcripts and information on student loans and tax forms, but it still unclear why the company closed all of its campuses across the country.

We were just in shock, Andrea Bonner, chair of consumer arts and sciences at HCC, told KHOU-TV. We wanted (students) to know they are not alone, we are here to assist them.

Students have been left to figure out what to do with their partial degrees and to learn about the implications on their student loans. The email said it would likely be the last communication received from the institute.

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The closure comes after years of pandemic challenges as well as a $95 million settlement in 2015 tied to fraud. More campuses closed in 2018 after the system lost accreditation.

A culmination of events over the past decade, both external and internal to the campus operations, has forced the closure of this system of colleges, said an email to members of the institution. The colleges, which already were dealing with the legacy challenges that arose under prior ownership, were unable to absorb the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on schools.

The New York Times reported that around 1,700 students around the country will be impacted by the decision.

In addition to Houston, the Art Institutes locations and branches in Austin; Dallas; San Antonio; Miami; Atlanta; Tampa, Fla.; and Virginia Beach, Va., are closing Sept. 30.

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Anne Perry, who has been a faculty member of the Dallas Art Institute for 17 years, said she got no warning about the announcement and received it soon after talking with students about looking forward to the next quarter of school.
Its no secret that many Democrat voters have daddy issues. They grew up in homes without strong, loving fathers and desperately seek from government what they never found in their youths: a protective authority figure and lifelong role model.

When Democrats with daddy issues find their way into power, they force their own psychological deficiencies upon the broader populace. Why? Because they try to play father to their constituents but have no idea how a good father is supposed to behave. They scream and shout because they confuse insults and tantrums with masculinity. They reimagine the ideal male leader as someone who would enjoy wearing make-up and behaving like a teenage girl. They demand that male allies relinquish any say over the healthy delivery of their unborn children. Instead of taking personal responsibility for missteps in life, they blame their problems on the nebulous patriarchy  or rather, the failed fathers of the past!

After punishing all the good men as stand-ins for all the weak men who never properly parented them, Democrats are left with the wimpiest, least wise leftovers of the sorry lot. Then some angry, man-hating leftist with zero self-awareness uploads a video onto social media demanding to know where all the good men have gone. Well, you chased them away, you trans-obsessed, insult-spewing, sniveling punk!

Greg Gutfeld made this point on a recent episode of The Five when discussing the exodus of black and Hispanic voters from the Democrat party: Theyve alienated men in order to please miserable activists, and men are like, Hey, we know when we are not wanted. We will see ourselves out. We know what a woman is, right? We know what is best for our kids. We know what it takes to protect our cities and our families, and we are tired of apologizing for laughing at funny jokes and having natural testosterone. Because the Democrat party is filled with fake men and phony fathers, it continues to shove real men and fathers away. Then, when Democrat voters find that their trusted authority figures have squishy backbones, too, their daddy issues spiral out of control. They need more laws, more mask mandates, more punishments; they become desperate for some governmental daddy to tell them what they can and cannot do.

This hits at a major distinction separating Democrats from the liberty-loving conservatives whom leftists naturally resent. Liberty-lovers do not confuse the government for their own parents. Government is, at best, a nuisance and, at worst, a thuggish bully. It does not exist to keep you safe at night, to put food on the kitchen table, to teach you right from wrong, or to furnish you with love. Government is a bureaucratic machine that specializes in using the threat of force and the application of actual violence to coerce strangers into doing exactly what the State wishes them to do. Depending on the government to behave like a loving parent is like depending on one of James Camerons cybernetic Terminators for a soothing hug. Both have the kind of uncaring programming that makes most embraces fatal. Still, for Democrats with daddy issues, those bureaucratic Terminators are the closest things to family that theyve got. Theyd gladly put their trust in a brutal and dogmatic State that occasionally pats them on the head and promises to take care of them. Its psychological abuse disguised as caring government.

This fraudulent parent-child construct produces nothing but servile citizenry. In a healthy family, parents nurture their children until they become competent, self-sufficient adults. Good parents supervise what their children learn, keep them from harm, and guide them along their journey to adulthood. The love and respect between a parent and child never go away, but the relationship is not meant to produce lifelong juveniles stuck in a permanent state of dependency. Children grow to become capable adults; those adults have children of their own; and the cycle promotes a strong, healthy society.

When governments act as false parents, however, they are not interested in transforming juveniles into adults. They do not seek to create competent citizens who are capable of taking care of themselves. They do not want to produce a population strong enough to think for itself. Because a citizens self-sufficiency eliminates his dependency on government, bureaucrats must infantilize grown adults for the rest of their lives. The State is not equipped to be a parent, but it is an ideal machine for mass-producing slaves.

I suspect that part of President Trumps popular appeal comes from his refusal to treat adults as if they were still children.

Parents sometimes have to pretend around their young children. To keep them safe from the terrors of an often dark world, they bend the truth here and there. When a family seeks shelter during a tornado, or a parent is laid off from work, or a relative is diagnosed with a scary illness, parents will look into their childrens eyes and say, Everything will be all right. Thats what good parents do when the best that they can do for their children is to soothe their worries with fearless love and steady support.

Adults, on the other hand, should be able to speak bluntly to each other without concern that an unvarnished truth will trigger another adult to melt into a trembling, catatonic puddle of tears. Trump told NATO countries that they should pay their full financial commitments to the alliance if they really fear for their own security, and the fainting class screeched, How dare he tell the truth so publicly? Trump (allegedly!) pinpointed Haiti and other unstable nations as S-hole countries, and celebrities came out of their mansions to pretend Haiti is just as luxurious as Hollywood. Trump told Americans there is a dangerous invasion of foreign nationals crossing our open borders, and the corporate news propagandists denounced his accurate assessment as intolerably racist.

Time and again, the pundit class has insisted on treating American adults as if they were children too young to understand harsh realities. President Trump is the first national leader in most Americans lives to show them respect by plainly speaking the truth.

A lot of people did not quite understand how long their government had been treating them like toddlers until Donald Trumps frank speech jolted them awake. He questioned the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, excoriated globalisms destruction of Americas middle class, and refused to search for the constantly shifting line denoting what is politically correct to say out loud. He called out journalists for spreading fake news, criticized monetary policies that have transferred Americans wealth to foreign adversaries, and rebuked allies that facilitate illegal immigration into the United States. When threatened by foreign regimes, he threatened them back in direct and unequivocal terms. When speaking of rising crime in the United States, he did not worry about the criminals feelings. When his enemies used the Intelligence Community, Department of Justice, and politically partisan judges to threaten his freedom, he never hesitated to call out the abuse and corruption taking place. At first, a lot of Americans thought, He cant say that! Over time, however, a lot of those same Americans wondered, Why shouldnt he be able to say that? Why must we censor our own speech and pretend that untrue things are true simply to avoid the possibility of feeling uncomfortable? Are we not all adults? Are we not capable of speaking to one another candidly?

One of the most important things President Trump has done for our country is to stop pretending that things are fine when they clearly are not. Pretending is for young children. Facing hard truths head-on is for adults. Childish Americans must grow up because the government can never be their daddy.

Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
At Powerline, John Hinderaker stirred memories and frustrations from my teaching days:

Cambridge Universitys Fitzwilliam Museum has an excellent collection that includes, among others, paintings by John Constable, one of my favorite artists. Like this one: A lovely image of the British countryside, right? Not according to the museum. It now comes with a warning: The Fitzwilliam Museum has suggested that paintings of the British countryside evoke dark nationalist feelings. You might think England is a pretty countryI dobut how is that nationalist, let alone dark?

Graphic: X Screenshot

The museum, owned by the University of Cambridge, has undertaken an overhaul of its displays, in a move that its director insisted was not woke. That is a good thing. The pushback by normals has been strong enough that liberals dont want to be called woke. But call it what you will, the people who run the Fitzwilliam are crazy: The new signage states that pictures of rolling English hills can stir feelings of pride towards a homeland. God forbid that anyone should take pride in his homeland!

God forbid anyone should think the Museum staff has gone terminally woke.

I speak of memories and frustrations because at the beginning of my teaching career, I naively believed there was such a thing as good art, art that represented the best a human being could hope to attain in their disciplinepainting, sculpture, writing, music, etc.art that inspires, that affirms the best in humanity, that encourages us to be better. I developed a general handout for literature, a way for students to recognize the elements of good writing as a guide to intelligently writing about a work on the path to competent literary criticism.

I presented that handout at a teaching seminar and it fell flat. No one overtly criticized it, but the embarrassment on some faces made it clear they felt it wrong to suggest there was such a thing as good, as opposed to bad, art, and teachers ought not make such arguments. In other words, teaching the idea of merit, that some people are more talented and capable than others, was somehow wrong.

I soon learned many teachers were determined to downgrade, even obliterate, the canon, replacing Shakespeare, and particularly iconic American authors, with contemporary authors obsessed with race, identity and grievance. Some of that determination came from people who were incapable of understanding Shakespeares writing or times. They werent willing to do the research necessary to learn, but the undercurrent was determining if art was good was a matter of personal preference. Good was in the eye of the beholder.

I began each year with a discussion of that idea. I displayed examples of good art on my classroom walls, works by Michaelangelo, Picasso, Pollock and more, and I would point to them, asking my students to identify good art, to define it. They always decided its up to the individual. I announced I was a great artist and would, on the blackboard, make a portrait of a volunteer. There were always plenty, and as they posed, I would, with a flourish and fiercely faux-concentration, draw a stick figure.

They laughed, but began to get it, as I feigned outrage that they didnt appreciate the greatness of my art, and sadly erased the masterpiece. Then, as I pointed to Michaelangelos Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel, we developed a list of what makes painting, and a painter, great, among them: ability, talent, training, experience, mastery of light and perspective, and artistic vision.

Perhaps merit mattered. Perhaps great painting and writing was great for actual, definable reasons. Perhaps they had more to say about a work of art than I like it. It was a first step to a broader world, and to becoming a better reader and writer.

Like Hinderaker, Im appalled the curators of a great museum of art no longer find merit in the works better men and women strove to acquire and display. Instead, they find racism, hatred and eternal grievance. They do not strive to perpetuate the canon, to help others to understand what is good and valuable, worth exalting and preserving. They seek only to deconstruct, to deny to the viewer the pleasure and awe of experiencing a moment in time captured for all time, the beauty the artist expertly rendered and saved, a vision and expertise denied most of us. In so doing, they deny the reasons for the existence of their museum, of all museums.

If no parent showing Constables work to their child says: Isnt that beautiful? If you work hard, maybe someday you can paint like that, merit dies, and with it, any reason for mankind to lift himself beyond mere, mean survival.

I wonder if thats what the woke really intend?

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Haiti is coming apart, and as always, the US government is making it worse. In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake that devastated the island, the Clintons grabbed on and never let go:

Mrs Clinton was Secretary of State and Mr Clinton was UN Special Envoy to Haiti when the January 2010 earthquake struck, killing an estimated 220,000 people. Some $13.3bn (10.9bn) was pledged by international donors for Haiti's recovery. Mr Clinton was appointed co-chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), along with Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive. The Clinton Foundation later said it raised some 30 million for Haiti and never took a dime for itself, but Haitians tend to disagree about the effectiveness of Clinton help: In email exchanges with top Clinton Foundation officials, a senior aide to Mrs Clinton, who was then-secretary of state, kept an eye out for those identified by the abbreviations "FOB" (friends of Bill Clinton) or "WJC VIPs" (William Jefferson Clinton VIPs). "Need you to flag when people are friends of WJC," wrote Caitlin Klevorick, a senior State Department official who was vetting incoming offers of assistance coming through the Clinton Foundation.

Circa 2024, the Mummified Meat Puppet Administration (MMPA) continues its practice of abandoning Americans in deadly danger:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) announced the successful rescue of trapped American citizens from Haiti Tuesday as reports of gang violence and allegations of cannibalism continue to flow from the Caribbean nation. I am proud to report that my team and I were successful in evacuating and rescuing a trapped, and at risk group of Americans from Have Faith Orphanage in Haiti last night, Mills posted on X. This recent mission reiterates a disturbing reality that under President Bidens leadership American lives are continually jeopardized.

Among the Americans Mills rescued was best-selling author Mitch Albom.

Among the most common mistakes Americans make, includingprobably particularlyour State Department, is thinking residents of other nations and cultures are just like us. They think like us, want the same things, and are just dying for American-style democracy. To that end, we pour billions into foreign aid. That hasnt worked out so well in Haiti:

Since the 2010 earthquake, the United States has provided over $5 billion in aid to Haiti. That doesnt include Bidens latest batch of $133 million after gangs took over much of the country. The $100 million in security assistance announced by Biden is on top of the $312 million that we already provided to fund, train and arm Haitis police forces over the last decade and a half. And with over $400 million in backing, Haitis police still cant compete with gang members. But many of the gang members were once the police officers whom we helped to train. Jimmy Barbeque Cherizier, the leader of the G9 gang which controls the streets and is the most powerful man in Haiti, was a former police officer who had been accused of playing a role in the murder, rape and arsons that burned 400 homes and killed 70 people.

American troops have often tried to keep the peace, as have others, all to no avail.

By the time Bill Clinton rushed in to exploit the 2010 earthquake, the situation was already hopeless. Haiti could be nothing else except a war zone and a fundraising tool for aid groups. Its a permanent disaster area of the kind that keeps NGOs and UN officials in business for life.

The lessons of Haiti are clear: its a hellhole of corruption, worsened by the UN, NGOs and all manner of foreign aid and meddling. Its another Mogadishu where competing warlords fight for dominance, steal foreign aid, and kill off each other and anyone else they dont like. Weve already sent in Marines to secure our embassy, but sending in additional troops is a fools errand.

The brokest nation in historyAmericacant afford to waste blood and treasure in vain attempts to make people who arent like us and dont want to be, Americans. Were going to be spending more than enough supporting the newest thousands of Haitians who illegally enter America, many, Im sure, flown to the destinations of their choice by the MMPA.

Cant we, once again, put America and Americans first?

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
The undocumented. Newcomers. Were now told illegal aliens arent illegal, and its wrong to refer to people who break the law the moment they step onto American soil and remain as anything other than undocumented or something equally undescriptive and inaccurate. But do illegal aliens have a Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms? An Obama appointed federal judge, who once thought they dont, now thinks they do:

The Second Amendment protects peoples ability to own a gun even if theyve entered the country illegally. Thats the ruling handed down by US District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman on Friday. She found the federal prohibition on illegal immigrants owning guns is unconstitutional, at least as applied to Heriberto Carbajal-Flores. She ruled the ban did not fit with Americas historical tradition of gun regulation as required under the Supreme Courts landmark New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen ruling. The noncitizen possession statute, 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(5), violates the Second Amendment as applied to Carbajal-Flores, Judge Colman wrote in US v. Carbajal-Flores. Thus, the Court grants Carbajal-Flores motion to dismiss.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Ive always believed anyone born American, or legally naturalized, has won lifes lottery. Thats so because we live under the Constitutionor used to. American citizenship used to be a pearl of great price because of our enumerated liberties, because being an American meant somethingor used to. Now it seems anyone who can set foot in the country, unvetted, regardless of their intentions, has the right to keep and bear arms, and by logical extension, every other right of citizenship. This right is all the more valuable when one considers no other nation has a Second Amendment. Do non-citizensillegalshave Second Amendment rights? The George Mason University Law Review says no:

The people of the Second Amendment includes citizens and excludes noncitizens. A distinction between citizens and noncitizens makes legal sense and would respect the political branches traditional preeminence on issues related to alienage.

It is long established law illegalssorry Mr. Biden, no apologiesdo not enjoy the same rights and privileges as Americans. Were this not so, citizenship--national sovereignty-- would have no meaning, no value. Illegals do not have the right to vote or the privilege, in most states, to drive, but Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) have for some time been arguing otherwise, and granting Illegals drivers licenses to enable them to illegally vote, assuming theyll vote for D/s/cs. If they believed otherwise, theyd demand American immigration laws be strictly enforced. Any Google search will find innumerable articles arguing illegals have full constitutional rights, and implying they have more than Americans. One must really dig to find anyone saying otherwise. Back to Carbajal-Flores:

[C]arbajal-Flores has never been convicted of a felony, a violent crime, or a crime involving the use of a weapon. Even in the present case, Carbajal-Flores contends that he received and used the handgun solely for self-protection and protection of property during a time of documented civil unrest in the Spring of 2020, Judge Coleman wrote. Additionally, Pretrial Service has confirmed that Carbajal-Flores has consistently adhered to and fulfilled all the stipulated conditions of his release, is gainfully employed, and has no new arrests or outstanding warrants.

What the article does not supply, nor do I suspect does the trial transcript, is when and how Carbajal-Flores entered the country, and how, or whether he was vetted. Are we certain of his identity? Does he have a criminal record in his country of origin? Is he a gang member? Is he a potential terrorist? Even if Carbajal-Flores is clean as the driven snow, extending Second Amendment rights to every illegal is inevitably going to arm many criminals and terrorists among the ten million or so unvetted illegals now in the country, and the million or so more that will enter before January, 2025. Should Biden win, double those figures and greatly multiply the damages.

The flood of illegals, aided and abetted by Mummified Meat Puppet Administration officials may be fairly termed an invasion, even as those officials mendaciously declare the border secure and closed. Are Americans required to extend uniquely American constitutional liberties to invaders, particularly when we dont know so much as their actual names? Doesnt the full extension of fundamental liberties to people who have no right to be here reward their law breaking and encourage more?

I suspect this issue will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court, but until then, a great many people no sane American wants to be armed, will likely be armed, and the deadly consequences of our purposely wide-open borders will continue to mount.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
A major bit of blowback against Jewish activist groups has occurred, and it bodes ill for internet liberties. Turnabout is not always fair play.

First, it is necessary to describe the pro-Jewish, pro-Israel projects that started this dance.

About ten years ago, Canary Mission was started with the stated purpose of exposing anti-Israel, pro-Islamic radicals in academia. One may have agreed with their mission, but their methods were questioned. Essentially, they exposed teachers, students, etc. on an easily accessible public blacklist. It was accused of being McCarthyesque.

No one can doubt that working to protect the safety of the Jewish people is good, but is exposing dumb students the way to go about it? Kids act stupid in their late adolescence (their college years), and branding them can really disrupt their lives.

This video by Canary Mission explains the organizations purpose.

Other Jewish organizations, such as The Forward, have been suspicious of Canary Missions approach.

Canary Mission, which has operated in strict secrecy since its inception in 2015, posts political dossiers on undergraduates who are critical of Israel. It has drawn increasing criticism in recent months, including from pro-Israel students who say its work is counterproductive. Canary Missions defenders say it is a legitimate weapon against antisemitism.

Now, to be sure, Canary Mission has dampened some degree of pro-Palestinian activism, as some students have expressed fear that being exposed on Canary Mission would destroy their future job opportunities.

Another pro-Israel group, StopAntisemitism.org, goes a bit farther and actively tries to dox people, which often gets them fired.

I know some at AT may say, Good! They deserve it!

But dangerous blowback has occurred.

Pro-Palestinian groups are now exposing people who have expressed support for Israel using intemperate words. One group is Raven Mission. They are the dark side of the Force, mimicking Canary Mission, and they are getting supporters of Israel doxxed. On this page, and this page, they are trying to get one prominent person fired.

The following case is scarier.

Dr. Klugman, a doctor at John Hopkins, was outed on Raven Mission, and was in for the professional fight of his life.

This is a major counter-attack.

Another pro-Paletinian site called StopZionistHate  which mimics StopAntisemitism  has called for personal information on people.

On this Instagram page, StopZionistHate boasts about the people it has already gotten fired.

A similar X (Twitter) channel, StopArabHate (poorly named), doxxed this Jewish nurse and got her fired. See also here, here, here, and here for other potential victims.

Both sides, the pro-Israel and pro-Palestine, seem to be using sock-puppet robots, from what I see, to give the appearance of broad support for their exposures.

There has been much ado made about the posters of the Kidnap Victims. People who tear down the posters are being doxxed.

Good, you might say. Let them be doxxed.

But now the pro-Palestinians are playing the same game. They have posters, too, and they are going back years. If supporters of Israel find the Palestinian posters offensive and tear them down, then supporters of Israel will also get videoed and get doxxed.

Now, some might say, Payback is a b----.

But while the methods are similar, the results will not be.

StopZionistHate, StopArabHate, Raven Mission, and TruWire (which seems to have been closed) all seem to be affiliated.

CanaryMission.org, the pro-Jewish, pro-Israel group that started it all, is now accusing StopZionistHate of antisemitism. It has outed Abdullah Hassan as the driving force behind these accounts.

I have no love for the opinions of Abdullah Hassan, but Canary Mission has a problem. The people running it hide their own staff from the public, and I have to suspect that now there will be attempts to expose Canary Mission.

At the present moment, the anti-Israel, anti-Jewish forces behind StopZionistHate, Raven Mission, and StopArabHate do not seem to be as professionally run as Canary Mission or StopAntisemitism.org, but they have the potential to do more damage in the long run.

This is truly ugly beyond all measure.

The internet has become a battleground to destroy peoples lives. Given the rising tide of antisemitism, the potential for groups like Raven Mission to do some serious damage will only increase.

The only advice I can give people is to be very, very careful what you say on the internet. Everyone says ugly statements from time to time. Human beings are fallen. However, the internet is forever. Both sides are using Big Brother technology to track, record, and dox people.

Image via Pexels.
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Joe Biden is not happy about his polling numbers.

According to NBC News, citing 20 anonymous staffers and allies:

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden was seething. In a private meeting at the White House in January, allies of the president had just told him that his poll numbers in Michigan and Georgia had dropped over his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas. Both are battleground states he narrowly won four years ago, and he cant afford any backsliding if he is to once again defeat Donald Trump. He began to shout and swear, a lawmaker familiar with the meeting said. He believed he had been doing what was right, despite the political fallout, he told the group, according to the lawmaker. ... For months, Democrats have watched the 2024 campaign unfold with rising alarm as the sitting president struggles to gain ground against his defeated predecessor. Frustrations rippling through the party have reached the top, with Biden at times second-guessing travel decisions and communications strategies that have left much of the electorate clueless about his record, interviews with nearly 20 lawmakers, present and past administration officials and Biden allies show.

That's got to be miserable stuff for staffers on the receiving end, particularly since, as NBC reports, they're taking the brunt of his out-of-control anger.

He's blaming his staff for many things, not just his bad poll numbers, which hover around 38% public approval at last reading, according to the NBC report, a number so low no president running for re-election in modern times has overcome them. Past presidents, such as Jimmy Carter and George Bush, Sr. were defeated on higher public approval ratings than Joe has. Nobody's as low as Joe.

Biden claims that his staff is "cocooning" him away from the public as if his many gaffes and physical stumbles weren't reason enough to do so.

Here's an icky quote from a staffer, which has public relations written all over it.

The president and his advisers have all been eager for him to be out there more and planned for that to take place at the start of the election year, as has been the norm for past incumbents seeking re-election, the second person familiar with the matter said.

Some of staff have complained that Biden is playing defense, trying to shore up his base, not trying to persuade new voters, which sounds about par, particularly since recent reports say he's hemorrhaging working class black and Latino voters who are moving to President Trump.

Others say he should be let out more often and walk faster, even though others still say he's falling flat on his face when he does.

Still others say he needs an army of surrogates to carry his message since he can't do it alone.

You can tell from the report that the staff don't know what to do, but there Biden is, raging at them for his miserable polling numbers.

NBC unquestioningly insists that Biden has a good economy to brag about and voters just don't get it.

That's where the real problem is. No, the economy is not good, and voters know it. Grocery and gas and heating prices are sharply higher while salaries are lower and housing is out of the question for many.

Illegals have taken many of the "jobs created" and if not illegals, legal immigrants, which sounds like replacement theory.

It's wretched stuff based on the world's most wretched presidential record. It frankly stinks.

But that's not where Biden is. He's bellowing at staff about why voters don't love him.

They will never be able to tell him the truth and he won't look for it. But look forward to staff resigning as he rages at them -- and lots of tell-all books.

Image: Screen shot from live television broadcast, filtered.
Novel legal theory, a term applied in whole or part to every case, criminal and civil, lodged against Donald Trump. That term is best understood as using the law in ways it was never intended to be used, and/or never has been used, most specifically for political purposes. A "novel legal theory" might consist of applying a vicious dog ordinance to someone who owned only a parrot that could bark like a dog.

During my police career, professional officers were careful never to use the law in that way. If there was a law on the books that had never been applied to anyone, they wouldnt use it either. If there was the slightest hint of political bias in an arrest or prosecution, police supervisors, or failing that, prosecutors, would dump the case. They would do the same for even the appearance of selective prosecution. But that was before Donald Trump and the fierce necessity of saving our democracy, a tyranny of the majority. Now it seems at least one judge might be returning to the ethics of those thrilling days of yesteryear.

Graphic: X Screenshot

The judge overseeing former President Donald Trumps Florida case questioned during a Thursday hearing why he was the only president who has been charged over his handling of classified material, according to multiple reports. During a hearing to consider various motions Trump filed to dismiss the case, Judge Aileen Cannon noted no former president had similarly faced criminal charges over the handling of classified material, according to NBC News. Trumps attorneys brought up special counsel Robert Hurs report finding evidence President Joe Biden willfully kept classified documents, but declining to charge him, according to CNN. Even with other former presidents, there was never a situation remotely similar to this one, prosecutor Jay Bratt told Cannon, according to CNN.

Bratt is not conceding the issue, but arguing that unlike every former president who kept classified materials, Trump did far, far worse. He obstructed justice andother stuff.

How did he obstruct justice? The Presidential Records Act, adopted in 1978, allows presidents to declassify and keep anything they chose. It defines no formal process for declassification. Only presidents have this authority, and any arguments under the Act are a civil, not a criminal, matter. Trumps lawyers were continuously negotiating with the National Archives, and the materials were under constant Secret Service protection in a single place, unlike Joe Biden, who never had authority to have such materials and kept them for 40 years(?!) in as many as seven, unsecured places to which innumerable, unknowable people had access. Trump even gave the FBI full access, personally told them to let him know if they needed anything else, and added an additional lock when they later asked for one. The DOJ also has a policy never to prosecute a political candidate during an election, but this case is different because Trump. Its rather hard for the rational person to see how that constitutes obstruction of justice, but Trump Derangement Syndrome sufferers see things differently than the sane.

Bratt is right about one thing, however: never in history has the FBI raided a former presidents home, denied his lawyers access to the raid, staged photos to try to convince the public Mr. Trump left classified documents lying about on the floor, surrounded the home with long gun-armed and body-armored agents and rifled through a former First Ladys dresses and underwear.

Two more recent cases illustrate the novelty of the Trump case. Hillary Clinton kept private servers in her home for the express purpose of avoiding federal transparency laws, on which classified documents were kept. She actually obstructed justice at every turn, and at her direction, evidence was destroyed. Former FBI Director James Comey admitted she violated multiple laws, but gave her a pass, something he had no authority to do. Joe Biden, who like Clinton never had authority to keep classified materials, kept them, unsecured, for 40 years. Prosecutor Robert Hur admitted Biden too violated multiple federal laws, but wouldnt prosecute him because hes too senile and just so darned loveable no jury would convict him.

Hur is probably right no DC jury would convict him, but because hes a Democrat, and in DC, Democrats are immune from such trivial things.

Graphic: X Screenshot

The documents case against Trump should never have been filed, and its possible Judge Cannon will dismiss it on the grounds that concern her. However, the process is the punishment, and the timing of the prosecutionsno coincidenceis clearly designed to hurt Trump politically, and to help lovable, senile Joe.

Thats novel too.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
A rancher uses a tractor to deliver dead cattle to a collection area as the cleanup process begins following the Smokehouse Creek Fire, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Skellytown, Texas. Julio Cortez/Associated Press Firefighters battle the Smokehouse Creek Fire north of Canadian on Feb. 28. Last week, farmers and ranchers whose operations were consumed by the flames began thinking about how to rebuild. David Erickson/AP

In the afternoon of Feb. 26, ferocious winds howled across the grassy prairie lands of Stinnett, a town of 1,770 people in the Texas Panhandle. Roughly a mile northwest of Stinnett, a wooden utility pole marked with a red tag snapped and toppled over, allegedly igniting one of the largest wildfires in American history.

Earlier this year, an inspector from Osmose Utility Services, a company contracted by Xcel Energy, a major utility provider for much of the Panhandle, slapped the tag  marked with a do not climb symbol  on the pole, possibly indicating that it needed to be replaced.

Whether Osmose failed to communicate that to Xcel or Xcel failed to heed that warning, it appears to have had the same tragic effect as many other recent wildfires from Maui to Paradise, Calif., to Marshall, Colo., all of which were caused by downed power lines and unsafe equipment. In the Panhandle fires, multiple people died. Dozens of homes burned to the ground. Thousands of cattle charred, and roughly 1.1 million acres of Texas and Oklahoma ranch land incinerated.

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Three weeks later, the wildfire continues to burn but is now mostly contained. While the exact origin may not be known for months or even years, several lawsuits filed by fire victims pin the cause of the blaze on this single pole near Stinnett. These suits allege that Xcel, its subsidiary the Southwestern Public Service Company and Osmose failed to construct, inspect, repair, maintain and secure the power pole, leading to a power line falling to the ground under high winds and igniting the fires.

Xcel and Osmoses liability will be for the courts to determine but Xcel already acknowledged in a statement on March 7 that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire, though it disputes claims of negligence. The Texas A&M Forest Service confirmed that the fire was started by power lines as well. Two days after the fire started, Xcel revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that lawyers for property owners impacted by the blaze asked the company to preserve the utility pole in question for evidence.

While wildfires in Texas are hardly a new phenomenon, the unique weather mixture that creates them  prolonged droughts, low humidity and high winds  could occur more frequently as climate change hastens. With these tinderbox conditions, all it takes is an ignition source to turn arid plains into a scorched hellscape. Its why, just like in California, Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii and other states vulnerable to wildfire, Texas broken-down electrical infrastructure should draw renewed scrutiny.

Texas' Public Utility Commission requires utilities to have a plan for maintaining their equipment and responding in emergencies. Utilities have to file annual reports covering conductor inspections, pole construction standards and vegetation management. They also must identify any weaknesses in their grid systems. Yet there is no enforcement or inspection mechanisms to hold utilities accountable, nor does the PUC impose any specific technical requirements. Its Texas classic fox-guarding-the-hen house regulatory strategy: allow companies to make up their own standards then self-police whether they meet them.

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The destruction in the Panhandle should spur state lawmakers and regulators to immediately reckon with how we prepare for wildfires and make fire victims whole again. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 40,000 wildfires burned nearly 2 million acres across the state, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. In 2022 alone, Texas firefighters responded to more than 12,000 wildfires. More than 80% of Texas wildfires occur within 2 miles of a residential area. With Texas population expected to boom over the next 20 years, new communities will sprout in previously undeveloped regions, meaning flames will have even less wild land acreage to burn through before people and property are at risk.

More than a decade ago, a series of wildfires torched huge swaths of Texas, including the Bastrop County fire in 2011, which, at the time was the most destructive in the states history. The Forest Service concluded that more than 4,000 wildfires in the state were caused by power lines, just like the fire that has singed the Panhandle.

While larger transmission circuits are built on steel towers along cleared land, roughly 90% of utility power-lines in the nation run along wooden poles on city streets and rural roads. These poles have a tendency to rot from humidity and rain. Some are even hollowed by termites. That is why its imperative the Public Utility Commission not just take utilities' word for it that they regularly inspect and maintain their power lines. State regulators should require utilities to replace aging, deteriorating equipment within 12 months. Doing so will be expensive, but consider the alternative: utilities potentially paying out billions in legal settlements to victims of wildfires ignited by their decaying infrastructure and then passing those costs to customers.

In many cases, utility companies drag out these settlements for as long as possible to delay paying out claims to victims. While the exact number of claimants from the Panhandle fires are not known at this time, Texas should be proactive in ensuring that they arent waiting years for restitution. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill establishing a wildfire fund to encourage the responsible utilities to resolve claims quickly. The $21 billion, which is funded equally by ratepayers and utility shareholders, protects utilities from bankruptcy by helping pay for damages that exceed $1 billion while also allowing claimants to access settlement payouts quicker than through the legal system. Texas lawmakers should consider establishing a similar fund for wildfire victims. If that proves a tough sell politically, the Legislature should, at minimum, force utilities to resolve wildfire claims within 12 months.

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These ideas are just the low-hanging fruit. Some electric cooperatives in Texas are employing sensors on their power grids to anticipate weaknesses in their circuit systems that could spark a fire. Such technology could be standardized by the Public Utility Commission for any utility that wants to plug into our grid. The commission could also explore establishing protocols for Public Safety Power Shutoffs, a standard for utilities to proactively shut off electricity during dangerous weather events.

Indeed, the breathtaking speed at which wildfires can swallow up entire residential communities means such extreme measures may be necessary. In an interview with PBS, Shane Grisham recounted how he and his wife barely had enough time to save their own children before their home was engulfed in flames.

We had about 20 minutes to get out of there, Grisham said. As we were packing, doing our thing, just throwing things, what we could get in the trunk of a car, it just started raining down, just burning ash and the smoke came across the front yard.

It will take many months for Grisham and other Panhandle residents to recover and even longer for ranches to re-emerge with grass, cattle and crops. We cant control natural disasters, but utilities and state lawmakers have an opportunity to show victims that we have learned from past mistakes by ensuring that we arent providing spark for the next wildfire.

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An eventful Guinness Six Nations has seen a crop of emerging talent announce their arrival on the Test stage.

Here the PA news agency picks five players who enjoyed a breakthrough tournament.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, England, wing, 21

It is indication of Feyi-Wabosos impact in only three caps that he was missed when ruled out against France because of concussion.

A genuine X-factor player with pace and power who had Twickenham on their feet for the visit of Ireland in round four.

Joe McCarthy, Ireland, second row, 22

Joe McCarthy impressed against France (Andrew Matthews/PA)



McCarthys coming of age display against France on the opening weekend went unmatched in the rest of the Six Nations but his status as a second row enforcer was already assured.

Bristles with aggression on both sides of the ball.

Cameron Winnett, Wales, full-back, 21

Cameron Winnett was a bright spark in a troubling campaign for Wales (David Davies/PA)



One of the slightest players on the international stage but Winnetts speed, footwork and handling have proved a handful for opponents.

Not bad for a player with just 15 professional appearances for Cardiff to his name before the tournament began.

Tommaso Menoncello, Italy, centre, 21

Menoncellos international appearances before this Six Nations lacked consistency but he is now becoming the force his talent suggested was possible.

Powerful and direct, has has the physicality to make an impact in attack and defence.

Nolann Le Garrec, France, scrum-half, 21

Nolann Le Garrec impressed in the absence of France superstar Antoine Dupont (David Davies/PA)



An outrageous 35-metre reverse pass headlined a man of the match display against Wales that was also his first start.

Faced with the impossible task of replacing Antoine Dupont, Le Garrec has showed there may be life outside the France superstar after all.
Excited children and fun-loving visitors thronged Dublins streets on Sunday to catch sight of Irelands energetic national St Patricks Day parade.

Attendees packed the city centre to the brim, wearing shamrock-shaped sunglasses, Irish jerseys and leprechaun hats of all sizes.

Visitors travelled from as far away as Bolivia, California and China to catch a glimpse of the vibrant spectacle  a mixture of talent, creativity and pure silliness.

Performers take part in the St Patricks Day Parade in Dublin (Michael Chester/PA)

People gathered at the barriers from early in the morning in their green and tricolour gear, bringing snacks and tea in flasks as they waited for the noon start time.

Many attendees said they had travelled to take part in what they said was a worldwide party.

Its a big party, were here to have fun. People are very kind and friendly and we love the country, Flavie Rougier from France said, who was visiting Dublin for three days with her mother Joelle and their friend Mathilde.

German Anaya, Michael Gilmore, Ann Gilmore, Jimmy Conroy and Aisling Conroy at the St Patricks Day Parade in Dublin (Michael Chester/PA)

Aisling Conroy from Donaghmede said that it was a chance to have everyone together, which was especially valued after the Covid-19 pandemic and even more appealing in the sunny weather.

Its a happy party! Karen said, who travelled to Dublin with six friends from California.

Its been great, everybody has been very friendly, added her travel companion Larry, who has Irish roots. Its a great time to celebrate both the religious aspect of St Patrick but also the cultural aspect.

The holiday commemorates Irelands patron saint and has become popular around the world.

While St Patricks Day falls on March 17, some parades were moved to Saturday in the US because Sunday is a day of worship for the Christian faithful.

Performers take part in the St Patricks Day Parade in Dublin (Michael Chester/PA)

The Dublin parade featured performers dressed as sea creatures, as ancient Celtic goddesses, as Dublins landmark street lamps, and a group of greedy giant gulls.

It also showcased traditions from countries such as Bolivia, Ukraine, Georgia and Brazil.

One segment took an imaginative look at what it meant to be 110% Irish  featuring a group of red-wigged men all wearing the same connected Aran jumper.

A 110% Irish performance as part of the St Patricks Day parade in Dublin (Michael Chester/PA)

In Belfast, thousands of people gathered to watch as a colourful and noisy parade made its way through the city centre.

Lord Mayor Ryan Casey led the carnival procession as it departed from outside City Hall.

Dancers, drummers, giant characters in costume and brightly coloured props delighted the crowds, young and old, along the route.

A light rain shower amid the spring sunshine failed to dampen the spirits as the Northern Ireland capital partied for the patron saint.

New Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty, the grand marshal of the national parade in Dublin, described Irelands national day as the biggest party in the world.

Kielty said that as a man called Patrick, who is from Downpatrick in Co Down, and who attended St Patricks School, he was the proudest man in Ireland.

The TV presenter said that it was a massive honour to be the grand marshal, adding it was emotional for him.

To be the Patrick at the front of this parade is one of the proudest moments of my life.

Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: I think St Patricks Day is so important to people because it gives us all a chance to share in something, it brings a lot of people together. I think sometimes here we maybe take it for granted.

Tourists from Switzerland ahead of the St Patricks Day Parade in Dublin (Michael Chester/PA)

As someone who has lived abroad and knows what that day means to so many people who are longing for a connection to their lives back home, thats what its about.

Especially when you come from the north, growing up, St Patricks grave was at the Church of Ireland, basically everything that used to happen through some type of binary prism.

The idea of were now in a position where we can actually share these things, I think thats why today is so important.

Asked if he will be able to enjoy the day with so much pressure on him, he said: Lets be very, very clear, theres definitely going to be a lot of fun squeezed out of this.

This is normally like my second birthday, so we will definitely be celebrating to the max.

There were some protests over Gaza held in the city centre to coincide with the traditional shamrock ceremony in the White House between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden.

A group called Mothers Against Genocide organised a kayak, carrying a cutout of Joe Biden, to travel up the Liffey towards Dublins famous Hapenny Bridge ahead of the parade beginning.

One woman was also heard chanting Free Free Palestine at marching bands in the parade who were from the US.
Sir Ed Davey will challenge Liberal Democrat members to bring the blue wall tumbling down at the general election in his speech at the partys spring conference.

The Lib Dems are using the gathering in York to prepare for a further push into traditional Conservative strongholds, particularly seeking to win over voters in the south and south-west of England.

Leader Sir Ed will rally members to make this a once-in-a-generation election as he argues his party is the only one to offer transformational change while the Tories and Labour are just tinkering around the edges.

He will make the crisis in the NHS central to his address on Sunday, setting out big, bold reforms to ensure people can see a GP, NHS dentist or pharmacist when they need to.

He will call for a health service where community and primary healthcare services are the priority, so people dont end up in A&E for something that could have been treated in their local surgery, pharmacy, or even at home.

Investing in public health, in prevention, in early access, Sir Ed will say.

Spending wisely to save lives and save money in the long-run, instead of just throwing cash at crisis after crisis, with nothing to show for it. Better for the NHS. Better for taxpayers. Better for patients.

On beating Rishi Sunaks Tories in the blue wall, he is expected to say: The opportunity is before us, to make this a once-in-a-generation election. In so many parts of the country, only we can beat the Conservatives. And we must.

So Liberal Democrats, my challenge to you is this: this year, lets knock on five million doors. Five million knocks to bring the blue wall tumbling down. And get more brilliant Liberal Democrats elected to transform our country for the better.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has ruled out a general election on May 2 (Leon Neal/PA)

The Prime Minister this week ruled out holding an election on May 2, having previously indicated he will send the country to the polls in the latter half of 2024.

But Sir Ed will urge Mr Sunak to go to the palace and call a national vote immediately, saying the country cant wait a moment longer to see the back of this terrible Conservative Government.

He will argue the case for having more Lib Dem MPs in Parliament, saying: The mess our country is in demands not a plan to tweak things, but a plan to transform everything.

Tinkering around the edges wont come close to solving anything. And yet thats what both the Conservatives and Labour are offering. Theyre both trying to cloak themselves in the costume of change, but theyre both really saying keep things the same. Thats why our role at this election is so critical.

Because only the Liberal Democrats are putting forward the transformational change this moment demands. Only the Liberal Democrats are offering a truly fair deal. On issue after issue, problem after problem, the Liberal Democrat approach is so different from the other parties.

Because we dont just want to change things on the surface  paper over the cracks, but leave the foundations to crumble underneath. We want to change the whole system.

Sir Ed Davey in The Star pub in the village of Witley, Surrey during his visit to the Godalming and Ash constituency of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The Lib Dems won 11 seats at the 2019 general election, but have since gained formerly Conservative constituencies across southern England in a series of by-elections.

These have included Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, Frome in Somerset, Tiverton and Honiton in Devon, and North Shropshire.

Arriving in York on Friday, Sir Ed expressed optimism about nabbing Tory seats across the southwest of England and across the whole blue wall where its a Liberal Democrat-Conservative fight.

He told the PA news agency: The response were getting is phenomenal. Lifelong Conservatives switching to the Liberal Democrats, which gives us great, great belief that we can beat many Conservative MPs whenever the election comes.

The Lib Dems campaigns on reducing NHS waiting lists, investing in the care sector and cutting sewage discharges into rivers are resonating on the doorstep, he said.

With polls suggesting Labour is on course to win the election, Sir Ed played down the possibility of a power-sharing pact in the case of a hung Parliament.

I dont believe in pacts or deals before an election, he said.

Sir Ed has the seats of some of the top Conservative cabinet ministers in his sights, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunts Godalming and Ash and Communities Secretary Michael Goves Surrey Heath.

But some polls suggest the far-right Reform UK party has overtaken the Lib Dems in popularity across the UK.
Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has said it is a shame that Amanda Abbington left the show early as he feels they could have gone all the way.

The Italian professional dancer, 33, was partnered with the Sherlock actress for the 2023 series before she withdrew from the competition ahead of week six citing personal reasons.

Earlier this year, Abbington, 52, said she was diagnosed with mild PTSD and received death threats following her stint on the BBC dance competition.

Speaking on the Mirrors Invite Only podcast, Pernice said: It was a shame that she had to leave for medical reasons because I think, in my opinion, we could have gone all the way.

Asked if he is a perfectionist, he agreed but said it comes from a place of caring.

In every single part of the world, if (youre) a professional dancer, we have to get these people on the Saturday night looking the best as they can, he added.

And if we get to have good scores at the end, I look back and say Ive done a great job.

We all care about our partners and we all want to look great on the Saturday.

Strictly judge Anton Du Beke, who also appeared on the podcast alongside Pernice to discuss their new travelogue series, said he thought the pair had been marvellous and praised Abbington as being terrific straight away.

Abbington did not give a specific reason when she announced her decision to leave the show in October, saying in a post on Instagram: I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.

Following her departure, Pernice shared a photo of them together wearing Christmas outfits, writing: Amanda .. I am so sad we cant continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.

Abbington opened up about how her time on Strictly had affected her mental health earlier this year.

She told The Sun On Sunday: I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons and I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life at the time both professionally and personally.

Im very sorry that people felt the need to send me death threats, threaten my children and bring up my past, healthy relationship with an ex-partner as an indicator of my current mental health. I wish those people well.

The actress is best known for playing Mary Watson in BBC drama Sherlock and has appeared in other TV series including Inside No 9, Mr Selfridge and After Youve Gone.

Abbington had two children  son Joe and daughter Grace  with her former long-term partner and Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman.
Skipper Harry Kane is set to join up with the England squad despite sustaining an ankle problem in Bayern Munichs 5-2 win at Darmstadt, the PA news agency understands.

The 30-year-old striker was substituted late on in the Bundesliga contest, with Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel subsequently saying Kane had twisted his ankle.

But it is understood Kane is still due to report for international duty at St Georges Park on Tuesday ahead of England playing friendlies at Wembley against Brazil next Saturday and Belgium three days later.

 Harry Kane came off injured in the win over Darmstadt. Read more below #MiaSanMia #SVDFCB  FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 16, 2024

Tuchel told Bayerns official website on Saturday: (Kane) twisted his ankle in the goal netting. Hes been applying ice to it since.

We dont have any news yet. Well have to wait and see and hope that its nothing major.

On Sunday morning, Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund was quoted by Bild as saying: He will be looked at in England. He has trusted doctors there.

We are in close coordination on this. Harry wont take any risks.

Proud to break a Bundesliga record but more importantly another good win.  pic.twitter.com/Nlr1lPL870  Harry Kane (@HKane) March 16, 2024

Later on Sunday an update on Bayerns website confirmed that Kane had injured his left ankle against Darmstadt but would be joining up with England and would be treated by the team doctors there, in close consultation with the FC Bayern medical department.

Kane, Englands all-time highest scorer with 62 goals, broke the record for most goals netted in a debut Bundesliga season by registering Bayerns second just before half-time on Saturday, taking him to 31 for the campaign.

The former Tottenham man said on X: Proud to break a Bundesliga record but more importantly another good win.
Import tariffs on goods including flowers, fruit juices and chemicals are to be suspended for two years, the Government announced ahead of a conference for small businesses.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch will unveil a 660 million northern powerhouse investment fund as she hosts the gathering on Monday in Warwickshire, where Rishi Sunak and other Cabinet ministers are set to mingle with business leaders.

UK importers of more than 120 products from all countries could benefit from the temporary withdrawal of duties, due to come into force on April 11 and remain until June 2026, according to the Department for Business and Trade.

Affected products  primarily used as inputs in domestic production  include agricultural ones such as juices, preparations and starches, and non-agricultural goods such as ceramics, leathers and car parts. A full list is expected to be published on Monday.

The measure is aimed at helping make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more globally competitive.

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake said: Were harnessing the freedoms of Brexit to drive down import costs for SMEs importing goods like flowers, car parts and leathers and help to deliver better value for money for consumers.

Around 99.9% of all firms in the UK are SMEs which is why were focused on ensuring they have the support needed to grow and thrive.

The UK rolled out an independent tariff suspension scheme in December 2020, after leaving the European Union, allowing companies to ask for duties to be suspended for a set period.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet with small businesses at the SME Connect event (Leon Neal/PA)

In her speech to the conference, Ms Badenoch will announce that the state-owned British Business Bank will launch a new fund to boost SMEs in the north of England through access to loans and equity.

It comes as the Government has faced scrutiny over its flagship pledge to address regional inequalities.

Astonishing delays have been identified in the delivery of levelling up projects across the country and the Government is unable to provide compelling evidence of what has been achieved, MPs on the Public Accounts Committee said this week.

The first so-called SME Connect event will bring together some 150 SMEs and business groups from across the UK including the Federation of Small Businesses.

They will receive advice on how regulation can support businesses, how businesses can use artificial intelligence and access finance, skills and education, and meet with Mr Sunak, Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce a major package of reforms to support small businesses and deliver more apprenticeships in his first economic speech since the Budget.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said he does not consider himself to be woke.

Mr Varadkar made the comments as he rejected an assertion that the Irish Governments recent defeats in referenda campaigns were due to a rejection of woke issues.

Speaking to reporters during a series of engagements in Washington DC for St Patricks Day, he said: No, I think people considered the proposition that was put to them and listened to the arguments and decided to vote against it. I wouldnt read anything else into it.

Asked if he considered himself to be woke, Mr Varadkar added: I dont think so but Ive never really been fully sure what woke and anti-woke means.

Like, people who say theyre anti-woke just seem to be against whatever new idea or new concept is popular at the time  but no is the short answer.

Earlier in the week, Mr Varadkar described himself as a reformer as he outlined his record in Government.

I think weve seen a lot of significant reforms in Ireland and in the seven years in which Ive either been been [premier or deputy premier], particularly around pay and changes weve made around statutory sick pay and the living wage, giving every worker access to pensions, the expansion of things like maternity leave and parental leave and so on.

And obviously have worked hard on issues like Brexit, where were in a much better place and during the pandemic too and then, of course, reforms that have made our country a more equal place.

He made the comments after being asked if he agreed with Joe Kennedy IIIs assessment that Mr Varadkar was a radical due to being in Government when Ireland passed referenda on the expansion of marriage equality to same-sex partnerships and removing restrictions on abortion from the constitution.

However, the Irish premier said he did not see himself as a radical.

On the day before the referenda vote, leaked advice from the Irish attorney general to the Government on the wording of the constitutional amendments on family and care issues was published by news platform The Ditch.

Mr Varadkar said that subsequent commentary misrepresented what the advice said.

Attorney General Rossa Fanning is also in Washington DC with the Taoiseach.

Asked if he believed the attorney generals advice should be published by the Government in future, Mr Varadkar said: Well, we havent had a chance to discuss that.

Weve been at the same events but we need to have a proper sit-down discussion at some stage. Well do that as soon as we can.

The use of the phrase strive to support in the referenda on family care was criticised as being too weak by some campaigners.

Mr Varadkar added: Advice is written in a particular way. Advice for publication is written in a different way too.

Its our long-standing policy not to publish the advice of the attorney general but I think if people see the leak, theyll see that the term strive was a strong term, that it was judicial.

There was concern in some Government departments that it would leave the State open to claims and open to cases but we thought that was a risk worth taking to put that right in the constitution but people decided not to do that.

In relation to the issue of durable relationships you know, youll never have an attorney general who will ever advise that any language is not without some degree of risk and I think that was kind of misrepresented really.
Archaeologists work on the Sugar Land 95 project, where the remains of 95 prisoners were found in Sugar Land TX in 2018. Courtesy photo

After my grandparents died, my mom, aunts and uncles picked out their caskets, planned their memorial services, and laid flowers on their graves. Its hard to imagine a world where my family wouldnt get to make those kinds of decisions.

Its even harder to imagine someone reaching into my grandparents graves, extracting their DNA and putting it online  all without ever asking for our permission. But thats what the group charged with researching the Sugar Land 95 have proposed. If allowed to move forward, the privacy of thousands of relatives of the 95 could be violated and their safety put at risk.

Six years ago, during construction of a new school in Sugar Land, the skeletal remains of 95 individuals, mostly Black men, were uncovered. They were buried in unmarked graves more than a century ago  the victims of Texas brutal convict-lease system.

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In the decades following the Civil War, state convicts were leased out to private companies and land owners and made to build railroads, mine iron and  in this case  plant and harvest cotton and sugarcane. At the same time, Black life was being criminalized across the South. Failing to secure a job or standing on the wrong street could land a Black man in jail. They were often tried, convicted and sentenced without evidence or legal representation.

By leasing Black convicts to private landowners, the state of Texas managed to replenish its bank account and perpetuate white supremacy at the same time. The men who died under this purely racist system had their identities stripped away from them. Their families were likely never told where they were sent to work or that they died there.

Reconnecting these men with their identities would restore their humanity and help fill in gaps in family histories. Its important work, and its crucial that its done with care, compassion and respect.

A single group has tightly controlled all research on the Sugar Land 95 cemetery since it was discovered. They say it is out of an obligation to protect the privacy of potential descendants. Bioarcheologists Catrina Banks Whitley and Abigail Fisher exhumed and studied each of the bodies in 2018, and genealogist Helen Graham has looked into a handful of family histories. Together, they formed Principal Research Group (PRG), a nonprofit organization, to carry out genetic studies on the cemetery population.

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The problem is none of them are geneticists.

Helen Graham, Abigail Eve Fisher and Catrina Banks Whitley received certificates of merit from the Texas Historical Commission for their work on the Sugar Land 95 project. Juhi Varma

Principal Research Group takes control

So, to do this work, PRG had to partner with someone who could extract DNA from teeth and bone samples from each of the graves and sequence that DNA. In 2018, PRG approached anthropological geneticist Deborah Bolnick at the University of Connecticut, and a few years later Bolnick and her doctoral student Samantha Archer began the extractions.

As Archer explained, they were under the impression that PRG was planning to do things according to best practices: That it was actively tracking down and engaging genealogical relatives of the 95, educating them about potential research opportunities and allowing them to direct that research.

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But as time went on, it became clear that wasnt the case. Though Graham indicates she directs genealogical and historical research and family outreach, I could find little verifiable genealogical research that shed done for the project, and none that had been published since 2020. Graham took a stance early on that she didnt want to reach out to potential descendants of the Sugar Land 95 before DNA tests confirmed their ancestors were among the cemetery population.



That essentially meant that PRG, not descendants, would decide what happened with the genetic material of these 95 men. And that was a problem for the University of Connecticut geneticists. Communication broke down, Archer said, and the project stalled.

Then, at a Black History Month event in Sugar Land last month, PRG announced that they were moving the genetic research from Connecticut to the University of Montana. They boasted that a lab there had already successfully identified genetic relatives of the Sugar Land 95.

The revelation spurred a ripple of wows among the crowd of about 100 people, which included state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, Rep. Suleman Lalani, D-Sugar Land, Houston City Controller Chris Hollins and me. While they seemed impressed, I was appalled.

More questions than answers

Last summer, I co-hosted an eight-episode podcast series, Sugar Land, about the cemetery discovery and the men buried there. We detailed how PRG lacked the resources and expertise necessary to carry out the genetic analyses theyd proposed, as well as their reluctance to find and consult with possible descendants of the 95.

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Our reporting prompted the Texas Historical Commission to review the groups research permit. So far, the agency has not fully signed off on PRGs new proposals.

Yet, at the Black History Month event, Fisher said they planned to move DNA extracted from the cemetery population, along with teeth and bone samples, to the Snow Molecular Anthropology Lab at the University of Montana, led by anthropological geneticist Meradeth Snow, within the next month.

PRG said they need to raise at least $160,000 to replicate the single analysis Snow performed last year on samples collected from each of the 95 burials. To someone without knowledge of the scientific research process, that could seem like a reasonable ask if it means providing descendants with much-needed answers. But its abnormal to attempt to crowdfund research on this scale when federal grants exist with built-in, essential ethical guardrails. Moreover, while the three women broadly explained the analysis during their fundraising pitch, they failed to tell the full story.

A few years ago, PRG was connected with a man in his 90s who believed his grandfathers brother was a convict who died in Sugar Land named Ben Dixon. Prison records state Dixon had a shot scar between his eyes. That detail seemed to match with Burial #54, whose remains showed blunt force trauma on the right frontal bone.

Snow extracted DNA from a tooth collected from Burial #54, sequenced that persons mitochondrial DNA, and sent that data to FamilyTreeDNA, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company based in Houston.

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It was a puzzling move. First, why would PRG go through all the trouble of applying for a new research loan, setting up a new working relationship with a second lab and turning over genetic data to a for-profit company when a simple, private comparison between DNA from Burial #54 and the possible descendant couldve been conducted at the University of Connecticut?

And second, why did PRG choose to run this particular test at all? Mitochondrial DNA is passed down through the mother  so your mitochondrial DNA is a copy of your mothers, which was a copy of her mothers mother, and so on. But the man in his 90s wasnt related to Ben Dixon through his mother. So, even if Ben Dixon is, in fact, the same person as Burial #54, and the man is a descendant, you cant expect them to share the same mitochondrial DNA.

Sure enough, PRG never confirmed a direct genetic link between Burial #54 and the man. But using the mitochondrial DNA, FamilyTreeDNA searched their user database for people in the same mitochondrial haplogroup as Burial #54. Haplogroups are individual branches, or groups of closely related branches, on the genetic family tree of all humans that help us understand where our ancestors came from and how they migrated across the world. Each person in a particular haplogroup could theoretically trace their ancestry back to a single individual. FamilyTreeDNA identified three people who shared similar mitochondrial DNA with Burial #54.

We were so elated  we cried, Fisher told the crowd at the Black History Month event. We got on the phone with these relatives and introduced them to each other and introduced them to us. It was a very humbling moment after all this time.

The problem is, the people who got those phone calls may not be as closely related to Burial #54 as they think. Mitochondrial DNA mutates rarely and randomly as it passes from one generation to the next, so maternal haplogroups can contain millions of people or just a few depending on how long ago a mutation occurred. All that the FamilyTreeDNA analysis really proves is that these four people share a female ancestor from some point in human history.

According to FamilyTreeDNAs head of research and development, It is very possible that their shared ancestor lived somewhere in Africa before the slave trade.  It is also possible that one or more of the three customers are closer matrilineal relatives with the (Sugar Land) 95 individual and share a more recent female ancestor from the American continent. This would have to be confirmed by comparing genealogical records.

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

In the wrong hands

To find close genetic relatives with any specificity, FamilyTreeDNA would have to run data from the whole genome of Burial #54 against their database. And thats an ethical minefield.

When you send a DNA sample to a genetics company, youre not just making that decision for yourself. Youre making it on behalf of your entire extended family  past, present and future. Thats because our DNA, unlike most anything else, is inherently shared.

For our podcast, we identified 133 men from prison records who died at the convict camp nearest the cemetery. They died between 1878 and 1910, and their average age at death was 28. Their closest descendants who could be alive today would be their grandchildren, who would share roughly 25% of their DNA. If PRG is allowed to make this DNA public in any way, were allowing them to make that decision on behalf of living people who share up to a quarter of that same DNA.

Direct-to-consumer genetics companies take great pains to assure their users that they are safe to use and would never sell their genetic data, but we cant pretend it hasnt been done before. Companies can change their terms of service at any time, they can get hacked, or they could be sold to another company with its own plans for your DNA.

FamilyTreeDNA and GEDmatch, in particular, both allow users to upload DNA data files to their sites and compare them to the other users in their databases. That includes law enforcement agencies. Even if you opt out of law enforcement searches and anonymize your data, these services arent 100% secure.

It would be a horrible irony if the DNA of victims of the convict lease system were used to convict their descendants.

Our podcast reporting showed that invasive genetic testing isnt necessary to reveal powerful stories that teach us about our past and show us who these men really were. Detailed prison records provided enough demographic information about each of the prisoners that we were able to track down living descendants of more than a dozen of these men  even though we had no previous experience with historical, archival or genealogical research.

If those potential descendants got together and decided they wanted to know which grave their ancestor was in, a qualified geneticist could perform a direct comparison in the lab, preventing descendants from risking their genetic privacy.

The Texas Historical Commission has the opportunity now to put a stop to PRGs proposal. Based on three years of closely studying PRGs work and extensive consultation with experts in the fields of archeology, anthropology, genetics and Black studies, I do not believe that PRG has shown they put stock in gaining informed consent from the descendant community or letting that community take control. Its time to revoke PRGs research permit altogether and end their involvement in this project.

The Sugar Land 95 deserve to have a qualified institution step up and conduct thorough genealogical research into the 133 Black men who could be buried on that site. Those new researchers should collect oral histories, comb archives and court records and, most importantly, bring families to the table and empower them to make decisions about the cemetery and their ancestors.

Its a lot of work, but its very much possible. And its the right thing to do.
Mary Lou McDonald has defended her decision to go to the US for St Patricks Day despite calls for politicians to boycott events this year.

The Sinn Fein leader said she couldnt refuse the unparalleled access that Washington DC offers this week.

She made the comments in the face of a push for politicians to snub meetings with senior US figures in a show of Irish opposition to the growing number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at the Ireland Funds 32nd National Gala during the Taoiseachs visit to the US for St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA)

The SDLP said it has not sent any party representatives to the US this year due to the conflict in Gaza.

But Ms McDonald said it was her responsibility and duty to speak to anyone she can in a bid to stop the spiralling death toll during an interview on the Sky News programme Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

Asked whether she should have boycotted the White House reception this year, Ms McDonald admitted that words arent enough but added Im not talking about words.

Im talking about concrete action. We need a ceasefire. We need to end the slaughter of women and children in Gaza. 30,000 deaths now.

She continued: So the question isnt why did you come? The question has to be how could you possibly stay away?

In a way, we have a unique position as Irish political leaders in that we have a very strong, relationship with the United States, very strong, unparalleled access in a week like this.

And we also have a very strong relationship with the Palestinian struggle and a strong commitment to freedom for Palestine and self-determination, an end to the occupation.

How on earth could I possibly justify not coming and not pressing that case in the strongest possible terms?

She said that there was an unanswerable need for a ceasefire and for the US to lead on that amid the ongoing vicious, criminal bombardment of Gaza.

Weve had very frank conversations with individual members on the Hill, with the administration itself and our message has been very clear: we come here as friends, as people who have had the benefit of great support from the United States for our own peace process, and we acknowledge that, but in respect of Palestine they have got it dangerously badly wrong and the ceasefire now has to be the absolute priority for everybody concerned.

Irish politicians have emphasised the need for dialogue as part of efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stating its not our policy to boycott, its our policy to engage.

Irish artists including Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Kneecap withdrew from the South by Southwest arts festival in Texas this week over opposition to the US Army being a sponsor.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast this week, to coincide with the high-profile engagements in Washington DC, urging the US to end support for Israels military offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger co-founded French Bloom in 2021, and her husband Rodolphe (left) helps guide the winemaking - Fabien Monchatre

Theres no way of making this sound highbrow. When I first heard about a zero-alcohol sparkling chardonnay called French Bloom La Cuvee Blanc de Blancs 2022, the fact that it was made by a well-known champagne family piqued my interest. The real attention-grabber, though, was the price tag. This baby hasnt launched yet but, when it does next month, French Bloom La Cuvee 2022 will be the worlds most expensive alcohol-free wine, available exclusively in Harrods at 109.

If your inner voice is shouting  How much? For something that doesnt even have alcohol in it?  youre not alone. This has been the response of pretty much everyone to whom Ive mentioned it.

Yet even as I was preparing to dismiss the idea that La Cuvee could be anything more than a nice-try-sunshine, the PR kept on emailing. Victoria, Sandia Chang has tasted it and placed an order. Chang is a sommelier who commands a great deal of respect for her expertise in artisan champagnes. She founded the immensely successful hot-dog-and-champagne restaurant Bubbledogs (sadly now closed, though Chang sells champagne online via Bubbleshop) and now curates the wine list at two Michelin-starred Kitchen Table in Fitzrovia, London, where the tasting menu costs 250 plus another 250 if you choose the grower champagne pairing option. I can only speak for us, responded Chang when I messaged her. We have many guests who dont drink alcohol but have an appreciation for fine things.

La Cuvee Blanc de Blancs

In the world of alcohol-free, which Ive explored extensively both as The Telegraphs drinks writer and as a judge in the no/low section of the Sommelier Edit Awards, its rare enough to hear de-alcoholised wine described as fine in the sense of not bad. Hearing it used to mean fine as in fine wine is, for me, a first. Never mind, for the moment, the price. Perhaps the more interesting question is whether French Bloom could really have succeeded in creating what previously seemed impossible.

The brain behind French Bloom is Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger, an effortlessly soignee American from Chicago, who is married to Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, a scion of the Taittinger champagne family who founded his own champagne house, Frerejean Freres, in 2005 in Avize in the Cote des Blancs area of Champagne.

The idea took seed in 2019 when Maggie was pregnant with twin boys. Living in Paris but travelling extensively for her then-role managing the international development of the Michelin Guide, she was eating out Non-stop! For me its so key that what you drink should complement the beautiful meal you have in front of you. And as a wine and champagne lover, I found myself feeling a little bit excluded from the dinners and from social events with family and friends. I felt like I wasnt part of the cheers moment.

Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger - Justin Personnaz

She expressed her frustration to the French model Constance Jablonski, a friend who said she was finding it hard to choose an appropriate drink for all the networking occasions within the fashion industry. The pair decided to do something about it, founding French Bloom and raising 13 million (11.1 million) from investors including Jean-Francois Moueix of Petrus, the fabled Bordeaux chateau. Maggies husband Rodolphe guides the winemaking.

Was it hard to persuade a man whose pedigree is steeped in champagne to be involved? Rodolphe was immediately intrigued by the idea of crafting complex alcohol-free sparkling wines, loving the challenge it presented, says Maggie.

No/low is a fast-growing and hugely innovative sector of the drinks market, catering to a population that increasingly sees high alcohol consumption as a problem and not a pleasure. 12.5 per cent of adults in the UK are already teetotal and, according to the organisers of Dry January, of those who do drink, 30 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women would like to drink less. A drinking approach that you might call flexitarian  sometimes on, sometimes off, sometimes mixing, but generally always less alcohol  is increasingly common.

In the fine dining arena, demand for sophisticated no/low options is huge says Christopher Delalonde, a master sommelier and the head of wine at Tao Group Hospitality UK whose restaurants include Hakkasan in Mayfair. Delalonde already lists French Blooms first two releases, Le Blanc 0.0% and Le Rose 0.0% (which retail at around 32-35) and says their fresh flavours appeal to non-drinkers.

French Bloom La Cuvee Blanc de Blancs 2022 is something different, however. The aim, says Maggie, was to create something that resembles a vintage sparkling wine at a point of maturity [the French would call] plenitude  for us typically 12 to 20 years old. Behind it are four years of research and development and extensive trials involving grapes from six different French wine regions, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire and Champagne.

The big trap [with alcohol-free wine] is to believe that simply using classic wine and removing the alcohol is enough. No thats not enough at all, says Rodolphe. For La Cuvee, a limited production of 17,000 bottles, he uses organic chardonnay grapes grown on hilltop sites in the Languedoc. Because the dealcoholisation process strips away flavour and texture along with the alcohol, it is necessary, he says, to overplay some of the flavours, create a wine with shoulders so that there is enough left after the manipulation. Thus part of the wine is aged in new French oak before being dealcoholised using a vacuum distillation process.

The non-alcoholic bubbly will be found exclusively at Harrods

It isnt easy to assess such a pioneering wine, particularly when it comes with a 109 weight of expectation, so in the interests of getting a rounded picture, I took a bottle to a trade tasting and tried it out on a bunch of sommeliers, trade buyers and Joe Wadsack: a former BBC Food & Drink presenter and my go-to wine wingman.

La Cuvee is quite a deep gold colour, with a fine mousse (sparkle) and a marked butterscotch and white chocolate nose. Like Fortnum & Mason stuffed prunes and flat Bolly! said Wadsack. Its far more complex than any other dealcoholised wine Ive tasted and far more convincing. Those who tried it completely blind  not knowing it was 0.0%  did spot the absence of alcohol. Pretty much every taster said the wine it most closely resembled was a mature vintage champagne. Most had some positive comments; one or two wrinkled their noses: A mature champagne that has been poorly cellared and oxidised. Compared to everything else in alcohol-free wine that Ive tasted, I was impressed and feel that, in taste terms, La Cuvee does move the whole enterprise forward. Joe said he was astonished. One flavour caveat: even when youre talking about the real thing, the taste of mature champagne is not for everyone and does tend to be acquired.

So, to that price tag. Is it worth 109? Look, is a bottle of anything worth 109? I certainly dont have the budget to drop three figures on a bottle of wine, alcoholic or otherwise. This stuff isnt for me, its for the 0.01 per cent who fly between NYC and London eating out, catching a cab back to their hotel and getting up at 5am to work out before their 7am breakfast meeting. Does it deliver as much pleasure as a good 100 bottle of actual wine? No. But since its in a class of its own thats not really the point. Perhaps if people take to it, then it will pave the way for less expensive versions. But also, perhaps its a little bit vulgar to imagine that high prices are only OK for fine wine thats also going to get you drunk.

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Vital inspiration: a visitor walks past Valie Exports Die Geburtenmadonna, 1976 (centre) and Untitled, February 2013 by Hannah Starkey at Arnolfini, Bristol. Photograph: Courtesy Arnolfini and Hayward Gallery Touring

There is no more sombre enemy of good art, wrote Cyril Connolly, notoriously, than the pram in the hall. Have kids, runs his supercilious maxim, and your creativity is well and truly screwed. The fact that great art has been made by parents for millennia seems not to have troubled him, nor the insult to those who give birth, or their babies. Not even, as this terrific Hayward Gallery touring exhibition shows, that procreation itself may be the vital inspiration.

Acts of Creation is riveting from first to last, an exceptional (and touring) anthology of contemporary artworks to startle, move and awe, all one hundred and more plunging deep into motherhood. It opens with an object of stirring mystery. Lying on a plinth is a form suggestive of a womans pelvic anatomy, delicate but strong, fashioned out of animal horns, twigs, steel and earthy red soil. Fine silver wires run between the cavities.

Wangechi Mutus sculpture probes at the quick of gynaecology, with its intimations of bone, fallopian tube and speculum. But its title is in fact Healing. It is a prayer for fertility and itself an outlandishly beautiful embodiment of fortitude.

This ideal start is paired with another, too, audible even before you enter the opening gallery. A newborns soft gurgles intertwine with an echoing call and response from its mother. But these sounds turn abruptly poignant when you come upon the installation from which they emit. Fani Parali reprises a neonatal intensive care unit incubator as a skeletal structure of cold hard metal; where the baby should be is its ghostly depiction in pencil instead.

A baby arrives slowly, the arduous labour enacted in sketch after painstaking sketch, the aesthetic midwifery of Ghislaine Howard. It alters the body, in the photographic self-portraits of Annegret Soltau, literally stitched and reformed. Even before birth, the miracle is strange. Susan Hiller documents her own pregnancy in 1977, within and without, in terse words and grainy photographs of her swelling stomach as an almost primordial topography.

This is one of many classic works in this show (one in the eye for Connolly). Here are Paula Regos brutally candid etchings of Portuguese women enduring the aftermath of backstreet abortions entirely alone, and a section of Mary Kellys celebrated Post-Partum Document, in which her sons first words and attempts at writing are etching on slate.

Celia Pauls painting of her son, Frank, raised by his grandmother, shows Frank filling the foreground and herself as the merest glimpse in a mirror. Scenes from Carrie Mae Weemss Kitchen Table Series, which also run word against image, show a mother and daughter at the kitchen table with every kind of closeness and sudden standoff.

Superbly curated by writer and critic Hettie Judah, with exceptional knowledge and sensibility, this show sets forth as many new names as established stars. I loved Lea Ceteras brilliantly epigrammatic hourglass, its curvaceous form extending into glass ovaries containing grains of sand that can never be dislodged. What a play on lost hours, stalled time and biological clocks. You Cant Have It All is its title.

Leni Dothams Sleeping Madonna shows a photograph of the artist in red robes with a baby at her breast  self-portrait as a Renaissance archetype. Except that the image almost imperceptibly moves: the infant apparently dropping off then beginning to suckle all over again as the artist nearly collapses into sleep. His satiation: her exhaustion.

Judah uses wall colour to empathic effect: warm reds for the early years, sonorous blue for profound meditations on motherhood and the way it changes a whole life, gentle whiteness for a gallery concerned with loss.

This might be the loss of a pregnancy, a baby, or the child that never came in the first place. Elina Brotheruss photographic self-portraits show the switchback through IVF in all its isolating anguish, including the bitterly expensive drugs, the artist injecting herself beside the ubiquitous yellow needle bin, the mounting two-week wait and the devastating plummet of the negative test.

How to be an artist and a mother? Marlene Dumas submits her world-renowned lone heads, in all their ambiguous watercolours stains, to her small daughter for cheering up with poster paints. Jai Chuhan tears herself away from the canvas to get down on her knees with her infant, in a chaos of brimming paint pots.

Billie Zangewas embroidered fabric collage  rather generously titled Every Woman, given the glamorous mother figure in jeans and high heels at the centre of the image  is surrounded by junk heaps of strewn toys. In her hand is a nameless silk scrap  literally Zangewas medium  as chewed by an infant.

What to make of this new world in which you live? The dull plastic glint of bottles and pumps fills the canvas in Caroline Walkers anxious still life. The infrangible and never-ending bonds of maternity are played out in Chantal Joffes double portrait of herself, naked, seated next to her clothed daughter. Hannah Starkeys photograph shows a mother trudging heroically through snow, shopping bags hooked over the yoke of a pole on her shoulders.

Bobby Bakers Timed Drawings from early motherhood are captivatingly tragicomic. A drawing of crisps on the carpet done in five snatched minutes; her childs soft nape after a first haircut; her own head suddenly exploding. Most affecting is a quick sketch in which she attempts a self-embrace: Comfort Yourself, all within 20 lonely minutes.

Mystery, profundity, love, grief and amazement: not a work in this show achieves anything less. And the absolute retort to the pram in the hall is the revelation of humanity in Rineke Dijkstras quietly respectful photographs of young mothers holding their babies within minutes of birth. Exhausted, visibly postpartum, some still bleeding, all courageous, proud and protective of the new life they have brought into this world.

 Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood is at the Arnolfini, Bristol, until 26 May, then tours to Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham (22 June-29 Sept), Millennium Gallery, Sheffield (24 Oct21 Jan 2025) and Dundee Contemporary Arts (spring 2025).
Samuel Kasumu said politicians were failing to rise to the challenge on tackling racism. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

A former Downing Street race adviser has warned the government not to use its diversity as a get-out-of-jail-free card on tackling racism after a senior minister denied that the Conservatives had a problem after the Frank Hester row.

Samuel Kasumu, a former No 10 adviser on civil society and communities, said he was frustrated and disappointed by the partys response to the scandal, adding: I know that we can do better.

Rishi Sunak has been under pressure to hand back at least 10m of donations from Hester after the Guardian reported that the businessman had said looking at the MP Diane Abbott makes you want to hate all black women and that she should be shot.

Hester has apologised for the remarks, but denied they were motivated by race or gender.

Kasumu, who quit his role in 2021, told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuennsberg programme: Its very frustrating for me when ministers say we have the most diverse cabinet in history like that is somehow a get-out-of-jail-free card.

To paraphrase Martin Luther King, it is not the colour of your skin that matters when it comes to tackling racism and discrimination  It has to be the content of your character and your willingness to lead. That is not what were seeing today.

Kasumu said he had been frustrated and disappointed. Yes, because I know that we can do better, he said. I know that there are people who  come into public life because they want to try to find a way to bring this country together.

But thats not what were seeing  The problem is not just the prime minister, its also his advisers, people who were my former colleagues. I just do not know what theyre playing at. We have to do better.

He added that politicians were failing to rise to the challenge on tackling racism: The facts do present a really damning picture, and so, clearly, there is a challenge that needs to be dealt with.

The businessman and Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis, who also appeared on the BBC programme, said he believed Hesters remarks had been criminal and suggested senior politicians had caused division.

I very rarely agree with anything Diane Abbott says. But for Mr Hester to say what hes said  Ive heard it described as abhorrent and racist, but I actually think its criminal. Its appalling. If he is a Tory party member, he should be thrown out by the party.

A fish rots from the top. If were going to have this divisive politics that were actually living through at the moment, unfortunately, thats the outcome.

The transport secretary, Mark Harper, denied that the Conservative party had a problem with race, saying he was part of the most ethnically diverse cabinet there has ever been.

As the prime minister said this week, we are a party proudly led by the first British Asian prime minister. We are a party that welcomes people from across the UK whatever their background, whatever their race, if they share our values and approach to politics.

Harper refused to comment on reports that the Conservatives had accepted another 5m donation from the donor or would take more from him in future, adding that if in the future theres a donation, that will be declared in the usual way.

The senior Tory defended Sunak over the 24-hour delay in condemning Hesters comments as racist. Although you said it took an age in political terms, it didnt really take very long at all, he said. Having an argument about how many hours it took to say something, I dont really think is the issue here.
Donald Trump has warned of a bloodbath if he loses the presidential election in November.

The former president ratcheted up the tension as he addressed supporters at a rally in Ohio on Saturday.

Now, if I dont get elected its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats going to be the least of it, its going to be a bloodbath for the country. Thatll be the least of it, he said.

Mr Trump has still refused to accept that he lost the 2020 election, and has pledged to free supporters jailed for storming the Capitol during the Jan 6 riots.

You see the spirit from the hostages. And thats what they are  hostages, he said, adding that those in jail were unbelievable patriots.

The former president is facing a raft of charges in connection with his attempts to overturn his 2020 defeat.

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith has indicted him on four felony charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States government and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding  the congressional certification of Joe Bidens victory.

In Georgia, Mr Trump, who is one of 18 defendants, still faces 10 charges including six counts of conspiracy.

Donald Trump delivers his speech at the rally in Ohio - Mark Lyons/Shutterstock

As well as resurrecting his claims about Jan 6, Mr Trump appealed to his base with an attack on immigrants crossing into the US from Mexico, claiming some had been deliberately decanted from prisons by Latin American countries.

His speech was punctuated with criticism of stupid president Joe Biden and other opponents, including Gavin Newsom, the California governor, who he has dubbed New-Scum.

The Biden campaign wasted little time in seizing on Mr Trumps remarks.

He wants another Jan 6 but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge, said James Singer, a spokesman for the Biden campaign.

This is who Donald Trump is  a loser who gets beat by over seven million votes and then, instead of appealing to a wider mainstream audience, doubles down on his threats of political violence.

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, sought to defend the former presidents remarks, saying he was talking about the US economy and not threatening political violence. Crooked Joe Biden and his campaign are engaging in deceptively out-of-context editing, he said.

Despite leading in the polls and securing the Republican nomination, Mr Trumps rhetoric has alarmed many within his own party.

Mike Pence, his former vice-president, has said he will not endorse Mr Trump in November. Nikki Haley, his main challenger for the nomination, has also refused to back her former boss, as has Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor.

Mr Biden, meanwhile, aimed a few light-hearted barbs at Mr Trump when he appeared at the annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington on Saturday.

One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president, he said. The other is me.

Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up and said: Im being crushed by debt. Im completely wiped out. I said: Sorry, Donald, I cant help out.

Underpinning the jokes is a Democratic strategy to use humour to defuse the controversy over Mr Bidens age, with the majority of voters believing the 81-year-old president is too old to serve another term.
A gang member walks through Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 11 March 2024. Photograph: Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters

Haitis healthcare system has all but collapsed amid the ferocious gang insurrection which forced the resignation of the countrys prime minister, leaving victims of the violence with little hope of medical attention, according to aid workers in the stricken Caribbean country.

In the past two weeks hospitals have been set ablaze, doctors murdered and the most basic medical supplies have now dried up. Only a single public hospital in Haitis capital now remains operational  and that too is expected to shut its doors soon.

The healthcare system in Port-au-Prince is basically nonexistent, said Mackynzie Archer, a consultant advising leading medical NGOs in Haiti. Things are deteriorating quickly.

Fighting between the heavily armed gangs and security forces has paralysed Haitis capital in the worst episode of violence the Caribbean country has seen in decades.

Related: Guns and weapons trafficked from US fueling Haiti gang violence

Armed bandits attacked police stations, government buildings and the international airport, achieving their stated goal on Monday when the prime minister, Ariel Henry, announced he would step down once a transitional council had been appointed.

But as political factions jockey for position, the violence has continued. About half of the Haitian population is going hungry, water and electricity are scarce, and civilians are struck by stray bullets on a daily basis.

At least 15,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the latest wave of gun battles, the UN estimates, bringing the total number of internally displaced people to more than 360,000.

Residents of Port-au-Prince have been reduced to forced nomads, constantly moving between neighbourhoods, seeking refuge with relatives or strangers, or residing in temporary shelter, said Laurent Uwumuremyi, director for Haiti at the American charity Mercy Corps. Fear permeates every corner.

The eruption of street warfare has caused a spike in emergency patient admissions for wounds just as most hospitals  unable to get the staff, power or basic medical supplies they need  are closing their doors.

Several facilities, including St Francis de Sales, one of the capitals last remaining trauma care centres, and Jude-Anne Hospital, which treats emergency patients, have been set on fire and ransacked.

They took everything  the operating rooms, the X-rays, everything from the labs and the pharmacies, Dr Ronald V LaRoche told the New York Times. Imagine! They are taking windows from hospitals! Doors!

Even before the current unrest, gunmen controlled main roads and access to the citys port, choking supplies of anaesthetic, blood and oxygen.

It was not uncommon for patients to wait in a hospital bed for routine surgeries for a month as there are no medical supplies to operate on them with, Archer said.

Healthcare workers are staying home to avoid being caught in the crossfire of street skirmishes or assassinated by teenagers with assault rifles for giving medical treatment to police or rival gang members.

Dr Nathalie Barthelemy Laurent became the latest fatality in the healthcare community on Tuesday when armed men sprayed her car with bullets near her home in Port-au-Prince.

At the State University of Haiti hospital, a general medical care center in the centre of Port-au-Prince, BBC reporters found no medical staff in a clinic full of patients  only a dead body covered with flies decomposing in the tropical heat.

There are no doctors, they all fled last week, one patient told the BBC.

Haitis people have faced enormous challenges in recent decades, including a deadly cholera outbreak and a 2010 earthquake which killed more than 200,000 people.

But the recent anarchy has eclipsed past episodes of desperation, said Francesco Segoni, a spokesperson for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) who compared the current humanitarian situation to that of a war zone.

A recent MSF survey of the gang heartlands of Cite Soleil found that four in every 10 deaths were caused by violence  a figure comparable to those in Raqqa when the Syrian city was dominated by the Islamic State and blitzed by an international bombing campaign.

Violence is virtually unchecked. Theres no place in Port-au-Prince that is safe today, Segoni said.

The crisis is also causing unnecessary deaths among pregnant women and elderly people, who are dying because they cannot find life-saving hospital or treatment medicine that would be deemed basic in most parts of the world.

Related: Can Haiti avoid history repeating as burning streets meet vying elites?

The gangs and the politicians cant find an agreement and the population is paying the price, said Flavia Maurello, head of the Italian charity AVSI in Haiti.

Caribbean leaders and the US have backed a plan in which a transitional council will take over from Henry. But several key factions have refused to participate, while gang leader Jimmy Barbeque Cherizier  the apparent architect of the current unrest  has rejected any solution backed by the international community.

MSF and other NGOs have managed to open mobile clinics in some areas but it remains unclear how long they will be able to safely operate.

We fear we will run out of medicines and medical supplies, which are absolutely essential to meet the enormous needs we are facing at the moment, said Mumuza Muhindo Musubaho, who heads up MSFs Haiti operations.

At Bernard Mevs, a 50-bed critical care clinic in the north of the capital, nurses are desperately trying to keep patients alive with a bare-bones staff and without electricity, said Archer.

It is likely that in the next week or so, they will also close, which will be the final blow to the healthcare system in Port-au-Prince.
Illustration: Lyndon Hayes/The Observer

There are snow warnings pinging on my phone all the way up the M6 on the morning I drive to meet Helen Rebanks in the Lake District, but when I arrive at Pooley Bridge on the edge of Ullswater, the whiteness is confined to the tops of the fells  Glenridding and Arthurs Pike and Helvellyn beyond  and to their reflections in the steady lake.

Rebanks has known the contours of these hills all her life. She and her husband James have their now famous farm in the next valley. Ive been reading her book, The Farmers Wife, over the previous days, and walking to meet her Im reminded of a paragraph in which she talks of forcing herself just occasionally to stop her car by the lake and take in this view as a tourist might  rather than as the scene of frantic school runs, or as a never-ending workplace, with all the anxiety and weariness of trying to keep the farm intact for another generation woven in.

She has chosen to meet in a local hotel restaurant called 1863, in part because it offers some of the best food around and in part because her elder daughter Molly, 18, has been working in the kitchen with the chef, Phil Corrie. Despite the family connection, iIts a vanishingly rare thing for Rebanks to come out for lunch, she says. In the decade since her husband wrote the first of his bestselling books, The Shepherds Life, they have had journalists from all over the world coming on pilgrimages to meet the Herdy farmer in his natural habitat, which has generally meant lunch in the farmhouse kitchen prepared by Helen. Her book is full of tempting recipes  beef shin stew and ham hock broth and kitchen table chicken pie  but its a treat, she says, to be served for once.

The food at 1863  were on the lunchtime tasting menu  is a spectacular series of small plates featuring local ingredients  hen-of-the-woods on cod loin, Cumbrian lamb with Jerusalem artichoke and chive, Yorkshire rhubarb with a douglas fir flavoured yoghurt.

As these virtuoso plates come and go, Rebanks talks a bit about her motivation for telling her side of the story. Its not that she felt left out of her husbands accounts of their life  he always gives full credit to his wifes fundamental, unsung role in keeping the farm and family together  more that readers have tended to romanticise that idea of the solitary shepherd in the hills. We live in a world which is very focused on individualism, she says. But on a farm and in life more widely that is never the truth. Her book is a testament to the strength  for better and worse  of marriage and family and community, to indoor as well as outdoor farm work. The men, particularly the grandfathers in these families, are often the storytellers, she says, but everybody in farming families knows the importance of the farmers wife.

When she sold the idea for her book, she picked Penguin to publish it because the editor she spoke to got it straight away. I love it because its a book about invisible women, the editor said and Rebanks felt the tears welling up a bit over Zoom.

To begin with the book was going to be more cosy than it turned out: recipes with anecdotes attached. When Rebanks got started she felt that would be dishonest and instead wanted to reflect the hard graft and mundane frustration of her role, the impossibly long days and sleepless nights of trying to raise four kids plus six sheepdogs, two ponies, 20 chickens, 50 cattle and 500 sheep. I read quite a lot of memoirs, she says, and the ones that connect with me are when the writers let you fully into their life.

It was a chapter about the memory of an annual ritual of making marmalade with her mother and grandmother that helped her find the voice of the book which explores, among other things, the love and tensions between family generations, their different ideas of inherited roles. When she had finished that tale, the first thing shed written since university, she ran out and waved the paper in front of Jamess nose: Ive written this about making marmalade! He insisted she keep going.

She traces one theme of the book back to a day spent at Highgrove in 2017, at a Princes Trust event. James had been invited by the then Prince of Wales as part of a round table about the future of the land; shed really come along as his plus one. Towards the end of the visit, the whole group sat on some straw bales in the royal barn and talked about what they had learned. When it got to Helens turn, she found herself saying: Well, Im the one who chooses what food to put on the table for our family. As she was saying that, she recalls, she had a sudden sense of the millions of people across the country who are making those same decisions every day, and the critical role each of those choices plays in the state of the nation.

For me, its about connecting the dots, she says. And that begins in the kitchen with cooking from scratch. People talk about cheap food, but the cost to the NHS of all these processed foods, the collective cost of their effect on physical health and mental health, the terrible cost to the soil and to the environment, that cant keep being ignored.

The food we are enjoying at 1863 is an extreme  and extremely delicious  example, but there has to be a recognition, she insists, of what good food is actually worth. Because we collectively have little control over mortgages or rents or fuel prices it is always the shopping basket that is targeted for savings but, without exception, weirdly cheap supermarket prices always mean farmers are being exploited  and the land depleted.

Before she was a farmers wife, Rebanks was an artist. Her speciality was embroidery with an edge. She would create beautifully crafted landscape images; only when the viewers got up close would they see pictures of natural disasters. She has a warm presence, is quick to smile, but there is clearly a toughness to her. Im interested in all the layers behind things, which might look pretty on the surface, she says.

The landscape of the Lake District, celebrated for its wild grandeur, is of course  as Wordsworth portrayed  rather the expression of centuries of backbreaking human work. The dry stone walls did not build themselves. All of that is, as Rebanks argues, a way of life under gathering threat. In the past couple of decades, but especially since the empty promises of Brexit, farming families rooted in this landscape have been selling up or moving on.

Its often farmers that you thought would be there for generations, she says. In many cases they have bought into the push for bigger and bigger yields, driven by the supermarkets. Theyve borrowed money to support that model. Now the banks are putting on the squeeze and they are being undercut by cheap imports from all over the world.

She despairs at the governments callous indifference to that story. Weve obviously been closely following the farmers protests in Wales, she says. They feel absolutely abandoned. The Rebankses have, without preaching, tried to model one sustainable future. They farm sheep and cattle in a regenerative grazing system. The farm is planned in thirds. You graze a third, you leave a third and you trample a third. That trample is the critical bit, she says. It is feeding all the micro-organisms in the soil  obviating the need for fertilisers, and ensuring a rich mix of grasses for their pedigree herd of belted Galloway cattle.

The lesson, she argues, is that there should be no separation between concerns for agriculture and for the environment. Its the story they tell both visiting schoolchildren and MSc agronomy students from Oxford who take the lessons across the world. Weve worked closely with the rivers trusts and plant specialists, she says. Its all about creating a thriving ecosystem. Theres so many more insects. As a result youve got flocks of birds rising again from those fields. The richness produces amazing quality livestock  and amazing food.

For all their efforts, there is, as Rebanks says, no farmer these days without a side hustle. To prove the point, the final course of our lunch is a tribute to her own baking skills. A perfect little slice of tea bread that comes with our coffee. Its something she has always made  usually two loaves, one for home and one for her dad, who loves it  and her daughter Molly introduced it to the chef here and its now on the menu. Nothing fancy, she says, but people love it.

The Farmers Wife is out now in paperback (Faber, 10.99)
Henry Wuga reminded us of the power of love and humanity, said Scotlands former first minister Nicola Sturgeon Photograph: Mark Owens/PA

Tributes have been paid to the force for good Henry Wuga, a Holocaust survivor and educator, who has died aged 100.

The death of Wuga, who escaped Germany on the Kindertransport in 1939 and settled in Glasgow, was announced by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust on Sunday.

Its chief executive, Olivia Marks-Woldman, said everyone there was heartbroken. Henry was a gentleman, she said. Charming, dapper, and above all, a force for good.

The work that he and his late wife Ingrid did in sharing their testimonies, made an immense impact on thousands of people across Scotland.

All of us at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust send our deepest sympathies to his daughters Hilary and Gillian and all his family and loved ones.

Thank you for everything, Henry. We will miss you.

Wuga was born in Nuremberg and went to a Jewish grammar school, where he was a year below Henry Kissinger.

Thanks to his mother, Wuga managed to escape Germany at 15. After arriving in London he was sent to Glasgow, where he found a welcoming home.

The former first minister Nicola Sturgeon said Wuga was an extraordinary human being who was full of stories and fun.

While the world is a poorer place for his passing, there is no doubt that his life made it better, she said. Alongside his beloved wife, Ingrid, Henry educated thousands about the horrors of the Holocaust and the lessons from it that we must never forget. With quiet dignity, he reminded us of the power of love and humanity.

Her successor, Humza Yousaf, said he was devastated to hear of Wugas death.

His loss will be felt by communities right across Scotland & beyond, he posted on X. He worked over decades to remind us of the horrors of the Holocaust, which must never be forgotten. My thoughts with Henrys family, friends & the many who loved him.

Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, described Wuga as warm, charming and compassionate, his strength and personality helped inspire us all.

We owe it to his generation to share their stories and always strive for peace.

Wuga, whose career was in the catering industry, turned 100 in February, remarking: I may be 100 but I dont feel 100. To be 100 is quite an idea.

Ahead of his birthday, his local MSP Jackson Carlaw paid tribute to him in Holyrood during first ministers questions.

Carlaw said on X: How joyful it was just last month for us all to celebrate with Henry the reaching of his centenary.

Today we mourn his passing & send much love to Hilary, Gillian & the family. In his own quiet way, Henry was a statesman. May his memory be a blessing.
The eruption on Saturday neat the Grindavik fishing town - Public Security Department of Icelandic Police/via Reuters

Icelandic police declared a state of emergency after lava began spewing from a new volcanic fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula on Saturday night.

Hundreds of guests staying at Icelands famous geothermal spa resort  the Blue Lagoon  were forced to evacuate after the violent eruption lit up the night sky with jets of orange lava.

The eruption on Saturday evening was the fourth eruption in three months and follows weeks of warnings from the Met Office that magma was accumulating under the ground, making an eruption likely.

It opened a fissure in the earth almost two miles long between Stora-Skogfell and Hagafell mountains on the Reykjanes peninsula.

Spectators watch plumes from Saturday's volcanic activity - Marco di Marco/AP

Bjarney Annelsdottir, a senior police officer, told state broadcaster RUV that about 700 people had been in the Blue Lagoon when the eruption began.

A statement from the Blue Lagoon company on Saturday evening said its facilities were temporarily closed due to the eruption.

The eruption site is near Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people about 30 miles southwest of Icelands capital, Reykjavik, that was evacuated before the initial eruption in December.

Mr Annelsdottir said there were very few people in Grindavik when the eruption occurred.

The skyline of Reykjavik can be seen against the backdrop of orange coloured sky - HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP via Getty Images

Grindavik was evacuated in November when the Svartsengi volcanic system awakened after almost 800 years with a series of earthquakes that opened large cracks in the ground north of the town.

The volcano eventually erupted on Dec 18, sending lava flowing away from Grindavik. A second eruption that began on Jan 14 sent lava toward the town. Defensive walls that had been bolstered after the first eruption stopped some of the flow, but several buildings were consumed by the lava.

Both eruptions lasted only a matter of days. A third eruption began Feb 8. It petered out within hours, but not before a river of lava engulfed a pipeline, cutting off heat and hot water to thousands of people.

Seen from an Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter, smoke and flowing lava from a new fissure during a surveillance flight near the evacuated town of Grindavik, western Iceland - Icelandic Coast Guard/AFP/Getty Images

RUV quoted geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gumundsson as saying that the latest eruption is the most powerful so far. The Met Office said some of the lava was flowing towards the defensive barriers around Grindavik.

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, sees regular eruptions and is highly experienced at dealing with them. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe.

An emergency vehicle is stationed on a road leading to the volcanic activity - Marco di Marco/AP

No confirmed deaths have been reported from any of the recent eruptions, but a workman was declared missing after falling into a fissure opened by the volcano.
Elba's plan is to develop Sherbro into a sustainable eco-friendly city

Idris Elba has embarked on an unlikely new passion project  turning a remote island off the coast of Sierra Leone into a futuristic eco-friendly city.

The British star is about as London as it gets. Born in Canning Town, east London, Elba made his name as a hard-bitten detective roughing up bad guys in grimy spots around the capital.

But his fathers native Sierra Leone was never far from his heart. And now, having established himself as one of the UKs biggest acting talents, hes chasing another big dream  bringing wind-powered renewable electricity to the country for the first time.

Its a dream, you know, but I work in the make-believe business, Elba told the BBC.

The plan is to develop Sherbro, a little island shaped like a birds head off the coast of Sierra Leone, into a sustainable eco-friendly city  or smart city.

Artist impressions of the city depict a glittering array of glassy looking buildings surrounding lakes and well-tended lawns, with a futuristic bridge straddling the highway.

The island would also get electric vehicles  both cars and motorcycles  that can be charged from on-site battery stations.

Its about being self-reliant, its about bringing an economy that feeds itself and has growth potential. Im very keen to reframe the way Africa is viewed as an aid model, he said.

The idea was floated by his childhood friend Siaka Stevens who, looking at a map of power generation for Sierra Leone, questioned why Sherbro was not highlighted like the rest of the country.

Mr Stevens began to do some digging and went to Sherbro to better understand why this little patch had been left  quite literally  off the map.

There he saw an island forgotten. Disconnected from the mainland, it had no schooling, medical care, infrastructure or enterprise.

Stevens, who was born in Sierra Leone but has lived in the UK since he was five years old, felt compelled to do something and got in touch with his old friend Elba, whose father Winston was a proud Sierra Leonean.

He took Elba to Sherbro where the star saw the island for himself.

Originally we went there thinking: how could we bring tourism to the most incredible 19 miles of beachfront, Elba said.

The idea soon morphed beyond tourism to a plan that could make the island more self-sufficient.

Sherbro Alliance Partners was set up a couple of years later and in 2019 they partnered with the government of Sierra Leone to develop Sherbro.

Tax breaks

The project will be partly funded by the private sector and partly by the public and be designated a special economic zone with a legal and economic system separate from the rest of Sierra Leone  a kind of Disney World, says Stevens, referring to the Florida resort which enjoys tax breaks and regulatory planning exemptions.

The island is 230 square miles and has a population of 40,000. According to the developments website, it remains one of Sierra Leones most isolated regions.

There is limited development and infrastructure beyond Bonthe Township which includes a small airstrip.The mobility of the people who live there is limited not only in terms of access to the mainland, but also by their ability to move around the island itself.

A map of the project has an eco-tourism belt sweeping over the top half of the island and the southern coast reserved for beach tourism. The right side of the island would be developed for cultural tourism.

Five wind turbines would make up a wind and solar farm and be built by Octopus Energy Generation, one of Europes largest investors in renewable energy.

It would mark the entry of wind-powered renewable energy to Sierra Leone which currently relies on imports of petroleum and natural gas.

This is a momentous day for Octopus as we kick off our first renewables project in Africa, said Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation.

Once complete, the plan could potentially accommodate up to a million people, said Stevens.

Elba cautioned, however, that the character of the island hopefully will remain intact. Its a beautiful, green part of the world and we dont want to disturb that.
Texas State Board of Education Chairman Keven Ellis, (Lufkin), left, and member Pam Little, (Fairview), listen to public testimony on the proposed changes to the states social studies curriculum in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

For more than 20 years, Fort Worth Republican Pat Hardy has been a reliably conservative voice on the State Board of Education.

Hardy has fought for Moses to be included in social studies standards, advocated for presenting creationism alongside evolution in science textbooks and said she was an early voice to call for the banning of critical race theory from the states public schools.

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But in 2024, Hardy is not conservative enough for Republican voters: She lost her primary election earlier this month against Brandon Hall, a former youth pastor who has pitched himself as a fighter for Christian conservative values.

In addition to Hardys outright loss, two other Republicans on the board  Pam Little and Tom Maynard  were forced into runoff elections against opponents pitching themselves as stronger conservatives. All three challengers received heavy financial support from Texans for Educational Freedom, a right-wing advocacy group that cut its teeth trying to sway local school board elections but has turned its attention to overhauling the state board, spending more than $300,000 this year.

Hall and the others are poised to have a big impact right away, as the board is scheduled to revise the states social studies curriculum standards next year for the first time in more than a decade. The boards decisions will influence what children will learn about government, Texas history and American history, among other topics.

Despite getting contributions from three times as many donors, Hardys campaign only raised about a third as much as Hall, who brought in $146,623. Of that, $145,758 came from Texans for Educational Freedom  99.4 percent.

Hall said he was proud to receive TEFs support, which he said he earned because of his positions on the issues.

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We ran our campaign on parental rights, reforming our schools and giving our kids an excellent education, and thats really what drove the support for our campaign, he said.

MORE ELECTION COVERAGE: Gov. Greg Abbotts fight for Texas school vouchers poised for victory after GOP primary

The district, including parts of Fort Worth and its western suburbs, is bright red, meaning Halls election in November is all but assured. He said he attended Bible college near Chicago, where the college ran a private, Christian school for inner-city kids, sparking his passion for education policy.

On the board, Hall said he would support new charter schools, oppose any kind of underlying agenda in school curricula and avoid villainizing the oil and gas industry in teachings about climate change. He also said he wanted to take advantage of the boards new authority in setting state library standards to remove inappropriate or indoctrinating material from schools.

In recent weeks, TEF flooded the district with mailers, text messages and advertising that accused Hardy of being a false conservative and said she promoted diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

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My opponent just sent out lies, one right after the other, Hardy said Thursday. I had no money to counter them. I tried by media and so forth but it just wasnt good enough.

Hardys loss mirrors those of other longtime Republican incumbents in recent years on the 15-member state board, who have been replaced by younger, more confrontational conservative activists. Its part of a larger rightward shift in the states Republican party. Earlier this month, several conservative primary challengers ousted Texas House members and pushed others into runoffs, including House Speaker Dade Phelan.

Although the Republican-majority state board has long been dominated by conservatives, newer members have been less willing to compromise with the few Democratic members and more willing to reject the advice of education or academic experts who are viewed as liberal-minded.

Although the board, which vets school textbooks, sets curriculum standards and approves new charter schools, has been the setting of many heated political battles over the years, the elections have traditionally been lower-dollar for the unpaid positions.

With its splashy spending in recent years  fueled mostly by large-dollar donations from conservative megadonors  Texans for Education Freedom has emerged as the preeminent power broker for the state board. It spent $300,000 this year, including on negative ads attacking the incumbents as weak conservatives.

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The group was founded in 2021 and is dedicated to fighting communism in the classroom. Its website includes a tip line where parents can report indoctrination, radicalization, and politicization in the classroom.

The group helped to oust two Republicans in 2022 who had voted against a charter school plan using money donated by the rejected schools executive.

Christopher Zook, a political consultant employed by TEF, said the group boosts candidates who support educational freedom and seek to provide quality education to students in every district of Texas.

We need a board that works tirelessly to improving student outcomes and empowering parents, he said. Quality education is not just about academic performance; its about creating a supportive framework that recognizes the diverse needs of each student and equips them with the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

In addition to his work for the group, Zook is also employed by two of the challengers, Hall and Kohlmann, who received funding from TEF this year.

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TEFs top donor is Monty Bennett, a real estate executive, Republican donor and publisher of the Dallas Express. Hes given $235,000 this year. Other top donors in 2024 include energy company chairman Alex Cranberg, Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) and Charter Schools Now, the political arm of the Texas Charter Schools Association.

The charter group donated about $73,000 to TEF, while the group also gave more than $30,000 to Maynard  placing them on both sides of the race.

In a written statement, PAC board member Starlee Coleman said the group supported Maynard, describing him as a proven champion for tens of thousands of families who want access to high-quality public schools.

Little questioned why she, Maynard and Hardy had been targeted.

Were some of the most conservative people on the board, but it seems like in the Republican Party youre never conservative enough, said Little, who represents Fairview in the North Dallas suburbs. I don't know. Its sort of frustrating that you can be conservative and still be labeled as not conservative enough.

Little and Maynard led their challengers in the March GOP primary election but failed to secure enough votes to avoid a runoff. The second round of voting will be held May 28, one day after the Memorial Day weekend, which could further depress turnout in what is already a low-voter election.

Mary Bone, Maynards challenger, is a trustee at Round Rock ISD, elected in 2020. Shes supported by the right-wing groups Moms for Liberty and previously received donations from Defend Texas Liberty, whose leader hosted prominent white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

She trailed Maynard in the initial election by about 9 percentage points. On the Round Rock board, she once forced a snap vote requesting the resignation of one of her colleagues.

Jamie Kohlmann, who is challenging Little, said shes running because she believes the state board is not functioning as efficiently as it should with a two-thirds Republican majority. Members are not doing enough to ensure instructional materials are on grade level, she said. An education policy analyst and former Miss Texas, Kohlmann is endorsed by Sen. Ted Cruz.

On election night, Little received 36 percent of the vote to Kohlmanns 27 percent.

I think in general, (Little) has not been a consistent conservative on the board, or just a consistent voter on the board, Kohlmann said in a phone interview this week.
Vladimir Putin has claimed a landslide victory in Russias presidential vote, as thousands in the country and around the world protested against his deepening dictatorship, the war in Ukraine and a stage-managed election that could have only one winner.

In a vote denounced by the United States as obviously not free nor fair, Putin won 87% of the vote, according to exit polling published by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center and the Public Opinion Foundation.

In a speech at his campaign headquarters on Sunday evening, Putin brushed off western criticism of the elections, telling his supporters it was expected.

What did you want, for them to applaud us? Theyre fighting with us in an armed conflict  their goal is to contain our development. Of course theyre ready to say anything, he said.

The war was front and centre in his victory speech, as Putin claimed he was securing the border from recent raids by pro-Ukrainian military units and said that his main tasks as president would be the war in Ukraine strengthening defence capacity and the military.

Asked about the potential for a direct conflict with Nato, he said: I think that everything is possible in the modern world  everyone understands that this would be one step from a full-scale third world war. I dont think that anyone is interested in that.

He also responded for the first time to the death of Alexei Navalny, claiming he had given approval to exchange the Kremlin critic for Russian prisoners in the west shortly before his death. Unfortunately, what happened happened, he said. I agreed under one condition: we swap him, and he doesnt come back. But thats life.

After counting 75% of the votes, Russias electoral commission said Putin was leading with 87.14% of the vote. In second place was the Communist party candidate, Nikolai Kharitonov.

The government claimed turnout was the highest in history at 74% of the electorate. Putins previous highest result came in 2018, when he purported to earn 76.7% of the vote with a 67.5% turnout.

As Putin sought a public mandate for his war in Ukraine and a fifth presidential term, the Kremlins electoral machine sought to boost his share of the vote and turnout to near farcical levels, posting results that used to appear only in Russias most despotic regions such as Chechnya.

In the face of Putins predictable victory, Russias embattled opposition sought to put together its own show of strength. Long queues formed at several polling stations in Moscow and other Russian cities as people took up a call from Navalnys widow to head to the polls at noon on Sunday.

At an appearance at the Russian embassy in Berlin, Yulia Navalnaya urged her supporters to appear en masse in the symbolic show of strength, labelled noon against Putin. Her husband endorsed the plan before he died suddenly in an Arctic prison a month ago.

Navalnaya was greeted with huge applause and chants from voters and thanked people for turning up to honour her husband. You give me hope that everything is not in vain, that we will still fight, she said in a post on Sunday. She said she had written Navalny on her ballot paper.

The elections were quickly criticised by western countries. The US national security council spokesperson, John Kirby, said: The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an address on Sunday evening, said Putin had become addicted to power.

This imitation of elections has no legitimacy and cannot have any, he said. This person must end up in the dock in The Hague. This is what we must ensure, anyone in the world who values life and decency.

The German foreign ministry wrote in a post on X that the pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putins rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The election in the occupied territories of #Ukraine is null and void & another breach of international law.

Navalnys team called on voters to spoil their ballot papers, write Alexei Navalny across the voting slip or vote for one of the three candidates standing against Putin, though the opposition regards them as Kremlin puppets.

Reports from the ground suggested that queues suddenly formed at numerous polling stations across Russias big cities as the clock struck midday.

Leonid Volkov, a Navalny aide who was attacked by an unknown assailant with a hammer in Vilnius last week, said several thousand queues had formed at midday at polling stations across the country.

Ruslan Shaveddinov of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation said: We showed ourselves, all of Russia and the whole world that Putin is not Russia, that Putin has seized power in Russia.

En route to Putins win, Russia disqualified anti-war candidates, launched an unparalleled get-out-the-vote campaign targeted at state workers, and spent more than 1bn on a propaganda drive, according to leaked documents shared with the Guardian.

The Russian leader has faced no meaningful contest after the authorities barred two candidates who had voiced their opposition to the war in Ukraine. Three other politicians running in the election did not directly question Putins authority and their participation was meant to add an air of legitimacy to the race.

Long queues also formed at noon in places popular among Russian emigres such as Berlin, Yerevan in Armenia, London and the Thai island of Phuket. Hundreds of thousands of Russians are estimated to have left the country since the start of the invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

This action was Navalnys last wish. We just had to come today at noon, said Dmitry, a Russian voter who moved to Phuket shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine. He asked for his last name to be withheld for fear of repercussions.

The German broadcaster Deutsche Welle estimated that more than 2,000 voters turned up for the midday protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin.

On Friday Russian prosecutors threatened any voters who took part in the noon against Putin action with five years in prison. In the southern city of Kazan, police detained more than 20 voters who had joined the protest, according to the independent rights monitor OVD-Info. Arrests were also reported in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Russians had made individual acts of protest, including pouring dye into ballot boxes and arson attacks at polling stations, in the preceding days.

Ella Pamfilova, Russias election commissioner, said those who spoiled ballots were bastards, and the former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said those responsible could face treason sentences of 20 years. Russias interior ministry said it had filed 155 administrative charges and opened 61 criminal cases during the elections, including 21 cases of obstructing voters rights.

Stanislav Andreychuk, a co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said the pressure on voters from law enforcement had reached absurd levels.

Its the first time in my life that Ive seen such absurdities and Ive been observing elections for 20 years, Andreychuk wrote on Telegram, referring to the actions of police who he said were checking ballots before they were cast.

Under constitutional changes that he orchestrated in 2020, Putin is eligible to seek two more six-year terms after his latest expires next year, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036.

By 2029 his tenure will have surpassed that of Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for 29 years, making Putin the countrys longest-serving leader since the Russian empire.
Queensland premier Steven Miles said the results of the Ipswich West and Inala byelections were very bad news for his Labor government. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

Queensland premier Steven Miles concedes massive swings against his government at the Ipswich West and Inala byelections are very bad for the Labor party and could result in a wipeout at the October general election if it doesnt acknowledge the message sent by voters.

Labor lost the safe seat of Ipswich West to the Liberal National party after a two-party swing of about 18%.

The government narrowly retained Inala  previously held by the former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk  despite losing more than half its first-preference vote, a 30-point drop compared with the 2020 election.

Related: The path to re-election for Queensland Labor looks like a narrowing goat track after its Super Saturday losses

Queenslands governing party also bled votes to the left in Saturdays local government elections, with the Greens recording a best-ever result.

Speaking to reporters before his sons soccer game on Sunday afternoon, Miles acknowledged the gravity of the result and that voters had sought to send a message to the government.

I was expecting a bad result and theyre even worse than that, Miles told reporters.

Im not sugar-coating here. This is the voters from Inala and Ipswich sending us a message that they want to see us deliver more for them. Clearly they wanted to send us a message that we work harder, particularly on cost of living and community safety.

Miles became premier in December after Palaszczuk, who led Labor to three state election wins, retired from politics. He said he always knew it going to take more time than three months to turn public sentiment around.

Asked if he had enough time before the state election, Miles said: Well well find out in October.

Ive heard form a number of MPs. They are not spooked. But obviously theyre concerned, this is a bad result, wed obviously preferred to have won both of these byelections. But theyre all ready and willing to roll up their sleeves and keep working hard for their electorates.

The Liberal National party leader, David Crisafulli, said concerns about housing, frontline health services and youth crime had contributed to the swings against Labor.

The overwhelming message is people dont trust this government to fix those challenges, Crisafulli told reporters on Sunday.

The Ipswich West and Inala swings are larger than the Liberal National party government of Campbell Newman experienced in two disastrous byelections before its defeat at a general election in 2015.

The LNP candidate in Ipswich West, Darren Zanow, a retired former concrete business owner, campaigned on a platform of cracking down on youth crime.

Related: Queensland Labor vulnerable on two fronts as Greens target Brisbanes commuter belt

Council elections

Labors woes may be compounded by the continued advance of the Greens in Brisbane.

Brisbanes lord mayor, Adrian Schrinner, has held on at the head of Australias biggest council and has retained a majority of council wards, which are elected separately.

The Greens retained the Gabba Ward and looked likely to pick up another in Brisbanes west, Paddington, though counting there remained close on Sunday. Several others were in doubt.

The Greens, who campaigned with the slogan the system needs a shake-up, replaced Labor as the second party in a number of inner-city wards.

Yesterday we saw a quarter of Brisbane voting for the Greens, said re-elected Gabba ward councillor Trina Massey.

Were on the brink of breaking the two-party system here in Brisbane.

The Greens had anticipated winning more wards from the LNP, but party sources said the lower-than-expected Labor vote had helped to protect incumbent councillors.

The state held 76 council elections on Saturday, with one local government ballot delayed a week due to bad weather.

Due to low staffing at the states electoral commission, people queued for more than an hour in many Brisbane booths, despite turnout being lower than at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Some voters were turned away from booths due to local government boundary issues; some reportedly after waiting in line for lengthy periods. 150,594 voters werent issued a ballot at all, due to uncontested elections.

Counting had yet to begin for many positions on Saturday night.

The alleged murderer Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden remained in contention for reelection to the Gold Coast council. His contest will go to preferences. On Sunday, Miles said Bayldon-Lumsden could be suspended immediately if he wins.

The controversial former LNP MP Andrew Laming also fell short in his bid to become the mayor of Redland City, south of Brisbane.

The Labor-aligned Townsville mayor, Jenny Hill, was trailing to challenger Troy Thompson, a former One Nation candidate, in a close contest.

The Gold Coasts mayor, Tom Tate, was comfortably reelected.

In Mackay, former Coalition federal MP, George Christensen, appeared likely to be elected to the regional council.
Researchers defined a minimum digital living standard that measures households digital abilities and access. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Almost half of UK families with children lack the online skills or access to devices, data and broadband required to participate in todays digital society, research shows, with an expert saying this divide is an amplifier of other exclusions.

Research shared exclusively with the Guardian found that 45% of households with children did not meet the threshold. Families from low socioeconomic backgrounds in deprived areas and households outside London were among those who were less likely to meet it. Households from minority ethnic backgrounds and those with disabled parents were twice as likely to fall below it.

The research was led by experts at the University of Liverpool, Loughborough University, and the digital inclusion charity the Good Things Foundation, with input from other universities. It used a series of focus groups to develop a minimum digital living standard that measures households digital abilities and their access to goods and services.

For the first time, we have a benchmark  defined by the public  about what families think is enough to feel included in our digital society today, said Emma Stone, the director of evidence and engagement at the Good Things Foundation.

Government, businesses and service providers are driving ahead with digital transformation assuming that families are equally able to engage online. Todays research shows this is not true.

The lead researcher, Prof Simeon Yates, of the University of Liverpool, said the high proportion falling below this benchmark was disappointing but unsurprising. People may be surprised, because in every show from crime to romance, people are living a digital life  but we know that a very large number of people dont live in that world.

Covid shone a very harsh light on this when kids couldnt get access to education  Were trying to get people to have a grown-up conversation about it: its not just about having a laptop, its about connecting to skills, employment, wellbeing, Yates said, labelling the digital divide as an amplifier of other exclusions from sectors such as health and education.

The research surveyed more than 1,500 UK households to assess whether they met the benchmark, finding that poverty was a key predictor for falling below it, at a time where Ofcom figures show 28% of households are having difficulty affording the cost of broadband and other communication services.

The report recommends a holistic response to boost digital inclusion, calling for public, voluntary and private sector organisations to consider how they can reduce the digital barriers that many face.

Almost four in 10 (38%) of households struggled with online skills, with parents or children, or both, having inadequate functional or critical digital abilities. For parents who lacked functional skills (17%), it could mean being unable to create an email account or make online payments.

The research found that 27% of households were led by parents missing critical digital skills, such as those needed to protect their family from online harms such as scams, bullying and grooming, raising concerns for childrens online safety. A smaller proportion (18.5%) did not fully meet the equipment and services threshold, lacking one or more of broadband, TV or devices.

Emans family of five shared one laptop until recently. It made it difficult for her 12-year-old daughter to complete her daily online homework, as her older daughter, 16, needed the machine to study for her GCSEs. The family in Yorkshire were recently given a second laptop by the Learn for Life hub, which is part of the Good Things Foundations network.

When we got this laptop, my younger daughter started to study more. Before she couldnt do it [as easily], because my older daughter was using it all the time  her GCSEs are very important, Eman said. The parent, who has lived in the UK for two years, said it had also helped her to develop her English skills.

She said her younger daughter had often relied on using a smartphone but struggled to work on the small screen. Before, my younger daughter was waiting on her sister until it was late to do her homework, and now she can do it when she comes home. It makes it much easier for her and us also  it was a lot of pressure on the household.
The detriments that people experience are significant and should not be happening, Rob Behrens says. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

This has been a chastening experience, says Rob Behrens. The NHS ombudsman for England is reflecting on his seven years in the role, which end soon, in which he has acted as the arbiter of last resort for people who have exhausted the health services complaints system. Chastening? How?

Dealing with people who have experienced trauma and bereavement as a result of avoidable death in the NHS requires empathy and compassion alongside impartiality and fairness.

Secondly, confronting the duality of an NHS resourced by brilliant people who kept it going through the Covid pandemic but, at the same time, having to confront a cover-up culture, including the altering of care plans and the disappearance of crucial documents after patients have died and robust denial in the face of documentary evidence, he says.

Sipping tea from a mug featuring his beloved Manchester City, Behrens is softly spoken. But when asked what he has learned about the NHS, his verdict is tough. That its a very complex organisation, full of brilliant people, from porters to nurses, midwives, clinicians and managers, who have done brilliantly in handling multiple crises: Covid, huge staff shortages, financial pressures, demand, [staff] stress, the frailty of buildings, which makes life very difficult.

But  and it is a big but  despite the everyday wonders the NHS performs, he has found that within that brilliant environment there are serious issues of concern, especially about aspects of the culture of the NHS.

The detriments that people experience are significant and should not be happening. In significant areas  in maternity care, mental health, avoidable death, sepsis, eating disorders  time and again Ive come across stories of people who only want the truth about what happened to their loved one and they found it very difficult to get it.

Thats my job  to get at the truth.

It is also his job, he adds, to highlight when the NHS makes the same mistake worryingly often, to assess its response when failings are identified and to propose ways of changing things. Medical care is never risk-free. But the key test of a good system, Behrens suggests, is whether lessons are learned after something goes wrong and changes made to avoid a repeat. His experience, based on examining thousands of complaints, is that too often in the NHS that does not happen. And also that far too many staff brave enough to highlight poor practice are then victimised.

By way of illustration he mentions Dr Rosalind Ranson, the former medical director of the NHS on the Isle of Man. She received 3.2m in damages last year after an employment tribunal heard how she had been unfairly dismissed after airing her concerns about the governments response to Covid-19.

Ive had doctors on the phone to me telling me what has happened on too regular a basis over the seven years. They say that theyve tried to make a complaint, to raise issues about patient safety, and theyve been warned off. And they have said to me: If I continue with this, my career will be over. Good clinicians have lost their careers as a result of the way that happens.

Related: Letby inquiry must also examine NHS cover-up culture, says ombudsman

The Countess of Chester hospitals decision to ignore concerns paediatricians raised about Lucy Letby  at one point they forced the doctors to apologise to her for their suspicions  illustrates his point.

He refers, too, to the rotten culture and scandalous treatment of whistleblowing staff by University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS trust, which the BBCs Newsnight exposed in 2022. The thing that shocked me the most about UHB is that management dealt with reports about patient safety by sending people to the General Medical Council and threatening them that they were misbehaving. That is disgraceful, says Behrens.

Over a decade, UHB reported no fewer than 26 of its medics to the GMC, which can suspend or strike off doctors found guilty of wrongdoing. UHB referred eye surgeon Tristan Reuser after he warned there were too few nurses to ensure the safety of operations. Reuser said that in his experience whistleblowers at the trust suffered victimisation and retribution using GMC referrals. If you criticise senior management, theyll have you.

The GMC took no action against any of the 26 doctors. But it did issue a formal warning to Dr David Rosser, who at the time was the trusts medical director and later became its chief executive, for not telling them that Reuser was a whistleblower. Rosser later left the trust. An employment tribunal later found Reuser had been wrongly dismissed.

An ombudsman should be forensic, fair and impartial. But, Behrens says, investigations into medical negligence and hospitals efforts to downplay or bury the truth, and helping families whose loss has been compounded by secrecy to get the facts, can be emotionally taxing. Some have left him angry at what he has found. He cites Bristol childrens hospitals refusal to tell Ally Condon for seven years exactly why his eight-week-old son Ben died in April 2015. Staff failed to give him antibiotics fast enough to thwart a virus, it later emerged.

They withheld test results, they told us tests, which were never taken, were negative, they removed documents from the medical notes  its endless, Ally Condon said.

Behrenss seven years in his post have seen action taken to improve patient safety: the imminent rollout of Marthas rule , giving patients and relatives the right to demand a second opinion if they are unhappy with someones care; the creation of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body; and the NHS getting its first ever patient safety commissioner, adding to an array of regulators that also includes the Care Quality Commission and GMC.

But, the ombudsman says, there are now too many regulators in the health service  too many bodies doing roughly the same thing  [and] theyre not sufficiently joined up, which means that decisive action which should be taken isnt taken, because ministers arent getting one voice about what should happen. Legislation is needed to make things less confusing, he adds.

He wants his successor to have their own initiative powers  the ability to investigate things even when no formal complaint has been made, as sometimes scandals unfold in the NHS with insiders knowing but nothing being done, such as the death of mental health patients. Too often, he adds, the people least likely to complain are the ones who most need the ombudsman  people with mental health challenges, who are elderly or are from ethnic minority backgrounds or are poor.

Ministers have told him that, in effect, that power would lead to the ombudsman poking their nose into too many things and generating an even greater workload. Complaints against the NHS have already risen by 15-20% since Covid. The experience of his counterparts elsewhere who already have that right, including Wales and Northern Ireland, does not bear out that fear, he counters.

How can the cover-up culture be ended? First of all, you have to recognise that it exists and secondly you have to make leaders accountable for how the culture operates, he says. Ministers, NHS bosses and the boards of NHS trusts need to be much more pro-active, he adds.

Behrens, who retires at the end of the month, comes back time and again to the anguish families have experienced when trying, often for years, to find out what happened to their loved one. He quotes Nye Bevans words from his book In Place of Fear that silent pain evokes no response to capture how that suffering, despite being worryingly common, is not leading to the change in culture needed. In modern parlance, if you dont speak up, injustice and service failure continue unchanged, he adds.

He is referring to whistleblowers, many of whom pay a heavy price for their candour. But his words apply equally to him, too, given his rigour, independence and readiness to speak truth to power.

Is care safer and the NHS more accountable than when he started? He pauses. There are still too many examples of care not being safe and health trusts being too slow to deal with it. It shows we havent got to the root of the problem yet. My successor will have big issues to confront.
University hospital of North Tees. The trust that runs it has made two substantial payouts to whistleblowers. Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy

Hospitals are cynically burying evidence about poor care in a cover-up culture that leads to avoidable deaths, and families being denied the truth about their loved ones, the NHS ombudsman has warned.

Ministers, NHS leaders and hospital boards are doing too little to end the health services deeply ingrained cover-up culture and victimisation of staff who turn whistleblower, he added.

In an interview with the Guardian as he prepares to step down after seven years in the post, Rob Behrens claimed many parts of the NHS still put reputation management ahead of being open with relatives who have lost a loved one due to medical negligence.

The ombudsman for England said that although the NHS was staffed by brilliant people working under intense pressures, too often his investigations into patients complaints had revealed cover-ups, including the altering of care plans and the disappearance of crucial documents after patients have died and robust denial in the face of documentary evidence.

Behrens urged ministers to overhaul the way the NHS deals with complaints and how the array of regulatory bodies scrutinise it.

His concerns included that:

Avoidable deaths were too common, especially in maternity care, mental health and cases of sepsis (blood poisoning).

The NHS sometimes did dreadful and cynical things in obstructing families pursuit of the full facts about a death, including lying and concealing evidence.

The services legal duty of candour was not forcing hospitals to be open when things went wrong.

Although Marthas rule, which enables families to seek an urgent second opinion if a patients condition deteriorates, was a major step forward, bereaved families still struggled to overcome trusts reluctance to admit mistakes, he added.

In a plea to the health secretary, Victoria Atkins, and the NHS England boss, Amanda Pritchard, Behrens said: NHS leaders, including ministers, set the tone for the whole organisation. Time and again we hear that patient safety is a priority, but actions too often suggest otherwise.

We need to see urgent significant, joined-up intervention to accelerate improvements in culture and leadership, not just in trusts or primary care, but also in NHS England and government.

Culture is determined not only from the core of an organisation but also from its top leadership.

The ombudsman voiced alarm at the recurring pattern of hospitals intimidating whistleblowers rather than taking their concerns seriously. He cited University Hospitals Birmingham trust for referring 26 of its medics over 10 years for alleged misconduct to the General Medical Council, which regulates doctors, in an apparent attempt to punish them for raising concerns. None were found to have committed any wrongdoing.

The trusts board and regulators should have acted earlier to tackle the trust managements disgraceful behaviour, which was well known in the NHS, Behrens said.

The Health Service Journal reported last week how North Tees and Hartlepool NHS trust had been told to pay the surgeon Manuf Kassem 431,768 in damages for racial discrimination and harassment he encountered after he told bosses of his fears that patients had suffered complications, negligence, delayed treatment and avoidable deaths.

Last year the same trust had to pay 472,600 in compensation for unfair dismissal to another whistleblower  a nurse  who warned that a patient had died as a result of heavy workloads.

James Titcombe, the chief executive of Patient Safety Watch, who did not get a full explanation for 17 months after his son Joshua died in 2008 of sepsis at nine days old, said he endorsed Behrenss concerns.

He said research had found that tens of thousands of avoidable deaths occur in the UK every year because safety standards are lower than in other countries.

Paul Whiteing, the chief executive of the patient safety charity Action Against Medical Accidents, said the Countess of Chester NHS trusts failure to act on doctors concerns about the serial baby killer nurse Lucy Letby  including forcing them to apologise to her for doubting her integrity  was an example of Behrenss charge of reputation management.

Last year, a third of NHS personnel during their work saw errors, near misses or incidents that could have hurt staff or patients, according to the latest annual NHS staff survey, he added.

Responding to Behrens, an NHS spokesperson said it was absolutely vital that everyone working in the NHS feels they can speak up and that their concerns are acted on.

The NHS has updated its freedom to speak up guidance [and] brought in extra background checks for board members to prevent directors involved in serious mismanagement from joining another NHS organisation.

As the ombudsman is aware, there have been major efforts to prioritise patient safety in England and progress in creating a more positive safety culture amongst the workforce, which has led to higher levels of patient safety incident reporting than ever before and a widespread focus on improvement, including through the new patient safety incident response framework.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: The safety of all patients is of vital importance, and we have made significant improvements to strengthen protections for patients including publishing the first NHS patient safety strategy.

We are determined to make the health service faster, simpler and fairer. We are putting record levels of investment into the NHS, and training and retaining staff through the long-term workforce plan to properly resource our NHS for decades to come.
Should the archbishop of Canterbury and the pope be on the governments proscribed list?

Photograph: Doug Peters/PA

How do you define extremism? That depends on whether you want a definition with which most people can agree, or one that is meaningful. A definition acceptable to most people must necessarily be broad and bland. One that has more meaning will inevitably be controversial and contested.

And therein lies one of Michael Goves problems in his new definition of extremism. Such a definition is either unnecessary or it creates the very problems it is supposed to solve.

There are certain issues that most people would accept are extreme: the advocacy of Nazism, for example, or a demand for the imposition of sharia law. But it is easy to see why such views are unacceptable without having a government definition of what is extreme.

In most cases, though, whether or not certain views are extreme is a matter of fierce debate. Some argue that mass demonstrations in support of Palestinian people intimidate Jews and so are extremist. Others insist that supporting a state that has devastated Gaza, killed more than 30,000 people and displaced almost the entire population constitutes extremism. This is a political debate that cannot be resolved by labelling one or other view as extreme.

Or take another contemporary hot topic. Not so long ago, support for the forcible deportation of anyone who arrived without proper papers to Rwanda, a country to which none had ever been, or wanted to go, and dismissing out of hand, without considering any facts, their claim for asylum in this country, would have been relegated to the margins of politics. Today, it is a view adopted by many mainstream commentators. What might have been regarded as extreme a decade ago has come to occupy the centre ground. No definition can encompass this.

There is a danger that we give would-be censors a new weapon with an irresponsibly broad definition of extremism

Gove defines extremism as the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; undermine, overturn or replace the UKs system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve [this].

This suggests that racism is extremism. After all, it is, by definition, intolerance that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. So, does Gove consider Frank Hesters alleged comments that Diane Abbott made him want to hate all black women extremist? Or think that his belief that she should be shot helps undermine parliamentary democracy? Should Hester be on the list of people barred from contact with the government? If not, why not?

Similarly, does Gove believe religious opposition to gay marriage (intolerance that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others) is extremist? Should the archbishop of Canterbury and the pope be on the governments proscribed list?

No serious politician or commentator would suggest that they should be. But the very suggestion exposes the problem of politics by labelling. Labelling something extremist does not bring anything extra to the table. Whether something is racist or homophobic, or threatens parliamentary democracy, is something that should be obvious without government labelling. And if its not, then it reveals the necessity for political debate, not a formal definition. The real danger of Goves proposal is not that it may proscribe the archbishop of Canterbury but that it may curtail the free speech rights of those without high office or celebrity status who may be engaging in debates about, for instance, the relationship between trans rights and womens rights, or the question of whether Israels actions in Gaza constitute genocide. These are crucial debates, which many already try to shut down. There is a danger that we give would-be censors a new weapon with an irresponsibly broad definition of extremism. To label an argument extremist suggests that it lies beyond the boundaries of accepted reasonable debate. But it is precisely that debate we often need to have to clarify our moral attitudes.

When she was home secretary, Suella Braverman raised the possibility of banning Palestine solidarity marches, which she called hate marches. Gove has made similar comments, and in the context of a discussion about the definition of extremism. How long before that definition becomes a means of banning, or restricting, such demonstrations? There is a danger that Goves proposals may lead to restricting basic rights by labelling speeches or protests as extremist.

According to Gove, the new definition would help the government choose our friends wisely. Choosing our friends wisely is, however, a matter of judgment, not labelling. Governments and councils already use their discretion when deciding with what groups or individuals they should engage. No official should need a list to know not to engage with, or fund, the British National Socialist Movement. On the other hand, a Muslim group that uses the phrase from the river to the sea, or a Jewish group that republishes cartoons about Muhammad, but both doing valuable community work  whether or not a government department or a council should engage with them depends on context and judgment. No list can provide the answer.

Both antisemitism and Islamophobia have grown alarmingly in recent months. There is unquestionably a need to challenge both. What the government should not do is engage in a phony debate about definitions. Neither should it put forward proposals that may promote intolerance or help negate fundamental rights and freedoms themselves.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a letter of up to 250 words to be considered for publication, email it to us at observer.letters@observer.co.uk
Maternity services have been cut dramatically in the last decade - E+/sturti

One in seven maternity units has closed in the last decade, sparking warnings of a mounting crisis in healthcare for women.

Ministers have repeatedly pledged to give women greater choice of maternity services, while tackling safety failings.

But research shows 27 units have closed since 2014  and four more currently under threat.

Among them is the maternity unit of the Royal Free Hospital, in Hampstead, North London which could be closed in a move which midwives said would be madness.

The changes means there are now around 160 maternity units open across England, compared with 190 centres operating 10 years ago.

Experts said the trends were deeply concerning with women forced to travel further and increasingly denied a choice of where to give birth.

It comes after Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, vowed to improve maternity services across England, saying her own frightening experiences at the hands of the NHS had made the priority personal.

She said her own insights into the darker corners of the NHS while giving birth to her son, now 11, sharing a ward with women in hellish agony meant she was aware of the need for action.

Ministers have repeatedly promised to improve maternity services

In 2015, then Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was determined to tackle Britains deeply troubling safety record.

In the budget earlier this month, as Chancellor, he announced a 35m funding boost to tackle maternity safety.

Estimates suggest a shortage of around 2,500 midwives across England.

Midwife led units which have closed over the past decade include: Grange Maternity Centre, in Petersfield, Hants, in 2020; Trowbridge Community Maternity, in Wilts, in 2020; Paulton Birth Centre, in Wilts, in 2020; Friarwood Birth Centre, in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, in 2019; and the unit at Ludlow Hospital, in Shropshire in 2019.

Before that there were closures of Halcyon Birth Centre, Smethwick, in West Midlands, in 2018; Whitelake Midwifery Led unit, in Newton Abbot, Devon, in 2017; and of midwife-led units at Fryatt Hospitals, Harwich, in Essex in 2017; North Tyneside General Hospital, in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, in 2015; Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Worcs, in 2015; and of Grantham and District Hospital, in Lincs, in 2014.

In London, Ealing Hospital lost its consultant-led maternity unit in 2015. Twelve more closures claim to be temporary.

But several have now been closed for years including Wycombe Birth Centre in Bucks, where officials blame the temporary suspension of services on the pandemic.

Health officials have said that Huddersfield Birth Centre, in West Yorkshire, which closed in 2020, and Bronte Birth Centre, in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, which closed in 2022, will reopen later this year.

An additional 13 units closed in the previous decade, according to the analysis, which shows towns and cities stripped of their facilities.

And at least four major centres are currently under threat.

The Royal College of Midwives last month said that staff shortages have reached crisis point warning that the NHS is haemorrhaging midwives at an alarming rate.

Angela McConville, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust, said the trends shown in The Telegraph analysis were deeply concerning.

She said: Women should have the option to decide on their preferred place of birth. We know restricted options and changes to birth plans can be distressing for expectant parents and will undermine womens confidence and trust in their caregivers.

Ms McConville said the safety and wellbeing of mothers and babies was being put at risk by closures, which meant longer travel distances and extra strain on understaffed units.

Expectant parents deserve to have access to a range of high-quality maternity care that is local and familiar to them. Instead, the safety and wellbeing of mothers and their babies is put at risk if they are expected to travel further to another unit, assuming they have the financial and logistical means to do so.

Ms McConville said: The closures were putting strain on understaffed units, meaning women frequently reported overcrowding and delays to care in hospital maternity units.

In North London, health officials are consulting on removing the consultant-led unit and the midwife-led service from Royal Free Hospital or Whittington Hospital, in Archway, North London.

The Royal College of Midwives said it was madness to contemplate closing either of these maternity units.

The loss of services from the Royal Free is the preferred option of health officials, prompting an outcry from 19 senior doctors at the trust, who say such moves would put lives at risk.

A letter seen by Health Service Journal, sent to the trusts chief executive in January, says the closure would restrict access to specialist services for complex cases, and does not align with current national concerns for maternal safety.

Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, promised to improve services across England - JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Our concerns are that maternal mortality rates within NCL [North Central London] may increase were the unit to close with the potential loss of collaborative expertise and experience, it says.

Edgware Community Hospital, in north-west London, could lose its birth centre, under the proposals.

St Marys maternity unit at Poole Hospital, Dorset, is set to shut in 2024, with services moved to a new building at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

In Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, St Marys birth centre is under threat of closure.

Ministers have repeatedly promised action to make maternity services more safe and personalised.

Pregnant women are supposed to be given a choice of where they give birth, including midwife-led centres and at home, as well as at consultant-led units.

But the analysis shows units closing in every part of the country.

The vast majority of the services closed are midwife-led centres, forcing women to travel further, or give birth in more medicalised settings.

Temporary suspensions

In some cases, the closures are designated as temporary suspensions of service  often in response to short staffing  rather than a permanent decision. But in most cases, no date has been set for reopening, with some still blaming the pandemic for their current closure.

It comes as official figures show two in three maternity units are failing safety standards.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October rated 65 percent of maternity services in England as either inadequate or requires improvement for the safety of care  up from 54 per cent in 2022.

Inspectors warned that many women and babies are still not receiving the safe, high-quality care that they deserve.

It follows a string of major maternity scandals, including a review of Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, which in 2022 found more than 200 babies and 12 mothers might have survived if not for the poor care they received.

Since then, a damning report into East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation has warned that dozens of babies and mothers died or suffered harm between 2009 and 2020 due to deplorable and harrowing failings.

A police investigation was last year launched into failings that led to dozens of baby deaths and injuries at a hospital trust.

The maternity units at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust are already being examined in a review by senior midwife Donna Ockenden.

The review will become the largest ever carried out in the UK, with about 1,800 families affected.

Gill Walton, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives said some closures were being driven by a deeply worrying shortage of staff across the country.

Ms Walton said: Improving safety in services can only happen with enough staff and there needs to be an urgent drive to improve staff retention on top of the current drive to recruit and train more midwives.

An NHS spokesman said: While decisions around closures are taken locally, the NHS is continuing to work closely with trusts and local services to implement the three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, which will make care safer and more personalised for women and babies.

The NHS is increasing investment to 186 million a year to grow its maternity workforce, and thanks to continued efforts to boost retention and recruitment, the number of full-time midwives has grown by over 1,100 on last year, with a record number of midwives now employed in the NHS.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: We are determined to improve maternity services for women before, during and after pregnancy, which is why it is prioritised in our Womens Health Strategy 2024.

Our commitment to maternity services is also why we continue to support NHS Englands Three-Year Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services and pledged to double the number of nurse and midwifery training by 2031 through the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

Decisions on funding and delivering maternity services are made locally by NHS trusts and were clear that all service changes should be made based on evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients.
The brief tenure of Liz Truss  at 49 days the shortest spell drawn from the 17 countries covered in the report  was far below the average of 4.8 years for a UK prime ministerial term. Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Cabinet ministers in the UKs post-2019 parliament have lasted in their jobs for an average of just eight months, a report comparing political stability across 17 countries has found, with Westminster also faring badly on a series of other metrics.

The study, Strong and Stable, which looked at 10 aspects of parliamentary and governmental stability in countries using various electoral systems over the past 50 years, concluded that proportional voting did not mean more volatility compared with UK-style systems, and often the contrary.

Perhaps the starkest measure for British politics was the length of tenure for cabinet ministers. Over the 1974-2023 period of the research, the UK average of 2.1 years was the fourth-worst of all the countries, ahead of just Australia (two years), France (1.8) and Italy (1.6).

At the top of the table, the average period in office for a Swiss minister was 6.4 years, and 5.7 years for those in Luxembourg, according to the report, produced for Make Votes Matter, which campaigns for proportional representation.

The longest average cabinet tenure in any UK parliament over the 50-year period, the 2.8 years seen from 1997-2001, was still less than the lowest such number for Germany, the 3.1 years seen in 1994-98.

This effect was exacerbated in recent ministerial tenures, with the average UK ministerial term since the 2019 election being eight months, described in the report as not something anybody could defend as strong or stable government.

Part of that period was, of course, the very brief government of Liz Truss. The report found that, while the average prime ministerial term of office in the UK was roughly average at 4.8 years, Truss holds the record among all 17 countries since 1974 for the shortest term, at 49 days, ahead of Alexander Schallenberg, who lasted 56 days as Austrias chancellor in 2021.

On the wider measure of whole-cabinet durability, the UK is also near the bottom of the list, if still above Belgium, Ireland and Italy, with British cabinets reaching an average of 60% of their maximum duration.

More generally, the report, which compared 50 years of politics in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, found no evidence that the UKs first-past-the-post voting system (FPTP) brings the stability argued by its proponents.

One such metric was the number of early elections over the 50 years, with Canada and the UK, neither of which use proportional representation, completing just 69% and 76% of full parliamentary terms, while a series of PR-using democracies such as Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland were at or near 100%  although, as the study notes, Norway does not even have a constitutional mechanism to call early elections.

Similarly, the study found, examination of electoral and ideological volatility  the net changes in both seat composition and the ideological differences within that  found that PR-based systems did not seem to produce more flux than non-PR ones.

Alberto Smith, from Make Votes Matter, said: Swapping secretaries of state every eight months isnt strong or stable; its chaotic. Worse, its not a statistical anomaly  the UKs instability in recent years is just the latest low point of a long-term downward trend.

FPTP in the UK leads to frequent, often quite drastic changes in policy direction  this wastes both time and money. By contrast, in countries that use PR, the necessity to build cross-party consensus on major issues means governments, backed by a majority of the publics votes, can take a more long-term approach to policy-making.
Rishi Sunak is hoping his proposed legislation secures the backing of Parliament this week - ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

Rwanda wants a staged start to the deportations of migrants that could see only hundreds removed this summer even if Rishi Sunaks proposed legislation secures the backing of Parliament this week.

As previously reported, ministers have accepted that the amount of migrants to be initially deported to Rwanda will only be small numbers as Kigali wants time for the scheme to bed in.

As revealed by The Telegraph last week, the first deportation flights are unlikely to take off until the end of May because of the six to 10 week appeals process for migrants set out in the legislation.

The Home Office is planning to issue around 100 migrants with deportation notices for the first flights by the end of the week if the Bill is backed by Parliament.

But it hinges on votes in the Commons on Monday and the Lords on Wednesday on the Prime Ministers Safety of Rwanda Bill.

Sir Robert Buckland, the former justice secretary, said at the weekend he was considering rebelling by backing Lords amendments requiring the Government to prove Rwanda is safe for migrants before the flights are allowed to start deporting them to the central African state.

The Prime Minister has pledged to stop the boats by getting deportation flights off to Rwanda - TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

I think the Government needs to explain how much progress Rwanda has made in implementing its treaty obligations. I hope we will get assurances that that is happening otherwise the legislation is a legal fiction which I dont think is a great place to be, he said.

The Bill is central to the Prime Ministers pledge to stop the boats by getting the first deportation flights off to Rwanda following nearly two years of delays amid legal challenges to the scheme.

These challenges culminated in the Supreme Court ruling that Rwanda is unsafe, which the Bill and accompanying Treaty seek to answer by putting in place legal infrastructure and safeguards to protect deported migrants from being repatriated to countries where they could face persecution or torture.

The amendments - proposed by Lord Hope, formerly Scotlands most senior judge, and Lord Anderson, a former adviser to ministers on counter-terrorism legislation - sought cast-iron guarantees on the implementation of the measures before the flights took off.

They are among 10 backed by peers including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, in a series of heavy defeats for the Government in the upper house earlier this month.

James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, will seek on Monday to reverse all 10 before sending the Bill back to the Lords for crunch votes on Wednesday when peers will decide whether to reinstate any rejected by MPs.

The Government is expected to comfortably win all 10 votes to overturn the amendments as the centrist One Nation group of MPs, the biggest backbench grouping, said it will not unpick its deal with the Government to support the Bill provided the Government does not toughen it up.

Rebel Right-wing MPs who backed amendments to harden up the Bill before Christmas will not support the Lords changes because they believe they water down the legislation. It is understood some may abstain or have been slipped by the whips, allowing them to be absent.

The crunch votes are expected on Wednesday in the Lords when the Government aims to marshal its peers to defeat attempts by Labour, LibDem and cross bench peers to reinstate the amendments.

The Hope-Anderson amendments are expected to garner most support, along with proposals by ex-defence secretary Lord Browne to prevent Afghan nationals who served alongside UK forces from being sent to Rwanda and by Baroness Butler-Sloss, the first female Lord Justice of Appeal, to give added protection to modern slavery victims.

Sir Robert Buckland said at the weekend he was considering rebelling - Liam McBurney/PA

If it clears the Lords to get royal assent, it will be a major fillip for Mr Sunak although the first flights are unlikely to go before the end of May because of the six to 10-week appeal process required for migrants under the legislation.

Internal Home Office documents also show that officials have identified several critical risks that could delay the first deportation flights including few or no migrants being ready for removal because of significant attrition due to legal challenges and people absconding.

Other risks included difficulties transferring migrants to the airfield, protests from asylum campaigners and commercial airlines or escort providers withdrawing their services.

It came as Labour unveiled its plans for a new 1,000-staff returns and enforcement unit to secure agreements to be able to deport migrants back to their home countries and crack down on black market working by asylum seekers.

It still is not clear when the first flight will depart for Rwanda - Dan Kitwood/Getty

The unit would fast-track removals and boost returns agreements by posting officers to foreign countries to negotiate deals. It would work to identify, shut down and penalise workplaces illegally employing and exploiting asylum seekers, particularly looking at the practice of recruiting from asylum hotels.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: The Tories have broken the immigration and asylum system. Tory ministers have completely lost control of the system and that has led to chaos, collapsing confidence and calamitous costs. Instead of all the gimmicks, they need to get a grip.
The offset altar in front of the Tree of Life window - Hackenberg-Photo-Cologne / Alamy

The winter of 1941 was a bleak one for Henri Matisse. Aged 71 and living in Vichy France, separated from members of his family, he underwent two operations for bowel cancer, then suffered blood clots on the lung. It seemed that it was all up with him.

But he survived and felt that he had something to do. The Dominican nuns who had nursed him in hospital nicknamed him Le Ressuscite  the man raised from the dead. His principal work, once the war ended, was to design a chapel at Vence.

It is the subject of a well conceived new illustrated book, The Spiritual Adventure of Henri Matisse: Vences Chapel of the Rosary by Charles Miller, the Rector of Abingdon. Its specific difference is a focus on the spiritual aspect of Matisse and the chapel, as more than an artistic exercise. It adds some context from the new Catholic aesthetics of those years, particularly as explored by members of the Dominican order.

Matisse designed the chapel after getting to know Monique Bourgeois, who had answered an advertisement for a night nurse for him. Although photographs tend to make him look comfortable in his loose clothing and summer hats, readied for the camera by Lydia Delectorskaya, the woman who looked after him, Matisse had patches of depression. He often slept with the light and radio on.

Anyway, Mlle Bourgeois shocked him by joining a convent of Dominican nuns. Matisses declared position, though he had not practised his religion for years, was that he had remained a Catholic since his baptism.

The community that Monique, the new Sister Jacques-Marie, had joined, wanted to replace their makeshift chapel. The project took over Matisses creative life. Two Dominicans, Fr Marie-Alain Couturier and Louis-Bertrand Rayssiguier, not yet ordained, promoted and discussed Matisses concept with him.

On its completion in 1951 the chapel provided a few rows of chairs in the nave for worshippers and 18 stalls for the nuns to say their office and attend Mass in a shallow bay or transept on the left. For visitors, the element that impresses is the stained glass, blue, green and yellow, lit by the sun of southern France and set in the white-walled interior.

Figurative work  a mural of St Dominic, an image of the Virgin Mary presenting the Christ Child in the manner of an icon  is done in black line on white tiles, as are the Stations of the Cross, in an abbreviated idiom, on one great panel on the rear wall.

The altar is turned at an angle towards the nuns stalls. The priest at the altar faces the opposite way from the worshippers, because the whole chapel is oriented towards the south west. But, following ancient convention, the priest faces due east, as at St Peters Rome, where the basilicas facade is its eastern end.

I find the housing of the reserved Sacrament unsatisfactory. At the time it was usual for the tabernacle to be on the eastern wall of a church, above the altar. At Vence, the tabernacle, in the form of a sloping container, lies on the mensa of the altar, at the foot of the crucifix.

At the western corner (behind the priest at the altar) hangs a sanctuary lamp framed in a Matisse doodle turned into metal. Beside it, in the south-west wall, is the double window of the Tree of Life.

Matisse even designed vestments, including a striking black chasuble for Masses for the Dead. It bears on front and back the word Esperlucat, not Latin but Provencal for open-eyed, lively, even desenganado, as the Spanish say: undeceived. Matisse died in 1954.
Aerial view of downtown Houston on March 18, 2019, where a dark cloud caused by a fire at a petrochemical plant in Deer Park lingers. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The Intercontinental Terminals Co. fire that broke out March 17, 2019, did not just lead to a massive black plume of smoke lingering for days over east Harris County, before spreading 20 miles to downtown Houston and other parts of the city.

It also led to Harris County officials rethinking their emergency notification systems, after hearing from deeply concerned residents who said they hadn't received timely information about what was happening at the chemical plant near their homes.

Five years later, they have results to show for their efforts, but staying informed during an incident can still be a complicated challenge for residents.

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EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Patchwork emergency response efforts leave some residents in the dark after chemical incidents

People gather to watch as firefighters continue to battle the petrochemical fire at Intercontinental Terminals Co., on March 19, 2019, in Deer Park, Texas. Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The fire at the ITC Deer Park facility was the first test for the new Harris County Commissioners Court. County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who represents east Harris County, had taken office less than three months earlier, flipping the court to a Democratic majority. They were quickly thrust into the complexities of a chemical fire  a not uncommon occurrence in east Harris County, where the economy is anchored by an expansive petrochemical industry.

In recent years, the Houston Ship Channel area has experienced more than half a dozen incidents, among them an explosion at a Kuraray America EVAL facility in Pasadena in May 2018, a fire at an Exxon Mobil Baytown plant in July 2019, a chemical leak at a Dow Chemical plant in Deer Park in July 2021 and a fire at a Kinder Morgan facility in Pasadena in July 2023.

The ITC incident was, however, uncommon in its severity. It took three days for firefighters to extinguish the blaze as it spread from a tank holding the toxic chemical naphtha to a total of 11 tanks, some of them holding gasoline blend stocks and products containing the cancer-causing chemical benzene. The fire produced more than 21 million gallons of potentially hazardous wastewater.

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Kristen Lee, the senior director of legislative affairs in Garcia's office, experienced the incident as both a resident living near the facility and a newly-hired member of the Precinct 2 team. On the Sunday morning of the fire, her first notification about the incident came first hand when she saw the smoke on her way to church.

"The size of the plume, I just felt very uneasy," Lee said.

As the day unfolded, there were signs that the fire was serious. But Lee also recognized there were many reasons why she wasn't getting information as quickly as she wanted.

There's nothing simple or straightforward about emergency communications during a chemical incident, she said. East Harris County is made up of numerous cities  including La Porte, Deer Park and Pasadena  each with their own emergency management team and communication system. Plus, getting the information right doesn't happen immediately.

"It's very hard to do," she said, "to calculate risk in those first hours of an event."

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Deer Park PD Crossing Guard Adell Boren makes sure Deer Park Jr. High School students are safe as they cross East 13th and Meadowlark Streets, in spite of a chemical fire burning nearby Tuesday, March 19, 2019, in Deer Park. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Ultimately, local officials must rely on cooperation from industry leaders in order to have information to share. Sometimes government officials are fighting for the same details as the public, trying to get answers from private companies that treat the information as proprietary.

Despite these challenges, strengthening public alerts during these incidents has been a major priority in the years since the ITC fire, she said.

"It's like teaching industry how to communicate from scratch," Lee said, "because the old way of doing things where they tighten up and don't let any information out just isn't going to work anymore."

Shelter in place

Lee and her husband were at church less than a mile away from the incident when alarms went off, and the pastor told them they were going to shelter in place. Cities including La Porte and Deer Park have outdoor alarm systems that are activated in case of chemical emergencies or severe weather.

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They headed to the church's children's area to wait with their kids, where they ate goldfish crackers and tried to find information about the incident. Because of relatively frequent chemical incidents, this was a familiar exercise for their family.

Firefighters battle to extinguish a petrochemical fire at Intercontinental Terminals Co. Monday, March 18, 2019, in Deer Park. Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

"We thought we would shelter until enough information was collected for us to be released," Lee said. "But we were never given the all clear. So we just decided to take the risk to go home."

Lee knew to consider the size of the smoke plume and the direction of the wind to evaluate how unhealthy the air quality might be in her neighborhood.

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"This time it was inconsistent. The wind was going back and forth," Lee said. "I just couldn't take the ups and downs of it, so we evacuated to Galveston."

Because of the heavy concentration of industry, east Harris County is different from other parts of the Houston area. Living in La Porte, Lee said she gets reminders from her kids' school to sign up for local emergency alerts. And kids' report cards feature the character Wally Wise, who represents the local emergency planning committee and teaches kids about sheltering in place.

La Porte's annual health and safety fair has medical providers in attendance. "But it's mostly the chemical plants and the city's emergency management team encouraging people to sign up for this service and learn more about your industry neighbors. And I'm not touting this as a model, per se, but it's the way we live, Lee said.

Access to information

After the ITC fire, Harris County officials took a hard look at disaster response, hiring a consultant group to identify gaps and determine how they could better gather and provide information. Garcia's office began working on a major, grant-funded resource guide to help residents navigate chemical incidents, which the Harris County Pollution Control Services Department is expected to release soon.

The county spent millions of dollars purchasing new air monitors and hiring additional pollution control staff so it could gather its own community air monitoring data, rather than relying on other entities to provide that information before it could be shared with residents.

Still, Lee said it isn't necessarily the county's job to step in and oversee emergency communications during an incident like the ITC fire.

"To be perfectly frank," Lee said, "there are parts of a chemical emergency that just aren't for the county to take ownership of."

While Lee recommends that people sign up for alerts from the county's Ready Harris app, it's not a one-stop solution. Residents also need to sign up for their city's emergency management team alerts. And the companies themselves have to be held responsible for communicating quickly and effectively as well, she said.

In east Harris County, that means downloading the CAER app, which is managed by the East Harris County Manufacturers Association, a coalition of around 118 plant sites managed by more than 70 companies.

COUNTY CHANGES: Harris County faces long list of gaps identified after recent chemical fires

MaryJane Mudd, EHCMA's executive director, said improving communications has been a major priority in the years since the ITC fire. Companies are expected to file information with the CAER app system within 30 minutes of an incident occurring, she said, and the group is working on simplifying that process so a company experiencing a crisis can report faster.

In 2022, EHCMA started leading full-day workshops on public information and crisis communications. Typically, 150 to 200 people from both government and industry attend those events, Mudd said, so they're prepared for a "collaborative effort when something happens."

"A tremendous amount of time, effort and resources have gone into that," Mudd said. "So much of how you communicate during a crisis is the planning."

County first responders have made changes since the ITC fire as well, according to Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christiansen.

The department now meets with companies to do pre-planning, so before an incident occurs, they already have records of which chemicals are handled at different sites and where they're located.

"We do various things now to build that relationship, so you're not meeting for the first time when something occurs," Christiansen said.

Christiansen grew up in Pasadena, and she remembers waiting on information about chemical incidents, sometimes going to school the next day without knowing what had actually happened.

While she's a fan of social media, Christiansen said it has had an impact on the public during events like the ITC fire.

"The expectation of the public now is that that information is available within seconds," Christiansen said. "The public expects that we know immediately. And we want to make sure they're getting the best information possible."

For Lee, while she can point to plenty of improvements over the past five years, the information communities need during a crisis is still not as accessible as it needs to be.
Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds took his life a day after his home was searched by Tasmania police professional standards. Photograph: Marcel van den Bos/Alamy

A Tasmanian sergeant received a police funeral and a full honour guard despite the police ministers office being provided with information showing that the officer was subject to child sexual abuse allegations.

The revelations are contained in documents released under right to information laws showing that the then police minister, Michael Ferguson, was provided information about allegations of criminal conduct against Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds after his death.

The material provided explains that a search of Reynolds home had been carried out on 12 September 2018 by Tasmanian police professional standards.

The search was as a result of recently received information that raised concerns about the nature of Senior Sergeant Reynolds relationship with a number of male youths, it said.

A day after the search, Reynolds took his own life.

The note outlining these allegations was provided to Ferguson on 17 September 2018. It was signed three weeks later by Ferguson on 8 October, indicating the time at which he read it.

A police funeral was held for Reynolds on 19 September in Launceston.

An interim report from January by the independent review into the handling of the investigation into allegations against Reynolds found he groomed and sexually abused teenage boys between 1988 and 2018.

The police commissioner, Donna Adams, apologised for the decision to hold the funeral, but it was noted by the independent review that the apology was only made five years after the event.

Participants voiced their dismay at having attended a full police funeral for Paul Reynolds when it was known that he was under investigation for criminal conduct towards young males, the review found.

The apology of Commissioner Adams for holding a police funeral has been reflected on positively by those participants who have spoken about it, however some questioned why it came five years after the funeral and not immediately afterwards, when the Professional Standards investigation was closed.

The full report by former war crimes prosecutor Regina Weiss is due in the middle of 2024.

Related: Pure imagination: Tasmanian premier vows to build worlds largest chocolate fountain if re-elected

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the Tasmanian Greens leader, Rosalie Woodruff, said she did not believe it was credible that Ferguson was not aware of the allegations.

We want to understand why he didnt stop any support for that funeral, she said. We want to understand why it took him weeks to sign off on it. He obviously had the information before the funeral.

This is the sort of culture that the commission of inquiry has spoken or, or they have spoken of things being dismissed and things not being acted on. And we are very concerned.

The Labor MP Dean Winter echoed these concerns, saying he believed it was impossible that the former minister was not aware.

If information relating to a police officer committing child sex offences comes in, the Police Minister would have been made aware of it, he said. Why else was the information provided?

Ferguson rejected claims he was aware of the issue but had ignored them as a state election was looming. He also said he agreed that the decision by the police commissioner to grant a police funeral was a mistake.

I note this RTI was released in November last year and it does seem unusual that it has not been raised until an election, Ferguson said. The briefing not is logged as being received by my office on September 18th, 2018.

I cant say exactly when I read it, but my usual practice is to sign such a note immediately after I have done so.

I note the current police commissioner has said the decision to grant a police funeral was a mistake. I agree.

Tasmanians go to the polls on 23 March as an embattled Liberal government has been rocked by the defection of two independents.
Alliances Celestes

Thousands of believers in extra-terrestrial life form descended on the quiet French town of Limoges on Saturday, hoping to connect with the aliens they are so certain exist.

Several thousand self-professed awakening individuals made their way to the Zenith Limoges Metropole building in a field off one of the main highways.

The silver, saucer-shaped building is a fitting setting for the three-day conference which features a cosmic line-up of galactic speakers who will be discussing mind-bending moments and encounters with celestials in altered states of consciousness.

Symposium Exovision is expected to draw 2,200 attendees who have paid between 150 to 190 euros to attend.

The event, organised by a group called Alliances Celestes, or Celestial Alliances, claims to want to prepare and train humanity for the arrival of extraterrestrials or new-style encounters.

On the events website it says: The mission of this citizen delegation is to accompany humanity in this process, in order to properly inform and reduce the fear and stress that this type of encounter can generate.

While many might dismiss the event as a wacky yet harmless convention by a fringe group, French officials say the event is not as benign as it seems,

They claim attendees are there to peddle conspiracy theorists and extremism that will have a detrimental effect on the city.

I was stunned that such an event took place in Limoges, Thierry Miguel, vice-president of the Haute-Vienne department council tweeted, describing the conference as a breeding ground for extremism and conspirators.

Who are these eccentrics who invite themselves to Limoges to put the ideas of charlatans and conspiracy theorists into peoples heads?

Conspiracy theory

One of the conference invitees has drawn particular attention is Antoine Q Cuttitta, who is a known QAnon sympathiser and hosted a YouTube channel that peddled conspiracy theories before it was shut down for breaching the platforms policies.

According to Conspiracy Watch, the Frenchman promotes the same conspiracy theories developed by QAnon: that a satanic elite rules the world and is behind a massive paedophile ring and that the 2020 American election was rigged.

Though media are banned from the event, two reporters from regional news media Le Populaire succeeded in infiltrating the event on Saturday and documented what they saw.

They said the general director of the group Alliances Celestes, Jean-Michel Raoux, was dressed in a blue and yellow outfit and cap, and introduced himself as being from the planet Niam.

Mr Raoux presented a set of grainy black-and-white photos to the crowd as irrefutable proof of alien life.

According to Le Populaire, Mr Raoux said he meets regularly with aliens, that he can draw extraterrestrials to specific places on earth, and that he witnessed UFO landings.

Next, the crowd heard from Anne Givaudan, a galactic reporter who said she comes from the land of Shambhala and told attendees that she saw human-animal hybrids in Antarctica.

Thats why its time to get up and say to ourselves, what are we doing? Do we trust beings who have always deceived us in all areas? A new world must emerge, she told a crowd.

Among the crowd was Simone Coulonges, a former psychiatrist, who had travelled eight hours from Vaucluse to attend the event.

I communicate with beings from other planets. Usually, I dont talk about it because people think were weird, she told Le Parisien.

They are afraid, they laugh. Here, we meet people who, like us, are open in heart and mind.

Mr Miguel, who said the event risked making Limoges the laughing stock of France, said he plans to organise a public meeting on the role of science and social progress.

We cannot stand there with our arms crossed in the face of possible charlatans who will come and talk to us about theories from another time, he told BFMTV.

When a society is dysfunctional, it takes refuge in values like these. But we must strive to demonstrate the truth from the false by relying on science.
Israel is running out of 155mm artillery shells and ammunition for its tanks - MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP

US military aid to Israel has slowed amid a row over a planned operation in Rafah, a senior Israeli official has said.

With tensions rising between Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Joe Biden, the US president, the unnamed official said shipments of weapons and ammunition were coming very fast in the aftermath of the Oct 7 attacks.

But we are now finding that its very slow, the official told US broadcaster ABC, adding that Israel was running out of 155mm artillery shells and ammunition for its tanks.

The US president has been at loggerheads with his Israeli ally over deliveries of aid to Gaza amid the worst war to hit the strip since Hamas took over in 2007.

Last week, Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader who is also the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the US, said Mr Netanyahu had lost his way and should hold an election for a potential replacement.

I believe that to achieve that lasting peace  which we so long for  Israel must make some significant course corrections, Mr Schumer said on Thursday.

The Israeli offensive, in response to the Hamas invasion of Oct 7, when 1,200 mostly civilians were murdered and over 250 taken hostage, has been relentless as they both vow to free the hostages and rid the strip of the terror group. According to Hamas, more than 30,000 Gazans have been killed in the onslaught.

Slowing or withdrawing military support is seen as a way for the US to strong-arm Israel into allowing more aid into Gaza.

We are in a very precarious time now, an Israeli military source told The Telegraph. The global perception of the war is impacting heavily on us and the relationship with the US.

The influence for the US to somehow slow down the offensive is something we are very worried about. Theyre our most important ally, the source said.

Most importantly, this is a personal conflict, with the calls against Bibi [Netanyahu] at home and abroad impossible for Biden to ignore.

Mr Netanyahu has also stuck to his guns that he will not support a two-state solution, a precondition of not only the US but other key allies such as the UAE. He has also given the green light to more illegal settlements in the West Bank, much to the fury of the US.

The US provides about $3.8 billion in military and missile defence systems every year to Israel, under a deal negotiated by Barack Obama, the former president.

A family in Gaza eats surrounded by rubble. The US is increasingly coming under fire for supporting Israel's war - Mohammed Salem/REUTERS

But as the numbers of civilian casualties rise, and with horrific images of women and children on the front lines spreading across social media, the US is increasingly coming under fire for supporting Israels war effort.

The White House has so far denied that it is deliberately slowing its support for Israel, with John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser, saying: We continue to support Israel with their self-defence needs. Thats not going to change, and we have been very, very direct about that.

But in spite of repeatedly calling the US-Israel bond unbreakable, Mr Biden and his decades-old friendship with Mr Netanyahu is now at crisis point.

There is a very serious crisis in the relationship, said Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to the US and adviser to several prime ministers, speaking to the Wall Street Journal.
Marie O'Riordan was raised on the black stuff in 1970s Dublin and swears by it to this day

I credit my parents with my love of Guinness, now Britains top selling pint and consumed by one in nine beer drinkers. I am the third of a seven-child family and I remember my mum drinking a single GP-prescribed bottle of Guinness a day while pregnant with my younger siblings. Its for the iron, she would say. I dont even like the taste. I have no reason to disbelieve her as she never touched Guinness outside of doctors orders.

Years later the tale spread across the city  possibly apocryphal  that the brewery had mistaken their decimal points and the much lauded iron content of a Guinness pint was in fact only 0.3mg and not the 3mg promised to women in the family way. That means theres as much iron in a single egg as there is in three pints of Guinness. (Amusingly, my mother was allergic to eggs.) At the same time, my father used to boast about the free pint of Guinness hed be given in exchange for the pint of blood he regularly donated. On my graduation day in Dublin, he even took me on a tour of the award-winning Guinness Storehouse as part of our celebration.

The stout's health benefits have long been touted

Rhiannon Lambert, one of the UKs leading nutritionists, highlights the possible benefits of choosing Guinness instead of alternative alcohol drinks: Guinness contains antioxidants up to twice the amount of other beers, particularly flavonoids, associated with a reduced risk in chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and some cancers. There are nutritional benefits in most beers  including B vitamins, fibre and prebiotics that promote the growth of good bacteria in your gut  and Guinness offers more of these. Since it contains unmalted barley, it is also one of the beers with the highest levels of fibre.

The science appears to be reflected in todays drinking trend for low or zero alcohol drinks. The viral images of Kim Kardashian sipping a pint on Paddys Day last year have assured the abundance of hashtags including #GuinnessGirls is here to stay. But its not just glamour by association. According to Lambert, conditions such as osteoporosis could possibly be counteracted with safe Guinness drinking: A study conducted in 2009 found a positive connection between the silicon in stout and bone health. However, there are obviously healthier alternatives to obtain your broader range of nutrients such as vegetables, fruit and berries.

Growing up in 1970s Dublin, where you could smell the pungent Guinness hops on a hot day, its not surprising that Ive only ever drunk Irelands most famous export. With one television channel, it was hard to evade the brilliance of the brewerys advertising. Even to my childish eyes, the mind-blowing budgets boasted cinema quality with movie stars (Rutger Hauer) and witty slogans. One called The Surfer was voted number one in Channel 4s 2000 programme The 100 Greatest TV Ads and was directed by Jonathan Glazer whose film, The Zone of Interest, recently won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film.

At university in the 1980s, I chose the tipple that would most likely give me the nonchalant air I so desperately lacked. All the pretty girls and goth boys drank the black stuff, so it seemed my best step towards social acceptance. Like my mum, I didnt much like the taste at first, but with sheeplike perseverance, I was soon converted and have never since countenanced another beer.

The Irish dry stout is one of the most successful brews in history - Richard I'Anson/The Image Bank Unreleased

When I moved to London with the rest of my Ryanair generation, there ensued frenzied debates about where we could get a decent pint away from Guinness HQ. Cue scorching reviews from male mates decrying English barmens cluelessness at pouring a pint without the reverence we were accustomed to back home. Its true that the ritual of waiting for your pint while it rested half poured was largely ignored back then in London but, in all honesty, I couldnt taste the difference. I stuck to my stout while the men opted for the Dutch lagers that were trending at the time. When my sophisticated new English journalist friends started drinking espresso martinis, I referenced my creamy topped, dark lovely as their inspiration. The iconic creamy head is formed through a process of nitrogenation that combines nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide to give the beer its velvety texture.

It was around this time in my drinking history when I noticed the health benefits  the lager and cocktail drinkers seemed to reach peak drunkenness quicker than me and suffered bitterly with next day hangovers. Guinness is not a drink you bolt so my sobriety was envied and Ive never had a hangover from it in my life. I was simply drinking a lower ABV (alcohol by volume) of just over 4 per cent while some lagers are as high as 6 per cent. Lower alcohol means fewer calories  210 for Guinness compared to as high as 290 for stronger ales. While far from boasting a gym bunny-body, I remain beer-belly-free. Some even say that drinking Guinness is like a meal in itself. It cant be called a meal nutritionally, of course, but it is certainly filling enough to discourage excess.

When my magazine editing job took me to the dizzy heights of the front row fashion circuit, I tired quickly of the endless champagne on offer and longed for the comfort of my trusted curvy pint of Irish champagne. I have a fond memory of playing hooky with my team during one Paris Fashion Week when we absconded to an excellent Guinness pub behind the Ritz Hotel to watch Andy Murray win the US Open. My fashion team was probably embarrassed by my unfashionable libation, but todays trend proves I have had the last laugh. Good things come to those who wait (Guinnesss tagline throughout the 1990s) could have been my wedding slogan.

My husband and I got together later in life, took over 20 years to wed and cemented our relationship over a shared enjoyment of completing a crossword with our pints of plain. My favourite wedding picture is of me clutching a pint directly after the service while the photographer wondered if Id chosen my complementary black and white dress on purpose. As if. The latest buzzy London pub, The Devonshire, has received many plaudits about its perfect pint of Guinness with the proprietor speaking of its celebrated slow-pour ritual in hushed tones. The normal ratio of 70:30 nitrogen to carbon dioxide, is split 82:18 in this pub, which brings the creamy head closer to any Dublin pint. It may all be style over substance, but after 40 years of imbibing, Ill certainly be found sipping one of the 13 million pints pulled worldwide this St Patricks Day. Slainte!

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Pete Wishart has held the Perth and North Perthshire constituency since 2001 - Stuart Nicol

The SNPs longest-serving MP has disowned Humza Yousafs target of making Scotland Tory-free after the general election as the First Minister was accused of employing ugly and divisive rhetoric.

Mr Yousaf told an SNP gathering in Perth on Saturday: If we are to truly make Scotland Tory-free, we need to reject not just Tory politicians, but Tory policies, Tory ideas and Tory values.

But Pete Wishart, the Perth and North Perthshire MP, said he would not use Mr Yousafs controversial language around expelling Conservatism from Scotland as he attempts to hold on to his seat.

He told BBC Scotland that around 20,000 people voted Tory in his seat at the last election and they have a right to have their view and vote respected.

While Mr Wishart has held the constituency for the SNP since 2001, the Conservatives enjoy strong support in Perthshire and came within 22 votes of ousting him in the 2017 election. The constituency has since been redrawn and named Perth and Kinross-shire following boundary changes.

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said Mr Yousafs Tory-free Scotland grand plan is falling apart already, less than 24 hours after the First Minister used his Perth speech to outline his general election strategy.

Mr Yousaf told an SNP gathering in Perth on Saturday: 'If we are to truly make Scotland Tory-free, we need to reject not just Tory politicians, but Tory policies, Tory ideas and Tory values' - Getty/Jeff J Mitchell

In a second blow to Mr Yousaf, Nicola Sturgeons former chief of staff said his claim that the election in Scotland was a straight fight between the SNP and the Tories was confusing for voters.

Liz Lloyd said that it was quite a difficult message for the party to sell on the doorsteps in the Central Belt, where Labour is threatening to win swathes of SNP-held seats.

A series of polls have indicated the SNP is on course to lose at least half the 48 seats it won in the 2019 election, with Labour again becoming the largest Westminster party in Scotland.

The general election will be Mr Yousafs first national contest as SNP leader but there has been mounting speculation he could be ousted if support for the party collapses.

The First Minister told BBC Scotlands Sunday Show that it was an arithmetic reality that most Scottish Westminster seats were held by the SNP and Tories, with Labour only having two.

He admitted it would be a tough election but said: Let me say this, Scotland has a real opportunity, a historic opportunity to ensure that we kick out every single Conservative MP out of Scotland and they deserve nothing less.

And the only way to do that is to vote for the SNP, because the SNP is in second place in every single Conservative seat.

Divisive rhetoric

But Mr Wishart tweeted: Much as I will be doing everything possible to ensure that the Tories are kept out of Perth and Kinross-shire I wont be using this Tory-free rhetoric as part of my campaign.

Murdo Fraser, a Scottish Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: Humza Yousafs divisive rhetoric is an insult to the hundreds of thousands of people who vote Scottish Conservative.

He also knows its not going to happen  in fact were aiming to make gains from the SNP at the general election. Its interesting that the SNPs longest-serving MP is now disowning his leaders ugly rhetoric.

However, he noted that Mr Wishart had said he was trying to make my country Tory-free in a tweet on his birthday, only eight days previously.

Ms Lloyd told the same programme that Mr Yousafs message was based on the 2019 election result in Scotland, when Labour performed poorly and the Tories finished second.

She said: I think it is a little confusing. And it very much speaks I think just to the north east of Scotland, where [SNP] people are actually challenging Tory MPs, as opposed to the Central Belt.

And I could see some Central Belt campaigns finding that quite a difficult message to sell on the doorsteps, but it does get back to what this election is about, which is can we get the Tories out of government?

She said she was unsure the SNP had got there just yet in crafting an election message that addressed this while also taking on the threat from Labour.
Rishi Sunak reportedly visited Frank Hesters office on a 16,000 helicopter trip to Leeds paid for by the businessman last year, raising questions about whether the Tory backers 10 million donations have bought him access to the Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak is facing calls to reveal the extent of his relationship with Mr Hester following the emergence of comments the donor allegedly made about MP Diane Abbott  that she made him want to hate all black women and should be shot.

The Prime Minister has this week come under fire for his handling of the fallout from the remarks. He eventually described them as racist but only after Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch broke ranks with No 10 to condemn them as such.

Frank Hester reportedly paid for Rishi Sunaks helicopter ride to Leeds, where the PM visited the businessmans company (CHOGM Rwanda 2022/YouTube/PA)

The Guardian, which broke the story on Mr Hesters comments, on Saturday reported that he paid for Mr Sunaks travel costs to Leeds, where the Prime Minister got a private tour of his company.

The newspaper said the visit came around three weeks after Mr Hesters software firm, the Phoenix Partnership (TPP), gave a second 5 million tranche to Mr Sunaks party last November.

He had already individually donated 5 million in May while another 5 million is reportedly on the table.

Mr Sunak was pictured meeting small business owners at a jewellery studio in Farsley, West Yorkshire, on November 23.

He visited TPPs offices in Leeds for around an hour later that day, the Guardian reported, citing unnamed sources.

No 10 declined to comment on the Prime Ministers private meetings.

Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said: Everyone can see that Frank Hesters disgusting remarks were clearly racist and misogynistic. Rishi Sunak keeping these millions is inexcusable.

There are serious questions to answer on Rishi Sunaks close relationship with Frank Hester.

The Prime Minister must urgently confirm what was discussed, and whether Frank Hesters contract running over 60% of confidential UK health data or Government AI policy came up.

And Rishi Sunak needs to grow a backbone, pay this money back, cut ties and deal with the extreme views that appear to be tolerated in his party.

A No 10 source said: Donations such as for flights are all publicly available in his declarations of interest. Wouldnt get into his private meetings.

Diane Abbott was the target of Frank Hesters alleged racist remarks in 2019 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Mr Hester has posted on LinkedIn about attending Mr Sunaks discussion on artificial intelligence with tech billionaire Elon Musk last year and told the Telegraph: Ive had some quite long conversations with Rishi about AI.

Mr Hester has apologised for making rude comments about Ms Abbott, the first black woman elected to Parliament, but claimed they had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin.

The Prime Minister has insisted the donors remorse should be accepted as he resisted calls to hand back his 10 million donations amid the row.

Ms Abbott on Friday said no Conservative has apologised to her after the emergence of Mr Hesters 2019 verbal attack.

The veteran MP told Channel 4 News: They keep saying that the Hester guy, hes apologised. Hes not apologised. Hes apologised for being rude, whereas in fact he was racist, and hes not apologised for that.

In fact, he was inciting violence. Hes not apologised for that.
Grant Shapps was forced to abandon a trip to Ukraines southern city of Odesa because of a Russian missile threat.

The Defence Secretary had to abort the visit after he was warned by British intelligence that the Russians had become aware of his travel plans, according to a Sunday Times report confirmed by a source close to Mr Shapps.

As he flew to Poland from RAF Northolt last week, he was notified that an armoured convoy carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis narrowly avoided a Russian missile strike while visiting the port city on March 6.

Five people were killed in the explosions, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The news raised the threat level to Mr Shapps safety from substantial to critical, according to the newspaper, which had access to the delegation.

Mr Shapps, travelling with chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and a small team of British officials, took an overnight train from Poland, arriving in Kyiv on March 7 for talks with Mr Zelensky and senior members of his wartime administration.

But the planned onward journey to Odesa was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlins knowledge of it.

Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless and careless, Mr Shapps, who instead travelled back to the UK via Poland, told the Sunday Times.

The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two western leaders, it doesnt matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing?

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: On a recent trip to Ukraine, the Defence Secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons.

The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the Defence Secretarys visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putins aggression.

It was the senior Torys second trip to Ukraine as Defence Secretary and his third since the outbreak of the war in February 2022.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with President Volodymyr Zelensky in January (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

It comes as Mr Zelensky faces waning enthusiasm in the West for supporting Kyiv.

European countries are struggling to find enough weapons and ammunition to send to Ukraine, and US help worth 60 billion dollars (47 billon) is stalled over political differences in Washington.

Republicans loyal to Donald Trump have held up the funding package in Congress for months, and there is little hope of further US funding for Ukraine if the former president is re-elected.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces withdrew from the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka last month, where they had battled a fierce Russian assault for four months despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned.

Mr Shapps said he hoped his visit would serve as a wake-up call to push, persuade and even embarrass the rest of the world into action.

Senior British military figures say western allies including the UK would need to ramp up the scale of investment by hundreds of billions of pounds to outproduce Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has raised defence spending by nearly 70%, according to the Sunday Times.

Mr Shapps this week called for military spending to be increased to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy.

Rishi Sunak has said he wants to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP when economic circumstances allow.

When asked whether the Prime Minister should set a date for increasing defence spending before or at the election, the Defence Secretary told the paper: Yes.
The US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Irish premier has said.

Leo Varadkar is meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House on Sunday, at the end of a week of engagements which involved an earlier bilateral between the two leaders.

Mr Biden said he agreed with the Taoiseachs calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

However, speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Mr Varadkar said there were areas in which the two administrations remain at odds.

He said he made it very clear to Mr Briden that Israels continued military actions in Gaza were not self-defence.

United by history, heritage, and hope  there's not a thing the United States and Ireland can't do together. pic.twitter.com/eQaZkyqPDQ  President Biden (@POTUS) March 16, 2024

Asked about the US continuing to supply Israel with weapons, Mr Varadkar said: Thats something we dont agree with, but the American government is a sovereign government that makes its own decisions.

The Irish leader said the US was working very hard towards a ceasefire, but Mr Biden has stopped short of calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

Asked what he wanted to see happen in Gaza, Mr Varadkar said: The most important and most urgent thing is the need for a ceasefire so that the killing can stop, so that the hostages can go home, so that food and medicine can get into the people that need it in Gaza.

Once that happens, we would hope that it becomes possible to build a more permanent ceasefire.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, US President Joe Biden, and Speaker Mike Johnson leave after the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on Capitol Hill (Niall Carson/PA)

I think everyone agrees that Hamas cant be part of the governing of any Palestinian territory given whats happened on October 7, but we dont believe that it should be occupied by Israel.

We certainly dont believe it should be resettled by Israel. We believe it should be handed back over to Palestinian civilian control and unlike was the case since 2005, it shouldnt be blocked by Israel.

Mr Varadkar rejected an assertion that Ireland was seen as weak on both Israels right to defend itself as well as support for Ukraine.

He said: What Ive been encouraged by both here and then also in meeting recently in Europe is  if anything  people kind of encouraging us to stick by our stance and take the position that were taking.

Today, as we celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland, we also look forward. Heres to another century defined by shared values and strong friendships.  President Biden (@POTUS) March 15, 2024

And I do think that a lot of people in America and across Europe agree with the position that were taking.

Certainly on Ukraine, I think its recognised that Ireland has been a very strong supporter of Ukraine.

We dont provide military aid, but we help them in every other way imaginable, whether its accepting refugees, whether its financial support, non-lethal military aid, loans.

On Sunday, Mr Varadkar will officially gift Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock as part of a long-running tradition for St Patricks Day.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon (Niall Carson/PA)

On Friday, the Irish premier met the US President for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

The two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Asked afterwards if he believed Mr Biden was fit for an election campaign, Mr Varadkar said: I do and hes in very good form, very engaged and very sharp.

The Taoiseach said he did not believe that he would be attending a mass with the president on Sunday which had been proposed in early discussions of the itinerary for the week.

However, he added that he would have been happy to attend if there was such an invite.
Workers have made good progress on the M25 in Surrey amid the motorways first planned daytime closure.

The five-mile stretch of the motorway between junctions 10 and 11 was closed in both directions at 9pm on Friday and remains inaccessible until 6am on Monday while a bridge is demolished and a new gantry installed.

Concerns had been raised that thousands of drivers would be stuck in gridlocked traffic over the weekend during the unprecedented closure on the south-west of the orbital route, with one councillor calling it a nightmare.

Gantry installed overnight and works remain on schedule. The #M25 remains closed in both directions between J10 and J11. Please consider alternative routes and only travel on the #M25 and diversion route if necessary. pic.twitter.com/C43iRVO9So  National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) March 17, 2024

Congestion stretched for two miles on Saturday morning, according to National Highways South-East (NHSE), and the estimated average journey time through the diversion route was 25 minutes.

Amanda Boote, of Woking Borough Council, told the PA news agency that traffic along the new route through the towns of Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw was not as bad as feared.

NHSE said on Sunday morning its work remains on schedule as it shared an image on X, formerly Twitter, of the new gantry being guided in place with a crane.

On Saturday night, the organisation said it had made good progress during the first 24 hours of work.

It is the first planned daytime closure of the M25  which encircles London  since it opened in 1986.

We made good progress during the first night of the #M25 J10 to J11 weekend closure. We will again work throughout the night to continue the demolition and gantry installations. There are minimal delays in the area at this time. pic.twitter.com/ElYzgQP4Df  National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) March 16, 2024

Some locals visited the empty motorway to take selfies.

An 11.5-mile diversion route has been created to direct traffic along A roads.

South East Coast Ambulance Service, which covers Surrey, urged drivers to clear the way for ambulances ahead of a challenging weekend for crews.

Fiona and Patrick Potter, residents of West Byfleet take a selfie on the Parvis Road bridge in Byfleet (Yui Mok/PA)

Business owners in areas along the diversion route have voiced fears in anticipation of the traffic disruption.

Mark Pollak, owner of Billy Tong, which caters for events and sells biltong at markets, told PA he expects to see 50% of the firms turnover for the weekend go down the drain.

The M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends between junctions nine and 11.

This includes many airline passengers travelling to, from and between the UKs two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

Four more daytime closures of the M25 will take place up to September.

The project, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes at junction 10, which is one of the UKs busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.
A suspect is facing murder and other charges in connection with an early Saturday Indianapolis nightclub shooting that left one person dead and five others injured.

Nicholas Fulk, 25, was arrested around 10 a.m. Saturday, the Indianapolis Metro Police Department said in a news release.

On Wednesday, Fulk was charged with one count of murder, three counts of aggravated battery, two counts of battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, according to a charging document.

When reached by CNN, the public defenders office representing Fulk had no comment. Fulk is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on April 17, a spokesperson for the Marion County prosecutors office told CNN.

The shooting was reported inside the business in the Broad Ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis around 1:20 a.m. Saturday, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police North District Commander Matthew Thomas said.

Officers who arrived at the scene found five men with gunshot wounds and provided first aid until emergency medical services arrived and transported them to a hospital, the police department said. One of the men was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital.

Police later learned a sixth gunshot victim from the incident had transported himself to an area hospital.

All the wounded victims are expected to survive, police said in a release.

Detectives in IMPDs Real-Time Crime Center assisted in the investigation by using smart policing technology, such as city and B-Link cameras, automatic license plate readers and various investigative techniques, the police department said in the release.

Due to their persistent efforts, they were able to identify Fulk as the alleged suspect, the release stated.

All it takes is one person with a firearm and a bad attitude to ruin the peace and fun that is normally enjoyed by all of our visitors, Thomas said.

Authorities reviewed video footage of the incident and spoke with witnesses Saturday.

Police Chief Christopher Bailey referred to the shooting incident as deeply disturbing, in a statement on Facebook.

The responsibility to provide a safe experience inside these businesses relies on the individual managers and operators. While the majority of establishments in Broad Ripple, including bars and restaurants, adhere to the agreed upon community standards, some do not and should be held accountable, Bailey said.

It takes all of us working together to provide safe communities for all, the chief added.

The Indianapolis incident was one of 77 mass shootings to unfold in the United States within the first three months of 2024, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Like CNN, the nonprofit defines a mass shooting as one during which four or more people  not including the shooter  are hurt or killed.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Chris Boyette, Braden Walker and Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Lee Kyung-min

Hana Bank opened Hana 50+ Culture Bank, a space dedicated to enriching cultural and educational experiences for middle-aged citizens in Daejeon, the bank said Sunday.

Opened March 15, the Daejeon branch in Daeheung-dong enables Hana customers and residents of the city to engage in a variety of financial services and educational courses. They can see old movies and listen to music with a certain sentimental value in special areas designed to cater to the needs of the age group.

The branch houses a Healing Lounge space open to Hana customers and Daejeon residents. Customized culture spaces provide LP records, cassette tapes and players as well as a movie room.

Also housed is a support center for the citys middle-aged citizens. They can seek career lessons and partake in career development courses and training. Leisure activities and health education programs are also available.

Hana plans to provide education and counseling services encompassing digital education, asset management and post-retirement plans.

The bank aims to elevate the branch as a shared space for middle-aged and older adults to communicate and celebrate life after retirement.

Hanas Daejeon branch with 50 years of history has undergone a renovation to better serve the hard-working age group, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo said.

We will further develop the space into a popular cultural spot representing the city of Daejeon for visitors from across the country to enjoy their stay," he added.

Hana Financial Group, the holding firm of Hana Bank, continues its job creation efforts, as illustrated by training programs launched in August of 2022 to help people in their 40s and 50s seek reemployment. In January, it opened a digital job center for the age group jointly with Seoul's Gangnam District, to support them in search for their second life.
MIAMI BEACH  A court battle was underway Saturday afternoon after three South Beach nightclubs decided to challenge Miami Beach's newly instated midnight curfew to crack down on spring break. Despite their efforts, the judge denied their request.

According to CBS News Miami's news partners at The Miami Herald, who first reported the complaint, Miami Beach city spokesperson Melissa Berthier confirmed Saturday that it was filed by the nightclubs M2, Mynt Lounge and Exchange.

The Herald reported that a court hearing was held at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Downtown Miami, where city manager Alina Hudak was on the witness stand and being questioned by attorney Ben Kuehne, who represented the nightclubs.

Miami Beach City Commissioner Alex Fernandez was very outspoken about the situation.

"We have implemented the strictest measures ever to protect life and property from stampedes, the shootings, the stabbings, we've seen in past years," he told CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench.

Fernandez had strong words as the City of Miami Beach imposed a midnight curfew for this weekend, which impacts the area between 23rd Street and Government Cut.

"There are shared sacrifices we make as a community to protect the life and property from criminals that we see year after year," he added. "How do you put a price on an innocent life  the life of a spring breaker?"

But, the curfew is taking its toll on nightclubs, said Michael Witt, the operator of M2.

"In lost revenue  up to half a million dollars this weekend," he told D'Oench.

The Herald reported that the nightclubs filed the complaint around 11:30 p.m. Friday  nearly 30 minutes before the midnight curfew began  in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, according to a copy of the document obtained by the newspaper.

The curfew "unduly punishes and penalizes the plaintiffs' lawful business operations and was done without reasonable or appropriate advance warning and in the absence of good cause," the complaint stated. Also, several big events at the clubs had planned for this weekend will be canceled, the filing noted, adding that the venues had collectively welcomed thousands of patrons so far this month "without causing any harm to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, residents, and visitors of Miami Beach," the Herald reported.

The nightclubs' legal challenge sought to nullify the curfew for the rest of the weekend. M2's Witt, along the owners of Exchange and Mynt Lounge, all shared the same concerns of losing business for themselves and their staff.

"It was really to defend, most importantly, our employees," Romain Zago, the owner of Mynt Lounge, told D'Oench. "They need the income [because] after COVID, they are all suffering and struggling."

At a court hearing on Saturday, Judge David Miller denied the nightclubs' challenge, saying that Miami Beach officials acted in good faith and that the curfew did not cause irreparable harm as it was tailored to allow for some businesses to continue.

The city noticed larger crowds starting Thursday night, and last year during spring break, there were two deadly shootings and nearly 500 arrests made. The third weekend of March has had a problematic past for Miami Beach, marked by several other incidents related to spring break revelers.

City officials had warned residents, visitors and businesses since last year that a curfew was likely during spring break this year, the Herald noted. When curfew enforcement began on Friday, it went smoothly and police almost had the entire strip cleared by 12:15 a.m.

"We are grateful to the judge for understanding the importance of the curfew," said Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak. "We know this weekend has been an issue, so we are all here to protect and make sure we do everything to protect the public."

Kuehne told D'Oench that the hearing was "necessary" because it showed how to hold city leaders accountable.

"What it shows is that every government cannot just run amok and essentially close down businesses without having some individual review," he said. "There is no doubt that [Judge Miller] and the city heard that there are businesses that are lawful members of the community and that we think these measures are too extreme."

The curfew  11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m.  is just in place for this weekend. According to the Herald, this is the fourth year in a row that Miami Beach has declared a curfew during spring break; however, unlike past years, the 2024 curfew was imposed despite a relatively quiet March so far thanks to the city's "break up with spring break" campaign.

Home buying might be cheaper for millions soon as realtor association settles lawsuits

Jim Gaffigan raises a glass to bourbon

Proposed California bill would ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos in schools
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)

Beverley Mitchell saw a bunch of happy faces smiling back at her over the weekend when she reunited with the cast of 7th Heaven at 90s Con  a weekend-long event where fans come face-to-face with stars from their favorite 90s shows.

Beyond grateful for these crazy humans that I call family! Mitchell, 43, who played Lucy Camden on the former WB/CW show wrote via an Instagram video on Friday, March 15.

She continued, To say that this was needed was an understatement, my heart is full and I have been so blessed to love and laugh with them! Thank you @thats4ent for [bringing] us together for #90scon.

The cute clip was set to Connor Prices song Grateful and showed images of fellow former costars Catherine Hicks (Annie), Barry Watson (Matt), David Gallagher (Simon) and Mackenzie Rosman (Ruthie)  who all made the trip to Hartford, Connecticut. Among the fun snapshots included was one of the TV siblings on the purple carpet, one of the cast posing next to a giant heart statue, several selfies and a group shot of the cast out and about at night exploring the city.

Absent from the photo reel was Jessica Biel, who played Mary Camden, Lucys older sister. However, Mitchell let fans know that even though Biel, 42, wasnt physically present, she was there virtually and got to connect with the group over the phone during the event.

We even FaceTimed @jessicabiel, Mitchell explained. There is a whole lotta love in this group.

While heading to the convention on Thursday, March 14, Mitchell and Gallagher, 39, happened to be on the same flight, though their ride wasnt as smooth as they had imagined itd be.

Guess what? Were on our way to HartfordI dont know if were going to make it, Mitchell revealed on Instagram.

7th Heaven Cast Through the Years: Where Are They Now?

Gallagher tried to be optimistic and added, Were going to make it.

Were going to make it, but it might come down to plans, trains and automobiles, so 90 Con, were comingnot sure when well get there, Mitchell chimed in.

She later shared an update to let fans know what was going on.

We didnt quite make it. We made it to Washington, [D.C.], Mitchell shared in another Instagram video as Gallagher laughed in disbelief of the situation. We are needing to go to Connecticut and we had two options: to spend the night and get on an early flight or.

Road trip, Gallagher chimed in. I tried. I tried to get her to do a road trip, everybody.

Mitchell confessed she was not a fan of the far drive and nixed Gallaghers idea. Its a seven and a half hour drive. I dont think hes ready for the backseat driver in me.

The two then started to laugh, trying to remain positive.

OITNB's Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Brooks Reunite With a Red Carpet Hug

But eventually, hopefully, well make it at some point to Connecticut, Mitchell said, adding, We have five hours before our early flight. So, stay tuned for the adventures of Bev and David! Cause its quite, quite an adventure so far, guys.

Thankfully, the duo made it and were able to spend time with their 7th Heaven cast.

7th Heaven wrapped in 2007 after an 11-season run with 243 episodes. The series followed a reverends family, which included seven children, living in the fictional town of Glen Oak, California.

Stephen Collins, who played family patriarch Eric Camden, was not in attendance nor was he invited. Collins, now 76, admitted to molesting underage girls in a 2012 therapy session that was recorded without his knowledge. The recording leaked in 2014, and Collins admitted his crimes later that year in an interview with Katie Couric.

This came out. I didnt choose this to come out, Collins said at the time. I didnt want to have to deal with these things publicly.

He added, I had dealt with them very, very strongly, and committedly, in my private life, but I think, Im a human being with flaws and Ive done everything to address it.
Saturday March 9 dawned as a gusty gray morning in Charleston, S.C. with thunderstorms rolling across the historic city and daggers of lightning lighting up the skies. Just after 10 AM, Rob Turkewitz was sitting in a tony lawyers office downtown, waiting for his client John Barnett to testifyand further his crusade for safety in the skies. My co-counsel Brian Knowles and I were gathered around a conference table alongside Boeing's in-house counsel, and its trial lawyer from Ogletree, Deakens. It was in Ogletrees offices, much fancier than ours, what youd call a grand door.

Turkewitz wasnt totally surprised that Barnett was late for this round of depositions. Downtown Charleston was flooded by one of the worst rainstorms Ive ever seen, he recalls. Id called Johns room at the Holiday Inn where he was staying at 9 AM to see if he wanted me to pick him up, but he didnt answer.

Turkewitz was especially buzzed about this session because Barnett was slated to continue the account of the production gaffes hed allegedly witnessed up-close on the Boeing factory floor, a dramatic narrative that hed started the previous day. Barnett, 62, had worked from 2011 to 2017 as a quality manager at the North Charleston plant that assembles the 787 Dreamliner. In that role, hed alerted senior managers to what he called violations of legally required processes and procedures, and maintained that his warnings were being ignored. In the years following his departure, Barnett emerged as arguably the most renowned Boeing whistleblower, recounting the quality abuses hed claimed to have witnessed to multiple media outlets.

Barnetts charges had drawn fresh attention in the wake of the January 737 MAX door-plug blowout on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 just after takeoff from Portland, Ore., followed by a string of other mishaps on Boeing aircraft. In interviews after the big bang over Portland, Barnett had been scathing in his criticism of Boeings safety lapses, and attributed the catastrophe to the types of sloppy practices he said that hed witnessed and flagged years earlier at the North Charleston plant.

In the action that brought Barnett across the table from Boeings attorneys in Charleston, he was suing the planemaker in a so-called AIR21 case. His charge: Boeing had violated U.S. Department of Labor statutes stipulating that its unlawful to retaliate against a whistleblower. Barnett was seeking compensation for allegedly being forced to retire ten years before he planned to leave Boeing, getting blackballed from the promotions he deserved because of what he argued were justified warnings that his bosses failed to heed, and undergoing harassment on the job that left him suffering from PTSD and panic attacks.

The previous day, Barnett had been on a roll as a video camera recorded the event. John testified for four hours in questioning by my co-counsel Brian, says Turkewitz. This was following seven hours of cross examination by Boeings lawyers on Thursday. He was really happy to be telling his side of the story, excited to be fielding our questions, doing a great job. It was explosive stuff. As Im sitting there, Im thinking, This is the best witness Ive ever seen. At one point, says Turkewitz, the Boeing lawyer protested that Barnett was reciting the details of incidents from a decade ago, and specific dates, without looking at documents. As Turkevitz recalls the exchange, Barnett fired back, "I know these documents inside out. Ive had to live it."

That Friday, Barnetts testimony ended at around 5 PM, and the parties reconvened an hour later. John was really tired and didnt want to testify any more that day, says Turkewitz. He wanted to drive home to Louisiana starting that evening, as he had planned. He'd told his mom that he'd be home on Sunday, and it took him two days to drive home. I suggested that we break for a week or two. But the Boeing lawyers took the position that no more depositions could be taken until Barnett completed his testimony. Turkewitz didn't think the judge would stand for that restriction. "We had a March 30 deadline for completing the depositions, there was a list of 20 witnesses from both sides. On our list were around eight witnesses who'd worked with John and backed his eyewitness version of events at the plant. We knew Boeing would file a motion for summary judgment, and we wanted to lay out through John's testimony that he was subjected to a hostile work environment. (Boeing did not respond to a request to comment for this story.)

For Barnett, passion for the cause surmounted the fatigue from two days of intense questioning. According to Turkewitz, he told the lawyers, Lets just get it done. Ive already been waiting for seven years.

Tragedy in the Holiday Inn parking lot as the Boeing whistleblower is found dead

Shortly after 10 AM, Turkewitz called the Holiday Inn. I asked if hed checked out, and they said no, he recounts. I asked to be put through to the room, and the phone just kept ringing, so I then asked that they check the room. They Holiday Inn folks said His stuffs packed up, but hes not there. Turkewitz asked that they look for his car, a Clemson Orange Dodge Ram truck. "The manager came back and told me, 'His truck is still there, and we called EMS. I can't tell you anything more.'" At that point, the lawyers around the conference table feared that Barnett could have suffered a heart attack.

Turkewitz then called the manager back, and she said that she couldn't provide any additional information, and that a police officer would give him a call. Around 20 minutes later, at exactly 11:11, he got the call. "The officer asked whom I was, and how many times I'd called John that morning," says Turkewitz. "I asked her, 'Is John okay? Can you at least tell us if he's alive?" The officer replied, "I'm sorry, but I can't provide that information to you." Recalls Turkewitz, Thats when I knew that this is not good.

At that point, all four attorneys drove to the Holiday Inn to witness a parking lot crowded with volunteer emergency vehicles and police cars. "John's truck was blocked from view by emergency vehicles. I was asked to keep a distance," says Turkewitz. According to press reports, Barnett was found in the Ram with a silver pistol still in his hand, his finger on the trigger. The Charleston County Coroner ruled the cause of death as a self-inflicted wound, and a police report disclosed that a white piece of paper resembling a note lay in plain view on the passenger seat. Its contents havent been disclosed.

To Turkewitz and Knowles, Barnetts lawyers and friends for seven years, the tragedy was incomprehensible. He was in a good mood the evening before, so looking forward to testifying on Saturday, says Turkewitz. Although he was tired, I saw no sign he was in distress. Turkewitz and Knowles said in a statement, We didnt see any indication that he would take his own life. No one can believe it. The Charleston police need to investigate this fully and accurately and tell the public. No detail can be left unturned. Two detectives from the City of Charleston Police Department are currently conducting an investigation into Barnett's death.

The Barnett family, which includes his older brother Rodney, issued a statement reading that He was looking forward to having his day in court and hoping it would force Boeing to change its culture. He was suffering from PTSD and anxiety attacks as a result of being subjected to a hostile work environment at Boeing, which we believe led to his death.

Boeing released the following statement: We are saddened by Mr. Barnetts passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends. Boeing didn't provide further comment on Barnett or the issues he raised beyond referring Fortune to that statement.

Barnett displayed a fun, fuselage-sized personality, and sharp skills as a quality manager

Barnett grew up the youngest of four brothers raised by a loving and firm mother in the Crossroads region of Louisiana. He lived near Seattle for twenty-five years of his 32 year Boeing career while working at the Everett plant that produced the 747, 767, and 777. After leaving Boeing, he settled back home alongside an extended family that included his brother Rodney and cherished nieces in Pineville, La., a hamlet northwest of Baton Rouge that bills itself as a haven where southern hospitality abounds. While in Washington, Barnett relished racing stock cars at the Evergreen Speedway. The lead photo on the funeral home tribute page displays Barnett posing before a lime green roadster, helmet tucked under one arm.

Nicknamed Swamp Dawg by his racing buddies, Barnett sported a alligator-jaws tatoo on his right upper torso, shoulder-length brown hair, and an adjoining walrus mustache and goatee. A photo posted online shows him joyfully piloting a speedboat in a form-fitting cutoff nylon tee-shirt, sporting aviator shades. Friends and family recall his infectious boisterous laugh, and on the tribute site, his nieces wrote that theyd tagged him as Funcle, short for Fun Uncle. Barnett wed for the second time after moving to Pineville. He married Diane Johnson, his best friend, says Turkewitz. She died of brain cancer 18 months ago. They met at Boeing, where Diane worked at both the Everett and later the North Charleston plant as a top liaison with the FAA. According to friends, she and John loved donning overalls and getting messy tuning the engine on his hot rods.

According to Turkewitz, Barnett was the most decent person you could imagine. He was constantly doing things for people. He never met a stranger.

During his years in Everett, Barnett was impressed by Boeings attention to quality and safety. When I worked on the 747, 767, and 777 in Everett, those are beautiful planes, and the people there fully understood what it took to build a safe and airworthy aircraft, Barnett stated for a 2019 story in Corporate Crime Reporter. In 2011, according to Turkewitz, a senior Boeing quality manager specifically recruited Barnett as a prime force in imposing the same types of processes and procedures at the giant new 787 plant in North Charleston that had been so successful in Everett.

John Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager, at his home in Goose Creek, S.C., on April 6, 2019.

In North Charleston, Barnett sees shockingly broken safeguards and culture, and tries to fix it

In the Corporate Crime Reporter interview, Barnett discussed both the vast gulf in culture between North Charleston and Everett, and three major safety issues that he uncovered, and that in his telling, management not only ignored, but punished him for reporting. The entire team came downfrom the military side, he said, referring to the company's defense business. Their motto was, were in Charleston and we can do anything we want. They started pressuring us not to document defects, to work outside procedures, to allow defective material to be installed without being corrected. They just wanted to push planes out the door and make the cash register ring. Emblematic of the blowsy mindset, he noted in a later interview, Was that the whole place smelled of French fries.

The first problem, he related, involved clusters of razor-sharp, titanium slivers that fell onto the surface that supported the electronic equipment controlling power to the airplane. These more or less three-inch shards peeled off titanium threads when workers installed the titanium bolts that secured the floor board above the surface supporting the power gear in these fly-by-wire planes. Barnett filed a complaint with management. The FAA then performed multiple audits and found the slivers in all ten planes inspected. The FAA blocked Boeing from delivering planes with shards, but according to Barnett did not consider that the scraps posed a safety issue on the 800 planes already delivered (Barnett claimed that the issue could have triggered a catastrophic event).

The second issue involved the emergency oxygen equipment. Barnetts team found that 25% of the systems didnt work properly, so that when the masks fell from the ceiling in the event of an accident that caused decompression, the cylinders would fail to send oxygen to the passengers. According to Barnett, management stonewalled on his report. He also alerted the FAA. Boeing later disclosed that its own investigation revealed that some of the oxygen masks were not working.

Third, Barnett states that Boeing wasnt keeping proper track of parts shipped from suppliers that it found defective. Many of them were lost or shown to have been installed on the airplane without being repaired, he says in the Corporate Crime piece. We didnt know where a lot of them went. Some of them were significant structural componentssuch as on the aft pressure bulkheads. Barnett says that he filed a whole series of internal warnings on the defective parts problem, first by discussing it with managers, then going to HR, and finally lodging a complaint to the ethics group.

After filing his complaints, Barnett was reassigned to a kind of exile to a section called Material Review Segregation Area or MRSA, ironically the storage site for those non-conforming parts. Barnett claims that he fought a rear-guard battle to prevent workers from accessing those defective components (when shipments of new parts were slow, for example) and installing them in the planes. They isolated me from the other quality managers, he says. I was basically by myself. They were constantly denigrating me. I could do nothing right. My complaints seemed to go into a black hole.

Barnetts managers, in his words, also reprimanded him for documenting process violations, and told him that the company didnt want him putting problems in writing.

I was going through health issues and having anxiety attacks, he explains. I had gone as far as I could go inside the company. I had to go outside. In early 2017 while in the wilderness of MRSA, Barnett filed an AIR21 whistleblower complaint with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He cited the ignored safety complaints as well as Boeings alleged hostility resulting from his drumbeat of warnings. He also charge the Boeing blocked him from being transferred from the North Charleston plant. Weeks later, his health had deteriorated to the point where he resigned. His doctor told him that if he didnt quit his job at Boeing, he could die of a heart attack, says Turkewitz.

The final interview

As it turned out, OSHA found the facts presented in Barnetts case insufficient to rule against Boeing. OSHA is handicapped because they dont have the authority to subpoena documents, says Turkewitz. In 2021, Boeing issued a statement that read, Boeing has in no way negatively impacted Mr. Barnetts ability to continue whatever chosen profession he chooses. Barnett and his legal team filed an amended complaint to the Department of Labor, still under the AIR21 whistleblower retaliation statute, seeking more than $1 million in damages for lost income from his claim of being effectively forced from his job and denied promotion, and additional compensation for emotional distress, the case in which hed testified in the days before his death.

It's important to emphasize that the two fatal 737 crashes that killed 346 passengers and crew in 2018 and 2019, and the Portland accident, all happened on 737s, not on the 787, the aircraft Barnett worked on in North Charleston. Still, Barnett viewed the 737 program as suffering from precisely the same ills as he says he witnessed on the 787 production. During his last media interview with TMZ in late January, Barnett discussed the quality regime that led to the disaster on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. This is not a 737 problem, this is a Boeing problem, he intoned. I know the FAA has done due diligence and inspections. My concern is for the condition of the rest of the plane. What Ive seen with the door plug is what Ive seen with the rest of the plane in terms of jobs not being completed properly, inspection steps removed, issues being ignored. The 737 and 787 programs have really embraced the theory that quality is overhead and non-value added.

For Turkewitz, Barnett's death is a huge loss in the fight for protecting airborne passengers and crew, as well as a tragedy for his friends and family. "On that last day, John was looking so forward to getting the case behind him and living a life dedicated to promoting airline safety," says Turkewitz. As for the case against Boeing, Turkewitz insists that Barnetts tragic passing may not mark the death of his late clients heroic campaign. Were planning to substitute Johns estate, his family, for John, says Turkewitz. The Funcle whose elan seemed to fill the pool where he splashed happily with his nieces is gone. But with every new mishap at Boeing, the legacy of this maverick-whistleblower rises in stature.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Almost two years after her 5-year-old sons body was found in a suitcase along an Indiana highway, the mother wanted on a murder warrant was arrested in California, police said Friday.

Dejaune Ludie Anderson has been sought since a warrant was issued in October 2022 for her arrest in the death of Cairo Jordan.

Months earlier, an Indiana mushroom hunter found a suitcase that held the remains of her son Cairo, officials have said. The Las Vegas-themed suitcase was discovered in a wooded area along a road in rural Washington County in April 2022.

Anderson was arrested Thursday night in Arcadia, California, a city east of Los Angeles, Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls said at a news conference.

Its still a sorrowful, a somber moment in the investigation, Huls said. But its a thing weve looked forward to and anticipated for almost two years now.

In October 2022, a Washington County judge issued an arrest warrant for Anderson on charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.

boy in suitcase case murder (WAVE)

A warrant was also issued for another woman, Dawn Coleman, who was later arrested, convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but Anderson remained on the loose.

That changed this week after an Indiana State Police detective received information from a concerned citizen, that eventually led to Andersons arrest in Arcadia, Huls said.

Anderson was being held in a Los Angeles jail Friday, Huls said. It was not clear Friday night if she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

Authorities will seek to bring Anderson back to Indiana to face charges.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection to the death of Cairo, Huls said.

Huls called Cairos death tragic and horrific.

The childs body was found inside a closed hard case suitcase with a distinctive Las Vegas design on its front and back. (Indiana State Police)

Huls said that detectives worked tirelessly and that police were confident that Anderson would one day be arrested.

To have the break, the information that they needed  that we knew would come. We did know that this day was going to come, he said.

Coleman, the other woman charged, was arrested in 2022 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. She was sentenced in November to 25 years in prison.

An autopsy found that Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, state police have said.

The boy was buried in Indiana, and the community gave him a funeral and a headstone, Huls said.

Theres still flowers to this day that are placed at his gravesite, and people praying for him and his family, Huls said.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Sunday, March 17. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Monday, March 18.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday denied claims that he is an obstacle to peace in Gaza and dismissed as "totally inappropriate" Sen. Chuck Schumer's call for Israelis to hold elections to vote Netanyahu from power.

"It's inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership," Netanyahu said. "That is something the Israeli public does on its own, we're not a banana republic."

Schumer, D-NY, the nation's highest-ranking Jewish elected official and long a supporter of Israel, said last week that "nobody expects Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the things that must be done to break the cycle of violence, preserve Israels credibility on the world stage and work toward a two-state solution.

Netanyahu, in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" hours after a massive protest in Tel Aviv demanding his resignation, said the only government Israel and the U.S. should be working to bring down is "Hamas tyranny that murdered over a thousand Israelis and dozens of Americans" during the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli border communities.

Netanyahu also said Israelis support the war and even the plan to storm the crowded city of Rafah to destroy what the Israeli military says are the last remaining Hamas battalions.

"This is a wakeup call to Sen. Schumer," Netanyahu said. "It's not a fringe governent, it represents the policies supported by the majority of the people. If Sen. Schumer opposes these policies, he is not opposing me, he is opposing the people of Israel."

Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group block a road during a rally calling for their release, in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 16, 2024.

Developments:

 Democratic Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, who is Jewish, defended Schumer's statements about Netanyahu but said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that "its up to the Israelis to determine their own leaders.

 Israeli military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said in a statement that much has been achieved in the war but warned that "we still have a long way to go until the war goals are achieved.

Photos: The first day of Ramadan in war-torn Gaza as millions struggle to survive

EU chief says Rafah invasion must be avoided 'at all costs'

Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's commitment to commence a ground campaign in the southern city of Rafah, saying Hamas "has to be eliminated." Rafah is now home to 1.4 million Palestinians, including many who fled there from fighting elsewhere in Gaza. He acknowledged the offensive would take several weeks and said plans are being put in place to protect civilians.

The Biden administration and most world leaders have urged Netanyahu to abandon the plan, saying too many civilians would be killed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at a joint press conference Sunday in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, said Israels planned Rafah invasion "needs to be avoided at all costs.

Netanyahu also said Israel will keep trying to secure a deal that would see the release of hostages in exchange for a six-week pause in fighting. Hamas has balked, demanding an end to the war and Israeli troops withdrawn from Gaza. Netanyahu's position has sparked outrage from some family members of the hostages, saying the government's firm stance has stalled the talks.

Palestinian foreign ministry accuses Israel of 'blind revenge'

Netanyahu's almost daily threats to invade Rafah pose a blatant challenge to the American and international community to protect civilians, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Blind revenge" for the Oct. 7 assault on Israel dominates the Israeli government and threatens the security and stability of the region and the world, the statement warned.

The ministry called for a steady flow of humanitarian aid and a binding U.N. cease-fire resolution. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed a letter last week pledging to use U.S. weapons according to international law and to allow U.S.-supported humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Palestinian statement said Gallant "underestimates the world" and signed the pledge but continues to commit "massacres."

"Netanyahu's massacres strike at the foundations of the international legal and humanitarian system, plunging it into rampant moral chaos," the statement said.

Trump backs Israel, chastises Schumer, Biden

Former President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed support for Israel's war in Gaza but said Israel must "finish it up and do it quickly." Trump, speaking Sunday on Fox News Channels "MediaBuzz," chastised Schumer and President Joe Biden, saying they and other critics of the Israeli offensive are diminishing the beating Israel took Oct. 7.

Biden has repeatedly criticized Israel for the number of civilian casualties Palestinians are experiencing. He has urged Israel not to commence a ground offensive in Rafah until a legitimate plan to protect civilians is in place. But Biden also has repeatedly said he won't abandon Israel. Trump said Israel remains loyal to U.S. Democrats "to a fault" and that Biden cares more about getting votes than protecting Israel.

"I guess he's seeing, you know, the Palestinians and he's seeing the marches, and they are big," Trump said of Biden. "And he says, 'I want to go that way instead of Israel.' ... And all of a sudden he dumped Israel. That's what he's doing. He dumped Israel."

Israeli universities balk at plan to grant soldiers passing grades

A proposed Israeli law designed to help reservists returning to their studies by providing automatic passing grades violates academic independence and should be altered, the heads of Israels leading universities say in a letter to the Knesset Education Committee. The law would require universities to grant a certain number of passing grades on exams and courses to returning reservists, along with some automatic academic credits. Other benefits, including financial grants, depend on the duration and type of reserve duty, with more benefits going to those who served the longest in combat units, the Times of Israel reports.

The proposal "would trample on the authority of higher education institutions the meaning of its passage would be that the Knesset, and not the universities, would determine what a student needs to study in order to receive an academic degree, the Association of University Heads says in the letter that also indicates they schools would not comply with the law.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas updates: Netanyahu blasts Sen. Schumer
Idaho public university students, faculty and visitors can no longer access TikTok on campus internet networks.

Thats after Idaho Gov. Brad Little last week joined more than a dozen other Republican governors in banning the popular social media app from state-owned devices and networks.

Officials at Boise State University and Idaho State University in recent days informed students and faculty that the colleges are required to block access to the app on campus Wi-Fi networks.

Students and student-run clubs can continue to access TikTok on their personal devices using cellular data, the universities said in separate statements.

Little on Wednesday issued an executive order banning the app, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, from state-issued devices and networks. Little said the order would protect Idahoans from security threats posed by the Chinese government. Last month, the FBI warned that Chinese state actors could use the app to spy on Americans.

The communist Chinese government can use TikTok to collect critical information from our state and federal government, Little said in a news release. We are taking this step to protect Idahoans and Americans from the sinister motives of a foreign government that does not share our values and seeks to weaken and manipulate our country.

The order does not apply to the Idaho legislative or judicial branch or K-12 public schools. Those are not state executive agencies, to which the executive order applies, Emily Callihan, the governors spokesperson, said by email.

Executive agencies include the departments of agriculture, commerce, labor, health and welfare, fish and game and others, along with Idaho State Police. Littles order exempts use of the app for bona fide investigatory or law enforcement purposes.

Universities will have to delete TikTok accounts operated by the schools. Some, like a Boise State bookstore account, were still live Monday.

Boise State spokesperson Mike Sharp said it may take a few days to delete all the universitys accounts.
Bola Tinubu at an Ecowas meeting in Abuja, Nigeria - December 2023

After the army seized power in Niger last year, the president of its giant neighbour Nigeria was at the forefront of demands that the junta step down, even warning that the West African bloc could use military force to oust the generals, while imposing tough sanctions and closing the border.

However just eight months later, Bola Tinubu has lifted all those restrictions.

In many ways, it is a huge climbdown for the regional bloc, Ecowas, but it is also personally embarrassing for Mr Tinubu, analysts say.

The warm welcome for the lifting of sanctions in both Niger and across the border in northern Nigeria also shows the unpopularity of his original, hard-line position.

The about-turn was partly because Niger, along with its fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali, hugely increased the stakes by saying they would pull out of Ecowas altogether, raising serious questions about the bloc's future.

The three countries had been suspended from Ecowas, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.

It seems Ecowas realised its waning influence after the trio went ahead to form an alliance, sever ties with France and forge closer relations with Russia.

Nigerian political commentator Sani Bala thinks Mr Tinubu was too hasty eight months ago in trying to prove himself, and act like the "strong man".

He had only been in office two months when Niger's coup took place and had just taken over as chairman of Ecowas.

"It was a huge mistake from President Tinubu to impose those sanctions without fully appreciating the special relationship we have with Niger," the Kano-based analyst told the BBC.

Mr Tinubu's own background - being forced into exile by a military regime in the 1990s - may have influenced his tough stance.

Yet Mr Bala feels he should not have been so quick to act: "He should have consulted widely from the start."

Mahmud Bawa, a political analyst in the city of Kaduna, agrees.

"Bola [Tinubu] is too impulsive. He will act and think later - just like in his inaugural speech," he told the BBC.

This is a reference to how the president announced that Nigeria's long-standing fuel subsidy would be ending - a seemingly off-hand remark during his inauguration ceremony at the end of May last year. It caused chaos at the time and the subsequent huge jump in the price of petrol has had huge knock-on costs for consumers.

"He is facing the consequences now," said Mr Bawa, adding that the president has just had to suspend his student loan scheme, due to start this month, as the legislation was put together too hastily. "So I think this is embarrassing."

Communities along the long Nigeria-Niger border have been worst affected by the sanctions

The fact that the 71-year-old president had initially threatened military action against Niger was what really raised hackles.

Nigeria and Niger share strong ethnic, economic and cultural ties, with families living either side of the border.

Closing the border and cutting off the electricity, which caused blackouts in cities across Niger, also angered many.

Trade suffered - and essentials such as cement could no longer be imported. The landlocked country depends on imports brought in by road.

Hamidou Kalalabuwa, a small-time trader in Diffa, a city in south-eastern Niger on the border with Nigeria, said poor mainly Muslim communities on both sides had suffered most.

"This is amazing news and even more special coming in the Ramadan month of fasting," he told the BBC.

"In Hausa we have a saying 'bayan wuya sai dadi', which translates as 'after suffering comes relief'. This is a relief," he said.

In Nigeria, business in the northern city of Kano - an economic hub for the region - was greatly affected because of the sanctions.

The absence of businessmen from Niger, often in town to buy products to export, was keenly felt.

Kano property developer Auwalu Yakasai is over the moon about Mr Tinubu's U-turn - given that the economy is suffering on multiple fronts.

"It is good news and my hope is that the economy benefits and gets better," he told the BBC.

This joyous response from both sides may give Nigeria's president some reprieve, Mr Bala says.

"Niger has always been Nigeria's friend and this move will go a long way to repair the damaged relationship."

You may also be interested in:
Photo: Members of the Board of Tea Experts meet to taste teas, 1947; Getty

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"I see no reason," the late Sen. Harry Reid (DNev.) once declared on the Senate floor, "why those in this country who enjoy drinking tea need someone else to tell them what tastes good."

Yet for nearly 100 years that is exactly what the government did, thanks to one of the strangest agencies ever to be a part of the federal bureaucracy.

In addition to the usual beverage regulations aimed at ensuring proper storage and safe handling, imported tea was required for decades to pass a literal taste test before it could be sold in the United States. The task fell to a group of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appointees, who would gather annually in a converted Navy warehouse in Brooklyn to smell, slosh, sip, and spit the various oolongs, greens, and Earl Greys that tea merchants sought to sell to Americans.

This was the federal Board of Tea Experts.

The board's members would taste dozens of teas over the course of several days. The process was more an art than a science. According to a 1989 Washington Post profile, there was no uniform method for tasting. Some board members worked in silence while others slurped their tea or gargled it loudly. Some preferred to taste the tea hot; others let it cool first. The warehouse where they gathered was outfitted with pictures of old-timey sailing ships, a kitchen sink, several kettles for boiling water, boxes upon boxes of tea, and large windows. The board's then-leader Robert H. Dick told the Post thatto properly inspect the tea, "I have to have a north light."

When Reid voiced his objection to the tea board in 1995, the agency had already survived two decades' worth of efforts to shut it down. Congress finally ended the board's oversight of tea imports a year later, but the federal Board of Tea Experts technically still existed for another 27 years. It was officially terminated on September 19, 2023.

The bizarre history and surprising longevity of the federal tea-tasting board is something of a mixed bag for anyone who wants to see more federal programs iced for good.

On one hand: The board was eventually shut down.

On the other: If it takes nearly 50 years to get rid of something as useless and insignificant as the Board of Tea Experts, what hope can there possibly be to do away with larger governmental entities backed by more powerful special interests? Hardly an election season goes by without some (usually Republican) presidential hopefuls promising to abolish this department or that agencythe Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency are perennial favorites. Are those efforts doomed before they begin? Will those promises always be empty?

The weird tale of the Board of Tea Experts holds a variety of lessons for anyone interested in shrinking the size and scope of government. It's a warning about the stickiness of bad ideas, about an inertia that can limit even the smallest attempts at trimming the state.

"This is the reason people are upset about government," Reid said in that 1995 Senate floor speech. "What an absolute waste of taxpayers' money is it to have them spend $200,000 a year swishing tea around in their mouths."

A Tea Board Is Born

Anthropologists believe human beings were drinking tea before recorded history. In China, where tea was first cultivated, accounts of the drink's benefits for keeping healthy and staying awake date back at least as far as the Shang dynasty (founded around 1700 B.C.); physical evidence of tea consumption and the tea trade goes back well over 2,000 years.

The relationship between tea and the state is ancient too. According to one Chinese legend, the drink was invented when leaves were accidentally blown into a cup belonging to Emperor Shennong, who was fond of sipping boiled water. The resulting brew tasted good, and presumably gave the mythic ruler one of humanity's first caffeine highs.

Tea made its way to Europe (and then the Americas) in the 1600s. A 1657 listing from a London coffee shop offered tea for sale starting at 16 shillings per poundroughly $190 per pound today. Governments all over the world tried to subsidize and monopolize the tea trade at various times, and many collected bountiful revenue from their citizens' and colonists' addictions.

In the New World, that quest for revenue helped spark a history-altering backlash. The uprising in Boston Harbor on the night of December 16, 1773, wasn't the first tax revolt in American history, and it wouldn't be the last. But it remains the most memorable, and a crucial part of the country's founding mythology. The lingering cultural memory of the Boston Tea Party might have even played an indirect role in the creation of the federal Board of Tea Experts more than a century later.

"Since the British drank a lot of tea, they would pick the best teas, and then a lot of times when they had something they didn't want, that was left over, or maybe even damaged or something, they would fill the order from the United States with some of that tea," Dick, whose tenure on the Board of Tea Experts lasted from 1947 until 1996, explained in a 1984 interview published as part of an internal history of the FDA.

Worried that British tea exporters were taking advantage of their less sophisticated American customers, Congress passed the Tea Importation Act of 1897. The act created a new federal commission charged with ensuring the quality of the nation's tea supplies. But from the start, the board's standards seem to have been quite open to interpretation. When the Tea Importation Act was first passed, it merely said "that the tea should be rejected if it was unfit," Dick explained in that interview. "Well, unfit meant different things to different people."

Over time, tasting standards for different types of tea were put into place. Imported tea had to match the federally approved flavor profiles to be legally sold, with the tasters responsible for setting the standards. After the FDA was created in 1906, the tea-tasting board was rolled into the new agency, which would eventually grow to regulate cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and, of course, food. But the Board of Tea Experts remained a unique element of the FDA's sprawling portfolio. "Tea is the only food or beverage for which the [FDA] samples every lot upon entry for comparison to a standard recommended by a federal board," noted a 1996 analysis from the House of Representatives.

As the Post detailed in its 1989 profile, the annual gathering of the tea-tasters was not meant to identify the best teas or set particularly high standards for what would be allowed into the country. Rather, "the task is to select the worst that are still drinkable" and then use those standards as the basis for what would be permitted to enter the country for the rest of the year. At the height of its vague yet absolute powers, the tea board employed testers based in Boston, New York, and San Francisco; their job was to translate the board's standards into practice. A separate but related entity, the Board of Tea Appeals, provided due process for anyone wronged by the tea-tasters' opinions.

Even with some standards in place, bureaucratic laziness sometimes prevailed. At one point, Dick recalls being told by a then-senior member of the board that "you don't need to look at all of those teas because you can look at the prices and you can tell which is the good tea and which is the bad tea." Too bad consumers couldn't be trusted to do the same.

If the board was protecting consumers, it doesn't seem to have been protecting them from muchthe board rejected less than 1 percent of the teas submitted for approval each year. But Dick argued the mere threatof rejection was a protection.

"If you eliminate the Tea Act then you've got a case of where somebody is going to take chances," Dick said in 1984. "If they have a poor tea, they don't know whether it will be rejected or not, and they don't know whether it would be sampled or not, and they may be tempted to ship it. So, it would make a difference."

There is a long history of domestic industries using made-up or exaggerated concerns about consumer safety to seek political power, then using that power to limit competition or create cartels. It's tempting to project that narrative onto the history of the Board of Tea Experts.

But there's a problem with that theory, says Ryan Young, a senior economist at the pro-market Competitive Enterprise Institute. There was not much of a domestic tea production industry in the 1890s. Even today, the vast majority of tea consumed in the United States comes from abroad, primarily India and China.

There may have been legitimate reasons to worry about the quality of tea being imported into the U.S. at the time the board was created, says Young. But it was private industry, not government, that solved it.

"Back then, groceries were often sold out of crates and barrels, often with no way to know who the producer was or where the product came from," he says. "Brands are an extremely important self-regulation device in markets. They improve trust and accountability, whereas anonymous producers can get away with all sorts of shenanigans."

By the middle of the 20th century, private self-regulation had solved the problem that the Board of Tea Experts was supposed to fix.

But government programs don't just go away when they become obsolete.

Alexander J. Grille, chairman of the Board of Tea Experts, 1961 (Getty)

The Long, Slow Death of the Tea Board

Can drinking tea help you live longer? Some studies suggest as much. Research published in Advances in Nutrition in 2020 found that regular consumption of tea is correlated with a lower risk of death from various cardiovascular issues, including strokes. The study's authors attributed tea drinkers' longer life spans to "flavonoids"a pigment found in many tea leaves that is thought to be a powerful antioxidant.

I know of no peer-reviewed study suggesting government bureaucracies tasked with tea tasting have longer than average life spans. But the available evidence suggests that, indeed, they are quite difficult to kill.

"These tea-tasting people are just like lizards," Sen. Reid declared in 1995, comparing the board to critters he said he'd catch as a kid, ones whose tails would grow back even after they were yanked off. "You grab them and jerk something off and they are right back."

By then, the Board of Tea Experts had survived more than a quarter-century with a target on its back.

The first attempt to eliminate the tea board occurred in 1970, when the Nixon administration tried to redirect the board's budget of $125,000 (almost $1 million today) to other parts of the FDA. Nixon was looking for an easy public relations coup, according to a contemporary New York Times report. Killing off the tea-tasting board would be a symbol of the federal government's commitment to belt tightening, or so he thought.

The tea industry fought for the board's survival, arguing that the president had no power to drain the board's budget unless Congress first repealed the 1897 law that authorized it. With Congress apparently uninterested, Nixon quietly surrendered.

The attempt at least provided one lasting moment of hilarity. While digging through boxes of documents at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in 2021, Ashton Merck, a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University, came across a letter ostensibly mailed from a dormitory at the University of California, Berkeley. The letter writer claimed to represent a group of individuals who were "appalled at [Nixon's] proposal to eliminate one of the few remaining bastions of tradition and culture in this country" and the planned liquidation of Dick's job as the only full-time employee of the board.

The name of this alleged group taking the time to bend the ear of the most powerful man in the world? "The Committee To Keep Dick Tasting."

In the ensuing years, the tea-tasting board routinely turned up on lists put together by groups like Taxpayers for Common Sense as a target for federal budgetary pruning. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan both made half-hearted attempts to kill the board, without success.

In the '90s, Congress finally organized a serious revolt against the board's existence. Reid, an unexpected advocate for shrinking government, took on the role of Sam Adams. In a 1993 speech supporting his bill to cut off funding for the tea-tasting board's expense reimbursements, including a $50 per diem for each member, Reid reached for the obvious metaphor. A "congressional tea party" was necessary, he said, to "dump the tea experts overboard."

The bill passed. But even after losing their per diems and expenses, the board simply poured another cup.

Two years later, Reid aimed to bag the board for good. Working across the aisle with Sen. Hank Brown (RColo.), Reid pushed through a proposal to cut off all taxpayer funding for the board's staff. But that provision was struck from the final version of the bill during a conference committee meeting, following what The Washington Post termed "last-minute lobbying" from the industry.

"It's a sign of how difficult it is in Washington," Brown told The New York Times in September 1995. "Defeating some of this nonsense is going to be a long tough job. The tea board is quite resilient."

At that point, Reid boiled over. No longer content merely to pull the metaphorical tails off the tea bureaucrats, Reid and Rep. Scott Klug (RWis.) drafted bills to repeal the Tea Importation Act of 1897 and abolish the Board of Tea Experts for good. The bill passed both chambers of Congress unanimously and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on April 9, 1996.

The Board of Tea Experts had boiled its last kettle. Or so it appeared. Technically, the tea-tasting board outlived the man who played the biggest role in killing it. Reid died in late 2021, after a long Senate career that culminated in an eight-year stint as majority leader (during which time he battled a congressional Tea Party of a different kind).

Fifteen months after Reid passed away, the federal Board of Tea Experts was finally gone for goodafter existing in a sort of limbo for more than two decades in which it had no members and no budget. Its obituary: a brief September 2023 notice in the Federal Register, which records the doings of the executive branch agencies, announcing that the FDA was removing "the Board of Tea Experts from the Agency's list of standing advisory committees" in accordance with the law passed by Congress in 1996yes, 27 years prior.

Time To Kill

A lot of things happened in American politics during the two and a half decades that the Board of Tea Experts existed in a sort of bureaucratic limbo. One of the more amusing moments took place on a debate stage in Michigan on November 9, 2011, where Gov. Rick Perry of Texas had a political moment for ages.

"And I will tell you, it's three agencies of government when I get there that are gone: Commerce, Education, and the, uh, what's the third one there? Let's see," the presidential hopeful said, awkwardly trying to recall what he wanted to tell you.

This was near the peak of the GOP's Tea Party eraa small-government populist movement that recalled that other, more famous story about the intersection of tea and American politicsand the candidates vying for a chance to challenge President Barack Obama were competing to see who could make the most aggressive promise to slash government.

"You can't name the third one?" asked moderator John Harwood, incredulously. The crowd laughed. Other candidates shouted suggestions. But it was hopeless. "The third one. I can't. Sorry," Perry concluded, before meekly adding, "Oops."

Perry's campaign limped along a little while after the remark, but for all intents and purposes, that was the moment it ended. It was a moment that mattered not only because of the comedy of a polished politician coming unglued on national television, but because it highlighted the humongous gap between Perry's campaign-trail blather and the reality of governing. How could anyone believe he had a workable plan to close entire federal departments when he couldn't even remember his own talking points?

A few years later, then-President Donald Trump appointed Perry to run the Department of Energythe same department Perry couldn't remember he wanted to abolish.

With the annual federal budget deficit now nearing $2 trillion and the national debt reaching unsustainable levels, it's important for politicians to have big goals for cutting government. But ambition means nothing if not backed up with a practical plan of action. That's the difference between Nixon's failed attempt at killing the Board of Tea Experts as a public relations maneuver and Reid's serious, yearslong effort that finally buried it.

Trying to tear down old programs that no longer make senseif they ever didalso cuts against the natural tendency of most politicians.

"Every new president and committee chair wants to make a mark, and so they push to create new programs of their design," says Chris Edwards, a budget policy expert at the Cato Institute. "They don't bother trying to repeal the related old and outdated programs because that would use major political capital they would rather use creating new programs."

The Board of Tea Experts is not the only federal agency or program to be successfully closed or privatized. Edwards points to the Office of Technology Assessment, an internal congressional study committee that produced reports on a wide range of scientific and technological issues for about 20 years before being shuttered in 1995 for being duplicative and unnecessary.

But the vast majority of the traffic is moving in the opposite direction. According to Downsizing the Federal Government, a Cato-affiliated project that Edwards runs to track the sprawling size of the federal government, there were 2,418 grant or subsidy programs on the books this year, more than double the number that existed in 1990.

That's why the best time to plan to close regulatory bodies and other government agencies isn't when they become obviously unnecessaryit's when they are created.

At first, every government agency has some reason for existing, even if it's not a good one. Even the Board of Tea Experts, which was rooted in those late19th century worries about Americans being served subpar tea. Once it's created, regulators and their rules warp markets and create constituencies that benefit from preventing changeincluding the regulators themselves.

In the mid-1980s, Dick was arguing for the tea board's continued relevance by pointing to potential consumer harms that were no longer realistic in a world with grocery stores and extensive private quality-control operations. Nearly 30 years after the Board of Tea Experts was effectively shuttered, there's no indication that Americans are drinking worse teabecause the board and its standards weren't accomplishing anything the market hadn't already sorted out decades ago. And, of course, the FDA still holds the power to regulate tea (as it regulates all food and drink in the United States), even in the absence of a special board tasked with sipping each imported batch.

Is there a way to ensure programs and agencies that have outlived their usefulness are actually shut down? Young of the Competitive Enterprise Institute points to Texas. The state's Sunset Advisory Commission, which periodically reviews government agencies and recommends to the state Legislature when one is no longer serving a purpose, claims to have played a role in abolishing 41 agencies, consolidating another 51, and saving taxpayers more than $1 billion.

With mandatory sunsets, Young says, "ineffective or unneeded agencies can still shut down, even if Congress can't muster up the courage for a vote."

Absent some kind of institutional reform, federal programs only seem to end up on the chopping block when they make an enemy of someone in a powerful position. Without Reid, the Board of Tea Experts might very well be holding its annual tasting session right now.

When any changes do happen on their own, they tend to be incredibly slow.

In October, the Prune Administrative Committeea federal entity that oversees the "handling of dried prunes"took the first step toward abolishing itself after an internal review found that the costs of the board's regulations "outweigh the benefits to industry members."

But it isn't going away for good just yet. No, the committee will continue to exist for at least another seven years, during which time it will issue no rules or regulations. If America survives that wild experiment with ungoverned dried plums, the committee and its parent, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will decide whether to make the arrangement permanent.

"Inertia might be the strongest force in all of politics," says Young. "If it takes 50 years of reform efforts to close down a tea-tasting board, then larger reforms are doomed without some kind of institution-level change

More Wasteful Than the Tea Board?

The Board of Tea Experts was a uniquely silly and superfluous part of the federal bureaucracy. No other product has ever been subjected to literal taste testing by federal officials before it could be legally sold.

Sadly, it is not the only silly or superfluous part of the government. A comprehensive list of pointless and wasteful government programs would be too long to print, but here are six others begging to meet the same fate as the tea board.

(Photos: iStock)

Popcorn Board: Created by Congress to "develop new markets for popcorn and popcorn products." The board funds itself by charging fees to popcorn producersfees that presumably are passed along to popcorn eaters. Maybe that's why it's so expensive at the movie theater? Similar user feefunded boards include the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, the National Mango Board, the National Potato Promotion Board, and the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

Mushroom Council: They say no one wants to see how the sausage of government gets made, but what about the shit it's grown in? A part of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Mushroom Council is supposed to "maintain and expand existing mushroom markets and uses." Imported mushrooms are taxed 0.0055 cents per pound to pay for that critical work.

Denali Commission: Created in 1998 to fund infrastructure projects in Alaska, the Denali Commission was targeted for elimination by both Barack Obama and Donald Trumpbut Congress keeps funding it anyway. Mike Marsh, the commission's inspector general, wrote in 2013 that the agency is "a congressional experiment that hasn't worked out in practice" and urged Congress to "put its money elsewhere." In FY 2023, the Denali Commission had a budget of $13.8 million.

Christmas Tree Promotion Board: A 12-member board (one for each day of Christmas?) created in 2011 to "expand the market and uses of fresh-cut Christmas trees" and funded with a new fee of 15 cents on all real Christmas trees sold in the country. Nothing says "Merry Christmas!" like a new tax on the people who are already using your product. Interestingly, this was not created by an act of Congress but by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which Congress authorized in 1996 and gave the ability to create new boards and agencies like this one. Oh, administrative state, how lovely are thy line items.

Corporation for Travel Promotion: Established in 2010, this 11-member board within the Department of Commerce is charged with "providing useful information to those interested in traveling to the United States," as if there weren't already dozens of websites and tour books doing the same thing. It's now known as Brand USA. Foreigners seeking visas to enter the United States pay a $4 fee to fund the corporation, even though they likely don't need to be convinced to visit.

Rural Utilities Service: The Rural Electrification Administration was created as part of the New Deal in 1936 to expand the nation's power grids and phone lines to far-flung homes and communities. These days it's pretty difficult to find homes that lack electricity or phone service, but the administration is still around (though it was renamed in 1994). This tiny corner of the USDAyep, it's not even part of the Energy Departmentcost taxpayers $154 million this year.

The post After a Century, the Federal Tea Board Is Finally Dead appeared first on Reason.com.
A former FBI informant has been charged with lying about President Joe Biden and his sons business dealings  but his reputation as a liar dates back to at least 2016, according to a report.

The Republican-led impeachment inquiry into the president hinged on details that Alexander Smirnov provided  which have now been deemed as false derogatory information.

But long before these recent revelations, Mr Smirnovs credibility was called into question.

There was a criminal case in which Mr Smirnov allegedly gave false information to the FBI  unbeknownst to the agency at the time  that ultimately led to a prosecution, CBS News reported.

Mr Smirnovs information was used in a 2015 racketeering case in California, in which the Justice Department brought charges against 33 defendants, the outlet wrote. His information also led to a separate case involving two of the defendants in the racketeering case.

In a sentencing brief, one defendants lawyer, Joseph Benincasa, wrote, The CHS [confidential human source] was known to the United States as a liar and fraudster.

Mr Benincasa then claimed that the confidential human source lied to the government and called the intel completely untrue.

The document does not name the source or identify Mr Smirnov.

A footnote in the document states that the government was provided with the notes of their private investigators interview with a close associate of Smirnov who repeatedly called him a liar.

A courtroom sketch of Alexander Smirnov from Feb. 26, 2024 (William T. Robles)

A footnote in the filing states, A second CHS was interviewed by the defendants private investigator and extensively stated that the CHS was a liar. This interview was turned over to the government but has not been provided here as it reveals the identities of the two CHS. Since the production of that interview to the government, the defendant and his family have been threatened with bodily harm by that CHS.

Mr Benincasa told CBS News: Having seen how much he lies, its kind of surprising that he has been able to do it for as long as he has without anyone in the government stopping him.

They never should have used him again  its shocking, he added.

When asked about the recent discoveries, Mr Smirnovs attorney told The Independent: Mr Smirnov is proud of his past service to the United States. He intends on vigorously defending himself in court, not in the media.

Other law enforcement officials have demanded a review of the cases that relied on intel from Mr Smirnov.

I think a review has to be done, either internally by the FBI or, more advisedly, by the Department [of Justice] to find out not only what happened here, but whether there is a systemic problem in thesupervision of informants, Michael Bromwich, the former Justice Department inspector general, told CBS News.

On top of this resurfaced past case, his most recent criminal indictment states that Mr Smirnov was admonished by the handling agent that he must provide truthful information to the FBI when he first became a CHS in 2010 and on multiple occasions thereafter.

The FBI declined to comment.

In addition to the accusations against Mr Smirnov, the impeachment inquiry has not seen much evidence to support the GOPs argument. So, the White House has now urged for the inquiry to come to an end.

Mr Smirnov has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The government plans to inject about 2 trillion won ($1.51 billion) into the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) to help boost its capital soundness required to finance businesses, officials said Sunday.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Financial Services Commission are in the middle of finalizing the process for the provision of the funds to KDB by the end of this month, officials familiar with the matter said.

The provision will be made by transferring government-owned stocks in some public companies to KDB, according to the officials.

"We have many financing plans that will be made through KDB," an official said. "The investment is to enhance capital capacity."

The injection of the funds will improve KDB's financial health, officials said.

KDB's capital adequacy ratio, known as the BIS ratio, stood at 13.66 percent at the end of the third quarter of last year. Financial authorities advise banks to keep their BIS ratio above 13 percent for financial stability. (Yonhap)
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is meeting with two top Republican leaders in the Senate in Washington, D.C., over the next two days, a spokesperson for the governor confirmed to The Hill.

Kemp will meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tuesday and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) Wednesday.

Politico first reported the meetings.

Kemp won his 2022 reelection campaign comfortably by about 7 points but will be term limited in the next election. First-term Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) will be up for reelection in 2026.

The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for McConnell for comment and additional information about the meetings. The NRSC declined to comment.

Despite Republicans largely dominating most Senate elections in the state since the turn of the century, the party has lost three Senate elections since 2020.

Ossoff won his election over former Sen. David Perdue (R) in 2021, while Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) won first a special election in 2021 and then a regular election in 2022.

All of these races went to a runoff, but the Democrat ultimately won.

President Biden also won Georgia over Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

Kemp has also been the subject of speculation about possible ambitions for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, but he told CNN in an interview on Monday that he was ruling out a presidential bid.

In politics, theres always doors opening and closing. I got a great job right now. I personally feel like having more people in the race does not help us win and beat Joe Biden. So, you know, Im certainly not running for president. But theres always doors opening in politics depending on how things play out, and well see what happens, Kemp said.

Updated: 4:11 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed Sunday against growing criticism from top ally the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, describing calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate.

In recent days, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had lost his way. President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumers good speech," and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, and denounced Schumers comments as inappropriate.

Were not a banana republic," he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who theyll elect, and its not something that will be foisted on us.

When asked by CNN whether he would commit to a new election after the war ends, Netanyahu said that I think thats something for the Israeli public to decide.

The U.S., which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told Fox the U.S. still hasn't seen an Israeli plan for Rafah.

The U.S. supports a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

The Israeli delegation to those talks was expected to leave for Qatar after Sunday evening meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give directions for negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear he would not back down from the fighting that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. More than five months have passed since Hamas attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said that calls for an election now  which polls show he would lose badly  would force Israel to stop fighting and paralyze the country for six months.

Netanyahu also reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation.

We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen, he said. The operation is supposed to include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians, but it is not clear how Israel will do that.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reiterated his warning that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have grave repercussions on the whole region." Egypt says pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula would jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability.

We are also very concerned about the risks a full-scale offensive in Rafah would have on the vulnerable civilian population. This needs to be avoided at all costs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with el-Sissi.

And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, warned that "the more desperate the situation of people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?

Germany is one of Israels closest allies in Europe and, given memories of the Holocaust, often treads carefully when criticizing Israel.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said that the prime minister's comments fit with his efforts to find someone else to blame if Israel doesn't achieve its goal of destroying Hamas.

Hes looking on purpose for a conflict with the U.S. so that he can blame Biden, Pinkas said.

Both sides have something to gain politically from the dispute. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israel's war against Hamas. Netanyahu, meanwhile, wants to show his nationalist base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israel's closest ally.

But pressure also comes from home, with thousands protesting again in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Netanyahu's government and calling for a new election and a deal for the release of hostages. Large parts of the Israeli public want a deal, fearing that hostages are held in poor conditions and time is running out to bring them home alive.

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the U.N.

Airdrops by the U.S. and other nations continue, while deliveries on a new sea route have begun, but aid groups say more ground routes and fewer Israeli restrictions on them are needed to meet humanitarian needs in any significant way.

Of course we should be bringing humanitarian aid by road. Of course by now we should be having at least two, three other entry points into Gaza, chef Jose Andres with World Central Kitchen, which organized the tons of food delivered by sea, told NBC.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Israel says Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths because it operates in dense residential areas.

The Health Ministry on Sunday said that the bodies of 92 people killed in Israels bombardment had been brought to hospitals in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 130 wounded, it said.

At least 11 people from the Thabet family, including five children and one woman, were killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and an Associated Press journalist. The body of an infant lay among the dead.

___

Nessman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed.

___

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
By Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Thousands of people turned up at polling stations across Russia on Sunday to take part in what the anti-Kremlin opposition said was a peaceful but symbolic political protest against the re-election of President Vladimir Putin.

In an action called "noon against Putin", Russians who oppose the veteran Kremlin leader went to their local polling station at midday to either spoil their ballot paper or to vote for one of the three candidates standing against Putin, who is widely expected to win by a landslide.

Others had vowed to scrawl the name of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison, on their voting slip.

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.

Navalny had endorsed the "Noon against Putin" plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action "Navalny's political testament".

"There is very little hope but if you can do something (like this) you should do it. There is nothing left of democracy," one young woman, who did not give her name and whose face was blurred out by Navalny's team, said at one polling station.

Another young woman at a different polling station, whose identity had been disguised in the same way, said she had voted for the "least dubious" of the three candidates running against Putin.

A male student voting in Moscow told Navalny's channel that people like him who disagreed with the current system needed to go on living their lives regardless.

"History has shown that changes occur at the most unexpected of times," he said.

Despite the protesters - who represent a small fraction of Russia's 114 million voters - Putin is poised to tighten his grip on power in the election that is certain to deliver him a big victory.

PROTEST

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West. It says Putin enjoys overwhelming support among ordinary Russians, pointing to opinion polls which put his approval rating above 80%.

With Russia's vast landmass stretching across 11 time zones, protest voters were scattered rather than concentrated into a single mass, making it hard to estimate how many people turned up for the protest event.

The size of the queues at each polling station shown on Navalny's channel ranged from a few dozen people to what looked like several hundred people.

Reuters journalists saw a slight increase in the flow of voters, especially younger people, at noon at some polling stations in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, with queues of several hundred people, and in some places even thousands.

Some said they were protesting though there were few outward signs to distinguish them from ordinary voters.

Leonid Volkov, an exiled Navalny aide who was attacked with a hammer last week in Vilnius, estimated hundreds of thousands of people had come out to polling stations in Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and other cities.

Reuters could not independently verify that estimate.

At polling stations at Russian diplomatic missions in Australia, Japan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Britain, hundreds of Russians stood in line at noon.

In Berlin, Yulia, Navalny's widow, showed up at the Russian embassy to take part in the protest event there along with Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokesperson. Other Russians present clapped and chanted her name.

In London, thousands queued in near silence to vote at the Russian embassy.

"We haven't been heard for past 30 years. Nobody listened to us. We moved, we emigrated, and even here, far away from Russia, we feel the consequences of not us not being heard," said voter Natalia Cherednikova.

"This year is so important just to be there for ourselves, even though we all (are) ...fatalistic in terms of the meaning of it and that nobody really cares. It's just for ourselves that we've been here. We have voted. We showed up."

(Reporting by Reuters; Yann Tessier in London; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Peter Graff and Ros Russell)
The man accused of fatally shooting his family members, including a 13-year-old girl, in Pennsylvania before he fled to New Jersey Saturday was charged with multiple criminal offenses Sunday, authorities said.

New Jersey authorities charged the suspect, Andre Gordon, 26, with carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, third-degree unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, third-degree receiving stolen property, fourth-degree unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin's office said.

Charges in Pennsylvania are pending.

Gordon, 26, is alleged to have carjacked a driver in Trenton to get to Levittown, Pennsylvania, where he's suspected of killing the victims at two locations Saturday morning, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said in an interview.

Police said he then carjacked another driver at gunpoint and fled to New Jersey, where he lives. Gusciora said SWAT team members and other officers surrounded the home and evacuated neighbors because people inside told authorities they believed Gordon was inside on the first floor.

Police were in standoff mode, surrounding the residence and blocking off streets, but the suspect wasn't home.

"Its apparent that he left before the police arrived," Gusciora said. "The people that were still in the house on the second floor believed, and they relayed to them through 911 calls, that he was still downstairs."

Gordon was spotted on New York Avenue at the back entrance of a hospital less than a quarter-mile away at 5:15 p.m. and taken into custody without incident, Trenton police officials said.

"My understanding is he was walking down the street," Gusciora said.

Police remove people from a home in Trenton New Jersey. (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images)

Lisette Rios, a spokesperson for Trenton police, said earlier Saturday that authorities believed no one who could be used as a hostage was in Gordon's home and that he was believed to be there alone.

Despite the arrest elsewhere, Gusciora said he didn't regret evacuating some of Gordon's neighbors while telling others to shelter in place.

"We value life, and we wanted to make sure that we err on the side of caution to tell people to stay in your home," Gusciora said. "The suspect was still out and about."

The incident began around 8:52 a.m., when officers were dispatched to a residence on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown following a report of a shooting, Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said in a news release.

Jennifer Schorn, the district attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said Gordon, driving a stolen vehicle from Trenton, forced his way into the home and killed his stepmother, Karen Gordon, 52, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon.

Three other people in the home, including a minor, were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them, she said at a news conference Saturday afternoon.

Andre Gordon Jr. (Falls Township Police Department)

After that incident, Gordon went to a residence on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where he shot and killed Taylor Daniel, 25, with whom he shares two children, Schorn alleged.

Four other people were in the home, including a person who was injured when Gordon bludgeoned her with an "assault rifle," Schorn said. The woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries and is expected to recover.

Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said Gordon was armed with an AR-15-style rifle.

At around 9:13 a.m., he carjacked a 44-year-old man at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General store in Morrisville, authorities alleged. The driver wasn't injured, they said.

The shooter fled the area in a 2016 gray Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania license plate and a Namaste sticker in white letters on the right bumper, according to authorities.

The vehicle was found unoccupied in Trenton around 11:38 a.m., the Bucks County District Attorneys Office said.

The district attorneys office said that at about 12:22 p.m., it received information that Gordon had barricaded himself with hostages in a home in Trenton.

A police officer patrols a neighborhood (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images)

We are referring all information regarding that aspect of this investigation to the Trenton City Police Department, the district attorneys office said.

Police in Pennsylvania had said earlier that Gordon was homeless, with connections to Trenton. They said he had a semiautomatic rifle, which they alleged he used in the shootings. Police said he could have additional weapons and cautioned that he was extremely dangerous.

The shootings led to a shelter-in-place order in Falls Township. Police had told residents to lock their doors and move to secure locations away from windows. The shelter-in-place order was lifted Saturday afternoon.

A Bucks County St. Patricks Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled, and the Pennsbury School District postponed activities.

Police evacuate a person from a home. (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images)

In nearby Middletown Township, residents were told not to travel to Falls Township. Middletown Township police later said they had received information that we are all clear.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said he was in touch with law enforcement.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was briefed and had asked state police to assist local law enforcement.

Whitney said that authorities had minor contact with Gordon in the past but that it was nothing that would indicate anything like this would happen.

Levittown, a model American suburb named for developer William Levitt, is known for its cost-efficient, assembly line housing, erected amid high demand for living quarters after World War II. It's in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, about 26 miles from the city.
As former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he expects to be indicted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Trumps biggest rival in the 2024 GOP presidential race, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, faced questions about the news at an appearance in South Carolina.

DeSantis was in Columbia on Tuesday morning filing for candidacy in the states Republican primary election, slated for February, becoming the first Republican candidate to officially secure their place on the states ballot.

Addressing reporters at a news conference devoted to his plans to reform so-called wokeness in the military, DeSantis was asked about the news of Trumps potential new indictment.

DeSantis said he had not seen the latest news about a possible indictment but said that hes seen an attempt to criminalize politics and criminalize differences.

Criminal charges is not just because you may have done something wrong. Its did you behave criminally? said DeSantis, who has consistently trailed Trump in second place in GOP primary polling. DeSantis, so far, has been Trumps closest competitor among a crowded Republican field.

Meanwhile, DeSantis added, Hunter Biden, he wouldve been in jail if he were a Republican. One of my jobs as president will be to end the weaponization of these agencies, and I will get that job done.

When asked whether he believed Trumps actions were wrong in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, DeSantis said, I think it was shown how he was in the White House and didnt do anything while things were going on. He should have come out more forcefully ... but to try to criminalize that, thats a different issue entirely.

Trump said Tuesday that he received a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith that he is the target of a grand jury investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, signaling that the former president is likely to face charges in the probe, McClatchy DC and other news outlets reported.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said that he received the horrifying news from his attorneys on Sunday night.

Nothing like this has ever happened in our country before, or even close, the former president said.

The former president has refused to accept that he lost the 2020 presidential election, and encouraged supporters on Jan. 6, 2021 to disrupt Congress certification of the results. A mob stormed the Capitol, temporarily halting the process and resulting in several deaths.

Trump already is facing a federal indictment surrounding his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House along with felony charges in New York related to allegedly falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up extramarital affairs ahead of the 2016 election.

McClatchy D.C. reporter Michael Wilner contributed.
JERUSALEM  A shipment of aid that arrived on Gazas shore on Friday is expected to bring some respite to starving Palestinians in the enclaves north  but how and when it will be distributed has yet to be seen.

Tons of flour, rice and canned foods were offloaded from the ship Saturday, according to World Central Kitchen, the charity that collected the food and organized the maritime aid shipment. The much-needed aid was was transported 200 miles from the Larnaca port of Cyprus to Gaza by the Open Arms, a ship named after the charity.

On Sunday, World Central Kitchen, which was launched by celebrity chef Jose Andres and which runs a network of around 60 kitchens across the Gaza Strip, said the aid was in a warehouse and had yet to be distributed.

Earlier Sunday, COGAT, Israel's military liaison with the Palestinians, said World Central Kitchen trucks had "distributed the aid" from the maritime delivery in northern Gaza. A spokesperson for COGAT later told NBC News that was not correct and said it was a separate aid delivery that was distributed north.

The location of the warehouse where the aid was being held and the plan to distribute the food were not immediately clear, with World Central Kitchen noting Saturday that "this is a constantly evolving mission that changes constantly due to the realities on the ground."

The second vessel from World Central Kitchen. (Petros Karadjias / AP)

John Spencer, a retired Army infantry officer who now serves as chair of urban warfare studies at the U.S. Military Academys Modern War Institute, said in a phone interview Sunday that it should be no surprise organizers have remained tightlipped around the plans for distribution of the widely covered aid shipment.

Noting a recent string of deadly incidents in which Palestinians have been killed while waiting for or trying to access much-needed aid, he said: It makes a lot of sense to me that details of the distribution of the aid are being very close-held.

He also noted that organizers would be unlikely to distribute aid from the same point more than once due to safety concerns. Theyll probably move points around, he said. If you set up one point, that just gives bigger chances for bigger crowds and chaos.

Spencer was also unsurprised by discrepancies in statements from the charity and Israeli officials.

In addition to statements on the distribution of aid, there have also been discrepancies around how much aid was included in the maritime shipment, with the World Central Kitchen saying 200 tons of aid was on the Open Arms vessel, while COGAT initially said there were 115 tons, before shifting to 200 in a later update.

Spencer said there were lots of reasons for such discrepancies, including the general communication issues that can arise while executing a difficult plan in a chaotic environment. But he said it would not be surprising for an aid organization to want to separate itself from military or government efforts in a conflict zone when theres two warring parties.

The IDF said in a statement Friday that the maritime aid shipment was being facilitated in coordination with COGAT and with the Israeli governments approval.

It said naval and ground forces had been deployed to secure the area upon the Open Arms arrival, but it was not clear if the military was expected to be involved in the management or the distribution of aid  or what efforts were being made to ensure that aid would reach civilians safely after several deadly incidents related to aid deliveries.

Humanitarian aid loaded onto pallets. (Petros Karadjias / AP)

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said on Thursday that a number of people were killed and dozens were injured while waiting for a separate aid delivery.

The IDF rejected claims that its forces fired on the crowd and shared footage it said showed Palestinian gunmen opening fire in the midst of Gazan civilians about an hour before an aid convoy arrived. NBC News could not immediately independently verify the IDFs claim or determine what exactly is happening in the video.

It came after several other deadly incidents in recent weeks, including the violence on Feb. 29 during which more than 100 Palestinians were killed as they gathered in anticipation of the arrival of much-needed aid.

The Israeli military said the majority of people were trampled on or run over in the incident, but witnesses said Israeli soldiers killed civilians, shooting at them and firing tank artillery shells.

Fridays nautical aid delivery came amid mounting frustrations over the lack of aid flowing into Gaza, despite tons of food and supplies sitting on trucks in Egypt awaiting permission to enter the enclave, where Palestinians are facing starvation. The United Nations warned that around a quarter of Gazas 2.3 million residents are one step away from famine. Already, Palestinian health officials have reported dozens of deaths from malnutrition in the enclave, with most of the victims being children.

World Central Kitchen said it was already loading a second boat with 204 tons of food for a second sailing to Gaza  and it said it planned to establish a maritime highway of future boats and barges.

Israel has maintained tight control over the entry of aid, particularly through the countrys Kerem Shalom border crossing and the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

The U.S. and its international partners have pushed for Israel to ramp up the flow of aid into Gaza, with the Biden administration recently announcing plans to build a temporary port to help facilitate future maritime deliveries.

World Central Kitchen said it had to construct a jetty built from the rubble of the war off Gazas shore in order to facilitate Fridays aid delivery. Video captured by NBC News crew on the ground showed trucks carrying goods away from the makeshift jetty.

While aid groups welcomed the recent arrival of aid by sea, as well as via airdrops, they have condemned plans to build the port, as well as the focus on a maritime aid route, when the most practical means of delivering food and other goods to Palestinians in desperate need in Gaza would be by land.

Any aid that can be provided is helpful and good given the overwhelming levels of need on the ground, Ciaran Donnelly, the International Rescue Committees vice president of crisis response, said in a phone interview Friday. At the same time, the reality is that the most direct distance between two points is a straight line and there are cheaper and more effective and easier ways to get aid to Gaza than relying on planes and boats from airdrops and maritime routes.
Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy on Sunday criticized his partys presumptive presidential nominee, saying that former President Donald Trumps rhetoric about illegal immigrants reflected poorly and that hes spoken about migrants in a dehumanizing fashion.

Asked about Trumps recent comments that not all undocumented immigrants are people, Cassidy told NBC News Meet the Press, The presidents rhetoric has reflected poorly ... regarding folks who are coming here illegally  illegally  and they shouldnt be, but in a dehumanizing fashion. And thats why again, many people continue to have reservations.

The best thing going for Donald Trump running for president is that hes running against [President] Joe Biden, about whom many people also have reservations. And frankly, that]s why people are considering third parties. So its a sorry state of affairs, the senator added.

Despite his criticism of Biden, Cassidy wouldnt commit to endorsing Trump, saying, The answer Im going to give, the answer Ive given consistently whenever asked about this on Meet the Press, is that I plan to vote for Republican for the presidency of the United States.

Cassidy, one of the few Republican senators who voted to convict Trump when he was impeached in 2021, also blasted the former president for saying he would be willing to free some of those who have been convicted of crimes committed at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Were a nation of laws, Cassidy said, adding: Those folks were convicted. Many times they pled guilty. If you plead guilty ... obviously youre not a patriot.

I think thatll be a wrong signal, Cassidy added of Trumps stated plan.

Cassidy also refused to answer questions about whether Trump would follow the Constitution in a second term, calling the question a hypothetical but noting, All I can say is that we have checks and balances within our system, that if any one person attempts to act in an unconstitutional fashion, that they can be theoretically checked.

Ill also point out that Joe Biden has acted in an unconstitutional fashion when he attempted to forgive student loans, and it was stopped in the Supreme Court, Cassidy added.

In June, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Bidens student loan relief program was an unlawful exercise of presidential power because it did not have congressional authorization.
A suspect is in custody in Albuquerque following a two-day manhunt in the case of a New Mexico State Police officer who was shot and killed on a highway near the small city of Tucumcari last week.

Jaremy Smith. (New Mexico State Police)

Jaremy Smith was captured following an officer-involved shooting involving the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office on Sunday, New Mexico State Police said in a brief statement to social media on Sunday. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said his deputies responded to a report from a store clerk at a gas station at about 7 a.m. local time.

Deputies established a perimeter in a nearby neighborhood after they spotted Smith walking and a foot pursuit ensued, Allen told reporters Sunday.

Shots were fired, some shots strike Smith, Allen said. We dont know the amount right now or how many, that is still under investigation. But Smith was then taken into custody without further incident.

Smith is currently at a hospital being treated for injuries under the guard of law enforcement, according to Allen.

No additional details were provided, as both county and state law enforcement noted the case is under investigation.

Officer Justin Hare, 35, was shot around 5 a.m. local time Friday morning when he responded to a call of a driver with a flat tire on Interstate 40 near milepost 318, state police previously said. He was shot without warning and died after being transported to a local hospital.

Authorities identified Smith, a 33-year-old man from South Carolina, as the suspect in the case.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said Smith approached the passenger side of Hares patrol vehicle and, after a short conversation in which Hare offered him a ride to town, Smith allegedly opened fire without warning.

Smith allegedly walked to the drivers side, opened fire on the officer again, pushed him to its passenger side, got in the patrol vehicle and drove off, the chief said.

Hare was not responding to radio traffic and later appeared to have been able to depress a panic button common on police radios, alerting colleagues to his situation, Weisler said.

A responding officer saw Hares patrol vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and tried to catch up, but by the time the officer reached the vehicle, it had crashed on an interstate frontage road and was abandoned, he said.

Hare was found along the same frontage road, the chief said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died at 7:21 a.m. Friday, state police said in a statement.

The suspect had vanished.

Smith has a criminal history in South Carolina, including allegations of hostage taking, burglary and armed robbery, Weisler said. He also has spent time in Albuquerque, he said.

The vehicle with the flat tire belonged to a paramedic in Marion County, South Carolina  Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52  who was found murdered Friday after she was reported missing from the area, the chief said.

Smith is a person of interest in the South Carolina case, he said.
The man suspected of fatally shooting a New Mexico State Police officer last week was taken into custody after Bernalillo County deputies shot him during a foot pursuit Sunday morning, authorities said in a news conference.

The arrest of Jaremy Smith, 33, comes two days after State Police Officer Justin Hare was shot when he stopped to help the driver of a disabled vehicle  allegedly Smith  on Interstate 40. Investigators have determined that vehicle, a white BMW, belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina paramedic who was found dead there Friday evening, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office.

On Sunday, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office received a report around 7 a.m. from a gas station clerk in Albuquerque, who described an individual matching Smiths description, Sheriff John Allen said at a news conference. Deputies found Smith walking and began creating a perimeter in a nearby neighborhood, Allen said.

During this time, as they had an eye on Mr. Smith, a foot pursuit ensued, Allen said. Shots were fired. Some shots (struck) Smith  we dont know the amount right now, or how many. Thats still under investigation.

Smith was taken to a local hospital where hes been treated for his injuries and remains under police guard, Allen said.

State Police Chief Troy Weisler said he was thankful no deputies were hurt Sunday in the encounter with Smith, adding state police would be focused in the coming days on determining whether anyone assisted the suspect.

New Mexico officials did not address the link to Machado-Fores death in their news conference Sunday. Authorities have not identified Smith as a suspect in that case, but the New Mexico State Police previously called him a person of interest. Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace vowed to not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice.

Smith faces a slew of charges, New Mexico State Police previously said, including first-degree murder, armed robbery, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property.

Officer shot in cold blood while authorities searched for missing paramedic

New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare was shot and killed on Friday. - New Mexico State Police

Hare, a father of two who graduated from the police recruit school in 2018, was sent around 5 a.m. Friday to help a driver with a flat tire who was trying to wave down other motorists on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari in eastern New Mexico, Weisler said in a video statement.

Hare parked behind Smiths vehicle, and Smith approached the officers passenger side window, Weisler said, where the two had a brief conversation about fixing the flat. Hare offered to give Smith a ride to town, Weisler said.

Smith then took out a gun and shot Hare, Weisler said, before walking to the drivers side of the officers vehicle and shooting Hare again. Smith pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in the patrol vehicle, Weisler said.

Another state police officer saw Hares patrol car traveling west at high speed while responding to the scene, state police said in a news release. When that officer caught up with Hares vehicle, it had crashed. Smith was thought to have fled on foot, the release said, while Hare was found nearby and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need, Weisler said Saturday at a news conference. That person killed him in cold blood. The last words Officer Hare uttered on this earth was to offer help to a man who was about to kill him.

Phonesia Machado-Fore was found dead Friday evening, the Marion County, South Carolina, sheriff's office said. - Marion County Sheriff's Office

While police in New Mexico searched for Smith, authorities in South Carolina were searching for Machado-Fore, whose family reported her missing Thursday evening, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said.

On Friday morning, New Mexico State Police told Marion County investigators that Machado-Fores vehicle was involved in Hares shooting, the sheriffs office said on Facebook. Her body was found later Friday evening, outside of Lake View in Dillon County, the sheriffs office said.

Wallace, the sheriff, called Machado-Fores death senseless, and a tremendous loss for the community. The case, he said, is far from over.

New Mexico State Police and South Carolina officials are working to discover any relationship between the two cases, Weisler previously said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.

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Financial instability threatens exchange

By Lee Yeon-woo

GOPAX, a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange, is on the verge of dropping out of Korea's top 5 crypto exchanges, due to a significant increase in its debt, fueled by the recent surge in the value of major virtual assets that were deposited by investors in the past. If it fails to demonstrate its financial solvency, it may face expulsion, in the worst-case scenario, according to sources Sunday.

Recently, Jeonbuk Bank, which had established a real-name account agreement with GOPAX, demanded the exchange submit measures to enhance its financial solvency by the end of this month. GOPAX has now fallen into a state of complete capital impairment.

Under current regulations, cryptocurrency exchanges must secure real-name accounts from commercial banks to operate a trading platform. If GOPAX fails to renew this agreement, it will lose its eligibility to run the exchange.

GOPAX consistently reported net losses in 2022 and 2023. This downturn was due to the bankruptcy of Genesis Capital, which managed GOPAX's deposit system, GOFi. It left GOPAX unable to return the principal to its investors.

The situation appeared to be improving when Binance, the largest global exchange, acquired a majority stake in GOPAX last year, marking its entry into Korea. Binance settled some outstanding payments, with plans to address its remaining debts after the completion of the change in majority ownership.

However, the financial authorities have postponed the approval of the change for a year, citing concerns over financial health and the ineligibility of the new majority shareholder. They have also called on GOPAX to submit a plan for improvements in its management structure by the end of this month.

In the meantime, GOPAX's debt has snowballed. From approximately 56.6 billion won ($42.4 million) in December 2022, the debt nearly doubled to 110 billion won by the end of 2023. This increase has likely been aggravated by the recent sharp rise in the value of virtual assets.

On Feb. 16, GOPAX sent a proposal to GOFi creditors, proposing to convert their outstanding debts into shares.

"We cannot dismiss the chance that we will record a deficit for the third consecutive year in 2024," the letter stated. "This financial strain may lead to the cancellation of an agreement with Jeonbuk Bank ... significantly impacting the company's ability to continue operations."

Market observers believe that resolving the immediate crisis requires the approval of the creditors concerning this suggestion. However, the volatile prices of virtual assets might influence their decisions, adding a layer of uncertainty to the situation.

Attention is now focused on whether new investors will emerge to acquire GOPAX. Last month, Binance officially declared its intention to divest its stake in the exchange.

"The progress of this divestiture might lead to a change in the stance of financial authorities," an official from the industry said.

A GOPAX spokesperson declined to offer additional comments on this issue.
The proposed TikTok ban working its way through Congress could embolden authoritarian censorship abroad, experts warn, and shatter the United States reputation as an international champion of free speech.

The House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act on Wednesday. The bill still needs a Senate vote, and then to be signed by President Joe Biden. If signed into law, ByteDance, TikToks Chinese parent company, would either be forced to sell TikTok, or the app would be banned from app stores, according to the bills proponents.

U.S. officials say the driving motivation to pass such a bill is to prevent TikTok from being used to disseminate Chinese propaganda or collect information on U.S. citizens for Chinese government use.

But to some critics of the bill, a ban would cede Americas moral authority when it condemns other countries over limiting their citizens internet access.

The United States, particularly through the State Department, has been very vocal about other countries when they disable access to either parts of the internet or to social media services and other applications that are predominantly U.S.-based, said Kate Ruane, who directs the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington-based tech policy think tank.

If we go forward with this and we ban TikTok, that is essentially going to be license to authoritarian regimes around the world to do the same to U.S.-based platforms. And I think we will see a lot of copycat measures as a result of that, Ruane said.

The U.S. has long promoted the open internet as a soft power tool that promotes freedom of speech and the exchange of ideas, in contrast with more authoritarian countries approaches, like Chinas Great Firewall, Russias RuNet and Irans halal internet.

The U.S. was a founding member of the Freedom Online Coalition, a 39-nation group that advocates for the international adoption of an internet thats free of censorship or political disruption. Last year, the White House announced its commitment to A Declaration For the Future of the Internet, made by a group of 60 countries opposed to authoritarian control of the internet.

The declarations provisions include a commitment to refrain from blocking or degrading access to lawful content, services, and applications on the Internet, consistent with principles of Net Neutrality subject to applicable law, including international human rights law.

In 2022, the State Department, alongside other Freedom Online Coalition members, condemned Iran for shutting down internet access as anti-government protests took hold across the country.

The year before, it had formally condemned Nigeria for blocking Twitter, at the time a common platform for people there to air criticism of their government. As its partner, we call on the government to respect its citizens right to freedom of expression by reversing this suspension, a State Department spokesperson said at the time.

In those cases, those governments went far beyond restricting online access and threatened users. But even blocking access to a popular app like TikTok could embolden authoritarian countries around the world, said Willmary Escoto, policy counsel for Access Now, a U.S.-based nonprofit that advocates for global internet freedom and connectivity.

It sends the message that this is acceptable. These reactions can really spur internet fragmentation and it could really interfere with access to information and freedom of expression across borders, Escoto said.

Chris Painter, who served in the Obama administration as the first ever top cyber diplomat, or coordinator of cyber issues for the State Department, said he didnt view the bill as an attempt to shut down speech, but said its advocates should do a better job explaining why a ByteDance-owned TikTok presents such a threat to U.S. national security.

If the U.S. was certainly trying to shut down a social media platform or something because they didnt like what was being said on it, absolutely our moral authority would disappear, Painter said.

If we tried to shut down social media before an election, which a lot of countries unfortunately do in some parts of the world, obviously that deserves an outcry. We dont do that. In fact, the U.S. champions exactly the opposite, he said.

I think thats going to be the challenge for the administration or for Congress or wherever it actually moves forward: explaining why its necessary, Painter said.
Disney memorabilia at a discount? We're in.

Getty Images/Ian Langsdon/Contributor

Calling all Disney lovers! If youre looking for collector pins, Mickey ears, keychains, and plushies, then you may want to make the trip outside of the Orlando theme parks for the happiest thrift hunt on earth. Here's the best thrift store to find discounted and preloved Disney items.

Related: 20 Best Things To Do In Orlando, Florida

Where To Find Lost Disney Items

A 50-minute drive north of Walt Disney World is where youll find the thrift store that Disney delivers the contents of the parks lost and found. Located in Winter Park, the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida Thrift Store is located in an unassuming strip mall that youd never spot from the street. Inside, youll find a clean, well organized thrift store that organizes its books by genre and its clothes by size. Youll also find shelves and cases of Disney items, and Disney collectablessuch as special edition pins or limited release watchesare housed in a locked case at the register.

bgccf.org/thriftstore; 2054 FL-436 #140, Winter Park, FL 32792

Kelsey Glennon

When To Go Shopping

According to the staff, the thrift store gets deliveries from Disney every three to four months. To be the first to know about new Disney stock, follow their Facebook page where they keep followers updated on new deliveries, sales, and unique items. A staff member noted that their Disney collection often sells out fast, and a recent viral TikTok video nearly cleared out their Disney inventory.

Kelsey Glennon

What Disney Items To Look For

In addition to left-behind Disney purchases, the lost-and-found is also full of other commonly forgotten items like jackets, tech, tumblers, games, and sunglasses. If you can imagine losing it, it might be at this thrift store. On your next trip to Disney World, swing by this thrift store first to purchase the family a set of Mickey Ears for a fraction of the price that they garner inside the parks.

Plus, your purchases here go toward supporting operational expenses for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, an organization that provides safe extracurricular support to over 12,000 children in Central Florida.

Related: The Best Free Things To Do In Orlando, According To A Local

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
A suspect accused of killing three family members, including his 13-year-old sister, in a Philadelphia suburb and then fleeing to New Jersey is now in custody, officials said.

The suspect -- identified as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. -- was initially reported to be barricaded with hostages inside a residence in Trenton midday Saturday, hours after the shootings unfolded at two residences in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said.

Following an hourslong standoff, police received information that Gordon was possibly on the street, according to Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson. The suspect, who was found walking several blocks from the home, was apprehended without incident Saturday evening, Wilson said.

Gordon may have "slipped out" of the residence before police were able to establish a perimeter around the home, Wilson said.

Residents in the home and neighboring residences had been safely evacuated while authorities presumed Gordon to be barricaded inside, police said.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, police respond to a reported hostage situation in Trenton, N.J., on March 16, 2024. (WPVI)

PHOTO: The Falls Township Police Department released this photo of Andre Gordon. (Falls Township Police Department)

Gordon had been sought in connection with shootings that occurred Saturday morning at two homes in Levittown, a community within Falls Township, officials said.

Gordon allegedly carjacked a vehicle in Trenton before traveling to the area and "forcibly" breaking into both homes, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. He was armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle, according to Falls Township Chief of Police Nelson Whitney.

Gordon was charged in Pennsylvania with three counts of first and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other charges, according to court documents. In New Jersey, Gordon was charged with first-degree carjacking and weapons offenses, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement Sunday.

"The string of violent acts ... is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor," Platkin said. "We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions."

Falls Township officers were first dispatched to a residence on Viewpoint Lane at approximately 8:52 a.m. ET on Saturday where two people had been fatally shot, police said. The victims were the suspect's 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, according to Schorn.

Three other family members in the house, including a minor, managed to hide and "avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them," Schorn told reporters during a press briefing on Saturday.

PHOTO: A police car is parked on Viewpoint Lane at the scene of a shooting in Falls Township, PA, on March 16, 2024. (JD Mullane via USA Today Network)

A 25-year-old woman was then shot and killed at a residence on Edgewood Lane at approximately 9:01 a.m., police said. The victim, Taylor Daniel, shared two children with the suspect, Schorn said.

Four other people were present in the home at the time, including the two children and Daniel's mother, Schorn said. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries after Gordon allegedly bludgeoned her with the assault rifle, Schorn said.

MORE: Suspect in New Mexico trooper shooting named, linked to South Carolina woman found dead

Gordon is accused of then stealing a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV at gunpoint to flee back to Trenton. The carjacking occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. in the parking lot of a Dollar General in Morrisville, police said. The operator of the vehicle was unharmed.

The Honda CRV was recovered unoccupied in Trenton at approximately 11:38 a.m. on Saturday, according to Falls Township police.

PHOTO: Police said Andre Gordon was last seen driving a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV with Pennsylvania registration KFR 1534, seen in a photo released by the Falls Township Police Department. (Falls Township Police Department)

MORE: 1 dead, 5 injured in shooting at Indianapolis bar

Authorities in Trenton have not recovered a rifle, Wilson said. P

The suspect was expected to be brought to the Trenton Police Department for processing and eventually extradited to Pennsylvania, according to Wilson.

Schorn said she could not speak to a motive at this time or the suspect's past criminal history.

Chief Whitney said police have had "minor" contacts with Gordon in the past but "nothing that would indicate anything like this would happen."

The suspect is believed to be unhoused and has ties to the Trenton area, police said.

Schorn said they will investigate "every aspect" of how he came into possession of the firearm.

Police in Falls Township had issued a shelter-in-place warning amid the search for the suspect that has since been lifted.

A shelter-in-place advisement in nearby Middletown Township was similarly lifted.

The Bucks County St. Patrick's Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled due to police activity, according to Pennsylvania State Sen. Steve Santarsiero.

Suspect charged with multiple counts of murder in 2-state crime rampage: Prosecutors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
San Quentin's gas chamber was used for over 100 executions

California is transferring everyone on death row at San Quentin prison to other places, as it tries to reinvent the state's most notorious facility as a rehabilitation centre.

Many in this group will now have new freedoms. But they are also asking why they've been excluded from the reform - and whether they'll be safe in new prisons.

Short presentational grey line

Keith Doolin still remembers the day in 2019 when workers came to dismantle one of the United States' most infamous death chambers.

He was in his cell at San Quentin prison on the north side of San Francisco Bay, watching live footage on television showing an execution chair - where 194 people had been put to death - carried away after more than 80 years of use. The green gas chamber being taken apart was just several hundred feet from where he sat.

A former long-distance truck driver convicted of murder, Doolin has spent nearly 23 hours a day for the last 28 years in a tiny cell. He long worried he would one day be shackled to a mint-green chair and executed.

But in the last few years, California has been moving fast with some plans for prison reform. Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to deconstruct the death chamber - and also place a moratorium on the death penalty in the state - was a watershed moment for Doolin.

"He [Newsom] was sending the message: 'Look, it might take a while, but things are going to change'."

Mr Newsom is now seeking more changes at San Quentin, which currently has the nation's largest death row. The governor announced last year that he planned to transform the state's oldest prison into a rehabilitation centre.

He will close the prison's death row unit and move Doolin and the other 532 death row inhabitants to standard prisons across the state in the coming months (70 have been moved already).

Doolin and his neighbours will still have death sentences - meaning they will spend the rest of their lives in prison. For some, the threat of execution still looms large, as a future governor could reinstate the state's death penalty.

Six people on death row who spoke to the BBC over the phone shared mixed feelings about their move. Some were elated by the opportunity to live closer to family and step outside their cells without handcuffs, while others were terrified at the prospect of starting over after decades living alone in a cell.

Keith Doolin, who was convicted of murder in 1996, says he is worried about his transfer to another California prison

Rats, birds and handcuffs: Life on death row

Built in 1852, San Quentin is California's oldest prison and the state's only facility for incarcerated males who have been sentenced to death. Since 1893, 422 people have been executed there, including by gas, hanging or lethal injection.

Family members walk by the entrance to the prison's execution chamber every time they visit their loved ones, said Doolin's mother, Donna Larsen, who drives a nine-hour round trip once a month to visit her son.

The execution chamber would emit a green light that turned red as a person was being executed, a sight visible to Californians driving by on the highway, she said. This green room of death - and infamous incarcerated people such as cult leader Charles Manson - have brought international notoriety to San Quentin, featured in podcasts, television shows and films.

When Ramon Rogers arrived at the prison in 1996, rain leaked through the ceiling of the death row unit, and mice and rats would run rampant. But the biggest pests, he said, were the birds.

"They started defecating all over the place - all over the railings," he said. "It was a gross environment."

Since then, life on death row has remained restrictive and, at times, hazardous.

An outbreak of Covid-19 during the height of the pandemic killed at least 12 people on death row - part of a wider coronavirus surge at the prison that infected 75% of the population.

Ms Larsen - Doolin's mother - said she was shocked by how dirty the prison was the first time she visited.

"It had a stench to it," she said. "Sometimes Keith's clothing smells mouldy when we visit. To know that your loved one is living in that made me sick."

Those imprisoned in San Quentin's death row spend nearly all of the day in their cells

People housed in San Quentin's death row are kept alone for most of the day in a roughly four foot (1.2m) by nine foot (2.7m) cell, a space that Doolin said feels like a "sardine can".

The 51-year-old was sentenced to death in 1996 for murdering two sex workers, Inez Espinoza and Peggy Tucker, and shooting four others. In 2009, the California Supreme Court upheld Doolin's death sentence based on testimony from the surviving victims, who identified him as their attacker.

He has maintained his innocence, and a California attorney has alleged that he has information - learned during another case - that could potentially support his defence. But the lawyer, David Mugridge, told the BBC that he could not share the details due to attorney-client privilege.

Doolin and others living on death row are required to wear handcuffs at all times when outside their cells, which officers have to unlock with metal keys after strip-searching them.

"Our daily life confinement is based on going from one box to another," said another death row inhabitant, Tony, who declined to share his last name for privacy reasons.

People on death row are offered little access to rehabilitative programmes except for some college courses and jobs such as cleaning showers.

Ending death row

In March 2019, Governor Newsom issued an executive order that halted the death penalty in the state and ordered the dismantling of the gas chamber in San Quentin.

Mr Newsom's move did not alter any incarcerated individuals' sentences, though he said that he might later consider commuting death row sentences.

While the state had not actually performed an execution since 2006, Mr Newsom argued the death penalty system had been "by all measures, a failure" that was unfairly applied to people of colour and people with mental illness.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, black people comprise 34% of California's death row, but only 6% of the state's population.

Since 1973, seven people on death row in the state have been exonerated.

Preparing for bigger changes, Mr Newsom announced a two-year pilot programme in 2020 to transfer around 100 volunteers from San Quentin's death row to other prisons, the first move in his bigger plan to eventually move all the death row inhabitants out, to more than 20 other prisons that meet security requirements.

Correll Thomas left San Quentin with the pilot programme in 2021 after being on death row since 1999.

But at Centinela prison, in Imperial, California, settling in was a struggle. "They didn't want to give us [rehabilitation] programs," he said. "We had to pretty much fight for everything."

Correll Thomas was happy to have the chance to leave San Quentin death row

Other prisoners and staff appeared frightened of his death row status, said Thomas, who added that with time, some at the prison grew to accept him.

Ramon Rogers, the incarcerated person who first arrived at San Quentin in 1986 when birds and rats had overrun the facility, said the move was welcome.

"I didn't care where they sent me, I just knew anywhere else would be better," he said.

Now at the Richard Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, Rogers, 64, has been able to enrol not just in rehabilitation programmes but also college.

The greatest relief, he said, came from not having to wear handcuffs around the clock outside his cell for the first time in decades.

"Sometimes, I'm amazed at what I'm allowed to do here that I would never be able to do on death row."

Starting over

But some advocates say not enough support is being offered as these people on death row make a drastic transition. There is a "huge difference" between the people on death row who chose to leave and those being forced to move now, said Gavrilah Wells, a volunteer with human rights group Amnesty International.

"I'm so worried about the safety and the human rights of so many people being involuntarily transferred," she said. "The massive endeavour of rapidly moving 550 people to unknown prisons, with unknown cultures specific to each facility, raises serious concerns."

Ms Wells and other advocates say moving the death row population, which includes many who are sick and elderly, poses great challenges. The oldest person in San Quentin's death row is 93.

"It's not the same as just transferring any person in prison," said Natasha Minsker, a policy adviser for non-profit Smart Justice California.

Advocates worry about those being moved far away from their lawyers and family members, and how they will adjust after decades living alone in a cell.

"These guys have never lived with anyone but themselves," Tony said. "They're going to have to learn how to do things all over again."

Doolin is anxious about avoiding conflict as he interacts with more people than ever before, including prison guards.

"It's extremely stressful," he said. "I'm forced to start all over again like my first day in prison."

Ms Larsen, Doolin's mother, said she and others suggested programmes to offer support to their incarcerated loved ones as they made the transition, but the prison turned them down.

'We still have humanity'

For several death row inhabitants, the anxieties of a new environment are outweighed by the prospect of breaking free from a dismal life in San Quentin.

"For some people, it's a godsend," Tony said. "They want to leave this oppression."

But for others, the departure from San Quentin before its estimated $360m (282m) upgrade has served as a reminder of how those on death row are treated differently to other prisoners. Mr Newsom has said the goal is to transform the prison into a college campus-like setting, modelled on Scandinavian correctional facilities that focus on rehabilitation.

In response to a question from the BBC on how people on death row fit into the state's larger plans for prison reform, Mr Newsom's office said he was committed to "addressing failings in our criminal justice system - including the discriminatory nature of the death penalty system".

Mr Newsom's office did not elaborate on why people on death row could not participate in the San Quentin project, but touted the closure of death row and his moratorium on the death penalty.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said all who were incarcerated on death row had to be moved because San Quentin did not have the "required lethal electrified fence". It did not respond when asked why that had been okay up to this point. It also did not respond to questions about support being offered to transfers.

Darrell Lomax, one of the men in San Quentin, said: "It's not what they're doing. It's the way they're doing it... Why are we being moved so they can make room for a rehabilitation program that doesn't even serve us?"

The arrangement sends the "unfortunate" message that one of the biggest prison reform projects in the US can't include people sentenced to death, Ms Minsker said.

Tony believes some in California are still not ready to reckon with the status - and future - of those sentenced to death, even in a state that is not executing people.

"There's a notion that because we're here, it's the end of the road," he said. "But we still have humanity in this place. I don't think our humanity has been seen enough."
A volcano on Iceland's southwestern coast erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, prompting an evacuation, officials said.

The eruption began between Mt. Hagafell and Mt. Stora Skogfell at 20:23 UTC, with a "2.9-km-long fissure forming quickly," the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

PHOTO: TOPSHOT-ICELAND-VOLCANO (Halldor Kolbeins/AFP via Getty Images)

"The lead-up to the eruption was short," Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement, noting that a state of emergency has been declared due to the eruption.

The first warning to Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management was at 19:43 UTC, with the onset of the eruption confirmed via web cameras 40 minutes later, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

"The eruption is effusive in nature, so the eruption plume consists mainly of steam and gas," the office said.

MORE: Volcano erupts in Iceland for 3rd time in 2 months

Based on initial assessments from aerial photographs and web camera imagery, the eruption is believed to be the largest in terms of magma discharge compared to the previous three eruptions from the Sundhnukur crater row, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

Lava was flowing westwards in the direction of protection barriers for the Svartsengi region and southeast toward the protection barriers for Grindavik, the office said.

PHOTO: A volcanic eruption is seen on Iceland's southwestern coast, March 16, 2024. (Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management)

Grindavik, a fishing town home to 4,000 residents, was being evacuated, according to Gisli Olafsson, an MP.

The nearby geothermal spa Blue Lagoon was also evacuated, Olafsson said on social media. The spa said it will be closed through at least Sunday due to the eruption.

MORE: Iceland volcano eruption triggers toxic air warning

The location of the latest fissure is similar to the previous eruption that occurred on Feb. 8, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

Another eruption nearby on Jan. 14 sent lava flowing into Grindavik, destroying several homes.

An eruption on Dec. 18 was accompanied by hundreds of earthquakes across the magma flow.

Volcano erupts in Iceland for 4th time since December originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The White House on Sunday reiterated support for a controversial bill meant to cut China's ties to TikTok by forcing the popular app's Chinese parent company to sell it -- or face a ban in the U.S.

At the same time, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said on ABC News' "This Week," the administration acknowledges the concerns of many American users.

"I want to stress again, over and over, that this isn't about a ban," Kirby told "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz. "We don't want to see a ban on TikTok. We understand there's a lot of people whose economic life relies on it."

He said the administration instead wants to see TikTok split from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, who staunchly opposes the legislation and maintains that the data fears around the use of TikTok are unfounded.

"We want to see divestiture from this Chinese company because we are concerned, as every American ought to be concerned, about data security and what ByteDance and what the Chinese Communist Party can do with the information they can glean off of Americans' use of the application," Kirby said.

Kirby also reacted to Israel saying it has military plans to invade Rafah, in the southern part of Gaza, amid its ongoing war with Hamas in the wake of Hamas' October terror attack.

"We would not support such an operation unless or until they can accommodate the 1.5 million refugees that are there [in Rafah] and preserve their safety and security," Kirby said.

"We have continued and will continue to press the Israelis to do more to reduce civilian casualties, to do more to get more [aid] trucks in and to, again, help us come to closure on this temporary cease-fire so that we can get all those hostages out," he said.

Raddatz pressed Kirby on President Joe Biden's recent comments that a Rafah invasion for him would be a "red line" before appearing to walk that back.

So -- "what is it?" Raddatz asked.

PHOTO: White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby speaks during a daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, on March 15, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"I don't want to get ahead of where we are. They haven't moved into Rafah," Kirby said, stressing Biden's opposition to an invasion that doesn't consider civilian safety.

He later added, "Now the Israeli Defense Forces say that they have such a plan for an evacuation, they talked about humanitarian islands in Gaza. Again, we welcome the opportunity to see that, to see if that's actually executable and doable."

In the meantime, the U.S. is continuing the "emergency" mission it announced earlier this month to construct a floating pier off Gaza's coast in an effort to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory -- a delicate operation that brings American forces closer to the conflict.

Kirby said the first parts of the pier left Norfolk, Virginia, last week.

"It's going to probably take about six to eight weeks or so for all the pieces to get in place for it to become operational," he said. "We are working with partners in the region to figure out the details of how the material will be secured on and off the floating dock and, of course, how it will be distributed inside Gaza."

Kirby did not directly answer Raddatz's question as to how the mission could be completed without U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza.

The White House is also working to provide additional military assistance to Ukraine as it continues to fight Russia's invasion after legislation to do so stalled in Congress over a fight about immigration policy.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said last week that he now expects to pass the funding bill with Democratic votes.

Kirby said "the White House has been in touch with Speaker Johnson and his team about this moving forward," adding, "Time is of the essence."

"They are running out of ammunition in the Donbass and they are falling back now on second and third lines of defense as the Russians continue to try to push west," Kirby said of the Ukrainians. "They've got to have the support and we need it now."

White House wants TikTok's parent company to divest: 'We don't want to see a ban' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
After weeks of spring-like warmth, parts of the United States will briefly plunge back into winter this week, with below-freezing temperatures possible for much of the eastern half of the country.

Tuesday marks the official start of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere after the warmest winter on record.

But it seems Mother Nature has the seasons mixed up, because spring will feel more like winter early this week. More than half the US population will experience temperatures at or below freezing.

The cold isnt just an anomaly, it will pose a risk for agricultural interests in the Southeast with the growing season underway there. Freeze warnings stretch from Texas to North Carolina because of the risk to crops.

The chilly weather will be a shock for many in the eastern half of the country experiencing warmer than average temperatures this past week. Many southern cities had highs in the 70s on Saturday  but that changed Sunday as cold crept into the Midwest and progressed south and east.

Colder air has become widespread across much of the eastern half of the country Monday and will keep most of the region quite chilly Tuesday.

St Louis could see more than a 20-degree swing from the high 60s Saturday to the low 40s Monday. Atlantas high temperature could drop by as much as 15 degrees from Saturday to Monday, from the low 70s to the mid-50s.

These temperatures might not be frigid, but in parts of the South theyre more typical for the heart of winter.

Memphis, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, are both forecast to see a high temperature around 50 degrees on Monday  more typical for mid-January.

The cold air will continue to spread east Monday night into Tuesday, finally reaching much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. New York City will drop from a high of 61 degrees Saturday to the mid-40s Tuesday.

CNN Weather

Philadelphias high temperature on Tuesday is expected to be in the upper 40s, more typical of late February.

Low temperatures will also be dropping. Temperatures in the Southeast Tuesday morning will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal for this time of the year. Atlanta, Charlotte, and Birmingham, Alabama, are all expected to see temperatures drop into the low 30s Tuesday morning, presenting the greatest risk to plants.

The timing of this potential freeze is not out of the ordinary. Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta experienced their final freeze right around the spring equinox last year. But the threat to plant life is more substantial given the warmth preceding it.

Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing, the National Weather Service in Atlanta said.

Bringing plants indoors is the easiest way to protect them from a hard freeze, but if you cant do that, covering them can also help.

Sheets, towels or blankets can be used to help trap the radiant heat from the ground around the plants. Use stakes with your plant coverings or drape them over patio furniture so they dont crush the plant.

Temperatures will rebound rather quickly across the Southeast by the end of the week, so hang on to that sunscreen and allergy medicine, as spring will be in full swing shortly.

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"We are pleased to have Michael spearheading several large cloud engineering and consulting engagements," said John Kaleski, Mantel Group's partner leading its Microsoft Cloud practice.

"He has a proven track record of building strong Microsoft solutions businesses, based on successful customer relationships."

He comes into the role after working in the UK for nine years at UK-based managed service provider (MSP) Content+Cloud, with the last seven years spent as senior account executive. That MSP was acquired by Swedish company Advania in November last year and was subsequently rebranded to the parent company's name.

"I'm looking forward to driving Mantel Group's growth plans in the Microsoft space," said McLoghlin. "They have been securing some of the industry's most skilled people to execute on their ambitions.
According to the latest dataset released by the EC, the BJP is the biggest beneficiary of the electoral bonds scheme

New Delhi: Some skeletons tumbled out as the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday made public the data submitted by political parties on the electoral bonds (EB). While parties like the BJP, Congress, TMC and SP withheld details of their donors and provided only the total amount of money received with dates, a few like the DMK, AIADMK and JD(S) went a step ahead and declared it all, including who gave how much.

According to data uploaded by the EC, out of the total Rs 656.5 crore the DMK got, 83 per cent of the party's total donations amounting to Rs 509 crore came from the controversial Future Gaming and Hotel Services.

The party also declared several other names, like Megha Infrastructure, which gave it Rs 105 crore; Sun TV gave it Rs 10 crore and India Cements gave it Rs 5.50 crore.

At Rs 1,368 crore, Coimbatore-based Future Gaming of "lottery king" Santiago Martin was the biggest purchaser of EBs, of which nearly 37 per cent went to the DMK.

Its rival party in Tamil Nadu AIADMK got a total of Rs 6.05 crore, out of which India Cements, alone donated Rs 5 crore, while Lakshmi Machine Works gave Rs 1 crore. Another South India party, the JD(S) declared Rs 89.75 crores donation through bonds purchased by the Embassy Group of Companies (Rs 13 crores), Infosys (Rs 8 crores), Biocon (Rs 2.5 crores), Megha Engineering (Rs 5 crores) and JSW Steel (Rs 5 crores).

According to the latest dataset released by the EC, the BJP is the biggest beneficiary of the electoral bonds scheme, receiving the maximum funds of 6,986.5 crore. The ruling BJP at the Centre is followed by West Bengal's Trinamul Congress, which got Rs 1,397 crore. The Congress got Rs 1,334 crore and the BRS got Rs 1,322 crore.

The MCP got 50.51 crore, while the AAP declared it got Rs 5.75 crore till May 2019, mostly through the Bajaj Group, which gave Rs 3 crores.

Among regional parties, the BJD encashed electoral bonds worth Rs 944.5 crore, the YSR Congress Rs 442.8 crore, the TDP Rs 181.35 crore, the SP got Rs 14.05 crore, the Akali Dal got Rs 7.26 crore, the Shiv Sena got Rs 60.4 crore and the RJD got Rs 56 crore.

Jammu and Kashmir's National Conference got Rs 50 lakh in EBs through Bharti Group. Sikkim Krantikari Morcha got Rs 15.50 crore.

The Left parties like the CPM, CPI, All India Forward Bloc, CPI-ML, did not participate in this process as they were principally opposed to it. The BSP, AIUDF, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Indian Union Muslim League, Indian National Lok Dal, Naga Peoples Front and Lok Janshakti Party (RV) did not get any money.

The EC had sought information in detail about the electoral bonds redeemed by the political parties, specifying the dates and amount of the money received. This data was submitted by the EC in sealed covers to the Supreme Court and it was later asked to put the data in the public domain. Though the EC had sought only limited information, some parties went ahead and disclosed the names of the donors.

In compliance with the Supreme Court's directions contained in its orders dated February 15 and March 11, this year, the EC has already uploaded data on electoral bonds as provided by the State Bank of India (SBI) vide press note of the Commission dated March 14. Political parties had filed data on electoral bonds in sealed cover as directed by the Supreme Courts interim order dated April 12, 2019... Data so received from political parties was deposited in the Supreme Court without opening sealed covers. In pursuance of the Supreme Courts order dated March 15, the Registry of the Supreme Court has returned physical copies along with a digitised record of the same in a pen drive in sealed cover. The Election Commission has today uploaded the data received in digitised form from the registry of the Supreme Court on electoral bonds on its website, the EC said.
Experts say abductee issue concerns lives, safety of citizens as well as fundamental human rights

By Kwak Yeon-soo

The government is facing growing calls to be more active in resolving the issue of South Koreans abducted and detained by North Korea by addressing it at international forums and other high-level events.

Rights groups said the government should raise awareness on this issue at the ongoing regular session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, which will last until April 5, as well as at the Summit for Democracy, which will be hosted by Seoul for a three-day run from Monday. Launched in 2021, the annual summit is led by the United States and aims to support and renew democracy while at the same time, confronting authoritarianism around the world.

Currently, six South Korean citizens  including three missionaries  have been detained in the reclusive regime for years on charges of committing what Pyongyang calls "anti-North Korea crimes." In the South, nothing is known of their respective whereabouts and what has become of them.

Separately, 516 South Koreans out of an estimated 3,835 people who were kidnapped by the North after the 1950-53 Korean War, have yet to return home, according to government data. At least 60,000 prisoners of war (POWs) are also estimated to have not come back home after being detained in the communist North, with many of them believed to have died.

The issue is resurfacing as this year marks the 10th year since the arrest of South Korean missionaries Choe Chun-gil and Kim Kuk-gi.

Choes son will attend one of the sessions of the U.N. this month to urge the UNHRC to step up efforts for his fathers repatriation, according to the Ministry of Unification.

Shin Hee-seok, a legal analyst at Transitional Justice Working Group, said the government should do its utmost to bring back South Korean abductees, detainees and POWs.

This is a critical issue concerning the sovereignty of Korea and the lives and safety of South Korean citizens," Shin said. "Its also about protecting fundamental human rights. South Korea should become a co-penholder of the North Korean human rights resolution to be adopted by the U.N. Human Rights Council in April."

For the past 20 years, South Korea has never been a penholder of North Korean human rights resolutions at the U.N. and failed to display even a minimum amount of consistency, refusing to even co-sponsor North Korean human rights resolutions from 2019 to early 2022.

Shin said, I hope President Yoon Suk Yeol mentions South Korean abductees, detainees and POWs in North Korea and pledges support for their safe return to South Korea in his keynote speech at the Summit for Democracy. It would be better if North Korean human rights were discussed during the summit.

Lee Kyu-chang, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-funded think tank, called for raising international interest in the detainee issue through cooperation with the international community.

We have to deepen our cooperation with domestic and international human rights groups that hold consultative status at the U.N. Economic and Social Council, so that side events designed to encourage the world to know the real situation of detainees in North Korea can be held during UNHRC sessions, he said.

Lee also said the Protestant community should join hands with the international community to launch a worldwide campaign calling for the return of those detainees.

Given that three out of six detainees are missionaries, the Protestant community should cooperate with the international Christian network to pressure the North Korean regime, he said.

To raise the issue domestically, he emphasized that the National Institute for Unification as well as a few other relevant agencies and groups should hold more lectures about abductees, detainees and POWs and create a textbook that deals with the issue.

New policies

In its effort to resolve the issue, the unification ministry rolled out eight policy goals on Thursday.

They include raising both domestic and international awareness of the issue, supporting families of those who are detained in North Korea, seeking cooperation with the U.S. and Japan as well as international organizations such as the Red Cross and the U.N. and engaging in negotiation preparation in case the two Koreas resume dialogue.

The Japanese government said there are at least 12 people who have not returned home after being abducted by North Korea.

In a related move, the government set up a task force last September to handle the issue of abductees, detainees and POWs. In February, it created a symbol of South Koreans abducted and detained in North Korea with an image of three forget-me-nots in a bid to raise public awareness.

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration understands the issue of South Korean abductees and detainees is a violation of human rights against South Korean citizens, a ministry official said.

We will support efforts by families of abductees and detainees of the North to draw international attention. We plan to call for resolution of the issue at the Universal Periodic Review in November.
Goas BJP chief minister has asked the Prime Minister Modi to renew the invitation he made in 2021 to the pope to visit India. Set for 21 November 2024-5 January 2025, the decennial exposition attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India. But some fear the announcement is just an electioneering move to woo Christian voters in the coming spring general elections.

Goa (AsiaNews)  Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday that the state government will ask the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to invite Pope Francis to visit the city for the decennial exposition of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier, which will be held in Goa from 21 November 2024 to 5 January 2025.

Chief Minister Sawant chaired a meeting of the coordination committee set up to oversee preparations for the event. Speaking to journalists, he said that during Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting at the Vatican in October 2021, the PM had invited Pope Francis to visit India.

Sawant, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made his announcement at a time when the country is in the middle of the countrywide general election.

As per established practice, to make it easier for almost a billion Indian voters to cast their ballot, the election will be held in seven phases starting on 19 April to 1 June; for Goa, the vote is set for 7 May.

For this reason, the chief ministers words have raised eyebrows, with the opposition accusing the BJP of using the exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier to woo Christian voters.

During the meeting of the coordinating committee, which was attended by the priests from the basilica and officials of the Archaeological Survey of India, it was decided to speed up preparations.

Sawant announced that a visitor information centre would open on 15 April and accommodations would be made available. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit the decennial exhibition of the relics kept in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa City.

The Goa State government has allocated a budget of Rs 100 million (US$ 1.2 million) for the event, while other funds would be diverted from other departments, the chief minister added.

For its part, the Union (federal) government recently launched a plan to develop services at the basilica, as part of the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) programme of the Ministry of Tourism.

The project includes the investment of more than Rs 170 million (US$ 2 million) to build a parking lot and a museum dedicated to the basilicas historical heritage. However, this move has been harshly criticised by local activists, who called it an electioneering initiative.

The basilica area has long been at the centre of a bitter controversy over a bungalow built by a BJP spokesman and a project for a resort right in Old Goa, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If the State government loves Goycho Saib (Lord of Goa), then they have to prepare a Master Plan for Old Goa to protect our only UNESCO world heritage site and stop illegal constructions, said Peter Viegas, Save Old Goa Action Committee coordinator.

The government should first demolish the illegal bungalow and stop constructions like laterite resort project, helipad, jetties, garbage plant, heritage interpretation centre, ODP etc. We suspect that the government has hidden agenda, Viegas added.

For Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State convenor Adv Amit Palekar, These projects are politically motivated things. Some time back BJP's chief spokesperson, during a debate, had made a statement that St Francis Xavier was [a] pioneer of [the] inquisition. Suddenly when the elections are coming close, they feel love for St Francis Xavier.

Palekar also noted that, If they were really interested in showing that they care for all this, they should have first looked after the illegal construction of the office bearer of the BJP. This is just a fake love as elections are close by just to appease the people of Goa. They will forget once the elections are over.'

Notwithstanding the political controversy, the exposition of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier is a major spiritual event that draws thousands of people from all over India as well as other countries. Card Felipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa, announced this year's exposition in November 2022 in a special decree.

This time, the archbishop has announced the exposition two years in advance keeping in mind a two-fold purpose: firstly, to step up the renewal of Christian life at all levels in the archdiocese, and secondly, to give sufficient time for pilgrims to plan their journey, said at the time Fr Barry Cardozo, director of the diocesan centre for social communications media.

For the Catholic faithful in Goa and Daman, the upcoming exposition is a God-given opportunity to learn to walk together as pilgrims of hope. The two years of spiritual preparation leading to the exposition will focus on walking with the poor and the marginalised, walking with peoples of all faiths and cultures, and walking in harmony with creation, Cardozo explained.

St Francis, a man of knowledge and expertise, fame, and rank, is a constant reminder that nothing has the power to affect change as much as love and compassion. His noble life and his abiding presence among us are an aide memoire that it is only a personal encounter with Christ that makes us his true disciples, Cardozo added.

Meanwhile, although no official announcement has been made, the Vatican is already working on a papal visit to Asia and Oceania, possibly in September, a demanding effort for Pope Francis given his current health situation.

The trip would include apostolic visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor Leste, the three countries the pontiff was supposed to visit in 2020, but could not due to the pandemic.

It is also possible that the tour might include a stop in Singapore and an official invitation from Vietnam.
SUV

EV

Right now, there are a lot of fans who disapprove of GM or Ford's resolution to kill off as many passenger car nameplates as possible. Currently, Ford is left with just the 2024 Mustang pony and muscle car, while Chevrolet only has the 2024 Malibu mid-size sedan and the Corvette C8 after it also gave up on the sixth-generation Camaro. Meanwhile, other brands like Lincoln or Buick have nothing but crossovers.The latter is in a peculiar spot, actually. While the 2023 Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave are not that interesting, the newer models and the refreshments are heavily influenced by a design study that's neither a crossover nor an. Instead, Buick presented in June 2022, almost two years ago, the Wildcatconcept car as an electric two-door coupe that not only foreshadowed the styling direction of Buick but also paved the way for upcoming EVs.The zero-emissions models are still nowhere to be found, but the DNA of the design study lingers on  for example, its original use of the new 'Trishield' corporate emblem was passed on to the first-ever 2024 Envista , the facelifted 2024 Encore GX or the upcoming 2024 Envision. So, why wouldn't Buick consider bringing to life the Wildcat EV as a series-production two-door coupe?After all, it bears the name of the classic Wildcat full-size model, which appeared on the market between 1963 and 1970 throughout two generations with two-door coupe and convertible plus four-door hardtop and sedan body styles. If Buick were to present a series production version of the Wildcat EV, complete with two-door coupe and four-door sedan form factors, it wouldn't even be the first American manufacturer with an electric 'muscle car.'In fact, if you thought the all-new 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T and Scat Pack or the four-door 2025 Charger Sixpack needed a competitor, it turns out somebody at General Motors deemed the Buick Wildcat EV concept as a perfect fit. Looking at this ideation sketch of a big two-door coupe, it's clear that it could easily represent GM's counter to Dodge's new EV era if anyone cared to put this design into production, that is.However, don't get your wishful thinking hopes up too much because GM has a habit of disregarding both independent designers and even the cool ideas stemming from its own GM Design Center. So, it wouldn't be the first good style that ends up nowhere, unfortunately.
Back in January 2023, the largest automaker of the Detroit Big Three confirmed that $579 million will be invested in the Flint Engine Operations to prepare said plant for the sixth-gen small block. Timing and product details haven't been released yet, although everyone and their dog knows that a small-block V8 is best suited to a full-size pickup truck and  of course  the Corvette Stingray.

SUV

EV

Photo: General Motors

Before General Motors replaces the C8 with the C9, hearsay suggests that a Corvette-brandedwill hit dealer showrooms nationwide. Said rumors prompted the folks at Halo oto to render the yet-unconfirmed Corvette SUV. It goes without saying that enthusiasts will certainly be offended by it.From the Camaro-esque headlights to the Blazer-inspired greenhouse and three-row SUV proportions, we're glad this fellow is made of pixels instead of composite materials. Without crediting any source for their hypothesis, Halo oto anticipates a hybrid powertrain for the Corvette SUV.Is that doable? Considering the larger footprint of a sport utility vehicle, a hybrid or plug-in hybrid seems feasible. Back in January 2024, chief executive officer Mary Barra told General Motors investors that GM's product lineup strategy would include plug-in hybrids.If there's a case to be made for a hybridized Corvette in SUV flavor, only time will tell. We can't end this here, though, because there are two more rumors that Corvette enthusiasts and prospective customers should be aware of, beginning with a full-electric Corvette SUV.Autoline Network, citing AutoForecast Solutions, reported on the battery-electric Corvette SUV in October 2022. The zero-emission sport utility vehicle will be  allegedly  produced at the Grand River plant in Lansing, Michigan. The start of production is estimated to be May 2026, and the electric Corvette SUV will be joined by a Buick electric SUV and a Cadillac electric sedan.A third of the report was proven wrong by General Motors when the largest automaker of the Detroit Big Three confirmed that Celestiq production would be handled by the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. The second of the aforementioned rumors comes from Car and Driver. Published in April 2023, the cited publication's report on the Corvette SUV is even wilder.For starters, Car and Driver says the Corvette SUV will be assembled at the Camaro's plant on the Camaro's platform . The problem with this claim is that General Motors never used the Alpha platform for a sport utility vehicle. From 2012 for model year 2013 to date, applications include the Cadillac ATS, CTS, CT4, CT5, and the sixth-gen Camaro.Adding insult to injury, GM has committed $1.25 billion for the Lansing Grand River assembly plant to build electric vehicles. The automaker did not disclose when EV production will start at Lansing Grand River, nor did General Motors indicate when the Cadillac CT4 and CT5 will be discontinued.Car and Driver stirs the pot even more with this line: "The [Alpha] platform alone suggests the Corvette SUV will be both entertaining to drive and potentially sold in two sizes. Again, think [Porsche] Macan and Cayenne." As highlighted earlier, the architecture in question has yet to spawn an SUV.Whatever the future may hold for the Corvette, an SUV isn't out of the question. Mustang deliveries totaled 48,605 units in the US last year, with the Mustang Mach-E clocking 40,771 units. If FoMoCo had the audacity of naming an Escape-based crossover Mustang Mach-E , then you can bet your bottom dollar GM won't have any problem following in the footsteps of the automaker that inspired GM's very own Camaro.
Auto enthusiasts will say that there's nothing more exclusive than a Pagani hypercar, given their limited production number and painfully exorbitant prices. But Pagani would beg to differ: its upcoming branded residential building is bound to be even more exclusive, even if you didn't think that was possible.

Photo: WeAreVisuals for Pagani Residences

Photo: WeAreVisuals for Pagani Residences

Photo: WeAreVisuals for Pagani Residences

Photo: WeAreVisuals for Pagani Residences

Car-branded residential buildings are not a novelty. For years, we've seen brands from Aston Martin to Mercedes, Bugatti, Bentley, and Porsche get into premium real estate with help from developing partners and the direct involvement of their respective design teams. Each of these projects is more than just exclusive real estate, it goes without saying. They're a reflection of that automaker and an extension of its distinctive style and core values.In many ways, a car-branded apartment or penthouse is the ultimate "get" for an auto enthusiast, more so than a home that's built around a passion for cars . A car-branded home might be the proverbial jewel in the crown of a passionate and well-off supporter and customer of that brand, given the brand's involvement in every step of the process.Pagani is joining this very select group of automakers on the premium real estate market , but with the kind of offer you can't refuse  on the condition you're wealthy enough to call yourself a Pagani client or, at the very least, to afford the kind of offer they're making.Pagani has joined forces with Miami-based developer Riviera Horizons for the first Pagani Residences project, which will go up in Miami's North Bay Village and comes with a completion date set for 2027. The official unveiling took place earlier this month (March 2024).Pagany hypercars are the most exclusive and expensive cars you can get today, but this project is going for even more exclusivity . Whereas there are about 400 Pagani car owners in the world, there will be only 70 owners of a Pagani home because the Miami project is a boutique building  not only for the sake of exclusivity but on considerations of space and privacy.The Pagani Residences building is going for several world or Miami firsts, including the first Pagani-branded and curated building in the world, the first hypercar-branded residence in Miami, and the first boutique automotive-branded building in Miami. Architecture firm Revuelta is handling the design.The 28-level tower will offer 70 waterfront, all-corner residences with interiors by Pagani Arte, the Pagani design team, and fully custom layouts and finishes. Every one of these residences will be entirely custom and handcrafted, be it a two-bedroom apartment or one of the two penthouses up top.Residences have between two and four bedrooms, and between 2,000 to 3,300+ square feet (186 to 307 square meters), with the list of amenities varying according to size and price. For example, apartments with smaller layouts get large private terraces, while the penthouses have private pools. Only four residences are located on each floor for privacy considerations.On-site amenities range from 24-hour concierge service, valet parking, and porte cochere to private ensuite elevators, private boat slips and boardwalk, waterfront lobby, and storage for smaller watertoys. The ground floor will also host a pet spa, bicycle storage, private garages that will be offered for sale, and preferred parking.Scattered across the building are various communal areas that aim to make ownership of one such apartment the complete package. Think of the Pagani Residences as an ultra-luxury resort type of building, where you have immediate and instant access to services and amenities, so you never have to leave the grounds if you don't want to.For instance, the eighth floor will hold a private lounge, with a media room and a library. A state-of-the-art wellness area will be located on level 27, including a fitness center, Pilates and yoga studios, a center for advanced cardio training, private treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, and something described as a "restorative wellness lounge."Level 28 will hold a rooftop pool and sky lounge, with jacuzzi, cabanas with cold plunges, summer kitchens, and bars. In short, just the place to get away from the daily rut, short of going on a vacation."Pagani Residences represent an exciting blend of Pagani's bespoke design approach with the finest materials, and the vibrant allure of Miami's beauty and dynamic energy," Horacio Pagani, founder and CEO of Pagani Automobili, says of the project. "This innovative fusion embodies the distinctive essence that defines Pagani. Our aspiration is for residence owners to evoke the same exhilaration and excitement that our auto enthusiasts and owners experience every time they get behind the wheel of their Pagani Hypercar."And here's one more thing the two have in common aside from the illustrious Pagani name . A home in the upcoming Pagani Residences tower starts at $2.4 million before customization, which is about the same kind of money you'd need to have saved up to get a newer Pagani hypercar
People generally don't associate EVs with camping, off-roading, and even overlanding for a very obvious reason: range. However, with technology rapidly evolving and more available range, we're going to see more and more EVs used for these purposes. Today, I want to discuss whether the new Rivian R2 presents itself as a future good fit for these outdoor activities.

EV

General Info

Photo: Rivian

Features

Photo: Rivian

Photo: Rivian

Accessories

Photo: Rivian

Photo: @RivianTrackr via X

Conclusion

AWD

This isn't the first time I'm doing a deep dive into camping and overlanding. For instance, I've written articles discussing what overlanding is and what the best vehicles are for this demanding activity. Moreover, I've discussed the off-road and camping capabilities of the Tesla Cybertruck Before we dive deeper, some essential facts about the Rivian R2, unveiled at Rivian's event in Laguna Beach, California, on March 7, 2024. The all-newis estimated to hit the roads in early 2026 in the US, while European customers will have to wait until 2027.As soon as you look at it, you can tell the R2 is inspired by the larger and pricier R1S. Compared to it, it provides only five seats and will be offered at a much cheaper price point, starting at around $45,000 (41,290). That makes it a direct competitor to Tesla's best-selling Model Y , which has a starting MSRP of $43,990 (40,363).To make things even better regarding pricing, the R2 might qualify for the $7,500 (6,882) federal EV tax credit, making it an attractive and affordable EV option.The Rivian R2 is based on the company's fresh mid-size EV platform, which claims to "deliver amazing performance, range, and cost efficiency." Its highlights include a structural battery unit with an interchangeable top and floor, high-pressure die castings, and the brand's in-house "network architecture, computer topology, and software stack."Three motor configurations will be available for the R2: single motor (rear), dual motor (front and rear), and tri-motor (two rear, one front). What's more, this will be the first Rivian to be offered with RWD (on the single motor configuration). Two battery sizes will also be available.Let me quickly tell you about the R2's dimensions. It's 15 inches (38 centimeters) shorter than its older brother, the R1S. What's more, the R2 boasts a height of 67 inches (170 centimeters) and a wheelbase of 115.5 inches (293 centimeters), six inches (15 centimeters) shorter than the R1S. Its maker terms the R2 as a "midsized crossover."Naturally, Rivian wanted to outshine its competitor, Tesla. The R2 features 4695 battery cells  long story short, these cylindrical units are larger than the Tesla Cybertruck's 4680 cells, which translates to more energy capacity, better gains from regenerative braking, and higher rates of charge and discharge. That brings me to my next point: range.Rivian estimates a range of over 300 miles (483 km) on a single charge for both the R2 and R3. The only exception is the single-motor version of the R2 with the small battery, which will have about 270 miles (430 km) of range.By comparison, the Model Y Long Range Version is estimated to last 310 miles (499 km) - that's pretty close. However, when off-roading, you'll use more power. So, you can expect to lose about 15% to 20% of that range when off the beaten path. Of course, things will differ depending on what type of off-roading you do.But let's assume you have the full range of 300 miles. Is that enough for camping and overlanding? Well, if you plan on going camping relatively close to home, or at least close to a charging station, you'll have nothing to worry about. However, if you plan to overland and head to remote places (which is an essential part of overlanding), you probably shouldn't embark on this type of adventure in an EV.The R2's DC fast charging comes with native NACS capability and CCS with an adapter. Rivian estimates the EV will be able to charge from 10% to 80% in less than half an hour. Furthermore, the charge port was moved from the front left of the vehicle to the back right.Now that we've got the relevant general info out of the way, let's see how the R2 will handle off-roading. One critical piece of information is that the R2 comes with a good 9.8 inches (24.9 centimeters) of ground clearance.Rivian created a fantastic off-roadable platform for the R1. In fact, the R1S was the first production EV to complete the challenging Rubicon trail last August. So, we can safely assume that should be the case for the R2.Regarding suspension, Rivian hasn't yet released any info. The R1 models came with an adjustable air suspension, but there's a chance we don't see the same in the R2. A safe assumption is that it will feature coil springs and adjustable dampers. Again, we don't know any details about the suspension, so this is just my assumption.We got a sneak peek of the drive mode software on the R2 thanks to the renowned YouTuber Marquees Brownlee, who did a tour of the R2 with Rivian's CEO, RJ Scaringe. At one point in the video, they talked about the display.That's when we get to see three drive modes: All-Purpose, All-Terrain, and Snow. Underneath, we can see settings for the Ride (such as Soft or Hard), Regen, and Stability. This indicates there's no ride height option on the R2, like on the R1s. However, Rivian might add/change stuff until the vehicle's release, so keep that in mind.I'll continue this article with some of the cool features of the R2 that might make a difference when camping, but I'm saving the two best parts for last. First off, one nice detail regarding Rivian's newly unveiled EV is that it comes with a drop-down rear glass. This feature allows you to store various long items through the back, such as surfboards, skis, and more. Moreover, the drop-down glass will also be useful when you want to grab stuff from the back  there's no more need to open and close the trunk.Rivian offered its previous R1T and R1S vehicles with a flashlight and a Bluetooth speaker. For the R2, the company will ditch the Bluetooth speaker and provide only a flashlight held in a special spot inside the driver's door. It's Rivian's signature feature, and it's always nice to have when adventuring into the outdoors. Furthermore, the passenger door houses a power bank that doubles as a hand warmer, which is nice to have when adventuring in cold environments.Storage is critical when camping in a vehicle. Luckily, Rivian is known to maximize storage space for its adventure-seeking customer base. The R2's center console boasts several different storage compartments and what looks like retractable cup holders.One upgrade to the R2's storage is two gloveboxes. Rivian made sure both the driver and the passenger had their own storage spots. Regarding exterior storage, you still have a frunk.Now, let me tell you about the R2's two best features for camping. First, the R2's seats can be folded down. I know this isn't a groundbreaking feature, but I get this  I'm not talking about just the rear seats. In fact, all the seats can be folded flat, making the interior the perfect camping spot.Typically, adventurers fold the rear seats to make space to fit a mattress to sleep in the back. However, even if you move the front seats as much to the front as possible, you still lose some valuable real estate. One mod people go with is making the front seats swivel so you can have some extra room.These options might work, but they can't be compared to Rivian's solution, which provides the most space inside. Of course, you still have holes between the front and rear seats, but you can place a mattress over them, and you're good to go.If you want to choose a budget-friendly option, I'd say that a standard foam mattress will do the job. However, Rivian will also provide the option of a custom mattress specifically designed to fit perfectly over the seats, offering as much comfort as possible.Just imagine  you set up your mattress after a long day of driving. You lie down and look above, straight through the enormous panoramic sunroof. You're probably in a slightly remote area, or at least not in a major city, so the stars light up the sky. Then, you can play some smooth jazz through the vehicle's surround sound speakers and enjoy the experience before dozing off to sleep. This is my vision of a cozy night camping in the R2, and I think you might relate to it.Even though the sunroof can't be opened, you can drop the rear glass to have some extra air circulation. If that's not enough, the rear seat windows can be opened. They do not drop down conventionally, but they pop open to let some fresh air in.And finally, Rivian has developed an accessory ecosystem specifically designed for the new EVs. Some of them are meant to make use of the Accessory Port. The Accessory Port consists of two locking rails that allow you to install additional items without needing other tools.This Accessory Port opens up new opportunities for camping. It can hold a sturdy two-bike mount designed by Rivian, as well as a suite of other accessories. One notable one is the Travel Kitchen. Just like the Bike Mount, the kitchen slides on the side rails and locks in place.The kitchen comes with a cooler, a water tank, an induction cooktop, and a cookware set  it has all the essentials you'll need to start cooking on the go. Add some hanging lights, and you'll be good to go to prepare meals even after the sun sets.A detachable cargo box is another accessory that can help turn the R2 into a camper . It features handles and wheels, enabling you to move it around however necessary. Then, you can pop it back into place. Basically, you can consider it an extra trunk that will come in very useful when the interior space is occupied by a mattress.Let's move on to the roof, where things get even more interesting. It can be equipped with a cargo box or a Treehouse. The latter feature is not actually a treehouse but rather a rooftop tent with a rectangular shape and "windows."It's not just any rooftop tent  even though it looks similar to a run-of-the-mill tent while folded, you'll discover some neat features once it's open. You'll find out it's a powered tent offering lighting, heating, and ventilation. Rivian went even further and dedicated an infotainment menu page for the Treehouse tent called "Basecamp", where you're able to set the desired ambiance via several predefined settings.You can use the Basecamp page to choose your preferred temperature, adjust lighting options, see info regarding outlets and power use, and more. When sleeping inside, a "Super Dark" mode turns the screen red to prevent eye strain.How is that possible? Well, the R2 comes with electrical connectors in the roof rails. Since you can control climatization and lights for the tent, it's safe to assume that these connectors will also have a data bus (besides the electrical connection). This is a major opportunity for both Rivian and third-party suppliers to come up with all sorts of useful accessories.But wait, there's more. Customers will get a heated mattress with the tent. To make things even cooler, the Treehouse has its own movie projector. Of course, it's powered by the R2 and will project images on a roll-down screen located on a side window.The R2 and R2 aren't the only EVs that will be able to accommodate this awesome tent. The Treehouse is rumored to be offered for Rivian's existing vehicles, the R1S and the R1T. Your next question probably is, "How much will it cost?"Well, we don't have an exact number yet. However, we have the R1S three-person tent as a reference, which is currently available for $2,800 (2,569). Considering it's not as advanced as the Treehouse, we can expect the latter to cost at least two times as much, making it quite costly  more than 10% of the R2's price.All in all, it's safe to assume that the Rivian R2 will be quite capable when it comes to off-roading, at least if you opt for theoptions. Sure, we can't compare it to a Jeep Wrangler due to its geometry, but it might be close to the capabilities of a Toyota 4Runner. Moreover, of course, the choice of tires will impact the off-road capabilities.For overlanding , we already determined it won't be a good choice. Not because it can't go off the beaten path but because it's an EV, and EVs aren't ready for overlanding.Lastly, regarding camping, the Rivian R2 can be a good choice. Rivian's suite of accessories will make camping easier, and the fold-down seats are a game-changer. Add the Treehouse tent and the outdoor kitchen, and you're ready to adventure outdoors  just make sure you're not too far from a charging station.
17 March 2024 17:45 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Inequality, and scarcity of natural resources have been one of the important issues which mankind has been trying to solve for a long. The issue got more importance, especially after the Industrial Revolution in Europe. Following the Revolution, then-philosophers and intelligentsia focused on the issue that resulted in the bloody coups-de-eta and revolutions in the World. Despite all promises, the left movement could not bring equality in the world.

As for the scarcity of national resources, the world has been drumming up for warning. The population ramps up thanks to the invention of new medicaments and the development of healthcare. The number of population has increased several times in the last century which has never happened throughout history.

The XI Global Baku Form also discussed the issue and tried to find the resolution, whether the scarce of national resources meet the demands of population in the future.

Speaking to Azernews on the issue, Dr. Frank Musmar noted that inequality as a term emerges to become problematic once people start feeling the unfair distribution of power, resources, the rights they can exercise, and the opportunities they can access. He said that in the last century, a new form of inequality emerged and started limiting people's freedom according to different factors, including but not limited to gender, age, origin, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, class, and religion.

Official estimates suggested that 91.4 million people across the EU (around a fifth of the population), of whom 17.9 million were children, are at risk of poverty or social exclusion (defined as living with severe material deprivation or chronic underemployment), with inequality levels static or worsening since the 2008-9 financial crisis. Inequalities of opportunity due to power abuse cause a lack of access to justice and affect a person's life expectancy and access to essential services such as healthcare, education, water, and sanitation. Inequality is crucial in any society; it can alter people's trust, participation, attitudes, and happiness, Musmar said.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan is one of the unique countries in terms of diversity and human and natural resources and historically, the country has given many examples of fairness and equality. Dr Frank Musmar emphasized that on May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan created the first parliament with 11 parties and factions, including two Armenian factions within the parliament; Second, Azerbaijan gave parity to women to receive the right to vote in Baku before most European and American countries.

After the second independence, Azerbaijan restored and preserved many religious monuments equally, such as the Kish church temple (the first Albanian-Christian temple in the caucuses) in the Sheki region of Azerbaijan, the Albanian churches in Gabala, and the Shamakhi Juma Mosque. Today, Azerbaijan enjoys the freedom of religion. Muslims, Jews, and Christians can all worship openly and freely, the professor added.

As for scarcity of national resources, he underscored that Azerbaijan has a wealth of natural resources, such as the gas field of Garadagh, the Caspian Sea's shelf zone, and the Baku and Absheron archipelago. He said that the wealth spread to iron, titanium, gold, silver, copper, cobalt, chromite, polymetals, and molybdenum ore deposits. Most importantly, water. Azerbaijan's government built 780 kilometers of drinking water pipelines this year to combat the reduction of water resources. Also, the population was given two reservoirs and 480 springs for use.

We are already using 2 to 3 times more of the Earth's natural resources than what is sustainable. If we do not act now, we will see the consequences of depletion of natural resources  and it won't be pretty. For example, only 2.5% of the world's water is fresh. Our water resource depletion is more severe than the current oil depletion. There are substitutes for oil, but nothing can replace our drinking water. Drinking water shortage, food shortage, famine, less transportation, smaller economies, and higher prices. Drought will cause soil erosion, global warming, species extinction, and biodiversity loss, the US pundit concluded.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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North Korea's ambassador to Cuba has paid a visit to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel before concluding his mission, the Cuban presidential office said, as Pyongyang is preparing to replace the envoy after Cuba's surprising establishment of diplomatic ties with South Korea.

Diaz-Canel shared a brief video of Friday's meeting with Ambassador Ma Chol-su on X, the former Twitter platform, saying he reassured the ambassador that Pyongyang could always rely on Cuba's support, solidarity and friendship in all aspects.

The president, who visited North Korea twice, also emphasized the brotherhood between the countries.

Ma is reported to have received the Friendship Medal from the president that day in recognition of his diplomatic service in Cuba for the past five years.

The replacement came at a delicate moment, following the surprise announcement of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba on Feb. 14, sparking speculation that the event might have influenced the change of the ambassador.

Given the duration of Ma's service, however, it might just be a routine transfer. Ma was appointed in October 2018, according to reports from the Korean Central News Agency.

Ma's successor has yet to be announced. (Yonhap)
17 March 2024 14:11 (UTC+04:00)

By Mazahir Afandiyev

With the backdrop of the fourth industrial revolution ushering in a new era of transformation, the developed nations of the worldparticularly those capable of maintaining their military and economic stabilityhave become active participants in international projects and the focal point of the emerging new order. They are thus attempting to ascertain their place and pursue their interests across the spectrum.

The more than two-year-long Russian-Ukrainian war has had a profound effect on the international relations system and is substantially impeding the development of a new political architecture. Global peace is greatly threatened by issues pertaining to the security of people living in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the Red Sea, the European Union's eastward expansion policy, the rampant criminality in Latin America, the competition between China and the United States for economic dominance, and conflict hotspots around the globe that are still unresolved.

Due to these threats, international organizationssuch as specialized international think tanksas well as heads of state, government, and foreign ministry are being forced to convene and negotiate on how to maintain the sustainability of the international peace system in the face of a collapsing global community.

These politicians are well aware that fostering constructive discussion via peace is currently the only way to end all conflicts, better organize a new architecture of peace, and protect the interests of powerful nations militarily and economically.

Taking into consideration the interests of the people who live on its historical lands, the Republic of Azerbaijan, which has a 30-year modern political history, in turn, shows sensitivity to global challenges and contributes to the preservation of its independence and sovereignty as well as the achievement of sustainable peace in the world.

It is no accident that Baku is the host city of the Global Baku Forum, organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center since 2013. This event, which has already established an annual tradition, enables a more thorough examination of numerous significant global topics. I would like to draw attention to the fact that the forum's membership, geographic reach, and intellectual capacity all rise year over year.

More than 400 people from 68 countries are present at the XI Global Baku Forum on the theme "The Restoration of the Destroyed World," which got underway on March 14, 2024. Among them are high-ranking officials from several nations as well as leaders of international organizations. Herein lies a striking illustration of faith in the determination and humanity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and, undoubtedly, in President Ilham Aliyev.

During the Forum's opening ceremony, the President of Azerbaijan emphasized that the world is changing rapidly and alerted the attendees to the fact that regional events are becoming more global in nature and that local events are becoming more significant in their own regions. Consequently, the 44-day Second Karabakh-Patriotic War, which concluded with Azerbaijan's victory in 2020, and the one-day local counterterrorism operations carried out in 2023 not only altered the political landscape of the South Caucasus but also demonstrated the possibility of resolving conflicts that appear insurmountable on a global scale.

In the last three years, Azerbaijan has destroyed or taken as prized property Armenian military hardware, including heavy machinery and armored vehicles valued at about six billion US dollars: five billion US dollars in 2020 and one billion US dollars in 2023. This will stop these weapons from being used against civilians and for military purposes going forward and help bring about peace in the region and around the world.

Therefore, the president of Azerbaijan's speech at the XI Global Baku Forum and the ideas he expressed call for simplifying current strategies, taking into account the interests of all peoples, and working toward the organization of a sustainable peace system. The ideas of President Ilham Aliyev are further evidence that Azerbaijan serves as a global herald for security and peace.

Mazahir Afandiyev is the Member of the Milli Majlis (the Azerbaijani Parliament).

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17 March 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov has met with his Uzbek counterpart Rakhmatulla Nurimbetov, who was in Baku to attend the 11th Global Baku Forum.

The meeting focused on the pivotal role of high-level political dialogue in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two brotherly countries and infusing it with fresh initiatives.

The sides hailed the development of bilateral relations across all areas between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, also discussing future endeavors to further deepen cooperation.

The two also exchanged views on important regional and international issues of mutual interest.

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17 March 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan`s Prime Minister Ali Asadov has met with Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the sides emphasized the significance of the 11th Global Baku Forum. They described the participation of heads of state and government, along with distinguished political and public figures from numerous countries, in this event as a sign of its authority.

During the conversation, Ali Asadov emphasized Azerbaijans achievements and dynamic development since gaining independence. He highlighted the positive outcomes of the large-scale reforms implemented across various domains, especially in the economic field.

The PM commended Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus's longstanding fruitful activity in combating global poverty.

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17 March 2024 10:51 (UTC+04:00)

The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, expressed his condolences to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

In his condolence, the minister said: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the martyrdom and injury of the Pakistani Armed Forces personnel as a result of the treacherous attack by terrorists in the northwestern region of Pakistan.

We pray for mercy to those who died, share in the pain of their loved ones, express our deepest condolences to their families and ask Allah for patience.

May their souls Rest In Peace".

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17 March 2024 12:18 (UTC+04:00)

A group of corrupt and racist deputies of the European Parliament insulted Azerbaijan under the pretext of protecting cultural heritage and tried to interfere in its internal affairs. In their appeals, the parliamentarians did not use the universal expressions "world cultural heritage", which includes the heritage of all peoples, but rather the expressions that discriminate along religious lines, and spoke exclusively about the Armenian heritage, Azernews reports, citing the statement by the Western Azerbaijan Community.

It is known to everyone that Armenia systematically and massively destroyed the cultural heritage belonging to Azerbaijanis in its territory and in the territories of Azerbaijan it once occupied. On the territory of Armenia, 300 mosques, hundreds of cemeteries, numerous other cultural monuments have been erased from the earth. Armenia does not allow the visit of the UNESCO mission for the purpose of monitoring the state of Azerbaijani cultural heritage there.

Instead of slandering Azerbaijan and creating discord on religious grounds, the fake deputies of the European Parliament should make efforts to implement the visit of the UNESCO mission to Armenia, stop the destruction of the Azerbaijani cultural heritage there and restore the destroyed ones, and most importantly, support the return of 300 thousand Western Azerbaijanis who were expelled from Armenia.

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17 March 2024 12:39 (UTC+04:00)

3 grenades, 1 pistol, 40 automatic cartridges, as well as 7 hunting rifles of different brands were discovered in Azerbaijan's Gobustan district.

Azernews reports, referring to the Shaki regional group of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that, as a result of the actions carried out by the employees of the Gobustan District Police Department, the found items were handed over to the local police department.

Following the preventive measures carried out by the department employees, the resident of the district voluntarily handed over 1 hunting rifle without relevant documents to the police.

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17 March 2024 18:17 (UTC+04:00)

A festive celebration was held on the occasion of Nowruz holiday at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Azernews reports, citing the embassy.

Ambassador Eldar Salimov, who opened the event, congratulated the guests on Novruz holiday and wished them prosperity, happiness and peace.

Reminding that National Leader Heydar Aliyev, when he led Azerbaijan in the Soviet era, made it possible for our people to widely celebrate Novruz, the ambassador proudly noted that thanks to our Glorious Army under the leadership of the Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, this beautiful holiday has been greeted with the song of Victory for the fourth year.

The ambassador stated that Novruz is celebrated at a high level in Azerbaijan, and that 11 cultural heritages of our country, including the Nowruz holiday, were included in UNESCO's World Heritage List at the initiative of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in order to promote our national and cultural heritage, and in 2010, the initiative of our country and Novruz He said that March 21 was declared International Nowruz Day by the UN with the support of other celebrating countries.

In other speeches, it was emphasized that the joint celebration of Novruz by our compatriots living abroad strengthens their feelings of attachment to our homeland, and on these days, the dear memory of the heroic children who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was once again remembered with respect.

After the speeches, Azerbaijani music was played, and delicious refreshments were offered to the guests.

Well-known social and political figures of Jordan and our compatriots living in this country took part in the event.

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17 March 2024 19:52 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyevs one-on-one meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has started.

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17 March 2024 18:44 (UTC+04:00)

Germanys chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has warned that an Israeli assault on Rafah would make regional peace very difficult, Azernews reports, citing the Guardian.

This is one of the main arguments he will bring to talks with Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, later on Sunday during his trip to the region, he said.

Right now, it is about ensuring we come to a long-lasting ceasefire, Scholz said after talks with Jordanian King Abdullah at his private residence in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.

That would enable us to prevent such a ground offensive from taking place.

Asked if he was prepared to exert pressure on Netanyahu to stop such an assault, Scholz said it was very clear we must do everything so the situation does not get worse than it already is.

Israel has every right to protect itself. At the same time, it cannot be that those in Gaza who fled to Rafah are directly threatened by whatever military actions and operations are undertaken there.

Israel  which on Friday approved a plan to attack Rafah  says the city is one of the last strongholds of Hamas, which it has pledged to eliminate, and that residents will be evacuated.

The US president, Joe Biden, and officials with the UN, however, have warned that an Israeli military ground offensive in Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians are sheltering, would lead to a bloodbath.

In a post on X, Scholz also said on Sunday that he wants to see a much larger amount of aid being delivered via land routes, a topic he said he would raise when speaking with Netanyahu in Jerusalem later today.

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17 March 2024 22:10 (UTC+04:00)

NATO allies on Sunday completed the initial phase of the Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 in Poland, the "largest military exercise in Europe since the Cold War," according to the alliance, Azernews citing, Anadolu Agency.

"Exercise Steadfast Defender 24, conducted in Poland with the participation of 24 countries including Turkiye has been successfully completed," the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on X.

About 90,000 troops are to take part in the exercise poised to test and refine NATOs defence plans for reinforcing European defences against a near-peer adversary, the alliance had said earlier in a statement before the drills began.

STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 is designed to provide valuable insights for enhancing NATOs defence plans, improving interoperability, efficiency, and resilience.

This effort aims to demonstrate NATOs commitment to collective defence and send a robust message about its readiness to protect all Allies in the face of emerging threats, the statement noted.

As tensions persist in Eastern Europe, this exercise sends a clear message that NATO is prepared to defend its members, its values, and uphold collective security in the Euro-Atlantic area, the alliance underlined.

According to the statement, the first phase of the exercise, between the end of January and mid-March, focused on "maritime reinforcement across the Atlantic and in the Arctic."

The second phase from mid-February to the end of May shifts to "using deployed reinforcements across all domains, from the Arctic to the Eastern Flank."

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Al Areen Holding, a prominent player in the real estate industry, recently received the highly coveted 'Masterplan of the Year' award at the 2024 Entrepreneur Middle East  Real Estate Leadership Awards for its mega Areen Master Development Project in the kingdom.

The event, held at the Habtoor Palace in Dubai, brought together prominent industry leaders, influencers and visionaries who are shaping the future of the Middle East's real estate landscape. Ahmed Khalfan, the Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Al Areen Holding, received the award on behalf of the company.

Recognising excellence and innovation in the industry, the event serves as a platform to acknowledge exceptional projects and individuals.

The Masterplan of the Year award highlights Al Areen Holdings ability to redefine urban spaces through integrated planning, design, and execution, said the Bahrain developer in a statement.

This innovative masterplan showcases a harmonious blend of modern infrastructure, sustainable practices and vibrant community engagement, all while staying true to the region's rich cultural heritage, it stated.

With this recognition, Al Areen Holding further solidifies its position as a leader in the real estate industry, setting new benchmarks for excellence and innovation. The company remains committed to elevating the quality of life and contributing to the overall development of the local communities it serves, it added.

On the key accolades, CEO Dr Ahlam Zainal said: "We are truly honoured to be recognised for our commitment to excellence and innovation in applying international standards to developing masterplans. This award underscores the dedication and hard work of our talented team, who have tirelessly brought our vision to life."

"We are grateful for the support and trust of the government and official entities as well our valued partners, who continue to inspire us to push boundaries and deliver extraordinary projects," she stated.

Khalfan said: "We are privileged to receive the Masterplan of the Year award at the Entrepreneur Middle East  Real Estate Leadership Awards. This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence and innovation in creating sustainable urban environments, showcasing the collective vision and dedication of our talented team."

"It inspires us to continue exceeding industry standards and delivering exceptional results in real estate," he stated.

With a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial and hospitality projects, Al Areen Holding is dedicated to creating iconic developments that redefine luxury living in Bahrain.

Its projects in rthe kingdom reflect a perfect blend of modern design, sustainability and functionality, setting new standards in the real estate landscape of the region, he added.

Dr Zainal said Al Areen Holdings ethos revolves around delivering exceptional quality, attention to detail and unparalleled customer experiences. "From luxury residents to world-class hospitality developments, the companys projects stand out for their architectural brilliance, sophistication and commitment to sustainable practices," she noted.

With a proven track record of successful projects and a strong reputation for excellence, Al Areen Holding continues to be a trusted name in the real estate sector, setting the benchmark for premium living experiences in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service
By Kwak Yeon-soo

Less than half of South Korean students think unification with North Korea is necessary amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, a survey showed, Saturday.

In an online survey of 73,991 elementary, middle and high school students, conducted by the unification ministry and education ministry from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, 2023, 49.8 percent replied that unification is necessary, while 38.9 percent said it is not needed. This is the first time that the rate of students supporting unification dropped below 50 percent since the survey began in 2014.

The two Koreas are still technically at war as the 1950-53 war ended in an armistice.

Among those opposed to the idea of unification, potential social problems following unification were the biggest reason for their objection at 28.6 percent, followed by economic burden at 27.9 percent.

Negative sentiment toward North Korea has become stronger in recent years.

The rate of respondents who perceive North Korea as a country that South Korea should cooperate with decreased to 32.1 percent in 2023 from 38.7 percent in 2022. Alternatively, students who view the North as an enemy of the state increased from 10.9 percent to 12.5 percent during the same period.

The rate of students who are not interested in unification increased for the fourth straight year from 20.2 percent in 2020 to 28.3 percent in 2023. Those who believe inter-Korean relations are not peaceful increased to 56 percent in 2023 from 55.7 percent in 2022.

North Koreas provocations have fueled students negative views of unification, the unification ministry said. Together with the education ministry, we will do our best to inform students about the need for unification and direction of unification policies.
Meetings were also held with the general director of the UMM company (dealer of BelAZ in Mongolia) - Honorary Consul of Belarus in Mongolia Leonid Slobodsky and the top executives of the company that operates Belarusian dump trucks. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz During the negotiations, Minsk Tractor Works signed a roadmap with the Ministry of Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia to supply tractors with a capacity of 80-350hp and plows. The document reflects the supply plan for 2024-2025 with the prospect of developing cooperation until 2027. On the same day, Sergei Aleinik held talks with the Mongolian State Agricultural Corporation. The parties discussed the supply of pedigree cattle, milking equipment and the construction of dairy production facilities for the needs of Mongolian farmers. The minister also visited the Evseg Cashmere Factory. The company's management expressed interest in cooperation, including in shipping its products to Belarus. Discussion of bilateral projects and opportunities for further cooperation continued during visits to various production facilities. The Belarusian delegation, in particular, toured APU company, the largest manufacturer of milk, carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Sergei Aleinik was briefed that the company uses Belarusian milk powder to make dairy products and Belarusian malt to manufacture beer.

According to the head of Mongolias National Emergency Management Agency, thanks to Belarusian equipment, more than 13,000 people have already been saved and property damage worth more than $20 million prevented.The parties emphasized the positive experience of cooperation in terms of the supply of equipment for the needs of the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia and discussed four areas of promising cooperation. The Mongolian side confirmed its interest in purchasing special-purpose fire-fighting vehicles made by Pozhsnab company on MAZ chassis and other equipment and overalls. Interest was expressed in continuing training programs for Mongolian specialists in specialized Belarusian institutions.
Oregon Coast Whale Watch Week May Bring More Whales for Variety of Reasons

Published 3/16/24 at 7:35 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast) - Look for more whales along the Oregon coast. Oregon State Parks brings its Spring Whale Watch Week to the region March 23  31. This time around it's three days longer than usual, which may increase your chances of spotting them. (Photo courtesy Seaside Aquarium)

Scientists from NOAA believe there may actually be more gray whales for this year's watch, as in recent years there has been what they called an unusual mortality event - meaning more of them had been dying. That appears to have leveled off.

Volunteers will be staffing high vantage points along the shoreline in different areas from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On the south Oregon coast, you'll find them at Reedsport's Umpqua Lighthouse, Coos Bay's Shore Acres State Park, Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon and Brookings' Harris Beach State Park.

On the central coast, you'll find them at Heceta Head Lightouse, Cape Perpetua Turnout and the Yachats State Recreation Area in and around Yachats. There's only one this time at Newport: Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. In the Depoe Bay area, there's Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint, The Whale Watching Center, Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint and towering Cape Foulweather.

See the Best of Oregon Coast Lodging for Whale Watching, Whale Watch Week

There's a new one on the north coast at Fort Stevens State Park (Peter Iredale Shipwreck), and the usual Neahkahnie Mountain Overlook by Manzanita and Oceanside's Cape Meares Lighthouse.

No longer hosting the event is Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach.



Courtesy OSU

Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) said the winter 2022 watch tallied over 200 sightings.

251 whales spotted, 6,830 visitor contacts and 651 volunteer hours, said OPRD spokesman Stephanie Knowles.

Scientists estimate some 14,500 gray whales will be sauntering past Oregon water from winter through June, heading to their annual migration to Alaska after spending time in birthing waters off Mexico. You'll also be able to see the baby whales in tow.



Orca courtesy Josh McInnes, University of British Columbia

An added attraction: this is the time of year that often begins orca-watching season, which researchers believe is because pupping season for seals starts soon as well. However, there is also some evidence they come after baby gray whales coming through.

Some gray whales were already noted in the Port Orford area, in the Facebook page Port Orford And PNW Whale Watchers.

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The 'Orphan' of Neskowin on N. Oregon Coast

Published 3/16/24 at 4:35 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Neskowin, Oregon)  Tucked away behind two different chunks of north Oregon coast forest and one big headland, Neskowin is like a little hotspot hiding in plain sight. It's an increasingly popular resort destination, with a cozy, sleepy quality and yet a slight air of the upscale in some ways. (All photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

And it's home to an orphan  a really big one.

Along Neskowin's miles of beach, there's an interesting mixture of coarse and fine sands that line the area, and there's a calm and introspective feel all along its length. The place gives off a vibe.

Yet there's a twist, however: a couple of them, really. Underneath that looming presence of Cascade Head, two incredibly ancient features lie. There is, of course, the famed Neskowin Ghost Forest (but don't forget there's dozens of other ghost forests along the Oregon coast). Then there's Proposal Rock.

If Proposal Rock and the moody Cascade Head above look alike, that's because they're related. The famed blob was actually once a part of Cascade Head but eroded away from it and then was whittled down.

Scientists  like geologist Al Niem (now retired from OSU)  say it's an old remnant. Some geologists sometimes refer to such things as an "orphan" - though it's not an offical term. That erosion is what puts it under that category. It's made of the same 36-million-year-old stuff.

Another surprise: this is because Cascade Head was once a volcano. Proposal Rock is separated from the headland by a quarter mile and it is a mere tiny fragment left over from the larger rock.

Cascade Head was a submarine volcano, formed approximately 36 to 38 million years ago, based upon what we call radiometric dating of the lava rocks, Niem told Oregon Coast Beach Connection.





Imagine how much time and oceanic forces it took to destroy that much of the headland: it's mind-boggling. Extinct Volcano of Oregon Coast: Cascade Head's Fiery Surprise





On top of Proposal Rock, more surprises lurk. At lower tides, you can hop up onto the top of the big blob at the tideline and do some exploring. There's a small path up top which wanders through the brush. However, be extremely careful here: someone had to be rescued by the Coast Guard in 2023 when they went too far around the rock's edges. Two Rescues on N. Oregon Coast, One Murder Investigation

Don't be surprised to see a bald eagle now and then on the treetops as well. Watch the tide carefully as well. You don't want to get stuck.

There's other curiosities about Proposal Rock as well: see the virtual tour link.

Fun Fact: Cape Perpetua near Yachats was also a volcano about the same time period Heceta Head / Cliffs Near Florence: All Come from Oregon Coast Volcano

The other ancients there are spring chickens by comparison: really only about 1900 years old, according to carbon dating.

These ragged old stumps at first glance look like the leftovers of a manmade pier. The ghost forest is a stand of trees that were slowly swallowed up by the area turning into a swamp of sorts, killing off the trees. Later, sand levels rose around it and covered them, preserving them.

Contrary to popular belief, the ghost forest did not happen because of an earthquake. See the real scientific explanation, according to the researchers who actually studied them closely: See Explanations of Neskowin Ghost Forest Wrong, Say Oregon Coast Geologists

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Razor Clamming Reopens on Central Oregon Coast: Lincoln City to Seal Rock

Published 3/16/24 at 5:35 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon)  After being shut down for ten days, razor clamming is back open on the central Oregon coast, from Lincoln City down to Seal Rock. Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) made the announcement late this week after closing down the activity due to unsafe levels of a biotoxin earlier this month. (Above: Newport - Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Recent razor clam samples indicate levels of domoic acid (a marine biotoxin) are below the limit for two consecutive weeks, ODFW said.

This now opens up the area from Cape Blanco (north of Port Orford) through to the Washington border. However, the recreational harvesting of these clams is still closed from Cape Blanco down to the California border.

Open areas now include Bandon, Reedsport, Coos Bay, Florence, Waldport, Newport and Lincoln City, as well as northward into Tillamook and Clatsop counties.

The beaches of Warrenton and Seaside  often called Clatsop Beach  contain the highest population of razor clams, accounting for 90 percent of them in Oregon.

You can still go crabbing throughout the entire Oregon coast, as well as harvesting bay clams or mussels.

ODA continues to test shellfish at least twice each month  as weather and tides permit. In order to reopen a closed area, it must be below the unsafe threshold for two consecutive weeks.

Domoic acid is naturally occurring in the ocean, created by algae that can bloom in heavy amounts off the Oregon coast (or Washington or California).

Incidents of closures due to the biotoxin have increased in frequency and grown longer in recent years, which scientists believe comes from changes in the ocean allowing more of the algae  an effect of climate change.

In 2017, NOAA and OSU published a report showing domoic acid can, in some instances, be related to the warmer waters being seen in the region. The work was led by OSU researcher Morgaine McKibben. They found a direct link from "domoic acid concentrations in shellfish to ocean conditions caused by warm water phases of natural climate event cycles like Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and El Nino, said McKibben.

For more information call ODA's shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at (503) 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

Contact ODFW for recreational license requirements, permits, rules, and limits.

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abolish all racial or ethnic check-boxes on the application (not just hide them from view by some);

abolish the collection of racial or ethnic classifications by any other means;

take down and permanently prohibit any further use of the UVA Diversity Dashboard.

This post appears here courtesy of The James G. Martin Center . The author of this post is Walter L. Smith The University of Virginia is facing a choice of historic significance: namely, whether to embrace admissions policies based on our colorblind Constitution or to engage in mass resistance to the supreme law of the land.In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC, the United States Supreme Court held that the admissions programs at Harvard and UNC violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court's ruling is, of course, binding on the parties themselves. However, this was no narrow decision. The broad constitutional mandate of colorblindness underlying the majority opinion is applicable to the University of Virginia, as well.UVA's ResponseOn August 1, 2023, in response to the landmark decision, university leaders issued a statement outlining the institution's new admissions procedures.the statement read in part,However, the statement went on:Henceforth, then, the following admissions policies will be in effect:First, a commitment to merit-based admissions.Second, the shielding of racial or ethnic data from the view of admissions officers.Third, an essay prompt in which applicants are encouraged to discuss race or ethnicity.The question before us now is whether these new procedures represent a sincere commitment to colorblind admissions or a mere gesture toward superficial compliance. The people of Virginia have a stake in the answer.Past admissions practices at the university can fairly be criticized. For about its first 150 years, the university admitted only white men. In response to the civil-rights movement, it opened its doors to all students, regardless of race, sex, or national origin. For the past 50 years or more, the university has worked diligently to recruit qualified students from all walks of life.Today, throughthe university brags that students are accepted on their academic merit, regardless of their ability to pay, and that 100 percent of families' financial needs are met through scholarships, grants, work-study, and low-interest loans.If this is true, then the university should have no difficulty developing an admissions program that is free from all racial preferences and that is in full compliance with the law. Nothing in the Court's ruling curtails the university's ability to welcome a diverse student body.That said, the university cannot be expected to compensate for all inequities in the applicant pool. Over 130 school districts in Virginia are charged with the responsibility of preparing talented students for the rigors of college education. Success is not evenly distributed-racially, socially, economically, or geographically.Moreover, the University of Virginia is not the only venue for attaining a college education. There are 84 public and established private colleges and universities in Virginia, providing students from all walks of life and with varying degrees of academic preparation with an opportunity to earn a college degree. A recent report by the Lumina Foundation found that 59.3 percent of working-age Virginians had earned a college degree or postsecondary certificate or credential by 2021. Nonetheless, as the commonwealth's flagship university, UVA has every right, and perhaps a duty, to set a high bar for admissions.In fairness to the university's admissions officers, selecting the few to be accepted from a large pool of qualified applicants requires both judgment and wisdom. An applicant's readiness for the rigors of college-level studies is one factor, and his or her SAT scores are a good measure of that readiness. Nevertheless, the university has already eliminated the submission of SAT scores as a mandatory requirement for admission.An applicant's character is another factor that admissions committees must consider. To the extent that overcoming adversity in life is one indication of strong character, the Supreme Court has given it sanction.However, an applicant's character cannot be reduced to the single trait of courage. (See, e.g., Character and the Future of the American University, Pepperdine University Press, 2023.) Substantial judgment must still be brought to bear as applicants' various abilities and characteristics are weighed and measured.Thus, in the final analysis, manyapplicants will surely be rejected. No admissions policy, legal or illegal, can alter this fact.University leaders have made it clear that, despite the Court's prohibition on the use of racial preferences, achieving a diverse student body remains a central tenet of the revised admissions policy.In a statement published on June 29, 2023, the university asserted that itsYet hadn't the Supreme Court just rejected that rationale for race-conscious admissions?Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts stated that such interestsAlthough the alleged educational benefits of diversityFurthermore, the University of Virginia measures nofactors except race and ethnicity-strange behavior for an institution that ostensibly valuesThe UVA Diversity Dashboard lists nine racial/ethnic categories and nothing else. Yet, as the Court held in SFFA,Indeed, if the university is truly committed to admissions processes that are in full compliance with the Constitution, then administrators and the Board of Visitors (i.e., the trustees) should do the following:So long as racial/ethnic data are collected, no one in Virginia can be confident that racial preferences will be, or have been, abolished at UVA.Admissions Essay Prompts and theConsideration of RaceAs many have correctly noted, the Supreme Court authorized institutions of higher learning to consider-provided this individual experience isIn other words, the Court did not sanction the use of racial information to promote diversity but to cast light instead on an applicant's character.As a practical matter, one wonders how many high-school seniors actually think about, much less are able to articulate, how they willMost, I suspect, are thinking about how the university will contribute to them. They will be paying for an education, and they will expect to get their money's worth.More important, however, is the fact that the Court has explicitly limited how such admissions essays can be used:UVA must take care that any race-focused admissions questions stay on the legal side of the Court's new standard.I would like to believe that the university will act in good faith to comply with our colorblind Constitution and not game the system to achieve some arbitrary target of diversity. However, for the reasons expressed herein, I remain skeptical. In any case, the people of Virginia should not have to wait for some future plaintiff to allege discrimination and endure years of litigation to find out from the Supreme Court whether UVA's revised admissions program survives strict scrutiny and complies with the Constitution. Rather, the university should take voluntary action to comply with the spirit and letter of the SFFA ruling.As a first step, the Board of Visitors should require total transparency within the admissions program, including the rationale for suspending the SAT requirement. Let the sunlight in, and letstrictly scrutinize the process. Undoubtedly, reasonable people will disagree with one or more aspects of UVA's admissions processes. Other preferences, such as legacy admissions, will be hotly debated. But adjustments will be made, and, over time, a broad consensus will emerge.Next, the University of Virginia should take the lead in academia by abandoning all forms of racial or ethnic classifications, thus boldly validating the self-evident truth that all men are created equal. Doing so could yield results of immeasurable value to the commonwealth and the nation-a great and good enduring legacy of equality under the law.As Martin Luther King Jr. said more than 50 years ago,The United States Supreme Court has now declared that, consistent with our colorblind Constitution, that day has come.
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?

98.7% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.3% 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?
By Peyton Majors

Christian Action League

March 15, 2024

Medical experts joined law enforcement officials this week in urging the North Carolina legislature to add the drug xylazine to the list of controlled substances, asserting that while it may be beneficial as an animal tranquilizer it is having a devastating impact on individuals who consume it.

Xylazine is used by veterinarians but is dangerous and even deadly to humans, causing flesh wounds that can lead to amputations. It also can kill.

Most commonly, it is mixed with opioids like fentanyl and heroin by drug dealers to increase their profits. The White Houses Office of National Drug Control Policy last year declared xylazine an emerging threat.

Xylazine depresses the heart rate, slows breathing, and can even stop both, Jacksonville Police Captain Richard Kellum told legislators Wednesday on the House Select Committee on Substance Abuse.

Xylazine was first detected and linked to skin wounds in North Carolina in January 2021. Since then, the UNC Street Drug Analysis Lab has confirmed the presence of xylazine in 21 out of 48 counties through March of this year. A total of 41 percent of 516 samples of fentanyl contained xylazine, the lab said.

Currently, we see xylazine nearly always with illicitly manufactured fentanyl, the lab said in a memo presented to legislators.

Xylazine causes wounds that resemble chemical burns but can take months to heal and require regular dressing changes. Withdrawal from xylazine is more severe than opioid withdrawal, the lab said, and causes severe agitation and anxiety.

The wounds that people have with xylazine are some of the most gruesome that Ive seen in 20 years of doing this work and looking at skin wounds from different types of substances, scientist Nabarun Dasgupta told legislators, according to NC Newsline. Dasgupta works at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center. They can be treated if you catch them early. They occur beyond the site of injection.. The medical system, Dasgupta said, is not prepared to treat xylazine wounds.

We have a lot of misunderstanding of how to handle these wounds at a medical level throughout the state, Dasgupta said. If we want people to live with dignity, to not become permanently disabled from a misinterpretation of a wound, we need a better job educating our medical providers and our surgeons on what xylazine wound treatment really is like.

Last May, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued a memo to doctors, clinics and hospitals warning that xylazine is increasingly detected in the illicit drug supply and in drug overdoses.

While the full national scope of overdose deaths involving xylazine is unknown, the department said, research using overdose decedent toxicology reports shows xylazine-involved overdose deaths rose nearly 20-fold between 2015 and 2020 in all major US regions where xylazine testing was conducted.

The problem, the department wrote, is that xylazine is not routinely included in toxicology screens and therefore may be under-detected. The drug has a rapid onset of one to two minutes, and its effects can last four to six hours.

Naloxone may not be enough to reverse a fentanyl-involved overdose if its mixed with xylazine, the CDC says.

More than one dose of naloxone may be required to restore normal breathing, the CDC says, and in cases involving xylazine rescue breaths should be given.

Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, who attended the meeting on Wednesday said he was appalled and alarmed at the report he heard.

Its so disturbing, said Rev. Creech. Jesus said, The thief [which is the Devil] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Rev. Creech added, This country is awash with substances meant to steal away the good in life, to kill, and destroy this country. We have opioids, stimulants, depressants, widespread use of marijuana, hallucinogens, synthetic drugs, inhalants, prescription drug abuse, and now added to the toxic mix, we have the brutal drug xylazine that wounds with grossly formed skin-eating ulcers at the injection site. Injection of impure xylazine or contaminated needles can lead to abscess formation, which is a collection of pus caused by bacterial infection in the damaged tissue. Healing can take a long time and leave a persons body badly scarred. Worse still, Jacksonvilles Police Captain, explained how the death rate is climbing from this easily accessible drug meant for veterinarian use. Not only do lawmakers need to find a way to make xylazine harder to get, but our churches have to start earnestly sharing the good news of Christ, who said he could satisfy every empty place of the heart with such abundant life that people would neither feel the need for recreational drugs or want them.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to arrive in Korea on Sunday to attend a session of the Summit for Democracy, a U.S.-led multination gathering formed to boost solidarity and shared values among democratic countries.

Blinken is expected to arrive at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, for a two-day visit that will also include talks with Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, their second meeting in less than a month after the earlier one held in Washington last month.

Both the democracy forum session and the meeting with Cho are scheduled for Monday.

Seoul's foreign ministry said Cho and Blinken are expected to discuss democracy cooperation, ways to strengthen the alliance between the two countries, and other issues of mutual concern, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The meeting between Cho and Blinken comes only weeks after the two met one-on-one in Washington while Cho was visiting the United States late last month. It was their first in-person talks since Cho took office in January.

Blinken is also expected to pay a visit to President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The Summit for Democracy is led by the U.S. to reinforce the democratic bloc with like-minded countries in the face of various challenges posed by a rise in authoritarianism.

Korea is hosting this year's summit, its third such session, set for March 18-20.

The ministerial sessions will be held on the first day, followed by panel discussions involving civic groups the next day. The leaders' session will take place virtually on the last day.

U.S. President Joe Biden is set to attend the summit virtually. (Yonhap)
Ian Paisleys twin brother has dismissed the arrangement.

TUV leader Jim Allister and Reform UK's Richard Tice at the former's party conference on Saturday. Pic: Pacemaker Press

The TUV should not be taking their lead from English nationalists, the brother of a prominent DUP politician has said.

It comes after TUV leader Jim Allister confirmed the party had struck up an alliance with the Nigel Farage-backed right-wing Reform UK ahead of the upcoming UK General Election.

Party leader Richard Tice was among the speakers at the TUV conference in Kells on Saturday, with deputy leader Ben Habib also in attendance.

The TUV is a vocal opponent of the post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Like TUV, Reform UK speaks its mind, takes on the establishment and is driven by principle, not power, said Mr Allister.

Our principles are neither optional nor for sale, but they are the stuff of conviction politics. We speak truth to power.

Unfamiliar as it is in todays political world, Reform UK and TUV are parties you can trust.

Trust to say what they mean. Trust to stand firm. Trust not to rollover."

The link between the two parties will see them cooperate in providing and mutually supporting candidates in Northern Ireland.

Reform UK has wealthy backers and could bring political and financial benefits for the TUV.

TUV leader Jim Allister and Reform UK's Richard Tice at the former's party conference on Saturday. Pic: Pacemaker Press

But Rev Kyle Paisley  twin brother of North Antrim MP Ian Paisley  has rubbished the proposal, warning representatives they would not be getting a vote at his door during the election.

Posting on his X account, he said: The amalgam TUV/Reform standing in England? They needn't come to my door looking for a vote.

"Hard Brexiters pushed NI to the edge of the Union. Ulstermen should not take their lead from English nationalists.

Mr Paisley  who is minister at Oulton Road Free Presbyterian Church in Suffolk  has often weighed in on NI political matters in the past.

Last year he repeatedly took to social media to call for the restoration of the NI Executive, and he has also in the past criticised the right-wing European Research Group (ERG).

The DUP had previously courted favour with the group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs, but Mr Paisley said their input had done diddly squat to help local democracy.
Three cheers for absent Kate

The Irish Guards gave three cheers for their absent colonel, the Princess of Wales, during a St Patricks Day parade at Mons Barracks in Hampshire.

On Sunday, 250 Irish Guardsmen marched onto the Parade Square at the Aldershot barracks led by their mascot, a three-year-old Irish Wolfhound Turlough Mor, also known as Seamus.

Kate, who has been colonel of the regiment for a year after officially taking over from her husband, the Prince of Wales, is still recovering from abdominal surgery in January and has not resumed her public duties.
Enquiries are ongoing.

The sign on St Jude's Square is understood to have been damaged on Sunday morning

Police are investigating after reports of a bilingual sign being damaged in south Belfast on St Patricks Day.

A photograph of the sign on St Judes Square appears to show a section broken off.

It is understood the damage was caused on Sunday morning.

"Police received a report of criminal damage being caused to a street sign in the St Judes Square area of Belfast on Sunday, March 17, said a PSNI spokesperson.

Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this incident to contact 101.

"A report can be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

It comes after police revealed last month they were investigating multiple incidents of damage being caused to a bilingual sign on nearby Haypark Avenue.

Local SDLP councillor Gary McKeown said he was disgusted by the vandalism, most recently reported on February 12.

"This time broken into pieces. Imagine the effort that went into doing this by someone just because they have no respect for their neighbours or their community, he said.
A Garda has been suspended and an investigation is underway by the Garda watchdog after a man was killed in a hit-and-run in Drogheda this morning.

The Irish Independent understands that the inquiry is focusing on the alleged actions of an off-duty member of An Garda Siochana relating to the fatal collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.

The crash did not involve an official garda patrol car and a garda has since been suspended from duty.

Emergency services were alerted to the Rathmullen Road in the town shortly after 2.30am where a male, aged in his 40s, was discovered seriously injured.

The man was pronounced dead a short time later and the vehicle involved failed to remain at the scene.

As part of follow-up inquiries, gardai recovered a vehicle of interest which has been seized to undergo technical and forensic examination.

The incident has also been referred to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) who are investigating the fatal collision.

Senior gardai reported the incident to the watchdog Section 102 (1) of the Garda Siochana Act 2005 which provides for a referral to be made where it appears that the conduct of a garda member may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person.

The Irish Independent understands that the investigation is focusing on a garda who was off-duty and not working when the collision occurred.

No arrests have yet been made as part of the probe and GSOC are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

In a statement the watchdog said it wants to speak to any witnesses who who observed any incident, activity or interactions on the Rathmullen Road between 2am and 2.30am.

GSOC would also welcome the provision of any CCTV, dashcam or mobile footage witnesses may have captured, it said in a statement.

The Garda watchdog also said that it would not be elaborating further on the matter at this time.

In a statement this morning Garda headquarters said that the scene was preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision investigators and that local traffic diversions are in place.

The local Coroner has been notified, and arrangements are underway for a post-mortem examination.

Gardai in Drogheda appeal anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Additionally, individuals with camera footage, including motorists with dash-cam, from the area at the time are asked to provide it to investigating Gardai.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station, a spokesperson said.
The 30-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

An Irishman has been found dead in a police cell on the Costa del Sol.

The 30-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

He was being held in police custody ahead of a first court appearance where an investigating judge was due to decide whether to remain him in prison or release him on bail.

The alarm was raised on Friday morning as an officer carried out routine checks on detainees being held in cells at a National Police station in the Costa del Sol resort of Torremolinos.

Medical experts were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The unnamed man is said to have received medical attention before being put in a police cell due to his state of agitation.

Local reports, which describe him as an Irish national, say a preliminary autopsy has linked the cause of death to a pulmonary edema. The condition is caused by too much fluid in the lungs which makes it difficult to breathe.

Heart problems are usually the cause, although contact with certain toxins, exercising at high altitudes and trauma to the chest wall are among the factors which can also lead to fluid collecting in the lungs.

Further tests are understood to be ongoing to try to determine the origin of the pulmonary edema said to have caused the death.

They will include toxicology tests carried out on tissue samples sent to a specialist laboratory in Seville.

There has not yet been any official comment from police although they are expected to issue a statement later today or tomorrow.

Officers involved in the mans arrest and those who were responsible for his care while he was in custody are expected to be questioned in the coming days as part of a formal probe by an investigating judge.

No further details have yet been released about the detention. It was not immediately clear this morning whether the Irishman is an expat or was on holiday in the area.
Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at the Ireland Funds 32nd National Gala, at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC (Niall Carson/PA)

Mary Lou McDonald has defended her decision to go to the US for St Patricks Day despite calls for politicians to boycott events this year.

The Sinn Fein leader said she couldnt refuse the unparalleled access that Washington DC offers this week.

She made the comments in the face of a push for politicians to snub meetings with senior US figures in a show of Irish opposition to the growing number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at the Ireland Funds 32nd National Gala during the Taoiseachs visit to the US for St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA)

The SDLP said it has not sent any party representatives to the US this year due to the conflict in Gaza.

But Ms McDonald said it was her responsibility and duty to speak to anyone she can in a bid to stop the spiralling death toll during an interview on the Sky News programme Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

Asked whether she should have boycotted the White House reception this year, Ms McDonald admitted that words arent enough but added Im not talking about words.

Im talking about concrete action. We need a ceasefire. We need to end the slaughter of women and children in Gaza. 30,000 deaths now.

She continued: So the question isnt why did you come? The question has to be how could you possibly stay away?

In a way, we have a unique position as Irish political leaders in that we have a very strong, relationship with the United States, very strong, unparalleled access in a week like this.

And we also have a very strong relationship with the Palestinian struggle and a strong commitment to freedom for Palestine and self-determination, an end to the occupation.

How on earth could I possibly justify not coming and not pressing that case in the strongest possible terms?

She said that there was an unanswerable need for a ceasefire and for the US to lead on that amid the ongoing vicious, criminal bombardment of Gaza.

Weve had very frank conversations with individual members on the Hill, with the administration itself and our message has been very clear: we come here as friends, as people who have had the benefit of great support from the United States for our own peace process, and we acknowledge that, but in respect of Palestine they have got it dangerously badly wrong and the ceasefire now has to be the absolute priority for everybody concerned.

Irish politicians have emphasised the need for dialogue as part of efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stating its not our policy to boycott, its our policy to engage.

Irish artists including Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Kneecap withdrew from the South by Southwest arts festival in Texas this week over opposition to the US Army being a sponsor.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast this week, to coincide with the high-profile engagements in Washington DC, urging the US to end support for Israels military offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking to the media at Blair House in Washington, DC (Niall Carson/PA)

The US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Irish premier has said.

Leo Varadkar is meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House on Sunday, at the end of a week of engagements which involved an earlier bilateral between the two leaders.

Mr Biden said he agreed with the Taoiseachs calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

However, speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Mr Varadkar said there were areas in which the two administrations remain at odds.

He said he made it very clear to Mr Briden that Israels continued military actions in Gaza were not self-defence.

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Asked about the US continuing to supply Israel with weapons, Mr Varadkar said: Thats something we dont agree with, but the American government is a sovereign government that makes its own decisions.

The Irish leader said the US was working very hard towards a ceasefire, but Mr Biden has stopped short of calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

Asked what he wanted to see happen in Gaza, Mr Varadkar said: The most important and most urgent thing is the need for a ceasefire so that the killing can stop, so that the hostages can go home, so that food and medicine can get into the people that need it in Gaza.

Once that happens, we would hope that it becomes possible to build a more permanent ceasefire.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, US President Joe Biden, and Speaker Mike Johnson leave after the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on Capitol Hill (Niall Carson/PA)

I think everyone agrees that Hamas cant be part of the governing of any Palestinian territory given whats happened on October 7, but we dont believe that it should be occupied by Israel.

We certainly dont believe it should be resettled by Israel. We believe it should be handed back over to Palestinian civilian control and unlike was the case since 2005, it shouldnt be blocked by Israel.

Mr Varadkar rejected an assertion that Ireland was seen as weak on both Israels right to defend itself as well as support for Ukraine.

He said: What Ive been encouraged by both here and then also in meeting recently in Europe is  if anything  people kind of encouraging us to stick by our stance and take the position that were taking.

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And I do think that a lot of people in America and across Europe agree with the position that were taking.

Certainly on Ukraine, I think its recognised that Ireland has been a very strong supporter of Ukraine.

We dont provide military aid, but we help them in every other way imaginable, whether its accepting refugees, whether its financial support, non-lethal military aid, loans.

On Sunday, Mr Varadkar will officially gift Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock as part of a long-running tradition for St Patricks Day.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon (Niall Carson/PA)

On Friday, the Irish premier met the US President for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

The two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Asked afterwards if he believed Mr Biden was fit for an election campaign, Mr Varadkar said: I do and hes in very good form, very engaged and very sharp.

The Taoiseach said he did not believe that he would be attending a mass with the president on Sunday which had been proposed in early discussions of the itinerary for the week.

However, he added that he would have been happy to attend if there was such an invite.
Britain should consider conscription and a total defence model to deter Russian aggression, according to the Latvian foreign minister.

Latvia reintroduced the model last year, based on Finlands conscription system, which means all able-bodied men are required to complete 11 months of military service.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Krisjanis Karins said Britain should consider following suit as a way of combating any threat from Russia.

We would strongly recommend this, he said. We are developing and fleshing out a system of what we call a total defence involving all parts of civil society.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (Owen Humphreys, PA)

We need to plan and train and supply and plan and train and supply and make that visible to the Russians.

We will not stop them from wanting to have imperialistic ambitions, but we can make sure they dont consider coming our way.

Mr Karins added that it was inevitable for Britain to increase their defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps this week called for that increase, but Mr Sunak has said he wants to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP when economic circumstances allow.

In January, Armed Forces Minister James Heappy said any talk of the UK introducing conscription to the Army if Nato goes to war with Russia was nonsense.

He said the UK long had plans readied for mobilising volunteers in the event Britain does enter a new conflict, but stressed that nobody is thinking about bringing back conscription.

The remarks came after comments made by General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff, were interpreted as suggesting that conscription could be required in any potential future battle with Russia due to the British Army being too small.

No 10 ruled out any suggestion that conscription was under consideration, saying there were no plans to change the British militarys proud tradition of being a voluntary force.
Parties go all out to woo voters as election day nears
The news of Henry Wugas death was announced on Sunday (Mark Owens/PA)

Tributes have been paid to an extraordinary Holocaust survivor who spent decades educating people about the Nazi atrocity.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust announced on Sunday that Henry Wuga had died, a month after turning 100.

Mr Wuga escaped Nazi Germany at age 15, before making Glasgow his home and becoming instrumental in educating people about the horrors of the Holocaust.

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Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon led the tributes, posting on X, formerly Twitter: Henry was an extraordinary human being. While the world is a poorer place for his passing, there is no doubt that his life made it better.

Alongside his beloved wife, Ingrid, Henry educated thousands about the horrors of the Holocaust and the lessons from it that we must never forget.

With quiet dignity, he reminded us of the power of love and humanity. He was also full of stories and fun.

She added: He will be so enormously missed  but his legacy will endure.

First Minister Humza Yousaf also praised Mr Wugas impact on the country he came to call home.

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Im devastated to hear of Henrys passing. His loss will be felt by communities right across Scotland & beyond, he posted.

He worked over decades to remind us of the horrors of the Holocaust, which must never be forgotten.

In a statement released on Sunday morning, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman said the group was heartbroken.

Henry was a gentleman: charming, dapper and above all, a force for good, she added.

The work that he, and his late wife Ingrid, did in sharing their testimonies, made an immense impact on thousands of people across Scotland.

All of us at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust send our deepest sympathies to his daughters Hilary and Gillian and all his family and loved ones.

Thank you for everything, Henry. We will miss you.

Ahead of Mr Wugas 100th birthday in February, his local MSP Jackson Carlaw paid a tribute in Holyrood during First Ministers Questions.

Mr Carlaw posted on X: How joyful it was just last month for us all to celebrate with Henry the reaching of his centenary.

Today we mourn his passing & send much love to Hilary, Gillian & the family. In his own quiet way, Henry was a Statesman. May his memory be a blessing.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described Mr Wuga as warm, charming and compassionate, adding: We owe it to his generation to share their stories and always strive for peace.
A carer for children with disabilities will be paid 10,000 every month for the next 30 years and plans to spend her life-changing lottery win on a home and holidays across the world.

In February, Joanne Jobson from Hartlepool, County Durham, discovered she had landed the National Lotterys Set For Life jackpot when she woke up after a night shift to a message on her phone from the company.

The 51-year-old, who has been living with her mother while saving to buy her own home and has worked as a carer for 17 years, initially did not believe she had won.

I logged onto my account and couldnt believe what I was reading, I had to re-read the message several times as I thought it was telling me what I could win, not what I had actually won, Ms Jobson said.

I jumped out of bed and went to tell my mum.

I remember just saying to mum I think I might have won a lot of money! and showing her my phone  mum was convinced it was a scam.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think when I played that Id actually win  I didnt think things like this happened to real people like me, but Im proof they really do!

Ms Jobson is now house hunting to buy her own home after saving for years while living with her mother (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Ms Jobson searched the winning Set For Life numbers on Google for that date, February 22, to find they matched her own  which were 16, 17, 19, 23, 38 and Life Ball 5.

After checking and checking again she called the National Lottery claim line, who confirmed she had won but as it was late on a Friday she was told she would receive a call from their winner services team the following Monday.

So, Ms Jobson got ready for another night shift.

I needed to get to work and didnt want to let my colleagues down so as if on autopilot, I got ready for my shift, she said.

Ms Jobson is planning holidays to the Maldives and Barbados (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Once I got to work I couldnt help but tell the team what had happened  it ended up being quite a lively shift after that as everyone was so happy and excited for me.

Even then, I was still reluctant to let myself believe that it was actually real.

Unable to sleep on the Saturday as a result of the win, Ms Jobson then worked another night shift that evening.

By Sunday I was exhausted and I finally said to my mum that perhaps it was time to hand in my notice, she said.

When she told her two older sisters about her win, Ms Jobson said they both cried.

Ms Jobson described the win as life-changing (Anthony Devlin/PA)

It was very emotional for us all  I think that was the moment when it finally sank in for me too that I really had won, she said.

Ms Jobson now plans to take her family on holidays to locations including Barbados and the Maldives, or may even go on a world cruise, and is already house hunting to buy her own home.

Ive been living with my mum trying to save for my own place but was still some way off from making that move happen  its amazing I can now make that dream a reality, Ms Jobson said.

At 51, this win literally changes everything for me, I now have peace of mind knowing Im financially secure until Im 81!

Im going from working nights and saving hard to being able to buy things when I want and plan holidays I could only have dreamt of before.

I still cant believe that Ive won, its absolutely life-changing for me.
Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon on Sunday, apparently heeding an opposition call to protest against President Vladimir Putin as he stands poised to extend his rule of nearly a quarter of a century for six more years after a relentless crackdown on dissent.

The three-day election that began on Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where there are no real alternatives to Mr Putin, no public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine.

His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Mr Navalnys associates had urged those unhappy with Mr Putin or the war to protest by coming to the polls at noon on Sunday  a strategy endorsed by Mr Navalny shortly before his death.

Team Navalny described it as a success, releasing pictures and videos of people crowding near polling stations in cities across Russia around noon.

A Russian pro-democracy activist holds a Russian flag that reads: Putin is not Russia outside a polling place in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP)

Mr Putin, 71, faces three token election rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

The president has boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the period leading up to the vote, but a major Ukrainian drone attack across Russia on Sunday was once again a reminder of challenges faced by the Kremlin.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported that it took down more than 40 Ukrainian drones overnight and on Sunday, including four near the Russian capital.

The local governor of Russias Belgorod region said that Ukrainian shelling on Sunday killed a man and a 16-year-old girl, and wounded at least 12 other people. The governor also said two people died during attacks the previous day.

Mr Putin previously described the attacks as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten residents and derail Russias presidential election, saying they wont be left unpunished.

Russias wartime economy has proven resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Russian defence industry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast countrys 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots as of early Sunday.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said that pressure on voters from police had reached unprecedented levels.

Russians, he said in a social media post, were searched at polling stations, their ballots checked before they were cast, and police demanded a ballot box was opened to remove a ballot.

Its the first time in my life that Ive seen such absurdities and Ive been observing elections for 20 years, Mr Andreychuk wrote on the messaging app Telegram.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said he voted for Mr Putin: I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

Olga Dymova, who also backed the president, said: I am sure that our country will only move forward towards success.

Voters queue outside the Russian Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Vladimir Voronin/AP)

Another Moscow voter, who identified himself only by his first name Vadim, said he hopes for change, but added: Unfortunately, its unlikely.

Mr Navalnys associates broadcast footage with comments by those who turned up at the polls at noon to protest against Mr Putin, their faces blurred to protect their identities.

Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Mr Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, said in a YouTube broadcast: The action has achieved its goals. The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin.

Another Navalny ally, Leonid Volkov, said the protest was meant to help unify and encourage those who oppose Mr Putin.

It was not possible to confirm if the voters shown lining up at polling stations in videos and photos released by Mr Navalnys associates and some Russian media had responded to the protest call, or were merely there to vote amid a strong turnout.

Huge queues also formed around noon outside Russian diplomatic missions in Berlin, Paris, Milan and other cities with large Russian communities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an electronic voting (Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP)

Mr Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, joined the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin as some in the crowd applauded and chanted her name.

Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who tried to join the race on an anti-war platform but was barred from running by election officials, voiced hope that many Russians cast their ballots against Mr Putin.

I believe that the Russian people today have a chance to show their real attitude to what is happening by voting not for Putin, but for some other candidates or in some other way, which is exactly what I did, he said after voting in Dolgoprudny, just outside Moscow.

In Russia, the OVD-Info group which monitors political arrests said more than 50 people were detained in 14 cities on Sunday.

Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported.

A woman was arrested in St Petersburg after she threw a firebomb at a polling station entrance, and several others were detained across the country for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Some Russian media also posted images of spoiled ballots posted by voters, with killer and thief inscribed on one, and waiting for you in The Hague written on another, in a reference to an arrest warrant issued for Mr Putin on war crimes charges related to his alleged responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.
A man suspected of killing three people in the Philadelphia area has been arrested in New Jersey on Saturday after a stand-off with police.

Police said the man was found near a house in the city of Trenton, were he was believed to have barricaded himself, and was taken into custody.

No-one else was injured.

Three people were killed earlier in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The suspect was identified earlier as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. Authorities said he killed his stepmother, his teenage sister and the mother of his children in shootings that stretched into two homes in eastern Pennsylvanias Falls Township on Saturday morning, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said.

While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference.sThree people were killed in suburban Philadelphia on Saturday (AP)

Police said Gordon was believed to be homeless.

The mayhem forced the cancellation of a St Patricks Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park. Authorities in Pennsylvanias Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours.

After fleeing in a stolen car, then taking another in a carjacking in a car park, Gordon went to the home in nearby Trenton, authorities said. By mid-afternoon, officers surrounded the house on a taped-off block, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker and trying to persuade him to come out.

Neighbours gathered by the barricade to watch what was happening. The homes residents had been taken to safety with no injuries, the Trenton Police Department said.

The shootings forced the cancellation of a St Patricks Day parade (AP)

Ms Schorn said Gordon first broke into a home in the Falls Township community of Levittown and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Three other occupants, including a 14-year-old, hid as the suspect went through the house, searching for them, the district attorney said.

She said Gordon then drove to another home in Levittown and shot and killed 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were there. The victims mother was bludgeoned with a rifle, Ms Schorn said. Police said the injured woman is expected to recover.

Ms Schorn added that after the shootings, Gordon carjacked a vehicle in a parking lot in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, from a 44-year-old man who was not harmed. From there, officials said, Gordon drove to the home in Trenton.
Judge bans dangerous driver from the roads for a year

A biker who drove with no hands while using his mobile phone has been banned from the roads for a year.

Marcus Johnston was also ordered to pay 400 in fines after appearing at Newtownards Magistrates Court.

District Judge Amanda Brady told the 20-year-old, who also stood up on his bike and put his arms in the air during the incident: This was an outrageous way to drive.

When Sunday Life called to Johnstons door to discuss his offending, he was nowhere to be seen.

However, his gleaming red Honda motorbike was parked in the driveway.

He posted a picture of the vehicle to his Facebook account in November, joking about his upcoming appearance in front of a magistrate.

Johnston replied court results pending after a friend noted the vehicle was missing an exhaust pipe.

He describes himself on his Facebook page as a bike and car addict who only wants to do two things  be on two wheels and take pictures.

In court earlier this month, Johnston, from Locksley Park in south Belfast, entered guilty pleas to dangerous driving and using his mobile phone while driving in July last year.

Read more The future of DUP big hitters could now lie in Jim Allisters hands

A prosecuting lawyer told the hearing a concerned member of the public contacted police to report she had seen a motorcyclist driving in what she considered to be an unsafe manner on the way from Comber to Killinchy.

She saw the driver using his mobile phone and taking his hands off the handlebars of the motorbike multiple times, the court heard.

At one point, he stood up from the bike and raised his hands in the air.

The woman noted his registration number and passed it onto the police, who were able to trace Johnston as the last registered owner

He attended a police station for interview two weeks after the report.

Johnston confirmed to officers that he owned clothes matching the description given by the witness but claimed he couldnt remember the day in question.

A defence solicitor accepted that his client had shown a complete disregard for other road users.

But they also stressed that Johnston would pay a heavy price for his offending since in addition to the fine and the ban, he will likely lose his job because he will not be able to get to work.

Handing the biker his sentence, Judge Brady told him: I hope you have gained some common sense.
Elinor Lawless says Charlie Fairheads spirit will absolutely live on

A still from one of Derek's final scenes on the show

He left Casualty on Saturday night after a 38-year stint, but Belfast actor Derek Thompsons character looks set to live on.

Elinor Lawless, who plays Stevie Nash in the BBC hospital drama, hinted Charlie Fairhead could be immortalised in some fashion.

She said: Yes, there might be (something) to come. Is there going to be a Fairhead Wing? Who knows?

The spirit of Charlie will absolutely live on. Were making sure to pick up the mantle and do him proud. It was an honour to be involved in his final chapter.

I remember watching Casualty as a kid on Saturday nights and, even then, understanding Derek, as Charlie, was at the centre of the show.

So, to be part of Dereks exit storyline was emotional because youre not just saying goodbye to Charlie but also a really dear friend.

A younger Derek on Casualty

Elinor (41) played a crucial role in the cliffhanger after Charlie was attacked by a drug dealer.

She told the TV Times: I think its a fitting ending for both Charlie and Derek. There is a lot of sadness and beauty, along with some hope as well.

Derek and I werent aware of this at the time, but while we were shooting, everybody  the cast and crew  came down to watch. They told me later that you could hear a pin drop.

Derek got a huge round of applause. It was beautiful. Everyone was there for him. I know it meant a lot to him.

You never hear people speak badly about him. After nearly 38 years starring in one role, to still have that reputation is something to strive for.

Elinor Lawless as Stevie Nash

Former Boys Model School pupil Derek (75) made his first appearance on Casualty on its debut in September 1986.

He said: Actors work, if theyre lucky, 10 weeks a year, but you couldnt really say that was my story.

Ive been in a play thats lasted almost 38 years, and no two shows have been the same.

Ive always felt a great responsibility to Charlie. Hes the everyman, a moral compass, and represents the audience.

A still from one of Derek's final scenes on the show

Derek will be back on TV screens soon in the second series of the Northern Ireland-set police drama Blue Lights.

He said: Im thrilled to be appearing in Blue Lights as retired Special Branch officer Robin Graham, whose past catches up with him. I was hooked on the first series.

Casualty is a job Ive loved, and a hard one to walk away from, but Im looking to the future now. Filming my last ever Casualty scenes were a big moment.

Ive loved playing him. Charlie is nobodys fool but everybodys friend. Filming my final scenes, which see Charlie get stabbed, felt like one of those big emotional moments in your life, like the birth of a child or your wedding.

Playing Charlie has given me so much empathy for those who work in the NHS. I have utter respect for them. I hope when viewers watch my final episodes looking at violence against staff, it will make people realise this is painful for people who work in the caring professions, yet they struggle on.
Guitar hero hoping to coax pals Dea Matrona onto the stage at Limelight show

Chris Shiflett, Dave Grohl and Rami Jaffee of the Foo Fighters (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

Hes best known as the Foo Fighters guitarist, but Chris Shiflett is heading to Belfast as a solo star.

In an exclusive chat with Sunday Life from the US, he told us he had a host of connections with Northern Ireland.

You know, Ive played Belfast a couple of times over the years with Foo Fighters, but Ive never played there as a solo artist, the musician began.

But Belfast looms large in American culture with the things I heard about growing up  the Troubles and that.

But as far as my personal connection goes, I took a lovely walk around your city once, (and) on my last UK tour we did tour with a band from Belfast called Dea Matrona.

They were support on all the shows and they were great. Those gals would get up and sing, and we did a (Rolling) Stones cover on that tour, Dead Flowers. They would get up and sing it most nights. It was super fun.

We had a great time with them. I think theyre coming out to the show in Belfast so well see if we can coax them up on stage.

Chris Shiflett, Dave Grohl and Rami Jaffee of the Foo Fighters (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

Before finding international fame with Foo Fighters, Chris (52) was in a California punk band called No Use for a Name that was inspired by the scene in Northern Ireland.

I love, love love Stiff Little Fingers. I love The Undertones too, but especially the Stiffs, he said.

I stole my friends cassette tape of their greatest hits album when I was in high school, and I just love that band.

But there was an even bigger inspiration behind his decision to take up playing the guitar  Belfast-born Deff Leppard member Vivian Campbell.

Chris explained: He was one of the first people that I asked to be on my guitar show (podcast).

We havent lined it up, but hopefully we will at some point. The first concert (I went to) was DIO (Campbells former band).

If I can I interview people who I have that personal connection to, or influence, or music that means something to me, thats special, and Vivian Campbell is huge for me.

He was the first dude I ever saw and the first headliner band I ever saw. He just continues to be such a ripper.

Gary Moore is another of your guys who was a big influence too.

Thats what music does, its like a roadmap into all this other stuff.

Dea Matrona

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer told us he loved the contrast between playing in huge arenas with the Foos and flying solo at smaller venues.

He said: We put out a Foo Fighters record last year and weve been touring a tonne for that, so Foo life has been super busy, and then my own record Lost At Sea came out in the middle of all that.

With my solo stuff, Im always fitting that into these little small breaks between Foo Fighters tours.

This gig is just a little bit more intimate. Its definitely a very different dynamic, but I love it. Its super fun.

Its a very different thing when youre on stage trying to prove it to the crowd, (but) thats the joy, thats the thrill. Im a glutton for punishment.

Chris Shiflett plays the Limelight in Belfast on March 21. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster
Predator just out of jail for abusing schoolgirl with learning difficulties

A notorious paedophile who sexually abused a schoolgirl with learning difficulties has returned home, causing fury among neighbours.

Loyalist sources told Sunday Life that Bradley McGarrell was able to come back to the sprawling Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey because associates had paid 5,000 to the South East Antrim (SEA) UDA.

The 21-year-old mechanic was jailed for eight months last summer for a catalogue of sex crimes on his vulnerable 13-year-old victim.

While on bail awaiting sentencing he continued living in Rathcoole  an unprecedented situation in the loyalist stronghold where paramilitaries have previously beaten and exiled paedophiles.

McGarrell was left alone at the time because associates paid the SEA UDA 5,000.

Now the same individuals have handed a further 5,000 to the terror gang to continue to protect the predator following his release from jail.

Bradley McGarrell is back home and driving a new car, hes the talk of the estate, a worried local mum told Sunday Life.

Hes a dangerous rat and the cheek of him walking right back into Rathcoole makes my skin crawl.

Another mother who contacted this newspaper added: McGarrell and his supporters have necks like brass. It makes me ashamed that the people protecting him claim to be loyalists.

Is 5,000 now the going rate for the UDA to protect a paedophile?

This needs to be called out for what it is  a get rich quick scheme for criminals who are looking after other criminals.

The Glen, where Bradley McGarrell abused his 13-year-old victim

Locals pointed out that McGarrells current home is close to a primary school and childrens play park  locations that they want him banned from entering.

McGarrell was aged 18 at the time when he sexually abused his victim  who had turned 13 just two weeks before  in a wooded area of Rathcoole known as the Glen.

He was only caught because the schoolgirl told her mum what had happened, and she intercepted Snapchat messages he later sent her daughter in which he admitted his crimes.

McGarrell pleaded guilty to six offences, including meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexually communicating with a child, causing a child to watch sexual activity and sexual penetration of a child by an adult.

As well as being sentenced to eight months in prison, he was ordered to serve 16 months on supervised licence after his release and told to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years. McGarrell was also banned from working with children.

Jailing him, Judge Patricia Smyth said the victim was a vulnerable young girl and the offences had had a considerable impact on her, she feared being pregnant and has suffered anxiety.

Rathcoole residents appalled that McGarrell has returned to the housing development say the SEA UDA  which is accused of taking 5,000 to protect him  should heed the judges words.

A third mother who contacted Sunday Life said: The community is so angry that this paedophile is still being protected by the UDA.

He is swanning around like Jack the Whack without a care in the world for this little girl and her family that he destroyed.

Loyalist sources in Rathcoole claim that the UVF had wanted to exile pervert McGarrell from the estate but were prevented from doing so by the SEA UDA.

To do so, they say, would contravene the Monkstown Agreement  a pact drawn up by the terror groups to prevent feuds.
Bryan Helmet Carlisle targeted after posing with a Bible

A leading loyalist who found God has been targeted in a threatening graffiti campaign.

Slogans were spray-painted on an east Belfast church warning Bryan Helmet Carlisle God Wont Save U.

It happened after a picture of him holding a Bible appeared on social media.

Carlisle is a good friend of alleged former East Belfast UVF boss Stephen Matthews, who gave up the position at the end of last year after more than 20 years in charge.

Graffiti threatening Bryan Carlisle

This followed the UVF leadership announcing on Remembrance Sunday that senior figures in the gang had been stood down for criminality and drug dealing.

Loyalists speculated that Matthews removal may have led to Carlisles public show of Christianity, but this was dismissed by sources close to Carlisle.

One said: There is a group of agitators who are nothing to do with any section of the UVF or mainstream UDA who are phoning in death threats, writing nonsense on walls and trying to start trouble.

They are trying to make it look like this is some kind of internal UVF issue in east Belfast, but everyone knows who is doing it.

Helmet is a loyalist, and whatever differences there might be between the East Belfast UVF and Shankill, everyone is disgusted and wont be having this.

Several years ago, Carlisle was involved in a spat with the Tyrie family, who went public to say they had been forced out of the estate by the East Belfast UVF.

They relocated to Newtownabbey, with dad Andy Tyrie joining a flute band with links to the South East Antrim UDA.

Andy Tyrie

During the summer, he was filmed brawling with David Matthews, the son of reported former East Belfast UVF boss Stephen Matthews, in the centre of Belfast.

After the Bible photos of Carlisle appeared online, Andy Tyrie posted a comment saying: Big rubber head. U would be as well just getting the boat. Another relative wrote: God wont save U fat boy.

There is no evidence linking the Tyries to the graffiti, which the PSNI is investigating.

Loyalist sources also dismissed claims the slogans were ordered by the East Belfast UVFs new brigadier.

The veteran loyalist, who opposes drug dealing, is not interested in any confrontation with the units former leadership.

Anti-drugs and anti-money lending posters plastered around east Belfast last week also have no links to him.

Our source said: The new leader, all he wants is a smooth handover. He isnt interested in any feuding. These posters and graffiti are an attempt to stir things up.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Korea on Sunday to attend a session of the Summit for Democracy, a U.S.-led multination gathering formed to boost solidarity and shared values among democratic countries.

Blinken landed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, for a two-day visit that will also include talks with Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, their second meeting in less than a month after the earlier one held in Washington last month.

Both the democracy forum session and the meeting with Cho are scheduled for Monday.

Seoul's foreign ministry said Cho and Blinken are expected to discuss democracy cooperation, ways to strengthen the alliance between the two countries, and other issues of mutual concern, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The meeting between Cho and Blinken comes only weeks after the two met one-on-one in Washington while Cho was visiting the United States late last month. It was their first in-person talks since Cho took office in January.

Blinken is also expected to pay a visit to President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The Summit for Democracy is led by the U.S. to reinforce the democratic bloc with like-minded countries in the face of various challenges posed by a rise in authoritarianism.

Korea is hosting this year's summit, its third such session, set for Monday to Wednesday.

The ministerial sessions will be held on the first day, followed by panel discussions involving civic groups the next day. The leaders' session will take place virtually on the last day.

U.S. President Joe Biden is set to attend the summit virtually. (Yonhap)
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Is it wrong to cremate a persons body according to the Bible? Historically, cremation has not been part of the Christian tradition. Early Christians agreed with their Jewish ancestors that cremation was not an option they would consider, even though the Bible includes no specific mandate prohibiting it. However, this view has transformed over the years. Today, many of us have friends or family members who were cremated and cremation is sounding more and more like something we might consider for ourselves. But is cremation an acceptable option for Christians?

Many factors influence a persons choice on what to do with the body after death. Some of these factors include wealth of the family, the status of the individual, the climate of the country, health, sanitation and religious beliefs, among other things. Among these variables comes the debate of burial vs. cremation. The previously named factors contribute to the choices that each individual and family will make with respect to the question. When it comes to whether its ok for a Christian to be cremated, the best place to turn is the Bible.

The Bible nowhere answers the questions as to the method of disposal. Moral and religious questions are raised as to the right to destroy the body through cremation of the remains. The Bible has remained silent as to the correct technique. From this, we know that one cant say that cremation is a sin. One might say that burial better reflects the biblical perspective on life, death and the body. But one can say with certainty that Christ will come again, and our bodies will be raised again, never to die again.

Cremation was practiced in biblical times, but it was not commonly practiced by the Israelites or by New Testament believers. In the cultures of the Bible times, burial in a tomb, cave or in the ground was the common way to dispose of a human body. You can find references of this in Genesis 23:19; 35-19; 2 Chronicles 16:14 and Matthew 27:60-66. While burial was the common practice, the Bible nowhere commands burial as the only allowed method of disposing of a body.

There are some that believe that cremation interferes with resurrection and that just isnt true. Cremation in no way interferes with Gods ability to resurrect the dead  to give us life after death. People have died in countless ways throughout history, from accidents to warfare to being lost at sea, and yet, God will still resurrect them in the future. This doesnt have to be done with a body. Consider how God will resurrect any of the dead. He will not simply put life back into bodies, for that would be possible only in He returned someone to life immediately after dying. The reality is that even if the body remains intact upon death, it will eventually decompose. The bodies of most people who have lived since creation will no longer exist by the time of the resurrection.

The believers hope, whether we will submit our remains to burial or cremation is that the body that is buried or incinerated is not that the body that will ultimately dwell with the Lord. The Bible says But someone may ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something elseSo will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable. It is raised imperishable. IT is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory, it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:25,27,42-44).

At the resurrection, it will not make any difference whether a persons body has been cremated or buried. God knows how to raise the body, either in the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29). The new body of a Christian will be a radically changed and glorified like the body of the exalted Christ. It will be an eternal, spiritual body never again to experience weakness, disease, suffering or death. There is also no need to worry that the body will be destroyed and thus unable to participate in that great catching away. The body that is interred will either slowly decay or burn rapidly, but God will give all His children a new body, glorious and incorruptible to dwell with Him forever. Once and for all, the negativity of death and separation from God will be nullified.

Ultimately, cremation is an acceptable means of dealing with the dead. Cremation doesnt conflict with the Bible nor does it interfere with Gods ability to resurrect the dead. The question of cremation is within the realm of Christian freedom. The Bible tells us, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:5). A person or a family considering this issue should pray for wisdom and follow the conviction that results. Grief is a difficult process. We each deal with it in different ways. Whether burial or cremation is the better option for a loved one or for ourselves should be left to personal decision. Trust how God is moving you.

Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.
If you were to ask a Christian to make a list of the things they should never do, that list would almost certainly include swearing. To some Christians, cursing is a sin. For others, it is not a sin per-say, but it is not something that any good Christian would take part in. It is certainly not something that anyone would expect to hear someone saying during church or to find in the Bible. The question, however, is whether swearing is considered sinful or simply distasteful. What does the Bible have to say about cursing?



The Bible states repeatedly that people need to be careful with their words and take care with what they say. In Matthew 5, Jesus states that people need to speak kindly to one another and should be reconciled with each other before making offerings to God. Similarly, in chapter four of the Letter to the Ephesians, Paul warns the members of the church against cruel words. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.



Verses such as Ephesians 4:29 and Matthew 5:22-24 make it clear that Christians are expected to conduct themselves with kindness and compassion. Cursing your neighbors, obviously, is not conduct that could be considered kind or compassionate. Is that, however, enough to claim that all swearing is forbidden or that letting a four-letter word slip is serious sin?



The Bible is filled with things that most people would never consider as belonging in a book that is regularly read aloud at church services. The Good Book, however, is not as church appropriate as most Christians would determine it to be. Scripture is filled with tales of battle, betrayal, adultery, potty humor, sex and yes, swearing. Both the Old and New Testament are littered with sections that Christians would be shocked to hear read in church. In fact, the Song of Solomon used to be banned as it is, essentially, ancient erotica.



Stephanie Hertzenberg is a former writer and editor at Beliefnet. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where she majored in Religious Studies and minored in Creative Writing. She maintains an avid interest in health, history and science.

There are numerous examples of curses being laid on various enemies in the Bible, not the least of which is the infamous curse in Psalm 109 that calls for nothing short of death to fall on a person and their entire family. Those sorts of curses, however, are not what most people today think of when they say someone is cursing. Cursing today largely refers to people using short words or phrases that are seen as being vulgar. These, of course, do not seem to be in the Bible. The truth, however, is a bit more complicated.It is true that Bibles today do not use any of the infamous four letter words every mother is dreading her child learning. The reason for that, however, has nothing to do with God taking serious issue with the f-bomb. The Bible does not use modern swear words for two reasons. First, the swear words we use today did not exist in ancient Hebrew or Aramaic. Second, translators deliberately censored the ancient swear words that the Bible did use.Vicious single-word insults and profane exclamations of surprise or anger are as old as human speech. One could actually argue that swearing, in some ways, predates speech. After all, most animals have a specific alarm call, and swear words could be argued to be a human extension of that. Curse words are certainly some of the most common last words among victims of accidents such as plane crashes.Given the long history of cursing, it should not be a surprise that the people written about in the Bible swore. Saul uses the ancient equivalent of an English phrase that starts with son of and rhymes with witch in 1 Samuel 20, and even Jesus Himself vents some frustration with a particularly nasty insult. Throughout the New Testament, Christ used some pretty creative insults, but when He is talking about Herod, Jesus favors the short, sweet and severe. In Luke 13, Jesus calls King Herod a fox. Today, this does not seem like a terribly serious insult. After all, calling a person a snake today is mean, but nothing horrific. To the ancient Israelites, however, foxes were sly, cruel, cunning and, most importantly, unclean. In a single word, Jesus insulted Herods mind, body, morals and soul. That is an impressive swear word.The Bible shows that kings swore, prophets swore and even the Messiah Himself occasionally cursed. And then there was Paul. For all that Pauls letters were instrumental in the formation of the Christian faith and contain some of the most beautiful descriptions of Christs love in the Bible, they are not always very friendly. Pauls letters were largely written to rebuke Christians who were slipping in their faith, and he occasionally loses his temper and lets some particularly nasty insults fly. Philippians 3:8 is normally translated as using words such as garbage or dung, but the original writings use much, much stronger language. 1 Corinthians 4:13 involves a similar whitewashing of Pauls fierce language. Neither of those letters, however, hold a candle toward Pauls language in Galatians.In the Letter to the Galatians, Paul is very clearly at the end of his rope. His first words after the obligatory greeting are I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to lie in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospelwhich is really no gospel at all. Things only go downhill from there. Paul has no compunctions about telling the Galatians what he really thinks of their behavior, and he uses not just the strongest language in the Bible, but some of the harshest language in existence to do it. Paul states in Galatians that anyone, human or angel, who preaches a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be anathema! That Greek word, anatehma is normally translated as cursed, condemned or some version of thrown into Hell. All of those, however, are kind, gentle translations of the original Greek. Anathema was considered during Pauls time to be the strongest, harshest word in the entire Greek language. It referred to a person who was not just doomed to eternal destruction, they were someone who deserved all that and more. In short, it was such a nasty word that English does not even have a true equivalent. The literal translation of damned might come the closest, but the word has lost its power and implications over the centuries.From beginning to end, the Bible is filled with fierce language and sharp statements. The characters within its pages were human. They spoke and swore as humans do, and the Bible does not shy away from that fact. The only curse the Bible tells people not to level is that of Gods name, and modern Christians do not even have to worry about that one as much. After all, Gods name has been lost to time, and it is very hard to use a word you not even know as a curse.
Each year millions of people observe St. Patricks Day around the world in honor of Saint Patrick of Ireland. Many will celebrate the heritage and the culture of the Irish by participating in Irish pride parades, wearing all green, eating Shamrock cookies, drinking with friends at their favorite pub, and sharing their favorite Irish quotes and blessings across social media among other things. How much do you know about the life of the patron saint celebrated each year in so many parts of the world and the legend behind the holiday? While the dates of St. Patricks life arent completely certain, we know that as an active missionary in Ireland, he lived a life worth noting. Here are seven things you probably didnt know about the popular patron saint of Ireland.

His Real Name Was Not Patrick

According to Irish legend, his birth name was Maewyn Succat, or Magonus Succetus in Latin. He only began going by Patrick when he became a priest.

He Was Not Actually Irish

St. Patrick was not Irish. Most scholars believe that St. Patrick was born in a village in Roman Britain sometime in the late 4th century. He considered himself both a Roman and a Briton. He lived in Roman Britain until around the age of 16, when he was captured by pirates, sold into slavery and brought to Ireland.

He Was Sold Into Slavery

When St. Patrick was captured by Irish raiders; he was forced as a slave to work as a shepherd, herding and tending sheep. Ireland at the time was a land of Druids and pagans. He reflected on this period in his memoir, The Confession, sharing how he was able to turn to God in the darkness. St. Patrick wrote: The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the dame. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain. After six years of being in captivity, he managed to escape after having a dream from God where he was told to leave Ireland going to the coast. Following Gods voice he found sailors there who took him back to Britain where he was able to be with his family again. During this period, he experienced a spiritual conversion. After leaving Ireland, he returned. He developed a strong desire to proclaim the Good News to the Irish.

Visions

St. Patrick was led by visions. These visions, or dreams guided many of the decisions he made in life. When he returned home, he had a vision that he talks about in detail in his memoir. I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: The Voice of the Irish. As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Focult, which is beside the western sea and they cried out, as with one voice: We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us. In this vision, he heard the people of Ireland who were practicing paganism telling him to walk among them. This vision prompted his studies and journey towards priesthood.

He Converted Thousands to Christianity

After following his calling to the priesthood, he was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre who he studied under. He was later ordained a bishop and sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. As previously mentioned, when St. Patrick first came to the country, Ireland was made up of mostly Druids and pagans. He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity to non-believers. Entire kingdoms were converted to Christianity because of his message. Over a span of four decades, he was able to convert Ireland to Christianity. He ordained many, held church councils and urged the people of Ireland to seek holiness in Christ. St. Patricks poem The Breastplate acknowledges his complete faith, how important spreading the Good News was to him, and his total trust in God, no matter the opposition. Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. Though he faced much opposition from pagan Druids, he was still able to live out his mission.

Legends

There are many legends about St. Patrick. One of the popular legends concerns what happened when St. Patrick arrived in Ireland. One claimed that he met the chieftain of one of the druid tribes who tried to kill him. Because of an intervention from God, St. Patrick was not only able to escape death, but also able to convert the chieftain and preach the Gospel throughout Ireland. Another legend claimed that St. Patrick was able to drive all the snakes out of Ireland. Scholars believe that snakes in ancient texts refer to pagan rituals beliefs and practices, not necessarily the animals themselves so these legends may have referred to St. Patricks ability to drive paganism out of Ireland.

A Life of Example

St. Patrick is recognized today by many for spreading Christianity throughout Ireland as a missionary and the example he set during his ministry. He is admired for his humbleness, his complete trust in God in all circumstances manifested in his unwavering faith. His mission was his life and this is one of the many reasons he is still celebrated today.

Lesli White is an Editor for Beliefnet.com
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South Korea has conducted large-scale military exercises around western border islands to practice deploying forces in the event of North Korean provocations, the military said Sunday.

The maneuvers took place Friday around the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong near the Yellow Sea border with the North, involving the Marines' quick maneuver force, the Navy landing ship (LST-II), the MUH-1 Marineon helicopter, and the Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicle (KAAV), according to the North West Islands Defense Command.

Also participating in the drills were Army helicopters, such as the AH-64E Apache.

The exercises came amid concern that the North could undertake localized provocations ahead of next month's parliamentary elections in South Korea. (Yonhap)
SHEFFIELD  Robert Boyett Jr., 82, loves to take in the breathtaking scenery on his Sheffield property. He's not alone.

One of the great joys of my life is to go up on Cooper Hill and just stand there and look at the magnificent views, he said. And I wanted to protect that because there's so many people in the community extending to Salisbury [Conn.], and all the way up to Sheffield and Great Barrington, who drive down here, just to drive around Cooper Hill and see the 360-degree view of beautiful mountains.

A recent sale of that Cooper Hill Farm property to dairy farmer Louis Aragi Jr. by Boyett to preserve the land has ignited an even greater preservation effort that will encompass about 1,100 acres and more than $12 million in transactions.

When Aragi first enlisted Kathy Orlando, executive director of land protection at Sheffield Land Trust, to help him buy and protect the entire Cooper Hill Farm, she said the conservation community would help make that happen.

She then reached out to other conservation organizations.

For years, conservationists had been concerned about the future of the substantial holdings of Boyett in northwest Connecticut and Southern Berkshire County, which faced development pressure.

So, in addition to working with Aragi and his father, Louis Chico Aragi, who own Pine Island Farm, to protect the more than 440 acre Cooper Hill Farm, the conservation organizations galvanized into a group called the Cooper Hill Conservation Alliance.

That loosely organized effort had a tightly defined purpose: To buy and preserve prime land Boyett owned. It worked. On Wednesday, the last of four purchases closed.

Here are the details:

 440-plus acres at Cooper Hill Farm sold to Louis Aragi and Louis Aragi Jr., for $5.16 million. Most of that acreage will be protected under agricultural preservation restriction.

 297 acres on Twin Lakes Road listed for $2.995 million sold for $2.45 million to SLH Holdings LLC Sept. 28. By the end of 2025, it will be turned over to the Salisbury Association Land Trust and come under a Connecticut conservation easement.

 220 acres on Weatogue Road in Salisbury listed for $2.145 million and sold for $1.45 million to Miles Mountain LLC Jan. 26. By mid-2026 it will be under a Connecticut conservation easement and abuts land Trustees of Reservations already owns.

 75 acres on Cooper Hill Road abutting Bartholomews Cobble, which closed Wednesday with the Trustees of Reservations as buyer. It will come under conservation restriction. That land was actually never listed for sale and sold for $1.3 million.

This worked, because of both luck and planning, said Tim Abbott, conservation director with the Housatonic Valley Association based in Cornwall Bridge, Conn. The luck was that the Realtor [Elyse Harney Morris] who was engaged by Mr. Boyett understood how conservation transactions could help him meet his goals and also satisfying his sense of having been a good steward of the land for the decades that he had owned it.

That meant that the Aragis needed to get financing up front and purchase the farmland outright, as well as the Trustees of Reservations to do the same to expand Bartholomews Cobble.

To buy time in the Connecticut transactions, It required two limited liability corporations to form out of nothing, Abbott said. People who are willing to put millions of dollars of capital on the line to buy and hold it and give time to the conservation groups to go through the various processes of applying for grants. Without that, we wouldn't have done it.

Abbott recruited those funders whom he described as altruistic, because they may never see their full investment returned.

All of this land is really important from a scenic perspective, said Jennifer Dubois, management director of land conservation for the Trustees of Reservations. The 75 acres that we are acquiring tomorrow is also significant from an ecological perspective, as well as a forest and wildlife connectivity perspective.

She said the Trustees had been interested in preserving that Cooper Hill Road parcel for about 20 years and the organization is now working to preserve an additional 85-acre parcel from a different owner.

We've worked actively to try to protect the integrity of this natural landscape, she said.

The land at Twin Lakes was listed as prime property hovering over Twin Lakes, in the listing at Elyse Harney Real Estate.

An 'epic' effort for conservation

As soon as we put that on the market, it created a great stir, Harney Morris, told The Eagle. It was amazing how quickly a group of residents at Twin Lakes came together. I didn't see the actual deposits, but I heard that some people gave $100 and some people gave probably $100,000, or more, to make that work.

Morris worked with real estate agent Bill Melnick to shepherd these deals. She described the process as epic, reflecting that its rare to be part of something so big.

It was a win-win, and it was an honor, she said, adding that her family has always taken an interest in land preservation. To be able to be right in the center of this and putting the 1,000 acres into conservation together, I couldn't have worked with a better team: Conservationists as well as Bob Boyett.

Boyett has no regrets about selling to preserve the land. Boyett has also taken steps to preserve land he still owns on Cooper Hill Road.
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Police sought an arrest warrant Sunday for a man on charges of killing a woman at her home in Seoul last week.

The victim in her 20s was found dead at her "officetel" home in the northern Seoul district of Eunpyeong on Thursday night after her family filed a missing persons report earlier in the day.

The suspect in his 40s was detained at a cartoon book rental store on Friday night and has since admitted to killing the woman during questioning, police said.

Officials plan to uncover the exact motive of his crime through further investigation.

The suspect had no job and knew the victim through her livestream broadcasts, police said.

The National Forensic Service is carrying out an autopsy review to find the exact cause of death.

It has earlier said the victim showed signs of death from suffocation. (Yonhap)
A mother of two is calling on the Government to intervene after her two sons were abducted by her ex-husband in Egypt.

Mandy Kelly from Dundalk in Co Louth was on holiday in Egypt two years ago when her husband Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed locked her in an apartment and took the children away in a car.

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Three-year-old Kareem and his five-year-old brother Zayn Mohammed were both born in Ireland and have had no contact with their mother since June 2022, three months after they were kidnapped.

Back in November 2022, Ms Kelly met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin about the situation, and he recommended going through the Egyptian courts to deal with the issue.

Initially, she reached out to the Irish Consular service in Cairo, but they did not help with the issue.

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Speaking to BreakingNews.ie, Ms Kelly said it has been "very difficult" as there has been so little movement on the case.

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I was lucky to be able to escape the room that he locked me in, and then I returned to Ireland.

"I was lucky to be able to escape the room that he locked me in, and then I returned to Ireland.

"Since then, all contact has been cut off and Mr Mohamed has made demands for cash in exchange for the children."

Arrest warrant

"I am urging immediate diplomatic intervention in the situation, and I am waiting for a European arrest warrant for Mr Mohammed."

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Since the interview, Ms Kelly said she has been informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed the issuing of a European arrest warrant on the basis of two child abduction charges.

She has also requested that a further charge of extortion should be considered as well.

Ms Kelly spoke with Egypt's Good Intentions Subcommittee in 2022, which was set up in 2000 to assist in cases of child abduction.

Since Egypt is not a signatory of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the removal of a child by a non-custodial parent to or within Egypt is not a crime.

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In the past, mothers have been granted custody of children in similar cases, but it is often a costly and drawn out process.

Mandy Kelly with her three year old son Kareem

Child abduction

"The advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs so far has been for me to live in Egypt, seeing as the court proceedings would take place there.

"I am incredibly fearful of going back to Egypt and I would be concerned that the Egyptian Government thinks I am taking up residence there," she said.

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Ms Kelly said what has happened in similar child abduction cases is that the person who took them just flees to another country.

In terms of working with the gardai and Department of Justice on the matter, she said there has been a "catalogue of failures".

"I reported my case to Dundalk Garda station on March 17th, 2022, and it took them until July 2023 for the file to be sent to the DPP.

"I reported my case to Dundalk Garda station on March 17th, 2022, and it took them until July 2023 for the file to be sent to the DPP.

"Even they (DPP) are getting annoyed because there was so little progress."

Ms Kelly pointed to other cases where the Irish Government have intervened, such as that of Ibrahim Halawa who was arrested in Egypt in 2013 and eventually released in 2017.

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More recently she referenced the case of Yasser Eljuboori who was being held in jail in Iraq before having all charges dropped and returned to his family last month.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and his department played a huge role in having him returned home and Ms Kelly is unsure why her case has not received the same support.

"They know how to deal with Egypt through working with Ibrahim Halawa and have been critical of the country's human rights record in the past."

The current advice she has got from Egyptian lawyers who are aware of how the system works in the country is for diplomatic intervention, seeing as all other routes have been exhausted.

"It is up to the Irish Government now, and they need to get involved," she said.

Fine Gael Senator John McGahon recently brought up Ms Kelly's case in the Seanad and called for a bilateral agreement between the two governments.

"They know that this is not a case about custody, it is about a kidnapping. They also know there is a cash demand involved in the case.

"That is a complete and utter violation of my children's human rights. You cannot go around selling children."

She defiantly said "I won't stop until I get my kids back, and I will show them. It is just a matter of time."

Ms Kelly was recently informed about a meeting with the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, which is set to take place next month.

A spokesperson for her department said in a statement that they are engaging with Ms Kelly directly.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it is "aware of the case and has provided extensive consular assistance and continues to.

"As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases."
The average wage of Korean workers at conglomerates surpassed that of Japanese workers for the first time in 2022, a report showed Sunday.

In 2022, employees at Korea's big companies earned 5.88 million won ($4,414) on a monthly average, up 157.6 percent from 2.28 million won recorded 20 years ago, according to the report by the Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF).

The 2022 amount was higher than the average monthly wage of Japanese workers at conglomerates at 4.43 million won, which was down 6.8 percent from 4.84 million won in 2002.

In 2002, the situation was the opposite, with the average monthly wage of Japanese workers at large companies at 4.84 million won, much higher than the 2.28 million won earned by Korean workers.

The report also showed that the average monthly wage of Korean workers at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was 3.4 million won in 2022, slightly higher than that of Japanese SME workers at 3.32 million won, vice versa from the situation two decades ago.

The average monthly wage of Korean workers at companies with 10 or more employees came to 4 million won in 2022, also outstripping the 3.79 million won earned by Japanese workers.

The wage of Korean workers increased overall, unlike that of Japanese workers, but the wage gap between big companies and SMEs sharply widened in Seoul, while it lessened in Tokyo.

In 2022, Korean SME workers earned 57.7 percent of what conglomerate workers did, while Japanese SME workers received 73.7 percent of the wage of workers at big companies, according to KEF. (Yonhap)
The overwhelming no vote in the family and care referendums has been attributed to a lack of clarity in the proposed amendments, but this is "overly simplistic", according to a professor of constitutional law and theory.

DCU Associate Professor Tom Hickey told BreakingNews.ie: "I think it's too simplistic a view frankly, but I think certainly as a descriptive question... why? I think it's a fair analysis [uncertainty around the proposals]."

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He pointed to the contributions of Senator Michael McDowell.

The former tanaiste and minister for justice became a central voice in the no campaign.

Prof Hickey feels it may be more accurate that a lot of people didn't see the "urgency" in the argument in favour of the yes side.

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Senator Michael McDowell (centre ) with No campaigners at Dublin Castle waiting for the results in the count for the twin referenda to change the Constitution on family and care. Photo: Damien Storan/PA Images

"The practical reality is, in legal and concrete terms, there is relatively little discrimination against non-marital families. Over the last two decades, in legislation across different domains in policies and so on, the discrimination has been kind of weeded out.

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"Not entirely... even the O'Meara widower's pension case in Tipperary that came up in the referendum campaigns, there was discrimination there.

"On the statute books there is still some discrimination there, but I think the public probably have a sense that there isn't, practically speaking, a lot of discrimination. That made the dynamic of the campaign so very fundamentally different from the marriage equality campaign in 2015. For the public, there was obvious and clear egregious discrimination against gay people who wanted to get married.

"Here, there wasn't the same urgency. There wasn't the same obvious discrimination and so a lot of people didn't see the point."

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However, he said the fact the amendment was seen as "largely symbolic did not make it unimportant".

"It does matter in the Constitution that unmarried families are second-class citizens in a sense.

"There's also nothing to say we can be complacent... that in the future the political lie of the land won't change and that you will have a government or governments that will seek to reintroduce discrimination against non-marital families in practical concrete ways, and to go back as it were to a different world.

"In that scenario, there would not be the constitutional block that would have been in place with a yes vote."

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He said the fact there was no "obvious urgency" in the yes arguments may have been a big factor in how the public voted.

I think it's fair to say that in the campaign debates on TV and radio, the no side won those arguments.

"The Government didn't appear to be counteracting it [the no argument]. I think it's fair to say that in the campaign debates on TV and radio, the no side won those arguments. The yes side weren't terribly effective at articulating an argument as to why this wording was good.

"I think the wording, broadly speaking, was not terribly problematic and was a common sense approach. Actually, if you step back and look at the text of any written constitution, articles 40-44 in the Irish Constitution, those rights provisions show dozens of examples of what you might call broad, vague, principles-based, phrasing. That's the nature of a written constitution.

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"This wording was along those same lines... I personally didn't see it as terribly problematic, but that's just my view.

"What I think is it wasn't very easy for those who were arguing for yes to say, 'well, here's why you need to vote yes, these are the issues, here's a moral reason to vote yes'.

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"Whereas what they ended up having to argue was non-marital families are just as important as marital families, therefore you should vote yes, very few people disagree with that. But they couldn't show people where the discrimination is, because in legislative and policy terms most of the discrimination has been drained out. Ironically, the only place where you still have that discrimination is in the wording of the Constitution.

"People wanted to know... what difference does that make? The yes campaign was left with nothing to argue about but that it matters because it's in the Constitution, the basic framework of the State, and it matters for symbolic reasons."

While he said he is "slightly uncomfortable defending the Government... and I'm not arguing for the yes campaign now, it's over", he said there may have been an "under-appreciation of what written constitutions are and how they work" in arguments about the wording.

"I do have a view though, that this was based on an under-appreciation of what written constitutions are and how they work.

"I would say this, what did the Government want to achieve? They wanted to achieve a result whereby it would no longer be the case that Article 41 of the Constitution only applied to marital families.

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"One option they had, if you look at Article 41, section 1 is the general provision around the family, 3 refers to the institution of marriage.

"It says the State pledges itself to guard the institution of marriage, and in a sub-phrase it says upon which the family is founded.

"What the Government could have done was simply proposed to remove that phrase 'upon which the family is founded', to take that out and leave everything else as it was. Then we wouldn't have had the durable relationships conflict.

"That may have been a more subtle way of achieving what they wanted, and let judges apply common sense. Families in the situation of the O'Mearas would be covered, single mothers and single fathers would be covered, everything would move on.

"Of course, if they had done that, perhaps no campaigners would have said, if it's not founded on the institution of marriage, what is it founded on? And does that mean we're going to have the potential for throuples and so on? It could have been the same debate.

"There's always going to be arguable cases. What the wording did was 'whether founded on marriage or other durable relationships'.

"That would have meant the standard cases that should have been covered would be. No serious constitutional lawyer thinks a throuple would be included. Reason by analogy, that it was beside marriage, in section 4 it already said marriage was a contract between two persons."

'Common sense judgements'

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He added: "It wouldn't cover my relationship with the person who sold me my mortgage. Zany and off-the-wall examples would not be covered.

"There would be some cases in the middle that were arguable and complex, there would be some litigation around that. But what you'd get in 15 or 20 years would be around five significant cases decided by the Supreme Court. It would be based on common sense judgements. Everything would move on, and the sky would not fall in.

"It's complex, but it seems that argument wasn't made well or at all, but the McDowell argument was made, and it seemed to win the day."

On the leaking of the Attorney General's advice by The Ditch, Prof Hickey felt it contained arguments for and against the amendments.

"If you read it, if you were a no voter you could find things to convince you to vote no, and if you were a yes voter you could do the same. It's a complex set of legal arguments."

Moving on to the care amendment which was defeated "spectacularly", Prof Hickey emphasised the perceived differences in the wording and the suggestion from the Citizens' Assembly on care.

He was part of the expert advisory group for the assembly, and he feels the difference in the wording wasn't as large as some campaigners suggested.

"There is a narrative in legal circles that they didn't go with the Citizens' Assembly wording, they went with the watered down version, and if they had gone with the Citizens' Assembly wording we would have voted yes because it would have given more support to carers.

"I was on the expert advisory group for the Citizens' Assembly, so I was involved with that wording. My own view of it is there is a little bit of a difference between the two... the Citizens' Assembly wording is a bit stronger, but it is not nearly as much as is being suggested.

"The wording of the Citizens' Assembly was the State shall be 'obliged' to take reasonable measures to support care in the home or wider community.

"The point is that it is obliged to take 'reasonable measures'. That waters it down. The second point is litigation would be on questions of social policy around disability or carers' allowance, with financial implications on the State. The courts would undoubtedly have shown deference because of the separation of powers, the context, the courts would say 'we're not well-placed to make determinations on what is reasonable support. That is a question for the government'.

People from the Equality Not Care group, who campaigned for a no vote, at Dublin Castle. Photo: Damien Storan/PA Images

"What that means is the Citizens' Assembly wording would have been largely symbolic too. The wording actually offered was that the State shall 'strive'. Shall is also obligatory. Strive may appear weaker, but it's the same thing as taking reasonable measures.

"In a way, I would agree with the progressive no campaigners that the Citizens' Assembly wording was stronger, but I don't for a moment buy the view that it should have been decisive.

"Speaking as a constitutional lawyer, I think it is way too simplistic to say the wording was spectacularly wrong."

Again, he feels the no side had a more compelling argument on the care amendment.

"The care proposal was defeated spectacularly, and here Tom Clonan's argument was effective. That was what I would call representing the progressive nos, the nos that said this doesn't go far enough."
Thousands of people lined the streets of Dublin to watch this years St Patricks Day parade in an event described by Late Late Show Patrick Kielty as the biggest party in the world.

Visitors travelled from Bolivia, California and China to participate in the annual event in the capital, with attendees packing the city centre bedecked in shamrock-shaped sunglasses, Irish jerseys and leprechaun hats.

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Kielty, the grand marshal of this year's Dublin parade, said the day was important because it gave people a chance to share in something, it brings a lot of people together.

Patrick Kielty was the grand marshal of the parade in Dublin and described himself as the proudest man in Ireland (Michael Chester/PA)

Performers took to the streets to entertain the crowds in Dublin (Michael Chester/PA)

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People gathered from early in the morning in their green and tricolour accessories (Michael Chester/PA)

The Dublin Lord Mayors coach was ridden through the streets during the parade (Michael Chester/PA)

Crowds utilised various vantage points to get a good view of the celebrations (Michael Chester/PA)

More than 4,200 participants were scheduled to take part in the parade (Michael Chester/PA)

One group took an imaginative look at what it meant to be 110 per cent Irish and wore red wigs and the same Aran jumper (Michael Chester/PA)

Attendees described the parade as a big party (Michael Chester/PA)

Merchandise seller Willie Egan set up ahead of the festivities (Michael Chester/PA)

Dublin residents Derek, Eoin, Paula, and Emma Donnelly were in position ahead of time (Michael Chester/PA)

Meanwhile, celebrations continued across the water in London with crowds gathering in Trafalgar Square for the citys St Patricks Day event (Lucy North/PA)

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (centre) was among those enjoying the celebrations (Lucy North/PA)

Trafalgar Square was full of people celebrating (Lucy North/PA)

The event in London culminated in a festival of live performances (Lucy North/PA)

In Birmingham, performers also took part in a St Patricks Day parade (Jacob King/PA)

Large crowds turned out to watch performers (Jacob King/PA)

Young people were among those taking part in the Birmingham event (Jacob King/PA)

Across the pond, US president Joe Biden spoke during a St Patricks Day brunch at the White House in Washington DC (Niall Carson/PA)

And on the White Houses North Lawn, the fountain was dyed green in honour of St Patricks Day (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)
Mary Lou McDonald has defended her decision to go to the US for St Patricks Day despite calls for politicians to boycott events this year.

The Sinn Fein leader said she couldnt refuse the unparalleled access that Washington DC offers this week.

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She made the comments in the face of a push for politicians to snub meetings with senior US figures in a show of Irish opposition to the growing number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at the Ireland Funds 32nd National Gala during the Taoiseachs visit to the US for St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA)

The SDLP said it has not sent any party representatives to the US this year due to the conflict in Gaza.

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But Ms McDonald said it was her responsibility and duty to speak to anyone she can in a bid to stop the spiralling death toll during an interview on the Sky News programme Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

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Asked whether she should have boycotted the White House reception this year, Ms McDonald admitted that words arent enough but added Im not talking about words.

Im talking about concrete action. We need a ceasefire. We need to end the slaughter of women and children in Gaza. 30,000 deaths now.

She continued: So the question isnt why did you come? The question has to be how could you possibly stay away?

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In a way, we have a unique position as Irish political leaders in that we have a very strong, relationship with the United States, very strong, unparalleled access in a week like this.

And we also have a very strong relationship with the Palestinian struggle and a strong commitment to freedom for Palestine and self-determination, an end to the occupation.

How on earth could I possibly justify not coming and not pressing that case in the strongest possible terms?

She said that there was an unanswerable need for a ceasefire and for the US to lead on that amid the ongoing vicious, criminal bombardment of Gaza.

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Weve had very frank conversations with individual members on the Hill, with the administration itself and our message has been very clear: we come here as friends, as people who have had the benefit of great support from the United States for our own peace process, and we acknowledge that, but in respect of Palestine they have got it dangerously badly wrong and the ceasefire now has to be the absolute priority for everybody concerned.

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Ireland White House St Patrick's Day visit: Shamrock cerem... Read More

Irish politicians have emphasised the need for dialogue as part of efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stating its not our policy to boycott, its our policy to engage.

Irish artists including Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Kneecap withdrew from the South by Southwest arts festival in Texas this week over opposition to the US Army being a sponsor.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast this week, to coincide with the high-profile engagements in Washington DC, urging the US to end support for Israels military offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
Here, we have a look at the issues that will dominate political debate in the coming week.

Relocation of asylum seekers

The relocation of up to 200 asylum seekers who had been sleeping in tents outside the International Protection Office in Dublin will be the main topic of political debate next week.

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Up to 200 men had been living in tents on Mount Street due to a lack of accommodation for male asylum seekers.

On Saturday morning, the international protection applicants were transported to an accommodation area in Crooksling, south-west Dublin, where it is understood food, toilet, and shower facilities will be provided.

The encampment of tents was cleared by a cleaning team which arrived shortly after their departure.

Refugee charities had previously called the conditions on Mount Street "unmanaged, uncontrolled and inhumane". However, many have now questioned the decision to move the international protection applicants ahead of St Patrick's Day.

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"Its pretty obvious to us that the reason they are here is because Paddys Day is coming," community volunteer Lena Seale said.

"Were going to be flooded with tourists, and I think they see these men as eyesores, not as human beings, and theyre not serious about providing a real solution."

The Government has been accused of a cynical move to clear the asylum seekers in time for the arrival of thousands of tourists for St Patrick's Day.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has denied the accusation, saying the move was made due to health and safety reasons.

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Referendum fallout

The fallout from the no-no votes in the family and care referendums will undoubtedly continue this week.

Prominent Fianna Fail politicians Senator Lisa Chambers, and TD Niamh Smyth, both admitted they voted no despite campaigning for a yes vote.

This will undoubtedly be highlighted as further evidence of a campaign that has been called uncoordinated and unclear.

Opposition TDs may point to these U-turns, as they all campaigned for a yes vote like the Government.

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The exception is Peadar Toibin's Aontu, the only Oppositon party that campaigned for a no vote.

Abroad

Ireland Blaming wording for referendum no vote 'overly sim... Read More

In the UK, the infighting in the Conservative party is continuing with rumours that a group of rebel MPs will seek to replace UK prime minister Rishi Sunak with Commons leader Penney Mordaunt.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak is under pressure over his relationship with Tory donor Frank Hester, after racist comments Mr Hester made about MP Diane Abbott emerged.

In the US, a rematch between president Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump in the 2024 election has all but been confirmed.

Mr Trump's extreme rhetoric continued as he told a rally in Ohio if he does not win November's presidential election it will mean the likely end of American democracy.
The US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar is meeting US president Joe Biden at the White House on Sunday, at the end of a week of engagements which involved an earlier bilateral between the two leaders.

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Mr Biden said he agreed with the Taoiseachs calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

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However, speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Mr Varadkar said there were areas in which the two administrations remain at odds.

He said he made it very clear to Mr Briden that Israels continued military actions in Gaza were not self-defence.

United by history, heritage, and hope  there's not a thing the United States and Ireland can't do together. pic.twitter.com/eQaZkyqPDQ Advertisement  President Biden (@POTUS) March 16, 2024

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Asked about the US continuing to supply Israel with weapons, Mr Varadkar said: Thats something we dont agree with, but the American government is a sovereign government that makes its own decisions.

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The Taoiseach said the US was working very hard towards a ceasefire, but Mr Biden has stopped short of calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

Asked what he wanted to see happen in Gaza, Mr Varadkar said: The most important and most urgent thing is the need for a ceasefire so that the killing can stop, so that the hostages can go home, so that food and medicine can get into the people that need it in Gaza.

Once that happens, we would hope that it becomes possible to build a more permanent ceasefire.

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, US president Joe Biden, and speaker Mike Johnson leave after the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on Capitol Hill (Niall Carson/PA)

I think everyone agrees that Hamas cant be part of the governing of any Palestinian territory given whats happened on October 7th, but we dont believe that it should be occupied by Israel.

We certainly dont believe it should be resettled by Israel. We believe it should be handed back over to Palestinian civilian control and unlike was the case since 2005, it shouldnt be blocked by Israel.

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Mr Varadkar rejected an assertion that Ireland was seen as weak on both Israels right to defend itself as well as support for Ukraine.

He said: What Ive been encouraged by both here and then also in meeting recently in Europe is  if anything  people kind of encouraging us to stick by our stance and take the position that were taking.

Today, as we celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland, we also look forward.



Heres to another century defined by shared values and strong friendships.  President Biden (@POTUS) March 15, 2024

And I do think that a lot of people in America and across Europe agree with the position that were taking.

Certainly on Ukraine, I think its recognised that Ireland has been a very strong supporter of Ukraine.

We dont provide military aid, but we help them in every other way imaginable, whether its accepting refugees, whether its financial support, non-lethal military aid, loans.

On Sunday, Mr Varadkar will officially gift Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock as part of a long-running tradition for St Patricks Day.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon (Niall Carson/PA)

On Friday, the Taoiseach met the US president for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

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The two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Asked afterwards if he believed Mr Biden was fit for an election campaign, Mr Varadkar said: I do and hes in very good form, very engaged and very sharp.

The Taoiseach said he did not believe that he would be attending a mass with the president on Sunday which had been proposed in early discussions of the itinerary for the week.

However, he added that he would have been happy to attend if there was such an invite.
Government housing targets, St Patrick's Day celebrations, and Ireland's Six Nations win are among the topics that feature on Sunday's front pages.

The Government has admitted housing targets are 'significantly below' demand, the Business Post reports. The front page also includes an exclusive interview with senior Democrat and former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Our front page today. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/LyVcHklEWC for these stories plus:



 Lawyers speak about about toxic culture in firms



 Eight lessons from the referendum



 Exclusive interview with Nancy Pelosi pic.twitter.com/Lru6dsiuHs  Business Post (@businessposthq) March 17, 2024

A Garda supervisor involved in a controversial investigation that led to a Garda being suspended for three years for giving an unwanted bicycle to a pensioner, changed their sworn testimony at a recent board of inquiry, the Sunday Independent reports.

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Gardai will attempt to seize the home of Martin 'Viper' Foley, the Sunday World reports.

The Sunday Life leads with a story on the murder of a 'UVF hitman'.

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The future of Rishi Sunak as UK prime Minister feature among a variety of stories on the front pages of Sundays British newspapers.

The Sunday Telegraph says right-wing Conservatives MPs are using Penny Mordaunt as a stalking horse to replace Mr Sunak.

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 The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph:



'Mordaunt is 'stalking horse for Right-wing Tory rival''#TomorrowsPapersToday

Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/Biq2hYoDcI  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 16, 2024

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The Observer relays words from Tories who have labelled the plan to replace Mr Sunak as bonkers.

The Observer: Tories slam bonkers plot to topple Sunak as chaos mounts #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/5V5ogdNZwu  George Mann (@sgfmann) March 16, 2024

The Sunday Express reports Nigel Farage is eyeing a return to politics ahead of the election.

Sunday Express front page: Farage plots Sunak's demise#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/RePcddxGVx  Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 16, 2024

The Sunday Times says UK defence secretary Grant Shapps has abandoned a trip to Odesa in Ukraine due to a Russian military threat.

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The Sunday Times: Russian missile threat to Shapps

on Ukraine visit #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/6dk0pPEvMa  George Mann (@sgfmann) March 16, 2024

The number of prison officers trained to deal with riots has dropped by a third, according to The Independent.

The Daily Mail leads with a story on a euthanasia ad campaign that used an image from Princess Dianas death in Paris.

Mail on Sunday: Diana crash used in vile euthanasia ad campaign #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Q8nn0XJjWb  George Mann (@sgfmann) March 16, 2024

The Sunday Mirror leads with a story on Strictly Come Dancings Giovanni Pernice who has broken his silence on actress Amanda Abbingtons exit from the show.

Sunday Mirror front page: Giovanni breaks silence after Strictly row#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/aZNoJryELJ pic.twitter.com/LsDzLnf4ES  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 16, 2024

And the Daily Star Sunday says men who wear old-fashioned underwear make the best lovers.

Sunday's front page: Blokes who wear white Y-fronts are crowned Britains hottest lovers #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/lSVqPkNF7I pic.twitter.com/M5Uk2xnM2T  Daily Star (@dailystar) March 16, 2024

Allies of former US president Donald Trump are winning the 'disinformation war' as the 2024 US presidential race heats up, The New York Times reports.
Crowds have gathered outside the British Home Office to protest against the rise of racism and hatred and to support black Labour MP Diane Abbott.

Activists gathered in central London for the Stop The Hate national demonstration which included a rally and a march to Whitehall.

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In the afternoon and under a large police presence, they held a booming dance party including pink smoke in the central strip of Whitehall in front of Downing Street between the Cenotaph and The Women of World War II memorial.

Other events are being held in Glasgow and Cardiff as part of the Stand Up To Racism campaign.

Banners declaring: Racism is extremism; freedom is a constant struggle; refugees welcome; say no to Islamophobia; and stamp out antisemitism, yes to diversity were held by the demonstrators.

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Loud cheers broke out as Labour MP John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, told the crowd outside the Home Office: I am here today in solidarity with my friend, my colleague, my comrade, Diane Abbott.

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People take part in an anti-racism march in central London organised by Stand Up To Racism and trade unions (Lucy North/PA)

He also led those gathered in a chant of no justice, no peace, before adding: If the Labour party want to be perceived as an anti-racist party, there is one simple step that can be done today, and that is Sir Keir Starmer restoring the whip to Diane Abbott.

The party suspended Ms Abbott 11 months ago for saying Irish, Jewish and Traveller people do not face racism all their lives.

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She withdrew her remarks the same day and apologised for any anguish caused.

Earlier this week Ms Abbott, who currently sits as an independent MP, spoke out about racism in politics, a day after being denied a chance to take part in a Commons debate about a Tory donors criticism of her.

Frank Hester is reported to have said the MP made him want to hate all black women and that she should be shot.

Ms Abbott said she had been upset by the comments, but was hardened to racist abuse.

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Protesters hit out at hate and racism in the country (Lucy North/PA)

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has said that Mr Hester had apologised and his remorse should be accepted.

Trade unions, the Jewish Socialist Group along with other faith groups and grassroots campaigns were among supporters of Saturdays demonstration which the organisers said was part of a mass campaign by a broad coalition of forces drawing in anti-racists everywhere.

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They added such action is going to be critical in the fight to ensure that the politics of racism, division and hate are not allowed to gain a foothold here in Britain and if we are to stop the rise of the new far right.

Mr McDonnell recalled years of campaigning in Britain where activists marched in the streets against discrimination, antisemitism and racism, but he suggested they are now having to protest in response to people who are in power.

Many spoke up in support of Diane Abbott (Lucy North/PA)

He said Ms Abbott is nobodys victim, but facing racism day-in, day-out from various sections takes it toll, and I want to pay tribute to this woman, her bravery, courage, determination and her solidarity, he told the crowd.

Earlier, Mr McDonnell told the PA news agency: I think that the reason people are mobilising in such large numbers is because we are seeing the rise of racism within our society again.

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People of all walks of life, all ages and all denominations are coming together and saying `this is not the society that we want, we have to expose what is happening and at the same time counter it.

He said that Ms Abbott not being allowed to speak in parliament this week, when she was the focus of a race row debate, was disrespectful because we have a duty of respect and a duty of care.

Mr McDonnell added: She should have been allowed to say her piece in respect to what was being said about her and I was absolutely shocked she wasnt given that opportunity. Lessons have to be learned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his countrys election indicates trust and hope in him after a vote in which he stifled the opposition.

Sunday was the last day of a presidential election that offered Russians no real alternatives to Mr Putin after he ruthlessly cracked down on dissent.

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Early returns after the polls closed showed Mr Putin is poised to extend his near quarter-of-a-century rule for six more years, with some 87% of the vote after about 80% of precincts were counted, according to Russias Central Election Commission.

Mr Putin went on to say that protests during the election had no effect and any crimes would be punished after the vote.



Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in court in Moscow (Moscow City Court via AP)

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He also said that he was informed of an idea to release his fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, from prison, days before the opposition leaders death in an Arctic prison last month.

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He said that he agreed to the idea, on condition that Mr Navalny did not return to Russia.

The election took place after a relentless crackdown on dissent  and amid attacks within Russia by Ukrainian missiles and drones, which have killed several people.



A police officer checks voters queueing at a polling station in St Petersburg, Russia, at noon on Sunday (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP)

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Polling happened in a tightly controlled environment where Mr Putin faced competition from only three token rivals and any public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine is stifled.

Critics are either in jail or in exile. Beyond the fact that voters have virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited.

Mr Navalnys associates had urged those unhappy with Mr Putin or the war to protest by coming to the polls at noon on Sunday  and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

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Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalnys widow, who joined a long line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin as some in the crowd applauded and chanted her name.

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Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexey Navalny, stands in a queue with other voters at a polling station near the Russian embassy in Berlin, after noon on Sunday (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP)

She spent more than five hours in the line and told reporters after casting her vote that she wrote her late husbands name on the ballot.

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Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Ms Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

The OVD-Info group that monitors political arrests said 80 people were arrested in 20 cities across Russia on Sunday.
Russian president Vladimir Putin is poised to extend his nearly quarter of a century of rule for six more years after wrapping up an election that gave voters no real alternatives to an autocrat who has ruthlessly cracked down on dissent.

The three-day election that began on Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where no public criticism of Mr Putin or his war in Ukraine is allowed.

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His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

The 71-year-old Russian leader faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

Russian president Vladimir Putin attends an electronic voting (Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP)

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Mr Putin has boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the run-up to the vote, but a massive Ukrainian drone attack across Russia early on Sunday sent a reminder of challenges faced by Moscow.

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The Russian Defence Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four near the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage.

Russias scattered opposition has urged those unhappy with Mr Putin or the war to express their protest by coming to the polls at noon on Sunday. The strategy was endorsed by Mr Navalny not long before his death.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the countrys 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.

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More than 60 per cent of eligible voters had cast their ballots as of early Sunday.

Despite tight controls, at least a half-a-dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported on Friday and Saturday. A 50-year-old university professor was imprisoned on Saturday for 15 days after she tried to throw green liquid into a ballot box in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg, local news site Ura.ru reported.

In Podolsk, a town close to Moscow, a woman was fined 30,000 rubles and charged with discrediting the Russian army after spoiling her ballot with an unspecified message, according to OVD-Info, a police monitoring group.

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A woman holds her pet as she leaves a voting booth during a presidential election in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok (AP)

Ahead of the election, Mr Putin cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as a life-or-death battle against the West seeking to break up Russia.

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He has boasted about recent gains in Ukraine, where Russian troops have made slow advances relying on their edge in firepower.

Ukraine has fought back by intensifying cross-border shelling and raids, and by launching drone strikes deep inside Russia.

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Air raid sirens sounded multiple times on Saturday in the Russian border city of Belgorod, where two people were killed by Ukrainian shelling, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

The defence ministry said it had thwarted attempts to enter the country by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups, following claims by Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin last week that they had made an armed incursion into the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

Western leaders have derided the election as a travesty of democracy.

Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited with no significant international observers were present.

Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates, or state-backed advisory bodies, can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs.
Medical professors plan to resign en masse starting next week

By Jung Da-hyun

Concerns over the collapse of the emergency medical system are intensifying as professors at medical schools nationwide have decided to submit their resignations from their respective universities after March 25.

More than 90 percent of the countrys 13,000 trainee doctors have been on strike for nearly four weeks in protest against the governments decision to increase enrollment at medical schools by 2,000.

Medical school professors are poised to submit their resignations in a bid to oppose the government's plan and in support of trainee doctors' walkout.

Bang Jae-seung, chief of the emergency committee of medical school professors, announced during a press conference on Saturday that professors from at least 16 medical schools across the nation will start submitting their resignations on March 25, urging the government again to reconsider its plan to expand the number of medical school quota.

The remaining four universities are currently gathering opinions on whether to join.

The decision was reached during an online meeting convened by medical professors from 20 universities late Friday, according to the committee. There are a total of 40 medical schools nationwide.

Considering that each university has different schedules for emergency committees, the decision was made to submit a letter of resignation autonomously.

Professors of three universities  Seoul National University, Catholic University and Ulsan University  have already confirmed their intention to resign. These universities are affiliated respectively with Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Marys Hospital and Seoul Asan Medical Center, three of the so-called big five hospitals of Korea.

Professors at Yonsei University and Sungkyunkwan University, whose training hospitals include Severance Hospital and Samsung Medical Center, respectively, the two other hospitals of the big five, are expected to decide on a collective response plan within this week.

"Our decision doesn't mean that we are abandoning patients. However, if the current situation continues, irreversible harm to public health is inevitable," Bang said.

However, as the government shows a resolute stance, the confrontation between the government and the medical sector is expected to persist for the time being.

Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo warned during a TV interview, Sunday, that health insurance premiums could triple or quadruple if the issue is addressed solely by raising medical insurance fees without increasing the number of doctors.

"It is an undesirable policy initiative for the public," Park said.

Doctors have called for the normalization of medical insurance fees before the government increases the medical school quota, claiming that the fees are set too low, with general practitioners being paid less.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong also expressed concerns during a government meeting on Friday, stating, The public may find it difficult to understand medical professors participating in collective action by abandoning patients when they should be focusing on persuading trainee doctors and students to return to their hospitals and schools.

The government is also accelerating the process for its plan by establishing an allocation committee. The committee, centered around the Ministry of Education, commenced its operation in earnest to determine the distribution of the 2,000 additional students to medical schools for the 2025 academic year.

There are growing concerns that the emergency medical system, which is already unstable, may collapse if the envisaged mass resignation of medical professors, following the departure of trainee doctors, becomes a reality.

After the trainee doctors resigned en masse, major senior hospitals have had to reschedule treatment plans, including surgeries, and have implemented emergency measures such as discharging hospitalized patients to manage bed availability and consolidate wards.

The potential departure of medical professors, who have been crucial in treating patients, may further exacerbate the situation, even making emergency surgeries unfeasible at big hospitals.

In response, the government has proposed measures to mitigate an urgent medical gap by initially deploying military doctors and public health doctors.

The government, which previously deployed 158 public health doctors and military doctors to 20 hospitals, plans to deploy an additional 250 by March 25.

Public anxiety is on the rise about the current situation. According to a Gallup Korea survey, Friday, 69 percent of respondents among 1,002 individuals nationwide aged 18 and above expressed worry about the accessibility of emergency medical services during the conflict.

Meanwhile, negative views of the government's dealing with the doctors' strike are also surfacing as the confrontation persists. In response to questions about the governments handling of the backlash from the medical strike and the medical gap, 49 percent of respondents viewed the governments responses negatively, while 38 percent believed the government was responding appropriately.

As professors are preparing to leave hospitals, there are increasing calls for the government and medical sector to make concessions gradually.

According to the survey, 41 percent of respondents advocated for making an arbitration plan to adjust the timing and the scale of expanding the medical school quota, while 47 percent stated that the government should proceed with its current plan.
Rishi Sunak reportedly visited Frank Hesters office on a 16,000 (18,714) helicopter trip to Leeds paid for by the businessman last year, raising questions about whether the Tory backers 10 million (11 million) donations have bought him access to the British prime minister.

Mr Sunak is facing calls to reveal the extent of his relationship with Mr Hester following the emergence of comments the donor allegedly made about MP Diane Abbott  that she made him want to hate all black women and should be shot.

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The UK prime minister has this week come under fire for his handling of the fallout from the remarks. He eventually described them as racist but only after UK Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch broke ranks with No 10 to condemn them as such.

Frank Hester reportedly paid for Rishi Sunaks helicopter ride to Leeds, where the PM visited the businessmans company (CHOGM Rwanda 2022/YouTube/PA)

The Guardian, which broke the story on Mr Hesters comments, on Saturday reported that he paid for Mr Sunaks travel costs to Leeds, where the prime minister got a private tour of his company.

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The newspaper said the visit came around three weeks after Mr Hesters software firm, the Phoenix Partnership (TPP), gave a second 5 million tranche to Mr Sunaks party last November.

He had already individually donated 5 million in May while another 5 million is reportedly on the table.

Mr Sunak was pictured meeting small business owners at a jewellery studio in Farsley, West Yorkshire, on November 23rd.

He visited TPPs offices in Leeds for around an hour later that day, the Guardian reported, citing unnamed sources.

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No 10 declined to comment on the prime ministers private meetings.

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Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said: Everyone can see that Frank Hesters disgusting remarks were clearly racist and misogynistic. Rishi Sunak keeping these millions is inexcusable.

There are serious questions to answer on Rishi Sunaks close relationship with Frank Hester.

The Prime Minister must urgently confirm what was discussed, and whether Frank Hesters contract running over 60% of confidential UK health data or Government AI policy came up.

And Rishi Sunak needs to grow a backbone, pay this money back, cut ties and deal with the extreme views that appear to be tolerated in his party.

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A No 10 source said: Donations such as for flights are all publicly available in his declarations of interest. Wouldnt get into his private meetings.

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Diane Abbott was the target of Frank Hesters alleged racist remarks in 2019 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Mr Hester has posted on LinkedIn about attending Mr Sunaks discussion on artificial intelligence with tech billionaire Elon Musk last year and told the Telegraph: Ive had some quite long conversations with Rishi about AI.

Mr Hester has apologised for making rude comments about Ms Abbott, the first black woman elected to Parliament, but claimed they had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin.

The prime minister has insisted the donors remorse should be accepted as he resisted calls to hand back his 10 million donations amid the row.

Ms Abbott on Friday said no Conservative has apologised to her after the emergence of Mr Hesters 2019 verbal attack.

The veteran MP told Channel 4 News: They keep saying that the Hester guy, hes apologised. Hes not apologised. Hes apologised for being rude, whereas in fact he was racist, and hes not apologised for that.

In fact, he was inciting violence. Hes not apologised for that.
US president Joe Biden took jabs on Saturday at former president Donald Trump with jokes about the mental fitness of his election opponent during a speech at the Gridiron Club dinner, a Washington tradition that began in the 1880s.

Mr Biden's appearance at the dinner, in which politicians and journalists trade humorous barbs in a white-tie formal affair, was the first time a president has attended in person since former president Donald Trump in 2018.

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Mr Biden (81) recently clinched the Democratic Party's nomination for this year's presidential election and will face off against Mr Trump (77) in a rematch in November. Mr Biden is trying to court voters, boost his low approval ratings and allay concerns that he is too old to run again.

"One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other one is me," Mr Biden said on Saturday, in front of more than 650 guests, which included Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, and TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew, whose US business could be banned by Mr Biden.

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Mr Trump's campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Mr Trump has also questioned Mr Biden's mental capacity to be president.

Mr Biden reinforced the importance of the press, which he said is not "the enemy of the people," in stark contrast to previous remarks by Mr Trump about the news media.

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He also spoke about the war in Ukraine with prime minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, who attended Saturday's dinner. "We will not bow down, they (Ukrainians) will not bow down, and I will not bow down," Mr Biden said.

After his speech, Mr Biden descended to the floor and took selfies with reporters and called one guest's mother.

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, representing the Democratic Party at the event, also spoke on Saturday, as well as Utah governor Spencer Cox, representing the Republican Party.

Mr Cox (48) joked that he was announcing his candidacy for the presidency "in 2052, when I still will be younger than both President Biden and President Trump".

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Turning more serious, he said there is a hunger among Americans for something more positive in politics.

The club's 65 members, all representatives from news organisations, performed satirical songs and skits. One song poked fun at Mr Biden's and Mr Trump's ages to the tune of "When I'm Sixty-Four" by The Beatles.

At last year's dinner, Mike Pence, who served as vice president under Mr Trump, offered a forceful rebuke of his one-time boss, saying history would hold Mr Trump accountable for his role in the January 6th, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Unlike its sister event, the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April, the Gridiron dinner is not televised and tries to retain its yesteryear vibe with men in white tie and tails and women in long dresses.

No photos are allowed during the dinner and participants are asked not to post on social media until after it has concluded.
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Its all about Italian glamour at this brooding new hangout from a favourite restaurateur, with Sophia Loren films projected onto walls and bittersweet drinks in the glass.

As featured in the Melbourne hit list April 2024. See all stories .

Dark is the word that chef Joseph Vargetto keeps using to describe Bianchetto, the new bar next to his Kew restaurant, Mister Bianco. Apart from flickering projections of 1960s Italian films, much of the room is inky black. Then, above the long hardwood bar, track lighting puts the bartender mixing your drink in the spotlight, literally.

Bianchetto and Mister Bianco owner Joseph Vargetto at his new cocktail bar. Kristoffer Paulsen

It sums up the restraint of the 38-seat cocktail bar that Vargetto has worked on with star bartender Orlando Marzo.

Despite being the final flourish on his recently relocated restaurant (the name Bianchetto refers to little Bianco), Vargetto is billing the bar as a destination in its own right.

The menu is all about snack-sized items to go with a drink: fried olives filled with spicy Calabrian spread nduja, oysters with melon granita, potato rosti with smoked squacquerone cheese. These arent share plates that become dinner.
Aged care providers are being urged to invest more in innovation, with new data showing Australias beekeepers spend nine times more on research and development than the multibillion-dollar sector.

Encouraging providers to develop innovative care models and research best practices was among the 23 recommendations in last weeks federal Aged Care Taskforce final report, which also called for wealthier residents to foot their own daily expenses and advised against a dedicated tax.

A new analysis from Sydney Policy Lab and Impact Economics and Policy reveals the extent to which the sector has failed to investigate more efficient models of care as Australias population ages.

While the average Australian firm spends 0.4 per cent of its total expenditure on research and development, according to the most recent tax office data, in residential aged care it was 0.016 per cent.
But in Australia today, spyware vendors can sell products designed for customers to surveil a target without their consent, despite alarm among domestic violence and security experts.

In the US last month, the state of New York announced legal action against a spyware consortium, declaring that snooping on a partner without their consent isnt just a sign of an unhealthy relationship, it is against the law.

Apple and Google have tried to eliminate it from their app stores for years.

Unlike family locator apps, which allow parents to check where their children are, stalkerware promises the chance to secretly look inside another persons device  and even record their surroundings.

In 2020, a former police officer convicted of stalking his ex-partner in Queensland was found to have given her an infected phone.

Two years later, a Sydney man questioning his girlfriends fidelity installed software to read her emails, then stabbed her secret lover to death the next day.

Days before Simon Gittany threw his partner Lisa Harnum to her death from the balcony of their 15th-floor Sydney apartment in 2011, he had been reading her text messages using spyware.

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There is no way that the people selling this technology dont know how its weaponised, says Bridget Harris, director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre.

Another is the chief executive of a $725 million medical company that performs ultrasounds, X-rays and mammograms across NSW.

One of the figures involved in the local industry is a former private investigator (PI) who once impersonated an Australian Federal Police officer to menace an elderly woman.

From viewing call logs to real-time tracking of their whereabouts, you can keep a close eye on your partner without being discovered until you have the evidence you need to come forward.

Our secret mobile tracker is our bestseller, one website says.

Danny Mikati, who runs the PI firm Precision Integrity Services, wants action against spyware. Credit: Steven Siewert

While police say the use of spyware may be criminal, a series of private investigation businesses are promoting the software, sometimes to jealous spouses who deserve answers.

The private investigation site makes a blunt offer: DO YOU WANT TO SPY ON YOUR HUSBAND, WIFE, PARTNER?

Its extremely dangerous for a [domestic violence] victim to be stalked in this way, Danny Mikati, a former NSW Police sergeant turned PI, says. This should not be something you can market as a product.

Criminologists, domestic and family violence support workers and other private investigators are calling for action to stop spyware vendors from enticing customers into non-consensual surveillance.

Theres no legitimate reason that that technology should exist, she says.

Paul Richard (right) says he has tried to divest himself from online businesses advertising spyware, and Brett Sutcliffe (left), one of his business associates. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Stalking, coercive control and obsessive behaviour have been identified as pathways to homicide and, according to Harris, the use of spyware displays all three.

Advanced features include blocking certain contacts and sending messages that look like theyre coming from the target device.

Users can log into a dashboard to remotely read all text messages and emails on the target device, browse through pictures, log keystrokes, listen in to the surroundings of the target phone via the microphone and remotely use your target phones camera.

From there, it runs in stealth mode, either disguised as another app or entirely in the background.

Customers must physically download the software onto the target mobile phone or computer and installation takes between two and five minutes, according to the marketing material.

The mobile phone and computer monitoring spyware is often sold in the form of a subscription; one site sells it for $130 a month.

There is no way that the people selling this technology dont know how its weaponised.

Its one of several online PI brands (which the Herald and The Age have chosen not to name) promoting not only the services of professional investigators but do-it-yourself surveillance capabilities.

Grant Killen, a former Queensland police officer whose security firm Concentric Concepts works with domestic violence services, says the use of surveillance devices such as GPS trackers has gone through the roof.

Researchers and domestic violence support advocates agree that many women who suspect their devices are infected are probably being monitored in less high-tech ways. It could be perpetrators using anti-theft GPS trackers, or via shared online accounts where the victim does not realise an ex-partner still has access.

Its extremely dangerous for a DV victim to be stalked in this way.

The perpetrator can either use it as a means of control or a means to intimidate or  even more dangerous  locate their victim to attack them.

It becomes a real threat to the persons safety, he says.

Mikati, who runs the PI firm Precision Integrity Services, arranges counter-surveillance for domestic violence survivors, sending suspect devices away to be scanned by technicians.

Spyware, he says, has remained roughly steady, perhaps with a slight decline. We get between 20 and 30 [cases a year] where we locate some sort of spyware, Killen says.

Lisa Harnum had spyware on her phone before she was killed by Simon Gittany. Credit: Fairfax Media

In a report released last week, the cybersecurity company Kaspersky, a member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, says it identified 168 people affected in Australia in 2023. This followed 195 cases in 2022 and 205 in 2021.

Other signs point to increasing detection.

Last year, digital security company Avast, another member of the anti-stalkerware coalition, found the rate of detection of stalkerware over the previous three years had increased by 183 per cent.

The peak body for specialist domestic violence services, WESNET, found a rise in reports when comparing surveys of frontline workers in 2015 and 2020.

WESNET hands out free phones to victim-survivors. It warns that researching spyware and what to do about it can be dangerous for someone whose device may be infected. As a precaution, they are advised to make inquiries using a device the abuser cannot access, such as computers at a public library.

WESNET chief executive Karen Bentley and Monash University professor Bridget Harris say spyware has a devastating impact on victims of domestic and family violence. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Its reprehensible, WESNET chief executive Karen Bentley says of the software.

Its really terrifying to think your every move is being monitored by technology.

Spy store

Paul Richard is in the business of sensitive information, in more ways than one.

After moving from Canada, he rose through the Australian healthcare industry to become chief executive of SunDoctors, a chain of skin cancer clinics, in 2017. Since 2021, he has run the NSW-based medical scan company PRP Diagnostic Imaging.

But his LinkedIn profile contains a clue to other business interests: a certificate III in investigative services.

Richard has invested in and served as a director of two companies whose online PI websites advertise spyware. The sites pitch themselves to spouses who suspect their partner is unfaithful and some also promote the products to parents concerned about their childrens welfare or bosses who want to monitor employees.

Richard did not answer detailed questions.

I started selling down my holdings in these businesses in 2019 because of their expansion into certain technologies such as spyware and, since then, I have sought to divest myself fully, Richard wrote in a statement.

Paul Richard is the CEO of PRP Diagnostic Imaging.

I have no operational, management or directorship involvement in these businesses.

However, corporate records and web data show the businesses were already selling spyware when Richard entered the scene.

In 2017, Richard became a director and co-owner of a company whose PI brand advertised the technology online. He remained a director until last year and his family company continues to own a third of the business, after reducing its stake in 2020.

Another company, which Richard continues to direct and co-own, took control of the website and name of a PI business selling spyware in 2020.

Richard said in a phone call that Google is probably worse for privacy and that the use of spyware had almost died away.

However, one of the PI businesses he co-owns is behind a website that introduced an online spy store last year. Prominent among the products are mobile phone and computer spyware.

PRP Diagnostic Imaging, Richards medical company, did not answer questions about his involvement in spyware.

The privacy of patients and the security of their data is strictly regulated under Australian privacy law and is of the highest importance to PRP, a spokesperson says.

PRPs major owners, IFM Investors and UniSuper, issued a statement condemning the use of spyware to perpetuate family violence.

We were not aware that Mr Richard held an interest in these businesses and we are disappointed that he did not disclose this, the statement says.

We have been advised that he has been seeking to divest his holdings since 2019 and we have requested he complete this as soon as possible.

One of Richards business associates in the PI industry is a Ferrari-driving former investigator.

Brett Sutcliffe pleaded guilty in 2008 to impersonating an Australian Federal Police officer to menace a 77-year-old woman, who had criticised him for parking in a disabled spot.

He lost his PI licence. In the following years, NSW Police twice rejected his applications to have it reinstated.

Former PI Brett Sutcliffe in 2017. Credit: Jessica Hromas

Based on screenshots, the spyware Sutcliffe has promoted appears to be the same variety used by Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who handed out special phones to employees and lovers he then tracked through a spy network.

It is appalling to see Australian vendors openly encourage the non-consensual and secretive surveillance of others with these products, says Diarmaid Harkin, a Deakin University criminologist who has studied the consumer spyware industry.

To encourage, facilitate, and profit from such activity is indefensible.

Sutcliffe declined to comment.

Another spyware businessman says he is aware of the potential dangers to domestic violence victim-survivors. Joshua Paul Rogers company Cryptico Consulting is behind a number of PI websites and an online spy products store, which sells phones with spyware pre-installed but does not promote the software to jealous spouses.

Cryptico Consulting has sold a very limited number of subscriptions of spyware, Rogers says in response to written questions.

Rogers says spyware had legitimate uses, such as monitoring children or employees with their permission, and that his business had an obligation to ensure its products were not used to carry out domestic violence.

Any customer that engages with us to purchase a product or utilise our services is asked whether there are any apprehended violence orders or court orders relating to them or the other party, he says.

We accept that there may be arguments against the sale of this software and would be open to engaging in discussion with government and the broader industry on the regulation of this product.

Criminal use

Wiping or resetting infected devices is not the first step for Killen, the security consultant.

If we locate a tracking device or spyware, a comprehensive safety plan is put in place, Killen says. The programs perpetrators have installed may form the basis of police investigations into stalking or breaches of domestic violence orders.

But the laws that specifically govern surveillance devices are mainly focused on law enforcement agencies authorised use of surveillance, rather than abuse within the home, according to UNSW law professor Lyria Bennett Moses.

The current legislation is not drafted with modern technologies in mind, she says. For instance, a software program may not meet the definition of a data surveillance device in Victoria.

In NSW, the law does capture software programs. However, parts of the legislation make its application in domestic settings unclear, she says. By way of example, if a person has paid for the phone their partner uses, they may arguably have lawful possession of that phone and not commit an offence by installing spyware on it.

One of the websites promoting spyware in Australia, which this masthead has chosen not to name.

It should be a priority to fix these laws so its very clear, in black and white, that an individual cant install this kind of software on a device used by another adult, unless theres explicit consent, Bennett Moses says.

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Victoria Police have not answered questions about whether the sale or use of spyware had led to criminal charges but say family violence perpetrators used technology to find and control victims, particularly after the end of a relationship.

Police across the state partner with various support services who specialise in facilitating checks of mobile phones for spyware, a spokesperson says.

NSW Police have encouraged victims to come forward, saying that while the nefarious software was not new, it needed to be treated with extreme caution.

It is important to clearly stipulate the use of spyware or other software to monitor or record another person without their consent is illegal in NSW, cybercrime squad Commander Detective Superintendent Matt Craft says in a statement.

The penalties associated with the use of this software include imprisonment and the legislation in NSW specifically makes this activity illegal.

But what about the sale of the tech?

In NSW, the law prohibits the manufacture, supply and possession of a surveillance device with the intention of using it, or it being used, in contravention of the legislation.

NSW Police did not answer when asked if the sale of spyware was illegal under this section.

Federal police have pursued vendors of remote access Trojan (RAT) technology, a more sophisticated form of spyware; in one case they identified 14 per cent of Australian customers as respondents on domestic violence orders.

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The AFP did not answer directly when asked why it did not target the spyware sold through PI businesses.

The use of spyware may constitute a criminal offence, for example using the software to unlawfully access an individuals online property or funds, a spokesperson says in a statement.

WESNETs Bentley says banning these vendors from being able to have their websites show up in Australia would be amazing.

Mikati, the former cop turned PI, wants the law updated.

That way police can act, he says. This should not be legal.

National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732.

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If hormone signals in breast milk do indeed help calibrate infant circadian biology, infants who drink mistimed hormonal breast milk may struggle more with sleep, as well as with development, growth and with long-term health consequences, the paper says. Booker said her teams previous research had shown that infants who were fed mistimed expressed breast milk (milk expressed during the day and given at night-time, for example) had significantly delayed sleep onset. This is the nutritional equivalent of switching the lights on right before bedtime, which could result in feelings associated with jet lag, said Booker, who hopes to expand the study. In Australia, 1.4 million employees have shiftwork as their main occupation. Booker said the vast majority of breastfeeding shiftworkers are employed in the health sector, as nurses, doctors and paramedics.

For her study, funded by Mercy Health, melatonin in breast milk and saliva was measured in mothers doing shiftwork in roles such as nursing and ambulance work. The results suggested it could be beneficial for breastfeeding mothers to be assigned to morning, afternoon, evening and night shifts on rotation, rather than blocks of more than two night shifts in a row, Booker said. Professor Hannah Dahlen said shiftworking mothers should not refrain from breastfeeding, Credit: Anthony Johnson Midwifery professor Hannah Dahlen said more research was needed about the effects of shiftwork on mothers. She said other research had also suggested babies fed breast milk at night that had been expressed in the morning may take longer to fall asleep because of another hormone, cortisol.

What this [research] adds is that the normal [breast milk melatonin] cycle can be disrupted by shiftwork, which also raises the question of expressed breast milk, and if the timing of that expressed milk not lining up can be potentially disrupting, said Dahlen, the midwifery discipline lead at the University of Western Sydney. Loading But she stressed that whatever the timing, breast milk was by far the healthiest option for babies. We call it liquid gold for a reason, it is utterly profound for the individuals, and this is not a message saying dont breastfeed if youre on shiftwork. This says womens breast milk is amazing, and we need to be protective about supporting motherhood and work out the most optimum conditions for mothers to work while theyre breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding researcher Dr Karleen Gribble said Bookers work reflected the physiological link between mothers and babies, but also that factors other than melatonin in breast milk were important in establishing healthy infant sleep cycles. There are two things that regulate sleep in babies: melatonin and sunlight, she said. Babies dont produce melatonin when theyre newborns, so the melatonin in breastmilk may be quite important in helping them develop their regulation, but by the time theyre about four months old  they should have the hang of whats night-time and whats daytime. Gribble said it was not known what impact variations in melatonin timing in milk could have on babies, and that by the time most Australian mothers returned to work, the childs melatonin production would likely have started. What [this research] does say is that for mothers working shiftwork, it impacts them in ways that can be measured in things like their melatonin levels, and workplaces need to be thinking about the wellbeing of staff and how we manage this better, she said. Katrina Cummings, a paramedic and nurse from Geelong who was breastfeeding at the time she participated in Bookers research, said the study indicated more investigation was needed into the effects of shiftwork on mothers.
Re-elected lord mayor Adrian Schrinner is confident he will not have to contend with a hostile council chamber, as the LNP remained on track to win a majority in City Hall.

While still not confirmed, that would mean the next four years would be business as usual for Brisbane City Council, with only a few wards changing hands.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at the LNP victory party on Saturday night. Credit: Felicity Caldwell

Schrinner had a commanding lead on Sunday morning, with 48 per cent of the primary vote. Labors Tracey Price had 26.3 per cent, and the Greens Jonathan Sriranganathan 20 per cent  a record for the party.

The Greens built on recent federal successes by claiming former LNP ward Paddington, while they were also confident of claiming neighbouring Walter Taylor ward in the western suburbs.
There was not a lot of good news for Labor after Saturdays polls, with significant swings to the LNP in the Inala and Ipswich West byelections and to the Greens in several Brisbane City Council wards.

But a wounded Premier Steven Miles insisted the party had not lost hope ahead of the October 26 state election, even as the LNP celebrated a historic win in Ipswich West.

There, Darren Zanow claimed victory in a byelection caused by the resignation of Labor MP Jim Madden. And while Labor held on to Annastacia Palaszczuks former seat of Inala, it suffered a drop in primary support of almost 30 percentage points.

Clearly voters in both of these electorates wanted to send our government a message, and my message back to them is that we are listening, Miles said.
The Victorian government is considering development applications for more than 30,000 homes, and could potentially approve the projects within four months as part of its pledge to fast-track developments in return for affordable housing.

But an independent analysis of another state housing initiative  the Future Homes program, which provides off-the-shelf building designs  estimates that the cookie-cutter homes scheme could only be applied to 3250 individual lots across the state, and another 68,000 if lots were consolidated.

Four off-the-shelf Future Homes designs.

The government has prioritised more than 30,000 homes either in the pre-approval process or under active consideration under Labors Development Facilitation Program, which grants developers quicker approvals for including affordable housing.

Eligibility for the program was expanded as a key plank of the states housing statement in September and is expected to cut application timelines from 12 months to four.
Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo accused medical professors Sunday of blackmailing people after they decided to submit resignations en masse later this month in protest of the government's decision to increase the country's medical school enrollment quota.

Park also reaffirmed that the government's decision to increase the medical school quota by 2,000 from the current 3,058 is not subject to negotiation, rejecting a demand from medical professors that the government first back off from the decision.

Thousands of interns and resident doctors have stayed off the job for nearly a month in protest of the quota hike that they claim would lead to a surplus of physicians and compromise the quality of medical education and services.

"Even professors have declared they would resign collectively unless their demand is met," Park said on YTN TV. "This is huge blackmail against people ... We have to break the cycle of collective action in the medical sector."

The emergency committee of medical professors announced after a meeting Friday night that professors from 16 medical schools decided to submit resignations en masse on March 25 in an effort to seek a breakthrough in the prolonged impasse.

Park also rejected calls for raising health insurance payments to doctors, especially those in essential sectors short of physicians, saying such hikes without increasing the medical school quota would lead to a four-to-five fold hike in health insurance premiums.

The government has been pushing to sharply raise the number of medical students to brace for the country's fast-aging population, and a shortage of physicians in rural areas and essential areas, such as pediatrics and emergency departments.

Doctors, on the other hand, say the quota hikes will undermine the quality of medical education and result in higher medical costs for patients. They have called for measures to first address the underpaid specialists and improve legal protection against excessive medical malpractice lawsuits.

But Park said the government cannot accept doctors turning away from their patients even if they have concerns about the government's policy.

"Professors say they will not stand still if their pupils face disadvantage, and this is a remark that challenged the rule of law." (Yonhap)
In property-obsessed Sydney, success so often translates to high-end real estate, so it is perhaps no surprise to discover best-selling author, food blogger and Good Food columnist Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats has shown up on the high-end housing market.

Records show Maehashi paid $7 million for a Victorian-era house in Hunters Hill that was sold off-market by BresicWhitneys Nicholas McEvoy just four years after the same house sold for $4.75 million.

Nagi Maehashi and her dog Dozer at the Mona Vale house she sold for $6 million. Credit: James Brickwood

Maehashi is a former Brookfield Multiplex senior executive who opted out of corporate life to focus on her love of cooking and developing her global hit website.

The blog was turned into a book in 2022 called RecipeTin Eats: Dinner, which not only scored a place on the New York Times Best Seller list but was also last year awarded Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards  all while amassing 5 million followers across Facebook and Instagram alone.
The office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer has set up flying squads and control rooms across the city's seven Lok Sabha constituencies to check incidents of voter intimidation.

In a public notice issued on Sunday, the poll office in Delhi said district election functionaries or returning officers will enforce the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit.

Polling for Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats will be held on May 25 in the sixth phase of the general elections, with 1.47 crore people eligible to exercise their franchise, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday.

According to the notice, flying squads have been formed to register cases against both the "giver" and the "taker" of bribes and for taking action against those engaged in threat and intimidation of electors.

"All the citizens are hereby requested to refrain from any illegal activities as above and in case anybody offers any bribe or is having knowledge about the bribe or case of threat/intimidation of electors, then he/she should inform on the toll free number of the 24x7 complaint monitoring cell of the returning officers/district set up for receiving complaints," it said.

The poll body has also urged people to inform of incidents related to Model Code of Conduct violation, including defacement of any public property/any property in public view, distribution of cash, liquor, gifts or offering/attempting to offer bribe by candidates/political parties to the returning officers of their respective constituencies.

If there is threatening/intimidation of electors and instances of other electoral malpractices, it should be reported to the district election officer, it said.

According to Section 171 B of the Indian Penal Code, any person giving or accepting gratification in cash or kind during the election process, with a view to inducing any person to exercise his/her electoral right, is liable to punished with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both.

Section 171 C of the Indian Penal Code states that any person who threatens a candidate or elector or any other person with injury of any kind is liable to be punished with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both.

The Delhi poll body has also set up a 'single window system' in the offices of all seven returning officers in the city for receiving applications and issuing permissions/decisions to political parties and candidates for public meetings/rallies/processions/loudspeakers and use of vehicles for election campaigning as well as use of non commercial/remote/uncontrolled airports/helipads etc during the election period.

Political parties/candidates seeking permission has to apply online through the "Suvidha Candidate" mobile app or "ENCORE" on the Election Commission of India website at least 48 hours before an event, along with expenditure plan details.

Parties/candidates seeking permission can also apply to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Permission) at the single window in the office of the returning officer concerned.

A political party/candidate can apply through an application for permission for events/rallies/processions, scheduled to be organised within seven days of making the application (excluding the day of application).

A separate application has to be filed for more than one event on a particular day, the poll body said.

"In case an event/rally/procession etc is to be held in the area covering the jurisdiction of more than one returning officer of parliamentary constituency, then separate applications have to be filed to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Permission) in the office of the returning officer concerned," it said.

The permission or decision to the applicant will be issued on first come, first served basis from the single window system, it added.

Polling for the 543 Lok Sabha seats in India will be held in seven phases, with the first one on April 19. The votes will be counted on June 4.

The Model Code of Conduct came into force on Saturday with the announcement of Lok Sabha polls by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who requested political parties to maintain decorum during campaigning.

Kumar also advised the parties against hate speeches, caste or religious appeals, criticism of any aspect of private life, masquerading of advertisements as news and social media posts vilifying or insulting rivals.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the People's Republic of China (PRC) are "almost certainly" concerned about the ongoing impact of corruption on the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) capabilities and reliability, the US intelligence community (US IC) has said in a recently released assessment.

"Beijing will focus on building a fully modernised national defence and military force by 2035 and for the PLA to become a world-class military by 2049," said an intelligence report, called The Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, published on March 11.

"In the meantime, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hopes to use the PLA to secure what it claims is its sovereign territory, to assert its preeminence in regional affairs, and to project power globally," added the assessment, published by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) -- a US government agency established in 2004 with the aim of integrating the country's intelligence community.

However, the assessment indicated that the PRC would face significant challenges in meeting these goals. "PRC leaders almost certainly are concerned about the ongoing impact of corruption on the militarys capabilities and reliability, judging from a purge of high-level officers, including the defence minister in 2023," said the intelligence report.

Xi's military purge

File photo of China's President Xi Jinping. Image credit: Bloomberg After disappearing for months, Li Shangfu was abruptly, and without explanation, removed as China's defence minister in October 2023. Li had previously headed the Equipment Development Department of the CCP's Central Military Commission. Dong Jun, an ex-navy chief, took over as Li's replacement.

Since taking power in 2012, Xi has embarked on a wide-ranging anti-corruption programme, with the PLA being one of its primary targets.

Li's predecessor, Wei Fenghe, who had resigned in March 2023, had also disappeared from public sight in August that same year.

According to the US Naval Institute, Wei's disappearance had come amid an investigation into corruption within the Rocket Force -- a key arm of the PLA that oversees China's tactical and nuclear missiles.

Wei was previously commander of the Rocket Force and became China's defence minister in March 2018.

Reuters reported that when asked about Wei's whereabouts in August 2023, a Chinese defence ministry spokesperson said that the military has zero tolerance for corruption and will crack down on every corrupt official.

PLA to fight 'protracted' battle against corruption





ALSO READ: China defence Budget: Concerns about low soldier readiness, morale dominate A January 1 PLA Daily editorial, which provides an outlook for the Chinese military's goals in 2024, reinforced the message: Improved discipline and fighting corruption would be the main goals for the year.

Highlighting that 2024 marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the editorial said that the military's tasks would be "arduous and onerous", adding that the PLA would "unswervingly uphold integrity and discipline" and "fight a tough and protracted battle against corruption".

Rocket Force at centre of PLA's corruption woes

China's DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missile in Beijing. Image credit: IceUnshattered (Wikimedia Commons)

Lyle J Morris, a China watcher and senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, wrote that three generals, five lieutenant generals, and two commanders were dismissed as part of this purge.

An analysis of a December 29 announcement by the Standing Committee of the NPC revealed that PLA's Rocket Force accounted for the majority of the officials removed from the legislative body in that phase of the purge.

Out of the nine dismissals, the Rocket Force accounted for at least four and the Equipment Development Department for two. These nine officers had been removed from their commands last year.

Those who were stripped of their seats in the legislature in December included Li Yuchao, who was replaced as the commander of the PLA Rocket Force in July 2023 after missing from public view for several months.

Another December removal that stood out was that of Ding Laihang, who had served as commander of the PLA Air Force from 2017 to 2021.

In February 2024, the NPC reportedly said that these nine officers were suspected of "violations of discipline and the law", which the South China Morning Post explains is "usually a euphemism for corruption".

'Missiles filled with water'

Close on the heels of the December dismissals, a January 6 Bloomberg article said that the US' intelligence assessment was that corruption inside the PLA Rocket Force had triggered the military purge.





ALSO READ: China eyeing India's backyard for more overseas military bases: US Intel US intelligence assessments reportedly gave examples like missiles filled with water instead of fuel and numerous Chinese missile silos with malfunctioning lids that could impede missile launch.

Sources cited by the article said that corruption inside the Rocket Force and China's defence industry was rampant enough to lead US officials to believe that Xi was less likely to engage in a major military operation in coming years than would otherwise have been the case. However, Bloomberg cautioned that it couldnt independently verify this assessment.

Purge continues

During the second round of the purge, a February 27 announcement by the Standing Committee of the NPC said that Li Zhizhong, the former deputy commander of the PLA's Central Theater Command, was stripped of his seat on the national legislative body. The Central Theater Command's responsibilities include guarding the capital, Beijing.

At the same time, China's former defence minister, Li Shangfu, was finally removed from the Communist Party's Central Military Commission -- a key military command body.

PLA lacks 'warfighting experience'

According to the threat assessment published by ODNI, the US IC also believes that another major military challenge for Beijing would be that "China lacks recent warfighting experience", which could "weaken the PLA's effectiveness" and reduce President Xi's "willingness to initiate a conflict".

Between last December and March this year, China's National People's Congress (NPC) removed at least 10 senior military officers from the country's national legislative body. The NPC is China's top lawmaking body.
The Tamil Nadu unit of BJP and the PMK on Sunday flagged the arrest of 21 more fishermen by Sri Lanka and urged the Centre to swiftly secure the release of fishers and their boats.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai and PMK top leader Anbumani Ramadoss said 21 fishermen have been arrested by the island nation. Also, their two boats have been seized. The fishermen were arrested on the night of March 16 by Lankan authorities.

Writing to External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, Annamalai said: "We bring to your kind attention the detention of 21 fishermen from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy and 2 fishing boats belonging to these fishermen were also apprehended. We request the intervention of our External affairs ministry to facilitate the early repatriation of the detainees and the release of their fishing boats." Annamalai posted a copy of his letter to the minister on 'X'.

In a post on 'X', Anbumani, also a Rajya Sabha MP, said during the past one week, as many as 58 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Karaikal (Puducherry) have been arrested by Sri Lanka. "During the past two months, more than 80 fishermen have been arrested."

On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu , we request the kind intervention of our Hon EAM Thiru @DrSJaishankar avl in the immediate repatriation of the 21 Fishermen from Rameswaram detained by the Sri Lankan Navy. pic.twitter.com/YqON1c4S58 March 17, 2024

The PMK leader said the Central government must not allow the 'endless arrests and attacks' of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka. The union government should take action to secure the release of all the 58 fishermen and all their boats.
The Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Jain on May 26, 2023 on medical grounds and it has been extended from time to time | Photo: Wikipedia

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce on Monday its verdict on the regular bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case.

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal had reserved its judgement on January 17 after hearing the arguments of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate.

On December 14, 2023, the top court had extended till January 8 the interim bail granted to Jain, a former minister in the AAP government, in the case on medical grounds.

The Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Jain on May 26, 2023 on medical grounds and it has been extended from time to time.

Jain has moved the apex court challenging the April 6, 2023 order of the Delhi High Court dismissing his regular bail application in the case.

The ED had arrested the AAP leader on May 30, 2022 on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him.

It had arrested Jain on the basis of a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Jain, who has denied these allegations, was granted regular bail by the trial court on September 6, 2019 in the case registered by the CBI.
Regardless of India being the worlds largest exporter of sheep and goat meat, these small but highly valuable animals remain mostly neglected in livestock development programmes. Official estimates show that nearly 9,600 tonnes of sheep and goat meat, worth around Rs 537.2 crore ($66.92 million), was exported in 2022-23 to destinations like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, the Maldives, and Oman.



The domestic consumption of both mutton (sheep meat) and chevon (goat meat) is also steadily increasing despite their prices being far higher than the meat of chickens, buffaloes, and pigs. The net worth of the sheep and

Disclaimer: These are personal views of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of These are personal views of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of www.business-standard.com or the Business Standard newspaper
Around 25,000 central forces personnel will be deployed for the elections in the three Lok Sabha constituencies in northern West Bengal in the first phase on April 19, an official said on Saturday.

Polling will be held in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and the Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha seats in the first phase.



"Around 250 companies of central forces will be deployed in the first phase of elections on April 19. There will be a control room in each of the districts, and senior officers will be in charge of those," the official said.

One company of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) consists of around 100 personnel, meaning that around 25,000 personnel will be deployed for elections in these three seats.

Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab said all steps were being taken to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election in the state.

"No disturbances will be tolerated," he said.





ALSO READ: Ram mandir to govt jobs: Issues that may dominate Lok Sabha elections He also urged leaders to have "control" over the statements they make during campaigning.

"The Election Commission will take immediate action if it is not followed. No one below 18 should be used by political parties during campaigning," he said.

So far, over Rs 68 crore in cash has been seized from across the state, he added.

Aftab will hold a virtual meeting with the returning officers on Monday, officials said.


A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre offered few details in an announcement about the attack, saying only it happened off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country's exiled government.

The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden.





ALSO READ: Houthis may have a hypersonic missile, could raise stakes in Red Sea crisis The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though it typically takes the Houthis several hours before acknowledging their assaults.

Separately, the US military's Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Houthis. It said it destroyed five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday. It was an unusually high number of drone boats to be destroyed.

Separately, the US military shot down one Houthi drone over the Red Sea, while another was presumed to have crashed.

There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity, Central Command said.

The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.

The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the US or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam's minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.

A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now have a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.

Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.





ALSO READ: Israeli airstrikes hit several sites in southern Syria, soldier wounded Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertiliser that later sank after drifting for several days.
Lee Jae-myung, Kim Boo-kyum clash over controversial candidate

By Lee Hyo-jin

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is once again showing signs of internal discord over how to deal with a controversial candidate, with observers warning that the infighting could sour public opinion on the party with less than a month remaining until the April 10 general elections.

The party leader, Rep. Lee Jae-myung who is facing renewed accusations of favoring members loyal to him, appears to be at loggerheads with former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, co-chair of the party's election camp, over the candidacy of Yang Moon-seok, a DPK member slated to run for the Ansan-A constituency in Gyeonggi Province.

Over the past few days, Yang has sparked controversy for his past remarks disparaging late former President Roh Moo-hyun, who is revered among liberal politicians.

In an op-ed piece in 2007, Yang described Roh as "defective goods" for his push for the implementation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and expressed disgust toward Roh's policies. That year, Roh concluded the trade pact with the United States despite strong domestic opposition.

Following the revelations, calls arose within the party to cancel Yang's nomination. Kim released a statement on Saturday, calling for reconsideration of Yang's nomination. Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who currently heads the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, also urged the party to eliminate Yang, claiming that disparaging Roh is tantamount to denying the party's identity.

However, the DPK chief defended the candidate, who is widely known as a strong loyalist to Lee, stressing freedom of expression.

"Former President Roh would not have criticized or vetoed politicians who criticized him, and I will do the same," Lee told reporters. "There are many members within the party who make all sorts of malicious comments about me, but should I stop them? It would not be the right move."

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Saturday, Yang apologized for his past remarks on Roh, explaining that the comments were made while he was a civic activist, not a politician.

The clash between Lee and Kim comes less than a week after the DPK launched the co-chairmanship of its election camp, seemingly in a bid to mend the party's factional disputes that were underscored during the nomination process.

"Lee's remarks defending Yang could be viewed as another display of favoritism toward members who are loyal to the party's leader. The decision to retain Yang despite opposition from prominent party members could lead to further infighting," political commentator Park Sang-byeong told The Korea Times.

During a brief encounter with Yang at the National Assembly, Sunday, Kim reportedly told the candidate that he is the "only person who can mend the current situation," implying that he should withdraw his candidacy.

Critics also point out that the DPK's decision to retain Yang on the nomination roster contrasts to the ruling People Power Party's moves to eliminate candidates who are embroiled in controversies due to their past remarks.

The PPP canceled the nomination of Jang Ye-chan, a candidate for Busans Suyeong, Saturday, due to his inappropriate remarks posted on Facebook about a decade ago. The decision came just two days after the party stripped the candidacy of Do Tae-woo in Daegus Jung and Nam constituency for his 2019 remarks linking North Korea's influence with the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju.

"The contrasting moves of the rival parties could reflect poorly on the DPK's reputation," Park said.
March 17, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will welcome Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, to Canada on March 18, 2024.

The ministers will meet to discuss ways to enhance the growing Canada-Iraq relationship, including through diplomatic engagement and cooperation bilaterally and multilaterally, and expansion of bilateral trade.

During the visit, Minister Joly and Minister Hussein will also engage on peace and security challenges in the Middle East, including their countries respective efforts to counter Daesh through the Global Coalition Against Daesh. Minister Joly will seek Minister Husseins views on the countrys efforts to combat climate change.
Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 9:16PM

Image: Jay's Brick Blog

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for creative purposes is a hot topic, and LEGO recently found itself in hot water over its use of AI-generated images on its website.

A now-removed LEGO Ninjago character quiz featured several AI-generated images of the characters (some of which were poorly done). This was evident in the way the hands were depicted.

Following a backlash from fans and even one of Ninjago's co-creators, Tommy Andreasen, LEGO acknowledged that its use of AI-generated images violated its policies. Andreasen expressed his disappointment on social media, calling the move "unacceptable" and emphasizing the importance of human artistry.

This incident highlights the ongoing debate within creative fields about the ethical and artistic implications of AI-generated content. LEGO has since removed the images, as reported by Jay's Brick Blog.

LEGO's official statement reveals a company caught between two worlds. While they have a policy against AI-generated content and value human creativity, they also acknowledge the "interesting opportunities" AI offers.

The statement reads:

We have a clear policy not to use generative AI to create LEGO content. We fundamentally believe in the wonder and power of human creativity and will continue to encourage and celebrate the talented artists who help bring our brand and characters to life. These images were used in a test which happened outside of our usual approval processes, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure that it wont happen again. We believe generative AI offers interesting opportunities and we will continue to explore how we can use it to improve the experiences we offer and our ways of working.

Source: 1 + 2
Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 10:19PM

Image: Starbucks

Starbucks' ambitious foray into the world of blockchain technology is over. The company announced the closure of its Odyssey program, a Web3 rewards system built around collectible non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It'll shut down the beta program on March 31.

Launched in late 2022, Odyssey aimed to gamify the Starbucks Rewards experience by offering members unique NFTs called "Stamps." These Stamps were earned through activities and mini-games. Unlike many brand-driven NFTs, Odyssey seemed focused on fostering community engagement, not just a quick profit. However, the program arrived well past the peak of the NFT craze. And despite efforts to build connections within the Starbucks community, both consumers and brands have largely shifted their focus in 2024.

Starbucks says members won't lose their existing Stamps, which will remain accessible on the Nifty Gateway platform. You need to sign up for Nifty using your Starbucks Rewards email to access them there. The company's dedicated Odyssey marketplace will transition to Nifty as well, allowing members to buy, sell, or transfer their Stamps elsewhere.

Source: 1 + 2
Some of the most influential women in cybersecurity will be in the spotlight at a key conference of Gisec Global 2024, one of the largest and most impactful cybersecurity events in the Middle East, taking place 23-25 April 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

In tributes to International Womens Day (March 8), Gisec Global will bring together women leaders and industry experts at its most-anticipated annual programme, Inspire Conference.

As pioneers forging a complex and dynamic career path, seasoned security architect Alina Tan, esteemed cybersecurity advisor Judy Ngure, and cybersecurity influential digital creator Caitlin Sarian will take part in the conference.

Their unique contributions to the cybersecurity space have seen ground-breaking impact across the automotive industry, corporate landscape, and social media  while collectively, they continue to expand the industrys understanding of inclusivity and the subsequent potential for even greater innovation, a statement said.

Alina Tan

A prominent presence in Singapores automotive cybersecurity industry  and one of the Top 30 Women in Security in ASEAN  Alina Tan is a powerful representation of female success in a largely male-dominated field.

Her passion for cybersecurity stemmed from a personal interest in motorsport, which saw her leverage the synergy between the two to establish a specialised interest group, Car Security Quarter, dedicated to automotive security within her local community.

She also spearheads the Singapore Chapter of the Automotive Security Research Group, a global non-profit that promotes knowledge sharing and the development of security solutions.

I firmly believe in the power of representation and visibility, said Tan. Through my experiences, insights, and accomplishments, I aim to demonstrate that women can excel in cybersecurity and thrive in diverse roles within the industry.

Notable initiatives in the Middle East, such as GISEC Global, feature dedicated stages for Women in Cybersecurity, providing a large-scale platform to showcase talent and inspire a new generation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Judy Ngure

Judy Ngure is the founder and CEO of Bug Bounty Box, a platform to help security leaders manage vulnerabilities. A cybersecurity practitioner for over five years, she sits on various advisory boards across Africa, supporting organisations in furthering diversity in the cybersecurity field.

Ngure also co-authored a book titled, African Women in Security: Remarkable Women Moving Cybersecurity in Africa, which aims to celebrate women in the field, demonstrate their value and inspire other women to enter the industry.

Caitlin Sarian

Caitlin Sarian, also known as Cybersecurity Girl, is a dominant cybersecurity influencer with a comprehensive career history  including a decade of consulting experience at the likes of EY and a previous role at TikToks Global Cybersecurity Advocacy and Culture team.

As well as attending the Women in Cybersecurity roundtable, Caitlin will be leading a talk titled, The flawed path: debunking the efficacy of current cybersecurity training approaches and how we can improve our future, in which she hopes to relay the urgent need to overhaul outdated education methods in favour of training strategies that prioritise real-world application and critical thinking.

The Challenge

Tan, Ngure, and Sarian agree that for many young women, there may be a sense of not receiving the support, recognition, and validation they deserve for their contributions to cybersecurity.

A lack of inclusive programmes and opportunities for professional growth often results in feelings of being side-lined, which can dampen enthusiasm for pursuing a career in the industry.

An especially significant barrier to upskilling women in cybersecurity is a pervasive lack of understanding around what the field entails.

While many assume it is strictly about coding, it has proven to be a multifaceted profession that requires a variety of skills  from analytical expertise and problem-solving to communication and creativity.

An overwhelming number of available bootcamps and online courses can also make it difficult for beginners to start, with the information overload often leading to confusion and discouragement before women have even stepped foot into the industry.

The biggest challenge is getting women excited about technical topics in cybersecurity because it looks like a very male-dominated environment  which it is, said Ngure.

The other key challenge is retaining women in the cybersecurity field; I have seen many women move from technical cyber roles to non-technical jobs. I do encourage women to upskill compared to moving because we need more women active in the industrys technical leadership positions.

Sarian agreed, saying: Increased female participation in cybersecurity is not just a matter of equity  its a strategic necessity. The field of cybersecurity benefits immensely from diversity, as it brings different perspectives, ideas, and approaches to problem-solving.

Women, with their unique experiences and viewpoints, can drive innovation and enhance the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures.

As the industry becomes more inclusive, we can expect a more holistic approach to security challenges  one that has the potential to result in more robust and comprehensive security strategies that strengthen our defence against cyber threats.

The Solution

Addressing these challenges can be achieved through a variety of avenues, largely led by governments and enterprises, to create more opportunities for women in tech, cybersecurity, and defence, they say.

On a corporate level, enterprises can adjust their recruitment and hiring processes to eliminate any unconscious biases, as well as partner with female-focused organisations to support with targeted outreach efforts.

Mentorship and development are also essential to ensure that women are receiving the senior support they need and are positioned to undertake ongoing training and development to fuel their career growth.

Awareness and advocacy remain top-of-mind and play a crucial role in championing female role models in the industry, highlighting their achievements and contributions to the wider cybersecurity community. Awards ceremonies, media campaigns, and conferences can stir conversations around female success and entrepreneurship in the industry.

Governments are able to further drive accessibility through education and training initiatives that encourage girls to pursue STEM education and careers, along with dedicated scholarships and grants to fund their academic journey.

At a higher level, policy and legislation can better equip businesses to deliver equal pay and opportunity  as well as flexible working policies to attract and retain top female talent  while cross-industry partnerships serve as a powerful tool for collaboration to foster a more diverse and inclusive tech workforce.

GISEC Global 2024 will welcome over 20,000 visitors, 750 of the worlds foremost exhibiting companies such as Huawei, Honeywell, du, Cloudflare, and Qualys, 350-plus leading cybersecurity speakers, and over 1,000 ethical hackers from more than 130 countries in the 13th edition of the annual three-day of the Middle Easts largest and most impactful cybersecurity event.  TradeArabia News Service
By Mitch Shin

The race to secure control of the National Assembly has kicked off. The upcoming general elections scheduled for April 10 appear to be what the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) should not lose.

For the PPP, gaining more than half of the 300 parliamentary seats is crucial to carry out President Yoon Suk Yeol's pledges during his presidential campaigns two years ago. As the PPP has consistently appealed that Yoons pledges have not been carried out promptly due to the ceaseless impediment of the DPK-controlled Assembly for the past two years, their main mission to accomplish in the upcoming general elections is retaking control of the legislative body. By doing so, the PPP-controlled Assembly could support Yoons policies by enacting laws with no delay.

However, the DPKs main goal is to keep its leverage in the Assembly by securing more than 150 seats, the same goal as the PPP, so that it can break Yoon's aggressive drive on controversial issues. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the head of the party who was a contender against Yoon in the 2022 presidential elections, repeatedly urged the public to vote for the DPK to keep the government in check. Because of Yoons hawkish leadership that has no room for dialogue or collaboration with the DPK, Lee has expressed worry over and over again regarding the governments decisions on economic, diplomatic and security issues.

For different reasons, the two main parties in South Korea aim to secure more than 150 of seats on April 10. At this point, however, it is uncertain which party can achieve the goal as the public shows dissatisfaction toward both Yoon and Lee.

According to polls, Yoons approval ratings are still hovering around the 30s. It has been only two years since he took office in May 2022, meaning the approval ratings should have been higher than those of his predecessors. Starting with his hot mic scandal in September 2022 in New York, Yoons approval ratings dropped gradually while his wifes actions did not help bounce his approval ratings back to the 50s.

Due to his low approval ratings, he has never had a honeymoon period as enjoyed by every prior president in their first year or two in office. To remove a grey area of his political capability, he engaged in a tug-of-war with entry-level doctors to increase the number of medical school admissions. South Koreans appear to support his drive to increase the number of medical school admissions which has not been increased since 2006. However, it has not contributed to a dramatic climb in his approval ratings.

To demonstrate their capabilities, Yoon and the PPP are eager to win in the general elections so that the government can carry out Yoons policies in a timely manner. By doing so, the PPP would have more room to seek to retain power three years later in the next presidential election, meaning they must win the upcoming general elections to support their interests.

For the DPK, the uncertainty of Yoons politics filled with his spontaneous and reckless decisions is what it focuses on when appealing to the public to vote for them. Yoon has never met Lee since Lee became the party leader in August 2022. Yoon has set a record as a president who has not officially met the main opposition party leader for more than a year and a half.

However, as Lees approval ratings are also low (similar to Yoons) due to numerous charges against him, the DPK has been framed as a bullet-proof party defending Lee from going to prison. In this context, his message to the public can be ineffective.

Due to the deep-rooted antagonism between the two main rival parties, politics has not been working to make South Korea a better country. Economic indicators and economic growth figures are grim while the youth unemployment rate is still high at 5.9 percent.

If the ruling party fails to gain more than half of the Assembly seats, Yoon will immediately become a lame duck and his policies will not be implemented with legislative support. Considering the enormous power Yoon can exercise as president, he still may initiate his key pledges. However, those will not be supported by the DPK-controlled Assembly, meaning his hands will be partially tied for three more years.

As of this writing, the PPP is unlikely to gain more than half of the seats. On top of Yoons low approval ratings, the candidates running for the general elections are also not competitive, meaning they have no choice but to use Yoon's leverage which may not be helpful for their campaigns. Due to Yoons low approval ratings, voting for the candidate in the ruling party to develop the country is no longer attractive.

The DPK won a landslide victory in the 2020 general elections, gaining two-thirds of seats. However, as the party failed to regain power with no tangible achievements to make significant reforms in the past four years, the public questions why they need to vote again for the party which has already proven its inability to change the political and social environment with 180 Assembly seats. (If one party has two-thirds of the 300 seats, it can do whatever it wants.)

As the metropolitan areas occupy 40 percent of the 300 seats, the PPP is a de facto contender. The DPK won 106 seats in the metropolitan areas while the PPP secured only 16 in the 2020 general elections. This is an advantage for the DPK that if the current lawmakers successfully secure their seats, the DPK will easily gain more than half of the seats, again.

Depending on the results of the general elections, either Han Dong-hoon, the interim leader of the PPP, or Lee Jae-myung, the DPK leader, will suffer critical damage to their future presidential campaigns. In this regard, whichever party wins the general elections by gaining more than 150 seats, the leader of that party is likely to consolidate his power to become the next president of South Korea.





Mitch Shin is a chief correspondent for The Diplomat and a research fellow at the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy. Shin was a nonresident research fellow at the Institute for Security & Development Policy and Stockholm Korea Center and a nonresident Korea Foundation fellow at Pacific Forum.
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report:

ABDELAZIZ, ABDELNASIR

2709 CITICO AVE, APT C5 CHATTANOOGA, 374063408

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



ALFORD, CORTEZ DEJUAN

1502 WORKMAN RD CHATTANOOGA, 37407

Age at Arrest: 21 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

RESISTING STOP, FRIST, HALT, ARREST OR SEARCH



ALLEN, TIFFANY LEE

HOMELESS , 30553

Age at Arrest: 41 years old

Arresting Agency: Collegedale

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



ANDREWS, MARCY DEE

7177 LEE HWY UNIT 125 CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 52 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA (ALIAS CAPIAS)



APPLING, JAMES LEBRON

433 N HICKORY ST CHATTANOOGA, 37404

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAY

VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE 2ND OFFENSE

DRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, VIOLATION



AXE, JOSHUA

3242 BIRCHWOOD DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 19 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

ASSAULT



BARTELL, DEREK W

229 LITTLE MOUNTAIN ROAD HILLSBORO, 37342

Age at Arrest: 38 years old

Arresting Agency: Red Bank

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

POSSESSION OF METH FOR RESALE



BELL, BENJAMIN VAN

1201 BOYNTON DR APT 803 CHATTANOOGA, 374022136

Age at Arrest: 49 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

FALSE REPORTS



BLANKENSHIP, JONATHAN ROBER

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 38 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

RESISTING ARREST

PUBLIC INDECENCY



BONDS, TERRANCE DEJUAN

3107 7TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 45 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

ASSAULT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION



BULLOCH, CLARENCE DAVIS

289 W 38TH STR CHATTANOOGA, 37410

Age at Arrest: 32 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

FAILURE TO APPEAR



CROWDER, KAYLESHIA

1811 WESTPARK DRIVE COLUMBUS, 31907

Age at Arrest: 25 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

WEEKEND REPORTER



FORD, EDWINA JANE

565 UNION FORK RD APT C2 SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 59 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



FOUTS, RICHARD DALE

578 E.GARDEN FARM RD.

Here are the mug shots:

ALFORD, CORTEZ DEJUAN

Age at Arrest: 21

Date of Birth: 08/31/2002

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

RESISTING STOP, FRIST, HALT, ARREST OR SEARCH ANDREWS, MARCY DEE

Age at Arrest: 52

Date of Birth: 07/29/1971

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

LEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT W/DAMAGE TO VEHICLE

IMPROPER BACKING OF VEHICLE

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA (ALIAS CAPIAS) APPLING, JAMES LEBRON

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 04/14/1988

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAY

VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE 2ND OFFENSE

DRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, VIOLATION AXE, JOSHUA

Age at Arrest: 19

Date of Birth: 08/22/2004

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT BELL, BENJAMIN VAN

Age at Arrest: 49

Date of Birth: 08/12/1974

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

FALSE REPORTS BONDS, TERRANCE DEJUAN

Age at Arrest: 45

Date of Birth: 01/18/1979

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION BULLOCH, CLARENCE DAVIS

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 01/26/1992

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR CROWDER, KAYLESHIA

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 04/30/1998

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

WEEKEND REPORTER FORD, EDWINA JANE

Age at Arrest: 59

Date of Birth: 07/13/1964

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT FOUTS, RICHARD DALE

Age at Arrest: 66

Date of Birth: 08/22/1957

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT

ASSAULT

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF

HAIR, DENNIS G

Age at Arrest: 45

Date of Birth: 02/08/1979

Arresting Agency: Red Bank



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION HICKS, MYKHAEL JAMESON

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 04/09/1991

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

HOLLOWAY, ISAIAH LEBRON

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 05/13/1998

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT HUGHES, STEVEN ALAN

Age at Arrest: 49

Date of Birth: 10/29/1974

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION)

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSS. OF METH)

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S JONES, MARTY

Age at Arrest: 63

Date of Birth: 04/22/1960

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT MORRIS, MELVIN SAMUAL

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 12/10/1990

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY PARRISH, BENJAMIN MARTIN

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 03/30/1990

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE PEDRO, PEDRO F

Age at Arrest: 56

Date of Birth: 08/10/1967

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

RAMIREZ-PABLO, EMETERIO

Age at Arrest: 44

Date of Birth: 03/10/1980

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

ROBBS, CHRISTOPER ADRIAN

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 03/26/1990

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE (WHITFIELD COUNTY GA) SALAMANCA, RAMBERG STEVE

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 07/14/1985

Arresting Agency: Red Bank



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT SIMPSON, JOCELYN N

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 11/21/1989

Arresting Agency: Red Bank



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT STEELE, KRISTEN E

Age at Arrest: 29

Date of Birth: 02/23/1995

Arresting Agency: Collegedale



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

LEFT OF CENTER VIOLATION

DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE

RECKLESS DRIVING

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

OPEN CONTAINER LAW THREATT, YARSHAUNJANIA D

Age at Arrest: 49

Date of Birth: 07/11/1974

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY WARREN, KARL DEWAYNE

Age at Arrest: 64

Date of Birth: 07/09/1959

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

INDECENT EXPOSURE

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING WRIGHT, ROGER MARSON

Age at Arrest: 57

Date of Birth: 12/29/1966

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/16/2024

Charge(s):

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

ROSSVILLE, 30741Age at Arrest: 66 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeASSAULTASSAULTVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFFRIZZELL, MAKAYLA RANA14521 STORMER RD SALE CREEK, 37373Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE IIPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAHAIR, DENNIS G900 MOUNTAIN CREEK ROADUNIT R321 CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 45 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankDISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONHARTMAN, JOHN EDWARD10528 DALLAS HOLLOW RD SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAREGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATESHICKS, MYKHAEL JAMESON6419 BROOKMEAD CIRCLE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 32 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)HOLLOWAY, ISAIAH LEBRON630 W 14TH STREET CT CHATTANOOGA, 374023901Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTHUGHES, STEVEN ALAN4730 CALDERWOOD CIRCLE HOMLESS CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 49 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSS. OF METH)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SJONES, MARTY1 E. 11TH STREET UNIT 413 CHATTANOOGA, 37403Age at Arrest: 63 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDASSAULTKNOX, ABIGAIL OLIVA7343 STERLING ROAD HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE IIPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIATAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYLOVINGOOD, DEVANTE DESEAN4832 PAWNEE TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeSIMPLE POSSESSIONPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)THEFT OF PROPERTYPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAMCDONALD, DONALD HEATH4818 MELTON LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 52 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULTMORRIS, MELVIN SAMUAL7203 OLD BUG LANE OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffTHEFT OF PROPERTYNELSON, ANGELA6909 JESSE CONNER ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 57 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDASSAULTDISORDERLY CONDUCTHARASSMENTPARRISH, BENJAMIN MARTIN119 CAMPBELL RD TUNNEL HILL, 30755Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEPEDRO, PEDRO F2106 FOUST ST CHATTANOOGA, 374071061Age at Arrest: 56 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)RAMIREZ-PABLO, EMETERIO5330 PINELAWN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374113413Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)ROBBS, CHRISTOPER ADRIAN7506 BONNIE DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFUGITIVE (WHITFIELD COUNTY GA)SALAMANCA, RAMBERG STEVE213 BROOKS DR TYRONE, 30290Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankDOMESTIC ASSAULTSIMPSON, JOCELYN N307 W RIDGEWOOD AVE. RED BANK, 37415Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankDOMESTIC ASSAULTSTEELE, KRISTEN E7400 ALLEMANDE WAY CHATTANOOGA, 374212570Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTLEFT OF CENTER VIOLATIONDRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINERECKLESS DRIVINGDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEOPEN CONTAINER LAWTHREATT, YARSHAUNJANIA D1309 ADONNA LANE APT B CHATTANOOGA, 37412Age at Arrest: 49 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffTHEFT OF PROPERTYTZOC, EDILMAR V8935 PINEY LN OOLTEWAH, 373636967Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINEDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEIGNITION INTERLOCK VIOLATIONOPEN CONTAINER LAWDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEVENABLE, EDWARD ALLEN296 BORRY ST FYFFE, 35971Age at Arrest: 48 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDCRIMINAL IMPERSONATIONRESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSWARREN, KARL DEWAYNE1600 ELLEN LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 64 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDINDECENT EXPOSURECRIMINAL TRESPASSINGWRIGHT, ROGER MARSON339 E THOMPSON LN HOMELESS NASHVILLE, 372112651Age at Arrest: 57 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATION




Camp Cherokee provides a unique opportunity for young Cherokee citizens to understand how their ancestors interacted with the natural world.
This 52-year-old man is a construction worker, and three months ago, the company he works for started projects at a school. He met Jane, 56, who works as a business manager and was the project manager.

The project went smoothly, and he and Jane flirted a bit, but he was respectful and didnt cross the line since she was a work colleague and one of his companys clients.

In January, he and Jane walked through the finished project to do a final inspection, and she asked him if hed be interested in getting coffee at a place next door. He agreed, and they sat at a table at the coffee shop and talked.

While they chatted, Jane invited him to be her plus one to a work function for her job that Saturday night, and he happily accepted her invitation. During their coffee date, he thought about how good-looking Jane was. She came up with the plan for him to meet her at her place, and theyd take an Uber to the event, adding that they could have drinks at the event.

As planned, he arrived at Janes place on Saturday night, and they took an Uber to the event, where they had a blast together. They slow danced and flirted all night, and after taking an Uber back to Janes, she asked if he wanted to come in.

She then excused herself to get changed and came back out, wearing a semi-see-through robe, and sat next to me on the couch, he said.

Only seconds later, they started kissing and hooked up. He spent the night, and the next morning, he felt great and was excited to hopefully develop a relationship with Jane. A week after their first hookup, Jane invited him to spend the weekend at her place, and he agreed.

During the weekend, they spent almost the entire time hooking up. The only time they werent sleeping together was when they were eating. He was so happy.

During the following week, I called her up and asked if she wanted to spend the weekend at my place. Her response was not what I was expecting. She said her HUSBAND is back from a business trip to China, and she cant this weekend, he explained.

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If youve ever seen the mystery teen drama Pretty Little Liars, you know its about four best friends who band together after receiving frightening messages from an anonymous foe named A, who threatened to reveal their darkest secrets.

Obviously, the television show is a work of fiction, but you might be surprised to discover that there was once a real-life A.

In the late 1970s, someone started terrorizing the small town of Circleville, Ohio, threatening to expose the illicit activities they had been engaging in. Handwritten letters were sent to multiple residents through the mail.

The recipients were accused of things like domestic violence, affairs, and even murder. The writer mainly targeted a woman named Mary Gillispie, who was a local bus driver.

Somehow, someone knew she was having an affair with school superintendent Gordon Massie. At the time, Mary denied it. Later, she admitted that she was actually seeing the superintendent but claimed their relationship only started after the letters.

In the initial letter, Mary was instructed to stay away from Massie and not to lie when questioned about meeting him.

The letter writer also stated that they knew where she lived and that she had children, so it was important that she take the situation seriously and stop the affair right away.

Not long after Mary received her letter, her husband Ron began getting mail as well. The anonymous sender told Ron that his wife was having an affair and demanded that he catch them in the act and kill them both.

Another letter addressed to Ron read, Gillispie, you have had 2 weeks and done nothing. Admit the truth and inform the school board. If not, I will broadcast it on CBS, posters, signs, and billboards until the truth comes out.

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Home Books Christian author challenges commercialized image of St. Patrick with prayer devotional

In a culture awash with symbols of luck and celebration associated with St. Patricks Day, an author is on a mission to shed light on the lesser-known aspects of Irelands patron saint, focusing on his profound spiritual legacy and prayer life and how it applies to Christians today.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Aaron Burns, author of Praying with Saint Patrick, delved into the little-known story of St. Patrick, a figure far removed from the commercialized imagery of four-leaf clovers and green beer.

His interest in St. Patrick's life, he said, was piqued by the saint's incredible journey from a victim of human trafficking to a missionary who profoundly impacted Ireland and Christianity.

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Young Patrick said he wanted nothing to do with prayer, or religion or any of that nonsense until he's kidnapped by Irish pirates at the age of 15, and then is taken over to Ireland, Burns said.

He spent six years as a slave, tending sheep in the mountains of Ireland. And he tells us that it's there that he began to pray, bringing to mind the things that he'd been taught as a boy. His faith became real to him through this incredible suffering and trials. And then, God miraculously allows him to escape, and God says, Now that you're home, I'm calling you to take the love of Christ to the people who had slaved you. And that's his journey. Watching his heart be so transformed by God's love, and then taking that love and giving it back to the people who enslaved them is very powerful and inspiring to me.

In Praying with Saint Patrick, Burns, who also directed the Great American Pure Flix film, Birthright Outlaw, aims to rediscover the historic and spiritual legacy of one of Christianity's most well-known figures while inviting readers to explore a deeper, prayerful connection with their faith.

The devotional is structured around 40 prayers that reflect various stages of St. Patrick's life, from his youth, through his captivity and slavery in Ireland, to his later years as a missionary and bishop. Burns told CP he aimed to provide readers with a narrative that blends historical context with personal reflection, allowing them to connect with Patrick's journey and apply his prayerful mindset to their own lives.

"Prayer is such a challenging thing for modern, Western Americans," Burns said.

He pointed to a significant issue in contemporary society: the separation of spiritual life from physical life, creating a vast gap between the connection to God and daily existence. This division, according to Burns, represents a "huge danger" as it leads to a disconnection from the spiritual dimensions of life.

But in St. Patrick's era, the boundary between the spiritual and the physical was much thinner, with the natural world imbued with a sense of the supernatural.

"In Patrick's day, the people of Ireland lived in fear of nature because there was such a demonic presence, and their religion, that shapeshifters and werewolves and real demonic possession and all these things were very prevalent," Burns explained. This closeness to the spiritual world made prayer a vital, daily practice for protection, guidance and support, he said.

One of the ways Burns encourages this reconnection is through the practice of praying St. Patrick's famous "Breastplate" prayer, a powerful invocation for protection and strength drawn from the saint's own words.

"I've prayed this prayer on many mornings," Burns said.

In his research, Burns was particularly moved by two prayer requests from St. Patrick that shaped the book's direction. The first was Patrick's hope for spiritual descendants, a wish that was fulfilled through the saint's lasting influence on Irish Christianity and beyond.

He prayed, I pray that I would be able to have spiritual descendants. I never had kids of my own, but I would love to leave a spiritual legacy that people would follow Christ the way that I did,'" Burns shared. "And God answered that prayer with a resounding yes. In his lifetime, we see the end of the human trafficking that Patrick himself was a victim of; we see the end of child sacrifice. The poor, underprivileged and enslaved resonated with the message of the Gospel and God's love that was shared with them. And the natural organic church just blossoms in Ireland, and over the next 300 years.

The second prayer request, Burns said, was Patrick's desire for his legacy to point people toward Christ rather than the commercialized and politicized images that prevail today. That prayer, he said, has yet to be fulfilled.

He says, I pray that anyone who hears of St. Patrick wouldn't think of me, but think of Christ and what God has done, Burns said. That prayer has not been answered yet. ... So part of the inspiration for me in writing this book was to be able to be a small part of answering this 1,500-year-old prayer to share the Good News of what God has done and to inspire us to live like Patrick and say, Where's my Ireland? What is God calling me to do?

Reflecting on the commercialization of St. Patrick's Day, Burns discussed the historic journey from the saint's original ministry to today's largely secular celebrations. He lamented the loss of the true essence of St. Patrick's legacy, overshadowed by commercial and political interests over the centuries.

He was a follower of Christ and was sanctified through his life, he said. But in his letters, you'll discover a very real man who talks about, even in his old age, his daily battle against temptation and sin. He talks about the great sins that he committed in his youth and how he's still wrestling with those, and wrestling with betrayal in temptation, and discouragement and frustration, and seasons of waiting, and all of these things.

He is so much more complex and so much more real than the stained glass window, perfect saint. That wasnt him at all. I think the transformative power of God that was unleashed in Ireland in Patrick's time became something that politicians and even, later, church leaders looked back on and wanted to tap into.

Still, the author said St. Patrick would have mixed feelings about his modern legacy, appreciating the celebration of God's work in Ireland but urging contemporary believers to remember the deep faith, prayer and miracles that marked his life and mission.

He would be thrilled with the fact that people are celebrating what God did in Ireland, Burns said. He isn't a stodgy, stuffy guy; he would have fun at a party, he would love to go to St. Patrick's Day party, I'll tell you that. But he would be going around telling people, Look at the prayers that God answered. Look at the lives that were transformed. Look at the slaves that were set free. Look at these poor women who moved from a place of abject poverty and slavery into freedom in Christ.' And he would be telling you stories of answered prayers and miracles and wanting you to be encouraged."

As nations celebrate St. Patricks Day, Burns said he hopes his devotional offers a timely reminder of the power of faith and the transformative potential of prayer, urging believers to reflect on the purpose behind their celebrations and to rediscover the spiritual legacy of one of Christianitys most enduring figures.

It's a gift to your faith to see someone who is so in love with Jesus, who was so in love with the people of his day, that he would sacrifice everything for them, Burns said. Patrick was just 400 years after the time of Jesus, and were still talking about him 2,000 plus years later. His faith is so real and relevant. He is one of those markers along the way of the transformative power of the Gospel and of what God can do through us when we invite him to.
Home News Christians risk being branded 'extremists' by UK gov't

Christians are at risk of being branded "extremists" under the government's new definition of extremism published this week, a campaign group has warned.

The new definition says that "extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to" among other things "negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others."

Christian Concern said that Christians who are pro-life, gender-critical or have traditionalist beliefs about marriage might fall foul of the new definition.

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"Christians who are pro-life could be seen as being opposed to an assumed 'fundamental right' to abortion and thus to be 'intolerant' and so extremist. It is already the case that being anti-abortion is on a Prevent list of ideologies seen as potential signs of extremism," the organization said.

"Christians who are opposed to same-sex 'marriage' could also be seen as wishing to 'negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others' and to be 'intolerant.'"

Prevent is the government's counter-terrorism scheme that aims to stop individuals from becoming terrorists.

Christian Concern pointed to examples of Christians who have already been reported to Prevent for their beliefs, including school chaplain, the Rev. Bernard Randall, who was referred over a sermon in which he told students they didn't have to agree with LGBT ideology. In another incident, Christian teacher Svetlana Powell was reported to Prevent after saying "God loves you" to a lesbian pupil.

Christian Concern said that the new extremism definition was "vague" and could lead to Christians being excluded from influencing government policy.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said the definition was "not fit for purpose" and that she expected to see more Christians being reported to Prevent.

"It is absurd that Christians could be deemed 'extremist' for believing in real marriage or for being pro-life," she said.

"Christian Concern has supported Christians who have been referred to Prevent for expressing their Christian beliefs. The new definition of extremism should have ensured that this would not happen again.

"Sadly, I now expect to see more referrals of Christians to Prevent, not less."

She called on the government to clarify that 'fundamental rights' do not include abortion, same-sex marriage or identifying as the opposite sex.

"Without this clarification, Christians who express their legitimate belief that marriage is between a man and a woman would risk being deemed 'extremist' by the government," she said.

Originally published at Christian Today UK
Hyundai Motor and Kia, Korea's biggest carmakers, have sold more than an accumulated 5 million eco-friendly vehicles in the global market over the past 15 years, company officials said Sunday.

The two companies sold a total of 5.11 million units of eco-friendly cars, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), as of end-January, surpassing the 5 million mark 15 years after they began selling such models in 2009, according to the officials.

Hyundai Motor and its smaller affiliate Kia sold a combined 1.36 million eco-friendly vehicles last year alone, hitting the 1 million mark for the second consecutive year.

Of the environment friendly models, HEVs were the most popular, accounting for 57.8 percent of total sales, followed by EVs at 30.8 percent, PHEVs at 10.6 percent and FCEVs at 0.8 percent.

In detail, Kia's Niro HEV sold the most at 606,000 units, with Hyundai's Tucson Hybrid and KONA Electric trailing at 356,000 and 332,000 units, respectively.

The Korean carmakers said the growth of the global EV market is attributable to their solid sales and they plan to expand their environment friendly vehicle lineup this year.

Hyundai plans to release an electric model of the mini sport utility vehicle (SUV) Casper in the second half of this year, while Kia will unveil its new all-electric SUV, EV3, in the first half.

Hyundai and Kia said they aim to sell a combined 1.5 million units of eco-friendly cars this year, upping their EV sales by 27 percent to 600,000 units and sales of hybrid models by 25 percent to 850,000 units. (Yonhap)
Home News Evangelicals divided on how churches, leaders should engage on public policy issues

While there has been a longstanding debate over how involved churches and their leaders should be when it comes to public policy issues, a majority of Evangelicals only agree on two issues they think churches and their leaders should be very involved with  abortion and what is acceptable in public expressions of faith.

Everything else, according to a newly released report by Infinity Concepts, called Evangelicals in The Public Arena, is up for debate. The more religious Evangelicals see an issue, however, the more they are likely to support churches and church leaders public involvement, the findings of the study show.

Data from the study gathered in late 2023 and early 2024 from 1,039 Evangelical Protestants show 54% of Evangelicals believe churches and church leaders should get involved publicly about abortion, while 51% support involvement when discussing what is acceptable in public expressions of faith.

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When Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes, sought to encourage Christians to vote in 2020, for example, he presented voting as an opportunity for Christians to add salt and light to the political process.

Were called to be an influence in our culture, in our society. I often talk about the verse Galatians 6:10 that says as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially those in the faith, and I describe our opportunity to vote as an opportunity to do good, he told The Christian Post. Its not the good that the world necessarily knows or believes but its a good of who we serve.

When presented with 11 different public policy issues in the study, however, Evangelicals were divided on how churches and their leaders should be engaging on them publicly.

While 22% of respondents said they would rather not see public involvement from churches and their leaders on any of the 11 issues, 78% of Evangelicals support public involvement in at least one issue. And the more politically conservative Evangelicals are, the more likely they are to support churches and church leaders, being very involved in every one of the 11 issues tested in the study.

Of the 11 issues presented in the study, Evangelicals found the issue of what is acceptable in public expressions of religion to be mostly religious.

Election integrity and fairness, gun laws, the Second Amendment, the First Amendment and free speech, criminal justice and sentencing reform were considered mostly political issues by a majority of Evangelicals.

Racial justice, school choice, and transgenderism are largely seen as social issues by a majority of Evangelicals. Abortion, however, isnt as straightforward. Some 42% of Evangelicals say it is a religious issue, while 36% called it a social issue.

Evangelicals are also similarly divided when it comes to antisemitism, with 43% calling it a social issue while 38% see it as a religious issue. Donor privacy is seen as a social issue by 49% of Evangelicals, while 37% see it as a political issue.

The study also found that while a majority of Evangelical Protestants, 63%, describe themselves as politically conservative, 24% identified as moderate and 12% said they are politically liberal. White, high-income, and Evangelicals older than 55 were found to be more likely to identify as conservative.

Regardless of how Evangelicals described themselves, the study found that they all pray, attend church, participate in small groups, study the Bible, and consume Christian media with similar frequency.

The majority of liberal Evangelicals also believe abortion is sin (62%), and that sex before marriage (70%), homosexual activity or sex (70%), and pornography (80%) are sinful.

Overall, conservative Evangelicals view very liberal people in a far more negative light than liberal Evangelicals view very conservative people. Conservatives are more likely to use terms such as immoral, radical, evil, and the enemy to describe liberals, researchers noted.

However, there is evidence that the very liberal and the very conservative may be about equally negative toward their political opposites. The challenge is that there are not enough very liberal people in the Evangelical population to give us a robust sample of those individuals in this study, they added. Those who are right in the middle politically rarely have strongly negative views of the very conservative or very liberal.
Home News Parents fear 10-year-old kidnapped daughter sold to sex traffickers

LAHORE, Pakistan  The Christian parents of a 10-year-old girl in Pakistan who was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam last month fear she could be sold to sex traffickers, sources said.

A month after Laiba Suhail was abducted from her home in Chak 233-RB Ikhlaq Town, Faisalabad District, Punjab Province on Feb. 12 by four non-Muslims at the behest of a Muslim, Shaukat Shah, officials have refused to prosecute, said her father, Suhail Masih.

Shah is well-known in the area for forcibly converting children to Islam under duress, coercing them to file court statements that they willfully converted and later taking them from shelter homes on the pretext of giving them religious education, Masih said.

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A court sent his daughter to a womens shelter at her request after police on Feb. 15 informed Masih that she had filed an application claiming she had converted to Islam. Masih said that he has learned that Shah has taken custody of her from the shelter.

This is Shahs modus operandi, Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. No one knows what happens to his victims after they are handed to him. We fear that he and his accomplices are involved in sex trafficking, and they sell these minor girls when they see that the families are in no position to pursue the matter further in courts.

He lamented that the Roshan Wala Police Station has not taken action to recover his daughter despite the familys registration of an abduction case against Shah.

On Feb. 15, police informed us that an application had been filed by Laiba in the court of a magistrate in which she had claimed that she had converted to Islam of her own free will after being impressed with Islamic teachings, Masih said. We immediately went to the court where we saw our minor daughter surrounded by several policemen. We were not allowed to talk to her despite our repeated requests. The police later presented her before the magistrate where she reportedly repeated the contents of the application. She also sought to be sent to the Dar Ul Aman [womens shelter], which the magistrate admitted.

Masih said that the family looked on helplessly as Shah and police took his daughter to the shelter.

We could not do anything after Laibas statement before the court, which I believe was extracted under duress, he said. We were not given any opportunity to ask her under what circumstances she was forced to give this statement.

Masih questioned how a 10-year-old girl could convert to Islam willingly when she did not even have basic education, let alone a religious one.

It is a blatant lie that my daughter has changed her faith willingly, he said. Whatever little religious education she has is from the churchs Sunday school. She has had no interaction with Muslims, because she used to stay at home all day long to take care of me and her mother.

Masih, a member of the Church of Pakistan, is crippled in both legs, and neither he nor his wife are able to work due to health problems, he said.

Christian attorney Sumera Shafique told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that the impoverished family should immediately file a motion with the high court for the recovery of Laiba. The family has yet to find an attorney to help them.

Laibas case is yet another example of how Sharia [Islamic law] is invoked to undermine the age of a minor, Shafique said. In her statement before the magistrate, the girl claimed that shes an adult, but her official birth document states her age is 10 years and two months.

The attorney has recovered several Christian children who were victims of forced conversion and forced marriages, including Maira Shahbaz, who was kidnapped and forcibly converted in 2020.

Shafique said she regretted that victim families, who are often illiterate and poor, are used by local activists for their own self-interests, which damages the cases and results in prolonged delays in recovery of abducted girls.

The victim families should immediately seek legal help instead of turning to touts who are focused only on making money from their plight, she said. In this case, a month has passed, but the family has reportedly not been able to meet their daughter even once.

A habeas corpus petition must be filed immediately in the Lahore High Court, she said.

The child is hardly 10 years old, and I believe the high court will take her conversion matter very seriously, she said, adding that timely legal intervention could help save the girl from further sexual exploitation.

Masih said four non-Muslims working for Shah  Irfan Masih, Khurram Masih, Aneeqa Masih and Grace Masih  abducted Laiba from his home around midnight while the family was asleep.

After my daughters abduction, we came to know that this gang was also involved in several other incidents of abduction and forced conversions of minor Christian girls in Faisalabad, he said. They have managed to evade legal action due to the influence of Shaukat Shah, who is notorious for carrying out religious conversions of minor girls.

The 55-year-old Christian said his oldest son, who is 25, is a daily wage laborer who is the sole breadwinner for the family. Laiba is the youngest of his three children and was born 12 years after his second child.

I had to pull Laiba out of school early on because we were not able to afford her education due to our meagre financial resources, he said.

Masih said he is determined to rescue his daughter at all costs.

I appeal to the Christian leadership to step forward and help me in saving my minor daughter, he said. Shes just a child who has fallen victim to these predators masking themselves as religious leaders.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
Home News Pepperdine honors memory of students killed in crash with new scholarship

Pepperdine University has inaugurated the Our Four Angels Endowed Scholarship in memory of four students who died in a tragic accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in California last October. The new scholarship aims to support students at Seaver College, the Christian institutions undergraduate school.

The scholarship was established in collaboration with the families of Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams, the students who lost their lives in the incident, the university said in a statement.

Connie Horton, vice president for student affairs, highlighting the profound impact and enduring legacy of these amazing women. Horton said the scholarship would aid in the academic endeavors of deserving students, serving as a lasting tribute to their significant contributions to campus life.

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After the deaths of the four senior students, the university announced they would be posthumously awarded their degrees. The announcement was made during a prayer service, where Provost Jay Brewster expressed the universitys intention to honor the academic achievements of Rolston, Stewart, Weir and Williams. The students, all members of the Alpha Phi sorority and seniors at Seaver College, were recognized for their academic qualifications and contributions to the university community.

The accident occurred when Fraser Michael Bohm, driving a BMW, lost control and collided with the students near parked vehicles on the Pacific Coast Highway. Bohm, 22, faces charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. The incident led to his temporary custody, with potential sentencing varying based on the charges classification as a felony or misdemeanor.

The victims, all 21 years old except for Rolston, who was nearing her birthday, were commemorated by Pepperdine President Jim Gash during the prayer service. Rolston and Bohm both attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, though Bohm did not graduate from there.

No day is more devastating to a tightly knit university community than the day that forces us to come together in grief and sorrow, Pepperdines President and CEO Jim Gash wrote in a statement to the school community at the time. Earlier today, we learned that four precious lives who brought joy and light to our campus were taken from us suddenly, tragically, and incomprehensibly.

The investigation, led by Sgt. James Arens, is exploring various factors, including potential cell phone use at the time of the crash.

Pepperdine University, founded in 1937, is located in Malibu, California. It offers a range of academic programs through its Seaver College and other schools, catering to around 10,300 students.
Home News This week in Christian history: St. Patrick dies, Princeton rescinds prize for Tim Keller

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance.

Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths.

Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many people.

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The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the death of Saint Patrick, the preaching of Anthony of Paduas first sermon, and Princeton deciding to rescind a prize to Tim Keller.
Home News Travel: 3 places to visit this spring

Its not too late to book a trip this spring, especially during the shoulder season after Easter.

Your columnist recommends the following three places, which appear in no particular order.

Even if you decide to go elsewhere, these recommendations at least offer inspiration.

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Tallinn, Estonia

Estonias capital city may be one of the smallest and least-known capitals in Europe, but Tallinn has plenty to offer.

Despite having been occupied in the last century by the Soviet Union, Tallinn and, frankly, Estonia writ large feels more like the West  especially nearby Finland  than Russia. Of course, some of that has been intentional in the years after communism as some have ditched Eastern Europe by embracing a Nordic or Baltic cultural identity.

Tallinns rich history is on full display in the picture-perfect, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, which is encircled by a medieval wall dating to the 14th century. At the heart of Old Town is the Town Hall (Tallinna raekoda), which dates to the 13th century when the city was part of the Hanseatic League.

Beyond fairy tale charm, one also finds a modern city with a strong economy rooted in the tech sector. Estonias government has not only embraced the digital economy but truly led the way on embracing digital technology in the delivery of services and programs.

Book a room at Hotel Telegraaf, part of Marriotts Autograph Collection brand of independent and boutique hotels.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Compared to Chicago or fellow Rust Belt cities Detroit and Cleveland, Milwaukee flies somewhat under the radar.

That should change in July, when Wisconsins biggest city (population 577,222 souls at the last census) hosts the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Milwaukee is truly an all-American city that has more to offer than its beer culture.

Downtown has a range of architecture from edifices built using the citys distinctive cream-colored bricks to the Art Museum designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava  a postmodern interpretation of a Gothic cathedral.

Like Tallinn, Milwaukees City Hall is a landmark. The late 19th century building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While the Flemish Renaissance Revival design by architect Henry Koch is notable, its defining feature is the spectacular bell tower with a clock that reminds me of Londons Big Ben.

Stay at the Saint Kate. The art-focused boutique hotel, located by City Hall in the Theater District, takes its name from St. Catherine of Bologna. Catherine is the Roman Catholic churchs patron saint for art.

Daytona Beach, Florida

Its possible to visit Daytona Beach and not see a car race or set foot on the world-famous beach.

As covered by this column back in 2022, the beach itself runs through three separate cities and one town along 23 miles of coast in Floridas Volusia County.

Downtown Daytona Beach has seen tremendous redevelopment in recent years, thanks to a 22-acre riverfront esplanade that has quickly become a destination for residents and visitors to gather.

The real gem in Daytona Beachs crown is the Museum of Arts & Sciences, which includes the standalone Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. Unlike museums elsewhere, the collection is entirely Florida art. Works range from early depictions of centuries-old St. Augustine to impressionist landscapes. You just wouldnt expect something of this caliber in what is, after all, a smallish city in Central Florida.

For those who want to also do the beach thing, the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort is the place to stay.

Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post
Home Opinion The Left's control of language is the first step toward tyranny

During Joe Bidens State of the Union and its aftermath, Americans were again shown the attempts of the Progressive Left to control our language. For three years, members of the Biden Administration have claimed the southern border was under control. Border Czar Vice President Kamala Harris, for example, claimed the border was secure when questioned about it on Meet the Press in 2022.

Unfortunately for the Democrats, the numbers of contacts at the Border went from around 2 million under four years of Trump to almost 8 million in three years of Biden. Illegal immigration has quickly become the number one issue to Americans, regardless of party, and by a wide margin. During the State of the Union, Biden was pushed by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene to say the name Laken Riley, a young nursing student who was brutally murdered by a serial criminal illegal immigrant. Though Biden mangled Rileys name, calling her Lincoln instead of Laken, he correctly said she was killed by an Illegal Immigrant. For that, the left proceeded to explode in anger at Biden. When asked about it a day later, Biden defended himself by claiming technically (Lakens murderer) isnt supposed to be here. A day later Biden broke down under the barrage and apologized. He regretted what he said and clarified I shouldn't have used illegal, its undocumented. This episode highlights progressive language control on American society with the goal of transforming society in their image. It must stop.

To be clear, polls show most Americans consider the term illegal alien appropriate for someone who has violated US immigration in entering our nation. Thats particularly true for those illegal aliens who commit other crimes like murder. This term is used by prosecutors in court for those accused of violating immigration laws. Regardless, a top Journalistic Reference Guide developed by the increasingly progressive media tell reporters terms like illegal immigrant and illegal alien are Offensive. Journalists must instead use the terms unauthorized immigrant or undocumented Immigrant or immigrant without papers. Journalists have started to use i word instead of illegal on par with a racial epithet. The reference guide goes on to urge Avoid using illegal immigrant or undocumented immigrant to describe individuals. Thats right, Progressives are now demanding immigrant without papers instead of even undocumented. If Americans wonder why news stories bury the immigration status of killers like Lakens murderer, the guide exhorts reporters Do not specify a persons immigration status ... Immigration laws are complex.

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From the writings of Karl Marx through the modern manifestations of Marxism in critical theory and its various cultural Marxist off-shoots (critical legal theory, critical race theory, critical queer theory, etc.), control of language has been deemed a necessary component to controlling society. Italian Communist Antoni Gramsci wrote about the importance of the control of language to overturning a societys alleged cultural hegemony. He theorized in his Prison Notebooks that through overturning the cultural hegemony societys alleged oppressed proletariat would trade places with the oppressive ruling class and wield power. According to Gramsci: We are taking language ... conceived as ideologically saturated, language as a world view, even as a concrete opinion, insuring a maximum of mutual understanding in all spheres of ideological life. Thus a unitary language gives expression to forces working toward concrete verbal and ideological unification and centralization, which develop in vital connection with the processes of sociopolitical and cultural centralization.



George Orwell, who sided with the Communists during the Spanish Civil War, became disillusioned and then a passionate critic of Communism. Orwell used the term Newspeak in his dystopian novel 1984 for Communist language control. Newspeak in 1984 was a way for the party to control people of the fictional Oceania. Basically, Newspeak was the language demanded by the party and inculcated into society. It prevented Oceanians from violating any thought crimes against the party. People wouldnt have words to describe how they think or feel and so were controlled. Orwell had seen this in its most hideous form with the Soviets. Importantly, the primary target of communists like Gramsci was always religion, the opiate of the people, and through Newspeak God/religion could be stricken from the minds of the people.

Though languages evolve imperceptibly and naturally by the cultural will of the people over time, that is not whats happening now under progressives. We are experiencing a Gramscian revolution by the enforcement new acceptable language even on the President. Whether the demands for use of gender affirming care for minor sex change operations (genital mutilation). Or the confused language (and understanding) for sex and gender to the point a Supreme Court Justice is unable and unwilling to define woman. The progressive left, through the media and other cultural influencers, is keen on overturning perceived cultural hegemony.

Its time for Americans to stand up and risk the lefts attacks and stigmatizing. We must use the language we know to be proper and best suited to our understanding. Our national motto, In God We Trust must be our lodestar for the society and culture bequeathed to us and what we should bequeath to our children. Without confusion.
Home Opinion What have we learned after 150 days of war?

Its been more than 150 days since Hamas terrorists invaded my homeland, Israel, the only home for the Jewish people, leaving behind a trail of blood, devastation, and destruction.

Its been more than 150 days since innocent Israeli families have been torn apart, loved ones murdered, brutalized, and taken from their homes. Its been more than 150 days since husbands, wives, children, grandparents, family, and friends have lived in agonizing uncertainty, not knowing whether their loved ones are still alive.

Its been more than 150 days since October 7, when Hamas terrorists launched their horrific assault, brutally murdering 1,200 innocent Israelis and taking 240 as hostages. Its been more than 150 days, and still more than 130 men, women, and children remain hostages somewhere in Gaza.

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After more than 150 days, what have we learned? We have learned that in the court of public opinion, Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist group, which is accountable to no one, appears to be winning through its campaign of lies and deception.

That our enemies employ such tactics is nothing new. Since biblical times, when Haman used deception to persuade King Xerxes to annihilate all the Jews in Persia, to blood libels and the vile propaganda perpetuated by Nazi Germany, to anti-Semitic attacks today, the Jewish people have been unjustly targeted.

Yet, thankfully today, we do not face such hatred and deception alone. Not only do we have a homeland and an army to fight for us, but we also have friends that stand with us. Millions of Christians around the world stand with Israel through their prayers and support. They have not been fooled by the lies and deception. Israels Christians friends are committed to rejecting these lies and spreading love and support for the Jewish people.

As people of faith, we stand together, and believe the words of the prophet Isaiah: No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me, declares the LORD (Isaiah 54:17).

Now, however, its time for the rest of the Western world to wake up. Its time to recognize the truth and acknowledge the many ways that Hamas is effectively manipulating the West. Its time to end this cycle of deceit.

Since the beginning of this war, Hamas has been manipulating the West in three critical areas. First, every day Hamas releases the number of Palestinian casualties  often within minutes of a reported attack by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). How can that be? How can they be getting accurate information that quickly? The answer is: they cant.

It took the Israeli government weeks to accurately identify those killed in the October 7 attack and provide an accurate number to the world. Israel even downgraded the number when the original was found to be inaccurate.

We know that Hamas numbers are inflated and unreliable. Yet, day after day, the West dutifully reports these numbers  which, again, come from an internationally recognized terrorist organization, with no accountability or credibility. How can this be?

Second, Israel, a democratic, freedom-loving nation, which holds to international law, is fighting against a terrorist organization that doesnt. Hamas is stealing the humanitarian aid in order to feed the terrorists, while intentionally perpetuating a humanitarian crisis amongst Gaza's citizens. They are unapologetically hiding their main combat centers in hospitals. They are stockpiling weapons in schools. They are launching rockets from mosques.

And so, when Israel legitimately tries to knock out these nests of terrorism, Hamas cries to the world, Look! Israel is attacking mosques and schools and hospitals! And the West responds by condemning Israel when all we are trying to do is defeat terrorism and protect our citizens from further attacks.

Third, the West has continued its pressure campaign on Israel, calling for an immediate ceasefire. The truth is that Israel wants nothing more than peace. As a nation, we have proven that over and over again as we have made peace with Morocco, with the UAE, with Bahrain, and other Arab nations. Israel wants peace and has continually worked toward that goal on many different fronts. Israel wants peace with her Palestinian neighbors as well. All the Palestinians need to do is acknowledge Israels right to exist and back away from Hamas stated mission to wipe Israel off the map. Then there will be peace.

Since the outset of this war, Israel has been clear that there will be a ceasefire when ALL of our hostages have been returned and when the Hamas terrorist leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar (who was treated for brain cancer in an Israeli hospital), is no longer able to pose a threat to Israel. Only then will there be peace. Only then will a ceasefire be possible.

Hamas, however, does not want that. They have refused to give us our hostages back. They wont even tell us who is alive or dead. Their terrorist leader hides in civilian locations, deliberately putting innocent lives at risk. He has placed Israel's hostages all around him, in order to risk their lives and not his own.

This is unacceptable. Israel will not accept a ceasefire under such conditions, nor should it be expected to.

And so, as the worlds eyes now turn to Rafah in southern Gaza, where approximately 1.4 million Gazans, who have been evacuated from the north, are sheltering. Embedded among them is Hamas  and our 130 remaining hostages, who we are committed to rescuing.

So, what does this mean? Hamas knows that if Israel goes into Rafah to rescue our hostages there will be many civilian deaths, and the world will once again look at Israel as the aggressor. And that is exactly what Hamas wants. The West is playing right into Hamas terrorists hands. And we know this because their leadership has recently stated, We have Israelis exactly where we want them.

Instead of calling for a ceasefire under the current conditions, the world needs to call for an end to terrorism. The world needs to demand that Hamas return our hostages. Hamas terrorists should not be hiding among civilians. Hamas terrorists should not be hiding in hospitals or mosques. Hamas terrorists should not be firing rockets from the rooftops of U.N.-sponsored schools. Hamas should not be stealing the humanitarian aid the world is sending for Gaza civilians. We need to end this tyranny of terrorism.

Israel wants peace. As the psalmist wrote thousands of years ago, I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war (Psalm 120:7). We want peace so much that we are willing to send in our husbands, our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, to go door-to-door to find and rescue our hostages and root out the terrorists. We are doing this to protect our country and our citizens, yes, but also to save civilian lives in Gaza from being used as human shields.

Because, make no mistake about it, every person who is killed in Gaza, every hospital that is invaded because there are terrorists there, every school Israel must enter because they are being used to launch rockets, is the responsibility of one group, and one group only  Hamas.

Its been more than 150 days, and enough is enough. The world must wake up and realize that in this conflict there is only one nation that values life, cherishes freedom, and promotes peace.

That nation is Israel.
By Park Jae-hyuk

Cautious optimism is growing that Korean shipbuilders will be able to increase their overall share in the global market, as the sector has become the latest battleground in the ongoing U.S.-China strategic rivalry, according to industry officials, Sunday.

After the Joe Biden administration responded positively on March 12 (local time) to a petition from a group of five U.S. unions asking for a review of Chinas subsidies for shipbuilders, Koreas five largest shipbuilding stocks rose sharply despite a slight drop of the benchmark KOSPI.

In particular, Samsung Heavy Industries stock price soared 13 percent during Thursdays trading session. Hanwha Ocean's stock also rose 11 percent that day.

The stock price of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), an HD Hyundai subsidiary supervising its shipyards, went up 5 percent, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, both of which are HD KSOEs listed shipbuilding units, saw 8 percent and 4 percent increases in their stock prices, respectively.

Exchange-traded funds owning major Korean shipbuilding stocks were also among the most profitable domestic funds last week.

As the petition was filed ahead of the U.S. presidential election, the U.S. government is highly likely to accept the request for an investigation, NH Investment & Securities analyst Jung Yeon-seung said. Although it will take time for the U.S. government to come up with measures, this issue will be mentioned repeatedly during the presidential election campaign.

Biden promised that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) would take a hard look at the petition in accordance with the law.

Well always stand against Chinas unfair practices  and as long as I am president, Ill fight for U.S. workers and jobs, the U.S. president wrote on social media.

USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai also said she looks forward to reviewing the petition in detail, although the Chinese commerce ministry denounced it as trade protectionism and lacking factual basis. The petitioners claimed that Chinas drive to dominate the global shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sector is built on non-market policies that are far more aggressive and interventionist than any other country.

Multiple reports have pointed out that the decline of the U.S. shipbuilding industry is due mainly to overprotection while the development of the Chinese shipbuilding industry has benefited from increasing technological innovation and high-end, intelligent and green development, said He Yadong, the spokesperson of the Chinese commerce ministry.

The NH Investment analyst noted that the U.S. governments sanctions on Chinese shipbuilders will deteriorate their price competitiveness and raise the value of building slots at Korean shipyards.

Korean shipbuilders will be able to increase their shares in the gas carrier market in the long run, due to the growing transportation of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas to the U.S., the analyst said.

The U.S. government is also expected to boost ties with Korean shipbuilders in the naval ship sector.

HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun and Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, both of whom met U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro during his visit to Korea last month, are reportedly preparing for trips to the U.S. next month, as they accepted the secretarys invitation to his office in the Pentagon to continue discussions on how to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the U.S. Navy.
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio  The Bagley Road corridor at the I-71 southbound ramp in Middleburg Heights appears to be the likely location for a new Popeyes fried chicken franchise.

The lot at 17505 Bagley Road has sat vacant for nearly seven years.

Middleburg Heights Planning Commission members granted Popeyes a conditional use permit, as well as preliminary development plan approval, at their March 13 meeting.

The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will have a two-lane drive-thru, as well as ample parking for customers wanting to eat inside.

A lot split on the 1.25-acre parcel will enable possible future development at the south end of the property. That conceptual project, which could be a second quick-serve restaurant with space for additional tenants, will be required to go through the citys approval process separately.

The proposed Popeyes restaurant would be situated in the north section of the Bagley Road parcel, with a potential future building for other business tenants located at the southern end. (Arkinetics)Arkinetics

Project Manager Dale Grieder of architectural design firm Arkinetics spoke to the commission about the Popeyes plan. He called the parcel a fairly prominent site and intends to make good use of signage for highway visibility.

I think this is the best-looking Popeyes that Ive personally seen, Grieder said about the design. Its going to look fantastic.

Ward 3 City Councilman and liaison to the commission Mike Ference called the Popeyes project a very nice addition to the site, particularly for its potential to enhance the look of that city gateway.

Middleburg Heights Economic Development Director Charles Bichara noted a viable business had been sought for many years.

The Friendlys restaurant closed in November 2014, and the building was demolished in 2017, Bichara recalled.

Its time for this redevelopment, and I think what you have before you will make good use of the property.

Read more stories from the News Sun.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Theres the Luck of the Irish on parade St. Patricks Day, Sunday. Theres also the luck of the Indictedish, Mar-a-Lagosih, Scottish-German Donald Trump that was paraded again Thursday in court motions and at a campaign stop Saturday in Dayton, Ohio.

Thursday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg asked to delay the March 25 start of the Trump Hush Money trial by 30 days due to the inexcusable delay of the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) in providing full documentary evidence to both the defense and prosecutors.

Specifically, yesterday the USAO produced approximately 31,000 pages of additional records and represented that there will be another production of documents by next week. Based on our initial review of yesterdays production, those records appear to contain materials related to the subject matter of this case, including materials that the People requested from USAO more than a year ago and that the USAO previously declined to provide.

The People do not oppose a brief adjournment of up to 30 days to permit sufficient time for defendant to review the USAO productions.

Its just the latest in a string of court delays and postponements Trump has won in all of four major indictments. At the very least, Trumps goal is to delay any trials until after the 2024 Presidential election, which, should he win, will give him the power to dismiss all the federal cases.

Custom St. Patrick's Day stickers/buttons for U.S. Senate Republican Primary candidates in Ohio.Jeff Darcy/Cleveland.com

Saturday stoping in Dayton not Columbus, Ohio to campaign for his endorsed Senate primary candidate Bernie Moreno, Trump had a gray and scarlet Bloodbath warning if he himself loses.

If I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole - thats going to be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

Trumps campaign would later clarify he wasnt talking about another Jan. 6, but the impact of a Biden re-election on the auto industry and economy.

The son of an auto dealer manager, President Biden has already been endorsed by the U.A.W. after joining one of their picket lines in Michigan.

While Trump and Rep. Jim Jordan have endorsed Moreno, first former Senator Rob Portman, then Governor Mike DeWine have endorsed State Senator Matt Dolan.

Limited polling shows a tight race. Attack ads make it seem like its down to multi-millionaires Dolan and businessman Moreno. But will those two wearin the green split their vote making scarlet LaRose the winner?
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 27-year-old woman died early Sunday after a police shooting and a car crash, according to the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office.

The Cuyahoga County Use of Deadly Force Team is currently investigating the shooting, which began when officers were called to the 10500 block of Garfield Avenue about 5:20 a.m. Two vehicles were speeding, and someone fired shots from one vehicle, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.
By Lee Min-hyung

Representatives from Koreas business community will seek a breakthrough to recover frayed relations with China through their upcoming two-day trip to Beijing, according to Seouls pro-business lobby group, Sunday.

Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik will lead the Korean business delegation for the itinerary  scheduled for March 19 and 20. Top-ranking executives from major conglomerates  such as Samsung and Hanwha  are expected to visit the Chinese capital for a meeting with ranking government and company officials there. The KEF did not disclose the names of the Korean delegates.

This raises hopes for Seoul and Beijing to resume their bilateral business cooperation, which has de facto been suspended since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The possible resumption of the high-ranking business dialogue channel will help reinvigorate business exchanges between the two countries.

On the first day of the trip, the Korean business delegation will have a meeting with representatives from the China International Council for the Promotion of Multinational Corporations (CICPMC)  a nongovernmental organization dedicated to boosting cooperation with multinational firms from non-Chinese territories.

Ranking officials from the KEF and the CICPMC will particularly bring up crucial questions on how to jointly respond to global supply chain disruptions and boost personnel exchanges.

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI)  one of the nations most influential business lobbies along with the KEF  had been holding a CEO roundtable between the two countries each year since 2012. A meeting between the FKI and the CICPMC, however, has not taken place since 2020 due to the unexpected pandemic disruption.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming business trip by the KEF raises expectations for thawed relations, at a crucial time when calls grow for Koreas business circles to diversify their supply channels amid global protectionism.

The upcoming meeting, in itself, comes with significance in that both sides will have a face-to-face meeting to resolve a set of sensitive business issues, even if it will take more time for both sides to normalize their relations again, an official from a conglomerate said.

The Korean business delegation is also known to have plans for visiting major economic organizations and think tanks in Beijing on the second day of the trip.
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of using "terrorist activities" to try to disrupt its presidential election and former President Dmitry Medvedev decried as "traitors" the scattered protesters who have tried to set fire to voting booths and pour dye into ballot boxes.

The Ukraine war has cast a shadow over voting in the election, which is all but certain to hand President Vladimir Putin six more years in the Kremlin but has been marked by sporadic acts of protest.

On the second of three days of voting, the Russian foreign ministry said Kyiv had "intensified its terrorist activities" in connection with the election "to demonstrate its activity to its Western handlers and to beg for even more financial assistance and lethal weapons."

It said that in one such incident, a Ukrainian drone had dropped a shell on a voting station in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.

The state-run TASS news agency quoted a local election official as reporting no damage nor injuries when the explosive device landed five or six metres (yards) from a building housing a polling station before it had opened in a village about 20 km (12 miles) east of the city of Enerhodar.

Reuters could not independently verify the incident.

There was no immediate comment from officials in Ukraine, which regards the election taking place in parts of its territory controlled by Russia as illegal and void.

Meanwhile the head of the electoral commission, Ella Pamfilova, said that in the first two days of voting there had been 20 incidents of people trying to destroy voting sheets by pouring various liquids into ballot boxes, as well as eight cases of attempted arson and a smoke bomb.

Commenting on the incidents, Medvedev said those responsible could face treason sentences of 20 years.

"This is direct assistance to those degenerates who are shelling our cities today," he posted on social media, referring to Ukrainian attacks.

On Sunday's final day of voting, supporters of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny have called on people to turn out en masse at noon in a rolling protest against Putin in each of the country's 11 time zones.

Ukrainian attacks

Russian media quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Putin had been receiving military reports in recent days of attempted attacks by saboteurs in the border regions of Belgorod and Kursk, including several incursion attempts overnight, all of which he was quoted as saying were thwarted.

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official said on Thursday that armed groups he described as Russians opposed to the Kremlin had turned the regions into "active combat zones."

On Saturday, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, said the groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Siberian Battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, were "becoming a force" with unified principles.

The groups were fighting "quite well" and were not going to stop any time soon, he said in a Ukrainian television interview, adding, "We will try to help them to the best of our ability."

In the Belgorod region where cross-border attacks from Ukraine have become part of daily life, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported the deaths of a man and a woman in a missile attack, and later in the day, one injury, after he said Russian defences shot down 15 rockets approaching the regional capital.

Video obtained by Reuters showed fires ablaze and air raid sirens sounding on the empty streets of Belgorod city.

Dmitry Azarov, governor of the Samara region 850 km (530 miles) southeast of Moscow, said the Syzran refinery was on fire following a drone attack but an attack on a second refinery had been thwarted.

The fire was later brought under control, officials said, but the incidents highlighted Ukraine's ability to strike hundreds of miles (km) inside Russia to target its energy industry. Two other big refineries were set on fire this week.

In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy said it had become clear in recent weeks that Ukraine could use its weapons to exploit what he called vulnerabilities in the "Russian war machine."

Russia mounted its deadliest attack in weeks on Friday when its missiles hit a residential area in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 70.

Putin's dominance

Putin's hold on power is not under threat in the election. Aged 71 and in office as president or prime minister since the last day of 1999, he dominates Russia's political landscape.

None of the other three candidates on the ballot paper  veteran Communist Nikolai Kharitonov, nationalist Leonid Slutsky or Vladislav Davankov, deputy chairman of the lower house of parliament - has mounted any credible challenge.

Overall turnout - an important indicator for Putin as he attempts to demonstrate the whole country is behind him - rose above 58 percent on the second day of voting.

The rate in Belgorod region was over 76 percent. Turnout was also high in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine.

Russia's governing party, United Russia, said it was facing a widespread denial of service attack - a form of cyberattack aimed at paralysing web traffic - and had suspended non-essential services to repel it.

State news agency RIA quoted a senior telecoms official as blaming the cyberattacks on Ukraine and Western countries. (Reuters)
SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency, five sources familiar with the program said, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company and national security agencies.

The network is being built by SpaceX's Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, the sources said.

The plans show the extent of SpaceX's involvement in U.S. intelligence and military projects and illustrate a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces.

If successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the U.S. government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe.

The contract signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and sparked controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, the sources said.

The Wall Street Journal reported in February the existence of a $1.8 billion classified Starshield contract with an unknown intelligence agency without detailing the purposes of the program.

Reuters reporting discloses for the first time that the SpaceX contract is for a powerful new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits, and that the spy agency that Musk's company is working with is the NRO.

Reuters was unable to determine when the new network of satellites would come online and could not establish what other companies are part of the program with their own contracts.

SpaceX, the world's largest satellite operator, did not respond to several requests for comment about the contract, its role in it and details on satellite launches. The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the NRO and SpaceX.

In a statement the NRO acknowledged its mission to develop a sophisticated satellite system and its partnerships with other government agencies, companies, research institutions and nations, but declined to comment on Reuters' findings about the extent of SpaceXs involvement in the effort.

"The National Reconnaissance Office is developing the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen," a spokesperson said.

The satellites can track targets on the ground and share that data with U.S. intelligence and military officials, the sources said. In principle, that would enable the U.S. government to quickly capture continuous imagery of activities on the ground nearly anywhere on the globe, aiding intelligence and military operations, they added.

Roughly a dozen prototypes have been launched since 2020, among other satellites on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, three of the sources said.

A U.S. government database of objects in orbit shows several SpaceX missions having deployed satellites that neither the company nor the government have ever acknowledged. Two sources confirmed those to be prototypes for the Starshield network.

All the sources asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to discuss the U.S. government program.

The Pentagon is already a big SpaceX customer, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space. Starshield's first prototype satellite, launched in 2020, was part of a separate, roughly $200 million contract that helped position SpaceX for the subsequent $1.8 billion award, one of the sources said.

The planned Starshield network is separate from Starlink, SpaceX's growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space to provide near-global internet to consumers, companies and government agencies.

The classified constellation of spy satellites represents one of the U.S. governments most sought-after capabilities in space because it is designed to offer the most persistent, pervasive and rapid coverage of activities on Earth.

"No one can hide," one of the sources said of the systems potential capability, when describing the network's reach.

Musk, also the founder and CEO of Tesla and owner of social media company X, has driven innovation in space but has caused frustration among some officials in the Biden administration because of his past control of Starlink in Ukraine, where Kyivs military uses it for secure communications in the conflict with Russia. That authority over Starlink in a war zone by Musk, and not the U.S. military, created tension between him and the US government.

A series of Reuters stories has detailed how Musk's manufacturing operations, including at SpaceX, have harmed consumers and workers.

The Starshield network is part of intensifying competition between the U.S. and its rivals to become the dominant military power in space, in part by expanding spy satellite systems away from bulky, expensive spacecraft at higher orbits. Instead a vast, low-orbiting network can provide quicker and near-constant imaging of the Earth.

China also plans to start building its own satellite constellations, and the Pentagon has warned of space weapon threats from Russia, which could be capable of disabling entire satellite networks.

Starshield aims to be more resilient to attacks from sophisticated space powers.

The network is also intended to greatly expand the U.S. government's remote-sensing capabilities and will consist of large satellites with imaging sensors, as well as a greater number of relay satellites that pass the imaging data and other communications across the network using inter-satellite lasers, two of the sources said.

The NRO includes personnel from the U.S. Space Force and CIA and provides classified satellite imagery for the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies.

The spy satellites will house sensors provided by another company, three of the sources said. (Reuters)
Humanitarian aid falls through the sky towards the Gaza Strip after being dropped from an aircraft, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel, March 17, 2024.

Trucks of flour have reached northern Gaza for distribution to areas that have had no aid in four months, Palestinian media reported on Sunday, with famine looming in the enclave and truce talks between Israel and Hamas due to resume in Qatar.

A convoy of 12 trucks arrived in the north on Saturday  six in Gaza City and six in the Jabalia refugee camp  carrying supplies to also be distributed to the northernmost areas of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, the media and residents said.

The Hamas-linked Home Front media outlet reported that the aid was distributed by the "Popular Committees," a group that includes leaders of powerful clans in Gaza. A Hamas source said the route was secured by Hamas security personnel.

Aid agencies have warned that pockets of Gaza already face famine, with hospitals in the north reporting children dying of malnutrition and dehydration.

The hunger crisis has piled international pressure on Israel more than five months into its ground and air campaign in Gaza, triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with more talks for a ceasefire and hostage exchange expected in the coming days.

Hamas killed around 1,200 people in its attack and seized 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has now killed more than 31,500 Palestinians according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza.

An Israeli strike overnight killed 12 people in one house in Deir al-Balah in the center of the tiny, crowded Gaza Strip, the health ministry said, among 92 people it said had been killed in the previous 24 hours.

Israel's stated war aim is to wipe out Hamas, and it has said this can only be achieved with an assault on Rafah on the border with Egypt, the last relatively safe place for civilians who have flocked to camps there from other parts of Gaza.

Israel's Western allies have warned it against attacking Rafah, however, unless it can protect civilians. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday he had approved plans for an assault.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday after talks with Jordanian King Abdullah in Jordan that the large number of civilian casualties that would result from such an assault would make regional peace "very difficult."
Female college students look for jobs at the 2024 Women's Campus job fair in Huaibei, East China's Anhui province on March 12, 2024. CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images

'Saturated' market

Liang first thought of Tinder as a job-hunting tool after she saw a viral post on Xiaohongshu, China's equivalent of Instagram, by a user who said she had successfully found a job by using a Chinese dating app. Similar posts suggesting dating apps as a way to find jobs are not uncommon on Chinese social media. "When hiring managers ask me how I know the vacancy  me: Tinder," read one widely shared meme last year.

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Though Tinder is one of many foreign apps that are blocked in mainland China, residents can access it using virtual private networks. "By using dating apps, we can reach more people," Liang said. "Normally, we need a long period of time to get close to people. But with dating apps, you hang out with strangers for a couple of hours and they can already provide you with tons of their personal information." Geng said job seekers may also be turning to Tinder because they no longer have access to LinkedIn, which is also blocked in China after it announced it was pulling out of the country in 2021, and are dissatisfied with the domestic alternatives. Liang said that even though she can access LinkedIn by using a VPN, she still tried Tinder because she found traditional job-hunting methods had failed her. "The market is too saturated because of the economic downturn," she said. Tinder itself discourages the practice, saying its platform is designed to foster personal relationships, not business ones. "Tinder is not a place to promote businesses to try making money," a company spokesperson told NBC News in a statement.

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It has also drawn criticism from those genuinely seeking romantic connections who say they can no longer trust other users' motivations. "I cannot believe people would even go on dating apps to find jobs," read one comment on Weibo, China's equivalent of X. "I cannot believe a word a dating app user says in the introduction." Romy Liu, who previously worked for an executive search company in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, said that from an employer's perspective, finding a job opportunity through Tinder would suggest that an applicant has "strong social skills" and made a strong enough impression on someone they just met to get a referral. "I would think that someone who can get a job through this kind of platform is awesome," she said. But it's less efficient compared with traditional job-hunting methods, she said, and "may only be viable when seeking employment with international companies or internet giants."

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And not all employers might look so kindly on the Tinder approach, Liu cautioned. "If a state-owned company has ever heard of you hunting for a job on Tinder, I think they might permanently blacklist you," she said. Zoey Zeng, who works in the finance industry in Paris, said that while the Tinder method is available to job seekers worldwide, some factors might make it more effective in China, where it is used mainly by highly educated professionals. Tinder users in China "are already very selective because the vast majority of users were pursuing degrees overseas," Zeng said. "But in France, Tinder is known for finding sexual partners  90% of people I got in touch with wanted to find friends with benefits." "I think the purpose of this kind of software in China and abroad is still not the same," said Zeng, who uses Tinder only for networking.
The debate over whether Chinese-owned TikTok can operate in the U.S. is back with fervor, revealing more about the risk for Chinese stocks in a U.S. presidential election year. The committee that led the legislation on TikTok that passed the House of Representatives last week has another bill aimed at restricting Chinese biotech companies, among many policy proposals . Such considerations motivated Goldman Sachs analysts to update their model for measuring the level of risk from U.S.-China tensions in Chinese stocks. Their barometer, created in 2020, "has correlated well with the U.S.-China events timeline, and China equity performance," the analysts said. They said recent events mean they must consider more factors, such as the performance of Chinese exporters to the U.S., artificial intelligence names and nearly 150 Chinese healthcare companies. Goldman's revised U.S.-China tensions barometer stands at a modest 53 out of 100, indicating a "somewhat benign" outlook for the bilateral relationship. While some factors, such as geopolitics, have improved, others are on the rise. "The risks in 'Soft Tech' have moved higher in recent months, in our view likely driven by the market volatility stemming from the proposed BioSecure Act bill and the expanding/intensifying restrictions on AI and other advanced technologies," the Goldman analysts wrote in a March 14 report. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party in late January introduced a draft of the " BioSecure Act " to the House of Representatives. "Once enacted, the legislation would restrict federally funded medical providers from using foreign adversary biotech companies of concern," the Committee said in a release, naming a few Chinese entities in particular. It's not clear how quickly the bill and its Senate version can move through Congress, if at all. The latest TikTok legislation  which effectively bans the app in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent ByteDance sells it  was introduced in the House on March 5 and passed just over a week later. But as the TikTok bill now makes its way to the Senate, many analysts expect its momentum to slow. "A key issue for the Senate is that House bill is specific to TikTok, rather than a larger policy restriction on apps that pose potential national security risks," Raymond James analysts said in a note. That's not stopped investors from making plans to buy the popular TikTok app, assuming it comes up for sale. Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC's " Squawk Box " that he supports the TikTok legislation and is putting together a group to buy the app . Mnuchin was Treasury Secretary under Donald Trump, who is running for president again this year in November against President Joe Biden. Taking a tough stance on China has become a rare area of bipartisan agreement. The Trump administration increased tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to take similar action on some U.S. products. The Biden administration has restricted Chinese businesses' ability to access high-end semiconductors, which Beijing has repeatedly asked the U.S. to remove. "The build-up to and the outcomes of the election will be consequential to asset markets globally, US-China relations, and the returns of Chinese equities," the Goldman analysts said. Investing around it In their updated model of U.S.-China tensions, they also pointed out which Chinese stocks tended to outperform or underperform when their barometer went up. Based on data since 2018, the three mainland China-listed stocks the Goldman analysis found that tend to perform the best when the barometer on tensions goes up are: healthcare company IMEIK Technology, Postal Savings Bank and alcohol company Luzhou Laojiao. In terms of sectors, consumer sectors "tend to outperform when the implied tensions escalate," the Goldman report said. When the barometer points to de-escalation, capital goods, tech hardware, semiconductors and other cyclicals tend to outperform, the analysts said.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
TikTok creators gather before a press conference to voice their opposition to the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," pending crackdown legislation on TikTok in the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 12, 2024.

White House national security adviser John Kirby said Sunday that the Senate should swiftly advance a bill that would force Chinese technology company ByteDance to sell TikTok. The bill passed in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.

"We're glad the House took it up. And we urge the Senate to move swiftly on this," Kirby said on ABC's "This Week."

"We want to see divestiture from this Chinese company because we are concerned, as every American ought to be concerned, about data security and what ByteDance and what the Chinese Communist Party could do with the information that they can glean off of Americans use of the application."

The White House's call to action comes as the Senate slow-walks the bill, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company or face a ban in the U.S.

The bill passed in a 352-65 House vote on Wednesday. President Joe Biden, currently on TikTok for his reelection campaign, said he would sign the bill if it passed Congress.

Fueled by the momentum in their chamber's vote, eager House members want the bill to move forward more quickly.

"Mike [Gallagher] and I have had conversations, very positive ones, with different members of the Senate, who are very interested in this bill and who were very surprised by the size or the margin of the overwhelming bipartisan support in the House," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Il., who co-chairs the special House committee on China relations with Wisconsin Republican Rep. Gallagher, on CBS' "Face the Nation."

However, the Senate has a busy week ahead as Capitol Hill scrambles to negotiate a budget resolution for the remaining six appropriations bills that are due to expire on Friday, which would trigger a partial government shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has made clear that he is in no rush on the TikTok bill. He said that he "will review" the text without committing to a vote timeline. Schumer has previously expressed support for selling TikTok to a U.S. company.

Plus, some upper chamber lawmakers have dragged their heels over the bill rather than wholly embracing it.

For example, senators like Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Ben Cardin, D-Md., have offered tentative support for the measure but hesitated to commit to a yes vote.

"I'm certainly sympathetic to it. Let's see how it goes through the Senate process. But yes, I think we need to put guardrails in regards to the ownership of TikTok," said Cardin in a Sunday interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The TikTok bill has also sparked debate outside of Capitol Hill. GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump has voiced his opposition to a potential TikTok ban, a reversal from his stance years ago when he was advocating for the ban when he served as president.

"Without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people," Trump said Monday on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Former Vice President Mike Pence reiterated Sunday that Trump's opposition to the TikTok bill is the primary reason why he decided not to endorse his former boss for president in the coming election.

"The president's reversal just in the last week on on TikTok, following an administration where we literally changed the national consensus on China is the reason why, after a lot of reflection, I just concluded I cannot endorse the agenda that Donald Trump is carrying into this national debate," Pence said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Joe Biden came out against Japanese Nippon Steels takeover of US Steel, stating that the company should retain American ownership. US Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated," said the US President in a statement, at risk of upsetting its key ally. US Steel stock tumbled nearly 13% on Wednesday after President Biden expressed his opposition to the deal.Nippon Steels $14.1 billion proposal to buy an iconic American steel company was opposed by several US lawmakers on national security grounds. In August 2023, US Steel rebuffed a $7.3 billion takeover from rival steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs and launched a formal review of its strategic options. Since then, US Senators, including J.D. Vance, have been urging the company not to consider foreign buyers. Interestingly, the United Steelworkers (USW) union had supported the Cleveland-Cliff acquisition but had opposed any such arrangement with the Japanese company.Experts believe that the deal suffered because of the bad timing, considering this is an election year in the country. As Joe Biden and his arch-rival Donald Trump are set for a rematch, both have vowed to bolster domestic manufacturing. In December, the White House said that the deal would require more scrutiny given the companys core role in producing a material that is crucial for national security.The presidents intervention in the transaction highlights the influential position the union of steelworkers and its president, David McCall have. "I told our steelworkers I have their backs," said Biden. According to the reports, the workers body is seeking written guarantees about honouring all the labour contracts.According to Bloomberg, the Biden administration is investigating Nippon Steel's ties to China as part of its assessment of the US Steel deal, with a focus on increasing pressure on Beijing.On March 15, 2024, Nippon Steel released a statement stating, "Transaction delivers clear benefits to US Steel, union workers, the broader American steel industry, and American national security. It added that through increased financial investment and the contribution of our advanced technologies to US Steel, Nippon Steel will advance American priorities by driving greater quality and competitiveness for customers in the critical industries that rely on American steel while strengthening American supply chains and economic defenses against China.While addressing the concerns of steelworkers, it also said that the aim is to bolster and grow US Steel in the US market in a way that prioritises its talented employees. The company states that they have provided significant commitments to the USW in continued efforts to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. These include job security, pension security, capital investment, technology sharing, financial reporting, and the ability to enforce contractual obligations post-closing.Japans business community has been shocked by the strong reaction in Washington to the deal, especially since the US remains the most attractive mergers and acquisitions market for Japanese companies," reported the Financial Times.Japan is the United States' fourth largest trading partner, and one of the top providers of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Bidens statement on the deal comes just ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas visit to the US in April. He will be addressing a joint session of the US Congress during the visit. Both leaders will focus on deepening ties between the nations.As discussions continue and stakeholders navigate through the intricacies of this transaction, it remains to be seen how the outcomes will shape future business dealings and diplomatic relations between these two influential nations.
MONTANA

Giant sheep bred for sales to hunting preserves

BILLINGS  A Montana rancher illegally used tissue and testicles from wild sheep killed by hunters in central Asia and the U.S. to breed "giant" hybrid sheep for sale to private hunting preserves in Texas, according to court documents and federal prosecutors.

Arthur "Jack" Schubarth, 80, of Vaughn, Montana pleaded guilty to felony charges of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to traffic wildlife during an appearance March 12 before a federal judge in Great Falls. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Court documents describe a yearslong conspiracy, beginning in 2013, in which Schubarth and at least five other people sought to create "giant sheep hybrids" by cross-breeding different species. Their goal was to garner high prices from hunting preserves where people can shoot captive trophy game animals for a fee.

Using biological tissue obtained from a hunter who killed a wild sheep in Kyrgyzstan belonging to the world's largest species of the animals  Marco Polo argali sheep  Schubarth procured cloned embryos of the animal from a lab, according to court documents.

The embryos were later implanted in a ewe, resulting in a pure Marco Polo argali sheep that Schubert named "Montana Mountain King," the documents show. Semen from Montana Mountain King was used to artificially impregnate other ewes to create a larger and more valuable species of sheep, including one offspring that he reached an agreement to sell to two people in Texas for $10,000, according to the documents.

Male argali sheep can top 300 pounds with horns up to 5 feet long, according to officials, making them prized among some hunters. They are protected under international convention as a threatened species and outlawed for import into Montana to protect native sheep from disease and hybridization.

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Todd Kim described Schubarth's actions as "an audacious scheme to create massive hybrid sheep species to be sold and hunted as trophies." Kim said the defendant violated the Lacey Act that restricts wildlife trafficking and prohibits the sale of falsely labeled wildlife.

NEW MEXICO

Bill bans some guns at polls, extends waiting period

ALBUQUERQUE  Some guns will be banned at voting locations and the waiting period for purchasing firearms is being extended to seven days under measures signed into law March 4 by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The second-term Democrat was surrounded by city leaders and others inside a high school auditorium in Albuquerque when she signed four public safety measures that were passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature during the recent 30-day session.

Lujan Grisham had declared a public health emergency over gun violence last year, suspending the right to carry guns in some parks and playgrounds in the greater Albuquerque area, in response to a spate of shootings there that killed children. The New Mexico Supreme Court is considering a petition that the governor overstepped her authority.

Republican lawmakers have argued that the governor wasn't addressing the true causes of violence, but rather seeking to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens.

Now, New Mexico's waiting period for firearm purchases will be seven days  more than double the current three-day period required by the federal government for a background check. The law includes exemptions for concealed carry permit holders, federal firearms licensees, transactions between law enforcement officers, law enforcement agencies and immediate family members.

The other measure prohibits carrying firearms within 100 feet of polling places and ballot drop boxes. Exemptions are granted to law enforcement personnel and concealed carry permit holders.

Oil-field lease sales halted in royalty rate standoff

SANTA FE  New Mexico's State Land Office will withhold lease sales indefinitely on its most promising tracts for oil and natural gas development in the Permian Basin as it seeks approval by the state legislature to increase top-tier royalty rates, Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard said March 7.

Bills have repeatedly stalled in the Democratic-led legislature, including this year, that would raise New Mexico's top royalty rate for oil and gas development from 20% to 25%. Proponents of the change say neighboring Texas already charges up to 25% on state trust land amid intense competition to drill in the Permian Basin that overlaps southeastern New Mexico and parts of western Texas.

In New Mexico, royalty payments from oil and gas development are deposited in a multibillion-dollar investment trust that benefits public schools, universities and hospitals.

New Mexico Oil and Gas Association CEO Missi Currier said the disagreement between the legislature and the State Land Office threatens to penalize petroleum producers and public beneficiaries as new leases are sidelined.

Garcia Richard estimates the state would miss out on billions of dollars in income and investment returns over the lifetime of future leases if royalties stay capped at 20%.

The Democrat, elected to a second term in 2022, acknowledged that the state will miss out on smaller, one-time bonus payments while some lease sales are suspended.

She compared the decision to delay some lease sales to a homeowner delaying sale during a downturn in the market for real estate.

ARIZONA

First statewide officer named to address extreme heat

PHOENIX  Arizona's health department has named a physician to address ways to lessen the effects of extreme heat in the arid Southwestern state as the first statewide heat officer in the nation.

Dr. Eugene Livar was appointed to the role under Gov. Katie Hobbs' extreme heat preparedness plan, the Arizona Department of Health Services said March 6.

Livar has been with the state health department since 2012, most recently working as assistant director for public health preparedness. In that role, he contributed to the state's heat plan.

Underscoring the dangers of increasingly hot weather, the toll of heat-associated deaths in Arizona's most populous county has soared well over 400 after the area's hottest summer ever recorded. Maricopa County is the hottest metropolitan area in the U.S. and home to Phoenix.

The cities of Phoenix and Miami have their own heat officers to oversee ways to protect people and the overall community from extreme heat as climate change leads to more frequent and enduring heat waves.

Phoenix, the hottest big city in the United States, also has an office of heat response and resiliency that aims to protect people and help them cope with the hot weather through programs like cooling stations and increased tree planting.

NEBRASKA

Rewards glitch led to free gas  and felony charges

LINCOLN  A Nebraska woman allegedly found a lucrative quirk at a gas station pump  double-swipe the rewards card and get free gas!

Unfortunately for her, you can't do that, prosecutors said. The 45-year-old woman was arrested March 6 and faces felony theft charges accusing her of a crime that cost the gas station nearly $28,000.

Prosecutors say the woman exploited the system over a period of several months. Police learned of the problem in October when the loss-prevention manager at Bosselman Enterprises reported that the company's Pump & Pantry in Lincoln had been scammed.

Fuel pumps at the station received a software update in November 2022 that managed, among other things, rewards cards. But the company was unaware of a glitch that allowed anyone swiping a rewards card twice to put a gas pump into demonstration mode. In demo mode, the user could pump gas at no cost.

A probable cause statement from prosecutors said the loss-prevention manager determined that one particular card had been used repeatedly to obtain free gas. Police were able to trace the card to the suspect, and video surveillance showed the woman pumping gas on multiple occasions from November 2022 until June 1, when the glitch was fixed, the statement said.

Authorities believe the woman not only used the scam to get free gas, but that she allowed another woman to use her card  for a fee.

All told, the card was used 510 times, and more than 7,400 gallons of gas were pumped for free, the probable cause statement said.
Taiwan on Saturday warned off Chinese coast guard ships that entered its restricted waters near frontline islands close to China for a second day in a row, as tensions simmer across the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan's coast guard said four Chinese coast guard boats on Saturday morning entered the restricted waters of Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which hug the Chinese coast. It said the Chinese boats stayed just over an hour after Taiwan authorities asked them to leave.

China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the island's strong objections. It has stepped up military activities near Taiwan in recent years, with almost daily incursions into air defense identification zones.

"You have entered our country's restricted waters. Please turn around immediately," a Taiwan official said via radio in a broadcast message to their Chinese counterparts, according to footage released on Saturday by Taiwan's coast guard.

The footage shows a Taiwan coast guard boat tracking the movement of two Chinese ships in the near distance.

"The move has seriously impacted traffic and safety. To avoid triggering naval incidents we urge them to stop such behaviors," Taiwan's coast guard said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from China's coast guard, which does not have publicly available contact details.

China's coast guard conducted patrols near the Kinmen Islands on Friday as well, with four Chinese coast guard boats being warned away by their Taiwanese counterparts, according to Taiwan's official Central News Agency.

Last month, China's coast guard began regular patrols around Kinmen, after two Chinese nationals died while trying to flee Taiwan's coast guard after their boat entered prohibited waters.

Taiwan dispatched coast guard boats on Thursday to join a rescue mission at China's request after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized near the Kinmen islands. Taiwan's government has stressed the importance of co-operation between Taiwan and China amid the heightened tensions.

On Friday, Taiwan also sent several boats at China's request to help search for a Chinese fisherman who went overboard near the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands, in the northern end of the Taiwan Strait.

A senior Taiwan security official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that Beijing is sending out "confusing" messages by continuing its harassment of Taiwan, while also asking for Taipei's assistance on dealing with maritime incidents.

The official said the latest moves by the Chinese coast guard in Kinmen "did not carry substantial security threats" but complicated the situation there.

"We are clueless," the official said. "We tried to save their fishermen yesterday and today they are baring their teeth and claws."

Last week, Taiwan's top China policy-making body urged its giant neighbor not to change the "status quo" in waters near Kinmen by sending coast guard boats into restricted areas. (Reuters)
Like stand-up comedy where every single thing is funny and doesn't waste your time? Follow Cracked Comedy Club on Instagram and YouTube for exactly that.

After their success on Saturday Night Live but before they hit it big with Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay had a dream to make a bonkers big-screen comedy. Some say the screenplay for the unmade August Blowout was one of the most hilarious theyd ever read  but that wasnt enough to get a studio to pick up the tab.

August Blowout, which McKay and Ferrell wrote in the late 1990s, is most easily described as Glengarry Glen Ross set in a used-car parking lot. The best salesman on the lot, Jeff Tanner, had a lot in common with Ron Burgundy  a local hotshot who has it all, then finds himself down on his luck. According to Kind of a Big Deal, Saul Austerlitzs history of the movie Anchorman, the movie began with Tanner talking straight into the camera, describing himself like hes one of the hottest cars on the lot. Hes rugged, sexy and American and is fully tricked out with all the features.

How good is this guy? I come with a confident handshake, an outstanding ass, a saddle in my bedroom, and except for some screwup by JCPenney, a near spotless credit report. And guess what? Thats all standard. Like Burgundy in San Diego, Tanner fancies himself king of the town of Anaheim  a big fish ruling a medium-sized town.

Lorne Michaels read the screenplay about a wild-ass car-selling competition, found it hilarious and brought it to Paramount. McKay and Ferrell staged a reading of the screenplay, enlisting Tracy Morgan, Tim Meadows, Harry Dean Stanton and Gary Cole to read different parts. The readthrough seemed like a big success until Paramount passed and greenlit David Spades Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star instead.

Oops.

Then McKay and Ferrell brought in another screenwriter to script-doctor their original  a former coworker by the name of Tina Fey. In their view, Feys version made the screenplay 25 percent better. Ben Stiller told McKay that August Blowout was one of the funniest scripts hed read in a long time, but that only resulted in McKay getting a rewrite job on another screenplay. Even with Feys rewrites, the only answer they got was no.

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August Blowout never got made, but the screenplay did impress Boogie Nights director Paul Thomas Anderson enough to get on board with whatever McKay and Ferrell did next. That would be Anchorman, a script that would repurpose a lot of the laughs from August Blowout. Ron Burgundys noticeable erection when inviting Veronica Corningstone to dinner originated in the car-selling comedy, when Jeff Tanner made an impassioned pitch to a young couple about an SUV. This is a car for strong, willful men who like to off-road it and tame the savage land using only the rippling muscles and crackling bone that God gave him ... and then when their musk fills the air, make love to a hard-bodied woman who wants to feel a steely beard against her naked body. This is the Ford Expedition. Like Burgundy, the scene ends with Tanner noticeably aroused. Im not proud of this, he says, but when you talk about the Ford Expedition, its unavoidable.

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Burgundys love of (and misinformation about) San Diego also originated in Tanners obsession with his Anaheim home. Like Ron introducing the city to Veronica, Tanner showed off Anaheim to a new salesman: Anaheim  she looks pretty sexy at night.

Burgundy and Tanner even share an obsession with modern jazz. While Tanner doesnt play the jazz flute, he duets with flugelhorn master Chuck Mangione on an ode to his city: Anaheim! I want to make love to you! Feel Anaheims lips pressed against my chest! Lets get soapy in the shower ... and then, Anaheim, I rub my hands against your breasts!

With so many comedic elements of August Blowout transplanted into Anchorman, its unlikely the screenplay will ever get made. Even so, those unproduced pages are largely responsible for the film careers of Ferrell and McKay. The script really got passed around town, Ferrell told The Hollywood Reporter years later. That was a nice calling card for our tone and kind of set the table for us.
These days, Roseanne Barr is probably best known for her racist rants, unhinged conspiracy theories and somehow getting fired from a show that was literally called Roseanne. But while those public embarrassments will eventually be lost to time like tears in the rain, one of Roseannes past debacles exists as a physical landmark: her unfinished Iowa mansion.

Back in 1993, Roseanne and Tom Arnold were still a happily married couple, so much so that they opened their own restaurant in the small town of Eldon, Iowa. Roseanne & Toms Big Food Diner served loose meat sandwiches, just like the restaurant belonging to Roseannes TV alter-ego. Its horrible for you, but people seem to like it, Tom Arnold said of the food while speaking to reporters from the set of Coneheads (which may be the most 90s sentence ever written).

People waited in line for more than two hours in 20 degree weather when the diner first opened, buying up overpriced merchandise to be autographed by the celebrity owners. In addition to taking its cues from the fictional Lanford Lunch Box, the restaurant was decorated with photos of Roseanne and Tom, even in the restroom.

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The Arnolds didnt just open the restaurant out of a passion for the culinary arts, it was because they had decided to build a sprawling mansion on 1,700 acres of nearby farmland. But they quickly discovered that the only restaurant in town closed at 6:30 in the evening, and didnt deliver, so they basically bought the restaurant to get people to cook for them during their once-a-month retreats.

The couples $16 million, 28,000-square-foot mansion was set to be the largest single family home in the state of Iowa and a self-contained utopia, complete with a basement swimming pool and a pond full of electrical wiring to keep it heated. But the couple famously broke up in 1994, dooming the restaurant, which had become the towns largest employer, and halting construction on the house.

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Arnold decided to donate the property to his alma mater, Indian Hills Community College, and while the school occasionally used the land for horticulture classes, they eventually opted to sell it to a company called MJW Hawkeye LLC. According to the current property manager, the half-finished vanity palace was too expensive to tear down so the crumbling facade still remains to this day.

Despite the fact that its considered private property, and extremely hard to reach due to the areas lack of finished roads, that hasnt stopped urban explorers and intrepid tourists from trekking out to the creepy relic of one of Hollywoods most notorious failed relationships.

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Some have even speculated that the sprawling property could be haunted  and really, how is it that not a single filmmaker has thought of making a Blair Witch-style horror movie in Roseanne and Toms abandoned love nest?

Or you could always just head to Indiana and check out Roseanne Conners more accessible, less-terrifying house.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
A use variance from the town of Amsterdam Zoning Board of Appeals is being sought to allow a food trailer to permanently operate at 57 E. Main St. in the hamlet of Fort Johnson. The site where a partial stone wall remains from a previously demolished structure is shown last Thursday.
The main U.N. aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks on a hostage deal with Hamas.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine.

On Friday, Israel said it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners.

The delegation will be led by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene his security cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahu's office has said the latest Hamas offer was still based on "unrealistic demands."

Efforts failed to secure a temporary ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago, and Israel said on Friday it planned a new offensive against an Hamas stronghold in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in Gaza after five months of war.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a visit to the region, voiced concern about an assault on Rafah, saying there was a danger it would result "in many terrible civilian casualties."

On Friday, Netanyahu's office said he had approved an attack plan on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are sheltering, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. It gave no time frame and there was no sign of imminent preparations on the ground.

The Hamas offer, reviewed by Reuters, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let more aid into Gaza. Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera the group's proposal is so realistic that "no one can object to it" and claimed mediators had reacted positively.

He said it consists of two stages, with a complete "cessation of aggression" at the start of the second one  something Israel has rejected, vowing to resume its goal of destroying Hamas once any truce expires.

Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters again gathered in Tel Aviv, urging a deal for their release.

At the same time, anti-government protesters, estimated by Israeli media at a few thousand, called for new elections and blocked streets in Tel Aviv.

Humanitarian crisis

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas members.

The assault has forcing many inhabitants from their homes, leaving much of the territory in rubble and triggering a hunger crisis.

"Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," UNRWA said in a social media post. Hospitals in Gaza have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration.

Later, Palestinian media outlets said aid trucks had reached the northern Gaza areas of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya for the first time in four months. The 13 trucks carrying flour arrived at an UNWRA facility, according to the reports.

Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the U.N. saying it faced "overwhelming obstacles" including crossing closures, onerous vetting and unrest inside Gaza.

Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on a lack of capacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies.

A first sea shipment of aid into Gaza by the World Central Kitchen, using a new route via Cyprus, arrived on Friday.

A second cargo of food aid was ready to depart, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, while the U.S. and Jordan carried out an air drop of humanitarian aid.

Queen Rania of Jordan told CNN the airdrops were "literally just drops in the ocean of unmet needs" and accused Israel of "cutting off everything that is required to sustain a human life: food, fuel, medicine, water." (Reuters)
ERICA MILLER/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER

Lake George is pictured from the second story of Fort William Henry in Lake George on May 30, 2019.
Supporters of assisted dying need to grasp that they will almost certainly get more than they say that they want. You will have to judge whether they really are as moderate as they claim, or whether they reckon  with good reason  that legalising assisted death will allow them to expand their scheme in ways that would horrify many now.

The campaign to legalise abortion on demand was never, in my view, frank about its true aims. Nor is the similar campaign for assisted dying.

Reform of the abortion laws in 1967 was supposed to help a minority of women trapped by terrible circumstances and a brutal, unforgiving law into dangerous actions. In Britain, the argument of safety was paramount. This version is still current. The TV series Call The Midwife has more than once included vivid, emotive and one-sided storylines in which the pre-1967 law is portrayed as unjustified, harsh, inflexible and even fatal.

Claims were made in the 1960s that between 50,000 and 250,000 women were at risk each year from botched illegal abortions. Such cases were tragic but there is little hard evidence that these horrors were as common as claimed.

The TV series Call The Midwife has more than once included vivid, emotive and one-sided storylines in which the pre-1967 law is portrayed as unjustified, harsh, inflexible and even fatal

In April 1966, the British Medical Journal carried a report from the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It argued from known figures: If there are 100,000 criminal (including self-induced) abortions being performed annually, this means that they are attended by a mortality rate of only 0.3 per 1,000. The risks of criminal abortion are established to be high, so the known number of deaths suggests that the total number of such cases must be considerably less than that alleged. The College also noted that therapeutic abortions, based on the pre-1967 law, were being carried out in significant numbers in NHS hospitals  2,800 in 1962. Many more were taking place in private clinics.

Now legal abortions run at almost 215,000 a year in England and Wales. They show no signs of diminishing despite (or perhaps because of) decades of sex education, the ready availability of contraceptives and the morning-after pill. Many abortions are now carried out with little medical intervention, by the use of pills by post. And this huge action  in which I believe a human life is destroyed  may very soon be freed from any further legal restraint. A planned amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, which has wide support among MPs, would abolish sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 plus the 1929 Infant Life (Preservation) Act. Its effect would be that no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy.

Even some liberals think this goes too far. I think it is a warning of how far assisted dying will go, if we let it happen. Sir Keir Starmer is promising what is called a free vote. That is, one in which MPs have no need to tell voters what they plan to do before they do it. But they are under huge pressure from liberal conformism to support assisted dying.

There is another worrying aspect. Until recently, abortion advocates at least claimed to think disposing of an unborn person was bad and should be uncommon. Its American supporters, notably Bill and Hillary Clinton, proclaimed in the 1990s their aim was to make abortion safe, legal and rare.

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Interestingly, modern feminist advocates of abortion reject any suggestion that it should be rare. Amelia Bonow, a co-founder of the pro-abortion-rights group Shout Your Abortion has said: I cannot think of a less compelling way to advocate for something than saying that it should be rare. And anyone who uses that phrase is operating from the assumption that abortion is a bad thing. In 2012, the US Democratic Party dropped the word rare from the abortion section of its official policy platform.

I suspect we are dealing, in the case of abortion and assisted dying, with something much deeper than compassion for the suffering. A new anti-religion, the belief that above all things we should control our own bodies, has rushed into the space left by the death of Christianity. You will hear it all the time if you challenge any modern cause, from drug taking and abortion to the transgender movement: What right have you to tell me what to do with my own body?

But in many cases those who take this view are putting themselves in danger, from drugs or from invasive medical procedures they may one day regret. The losers in almost all such cases are the close families of those involved. The law, and society, will no longer support them in any pleading they may make.

This gives force to the warnings of those who argue assisted dying in this country will rapidly copy the frightening system in Canada. By 2022, that country was ending the lives of 13,200 people a year, 4.1 per cent of its annual deaths.

The unborn baby is short of defenders when the case for abortion is made. He or she has no voice and is regarded as not yet human by many pro-abortionists. But how much voice will the chronically sick have if it becomes legal to snuff them out?

Many feel guilty about the burden they place on their loved ones. As a society we badly fail to provide the palliative end-of-life care which would surely be the best answer to the needless suffering visited on so many in their final months.

But I think it is worse than that. These changes are a retreat from Christian civilisation into a Brave New World where all who get in the way become disposable.

We have dehumanised the unwanted unborn and are about to dehumanise the inconvenient old and ill. Whos next?
Common sense at last. British children convinced they have been born in the wrong body will no longer be pumped with puberty blockers by our state medical service. Like the Netherlands (which pioneered these powerful drugs), Sweden, France and Finland, Britain has finally had a dramatic rethink because of compelling evidence of their damage to young bodies and minds.

It is good news for the next generation. But, tragically, too late for the many who have come before. Thousands of British youngsters  some only 12 when prescribed the medicines by NHS clinicians  now face a lifetime of problems. Because of the blockers, their bones are more likely to fracture. They may develop liver disease. Many will discover in adulthood they are infertile, others will never be able to have a satisfying sex life.

And the bad news is there is nothing to stop private clinics continuing to prescribe puberty blockers despite the very obvious dangers.

Apart from the litany of side effects outlined above, a new report by a leading London University neuropsychologist has further suggested the drugs harm girls brains, causing their IQ to drop up to 15 points. The medical establishments embrace of the drugs will come back to haunt it: the NHS, which will now only distribute blockers to children in strict clinical trials, is expected to face a mountain of legal actions for compensation from youngsters who believe they were damaged by them.

Keira Bell (pictured) began taking puberty blockers when she was 16 but 'detransitioned' after she came to regret her decision

SUE REID: Hundreds have since expressed regret and de-transitioned with their bodies already altered irretrievably (stock image)

For it was 15 years ago that the NHS began using the unvetted drugs on gender-confused children. Way back in 2009, it set up the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at Londons Tavistock Clinic, which offered counselling and treatments (typically puberty blockers) to trans children, many with mental health issues such as autism or anorexia.

Some may have become contented trans adults. But many were caught up in a social media-inspired frenzy  as the French government calls it  endorsed by the medical establishment.

Hundreds have since expressed regret and de-transitioned with their bodies already altered irretrievably. Take the case of Keira Bell. Aged 16, she thought she no longer wanted to be a girl. She was prescribed blockers after just three one-hour consultations with clinicians at GIDS, and went on to have a double mastectomy on the NHS. Keira later realised she had made a terrible mistake and has since de-transitioned to live again as a female. The blockers have permanently harmed her female reproductive organs.

The disgraced Tavistock GIDS is to close this month after a host of whistleblowers and Government advisers warned some of its treatments have put the health of patients at risk. Yet for years, blockers were hailed as the gold-standard drugs for trans-identifying children. The theory went that by delaying the onset of puberty, they gave confused children time to consider their options.

Would you rather have a trans son or a dead daughter? was the activists manipulative slogan to persuade worried parents to consent to their childs wishes.

Critics hit back, saying that the blockers are a pathway to invasive sex-change surgeries, involving the mutilation and reassignment of healthy genitalia. The drastic operations often lead to a lifetime of medical intervention over problems such as incontinence.

The revolt against blockers escalated a few years ago when a Swedish paediatrician said their use was akin to chemically castrating a child. The doctor appeared during an investigation broadcast by Swedens state-run TV station, which revealed that 13 children of 440 treated at the Karolinska University Hospital had suffered catastrophic injuries, including liver trauma, skeletal damage and stunted height.

The hospital then reported itself to Swedens national health board, which has since declared that using blockers on children carries risks that outweigh benefits.

Recently leaked conversations have revealed that even the most ardent proponents of puberty blockers privately say they cause infertility and destroy adult sexual pleasure. The leaks emerged from an internal forum of doctors and mental health workers at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which produces global guidelines on transgender care.

The Tavistock Clinic is the only gender identity clinic for children and young people in the UK

For years, these guidelines have been cited as best practice by UK bodies including the British Medical Association. WPATH, founded by a controversial American psychologist in 1979, has wielded tremendous influence in this ill-regulated arena of medicine. Tavistock GIDS staff have presented lectures at its conferences. Yet, disturbingly, this organisations standards of care currently suggest doing away with age limits for some drastic surgeries.

Elsewhere, in the leaked WPATH files, surgeons describe double mastectomies that leave patients with no nipples and nullification operations where healthy genitals are removed. A large proportion of WPATH members are pro-transgender activists and yet the files show they secretly acknowledge that blockers cause infertility. They include a video of one doctor conceding that patients are sometimes too young to understand the consequences of the drugs.

Discussing puberty blockers given to six to 15-year-old girls, WPATHs president Dr Marci Bowers (who transitioned to female after fathering three children) says: To date, I am unaware of an individual (treated at this stage of puberty) claiming ability to orgasm [in later life].

The WPATH doctors also discuss whether a case of liver cancer in a 16-year-old patient was caused by blockers and other hormones.

The leaked files have dealt yet another blow to the mantra of activists that blockers are safe for youngsters. But despite the new NHS ban, the fight isnt over. Ministers are under pressure to make it illegal for private clinics in the UK to give blockers to children. There are fears that the NHS ban will allow them to ramp up their own blocker prescriptions.

Some private clinics, in the UK and abroad, support WPATHs guidelines and can  as the law stands  continue to prescribe the drugs to youngsters in this country. They do so after little more than a video consultation, and send the drugs in the post.

Nor have the activists given up. The LGBTQ+ group Stonewall last week insisted: All trans young people deserve access to high quality, timely healthcare... An important part of care, for some, comes in the form of puberty blockers... giving the young person extra time to evaluate the next steps.

Keira Bells experience should have been a cautionary tale. But how many others like her have been caught up in what is likely to be the biggest medical scandal ever in the UK? As the compensation lawyers prepare for extra business, the NHS should be shivering in its shoes.
Thirteen years ago, Vladimir Putin went to watch a martial arts tournament and, as he congratulated the winner of one heavyweight bout, the unthinkable happened: a large section of the crowd began booing and jeering their shocked leader.

It was the start of a rocky period for the Russian president as his blatantly rigged elections sparked the country's biggest protests since the collapse of the Soviet Union. 'We're not afraid any more,' a man told me at one huge demonstration in Moscow.

I heard anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny warn Putin that 'if the crooks and thieves continue trying to deceive us and lie to us, we'll take power ourselves'. I met other key opposition leaders, such as former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov.

Today Navalny is dead, 'murdered' in an Arctic penal colony a month ago, and Nemtsov was gunned down on a Moscow bridge just yards from the Kremlin in 2015.

But Putin, after 24 years in power, will secure a fifth term in office following a rubber-stamp election at the weekend after crushing all dissent in his country.

Putin, after 24 years in power, will secure a fifth term in office following a rubber-stamp election at the weekend after crushing all dissent in his country

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a prison camp, stands in a queue outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin, Germany

The diminutive dictator will claim the result gives him a popular mandate for his war in Ukraine, a conflict he expected to end in a lightning victory within just five days but which has turned into a savage attritional fight against people determined to defend their freedoms.

Putin looks unassailable, having killed, exiled or jailed all rivals  including Vladimir Kara-Murza, the dual Russian-British citizen who was given a 25-year sentence for 'treason' after speaking out against the war  despite the disastrous start to his attempted full-scale invasion and the West's unexpectedly unified response.

He has militarised schools and society as a whole, placed the economy on a war footing, and ramped up defence spending to its highest level since the Cold War.

Having changed the constitution via a rigged referendum four years ago, he can remain in power until 2036  when he will be 83.

Putin is also now backed by three of the world's most repulsive autocracies  China, Iran and North Korea  an alliance that underlines how the war he launched in Ukraine a decade ago with the invasion of Crimea has become an epochal fight between democracy and dictatorship.

And yet the West remains stunningly complacent about the challenge this tyrant presents to our way of life and our democratic values.

It may finally have united in 2022 behind Ukraine's fight for survival, but many Western leaders were so intimidated by Putin's sabre-rattling that, despite their bold rhetoric, they delivered insufficient military support too slowly, an approach that had tragic consequences.

One of the worst offenders in the early days of the war was French president Emmanuel Macron, who attempted to win over Putin by arguing that Russia should not be humiliated and limiting France  a major military power  to truly pathetic levels of aid to Ukraine in terms of weapons and ordnance.

Vladimir Putin has won the Russian election with 87.8 per cent of the vote, exit polls show

The Russian tyrant, 71, has cemented his position at the top of the Kremlin until at least 2030

Members of a local electoral commission count ballots at a polling station after the last day of the three-day Russia's presidential election in Moscow

Now Macron seems to have woken up. He is driving up defence spending to its highest level for half a century while simultaneously doubling the number of reservists, reinforcing cyber-security and drastically boosting funding for intelligence.

READ MORE: Vladimir Putin eyes new world order and plans to challenge Western dominance having further tightened his grip on power in Russia with record election win... after banning and killing any real opposition Advertisement

The French president has even dared to suggest Western troops might be sent to support Ukraine's struggle. 'If Russia wins this war, Europe's credibility will be reduced to zero,' he said, correctly. 'We would no longer have security in Europe. Who can seriously believe that Putin, who has respected no limits, would stop there?'

Macron's new-found urgency is echoed by those frontline states that have suffered from Russian brutality in the past, and therefore never had any illusions about the menace posed by Putin.

'True solidarity with Ukraine? Less words, more ammunition,' ran one online post from Donald Tusk, the prime minister of Poland, whose nation is re-arming at a breathtaking rate to create the strongest land army in Europe.

The French and Polish leaders were in Berlin last week, trying to persuade the ultra-cautious German leader Olaf Scholz to deploy long-range, low-flying and bunker-busting Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Germany is Europe's biggest source of military aid for Ukraine  but Scholz fears the stealth missiles might be used to attack Moscow, despite Kyiv's denials, and so is shamefully refusing to supply the Ukrainians with this potentially-pivotal weapon.

Meanwhile, Washington's support for the country is on hold as a result of political feuding ahead of elections this year.

Such myopia comes at a time when military officers at the highest levels of the British Armed Forces are becoming increasingly concerned that Nato could end up at war with Russia within the next few years.

People attend a rally in Berlin, near the Russian embassy where voters lined up to cast their ballots in the Russia's presidential election

This is why top generals are suddenly talking about conscription and warning that preparation for such a conflict must be a 'whole-of-nation undertaking'.

In such a context it is thoroughly dispiriting that our own government is failing to follow more clear-sighted European nations by urgently beefing up Britain's depleted military capabilities, pouring far more cash into defence and fixing our woeful military procurement system.

We should also follow Finland's lead by teaching children from an early age how to resist the flood of fake news and challenge the conspiracy theories that can be used by dictatorships to divide our countries and weaken our democracies, especially in this looming age of artificial intelligence.

As Putin said before his first election success 24 years ago, no one should believe in miracles to save their country. The relentless march of his aggression against the West has made that point terrifyingly clear.
When Rishi Sunak swept on to the Commons terrace last week with his entourage in tow to attend a reception for the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, there was no shortage of candidates looking to bend his ear.

Only hours earlier the former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson had defected to Reform UK.

There was a growing row over the tepid No 10 response to racist remarks about the veteran MP Diane Abbott by the party's biggest donor Frank Hester.

And the previous week's much vaunted Budget had sunk without trace having failed to move the political dial.

But despite the Monday evening air being thick with talk of leadership plots, Sunak stayed barely 15 minutes.

Rishi Sunak had a private meeting last week with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, who is the only person who knows how many letters demanding a leadership contest have been submitted by Tory MPs

Much of the leadership talk centres on Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt who has just risen to the top of the ConservativeHome website's league table

The fleeting nature of his visit was not lost on the assembled backbenchers and people began talking openly about whether he was the right man to lead them into the next general election.

'He's remote at the moment he needs to be accessible,' said a senior former minister. 'There's a real crisis and he retreats into his bunker.'

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak's allies rage at Penny Mordaunt after she fails to quash rumours of a coup against the PM and Tory MPs spend the weekend plotting Advertisement

Yet in No 10 they do know there's a problem. Sunak had a private meeting last week with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, who is the only person who knows how many letters demanding a leadership contest have been submitted by Tory MPs.

A contest is triggered if it reaches 53, or 15 per cent of the members of the parliamentary party.

Sunak's assignation with Brady coincided with speculation at Westminster that an unnamed Cabinet minister had put in a letter in despair at Downing Street's lack of grip.

Much of the leadership talk centres on Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt, who has just risen to the top of the ConservativeHome website's league table of Cabinet ministers most popular among the grassroots.

She shares top billing with Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, who on Tuesday evening made an unexpected intervention in the donor row to become the first senior Tory to call Frank Hester's comments racist. Badenoch, not for the first time, made No 10 look flat-footed.

After another difficult week for Sunak, Saturday's Mail revealed the existence of a plot to depose him and install Mordaunt as PM without a leadership election.

Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, made an unexpected intervention in the donor row to become the first senior Tory to call Frank Hester's comments racist

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, who  with ten years' Cabinet service is one of the most experienced operators at Westminster  held a drinks party for MPs at his office

Unusually, Tory MPs on the Right of the party, who could normally be expected to support one of their own, such as Badenoch or former home secretary Suella Braverman, had held secret talks with moderates backing Mordaunt about a plot to crown her in a coronation.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak rules out holding the general election on 2 May as PM dismisses speculation he could go to the polls in just seven weeks' time Advertisement

The talks come amid reports there's now an unofficial whipping operation under way by discontented MPs to ensure more letters go into the 1922 Committee.

A similar tactic destroyed Theresa May's premiership in 2019 but then there was an obvious alternative leader: Boris Johnson.

The campaign against Sunak has been given renewed momentum by a bombshell poll leaked to The Mail on Sunday that predicted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer could win an unprecedented majority of 250 seats, reducing the Tories to fewer than 150 MPs.

But is Mordaunt the answer? Even her admirers concede her woke views are a problem  she once made a reference in the Commons about 'pregnant people' rather than women, for example.

In response, her supporters argue that the administration of social issues could be sub-contracted to more Right-leaning ministers.

But a senior minister I spoke to last night laughed out loud at the idea. 'As PM, difficult decisions arrive on your desk all the time. You can't sub-contract out the stuff that might make you unpopular. It doesn't work like that.'

And the question remains: Is Mordaunt actually keen on the idea? One of her supporters insists: 'She's not lobbying anyone for the job.'

There are reports there's now an unofficial whipping operation under way by discontented MPs - a similar tactic destroyed Theresa May's premiership in 2019

There was an obvious leader to follow Mrs May: Boris Johnson. Shapps' people are also saying he will have the backing of Mr Johnson

But the fact remains that one person could clear up the uncertainty once and for all by releasing a statement backing Sunak.

But Mordaunt herself has conspicuously failed to do so.

But she is not the only Cabinet minister involved in the increasingly frenzied horse-trading at Westminster.

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, who  with ten years' Cabinet service is one of the most experienced operators at Westminster  held a drinks party for MPs at his office only two weeks ago.

While there is a huge row in the Tory party over the failure to include more money for defence in the Budget, he's on a charm offensive. Shapps is telling MPs he feels their pain.

One senior MP said he was approached by a Shapps supporter last week. 'They asked if I was for Mordaunt and then gave the reasons why it should be Shapps. A good campaigner, a safe pair of hands. He's on manoeuvres.'

Shapps' people are also saying he will have the backing of Boris Johnson.

As for Badenoch, she has warned backbenchers to 'wind their necks in' over Sunak and is adamant she's not interested in a leadership contest now. 'She wants Rishi to own the defeat 100 per cent,' said a supporter.

'Everyone knows we've lost. Why does she want any blame to attach to her?'

Yet one little-noticed move last week was the involvement of Badenoch in the plans outlined by the Government to stop foreign states from owning newspapers, a move aimed at halting an Abu Dhabi-backed consortium's bid to buy the Daily Telegraph and Spectator.

Badenoch, who worked as digital director at The Spectator a decade ago, has let it be known she was instrumental behind the scenes in the hardening of the Government position.

'Many Telegraph readers are party members and they have the final say in a leadership contest,' another MP points out. 'If she can show she stopped their newspaper falling into foreign hands that will help her prospects.'

The campaign against Sunak has been given renewed momentum by a bombshell poll that predicted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer could win an unprecedented majority of 250 seats

But will the members have the final say? Over the weekend, some MPs floated the idea of a secret ballot along the lines of a papal conclave in which they would hold a series of knockout votes in a locked room until only one candidate emerged.

It would cut the membership out of the equation. But the 1922 Committee leadership is highly unlikely to approve a change in the rules as, in all but two leadership contests since 2001, the members have been given a vote.

Could Sunak be convinced to resign? Theresa May went a day after the Conservatives came fifth in the 2019 European Parliament elections with only 8.8 per cent of the vote.

The local elections on May 2 are expected to be bad, but not that dire.

One Sunak ministerial loyalist even admitted May 2 would be grim, saying: 'I can't rule out a leadership challenge after May 2.'

If the predicted electoral meltdown does come to pass, Badenoch, with a 27,000 majority in Saffron Walden, will be returned.

Mordaunt, on 16,000 in Portsmouth North, could be out. That's why Mordaunt has the most incentive to act now and why the coronation option will not go away.
The organiser behind the Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow has received support online after claiming his life is 'ruined' in a new Channel 5 documentary.

Billy Coull, director of the House of Illuminati, the company that set up the shockingly bad immersive 'Willy's Chocolate Experience', explained his version of events on Channel 5's Wonka: The Scandal that Rocked Britain.

'My life has been turned around. My life is ruined,' he said in the documentary about the sham event, which has now left viewers shocked by how 'traumatised' he looked.

He continued that he had received 'hundreds and hundreds' of messages online telling him he should end his life, that he is the 'devil', 'a villain' and even a terrible father.

Billy's remorse led viewers to express sympathy with his situation on X, formerly Twitter, claiming that he needs 'support'.

The organiser of the infamous Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow, Billy Coull (pictured), has received support online after claiming that his life is 'ruined' in a Channel 5 docuementary

The Glasgow 'Willy Wonka scam' saw customers shelling out 35 a-head for a chocolate free, AI-generated event.

Billy Coull, who self-published 17 Chat-GPT written novels on Amazon last year, is the director of the House of Illumanati, a company that claims to 'transform ordinary venues into immersive environments that transport guests into a realm of wonder.'

Coull's latest venture the 'Willy's Chocolate Experience' had perhaps the worst opening day ever after furious parents called the police on him due to the quality of his event, with the entrepreneur being forced to admit he had used AI to sell it.

Clarifying his intentions and fighting off allegations of dishonest marketing from the mob, Mr Coull said: 'We guarantee a full refund from Monday. We used artificial intelligence to create some images for the event.'

However on closer inspection, there are many more examples of Coull relying on AI in his career, including on his company website.

The website, which vaguely hints at a variety of unique experiences House of Illumanati can provide (without ever actually specifying how), consists of convoluted AI-generated writing married to AI-generated images.

Mr Coull has a chequered history in the event industry and was previously criticised for cancelling a Santa's grotto event in 2021 after toys and gifts had been donated.

His Gowanbank Hub cancelled the scheduled event due to concerns over the Omicron virus and claims he and his team were 'distraught.'

Parents took their children to the Willy Wonka event expecting a wonderland-style experience, but were quickly disappointed (pictured)

The experience cost 35-per-head but parents were left wanting when they arrived at the event and realised it didn't quite live up to the promises made by the AI-generated adverts

Flanked by two bouncers, Billy Coull (left), the event companies director, was recorded attempting to control the furious crowd

However, the Channel 5 documentary - Wonka: The Scandal that Rocked Britain - appears to have shifted the narrative regarding Coull's intentions.

Coull's declaration that his life is 'ruined' from the flop event led viewers to believe he is 'traumatised' and needs support.

In his defence, Mr Coull said: 'I was hoping for an event that would be joyful and happy. I wanted people to experience happiness.'

One parent said in the documentary: 'I genuinely hope he is ok, and I fear for his mental health and state of mind.'

This concern has been matched online with one user saying: 'I know this was a bad experience and I agree they should get their money back and it's not ok to upset kids, but I genuinely hope Billy is ok, this is someone's mental health and life we are talking about, we say time and time again, be kind, he doesn't deserve death threats.'

Families were left stunned when they arrived and were greeted with a near-empty factory with a few Wonka-themed props and a small bouncy castle

Coull's latest venture the 'Willy's Chocolate Experience' had perhaps the worst opening day ever after furious parents called the police'

Viewers have been left shocked by how 'traumatised' Billy appeared in the documentary

Another wrote on X: 'I'm feeling really uncomfortable watching Billy Coull on the #wonka documentary- the guy is clearly not very well. I hope he has people around him looking after him.'

Another was shocked at what she saw: 'Omg why do I feel sorry for Billy though.'

One user wrote on X: 'I genuinely feel sorry for the organiser because he looks broken.'

Another wrote on X: 'I'm feeling really uncomfortable watching Billy Coull on the #wonka documentary- the guy is clearly not very well. I hope he has people around him looking after him.'

Another was shocked at what she saw: 'Omg why do I feel sorry for Billy though.'

He looked so unwell. I hope the trolls leave him alone and that, in time, he can find a good way to bring his creativity. There didn't seem to be anything malicious or calculated about him; he just seemed out of his depth and in need of support and guidance,' wrote another.

Another wrote: 'We have just watched it too and he did not look good. I think the advisor guy was right. He wasn't a scammer but someone who had big ideas that didn't quite pan out. I hope he has people to support him.'

'Feel sorry for Billy Coull. He's clearly one of those individuals who get ideas above their station. Hope he gets the help he needs,' one wrote.

Another added:' 'I feel bad for Billy Coull, he's remorseful, just shouldn't be involved in businesses! The actors came out on top though, like they didn't know what they were getting into #willywonkaexperience

'After watching that I really hope everyone involved gets their refunds as it was a shambles however I do genuinely worry about Billy Coull though I feel he needs help, hope he gets the help and support needed also and everyone is able to move on from this,' said another.

Tweets from viewers who watched the Channel 5 documentary expressed their concern for Billy Coull

Mr Coull has a chequered history in the event industry and was previously criticised for cancelling a Santa's grotto event in 2021 after toys and gifts had been donated.

His Gowanbank Hub cancelled the scheduled event due to concerns over the Omicron virus and claims he and his team were 'distraught.'

For the cursed Wonka event, Coull turned to AI generated text to conjure up an idyllic image of the event that failed to materialise.

He wrote on the website: 'Delectable Chocolate Fountains.

'Picture yourself standing before cascading chocolate fountains, each velvety stream inviting you to dip, indulge, and savor the richness of Willy Wonka's world.

'These delectable fountains are not just a treat for the taste buds; they're a visual spectacle, creating an atmosphere of chocolatey bliss that permeates the air.

'As we countdown to the day when Willy Wonka's world comes to life, imagine a day filled with laughter, joy, and the irresistible allure of chocolate.

'The immersive delights of this event are poised to create lasting memories and redefine what it means to step into a world of pure imagination.'

Mr Coull has also self-published 17 Chat-GPT written novels on Amazon last year.

On his Amazon author page, Coull describes himself as an 'enigmatic wordsmith hailing from the bustling streets of Glasgow' as well as a 'rising star in the literary world.'

Currently none of Mr Coull's 17 works of fiction, including the tome 'Crimson Eclipse: Chronicles of the Last Dawn' are available to purchase.
The Duchess of York, 64, appeared in high spirits as she left the restaurant

Sarah Ferguson was spotted after dining out at an A-List venue in Marylebone yesterday evening.

The Duchess of York, 64, appeared in high spirits as she exited the celebrity favourite restaurant, Chiltern Firehouse.

The royal beamed towards the camera as she left the luxury hotel and restaurant solo via car.

Sarah has repeatedly put on a cheerful display following her shock skin cancer diagnosis in January, months after being treated for breast cancer. The Mail on Sunday has since revealed there appears to be no spread of her skin cancer following surgery.

The mother-of-two opted for a chic yet stylish outfit for the occasion and donned a light blue tweed-pattern blazer and matching skirt.

The Duchess of York appeared cheerful as she left Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone after dinner yesterday evening

Sarah added a touch of glamour to her outfit with a pair of sparkling diamante encrusted hoop earrings.

She wore her auburn tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a natural makeup look.

Chiltern Firehouse has long been a royal favourite but also boasts numerous celebrity fans. It was also the scene of Princess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi's glamorous 2019 engagement party.

Other famous diners include pop sensation Dua Lipa, The Wolf of Wall Street star Leonardo DiCaprio and model Lottie Moss.

The upmarket restaurant is described on its website as offering 'a fresh menu of reimagined classics and bold new flavours, emphasising seasonality and healthy eating.'

The menu includes a choice of four different types of caviar, including Beluga Imperial caviar for an eye-watering 500 for just 30g, and Oscietra caviar for a slightly less expensive, 180 for just 30g.

Other options include an octopus starter for 24, an 800g Angus Rib-eye steak for 160, or a whole roasted native lobster for 90.

It comes after the Duchess of York appeared to offer Christian Horner some wise words as they caught up at the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month.

The royal looked chic as she left the establishment via car in a baby blue tweed-pattern blazer and matching skirt

The Red Bull boss, 50, has been at the centre of a scandal this week after flirtatious WhatsApp messages he apparently sent to a female colleague were leaked online - days after he was cleared of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.

At the Grand Prix, Christian and his wife Geri, 51, put on a united front as they arrived hand-in-hand before exchanging a kiss in front of the cameras.

Zara and Mike Tindall, Peter Phillips, the Duchess of York and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank were also in the crowd to watch Red Bull secure first and second place in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Following their win, Sarah Ferguson, Princess Eugenie and Jack walked down to the track to congratulate the Red Bull team on their success.

The Duchess of York, who has faced her fair share of scandals during her time in the spotlight, appeared to be having a lively conversation with Christian as he listened in closely.

The Duchess dined at the Chiltern Firehouse - an exclusive hotel and restaurant in Marylebone, London (pictured March 2024 in Melbourne)

At one point, Sarah put a reassuring hand on Christian's arm as they exchanged some brief words.

The F1 boss then greeted Princess Eugenie, 33, by giving the royal a quick peck on the cheek.

After their brief conversation, Sarah placed a reassuring hand on Christian's torso as they parted.

For the event, Eugenie was wearing a black floral midi dress by All Saints with cheer floaty sleeves. Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson opted for a light blue Gucci jacket and black trousers.

Later in the evening, Mike and Zara Tindall and her brother Peter Phillips also appeared on the racetrack to pose next to winner Max Verstappen's car.

The mother-of-three wore a white blazer by ME+EM, a miniature black leather clutch bag by Aspinal and some Superga white trainers.
The Wsshington-born Euphoria star has proven her style prowess in recent times

She's dominated television screens across the globe, but now she's proving herself elsewhere - on the red carpet.

Sydney Sweeney, from Washington, hit the ground running after her big break as Cassie in HBO's Euphoria.

There's no doubt that the 26-year-old puts on a stellar theatrical performance - whether it's as Olivia in White Lotus or Bea in Anyone But You.

But Sydney has quickly flourished in another creative domain with her often-avant-garde, sometimes historical, but always elegant, red carpet looks.

From this week's sculptured top made entirely from white flowers at the Immaculate premiere to her Oscars 2024 recreation of Angelina Jolie's 2004 look at the same event, Sydney has demonstrated a keen eye for style.

With a series of bombshell red carpet looks, including yesterday evening's at the Immaculate premiere, Sydney Sweeney has proven her worth in the world of fashion

In 2020, Sydney asserted her worth in the world of fashion at HBO's Euphoria Season two photo call.

The actress stepped out in a custom two-piece oyster white top and skirt set with opera gloves from Miu Miu.

She continued her streak with Prada's sister brand at the Vanity Fairy Oscar's 2022 after-party.

Dressed to the nines, the actress exuded elegance in a floor-length gown with a diamante encrusted top.

That same year, Sydney showed she could work with themes and arrived on the red carpet for the 2022 'Gilded Glamour' Met Gala in a Tory Burch gown with a peplum waist.

Elsewhere, the Madame Web actress proved she's not afraid to stand out from the crowd and arrived at the LACMA Art and Film Festival in Los Angeles 2022 in a 3D pink mini dress adorned in plush roses.

It was an attitude she later embraced at the 2023 Met Gala. Sydney followed the theme - Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, with statement bows throughout her attire, but added drama with a mermaid-shaped, jewel-encrusted gown.

Perhaps her most show stopping moment was at this year's Oscars 2022, where she embraced Angelina Jolie's 2004 Oscars gown to the event 20 years later.

The 26-year-old stunned in a two piece at the premiere of Euphoria season 2 in Los Angeles in 2022

Sydney Sweeney arrived at the 2022 Met Gala in style. The Hollywood star stunned in a Tory Burch gown with peplum waist

Sydney Sweeney proved her style prowess at last year's Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty met gala

Sydney Sweeney attended the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a lilac gown with a jewel encrusted top half

In a touching nod to Angelina's style prowess, the Euphoria star replicated her 76th Annual Academy Awards look from 2004.

The Old Hollywood Marc Bouwer cream gown cemented Angelina's status as a fashion icon in the early 2000s.

Some 20 years later, Sydney followed Angelina's footsteps and modelled the glamorous plunging halter neckline at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills yesterday evening.

Sydney recreated the bombshell look with the gown, matching shawl and accessories with a similar collection of layered pendant necklaces.

With the help of hair and makeup, Sydney managed to add her own touch to the archival look.

The White Lotus alum previously rocked her usual long, blonde tresses when she recently hosted Saturday Night Live.

For the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Sydney changed it up and showcased a darker honey-blonde colour and her shoulder-length bob styled in bouncy waves.

Sydney put on a bold display at the LACMA Art and Film Festival in Los Angeles 2022 in a 3D pink mini dress adorned in plush roses

Sydney Sweeney paid homage to Jolie's glamorous look from 2004 and donned the same Marc Bouwer gown

Angelina Jolie's bombshell red carpet look from the 76th Academy Awards in 2004 made a reappearance on the red carpet

To accessorize, the Euphoria star highlighted her decolletage with layers of brilliant pendant necklaces, further echoing Jolie's 2004 look

Sydney oozed glamour as she posed on the red carpet in the backless gown once worn by Angelina

The style differed from Angelina's 2004 red carpet look, which saw the then 29-year-old's long locks run loose.

With the incredible look, Sydney joined Angelina, 48, and the many A-list bombshells recognized for their red carpet outfits and graced many best-dressed lists.

And yesterday, Sydney continued to wow with her red carpet look at the premiere of her new film, Immaculate, in Los Angeles.

The blonde bombshell once again stunned as she went braless under an avant-garde white top which resembled a sculpture of hands, flowers, plants, and fruits.

The unusual floral ensemble featured two floating white arms embracing her waistline.

The striking effect, paired with flowing black trousers, was of hands cradling flowers and fruit to protect her modesty.

Joking about her off-beat fashion style, Ms Sweeney said: 'That's the fun thing about all of this, it's like playing dress-up. It's boring to do the same thing again.'

Sydney Sweeney has made quite a habit of rocking head turning looks on the red carpet, including yesterday's 3D top

The striking effect, paired with flowing black trousers, was of hands cradling flowers and fruit

Sydney Sweeney's grandmother is an extra in her new film 'Immaculate' and plays a nun

Despite testing the waters with different styles, one thing remains constant in Sydney's outfits - seamlessly dressing for her body type.

The star, who has a larger chest, manages to find outfits that perfectly complement her stunning top-heavy figure.

The sultry superstar impressed fans when she hit the People's Choice Awards red carpet in a plunging custom Monot crimson gown that perfectly flattered her figure - and she made an equally stylish splash when she hosted Saturday Night Live.

The Madame Web actress has mastered the art of showing off tasteful decolletage - and to find out how to flatter your figure like the sultry star, FEMAIL spoke to a style expert to find out what tips can be taken from Sydney's personal wardrobe line-up.

The Euphoria actress is styled by Molly Dickson, who also works with Hollywood's hottest fashionistas, like Lucy Hale, Ariana Greenblatt, Camila Mendes, Lana Del Rey, and more.

Sydney has mastered the art of showing off tasteful decolletage with her red carpet fashion choices

Sydney also teased her SNL appearance, alongside Kacey Musgraves and Heidi Gardner, in a red corset with a white button-down underneath to show off a cinched waist

Sydney teased her Saturday Night Live appearance in a sultry red corset paired with matching opera gloves

For women who are top heavy, it can feel slightly impossible to find a well-fitting ensemble, but Sydney Sweeney could offer a master class in dressing for her body

But even if you don't have a celebrity stylist at your disposal, there are ways to emulate Sweeney's style, according to experts.

Karen Poirier founded Embrago in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and creates designs with built-in support that are meant to support larger busts, ranging from DD to L, making her an expert in dressing with a larger chest.

She told FEMAIL that simple silhouettes were best, recommending sheath dresses because the fit through the torso accentuates the waist and curves without adding any unnecessary bulk.

For taller women, Karen suggests longer hemlines and A-line silhouettes.

'The most flattering neckline by far is a V-neck,' she continued. 'An open square neck or deep scoop neck can work well, too.'

If you want to mix it up, Karen said: 'Go sleeveless or opt for an unembellished fitted jacket that cleanly hugs the lines of your bust while reserving detail and drama for the sleeves.'

The founder warned against wearing a tunic or 'anything loose, draped, ruffled, or bulky at the bustline or shoulders.'

Avec Les Filles creative directors Bradley Mounce and Sofia Wahlberg told FEMAIL: 'For so long, people with larger busts have been told they should only wear certain silhouettes, but if you limit yourself to one shape, you'll feel boxed in and constantly feel like you're in a style rut.'

'The most important thing is fit. Clothing that fits well through the shoulders, bust, arms, and waist is crucial,' the influencer-beloved brand's creative directors continued.

Make sure to find a good tailor, as they said, 'The power of good alterations cannot be overstated - often, a small tweak here and there can take a piece from boxy to flattering.'

'Start with a good foundation and build from there,' the creative directors continued, suggesting seamless lingerie and modern corsets to 'provide structure and support.'

When it comes to channeling Sydney, they're all for it, calling her a 'style chameleon' who 'effortlessly slays in everything she wears, whether it's on the street or red carpet.'

'She loves Miu Miu and has a proclivity for tailored silhouettes. She keeps everything feminine and youthful by embracing soft pastels, bright colors, and bold texture,' they praised.

'She also thinks about other body parts she can accentuate, like her legs, so she's often seen wearing high-waisted skirts and pants that create a more elongated silhouette.'
Robyn Davis, from West Sussex, said she is mentally serving a 'life sentence'

A mother who woke up from a coma after giving birth has recalled the heartbreak of waking up with a flat stomach and no sign of her baby.

Former midwife Robyn Davis, 28, from Steyning, West Sussex, was put in a coma after having a 20-minute seizure while in labour with her second child, Orlando.

Three days later, Robyn woke with no recollection of her birthing experience. She told the Mirror: 'I touched my stomach and it was flat, I just screamed 'Where's my baby?' I couldn't remember what had happened, I was just screaming and crying, I didn't know if I had had a boy or a girl.'

Orlando passed away at 20 days old. Robyn and her partner Jonny Davis, 30, have recalled the unthinkable experience in an inquest into the death of Orlando.

The inquest concluded on Thursday and found that medical neglect contributed to the newborn's death after his mother developed hyponatremia during labour, which went unidentified.

Robyn Davies holding Orlando, who was born by emergency caesarean section at Worthing Hospital on September 10 2021, but tragically died 14 days later

Robyn started labour at home and later travelled to the hospital. Once there, she became unwell and was incoherent.

Robyn started to experience delusions and hallucinations, meaning she could not give consent to a Caesarean before suffering a 20-minute seizure.

She suffered from a rare condition called hyponatraemia, which went undiagnosed at the time, and Jonny was told that she might not survive. Robyn was induced into a coma.

Orlando was born lifeless via Caesarean but was resuscitated after 20 minutes and transferred to a different hospital to be cared for by specialists.

Following the traumatic birthing experience, Jonny was kept in the dark about the condition of his wife or newborn child.

After Robyn woke up from the coma, she and Jonny travelled to Brighton Hospital to see their son.

It was then that the couple discovered he had cerebral palsy, was paralysed from the neck down, and was without a suck-and-swallow reflex. Multiple specialists told Robyn and Jonny that it was not in his best interest to keep him alive.

The couple told the Mirror that they were thankful to be able to take Orlando to Brighton Beach - their 'only good memories with him'. Orlando passed away the next day, aged 14 days.

An inquest delved into the care Robyn received and found medical neglect contributed to Orlando's death. The coroner found that the missed diagnosis of Robyn's condition led to her seizures, meaning Orlando had restricted oxygen access, resulting in his irreversible brain injury.

Robyn suffered from a rare condition called hyponatraemia and suffered delusions and hallucinations after going into labour

After being born, Orlando (pictured) was transferred to Brighton hospital to be cared for by specialists

Talking of the heartbreak, Robyn and Jonny have spoken of how they are living a 'life sentence' as they called for more openness in the health service.

WHAT IS HYPONATREMIA? Hyponatremia occurs when somebody's blood sodium levels are abnormally low. Sodium regulates the amount of water in and around people's cells. Hyponatremia causes the sodium in people's bodies to dilute, which leads to a rise in water levels and swollen cells. Symptoms may include: Nausea and vomiting

Headache

Confusion

Lose of energy and dizziness

Muscle weakness, cramps or spasms

Seizures

Coma Causes can include drinking too much water, particularly during endurance events when sodium is lost through sweat. Other causes may include taking certain medications, like antidepressants, as well as heart failure, extreme vomiting or taking the recreational drug Ecstasy. Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause, if possible. In non-serious cases this may include people altering their diets to include less water. Severe cases may require IV fluids to slowly raise sodium levels in people's blood. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement

Orlando's parents have criticised the response by the health authorities for taking too long to investigate their son's death, which they fear could put other babies and their mothers at risk.

Mrs Davis, 28, who retrained to work in early years education said: 'I ended up in a coma and I was put in a coma for about three days.

'When I woke up, Jonny told me about what had happened and from that moment onwards my mental health has never been the same.

'We both got diagnosed with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and from a mental health point of view, we've never been the same people since it's happened. I've never been able to return to work.'

Mr Davis, 30, said: 'Myself and Robyn have been served a life sentence. No matter what the coroner deems it as, when the coronial process finishes, people go back to their jobs, people go back to their families.

'And we will come back to ours but we will come back to... one that will never be complete.'

He continued: 'We've always been a couple that plan to have a large family which we will always feel, no matter how many children, we will always feel that it's not complete.

'We still have a room in our home that is Orlando's room that will never be used for anything else.

'And it does feel like there's this vacuum and void that will never be filled. We have our newest child Nova, we adore her, and there's people who think 'Oh, well you know, they've had another child now, I'm sure that solved all of their problems', and that's not the case.'

Mrs Davis added: 'You can never move on from it because you'll hit milestones in their life and you think, 'Oh, they'll be at this age, they'll be doing that' or, 'Oh by now maybe we would have grandkids when we're older' and it's never-ending, it is definitely a lifelong sentence for sure.'

Mrs Davis added that she had stopped working with children because she found it difficult to be around young boys following Orlando's death.

She added that she still suffers a range of health issues as a result of the injuries she suffered during his birth.

Mrs Davis, a trained midwife, accused her ex-colleagues of negligence over the death of her newborn son Orlando

The couple said that they had been frustrated by the health system and the coronial process following Orlando's death which had led to them fighting for a full inquest to be held.

Mr Davis said: 'As the family, at every turn, whether it's the coronial process, whether it's a possible negligence investigation, you're actually continuously subservient to a process that you feel is drawn out and actually just continues to elongate the pain and turmoil that you're going through.

'We spent two-and-a-half years in purgatory waiting for accountability and we sit there and go 'Well, in the last two-and-a-half years, what do we think the odds are that another circumstance may have occurred and the public have been at risk?'''

Following the inquest's conclusion, the couple said they are joining calls for a national public inquiry into maternity care in England.

In a statement, they said: 'What scares us, is that this is not an isolated incident and we know of many other families going through this same agony.'

Commenting after the inquest, chief nurse Maggie Davies from University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Worthing Hospital, said: 'We wish to offer our sincere condolences to Orlando's family once more for the unimaginable heartache and distress caused by the loss of their baby boy.

'As the coroner noted in her findings, hyponatremia is an extremely rare condition which is little understood. We support her view that there is an urgent need for new national guidelines.

'This tragedy has deeply affected everyone involved in the family's care, and led directly to us introducing new guidance and training within our maternity service.'

Orlando was the second child of graphic designer Jonny Davis, 30 and 28 year old Mrs Davis, of Steyning, West Sussex - who have since had another baby (both pictured)

It comes after the midwife who helped deliver Orlando, who died two weeks after an emergency C-section, said she was not concerned because she thought the mother was 'hypno-birthing', an inquest has heard.

Robyn claimed she 'never felt safe' and concerns about her labour going wrong were repeatedly brushed aside during her home birth.

Mrs Davis, a trained midwife, accused her ex-colleagues of negligence over the death of her newborn son Orlando.

It was heard that her 'birth plan' did not include the increasingly popular breathing technique for pain management, hypno-birthing.

However, Gillian Goodwin, who was one of those who cared for Mrs Davis during the birth, said her behaviour was similar to mothers who use it, so she did not think the mother was in difficulty.

However, Mrs Davis ended up having to be rushed by ambulance to hospital, but had 'no-one' waiting for her when she arrived, the inquest was told. Ms Davis suffered seizures which led to her being placed in a coma.

The previously healthy baby boy tragically passed away just two weeks after being born by emergency caesarian section on September 10, 2021, despite it being initially assessed as a 'low risk' pregnancy.

The baby was born in September 2021 and died two weeks later

Ms Goodwin said that during the labour she had been worried about baby Orlando's heart rate.

READ MORE: Midwife whose newborn baby died at NHS hospital where she had worked after home birth went wrong accuses former colleagues of negligence Advertisement

'I was just really concerned the baby was not very happy and I didn't know why,' she told the inquest.

When asked what hypno-birthing was, she said: 'It is a technique that some women choose to use to help through the process of giving birth.'

Ms Goodwin told the hearing she had looked through Mrs Davis' birth plan - where there was no mention of using the technique.

'It doesn't say specifically that she wants to hypno-birth,' she said.

However, she added: 'She was acting like somebody who was hypno-birthing.

'It's all about the breathing technique.'

Orlando was the second child of graphic designer Jonny Davis, 30 and 28 year old Mrs Davis, of Steyning, West Sussex - who have since had another baby.

In light of his death, it has been alleged that there was a failure to monitor the 'fluid consumption and urine output' of Mrs Davis during labour.

At Chichester Coroner's Court, Wiltshire, Ms Goodwin - who has worked as a midwife for 17 years - said she arrived at the Davis' household at around 5pm on September 9, 2021.

Throughout the early stages, she said Mrs Davis was 'acting like a normal person in labour'.

Father Jonny is pictured hugging Orlando in the hospital

However, as the labour progressed with little progress, Mrs Davis 'became demoralised' until things deteriorated and it was decided she should be transferred to hospital.

Mrs Davis claimed her concerns about the baby's position and fluid consumption were ignored.

The hearing was told Mrs Davis was 'blue-lighted' via ambulance to Worthing Hospital, West Sussex, but nobody was waiting for them when they arrived.

Ms Goodwin said she had to go inside and fetch members of staff to start treating Mrs Davis.

She insisted she had not told a fellow midwife that Mrs Davis was using the technique during a handover of her care at the hospital.

Despite this, the inquest previously heard the midwife told a dazed Mrs Davis she was sorry and felt as if it was her fault when she woke up - 'because I just thought you were hypno-birthing'.

The solicitors of Robyn and Jonny also claim there was 'a basic lack of safe maternity care' provided for Orlando and his mother by NHS staff.

A spokesman for CL Medilaw previously told the inquest medics had 'failed' to monitor Mrs Davis's fluid consumption and urine output during labour 'despite identified concerns'.

They claim this caused the mother to have a seizure and require an emergency caesarean section to deliver Orlando, who was starved of oxygen and suffered fatal brain damage as a result.

Mrs Davis told the hearing she had previously worked as a midwife at the hospital but left because of 'stress, poor staffing and lack of support' for the midwifery team.

The couple's solicitor said they had been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of their experience

She said she had opted for a home birth with a birthing pool following the advice of her midwife.

Mrs Davis felt she had not been listened to by the midwives when she raised concerns about her fluid intake and the position of the baby.

She said: 'I proceeded to keep saying 'Something is wrong'. It felt like I was trapped, that, although I knew I was declining so rapidly, I was unable to think how I could help myself, such as asking to go to hospital.

'Every time I said something was wrong the midwives never investigated this further.'

A spokesman for CL Medilaw previously said: 'Robyn has been left with chronic ongoing health issues, and both her and Jonny have been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of their horrendous experience.'
Around 1,400 women will die if Chancellor Jeremy Hunt fails to end the postcode lottery on a devastating bone disease that affects millions.

MPs, peers and top doctors are calling on Mr Hunt to provide 30 million of funding for early detection of osteoporosis. Experts say the measure would pay for itself many times over.

Campaigners hoped he would stump up the cash in this month's Budget to install Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) in every NHS trust in England and Wales.

But Mr Hunt turned a deaf ear to pleas to roll it out across the UK. That will cost up to 1,400 lives, say experts at the Royal Osteoporosis Society charity.

Campaigners say his inaction will also result in 39 million of wasted costs in the NHS and social care.

Around 1,400 women will die if Chancellor Jeremy Hunt fails to end the postcode lottery on a devastating bone disease that affects millions

MPs, peers and top doctors are calling on Mr Hunt to provide 30 million of funding for early detection of osteoporosis

When a patient aged over 50 turns up at A&E with a broken bone, they are referred to an FLS if one is available, which will assess them for osteoporosis.

Those with the disease can then be offered treatment.

Although FLS is available in all of the NHS trusts in Scotland and Northern Ireland, they are only in just over half of trusts in England and Wales.

The Mail on Sunday's War On Osteoporosis campaign is endorsed by the presidents of seven Medical Royal Colleges, 43 charities and by social networking sites Mumsnet and Gransnet. It is also backed by business organisations and trade unions.

A growing list of 270 politicians from the major parties also back us.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett said the failure to fund FLS was a false economy because, without it, thousands of people would suffer agonising fractures before being diagnosed.

'By doing nothing . . . Ministers have chosen the most expensive option,' he added.

Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, called on the Government to take urgent steps to fight the disease.
Up to 20,000 diagnoses of prostate cancer could have been missed during the pandemic, research suggests.

Analysis of 24million patient records since 2020 found tens of thousands of men have missed potentially life-saving cancer diagnoses.

The study by the University of Surrey and the University of Oxford said there was 'unprecedented disruption' in the diagnosis of cancer with a drop in urgent referrals from GPs, caused by difficulties accessing care and longer waiting times.

They analysed prostate cancer incidence between January 2015 and July 2023 using data representing 40 per cent of the country. This revealed a 31 per cent drop in diagnoses of prostate cancer in 2020 and 18 per cent in 2021, returning to normal in 2022.

Analysis of 24million patient records since 2020 found tens of thousands of men have missed potentially life-saving cancer diagnoses (Stock Image)

When extrapolated across the country, there were 19,800 fewer cases, according to the findings published in the British Journal of Urology International.

Lead author Dr Agnieszka Lemanska, of the University of Surrey, said: 'Understandably, during the pandemic, resources and attention in healthcare systems shifted towards preventing and managing the virus.

'It is important that we learn the lessons from the pandemic. However, to do this, we need to understand the scale of how diagnosis rates were impacted during this time.'
During the last weekend in July of 1963 a tall, well-dressed man stepped into a gallery in Londons West End to view an exhibition of sketches by Stephen Ward, society osteopath and painter.

In what was described as a lightning transaction, the stranger walked round the exhibition, selected every portrait of the Royal Family on sale, paid 5040 for them in five pound notes - the equivalent of 87,000 today - and took them away, declining to give a name.

The pictures have never been seen since.

If the identity of the smartly-dressed connoisseur remains a mystery, strong suspicions abound. And with good reason.

Dr Stephen Ward, society osteopath and key figure in the Profumo affair, on his way to trial at the Old Bailey in July 1963

Stephen Ward leaves a hearing at Marylebone Magistrates Court in London, in police custody, bound for Brixton Prison

Sir Anthony Blunt, British art historian and Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, with a painting by Velazquez. He was later exposed as a former Soviet spy

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: a portrait from The Life by Stephen Ward. The original of this image was snapped up by a mystery purchaser at the height of the Profumo scandal

For the artist, Stephen Ward, was a central figure in the Profumo scandal that held government, high society and the public prints in thrall through much of 1963.

Was royalty, too, paying close attention to the court room drama?

Unquestionably so, if, as many believe, the art-lover in Holborn was none other than Anthony Blunt, the distinguished Surveyor of the Queens Pictures.

Was Blunt on a mission to protect senior members of the Royal Family from association with Ward, whose sensational trial for living off the immoral earnings of goodtime girls Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies was gripping the post-war public?

Was he, in particular, attempting to save the reputation of Prince Philip and erase any public sign of a louche, party-going lifestyle more suited to a dissolute bachelor than the prince consort of a Queen?

The Palace has long denied any connection to the events of that weekend, but the rumours and the mystery persist.

Philip certainly had been in contact with Ward on a number of occasions and had even been sketched by the artist at Buckingham Palace. Now, thanks to the mystery purchaser, this and other drawings had conveniently disappeared.

The sale of Wards paintings at Museum Street Galleries made front page news for more than a week in late July 1963 and interest reached fever pitch when the 12 royal painting were made to vanish so suddenly, although this was more a tribute to the extraordinary impact of Profumo case than the artist's skill with pastels, talented though he was.

As a friend and confidante to the great and the good, for example, the osteopath was an unlikely associate of Christine Keeler or her friend Mandy Rice Davies.

There was nothing remotely privileged about Christine, who grew up in converted railway carriages on the edge of a gravel pit at Wraysbury in Berkshire.

Yet she found herself living with Ward - in a non-sexual relationship - both at his London apartment in London and at his weekend cottage on the grounds of the Cliveden estate, home to the 3rd Viscount Astor.

It was at one of many Cliveden pool parties that Ward fatefully introduced Keeler to John Profumo, the Secretary of State for War, and his wife, the actress Valerie Hobson. Keeler embarked a short affair with Profumo which lasted for most of 1961.

There matters might have rested but for the fact that Keeler also claimed to have slept with a man called Yevgeny Ivanov, the Soviet naval attache - a potential security risk.

With rumours of his own affair becoming steadily more widespread, Profumo felt obliged to deny it in the House of Commons in March 1963, a lie which sealed his fate. Famously caught out, he resigned the following June.

Thanks to his association with Keeler, meanwhile, Ward faced police charges of immorality. Keeler was neither a prostitute nor an escort, but certainly did live off the generosity of wealthy men - and attitudes, then, were censorious.

Two days later, Ward was arrested and formally charged with living off immoral earnings - a charge for which, however louche he might have been, there was little evidence.

Was it really Anthony Blunt who bought Wards royal portraits and made them vanish so effectively? The Netflix drama, The Crown, has claimed as much in earlier episodes.

A description of the purchaser as tall, slightly stooped, aged about 60 and elegantly dressed certainly fits the bill.

This came from the co-director of the gallery, Freddie Read. Blunt would have been in his late 50s at the time, was memorably tall, gangly, gaunt and always impeccably suited.

(Blunt had troubles of his own and would soon be unmasked as former member of the Cambridge Five spying for the Soviet Union. In keeping with the times, the news was not shared with the public and the rest of us only found out when, as a new Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher name Blunt in the House of Commons in 1979.)

What, then, of Prince Philip?

However outlandish it might seem, the Duke of Edinburgh might well have met Ward, perhaps even professionally, as the artist was an osteopath (specialising in the manipulation of bones and joints) to the great and good including Winston Churchill, Paul Getty, Anthony Eden and Elizabeth Taylor.

Ward had treated several people known to Philip including Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra and Danny Kaye as well as King Peter of Yugoslavia who was married to the Duke's first cousin, Alexandra of Greece.

Ward and the Duke went to the same parties in the decade from the late 40s to the late 50s. One memorable occasion was a lavish ball hosted by the actor Douglas Fairbanks Jnr on 18 June 1957 for the coming out of his daughter Daphne, which was held at Cliveden.

It was the evening of the first day of Royal Ascot and the Queen resplendent in a white satin crinoline and wearing a pearl and diamond tiara was accompanied by Philip and Princess Margaret

In her autobiography Christine Keeler went so far as to claim that Ward treated Philip at a patient.

In his own memoirs found after his suicide, Ward claims Philip had attended at least one of his parties at Cavendish Square accompanied by 'a very attractive girl called Mitzi Taylor.'

Biographer Philip Knightley goes into detail about Philip arriving with a Canadian model, this time called Maxie Taylor at the home of Fleet Street artist and cartoonist Arthur Ferrier on New Year's Eve 1946.

The anecdote ends with Jon Pertwee (later the third incarnation of Doctor Who) threatening to kick Philip's backside for interrupting his singing, at which point Ward intervenes mentioning the forthcoming royal wedding.

Here things start to unravel, if only just a little. Since it supposedly took place six months before the engagement of Philip and Elizabeth was announced, this particular story can be readily discounted.

Equally risible is the claim that Philip was the 'Man in the Mask' who had served dinner to Ward's guests wearing only a lace apron.

Naturally this legend spread like wildfire through London's chattering classes. A new magazine called Private Eye, just then getting into its stride as a scourge of the Establishment, labelled the Duke 'the Naked waiter'.

Nonetheless, when Macmillan gave voice to private fears that 'the tide of gossip might even lap around the Royal Family, he was not alone.'

If Prince Philip did dine at Stephen Ward's apartment it would be neither the first time he unwittingly socialised with shady characters nor the last.

On a visit to Cairo in January 1950, for example, Philip was invited to a party at the home of Donald Maclean, another of the Cambridge Five. They joined 14 other guests for a meal before ending the evening with a series of riotous games including 'Murder.'

Maclean's fellow Soviet spy, Kim Philby, attended one of the regular Thursday Club lunches in Soho, a boozy affair at which Philip was guest of honour. Stephen Ward was also invited a few times, Philip's Private Secretary, Michael Parker, who was also present, thought there was something unsavoury about Philby and gave him a wide berth.

One date on which the prince and Ward indisputably met and spoke to each other was June 9, 1961 when Philip sat for the artist at Buckingham Palace.

By then, the osteopath was using his high society client list as a springboard for a new career as a portrait artist.

Ward had impressive access and went on to sketch famous names including the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and actress Sophia Loren. There had been an exhibition of his work in July 1960.

Asked to produce sketches for the Illustrated London News, he sat down with eight members of the royal family between March and July 1961, an amazing opportunity for a relatively unknown artist. Quite how he achieved such a commission is unclear.

In his unpublished memoirs, Ward claims to have been delighted that the Duke of Edinburgh remembered him from the Cavendish Square party and recognised him:

By Jove, says Philip  according to Ward - You're the osteopath. I never connected you with this appointment.

They went on to talk about 'the old days, polo and the fact that he had a rare condition called rider's bone in the thigh.'

In the time allotted to him, Ward was able to produce a second charcoal and pastel sketch which was less formal than the one on sale at the Museum Galleries. This second one, which had taken 40 minutes, according to the inscription he added at the bottom, was given to a female friend and was auctioned at Christies in October 2011, realising 6,000 .

Ward went on to sketch the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent ('he had a strange and difficult face'; her aunt, Princess Marina (the most difficult to capture. The mouth is ever so slightly askew); her sister, Princess Margaret (the most difficult face') and her uncle, the Duke of Gloucester (an interesting Hanoverian face.)

Not everyone thinks these pictures were bought by Blunt.

Frederick Read, who arranged the exhibition and sale of Wards art at the Museum Galleries, claimed to believe that the purchases had been funded by Canadian newspaper magnate Roy Thomson, who had recently purchased The Sunday Times. Thomson was elevated to the peerage 'for public works' in the following New Year's Honours List.

There are important caveats, too, when it comes to the connection between Ward and Prince Philip. Ward was branded a 'notoriously unreliable witness at his trial.

Even some of his own friends labelled him a fantasist.

Princess Margaret, as drawn from life by Stephen Ward, at a sitting specially granted to the Illustrated London News in 1961

Dr Stephen Ward, Osteopath and artist at work on one of his portraits

Christine Keeler (right) and Mandy Rice-Davies leavethe Old Bailey after the conclusion of the first day's hearing of the trial of Dr Ward

British Minister of War John Profumo retuns home after admitting an affair with Christine Keeler, June 18, 196

A portrait of Christine Keeler taken in the early 1960s

Keeler, meanwhile, was famously erratic, claiming, for example, that her friend Stephen Ward: 'had no time for Philip and would always put him down in conversation for he hated the establishment.' This simply wasnt true.

Yet most writers have identified the purchaser as Blunt, including the late Queen's biographer Sarah Bradford, who claims the Surveyor of the Queens Pictures 'quietly bought them to save the royal family embarrassment.'

Investigative journalists Barrie Penrose and Simon Freeman have also named Blunt, citing Arthur Martin, former head of DI the elite section of M15 with responsibility for Soviet counter-espionage. According to Penrose and Freeman, Martin specifically recalled how the Queen's private secretary, Michael Adeane, had asked Blunt if he would perform a discreet favour and buy the royal sketche.

Stephen Ward's trial was set for the end of July 1963. To raise money for his defence the osteopath-artist decided to sell 145 of his sketches of society figures, film stars and royalty at the Museum Galleries. Prices ranged from 35 to 500 guineas with the royal portraits at the highest amount.

Interest was phenomenal and The Times reported 'chaotic scenes' at the press preview on the 22nd and 'when Miss Marilyn Rice-Davies [Mandy's true birth name] looked in there was pandemonium.'

It was four or five days later that the mysterious 'well-dressed man' had entered the gallery and swept up the royal pictures.

Yet for the artist, catastrophe beckoned. On 30 July the judge, Sir Archie Marshall gave a summing up so damning that Ward returned home and took an overdose of barbiturates. He died in hospital on 3 August, having been found guilty in absentia.

The first the public knew of the vague links between the Duke and scandal was a banner headline in the Daily Mirror on 24 June 1963. Having its cake yet determined to eat it, the Mirror astounded its readers with the legend, 'Prince Philip and the Profumo Scandal' above a subheading  in much smaller print size - 'Rumour is Utterly Unfounded.'

The immediate source was a Mr J W Salt, the Conservative agent for Walsall South had told a party meeting: there is now a rumour floating around the country that a member of the Royal Family is involved with this lady.

Neither the Mirror nor Mr Salt explained what 'the foulest rumour' might have been.

Missing Model - Profumo Speaks: the Evening Standard front page for 22 March 1963

John Profumo and his actress wife Valerie Hobson at the height of the scandal

Ward introduced Keeler to John Profumo at a pool party at Cliveden, home to Lord Astor

Captain Yevgeny Ivanov, A Soviet naval attache at the Russian Embassy in London, pictured here with his wife in the late 1950s. He became enmeshed with the Profumo scandal after it was claimed that he had slept with Christine Keeler

Dr Stephen Ward, society osteopath, is rushed to St Stephen's Hospital on July 31

John Profumo was obliged to leave politics after he was caught lying to the House of Commons

Profumo arrives at the House in October 1962

Christine Keeler on her way to the Old Bailey. Keeler was for a while the mistress of Minister for War, John Profumo. It was also claimed that she had slept with the Soviet naval attache, thereby posing a security risk

Christine Keeler arrives at the Old Bailey, London, 1963

Mandy Rice-Davies after giving evidence in the vice trial of osteopath Dr Stephen Ward

Mandy Rice-Davies leaves the Old Bailey after testifying in the trial of Dr Stephen Ward

The Duke of Edinburgh chats with Hollywood star Rhonda Fleming at a dinner at the Empress Club in 1951

The first official picture after the announcement of the engagement of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, the former Prince Philip of Greece, at Buckingham Palace

And, when it comes to the mysterious purchase of Stephen Wards art we, too, remain in the dark  not least because some of the official documents relating to Ward and Profumo documents are not set to be released until January 2064. Perhaps they will contain nothing at all  as is sometimes the case.

We can, though, be clear about this: an old world of deference was fast draining away. It was openly claimed, for example, that the new Queen was surrounded by an 'entourage of tweedy courtiers'.

Harold Macmillans government of Eton and Oxbridge toffs would soon give way to the Labour ministry of grammar school educated, pipe-smoking, Harold Wilson who supposedly had his finger on the pulse of the Swinging Sixties.

After years of war, then rationing and austerity, people were ready for a change. The whiff of scandal was spreading across the land  and even the Palace was taking note.
He was allowed on campus despite being a known sex offender

EXCLUSIVE

A 15-year-old boy who allegedly has a 'disturbing infatuation' with sexual violence has been charged with sexually assaulting another male student, prompting questions about why he was allowed to attend a special needs school.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal alarming claims of a child protection failure by the NSW Department of Education, after Jacob* was charged with sexually assaulting another Year 9 boy, Tom*, between July and September last year.

NSW Police allege the assaults allegedly occurred both on and off school grounds and came after Jacob befriended Tom, who has autism, on Snapchat and began bombarding him with sexually explicit images.

Jacob then allegedly performed sex acts on Tom - so sickening they cannot be detailed in print - and whipped him across the back five times with a rope, a police fact sheet tendered in children's court said.

A teenage boy, 15, with a history of child sex offences has been charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a schoolmate on campus

Police will allege Jacob's behaviour towards Tom took a massive toll on both the boy and his family, and that when Tom tried to distance himself from the friendship, Jacob threatened to self-harm.

In court documents, NSW Police allege that Jacob is a repeat child sex offender, with a history of 'continually displaying unsolicited and unwanted sexual (offending) toward other people without their consent.

'The young person has a disturbing infatuation for (inflicting) sexual conduct upon others and himself,' the document claimed.

'(He also) displays violence towards his victims when they do not comply with his demands.'

How police investigation took shape

A whistleblower told Daily Mail Australia concerns were raised with the school about Jacob's behaviour in August 2023 after students had disclosed alarming information to their families.

The whistleblower said the school was told Jacob had been allegedly sending explicit pictures to peers and asking for others in return and pressured other pupils into performing sex acts.

Jacob had also allegedly boasted to peers that he had been charged with raping a younger relative, which had resulted in him being removed from his family home and placed in out-of-home care.

However, the whistleblower claims school staff dismissed the alleged behaviour as 'boys being boys' and argued that the known sex offender 'had a right to go to school too'.

Tom's relatives took it beyond the school and reported the matter to police and an investigation was launched.

Jacob was subsequently charged in December with four charges relating to his interactions with Tom, including sexual assault, physical assault, stalking or intimidation and using a carriage service to send indecent material.

However the whistleblower claims that even while police were investigating, Jacob was permitted to remain enrolled at the school until he was finally forced to leave in January.

During that time, Tom was initially forced to continue going to the same school as his alleged attacker before he eventually refused to attend.

The court documents claimed that during that time Tom '(has) become reclusive in fear of being attacked by the young person'.

'The victim and his parents believe he can no longer attend the school due to the young person's sexual and aggressive behaviour towards the victim.'

The matter currently remains before the children's court.

According to court documents, the alleged assaults had a massive impact on Tom, who became reclusive and refused to go to school

Since being charged in December, Daily Mail Australia understands Jacob has been charged with multiple other offences that relate to separate matters.

NSW Police but told Daily Mail Australia it could not comment on the police investigation as the matters are before the children's court.

Education Minister Prue Car was approached for comment.

School system under fire

A former employee of Youth Justice NSW's sex offender program - which oversees support services for accused youth - told Daily Mail Australia the school would likely have been aware of Jacob's criminal background.

The ex-child protection worker said a comprehensive review of the child's history would have been undertaken at the time of enrolment, given that he was enrolled at a special needs school.

She said any red flags or behavioural issues - including previous interactions with police - would have to be documented by staff as part of the intake process and in creating behavioural plans for students.

Furthermore, she said any additional information that later arose would have been added to the student's file.

However, the insider said the failure of the school to enact a safety plan to effectively manage Jacob's sexualised behaviours exposed systemic issues within the education sector.

While staff at special needs schools may be trained to assist students with some behavioural issues, the insider said recognising child sex abuse risk factors is a specialised skill that many teachers do not possess.

'Schools often don't have enough staff with specific training to recognise risky sexualised behaviours,' she said.

'As a result, other students are placed at risk and the child displaying the concerning behaviour is not offered support to help them overcome it.'

The incident raises questions about how many teenage child sex offenders are currently in NSW schools without proper provisions in place to protect other students.

Daily Mail Australia put questions to NSW Education Minister Prue Car

While Jacob also has a right to an education, a school whistleblower accused the school system of being grossly negligent by failing to act decisively when concerns were raised.

'The school has a duty of care. You send your children to school, you think they are going to be safe,' they said.

'They knew. They were very much aware of it.

'But they have done nothing to protect them [the other students].'

The NSW Department of Education declined to comment on the record.

* Names changed for legal reasons

For confidential support contact:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

1800 RESPECT
The Princess of Wales will miss this St Patrick's Day on March 17

For more than a decade, the Princess of Wales has taken part in the ceremony to hand out shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day.

And the result has been something of an annual fashion high point for Kate, who mostly turns to a trusted coat dress for the the occasion.

Ranging from crisp military styles to double-breasted versions and maternity tailoring, the dress coat is a hybrid fashion item that brings polish to her working wardrobe.

Including examples by Catherine Walker, Emilia Wickstead and Alexander McQueen the coat dresses have become something of secret weapon, remain pulled together regardless of the weather while lending a note of dramatic glamour.

On each of her St Patrick's parade appearances, Kate has decorated her outfit with a delicate gold shamrock brooch by Cartier, loaned by the Irish Guards regiment. The accessory was worn by the Queen Mother during her appearances with the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day and later Princess Anne who took over the role after the Queen Mother's death.

This year, the princess misses the event as she recuperates from surgery. But here we look back at the many style successes she has had on March 17.

There's definitely something of a theme...

2023

Last year was Kate's first St Paticks Day as Colonel of the Regiment.

The Princess of Wales marked it by swapping her usual all-green attire for a teal Catherine Walker ensemble.

For her first St Patrick's day as Colonel of the Regiment, Kate wore Catherine Walker in Teal

The shamrock remained green however, and it obscured a gold shamrock brooch

Colonel Catherine opted for a bespoke coatdress with matching Gianvito Rossi pumps and a Jane Taylor hat, topping off the stylish outfit with a gold Cartier shamrock brooch which has a rich royal history.

While her choice of colour was unexpected, Kate's ensemble perfectly matched the plumes worn in the Irish Guards' bearskin caps, St Patrick's blue - which is the shade of the mantle and sash of the Order of St Patrick.

2022

After missing the parade for the two years marred by the pandemic, Kate made a triumphant return at the annual parade in Aldershot with a perfectly coordinated ensemble in deep green.

A deep green outfit by... designer Laura Green

Her coat dress by the aptly-named designer Laura Green featured her favourite high collar neckline and belted waist and was paired with a pillbox hat by Lock & Co and Emmy emerald green pumps.

2020-21

St Patrick's Day looked a little bit different in 2020 and 2021 as coronavirus swept the planet.

Less formal during the Covid lockdown, Kate chose an emerald green Zara blazer

In 2021, Kate and William joined world leaders in wishing Ireland a happy St Patrick's Day in a video from the Irish Foreign Ministry.

Kate wore green in a chic Zara blazer, accessorising with her Daniella Draper shamrock earrings and necklace.

2019

At the 2019 ceremony the Duchess of Cambridge, as she then was, wore a forest green Alexander McQueen coat which featured military style buttons, a high collar and peplum frill at the back.

Kate's stylish coat was Alexander McQueen with a matching Lock & Co fascinator

Kate topped the stylish tailoring with a matching Lock & Co flower detail fascinator, Gianvito Rossi block-heeled pumps and Cornelia James gloves.

With her hair pulled back in a neat chignon, her green tourmaline and green amethyst Kiki McDonough earrings - a gift for Princess Charlottes birth - glittered in the sunshine.

2018

It was pregnancy style for St Patricks Day in 2018 as Kate stepped out looking radiant in a Catherine Walker.

Kate steps out looking radiant in a Catherine Walker coat while expecting Prince Louis

Kate was expecting Prince Louis at the time.

Trimmed with fur at the collar and cuffs, this cosy coat was another example of the Kates pitch perfect maternity wardrobe and was accessorised with a pair of Tods suede heels and a Gina Foster hat which she first wore on St Patrick's Day in 2014.

2017

As Kate made her annual trip to honour the Irish Guards for St Patrick's Day after missing the celebrations the previous year, she opted for a new Catherine Walker coat.

This one had buttons that mirrored the guardsmens' uniform.

The buttons on this one are reminiscent of a guardsman's uniform

She wore a Lock & Co hat which she previously wore four months earlier on Christmas Day, together with matching Emmy heels. Jewellery-wise Kate chose a favourite pair of Monica Vinader earrings in green onyx.

2015

Weeks away from Princess Charlotte's arrival in 2015, Kate broke with the green tradition and chose a chestnut brown coat by Catherine Walker.

A chestnut brown number by Catherine Walker for 2015

The royal accessorised her maternity look with Emmy pumps in coordinating brown and a Lock & Co pillbox hat which she had also worn to her first St Patrick's Day event in 2012, adding some sparkle with Kiki McDonough Citrine drop earrings.

2014

Kate turned to the high street in 2014 choosing a bottle green Hobb's wool trench coat which featured epaulets and became an instant sell-out.

This wool trench coast by high street brand Hobbs became an instant sell-out

She swapped the tie belt for a leather Emilia Wickstead design, neatly cinching in the waist and went green all over with an Emmy clutch and matching shoes. Kates glossy blow-dry was topped with a Gina Foster hat and her Kiki McDonough cushion cut amethyst earrings were the perfect finishing touch.

2013

Glowing Kate dressed her pregnancy figure in the same Emilia Wickstead coat which she wore the previous year, removing the belt to accommodate her growing bump.

Kate's pregnancy bump is covered with an Emilia Wickstead coat dress - without the belt

This time she styled the look with a black roll neck, Cornelia James gloves and a matching black Lock & Co hat. Wearing her Episode black suede pumps, the royal had an unfortunate mishap when they got trapped in a grate and Prince William came to her rescue.

2012

For her first parade in 2012, which was also her first solo military engagement, Kate sported an elegant emerald green belted coat by Emilia Wickstead.

Slender Kate with a belted coast and a chocolate brown Lock & Co hat

She paired with a chocolate brown Lock & Co hat. Looking radiant in the jewel tones, she styled her hair in loose waves and wore the heirloom Cartier shamrock brooch on her lapel which became part of her St Patricks Day uniform for the following years.
IT is the royal biography that made headlines around the world  Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, by the author and Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman.

Featured over several days in the Mail and The Mail on Sunday, the book offered a compelling series of revelations about an extraordinary moment in Monarchy: the end of the Queens life after 70 years on the throne and the beginning of the Carolean era.

Here, then, are some of the key points that have forever changed our understanding of how Elizabeth's record-breaking reign finally drew to a close - and the challenges facing her son and heir King Charles III as he navigates a new and very different landscape.

The Queen remained dutiful right until the end

When Sir Edward Young, the Queens private secretary, opened the last red box that had gone to her, he found the long-list of candidates for the Order of Merit, with her choices ticked.

On September 7, the day before she died, she spent the day in bed at Balmoral yet still made plans to participate remotely in the scheduled Privy Council meeting  plans which had to be cancelled at the last moment.

The Queen is pictured meeting the new Prime Miniser at Balmoral. Her Majesty passed away two days later

Sir Edward Young, the Queens private secretary, opened the last red box that had gone to her

The Queen had spent the day in bed at Balmoral but still planned to participate remotely in a scheduled Privy Council meeting

The incredible revelations were from Robert Hardman's new book is called Charles III The Inside Story

She had completed the task just two days prior to her death, with Hardman writing: Even on her deathbed, there had been work to do. And she had done it.

She knew her health was failing

The Queen suffered multiple health conditions in her final year and was well aware she wouldnt reach the age of 100 as her mother had.

Plans were drawn up for a Regency

Aides prepared for the Queen suffering a slow deterioration or a sudden public collapse in her final years with secret plans for Prince Charles to become regent. Options varied from a regency light, with minimal involvement by Charles, or a reversible regency in which he would discharge her duties during a period of her incapacity.

Charles and Camilla spent an hour with her privately

After flying by helicopter to Birkhall, their home on the Balmoral estate, Prince Charles drove the couple to Balmoral castle in a borrowed Land Rover.

They were greeted by Princess Anne, who had happened to be staying, who led them immediately to the Queens bedside to spend time with her.

Charles told both his sons to travel to Balmoral urgently to say their goodbyes

The Royal Air Force arranged for Prince William to fly with his uncles from RAF Northolt to Aberdeen at 2.30pm.

Prince Harry, who happened to be in London with Meghan for a few days of charity engagements, chartered his own plane to Aberdeen.

Aides discussed plans for Prince Charles to become regent if the Queen's health deteriorated

Charles and Camilla at Birkhall, their home on the Balmoral estate

Princess Anne had been staying with her mother, the Queen, and greeted Prince Charles and Camilla as they arrived to say their goodbyes

Prince William drove his uncles and Sophie from Aberdeen airport to Balmoral

Prince Harry arrived to late after chartering his own plane

Catherine, Princess of Wales decided not to attend

In his memoir Spare, Harry writes of feeling deeply offended when his father asked him not to bring Meghan with him to Balmoral. Learning that Kate would not be there either assuaged his anger  but Hardman writes that he did not realise she hadnt been asked to stay away.

In fact, she had decided she should remain at home for the sake of her children, who were starting a new school, Lambrook.

William was still angry at Harrys reckless betrayal

Harry claimed in Spare that he had texted his brother to ask about his travel arrangements, but not received a reply.

Hardman writes: Clearly, Prince William did not regard this as the appropriate moment for the intensely difficult conversation he needed to have with his brother, alluding to Williams anger over the Sussexes reckless betrayal during their Oprah Winfrey interview.

This was the broadcast in which they claimed Kate had made Meghan cry during a row over a bridesmaids dress, and that two members of the royal family had expressed concern over the colour of then-unborn Prince Archies skin.

There was also wariness about Spare, which had not yet been published. 'Some of the family were probably ready to give him a piece of their mind,' Hardman quotes a source saying.

The Queen slipped away in her sleep

According to a memo written by Sir Edward Young to record the momentous events for posterity, which now resides in the Royal Archives, the Queen slipped away peacefully in her sleep, without any pain.

Charles learned the news of the Queen's death when he was addressed as Your Majesty

Not expecting his mother to die quite so soon, Charles had been out gathering mushrooms in the grounds at Birkhall when he received a call from his sister, the Princess Royal, telling him to come immediately.

He and Camilla jumped back into the Land Rover, but hadnt yet arrived when Sir Edward called to tell him that the Queen had passed away. He had just turned off the B976 onto the back drive of the estate when, at the age of 73, he was addressed as Your Majesty for the first time, writes Hardman. No further explanation was needed.

There was a certain amount of wariness regarding Harry as Spare was yet to be published

The Duke of Sussex at Aberdeen Airport as he travelled back to London following the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II

The organisers found that 'everything that could go wrong did go wrong'

The whole parade was out of step from the start after the bagpipes pre-empted the first command - but only at the rehearsal, fortunately!

Harry did not eat with Charles, William that night

Prince Harry did not make it to Balmoral in time to see his grandmother before her death.

He said in Spare that he was informed that she had died via an alert from BBC News on his phone  although Hardman suggests that several attempts had been made by King Charles to call him with the news, which were unsuccessful because he was airborne at the time.

Harry dined alone that night, while the King had dinner with William and Camilla.

The King needed to have vital but discreet discussions with his elder son, writes Hardman. In years gone by, such a moment would automatically have included his younger son. But not any more.

The funeral procession risked disaster

The late Queens funeral rehearsal was a comedy of errors as organisers found that everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

The carefully calculated parade times had failed to take into account the different length and speed of steps required by a Guardsman and a Royal Navy recruit carrying a two-ton gun carriage, meaning the front of the parade ended up parting company with the coffin.

The whole parade was out of step from the start after the bagpipes pre-empted the first command. One band had been led to the wrong start point. And one Gentlemen at Arms was nearly crushed between the gun carriage and Wellington Arch after going the wrong way.

Prince William was furious over Harrys blatant attack against Kate in his Netflix documentary

The Duke of Sussex claimed that for male members of the royal family, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould  as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with.

William saw the comments as clearly about his wife Kate and regarded them as the lowest of the low.

Prince Harry claimed in the programme that for male members 'there canbe the temptation to marry someone to fit the mold'

William saw the comments as clearly about his wife and regarded them as 'the lowest of the low'. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex make a rare joint appearance to see flowers and tributes to the late Queen at Windsor

Queen Camillas family call her Lorraine

Once, there seemed to be no chance of Camilla ever becoming Queen, due to public antipathy towards her for her role in the breakdown of Charles marriage to Diana.

It was during that period that her family gave her the humorous nickname Lorraine  as in the French la reine, meaning Queen. She always saw the funny side of that  even if Prince Charles did not, says a friend.

The temperature has dropped even further at the royal palaces

Not only does the King not switch on the heating during the winter to avoid contributing to climate change, but he is also a compulsive window-opener, according to Hardman.

Theres a constant battle about it, says Camillas sister Annabel Elliot. He will have opened it. She will creep in behind and shut it. So theres a lot of Oh darling, you shut the window.

Yes, I have, because were all freezing.

Prince William might not head the Anglican Church

While the Prince of Wales admires and respects the Church, and enjoys attending services at significant times of the year, such as Christmas and Easter.

He feels he is no different to the average Briton in that he is not a regular worshipper.

And that has led to speculation as to whether he may consider not taking on the formal role as head of the Church of England - that British monarchs have held since the time of Henry VIII.

Mrs Annabel Elliot in interview for Charles III revealed Queen Camilla's nick name

Annabel giving a small wave during her sister's Coronation in May last year

Prince William is not a regular worshipper but attends services at significant times of the year

The Princess of Wales likes to get her news from the Mail's award winning news service, Mailonline

Kate enjoys MailOnline

The Princess of Wales is said to be among the tens of millions who get their updates from the Mail's award-winning news service.

Hardman says that, in common with the new Queen, she keeps abreast of what is written in the newspapers - unlike their respective husbands who do not.